Names... HELP!

Many of you know about the lists of baby names Ben and I have compiled over the last few months. We want to wait until we meet Jr. #2 before we name him... and to be safe, we have a girl's list tucked away just in case (you all remember what happened last time? How the name "Elise" just didn't fit our surprise boy? Yeah. We're prepared.).  ;)

Anyway, I've been struggling with our name list for a little while now. I like the list, but I'm not in love with any of the names on it (and honestly, the names I like the most are the ones that Ben probably like the least). I feel like I've looked everywhere but I'm running dry. The point is, we could sure use some outside ideas! 


We want to keep it Scottish if possible to keep up with our last name. Of the Scottish boy name lists I've seen, there are just a lot of wacky names, girly names, or overly used names.  Our criteria are:

1. Must be ranked more than in the 150s of popularity in US. The more unpopular it is, the more extra points it is. (The higher the number, the better.)
2. Can't be a girl name, almost a girl name, becoming a girl name, or ever used as a girl name. We're having a man child after all. :)
3. Can't be too wacky.
4. Preferably doesn't start or end with an "M".

We hope  can find names like Malcom again. It's ranked #546 in the US as popularity, so chances are he won't meet a lot of other Malcom's. It's common enough that people won't have to work to remember it or pronounce it, and I strongly doubt there are any little girls running around with it. "Malcom Matheson" did break my too many "M"s rule, but it just fit him... sometimes you just have to ignore a rule or two if it's just right.  

I'm not going to share the names already on the list because they're somewhat top secret. :)  I have really enjoyed playing around with babynamewizard.com and babycenter.com though, they have some fun lists and meanings. 

Why does it seem like it was so much easier to find names the first time around??? Hum. 

Anyway, if anyone wants to throw some ideas out there for us, it would be greatly appreciated! Email, facebook, leave a comment... whatever. 


Help!! 

Good names will possibly be rewarded with cookies. :) 

Sickness, Cars, and Valentine's Day

Time to update a little!  

Let's see: 

Last week (the week of my last post) was brutal. I don't think I've experienced such a nasty bug while being pregnant before, but it sure did wipe me out. I was seriously on the couch all week! It was awful. I knew that the chances of Malcom catching the bug were high, and often wondered who would have a better immune system: a toddler, or a very pregnant lady. Turns out the toddler wins! It only took him a few days to get over it. Lucky kid! I felt bad for him though, it was a rough few days. Here he is just laying on the couch, sippy cup in hand, looking miserable. I'm so glad Ben didn't catch the bug too!

Monday was great!!!! Not because of Valentine's Day (we postponed our celebrations until Tuesday since Ben had to work late Monday night), but because we bought a "new" car! Yay!!! Celebrations all around!! I've been meaning to take pictures of it, but I've just been too lazy lately. The previous owner took immaculate care of the car, it's such a luxury compared to the old beat up clunker we used to drive! 

It's a '99 Nissan Maxima, and we got it for a steal at $2500 (which was perfect, because that's how much we set aside from tax returns to buy a car). Here are some pictures that I found off of google that match up to our car... (yep, I'm that lazy)

It's wonderful to again have all those extra little things we forgot existed: hazards, a horn, dashboard and dome lights, working wind shield wipers and defrosters (on both front AND back!!!), carpet!, inside door panels, cruise control, an inside roof that isn't coming down, bright headlights, no gigantic rust spots on the roof, electric windows and locks!!... and a host of other magnificent features like MUCH better gas mileage. We're SO spoiled!!!! The down sides? 

1. Would be nice to have a tad more room with baby #2 on the way, but I'm sure we'll manage just fine. 

2. It's a 5 speed manual transmission... I've never driven a stick before. Luckily Ben's been a very kind and patient teacher! It's been fun, though I can't help getting a little nervous in traffic because I don't want to "kill" the car when there are cars behind me.

3. We have to fix the alternator. Boo. Luckily our old caprice has gotten A LOT of inquiries this weekend, so hopefully we'll be able to use the money from that and fix the alternator. Should know more about all that on Monday.

:) Life is gooooood. :)

Betsy babysat for us Tuesday night so that Ben and I could go on our little Valentine's date. It was wonderful! We were both oh, so very tired by dinner time, we decided on a very laid back and easy date. Dinner at Winger's, followed by Narnia 3 at the cheap theater, followed by a driving lesson... and don't worry, he didn't forget to get me flowers. :) It occurred to me that this was our fifth V-Day as a couple, not counting the first one when I spent days working on a card/storybook for him (it was awesome, I'm not going to lie). We've had some wonderful and adventurous Valentine's Days together, but I'm glad we can also have quiet ones as well. Maybe that's just what happens when you get so comfortable with each other (and you have a kid or two!). I sure love that man. :)

The rest of this week has been mostly uneventful. A few driving lessons here and there, potty training (which is going wonderfully, we just have to work on going outside the apartment with out diapers and we've got it down pact! Go Malcom!), editing photos, sleeping... we did get out for an hour long walk yesterday in the sunshine. It was like 35 degrees out there!!! I know, right?! It felt soooo good!  I'm so tired of the snow, and being pregnant. These are two things that should change at about the same time... it makes counting down to either "spring" or baby that much more exciting.. and tedious. 

