Videos Part 2

(See first part below)

This is for mom. Chaela started crawling on her own a little while ago. I don't know exactly when because she was kind of sneaky about it. She would do her normal army crawl and then maybe get up and take one "step" of regular crawling and promptly plop back down on her stomach. Eventually it got to be more, and now this is her main mode of transportation. Sometimes she still gets down on her belly though.

It took me a while to get her to do this, until I realized the only way she would was if I were sitting on the couch myself, then that almost didn't work! She pulls up all the time, and I know the angle makes it hard to see, but it was the best I could do without Will home to video. I think later when he is home I'll try and do one of her standing by herself. She can only do it for a few seconds at a time, but each try is longer than the last! Yay! Maybe we'll also do a video of her cruising, which she's only started doing in the past few days.

Oh, something else new that needs no video is the wonderful "seperation anxiety/stranger shyness" phase that she's going through. I litterally CANNOT put her down, even on the floor if I'm in the same room. She FREAKS. It's making it hard to get anything done at all. The flip side is that it does make me feel special. Will and I are most definitely her favorite people in the world! And the stranger shyness isn't as bad as it was a few months ago, especially with women. Pretty much anyone female can hold her with no problems, but she still gets scared of men!

I've always heard parents say kids grow up fast, but this is ridiculous! Chaela could do none of this over the Fourth of July in MO, and now it's not even two months later and she's practically walking! It's a matter of weeks! Something I've learned lately is really to enjoy every stage. I'm glad I can have more kids in the future (NOT NOW) so I can spend more time in the baby phases. Part of me feels like Chaela has practically grown up already!

Videos Part 1

Well I'm overdue on video posts, especially with Chaela accomplishing so many new things this past month. I know it's going to take FOREVER to upload all of these, but I'll sacrifice for the good of Chaela's adoring fans, haha!

So in this one she does her "singing." I first noticed that she was doing it at church, especially in Relief Society (the meeting that's only women). When we'd start singing a hymn she'd look around really suprised and then start going "Ahhhh! Ahhhh!" but in a nice voice. I think it's awesome.

For the past few days she's been making this really weird face. She wouldn't do it for long in the video, and that weird noise in the background is me making it at her, because it involves breathing loudly through your nose. I wonder if she'll be someone who loves to make people laugh, because I can't think of any other reason for her to do it!

Baby Dresses!

This is so Jana, Gem, and my mom-in-law Diane can see the dresses for Gem's wedding. They're basically done! All I have left to do is hem the sheer skirts on top and I need a specific foot for my sewing machine to do it. My mom is bringing hers out when they come in a week, so they'll be done soon! I haven't done the headbands yet, but they won't take long and I'll probably start experimenting with them today. Woo hoo!

So it's a little long, but since Chaela's been growing a little less than an inch every month, it should be perfect by the end of November! And this was taken before the rose was on the front, which it is now.

Well other than that, school starts a week from tomorrow. Weird! My last semester! I'm pretty excited. On the advice of one of my friends, I've signed up for two half credit classes that focus on Excel and Power Point. It's going to be good because those will be extremely marketable skills for my job search. Woo hoo!

Blog Thief: Likes and Dislikes

My friend Amanda (the one in OH) had this on her blog, and since I don't have anything else to write about, I've decided to steal it. Basically you just post likes and dislikes that people may not know. So here are mine!

Likes:
Frank's Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
Reading Shakespeare aloud
Baby cuddles
Getting an unexpected phone call from a friend

The first day of school (it's downhill from there)
Making something and giving it away
When the seasons change
Harvest time in the Fall
Halloween
New underwear
Singing around the house
When Will gets home from work
Plants and gardening

Good things to read, including: Harry Potter, books by other good authors, and friends' blogs and Facebook profiles (I may be a stalker)
Swiss Miss hot chocolate
Rainy days

Dislikes:

When Will works overtime (though I like the paycheck)

My cell phone minutes running out

A trashed house

Utah's climate

Deadlines

Hairy legs (my own)

When Chaela won't take a nap but is CRANKY

Novels by Stephanie Meyers

People who think they're too cool

People who swear a lot

Being as heavy as I am

Rude people/those who judge others based on race, religion, gender, etc.

These lists are fun, but once I started I kept thinking of things and had to stop myself from going on and on, especially about the likes.

Well, like I said at the beginning, nothing is really going on. Kristin and Jacob are coming for a visit this weekend, their wedding is coming up fast but planning is going smoothly. My bridesmaid dress is basically done except for the hem and zipper. I'm going to be starting on Chaela and Addie's dresses for Gem's wedding next, so that's exciting. Here are some pictures of the fabric. Addie's is cut out already and Chaela's is in the process.

