Updates

Firstly, and most importantly (to me), Everett's diaper rash has HEALED! Oh, marvelousness. After weeks of struggling with Everett's bleeding bottom, I was elated to find a healed heinie this morning. I was so excited about it I almost took a picture to show all of you . . . but then I re-gained my sanity. Consider yourselves lucky--for now; this pregnancy is eeking away every inch of logic and reasoning I previously possessed (which, admittedly, wasn't much to start with).



Also, in other Everett news, he has finally decided that using sign language is indeed something he wants to do. Over the past few months when I would coach him with it, he would look at me as if to say "now just why would I do that when you will give me what I want anyway?". Point taken. Over the past couple of days, he adopted "more", "please", and "all done", and this morning he asked for "help" with no prompting on my part. Before this past week, he would only beckon us and make the sign for "milk". I think he is ready to learn a new sign every day, he is picking things up that quickly now. Maybe "thank you" should be next.



So, last night when we were with some fabulous friends of ours having dessert and Everett gleaned a few bites out of us, he walked around for the duration of the night making the sign for "more", mooching off of anyone who would give him the courtesy. At least it was a whole bunch of positive reinforcement, even though I think all that sugar did him little good since he woke up--hourly--all night long. Thanks for sharing your dessert though, everyone.


As a side note, Joel has recently informed me that being pregnant and being fat are one-and-the-same. (yes, honey, those were your exact words). Pregnant women may have deteriorating (or non-existent) memories, but I can promise that we remember those types of things far longer than humanly possible. It's a good thing he's such a wonderful husband, or I may have to hold this against him for, oh, the rest of his life (which, if you believe as we do, extends through eternity). Better start groveling, honey!

Diaper Rash!

Lately (and by "lately", I mean the over last couple of weeks) Everett has had the worst diaper rash, ever. Well, for him anyway. It has been bleeding and raw, and he has just cried every time I changed his diaper. Poor guy. Anyway, I have been trying all sorts of creams and ointments and nothing has been working. You would think I'd have learned by now, because he never seems to respond really well to creams.

In a desperate attempt to find a solution, yesterday I looked online to find some home remedies for diaper rash (after all, the pioneers had to have something, right?). I found quite a few options, but the one that looked the most promising was to brown some flour in a pan and put that in his diaper when it was changed.

So, that's what I did. I nixed the wipes in favor of damp paper towels so the chemicals wouldn't bother him, and I loaded him up with golden brown flour. In one day, his diaper rash has gotten so much better, and I'm hoping that over the next couple of days it will heal completely.

It's a good thing this works, because all those creams and ointments were sure expensive! It is nice to have a very cheap option that I know works and that I usually have a large supply of.

Baby Names

ADRIANNE.

What does everyone think of the name Adrianne (the stress on the first part of the name)? Adrie for short? Hmm.

Joel isn't convinced yet. Any suggestions on how to convince him?

As a side note, why is it that Everett enjoys smearing food all over his face and hair? Does he enjoy giving me more work? It doesn't seem very appetizing to me to have peanut butter in my ear canal, but whatever floats his boat. Let's just hope he's grown out of it by the time he is on a mission.

YUM!

I've just made an amazing discovery! I came up with a delicious way to make pita bread into cheesy, garlicy goodness. It is so easy and so good (and versatile), and it definitely satisfied my craving today. Here is the recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

Pita Pockets (round, whole)
Butter/margarine/butter spread
garlic (minced or powdered)
rosemary
mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS:

1. Slice the mozzarella cheese into your desired width.


2. Take a pita and slice open the pocket near one of the edges (the incision only has to be a couple of inches long).


3. Slide the slices of cheese into the pocket, making sure to fill the middle completely.


4. Spread the top with butter and sprinkle with garlic and rosemary


5. Put into a 400-425 degree oven for about 10 minutes, or until golden around the edges (not too long or it will get crisp). You just want the cheese to have a chance to melt.


6. Cut the finished bread into fourths with a pizza cutter.


7. Devour!

Had I had foresight, I would have taken a picture to show y'all how tempting it is. Maybe I'll make it again soon and add a picture later.

Ideas to make this different:

• add slices of cooked bacon or (or any kind of meat) in the middle with the cheese


• use multiple kinds of cheeses


• put tomato sauce in the middle


• use cream cheese/cinnamon and sugar (cook it for less time, until the butter has melted in)


• cream cheese and jam in the middle


• put thinly sliced tomatoes on the top or on the inside


• avacados!

