Learning As We Go...

20 Weeks

2010-08-21T09:45:00.000-05:00

We are having a GIRL! I don't think I ever posted anything about being pregnant on this blog so this may seem a little out of place but we're having a baby and it's a girl. : )

First Post

2010-04-30T14:13:00.002-05:00

This is my first post on the iPad Jere bought for me. It seems pretty neat so far. Just getting used to it. The typing is really easy. I don't have to look at the keys. I can still type normally. It's pretty sweet but like with most things that are new that come my way, I am still apprehensive.

Meal Planning 4/26/10-5/2/10

2010-04-26T10:04:00.005-05:00

Well last week was my first time menu planning in a long time. I planned every meal and it was nice knowing that we had the food in the house, all I had to do was prepare it. Since Jere's schedule is not normal like most people, I have to think about meals that are better for eating on the go when he's heading to class. Some days he comes home after work and other days he head straight to class from work. Last week it was nice to follow my menu exactly so I'm looking forward to doing it again.

Breakfasts
T: coffee cake
W: coffee cake
TR: breakfast burritos
F: oatmeal
S: french toast
S: breakfast burritos

Lunches
M: dijon salmon, salad, bread
T: leftover pesto pasta
W: calzone (from freezer), green beans, orange jello
TH: cheese sandwich, chips
F: salad, pb+j
S: blackbean dip, tortilla chips (p 348 simply in season)
S: fajitas (green pepper, onion, chicken, tortillas)

Dinners
M: cheese sandwich, carrots, chips (J) pita chips + leftover bean dip (R)
T: honey baked lentils (from freezer), rice, salad
W: huge salad + some other stuff
TR: penne pasta, alfredo sauce w/chicken, green beans & bread
F: BBQ @ Bloom's
S: phad thai
S: leftovers (J) alex's wedding shower (R)

In the jungle...

2010-04-23T16:03:00.003-05:00

Here we can observe the animal in his natural habitat. He stares at his reflection and shrieks. This his attention moves on to his toy. Back and forth the subject is mesmerized.

As you can see, no ball and stick for this little guy! He's got tons of toys...

Green Grass

2010-04-22T13:19:00.008-05:00

Two weeks ago, we tilled up our backyard. It was literally a jungle that came with it's own snakes and poison ivy. It had a small area that might have once been a dog run as well as a swing set. It all started when I snapped a couple pictures of the swing set and posted an ad on craigslist for a free swing set. It was gone two days later.

The day it was taken Jere and I got out and cut down some bush areas and it already looked 10 times better when we were done. The next weekend, we took down the dog run fence and bought a pick ax to dig up stumps and roots. It was hard work but it was SO rewarding. The third weekend after I posted the swing set on craigslist, we tilled up our backyard. Jere worked really hard wrestling the tiller and he got it done in less than five hours. Jere laid seed, we've been watering and lo and behold there it is!

Last weekend, we got a bunch of brick from our friends. Right after we brought it home Jere made a border for the vegetable garden we're hoping to cultivate this spring. There were brick pavers already in our yard that we took up and used to lay on top of the base layer of brick. It makes a nice definition between the yard and the garden. We haven't planted anything yet but we've got a few seed starters growing. It's looking SO much better and I am really looking forward to having a functional backyard next spring. : )

Baby Boy

2010-04-21T13:09:00.008-05:00

This face is what I see whenever I walk into Brighton's room now.

He has been pulling on things for a couple weeks and the crib has the perfect size rungs to hold onto while reaching for the top rail. It's both good and bad because while I like that he's more active, it's a little hard to make him lay down when he can just roll over and stand up in his crib. It's been pretty challenging to put him to bed. It was different when he could roll around and play for a little bit and then fall asleep. He can't fall asleep while standing up! He has also started shrieking and talking way more than he was before so he stands in his crib and yells for me...

I was realizing yesterday that because he is learning and changing so quickly that I need to change with him. He is not going to like the same thing I was doing last month because he is doing so much more than last month. It's challenging to me to remember this because while I like some change, a lot of change all the time throws me way off course!

Our House

2010-04-20T11:15:00.007-05:00

One thing I love about our house even though it's small, is the ability to rearrange my furniture. Whenever I start to feel the seeds of discontent creeping up on me I look around and think about how I can change my surroundings. It's a quick fix anyways. When we first bought the house, the living room and dining room were divided. We took out the divider to make it one big room and I am so glad we did! It allows for so much more freedom in what we do with the space. Our living room dining room area is only 12' x 24' - as big as some peoples living rooms. But I am thankful that it's a standard rectangle with no strange nooks.

The other thing I am thankful for is that we haven't finished our ceiling. It's drywall and primer. This makes it really easy to hang temporary things from the ceiling without worrying about filling the holes...

I was looking back on all the changes we've made to this house in the past 2.5 years and we've come a long way. I want to keep remembering where we've been so I can be thankful for where we are now!

Also, after I rearranged everything and took photos, I found this chair on clearance at Target in Lawrence. I LOVE it! I have been eyeing this type of chair online although I don't think I would have been drawn to this stripe pattern if I had a choice. The funny thing is that I got it home and noticed that it exactly matches the stripe at the top of my flowered curtains...apparently it was fate!

Menu Planning

2010-04-19T23:10:00.005-05:00

I have had a really rough time menu planning recently. As a result, I buy random things at the store that don't relate to meals and I spend a lot doing it. Another result is that we eat out a lot. It's so frustrating to be in a slump like this! Seems like just a couple weeks ago that we were fine and then all the sudden it changed. I am wondering if it has to do with the weather being nice and us working in the yard which has taken up a lot of time...But no excuses, I have to do better. Today I made a list of all the food we have in the house. I made a menu based off of the lists and this week only had to supplement by buying a few items.

Breakfasts
T: breakfast burrito+cereal (J) bran muffin (R)
W: oatmeal (J) bran muffin (R)
TR: cereal (J) granola w/ yogurt (R)
F: waffles
S: waffles
S: waffles

Lunches
T: cheese sandwich + salad
W: hamburger + roll & fries
TR: tuna melt + salad
F: tomato soup + grilled cheese
S: nippy garbanzo bean spread + pita chips (more with less p. 308)
S: corn on cob, green beans, spring trio quiche (asparagus filling & crumb crust)

Dinners
T: honey baked lentils (simply in season)
W: hamburger + roll & fries
TR: tuna melt + salad
F: tomato soup + grilled cheese
S: nippy garbanzo bean spread + pita chips (more with less p. 308)
S: corn on cob, green beans, spring trio quiche (asparagus filling & crumb crust)

My Arch Nemesis

2010-04-15T08:16:00.002-05:00

Fingernail polish remover. It's my arch nemesis. It's really sad that a bottle of acid could be such an enemy, but it's true. I have spilled fingernail polish remover so many times, and it has done serious damage on several occasions. Two days ago I was sitting at my dining room table and when I reached for the bottle, I knocked it over with my hand instead of picking it up. Of course, a huge amount came spilling out and I jumped into action to find a towel. I was moving as quick as I could but at the same time knew that it would not be fast enough...I had had enough experience to know this. So this is the result of my clumsiness. Once section is just rough like the top coat got taken off. Another area actually has slight discoloration. I am thinking I could solve this two ways:

Start sanding the top and see how it looks all roughed up. Give it sort of a distressed look. If I liked the top well enough, I would do it to the legs as well.
Sand the top and see what it looks like distressed and if I don't like it then I can't sand it clean down and re-stain or paint only the top. The edges are angled enough that I don't think it would be all that noticeable.

The camera flash helps show it more - it's not this noticeable with natural light...

Cloth Diaper Babies for Google

2010-04-14T10:50:00.011-05:00

Yesterday I met up with a girl who I connected with on Facebook. She organized a photo shoot with a professional photographer (donating her time) to take pictures of babies with cloth diapers. The plan is to send the pics to Google as part of the "Google KS" excitement to bring faster fiber optic internet to Topeka. The idea is that babies are cute and why not keep pushing for Google to see that we want them to pick us? I personally have not done anything in regards to the competition, so when I saw the forum calling for babies in cloth diapers to do a photo shoot, I thought "Why not? I'll volunteer...". These were photos that I took and I'm glad I got them. I think they looked cute!

Brighton getting ready for photos

I think four out of the six babies at the shoot were wearing Bum Genius diapers...My favorite diaper was the cow print that the baby second from the left is wearing. So fun!

Toward the end, Brighton was getting hungry, hot and having a hard time keeping it together sitting next to the other babies. So I took him off to the side, helped him calm down and took a few photos of him by himself.

8 Months Old

2010-03-31T13:08:00.003-05:00

7mo 1wk: This boy is moving. He isn't crawling but he is definitely getting places. I put him down, he moves over to whatever object is around that he is NOT supposed to touch.
We received his spring hat in the mail right after he turned 7 months. I love it.
He took his first plane ride on 3/14/10. Jere, Brighton and I went together to Las Vegas. Microsoft holds a conference that Jere wanted to attend, so Bright and I tagged along. He was awake for the first three plane rides but slept on the last flight home. The whole way.
While in Las Vegas, I would push him around in the stroller and he would sit up hanging onto the tray and staring at everything. It was so fun for me to watch it. He's becoming such a little boy!
We used disposable diapers while on our little trip to Las Vegas. See the story below.
7mo 3wk: He ate his first sweet potatoes. He would make a face as if he didn't like the taste, and then open his mouth for more. Every time he did that, I would sign for more and say the word. I am hoping if he wants the food, he'll sign for it in the near future!
This month, he has eaten two biter biscuits, sweet potatoes and green beans. Next up - carrots and peas!
I have been hesitant to feed him real food because it seemed like such a BIG undertaking. I finally broke down and actually bought some baby food instead of grinding it up myself. Just the idea of it seems a lot easier.
Brighton likes most things that we don't want him to touch. Like anything electronic. In order to train him we have left the laptop on the floor. Anytime he gets near enough to touch it, we tell him no. Up until 7mo 3wk he just looks up at me and smiles. Finally we had a break through where fussed after we told him no and threw a little fit. I think that will be the only time I am okay with it because now I know that he knows what I'm saying :)
At the breastfeeding clinic on 3/18/10, he weighed 19lb 15oz.
His hair has been hanging over the edges of his ears. While it drives me crazy to look at it, I also don't want to cut it!
He has started pushing himself into different positions. He started with going from sitting to his belly. I'll be in another room and hear a thud, look out and he's okay, moving around! He has also started pushing into a sitting position from his belly. He hasn't pushed himself up all the way yet but uses his arm as a prop. Also, I now know that he can "flip" over rather than "roll" over. There is definitely no more leaving him on the couch now...
He took his first bath in the bathtub by himself with about five inches of water. It's a little dangerous because he's sitting but if he sees a toy he goes for it. This means that he pushes himself onto his belly. Not good in a bathtub! He was actually fast enough the first time that I didn't catch it...
He has three teeth on the top and two teeth on the bottom. He's working on a fourth one up top still.
Just before he turned 8 months old, his fourth tooth on top came through. Now he has six teeth!
When he inch worm crawls to me, I get down on my knees and hold my arms out. When he reaches me, he slaps my hands signaling for me to pick him up. This is funny to me because he'll stop at the farthest point from me but still close enough that he can stretch his arm out to reach me.
Jere moved Brighton's crib down a level because he has started crawling over to the corner closest to the door and pulling himself up to his knees. Can't be too careful when making sure he won't fall out!
The day before he turned 8 months old, he was sitting in a laundry basket outside while I was cleaning up the yard. Mom was watching him and noticed that he was pulling himself up and standing in the laundry basket! He's been semi doing this but he's never actually pulled himself all the way up.
We've really enjoyed going outside together. When he was around 7.5 months old the weather turned really nice. We've been taking walks almost every day and he really enjoys sitting outside in the sun while playing with a few toys :)
I have a buyer for the changing table and although I am a little sad to see it go, we haven't been using it for months because he's too big for it. We've been changing him on the living room floor. We're planning on making a play area in his room when the changing table leaves.

Here's the story...While we were in Las Vegas I knew that I wanted to take Brighton to the pools and sit together in the sun. The first day we were there we slept in, then got up and left the hotel room. We stopped in a shop selling sunglasses and sunscreen before we got out to the pool. We were taking our time and just moving slowly. I made my way curving around the sidewalk to the opposite side of the entrance. This seemed to be the most quiet spot where there were lots of chairs open and only a few people swimming. Brighton and I put on some sunscreen, and got ready to swim. We were only in the pool for about five minutes because although I was told that it was heated, it felt pretty cold. We went back, toweled off and sat together enjoying the sunshine. By this point there were two ladies chatting a couple chairs away and a whole family sitting two rows in front of us. I fed Brighton and then laid him in the stroller on his back with a hotel towel laid underneath him. It was SO relaxing to sit and read while he played with his toys in the shade of the stroller.
After a little while he started getting fussy so I thought to myself that I would push him around and he would probably fall asleep. I tried for a few minutes but he was still fussing. So I decided to check his diaper. Ding ding ding! He had a majorly poopy diaper! I decided to pick him up by his ankles and behind his head instead of underneath his arms like I normally do. This proved to be the wrong thing to do. As I was moving him from the stroller to my chair (where there was a hotel towel spread out) to change his diaper, the leg of his diaper on the opposite side of me was opening because of the way I was holding his legs. The thing I didn't realize was that Brighton's poop was liquid. I had never seen anything like it. After I laid him down, I realized in disbelief that the poop had leaked all over the place. It was all underneath him on the chair, in the stroller on the towel (thank goodness it was on the stroller!). It was on the foot rest of the stroller, the tray, five huge splashes between the chair and the stroller, on the based of the chair in several places AND on my big toe!! Gross. I was so mortified. The ladies were still sitting only two chairs away and I was trying to move as quickly as possible to clean it all up. I had a stack of wipes with me about an inch thick and I used all of them. I wrapped the towels in on themselves, packed up and basically ran out of there. I was so embarrassed and worried because Brighton had never done something like that and it happened in public!

I wasn't sure what to do with the hotel towels so I called house keeping from the concierge desk. The woman I talked to assured me that things like that happened all the time and said she would send someone down with a bio hazard back to throw the towels away. A BIO HAZARD BAG! I cannot say enough how mortified I was. On the way back to the hotel, Brighton had fallen asleep. Prime example of the eat, play, poop, sleep schedule!

I am having a blast with him and I wouldn't change anything though. He is such a sweet little boy!

6 Months Old

2010-01-30T11:53:00.004-06:00

I still have no idea who he really looks like...

Baby boy rolled over on his own while wrestling his lion when he was 5 mo 6 days old. He had rolled over before but it was always right when he set him on his stomach - almost like he had just lost his balance.

