Construction

Sorry about the McDonald's menu style background stuff. I'm trying to decide what to do about a new blog background, and it may wait until we know the gender of the baby.

ps: Only 9 more days until that happens! - don't forget to vote!

The Vote

If you haven't noticed, I have "the vote" up in the right corner. You have until August 6th at 10am to vote on what you think the gender is! That's when I get my ultrasound and find out what it is myself! woohoo! - Counting down the days (23!)

Dave's Weekend Project

Dave had to stay home from my little trip to New Mexico to work, unfortunately. And then I went and took Monkey with me, too, so he was completely alone! Poor, lonely Dave!

One good thing about having Monkey gone with me was that it left the backyard wide open for Dave's weekend project.

Our backyard was about half grass, a quarter dirt, and a quarter weeds. Mix in some holes that Monkey had dug. So Dave cleared out and leveled everything. Unfortunately I don't really have a "before" picture, but here's after all the grass and weeds (except my sunflower) were removed and the holes filled in.

Then Dave bought some sod from somewhere and had a few friends come over to help him lay the sod. I'm pretty sure it was hot and tiring work. What an awesome husband I have!

Here's an "after" picture with all the sod laid:

The grass is growing together nicely, and there are only a few dead spots from the top layer of sod on the pallet. We may go petition the sod company to replace the ones that were dead. Dunno. I'm hoping it's "walkable" soon so we can actually go out and enjoy it. Monkey already enjoys it all the time, and even discovered that she could pull up the sod and dig UNDER it, but that was highly discouraged by us when we caught her in the act. Bad dog!

Dave also fixed the sprinkler system by replacing the sprinklers so that the sod won't die. Monkey loves chewing up the old pieces of sprinkler system. This one made her look like she was using a snorkel. Then with the flash, her eyes turned fluorescent, so she looks like an alien dog visiting from another planet using a snorkel! What a silly dog.

Stencil!

So if you follow Molly's blog you've probably already heard about this. I found this blog through Molly's post about this giveaway for wall stencils and I'm addicted! (How's that for some sentences jam-packed with links!?)

Anyway, the stencil I'm hoping to win is called Spring Songbirds Wall Art Stencil

I'd tell you all to go enter for the free wall stencils, but that would lessen my chance of winning!

To NM and Back!

Last weekend I got to drive home to New Mexico and spend some time with my family and my best friends ever.

I headed out on Thursday at around 10am. At about 10:20am traffic was at a dead stop in the canyon for 2 HOURS. Actually, that’s not exactly true. It was stopped for 1 and ½ hours, and then it started moving again, only to stop again for another ½ hour. Turns out there were two major accidents. Sad story. If you’ve ever seen 2 Weeks Notice, this next part may seem familiar: While stopped, I had to pee, so I knocked on a stopped RV and borrowed their toilet! Luckily I hadn’t just eaten 2 chili dogs!

Monkey came with me on this trip to keep me company on the long drives.

Here are some highlights from my trip:

1. The miles rolled over just outside Monticello!

2. Chili Works! Since I got there Thursday, I was able to go get a delicious Chili Works burrito on Friday: Sausage Red Cheese of course (with the red on the side because I’m a wuss). If you’ve never had a Chili Works burrito, imagine the best thing you’ve ever eaten, then multiply that times 10 and take $6 out of your wallet. (Or your sister’s if you forget your cash and debit card at home.)

3. 10 hours of Friday were spent making the 20 boutonnieres, 15 corsages, and 2 bouquets for Christin’s wedding. Luckily I had help throughout the process or it would have been more like 15 hours. Lesson learned: never leave floral tape in the car, or any other heat.

4. The main event was Christin and John’s beautiful wedding! There isn’t much else to describe it but beautiful and delicious. The ceremony was wonderful, the reception was beautifully done, and the food was amazing. Can one really expect much less from the Stradlings?

5. Lisa, Danielle, and I went out to Gardunos with Nate in Albuquerque. It had been probably more than 5 years since I’ve seen Nate, so it was great to catch up some and just giggle at memories. (tobang…tobang…to…bang *gasp!* hehehe) Not to mention the food – DELICIOUS! I had a Carne Adovada Chimichunga and 3 Sopapillas. I definitely looked pregnant after that meal. Oh wait…

6. Then I went wedding hopping to Grace’s wedding. I got there at the end of the ceremony. Sorry! I stayed for a bit to chat with some friends, then had to run off to get the flowers ready for Christin’s reception (see above).

