Big adventures with Small miracles

My Mom and Sister, Heidi, decided to come for a visit last minute! What a wonderful surprise! Lani (other sister), Lucy and I picked them up from the airport at 1:00 on Saturday. They were hoping to catch a live session of conference. I was very doubtful at this point without having tickets, but in the past we always managed to get some and my Mom was being very optimistic and that kind of spirit is just contagious! So we decided to give it a shot! We quickly drove to the conference center. We dropped Lani and Heidi off on a corner to beg people for extra tickets while Mom and I looked for parking. We tried to park in the conference parking without tickets, the guy asked if we had tickets and I replied "No we don't have any, but we are hoping to get some. Where would the best place to park without tickets be?" He smiled and answered "We will just pretend you have them" and let us drive ahead. I LOVE PEOPLE LIKE THAT! We get the call from Lani that they had found tickets from the first person they talked to. MIRACLES ALL OVER THE PLACE! Mom changed into her church clothes in the car, while Heidi just slipped her skirt on over her pants outside. Lani calls from outside the conference center and says "Everyone is running, I don't know why. You guys should probably hurry!" At 1:45 we start running to the conference center! I told my Mom to run ahead because I wasn't planning on attending (as I had Lucy with me) and I was really slowing things down with Lucy in her carrier, the diaper bag and blanket bag over my shoulders, plus a little basket to take pictures of Lucy in! (Ever looking for the perfect photography moment!) They made it! Yeah! What a typical Poppleton adventure! It all seemed crazy and like it would never work, yet it just did! I looked around for a good place to watch conference. In the past we just sat outside and listened, but it was cold and windy so I ducked into The Joseph Smith Research Building. After unpacking Lucy's gear and letting her roll around on the floor, the fire alarm went off! The message starts blasting "Please evacuate the building. This is an emergency." Hoping it was a false alarm, I was purposely moving slowly, until nice people saw the lone mother with a baby and ran to help me carry piles of stuff, because I ridiculously carry around photography props wherever I go(I didn't bring the stroller to leave room for my family's suitcases, although they packed so light I am sure we could have fit it all in!). ANOTHER MIRACLE! When we get outside I see the perfect setting for my latest photo sesh! Feeling like the fire alarm was meant to be just so I could evacuate and find this little piece of heaven, they tell everyone we can come back in the building. I declined an offer for help back inside from the nice man who had helped me out, explaining my upcoming photo shoot.

After I have just about got everything ready except for the subject, Lucy, in the prop, basket, an old gentleman walk by an says "let me help you," before I could decline, he had picked up my basket and diaper bag for me. I just couldn't crush his noble spirit and so I let him accompany me back into the building, secretly planning how I would sneakily escape back to my photo shoot. (Here was the spot I was standing when everyone kept asking me if they could help me. You just have to love Mormons at Conference! Note the sheer enjoyment on my face. This picture was too funny not to include!)

While trying to sneak back out I ran into a very kind woman in a wheel chair. She was just thrilled to meet Lucy and asked if she could hold her. She told me about her grandchildren and how she loved to sing "I am a Child of God" to them. I asked her if she would be so kind as to sing it to Lucy. Delighted, the cute woman sang the song to Lucy. It brought tears to my eyes to see such a sweet scene, and reflect on the power that song holds. Lucy truly is a little child of God and it is my precious job to lead her. I love people that notice the small miracles in life, and this woman truly recognized what a miracle children are. She hugged Lucy goodbye and I could see true joy in her eyes to hold a dear precious little child of God.

Little Child Of God

By this time conference was out so we looked for the family. We hooked up and then took adorable pictures of Lucy. She was very very exhausted, but still managed to give a few cute looks. Here is what we came up with:

Picking the Posies

Trying harder to pick the posies

I love this "not so thrilled" look with what she finally got after all that hard work to pick them

The people walking by were hilarious! Everyone was pointing and awing at Lucy. "Look at that little baby in the flowers" amidst other cries of "poor kid." Anyway we really created quite a scene!

