Shout out to the Sista!

(Writers Note: I fully realize that there really aren't any pictures featuring solely Heather. Please forgive me. She is pretty hot though.)

As you know, Heather, The Mother of Geese, won the contest guessing how much HAL cost. I promise, once again that this contest was not fixed, but, it is pretty fun to be able to write a post why I like Heather. I could probably go on for hours, but I've narrowed it down to 5.

1. Heather is really funny. Like the type of funny that you cry because you're laughing so hard. She is rarely funny purely at the expense of other people, but she isn't so uptight that she'll judge you if you are. Once, when Heather was pregnant with Max, we were watching Amelia do something silly, and Heather started laughing so hard that she peed her pants ALL over her family room floor. In fact, so much pee came out that she thought her water broke and went to the hospital. Nope. Just pee. So, maybe that was really MiaMia being funny, but Heather peed a lot, so that made her funny, too.

2. Heather is really pretty. She has a GORGEOUS smile, and her hair is FANTASTIC right how. She also has nice skin and pretty freckles. She may say she's a big booty mama, but I think she's smokin' hot. She is. And, she doesn't have saggy boobs after boobfeeding 3 kids. That's pretty impressive.

3. Heather is super creative. You name it, she does it. Whether it be creative ideas for parties, i.e (Season 2 season finale of So You Think You Can Dance, she had a party, and served Benji Burritos, served with Travis Tortillas, or something like that) Last week, when Brad went to London, she extreme home makeovered her house, and did all sorts of fun things that, in turn made me want to do all sorts of fun things to my house.

4. Heather is a really really really good cook. I feel like every time I go to her house, I'm eating her food. That's because she always has good food to eat. I always call her when I'm needing help making new things, because she knows how to do it. We went to Costco the other day, and she was feeling slightly guilty because she had fed her kids pizza two days in a row. I assured her that they probably will be ok, because they have healthy, delicious food the other 99.9% of the time.

5. Heather is an incredible mother. She rocks. Even God thinks so too. Her kids are so much fun, and are great to be around. They are REALLY good and non-picky eaters, which makes me like them even more! Heather bakes Abbie cookies every Tuesday/Wednesday, so she has fresh cookies to have after school. If there isn't a cookie, there's another type of snack. She gives my baby (Hal-a-licious) lots of hugs and kisses, and always knows what to do. In fact, she's such a good mom that the Church Educational System wanted to have her for 4 hours/week, and she teaches Seminary to handicapped kids, and they all love her too!

Lastly...oh wait, I know I'm only supposed to do 5...but Heather is a good friend. Now that I live down the street from her, I can't EVER imagine living further than 15 minutes away. She's my best friend, and has never treated me like the "pesky younger sister", despite our 9 1/2 year age difference. Heather is the cooler version of me, so if you know me, but don't know Heath, just imagine someone even better, and voila! There you have it.

Let's hear it for Heather!

Meet HAL. HAL has his first ear infection today. Mommy KNEW something just wasn't right with how restless/crabby/sad he's been, and it was confirmed at our special Dr. appointment in the after-hour clinic that he has an ear infection.

HAL wants to be just like his Uncle Rob, Cousin Abbie and Payton, and have all sorts of ear problems, so he's starting early.

HAL has spent his day screaming at his mama, not eating much, and now sleeping in his special bed on the couch. His mommy is VERY surprised that she was able to get up to answer the phone without him freaking out. HAL is very cute, and as such will be spoiled even more since he's sick. If he was old enough, I'd buy him Jamba juice and cut up his fruit JUST LIKE my mama used to do.

So, don't expect many smiling pictures for the next few days, but know that it's the most amazing thing you might ever see.

I swear it was as much a surprise to her....

So, it totally looks like I threw the contest, seeing who the winner was, but I SWEAR! I didn't tell a soul....

The grand total is currently at about $278,000, which makes HEATHER the winner!!

You're probably just as surprised as we are about it, but crap, almost 300k to have a baby....that's a lotta money!! If he would have required any surgeries, hands down it would have been above 500k, but I guess not. Stay tuned for a blog all about my sister Heather, and how she's soooo cool.

Let's get it straight though, all of you are SOOOOO cool, and I love my readers!

