Wednesday, January 26, 2011

This Week

Wow. I'm a mom- I don't think in weeks, I think in nows. Okay lets think....

Macey was going to come over and play with Reese on Tuesday, but she was sick. We rescheduled.
I was supposed to go visiting teaching that afternoon, but my companion was sick. We rescheduled.
Instead of playing with Macey and visiting teaching, we went to the mall and stayed there between three and four hours.
I bought milk.
I made peanut chicken for dinner tonight, taco salad for dinner last night, Chicken soup on Monday and Will made curry on Sunday. Tomorrow we'll have biscuits and gravy. I'd have to check my list to tell you the dinner plans for the rest of the week- but I'm pretty sure we have leftovers scheduled for Saturday.
Liam has been a schedule-snubbing punk all week.
On Monday I invited a friend over. We ate lunch and talked for hours.
Reese learned how to play hide-and-seek this week. Sort of. I'm not sure how to make her understand that you aren't supposed to shout out where you're hiding.
I've gone to the gym on my regularly scheduled program.
I went to a Relief Society meeting tonight. We made microwave warming packs. The bishop's wife gave the idea to heat them up and put them in the bed to warm your feet. I think I'll try it.
Tomorrow Alice is coming over to play with Reese. I'm excited for friends.
We went to an LDS Institute of Religion class. It's for moms who bring their kids. Usually Reese plays with them. Today she moped and tried to get me to read books and do puzzles with her while I was trying to participate in the lesson.
I don't have anything else written on my calendar for the week. I wonder if that means I don't have any other plans.
I have to go grocery shopping.

Happenings

I'm so glad the UPS guy hides our packages under our door mat. Otherwise someone might see it and want to steal it.


Liam has been a rascal. He's been eating two or three times as often as usual and crying in between. An examination of his mouth proved inconclusive, but I don' think he's teething. I don't know what's wrong. I do know that he and Reese had a great time at the mall when I decided I couldn't handle being at home by myself with two grumpy babies anymore, so we stayed there for two hours beyond normal nap time.

(Aint it always the way that you can only get one to smile at your camera at a time!)


Liam's progress in rolling over:
not even trying.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

What's in Your Bag by Will


So Anna gets to do all the typing on this thing and then I wonder, "Hmmm what is going on in my life. I better check our blog." Yup that is how exciting my life is. But more importantly what is in my bag.

Today I had three bags and I felt like a girl lugging around all my stuff. First, I have a backpack. That has my computer, change, herbal tea, a huge textbook, some white board markers, a note pad, The Economist (3 of them), and some other writing utensils. In my second bag I have stinky clothes and a wet towel. Now that I only have 9 credits in school, last semester I technically had 19, I have a lot of time on my hands and workout with a friend on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. In my last bag there is lunch that was "more than cool", curry.

Now for the reason you all tuned into this, what is in Anna's bag. A wallet, diapers, keys (sometimes) and girly things, I think. I rarely look in Anna's bag.

A side note, if you ever look in Reese's bag you will find toys or as Reese likes to say, "Koys".
Notice the backpack on the shoulders. It is a Thomas the Train Engine bag that I got from Spinal Interventions.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Your Siblings

My siblings as I know them.

*Jasmine*

Jasmine is the oldest- the one that seemed to pave the way for the rest of us. That's the way I felt, anyway. I had no idea what came after high school. I had no idea how to go from student (what I was) to functioning adult (my parents). I hadn't seen anyone ever make the transition until Jasmine did. That's how I see her- the life to follow. I don't think I've ever told her that before. We were never close as kids, but she still says things that make me stop and consider without even knowing that she does it. I don't think so, anyway. She's proven her intelligence many times over. Jasmine, do you know what influence you have?

*Jessica*

I always thought of Jessica as the smart one. She's the one I saw study. The one who got upset that one time because she wasn't understanding the math homework- but that was the only time in her life that ever happened. She understood everything else, and eventually got that assignment worked out, too. Always practical and always loving, I think of Jessica as the one who has all the answers and she wins the "most likely to catch me if I fall" award.

