Sierra's been tagged

10 yrs ago: Crying and pooping.

5 Things on my list of things to do today: 1. Sleep. 2. Touch Mom's belly. 3. Use the toilet. 4. Take a shower. 5. Read.

Things I would do if I suddenly was a Billionaire: Move. Get a cool new basketball/tennis court. Get a new bunkbed for my room.

3 of my bad habits: 1.Chewing on writing utensils. 2. Long showers. 3. Sitting on the toilet too long after I'm already done.

Places I have lived: Puyallup, Tacoma, Federal Way, WA; In Mom's car for a month.

Things most people don't know about me: I have good grades. I am an alien. I'm watching you.

I tag......... Talmage.

Brian's First Post

Brian's Answers (typed & censored by Sarah):

10 yrs ago: I was wandering down a long, windy road. I was 18, using Stephanie's math. I worked at Loomis Armored Cars, same early morning shift. Getting up early. Raising [heck].

5 Things on my list of things to do today: 1. Sleep. 2. Use the toilet. 3. Scratch my [censored]. 4. Find someone to make me dinner. 5. Watch TV. I'm just keeping it real, bro.

Things I would do if I suddenly was a Billionaire: Sleep in. That's all that matters.

3 of my bad habits: I am perfection - there are none.

Places I have lived: Tacoma, WA; Ft. McClellan, AL (4 months in Basic Training); Japan (2 weeks, military duty); one month last year in my car.

Things most people don't know about me: I have a heart. I have a sense of humor. I could care less. I'm a mean, grumpy old man. [editor's note: Brian's words, not Sarah's] There's a reason people don't know things about me.

I tag......... Sierra.

Baby Update

I went to have what will probably be my final ultrasound this morning. Everything seems to be checking out just fine - the technician told me 3 times that baby looks like she's already to go. I suggested that we just go have her today, but apparently technicians don't get to make that call. What we found out is that baby is head down, facing toward my back. There is still plenty of fluid. And, based on the measurements, she currently weighs about 7 pounds. Apparently babies typically gain between 1/2 to 1 pound per week during this time, so we're looking at an 8-1/2 to 10 pound baby. I'm hoping for the former. :)

Here are a few pictures. They're not as clear as some of the previous posts. Because the baby is so big now, there's not a lot of room to get a good shot. The other thing that I learned is that at this point, baby's bones are calcified, so the ultrasonic waves can't go through the bones, making it harder to see things.

These first two pictures are a side view. Her head would be off to the right. You can sort of see her leg bent up on the bottom left. We could see her heart beating and her "breathing" from this view. I'm also planning to use one of these shots to show my band students exactly what a diaphram is.

Another side view, but pulled back a bit so you can see her head to the right.

I've spent the past several nights trying to get video of her moving around in my belly. She really moves around a lot, but as soon as the camera comes on, she gets shy and doesn't move around much. I'll keep trying.

Another Tag???

Another game of tag??? I'm going to tag Lindsey and Mom before Jessica can. :)

10 yrs ago: Thank you Stephanie and Brandon for making me feel so old. I was NOT in Junior High - I wasn't even in high school still! I was living with Mom and Dad in Puyallup and had a 6 month old baby Sierra. Not too far off where I'll be in another 6 months - except not living with Mom and Dad! I'm sure they're happy about that.

5 Things on my list of things to do today: Only 5??? I have a whole bunch of papers and grades that need to be done which I left on my desk this afternoon and will return to Monday. I have a house to clean. I have laundry to be done. I have a baby room to put together. And I have to take a nap. I'm exhausted.

Things I would do if I suddenly was a Billionaire: Quit working!!! Although, maybe I may take on some private students just for the fun of it. I'd buy the empty lot next door and the "stupid house" around the corner as well as any other houses on the block that would sell, bulldoze all the houses, and start building our estate. And then invest to live off the interest and travel around the world.

3 of my bad habits: I chew on pens and pencils - a nasty habit, I know, but at least everyone knows which ones are mine. I put off doing housework - I'm really trying to change this, but it's hard to be motivated when I dislike it so much. I don't cook enough - again, something I'm trying to change, but I just don't enjoy it.

Places I have lived: Tacoma, Puyallup, Federal Way, SeaTac, Bonney Lake, WA; Provo UT

Things most people don't know about me: I love doing research - looking up and learning about pretty much any topic, but especially anything related to the tv show LOST or related to Music History. I sometimes plan out fantasy trips that we could take, just to see where we could go and what we could do. (That's how our 2007 road trip started.)

