Positive Thinking

It's been a while since I've put up a real post-- things have been a little crazy around here. I left my camera cord in Utah, so I also haven't been excited to post anything without pictures. But my brain is on overload from figuring out all the moving details, so I thought I would take some time to write about some of the good things going on to help dissipate the stress.

Sam and I are having so much fun with Bria. It has been so great to be back together, and we have also been having a great time being so close to the two of Sam's brothers who live out here, Marc and Matt. Bria is constantly saying new words, and one of her favorite things to say is "doggy," which applies to any animal or sound that could be coming from an animal. Bria is also having a blast with her cousins, and I think she is going to be pretty bored once we get into our own apartment.

Speaking of which, we're still looking for an apartment. We are getting pretty close to choosing one, and then I think I never want to move again. Finding housing has been so stressful. I'm going to admit something I never thought I would say: I have found myself actually missing Provo. The security and stability of living in a nice, inexpensive apartment in an area where I am comfortable sounds so very appealing right now. The options of places to live in and around D.C. are so endless, my brain is about to explode.

We have just a couple days left before we go back to Utah one last time. It's strange to think our real life is going to begin here in just a couple weeks. We can't wait! And then I can finally put some pictures up on the blog, and maybe even a video of Bria dancing, spinning in circles, or shouting "DOGGY! DOGGY! DOGGY!"

Finally!

It's official! We are moving to Washington D.C.! (well, probably northern Virginia, but whatever.)

Sam was offered a position as an assistant editor at National Geographic. Sam is finishing up his short-term contract at NatGeo next week, then we will have just enough time to head to Utah, pack up our stuff, then drive back out here for Sam to start his job next month. Today we drove around looking at apartments, and we'll keep looking all next week. If anyone has any pointers on finding housing, particularly in the DC area, we'd love your advice!

We are so excited to move out here and start this great new stage in our life. It's been a long-time coming, and we can't wait!

Four Years

When Sam and I started dating in March 2005, we saw each other every day until December 2006, when we were apart for one day. Over the last two and a half months, we have been apart more than we have been together. This summer has been really tough, but we have learned a lot. Even though we are apart on our anniversary this year, we've never felt more together.


Engagement pictures

Wedding Day: September 2, 2005


(Bria and I are off on a month-long vacation to visit my sister and brother in California and to visit Sam in Virginia. Wish me well on the six flights with a 16-month old this trip will entail. See you in October!)

And . . . apart again

Sam left this morning for Virginia, so Bria and I are readjusting to spending all our time together just the two of us. Thank goodness Bria was happy today, because I may or may not have been a little grumpy. That's allowed, right?
We had so much fun the last two weeks that Sam was home. Bria was Sam's little shadow: copying his every move, tackling him, tickling him, randomly giving him hugs. The first morning he was home, Bria couldn't stop giggling and snuggling him. It may have been the cutest thing I've ever seen.

So here is a marathon of pictures. In no particular order, here is a lot of what we did over the last two weeks.
Bria further solidified her love of all things tomato-based, including ketchup:
We went to a wedding reception:

Sam and Bria made faces:

Sam and Bria played on the computer. We soon learned that Bria freaks out when she sees the laptop because she wants to poke it and play with it and destroy it.


We went to one of our favorite restaurants, The Counter, where Bria tried optimistically tried a lemon:

And hated said lemon:

We went to the Discovery Gateway children's museum where Bria rode a fake horse and licked its saddle and I tried to ignore the germs:

And Sam and Bria sat in the fake helicopter while I warded off swarms of adolescent boys trying to kick Bria out of the said helicopter:

Bria loved the Sox:

Sam and I went on a date to see Julie & Julia:

Sam and Bria played bunny rabbits:

Bria played peek-a-boo with us in the car:

We went to IKEA, where Bria made Sam take her down this slide a million times until she tried to climb up it herself and slipped and hit her face:

And Bria walked through the entrance to the kids' section approximately one trillion times until we finally succeeded in distracting her with the annual IKEA crayfish festival.

Believe it or not, that's only some of what we did. We had to pack in a whole summer of activities into the two weeks. We really had such a fun time and we miss Sam already! We are planning a trip to see him, so the countdown for that should keep us pretty occupied.

Celebration

Tonight Sam and I drank some Virgil's to celebrate. Sam is headed back to D.C. for a temporary job at National Geographic for the next month.

Reunited

And it feels so good.

Our Swanky Digs

Our biggest thing to report is that Bria has a new favorite thing to say: "uh-oh!" She says it about everything, and it is probably the most adorable thing in the world. She's picking up a lot of new words, and mostly just trying to imitate sounds. She has been trying to figure out how to say cheese for weeks.

Also, I feel like our sleeping arrangements are pretty fancy. I mean, were it not for Bria's bed, I would never get to see faces like this:

Or this:

Bria sleeps in a port-a-crib in my closet, and it works incredibly well. Other than the occasional need for something in the closet while she's sleeping, or times when I've dropped something loudly in the room, it's gone swimmingly.
Here's Bria, in her grand chamber. And if you'll notice the hangers, those are only about 1/4 of what used to be there. When she fights a nap or wakes up, she likes to play with them and knock them down. You should see the pile of hangers on the floor behind the crib. Hmmm. Why have I just not moved all the hangers yet? I think that would be too easy. And we all know what happens when you take the easy route.

Also, last weekend, Bria had a run in with a chocolate-dipped fortune cookie.
You should've seen the cookie.