Uh-Oh!

Red alert! We have a standing baby! I have actually been trying to get her to stand while clenching the couch for a while, but the idea didn't really interest Madie. It would last three seconds before she would start screaming. I guess she didn't like being shoved against the couch?? Anyways, this is evidence that she did it! I had to coax her with a National Geographic (which she loves to wrinkle pages with), but she was content and was standing for about ten seconds.

Nothing else to report from our family. Mal's been teaching more and more every day and really seems to enjoy it. Though she comes home and is worn out! It's been a good experience for her so far. As for the job hunting, it's still happening. I get callbacks every once in a while, but it's a grim job market right now. I have been looking for an interpreter job in Salt Lake as of yesterday for Spanish. I think that would be really fun for a little while until I am accepted into a graduate program or find a job in my field.

Madie has been sitting up as well, though she slouches pretty far forward. I tried to upload some videos, but the internet connection isn't letting me!

The First Dance Lesson

Remember back when I said I was going to learn to really dance with my husband? Well, I fiiiiiiiiiinally remembered far enough in advance today to not make any plans. I found this excellent site for learning ballroom dance and it actually lays things out pretty plainly.

Today, we learned the correct posture and hand positions and a basic American style waltz. (I'm not sure what the difference is, they just had "International," "Latin," and "American.") We also learned to do it with the quarter turn and the reverse turn.

Then Madie woke up.

We both had a lot of fun with it. I think it'll be great learning to ballroom dance! I've always thought it was so beautiful. The best part is, I don't have to drag my husband kicking and screaming through it. He's eager to learn!

A Long Lost Memory

Yesterday one of my mentor teachers was telling me a story about his little four-year-old daughter deliberating with herself about sending money from her piggy-bank to the Haitians after watching an ad asking for money on TV. Her parents suggested it, but tried not to push it too hard. Finally she came to the conclusion that she would like to. He said it was the proudest moment of his short fatherhood.

It recalled to mind another intuitive, sweet moment in childhood.

When Jacob was really little--I'm talking like, four or five--he developed a sincere fear of death. I remember him not being able to get to sleep at night because he was so scared he wouldn't wake in the morning. This went on for maybe a few days and finally Mom and Dad tried to help him out with it by talking to him about it. Jacob still wasn't totally soothed though until Sam, who was about seven then, came in and gave this awesome metaphor:

Jake, life is like going outside to play. Mom and Dad send us out to play all day if we want. But sooner or later, it's gonna get dark and it's gonna get cold, and then you'll want to go back inside.

Just goes to show the depth of a little kid. Man, they're creepy that way.

Creeeeeeeepppppppyyyyyyyyy!

So THIS is probably the creepiest thing you'll see this year, and we just got started!

I mean, it's not that I don't feel a little pang of disappointment when people ask how old my son is, even though it's overwhelmed by a much larger pang of pity for the stupidity of the observer for not being able to recognize the delicate, feminine bone structure and Jersey-cow eyes and lashes--she is clearly a girl! Either way, I would NEVER put one of these creepy baby wigs.

I can be pretty vain. I realize that. I try not to be, but there are certain things I'm vain about. I just figure as long as I don't waste away in front of the mirror and as long as I don't project my vanity onto others (*ahem* like my child!) then I'm okay. I also figure, the baby doesn't care! She's clueless! It's not like an old friend of mine who was tall and very slender and kept her hair cropped very short--she too looked feminine, but in the audience of a darkened theater a performer calling for a participant addressed her as "sir." Yikes! Poor girl. She was old enough to feel embarrassed. Honestly, when people say, "Oh, you are just the cutest little boy!" my girl cracks a big, toothless grin with a string of drool. If you're lucky, she won't spit up all over you.

I know a place to go....downtown

Mallory didn't have to go to school today, so we decided to explore Salt Lake a little bit. There are some historical sites that I visited when I was a kid that I really can't remember at all, and some that Mal has never visited before. We decided to check it out!

Our first stop was the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, aka the former Hotel Utah. The interior of the building is just amazing, there are so many ornate features that really make you feel like you are in a royal palace. We saw the chapel where the Apostles attend when they are in town on Sundays, and a few other banquet rooms. This picture above was taken on the 10th floor of the building, overlooking the west end observatory window. Madie was so good today! She didn't freak out at all.

Here is another good one of Mal and Madie. After this we headed to the Beehive House (Brigham Young's home) and saw how they lived. It's interesting to see things when you are older because it's like you are seeing it for the first time, completely different eyes.

