Welcoming Molly June Bell

We are home! And after much deliberation do have a name.....Molly June Bell. We hope that won't be too confusing with my sister who is also named Molly. Little Molly is doing great though. She is so sweet, and although she would rather sleep all through the day, she has been such a darling. Rex and Lucy have been so darling with her, and so helpful to us too. What good kids! Thanks to all for your words of support, congratulations, and all the help coming in too.

A New Baby Girl!

The real post will have to wait for later, but we might as well put this out there for those that remain curious about our status tonight. Macy had a beautiful baby girl today around 6:30 p.m. She is still bright pink with some light brown hair, and is really beautiful. Everything went very well for Macy and the baby, and we're looking forward to getting her home. She weighed 8 pounds and 3 ounces at birth, 21 inches long. More details will follow, I'm sure. For now, everything's wonderful.

The coming of a new and exciting Change

So, each time I go in to have a baby I always seem to get a little sad about leaving my former life behind. From my single working life/young married couple stage, to my life with one small child, to now leaving our life with only two kids. Change is never the easiest thing for me, and, although this one has kept me waiting way too long, and the anticipation is more than all of us can handle, I am still feeling a little sad to watch our little life as we know it leave us.

Last night as I always do, I went in to Rex and Lucy's room before I went to bed to see my beautiful sleeping children, cover them up, check on them, etc. There is nothing like sleeping children, I guess for more reasons than the one I am describing, but this night I found myself getting a little sad for them. I know another sibling is the greatest thing I could give them in so many ways, but I also know their lives are going to change, and this all means they are getting older too. Lucy has been the baby for nearly three years, and I think this adjustment will definitely be the hardest on her. On the other hand, she is so gentle and nurturing, she may just be the greatest asset I have. Rex is so independent and good natured. He loves little babies lately, and is very excited for this one to come, although he did ask my sister Molly the other day if we could switch our baby with hers because she has a baby boy and "baby boys are much cuter". He will be great though. He is just one of those kids you can trust. I can ask him to take on anything, and I know he will handle it. I was remembering how Ryan asked him to watch baby Lucy in her bouncy seat a couple of months after she was born while Ryan had to run outside for a couple of minutes. When Ryan came back in he found 22-month old Rex just sitting in front of Lucy's bouncy seat literally watching her/staring at her. It was so cute, and so Rex-like.

They are both such good kids. We have really had it pretty darn easy. They have begun to be such good buddies too. I love the differences in their personalities and how they complement one another. It has been pure joy to have a little boy and a little girl so close.

So, tomorrow I head in to the hospital to have our third child. To bring her home to our family, and we are all so excited, but yes things are going to change, and yes we are leaving this wonderful phase of two kids, a family of four, feeling like we actually fit in our small house, and life as we all know it. Here's to new adventures!!

New Arrival!!!

We have a new arrival in the family. All of us, but mostly Rex and Lucy, are very excited to introduce the newest addition:

A TRAMPOLINE!!!

It measures in at 382 pounds, 12 ounces, thirteen feet long, and everyone is doing well. Still haven't decided on a name.

Working With Rex

Today Macy's doctor appointment went long, so I had to run up and pick up Rex from his soccer camp and bring him back to work with me. It's been a very busy day or me at work, as I've been trying to finish and file a brief with the Utah Supreme Court. Rex, of course, was oblivious to my own inscrutable stresses, and pleased as punch to be hanging around my office for the second time in a week.

I set him up with a legal pad and a pen on the other side of my desk, and he set right to work drawing what he draws- jets manned by Dark Vader and Luke, each of whom wields a light saber while handling his ship. That left me free to continue plugging away at my brief, even though I sort of felt like the bad dad in the movies that is so busy he can't even pay attention to his kid. Well, okay, I was that bad dad, but the movies never really show you how important the dad's work really is. Trust me, it's important.

Anyway, Rex was in such a good mood that he just kept on drawing his jets and jedis and kept up a constant stream of conversation while we both worked. He had countless things to say on countless subjects, and I didn't record most of them. But halfway through his stay, I started jotting them down verbatim as he said them. Here's the list I ended up with:

Looks like somebody needs to clean this office up.

Dad, does this building have a no pets sign like Curious George's building?

My legs are cold in here. But this chair is comforting my bottom.

(looking dreamily out the window) Isn't Donald Duck Funny?

Is there a guy in the Incredibles named Honey-Dog?

I see why offices are so dirty. Because people need to read so much.

But now the city's cleaner because that building exploded.

Despite my grim and busy mood, I ended up sad to lose Rex when Macy came to pick him up. It's like we've always said about him-- Rex is a lot of good things, but most of all, he's good company.

Timberrrrrrrr!

This morning I woke up at 4:45. Ten minutes later, I snuck Rex out of his bed and carried him out to my already-running car. Halfway there he opened his eyes, and after a few more steps said "Where are you taking me?"

"To see a building explode."

He just digested that silently, half-asleep. I put him in the car and we drove down the hill toward downtown. A few minutes into the ride, he perked up a little more and it hit him where we were headed. I heard him whisper: "Aaaawesome!"

So we got down to my office building, within a four or five block radius that was cordoned off and heavily secured. We recieved our pre-arranged security passes (only for people that work in the buildings in the area) and walked through an underground tunnel to get to my office. We ended up on the 15th floor of the new Key Bank Building, which is where I work. The Matt and Amanda Lewis family was already there, plus a few others. It was still pitch black outside.

