Just a quick note to say Merry Christmas to all and a quick update: I got back to work on Thursday, and part of Friday, then we left Idaho Friday night after a few delays at the two airports, and we arrived in Sacramento at...a really late time, I don't remember. That night was the first time I've tried to sleep on an airport floor. But we did make it without major incident (although I could actually feel pressure on my uterus during the flights, which made me very nervous). We got to go to the extended family thing on Saturday, where I got to meet little Lexi, Liz's baby, in person. That was definitely the hilight of the event. She is so precious. I can't wait to see her again.
Since then, we've pretty much just been hanging out, eating way to much sugar and junk (one word: fudge), being lazy, and enjoying it. And missing our kitties. I try not to think about them much, honestly, because I feel so terrible leaving them alone. We can't WAIT to see them again.
Also really looking forward to seeing Jason open his presents tomorrow, along with the rest of my family, and to be honest, getting my presents too. That will be nice.
Oh, and watching cable will be something else I'll miss when we leave. There was a "Dog the Bounty Hunter" marathon on for a few hours today. HECK YEAH!
Okay, going to join the fam in watching Christmas specials. That's pretty much what my family's Christmas celebration centers around: watching depictions of other families' Christmas celebrations. :) That's okay though, we like it that way.
Hope you all are having truly wonderful Christmases! Remember the Reason for the season!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Sick. RAR.
I don't know what it is about this winter that has packed such a wallop on my immune system. I'm home sick AGAIN! This is the third time in, what, two months? I've had to use my precious paid time off yesterday and today, so I'll probably have zip left for the vacation next week. It's just a really sore throat, a little coughing, achy eyes and head, stuff like that, but it's just enough that I would probably get much worse if I went to work, and I'm sorry, we are going to California on Friday, so I am getting better for it.
Let me tell you, being sick when you're 35 weeks pregnant is ridiculous; you drink a ton of water to try to flush it out of your system, but then you're peeing so often (I'm talking about once you stand up from the toilet and flush, you already had gravity or something working against you and you have to go AGAIN) that you can't get any sleep. Really, I think I had a round of about five of those (the having to pee again as soon as you stand up, or better yet, get your hands washed) this morning at around 5:30.
Well, not much else going on, just looking forward to Friday. I can report that the Trader Joe's pumpkin bread mix I had my mom send me was waaaay better than the...Betty Crocker or something one I got at Albertson's. I'm planning on making my mom's amazing recipe for fudge tonight, for the Christmas potluck on Thursday night. My baby has the hiccups yet again and according to what I've been reading, has reached his birth length, just not weight. That's a crazy idea, since people keep telling me how tiny I am.
Wondering if I should throw some baby clothes in the wash, since I'm home to do it, or just take it really, really easy, because I'm seriously tired of being sick.
Let me tell you, being sick when you're 35 weeks pregnant is ridiculous; you drink a ton of water to try to flush it out of your system, but then you're peeing so often (I'm talking about once you stand up from the toilet and flush, you already had gravity or something working against you and you have to go AGAIN) that you can't get any sleep. Really, I think I had a round of about five of those (the having to pee again as soon as you stand up, or better yet, get your hands washed) this morning at around 5:30.
Well, not much else going on, just looking forward to Friday. I can report that the Trader Joe's pumpkin bread mix I had my mom send me was waaaay better than the...Betty Crocker or something one I got at Albertson's. I'm planning on making my mom's amazing recipe for fudge tonight, for the Christmas potluck on Thursday night. My baby has the hiccups yet again and according to what I've been reading, has reached his birth length, just not weight. That's a crazy idea, since people keep telling me how tiny I am.
Wondering if I should throw some baby clothes in the wash, since I'm home to do it, or just take it really, really easy, because I'm seriously tired of being sick.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Validation. It's a nice thing.
I have tried and tried to banish my verbosity (?) and make this long story short, but it's still a little long. Sometimes for people to even begin to understand, you just can't keep it to a paragraph. My apologies.
Often horrible new co-worker (let's call him...George), totally full of himself, opinions about everything, talks trash about his wife, says he wants to learn, but if we correct him on anything, he turns surly and rebellious, I could say so much more. A joy to work with. :P
A couple of weeks ago, we had a major run-in, where out of nowhere, he "jokingly" insulted and humiliated me in front of Boss. Then, when he saw that I was angry, condescendingly told me not to "get all worked up." I was too shocked by his gall to say anything and didn't come to my angry senses until he'd gone home a couple minutes later, which was probably lucky for both of us, as I was furious and ready to rip him a new one. I even looked for his phone number. I can't express how mad I was. Boss told me later he agreed with me that it was totally inappropriate, yet never said anything to George because he hates confrontation. Nice, huh?
I confronted George about it on Monday, and he is impossible. He would admit to being wrong one minute, but then defend everything he does and say everyone likes him but me (SOOOO not true) and that I'm just sensitive the next. So after honestly trying to be diplomatic and work out some of our differences for a good ten minutes, and getting nowhere because he wouldn't bend on anything, I told him in professional-talk basically to stuff it, that I would be talking to higher authorities, and maybe he would listen to them.
Boss walked through the room twice while we were going at it, and once, it was rather heated. So he knew. Never said anything though.
Yesterday, Female co-worker (let's call her Sally) told me that Boss commented to her that there had been a lot of drama while she was out sick. "You mean Kristina and George?" "Yup." I'm not sure what she said then, but he said that I had "finally" put George in his place, that it needed to happen, and that George seemed to be getting the point that he can't act like such a jerk.
!
That felt good. That was really nice. Because, yes, Boss should have put George in his place himself because that's a manager's job, but since that's not gonna happen, this was the next best thing. I actually felt...respected.
Also yesterday, Boss asked me what the diagnosis code is for asthma, I rattled off 493.90 without hesitation, and he looked at the customer he was helping and said, "Man, I'm gonna miss her." *Happy sigh.*
Last one, and this one reeks of my pride, but so be it: as I was leaving yesterday, George was closing, and I suggested he turn off most of the lights while he was counting out front because I've found that discourages people from thinking we're still open and banging on the door while you're trying to count the till and stuff. I.e., I was trying to help him from my experience. Instead of thanking me, he just said, "take care." He was mad because he thinks he already knows everything. As I was driving out from around back, what do I see but a car pull up, a guy get out, look uncertainly for a minute, go up to the door, and George have to come to the door and tell him we were closed!
And oh, yes, I laughed. I laughed quite hard.
Fourteen days, five hours left.
Often horrible new co-worker (let's call him...George), totally full of himself, opinions about everything, talks trash about his wife, says he wants to learn, but if we correct him on anything, he turns surly and rebellious, I could say so much more. A joy to work with. :P
A couple of weeks ago, we had a major run-in, where out of nowhere, he "jokingly" insulted and humiliated me in front of Boss. Then, when he saw that I was angry, condescendingly told me not to "get all worked up." I was too shocked by his gall to say anything and didn't come to my angry senses until he'd gone home a couple minutes later, which was probably lucky for both of us, as I was furious and ready to rip him a new one. I even looked for his phone number. I can't express how mad I was. Boss told me later he agreed with me that it was totally inappropriate, yet never said anything to George because he hates confrontation. Nice, huh?
I confronted George about it on Monday, and he is impossible. He would admit to being wrong one minute, but then defend everything he does and say everyone likes him but me (SOOOO not true) and that I'm just sensitive the next. So after honestly trying to be diplomatic and work out some of our differences for a good ten minutes, and getting nowhere because he wouldn't bend on anything, I told him in professional-talk basically to stuff it, that I would be talking to higher authorities, and maybe he would listen to them.
Boss walked through the room twice while we were going at it, and once, it was rather heated. So he knew. Never said anything though.
Yesterday, Female co-worker (let's call her Sally) told me that Boss commented to her that there had been a lot of drama while she was out sick. "You mean Kristina and George?" "Yup." I'm not sure what she said then, but he said that I had "finally" put George in his place, that it needed to happen, and that George seemed to be getting the point that he can't act like such a jerk.
!
That felt good. That was really nice. Because, yes, Boss should have put George in his place himself because that's a manager's job, but since that's not gonna happen, this was the next best thing. I actually felt...respected.
Also yesterday, Boss asked me what the diagnosis code is for asthma, I rattled off 493.90 without hesitation, and he looked at the customer he was helping and said, "Man, I'm gonna miss her." *Happy sigh.*
Last one, and this one reeks of my pride, but so be it: as I was leaving yesterday, George was closing, and I suggested he turn off most of the lights while he was counting out front because I've found that discourages people from thinking we're still open and banging on the door while you're trying to count the till and stuff. I.e., I was trying to help him from my experience. Instead of thanking me, he just said, "take care." He was mad because he thinks he already knows everything. As I was driving out from around back, what do I see but a car pull up, a guy get out, look uncertainly for a minute, go up to the door, and George have to come to the door and tell him we were closed!
And oh, yes, I laughed. I laughed quite hard.
Fourteen days, five hours left.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Turkey Dumplings--for using those leftovers
So I'm really trying to be innovative and thrifty, and since we got to keep all the leftovers from last week (HECK YEAH), I was looking up recipes for using leftover turkey, tried this one, and really, really liked it. The link, if you want to tweak the servings or see the nutrition facts, is http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Turkey-Dumplings/Detail.aspx?src=etaf.
Turkey Dumplings
INGREDIENTS
1 pound cooked, chopped turkey meat
3 cups water
salt and pepper to taste
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 (12 ounce) package refrigerated biscuit dough
DIRECTIONS
Place the turkey, water, salt and pepper in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30 to 40 minutes, or until a broth has formed.
Spread flour on a medium cutting board or other flat surface. Roll out biscuit dough and cut it into 1x2 inch pieces. Drop the pieces into the broth and cook over low heat approximately 15 minutes.
1 pound cooked, chopped turkey meat
3 cups water
salt and pepper to taste
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 (12 ounce) package refrigerated biscuit dough
DIRECTIONS
Place the turkey, water, salt and pepper in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30 to 40 minutes, or until a broth has formed.
Spread flour on a medium cutting board or other flat surface. Roll out biscuit dough and cut it into 1x2 inch pieces. Drop the pieces into the broth and cook over low heat approximately 15 minutes.
My modifications: I added a chicken boullion (however you spell it) cube to the water for extra flavor, as well as some garlic powder and dried minced onions. I had a box of Bisquick mix, so I just mixed up some of that (so easy, just add water) for the dumplings. The box had directions on the back--a good staple to have around. I made one-inch balls and rolled them in flour.
I was wary about this one because it's more labor-intensive than the turkey dogs or macaroni I've often been resorting to lately, but we both really liked it, and it wasn't hard. It's kind of pathetic how happy I am that it turned out well. Let me know if any of you try it, and I hope you like it if you do!
P.S. I have 18 work days left, or less than four work weeks!
P.S. Elizabeth had her baby last night! She was 7 lbs 1 oz and I think 19 in long.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
A Moment of Thanks
I know it tends to sound cheesy or smarmy, but I do want to take a few minutes to put on paper (so to speak) some of the many things I have to be thankful for, and not just let tomorrow pass in laziness and gluttony (well, those will be included anyway) without remembering WHY we have the holiday. It bugs me when people call it Turkey Day, just like it does when people say X-mas. To me, that's omitting the very reason of the holiday from its title.
And so much more. I hope we all can make an effort tomorrow to see beyond the parades, the Black Friday sales ads, and the massive amounts of yummy food. I want to remember to think about Whom all our blessings come from, and to take a more lingering look at those around us whom we share them with. I hope you all have a warm, wonderful day of thanksgiving.
1. The gospel, my Father in Heaven, His Son, and the Spirit He allows to dwell with us when we try to be worthy of Him. In this insane world, I don't even want to think where I'd be without them.
2. My husband. I'm still truly in awe that the Lord blessed me with such an incredible man to spend eternity with. I love him more every day.
3. Baby Jamie on the way. In a lot of ways he seems like just a theory, but he'll be real enough very soon. I'm scared of how our lives will change, but I know he's going to be an incredible blessing to us. Already is.
4. We have (well, rent) a beautiful home that meets our needs and that we can afford, even if we would prefer something cheaper. It's homey and comfortable, and there is plenty of love there.
5. We have food to eat, even nutritious and tasty food. Not everyone does. Not everyone will sit down to a beautiful, delicious meal with loved ones tomorrow.
6. Jobs, and opportunities to still have money even when I quit mine. I know I complain a lot about my job, but I'm still grateful to have a way to make money, and that I've been well enough through my pregnancy to continue to do so.
7. Family. We couldn't get along without both sets of parents helping us, not only in financial matters but with unending love and support. We both are blessed with such good, wonderful families.
8. Friends. We don't have many, but the people in our lives with that title personify the meaning of the word.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Travel: Fun but exhausting (when you're prego anyway).
I told Jason before I went to California, "I can't wait to go, but it will be time to go before I know it, and then again before I know it, the whole trip will be over and I'll be remembering before I went, how I thought it would never come." So it goes.
