Wanted: Maid and Cook

I don't really have time to blog, but apparently it is less overwhelming than the 18,000 shirts that are hanging in my closet waiting to be ironed. I could be cleaning the junk yard that is my living room, where all hell breaks loose every time I nurse Sophie. I would show you a picture but I'm too embarrassed. Toys and couch cushions are everywhere. I think every toy we own is in the living room right now. Although I have kept up with the laundry (favorite chore) and the dishes (personal pet peeve to have dishes in the sink), for the most part my house is a disaster and I don't have the energy to do anything about it.

I take heart that everyone is bathed and dressed in a timely manner every morning, but morning is where the routine stops. We've eaten Mac and Cheese and hotdogs every night someone hasn't brought in dinner. Marissa is in heaven. I used to clean during nap and bedtimes, but now I just want to hold Sophie since I hardly get to when the other two are awake, and she may be our last child. I love how she cuddles up in a little ball on my chest and goes to sleep. I love how I can feel her heart beat and hear her take slow, sweet breaths. Aside from a sleeping one, newborns aren't my favorite (dare I admit it?). Sure, they smell nice and look sweet, but those don't compensate for the no sleep and the endless dirty diapers. Plus, I always worry about that darn head getting flat!

Having 3 is not as hard as I thought it would be, but still I have not found my groove, and I need to find my groove. In my friend K's blog, she said, "Nothing very good and nothing very bad ever last very long." Not that this is bad per se, but I am still figuring out how to juggle 3 kids. Give me 2 more weeks and all should be well. Maybe.

Welcome, sis.

Starting at Right Tackle...

One foot seven inch Freshman from Huntsville Alabama. Weighing in at 8 pounds 15 ounces...Sophie LaRaine Parker! Born at 1:58pm on 04/04/08.

-Ryan

At least I don't have to worry about knicking my ankle when I shave

This is what my right foot looks like right now.

OK, so it's not actually my foot, but it may as well be. I tried on my church shoes tonight and they won't even buckle, so I guess I have no choice but to wear my flip flops tomorrow. Nine-month pregnant ladies get a pass, right? I could probably wear sweat pants to church and no one would think the lesser of me. Say, that gives me an idea...

All my bags are packed; I'm ready to go

I'm ready. You can come any time, baby, and I'll be ready. My house is clean. My laundry's done. All your newborn clothes are washed, folded, and put away. I hauled your car seat from the shed to the garage and set up your bassinet. I got out all the baby toys from the closet and and made sure there were fresh batteries in the swing. I paid all my bills and stocked my refrigerator and pantry. I've done my visiting teaching. We finally ordered another camera. All of my maternity clothes are too small. So are my flip flops because my feet are swollen beyond recognition. I waddle. I can't sleep and I get heartburn after eating anything besides carrots. Please, baby. Give me back jeans that I can zip up and let me sleep on my stomach. Let me eat tomatoes and walk up a flight of stairs without feeling winded. Allow me to paint my toe nails again and actually notice if I spill on my shirt. Lastly, and above all, just let me hold you in my arms and sing you soft lullabies. Let me kiss your tiny toes and smell your sweet scent. I'm ready.

Excuses, excuses

So, our camera has been broken for several weeks. I know it's no reason not to post, but I feel like it gives me an excuse to put blogging on the back burner. Also, I'm nesting like crazy and trying to clean every square inch of my house. You know, just in case. I received the following material in an email but decided to post it here because I need to post something, even though my last entry was in the same question/answer format. Please forgive the repeat!


