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Side Effects of Pregnancy

6.28.2012

Frequent bathroom breaks. I don't want to know how much toilet paper I go through.

Coughing, sneezing, or laughing too hard resulting in an "Oh, Bummer!"... (then refer to above statement)

Using my belly as a table for my bowl of ice cream while watching t.v.

Good face days. Yes, I've got that pregnancy glow!

Sleeeep! I can get 8 hours of peaceful slumber and sometimes still be pooped by 10:30AM

Stretch marks. I got one measly stretch mark on my hip with Jed. This kid had better be a saint because there seem to be quite a few showing up this time around. Boo.

Sitting. Lots of sitting. It hurts to walk or stand for too long. So I sit. A lot. On the couch. In the grass. On the swing. In the sandbox. You name it, I can make a spot for my bum.

Grunting must always accompany picking anything up off the ground, especially myself... (refer to above statement)

Long hair. Loving it.

Heat = swollen limbs. See you in a few months, shiny diamond ring!

Clothing is awkward and fits funny. I'm awkward and funny. I get looks and comments everywhere I go.

An intense urge to clean and organize my entire house from top to bottom.

Hunger. I'm always hungry. And almost everything always sounds good. I love food.

Looking like I'm hiding a basketball under my shirt. Please don't try to bounce me.

A turkey timer (aka belly button) whose timing is wrong. It sticks out through my clothes even though I still have a few weeks until D-day.

Frequent comments about how well I wear pregnancy. I don't know if they're true or not, but thank you for trying to make a whale of a woman feel pretty!

Watching my stomach roll. I love feeling all the kicks and jabs from this tiny baby growing inside me. What a miracle!

The anticipation of a new family member! A precious baby boy. There's so much to look forward to!

5.24.2012

If each of these white wisps really are a ball of wishes,

then our yard is

MAGICAL!

Why must dandelions be a weed? And why must we have so many? They are a plague.

3.13.2012

Fire! Fire! Fire!

Last night Bron nearly set the neighborhood on fire.

Okay, so I just had a good scare there for minute. The neighborhood really didn't burn down.

Bron is part pyro. He was burning old branches and debris along the abandoned green belt that runs along our backyard when the wind suddenly shifted and his fire took off!

There's nothing like a fire to bring out the neighbors.

The men came out with shovels to help control the burn. Then they thanked Bron for starting the fire!

You see, the entire green belt (aka weed patch) should go up in smoke before it's done by accident. I have a feeling we'll be having a neighborhood burn party some Saturday this spring.

I think they're all a bunch of pyros.

Now, hopefully that little evergreen made it through...

8.25.2011

... when you're just one year old.

Step 1: Climb the super steep tall steps.

Step 2: Upon reaching the precipice, carefully lift your right leg and put it in the big hole. (This may take several tries.) Then carefully slide your left leg in. Now you should be resting comfortably on your belly.

Step 3: Let go! Don’t forget to scream in wordless delight!

Step 4: Place your feet on the ground and grin with proud satisfaction.

Step 5: Do it again!

About Jed at 16 months:
(I feel like I need to update about the things he does every so often. These cute stages don’t last very long.)

• Jed is training for the Gallon Challenge! He guzzles nearly half a gallon of milk a day. And he guzzles so much at one sitting, he curdles! It comes back up out of his mouth and nose like cottage cheese. It doesn’t seem to bother him at all though.

• When Jed gets excited and laughs, he snorts! It is the cutest thing! However, I’m afraid that he will get beat up for that sort of thing in school.

• When I ask Jed, “Where are your shoes?” he goes to find them. Jed brings me one shoe at a time. Sometimes they don’t even match. It’s darling.

• Jed waves at almost anyone and anything these days. He waves as we leave the house and he waves at the neighbor's dog. It's adorable. The problem is that I'm usually the only other person that sees it; Jed's timing is totally off. He misses his opportunity and waves way after the fact!

• Jed talks all day long, from the minute his feet hit the ground in the morning until he finally nods off to sleep. He jabbers with all the inflections of the English language, but it isn’t English. Sometimes we both become frustrated because Jed knows exactly what he wants and I can’t understand. It’s good to know that this stage won’t last forever. I love hearing him jabber though.

• Jed likes to read books. He sits there and lets me hold him. I’m a lucky mom. He’s a cuddly kid, sometimes. I love it when he lays his head on my shoulder.

• Jed LOVES being outside. He loves sitting in his stroller with one foot hanging over the edge. It looks so comfortable. He also loves going on bike rides and he loves playing at the park.

• Whenever I get on the floor to do some sit-ups or push-ups, it’s an open invitation to wrestle! I don’t get much muscle toning done. Oh well. Wrestling is much more fun.

