I Love You 2010

I figured the blog could use a little face-lift. Something to perk it up . . . keep it fresh. What do you think? Do we like the dots?


So let me elaborate on my love of 2010. As you all know, our little mini-Dyer arrived on August 26, 2009. She weighed 6 lbs and was 20.5 inches long, (and is now up to 11.4 lbs and 24 ¼ inches).

Ever since she was born, my life has revolved around her. Partly because that's what I signed up for when I decided that I wanted to be a stay at home Mom, but mostly because she's a baby and babies let you know when they need you. I noticed pretty quick that they need you pretty much all the time. Sophia was so tiny when she was born, only 6 lbs. And she HATED to be any place other than in the arms of someone who was cuddling her. This meant that at night, she slept with Eric and I in our bed . . . sometimes ON TOP of me because if I moved to put her next to me, she would wake up . And for someone who used to never be able to sleep on her back, I got damn good at it.

Here's where the good start comes in. On January 2, Sophia slept for the entire night in her crib. (Can you hear the angels as they sing Hallelujah?) Sure, I had to get up twice to feed her . . . and a few times I had to go in and rub her back to let her know I was close by and that it was okay to fall back asleep. But she didn't end up back in our bed as she did so many other times when I attempted to leave her in her crib for the night. My will was strong, it was 2010 and I could do this!!

My next surge in serotonin arrived last night when Eric and I gave her her first bowl of rice cereal. She had one tablespoon mixed with breast milk, and when I tell you that she loved it, I'm just barely scratching the surface of how happy she was with it. She actually looked disappointed when she was finished! It was the most adorable thing I think I've ever seen. With every pink spoon full of that mushy concoction that made it into her little mouth, her tongue was doing the best it could maneuver it to where she could swallow it. The sounds were just as sweet, and it literally brought tears to my eyes to see her enjoying it so much.

And then she slept in her crib again.

Could one set of parents enjoy this much good fortune in such a limited time period? I felt like I was going to overdraft my parental bank account! Sweet Jesus, Mary, and Joseph . . . 2010 is off to a great start.

Baby Birthin' Class

Hi guys—we're at 35 weeks now. 2-4 more to go. I say 2-4 because I just learned that 37 weeks is considered full term. Sweet. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I want to kick Sophia out of my warm and comfy uterus before she's ready, but after last night's eye opening birth class, I see several advantages to having a smaller baby!

The class was both educational and seriously entertaining. We had so many funny people in it, (including the teacher), that it was a blast. They're 3 hours long, and we meet once a week for a month. So much of what I thought I knew about birth simply wasn't true! Take for example that when a woman has contractions, her uterus bears down with 120 pounds of pressure to lower the baby down, little by little, into the birth canal? Meaning, you don't have to “PUUUUSSSSHHHH” until the very end.

And that the whole reason why active labor takes as long as it does (between 12 and 18 hours) is so that our bodies have a chance to stretch naturally? How about the reason why women's feet swell during pregnancy is because our bodies instinctively know that we're about to go though the birthing process and lose a lot of blood. Our bodies wouldn't be able to produce blood as fast as it'll be needed, so it actually stores it in our extremities. Is that amazing or what?!

34 Weeks . . .A House for Lauren . . . and a Birthday for Chris

Six more weeks. 42 more days. Is that possible?! Now that I pause to think about it, I suppose it is. All the signs are there—starting with me feeling like I'm going to pop. Things like me growing out of some of my maternity clothes, the difficulty sleeping, the way that I need Eric to basically pull me off of our couch after watching TV at night are all the validation I need.


I have to say, these last couple of months have been the most enjoyable for me. I LOVE feeling her move! Once I feel the first indication of her doing her thing in there, I look down at myself and I'm amazed because most of the time now, I can actually SEE her move too. I didn't know that was going to happen! It's wild.


I'm also feeling more of the stereotypical pregnancy stuff now too—things like cravings. You guys would be amazed by how much pepperoni I put away on a daily basis. Just writing about it makes me want to throw my laptop off my lap and pull some out of my deli drawer in the refrigerator. It's just so delicious . . . that perfect mix of salty and spicy, the texture. Mmm. You want some too now, don't you?


