Fall is fab...

Special Delivery... My fall faves...the skirt Kayleen made for Jovie...

candy corn...mmmm...

pumpkins...

gourds and all manner of squash...

leaves changing to hues of red, yellow and orange...

frankenstein and other ridiculous Halloween garb...

seeing your breath in the air in the early mornings...

fall wreaths...

sweater weather...

spooky ghosts and cobwebs...

the start of Phoenix Suns season....oh yeah....

and an inviting door.

and of course the "must have" fall issues of Martha Stuart Living... not that I have the time to do any of the projects she suggests...but I can at least appreciate them...

and especially when I lived in Utah I loved the fall because that meant going to BYU football games...there was nothing like cheering for a school (that I didn't attend) where fans were polite to others and didn't yell out obscenities...where you could ride to the games on scooters and freeze your buns off... and where your side of the stadium would proudly yell either "B", "Y", "U", or "Cougars".

I. LOVE. FALL.

Jovie warming up for the big fight...

I know it's probably just me...but I thought this was hysterical.

I love Blake...he's so good with Jovie! :) He just always knows how to make me laugh.

The right stuff...

Well...I know this is going to sound cheesy, slightly wrong, and plain old lame...but I'm gonna say it anyways...

I went to see NKOTB (New Kids On The Block) with my friend Kristen on Monday at Jobing.com Arena...and I'm just gonna say that I was pleasantly surprised. (And I even got a little bit phased!) Really, you ask? Well, for one, I wasn't the only 29 or 30 something girl there (unlike the time when Kristan & I saw NSYNC-besides, I was 22 at the time), for two, Kristan wasn't the only pregnant one in her 30s, for three, we weren't the only ones singing every lyric we knew...

"I'll be loving you for-everrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!! "
"Step 1- we can have lots of fun....Step 2- there's so much we can do......."
"You've got the right stuff....baby....love the way you turn me on...."
"Please don't go girllllllllllllllllllll....you would ruin my whole world"

etc.
etc.
etc.

I was really tempted to hunt through my old boxes and locate my giant "I heart Jordan" button and other random NKOTB paraphernalia from when I was 11- and wear it to the concert with my hair up in a side ponytail, keds, and shirt with the belt-loop-tightener-at-the-bottom-thingy...but I refrained. I thought to myself....I'm going to have fun regardless of what I am wearing so I will just be the me of "now" instead of the me of "11 yrs old". Here is what I remember Jordan looking like at my age...

I was pretty astonished that this is how he has aged...

Uhhh...yeah. I know.

So this is the poster (amongst many) that were hung up in my room when I was 11.

And this is the poster I will hang up in my room now....haha, yeah right. You only wish I was that cheesy. They have each changed for the better, I'd have to say.

In other news it was also pretty cool that Natasha Bedingfield was the opener for the show. I didn't know she would be the opener- and she's got some pretty sweet tracks. And since Blake has a little crush on her I called him so he could listen to "Pocket Full of Sunshine". Aren't I nice?! She was very pretty and sounded pretty good- I'd have to admit!

I am going to say that I didn't prep for the concert and buy the new NKOTB album that they put out before they left for this tour- but some of the songs were likeable and definately had a cool groove you could dance to. For me-sometimes a song's lyrics don't matter as long as you can dance to it! So, I'm not all hard core NKOTB or anything- but I will say I did get a little flushed and giggled like a little girl when Jordan popped up from the back of the stage with wind (practically) ripping his white shirt off (to see his lovely sculpted upper body) and singing " Baby, I Believe In You " to the croud. It was nice. To say the least.

I know you're dying to see that...so, here you go...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFKKXkae000

Anyways...back to reality...it was nice to come home to a sleeping baby and a husband who (only in his head) is embarrassed of his wife for fulfilling a dream to see the New Kids at her age.

Blake's "got the right stuff!"

I'm turning 80 quicker than anticipated...

Well if you're familiar with an earlier post about losing my back molar due to...well...the dentist didn't really know...it was some kind of freakish incident. That doesn't make me confident about the future of those pearly whites left in there.

A disclaimer...

[What you will see next is graphic in nature and may be disturbing to children. And babies. And Adults. Heck, it's just plain gross. Proceed at your own risk]

Yes, this is what my tooth looked like when they pulled it out. No, the hole wasn't there when he pulled it out- the Dentist was poking around trying to figure out why my tooth was basically imploding- he found the source and poked through- it was kinda nasty to watch, but glad I didn't wait long enough to actually start feeling pain from the tooth (Counting my blessings). I also offered to donate it to science...he appreciated my offer and said he was going to ask if he could keep it anyways just to use in the rare instance they ever see this happen again. He suggested I take a picture, print it and put it under my pillow to collect from the tooth fairy.