In other news: THE BOY SMILED TODAY!!! We were upstairs, and J was holding H, and he totally gave him this big, huge, goofy grin. Cutest thing ever. Once he decides to do it as often as his cousin Max, you better believe we'll have tons of pictures. Oh, and just you wait for his two Halloween costumes!!

Can You Put A Price on This Face???

Yes. Yes you can.

Contest: Guess how much this entire birthing/NICU process has cost the good ole' state of Utah.

Prize: An entire blog dedicated to YOU and how much I like you!

Deadline: Thursday, 5 pm, MST

What's cookin' Good Lookin??

So, for dinner this week, we're having:

Monday: Polenta with Bolegnese Sauce

Tuesday: Salmon with Peas and Roasted Potatoes

Wednesday: Panko Tilapia Tacos

Thursday: Pumpkin Soup with Crusty Cinnamon Sugar Bread

Friday: Bret's wedding, yay for free food!!

Saturday: Burgers and Homemade Fries

Sunday: TBD

Ok...

So, there's a LARGE part of me that wants to NOT update, seeing as 8 of you peeps haven't answered my questions... AHEM, Bro. Neff, Alli, Krista, Nor, Liz, Marisa, Cheryl, and someone else.... (sorry, I forgot, and I'm too lazy to exit out of this box to see)

So, last night J and I went on a REAL DATE with our good friends Becky and BJ Kirk. We used my Tucano's free birthday meal, and then went to the Haunted Forest and Manor in AF. It was GREAT!!! We were the first ones there, so we got NAILED, plus, people in front of us didn't ruin the scaries. It was also raining during the forest, which helped add to the creepy factor. I spent the entire time with my face in J's back so I wouldn't have to see anything that was actually trying to kill me. Somehow, the creepies always peg me as the weak one, and follow me and breathe on me. I don't know what it is...it must be the shrill shrieking scream that makes me hoarse that gives me away. One part REALLY startled Jason, and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time: Needless to say, he NAILED me in the face with his elbow. I thought he might have broken my nose, but luckily for me and my hot self, he didn't.

How's Operation: Rockin' Hot Mama going, you ask?? Well, it's going quite well!! This week I made a few delectable treats including: Apricot Stuffed Pork Loin with Mushroom Rice Pilaf, Spinach Chicken Spanikopita, and some other fun stuff. I went to the gym with Jason, and split open my C-Section scar. Rad, huh? Needless to say, It won't stop bleeding, and I'll probably need to visit Dr. Wold tomorrow. (BTW, he STILL thinks my name is Ann.) You'd think that any person who has seen me nakey should at least know my name. Que Sera, Sera.

HAL is doing pretty good. He still has a mean case of jaundice that just isn't going away. In fact, his coloring sucks right now. (He's a little green. Maybe Green with envy that his stinkin' cousin is so flipping huge!)

That's about it for now. I'm waiting for my lovah to get home from work. And by lovah, I really mean that mad who doesn't sleep in the same bed as me, and when he does, he's separated by a baby....waahhhh!)

Riddle me this...

This picture is me wanting to know all about you (almost two years ago, but inquisitive nonetheless)

So, friends. You've been linked. I figure if you've been linked you BETTER be reading me on a somewhat frequent basis, so just to make sure, I've got some questions for you. That, and I'm a really curious/nosey person, so, answer up!!

ALLI: What is the most awkward hairstyle someone has asked you to do? Have you ever really screwed up on someones hair? If so, how did you fix it??

AMANDA: What is your absolute favorite thing about being a new mom?

BRO NEFF: What crazy things are you and Steph Neff going to do once you're empty nesters?

CAITLIN: Where are you and Brig going to live permanately one day, and do you want to work in Interior Decorating forever, or once you have kids, will you stop?

CELIA: What is your quirkiest habit? Bonus points if you rat of the habits of your sisters, too.

CHERYL: Are you ever afraid of all of the places that you randomly go? Like when you went to Thailand or something ALONE, did you freak out? Or are you just really brave?

CUZ: What are you going to name your baby? If that is not allowed to answer, what would you have named him if he were a girl?

ELLIE: How long are you stuck on the Island for? Will you ever come back to the Mainland? How much longer does Mark have in the Army?

EMILY: I haven't heard any updates on you and Jason for a while. Please share.

ALI FLEGAL: What is your secret Mommy-indulgence?

KRISTA: Do you ever want to give one or both of your kids away? If so, how do you counteract that?