Long post, looks like that's all I've got. Love to all! 

Longer Than I Expected

 Sick, sick, sick. There's something cruel about being uncomfortably pregnant and hacking up a lung, sprawled on the couch like a bloated, dying sea cow. Blah. That being said, this is going to be a brief post. Here are some pics from the last two weeks...

Malcom playing in our laundry basket.

I had Malcom in his high chair one night, just eating dinner while I was finishing up some dishes, when I looked over and he was plugging his ears. Silly kid! I guess he didn't like the song playing on Pandora. haha!

Potty training. He's just being silly in this pic, as always. Potty training is going well though some days are much better than others. I think we're on a good track so far. 

We went down to SLC for Ben's mom's wedding last weekend. It was a great time, a very sweet occasion. Saturday morning was especially great, since Ben's grandma volunteered to babysit for us while we went to the SLC temple. Neither of us had been there before; it was beautiful! It's amazing that it took 40 years to complete and has been functioning for the past 118 years or so. It was great to see the family as well. I only wish I had a little more energy! Turns out traveling can take it out of you when you're the size of an overgrown walrus. It's true. 

Had doctor's appointment today. Everything's perfect so far, I just can't believe we only have 2 months left. We're already down to the every-two-weeks-appointments! This is going by CRAZY kinds of fast, much faster than it did with Malcom. I'll admit that I while I LOVE being a mom and I adore my little kiddos, I'm really not a fan of pregnancy. If I could grow my babies in a fish tank I would! Imagine how much easier would it make delivery?! haha. Anyway, we're all doing fine. I feel like most of my day's are spent ravenously hungry, exhausted, with occasional hip and back aches and a few braxton hicks every so often. Nothing new.  Just 2 more months!!! I can't wait!

Anyway, time to crash. Love to all!

Sledding and Stuff

We went sledding last Saturday, first time this winter. Malcom was fairly expressionless for the most part, except when he saw someone else go down this hill and crash. That was funny... our kid likes to laugh at other's misfortunes. Go figure. He did, however, love playing in a little snow fort that someone else built. 

Here he is in all his snow gear. He reminds me of that little kid, Randy, from A Christmas Story. The part when his mom gets him all ready for school and he can hardly walk/put his arms down? haha. Yeah.

Expressionless after going down a little hill. I think he just needs to go sledding again. He'll enjoy it more next time, he just needed to figure out what it was all about.

Snow fort! Love his little face!

 It was a really fun afternoon even though Malcom didn't take to sledding as quickly as we thought he would. After we got home and changed into pjs, we made hot chocolate together (Malcom is a pro at opening and closing the microwave/pouring things into cups). He got to even have his first hot chocolate in his own little grown-up cup. I'm not gonna lie, this kid is a chocolate fiend... something I'm proud to say he inherited from me!


About a month or two ago Ben got a fancy knife from this rewards system from his work. He's obsessed with chopping things now... anyway, we had this left-over gala apple in our fridge (we're fugi people, really, not sure how that gala got in there). Malcom got a piece and was trying to cut it with a stick, just like his daddy. Ben was so proud!!! He ran over and got a butter knife from the silverware drawer and his fancy new cutting board, then showed Malcom how to cut the apple slice. How happy does our little boy look in this picture??! I love it! Those two are the very best of friends.

In other news, our poor old '91 chevy caprice is officially on it's last leg. Here's a photo of it from a few years ago when we bought it:

We're pretty sure the transmission is going out. It's okay though, we bought it for $500 and planned from the beginning to run it into the ground. I think Ben is much sadder about it than I am... haha. It's a man-car. Men love this car, I swear. Men and mechanics. I don't know if it's just because it's a bone-fide retired cop car and has the turbo engine package stuff (ha, can you tell I know nothing about cars?!), because it's older and easier to work on mechanically than a lot of newer vehicles, because it's as ugly as sin... I don't know. I'm excited to look for something "new" though, and hopefully NOT rear-wheel drive (for those of you unfamiliar with driving in snow and ice, it's the worst!!). So long "Murdoch", it's been an adventurous ride. Ben will miss you. ;)

We've officially started potty training this week. To be honest, I'm not sure how it's going. We started it a few months ago, but then we had a lot of other things come up/random visits from family and friends, and decided to hold off. It went really well before. I wish we had stuck with it, because I think he was WAY more interested back then then he is now. He's a smart kid, I know he's perfectly capable and ready, we just need to get some incentive. We'll see how this week goes I guess! At least he enjoys running around naked. Haha! But seriously, any tips from those who have been through it with little boys who have never minded being dirty are welcome!!! Seriously. I have a plan, but I have no idea what I'm doing. This poor kid may end up running naked the rest of his life. ;)

Wish us luck!!

Blog-Lazy

I sat down a few days ago and wrote down all the things I want to finish up before baby #2 comes, and I realized I have a lot to do in only a few months! It's okay though, I don't mind being busy and it makes me that much more productive these days.  

