A Christmas Story

Our little dumpling came just in time for Christmas and exactly one month early. Not yet too comfortable with life outside the confines of the womb, he struggles to see the practicality of clothing. Every non-nightgown outfit we try on him results in a survival-mode starfish position. He looks just like the famous snowsuit boy on A Christmas Story.

Ya see?

Even in Grandma's arms.

Dear Blank Please Blank

One day my students showed me a witty website called dearblankpleaseblank.com. While some of the entries are inappropriate and just plain dumb, many are comical and eye-opening. Eric and I decided to submit some of our own:

Dear NBA,

Please whine more about your "lousy" compensation.

Sincerely,

Your teacher

Dear Marijuana Vendors,

Tylenol cures headaches too.

Sincerely,

I still have my limbic system

Dear Students,

Do you not see the irony of replacing your Fahrenheit 451 reading assignment with Spark Notes?

Sincerely,

Bradbury saw this coming, dummy.

We think we're so funny.

The Loony Bin

Do you feel like you're losing touch with those around you? Do you often forget words in the middle of a... um... you know... that thing with words in it? Do you find it hard to follow casual conversation, movies, books, thoughts, or commercials? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be getting old. If you answered yes to all of these questions, you must be pregnant.

I used to tease my mom about getting old, then I stopped cuz I uh...hold on... I used to tease her but then I, oh I'll think of it later.

Turns out absentmindedness is a legitimate pregnancy symptom. It also turns out that I have a severe case of it. The other day I drove to Mountain View (10 min. away) to pick up a pizza. I got there and realized I didn't have my wallet. So, I drove all the way home in a huff, ran into the house, and still couldn't find it. In frustration I shoved my hand in my jacket pocket and voila. I had had my wallet all along in the hidden vault of my front pocket. No wonder I couldn't find it.

My form of communication has flipped from intelligible speech, to general pantomimes. Who knew Eric was a... what's that one game where you act things out? Charades. Who knew Eric was such a charades wizard?

Most of my stories go like this: "The other day I was looking at funny baby shirts. Like uh, Eric, what was that one? No... the other one. Oh, forget it. They were funny though." It really takes the dramatic effect and the downright purpose out of anything I try to communicate.

I even had a nightmare that I had forgotten I had a baby. Then I woke up and for a moment couldn't remember where I'd put the baby until I found it in my womb.

I've realized that I'm going to be either pregnant or getting old for the rest of my life now. This is only the beginning of my mental decline. Goodbye brain, hello sticky notes.

Happy Birthday, Sugar!

We just celebrated Eric's 27th birthday in Park City. I married an old, old man. I sure love that wrinkly little devil. Happy birthday, Puddin'.

Ultrasound

When we found out we were having a boy, we got the cutest ultrasound! Of course, we may be a little biased, but our little skeletor baby makes the cutest startled face in it. I've only watched it about 500 times and thought I'd share it. We also got some footage of his manhood, but I'll protect his modesty, although he felt NO inclination to do so.

We also...

Here's some pictures of us at the Denver Art Museum, more appropriately named the DAM. We usually go to liberally make DAM jokes, but also enjoy the artwork.

Shadow Art

Trying our hands at the potter's wheel.

Our New Place

My mom graciously came over to help us paint our family room and kitchen. We were finally able to hang up some pictures and get settled in to our new house. Being pregnant when we moved and painted was the best work avoidance strategy I've ever had. THANK YOU MOM!

Family Room

Kitchen Close Up

Kitchen

Hall

Master Bathroom (still choosing paint colors)

Finally Some Pictures

I finally found proof on my camera that we do things. Here are some of the few fun activities we actually documented this summer.

High School Graduation- Graduating Class of 63 Students

Eric and student at graduation.

Sirius. We thought he was a goner after he ran off. Turns out a high school girl found him, took him to the fair, and won blue ribbons! Although not dead, he has definitely gone to a better place.

Anderson Boys playing a gig in Idaho Falls

Eric and his sister Caroline

This is a video of Eric and Bean (Will and Jamie's cute daughter) dancing while the Anderson boys perform.

Rachel's beautiful wedding and reception in Salt Lake. Doree came clear from Massachusetts.

World Traveling Unborn Baby!

