1. What is your husband's name? Brannon Rodriguez Orton

25. What is his best quality? Wow, that's a huge question. Brannon has so many good qualities. He has an amazing heart, the best example of this is how he loves Belize. It's a privilege to watch him be a father. He has this gift of reading me when I'm sad inside. He tries really hard to be romantic when I need it, he doesn't even realize what a thoughtful and sweet person he is. He's always the first to volunteer to do the dishes and is extremely helpful and handy around the house (a honey-do man as my Grandma says). As anyone who meets him can tell, he's got an incredible work ethic but what I see is that he works at our marriage and our family the most. He always makes quality time with us even when its seemingly impossible. He's my superman. Brannon, I just love all of you!

Yes, yes, I've finally started the pregnancy countdown. I thought this time, I wouldn't keep track because I thought it would be easier and possibly go faster? Well, anyone who's been pregnant knows pregnancy does not go quickly except for all of your friends and I was getting sick of everyone asking and me not knowing. This pregnancy has been considerably easier, although I was nauseous for about the same amount of time the first trimester. The only thing I'm dealing with know is poor sleep, frequent peeing and the occasional vomit and runs from greasy food. I popped out way sooner than with Belize but apparently this is to be expected with the second child. We still have not decided on a name although we have a short list, recently shortened due to a little girl in our ward with the same name (secretly I'm happy about this because I thought it sounded feminine) although technically it is the name of a very masculine action hero (in a movie that came out this summer)- can you guess what it was?

Today, I sent my hubby off to Oregonia for a MONTH at OHSU. :( If anyone is bored and would like to play with us- believe me, we would love it! Forgive the random order of the pictures this week. This is Belize resting with her Abuelo after some hard labor in the backyard. Abuelo must have really tired her out because she fell asleep mid-lunch! I attempted Jello Jigglers recently, turned out to be a jello slosh but Belize liked them anyways . . . who would have guessed? :) Abuela had a birthday this week and Belize tried to help blow out her candles with her nose. And the last picture is of the raspberry shortbread cookies I made awhile go. What else? . . . oh, Belize has been sleeping in her big girl bed for a week now and the binky has gone bye bye!!! Potty training is in talks right. She gives the sweetest kisses and likes to kiss my owies better. Her favorite phrases are: "Ay Chi Wa Wa," "Oh, Nnnnuts!" "I go Weulo's house," or "I go Nana's house." And a couple of weeks ago at Belize's overdue 18 month check she was in the 50% for weight and 75% for height- finally proof that I feed her, she's just thin cause she runs around like a bloody maniac. :) We've also specified a time-out chair, I think I need one too, but mine needs to be in a soundproof bubble.

20 months- Brannon made this home movie while I was at a baby shower today. :)

STP (Seattle to Portland) bike race was last weekend. Brannon and his kinda "team" consisting of Porter, the biking maniac and Willie, Brannon's go-to-guy, made it in a little over 11 hours (biking time). It is 206 miles and this year he did it in one day! It was amazing and physically exhausting as pictured here at the finish line. I drove to Portland (Belize stayed with Abuelo and Abuela) to pick him up, we stayed with Robert and Angie's, Brannon's cousin) that night and then swung up to Lake Cushman on the way home to visit Anessa and Paul at their cabin, which was breathtaking. Here's Brannon playing with Zeek, their dog and a big white whale on the boat . . . OH WAIT, that's me!!! And finally Paul and Brannon get WAY too into a game of foosball.

Nana and Aunt Sarah came over this week for fun, cleaning and a picnic. I think I might be getting the nesting bug (something, I didn't get at all last time) because I have an insisting urge to re-organize our entire house. My mom has been an angel in helping me tackle Belize's bedroom/storeroom to make room for baby brother and Aunt Sarah has been quite charitable in watching Belize while we work. In other news, Belize is becoming quite proficient in putting 2-3 words together like, "want some pop! "(who taught her what POP was by the way?!!!! and I wouldn't recommend coming forward and feeling my wrath), and "Thank you, Mom." It makes me feel like I have a little adult in my house. She's especially proud of herself when she's trying to tell us something and then we finally get it! She has a special giggle for such occasions as if saying, "Good job Mom and Dad, I'm really proud of you, you're learning a lot!" Brannon also took his Step 2 boards exam yesterday, 9 hours of complete brain drain! I'm really proud of him, he's been studying 8 hours a day for the past 2 1/2 weeks (also, ignoring his extreme need for a haircut which I finally snuck a picture of, it was so hideous), I think my head would explode! I'm sure he did GREAT! AND he got a haircut . . . YEAH!!!

Fourth of July 2008! We went with our friends, the Garcias and Nana, Grandpa and Aunt Sarah to the Woodland Park zoo. Belize loves to ask for Grandpa's "Hand?" Poor Grandpa, he's going to be a hunchback pretty soon. :) Naya and Belize got a kick out of going on the carousel, thanks to the Garcias having extra tokens!!! The goats are just the right size for Belize to latch onto.

Belize's best friend, Naya turned two! We helped her celebrate by sharing her cake and helping her open presents. Also, Kristee & Brannon chilling on the porch and two thumbs up for Naya's second birthday!