ready or not, she's not here yet!

I woke up this morning to an empty bassinet and very big belly--
 
which means, our little girl is officially late. I really can't blame her though.  I'm kind of late for a lot of things, myself! I guess I'll go tidy the nursery one more time...

 

My dear friend Shirley made our little girl one of her famous "Joy" banners. Isn't it sweet? She recently passed away, and I'm so glad I have something to remind me of her sweet, sassy spirit!  I can't think of a better wish for my little girl than  for her to be able to find joy in her life.  Note:This has been strategically placed above the changing table...so that even when I'm changing diapers all day, I can be reminded of the reasons why it's a JOY to be a mother, too.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!

I can't remember if it's the 22nd or 23rd of June...but whichever it is, I'm sure glad it happened!!

My mom was one big cry baby.

But now she's one of the most patient, long-suffering, self-sacrificing people I know. I guess that's what years and years of being my parent will teach you! I hope you have a GREAT birthday, C the G!

POP!

Ok, so my baby belly popped out a while ago.  But I still got strange stares from strangers...trying to figure out if I was awkwardly fat, or if I was pregnant. Now you'd really have to be a dummy not to know I'm great with child, right?

Other things are popping too. We have some pretty tulips in our front garden that finally showed their petals this week! Even with all the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde weather we've been having.

Also--did you know you can make your own microwave popcorn? Well, I haven't tried it yet.  But I think I might.

One last thing...my friend JME posted about builders, maintainers and wreckers. I've been thinking about it all weekend.  She says:

In this world, there are builders, maintainers and wreckers. Builders are those people who make you feel like you’re worth a million bucks – and they mean it! They’re not only complimentative, but they act like they like being around you and enjoy your company. Maintainers are those who don’t tare down but don’t really build up. People that are just, kinda, there.

Wreckers find subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) ways to tare down. After spending time with a wrecker, you may get in your car and think, “wow, I am really stupid,” or “wait, now WHY do people like me?”.

 I think you all should pop over there and read the rest of her down to earth wisdom!

100 days and counting

I'm counting* because I'm excited and because I'm scared out of my mind.

etsy seller

I'm excited because of all the things you might imagine:

• I'll get to eat cake batter and cookie dough again, for one.  (Most other things with raw egg I have been happy to avoid.)
• Everyone will get to meet daddy's little girl and make all the comments like "oh she has Christian's nose!" To which, my dad will most-likely reply, "no she doesn't, she has her own nose." I just hope she doesn't get my nose (but that would fall more in the things I'm scared of category).
• I'll get to stop thinking things like "why does it feel like I'm carrying around a bucket of water...oh because I am."
• I'll finally get to be my own boss and have my dream career. I'll be an entrepreneur--well, a social entrepreneur, anyway. My new business will be full of imagining, telling stories and making pies. And probably a lot of other stuff...but that brings me to why I'm scared out of my mind.

                                         I'm scared out of my mind because:

etsy seller

• I know I'll mess up with some of the little things and not make her practice her piano enough. Or too much. Or she will catch me laughing when she's trying to be serious. Or I will let her cry too long. Or I will cry too long. 
• What if I mess up with some of the big things, too?  Like what if we name her the wrong name? 
• As much sleep as I am NOT getting now, I'm pretty sure in 100 days, I will be getting much less.
• What if my gag reflex never goes away and her first memory is of me gagging while I change her diaper or feed her some awful baby food? (OK, I hope she's out of diapers before her memory kicks in).
• What if she likes Christian more than me? That's pretty clear already because she hasn't once kicked him, and she loves to kick me.
• What if she loves glitter? I really don't think I can handle glitter.

*Disclaimer: I'm not really expecting her to show up right on her due date, since I'm not sure those really mean much of anything anyway.

Thank you for asking.

Question: Candace, are you excited for tax season to be over soon?

Answer: YES!! I can't wait for more of this:

Q: What will you name your child??
A: We have always loved the names William and Lucy...and when we moved into The Village and met these two folks (Bill and Lucy), we knew we were meant to be friends.  When most people ask the gender of a child they usually say, "are you having a boy or a girl?" Well, when they asked us our baby's gender it was: "Is it a Bill or a Lucy?" We don't know what we're naming our child. But there's at least two or three votes out there for Lucy. And everyone knows voting is the absolute best way to name a child.

Q:Have you been making anything delicious in the kitchen lately?
A: Why yes, yes I have! Conference Sunday brought this lovely pizza along with it. And I made myself another one tonight because of the miracle of Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day.

Q: Is this your sister?
A: No. This is my cousin cheesin' it up for the camera because she just got engaged. She also has the red hair I've always wanted. Thanks for reminding me.

