Buried in Colorado

Proactive

2012-02-04T19:58:00.001-07:00

Two weeks ago I received a Proactive starter kit. I've always fought with less than perfect skin and even though I found a few good items, namely Cetaphil and tree tea oil, that tree tea oil was really harsh and my husband hates the smell. So I decided to try something else. I figured it had a money back policy so what could it hurt?

Because there are so many mixed reviews out there, and because there is no easy to filter out which are real and which are advertising one way our another, I thought I'd give my 60 day version (since I figure I'd better know before than if it's working for me.

Day 1-14
Smaller pore size and smoother skin texture immediatly. No sign of dryness the first week, which was a concern since I have such sensitive skin. Using the 3 step program twice a day and refining mask for spot treatment at night. Still using my moisturizer (straight aloe), but using less of it-so I figure this is less drying than what I was doing.

By the end of the second week my skin is a little dryer than it was, but nothing that isn't smoothed out with the slow. Also used the sample of the green tea moisturizer that was sent. Is very light and I like it as it doesn't feel greasy or make my skin oily.

Pore size is really small, skin is really smooth, little to no breakouts in my trouble spots. So far so good.

Dixie Loves

2012-01-29T19:37:00.002-07:00

Wyatt loves Dixie. Dixie could give or take Wyatt, but she's super gentle and tolerant of him. Even when getting kisses...

Wyatt Helping Out at School...

2012-01-25T07:29:00.000-07:00

...by taking everything out of the cupboard and then closing himself into it. This peek-a-boo game lasted the better part of an hour. I need a cupboard at home...

Playing With Dad

2012-01-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

When we were in Michigan my mother wanted Nate to play the piano for her (he plays really well when he's been practicing). Wyatt decided to provide an accompaniment.

Knitting

2012-01-17T06:14:00.000-07:00

When I was pregnant with Wyatt I started knitting. I like knitting for people, and then want to keep what I make. Here's a few scarf/cowl and mitten sets I made for Christmas this year:

Just Out Walking My...

2012-01-14T18:11:00.002-07:00

Penguin...

Who seems to be taking a nap right now...

I'll introduce you when he wakes up...

Sorry I've been really, really bad about leaving comments on other's blogs. The servers have been crashing here and I've been having to do most stuff the 'old fashioned way'. I forgot how much time it takes up! I post-dated a bunch of stuff to keep this updated...

The Usual...

2012-01-10T18:45:00.001-07:00

1) I'm behind...
2) I had a computer crash and after popping my hard-drive into 3 different computers I finally have a working model again...
3) The server at school keeps going down...down...down...
4) Going back to work after break sucked...

5) I have no New Year's resolution except to lose what weight I gained over the Holidays...like the rest of us...

Like Wyatt's mark above his right eye? He wiped out playing with his cousins on Christmas Eve...Took this picture with my new point and shoot (which can also be manually programed) - it has this cool timing feature that won't start the timer and snap a picture until you are settled and smiling! My hubby bought it for me!

Christmas was wonderful! We drove into MI on the 22nd after stopping in Chicago for a night and day. My brother and his wife and 6 month old baby boy were staying at my parent's also - so full house!

Wyatt and his cousin Liam! Matching outfits weren't planned...but it sure was cute! Wyatt loved his little cousin, and couldn't stop giving him hugs and kisses. I wish we all lived closer together; my brother now lives in Florida :(

The picture above was taken Christmas morning with my old camera. Typically I would have touched it up in an editing softwear, but I thought I'd show it below the last one - that is in it's raw format. I'm impressed with it's photo quality! The old camera was an older Olympus all-weather (similar to their new tough camera). I wanted a new Olympus, but after researching, I decided I wanted quality over toughness and the new camera is a Sony CyberShot. I may not be able to be tough with it - but I still have my old camera for those moments!

It was so nice to have some time off and finally see family...and let family finally see my growing little man after a whole year!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T01:00:00.000-07:00

Oh Christmas Tree...

2011-12-21T11:52:00.000-07:00

The weekend after Thanksgiving we put up our tree...and a nice little tree it is! Even though we're leaving for Christmas (MI here we come!), it just wouldn't be the holidays without a fresh cut tree.

Obviously we needed to Wyatt proof it, so all the decorations are about waist height, but it's still really pretty. The first night Wyatt decided to pose in front of it in his elf hat.

He's crazy about his rocking horse. Unfortunately he's starting to rock it almost all the way over as he's very enthusiastic about his riding. The other night he tipped it all the way back and he hopped off the back and landed on his feet. Perhaps he will be a trick rider?

I'm finally searching for a new camera. I love my tough little camera, but it's been five years since I got a new one and there's been a lot of quality advancements. I still want a large professional camera, but I do like my little point and shoot. The one I have now is a hit and miss with the quality - basically it depends on if I have enough time and effort to 'tweak' the settig to get something good. And since I'm always trying to get quick shots of my little man on the go, as well as when I'm out riding, it's time to upgrade.

SNOW!!!

2011-12-18T08:14:00.000-07:00

We got the biggest early snowfall on December 3rd and 4th than I've seen since I moved here 8 years ago. It reminded me of Michigan, and we had a snow day. Gotta love it!

Wyatt had a blast playing in it. He got to drive the work truck to break up the driveway! Whoohoo!
That little car is my new Toyota Yaris. Let's put it this way: I've been driving my F-250 everywhere, and it cost me nothing to purchase and drive the Toyota. That's how much money I saved by getting it. It was an impulse buy, but I couldn't pass up the deal - and now we have a family oriented, trustworthy vehicle with kick @ss milage!!! Plus it's fun to drive and my truck will not wear out due to wear and tear.

Another Bison Move

2011-12-14T18:02:00.003-07:00

Last weekend, in freezing weather, we moved Bison again on the Zapata. The managers decided to sell the managed herd because of the drought here has made it almost inhabitable for something to overwinter on the Zapata Ranch side. Just not enough feed for those buggers.

So the fact that we have snow on the ground now is a good thing! Perhaps we'll have some more water for growing grass this year!

Despite the cold, it was a beautiful weekend!

Door Contest!

2011-12-13T06:23:00.002-07:00

Every year I participate in my school's door decorating contest. So here it is:

It's stained glass - separate pieces of tissue paper glued down and then I used thick yarn for the 'soldering'.

I tied for 1st place. 3 for 3 baby!

Thanksgiving...A Little Late

2011-12-07T06:06:00.000-07:00

We went up to the Zapata Ranch with some co-workers for a yummy meal! Country ham, smoked turkey, fresh bread, potatoes....yum!

What did everyone else do?
We also took pictures for our Christmas cards. Saddled up Tootsie the mini-pony and started snapping away. It was so funny to watch Wyatt interact with the pony!

Feeding the Dogs

2011-11-20T10:42:00.000-07:00

Feeding the dogs, according to Wyatt: "Once you've pushed Dixie out of the way with your butt, you can toss the feeder scoop because it has a hole in it anyway. See? I can even show you that. Make sure the cats are doing alright and then you just might as well use your hands to move food from Wrigley's bowl because he eats slow anyway."

Lemur Love

2011-11-17T05:41:00.000-07:00

Hay Envy

2011-11-14T07:39:00.002-07:00

Awhile back I was jealous of my blogging friends and their loads of hay. Despite having pasture I have been stockpiling hay anyway.

I love the smell of fresh cut alfalfa!

Halloween

2011-11-07T10:17:00.004-07:00

Before heading into town we carved pumpkins. Wyatt thought the seeds were great raw...and so did MAC, although he did heed the many times I yelled 'no-no!'
Wrigley got to go trick-or treating with us. Wyatt was the lion, so Wrigley had to go as the lamb. We let him be a boy lamb though, with horns.

We met up with Wyatt's gal pal Lily! I work with her parent's and we decided to let the kids have a night out together.

Wyatt got the whole run to the door and grab the candy game going. He occasionally would turn and wave bye-bye to the homeowners.

Afterwards we imbibed in a few adult beverages while the kids made out.

Squeakers...I Mean Sneakers...

2011-11-05T06:36:00.002-06:00

Now we know where he is at all times. He wore these on Halloween. They were perfect. Look for that post this weekend!

Sorry I've Been a Bum...Blogging

2011-10-31T06:32:00.000-06:00

I have been so busy! Homecoming and Midterm week coincided this year. Wonder who set that up? It was a zoo. Then the start of the new quarter, combined with never being home...it's just been busy.

The last few weekends have been spent on 'round-up'. First I went to Creede to help with cattle.

Up Near Lime Creek in Creede:

Then this weekend was spent with the Bison herd on The Medano Ranch where I work in the summers. It was wild, and not too safe really. When the bison get running it's an all out dead run for miles on horseback through rivers, over ditches, chico brush, etc. On Saturday I was riding Maggie and she actually slipped and fell over on top of me. We were fine and back up running in no time. Sunday I was riding a Ranch horse and trying her out on this - she was great, but wasn't used to the Bullwhip that is used. When it was cracked right next to her head by another rider she moved away from it and I was left with no saddle under me. She moved back under me, but I was already commited to pulling myself back into the saddle and just kept going! I hit the ground probably at 20 MPH (and we weren't even going full out at this point!). I bruised a rib and my hand, but other than needing to catch my breath it was all good! I wouldn't have traded that experience for anything; it was so awesome. I may take a day this week and go help them once more.

Early Morning Around the Fire:

On the Run:

There was a professional camera and film crew there and I cannot wait to get their footage.

We took a few breaks to let the horses rest and give ourselves a chance to catch our breaths. I had some fun taking pictures. These two cowboys work and live on the ranch full time. One is married to the manager's daughter, the other a former wrangler from Germany. Just good people all around.

Race For A Cure

2011-10-10T11:58:00.006-06:00

I went ahead and ran the Race for A Cure 5K this weekend despite waking up to this:

We bundled up. I brought my own cheering section.

I didn't as well as last week, but considering the weather...

5K

2011-10-03T11:19:00.001-06:00

I ran my first 5K this weekend. Guess what? It didn't kick my butt - and I came in under my set pace! And Wyatt ran with me...in his stroller! And I didn't train! I wonder what I could do if I did prepare for one?

I may do another next weekend!

My Serious Little Helper

2011-09-29T05:13:00.000-06:00

Wyatt loves to help out in the yard. He drags the hoses everywhere and picks up whatever Mac has managed to 'hoard' onto the lawn from the outlying fields (sticks, bones, broken toys, cans, etc...now if we could just teach him to put them in the trash).

He's so serious about what he's doing when he gets focused.

His favorite thing is to help feed the dogs. He has to take food from one bowl and carry it over to the other. Dixie thinks it's great since she's usually finished first and he's handing her the other dogs' food. They've all figured out that they can clean up whatever he drops while he's 'helping'. It's so funny to watch him crawling under Dixie, around Mac, over Wrigley while they hop around him, walk over him and basically try to see who can get to what he drops first.

Designer Butts, Homey and the Couch Potato

2011-09-27T00:03:00.000-06:00

My kid has designer diapers. No joke.

He also likes to wear his pants down around his butt. We call him Homey.
And he has a thing for the couch he got for his birthday. It's the first thing he goes for when he gets home each day. He walks over to it and flops down. It's too funny.

Can you guess who he might be mimicking with that book in hand? He'll often prop his legs up on it also and lean against the arm. I think I live on the coach with a book when I'm not outside..

Blast From the Past

2011-09-25T00:15:00.000-06:00

Hey Michigander's - Remember this from your childhood?

My brother used to run around doing the baba boo thing from the flamingo and saying,"my makeup, my makeup!" and "5 minutes, just 5 minutes" to drive us nuts.

