Busy Beavers

So I finally finished my other post from last week when I realized another week has gone by. Much has been accomplished.

1. I finished all my "needs" shopping for the baby.
2. My house is clean.
3. My sugar snap peas grown from seeds sprouted. I have never been successful with seeds but thought I should try since the transplants provided were not sugar snap. (This was a Relief Society project.)
4. I played most of the day yesterday. First it was to the gym and then off to lunch with friends. Then a small amount of prep for a party at my house. And finally a get together with some of our friends from Brian's MBA class, without kids. We were actually able to talk and hear one another.
5. Today I cleaned up the pool from the massive wind storm on Thursday (I think). I took a nap and painted Macy and Kelsey's fingernails and toenails. I did a little more cleaning before my mom gets here. I helped Macy write and practice her talk for Primary tomorrow. She seems confident and like she wants to do it. We will see what tomorrow brings. She has not given a talk yet. I have given two.
6. Thursday the doctor thought I would have the baby this weekend and got my hopes up. I told him not to cancel the induction date because it never works that way for me. I don't go into labor on my own.

Brian also has been a busy beaver.

1. He has spent time looking at for boats and cars. He has done a 180 since he was able to keep a job, but there are no promises that anything will come about. See the next line.
2. He has also considered buying a rental property. Home prices have fallen so bad here that he figures we should have some cash flow from it.
3. He helped some friends pack their moving truck.
4. He played tennis this morning. It has been a few weeks.
5. He finished painting our old bar stools black.
6. He trimmed our palm trees.
7. He did our taxes. It looks like we are getting a little bit back. We may owe Arizona a couple of bucks.
8. He hung my new wall hanging we won at his companies employee auction. It was an item from a model home. I think he wanted to curse for buying this because it was a pain to hang and get it level. It took longer than he thought.
9. Numbers 3 through 8 were done today. Number 3 was also done on Thursday night.

Here are my auction purchases. The top picture was Brian's project tonight.

PS: I claim no photography skills. My new decor are cages with fake plants in them.

I need to make a note here for remembrance sake. A few weeks back I was released from my calling as Laurel advisor. I was sad to give this up, but feel at peace with what the Lord wants. I thought I would have a break from service because of the baby, but that is not how the Lord works. A week later I was called to the Enrichment committee. Not a big deal. I like to be involved, but this is something new for me. I am not even sure of everything the Enrichment committee does. I have spent most of my married life in YWs. My two other callings (the only ones I can recall) were cub scout leader and ward literacy specialist. These totaled maybe a year.

So behind

Here are the top 3 guesses as to where I have been in the blogging world.

1. I have had my baby. (In my dreams)

2. I went on a fabulous vacation. (I couldn't talk my doctor into letting me do this and who wants to vacation 9 months pregnant.)

3. My life has been crazy, busy like most people's and I didn't make blogging/journaling a priority. (This is the true answer.)

On St. Patrick's Day my friends threw me a shower. I am usually not for baby showers when it is past your first, but they made me. For several weeks I was able to evade the suggestion of a shower from many friends, but Melissa, Alacey and Mia would not have it. They were going to either surprise me and or let me have a say in who was coming. They called Brian up to ask which direction they should head. He said that I was pretty stubborn and their reply was they were too. In the end they won, mainly because Melissa, who is pregnant with twin boys, called and said she had to have a shower so I had to too (she has 2 girls the same ages as mine).

The shower was wonderful and they worked so hard. There was a chocolate fountain and 2 different cheese fondues (thanks Emily) and some really delicious punch. Of course I forgot my camera so the only picture is one I took when I got home. It was the centerpiece that was also a gift. It was just too cute. These wonderful friends really out did themselves.

It has been so long that I can't remember what else went on that same week. I do remember (because of the pictures) that a week ago Saturday we took the kids to the Scottsdale Arts Festival. They had a great time in the kids area because there were so many fun projects to do. In fact Brian and I didn't get to spend much time walking around looking at the art. But we were happy because the kids had a good time and the weather couldn't have been better. I know that Macy had died and gone to heaven with all the projects.