He was drooling and chewing on everything. I figured he was doing some sort of teething but couldn't feel anything.

I felt his bottom front right tooth coming in when he was three days from turning six months old. It's very pronounced so I must have missed it when I had checked before.

He is constantly pushing his legs which in turn pushes his booty into the air.

His hand/eye coordination has really developed this month. He is grabbing things very well and it's funny to see him open his fingers very deliberately and close them around the item he wants.

He weighs somewhere over 17lbs 12oz.

I gave him his first meal of homemade rice cereal + breast milk before bed when he was four days from turning six months old.

He continues to turn towards the left in circles, but does go right when there is a toy that he wants.

He taps his right foot constantly.

His hair is getting longer and lighter.

He has been trying to push himself up onto his knees but ends up pushing himself backwards because he doesn't know what to do after he's on his knees.

He LOVES strings and ribbons.

Jere was tickling him the other day and he was just giggling and giggling. I tried to do it when Jere got up to do something and it didn't work. I have my ways to make him laugh though.

We set up his highchair at the dining room table. It's hard to believe that he's to the point where he'll start using it soon! He isn't eating food yet but it will be coming soon, I'm sure.

His skin has had red patches in the crooks of his elbows and behind his knees. I'm watching it but I hope it isn't eczema like I have.

The last month, he's been waking up in the middle of the night. Anywhere from 3am-6am. He is never really awake but usually crying like he's scared. I have no idea if this will continue but it started when we were both sick and his schedule was off. I usually put his binki in his mouth to see if that helps and sometimes I go ahead and feed him.

I have been taking naps with him and it's so sweet because we lay down in my bed facing each other, touch faces and noses and fall asleep. I love feeling him snuggle his face into mine and suck on his binki...It's the best feeling as a mother; to know my baby is content.

Wood Mosaic Sculpture

2010-01-18T13:19:00.009-06:00

I am now the proud owner of another original "Jere Kemper" piece of artwork. And it's my favorite piece so far. I can't get over all the details! It's seven feet tall and about three feet wide, curved. On the inside of this structure there is another drawing in wood mosaic of a smaller tree. He is so talented that some of the flowers and the base of the tree are laid out in perspective as if it's 3-D. Those are my favorite parts. The pictures don't do it justice but I wanted to share this amazing art.

Notice the top right flower? It's angled so that it looks 3-D, not flat. I love it.

It's pretty big!

Every cut of wood was done freehand. He fit all of the pieces together by looking at the space and making the shape.

I love that the ground was done in a dark wood. It makes the roots of the tree stand out very nicely.
I love the trunk of the tree because of the twist. It really makes me believe that this is the trunk of a tree and not just a flat stick. I think the best part overall is that most of this sculpture was made with wood from our house. He used our old trim for about 75%. All of the background (the squares) is old trim wood from our house.

The only problem is that we've added another large piece to our 814 sq. ft. house...Looks like we need a bigger house!

Diaper Saves the Day!

2010-01-07T14:55:00.005-06:00

Time and time again, there is one main reason why I like the cloth diapers we have. The elastic band in the back! I think to myself "this would have been a blow out if he were in a disposable". And poops like this have been disastrous when I've used disposables. (albiet they're usually off brand disposables)

Brighton was playing in his excersaucer and had either pooped before I put him in there or while he was in it. Either way, the dirty stuff crept up to the top of the diaper. This is proof at just how closely it came to getting out and ruining everything. But the elastic held strong!

Looking Back on 2009

2010-01-02T17:31:00.002-06:00

One year ago today, I heard Brighton's heartbeat for the first time. He was only 10 weeks old, in utero. I had been so worried that I was going to lose him because I hadn't ever thrown up and a few days prior, hadn't even felt pregnant at all. My HCG levels weren't rising very much after my blood had been drawn for the second time. Because of this, my midwife asked me to come in so we could try to find a heartbeat. I was so scared. I had been wondering if I was really pregnant for weeks because I didn't have any of the symptoms I was expecting. The only symptom I ever had was that I was starving and eating all the time! We went to the Birth Center and our midwife, Norla ushered us into the room where Brighton would later be born. She found the heartbeat right away. We were so relieved. I gave her a huge hug and shed tears of relief instead of the tears of grief I had been crying just an hour before.

It's amazing to me, to reflect back on the year. I was pregnant for seven months of 2009 and enjoyed my amazing little boy for the past 5 months. Looking forward to an amazing 2010.

5 Months Old

2009-12-30T21:29:00.003-06:00

He weighed in at 16 lbs 10 oz and 25 inches long at his 4 month check up. So he started out at 25th percentile when he was born and is now 55th percentile. That's a lot of progress in such a short amount of time!
He sat in a highchair for the first time. This happened at Jason's Deli while eating out with friends.
He is sitting up more and more without falling over. Usually I keep the Boppy pillow behind him as a precaution.
He sat through a movie for the first time in a theater when I went with a friend. The movie was "Julie & Julia".
He sat through his second movie with Jere and I that same week :)
His tooth that had been showing since he turned three months old has disappeared. It seems to have sunk back into his gums!
Jere has started the next trick he's seen Joe do with his boys which is holding onto their feet and balancing them while they stand in his hand.
If you stroke down his forehead to his nose and he is tired, he falls asleep very quickly.
He also LOVES listening to music while falling asleep. It accelerates the process.
We've noticed that he gets really happy when we change his diaper. I've never noticed him being fussy because he wants his diaper to be changed, but maybe he likes being free for that less than a minute time frame from taking the old one off and putting on the new one.
He doesn't mind the snot sucker. More often than not, I will put saline spray in his nose and he wiggles his nose. Then I will use the snot sucker and he acts like it tickles and usually sneezes, but doesn't usually make a fuss about it.
He has been sitting in his Bumbo more. Especially while I'm doing things in the kitchen - he sits in there with me while I'm busy.
He met his uncle Jodie for the first time (my brother).
His great grandma Maxine passed away.
We finally got the 18th diaper that I've been petitioning www.cottonbabies.com (Bumgenius) to send me. I sent it away four months ago to exchange it because it was missing a snap. They're a little slow...
He got his first haircut at 4.5 months! I used a comb and scissors to trim up the ends so it wouldn't look so scraggly.
He found his voice and uses it a lot to chatter and yell at us :) We love it.
He has started looking at us and reaching out to touch our faces. It's a lot of fun to have light baby touches on my cheeks.
His grip on things other than my skin is becoming a lot stronger. A friend from church said she was in the nursery and saw him wake up from his nap, put his binki back in and lay down again. Then he woke up again after she left so she came and told me. I've seen him push it back into his mouth but never pick it up. The other day I did see him take it out of his mouth while in his car seat though.
He has been opting to suck on lots of things besides his binki...Fingers, bibs, burp rags, my shoulder, his long sleeves. I think it gives him something different than his binki can provide.
I can physically see him straining to use to stomach muscles.
He has started "swiveling". I put him on his belly facing one direction and he turns completely around. Granted, it's not quick but I leave the room and come back to find him facing a different direction!
He has also started doing "the inch worm". He face plants, throws his arms out to the side, sticks his butt in the air and wiggles his legs. Then he pushes up on his arms and looks around to see how he did.
He attended his first performance of "The Nutcracker". He was asleep pretty much the whole time but it still counts! This time last year he about 10 weeks in-utero and I was performing in the Nutcracker instead of watching it. : )
I picked up his birth certificate when he was about four and a half months old. He now has identification...
We celebrated his first Christmas together as a family.
He's been sucking his thumb/hand more, as well as smacking his tongue making a weird clicking noise. (We think it's because he's trying to imitate us when we clack our tongue at us...starting with Rex & Shawna!)
He has said "Hi" to several people including Camryn Bloom, his aunt Rutah and Jere and I. I am pretty sure this is because I am a freak and I am constantly saying HI to him because I don't know what else to say. I tend to say HI to babies in general...

First Haircut

2009-12-15T19:42:00.003-06:00

Brighton was born with a lot of hair. Since his birth it's been slowly dwindling and getting more scraggly by the day! So I decided to trim it up. I know it's not very obvious but it looks a lot better now that he doesn't have random strands of hair that are four inches long sticking out from his head...

The View From Where I Sit

2009-12-15T19:18:00.004-06:00

I am enjoying my house more and more as I am able to make it feel comfortably homey. Recently, I did some sewing and made a slip cover for the armchair as well as a few pillows. Last week, I hung a curtain rod above our dining room table and suspended mason jar candle holders that were on the porch from it. While it doesn't provide much light, it does provide ambiance.

4 Months Old

2009-11-30T11:49:00.007-06:00

He got his first virus/fever episode right after he turned 3 months old. Poor kid.
Whenever Jere or aunt Ruthie sticks their tongue out, Brighton does it too.
He's been following people, sounds and his binki with his eyes A LOT.
If I'm watching a movie, he'll watch it too.
He cried practically the whole way home from Denver on the trip I took with Ruth about two weeks ago. He would be crying so I would pull over to check on him and as soon as I would get into the back, he would stop crying and smile at me. Sweet and frustrating at the same time! He was ready to be done with his car seat.
He's been sucking his tongue lately. He does this when he doesn't have his binki - weird!
He's been sucking his hand and getting whatever clothing he's wearing all wet. Sometimes he opts to suck his fingers over his binki or even when he's nursing! I have to remind him to stay on task...
Loud noises scare him a lot.
Being in the dark scares him if he's startled and doesn't recognize who he's with.
Poor guy has had a stuffy nose for a while now but there was no snot till just recently.
I rearranged his room. I painted his crib white and his dresser green. I organized his clothes and all the bins underneath his changing table.
Jere says that if Brighton is fussy and he touches his toes then he stops making noises. I haven't tried this yet...
He likes to grab onto things - especially hair! His tiny little hands will grab onto my skin and pinch me and it hurts so bad because he can get the tiniest little piece of skin and squeeze SO tightly!
He smiles at us a ton and it's a lot of fun for us to interact with him.
Whenever I change his diaper I sing a song to him that I made up and for some reason he seems to like it a lot because he will smile and even giggle sometimes.
He is giggling at us more and more. I can't wait till it's a full out laugh!
He has found his voice as of last week. Sometimes he'll be talking and other times he's started whining! Greeaat. We love listening to him talk to us though, it's such a sweet sound.
He has become more interactive with his toys, really grabbing at them and even starting to chew on them.
He still loves taking bathes and recently, he's started splashing in the bath. I will rest his head on my shins so he's floating freely and he'll start splashing. He splashes himself in the face, catches his breath and does it again. After a while, he started looking up at me up-side-down and smiling while doing it :)
He isn't sitting up by himself but will stay up for short amounts of time if the boppy is behind him. He has fallen forward.
He plays in the exersaucer regularly now even though his feet don't quite touch the bottom.
He has not rolled over which seems to be the next milestone but he is continuously getting stronger pushing up on his arms and looking around.
He was sleeping through the night until about two weeks ago when he started getting up around 4:30am off and on.
The last few nights, he has gotten up in the middle of the night to eat. Not sure if this is a growth spurt or something I'm going to have change by making more of a schedule.
He has been fighting me when it's time to go to sleep. Sometimes he doesn't want to cuddle so I'll put him in his bed and he does go to sleep. Other times he doesn't want to cuddle and he doesn't want to fall asleep on his own so I make him lay down and he will finally give it up and fall asleep.
I have to watch how many layers he's wearing because he gets hot easily and gets very upset if he's too hot.

Projects

2009-11-14T21:51:00.001-06:00

Well, Jere left today for Los Angeles. This past week, in anticipation for a week alone I made a list of projects I've had on my mind. My goal is to get a lot of them done while he's gone. I've already gotten a lot done! I started this past Thursday by spray painting a bunch some things because the weather was good and I knew it would probably be the last chance to spray paint. Today I put Brighton's room together and organized some existing shelves in there. I hope to post pictures soon!

So far I have completed nine things on my project list.

Knit a scarf. (Got done last week)
Go through Brighton's clothes.
Organize Brighton's room.
Print pictures for Jodie, Mary's parents and picture frames.
Spray paint crib.
Spray paint modern chair arms.
Spray paint small dresser.
Spray paint child's rocking chair.
Set up printer.

This week, I hope to get a lot of this list done.

Knit Brighton mittens & hat.
Sew pillow cases for wicker love seat.
Make slip cover for arm chair. (Ruth reminded me of this on her blog! I saw it a while back and have always wanted to try it. Thanks for the reminder :) )
Cut & sew a hole into white winter outfit for Brighton (carseat buckle hole) or make legs.
Re-cover "modern" chair.
Hang Jere's paintings on main wall in living room.
Re-cover head board with a shower curtain.

Friends

2009-11-06T16:23:00.003-06:00

Halloween

2009-10-31T16:50:00.004-05:00

Sorry about the blurry photos! I don't know how to use my camera unless the flash is on...Brighton was a "Pea in a Pod" for Halloween and while he'll probably gripe at me later in life about it, I thought it was cute. Jere and I were "Vegetarians"...and our baby was a pea (vegetable). Get it?? We like to eat our baby.

We went to a friend's Fall Festival on Halloween and Jere painted faces while I hung out with Brighton.

3 Months Old

2009-10-30T15:32:00.003-05:00

This month Brighton has grown and changed in a lot of ways.

He is consistently wearing 6 month clothes now. (mostly because of his diaper) They are a tiny bit too big, but better than wearing clothes that are too small.
He weighed 14 lbs 12 oz. a couple days after his birthday.
He smiles at me all the time at Jere and I and is now talking to me a whole lot more as well.
He has been sleeping through the night since he was 10.5 weeks old. His pattern has been to sleep from about 11pm till somewhere between 7:45-9am. He usually sleeps for a couples hours in the morning, afternoon and evening as well.
A little before he turned 3 months old, I offered him a Nuk pacifier and he seems to like it better than the soothie pacifier he's sucked since he was born. It reminds me of when my little brother Jamie used to suck the same kind.
I bought him some rings to hang from his car seat handle about a month ago and he immediately grabbed them to hit and hang onto them.
He holds his head very well and is pushing himself up so he can look around while on his belly.
He's losing hair on the sides of his head A LOT, I think from sleeping on his tummy. He's also had a strip of hair missing on the back of his head for while. Probably from laying on his back during the day and being in the car seat.
He celebrated his first Halloween the day after his three month birthday. He was dressed up as a "Pea in a Pod".
I bought him an excersaucer and his feet don't touch the platform yet but he'll sit in there for short amounts of time and look around.
He is spitting up significantly less now. So significantly less that when he spits up a large amount, I wonder what's wrong.
He is getting his first tooth! I saw a little white bud in his mouth when he was almost 13 weeks old (just a few days before his official 3 month birthday). Monday and Tuesday he was acting weird and not sleeping well during the day. Wednesday was better but in the afternoon he was having some trouble and I noticed the white dot in his mouth. It all sort of came together then, when I realized what was happening
I think he likes to sleep with his socks off. It's a strange thing but when he's laying down and I take his socks off, he stops making noise and falls asleep...
When he's nursing he seems to be a lot more social. Instead of focusing, he'll stop to look at me. I'll look down and realize he's been smiling at me for a while.
He still loves bathes. The other day I had the ducky in the bath with him and was making quacking noises while moving the duck in front of him. Every time I did it, he would laugh and make a "he he" noise. After his bath (which I usually take with him)he sits in his tub while I finish taking a shower and waits SO patiently.
Lately if he's tired, he'll start acting like it so I try to cuddle him. But sometimes it seems like whatever arm he's laying on, he wants the other arm and calms down once I switch him.
He is continuing to be strong while standing up in my lap and looking around as well as sitting in my lap.