The adventure wasn't over, as we headed up to Logan to visit Grandma Anna and Grandpa Russell. We watched conference with them on Sunday and then headed back to Provo. While passing through Draper, My Mom and I reminisced about a wedding reception we had gone too there up on the mountain somewhere. We both agreed it was the most beautiful house we had ever seen. Lani said "I want to see it" and then we were off on another adventure.

Miraculously, we found the house without instructions, just another typical Poppleton adventure! This time a new house was built a little higher on the hill that outdid our favorite house. For your enjoyment I thought I would give you a little preview of my future home that we will be building on the coast in Southern California:

Here is the right side of the house...

...And here is the left side! Yes both pictures are of the front of the same house!

Okay, this house is probably a little big for me, even in my dream land, but it was still too incredibly gorgeous not too share!

Here is the original house we were looking for:This house looks a little nicer than the first one because is has landscape, but you can just imagine what it will look like when it gets some landscaping too. I just love Cinderella spires. I just flip over them! Why? I guess at heart I just think my life is one big fairytale, full of small miracles like Lucy every day!

Little Ham

When Lucy was about 3 months someone asked me what I did when I was bored. I thought about it for a second and then answered that since Lucy was born I didn't feel like I had ever had a moment when I was bored. I was either taking care of her, or racing to get something done as soon as she fell asleep or sleeping myself! I am happy to say that on Saturday I finally felt bored and had to think of something to do. David was at a 10 hour CPR and First Aid course so it was just me and Lucy. As you can see we did a photo shoot! I think Lucy is actually learning to smile for the camera, because she wasn't exactly happy before I got it out and then she just got into a slap happy mood. She is really turning into quite the Little Ham! Anyway, I am glad to have figured out that one of my hobbies and favorite things to do when I am bored is take pictures of Lucy. It might sound pathetic, but Lucy loves it because I get really silly trying to make her laugh (so it is actually quality time) and then she has fun and we get some memories to keep forever! If there is one piece of advice I can give to soon to be parents it is: invest in a good camera!






"Hey guys don't laugh at me! I really am falling over."

"Just hug me already"
Little Angel.
"Whatever, Mom..."


Sunday night, Lani (my sister) and I did more photo shoots of Lucy because we put a cute little barrette in her hair and thought she looked really funny. I love hanging out with Lani because she is silly and loves to play with Lucy. She has great ideas for fun and enjoys taking pictures with Lucy and adoring them afterwards with me. One of the Neighborhood Mom's told me the other day that she asked her 5 year old daughter "I wonder what Lani is studying in school" and her daughter replied "I know she is studying how to have fun, because she is so much fun!" I thought that was adorable and totally just summed up what a wonderful person Lani is! She wasn't that far off because Lani is studying Elementary Education!
A little out of order, these pictures were from Saturday morning. I love them because she has such beautiful expressions , coupled by a "i just woke up" kind of look!

Okay, Okay, April Fools!

Okay, April Fools! No, I am not pregnant! David and I were just getting totally silly and carried away last night, after playing a million stupid jokes on each other, I just got out of hand and posted this April Fools Joke. I am really sorry if this played with anyone's emotions too strongly. I usually don't like jokes that play with emotions! I just thought it would be funny. Thanks for indulging me. As for the picture, I have always been able to stick it out pretty well and with a little back arch, plus a hand on top anyone can look a little pregnant! You all really helped my self esteem a lot by believing me, because the other night we were playing "Mafia" with some friends and I was dubbed the worst liar in the group. As soon as everyone opened their eyes they just knew if I was the killer. I always thought I was a good actress, but apparently I was a little out of practice! Thanks for helping me feel like I still have a few skills left!

