Lauren's Big Day (and Lindy's long night)

After 22 hours in the hospital Lauren Annalese Layland decided it was time to come meet her parents. At 8:45 pm on February 10th the 7 lb 7 oz, 20 in little girl was born. Lindy and I will write more about the whole experience later, but we just wanted to get a couple pictures up and the announcement out. Thanks to everyone for their excitement and support in this big occasion!

Don't get yer dander up. Still no baby.

We had another doctor's appointment today. She said I'm about 90% effaced and she'd be really surprised if we end up needing to keep the appointment we have scheduled for next Tuesday. That's great news for Annie (my mom's version of the title "Grandma") who will arrive on Saturday. She'll be here for a week, and I'd hate for her to have to leave before her granddaughter's arrival. Fingers and toes crossed.

Kelly and I agree that the closer it gets to actually having this baby, the less real it seems. We just can't wrap our heads around it. We've got all our ducks in a somewhat tidy little row. There are signs throughout our home that it will soon be housing an infant, but we just can't fathom what having that infant around will actually be like. All we know is that our lives will change forever, and to tell you the truth, that's pretty unnerving.

You see, it turns out I really like my life right now, just the way it is. I really like my relationship with Kelly right now, just the way it is. And by "really like" I mean "completely love." I won't go into sappy details, but just know that the past several months have been pretty darn happy...one of those peaceful times between the storms.

That's the way things always seem to get when I approach a new and crucial developmental stage of life. I loved my life and didn't want it to change right before I went off to college, before I went on a mission, before I got married. All of those were events I hoped for and looked forward to, just like having this baby. And they all altered my life dramatically and permanently, just like having this baby will.

Though I wouldn't give them up for the world, I also know that all of those life events required major adjustments on my part that weren't always pretty. Sometimes they were downright painful. The rewards have been proportional to the pain, and that is why I am equally excited as I am scared out of my wits about having this baby. Each day now is a bizarre mix of eagerly anticipating contractions, but at the same time secretly hoping for one more day to enjoy life as I know it. Sounds a little schizophrenic, I know, but I have a good excuse: I actually AM two people in one! For now...

No baby yet, but here's an update

The following is an actual picture of my current brain matter:

Yes, it's true. I'm finally getting anxious to have this freaking baby. It's taken me a while to get to this point though. Like 39 weeks.

Don't get me wrong. I've wanted a baby for a while now, much longer than I've been pregnant. But something happened when I actually got pregnant--I don't know what--that made it seem much less real to me....even though it's been more real than ever. It's hard to explain. Somehow I haven't been able to connect everything that's been happening with my body with a new little friend joining the Layland family. I think I'm finally getting there though, and I'm really excited to meet this little girl and find out what she's all about. I've prepared myself for her to initially be mostly about eating, burping, sleeping and pooping. But baby steps to that unfolding personality, right?

Part of the reason I haven't updated much on the pregnancy is because, aside from the first trimester, everything's gone really smoothly. I've had a few aches and pains as my bones have made room to cradle and extra person, but those were short-lived. Even now at 39 weeks I'm waiting for this third trimester to be as uncomfortable as I've heard it can be. I'm not trying to brag. I'm just baffled at how generally great I'm feeling. All I can really say is, yep, I'm getting bigger. Pass the cookies.

My height may have something to do with lack of discomfort, and for that I thank my lucky stars. Perhaps another part of it is because there is a merciful God who knows this daughter of His is a world class procrastinator....er, I mean, works fantastically under the pressure of a deadline. He's certainly blessed me with the energy and clarity I've needed to get things done around here. These past couple of weeks Kelly and I have transformed our little apartment into a place that will actually hold this little girl and her fans comfortably, or at least without us tripping all over each other. I know they say you can never be truly ready for a new baby, but at least I can rest knowing I've done all I can to help make the transition a little less logistically crazy.

So there you have it. The getting-close-to-the-due-date update. No numbers to report as of yet, but we have another doctor's appointment tomorrow. Perhaps then I'll have some cold hard facts to post rather than creepy words describing parts of my body I don't want to talk about.

