Spring Craftiness

I have been using my domestic skills to make some fun Easter and spring decorations.  It's been fun to find inexpensive items and turn them into cute projects.  The pics aren't good because for most of them I was on the wrong setting and didn't realize it until just now, but here's what I've been up to:

Layered Jelly Bean Vase

(which Someone-who-just-won-Mr.-Fitness-yet-will-remain-nameless likes to eat)

 Homemade PomPom Flowers in Totally Awesome Vase

Framed Easter Eggs

(I don't know where I'm going to put these yet, so here they sit on my couch)

  

My friend Mindi came over to join in the festivities for an evening.  We made chocolate-covered strawberries & colored eggs.  We had a fun time being Easter-y together.

Someone had to be the guinea pig:

The final product:

Here's Emerson just playing while we make the goods:

Mindi & Emerson:

Aren't we a happy bunch:

The other final product:

Mindi was so sweet & brought me some fresh tulips from her garden. It's like my own tulip festival on my table.

Mr. Fitness

Will's program hosted a fitness competition and challenged the students to lose weight, increase their strength and VO2 max, & just improve their overall health.  Will participated, lost over 25 pounds, doubled his strength, and was voted by his peers as Mr. Fitness!  He won a gift certificate to Magelby's and a free massage, plus this super awesome certificate:

Way to go, my handsome Mr. Fitness!

Relief

Oh, life is hard without this little friend of mine:

(breast pump cord)

Mine died recently which was a quick process that included overheating, smelling really bad, and giving off a puff of smoke as a last hurrah.  I've had to use the battery pack instead while waiting for my replacement to come, and it's not fun to rely on batteries, especially when they just go out randomly mid-pump.  Grrr.

The replacement came in the mail yesterday; what a relief.  

Pie Day

On Sunday, we celebrated National Pie Day by enjoying a Chocolate Orange Meringue Pie.  

~yum~

It turned out so well and was absolutely delicious.  My favorite dessert book has done it again.

Call us weirdos

Look!  I'm eating ice cream from the first carton of ice cream we have purchased in our marriage. 

Yes - we bought ice cream this week for the first time.

{insert dropped jaw}

I think that's a little weird, but maybe it's not.  Do you all purchase ice cream on a regular basis?  Neither Will nor I are huge ice cream fans, so this is big for us.  I will never turn down Coldstone's cheesecake ice cream with raspberries and blueberries in it, but that's all I like there, and even Will doesn't usually want any Coldstone.  Are we abnormal?

Pet Peeve

In all the get-to-know-you games that we play that are supposed to be fun but are really just awkward and embarrassing events, I always say that my pet peeve is when I get a peanut M&M that doesn't have a peanut.  That really is a big pet peeve of mine, but it's my default because I can't think of anything better when confronted with the question.

Today I came up with another pet peeve.  I can't stand it when people complain about the not-summery weather while it's still spring.  Don't people know how spring is supposed to go?  Spring is allowed to have moments of weakness which produce drizzles and occasionally even snow.  That's why it's spring - it's neither summer nor winter.  I'm annoyed when people consistently complain every time they even see a raincloud or anything not bright and sunny.  I'm not a fan of winter, in fact, I live for the sun; but I'll patiently wait for summer to arrive instead of wishing away spring. 

Go ahead, Spring.  Rain on.

Latest & Greatest

Sorry for the lack of recent postings.  Pretty much all I do is work and be a mom.  And that's a lot, which is why I haven't had time to post anything.  I have, however, done some cooking and crafting since my energy is back from being pregnant.  I'll post some pictures of my fun Easter craft once it's finished.  Oh, it's so great to have energy!  I've learned a lot in the past couple months.  Here are just a few of the things I've learned:

• how to get more than should be carried in one armload in my arms, ie: diaper bag, breastpump, coat, breakfast, & baby
• how to get 192 diapers for $5.31 (such a good deal!)
• what it's like to lose two of my greatest examples and friends
• how to pump in the car while reading and eating at the same time (not while driving, though)
• what bad meat looks like after smelling it heat up in my a crockpot
• how much fun mothering is and how much one can love although knowing someone for a only few short months

In other news, Will is going to make his way to the other side of the Rockies come September.  His first clinical internship will be in Centennial, CO, and we are super excited.  He will be there for most of September and October practicing at Holly Creek Retirement Community.  What a place! 

