Like I need another reason for people to stare at my chest!

Actually you can touch my belly.  ;-)

Trip to Boston

 

At the beginning of March, my husband and I took a trip to Boston.  We needed to gather information in order to make our next big decision: which MBA program should Tyler attend?

We arranged to leave Lincoln with my parents here in Utah.  Four days and four nights is the longest chunk of time we've ever left him, and we all knew it was going to be difficult.  However, it didn't make sense to bring a toddler to a new place in which we relied on public transportation and didn't know exactly where we were going half the time.  We only had two full days on the ground, and it was important to focus on learning about the school, the area, etc.

The flight was quite easy without having to entertain a child, and I was thankful to just sit and sip the free juice.  I am visibly pregnant at this point, so all I had to do was waddle down the aisle to the end of the plane where the mini fridge is kept, smile and request a whole can of cranberry or tomato juice, and I was given whatever I wanted.  I liked that.  I also liked being alone with my husband.  It's fun to just be a "couple" with my man!

I have to admit we had a lot of trouble when we finally arrived in Boston.  The plan was to take the T (subway) to our hotel, which was next to a station.  The problem was which route to take, which bus to hop on to which station, and so on.  My directions from the hotel front desk were less than accurate, or at least they assumed we knew much more than we did.  Visitors!  We need every single detail!  But, in the end luckily we found another couple who were familiar with the area and who happened to be heading the same direction.  Thank you, Lord!  An hour's ride on the subway and a quarter mile walk to our lodging, all in the dark.  It took 12 hours from the time we took flight in SLC to the moment we stepped into the hotel lobby.  And that's why we didn't take our two year old!

Luckily we figured out the system pretty well in that first experience, and didn't have much trouble finding our way around after that.  I was impressed by how quickly we caught on.

The next day was entirely devoted to Babson, the school which would possibly bring our family to Massachusetts.  It's located about 15 miles away from downtown Boston, which is unfortunately far enough to be off the public transportation grid.  So we took a taxi.  Tyler was mentally weighed down, knowing that this was it-- one day to figure out whether or not he was willing to move his newborn twins, toddler and wife across the country.  I tried to be as supportive as possible, giving input and making observations.  Ultimately, though, I needed my husband to figure out which school he liked, and then I could wrap my head around which state to call home.

Babson campus is small but gorgeous.  Tall, ancient trees dot the lawns and tower over sturdy, brick buildings and meandering roads.  Graduate housing is nestled in even an even woodsier area.  I found it picturesque and welcoming, until we tried to locate a two bedroom unit.  Deciding to wing it and knock on doors instead of visiting the housing office, we found very few people home and no one seemed to know of any two bedroom apartments.  It turns out, there are only two, and they are first come first serve.  All in all, I had a bad feeling about that campus housing option for our family.  I felt lonely the entire time, and something was telling me it would be that way if we moved there.  At this point we're scouring the rental possibilities between Babson and Boston.

Tyler spent the afternoon at an event which included a question and answer session with alumni and current students, a speech by the president of the school, and a networking hour with other accepted students.  He talked a lot with a couple professors and even sat in on an elective class.  I tagged along through everything, hoping Tyler was forming an opinion.

We spent the next day in Boston.  With no plan and only the subway and our feet to get us from place to place, we visited nearly everything on the list.  And we took a lot of pictures!

The Library:

       

We soaked in the art, architecture and rare books.

She copied my hair style.  

Not the other way around.

I loved the rare books room.  Medieval manuscripts and original first editions which spanned the history of the printing press peeked out at us from behind protective glass.  We saw a specimen of John Adams' handwriting and looked up at his personal library (the top floor above us.)

Out on the town:

I adored this girl's outfit.  A lifelong lover of dresses, I'm especially fond of white ones!  For some reason I wanted to take pictures of every pretty dress I encountered, but I always asked because the stores at Copley Mall are quite snobby.  At Louis Vuitton, Tyler and I simply made fun of the prices and took turns trying on sunglasses.  $300 t-shirts!  For heaven's sake!  

In Boston Commons, we met a squirrel.  Then we realized the entire park was covered in squirrels.  They're awfully cute, and obviously used to being fed, because they approached us with little caution.

