(2) Wed Sep 07 2005 21:37 Plants, Trees, and more Plants: Today I went to the Garden Center and bought some more landscaping for our house. It has been a fun ongoing project since moving in starting with Aaron and a friend uprooting two trees (one China Berry and one random one) from a forest and planting them in our front yard. We did this in the dead of August or maybe it was even late July, needless to say one is dead and the China Berry is barely hanging on with one sprout of leaves. It could have been from the Texas heat, or it could have been from Aaron and I being too lazy to water them.

I am proud to say that we learned our lesson because when we received our sod three weeks later, we have watered it twice a day for 2 1/2 weeks now. Our grass came to us dead and now it is green with the exception of a few problem pieces of sod that look like they came to us diseased. At that time we got our grass, Aaron and the same friend (thanks for all the free labor James) went to the Garden Center and picked out some flowers and bushes for our flower bed. They did a great job and it turned out great.

We also gathered up a bunch of rocks to line the border of the flower bed and tress with. I think it added the perfect touch. I even sprang for a HUGE rock in the front yard by paying a construction worker $30 to use their bulldozer (our neighborhood is still being developed and there are no houses to the left of us) and lifting this massive 700-800 lbs. rock and dumping it onto our lawn. I think it looks just right now, but anymore rocks I think would be a little much.

Anyhoo, today I went to the Garden Center again and bought some trees to replace the dead ones. They were having a 40% off sale so I figured what better time than now. I got a Bradford Pear for the tree by the house and a Crepe Myrtle for the tree by the driveway. I wanted to get some more but I didn't want to bite off more than I can chew. That is for another project in a couple weeks. I don't even want to think about the back yard...argh! So much work. But I think it will be worth it b/c I love having a nice yard and surrounding myself with beautiful living things. (Now I know why Frances is addicted to buying plants. B/c they're gorgeous!)

So I am pretty proud of myself for maintaining this project and I hope that by the time we sell our house, it will go fast and for a lot b/c we took care of our house and yard. I also got to fulfill a dream of when I was little and wanted to plant irises in my garden "when I grew up" b/c they are my favorite flower. Now added onto the list is any type of lily.

(1) Thu Sep 08 2005 07:45 I'm sad: I just deleted my Grandpa's phone number from my cell phone contacts. It was weird. I'm sad.

Fri Sep 09 2005 11:08 Summer reads: I just got done with The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx and am halfway through The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck. I highly recommend The Moon is Down, it is one of those simplistic intellectual books, the ones they have you read in 9th grade honors English, and if you read it again 10 yrs later you would get a lot more out of it and even something different with your maturing perspective on life. Anyway, I find it amazing that John Steinbeck wrote it during WWII and it was smuggled into "occupied land" and translated into so many different languages. Pretty cool stuff.

I supposed I enjoyed The Shipping News, however I found some parts to be a little vulgar. It was a little depressing, but in the end it had a good message. I think that the juxtaposition of her message and the storyline makes it so that you don't really believe the message though. Does that make sense?

(11) Tue Sep 13 2005 12:25 I've put it off long enough.: I figure I should say something about my trip to Utah and my Grandpa's funeral. I would fill badly if I didn't do him justice that way. So I set off for Utah with Lorna on a non-stop Delta flight. Luckily we were able to get one for under $500 each, but not much under. On the plane Lily decided to play the game of crawl over mom to get to Lorna, then back again, and again. Then she got restless of being held and wanted to play on the ground and crawl around. I just recall thinking "only an hour and a half more of this...one more hour...forty more minutes, oh my gosh do I have to go through this again." It is not fun traveling while babies need naps. It could have been worse. At least Lorna didn't vow to never baby-sit again, and I didn't get any dirty looks from other people sitting next to us, at least I didn't see any.

David picked us up at the airport and we descended into Happy Valley. I then found out that the place I had been planning to stay (my Dad's) was no longer available for me to stay at. So I called my sister-in-law, Hailey, to see if the invitation was still open for me to stay with them in Highland. It turned out quite nice though since they graciously watched Lily while she slept in the evening so I could be with family more.