After the Beehive House, we headed over to the Church Office Building, and I went on an elevator to the 26th floor to look at the city from the observation decks. The view wasn't great due to the severity of the inversion, but you could still see quite a bit. Mal and Madie decided stay in the lobby and rest a little bit. Our final stop on our tour was the new Church Library/Archives building, next to the Conference Center. It was really impressive, and I wish we had more time to take a tour. The building is only six months old, and is full of everything from residential records to Baptist history books. They also have a tour where they take you to the Joseph Smith Papers that are on display. Maybe next time.

Life as Mr. Mom

With Mallory gone student teaching every day, being Mr. Mom has been a great experience for me. I feel that I have learned a lot of new things, and have had a fairly relaxing ride. Luckily Madie is so easy to take care of.

Here are a couple of things that I have learned:

1) How to make bread! I am starting to make two loaves on a weekly basis, and they turn out really well.

2) Time management. It's hard because there are some things you just can't do while the baby is awake, and you try to get it all done while she is asleep. It hardly leaves time for a nap! Especially when she wakes up for a 5:00 am feeding. But I have learned to do some of those things that I didn't think I could really do while she was awake, which has really helped out.

3) Conservation. I usually only shave for job interviews, and for church on Sunday (although I did have a go tee around Christmas). It's been nice to not have to shave every day. I don't mind keeping the clean-shaven look, but I get really bad razor burn and doing it a couple of times per week has been great! I like to think of it as conserving shaving cream and razors,

4) What it's like to be a homemaker. I never thought I would have the chance to do what I am currently doing. The day actually goes by pretty quickly.

5) Really getting to know Madie. I have always felt really close to Madie, especially since I was with her more often than Mallory during our last semester of school (I only had six credits). Spending entire days with her has allowed me to get to know her better, get her into a healthy routine, and help her develop. It's been great! I probably won't have this opportunity with any of our other kids.

Recent Daily Objectives/Goals:

1) I usually clean things up every day, such as wash dishes, make the bed, vacuum when needed, etc.

2) I have started doing the P90X home workout program, which has been working out really well. I am finally to the point of being able to do entire workouts without cutting it short due to lightheadedness and nausea. I have always been good about working out, but it used to be strictly weight training. P90X encompasses everything from Yoga to Plyometrics.

3) Reading and studying has been something I have been trying to get better at. I have a pile of books I would like to blast through. Also studying for the GRE.

Future Outlook:

I have been applying to jobs like crazy! At least 5+ jobs per day. We are really willing to move anywhere, though we do have our preferences. A well-paying job is a priority right now, though it's not a necessity. I am going to apply to various graduate programs for this coming fall semester, so pretty much whatever happens...happens. I have had two interviews for jobs here in Salt Lake already, and one in Jackson Hole next Monday. I think there will be more in the future. The jobs are out there, despite the economic situation. But it's funny because I have been applying to jobs for restaurants, department stores, even jamba juice! The only call-backs that I have had for all the resumes/applications I have submitted have been for full-time, salaried, and benefit-filled jobs! I mean, I think that's great, but I would like some call-backs from the other jobs as well! I was thinking maybe they are a little scared to hire someone that has a college degree? Any ideas?

NO CHILDREN WERE INJURED IN THE MAKING OF THIS BLOG

Sorry about not having pictures, etc., up for a while. We've been having problems uploading pictures since we've been here in Utah. Tonight we took a video of Madie and I wanted to try to put it up. Now, of course, everything uploads fine! In fact, I think this is the quickest I've ever gotten a video to upload. Good grief.

Anyway, I thought I should include this picture now that we have it, to prove that Mike also graduated! YAY! Now we just need to find jobs that make our degrees matter.

Here is Madie learning to stand. Hahaha! We have pictures of her actually upright, but her face in this one was so priceless, I couldn't help laughing!

We got this one this morning. Mike handed her over so he could do something real quick, and I was going to make her a bottle for when he got back. I set her down on the couch and she burst into tears. (She had just woken up.) She had calmed down at this point, but these two big tears were just perfectly placed below each eye. Sooooo pathetic.

This first video is of Madie laughing. She actually giggles now, not just screams for joy, though she still does that too.

The second video is of Madie learning about new foods. She is very open to things like this. :) I just hope now that she's tasted fruit, she'll keep drinking formula and cereal.