Don't Judge Me

First of all, thank you everyone for being so excited for us. Everyone has asked if I'm feeling well, and I'm not. But really, thanks for asking. Today has been a particulary bad morning since I have been throwing up since 3am. When I was pregnant with India, I wrote in my journal three times during the first two months. The next entry was two days after India was born. So, I thought my morning sickness this time was not as bad as last time, but it turns out I had successfully repressed those memories. Anyway, if I give you a really mean look at church, don't take it personally.

Enough whining. On the flip side, I am losing weight (though most likely pounds of brain cells). My students and boss are being very nice to me. My neighbors continue to be nice to me and help out with India a lot even when I look like a pajama-clad polygamist. We are now only using paper and plastic. I am contemplating dressing myself and India in garbage bags to cut down on laundry. I realized that India has not eaten lunch for the past week, so I splurged at the grocery store and bought tons of snacks and ready-to-eat meal-like items for her. Ammon is noble about doing everything and listening to me cry. And finally, if things go like last time, I should be feeling better in about eight more weeks!

Christmas Recap

I know this is a bit late, but better late than never. With the help of my Grandma Parker, I FINALLY made Christmas stockings for my family. Growing up, my mom always provided extrememly cute, homemade stockings. So even though I don't have a stitching gene in my body, I couldn't fathom breaking tradition.

Because I have no idea of how to sew, I also have no idea how to use a pattern. So I don't. My grandma spoiled me with her super talent by figuring out how to make these stockings from my idea. I can't wait for Christmas to come again!

India with her Great-Grandpa and Grandma Parker

The talented seamstress.

TADA! Final product! Unfortunately, I didn't quite make enough for this year, so I'll be coming by again Grandma!

Timber

My backyard.

This picture brings back a childhood memory. When I lived in Biloxi, Mississippi, I used to go to a park by the Gulf Bay, which had lots of huge trees covered by hanging spanish moss. Out of the blue, a tree branch, (much bigger than the one in our yard) fell and crushed 3 or 4 cars. Anyway, I'm glad nobody was playing in the backyard when these two branches fell.

Pajama Princess

Lately, India and I are struggling to get out of pajamas in the morning. This poor girl woke up at 6:30am (unheard of for the women in this house). By 9:30am India had zonked while watching cartoons. I just looked in my journal and noticed that India has been sucking the same two fingers since she was 2 months old. Isn't that incredible?

Again in pj's, India enjoying orange juice and "princess toast". She also enjoys "princess eggs". It's the only way I can get her to eat decent food in the morning. Hmmmm, I wonder if she'd go for "princess chores", you know, kind of like Cinderella.

Finale

Today is Ammon's last soccer game of the season. He improved the team from last year, put in countless hours of practice/coaching, and never got a yellow card. I'm so proud of you, Ammon!

Future soccer athletes: India with cousins Jack & Sophie.

Harley Trike

Thank you Ammon for setting a good example to India by wearing your helmet.

Random news: India has started singing a new song called "goo goo haw". I have no idea what that means or where she may have gotten it from. She just likes to be silly. Also, India doesn't like me to touch certain things (i.e. computer or remote). As I was doing work-related emails, India kept pushing my hands off the keyboard and saying, "Daddy's puter, Hannah's puter." When that didn't work, she gave me a severe look, pointed to the keyboard, and told me, "puter HOT."

Just for Laughs

This is the reason India keeps waking up in the middle of the night. She's afraid of the monkey monster.

Emotions

Pleased

Alarmed
Distressed

Anxious
From the emotions above, you can see how complex our little two-year-old is becoming.

Latest Obsession: Bubble Baths

India scrutinizes just like her daddy. She doesn't lack for personality does she? Speaking of personality, I do have an anecdote to share for the day. India was playing at a friend's house while I was grading some papers at home. The friend's mom had covered herself with a blanket while she was pumping since India was visiting. India pulled the blanket off and took one look at the milk going into the bottle and said with an affirmative nod, "Baby's juice."

Attention Neighbors

SARA CIRCLE BBQ

Sunday, April 13th @ 4pm

(my fourplex's back yard - 1051 Sara Circle)

Bring your own meat/plates, something delicious to share, and a blanket/chair. I've got papercups and forks.

Anyone is welcome to come! Help spread the word!

