Stories of Jeff Excell - Spring Semester

I laid awake in bed at 3 o'clock the night Jeff Excell became my boyfriend. There was a lot to think about. Like were we going to hold hands at church? Would we drive to school together? What size ring did I wear?

My thoughts were interrupted by a text from my new boyfriend telling me goodnight, and I wondered how long it would take him to realize he'd made a terrible mistake agreeing to be my boyfriend. I was already dreaming about engagement rings after all.

I finally fell asleep and had a few days of digesting my new life with a boyfriend before spring semester started. Jeff and I looked over our schedules only to find I wasn't taking any of his advanced German classes and he had already taken my entry-level math classes. I accepted that having a boyfriend wasn't going to make my classes any more exciting and settled on only seeing Jeff after school.

As I woke up for the first day of school, I found that having a boyfriend also didn't help with my first-day-of-school jitters. On my way to class I got a text from Jeff, "Hey, your first class is in the ELC isn't it? I'm waiting in the lobby."

He was perfect. So perfect that when I saw him waiting outside my classroom to wish me a happy first day of school, it took all my power to refrain from yelling, "My ring size is 8 and I don't care how big the diamond is as long as it sparkles!" My jitters turned to giddiness as I hugged my new boyfriend and floated into class.

Class just so happened to be statistics. And it just so happens there's a lot of Microsoft Excel talk in statistics. Which isn't good for a girl who's giddy over an Excell. I was giggling at every mention of the computer program and looking around the room as I blushed. You'd think college would bring with it a little more maturity.

I left statistics with a newfound enthusiasm for spreadsheets and started towards my second class of the day as I spotted the source of my giddiness walking towards me.
"I thought all your classes were in the General Ed. building today." I said.
"I just wanted to come say 'hi.'" he answered.

It was at that moment I realized some guys really are gentlemen. And it was then that I blushed because one of those gentlemen had traipsed through several yards of snow just to see me. The blushing continued as I tried to appear collected.

Jeff then walked me to the accounting class I had with his brother. When the teacher called roll the first day he stopped after Bryan's name. "Is your brother Jeff?" he asked. Bryan confirmed to which the teacher said, "He's a good guy."

The compliment intended for Bryan left me smiling as I thought of that good guy I was dating all the way through my first accounting class. And I think that's probably the only smiling I ever did in accounting.

Meeting between every class quickly became a habit for us. We discussed the newspaper, gave each other pep talks for presentations and helped with last-minute study reminders. We also occasionally talked each other out of going to class to instead raid Jeff's parents' house for lunch and an episode of America's Funniest Home Videos.

Every once in a while at the end of our school days I could convince Jeff to sneak off to the third floor of the library where he'd read me German poetry. I thought that was the most romantic thing in the whole world.

As classes went on, I would sometimes have another boy try to talk to me. Which almost made me gag, because other boys didn't save fortune cookies for me, woo me with notes in church, shamelessly stalk me, or get unexpected compliments from teachers in a class they weren't even in. I knew I had a keeper. And I could hardly even bear to interact with a guy who wasn't Jeff Excell.

As the Belly Grows

We hadn't bought anything for #2. And we really didn't need to. But I figured we should at least get one new thing just for him so his whole life isn't one of hand-me-downs. A quick trip to Kohl's provided baby's coming-home-from-the-hospital outfit and I can't stop staring at the tininess of it.

I keep putting Eli's clothes next to baby's new outfit to envision just how little the new baby is going to be. Then I hyperventilate because I realize how much I've forgotten about fragile little newborns.

As if my squirming belly isn't enough of a reminder of the quickly approaching addition to our lives, #2's outfit staring at me the last couple of days gave me that familiar, urgent feeling to get our house cleaned and in order before April. So the baseboards and walls were scrubbed today. They weren't even dirty. The garage also got organized...for the third time this pregnancy. Nesting is a funny thing that kind of turns me into a crazy person.

When I first found out I was pregnant, I was constantly overwhelmed at the thought of having two kids. To reassure myself I'd think, It's okay. Eli will be nine months older by the time the second one comes. He'll be so much more behaved...


Well. My nine months of Eli becoming more behaved are almost up and I'm more overwhelmed than ever. I foresee many timeouts for hitting and stealing toys in my toddler's future, but I also foresee Eli being a sweet big brother after we get adjusted.

29 weeks and counting. I hope the new little guy stays put until April 15th and then I can't wait to meet him!

Family Night

We were never good at doing Family Night as a childless married couple. But now that Eli's joined our family and is getting older, we've been a little better about it.

The first Monday in December we got in the Christmas spirit by drawing festive pictures.

Last week we made Eli's family tree. It's hard to find activities that don't go over a toddler's head. I didn't have high hopes for him understanding genealogy, but he actually loved pointing to whoever we told him to point to and always loves to scribble with a crayon.