Also, Will is working part time at a frozen yogurt store and he gets to bring home some each night that he works.  Oh, it's like the best job ever.  I just don't know how I survived without it before. 

Emerson seems to be growing bigger every day.  He is now starting to roll over and reach for things.  He is so much fun and we can't get enough of him.  It's hard to leave him every day and go to work, but I just have to keep telling to just enjoy each day as it is instead of wishing for the future to come quicker.  I love every minute I get to spend with Emerson.  He is completely the light of our lives.

The Joy of Human Love

How do you sum up one’s life? We try to with biographies, scrapbooks, and media, but none of these can truly capture someone as a whole. How can someone’s ideas, expressions, beliefs, opinions, spirituality, pains, & inner thoughts be gathered and documented together in a way that someone who never knew them would know them completely?

My Grampie died on January 21 and my Grammie followed quickly dying this last Saturday evening. Since they have moved on, I have learned so much about them I never knew while they were alive. Writing this is so weird since I kind of can’t believe they are gone. They have both been such a major part of my life that their deaths haven’t become a reality yet.  Words are beyond inadequate to describe either of their lives, but mention must be made of their greatness.

Grampie was very romantic and would write love letters to his sweetheart every year. One adorable tradition he kept for many years was to hire a quartet to come sing to Grammie on Valentine’s Day. He had beautiful penmanship & was a master card game player, especially of Hearts. He loved his grandchildren and tried the best he knew how to be a good example.  He had a beautiful singing voice and I loved when he would come sing while I played the piano.  Hours upon hours were spent on a fishing boat as well as in the scriptures. Grampie learned to be loyal to those he loved and to the Lord.

How to describe Grammie? One word comes to mind: charity. She treated everyone like they were her own children. Many grew to love her for her sincerity and sweetness. She suffered through more pain than anyone I know and never voiced a word of complaint. When asked how she was doing, she would only respond positively. Grammie never put herself first, and she could always be seen playing with and taking care of her grandchildren regardless of whatever other activity she may have wanted to be a part of. She has always been my hero and was a “tough old bird” to the end. When I grow up, I want to be like my Grammie. 

I’m so thankful she was able to join her sweetheart quickly because she missed him desperately and I have no doubt that he couldn’t wait for her to join him, too.

Here are a couple verses from a new favorite hymn that sum up my feelings nicely:

For the joy of human love,

brother, sister, parent, child,

friends on earth and friends above,

for all gentle thoughts and mild;

Lord of all, to thee we raise

this our hymn of grateful praise.

For thyself, best Gift Divine,

to the world so freely given,

for that great, great love of thine,

peace on earth, and joy in heaven:

Lord of all, to thee we raise

this our hymn of grateful praise.

I can't wait to see you again, Gram & Gramp.

some favorites

i just have to share some of my favorite pics that i've been able to capture with my phone:

it's so crazy how much he changes everyday…

these pictures hardly look like the same baby!

Keep me warm, please

While I was on maternity leave, I decided to use my mom's sewing machine again and make myself a cute scarf. Instructions can be found here if you're interested. I love my new scarf and am so glad it helps keep me warm amidst the freezingness.

Monday was my first day back to work. My boss is so great and will let me work part-time for a couple weeks to ease my way back into the swing of things. I was excited to see everyone at work, but I definitely missed my sweet boy the whole entire time. Sunday night when Emerson was asleep and I was supposed to be sleeping, I was instead wishing I could be holding and snuggling him. I didn't wake him since I needed to sleep, but I sure longed to just cradle him all night long. Anyway, work was fine and I am so grateful to have a job that provides for our needs while we're still in grad school. My mom has offered to take care of Emerson while I'm at work. I couldn't ask for a better daycare option - there isn't anyone else I can think of that I would rather watch him more than my own mom. Isn't she the greatest?!

Also, here's our first official family picture:

(This is my pleated scarf.)