*Megan*

Okay Megan, forgive me, but I've always thought of you as the family diva. Megan is ambitious, stylish, clever and fun. As the sibling just younger than me, she's been my closest sister. Although she reminds me all the time how my friend and I were sooo mean to her, I have fond memories of playing together as kids. Nowadays I'm always excited to see and talk to her, and pretty proud that she's the first Faber girl to get over our genetic queasy-at-the-mention-of-body-insides syndrome and become a medical professional. Boy she's got a lot of daring and spunk. (And you're about to make a great mom, I know it.)

*Darren*

I'm sorry to say that I feel like my brother drifted away from the family during his high school years. And I'll bet he doesn't know this but I missed him. I feel like now he's making an effort to reconnect with his siblings, and I hope that we'll get the chance to get closer as the years go on. I do know that he's an affectionate uncle, and that he has a passion for the musical arts. I've always thought of my brother as "cool". I'm excited when I think about his potential for the future. Crazy awesome potential- but that doesn't mean he isn't crazy awesome now.



*Shelly*

Okay remember, other siblings, that this is from my point of view, but I think Shelly has always been the fun one. Deal with it. She has creativity and imagination, but also a good heart and smarts. She just did fantastic at her first semester of university and set to go exploring around all the possibilities ahead of her. I don't know if she thinks of it that way, but when she talks about what her plans are, I get a little jealous of her ideas and opportunities. This is one girl who is going places.



*Lauren*

Of all my siblings, I see myself most in Lauren. Not that she's a mini me, more like a kindred spirit. I feel an echo of my life when I hear about hers, and it makes me both relate and sympathize. But if her paths can be described as a version of mine, I think she's learning better from it than I did. Lauren has big ideas like I had, but is actually fulfilling some of them. I love talking to her and have gotten into the habit of asking her for a CD of her favorite music every time I visit. She has her own style. She balances all sorts of craziness all at once and handles it gracefully (with only few break downs). (PS: In following poster I would like to point out that I was going for vamp, not tramp, as in a character she might portray because she loves playing roles.)



*Nikenzie*

Kenzie has recently surprised me with the amount of growing up she has done. As my baby sister, I have always thought of her as a little girl. A bookworm, brainiac and and avid video gamer, I was interested to learn that she is growing into other spheres of learning and socialization. She's no longer the little girl I have pictured in the poster below, she's growing into a young woman quicker and more gracefully than I expected. And she has a magic ability to charm little children, so she must have a sparkling spirit.


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Sunday, January 23, 2011

What You Wore Today

Went to church this morning, so dressed in a cute skirt- pink, brown, yellow dots, a brown shirt with a white sweater, brown striped tights and brown stiletto-type high heels. The skirt was driving me nuts because it kept sticking to my tights and riding up.
Luckily, I forgot to bring my brownies for the Linger Longer after church meetings, so I had an excuse to run home and change to my plaid skirt, which doesn't stick to my tights, and flats because I wasn't digging the high heels today.
The brownies were a hit, thanks for asking.
When I got home I changed into my falling-apart corduroy pants, because they're comfy.
And that's it.


If you don't know what this blog entry is about, here's the list. Check it out.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Your Beliefs

"Beliefs" makes me think about religion. So, once again, you can check out my other blog if you want to hear about that. There's a link on the side under "other blogs" if you care. Other then that, here are some things that I think are true, but I'm not sure, and therefore are classified as "beliefs".

  • I believe that my oven runs hot by a good 50 degrees or more
  • I believe that I am going to move to Arizona
  • I believe that whole wheat things really are better for you than white endosperm wheat products
  • I believe that one day I will own a minivan
  • I believe that I'll get the chance to know my two older sisters and my one brother better than I do now and that, hopefully, they'll want to know me, too
  • I believe that my time to get to know the rest of my family better is right now, and I'm glad they let me hang out with them when I visit.
  • I believe that my checking-out of any kids books where the characters go potty in the potty chair will one day pay off
  • I believe that if I look into the refrigerator just one more time there might be something tasty that I overlooked the other times
  • I believe that cubic zirconia is just as pretty as real diamonds

Friday, January 21, 2011

A Moment

Warning: This post contains descriptions my body that some might find offensive. In particular if the word "breast" or "nipple" makes you squirmy when spoken of in a public forum, you shouldn't read this post since it recalls an ordeal with Mastitis, a breast infection. This "moment" I suppose is really a series of moments, but you're really at the mercy of my whims if you insists on reading this, so you'll have to make do.