I got to meet Julie's Ben (I have four Ben's to keep track of in my family) and I really liked him. He is cuter in person, not that his pictures were bad, but I was impressed overall. Seems to be a cool guy. It was fun to see Michelle and Julie's room too. The funeral was very good. I still say that Melea's funeral was the most spiritual funeral I have ever been too, but Grandpa's was great too. I loved the slide show, some of the pictures I had never seen of him before. The talks were great and they gave me insight into Grandpa's life I had never had. it is weird because since I was pretty close to Grandpa especially in his later years living so close to him, I thought I would bawl like a baby but I was pretty calm. I'm still waiting for it to hit me that he is gone. When we went to his house with all the cousins, I half expected him to be sitting there sitting on his couch watching Fox News looking kinda grumpy like he always did. That's just Grandpa. But he wasn't there.

There at Grandpa's house we were to go through and write down the things we wanted to keep. I went through his apt looking at the furniture I had dusted for him many, many times. The toiletries I had arrange after cleaning his bathroom, the bed with the headset and radio so he could listen to the news while falling asleep. His clothes in his closet all lined up, the ones he hemmed and the shirts that would loosen after he would get sick, or would be taut after he was out and about riding the bus to McDonalds everyday when well. They still smelled like Grandpa. Then I saw his McDonald's gift certificate bucks on his dresser. That's Grandpa, with his uncooked oatmeal for breakfast for his heart in the morning, and his lunches at McDonalds, followed by his milk and bread for dinner because that is what he had growing up.

It is still so weird for me to think that he is gone b/c he really kept himself going for so long. I never thought Grandpa could die. He has had so many strokes, falls and stitches, and broken bones that have all defied death. Even when he had colon cancer a year and a half ago, I thought uh-oh, this is it. I heard no one hardly ever survives colon cancer. But my Grandpa came out of surgery and was released from the hospital in what was it, like three days with a clean bill of health. During our talks while I cleaned his apartment, he would say how he didn't want to die and wasn't ready. He was such a strong spirit and stubborn that he lived to 89 1/2 yrs old. I guess that is why I disbelieved he was really gone. But things happen for a reason. Grandma died and her funeral was on my birthday Aug 30 2003 and eerily, Grandpa died Aug 31st and the funeral was Sept 3. So they died almost exactly 2 years apart.

Anyway, I picked a tie of Grandpa's to remember him by, some trinkets he always had lying around. I got some address stickers he had that companies would send to him and when I helped him pay his bills, he always used those, but would make me cut off the design sticker part because he thought that by doing that he didn't have to donate the money to the companies that would send him complimentary address stickers. Funny man. I also got some file folders and a file box. I wanted his diplomas, pictures, Richardson Family book, and other keepsakes, but everyone wanted those and I wasn't near top in the hierarchy to get those things.

Anyway, it was great to see all the siblings there and the Scoll cousins that you never see all in one place except for weddings or funerals. I am glad I got to go back to Utah, but was sad that I didn't have time to drive by my old house. I did however drive past my old walking route, and I got warm fuzzy feelings, I guess because I have so many fond memories of my walks with Lily in the nice beautiful Utah seasons, listening to great books on tape. It was good to get back because I missed Aaron too much. It seems like he doesn't ever get to go with me to things like that. My side of the family doesn't see him much. That trip I decided I didn't want to travel again without him.

I am now grandparent-less.

(6) Wed Sep 14 2005 17:18 AHHHH-DAHT: Brech-a,brech-a, brech-a....duhlopah

Aaron: When did our child learn Vietnamese?

Kristen: That's not all, she knows Russian, Italian, and German.

Our little chatter box here learned to say "uh-oh". She also took her first steps in Utah. Aaron missed it, but she has been walking a little now. It is only when she realizes she is not walking when she does it. Once she realizes it she sits back on her bum and starts crawling. And it is always when she is standing and holding onto the couch or foot rest and she sees something and walks along the edge but keeps walking when after she lets go. It's pretty cute. She is also getting her second upper tooth in.

