Cardinal In May

woah nelly.
I started this post two weeks ago. Time has not been kind to me. Everything lately is taking longer than I think it will--or should. Between our work schedule on the duplex, the slowest internet connection in the world, and friends coming in and going out of town-- my life has been a fast paced wreck lately.

Laundry baskets piled high in our itty bitty shared room at my Grandparents. The bed remains unmade. The dresser remains clutter central and our home is still unfinished. In the midst of all this life has gone on. We have been with my Grandparents for a month now. Avey is a half year old now. I know how to hem a pair of pants and use my Grandmas embroidery machine now.

Though hectic--our crazy, unordinary life is pretty great. Carnivals, honey stores, quilting shops, a vineyard down the street that I am still dying to explore-- life has been busy and exciting and unyielding this past month.

We have been living with two people that work harder and longer than most I know. I have been inspired to work harder myself. Spend less time online and spend more time connecting with people face to face. We are learning a lot-- wipe stain off as you go, oil based paint will leave you with semi-perminate henna-like tattoos, Avey hates it when you say "woah-nelly", and sewing faster does not mean sewing better.

We are learning together--lessons I'm glad we're learning now while we're young and have the energy to take it out and do it again--though not always the patience. We're working on that--I pray that the Lord will always give us something to work on.

hi.
Two Saturdays ago-- after Brady and I got home from working at the dulex (Brady working--me watching) my Grandma took Avey and I sat across from them, waving. To my surprise--after every time I waved she'd put her right arm in the air and wave her hand around.

Sister is smart.


Since a week ago I have caught her waving at herself countless times. Open-close hand movements, turned toward her face as she watches--transfixed. I haven't been able to get a photo yet but I will--mark my words.

Sneaky!! She is laying right next to me waving right now and of course my camera is in the other room!

ave.
She likes to look at me when she topples over. She'll be playing one minute, toppled over on the floor the next, and every time she looks at me like "What just happened? Am I okay? What now mom?" Sometimes I freeze too--waiting for the cry that I am sure she is about let out. Most of the time I cheer and then she laughs, rights herself, and continues to play.

friends.
My Grandparents invited us to a little carnival that their church was putting on for the volunteers and their families. I jumped at the chance and Brady went along with it because he knew I was so excited. We had a ball and bumped into a couple familiar faces.

minus.
Last month my cycle returned (oh joy). It was strange and unexpected. I felt like a 12 year old again. Last week  (If I had regular cycles) marked when I should have started again. Since Saturday I have been obsessing over ovulation trackers, due date calculators, and the chinese gender chart. I said time and time again that I didn't want to get pregnant until I lost some weight but when I saw that if I got pregnant in May that I would have a boy (according to the chart) I got all excited and hopeful.

We aren't using contraceptives. It's a choice that we made together after several uti's from using spermicides and a visit with our doctor where in a round-about way she admitted that all contraceptives (except for condoms and spermicides) can be abortive. We discussed it and decided that we were ready to have a family and we wanted to place it in the Lords hands. A month later we found out we were pregnant with Avey.

After I had Avey I expressed my desire to never again start out a pregnancy over 200 lbs. It was very taxing on my body. I am still about 5 lbs over and I have a ways to go before I get to my goal weight but there was something that excited me at the prospect of being pregnant again and conceiving a little brother for Ave.

So when I saw that little minus sign on the pregnancy test my heart sunk a little.

trist.
My  brother Tristan celebrated his 11th birthday last week. To celebrate Avey got all dolled up in a pretty dress and accompanied him to cold stone where she slept through the joys of candy bars incased in ice cream and brand new 11 year olds whose eyes are bigger than their tummies.

water bottle.
The return of Avey's water bottle love affair. No joke-- if anyone even walks by her with a water bottle she goes nuts-- reaching, stretching, moaning, shaking-- sisters got it bad.

sweet dreams.
People like to nap around these parts. It is such an enjoyable past time-- one I am lucky enough to share in on occasion.

big baby.
Avey was bottle fed for the first month of her life. We began breastfeeding around 2 months old and we haven't looked back. Because of her obsession with water bottles we decided to buy her a sippy cup so that she could drink water instead of spill it all down her front.

Sippy cup day one and she was working it like a pro.