It seems callous to say that the best part of teaching is summer vacation, but what's not to like? So far Eric and I have had a wild one. Despite going to prenatal appointments and closing on a house, we've managed to spend our vacation completely outside of Lyman. Unfortunately, while we continually pack our camera, it doesn't seem to follow us around taking pictures like it should. Our schedule o' fun has included:

1. Anderson Family Reunion at Bear Lake

2. Anderson Adventures in Iona, ID

3. Rachel's wedding in Salt Lake

4. *Kansas City for Skills USA Nationals (Pregnant on a short school bus for 18 hrs. each way. Yeehaw.)

5. Liggett 4th of July in Worland, WY

6. Littleton, CO

7. Liggett Reunion Leadville, CO

8. Dallas, TX

*Please Note: I would have written a whole blog post on this Kansas City experience would it not contain an inappropriate amount of expletives.

In other news:

-We celebrated our one-year anniversary, so now we know everything about marital success ;)

-August 2nd, baby willing, we will find out the gender of this little tot.

-I hit a new record of five days without my head in the toilet (just can't seem to control that bad habit)

-Though subtle and unimpressive so much that I mentally lash out (if it's mentally would it be lash in?) at lucky large pregnant ladies, I am getting a baby bump!

-I think I feel that cutie bumbling around. Or gas. It's hard to tell but, for everyone's sake, I am just gonna go with the former. (Side note: Joking around with Eric before we wanted a baby, I said, "Eric, either I've got a baby in here, or gas" to which he responded, "Please be a baby, please be a baby".)

We can't wait for our lives to turn upside down with this new baby and, who knows? Maybe we'll actually start taking pictures.

Paper Clip Pupils

Recently, Eric used his ingenuity to solve a pesky problem that caused a snowball fad. Here's what happened.

Annoyed by his pant hem coming undone at work, Eric grabbed a paper clip, fastened it to the end of his pants, and carried on.

Later, a curious student noticed the paper clip and asked Eric's intent.

Eric said simply it was cool to wear a paper clip on your pant hem.

The next day, students everywhere showed up with paper-clipped pant legs.

At graduation, most of the seniors wore paper clips on their robes and, when accepting their diplomas, removed the paper clip and discreetly handed it to our principal in a handshake.

Eric shook his head and said, "I just wanted to keep my hem up."

Baby, We're Gonna Have One

We saw our little bean kicking back in our first ultrasound last week. If you don't know already, I really mean a bean baby. Not a beanie baby or a spawn of a bean, but a real baby the size of a bean. Eric and I found out we were pregnant at the end of April and have been excited, well more tired, but super happy ever since!

My senior English students made me swear I wouldn't get pregnant as each of their English teachers in high school had been. They thought pregnant ladies were moody. Can you imagine? I only cry at commercials and threaten Eric when he wins at Scrabble. Luckily, they are now graduated and thanked me for keeping their pregnant English teacher spree going.

To announce the pregnancy, I put the following sentence on a vocabulary quiz. Students have to decide if the word in italics is used correctly:

The students gaped when Mrs. Anderson told them she was pregnant on a vocabulary quiz.

About 90% of the students in my first hour turned in their quizzes without a word. It concerns me as to how little they pay attention to test questions. Anyhow, a couple students got it and by 2 min. after first hour, the whole school knew and had offered to babysit. It was sweet how excited all the students were.

Anyways, the ultrasound went well and I'm due Jan. 5th. Half the time we think it's a girl and the other half we think it's a boy, so we're pretty sure it will be one of those. I wasn't quite prepared for:

1. Morning sickness, a misnomer, should be uhh... 1st trimester sickness

2. Feeling tired even after I wake up. Oddly, Eric feels it too.

3. Needing very specific foods about 30 times a day.

How do pregnant ladies do anything but eat and sleep? They amaze me more than ever.

Blood Loser

Drained of blood, lunch, energy, and most of all pride, I narrowly escaped the health fair Thursday. Our high school drafts all seniors to donate blood. If they can't for some reason, they must get a sub. Eric was a sub for a tattooed student, but, due to recent health problems, could not donate. Therefore, I became tattoo sub.

4:00 Arrival Time: They asked me all sorts of innocence stealing questions to which I just wanted to say, "Mormon. Does that cover it?"

4:15 Donation Time:

Nurse: "Betty, come look at these veins. I'm not comfortable with these. They look too small."

Betty: "Did you see this one? It's ideal."

Nurse: "Oh, no! I didn't even notice that one"

Me: Big smile. (On the inside) AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4:30 Done and feeling fine

4:31 Hmm... can't hear anything, sweaty, cold, no... hot?

