'tis the season

It's that time of year again, Present time, I mean Christmas time. Over the years I've posted some ideas of presents people can buy for me (or themselves). This year I'm doing the same only differently. Here's the thing, yeah there is plenty of stuff that I want but what do I really need. Nothing. I have plenty to eat (trust me), a loving, providing husband, two healthy beautiful children, a nice house and even an annoying dog. By all accounts I'm one lucky lady. So this year the things I want aren't just for me but can help women and children who aren't as lucky as me.

I went to the mall yesterday with the idea to get Ike a 'Build-a-bear' but I just couldn't bring myself to buy it. For one thing the bears clothes cost more than I'd spend on Ike's clothes. The other thing is for the same price I could buy one of these cute bears. Each FEED 5 bear that is sold will provide Plumpy'Nut®, a high nutrient paste, to 5 children under the age of 5 years old through the non-profit organization Industrial Revelation. I also want one of these cute bags that will feed 1 child for a year. That's 60 bucks to feed a child for an entire year, that's like 1 bi-weekly trip to Walmart. They also sell bags like these at Barnes and Noble and Whole Foods as well as other places, check out The Feed Project website.

I also want this book Half The Sky. It's been featured on Oprah a couple of times and shares stories of women around the world overcoming unbearable oppression and turning their life around and becoming powerful educated women. It also shares ideas about how we can help. One thing that intrigues me is how Micro Loans can transform a woman's life.

There are a number of things you can do to help women and children in other country through Oprah's website. It ranges from things you can do for Free to $7 to give a girl textbooks for a year and on up. In fact if you want to get Ian a present why not give a $10: Health Services for a Mother and Her Baby. It delivers health services to one mother and her baby, including prenatal and postnatal care, routine checkups, immunizations and safe delivery services. From us Ian is getting being born, which trust me, cost more than $10.

On Oprah she has some suggestions from Heifer International which is one of Ryan and my favorite charities. For $10 to $5000 you can provide animals to 3rd world countries. This way I can buy that goat that Ryan wants but I don't have to feed it everyday or clean up after it. Plus it's a witty way to give a gift, you can buy $10 Bees for someone and tell them you think they are "the bees knees". Or you can buy a single guy some chicks, cause that's what single guys are looking for right. They will also give you a card to present to the person you are buying for so it makes a great gift, especially to me!

There are also some great gift ideas from Product Red that help fight aids.

Oprah's recent show ended with this simple yet profound video from The Girl Effect. Please watch it and if you want to make a donation in my honor or yours I'd be over joyed. And that's what the season is about right, bringing Joy to others.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

I'm not kidding

This is Ike dancing around to K'naan. He's also wearing that hat cause it looks like the one K'naan wears and he's even trying to sing the part that's in a different language. As you can see my iPhone is on the table away from me which means he pulled up this video himself and was dancing around to it before I grabbed my camera. I'm sure some may think I'm exaggerating how much my kid likes K'naan, but you have no idea.

K'naan

My family has a new favorite artist we are obsessed with. K'naan. That's right my whole family, Ike especially. We've listened to music with him before but he hasn't really cared until Ryan introduced him to K'naan. He now can't get enough. First he would ask Ryan every time he was around to listen to K'naan, then he learned to find it himself on the iPhone, then he figured out how to watch him on youtube, I don't know how this kid figures things out so quick.

Do you have a favorite artist that you listen to so much that you just assume everybody must listen and love them as much as you do. Well that's how I'm starting to feel about K'naan although I know most people haven't heard him yet so I'm trying to change that. Now he is a hip hop artist so I know he's not for everyone but I think he has universal appeal. If nothing else his story makes him interesting. He was raised in Mogadishu, Somalia. After civil war broke out his visa was approved the last day the American embassy was open and was on the last commercial flight out of Somalia. He taught himself english by listening to hip hop. He feels his purpose to to tell people about the things he's seen and lived through. Listening to his lyrics kind of puts into perspective how hard life can really be. I think he kind of puts American rappers to shame, like you think you've had a hard life, try growing up in a war torn 3rd world country.

I think it's important for us to learn about other cultures and other times in history when people survived despite so much adversity. It makes me thankful for even the small things in my life. Like when I wish I had a second bathroom, I stop and am thankful that I have indoor plumbing and a roof over my head.