Slangin for some Skrilla

And if you watch closely you can see Elvis in the background.

Showering Greenwood Style

To show just how utterly grateful I am for my Greenwood Ward lady friends, I am blogging about the beautiful baby shower they threw me the very night of said shower.

Calley Soptich rallied the troops and Rory Graves hostessed it at her house. I'm sure other people helped out as well, but they were so great just to let me show up and enjoy. It was just what I love in a baby shower: relaxing atmosphere, fab food and, of course, great company. Still feeling rather new to the area, I did not anticipate a shower at all. I am amazed at these women and their thoughtful generosity. They have helped me feel right at home here in Seattle.

And now for some pictures of the gala affair. Thank you Calley for being my paparazzi.

Wish you could have seen the whole house. Rory's got great style, as do the rest of the women who gave a great blend of both fashionable and functional gifts.

Opening gifts. I don't know if Baby Lauren will get to play with this ducky when Kelly's around. He's too big a fan of it himself.


Bravo to my not camera-shy friends Summer, Jonete, Justice and Melissa. I really should have sat up or forward or something in this picture. Slouchy couch pics at 8 months pregnant are never flattering.
Oh yeah, and I don't think I officially announced Little Whoosh's name on the blog yet (of course I've been meaning to, but I'm a big slacker). As you probably already noticed from the cake, though, her name will be Lauren. Lauren Annalese Layland. What a lucky girl to be born in the Greenwood Ward--and what a blessed new little Mom I am to have so much support! Thanks again a million, girls!

Business Time

What do these two men have in common?

That's right, they're both INTERNATIONAL business travelers. Both Micheal Scott and Kelly Layland had the opportunity, nay, the privilege of traveling to the great country of Canada in the winter time for business. For my sake, I hope that is where the similarities end.

This past week I traveled out to Oakville, Canada which is basically part of Toronto. I went out to visit a Goodrich plant that builds landing gear parts for Boeing. It was a little nerve wracking to be going out of the country because I took some equipment with me that was worth about $25,000. So what I'm trying to say is that little case of tools (about the size of a carry on suit case) was worth more than just about everything I own combined. Also, the last time someone took it out of the country they had a hard time getting the tool back into the United States because of customs rules. It all worked out great though because I got the tool back to the USA and no one tried to steal the tool from me, which happens more often than you would think.

For anyone who is interested the tools were used to demonstrate a new way of measuring some of the parts they make in Toronto. It will hopefully save them several hours of machining time and money. If you really care to know more you can ask me - but I think Kent, my Dad and my brother are really the only people who would care about the nitty gritty.

On my way back from Toronto I had a lay over in Las Vegas. It was storming in Toronto the morning I left so my flight got out an hour behind schedule. That meant I missed my flight in Vegas so I was put on the next one. Then the biggest storm Vegas has seen in years decided to come through grounding most flights into and out of the airport. So I got to spend the night in Vegas. I'm glad it was on a business trip so that I could get a hotel room through the company. There is no way I was going to sleep while I was holding onto that $25,000 case.

In the end I got onto another flight and made it back to Seattle just in time to be greeted by another winter storm. It's been a lot nicer to be stuck at home instead of stuck at an airport. It was a rough trip because of the weather, but that's that's all part of the life of an international business traveler.

Proof

So in case you were wondering if I am really pregnant or not, here's proof. I know, I know, it's hard to tell in the first two pics because I'm wearing black. I wasn't planning on taking prego pics that day, but it was a beautiful place, we had the camera and I decided enough putting it off was enough.

No, Mandy, I did not install that cat hook in the background myself. It came with the condo.

Our President Elect

During the primaries, I jokingly commented on the various attributes of the candidates vying for nomination. Barack Obama swept three categories in my view: Best Looking, Best Smile and Friendliest.

