Serious Catch-Up

I'm lazy. Okay. I get it. But who cares. I don't. Work has been incredibly busy the last month and a half, so I prefer to come home and sit and do nothing that really requires much brain power.

Dream #2 (had a couple weeks ago)

I walked into my and Tren's apartment and went to the closet. I open it up and there he is taking a nap on the shelf. The inside of the closet is the EXACT shelf that was in my bedroom I shared upstairs with Annie. (We used to sleep on the shelves in the closet because they were so huge and wide we could lay on them. Now that I think about it, I don't know if we actually slept in there, but anyways.) Tren was sleeping in the closet and I crawled in and said "I need you to go and lock the windows... This guy is after me and I am afraid he'll come in through the window." We get off the shelf and open the door out to the main room and there is this kid standing there. It wasn't the guy who was after me, but I felt a little uneasy with him there. I asked what he needed and he didn't answer so I knew he was working for the guy. So I act like I'm walking away from him and snatch a vase with flowers off a nearby desk and turn and smash him over the head with it. The vase does NOT break and simply bounces off his head. I then feel bad and apologized. Then I look towards the living room and there is the guy I was worried about. He'd come in the window. We argued about something and he wouldn't let me and Tren leave the apt. The next thing I know, we are down in the lobby of the apartments and it looks strangely like the waiting area of a hospital. I look around for Tren and realize I am now carrying him trapped in a laptop. This was what I was afraid of (apparently) because I start crying and yelling at the guy who was after me, because he put Tren in my laptop. I could just see Tren's face on the screen. I was in serious freak-out mode. I wanted back in my apartment. I wanted Tren out of the laptop. There were people walking around us and I couldn't tell anyone what was going on. The guy was just standing there 'what are you going to do? You cant go back to your apartment.." and he was creepy. I start crying harder. Then I just get pissed off and I yell at him "You know what! bleep you!! I don't want my stupid apartment!" and I start to leave the waiting area. Now I'm really crying because this means Tren is forever stuck in my laptop. I am walking down the hall of the lobby and a sweet little hand grabs mine and I look down and the little GIRL says to me "Come on, Mom". It was a little fat Tren girl. I stopped crying, squeezed my laptop tightly to me and me and my little girl walked away.

Ever since this dream, I think I'm having a girl.

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Shoshone Falls

Two weekends ago we took a little over-nighter trip to Shoshone Falls and to see the gators. We were eating brunch at Denny's in Meridian and decided we'd see if Tren's grandma would want to go. Short notice, but she was ready when we got to her house 45 mins later.

We drove to Twin Falls and checked in to the hoe-tail and then headed to Shoshone Falls. It was just a bit rainy while we were there, but it was still pretty.

At first, we told Belle this was the waterfall we had done all the driving for.

Belle and Grandma Bernice

After the falls, we went to dinner and then back to the hotel for swimming. Belle and Tren swam. I took my suit. I put it on. I put my clothes over top of it. I did not swim. I couldn't bear to bare it.

Sunday we woke up to sort of sunshine and headed to Hagerman to see if we could find the gator farm Krista shared. Success!! It was windy and cold so the gators were just floating with their eyes above water. We will try this again in warmer weather.

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Saturday morning I made this sweet combine cake for a little farmer's birthday. Ty was turning 3 and wanted a combine cake. I think it turned out pretty dang cute!

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Today, I am 20 weeks along. That is half way! Woohoo!!! We have an ultrasound scheduled for Wednesday morning and will hopefully be finding out if it's a boy or a girl. Tren wants a boy, Belle wants a girl, and I really don't have a preference. A boy would be fun, and girls are just cute and fun. I am excited to be able to refer to it by name and start shopping for fun things and decorate a baby room. Still can't believe it's happening. But so happy it is!!

"Oh Snap!"

Warning! There are bloody mouth pictures in this post.

Belle is almost 7 years old. She has been dieing to lose her teeth. I would ask why and her response "so I can get some money from the Tooth Fairy!!" An entrepreneur, perhaps? She also complains that Grace, who is only 5 has already lost teeth and she hasn't. Good heavens!