It was too short, really. First of all, it was AWESOME taking an order for oxygen (SUCH a pain) from a snotty nurse at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday at work and think to myself, "Go right ahead and send that. Doesn't bother me. I WON'T BE HERE!" Oh man. That rocked.
Highlights from the trip: The flight attendant was way nice to me, got me two seats to myself on my first flight so I didn't have to fight for the armrest. Friday: my mom and I shopped till we nearly dropped, but we got good Christmas/baby stuff, had a lot of fun, and I'm excited about some of the stuff we got for Jason. I hope he likes it. Then we went home and I finished last year's Christmas presents for Sam and Christy, then I went to Sam's house to see them.
Before I left, Rob told me to be really, really careful because I was driving for two, and that got me all nervous. So I tried to follow speed limits and stuff, but people can be so obnoxious, pulling up on your bumper and zooming around you and cutting you off...and driving home from Sam's was even worse, I was so dang tired and lonely, and it's winding and secluded for the first part of it. But it was fun being there. Sam is such a good mom, and Gage is so cute and sweet. I read him a story, so much fun. It was cool to watch Sam and Billy being parents and take lessons from them, and to get a taste of what life will be like post-newborn stage.
The baby shower on Saturday was really fun. Beforehand, my dad took me to the See's store and we got some thank-you gifts for the Coxes for flying me out and throwing the shower for me. (Doesn't even begin to cover my gratitude, but best I could think of.) So I was glad to have something for them, and it was cool hanging out with my dad for a little while.
This is everyone sitting around and gabbing. We also played three games, the one where you try to memorize baby stuff on a tray, guess how big the mom's tummy is (mine was almost exactly ten squares of toilet paper), and smell-then-guess-the-baby-food. A few smelled HORRIBLE, and some were so hard to guess. Did you know they have turkey and macaroni-and-cheese baby foods now?? Blechhk!
After the shower, we got In-N-Out for dinner, and I actually had a really good time lying in bed (I really did not feel good) and enjoying cable tv for awhile again. I do miss TLC and the Discovery Channel.
Sunday, went to just Sacrament meeting so I could get to the airport--Rob took me. It was funny, we cut across the chapel afterwards, and nice ladies that I've known forever in the ward kept stopping me to talk, and I said "January 20th" about 20 times. :) Rob had to just kind of stand there and smile every time, but he was a good sport about it. Then I packed and re-packed and re-packed my suitcase, trying to get my most favorite presents in without going over 50 pounds. (So sad that only one suitcase is free now. Boo.) At the airport, Rob went in with me to check in, and the suitcase was 49.5 lbs. The lady looked annoyed for some reason, but we were happy! :)
Flight from SLC to IF got cancelled, had to spend an extra 5-6 hours in the airport waiting for a standby, really sucked, but that's water under the bridge now.
All in all, it was a short but great trip. I just can't wait to go back for Christmas and have Jason with me to enjoy it all! Thanks again to everyone who came to the shower, and who I got to spend time with, and everything!
Next on the list: clean the house like crazy for Jason's parents and sister coming for Thanksgiving. Janelle is allergic to cats, and I am scared to death that our fur-covered house :P is going to send her into some kind of coma the minutes she walks in the door...
It was too short, really. First of all, it was AWESOME taking an order for oxygen (SUCH a pain) from a snotty nurse at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday at work and think to myself, "Go right ahead and send that. Doesn't bother me. I WON'T BE HERE!" Oh man. That rocked.
Highlights from the trip: The flight attendant was way nice to me, got me two seats to myself on my first flight so I didn't have to fight for the armrest. Friday: my mom and I shopped till we nearly dropped, but we got good Christmas/baby stuff, had a lot of fun, and I'm excited about some of the stuff we got for Jason. I hope he likes it. Then we went home and I finished last year's Christmas presents for Sam and Christy, then I went to Sam's house to see them.
Before I left, Rob told me to be really, really careful because I was driving for two, and that got me all nervous. So I tried to follow speed limits and stuff, but people can be so obnoxious, pulling up on your bumper and zooming around you and cutting you off...and driving home from Sam's was even worse, I was so dang tired and lonely, and it's winding and secluded for the first part of it. But it was fun being there. Sam is such a good mom, and Gage is so cute and sweet. I read him a story, so much fun. It was cool to watch Sam and Billy being parents and take lessons from them, and to get a taste of what life will be like post-newborn stage.
The baby shower on Saturday was really fun. Beforehand, my dad took me to the See's store and we got some thank-you gifts for the Coxes for flying me out and throwing the shower for me. (Doesn't even begin to cover my gratitude, but best I could think of.) So I was glad to have something for them, and it was cool hanging out with my dad for a little while.
How cool is this? A "cake" made out of disposable diapers, decorated with ribbon, little gifts, blue flowers, and my baby picture at the top! Everyone was so impressed by it. (And the flour and sugar cake, behind it, was SO good.) Sad, though, I was having serious indigestion issues for some reason, so I didn't even get to taste most of the food they brought :( I'm sure it was great, though!
This is everyone sitting around and gabbing. We also played three games, the one where you try to memorize baby stuff on a tray, guess how big the mom's tummy is (mine was almost exactly ten squares of toilet paper), and smell-then-guess-the-baby-food. A few smelled HORRIBLE, and some were so hard to guess. Did you know they have turkey and macaroni-and-cheese baby foods now?? Blechhk!
Me, opening some presents. People were so nice and generous. I got mostly clothes, and everything was so cute! I should have been more careful, though; I did move up to the couch, but all the bending forward to reach for them, I guess just combined with the whole day's events, totally did me in for the rest of the night. I was so worn out, I felt pitiful! :)
Probably my favorite picture from the whole thing--me with Liz, my cousin. (And my mom in the background, who would probably be mad if she knew she was on here, but I think she looks cute. :)) I gave her her presents since I couldn't be at her baby shower, and it was fun to kind of feel like I transported myself to hers during mine :) She's due Dec. 4th, having a girl!
After the shower, we got In-N-Out for dinner, and I actually had a really good time lying in bed (I really did not feel good) and enjoying cable tv for awhile again. I do miss TLC and the Discovery Channel.
Sunday, went to just Sacrament meeting so I could get to the airport--Rob took me. It was funny, we cut across the chapel afterwards, and nice ladies that I've known forever in the ward kept stopping me to talk, and I said "January 20th" about 20 times. :) Rob had to just kind of stand there and smile every time, but he was a good sport about it. Then I packed and re-packed and re-packed my suitcase, trying to get my most favorite presents in without going over 50 pounds. (So sad that only one suitcase is free now. Boo.) At the airport, Rob went in with me to check in, and the suitcase was 49.5 lbs. The lady looked annoyed for some reason, but we were happy! :)
Flight from SLC to IF got cancelled, had to spend an extra 5-6 hours in the airport waiting for a standby, really sucked, but that's water under the bridge now.
All in all, it was a short but great trip. I just can't wait to go back for Christmas and have Jason with me to enjoy it all! Thanks again to everyone who came to the shower, and who I got to spend time with, and everything!
Next on the list: clean the house like crazy for Jason's parents and sister coming for Thanksgiving. Janelle is allergic to cats, and I am scared to death that our fur-covered house :P is going to send her into some kind of coma the minutes she walks in the door...
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Hee, Hee, HOO!
That's the breathing Jason is supposed to lead me in if I feel like I need to push during a contraction and I'm not supposed to for some reason. I thought it was more or less a thing the movies had made up, and I felt like such a goof. :)
The childbirth class was interesting. We learned how to time contractions (from beginning of one to beginning of the next is "how far apart" they are), when to go to the hospital (when they're five minutes apart for one hour), some relaxation techniques (hard to know whether you were doing it right, as there wasn't any pain to distract yourself from), got to watch Bill Cosby's "natural childbirth" routine while we ate our lunches, then learned some basics of baby care (it's harder than it looks to swaddle a baby, lemme tell ya), and took a tour of the maternity wing of the hospital. It was cool to see where I'll be giving birth in a couple of months-ish. Of course there was lots more information too. It's nice to feel that much more prepared for all this, and I'm sure it will feel extra reassuring when I'm actually there. Oh, and Jason claims that with the nurse's supervision, he will give Jamie his first bath instead of watching her do it, like the instructor (a nurse at the hospital) says dad usually opt to do. He likes a challenge.
I can feel Jamie's movements much more dramatically now; he's getting big and space is obviously limited in there. I read that it's more elbows and knees that I'm feeling now than hands and feet. And this boy already has a routine. Every morning at 4:30 or 5, he's wide awake and playing, probably a kung-fu game. Seriously, kaboom, bam, bam, bam! It's a crack-up. I fall asleep at 9:45 or 10 p.m. lately, sometimes even earlier (also, the devil and his ice hockey team have made the junior league championships--crazy!), and yet I still can't even get eight hours in on the weekdays because I just always wake up at that time and usually lose at least an hour trying to get back to sleep. Once I do, it's Max who is up and wanting us to play with him, and between his racket and Jason kicking him out, sleeping time is over. But I haven't been too tired, so it's just a silly kind of thing--we're old boring people now, going to bed WAY early even on weekends, and what good does it really do? :)
On Thursday I embark for Sacramento, and I can't WAIT!! It's going to be so awesome for my mom (and Rob and my dad, if they want to) to finally get to feel her grandbaby, and to go shopping and go out to eat and stuff with her, to hang out with my fam, to see my friends and have a baby shower with my wonderful extended family! Just getting to see so many people I love, after living here with hardly anyone I even know, is going to be so...re-energizing? That's not the word I want, but there's the evidence that pregnancy absentmindedness is no myth.
The childbirth class was interesting. We learned how to time contractions (from beginning of one to beginning of the next is "how far apart" they are), when to go to the hospital (when they're five minutes apart for one hour), some relaxation techniques (hard to know whether you were doing it right, as there wasn't any pain to distract yourself from), got to watch Bill Cosby's "natural childbirth" routine while we ate our lunches, then learned some basics of baby care (it's harder than it looks to swaddle a baby, lemme tell ya), and took a tour of the maternity wing of the hospital. It was cool to see where I'll be giving birth in a couple of months-ish. Of course there was lots more information too. It's nice to feel that much more prepared for all this, and I'm sure it will feel extra reassuring when I'm actually there. Oh, and Jason claims that with the nurse's supervision, he will give Jamie his first bath instead of watching her do it, like the instructor (a nurse at the hospital) says dad usually opt to do. He likes a challenge.
I can feel Jamie's movements much more dramatically now; he's getting big and space is obviously limited in there. I read that it's more elbows and knees that I'm feeling now than hands and feet. And this boy already has a routine. Every morning at 4:30 or 5, he's wide awake and playing, probably a kung-fu game. Seriously, kaboom, bam, bam, bam! It's a crack-up. I fall asleep at 9:45 or 10 p.m. lately, sometimes even earlier (also, the devil and his ice hockey team have made the junior league championships--crazy!), and yet I still can't even get eight hours in on the weekdays because I just always wake up at that time and usually lose at least an hour trying to get back to sleep. Once I do, it's Max who is up and wanting us to play with him, and between his racket and Jason kicking him out, sleeping time is over. But I haven't been too tired, so it's just a silly kind of thing--we're old boring people now, going to bed WAY early even on weekends, and what good does it really do? :)
On Thursday I embark for Sacramento, and I can't WAIT!! It's going to be so awesome for my mom (and Rob and my dad, if they want to) to finally get to feel her grandbaby, and to go shopping and go out to eat and stuff with her, to hang out with my fam, to see my friends and have a baby shower with my wonderful extended family! Just getting to see so many people I love, after living here with hardly anyone I even know, is going to be so...re-energizing? That's not the word I want, but there's the evidence that pregnancy absentmindedness is no myth.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Oh yeah, I made a blanket!
Just a tie blanket for baby, but I'm proud. I found a remnant in the perfect colors for the nursery and got directions on how to do it from a friend's blog (Thanks, Lauren!). I might make a fleece tie quilt out of what's left.
I'm the worst employee ever.
I do NOT want to work today. Most other people around here have expressed the same opinion. Every time I've tried, I just stare hopelessly at my paperwork, unable to make sense of it. I'm tired and my head hurts. I fell asleep during my lunch hour and stumbled back late and now my eyes are really blurry. I want to go home but I can't. Wah wah wah.
The manager had to stay home with his sick kid, then I just found out one of our back-up customer service people (she doesn't do intakes but can watch the front) went home sick while I was at lunch. I should have acted faster if I wanted a slot, because they're all taken now. :(
At 5 o'clock, I will have seven work weeks left. Actually less because next week I get half of Thursday and all of Friday off to go to Sac-Town for my shower (a million times yay; I'm just too tired to type with exclamation points, it would be misleading), and I get Thanksgiving and I believe New Year's off. I am SO GLAD I have a countdown to keep me going, it's my mantra now.