This is the dress, but there will be a few differences. I didn't have enough fabric for sleeves and I'm putting the rose in the middle. I also won't do those hanging down things off the flower. If you guys think I should put them in, let me know!

After those I'll be starting on the myriad of baby blankets for friends who are expecting.

Oh, and for some good news, I got my financial aid. I was hoping for just enough extra to come home for Christmas and have a little bit left over to help us move, but we got A LOT! So we'll definitely be home for the holidays this year! Woo hoo!

Rambling

Hello everyone!

Nothing much new here in UT. I've been trying harder than usual to lose weight with Kristin's wedding just around the corner. So far I haven't really seen any results, but I feel better because I've been getting more excersize than I have in years! So that's good at least.

I'm still working on my "book," but progress is painfully slow due to the fact that Will has a new computer game, so now he's on the computer a lot more. It's been ok, though, becuase I try to fill the time by reading. I think reading books by good authors is just as important as practicing your writing for an aspiring whatever I am. Meaning I wasted my time with Breaking Dawn. Oh burn!

Will and I are slowly laying more plans for the possible move to TN. It's not for sure yet, and there are pros and cons to both sides. Going has more pros, but staying has a few. I'm finally making new friends here after all of my old ones left, and a few of them are coming back after Dec., so I'd get to see them. My brother is thinking of coming to school here, so it would be good to be here for him if he does. I think that's all. Oh! Our little branch is kind of fun, too. I'll miss it. Even though Will tells me that there was some false doctrine taught in Sunday School last week. It happens, I guess!

Speaking of our branch, we're both getting callings. Will knows his, but they don't have one narrowed down for me yet. You'll have to wait and see what they are!

Chaela can sit up on her own from laying down. She can also pull up into a standing position, which is how I find her every morning and after naps now. I'm glad I put that crib mattress in really low, because the change from nothing to standing has happened in the past 3 weeks! Kind of sudden. I wasn't expecting either! My personal prediction is that she'll be walking by October, which is only about 6 weeks away. Scary. I need to make her a Halloween costume.
Kristin and Jacob are getting married soon, so that's exciting. It will be fun to have a married sibling. Gemarie and Eric are tying the knot pretty soon, too. Also expanding their families are several of my friends. Let me take a moment to count. I know 9 people who are pregnant or have had a baby in the past 3 months (2 babies, 7 pregnant people). I've been happy that everyone else is so happy! It's awesome!

Anyways, that's enough for tonight. I just wanted to post for fun. Time for bed!

Pictures from Saturday

Here are some pictures we took on Saturday. Just kind of fooling around, not really doing much important.

Will was giving Chaela a carrot. Actually, he kept handing them to her so she had two at a time, then took one and ate it. Then he'd hand her another one. Vicious cycle.

Then she started trying to feed carrots to him.

Then she started eating his head.

Then he decided to take a nap on her. It didn't last long, because she started eating his head again.

And there you have it!

Book Review: Breaking Dawn

Beware: I do give you one small hint. You may figure out the whole plot from reading it; or it may just tantilize you until you rush out and buy it. >:)

(Have you ever noticed how the covers have nothing to do with the story? Stupid.)

I know many of you have been waiting for this with bated breath. Ok, probably not. But after my last post about this series you know how I feel about it. Well, I convinced my friend Katie that I would keep an open mind and she let me borrow the latest of Stephanie Meyers works: Breaking Dawn.

What did I think, you ask? (I know you all rely heavily on my opinions of literature.) Breaking Dawn is two thumbs parallel to the floor.

Yes, that's right. I did not throw it out the window in disgust. It was mildly less annoying to read than its predecessors. Mildly. It is still revoltingly cheesy, but I was ready for that. The characters were shallow. But I was ready for that, too. Maybe it was my low expectations, but for a throw-away kind of read, it slides.

Thinking back, there was probably a specific reason for this, and that is that (possible SPOILER alert) there is a baby in the book. A new mom myself, it sucked me in like a black hole. However, I also feel I must say that this baby has the STUPIDEST name EVER.

Two more things I will say in its favor. First, Bella's character finally grew into someone bearable. After some 2,000 pages of being the most utterly annoying character in print, she matured into a person instead of just sitting around, whining, and needing to be rescued by her oh-so-strong supernatural men. This takes up about 300 pages. Sad. Secondly, this book had more interesting plot points than any of the others. Though I was disappointed in the portrayal Jacob, my favorite.

Unfortunately for all you "Twilighters" or whatever you're calling yourselves these days, I remain convinced that these books will not stand the test of time. Twenty years from now, Bella and Edward will be gone, while characters more real and lovable (like your best friend, not like a puppy) will survive. Yes, I'm talking about Harry.

