Workin' Man

I mostly include this picture just because my husband is so adorable.

But also to comment on his new life as a classes-free student and freelance photographer. It's kind of strange having an at-home husband for a few weeks.... but I sure ain't complaining (see previous "Who's Hot" post.) His BFA project taking pictures of Senior missionaries is finally getting of the ground--he has seven shoots with couples getting their calls this week! So exciting! So, anyway, this is M working away at his laptop.

Who's Hot?

A week or so ago I came home from work and my adorable husband had spent the morning scrubbing our bathroom from top to bottom! I just about cried from joy, since the cleaning fumes make me nauseous but the tub was sooooooooo gross! He did a bang up job, and here's what I discovered upon entering:



Yes, that would be my photo in place of the "H" for "Hot".
hee hee hee

Construction Jed and the Rich and Famous

Here's my studly "construction Jed" in front of the new Gordon B. Hinckley Building here at BYU. The new alumni building is causing quite the stir across campus, especially in the PR business where they fall head over heels over any and all rich folk who come across campus. Lucky M gets to be right in the mix, as the official BYU photographer of the rich and famous. His favorite is the construction company's owner, named King Hussein. Here he is, lookin' fine in his hard hat, after a shoot earlier this week. He has so much fun at his job, it's almost ridiculous that he gets paid to do it!

At the Symphony

Last Hot Date

Last Saturday, after a long, inspiring, hippie-ish day of birthing class, we spent the evening on what may very well be our last real date before the baby comes!

We ate at a fancy shmancy and not too expensive restaurant, the Trio Cafe, up in SLC. This involved a particularly amusing scene where a 6'3" man and 5'9" extremely pregnant woman both manage to change into dress clothes in the front seat of a very small Honda while in the parking lot of a hotel.

Then we went to "Fabio Takes on Beethoven" at the Utah Symphony.

This was baby's first symphony, and she obviously thoroughly enjoyed it because she was kicking my innards to a pulp the entire time. Maybe she new Beethoven in the spirit world. ha ha. The Bruckner symphony became a truly visceral experience. It included a rousing brass section like nothing I've heard in years... I loved it, but every time they'd go crazy on another fanfare, it was so loud my belly would go into a contraction! After about an hour of that, combined with baby's excitement, I thought my poor abdomen was going to suffer permanent internal bruising. Turns out those seats aren't too comfortable either... ha ha ha.

Oh, I loved it anyway, though. I know I"ll miss the symphony when I'm up to my ears in baby poop for the next few years. So I relished every moment.

The Happiest Man on the Planet

I would just like to introduce you to my spouse, the happiest man on the planet. Last night we snuck into the Church gym while the bishop was holding interviews to take Michael's new favorite toy, an R/C helicopter that I bought for him in a fit of madness, on its maiden voyage. Oh, you've never seen such pleasure on a man's face as there was the moment he got that little helicopter to really lift off for the first time.... then reel drunkenly across the gym, skitter madly on the floor with a cracking sound, ricochet off a stack of chairs in the corner, and skid across the floor, sideways, to a stop. With a disgustingly huge goofy grin on his face, as if he'd just landed the copter on the moon, M ran over to his baby, set it upright, straightened out the blades, and.... repeated the above approximately 15,496 times until the battery ran out of power and something was bent enough that it couldn't get off the ground at all.

As soon as we got home, he grabbed his owner's manual, started probing around inside, and signed up on an internet list for R/C helicopter addicts. Apparently this new toy is going to rival the Volvo in pure manly-joy giving entertainment.

I think I've created a monster.

Happy Christmas Elves

In a more natural pose.

Pregnant Christmas Elves

In the tradition of Dowdle Family photos - the nerdiest Christmas elves ever! Even Michael is expecting... something?

The Happy Holiday

Well, it's Monday, January 1st, 2007... and I don't want to go to bed because I don't want our happy holiday to end! Waaaah! I can't complain, though, we've had a lovely day lollygagging around the house doing nothing. I don't think we even really got out of bed until 11. Breakfast at noon! Woo hoo!
Last night we partied until waaaay too late at Mom and Dad's house, playing wild pinochle with friends and relatives, eating delicious food until we were ill, and setting off 7 bucks worth of fireworks from WalMart. What a great New Years. It was by far the best day of the holiday so far. Between me coming down with the stomach flu on Christmas Eve, work the days before and after Christmas, and Michael not feeling well for the last few days, we've been a pretty blase bunch.

Good news: Michael is finishing up the family newsletter as we speak and it should be coming to your email box ASAP. Better late then never, right?