Oh baby!

Okay, so I haven't written in a while and I promise to catch you up on our vacation later. But right now there is news that is so exciting, it is bursting out to be told. We are having a little girl! It is pretty definite. The radiologist was able to show us three different times. She was in there crosslegged, with the hiccups. It was weird to see AND feel her. I mostly feel her in my lower abdomen so I guess she likes to head butt rather than kick (should make her daddy and brother happy). It was estimated that she is about 1 lb 1 oz. Wish that was all I had gained so far. :) Her name will be Eva Christine - Eva after Jason's sister who passed away at a young age and Christine after me (not my idea, it was Jason's). Fun stuff!

Tests, tests, and more tests

Jason here. Dental school is crazy, but in a good way. At church I ran into someone who is going to another Dental school across town. He mentioned that they don't start until next month. NEXT MONTH! UCSF (the school across town) has long summer breaks and is a four year program. They also get (I hear anyways) two half days a week. Slackers... actually they have a highly respected program and I have nothing bad to say about it. I am just happy with being at Pacific. I love it. Like I said, it is wild in all its hectic glory but the time flies. Quarterly finals are next week and I really just don't want to think about it. Perhaps that is why I am writing on the blog.

Perhaps you are wondering how I am doing. Well, not great to be honest but I am passing. I often say it is like standing in the ocean while waves come crashing in. You have no time to look too far out because there is another wave right on top of you and another one after that. So we take it day by day because there is some project due or some quiz or test everyday just about. But I am happy to report that I keeping my head above water.

For the first time I am proud to say that I am average. My classmates are, without exception, extremely talented and bright individuals. There are certifiable geniuses in this class (I think). I have to make a conscious effort not to compare myself with those people. The other day I went to the School office and asked them to blot out my class rank on my report card. Part of me would like to know where I stand, but another part of me knows that I would just eat my heart out if I found out someones else's rank. I know that I would either a) feel proud and superior to them or b) feel inferior and less than the other person. Of course no one would say anything (I hope), but suppressing the inner jerk is harder to do that dealing with the curiosity so I opted for the black out. Currently I am trying to sell this idea to some classmates with limited success.

I have a good buddy that I ride into school with everyday and we always talk about tests and stuff. The oddest thing is that we seem to have virtually the same grade on everything. We both suck at Biochem and operative dentistry (sorry Chad). We both pull the same grades in Anatomy and other classes. It is nice because there is really no competition going on and we can just enjoy being pals.

Family time is another area that Dental school has made me focus on. Christine and I have made the choice that Sunday will not be a study day, but will be family time. This has been a fabulous choice, and the Sabbath is becoming my favorite day. I love being with Christine, she helps out SO much and she is my best friend. Brendan is my comic relief. I love coming home and playing with him and taking him to the playground. I also put him down every night, a job I love.

So that is what is going on with Jason. Laters.

I just had to!

When I took Brendan shopping the other day I ran across a rack of toddler clothes on sale. I found this shirt and I HAD to get it for him. He can be a real pill. Today he almost put his crayon in the boiling water I had going for dinner. Yummy. Purple mashed potatoes. I guess I should count my blessings that he only colors on paper (for now).
I also got one that says, "I Do All My Own Stunts", which describes Brendan perfectly.



I had my first Cub Scout meeting tonight and I think it went pretty well. We just played games and reviewed the Cub Scout motto, promise and handshake. I have some different personalities in the group, but it is nice to see how they mesh. They are active but sweet. We had lots of fun.

Labor Day, literally

Don't worry. It was not I who went into labor, but my little sister who was overdue and so desperate that she went on an 8 mile walk. Still she was technically in labor for 31 hours. However, she triumphantly tells me that it took only 7 minutes of pushing. She is a tough cookie! So, my newest nephew, Dane Fairbanks, was born at 6:24 am on Labor Day, which also happens to be his daddy's birthday.

We were at my parents for Labor Day weekend when my mom gets the call that Amanda has started to feel labor pains. So we wait for another call. She calls the next day to say that she is still in labor but the contractions aren't close enough to go to the hospital yet (she lives and hour away from the hospital). Finally, the next morning, we get the call that she had just given birth to a beautiful boy who looks just like his older brother. I am so excited to see them at the end of the month. I love being an auntie!
Labor Day weekend was pretty fun all around. We played at the coolest playground, Caper Acres in Chico, with some family friends. Brendan had a blast. There are about five play areas for progressive age levels and Brendan tested every one.



It was so hot (over 100) that I was glad when we retired for a picnic. Jason also went thrifting and found some excellent new polyester ties along with my brother, Thomas, who was also visiting for the weekend. We watched a movie later that night and the boys went to play Halo. I slept. :)
There was no nursery leader the next day at church so Jason, Thomas and I watched 9 toddlers. It was kind of fun but I was worn out by the end. We had a family BBQ that night and my sister, Amber, and her family came so I got to play with my little niece, Hailey. She has the best giggle ever!

We left early on Monday morning so Jason could get home and study. Sigh. But it was a fun weekend and nice to have some family time. I always consider the sit-down chats the best part of any family gathering. Brendan has a new name for his grandpa (my dad). To get him to laugh my dad would say, "Blah, blah!" in a funny voice. Now his name is Blah-blah. Oh well, he started it.