The Morning of Mastitis

My breasts began to get larger and more painful in the days after my milk came in. One morning I was in so much pain that I couldn't even prepare breakfast for my daughter. I had to sit down. I was feeling dizzy and nauseated. I called the doctor's office, who had me leave a message with a nurse. While waiting for a call back I decided to run to the store to get a nursing bra that would fit me better. A bra that didn't fit was probably aggravating my symptoms. I left Will with the kids at my grandparent's house and rushed off to the mall, planning to be back by my new baby's next meal time.

I was feeling horrible as I walked in to the Motherhood Maternity store. The saleswoman helped me pick out some bras to try on and led me to the dressing room. I had to very carefully remove my top so as not to bump my tender breasts. I had just gotten off my too-small bra when my cell phone rang. I felt strange talking on the phone in the quiet of the dressing room with my shirt off, but it was the doctor's office number, which was a call I needed to take.

“This is the nurse from Dr. Nichol's office. I'm returning your call could you please describe your symptoms?”

“Well, I feel really awful. I have a headache and my breasts really really hurt.” I start crying. Great. I'm crying on the phone to a nurse while topless and anyone outside the curtain door can hear me. “I have nausea and I just feel sick.”

“Do you have any redness on your breasts?”

“Well, maybe a little. I'm not sure.”

“Do you have a fever?” Asked the nurse.

“Uh, well, I don't think so. I don't feel like I'm hot.”

“Do you have a thermometer.” I pause. Do I really have to explain that, despite the fact that I've just told her I feel like crap, I'm dandy enough to go try on clothes at the mall? There's no way I'm going to discuss this here, when anyone in the store can hear this conversation. And I'm not going to admit to the nurse that I don't have a thermometer with me because, well, I felt the need to go on a shopping spree.

“Uh, I don't know where one is,” I say. “But I don't feel hot.”

“Well, without a fever, you probably don't have anything serious. Take some Tylenol and rest. But call us back right away if it turns out you do have a fever, because then it might be something worse.”

“Okay,” I agree, relieved that this sounds like the end of the discussion. I determine to take my temperature as soon as I get home. “Thank you so much.”

I hang up the phone and feel a pressure mounting in my chest as my breasts tighten. On no! I think. I'm letting down! Sure enough, I start squirting milk and quickly press a finger against each nipple to hold it in. I stand there like this for a moment, hoping that if I can just wait long enough the milk will stop flowing. A couple of times I let go of myself to check. But as arches of opaque liquid stream out each time, I realize that I must simply be at the top of my milk capacity. I just can't hold it in and besides, my fingers are getting sticky. I try to push my face out of the fitting room curtain without revealing my half-naked, lactating body. There's no one around.

“Excuse me!” I call out. I wish I had remembered the sales woman's name.

“Yes?” I hear her call back. She rushes over. I think she gets paid on commission.

“Do you have any breast pads?” I'm secretly hoping that a place that sells nursing bras will have random disposable nursing pads, the way some shoe stores have cheap nylons to protect the product from the customer.

“Yes.” She says. Hooray! Finally I catch a break! “We have a box of Medela and a box of Johnson's nursing pads. Would you like to buy one?” Oh. That's not exactly what I was hoping for.

“Actually,” I reply, “I was hoping that I could use a pair.”

“Oh!” realized the saleswoman, “I can open a box for you and bring you a couple. I'll leave the box at the register for you. The Johnson's are the least expensive, would you be okay with those?”

“Yes, thank you.” Actually, she is pretty friendly.