I'm ok. I've just worked really hard this week and I think it's catching up to me. And be proud, I went back and read what I'd written and decided to take out the bitterness. :D In about 1/2 an hour I'm gone and we're getting a Papa Murphy's pizza and trying out that pomegranate 7-Up and watching Gilmore Girls. HECK YEAH. :)
The manager had to stay home with his sick kid, then I just found out one of our back-up customer service people (she doesn't do intakes but can watch the front) went home sick while I was at lunch. I should have acted faster if I wanted a slot, because they're all taken now. :(
At 5 o'clock, I will have seven work weeks left. Actually less because next week I get half of Thursday and all of Friday off to go to Sac-Town for my shower (a million times yay; I'm just too tired to type with exclamation points, it would be misleading), and I get Thanksgiving and I believe New Year's off. I am SO GLAD I have a countdown to keep me going, it's my mantra now.
I'm ok. I've just worked really hard this week and I think it's catching up to me. And be proud, I went back and read what I'd written and decided to take out the bitterness. :D In about 1/2 an hour I'm gone and we're getting a Papa Murphy's pizza and trying out that pomegranate 7-Up and watching Gilmore Girls. HECK YEAH. :)
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Tagged, I'm it!
I see people doing the different tag games on their blogs, but I've never tried it because I've never been tagged. (People probably realize correctly that I can be lame about that.) But I did my entry and then went looking at my other usuals, and noticed that Sarah Matson tagged me in hers on the 8 one, so what the hey!
8 TV shows I like to watch:
1. Gilmore Girls (Netflix, addicted)
2. The Biggest Loser (we get one channel on our rabbit ears, thank goodness it's NBC!)
3. I Love Lucy (DVD)
4. The Andy Griffith Show (have a few VHS episodes)
5. M*A*S*H (at parents' house, they have the DVDs)
6. What Not to Wear (can't, no cable)
7. The Simpsons (DVD)
8. Monk (can't, no cable)
(I realized I missed one category somehow and thought I'd add this in even though it's after the fact)
8 Favorite Restaurants
1. Bajio Mexican Grill
2. Johnny Carino's
3. Red Robin
4. Kim's Chinese in Rancho Cordova
5. Taco Bell (yeah-huh it's a restaurant!)
6. Las Cauelas Nuevas, an authentic Mexican place in La Quinta, CA whose name I just had to Google because I couldn't remember it for the life of me
7. Outback
8. Olive Garden
Okay, that sucked, because we can't afford to go out much and now I want to eat at all these places...
8 things that happened yesterday:
1. A co-worker gave me a 50-cents-off coupon for baby wipes.
2. Another co-worker and I pretended, yet again, that we didn't have a confrontation with each other the day before and nothing got resolved, but we got through the day.
3. We got frighteningly slammed, were ridiculously short-handed, and I did two intakes in a row, the bili blanket one started before I'd finished up the walker one.
4. I got approved to actually keep my hour and a half of overtime instead of having to work it off with longer lunches. Yay $16 extra.
5. I actually bought food on my lunch and discovered that I LOVE the turkey club pita roll-up at Arctic Circle. And I got to talk to Sam on my lunch hour.
6. We went to Idaho Falls after work, grocery shopped, and started our baby registries at Target and Wal-Mart.
7. I used the coupon and bought my first pack of baby wipes.
8. I discovered how confusing it is to try to make a registry when you don't know what you're going to need and the stores really don't have good selections!
8 things I'm looking forward to:
1. Having my baby here with me, finally getting to meet him, being a family with him and Jason.
2. Being done with my job FOREVER!
3. Going home and seeing family and friends Nov. 13, having my baby shower with my family Nov. 15!
4. Thanksgiving, Jason's parents and Janelle coming!
5. Christmas season! Christmas decorations! CHRISTMAS MUSIC! CHRISTMAS!!
6. 2nd baby shower with friends!
7. When Jason graduates and hopefully gets into the seminary program so we'll be more stable.
8. The BYU-I Symphony Orchestra Halloween Concert on Oct. 30!
8 things on my wish list:
1. To have a healthy baby naturally, close to or on my due date
2. To not look like I've had a baby after I have the baby
3. To be able to go to my parents' for Christmas with no problems
4. To have the time between now and when I'm done with work fly by
5. To live close to my family without going bankrupt or living in a ghetto, and while allowing my husband to have a career he will love
6. To be a good mom
7. To never have to work while we're raising our family
8. To never have to be without Jason in this life
8 People I am Tagging:
1. Christy
2. Crystal
3. Sam
4. Liz
5. Stacy
6. Adrienne
7. Anyone else who wants to!
8.
8 TV shows I like to watch:
1. Gilmore Girls (Netflix, addicted)
2. The Biggest Loser (we get one channel on our rabbit ears, thank goodness it's NBC!)
3. I Love Lucy (DVD)
4. The Andy Griffith Show (have a few VHS episodes)
5. M*A*S*H (at parents' house, they have the DVDs)
6. What Not to Wear (can't, no cable)
7. The Simpsons (DVD)
8. Monk (can't, no cable)
(I realized I missed one category somehow and thought I'd add this in even though it's after the fact)
8 Favorite Restaurants
1. Bajio Mexican Grill
2. Johnny Carino's
3. Red Robin
4. Kim's Chinese in Rancho Cordova
5. Taco Bell (yeah-huh it's a restaurant!)
6. Las Cauelas Nuevas, an authentic Mexican place in La Quinta, CA whose name I just had to Google because I couldn't remember it for the life of me
7. Outback
8. Olive Garden
Okay, that sucked, because we can't afford to go out much and now I want to eat at all these places...
8 things that happened yesterday:
1. A co-worker gave me a 50-cents-off coupon for baby wipes.
2. Another co-worker and I pretended, yet again, that we didn't have a confrontation with each other the day before and nothing got resolved, but we got through the day.
3. We got frighteningly slammed, were ridiculously short-handed, and I did two intakes in a row, the bili blanket one started before I'd finished up the walker one.
4. I got approved to actually keep my hour and a half of overtime instead of having to work it off with longer lunches. Yay $16 extra.
5. I actually bought food on my lunch and discovered that I LOVE the turkey club pita roll-up at Arctic Circle. And I got to talk to Sam on my lunch hour.
6. We went to Idaho Falls after work, grocery shopped, and started our baby registries at Target and Wal-Mart.
7. I used the coupon and bought my first pack of baby wipes.
8. I discovered how confusing it is to try to make a registry when you don't know what you're going to need and the stores really don't have good selections!
8 things I'm looking forward to:
1. Having my baby here with me, finally getting to meet him, being a family with him and Jason.
2. Being done with my job FOREVER!
3. Going home and seeing family and friends Nov. 13, having my baby shower with my family Nov. 15!
4. Thanksgiving, Jason's parents and Janelle coming!
5. Christmas season! Christmas decorations! CHRISTMAS MUSIC! CHRISTMAS!!
6. 2nd baby shower with friends!
7. When Jason graduates and hopefully gets into the seminary program so we'll be more stable.
8. The BYU-I Symphony Orchestra Halloween Concert on Oct. 30!
8 things on my wish list:
1. To have a healthy baby naturally, close to or on my due date
2. To not look like I've had a baby after I have the baby
3. To be able to go to my parents' for Christmas with no problems
4. To have the time between now and when I'm done with work fly by
5. To live close to my family without going bankrupt or living in a ghetto, and while allowing my husband to have a career he will love
6. To be a good mom
7. To never have to work while we're raising our family
8. To never have to be without Jason in this life
8 People I am Tagging:
1. Christy
2. Crystal
3. Sam
4. Liz
5. Stacy
6. Adrienne
7. Anyone else who wants to!
8.
About to hit 6 months
I've been thinking about it this week, and I need to say that I sincerely hope I didn't offend anyone in my previous entry by the way I expressed my beliefs. I can't take them back or change them, because they are indeed my beliefs, but I know I can be abrasive in how I express them sometimes. I know that I have a long way to go in showing more love and understanding, and less anger about issues like this.
I finally put up a new baby bump pic, but it doesn't show how big I feel sometimes. Some days I'll think, "haven't I always had a belly like this?" And other days I look in the mirror and just go, "?!?!" I still wake up nearly every morning and have to remember all over again that, holy cow, I'm pregnant.
I have lots of good news this round:
I don't know that I ever mentioned that only four weeks from today, I will get to have a baby shower with my whole extended family!! My Aunt Linda and cousins Heather, Julie, and Elizabeth are flying me out to California and giving me a shower! I am SO EXCITED! I mean, of course it's going to be great to get much-needed help on providing for the baby, but I also just can't wait to see everyone and to get away from work and Idaho for a few days! We have very few friends here, and no family whatsoever, so I just can't wait to be around people who actually care. I wish I could express how grateful I am to Aunt Linda, Heather, Julie, and Liz. I wish I could buy them a vacation home in Tahiti. I'm still trying to think of something I can do for them to show them, but so far I just keep praying that the Lord will shower them with blessings for how much they bless me. They are unbelievably wonderful! I can't say that enough!
Next big yay: Jason's parents and sister, Janelle, are coming to spend Thanksgiving with us, at our place! We were wondering what we'd do about TG so we wouldn't have to spend it alone, and we're excited that we actually get to host someone else for once. I feel like I lead dual lives, like a spy: I go home and stay at my parents', I see my friends, and they suppose I must have my own place somewhere, but no one in CA has ever seen any of the other places I've lived in. I've never gotten to show my friends my cute armchair, or that picture or that rug or whatever. And we can never contribute by hosting a holiday or even a gathering; so we're excited to be able to do that. I can't wait for my family to come up and see us when the baby's born, either. Anyway, Thanksgiving should be warm and cozy and full of good food (that I will not have to attempt making all by myself--Hallelujah!!), and then Robert and Cheryl said they want to take us baby shopping before they leave. Fun!!
Next: I got the week of Christmas off! I didn't think they'd let me! So I called the Sutter billing office in Sacramento and found out that--more great news--they have a provider number with Idaho Medicaid, so that if I happened to go into labor while at my parents', we wouldn't be stuck with a huge medical bill for the delivery! So basically, if we can get plane tickets with an airline that will still allow me to fly after I'm 36 weeks (I hit that mark on Christmas Eve, darnit), and if no complications arise before then, if I'm not dilated, etc., etc., WE CAN GO TO MY PARENTS' HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS!!!
See, I look forward to Christmas for months and months; I LOVE it. And I've never spent it anywhere but at home. The idea of being here, just the two of us, with no family for it...well, that's like a personal nightmare for me. (I love Jason, but we get to be "just the two of us" all the time. Don't worry, he gets it and feels the same.) So this was really, really great news. Now I just have fingers and toes crossed that my pregnancy will continue to go well so that nothing will get in the way of us and that plane!
So, I actually have some things to look forward to! A month or so ago, I really felt like there wasn't anything. We knew we couldn't go very far for Thanksgiving, and our last one really stunk (we both had to work). Christmas was a big fat question mark. (Still kind of is, but I'm trying not to think that way. Even if we can't go, at least we'll get to see both sets of parents beforehand.) When you're so far away from everyone, it means a lot to have opportunities like this.
As for the pregnancy, really can't complain. I've probably gained about 12 or 13 pounds by now, and in a few more days I'll hit the six months mark. Then I'll officially be in the home stretch! (With no marks to show it. None yet. Hope, hope, hope.) No swelling, only some achiness and tiredness if I overdo it, and my muscles pull easily. I've actually felt pretty energetic most of the time lately. That will probably dwindle soon; I'm having to use the bathroom more in the last week or so. Every single night, I dream about the kicks I feel becoming visual: I see an actual foot shape poking out of my abdomen, and in the dreams, I can actually grab the little foot through my skin. Then I can usually see in there, see the baby, which is what I wish could happen every day.
Last night, I dreamt that I could see him and he was a little light brown baby, because I had apparently married Barack Obama. I was very happy to see Jason and not Barack next to me when I woke up.
Wow, this has been long. I'm probably boring all you poor people to death.
Oh! One more! Sam and Christy want to give me another shower for my friends when (if :S) I'm home for Christmas! How fun will that be! I miss all my friends so much, it will be awesome! And they are so awesome for wanting to do that for me!
I am so blessed. I have wonderful, amazing family and friends, I have the Lord, I have an incredible husband...I'm so blessed.
I finally put up a new baby bump pic, but it doesn't show how big I feel sometimes. Some days I'll think, "haven't I always had a belly like this?" And other days I look in the mirror and just go, "?!?!" I still wake up nearly every morning and have to remember all over again that, holy cow, I'm pregnant.
I have lots of good news this round:
I don't know that I ever mentioned that only four weeks from today, I will get to have a baby shower with my whole extended family!! My Aunt Linda and cousins Heather, Julie, and Elizabeth are flying me out to California and giving me a shower! I am SO EXCITED! I mean, of course it's going to be great to get much-needed help on providing for the baby, but I also just can't wait to see everyone and to get away from work and Idaho for a few days! We have very few friends here, and no family whatsoever, so I just can't wait to be around people who actually care. I wish I could express how grateful I am to Aunt Linda, Heather, Julie, and Liz. I wish I could buy them a vacation home in Tahiti. I'm still trying to think of something I can do for them to show them, but so far I just keep praying that the Lord will shower them with blessings for how much they bless me. They are unbelievably wonderful! I can't say that enough!