Kelsey refuses to smile for pictures. Here she is mad at me for taking her picture.

I caught this picture of her when she wasn't expecting it. She is holding one of the butterflies she made.

Macy on the other hand loves to have her picture taken. She is holding another type of butterfly project. Are you impressed that she let me pull up her hair that day?

This is the cute paper hats they got to make. They colored all over a paper square piece of paper and then it has shaped into a hat. When they were done a bee sticker was placed inside so you could have a bee in your bonnet.

Why I Exercise When I am Pregnant

The Big Reasons

1. I helps me stay within the optimal weight gain range because let's be honest I have a hard time controlling myself around food when I am not pregnant. There was a very brief time in my life when I could turn down unhealthy foods or eat them in moderation, but that self-control has fled. It is also hard to let go of the thought that you can eat whatever you want and however much you want during pregnancy.
2. It helps with my own personal view of my body image. I don't think there is anyone who really wants to put on 30 + pounds (unless you are a man). It makes me feel strong.
3. I feel it helps me prepare for labor and recover more quickly afterwards. Let's face it, even with an epidural there is some stamina required and definitely some muscle strength needed. By the way research has shown that exercising during pregnancy helps reduce labor time and shorten recovery. Both of these have been proven true in each of my children. It is not a guarantee, but gives you a better chance for quicker labor and recovery.
4. This is not proven, but I exercise (jog) up until the end because in my mind I think it helps to dilate the cervix and thin the membranes. Just last week (36 weeks) the doctor informed me that I am 2.5 cm dilated and 50% effaced. It has been this way with my other two kids. Although it has not been helpful in starting my labor. So far all of my children have been induced. I still cross my fingers that exercising will start labor.
5. Muscle strength is quickly lost after surgeries (thus some of the need for physical therapy) and periods of inactivity. Can you imagine where you would start if you took 9 months off plus the required time after delivery? I don't really want to go there. I like the look of toned muscles, hence one of the reasons I think my husband is so hot.
6. I am prideful, stubborn and independent and like to be able to say I can do it. I like the satisfaction that comes from not giving up. I like to say that I still can do it. I don't want to be big. I want my body back. (Obviously I might need some mental help to kick this worldly view of my body, but that will have to be addressed at a different time.)

Other reasons that come to mind:

1. The PA this time told me to keep it up as long as I can.
2. I am not a high-risk pregnancy.
3. I feel it helps give my kids a healthier start. I was reading in a book called The Culprit and the Cure and it talked a little bit about how some research suggests that artery disease may start in developing babies. It says "the major arteries of some miscarried fetuses showed fatty streaks, the beginning stage of artery disease. This is due to the genetic makeup and nutritional status of the mother." By the way the book does give all it's references but I myself have forgotten how document those in the correct way. Eating more fruits and vegetables would help too, but I haven't been as good about that this time around.
4. I need to get back into my shorts quickly because it is heating up fast and I don't see a way to get to the store with 3 kids and be able to actually try shorts on to see if they fit.
5. I have been regularly exercising for a little over 10 years now. I am not so religious about it anymore, but I know that my motivation has it's highs and lows so I am afraid that if I stop I won't want to go back. I can think of plenty of things to do with that free hour plus the drive time to the gym and I may want to keep that hour.

What have the Kids and I Been Doing

Friday the carpets were cleaned. Hip hip hooray. But then I wasn't thinking and said I could do the weekend babysitting swap. The carpet guy didn't finish until 5 PM and then kids came at 6 PM. I was a little witchy about staying off the carpets, but I think it turned out okay and the children were not too scared.

