Are you kidding me?

Alexandra's new thing is to push cousin Bentley around in her stroller, with my shoes on, with a purse slung over her shoulder or hung on one of the stroller handles. She thinks she is so big - she really is growing up fast. It's bitter sweet to think of her as a big sister, because she is my baby! Did anyone else feel like that with baby #2 on the way? Anyway, she walks around the house pretending (with any object) that she's on the phone saying "what?" and then followed by other words and some jibber. Two days ago I heard her playing with her toys downstairs saying "Are you kidding me?". I had to laugh. I say that when I am frustrated or think some person is an idiot on the road and instead of using some euphimism, I say "are you kidding me?". It is the cutest thing ever to hear her say it! I need to get it on video and post it.

MM - Childhood Phases

Who out there hasn't had an "ugly phase"? Or the "gawky" years? Has anyone had a FEW phases? Oh, don't worry I have and I'm going to show them to you! Although, I have to do them one phase at a time or otherwise my esteem might take a big hit! So here's me in 1st grade, cute huh? Yep, I did start off looking cute and then.....

I decided to get a haircut in 4th grade, I told the stupid super cuts girl to cut it in a bob, like Dorothy Hamil's hair. Well, she gave me this.....and thus began the ugly years!!! Oh, and I started chunking out for some reason, probably ate too many twinkies!
Then, I was still looking not-so-cute in 7th grade! Do you love the chubby cheeks and braces? Not a good combo for anyone!!
Ok, then I blossomed and kinda slimmed out and got my braces off and here I am as a Sophmore and I'm sad to report this cute phase only lasted a year! I'll post Junior Year to post mission next time...you're gonna love 'em!
I REALLY hope my kids don't go thru ugly phases, or atleast not multiple ones! It's tough enough being a kid and then to be teased for your cherubic cheeks, not fun!! Anyway, post if you dare some.... we'll call them "awkward" pics, it's fun to see the different phases of growing up.

To Induce or NOT to Induce.....

...that is my question! I had my doctor's appointment yesterday, I have 5 1/2 weeks to go and he was talking about scheduling an induction. I was induced with Alexandra, and had a really hard labor (throwing up, shakes, pushed 2 1/2 hrs, MAJOR bleeding) and my mom thinks it's from the pitocin. So, I am determined to let nature take it's course this time.

My question to you is, what are some SAFE methods you may have tried to get things going? No Castor Oil Please! My friends in my neighborhood have told me a couple of things that I didn't know you could do, one of which is nipple stimulation! (sorry to the men reading this, it's not an erotic thing)

I really don't want to be induced, I'm so afraid of bleeding to death and whether it was linked to the pitocin or not, I've told myself it is. I would like to have the baby 7-10 days early(I know, probably in my dreams!), so I need tips soon to get prepared.

Happy Blogging Anniversary to Me!

Just now, Chris was lurking around (and leaving comments) on people's blogs he knew from BYU and I asked him to check and see when we first started blogging. It was one year from TODAY!! Wow. Well, it's been so fun to stay in touch with friends and to find lost friends and spy on people I really don't want to stay in touch with, but am curious about their happenings. I feel I am getting better at blogging, keeping things interesting and really enjoying reading about all my family and friends lives. Thank you for all your comments and interest in The Kirkland Clan. Blogging has become a past time of mine, up there with exercise, shopping, eating, reading and loving my fam!

Monday Memoirs - The Single Life!

Many of you know that I got married a little later in life than most girls from Utah. I was 30 and was done being single and ready to move on with the next chapter of my life. I thoroughly loved the time I was single because I was able to do many things I might not have been able to do if I got married instead of serving a mission. I lived my single life up and had a great time. I never fretted about being older and single, I told myself I wasn't going to be one of those bitter 30 year old women that have a chip on their shoulder. Instead, I felt like I embraced my age, my marital status and made the best of the opportunities I was given. Here is a list of the top 10 things I did as a single person!

1. Backpacked thru Europe with my girlfriends for 3 weeks. Here's me getting kissed by Mateo, our Italian gondola driver....who I might add, did acost me later on and took me on a "private" ride and really did kiss me - much to my dismay!
2. I served as "Ma" on Pioneer Trek 4 times and loved each time I was out in the dirt and dust.
3. I volunteered at the Olympics, I was a Flower Girl, I presented flowers to the Long Track Speed skaters.

4. I went Skydiving in Maryland, a guy I was dating flew me out to DC where he was working and took me skydiving! Such an awesome experience, but I don't know if I'd do it again....especially since now I have a lot to lose. I can't find my action photos of it, I do have a video but here's me thinking I was pretty cool after I jumped and survived!
5. Went to NYC and DC another time with 2 girlfriends, just to visit my sister and shop. Then went back 2 years later with 2 of my sisters to visit and shop AGAIN! I love New York!