Three-Wheat Bread

2009-10-23T16:29:00.001-05:00

I learned to make bread a few weeks ago from a friend and although she kneads it by hand, I decided to incorporate my kitchen aide into the process to save my hands. It worked well but next time I make it I will halve the recipe and knead two separate batches. There was a little too much in the mixer with the whole recipe.

Three-Wheat Bread

3 cups lukewarm water
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons molasses
3 tablespoon sea salt
1/2 cup oil
5 cups whole wheat flour
3 cups unbleached white flour, approximately.
1 cup cracked wheat

1. Mix together the warm water, honey, molasses and yeast. Let stand five minutes. Stir in the salt, oil, whole wheat flour, two cups unbleached white flour and the cracked wheat. Mix well.
2. Turn the dough out onto a floured board and gradually incorpoarte enough of the remaining flour to make a dough that is not sticky. Knead until smooth and satiny, about 10 minutes.
3. Place in a clean oiled bowl; turn to oil top of dough. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about one and one-half hours. Punch down, fold and turn so that the smooth side is up. Cover and let rise again about 45 minutes.
4. Divide the dough into two. One portion may be frozen at this stage if not needed. Shape each dough portion into a round loaf and place on a cookie sheet. Cover and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes.
5. Preaheat the oven to 350 degrees (325 degrees if a glass pan).
6. Bake 50 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

My notes: This recipe makes three good sized loaves, not two. I used two medium sized bread pans and one round Pyrex. I did not quite follow the timing guidelines that the recipe calls for when it came to rising and baking. I checked on the dough in each stage and when it seemed to "double in size" etc. I followed the next step. Usually it did not take the full amount of time and it worked out fine...Next time, I need to lower the oven temp. because I didn't remember to do that since I was cooking with glass. I love that this solely uses honey and molasses to sweeten.

After taking it out of the oven, I put a honey/butter mix on top to give it some shine.

I am looking forward to the next time I make bread! For now though, I have 2 loaves in the freezer.

12 Weeks

2009-10-21T08:48:00.005-05:00

Brighton turns 12 weeks tomorrow. Wow.

Jere tried this the other day and proclaimed "He's getting to the point where I can PLAY with him!".

First Time

2009-10-11T07:55:00.004-05:00

Last night Brighton slept for 8 hours! We're in hotel in Joplin MO for a friend's wedding and he slept in his pack n play for the first time. I'm thinking I want to set it up in our room tonight and see how he does. He ate around 10pm and I put him to bed at 11:30pm. He woke up at 7:30 this morning! When he woke up he wasn't crying, just making little noises. I picked him up and hew aited till I brought him over to the couch and then laid in my lap until I was ready to feed him. Normally he is freaking out and sooo ready to eat! I'm gonna have to analyze this more and think about how to re-create this scenario. I don't mind getting up with him in the night but I'll help him get on a schedule if that's what he needs!

2 Months Old

2009-09-30T21:27:00.007-05:00

Today Brighton turned two months old. I could have taken his picture at 4:33am this morning (the time he was born) but I thought my eyes should probably be open to take his pic, instead of closed...

He is 50% in head size, height and weight.
His schedule is to sleep, eat/poop, stay awake for a little bit and sleep again. Just like a normal baby!
This pic was taken in a 6-9 month wunzie - his diapers take up a lot of trunk space, he really has such a little booty.
He took his first family weekend trip with us over Labor Day weekend to Wichita, KS where he met both sets of great-grand-parents on Jere's side.
He spits up several times after he eats and if I'm not careful it'll get down my whole body.
Just recently I tried laying him on his belly to sleep and he seems to like it.
At 8 weeks old he weighed 12.02 lbs.
I spike his hair into a little faux hawk and everyone loves it.
He is okay with tummy time now but does make little noises in protest.
He's been eating about every three hours recently although today he seems to be eating every TWO hours!
Most people tell me he looks like Jere and that might be true but we're still not really sure. He has a lot of the same features as Jere - One being a little cleft in his chin.
He holds his head up really well now. I keep my hand behind it just in case he loses control but overall he can hold it up and look at us.
He likes to stand up so I will hold his belly while he's in front of me and he looks so grown up standing on my lap bouncing his knees and holding his head so well.
His little wrists have this defined area where his arm fat meets his hand and it's so cute. It almost looks a little painful but it's proof that he's chubbing up.
He coos and smiles at and the sound he makes the most sounds something like "agoo".
He's becoming more social and smiles at me quite a bit - especially when he's about to eat.
We are using cloth diapers and wipes exclusively now. He hasn't had a diaper rash and I hope he never does.
Whenever I change his diaper I lift his butt up using my left hand to lift his right leg and when I put the wet wipe on his butt he makes these little noises like "ohh that's cold" and kind of grunts too.
He still doesn't seem to be upset if he has a dirty diaper - only for gas, hunger and tiredness. Of course I change him whenever he eats so it might not ever be an issue...
He's still having trouble with gas after he eats as well as spitting up. A lot of times I will put him to bed because he is sleepy only to have to pick him up and burp him because I can tell he's uncomfortable. Most times he doesn't cry, it's just that he moves around so much making little noises, I can tell he's not sleeping and that he's having trouble.
I try to send a picture everyday to family members who can receive pictures on their phones and they love it. Uncle Jamie says "it helps me with the ladies" and Grandpa Charlie says "where's my pic today?" if I haven't sent one yet. Aunt Rachel always has a nice comment about the pictures I send and she loves little Brighton a lot.
He still loves baths and I love washing him and putting sweet smelling lotion on him when it's done.

2 Months Old - Video

2009-09-30T17:07:00.005-05:00

I haven't taken his official two month photo yet but I will tonight.

P.S There's a little surprise at the end of the video... ;)

Organization Needed

2009-09-29T21:21:00.008-05:00

The past few weeks I've had several projects I wanted to complete. One was re-organizing the cabinet in our bathroom. The other was completely overhauling the closet in our bedroom. So here are a few pics. I like the towels displayed on the shelf rather than in the cabinet - it feels less empty now.

This is the cabinet in our bathroom. It's really deep and if I'm not careful it can get crazy really fast... I threw away two small trashcans of expired medicine and unused hair products.

And now our closet. There used to be two rods in there. One rod was mine, the other was Jere's. My rod was below his clothes but I took it down to make room for the wire cube organizer that I bought at Target. Jere has so many T-Shirts, I moved those to below the bed sliding drawers we have instead of hanging them. I moved my clothes up to his rod after going through everything and getting rid of quite a few things. I also moved my sweats to my under the bed drawer and realized just how many I have...Anyways I am liking the rearranging, it always feels so good!

TV Cabinet RE-Done

2009-09-21T19:46:00.002-05:00

I plan to stain the yellow wood (top and inside shelves) to a darker color the next time I feel the urge to take on a huge project...

Six Weeks Old

2009-09-10T11:42:00.006-05:00

Today Brighton is six weeks old and so I decided to mark the date by taking a chunk out of his thumb. Not really...But seriously he could have a scar from this which would really mark his six week birthday...

I was cutting his fingernails when the clipper slipped and took a pretty good sized piece out of the tip of his right thumb. I sat there for a few seconds trying to assess the damage. He was faced away from me and it didn't start bleeding until I turned him around. After he was turned around he looked at me and gave this pitiful little cry, I tried to comfort him but realized it was starting to bleed. I grabbed a burp rag I had near by and started nursing him simultaneously and then sat there trying to stop the bleeding. I called Jere who suggested that I put neosporin, gauze and tape on his little thumb so that's what I did. He was already so tired that he fell right to sleep after I cuddled him up in a blanket and I think I'm gonna go join him. Unfortunately I don't think this will be the last time I hurt him but I won't be cutting his nails for a while!

Sleeping Bath Baby

2009-08-31T14:05:00.004-05:00

Last Friday I was trying to get out of the house but had time to give Brighton a bath and what did he do? Woke up on his own and then fell back asleep in the bathtub.

1 Month Old

2009-08-30T13:49:00.005-05:00

Today is Brighton's 1 month birthday. Wow. Here are some things I've learned about him.

He has been lifting his head up since he was about a week old.
He has gone from nursing with a nipple shield to not using one.
He has gone from nursing for an hour to an average of 30 minutes.
He poops when he is eating and only then...
He eats about every 4 hours.
He likes to cuddle in bed and sleeps longer when he is sleeping with me.
He really enjoys baths. He seems to really like the warm water and just looks around while relaxing.
He will take a bottle from Jere.
He could take or leave his pacifier.
When all of his "issues" are solved he sits and just looks around.
He was born with hair and although it seems like it thinned out a little bit, there's still quite a bit there. I love his hair.
He sleeps on his side in the bassinet but will sleep on his back too. He does not like sleeping on his tummy on his own but will do it if he's sleeping on my chest.
He has had a couple sessions of "tummy time" and will stand it for a little bit.
He gets really warm if he is wearing more than just a wunzie.
He has a really nice grip with his hands AND toes. Jere always puts his finger under Brighton's toes and loves to see him wrap them around it.
He is a skinny little boy. While he is getting bigger and gaining weight, it seems that he is just getting longer.
He is an awesome eater. At one week old he was past his birth weight (7lb 4oz). At two weeks old he was 1 lb over his birth weight. Normally babies are back to their birth weight at two weeks old. Now he weighs about 9.5 lbs.
Bouncing him up and down while holding him under his arms helps his tummy to release gas.
When I am bouncing him he pushes off with his legs.
He liked to be swaddled with his arms tight until about 2 weeks. After that he still liked to be cuddled with a blanket but his arms need to be free.
When he eats, he likes his hands to be by his face usually balled up next to his cheeks.
When he sleeps, his arms are either over his face, straight above his head or balled up next to his cheeks.
His cord stump fell off the day before he turned two weeks old and he has an inny belly button.
He gets gunk in his eyes and although it was really bad at first, sometimes he does have normal tears.
We can't tell who he looks like - me or Jere. He seems to be a good mix.
Dirty diapers don't seem to bother him.
When he first starts nursing, he makes a sound like he's attacking his food.
His first trip to church on a Sunday was when he was 3.5 weeks old.
He has a really good set of lungs and knows how to use them. There are about four different levels of his cry and the highest one is pretty amazing.
When he is crying and I pick him up while shushing in his ear, he calms down really quickly.
I left him with my sister Rachel for 30 minutes at 4 weeks 2 days when I went to pick up Jere from school. That was a big step!
He went on his first date night with us at 4 weeks 1 day old to Jason's Deli and Gage Park.
He makes the cutest little sounds after burping. It's kind of a plaintive little sound like "wa" (while his lips quiver) and then another one shortly after. It seems to be his way of saying how much his belly hurt.
He likes movement when he is sleeping although he doesn't HAVE to have it to fall asleep. (car rides & stroller rides)
Anytime I am out shopping, people comment on what a beautiful baby he is, how clear his skin is and how perfect his little features are. He truly is a wonderful baby and a precious gift from God.

He spits up. All over the place.

Mr. Brighton

2009-08-12T23:14:00.007-05:00

Today Brighton and I had a pretty nice day together. We both got some good sleep and it was just nice and relaxing. I am really loving my little boy and I'm so thankful that he's so sweet!

Brighton Justus

2009-08-06T22:29:00.013-05:00

Our baby boy is 1 week old and I have been loving every minute of it with him. We have so many pictures and so much has already happened in his little life that I can only put up a few to describe it. First off, Shawna gave us these peel and stick numbers to take a picture for every month he gets older. I am settling for doing this first one on his 1 week birthday instead of the day he was born.

Let's start back from the beginning and glance a few pictures. This is the "aahhhh we have a baby and he was just born 5 hours ago" photo. :)

My sister Rachel assisted me while I was in labor and she helped get him dressed after his first bath with me.

Our new daddy.

Baby Brighton in his little outfit ready to go home. I was cracking up at how big it was on him.

After we got home Thursday at 9:30am everything was great. We had visitors on and off and both my mom and Jere's mom hung around helping for most of the day. They were so excited to meet they're new grandson! I need to sit down and think about each of those days individually and write it down because Thursday and Friday are a blur to me but Saturday was our 48 hour check up at the Birth and Women's Center where Brighton was born. That's when our midwife sent in some blood to be tested for his biliruben levels and they came back at 16. 9. We had gone into the birth center at 10am and ended up taking a nap and staying for most of the day while our midwife was doing office work. We left at around 4:30-5pm. The next day (Sunday) we went back at 1pm to take some more blood and find out what his levels were doing and it came back that his biliruben levels were up to 19.1. It was suggested by our pediatrician's on call doctor that we go into the hospital for 24-48 hours so he could be under lights to help break down the biliruben toxins and we agreed that it would be the best thing.

We went into the hospital around 5pm Sunday August 2nd and got discharged Monday the 3rd at 5pm. Thankfully it was only 24 hours! Everytime they took more blood to test his levels they came back lower and we were hopeful from the start that we would not have to stay more than 24 hours. Upon discharge the count was 11.4 down from 19.1 the day before which was a significant drop.

Jere was cracking me taking all sorts of photos in our room. This is my absolute favorite. Kinda like "hello little guy" ::tap tap tap:: "you okay in there?". If you can't tell, the photo is taken from inside the isolette or incubator that Brighton laid in for about 3/4 of the time.

Little boy had to wear these foam goggles to protect his eyes and he really didn't mind them. He was asleep in the isolette most of the time anyways.

So now it's Thursday and he's a week old and we've been adjusting to just being normal and getting used to nursing and being a family. Jere had been planning on going back to work today but thankfully decided to stay home and cherish this time with his newborn instead. And what a sweet newborn he is. I feel so thankful that he is so easy to take care of. I don't have much experience with taking care of new babies 24 hours a day but Brighton seems to be pretty easy going. We love him so much!

Out for our first family shopping trip. (of which he slept the whole time)

Hanging out naked with dad.