Family Portrait

We went to a fun wedding reception last night that had a little photo booth set up. I thought it was a great idea because they printed out 2 of your pictures so you could put one in the sign in book and keep one. It's rare to get a family picture so I'll take what I can get. If anyone else is interested the website is http://www.footloosephotobooth.com/

They had some fun music playing at the reception too. Ike showed off is new dance skills and I even busted a move when they played House of Pain's 'Jump Around'. It gave me total church dance flash backs.

I need to blog

I think this is the longest I've gone without blogging, on my site anyways, I've posted a few things on Ike's. I've found that it's alot easier to post a status update on Facebook than it is to write out a whole post with pictures and all.

I just updated my sisters blog she started for her sewing class, http://thejuniorhomemakers.blogspot.com/ they are making some really cute stuff. I keep thinking about getting my sewing machine working but I need to just do it cause I like sewing but I haven't done much lately.

My nephew Brian is going on a mission this month to Calgary, I can't believe he's old enough to go. His sister Sam is here at BYU so I get to hang out with her which has been alot of fun, and she has even offered to babysit which I need to take advantage of.

My mom came up to visit for a few days and we had a good time shopping and hanging out. Then my Dad came and joined her and was here for Ian's blessing.

We blessed him at Ryan's parents house like we did with Ike, then we had a yummy dinner.

Ike last night at 4:30am said 'bye Grandpa Chuck', don't ask me why.

Ian's been a really good baby, he's slept all night two nights this week, I don't want to jinx it but I'm really happy about it. I have a feeling he's going to be a better sleeper than Ike, note the 4:30 am Ike comment.

I bought Ike some goldfish today because I took him over to see the fish and he kept obsessing over it so I thought what the heck, I'll spend a dollar and get some gold fish. Well then he was so excited about them he got a hole in the bag, so picture me with a 2 year old that won't sit down in the cart, a 2 month old strapped to my chest, a leaking bag of goldfish trying to check out at Walmart. The joys of motherhood, as Sharon just put it.

I bought Ike a training potty and some spongebob underwear and we had quite a fun afternoon. How kids know instinctively to put underwear on their heads amazes me. We aren't pushing the potty training yet, just getting him interested.

I think I've decided to have Ike be a farmer for Halloween this year. I want Ian to be a farm animal if I can find a cute costume, and I'm going to be a farmers daughter. Ryan will be what he is every year, a party pooper.

I attempted to make beans the other night. I soaked them for over 12 hours then cooked them from 3 till about 9pm and they still weren't done but then I got them out and cooked them some more the next day and they actually turned out. When I was eating them Ryan asked, 'are those going to give you gas?'. Answer, Yes!

My life has been pretty mellow lately, which is the way I like it but it doesn't make for exciting blogging but that's ok with me.

We are all finally feeling better. Well except for Ian who is still a little congested. It's been a long month but on Saturday it was Ian's month birthday.
It was Ryan's birthday on Saturday too. We got to go to breakfast and to a movie later that night. Hopefully he had a nice birthday. Ryan discovered this new restaurant in Orem called Joe's Cafe, it's by that pebble in my pocket store. They serve breakfast and lunch and all I can say is try the Grits, they were soo good.

My sister Rainey was here this weekend too. It was perfect timing for her to come, we were just all feeling better and I needed to get out of the house a little. We had a fun visit, I wish she lived closer. It makes me sad that I don't know her boys anymore, I use to live with them so I got to know them really good but that was 5 years ago and you know how kids change. While Rainey was here I talked her into doing a photoshoot of the boys for Ryans birthday.

I've got a two year old on my lap pulling my hair and a baby crying a filling his diaper so that would be the reason for so few posts.