That being said, who invented April Fools? It is definitely my favorite holiday ever! I have awesome memories of really really wild stories my Dad used to tell on April fools. One of my favorite stories included him getting stuck in quick sand on the way home from work. As a seven year old kid, I was on the edge of my seat asking "Daddy, how did you ever get out?"when we would realize it was April Fools and all join in chorus "April Fools!" Now at our house, David and I take it very seriously. In fact we play jokes on each other all April long and say April fools. Our first April fools David tied a rubber band on our water squirter on the sink and then asked me if I would get him a drink of water from the tap. I knew something was up because he usually just does things himself and he usually drinks water from the refrigerator, but I looked around and didn't see anything so he still got me! I was mad because it was actually 20 minutes until midnight on March 31 and I didn't think that was fair. Then being ruthless, I put Cool Aid powder on his towel so that when he got out of the shower the next morning he would put it on his skin and turn blue. I felt bad when he wiped his face first and got it in his eyes. I also put a bunch of pudding in his shoes, but after the towel episode he was too smart and checked his shoes.

Anyway, A very happy April to all of you! Please have some fun and play a joke on someone this month!

New News

Well, I just can't hold out any longer. I know it sounds crazy and you will probably be wondering what we were doing with a 4 month old child and not using Birth Control, (I really have no good excuse, I can't even say that I thought breastfeeding worked like BC because I have heard enough stories about it not working to know better!)but the exciting news is that I am pregnant... again! I am almost eleven weeks and couldn't hold out any longer. Last time I waited a lot longer before telling anyone, but this time I just feel silly not sharing my pain. Especially because I am definitely showing a lot earlier this time and I am paranoid that everyone is just thinking I am gaining weight. Last time I didn't start buying maternity clothes until 22 weeks! This time I am already feeling a little snug in my pants! I guess Lucy got me all stretched out. Luckily the morning sickness hasn't been quite as bad this time around. Last time I was down and out from about 6 weeks to 18 weeks. Of course, the first trimester isn't over so I will keep my fingers crossed! I am due November 19. Although, I know it is going to be crazy having my little ones so close together, I am excited have a growing family and hope having them so close will be worth it when they are the best of friends!
Here I am with my little 11 week belly. Last time I did a terrible job taking belly pictures at different stages, so I am trying to do better this time!

Icicles

Instead of complaining about the snow, like usual, I decided to be in a very positive mood and just be grateful that it would soon really be spring and that we got one more chance to enjoy the snow before it is gone for good!This is Lucy complaining about the snow, until I told her she had to be positive! (I love this expression!)

Saturday, the weather was beautiful, so I pruned the roses while Lucy played in her Pack n' Play that her Nanna got her! Contrast that day to:

Sunday, we awoke to a gorgeous an unexpected blanket of snow. It snowed all day! Every time I looked out the window it shocked me!

On the way to church I couldn't help singing:

"Spring had brought me such a nice surprise,
snow is falling right before my eyes!" (To the tune of Popcorn Popping)

Today it began to melt and vwalla:
I was very impressed by these icicles. I thought they were magnificent. I don't think the camera could capture how truly beautiful this whole icicle design was, but I tried. You will just have to use your imagination a little.
While examining these marvelous creations of nature, I was reminded of how beautiful the world really is. God is truly an artist!

The song in my heart today is "My Heavenly Father Loves Me"
which I will quote for your enjoyment:

"Whenever I hear the song of a bird
Or look at the blue, blue sky,
Whenever I feel the rain on my face
Or the wind as it rushes by,
Whenever I touch a velvet rose
Or walk by our lilac tree,
I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world
Heavenly Father created for me."

"He gave me my eyes that I might see
The color of butterfly wings.
He gave me my ears that I might hear
The magical sound of things.
He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:
I thank him reverently
For all his creations, of which I'm a part.
Yes, I know Heavenly Father loves me."

