Auntie Bella

I can't believe it! Lori will be having her baby tomorrow! This is why my blog is Auntie Bella. Being an aunt is my favorite thing in the world. The Bella comes from my niece Maddie who randomly started calling me that when she was just a little tyke. I am kind of sad that I'm not going to get to see this cute little girl until she is a few days old. Barring my one niece who had to spend her first 2 weeks of life in the NICU, I have gone to see, and can remember seeing all of my nieces and nephews from the time I was four years old on, in the hospital after they were born. Its a joy to start building that relationship from the time they are just tiny. I'll live. Kelsea and I have a great relationship and I didn't get to see her for the first time until she was over a month old, so I'm sure this little girl and I will be just fine, I'm just sad not to get to be there.

Ouch!

So one thing you should know about me is that I am a Klutz! During the winter my knees are perpetually bruised, especially when I take figure skating. My klutziness has been particularly apparent this last week.

Klutzy move #1.

Last Wednesday I wore flip-flops because it was a gorgeous day in the morning. As evening fell and I headed home from work the weather changed to pouring rain. For that reason I took the slightly shorter, but less scenic route home. I work on campus, and live at the bottom of Old Main hill, so there are stairs involved no matter what. What I didn't think about when I choose my route was that the path I choose had limestone steps instead of concrete, and limestone gets slick. About halfway down the hill those rubber flip-flops and the slippery steps took their tole, and I slipped. Luckily the stairs come in sections, that level off for a bit in between, and I was on the bottom step before a flat section, but I still got a nasty bruise that continues to look worse day by day.

Klutzy move #2.

Friday I drove home for the weekend. My mother's friend was just finishing up tiling, so I took over the last few tiles so she could get home to her family. When it was all set, my mother and I went to load the large, HEAVY, rented tile cutter into the back of my car for her to return in the morning. As I was lifting one side to get it in, I lost my grip and dropped it right on my right pointer finger nail. OUCH!!! That sure killed. Luckily I didn't loose my nail, or break anything, but there sure are a lot of nerve endings in the tips of fingers.

Klutzy move #3.

Saturday I grouted the tile that my mother's friend had laid the day before. In order to tear the old floor out and lay the new floor correctly they had taken the toilet out and put it in the tub. All the was left was the covered hole, and the screws that stick up for the toilet to be connected to. As I was grouting over in that area I accidentally scraped my right hand along one of the screws. It wasn't a very bad scrape. It barely pierced the skin, but it was just enough to draw blood, which led me to

Klutzy move #3 remedied.

Because the screw was rusty, and metallic, and I had drawn blood, I had to go to the doctors and get a tetanus shot. It didn't hurt to get, but man did it hurt for a few days after that. It swelled and looked like a mosquito bite. My wonderful nephew, my wonderful LARGE, STRONG, FOOTBALL PLAYING nephew gave me a hug before they left on Sunday, after our Fathers Day get-together. He gave me one of those side hugs, where he slung one arm around me and squeezed. Yeah...his hand was right on my shot. I smiled and hugged him back, and then went and sat down over on the side of the house, and said OWhh.

As of today, the shot is almost totally healed, the scrape on my hand still has dry skin that hasn't totally grown over, but doesn't get in my way or hurt at all, you can barely see the bruise under my fingernail, and the bruise above my ankle looks bad, but doesn't really give me too much trouble. Not sure what'll be hurt next, but there always is a next when it comes to me. :)

Getting to Know Me

If you're viewing this, that means I actually decided to tell people about it. Hmm...we'll see. I guess since this is the first entry I should probably introduce myself.

My name is Melissa. I'm 21 years old, and a student at Utah State University. I am the youngest of 9, and the proud aunt of 18, soon to be 19 of the most amazing kids in the world, bar none. They range in age from nearly 25 down to 2 1/2 with another one due August 4th. As you might be able to tell, Aunt is my favorite title, above daughter, student, etc. I love them all. I try to make it to as many events as I can. I've been to baptisms, priesthood ordinations, primary programs, middle school and high school musical productions, choir concerts, Christmas programs, football and softball games, graduations, etc. They aren't always of the highest quality, but its nice to see that my nieces and nephews are the best looking, and most talented out there, and I'm not just saying that because I'm biased. They really are the best singers, athletes, and overall amazing kids in the group.

I love shoes, particularly sky high stiletto heels. They are so sexy and fun, but if you were to see me on a daily basis you'd find that I'm almost always in converse, flip flops, or boots depending on the season.

I keep a jar full of Swedish fish on my bookshelf at all times. I try not to ever let it get empty. I'm not a huge fan of chocolate unless its in a liquid drink form or brownies. Chocolate covered strawberries are just a waste perfectly good strawberries.

I have my own apartment, something I've been dreaming of since I was a preteen. Its great because I can throw parties, have people over for dinner, laughing and joking, and loud as can be, but then everyone goes home, and I have a quite, peaceful retreat.

I love to learn. One of the tasks I do at the on-campus library where I work is to stamp and tape all of the new journals that come in. They cover every topic from parenting, to technology, to writing, to medicine, and most anything else you can think of. I can find articles that look interesting in nearly every journal (except maybe the maths ones :P ). I am a glutton for punishment with my desire to learn. I am double majoring in International Studies and French with a minor in Psychology, and a teaching certificate for French and Psychology. I've been up at USU for 3 years, and probably have at least 3 more to go.

I also enjoy learning practical tasks. I'm very independent, so anytime I can learn to do something for myself, I enjoy the challenge (Especially if I get to use power tools!) Two of the tasks I'm most proud of learning how to do are changing shower heads and tiling. Now I want to learn how to install light fixtures, and other basic electrical work, and other around the house tasks.