The Aquarium:

SHARK!

Myrtle the turtle is this big:

Dinner:

A restaurant entrepreneur at Babson recommended Craigie on Main as the one place we must eat while visiting Boston.  We walked up to the doorway, checked out the menu, and decided we didn't want to share a hog's head for $25.  Honestly, it did look lovely and someday we'll go when we can both enjoy their famous wine pairings.  However, we came across a more welcoming looking place called Cuchi Cuchi.  I had a feeling it would be fantastic, and I wasn't disappointed.  Waitresses and hostesses dressed like this:

(We asked and found out the employees have a huge wardrobe downstairs, or they can bring their own outfits.  How fun is that?)

The food looked like this:

And the absinthe tasted like this:

I abstained from alcohol, of course, but it was fun to see Tyler try this new drink.

Goodbye Cuchi Cuchi!  And goodbye Boston.  Until.....

The fall.

Yes, we decided to move.  It took a lot of back and forth and weighing of pros and cons, but in the end we are both people who would rather say we did than didn't.  We'd rather make a drastic change and put our hearts into making it worthwhile, than embrace status quo and wonder what might have been.

Wish us luck! 

(And go ahead, make fun of my harbor hair!)

Here we grow!

 

Not only is this my second pregnancy, but I'm carrying two in my womb, so there's plenty of reason for me to be bigger.  But still I'm surprised to see the difference!  The left photo was taken yesterday.  The one on the right was me at the same point with Lincoln.  And I was really sticking it out!  My, oh my, I am going to be huge this summer.

TWO?

(17 weeks)

This is old news by now for most of our friends and family, but I am finally announcing my pregnancy on the blog.  It has taken me this long to reach a point where I'm comfortable writing in depth about the two new members of our family growing steadily larger inside my womb.

We wanted a sibling for Lincoln to add more life, laughter, movement, noise and interest to our family.  I realized that our house would be somewhat silent over the years if he were a single child. I've always planned on two kids, but never realized how difficult pregnancy would be for me.  So after having Lincoln I doubted whether I could go through with it again.  But it seems two years is enough time to get over it, because when Tyler brought up the possibility of another child, it didn't take long before we decided to try! 

On November 17 I smiled joyfully at a positive pregnancy test.  I was determined that this time would be different.  It's not that I was sick or had any complications with Lincoln other than a slight change in thyroid medication, it's more my emotional horror at sharing my body with another being.  Everything felt...off.  I couldn't exercise, I never felt satiated by any of the gluttonous piles of food I consumed, my whole body swelled and my brain ran away.  Yeah, yeah that's typical, I know.  Every pregnant woman goes through it.  But some women just love it.  Some women don't even notice it.  I felt invaded every step of the way.  Of course, to make it worse, I felt guilty for not glowing in maternal splendor, for not appreciating the miracle of life happening within me.  So the second time round, I prepared myself mentally and put myself in a place of hopeful expectancy.  I wanted to be pregnant, and hopefully that would make all the difference.

There certainly was a difference.  I threw up everyday throughout the month of December.  Sometimes even 5 times before bed.  I couldn't hold down even liquid.  Poor Lincoln grew more and more restless, irritable and resentful of his pale, weak mother suddenly confined to the couch.  While they say "every pregnancy is different" I wondered if something else was going on.  I started to say that there's two inside me, wreaking havoc.  But nothing prepared me for the ultrasound that confirmed my suspicions.  

Our first trip to the doctor showed two heartbeats and two healthily separated embryos.  After I stopped swearing, I started tearing up.  Then I started listing off all that this meant for our family of.... FIVE.  We need a new car!  Double stroller!  TWO car seats!  TWO cribs!  How am I going to breast feed TWO?  Twice the teenage hormones and college tuition!  Our kids are going to outnumber us!

I know my reaction was less than gracious.  Less than grateful.  Some people try years and years just to get pregnant without success.  Some people have risk-laden pregnancies, in which the health of the mother and/or baby is precarious at best.  That's why I 'm writing now.  Because at this moment I have moved past my fear and negativity.  Well, no, I'm still scared.  But more than anything I'm excited.  I've embraced the facts, and I consistently envision those two tiny babes, swaddled together in a bassinet.  How sweet!  I have exhausted our public library's small selection of twin-raising books, and I'm combing online resources for chances to talk to other mothers of multiples.  

