Avena

How about a post with no real point?  Sounds good to me!  :).

So back in 2008, when I went to Panama with my dad, I bought this tiny carton of something called "Avena."  It was delicious.  It's like an oatmeal drink and tastes all cinnamon-y.  I had mostly forgotten about it until one day Jeremy and I tried a drink called "horchata" here locally at a Mexican restaurant.  Not exactly the same thing, as horchata is made from rice instead of oats.  And also seems to be more dairy-free.  But still made me remember the avena.  And oh how I wished we could find some avena around here!  I finally remembered at some later date to google it.  And I found a recipe for it!  I was so excited, and I "pinned" it to my pinterest for reference at a later time. 

That time has come.  And oh. my. goodness.  It did not disappoint!  It probably wasn't the EXACT same (but it's been 4.5 years, so I'm not exactly fresh on the exact taste), but it sure is close.  And delicious.  And now I'm cooking up another batch to have tomorrow morning before church :).  Yum.  Jeremy likes it too.

I also tried a copycat recipe for Olive Garden's Chicken Gnocchi Soup that I found on Pinterest.  Not exactly the same, but still very good!  I will make it again :).  Definitely a recipe keeper. 

And in case you wanted these recipes...  Here you go!
Soup
Avena drink

Yesterday at about 1 p.m., Jeremy got a call from work saying he didn't need to go in.  What a happy surprise!  (Unfortunately that surprise didn't extend into tonight, but I guess you take what you get...).  So we got to do a date night :).  My original plan was to just buy some ice cream as a treat for us to have as a semi-date night thing, since I wasn't anticipating him having a night off for at least 3 more weeks.  And we think of ice cream as a treat.  Well, I still bought the ice cream :).  haha....  Butterscotch oatmeal cookie or something like that.  Definitely different!  But we had a chance to go out for date night, so we did :).  We headed to Applebee's and I ordered a steak and Jeremy got a steak fettuccine.  I will say I was kind of disappointed in the amounts of food for the price and the quality of the sirloin.  Golden Corral has better tasting steaks.  We don't have one of those around here.  But it was nice to go out on a date with my sweetheart :).  And then when we got home, since we're both used to staying up late; we continued date night with popcorn and Cool Runnings as we snuggled up on the air mattress (which really doesn't fit 2...).  Such a fun date night :).

And last, but not least.  Here's a couple of clowns!  Haha...  They were calling themselves that after they found Uncle Jeremy's hats.  And they put on a circus show for us before I took them home.  We had them Thursday evening while both Christina and Nick were at work.  They are sweet girls.  And I know my dad loves to see a picture of them every now and then :).

Graves

It's a new month, and that means Jeremy's schedule has changed again.  This time it's back to grave-shift.  I will say I am thankful that I can adjust my schedule to fit his more.  However, I do not take on the full grave-shift experience.  I pretty much just keep the swing-shift schedule and try to make it to about 2 a.m.  And so, I am blogging.

Besides, I should be doing this more often.  I was just thinking the other day about how I used to blog daily.  And I actually managed to have stuff to say.  When did I get so boring!?!

So today (er, yesterday) marked 25 weeks.  Here is the bump picture.  I had ordered all the bump pictures I had taken up to about 2 weeks ago, in order to put them in the baby's book.  Jeremy was looking at all the pictures I'd ordered and came across picture after picture of my expanding belly.  He had no idea I'd been taking them.  He thought it was cute.  I keep trying to tell him that our baby will want to see these things one day.  He thinks I'm crazy.  And if we have a boy, that may be true.  But if we have a girl, I'll be right.  So ha!  And anyway, if we have a boy, he'll eventually have a wife, and she might want to see those pictures ;).  And so might his little daughters.  Girls just like those types of things.  Anyway, I'm wearing my maternity pants a lot these days.  Just so much more comfy.  I don't have the body type to have a cute baby bump, but that's okay.  I'm mostly carrying in the front and haven't noticed a lot of weight gain anywhere else.  So I'll count my blessings :).

