Friday Favorite: a little perspective

Given my current condition it would be a lot easier to list my irritations, annoyances, and complaints - I'm trying to be positive, believe me. Some days are more difficult than others. This little cutie would certainly be on both the pro's and con's list for the week.

I recently had what I now refer to as the worst day of both pregnancies. Just as I was thinking the nasuea was gone - it came back with a vengence. One day in particular this week I couldn't keep a single meal (or snack) down. My shadow quickly followed me to the bathroom after each attempt to eat, waited paitently outside in confusion as to why her Mother was hugging the toilet. When the coast was clear she'd join me offering hugs, kisses, and extra cuddles -vomit breath and all.

My sweet Rylee kept me from throwing side jabs at myself. It was helpful for a few moments to remember WHY. I mean really? who couldn't love that face:

and

Dear Baby #2,

Please stop hating me.

Love,

Momma

Rise and Shout

. . . . . the cougars were in Texas!

Michael was able to snag a ticket to the BYU vs UT game last weekend.

His excitement was threefold:
*see a BYU game
*see a game at the stadium in Austin (apparently its humongous and amazing)
*See a UT game (though I'm certain his loyalty will always lie with his alma mater)


He was in Heaven! (you know, until the 4th quarter when the cougars were losing)

Football (HS/college/NFL) brings out Texas-Pride at its finest.

These really are pictures from our very own camera. . . . . apparently you need a bit more estrogen to get a photo with a known subject in the frame (aside from Cosmo) :) he was there, I promise.

Friday Favorite: Ultrasounds

We actually had our 'big' ultrasound right after I got back to Texas. Whoever's idea it was to have a 'weight-check' immediately after a two and a half week vacation is CRAZY! Though, apparently I didn't eat enough Taco Amigo french fries, or sweet pork salad's as it was a fairly 'normal' gain - especially considering it was the first in this pregnancy I'd had any sort of appetite.

Ultrasounds seriously amaze me! Its so cool all you can see through that little machine. . . . 4 chamber heart, no cleft palate, no signs of down-syndrome, working kindey's, blood/oxygen flow to/from baby, 10 fingers, 10 toes, ear placement etc. amazing! If I could have an ultrasound everyday I just might enjoy being pregnant. . . . maybe. At least I can look at the pictures or watch the video any time I feel the need.

This little one was cooperative with our choice and kept his/her legs nice and closed as to not produce any baby-porn. . . . . . the gender shall remain a mystery for a few more months. We will however share a few photos of my uterus for you:

I love watching the baby move around. The tech had a hard(er) time getting a good look of the baby's hands/fingers since they were tightly clenched fists. First the elbow was resting on the knee, then both hands were covering its eyes (like Rylee used to do when she was tired) then under its chin (think Grandma Botsford). . . . . baby wiggled and squirmed and then out of no where fell right asleep. Rylee kept looking at the screen and waving saying "Hi-ya B" (hi baby). Seeing her become a big sister may be what I'm currently most excited about.

Pregnancy wise I'm feeling better - though I still get occational bouts of nausea or dizziness/headaches, and still tire fairly easy. The baby has unfortunately found my sciatic nerve, but luckily hasn't set up camp there quite like Rylee did . . . . . or maybe I just haven't given enough time. I'm starting to feel more movement which is always fun, and I'm over half way - YaHoo!

Labor Day

We spent Labor day morning at the pool. I'm a little sad it was the last weekday our pool is open this season :( At least we've got a couple weekends to swim before it closes til next year. We've gone to the pool about twice a week all summer and we've loved it. Rylee officially climbed out of the side of the pool 100% on her own the other day! seriously. I didn't touch her. I was really excited!

Then we spent the afternoon laboring. . . . Michael had a list of things to do around the house, my favorite of which is now when I turn the light-switch to the closet the light actually comes on. YAY!! (this needed more than just a new lightbulb :) )

We finished off the holiday by going to a baseball game. Rylee did pretty good, the Missions won (like 13-3) most of the runs were scored in the last half and even a couple home runs. Not that we really keep up on the team but it's playoff time . . . . maybe we'll go again since its cooled down . . . and by cooled down I mean not 100 degrees.

nursery-going

Have you tried attending all three meetings of church with a 14 month old?
Impossible I tell you.
The level of difficulty, is exponentially and directly related to the childs ability to move on their own (ie WALK).

