My younger brother, Michael, a.k.a Pete, joined the U.S. Navy today. (Did you just get a pit in your stomach? 'Cause I did.) Yep, the U.S. Navy. He reports to Basic Training in Illinois in February for 8 weeks and then heads to Monterey, California for Linguistic Training for 18 months.

I have always admired those who serve in the military and work to keep our country safe. It's a whole different feeling when a family member is one of those people. Admiration is still involved, but so is worry. This is what Pete wants to do and I'm going to do my best to be supportive and happy. And I am happy...just nervous too, in the big-sister-nervous-for-her-little-brother sort of way. I'm not going to think about worst-case scenarios (I tend to do that a lot) because that's no way to live. Instead, I'm going to proudly support my brother and all those who willingly and selflessly serve our country.

Below is a picture right before my brother went into the MTC nearly four years ago.

It's official, I'm getting dumber.

Evidence:

Friday morning I was feeling extra productive. In fact, Seth asked if I was on meth. I made it to the grocery store by 8 am with baby. I did a big shopping trip and was getting excited about the meals I had planned for the week and the fact that I was going to be making my own baby food. I got to the check out and had all the groceries rung up and bagged. Went to pay...no wallet. Awesome.

This morning, I got to work a little earlier than usual. Usually when I get out of my car, I open the door, hit the lock button and get out. Today, I opened the door, hit lock, tossed my keys into my purse sitting on the passenger side, got out and closed the door. Um, yeah. So I was locked out of my car with nothing but my lunch in my hand.

I'm trying to save money. Saving money is a relatively new concept in my brain. It was introduced to me by my hub. Turns out I kinda like it. I like new clothes more and wish I could just have both, but still, I kinda like the idea have seeing positive numbers in my bank account. Not very big numbers, but positive nonetheless. This and this have been helping me to save pennies at the grocery store. I recommend them.

*photo from Flickr, in case you thought that was my manly, african american hand.

Okay, now I HAVE to learn to sew. I don't know this girl, but I KNOW that I love these outfits she makes her daughters. I need a sewing machine. RIGHT. NOW. And some cute little girls too.

captain bumski pants is here to save the day

He's 5 months old now folks. He's growing so fast and it makes me sad a little. He's laughing and giggling more, moving more, grabbing more, eating more, etc. We just love having this little boy in our lives.

Seth isn't much for tooting his own horn, so I'm gonna for him. He passed his Step 2 Boards. I know you've all been DYING to know, but it really is a huge relieve for Seth. He just found out he got one point higher than a girl that bugs the c*ap outta him and feels even more vindicated now. I thanked Seth for securing our future by really splurging on half price appetizers at Z'Tejas the other night. Way to go Seth. Toot toot!

Speaking of our future, Seth starts applying now for residencies and he's applying to like, a bazillion. We've spent many nights in the last month looking at real estate/things to do/typical weather/etc. in the places that he's applying. One night we were checking out Sioux Falls, SD. Hold on, don't get too jealous. I did a search of "Things to do in Sioux Falls" and the results came back with SIX. Yeah, six things to do in all of Sioux Falls. We talked about where ever we go we're going to have to do our best to have good attitudes. I'm really going to try, but please bless that we don't have to go to Sioux Falls. Please.

I need recommendations:

for 6 weeks worth of books to read while traveling

for a beginners digital SLR camera

for a place to buy cute, inexpensive, not cheesy, baby boy clothes

for a diet

for a solution to remove baby spit up from wool carpet

for a beginners sewing machine

any suggestions?

Last night was not my best moment. I cooked the toaster. I had just got home from work and was starting dinner. We have quite limited counter space in our smaller than small kitchen. The toaster is usually in a cupboard, but I had left it out in the morning after toasting my eggo blueberry waffles (really good with sliced strawberries). I moved the toaster off the burner I was going to use and turned the burner on. I thought it was the burner that my pan was on and I continued to think that until I saw smoke and smelled melted plastic. I had turned on the burner that the toaster was on. Did I mention that we already had one burner that didn't work? Well now we have two burners total. That's just great. I couldn't believe I had done it and felt pretty stupid because we all know that if Seth had done it I would've gotten way mad. Did he get mad? No. Because he's way nicer than me. Before he could say anything I said, "I KNOW! Don't tell me that if you had done it I would've been way mad, because I know that already!" Not my best moment.

Other things that I've done that I would have got mad at Seth for:
-Got a huge splotch of bleach on our comforter.
-Got grapefruit juices splatters on the wall by the couch and forgot to clean it.
-Throwing up in the car and paying over $100 to get it cleaned.
-Attempting to clean up baby puke and only making the carpet look worse.
-Breaking our car door handle. (So you had to roll down the window to let yourself out)



The list probably goes on and on, but that's all that come to mind. Moral of the story: Seth is nicer than me. (not really a newsflash)

Today I wish Taft was 6, only so I could dress him up like this:

or this

and I'll take one of her:

and her too:

photos courtesy of Crewcuts

Catalog (J Crew)

It's August 6th and do you know what that means? It means Seth's sister, Taft's Aunt Colie, finished her mission today. She was without a doubt one of the best missionary France has ever seen. Too bad I'm one of the worst sisters-in-law France has ever seen and I only wrote her like twice. It also means that I only have 19 working days left until I get to be home with my baby Taftman all day long. It also means that the B.F.E. (best fall ever) will be here before we know it. B.S.E. (best summer ever) was the summer that Seth and I dated. Pretty much whatever season it is, as long as it is filled with vacations, is the best one ever. I used to think I really just wanted a nice home, nice clothes, etc. and didn't really care about vacations. What. Ever. I want vacations, I NEED vacations. I think Seth has really rubbed off on me. I save money now. Whaa?! I buy the cheapest version of whatever it is. I NEED vacations. I would like to live in Europe. I think it's weird when people say their grateful for the "moisture" in their prayers. I have to put vaseline on my lips at night. I think SoCal SoCool people are lame, you all are just like the rest of us except you have nice weather all the time, that doesn't make you cooler. No offense. One thing about Seth that has yet to rub off on me is the discipline to exercise. Maybe it will come with time, but probably not. I think the only thing about me that's rubbed off onto to Seth is that every once in a while he'll throw back a DDP with me. It's almost midnight and my baby has been asleep for almost two hours. It took forever to get him down tonight. I can't figure out why I haven't gone to sleep yet and why I am blogging, but I think it's because Seth is on-call at the hospital all night and I can't go to sleep by myself unless I watch Friends. I think I'm going to watch the one where Phoebe changes her name to Princess Consuela Banana Hammock. I love that one. Night.