The Winter of my Discontent

I'm not a "winter." When I was about 8 years old my aunt put a bunch of color swatches up to my freckled face and declared me a "fall." I was told to only wear fall earth colors. I don't obey that, though I do love fall. One thing is for sure, I hate winter. This has been the worst winter of my life. I know that's a bold statement but I'm standing by it.

I was hugely pregnant last year, totally uncomfortable and yet, that winter wasn't as bad as this one. I can't figure out what it is. Yes, I hate the cold, Yes, I hate the inversion, Yes my entire family has been sick since Christmas. Yes, Sam has been in trial for the last month and basically I've been a single parent, Yes, my mom (and biggest helper) has been in Hawaii for the entire month of February, Yes, I haven't been able to work out in over a month. All of these things, along with a few others I don't care to blog about, have conspired against me.

This weekend, I was done hating my life. I decided to bust out the spring clothes and flats.

I engaged in some retail therapy and bought nice jeans and this darling red and white polka dot quilt to use as a tablecloth. It has scalloped edges and goes with my polka dot dishes.

I went jogging outside to get some vitamin D in my system, I upped my intake of diet coke just to be safe. I even started reading my scriptures again. Nothing is working. I'm still dragging.

Then it hit me. It's this little angel.



That same baby I blogged about a last month telling you how cute he is. He is making me crazy. He doesn't nap. He's teething. I'm weaning him and he's ticked off. He complains constantly. He wants me to carry his sorry 25 lb arse around all day. I'm considering putting him on Craig's list but I know the authorties would hunt me down. So if anyone wants to "babysit" wink wink a "sweet," chubby, almost 1 year old let me know.

Lisa's Luscious Lips

Dear Lisa,

The hugo lips are not a good look on anyone. We'll talk hair next time.

Love,

Brooke

I'm Loving Hugh Jackman

I think Hugh Jackman did a great job tonight hosting the Oscars. He sings, he dances, he is funny and for crying out loud, he is gorgeous.

For your viewing pleasure:

Don't say I never do anything for you.

I Love This Kid

Luke is easy to please. I took him to get his hair cut at Cookie Cutters this evening. When our favorite stylist McKenzie finished cutting his hair, she styled it into a mohawk. As he walked over to me, he had the biggest smile across his face. He couldn't contain himself--he was thrilled. He's begging me to let him wear it to school tomorrow--even promised to sleep so careful as not to mess it up!

Luke is such a sweet boy. He makes my life easy. I often say if I had 3 Lukes I would be sitting on the couch full time drinking a diet coke and reading People magazine.


He is very tender-hearted. Last year on his birthday, I got a little teary-eyed telling him about his birth and how special it was to hold my first baby in my arms. He started crying quiet tears and got very embarrassed--he hates to see me cry.

He is also hilarious. He loves to tease me about birds (which I hate) and Spongebob (which I don't hate as much anymore) and a lot of other things. He loves nothing more than playing with friends and he makes friends wherever he goes.

He loves spaghetti (especially from Fazolis), McDonalds, Oreos and Twinkies (basically all junk food) He is the best big brother in the world and is so sweet to Sammie and Ryan. Occasionally I will walk past a room where the kids are playing and I will hear Sammie bossing Luke around and he just takes it--she's preparing him for marriage.


He loves kindergarten, especially recess, and excels at math. He doesn't get that from me. I love that he tells me in my ear the names of the two little girls in his class that he thinks are cute. I volunteer twice a month at his school so I know who they are--he has good taste.

He lives for holidays and truly finds the magic in childhood. I love him more than words can express--he is my "Lukers."

Because There is Nothing More Romantic than a Tetanus Shot

Today is Valentines and I got this great idea to treat myself to a cheap pedicure. I went to this place called Dream Nails by my house that is run by these little Vietnamese women. Only the visit wasn't so dreamy.

Within the first two minutes of being there, the lady sliced open my heel with a razor. She then spent the next hour trying to get it to stop bleeding. Yes, I said hour. Three little ladies, speaking in a language I couldn't understand, all huddled over my injury. Then they attempted to glue the wound back together.