The next hour and 29 minutes consisted of concentrating on not passing out while my students told me how horrible I looked.

6:00

Nurse: "Since you've been here so long, we have to take your blood pressure and fill out this form. Don't worry. This happens more than you'd think."

Me: "Okay, good. I'm sorry for all the trouble."

Nurse: "Betty! How do you fill out this sheet? I've never had to do one before."

6:05

My principal donates in the seat next to me while the other seats are filled with students. Luckily Eric had made it there by then.

6:10

Nurse: "She says she feels fine. Can we let her go? Oh. Never mind. She's puking."

6:30

Nurse: "Good to go. If you have any other complications... seek medical attention." AKA please leave before we get sued.

They had to get my blood pressure back up to within 30 digits of what it was before I came before they could let me go. Two and a half hours later, I was finally home. I hate to use "Ugh" (cuz who really says that and why the fancy "h" on the end?) but, UGH!

Silly Rabbit, Cauliflower is for Kids!

Anyone who has stepped into my childhood bedroom will understand my obsession with bunnies. It's so full of adorable bunny decorations that you start blinking bunnies upon exiting. I also have several experiences with the cuties. Most of them tragic.

In short, I've learned:

1. Rabbits are prey and foxes are predators.

2. Cauliflower also happens to be a predator.

3. Rabbits hate everything fun... including me.

My observations of rabbit behavior led me to the uncomfortable conclusion that I, in fact, am a rabbit.

Observation #1: Rabbits are weenies.

Example) I invented a ramp that would allow my bunny to run out of his cage to get some exercise. I left the door open, he tiptoed halfway down, froze, panicked, and sprinted back into his cage. I walked away. Four hours later, he was still in the corner of his cage.

Observation #2: Anna is a weenie.

Example) Recently at a teacher conference in Casper, I passed by a bowl of Reese's cups one, two, three times. Oh, I needed that cup. Alas, they lay on a demonstrator's table surrounded by free pens (also enticing), pamphlets, and a poster. I couldn't bear taking one without obligating myself to her spiel, so I walked on by. Eric's six pens sticking out from his back pocket, however, prove he's no sissy.

Observation #3: Rabbits are cute, soft, completely un-cuddly, smart alecs.

Example) My bunny supposedly has velvety fur. I wouldn't know, however, unless I killed it and sewed it into mittens. One pat on the head and you'd think he'd just been seen naked the way he bolts away. Then, the tireless taunting. "Ooh, I'm so soft and cute. Watch me bend my ear down. Bet you'd love to feel how soft my shiny fur is. Just a little closer... Jump, oh oops! Were you trying to pet me?"

Observation #4: Anna is cute, soft, completely un-cuddly, and a smart alec.

Example) Hugging students makes me uncomfortable. Teasing students sarcastically makes me too comfortable. Sitting around comfortably makes me soft.

Observation #5: Rabbits are easily entertained.

Example) Rabbit #1 (Bernerd) used to love to sit on the heater when the air came through.

Observation #6: Anna is easily entertained.

Example) I used to stop whatever I was doing to watch Bernerd sit on the heater when the air came through.

Although we rarely touch, rabbits and I share a profound bond.

Happy Birthday to Me :)

For my birthday I got a sick husband. Sure, I mean sick in the awesome sense but more so in the literal sense. The poor guy was on the couch much of the day and received zero pity from me (I'm somewhat irrational about birthdays).

Well, our main store here is Pamida. It's like small-town Target but less, well... everything. It's not easy finding gifts there (I had the same selection for Eric's birthday). Eric got me Shoot Out, which, if you remember, is that awesome mini-basketball shooting game. We got it all set up only to realize they hadn't included the basketballs. He also bought me a Brita water filter that fits, "any type of faucet". I guess that only applies to any faucet made after the 1960s because it definitely didn't apply to us. While we had to return half of my birthday presents, it was still fun opening them.

A huge plus was that I got a delicious homemade dinner from Eric and a cake all to myself since cake is not Eric's favorite. I, however, love cake and would attend a stranger's wedding reception to get a slice.

After a few mishaps, I just had to laugh and admire my dear, wonderful husband for all of his care and concern in making me feel loved on my birthday. Especially when he was sick. I sure love him.

Also, to my utter delight, my students and co-workers were surprised that I was "only" 23. Last year I would have killed for an estimate over 16!