7. Sunday I went to church, slept a long time, chatted with Jenny, Lisa, and Danielle for a while, and then went through the boxes of junk in my bedroom.
8. Monday morning Danielle, Lisa, and I (and Monkey) went hiking along the rim trail. It was a beautiful morning and the views were breathtaking. New Mexico is so gorgeous (that part, at least).

9. Then I started the long drive back home. That drive was uneventful, although I had to stop and nap for an hour in Durango. Monkey slept the whole time, of course.

All in all it was a wonderful trip! I really miss New Mexico in the Summer.

Merry Christmas!

For Father’s day we didn’t do a ton. We went to Dave’s grandparents' house for lunch/dinner. That was fun.
We sent out cards to our family and a few friends though. Here’s what they looked like (some people got a different card):



Yup! That’s right, I’m going to push a human out of me this Christmas! Woohoo! I’m due Christmas Day! (Hoping it’s early or late)
Here’s the obligatory picture of the positive test:


And of course, here’s the obligatory ultrasound picture (6 weeks):


I had an ultrasound in the early weeks to see how far along I was because they couldn’t tell from my cycle lengths (irregular and too long).

In the fashion of wonderful Carrie’s blog, which I ABSOLUTELY LOVE reading:
How far along: 14 weeks (on Sunday, June, 27th)
Total weight gain/loss: - 7 lbs (my Dr. isn’t happy with me, but I had that darn flu! She told me to gain weight from now on – haven’t gained any since the appointment, slap my wrist.)
Maternity clothes: not yet, don’t even own any yet.
Stretch marks: not yet (crossing my fingers for none…yeah right)
Sleep: I have strange dreams, but that’s pretty usual for me. I try to sleep on my sides, but I always wake up on my back – any tips for me?
Best moment this week: I’m starting to get a baby-bump. I ate a big Mexican food meal on Saturday and my tummy was SUPER big (yes, I know it’s going to get bigger)
Movement: nothing yet
Food cravings: FRUIT, FRUIT, and FRUIT!, Cheesy Nachos from Taco Bell
Aversions: red meat (beef, esp. ground/processed), greasy foods
Gender: ? (6 more weeks) My mom said she could go days without showering when she had girls, and got super greasy with boys. Chelsea was the same way with Penny. So far I haven’t really been either, so I guess we’ll see.
What I miss: energy
Milestones: 2nd trimester!
Extra: I’m starting to get hungry again this week! I’m constantly hungry! I think I may be getting some of my energy back this week. YAY!
Past info: I was pretty nauseous week 5 (when we were at Bear Lake), but since then I’ve mostly just been super tired. I could sleep all day and all night and still need more sleep. I haven’t thrown up at all. (Hoping all my pregnancies are like this!)
Turns out I tested positive on week 3! I thought I might be pregnant because I bawled when Dave played a prank on me and my cheeks were flushed most of the time. Oh, and there was the week late on my period thing, but that wasn’t really abnormal.
I went to see the F.N.P. when I tested positive, she ordered the ultrasound, which I did the next week (2 weeks later?), then I had an appointment with the Dr. on June 18th to hear the heartbeat. I also got to see/hear the heartbeat at week 6 at my ultrasound. That was fun.

WOWies!

Remember that list of projects I blogged about yesterday? When I got home from work yesterday (earlier than I usually do, because I actually was semi-on-time for work yesterday!), I decided to do something with my extra time and daylight. So I started weeding the garden!...What? You say that wasn't even on my list of projects?...oh, right. WHOOPS! :)

Here's a representation of what the garden looked like before I started. Yes, this is another part of the garden that I haven't gotten to yet. I feel like we live in a jungle house. It's a big project.

I bought all sorts of flowers: petunias, snap dragons, marigolds, columbines, forget-me-nots, and coreopsis/tickseed. They're a good mix of annuals and perennials. I'm hoping the annuals re-seed. I know the marigolds will, but the others are questionable.

I was out from 6:30pm - 10pm weeding, planting, and then watering the plants (including a trip to home depot). I wasn't able to get them all in. Here's a picture of the ones I didn't get to yet.

And finally, here's a couple pictures of the finished product. I'll take a picture later in the season, too, to show how they've grown and spread.