We've been counting down the weeks (for months really) until Rylee turned 18months and would be accepted in nursery. Michael even took her a couple weeks early to help her acclimate.

Yes, I had been looking forward to this 'milestone' for a while, but as it approached - I had a 'minor' freak-out. See, sending your child into someone elses care requires one to relinquish a certain degree of control. For some reason its very different from getting a babysitter - see, its not the adults I fear. . . . . . it may or may not be the other children.

Is this where she'll learn to bite? kick? hit? REALLY scream? will she be a toy stealer? or be the one everyone steals toys from? I want her to be nice but not a push-over. Will she be sick every week for the next 3 years? (she's only had one baut with allergies and one non-teething related runny nose). AAHHH. How do I cope you ask? stay as far away as possible. At least until we both feel more comfortable in this new stage. Of course she cried when she got dropped off, but better for Michael to hear it through the closed door than me- I'm certain it didn't last as long as the alternative.

We were told she did really well (after the initial cry . . . which hopefully wasn't too excrutiatingly long and will fade with time) and even brought back a picture. I suppose another outlet for her to learn about Jesus can't be ALL bad, right???

I like to think I'm a relatively laid-back first-time Momma. . . . . this experience has me thinking otherwise. Am I crazy? probably. Alone? please tell me no.

At any rate: Thank you nursery leaders for letting me attend Relief Society and actually be able to listen. . . . . . I'm looking forward to the next relatively silent four months :)

Arghhh

So here's the story:
Lately, Rylee has really enjoyed playing in the pantry. The items of choice are either the garbage (gross) or the soup cans. Somedays I have more patience than others. At any rate, the other morning she was carting around two cans of soup while I was getting ready. Moments later I heard a crash followed by a scream and she came running around the corner crying in pain. At the time I didn't know exactly what happened but as the hours went by, a bruise formed from the curve of the soup can on her lip (and eye too actually).

the day of the accident I felt sorry for her thinking: Soup cans are hard, that must have really hurt. Poor girl, right on her lip. I'm really glad it was on the outside of her eye so there wasn't 'lasting' damage (you know, like blindness).

Day 2: "hmmm the bruise looks an aweful lot like a mustache (notice the resemblance?). . . . . wouldn't that be funny to draw the rest of it on the other side of her lip." post said thoughts on facebook. Day 3: No FB friends objected (most were encouraging), and I too thought it would be funny, so I drew over the bruise with eyeliner and tried to duplicate the design on the other side (ok, the curly-que was all me)

I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. The harder I laughed the more Rylee laughed too. . . .

I added a homemade eyepatch to complete the look. {its all about the accessories}

too much?

apparently.

what a great afternoon :)

mmmm . . . . . bacon

So, while I was gone a few extra days Michael was home working {he originally was going to be in Lubbock for meetings, but they were cancelled}. Usually when that happens I feel a little guilty - I'm off playing while he's home working. alone. bored. Well, not so much this time. He had all sorts of dinner invitations, saw a movie and to top the week off, went hog hunting with some co-workers.

See, these wild boar are really more of a nuisance than anything, and most ranchers are excited for you to come on their property to get rid of them. But still, having a hook-up is nice. He even got to use his new gun!

Michael didn't actually shoot this pig, but it was a big one (250+ lbs) the other two that were killed were just babies and not worth skinning the whole thing for meat. The buddy that did shoot this needed Michael's "assistance" with the dirty work and gave him the meat as part of the bargain (only to come back a day later regretting his generosity. We'll share. I'm certain there will be plenty) We sent it to a butcher and we'll be up to our elbows in sausage here in a few days (seriously 84lbs of ham, ribs, linked & ground sausage comin our way). I'm not sure how soon he'll be able to go out again - if not for space in our freezer the fact that it took him 3 days to quit talking like a hick.