Tweet Tweet

NESTING, as defined by the internet: "Around the fifth month of pregnancy, the "nesting" instinct can set in. This is an uncontrollable urge to clean one's house brought on by a desire to prepare a nest for the new baby, to tie up loose ends of old projects and to organize your world."

etsy seller

Does baking a 7 pound ham for just Christian and I to eat count as a sign that I'm nesting? How about bringing home lots of free stuff (2 couches, a piano, 4 chairs, a dresser, 3 bookshelves, and a bench) in the past month? I don't really think so...but I'm hoping for signs of this instinctive mother-to-be nesting phase...I just don't feel anything close to it yet.  I only see a desperate mama bird collecting other people's throw-aways and cooking way too much food for dinner (stuff I'm likely to do at any given time in my life). The only uncontrollable urge I have is...nothing. I have an urge to do nothing.

I think nesting would be more natural for me, if all I had to do was build an actual nest!! Fitting pieces of twigs together sounds like a breeze! I've never really been an organizer, or very particular about how I clean stuff, and I don't really make things pretty. I'm not careful when I fold clothes, and I rarely iron anything. I also have a bad habit of forgetting where things go...or not even assigning things a place to begin with. I have an entire room of "projects" that need all of those things, and worst of all, I don't really mind living in this chaos!

And THAT is why I am really counting on this nesting instinct to kick in--to bring some type of method to my madness. And for Christian's sake (can you even imagine what it's like living with me??), I hope it's sooner rather than later.

I take eating cake very seriously

Etsy Seller

I have never been much of a chocolate lover.  When I was a little girl I was all about vanilla. One time I won a drawing contest put on by Hostess.  My prize was a box of Twinkies or Ho Hos (maybe it was Ding Dongs). Being the non-chocolate eater I was, of course chose Twinkies and my siblings still will not let me forget my foolish decision. They also will not let me forget that all I drew was a circle and that I shouldn't have won anyway.

Now, don't get me wrong--I've grown up a lot since then--I do love a good brownie or chocolate chip cookie. Oh--also a chocolate shake from Iceberg with Reese's peanut butter cups. But I wasn't surprised when, this weekend, my mom made a cake that surpasses all chocolate goodness and all cakes and certainly all Hostess treats I've ever eaten! And it happened to be a vanilla cake.

White cakes get the short end of the stick--and they usually deserve it.  They're dry and sometimes they come with some "filling" that leaves you wondering if you have just eaten something that was really meant to be eaten. While you try to pry cake and filling from the roof of your mouth, you are left wondering...Was it supposed to be fruit or jam of some sort? Was it leftover Sunday Jello sandwiched between two cake layers? Will I ever have my normal mouth back?? You just never know. White cakes also tend to be paired with some nasty frosting--probably Crisco-based and died funny colors. This is perhaps only a good idea at Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle birthday parties...when the point is the turtles and not the taste. (Turtle power!)

Needless to say, the best cake ever has none of those qualities listed above.  It's moist. It's white, but off-white enough so you know it was baked with real eggs, real vanilla, real butter and real unbleached flour. This white cake needs no filling (although lemon curd is a perfect pair). This white cake is perfectly delightful on its own, but absolutely heavenly topped with whip cream or chocolate almond butter cream frosting. And best of all--this cake was baked up by mom.

And that's how I like my cake. How about you?

Let me read you a story.

One night this idea came to me and I thought I'd write a book for Sarah's birthday. So I did.  And then my cousin illustrated it for me (isn't she's amazing?). And now, thanks to Blurb.com it has a hard cover and pages and everything. 

Click here to read the whole thing!

It's a gift that I think can only get better and better over time,  and I can check off that "write a book before I die" box on my list.  If you're in the mood for a story about Sarah Grace with a smile on her face and her head all covered in curls, go ahead, sit back and read it! If not--well, I guess you'll have to miss out on the adventure for now!  

roses are red. and yellow.

This year, C1 really pulled through for the V-day thing. I can't wait to hang this print in my new creativity room! We had some delicious Crown Burger, too--something I think we should make a tradition!

I loved making these valentines last year and decided to do some more. I've told you all to paint before. But really, I mean it. It's so much fun.

Here are some of my favorites from this year's bunch:

For someone who LOVES giving high-fives.

For someone who had a decision to make (he chose Utah!! yay!!)

For someone who drinks diet Dr. Pepper--like a lot.

For someone who found out we're having a baby girl in August!

twice the fun

Remember when Sarah Grace was born?? Well she is now big sister to

Molly June

who is one week old today! TWO nieces?? Wow! We are super excited!

Dear C1,

Remember how we were talking about what to do for Valentine's Day? And I said (with not enough regret) I don't really do anything for you for Valentine's Day, but YOU usually clean the kitchen and get me flowers? And how you said yeah, but flowers are ridiculous. And I agreed? Well, I have an idea for this year:

I saw on Robbie and Catilin's blog (hueandhum.blogspot.com) that Caitlin is doing an oh-so-cool Valentine "Pay What You Want" deal on some of her prints. She says whether it's a small or large donation doesn't matter--she just wants to share her art!