She still refuses to take milk out of anything though. Bottle-no. Cup- no. Water bottle- no. She knows where that comes from and she's hooked. I don't mind. :)

cardinal in may.
Look what we spotted in the backyard the other day...

Life is good.

A Forever Kind of Thing

38 Days.
Our due date is in 38 days. I go through these phases where I can't wait for her to get here because I feel like I've been waiting and prepping for her arrival my whole life. Then there are other phases where I feel like we're not ready at all. I'm just a 21 year old girl and he's just a 25 year old boy and we can't even begin to comprehend what we've gotten ourselves into.

So we have 38 days to figure it all out and all I could think about tonight while we were lying on the couch together watching Vin Diesel throw himself into ridiculously unrealistic situations was, "I don't know if I want someone intruding on what Brady and I have created with each other over the past 20 months." I like my husband. I'm very jealous for him and his attention. I'm just afraid of the change that is bound to come knocking. Because a baby changes everything.

Just look at that stick. Just look at my living room. We've got diapers and wet wipes and baby clothes and baby things galore. Don't get me wrong! I love this little girl. I love her so much I could burst. All I've ever wanted to be is a mother but I just became a wife. And I really really love being a wife. I'm just a little scared that when the baby comes I might not have the easiest time juggling.
I know it'll be okay. I know my world will be enhanced and enriched by all these new things. I'm just freaking out because I counted the days till our due date and it's coming sooner rather than later and I just know that once she's here then it's real. Then I'm a Mom. And being a Mom is a forever kind of thing.

34 Weeks 5 Days Pregnant

Deltaco, InNOut, and Pizza Hut. Let the cravings begin!

You know those times where you'd do anything short of murder for a pizza and some sweet tarts? Well right now is one of those times. I made homemade taco soup, ice cream, and brownies but it's not enough. I need some freaking pizza and maybe some Deltaco with an InNOut burger on top.

I am so glad InNOut moved to Texas. I don't know how I'd get through pregnancy without them. They make me feel better even on my worst days. I don't know who invented InNOut. We took a class field trip to an InNOut factory when I was in 4th grade (or was it 3rd??) and they gave us the history along with a free lunch (that I'm sure our parents had to pay for ahead of time). This is one of those field trips that I feel would have been better to take in High School. How is a 4th grader supposed to remember all that stuff? All I remember is the "free" lunch and t-shirt.

Speaking of 4th grade... I remember we learned about covered wagons and Missions in the History portion of that grade. I remember we had to build a mission out of sugar cubes or a covered wagon from scratch in order to pass the history portion. I don't know how you expect a fourth grader to build a freaking covered wagon from scratch but that is what was expected. My mom built the entire thing out of popsicle sticks and hot glue for me. It took her hours but she was determined to get me a good grade. I feel bad for those kids whose mothers didn't build their covered wagons. I got an A but I know of others who got C-'s and D's because their work was 4th grade work.

School isn't fair. It's rather silly. You could literally drop out of school in 7th grade and when you're 18 enroll in College as a freshman and do just fine. You may have to take an express remedial algebra course with Professor Turnbow at Collin College but after that you'd be just fine. 8th-12th grade is stupid. They don't teach you anything new. Sure you'll miss a few important things that happened in History but you'll get a refresher course when you're a Freshman. Believe me.

I wish I had a pizone right now. That is one of those little pizzas that they fold in half and don't put pizza sauce in because you get to dip it instead. It's only 5 dollars at Pizza Hut. Colin and Kyle work there that is how I know. Bethany used to work there to but now she works at Palio's again. She wasn't pizza making material. She quit of her own "fruition." (Inside joke between Brady and I. I used to think that fruition meant "of your own free will" but it didn't so now we use it in sentences it doesn't belong in because we think we're funny.)

I really like my husband. He makes me laugh everyday. Speak of the devil. He is now making me examine a zit on his back. This is what you do when you're married. You examine each others pimples and dig out ingrown hairs. Brady plucks my eyebrows and shaves my legs for me now. He's a good husband. He doesn't complain when I ask him to do weird things for me. Usually I dangle the money factor in front of him and that helps too. What is the money factor you ask?

