a tribute.

Dear President Hinckley,

I never got to meet you in person, though I somehow feel that I knew you well. I never had a conversation with you, though I loved the sound of your voice. I never got to shake your hand, though I loved to see you wave it. I know that you don't know me and my laughter, but somehow I can't keep the tears back thinking about how much I already miss your jokes and laughing at them. I know I never got the chance to tell you this, but you truly have had the most profound impact on me. Since I was 9, you've been the prophet who has taught me to have faith in the Savior, you've helped build and strengthen my testimony of the gospel, you've shown me how to be optimistic amidst bleak and heavy trials, you've given me a deep love and appreciation for temples, you've shown me how to love unconditionally, and you've taught me by example how to live a life full of hard-work and service. I will love and remember you forever.

Your Friend,

Marci

no hands!

in M&M land, we have a little too much fun.

this weekend, we went to soldier's hollow and went sledding. i was a little skeptical of falling with little baby c in my tummy...but it turned out to be yet another unforgettable M&M experience, with (thankfully) no falls.

p.s. it was very cold.

p.s. #2 we really are moving in this video down a pretty steep mountain...though at times it doesn't look like it. M would claim that it is his "excellent" video skills.

p.s. #3 i just watched this again and realized: M&M are really big dorks.

"uh-hem, i have something to say"

today we had an amazing ultrasound with the doc. let me tell you what, baby chappy is a little show-off! she would not stay still for a millisecond! she was dancing, kicking, movin' to the groovin...

and then... the Nurse saw this little fist...that was totally clenched...minus her index finger. while the rest of her body was wiggling and squirming around like a little jumping bean, she left her fist there, just like this:


now, there are several possible scenarios of what she was trying to tell us;

1."Uh-hem, i have something to say."
2. "Mom, stop poking me...
Fine, I'll poke you back."
3. "I'm #1."
4. "Mom, you're #1."
5. "Look, my first booger."
6. "What's going on up there?"
7. "Can you please give me just one minute of privacy?"

the possibilities are truly endless, seeing that she can't actually talk yet.

so, after the appointment i decided, i'm addicted to ultrasounds. if i could, i'd have one every day- heck! every minute of every day, just so i could catch little hilarious moments like this. also so i could just watch her any moment i wanted to. it is such a calming, therapeutic thing to see the little person inside of you on screen. nothing beats it! it makes me so excited to think that i've beat the half-way mark- so then i can really see her any time i want.

the popped button.

so, this past weekend i have come to terms with a dubious truth: i am an emotional wreck.

now, i'm definitely blaming ALL of this on the pregnancy. i usually am a much more stable human...but somehow i'm aboard the weeping rollercoaster and am personifying a clearly irrational version of myself. let me explain.

on thursday, my cute cousin Caleb married the love of his life, Dany. i was able to be there the whole day, enjoying the temple sealing, the luncheon, lots of family, laughs, chilly weather, dancing, cake-cutting, sweating, loving, kissing, and everything else that could accompany weddings.

well, i was going to be seeing tons of people i knew this day- since Caleb's family lives in my neighborhood, and since he attended my high school, and since we had TONS of family coming out for the event. so, of course i wanted to be dressed for the occasion! i picked out this darling black dress my mom bought me (comfy enough to pass for maternity) and this beautiful long white coat that i bought for my own engagement pictures. well, this beautiful white coat is adorned with sparkly rhinestone buttons along the front...and was already missing one at the start of the day. luckily, i picked out this fuzzy black scarf and it covered up the broken button...so nobody would know it was missing but me. sure, it was a little snug- but everything fit a little snug these days. so i went with the black and white ensemble and left the house feeling fabulous!

well, the day went on....and, well, wedding days are long! lots of pictures, lots of hugs, lots of questions about baby chappy- all wonderful things - but definitely an exhausting day. after indulging in yummy rolls and decadent desserts at the luncheon, we went up to the reception hall in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and took a seat around one of the tables. i was feeling a little more "full" than i did at the beginning of the day. well, as soon as i leaned over to take a seat (something which has become increasingly uncomfortable in the passing weeks) i heard a faint little "pop" and something drop to the floor. i looked around to see if anyone else heard it...and then looked to the ground and saw a glistening rhinestone button rocking itself slowly to a STOP on the floor. i had popped a button.

now, up until this moment, i had been overly enthused to gain weight and "show." i was so excited for everyone to finally just know that i am pregnant. all of this changed with the popped button. i suddenly felt like an engorged toad...one who can barely lean over his lily pad to fetch a fly for dinner. i looked down at my jacket...the thread all distorted...and looked around again, giving a fake smile to keep in with the conversation. i didn't want anyone to notice...because i had just popped a button due to the increasing size of my tummy.

