Dual Citizenship

So while Johnny was out of town, I decided it was about time to register the car and get a Texas driver's license. I had gotten the car inspected a week or so before, and I knew it was just a matter of time before someone pulled me over for not having it registered.

So I packed up the boy and went to the DMV. Luckily, it's pretty close, right by the library. Unluckily, it was cold and rainy. But the driver's license division was right next to the registration, so I thought, hey, I can get both in one trip. Simple, right?

Wrong! I walked into the driver's license place, saw the forms for new licenses, which I picked up to have ready, and looked around for someone to ask where the registrations were. I finally saw the sign and went down the hall, but as I was looking around the driver's license room, I remembered I didn't bring my social security card with me. Which was silly, I know, because I remember way back to when I got my first driver's license and had to sign my social security card that was all the documentation they required . . . and then I almost got into an accident on my way home (sorry Mom!). Good times . . .

Anyway, I knew I was going to have to go home. But what I failed to realize is that Texas is another country, so the normal documentation that people tell you to bring, the extra documentation that you bring just in case, the random documentation that is just with the extra documentation--is not going to be enough!!! Oh, no. You must make at least three trips out to your car and one trip home before you gather enough things to register your car.

Okay, so I did actually have everything in my car, but I knew I would need my social security card to get a driver's license, so I went home to get that and the title to our car just in case the "or" mentioned in the sentence, "You need your registration or your car title" was really a legal "or", which means "and". Basically, I didn't want to have to come home again.

So after three trips to my car and a trip home, I got my registration . . . finally. And they handed me the new plates right there. After charging me an extra $90 citizenship fee. What?!

After parting with my second to last check in my check book (because of course, they don't take Visa) for $180, the total fee to register my car and become a citizen, I went next door to the driver's license bureau. I had been told what they'd want to see, and after all, I now had my social security card, my Utah driver's license, all I'd need, right?

Wrong! I had forgotten yet again that Texas is a foreign country, so see a social security card and a driver's license from another state is not enough proof that I am a U.S. citizen. They also needed to see my passport.

Well, at this point, I'm pretty fed up with the DMV. So I decide to try another day. So, another day arrives, and I set out again for the DMV. Still cold, still rainy, only now, it's also busy. And the only parking space is in the middle of a big puddle. So I walk into the driver's license division with one very wet shoe, hauling a big heavy car seat and all the documentation I've been told to bring. I jump right in line because I've filled out the right form, and I already have everything. I took care this time to make sure I looked decent for a photograph, and I wait. I finally approach the counter. And, surprise, surprise, I don't have everything I need. I have to go out to the car. So, I leave my stuff at the counter, drag the heavy car seat back to the car, grab the document, pray that they won't surprise me with another requirement, and go back into the DMV. Take a lousy picture, pay them with my last check (cause they don't take any plastic), and leave.

Luckily, the people in line were nice. Several people opened the door for me during the whole multiple-day torture session. And I only said a handful of bad words in my head. Welcome to Texas. Hello dual citizenship.

Happy Anniversary to me

Well, my parents were in town last week, and we had lots of fun driving out to Fort Worth, spending time with my grandma, and going to the gardens. So much fun, that I forgot my camera. Don't worry, I kicked myself every time we got out of the car.

They came to our house for the end of their trip and we got to finish our guest room. It looks so much bigger without all the cardboard in there . . . Anyway, since it was our anniversary weekend, Mom and Dad watched the little boy while we went out and celebrated. It was my year to plan, so I picked a nice restaurant fairly close to Johnny's work. It turned out to be the poshy-est place we've eaten at yet (but not the most expensive). It was a Mediterranean restaurant named Canary.
I think it's pretty new. The chef has been on cooking shows and is known for his work with pomegranates, apparently. We were the only ones in the restaurant when we arrived, so we got a lot of attention. Not only did we get bread and yummy seasoned olive oil, but we also got a pallet-cleansing drink made of carrot juice, orange juice, and pomegranate seeds on the bottom. It was very refreshing. Then we had quail, shrimp, catfish, pork chops, Blue Bell ice cream with pomegranate sauce (surprising and delicious), and chocolate cake. Oh, we love good food and this was worthy of an anniversary dinner.

Then we went to see the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at a theater uptown. Let me just say uptown Dallas is sweet. Gorgeous architecture, fun streets and neighborhoods, and lots of cool buildings like the aquarium and museums. The play, well, I love the play, and several of the things they did were lots of fun. The space was almost in the round, very intimate, and very much remenicent of an actual cafegymitorium. The men in the play out shined the women significantly, but we still enjoyed ourselves. We got there just in time for a quick trip to the bathroom before the show started. It was a little stressful because they didn't let in late-comers, but dinner was really worth it.

Not familiar with the Bee? Here's the Tony performance.

Thanks Mom and Dad for the night off!

