March 16th
Went to my parents for dinner and we had taco salad. It was absolutely delicious and something I have been needing but with just Steven and I to eat a whole head of lettuce and two cans of beans and a can of olives takes forever. I don't make it a lot because I am definitely not a left-over eater.
March 17th
Music class was small, again. I have definitely gotten faster at getting there, not having to look at the directions for every turn. We got there 15 minutes early so Alaska and I turned into an apartment complex and got out to play at their playground to use up some time. I hadn't brought a jacket or anything and the slide was wet so I wasn't about to let her go down it. She ran around a little and then told me she was cold and we went and got back in the car. First time ever we have left a park because she was cold. Maybe we should leave the coats off more often. It's always me that is too cold to stay out longer than 10 minutes.
We made a little adventure by finding a Winco and then instead of turning around to go back the way I knew I just kept going, trusting that whatever road we were on would take us back to 1-5. Not so. It took us to 205 and dropped us off at the airport. That was an extra half hour of driving that we spent in the car that day and I really wish I were not so directionally challenged. We should have gone to IKEA while we were over there but I totally forgot. We've only got two chairs right now but it is easier for Alaska to sit at a chair than for me to be always getting her in and out of the highchair. Great benefits of having growing children.
March 18th
John did his court of honor tonight. It was combined with another boy from the ward and it was nice to have that many more people there to support both of them but it was a little longer due to that and we were all a little antsy by the end. We were sitting next to a little boy with a video game and Alaska watched him play like it was a movie. He was really sweet with her and even took the time to explain a few things to her about what was happening and all that. It was nice to have something extra for her to do to keep her quiet.
Afterwards she found all the kids and ran to keep up with them, starting a game of chase all by herself. She never actually said chase me or tagged anyone, but she would run up to a little girl her age and then run away, looking over her shoulder to be sure the little girl was going to follow. It was really adorable watching her interact with everyone.
When it was time to go and we were looking for her someone asked what she looked like and one of the young men piped up, "The little girl with the bows." Which is super ironic since that day Alaska had asked for bows in her hair all by herself. All my insistence upon wearing bows and doing hair is paying off! It happened one other time last week, too. When we went to the park after her nap she reminded me that she needed her hair done before we left. She's going to be alright.
March 19th
For mutual we made some healthy cookie bars and apple dip. The girls seemed to enjoy it enough though it was a little big of a group to have everyone helping with something.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
March 15
To celebrate bonus checks Les Schwab always hosts a dinner for the employees and their wives. Last year Steven hadn't been officially working for the St. Helens store but he went to the dinner anyway. I opted to stay home.
This dinner for this year was my first time seeing everyone at once and it's always interesting to see who the guys are married to. There were even some guys I didn't recognize at all because there are so many employees at that store. Made me feel a little foreign and I missed our Centerville crew with their guys and their wives that I knew and always made me feel comfortable.
We went to El Tapatio and used a whole string of tables and half another. We got there late, something I had forgotten as a huge 'no no' if you want to pick your own seat and not get seated at the table that takes all the left-over people. I was so nervous that we were the last ones there, too. Meaning we would be the only ones not at the main table. Fortunately we weren't and the guy that Steven works the most with and his wife came after us and sat at our table along with one other couple that came late. I was most definitely out of my comfort zone and watched everyone else. Thank goodness Shayna (the guy's wife) is super outgoing and has no qualms about what stories to share and started up a rowdy conversation with the other wife and I put-in when I could but mostly stayed quiet. One of Shayna's best friends from high school is also a wife of one of the guys and she came over and sat at our table to get in on Shayna's stories and share her own. It was fun to listen to them and they seemed quite content to run the conversation.
I ordered fajitas and they were definitely not as good as the ones that I make. Not even close. It was a little bit of a let-down, but not something that I didn't totally expect. El Tap and I have a hate/neutral relationship. There is a building in Rainier and we had to go there for an assignment for Spanish once and order in Spanish. It was humiliating and their food isn't really all that good. Also, it's 'the place' to go in Rainier, apparently. A lot of kids from high school would go there for their birthdays and special occasions and I just don't know why. I guess it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth being so connected to highs school and people from high school.
There was a baptism for some lady at 2 earlier that day. I had it on the calendar and everything and totally spaced it. I had no idea who it was, she's never been to all three hours of church and going to gospel essentials for Sunday School makes it easy to meet investigators. Why do they do that? Why would someone be baptized without first going to church? Seems backwards to me.
This dinner for this year was my first time seeing everyone at once and it's always interesting to see who the guys are married to. There were even some guys I didn't recognize at all because there are so many employees at that store. Made me feel a little foreign and I missed our Centerville crew with their guys and their wives that I knew and always made me feel comfortable.
We went to El Tapatio and used a whole string of tables and half another. We got there late, something I had forgotten as a huge 'no no' if you want to pick your own seat and not get seated at the table that takes all the left-over people. I was so nervous that we were the last ones there, too. Meaning we would be the only ones not at the main table. Fortunately we weren't and the guy that Steven works the most with and his wife came after us and sat at our table along with one other couple that came late. I was most definitely out of my comfort zone and watched everyone else. Thank goodness Shayna (the guy's wife) is super outgoing and has no qualms about what stories to share and started up a rowdy conversation with the other wife and I put-in when I could but mostly stayed quiet. One of Shayna's best friends from high school is also a wife of one of the guys and she came over and sat at our table to get in on Shayna's stories and share her own. It was fun to listen to them and they seemed quite content to run the conversation.
I ordered fajitas and they were definitely not as good as the ones that I make. Not even close. It was a little bit of a let-down, but not something that I didn't totally expect. El Tap and I have a hate/neutral relationship. There is a building in Rainier and we had to go there for an assignment for Spanish once and order in Spanish. It was humiliating and their food isn't really all that good. Also, it's 'the place' to go in Rainier, apparently. A lot of kids from high school would go there for their birthdays and special occasions and I just don't know why. I guess it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth being so connected to highs school and people from high school.
There was a baptism for some lady at 2 earlier that day. I had it on the calendar and everything and totally spaced it. I had no idea who it was, she's never been to all three hours of church and going to gospel essentials for Sunday School makes it easy to meet investigators. Why do they do that? Why would someone be baptized without first going to church? Seems backwards to me.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
March 13 and 14
March 13
Such an incredibly busy day ahead of me that I only worked on the eliptical for half a hour before calling it quits with my mind churning with all the things I still had to do. Alaska wasn't ready to leave the daycare yet, she was having too much fun. I stayed and talked with the lady doing the watching for a little while until I was able to pull Alaska to the door.
Took off running as soon as we hit the home-front. The house wasn't nearly clean enough for the missionaries to come over and I needed to get dinner in the crockpot (Cafe Rio pork). Hurried along until nap time and my mom came out to watch Alaska while I went and did a funeral. There were only 6 or so people there and it was kept short since the man that died, his twin sister had to check in with her parole officer at 3. Easy peasy. John, the funeral director, had just sold the business the day before and so David, the new guy in charge, was there to oversee stuff. I did an extra-good job at releasing that dove.
When I got back, Alaska and Mommy hadn't left for the park yet. I changed quick and took a shot at going with them. We walked to Campbell and played for 30 or 45 minutes and then walked back. It barely gave me enough time to get the cilantro/tomatillo dressing done before the missionaries were knocking on the door. In my rush of getting everything ready I totally forgot about the rice. Thank goodness it was minute rice that took 10 minutes to make.
Megan's choir concert started at 7 and I knew we had to be there early to get a seat. We left right along with the missionaries, locking the door behind us. I stayed for the whole concert because I was enjoying it so much. Everyone else had to leave after the first song because of mutual or because they were hungry. Steven had come over straight from work and hadn't been home yet for dinner.
Dorian was in need of a date for his army banquet a few days ago and I instinctively had him ask Michelle (one of the yw in our ward). They had met on trek but he had always had a girlfriend since then. I know that she liked him and I was pretty sure that he had at least looked at her twice so when I offered to call her mom up and get permission he took me up on it in a heartbeat. He was a little timid about asking an LDS girl to an army banquet. Under good reason, I guess those things can get a little rowdy with the alcohol and a little grotesque with the humor. I told him not to worry about it. She could handle it. I am sure any LDS girl could handle it, really, sometimes I think he underestimates them.
After Megan's concert I went over to Michelle's house to help her pick a dress. Apparently banquets are dress up Prom-like. She was super excited and we ended up sending two photos to Dorian to get his opinion on a dress. Thank goodness he texted back the next day with his choice and that's what she ended up wearing.