That's what's been going on though. Lily getting teeth, talking, and walking.

(1) Fri Sep 16 2005 22:18 How sad is this?: Ok, for all you mom's out there, you know that you can not go to the bathroom in peace without being followed in there by a child. I suppose it's best so they don't hurt themselves, but I don't like it when mine comes in and unravels all the toilet paper and when you make her stop or keep it from rolling she starts hissing fiery darts at you.

Also, Lily found where the DVD's and CD's are kept. (In different cupboards mind you.) And she has taken a liking to tearing them all off the shelves.

Today I had an appt for Lily to go to and I got lost. I've been there before, I don't know why the street wasn't there when I looked for it the second time, but it wasn't. So I drove around looking for it finally finding it right where I thought it was. Why wasn't it there to begin with? Not to mention Lily decided to yell the last 15 minutes in the car so I could barely hear myself think. **Note to self, do not schedule appts during nap time, not even if the next appt available is in a month.** So I was late to the appt. While there, Lily won't walk yet, so she is still a human broom sliding her legs all over the filthy floor and getting her hands all dirty and when I pick her up, she instantly arches her back and throws herself to the floor. Luckily for me, she isn't that big or strong yet so I can wrestle her, but not really able to do this for 20 mins in the waiting room b/c then I look like a mean mom. So off she goes on the floor to catch whatever disease is laying around. She only weighed in at 17 lbs 2 oz and 28 inches long.

I was able to drop Lily off at Grandma's and Pappy’s while I went to the dentist. Actually, he isn't a dentist yet, but almost. My brother-in-law did a teeth cleaning and some other stuff at the dental clinic today. Aaron was there and was able to assist. And the best part is, it was all discounted major. Thanks, Josh!

We did have a dental school B-B-Q to go to tonight with good food, but Aaron had to leave early b/c he is slaving away parking cars for $50 for 4 hours, helping a friend out. So he barely got to eat and run. Aaron's brother Jake and his wife Erin dropped Lily and me off at home. We forgot though, Lily's crib was in the car from going to Grandma's. So Lily has been bouncing off the walls now waiting for Papa to come home with her bed. Any minute now...

(1) Sat Sep 17 2005 16:46 This is a first: Aaron and I were woken up by a very sad clingy baby this morning. I don't know why b/c both her teeth she is growing in have broken through her gums. And if any of you know Lily, she doesn't cry for no reason, especially after she has had a good sleep.

So we headed to Garden Center to buy some more landscaping b/c she was getting to clingy inside. We got 2 Japanese Yew, 3 wax myrtle (b/c they smell so good), some canna lilies, and a Magnolia tree. I love Magnolias. So we had lots of planting to do, especially since where we put the plants was where there was grass. So we had to tear up the grass and we were able to save it for the backyard sodding that is slowly growing bigger with all the projects we are doing in the front yard. (Our builders didn't sod the backyard, only the front yard.) Then we actually planted all the plants at one time. We also planted the lantana that was intended for ground cover under the Bradford Pear tree we got that is being delivered Monday along with our Magnolia tree and Crepe Myrtle tree, but we bought the lantana awhile ago and they were looking pretty sick, so I thought we'd better get them in ground.

It looks pretty good now and I think I am done with the front yard after Monday when they plant the Bradford Pear. (We have to plant the Crepe Myrtle and Magnolia Tree ourselves. Too spensive.) So now on to the backyard. I don't even know what to do with it. We kinda ran out of money too. Maybe we will wait for the spring on that one. Besides, Lily is too young right now to play outside. She doesn't even wear shoes for heaven's sake. I will post a picture of it when we get the trees all planted.

Mon Sep 19 2005 12:46 You think your S don't stink?: I remember being a new mom and actually liking the smell of Lily's poopy diapers. The sweet smell of breastmilk fed baby slime. It was a sweet smell, not offensive. Mostly it just reminded me of Lily, and I loved everything about her. I know it sounds weird, but I did like the smell.