If I want Brady to pluck my eyebrows all I have to say is "You can pluck them or I can pay someone else $8.50 to pluck them at a Salon every four weeks. You choose." He is a man. He doesn't like when I spend all the money. He would rather pluck them then have me pay someone else money to pluck them. This is the money factor and it works like a charm because you see I am a woman and I like to spend money but I can only spend the money if there is money to spend and that means not spending it on frivolous things like the Salon.

They just opened a new Deltaco in Mckinney. California is coming to Texas people. Get ready! I would really love to have some 89 cent Tacos with a chocolate milkshake and some fries. I just don't want to go get them. I also don't want to spend the money on fast food when I have plenty of food here at home my belly has other plans however. Oh bother.

Here is my review of the Winnie the Pooh Movie. Are you ready? It was... AWESOME. I laughed so hard. I'm going to buy it when it comes out of DVD. I'll say its for the baby but we'll all know the truth. I'm giggling just thinking about one scene and that was particularly funny ("You must be catching a cold." "I''ll probably catch it too."). Here! You have to watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRT86ZggCEk

Thanks. :) Doesn't that just make you feel all wonderful inside? I smile every time I watch it. Well I've taken up enough of your time with my droning. Have a fabulous evening and eat something yummy for me!

Baby Kicks and The Bachelorette Season Finale

Availeth has been busy today! She has the cutest little hiccups. I say little because she's only 1 lb but really its enough to shake my whole tummy and anyone who has seen this tummy lately knows it's anything but little.

She started this new thing a few weeks ago where sometimes when she's kicking it feels like she's trying to tunnel her way out of my "downstairs" if you catch my drift. It feels rather odd and uncomfortable. Like a pap smear but I feel it "down there" and in my tummy too. I don't know what that means. Unfortunately my baby book says nothing so any Moms that had any similar feelings I would relish your thoughts on the matter.

Baby was really excited for the season finale of the Bachelorette! My sister felt her move during tonights episode and so did Brady. I think my girl likes the drama. I wont bore you with all my thoughts on this season. Though Ashley was not my favorite Bachelorette she definitely picked the best guy in the end.

Well Brady is pestering me about getting to bed so I'm going to sign off! Please give me your feedback Mommas!

Love you all!

19 Weeks Pregnant

I don't know how single moms get through pregnancy. Pregnancy is hard enough with two people I can't imagine how it would be without a partner.

For the first three months I was useless. I didn't move from the couch for two solid months. Brady was there to do laundry, clean the kitchen, make dinner, work full time to support us, give massages, cool me down with a cold rag, say kind words, and give me all the attention I could ever dream of while reassuring me that I wasn't going to die or feel that sick forever. While Brady was at work I had my Mom, Dad, and siblings on call just in case I needed anything. My parents made sure our fridge was stocked full of Ginger Ale and made sure I had plenty of Preggy Pops and Ginger Candy. Being pregnant is a team effort.   

After our trip to Kentucky, around month 4, all of the sickness started to fade and I started to feel like I was able to function again.

Month 5 is now here and it comes with its own set of issues. Thy name is reflex. My Grandma Sharon and I were having a nice lunch at Chili's last Friday and as I started to inhale my House Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing my throat started to feel funny. Before I knew it I had tossed that Salad all over the booth, my lap, and hair. Word to the wise: YOU CANT EAT FAST WHEN YOU'RE PREGNANT. 

That little incident got me thinking about all the little things that happened to my body once I got pregnant and I started to wonder why no one had ever warned me? I grew up with this idea that pregnancy was going to be wonderful. I would have a cute little baby belly and then a cute little baby. No one ever told me that it would actually be quite inconvenient. Not that I would ever trade the end result in order to rid myself of all these little inconveniences but I just think that there is another side to pregnancy that we aren't told about. 

1. Your new favorite place to sleep will be the bathroom so make sure to wash the rugs and Pine-Sol the floor because you're going to be on that floor whether it's clean or not.