Finally, just before 6:30, we congregated in a West-facing office and the sun started brightening up the view. Wish I had taken a "before picture" of the Old Key Bank Building. Too late now. This is what we saw:




You can tell from the gasps and screams that this was far more amazing in person than it is over web video. It was actually incredible- our building shook, and the booms coming from the doomed building were louder than I'd anticipated, sounding a lot like thunder, but closer. Then came the dust cloud:



And here's the reax from the crowd:




Yeah. 4:45 was worth it.

Good Times

Rex and Lucy

We had a great weekend! We are so lucky to live so close to many of the best canyons in the valley. In just 20 minutes we can be in some of most beautiful spots, and we took advantage this past weekend. First, Friday we went up to Park City, went to Baja Cantina to eat dinner (one of my favorites), then hit the alpine slide and the alpine coaster. The kids had a ball!

Lucy and Dad on the alpine slide

Rex and Dad after riding the alpine coaster

Then Saturday morning my mom picked up bagels and juice, and we went up Big Cottonwood Canyon to Silver Lake to hike around (FYI, much more doable for a 9 month prego than Cecret Lake). My sister Amby, and her little girl Tenley are in town and came along too. It was a perfect morning.

Tenley, Rex, Ike and Lucy

Tenley and Lucy in "midget mode"


Friends Forever-Ike and Lucy



I know, pretty dark picture, but the Lake was just so beautiful.






All the kiddies, including Ryan

Painted Ladies

Yesterday, in a moment of weakness, Lucy and Tenley (her cousin) broke into Macy's makeup bag. The results were somewhat mixed.

While the application clearly shows a lack of subtlety, there's a definite flavor to the style, something you might see if you merged the American Girls Store with, say, the American Goths Store. Minor deductions for failing to put together a complete look, but big points for originality.

A little foundation applied beneath the clavicle can enhance the presentation of the decolletage:

Note the base liberally applied to the upper legs:

Evaluating their work:

And by the way, most of the foundation did end up coming out of Julie's carpet. They're still working on the mascara. Meanwhile, Rex played quietly by himself with some legos. Never saw that role reversal coming.

32 Flavors at Summer's End

Our ward has a nice tradition for ending the summer. Every August, we have two big get-togethers, the first being an Ice Cream Social at the park, and the second being the Lawn Party at the Church, always held on the day school starts. Gives you something to look forward to in August, besides harvesting, of course. But that's mostly just exciting for Davis.

Anyway, we had our ice cream social tonight. Half the people bring a tub of homemade ice cream and the other half bring baked treats. Tonight we had raspberry-pineapple-peach, almond joy, Norwegian Vanilla, cinnamon, whipped raspberry, lemon, lime, blueberry, mint chocolate chip, and peach, among others. I'm not really one to rave about desserts so much, but man, you just can't beat that. You're pretty much required to have three bowls just to taste all the flavors-- something required by the etiquette of the night, of course.

Anyway, it was a lot of fun, and there was the tiniest hint of coolness in the air, which just makes for the perfect lead in to a whole other season that's just as much fun. But with more football. Life's good.

Before:

During:

After:

One of my favorite poets has a line about summer turning around and hopping away or something. I forget how it goes, but that sums it up.

Finally, you've probably heard about Michelle- Lucy's nursery leader and acknowledged "best friend." They're not just nursery friends- they hang out at ward activities too!

Rex and Lucy's new cousin

Today my sister, Molly gave birth to her second baby boy. He came in at 7 pounds 15 ounces, 21inches long. He is as cute as ever! We are so excited for them, and for big brother Ike. Ikey was so excited, and more into the baby than I have seen in such a young child. He kept saying, "moe baby, moe baby" while doing the sign language sign for "more." Loved it! Congratulations Randy and Molly!
Ike kissing the baby
Rex was so excited to meet his new cousin, and couldn't stop talking about it all day. He is very excited for our baby to come.....maybe next week!!
Lucy holding the baby as gently as ever.

An excited Ike holding the baby

Bosom Buddies

So yesterday we moved our little Lucy from the nursery to Rex's room, and from her dear crib to a big girl bed. Now this is not just any big girl bed, but Grandma Julie's bed when she was a little girl which makes it all the more special. Lucy was so excited, and was especially excited when Glo told her it was a princess bed. No one could deny that because we all know that Julie was a princess in that home.

We got it all set up, new bedding and all, and tried to make the room as unisex as possible, but also keep some remnants of their little personalities which are very much boy and girl. Lucy was ecstatic, and just sat on it for a long time holding her baby doll or looking at a magazine. Then when she got in to go to bed tonight she said, "It's so cuddly...I LUB it!" She is so funny and grown up sometimes. Rex has also been so excited for Lucy to move in with him. He loves being the big brother, and takes care of her so well. They are really starting to play more together, and although that adds some bickering too, it is so great to see them being such buddies. Rex doesn't put up with Lucy's emotional/drama, and tends to reason with her sometimes even better than Ryan and I do. One night a few weeks ago while we were at the beach, after we had put them both to bed, told them a story, said prayers, and sang a song, Lucy asked for another story when Ryan told her no, and left, she burst into tears. Ryan then stayed by the door to listen, and after crying for a few mintues Lucy said to Rex,

"Rex, will you tell me a story about Lucy?"

Rex replied, "No, Lucy."

Lucy came back with, "Well, then I will tell you a story, Rex", and as she begun,

Rex nicely said, "Lucy just go to sleep."

Lucy replied, "ok."

That is such a picture into each of their personalities and their relationship.

Lucy is also our very imaginitive child, and loves make believe. That has been good for Rex too....she tends to get him started in a lot of little play scenerios he may not have thought of himself. They are the perfect little combo.