Roommate Anniversary Dinner!

To celebrate our fifth anniversary (and Kerry's fourth, and Emily's golden birthday) we went down to Utah to party it up all weekend long and began the festivities with dinner at India Palace. Happily, Kendel was in town for BYU's Education Week and he came along, too! We really enjoyed the meal and the company and even though we were there for a few hours, the time was too short. I wish we lived closer so we could visit with these awesome people more often!

Baby Pictures

Introducing Aurora Celeste, our new little angel 

 

More Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's day, again! Clark got me flowers (awwww) and a sweet card about our hectic, toddler-filled life. The girls got Daddy some candy and a "doggie!" card, and I found a fun printable of the lyrics for "Love Me Do" set in the shape of a heart.
We didn't really get to celebrate on the fourteenth since Clark is part of a barbershop group and they get hired out to perform singing telegrams which meant he was gone for seven hours that night. But the Allens were kind enough to watch our girls on Saturday so that we could go to Butterburr's for dinner and watch (some of) Joss Whedon's "Much Ado About Nothing." About halfway into it, Clark was already asleep since he'd had such a crazy week and was starting to get sick, so we picked up the girls early and called it a night. Very low-key, but nice to have some time to ourselves and to have Clark be able to help others celebrate the holiday.

Valentine's Day

A few thoughts today:

• It's my fifth Valentine's Day with the same wonderful person. (Dating, dating, pregnant, child, two children.)
• On our first Valentine's Day together, I was gifted the second X-Files movie. :)
• On our third, we were pretty much absolutely broke and Clark went to the dollar store and bought me Twilight candy hearts. We still have them. Azucena thinks they make great maracas.
• This year, I made sure to buy bacon so that Clark can have his favorite food for dinner.

I very much love my husband. I'm glad that he works hard so we can have a roof over our head, food in our fridge and, most of all, so I can spend my entire day with my sweet little babies. I think my favorite thing is seeing him playing with the girls--letting Azucena burrow into his shoulder, helping Adelaide stand up, singing "Wheels on the Bus" twelve times in a row.

Happy Valentine's Day, husband! (Now where's my chocolate?!)

courtesy of Marcie Jessee Photography

The Birth (in pictures)

Here are a few pictures to elaborate on Adelaide's birth story:

Week 39 (November 29)

Just after getting checked into the hospital (can you tell that I haven't slept well the last two nights?)

  

Adelaide, just minutes after being born. Can you see her dimple? She has another one on the other side. :D

 

The three Earley girls                 I love the signs they make in the hospital!

Here's my daughter. You can definitely tell she and Azucena are related. She has Azucena's nose, but her hair is MUCH darker (ethnic hair, for my old roommates that read this), and her cheeks are a different shape (plus she has those dimples!). I'm pretty sure her eyes will go dark, too, because they're a darker baby-grey than Azucena's were. I love the little things I'm learning about Adelaide and the fact that she has a different personality from Azucena already.

Thanks for indulging in my photo dump!

Adelaide's Birth Story

Our second daughter was born today. We love her so very much!

The medium-ish lengthed story:

I started having contractions Saturday night just before 11 p.m. (Why? Because my body hates sleep.)
They were about 8 minutes apart and lasted until about 8 in the morning

Then they quit. Sort of. I'd have two, up to four, contractions every hour throughout the rest of Sunday. This meant we went to church so I could have choir practice and so we could attend and participate in Sacrament meeting.

Afterward, we headed to Riverton so we could be closer to the hospital and so Azucena could be with her grandparents already should Clark and I need to hustle to get checked in.

But the contractions remained irregular.

We said good night a little after 8, packed up, and headed home for the night so Clark could rest up for work. We hit a really awesome rainstorm (that made us use back roads since the highway was freakin' scary) and started to settle in about nine in the evening.

Since Clark and I had spent most of Saturday night awake/packing the hospital bags that we'd been neglecting, we were pretty tired and were both very grateful that Azucena fell asleep in the car and stayed asleep when we got home. We discussed our options of when it would be good to go to the hospital. I reminded Clark that we had an appointment with my OB/GYN scheduled for the next morning, in about twelve hours. We agreed to do nothing until then. We went to bed and began to sleep.

Then the contractions got pretty icky.

Around one in the morning, I started to wake up every five minutes or so to painful contractions. Really, really painful. They weren't strong enough to take my breath away, but I couldn't move for a good 30 seconds each time they happened.

At 4:30, I gave up and woke Clark up, asking if it would be all right to drive down to the hospital to get their opinion on my condition instead of trying to hold out another five hours for my doctor appointment. Clark was a sweetheart and immediately sat up, got dressed, and packed stuff in the car.

We arrived at the hospital a little after 5:30 and were admitted to a triage room within 15 minutes. Just before 6, the nurse checked my progression, declared me dilated to a 6, with a bag about ready to burst, and told me we'd be having a baby very soon.