Sick of being Sick

We've got a house full of sickies right now. It started out with Ike getting an eye infection last Tuesday so I took him in to the doctor and got him some eye drops. Then Saturday I got a sore throat and congestion. Tuesday I woke up from my nap with goop in my eye from an eye infection. Then I took a bath around 2 and when I got out my ears were all plugged up then they started hurting. So when Ryan got home I decided I better go to Urgent care and get checked out. Turned out I had an eye infection, a really bad Ear infection, really red sore throat along with the congestion and runny nose. The doctor gave me an antibiotic and recommend I get some sleep. He said I need at least 2 solid sessions of 4 hours of sleep. Well tell that to my new baby and sick 2 year old.
I thought I was starting to feel better. Then Ike got a runny nose and started coughing and had a fever on Wednesday. Ike and I have been coughing back and forth for the last couple days now. My throat is hurting again but I'm hoping it's from all the coughing and not strep. Ryan started feeling sick on Friday and Saturday he had a fever and a really bad sore throat so I talked him into going to Urgent Care to see if it's strep. Luckily Holly had stopped by to see the baby and she offered to stay while I ran Ryan to the doctor. His strep came back negative but the "Doctor" said it looked like it so they sent in another culture but he hasn't heard back yet.
We all have a sexy raspy voice now which would be sexy if it didn't hurt to talk. My ears are still plugged up which is my worst thing because it makes me feel dizzy and I can't hear very well and I have a weird echo in one ear. I've been on antibiotics for 6 days now and still have all the symptoms I started out with so it's kind of frustrating. The really frustrating thing is that I recovered so quick from having the baby and was feeling good and getting stuff done around the house then all this hit and it has just taken me out. Ian has a little snot and has coughed a couple times but otherwise he's been ok, thank goodness. I'm really hoping we are feeling better by next week so my friends can come see Ian before he gets too big. He'll still be cute he's just growing out of new born size.

Doin' Good

I have to say for having a baby a week ago I've been feeling pretty good. The whole having a baby thing went a lot smoother than I thought it would. I scheduled an induction for 8 on Wed. the 22nd. We got to the hospital about 8:30, because apparently Ryan wasn't in a hurry. They started my pitocen around 9:30, I got my epidural around 11:30 and the baby arrived about 1:30. Three contractions and he was out. I have to say I was amazed. It took about 12 hours and 2 1/2 hours of pushing. Because everything went so well my recovery was a lot faster than I expected.
I can't thank Ryan's family enough. His mom and sister cleaned my house while I was in the hospital. Then Monday and Tuesday they babysat Ike so I could get some rest. My parents were able to be here for the birth too which was great. I even got a few foot rubs out of it. Thanks Mom. My friends Kellee, Amy and Hannah all came to see me at the hospital which was fun. We got dinner and presents from the ward. And I got a lot of encouragement ant support on facebook. So I just want to thank everyone for all the help and love. I'm feeling good and I have a cute little baby to show for it all.

New Arrival

Ian Charles Weidauer

Born July 22, 2009

7 lbs 10 oz

20.5 inches

Tomorrow is the Big Day

unless something happens today, knock on wood.
I'm scheduled to be induced tomorrow Wednesday the 22nd. Most likely we will be headed to the hospital early. I'm delivering at Timpanogos Hospital in Orem. The on call doctor that day is one I really liked so I'm happy about that even though the doctor usually ends up being there about 15 mins. Ryan's mom and sister want to help with delivery which is cool with me. I told them I have no desire to see what's going on down there but if they do cool. My parents are coming in to town to help out also.
I'll be updating my Facebook status regularly (I think) so check there for updates. I've figured out how to upload pictures onto facebook from my new iPhone but haven't figured out how to upload them to the blog so check there. Maybe one of the girls from my bookclub can show me how to do it since I'm planning on going to bookclub tonight.
Today I'm hoping to relax as much as possible while getting as much done as I can. I'm pretty much packed I just need to pick up my house a bit. And of coarse enjoy my last day with Ike as my only child. He's my little sweetheart, I'm hoping this all doesn't traumatize him too much.

1 Week To Go

I can't believe my due date is in 1 week. I had a doctors appointment yesterday and got the same Nurse Practitioner I had the week before who came in and said 'hi I'm (so and so) do you have any questions ok I'm going to listen to the heartbeat'. Note the lack of commas, that's because she didn't pause. If you are on facebook you may have read what happened this week, but to recap.
She comes in has me lay back, as she is checking the heartbeat she says. "I'm going to scrape your membrane today which will probably send you into labor in the next 24 to 48 hours." to which I said 'um really?' "yeah ok if I do this right it will hurt alot." I kind of started freaking out cause this was all in less than a minute. So she about ready to do it and I say to her 'um, I actually don't want the baby to come till next week'. She looked surprised and said, "oh, most women want me to do it. Ok I'll just check your cervix" which I'm at a 2 and 75% effaced like last week. As soon as she was done she said, OK see you next week and left.
That was the entire visit. She didn't even ask me if I had any questions which being a week away you would think I might just. The waiting room was completely empty when I got there and was empty when I left, so there was no reason for her to rush me like that. Then I realized later that she didn't even measure my stomach, which really pisses me off because I have gestational diabetes and I think monitoring the babies size is kind of important. Obviously I'm still fuming about it today. Thankfully I won't have to go back to her.
So here is what I'm hoping will happen next week based on my experience with Ike. I figure I'm going to need to be induced because Ike was 10 days late and still induced. I want to schedule it for Weds. the 22nd. I'm still a little vague on what I'm doing with Ike since my babysitters also want to be in the room when I'm delivering. I'm not really a planner, but I'm getting frustrated that I don't know exactly what's going to happen like what time I'll check in and how long I'll be in labor. I guess I need to just relax and let it happen.
On a happy note, Ryan got me an iPhone so I'm having fun playing and figuring out that. Also I should be able to take pictures and email or post them pretty quickly. I may have to do some practice posts before then.

