Wannabe Wicked?

So, about a month and a 1/2 ago, my friend Jean sent me this random e-mail with news about different "Wicked" goings-on in L.A. (Stephen Schwartz getting a star, new performance dates, etc). She knew my whole deal with the audition process a little over a year ago and so she's just cute like that sometimes. :)

On part of the newsletter, there was an announcement for a video contest called "Wannabe Wicked." Basically, you had to send in a tape of yourself singing a portion of 1 of the 5 songs they had listed from the show. They would then choose semi-finalists from those videos. If you are chosen as a semi-finalist, then you will sing on 1 of 5 semi-final nights at the Citywalk of Universal Studios Hollywood. If you are THEN chosen as a finalist, then there is one more night of competition and the winner of that wins a one-night-only walk-on role in the actual show. Sounded fun. And the possibility was a lot more promising then the whole "leaving-my-child-and-husband-behind-to-pursue-my-dreams-just-because-I-can" thing that I considered with the show before. What's one night, right?


Well... I sent in a video just because I already had one of me singing "Wizard & I" from a high school choir reunion a few years back. Yesterday, while I was editing my profile on the competition site, I saw that I'd been chosen as a semi-finalist! How fun for me. If nothing else comes of it, at least I will get one silly little night to belt it out like a diva for someone other then Malia... albeit as a pregnant and awkward diva. And who knows if anything will come of it. But, best-case-scenario, maybe I'll have a contest on my blog for the last 2 tickets of the free 10 for the show that I'd receive if I actually won this thing. (I probably just jinxed myself even just by saying that... oh well). Like I said, the pregnancy thing won't help.

If nothing else... it should be fun. :)

(Below is the video I submitted)

6 years!!!!

Well - our 6th wedding anniversary fell on Father's Day this year... so I kind of wanted to let the majority of the day ride out before talking about it, so that David could enjoy "his" day.

On June 15th, 2002, David and I were sealed for time & all eternity in the San Diego LDS temple by my Uncle Kent with family in attendance. It was a beautiful, clear day. And it was the most important day of my life.... yes, even more important then the birth of my current (and future) children. More important because, without that day, my time with my children would be only mortal and brief anyway. But because of that day, my children are mine (well - ok, technically they're God's... but I get to borrow them) for time & all eternity. And David is truly mine for time & all eternity.

We met outside of the 8th floor elevator at Kaigandori House in Osaka, Japan, where we would both be living for the entire year. We became fast friends. BEST friends, to be completely accurate. We shared secrets and philosophies with each other. He gave me a blessing as my new home teacher before he even knew my last name. I broke down in his apartment about my low self-esteem, and the poor guy hadn't even been around me long enough to understand I was just a basket-case by nature. We discussed the gospel as well as both of our current romantic relationships (I had a missionary and he'd left a girlfriend back at the Y). Despite predictions from all of our fellow performers, we denied it would ever become anything more. It was very "When Harry Met Sally." But after his relationship fell victim to the pitfalls of long-distance, the following week became a whirlwind of unexpected emotions, awkward moments of tension, and a first kiss. We thought we'd keep it a secret in order to avoid "I-told-you-so's," however, the obvious rash left on my sensitive skin from an Italian boy's 5 o'clock shadow made that nearly impossible.

After over a year of dating, making David change his major, and me debating if I could wait 5 more years before marrying him so that I could pursue my Broadway dreams, we did it. And I haven't regretted it since.

Here's to 6+infinity more years!

To the Bestest Daddy in the World

(The above video has music so be sure to turn off the main music at the right)

I couldn't ask for a better person to be the example and strength you are for our children. You work so incredibly hard to provide us with the necessary temporal means needed to survive in this mortal life which gives us the incredibly under-rated blessing of me being able to stay home with our children. Their success in pursuing eternal life is that much more possible because I have you to share the challenge with. And I'm excited to continue the task with you for baby #2. I know the Lord is at peace with sending us His children because of you and His trust in you.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Shell-shocked

It's amazing how some things in life never really phase us, and how some things blow us over harder then we could've imagined.

Today, as I was browsing through facebook and friends' blogs, I received some terrible news. A friend of mine who I knew at BYU, we'd had some classes in the MDT program together... and we bonded over similar reputations of lunacy... just went through an incredibly traumatizing experience.