March 14 -
Potluck at the church and I took fried rice. It wasn't super yummy, but at least it was edible. Which is saying a lot considering the other foods that were there. It was a passport potluck and you took your passport with you and checked off any foods that you tried from different countries. I was really surprised at how much variety there was. And as far as I could tell, no one had chosen China, lol. Not that fried rice is really Chinese, but you know. The missionaries were the hosts of the whole thing and they did a great job of keeping it interesting. After most people were done eating we had a little trivia. The questions were printed for us and put at each table and then when read out-loud we had to send someone up from our table as fast as we could with the right answer. We did a few of those, not the whole sheet, and then played some minute-to-win-it games. The primary kids were all over this and they did a great job. Then a little family feud of couples against couples but they had all the boys on one team and all the girls on another team so that couples were competing against each other. Some more minute-to-win-it and we had to leave to put Alaska to bed before they even started the 'messy skits' - I never found out what those were.
Alaska had a good time running around with all the other kids and made herself right at home even though she was the youngest by about a year. The older kids are so good to be gentle with her and she does her best to keep up. It's a good middle ground. The cutest thing ever was when the newest baby in the ward was sleeping in his carseat all the little girls gathered around him to watch. 5 girls around a carseat with ages varying from Alaska to 10 was the most precious thing ever!
Such an incredibly busy day ahead of me that I only worked on the eliptical for half a hour before calling it quits with my mind churning with all the things I still had to do. Alaska wasn't ready to leave the daycare yet, she was having too much fun. I stayed and talked with the lady doing the watching for a little while until I was able to pull Alaska to the door.
Took off running as soon as we hit the home-front. The house wasn't nearly clean enough for the missionaries to come over and I needed to get dinner in the crockpot (Cafe Rio pork). Hurried along until nap time and my mom came out to watch Alaska while I went and did a funeral. There were only 6 or so people there and it was kept short since the man that died, his twin sister had to check in with her parole officer at 3. Easy peasy. John, the funeral director, had just sold the business the day before and so David, the new guy in charge, was there to oversee stuff. I did an extra-good job at releasing that dove.
When I got back, Alaska and Mommy hadn't left for the park yet. I changed quick and took a shot at going with them. We walked to Campbell and played for 30 or 45 minutes and then walked back. It barely gave me enough time to get the cilantro/tomatillo dressing done before the missionaries were knocking on the door. In my rush of getting everything ready I totally forgot about the rice. Thank goodness it was minute rice that took 10 minutes to make.
Megan's choir concert started at 7 and I knew we had to be there early to get a seat. We left right along with the missionaries, locking the door behind us. I stayed for the whole concert because I was enjoying it so much. Everyone else had to leave after the first song because of mutual or because they were hungry. Steven had come over straight from work and hadn't been home yet for dinner.
Dorian was in need of a date for his army banquet a few days ago and I instinctively had him ask Michelle (one of the yw in our ward). They had met on trek but he had always had a girlfriend since then. I know that she liked him and I was pretty sure that he had at least looked at her twice so when I offered to call her mom up and get permission he took me up on it in a heartbeat. He was a little timid about asking an LDS girl to an army banquet. Under good reason, I guess those things can get a little rowdy with the alcohol and a little grotesque with the humor. I told him not to worry about it. She could handle it. I am sure any LDS girl could handle it, really, sometimes I think he underestimates them.
After Megan's concert I went over to Michelle's house to help her pick a dress. Apparently banquets are dress up Prom-like. She was super excited and we ended up sending two photos to Dorian to get his opinion on a dress. Thank goodness he texted back the next day with his choice and that's what she ended up wearing.
March 14 -
Potluck at the church and I took fried rice. It wasn't super yummy, but at least it was edible. Which is saying a lot considering the other foods that were there. It was a passport potluck and you took your passport with you and checked off any foods that you tried from different countries. I was really surprised at how much variety there was. And as far as I could tell, no one had chosen China, lol. Not that fried rice is really Chinese, but you know. The missionaries were the hosts of the whole thing and they did a great job of keeping it interesting. After most people were done eating we had a little trivia. The questions were printed for us and put at each table and then when read out-loud we had to send someone up from our table as fast as we could with the right answer. We did a few of those, not the whole sheet, and then played some minute-to-win-it games. The primary kids were all over this and they did a great job. Then a little family feud of couples against couples but they had all the boys on one team and all the girls on another team so that couples were competing against each other. Some more minute-to-win-it and we had to leave to put Alaska to bed before they even started the 'messy skits' - I never found out what those were.
Alaska had a good time running around with all the other kids and made herself right at home even though she was the youngest by about a year. The older kids are so good to be gentle with her and she does her best to keep up. It's a good middle ground. The cutest thing ever was when the newest baby in the ward was sleeping in his carseat all the little girls gathered around him to watch. 5 girls around a carseat with ages varying from Alaska to 10 was the most precious thing ever!
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
March 12
March 12th -
Got my Paula Dean on this morning to prepare a million dozen cookies for young womens tonight. The theme is dots so I carefully cut out and cooked circles. Half-way through baking I realized there was no way I was about to make home-made frosting and so I went to the cupboard and scrounged around for a pre-made frosting container. Also, next time for a dot theme I am most definitely coating vanilla wafers in frosting. Paula Dean, I am putting you back on the shelf.
Steven had the day off and had asked that I make him a doctor appointment. I had big plans to do some subbing that day but didn't sign up for another week so that I could be home with Alaska while he went and got told that nothing was wrong with him but a severe cold. Which is exactly what happened. Not even thinking about the time, I had totally jumped on a morning appointment and I ended up missing the gym, as well, because he had the car. Kind of a bummer day. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and Brittany is watching Elayna again so we invited them to the park with us. The girls had such a great time together and it was fun watching them run after one another. Elayna would go down the slide first and wait for Alaska to come down and then Alaska would take off running to do it again and Elayna would follow, taking the short-cut of the ladder rather than going around to the stairs. Which would give her the head-start to get down the slide again before Alaska.
The weather was just so warm and nice - perfect weather for a road trip. Steven came and picked us up. We don't live that far from the park and it's an easy 10 or 15 minute walk but it also hasn't got a sidewalk for part of the walk and always makes me nervous. He had been up at his dad's helping with some car/truck/tire something or other and took Alaska back up with him after dropping me off at the house. I so wanted to high-tail it out of town and go shopping or somewhere else awesome but I knew if we left at 3:30 there's no way we would be getting back before 7, when I needed to be at mutual for new beginnings.
I took my polka-dot cookies and come candies that I picked up at Winco that seemed to fit the theme all too well and went to mutual. I made sure that all the girls had a place and then when their moms came in that they also had a place to sit with someone to talk to. It felt nice to be self-appointed usherer and I loved making so many of them feel welcome.
Got my Paula Dean on this morning to prepare a million dozen cookies for young womens tonight. The theme is dots so I carefully cut out and cooked circles. Half-way through baking I realized there was no way I was about to make home-made frosting and so I went to the cupboard and scrounged around for a pre-made frosting container. Also, next time for a dot theme I am most definitely coating vanilla wafers in frosting. Paula Dean, I am putting you back on the shelf.
Steven had the day off and had asked that I make him a doctor appointment. I had big plans to do some subbing that day but didn't sign up for another week so that I could be home with Alaska while he went and got told that nothing was wrong with him but a severe cold. Which is exactly what happened. Not even thinking about the time, I had totally jumped on a morning appointment and I ended up missing the gym, as well, because he had the car. Kind of a bummer day. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and Brittany is watching Elayna again so we invited them to the park with us. The girls had such a great time together and it was fun watching them run after one another. Elayna would go down the slide first and wait for Alaska to come down and then Alaska would take off running to do it again and Elayna would follow, taking the short-cut of the ladder rather than going around to the stairs. Which would give her the head-start to get down the slide again before Alaska.
The weather was just so warm and nice - perfect weather for a road trip. Steven came and picked us up. We don't live that far from the park and it's an easy 10 or 15 minute walk but it also hasn't got a sidewalk for part of the walk and always makes me nervous. He had been up at his dad's helping with some car/truck/tire something or other and took Alaska back up with him after dropping me off at the house. I so wanted to high-tail it out of town and go shopping or somewhere else awesome but I knew if we left at 3:30 there's no way we would be getting back before 7, when I needed to be at mutual for new beginnings.
