Nom, nom.

It was nearly a year ago that Jack introduced the world to the pleasures of raw oats. While he would like to think he started a big movement among the toddler set, my informal surveys tell me he's still the only one who prefers to partake (ideally, mid-morning).

We have seen a bit more pickiness creep in this year. He currently has some unexplainable banana intolerance--unless the banana is smothered in peanut butter or inserted into a smoothie. And despite living in Citrus Central, oranges are not his idea of a refreshing snack--even when juiced. However, he, like the children of Lake Wobegon, is definitely above average.

But he still loves his sweets.

Yesterday morning around 7am, I pulled into the driveway--having just sweated it out (in a girlish way) at the gym. He came running out of the house, opened my car door, and made a heartfelt, hopeful request: "Mom, can you put five pounds of brown sugar on my seven grain?" (complete with five stubby fingers extended for emphasis).

Nice try, kid.

For anyone who cares (i.e. Nana and Grandma), he decided upon 1 biscuit of shredded wheat (lightly toasted, just like Grandma prefers), some raw oats, a nectarine, and milk.

Trust me, I live each day full of gratitude that he loves good food. And you don't need to warn me--I know it will all fly out the window eventually (e.g. trading lunches at school, play dates with children whose mothers secretly hate me, riding his bike to the 7-11 to buy Sour Punch Straws, Flamin' Hot Cheetos con Limon, and a Full Throttle Slurpee, etc.). But I still reserve the right to brag. You can mock me when my next child will refuse to eat anything but corn pops and pizza sauce.

Journalistic endeavors.

This morning I was engaged in a rather lengthy personal prayer. I hear movement and realize that Jack is standing right next to me. Opening my eyes, I notice a camera pointed right in my face. Jack declares, "I'm capturing you on film!"

It's reassuring to know that if the celestial wires get crossed and my prayers don't reach Heavenly Father, Jack has it all backed up on our digital camera.

And if you're wondering what exactly was captured on film, here it is:

Yeah, I know...Either Jack desperately needs to work on his photography skills, or I am really spiritual.

Glorious glutenous grains.

In late 2007--having already waited a year for my order for Jack 2.0 to come through--I started furiously researching all of my symptoms/options/paranoia/etc. My doctors were baffled, but I thought for sure that enough clever Googling would lead me to my answer.

May 2008. The gluten-free diet part 1. It really wasn't that crazy of an idea. Unexplained infertility is not an uncommon side effect. As is lethargy. And hypothyroidism. And a bunch of other symptoms that I would rather not share. I hopped on the anti-gluten bandwagon and waited...for six months. Some symptoms changed--but so did my life. Two moves in six months, a huge transition from student life to the real world, and much personal growth. Then in November (conveniently on Thanksgiving), I decided to start eating gluten again to see if I noticed a difference. I didn't. So I partook freely, despite the nagging thought that maybe it really was a problem, and I was just giving in to my womanly appetites without regard for the existence of future children...or my health.

May 2009. The gluten-free diet part two. I couldn't handle the guilt anymore. So I went gluten-free again. Two months into it, I decided that I was just making myself crazy, so I spent a lot of money to get tested. The test I chose has a rather liberal range for testing gluten intolerance. According to the laboratory's guidelines, nearly one out of three people are gluten intolerant. I researched its legimitacy, felt good about it, and waited anxiously three weeks for the results. All while dreaming of the pound cake I would make if the test came back negative.

It was negative, and boy oh boy have I been celebrating. Homemade sourdough bread (though Allan was quick to point out that real sourdough does not contain whole wheat flour...phooey.). Pasta a couple nights a week. And cookies and cream ice cream--my absolute favorite (Breyer's All Natural). I think I need to scale back a bit. My waistline will surely start protesting any day now.

But now I'm back to square one. My new doctor doesn't have a clue how to diagnose me, and I have no more paranoid hypotheses to furiously investigate on the World Wide Web. Which means...I need a new hobby. Something new to Google.

How about Weight Watchers?

Utah take two.

The pictures are in. From both trips. In no particular order.

We listened to some tunes while waiting for the plane:

We got in touch with NATURE...


By throwing ROCKS...

Over and over...

We ate a lot of food...


So much, it seems that every third picture of me involved food in my mouth...

Case in POINT:


We FLIRTED with cousins...


Stayed up way too late (we're still recovering)...

Participated in various forms of WHOLESOME recreational activities....



Posed on the couch...


Met new family members (we like the smiley ones...)


And improved our AIM

Next stop: Iowa. September 15th-20th...

Greenpeace's newest member.

There are three intriguing items sitting on a side table in my parents' bedroom. A pebble, a piece of driftwood, and a white seashell. They are reminders of a trip they took to the Oregon Coast about eight years ago. Jack was investigating them yesterday (sadly, without his trusty serpentine magnifying glass) while my mom was doing some other things. Out of the blue he started to lecture her in very disappointed tones that she should not have these in her house. He said, "The stick belongs in the water, the rock belongs in the rock pile, and the shell belongs on the beach!" Apparently, his declaration did not produce enough humble penitence on my mother's part. Jack then attacked my mother where it really hurts.

"You stole these! You are breaking Heavenly Father's RULES!!!"

This child obviously lives close to federally protected lands...we just hadn't realized how militant he has become.

Preview.

During our July trip to Utah, all the Baileys assembled for family pictures. I've only seen a few--the rest I'll get to see soon. For your enjoyment:

Jack and I take off on trip number two tomorrow morning. I'm looking forward to the cool(er) weather, a cousin's wedding, and of course seeing both families.