Embracing the Inner Nerd

Trendiness eludes me. Actually, a lot of things elude me, but we'll focus on trendiness for the time being. I've never quite understood trends or trendy people. Trends are unstable fluctuations, and the people who are constantly able to ride them successfully must be very savvy indeed. I lack the instinct or desire required to be part of this set.

I can't stand the current fascination with 80's clothing and music. I've been wearing a veritable uniform of blue jeans and plain t-shirts for several years now, because I can't stand the look of things I see in even my old standby stores. Occasionally, the shape/style of the t-shirt changes, but the colors are usually boring earth tones, and rarely do I wear graphics. I haven't purchased a new handbag in ages. Mine are falling apart, but I simply can't stand to spend money on any of the bulky, gaudy monstrosities I see in stores. I'm offended, frankly, that this is how designers and marketers think I ought to define myself.

Seriously?!

Don't get me wrong. This is not a Molly Ringwald-inspired hatred of materialism. Truly, if the "Becca Look" were in right now, and you handed me a prepaid shopping card with thousands on it, I'm sure I'd be able to spend it comfortably and happily, without remorse.

Anyway, all of this said, there's always been a nagging part of me that wishes I were able to do the trend thing, cast off my awkward and prominent "geek" sign, and be the cool girl. I hate the trends and want to be part of them at the same time. Maybe I'm just sick of my aforementioned uniform (true), but it doesn't change the fact that on Monday nights, even if I turn on a show like Gossip Girl, I can't take these characters seriously for any longer than about 5 minutes. They're laughable and ridiculous, and the media's preoccupation with making everyone seem more glamorous than they could ever hope to actually be (including 'tweens on Disney shows) weighs me down with an unbearable sense of oppression. Ugh. No thank you. "Where are the Jeopardy reruns?" I think to myself.

Come on, people, let's get real

But there is a cure for this oppression. I find it in my inner nerd, the inner nerd, who learned long ago not to care about "cool," and just like what I like because I like it and not because someone is telling me it's what's hot right now. I find that when I am forthcoming with myself and others about my deep love of all things Barbra Streisand, I'm much happier than when I'm pretending to know why Gwen Stefani insists on spelling out fruits for me. So I suppose it's time to come clean and publicly declare (as if you didn't know) that I am a nerd.

As my first public acknowledgement of my endeavor to embrace (and maybe even amplify?) this over-protected part of myself, I'm going to start a new tradition on my blog, inspired by a tradition from a time in my life when my inner nerd was thriving and accepted. When I lived with my roommate Jessica, we both found we loved Nick Hornby's novel High Fidelity. So we started a weekly Top 5 board in our apartment. Each week, we had a new list, and any and all visitors were welcome to add their lists to the often over-crowded white board. So now, whenever the mood strikes, me, I'll hit you with a top 5, and I expect you, dear reader, to give me yours.

And to start, here's my first top 5.

Top 5 Manifestations of My Inner Nerd:

1. Barbra Streisand. God help her and her super liberal ways, but she's funny and talented and I can't resist her charm. Funny Girl, What's Up, Doc?, "Evergreen,"? She's horribly sappy and wonderfully comedic, and I just can't help myself.

2. Thursday night TV conundrum: Big Bang Theory (uber-nerds), 30 Rock (nerds trying to be really cool), or BONES (nerds who don't care)? They're all on at the same time!! Ok, this was only a problem for a while. BONES always wins these days. No question Dr. Brennan is my favorite TV nerd of all time.

3. My periodic need to make my life into a musical by making songs out of whatever I happen to be doing at the moment: cooking dinner, sorting laundry, you get the picture. "Oh, these onions are sweating on the stovetop... they're taking a really long time, so I'm just going to chop these carrots 'til they're done..." Nothing profound or even terribly melodic, but it makes the tedium of some tasks a little more bearable.