There are many, many more, but this is just what I thought of at this moment. Enjoy!

I've been tagged...

...by my dear cousin Kera. I never know what to say for these things, but I always enjoy reading other people's, so I'll give it a whirl:

Attached or single? ... Attached, un-breakable, inseparable, however you want to say it is what I[happily] am.
Best friend? ... Joel, no contest. Thanks for all those back rubs and late-night laughs, honey!
Cake or pie? ... hard choice, but generally I'd say pie.
Day of choice ... Saturday or any holiday Joel doesn't work.
Essential item ... Chapstick, oh my goodness, chapstick. Call me an addict.
Favorite color ... Always changes. Right now it's green.
Gummy bears or worms ... Either, but the very best (bears) are the german Haribo ones.
Home town? ... Uh, Lincoln, Nebraska? Lindon, Utah? Take your pick. I'd count either.
Favorite Indulgence? ... going out to eat and getting a fabulous dessert.
January or July? ... this is a toughie, but I'd have to say July, especially since our baby girl will be here this year by then.
Kids? ... One...and a half? Two? How do you count it?
Life isn't complete without ... Socks. I do not know what I would do without socks.
Marriage date? ... December 30th, 2005 (see, honey, I got it right!).
Number of brothers and sisters ... Two Brothers: Nick and Mack, and Two Sisters: Amanda and Maddy. If you count in-laws and people who married my in-laws, bump those numbers up to 7 and 8, respectively.
Oranges or apples? ... Orange, as long as it is juicy and easy to peel.
Phobia and fears? ... The dark (yes, I'll admit it). Also that the gas to the stove is running without the burner actually being lit and we will either all die in our sleep of asphyxiation or an explosion.
Quote? ... "I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment and endorse virtue and effort."--Gordon B. Hinkley
Reason to smile ... Everett, Joel playing with Everett, the baby girl who is joining us in June...
Season of choice ... Fall. I love sweaters and I love the crisp air and holiday anticipation.
Tag three people ... Amanda, Natalie, Jessica, Camille, and Kellee (if you see my blog).
Unknown fact about me ... I am interested in being a foster parent, though I don't necessarily expect it to ever happen.
Vegetable ... asparagus
Worst habit ... procrastination!
X-ray or ultrasound ... I've never had an X-ray, so I'll pick Ultrasound because the only times I've had them were when we were finding out the sex of our baby(ies).
Your favorite food? ... A good steak never sounds unappetizing to me. But I do love my Dad's coconut shrimp (with a passion). Oh, and I also love mangoes.
Zodiac sign? ... Pices

Mother's Helper

I am sitting here using the computer in the living room and watching Everett stay glued to the TV screen. He has been sitting still for 20 minutes plus! I don't think using TV as a babysitter is a good idea, but this sure has been a good way to help him wind down for a nap.

I first tried it yesterday because I noticed that everytime a dog or cat is on TV he gets really excited about it. We happen to own the move "The Fox and the Hound", so I decided to put that in and see how he did with it. He was absolutely entranced, and it is great! Of course, he is too young to watch the whole thing, or even more than 20 or 25 minutes or so, but it is nice that he will sit still for that amount of time. He especially likes the songs, and will do a little bobbing dance to them.

Yesterday I watched it with him sitting on my lap, and he snuggled with me for a little while but then got too excited to sit still. He would jump up and run to the TV and point at everything, and then realize that he still wanted to snuggle, so he would come back and lean on me. Then he would race to the TV again. Today he is snuggling with his stuffed kitty on a blanket.

It makes me want to find a short video set with real dogs and cats (not animated) because I think he would get even more excited about those. Anyone know of any good picks?

babysitting

Today and yesterday I have watched the "other Everett" in our ward, who is three weeks older than my Everett. He has been very unhappy and has cried the majority of the time he has been here, and my Everett has always seemed very sympathetic.

Today, though, my Everett expressed his sympathy more, and while the other Everett was crying, he went over to him, put his arm around his shoulders, and leaned his head on the other Everett's while making a sighing sound.

Hopefully he'll still be this sweet when his sister is born, but thankfully I don't think we'll have any problems.