Just being cute.

I love this picture because it makes him look so chubby when in real life he isn't! He is a little bean pole and although he is gaining weight very rapidly, he's only just now almost back to his birth weight. I'm taking him to be weighed tomorrow and I'm thinking he'll be past it then.

I posted my sister's version of my labor and delivery and here's a link to it. Birth Story

Our Newborn

2009-08-06T11:00:00.000-05:00

Things we have said over and over again in the last week:

"You are SOO sweet and special"

"Reagan, our boy is so gorgeous!"

"Do you have some issssuuues?" (referring to Brighton letting us know when he needs changed, is hungry or his main issue which is needing to be burped.

"Tell me about your issues."

"You are just a poopin' pooper!"

"God bless you!" (Brighton sneezes A LOT. One of the first things he did after being born was sneeze like 3-4 times...)

"You are SO cute!"

"What is your baby deal?"

When Brighton doesn't have one of the "issue's" listed above, he just lays there and looks around. I hope this demeanor continues as he gets older. He is so easy going! I am just planning on soaking it all up and if he gets fussy in the future I'll deal with it then :)

The last two days he's gained a total of 7 oz. Yesterday his weight was 7lb 3oz so I am almost positive he's back up to his birth weight and more today! He's growing so fast and I feel so fortunate to be able to stay home with him and spend that time soaking it all in and raising our son.

Birth Story

2009-08-06T10:03:00.007-05:00

I asked my sister Rachel to write her version of my labor and delivery and I am so thankful that she was there and can remember all the details. I want to write my own version but I need to take the time to sit, think back and reflect on what actually happened! Obviously this is a birth story so read at your own risk.

Brighton's birth information:
Born @ 4:33am
Weighed 7lbs 4.5oz
20" long

Birth Story

By Rachel Whitten

I was lying in bed, having just turned out the reading lamp. The house was quiet—Colter and Greta were asleep, and Brent was in Leavenworth on a stakeout. Even though I was tired, I was excited. Reagan’s water had broken sometime earlier, and that meant my nephew would most likely come soon. I tried to sleep, knowing I would need all my energy to devote to helping Reagan get through labor and deliver the precious baby we had all anticipated for a long time.

But sleep did not find me that night. Jere called me at 1:00, just a few minutes after I had turned off the light. His voice was calm, but filled with excitement. Reagan was having regular contractions, and they were going to meet the midwife, who was driving in from Lawrence, at the birth center at 2:00. That meant I had an hour to pack up Colter and drop him off at my dad and stepmom’s house, and join Reagan and Jere at their house.

Colter woke up easily and quietly listened as I explained what was going on. It wasn’t until we were halfway to Grandma Micki’s house that he broke down with worry about whether she would have cereal for him in the morning. I assured him that he would be well taken care of.

After tucking Colter into bed at my dad’s house, paranoia got the best of me. Even though I wanted to speed over to Reagan and Jere’s, I took a page from my husband’s book and drove back by my own house, and double checked the alarm system was on, and the garage door was shut. I did not want anything else on my mind as I assisted Reagan.

After that I sped down Gage, almost hoping to get caught by a police officer so I could maybe talk him into a lights and siren escort. Thankfully, no one slowed me down and I made it to their house in good time. Walking in through the front door and into the low lit living room, Jere met me and whispered how regular Reagan’s contractions were. We sat on the ottoman in front of the couch on which Reagan laid on her side. She looked beautiful, her eyes shut in concentration, and her curly hair strewn about as she cradled her stomach with her arm. Before too long, a contraction gripped her and she requested that Jere put his arm on her leg and press. After that contraction was over, Jere said he was going to lie down, which meant I took over. After a few contractions, it was apparent that they not only very close together, but gaining in intensity. Reagan made more sounds of discomfort as they progressed.

It occurred to me that this was the real deal. Even having gone through labor myself, I had been foolish enough to forget its all consuming power. When a woman is in actual unmedicated labor, no one can sit around and read, even though I had brought my book thinking I could do so. On top of that, I was not going to be able to enjoy my sister’s company as she went through this, but rather grit my teeth as she faced contraction upon contraction.

That was another thing that occurred to me, watching her lie there on her side, I realized I did not want to see her in pain. It was a little too late for that, but worst-case scenarios ran through my mind as they did when I was younger and she would get sick with colds or the flu. I was thinking about this as Jere walked out from taking a nap and glanced at Reagan. He did not seem frightened at all, and I knew he loved Reagan as much as I did. With that in mind, I resolved myself to do whatever it took to lessen her pain.

Eventually, Reagan opened her eyes and looked at me for the first time since I got there. As she sat up she said “I need some water.” In my haste to get her water she needed, I grabbed my own water bottle, which was sitting right next to me and stuck the straw in her mouth. That water bottle became very handy throughout the delivery, as it could not be spilled and the straw was easy for Reagan to drink through.

After a while, Reagan got up to go to the bathroom. I kind of stood in the doorway, trying to gauge what she wanted me to do. I knew as labor progressed, her sense of modestly would lessen, but I didn’t know if that was already in effect. As I stood there, Jere’s mom arrived at the house. I asked Reagan if she wanted me to shut the door and leave her be, and she immediately made it clear I should do no such thing. She finished doing her business, and walked out to the living room where I helped her put her shorts back on. It was then that Jere said it was time to leave, and Reagan made her way out to the car. I smiled a joyful smile at Mary as we walked through the door, eager to share my excitement with someone. Smiling so big felt disloyal to Reagan, who was suffering such pain, but I couldn’t help it. I promised Mary I would send her text message updates.

I hesitated outside, and asked if they wanted me to take my own car to the birth center, thinking they might want to ride home alone with the baby. Reagan again made it clear that would not be ok.

We made it to the birth center, and Reagan strode purposefully inside as the midwife, Emily, held the door open for her. As soon as she entered the room she had another contraction, and hunched over the bed frame, trying to breathe through it.

Emily listened to the baby’s heartbeat on the Doppler and announced quietly that he sounded good. Reagan was lying on the bed by that point, and Jere came in from parking the car, having unloaded Reagan’s bag and other essentials in the waiting room. Emily was patiently checking Reagan’s vital signs between contractions, which wasn’t easy because they were perhaps a minute apart. Eventually she checked Reagan’s cervix, which we were delighted to learn was completely effaced and dilated to six centimeters. As Reagan lay on the bed Emily asked me in a whisper if I was Rachel. I smiled and nodded to her yes, because to speak felt disloyal to Reagan, even though I’m sure she couldn’t hear us and wouldn’t mind if she did.

Emily had filled the bath tub before we got there, and Reagan got in after we asked her if she would like that. I helped her into the bath tub and helped her put her sports bra on. The warm water did seem to help her. Mostly she hunched on the side of the tub on her knees, which left her back exposed. She liked it when Jere or I pushed on her lower back. We took turns doing that, meanwhile the other was at her head, holding her hand and stroking her hair. A couple of times I was doing it the wrong way or too hard and she would let me know. Eventually she only wanted Jere to press her back because his hand was bigger and therefore more effective. After every contraction I would offer her cranberry juice, or water, and she normally took one or the other. She labored in the tub for about an hour, switching positions every so often, and asking for more hot water occasionally. We would whisper encouragement to her, saying that she could do it and she was doing great. Once when Jere was holding her hand at her head, he asked her what that one song was from our childhood. He mentioned something about a telephone pole, and immediately I knew what he was talking about.

When we lived in West Virginia, our house was on a mountain, and we used to go to the Shenandoah River, which was in our neighborhood, but at the bottom of a long, gravel road hill. When it was time to go home, we would have to climb that hill, and often, exhausted from swimming, we would get so tired and the hill seemed eternally long. A family friend made up a cadence for us to say as we climbed that hill. It went “Put. One. Foot. In. Front. Of. The. Other. Stop. At. The Telephone. Pole.” Jere started to say that, and Reagan told him to be quiet. But I whispered the rest of the cadence to him. Unfortunately, there were no telephone poles in the birth center, and the contractions would not have given Reagan a rest even if there had been, so the song wasn’t much help.

Reagan had invited the doula who taught the birth classes at the center, Kelly, to assist with the birth. Emily called Kelly, and Kelly arrived less than five minutes later, bright eyed and smiling even though it was around 3:30 in the morning.

Soon after Kelly arrived, Emily checked Reagan’s cervix, which had progressed to eight centimeters. Emily told Reagan to let her know if she felt like she had to poop, which meant the baby was moving down. Finally Reagan said she felt like she had to push. Emily asked Reagan if she’d like to get out of the tub, and Reagan said she would. She climbed out and we toweled her off and put a fresh nightgown on her. Emily asked if she’d like to use the birthing chair, so Reagan sat on that and leaned up against the bed. I sat beside her on the birthing ball, pressing my hand into her back. I whisper asked Emily if Reagan was completely dilated, and she said she thought Reagan probably was, because Reagan had the urge and was pushing with every contraction. So we sat like that for a while. Jere was lying across the bed at Reagan’s head, holding her hand and whispering encouragement. I was to Reagan’s right, pressing her back and holding her hand. Emily was to Reagan’s rear, using a mirror to monitor the birth canal during contractions, and Kelly was to Reagan’s left, whispering encouragement and patting her back.

Eventually the baby started crowning with each contraction. Emily tried to show me, but I was at a bad angle, and what I thought was the baby crowning actually turned out to be Reagan’s anus, which was straining with each push, proof of how hard she was working. I never actually saw the baby crown while Reagan was using the birthing chair.

Soon, however, Emily told Reagan the baby was making his way further down, and asked if she might like to lay down in the bed and try pushing. So I helped lift Reagan’s legs up and she climbed into bed. She was lying on her right side, and I was on that side holding her leg so give her some leverage against which to push. Soon after though, Jere and Kelly and I switched around, so I ended up on Reagan’s left side, holding her other leg to give her leverage. We were all whispering encouragement. Meanwhile, the nurse that Emily had called was moving around the room, turning on the warming lamp for the baby, and getting out blankets and other necessities for the baby that was not there yet, but would be soon. It made me more excited and anxious to see the baby that would be using all those things, and who was the reason we were all there. The nurse also placed plastic liners under Reagan’s bottom and over my leg so I wouldn’t get messy when the baby came out. I realized then I would have not minded getting all bloody and mucousy, but there was no reason to, so I stayed under the protective plastic. Emily told Reagan that one the baby’s head was out, she might ask Reagan to stop pushing, which would feel unnatural, but it would keep her from tearing.

Reagan was pushing regularly, and working very hard. I could see the baby’s head now, and a couple of times, Reagan reached down and touched him. Reagan couldn’t believe all this work was actually getting her somewhere. But the baby was coming indeed, albeit with only a little progress with each contraction. Reagan was working so hard. I suggested to Reagan that she roll over to the other side and see how that helped things. She did and it pushed the baby’s head out a little more, which was encouraging. However, when the nurse checked the baby’s heart rate with the Doppler, as she had been doing regularly, she found the heart rate had dropped considerably. We rolled Reagan back to the other side, and the baby’s heart rate rose happily. He did not like that side and he let us know!

Emily was trying to stretch the vaginal opening, but the baby was kind of having a hard time coming through. He would go back in a little after each contraction, but he was staying out more and more in between. We kept telling Reagan this, and encouraging her to use each contraction to its full potential. I was holding Reagan’s foot, to give her something to push against, and without knowing it, I was squeezing her foot. During one contraction she cried out “Rachel! Don’t squeeze me!” I was embarrassed for causing her pain instead of helping her. The next contraction she was holding Kelly’s hand and the other hand was grabbing Kelly’s shirt and pulling, to which Kelly smiled and kept saying words of encouragement. Finally with one big push, his head was out. It was surreal to see it down there, just kind of sitting there, before Emily pulled out one shoulder, and then the other, and then he was out. Time seemed to slow down at this point. Emily unwrapped the cord that was once around the baby’s neck, and put him on top of Reagan. It was 4:33 in the morning, only two and a half hours after we had come into the birth center.

At his point tears were traveling down my face, as I watched momma, baby and daddy meet each other for the first time. Reagan was calm and was talking to him immediately. The baby was talking too, getting all the mucous and water out of his lungs with healthy cries. Once he finished crying on one side, they switched him to his other to make sure all of it was out. Reagan was talking to him the whole time, and looking at him with amazement and love. Eventually they wrapped him in a blanket and he settled down and started taking in his surroundings. I sat on the bed with them the whole time, just watching. Reagan asked me if I would like to know his name, and Jere told me. Brighton Justus --A beautiful, strong, masculine name that fits him perfectly. It was worth the wait.

Momma and baby tried nursing, which was tricky because Brighton was moving his mouth the opposite way he should have been. Meanwhile, I watched Emily give Reagan one stitch to her lower vaginal opening, which made a big difference and straightened things out down there. Having wanted to be a midwife when I was younger, I was really fascinated by watch the whole process from labor to birth to delivery of the afterbirth. It was quite a learning experience.

After a while, the midwife and the nurse left, and daddy and momma and baby all took a nap together on the bed. After a few minutes trying to read in the rocking chair, I tip toed out into the waiting room, found a blanket, curled up on the couch and went to sleep.

An hour later I woke up when a new midwife helped Reagan into the bathroom to use the toilet. I lay on the couch for a minute and then went into the room again. My memory from here gets kind of sketchy, but I know Reagan tried nursing again, the baby got weighed, (7 lbs 4 oz, 20” long) and Reagan and Brighton took a bath together. I was a little nervous about that because I remember the first time I gave Colter a bath, and how slippery he was, but Reagan had no problems with that. I helped wash his head with a brush, and when he was all clean, Reagan handed him to me. Holding him like that, nervous I would drop him; I knew I would do anything for that tiny baby, and that I loved him like my own.

I put a diaper on him and helped get him dressed. At that point, we started packing up to head home. I helped them do that, and we said goodbye to all the midwives, the doula, and the nurses who had helped us. We put baby Brighton in the backseat and I sat next to him for the short ride home.

Both Brighton’s grandmas were at Jere and Reagan’s house, anxiously awaiting the arrival of their grandson. They had been keeping busy by doing laundry and other cleaning work. I helped get Brighton out the car seat, and handed him to my mom. After that, Grandma Mary held him and both grandmas sat next to each other on the couch, marveling at the precious addition to the family.

Reagan, Jere and I all had sticky buns and orange juice, which made us feel a lot better. Reagan was feeling fine, up and walking around like she hadn’t had a baby just three hours before. Mary told me she had wanted to slap me because I hadn’t sent her any updates, but I told her I had been helping Reagan the whole time, not in the waiting room like she thought. All was forgiven then, and even though I didn’t want to, I had to get Colter and go home to bed, thinking I had to work that night. I gave Brighton a kiss, and left. I called Vicki on the way to pick up Colter, and she informed me that Colter had eaten two pieces of cinnamon toast, and declared that it was better than the cinnamon toast I made him at home. So his fears about starving were completely unfounded. I went home, found someone to work my shift for me, and went to sleep, thanking God for keeping Reagan and the baby safe, and excited about the future of our family that will now include a sweet little guy named Brighton.