Next big yay: Jason's parents and sister, Janelle, are coming to spend Thanksgiving with us, at our place! We were wondering what we'd do about TG so we wouldn't have to spend it alone, and we're excited that we actually get to host someone else for once. I feel like I lead dual lives, like a spy: I go home and stay at my parents', I see my friends, and they suppose I must have my own place somewhere, but no one in CA has ever seen any of the other places I've lived in. I've never gotten to show my friends my cute armchair, or that picture or that rug or whatever. And we can never contribute by hosting a holiday or even a gathering; so we're excited to be able to do that. I can't wait for my family to come up and see us when the baby's born, either. Anyway, Thanksgiving should be warm and cozy and full of good food (that I will not have to attempt making all by myself--Hallelujah!!), and then Robert and Cheryl said they want to take us baby shopping before they leave. Fun!!
Next: I got the week of Christmas off! I didn't think they'd let me! So I called the Sutter billing office in Sacramento and found out that--more great news--they have a provider number with Idaho Medicaid, so that if I happened to go into labor while at my parents', we wouldn't be stuck with a huge medical bill for the delivery! So basically, if we can get plane tickets with an airline that will still allow me to fly after I'm 36 weeks (I hit that mark on Christmas Eve, darnit), and if no complications arise before then, if I'm not dilated, etc., etc., WE CAN GO TO MY PARENTS' HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS!!!
See, I look forward to Christmas for months and months; I LOVE it. And I've never spent it anywhere but at home. The idea of being here, just the two of us, with no family for it...well, that's like a personal nightmare for me. (I love Jason, but we get to be "just the two of us" all the time. Don't worry, he gets it and feels the same.) So this was really, really great news. Now I just have fingers and toes crossed that my pregnancy will continue to go well so that nothing will get in the way of us and that plane!
So, I actually have some things to look forward to! A month or so ago, I really felt like there wasn't anything. We knew we couldn't go very far for Thanksgiving, and our last one really stunk (we both had to work). Christmas was a big fat question mark. (Still kind of is, but I'm trying not to think that way. Even if we can't go, at least we'll get to see both sets of parents beforehand.) When you're so far away from everyone, it means a lot to have opportunities like this.
As for the pregnancy, really can't complain. I've probably gained about 12 or 13 pounds by now, and in a few more days I'll hit the six months mark. Then I'll officially be in the home stretch! (With no marks to show it. None yet. Hope, hope, hope.) No swelling, only some achiness and tiredness if I overdo it, and my muscles pull easily. I've actually felt pretty energetic most of the time lately. That will probably dwindle soon; I'm having to use the bathroom more in the last week or so. Every single night, I dream about the kicks I feel becoming visual: I see an actual foot shape poking out of my abdomen, and in the dreams, I can actually grab the little foot through my skin. Then I can usually see in there, see the baby, which is what I wish could happen every day.
Last night, I dreamt that I could see him and he was a little light brown baby, because I had apparently married Barack Obama. I was very happy to see Jason and not Barack next to me when I woke up.
Wow, this has been long. I'm probably boring all you poor people to death.
Oh! One more! Sam and Christy want to give me another shower for my friends when (if :S) I'm home for Christmas! How fun will that be! I miss all my friends so much, it will be awesome! And they are so awesome for wanting to do that for me!
I am so blessed. I have wonderful, amazing family and friends, I have the Lord, I have an incredible husband...I'm so blessed.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Prop 8: More Important Than I Even Realized
I think before, I figured, I'm not in California, so I won't bother saying anything about Prop 8 on here. I'm not in the middle of it.
The fact that Church (LDS) leaders have asked members who don't even live in California to get on their phones, call CA residents, and ask them to vote yes on it, is a big clue to just how important it is.
I wish I knew how to write something really impressive; all I can say is that I have always firmly believed that no matter what new "if it feels good, it must be right" philosophy the adversary plants in people's heads, homosexuality is still absolutely, irrefutably wrong. Giving it any kind of leeway, rights, or tolerance (notice I said "it," not "them") only suggests that it might be acceptable in the smallest way, which it is not. Besides this, giving it tolerance only gives it a chance to get stronger, poison more minds and spirits, and find a way to not only make a mockery of the ways of the Lord, but to attempt to take away the freedoms and blessings He has given to those who strive to follow Him. It disturbs me to the core to read about the possible ramifications if Prop 8 doesn't pass.
I know that the work of God won't be stopped by any unhallowed hand, but those hands could certainly make life a lot more difficult for His followers, and lead this nation to a very frightening place. I personally do not want my children being taught in school (and this would be a requirement for teachers) that two women or two men marrying is just as good as a man and a woman. No. No, no, no. My child will not believe that mommy could do just as well if she were daddy. The very idea is beyond ludicrous. Unthinkable. Horrifying. UNACCEPTABLE.
If this measure doesn't pass, I have absolutely no doubt that Satan will be DELIGHTED and at the same time, laughing scornfully at those who voted it down, after he told them to. He laughs at those who listen to his lies and fall into the traps that he sets for them, but that they choose to be caught in. That's the horrible irony.
"For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good." (2 Nephi 28:20 in the Book of Mormon.)
For some very straightforward and informative facts on the potential ramifications of Prop 8, please look at www.whatisprop8.com and don't let our nation (starting with CA) sink this low.
The fact that Church (LDS) leaders have asked members who don't even live in California to get on their phones, call CA residents, and ask them to vote yes on it, is a big clue to just how important it is.
I wish I knew how to write something really impressive; all I can say is that I have always firmly believed that no matter what new "if it feels good, it must be right" philosophy the adversary plants in people's heads, homosexuality is still absolutely, irrefutably wrong. Giving it any kind of leeway, rights, or tolerance (notice I said "it," not "them") only suggests that it might be acceptable in the smallest way, which it is not. Besides this, giving it tolerance only gives it a chance to get stronger, poison more minds and spirits, and find a way to not only make a mockery of the ways of the Lord, but to attempt to take away the freedoms and blessings He has given to those who strive to follow Him. It disturbs me to the core to read about the possible ramifications if Prop 8 doesn't pass.
I know that the work of God won't be stopped by any unhallowed hand, but those hands could certainly make life a lot more difficult for His followers, and lead this nation to a very frightening place. I personally do not want my children being taught in school (and this would be a requirement for teachers) that two women or two men marrying is just as good as a man and a woman. No. No, no, no. My child will not believe that mommy could do just as well if she were daddy. The very idea is beyond ludicrous. Unthinkable. Horrifying. UNACCEPTABLE.
If this measure doesn't pass, I have absolutely no doubt that Satan will be DELIGHTED and at the same time, laughing scornfully at those who voted it down, after he told them to. He laughs at those who listen to his lies and fall into the traps that he sets for them, but that they choose to be caught in. That's the horrible irony.
"For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good." (2 Nephi 28:20 in the Book of Mormon.)
For some very straightforward and informative facts on the potential ramifications of Prop 8, please look at www.whatisprop8.com and don't let our nation (starting with CA) sink this low.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Halloween Overhaul/The Great Earthworm Massacre of 2008
You like? And is not Judy Garland singing the purple people eater song unexpected and somewhat hilarious?
YAY SEPTEMBER IS OVER! Halloween decorations and music, WOO!
So this morning (and I mean morning) at about 2:45 a.m. I woke up and could not get back to sleep. When the clock was near 4 and I started to get hungry, I decided to get up, eat something, read a little, and try for more sleep later. I went downstairs, and what did I discover but an EARTHWORM, in disgusting pieces, sitting on the carpet by our completely closed back door! (It's been raining here.)
How it got into pieces was no mystery. Both kitties were sitting by, gawking at the remains with their tails twitching. I picked it up with a paper towel and threw it away, had my snack, read some, and went back to bed, wondering how the darn thing got in in the first place. Before I went back upstairs, I noticed Sammy camped out right in front of the door, with his nose practically in the crack. Hmm.
Got up a few hours later and went down again, and it looked the beaches of earthworm Normandy.
Actually, there were probably only two or three, but for how many pieces they were in...
And did you know earthworms aren't like other insects who just seem to have beige-colored guts? They bleed, bright red, and it will get on your carpet. Very inconvenient of them.
So Jason helped me clean it up, and I got to thinking that I felt kind of bad for them. They thought they were getting refuge from the storm, and they come in to face to giant, uncaring, mischievous beasts! I mean, I don't want them in my house, but they're drowning, they escape that, and can't you just see Father Earthworm leading the kids through that crack?
"This way, children. Everything will be all right. We'll be safe in he--[looks up, horror]--go back!!"
"I can't, Daddy, half of me is still outside!"
"GO BACK!! GO BA--AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUGGGHHHH!!!!!"
Yeah, I know I'm weird, but just be glad I didn't take pictures! :)
YAY SEPTEMBER IS OVER! Halloween decorations and music, WOO!
So this morning (and I mean morning) at about 2:45 a.m. I woke up and could not get back to sleep. When the clock was near 4 and I started to get hungry, I decided to get up, eat something, read a little, and try for more sleep later. I went downstairs, and what did I discover but an EARTHWORM, in disgusting pieces, sitting on the carpet by our completely closed back door! (It's been raining here.)
How it got into pieces was no mystery. Both kitties were sitting by, gawking at the remains with their tails twitching. I picked it up with a paper towel and threw it away, had my snack, read some, and went back to bed, wondering how the darn thing got in in the first place. Before I went back upstairs, I noticed Sammy camped out right in front of the door, with his nose practically in the crack. Hmm.
Got up a few hours later and went down again, and it looked the beaches of earthworm Normandy.
Actually, there were probably only two or three, but for how many pieces they were in...
And did you know earthworms aren't like other insects who just seem to have beige-colored guts? They bleed, bright red, and it will get on your carpet. Very inconvenient of them.
So Jason helped me clean it up, and I got to thinking that I felt kind of bad for them. They thought they were getting refuge from the storm, and they come in to face to giant, uncaring, mischievous beasts! I mean, I don't want them in my house, but they're drowning, they escape that, and can't you just see Father Earthworm leading the kids through that crack?
"This way, children. Everything will be all right. We'll be safe in he--[looks up, horror]--go back!!"
"I can't, Daddy, half of me is still outside!"
"GO BACK!! GO BA--AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUGGGHHHH!!!!!"
Yeah, I know I'm weird, but just be glad I didn't take pictures! :)
Sunday, September 28, 2008
The Weekend Update
So I used to feel like a dunce when pregnant women would answer the "how far along are you" question with a count in weeks, because then I'd have to stop, dust off my brain, and try to divide the answer by four to figure out months. But now I get it: when you've got NINE MONTHS of pregnancy you know you have to complete, it's really exciting every time you're able to tick off one more week in the countdown til D-Day. You don't want to have to wait for FOUR of them to go by before you can make some sort of check mark.
It's so crazy how many girls are pregnant and all of us due within a few months of each other.
1. Ally--co-worker--actually popped two weeks ago on Sept. 19, but up until then. (Girl)
2. Beth--co-worker--due Oct. 20. (Boy)
3. Brittany--co-worker--due Nov. 25. (Girl) Some of the customers look downright freaked out by all the pregnant chicks in one store, if enough of us walk by while they're there. It's amusing.
4. Moi. (Boy) I missed the memo and left a gap in Dec. (Or maybe my boss should have hired another girl and made "expecting in late December" one of the qualifications.) But all four of us are even due around the same TIME of our months. Jan 20th for me.
5. Shara--friend from home. Due two or three days after me, I think. (Girl)
6. Ashley--friend from home. (Girl)
7. ******--friend from home--not positive I'm allowed to tell yet. (Don't know yet)
8. Elizabeth--cousin. Due a month a half apart. (Girl)
9. Jamie--old roommate--just had her little boy a week ago.
10. Lauren--old roommate. (Boy)
11. Adrienne--old roommate. (Girl)
12. Kim--old roommate. (Don't know yet)
13. Callie--old roommate, more current friend. (Don't know yet)
Am I forgetting anyone? There are probably more I just don't know about. :)
And the ratio seems to hold here, too. Doesn't it seem like there are way more little girls being born than boys? Our ward is a sea of little girls; finding a boy is like spotting Waldo. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I just hope they can all find worthy husbands someday...
By the way, you don't have to be interested in all this. I'm just thinking out loud (as it were).
To conclude, I'd like to say that my cat, Max, is lounging on the computer desk in front of me, and he very nearly fell off just now while letting out a luxurious stretch and yawn.
It's so crazy how many girls are pregnant and all of us due within a few months of each other.
1. Ally--co-worker--actually popped two weeks ago on Sept. 19, but up until then. (Girl)
2. Beth--co-worker--due Oct. 20. (Boy)
3. Brittany--co-worker--due Nov. 25. (Girl) Some of the customers look downright freaked out by all the pregnant chicks in one store, if enough of us walk by while they're there. It's amusing.
4. Moi. (Boy) I missed the memo and left a gap in Dec. (Or maybe my boss should have hired another girl and made "expecting in late December" one of the qualifications.) But all four of us are even due around the same TIME of our months. Jan 20th for me.