Saturday our family volunteered for a "Helping Hands" project at a place called the Riperian Preserve. Brian drove a truck hauling off tumbleweeds and debris from all the groups that were scattered from our ward. This debris was not nice to him and he has plenty of scratches to prove he was working and not just eating doughnuts and driving in an air conditioned vehicle. The girls and I did some weed cleaning up in the Mars landing area (an area that is to simulate Mars for robotic vehicles to drive on). Okay I just raked the weeds into piles that other people had to really use some elbow grease and shovels to get up and the girls mostly chased lady bugs and picked flowers. Macy did help place one or two rocks to seperate Earth and Mars.

Today we went to Brian's work to take him to lunch at Wildflower Bread Company and to see what items I might like to purchase that were used in model homes. I hope we win the bids on a couple of these items.

All month long I have been working on bids for re-painting walls and fixing a wall in our HOA. Yesterday and today have really made me wish I had not signed up for the HOA board, but it is good for me. I have been trying to get the bids as uniform as possible, but sometimes I don't know how to ask the questions the right way or I get worried that I might not get all the pertinent information and will make a mistake. I have probably spent way too much time (more than necessary) and that is why I sometimes wish I hadn't volunteered. There are so many other things I would rather be doing and my house wouldn't fall apart.

New flip flops

*PS I wrote this back on March 12 and I didn't post it because I wanted to take a picture of the flip flops. Then once I did that I forgot to add the picture and publish this.

Yesterday was a big exciting day for everyone. The girls and I went to the park with some friends to enjoy the weather and then it was off to the Disney Store for new flip-flops. The girls had specific requests and so this had to be the store of choice. There was only one stipulation to the new sandals: all other flip-flops had to be thrown away when we got home. I was tired of seeing the grimy sandals and I swear it contributed to their dirty feet (most of the dirt comes from running outside barefoot). Some of the shoes were 2 years old. I am also getting me carpets cleaned tomorrow and so I wanted to start fresh.

Anyone who saw this in real life can attest to their grossness.

One pair was Macy's favorite. Right before bed she burst into tears and went crying to dad. No one could figure out what was wrong. Finally she spit it out. She didn't want to throw away her heart flip-flops. I don't know what Brian said to her, but he managed to console her and there hasn't been a problem since.

The best part about these shoes is that they were 2 for $8. Almost as cheap as Old Navy, but we now have Sleeping Beauty (or Aurora) flip-flops and lots of princess' flip-flops.

My Hero

On Tuesday night our faucet broke. I noticed it was wiggly while I was doing the dinner dishes. To make sure it needed tightening I wiggled it a little more and the handle came off. A screw had broken in half. Brian ran to Lowe's but they didn't carry the part so it was off to a co-workers house (for another errand and now to ask for help). The guy thought work had that particular part somewhere, so the sink could not be fixed that night and I could not finish the dishes nor wipe up. I couldn't let this be the next day so I had to keep a bucket by the sink that I could re-fill from the bathroom to wet my rags, rinse utensils (we used paper for dinner and had a lunch picnic at the park to reduce the number of washable dishes), and wash fruits and vegetables. I am now very grateful for my kitchen sink.

Brian did research the next day. The part was not at work so he called around and no one had the screw he needed and to get it from Moen would cost $50 and take 10 days to receive. Not my ideal situation. Well my handy man came through for me. After work he went to Home Depot found the part and a screw then went to a friend's home to get use the friend's tools to remove the half of the screw that was stuck in a needed part. Needless to say all his hard work paid off and I had a sink again today which has helped to keep my kitchen cleaner and meals easier to prepare. The only problem is somehow we (I helped put the pieces back together)managed to get the hot and cold water mixed up. I don't know how we could have done that but it has been a little frustrating because I turn the handle the wrong way. Figuring out this problem has to wait until the weekend when he has a little more time. For now Brian will remain my hero and savior for keeping convenience in my life.

Life is wonderful (another long post)

So instead of getting rid of all the candy and treats I bought more. Partly because I took my husband shopping with me. But oh well the chocolate covered pretzels and dark chocolate cherries taste really, really good.