6. Went to the Sundance Film Festival, got my tire slashed by a local and had a movie star change it. Here I am with Kip Pardue, a.k.a Sunshine from 'Remember the Titans'. What a nice and down to earth actor!

7. Helped organize and execute the 4th of July Brighton Breakfast for...I think 4 or 5 years. Anyway, what a fun tradition it started my family doing each year.

8. Was able to go to many of my friends weddings out of state, including Charlene Goo and Cody Day's in Hawaii.
9. Hiked Mt. Timpanogos and lost my toenails!! I was wearing shoes that apparently were too small. Ouch!

10. Dated many guys, found out what I wanted in a husband and also what I didn't want, so when I met Chris, I knew pretty much immediately that he was a keeper.

Valentines

So, Chris here. I don't really post much on our blog. I tried to do this last night, but Mel just would not go to bed! So I slept on the couch to be sure I could get up without her noticing and finish. . .

Anyway - Happy Valentines! I just wanted Mel to know how much I love her! She makes our family so wonderful, and she makes our home and lives peaceful, loving, organized, and fresh. Melanie is always willing to help someone and give to someone if she can. I love that she has a strong desire to bless others. She makes dinner for new moms in the ward, watches people's kids, helps her family members, serves faithfully in church, remembers her friends, and loves entertaining. She's the perfect wife. I ran into her old stake president the other day, and he reminded me I was the luckiest guy in the world. That's what people think of Mel. I just love her so much, and appreciate everything she is and does. Happy Valentines Babe! Here are some of my favorite pics of Mel:

Librarian Mel. Grrr.

Summer Mel.

Runway Mel.

Daddy's little girl

I love this picture. If any of you know Alex, she doesn't cuddle nor does she fall asleep on anyone, except her daddy. Lately, she's been calling him "Cwris" or "Hun"....it makes me laugh. She'll yell down the stairs for him or yell for him around the house, obviously imitating me. But when she sees him, it's "Daddy"!

Monday Memoirs - The S.E.M

I thought that I would share my mission with you, I served in the Scotland Edinburgh Mission from 1996-1998. I know back in November I shared a little bit about my life before I left and the events that led up to it. To re-cap, I called off a wedding 10 days before because, well I knew in my heart that I wasn't making the right decision for me at that time in my life. I had always wanted to serve a mission and had turned my papers in - well, I had made it to my Stake President's office and told him I was in love. So his counsel to me was to wait and see what happens....and I got engaged. Well, with all the courage I could muster and of course the Lord directing me, I called it off and was in the MTC 3 months later.

The call to my bishop a few days after I had cancelled the big day:

Me: "Bishop, it's Mel, I need another set of mission papers, I've decided I'm going"

Bishop: " Well, you might want to call President Hanson, I think he saved them."

At my interview with Pres. Hanson he told me that he knew I'd go, he just couldn't intervene. Man, are they inspired or what! Anyway, within 10 days I had my call and I'm ashamed to admit, I thought it wasn't inspired because I really wanted to go some place warm and speak another language. Silly, I know! I learned shortly after I arrived in Scotland that I was supposed to be there. My trainer ended up being my 3rd cousin, our grandma's are 1st cousins. Our great great grandparents John and Ingaboirg Johnson were some of the first pioneers from Iceland to come over to Utah. We are kindred spirits and are still really close and loved serving together.
I have scrapbooked my pics with Regan and can't find my binder....so, this is a picture in our beautiful Mission Home with Sisters Peterson, Barney, me and D'Addeo. We call this a generation photie, yes a photie, that's what they call them in Scotland. Sister Barney (my 1st greenie) trained Sister Peterson at the same time I trained D'Addeo.
The first people I Golden Questioned on the street.... and ended up being the most lovely people, Denise got baptized about 3 years after I got home and George never joined - last I heard. They had been taught the discussions 30 years before by an Elder Stephen Spiers....I looked him up when I got home. I sent a letter to him thru Church Headquaters, he was stationed over in Germany when he received my letter. He was SO amazed that the Brett's remembered him and in fact, he is the one that baptized Denise some 30+ years after he taught her. Talk about sowing some good seeds. I was so happy I could be instrumental in her conversion. I loved my mission and served with some wonderful people that I love and adore and taught many people that I saw accept the gospel.

Distracted

Yesterday morning I while I was blogging, well, reading all your blogs I realized that Alex had left the office with a pen I had given her to draw with. It was only about 3 minutes, but really, 3 minutes is an eternity to a toddler. I walked into the family room to find this:

Now I realize the damage is pretty minimal considering all the time she had, but this was the 3rd time this week she had drawn on the sofa!!! The ironic thing is that last Saturday Chris and I were telling my mom how Alex isn't a destructive kid. I hope we didn't speak too soon! Thank goodness for micro-suede and Fels Napeth soap! She did however get one of these:
Little Stinker!!!

Happy Birthday Jo Jo!