• One of Jed's favorite things to do around the house is flip head first off the couch. It's best seen in person, but these pictures explain his stunt pretty well!

That’s my boy! You make me smile every day! I love you so much, Jed!

7.15.2011

The paddle boat cruise Bron went on in New Orleans

Bron just spent the week at a global dairy science conference in New Orleans. He sat in on seminars regarding the latest advances in the dairy industry and even presented two posters about his thesis. But we all know that these meetings are really an excuse for smart people to eat fabulous food and party!

The sights around New Orleans

Bron had a blast in New Orleans. He came home with a beautiful white sundress for me, some Bubba Gump Shrimp hats, and lots of new adventure stories. It sounds like New Orleans is a cultural experience that one must undertake at least once in a lifetime. Bron went on an evening paddle boat river cruise, explored the French Quarter, and ate lots of great food including oysters, alligator sausage, crawfish, catfish, pralines, and other southern delectables. Bron came home raving about a dueling piano bar called Pat O’Brien’s. He stayed till the wee hours of the morning listening to the piano band play any song ever composed. They were exceptionally talented!

But I think Bron’s greatest New Orleans adventure was when he, his supervisor, and her son drove forty miles outside the city to go on an airboat swamp tour! He didn’t even wear a life vest. However, I think drowning was the least of his worries. The crowning moment of the tour was when he came face to face with a twelve foot alligator named Big Al. What an adrenaline rush! My husband could’ve been lunch! I am grateful he came home alive. And I’m glad he had a great time too.

But I'm more glad he is home again. I missed my man!

The totally insane airboat swamp tour

You know, just your typical everyday five foot chomper. No biggie?!?

That land isn't really land. It's floating mud!

Lily pads as far as the eye can see! This would be more pretty if it weren't infested with alligators and other deadly things, don't you think?

The monster of a prehistoric beast

Ahhh! I can't believe the alligator is climbing into the boat!

3.31.2011

There was still snow on the ground, but we went to the park anyway.

3.18.2011

San Diego, CA

2.20.2011

This is a Teacup Pig. These little piggies are tiny and stay that way. They are soooo cute! Which means... I WANT ONE!

Bron shook his head and said, "Over my dead body. You're not getting one."

"Well, then I'm just going to have to outlive you, and on the day I bury you, I'm going out and buying myself a teacup pig!"

"And then my dog will eat it!"

That's when I gasped and insisted that the pig will just live inside the house with me and the farm dog will stay outside where he belongs. (Sounds a little backwards, doesn't it?) And I'll feed my pig overpriced feed, take lots of cute pictures, and carry it around in my purse when I go to the store. Instead of a crazy old cat lady, I'll be the crazy old pig lady. And my grandchildren will love it! Muahaha!

Sad thing for Bron is, he knows I almost always get what I want. So maybe when he buys some land and beef to go on it, I can steal a little corner of it for a garden, flowers, and some teacup pigs. Oh, and maybe some of these too!

2.14.2011

The Goober Grin

When you're 9 months old, happiness can come in the form of sugary glaze on a stick!

I love you soooo much, Jed! Thanks for making me smile every day.

1.01.2011

A few days before Christmas I took Jed outside to play in the snow!

It’s always a let-down when Christmas is over. The anticipation for something exciting is gone. The cheery music and familiar carols fade away, the sparkling lights and decorations are taken down, and that special Christmas Spirit that seems to make the whole world just a little more hopeful dies with it. All we’re left with is ice and snow.

Okay, so that sounds a little melodramatic, but what is there to look forward to in the upcoming weeks? Winter is a pretty bleak time of year. I am so desperately connected to the sun. I WORSHIP the sun! And when I have to put on boots and five layers just to step outside and risk death on the ice as I make my way across a parking lot, I can’t think of anything but Spring. The snow is pretty, but it’s so incredibly cold. I hate having cold fingers and cold toes; it hurts.

The way I see it, the month of January is good for three things: skiing, snowmobiling, and my birthday. And the first two are only fun when one is wearing the appropriate amount of clothing. (Bron might say that clothing “amount” is significant for a happy birthday too. Haha) Anyway, skiing and snowmobiling are unbelievably fun! One of my favorite dates with Bron before we were married was when we went snowmobiling on one of the coldest nights of the year in Eastern Idaho. We chased a moose and the moose retaliated! Luckily, there weren’t any casualties. I wish we had more time and money to play in the snow this year!

So winter isn’t all bad. It just seems like it lasts a very long, long time. I’m counting down the weeks because the other night it was 5 degrees outside. Five. I can count that on one hand. And the wind was blowing gusts up to 35mph. So it was actually colder than just five measly degrees. And it will probably get colder this month.