Tag... You're It!

I swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth...
At least what I perceive the truth to be. ;)


1. What's his name? Brian Linn
2. How long have you been married? about 19 months
3. How long did you date? about 2 and a half years, but we always considered the first 6 months of that just sort of hanging out. I guess it really was dating though.
4. How old is he? 38, although he claims that because Stephanie put 28 in last years' family calendar that he's really only 28. But his drivers license says he was born in 1969 - he's gotta be 38.
5. Who eats more? Definately him - especially since I've been pregnant and nothing sounds good to me.
6. Who said "I love you" first? Me. He didn't say it till our wedding.
7. Who is taller? He is. I'm glad I don't have to worry about tall shoes.
8. Who sings better? It depends on who you ask. Since I'm answering the question, I do. But he still says he's the "rock star".
9. Who is smarter? I hate to admit it, but I think he is. Only because he remembers EVERYTHING!!! Good or bad, he stores it all away.
10. Whose temper is worse? Mine. Especially when I'm pregnant. And even though I know none of you would believe it, he can give me some pretty decent competition in this area given the right subject matter.
11. Who does the laundry? We both do. We all pretty much do our own - it's just easier that way.
12. Who does the dishes? He has definately done more dishes since we've been married, although I should be doing more of them now. Our deal was that he would do them till we got a dishwasher and then I would do them. But while I've been sick, he's been really good about cleaning up the kitchen.
13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? When we're in bed, I do. But we both prefer the middle. We usually are only in bed at the same time for a couple hours (by the time I go to bed and then he gets up early).
14. Who pays the bills? He does. That was one of the things I was MORE THAN HAPPY to give up after we got married. I hated that part of being single.
15. Who mows the lawn? He does. I think my family knows my attitude toward yard work, although I do help occasionally. But isn't that what kids are for?
16. Who cooks dinner? I try. I really wish I enjoyed it more.
17. Who drives when you are together? It depends. Most of the time around town if we take my car I drive, if we take his, he does. He drives all day long for work and doesn't like to do extra. Although, he did drive the entire 6000 miles of the road trip.
18. Who is more stubborn? That's a tough one. I don't know. I think we both give in if it's really that important to the other. I probably end up getting my way more often just because he likes making me happy. :)
19. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? I don't think either one of ever really admits that we're wrong.
20. Whose parents do you see the most? We probably see his parents more often cause they're here, but we definately talk to my parents more.
21. Who proposed? He did! See earlier post. :)
22. Who has more friends? Does this count online friends? I think I have more friends that I do things with in real life and he has many, many more friends that try to chat with him.
23. Who has more siblings? Me (4:1) Although, if you count the foster kids that lived with his family while he was growing up, I'm way outnumbered. I don't even know by how many.
24. Who wears the pants in the family? I keep trying to hand them to him, but Brian doesn't like wearing pants.

I don't know if I'm allowed to do this, but since everyone I know that is both married and has a blog has already done this, I'm going to tag anyone who comes across this who meets both of those requirements and hasn't answered the questions yet. :)

She Shoots... She Scores!!!

Sierra's basketball game this past Saturday was very much improved. Ok, yes, her team lost again.... BUT Sierra scored the first basket of the game giving her team their first lead, 2-0, until the other team took the ball down the court.

After a penalty, Sierra scored yet again. It was a good game. She played much more aggresively and was responsible for at least 4 jump balls. It was a very exciting game! Sierra felt good about her performance in this game.

Proposal

It finally happened! Brian finally proposed!!!
For those of you that don't know the whole story, the decision for Brian and I to get married was mutually reached through discussion. There was never a proposal, I picked out my own ring. I know... not very romantic. But, hey, the end result was the same. Last summer the band of my ring broke, and while I still wore it, it became weaker and weaker. Eventually a piece of it actually broke off and I really couldn't wear it anymore. I suggested a month or so ago that fixing my ring would make a really good Christmas or Valentine's present. He asked if I wanted a new ring or just to fix the old one or what exactly I wanted. I told him that he knew what I liked by now and that I just wanted to be surprised - I didn't want to pick it out myself again. I thought there might be something up over the past week or so because he asked a couple times about my ring size, but I didn't pry.
Tonight I had a recital at school, but had to run home between. I came in and gave Sierra a hug and a "look" passed between her and Brian. It looked like she was trying to get him to do something. So, he came over and knelt on one knee and opened up a ring box and proposed. He had my original diamond put into a new setting. Sierra was giggling the whole time - apparently she thought it would be a good idea to propose and put him up to it. I quite agree. So, after a year and a half of marriage and 7 1/2 months of pregnancy, I can finally say that Brian asked me to marry him. :)