5. Shara--friend from home. Due two or three days after me, I think. (Girl)
6. Ashley--friend from home. (Girl)
7. ******--friend from home--not positive I'm allowed to tell yet. (Don't know yet)
8. Elizabeth--cousin. Due a month a half apart. (Girl)
9. Jamie--old roommate--just had her little boy a week ago.
10. Lauren--old roommate. (Boy)
11. Adrienne--old roommate. (Girl)
12. Kim--old roommate. (Don't know yet)
13. Callie--old roommate, more current friend. (Don't know yet)
Am I forgetting anyone? There are probably more I just don't know about. :)
And the ratio seems to hold here, too. Doesn't it seem like there are way more little girls being born than boys? Our ward is a sea of little girls; finding a boy is like spotting Waldo. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I just hope they can all find worthy husbands someday...
By the way, you don't have to be interested in all this. I'm just thinking out loud (as it were).
To conclude, I'd like to say that my cat, Max, is lounging on the computer desk in front of me, and he very nearly fell off just now while letting out a luxurious stretch and yawn.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Bring on the advice!
Any of you who have children or at least experience with children--I don't. At my mom's urging, I'm starting to really think about getting baby furniture soon (although it feels weird, like I'm jumping the gun, being silly), and I get confused about things. Like...
...whether I need a bassinet, crib, or both right away, or just a bassinet first, or just get a crib and skip the bassinet, exactly why a bassinet is a good thing (I just don't know either way), whether I should pick out a changing table with a drawer (seems more convenient, but what if it doesn't matter?), whether I should just get a chest of drawers and use the top of it for a changing table, or maybe a crib with a built-in changing table to save space, whether I should get a cheaper crib that doesn't go from crib to day bed to full-size bed since we already have my old twin from single days and it's in great shape, etc., etc....
...and that's only the furniture worries. Then there's the world of pacifier brands.
See what I mean?
Honestly, I would truly appreciate any advice everyone can give me on these things. The main objectives are:
1) Save money without sacrificing quality.
2) Spend a little extra if necessary to get stuff that will last (not fall apart so we just have to spend more money replacing it later) and that will be useful (i.e., the drawer thing: if it will really make life after baby that much easier, I'll spend some more money on it).
So, let the advice fly! Baby and I thank you!! :)
...whether I need a bassinet, crib, or both right away, or just a bassinet first, or just get a crib and skip the bassinet, exactly why a bassinet is a good thing (I just don't know either way), whether I should pick out a changing table with a drawer (seems more convenient, but what if it doesn't matter?), whether I should just get a chest of drawers and use the top of it for a changing table, or maybe a crib with a built-in changing table to save space, whether I should get a cheaper crib that doesn't go from crib to day bed to full-size bed since we already have my old twin from single days and it's in great shape, etc., etc....
...and that's only the furniture worries. Then there's the world of pacifier brands.
See what I mean?
Honestly, I would truly appreciate any advice everyone can give me on these things. The main objectives are:
1) Save money without sacrificing quality.
2) Spend a little extra if necessary to get stuff that will last (not fall apart so we just have to spend more money replacing it later) and that will be useful (i.e., the drawer thing: if it will really make life after baby that much easier, I'll spend some more money on it).
So, let the advice fly! Baby and I thank you!! :)
Sunday, September 14, 2008
The Case Against September (a sort of essay-style rant)
By the way, I finished the Twilight series, all of it. And sorry, Stephanie Myer is just not JK Rowling. I still don't think it can hold a candle to Harry Potter. Interesting, intriguing, worth reading, all yes. But not the page-turner I expected it to be. Which is fine, I'm just glad other people enjoyed it so much. I'm glad I didn't buy all the books yet, though. Library waiting list has worked out just fine (and cheap!).
Well, I don't have much else to say, and you know why? The obvious reasons, such as: all I do pretty much is work at my icky job, and: we hardly have any friends (and plus we're not too social with those friends, giving lameness where our lameness is due), but also because it is one of my two least favorite months: September.
There is nothing exciting about September. Fall is coming, but it's not here yet, and the idea of it can be depressing if you live in Rexburg, Idaho and know you have to intentionally enjoy driving on pavement rather than an ice rink while you still can. It's too early to decorate for Halloween or listen to Halloween music, because you'll wear it out and get sick of it. There are no holidays. Look on a calendar; September is the month of school. You'll see pencils, rulers, apples. And even if I could be excited about school starting, well, I can't, because I don't get to go to school anymore. Jason does, but that means more time for homework and less time for me. Wah.
So, yeah. I don't sit stewing about it all day, I just felt like making a case on here. But this and January (it's still icky winter, and there is no Christmas to make it worth it) are for sure my least favorite months out of the year. Green Day put it best: Wake me up when September ends. I'm really glad it's nearly half-over.
One happy thought, though: this coming January, I'll definitely have something to look forward to! :)
Well, I don't have much else to say, and you know why? The obvious reasons, such as: all I do pretty much is work at my icky job, and: we hardly have any friends (and plus we're not too social with those friends, giving lameness where our lameness is due), but also because it is one of my two least favorite months: September.
There is nothing exciting about September. Fall is coming, but it's not here yet, and the idea of it can be depressing if you live in Rexburg, Idaho and know you have to intentionally enjoy driving on pavement rather than an ice rink while you still can. It's too early to decorate for Halloween or listen to Halloween music, because you'll wear it out and get sick of it. There are no holidays. Look on a calendar; September is the month of school. You'll see pencils, rulers, apples. And even if I could be excited about school starting, well, I can't, because I don't get to go to school anymore. Jason does, but that means more time for homework and less time for me. Wah.
So, yeah. I don't sit stewing about it all day, I just felt like making a case on here. But this and January (it's still icky winter, and there is no Christmas to make it worth it) are for sure my least favorite months out of the year. Green Day put it best: Wake me up when September ends. I'm really glad it's nearly half-over.
One happy thought, though: this coming January, I'll definitely have something to look forward to! :)
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle.
Actually, I'll be a little baby boy's mommy.
IT'S A BOY!!
And from the view we got and the ultrasound tech's reaction and assurances (she straight up said 100%, and then the doctor said she shouldn't have told us that), there is not much room for doubt.
So it's not "it" anymore, it's "he" or "him." I'm still digesting this...
Pictures soon to come.
IT'S A BOY!!
And from the view we got and the ultrasound tech's reaction and assurances (she straight up said 100%, and then the doctor said she shouldn't have told us that), there is not much room for doubt.
So it's not "it" anymore, it's "he" or "him." I'm still digesting this...
Pictures soon to come.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Mini Street Fighter
I've been sitting here looking at people's blogs and feeling the baby give me what-for every few minutes (or seconds--there's one), and just thought I would relate (there's another--he or she is practicing karate again) an episode that I thought was funny.
Jason and I are in bed reading, baby is kicking, but darn it, Jason still hasn't been able to feel it! So I'm resting my book on my stomach, feeling the little kicking/punching feelings, and all of a sudden--BAM--the baby kicks my book where it was resting! As in, the book went quickly up and down!
I'm sure this is nothing to seasoned mothers, but it was crazy for me. Jason thinks the location was probably coincidence, but considering the way I hate it when people encroach on my space (like on airplanes or at the movies), I (there's another) wonder if our kid isn't already showing personality. Like, "YO OUT THERE! This is my space and there's not much of it! You're poking me!" (Gurgle-ish that time. ...Little poke. ...Just trying to give you a real-time idea of--and another--what it's like when the baby's partying. And another!) Lol. So fun.
Only two more days. Holy. Cow.
Jason and I are in bed reading, baby is kicking, but darn it, Jason still hasn't been able to feel it! So I'm resting my book on my stomach, feeling the little kicking/punching feelings, and all of a sudden--BAM--the baby kicks my book where it was resting! As in, the book went quickly up and down!
I'm sure this is nothing to seasoned mothers, but it was crazy for me. Jason thinks the location was probably coincidence, but considering the way I hate it when people encroach on my space (like on airplanes or at the movies), I (there's another) wonder if our kid isn't already showing personality. Like, "YO OUT THERE! This is my space and there's not much of it! You're poking me!" (Gurgle-ish that time. ...Little poke. ...Just trying to give you a real-time idea of--and another--what it's like when the baby's partying. And another!) Lol. So fun.
Only two more days. Holy. Cow.
Friday, August 29, 2008
I changed the picture.
My belly doesn't look as big in this one, but my posture is way better and I therefore don't look so shlumpy. Thanks to all the sweet people who have told me I look cute! MUCH appreciated! :)
Found out the real meaning of "round ligament pain" today when it got so bad I couldn't move anything but my toes without pain. Laid there and cried, even asked Jason to give me a priesthood blessing, a request I don't make lightly or often. But I could feel the baby moving even during the pain, and the blessing said our baby would be fine, so I really wasn't worried about that, I just wanted an out from the horrible pain. I mean BAD. Once it had died out somewhat, he took me to the doctor's, where they told me it was probably the round ligament pain but that it was good we came in to get it checked. (No blood or anything.) All that pain and tensing wore me out so much, I couldn't even go to work and slept most of the afternoon after we got home.
To be honest, we were hoping they'd do an ultrasound to check things out and we'd get to find out the gender early, but no such luck. The nurse did listen to the heartbeat, and it was amazing how easy it was this time; she didn't have to search at all, just plunk on my stomach, and there it was.
Three-day weekend! WOOOO!!! (Not so good for paycheck, but good for morale.)
FIVE MORE DAYS!! WE FIND OUT AT TEN O'CLOCK THURSDAY MORNING!!! (They changed my appt time.)
Found out the real meaning of "round ligament pain" today when it got so bad I couldn't move anything but my toes without pain. Laid there and cried, even asked Jason to give me a priesthood blessing, a request I don't make lightly or often. But I could feel the baby moving even during the pain, and the blessing said our baby would be fine, so I really wasn't worried about that, I just wanted an out from the horrible pain. I mean BAD. Once it had died out somewhat, he took me to the doctor's, where they told me it was probably the round ligament pain but that it was good we came in to get it checked. (No blood or anything.) All that pain and tensing wore me out so much, I couldn't even go to work and slept most of the afternoon after we got home.
To be honest, we were hoping they'd do an ultrasound to check things out and we'd get to find out the gender early, but no such luck. The nurse did listen to the heartbeat, and it was amazing how easy it was this time; she didn't have to search at all, just plunk on my stomach, and there it was.
Three-day weekend! WOOOO!!! (Not so good for paycheck, but good for morale.)
FIVE MORE DAYS!! WE FIND OUT AT TEN O'CLOCK THURSDAY MORNING!!! (They changed my appt time.)
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Cranberry Chicken
1 can cranberry sauce
1 cup Russian dressing
1 packet onion soup mix
3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Mix first three ingredients together in either crock pot or baking dish. Cut chicken into strips, add to sauce so the pieces are covered in the sauce. Crock pot: cook on low 4 hours, oven: cook for 30 min at 350. Suggestion: serve with instant mashed potatoes so you can spoon the leftover sauce over them.
So. Stinkin'. Easy. And good. Jason loved it. Doesn't taste particularly cranberry-ish, but still really good. Not too expensive either.
The recipe calls to cook it in the crock pot; I just improvised because I don't have time to come home in the middle of the day and do it. Or I do but don't want to. (You only get 40 minutes to eat and relax when it takes you 10 to get home and 10 back.)
1 cup Russian dressing
1 packet onion soup mix
3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Mix first three ingredients together in either crock pot or baking dish. Cut chicken into strips, add to sauce so the pieces are covered in the sauce. Crock pot: cook on low 4 hours, oven: cook for 30 min at 350. Suggestion: serve with instant mashed potatoes so you can spoon the leftover sauce over them.
So. Stinkin'. Easy. And good. Jason loved it. Doesn't taste particularly cranberry-ish, but still really good. Not too expensive either.
The recipe calls to cook it in the crock pot; I just improvised because I don't have time to come home in the middle of the day and do it. Or I do but don't want to. (You only get 40 minutes to eat and relax when it takes you 10 to get home and 10 back.)
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Gettin' Bigger
I finally took and put up a pic of how I'm looking these days. I don't always look quite as big as the picture; depends on what I'm wearing and stuff. But that one came out looking the biggest out of all we took, and of course, that made it the most impressive. (Right? Not fat? Impressive?) But I hate the way my tummy looks almost like it comes it a point in front instead of being a perfect mound. So why am I pointing that out to everyone... :)
Less than two weeks til we find out if Jason's dad has more of a prophetic gift about our baby than Jason does! (Jason is just sure it's a girl, and his dad really thinks it's a boy, so J's ego is going to smart a bit if he's wrong. :))
Thought I should mention, on some days, all the music I have to listen to at work comes from this playlist. The CD deck doesn't work in my computer (?!?!), and Jason takes the iPod to work most days, blah blah the details aren't important. So I've added a ton to the list just so I have something to listen to, sitting in that cave of an office with no window and trying to combat my coworker's music coming from nearby. So if there are random songs, that's why.
