Likes and Dislikes

*disclaimer* for those of you who read my (rarely updated) baby blog... I'm probably going to post this there as well -although I did update this last week.

So... I don't feel GREAT... but I definitely feel a lot better than I was a month or two ago. I would say that I have two days a week where I don't feel good, just more tired or a little more sick than normal, but it's doable. If this is as good (and bad -I can hear all of you mothers out there laughing) as it gets, I'll be fine for the next 5 months.

However... I've been creating this list in my head that I thought I'd try to get down on paper -mostly just so I'd be forced to think of some of my 'likes' about being pregnant. Here it is (oh, and I'm keeping both sides G-rated, if you want the down and dirty, go read Belly Laughs).

I'm starting with LIKES... it'll be a shorter list, but I thought I'd start here first.

-The end result. I've always wanted a family, and this is the most traditional way to have one. There should be a healthy baby at the end of the 9 months.
-I like feeling my body change -or at least noticing the changes. I haven't even started all of the BIG changes, but they're on their way, and it's weird to actually feel my uterus.
-I like (most) comments from others, just having other people know that I'm pregnant. However, I'm still trying to wear 'normal' clothes at work, I like to be able to control who I tell and when.
-No monthly periods. That's still G-rated, and I refuse to use any other term... it sounds juvenile.
-I like my doctor, so I don't mind the monthly visits.
-I'll include future likes, which will be feeling the baby move. It hasn't happened yet, but I'm looking forward to it and I KNOW Justin is too.
-I'm not going back to work after the baby is born, so just knowing that is pretty nice (thanks Justin).

Now for the dislikes...
-There was a fair amount of stress and anxiety involved with actually getting pregnant, the 1st miscarriage and being a little more worried than normal the first few months of this one.
-Being sick. Yes, I didn't throw up and I am EVERY grateful for that, don't get me wrong. However, I was SICK. I felt like throwing up, had a hard time eating, hard time NOT eating, just feeling miserable overall. I can see all of you nodding your heads in agreement.,
-The 'glow' of pregnancy. Any 'glow' that I have has created a large amount of acne and other skin ailments. Oh... so attractive.
-My joints. Oh, my knees and wrists of all things are about to give. Those loose joints due to the hormones are wreaking havoc on my already arthritic joints.
-No drugs. Seriously... I love my drugs. I feel like I have a high tolerance for chronic pain, but I hate having headaches and muscle pain. I miss my ibuprofen and another prescription anti-inflammatory drug.
-Sleep. I miss sleeping through the night. What a dirty trick of nature to start the no-sleeping-through-the-night routine before the baby is even here.
-Peeing... all of the time. Even when I don't really have to 'go' I still feel like I have to go. Weird.
-These 'round ligament' pains are killing me. Plus... according to all of the books, I only get relief once the uterus is big enough to rest on the pelvic bone, which then starts stretching itself.
-Waiting. I was thinking the other day that I haven't waited 9 months for something for a while. Maybe turning 16 and getting my license. Even Justin and I didn't wait that long between meeting and getting married (judge me if you want). November seems far.
-Heat. And, along with heat, the swelling. Hasn't happened too bad yet, just a future dislike.
-Lack of exercise. Between still being super tired and having to keep my heart rate down, I'm missing my gym time.

I'm sure if I sat here any longer, I could come up with more, but I'll stop there. Even after listing all of my 'dislikes', that first LIKE on my list, has made it all worthwhile. I'm very happy that Justin and I are starting our family and I'm grateful that I am able to carry our child.

I may be singing a different tune later on in the hot summer though.

A Tigger or an Eeore

I realize that this is an oversimplification of life, however in a recent speech given at Carnegie-Melon University, a now famous professor mentioned that there are Tiggers and Eeores in life, and that we choose which we are going to gravitate towards. I admit that no one is perfect, but our average tendency says a lot about our character and maturity.

If you haven't youtube'd this video or seen the new book coming out, I encourage you to do so: http://www.thelastlecture.com/

Which one are you?

I really shouldn't... but I am

I've been wanting to post this for weeks now. Justin will be mad, and I promise I don't mean to offend, or even expect anyone to change (especially for me).

But... can I list a 'thing that must go' (a weekly bit on a local radio station)?

