cringe

 I think most people hate listening to recordings of themselves. I am no exception. I cringed while watching the news piece this morning. But Ella was great. Her television debut was a success. And the story was a "Top Story" on the ABC website this morning. Right up there with natural disasters and raw sewage. Can't beat that. 

blowing my horn

So I did the ABC interview with Nicea DeGering for the iPhone apps. I felt like a fool, but Kimmy said I sounded somewhat coherent. Either way, Ella looked great. The interview airs tomorrow on ABC sometime between 5:30 and 7:00, and then maybe again on the evening news, but that one's still up in the air.

Sitting Pretty

Today Ella made her grocery store debut. No more carseats, no more carriers; now Ella sits up in the cart. She loved it. And she was cuter than ever--reaching to hold the handle while looking back and forth, trying to take it all in. I wasn't the only one enthralled with her performance; two middle age men and one punk looking teenager stopped to comment on how darling she was. Most fun I've had at Alberstson's in years.

Beautiful

Jamie posted part one of her wedding pictures, and they are worth checking out.
Click here to see more.

To be young...

So I turned 30 this week. No big deal. I've got a husband. A baby. A job. A house. But know what I don't have? The spontaneity of youth. For that we turn to Kimmy. No husband. No baby. No job. No house. But she more than makes up for it by going bowling with Vanilla Ice on the weekends. Seriously. She and Ice, livin' it up. Makes you miss those days when you were 24, doesn't it?

Mom (and others who are technically challenged): If you click on Kimmy's name you can read the whole story. It's a good one.

Bubbling Over

I've had a few random things on my mind recently. Here's are my ramblings for any who care to listen:

• Zofran. For all my pregnant friends out there, remember this blessed pill. It made my pregnancy a thousand times better. I would pop a pill when I started feeling nauseated, and then I could carry on with my day. It has gone generic recently but many pharmacies still charge an arm and a leg. Not Costco. The big box giant sells it for dirt cheap. And many other pharmacies will match their price.
• "The Economy." Lately we talk about it like it is a person. A living, viable being. I suppose it (I say "it," but I want to say "he" or "she") is impacting our lives enough lately that it warrants this personification
• Crafting with fabrics. I have a new love. I don't have much intrinsic talent, but it sure is fun. I may buy this just to see what I can make out of them. Onsies, burp clothes, wall hangings...the possibilities are endless.
  
• Growing. It is on the iTunes application store. You can see it here. It is an iPhone application that lets you plug in your child's information such as height, weight, head size, etc and it chugs the numbers and gives you their percentiles. You can track them over time. I came up with the idea, Ryan made it happen. We are both very proud.
• Good Morning Utah. I may be on an upcoming episode plugging Growing and FeverMeds. I am petrified. Shaking in my boots.
  
• Working. I still love it, but I am missing Ella more and more while I'm away. They really do grow so fast.
• Symbiosis. Ella likes to bite on fingers. Avery likes to stick hers in open mouths. It's a beautiful thing.

Conversations from the Corner Office

Lots: Awful cold with hacking cough, a fever and a runny nose. It's lasting >1 week. Its close friend RSV is on the rise as well.

Little: Strep. It's still out there. Wash those hands.

Lingering: Croup. With most viruses a trip to your doctor's office is an unsatisfying experience. There just isn't much we can do. But croup...now that's a different story. I smile on the inside every time I hear that barky cough because I know help is on the way. There's a steroid we can use a to calm that seal and make 2 AM a happier time for everyone.

Recommended

Yes, I am only 100 pages deep. Yes, it has taken me three weeks. Yes, last night I broke out a 3x5 card and started taking notes so I can keep the rivals straight. And yes, I do feel like I'm back at BYU working on my history major. But on this President's Day I give two thumbs up to Mrs. Goodwin and her compelling story.

Funny Feet

Tonight I was out with my dear friend and favorite OB. As usual we had a little medical chit chat. I asked her why my feet grew during my pregnancy. She said she has not heard of this freakish phenom. This was doubly bothersome because a few months ago when I asked my Ortho friend he too had not heard of the expanding pregnant foot. So my question to you, my blogging friends: Did your feet grow during pregnancy?

Best Intentions

You were all going to get one. "Happy Valentine's Day. Love, Ella." But the project was a little more time intensive than I had planned. So the digital version will have to suffice. Hope your Saturday is filled with lots of love.

The crooked lines add character and let you know it is handmade. Jason told me so.

Sunny Skies

It's one of those gray, blagh, days. I'm waiting for Ella to wake up so we can go and buy supplies for a V-Day craft in an attempt to lift our spirits. (Well, my spirits. Ella's happy as a clam). While I'm waiting I thought I'd post some pictures of Ella. Grandma Lota came over for dinner last week and we got the 4-gen pic for posterity's sake.

Conversations from the Corner Office

Don't worry, this medical mumbo jumbo won't take over my blog. But I wanted to let it be known that Strep is making it's way through Nurseries, Playgroups and Schools throughout the Wasatch Front. Today we saw a whole gaggle of kids with the nasty bug. Here in Utah it is particularly important to get treated because we have a very virulent strain. So...if your little one has a sore throat, fever, stomach ache, vomiting, headache or any combination of the above...get them tested. If you have cough, runny nose, etc, it is probably not strep.

Just so the grandmas don't shoot me, here's a picture of Ella.

Conversations from the Corner Office

The other day Jess asked me what was going around these days, and it got me to thinking...hanging around the Pediatrician's office is good for more than just free formula; you get to find out what bugs are lurking on the playground. Here's this week's PSA:

Lots: Basic cold with coughing, runny nose and more coughing. +/- fever

Little: Flu (not the stomach kind, the influenza kind. Body aches, fever, sore throat, cough). The flu vaccine and the flu strain match up beautifully. The anti-virals, on the other hand, are of little help against this year's virus. The moral of the story: it is a great year to vaccinate. And it's not too late. I am going to vaccinate Ella next month (when she's 6 months).
Lingering: Diarrhea and vomiting. But not necessarily at the same time. Could be one day of D, one day of V, two days free. Then start the cycle over again. How fun.

Stay tuned for next week!

Fascinating

This was NPR's #1 e-mailed story of 2008. I'm not sure which is more interesting...the article itself, or the fact that the most shared article is about child development. Either way I should probably invest in a tree branch or two.

Found the treehouse here. Darling.

Ella Bella