Here We Go...

Well, I think the appropriate amount of time has passed. Here is the official announcement...I'm pregnant! Ok, I realize that the majority of those who check this blog found out within about 24 hours that I took the pregnancy test simply because I took it in Utah and I couldn't hold it in. I didn't get to break the news in person with Rylan so I was determined I would see the faces of my family this time! So for those of you who have been in the dark for the last three months here's the news. My due date is March 9th although the midwife thinks it will be more like the end of February. She also thinks this baby will be bigger than Rylan was (he was 8 1/2 pounds and almost 2 weeks early--yikes). It came as a pretty big surprise to both Seth and I, especially with what we went through with Rylan, so we are of course ecstatic! It's been a little rough physically the last 3 1/2 months but I'm really, really, really hoping things continue to improve. The morning sickness has subsided and the migraines have set in. So there is the info., perhaps more than you care to know! By the way, the above picture is NOT me, I just thought it was funny.

Wonderful Days

Last weekend my parents and grandparents came for a visit and although the time always goes by WAY too fast, I really enjoyed their time here. It is always so wonderful to see them and I wasn't sure they would be able to come out this year so I was so thankful that they found a way. They have seen pretty much all of the tourist-y sites within a 90 mile radius so we didn't really break any new ground other than going to Kalona, Iowa. Kalona was originally an Amish settlement and there are still quite a few Amish farms in the area. Unfortunately, it was raining that day so we spent the time riding in the truck looking at farms. My dad really wanted to see a horse-pulled buggy but no one was out because of the weather--bummer. We stopped by the cheese factory and then Stringtown, the Amish/Mennonite grocery store. I think mom and grandma enjoyed that more than dad and grandpa! But all in all, it was a good trip and I think everyone enjoyed their stay, I hope so anyway. It was really hard for me to say goodbye to them this time. It always is, I'm not denying that. But this time it was extra hard. I've been pretty depressed all week. I don't know when I'll see them again and I don't think I'll be making a trip to Utah until next summer. That is so hard for me. So much seems to be changing in my life and its hard not to be near my family during the transitions. Not that quitting my job and having a new baby isn't wonderful and exciting, just a little scary too. Anyway, this has turned into a depressing post which wasn't my intention. Here are some of the few pictures I took while they were here:

Thanks everyone for making the long drive! Hope to see you again in April or May!

Little Bits of Randomness...

I have a bunch to say that is most likely not interesting to anyone else in this world but myself, but I'm in the mood to blog, so here it is. First of all, today was a raining boring day. Seth decided that it was extremely important that he ditch me today in order to stock up on supplies for the upcoming hunting season. I was moping around all morning and complaining that it was raining outside and there was absolutely nothing in this world for me and Rylan to do. Of course I could have cleaned my house but who wants to waste a perfectly good Saturday doing something as mundane and blah as cleaning. Yuck. Well, the mood of the day changed after I took Abbie out in the rain to go "potty". She did her thing and when I went to give her a treat for her good work, I noticed we were almost out of dog treats. That's when I had my rainy day epiphany. Why not bake some dog cookies? So I dragged out my doggie cookbook and cookie cutters (I actually have 2 doggie treat cookbooks--is that wierd?) and chose a recipe for fruity pebble cookies. I just happened to have fruity pebbles--it was meant to be since I NEVER buy fruity pebbles! So I was a little doggie baker today and here are the results:

I know the last picture is a bit blurry but can you see the little dog bone cookie sitting on the floor? Well, I was so excited for them to cool down so I could give her a cute little cookie and she grabbed it and ran into the other room and then stared at it like, "what the heck"? I was really concerned she wouldn't like them after all that work but once she got a taste, she snarfed down the rest. So the boring raining day was a success after all.

Am I Extravagant?

Ok, here's another random post. Last weekend when my parents and grandparents were here I learned a little lesson from my good ole' grandma. Thought I'd share the experience. I'm sure the picture drew your attention right? Well, we had finished eating dinner at my house one night and we needed a little sandwich bag for some leftovers. I looked in my drawer and I remembered that I was out of the small size but I had a box of the large size bags, gallon size I think. I grabbed one and handed it to grandma and told her that I was out of little ones but just go ahead and use a bigger one. No biggie right? She looked at me and said, "that's extravagant, honey". I thought she was kidding at first so I fired back, "what can I say, I'm an extravagant person". She looked a little apalled and said, "You are not!". So in the end we wrapped up the leftovers in plastic wrap and for the rest of the week I was worried I was an extravagant person without even realizing it!!! One of the last things I want to be is extravagant--well, once in a while is fine as long as I know it! Well, a different day but similar topic, we were again cleaning up after dinner (maybe I'm only extravagant after dinner?) and we were loading the dishwasher. Earlier we had purchased some of the little plastic red cups (see photo). She asked if I threw them away or if I washed them. Washed them?? Wasn't that the point of buying them, so you could just chuck them in the trash and not have to wash them? Well, I got a lesson that night from our dear Betty. Apparently, those red disposable cups can be washed in the dishwasher up to approximately 10 times. Those are the only cups she uses. She told me that
you know when to throw them away when you put your ice and coke in them and it spills out the bottom. So there's a bit of Betty wisdom. So now I feel way too guilty to just throw them away and any one who comes to my house is sure to see a pile of red plastic cups in my cupboard. The wierd thing about this whole experience is that now I'm associating it with everything else. You know those steamer bags that are freaking awesome? Well I used one today and I couldn't throw it away! Now I'll be washing all of those too! Wouldn't want to be an extravagant person...Thanks grandma!