Tonight's family home evening went over all of our heads as our activity evolved to throwing Beanie Babies onto the fan. It was deemed the most fun Family Home Evening yet. Appropriate for all ages.

So Mom, when Eli starts chucking things at your fan, just remember he learned it at Family Home Evening.

The Disney Temple

Guess who has now been to nursery two successful times in a row...

Several months ago I went through our house and showed Eli the pictures of temples we have on display. Since then Eli has grown to love temples. Anything resembling a temple gets him screaming and jumping for joy. I love hearing him screeching "Temple! Temple!" at the top of his lungs. Especially when I'm not expecting it. Like when I put on a movie for him the other day and this "temple" was on the big screen.

When Eli's not shrieking about temples he's usually shrieking about Jeff. Whenever Jeff is home he has a little shadow following him around. Whenever Jeff isn't home Eli wanders around mournfully mumbling, "Dada work."

Eli and Jeff are so adorable together. I just read a book (yes. I read now.) called "Raising Boys" (yes. I've accepted my fate.) and it talks about how important dads are in a boy's life. I'm grateful my boys have such a great example to look up to and I'm amazed to already see the difference it makes when Jeff spends time with Eli.

Eli's other favorite thing to say lately is, "Oh my!" It cracks me up. "Oh my!" is his reaction to everything and he varies his tone to the situation. He uses it when he first sees us in the morning, when he drops something on the ground or when he's excited. I love it.

We love our little Eli and all his quirks. He's always up to something and he always keeps us laughing.

Birthday Bonanza

My birthday was a day of highlights and unfortunately lowlights. Here's the story:

I woke up to the smell of Jeff making me homemade chocolate-chip pancakes. Did you know homemade pancakes are 100% better than boxed mix? It's true. And Jeff found a winning recipe on Allrecipes.com.

We sent Jeff off to work and Eli was super good while I got ready for the day. And then our day took a turn for the worst when I attempted to buckle him into his carseat to go to the library. It was the wrestling match of the century. Luckily I eventually won the battle and we set out on our errands for the day.

Eli loves the library and I had a book on hold that had just become available. I was so giddy to find a little peace and solitude in the walls of the library to start my birthday morning. I got Eli out of his carseat and he ran to the front door. I tried to open the door to enter my haven only to find we had arrived 20 minutes before they opened.

I had planned to stop at the fabric store as well, so I just decided to reroute and go to the fabric store first, but I wasn't excited for the extra battles of strapping Eli to his carseat. Never had I been more jealous of my mom who often tells me frivolous safety precautions like carseats didn't exist in her child rearing years.

After once again removing Eli from his restraint, we got to the door of the fabric store and saw a "Closed" sign there to greet us. I almost cried. I started to turn around but decided to try the door just in case they forgot to flip the sign that day. Yes. Sweet victory was mine as I entered my latest favorite shopping facility.

But my victory was a short celebration as Eli, seemingly unprovoked, had a screaming hissy fit as soon as we walked through the door. I ignored him and all the people who were staring. He eventually pulled himself together and we successfully got exactly what I wanted (and at 40% off!).

After yet another carseat battle, we made our way back to the library. Right after we walked in, I heard a group of people singing "Happy Birthday." We happened to go during the story time just as they were singing to all the kids who were having a birthday that week. I felt honored.

Eli ran around like a crazy person, and since story time was going on we couldn't look through the kid books. We made it a quick trip.

When we got home I let Eli play in the car for a few minutes while I read a few pages of my book. At one point I looked up at him and noticed he had a bloody nose? It was hardly bleeding but it's still never a good feeling to see blood coming from your kid. I decided it was time for lunch and a nap after the day's...excitement.

Eli slept perfectly long enough for me to sew a new cover for one of his window seat cushions. Then he woke up and in no time Jeff was home to take us out to dinner to celebrate.

Winger's was my restaurant choice. Partly because I thought the popcorn would help keep Eli entertained...

But I mostly chose it for the Asphalt Pie. Yummmm.

Happy Birthday to me.

Eli continued being a wild child.

So we ate fast and enjoyed our pie at home.

After we scarfed down my birthday pie, two of my friends from high school came by to wish me a happy birthday. So cute of them.

It was also cute of them to bring me a dozen donuts from Krispy Kreme along with a few other goodies.

Jeff and I ended the night by watching "Moneyball" together. 

My birthday celebrations continued into Thursday as my Mom and sister wanted to treat me to lunch. I only ate four donuts for breakfast since I wanted to make sure I was hungry by lunch time... 

I gave Eli a donut and a green smoothie for breakfast and I was completely shocked to see he slurped down the smoothie before he even touched the donut. He really does love those things! 

We had a nice lunch at Olive Garden. That salad is always extra delicious when I'm pregnant.

Becky, "Princess Brooke," Caroline and Spencer joined in on the fun.

It was another good birthday despite the tantrums. Thanks to everyone who made it special for me!