Buddies

2011-09-22T07:34:00.000-06:00

I recently brought Ringo back into the home pasture to be with the rest of the horses. They've been a little rough on him since he's never been part of this herd before. He's very independent anyway so he's taking it alright.

I let him out to graze on the lawn from time to time and just be around the family and noise and dogs and anything else that he should get used to. Mac is super happy to have his buddy back!

MAC ATTACK!

2011-09-20T06:42:00.000-06:00

This dog is seriously turning out to be the bestest dog ever. His herding instincts have kicked in, and though he may be a bit pup-ish at home, when I get on a horse he knows he's going to work.
People have been asking at the ranch where I had him trained and what I have done with him. When I tell them he's only 9 months old and I haven't done anything with him but take him with me, they are amazed. He's that good of a dog.

What could make a happier life for a dog when he spends it herding bison, cattle and horses....chasing birds and grasshoppers on thousands of acres....swimming in the stock tanks...and generally just getting to hang out?

Not too bad for a free dog! That's Maggie's feet he's sleeping next too. Those two have an understanding...

Ranch Pictures

2011-09-15T07:30:00.000-06:00

I really am enjoying it there and am snapping pictures whenever the opportunity arises. Since I'm mostly on horseback sometimes the pics don't always come out to clearly, but occasionally I get a few good ones.

Labor Day Weekend...Part 2

2011-09-12T06:34:00.000-06:00

Can you tell what this picture is?

Went to work on Sunday at the Ranch. We had a visitor the night before that broke into my friends house and ate all her sugar:

At least that's all he did before taking out her screen door! I caught the little bugger sniffing back around the house that afternoon. He wasn't too worried about me. There's been such a drought here that there isn't enough food for these guys and they are getting to be pests. Everyone is afraid there is going to be a huge die-off this winter due to lack of food. That and huge problems with them trying to find that food...

The managed herd is used to being worked on horseback and with people near them - this gal let me get up next to her on foot to take a picture. That is not something we would do with our wild herd as Bison are quite dangerous...not at all like cattle. We keep a few hundred aside that are worked regularly so guests can get closer for pictures and the experience.

Labor Day Weekend...Delayed...Part 1

2011-09-08T07:24:00.000-06:00

We had a great Labor Day Weekend! On Saturday we went to the local 'gator farm (brought in to clean up waste from a Tilapia business), got a hair cut (our first!) and checked out the Early Iron car show!
Check out Part 2 soon to come...

Work

2011-08-30T06:16:00.002-06:00

When I say I have to go to work, I mean I have to go to work...not school. For the first 2/3 of the summer I was teaching swim lessons (and I still have the random private lesson here and there), but I also have finally gotten on with the Zapata Ranch here in my backyard.

Many years ago (think 1600's), the area was settled by ranchers. The Zapata and Medano ranches were purchased by the Nature Conservancy and now are managed and run as a small, family oriented dude ranch. It covers over 100,000 acres and is populated year round by one of the largest Bison herds in North America.

I help bring our guests through the area on horseback and of course, manage the herds!

I can't think of how I'd rather be spending my school days off...

Springs Trip...Part 2 (a little delayed...)

2011-08-26T06:52:00.002-06:00

Finally I am getting up the posts for our Zoo trip. The Colorado Springs Zoo is small, but it packs a great punch! It has great hands-on for kids and it was just the right size for little ones.

We fed the Giraffes.

We fed the Budgies.

We played with the Chickens ('cause they are so much more fun than at home).

We pet the baby Wallaby.

We watched the fish swim (Wyatt is not that much taller than Tanner. He's on a ledge!).

We crawled through tunnels.We loved the Lemers and took one home after laying down on it in the store and giving it kisses.

Belated Birthday Post

2011-08-23T08:46:00.002-06:00

Some of you may have realized that Wyatt turned 1 on the 15th! I've been really caught up with school and work (more on that later - they are different).

We had a Barnyard theme birthday with handmade invites (super cute, sorry no pictures!), brisket, bbq beef, beverages (yum!) and a cake I made. Yes, I made it (though I ordered the decorations as I just didn't have the time).

County Fair

2011-08-18T23:17:00.000-06:00

Every year at the end of July the PRCA Ski-Hi Stampede Rodeo and Carnival comes to town. Wyatt wasn't so interested in the Rodeo. The dirt and rocks surrounding the arena however...that's where it's at for a baby.

We had fun! We rode the train, the carousel, played in the duck pond and won a giant hammer to chase the cat around with!

Can't wait until next year!

Doing the Chores

2011-08-13T11:29:00.000-06:00

Ringo is being ridden! Yeah! I've pretty much spent the majority of my summer messing with this colt on the ground, hauling him around and basically just letting him get used to daily life around here. I finally decided with the summer wrapping up he needed to be ridden so I called a friend and we started getting on him and now he's walking and trotting out a on a lunge line with a rider. I know I could probably be moving faster with this horse, but I have the time and we're doing well moving slow. So far so good!

Wyatt helped feed a bottle calf the other day and then decided that watering is his chore. He's so funny - he holds the hose until it over flows and then starts trying to move it, but that requires lifting it over his head to get it out of the water buckets and he loses his balance and falls over. Then he grunts while he struggles to stand up and hold onto the hose at the same time. It's so stinkin' cute.

Visit to the Springs

2011-08-11T22:45:00.004-06:00

My girlfriend asked me last week if I'd like to take the kids to the Springs overnight to shop and go to the zoo. She has a son who's 3 in November and a son 4 days younger than Wyatt.

We're having a blast!

Oh yeah! And Wyatt's walking on his own! And yes, that's a baby shiner on his right eye where he faceplanted into a chair going after daddy's drink the other day. Lucky it's more of a scrap than a cut and it barely bled and Wy only cried for about 3 minutes. For some reason I think this is just the start of it...

Zoo tomorrow!

That Time of Year Again!

2011-08-09T12:51:00.000-06:00

And it's even better than ever because Wyatt LOVES to watch them spray the fields! This is the power pole 50 feet from my front door. And the plane is only about 10 feet above the wires as he crisscrossed the field in front of my house. The week before he did the field across the street. We sit on the front lawn and watch the show! The pilot always sees us and always dips his wings as he passes by! Wyatt clamps and laughs! It's so cute!

Awesome for sacking out the horses too. Not many places a person can live where a horse will get used to a plane 20 feet over their head. Mine don't even look anymore.

Who?

2011-08-04T07:00:00.000-06:00

Me that's who - hanging out in your tree. I think your cats got all the mice though and I'm not taking on your geese for the chickens - so I'll see ya later!

There's a nest down the road that a pair of Great Horned Owls raise their young in every year. I think this is one of their youngsters from last year because he's not real big yet. Kinda cool as long as he doesn't try and dive bomb the chicken coop!

Cowboy Wyatt

2011-07-31T08:00:00.000-06:00

We've been busy riding! Wyatt comes and hangs out at the arena with me. He loves to sit in his stroller or playpen and pet the "kitties" (everything is a kitty right now) through the fence. Afterwards he gets to play in the giant sandbox. He loves dirt. All boy I tell ya.
He'd love to ride on his own - but is a bit small for it still.

Vernors - A Michigan Original

2011-07-27T12:28:00.003-06:00

And we have it at our local Walmart. Yeah! Finally! The SLV is finally being influenced by the real world!

A little taste of home...

The Mother of All Bugs

2011-07-22T12:02:00.004-06:00

This is what the dryness has brought into our house this year. There must have been a nest nearby and they are coming in for water. I've literally only seen about 2 of these since I've moved out here, and now not a day doesn't go by when we don't kill at least one in the house. They move super fast and creep me out.

If you didn't like bugs before, this puts them all to shame. I don't even care if I see a spider anymore as long as it isn't one of these things.

As big as my thumb. It 'scurries' - climbs walls - terrorizes everything. They bite! But aren't poisonous. I'm scared to walk across the floor at night. Both Nate and I jump if anything brushes against us in bed (though we've only killed them in the bathtub and family room so far).

How would you like to deal with this thing?

We call them scorpion spiders, but aren't actually a true spider - though they are an arachnid they are more closely related to scorpions. They are also known as sun spiders or camal spiders. Those are big mandibles to chew on you with coming out of their head. They eat small rodents.

I think I'm going to set off a bug bomb under the house.

Sucker!

2011-07-19T13:12:00.001-06:00

Wyatt got a taste and then wouldn't leave me alone until it became his own.

Been busy! Riding everyday and getting ready for rodeo. Super crazy hot here and no relief in sight! It's rained twice in 6 months. Hay is so expensive I have two horses up for sale. It makes me sick. However, because there has been no rain my landlords didn't have their pasture leased for cattle and let me have it cheap for the horses, so maybe I don't have to sell afterall. It's still up in the air.

HOT!!!

2011-07-10T09:32:00.000-06:00

The weather here continues to be bizarre. It went from sand storms and miserable wind almost every day to unbearable heat and wind part time. And it's humid to top it off, which is weird for here - especially since it's rained once in 6 months. We're looking at another drought and the hay prices are going sky high because of it. They've almost doubled from lat year. I know come fall they'll drop again but it's not looking good right now. I'm looking at selling a few horses. I'm sick about it.

So I'm hot, miserable, sick of the wind that keeps me in the house, and I've had cabin fever for over a year. To ride I get up at 6 am to beat the wind and heat and BUGS. Even working at the pool isn't a relief because it's a hot water spring that feeds the pools so you actually have to get out of the water to cool off.

Even the animals are suffering. Dixie and Wrigley have dug crazy holes to lay in, and the cats are getting up under the horse trailers in the weeds where it must be cooler. The horses stand in the ditch with their backs to the wind and Mac does this:

Those are the water tubs for the round pens; His own private swimming pools. He hops from the short one to the the tall one and back all day long.

Buni lays in anything plastic, and since Wyatt can't stand anything actually being in his little toy bin she thinks this is perfect. The two are conspiring against me I think.

Zapata Falls

2011-07-06T11:22:00.003-06:00

We hiked up to Zapata falls a few weekends ago. I forgot my camera - sorry for the low quality pics from the phone, but I couldn't get away without taking any at all! When I got back to the truck I realized I had the school camera with me all along - oh well!
This baby backpack keeps rockin'. We use it all the time. Wyatt fell asleep in it on the way down. He wasn't real impressed with the sun shade though and kept leaning out the side to get a better look at everything.
He totally crashed out afterwards. Didn't even 'burrow' to sleep and had to make due with his hand over his face instead.

Swim!

2011-06-27T11:35:00.000-06:00

We swim everyday since I teach lessons. It's so much fun for both Wyatt and I. Wyatt likes to copy me blowing bubbles and jump off the side of the pool. He goes under water and everything.

We foster the behavior at home in the yard. The goats and Mac like to try and join him so we run interference.

Sometimes It Happens...

2011-06-24T11:31:00.000-06:00

One of my chickens thinks it's a sparrow or something. Oh well...

Pasture

2011-06-20T11:24:00.000-06:00

Our pasture sucks this year. Crazy weather, wind, no water...bad grass. At least where the ditch runs through the grass is growing. You can see Charlie get right down in there.

I've been getting up at 5 am to beat the wind and work them. I've got the sand colic under control, and am looking into buying those hay bags to keep the hay up more and keep them from pulling it into the sand.

Rockies!

2011-06-17T22:58:00.006-06:00

We've been busy! Went to the Rockies/Tigers game tonight. Wyatts first game! We had so much fun!

Wyatt especially loved the cotton candy. He was everybodies favorite kid on the pavilion where we were sitting. He would catch the eye of the closest person with food and stare them down smacking his lips. It was so funny. By the end of the night he was on a first name basis with everybody.