I will say I'm sometimes amazed at how the baby seems to go into hiding.  Sometimes I can feel the baby a lot and figure out pretty much where it's sitting.  Sometimes it seems like it isn't even in there!  I mean, there's only so much space, and it's a pretty well-defined area.  It blows my mind that the baby can seem so "invisible."  Of course, then I'll lay on my side with "too much" tummy touching the bed, and the baby seems to have issues with that.  I get a few kicks then, exactly where the tummy touches the bed, and I know I must not be in the baby's favorite position.  Still don't know if I think I'm having a boy or girl.  But I can honestly say I don't have a preference.  Other than when it comes to names.  We still aren't agreed on a boy's name.

In other funny news...  Jeremy has been growing out his facial hair.  I always thought I'd have an issue with this.  For some reason, I just prefer the clean-shaven look.  A couple days worth of growth doesn't bother me, but the thought of a full-on beard and mustache just seemed yucky to me.  Haha...  Well, I can now say that I don't mind the whole thing (beard and mustache).  But I definitely think the mustache alone is less than favorable.  I will have to get Jeremy to take a picture with me in the next couple days.  I should have taken one when he had his beard earlier today.  It won't be something that happens often.  He actually is only doing it along with another co-worker in some sort of celebration of wrapping up this project they've been working on for the last year.  Today marks what is possibly (hopefully) the final few weeks, so they shaved off the beards and left only the mustaches.  I'm not a fan.  But I think it's cute anyway.  And since I neglected to get the full beard shot, I'm doing the best I can with when he was in the background of a nursery kid's picture a couple weeks ago.  But it had gotten quite a bit bushier.

I'm totally giving props to my sweet husband who has been hanging out in nursery to help the other 2 nursery workers -- and give his wife one less thing to worry about having to take care of.  And actually, all I have heard is about how awesome he is in there.  Yeah, he is pretty awesome.  And totally cute and handsome ;).  One of these days, he's going to be our children's favorite playmate.  And fixer of all broken toys :).  Yep, he's a keeper.

On that note, I think I'll get ready for bed.  Hopefully he'll be home around 6 a.m. Graves is yucky.  Yuckier than just a mustache ;).

Rank

My house smells (read, reeks) of dark meat chicken.  I do not like dark meat.  At all.  I don't like the taste or the smell or the feel or even the look.  Jeremy does not share my picky palate.  And he likes that dark meat is moister than white meat.  So, in an effort to be a "good wife" back in March, I bought a package of chicken thighs to cook up.  For him, not me.  I split up the package into 4-thigh baggies.  I found a baggie still in my freezer.  Ugh.  So I am boiling them to make chicken fajitas (probably the only way I'll be able to stomach them, as they can be camouflaged with fajita seasoning, salsa, and sour cream...).  So now my house stinks like dark meat chicken.  I'm not that worried about being a "good wife" ;).  I will (and frankly have already) return to my white-meat-only buying ways.  Except for when I get a rotisserie chicken (which is rarely).  Then he can eat all the dark meat :).

Why did you care about that?  You didn't.  But it sounded like an entertaining way to start my blog post.

January has been quite the month, let me tell you. Some of this will make sense to some of you while for others it will not make sense at all.  But I'll tell the whole tale nonetheless.