However, throughout the elections I have also come to admire the depth and substance of our future president. I haven't been happier he was elected than when I watched the following speech segment:

26 going on 60

This post has a soundtrack. Press play and read on:



Kello has previously mentioned that he's into birds, so for part of his birthday weekend we indulged his inner little old lady and went back to Discovery Park for a Fall Bird Tour. A dozen people showed up, three of whom were male, and Kelly was the only one the three without gray hair.

Our guide (whose English accent really added to the effect of being in a live nature show) first took us first to the beach to watch water fowl. Then we went to the forested areas to see the woodland birds.

I must say, the ol' birds put on quite a show, especially the bald eagles who swooped in four-at-a-time to circle their prey. I watched through binoculars while Kelly used his camera's telephoto lens to get a closer look. He got some pretty good shots considering his subjects were kind of far away and almost constantly moving.

We saw over 30 different kinds of birds in two hours. Let's see if you recognize any of the following five. (The first should be pretty easy):

(1)

(2)

(3)
(4)

(5)

Answer Key:
1) Bald Eagle
2) Double Crested Cormorants
3) Bushtit!
4) White Crowned Sparrow, first winter
5) Song Sparrow

It is quite endearing how much Kelly appreciates nature's little details. He really is cut out for birding. He's got a great memory for classification, a good eye and ear for locating the little guys, and a lot of patience. Turns out I, who am not as well-equipped--especially in the patience department--enjoy it too. I have been amazed at how many different kinds of birds I have passed by on a regular basis without proper notice.

Birding also works out well because we both love spending time together outdoors (if you haven't already noticed), and this is yet another activity to keep us out and about. So go ahead and think we've turned prematurely *elderly. We know we're not very normal, but we wouldn't have it any other way.

*To our blog readers in their 60's who are also into birds (a'hem, Mom Lauritsen!), we mean this in the best of ways.

Homemaking, the Apocolypse and Discovery Park

So for the next little while, I'll be posting about some old stuff I didn't post about at the time it happened. Why? Well, 1) because this blog is my only current feeble attempt at recording family history and I want to document these missed events and 2) my present life is rather...um...uneventful?

I'm not complaining though. I'm finding a surprising amount of fulfillment in my quiet life as Homemaker-in-training. It's actually quite lovely. I sleep in. I take walks. I read books. I plan weekly menus and cook meals. I keep up on the housework. I talk to friends and family who have time to talk during the day. I imagine all these activities will take a nose dive once Little Whoosh comes out of her little womb.

Speaking of little things, Kelly and I took a little day trip to Discovery Park on Saturday. It was a sunny day, and I told Kelly we had to go outside and enjoy it because it might be our last one. Kelly makes fun of me because I've used that argument since early September, and the sunny days still keep a-comin'. I just can't help but be rather apocolyptic about the impending doom--I mean, winter. Utah winters were dark enough for me, and I've heard they're nothing compared to the sunlessness here.

Anyways, Discovery Park is a bluff/forest/beach/meadow/pretty-much-gorgeous expanse that spreads over 500 acres here in Seattle. I suppose it is aptly named because every time Kelly and I go there we find new trails. This time we found the best one yet. Since we didn't have a camera on us (my fault, long story) I will do my best to describe it instead:

Our walk led us up a hill dense with evergreens and dotted with deciduous trees that have traded their greens for a more splashy fall palette. When we reached the top of the bluff, we hiked across a long-grassed meadow, down through the forest to a small beach with big charcoal-colored boulders and crashing waves--well, certainly crashing for Seattle beaches. We relaxed on the rocks for a while before we made our way along the lower part of the bluff between the forest and the Puget Sound, admiring the deep blue-green water and Olympic Mountains across the way. Of course, Kelly stopped to point out the birds along the path. Our favorites were the little bushtits. (I know. I wish they had a different name too.) As we reached the end of a little peninsula complete with a quaint and picturesque lighthouse, we rounded the bend to the larger, sandier, driftwood-ier beach. From there we could tell just how clear a day it was: Mt. Rainier was visible in the distance.