Then came solids, and her poop quickly changed from slime to solid. At least it didn't leak out her back as much and stayed put in one solid round mound, but it started smeeeelll-ling.

I also love the smell of baby's breath. It smells so baby and so sweet. Some say it smells like rotten milk, but I firmly disagree. There is nothing much better than the smell of sweet baby's breath. Particularly my baby's breath.

Now from eating solids and Lily's new teeth (she is now showing 3 on top and one coming in on top, and 2 on bottom) her breath doesn't smell the same. My perfect creature is not perfect after all. Her breath stinks and her poop stinks. At least her breath is not repulsive...yet, but I hear it comes.

It was funny, the other day I fed Lily some left over spaghetti that I made with ground beef sautéed in garlic. My mom came over and was holding Lily and was like, why does she smell like garlic. I thought that babies had special saliva to fight off bad smells, but I was wrong.

So indeed, the perfect creature I thought I created has poop that stinks.

(15) Tue Sep 27 2005 12:20 Cerebral: Well, I've finished Angels and Demons. Good book, not as good as Da Vinci Code and due to Dan Brown's writing style was a little predictable. I can't give anything away for those who wish to read it in the future, (just like we gave away to Joe and Louise a year after HP:OOTP came out, assuming they had read it, that Sirius dies) but I didn't like the ending that much. I would tell you why but then I would give clues away.

I am halfway through the disturbing but very well written Oryx and Crake. I just got chills up my spine from writing that name. Yes, it is that disturbing. It is an "end of the world" theme, but I am still making my way through it to really pinpoint what it is about. I would love to discuss it with you Aly, after I am done, and Sumana- have you read it too?

Inspired by my trip to Utah and hanging with my sister-in-law, Aaron and I have rented the first 2 DVD's of Arrested Development. Very hilarious, and highly recommended. I love the main guy's acting, he slays me. I also think Gob and "Mom" are hilarious, but I have to say Buster does the funniest things. My favorite character is Michael though. Who's your favorite character?

Anyone who hasn't seen AR, rent season one!

(2) Wed Sep 28 2005 15:08 Poisoned!: Ok, so a couple days ago at like 1 AM, I woke with a terrible stomachache. (Sto-ma-cha-cha as Raymond Barone calls it) This unfortunately happens it seems every 6-8 mos where I awake with a stomachache, throw up, and feel fine. So this night was no different. I got up and took some Pepto Bismal and I rolled around in bed till I finally felt it coming on and I got up to throw up. The nice part about having the master bath attached to the master bedroom is your husband can hear you gagging and hurling your insides out. So Aaron came and gave me pity and patted my back. It was really sweet and it made me feel better. So I went back to sleep and woke up just fine.

The weird thing is, is that Lily a couple days earlier had projectile vomit and it got all over the kitchen floor I had just mopped that day. I was so stunned b/c it was the first time she had ever really thrown up and I was covered in barf as was she and the floor. At least it was on the tile and not the carpet. I stood there a few seconds not knowing what to do, trying to will in my mind a way to avoid the inevitable cleaning it up and me and Lily, as I had just barely bathed and dressed her for bed. The strange thing was that she didn't seem sick before or after the projectile vomit. But then a couple days later, we were at her 12 month check up and she was crawling all over the waiting room floor and all the sudden she is playing with something on the ground. Throw-up. It could have only been her own but I only turned away a second and heard nothing before I looked again and she was swirling her fingers in it. It was pretty embarrassing but at least we were at the doctors and not the grocery store.

(3) Fri Sep 30 2005 12:14 Artsy-fartsy: I have been thinking about going to a play here, but it occurred to me that there is no local playhouse that I can think of except downtown. Who wants to drive downtown? Strange, b/c I know of at least 3 off the top of my head that are within 15 mins driving time in Provo. Maybe there is a good high school play?! Probably a bad idea.

(1) Fri Sep 30 2005 12:51 Settler's: We played Settler's of Cattan last night with some friends, but we also played with the Cities and Knights expansion kit. I don't think I can play the regular way again. Cities and Knights is soooo fun. Lots going on though, so it took us 3 hours to play one game.