Drive!

2011-06-06T14:31:00.000-06:00

We're learnin' him young!

Animal Kingdom - SLV Style

2011-06-03T13:14:00.004-06:00

Well - the weather continues to blow here. It's such a violent wind there is no going outside. Cabin fever was bad this winter, but now it's unbearable because it's warm out, and the sun is shining (when you can see it through the dust clouds) but the wind sounds like a freight train roaring by the house.

Every forth day or so we may have a calm morning, or late afternoon and I cannot get outside fast enough.

Mac and Al have built a relationship. I see them roaming the yard together daily. Often they lay in the tall grass next to each other. Here they are catching a little shade:

Ringo would be dead broke by now if I had 3 days in a row to work him. This was the first time he was saddled up. No problem.

I did push the ticket this day however, and was attempting to lay across the saddle. He wasn't really impressed with my foot in the stirrup when I was getting him used to the weight. He bolted with a little leaping mini-buck. The third time he did it I got nailed in the inside of my thigh and was BLACK for a week. Then it turned purple. it was great. I don't think he was aiming for me or it probably would have been a LOT higher, but I think I'm going to have one of my little (younger) rodeo student's hop on him for that first ride. I don't feel like hitting dirt much anymore.

OMG SUMMER BEGINS!!!

2011-05-27T06:55:00.001-06:00

Today marks the end of the school year. We have a new administration again for next year (5 for 5 at this school). I helped hire him so I hope that means this one stays. Right...

The last month has seen Wyatt baptised, administration reviews and interviews, an overnight senior trip, talent show, a trip to Creede with students for a theatre review, multiple chiropractic appointments to help correct my hip (have I mentioned I have arthritis in my one hip?), a hit with the flu bug that I'm still feeling 2 weeks later, snow storms, sand storms and semester finals with consequential grade posting. I just have to survive graduation of the class I sponsor and the finishing of the yearbook. I'm so glad school is done for the year.

Now I can go unpack my child again...

Naked

2011-05-25T07:43:00.000-06:00

My child really enjoys just about everything...except...clothing and diaper changes. When changing a diaper he rolls over and starts crawling away, laughing like crazy until he is caught - then he screams. When changing clothing he does the same thing. I can't wait until summer when he can just be naked...
As usual he spends as much time as possible with the cat. She just loves him as you can see:

All Grown Up

2011-05-22T11:23:00.000-06:00

Or at least he'd like to think so!

What a little man eh?

May 1st

2011-05-21T22:41:00.000-06:00

This is what we woke up to. Nice. Doesn't snow all winter and now we get this. It also happened to be Wyatt's baptism (finally!) - but I can't find where I moved the pictures to so I'll get to looking for those soon.

We wanted to go swimming later but it didn't pan out. Wyatt was disappointed since he got ready to go (lol).

Easter

2011-05-17T22:30:00.000-06:00

Easter dawned bright and beautiful! Wyatt tackled his Easter basket so we put it up and Kahlua decided she was the Easter cat and now practically lives in the thing. I read somewhere that all cats over hte age of 9 have a bit of senality going on. Since she's 14 I think we may have passed that stage. This cat runs the whole household. And she's allowed!

After church we decided to go for a hike. We bought a Kelty baby carrier about a month ago and love it! Wyatt has a blast, its comfortable and has a ton of storage space. It has been well worth the money it cost (use eBay to get it MUCH cheaper than most retail stores have it discounted).

So Much!

2011-05-14T21:54:00.000-06:00

There is so much to catch up on! I started Ringo out when the weather was nice and he's doing awesome! He takes everything in stride and has taken a saddle no problem. Promise to get pictures of this awesomeness. Maybe even on me riding him already.

Wyatt has taken after Wrigley, the burrowing dog. He has to bury himself to sleep each night:

He's growing a ton! Weighs 22.3 lbs at 8.5 months! He's in 6 to 9 month clothing, and 12 month clothing is a little large still so as far as I'm concerned he's right where he belongs.

He started crawling one week shy of 8 months and thinks he can walk now. I caught him standing in front of the fridge last week by himself while he played on a Leapfrog game we have on there. He lowered himself into a sitting position without using anything to steady himself. I think I'm in for trouble!

He also cut his first tooth this last Sunday. Finally!

And is learning all kinds of new tricks:

WOW! I was so confused...

2011-05-11T21:14:00.001-06:00

My posts and planned post just "went away!" for awhile and I was worried I was crazy there for a bit, but everything (minus the comments that were made) are back. Maybe the comments will come back? If you commented, comment again because I didn't get to read them!!!

Not having internet sucks! I have so much to blog about! Things will be better this summer when I am working at the pool and have access to WiFi there.

I'm in Denver right now with my Seniors on their Senior Trip. We were supposed to see a Rockies game today but it was rained out and postponed until tomorrow. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we will go to Elitch Gardens in the morning and catch the game in the afternoon before heading home. Otherwise we drove a long way for the kids to hang out at the mall today like they did since we didn't have any other plans. You know what they say...the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. Name THAT author. And no, it's not Steinbeck. He borrowed it.

So I'll get a bunch of posts up to run for the next little bit and catch everyone up!

I had feathers put in my hair with my students today at the mall. I don't know if it's 'cool' everywhere else, but it's really popular out here! It's fun!

Stupid Internet

2011-04-29T14:19:00.001-06:00

Well, I'd love to post all the stuff I have lined up to blog about...but the internet is on and off, I can't even access my dashboard, I can't upload pictures, and I'm typing this on a Blogger Widget. I have been trying all week and this is my last resort. The space to type is about 1.5 inches by an inch - kinda hard to proofread! So I can't keep anything updated, including my stuff for student's. I'll try and get to another internet source this weekend and post!

Do You See What I See?

2011-04-18T08:06:00.003-06:00

Right there.......on the right of the wheelbarrow....near the middle........it's gray and black and white.......(excuse the mess, we're spring cleaning the yard).

Meet Mac. He came home to be Nate's new dog a few weeks ago. He's purebred Border Collie that was gifted to us, and it a great little pup - calm, quiet and gets along really well with the other dogs. He already has laid claim to Wyatt. I just wish he had Maverick around to show him the ropes, but he has helped in easing that loss a little - though he's definitely no substitute - that and he's not even my dog.

I also brought home this bugger a few months ago. He's from my vet after I lost Rebel last spring. I also lost Smack to West Nile last fall, not something I've wanted to talk about at all, but that did it for my Barrel prospects and I needed a new project. As I had pick of the herd and didn't have to spend a dime for him, I figured what the hell. He's Poco Bueno bred, so if nothing else I could probably sell him if he didn't work out for me.

I've been trying and trying to get a good picture of him, but the light always sucks, and he always has to be facing me almost up in my face no matter where I move - so it makes it difficult to shoot a picture.

Meet Ringo

So I've given up and this is what you get. He's still really shaggy from his winter coat, and his muscle tone isn't what it should be since I've had him penned up to make him learn who 'loves' him - but it's been paying off. When he was born he was messed with some and halter broke, but then he was tossed into the field for 3 years. I picked out 4 geldings from a herd of 42, round penned them and tossed a rope over their heads. All responded in some manner to being handled again, but this bugger seemed to take it the most in stride, and had the nicest build. He's quite large though this picture doesn't do it justice.

He likes to pretend he's worried about being caught, but he always faces me, and I can always coax him to me to be caught. Once caught he's a dream to work with. I sacked him out and cinched him up in about a 10 minute period one day. If this darn wind ever quites blowing for an extended amount of time I'll have him saddled and probably ridden around the round pen.

So that's what's been going on around here in my spare time. Hopefully I can keep you all updated with his progress.

Maverick

2011-04-11T07:52:00.003-06:00

I'm not sure I wanted to post about this. I have had so many things I needed to catch up on - horses, dogs, life - everything good - until now.

Maybe blogging will make me feel a little better, maybe not, but I have to do something because all I'm doing is feeling bad.

The wind just blew like crazy yesterday. It's been bad for the last week - blew chickens out of the coop, rolled straw bales across the yard, kicked up so much dust it turned a clear, sunny day dark as night.

Maverick is my escape artist. He is always getting out of the pen, but I never mind so much because he never goes anywhere. I finally managed to block up the kennel (top and bottom) so he couldn't escape on these lousy days so he could stay warm and not get caught in a storm. We brought home a Border Collie pup last week - and he hangs out in the yard and since the weather was a little nicer out I turned out Maverick with him. This little pup is Nate's first dog, and though Nate takes him with him during the day to train, I had let Maverick take him 'under his wing' so to say, each evening.

At about 2:00 a knock came on the door. It was a little old lady. There was a dog up on the road, right in the drive, dead. Her husband was watching over him. He'd just been hit but they didn't pay attention to the vehicles that were in front or behind so didn't see who did it. It was Maverick.

We live on about a 6 mile stretch of unimproved road. A mile down it turns to dirt. There are about 8 houses total from the country highway to the dead end. So needless to say there is little traffic, and we all know each other's vehicles. My neighbor's dogs and my dogs walk down the side of the road to visit with each other all the time. It's also open range, and even though people do keep there cattle behind a fence, they are always out wandering around anyway. The road is completely straight and flat, and you can see a cat cross the road from a mile away.

I walk down the road with the baby and dogs all the time, but have been getting nervous as there is a truck and an SUV that has continually passed me, without slowing down, definitely going faster than what is posted. Since the road is unimproved, it's very easy to lose control at high speeds, and I have this horrible image of these jerks losing control while out walking. Seriously, who doesn't slow down when they see something, or somebody on the road? I've stopped walking on the road and walk in the fields instead. And what really pisses me off is the driver of the truck totalled another truck about two years ago when he flipped the vehicle hitting the dirt from the pavement. Has that slowed him down? Not at all.

And Maverick paid the price yesterday. It was obvious he wasn't in the way, and it was obvious he was hit at a very high rate of speed. And all that aside, because yes, my dog was where he shouldn't have been, the jerk didn't even stop to see if he was dead, or let us know what had happened. Instead, a little old couple stopped and knocked at our door with tears in their eyes because they are animal lovers, ranting that NO animal, especially one of this size should be hit on a road in broad daylight such as this because you can see forever, and what kind of person doesn't stop anyway? Though I didn't see it happen, I believe it was the red truck, as so does every other neighbor near me.

I'm understandably upset. Maybe more because the driver didn't have the decency to at least stop.

Maverick was the best. He was gentle and smart. He was my 'take-everywhere' buddy. He was my escape artist who always met me at drive each day. He took care of any puppy we brought home and kept the coyotes out of the yard. He listened better than any dog I've ever had. Though I almost lost him as a pup to a twisted intestine, he became closer to me because of it. He was my protector and stayed between me and anything he wasn't familiar with. He would move cattle with me, and would 'tree' anything in the yard for fun, but not to kill. With Dixie getting on in years, he was the dog that was going to make eventually losing her to old age easier. As a Coonhound/Boxer cross he turned me on to hound dogs, and I now love the breed, and was looking to one day get a Redbone Coonhound puppy for him to train.

I just really can't believe he's not going to be there when I get home today. That he's not going to load up to go get the mail and stick his head out the window and let his ears flap in the wind, or hop into the back of the truck because he 'want's to go too!'. It just wasn't supposed to happen this way. He already was Wyatt's 'big dog' - and now my son isn't going to have his hound around anymore either.