Remember that job I have feeding calves? Yeah, the calves live in hutches, on a hill, OUTSIDE. It’s actually great for their respiratory health, but a daunting task for the feeder. Fortunately, Bron has taught this So Cal girl how to stay warm. I felt like a warrior dressing for battle. My first layer consisted of thermals and wool socks. Then I wore sweatpants and a hooded sweatshirt over that. I wore my insulated coveralls and winter boots. I pulled the hoodie up over an insulated hat and wrapped a scarf around my chin and cheeks several times. Last, but not least, I protected my hands under 2-3 layers of gloves. I think I looked ridiculous. But I was warm! And that’s all that matters. My job on the farm is something I can handle any night of the year! I actually like going outside and getting some fresh air. It makes me happier.

The moral of winter: It’s all about the layers.

Our expedition lasted about 5 minutes. He fell over.

Good thing we were only a few steps from the front door.

"I can't put my arms down!"

Oh, and I suppose January is also a good time for a few resolutions or goals.

1. Keep a regular exercise routine
2. Make time to actually read my scriptures for 10 minutes each day
3. Develop a little more patience so that I can become the kind of mother/wife I really want to be
4. Become a budgeting guru

I’ve got a detailed battle plan. Wish me luck!

12.23.2010

One of the things about becoming a mother that I always looked forward to was getting my child's first Christmas ornament. I spent too much money, but think I found the perfect ornament: it's cute, it's sturdy, and it's personalized with Jed's name. I hope it lasts a very long time cuz I love it!

7.15.2010

"What do the cows say, Jed? MOO!"

"And what does Jed say? Hamburger!"

The circle of life must be taught early.

Am I an awful mother if I hope these are some of his first words?

5.12.2010

The Friday before Jed arrived was a beautiful evening! Bron was feeling some spring fever and decided to use the field behind our house as a driving range. He set up his tee right outside the back door.

Then Bron had to go and find his golf balls. Apparantly he's not the only one to have the idea. He came back with more balls than he hit!

Man, I love my husband! He's a lot of fun and makes me laugh.

For instance...

Last night we gave Jed a bath. Yes, the two of us gave the baby a bath because right now it's a two person job. The little guy has his own hot tub in the kitchen sink. And the little guy also has perfect aim. Bron lifted Jed up to get a good look at him and Jed peed all over his daddy and the kitchen floor.

Later, we were all lounging in the living room.

Me: "I don't think I dried the rolls under his chin very well. Do you think he'll grow some mold under there?"

Bron: "Do you know what mold is?"

Me: "Yeah, it's a fungus!" Pause. "And it needs something to eat in order to grow."

Bron: "It's its own organism. (Or something along those technical lines) Where's your brain?"

Me: "It came out with the baby. I've lost my mind."

Bron: "All of it?"

Me: "Yes, all of it."

Bron turns to speak to Jed. "I guess you'll only be having sisters, bud!"

I couldn't help it. I had to laugh.

2.02.2010

Please make Winter go away and Spring come soon!

Love, Me

Shoes

1.26.2010

When you're pregnant, everyone seems to think that your well-being is their personal business. While I appreciate the concern, really, it's not necessary.

During the past few weeks all I've heard are protests--especially from men--about my wearing high heeled shoes at church. I thought, "Just because you can't walk in them doesn't mean I can't!"

I have nine pairs of heels. I'm not about to let them go to waste! I enjoy dolling up occassionally. Anyhow, I can't wear flip-flops because I already discourage my young women from wearing them to church. Plus, there's snow and ice everywhere outside. Maybe towards the end of my pregnancy I'll walk the halls barefoot, but I'll definitely have my heels in hand. I just simply don't plan on attending church without them.

So, I want to know from all you experienced mothers out there: What did you wear when you were pregnant?

12.18.2009

(For those of you who might not know, I work for a pharmeceutical research company. Our site specializes in drug research and safety. The opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinions the study directors would want me to have.)

This morning started out like any other typical morning at work; I was assigned to dose rats in a carco study. Carcinogen studies typically last two full years. The rats start out young, white, and almost cute, then turn into ugly, fat, monsters. The males are by far the worst.

This particular room of male rats I was assigned to have been having a bad day for months. Some rats are mellow and just lean back to take their dose of "medicine". Some others act tough, but once I've got them in my grip, they're easy to handle. A number, however, are downright evil. Evil! They rear up on their hind legs ready to attack my hand. Then their hair stands on end, they scream, whip their tails around, scratch, and even turn to bite.

