Brigitte The Lion

Here is our wild animal in her costume. Better late than never :)

The Whole Scary Family

Brigitte the 'dog whisperer' . We should have just forgotten about the candy and knocked on houses with pets. She would have been THRILLED!

*On a random/depressing sidenote: Did you notice my hair is the same color as Brigittes costume? Frumpy mom syndrome I know. Dont worry, tomorrow I will be embracing my dark hair again...and saying farewell to my lion mane mullet!

I know this is random...

What are your favorite websites and why? What is bookmarked, where do you browse daily, what am I missing???? I feel like everyone is always talking about some great site they visit - and I am out of the loop! take pity on me and SHARE!

Halloween was splendid. I have no photos because they were taken on Gs work camera. So just picture Brigitte looking like herself, stuffed into a lion suit. No faux mane necessary :) She had a hoot running, and I do mean running from house to house. She stopped only to grab candy, say thank you, and maybe call over the dog or cat. People totally cracked up at her. I think it might have been her hair costume.

On a hilarious or slightly humiliating note - we got some trick or treaters this year, and a lady from my ward kindly remarked at me when I opened the door "WOW! You look good with a little weight put on you!" So there you have the baby update: I look fat. She was meaning it as a compliment (right? RIGHT?) but cmon. Thems fighting words with ANY pregnant girl. I just laughed about it. Ok, I cried inside, and then put on a sweatshirt.

Hope your halloween was great, and full of fat remarks too. If not just wait, all that candy you ate might catch up to you! (Dont make me be the only one!)

Brigitte Update

I am a TERRIBLE blog mother. I never post my cute slash educational play group pictures or even brag about my 15 month old's extensive vocabulary and motor skills! All of our time lately has been spent on being holed up in my disinfected house avoiding the swine flu and all people who might have or carry it. (If you or your dirty children fall into that category - our apologies. We still love you,

just not your germs :)

So, we havent done any major photoshoots lately (again, what kind of blogmother am I???) and Brigitte's fall/winter wardrobe makes me depressed with the ugly baby blues. She needs a big healthy trip to H&M ASAP if you ask me. But alas, here is an honest, non-shiny peek into our daily lives with our crazy girl:

What on earth is she doing you might ask? Well dont you worry - she is just crawling into the empty cupboards of the island in the kitchen. She likes to sit there and eat things she has stolen out of the pantry. Naughty things like chips (which she chokes on every time, and still - she wants to eat them!)

 I think she thinks she is hiding or something, like I cant see her. She is as wild as ever - and has the hair to prove it. Yes, that is natural, and No we dont style it that way. I have tried a number of remedies, but alas, her mischievous mullet is here to stay. I do kind of like the way Brigitte always looks as though she has just escaped a room full of staticky balloons, but that could just be a mothers love clouding my better beauty judgement....

I just cant help but be mystified at myself for giving birth to "Thing 3"

Shes a wild one. But we love her!

You want this....

I love this! Head over to Discount Queens to enter to win this 9x13 art print from BluLima. You haveprobably seen her work throughout the blogosphere - and wondered where that picture came from...well now you know!It can be shipped so dont worry if you dont live in Boise - if you win I will mail it to you! Also, blulima is offering a B1G1 free for all Discount Queens, so visit her SHOP on ETSY and pick out two prints for only $12!

Here is more of what she has available:

For Gabe

My poor husband. Seriously. Gabe, Im sorry. Your birthday was over 2 weeks ago, and here I am just barely getting around to celebrating you. Although, you must believe me- that in my heart I have been full of noble, wiferly feelings towards you this whole time, whilst anticipating  this very post.

And Sarah, if you read this, yes I copied you. But the shout out negates any wrongdoing on my part, so i consider myself absolved from any blogger sins. 