The More you Know

Sometimes I wish I was still naive and uninformed because then things like this wouldn't make me so upset. This whole health care reform has had me intrigued for a while now. I get so frustrated when I hear the arguments against it because I know that it's all the lobbyist manipulating the politicians.

Well Bill Moyers show this week was incredibly insightful. His guest Wendell Potter who was the former head of corporate communications at Cigna talks to Bill Moyer and shares some insider secrets. In this interview he tells what is really going on in the insurance companies. I highly recommend you watch THIS.

Ryan and I were talking about it the other day and think (and wish) that Health Care reform should be something that we vote on and not something the politicians are left to decide for us.

The funny thing is, yesterday I was listening to Radio West with Jon Ronson as a guest talking about his book Them. It's about his experience hanging out with conspiracy theorists and terrorists. It intrigued me so I was watching some stuff last night about the Bilderberg Group and some other conspiracy. So today I go to watch the Bill Moyers Journal that I had recorded last night and guess what, all black. It recorded solid black for the full hour. Spooky, jk. I was irritated though so I watched in online.

This video is not short but it's the most informative discussion I've heard so far about health care so I really hope you will watch it. So much of politics today are based on scare tactics. If we are informed then we can't be scared by irrational claims. Might be more pissed off about what's going on but at least we won't be scared.

Shower in the Park

My book club girls threw me a baby shower at the park today. It was a perfect day under the trees. They all brought yummy food and got me some really nice presents. It was really thoughtful of them to do this all for me.

I guess they'd be planning it for a while. Then Hannah got a hold of me Monday and asked if I knew about Saturday, I had no clue, luckily I didn't have plans and everything turned out perfect.

Thanks girls for thinking of me, and the little fellow in my belly.

Knocked Up (WT) Pin Up Girl

Did you have a good laugh? I do every time I look at these. But I love them, can't help it. So I had this crazy idea for my pregnancy shots to do a white trash pin up girl look. Don't ask me where I get my ideas, but I wanted something different than the normal belly pictures. So I asked my friend Cathy (Cotton Sox Photography) and she was nice enough to humor me. They turned out better than I had imagined, which takes an awesome photographer. I love that Ike is in almost all the pictures too. Ryan was a little embarrassed by them so don't give him a hard time about having such a hot pregnant wife.

Young Love

Matt and Maggie

7-3-09

My little brother-in-law got married today. They make such a cute couple, I'm so happy for them. They were married in the Draper temple today and the reception is tonight. It's been fun to have so much of Ryan's family here. It's especially fun to have a new sister-in-law. Now the competition is really on for who is the favorite daughter-in-law.

Congratulations you two!

Fun at the Photo booth

I love the photo booth at the Kmart in Orem. I just love the retro quality of it.

How do you get a kid on a swivel seat to cooperate? Don't ask me.

I was hoping for one of Ike kissing his soon to be baby brother but he wasn't interested. oh well.

Yeah we are cheesy, I know.

So the countdown begins...

This was Ike on the day we brought him home from the hospital.

Ike at the hospital

T minus 30 days. Here we go.
I'm excited and nervous for this little guy to get here. I'm definitely done being pregnant though. I won't go into all my complaints because if you've been through it you know. It's all worth it though, right?

I had a doctors appointment today and he told me to come home and tell my husband that 'I'm perfect'. He said I'm right on schedule with everything. TMI warning... I'm 50% effaced and 1/2 cent. dilated. Which he expected me be at so that's good.

We're trying to get Ike use to the idea but I'm not sure he's grasped it yet. With Ike we were worried how the dog would react, which we were pleasantly surprised about. So hopefully that will be the same with Ike. He's a sweet boy and I can't imagine him changing too much.