40 Weeks Pregnant

2009-07-29T07:57:00.013-05:00

Yesterday was my due date. I'm officially 40 weeks. Please don't feel sorry for me, I don't feel sorry for myself. I do however feel bad for my husband who is so excited to meet his son that he can hardly suppress the need to ask if I'm having contractions since the last time I talked to him. My answer? Nope! Apparently, I AM dilated to 2 centimeters and over 50% effaced (meaning my cervix has thinned out?) but that doesn't mean anything, he could still be in there next week.

Your newborn
How your baby's growing: - Still inside the womb...not outside.

Because he ~~was~~ is curled up inside your uterus ~~until recently~~ still, your newborn baby will probably look scrunched up for a while, with his arms and legs not fully extended. He may even appear bowlegged. Thank goodness.

Don't worry: Your baby will stretch out, little by little, once he's out of the womb and by the time he reaches 6 months, he'll be fully unfurled! Let's hope he's out before then... In the meantime, ~~as he adjusts to life outside the warm,~~ as he stays in the safe confines of your womb, ~~he may enjoy being swaddled in a light blanket.~~ you may enjoy another Starbucks drink, Chinese food for dinner and movies with your husband.

• Learn more fascinating facts about your newborn's development.

Your life: You're a parent! - False.
This week, reality sets in — you have a baby! you don't have a baby yet! He's all yours, he's home with you, still in your womb and he's still dependent on you for love, care, and feeding. No doubt you've been reading up on what to do and how to do it. I have? We have plenty of articles and tools to refresh your memory and teach you new tips, but here's our best advice this week: Don't try to master the art of caring for a baby all at once. (not a problem) Take it easy, take it slow. Check. Your newborn is taking it easy too more durable than you might think, while still in the womb. He's getting used to you as much as you and your partner are getting used to him. Like all good relationships, this one will take some time. And has to wait till he's born to start!

I hope this doesn't sound bitter. I am not bitter. I just don't understand why baby center would not have the foresight to send an email asking if you've had your baby yet before telling you that you have a newborn? If this were addressed to a woman counting on her due date she would probably feel depressed!

Baby Shower

2009-07-27T14:29:00.005-05:00

A couple weeks back my friends from our chapel held a baby shower for me - I loved it! It was outside and it turned out perfectly. Rachel, Doris and Kim were the organizers.

There were lots of little girls.

And a couple cute little baby girls. This is Clare.

I loved this set up with the candles and animals hanging from the tree.

There were adorable rattle cupcakes...

Delicious food - Chicken salad sandwiches with croissant bread, which I love and yummy tea and lemonade.

I was inspired to make my own lanterns out of mason jars after seeing this relaxing sight. It reminds me of something out of a fairytale!

The Kitchen

2009-07-09T16:44:00.016-05:00

Jere worked really hard on installing our countertops, putting in new plumbing and disposal for our sink and many other things. The end result is a kitchen I love! I want to thank God, Jere, my hormones etc. for getting this kitchen to the point of being usable and functioning...

This picture may not seem like much but it's such a huge part of our kitchen. It's a flooring transition piece from wood to tile. It's the little things that blow me away...

This is the vanity that I painted and put feet on. We cut the counter to fit the cabinet because the depth is not a standard counter top depth. It's perfect for the spot though because it's in a semi tight hallway area which leads you to the back part of the kitchen.

Here, you can see the feet better.

Because we cut the counter top short to fit the depth of the cabinet, we had to be creative about the backsplash. It doesn't match the other counters but since this area is a little different we decided it was okay that the back splash wouldn't match the other ones. Jere cut a piece of trim and mitered the edges. I really like it.

If you walk by the vanity through the semi tight hallway area you can see the pantry. Everything is all put away and organized :)

This is one of two light fixtures that I bought 1 year ago from this past spring give or take a year or so. Basically they've been sitting in our attic ready to be in our kitchen but we've had other things to do...Including but not limited to: getting pregnant and waiting till I'm seven months pregnant to install it.

This is the view of our kitchen from the entry point. (I call it "the front part of the kitchen")

Jere installed a new to us sink that I bought for $30 off of craigslist as well as this faucet I found on overstock.com for $56 with free shipping. The faucet gave us some water pressure issues at first but it's better now.

While messing with the sink install and removal we discovered some issues with our disposal. One issue was that it was nasty and old. Another issue was that the guy at Home Depot told us the existing disposal was made specifically for mobile homes. So we decided to buy a new one. I am so glad we did. I love it.

This is the area on your right as you enter the kitchen. Jere installed the cabinet on the far left that I found at Restore and painted white. He built the center shelf out of wood that I found at the Restore and painted white. He put up the bead board behind it all and installed that counter which houses our dishwasher.

This is our dishwasher. We found it on the curb at our friend's house and stole it away in the night...Once again, I am in love.

This is my favorite photo because it seems so cozy to me. I love our kitchen because it has storage space now and matching counters and COUNTER SPACE in general! All the trim is put in and while I still have a few spots to touch up with paint, WE'RE DONE!

Jere hung a hook for my apron as the nail that I tapped into the wall wasn't good enough...and if you like it, click here to find more cute things.

Another Week Closer

2009-07-09T16:10:00.014-05:00

This week marks my 37 week of being pregnant. This means that if he came now he'd be considered full term. It's a great milestone but he'll be in big trouble if he decides to come before his due date.

Pregnant

Not Pregnant

Jere discovered that I can suck my belly in pretty far for being 37 weeks along so he told me to have a ~~surprised~~ stupid look on my face while squeezing it in. Kinda crazy huh? I'm coming up with three possibilities for this strange occurrence:

A) I have strong stomach muscles
B) A very tiny baby
C) A spine cuddling baby

Baby Shower Time

2009-06-27T23:31:00.008-05:00

Today, I attended the second baby shower held for me. The first one was with my sweet co-workers. My sister Rachel hosted the shower for our family and a few friends at her house and did a great job of putting everything together.

My step mom Vicki, me, sister Rachel and my mom Sarah.

Jere's sister Resa, mom - Mary and Jere's grandma Sally. Our boy will be her first great grand baby and Mary's first grandchild!

Sarah, my roommate from college was able to come - I haven't seen her in a while! It was so nice to visit with her.

My sis in law Melodi, her mom Stephanie and her sis Gabrielle were able to come :)

There were several others who were able to come that had to leave early. These are a few of the big things we got - a pack n' play from my aunt Shelia and several cousins as well as a swing from Jere's grandma and grandpa. Everything was lovely :)

P.S. Today I am 35 weeks 4 days. Only about a month till his due date. I'm freaking out a little because one month will pass so quickly!

Wedding Weekend

2009-06-23T20:07:00.008-05:00

This past weekend, Jere's friend Bob who he's known since high school got married. Bob and Nicole are currently honeymooning in Iceland. Here are a few fun pictures I took. This first one was kinda unique. It was at a church across from the church they were married in.

Us with the happy couple.

Just us.

Jere dancing with the bride for the dollar dance.

Tag I'm It

2009-06-14T22:17:00.012-05:00

Jere's cousin Charity tagged us to fill out this thingy.

What is your current obsession?
getting the house done

What are you wearing today?
pajamas (white tank and white shorts)

What’s for dinner?
black eyed pea soup

What would you eat for your last meal?
grilled cheese and tomato soup

What’s the last thing you bought?
fruit and a hand held duster

What are you listening to right now?
Jere eating ice cream, now jere breathing while sleeping :)

What is your favorite ice-cream flavour?
pralines & cream or turtle sundae

What do you think of the person who tagged you?
she's great. :)

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
blois, france - french countryside

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
napping in the gazebo bed on the beach from our honeymoon in cancun with jere

Which language do you want to learn?
french (jere says pig latin)

What’s your favorite quote (for now)?
"bonk my head - all guys like blunt force trauma" -jere

What is your favorite colour?
hmmm right now it's kind of a light turquoise color - varies often.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?
my teva flip flops

What is your dream job?
right now - staying home, providing for my family. it's about to come true!

If you had £100 now, what would you spend it on?
I'm gonna keep Charity's answer. It's sounds amazing right now - A massage and spa day…why not, it’s imaginary money, in pounds even!

What is your favorite architectural style?
is "stone cottage" an architectural style? not sure what that would be called, technically.

Describe your personal style?
casual/comfortable

What are you going to do after this?
go to sleep

What are your favourite movies?
can't think of a favorite right now

What’s your favourite fruit?
probably grapes and strawberries

What inspires you?
talking to people

Your favorite book ?
i don't know (man this is interesting...)

Do you collect something ?
i would say that i collect things to do crafts with. nothing that would go in a "collection" though.

What would you name your next child?
billy bob

Polka Dots or checks?
polka dots

What time is it?
10:58 pm

Does your blog have a publishing schedule?
nope

What is your favorite non-required activity?
reading while laying in bed

I'm not gonna tag anyone so copy it if you want!

More Kitchen

2009-06-10T11:00:00.001-05:00

While the kitchen progress seems to be coming along really slowly to me, I've realized that I might need to take pictures and document the process to remind myself of everything that has been done. Jere put up shelves in this cabinet that I bought at Restore.

He also put up shelves in that open middle area. One thing missing from this area is a piece of trim that will go on top of the cabinet that is on top of the microwave. Follow me? It will line up perfectly with the top of the middle shelf area so that it all looks like it's cohesive and not so disjointed. The trim is painted so hopefully it'll go up quick.

This is my favorite part of the kitchen right now. When we first talked about putting shelves in this area, Jere came up with the idea of using a piece of trim to brace the shelves. I was all for the idea but didn't quite understand what he meant when he was describing how the end that faced out into the kitchen would look. It was only after he put it up did I understand that he was talking about cutting a piece of trim and making the end have the same curves. He used a friends miter saw and put the corners together. I absolutely love this detail! Isn't it SO cute?!

One other thing that I can say about the kitchen right now is that there is trim along all of the walls. It's the only room in the house that now has finished trim along the floor.

Everything's moving along nicely, I just need to be patient and stop counting down till the baby is here, although it's so hard. We only have seven weeks give or take if he's earlier or later than his due date!

Organizing the Attic

2009-06-09T14:09:00.008-05:00

One of my goals this summer before the baby comes was to organize the attic. For some reason I always think we have a bunch of junk just sitting up there when in reality it's stuff that we don't want to get rid of - like camping gear, holiday decorations, computer cords, school supplies, winter clothes and keepsakes from growing up. The main thing I wanted to do was the transfer everything from boxes to storage totes and label everything. Mission accomplished! I had been planning to have a garage sale since in my mind there was just junk up there but I only came away with a few things that I felt we didn't need to keep.

Our attic varies based on the temperature and so right now it's pretty hot and humid up there. I had originally been making my own labels that were nice and big and sticking them on with packing tape but the next day when I went up to put something away I saw that they had all peeled off on one side. I wasn't sure what to do and when I told a friend about it, she suggested that I use tags. These are on the small side but the package was $1.60 for 100 so I thought I'd give it a try. The storage totes have a small hole in the handle on both sides and so I threaded the string part of the tag through it. I just love it because it's all the same and has some form of identity even though they are on the small side.

One of the things that I transferred from boxes to storage totes were a few of Jere's things his grandparents gave him when he was a child. His mom's parents collected and gave him a train set. I would love to see it set up someday again.

Jere's dad's father gave him lincoln logs. Jere says he thinks that his grandpa made all of them for him. I am in love with these because our little guy can play with these as a toddler. There are tons of them in all sorts of sizes and shapes! These types of things are definitely a good reason to get out in the storage room and go through the totes/boxes and just remember what you have.

32 Weeks

2009-06-05T08:28:00.007-05:00

Here's for you Melodi :) This week for me marks the fact that our baby will be here in about 8 weeks...wow. At my checkup this week, the midwife said I measured about a week ahead but I'm not counting on that for anything. He could be here in August instead of July for all we know!

A Bit of Re-Decorating

2009-05-26T21:44:00.009-05:00

Saturday I decided I was going to update our bedroom a little. I brought the curtains from the living room into our room and made a little "love cave" as Jere put it with two sheets around our bed. I hung the sheets by clips and hooks from the ceiling and tied them back with ribbon to hooks that were screwed into the wall. I got the letters at Hobby Lobby for 1/2 off.

This the view from the door as you enter.

The bed is to the left of the door. The sheets I hung are angled over the bed because my original idea was to put the bed angling out of the corner. It wouldn't fit.

It's hard to capture the full effect of the sheets draped around the bed because our room is so small. I can't get back far enough...

This is the view from the end of the bed.

This is the first real "decorating" I've done in our bedroom and I'm loving it. I also changed up the living room a little by replacing the curtains that were moved to our bedroom with white sheets hung on clips. I copied the idea from a friend and since I wanted the change on a whim, this was the cheapest cutest idea. Four dollars per panel is such a nicer price than say $16 per panel!

It already feels more summery and less dreary in our main living space. :)

New Shelving

2009-05-21T20:48:00.007-05:00

I'm gonna try to post progress photos of our kitchen instead of just the finished product and this is one of them! Jere just put up the cabinet on the left as well as that shelf in the middle. We're going to add shelves to it but for now, it's up.

This is a good shot of the dishwasher end panels he installed on Saturday as well as the dishwasher he brought up from the basement and the counter we picked up too. The dishwasher is not currently working because of a small leak but I'll be ordering the part soon enough. Doesn't it look so good even though it's not finished?! It was Jere's idea to put up the bead board as a background and I'm glad we did. It's also the backing for the shelving that will go up soon. There is existing bead board behind the sink so it matches nicely:)

I am currently failing at quashing feelings of anxiety about finishing everything before the baby is here but I'm trying to have faith that it'll get done.

One Track Mind

2009-05-20T17:11:00.007-05:00

In the Jeep dropping Jere off at work...

Jere: "Wanna come in and get a soda? My treeeaat."
Reagan: "Hmmm I don't know, I should probably get going..."
Jere: "Are you sure? You could get a pepsiii or a coooke...I'm paying!"
Reagan: "Okaay."

Inside Jere's work...

He puts his money in the machine and presses the button for a Dr. Pepper.

Jere: "What kind do you want?"
Reagan: "Umm I'll have a coke."

He puts his money in the machine and presses the button for a Dr. Pepper.

Jere: "Gaah! I have to break another dollar now!!" More money goes into the machine. "Okay now YOU press the button so I don't do that again..."