I took my polka-dot cookies and come candies that I picked up at Winco that seemed to fit the theme all too well and went to mutual. I made sure that all the girls had a place and then when their moms came in that they also had a place to sit with someone to talk to. It felt nice to be self-appointed usherer and I loved making so many of them feel welcome.
March 11th
March 11th
Pretty normal day. Went to the gym, came home, Alaska took a nap while I made cookie dough to put in the fridge for tomorrow and we headed off to Hillsboro to do grocery shopping. We didn't even really 'need' anything - but I did need ingredients for a few big events. New Beginnings, a dinner for the missionaries and stuff for a potluck side.
Alaska and I stopped by Michael's before going to Winco and we picked up a few needed items so that I could get some craftiness made up. I had printed a printable at one of the copy shops in town and needed a cheap-o frame with good glass that I could paint up to put it in. I love shopping frames at Goodwill but sometimes it's a hit or miss and I really just wanted to get this project done. Found my frame and got a good paintbrush to go with it. Alaska did great to draw in the cart the whole time we were in there. She has definitely upped her shopping skills since Christmas and I am beginning to think it wasn't practice that she needed but just some growing time.
Grocery shopping was grocery shopping, nothing too super about it. The cashier did comment on how well Alaska behaved during check-out, though, despite the long wait. I had given her a note pad and pen and she was concentrating very hard on making lots of little circles and lines.
We got back just in time to unload groceries before going back to Steven's work to pick him up.
Pretty normal day. Went to the gym, came home, Alaska took a nap while I made cookie dough to put in the fridge for tomorrow and we headed off to Hillsboro to do grocery shopping. We didn't even really 'need' anything - but I did need ingredients for a few big events. New Beginnings, a dinner for the missionaries and stuff for a potluck side.
Alaska and I stopped by Michael's before going to Winco and we picked up a few needed items so that I could get some craftiness made up. I had printed a printable at one of the copy shops in town and needed a cheap-o frame with good glass that I could paint up to put it in. I love shopping frames at Goodwill but sometimes it's a hit or miss and I really just wanted to get this project done. Found my frame and got a good paintbrush to go with it. Alaska did great to draw in the cart the whole time we were in there. She has definitely upped her shopping skills since Christmas and I am beginning to think it wasn't practice that she needed but just some growing time.
Grocery shopping was grocery shopping, nothing too super about it. The cashier did comment on how well Alaska behaved during check-out, though, despite the long wait. I had given her a note pad and pen and she was concentrating very hard on making lots of little circles and lines.
We got back just in time to unload groceries before going back to Steven's work to pick him up.
March 9 - 10
March 9th -
Steven stayed home from church and slept most of the morning. I took Alaska to my 12:00 presidency meeting and she did absolutely fantastic. She colored and drew and ate fruitsnacks like a champ. We were in the chapel early so we were sure to get 'our spot' and she did fantastic the whole way through. I honestly feel for mommas who have girls first and don't know what a child is really like. I think I remember my brothers all too vividly and am absolutely amazed and grateful for Alaska's awesomeness at being quiet and still. I know I have it coming for me. But I won't stop enjoying what I have right now in fear of the future. Even though that as the days get closer to use meeting Talmage my heart has begun to beat a little bit faster with anxious nervousness. How in the world will I deal?
She loves nursery and always has. We've never had to leave her crying at the door and it's hard enough to get a kiss off her before she's off holding hands with one of the other kids or picking out her doll-of-the-day. On our way home she gave me the most grown-up toddler look she could muster and said, "No way" when I asked her to buckle up her seat-belt. It was absolutely hillarious and we both laughed at the silliness of it as she buckled her seat. "Alaska, you are so funny," I say. "Aska bunny. Me. Bunny," She says. And passes the compliment on, "Momma. Bunny." And we laughed some more. I love that little girl so so so much.
We had plans to go up to the Barnes' for dinner and I really didn't want to cancel. Thank goodness Steven didn't want to either and got dressed as quickly as he could when we came in the door. We had crepes and breakfast casserole for dinner, afterwards looking at prom dresses.
March 10th -
Steven stayed home from work and Alaska and I went ahead and went to music class. We were nearly the only ones there that day. I don't understand why a parent would sign up for something like music class and then not come? Seems like a hassle to do a make-up.
Had a doctor appointment. One of the last monthly ones. It seems to have gone so smoothly I have barely noticed there's a baby there for the past long while. Which is sooo nice. Everyone has started asking, since it's now obvious there's a baby bump, how I am feeling. And then hardy har har, "Feeling pregnant?" Well, I'll let you know. I felt more pregnant when I was puking my guts into the toilet twice a day than I do now. So hardy har har back at you. I feel normal and awesome and so excited about life. Especially when I can remember to take my vitamin D with my other vitamins.
Back to the doctor appointment. I am 24 weeks and measuring 23. Not surprising. Still holding those babies close. I never got huge with Alaska, either. I always wanted to be one of those ladies that just pops it all out the front like a basketball. No muffin tops or love handles, all baby right out the front. Not that lucky. I seem to grow a little rounder rather than ovaler. But I haven't gained as much weight as I did with Alaska... yet. I feel like it's going to be a little more tricky to keep it off these next few months than it has in the past. I am eating more and all that because I feel so good.
There was a lady resident following my usual man doctor and I totally understand why I love having a man. They're much more 'business and let's get you out of here' where as the lady was more interested in how I was feeling and asked follow-up questions to almost every answer I gave her. Took longer than I wanted but it was nice to feel cared about. But I think I am more all about being efficient and getting on my way than I care about talking about feelings and what's going on in life and all that. I mean, how well do you need to know a person to drop a baby in their hands?
Got out of there late, like I said, and hustled over to get my finger-prints taken for my substitute license. Jordan was coming over at 4:30 to work on an English paper and I needed to get back. Thank goodness fingerprints don't take too long and I was able to make it back just in time.
Jordan and I worked on her paper for about about 2 hours. 1 1/2 of it being actual writing and half hour of it being coming up with ideas and topics and looking at examples. The teacher has assigned an I Believe paper and I loved reading the examples we looked at. Brilliant. They are so short but so moving and loaded with thought. We went over the grading criteria and made sure that we found the same elements in each of the papers we read and then made hers a perfect example of everything she needed to get a good grade. I told her to re-write her rough draft and give me a kind of final copy on Sunday so that I could look over it and make any needed changes. She worked good and hard and it was absolutely awesome to have something to show for it at the end. I took her home after she had loaded me up with compliments about how easy I had made it become and how she was so relieved to get it done and how I should definitely be a teacher. If only she knew. My classroom management skills lack a lot, lol. I can handle working one-on-one but I am pretty much scarred from student teaching. As much as my cooperating teacher tried to help me and gave me literature to read about classroom management I am still a little nervous about that part.
Steven stayed home from church and slept most of the morning. I took Alaska to my 12:00 presidency meeting and she did absolutely fantastic. She colored and drew and ate fruitsnacks like a champ. We were in the chapel early so we were sure to get 'our spot' and she did fantastic the whole way through. I honestly feel for mommas who have girls first and don't know what a child is really like. I think I remember my brothers all too vividly and am absolutely amazed and grateful for Alaska's awesomeness at being quiet and still. I know I have it coming for me. But I won't stop enjoying what I have right now in fear of the future. Even though that as the days get closer to use meeting Talmage my heart has begun to beat a little bit faster with anxious nervousness. How in the world will I deal?
She loves nursery and always has. We've never had to leave her crying at the door and it's hard enough to get a kiss off her before she's off holding hands with one of the other kids or picking out her doll-of-the-day. On our way home she gave me the most grown-up toddler look she could muster and said, "No way" when I asked her to buckle up her seat-belt. It was absolutely hillarious and we both laughed at the silliness of it as she buckled her seat. "Alaska, you are so funny," I say. "Aska bunny. Me. Bunny," She says. And passes the compliment on, "Momma. Bunny." And we laughed some more. I love that little girl so so so much.
We had plans to go up to the Barnes' for dinner and I really didn't want to cancel. Thank goodness Steven didn't want to either and got dressed as quickly as he could when we came in the door. We had crepes and breakfast casserole for dinner, afterwards looking at prom dresses.
March 10th -
Steven stayed home from work and Alaska and I went ahead and went to music class. We were nearly the only ones there that day. I don't understand why a parent would sign up for something like music class and then not come? Seems like a hassle to do a make-up.