LIZ: What is your favorite part about being a firefighter's wife? Least favorite?

MARISA: Where has been the BEST place that you've visited so far? Do you and Rob get along while traveling, or is it sometimes too much TOGETHER time?

NOR: Are you ever going to tell us what happened with the Dean? Did he say that you're not allowed to talk about work? If so, is that even legal?

PAIGE: With all of this pregnancy talk that your sisters spout out, are you done having kids, or do you want more?

PAIGE FOTHERINGHAM: It's the fall now....what's the word on Project: Baby??

SARAH: What is the best part about being a newlywed?

HEIDI: What is your favorite memory of ME???

HEATHER: What is the best part about living close to me?

STEPHANIE: Was it hard to adjust to military life? Is Andrew going to be in forever?

ASHLEY: When are you FOR REAL going to meet my child? I need specifics here.

RACHEL: What is your most embarrassing moment? (Since I've known you)

All right, peeps, Answer up, or your risk being unlinked, and, in the words of Ellie: Unlinked=Unloved

One of these things is not like the other....

Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Max. Max was born on July 27. 12 days later, Max had a little cousin come to earth named HAL. HAL was very sick for a while, but he later got better. Today, Max and HAL actually played (sort of) for the first time.



More appropriately, their mothers played at their (mainly HAL's) expense. Their mothers are sisters, and have so very much fun playing, so we hope that they will grow up to be the best of friends, too.



Both Mommies spent plenty of time feeding their little boys, but ONE mommy must have been sneaking steriods into the mix. Either that, or ONE little boy wants to be anorexic. I'll let YOU determine which is which.

Needless to say, both babies are the cutest that money can buy!!

Fun to Read, a PAIN to post

A- Attached or single: Attached
B- Best Friends: Ashley, The NSC, my Sistas
C-Cake or Pie: I can always do a good pie (Apple- cold of course), Pumpkin, etc, but then I really like Chocolate Raspberry cake and the good ole' funfetti cake
D- Day of choice: Any day that Jason isn't working
E- Essential Item: Boppy
F- Favorite Color: Hot Pink, or Sage green
G- Gummi Bears or Worms: Worms. The bears have a tendency to hurt my jaw
H- Hometown: Danville, CA
I- Indulgence(s): Food, US Weekly, MTV, and sleeping
J- January or July: January. July is too flippin' hot
K- Kids: 1. Oh my, I can actually answer this now!
L-Life is Incomplete Without: Good food, friends, and family
M- Marriage Date: April 22, 2006
N- Number of Siblings: 1 brother, 2 sistas
O- Oranges or Apples: Apples. But I prefer pears or Peaches.
P- Phobias or Fears: Jason dying an untimely death, spiders in my bed or clothes, Hazen falling in the Oven while I'm cooking, and bridges
Q- Quotes: Don't be a Raisin, Vote for Anne Hazen
R- Reason To Smile: Heather's kids are hilarious. And my kid is really cute. And Jason and I are going on a date on Saturday.
S- Season: Fall or Spring. Least favorite? Probably Summer.
T- Tag Three +: ROB, Ashley, and Paige Fotheringham
U- Unknown Fact About Me: There's nothing that no one knows, but...uh, I lived in Russia, and had a Russian boyfriend who spoke like, 3 words of English
V- Vegetarian or Meat Eater: Meat Eater! Big time!
W- Worst Habit: Biting my nails. And sucking at cleaning
X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: Ultrasounds.
Y- Your Favorite Food: Fondue, Salmon, and Carmel/Chocolatey things
Z- Zodiac: Libra

He's a cryer.

We just got back from the Dr. because Hazen hasn't stopped crying for 24 hours, and we thought he was dying.


No. He's just a cryer. Heaven help me.

Operation: Rockin' Hot Mama

*The pictures are of the Boy and I after a walk, and the Pizza I made this week. (Proscuitto, Fresh Mozerrella and Olives on a homemade Sundried Tomato and Garlic sauce and a homemade dough. Yum!)

I apologize for not blogging this week. If you must know, which I suppose you do, I've been very busy with not only my baby, but Operation: Rockin' Hot Mama.