I'm sick about it. I called the police and asked if they could please be a presence in the area more, because one day somebody, either someone out walking or a driver, is going to get killed when passed by these jerks going 70 or 80 on an unimproved road. I shouldn't feel terrorized everytime I take a walk down the road because it's evening and people are coming home from work. That's all I could do. They asked if I knew who hit the dog, but since I'm not 100% sure I couldn't tell them anything more than my past observations. It didn't make me feel better to call, but maybe I've kept people and animals safer. Even the driver's themselves - If they hit a cow going that fast at night, it would probably kill them as well.

See ya buddy. You really were the best (and we won't tell Dixie so we don't hurt her feelings). Keep being good.

Home Again!

2011-04-01T06:41:00.000-06:00

Italy was beautiful, but is was good to return home a week ago. I've been busy with school and standardized testing, so haven't had much time to post! Check the last post for a link to pictures (coming soon!) and our doings while in Italy! Here's some random pics of the little guy while I worked at school before leaving for Italy, at the gas station in Denver before I left, swimming last weekend and falling asleep at Walmart!

Buon Viaggio!

2011-03-14T08:35:00.004-06:00

I have been trying to post for the better part of the last week. Poor service, and it hasn't been working. So I'm just popping in to let you all know today (finally!) that for the next week and a half, please follow me in Italy! Click on the link!

Weekend Quip

2011-03-05T11:09:00.000-07:00

Quality time with Daddy

Stopping By to Say 'Hi'!

2011-03-01T07:54:00.001-07:00

This guy's been hanging around all winter. Every morning I mean to stop and take a picture but I never seem to find the time. I did today.

Hurts

2011-02-28T06:54:00.000-07:00

I started weaning this weekend. I'm leaving for Europe in two weeks, and besides, it's just time for this kiddo. He's not as interested and I end up feeding and pumping each time since he seems to have better things to do. As he is on solids and bottles, he's made the transition well.

But nobody told me it would suck this much. It sucks emotionally, but it sucks physically even more. I can't lift my arms :(

Anyone have any pain remedies? I'm only in 36 hours so I guess I have a few days left?

Look What I Can Do!

2011-02-24T07:18:00.000-07:00

This happened overnight. He has had a tendency to put his hand on his evening bottle, but the other day when we were out to dinner he started manipulating it, and when I picked him up from the sitter after work the next day - he had it all figured out. Perfect timing since I'm going to stop nursing within the next 10 days.

These two are inseparable. Seriously. Bunni HAS to be near him at all times. He just laughs and laughs whenever she 'rearranges' his hair and holds his hands out for her to rub against. She totally takes his abuse also, namely fur and whisker pulling. And she keeps the motor going the whole time too!

Typical

2011-02-15T07:43:00.006-07:00

The Good News: The weather is back into the 50's during the day. I have been out working with my horses. I don't have to wear my honkin' winter boots. Yeah for warm weather!

The Bad News: The sheet of ice under the water spigot outside is still there. It's slippery. I didn't want to change boots with rubber soles to haul water.

My Shoulder:

The Good News: It's not broken, dislocated or fractured like the Dr. thought.

The Bad News: The rotator cuff is bruised, the tendons are pulled and so is the bicep. I have to wear it in a sling for the week. I can't lift it above my rib cage. Boo.

The Cool News: I got a CD of my X-Rays. Technology is great.

The Many Faces of Wy Wy James

2011-02-11T06:48:00.004-07:00

I'll get some pics of the new horses up next week sometime. In the meantime...enjoy!

Boring

2011-02-04T11:58:00.002-07:00

Sorry - there quite literally has been not much of anything going on here. I do have some stuff I could blog about, but I need to take some pictures and whatnot so it isn't worth it right now.

I've also been caught up with parent teacher conferences, revamping our household (that I will one day blog about in the far future), and dealing with the winter weather that finally arrived - and left again. We had -56 wind chill the other night. You all know how running water doesn't freeze? Whatever. Ours did. And it was definitely running - not dripping. So along with that comes hauling water for livestock. Fun.

Wyatt continues to grow! I promise to be more exciting in the weeks to come!

The World is For Me to Discover, and Eat.

2011-01-13T22:02:00.004-07:00

The last month has brought about a world of discovery for the little guy. Namely the animal kingdom we have. He watches the cats and dogs, getting frustrated when they don't come over to give him kisses. Both big dogs stick their noses in his face then give his hand or foot a little lick, but Wrigley likes to plant them right on the kisser. From the way Wyatt laughs and opens his mouth for more while leaning in, I guess he likes it. We try to stop it when we see it coming. I'm all for kisses, but that's kinda gross.

My one little Manx kitty still has to be by his side almost constantly. Wyatt tries to get kisses from her also, and has taken to grabbing with both hands and pulling her in. She tolerates this, and he tolerates the mouthful of hair he gets, but again, it's a practice we aren't exactly condoning. Here he is trying to go in for the 'kill', but mom has a pretty good grip on him.

First he notices...

Then he leans...

Then he tries to go for it before mom stops it...(see the tongue starting to come out?)

As I take him everywhere with me, we inevitably end up in loud places. I had to watch gate at the basketball game recently, and as we were right under the buzzer I got a chance to use the babybanz ear protectors I had bought awhile back. He fell asleep with them on; after chewing on his feet for awhile.

Really Not a Whole Lot...

2011-01-12T21:02:00.002-07:00

I know I skipped over the Holidays pretty quickly...and that's because there isn't much to tell. I hate to admit it, but it wasn't a very happy time. This was due to a variety of reason's - one being there was a sad little girl in the house who's mother promised to take her to Disneyland over Christmas and then never came to got her; citing excuse after excuse. Another being family member's who are unsure of to whom they should be pledging their loyalty. Like that should even be an issue - but for some reason it is.

I'm married. That means to me that my husband and immediate family (i.e. our children) come before all others. This seems to be a difficult concept for some people to grasp; making threats, unfair accusations and malicious lies to get their way. Which, when it comes right down to it, doesn't make any darn sense anyway.

My New Year's Resolution? To purge my life of all this negativity and, let's face it, verbal and emotional abuse. If you are a negative influence on my emotional health, I don't want to talk to you. Sorry, but that's my bottom line.

This comes after a VERY LONG year of being gracious and attempting to show my sincerity about the importance of family, all the while biting my tongue and stopping myself from blurting out my true feelings. However, my true feelings won't do anything but sink me to the levels of those who cause these emotions, so I'm taking a healthier route - and guess what?

Life has been quite peaceful these last few weeks!

I've also learned a lot from my son. Smile and laugh everytime someone talks to you and they will start to do the same!

I Didn't Have Internet!

2011-01-06T07:06:00.001-07:00

The Rio Grande

I didn't drop off the face of the Earth, but I didn't have internet access and I've been crazy busy since! I'm sorry!

There's not much to say about Christmas Break. Wyatt enjoyed it. I spent a lot of time making gifts that still need to be mailed out. It's hard for me to find some 'me' time.

Chilled on New Year's with some friends.

In other news: New horse, Wrigley's a daddy again, it snowed here...

Enjoy the pics, movies, etc...

Our fantastic Santa, courtesy of my colleagues husband....does that make her Mrs. Claus?

Wrigley's a daddy!

The wine glasses I handpainted

The Pysanky eggs I decorated for ornaments

The necklaces I beaded

And my little man!

I promise to post again soon!

'Tis the Season!

2010-12-17T11:33:00.001-07:00

Create your own free greeting

I Think I Own It!

2010-12-10T12:16:00.004-07:00

The Annual Door Decorating Contest that is. Since I kicked some bootie last year with my 3D tree, I decided I had to try again. Check out my door in the new school this year:

I also beaded a bunch of snowflakes for my classroom. I was at the bead shop the other night and they had these cool wire snowflake frames for like $2/6 to bead. I thought it would be a fun project for my stepdaughter to make ornaments for family at Christmas, and then got into it myself. I'm going back to buy more frames tonight! Simple, easy and elegant project! Oh yeah - and cheap too if you buy your beads at Wally World! Aren't they pretty?

It's Feeling a Lot Like Christmas!

2010-12-05T19:04:00.002-07:00

First off, I need to put a shout out to Galloping Grace Youth Ranch in New Mexico. They are a non-profit organization that caters to children on their ranch. Each year they host a Pumpkin Patch and Christmas Corral. We missed out on pumpkins this year and were determined to get our tree from them. Alas, between the funeral and a cranky sick husband we just didn't make it. I'm bummed. Hoping for next year!

So we put our tree up this weekend!

Santa visited a little early as my little man has finally made the connection between his hands and his eyes! We first noticed it in his swing when we attached the tray with toys. He definitely was reaching and manipulating!

He's such an active little boy and loves to stand supported, so we decided it was time for a jumper. With some serious online searches involved, we finally found an affordable one at Wally-World, of all places. He loves to bounce in it and play with the toys!

I also have been meaning to post forever about Tinkerbell, the Pony. I finally found her a good home! As I refused to sell her for pennies, a friend approached me with a fair trade. Tinkerbell has gone to live with a little girl who loves her and rides her regularly, and in exchange I got this:

Tootsie, the Mini. She eats less. Has a Shag carpet for a coat. And is Wyatt new trusty stead (when he learns to ride next summer). As she comes up to my waist, I'm not too concerned about falls.

Outlaw Wyatt James

2010-11-30T12:52:00.003-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted lately. Nate's grandmother was killed in a horrendous car accident the Friday before Thanksgiving, and as he was extremely close to her, and she had been one of the nicest women ever to myself, we've had a hard time with it. Her husband was also injured in the accident and was hospitalized for awhile, but made it home for Thanksgiving and is recovering well. So it's been a rough week, but the funeral was beautiful and we walked away with positive thoughts. I'm not going to dwell on it, but we are hoping this has changed how some people in the family have treated us.

Spent Thanksgiving with close friends I work with and just relaxed and enjoyed each other's company. We had fantastic food and I spent two days baking in my tiny kitchen. My part of the menu consisted of homemade rolls with spiced cinnamon butter, sweet potatoes, brie wrapped in pastry, homemade sangria, pumpkin pie, and berry/rhubarb custard pie. I have great recipes for all of it is anyone's interested. The Sangria was especially yummy!

Nate and I celebrated our anniversary Sunday. We made it one year without killing each other - barely.

I started back to school with the kids yesterday. I hated leaving Wyatt, but he has a great sitter that is just down the road from work and I can see him at lunch if I want. He's her only infant and only one of two full-time children. I'm very happy with her, but I miss my little man soooooo much. I wish I could take him to work with me.

Wyatt is growing! He is such a handsome little dude. He smiles and talks and laughs all day. If he gets cranky, we just need to change a diaper or feed him and he's back to amusing everyone! He's our little outlaw.

As a true outlaw, lounging around in long underware and cowboy boots is a pastime not to be beat.

"Soooooo....you think you can beat me at cards? Here, let me drool on you."

"That's right, wanted in all 50 states"

"Being this cute exhausts me. Keep an eye on things for me Maverick."

Disguised as "Little Earp"

Long Overdue

2010-11-10T10:14:00.006-07:00

I haven't addressed the many questions concerning my step-daughter and the MIL. First things first -

Who made amends with me over the summer, then told me, though my efforts were appreciated, I wasn't good enough as a mother two weeks before giving birth when I was all hormonal?

Who told her granddaughter's teacher (at church no less) her parent's didn't care about her now that they had a new baby in the house, and to call her instad of her parent's if there were issues or concerns?

Who dresses up (ironically) as a clown to steal her granddaughter away from a Halloween party to take her to a haunted house at the school her stepmother works at, and then pretends she's not who she is 'cause...wait for it...she's in disguise?