1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:00.
2. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Mission Impossible 3. It's been awhile.
3. What is your favorite TV show? Lost. It's the only one I watch.
4. What did you have for breakfast this morning? Toasted Corn cereal. It’s the Walmart brand of Corn Chex, but cheaper and every bit as good.
5. What is your middle name? Anne.
6. What is your favorite meal? Anything I don't have to cook.
7. What foods do you dislike? Pickles, cottage cheese, black licorice, hot or spicy stuff, melons. Many good fruit salads have been ruined by adding melons. Even if I can avoid them in the salad, their juices still ruin it.
8. Favorite chips? I'm not too big on chips, but possibly Chili cheese Fritos or Sour Cream and Cheddar.
9. What is your favorite CD at the moment? I don't really have one, but my new favorite song is a lullaby I heard on the movie Waitress. I sing it to my kids and they both love it!
10. What kind of car do you drive? Honda Accord.
11. What is your favorite sandwich? Turkey with all the fixins except pickles.
12. What characteristics do you despise? Lying, laziness, not following through. I guess the latter could be attributed to laziness.
13. What are your favorite clothes? Pajama pants and flip flops.
14. If you could go anywhere in the world for a vacation where would you go? Somewhere warm and without kids. I would really love to go to Cancun.
15. Favorite brand of clothing? Um, I’m not sure. I’m not too picky about brands as long as it fits me well.
16. Where would you like to retire? Somewhere warm (but not hot)!
17. Favorite time of day? Bed time and nap time.
18. Where were you born? SLC, UT
19. What is your favorite sport to watch? What's sports?
20. What are your favorite teams? If I could name one I would tell you.
21. Pepsi or Coke? Pepsi.
22. Beavers or ducks? Ducks.
23. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Definitely a morning person. After 9:30 pm I'm pretty much a useless zombie. Not to mention a cranky one.
24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? Nah, just really looking forward to receiving the Bush stimulus package money. But really, my sister is coming for a visit on Saturday with her little boy who is Marissa's age. I can't wait!
25. What did you want to be when you were little? First an astronaut, then a reporter.
26. What is your best childhood memory? Playing Barbies and Cabbage Patch Kids with my sister and going on family vacations.
27. Piercing? One hole in my right ear, two in my left. The second hole will not grow over despite the fact that it has been earingless for years.
28. Ever been to Africa? Yes, to Egypt. Yikes!
29. Ever been toilet papering? Yes, but just once in 6th grade.
30. Been in a car accident? Yes.
31. Favorite day of the week? Saturday.
32. Favorite restaurant? I remember loving the Cheesecake Factory. I haven't been there since I was 18 though, so I hope it's not overrated in my mind.
33. Favorite Flowers? It changes. Right now I’d like anything as long as it is brightly colored. Spring can’t come fast enough!
34. Favorite ice cream? Anything with caramel or PB. The more ingredients the better. Vanilla Shamilla.
35. Favorite fast food restaurant? Subway.
36. From whom did you get your last e-mail? Someone from my ward.
37. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? J Crew or Banana Republic. Or I could really max it out at Gymboree, Children's Place, or Baby Gap. Or I could really, really max it out at a nice furniture store and get new bedroom, kitchen, and living room furniture.
38. Bedtime? Usually 10:00, sometimes 9:30.
39. Who are you most curious about their responses? Everyone.
40. Last person you went to dinner with? Ryan and the kids for my birthday.
41. What are you listening to right now? Complete silence except for the typing of the keyboard. It's heaven!
42. What is your favorite color? Pink.
43. How many tattoos do you have? Zero.
44. Favorite magazine? Kraft Food and Family. It’s free and I use it all the time.
45. Who's your presidential hopeful right now? I was a devoted Mitt-head, so now I don’t really care.

TAG!

First of all, thank you to those who voted in our baby name poll. Sophie was the clear winner, but we still haven't decided. We'll let you know by April 4th. By the way, only one person confessed to voting for Kangaroo. Who were the other two wise guys? Come on, 'fess up! Now it's time for a fun Tag game:

How long have you been together? 6 1/2 years.
How long did you date? We went on our first date in September and got married the following August.
How old is he? Just turned 29.
Who eats more? Ryan.
Who said "I love you" first? Ryan.
Who is taller? Ryan is, even in my highest heels.
Who sings better? Neither of us are that great, but I love hearing Ryan sing to the kids, especially the songs he makes up!.
Who is smarter? Ryan, no contest.
Who does the laundry? I do, thankfully. It's actually one of my favorite chores.
Who does the dishes? That'd be me again.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I sleep on whatever side the nightstand is on so I can see the clock in the middle of the night. Currently it's on the right side so that's the side I sleep on.
Who pays the bills? I do, if I want them to get paid. Keeping up with bills and due dates isn't one of Ryan's strong suits.
Who mows the lawn? Ryan, thankfully.
Who cooks dinner? I do, unless we're grilling.
Who is more stubborn? I'm not too sure on this one. I really don't think either of us are that stubborn, but if I had to choose I guess I'd say I am.
Who kissed who first? Ryan kissed me first.
Who asked who out? Ryan asked me. We went to a Ukrainian dance concert at the Marriott Center.
Who is more sensitive? I am.
Who has more friends? Who knows?
Who has more siblings? Ryan. He has 5, I have 3.
Who wears the pants in the relationship? Uh, both of us? It depends what the issue is.
Who are you tagging? Melissa, Lindsey, Lorie, and Sharon.