A couple weeks before the end of 2012, we went to church and there was an announcement that there was a big meeting of 2 different wards (church congregations) on January 6th, and we would be discussing a ward split/boundary change.  Basically, our congregations are assigned based on your address.  This is because the same things are taught regardless of where you attend church -- we have a lay ministry, and having an assigned congregation keeps congregation sizes manageable.  There are probably other reasons for this, but that's a basic summary.  Naturally, there was a lot of speculation about where the new boundary lines would be drawn, etc.  January 6th came and we found out.  And it turned out that my mom and I are now in separate wards.  They took two very large wards and created 3 out of them.  This was a somewhat crushing blow for us who worked together in Primary (the last 2 hours of church where the kids ages 18 months to 12 years go for classes), because it meant we lost our secretary, and she was a rock star.  So we had a lovely little celebration at our last presidency meeting that following Friday.  We gave Tawni flowers and "pampery" gifts.  We had hot chocolate and no-bake cookies.  And we just enjoyed our last time all together in that capacity.  Below you can see us all.  Tawni is about 3 weeks behind me in being pregnant.

While we were just so sad to lose Tawni, we were still glad that the other 3 of us were still there and intact.  We have worked well together for almost 2 years, and we had it down pat.  But then, that seems to be when things get shaken up.  New opportunities for growth.  So last Sunday, I got a call from our newly called Bishop (the person who presides over our congregation).  I knew when he said he wanted to speak with me and Jeremy that it would involve a new calling.  I was bummed.  When I mentioned it to Christina (who was the Primary President), she said, "So you know?"  Ummm...  No, I didn't at that point.  So Jeremy and I went in to talk with the Bishop, and I was asked to serve as the new Primary President.  I was to find out later that Christina was called to serve as the Relief Society President (oversees the meetings, etc for the women 18 and older of the congregation).  Holy. Cow.  Talk about daunting!  So, I do believe the Lord calls us to serve in various capacities because it will help us grow and learn in new ways.  Yes, I've been in Primary for a while now.  I know how things run.  But now the responsibility is mine.  I have counselors to help me and to counsel with as we strive to call teachers for these wonderful children who will teach them of their Savior and all those good things.  But the responsibility is mine.  And so...  Life changes.  I find it most interesting, the way "The Lord [really is] in the details of our lives."  Jeremy and I have been going along, trying to accomplish various things.  Sometimes the answer was no; other times it was yes.  And now, I think I see why.  You see, that house we wanted to buy would have put us in another ward.  And, in fact, if we had gone to look at the other apartment we were considering, that would have as well.  Do I think the Lord had a plan for me, and He opened and shut doors to keep me where He needed me?  I absolutely do.  I am happy to serve, even if it does feel overwhelming.  I also know this will require a lot of my time.  And isn't it amazing that I was able to quit my job -- and now have that extra time?  Yes, a baby is on the way.  But by then, we will have a routine in place again, and I have two wonderful counselors who will be able to take over while I am focusing on my first priority: my family.  Anyway...  I'm still bummed that I won't be working with the fabulous ladies in the picture above.  But thanks to the fact we became friends, I still know we'll see each other and hang out.  In fact, we already did -- last Thursday night :).  And it was a blast!

So that's that news.  On to the baby stuff.  Since I'm sure that's more exciting for most people anyway.  Here is a picture of the outfits I bought.  I like thrift stores.  I know I'm a first-time mom and I'm probably supposed to be wanting brand-new stuff.  But babies grow so fast, and I just can't see spending the amount of money for brand new when I can go to a thrift store and get nice things used and just wash them.  You can see it's a lot of yellow.  Well, that's because we don't know if we're having a boy or a girl.  And we won't be finding out.  There are moments I think it would be cool to know.  But the surprise seems so fun too.  I know about 4 other pregnant women at church, and they are all having boys.  So will we break the mold?  Or follow the crowd ;)?  Baby clothes are SO SMALL!  It's amazing.

 

Below is a shot of our living room.  Things are pretty much hung up and done now.  I'm loving home.  It's cozy and inviting.  And so roomy!  But that's so nice too, because now I can actually invite people over.  Tomorrow I'm having a little craft/pinterest get-together.  With a hot chocolate bar (because who doesn't love hot chocolate?).  I'm pretty excited about it :).  

