Dorothy Kate Porter

7 am...bright and early. Ready to rock n' roll.I delivered Dot 8 hours later. She was 5 lbs 14 oz and 17.5 inches long. (I recommend having a 5 lb baby to everyone.) She is SO tiny and loveable. She has two dimples, a pouty bottom lip, and is my favorite baby girl so far! It amazes me how perfect she is. Brody LOVED her. Everytime he walked into the room he said, "Where's the baby?" Then he told the doctor that he needed to fix her belly button because it "hurt baby dorothy." He gave kisses and was soft- for the most part.Trace was so excited and loves his girls so much. (Note: this is pre-shower)After getting cleaned up...her AND me. Is it just me or is the shower after delivery pretty much the best thing ever? I can't say it enough...she is DARLING. Absolutely darling.

She did her hands like this all by herself. Just makes me realize that she comes from a very special place. One proud Poppi and Dot in her "come-home-clothes". Nanna and Grandpa bought the smallest outfit they could find and it still was a little big.

As for recovery...I am feeling great. My husband has been so sweet to me. My mom and dad have pampered me, kept Brody entertained, fed me, done my laundry, and cleaned my house. To say the least- I've been very well taken care of.

I am so excited to have a girl. Bring on the fingernail painting, hair-cuts, earings, PINK, dolls, hair ribbons, and all that fun girly stuff.

the boys...

When I was in Arizona for my baby shower I TRIED to get pictures of these two (too) cute boys. One boy was more interested in the white PVC pipe and the other was more interested in the other boy with the PVC pipe.

I always tell Danica that I hope my baby girl is as half as pretty as her baby Cole. He is so delicious....his eyes, eyelashes, chubby cheeks, baby-boobs, squishy arms and legs, and ALL his hair....yummo. Just a DELICIOUS little boy.

(The other boy with the red hair that was more interested in the PVC pipe is also quite cute....and hilarious...but you'd expect me to say that.)

Graduation 2010

I GRADUATED! Yahoo for me.

I dare you to find me... Funny story: As I was preparing to give the Dean a handshake, for some reason my vision was distorted and I as I reached my hand out I missed his hand and hit him in the stomach. I laughed, cause I didn't know what else to do. Luckily he laughed too. Then we turned and smiled for the camera. I'm not going to lie...it was a bit awkward.

Proof that a mom, wife, and working lady can actually graduate. (not to brag...but with honors and stuff.) My support crew: I honestly couldn't have done it without them. They both made me laugh and kept me sain. They both knew that when I was doing homework it was best to be quiet and stand clear. They both knew that I loved hanging out with them more than school...even though school took up a lot of time. And they KNOW that I love them very mucho!! My mom, Danica, Poppa Lon, Toni, and Olivia all drove up from Arizona to come and show their support. I love them all very much. Another funny story: The Porter's made it to the very end of the ceremony...but then had to leave to go get our table reservation at Tucano's. Then later that day I was telling Toni thanks for coming up and how much I appreciated it. Then she said, "Well I wouldn't have missed it for the world." Then Olivia says, "Mom, we DID miss it!" We all got a kick out of that.

It was quite the journey and I am definately glad that I did it. After all, a lot of people go to college for 7 years!! (True, most are DOCTORS and make at least 6 times what a PE teacher will make...but I'm done...and that's what matters.)

Ohiopyle, PA

We decided that we needed to get out of the city for sanity's sake so we got in the car and drove. About an hour later...this is where we ended up. This was a little trail that we hiked down.

This is Cucumber Falls. Lovely.This is the little boy that just LOVES bugs and creepy, crawly things. He spotted this catepillar all by himself and he was very proud of it.This is Ohiopyle Falls. I read a little bit about the history and it went something like this....

These falls have a long history. It dates back to when George Washington tried to find a place to cross the river. Then he saw that it was running to fast and thought, hmmmm....NO thanks, I choose life. Therefore, he crossed somewhere else. I also found out that it was called an Indian name like OXIIOWTWAIKA, which obviously means "falls that run and then cause erosion in the sandrock" (or something like that). Anyway- the history wasn't very interesting, BUT the falls were VERY pretty. 4 more weeks...or something like that. I messed with the coloring of the picture to make me look better than in real life.
We found this cool park. I first glanced at it and thought, "splinters, burned butt, and rust." However, it did not stop him from having fun. He's cute....no doubt there.