You only get one guess (hint: it's the same person)

You got it! A crazy person! I'm over it. Really. It's really quite hurtful to myself and my family, and I just refuse to let anyone be hurt like this anymore

So that leads me into my stepdaughter's behavior. I don't think it takes much to explain the influences she has working around her. As a co-worker and parent of a child in her class recently said, "It's very obvious when you are out of town, or (she) has visited with her grandparents. She's rude to me and acts like a brat towards my child." Nice. At least I'm not getting blamed for her behavior. In fact, she herself blames grandma by telling her friends that, "my grandma told me I don't have to be nice to you." I don't actually believe this was really said, but she's got it figured she can behave anyway she wants if she blames it on her grandma. It's a quandary. And no, she doesn't visit but that doesn't seem to stop the in-laws anyway.

For the record - I really would love to be able to respect them and depend on them. Having family close would be nice if we could take advantage of it, and for general support. But when they can't respect their son, his wife or them as a couple - it makes it a little difficult when such foolish behavior is exhibited. What's killer is we visited quite often; at least once a month if not more. We spent the summer holidays with them, had dinner on more than one occasion, spent labor day with them, had my stepdaughter with them on and off through the summer for overnight visits, let her stay there when I was in the hospital, etc. But evidently if they don't have her whenever they want her, and for as long as they want her then they must resort to kidnapping. Like I said, I'm over it.

As for my step-daughter: we have started a red light/green light board and star chart at home. She's fine with Wyatt, but there have been some behavioral issues - such as lying about homework and then forging her father's initial on worksheets. What 5 year old does that? She gets a lot of attention, especially concerning school work and reading (which she really enjoys). The chart seems to be working as she's very excited to stay in the 'green zone' and collect as many stars as possible.

'K - moving on...

Wyatt is my little strong man. He loves to hang as a monkey and does pull ups. I'm not kidding. He does a 90 degree arm hang, can lower himself, pull himself back up and also does leg lifts. He laughs the whole time. Is this normal? LOL (BTW: LOVE the babylegs! They rock!)

I have been busy getting creative. I used to be quite the pencil and pen and ink artist, but don't have the space for my work in the house. My creative outlet has gone towards more 3D work - like knitting and sewing - and jewelry making. I've been knitting scarves and cowls to match recycled sweater mittens I've been felting for Christmas gifts. The only problem is I want to keep everything! I'll post pics soon concerning my projects - I've just had a stack of papers to grade lately so it's been put to the side for now since I have to catch time when baby is napping (and that's almost never).

This weekend I went to a birthday party for the daughter (and former student) of a good friend of mine. I totally spaced it, but came up with a cool gift at the last minute. She's a little cowgirl and shows horses competitively so anything chunky and rustic is right up her alley:

I used all natural stones: Turquoise, garnet, amber, quartz and lapis.

I made it into some pre-preggers pants about a month ago. Those were my 'fat pants'. This week I made it into some normal sized riding jeans I have that used to be a little loose, but now fit perfectly. Hopefully by next week they're a little loose again! Losing pregnancy weight sucks. I've been walking in my Shape-ups and doing some cardio, but not near the amount I should.

I had my hair done. I've been growing it out and wanted something drastic, but not short again. My stylist did an awesome job - she dyed the lower layers a really dark reddish brown (almost black), then chunked a bunch of bleached highlights and dark lowlights mixed with my natural haircolor. The highlights framing my face are a lighter blond that's almost a light lavender in certain light. I love it. It's totally dramatic and fun which is what I wanted. I've gone from the girl who might visit the hairsalon for a trim once every two years, to loving a change in my look at least twice a year. I'm not sure when the girl gene kicked in, or if it'll last, but I'm enjoying it.

Happy Halloween!!!

2010-10-31T12:19:00.001-06:00

A monkey and his banana. Could life get any better?

Didn't I Say I Wasn't Going to Do This Anymore?

2010-10-28T11:46:00.005-06:00

Dude - What's up?

I did, didn't I? I can't believe I'm home all the time but don't get a post up more often! Ok I swear I didn't pose this kid for this picture. I didn't even notice what he was doing with his hand until after I took the picture.

In the news:
I'm taking my full maternity leave so I get to stay home until Thanksgiving. I was considering going back earlier, but I have faith in my sub who has all my detailed lesson plans, and I'd have to pay the babysitter anyway so I might as well stay home with my peanut.

Speaking of the peanut - we had our 2 month check up (2 weeks late) and Wyatt weighs 11lbs 5.5 oz. and is 24 inches long! He's in the 50th percentile with everything but his length - he's in the 70th percentile for that!

He's still a good baby - and sometimes gets through the majority of then night. I figure if I can get him down by 12 and he doesn't get up until 5 then I count that as a full night. Unfortunately he's usually up at 2 or 3 also. He's a happy baby! Always smiling! We have a Bumpo 'cause this kid wants to be part of everything and laying down just isn't acceptable!

I'm taking this time to get rest, and start some projects. I've been going to knit shop at least once a week and am working on a few different projects for the holidays! I'll post about them soon!

Also new news in the animal department! I'll post about that soon as well!

Guilty Pleasure...and Burp Rags

2010-10-11T08:43:00.006-06:00

I have a guilty pleasure. I've never been a big television watcher, but when I'm nursing, pumping, or am hanging out with the little man while he wears himself out for the next nap I get a little bored. TV is a good distraction since I'm a multitasker and need to do something other than just sit there. There's been a lot of news, CSI and....Jerseylicious. I love Jerseylicious. I love how innocently ignorant the girls are on it, I love the drama, I love how they talk and I love to see what they are wearing from episode to episode. I want to be a Jersey girl sometimes. I already have one criteria down as I'm Italian. It makes me laugh. I mean seriously, how can you not laugh at Olivia discovering shoes other than heels? And ones with wheels at that?! Who never told her there were shoes with wheels?! And then watching her try and get the hang of them? It's refreshing to see I'm not the biggest dork in the world afterall.

Yes, yes...I know I'm a huge tomboy and don't mind getting dirty and if I go to a salon more than once a year it's some sort of record and pig's must be flying if I do something other than a pony tail - but sometimes I think I'd like to be that high maintenance and be Olivia for a day.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about check out the Style channel on Sunday night. I have to share that fabulousness.

How many burp rags does a new mommy need? I've lost count. They are seriously all over the house; laying in strategic places to help combat my crazy spitting child. I have taken the burp rags to a new level and am collecting stylish, one of a kind designs. There are the cowboy and classic car homemade cloths my childhood neighbor made, the soft, tasteful clothes my mom made to match the quilt she sewed I want to frame instead of use, the flannel cloths in fun designs that can double as a blanket I ordered from etsy, the colorful traditional cloths from the store...

Perhaps I have been more influenced by Jerseylicious than I thought...

In other baby news - Wyatt has officially graduated from newborn diapers and certain newborn clothes into 0-3 month sizes! Yeah! My child has no butt so I've been able to hold out for awhile. He still wears newborn sizes if he has top and bottom separates, but any pj's with feet are looking a little short for him and uncomfortable. Baby clothes sizes kill me. They are so random. We'll be in 0-3 sizes for awhile now - like for 4 months. Everything is HUGE on him. Maybe because he doesn't have a butt? He's also very slim. He's growing like a weed, but is just very compact. He was born with muscle definition in his legs and arms and instead of it turning to cute little baby rolls, my kid looks like a long, lean little cowboy. Go figure.

See - no butt!

We're Back!

2010-09-28T20:59:00.002-06:00

It was too quick of a trip and our last two days were marred by a disaster we had occurring back at home. I'll eventually post about that but it's a little depressing for now. Sorry to those we didn't get a chance to visit with.

Wyatt was a champ on the plane and during the car trip Up North and back.

We visited the TC area and friends Thursday and Friday. I had the great idea of hiking Sleeping Bear Dunes Thursday. Not sure that was the best idea, but I still hiked a mile and a half in with a baby strapped to my chest. I miss the water :(

Drove up to St. Ignace where our friends were staying before the wedding on Friday via Charlevoix and Petoskey. We stopped at one of the many cider mills along the way for apples, cider, and donuts. Nate had never experienced anything like that before as we don't have mills in CO like we do back East. I miss them too :(

The weather rocked on the Island and we rented a horse and buggy to wander around the island in the first day. It was a ton of fun! The next day we rented bikes before the wedding and checked out the grand hotel and the park. Wyatt was totally content in his little 'tag-along' behind the bike.

The wedding was small and beautiful. We had a great time visiting and headed back downstate Monday afternoon. We spent the remainder of the time visiting family.

Oh the Things I'm Learning!

2010-09-09T15:52:00.003-06:00

How can anyone afford both diapers and formula for their babies? I swear if I wasn't nursing we'd have gone broke already. I'm already stock piling the bottles!

Speaking of affording babies...how can anyone without insurance afford to have one? I got my hospital bill today. OMG! Granted I was charged for a full labor and then c-section, but still! Let's just say there are 5 digits and it's almost a quarter of the way to 6 digits. Holy Moly! Thank GOD I have insurance and I'm only paying barely into the 4 digits (not including all my pre-natal, but that wasn't too bad either).

There are good diapers and bad diapers. Good diapers only leak when they are fully saturated and weigh about as much as a baseball already. Bad diapers begin to leak before the baby is off the changing table and enjoying the first pee into a dry diaper...that evidentally stays dry since the pee is welling out the top. All I'm going to say is that the good diapers start with a "P" and the bad with an "H".

1 month checkup:
8.10 lbs
21.75 inches long
His head size is normal too, though I can't remember it

Holding his head up, almost rolling over, totally focused on things and loves the mobile above the crib, starting to smile, "talks" a lot and reaches for some things, knows his mommies voice and turns towards me when he hears me, tries to pull himself up when I hold his hands, and spits up A LOT (though dr. says he's growing like a weed and don't worry).

Only thing that bothers me is his umbilical cord is still on. Dr. said don't worry but come back in 2 weeks if it's still there. I'd love for it to fall off so we can have a normal bath and go swimming!

I'm doing alright - still a little sore. I gained A TON of weight while preggers ,though I'm not totally sure how since I was really active and not eating much, but oh well. Let's just say I gained about twice what I should have. About half of that is gone with little effort on my part, and it seems I lose more everyday, but I still cannot fit into anything. Literally. Maternity clothes are too big and everything else is too small. It's killing me. I can't afford to go shopping - AGAIN - so I'm just hoping the weight continues to peel off and I can at least fit into a pair of my 'fat' pre-preggers jeans soon.

That of course brings me to a dilemma since I'm going to be in MI next week! I don't know what to wear! We can only stay a week and half of that is going to be spent up North and on the Island for a wedding. It's a mini - baby - honeymoon since Nate and I still haven't had one. We have to rush home because of the business, but I do plan on trying to see as many people as possible. If I miss you - let's try again around Christmas since we're thinking of coming back then...maybe.

I totally meant to blog about Bunni, the manx cat, during my pregnancy but never got around to it. She spent the majority of the time, nights included, curled up around my belly purring to it. Since Wyatt's been born she has to be near us. She totally respects Wyatt's space and won't touch him other to sometimes sniff him or give his hair a little lick if I'm holding him. but otherwise this is what she does - just stays near him. She'll reach out a paw to touch my leg or hand, but won't do it to him. It's so cute. As usual he's checking everything out with a little peak to see if it's worth waking up all the way. He looks at everything with one eye first.

It's Not That I Haven't Had Time...

2010-08-31T11:44:00.005-06:00

It's just that I haven't had time to post!!! I'm sorry and things will be better from here on out! I spent the last week getting my new classroom (we moved into the new school last week) unpacked with my substitute. When Wyatt wasn't sleeping and I didn't have two hands available, I was transcribing lesson plans from my chicken scratch to something legible for her! So I've been recovering/killing myself with work. What's new right? But now that responsibilities are taken care of I'm back to taking care of myself.