I love how she has a "friend-tine" and a valentine or "lover-tine" option--I think either would be great on one of the empty walls in my creativity room!! This would be the perfect replacement for flowers this year, don't you think?

I'm just trying to give you some suggestions...but don't feel too pressured to do anything...it's not like the whole Internet knows what I'm hoping for.

Love,
Your mean wife

p.s.
For those of you who don't know these amazing folks at Hue and Hum, Caitlin sells her art for screaming deals (obviously) and is always finding fun creative projects, and Robbie is a real live rock star and releases free songs on their blog. One time in High School Robbie and I performed a duet for our East High Seminary class. It's no surprise to anyone that HE is the one that went on to be in a band on tour.

Christmas Recap

* * Christmas Morning at the Mabeys * *

My dad set up his toy train. Choo! Choo!

My mom went all out with wrapping this year. Isn't it cute?

Thomas (Elder Mabey) sent us all presents. My mom got a Michigan cook book. There are some doozies in there.

More from Thomas' phone call. All the women are trying to understand the geography of Michigan and all the places he's served in so far. I'm not even going to try, since I still don't know the geography of Utah very well--I wouldn't want to confuse myself.

* *Christmas Morning at the Littles * *

C1 loves to make Sarah smile. Isn't that a cool plane?? Roger and Laurie handmade their gifts this year. Such a cool idea, huh?

Heather really outdid herself on this one--she followed suit and handmade this flag!

Roger and Laurie opening a gift from the kids! A Beach bag full of fun things to do on our family trip to the beach this summer.

* * Christmas Eve with the Smiths * *

the Nativity. Oh, the Nativty. It's just not Christmas without it.

C1 and his fan club. I'm serious. They go CRAZY over him.

My Grandma let me be in charge of the appetizers. But she still made her cellery and cheese sticks. I love Grandmas--especially mine.

The party never ends here.

I always tease these two because they do some similar things...I had to get a picture of their simultaneous santa hat.

One Year Older

Most people celebrate three holidays in the winter time...we celebrate four (Thanksgiving, Christian's Birthday, Christmas, New Years). It's just one more time when I'm reminded that we are indeed getting older. But also a time to celebrate my No.1.

I am so proud of C1. He has done a lot in his 25th year. Here are few biggies...listed in no particular order, of course:

1. He let us buy a house where we get to have people over and they get to sit on real couches. And have real conversation. And drink real gourmet ginger ale.

2. He's been taking CPA exams like crazy. And passing them too! With pretty good scores, I might add. It's always a good day when you find out you married a genius. Isn't he a handsome CPA-to-be? I wouldn't mind him working in my office.

3. He's been fixing up the new house like a regular handyman. I knew all along I married one of those.

4. He graduated--which is a HUGE deal. Sometimes I forget about how important it is and definitely take it for granted. He also went to the Notre Dame game where he saw his Utes lose and he's seen many other sad losses as well...So I thought he might like a U of U red and white cake. I special-ordered some red food coloring. Unfortunately it didn't show up until the day AFTER I made this cake from last year. That's ok, I'm sure there will be other cakes to try it out on.

5. The biggest accomplishment of all is, that he put up with me for a whole 'nother year. Really, I'm nice to almost everyone but him. I hope he gets his wish, he deserves it!

Veggie Heaven in 2011

one of my heroes, mary, told me that she likes to make a rhyme for her new years resolution. i thought it was a great idea. we came up with mine together. you see, in 2011 i am going to eat a salad every day. wait, scratch that. i am going to attempt to eat a salad every day. inspired by my friend who ate a bowl of leafy green goodness every day in 2009, i decided to try it for myself. check out yearofsalad.com for more details about the challenge. don't you love this cute button? it was put together by yours truly. jenny's simple style is catchy, don't you think?

last year i went off of carbonation. that was easy compared to this (and i haven't even started it yet). it seems easier to NOT DO something...i am going to have to DO stuff like plan ahead and store salad ingredients neatly in my fridge. and maybe even go to the store more than once a month. oh, and the part of actually eating the salad. sure, i like green salad...but EVERY day? i hope i'm converted by the end. i know it will make me feel better and be healthier. even with all that parmesan lemon-garlic-oil and bacon dressing from the Do Do. ok it doesn't sound that bad. now i just need to get some of that dressing.

i know i'm jumping ahead a bit...but i still need to find my camera cord to post all my fun pics of the house and Christmas. not to mention C1's birthday...the MOST important thing about this past month. eventually i'll get to it. stay tuned if you're interested.

Longest Train Possible

Despite my brother's ridiculously long train (the red), and the fact that I (the yellow) kept referring to my destinations as "U.S. countries," I still managed to pull off a Thanksgiving win. AND, I beat Mr. Longest Train by more than 20 points. I can't get too proud, though. I'm sure there will be plenty more games of Ticket to Ride this holiday season, and I have to keep my head in the train.

my nikon has been busy lately