Where has all my metabolism gone....

WHHHEEEEERRRRREE??? (I am singing in my head the tune of where have all the cowboys gone, feel free to join me).

In my earlier years, my metabolism kicked butt. In fact, it seemed a little overactive. There were many shed tears in my preteen due to my scrawniness. I was the very definition of a beanpole. I was literally all legs and arms.

When I reached high school, I began to embrace the fact that I could eat ANYTHING without suffering the consequences of a pudgy belly and flabby tush. I realized that some girls envied what I once hated.

My first years of college were the same. I put on a little weight, but managed to elude the dreaded freshmen 15.

The slowing of my metabolism was so gradual, I barely noticed. However, the past couple years my eating/no exercise habits have caught up with me. Add a pregnancy, and the poundage really adds up. I remember one of the prenatal appointments watching the scale tip to a number I never knew I could reach.

Even with that being said, I have been one of the lucky ones who was able to lose the weight fairly quickly. Somehow my mind was able to trick my eyes into thinking that since I weighed less than my pre-pregnancy weight, I now looked the same (if not better) than I used to.

However, that metaphorical blindfold was viciously ripped from my eyes yesterday. The day I stepped into the dressing room with a swimsuit in hand is forever engraved in my brain.

As I surveyed my reflection, I wondered who could be so cruel as to put a fun house mirror in a dressing room. Surely that isn't what I look like?!?!?! I now understand the expression "dreaded swimsuit season.

I am officially waging war on my random bulges! I WILL reclaim my former body! I WILL look good in my new swimsuit! I WILL, with confidence, make appearance in said swimsuit!

I just wanted you to know. Maybe if some of you are facing the same dilemma, we can unite for the cause! It's on, post pregnancy body...IT IS ON!!!!

Da Bronx (as JLo would say)

We went to the Bronx Zoo on Saturday and LOVED it. The exhibits are huge and there were random peacocks roaming free. One highlight was at the gorilla exhibit...one of the gorillas sat right next to the glass and was mimicking all of the kids that were making faces at it. AMAZING how intelligent they are! Who doesn't enjoy a huge gorilla sticking it's tongue out at you?

This fine looking bunch graced us with their presence!

We rode the Monorail, fun fun! Kind of creeped me out a little, I kept picturing Jurassic Park mayhem- Wild Asia animal style...but no animals escaped during our ride- phew!

Then, after 6.5 hours of animal observations, ice cream and "fountain dew", the exhausted group went home (but not before partaking of ginormous quantities of Lucky's Diner cheesy fries). Look how cool K thinks she is, just hangin with the big girls!

First Word?

Earlier today I was making sounds and K was mimicking them. I TOTALLY think this counts as her first word, she definitely knows she is saying my name. I could watch this video all day. Note the goofy popping thing she is doing with her mouth at the end...so cute! I can't believe the daily changes in this girl!

Second video: I just thought everyone would enjoy the perspective of something going into a babies mouth. She totally grabbed the phone away from me, her hand eye coordination is freakishly good.

If she is anything like my nephew Isaac, this may be the last view many bugs will see as they meet their gummy doom!

Our Wild Weekend...

...documented via camera phone.



Our poor cars had been neglected for way too long, so we decided to live it up this past weekend and go to(HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS!!!!) the CAR WASH!!! I know, we are livin la vida LOCA!!!

So I was able to help clean approximately 1.5 cars before Kerrigan needed to be entertained. So while Jared did all the manual labor, Kerrigan and I avoided the wind and cheered him on from inside the car...
K thought she was hot stuff sitting all by herself in the passenger seat...

...the thought became KNOWLEDGE when she was when she discovered her reflection (she couldn't take her eyes off herself)

Jared engaged in some criminal activity (note the sign he is parked RIGHT in front of)..

...and Kerrigan encouraged the behavior by cheering him on!!!!

*This picture cracks me up...no one can get her to laugh like her daddy!*

THE END!!!!

A Thing Called LIFE!!!!

I love Love LoVe LOVe LOVE this picture. It is my favorite picture of me (and not just because only 1/5 of my face is showing). It is just me.

My house is a mess. The laundry basket is full of clothes needing to be folded. It is the time of day where the lighting in my house is really weird. My hair is not done, my jeans have holes- though they are getting so big that I could almost say my holes have jeans.

But none of that matters right now...I am loving on my baby and she is happy- NOTHING ELSE MATTERS at this moment!!!!


(Thanks Jamie for sharing your big photo instructions!)

MAC makeup

2 years ago I asked my sister-in-law how her eyeshadow always looked perfect, even after long days of constant chasing after 2 kids. Her secret: MAC makeup....her warning: VERY EXPENSIVE!!!

Since then I have always wanted some, and made it very apparent to Jared. Last year, we were at the mall, and I saw on the directory that there was a MAC store. When I got all excited, Jared-knowing that I was feeling the fat and ugly pregnant blues- said I could get some (he is so good to me).