I have a ton to post so I'll break in down in order. First, here are a few pics of my little man before we left the hospital:

Staring at daddy

Ready to go home. The plug already comes in handy.

The day after we arrived home we had another baby - of the four-legged variety:

By the weekend I was having serious cabin fever so we drove to the Dunes where I chilled out in the shade and Nate and his daughter dug for water. They eventually got the hole big enough to both sit in.

Love the baby sling. It's awesome! I do chores in it - shop - go walking...

Wyatt is a great sleeper even though he gets me up multiple times a night. He also wants to be held almost all the time. He loves his carseat however and I can generally sit him in it while he checks out his world...as long as he has something to suck on. I'm sensing an oral fixation. Oh well, as long a he isn't using me as the pacifier it's all good.

I didn't have to pose him for this. He's a natural in front of the camera.

Welcome Wyatt James Cornum!

2010-08-16T17:24:00.005-06:00

August 15th at 4:47 am ~ 7lbs 14.5 oz ~ 20 inches long

There's quite a story to this (isn't there always?), so I'm going to break it down into abbreviated steps:

1) Woke up to contractions Thursday morning at about 2:30 am. Were between 15 and 30 minutes apart, and mildly uncomfortable all day. Not really sure if true early labor.

2) By 11 pm were consitantly at 7 minutes apart and a little stronger, timed them until 3 am when I called the OB Ward and was told you can be comfortable at home or here - your choice. We waited until 6am to head in as they kept getting stronger.

3) Admitted and hooked up to a moniter that showed I was indeed having contractions 5 to 7 minutes apart, 2 cm dialated and 100% effaced. My doctor who's leaving is out of town until the 20th (when he planned on inducing me) so the midwife left in charge of his patients checked me out. I didn't change in dilation between 6 and 10am so there was some questions to whether I was in true early labor - but they were still strong and regular. Told to go home with a sleeping pill and when I woke up they would be gone. I was VERY sceptical, but hey - what do I know? So I went home. Big mistake. The damn midwife should have had a doctor look at me - or perhaps paid attention to the fact I was in pain. Contractions continued, getting stronger through the night - so basically I'm going on night 3 of no sleep and combined with the pain I'm getting stressed out.

4) Total wreck by Friday morning, refusing to go in only to be sent home again, in a ton of pain but still only 5 to 7 minutes apart. Nate talks me into heading out at 11 am, whereas I inform the admitting nurse I'm not leaving this place again (they teased me about it all day yesterday). Now here comes the Midwife's BIG mistake in play:

5) I'm hooked to the monitors only to be informed I have dangerously high blood pressure, the babies heartbeat is sky high, but dropping dangerously low with each contraction and taking a long time to recover. I'm still only at 2cm! But so stressed out from the last 30 unnecisary hours of contractions...the doctor on call makes the decision from the phone to get me leveled out and get me going. He then comes in and tells me because of the babies heartrate dips and slow recovery we need to think about a C-Section. I really wanted to deliver so asked him what would change his mind, and he said if the baby leveled out soon and stayed there. And that's exactly what happened.

6) Hooked to Picosin to jumpstart my dilation, water breaks on it's own at 3cm where I jump to a 5 quickly. Get an epidural which rocked. Moved to an 8 in a few hours. Epidural quits, next dose doesn't work, about ready to die after 2 hours, get a dose of lidocain, works immediatly, dilate to a 9...9...9...9...losing the pain meds, get a new dose and told to take a nap - only at 9.5cm. Almost there! Stuck at 9.5...still stuck...still stuck 4 hours later. Doctor comes in and decided we probably need to do a C-Section as the baby is starting to stress again, not bad but I should have moved forward 5 hours ago. He asks if I have the control to push - I do, he decides I'm going to deliver and he's going to move the last little bit of cervix over by hand. We start, pressure, and the baby stops. Try again, no go. Doctor doesn't know why but decides we're all tired of this and goes to tell the staff to ready the OR.

7) He no more than walks out the door and we lose the babies heartbeat completely. The nurses are turning me back and forth, calling for the doctor, prepping me for emergency surgery, pushing the baby up further - it was choas. They had me in the OR in less than 3 minutes and the heartbeat was back to normal.

8) Short umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. In short, when we went to deliver we were hanging him.

9) Baby bounced back great with a stress test score of 8.5/10. Hung out with dad until mom was recovered and then latched right on for his first feeding. Everything's been fine since!

10) I'm also bouncing back and should be let go tomorrow! So I got to experiece a full labor and c-section! Lucky me! I'm assuming I can blame the midwife who blew me off as another's patient for much of the occurances. I loved the doctor who was on call, and I was treated wonderfully. He, however, no longer works here full time but only covers 2 weekends a month as he works full time for the Mayo Clinic. I get to follow up with my regular doctor before he leaves for good. My RN through this all came to visit today and was pretty disappointed to hear what had happened but was so glad I ended up in good hands.

Oh - You So Know I Wasn't Giving Up...

2010-08-01T20:30:00.003-06:00

...riding for 10 months did you? Seriously? I think I've given it up now until the baby is born (because I can't get my foot in the stirrup), but this was me last Wednesday. Not sure what I'm saying - or if I'm surprised - or what to explain my facial expression - and why the picture is a little washed out, but Maggie and I had a nice ride bring up calves for a calf roper that evening. Don't worry. I wouldn't ride if I didn't know she would take complete care of me.

If you have a problem with that come deal with her:

Thought we were having a baby yesterday. When we got out of the rodeo, Nate and I walked around the carnival, ate some good carni food and just were hanging out when I started feeling a little 'wet'. Not really abnormal, but by the time we walked to the truck it definitely felt abnormal. As I couldn't see I asked Nate to take a look - and my shorts were soaked. We were like, "um, I think we need to go to the hospital..." So we went and the admitting nurse was sure I broke my water (there was that much) - but in checking, the tests weren't coming back as amniotic fluid, even though they aren't 100%. My Doctor was on call, sent me home and told me I could have a rupture but there was plenty of fluid in there and the baby's head could be blocking the rupture because it's "RIGHT THERE!" - which coincidentally is making it hard for me to walk. Anyway - went home to see if contractions started or had anymore leakage, and 24 hours later nothing is out of the ordinary so I guess we had a total false alarm. Oh well.

Speaking of babies here's my baby from last year chillin' with his mommy. He's been weaned for about 7 months, and is incredibly independent for a herd animal, but still loves to spend time with his mom from time to time. She's not really protective of him, but I catch them together from time to time in a mother/son pose. It's sweet to see how animals still have affection for their offspring.

And these little buggers flew the coop the day after I got this picture, but I just thought they were so cute to watch grow up. It was hard to get a picture because the nest is up under the roof of the house and there's only a few inches between the bottom of the roof and the top of the nest. They were hanging out over the edge this day so I snapped a picture while mom and dad dive bombed me. I think I was ducking while I took this - which is why it's a little blurry.

When I'm Off My Game...

2010-07-25T14:04:00.003-06:00

...I don't notice things like I should; such as where my young Indian Runner hen disappeared to. Until now. Look what she has tucked away in a spot I can't get to with the belly! I'm not sure these eggs will even be viable since they are small, or if they're even all hers or if she's sharing a nest with my young Buff hen. But since I have no idea how long she's had this nest going, and because she's broody and really wants to hatch them I figure I'll count down from the first day I noticed her sitting and just wait to see. Otherwise I'll just have to throw the eggs away anyway. If I get some babies great - if not then no big loss.

But I'm not completely off my game...Guess where I'm heading off to in this picture? Hint: look to the left and figure out what you see through the trailer window...

Time's ticking down! We have what will stand in as a nursery in the corner of our little bedroom set up - and I've started packing my bag for the hospital, because....

My doctor is still here due to some unforeseen circumstances! And he thinks I may be going into labor before my due date of Aug. 27th - and I won't be making it until the 27th anyway because he will be leaving before then and has promised to induce me on the 20th! I'm not totally sold on the induction - but it is an option. I want to be sure I'm ready to go because I REALLY don't want to end up having a c-section because the induction doesn't work. If I have a c-section it had better be because we have no choice and there is a problem. So we'll be talking more about that all in my appointment later this week.

Um...Sorry!?

2010-07-14T19:55:00.005-06:00

My lilies are in bloom!

I actually didn't realize how long it's been since I blogged last, and when I received two back to back calls from friends wondering if there was anything wrong since they hadn't seen any new updates lately I figured I'd better let my blogging buddies know I'm still alive!

I've been semi-busy, but nothing really has been happening which is why I haven't felt I've had much to update!!!

So in a nutshell:

I'm teaching swim lessons everyday. Group lessons each morning and private lessons afterwards, sometimes well into the afternoon! Granted those days make me tired, but I really am enjoying being in the water! I've gotten really popular as a private instructor and am known as "that pregnant teacher". So when people call the pool to set up an appointment that's how they refer to me. I've had a few women ask me if they think I, "should really still be doing this..." and I always let them know how great it makes me feel and how my doctor has told me how happy I'm going to be for keeping all "those muscles toned". Seriously, do they think I should just be sitting on my arse all day or what?

I shrunk the belly. Really. One day I woke up and could see my feet again. Nate came home one day and was like, "whoa - where'd he go? or did your boobs just get bigger?" The answers are - under my ribs (ouch) and yes.

Wrigley won a photo contest. Go here to check him out! I love this company, for small AND big dogs! We entered FOREVER ago, but it stayed active and he was chosen this month! Yeah for free stuff!

I'm knitting. I've been wanting to learn for a long time, have looked at books, everything...but never started. I finally decided I was going to and went to our little knitting shop in town to check out lessons and was told by the owner to just come in and she'd teach me! So I took advantage of it and after a lot of dropped stitches, somehow adding a billion stitches to rows and some major mistakes - I actually have a nice little project going. It's not as totally perfect as I'd like - but my teacher told me I'm being anal and it looks great. So yeah me! It's really the only thing I've done for myself all summer.

I'm still the horrid step-monster that has the audacity to drive her all over to her extra-curricular activities and attempt to suggest things like getting a pedicure and stopping for ice cream. I gave up on Barbie.

I take time every evening after it cools off to play fetch with the dogs. The sun is pretty brutal at this elevation during the day so I siesta if I'm not at the pool.

I came...

I saw...

I conquered...even though it's as big as me.
What about the ball? Just pet me! Maverick isn't into the whole 'fetch' thing like Wrigley and Dixie are.

Tinkerbell the pony came home after visiting with a friend for a few weeks. I thought that would jump-start my step-daughter into missing her and wanting to be around her more. When am I going to learn 'oh how wrong I always am'? She really is a sweet thing and I think she deserves to be loved by some little boy or girl so I want to sell her. I don't want to pay to feed her for nothing. It's not fair to either of us. I had some initial interest when I first put her out for sale, and then no follow ups to actually see her. Bummer. So if anyone knows of someone looking for a sturdy little pony - please contact me!!!

He's got legs! Here's my baby boy from last year on the far right. As you can see he's about all legs and we still don't know what his final color will be. AND....his front legs are straightening out quite nice overall. We keep him trimmed and have been working them into his growth spurts bit by bit.

They're watching the crop duster about 100 yards from the house in this picture. As you can see everyone is getting nice and fat since mom can't work them and show them this summer. They are in horsey heaven.

I love when the crop duster buzzes the house. It's so cool to watch. He goes right under the wires.

Ok - I will attempt to do better from now on with my posting! Adios!