Ammon Scores Again

India is a seasoned wrestler. In the above picture, she is practicing with Uncle David. I think this move is called "You're-not-getting-up-till-you-say-"Uncle". Anyway, imagine my surprise and Ammon's delight when India told me this morning, "I smarter than all the boys."

My Handsome Hubby

1. What is his name? Ammon John Wiemers.
2. How long have you been married? Four and 1/2 years.
3. How long did you date? One and 1/2 years. And we broke up and got back together about five times.
4. How old is he? 28 and 1/2. (Ammon's half-birthday doesn't exist, but we get pretty close each leap year).
5. Who eats more sweets? Me. Maybe that's why I'm sweeter than Ammon.
6. Who said I love you first? I did. I was such a sucker for him. Ammon eventually got around to saying the "L" word about two months later.
7. Who can sing better? Well, I can hit most of the right notes if they are in my 7 note range, and Ammon knows all the right words. You decide.
8. Who is smarter? We're well matched. We both majored in English Secondary Education and agreed not to ever take any classes except for Institute together since we can get a wee bit competitive with each other. But hands down, Ammon is smarter at being a smart alec.
9. Who does the laundry? Me. Although Ammon is good about pitching in when he sees I'm behind.
10. Who pays the bills? I did for the first year and a half of marriage. Then I started student teaching and afterwards got pregnant, and Ammon has taken over since.
11. Who mows the lawn? I have had my fair share of mowing when I lived at home with my parents. However, Ammon insists that it is the man's job. He is a perfectionist when it comes to the lawn. He is irritated when our landlord's son does a crappy job and has been known to borrow a lawn mower to do it right. When we were dating, Ammon was always itching to mow my parent's lawn. No wonder I dashed their hearts when I broke up with Ammon.
12. Who cooks dinner? Ammon cooks on the weekends. I try to make his leftovers last till the next weekend.
13. Who drives? Ammon. He thinks everyone but himself is a reckless driver in Utah.
14. Who kissed who first? Ammon kissed me first.
15. Who asked who out first? I don't think we started officially dating until I moved home to Centerville during the summer. Before then we would hang out a lot.
16. Who proposed? Ammon did. I was going out to Illinios with Ammon to meet his family and didn't know he had planned on proposing to me there. Two weeks before our trip I tried to break up with him because our relationship "wasn't going anywhere." Ammon told me over the phone that he had planned to propose to me after I met his family. I got mad him and asked him if he had asked my dad yet (which he hadn't). We went ring shopping the next week, and then Ammon still managed to surprise me with the big question and a pretty rock at the Nauvoo Temple.
17. Who has more siblings? I do. Ammon has 4 sisters and 1 brother. I have 7 brothers and 2 sisters.
18. Who wears the pants? Ammon does. But I've got influence.
19. Do have any advice for him? Yes. Pretend to be afraid of skin cancer and start WEARING SUNSCREEN.
20. What do you love about him? Ammon can make anybody laugh at any time. He can laugh at himself. He married me despite the fact I lack any sportslike abilities. He's an EXCELLENT cook. He never brings up my weaknesses. He's got big muscles. He loves both his and my family. He is going to be an awesome principal someday. He's willing to take on 150 extra responsibilites at school to support our family. He indulges India and me in the form of teasing, teasing, icecream, teasing, and teasing all in the name of love.

Team "W"

Guess Who I Am on First Name Basis With?

Yup. That's right. Joseph Smith. Well, ok . . . actually the actor who played Joseph Smith, Nathan Mitchell. Want to know how? He's a therapist at my school. Our students (98% who are not Mormon) were DYING! Want to know how they found out? One of our students recognized him from the movie and told all the other students. I didn't even know they knew who Joseph Smith was. I still haven't seen the movie yet, so I had no idea.

Last year Ammon was also on first name basis with Joseph Smith Jr. That is until Joseph transferred out of his English class.

Now joking aside, if you or anyone you know has questions about Joseph Smith or anything else about the LDS church, leave me a comment or email me at erin.wiemers@gmail.com. I would love to share with you what I know.

An Artist at Work

For the first couple of years of our marriage, we made do with lovely art pieces from my siblings. Now I get to showcase my little India! We've been using watercolor because that's what was available in my house. However, I have discovered the "paint-by-water" books at Target for 89 cents. As you see below, the most damage India has done is spill her water all over her shirt! It has been a super fun "too cold to go outside" activity.