So without further ado: 33 stunning amazing possibly terrifying things about my 33 year old Hubby:

1. Gabe Beal - say it 5 times fast and tell me what YOU hear? Gotta love your name, it truly IS one of a kind.
2. When I met you and you introduced yourself all I could hear was 'farm' and 'Arco' before my brain shut off. But now - well, its gotta be the best most wholesome thing about you. I love a boy who can do manly outdoor activities in coveralls. Mostly because it means I dont have to do them!
3. It never ceases to amaze me that you can stand to brand cows and clip their horns -- but the slightest movement from a cat and you freeze in terror.
4. I've never met anyone that takes a mid-meal nap before - eat, rest, eat more. I like it.
5. I never knew that bringing a People magazine on our date to the Baseball game would fill you with so much rage. But honey, you knew I wasn't a man when you married me...
6. Thank goodness you like to travel. Even if it is to a town called Letha on a sunday night.
7. I appreciated that as a bachelor you enjoyed decorating your condo for the holidays. Very festive!
8. You had some pretty crazy boyfriends. I cant believe I ate out of the same pistachio jar as jeremy. I shudder.
9. Ive never met a person who knew such huge amounts of random sports trivia..but at the same time believed "Independency" to be a real word. Such as "I love my independency too much to get married"
10. You love football so much that I could cry. And often do...
11. I appreciate your love of good celebrity gossip.
12. Flexing. You love it. I think you think that I love it too. And other people.
13. You have never received a gift I have given you appropriately. There is no big thank you, i love it, you shouldn't have. There is a lot of I dont need this, this is gay, and why would i want that? And thus, you now know why you took yourself to Lowes and bought yourself a drill this year. You're welcome.
14. You love me even though I am a heartless, cold, unfeeling woman who hates being touched during sacrament meeting.
15. You keep Gandolfos in business, and I love that I can always bribe you with those sandwiches to take me on a lunch date!
16.  Even though you hated our honeymoon in Paris, you 'toughed it out' for me. merci
17.  Maybe my most favorite thing about you is the fact that you are not tight with money. If someone needs something, you get it for them. And when that someone is me, needing new jeans, well - you do what you have to do!
18. Im glad you like kids, especially our kid who looks and acts just like you. I think you love her more than me, which is just right!
19. I am very impressed with your teaching skills. The SS kids love you. (Clearly it is not based on your spelling)
20. Im glad you are handy with tools and can always hang a picture straight, or a huge 200 pound tv. whatever the job calls for.
21. You can stuff a crock pot on sunday like nobodies business. Even though I am always willing to cook you a frozen pizza.
22. Your calves ARE amazing. Even if Harts thighs give them a run for their money.
23. I appreciate that you care about having a Tan. Nothing makes me happier than seeing your swim trunks rolled up pool-side as high as they can go!
24. Im glad you almost married like, everyone I know. It makes for some great stories around the blog world, and who are we kidding - around my dinner table. Im glad you and my brother in law shared a common bond of being rejected by the same girl. what were the odds?
25. You take such great care of the hair you have left. As you explained to me - they are your sheep. You know them each by name.
26. Im pretty sure your favorite dessert is peach pie.
27.  Remember the time when our relationship nearly ended over "divorce chili" and the infamous cranberry sauce? Im still boycotting thanksgiving and all its evils.
28. You are weak sauce when it comes to our daughter. One peep and shes in our bed saying "hi mama, dada, baybee!" Her shoes also cost more than mine.
29. You + Mountain Dew = me ticked
30. I think it is hilarious that you will only watch certain movies during particular seasons of the year. For example, a few months ago I suggested watching "Rudy" to which you replied, "no, its not cold enough outside yet."
31. Your mother is the most hysterical woman I have ever met. You remind me of her every day when you shout out "oh my LANDS!" I still have no idea what that even means. Just a classic Beal term.
32. Thank you for teaching our daughter words like "TOUCHDOWN" and "AIRPLANE". I was going more for words like "PRETTY!" and "Shopping" but oh well.
33. You are the handsomest devil I know. And I know you agree :)

Love you,
wife + 2 kids

Gabes Life in Pictures:

You were born. Ahh cute.

You grew up feral on a farm

You learned early on to survive life in a big family (thats YOU in the dump truck)

In no time at all you had wooed the town of Arco, and some of its finest citizens. All hail the Prom King.

You served a faithful mission to the Canary Islands. (although some swear this is where you started to become 'worldy')

And when you got home, you began your marvelous 9 year stretch as the world's most eligible bachelor. Deep bromances were formed:

Quality time was spent "soul searching"

There were victories to celebrate...

Trips were taken....

And MORE trips (remember this was 9 whole years!)

