Tansy's favorite thing to say right now is, "No, Mommy. I hate (fill in the blank)." Does she want a nap? "No, Mommy. I hate seepeen." Does she want dinner? "No, Mommy. I hate dinnoh." Does she want to get dressed? "No, Mommy. I hate dest." And so on. These are usually quite calm declarations. But don't ask her more than once. She gets loud and shrill quickly.

Sydney's favorite thing to say right now is, "Why should I?" When told to go to timeout for hitting her sister, "Why should I?" When asked to go to the bathroom before we leave the house, "Why should I?" When told to come stop what she's doing and come to dinner because I have already asked nicely three times, "Why should I?" Occasionally, patience reigns in these situations. Usually, I am immediately ticked off and start spewing forth all manner of threats. And what mom out there isn't nodding and saying to herself, "That drives me crazy too."

Zack is actually having some positive changes this week. I will stand him up in front of me, have him grab my shirt, and then let go. He will stand for a couple of seconds, then start laughing and land on his bum. So funny. He's come a long way in his mobility. He is speeding up his funny little bum scoot, and he's not uncomfortable with having his feet flat on the floor anymore. I pat myself on the back for these achievements, since I have improvised my own form of occupational therapy for him. He still has no interest in crawling. He thinks it's funny for a second if I get him up on his hands and knees, then invariable faceplants into the carpet, cries, then lays there like a pathetic pile of baby. Guess it's not for everyone.

I had my first OB/GYN appointment on Monday. It was so fun to hear the heartbeat. That is what finally makes it real to me. However, I hate the office and its policies and their complete inconsideration of the preferences and opinions of a women who has given birth to three healthy children. Basically, I felt that I was put on their baby-making assembly line and will do as I am told. Sorry. I am having an ultrasound ordered by their office to confirm my due date, since there were some previous complications that made dating difficult, and after that I will be going to a different doctor about whom I can't seem to find any bad opinions. I can't seem to find any good opinions about the other office, so I guess that makes the decision easy.

Ben is still hanging out at tech school. We're over a third of the way done! Apparently, he is in the vast minority in that he does not have a brand new car. Those dang student loans are totally cramping our style, but knowing we will have them paid off in less than four years makes it all worth it.

Although Tansy has been sleeping like this for quite some time (she informed me that this is how doggies sleep), Sydney has recently decided that she too needs to sleep at the end of her bed. I don't know why. I wouldn't like to have my feet restricted by my covers. But if they want to move their pillows to the foot of the bed every night, I don't care. I think it's funny.

Hope everyone who lives in Utah had a fun Pioneer Day. We didn't see even one firework here. Weird.