Just to clarify...

From Erik's perspective, baby and I are cohabitating well. That's because we have no other option. She and I are already fighting, which does not bode well for her teenage years. She thinks my bladder is a nuisance and a waste of space and encourages it to remain in the completely flat position. In her mind, sleeping is for sissies, and she's trying to make sure that I don't get any. At the last doctor's visit, she measured 3 cm. larger than her recommended size, and this time she was still 1 cm. over. Don't get me wrong - I'm thrilled that she's healthy and still excited to be pregnant, but I think I'm getting ready for her to be on the outside of me instead.

Last Hoorah

Why did summer seem to last so much longer as a child? Here are some highlights from the last few weeks.

We went up to the Huber family reunion near Heber City in the beginning of August. We were treated to an incredible breakfast. Here is Uncle Rob showing what pancakes should like like.

Here we are posing for a great photo next to the campground restrooms. Romantic.


The week before my classes started again we headed to Bear Lake with the Merkleys. My dad has purchased a new play-toy for his boat. We have named it "The Waterboard." He claims the CIA gave it to him.

Don't be fooled by it's looks and smooth rides...

Because with the wrong driver...


It can be dangerous.

That is my cousin Connor atop the pyramid.

This is my cousin Taylor's little daughter Eliza.

Great Grandpa Merkley singing with our niece JJ.

Lauren and baby are coexisting fairly well (except for the occasional boxing match) and Lauren's OB says everything is going normally. She has started working again at the elementary school and I am up to my neck in school work. I guess that means back to normal!

Quick Inquiry

To all of you who do not have much funding at this moment: how do you afford furniture? With a baby on the way, we have a whole new set of furniture needs, and yet, just the thought of providing baby's day to day needs is daunting. I'm amazed at how well some of you furnish and decorate your houses/apartments on a tight budget, and it makes me feel like I'm missing something. Is there a great thrift shop you all shop at, or do you make your own stuff, or were your parents just remodeling? Please enlighten me.

Dear Baby

This last week we took our first mommy/daughter trip together to visit Grandma and Grandpa in Arizona. You weren't very well behaved. It was bad enough having to drive for 14 hours straight without you getting bored and practicing punting in my abdomen. During one of these sessions, I pushed down on you and felt your foot for the first time. I'm afraid you think this is a new game - push really hard until you feel Mommy pushing back. We visited many scenic bathrooms on our way there and back - be grateful that you can only see a dark womb. The family was all pretty thrilled to see you. Grandma has been hard at work crocheting and sewing baby blankets. She even crocheted lacy edges onto burp cloths. I can't wait to see what you do to those... Grandpa has been doing a lot of family history work, and we all went to the temple to do some family baptisms. This was your first time, and I was a little afraid that you weren't going to make it under the water. Thanks for sucking in. Then you got your usual craving for fries, so we had to stop at In N Out Burgers on the way home. I didn't really mind too much. The fries must have set you off, because you kicked like a champion the whole way home. Aunt Becky and Aunt Lindsay kept taking turns feeling you kick as I drove - they were very impressed. We did a lot of swimming in Arizona, because you + me = a very hot experience. Once I realized that you didn't kick at all when I was in the pool, I developed a very strong interest in swimming. Right before we started the drive home, we got to listen to Uncle Ben give his mission homecoming talk in church. I could tell that you really liked his message, as evidenced by my bruised uterus. Dad was really glad to see his girls again, and I'm glad to be back in a state that cools down at night. We had a great time, but it's always nice to be home. Next time, lets work on the kicking thing, ok?

Love Mom

PS. After lugging the camera all the way down and back, we didn't take a single picture. I think it has something to do with the fact that I'm enormous.

In a Jam

Because of the unusually cool weather in June (thank you global warming...) the raspberry bushes at my grandparent's and parent's houses have been prolific. We don't mind one bit.

The Unexpected

Here's a few things I've encountered that I didn't expect during pregnancy:

-Having to go to the bathroom all the time (and I've still got 100 days to go...)
-Feeling hot all the time
-My tendency to talk to baby, like telling her to cut it out when she punches my bladder for the fifth time in a row
-How much sweeter our marriage has become
-Everyone assumes you want to hear about their pregnancy issues and what labor is like
-You see the doctor for like 2 minutes and then get a bill for half of your life savings
-It's either a full bladder or a full stomach: they cannot coexist
-Every hour of my day is defined by where the closest bathrooms and food sources are
-It's really hard to clean a bathtub with a protruding belly

Photo update

Pony Express Day parade in Clarkston

Soccer with niece JJ

A variation on smores while camping at Great Basin National Park

Man building fire while women watch

Morning visitors outside the tent

Sunrise on Wheeler Mountain

Lehman Caves

The Merkley girls