Immediately, the cell phone satellite over Utah got really busy. :D

Azucena left the hospital with her grandparents while we got put into a labor and delivery room. 

The nurses were sweet and helpful and one in particular made sure that she put us on the anesthesiologist's list so that we wouldn't have to wait too long for the epidural (there were several c-sections this morning). I'm just going to take a second here to plug for modern medicine: I am SO grateful that I could have that extra medicine to help me handle the last few hours of my pregnancy and the delivery of my baby girl. I have a decent tolerance for pain, but having had contractions for the past 30 hours and about 5 - 6 hours of sleep total the past two nights, I don't think I'd've had the strength to go natural. I'm not saying everyone should do it, but I am saying that I am happy it was an option for me.

8:00 - still a 6+ so my doctor asked that the on-call doctor break my bag. Done.
9:10 - 8 cm
10:15 - 10 cm, called the doctor to come in for the delivery
just past 10:25 - started pushing. During the first contraction, Adelaide lowered. During the second, she crowned. During the third, she came.

10:42 is her official time of birth.

We love her.

You can tell she's Azucena's sister.

She has lovely black hair.

She has the most gorgeous dimples in both cheeks. (The first thing the attending baby nurse said was, "does your other daughter have dimples? Because this one has dimples.")

She's wonderful and beautiful and precious.

We love her.

I can't wait to share a few pictures with you!

Second Anniversary!

Clark was such a sweetheart and got tickets to the Desert Star Theater (a local parody theater) production of Wicked-er! for our second anniversary. Since it didn't start running until after our anniversary, we had to wait a couple of weeks to celebrate. But you know what? It was really fun having little things to celebrate every other week. It made September really fun. :D Anyway, I couldn't take pictures during the production (obviously) but it was a really great environment, it was dinner and a show (and they had the BEST fry sauce I've EVER eaten), and the actors were hilarious. And the playhouse includes an olio at the end where they sample a few other shows (both with real and parody lyrics) which I thought showcased their talent quite nicely. Oh! And they have a piano player accompanying them the entire time. See how cool it is? And how you should already have tickets for their next show?!

Thanks, husband, for such a fun anniversary! Love you!

Time Machine

If I could do it (the wedding) all over again, I would do this:

A Harry Potter Wedding

Isn't it perfect? :D

Portland

At the airport, we got a list of places to try out and one that was listed was the BluePlate Grill (which had been featured on Food Network). The food was delicious and I love that that was my first impression of Portland!


Of COURSE we had to go to VooDoo Donuts! After all, we were in Portland!






When Clark found out about Powell's City of Books, he unselfishly told me we could go and visit for a while, if I wanted. See why I married him? :D






Guess who drove us all over Oregon?


We had a room with a King Size bed, for you-know-who. ;)


For some reason, you can't fill up your own gas in Oregon. It was really charming, but completely threw us off the first time we went to a gas station.

The piece de resistance, me and Azucena with Conan O'Brien!

Almost back to real life

Tomorrow Clark and I fly back to Utah. It's been a crazy week! I can't wait to make real updates on this blog. Until then, here's a bullet list of highlights:

*no sleep before wedding
*awesome wedding
*nothing going according to "Clark and Natalia's plan for their own reception"
*awesome family
*delayed plane ride
*crappy car rental situation
*out of rooms at hotel
*free upgrade at hotel
*free upgrade of car rental
*getting lost in Orlando more than once
*flooding at the hotel
*HARRY POTTER LAND
*the best husband ever

Sappy picture

And when I say sappy, I mean it.

I mean, it's kissing.

On camera.

(Bear in mind that I didn't realize I was having my picture taken right at this moment. I thought Camile was done with the photographs.)

I have other pictures from the dance that I'll upload later, when I'm supposed to be awake. :D

Valentine's Day

I promise I won't get (too) sappy. ;)

What I gave for Valentine's Day:

• a really cheesy card (think: Nacho Libre)
• Twilight candy hearts (they were the only variety at the store. They said things like "dazzle" and "bite me." ::facepalm::)
• iTunes gift card (because, seriously, that's the best thing to get Kralc)
  

What I got for Valentine's Day:

• alone time with Clark
• a book filled with historical essays
• a beautiful purple bouquet
  

Here are some pictures (sorry, they're two days old at this point):

Anniversary

I love dates and numbers. I'm pretty good at remembering things as long as there is a number involved. But even if that weren't true, I'm sure that I would remember that today is my one year anniversary. :D

Musical theater often lends insight

So, I was listening to the soundtrack of the Scarlet Pimpernel this evening and Lullaby came on, and here are what are, essentially, the first and third verses of the piece:

"Go to sleep, say your prayers
Rest your head upon my shoulder
Slumber deep and breathe your cares away
. . .
Don't you cry, my darling, you are home
You and I together make a home"

And I was thinking about how much I want my relationship with my Savior to be like this. I want to be able to listen to him say, "rest your head" and let Him envelop me in His love, let Him completely wash away my worries and my doubts and have Him remind me that life is okay, I'll be okay, and that the results of choices I need to make will be okay, no matter what the answer will be. However, I know that life isn't simple, can't be condensed down to a few lines and I know that choices I have made in the past definitely affect my future. And how stupid I can be, sometimes. And how much I hope He still loves me, and how much I know He's supposed to love me, but how hard it is for me to believe it.