Now I've been bitten before.  The rat isn't worth the trouble if there is someone around who is braver and has bigger hands.  John politely dosed one of my rats today for me.  He was also there to dose Casey's rat... until it bit the gavage needle right off and swallowed it!  John and Casey desperately tried to extract the needle using surgical tweezers, but failed.

I just laughed and turned to taunt the rat. Serves the darn monster right! He swallowed the needle himself and now he was going to die! (Excuse me, be euthenized.) The rat looked all right on the outside, but there was no way he was going to eat or drink normally ever again.  So John put him in a box and sent the rat to necropsy.

One less nasty rat down in the carco! In my mind, it was time to celebrate.

Thirty minutes later, I screamed. The rat in my hand had just bitten the gavage needle in half. In half!  Casey ran over, ready with the tweezers in hand. Too bad she's an avid gavage needle surgeon. Today was that rat's lucky day: we removed the needle.

I think we'll be using stainless steel needles from now on. Those cannot be bitten into pieces. Too bad.

Christmas Countdown

12.15.2009

12 days until we fly to Salt Lake City to visit family for an entire week

10 days until Christmas

9 days until my last day of work

5 days until Bron's 26th birthday

2 days until I get my hair cut

We've got a lot to look forward to. I'm excited!

12.09.2009

My husband is a man of many talents, and cooking is one of them. I have to admit, he's better in the kitchen than I am. He's a very creative cook. Plus, he can properly marinate or grill any kind of meat into a little piece of perfection just by combining things we already have in the fridge or pantry. Although having a creative cook in the house can be a little more expensive from time to time, the tastes are totally worth it!

I came home from work last night to find Mr. Handsome in the kitchen whipping us up his own version of a panini for dinner. I love the way he throws that towel over his shoulder! It makes me smile. (I know the picture is a little blurry, but he doesn't like to hold still long enough for me to take them.)

Don't those warm marinated chicken sandwiches with cheese, avocado, peppers, and onion look delicious? My mouth was watering.

Ready to eat! The meal also included baked potato fries and a side salad. (Yes, healthy!)

It was a great evening in the kitchen. Thank you, Bron. I love you!

Responsibility, What's That?

12.03.2009

My mom used to have a little poem on the side of her fridge:

It can be done

It should be done

It shall be done... tomorrow

Last night the dishes were begging to be washed (again), the laundry carefully folded (yet again), and the bathroom could have benefited from a good scrubbing (again). Instead, I decided to plop my rear end on the couch and justified my lazy mood by labeling serum tubes for Bron's study while simultaneously watching, The Notebook.

Oh, and I melted some chocolate chips and dipped frozen strawberries in it. Delectible!

*Sigh* It was a really nice evening.

I hope I'm not the only one who does this occasionally...

11.03.2009

Halloween is my favorite holiday next to Christmas. I get so excited! I'm not sure why, but I absolutely LOVE it! Maybe because it's all the real scary stuff all rolled into one faux event; you know the slimy eyeballs are fake, but can't help feeling a little squeamish. I love haunted houses: the lights, the sounds, and the screams all done in good fun. I love the colors of Autumn. I love the leaves. I love the season's crisp cool air and the need for comfy over-sized sweaters. I love pumpkins and the flickering lights from jack-o-lanterns. I love corn mazes. Halloween is the one time of the year where all ages are encouraged to dress up and let loose! Sometimes I'd love to be somebody or something I'm not, to pretend even for just a few minutes. Halloween is also the one cultural phenomenon when every door is waiting to be knocked upon, opened, and candy spilled into eager buckets held by pudgy little fingers. It's the one night when anything can happen! If all that combined isn't amazing, then what is?

Bron and I actually spent a fairly uneventful Halloween at home. I made mini mummy dogs (lil' smokies) for dinner. They were so cute and fun to make!

I used dabs of mustard for eyes!

We bought a bag of Bron's favorite Reese's candy just in case the few neighbor kids that we actually do have stopped by. Plus, Bron knew he'd get to eat the "leftovers". haha

Look at what my sweet husband put together for me on Monday evening! My treadmill! The weather will soon be turning to ice and snow here. When I leave work around 4:30 the sun is already halfway set. There's no more daylight available for playing outside in the evenings no thanks to "day light savings" time!

I think I'm addicted to running. It's a hobby, and I love it. My treadmill is a beast, but I don't care. This machine is going to help keep my rear in gear all winter long!

Now that Halloween is over, it's time to start preparing for Thanksgiving and concentrating on Christmas gifts! This year all the bells and whistles on our Thanksgiving table will be done by yours truly, with a little help from my husband, of course. I've never put together an entire Thanksgiving meal together. I've got a lot of recipes to learn!

SLIDER