So why is life wonderful? Because Brian's company offered to let him stay if he would take a new position with them. They have been doing better than expected for the last 3 months (sold more homes than predicted) so corporate said that they could keep one more person and they chose Brian. It isn't exactly what he wants and he had to take a small pay cut. It was a difficult choice because we were all set to try our hardest to get back home and the thought of getting out from under our home (even if it was difficult) were very tempting and obviously the home industry isn't stable yet. However, we feel like this is Heavenly Father's will for the time being and I am happy to stay around some of my many good friends. I am not looking forward to the summer, but I am looking forward to swimming. We truly have been blessed to not have had to go through any time of unemployment and it has helped us see and feel what many others are going through at this time.

Life is good because it cooled back down to the 70s. A recommendation to women who live or may live in Phoenix, AZ: do not have children anytime in the summer or in the fall. I feel for you poor women because for a brief time I experienced a taste of what you go through (mostly at night). I could handle the days but it wasn't cooling off enough at night. It was miserable because I couldn't sleep and when I did I would wake up sweating. I had to turn on the air conditioner. The problem was that it was just cool enough that the air conditioner only had to come on when I turned it down. So the fan remained on all night and Brian had to sleep with a blanket and a comforter for a couple of nights. I couldn't let him near me because his body produces way too much heat and he tends to move closer to me as he sleeps. One night I finally moved to the leather couch. Since we have cooled off I am getting much better sleep.

Last Wednesday baby boy got a room makeover. His room had been pink and yellow and since we are staying it had to go. One of the walls had big stripes and it was slightly sad to paint over all that hard work, but I am over it. Because my friend Kenlynne came over and helped the room was completed in a day. She is a perfect example of reaching out. The Sunday before she overheard me say that I was going to paint on Wednesday. She looks at me and says I have nothing to do that day and I can paint. Let me help you. At first I hesitated because I can be stubborn, but then I thought it was stupid to pass up help and I need to learn to accept service from others so they can have a chance to serve. What a great day it was to have her over and I will be forever in her debt because I thought it would take me all week; Tuesday - wash walls and tape, Wednesday - prime, Friday - paint color, Saturday - touch up. She was so quick, I was able to get rid of my kids most of the day and I did a wonderful job of taping so that afternoon everything completed. However, baby still has no name. We are thinking Carter Alan, Ethan Dee, or Jackson Alan so at least we have something.

The best news is 3 weeks and 3 days before mister arrives. I am all scheduled to be induced and I am counting down the days. I know he needs another week at least to be completely ready (and myself needs two weeks to get everything done because I am not ready), but there is a part of me that would love to be done with the pregnancy. I get to this point and my impatience shines. I know I need to live in the now, but I am ready to move on to the future. I just want my body back. I don't have terrible pregnancy, in fact compared to most they are super easy. But I have my complaints. I have the slight swelling going on. You wouldn't be able to tell, but I can see that my ankles are not as skinny especially at night. I have been craving diet coke for some reason. I would take a coke or Dr. Pepper too, but I don't need the extra calories. He has been finding 2 of my nerves that run down the inside of leg and he likes to play with those. I can't bend anymore and my pants don't stay up and my under garments slip off my belly so I feel draft sometimes. The good news is that 2 weeks ago at my doctors appointment the scale said I had lost 2 lbs in 2 weeks (must be from being sick). I felt so bad that for the next 2 weeks my body helped out and added 3 pounds. I like to be helpful. My last complaint is my hips when I wake up. I am tired of sleeping on my sides and my hips are letting it be known. It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't so hard to roll over. Like I said these are minor things, but they do bother me and I want to remember so I can tell my girls when they are at this point in their life. I have been blessed to be able to exercise still. I can't jog everyday, but I can get some kind of cardio in and weight lifting. For some reason with this pregnancy my heart rate kept getting too high when I ran (with Macy and Kelsey I was able to jog the entire time). This started a couple of months ago. So I had to slow it down and I alternate between walking, jogging, elliptical and stair climber. If it is a good day I can jog and makes me excited to be able to get back to working hard (I am not always excited for this so that is good that I want to get back).