**edit**
"Precious young people, make every decision you contemplate pass this test: What does it do to me? What does it do for me? And let your code of conduct emphasize not 'What will others think?' but rather 'What will I think of myself?' Be influenced by that still, small voice. Remember that one with authority placed his hands on your head at the time of your confirmation and said, 'Receive the Holy Ghost.' Open your hearts, even your very souls, to the sound of that special voice that testifies of truth. As the prophet Isaiah promised, 'Thine ears shall hear a word . . . saying, This is the way, walk ye in it' (Isaiah 30:21)." -President Thomas S. Monson

Bonding

I am eternally grateful for the people in my life. Especially the ones I "have to" live with. My roommates this past year have been utterly amazing and I know that the Lord was looking out for (at least) me.

Last night, in particular, reminded me of how much I am loved and cared for. Thank you, my dear, sweet roommates, for your patience, understanding, wisdom-beyond-years, and love. For truly trying to help me see who I need to be and who I can be. For reminding me that I am a daughter of God and he wants nothing but my happiness.

For being my sisters.

Too subtle for you, hmm?

Apparently I've been too subtle (or, to put it another way, haven't dropped enough "anvil-sized hints").

Hey, guess what bloggers at large? I'm dating someone. And he's pretty frawesome. He can be found here.
And . . . I kind of really like him. And I have yet to take a picture of the two of us (soon to be rectified) but if you'd like some amusing stories to keep you happy while I go and collect those, you can be directed to here and the comments here.

*edit* Here's a picture, kids:

Happy, happy, happy

I just got back from an evening of dancing and being with people I love and adore (and, hey, I figured out it's called Salsa Chocolate, so there you go).

The only thing making this *not* perfection is the fact that I have to be at a visiting teaching meeting in 6 1/2 hours.

This one time. . .

You can ask my sister--I'm a ridiculously hopeless romantic/old-school kind of person. I've always wondered what it would be like if I had been raised in the 1880s, 1920s or 1950s because, other than the fact that I'm an extremely independant lady, I think I would've fit into those eras fairly well. (Well, the first mainly for the dresses that they wore and, yes, I know that's not a legitimate reason to want to switch decades but this is a blog post, okay?)

I can't really describe it, but I've always loved how things kind of worked out "back then." I mean, I was watching a music video (yeah, yeah, you thought this blog would be completely music-reference-free? Don't you know me?) for "Dark Blue" by Jack's Mannequin and the basis of it is a dance competition--very 50s. In fact, the girls are all wearing skirts that resemble those of the poodle-variety (oh, if y'all had only known me in the eighth grade) with pony tails all done up with ribbons in their hair. I can't dance, but I love to go dancing and that was such a happy decade--everyone being relaxed (relieved that the war was over) and new (good) music was just emerging and changes in life and attitude were happening and folks just wanted to celebrate life and be happy.

Which is probably the reason I like the 20s. If you ignore all the crime (well, there's always crime and bad things, remember how I'm focusing on the good?) and the blatant nonobservance of Prohibition, the 20s were also pretty darn rad. I mean, flappers were all about dancing and enjoying themselves, women were coming into their own, families were doing pretty all right. . .I mean, if the decade weren't so darn peppy, how did it get the nickname "Roarin'"? :D

And then I'm reminded of gorgeous ballgowns and box dinners and carriages and dance cards and I swoon just a little. I mean, any girl who was ever a girl thought about living in a time where all women were demure and the guys were actual *gentlemen*. And they'd call each other Mr. and Ms. and I seriously still get a little weak in the knees when a guy I like actually calls me by my proper name. There's just something very. . .exhilarating about the whole thing.

The end.

"Oh you kids, I love you, too"

I have no idea what a puppet Snape has to do with Spanish, but it was the only title I could think of for this post.

I really, really, really need to practice my Spanish. Because it's failing hardcore. :D

Hugging!

(That title is meant to heard in a Ron Weasley from Potter Puppet Pals sort of voice.)

I was once told that, in order to feel adequately loved and appreciated, the average person needs 5 - 8 hugs, DAILY. Sunday was just about the luckiest day for me--I got so many hugs from friends that had come back from their Christmas vacations and also from the folks that I'd been able to hang out since my own return. It filled my soul with joy to know that I have so many wonderful, loving people in my life and that they are willing to show their affection in such a special way. Even last night, when my friend/visiting teacher came out of the building and ran toward me and we almost crushed each other into the snow piles that surrounded us because we were hugging so hard--those kinds of hugs are totally worth it and memorable. Happy day!