Midweek Epiphany

I had the weirdest epiphany the other night. When our apartment gets really hot, I turn on our window A/C and stand directly in front of it to get all that cold air (I'm extra hot these days, you know), and it's so nice that I sometimes I forget that I'm standing in front of a crappy window appliance and not sailing on the ocean with the sea breeze in my face. I must have been extra tired and delirious the other night, because I pretty much forgot where I was and just thought about how nice it would be to take off on a boat and sail into the horizon to some other-worldly destination, leaving work, money, discomforts, and all my problems and worries behind forever - how nice it would be sometimes to just escape everything. Within a mili second after that thought, it came crashing down how I would also be leaving behind everything: my little apartment that has become my home, my husband (if I were escaping alone as in my fantasy), my family and friends, my co-workers and job, this town I've become accustomed to, the chance to do anything in my life ever again, everything. And then it occurred to me that you can't leave it all behind without actually leaving it all behind, that problems and trials and heartaches and pain are all inseparably connected to the joys and triumphs and experiences of life. You cannot have one without the other, and that's just how it's meant to be. And you know what? I like it. 

I can't say I was in a bad place or anything when that thought came, it was just a thought, and probably an inspired one at that, just a little reminder from heaven to help me keep plugging along. 

On that subject, I'm afraid baby girl's presence has started all the third-trimester sleeping woes early: leg cramps, backaches, and feeling uncomfortable all night long. But it's ok, I noticed her hiccups for the first time last night and just imagined how cute she'll be when we can actually see and hear them. :) Life is good.

Elder Wilcox

I'm so proud of my baby brother. Ross got his mission call to the Chile Concepción South Mission! He will make such an amazing missionary.

P.S. Who says men can't have blogs? Sam finally figured out that he has enough to say when it comes to one particular interest, and thus came the sports blog: antimindlessfan.blogspot.com. I'm glad he figured out how to make the whole blogging thing work for him. Maybe some husbands would enjoy?

One of those Days

Today is one of those pregnant days when I'm so tired and hungry I don't know what to do except cry until dinner is ready. And then husband has to interrupt his MCAT study to come finish making it for me. And then I feel intense self-pity for being one of those pregnant women and making him have to be so patient with me. And all I want when he leaves to play basketball is for him to come back.

Yeah...one of those days.

On a much happier note, I'm smitten with this Shabby Chic baby's room: 

I'm finding out that as much as I soft love pink for a girl, I love the white, ivory, and neutral colors just as much. Timeless classy baby, that's what she'll be. :)

Also, it's SUMMER!

More Adventures in Southern Utah

We're back from another exciting weekend! I'm loving how much we're making the most of this summer so far. We took off Thursday right after work with Ross for Bryce Canyon and camped - you guessed it - in the middle of nowhere just outside the park. There was a full moon that night, so we almost didn't even need flashlights or the firelight to see as we set up camp at 10pm. We all sat by the fire, alone in the wilderness, enjoying the night air and the moonlight, then Ross took out his guitar to play and it was the most serene experience I can remember in a long time. (Sorry you can't see him in this video. The moonlight didn't transfer.)

We spent the next morning and afternoon hiking and exploring Bryce Canyon National Park. Definitely the most amazing views to date.

Then we took an incredible scenic route through the Dixie National Forest down to St. George to stay with my grandparents again. (No pictures with them, sadly. Aren't I terrible?) We got cleaned up and went to see "The Little Mermaid" at the Tuacahn Amphitheater. I had been wanting to see it since I first heard that it was opening on Broadway more than 4 years ago. It was a bit different than what I was expecting since they do change the story around a bit, but it was visually outstanding and the new songs were gorgeous. This is just a taste from the original Broadway cast...

And "Her Voice", by far the most amazing song yet, including the original score:

Well done, Alan Menken.

Since Tuacahn is an outdoor theatre, they actually had a rainfall curtain that introduced scenes under the sea and they flooded the stage for the merpeople to skate around in. That and an incredible storm at sea and fireworks during the finale. I told you it was cool.

The next morning we drove out to spend part of the day at Zion National Park with my Grandpa and Anna, Ross' girlfriend. It's a pity we had only a few hours there, since we barely scratched the surface. We didn't even make it to the Narrows or Angel's Landing like we were hoping, we would have had to stay several days to do that, but we got a few short hikes in and took some awesome pictures.

 Then in the afternoon the Grandparents treated us to some of the BEST BBQ I have ever had in my life. If you're ever in St. George, you must stop at Troy's BBQ. It looks like a hole in the wall, but seriously, I'm just waiting for Guy Fieri from Triple D to show up and make them famous. Later, Sam and I took a sunset drive around St. George exploring the town and commenting on how much nicer it is than Provo.  :)

After going to church with my Grandparents - conveniently on Father's Day after spending Mother's Day there the last time we came - we we left a warm, sunny town to cold and rain the rest of the drive up. Makes me wonder why we ever leave.

Our next trip: the beach!

Side-sleeping, Kneader's, and Stitches

I have a little problem: I can't stop thinking about my baby girl. I love feeling her squirm around inside me, hanging out on my right side like she's done for weeks, and wondering if she'll be as fun and active when she arrives. I can't get enough of her ultrasound video that I watch every day maybe more than once, trying to soak up whatever personality an unborn child could have and loving her so very much already.

One thing I don't love, though, is side-sleeping. How is it that the way I always sleep before pregnancy can suddenly be so uncomfortable? All I want to do is sleep on my back!! The couch has never looked so appealing at bedtime.

This post is turning out to be really random. Oh well. The weekend so far:

1. Cleaning the whole apartment on Friday night, which I LOVE to do now and get out of the way. Nothing like starting the weekend with a clean house, laundry done, and shopping list made.
2. Breakfast at Kneader's on Saturday - ooooooh my goodness! Best french toast in existence. It was as good as I've heard.
3. Back to the ER to get out Sam's stitches. Oh yeah, did you know Sam was in the ER Monday night? An elbow to the cheek in basketball left him with an inch-long gash, a black eye, and 6 stitches. That was a fun phone call to get from the gym. Another reason I'm really glad we're having a girl.

4. Use our coupons/living social deal to see "Super 8" for 1/3 the price and buy-one-get-one-free frozen yogurt. We're getting a little obsessed with coupon sites, but hey, they facilitate more dates. :)

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

We're having a sweet little girl! We couldn't be more excited! More photos of our precious daughter in the making.

20 Week Bump. I feel huge already, but evidently I'm right on track for weight gain. Whatever that means.

Bring on the pink!

What Will Baby Shannon Look Like?

Heather & Samuel about age 2.

Speaking of baby, he/she has been kicking up a storm the last two weeks. There's either a great love or hatred of salsa and citrus going on. I'm in for a lot of fun in the coming months.