The other thing I can't seem to get enough of is Spanish olives. I feel a little less bad about throwing down 10 to 15 a day of those because at least they have some dietary benefits, (I don't remember what they are now, but I did Google it and I recall being pleasantly surprised).



Here's me from a few weeks ago wearing one of my favorite maternity shirts . . . a gift from my sister while I was in NJ in May.



Speaking of my sister—she and Chris closed on their first house a few weeks ago and have been in HGTV mode ever since. Beside their frequent trips to Home Depot and Lowes, they're not doing much of anything except home improvements in their spare time. I can't wait to see how it turns out!



Today is said Chris's birthday—HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS! We love you!

Just another day in the dog park . . .

Well, sort of. Except, this time a dog actually walked over to me, and peed ON me.

You read that right. And it's true. I actually got urinated on at the dog park tonight by some big black dog. Fascinating, huh? Let me tell you the whole story . . .

It's like, 8:30 pm., and Eric is done with his work on the basement for the night, and we're trying to decide if we feel like doing anything before watching the movie we rented last night. Then, I look over at Dino, (our 2 ½ year old Aussie Shep/Blue Heeler mix) and decide that he could use a trip to his favorite place in the world, THE DOG PARK!!

So, we grab a plastic bag and his leash (for incidentals), get in the truck, and drive the mile over to his park. Maybe it was because the weather was so nice, but honestly, there were more dogs at this dog park then we've ever seen—parking was actually an issue for a couple of minutes! Of course, in the back seat Dino looks like he's about to go Cujo on us and jump through the window if we don't hurry up and let him out.

After finding a spot and letting Dino safely exit the car, I decide that I might be better off standing by this little bridge with railings in case any of the dogs have a thing for pregnant women and want to jump up on me. After all, I didn't want to create any “awkward situations” if one of them got too close to my unborn child.

About 10 minutes go by, and I'm just watching with a smile on my face as Dino runs around and plays with the other dogs. I imagine it's kind of like watching your kid play with the other kids on the playground—you get a happy feeling knowing that they're socializing well! As I enjoy the moment at hand, I notice I'm kind of in a daze . . . just watching the dogs, enjoying the first rain-free day in so many weeks . . . when all of a sudden, my foot feels really warm. Really warm. Kinda wet. Not bad, sort of like this warm, refreshing, water was being sprayed on it. So I look down, and I see this big black dog with his leg up. Pissing on my foot at first, and now it's traveling up my leg.

That didn't just happen . . . I didn't just get peed on. So I replay the whole scene in my head, and for some reason, it's VERY funny. It really is, isn't it? Of course I couldn't get mad at the dog, or the dog's owner—he was just trying to pee on the railing of the bridge, and I happened to be standing in his way.

Unfortunately for Dino, his trip got cut a little short. I think he understood though . . .

I post this because I want you to think of this the next time you're having a bad day. Just recall this story and think to yourself, “at least somebody else's dog didn't take a leak on me.” I guarantee you'll either feel better about your situation, or at the very least, get a little chuckle.

7 Months!!

Look who remembered how to post a blog entry! I know, right--it's about time. And it's not like I haven't had the opportunity, or had any exciting topics to update you on . . . just that I had a bout of "blognesia," (where one forgets they have a blog). It's very common in areas like the South, and parts of Mexico.

So! 7 months . . . 3rd trimester . . . Sophia is ALMOST HERE! And I just have to say, I'm basically obsessed with myself right now. All I can think about is this precious little baby growing inside me. I love to feel her move . . . I love knowing that she's developing a little personality in there. Like when I rest a book or a plate of food on my stomach, and she kicks against it as if to say, "hey, get that off of me!"

I love that I can take it easy, and rest when I need to for her. I love that the majority of the meals I eat are made at home, and are good for me (for her). I'm feeling so at peace and so blessed right now.

Speaking of blessed, have you ever gotten so excited over something you never really thought was too big of a deal? Like, a kitchen light maybe? Because honestly, I've been on cloud 9 ever since Eric rewired this new light for our kitchen yesterday—it makes the whole space look different! Warmer, more inviting . . . and of course, brighter! I mean, it wasn't like we were living by candle light before . . . (grabbing Tabasco out of the refrigerator instead of the Ketchup we had in mind) but since we redid our kitchen over a year ago, we've just been using our under cabinet lighting, and the lights above our sink. I'll tell ya. It's the little things. I'm convinced of it.

