Finished Living Room (almost)

Since I started this story about painting our living room, I wanted to finish it with pictures. We got our new coffee table and end tables delivered last night, so here's our almost finished living room.

We still haven't decided about what to do over the fireplace. We have thought about a flat screen tv. We've even found the one we'll buy, but I'm still not sold on it being the center of attention up there. And, does anyone else think it's an awkward angle for tv-watching anyway? And when we finish the basement, we'll put in a tv room down there, and then I definitely don't want a tv in my living room anymore. What are your opinions of flat screens above the fireplaces in homes?

If we don't do the tv up there, we need to find some artwork. Aww, the challenges (and fun!) of home decorating. We will also probably still buy some candle holder sets that I saw at Bed, Bath & Beyond (my number two favorite store behind Target), but for now, I think we can call our living room Finished.

Oh, and we also still want to paint the rest of the walls... and maybe buy some curtains... and their rods. Oh, and we really want new carpet too.

Wait, I'm starting to wonder: Is a room ever done? Well, this is our living room Today.

Scare at the Doctors

The first time Ryan couldn't come with me to the doctors (he had to go to Indiana today for work)...

Apparently all you nay-sayers out there were correct. I really am too small. The nurse measured me this morning at the doctors and got a little unsettled. She said I was measuring too small and was worried I was losing fluid around the baby.

Needless to say, they did an "emergency" ultrasound (I had to wait about 30 very panicky minutes), and...

He is perfect. All his body parts are measuring just right, except his femur is too long. :-) Anyone surprised Ryan and I created a long baby? I have plenty of fluid too. Everything looked great.

So why am I measuring so small? Apparently, I am carrying him more inside than most women. Aww, that's why I have chronic heartburn and indigestion.

And in case any of you are jealous: The nurse thinks I'll "pop" soon and by my next appointment I'll measure in the regular range. If I don't, I get another (that's right; it'd be my FIFTH!) ultrasound. Too bad each one is so expensive.

Comments Requested: Who do you think our little monkey looks like? We are keeping our fingers crossed he’ll keep his cute, little button nose, and avoid inheriting my honker. I am afraid he does have my chin, or lack thereof. Ryan thinks he takes a bit after me, which is too bad since Ryan makes a much cuter boy than I ever would. :-)

So, what do you think? Does our little monkey have any distinguishing features that you recognize from Ry or I?

28 Weeks

No more doubts from strangers. She's definitely expecting!

Stay-at-Home Wife

What is a stay-at-home wife?

Wife? You mean Mom, right? No, I mean wife. I am a stay-at-home wife.

When we decided to move to Peoria, we decided I wouldn’t work anymore. We weren't expecting, though we wished we were, and I thought I'd take a much needed break from the daily rigors of teaching. I admit I worried about what I would do to keep myself busy.

When people asked how the job hunt was going in Illinois, I'd tell them I wasn't going to be working.

They'd look at me in confusion and ask, "What are you going to do then?"

"I'm going to be a stay-at-home wife," I’d reply matter-of-factly.

More confusion... a raised eye brow... a slight nod of the chin.

Then, we found out we were expecting, and I decided I would be a stay-at-wife until the baby comes in December. Then, I'd become a stay-at-home mom. I still get the raised eyebrow, but the nod of the chin is more clearly a nod.

So let me tell you about my life as a stay-at-home wife:

1 - Painting: We finally are sprucing up our hospital-white home with some color. Last Saturday we spent the whole day shopping for supplies (Home Depot: "where everyone knows our names"). It never ceases to amaze me how many little things must be purchased to do a project. My parents just always had painting rags, paint brushes, painter trays and rollers, etc., etc. Who would have thought I'd have to pay for all this stuff one day?

Anyway, we got the first coat on the fireplace wall on Monday night. I call it "chocolate soft-serve." Tomorrow we'll apply the "chocolate fudge" to the vaulted wall.

The idea is to have a square of "soft-serve" in the middle of the "fudge" wall. I think it'll work, as long as the "fudge" doesn't look like "Oreo." We'll see.

2 - Baby stuff: We are acquiring baby things at an astonishing rate. This week we bought Baby his crib, changing table, swing/bouncer chair, baby bath, and many other necessities (onesies, sleepers, blankets, socks, etc.) Some things have been found on my new favorite website (Craig's List), others have been gifted by new friends at church (Thanks Melissa!), and still others have been purchased new at the store (Target being my current favorite).

His room is getting rather full of boxes and bags, and I hope to have enough room for my sis and her baby (who are coming to visit me next weekend).
3 - Cooking: I am just loving cooking dinner each night for my hubby to eat when he gets home from work. Doesn't that sound so 1950s? I LOVE IT!