Had a doctor appointment. One of the last monthly ones. It seems to have gone so smoothly I have barely noticed there's a baby there for the past long while. Which is sooo nice. Everyone has started asking, since it's now obvious there's a baby bump, how I am feeling. And then hardy har har, "Feeling pregnant?" Well, I'll let you know. I felt more pregnant when I was puking my guts into the toilet twice a day than I do now. So hardy har har back at you. I feel normal and awesome and so excited about life. Especially when I can remember to take my vitamin D with my other vitamins.
Back to the doctor appointment. I am 24 weeks and measuring 23. Not surprising. Still holding those babies close. I never got huge with Alaska, either. I always wanted to be one of those ladies that just pops it all out the front like a basketball. No muffin tops or love handles, all baby right out the front. Not that lucky. I seem to grow a little rounder rather than ovaler. But I haven't gained as much weight as I did with Alaska... yet. I feel like it's going to be a little more tricky to keep it off these next few months than it has in the past. I am eating more and all that because I feel so good.
There was a lady resident following my usual man doctor and I totally understand why I love having a man. They're much more 'business and let's get you out of here' where as the lady was more interested in how I was feeling and asked follow-up questions to almost every answer I gave her. Took longer than I wanted but it was nice to feel cared about. But I think I am more all about being efficient and getting on my way than I care about talking about feelings and what's going on in life and all that. I mean, how well do you need to know a person to drop a baby in their hands?
Got out of there late, like I said, and hustled over to get my finger-prints taken for my substitute license. Jordan was coming over at 4:30 to work on an English paper and I needed to get back. Thank goodness fingerprints don't take too long and I was able to make it back just in time.
Jordan and I worked on her paper for about about 2 hours. 1 1/2 of it being actual writing and half hour of it being coming up with ideas and topics and looking at examples. The teacher has assigned an I Believe paper and I loved reading the examples we looked at. Brilliant. They are so short but so moving and loaded with thought. We went over the grading criteria and made sure that we found the same elements in each of the papers we read and then made hers a perfect example of everything she needed to get a good grade. I told her to re-write her rough draft and give me a kind of final copy on Sunday so that I could look over it and make any needed changes. She worked good and hard and it was absolutely awesome to have something to show for it at the end. I took her home after she had loaded me up with compliments about how easy I had made it become and how she was so relieved to get it done and how I should definitely be a teacher. If only she knew. My classroom management skills lack a lot, lol. I can handle working one-on-one but I am pretty much scarred from student teaching. As much as my cooperating teacher tried to help me and gave me literature to read about classroom management I am still a little nervous about that part.
Friday, March 14, 2014
March 6th - 8th
March 6th -
Released a bird at a funeral for the first time since December. And December was a crazy busy month for people to be dying in. On top of all the Christmas stuff going on I also did 4 funerals. Usually I get one or two a month so it was nice to have some extra cash around the holiday season but then also a huge let-down when I didn't get any calls for January or February. I was beginning to wonder if they had forgotten all about me. Not that the weather was all that good for standing outside anyways. It would have been harder money to earn than being outside on a nice day. But of course it drizzled the whole way through the service, which is nice because the preacher man keeps them short when the weather is bad, but also kind of miserable for speaking because you have to talk above not only the traffic along the highway, but also above the raindrops hitting umbrellas and the canopy and this particular time we were set up next to the central water fountain that was making all kinds of watery noise. I spoke extra loud and because of that, had to speak extra slow in order to get the volume out. Quite a few older people came by and told me I did a great job as I was leaving so I am glad I could appease their hard-of-hearing ears.
It was an enjoyable service, as far as friendly people go. There were a lot of friends from clubs and church so I didn't stick out too much like I do when it's just family. One of the ladies was telling me 'his story' which became 'her story' which then became 'their story' and it was just so sweet it made me want him to come back for her. They were both living in retirement homes placed just down the street from one another. He was out for a walk one day and saw her coasting along in her wheel chair and was instantly smitten. He got in contact with the preacher that did Sunday services for both homes and found out a little about her before introducing himself. He made her laugh, a lot. And they always had a good time together. He would come over every day to visit her. She loved him a lot and they made a care contract. They didn't get married, but did say some kind of vows in a church setting about how they would look out for one another. He stayed at his retirement home and her at hers but he was over every day to spend time with her. So sweet!
Alaska's appointment went well. She was super well-behaved and everyone that saw her commented on how adorable she was. At the doctor's office and at WalMart afterwards when we picked up her prescription. We had to wait a half hour for it to be filled so I let her walk around and look and see whatever her heart desired. We went up and down the toy isles a few times before she was bold enough to start exploring other things. I let her do her thing and followed after her, making sure she wasn't running infront of shopping carts and such.
She ended up having a cold that was severe enough to turn into an ear infection and the doctor gave me medicine to start right away.
March 7th -
I don't even remember what happened on Friday. No notes on the calendar which means nothing was planned. We probably just stayed home and hung out. But it must not have been too painful since I can't really remember what was going on.
March 8th -
Steven woke up with a fever but insisted on going to work since it was a Saturday and that's the busiest day. We had plans to go to a game night at a ward member's house at 6:30 so I had Alaska go to Tamera's for the night. They took her in the later afternoon and I ran around doing a few errands. When Steven got home he wasn't feeling any better so we spent the night watching a movie and I went and got a Papa Murphys pizza to make it feel a little more festive. Which is really too bad, since we need that socialization of hanging out with people. But it never seems to work. Mostly because I will only go through so much effort to make sure it works out that we get there and all that. I am just too much of a home-body and it's more of a hassle to find someone to watch Alaska and figure out when to drop her off and when to pick her up than it is of a relief that she's being watched by someone else. I just don't want it bad enough. Same with evening church activities. It stresses me out more to have Steven home by 7 to watch Alaska so I can go to mutual than the relief that comes of getting to escape the house. Perhaps that will change as we add more kids and I think it definitely makes a difference as to their age. Because before it was kind of a relief, though still stressful to leave Alaska, but now she's communicating and it's so much simpler to get her to do things and there's less negative impact on my part about what to do to keep her entertained because she can do that herself now.
Released a bird at a funeral for the first time since December. And December was a crazy busy month for people to be dying in. On top of all the Christmas stuff going on I also did 4 funerals. Usually I get one or two a month so it was nice to have some extra cash around the holiday season but then also a huge let-down when I didn't get any calls for January or February. I was beginning to wonder if they had forgotten all about me. Not that the weather was all that good for standing outside anyways. It would have been harder money to earn than being outside on a nice day. But of course it drizzled the whole way through the service, which is nice because the preacher man keeps them short when the weather is bad, but also kind of miserable for speaking because you have to talk above not only the traffic along the highway, but also above the raindrops hitting umbrellas and the canopy and this particular time we were set up next to the central water fountain that was making all kinds of watery noise. I spoke extra loud and because of that, had to speak extra slow in order to get the volume out. Quite a few older people came by and told me I did a great job as I was leaving so I am glad I could appease their hard-of-hearing ears.
It was an enjoyable service, as far as friendly people go. There were a lot of friends from clubs and church so I didn't stick out too much like I do when it's just family. One of the ladies was telling me 'his story' which became 'her story' which then became 'their story' and it was just so sweet it made me want him to come back for her. They were both living in retirement homes placed just down the street from one another. He was out for a walk one day and saw her coasting along in her wheel chair and was instantly smitten. He got in contact with the preacher that did Sunday services for both homes and found out a little about her before introducing himself. He made her laugh, a lot. And they always had a good time together. He would come over every day to visit her. She loved him a lot and they made a care contract. They didn't get married, but did say some kind of vows in a church setting about how they would look out for one another. He stayed at his retirement home and her at hers but he was over every day to spend time with her. So sweet!
Alaska's appointment went well. She was super well-behaved and everyone that saw her commented on how adorable she was. At the doctor's office and at WalMart afterwards when we picked up her prescription. We had to wait a half hour for it to be filled so I let her walk around and look and see whatever her heart desired. We went up and down the toy isles a few times before she was bold enough to start exploring other things. I let her do her thing and followed after her, making sure she wasn't running infront of shopping carts and such.
She ended up having a cold that was severe enough to turn into an ear infection and the doctor gave me medicine to start right away.
March 7th -
I don't even remember what happened on Friday. No notes on the calendar which means nothing was planned. We probably just stayed home and hung out. But it must not have been too painful since I can't really remember what was going on.