Now, let's go back to January 8th, when I got a text from Belle's step mom saying "Belle has a loose tooth! Finally!!" I could hardly wait to see and wiggle this loose tooth. Finally, Belle will get some money from the tooth fairy and stop feeling like a baby who hasn't lost any teeth. A few days later when Belle came home, I conveniently and not intentionally, took this picture of her sweet mouth with all her teeth. I suggest to all parents to do this, intentionally, because once one tooth comes out, their teeth, mouths, and faces will not be the same.

I passed the word on to my mom and she immediately made Belle a tooth bear. This bear will guard the tooth while under her pillow and then hold the said 'money' the Tooth Fairy will pay for the tooth. Very cute and handy.

Tren and I did our fair share of wiggling on the loose tooth. You cannot see it in these pictures, but her bottom two teeth are growing in BEHIND the baby teeth. Not under, like teeth generally do. This is causing her teeth to be pushed forward instead of up. Thus, she had 2 loose teeth at once. Very exciting! She wanted this tooth out so badly, she bravely let Tren wiggle and gently pull with pliers. At this point, I am freaking out. I'm pregnant so I'm emotional enough, on top of that, my child has her first loose teeth and we are crossing a huge milestone. And then yet even further, she is so determined to get the thing out she's letting pliers be put to it! I had to leave the room several times to get a grip.

The pliers were a bit much for Belle, so she let him tie floss around it to try and yank it out. No luck there either. Nearly ever night, Tren would wiggle and pull on the teeth. One night, Belle got an incredibly long string of floss and had Tren tie one end to the tooth and then hold the other. She didn't want to slam it in the door. She just wanted to "run away" from Tren. Really? So off she goes and nothing.

Now let's move forward to February 8th. I pull into Shem's house to pick Belle up after school/work and she is waiting for me on the curb with THE BIGGEST GRIN on her face. As I get closer, I can see why. She had lost her tooth!!

I tear up a bit (crazy, I know) and she gets in the car and I want to know the story and where the tooth is? She told me she was sitting in class and started crying because she was afraid to pull it out. Miss Keeney said to her "what the heck is wrong with you?" and she twisted it and it came out. Miss Keeney gave her a little plastic tooth necklace to keep the tooth in. I am honestly surprised that tooth made it home and into the tooth bear. She had it out several times on the drive home and then again when we got home.

That night she put her tooth in the bear and under her pillow and hoped the Tooth Fairy would come. Indeed, she did. And she brought a nice crisp $1 bill.

And now, on to February 16th. After dance we eat dinner and nothing has been said about the 2nd loose tooth or progress of wiggling or anything. Belle goes to the bathroom and I start cleaning up dinner. A few minutes later she comes hauling out and says "Momma!! Look at this!" And I look:

"OH MY HECK, BELLE!" She said she went into the bathroom and twisted it and heard a 'pop' and a 'crack' and this is what happened. She ran in to show Tren and he of course wants to pull it right then.

Just another great picture. See the 2 adult teeth growing in behind the baby's? Lovely, eh? And she is also growing molars. -note, I love that you can see her peach fuzz on her sweet little cheeks-

We all end up in the bathroom and she is on the sink fogging up the mirror trying to be brave and just yank it out. Tren and I are also, inches from her, with our fingers out ready to pull too. "You're too close to me!" is what she says, so we give her some space and leave the bathroom.

Next thing I hear is "Oh snap!" and she hops off the sink and turns around just as I'm looking in and she is holding the tooth in her hand and smiling at me with a big bloody grin!

Again, we tuck the tooth snugly into its pocket and off to bed. Another $1 bill is delivered. (The Tooth Fairy gives dollars at her step-bro/sis's house, so she does the same here to follow suit.)

I'm so proud of Belley and her braveness and how much she is growing up. It is sad to see, but also very exciting.

So Far

Well, this pregnancy has been nothing like my first. Why? I have no clue. Different man? I'm older? It's only been 7 years between? I don't know. I started out feeling good and then BAM, like a ton of bricks I felt like poo. This poo feeling lasted for about 3 or 4 weeks. Not fun. I swore I was never going to get pregnant again during these few weeks. I never vomited, just felt like it 24/7. I honestly felt hungover. Nothing sounded good - food wise - but I forced myself to eat. I could not get enough sleep. I had terrible headaches. I was VERY irritable (poor Tren and Belle). I was crazy. I was a serious Debbie Downer.