Family Update

We've been very busy the last few days, but I wanted to update you all on what's going on with us. As most of you know I was sick most of last week. I've been feeling much better - no more fever and I've been able to keep my blood sugar regulated. Baby seems to be doing fine - she's still moving more than ever. I had another doctor appointment on Friday. Baby is still continuing to grow. I gained only 1 more pound since my last visit - I'm now up only 4 pounds from where I was before I got pregnant. That makes me feel good. Now if only it all goes away after the baby's born. The doctor measured and my belly is getting much bigger. I can also tell that she's sitting much lower now. Her heartbeat is strong. The doctor made some notes about my delivery of Sierra and some of the concerns I've had with this baby being bigger. I've got another appointment on the 20th and then another ultrasound on the 29th. The doctor said we should have a better idea by then about how big baby will be and hopefully we can make some firmer plans at that point. Today I wore the shirt mom and dad gave me for Christmas, which I also wore on Christmas day. I thought you'd all like to see just how much bigger I've gotten since then:

In other news...

Sierra's basketball team had the opportunity to practice with the Emerald Ridge High School Girls Basketball team Thursday night and were then invited to be special guests at the ERHS game Friday night and play at half-time. The girls got to sit behind the bench during the game and then played against another team from some other league. They were a little out-numbered (like 7 to 5) on the court, but they had fun and the coach bought them all a snack afterwards. I know it's hard to see, but Sierra really is there somewhere in the big group of kids crowding around the ball.

The following day they had a real game and Sierra scored her first basket during a game this season. I had to be in Chehailis with the Wind Ensemble I play in, but fortunately Brian got it all on video. And it was also nice that Larry, Linda, and Kari were able to be there to cheer her on. Sierra's team lost again, but at least she was able to score. Here's the video of her shot:

On my way home from Chehailis Saturday night, I got a text message from Sierra saying that she was in bed and that "Dad prayed that the Giants will win the Super Bowl". We all got to watch Sunday as his prayer was answered. I don't think I've ever heard Brian cheer at the tv as much as he did when the Giants scored their final touchdown with 35 seconds left to play. It was an exciting game and we were glad we got to have friends and family over to watch it with us. As a side note, Sierra and Brian have really bonded over football this season. Sierra now has all of the teams and cities memorized. You name the city, she can name the team and vice versa. Brian is helping her learn which teams are in which divisions now. She's already got a few of them down. He's such a proud dad. He brags about her to all of his friends now. Brian's friend, Jason, was here for the Super Bowl and was VERY impressed!

The last part of our update I wanted to mention some thoughts that I've had with the passing of President Hinckley and now with the announcement of our new first presidency. It's been a neat experience to explain to Sierra how the new prophet is determined. And to explain to Brian that we don't have to wait for the black smoke and, no, I don't believe there is an odds-on favorite in Vegas for who will be in the first presidency. A few of the teachers that I work with have seen the news and it has opened up an opportunity for conversations about the church with them. As much as I will miss President Hinckley, I can't help thinking how happy he must be to be with his wife again. And when I think of his earthly mission the only word that comes to mind is "satisfied." It's hard to feel sad about someone leaving this life when you know that their work here is done and their mission is fulfilled.

When I got home today I was interested in watching the press conference from this morning and there was something that President Monson said that really touched me. He was asked about what would be his priority as prophet - that he has said that the church is on course, but what could we look forward to with his presidency. I loved his answer so much I wrote it down: "I think our young people live in a world of many challenges and they should be prepared to meet them and not be overcome by them. I think it's essential that the home provide a training for the youth that come to that home so that they can feel free to call upon their Heavenly Father in prayer. Sometimes the best answers that young people can give to the questions of life are found when they're upon their knees calling upon our Heavenly Father. And I testify that if they will remember that the Lord is mindful of them and will answer their prayers, they'll be able to meet every challenge that comes to them." I thought about all of us who have callings in the church in which we work with the youth and I also thought of those of us who have begun raising our families. I thought of how timely that statement is for us. I don't know that this will be a hallmark theme of his presidency, but knowing that the youth are of the utmost concern to him gives me hope that if I listen to and follow the counsel of our new prophet that my family, especially my children, as well as the other youth that I serve will be prepared for their future.

I hope I didn't take up too much of your valuable time while you're reading my ramblings. Maybe now I can go for awhile without an update. :)