A look back...

I don't really know why I feel like sharing this next story, but I do. Hopefully it'll make you laugh a little.

I really hated it back in high school when I played truth or dare on a cross-country bus, at a friend's house, or wherever and somebody asked me for my most embarrassing moment. I knew I had plenty, but I couldn't come up with one when asked. While I'm thinking of it, I'll share one with you!

Here's some background for you: I was smack-dab in the middle of my awkward stage (I believe I was in Jr. High) when I had no idea how to do my hair and make-up or how to dress in normal clothes. I was a really shy, not-so-secure girl who had been thrown from Elementary school to the building that held Jr. Highers and high schoolers. I was pretty confident in the classroom, but the hallways were a different story. I felt pretty out of place at football and basketball games too. However, the one social event that I really enjoyed with my friends were stake teen dances. We got together and giggled and stole glances at cute boys. It's at one of these dances that my moment takes place.

I had a crush on this boy who was my friend's sister's husband's little brother. If that's not a secure connection, I don't know what is. Anyway, I saw him at one of these dances and immediately informed my friend, Jillian. 
"Go talk to him then."
"I can't!"
"Why not?"
"I don't know, what would I say?"
"I don't know, just go say hi."
"Ok....No, I can't"
"Ok, fine."
.....
"Ok I will!"

Deep breath, shoulders back, pretty smile, aaaand march!
"Hi!"
"Hey, how's it going?"
"Good....How have you been?"
"Good."
"Good."



"So, how's school going?"
     *School?! Really Taj? You're asking about school?
"Fine, you?"
"Fine."



"Well, I'm gonna go talk to my friend over there, but you'll have to save me a dance later."
"OK!!!"
     *Whoa there, be cool.

I ran back to my possy and told Jillian the great news. She told me some things that had happened in my absence and we commenced the giggling. The night went on and I kept looking over at him, wondering which song he would ask me to dance. Good sport that he was, he kept his word and made his way to me on a slow song. We started dancing and I couldn't really seem to hold eye contact for more than a split second, much less come up with anything to say. He said a few things, but I only had one word responses to any of them.

After one of many long silences, he said, "You're hands are cold."

Here's my moment. Now that I look back, there's really not much I could reply with other than "Oh," or "Yup," or "Better than sweaty," but what do I say?

Drum roll please.

"Yeah, I have low blood pressure."

Ba dum pshhhhhhhh

I'm sure he was quite relieved when the last note of that song played over the speakers. I, on the other hand, couldn't contain my excitement that I'd just danced with him and I ran to the coat closet to get my inhaler.
Just kidding.
The best part about this embarassing moment is I wasn't even embarassed at the time. It took me a few years to realize what I'd said wasn't all that smooth. I was so awkward, I didn't even know I was awkward!

Does low blood pressure even make your hands cold?

He made it!!!

Emmitt Thomas Jenkins

Proud Daddy

First Family Photo

Born 7/11/12 at 4:37 PM Weighing in at 6 lbs 9 oz  20 in long  Fuzzy blonde hair, long arms and legs, and bright eyes







 



And this is how it all went down...
The day before Emmitt was born, I started doing a few household chores before Tom got home from school and work. It turned into a white glove inspection worthy job. Granted, we have a smaller apartment, but I was pretty proud of myself. Tom got home and immediately noticed I'd been busy and we started joking that the baby would come the next day (2 weeks early) since women always get the crazy energy bursts and clean their houses right before they go into labor. Tom even said, "Emmitt, if you're coming tomorrow, kick me." He placed his hand on my stomach and immediately felt a kick. "Well, that settles it!"
And we went to bed.
The next morning, I woke up around 7:30 for a visiting teaching appointment at 9:00. I wasn't feeling very well and I wondered if my water had broken, but I attributed the "crampiness" to not eating very well the day before and dismissed the water breaking thought entirely. I thought I could walk everything off, so I met up with my partner and we went to visit our sister at 9:00. We were at her apartment for an hour. I still wasn't feeling well, but it wasn't bad enough to complain about or even distract me that much. We had a pleasant visit then said our goodbyes. 
On the way out to the car, I came to an abrupt halt.
"*gasp* Aubrey! My water just broke!"
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah!"
Aubrey, my partner, was 8 months pregnant with her first (and just had a beautiful baby boy, I might add).
We both kind of stood there for a second while I came out of the shock.
"Well, I guess I better call Tom and get home."
After dropping Aubrey off, I gave Tom a call. He didn't believe me at first, but would I joke about that? (Ok, so I did once, but not over the phone!). He eventually was convinced and said he'd be home soon. I made it home before him and started getting a little frantic: The hospital bag wasn't packed. I hadn't felt any contractions, so should I really go to the hospital now? I need to call Mom! 
Tom got home soon and we just talked excitedly while throwing everything together and making a mess of our clean bedroom. After calling the Women's Clinic and my mom (who was already on her way) and packing everything we needed, we headed the 3 blocks to the hospital. We were admitted, I changed into a hospital gown, they confirmed my water had broken, and then began the wait. Ever since I had distinguished a contraction, they were only 2-6 minutes apart. As we sat in the hospital room, Tom watched TV for a while, then held my hand and encouraged me when the contractions got worse. My mom came in then left shortly after to go prepare some easy meals back at our apartment (she is an angel!). 
We were admitted at the hospital around 11:30. At 2, I took some medicine for the pain that allowed me to doze off a little. At 4, the Dr. hobbled in (he was on a crutch due to knee surgery) and told Tom and me it probably wouldn't be more than an hour and a half longer. Try half an hour.
At 4:37, I gave birth to a beautiful baby. The moment we knew he was here is kind of indescribable. Tom and I made eye contact and we were both speechless. We knew Emmitt had come from a holier place and we were so happy to have him with us. It was like he had already made us better just by arriving.

Sorry for my long-windedness. Here's some more pictures.

He sleeps A LOT

Aunt Andrea and Kylee

Grandma Petersen and Cousin Kylee

Grandpa Petersen

Grandma Hawkes

At Tom's Paramedic Graduation: His first outing...Emmitt's, not Tom's.

 I have to commend this little guy on his timing. Since he came two weeks early,
* he came on the day my mom was planning a visit so she was halfway here when I called and she got to be there for the first hours of his life
*some of Tom's family were already in Utah for a family reunion so they stopped here before going home to California. Had it been later, they wouldn't have seen him so soon
we didn't have to be recovering and adjusting or still pregnant when we were asked to go from assistant managers to mangers at our housing unit
*most recently, we were able to go to Bear Lake for the last bit of my family reunion. These last pictures are from that.
I wish I'd had my camera out more. I missed a lot of my family. You never realize what you're missing in pictures until you get home and look at them all. Grrr.

My brother Rialey and his wife Kim. They're not photogenic, they just look this good!

Mom made all these adorable dresses and bandanas for the grandkids. She was going for the same look she captured of my brothers and me when we were little. 11 kids are a bit harder to catch in a good mood at the same time than 6, especially when they're not quite as familiar with each other like brothers and sisters are. Still, we all got a good laugh and the great thing about grandkids/nieces&nephews/sons&daughters is they're cute no matter what mood they're in.

Here's what we were going for (:

And here's what we got. Granted, my mom's a much better photographer than me. Thankfully I wasn't the only one snapping away.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! Love you!