Who, me?

As one of 12 children, I like attention. I do. But lately I'm feeling aw-shucksy. LDS Philanthropies is doing a feature on me.

Part of what they do is fundraise for scholarships. I was so blessed to get scholarships at BYU while I studied Broadcast Journalism, and they want to feature me now working in my field.

My uncle Howard works for them, so it was cool to see him when he came last week and took some pictures. Next week a videographer is coming to take video and interview me. I'm not used to being on this side of the camera and microphone! I'm usually the one doing the story. But I'm honored to help them, because of what those scholarships and BYU meant for me.

As Howard was preparing, he asked me a few questions about my experience at BYU. Here are some of those with my answers:

What was/were the biggest challenge(s) you had to overcome as a student at BYU?

My shyness, and my personal financial situtation. I applied for scholarships and Pell Grants before going to BYU, and re-applied every year after that. The day I moved to Provo to start Summer Term I got a student job on campus. I worked the entire time I was there, 20 hours a week while taking a full load of classes. (I worked for the first 3 years at the Harman Building/Conference Center, then my last year got a job as an editor for BYU NewsNet.)

The shyness I got over through the help of amazing freshmen year roommates who saw my potential and nourished it. They inspired me, encouraged me, and helped me come out of my shell. They saw things I was good at and helped me realize it, too.


How else did your college experience enrich your life?


It made me who I am today. I grew by leaps and bounds at BYU in my own self-worth and self-esteem. I found out who I was as a person, and realized God's love for me even more. I learned how to work hard, study hard, expand my horizons and have fun. I took ballroom dance classes, went to Spain on a study abroad in Spring 1999, and New York for my internship. I went to volleyball games. I went to the top of the Bell Tower. I stood on the sidelines of BYU Football games during Lavell Edwards last season for my Sports Broadcasting class. I met my "Best Friend Forever" in the newsroom of the Daily Universe and Newsnet.

When you think back about BYU, what is one of your fondest (non-football!) memories?

How to pick just one! Playing tag in the dark at the Marriott Center. The butterflies in my stomach waiting for my first live newscast ever. Watching International Ballroom Dance Competitions at the Marriott Center. Watching movies at the Wilk. Standing on top of the roof of the Harman Building to see the stars. Standing in La Plaza Real in Madrid (and all the other sights of Spain). Having Autumn peek over the computer at me in the newsroom in the Wilk and speak those encouraging words that changed my life. Sitting on the first row to hear President Hinckley speak. Sitting in the control room while ABC taped 20/20 with Barbara Walters. Writing a column for the Daily Universe and getting recognized on campus. Being praised in front of a roomfull of people when I was told I won the Earl J. Glade and Arch L. Madsen awards.


Please share your feelings about how your scholarships made your education possible.


I'm getting all teary-eyed thinking about this. Without those scholarships, I would not have been able to go to BYU. Who knows where I would be today. I wouldn't have found my passion for journalism and radio. And -- here's where the tears are coming -- most importantly, I may not have moved to Utah, therefore I wouldn't have met the love of my life and have my three darling children.

Awwwww

You know you want more pictures of this chubster!

Only, according to his 9 month stats, he's not so chubby. At 20 pounds 12 ounces, he's dipped to the 40-something percentile for weight. But the doctor says that's normal with breastfed babies and he's not at all concerned. In fact, he talked to me on and on yesterday about how the high fructose corn syrup in formula, juice and soda is leading to obesity among kids.

Anyhoo, Andrew is also getting taller. He's 29 inches long, according to the squirmy, kicking, rolling over-on-the-table measurement the nurse took of him.

He had his first flu shot, and is feeling better now after that fever-vomiting bug he caught this week (he just wanted to be held all the time, poor boy).

He has four teeth now that he keeps feeling with his tongue and fingers. I mean, how confusing is that? You wake up one morning with something sticking out in your mouth! He meeting his milestones of smiling and clapping and babbling and moving.

Speaking of moving, we love to track this caboose as it explores the house:

Go Mudcats

I'm late posting this picture, but congrats to the 2011 Tuesday night runners up! JB is on the back row. He's the tall blonde drink of water.

Max, Benny, Andrew and I only got to see him play a couple times because of bed time, but we are so proud of him. The basketball rec league he played in is also now done (next year, I swear the championship is OURS!).

Always moving more!

In just a week, Andrew is now zooming around the house on his hands and knees. He's determined, too. He also pulls himself up on stuff, and tried to cruise the furniture yesterday. I tried to stop him: "No, you will not be mobile yet! You will stay my baby!"

Those top two teeth finally popped through over the weekend, and he has been feeling them with his tongue and fingers ever since. He's sad this morning, though, and feverish. Maybe more teeth?

He also bit me again. Vampire baby.

Always moving

I took this video on September 7 of Andrew moving around the floor. He did the backwards thing for a while, but he's even better at forwards moving now. He goes up on his hands and knees and scootches forward, then does some sort of inch-worm thing. He's fast at it, too. Max and Benny will turn around for a second and then wham -- the baby is right there putting their toy or project in his mouth.

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Speaking of his mouth, it's getting full of teeth. His two bottom teeth I call the sharp pearls of terror, after he bit me while nursing 3 days in a row. My mom told me to flick him so I did. He cried and I cried, but he hasn't done it since.

Three teeth on top are just about bursting through. For a week or so now they have just been hovering beneath the surface. He hasn't been too happy about it. But not bad for 9 months old!

Dads and Kids

Max and Benny had a great time with JB at our ward's annual Dads and Kids campout.

The gathered wood:

Played hard:

And got pretty tuckered out waiting for those marshmallows to roast.

When they got home they told me all about seeing the stars and how dark it was, how cozy it was in the tent, and how much fun they had with the other kids. Max even stated, "We had funner than you, Momma."

But I had a fun time, too. I went to Target with the baby (one child is soooo easy at the store!), then met up with some of the other moms for a game night. I laughed so hard as we played "Time's Up" and "Outburst." I may have been accused of trying to cheat...I do have a tendency to blurt out whatever is on my mind at the time.....

Then on Saturday morning before the boys were home, I emceed at the KSL Book Festival at the U of U. I introduced some of Deseret Book's cookbook authors who were doing demonstrations. Andrew joined me on stage in the front pack and got tons of smiles and people tickling under his chin and his cheeks. I tell you, a baby is the best ice-breaker.

Sleepy

Benny is now down to maybe one or two official naps in his bed a week. It's usually on preschool days. The rest of the time he does a "quiet time" while young Drewbers and I are napping. Only it's not so quiet.

"Mommy? MOMMY! Can I play on your iphone?"

Many afternoons on our after-dinner walk (so around 5 PM), this is what happens:




I know, right?

(It reminds me so much of Max and Ben at this age 3 years ago. See for example this post about Max's naptime conversations and this post with a similar picture.)