Well...I did that...and guess what she gave me???

You'll never guess...

Still trying to guess???

ok...I'll tell you....

But First...Another disclaimer....

Again... [What you will see next is graphic in nature and may be disturbing to children. And babies. And Adults. Heck, it's just plain gross- much more gross than that nasty tooth. Proceed at your own risk]

(photographed with hardpod- my iphone- on the right side of my body under my arm(pit))

What the ______.... UGHHHHH...

She gave me shingles. Shingles? For rill. What ARE shingles, you ask?? Believe me, you aren't the only one with no clue..my response to the doctor after he said I had shingles was..."don't 80 year olds get this?"... "No, that is just a myth- for the most part," he said. For a textbook definition for ease of understanding- here you go.

Shingles: a painful viral infection of the nerve roots. The virus moves along the nerve fibers and affects cells of the skin, resulting in a skin rash. Caused by the same virus behind childhood chickenpox, the virus is never fully cleared from the body and shingles occurs when the virus reactivates. Pain, itching, tingling, burning -- these are all symptoms of shingles that may occur before the outbreak of the rash. Starting as small blisters on a red base, with new blisters continuing to form for three to five days, shingles is painful.

What Causes Shingles?
After you've had chickenpox, the virus lives in your nervous system, "sleeping" in the nerve roots. In some people, it remains asleep (dormant) forever. In others, a weakened immune system may cause the virus to "wake up," reproduce, and travel along nerve fiber to the skin's surface (OF COURSE THIS HAD TO HAPPEN-ADD THIS TO THE REST OF WHAT'S BEEN ON MY PLATE). The result: Shingles. When the virus becomes active again, it can only cause shingles, not chickenpox.

Who's at Risk for Shingles?
Anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk of developing shingles, although it occurs most commonly in people over the age of 60. (SEE- I AM GETTING OLDER!!) Weakened immune systems (DOES A NEW BABY FIT THIS MOLD?), emotional stress (DOES A NEW BABY AND SCHOOL FIT THIS MOLD?), and cancer (UH, LET'S JUST HOPE THIS ISN'T ALSO IN THE EQUATION) can all cause the virus to reactivate.

How Long Does Shingles Last?
The cluster of blisters that form with shingles fill with fluid, pop, then start to ooze (OMGosh- I THINK I JUST IRPED IN MY MOUTH). Eventually the affected areas crust over and heal like the rash shown here. The whole process may take three to four weeks (NO FREAKING WAY! THAT IS JUST RIDICULOUS) from start to finish. Once all of the blisters are crusted over, the virus can no longer be spread.

Is Shingles Contagious?
Yes, shingles is contagious. The virus can spread to anyone who hasn't had chickenpox (OH CRAP- JOVIE IS WAY TO LITTLE TO BE CATCHING THIS), through direct contact with the open sores of an infected person, as long as that person has new blisters forming and old blisters healing. Instead of developing shingles, the newly infected person develops chickenpox. Once they've had chickenpox, they can't catch it again, though they do now have the potential to develop shingles later in life.

What are Complications from Shingles?
Generally, shingles heals well, resulting in few problems. A more worrisome complication is when shingles affects the forehead and nose, which may spread to the eye and lead to loss of vision. (OK REALLY, FOR RILL?? THIS IS NOW JUST GETTING PLAIN RIDICULOUS)

How is Shingles Treated?
There is no cure for shingles (OH...GREAT. SO I'M GONNA WALK AROUND SCRATCHING MYSELF FOR A MONTH AND BE IN TOTAL PAIN? AWESOME.), but treatment may help you get well sooner and prevent problems.

Thanks to WEBMD for supplying you all with info on my disgusting disease.

P.S.- I didn't mean for this post to be so lengthy. I guess it will be a nice reminder of what I went through for my first born. Hopefully it will be a good lesson when it's time for baby#2.

Dear Jovie,

Don't think that I won't hold this over your head when dad and I want to go out for date night and I need you to babysit your siblings. I know, it's a long way off- but you know, moms have great (selective) memories.

Forever with Shingles

Love, Mom

Besides...I love you EVEN when you're cross-eyed, losing hair on top, and have squishy cheeks. So cute!

The draft...

I think Blake's new obsession with fantasy basketball (yes honey, it is an obsession- not just a hobby) is borderline comical, but I am glad he fills his spare time with real people in a make believe, dream team sort of setting. See what I mean? Borderline comical.

On a more real note, Blake's company got season tickets to the Suns games and the seats are AMAZING! So Sunday night we went over to the inlaws and divied up the tickets...1/3 of the home games we get to go to. So we layed out all of the home games...

Let the strategy begin...let's start the draft!!