Painting in her pj's and pretty shoes.

"Untitled." Watercolor on Cardstock.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Jasper Johns' work, here's one piece entitled "False Start". I'm seeing the resemblance. Thanks Laney for helping me become more culturally aware today. (Do you have any of his prints at the bookstore?)

Watering the Flowers

I love that India will watch what I do then try it out herself.

Our fancy plumbing.
Fancy shrubbery.
Close enough.

India and Tristan

India treats her playmates more like siblings than friends. I'm not sure if this is a phase or if it is permanant. In this picture she seems to be saying to our next-door neighbor, Tristan, "Don't even THINK about going anywhere buddy!"

Sleeping Beauties

This is how I have found Ammon and India when I came home from work both times this week.

I Haven't Seen My Husband in Three Weeks . . .

because he works, is very sick this week, has had soccer tryouts, debate tournaments, parent/teacher conference, young men's, and more church meetings. Needless to say, we miss him. However, this week I did learn how to turn off the toilet water. I haven't mopped in a while, so I was avoiding eye and direct foot contact with our floors. It's too bad our downstairs neighbors noticed the leakage first. Anyway, enjoy the pictures below featuring our little lady earlier this month.

This cute momma-belly belongs to Hannah, Ammon's sister. Our nephew, Asher, was born on February 13th. India insists on holding "Ashes" all by herself and likes to give him kisses.

My mom and McKenna have introduced the world, adventure, and mess of playdough to India. She's very good at making cookies and mashing all the colors into one ball. She discovered early on that these cookies do not taste good. Playdough is one of the games I really enjoy doing with India. But why do I get mad at her when she messes up my playdough creations?

India raking the snow and keeping our yard lookin' nice.

How Is This Any Different?

Ten Years Ago:

The date was February 13, 2008. The place was Galesburg, Illinois. I was just beginning my last semester as a senior in high school. I didn't keep a journal and blogs weren't invented yet. So, what I was doing specifically wasn't documented -- probably a good thing.

Five things on my to do list today:

You may be suprised, despite my aversion to lists, that I actually have a to-do list. I use Outlook as my email program, and there is a list function that is very nice to help me keep organized.

1. Finish planning tryouts (for soccer -- they begin Feb 25, and I hope the snow is gone)
2. Call Amex (I've heard that if you call and bug them for long enough they will lower your interest rate -- it's worth a shot)
3. Call the U of U about financial Aid
4. Email faculty about using their rooms for the Debate Tournament
5. Catch up on grading (This is always on my list, because I've never done it.)

Things I would do if I was suddenly made a billionaire:

Honestly, life right now is pretty good. I'd definitely cut back on hours at work -- go to part time. Consequently, I would enjoy the increased time afforded to me at home with Erin and India. We would probably add a new member or two to that mix. Erin could stop working, so we could be together at night. Sara Circle is great, but we would probably move into a different neighborhood. The new neighborhood might not have as many four plexes. I'm thinking houses. I would go to graduate school still and pursue all of the goals I currently have. The extra money wouldn't change my goals in life. It would simply take away the stress of affording them.

Two of my bad habits:

1. Impatience
2. Overlooking the little things

Five places I have lived:

1. Orem, Utah
2. San Joaquin Valley in California. (Fresno Mission)
3. Galesburg, Illinois
4. Hull, Sioux Center, and Osceola, Iowa
5. Ames, Iowa (the maternity ward -- it was only really a visit)

Five jobs I have had:

1. High school English teacher
2. Head boys' soccer coach
3. Debate coach
4. Assistant girls' soccer coach
5. Assistant manager at a Sinclair Gas Station

Five things people don't know about me:

1. I'm not completely cold hearted -- though it may be two sizes too small
2. I'm very shy
3. I read incredibly slowly
4. I've never been skiing or snowboarding because I'm afraid
5. I'm a terrible swimmer

Our Little Darling is Two

Not quite a newborn, but you get the picture. She's all grown up! Daddy and his Princess. And yes, her hair always looks like this. Even when I fix it.
She LOVES Ammon. He was the first one invited to try on her new "princess hat" and jewels.
Being 2 comes with more responsibilites in life. India is now old enough to choose her own outfits. And look, she's smiling!