Prime example of my Dr. Pepper loving husband.

30 Weeks

2009-05-19T22:41:00.005-05:00

List Time

2009-05-04T11:04:00.017-05:00

Last night I made a list of all the things we need to do to finish the house. I just want to make it clear that Jere asked for this so we know what needs to be done. I made it so that it's a step by step list of what needs to happen in order for other things to happen. It looks daunting but I will start out having faith that we can be done before school starts in August...Maybe our list will make you feel better about yours. :)

Work By Room

Kitchen

Paint Vanity (replacing work table)
Remove Corner Cabinet if Fridge is too Tall
Install New Refridgerator
Paint Trim in Kitchen (trim already up)
Find/Paint Floor Trim
Install Floor Trim
Install Shelves & Cabinet Next to Microwave
Finish Electrical for Dishwasher/Microwave
Finish Plumbing for Dishwasher/Microwave
Install Dishwasher & End Panels for Countertop
Install Counter Tops (3 areas)
Install Sink
Install Faucet
Install Light Fixtures (Located in Attic)
Remove Gas Pipe Behind Stove
Paint Ceiling?
Fill Wall Anchor Holes
Paint Filled Holes
Fix Electrical in Back Part of Kitchen?

Front Bedroom

Find Door, Closet, Floor Trim
Prime/Paint Trim
Install Floor Trim
Install Door/Closet Trim
Caulk All Trim
Spray Paint Doorknob
Install Doorknob
Fix Mud Coating?
Stain Vent Cover Same as Wood Floor (Espresso)
Prime/Paint Built-In's

Back Bedroom

Find Door, Closet, Floor Trim
Prime/Paint Trim
Install Floor Trim
Install Door/Closet Trim
Caulk All Trim
Spray Paint Doorknob
Install Doorknob
Fix Mud Coating?
Paint Ceiling
Stain Vent Cover Same as Wood Floor (Espresso)
Buy Curtains, Move Red Curtains to Baby Room

Living Room

Find Floor Trim
Prime/Paint Floor Trim
Install Floor Trim
Buy Trim for Vents (Quarter Round?)
Buy Trim for Front Door Header
Prime & Paint Door Header Trim
Install Door Header Trim
Fix Mud on Ceiling (Ceiling Hole) /Fix Other Mud Areas?
Paint Ceiling
Caulk Door Trim
Paint Door Trim

Bathroom

Caulk Floor Trim & Door Trim
Paint Floor Trim
Recaulk Bathtub/Surround
Cut Hole For Vent, Put in Metal Vent Cover

Basement

Shopvac Webs & Dirt
Tear Down Room Walls
Add A Light?
Fill Cracks in Walls/Floor
Paint Walls

Attic

Bring One Box Down at a Time to go through/organize
Install Fixed Attic Window/Check Other Window
Install Light?

Front Yard

Roto-till Roots on North Side of Front Yard
Up Keep Front Yard (grass seed, water, mow)
Remove Flower Bed Border on N Side of Porch and Seed w/ Grass (Spread Stones on N Side of House)
Border Tree w/ Cobblestones and Mulch

Back Yard

Remove Swing Set
Build Steps Out from Back Door (Brick/Stone)
Build Patio Out the Back Door (Brick/Stone)

House Exterior

Buy Paint
Prime Exterior of House
Paint Exterior Trim
Paint Exterior Walls
Paint Porch

Work By Project
This is basically from the list above, just organized by project so that we don't end up doing the same thing four times such as painting trim.

Organize Trim
Kitchen, Front Bedroom, Back Bedroom, Living Room

Prime/Paint Trim
Kitchen, Front Bedroom, Back Bedroom, Living Room

Install Floor Trim
Kitchen, Front Bedroom, Back Bedroom, Living Room

Install Door Trim
Front Bedroom, Back Bedroom

Install Closet Trim
Front Bedroom, Back Bedroom

Caulk Trim After Installed by Room
Kitchen, Front Bedroom, Back Bedroom, Living Room, Bathroom

Spray Paint Door Knobs
Front Bedroom, Back Bedroom

Install Door Knobs
Front Bedroom, Back Bedroom

Stain Vent Covers
Front Bedroom, Back Bedroom

Fix Mudding on Walls
Front Bedroom, Back Bedroom, Living Room

Paint Ceilings
Kitchen, Back Bedroom, Living Room

Progress!

2009-04-28T13:13:00.020-05:00

This past weekend I feel like we got a good amount done around the house. I've been wanting to accomplish these things but knew if I started on a project I would need several hours in one block of time. That just hasn't been happening lately but last Saturday I got motivated. It kept raining on and off but I took the shelves I needed to paint out to the porch anyways to prime them.

The weekend started when I cleaned out my closet and took 3 full bags of clothes to Branded on Thursday. I now have about $30 in store credit! I gave the rest of the clothes to my mom to go through. It feels so good to get rid of clothes I haven't been wearing since being pregnant and won't wear after I'm done being pregnant. I'm pretty sure that got me motivated for the weekend.
I got 6 shelves and the 9" cabinet that I bought primed with two coats of paint each. I got the final coats of paint done tonight.

I installed the bracing for the pantry shelving in the back part of our kitchen. I need to move one of the braces though because I forgot that I have a short shelf that will go on the top level.
I made a stick arrangement for the bare space on our wall where Jere's sculpture was before it got taken to the student art show. I like it because it's random and kind of wild.
I cleaned the porch so our house looks a little less ghetto (old screen door, cardboard box, stick pile, trash box etc) which made room for me to paint my shelves.
I rearranged the living room and got all of the tools out of our living space. I moved the TV cabinet into the living room and we've watched several movies on our TV since then. It's so much more comfortable!
Jere bought and installed mulch and cobblestone flower bed pavers to line the flowerbed I attempted to make a couple weeks ago. It looks so much better! He also bought grass seed and spread some around our yard. Hopefully it'll take to the ground.
Jere also bought and set up a reel mower and weed wacker. Since we don't have a place to store a gas mower we bought a reel mower so we can carry it to the basement. We were joking that even though we don't own a gas mower, we are now officially adults because we own a mower!

Jere has a few more plans and ideas for the front yard and instead of tackling both the front and back yards, we're focusing on the front yard this spring :) The back yard might wait till the fall. I also bought 4" feet for the bathroom vanity we're putting in the kitchen and I think it's going to work really well. I am feel really good about the progress we made and I'm looking forward to what I can get done this weekend!

Next up:

Sand vanity that's replacing the stainless steel work table in kitchen.
Prime and paint vanity, feet for vanity.

I need to post pictures soon. Hopefully I can get some taken.

P.S. Today I am 27 weeks along!

25 Weeks

2009-04-14T21:13:00.005-05:00

24 Weeks Pregnant

2009-04-07T17:31:00.005-05:00

Not a whole lot is going on although I am feeling bigger all the time. I know I don't look that big, but everyone is different...Some times are more uncomfortable than others and I just think about how I only about half way there! He was kicking a lot a little over a week ago and now it's more subtle movements instead of huge bumps and kicks. Jere was able to feel him kick about a week and half ago though so I was really happy he got to experience that before this little guy took a hiatus.

Kitchen Update

2009-04-04T20:12:00.018-05:00

Sooo my house is full of stuff. Jere and I decided to finish our house and the kitchen is first. June 21st we will own our house for two years and while it's livable, it's not done. We decided to gut it about a month after we bought it and the only area that is truly finished are the windows. The trim is done and windows installed. When I come close to despairing, I remember my windows. So this is the state of our living room/dining room and although it's a mess, I remember a messier time - So I can handle this right now.

I moved a few things out of the kitchen so that we could be ready to work on it soon and I thought I would show some pictures of the few things I've collected this week from a Habitat for Humanity place called "Re-Store" and where they'll go in the kitchen.

This is the back part of our kitchen. I had a desk I used in college holding some Pyrex dishes, pots/pans and random things I didn't have room for in the main part of the kitchen. I bought some shelves and brackets from Re-Store and the total was about $4! They need to be sanded and painted.

I added some shelving to show you how it'll end up looking kinda. This is pretty rudimentary but helps me picture it a little better.

This is the second area I am changing. If we were to sell or rent this place there needs to be permanent fixtures. That has been at the forefront of my mind. So I found a cabinet which is actually a bathroom vanity but I plan to paint it and possibly add feet to it so that the floor will show underneath and raise it 4"-6". There are three areas that need new counter tops and this is one of them.

This is kinda what it'll look like after we've installed it. Of course it needs paint and a new counter top and feet but whatever. Total for this cabinet was $5.99

This is the third area that we're updating a lot. I have a dishwasher sitting in the basement, shelving for next to the microwave that I bought this week and a 9" cabinet to fit between the dishwasher and stove. Jere is going to lower the upper cabinet and microwave. Scroll down to see my preliminary image. Total for this area this week was about $3.

The total I spent was $14 for all this and although I have to sand and paint all of it, I consider it to be SO worth it.

Las Vegas Day 2

2009-03-21T12:56:00.014-05:00

Tuesday, St. Patricks day I ate lunch with Stefan and Megan while Jere went off to his conference (which is why we went to Vegas in the first place). Somehow he managed to get three hours of sleep and make it through all his meetings. I was pretty amazed. Anyways after lunch the three of us booked a show for later that night and headed out to Hoover Dam. I hadn't ever been there and although I'd seen it in movies and on TV sites always seem different in person. Since it's located on the Arizona/Nevada border I got three states into this trip!

This is a picture of the bridge that's being built over the Colorado river that flows out of the dam. I think that's the right explanation - Stefan was trying to explain it all to Megan and I and I hope I got that right...

This is the lake that Hoover dam is holding back. It was really really low and you can see how high it's normally supposed to be by the white line located on the mountain walls.

This is the spillway that drains into the Colorado river when the lake overflows. As I said before, the lake was really really low but the white line where it's supposed to be was just about even with the top of this spillway. It would have been awesome to see tons of water flowing down that huge hole.

Us.

After visiting Hoover dam, we met up with Jere and went to dinner. We reserved seats to see Penn & Teller that night at the Rio Hotel so it ended up being smart to eat there too. I am so glad we did because it was awesome food. I think the restaurant was called the "All American Grille" and we all had some sort of steak. I got filet mignon (my favorite) with mashed potatoes and veggies and everything tasted soooo good.

Before the show started the audience was allowed to go on stage and check out this box as well as sign an envelope (the envelope was later used in a trick). This box seemed pretty fool proof and obviously empty but at the beginning of the show Teller (the small guy who doesn't talk) jumped out as his entrance! That was a pretty good entrance. I got a picture of Megan inside but thought I would look kinda ridiculous trying to squat inside after having eaten a huge dinner and feeling huge.

After the show we saw people crowding around and realized that Penn & Teller were signing autographs and taking pictures so we joined in the crowd. Some random (probably drunk) guy jumped behind us and got in the picture...He was so excited to see Teller and Teller just told him to get back. It made me laugh. Also - Teller is the one who doesn't talk and we heard him talk in the show!

Penn is the tall dude and he is REALLY tall. Jere is 6' so this guy has to be almost 7'. I noticed that in the beginning of the show he started out with a braided pony tail, half way through his pony tail became unbraided and at the end of the show his hair was just flowin' free. I'm not sure why he does it...Maybe just part of his act?

Stefan suggested that we see this show and I am so glad that we did. It was probably the best show I've ever seen. These guys are magicians but they don't act like they have powers of any sort. Half the tricks they did, they showed us afterward how they did it and they are just experienced slight of hand performers. Penn (the talker) kept saying that psychics and all that are phony and that if anyone tried to make you beleive it, they were crooks. Of course he was way funnier while explaining it. It was just an awesome show.

After the show, we weren't done. We had a cab take us to Mandalay Bay which is at the opposite end of the strip from our hotels and we walked all the way back stopping at a few hotels and walking through a couple casinos trying to find a place to get dessert. We finally stopped at an Italian place called "Il Fornaio" and I was glad because my feet were killing me. I didn't think we'd be doing a whole lot of walking when I decided to wear nicer shoes than flip flops...So we walked along the strip and I'm glad because I got some shots to remember everything.

Us in front of the Bellagio.

Excalibur Hotel

Fake Eiffel tower. I thought it would be ironic to get a pic of this since we lost all the ones we had of the real tower.

MGM Grand Hotel

Annndddd our hotel. I was sad to say goodbye to Stefan and Megan after this long day but since I knew we were going to see them in a few days (at their engagement party in San Deigo) I was really ready to get into bed.

Las Vegas Day 1

2009-03-20T12:43:00.008-05:00

We left for Vegas after work on Monday 3/16/09 and ended up getting in some quality time with my relatives instead of getting to bed. I don't know why I didn't look it up or realize that the time change would be two hours behind instead of one but we ended up heading to bed around 4am our time.

This picture is blurry but it's the first one we took in Vegas!

After getting checked into our room at the Venetian Hotel, we met up with my cousin Stefan and his fiance Megan. They drove over from San Diego to visit Vegas (and us) for a couple days :) We had such an awesome time and even though this was the first time for us to meet Megan it felt so natural. We wandered around looking for food and finally came across this restaurant located in the Wynn Hotel (where Stefan and Megan stayed). I was pretty hungry and ate a whole pizza by myself...

This picture was taken around 3:30am our time...

We thought it was a great way to start our trip!

Sushi Date

2009-03-11T08:05:00.000-05:00

A couple weekends ago, Jere and went to my boss's house and made sushi with them. I was just thinking about how good it looked and sounds so I thought I would share pictures. This was the first time we tried doing some with a tempura batter and those were my favorite...I thought the setup was so cute! Audrie's husband Tim bought her a sushi set for Christmas but since they didn't know how to make sushi, we thought we try it out together.

Half Baked

2009-03-10T19:04:00.010-05:00

It's official, I am halfway done with this pregnancy and I can't wait to see his little face. Here is my 20 week photo :0) Also, I added the ultrasound photos!

20 weeks

His face and belly are staring straight out. Our sweet little alien!

Here is a side profile of his arm and shoulder.

Here is the proof he's a boy...

This one is really grainy but I wanted to blow it up so you might be able to see his cute little nose and mouth!! I positioned it upright so his nose is at the top and his mouth was open for this photo.

First family photo. ;)

We're Having...

2009-03-09T13:00:00.004-05:00

A Boy!!!

He weighs about 11oz (almost the size of a can of soda or three sticks of butter) and looks perfectly healthy. I am really looking forward to meeting him now that I know. I am ready to start taking care of my boys :)

Life right now

2009-03-03T22:39:00.007-06:00

Today I am 19 weeks.

Today was really good all around even though a few things happened that I could have been upset about.