2. Your tummy is not the only place that stretch marks will appear.

3. Shaving you legs is a battle. Shaving your "down stairs" is impossible. 

4. I never got headaches until I got pregnant. Tylenol PM makes it all better.

5. Ginger Candy is not candy, it's poison. 

6. Your boobs will get bigger no matter how massive they already are. And no Victoria Secret does not sell that size. 

7. They say you pee less when the second trimester rolls around. Lie. I still have to pee 250,000 times a day. 

8. Your boobs will hurt like you're having a heart attack but don't worry! It's just your milk ducts coming in. 

9. Fried food WILL give you terrible heartburn so if you don't want it stay away from the chicken, red sauces, and onion rings. 

10. Even though you are no longer having periods your going to become a leaky faucet so keep panty liners handy!

11. You use up more energy laying on the couch while you're pregnant than your husband would while training with a professional body builder at the gym. It's okay to take lots of naps.

12. Your going to be freezing or sweating where ever you go so dress in layers and pack a sweater. 

13. Don't move fast! It's dangerous. 

14. Because the ligaments in your body become all loose to accommodate the child you're growing your feet might grow a size or two.

15. Don't stay seated for too long because your toes will swell up like little sausages. 

16. If you've never had allergies before you may acquire some new ones. 

17. Burping and farting can not be avoided. Sorry newlyweds!

18. There is a whole list of foods you're not allowed to eat while your pregnant. Like: bacon, hot dogs, tuna, packaged lunch meat etc...

19. Make sure you have someone around to help you get up if you decide to sit on the floor. It's just easier that way. 

Everyones pregnancy is different and some of these things may be things that are entirely unique to me and my pregnancy. I just had to get it all out somewhere! Thanks for reading!

Cravings...

I went from a nonchalant eater to someone who knows exactly what she's hungry for at all times. It's like I hardly know myself anymore, though I'm more in tune with what my body needs than ever.

This morning at 3am I woke up craving a Pina Colada. I woke Brady up, talked to him about my dream drink, and as he drifted back to sleep I realized that I was not going to get what I desired. So this morning when it was really time to get up (10AM) I was a woman on a mission. I wanted that drink.

Walmart was first on our agenda today. We ran out of toilet paper sometime during the night and started using napkins. I don't know why we let it go that far. I woke up feeling sick like usual. I know now that the only thing that makes me feel better is a nice little bland breakfast but the smell of the kitchen, the pantry, and the fridge was not worth braving for the relief the food would bring my churning stomach.

I decided a hard shell taco from Taco Bell would do. We made our way out the door after I peed for the third time. We payed rent, we ate a couple tacos, we deposited a few checks, and then off to Walmart we went!

Do you know how hard it is to find Coconut Milk at Walmart? Nearly impossible. But we found it along with the toilet paper and 80 dollars worth of other things that we deemed 'must haves'.

We play fought about who would put the groceries away, and who would do the dishes as I sat down to write my government paper, my tropical drink nearly forgotten. Nearly. I finally made myself a nice little Caribbean drink with a side of Sweet Chili rice cakes, and now I am finally satisfied.

If you have the ingredients on hand or if you don't this is an awesome smoothy that will satisfy all your Pina Colada dreams.

Caribbean Colada

A Virgin Islands vacation in a glass

Mango, banana, coconut milk, pineapple — this lush treat is like a visit to the tropics. Making your smoothies with frozen fruit is a good idea for two reasons: You're more likely to have it on hand —   any time of the year —   and frozen fruit makes for a thicker, more shake-like smoothie. Furthermore, there's no need to add crushed ice, which just waters down the flavor.

Ingredients

¾ cup frozen mango or peach slices
1 medium banana, frozen and sliced

¾ cup vanilla yogurt

½ cup unsweetened coconut milk

¼ cup pineapple juice

2 Tbsp wheat germ, if desired (I left this part out)

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in blender or food processor and process until pureed. Pour into a tall glass and serve.

Makes 1 tall glass.

Nutritional Information

• 1 serving = 380 calories
• Protein: ½ serving
• Vitamin C: 1½  servings
• Calcium: 1 serving
• Green/yellow fruit: 1 serving
• Other fruit: 1 serving

21 and Pregnant...

I missed my classes again this morning. After setting my alarm clock last night, determined to make it to class today, there was a disconnect this morning. Somehow it didn't go off. Or I shut it off and just don't remember, which is entirely possible.