Feeling the baby move every day now. J still can't feel it. I wish I could see it. Can't wait for the ultrasound, especially after hearing from my cousin Nor how cool it is to see the baby moving. Last time it was so tiny (gummi bear) that the only thing moving was the heartbeat.
Ummm...I made my own tortilla chips for taco salad today, and they were a hit! And you don't even have to be talented, I just took a pizza cutter to some Mission tortillas, baked them til they started to turn golden, and it worked great. We have a new tradition.
Well, gotta go type up a nice copy of our menu for the next couple weeks. It really helps to save money at the store, if you know exactly what you'll be making and what you need for it. And it's nice to come home from work and not feel lost because you haven't planned anything. There's my tip for the week. :)
Less than two weeks til we find out if Jason's dad has more of a prophetic gift about our baby than Jason does! (Jason is just sure it's a girl, and his dad really thinks it's a boy, so J's ego is going to smart a bit if he's wrong. :))
Thought I should mention, on some days, all the music I have to listen to at work comes from this playlist. The CD deck doesn't work in my computer (?!?!), and Jason takes the iPod to work most days, blah blah the details aren't important. So I've added a ton to the list just so I have something to listen to, sitting in that cave of an office with no window and trying to combat my coworker's music coming from nearby. So if there are random songs, that's why.
Feeling the baby move every day now. J still can't feel it. I wish I could see it. Can't wait for the ultrasound, especially after hearing from my cousin Nor how cool it is to see the baby moving. Last time it was so tiny (gummi bear) that the only thing moving was the heartbeat.
Ummm...I made my own tortilla chips for taco salad today, and they were a hit! And you don't even have to be talented, I just took a pizza cutter to some Mission tortillas, baked them til they started to turn golden, and it worked great. We have a new tradition.
Well, gotta go type up a nice copy of our menu for the next couple weeks. It really helps to save money at the store, if you know exactly what you'll be making and what you need for it. And it's nice to come home from work and not feel lost because you haven't planned anything. There's my tip for the week. :)
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Madison County Fair
**Disclaimer: this is mostly for my California friends who have grown up in the same area I did and would be equally as baffled as I am by small, podunk Idaho towns and the things they do for fun.**
I now present, for your entertainment and mockery purposes (because, hey, I did): the Madison County Fair. I love fairs in general, so I looked up in the Rexburg Standard Journal online about the details. Most of the events listed were 4-H-, rodeo-, or other livestock-related activities. And the quote they got from the guy in charge said (and I kid you not): "It's just a lot of fun for the whole family. Come on out and enjoy the cattle."
"...he joked." "...he said, laughingly." Nope. That was dead serious.
Next: the sign on Main Street said Madison County Fair, with two pictures: one of a blue ribbon, and one of, you guessed it, a cow.
Oh, and when we went, there were maybe ten cows in the livestock barn. There were probably a hundred chickens.
No rides. Two bouncehouses for kids.
Rodeo: when we got there, they were having little kids (in tight jeans, flannel shirts, huge cowboy hats, the whole getup) see how long they could each stay on a poor, innocent, frightened sheep before they fell off.
Last but not least: at the amateur talent show across the way, there was a yodeler.
'Nuff said.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Bubblies
Last Thursday, I finally felt the baby move! I probably felt it before that and just didn't realize, but I was laying on the bed watching a movie or something, and I just felt these little movements like bubbles. And now I feel them more often. It's crazy.
Oh, and you know my entry from months ago where I was all psyched about fitting into my brown pants again? Ha. Lol. Those days are over for awhile. They were the second pair of pants I tried today (first was just not going to happen in this universe), and the only way they're staying up is the rubber-band-through-the-button-hole-and-around-the-button method. So, my friends who have been savoring the thought of me getting fat (Lol...), enjoy! :)
Today some big-shot is at the office, to check our compliance to something or other. So everyone has to be all perfect, all the management is sucking up to her and acting nicer than usual in front of her, and I'm basically trying to hide from the woman so she doesn't get a chance to quiz me on where the infectious condition log book is or something. (There's a million of those dumb things we're supposed to know.) Better go. Three weeks and two days!
Oh, and you know my entry from months ago where I was all psyched about fitting into my brown pants again? Ha. Lol. Those days are over for awhile. They were the second pair of pants I tried today (first was just not going to happen in this universe), and the only way they're staying up is the rubber-band-through-the-button-hole-and-around-the-button method. So, my friends who have been savoring the thought of me getting fat (Lol...), enjoy! :)
Today some big-shot is at the office, to check our compliance to something or other. So everyone has to be all perfect, all the management is sucking up to her and acting nicer than usual in front of her, and I'm basically trying to hide from the woman so she doesn't get a chance to quiz me on where the infectious condition log book is or something. (There's a million of those dumb things we're supposed to know.) Better go. Three weeks and two days!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Went private. :(
Well, as you may have noticed, I've made my blog private, due to a very unkind comment by a girl I've met once in my life (who works at a different branch) about my job. I never thought people I don't know would be much interested in my blog; I just figured the only people who would care would be family and friends. I know I kept it open for anyone, but I seriously felt violated that this near-stranger would have the audacity to not only judge me but leave a comment about it, when she really has no idea what she's talking about. Some people's cluelessness truly amazes me.
So yeah, I hated to do it, but I don't want to have to be careful about what I say on here for fear that someone with an insane sense of loyalty to Valley Medical Shoppe will find it, see that I don't like the company, and show it to a boss and somehow get me fired. (Because, yes, that thought definitely crossed my mind. I wouldn't put it past them.) I figure once I have the baby and quit, I can say whatever the heck I want, and I'll un-private it again.
So yeah, I hated to do it, but I don't want to have to be careful about what I say on here for fear that someone with an insane sense of loyalty to Valley Medical Shoppe will find it, see that I don't like the company, and show it to a boss and somehow get me fired. (Because, yes, that thought definitely crossed my mind. I wouldn't put it past them.) I figure once I have the baby and quit, I can say whatever the heck I want, and I'll un-private it again.
Monday, August 4, 2008
We have a date!
Thursday, September 4, we'll find out what we're having at 4 p.m.! The countdown begins!
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summerrrrrr....
We did our bi-weekly shopping in IF today and while we were at Target, we noticed a book display that had the first Twilight book on it, and, oh, would ya look at that, I guess that's the new one. Must have come out today. Huh. Anyway, shall we go?
Doing my routine look-through of all the blogs on my list, I've already run into two that talk about how excited they are, one kind of spoiler for something I wouldn't have guessed :(, and one who did not sleep until she had gotten it at midnight and finished it the next day, so was up for more than 24 hours.
Dang.
I'm glad people enjoy it so much. Not understanding why yet, though. Haven't finished the first one and quite honestly, can't understand what is so amazing. It's good and all, but not can't-put-it-down good. But I guess I'd better get on the waiting list for #2 at the library, because I'm guessing they get better and better. I'm hoping so, because I do love an amazing book series that I can really get into. (I was a little late jumping on the bandwagon this time, though. The whole series is already out, so I won't have to wait if I don't want to.) Anyway.
Looked at some big baby stuff (strollers, car seats) today just for kicks, and WOW, I'm getting nervous about all the stuff a baby supposedly needs and how much it costs. And I have to say, grocery stores are not good places for deciding if you're ready for kids or not. At Sam's Club and Wal-Mart alike, why does it seem like all the kids are always crying and/or whining?? Thank you to those who have kids who put cute pictures of them on your blogs--pictures clearly not taken in grocery stores, because it's becoming obvious to me that that is the UN-happiest place on earth for kids.
Not much to report on the week, as usual. Work, work, work. I was about to give details about it, but why would I want to think about it on Saturday?? Went to the doctor a week early on Wednesday because I was having some disconcerting stomach pains, and Jason went with me and finally got to hear the heartbeat. The nurse couldn't find it for a good five minutes again, so she had me go to the bathroom. Then she came back and found it nearly right away, but it only lasted about five seconds and then the baby apparently rolled away. So weird, because I can't feel it yet, so it's hard to imagine the gymnastics class that is supposed to be going on in my abdomen.
Oh, and for the stomach pains, the predictable happened: "well, if it gets excruciating and you have to go to the ER, let us know. Meanwhile, try Tylenol." Glad we didn't have to pay for that. Yay Medicaid!
September 1st-ish. That's when the ultrasound appointment is. Counting down!
Doing my routine look-through of all the blogs on my list, I've already run into two that talk about how excited they are, one kind of spoiler for something I wouldn't have guessed :(, and one who did not sleep until she had gotten it at midnight and finished it the next day, so was up for more than 24 hours.
Dang.
I'm glad people enjoy it so much. Not understanding why yet, though. Haven't finished the first one and quite honestly, can't understand what is so amazing. It's good and all, but not can't-put-it-down good. But I guess I'd better get on the waiting list for #2 at the library, because I'm guessing they get better and better. I'm hoping so, because I do love an amazing book series that I can really get into. (I was a little late jumping on the bandwagon this time, though. The whole series is already out, so I won't have to wait if I don't want to.) Anyway.
Looked at some big baby stuff (strollers, car seats) today just for kicks, and WOW, I'm getting nervous about all the stuff a baby supposedly needs and how much it costs. And I have to say, grocery stores are not good places for deciding if you're ready for kids or not. At Sam's Club and Wal-Mart alike, why does it seem like all the kids are always crying and/or whining?? Thank you to those who have kids who put cute pictures of them on your blogs--pictures clearly not taken in grocery stores, because it's becoming obvious to me that that is the UN-happiest place on earth for kids.
Not much to report on the week, as usual. Work, work, work. I was about to give details about it, but why would I want to think about it on Saturday?? Went to the doctor a week early on Wednesday because I was having some disconcerting stomach pains, and Jason went with me and finally got to hear the heartbeat. The nurse couldn't find it for a good five minutes again, so she had me go to the bathroom. Then she came back and found it nearly right away, but it only lasted about five seconds and then the baby apparently rolled away. So weird, because I can't feel it yet, so it's hard to imagine the gymnastics class that is supposed to be going on in my abdomen.
Oh, and for the stomach pains, the predictable happened: "well, if it gets excruciating and you have to go to the ER, let us know. Meanwhile, try Tylenol." Glad we didn't have to pay for that. Yay Medicaid!
September 1st-ish. That's when the ultrasound appointment is. Counting down!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Mmmmm.
Finally picked and ate the first cherry tomato today, and it was fabulous. So yummy. I love having food growing in my own backyard (so to speak).
And I started reading Twilight. So far, it's interesting enough, but I'm not seeing what all the fuss is about. But I'm only about halfway through the first book.
More on that story as it develops.
And I started reading Twilight. So far, it's interesting enough, but I'm not seeing what all the fuss is about. But I'm only about halfway through the first book.
More on that story as it develops.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Exception to the rule?
Since I'm officially out of my first trimester (so weird!), my book says that morning sickness (misnomer) and fatigue and all that stuff are supposed to improve now. For most women. Grr. Pregnancy is such a mysterious thing in that practically anything and everything can happen to you, and it's just "a weird pregnancy thing." And it's never predictable or the same for any two women. My mom's fingernails have never grown much without splitting after she had me. ??(Every time she was giving herself a manicure, I got a good-natured thanks-a-lot-for-ruining-my-nails-forever lecture. :))
.jpg)
Movie Review:
I wonder, is there anything that I must soon say good-bye to forever, like my shoe size or, I don't know, the amount of earwax I produce? (Gross. Sorry.)
Oh, and the point of the first sentence: no, mine got worse. On Friday I showered and got ready for work, and was getting ready to go downstairs when I suddenly felt so awful. Overly warm, weak, nauseous. I laid down for a minute, then thought, maybe if I eat something. So I actually made myself a decent little breakfast instead of eating a bowl of Cheerios in the car like usual. I couldn't even finish it, and I felt even worse. ?! I nearly called in sick! I asked a co-worker to cover the front for a bit so I could sit at my desk and recover, and after awhile I felt better. Then I started to get hungry. Food doesn't seem to last as long for me anymore; I feel like I'm hungry practically all the time.
So I finally get to go to lunch, I eat, and I feel worse again! Maybe it was nerves, or stress. But my stomach has been much more sensitive the last week or so.
Another quirk: Sometimes I feel like I look humongous, others I'm practically trying to push my little belly out so people won't think I'm a pathological liar. So, do I want to show, or do I cherish these times when I can still wear most of what I own (just with a rubber band hooking the button and hole together)? It's a toss-up.
Great news: Jason is done with his semester and has a seven-week break!! So my days don't change much, but now we can hang out all we want in the evenings and on weekends without homework and tests hanging over both our heads (making me feel guilty for any time I DO spend with him). We shopped in Idaho Falls yesterday with all the time we wanted, and then last night we hit a movie, which we literally almost never do.