March 8th -
Steven woke up with a fever but insisted on going to work since it was a Saturday and that's the busiest day. We had plans to go to a game night at a ward member's house at 6:30 so I had Alaska go to Tamera's for the night. They took her in the later afternoon and I ran around doing a few errands. When Steven got home he wasn't feeling any better so we spent the night watching a movie and I went and got a Papa Murphys pizza to make it feel a little more festive. Which is really too bad, since we need that socialization of hanging out with people. But it never seems to work. Mostly because I will only go through so much effort to make sure it works out that we get there and all that. I am just too much of a home-body and it's more of a hassle to find someone to watch Alaska and figure out when to drop her off and when to pick her up than it is of a relief that she's being watched by someone else. I just don't want it bad enough. Same with evening church activities. It stresses me out more to have Steven home by 7 to watch Alaska so I can go to mutual than the relief that comes of getting to escape the house. Perhaps that will change as we add more kids and I think it definitely makes a difference as to their age. Because before it was kind of a relief, though still stressful to leave Alaska, but now she's communicating and it's so much simpler to get her to do things and there's less negative impact on my part about what to do to keep her entertained because she can do that herself now.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
March 1st - 5th
March 1st
Took Alaska up to my mom's house, complete with her medicine and babies to take a nap with. I picked David up on the way there so he could spend the day there, as well. Then headed over to Longview for one last chalk paint class. It was fun, though not as fun as the first one, and then I went back to pick up Alaska and eat dinner with my family. Steven didn't get home until 8:30 and we were both in bed before he walked in the door.
March 2nd
Fast Sunday. One perk of being pregnant, I guess. No fasting for me. Pretty sure it would send my whole body into utter shut down if I tried that. I am now on a schedule of eating as soon as I wake up. Which has never happened in my entire life! Well, maybe in elementary school when my mom still fed me every day. But ever since I have been in charge of getting myself my own breakfast I have never needed to eat as soon as I wake up. And most of the time it takes a couple or three hours for my body to even get hungry enough to eat so often I have skipped breakfast and done a late breakfast at 10 or waited until lunch. I eat around 8, then 12, then 4 and then am not hungry for dinner and don't eat at 8pm, which would be the next logical time. And that's what's working right now to keep the food down instead of being spilled into the toilet.
March 3rd
I now have visiting teachers. Which I guess I have mixed feelings about. I haven't had them since mid-August when the girls they did have assigned to me went off to college. It was nice to have them over but in all honesty, it has been really nice to not have to worry about someone calling and needing to set up an appointment. They came today, at 8:30 am. Which was fine, we were ready and needed to start our day because we need to leave at 9:15 for music class, except that they didn't get there until 9. My biggest pet peeve. Kind of. I try to not let it get to me and just be grateful that I can worry about myself being on time and focus on managing that and be grateful when people show up when they can because I know I have had my fair share of walking into sacrament late and all that. Never since I moved out of my parents house, though, I will have you know. I can count on one hand the amount of times Steven and I have been late to church. Mostly because if we're going to be late, it's usually his fault and I have no problem leaving in the car with Alaska and him running along later after having to walk. I have found Alaska does a lot better in sacrament meeting if we're there ten minutes early and she can jabber a little to the people in front of us and behind us and then settle in with an activity by the time we're singing the opening song. Her routine doesn't change and it's distracting to have her trying to talk to people when they're making announcements so we've got to set our clock to hers. Also, it allows me to unwind a little, too, and take a glance around as to who is there and who isn't and where everyone is and all that.
After music we came straight home. Alaska hadn't done so well and I was extremely irritated. I couldn't stand taking her anywhere else. She had a hard time following directions and just wanted to run after this other little boy who also had a hard time following directions. Pretty sure her being sick has brought on a little extra attitude.
March 4th
I had signed up for a bike for spin class that morning but Alaska had a fever again and I wasn't about to pass that on to someone else. We stayed at home, putting her down early for nap.
John had a band competition at the St. Helens school so my mom came by to pick us up and take us over there to watch. Alaska seemed to enjoy it enough. Afterwards I went to see if I could get some fingerprinting done for a substitute orientation the next day and had no such luck. I came back from the sheriff's office with a phone number that hadn't been listed anywhere on the internet that I had seen and the requirement to call this number and make an appointment. I called and left a message and then called three more times later throughout the day and no one ever picked up. Also, no one had called back, either, and it's been three days. What kind of joint do they think they're running, anyways?
I have decided it is time to get a maternity swim suit. Alaska is going to need swim lessons, I am going to need pool time at the club in their outdoor pool and Brittany has said she'll do water aerobics with me in the evenings. Can't give that up! We went to fredmeyer to look and they didn't have any, nor did they have a maternity section. I called up the next closest fredmeyer and they didn't have a maternity section, either. Called Kohls and they have a maternity section but don't carry any suits. So I popped on line and looked there. Only, how in the world are you supposed to get a suit without trying it on!? Most frustrating thing ever! Besides jeans. Those two things just require a little trying on, no matter what. I bought two from Target.com and hope that one of them will fit and will send the other back. I just hope that I got the right size. Which is also tricky since I am on the small side of the medium for bust measurements and on the large side the medium for hip measurements. But I know I don't want any saggy boobs around so I went with the medium, even though I could probably fit just right into the small with the measurements they had posted. Here's to good luck!
March 5th
My substitute orientation took up a lot of the morning. 10-1. Steven had the day off for a doctor's appointment and it just happened that the sub orientation was in St. Helens that day instead of Hillsboro or somewhere else. It couldn't have been more perfect, especially since Wednesdays is one of those days that I don't have someone to watch Alaska. Everyone is in school or working. Turns out I can only do classified without an Oregon license but I also found out how to get an Oregon license and it's not hard, just costs a lot of money. So I'll get started with the classified and then work my way up. It will be nice to be working again. We're going to put Alaska in daycare and I think she will love it, play dates every day! I just hope she doesn't get sick like this again. Which she may or may not. This is the first time this year she's been sick, including any runny noses. We got lucky. Too lucky. It's about time we had our turn.
This is her second consecutive day with a fever and I have an appointment made for her, for tomorrow. Three days a fever, this has got to be something worse than a cold. I hope. Because this cold is one nasty one. I am torn. I want them to tell me it's just a cold and that it's all normal and will take another five days to get over or I want them to tell me, nope, she's got something else going on, here's a prescription that will make her feel better in two days.
Both Steven and I needed to be at the church for mutual. The scouts have a campout this weekend, which means lots of paperwork Steven needs to gather up and most people don't have it in, so Wednesday night is the best time to have them bring it all to him. I had to be there for mutual to drive for the combined activity. They were doing service projects for a few of the elderly and were going to be split into groups of 3 or 4 and then driving to houses and doing some little jobs for a hour.
We probably should have had Tamera come and watch Alaska again like she did last week but I guess after the first day of being sick you just go about living your life and don't really think about it. So we took her with us and she did great, as far as I could tell, since she spent most of her time with Steven. She was definitely sick looking and definitely tired but she ran around and acted cheerful despite it all. Her little eyes get massive dark rings around them since this whole thing started when she's even just a little bit tired. You can also see in her face that she's lost a little bit of weight. Poor thing isn't eating more than a couple bites of food a day and surviving on applejuice and water alone. I won't give her milk even though she constantly asks for it because it makes her cough so hard. I guess it just sticks in her throat or something. So glad I made the appointment for tomorrow. Even if they tell me nothing is wrong, I am willing to spend $25 copay to know that.
Took Alaska up to my mom's house, complete with her medicine and babies to take a nap with. I picked David up on the way there so he could spend the day there, as well. Then headed over to Longview for one last chalk paint class. It was fun, though not as fun as the first one, and then I went back to pick up Alaska and eat dinner with my family. Steven didn't get home until 8:30 and we were both in bed before he walked in the door.
March 2nd
Fast Sunday. One perk of being pregnant, I guess. No fasting for me. Pretty sure it would send my whole body into utter shut down if I tried that. I am now on a schedule of eating as soon as I wake up. Which has never happened in my entire life! Well, maybe in elementary school when my mom still fed me every day. But ever since I have been in charge of getting myself my own breakfast I have never needed to eat as soon as I wake up. And most of the time it takes a couple or three hours for my body to even get hungry enough to eat so often I have skipped breakfast and done a late breakfast at 10 or waited until lunch. I eat around 8, then 12, then 4 and then am not hungry for dinner and don't eat at 8pm, which would be the next logical time. And that's what's working right now to keep the food down instead of being spilled into the toilet.