I took a little extra time to marvel at the world today. I love how Lucy listens to every noise she hears. The sound of birds has her so enthralled, while my weathered mind pretty much tunes them out. When Lucy feels the wind she always smiles. It is one of her favorite feelings. I wonder what she is thinking about when she feels it. Without her around, I would just as soon forget that it is there. It dawned on me that one of the reasons having children is part of the plan for happiness is because they make you so aware of the world and its wonders. They call your attention to the small things that they are noticing. You get to enjoy the wonderful new experiences they have with their eyes, ears, hands, and heart. This song above puts it so perfectly that we might "hear, The magical sound of things." To babies new sounds really are magical and if we listen closely, I believe we can also hear and feel how magical these small things in life are.(We saw this rainbow from our window last summer 2 days before Lucy was born and marveled)

Sometimes, I just get in such a rush to do everything I forget to look around and be still. I think we have been given the commandment to Be Still so that we might let that awe and wonder of this beautiful world, and all that Heavenly Father has done for us, overtake our spirits. One of my young women leaders, Paula Larsen, once said something about this that had a profound impact on me. She explained (I can't remember the exact wording, but something to this effect) that if the Lord had wanted to, she believed that he could have made the world black and white and we could still learn all the lessons we were put here on earth to learn, but he didn't. He made it in color. He made it in color that we might enjoy. That we might awe. That we might wonder. That we might imagine. That we might know that he is God when we look out upon all of his creations.

I would like to encourage everyone to take a little more time to be still.

As said is Psalm 46:10:

"Be still, and know that I am God."

PINA COLLADA

This is Me and Lucy on Easter trying out a sweet new "do" with her beautiful growing hair. The rest of this post has nothing to do with the picture, but posts are always better with pictures so enjoy!

Tuesday night I decided to be really creative with some left over coconut milk from a yummy dinner over the weekend. PINA COLLADAS!!! Yum. Those are my favorite! So I mixed Pineapple juice+ Coconut milk+banana+vanilla. It turned out decent, but something was just lacking, it didn't quite have the pina collada taste, but a decent smoothie. 1/2 hour later I decided to clean out the fridge and get all those yucky moldy things out that I had basically just been keeping in their because I didn't want to clean them and I was secretly hoping David would see them and say "Oh, moldy things in the fridge, I should clean these!" as husbands commonly do. As I begin, I see the coconut milk...uh oh! If that is the coconut milk, what did I put in the smoothies. It was something white and milkish. I think about it for a moment, and then I see the moldy leftover pumpkin from pumpkin pudding I made about 2 1/2 months ago (David and I kept joking we were just saving it and letting it grow for Lucy's science experiment in sixth grade, because neither of us ever wanted to take it out and clean it!) I mixed the pumpkin with evaporated milk for the pudding, and the stuff I put in the smoothies definitely could have been evaporated milk. I raced through my mind trying to think of something else I made with evaporated milk and I can't think of anything! That is really gross! I run out and tell David not to drink his second helping of smoothie, because I don't want him to die from super old food gross germs! I am still not really sure if that is what I put in the smoothies because if it was that old I would have thought it would taste and smell gross. Oh well, 2 days later we are still feeling okay! I guess we lucked out! David is still laughing over what I did, with that "what else can I say, that is my wife!" kind of grin! Just thought I would share one of my classic "blond" moments! Although my hair seems much darker since having Lucy, I guess your true color never fades from your personality! Wish me luck on my next Pina Collada session!

Lucy: the current low down

Lucy is starting to really move around. Last week she finally rolled from her back to her tummy. Today, she got really silly in the evening and just kept rolling back and forth. She also started scootching around on her back to try to get stuff. I don't know if she will ever crawl. Although she is strong enough to hold herself up if I put her in the crawly position, she doesn't like it. She would way rather walk around with my help. I am worried because I heard that if babies skip crawling a certain part of their brain doesn't develop and then later in life they don't have very good language skills. Sometimes while sitting she flings herself back trying to stand up. When she lays down, she does little crunches trying to get to the sitting position. Her favorite thing is when I hold her so her feet are touching the ground without her weight, she jumps and jiggs and giggles. What a funny girl!