I will spare you the details but suffice it to say, I ended up in the ER. A doctor removed all the glue they used and redressed the wound. I received a tetinus shot and am now on a heavy antibiotic. I appreciate that the ER doc used pink dressing for Valentines.

Now that I'm home I get to enjoy these:


I hope I don't eat all of them but I make no promises.

He Really Loves Me

I remember back in college when I was dating a guy. I was totally head over heals and I was bringing him home to meet my family. I was terrified. I remember calling my dad and begging him not to swear or tell any off color jokes. Basically, I was asking him not to be himself.

Long story short, I don't even remember how the evening went, but I do remember getting dumped shortly thereafter. I'm sure it had nothing to do with my family--they did a great job--he just wasn't that into me. (I haven't seen the movie "He's Just Not That Into You" and I don't think I will because everyone I know hates it but I did read the book a few years ago. I thought it was great and I really wish I could go back in time and give the book to college Brookie! It would have saved me a lot of heartache.)

However, with that said, I'm glad I had my heart broken a few times. I think everyone should. It gives you compassion and it makes you appreciate true love when you actually find it. Today is Valentine's Day and I went to Harmon's to grab some cinnamon lips. There were frantic men everywhere looking through cards and buying candy and cheesy balloons. I always smile to myself when I see this scene. I love it on one hand because it is so typical of men to wait until the last minute and then head to the grocery store for a V-day gift. On the other hand, they are trying to do something sweet for their ladies. I thought back to when Sam and I were dating and how he would do anything on earth to make me happy. I would constantly find surprises wherever I went--once he even drove to Park City from Provo to buy my a chocolate covered apple because he knew I loved them. He was hopelessly devoted and I knew he was crazy about me.

When I introduced him to my parents, I wasn't the least bit worried about my dad swearing or telling lewd jokes or my siblings teasing each other cause that's what we do. I knew Sam would love me the same anyway.

Sometimes I catch a look at myself in the mirror right before Sam comes home from work and I'm in my uni, hair in a messy bun, make up under my eyes, no dinner on the table and I think that Sam is a lucky guy! Yet, I know he loves me just the same and would still do anything to make me happy. I am one lucky girl.

I Love Girl Colors

Sammie, being the diva that she is, actually wore this headband to preschool today. She told everyone she was a Valentine bunny. She also tells me all the time that pink and red are for girls and all the other colors are for boys. She may have a point. Here are some red and pink things I love. In no particular order:

I love this flowering peach tree in my yard in the spring. It was supposed to be one of those little umbrella trees but it got huge and out of control. It 's too big for that spot but I've kept it around because I love the hot pink in the spring.

I love my red dirt devil dustbuster. It is great for the quick and dirty clean-up under my bar. It never loses suction and the color can't be beat.

I love these babies:

I love that I can use my red Christmas decorations as Valentines decor by changing the ribbon: (thanks Heidi for the idea!)

I love these pink storage containers from Walmart for the clothes Sammie has outgrown.

I love my red phone. It is a dinosaur compared to the iphones and all the new stuff on the market. But I love that it is small, sleek, easy to use and it fits in my front pocket.

I love my new red ipod shuffle. Sam bought me this as a Valentines present. I am still blown away by the technology in these tiny things. To think I used to jog carrying a portable cd player and I had to hold it flat while I ran!

I love coordinating with Sammie in our red vests. I also love Sammie's boots. I wish they came in my size.

I love these Valentines plates from Target. My kids eat on them for every meal.

Sammie is Going to be on TV!

No, she's not going on a reality show--though she's got the personality for it. Sammie is going to make her modeling debut tomorrow morning on Good Things Utah (channel 4 at 10:00 am.) My friend is involved in a charity that is auctioning off princess dresses for little girls and she gets to model one of them. Everyone keep your fingers crossed that she will be in a good mood and decide to actually walk out in the dress--with her, you never know what you are going to get. Just know there will be a little bribery involved and some threats if necessary. Sammie has already been bragging to Luke all day that she is going to be on tv. That's my girl.