That being said, I'm feeling blog-lazy lately. I have a few good pictures to post though not a lot to update on. I'll procrastinate a little longer and just post a hilarious video my friend Jeannette posted on facebook earlier today. :)  

Enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1401139168205&comments

2010 vs. 2011

New Year's is a fun holiday, though it's always seemed just a little silly to me. Really, the passing of another calendar year!? I'm not sure if I've ever understood the huge celebrations that people put on... people talk of "clean slates" and "second chances", but could you just as easily celebrate a new month? Week? Day? Odd.

I guess in the very least it's a good time for reflection. 2010 was busy, but I think 2011 will have more significance in my journal for obvious reasons. 2010 feels more like a year full of small milestones that will lead into 2011. I realized the other day that Ben and I always have especially important things happen in odd years:

2005: Ben and I met, became BFFs. :)
2007: Seal the BFF deal and get hitched
2009: Produce insanely adorable and perfectly behaved child, AKA "Malcom"
2011: Expect insanely adorable and perfectly behaved child #2, AKA "Twitch" (for now), Ben finally graduates in December!! Move out of Rexburg for internship? Well, we'll just have to see how that plays out.

Now comes the discussion of New Year's resolutions. I gave up on those a loooong time ago after I realized that I fell into the do-really-well-for-a-week-then-forget-about-it crowd. A friend of mine wrote on her blog last year about how she picks a word as a resolution, rather than a physical goal like "being on time more" or "eat healthier and exersize 2Xs a day". Instead, she focuses on that word, and strives to bring it into all the other facets of her life.

Last year I decided to to go with "strive". To me, it means more than just making sure I got things done, but that I did my best. It was a wonderful word.. Sometimes when I was having trouble getting things done that I needed to, the word would pop into my mind and I'd instantly be reminded that I wanted to be the kind of person who strived to be the best, and actually do what I told myself I should. Sometimes when I would go out running at night it would pop back into my mind, just as I thought, "Ehhhh, I've done the bare minimum. I can stop pretty soon." I was always able to pull a few extra miles. It was very inspiring to me!  So thanks to my friend Becca for sharing that last year and teaching me a new way to go about resolutions. :)

I've been pondering what word to focus on this year. It's a hard choice because I want to make sure I choose something that will really help me with my goals and the important events coming up. I keep coming back to "Patience". I know that as we get closer to the end of this pregnancy it'll be something I'll have to work really hard for, and then again when we bring home a newborn. Oh goodness, a newborn and a toddler... I'll have to have patience with my kids, Ben, and myself as we have to adjust to being a family of 4 and having those inevitable sleepless nights. I'll have to have a lot of patience with myself while I learn how to balance life, to find time to take care of myself and loose those pesky pregnancy pounds (oooooh, how I LOATH pregnancy pounds!!!). Ben will be finishing up school and working, so I'll have to have a  lot of patience with him while he's so busy, and as we look forward to the end of a llllllllooooooooooonnnng journey here in Rexburg.

Yep. This year is definitely going to be overflowing with challenges and wonderful blessings. I'm excited! 2010 was good, but this year will be an adventure!

That's all for now. The man child has been napping for a few hours, so I need to hop in the shower and make myself pretty before he wakes. Love to all, and happy new calendar year! :)

Christmas

We had a fabulous Christmas! I think this was the first Christmas that we stayed at home since before Ben I were married.

 

On Christmas Eve we headed to the store bright and early to get some last minute presents and food (just like everyone else in Rexburg). We managed to lose Malcom in Broulims briefly, which was pretty scary. That kid is fast! I've made it a point to remember to make sure Malcom is wearing big, clunky, heavy shoes in public to slow him down. Like boots. Boots are good.

After we got home, we made cookies and rice crispy treats, built a blanket fort in the living room (best fort I've ever seen, if I do say so myself! Sadly, I forgot to take pictures of it. :(   ), made shepherd's pie (pic of Malcom helping make dinner to the right), and watched Mr. Kruger's Christmas and A Muppet's Christmas Carol (all in the fort, of course). We also read the nativity story, then cuddled up and slept in our little fort all night. We loved the Christmas Eve fort! I think we just discovered a new family tradition. :)

Christmas morning we got up, opened presents, ate waffles, and napped for a few more hours...in the fort. :) We went over to my brother Kevin and sis-in-law Becca's apartment for dinner, which was super fun and super tasty. After dinner we headed home, driving though a few neighborhoods to see Christmas lights along the way. (Pic to the right is Malcom opening presents in out FORT!) :)

Ben and I both agree that this has been our favorite Christmas so far. We just had so much fun! I think all these weeks of bussiness, and not being able to spend as much time as a family, has made this
holiday even better; for the first time in a long time there were no distractions, no homework, no projects or social obligations, just us.

So glad the semester is over! :)

(Malcom and his cousin Caleb)

Happy holidays everyone!

Surprise!

We love the first one we made so much that we decided to bake another!

Should be ready around Tax Day!

*Note: The little bun (who we will hereafter refer to as "Twitch" due to his movements in the ultrasound today) decided to cross his legs very tightly and make it especially difficult to tell the gender. We're pretty sure it's a boy, but we'll have another ultrasound in a month or two to double check. :)