Music on blogs.

This has really only started annoying me since I started listening to said radio station through my computer instead of my radio (bad reception in the new office). So... my speakers are on. I'm usually listening to the radio, and I normally open a few blogs at a time to read them.

Unless you are the author... you never actually hear an entire song being played (maybe I just read fast, but I don't ever get through an entire song). I'm glad that these are your favorite songs, and I kind of even like knowing what kind of songs you like that much to actually put them on your blog.

Maybe it's the pregnancy hormones talking (just ask Justin, I've been more 'edgy' lately) but can I please choose what I want to listen to??

Sorry if this offends, but my guess is I'll get at least a couple of comments from those of you out there who might agree.

And if not... I guess I've just alienated myself, and for that I'm sorry.

My last cake for a while

I'm glad that I took the last few cake classes and I don't mind the (literally) hundreds of dollars I've spent on tools and supplies in the last three months... but I'm REALLY glad I'm done. I need a break. If I don't make another cake mix or batch of frosting til the end of the year, I'll be happy!

That being said... here's my last cake.

Two things. First-Wilton really needs to update their style. Roman pillars? Why don't we just put a punch fountain in the middle and call it 1992. And second... frosting flowers? They're just not attractive. I never plan on making a wedding cake, but I promise if I ever did, there would be fresh flowers on it.

Also... we had another doctor's appointment today. Everything is going well, heard the heartbeat, my measurements are right on, and we scheduled our ultrasound for next month.

Laila's First

We went up the canyon yesterday afternoon for our niece's first birthday party.

One thing is for certain... she likes her sugar!!

Not one of his best ideas

Yesterday Justin was on his way home and was going to stop and get a few things he needed for a work party and grab something for dinner from a grocery store.

Instead, he decided he wanted chinese from a buffet close to our new house. He came and got me and (for the record- I initially objected) we went to try it out.

(In Julia Robert's voice from Pretty Women) Big Mistake!

I'm not a fan of buffets. They make me feel cheap. I don't like getting my own food at a restaurant, and I especially don't like getting up for seconds. (or in this case to search for something more edible than my first choices).

The place was over-priced (as I feel all buffets are), pretty run down (I think a folding chair would have been more comfortable than the seat I was on), and as previously mentioned, the food was barely edible (I don't believe I finished a single small helping of any of the items on my plate).

A few highlights were... our fellow diners. Stellar parenting by more than one family (yelling across the restaurant to a kid that he "needs more meat"), the RACE (I'm not exaggerating) to the tray when they finally bring out more crablegs after some 10-year old had asked for some, and the ice cream.

After being there for a few minutes and realizing that we were done trying to eat anything, I suggested that maybe their desserts were okay. Justin went to check it out and quickly came back. He informed me we would not be having ice cream, and he was ready whenever I was. We left quickly without an explanation. (According to Justin the ice cream looked more like old milk, and one of the dessert selections was the small powdered donuts that you purchase at the gas station.

Needless to say, we did not have a great meal last night, and we were both a little surprised that we didn't get sick last night. Maybe it was because neither of us tried the crab legs.

Gender

A friend sent me over this very well written article on learning the gender of your baby and I thought it was thought-provoking enough to share it with you few but admirable readers of our blog.

Pros & Cons

What is your opinion?

More cakes

Are you sick of cake pictures yet?

I want to make this VERY clear... I did not make this cake. I helped Yvette with the last stage of it. She baked the cake (from scratch) and had covered it with butter cream, AND made the fondant before I ever showed up.

So... I essentially helped roll out fondant, cover the cakes and add the little extra bits. She also did all the flowers -that's too scary for me to help with yet. But, it's a great picture.

I... was tagged

"I"

(Tagged by April)
I am... pretty tired. It's a Monday, so it's to be expected I guess.
I want to be... sleeping. (I have feeling this is going to be a theme for these questions)
I need... ice water.
I wish... I had a dog. But, I'm not willing to take care of one right now. Hopefully next year.
I'm scared... of falling and hitting my teeth/mouth.
I love... my husband, family, friends and the Red Sox!
I will never forget... ANYTHING! Even as my brain turns to mush from the pregancy.
What worries me... Uh... labor? Can I just skip that part and get the baby later this year?
The world could do without... many, many things -and people. Can't think of just one right now.