This week we've had Wendy's Chili (Great recipe and Ryan's favorite so far, except I forgot I was halfing the recipe when I added the chili powder; oops!), taco casserole, creamy chicken and rice, and lasagna. He has even been able to take leftovers in his lunch - something he always wished for during grad school, but that I couldn't manage working full-time. Our peanut butter jar is hardly getting any use anymore!

4 - Sewing: Kind of. My problem is two-fold:

* Fabric Dilemma: Ryan's grandmother is a collector. She doesn't collect dolls or bears or spoons or books or pencil sharpeners or vases... SHE COLLECTS THEM ALL!

One thing she collects is fabric. During the reunion, she opened her stashes, and the women had at it. Everything was neatly folded and stacked (a lot of it still on the bolt), but I just didn't have it in me to dig and fight and scrounge around. Everything I brought back (3 prints) were collected by my mother-in-law on my behalf.

(Here's my sister-in-law Emily who, like everyone else, had no problem digging in)

So, with deep remorse and regret, I have discovered we don't have a Hancock Fabrics in Peoria (my favorite fabric store), and I am definitely wishing I'd have looked harder at Grandma's house. If only I'd have rolled up my sleeves (and my pants!) and gotten in with everyone else I wouldn't be sitting here stressing about spending $9.75 a yard for fabric at the specialty quilting store... Aww, Hancock, where did you go?

* Pattern Dilemma: Though I have done some quilting, I have never used a pattern before. I know I am supposed to cut out the shapes, pin them to the fabric, cut them out and stitch them altogether, but this is where my knowledge stops.

I read the directions today, and I thought I'd accidentally bought the Greek version: slipstitch, with nap, without nap, staystitch, topstitch, understitch, baste... What have I gotten myself into?

On a friend's advice, I have emailed a woman from church who has offered other women (young moms!) help with sewing projects in the past. Hopefully, she'll adopt me as her own and tutor me through the process. I just don't think I can learn via cell phone with my own Moms.

And that, my friend, wraps up my week here as a stay-at-home wife in Peoria. Yes, these are the things that fill up my days along with reading, genealogy indexing, weeding the flower bed, preparing seminary lessons, grocery shopping and cleaning.

They wanted me to feel guilt and shame with their raised eye brow and slight nod of the chin when I told them I wouldn't be working and was going to be a stay-at-home wife. But I know they really were just trying to hide their jealousy at the idea of filling their own days with whatever they wanted... just like I get to.

Canada Trip

I’m home again, and home again for a while. Thank goodness. I really think that though I like to see people and places that I have heard of, I am really not much interested in long car rides, long waits in airports, and living out of a suitcase. But, despite all of these drawbacks, we had a wonderful trip to Canada for Ryan’s grandparents’ 60th wedding anniversary.

We started our trip by driving to St. Louis and spending the evening with my parents. We left Sunday, August 24 by plane, with a layover in Minneapolis. We arrived in Portland, OR where Ryan’s parents picked us up. We stayed Sunday and Monday night at their home in Vancouver, Washington.

On Tuesday morning, we drove to Seattle where we stayed with Ryan’s sister.

Wednesday morning we visited the Space Needle. What a strange (and neat) place!

On Wednesday afternoon, we drove to Spokane, Washington where we teamed up with the rest of Ryan’s family to carpool to Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

Thursday we drove to Canada. We saw some of the most amazing scenery. I love the mountains covered in pine trees. The variety of shades of green never ceases to amaze me. It was a long way, but it was truly beautiful.

Friday morning we visited two homes built by Grandpa Fooks (he was an architect) and where Ryan’s mother grew up. Friday night we had a barbeque at a local Lethbridge park. Saturday we prepared food and decorated the cultural hall all morning for the open house. Lots of people came, the food was great, the decorations were even better, and Grandma and Grandpa were so happy to see all their friends.

After the open house, we had a catered dinner for the family and entertainment provided by Ryan’s Uncle Scott, who works gigs in a piano bar.

Sunday we had brunch as a family and attended sacrament meeting. To close our giant family reunion, we had a family fireside back at Grandpa and Grandma’s home. The great-grandchildren (most of the 21 of them!) sang “I Am a Child of God.” Grandma and Grandpa bore their testimonies. Each of the grandchildren gave updates on their lives and happenings. It was a wonderful close to a wonderful weekend.

Monday morning started our LONG trek home: 15 hours by car. Tuesday we continued with 10 hours in airports, and then the last 3 hours by car back to Peoria. We had a great time. It was nice to be able to meet all of Ryan’s aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Our little guy will be great-grandchild #23. He has a great heritage of family and faith. What a wonderful way to spend time with our eternal family.