 

This is my most recent bump picture (23 weeks).  People are really noticing the bump now.  I don't just look fat now.  Yay!  In fact, today I went and bought maternity pants (again, at a thrift store -- for $1 each!).  I have reached the girth where I can no longer button any of my pants.  The beband has been saving the day (the inventor of that thing was a genius), but I think the actual maternity pants are going to be so much more comfy.

And here is what I consider the worst ultra-sound picture in the history of ultra-sound pictures.  I mean, it says there's a face there.  But seriously.  I have seen way better.  But then, I am just guessing.

I will say my ultra-sound experience was less than awesome.  Mostly because I'm a worrier.  But also because I had this idea of how it would be (based on Hollywood...  So you know how I was probably way wrong).  I just thought the u/s tech would be bubbly and warm and happy and excited for me.  My goodness.  This woman was cold and clinical and kept blowing out hot air.  She would say things like, "Baby has a bladder, so we know it has kidneys."  And then silence (except the hot air blowing) for minutes.  She only turned on the heartbeat sound when she wanted to measure the heart rate (167 beats per minute).  And she kept measuring the head and this spot on the brain (which Tawni told me last Thursday is totally normal, but she's had 2 previous babies, and I haven't, so I thought this might be a bad thing!).  And of course, she wouldn't say anything positive or negative, really (I realize she's not allowed to, but man alive!).  And when I asked if there was anything I should be concerned about, her response was, "Why would you ask that?"  Wow.  So I allowed my worry to rule me for several hours and bawled my eyes out to Jeremy that something might be wrong.  In the end, I got the results from my doctor, and everything is fine.  And now I know for next time that I shouldn't worry so much.  And also that Hollywood glorifies everything (shocking, huh?).

I feel baby daily now.  The other night, Jeremy had his head on my stomach to see if he could hear anything, and the baby kicked twice right where his head was.  That was the first time he was able to feel the baby, because every other time, the baby would refuse to move as soon as he put his hand on my belly to feel it.  Haha...  A good kick in the head.

And by the way...  Feel free to share information.  As you can see, based on the ultrasound experience, I am clueless.  So I won't view advice or info as unsolicited ;).

21 Weeks

So, at 21 weeks today, I figured I should post some more pictures and also share some thoughts and surprises that I've had through this experience.  And please excuse the fact that you will likely notice me in glasses and pajamas in a lot of pictures these days.  I tend to go more casual when I stay at home ;).

Jeremy and I watched Desiree and Emily on New Years Eve.  Rather than worry about having Christina come pick them up late after the movie, I just told her to let them stay the night.  Overall, it was a good experience.  Bed-time was a little bit difficult, but it eventually worked out.  So here are the girls in the spare room (which will eventually be a nursery).

And here is Emily, very proud of her ability to stand on the filing cabinet.

Brad was in town for a few days to see his kiddos, so I had them come over for a movie.  We watched The Legend of Johnny Lingo and ate popcorn. 

And I got them all to smile at me for a moment :).

And here I am today, at 21 weeks.  I don't think I look all that different from week to week, but I'm sure -- to look back at my 15 week picture, I'd notice a big difference.

So as for the things that have surprised me about pregnancy:

1.  I can't believe how often I have to pee.  Good grief.  And probably it depends on where baby is sitting.  But sometimes I feel like I'm going to explode if I don't go right now.  Then I get there and it's like barely a teaspoon!  Crazy.  Additionally, I am considering doing more kegels.  Who knew?  Heehee.

2.  Exhaustion.  Seriously.  I went to the County yesterday to pick up my Pampered Chef can opener and spent a couple of hours visiting my former co-workers.  Additionally, I went to the funeral home to drop off a dessert I'd made (I make them so Jeremy and I can have a bit and then take it away so we don't eat too much...) and visited there.  Plus I went to mail a package to my dad.  Oh, and I went to Wal-Mart.  By the end of those few hours, I was exhausted!  I remember when Julie was pregnant with Callen, and I went to visit her.  She took a nap every afternoon -- and now I understand completely why!  