We got some awesome games to see this season so this will be a real treat to be out of the house a few nights a month enjoying some basketball with Blake!!

The team I am most excited to see live will be Suns vs. Spurs on Jan 29, 2009!! If anybody knows me, you'd know my complete DISPISE for the Spurs. No, I don't hate them because they're good (just in case you're wondering...) I hate them because they are DIRTY! Their whole roster (Tony Parker is the exception) is filled with total chucks...for example...

Manu Ginobili- the BIGGEST faker and flopper ever brought to the NBA.

Then there is Tim Duncan (aka...THE BIG FUNDAMENTAL) I can't even look at the guy without wanting to punch him in the face (and believe me- I'm not a violent person). He just stares at everyone with that puppy dog look on his face like- "Who me? I fouled that guy? No way...it couldn't have been me." ---when it was CLEARLY him. See, he gets me crazy.

Then there is Robert Horry (aka...BIG SHOT BOB)... when push comes to shove (literally) you have to watch your back or he'll get cha. When you try to take out Nash you are automatically on my naughty list!

And last, but certainly not least...there is Bruce Bowen...I'm not sure if he has a nickname...but if he did it might be something like "The Nutcracker". That guy seriously defends his opponent no further than one foot away from them. He's the weakest. Seriously, just BACK OFF! There's nothin like seeing dirty ball played live and up close!

What this game will be like =

I am just so grateful for the opportunity to go to the games and for Pops for pulling the trigger and getting tickets!! Muchas Gracias!!

GO SUNS!!

Some hard techs...

Well- I don't have much to write about- it has been kind of a crazy week. Jovie is already 5 weeks old, and seems to be sleeping in longer intervals, especially at night. She will sleep between 4-5 hours at a time (which is HEAVEN compared to her max of 3 hours the last 4 weeks). I appreciate her conscious effort for sleeping longer- it makes my days so much less stressful. It's amazing how busy my day can be...especially with a child that loves sporadic sleep during the day and wants to be held incessantly. I love holding her though...it just makes me so much less productive!

So this last week I got to interview some awesome kids for one of my classes at school...they are the sweetest...and wanted to hold little Jo Jo too...awwww.

This is Jovie's "I can't believe you dressed me in this ridiculous outfit mom...for rill." face. She's so punk rock.

Yes, Jovie is officially balding on top...I know, she can't believe it either.

This one shows off the "old man balding" look much better.

Sorry honey. I don't mean to throw you under the bus. As a mother I must publicly humiliate you...it's for your own good. Believe me. The world is a rough place.

On a much sadder note....I went to the dentist this week. My teeth are falling apart. One of my molars that I had a crown put on about a year and a half ago has basically imploded from the inside out. Yeah...seriously. How does that happen??? The dentist says "I don't see this kind of thing happen too often...this is a rare case...your tooth is dead on the inside...your only option is to pull it before it starts to get really painful...etc, etc." Great. So now that I was already self conscious about the fact that I'm turning the big THREE OH this year, I may as well tack on an extra FIFTY years to my age cuz I'm loosing my TEETH!!! Sheesh. Can't you tell this is kind of a big deal? It reminds me of the Ren & Stimpy episode where Ren's teeth fall out. I'm a disaster.

A special Sunday...

Today was a special day...it was Jovie's first day at church!! So we started the day off right with a nice, sudsy bath given by daddy...

She loves bath time...
Mommy laid out all of the fixins for the sabbath...
Jovie in her Sunday best...already starting it off right with a nap!

I'd like to say her first day at church was all peaches n' creme...but well, then I'd be lying. She started off great (since she was asleep), but by the time the sacrament got started she started fussing- so I figured if I stood up and rocked her she would just fall asleep. Well, Jovie had other plans... I walked around and cuddled her but she just wailed!! I finally flagged down Melanie to have her tell Blake to bring the diaper bag so I could make her a bottle- in hopes that the problem was that she was starving! Man, was Melanie my saving grace. I finally got Jovie a bottle made and that just did the trick! My good luck didn't stop there though. After she ate I attempted to change a wet diaper- lo and behold, Jovie had other plans and peed while I was changing her and drenched her dress. Well, luckily I keep extra onesies in her diaper bag- so we were able to stay at church in style. What actually made me crack up was when Susan brought in her daughter (just 5 days younger than Jovie) to change her diaper and she peed all over her dress too...luckily I had another spare onesie in my bag- so both of our girls just had a hay day their first Sunday!! Hopefully I will be more prepared with the bottle and interpret her "cries" better so I don't have another one of those days. Luckily she fell asleep before Relief Society started so Mary obliged by holding her. There is nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby! Honestly though- she really is the sweetest...when she's not tired and gassy!