Living in Utah (which I love), I've noticed that it has its fair share of frumpy moms, but also really cute young moms. I refuse to fall into the category of the former, but prefer to stay with the latter. So, I introduce to you Operation: Rockin' Hot Mama. What is this? You may ask. This Operation has many different facets that extend beyond the obvious of being a total babe.

Physical: I've lost 19 lbs, and I have 14 to go. It's my goal to lose 8 of those by the end of the year, and the remaining 6 within the first 2 months of the new year. I think that it is a realistic goal, which is what we're all about here. To attain said goal, I've been going on walks with my boy at least once a day. I throw him in the Baby Bjorn, which he loves, and we stroll. Also, when Jason is home, I have been trying to go to the gym. Yesterday, I enjoyed 20 minutes of HARD intensity cardio without stopping. I felt pretty good about it. Thank you Timbaland and Mika for making said workout more enjoyable.

Mental: I want to learn new things. Right now, the thing that I'm concentrating on is learning new, fun recipes. The more complicated, the better. It's been such a treat to give the baby to Jason, throw on my IPOD, and dance the night away whilst I whip up some truly divine dish.

Spiritual: Good, Better, Best. How am I spending my time? That question right there is probably the best answer to why I haven't been blogging lately. I know that I can utilize my time a little bit better than I do, so I've been trying to do things that can help cultivate me a little more spiritually so I truly can be a Rockin' Hot Mama for my boy. We like to sing church songs together, and not a night goes by that we don't have family prayer (something we're really improving on)

Emotional: A happy mama, is a hot mama. That's what I want to be. I am trying to do the little things (take a shower, do my hair...yesterday I got the most amazing pedicure {you would approve, Nor} for only 13 bucks!!!) to make me happy. Even spending sometime scrapbooking so I feel productive certainly helps me to become a Rockin' Hot Mama.

So, everyone, join me on my journey. Before you know it, you'll be wishing you were a Rockin' Hot Mama, too!

Chocolate...or Child??

Teddington - chocolate tasting selection
Originally uploaded by waldopepper

My boy doesn't like chocolate. It makes him extraordinarily cranky, which is a crying shame because he really is a delightful baby. This is also a crying shame because I have never had stronger cravings for chocolate in my entire life.

So, do I do without the chocolate (and lose the last 14 lbs) and have a happy baby, or do I eat that dang piece of cake, and snuggle my unhappy baby? One would think that it would be a very easy decision, but I'll tell you...it's not as cut and dry as it might seem.

First Dr. Appt

We had our first Dr appt on Thursday. It was delightful. Well, actually it was a little stressful because carting all of his O2, his carrier, and then my crap around is fairly exhausting. Not to mention that the Dr office was hotter than Hades and my shoe broke halfway through, forcing me to walk around the office 1/2 barefoot. All other things considered, it was just fine. Jason was able to come with me, which was GREAT, because I have to go back on Tuesday alone, which I am dreading. It will not be an easy feat. Here are some pictures. His outfit was REALLY cute, but it was warmer than I thought outside, so he had to lose the jacket, because he was sweating.

He is still sleeping in our bed. When I asked the Dr what to do about that, he told me to get a bassinette. Thanks, Doc, you mean the one that I almost trip over every time I try to leave the room? Then, he told me to roll up a blanket and put in there.Thanks Doc, you mean the one that's already in there? He gave me about 5 other things to do, all things that we've BEEN doing, so, it looks like the boy and I are going to continue our sleepover. He's cute though, and doesn't snore too bad, so I'll let it be.

A report of my birthday

So, the birthday was pretty mellow, but good nonetheless. You might recognize a recurring theme in the pictures: Laziness and sleep! A special thanks to Heather for coming over in the morning and making Buttermilk Pancakes!!!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today, I've already been given the best present EVER! When Jason asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I told him, "Give me my baby, and we'll call it even". Jason delivered, and fulfilled his end of the bargain. Already today, my boy has given me the present of the year. After 3 nights of 2 hours sleep MAX, he went to bed at 11:30, woke up at 1:30, ate, and then didn't wake up again until 5:30. Ate, and then slept until 9. Seriously? It was amazing. Mind you, all of this sleeping was done in my bed in my arms, but hey, we both slept nonetheless, and I'm happy.

It's official

We officially have .2 friends who actually want to hang out with us now since we have a baby and such. I knew the inevitable was coming, but I won't lie. It's kind of a bummer. Come on people, procreate, so we can all be friends again.