Master Williams

Ryan will now only respond to the title "Master Williams." That's right: He's done! I can now post a few of the pics I took of him at graduation, which was in May, but rather premature. CONGRATS RYAN!
Being silly... as always.
Does that look like "Master Daniel Ryan Williams, B.S., M.S." to you?

Doctors & Seminary & TSA

It has been a very busy week at our house. I am currently sitting on Ryan's computer while he is on our laptop at his office at UW. His defense is in just 2 hours! He is feeling good, and we even got some sleep last night (Thanks Heather & Jenn!).

A few reasons we've had a busy week:

1- Doctors: I had two doctors appointments this week. Monday I had my third ultrasound. I know three sounds like a lot, but the doctors keep asking for them.

The first was to determine if my due date was accurate before we left Madison. They discovered a ovarian cyst, so when we got to Peoria our new doctor ordered another. Then, they couldn't see his stomach or kidneys on that one, so they ordered another, which was Monday.

I have been worried for each one, but every time he is kicking and squirming and happy as can be (with a stomach and kidneys). My cyst hasn't grown either, which is a great thing.

Anyway, the nurse caught him sucking his thumb on Monday (22 weeks, 4 days), and I just LOVE it.
Ryan particularly wanted me to point out his bicep. Yes, he takes after his father in the muscle-y arm department! What a cutie!

So I am starting to worry about his future disposition. Ryan and I are not particularly hyper-active people. But our little monkey seems to be crazy! The nurses always comment on how active he is, and this third ultrasound is mostly a product of his inability to sit still for photos. So here's my question: Does gestational activity predict future childhood activity? All you Moms out there, what do you think? Were your little ones of a similar activity level after birth as before?

2- Another reason for our busy-ness this week was a product of my new calling. Over a week ago the Bishop met with us and found out we were expecting in December (that's right: I'm 23 weeks and not showing enough for people to just notice). Then he told us he was going to ask me to be the ward early-morning seminary teacher, but now on second-thought, he wanted to talk it over with the bishopric and pray about it some more.

Anyway, on Tuesday, he called and extended the call anyway. So, I am teaching seminary starting next week! They are going to have a team-teacher to help me after I have the baby. This mysterious person is also going to teach next week, since we'll be in Canada all week at a family reunion.

3- Another reason for a crazy week: Our trip to Canada. I am the ultimate cheap skate. I hate the fact that the airlines think they can weasel more money out of us by charging us for checking a bag. Does this seem ridiculous to anyone else? I spent several hours researching at TSA's website acceptable items for carry-on, another hour searching the fine-print of our bottles for their fluid ounce size, and then another hour at WalMart purchasing 3-oz size bottles.

I think the most annoying thing was my contact solution: a 12-oz bottle of WalMart brand solution is about $6. Their travel-size is $3, but it is 4-oz which breaks the TSA rules. So, I had to purchase the Bausch & Lomb brand "flight-ready" contact solution which cost $5. Yeah, it was almost as much to purchase 3-oz as 12-oz!

And between endless hours of Olympic-watching, editing of Ryan's thesis, driving back and forth to Madison, and practice run-throughs of his defense... Yes, it was a busy week. We can't wait for our vacation! And, in just two hours, we'll be home-free (fingers crossed)!

Madison Trip... #1

We headed to Madison this past weekend. Originally, Ryan was going to defend his thesis on Friday, and the girls up there were going to throw me a baby shower on Saturday. Unfortunately, Ryan was unable to defend on Friday (but we ARE headed back this Friday for his defense), but since invitations and all the planning was all ready done for the shower for this weekend, we went up anyway.

We had a great time with old friends. We actually felt like we'd never left! I am not a fan of shower games, so my friends avoided those for my sake. Instead, we used stamps to decorate crib sheets. They turned out really nice, and I am excited to use them!

Thank you to all the girls who helped plan and to the girls who came. It was so nice to see all of you. With a lot of luck, we'll be in Madison to finish up Ryan's schooling on Friday. YEA!

Home Again

For today, I am home again. I have spent the last two weeks with my mom, sister, and her baby in Utah. We were able to see many of my aunts, uncles and cousins in the process. Here's just a few of us.

I drove from here (Peoria, Illinois) on July 25th to my mom's in St. Louis, and the next morning we drove to pickup my aunt in Salina, Kansas. We stayed that night (July 26th) in Dillon, Colorado, and the next day we finished our trek to my sister's in Springville, UT. It was so nice to see my sister and her daughter, Janice, who is almost 2.