It was nice to get out and see the countryside. Very green and very pretty. We even stopped by a little country shop and had some ice cream. It was a nice and relaxing day, very enjoyable.

little boy vs. river

Flash back to...oh let's say 1986 or so. The time of parachute pants, Pound Puppdies, G.I. Joes, Jenga, and Jaws. Trace would be about 3 years old. Him and his family went on a little trip to Shevelon Crossing in Northern Arizona. Shevelon Crossing has a creek that sometimes runs down the canyon. As they were hiking along the river bed Trace slipped into the river. Heather, being the most mature (cause I've met her brothers a time or two), jumped in after him and pulled him out. As Trace was drying off on the side of the creek, he said, "If dere were a shawrk in dere, I'd be dead."

I tell this story to tell another story. Last weekend we went on a little family trip up American Fork Canyon. We got out to take some pictures. This is what I got...

Trace and Brody on a rock in the river.

All by himself...close call. (should have been a parental clue or something.)

Oh so big...all by himself. By the way, I just need to mention that putting Brody out on the little rock in the river all by himself was NOT my idea.

Then right after that picture he lost his balance and before I knew it, he was in the river.

"If dere were a shawrk in dere, I'd be dead!"

long awaited...

Not being able to blog is like having this constant nag....alright "nagging" is a little rough of a term, but it's like having this TO-DO in the back of my mind that I just can't cross off. For so long I was a proficient blog-updater. Then student teaching took over and the only reason I wanted to get on the computer was to construct my lesson plans and then be done. I did not want or need one more ounce of internet/computer usage in my life. My blog definately got put on the back burner.
True- there are many instances that happened and I thought- that would be awesome to put on the blog. Now, those stories are forever lost to the public because I did not blog them. Sad, sad.
Anyway, life without a blog does go on.

BUT: Here I am in Pittsburgh, PA and I don't have internet yet. The only connection to the outside world (besides my phone) is coming down the the clubhouse, wrestling a two year old, and trying to email, blog, facebook, and connect to the outside once again. Needless to say- I don't make it down to the clubhouse very often. However, we are getting the internet soon. I look forward to it.

As far as PITT. Things are going well. I really enjoy being a "stay at home" mom thus far. Here are a few funny/interesting things that have happened:

1. On the third night here Brody kept saying, "I wanna go back to Utah." When we asked him why he said, "Cuz there is a TV there." :)
2. We went to Chucky Cheese the first day we were here to celebrate some birthdays...now I will never go a day without hearing, "Mommy, let's go to Chucky Cheeses."
3. Within the first 30 minutes we were here Brody managed to jump off a bed and bite through his entire bottom lip. Then the next day slammed his thumb in a door and took a big chunk of flesh off. Then the next day at the park fell off a table and scabbed his forehead...again. He kind of looked like I dragged him behind the car on the way to Pittsburgh. (I didn't.) I am constantly telling him to "be careful" but he doesn't seem to understand that concept yet.
4. His aunt Lonna let him borrow a superman cape. When he puts in on he looks like Nacho Libre...and I'm totally inclined to start speaking with a Mexican accent.
5. I graduated.
6. I thought my days would consist of reading books, lounging by the pool, and playing with Brody. (I didn't even pack a real jacket). However, I should have checked the weather channel before coming and realized that it is quite chilly here still and the pool isn't even open. My days still consist of reading...just not by the pool.
7. I am also starting to realize that I may have ADD or ADHD because I find it hard to sit still and am constantly trying to think of fun, inexpensive things to do.

That's about all I got so far. Hopefully the cable dude comes today and hooks my life back up.

goofy golf

We took Brody to Kangaroo Zoo. He tried to ride the tiger.

I have blonde hair now. It's interesting....different....way different.

Last week of student teaching = next week.
Graduation = April 30th
Moving to Pitt = May 1st

Lots of changes happening around here.

* Forgot to mention baby girl = June 18th (induce date)

a trip to the park (in pictures)

* see footnote...




* what's wrong with this picture? little boy in splits and grandparents smiling and having a grand ol' time. :) hilarious.

Arizona easter

Nanna and Gampa did a little early easter "surprise" for Brody. He loved it...and so did they.

We did an easter egg hunt.

Tried to open eggs.


and then checked out all the loot.


"tank you Nanna n Gampa. I wove you wots!"- Brody

Sun bound...

We took a road trip down here....

to visit family AND go to this event...

It was amazing...

Trace got some good pictures of the cheerleaders and I got some pictures of the players. (pictures of cheerleaders were deleted.)


We had a grand time watching them eliminate the Jazz.