Social Norms...

Our timing must have been perfect (or so we thought) because as we were ordering our calzone and side salad the place was pretty crowded with a few big parties, but by the time we finished and were ready to sit down the workers were cleaning the tables and the place had emptied out. Out of the twelve or more tables in the small pizza joint it was us and these two other dudes sitting on the other side of the room.

And then the weird people showed up. A goofy looking couple who talk loudly because everyone has to be interested in what they are discussing, and their little baby (you know the type yet???). Well I was snacking on my little salad while they were ordering their pizza and then while he went to fill up their drinks, she decided out of all the empty tables the one that could not get closer to me was the appropriate one to sit at.

Seriously? You might as well have joined us at our table because at least then you would have been sitting across from me, which would have given me a little more personal space than the chair you decided to sit in at that table. And the baby did not help the situation because that little girl was way more interested in looking at Sam and I then she was at her parents.

And how does this make it more awkward? Because then mom decides to talk to baby quite loudly, talking to her like an adult, asking her why she keeps looking at "them" (meaning Sam and I). All that twisting in the high chair was about to make her fall out of the thing so eventually mom just twisted the high chair so she could look directly at us (from like a foot or so away, so basically joining our table) all the while talking to baby about staring at us.

Then to make matters worse, Dad answers a phone call and apparently his phone was broken because he had to shout into it. All I can say is most boring conversation ever. And how are you supposed to react? Pretend that I don't hear mom talking about me even though it is dead obvious because we are sitting a foot apart in an empty restaurant? Yet, acknowledging it might suck you into a terrible conversation you don't want to be apart of. All I know is it definitely ruined our conversation because who wants strangers listening to you.

I hear their is an unwritten bathroom rule whether you are in a stall or at the urinal: you use the furthest toilet you can away from the current bathroom goers. I would appreciate the same courtesy while I am trying to eat my calzone.

Man o Man, some people's kids...

Off to Seattle...

Thanks to Bailey peacefully staying in the uterus, Sam receiving a Washington school interview, and Sam having the best Aunt and Uncle in Seattle we decided to take a weekend getaway to one of our favorite cities.

In order to recreate the memory of our first (and only, I guess) trip here, a shot in front of the Seattle TapRoom.
Why a bar was chosen as the Seattle tradition I am not sure, but we can't break it now.

We flew in Thursday night, rented a car, and were off on the hour and a half drive to Yakima to get ready for the interview. By the time we checked into our hotel in Agricultural Yakima my legs were mighty swollen. Of course I freaked out because they looked ginormous while Sam managed to stay level headed and told me to just lay down and go to sleep (because if I am sleeping I am not talking or whining) and by morning they were back to normal, thank goodness.

The best part of Yakima? The drive back to Seattle when Sam begged me to stop here (his old stomping ground) so he could relive his wonderful childhood memories...
Weird thing was Jana (who has the best memory in the world) and Mama Pam couldn't even remember it without a little coaching...making me wonder how significant of a memory this place truly was, and whether or not I got played a little.

But I am not going to complain too much because I got some candy out of it...
and Sam got his beloved grapefruit slices which he loves...
and was able to tell me about the time he fell down the flight of stairs in the middle of the shop, and how that red wagon has been there forever.

And then, after what seemed like forever to my falling apart, pregnant body we arrived back in beautiful Seattle...

where we walked around pikes place...

isn't Sam's purse so cute? He gets lots and lots of compliments on it wherever we go.
The part that Sam was looking forward to the most was the delicious and very large doughnuts at the bakery right next to where they throw the fish.

Unfortunately for him (which I found quite hilarious) the place was closed. Apparently they were moving the location of their behind the scenes kitchen and although they were sorry, they were planning on being closed till the end of January. Oddly enough we were in Washington February 25-28 so I am not sure what exactly was going on...Poor Sam.

Luckily, right around the corner there was a mini doughnut shop, which brought the smile right back because he got a little bag full of twelve assorted mini-doughnuts...
And unfortunately for me, while I was off looking for a pretty bouquet of flowers for Sam's wonderful Aunt Sage, Sam ate that bag of doughnuts like a fat kid who hates sharing food :)
When there are doughnuts present and you want some, but Sam is around, you better eat fast or you won't get to eat at all. You have been warned.