I had a dentist appointment this morning. I love it when my teeth feel all clean after the hygenists do their thing.
I thought ahead and went to Pita Pit for dinner so I wouldn't be starving while I shopped.
I went to CVS in Lawrence and got two of the free things this week and rolled a few ECB's.
I took my phone, which I dropped in the toilet today to the Sprint store. The guy said he would look at it after telling me that he's not supposed to handle phones that have been submerged in water. Hopefully he can salvage part of it so I don't have to buy a new phone.
I went to Aldi, did my shopping and got home a little after 7pm. A very successful night indeed. I decided that when I need to go grocery shopping, I'll do it before I leave Lawrence so that I don't have to head all the way to the other side of town in Topeka. I found it saved a lot of time tonight!
I had the energy after running errands to straighten up the house and get the dishes done. YES!

18 weeks

19 weeks (my belly has shrunk this week...not sure why)

Pranking Bob

2009-02-26T12:55:00.005-06:00

Last Friday, I stole my friend Bob's scissors from his desk. Actually I borrowed them because I had no intention of keeping them...They just came back in a different way. Can anybody name the show this came from???? My version of this prank was a little different than the original. The original prank involved a stapler and yellow jello.

I went into Bob's office today to get out and take a walk (he works a few doors down) and introduced myself to the secretary - Pam. She seemed pretty amused and after I told her my name she said "So I've heard" and gave me a smile.

by the way...

2009-02-17T20:10:00.005-06:00

I am 17 weeks pregnant TODAY. I haven't taken a photo yet...but I will sometime. Nothing has really changed from last week but I am constantly surprised at how big the baby is by the updates I get. I look at my fist and picture my baby all the time.

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

Getting Back Into CVS

2009-02-17T19:23:00.012-06:00

I haven't really been shopping at CVS...since before we left for our trip to Europe...last June. After we got back from our trip, I found it hard to get back into into clipping coupons and making the trip out to the store. The last major trip I made was when there were a whole bunch of free items for the day after Thanksgiving sale. That was pretty good and I ended up spending the $40 that I made on toilet paper when they were going to expire in December. My point in posting this is to say that I went last night and spent $13.38 to get back into rolling extra care bucks and looking for deals. I got back $14 so I didn't think that was too bad for getting back into it. I am excited about and I hope I keep getting encouraged like I was last night.

So I realized after taking the picture with my phone that I got an extra body wash somehow. I went back to the counter to ask them why I wasn't credited my extra bucks for the body wash and brought an extra pink body wash with me in case the coconut one wasn't part of the deal. They must have lost track and put the extra one in my bag by accident...So here's how my trip went. I am sure you're so interested...

Got a $5/$30 printed on the little red machine when I scanned my card.
Bought the items in the picture AND two Neutrogena items, thinking they would be part of a deal. They weren't.
Bought three body washes and didn't get the extra bucks.
Went back and asked them about the extra bucks for the body wash and returned the Neutrogena items.

So really, it worked towards my advantage because the items I returned got my total above $30 so I could use my coupon. I got back $9 from the return but if the deal had worked like I thought it would, I would have gotten $10 from spending that $9. So it would have worked either way but I felt pretty good about it!

P.S. Anyone need/like Colgate toothpaste? Jere hates it and refuses to use it. I'll give it to you or trade for Crest :)

Baby Belly Shots

2009-02-13T18:32:00.019-06:00

I have had some interest in me my updating my blog with belly shots so here's to you Amanda, Melodi and Kristi. :) I am currently 16 weeks, 4 days. I'll be 17 weeks next Tuesday. I can't believe I've been pregnant for just about four months. It's passed so stinking fast! July is gonna be here before I know it...

Before

15 weeks

16 weeks

The last two shots were taken at night and I think my belly ends up looking bigger for some reason. Also, I felt unsure about posting my naked stomach on my blog but these are what I have. Maybe I'll start taking a shirt picture to post on here... :)

Fear not, my friend:

2009-01-30T16:29:00.001-06:00

For my friend who's art locker was stolen. He'll never read this poem. I wrote it because the words were flying through my head.

Fear not, my friend:
A home is a place to fill your head,
to feed your soul, to sleep in bed.
A shallow hole is where you hide
the things you want or need inside.
When winter's cold or summer's heat
cheats you from your hole, discrete,
just find another and persevere,
a locker isn't why you're here.
Stay the course. Don't hate your peer.
Lockers are stolen every year.

My Last Day

2009-01-29T08:24:00.018-06:00

Today is my last day at my current job location. I am a consultant for an architecture company and the contract is ending between the two company's I have been working with. I've known for about three weeks that I would be finishing my time here at the end of January and it's passed pretty quickly.

Here's the story...My boss here on location asked if we could chat. We went into the cafeteria area and chatted and I could tell something was up. He said he was going to have to end the contract due to several reasons but the main one being the economy. I was a little surprised but then again not really surprised at all. I felt an immediate peace about the situation and knew that God had a plan. I knew from the time that I was first hired for this job that when it was time to leave it would all work out and that God was in complete control of the situation. He told me that he had spoken with my boss at the architecture firm to make sure I would have a job there and although he felt really bad about having to end it said that he was assured I would still have a job. After he told me all this and we talked about some other details, I let him know that I was so impressed with how God's plan was coming into play. I told him that I am pregnant and that I was planning to stay home with the baby. I had been worried about how everything would come together and if they would need to hire someone to take my place, and how long before I left they would need to do that so I could train said person etc. I had a few situations running through my mind. I wasn't sure when to tell my work either. My boss acknowledged that things seemed to be aligning and I just felt really good about the situation.

Later that afternoon, my boss from the architecture firm came to meet me and we discussed the change. Here's the part where I was completely amazed...My boss had been planning this year to hire another designer and a few months ago they offered the job to an intern who has been there on and off for a few years while she is finishing school. The morning my boss knew she was going to come talk to me, the intern had emailed saying she would accept the position. My boss explained to me that she was accepting the position and if hired, would start work on June 1, 2009. She mentioned that she would just have to let the intern know what was happening. That she would not be able to hire her because I needed a job instead. I was immediately excited. I told my boss that I was pregnant and she was so excited for me...she started crying! I explained to her that I was planning to stay at home after the baby will be born so this would work out really well. The intern would still be able to accept the position and I could have a job until the summer. My last day is June 1st and I will have a little time to really get ready for the baby to be here. Coincidentally, a few weeks before this happened, I had tallied how many paychecks I would get until June 1st a couple weeks prior to finding out this situation.

So here is the last mobile upload from my current workplace. The requisite drawing plans in the background and bad lighting with a maze of cubicle offices to run through. I will miss the people here and I can honestly say that this has been a good experience but I am so glad that God is in control and knows where I am headed next.

Make Me Some Babies!

2009-01-24T11:34:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I posted a link to a website where you can make a baby by putting in your picture and a picture of your spouse. I figured you guys use your time wisely and don't do stuff like this so I thought I'd give you a little taste. I stole a few pictures of a few friends/relatives and made babies for them. I hope I'm not infringing on anybodies rights...

Jodie & Melodi's Baby

Here is Jodie and Melodi's future child. I'm really thinking their real kids aren't going to look much like this...This child looks a little gender neutral to me. (sing with me Jodie "it's time to play a game...")

Joe & Jessie's Baby Boy

So I have to admit. This picture of Joe and Jessie's baby is cracking me up. Looks a little sinister...Thankfully their real kids are way cuter.

Brent & Rachel's Baby

Here is my sister Rachel's future baby girl. Since she has dark eyebrows I'm wondering if there is dark hair under that duck hood?

Dave & Rachel's Baby

Okay, what's up with this....this child looks almost exactly like Jodie & Melodi's baby...I'm guessing the dark shadows around the eyes are from the genetic sunglasses trait this baby inherited. Why is the mouth so small when both pictures of her parents are smiling so big?!

Rex & Shawna's Baby

YES! A new baby look! Wow, this baby looks nothing like any of Rex & Shawna's four children. I'm loving the natural copper looking hair though.

Jere & Reagan's Baby Girl

And finally, the one you've all been waiting for! Wow. Just wow. I'm laughed when I first saw this, I thought "feral child". Now I'm just scared.

Link Love

2009-01-23T09:45:00.021-06:00

Make Me Babies

A website where you can put in a picture of you and of your spouse to see what your baby will look like. I've thought about doing this for friends who already have kids to see how accurate it is. My babies looked a little strange. Maybe they looked strange to me because they had green eyes and I know my kids can't have green eyes. (Unless God pulls something on me)

Kathleen Connally Photo Blog

I found this website through a local photographer's blog that I read. I just LOVE her photos.

Heather's Story

This is the story about the painful yet victorious life of a lady named Heather. Transformed from Jehovah's Witness to a woman for Christ, it's a very powerful story. It's about 40 minutes long but worth the listen.

Chart Jungle: Fix It Chart

The lady who runs the Chart Jungle website is now my best friend. I printed this chart and I feel SO empowered. Writing out the problems in each room on a CHART just does something to make me feel like I can accomplish anything. This chart can be used for cleaning up rooms too but I am sure she has a chart for cleaning on her website somewhere too. (Thanks for casually mentioning this site to me Lynn, I love it!)

Pregnancy Update

2009-01-22T16:09:00.016-06:00

I am 13 weeks 3 days pregnant. Our baby is the size of a medium shrimp and about 3 inches long. 3 INCHES! That's huge! (considering only a couple weeks ago it was about 1 inch...)

Here are a few tidbits about my pregnancy so far.

I haven't thrown up at all. (At times I have felt bad for other people that I haven't, then I remind myself to be thankful and that it's dumb to have false guilt) My pregnancy isn't a breeze but I'm thankful there hasn't been any throwing up. It may still be in my future for other pregnancy's.
I was ravenous in the beginning and that's faded away in the last couple weeks. Now I'm only starving sometimes.
I've been sooo tired and my husband loves it. (me asking to go to bed at 8:30pm is NOT normal)
I'm starting to notice my belly is getting bigger but it's nothing crazy. (mostly I can't suck in anymore, I have to stick it out)
If I stay up too late, I feel sick.
I burp way more than I used to. (and that was quite a bit)
The past month has been filled with gagging...on air, water, toothbrush, burps and loose hairs stuck to stuff that I have to pull free. (I hate loose hairs)
I have heard the heartbeat three times and I'm thinking I need to go in again before my appointment on Feb. 9th to hear it again.
I have taken to wearing black sweat pants and jeans (with a rubber band on the button) to work and I don't care if it's not the dress code.
I have wanted to eat pretty much only simple things like sandwiches, quesadillas, soup, yogurt etc. No crazy prepared meals like... (actually can't think of any right now but I'm sure Jere could list a few that he's made and I haven't been able to eat)
My husband has made me fall more in love with him because of his service and good attitude. When my stomach hurts and I just need to lay on the couch he doesn't complain.
He rubs my hips and thinks of my needs.
He makes sure that food is promptly available because he understands that I'm starving and his overall attitude and love has been so much so it makes me crumble to think about it.
The love and excitement he has shown already for this baby reaffirms the knowledge that I already have that he will be a wonderful dad and he is just as excited as I am about the little things.
Everything he has done means so much to me and I feel so supported and loved even when I have a bad attitude. He reminds me that our life is good and his constant mindset is contagious. I love him.

Random Post: Invincible

2009-01-16T11:42:00.003-06:00

Sometimes, I imagine that I'm invincible. That I could jump off any building, punch through any wall and fend off a legion of super villains to save the world from mortal peril.

But, mostly so I won't have to get a shot again. I hate needles.

On Posting That I'm Pregnant...

2009-01-12T23:52:00.011-06:00

Jere thought I would do it today after both of us put something about being pregnant on facebook. I told him I was actually working today. So here goes.

We are expecting a baby July 28th, 2009!

We had our first baby appointment today where we got to hear the heartbeat for the third time and it still amazed me. I had gone in to the birth center where we're having this baby and asked if they could find it because I had such a bad feeling that I wasn't pregnant anymore. So much for a woman's intuition...The baby sounds great.

Earlier today I told myself that I would post on my blog after I got home from work and our baby appointment. So after getting home, eating something and knowing we were going to take a nap, I figured I would do it after our nap. When I woke up at 10:22pm after laying down around 4:30pm I tried not to freak out. This is an example of why Jere keeps telling me he loves me being pregnant. We sleep more.

So now it's about 12:17am and we just got done eating our real dinner and we'll head back to bed in a bit. I just want to say that I am cherishing these times right now and while I know our life will change after the baby is born, I don't consider it to be a bad change.

Mobile Uploads

2009-01-05T10:39:00.012-06:00

I did it...I chopped my hair off. I am loving it so far but it's only been a few days. Jere's already wondering how he'll deal with the agony of me "growing it out again". All I have to say is...I've been growing it out for the past three years. In my history of growing out hair that is like an eternity because I used to change it so often.

December 2008 Summary

2008-12-31T13:58:00.016-06:00

We attended my work Christmas party in KC and stayed in a hotel.

Volleyball ended.

Jere and I went to the Price's Christmas party for the first time and stayed with the Morgan's overnight!

Jere went to a KU B-Ball game at the Sprint center (they lost by 1 point) and I hung out with Rachel and Colter on the plaza.

Jere completed his first semester taking 18 hours and working full time. I was so proud of the results. Surprising to me, he's ready to get back to school and get this done!

I helped throw a wedding shower for Melodi.

I danced in the Nutcracker and stayed at TPAC till 11pm every night that week.

The Chapel had it's annual Christmas play with all the kids telling the story of the birth of Christ.

We got together with my family on Christmas Eve to open gifts. Everyone was able to be there! It was so much fun. Later that night Jere and I tried to go look at Christmas lights with our friends Ben & Kristi but most lights were already off at 12:30am.

For Christmas, Jere and slept until about noon (waking up to eat cinnamon rolls from the Bloom family around 10am then going back to sleep!) and then went to my uncle's house in KC. Later that night our friends Austin & Amanda came over with their little Wyatt and played cards till around 10pm! It was a blast.

I helped organize my brother's wedding and stressed over flowers, hair and other details... Thankfully it went great.

My brother, Jodie married his fiance Melodi on December 27th.

We spent time at Scott & Lynn's hanging out with the Canadians.

I chopped my hair off. (I am looking into the future at my 4pm haircut)

Tonight we'll be at Brian & Rachelle's bringing in the new year with friends from the chapel. I'm so looking forward to it!

Here's to a new open schedule and a new year with many changes!!!

In Christ Alone

2008-12-23T09:39:00.010-06:00

One more thing before I "take some sort of break of which I have no idea of the length"...This past Sunday at our chapel, we sang this song and I made a note to remember the name so I could search for it and listen on youtube. Press play and turn it up - I love this. So many of the songs chosen at our chapel have touched me and I love this one especially. I am trying not to just burst out in song while sitting here in my cubicle...