I'm due July 21st and will be delivering at Timpanogos Hospital in Orem. I'll update you all before then. Ryan's little brother is getting married July 3rd and his sister is leaving for Australia on the 22nd so I'm shooting for sometime in between then.

Wish me luck!

Happy Father's Day!

I just want to wish all those father's out there a Happy Father's Day. Especially to Ryan who is the Amazing father I knew he would be. To my Dad who I get to see in a couple weeks. He's a great man and raised a lot of cool kids. And to my new dad Dennis who is a great example, to me and all his kids, of hard work and humility. I love these man and others in my life that are great fathers and great men.

I have a 2 year old!

Ike turned 2 yesterday! I really can't believe how fast it's gone. He did eat his cake alot cleaner this year. We had a fun party at Grandma W's house. I threw a Wow Wow Wubbzy Garden Party. I have to show off a little of what I put together for it.

This was the cake I made. I came up with the idea a few months ago and it actually turned out about how I planned. I used edible (but not tasty) grass that they sold at easter. I actually got alot of the stuff I used for the party from the Easter clearance sales. Oreo's for the dirt of coarse and some wild flowers from my front yard. Then wubbzy doing cartwheels around the top. The actual cake was pretty tasty too, I had to have a little piece even though I'm not suppose to.

I made a fun fruit bouquet. It turned out pretty cute but it was a pain to transport over, it was really top heavy and I had to try and hold it the whole way over. Needless to say my hand and arm were covered in berry juice by the time I got there.

I made a Wuzzleberry Salad that was a big hit. Spinach, Feta, Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackberries and toasted Pecans.

I attempted to make this yummy corn salad that a girl in my book club made last month. I think it turned out pretty good. Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumber, Corn, Chicken, EVOO, Fresh Thyme and a little salt pepper and garlic to taste. Serve chilled.

I asked everyone to wear a Kooky Hat. The Aunts showed up with the best ones! Aren't they adorable. I'll probably get in trouble for posting it but I think they look cute.

Ike got lots of fun presents that he opened with his dad. I still can't believe I have a 2 year old but he had a fun party and I'm glad it's over. Now I can start planning next years, jk.

If it wasn't for Random I'd never blog

Random seems to be the only way of doing posts now. My brain isn't equipped at the moment to have long drawn out thoughts.
1. I was watching a program about Alzheimer's and it mentioned that insulin deficiency can lower your brain function because it doesn't allow Glucose to be absorbed and that's what feeds the brain. Explains why I'm double stupid this pregnancy because I have Gestational Diabetes.
2. Even though I'm slow I still rocked playing Scattergories, which reminds me I never found out who won, I'll just assume I did.
3. We finally got a bed for Ike, a Bunk Bed actually. But Ryan put it together last night and then I was a brat and made him take apart the top bunk because it's just too much for the room, especially if we are going to have to fit a crib, changing table and dresser in there too.
4. Since we finally got a bed I need to redecorate Ike's room. I took everything off the walls to paint and now I'm trying to decide what I should put back. I wish my sister Rainey was here to help again.
5. I made yummy Raspberry freezer jam last week and I get to make yummy Strawberry freezer jam with my friend Jemma tomorrow. I'm making it with Agave so I don't feel guilty eating it.
6. Ike turns 2 on Sunday! Oh my gosh, how did that happen. I kind of pre-planned months ago everything and got just about everything and now I'm hoping I remember all the things I planned. It's going to be a Wow Wow Wubbzy garden party. Look for pics on Ike's blog coming soon.
7. I was watching ABC Family reruns of Gilmore Girls and they had an commercial that said, 'All new season of Gilmore Girls coming June 8th.' I got all excited and ran to my computer only to find out that they are just playing Season 7. No new Girmore's, squish squish. My sister even text me all excited about it and I had to break her heart too. I should sue for false advertising.
8. I got some 'No Sugar Added' brownies from the Good Earth, so yummy. They have Sucanat in them. I have a feeling I'm going to learn alot about different sweeteners now. Maybe I'll do a post about it soon. There are some very bad ones and some really good ones.

I guess that's good for now. Sorry no pictures again. I look about 300 lbs in pictures at the moment so I'm avoiding camera's at all cost.

Is that Ron?

We were going through pictures at Ryan's house last night and came across some pretty good finds, but this one stole the show. This is my Father-in-law doing his best Ron Burgandy impression. I also found lots of cute and embarrassing pictures of Ryan but I don't want him mad at me for posting them.