Blah!

2010-06-25T12:01:00.009-06:00

My evil twin Andrea came to visit from MI last week. It was sweet. I need more people to be friends with here that I've known forever. I probably talked her head off. It wasn't a long visit, but we had the opportunity to chill at the pool, go to the dunes, visit and shop in Creede and go bra shopping (because the girls stopped behaving again and now nothing fits. And I refuse to order bras online as my experience has shown only about 1 in 10 bras are worth buying and I can't afford to deal with shipping costs over and over. I also can't wear an underwire anymore. Try finding support now! HA! - but it's really not funny). It was only at Walmart, but can I say that Danskin sports wear is my hero and their lined sports bras are saving my life? Or rather - at least the girls - for now.

Other than getting more and more tired and more and more uncomfortable - everything is great. I'm still mad at my doctor for leaving me, but at least I have one last visit with him and then I'm pretty much in the home stretch anyway. There's not much to say about the medical field here in the valley, so when someone like him (who actually is knowledgeable) leaves, it sucks. It makes me nervous, but I've had a pretty uneventful pregnancy thus far and all signs point to that staying the same. So now that I've cursed myself, I'm going with the one midwife we have her that works out of the hospital. She believes in hospital directives (which isn't saying much here, but at least we have a 'flight for life' to Denver), and painkillers. Not to offend anyone because this is my personal opinion, but screw that natural birth stuff. I know I'm tough. I've been bucked off horses. I've been bucked off horses on railroad tracks and have scars. It hurt and I almost passed out more than once but worked through it and got back in the saddle half conscience - to lead a parade no doubt. I also had a horse turn over on me and crush my foot. Did you know there are more nerve endings in your foot than anywhere else in your body? And that one of the most dense bones is found in your foot? I shattered it. That took a lot of force. If I had had the choice for painkillers THEN I would have taken them, but I didn't have that choice. Now I have the choice and I want them. I don't feel the need to prove how tough I am. I already have. Yeah me.

My immediate family still isn't involved with my pregnancy. I guess it is bothering me since I'm blogging about it. I found out recently that nobody really knows - which means my mom hasn't told my billions of family members. My Uncle also died a few weeks back and I had a ticket ready to purchase for the funeral and then I got to thinking...I didn't want to fly home for a funeral and have it turn out to be about me and this pregnancy nobody knows about. How uncomfortable for my mom right? When she's supposed to be grieving for her brother? And everyone's wondering why they didn't know her only daughter and firstborn is expecting...soon? Her first grandchild?

Yes, I'm understandably upset and I'm thinking my uncle would have told me to just let her get over it and give it time - That not going was the right thing for her to work through her feelings concerning his loss. I feel like everyone wants a little piece of me and I'm supposed to not ever be upset, or disappointing, or disagreeable or I'm not part of the family. I guess all this coming on the end of a surprise pregnancy that scares the shit out of me, trying to be a step-mother that I feel I fail at miserably, walking on eggshells around the MIL and trying to get that in a happier place (despite being totally ostracized by the rest of my husbands' family over religion), and doing the best I can to be everything my husband wants me to be - makes me feel I don't have many places for me to turn to for support.

Honestly I don't know where all that just came from - but evidently I needed to get it out. I'm overwhelmed and scared half to death to bring a baby into this all.

Ugh. I hate it when my post turns into a pity party. What I need to do is go out with my camera and take photos of everything I have worked to hard for and write a post about that. So - as of now I'm making that my assignment for next week.

Gotta Wear Shades, Amongst Other Things...

2010-06-17T15:16:00.003-06:00

Lots of stuff going on here. Put up a temporary fence for the horses so they can eat down some of the grass along both sides of the drive, waiting for our next flood for irrigation, am getting a great tan while teaching swim lessons each morning and I just got back from the doctors and everything's great - the cyst I had is gone, I haven't had any more sciatic nerve issues and basically now all I have to do is wait. However, the bad news is my doctor's leaving for another practice a month before the baby is due. S0 that more or less leaves me high and dry concerning a doctor... that's competent. Of course I am going with whom he suggested, but still. It pisses me off.

In other news: Wrigley's puppies are of age to sell and we went to visit to see the litters! Way too cute and I'm so glad I already had stud fees in hand and the pick of litter was wanted by the females' owner or I would have taken her home. There were 6 in one litter and 2 in the other (he 'accidentally' knocked up another female while visiting). Two babies died at birth when mom bit their umbilical cords too close, but everyone else was super healthy with a little help from the owners. There were 4 black and silver dapples, a red dapple, and 4 sables. Not too bad since both moms were straight red and Wrigley was the only one with any color! He has proven himself!!! Yeah!!!

Huge Wilderness fire burning behind our house in the sand dunes area. Since it's wilderness they've been letting it burn for about a week. It blew up today, but still is in an uninhabited area. Very cool to watch. I hope this doesn't turn out to be a crazy fire season since last year sucked and I can't go out on anything this year due to the belly. Can't believe how much I miss it! The peaks are at about 13,500 feet there so it gives you an idea of how high that plume is.

Mooooove Over Betsy! Or Better Known as Today I'm 32 and 28 Weeks Pregnant

2010-06-09T07:45:00.005-06:00

Betsy's the big Longhorn in the background. I think I rival her? What do you think? She's living next to the house with a bunch of her friends this summer. She came by to say Happy Birthday.

Anywho. I started my morning off with a mile and half hike to bring in the horses from pasture and digging out some irrigation flows since we're flood irrigated here and the water for the horse pasture finally arrived - so I need to take advantage of it. Nate was still sleeping. Men. It was 6 am though and he didn't know the water had come up overnight. Still - men. But it is nice to know I may be preggers and still self-sufficient.

So now I'm off to teach swim lessons in my snazzy colorful swimsuit. I really don't care what I look like anymore really. I'm pregnant. Get over it.

My Iris's are blooming like crazy. The yellow ones opened first and are almost done, then the purple and are starting to finish up, redish came next and are at their height and the white ones opened yesterday morning. I didn't plant them so it's been interesting to see what I have. Columbine's are now opening and the tulips started but didn't do well after it froze a few nights in a row. Few other perennials took a hard hit but will make a come back and I lost almost all my annuals. Now I wish it would cool off! We went from super windy and dry to super humid and hot. Not a normal weather pattern for the valley. It's usually pretty cool in the summer here. I think the Michigan weather followed me special for my pregnancy.

Summer is Upon US!

2010-06-03T10:28:00.003-06:00

I do actually have internet at home now, but it's slow and I'm back at my summer spot - the coffee house. However I don't anticipate this happening to often with a surly 5 year old (that I don't have today because she's with grandma - more on that later).

Sorry I don't have any pictures but Memorial Day weekend was fun! We went rafting on the Rio Grande - I wore a bathing suit in all my pregnant glory - and then stayed up 'till all hours of the night with my 'drinking' friends. Luckily I had another sober soul with me who's preggers as well. It was a beautiful day and sunshine, sunburns and beautiful water abounded!

I sent off my step-daughter's pony for the summer. Somebody wanted to borrow her and I'll be damned if I'm going to feed the little bugger when her 'owner' throws a fit everytime I suggest she spend some time brushing her or petting her. Now she's pissed at me. Oh well. She can pay for her feed then.

I don't have to take those damn pills from the doctor unless I think I need to. He said they really shouldn't be used over a long period of time and I did the right thing by not taking them as often as prescribed the way they made me feel. Thank God! I thought I as going to be tweaking for the next few months.

I shipped of my Step-daughter for the next 4 days to a family reunion with her grandparent's. I finally had to hash it out with my MIL and explain how her gradndaughter's behavior is not only not appropriate when she comes home from any kind of visit, but I've also about had it with her son and it's becoming clear to me that we get 'different stories' - and that from now on we have no 'go betweens' but actually communicate with one another. She was dumbstruck. She said she had no idea how bad her granddaughter was behaving and thought Nate was over-exaggerating. Bottom line - I need a break. It's been expected of me to be this great, fantastic mother and wife from the start and I've been pregnant the whole time. I haven't been cut a break and I'm tired of being a glorified babysitter and not living up to Nate's expectations. I laid down the law finally. I've been overwhelmed with trying to adapt as a wife and mother and deal with my own fears and exhaustion this pregnancy has brought on. It's my turn and I'm going to be a selfish bitch. Excuse the expression. I told my MIL that and said since she's been trying to contact me lately with wanting to help - than this is what she could do: Get her granddaughter out of my hair for a bit and work on her behavior so that when I do have her I don't have a crying whiny baby, and to tell her son to back off and stop playing games with us both - and be supportive rather than a whiny baby also. I also am making him go to therapy with me. I'm not his ex-wife who sat on her butt eating Cheetos through the pregnancy and never stopped. I'm an active person and having to slow down has been hard on me as well, but if I need to sit down I don't think I should be made to feel guilty because I'm not spending "enough time with his daughter". When the hell is he spending time with her?

This isn't hormonal either - this is me trying to please, please, please everyone and not getting anything in return. It's ending now. I'm too independent and if I don't try and fix it then I know myself, I'll leave and do it myself (which isn't really what I would want in the long run).

So I'm going to Gunnison for a weekend with some girlfriends. We have a conference and I can't wait for the short escape. I also am starting to teach swim lessons on Monday. They only last for a few hours each morning and then I have the rest of the day to myself for the rest of the summer. I'm very excited about this.

Aggravated Uterus

2010-05-28T07:16:00.001-06:00

I'd be aggravated to if I was made to stretch into the shape and size of various athletic balls and large fruits over the course of a few months (not to mention being compared to those objects).

So my boring, uncomplicated pregnancy became a step towards complicated last night when I spent three hours in the hospital hooked up to various machines while a nurse tried to figure out exactly what was happening. The good news: no contractions. The bad news: my uterus is 'aggravated' which could precede pre-term labor and therefor I am now taking drugs; namely Terbutaline (no I didn't remember that I had to look on the prescription). I also got chewed out for waiting 48 hours before I bothered to call the doctor (but how was I supposed to know it wasn't gas?!).

Basically I now know what it must feel to be a tweaker...and why they call it 'tweaking'. My heart is racing a mile a minute and I can't concentrate on anything. It makes me sick to my stomach. I don't know how anybody can actually want to feel like this...for fun. Good thing school's over or I'd probably be under suspicion.

I also have a list of 'nos' and what I should avoid doing. I hate to tell them but half the things on the list I'm going to do anyway because who else will? Yes, I know, this is where everyone tells me I need to, "ask for help". And this is when I respond, "I would except when I do ask for help I end up having to do it anyway and more inconvenient times." That makes me feel lousy that I got up enough gumption to ask and then I wasn't important enough to the person for them to do it for me when I asked. It's just how it is.

Everything is pre-cautionary anyway and I'm just going to be a little more aware of myself. I know exactly what is causing this. It starts with a capitol S and is spelled S-T-R-E-S-S. There is one major factor contributing to this which I can't control. And I am doing everything possible to try to alleviate it which leads to more stress and disappointment. It's okay, I've dealt with worse, just not with the little parasite growing in my belly at the same time. But who said I wasn't up to a challenge right? If anything my little bugger will be born with some life lessons under his belt already.

Recipes, Phones and Wind...Oh My!

2010-05-23T15:43:00.004-06:00

Hold tight and both recipes for Baked French Toast and the Artisan Bread are at the bottom...

My cell service was up for an update and despite absolutely loving my G'Zone Rock - the indestructible cell phone that spent time in a ditch, water tank and falling continually to a variety of ground surfaces - I decided to try something new. I figure if the new phone can't handle my life then I'll just turn the old one back on even though it's missing pieces from it's body. Trying a new phone was free afterall!