So we found the store, walk in and IMMEDIATELY I feel extremely uncomfortable. There was loud music blaring on the radio, florescent shades of eyeshadow I had never beheld and very it was incredibly busy. There is something about being surrounded by people who are extremely knowledgeable about something that I know very little about that makes me feel inadequate. I looked around for a minute, and then became so overwhelmed I left, trailed by a bewildered husband.

I was so embarrassed. Here I was about to bring a child into the world, and I was too intimidated to get something I REALLY wanted! I even cried in the middle of the mall, and Jared felt so bad for me he bought me a pair of shoes instead (like I said he is so good to me!).

I have returned to various mac stores since then, more of a testing the waters than anything since I never had the money to actually buy anything. Every time I have gone, my confidence has been boosted. Last time I went, a very flamboyant man did my eyes in the shades of "floof, tweenks and all that sparkles".

For Mother's Day Jared got me a gift certificate to MAC, and I decided today was THE DAY! I was getting my makeup. There was no stopping me. Clutching my gift card, I stalwartly made my way to the store.

When I got there, the music was blaring as usual. The only employee in sight didn't even acknowledge me. My nerves started to flare up, but I supressed them. I went to her and said," I need help. I have not really changed my makeup since high school, I want something new, etc."

Needless to say, her customer services skills were not the best. I think she could smell the fear and enjoyed making me squirm. She wouldn't tell me what she thought would look good, but everytime I suggested something she said it wouldn't work with my coloring. Many times I resisted the urge to bolt.

We eventually came to some sort of middle ground. She managed to show me some looks that I LOVED, I paid for my goods and left with as much dignity as I could muster.

Regardless of the pain it took to get, I got my makeup, which I am SUPER pumped about! I can't wait to use it tomorrow! Also, I faced a fear...so 10 brave points for me.

Oh, and on my way home I got stuck in the elevator at Macy's for 20 minutes. I had to knock on the doors and yell before someone let me out. Jared's response, "Why didn't you push the emergency button?" HOW DID I NOT THINK OF THAT????

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

I just wanted to express my love and appreciation for some of the important women in our lives. Jared's grandma's are (I am so grateful for Grandpa Rulon I let him sneak his way into the Mother's Day post : ) wonderful women....Grammy is such a go- getter and makes some irresistible bread and jam- I don't know if I have ever met anyone else with so much spunk!

I wasn't able to spend as much time with Grandma Ellis as I would have liked, but she had one of the most beautiful smiles! My favorite story with her: We went and spent some time with them in Pocatello, and Jared and Grandpa Rulon went somewhere so it was just me and Lorraine. I noticed in her hand a piece of paper with my name written on it, and realized it was so she could remember my name. It meant so much to me that she had taken the time to write it down so she could call me by name, and I am so glad I have that sweet memory of her! Jared always says she had the sweetest heart of anyone he has ever known.

I couldn't find any of my pictures of my Grandma Waddell. She is about as classy as they come!

She has an amazing testimony. I have so many cards and emails from her, all with her testimony written down. I love that I will always be able to read them whenever I want, and share her testimony with my children. She is such a strong woman and I love her so much!

I found this picture of my Grandma Wilkins...isn't she BEAUTIFUL!!!! She loved her family more than anything, and I never doubted her love for me. She was such an example of service. She also had an extremely contagious laugh. I remember once playing Mad Gab with her...she was TERRIBLE at it. However, by the end Brooke, Grandma and I were laughing so hard we were all crying. I miss her so much, and am proud to have my daughter carry on her name!
I am so grateful to Jared's mom, she did an amazing job raising my husband to be the man he is today (and boy did she have her work cut out for her-just kidding: ). I couldn't ask for a better mother-in-laws. She is the best conversationalist I have ever met. Any time we go ANYWHERE with her, she makes at least 1 new friend. She can strike up a meaningful conversation with anyone- it constantly amazes me! She is an amazing grandmother as well, and Kerrigan is so blessed to be her grandchild!

My mom is THE BEST IN THE WEST (and east, north and south!) I love her so much! I want to be just like her when I grow up. I am so lucky to have her for a mother. I have gained so much respect for her as I raise a daughter of my own. She accepted the responsibilities of motherhood at a young age, and I am so grateful she did. My favorite memories are of her "tickling" my back and singing (she has an amazing voice) Angel Lullaby- which I now sing to my own daughter every night. I could not have asked for a better example of how to be a mother. She is a beautiful person, and I am blessed to be her daughter.

The day my life changed forever....

..was the best day of my life. There are some days when I just stare at Kerrigan's beautiful face and feel overwhelmed with gratitude for this gift I have been given. Whenever it is challenging, I am able to reflect on the years of tearful prayers pleading with Heavenly Father for this blessing! I hope to never take for granted my own personal miracle of motherhood. As I strive to be the best mother I can be, I hope that I can follow the examples of all these wonderful women.