And what else was waiting for us at our final beach destination? A little seal pup. It looked like this. Yes, I am a sucker for baby seals. It was all grey and spotted and small and adorable and about 10 feet away from the driftwood log we perched on to spy on it. It was also well-camouflaged. We wouldn't have seen it except for the woman who was respectfully taking pictures of it at a distance. A couple of joggers trotted right past it--like a foot away--without noticing. We had a good 15 minutes of us and the beach and the seal before a leashless puppy tried to clobber it, and a flock of people gathered round to admire it. Poor thing got scared and couldn't flipper away fast enough.

It was a perfect walk to tuck into our stockpile of memories to pull out on rainy days. I'm sure there will be plenty of them in the coming months, both rainy days and new memories. I'll just try to focus more on the making the latter.

Graduation Photo Fest!

"Better late than never!" is one of my mottos, so lo these five months later I am finally posting about Kelly's graduation. These pictures are of his big finish, but it took a lot of hard work to get there. It wasn't easy for him to be a husband, student and part-time employee all at once, but he fulfilled all his roles beautifully, especially the husband part.

Unlike most of our recent posts, this one has a lot of pictures for everyone who couldn't be there. For all you BYU graduates who have gone before, this may be a trip down memory lane. For all you soon-to-be graduates, let this be a reminder that 1) There is a light at the end of the tunnel and 2) You'll reach that light all too soon. Enjoy Provo and student life while you can. You'll be surprised how much you'll miss it. Now onto the show!

The Graduate Himself

The Happy Couple

The Proud Parents
Frank and Lesa Layland, Phoenix, AZ. As you may be able to tell from the photos, they are a beautiful blend of dignified and off-the-wall. We love them and are extremely grateful for all their support!

The Best Friends
Kelly was lucky to have great friends in his program. From Left to Right: Kent Fairbourn, Kelly, Mike Mantilla, Steve Harston, Chris Christensen. The second pic is of the Fairbourns. Kent and Kelly were in the same program, and Brittney graduated with her Masters in Accountancy. Thanks to our go-getter moms who were first in line for seats at convocation, our families were able to sit together during the ceremony.

The Grandma
Carol Henrichsen, Pleasant Grove, UT. We spent many a holiday, FHE and conference weekend at Grandma's house. She has always been so good to her grandkids. We miss having her closeby.

Tate & Nara
Their names are really Nate and Tara, and Tara is Kelly's sister. She found out graduation weekend that she is pregnant, due a month before me, also having a girl-hooray for matching cousins! We were lucky to have three and a half years with Tara in Provo, a year and a half of those with Nate by her side. We're currently attempting to recruit them to Washington when Nate graduates in April.

The Fam
Minus Brandon who was finishing his semester at BYU-I. From Left to Right: Nate, Tara, Melissa, Eric, Kelly, Lindy, Lesa, Frank

The BBQ
The boys grillin'. Didn't take long for Kelly to sport his Alum status.

Rachel Filmore (an honorary Layland) and Melissa being their adorable selves.

Aunt Monna (Frank's sister) came down from Idaho to play too!
Eric almost fooled us with his pine cone bratwurst.
Kelly chowing down.
Didi Party of Ten
A memorable family dinner at Los Hermanos. Our reservation was misplaced, and since "we don't make mistakes," we thought whoever made the reservation must've done so under a funny name. Turns out we accidentally swiped the real Didi's reservation. Thanks Rachel, Eric and Natalie!

The Next Step
With a high five from the cougar, Kelly is ready to go forth to serve!

Season premier a little OFFice

Soooo, Pam and Jim are engaged. Ryan's the temporary Pam, and we don't know how Angela sleeps at night either, despite her routine. It had all of the elements of a successful episode of The Office, but something was missing:


Meet Kent and Brittney Fairbourn. No, they are not members of The Office cast, but they have been an integral part of our Office fanhood, not to mention our married lives. Last night was the first season premier--and one of the few episodes in general--we've watched without them, and it was just another reminder of how much we miss them!

We have a bone to pick with Geography for not arranging itself such that St. George, UT and Seattle, WA are neighbors, just like we and the Fairbs (as we affectionately refer to them--and they LOVE it) used to be. It was so fun when we could just walk two seconds up the hill to the 11's at Wymount and share dinners and hang out. Kelly and Kent would play Xbox until Brittney and Lindy were done talking...or was it the other way around?