I finally tried feeding Lucy solids again after her spit up episodes 2 weeks ago, this time I tried Oatmeal Cereal, which is what the doctor recommended. She didn't like it yesterday and she didn't like it today. I was wondering what was going on, because she is almost 7 months and is definitely showing all the signs of being ready for solids, but then doesn't want them. When I say she doesn't want them I mean, she opens up for the first bite and then locks her mouth for any future attempts.Then at dinner tonight she really looked like she wanted some of our food, like usual. David decided to give her a big slice of zucchini and just put it on her high chair tray to see what she did with it. Although it was too big for her to swallow or anything, she attacked it! She loved it and was really trying to eat it! She kept dropping it and really looking for it, and just munching away! She finally got a little chunk of it off and tried to swallow, which I anxiously pulled out of her mouth. So, I determined baby cereal is just gross and Lucy must have an elevated sense of taste, because let's be honest, have you ever tasted that stuff? Poor babies! Maybe tomorrow I will try pureed zucchini.

We went to a WIC appointment today and Lucy weighed in at 20 lbs! (I won't mention her height because it was shorter than her 6 month doctor's appointment. The method for measuring height on infants doesn't seem all that precise!) The shirt she has on is size 18 m and she wears size 4 diapers. Let's just say she is a chunk and I am loving it! I can't get enough of tickling her little sausage thighs. I hear once they start moving they lose some of their baby fat, so I am trying to eat it all up!

My favorite thing about Lucy right now is how she loves to sleep with the blanket completely covering her face (of course, I also get less sleep because I am constantly worried about her suffocating!) We finally stopped putting her in her straight jacket (swaddle) a few weeks ago because she was protesting, and she is loving her new freedom. I know you are supposed to leave the room so they can learn to go to sleep on their own, but I just love watching her fall asleep, so I usually stay. After I lay her in her crib, we play peekabo with her special blankey, I snuggle her and then she takes the blanket and puts it over face, off of the face, over the face, off of the face, while kicking her legs. When she is really tired it is adorable because she has so much energy and then after one minute she is completely still and asleep, with the blanket over her face. I always move the blanket so it isn't covering her mouth and nose and then while she is sleeping she just moves it back. Last night I did it about 5 times. I couldn't believe she just kept moving it back with her eyes closed and without fussing. Even if I put the blanket down around her waste she finds it and puts it over her face. So I just pray she will be able to breathe. Anyway, that is the current low down on the light of our lives!

FitcomXpo: Check this out!

This is a fitness conference that David signed up for and is really excited about. It is all the top latest greatest speakers in the Fitness industry, speaking at one online conference. It is roughly $1 per speaker which is a great deal, for what would usually be a conference costing hundreds of dollars, plus paying for an airplane ticket and a hotel. The live conference starts tomorrow, but I am sure you can still purchase the online lectures after they have been given. Click the icon above for more details or feel free to shoot David an email (david.pendergrass@gmail.com).

Follow Up Photo Shoot

These are Lucy's Post Nap Easter pictures. Too bad I was too lazy to put back on the yellow dress that Nanna gave her, because I think the extra colors really made the pictures gorgeous! If only we could cut and paste all of our favorite things about pictures for the absolutely perfect shot...oh well, I guess that is what gives the professionals a job.



I love when Lucy does silly tongue pictures. It really shows off her personality. She is so silly!
I included this photo so you could see how beautiful this flower garland is. My neighbor let me borrow it. It turned out to be the perfect thing, even better than my original idea of bunny ears, which I am sure would have been much more tacky!
After finally realizing that Lucy didn't like sitting in the basket and there was no way I was getting a smile out of her in it, I took her out for a few full gum Lucy smiles!

I guess since we are posting this after Easter I will just say...Happy Spring!

Happy Easter!

Here is Lucy just wishing you a Happy Easter!