It also wouldn't be Pike's Place without seeing a few fish get tossed around...
Sam loves fish, especially how they smell and taste.

And I love shopping...

and people watching.

Besides Pike's Place we spent the weekend shopping at the Asian Market, playing games, eating the best gourmet food made by Uncle David and Aunt Sage (including the best homemade cheesecake that survived the plane ride back to Utah, but not too much longer than that), driving around the city, and relaxing with some wonderful company.

We had the best time. And who could complain when you look out the window and see this...

Uncle David and Aunt Sage, we can not thank you enough for your wonderful hospitality. And for the perfect little Bailey outfit and book. We love you guys.

Oh Webelos...

If you think ten year old girls like to talk a lot, just come to our weekly pack meetings and listen to the stories that ten year old boys endlessly tell...

Like for instance, you will learn about how the family has a cat, and when the cat pooped it was really stinky. So his mom put Tide in the litter box and now the poop doesn't stink anymore. Ta Da. (For some reason when I type the story it doesn't seem as long as it took for the kid to tell me about it, weird).

At the current moment I am not in the market for getting cat poop to not stink, but I am searching for a way to make baby poop not stink. Has that been invented yet?

Super-size it...

I am just relaxing on the bench at church after the banquet (cub scout meetings are exhausting), when a stranger walks up to me and asks me when I am due. I tell her not till May so I definitely have a little bit of time left. She then asks me if this is my first one which I, of course, answered back with a yes.

Then I hear a "wow, you are really big, especially for your first one. I was barely showing at seven months with my first one. Most people did not even believe me when I told them I was pregnant."

Elephants like to be huge so they can step on things, Giraffes like to be huge so they can kill other giraffes with their necks (see Sam I do listen to you), boys like to be huge so they can show their muscles and drive around in their big trucks, but no girl, pregnant or not will ever enjoy being called big, huge, large, ginormous etc...ESPECIALLY BY A STRANGER!
I know I am huge, you do not need to tell me. All that does is effectively make me not like you that much. Unless of course you are one of my brothers or sisters. Then you are allowed to tell me I look fat, because I will also be calling you all hippos when you gain weight.

Happy Love Day...

With Bailey craving cheesecake, what better place to indulge the taste buds than a little Cheesecake Factory for lunch.

I wish I had another piece right now.

Then we were off shopping. For this holiday my Sam attempted to turn over a new leaf and actually get me a gift, rather than just telling me what he wanted to buy me. So lucky me received one of these...

It did require a trip to DI Provo, DI American Fork, Savers in Orem, back home to check craigslits, and then back to Savers in Orem to purchase a crappy stroller to turn into Babies R US to get a 25% discount. But it also wouldn't be true shopping with Sam if a large portion of the time wasn't spent trying to haggle prices and get the best deals.

Now for Sam's gift. After days of contemplating what he wanted he finally came up with this...

...probably because he knew if he didn't ask for it as a gift he was not going to be seeing it in the theater (or possibly at all) with me. All I can say is: Sam is lucky he got me the big popcorn, that he looked like Harry Potter in his little glasses, and that growing a baby makes me extremely tired and has awarded me the ability to sleep almost anywhere.
I think I will stick with the smurfs as my favorite blue people.

Sunday morning, as usual, we woke up late and had to scramble to get ready for church (it is sad how 11:00 am church is too difficult to be on time to.) When I ran into the kitchen to make my church snacks the counter was full of chocolates and candies. It was a total surprise, and since nothing makes me happier than candy I was thrilled.

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Memory Lane...

Remember when I was this size: all of my clothes actually fit and I could see my feet without leaning forward...?

and doing this didn't cause me to be so winded that I quite literally may pass out...

I have completely forgotten...because its been replaced with this...
(excuse the smurf outfit, the clothes are limited these days)
Here's to three more months and regaining the ability to breathe again, as well as sit, stand, sleep and not feel constant pain in my rib cage.

Sharing Nightmares...

There is nothing like being awaken with a loud "Oh crap sh** mumble mumble" in the middle of the night.

Must have been some nightmare, because it sure did scare the crap out of me; and Bailey, too.