March 3rd
I now have visiting teachers. Which I guess I have mixed feelings about. I haven't had them since mid-August when the girls they did have assigned to me went off to college. It was nice to have them over but in all honesty, it has been really nice to not have to worry about someone calling and needing to set up an appointment. They came today, at 8:30 am. Which was fine, we were ready and needed to start our day because we need to leave at 9:15 for music class, except that they didn't get there until 9. My biggest pet peeve. Kind of. I try to not let it get to me and just be grateful that I can worry about myself being on time and focus on managing that and be grateful when people show up when they can because I know I have had my fair share of walking into sacrament late and all that. Never since I moved out of my parents house, though, I will have you know. I can count on one hand the amount of times Steven and I have been late to church. Mostly because if we're going to be late, it's usually his fault and I have no problem leaving in the car with Alaska and him running along later after having to walk. I have found Alaska does a lot better in sacrament meeting if we're there ten minutes early and she can jabber a little to the people in front of us and behind us and then settle in with an activity by the time we're singing the opening song. Her routine doesn't change and it's distracting to have her trying to talk to people when they're making announcements so we've got to set our clock to hers. Also, it allows me to unwind a little, too, and take a glance around as to who is there and who isn't and where everyone is and all that.
After music we came straight home. Alaska hadn't done so well and I was extremely irritated. I couldn't stand taking her anywhere else. She had a hard time following directions and just wanted to run after this other little boy who also had a hard time following directions. Pretty sure her being sick has brought on a little extra attitude.
March 4th
I had signed up for a bike for spin class that morning but Alaska had a fever again and I wasn't about to pass that on to someone else. We stayed at home, putting her down early for nap.
John had a band competition at the St. Helens school so my mom came by to pick us up and take us over there to watch. Alaska seemed to enjoy it enough. Afterwards I went to see if I could get some fingerprinting done for a substitute orientation the next day and had no such luck. I came back from the sheriff's office with a phone number that hadn't been listed anywhere on the internet that I had seen and the requirement to call this number and make an appointment. I called and left a message and then called three more times later throughout the day and no one ever picked up. Also, no one had called back, either, and it's been three days. What kind of joint do they think they're running, anyways?
I have decided it is time to get a maternity swim suit. Alaska is going to need swim lessons, I am going to need pool time at the club in their outdoor pool and Brittany has said she'll do water aerobics with me in the evenings. Can't give that up! We went to fredmeyer to look and they didn't have any, nor did they have a maternity section. I called up the next closest fredmeyer and they didn't have a maternity section, either. Called Kohls and they have a maternity section but don't carry any suits. So I popped on line and looked there. Only, how in the world are you supposed to get a suit without trying it on!? Most frustrating thing ever! Besides jeans. Those two things just require a little trying on, no matter what. I bought two from Target.com and hope that one of them will fit and will send the other back. I just hope that I got the right size. Which is also tricky since I am on the small side of the medium for bust measurements and on the large side the medium for hip measurements. But I know I don't want any saggy boobs around so I went with the medium, even though I could probably fit just right into the small with the measurements they had posted. Here's to good luck!
March 5th
My substitute orientation took up a lot of the morning. 10-1. Steven had the day off for a doctor's appointment and it just happened that the sub orientation was in St. Helens that day instead of Hillsboro or somewhere else. It couldn't have been more perfect, especially since Wednesdays is one of those days that I don't have someone to watch Alaska. Everyone is in school or working. Turns out I can only do classified without an Oregon license but I also found out how to get an Oregon license and it's not hard, just costs a lot of money. So I'll get started with the classified and then work my way up. It will be nice to be working again. We're going to put Alaska in daycare and I think she will love it, play dates every day! I just hope she doesn't get sick like this again. Which she may or may not. This is the first time this year she's been sick, including any runny noses. We got lucky. Too lucky. It's about time we had our turn.
This is her second consecutive day with a fever and I have an appointment made for her, for tomorrow. Three days a fever, this has got to be something worse than a cold. I hope. Because this cold is one nasty one. I am torn. I want them to tell me it's just a cold and that it's all normal and will take another five days to get over or I want them to tell me, nope, she's got something else going on, here's a prescription that will make her feel better in two days.
Both Steven and I needed to be at the church for mutual. The scouts have a campout this weekend, which means lots of paperwork Steven needs to gather up and most people don't have it in, so Wednesday night is the best time to have them bring it all to him. I had to be there for mutual to drive for the combined activity. They were doing service projects for a few of the elderly and were going to be split into groups of 3 or 4 and then driving to houses and doing some little jobs for a hour.
We probably should have had Tamera come and watch Alaska again like she did last week but I guess after the first day of being sick you just go about living your life and don't really think about it. So we took her with us and she did great, as far as I could tell, since she spent most of her time with Steven. She was definitely sick looking and definitely tired but she ran around and acted cheerful despite it all. Her little eyes get massive dark rings around them since this whole thing started when she's even just a little bit tired. You can also see in her face that she's lost a little bit of weight. Poor thing isn't eating more than a couple bites of food a day and surviving on applejuice and water alone. I won't give her milk even though she constantly asks for it because it makes her cough so hard. I guess it just sticks in her throat or something. So glad I made the appointment for tomorrow. Even if they tell me nothing is wrong, I am willing to spend $25 copay to know that.
February 25th - 28th
February 25th -
I know I was at the gym at 9:30 in the morning to be ready for yoga at 10:15. Which never happened because I forgot to check the schedule, but there is no yoga at 10:15. I used the eliptical for 45 minutes and called it good. I have it down to an art now. If I go 60 rpm I can do a 12 minute mile. Which is a 6 minute half mile and I feel pretty good about that. I push myself hard to make sure I make my miles and my times add up and sometimes the last minute or so I am going 64 or so to make my miles add up in time to keep up with my minutes. It feels good and gets my heart rate up. Which is a big step from the first times I started the eliptical and was done pushing myself at 50 rpm. I think it helps that I took my I-pod filled with some Bastille and Train.
Goodness knows what I did the rest of the day. Maybe I just stayed home and cleaned or something? Getting my groove back on from the week before when I ran from the house like an escaped zoo animal.
February 26th -
Alaska woke up with a fever. She hadn't had any other problems but that fever hit and all of sudden she was coughing hard enough to puke when combined with some crying. No runny nose, just super stuffy and she keeps poking her finger up there to un-stuff it. I don't blame her. I am sure it will start running in due time. We spent the whole day at home and I nearly went crazy. To think, just a few short weeks ago, that was my life every day. Staying at home. I downloaded some learning aps on the Ipad and now consider myself a mom of the technical era. Instead of learning colors by me pointing to blocks and color crayons and other such things, Alaska will be learning her colors via tap the blue balloon and other such nonsense. But she loves it and she always gets them right, even if when we're in the bathtub she can't show me a purple foam seahorse as opposed to the orange shark. We're still working on applying I suppose.
February 27th -
Kind of a weird day. I had a play date planned for that morning and took Alaska's temperature before we left to make sure she didn't have a fever. She didn't and off we went, me hoping she wouldn't cough up an organ while we were there. She's gotten really, really good at covering her mouth when she coughs or sneezes with her elbow. Which gives me hope. If an organ did come flying out of her mouth at least it's going to be muffled in her elbow instead of splattered all over the carpet.
Our playdate was with Arora, who's family we had over for our Sunday game night. Her mom is easy to talk to and she has a little brother who's just crawling and it was an enjoyable two hours that we spent there playing and talking.
We went home for a short nap and had to be at the church at 1:45 for a visiting teaching interview. This is the first time I had ever heard of such a thing and I was a little less than willing to go. I am fine talking over the phone. But I decided, what they heck, give those relief society ladies a break and just show up for them. So I did and we talked about the ladies I visit and the baby I am carrying and I got a loaf of fresh baked bread for showing up. I very much appreciated that.
From the church we took a trip up to Winco in Hillsboro. That is where we do all our big shopping (as in, anything more than 5 items) because Safeway can rob you blind. I am most positive they charge twice as much as Winco. It's a little bit of a drive but definitely worth the $100 I am sure I am saving. Alaska did so well. Amazingly well. It was actually enjoyable to have her there with me as we cruised up and down the isles.
Interesting fact: I don't often get to go grocery shopping more than once a month and it's hard to remember what to stock up on. For the past month and a half I have been able to go each pay check and it's amazing as to what kind of things we have needed to buy and then not needed to buy. And it always ends up being about $150. Which is awesome. One time I was so desperate for dinner things, that's pretty much all I bought. I totally forgot about breakfast items and lunch items. The next time we still had dinner items to make so I loaded up on breakfast and lunch items. This past time we still had breakfast items and dinner items left and I only needed to get some lunch items and then stocked up on my essential makeup and a few cleaning products. I also noticed, the more you have in your cupboards of the basics, the more junk food you slowly accumulate. Alaska has never had as much snack food as she does right now. Usually I try to keep the goldfish crackers and the teddy grahams and the granola bars out because I feel them just as superfluous but as my grocery shopping has become more regular and I don't have to just spend money on the essentials I have found myself adding a box of something here and there. We even have gogurt in the freezer right now as a special lunch treat which is something only my mom ever did for her. A special grandma thing in the summer.