Okay—leaving you with a couple pictures of my pregnant self.

This one is from my last month's visit home to NJ--it's me and my adorable "little" sister, who's 3" taller than me standing on the porch of her condo development while her equally adorable (I mean tough and masculine) husband takes our picture. P.S. I HAD SUCH A GREAT VISIT! Everything was wonderful--seeing my family, eating all the foods from home I had been craving:

• Dunkin Donuts: decaf iced coffees, Boston cream and glazed donuts, egg sandwiches on croissants


• Steck's Deli at the Somerville Circle: garlic pickles. A lot of them.


• Rita's Italian Ice: Gelati, or custard.


• Frank's Pizza: Pizza with baked ziti on it . . . mmm.


• 25 Burgers: The #1. Your basic cheeseburger, but one of the best you'll ever have.


• And finally . . . my Dad's eggplant parmesan, and my Mom's meatloaf.

Here's me about a month ago--it's when I was just starting to feel her move. So far, it's my favorite part of being pregnant!

Shout out to the Uncrustable

Here's the thing--I love these sandwiches. I eat one everyday around 10:30 a.m. Today, I thought, for all the joy these perfect little treasures bring to my day, what can I do for the Uncrustable? (Enter: this blog entry). You guys have to get some!

Dusting off the blog . . .

Yikes--been kind of a long time since I posted anything, huh? As Eric and I say, that's crap salad. I loved our blog, and frankly, I miss it. I just need to get back in the habit of posting.

Okay . . . now that that's out of the way, I can update you on the last three months.

November brought another yummy Thanksgiving dinner at Eric's Mom's cabin in Garden Valley, ID. As was the case for the 3 prior, dinner was DELICIOUS! It was also the trip that I learned how to play chess during. I always wanted to learn, but I never knew anybody with a chess set. Eric found his from when he was a kid in a stash of toys that his Mom keeps for her grandkids, and the obsession began. I can't tell you how many games we played, and how much fun we had!

December was Eric's 41st birthday, and Christmas. Ahh. Christmas. We bought a lovely tree this year . . . one a bit more sparse than our prior holiday picks . . . and it turned out gorgeous. We were really able to see each of our decorations, and we wrapped it with beads and ribbon. It was so pretty! I'd even load a picture for you, if I wasn't so comfortable, propped up on a pillow in bed right now. See, the thing is, they're still in our digital camera (yes . . . embarassing). E and I spent a quiet Christmas Eve together watching movies, and wrapping last minute presents. The boys came over on Christmas Day around 11--dinner was Honey Baked Ham, mashed potatoes, and Eric's mom's recipe for these really good brussel sprouts. Everything came out delicious. Just talking about it is making me hungry. On the 27th, we packed up the boys and my favorite dog in the world, (our Dino), and headed back up to Eric's mom's cabin for 2 days. We met Eric's sister Teri, her girls, Sabrina and Annika, and her husband Mike there. Barbara made Cioppino, which has been a tradition for Eric's birthday ever since he can remember. The highlight for us was the hours we spent sledding--all the adults felt like they were 8 years old again! We all huddled together in the family room and opened our gifts to each other--it was so fun.

The next day, we were off to Donnelly, to Eric's Dad's cabin for the next 2 days. The skiiers of the family, (all but Eric's stepmom, Karen, and I) planned to spend a day at Brundage, the ski resort closest to the cabin. For the whole day, Karen and I just relaxed and envisioned all the great times everyone was having . . . then Eric's Dad came home, and very gently mentioned that, "something not so great happened." About 30 seconds pass, and Eric comes walking in with his right arm in a sling. That's my sweetie. He was helping Niko down the very first hill, and at the bottom, Niko's snowboard wedged under Eric's ski, and he fell directly on his right arm. The same arm he had dislocated 2 times before. This being his 3rd dislocation, he knew he'd have to go in for surgery.

Which brings us current--a little over a week ago, Eric went in for his shoulder repair, and is once again, on the mend. He's a good sport . . . he's in good spirits, and is happy to be healing.
So! To all of our friends and family, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year. We love you, and promise to not be so stingy with our posts in '09!