4. Abhorrence of almost all pop and hip-hop music and musicians on the radio or TV.

5. Using words like "abhorrence.'

Christmas 2010

So, I'm finally getting (some of) my ducks in a row and posting about Christmas. We have lots more pictures on my real camera, but this video I took on my phone, and since it was the highlight of the trip for me (well, probably all of us!), I figured I'd post this first. Will had so much fun playing with his cousins on this trip. Splashing in the bathtub, feeding the ducks, watching shows and lots and LOTS of playing with toys. It was so fun to see his little personality come out in full force while playing with his cousins. And I loved all the girl-talk with my mother- and sisters-in-law. So lucky to be part of this family.

I'm hoping this video posts correctly. I haven't been able to figure out how to post videos on this blog since getting our Mac. Blogger doesn't seem to recognize any of the formats I try to use. If you have any insights on the matter, PLEASE, feel free to leave a comment. :)

Blue or Lavender?

While pregnant with Will, undoubtedly my favorite bit of "nesting" preparation was knitting his baby blankets. I taught myself how to knit cables, and was very happy with this result:

I'm starting to get antsy about knitting for #2. I just want to go and buy yarn and look at patterns already! Plus, pregnancy exhaustion mostly keeps me on the couch. It's nice to have something to keep myself productive, something to justify all those Bones episodes I'll be watching. But at 14 weeks, I probably won't be having my ultrasound for another month. Buying yarn right now is futile. All I can do is daydream about the possibilities. I can't wait to know if we are having a boy or a girl. So, what do you think? Will I be buying blue or lavender? I thought it would be fun to do a poll. So, vote! Let me know what your guess is!

Thankful, a Little Late

I really wanted to write a Thanksgiving "thankful" post, but everything I was thankful for would have been a dead giveaway for what I wasn't ready to announce just yet. But since you now all know anyway, here's my thankful list for 2010. And it's must be said these things are obviously after more serious things like my family, my testimony, my Savior, and my ability to bear life at all:

*Tums

*Ginger ale (the real deal; none of this Canada Dry business)

*Humidifiers

*Apples, apples, and more apples (they are proving to be my magic nausea antidote)

*Tylenol PM, and the dear, dear nurse who told me it was safe to take it while with child

*The movie Australia. Found it on sale at Target on Black Friday. Don't know exactly why this movie is calling to me at this particular point in time, but there you go. Something about it makes me feel better.

*The fact that my nausea this time around seems to be mostly controllable

*So far, no migraines like I got in the 1st and 2nd trimester last time

Side by Side

So, it's funny when your child turns 1; suddenly, there's a buzz. Suddenly you can tell that people are just awaiting the announcement of a second child. The question, "So how are you today?" is loaded with implications and hopes that you'll respond to those implications. So it's not with a little snarky satisfaction when people come into my home, look around, and see this on the refrigerator:

"Oh my gosh! What is that?!" they exclaim.

"Oh no," I say sweetly, laughing, "That's Will's."

I have never gotten over having his ultrasound pics hung up for all to see. Even though pregnancy is an experience best left forgotten, I remember the day of that ultrasound as the day that I found out I was going to have a son. It was the day, for me, which began the transformation from being merely a pregnant woman to becoming a mother. This wasn't just a baby; it was a boy. A man-cub, a man-child. Something about knowing the gender made my role as a mother a little more clear.

Right now, Will is in the best stage. I've been saying that for about 6 months, but it's true. This phase is so rewarding. I love that he is talking and carrying on conversations. I love that when I'm not understanding what he wants me to go see, he will simply slip his perfect hand in mine and lead me there. I love that he is nice to other kids. I love that he has personality and silliness just spilling out of him every waking moment. I love that he believes he is capable of anything. I love his infectious belly laugh, his kisses, and his random need to strip down to his diaper. I guess it's short-sighted, but I can't imagine motherhood being more rewarding than it is right now. Even when I am tired and frustrated, there is a sweetness that pervades my relationship with this little guy. Loving him has never been an option; it simply is.

Therefore, it is with even more satisfaction that when people come into the house from now on, they will see this:

Can't wait to meet Tinglet #2. Coming July 2011. Woot!