February 28th -
Steven had the day off so I took the chance of an opportunity to go get my Oregon drivers license. I had to take the written test and didn't even think about studying for it, or, refreshing for it, until it was all like, "If a blind person gets to the intersection the same time you do and the light is green, what do you do?" A,B,C or D? Needless to say, blind people had better watch out when I am out on the road. I got it wrong. I passed though and when they went to take my picture the camera caught me right as I stopped smiling because I wasn't sure if it would ever really take the picture. It also captured my crazy eye wonderfully because I was so concentrated on holding my head the way he had instructed me to I forgot to refocus my eyes. It's pretty not awesome.
Went to the gym for a hour and half and Alaska went to the daycare while Steven went up to his house for shooting practice. He came back and got us and dropped us off at the house for Alaska's nap. And after that, I don't remember what we did. I know he had a lot of scout stuff to do so maybe Alaska and I were just home?
I know I was at the gym at 9:30 in the morning to be ready for yoga at 10:15. Which never happened because I forgot to check the schedule, but there is no yoga at 10:15. I used the eliptical for 45 minutes and called it good. I have it down to an art now. If I go 60 rpm I can do a 12 minute mile. Which is a 6 minute half mile and I feel pretty good about that. I push myself hard to make sure I make my miles and my times add up and sometimes the last minute or so I am going 64 or so to make my miles add up in time to keep up with my minutes. It feels good and gets my heart rate up. Which is a big step from the first times I started the eliptical and was done pushing myself at 50 rpm. I think it helps that I took my I-pod filled with some Bastille and Train.
Goodness knows what I did the rest of the day. Maybe I just stayed home and cleaned or something? Getting my groove back on from the week before when I ran from the house like an escaped zoo animal.
February 26th -
Alaska woke up with a fever. She hadn't had any other problems but that fever hit and all of sudden she was coughing hard enough to puke when combined with some crying. No runny nose, just super stuffy and she keeps poking her finger up there to un-stuff it. I don't blame her. I am sure it will start running in due time. We spent the whole day at home and I nearly went crazy. To think, just a few short weeks ago, that was my life every day. Staying at home. I downloaded some learning aps on the Ipad and now consider myself a mom of the technical era. Instead of learning colors by me pointing to blocks and color crayons and other such things, Alaska will be learning her colors via tap the blue balloon and other such nonsense. But she loves it and she always gets them right, even if when we're in the bathtub she can't show me a purple foam seahorse as opposed to the orange shark. We're still working on applying I suppose.
February 27th -
Kind of a weird day. I had a play date planned for that morning and took Alaska's temperature before we left to make sure she didn't have a fever. She didn't and off we went, me hoping she wouldn't cough up an organ while we were there. She's gotten really, really good at covering her mouth when she coughs or sneezes with her elbow. Which gives me hope. If an organ did come flying out of her mouth at least it's going to be muffled in her elbow instead of splattered all over the carpet.
Our playdate was with Arora, who's family we had over for our Sunday game night. Her mom is easy to talk to and she has a little brother who's just crawling and it was an enjoyable two hours that we spent there playing and talking.
We went home for a short nap and had to be at the church at 1:45 for a visiting teaching interview. This is the first time I had ever heard of such a thing and I was a little less than willing to go. I am fine talking over the phone. But I decided, what they heck, give those relief society ladies a break and just show up for them. So I did and we talked about the ladies I visit and the baby I am carrying and I got a loaf of fresh baked bread for showing up. I very much appreciated that.
From the church we took a trip up to Winco in Hillsboro. That is where we do all our big shopping (as in, anything more than 5 items) because Safeway can rob you blind. I am most positive they charge twice as much as Winco. It's a little bit of a drive but definitely worth the $100 I am sure I am saving. Alaska did so well. Amazingly well. It was actually enjoyable to have her there with me as we cruised up and down the isles.
Interesting fact: I don't often get to go grocery shopping more than once a month and it's hard to remember what to stock up on. For the past month and a half I have been able to go each pay check and it's amazing as to what kind of things we have needed to buy and then not needed to buy. And it always ends up being about $150. Which is awesome. One time I was so desperate for dinner things, that's pretty much all I bought. I totally forgot about breakfast items and lunch items. The next time we still had dinner items to make so I loaded up on breakfast and lunch items. This past time we still had breakfast items and dinner items left and I only needed to get some lunch items and then stocked up on my essential makeup and a few cleaning products. I also noticed, the more you have in your cupboards of the basics, the more junk food you slowly accumulate. Alaska has never had as much snack food as she does right now. Usually I try to keep the goldfish crackers and the teddy grahams and the granola bars out because I feel them just as superfluous but as my grocery shopping has become more regular and I don't have to just spend money on the essentials I have found myself adding a box of something here and there. We even have gogurt in the freezer right now as a special lunch treat which is something only my mom ever did for her. A special grandma thing in the summer.
February 28th -
Steven had the day off so I took the chance of an opportunity to go get my Oregon drivers license. I had to take the written test and didn't even think about studying for it, or, refreshing for it, until it was all like, "If a blind person gets to the intersection the same time you do and the light is green, what do you do?" A,B,C or D? Needless to say, blind people had better watch out when I am out on the road. I got it wrong. I passed though and when they went to take my picture the camera caught me right as I stopped smiling because I wasn't sure if it would ever really take the picture. It also captured my crazy eye wonderfully because I was so concentrated on holding my head the way he had instructed me to I forgot to refocus my eyes. It's pretty not awesome.
Went to the gym for a hour and half and Alaska went to the daycare while Steven went up to his house for shooting practice. He came back and got us and dropped us off at the house for Alaska's nap. And after that, I don't remember what we did. I know he had a lot of scout stuff to do so maybe Alaska and I were just home?
Sunday, March 2, 2014
February 22nd and 23rd and 24th
Feb. 22nd
The stake put on a youth activity day and my mom brought John down for it. It doesn't make sense for them to go to the Rainier church to drop him off to ride in with everyone when the St. Helens building is the exact same amount of time away, just in the opposite direction. She dropped him off and then came over to our house.
The house was a total wreck. Like, bigger than ever before. I had gotten such cabin fever that when I got a reason to go out, I took it and ran as far as I could for as long as I could. Obviously there's a balance I am missing but looking back at my week it was busy and full and just what I needed. I didn't even bother feeling bad about the house being a wreck and just embraced the idea that I was doing stuff.
Her and Alaska cleaned up Alaska's room and vacuumed and then moved onto the bathroom. They went to the park while I finished up the rest of the house, including Kitty Kitty's closet. Changed the litter box and cleaned his food bowl. We were having a game night at our apartment the next night and I made sure to vacuum and sweep and mop and do everything super well since we would have extra people around.
When John got back from his activity we went out to frozen yogurt and I forget what happened the rest of the day but the house was clean and that's what really mattered.
Feb. 23rd
1:00 church and I are getting along much better than I anticipated. I made treats for our party and got ready and got Alaska ready and we were able to walk out the door on time. Which means we were mostly ready by 12:30 and were getting in the car shortly after since it's always the last minute stuff that makes us late anyways. Like putting on shoes and packing the backpack and finding scriptures and stuff.
The party was set to start at 6 so that everyone could be leaving at 7:30 since we've all got littles that need to be in bed. But, of course, no one showed until 6:10 and the real party didn't get started until 6:30. We played a couple of games and had a good time. I wish I could get the guts to do this more often. Our apartment is small but by the time everyone is having a good time you can hardly tell. We actually got asked by the missionaries to put it on. They brought a few investigators and we invited a family from church. It was fun to meet some new people and I loved it. It was just like college but with more little kids running around.
Feb 24th
Music class went well. There was a new little boy there named Enzo. His mom was definitely more my age than any of the other moms and when she called him by his full name, Lorenzo, it all clicked into place for me. Of course she was young like me, because she's Mormon! And of course she's bringing her little boy to music class even though it's probably tight on their budget. Because that's what us Mormon mommies value. Music, learning, social interaction and everything awesome. I didn't get to talk to her since we got there a little late and she left quickly afterwards but we shared lots of smiles between the two of us and I am excited to get there a little early this coming Monday to find out more about her.