Out with the Old

Ever since I can remember, I've had a 'little pillow' to sleep with on top of my regular-sized pillow.  My sisters have each been given one as well once they were old enough to use pillows.  When I got married, Will would steal my pillow since it was so comfortable to sleep on.  For one of his birthdays, I got him his own and now we both have little pillows.  To make our pillows soft and comfy (and cute, too), my mom would make little pillowcases to fit on them.  Will just got my spare pillowcase since I didn't have a sewing machine to make another one for him.  Well as time has gone on and the pillowcases have been washed, they have worn into pretty much nothing but shredded fabric pieces.  They have gotten to the point where all I have to do is pick up my pillowcase and it gets another tear somewhere.

On this one, the entire length of the seam tore.  At least it made for easy removal.

A few days ago, I used my mom's sewing machine to fashion some new pillowcases for us out of what fabric my mom and I could find.  I realize it's not very masculine (Will was kind enough to point that out to me), but they work and are super comfortable to sleep on.  I also decided to make some corn bags to help keep warm during this frigid winter now that my internal oven no longer resides with me 24/7.  I'm sure Emerson will be getting a little pillow for one of his birthdays someday.  Maybe then I'll splurge and buy some dang cute little boy fabric for him and his dad and keep the girly cases for myself.

Santa Clause

On Christmas day, we braved the cold and the public by taking Emerson on his first outing to see his Great-Grampie in the rehab center. 

While we were there, Santa Clause was going around to all the rooms to wish everyone a Merry Christmas so we stole a picture with him. 

Welcome to the World

Emerson Wade Sykes

12/20/10

8 lbs 4 oz

20.5 in

Time for some pics

Here are some pictures of my prego tummy.  They are more for documentation rather than your enjoyment, but I'm sure you'll get a few laughs from them.

-16 weeks-

-20 weeks-

-24 weeks-

-31 weeks-

-35 weeks-

(this is my "I'm smiling only because you're

taking a picture, but I really wish I could go back to bed instead of work" face)

Clumsy me

After breaking three (yes, 3) of our glasses this past week, Will said to me, "I knew we would have to go to plastic someday, but I thought it would be because of our child, not you."

I wish I could blame this on pregnancy, but this was completely just clumsiness.  Oh well.

Here's the latest family picture, taken just a few days ago.  

Thanks to Jenna for the picture. See her blog for more pics.

Isn't it great that fall is finally arriving?  I've never enjoyed the cooler weather more than I do now with the Little Guy on board.  It's so refreshing and crisp, and it helps my swelling go down :)

In other news, we have narrowed down our baby name list and would like to hear your opinions.  To be honest, we are having trouble finding ways to make fun of the names (which I guess is good), so if you come up with any negative criticism, we want to hear it.  Maybe your ideas will make our job a little easier.  Also, we have put a poll on the side to see which name is your favorite.  We are glad we get the final say, but ideas from others are always nice, right?  

Name possibilities:

Emmett Wade

Emerson Wade

Lincoln Wade

Harrison Wade

Wade is a family name; the other names we just like.  What do you think?

Boy or Girl?

We had our ultrasound this week - and after long debates, we decided to find out what we would be having.  Luckily, our baby was not shy at all.  We are so excited that we'll be having a little boy coming!!  He is adorable and perfect and we can't wait to meet him.  

A profile of our Little Guy

shorted

We have moved - again - and really love our new apartment.  It is perfect for us, especially with a baby coming.  Only one thing has been kind of annoying just a little bit: our microwave shorts out all our kitchen outlets.  


awesome.


So for the time being, our microwave is housed by our laundry room shelf.

update

Will & I got to hear our munchkin's heartbeat the other day!  So much fun. 

For those who were asking, I am due December 19th and am 14 weeks along so far.  I feel great during the daytime, but when evening hits, so does the nausea.  It lasts until I fall asleep at night.  Other than that, I'm feeling fine & loving being pregnant.  

As far as everything else goes: Will likes school, I like work, & we both like the ward. We are having fun spending time with family, catching up with old friends, & making lots of new ones.

Priceless

2 shirts = $55

2 hats = $30

2 watches = $40

The look on your face when you realize there are 

3

people in the picture...

Priceless.