Trip Home

I got back last night from my little trip home. It was really nice. At Mom and Dad's house, it always feels like home, and it was good to feel that. It was weird not having any of my other sisters living there, but it gave me a lot of time to just talk to Mom. I'm sure I talked her ear off. Tuesday and Wednesday we just hung out at the house. I did see my sis Heather who lives across town. I made a few thank you cards, watched some girly movies and worked a bit for my mom to earn a few dollars. Thursday I drove up to Rexburg with my mom. I didn't get to see any friends, but I tell ya, I miss that place. I really loved Rexburg. It was fun to see the Temple all landscaped and whatnot. I really could move back there someday. We also stopped to see my sister in IF on the way home. My sisters are my best friends and it is great to be around them. Thanks for a yummy dinner, Karianne. Friday I got to see a friend from high school and her two kids. It was great to catch up, Nanci! And I went to Dave's brother's house and visited with his wife for a while. It was a nice relaxing trip. Ana had fun at Granny's house, and the baby did great! My sister did pester me to update my blog more often, so I'll try. I've been really out of the loop!

MCAT scores

I got my scores today from the MCAT. I had guessed 30-34 and I got a 32. I wanted a 10 in each of the three areas but as you see I got a 9 in the physical sciences section. Oh well, I still think it will be good enough even though that nine really bugs me. The average score for each section for those accepted at UW and U of Utah is about 10-10.5 so I am right there with them. I also got an O, the letter not number, for the writing sample which I guess is just about average in that section. Here is how it looked on the screen -


Erin was proud of me as usual and now I just have to get my transcripts in and hopefully my first applications will be done mid July. So, even though I barely didn't do as well as I wanted it looks like I was in the 84-88 percentile.

Even Mommys need their Mommys

So, I'm going to Poky for a few days. I'm excited. It should be fun!

Phippen Family Reunion

We spent the weekend with my family out at Minidoka Dam for our family reunion. All 8 sisters and my 1 brother's wife were there. My brother couldn't make it, but it was fun to see all the cousins together, especially the "sextuplets."
Here they are lined up youngest to oldest. Jack (1 week old), Paisley (4 months), Ashlynn (4 months), Claire (6 months - in red and blue), Seth (9 months - in red onesie), Wyatt (9 months - whose face is covered by Seth's hand).



Jack hanging out in the shade. He was really good!

It was fun to see the family. I see some more than others, but it was fun to all be together. We also went out to Albion to see some family history sites. Some people think I'm crazy for taking a week old baby out and about like that, but I feel great and we kept him safe enough.

All talked out

I think one reason I haven't been posting very often lately is that we are still living with my parents and close to so much family. A lot of the kinds of things I would say here end up being said to at least a couple different people before I get a chance to use the computer. Just so you know...

baby Jack

I've been home from the hospital a few days now. We love having our new baby around! Jack is such a contented little guy. We figured he'd have to be with Ana as a big sister, and its proving to be right. As Dave said, the hardest part about having him, will be Ana. She is pretty good about being soft and gentle with him, but we still need to watch her like a hawk if he's not being held.

Everything went great with the delivery. I had been having contractions on and off for a week or so. On Friday they lasted all day, though they weren't seeming to regulate very well. So, Saturday we went into the hospital to check my progress. I was admitted about 2, and then I had to wait for my penicillin drip to finish before the doctor could do anything. The doc came in at 8:30 and broke my water, and gave me a little pitocin since my contractions had slowed down. He was born at 9:54, delivered by his daddy (with the help of the doc, of course).

He has been a wonderful baby so far. He's calm and relaxed, and hardly cries. He loves to cuddle, and therefore doesn't sleep too well in his bed by himself. The past few nights I've slept with him on my chest on the couch. That way, we both sleep! I feel really good, almost back to normal already. Grandma and Grandpa love having the new baby in their house and they have been such a blessing to have around during this transition.

Jack David Larsen

Was born yesterday at 10:00pm

For pictures go to Dave's blog post here.

(Erin is still in the hospital, everything went very well. She will be home tomorrow.)

Jack David Larsen

He was born yesterday night at about 10:00pm.
7 lbs 5 oz
20 inches

I used to work for Erin's baby doctor in high school (I worked for a different local company he owned, not the women's clinic), and he knows that I am planning on med school next year. So, he had me put on some sterile gloves and help with the delivery. He told me what to do and made sure I was doing it right and I got to do a lot of the delivery of my first son! Without getting into too many details - It was awesome.

Here are a few more pictures



Ana loves her little brother - "I hold Jack, gentile."


She has already tried sharing Cheetos, crackers, cookies, and medicine with her little brother.

Keep out of reach of children

Ana decided her dolly needed a diaper change yesterday. I didn't think much of it when she ran in the computer room and told me she was changing the baby's diaper. About 15 minutes later we found her in our bedroom putting "bum cream" on her dolly. Oh, and all over her own legs. But really I was pretty impressed that she really was trying to keep it to her dolly's bum. It took quite a while to wash it off of her legs, though. Desitin isn't mean to just be wiped off with water.

quick funny

Ana and I had the following conversation today

"Ana, where is Mommy's baby?"
"Um, away."
"Is it in Mommy's tummy?"
"No, you didn't eat it."