When chocolate and toes collide...

I know what you're thinking...and no...this isn't a post about how Blake and I seduce each other (for all of you who just gagged...then irped in your mouth- say "I")... hahah...

Blake has totally been craving chocolate covered pretzels and I've looked everywhere (and by that I mean every isle at Walmart)... but to no avail...

So I decided to get all betty crocker and buy some almond bark and plain pretzels and do it myself...

About halfway through the bag I got careless and spilled some scorching chocolate on my toes... and voila...this is what you get.... FREAKING OUCH!! Check those blisters on my two toes!

But you also get these yummy delights... so it's not all bad!!

Three weeks ago...

I had this beautiful little girl Jovie!! I can't believe she is already 3 weeks old!

So now I know what it means to be in a fog...not knowing the days from the nights...the date...whether I brushed my teeth today...if I actually put on makeup...when the last time I peed...when the last time I ate...when the last time I walked outside to feel the heat...it appears that all of my thoughts have been consumed by Jovie...I've even taught her how to do important things with her hands- like flash "WESTSIIIEEEDE" gang signs. It may look like EASTSIDE- but she was on her way up to the WESTSIDE when I caught it on camera. She's going to be so hardcore. Don't let the pink fool you. She's gonna be tough. HAHA.

I've been trying so hard to keep up with the rigors of new motherhood...and still do other things that are so necessary- like watch Project Runway, balance the checkbook, do the laundry, keep up with my church calling, clean the house, keep in touch with friends, and work on homework for school.

From the day all of my family went home, it has been really quiet around the house...Jovie slept incredibly well while everyone was here...and it seems that she has her own internal feeding clock- so she gets up to eat every 3 hours...day and night. She does this really cute thing with her hands every time she eats- almost like she's holding her hands to bless her food... see...cute, huh? Or maybe that's just her plea to keep the bottle in her mouth the entire feeding instead of take it out halfway through to burp her.

The night feedings have been somewhat challenging for me...I try to get up and be quiet enough and quick enough at getting Jovie's bottle ready and diaper changed before she gets all worked up and wakes Blake up. I know he has been exhausted and I'm just trying to do my part, especially while I am on maternity leave. Blake does love having daddy time with her- but I know how important sleep is, so I let him get as much of it as possible. I will be so grateful for the night she sleeps more than 5 hours consecutively. Having 2 hours of sleep here and 1 hour of sleep there is still sleep- it's just not my preference. Go figure!

I have been so grateful for the phone calls and visits from friends and family. I generally have a hard time asking for help when I need it- and this is no exception...but it has been nice having friends bring over dinner for us and hang out. I've needed the hang time. Shout outs to all ya'll...you know who you are.

I know many women feel all cramped up in the house...but me- I couldn't be happier. There is NO WAY I could ever be bored as a mother- I always have a to do list...which is never ending. It's nice to get things crossed off my list- and still nice to see I have a purpose for getting out of bed. I can also say that luckily I haven't had the postpardum blues (yet, anyway). I was a bit emotional the first week I got home from the hospital - with all of the family here, plus every time I would just sit and ponder my blessings of a healthy, beautiful baby I couldn't help but to get all teary. Oh, and the church songs get me all weapy too- when I look into Jovie's eyes and sing to her I just KNOW she hears me and that there is just a sweet divinity to her. I know she was the little spirit waiting to bless our family. Well, crap...here comes the water works...sheesh. Honestly- just look at those baby blues!!

That reminds me of something Blake said that was pretty funny while I was pregnant..."I love you so much more when you're pregnant...you're so much nicer and less emotional". Haha. All I know is that yes, I was less emotional (strangely), but I was also much crustier- well, I should say "more honest". I like the honesty- it keeps things funny. Maybe if Blake got his wish I could just be pregnant all the time!! Haha-yeah right. My body needs a little break. Besides, I want to enjoy every moment I have with Jovie while she is still little. She is just the sweetest. How can you not love a baby when they're all cuddly in the softest blanket? She's even smiling to the camera! Ok maybe it is just gas.

Also- a big thank you to Blake's Mimi for getting Jovie the moses basket. She loves to get all cozy in it and is really the only place she will fall asleep (besides mama's arms)

After that last crazy dust storm that passed through the valley and one of Jovie's first days out of the house visiting my brother Eli and his family down in Maricopa, AZ - Jovie got her first cold- poor thing has the stuffiest nose and sounds like an English Bulldog. I told Blake that was the closest I'd be to ever having a Bulldog. It was really sad to hear her all stuffy, but it was kinda funny too. She's been snorting too (just like Mom)...which just puts a smile on my face.
Really- how can I not be overjoyed seeing this beautiful face every day?!!