I had my first midwife appointment on the 19th of January. Tren went along and was a great supporter. They drew blood and I asked questions and they asked questions. Next, we tried to just hear the baby's heartbeat, but it was not coming through. I was a little panicked at this point, thinking I was 11 weeks along and they cant hear the heartbeat?! So she did an ultrasound. This was when they popped the tiny little bubble I was in and told me I was only 9 weeks along. I literally fought back tears. "another 2 more weeks of feeling like CRAP?!" -is exactly what I thought. I asked them to check again. They did and the baby hadn't miraculously grown in that second and I was still only 9 weeks and 2 days along. This put my due date from Aug 9th to Aug 22nd. Bloody heck. We rescheduled for the next visit in Feb and I told myself and Tren I was demanding another ultrasound then to see if things had changed.

Last week, as if someone had flipped a switch, I have started feeling 100 times better. (big happy sigh). Don't get me wrong, I'm still moody and emotional and tired, but nothing compared to the lovely self I was a month ago. I feel like doing things. I have cabin fever. I have an appetite. It is great. I am so ready to start feeling the baby and to find out what it is and to shop and decorate and have a belly full of baby! I am however not happy with the hideous stage my body is in at this point. My shirts are not fitting as comfortably as before. Gross. I went shopping for larger ones, but that is depressing. I want the bump instead of the gut. Soon enough, right?

When I first found out I was pregnant, I saw a "dream journal" online and told myself I was going to keep track of my dreams. Only the few I feel are worth sharing.

Dream 1: I decided I was going to go buy paint to paint the living room. So, I got on my BMX bike and headed for Meridian. It was in the dead heat of summer and here I am, peddling a small bike to Lowes. What the heck? I was at the intersection of Ustick and Eagle Road, in the turn lane, as if I'm a car, and I decide I am too stinking hot. I looked up into the sunlight and I can see myself with my eyes closed, without a hat on and no sunglasses and my face is beat red. Lovely. I also realize I have no way to carry home these gallons of paint and brushes when I'm on a bike. I really hadn't thought that through. I was dieing of thirst too. So, I frogger through traffic and turn up Ustick towards Linder thinking there is a Maverick down there somewhere so I can get a drink and head home for the car. I am peddling and peddling for a long time and never seem to come across Maverick. Finally I see this little shack thing and there is a sign out front that says "COLD DRINKS" so I pull in. I notice my friend, Jesika's, mini van there so I think to myself she'll give me a ride home so I don't have to ride my bike anymore. I go in and there is not a single drink in the store. It was a sno-shack. I bought a sno-cone and tried to pour as much blue coconut flavor on it, so I could drink it, but the lady saw me and took it away. Jesika asked what I was doing and why my face was all red and I told her I came over for paint and that I was on my bike and right as I said that and was about to ask for a ride home, her youngest started screaming so she had to leave. Without me. I woke up, dieing of thirst and wanting nothing to do with a blue coconut sno-cone.


More dreams to come!

Interview 2011

A New Year means a new interview with Miss Belle. She just went to the doctor last week, so we have very good measurements.

Weight: 45lbs
Height: 47 3/8" (that's just shy of 4 feet!)

The dr said Belle is in the 19th percentile for her age and such. Such a skinny tall drink of water she is. :)

I asked the same questions as last year and think I'll stick with them for the next couple of years.

1. What is your name? Belle

2. What do you want to be when you grow up? a Vet

3. What is the hardest thing you had to do today? My seat work. (when they are doing reading groups and if it is not your turn for reading you do work at your desk.)

4. What is your favorite thing? a puppy

5. What makes you happy? Rooster and Henry

6. What is your favorite thing to do? Play with my baby brother, Asher.

7. What is your favorite thing about school? Nothing!!

8. What is your least favorite thing about school? my teacher

9. How many brothers and sisters do you want? 40

10. Who is your hero? Henry because he is funny and dumb.

11. What is your favorite food? Pudding - chocolate pudding

12. What is your favorite day of the week? Monday because I get to go to school

13. Who is your best friend? Jordan - This "jordan" is a 5th grader and HE is a boy and I am still not sure how to handle this...-

14. What is your favorite song? Life is a Highway - Chris LeDoux or Red Red Wine

15. What is your favorite color? Red

16. Do you have a lucky number? If so, what is it? 16

17. Why is "16" your lucky number? Because when I am 16, I will get to have a boyfriend and that will be Bradley.

Belle is doing good in school. I am still blown away with the fact that she can read. It is amazing. She loves doing Jazz/Tap for dance. My little girl is growing up. boohoo.