They were an everyday part of our lives, and their friendship was easy like breathing. We are still friends, of course, but it's long distance now. Long distance breathing is pretty uncomfortable until you get used to it, and we're just not used to it yet.

So thanks, The Office, for not helping the adjustment one single bit. You could have at least been funnier. Oh well. At least the Fairbs still make us laugh even though they're far away.

Little girls, little girls, everything about them is...little

Little fingers. Little toes. Little kicks and punches (finally felt them for the first time yesterday).

We had our 18-week ultrasound three weeks ago and the technician was pretty confident our Little Whoosh (pronounced Liddawhoosh around here) is a little girl. Yipppeeeeee!

Now I have a solid excuse for this song making me cry:



And perhaps even more cheesy, this one:



Okay, so I admit both these songs consistently brought me to tears before anything close to a baby was in the picture for me. Now it's even worse. I'm just one pathetic sap.

Since the technician's CD writer was broken the day of the ultrasound, I waited lo these three weeks to post about all this so I could do it up right with pictures. We got the CD back at our monthly checkup yesterday, but for some reason the files won't show up on our computer. We can view them on our Xbox (thank goodness we have one of those! [Kelly's edit]), but that's not very helpful with Blogger. You can thank the ever-ingenius Kelly for the following photos of our printed ultrasound pictures:

Her first wave!

Her first profile mug shot!

So far everything's progressing exactly how it should be with this pregnancy, or so my doctor tells me. My doctor, Linda Clark, is fantastic--and not just because she told me what I wanted to hear. She has a great bedside manner and a very balanced, sensitive approach to health care. She's a family practitioner with special interest in obstetrics, so that means I'll get to keep her around after the Little Whoosh is born too. I completely lucked out since I basically found her online.

Yes, we are thinking about names already, but until we're more committed, we're keeping them under wraps. The only reason we're disappointed we aren't having a boy is because we really liked the name Leland. Leland Layland. Has a nice ring doesn't it?

Strike! Strike! Strike!

That is a chant that I have heard quite a bit the past few weeks as a large union at Boeing has prepared to go on Strike. They officially began the strike at 12:01 AM on Saturday morning.


I have had several people ask me during the past few days how, or if, the strike by the International Association of Machinists (IAM) is affecting my job at Boeing. As an engineer at Boeing I am represented by a separate union called the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA). There is a specific clause in SPEEA's contract that we have to keep working during a strike by IAM. They have a similar clause in their contract requiring them to work if we strike. So, in the short run my job is not affected too much by the strike. I still go to work everyday and I still get a paycheck. The only difference is that the factory is a lot quieter and there a lot of people with picket signs just off of company property.

So far all of the people on strike have been really nice. They wave at us, tell us to have a nice day and ask us to honk our horns when we drive by. They are out there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so they might as well try to enjoy it. I think they have to do a 4 hour "strike duty shift" every week or so.

Obviously with several thousand employees on strike things are moving a little slower for us, but as a support group it actually gives us some time to catch up on projects. It would obviously be better if we were struggling to keep up and the company was busy building airplanes, but we have to look for the silver lining right?

For those of you who want more information on the strike:
News Article of an interview with a Union Leader

Boeing's Website about the Labor Negotiations

Whoosh whoosh whoosh wooosh!

I never know when Kelly will come up to me next with a sparkle in his eye and say "Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!" What a bizarre thing to do, you may think. Well, yes, it is, but he's just excited. We both are. In fact, that's what we've been calling what's growing inside of me: The Little Whoosh Whoosh. Here's why: So far, the rapid whooshing sound of the heartbeat we heard at the doctor's office the other day is the only real proof we've gotten that there really IS something growing inside of me. And by "something" I mean "someone."

Yes, it's true. We will hatch a a new Little Layland in early February. So watch out.