3.  Baby's movement.  So I guess I always had an idea of what feeling the baby move would be like.  And maybe that will be exactly how it is later, once baby gets bigger and stronger.  But for now, it feels more like hollow bumps randomly inside of me!  It's definitely gotten more noticeable in the last week -- so that I can feel it even when I'm sitting in the car driving or on the couch blogging (like right now!), whereas before, I had to be lying down and looking for those bumps and wiggles.  It's been really cool.  And also reassuring.

4.  Overwhelming feelings.  They come out of nowhere.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm excited.  I think about loving a snuggling a little baby.  But recently the reality of it all has set in.  How do I go from Aunt Hila to Mommy Hila?  Unreal!  32 years, and I've been my own person.  Done my own thing.  This is about to change completely.  I will still be me, but a different me.  I will have these massive responsibilities.  I will be summoned by cries of hunger about every 2 hours in the night (good-bye 9:00 sleep-in!).  And so sometimes I feel overwhelmed and astounded at all that will change.  But then I remember that people do this all the time.  And it will all be okay :).

I have to say that I have also been surprised at the ease I've experienced through this.  Mostly the worst part has been the stuff I've put on myself -- the worry.  Haha...  I am thinking things will get a little less comfortable from here on out as my belly grows bigger (a la Santa).  I'm sure leaning over will become less enjoyable and there will be sleepless nights where I can't get comfortable.  But for now, I am thankful that things have been physically easy.  And I'm thankful to be experiencing this whole thing.  Even when things are a little tougher, and the kicking maybe keeps me up at night, I hope I remember how much I have wanted this my whole life -- and just how much of a blessing and miracle it is to have this life growing inside me.  

Just Some Photos

We've been busy today.  And our apartment is actually starting to look like home!  So rewarding.  I'm still working on Christmas ornaments for the nieces and nephews.  Yep, I get the "Aunt of the year" award.  Sigh.  I should probably do some details of the holidays, but I'll just say that it was good and Jeremy and I spent a relaxing Christmas morning in our own home and then went to my mom's in the evening.  We went to see Jeremy's mom's side of the family on Christmas Eve night and then went and saw some of his dad's side of the family on the 27th.  So here are a few pictures from Christmas, and when we get our house in order, I'll post a few of the new digs :).

 So Jeremy and I included the above picture in our Christmas cards.  Because I like to do corny things like that :).

 This was my last day of work -- Christmas Eve (above).  That's everyone who was there.  We had a lovely little potluck (which is why we were all sitting around there).  My boss (2nd from left) sent us home after we ate, and she held down the fort.  Thought that was really nice of her.  It was a good job to me, and she was a good boss to me.  I am glad for this new chapter, but nonetheless am grateful for what was...

 Emily and Desiree got fairy wings for Christmas.  This kid is just too stinkin' cute!

 The girls are always ready for Christmas presents...

 So this was around the time Emily found out I am going to have a baby.  Not right at this moment...  But somewhere around here.  The look on her face was priceless.  It was like it took a second to sink in (after Christina was rubbing my stomach and saying, "That's all baby." and then Emily's face got this look of recognition and this smile that formed on her face.  It was cute.  And then later she said, "Where's its head?"  Haha...  So we explained that the whole baby (head and all) is still in my tummy and will be for a while longer.  Because the baby is awful small at the moment.  And so she still got all excited and said, "you're getting a baby!"  She makes it sound so simple.  If only ;)...

 Here are me and my sweet Desiree.  She is just such a pretty girl.  And a sweet one too.

And here I am today.  19 weeks and 3 days.  Mostly I think I look fat, but it is starting to look more like a preggo belly. 

