Boog is 2

Little man,

You're two now.

You can say it and point out the number when you see it.

I can't believe how big you are.

You're so smart. I am so amazed by how much you know.

You love letters right now. You and Daddy read a lot. You're never patient enough to read with me.

Cars are your favorite toys. You drive around all day long.

You love to eat. Your favorite things are toast (which you demand. loudly.), cheese, juice, and chocolate milk. You are very expensive, but that's ok.

You have the cutest voice. Most of the time you say things in this sweet tone that nearly always gets you what you want.

There is no grey area with you. You are either sweet or naughty. You are either happy or in full out melt-down.

You are very good at sensing people's emotions. You know when Momma is sad or frustrated and are usually quick to give hugs and kisses when they're needed.

At bedtime you love to hear Big Tractor and Goodnight Moon and whatever other books you can convince Daddy to read. You have to snuggle several stuffed friends. You need your pack (warm corn pack). You always make sure we say prayers together.

Lately you've been learning to say prayers yourself. My heart melts when I hear you say "Jesus" and shout "AMEN!"

You love nursery. Sundays are the only days it's easy to get you dressed because you're so excited to go to church.

You just learned how to say "I love (Momma, Daddy, Mawgie, Jess, etc.)" and it makes me smile. You say it out of the blue sometimes and it's the very best.

You're wonderful.

I love you so much little boy!

Love, Momma

Toasty Toes

So... I made some pretty rockin' non-slip socks to wear in the hospital when I had Booger. If you want to see how, read on. And please, enjoy!

Step 1- Trace your little (or in my case at the time, massively swollen) tootsies on some cardboard and cut them out. You need a cutout of both feet so that you can make both at the same time. You especially need both if your feet are different shapes or sizes like mine (ew). I used a cereal box.

Step 2- Once you have your foot cutouts, stare at them for a moment thinking about how weird/gross/amazing feet are. Snap yourself out of it. Flip the cutouts over (so that the bottom of your "feet" are up) now you want to slip your socks over them. I got these cute socks from the dollar store. Love. Make sure to carefully line up the bottom of the socks correctly on the cutout.

Step 3- Take some puff paint (I got mine for about $0.75 each at Walmart about two years ago and have used them for about a million different projects) and start making designs. I used a combo of dots and squiggles . I kinda wish I'd just done the dots, but that's just me.

Step 4- Let the puff paint dry for the time suggested on the packaging and put those puppies in your hospital bag. Allow complements from the nurses to follow. :D

My son

he is the most beautiful little person i have ever seen. i can't help just staring at him.

admit it, you can't help staring either.

Little One

here he is!

11/30/2009 at 7:01 pm. He was 7lbs 12 oz, 21 inches, and absolutely perfect!

monday, Monday, MONDAY

We scheduled my induction for Monday! Holy canoli... if all goes as planned we'll have this baby FOR SURE before Wednesday. YAY!

P.S. Miracles happen. Mr. Joseph got a job! It might only be for the holiday season, but they're not sure. Either way, at least we'll be able to pay rent in January. :D

a million things

I can't sleep again. bah. I hate this... I'm fully exhausted all day and then can't sleep at night. It's me being stressed over all the usual things, and all the new things.

Baby could come any day now- emotionally I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be for him. I'm pretty excited now, but stressed out of my mind at the same time. From what I hear I need to get used to that feeling. As far as being actually prepared for him to get here- not even close. His clothes need to be washed, his crib finished, and about a million little things need to still be bought. Yikes. Also, his room is currently serving as my make-shift craft room. I'm already dreaming of the day I'll have space of my very own to make things.

The craft room monstrosity is because I decided fairly last minute (as in two weeks ago) that I want to do all or most of our Christmas presents to family by hand this year. yikes. Nephew's gift is nearly done now and I have to say it's even cuter than I'd hoped. I'm a little in love with it. I also have most of the stuff together to make sister's present. The goal is to have all of the Van Allens' gifts done by the time Mom leaves from helping with brand-new-baby. wish me luck!

Today the maintenance guys are coming to check on our air-conditioner, smoke detectors, vents, etc. I'm thrilled. Ok... I lied. I don't want them to come. Mr. Joseph will be at school and their visit means I won't get to nap. dang. Plus we had to move the shelves that my sweet husband made me so that they can get to the air filter. Also- we get to meet with the bishop tonight. Not sure what that's about and not sure I'm excited. Now would be a fairly inconvenient time to get a calling.

Mr. Joseph is talking in his sleep in there. It makes me think of the part in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban where Ron talks in his sleep- possibly my favorite moment of that movie. It's kinda adorable. The poor guy is also sleeping in a long sleeve shirt and pj pants since my little space heater (aka baby Booger) makes it so I have to turn on the air conditioner despite it being the middle of November.

Nikki's James comes home today. Holy flip. I'm so excited for her. Russia buddies forever lady. Crazy to think this means that it's been almost two whole years since Mr. Joseph got home. James flew to Russia the day Kimbal came home from his mission. I can't even believe we've known each other (or at least known of each other) for that long Nikki. I'm so happy for you! It's going to be wonderful!

I miss my MG's. All of you. Like a whole lot. I want to come see you all badly, but I'm not really supposed to travel. bah. I'm trying to think of some way we can fit all of you into our itty-bitty apartment for a get together. Perhaps sometime in early January when Booger is still little and new, but not so new he's super susceptible to getting sick (I'm already getting paranoid about that).

Calling all Mommas

I'm probably going to start registering soon and I was hoping to get some input on what to look for/ask for. If there are any products you couldn't live without, things you never used, brands you love or hate, or stores you wouldn't go through please let me know. Thanks so much! Also- if could leave your comment on the post here so I can keep them all together it'd be much appreciated!

Meet our little man!

It's a boy!

The little guy's profile

Is it just me, or are baby feet adorable even in utero?

I think it's hilarious that they label it... as if any of us couldn't tell what that is there between the little guy's legs.

A look at baby from the front. He keeps his hands by his face all the time!

Hurry Up and Wait...

This ready-or-not baby of mine is about half-way here now. That's scaring me, seriously... I'm just starting to wrap my head around the idea of being pregnant, let alone the actuality of parenthood. On Monday my Doctor gave me a hugenormous stack of reading material all about pregnancy, and birthing, and newborns, and babies, and being a mom. It didn't help me feel prepared or informed. I read the whole freaking thing and all I really learned is that I don't know anything. Yesterday I had a super fun emotional day. I was mad at everything and everyone. Yelled at my mom and my husband. It sucked. Don't worry... apologized (and then cried) to both. Still didn't help. I feel awful... I'm a wreck. I have a million little things to do before this baby gets here SOON and there's nothing I can really do right now. Nothing I can get done. I've never been one of those list girls, but right now I'd like nothing more than a big check mark next to something. Anything. Just to know something was ready because I'm sure as heck not.