And that, dear friends, is why I have taken such an enormous break from the blogging. (Thank you those out there who have not given up on me!) I know there are many user friendly mechanisms in place to prevent one from publishing something one does not want to publish on the blog. You know, things like "backspace" and the "edit post" option or "not typing something you're not sure you want on the internet yet in the first place." But somehow, I still felt incapable of blogging anything without mentioning the pregnancy, which I did not want to mention until we were more sure this was going to work out.

We appreciate all of you whose faith and kindness have enormously strengthened me, Kelly and The Little Whoosh Whoosh. Moving away from our first home was going to be hard enough without first trimester hormonal adjustments in the mix. Turns out that little cocktail of experiences and emotions has been a lot to swallow all at once, but we know we're in good hands, especially me. Kelly has been more of a rock than ever (if that's even possible) these past few months, and I can only imagine how happy this Little Whoosh Whoosh was in Heaven to find out who her dad will be.

Still alive...

This is just to let everyone know that we are still alive. We made it safely to Seattle and should have our own internets set up tomorrow. As of late our only option has been using the internet at the local library. Once comcast gets us all hooked up we have a lot to tell everyone about. So basically, don't give up on us yet.

A cozy little nest and a great big shout out

By far the biggest stressor for me about moving to Seattle has been finding a place to live. Even thinking about finding a place to live. The old nesting instinct must be kicking in or something because I'm no longer okay with living just anywhere.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not a princess about it. I was just looking for an affordable place that feels like home. And by "looking" I mean "desperately scouring Craigslist about every ten minutes."

But luckily, the panic paid off, and Kelly and I are officially the proud renters of a condo in Seattle, which means we get to pay a little more than twice as much for a little less space than we're living in now! Yipee-hooray!!!

Okay, so that could sound ungrateful. I'll just have to add cheap housing to the list of things I will miss about Wymount.

Miraculously, though, this condo is the first place we saw available for June and it's just what we were hoping for. It's in the city enough to keep options open for me for....whatever I end up doing, far enough north to cut out the nasty traffic on Kelly's commute, walking distance to grocery stores and bus lines so we can remain a one-car family, dishwasher, great neighborhood, cat friendly ;). My only concern was the size of the place, but my mom pointed out that it's not small, it's cozy.

The couple we're renting from is extremely cool. When I went up last weekend to check out the place in person, they spent several hours taking me to lunch and showing me around the neighborhood--it was a lot of fun. Plus they knocked $100/month off their asking price which made it a really good deal, and the break in rent will definitely help us out.

Speaking of helping us out, I'd like to give a shout out to Calley and Tyson Soptich who were indispensable in this whole process. When I asked her if she could maybe "scout out" the place sometime, Calley said, "I shall put on my Webelos outfit and I can drive by it this afternoon or tomorrow and see if its ghetto fabulous or a nice place." (For those of you who don't know what a Webelos outfit looks like, Calley, my favorite scout, is modeling it on the left.)

Not only did she drive by and determine that the neighborhood wasn't ghetto fabulous, she scheduled a time with the owners to see the place. Then she and Tyson helped evaluate housing prices in the area to see if it was a good deal. Then they let me stay at their house when I flew up to see it myself, even though it was a crazy busy weekend for them. It was so fun to hang out with them even for just a few short hours. They totally helped take the edge off my many anxieties about signing our lives away for a year. Thank you thank you thank you Soptichs!

Oh, and the icing on the condo cake? It's in the Soptich's ward. Kelly and I just couldn't stay away...

Three cheers for good friends and not being homeless!

What I Will Miss About Wymount , No. 2

I love that I live spitting distance from any given human being here at Wymount, but still feel it somehow necessary to keep in touch with my neighbors via Blogger. And by "love" I mean "think it's hilarious/inane."

I have a theory about why we heavily rely on this form of communication (besides, you know, our lives being crammed with school, work, husbands, kids, church and The Office): we all live practically on top of each other, so blogs provide us with a much-needed illusion of space. Like we live far enough from each other to merit the long-distance style of staying friends or something.