All Grow-ed Up

You would think that getting married... signing a mortgage, or getting pregnant would make me feel old, or at least like an adult.

Nope.

It happened the other night when I had to buy this:

Yep. We have a home phone line. I don't know the number. I'm not sure if and WHEN I'll memorize the number, I like cell phones. With Justin's new calling at church he wanted a home phone line so people aren't always calling his cell phone.

In other news... we're learning how to work with fondant in my cake class this month. Justin got to take it to work (sorry team) but here are the pictures.

I love Utah State

I don't know why I have such an attachment to certain people or places or things, but Utah State is something that I love. Watch these videos and you'll see why: USU Campaign,USU Heritage.

Why did the chicken cross the road

Justin found this site. It's pretty dang funny -kind of like the Garfield one, but with chickens and post-it notes. Okay, it's not really like the Garfield one, but it's funny all the same. Here's some samples, I hope I don't get in trouble for posting them.

Weekend Trip

We went to St. George this weekend (Friday-Sunday). I made a work trip and saw one of my clients on Friday, but then we just kind of did nothing. Justin's mom had to go down (300 miles south of Salt Lake) for work and got a big condo for all of us (Dustin, Shondel, Laila, Kris & Marime).

We did a bit of shopping, hung out out the pool, went to dinner, and that's about it. It was a nice weekend.

Justin trying on a yarn wig in one of the shops.

Laila before and at the pool.

This is kind of hard to see... but this house on the way to the condo was FULL of wire lawn ornaments. Including, eagles, cactus, indian heads, and other stuff. Pretty tacky!

Better than Hockey

I've been to a few hockey games in my life. Very few. I usually go to look at the crowd (I've never seen so many awesome mullets in one place) and see the occasional fight. Seriously, I don't understand all the finer points (it's pretty much like soccer on ice, right?) and they score fewer times than a baseball game.

So, here's a little bit of both. You really need to click on the link (it's worth 30 seconds of your time) -even if you don't like baseball.

Happy (belated) Mothers Day to me

On Mothers Day Justin had a card and a book for me (not to mention we bought a huge TV the night before). But... when I woke up and looked down at my feet, I realized what I actually wanted (needed) was a pedicure. I love pedicures. I used to get them ALL the time with friends the last couple summers, but haven't had one since I got married. So, I said thank you for my card (he offered to make breakfast, but there was no time) and my book and said I wanted a pedi for Mothers Day.

I finally found the time to go yesterday.

Worst shape than me

I may get winded walking up my stairs, I can't get up before 7:30 am if my life depended on it, and I might only make it to the gym once a week right now... but looks like I'm in better shape than Big Papi.


For all of you non-red sox fans (I know, I can't believe I have friends that aren't die-hard sox fans either) this is a pretty hard blow. Not only is Tampa in the lead (seriously, Tampa? They don't win things) but we just lost our designated hitter. And Manny... well, Manny (and his 500 homeruns) seems to be better when Ortiz is around. I'm a little worried.

Oh... and how's that for posting? Two in one day.

Sleeping through the night

You might expect a post about sleeping through the night from a proud parent. Nope... it's about me. I stopped taking the half of a sleeping pill that's been my life-saver for the last 2 months and it's been a rough few nights. I tried not taking it the night before Memorial Day, but too little sleep and a too busy day created a monster of a headache, and I took it all last week again.

So, Friday I didn't take it, had a pretty bad headache on Saturday, but I was still functional. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night were pretty bad, and I slept in 2 hour increments at best. My body must have been too used to the drugs to help me sleep and forgot how to do it on it's own. Last night, however, I only woke up twice -which is pretty good for me.

I feel bad that I'm not much of a blogger right now, I just don't feel like I have anything worth talking about. We had our 2nd doctor's appointment last week, and things are going well. We'll probably have our ultrasound in July. That's worth a post, I'm sure.

We're enjoying the new house. I'm starting to be a little sick of everything being so brown... which is hopefully the first sign that I might actually start wanting to decorate a bit. We're also heading to St. George this weekend with Justin's family. I'm sure that will have pictures and stories. More blogging posts!