Good news for you though, Stephanie Meyer has published 5 enormous books in 4 years. I'm sure her works will fill the shelves of Barnes & Noble for years to come. I also have a sneaking suspicion she may be tempted to revisit Jacob's story specifically.

As for myself, I will continue to not buy them, but maybe borrow them from friends when I'm pregnant or PMSing.

Side note (If any of you are planning on buying this and haven't yet):

Barnes & Noble: $23

Wal-Mart: $13... don't know if this is everywhere or permanent

Pictures and News

Well, I haven't posted any pictures of Chaela in a while, so here they are. I know that the one of me looks kind of like a man or a troll, but I thought I'd be brave and post it anyway. It's because it was taken today after I woke up and didn't have any makeup on. Sorry world!

Also, I was just looking at these, and I know they're kind of lame, but we don't really do much this summer besides sit around the house. Will has the car during the day, then I go to work at night.

Anyway, hopefully I can take more fun pictures in the fall when we're out of the house more! And she looks so unhappy because she kept trying to take off the hat and I wouldn't let her. Such a cruel mom!

Oh yeah! Will having decided on a career path, it looks like we'll be moving back east for school if I can get a job out there. The two schools we were looking at were in Richmond, VA and Memphis, TN. Will wants to go to Memphis because that's where Jason and Jana live. I'd be happy to move either place, because it WON'T BE UTAH!!! The condition is that I get a job, though, so if anyone hears anything let me know!

Thank you, Martha Brockenbrough!

WARNING: This is an anti-Twilight post. Most of you know already, but I don't like these books.

Martha Brockenbrough Explains Why 'Twilight' Sucks

My 13-year-old cousin warned me: "The amounts of pain that can be inflicted on those who insult Edward are better left unspoken."
I'm going to brave that pain and say it anyway: Edward is a complete prig.
It's not just that he sneaks into Bella's room to watch her sleep -- that's more stalker than prissy, anyway. It's also not just that he drives a Volvo, the car of choice for priggish drivers who obsess about side airbag safety.
Nor is it that his skin sparkles like gems in the sunlight. However gag-worthy this might be, he can't help it if he has pores that Madonna, Nicole Kidman and other alabaster celebrities would envy.
For me, the last straw really is that he is more obsessed about wedding planning than any groom should be. That makes him a terrible role model for teen girls, who will grow up to face real-life mates who don't know the difference between cummerbunds and canapés, and who will also make rude faces when asked for an opinion on either.
Seriously, though, there's a dark side to priggishness, and that's condescension. Bella and Edward aren't equals. Edward knows it -- he's stronger, his senses are sharper and he's nearly immortal. He constantly has to protect Bella. He even leaves her temporarily to do just that. Bella, meanwhile, settles for a lesser college so she can be with her boyfriend. Augh!
So what does that tell our teen girls to crave? A relationship with someone they worship, rather than someone they can work with through the various challenges of life?
However much I enjoyed the books -- and I read every one, twice -- that's my fundamental concern with them as a parent. Bella constantly needs rescuing and protection. Her vulnerability fuels her desirability, for it's not just a vampire who wants her. A werewolf does, too.
This is where it's worth making a comparison to "Harry Potter." Harry solved his own problems. When he needed rescuing, his friends -- who had complementary talents and courage-quotients -- came to his aid.
Bella doesn't really have friends, at least not among her peers. She hangs out with werewolves and vampires, any one of whom could eat (or drink) her for lunch.
She's as far from being a kick-*** heroine as she can get. She's clumsy and weak. Yes, she has her attractions. She's a devoted daughter who never complains about all the cooking she has to do for her hapless dad.
But girls would be much better off following in Hermione's footsteps. Now there was a girl who could cast a spell, throw a punch, and catch the eye of an international Quidditch star (only to lose interest because he wasn't intellectual enough).
I'm not arguing that every book needs to be the equivalent of a plate of nourishing, raw spinach. I like a cream puff as much as the next person, and possibly even more. We just need to make sure our daughters aren't thinking cream puffs are the best life has to offer. They're the stars of their own life story, and waiting for a handsome guy to bite their necks sounds to me like a tragedy in the making.

***
Now I don't care about what car Edward drives or his wedding-planning capabilities, but finally! Someone who puts into words the thing that drives me INSANE about this series! I never could put my finger on it before, but now I know. The heroine, the rolemodel for young girls everywhere, is weak! Totally dependent on Edward for everything! Give me a Hermione any day! The link to the rest of the article is here: http://movies.msn.com/movies/pmg/twilight/?ocid=entnewsTL. It has a pro-Twilight side, as well, if you'd like to read that. It has some valid points, but in general I disagree with the main idea.

Apologies, I posted this morning and was re-reading just now and found a swear word in the article. It has been censored. Not that many of you care, but just in case.