Update: Sammie did a great job. She totally came through and strutted her stuff. She felt very special because she was the youngest little girl on the show. Luke watched at a friend's house and has been telling Sammie all day she looked "ridiculous"--classic big brother. As her reward, Sammie has chosen to go to Chuck-E-Cheese. Heaven help us. I need a huge diet coke, lots of hand sanitizer and Excedrine!

Gear for Baby's First Year

Ryan is almost 1 and I can't believe how fast his first year went by. I think he was about 4 weeks in that picture. I lovingly refer to him as "the carseat baby" because the poor kid does half his day in the carseat going to the gym, the store, shuttling Luke and Sammie's carpools to preschool and kindergarten, etc. However, he takes his best naps there and sometimes on bad days, when I just can't deal anymore, I will put the kids in the car, turn on a movie (Ryan will usually go to sleep) and I pull through Micky D's for a large cup of sweet nectar (Diet Coke!) and just drive. Oh how I could use one right now!

Anyway, I was thinking about all the baby gear you use the first year and wanted to share some of my favorite items. I kind of think I'll have one more baby but right now we are so beaten down, who knows. All of my male readers (Sam!) can exit now because you will be bored to tears.

Of couse you need the indispensable items: The carseat/stroller combo, the highchair, the swing (even though none of my kids loved the swing), the bouncer, and crib. I believe in buying nice baby gear--I want it to last through all my kids. I took some heat from my friends for buying "high end" but it is worth it. Peg Perego for the strollers, Britax for the carseats, etc.

My confession. I have four strollers in my garage. Excessive? Maybe. But I use every one of them. I have the single, the double, the single jogger, the double jogger. I love Peg Perego. I have this bad boy and it was worth every penny.

I don't have the cup holder and I feel jipped.

I also think it was worth it to buy a nice exersaucer even though your baby will only use it for about four months. It is worth the 15 minutes they will do in it everyday.

I also believe in buying a Baby Bjorn for ballgames, outdoor parties, Disneyland etc.


Now, my favorite items that I discovered with Ryan:

Bebe Au Lait nursing cover (also called the "hooter hider")

I am not a gal who likes to nurse in public. It makes me feel very awkward. This is the best solution I could find. It allows you to have both hands free and it is lightweight so your baby doesn't get all sweaty under there. I use it in the car.

Yo Baby yogurt:

I know this ain't gear but it is awesome. My sister Ashley introduced me to this stuff. It is made with less sugar and is fortified with DHA and is organic. It also comes mixed with rice cereal. Since I'm trying to wean Ryan it is great to have him get the calcium and DHA. THe bad news: I can only find it at Walmart.

Pediped shoes and Tip Top Joeys shoes.

Ryan wears these two pairs of shoes constantly. I believe in the winter, babies should wear shoes--not just socks. Ryan received compliments regularly on both pairs. I'm completely in love. They both slip on and stay on and both are made out of real leather. My friend Pam sent him the Tip Top Joey's and they may be my favorite gift I received for him. I just ordered him a bigger pair in light blue.

Binki leash:

This may be the single most important thing for a baby. My bff from High school, Natalie made me the cutest brown and blue one.

Finally, the world's best baby bows (too bad I couldn't use these on Ryan!)

Baby Bling bows.

They are made out of tights material--super stretchy, super cute.

If you are still here--it's a miracle. What baby gear item was your favorite and why?

A Few Questions Weighing on my Mind

1. If I pound enough of these babies, is it considered a meal?

2. Why is the Bachelor such good tv?

3. Is it excessive that Sammie has 3 Valentine's outfits?

4. Why have I completely lost the desire to go to the gym?

5. Do you all really make dinner every night?

6. Why is my chubby baby turning into such a daddy's boy?

7. How do I get this chubby baby off the tap (weaned?)

8. Isn't it wonderful when your kids are finally old enough to do your dirty work: ie. delivering bridal shower invitations in the ward?

9. How am I going to convince Sam to go see "He's just not that into you" and "Confessions of a Shopaholic?"

10. Is it kosher to buy myself a Valentine's gift when I neglected to buy Sam a birthday present?