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!

Four and a half years... of exciting anniversaries

Today is Ryan and I's four and a half year anniversary. We were married two days after Christmas, and despite parental advice, we thought it wouldn't be a problem to always celebrate over the Christmas holiday.

We were wrong. With an anniversary right after Christmas, we have always been on the road visiting our parents. Therefore, we usually stay in a random, cheap hotel in the mall next to our parents' homes. Not exciting.

So, in an effort to be more exciting, we decided we should celebrate our half anniversary, June 27th. But has this solution solved our problem?

Last year on our 1/2 anniversary, Ryan flew to Washington for a family reunion that I couldn't get off work to attend. I was at work, and he was at the airport, when the DHL man walked in. Ryan had gotten me a vase of bamboo. (Surprisingly, due to no effort on my part, Ryan has managed to keep it alive for a full year now. It currently smiles at me from the kitchen counter.) An exciting 1/2 anniversary? Not really.

So, you may be asking, what am I doing for him this year? Something exciting?

As I mentioned in my previous posting, I am still quite nauseous on a regular basis, so Ryan has been preparing all our meals and doing all our grocery shopping for the last 15-weeks. The thought of food... not good.

Tonight, here's my "exciting" plan: Italian marinated chicken breasts, rice, steamed fresh broccolli, and a side salad.

But can I pull it off? Thawing the chicken breasts and placing them in the salad dressing about an hour ago resulted in three loud, obnoxious gags. But, blessedly, I didn't throw up. Now, I just have to get it into a baking dish and then the oven this evening without puking. Can I do it?

And that's the plan to celebrate our 4-1/2 year anniversary this evening. Nothing too exciting, but we wouldn't want to ruin the tradition.

Welcome to the World of Blogging!

It is time. I have spent a lot of time convincing Ryan that I can keep our blog private, and with all our life changes lately, I think it is time. Also, if one more friend asks me about our blog or if we blog, I may scream.

So, a little about the life changes that have prompted me to start blogging.

1- Ryan has a... career! Ryan started working for Caterpillar on Tuesday. Though he is still working on his thesis in the evenings, and we will return to Madison in August for his defense, he is unofficially graduated and will get his first "real" paycheck the first of August. We can't wait! So far, he really loves it and is enjoying himself.

2- We own a home! Though we closed on our home May 5th, we moved in... a week ago today. It is so fun to do laundry and never have to wait for an available machine and to leave it in the washer or dryer as long as I want without fear of a stranger touching my underwear. It is so nice to be able to stand in the kitchen at the same time as Ryan and cook together without stepping on each other's feet. We even have work space! It is so nice to weed the flower bed while Ryan mows the lawn (OUR lawn!). It is funny how what used to be a chore growing up is now kinda fun in your own place! It is so nice to load the dishwasher after dinner instead of rock-paper-scissoring about washing the dishes. This is definitely the life.

3- We are expecting our first baby! Today I am officially 15 weeks. My due date is December 18th. We are so excited about our little one. We are hoping for a boy who won't be bothered by a Holiday birthday. I have been feeling quite a lot better than about a month ago, but I am still waiting for the "2nd Trimester Bliss" the doctors, websites, and my friends talk about. I'm ready! I have noticed I have more energy and that I can go without eating for an hour or two, but... it is going to get even better right? (I threw up this morning, so....)

4- I'm not working anymore! June 10th marked my last day as a full-time teacher. I taught 6th grade for two years in Utah, and 4th grade for one year in Wisconsin. I had a little bit of a nervous break-down when I realized on June 13th that I'd never receive another paycheck, but my heart tells me I'm doing what's right. It is just my brain that is freaking out!

Well, those would be all the major life changes in the last month that have prompted my desire to start blogging. Hopefully, I will be able to match wit with some of you out there. One of the main reasons I haven't done this sooner is because whenever I read your blogs, I laugh to the point of crying at the humorous experiences you have. I am just not that funny (and don't have as many funny experiences), but I will try.