I guess blogs can't technically be considered something I'll miss because the internets are everywhere. But Wymount is the birthplace of this blog. In fact, it's where I was introduced to blogging in the first place (thanks Ginger!), and the underground blog culture here is entertaining and endearing.

I'm glad Blogger will continue to help me stay in contact with what I miss most about this and any phase of my life: friends. Turns out I like people more than deer....or, it's true, even cats. Especially since cat's can't blog.

Oh deer

Kelly took this picture on Wymount grounds, on the hill behind the housing.

Sorry for the lame pun of a subject, but welcome to the first installment of what I will miss about Wymount. (Look at me delivering on my blog promises. Incredible!)

Early in my Wymount career when I still thought this place was the pits, I was driving up the hill toward our parking lot, when suddenly I had to stop for a group of about 10 deer crossing the road right in front of me. Some of you may consider this an inconvenience, but I didn't.

Next to Siberian tigers, deer are my favorite non-domesticated animal. I don't know exactly what it is I love about them so much. Perhaps it's because they're so peaceful, or maybe I was heavily influenced by Bambi as a child. At any rate, I am a fan of deer. (Mandy, what could this mean that I am a cat person and a deer person?)

I haven't seen a group of deer so big since that fateful drive home--sometimes it takes something extra to get my attention. But sure enough every winter the deer come down from the mountains and a few of them pick Wymount as their local hot spot.

Nevermind that Provo real estate development (including Wymount) has infringed upon their territory. I'm just glad we didn't completely drive them away. In the winter I like to tell myself I live in a cozy cabin in the woods, and the deer accent this illusion beautifully.

Wymount

Laura Sparks recently asked how Kelly and I feel about leaving Wymount. I'll let Kelly speak for himself, but I'll let Bob Wiley speak for me:

"Dizzy spells, nausea, cold sweats, hot sweats, fever blisters, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, blurred vision, involuntary trembling, dead hands, numb lips, fingernail sensitivity..."

If you picture me rubbing my temples and telling myself, "I feel good. I feel great. I feel wonderful," you're not too far off.

Okay, so some of this anxiety is the the happy kind. I love Seattle and am itching for fresh adventures there. It's just that if you had told me three and a half years ago my enthusiasm would be mixed with bittersweet nostalgia about leaving Wymount, I initially would have laughed in your face. Then I would have curled up in the fetal position in fear of impending brainwashing, as I thought only a complete loss of identity could lead me to actually like this place.

Yep. I had a great attitude. But I came by it honestly. I was a transplant from Arizona State University where I partied it up at the biggest party school in the nation...or not. Still, even as a good ASU Mormon girl, BYU came as quite a culture shock. Many refer to Provo, UT as "the bubble," a place protected from and oblivious to the rest of the world. If that is the case, there is a nesting dolls affect within the bubble: Provo is the outermost casing, BYU campus comes next, and Wymount is the bubble within all bubbles. I cannot entirely blame myself for not being able to breath easy at first.

All I knew about Wymount before I moved in was it's reputation as "the rabbit hutches." Upon arrival, it seemed like The Mormon Student Stepford Wives with picture-perfect newlyweds all roughly the same age, religion and life circumstance. My apartment is identical to my neighbors' apartments on the inside, and our apartment buildings, laundry facilities and chapel all look remarkably similar from the outside. They're all nestled on a hill next to the Provo Temple and the Missionary Training Center, which they also resemble. Some call it "paradise." I called it "the compound."

But thanks to time and a some priceless personal miracles, mostly in the form of friendships, the compound has entirely transformed for me. Now I call it home.

I'm not going to go into what I love about Wymount just yet. Surprisingly, it's quite a list, and since I'm usually the type to make long stories even longer, I'll spare you the whole thing all at once. Instead, I will periodically reflect on bits and pieces I will miss about Wymount, one at at time, in future posts.

Of course, Wymount has its quirks I do not mind leaving behind. I may throw those in the mix as well--you know, things I will love to miss. But in the end, it all adds up to a once-in-a-lifetime location I will never come close to experiencing again.

There's no place like my home.