On that note, I'm off to bed -- with prayers that in my pregnant need to pee in the middle of the night, I don't find my bum placed on a slimy slug...  Why would that be a concern? you ask.  Oh, because Jeremy was taking care of our lemon tree (which had slugs living in it apparently, from when it was outside at the other house -- it's now an indoor plant until it warms up again) and he put 2 slugs in the toilet (but didn't flush).  When he returned an hour later, it turns out only one was accounted for (the one that has since been flushed).  He came out here to me just now and said, "All I can say is I may be sorry..."  Just thinking about a night-time slug experience on my rump is giving me the heebie jeebies.  I may just hold it 'til morning light!!!

SAHW to SAHM

So if you flip one letter upside down, it changes the whole meaning :).

Today I had my second appointment and heard a strong heartbeat (144 beats per minute!).  Everything is looking good; and I will be scheduling an ultrasound for mid-January. 

We won't be finding out if it's a boy or a girl.  We want to be surprised :). 

Some of you might know already -- or possibly suspected.  But this is the official blog announcement :). 

We've moved, but we don't have internet access set up at home yet.  Hence we are using my mom's internet at this particular moment, and my battery is about to die.  Ugh.  And I didn't bring my adapter, since I thought I had a full battery.  Lame-o.  And now I must go!  Pictures later.  After I take my 19 week (and 3 days) picture.

Ketchup

I crack myself up. 

Anyway.  Life. Is. Busy.  So here's a little ketchup ;). 

We are moving!  As in, we signed a lease and got the keys tonight.  As in we have moved one van-load over.  I am so totally excited!!!  It's over twice the size we're in now (roughly).  Two bedrooms, washer and dryer in the unit.  Close to my mom's, and closer to Jeremy's work.  Quiet.  None of the other tenants have yappy dogs (or any dogs, for that matter) (sorry, folks...  We aren't yappy-dog people).  Room for a Christmas tree and Christmas decorations!!  And yeah, so moving is a bear and I hate it.  But I am so glad we found this place and it is really quite perfect for us right now :).  And it all happened so quickly and easily, I think this is just right for us right now.  Even if we were thinking buying a house would be a wonderful thing... I think the timing is just off for that.  And I'm okay with it.  Anyway.  So yeah, we're moving.  We have until the 31st to complete the move, since we're all paid up here.  And it might just take us that long, since Jeremy is working all weekend.  Blech. 

I only have 5 more days of work.  Yahoo!  I am so excited to get to work on making our new home a home :). 

Meanwhile I've been trying to cram in the Christmas-goodie-making, the packing, the Christmas ornament cross-stitching, the other details of life... around work.  I could have used a few extra days off before Christmas!  Mostly I do it to myself.  I get all ambitious and think things take less time than they actually do.  But I'm pretty much done, and all I need to do now is pack up some boxes and send them (with love) to Alabama.  Wish I would fit in that box and ship for less than $20 ;).
 
And I am including a few pictures.  I think 3 of them are from Thanksgiving.  Terrible of me to wait so long, I know.  The last one is from today, when I took Miss Emily for her birthday ice cream.  She turned 4 this week.  She ran some other errands with me today, including a trip to Costco.  And her ice cream of choice?  Cotton candy with sprinkles and M&M's.  What is it with kids and sprinkles?  I think it's all the pretty colors. Then one day they grow up and realize the dark chocolate peppermint ice cream with oreos mixed in is phenomenal.  :).  Way better than cotton candy with sprinkles ;).  But maybe I'm just an old fogie and not a young kid anymore, huh?  Also, I don't like that picture of me.  That's just for the record.

Oh, on another picture-related note... I was showing Jeremy pictures on my jump drive.  Mostly old pictures of everyone in my immediate family, because, in the packing process, he came across an old picture of my parents when they were dating...  Anyway...  I came across one from almost 4 years ago, and I suddenly realized how Desiree has lost all her baby fat.  Her cute little baby cheeks are gone.  When did that happen!?!  She's so tall now, and reading and writing.  I'm so proud of and excited for her.  But the Aunt Hila in me feels my heart break a little at the thought of her growing up :(.  It happens way too fast.