Now that I have something to catch my leakage, I take a moment to try and figure a way to try on bras with minimal incident. That's when the overwhelming feeling of lightheadedness kicks in. I've lost consciousness enough in my life to know when I'm about to pass out. Thank goodness there's a bench in the fitting room long enough for me to lie down on.

I try to regain a clear head and grab my phone. I'm crying to Will about how I just wanted to make a quick trip but now I don't know if I can even stay conscious and there's no way I'm driving myself home would he please come get me or send grandma to get me or something? Will says he'll come but when I hang up I realize that it might cause a problem if I actually do pass out and roll onto the floor. I imagine a mom-to-be browsing the maternity tops when she spots an unconscious nude woman protruding out from underneath a dressing room curtain, milk spilling from her breasts.

Once again I wish I had remembered the saleswoman's name. She comes over as quickly as the last time and, to her credit, notices right away that something is wrong.

“Does the mall have a medical unit?” I ask.

“I'll call security right away.” When she comes back, she has a water bottle with her.

The mall security arrives with a first aid kit, but doesn't come in to the fitting room. He passes an oxygen mask to the saleswoman, who's name tag says “Eden”. How did I not notice a name like that? When Security Guy talks to Eden through the curtain, who then begins asking me questions methodically, I discover that they've got the paramedics on the phone. At one point Eden asks, "Do you have any pain?"

"Yes, my breasts really hurt," I answer through the oxygen mask. Eden tells this to Security Guy, who pauses and then tells the paramedics I have chest pain. Poor sap. This must be really awkward.

When the paramedics arrive, they're laughing. The chest pain isn't the only thing they got wrong. I later find out that the dispatcher told them the victim was an 85 year old woman. What is an 85 year old woman doing in the dressing room of a Motherhood Maternity? They further check me out and, upon discovering my age is 25 and my temperature is 101, recommend that I go with them to a hospital of my choice. By this time Will has arrived and we are getting ready to leave.

Eden graciously tells me not to worry about the breast pads when she overhears me asking Will to pay for them. Though we're headed for the hospital, I don't take the ambulance. I for sure don't need that bill. But I do let them wheelchair me out to my grandparent's car that Will has borrowed for the occasion.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Your Best Friend

Pictured above, he's the one holding my babies.



If you don't know what this blog entry is about, here's the list. Check it out.

Your Day

This was supposed to be posted yesterday. It will probably happen again. Sorry.

My day must be masked in secrecy because it includes birthday preparations for someone who will probably read this before his birthday. And honestly, I think I can't remember a ton of things that happened. I've been so busy that things from the whole week start to blend together. So here are some highlights:

Liam looked like a model for baby Gap today. Such a cutie
Reese had a three-hour nap after going to her friend's house.
Ice cream cravings. But that happens every day.
Granola cravings- but those are expensive, so I save them for breakfast on gym days when I might have to rush out the door.
Picked up the living room- and it's still pretty clean!
Picked up Reese's room- and I don't know how clean it still is because I put Reese to bed about 25 minutes ago and I don't know if she's fallen asleep yet. It was looking pretty good the last time I saw it, though.
Some secret stuff, as I previously warned you about
Talked to Emily and invited her over tomorrow. I love having people that actually like visiting me.
Checking to see if my amazon.com gift card code has been posted yet (it hasn't)
Fajitas for dinner. Yummy!
Reese actually ate pretty well today. She had some fajita and liked it. She had some tortilla corners sticking out of her mouth that looked like vampire teeth. When we told her this she said no, she's not a vampire, she's a ghost.
New episode of The Office. The appetizer segment at the beginning was pretty lame.
Now Will is watching a b-ball game and I can't help but think of my friends the Riggins because Gonzaga is playing and for some reason I associate Brett with Gonzaga. Maybe because he's a fan?
And I've been hungry way too often today.

I suppose you can tell a little about what's important to me by what I consider "highlights".










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Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Your Definition Of Love

Love is a feeling of joy and enjoyment felt personally by someone for someone or something. Love does not conquer all, but what we do about it may.