*******************************************************************************
.jpg)
Movie Review: Get Smart
with Steve Carrell & Anne Hathaway
I wouldn't recommend it. It had some funny parts, and some of you don't share the same taste as I do so you know you can disregard my opinions, but all the sexual innuendos, even blatant movements, and swearing totally ruined it for me. There's just no reason for all that. I honestly wish we had left early and gotten our money back. Oh, and I knew who the bad guy would be as soon as I saw him. Since I'm usually not that sharp, that should tell you something.
It did give me a new life goal to shoot for, however: to find and own close replicas of both trench coats Anne Hathaway wore in the movie, one pictured here. (Replicas because I have no desire to pay as much as she or the costume designer or whoever probably did.)
*******************************************************************************
Anyway, it's going to be nice to be able to just hang out together after work, and nice that Jason can work full-time during the break and earn extra money that we can save for after the baby comes and I quit work.
Well, I need to get going and make some Mexican 8-Layer Bean Dip as our contribution to dinner tonight. Hopefully it will turn out okay even though you're supposed to chill it for four hours before serving and dinner is in an hour and a half. Psh. :)
Happy thoughts before I go:
1) I get to work 8-5 tomorrow instead of 9-6.
2) I only have to close once this week.
3) Other co-worker will actually be working all week, and he's been there awhile and is really nice, so I feel much more comfortable when he's there.
4) New girl is starting, so even though they probably already like her better (because she's even more prego than I am but has no desire to be a stay-at-home mom so will be coming back to work after baby--I, of course, am polar opposite), I will no longer be the lowest occupant of the Valley Medical Shoppe totem pole.
5) New girl is starting, so I will get to explain things for once instead of getting explained to, and might actually feel sort of smart at work!!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Nearly 13 weeks
You really do get absent-minded and clumsy and stuff when you're pregnant. It's embarassing. I mean, I tend to say dumb things and not use common sense if I'm nervous (like I am at work around a lot of people) anyway, and this just amplifies it. At least I have an excuse.
I've been reading my old roommate Adrienne's baby blog, and it's almost creepy how much we think alike. I love reading it because she's about twice as far along as I am, so I can go back and read an entry from where I am now and feel understood about the little idiosyncracies of pregnancy. Like being really happy that I'll have a good excuse to quit my job. I might quit early anyway, since it's starting to stress me to the point of physical pain and my baby is a little more important to me than the place I work for. And it's not like I just need help learning the work, it's the people and the atmosphere. Not easily changed.
I also love how she is likewise irked at people assuming she's going to hand her tiny baby off to daycare the second she's recovered and zip right back to work, like it's her favorite place to be, like it's a dream job or a career. I've had so many coworkers ask me, "So, what about after the baby's born?" Me: "What about it?" Them: "Are you going to come back to work?" Here's where I have difficulty restraining myself from laughing in their face and saying, "Are you kidding?!"
Just because it's mainly women who work there (even though Rexburg is like 95% Mormon and Mormon women are encouraged to give up whatever they need to to stay home with their children) does not mean I'm joining that whole "Gee, I wish I could stay home with my kids, but that would mean trading in my SUV and not vacationing in Hawaii this year" mentality. Maybe some of them really have no choice, and I know it won't be easy to live on one salary--maybe not even always possible--but I figure since I'm the only mother my child has, maybe I ought to raise it myself instead of handing it off to a stranger so I can spend the day pretending to think store policies and federal regulations and insurance fee schedules and forms are actually important. Again, I know some women have no choice about that, but I feel like so many of the women in this town (probably in the whole church) are just fooling themselves, saying, "Well, the prophets say if you can, and I just can't. [Insert previous SUV/Hawaii statement here.]" It seems like it's just expected of women to work around here. It was like that at Rexburg Floral too. And I have never in my life had the desire to work forever; I hate it, and I only do it out of necessity. So I feel like I'm seen as lazy. Yet I would love to have the time, motivation, and energy to keep my house clean, take better care of my garden, join every church and Relief Society group, help in every service project--meaningful work! So what's the deal?
Maybe I should rename this blog "Kristina's Rants." Being realistic, it's all I seem to write lately.
I'm sorry. When work comes up, I tend to end up in a rant, one way or another. I really try, honestly, but I HATE it. And I have to spend most of my time at that awful, spirit-crushing place. The only light at the end of that long tunnel is that I don't have to work until we move, just until the baby's born. But it's a dim light, since I wake up dreading work every day, and I still have at least five and a half months before my due date. Every Friday at six, I'm 50-50: 50% ecstatic to be getting the heck out of there for two days, and 50% already dreading Monday morning.
Anyone know of an easy way to get ahold of ten grand without going into debt?
Anyway. Heard the heartbeat on Thursday. I was getting nervous because it took her a minute to find it, but she did, in a corner by my hip. So crazy. Still can't comprehend it.
Here's a happy thought. Going to church today helped, looking at all the babies and how happy (if tired) their moms looked, and knowing that it will stink until then, but one day I really will be done with the shop for good, it will be just an unpleasant memory, and I can enjoy being a mommy. Hopefully I won't even be able to remember how awful it was, like when period cramps are over and you wonder if they really could be so bad. (And next month you remember, oh yeah, they totally are. Hopefully that won't happen in this situation...)
One more thing: I actually did something yesterday! I floated down the Snake River on a tube with some friends. Got a little more color in my skin, despite the sunscreen. Totally exhausted me though (even through today), so on that note, I'm going to bed.
I've been reading my old roommate Adrienne's baby blog, and it's almost creepy how much we think alike. I love reading it because she's about twice as far along as I am, so I can go back and read an entry from where I am now and feel understood about the little idiosyncracies of pregnancy. Like being really happy that I'll have a good excuse to quit my job. I might quit early anyway, since it's starting to stress me to the point of physical pain and my baby is a little more important to me than the place I work for. And it's not like I just need help learning the work, it's the people and the atmosphere. Not easily changed.
I also love how she is likewise irked at people assuming she's going to hand her tiny baby off to daycare the second she's recovered and zip right back to work, like it's her favorite place to be, like it's a dream job or a career. I've had so many coworkers ask me, "So, what about after the baby's born?" Me: "What about it?" Them: "Are you going to come back to work?" Here's where I have difficulty restraining myself from laughing in their face and saying, "Are you kidding?!"
Just because it's mainly women who work there (even though Rexburg is like 95% Mormon and Mormon women are encouraged to give up whatever they need to to stay home with their children) does not mean I'm joining that whole "Gee, I wish I could stay home with my kids, but that would mean trading in my SUV and not vacationing in Hawaii this year" mentality. Maybe some of them really have no choice, and I know it won't be easy to live on one salary--maybe not even always possible--but I figure since I'm the only mother my child has, maybe I ought to raise it myself instead of handing it off to a stranger so I can spend the day pretending to think store policies and federal regulations and insurance fee schedules and forms are actually important. Again, I know some women have no choice about that, but I feel like so many of the women in this town (probably in the whole church) are just fooling themselves, saying, "Well, the prophets say if you can, and I just can't. [Insert previous SUV/Hawaii statement here.]" It seems like it's just expected of women to work around here. It was like that at Rexburg Floral too. And I have never in my life had the desire to work forever; I hate it, and I only do it out of necessity. So I feel like I'm seen as lazy. Yet I would love to have the time, motivation, and energy to keep my house clean, take better care of my garden, join every church and Relief Society group, help in every service project--meaningful work! So what's the deal?
Maybe I should rename this blog "Kristina's Rants." Being realistic, it's all I seem to write lately.
I'm sorry. When work comes up, I tend to end up in a rant, one way or another. I really try, honestly, but I HATE it. And I have to spend most of my time at that awful, spirit-crushing place. The only light at the end of that long tunnel is that I don't have to work until we move, just until the baby's born. But it's a dim light, since I wake up dreading work every day, and I still have at least five and a half months before my due date. Every Friday at six, I'm 50-50: 50% ecstatic to be getting the heck out of there for two days, and 50% already dreading Monday morning.
Anyone know of an easy way to get ahold of ten grand without going into debt?
Anyway. Heard the heartbeat on Thursday. I was getting nervous because it took her a minute to find it, but she did, in a corner by my hip. So crazy. Still can't comprehend it.
Here's a happy thought. Going to church today helped, looking at all the babies and how happy (if tired) their moms looked, and knowing that it will stink until then, but one day I really will be done with the shop for good, it will be just an unpleasant memory, and I can enjoy being a mommy. Hopefully I won't even be able to remember how awful it was, like when period cramps are over and you wonder if they really could be so bad. (And next month you remember, oh yeah, they totally are. Hopefully that won't happen in this situation...)
One more thing: I actually did something yesterday! I floated down the Snake River on a tube with some friends. Got a little more color in my skin, despite the sunscreen. Totally exhausted me though (even through today), so on that note, I'm going to bed.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Really and Truly
Yup, I'm pregnant!
WHEW!
I have been holding that in for two months, waiting to make it known until I could tell my extended family and closest friends in person over the Fourth of July weekend.
Can I just say that telling Elizabeth and Christy and Sam went better than I even hoped for? I had so much fun FINALLY telling everyone! I saw Elizabeth (my cousin) at her work for lunch, and she's pregnant too, so once I found out, I had to stop myself from relating to her on nausea and whatnot until I could come home and tell people. It's so crazy that we're five months apart in age, and our babies will be only a month and a half or so apart! Elizabeth was so cute, she squealed and hugged me and squealed some more, and then we compared symptoms, of course. :)
Later that day, Christy and I were at Sam's new house and she had given us a tour, and then I was looking for an opportunity to slip it in. I had a dumb line all ready, because I can't stand being predictable. Then Sam out of nowhere while she's getting us drinks says, "So, which of you is getting pregnant first?" ! I figured it couldn't get any better than that, so I just said, "Oh, that would be me." They looked at me. I smiled expectantly. Jaws dropped. Then the screaming and jumping up and down and laughing and hugging began!
Meanwhile, little 18-month-old (approx.) Gage is looking up at us with his sippy cup in his mouth, looking back and forth at the crazy screaming women, decides we're scary and starts to bawl! Lol! Then Sam claps her hands and says "Yaaaaaay!" to make him feel better, Christy joins in, and he is not appeased and keeps on crying! So cute! I feel bad that we scared him, but it was funny.
So, yes! I am pregnant. I have my second doctor's appointment tomorrow. I'm 12 weeks today, so I'm officially out of my first trimester. Weird. Why do things always seem like they went by fast, just because they're over? During them, they do seem slow. I'm due January 20th, and we think it's a girl. Hopefully it is, because thanks to my parents, we're way ahead on the clothes for a girl. There are a few boy things thrown in too, though. Jason didn't want our possible son to go nakers.
Well, I guess that's all for now. Hey, and now that it's not a secret anymore, I can complain about my fatness and fatigue and all that fun stuff on here! :) JK, I really haven't had that difficult of a time. I have to make like a million trips to the bathroom a day, and I get pretty tired (speaking of which, I need to get the heck to bed...), but it hasn't been bad. I haven't thrown up once, and nausea has only been bad a few times. And we get more and more excited at the thought of having a little baby that will be half Jason, half Kristina. Really, what more could you ask for? Of course it will be difficult, most likely the hardest thing we've ever done, but it will be beautiful.
Words aren't adequate. I'm sure that's obvious. In summary, we're looking forward so very much to having a new Noall with us soon!
P.S. If you vote on my little poll, could you leave a comment or something so I know who voted what? It bugs me to no end not knowing who is voting and what their vote was. (It could be people I've never met who live in Norway saying, "yah, I tink eets a gurl!")
WHEW!
I have been holding that in for two months, waiting to make it known until I could tell my extended family and closest friends in person over the Fourth of July weekend.
Can I just say that telling Elizabeth and Christy and Sam went better than I even hoped for? I had so much fun FINALLY telling everyone! I saw Elizabeth (my cousin) at her work for lunch, and she's pregnant too, so once I found out, I had to stop myself from relating to her on nausea and whatnot until I could come home and tell people. It's so crazy that we're five months apart in age, and our babies will be only a month and a half or so apart! Elizabeth was so cute, she squealed and hugged me and squealed some more, and then we compared symptoms, of course. :)
Later that day, Christy and I were at Sam's new house and she had given us a tour, and then I was looking for an opportunity to slip it in. I had a dumb line all ready, because I can't stand being predictable. Then Sam out of nowhere while she's getting us drinks says, "So, which of you is getting pregnant first?" ! I figured it couldn't get any better than that, so I just said, "Oh, that would be me." They looked at me. I smiled expectantly. Jaws dropped. Then the screaming and jumping up and down and laughing and hugging began!
Meanwhile, little 18-month-old (approx.) Gage is looking up at us with his sippy cup in his mouth, looking back and forth at the crazy screaming women, decides we're scary and starts to bawl! Lol! Then Sam claps her hands and says "Yaaaaaay!" to make him feel better, Christy joins in, and he is not appeased and keeps on crying! So cute! I feel bad that we scared him, but it was funny.
So, yes! I am pregnant. I have my second doctor's appointment tomorrow. I'm 12 weeks today, so I'm officially out of my first trimester. Weird. Why do things always seem like they went by fast, just because they're over? During them, they do seem slow. I'm due January 20th, and we think it's a girl. Hopefully it is, because thanks to my parents, we're way ahead on the clothes for a girl. There are a few boy things thrown in too, though. Jason didn't want our possible son to go nakers.