I didn't get up until Brady got up for work, and by then I had already missed both of my classes. My Professors probably think I'm dead thats how long its been since I've made it to class. I have no motivation to complete school. I have no motivation to do anything other than write music, play my guitar, read a little, do some algebra, sleep, rinse and repeat.

After Brady and I got married I had this surge of energy to prove to him, and myself that I was the best darned wife that ever walked the earth! I was a chef, a house keeper, a laundry mat, a masseuse, and I loved every minute of it.

Then he knocked me up, and the first trimester started and since last week I sleep, eat, pee a lot, do algebra, rinse and repeat. I feel great, albeit tired and a little frightened. I just can't seem to get anything done. I just cleaned the kitchen for the fist time since Sunday. There is a basket of unfolded laundry sitting in the middle of the floor staring me down. Mocking me. I feel like yelling back, "Shut up you stupid basket of whites! You'll never be brilliant again!"

I should have started dinner, instead I started writing. Poor Brady probably wishes he had his old wife back, and she will be back once I get out of this funk, or get unpregnant.

Side Note: We are going to have to figure out a way to get this baby out while I'm sleeping. Because pain+brittany=unmixy things. If anyone has any ideas comment below.

As I was doing the dishes I started writing this blog in my mind and this reads nothing like the masterpiece of fragile, budding, maternal wisdom that I composed. Something else to blame on the pregnancy, apparently the hormones are not only ruining my sense of decorum, but my ability to form rational thought. Though Brady would argue I was never a rational being to begin with. This is my blog and I get to think of myself however I like!

As I come closer to motherhood the more childlike I become. *sigh*

I did make delicious Sloppy Joes last night with homemade potato wedges, onion rings, and ranch dressing. (See Recipe below) It sounds like a heart attack waiting to happen! It was so good though. Today I made Subway sandwiches for lunch. Well in my mind they were Subway sandwiches because that was my craving this morning. Tonight I'm going to make Bagel bites for dinner because Bradys never had them and I made him sacrifice his Pizza Rolls at the store because I bragged and said that Bagel Bites were better. I think they are. I hope he thinks they are. If he doesn't think they are I'll cry and eventually he'll come around.

Sloppy Joes

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons Butter (I only used 1 Tablespoon)

2-½ pounds Ground Beef (I only used 1Lb)

½ whole Large Onion, Diced

1 whole Large Green Bell Pepper, Diced (I used 1/2)

5 cloves Garlic, Minced

1-½ cup Ketchup

1 cup Water (1/2 cup)

2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

2 teaspoons Chili Powder (more To Taste)

1 teaspoon Dry Mustard

½ teaspoons Red Pepper Flakes (more To Taste)

Worcestershire Sauce, To Taste

2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste (optional)

Tabasco Sauce (optional; To Taste)

Cayenne Pepper (optional; To Taste)

Salt To Taste

Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste

Hamburger Buns

Preparation Instructions

Add butter to a large skillet or dutch oven over medium high heat. Add ground beef and cook until brown. Drain most of the fat and discard.

Add onions, green pepper, and garlic. Cook for a few minutes, or until vegetables begin to get soft.

Add ketchup, brown sugar, chili pepper, dry mustard, and water. Stir to combine and simmer for 15 minutes, adding salt and pepper to taste. Also add tomato paste, Worcestershire, and Tabasco if desired. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

Enjoy!

Onion Strings/ Potato Wedges

Ingredients

1 whole Large Onion/Potato

2 cups Buttermilk

2 cups All-purpose Flour

1 Tablespoon (scant) Salt

¼ teaspoons (to 1/2 Teaspoon) Cayenne Pepper

1 quart (to 2 Quarts) Canola Oil

Black Pepper To Taste

Preparation Instructions

Slice onion very thin (or if you're making potato wedges cut potatoes into the shape that satisfies your minds idea of a wedge.) Place in a baking dish and cover with buttermilk and soak for at least an hour.

Combine dry ingredients and set aside.

Heat oil to 375 degrees.

Grab a handful of onions, throw into the flour mixture, tap to shake off excess, and PLUNGE into hot oil. Fry for a few minutes and remove as soon as golden brown.

Repeat until onions are gone.

Eat before your family sees them.

Repeat with another onion, because they’ll be really mad they didn’t get any.