Until FINALLY...you came upon the new girl at FHE and KNEW you could " maybe one day somehow kinda love her." (yes, that is an actual quote from somewhere around the 2 week mark in our relationship)

You charmed her with your awesome muscles and even more awesome fashion choices

                            

And so, after months of dedication and determination....you finally married the girl of your dreams. 

You had a dream wedding... and lived happily ever after:

For 1 year.

And then came Brigitte. And you realized that once again...you were in love.

You are thrilled to have a child that looks exactly like you.

And you have taught her some very bad habits that we are STILL trying to break...

But all in all, you are a very good Daddy. Who would do ANYTHING for his girls!

And you have the most Grateful wife EVER!

Happy Birthday Gabe

xoxoxo

what the???

ok, so I have 'fixed' my widget numerous times....only to see CHRIST'S name appear again and again claiming to be the parent of my child. Apparently Im in for a big surprise next spring when my 25% royalty child is born. Maybe it won't cry either.  I guess that explains my total lack of pregnancy symptoms. As my friend Jessie said though...HALLELUJAH!

A little update....

So not much going on around here. Just thought it was time for a little update. And just as an act of mercy I will forewarn you all that this post may create deep feelings of hatred towards me. Maybe a twinge of jealousy, but mostly pure hatred. Consider yourselves warned :)

Soooo.....I have had ZERO pregnancy symptoms! WHAT you say? But I cant deny it -Its true! I am currently one of the obnoxiously energetic, oh so thankful to be pregnant, annoyingly not puking pregnant girls (who I used to call big fat liars.)

But before you curse me with hideous hemorrhoids, a c-section, or a 12 pound baby....can I just say that this is my 5th pregnancy, and well, we have one baby - so you can do the math there. I am elated that this baby stuck around, and that I haven't been lying on the bathroom floor clutching a bottle of Zofran praying for death. Even with my miscarriages I was nauseas around 5 weeks, so this has been a double blessing of joy. An actual baby. With an actual heartbeat. And no actual repetitive vomiting. ITS A MIRACLE!!!!

I have been a little bit tired, but Brigitte naps like a champ so we both crash for 2-3 hours a day. Unfortunately without the morning sickness Ive had to be a little more careful about what Im eating, so as not to weigh 400 pounds before my 2nd trimester. But Id gladly give up Mcdonalds for this. Any day!  When I was pregnant with Brigitte I HAD to have 2 cheesburgers, fries, and coke on a regular basis. It was all that sounded good. I still threw it up most of the time, but in the moment it was sheer bliss!

Early on in this pregnancy I was downing gallons upon gallons of TANG. But not until I had eaten about a dozen deviled or hard boiled eggs. Disgusting I know. I would get up and boil eggs, mix a vat of tang and come upstairs to bed with my midnight snack. Poor Gabe, he partook out of pity so I didnt have to be disgusting alone. I think we ate two of those 5 dozen egg crates from costco. Soo shameful!

I think my good pregnancy luck actually must be attributed to the Progesterone my OB put me on to try to avoid another miscarriage. It must be curbing the nasty pregnancy hormones that usually make me such a *treat* to be around. Anyone else out there done the progesterone and had similar results? Its amazing, truly. Im thinking of going on it permanently :)

So today I had an OB appointment and we got to do a quick scan because my DR couldnt pick up the heartbeat yet with the doppler. Im too neurotic to wait another 4 weeks so he snuck me in for a quick ultrasound just so I wouldn't worry. It never ceases to amaze me that even this early on, the baby is completely formed (although shaped like a gummy bear) and able to move its arms and legs. It would probably creep me out if it wasn't so dang exciting!

Our big Scan will be on December 7th, so that will be when we can find out if its a boy or girl. We are pretty torn on if we are waiting for the surprise or not. Gabe had the idea to have Dr West write it down and we could open it on Christmas as a little present to ourselves. Waiting until Brigitte was born was the BEST surprise ever, but I almost feel the need to prepare more since this is #2 and I wont have the luxury of running out the door to buy it things whenever I want to. I dont know.....what to do? Did any of you wait to find out????

I have a picture of our little baby, but it looks creepy and alien and Im sure I am the only one who wants to see the inside of my uterus...so I wont post it.

On an unrelated side note  - my sweet husband celebrated his 33rd birthday this weekend. He's so fabulous that he deserves his own post, but I didn't want him to think I forgot :) So stay tuned for an ODE to GABE in the future. I know you all cant wait!