Merry Christmas

:0)

Blog Anniversary

2008-12-22T15:17:00.004-06:00

Today is the two year anniversary of my blog. I always wonder how people can remember what day they started their blog...but I was sitting there posting about my Christmas tree a while ago and realized that I had started my blog around Christmas time! Here is my first ever post. It's a pretty standard first post...

So merry christmas! I'm taking a break.

I Stand in Awe

2008-12-18T14:10:00.017-06:00

After a grueling semester, the results have been tallied and the answer came back:

Jere is amazing.

After working 40 hours a week and taking 18 credit hours at a local university we have his grades.

A...A...B...B...B...C

I am so proud of him! It was a rough semester for both of us but we did it and he did well! We'll keep pushing till he's done but now we know that less hours at work will help more than we thought for the spring semester. YAY!

Nutcracker Practice

2008-12-16T11:31:00.005-06:00

Tonight I have my first Nutcracker practice on stage at the Topeka Performing Arts Center. (TPAC) I'm excited for a couple reasons - I haven't performed on stage in a long time, it's snowing like I remember when we did the Nutcracker in Virginia and this means it's almost over. While I am excited to do the show this weekend, I am also very very nervous and I think I'm ready for it to be over! I can't believe the shows are this upcoming weekend....

Mobile Uploads

2008-12-15T12:42:00.005-06:00

Strawberry!

Wondering how I could escape...

Christmas Tree 08'

2008-12-13T11:01:00.009-06:00

This past week our tree was only half lit because a whole strand wasn't working. (I thought it was only half a strand until I checked it out) ....Turns out after I figdeted with it, that plug just needed to be jangled. And that's what I get for procrastinating for several days and wondering how I was going to fix it...We don't have a tree topper because I ended up not liking the one that I bought after Christmas last year.

I am thinking I need to be a smart shopper and get out to buy a few new things after Christmas this year to spruce up my stock. I love Christmas decorating.

Oh and I am not going to moan and groan about how Jere and I love fireplaces and it's sad that we don't have one to decorate this year. I loved our town house fireplace. I think they just make places feel more cozy but we're doing good here and it'll just be on the list for the next house we buy :0)

Link Love

2008-12-12T23:09:00.000-06:00

JayWalking on the Jay Leno Show

I really have a hard time believing that these answers weren't scripted...Seriously!

I was going to post the links to these videos but decided this was easier.

I have just one more link...I read ealier this week that this man's whole family died when a jet crashed into his house. He reacted so gracefully towards the pilot and was obviously devastated but it made me wonder "Would I act this way and not blame the pilot??? I mean most people need to blame SOMEONE." This man knew his family was in heaven and that's what was comforting him. What a wonderful example to show the world.

Quotables

2008-12-11T11:32:00.003-06:00

"We value your business. Please stay on the line and we'll get back to you as soon as we can."

-Sam's online customer service. Just wondering how they can get back to me when they were never there in the first place??

"Agh thats crazy it makes me think that I just sent three messages because we all have the same picture" - Jamie commenting on how his siblings all had the same picture.

This morning Jere said "I'm going to wear a suit to work and my final tonight." I asked "Why?" "Because it's my last final and I wanna mess with my teacher." So I responded "OOOOooo you're going all out with the BLACK tie!"

"Give me your keys or I will kiiell you." -Jere trying to lock the house up.

Hahahahaha hoohhohoho I realized that I am not good at quoting people. I like to remember what they've said but when it comes time to do it I just suck. I might not do this anymore.

Christmas Party

2008-12-10T09:33:00.002-06:00

This is the best shot of us from my work Christmas party this past weekend. We had a great time being together all dressed up and fancy. We stayed in a hotel and that morning we slept in really really late...After getting up around 2pm, we went to lunch and headed to KC :) We stayed in the Hotel Philips which was 1.5 blocks from the hotel where the Christmas party was being held. We had a great time and I love this picture of us together!

IIIIT's Snowing, it's snowing it's snowing snowing snowing

2008-12-09T13:10:00.009-06:00

Last night I was skeptical that it would snow today. Jere texted me and told me it was flurrying outside but I was thinking "egh what's the big deal? I'll just be nonchalant about it." Then as I was getting ready for lunch I walked into the cafeteria area and low and behold it was the most magical sight for sore eyes. My love has returned. Perfect little snow flakes falling to the ground.

I got closer and closer to see if it was really true. See that blindingly bright area over there? That's snow on the other side of that window.

AAhhhh look how pristine. Clean fallen snow on the tables.

Yeeeesssssssss

P.S. This is what happens when I button the wrong buttons in in the wrong button holes. The result is that I walk around looking like a homeless person with a cashmere scarf. Wait. I think my scarf is cashmere...All I know is that it's really soft and I button the wrong buttons A LOT.

Mobile Uploads

2008-12-08T11:06:00.000-06:00

Link Love

2008-12-05T12:48:00.011-06:00

These paper flowers look like so much fun to make! Now I just need to do it...

This house made out of shipping containers looks so interesting to me. I would love to build/live in something unique like this.

Yummy dessert. Oreo truffles!

This idea for DIY coloring sheets looks really fun. I think it would be a neat to just frame it and not even color.

I think I'll be doing this at-home spa treatment sometime soon - It sounds soo nice.

Wanna practice investing in the stock market for when it *hopefully* rallies in the future? Check out this free, online investing website.

Quotables

2008-12-04T12:45:00.017-06:00

"We're such an awkward couple." -Jodie, with Melodi backing him the whole way.

"I am so in love with my wife right now." -Jere speaking as if I am not there.

"...well maybe they don't want you to wear your I-pod during the race because you'll get trampled like that person at the Wal-mart in NY!" -Vicki giving possibilities as to why I was not supposed to take any listening device to the race this past Saturday.

"So you're saying you think the guy working at the Wal-mart had his I-pod on and didn't hear the crowd stampeding toward him??? I'll be wearing my I-pod." -Reagan

"Don't look at me!" -Colter says putting his hand in front of his face so he can't see the offender.

Melodi's Wedding Shower

2008-12-03T09:25:00.000-06:00

These are some pictures from Melodi's shower.

Melodi's sisters and mother: (left-right) Gabrielle, Melodi, Shawna, Stephanie.

The craft table. Shawna came up with the great idea to decorate recipe cards and make a cook book for Melodi. It turned out great.

Vicki made the table pretty and Shawna and I made the food. Stephanie, Melodi's mom brought three cheese balls which were amazing.

Melodi, Rachel, Ruth

All the presents! She got lots of gift cards too. We had a pretty good turn out of family.

Melodi showing a frame that I got her.

Sisters

Albi, the allusive cat. This is probably one of the best photos we've ever gotten of him. He dashed off as soon as the flash went off.

If you want to see some other pictures from the shower click here.

Impromtu Photo Shoot

2008-12-02T07:05:00.001-06:00

It all started when I laid on the floor.

And then Jodie decided to sit on me, as well as invite Jamie to get on his shoulders. He asked Ruth to get on Jamie's shoulders but she decided to cheese instead.

So we tried to take a picture together and piled onto a loveseat. I said "no way, my double chin is showing". So we moved.

Then we took a normal picture.

And Melodi (the photog) said "okay this is too normal". So Jodie put his arms out saying "I'm in the middle, I'm the coolest".

And then Jodie decided to try to grab my head to pull me down and I decided to choke Ruthie to death. Ruth held onto Rachel. She was our anchor.

Trying to get back to normal.

All together now!

Mobile Upload

2008-12-01T09:21:00.000-06:00

This is how I feel today.

November 2008 Monthly Update

2008-11-30T14:46:00.001-06:00

Nutcracker practice continued.

Our chapel had a young couples seminar focusing on Stewardship. It was so fun!

We turned the clocks back.

Barack Obama became president elect.

I cleaned up and organized my house.

Arianna Erixson came over and spent the day watching Lord of the Ring's movies. So fun!

Had family night at the Carey's with a bonfire and hot cocoa.

My volleyball team started the winter season (which only lasts for 5 weeks) it's so much fun, I really enjoy it.

Jere went to the KU/Texas game and watched them lose, unfortunetely.

Jere and I went to see L.J's play "Our Town" at his highschool.

We helped host the first ever singles get together through our chapel! It turned out great. Any singles are invited to our next one - Dec. 6th at 12:30. Let me know if you want to attend, it'll be a blast.

I visited InterfaceFLOR carpet plants in Georgia with my work.

Helped and attended a shower for my new sister-in-law, Melodi.

Jere went to a cooking club put on by our friend Shawna.

Jere, me and Melodi went to the airport to pick up my brother Jodie.

Had Thanksgiving at the Daniel's house.

Had Thanksgiving at my Dad and Stepmom's house.

Ran a 4 mile race for the Topeka Rescue Mission.

I put up my Christmas tree!

Topeka Rescue Mission Run

2008-11-29T21:06:00.012-06:00

Tonight I ran in the "Topeka Rescue Mission Run". My brother Jodie also ran it, although he finished way quicker. His time was something like 30-32 minutes for 4 miles.

Me and thick thighs. Look at those bulging muscles in his thighs!

After Jodie finished, he came to look for me. He found me just as I was going to turn onto Sixth St. from Kansas avenue. I want to say he ran the last quarter mile with me, it was very sweet. At one point I told him to get behind me because it was driving me crazy that he was just slightly ahead of me so he gets behind me and starts lightly pushing my back to go up the hill. It actually felt sooooo nice but I told him to stop because it was cheating! After I got to the top of Sixth St. I saw my sister Rachel waving her arms and jumping around and so I started to goof off and run faster and realized I should probably just keep the pace since the finish line was a block away. I ran really hard and then couldn't quite keep it up at the very end! So in the video I feel like I am running at such a slow pace! I finished in 45 minutes.

I have a quick story - I was running behind this one really tall guy with long legs who was running like Frankestein! It was driving me crazy watching him and thinking about how he was ahead of me, so I forced myself to get past him. He was about 50 feet in front of me (I'm not a very good judge of distance) and it took me about 6 blocks to get past him! I wish I could show you how he was running!

The video below is me running through to the finish.

Link Love

2008-11-28T10:41:00.009-06:00

I found this cake wreck blog through another blog a while ago. Maybe you guys have come across it too? It's pretty funny.

This photographer is local to Topeka. He takes awesome pictures!

This house listing website is hiiilariousss. Here are a few of my faves.
Man comes with house.
Fake grass.
Your very own porch swing.
Scary!
Pretty back yard.
And my absolute favorite one so far: Good Flowers.
I just love the narrations for each of these posts.

Now that Thanksgiving is over, I am decorating for Christmas! I just love Christmas and I love decorating for it. I wasn't sure how I was going to hang the wreath that I have on my front door but Nester's post on using ribbon instead of a door hanger came at just the right time :0)

Today is Thanksgiving & other stuff

2008-11-27T12:37:00.003-06:00

And we're spending the day at our friends house! Happy Thanksgiving!

I have decided that I will post any quotes that I deem postable on Thursdays, if there are quotes that week!

Here is an example.

"Are you sure my hair doesn't look like a mouse's nest?" -My mom after I cut her hair.

"You, my friend, are a freak..." -Jere referring to my giggling fits whenever he comes to eat lunch with me.

Jere is really a hilarious writer too. If you missed these posts from a while back, here are the links to a couple.

Jere's strange experience in Belize.
Jere's view on visiting a bath-house in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Jere's experience on falling through our ceiling.

I need to get him to write about his experiences more often!

It's the Strangest Thing

2008-11-26T11:51:00.002-06:00

I work in a corporate setting. One of the issues I deal with on a daily basis is seeing people in the bathroom. If you have ever worked anywhere with a restroom that has two stalls or more, you should know what I'm talking about. It may be differ depending on whether you are male or female. It may also differ if you work in a smaller work environment with several stalls. That would be waaayyy more awkward. I personally feel that there are several rules when using a public restroom in a work environment. Females want to be chatty in any situation, but it's just so awkward.

Here are a few guidelines I think are just basic for this type of situation...

Time entry to the restroom when no one else is entering. Sometimes this is unavoidable.
Carry a water cup to the restroom and if you see someone about to enter when you get close to the restroom door, walk on by with your water cup and fill up before using the restroom.
Do not talk on a cell phone.
When entering the restroom, hurry into stall #1 before the person in stall #2 comes out. Eye contact in the restroom is scary.
Exit stall #1 only after the person who just came into stall #2 has shut their door.
Visa versa: exit the stall only after you know the person in stall #2 is still finishing their business and not coming out anytime soon. Listen for sounds of zippering and pulling pants up.
Cough when doing the dirty to disguise the obvious. I'm sorry but I don't understand how some people have super bowels and they can hold it all day.
Do not make conversation, but if someone says hello don't be rude.

I am writing this because there is one lady in particular who completely avoids these rules and frankly shoves them in my face! This lady works in the kitchen and I don't know what the deal is but we use the restroom at the same time A LOT. She seems very nice but totally oblivious to the unspoken rules of using the restroom. She is a repeat offender.

Starts a conversation with me every time I see her.
Talks on her cell phone while on the toilet.
Always comes in right after I have entered.
Doesn't ever avoid eye contact. In fact she pointedly looks at me as we're entering our stalls!

I have come to realize that she is my bathroom buddy. As disconcerting as this is, I have come to terms with it. Honestly, I could go without hearing about how "so and so isn't cooperating and was jumping on the couch" etc. whilst on the pot, but I guess I'll have to put up with it. For some reason it's unavoidable.

I'm sorry if these might be deemed "inappropriate". I tried to tone it down as much as possible :0)

P.S. My brother Jodie flies in tonight and I'm going to pick him up with Melodi. I'm so excited to see him!

Making Pizza

2008-11-25T12:09:00.009-06:00

A couple weekends ago, I decided we would make homemade pizza. I would like for it to become something we do regularly on the weekends, but it seems like our lives are just too random right now. As is usually the case, I try to start out making dinner and Jere takes over. When he cooks the food it tastes and looks so much better that I never put up a fight about it. When he sees I'm not helping anymore he always asks me to come back and help. The problem is that me "helping" usually entails standing there holding things for him. I love him.

Jere worked at a pizza parlor in highschool and he knows all the stuff you're supposed to do when fixing the crust. I never would have thought to poke holes in it. I just don't know stuff like that...

I helped put the toppings on. Doesn't it look good???

Our pizza is finished and it was seriously soo good! I don't know the cost of it but next time I buy everything for it I'm going to price it out. I really enjoyed it.

Remembering the Fall Leaves

2008-11-23T15:54:00.000-06:00

Sunrise @ 6am

2008-11-22T11:38:00.000-06:00