Happy September, Welcome Fall

I feel it already--that delightful chill in the morning air. Fall is almost here. And what a great summer it has been . . . Eric and I spent so much time outside, and on our bikes. I have to say, this was probably the most exercise I've gotten in YEARS. And I've been feeling so great . . . I might be inspired to not only purchase a gym membership to get me through winter, but actually use it. In previous years, I can't say they've ever been good for anything other than making me feel bad that I'm home on the couch instead of on the elliptical. We'll see . . . I'm still kicking that one around.

We spent Labor Day weekend at Eric's Mom's cabin in Idaho and it was beautiful. We even brought Dino, who was in his glory for 3 full days. The weather was just perfect. We went fishing, we saw a great little play at the local theater called, "Let's Murder Marsha,"and I finished my book. I've been reading, Rush Home Road by Lori Lansens, and I basically can't say enough about it.

My sister and Chris went to Niagra Falls with their friends and had a great time too--I'd write in more detail, but hey, this is The Dyer Enquirer . . . not the Coddington Chronicals. (Oh gees . . . I had to, okay?)

On that note--I'm going to wish you all a Happy Autumn, and lots of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

NJ Family Time

I love my family . . . and I have loved every moment of the past four days. Well, except this morning, when I dropped them off at the airport to fly home to New Jersey. See, on Sunday night my Mom, Dad, sister Lauren, and her husband Chris all came out for a visit. And Eric and I had THE BEST time with them. I mean, yeah, they're family and they're awesome, but I feel a bit beside myself by just how much happiness this visit brought to us all. I talked to my wonderful friend Leigh about it this morning . . . (about how I was basically sobbing like a baby from the airport back to my house). I was a little confused by how much sadness I felt from their leaving. Mostly because I go out to NJ all the time, (at least four times a year) and I'm hardly ever teary when I leave. I just know that that's part of the deal for right now. I've accepted it, and I've embraced my home in Salt Lake. Okay, so back to my talk with Leigh. She figured that it's probably because when I go out to NJ, I know life there--I know what's waiting for me, and I know what I'll do, etc. But having my sweet little family out here all together for the first time ever was a taste of what it could be like. It's like not knowing that somethings missing, not knowing to be lonely for something until you've experienced what life would be like with it.

Some of my favorite memories from the past four days would include us all making dinner in the new kitchen. All six of us . . . Eric grilled up the steaks, Chris made corn on the cob, my Mom and Dad made this fresh, delicious salad, I made artichoke and feta pasta, and my sister made this yummy dessert that was made of coconut, chocolate chips, pecans, and graham crackers. It all went on the table with a loaf of Italian bread. It was such a great meal, and such a great time.

Another great one was all of us going horse back riding at Snowbird. That was so fun! My horse's name was Willy, and my sister's horse was Mini. Strange thing about Mini was she has HUGE gas that day . . . cracked me up to the point I was afraid I was going to wet my pants.

I could go on and on . . we just had fun everywhere. We went to Spencer's for dinner one night and had a ball, (and a lot of red meat). I highly recommend the prime rib, and the dirty vodka martini.

And Lamb's--did you guys know that that's the oldest restaurant in SLC? Yup. Opened in 1919. Do you want to know how I know this? I learned it from the HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE tour we took around the downtown area after dinner that night. Here's us right before we went in the next morning for one of the best breakfasts I think I've ever had . . . could it have been the homemade sausage?

Here's us goofing off at Trolley Square in the Banana Republic. Hats are FUN. Alright, so like I said--I really could go on for quite a while. I'll close by saying that I feel extremely blessed. I just can't even express how much joy I have felt in my lifetime because of the family that I grew up in. Having Eric, and now Chris being official additions has made it even better. I love you all so much.

Summertime

Today is Thursday, and thanks to living in Utah, I'm writing this post from the comfort of my family room at 9 a.m. in the morning, (for my family and friends in NJ--this is possible because today is Utah's Independence Day, and everybody has off from work). Sweet.

I can't believe it's already July 24th! Two weekends ago Teri, Mike, Sabrina, and Annika spent some time here in SLC with us--it was so fun. Here's a great picture of Ethan and Niko with the girls up in Snowbird. That was such a fun day.