I have some complex feelings about the relationship of love to popular culture's idea of it, but that isn't a topic for this blog. You can, however, go to my other blog, where I write about my personal and religious feelings.

Here's a link to my love and marriage entry, if anyone cares.




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Monday, January 17, 2011

What You Ate Today

Pre-gym breakfast:
Fiber Plus Bar
Vanilla Yogurt

Elevensies: (term borrowed from the Hobbit)
Malt-o-meal Cap'N Crunch Knock-off
half a pop-tart

Lunch:
Stuffed Chicken Breast
Craisins
chips and salsa

Dinner:
Santa Fe Chipotle soup with
corn chips
cheddar cheese
sour cream

Evening Snack:
bowl of Golden Puffs cereal

I know. Real exciting.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Cutie Poopy Boy

I bought this dressy outfit for Liam last year on clearance, before I knew I was even having a boy. I just remember that one green dress with the white lacey overlay at Costco that I wanted so much before I was pregnant with Reese. I had no idea at the time if I would ever have a baby let alone a little girl, so I didn't get it. I still wish I had. So last year I bought this (clearance was less than 10 dollars for the 4-piece set, it came with a tie that Liam isn't wearing.)

I thought I had a 9 month size. Turns out it's a 6-9 month size, which is slightly smaller, so it's a good thing I tried it on him today for church so he can wear it a couple times before it gets too small. Liam only turned 6 months a couple of days ago but already he is too big for most of his 6 month clothes. I think he had a sudden spurt right after Christmas.

The picture was taken on the changing mat, right before I had to change him out of his beautiful pooped-on slacks and undershirt.

Your Parents

This post has the potential to be disastrous, so I'll try and keep my current perspectives reigned in, rather than describing the transitions of feelings I've gone through over the years, particularly as a teen. I really do love my parents, even if I'm a normal kid and don't show it all the time.

One thing that I would first like to say is that I'm eternally grateful that my dad and mom are still together, still the same couple that raised me, still working through the rough times and the good- especially in a world where people think it's perfectly acceptable to call it quits if you're having a hard time. I can't thank you enough for continuing to love each other because even now, when I'm not at home, it gives me a sense of security and an anchor for aspirations in a world of turmoil.

Okay, done being teary-eyed. Mom: I know you don't like pictures of yourself very much, but too bad. You'll have to sacrifice for the sake of future generations.


When I was younger I wanted to be like my dad. Then I wanted to marry someone like my dad. Then I realized that my dad is simply one of a kind. I see, from my point of view, a hard-working, spiritual, brainiac man. He loves working in in yard. He loves to read. He generally has a pretty solemn disposition, which makes it a joy when I see him laugh and loosen up. The kids in my family will always remember and talk about how he used to make us cry when helping use with our math homework, because his logical thinking was over our heads or didn't match our way of thinking, but I've always wanted to be as smart and learned as him. He remembers school very fondly as he reminisces about all the opportunity to learn. He's always been an example for me of the importance, but also the fun, in learning.

I have to agree with Mark Twain: "When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years." Although my mother was never ignorant, I thought she was pretty crazy. As an adult I recognize what a thoughtful, strong woman she is. I called her once because I was really sick after having Liam, just to ask her to pray for me. She called my grandparents to come and get me and the kids so that she could look after them (and me) for a couple of days. I was so surprised that she would offer this loving gesture because I know she's always busy. I don't know if she understands how much it meant to me. That's just one example- my mom is always thinking of others and trying to do things better. I'm sure gonna miss her when I'm gone.


Currently my mom and dad have been transformed into "gramma" and "grampa". They're pretty awesome at these jobs.




(The following picture taken by Reese)



My mom and dad are pretty cool people.



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Your First Love

I feel really embarrassed about this posting, but I'm determined to do this journal. I'm not sure why. I've set my mind on a couple of things lately for which I'm not sure why, but I'm gonna follow through just because I feel like I need to. Huh.

