Breaking Dawn-Hitting Home

So a year ago, before "Breaking Dawn" came out, I had a conversation with a group of Twilight fans (it was at a SLTA party). Someone brought up the fact that they were sad that Bella would never get to have children if she became a vampire.

Well as you can see in the above picture, I was plenty pregnant at the time. My response to this person's comment was, "No Way! That is my life! I am reading these books because they are FANTASY, not my reality!"

Fast forward to August when "Breaking Dawn" was released. When I got to the part where Bella realizes she is pregnant, I couldn't have been anymore stunned than Edward sitting there in a catatonic state on the floor! This was not what I had signed up for!

My mother-in-law was visiting that weekend and we were reading the book simutaneously (well almost-she reads much faster than me). Her comment at the time was that it was like picking up a glass and thinking you were drinking milk and having it turn out to be orange juice! I love that analogy, because that is as close to the feeling that I think you could get.

I had a hard time coming to terms with the story on my first read through. By the time Renessme was born, I had accepted it all and was very happy for Jacob. I was able to accept that this was the story. But it wasn't until the second read through that I truly came to appreciate the story that Stephenie Meyer had weaved together so beautifullly.

Here was what on the surface appeared to be an indulgent fantastical romance and it turned out to be a story about family and love.

I came to appreciate it the story even more as I related it to the fact that I had just given birth, one month before "Breaking Dawn" was released, to my first girl, Amberly Kate Updike--my own little Renessme!

With her chocolate brown eyes that from the very first moment seemed so knowing and intelligent, how could I not find common ground. I will never forget right after Amberly was born, they laid her on the pillow next to me and she looked right at me with her big bright eyes. It was like she was the fully developed person just gazing at me. Amazing!

How could I not be happy for Bella that she too would get such a happy ending! I am so glad that Stephenie had a broader vision than I did. The Twilight Saga wouldn't be so rich if it had ended any differently.

Twilight DVD Release

I attended the Twilight DVD release with some of my TwilightMOMs friends. All week before the release there were rumors going around that there would be cast members at some of the release parties. Well, with the insider info from a TwilightMOM in Herriman and a few hints from our friendly P.R. representative for Twilight, we knew where to go to be a part of the action.

Kirsten and I rode together to the Riverton Wal-Mart and arrived about 8 p.m. Things started really getting crazy about 10 p.m. The crowd was huge. I think they said there were about 2500 people there. We got to meet Rachelle LeFevre, who plays Victoria. She is super fantastically awesome (yes, this who Twilight thing totally makes me forget my age). Rachelle is one of the neatest cast members, truly. She is so easy going and so willing to make the fans happy. She stayed until 2 a.m. to sign every single person's DVD (or whatever they wanted her to sign). It was great!

I really do enjoy my Twilight friends. It is so nice to have a respite from real life and get together with such cool ladies!