Other large changes loom on our horizon.  We may or may not be moving across country shortly after the twins are born.  Next month we're visiting Boston, and Tyler will make his final decision on which MBA program to attend.  It's either stay here in Utah or move to Boston.  I can see positives to both.  I'm ready to know which it is though, so I can plan and prepare.  New computer, new car... pretty much a new life awaits us before the year is up.  I am always saying how I hate to remain stagnant, and my history does indeed show a series of abrupt changes.  So really, these new developments are right up my alley!  

We'll know in a couple weeks what sexes the twins are.  I can hardly wait. 

Unsorted

I have a file on our computer labeled "unsorted pics" in which I stash everything from my camera until I have more time to organize.  Sometimes the file gets pretty hefty.  But every time I open it I realize it's a good snapshot of what's been going on most recently around here.  At the moment, we have:

Hanging Around the House

Sleeping on the Couch

Baby June Bug

Olivia June is our friends' baby.  I get to watch her twice a week while her mama is at work and her dad is at school.  Linc is learning how to be gentle around a newborn; he is allowed to hold her hand, but not hold her (even though he keeps asking to!)  June is delicate and beautiful.  Babies are so easy when you don't have to deal with them at night!  I wear her in a sling while I do dishes, and honestly the chore has never been more fun!

My New Hair Cut  (to enhance curls)

And also... My New Jeans (to enhance... ah... everything)

I have always thought the skinny jean look was not for me.  Only for sticks, you know?  Because the more tapered the ankle, the more obvious my big butt and thighs are.  Plus they are skin tight!  But I've been on the lookout for new jeans since my sparkly butt ones ripped in the knee.  And every time I saw a cute pair on the rack, I'd pull it off and see those tiny tapered bottoms.  So... finally I went for it.  And I like them!  They fit nicely underneath my tall winter boots.  

One Fall Day, We Took A Drive

Along with lots of yellow leaves, we found a construction site in the mountains and a viper show in Park City.  It was a pretty full day.  Linc took a nap as we wound our way up Big Cottonwood Canyon.  Then we bought some chocolate and went home.  

Only a few weeks later...

It Snowed.

On the morning of the season's first snowfall, Lincoln woke me up begging to go on the balcony.  So I searched for winter gear to go over our pajamas, and I watched him shovel and dump for as long as I could stand the cold.  He would have been out there all morning until the snow melted!   I bought him a snowsuit, because from the looks of it he and I will be spending a lot of time in the snow this winter.  

Last but not least, 

Our Neighbors

We've been hanging out with the family downstairs.  This little guy will be turning a year old this weekend.  He is adorable!  And his mommy is quite talented and crafty.  She made this little hooded shirt!



And there you go.  That's us lately.

Vacuum fascination

So... if you know Linc, you know he's obsessed with vacuums.  It started with Roomba.  "Boom Boom Boomba" was one of the first objects he recognized and named regularly.

Then my parents gave us their Dyson, and somehow he realized this was just a new and improved version of his lifelong friend.  He dubbed this one, "danaye." He begs at least once a day to use "danaye."  He vacuums right along with me using his golf bag to roll along the carpet in sweeping strokes, wearing a this-is-serious-business look on his face.  It's his favorite thing to do!   (Pictured below is the second golf bag purchased by  my parents, solely for the California trip, so he wouldn't have to be without his favorite toy.  Yes, he "vacuums" even while swimming.)

I drew a vacuum on a piece of paper one day, along with all the cars and wheels I draw for his entertainment. He was SO excited.  And to my surprise, he can now draw his own!  Here is what he scribbled up this morning:

  To get my attention, he kept pointing at it and crying "Danaye!  Danaye!"  Well done, kiddo!  I'm amazed that at 22 months, he can visualize and recreate his concept of a vacuum:  wheels and a long handle.  As soon as Lincoln is tall enough to maneuver the Dyson, this chore is all his!

I love this face.