We haven't "spoken" in a few years. But through mutual friends, pursuits, and the internet, we've still managed somewhat to stay in touch. She was always a very witty, talented, and spiritual girl. I admired her for her wisdom, her sense of humor, and her testimony. I like to think, maybe, we made each other laugh.

Earlier this week, her only little baby girl, (I don't want to name her or her child... simply out of respect for their current situation), choked on an apple while they were getting her into her carseat after Church. They tried the Heimlich, but were unsuccessful. This angel, only 6 months younger then my Malia, was then life-flighted to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake. There, they removed the bit of apple from her lung with surgery. Problem is, she hadn't been breathing for over 20 minutes.

Over the week, they dealt with the thought that she would most likely be very brain-damaged, if she lived at all. Yesterday, her phenomenal parents - my friend - her mother - had to make the difficult decision to take her off of life support. The little girl, not even 2-years-old, has returned to her Heavenly Father.

I am sharing this story for 2 reasons. The first is selfish. When I heard about this, I was completely thrown. I don't know exactly what it was that did it to me, but I have been nearly inconsolable for quite some time now (thank heavens Malia is napping). I've written my friend a few messages here & there on the internet. But, for some reason, it is tearing me up inside. I felt that, if maybe I blogged about it, I could get some of the "owie" out of my heart.

The second reason, is the more obvious one. Please pray for them. I know I have left her identity unanimous, but I felt that I shouldn't talk about who they were due to the fact that this is a very hard and sacred time for her and her family. But I know the Lord knows who I am talking about, so I still think you can pray for them. Pray for their hearts to be comforted. Pray for their lives to be filled with as much joy as possible... so that the sorrow can't consume them. Pray for their perspectives.

She is a phenomenal woman and is already demonstrating incredible faith against all odds. I don't doubt she will be able to get through this. But I still feel as if any little prayer could definitely help.

I'm going to go retrieve Malia from her nap now... and hold her as tight as possible.

Dr. Tiffany Nutter, PhD. in Sleep

I read at least 1/2 a dozen books on sleep when Malia was little. (Yes, I read every single one of those pictured above.... cover to cover... some of them 3 or 4 times). Book in one hand, screaming baby in the other. Book after book after book, I was trying to find the magic answer to solve all the woes. I finally transferred to an awesome pediatrician (holla, Dr. Brinton!) who said to me, "Your child has severe colic. Probably the worst I've ever seen. Accept that these methods you are reading about will. not. work. for. her." So, it was a relief to know I wasn't just an idiot failing miserably, trying all of these things, and my child getting worse, instead of better. Turns out my kid was the lovely exception to all of the rules.

However, once her colic was miraculously taken care of by an amazing Chiropractor (holla, Dr. Thompson!), she had the most deplorable sleeping habits. The child had gotten used to waking up, literally - not an exaggeration - every 45 minutes to an hour all night long. So, I put my knowledge to work. I combined everything I'd read into what made the most logical sense to me. And, after about 3 months, things finally came to a glorious place (Malia still sleeps the maximum amount of hours for a child her age). I had even become the ward sleep specialist. I had moms coming to me with the sleep problems of their children... admittedly, it would get a little frustrating to hear that my advice had made differences for them overnight, whereas, it had taken me 3 months with my own child. Oh well. *sigh* Glad I could help.

HOWEVER, throughout all of my reading, I gained an incredible insight on sleep in general... not just for my child. Adults really do not truly understand the importance of sleep... especially American adults. It is crucial to our physical, mental, and emotional health. It really is! And I have become almost obsessive about getting my 8 hours of sleep ever since.

Problem is, ever since Malia was born, I've had a terrible time sleeping through the night myself. Even once she began finally doing it consistently, I have since become my worst nightmare: a frequent night-waker.

It sucks!!!!

Ok, so get this... 2 months ago, I slept through the night FOR THE FIRST TIME since Malia was born! She's 2 1/2, mind you. I was so HAPPY! I woke up for the first time since falling asleep, completely shocked that the sun was already up. I felt more tired then usual when I woke up, probably because my mind was thinking, "Yes, YES! More!" I was anticipating a great new change in my sleep patterns. Finally, I'll have the energy I've been lacking. I'll be a much more stable and happy person! Yes! SLEEEEEEP!

3 days later I found out I was pregnant.

I've been up every night since, already, with frequent trips to bathroom.

Some things are just not meant to be...