However, on our actual anniversary Johnny was out of town . . . for a week. I don't think that will be happening again. It was very sad for all.

A Day's Worth of Random Thoughts

• You know what would be completely useless? Ironing baby clothes.
• I do not recommend that anyone trying to conceal their need for a root job wait three days to wash their hair.
• I love that my mouse is wireless. "Now I know that wirelessness can be confusing, but it basically just means 'without wires'."
• I wonder when selective hairlessness became a desired trait in women. Probably when personal razors were trying to find new market share.
• I remember when I used to take showers at night all the time in high school. I wonder if that helped or hindered my insomnia. It's a little strange that we associate warm water with both waking up and relaxing. That would be a good sleep study . . .
  
• Why do I always pick the worst books to read while Johnny is away on business? Last year during his recruiting trips I read "The Time Traveler's Wife". This time it's "The Last Lecture".
• The idea that if you work hard enough you can accomplish your goals didn't work for Hilter.
• The lesson I get from Snow White: never leave home wearing something you don't want to be stuck in for years, potentially. Pretty sure those dwarfs didn't sew. Or do laundry.
  

G is for cute!

This is G. G is for good boy. G is 6 months old. Lets count to 6 together.

1- Stand everywhere you can, especially if someone wants you to sit.
2-Play catch with Daddy.
3-Smile at strangers.
4- Suck on paper.
5- Pull out handfuls of cat hair from their source.
6- Chew on wood furniture.

These are a few of G's favorite things. This is G. G stands for good luck.

Solid!

So, not only is G a solid boy weighing in at 20 lbs. 12.5 ozs. at his 6 month appointment, but he also started solid foods.

Luckily for you, Johnny was busy last night so I filmed the second attempt at eating. Also luckily for you, I trimmed down the original seven minute version.

Happy Half Birthday

So, I've always been big on half birthdays. Now more than ever since my little boy is 6 months today! So in honor of his 1/2 life, here are 5 things he did in his first five months that were both cute and endearing, in order of what I loved the most.


5) Spit. I have no idea where he learned to do this, probably from someone in the ward, and I know I won't find it so cute in a few months, but right now, it's just precious. And funny.

4) Hold my hand while he nurses. He really loves to grab things while he eats, but I just love holding his little hand and having him grab one of my fingers. It makes me feel like a good mom.

3) Courtesy laugh at Daddy. He doesn't usually do this for me very often, but if Daddy's making a big effort to be funny and not quite making it to the lol phase, G will give a half-chuckle that just sounds like a courtesy laugh. It's so cute that he's willing to acknowledge and encourage silly behavior.

2) Hugging me when he's tired. Normally, tiredness and hunger are the only things that create orneriness in G. And we're working hard to take care of them before they get to the ornery stage, but if he's been fussing and I pick him up, he'll normally give me a big hug if he's tired. It just melts my heart and I forgive him for being fussy. It might just be the sweetest thing ever, only it's not cause that is . . .

1) Bathroom Peek-a-boo. When I need to wash my hands and I put G down on the rug in the bathroom he can't see my face because the countertop is in the way, but I peek over the counter and smile at him and he starts laughing, so then I do it again and again and every time he laughs and gets excited. And that's what I love about G the most, he is a genuinely happy person. It takes quite a bit to make him mad, and almost nothing to get him to laugh. He reminds me every day to just enjoy life.

Happy half birthday, little guy. You have made my life better, and I love you!

Sum of his parts

So, I have been studying G for almost 6 months now, and I'm pretty sure I can answer the who-does-he-look-like question. Of course, not everyone will agree with me, but that's what the comments are for.

G is a pretty good conglomeration of all four blood lines. He has Gentry ears:

The other one is even more so, but I don't have a picture.

He has the Leithead nose:
It's a very dominant nose, all the grandkids have it. But it's a good looking nose, so that's okay.

He has the Child's eyebrows, which is fine since he's a boy.
His aunts complain about theirs, but at least he won't have to worry about a unibrow.

He has a Peckham head, which the bishop in my ward comments about every week. He says it's a nice round head and very prominent because what little hair G has is blond.

He has his dad's hairline. I have drawn it in with red since with the light and the blondness it's hard to see.
This has added validation to everyone who didn't believe that my husband was born with his hairline and is not going bald.

He has my moble, round, pointy chin:

And as you can see, he obviously doesn't have my eyebrows.

He also won the genetic lottery by getting my eye shape, but his dad's eye color. Man, I get lost in those eyes sometimes. He's going to break some hearts good later in life.

However, his other chin is all his own, as is his ability to raise only one eyebrow, his love of crowds of people, and his dimple. Well, okay both his parents have dimples, but his is on his own side.

Well, regardless of where his individual parts came from, he sure did turn out cute. And I still don't think he looks like any one person more than any other. Feel free to argue.