The next day (Monday morning) we left my sister's house to stay in her timeshare in Park City for the week. It was BEAUTIFUL, wonderful and relaxing.

We spent a lot of time at the pool, chasing J (who has zero-fear of water).

We also spent a lot of time on our balcony, enjoying the beautiful mountain air and watching cute, young families "play" tennis.

The only other way we spent our time was chasing J around the condo, trying to keep her out of the chocolate! She is definitely a girl!

After a week in Park City, we came back to Springville for the second week. We had such a good time with goofy, stubborn J. She is such a show-off for the camera.

Grandma (my mom) noticed a screw had come lose on her rocking horse, so she got a screw driver and put it back in. In typical Janice-style, she also had to "work" on the horse. She loves to be an adult.

Here she is after we talked her into riding her horse (like a normal 2-year old!).

But after two solid weeks of being away, I am so happy to be back home. Ryan made this cute sign to greet me.

I am now 21 weeks, and most people are still telling me I don't look pregnant. Thank goodness the baby is measuring just right. If not, I'd really be panicking. I am going to just be grateful for now that all the discomforts of large-dom have not yet hit me.

Next week we head to Madison for Ryan's defense. We CAN'T wait to see all our friends we left behind up there. The following week we are headed to Canada for Ryan's huge family reunion. (Tomorrow is actually the only Sunday this month I'll be in my ward in Peoria. Oops.)

I am particularly loving not working. Utah teachers start teacher-meetings on Monday, and Wisconsin teachers start the following week. I am loving my lack of responsibilities. Travel on!

It's a...

BOY!

All day I have been trying to talk myself into it being a girl, mostly because I didn't want to be disappointed if it was. Wouldn't that have been sad?
But, no fear, just as we both wanted, it is indeed a boy, and he wasn't bashful about sharing.

He (I can say that now without a sense of guilt) looks perfectly healthy and well. The doctor said more than once what a mover he was. He just wouldn't sit still, but I still haven't even felt him! He weighs 9 oz and is just the right size to be 19 weeks, still putting my due date on December 18th.

He sucked his thumb for us, and some other cute things, so I'll get the photos scanned and posted soon. I just wanted to share our happy news.
A boy...

Trapped!

I went to the basement a few minutes ago to add more to the growing pile (we haven't bought shelving yet) because the missionaries are coming for dinner and I am trying to clean up. We haven't been down there in at least a week, and to my astonishment I saw a frantic chipmunk scrabbling around in the window-well. When we bought the house we thought it was odd that the window-well outside hadn't been covered since it is so deep. Our basement was built in order to allow for one bedroom in the basement because of this egress window (it was one of our requirements as we were house hunting). It has been on our to-do list to purchase a covering, but I just up-ed its priority!As you can see, many things have fallen in. The milk jug is no longer my biggest worry! Do you see the little guys?

So, I called my mom and asked her what I should do. She said I should put a board down there so they could climb out on it. Since we didn't have anything long enough, I had to go over to our neighbor's house, and he found me a 2-by-4. (Yeah, that didn't fall in.) Anyway, do you think they'll crawl out? Did I scare them? Of all the animals (and you all know how much I avoid animals), I have always really liked chipmunks. I remember one Christmas my brother Rob and I made a gingerbread house. Around New Year's, we took it outside to see if any animals would eat it. There was this one chipmunk (at least we always assumed it was the same one) that would come and eat and eat at it. We would watch him for hours pick up little peppermints and pretzels and move his little jaw so quick! Yes, of all animals, I have always just adored chipmunks. Now, I have two trapped chipmunks that may end up just like the skull that is all ready down there! Hey, little guy, do you really want this to be your fate?

I know I just need to be patient and they should crawl out on their own, but I really want to throw them down some food. Grapes? Bread? I just don't want to be held responsible for their deaths! HELP!

Memories

Here is a fun little game I found on my friend Nicci's blog.

Leave a comment on my blog of a memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you've known me for a short time, or a long time. Anything you remember!

Next, re-post these instructions on your blog, and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty fun to see the responses.

If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game, and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

On your mark...get set...blog your memories!!

16 Weeks

So I know it looks like I am "trying" to look pregnant, but I promise my normal clothes totally don't fit, and I really can't button my jeans or anything. So... no snickering from the "experienced" moms.

Mowing the Lawn

I have now been unemployed for a month. As a school teacher, the guilt certainly hasn't begun to set in. I'm expecting it around the end of August.