North to Alaska (without me)

It has been so long since I've updated that I literally forgot for a minute how to do it! Don't fear, all is well, I figured it out again! OK, so my blonde moment is over (for now--I've been getting them more and more lately. Why you ask? Stay tuned for another post). Anyway, Seth went to Alaska on a fishing trip along with his dad and brother (Jared). He had such a good time and although he would never tell me this for fear of hurting my feelings, I'm pretty sure he didn't want to come back. He did say he missed us, but he said nothing of missing Keokuk. Hmmm. Well, he had oodles of great experiences but since I run this blog by myself, I'm not going to tell you any of them. Instead, I'll share a few pictures and tell you what my life was like without him. We'll start off with a picture:

This is a 70 lb. Halibut Seth caught while on a charter boat. He was the lucky one to have caught the biggest fish that day. However, his brother Jared came close. I believe the fish behind him all belong to them but I'm not really positive so take that information with a grain of salt. All I really know for sure is that we have about 65 lbs. of Halibut downstairs in our deep freeze. I consider that foodstorage. If the power goes out---We'll take it outside and make fish jerkey (I'm pretty sure there's a way to do it using just the sun although how would I ever figure out how to do it without the internet?!).

Here is a scenic picture that Jared took. The first time I saw it I said "that's where I want to live". This literally looks like a little spot reserved in heaven for my future mansion (assuming I make it there). Oh, it almost makes me cry I love it so much. I bet on a sunny day it is breathtaking. For about a week or two after Seth got home he wanted to move to Alaska. And he was serious too, not just dreaming. Since I'm in my gypsy mode right now I was ready to pack up the house and head North (West) the next day. We looked at jobs, houses, everything. In the end however, we decided it was impractical and unfair for the wee one (and future wee ones) to be that far from family. Maybe when we're rich and retired. Unless we can convince family members to move with us. Any one? Any one? I didn't think so.

I don't know what to really say about this photo other than the three of them were on a fishing trip and here is a picture with some fish (I assume fish they caught). I'm guessing Salmon as we also have some Salmon in our deep freezer along with the Halibut.

OK, now onto the real story. Seth was gone for about a week and a half. I dropped him off at the airport early on Friday morning and then headed to Sam's Club. I have been in my food storage mode and thought I would take advantage of being close to Sam's. Rylan and I went to Sam's and got so much stuff that I couldn't push the cart around anymore. I'm pretty sure it weighed about 479 pounds, for real. I got out to the truck, loaded up and headed to my mother in-laws. When I woke up the next morning I took Abbie out and I was thinking "Hmm. What do you know? It rained last night". It didn't click until about an hour later that Rain mixed with the 50 lbs of bread flour in the bed of my truck doesn't make for very good food storage. Rats!!! So back to Sam's we went. It was my birthday so I treated myself to a new jacket that I had been eye-ing up. 20 bucks, wahoo! Anyway, new bags of flour, even more junk I don't need and the trip was over. I went home the next day and started my work week. I had the bright idea that while Seth was gone I'd work everyday (ideally 10 hours per day) to save up a bit of cash---or at least pay off my latest Sam's shopping trip! I found out really quickly that I just do not have what it takes to be a full time working mom. At least not right now. Man, that was a bad week. I felt like I didn't see rylan at all. And to be completely honest, when I got my check and realized that it was no where near worth it. I won't do that again just for nickels and dimes. It's never worth what you sacrifice. Well, at the end of the week I loaded the truck back up and went to Mother-in-laws for some food storage fun. Melyse, Elaine, and I put all our food up into mylar bags and that is so much work. At first it was fun and Melyse and I were giggling and towards the end we had had enough of that. But it was worth it in the end. My one year supply is almost done!!!! Well, I picked up Seth the next day and here is what I learned while he was off playing: I really love my husband. I NEED my husband. Now I know that is a huge cliche and people say that all the time and you're like "Yack. I just threw up in my mouth". But it is true. It's also a little hard to admit for me. At least the NEED part. I consider myself a pretty independent gal and all my friends around here know I'm pretty much a feminist. It's not that I couldn't do the everyday things on my own (although it is nice to have his help). It's more that I just don't feel the same without him. I constantly feel like a piece of me is gone. When I picked him up at midnight that night I was so exhausted but seeing him was like seeing my best friend for the first time in years. I guess what I'm trying to say after all this meaningless rambling is, I think I chose well for myself and I have never once regretted the choice.