of course someone noticed...the jacket wouldn't stay together. my poor sister-in-law was the victim. she was just trying to be courteous to say that she'd fix it...but i couldn't hear her as i ran out of the room into the nearest bathroom stall. i was crying by this point...passing family members and friends. yes, i was crying over a popped button.

but soon, my mom came into the bathroom and talked some sense in me. it wasn't long before i realized that i was acting like one of my 5 year old kindergartners who doesn't win a prize at the end of the day... or better yet, like a 3 year old...who had just dropped her ice-cream scoop off of her cone or something ridiculous like that. i felt like an idiot. it was at this point that i wished i was a bear who could crawl into a hole to hibernate for the winter and just let my belly rise like a loaf of bread for no one to see.

now, a short 4 days later, i realize that this is all part of the adventure called "pregnancy." i'm ready to embrace this emotionally ship-wrecked version of myself...and try to make her ready to sail again. all aboard, ahoy!

dear 2007,

i already miss you. i get a little teary eyed thinking of all that we did together. we finished the longest stretch of education of my life--a long 17 years. we said good-bye to the library, the RB stairwell, the books, the testing center (and the tests), the long hours of studying, the papers, the carpel tunnel...we said good-bye to 800 North...and the wilkinson center. we said goodbye to quizzes (and missed quizzes due to tardies). we said goodbye to the slim lunch choices...we said goodbye to buildings filled with memories of lectures and sleeping. we said goodbye to acquaintances, friends and inspirations.

we watched many movies...and fell asleep to many movies together.

we ventured to mexico together-thanks to M's parents -- and had our stomachs lit on fire! and by fire i mean a mix of rocking boat and food poisoning. oh the good times. it was a memory we'll never forget.

we watched a lot of television- from following the American Idol journey... (and being slightly disappointed with Jordin's victory and Blake's defeat) to being awkwardly endeared by characters such as Michael, Dwight, Pam and Jim on the Office...to being somewhat disappointed by the anti-climactic ending to 24. you filled my evenings with anticipation, laughter, suspense and awe!

we made many new friends- especially within our little ward. you helped me get to know people...even though it's become harder for me as i've gotten older. we also kept many old friendships. i love thinking of the game-nights, the date-nights, the summer barbecues, the friends who had new babies, the phone-calls and the ever-important dance parties. you helped me see that life is truly about relationships.

we celebrated me and M's 2nd wedding anniversary! 2 years made us feel like pro's. you helped me remember how lucky i am to have found the love of my life so young in my life.

we entered the world of Wii together. you helped me see how frustrating tennis can be, even digitally. yet you saw me get better and better with diligent practice (even though M always wins, no matter what). you also saw me become the champion Wii bowler...with the sore shoulder and all.

we enjoyed seeing M own his first business this summer- i loved seeing his flip-flop tan line...and his happy face full of accomplishment each evening as he came home from work.

we survived girl's camp together...and it wasn't as bad as we thought it would be, even though we forgot bowls...and pots and pans... we stayed up late, we cried, we laughed, we made new friends, and strengthened young acquaintances.

we left the world of being paid "HOURLY" and entered the world of "SALARY." this was a big one for us! one that finally made us feel a little more "grown up."

with this new salary, we entered the real world together... i had no idea that the "real world" could include "story time," "snack time" and "finger rhymes." but you've taught me how to love kindergarten for a 2nd time! we made new 5-year-old friends together...and laughed during many silly moments.

we cried together as M and i discovered the little miracle in my tummy...and we survived the first months of pregnancy! we puked together, we slept many long hours, we ate the most random and ridiculous of food combinations (including, but not limited to, fried zucchini, all on its own, for dinner...i disgust myself just thinking about it). and we finally woke up one day and felt energized and full of appetite (minus the meat...i'm a pregnant vegetarian, apparently)! the most exciting part of this adventure we shared together was learning that "it" was no longer an "it" but rather a baby GIRL! i'll never forget how happy M and i felt in that moment when we learned that dresses, tights, and dolls would adorn our home for years to come.

we enjoyed a memorable holiday season together! filled with lots of the cheesecake factory (meaning tons of delicious CHEESECAKE), warm hugs, decadent desserts, guitar hero 3 (wii style), lots of baby supplies (meaning outfits, diaper bags, and pregnancy survival goods), laughs, resting, singing, decorating and most importantly FAMILY.

and then, just as quickly as you came, you were gone. so i just wanted to thank you-

thank you for giving me so many memories- for making me so happy- and for making some of my greatest dreams come true. i'll always remember you, 2007.

xoxo,

Marci