As the unemployed wife, I have many tasks now which I used to pawn off on Ryan. For instance, I now have to do the grocery shopping. Before I was pregnant, we'd go together and see how quickly we could get through our lists and meet at the register. My first trimester, Ryan saved me and allowed me to privately puke at home while he experienced the varied smells of the grocery store. But now, I must venture to the grocery store on my own each week.

Another task I have recently acquired is mowing the lawn. Today was my first experience with this new job. I was supposed to mow it last week, but my parents came to visit, were thoroughly repulsed, and my dad saved the day. (THANKS DAD!)

Let me give you a not-so-quick run-down of my morning:

8:15 Open the garage and look at the mower.

8:20 Try to start the mower three times.

8:25 Decide that since I can't get the gas cap off, it must not need gas.

8:30 Find the bag, scratch my arm on the handle, and attach it.

8:35 Look at the front yard and discover a man with a measuring tape stretched across our front yard digging a hole in the neighbor's yard.

8:40 Sit down in front of the tv to watch The Today Show.

9:00 Look out the window and discover the "digging" man is gone.

9:01 Open the garage and look at the mower.

9:05 After trying to start the mower three times, I find the squirt can Ryan told me about in my foggy early morning daze.

9:10 Examine the mower to see if I can figure out where to squirt it, go inside, and send a text to Ryan asking him. Sit down to watch more of the Today Show.

9:30 Open the garage and look at the mower.

9:35 After trying to start the mower twice, I start squirting the can all over the sides. (didn't I see Ryan do something like this two weeks ago?)

9:40 On the 2nd try, the mower starts!

9:50 After mowing half of the front yard, I release the handle to empty the bag, and the mower turns off.

10:00 After trying to start the mower three times, I get the squirt can, squirt it all over, and yank the cord. It starts.

10:10 Finishing the front yard, I release the handle to empty the bag, and the mower turns off.

10:11 I try to start it, it doesn't start, I get the squirt can, I squirt it all over, and I yank the cord. The mower doesn't start. (Neighbors, what do you think of the weak, new girl who can't mow her lawn?)

10:13 I go inside, get a drink of water, and send a text to Ryan: "Never mind."

10:15 I casually stroll back to the beast. I squirt. I yank. I rest. I squirt. I yank. I squirt. I rest. I yank again. (Now the neighbors must really be enjoying their morning show...)

10:20 I squirt. I yank. Nothing. No luck. The dang thing won't start.

10:30 I join Drew Carrey for the Showcase Showdown.

11:00 I venture back out armed with packing tape and a blade. I strap the handle down and squirt all over. I yank, and it STARTS!

11:10 I release the bar, which is safely taped in place, remove the now-full-again bag (Why don't they make the dang bags bigger anyway?!), and get sprayed with grass. The front wheels are spinning. I am holding the bag in one hand, and I am desperately attempting to release the knob which engages the forward wheels. Then I see it: "Engage bar, then engage wheels." Oh, do you mean the bar I securely taped down so I wouldn't have to yank anymore?! That bar would probably have to be released to make the stupid wheels stop spinning, wouldn't it?

11:12 I drop the full bag of grass (which dumps out), attack the mower (which has now dug a hole in the yard with its spinning front wheels) firmly with two hands, and decide to forget the stupid bag!

11:30 The task is done.

Didn't think mowing the lawn could be so eventful, did ya? That's what you get when your husband finds a broken mower on the curb with someone's garbage, spends 1/2 of a day fixing it, and insists it's as good as a new one.

I'd disagree.

Fireworks Done Right

I love the Fourth of July. In fact, it is my all-time favorite holiday. I love the BBQs, the red/white/blue decorations, the waving American flags, the day off from work, the parades, and (of course) the FIREWORKS! I like to get to the fireworks early and set up camp and wander around the booths and chat with "the locals."

Last year I was in Madison for the 4th, and Ryan was in Washington at a family reunion. I hitched a ride with some friends (THANKS SHEENA AND JOHNNY!), and we couldn't find a place to park. We finally found a place to sit, but I couldn't really see and the BOOMS were far away.

This year Ryan out-did himself. Thursday night we attended the "family-friendly" fireworks. They were held at the ampitheater by the zoo. While the local symphony performed, we walked around and visited the carnival-like booths. All the music during the show was classical. It was great, and we had a great view.

Friday night we attended the "younger-crowd" fireworks. They were held downtown on the riverfront. While a local band performed, we walked around. All the music during the show was the regular Independence Day stuff. It was great, and the booms were so loud, they actually hurt my ear drums.

Ryan has definitely made up for leaving me last year. It was a great 4th of July. I hope everyone enjoyed their BBQs and fireworks. Happy Independence Day!