This is my sister Joanna, today is her birthday and she's 28!! Oh and she's my SKINNY sister!!
She's been living in AZ for the last 3 years, she moved home last summer and lived with Chris and I for a few months, we loved having her around. Alex still yells down the stairs "Jo Jo". I tell her repeatedly that Aunt Jo Jo lives with Grandpa now. She loves her. She's single, so if you know of any GOOD, cute and normal guys, please feel free to set her up.

Love this picture, I think she was 2 or 3....You go girl, eat that cake!
When I was dating a guy back in 2002, he was working in DC and flew Jo and I out to play. This was taken at Gettysburg, we had fun together - even though she was 3rd wheel, it didn't seem like it.

Joanna is a fantastic Esthetician, she works at Tranquility Day Spa in the Olympus Hills Mall 801.272.8188, last month she gave me a pedicure for my b-day...I was in heaven. She does waxings, pedi's and mani's, facials and laser treatments. If you are looking for some services, you will love her!

Jo, thanks for being such a great sister, always loyal and supportive and understanding. You're beautiful inside and out! I love you!!

The Point

This morning I woke-up to 'The Little Mermaid' re-playing in my head....probably because for the last 4 days I've watched it 15 times! Alex is at that age where they are obsessed with a movie and have to watch it ALL the time! Ugghh!!

Yesterday while I was surfing other peoples blogs, I came across a girl who on every post had anywhere from 20-30+ comments! I commented to her how impressed I was with her loyal blogging friends, she replied that she posts ALOT and also makes ALOT of comments on other people's blogs.

To the point now. Do you remember when Ursula tells Ariel it's rude to lurk in doorways?? Well, it's the same with lurking on people's blogs and not leaving a comment.

Return the favor.

Heartsick

Last night was SUCH a disappointment. For all you political peeps, I too was glued to the t.v waiting for Mitt to win more states. I was at the gym for part of the night when they announced he won North Dakota and Minnesota....I started feeling optimistic. My dear friend Marisa and I were talking about what an idiot Huckabee is, (sorry to those who like him!) I really feel that people can't look past the Mormon thing, which is really sad. And for Huckabee to be SO against Mitt - people of faith should unite! Shame on Mike! He's a wolf in sheep's clothing. McCain will probably end up losing to Hillary and the thought of her in the White House pains my soul. Are people stupid?? She is NOT capable of running this country.

There might be some good news, hopefully in 4 years Romney will run and voters will realize that he really can save us from an economic downturn, the illegal immigrant problem, socialized medicine and increased TAXES!!! I hope I haven't offended anyone - thanks for hearing me rant on about things.

Blogapalooza

Can anyone tell me what Blogapalooza is? I know it's in March but how do I sign up? I looked online but couldn't find exact info on it.

UPDATE: It's on MAY 1st down at BYU during Women's Conference....with a newborn and perhaps a donut to sit on, I might have to pass this year, we'll see.

Hinckley Challenge

My friend Kelly sent this to me last weekend and I wanted to do it but with baby here in less than two months I wasn't sure I'd finish. Then I saw my friend Kara's blog and she has a tracker to show everyone her progress or how I look at it, way to keep me on the ball! So, I'm in. For those of you who don't know what it is click here: http://www.hinckleychallenge.com/

Monday Memoirs - Our Beginning

I've decided to start a new thing to document our past and to keep things interesting on the Kirkland blog. I thought I'd start with how we met and our wedding - seems like a good place to begin.


Chris and I met in July 2004 at my singles ward Moab trip that I was in charge of. He called me on the phone the morning we were leaving to see if he could still come. He was transitioning from DC to California and was staying with his parents for a month. He had some friends in my ward that invited him to Moab. I thought he sounded cute on the phone and told him to come introduce himself to me in the parking lot - which he did and my notions were confirmed. Well, we didn't hang out much in Moab but after the trip he started coming to our ward and sitting on my row at church. Then we started hanging out on the weekends party hopping. About mid Sept we went to the temple with our ward and I thought he mouthed something in the temple to me about how he wanted me! I know, I was thinking not the place to confess these things, but hey I'll take it. Because at this point I had a major crush on him and he NEVER flirted with me so I didn't think he was interested at all. Well, it was a misunderstanding - he never said anything like that. He got it out of me afterwards and just gave me a courtesy hug - man did I feel stupid! About two weeks later we kissed and about 3 weeks after that we knew we wanted to get married!

We got engaged at Thanksgiving and were married on March 25, 2005. President Boyd K. Packer married us, he is my in-laws next door neighbor. Our reception was at a stake center near my house, we hung 100's of lights and really transformed it into something beautiful. We served dinner and had a band for dancing, Chris and I took lessons for our first dance. It was magical.

The next day at 5am, we left for Mexico on our honeymoon. What sweet memories it all was! Last night I dreamt about Chris and when we first met, I am so lucky to have found him, we have a great marriage and really have so much fun together. He makes me laugh so hard!
I love you Christopher and each day I'm SO grateful I found you!!