I had plans to go to Target and return a few things and get Alaska a new outfit but missed the exit and so we continued on home after stopping at McDonalds for lunch. She ate a whole hamburger by herself and fell asleep like she always does and I was able to put her down for a nap when we got home.
The stake put on a youth activity day and my mom brought John down for it. It doesn't make sense for them to go to the Rainier church to drop him off to ride in with everyone when the St. Helens building is the exact same amount of time away, just in the opposite direction. She dropped him off and then came over to our house.
The house was a total wreck. Like, bigger than ever before. I had gotten such cabin fever that when I got a reason to go out, I took it and ran as far as I could for as long as I could. Obviously there's a balance I am missing but looking back at my week it was busy and full and just what I needed. I didn't even bother feeling bad about the house being a wreck and just embraced the idea that I was doing stuff.
Her and Alaska cleaned up Alaska's room and vacuumed and then moved onto the bathroom. They went to the park while I finished up the rest of the house, including Kitty Kitty's closet. Changed the litter box and cleaned his food bowl. We were having a game night at our apartment the next night and I made sure to vacuum and sweep and mop and do everything super well since we would have extra people around.
When John got back from his activity we went out to frozen yogurt and I forget what happened the rest of the day but the house was clean and that's what really mattered.
Feb. 23rd
1:00 church and I are getting along much better than I anticipated. I made treats for our party and got ready and got Alaska ready and we were able to walk out the door on time. Which means we were mostly ready by 12:30 and were getting in the car shortly after since it's always the last minute stuff that makes us late anyways. Like putting on shoes and packing the backpack and finding scriptures and stuff.
The party was set to start at 6 so that everyone could be leaving at 7:30 since we've all got littles that need to be in bed. But, of course, no one showed until 6:10 and the real party didn't get started until 6:30. We played a couple of games and had a good time. I wish I could get the guts to do this more often. Our apartment is small but by the time everyone is having a good time you can hardly tell. We actually got asked by the missionaries to put it on. They brought a few investigators and we invited a family from church. It was fun to meet some new people and I loved it. It was just like college but with more little kids running around.
Feb 24th
Music class went well. There was a new little boy there named Enzo. His mom was definitely more my age than any of the other moms and when she called him by his full name, Lorenzo, it all clicked into place for me. Of course she was young like me, because she's Mormon! And of course she's bringing her little boy to music class even though it's probably tight on their budget. Because that's what us Mormon mommies value. Music, learning, social interaction and everything awesome. I didn't get to talk to her since we got there a little late and she left quickly afterwards but we shared lots of smiles between the two of us and I am excited to get there a little early this coming Monday to find out more about her.
I had plans to go to Target and return a few things and get Alaska a new outfit but missed the exit and so we continued on home after stopping at McDonalds for lunch. She ate a whole hamburger by herself and fell asleep like she always does and I was able to put her down for a nap when we got home.
February 20th and 21st
February 20th -
Yoga again this morning but it was much easier than the day before. There was a boy teacher and while he was rather intense in his pieces that we did, as in holding them longer, they were simpler because he was about as flexible as I was and I didn't feel like I needed to do anything extravagent to get the stretch done like I did the other day.
Rainier didn't have school because of a water leak so I made a date in Longview to paint my hideous mirror and dropped Alaska off at my mom's house. We ate dinner there and didn't get home until late, again.
February 21st -
Yoga this morning was taught by yet another lady. She was older and much more relaxed. It was a nice way to end the week. I dropped Alaska off at Tamera's house afterwards and went to Longview again to finish up the mirror. It didn't take too long and I stopped by a specialty donut store and bought a few donuts. They were soooo good! With Alaska I craved lots of chocolate milk and this pregnancy I've needed lots of donuts. At least it's not the two of them together.
The bridge was backed up about 30 minute wait time on the Longview side due to a logtruck. They were working under the hood of it when I finally got to drive by but because of its stalling in the middle of the bridge they only had one lane at a time going through.
I got through and called to check in on Alaska and was told plans had changed and I could come up and get her, really whenever. I took the time to go thrift shopping and found three shirts to work out in. They're larges and will fit better than the smalls that I have been working in that always seem a little short, especially being stretched around my belly.
After three more stops I was so worn out I wasn't even paying attention to what I was looking at anymore and decided to just go get Alaska, even though it was a half hour earlier than I had predicted. We stayed until Steven was ready to be picked up.
Yoga again this morning but it was much easier than the day before. There was a boy teacher and while he was rather intense in his pieces that we did, as in holding them longer, they were simpler because he was about as flexible as I was and I didn't feel like I needed to do anything extravagent to get the stretch done like I did the other day.
Rainier didn't have school because of a water leak so I made a date in Longview to paint my hideous mirror and dropped Alaska off at my mom's house. We ate dinner there and didn't get home until late, again.
February 21st -
Yoga this morning was taught by yet another lady. She was older and much more relaxed. It was a nice way to end the week. I dropped Alaska off at Tamera's house afterwards and went to Longview again to finish up the mirror. It didn't take too long and I stopped by a specialty donut store and bought a few donuts. They were soooo good! With Alaska I craved lots of chocolate milk and this pregnancy I've needed lots of donuts. At least it's not the two of them together.
The bridge was backed up about 30 minute wait time on the Longview side due to a logtruck. They were working under the hood of it when I finally got to drive by but because of its stalling in the middle of the bridge they only had one lane at a time going through.
I got through and called to check in on Alaska and was told plans had changed and I could come up and get her, really whenever. I took the time to go thrift shopping and found three shirts to work out in. They're larges and will fit better than the smalls that I have been working in that always seem a little short, especially being stretched around my belly.
After three more stops I was so worn out I wasn't even paying attention to what I was looking at anymore and decided to just go get Alaska, even though it was a half hour earlier than I had predicted. We stayed until Steven was ready to be picked up.
February 19th
Signed up for a gym membership! The columbia city recreational athletic club changed owners to a friend and her husband and the name has been changed to pacific athletic club (The PAC) and it made me feel much more comfortable about going in knowing that someone I admire owns the whole shebang. Also, it appears to be the 'place to be' for all the Mormons. Three ladies in the ward cover the childcare during the evenings 5-7 and they have a nice lady that covers the morning shifts 8:30-11. In the summer there was a handful of families who have memberships and take their kids to the pool all at the same time. The pool is outdoor and the perfect depth for elementary kids. I hope I can get in on that this summer before Talmage comes and maybe a little bit after. Which means I need to invest in a maternity bathing suit, something I had been hoping to avoid.
My 'main event' is yoga. I have felt very blah about pushing this baby out and I hope that yoga will help stretch me out, make me better at resistance and better at waiting something out. There's yoga 10-11 almost every morning and I use that as my reason to get over there but try to show up a half hour early to do some cardio on the eliptical beforehand so that it's a little easier to bend and stretch.
Brittany has a niece that's 6 months older than Alaska and she was over at Brittany's because her momma just had a baby boy. We decided to have a playdate for the two of them and it was quite comical. Alayna found some wrapping paper and started riding it around the house like a horse. Alaska was fine just running after her but we got her, her own wrapping paper tube and she ran around holding it above her head. We had to show her how to mount it and then she went a little slower but soon caught on and they had a good time chasing around the house.
We didn't get home until late again, leaving no time to clean up the house. Which is a total wreck.
I went to mutual and we had a movie night there with the girls. We watched Finding Nemo. I still have never seen the end to that movie. It came out my junior year and it was the movie everyone showed in their classrooms before Christmas break.
My 'main event' is yoga. I have felt very blah about pushing this baby out and I hope that yoga will help stretch me out, make me better at resistance and better at waiting something out. There's yoga 10-11 almost every morning and I use that as my reason to get over there but try to show up a half hour early to do some cardio on the eliptical beforehand so that it's a little easier to bend and stretch.
Brittany has a niece that's 6 months older than Alaska and she was over at Brittany's because her momma just had a baby boy. We decided to have a playdate for the two of them and it was quite comical. Alayna found some wrapping paper and started riding it around the house like a horse. Alaska was fine just running after her but we got her, her own wrapping paper tube and she ran around holding it above her head. We had to show her how to mount it and then she went a little slower but soon caught on and they had a good time chasing around the house.
We didn't get home until late again, leaving no time to clean up the house. Which is a total wreck.
I went to mutual and we had a movie night there with the girls. We watched Finding Nemo. I still have never seen the end to that movie. It came out my junior year and it was the movie everyone showed in their classrooms before Christmas break.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)