Well, I guess that's all for now. Hey, and now that it's not a secret anymore, I can complain about my fatness and fatigue and all that fun stuff on here! :) JK, I really haven't had that difficult of a time. I have to make like a million trips to the bathroom a day, and I get pretty tired (speaking of which, I need to get the heck to bed...), but it hasn't been bad. I haven't thrown up once, and nausea has only been bad a few times. And we get more and more excited at the thought of having a little baby that will be half Jason, half Kristina. Really, what more could you ask for? Of course it will be difficult, most likely the hardest thing we've ever done, but it will be beautiful.
Words aren't adequate. I'm sure that's obvious. In summary, we're looking forward so very much to having a new Noall with us soon!
P.S. If you vote on my little poll, could you leave a comment or something so I know who voted what? It bugs me to no end not knowing who is voting and what their vote was. (It could be people I've never met who live in Norway saying, "yah, I tink eets a gurl!")
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Tunes!
I finally added some music. And I only wasted two or three hours of my one day off a week figuring out how to do it and troubleshooting. :P
Only a few more days until California--if Jason can get all his school stuff done. Hope hope hope!
P.S. I kept the music near the top so that if it annoys any of you when you come to my blog, you can easily turn it off. :)
Only a few more days until California--if Jason can get all his school stuff done. Hope hope hope!
P.S. I kept the music near the top so that if it annoys any of you when you come to my blog, you can easily turn it off. :)
This is me in April with my "nephew," Gage--Sam's baby. She posted it on Facebook and I stole it. In'e cute??
Friday, June 20, 2008
Or not.
You may see my blog switching from cute background to different cute background until I settle on one. So many cute backgrounds, and only one blog. What's a girl to do? :) P.S. Job was much better today! Yay!! :)
Thursday, June 19, 2008
I'm cute too! What now, dawg!!
Lol. I'm so dignified.
I went to thecutestblogontheblock.com and finally got myself a dang cute background! And this time it didn't ruin all my lists and junk! Then I noticed most of my posts weren't readable against the dark background, and I foolishly thought of changing it back to avoid having to go into each entry and change its color...until I found the "fonts and colors" link! So nice!
I love blogger.
Now if they would just let me change my account from my ancient email to my actual email, I wouldn't have to get kicked back and forth all the time...
...my blog is cute!!! :D
P.S. Job still sucks.
P.P.S. And I stayed up way too late making my blog cute, so job will suck even more than usual tomorrow. :P
I went to thecutestblogontheblock.com and finally got myself a dang cute background! And this time it didn't ruin all my lists and junk! Then I noticed most of my posts weren't readable against the dark background, and I foolishly thought of changing it back to avoid having to go into each entry and change its color...until I found the "fonts and colors" link! So nice!
I love blogger.
Now if they would just let me change my account from my ancient email to my actual email, I wouldn't have to get kicked back and forth all the time...
...my blog is cute!!! :D
P.S. Job still sucks.
P.P.S. And I stayed up way too late making my blog cute, so job will suck even more than usual tomorrow. :P
Sunday, June 15, 2008
What's the heck?
You know what I've noticed?
I've written to a lot of people bugging them to make blogs, because no one answers their phone these days, including me, and I love looking at blogs. A few people have started shortly after I've bugged them (muah ha ha!). They start out plain, saying well I guess I'll blog since everyone else does, yadda yadda, just like mine started out. Then, guess what happens?
Their blogs promptly get way cuter than mine.
And they have cool things on theirs that I can't for the life of me figure out how to do, like slideshows and the scrapbook-y look.
What's up witthat?!
;)
I've written to a lot of people bugging them to make blogs, because no one answers their phone these days, including me, and I love looking at blogs. A few people have started shortly after I've bugged them (muah ha ha!). They start out plain, saying well I guess I'll blog since everyone else does, yadda yadda, just like mine started out. Then, guess what happens?
Their blogs promptly get way cuter than mine.
And they have cool things on theirs that I can't for the life of me figure out how to do, like slideshows and the scrapbook-y look.
What's up witthat?!
;)
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Tidbits
I like the job a little better.
A LITTLE.
I have my own desk now, but I don't really get to sit at it that often. I'm still Customer Service, and the other girl who does it with me has been here longer, so her work is more important, and no one really questions that she should get to sit at her desk and work while I either watch the front, or sit at my desk and try to work while listening for the ding the door makes when someone comes in. (Irritatingly, the back employee door makes the same noise, so I jump up a lot if I'm not sure my manager is out front.)
I understand more stuff, and I've done a few more complicated things. Makes me feel more important. And it really is nice to have a desk where I can plug in my iPod and sit in a chair where my feet actually touch the floor.
I'm seriously hoping we can go to Sac for the Fourth, because Idaho seriously makes me more mad every day. It SNOWED yesterday. In JUNE. That is SO WRONG! It's been cold and rainy for weeks on end now; the sun came out for like ten minutes today and I wondered what the strange light was--perhaps aliens?
Not much else to report. Not for awhile, anyway. Sorry if I'm too negative; I think I have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), and it makes me mad that I have SAD, because for heaven's sake, it's JUNE and I'm from California! This is not acceptable!!
A LITTLE.
I have my own desk now, but I don't really get to sit at it that often. I'm still Customer Service, and the other girl who does it with me has been here longer, so her work is more important, and no one really questions that she should get to sit at her desk and work while I either watch the front, or sit at my desk and try to work while listening for the ding the door makes when someone comes in. (Irritatingly, the back employee door makes the same noise, so I jump up a lot if I'm not sure my manager is out front.)
I understand more stuff, and I've done a few more complicated things. Makes me feel more important. And it really is nice to have a desk where I can plug in my iPod and sit in a chair where my feet actually touch the floor.
I'm seriously hoping we can go to Sac for the Fourth, because Idaho seriously makes me more mad every day. It SNOWED yesterday. In JUNE. That is SO WRONG! It's been cold and rainy for weeks on end now; the sun came out for like ten minutes today and I wondered what the strange light was--perhaps aliens?
Not much else to report. Not for awhile, anyway. Sorry if I'm too negative; I think I have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), and it makes me mad that I have SAD, because for heaven's sake, it's JUNE and I'm from California! This is not acceptable!!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Carpe Diem!
I just wanted to say that I very much admire people who see something they want to change, make a goal to change it, and then steadily, cheerfully work toward that goal til they accomplish it. I just caught up with a friend who is doing that, and it really inspired me. So I'm gonna go do some yoga, ab work, and maybe an extra butt segment (I work out by videos), right now. And if I don't get to watch my Netflix movie (which I indeed have been looking forward to all day), tough cookies, I should have managed my time better, shouldn't I?
P.S. I like putting pictures that relate to my subject on here. :)
P.P.S. "Pain is weakness leaving the body." The Marines know what's goin' on.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Blahbity blah
Hi. Don't even know what to write, really. Just been without the internet so long (and so tempted by my crushing boredom every day at work to sneak onto it) that I've been looking at people's blogs and now wanted to write in my own.
Picture is from when we went to San Francisco over spring break. Note the Golden Gate in the background. On both sides of the path we're on, there are townhouse-ish/apartment-ish residences. Maybe houses, I don't know. But look at all the vegetation and flowers! This doesn't even show the amount. And up the hill in front of us is Coit Tower. This is the "back way" to get up there. How cool is that?
So, what's new with me? Not much. Looking forward to the weekend a LOT. Love the people at my work, but it's so dang boring. But, I'm getting paid to be bored. I could be bored and not getting paid. Getting paid is better.
Oh, and I do get to go home every day after my eight hours are up, despite the fact that Mothers' Day is on Sunday. Wouldn't be so if I were still at Rexburg Floral. Ha. >:D
By the way, is it Mothers', or Mother's? Because it's for all mothers, so that would be plural, apostrophe on the outside. But we all centralize it on our own mother, which we only have one of, apostrophe before the "s." Personally, I like the plural version better.
And yes, I do think about these things. I'm not a math geek, I'm an English geek.
Yay for Netflix! It's replacing satellite television pretty well. Speaking of which, I'm gonna go move Gilmore Girls, Season 2, Disc 3, to the top of our list. Ciao.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
The only sure things in life are death and taxes.
And the gospel and Christ.
But it's a funny saying.
My dad helped us do our taxes today. Such a relief, 'cause I was really starting to feel like that woman on the Turbo Tax commercial who freaks out when some guy asks her if she knows what time it is. "YES, I know what time it is! I'm aware, okay?? I don't need the pressure!" But now they're done, we can mail them off, and we can get a hefty (for financially challenged us) little return. Yay!
And we're HOME! I love visiting Sacramento. It's so green and colorful and filled with TREES. There are no freaking trees in Idaho! Seriously! Whoever said wide open spaces are so great was nuts! Wide open spaces have nothing in them! And it was 91 degrees today! I'm not saying I like it super hot, but there are still piles of snow in Idaho, for pete's sake!
Gas is expensive. People get stupid when they get behind the wheel. But we want to live here. I'm going to be so sad to go back to Idaho next Sunday. I want out! LET ME OUT!
By the way, if I ever did lose three pounds (which I doubt), it's probably already back with a few more buddies, because between finals, moving, clean check, and coming here, we've been eating garbage, nutritionally speaking. And my parents spoil us to death here, so it's not looking good. But I won't say no to being spoiled.
But it's a funny saying.
My dad helped us do our taxes today. Such a relief, 'cause I was really starting to feel like that woman on the Turbo Tax commercial who freaks out when some guy asks her if she knows what time it is. "YES, I know what time it is! I'm aware, okay?? I don't need the pressure!" But now they're done, we can mail them off, and we can get a hefty (for financially challenged us) little return. Yay!
And we're HOME! I love visiting Sacramento. It's so green and colorful and filled with TREES. There are no freaking trees in Idaho! Seriously! Whoever said wide open spaces are so great was nuts! Wide open spaces have nothing in them! And it was 91 degrees today! I'm not saying I like it super hot, but there are still piles of snow in Idaho, for pete's sake!
Gas is expensive. People get stupid when they get behind the wheel. But we want to live here. I'm going to be so sad to go back to Idaho next Sunday. I want out! LET ME OUT!
By the way, if I ever did lose three pounds (which I doubt), it's probably already back with a few more buddies, because between finals, moving, clean check, and coming here, we've been eating garbage, nutritionally speaking. And my parents spoil us to death here, so it's not looking good. But I won't say no to being spoiled.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
I LOVE Conference!
Alpha and Omega
The First Presidency of the Church: 1st Counselor Henry B. Eyring, left, 2nd Counselor Dieter F. Uchdorf, right, President Thomas S. Monson, sitting.Today and tomorrow are the 178th Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. All the general authorities of the Church come together in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, and the prophet, First Presidency, twelve apostles, and others speak to the world. We believe that they speak with authority from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ themselves, as Their ordained servants. We believe that anything they say, we should consider to be the word of God as surely as if He had called them on the phone right before their talk and instructed them, word by word, what to say.
So far today we've received instruction on how to be better parents, how to better appreciate diversity, how to make our homes havens for our children, that we should remember and treasure our sacred experiences, that we should create righteous traditions in our homes, and that's just in the first session. We had the opportunity to stand, wherever we were all over the world, and sustain the general authorities of the Church. It was a very special experience for me to be able to raise my right hand and physically witness that I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet of God. Isn't that incredible? So many people believe that the heavens are closed, and that you can just kind of go along your merry way, and it doesn't matter what you do. We know that the Lord has a true and living church, continually receiving revelation, and that we have a prophet who counsels us on what the Lord Himself wants us to do. No questions. No interpretations. No arguing. No competition, someone else claiming they're right and he's wrong. Perfect unity and peace.
I wish I could describe how I feel when I watch Conference, when I see these good and true men and women, who love and serve God, and when I listen to what they tell us--often practical counsel for dealing with modern situations accoring to the teachings of the gospel. I don't feel like jumping up and dancing, or yelling, or raising my arms to the sky. I feel the Spirit of the Lord so keenly, so peacefully, filling me up. I almost feel like I'm having hot chocolate poured into me to overflowing; I feel warm and full, and all worries and doubts disappear. Literally; I can't work up a worry for the life of me. I know that the Lord loves me, and that this is his true church. I know it. I know that by following the words of these men, I'm following the will of the Savior, I'll be happy (though it won't make life magically easy), and I'll be able to return to my Father in Heaven. And I feel an actual, physical ache to share that happiness with everyone in the world who doesn't know it also.
Joseph Smith's First Vision
My favorite. Lost Lamb
I don't know how often people I don't know look at this blog. I know it happens sometimes. For anyone who would like to know more about Conference and the Church, please look at http://www.mormon.org/ and see if your questions can't be answered. Read with your spiritual eyes, listen, and see if you can't hear the Spirit whispering to you through peaceful and good feelings that it's true. I know it is. And blog or not, I say (or write) these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)