Here she can be seen focusing very hard on her homework.

and the usual little freak....

:)

It's going to be a LONGGGG summer!!




Tren, Belle and I are very excited!! Due in August, 2011!!

Bedroom Make-Over

Belle has been wanting to have her bedroom re-done for a long time now. She has been wanting lots of pillows for her bed, too. Different colors and sizes and textures. So, I decided I would re-do her room as my gift to her for Christmas this year. Conveniently, she was at her dad's the entire week before Christmas,so I had to get the things done beforehand that I could, like making pillows and getting supplies, and then do the actual work when she was gone. She came home Christmas morning and found this on her door:

I asked Russ to make her a new bed. He made it exactly as I had dreamed it to be! A 'loft' bed on 4 log rounds. It's perfect!

I did a ribbon curtain with a bit of flare at the top, because I wasn't happy with just the ribbon. This makes it a little more "Belle" anyways.

Then, all the pillows. (Rooster pillow from Aunt Charlotte.)

Then I made 40 or so of these sweet little puff birds...

I sprinkled them with glitter to make them a little more "Belle" too.

These little birds are scattered throughout her room in random places... just keeping an eye on things.

She was very happy with her room. The only thing she says it is missing is a big pink flower on the wall. I'm still trying to figure out what exactly she needs.

Painting #2 (and I guess #3 and #4)

Jesika asked me to paint her something. She wanted indian, but I decided on something different because my mind wasn't coming up with anything indian-y that my hands could paint. This however, turned out exactly how I wanted it to.

What do you think?

How I learned to Mind My Own Business

I was walking past the mental hospital the other day, and all the patients were shouting, '13....13....13.'

The fence was too high to see over, but I saw a little gap in the planks, so I looked through to see what was going on.....

Some idiot poked me in the eye with a stick!

Then they all started shouting '14....14....14'...

Pretty in Placerville

A couple weekends ago, Jesika and I got away to Placerville, ID for a girls only weekend.... with her father-in-law Steve. Jesika's in-laws have a cabin up there. We bought wigs for my upcoming birthday party and headed on up.

While we were there, we did some 4 wheeler riding...

And we went to the 2 museums in the town of Placerville. There was so much SWEET old stuff there!

This is a pin-cushion.... Isn't she sweet? How could that not cheer you up when you are frustrated with your sewing?

One of the museums had this wall of hats and shoes! I so badly wanted to try them on.

So, I asked and we were allowed to try them on. It was so fun and funny!!

This one had netting on it that was super gross and nappy.

Here we are looking scary without our hair, and just our caps. I had a lovely red line across my forehead for 2 days from that thing!

We went to the cemetary. This one was very pretty with the pine trees and white grave stones.

It was a great trip and get-away from all the stresses of life. Can't wait to do it again!

Hello Kitty

Last night Jesika and I made a cake for a little lady (Maddie) who is turning 5 years old. The mother, Shaha, requested a Hello Kitty cake. I googled and she googled and then we both had this plan in our heads. Come to find out, it wasn't the same plan. I have since made a mental note to ask how many people will be eating this cake. (sorry Shaha) So, Jesika and I get busy building the cake according to the plan I had in my head and the requests from Shaha. We got the base of it done and I was just not sure how we were going to put this large Hello Kitty head on top. Ugh. So we sit and stare and think and stare and I'm about to tell Shaha it dropped on the floor and she will need to get one from Albertson's. I was getting very discouraged. Then Jesika, dear sweet Jesika says "lets put it right here in the front". So we lean the head up and take a look and it is going to work! I cut the shape of ears and part of the bow and then we got to frosting the head. After a long night and lots of frosting everywhere, we came up with this final little Hello Kitty. All the sides are not perfectly even and the frosting isn't smooth everyhwere, but that only gets better with practice. Shaha was happy with it and I think the birthday girl will love it too! I also made a matching tutu for Maddie to wear at her party. What do you think?!