And now the countdown starts for my Mom, Dad, Lauren, and Chris to get out here--August 11 is when they arrive.

I also have to post this great picture of Niko--he's painting a rock here in our front yard while Eric mows the lawn. Niko just turned 7, and just lost his two front teeth. Very handsome!

Eric comes home tonight from his sales meeting in Orlando--it sounds like it was a great meeting. He got an award for "most innovative marketing initiatives," way to go baby! I realize that by posting this on our blog, I'm running the risk of embarassing him . . . but I think he'll get over it. (xoxoxo).

The boys are here now--they're awake and ready to start the day. We have some fun things on the agenda . . . we're going to get Ethan a new haircut. He wants something called a "faux hawk." I'll post a picture so that you can see what that ends up looking like. We'll also be taking a trip to R.E I. Dino (our dog) felt pretty strongly that Eric needed new sunglasses. I know this because he chewed them up into pieces the other night . . . sweet, thoughtful boy! Sheesh.

So after that, we'll grab some things at the market for a nice dinner . . . steak for the boys, fish for E and I, and some fresh corn on the cob. Yum. Okay--love you all, and hope you're enjoying the summertime.

Biker Chick?

Okay--so here's the thing. Before I met Eric, I was your basic East Coast inhabitant . . . didn't exercise all that much, and didn't really care to. Exercise was spending the day walking from store to store at the mall . . . and that was JUST FINE. Anyway, back to Eric. We started dating, and I realize that he's all into eating right, and biking, and running, and skiing . . . and golf? Yikes . . . I didn't really do any of that. But the longer we were together, I realized how very much fun it was to try all the stuff he was into, and what a good sport he was whenever it came to anything I wanted to do, (i.e. going shopping for purses, shoes, and make-up, enjoying a good chick-flick, etc.). And I found out that there are so many things that I enjoy that had he not brought them into my life, I'm not sure I would have found them so easily.

Take running for example--4 1/2 years ago, Eric helped me train for a half marathon, and I LOVED IT. I felt such a sense of accomplishment afterwards, it was so great.

And golf too! I like getting out there for 9 holes whenever I can. I have a set of clubs that are made out of graphite, and there so great to hit the ball with.

And biking . . . Eric started to build a bike for me before he got hurt, and finished it as he was healing. This bike has just meant so much to me. First because he chose all of the components to fit someone my size, but secondly because it gave him a sense of accomplishment when so much was difficult in his life. He would get so happy when another part would get here, and he'd be able to make more progress on it. It kept his mind busy, and it enabled him to feel like he was still himself in the midst of such uncertainty. Here's a picture:

Adorable, huh? I love it. I enjoy riding like I never thought I would. And it's absolutely amazing how fast hills become easier to climb, and you become faster. Very cool.

All that being said--I loathe skiing. I suppose I thought that after I lived here in Utah, that I would magically pick it up or something . . . that it was in the air here, because a bunch of you Utah folks can't seem to get enough. I've tried lessons, I've tried being open minded--and it's just not for me. I don't feel too bad about it though . . . I can still enjoy the hot chocolate and cheese burger at the lodge!

Happy Birthday Niko!

Niko turned 7 on May 21--I'll post a picture as soon as I can connect to our hard drive.

It's Official--Chris Coddington is in the HOUSE

Hi guys! I have so much to update you on--I'll start with the biggest news, and work my way through. SO! My little sister Lauren and her fiance Chris got married on May 24, in Flanders NJ. It was AWESOME. They've been dating for 8 years, and are just adorable.

Eric and I were both in the wedding, and we had such a great time. Like most weddings, I felt like it went by too fast . . . I didn't want it to end. I guess I got over it though, because I fell asleep on Eric's lap in the back of my Dad's car right after we left.

Anyway---Chris, Lauren, we love you guys. There has never been any doubt in our minds that you two will have a beautiful, happy, marriage. You've always been exactly what the other person has needed, and I know you'll continue to be just that.

The Turning Point

Guys . . . I just had to share the good news. This past weekend was huge for E. He had what he could only describe as "the turning point" in his recovery. On Sunday morning, he woke up and felt GREAT. Hardly any pain in his arm, wrist, or hand--and no need to take any medication for pain relief. The combination of the two meant that he was able to enjoy the first day since Easter without pain from his accident, or nausea from his medicine. We spent the whole day with the boys. It was sunny here with quite a chill in the air, so we went out to lunch and even to the park. It was just a really good day.