Anyway, My first super huge crush will take me back to, I think, seventh grade. I think I must have had some loves before then, but they were of the run-of-the-mill secret crush, write your name on my notebook, make even your friends guess who you like, be mean so he won't find out variety.

Seventh grade. The first unrequited love.

Here's the photo: I'm the one standing in the back. He's the one with his arm around my best friend. 'Nuff said.


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Friday, January 14, 2011

Introduce Yourself With Pictures And Words






























If you don't know what this blog entry is about, here's the list. Check it out.

I'm Anna. When I began thinking of myself for this post, here are the the things that went through my head, in order:
.
Self Identification Level One: I think of myself in relation to others. I'm a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, a friend.
.
Level Two: I think of myself as the sum of what I do. I cook, I play, I clean, I work, I teach, I mother, I draw, I sing, I read, I excersize, I worship, I create, I visit, I talk, I sleep, I research, I record memories.
.
Level Three: I see myself physically. I have medium-long brown hair, blue eyes, fair skin, average height, vein-y hands and arms, one flat foot, baby fat tummy, bowed legs, freckles.
.
Level Four: Everything else. I was going to say what I know, but I stopped thinking about it after that and started uploading pictures.
.
Nice to meet you.

Six Months

Liam is six months old today. He's a cutie. Here are some things about him:



Sits up by himself fairly well . First solids (rice cereal a couple of times and (don't tell on me) a strawberry) . fuzzy blond hair . sleeps from 10 pm to 7am, and again until 8 am when I give him his pacifier . loves to watch kids playing . loves to wiggle . hasn't figured out rolling over, though he practices with Mama almost every day. wears the same size diapers as his two-year-old sister . likes to stand up . goes from zero to tantrum in point two seconds when you try to put him down . gets excited when Daddy comes home . likes to suck on fabric (among other things) . tries sooo hard to grab the books that I read to him and Reese . Gets very upset when I don't let him grab the books that I read to him and Reese . Smiles a lot . gets excited when he sees me after a nap or a car ride . loves rubbing noses . squealy laugh .

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

30-Day Public Journal

This is kind of cool. So I'm stealing it, Lauren.


Day 01 – Introduce yourself with pictures and words
Day 02 – Your first love

Day 03 – Your parents

Day 04 – What you ate today 

Day 05 – Your definition of love

Day 06 – Your day
Day 07 – Your best friend

Day 08 – A moment

Day 09 – Your beliefs
Day 10 – What you wore today 

Day 11 – Your siblings

Day 12 – What’s in your bag

Day 13 – This week
Day 14 – What you wore today
Day 15 – Your dreams
Day 16 – Your first kiss
Day 17 – Your favorite memory

Day 18 – Your favorite birthday
Day 19 – Something you regret

Day 20 – This month

Day 21 – Another moment

Day 22 – Something that upsets you
Day 23 – Something that makes you feel better

Day 24 – Something that makes you cry
Day 25 – A first
Day 26 – Your fears
Day 27 – Your favorite place

Day 28 – Something that you miss

Day 29 – Your aspirations

Day 30 – One last moment


Day One starts tomorrow.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

New Year Misc

Here are some more illustrations of what I think are my kids doing cute things. Happy New Year!

One of the leisurely mornings at Gramma Faber's, hanging out reading a book with Aunt Shelly.


Later, Back at "Reesey's house":

Reese and Liam watching stuff on the computer together. Awe!


Reese helps Mama feed Liam.


Double Awe!



Reese and Liam playing on Reese's bed together.

Triple Awe!

Ready for "cool" (as Reese has dubbed "school") with her backpack and sunglasses. This is just pretend, of course. Reese's backpack really holds the set of kitchen tools she got for Christmas instead of crayons and books.

I couldn't help but race for the camera when these guys were sitting all picture-perfect together.

We had a dance party earlier today, and Liam decided that he didn't want to be left out. Both of my children are the type that just don't want to be left out of anything.


Some boring footage of my boy being an expert sitter-upper. Not a lot of action, true, but i still get all proud when He doesn't fall over.