And today was great too--to celebrate 6 months as Mr. and Mrs. Dyer we went out to our favorite sushi restaurant, (Tsunami) and then to see 27 Dresses. Not bad, and totally got me in the mood for my sister's wedding coming up next month. (Note from Eric: Actually I have a different review of 27 Dresses. "Not good").

Very funny--I'll remember that the next time I find myself hiding behind a bag of popcorn while he's enjoying the next horror installment from Japan . . . in the meantime, I'll be grateful that Eric's back in both good health and quick wit.

6 Whole Months of Wedded Bliss

Do you guys know what today is? Yup. Exactly . . . today, Eric and I have been married for exactly six months. Happy Anniversary!!

Whoa. It's 11:56 p.m. I better post this, so that it chimes in as 4/21 and not 4/22 . . . that would sure be a travesty.

A Quick Update . . .

Hi guys--just wanted to let you know that Eric is doing really well. He had his first physical therapy appointment on Monday. In addition to giving him some exercises to do at home, they changed the dressing on his injury, and I'm happy to report that he's now sporting a fabulous all-black splint, (with matching black velcro straps). It's much more comfortable for him, and it's just plain cool. You should see how they made it! They took this soft, moist, black material out of a sunken heated storage unit in the counter and layed it over Eric's arm. They wanted his fingers at 30 degrees . . . so the physical therapist gently molded it over his hand, wrist, and arm until it hardened. At that point, they trimmed it so it only covered the top of him and added the velcro so it stays put. It's just the neatest thing . . . I'll post a picture soon.

And today is his first day back. He'll be going in for a half day, and taking it easy. Good Luck Sweetie!

Eric on the Mend

Boy oh boy . . . what a week.

As most of you know, Eric had an accident with an angle grinder while he was finishing up the demolition on the kitchen on Sunday night. He's on the mend right now, thanks to a great surgeon named Charlie Sullivan. Here's a picture:

He came highly recommended, and really took his time with Eric before the operation on Wednesday. Here's a picture of E before he got put back together:

He was in surgery for 2 hours, and Dr. Sullivan came out with the following news. After a full exploration of his injury, he discovered that Eric completely lacerated 4 tendons, (these were fully repaired), partially lacerated 3, (the first one was repaired to 75% of is original functionality, the second was repaired to 90% functionality, and the third was repaired to 50% of its functionality--which he quickly mentioned was okay, because there were two other tendons that could do the same job.



As for his nerves, he completely lacerated 2. He has numbness on the front of his first finger and thumb, and may or may not regain sensation--but has full mobility and use.



Here's Eric this morning:




On the road to recovery . . . I'll keep you all posted as to how things are going. The boys will be over today for the first time since the accident, and that'll be good for Eric to see them.

A weekend, a bridal shower and a demolished kitchen

I just got home last night from a nice long weekend spent in NJ with my Mom, Dad, sister, and soon-to-be brother-in-law. I had a GREAT time. Not that I ever need a reason to go home to spend time with family, but this past trip out was mainly to throw my sister her wedding shower . . . here's a picture of me and the other maids--they were awesome.

And here's my cute sister Lauren in her little hat made from all the bows off of all the gifts she got. She's awesome too.

Getting back to Salt Lake last night, and work this morning was easier then I thought it would be. It's so funny how quickly we fall back into our grooves.

Well, with the exception of walking into our kitchen . . . I think I told you all about our kitchen remodel we've been planning . . . and now it's REAL. Real, as in--we have no cabinets, and there's a nice, thick, protective coating of plaster dust on pretty much ever piece of furniture in our house. I have to make light of this situation starting now because Eric and I have both heard horror stories about how maddening having work done on your house can be. Nope. Not going to get to us though--all we see are granite counter tops, and brand new maple cabinets stained with a sweet mocha glaze. Yum.

I'll keep you all posted . . .

Happy Birthday Teri!

Happy Birthday to you T--Love from Eric, Lisa, Ethan, and Niko.

Here's Us.

As of October 21, 2007--Eric and Lisa Dyer.