So after much debate I decided on the Samsung Reality. It's a touchscreen with a slide up querty keyboard. I've been extremely sceptical (as I usually am with new technology), but I've had it a few days now and so far, so good! I had some initial concerns with it's usage...and then I read through some tutorial material and made life easier for myself. I suggest reading through user manuals if you've never had a touch screen before. I have scratched it already (surprised?) but have a screen cover on it and went ahead and bought a skin to help protect it. I read a billion reviews as well and there weren't any negatives other than battery life - but mine just took 4 days to die after it's initial charge so I certainly don't have a problem with that!

So if I had to give it an initial review:

Fun, not any more expensive despite having to change my plan a little and having a Data package, good sound, has handled a little rough treatment (and feels sturdy), and a perfect size for a gal's pocket...Not sure I would recommend it for a guy as it is small. The keyboard keys stick up a little so that's cool also.

The wind won't stop blowing here. It's making me crazy. My landlady is a lawn freak also and is getting pissed we can't keep the lawn as green as she'd like, but I hate to tell her I'm trying to run sprinklers all night, but between the constant wind all day and night, and the hot sun all day it just dries it right out. That and we can only run one sprinkler at a time or we totally lose water pressure. The good thing is it's enough to keep the lawn alive, the bad thing is it doesn't look very healthy. Nate and came up with some solutions today. For starters we're going to fertilize the crap out of it. And we bought this so we can cover the whole lawn rather than just bits and pieces at a time (we have a really large lawn):

Meet the new addition - The Rain Train!!! Can't wait to see our electric bill from running the water so much.

Notice the broken swing in the background, and the dust and sand in the air. That's what the wind is doing to us here. It's like living through the dust bowl a few months at a time each spring. Though this year seems way worse than it's been in a long time.

Alrighty - as promised - Recipes!

Baked French Toast:

I got this recipe off The Pioneer Woman (link on left). I love the fact that you can change a lot up - such as substituting a sweet bread, adding fruit, and adding Cinnamon to the liquid mixture. Skim milk works great and cutting the butter also works if you are more health conscience. It was sweet enough that butter and syrup really didn't need to be added. What I TRULY loved was that it tasted awesome as leftovers also! If you have fresh eggs I strongly suggest you use them! It really raised it up and gave it a light texture. Store bought eggs gave it a more dense texture (I had to try and brag about my fresh eggs - I think everyone should have a backyard chicken or two, or three).

1 loaf Crusty Sourdough Or French Bread
8 whole Eggs
2 cups Whole Milk
½ cups Whipping (heavy) Cream
¾ cups Sugar
2 Tablespoons Vanilla Extract
Topping
½ cups All-purpose Flour
½ cups Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
¼ teaspoons Salt
1 stick Cold Butter, Cut Into Pieces
Fresh Fruit (optional)

Grease 9 x 13-inch baking pan with butter. Tear bread into chunks (or cut into cubes) and evenly distribute in the pan.

Mix together eggs, milk, cream, sugar, and vanilla. Pour evenly over bread. Cover tightly and store in the fridge several hours or overnight.

In a separate bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add nutmeg if desired. Add butter pieces and but into the dry mixture until mixture resembles fine pebbles. Store in a Ziploc in the fridge.

When you’re ready to bake the casserole, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove casserole from oven and sprinkle crumb mixture over the top. (If you’re using fruit, sprinkle on before the crumb mixture.) Bake for 45 minutes for a softer, more bread pudding texture. Bake 1 hour or more for a firmer, less liquid texture.

Scoop out individual portions. Top with butter and drizzle with maple syrup.

Simple Artisan Crust Bread

You're going to die when you see how easy this is. Adding honey, spices, cheese, for taste also works well. Those of you at high elevations: I live at 8,000 feet and didn't have to change a thing. It wasn't a very dense bread, but if you want it a little lighter add a little flour and take away some yeast. Yeast rises much faster at a high elevation. You can also punch it down once and let it rise again or add a little salt. But like I said I didn't have any problems. That could also be due to baking it with water on a stone.

1 1/2 Tablespoons Yeast

1 1/2 Tablespoons Salt

6 1/2 Cups Flour

3 Cups Lukewarm Water (~100 degrees)

Mix Yeast, Salt and Water. Stir in flour. Knead lightly (should be combined but not too much, not crumbly either) and then Cover (but let breathe) and let rise for 2 hours.

Cut into grapefruit sized pieces with a serrated knife and shape into a round loaf (can sprinkle with cornmeal) and Let rest for 40 min.

Heat stone for 20 minutes in oven at 450 degrees

Dust with flour and slash - put 1 cup water in broiling pan

Bake ~30 min. or until lightly brown on top.

Enjoy!!!

The Stepmonster Cooks

2010-05-17T22:46:00.006-06:00

First off I'd like to start this post by giving myself a slap on the hand for what amounts to being a horrible step-mother...again. We had a beautiful weekend here and I had the audacity to suggest to my step-daughter that she set up her Barbie pool outside and enjoy the weather.

That's it. She screamed bloody murder that I had her put on shorts, a tank top and play outside while I gardened. I know, I know...the cruelty I subject her to. Since she hated that idea so much I made her sit on the porch instead with no toys. I'm sure she'll be scarred for life.

That pretty much sums up where our summer is starting out this year. How much fun does everyday of this sound? Yippee! Can't wait to see her reaction when she finds out I signed her up for swim lessons! Yeah! I'm becoming absolutely apathetic to what she wants anymore...since it basically sums up to sitting in her room.

I really wanted to make this post about my cooking...or rather lack thereof as of late. I love to cook, but with my super small, lacking of counter space typish kitchen, it really isn't enjoyable - at all. In fact it rates right up there with trying to do things with my step-daughter. I really can't describe how little counter space I have, but the following pictures probably will give you an idea of what I'm talking about.

I received a TON of great kitchen stuff for our wedding and for the Pampered Chef party I had in February - that has been either sitting around taking up space or stored away. Alanna sent me baking sheets recently, and since I've been craving cookies, and had a large bag of chocolate chips in the cupboard, well...time to try out the new materials! I decided to put my Baking stone, glassware mixing bowls, ergonomic baking sheets and Kitchenaide mixer to use - pretty much all at once - with new recipes no doubt. Lot's of big 'ifs' there.

In the menu:

Dark Chocolate/ Toffee Chip Cookies

Artisian Bread
Baked French Toast

I can only handle 3 at once with this kitchen...seriously. Wait until you see the balancing act...

This pretty much amounts to my total (at least largest) counter space:

Oh look - there's a little more next to the stove:

Taking advantage of some space on the table:

Letting the bread 'rest':

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm! This bread was SO simple to make. I would add in honey and some spices next times, but for a quick, plain white bread it's awesome! There are usually some challenges to baking at 8000 feet altitude, but I didn't have to alter anything for this recipe.

Oh! More counter space in front of the microwave! Yeah! Notice the pan is hanging off the edge...

Let me tell you how way yummy this baked french toast turned out. It was even better as leftovers!

All in all everything turned out great and all the new 'materials' I tried out worked great! And...NOTHING ended up on the floor (except a little flour)!

Wind, wind and more wind...

2010-05-13T17:18:00.000-06:00

Thank you for all the well wishes after my last post. I'm not letting myself think about it too much. It's just so sickening to me still how the chain of events played out.

The wind typically whips through the valley each spring but this year things have been a little more violent than usual. I thought everything that could blow away was put away, however nature WILL find things to destroy. When I arrived home Tuesday the chain link fence around the chicken pen was blown over. How does a chain link fence get blown over, especially when there is no resistance? When the wind is strong enough to actually move the fence into a position that there are no angles to the fencing and it falls over. Sorry there aren't any pics but I was attempting to right it in the wind.

We also have vents in various places in the ceiling of the house. They have access panels into a crawl space in the rafters. The wind blew so hard it must have somehow gotten through little nooks and crannies around the facet and literally lifted the access panels so a few were all scewed. Mind that was actually inside the house. How strong does wind have to be for that to happen?

But what takes the cake is this:

This is the skylight at the school. The wind didn't shatter the glass or blow something into it - it lifted the glass panels and blew them away. Where they landed nobody knows.

And then there's me at 24 1/2 weeks. I had my test for diabetes the morning of this picture. The results aren't in yet, but I think everything is fine. The only thing that has changed some for me is how I can have crazy energy all day until about 1 pm and then I literally want to die. Of course I still have 2 1/2 hours of classes left so that isn't an option, and then I hit my second wind at home and try to stay busy until bedtime. Getting up in the morning is getting increasingly difficult, especially since I bought myself the Leacho pillow I had posted about previously. I love it even though I wish the separation was at the bottom so when I rolled over I didn't have to lift my legs, but it is super comfortable and supportive.

Sad Day

2010-05-09T18:21:00.003-06:00

I lost my horse Docs Driften Rebel today. After various attempts to geld him (castrate him), and dealing with nasty weather, the vet and I finally scheduled today to work (I'm his assistant as he is semi-retired and I have a vet assistand background). A month or so ago we found out he was a cryptorchid (meaning only one testicle had dropped), so we scheduled an invasive, but usually uneventful surgery.

After cutting him open the vet couldn't find the testicle. He searched forever and came up with a vas deferen - not connected to anything. We both were extremely confused but decided to sew him up, take the dropped testicle and wait to see his behavior in a month or so. If nothing else his testosterone level would drop, and if he had tendencies to act stupid as a 'proud cut' (still producing hormones) horse, then the vet said he would go in through the side to try and find the missing bit up around the kidneys from a different angle.

For those of you unaware, the kidney and testicle are one and the same in utero, so when one goes 'missing' it's usually hiding up there because it never fully developed or dropped into position.

He came out of anaesthetic great, was moving around, eating some, drinking and a half hour later was dead. Somehow his intestine slipped through a less than 1/4 inch space between sutures, started filling with fluid and the brought another loop of intestine with it. Our choices were to put them back and restitch, cut them out and sew the remaining intestine together (and with two lengths this was quite long), or put him down. In my experience, and almost everyone I know who's had a horse with intestine surgery, has lost the animal. Such a large, strong animal is so surprisingly fragile when dealing with these types of wounds. It's why a twisted gut in colic almost always results in death - even after surgery.

My vet was sick about it. He felt his 'digging' around, no matter how gentle he was helped this along. He offered to perform any surgery I asked free of charge, but I just know - I just know it would have resulted in the infection that most likely was already forming, or a rupture inside later, or death of a length of intestine and then a more painful death for my colt. I had the option to haul him up to CSU after securing the already dropped intestine, but that would have taken hours and we probably would have arrived with dying intestine and a horse in a lot of pain. And with that I made a decision to put him down. I've watched too many friends with colicy horses who have gone through the surgery, think they have a great recovery going only to watch them die in pain. I couldn't do this to him because of my selfishness of wanting to try and try and try some more.

I'm sick over it. And it gets worse.

Afterwards the vet performed an autopsy. He couldn't explain the vas deferens and felt horrible as he's a family friend I've known since I moved here. He needed to know why he couldn't find something he's found hundreds of times before.

There was no second testicle. The vas deferens wasn't ruptured like he thought. It literally wasn't connected to anything. The surgery was completely unnecessary. However there was no way anyone could have known this since the odds are so completely - out there. It's like a million in one. I can get a horse that I lose in that kind of odds, but never something good. Why is that? Why at the expense of a life?

We're disgusted. I'm so sad - and the vet feels so bad over this freak occurrence he won't charge me anything since I'm tutoring his son this summer and has given me pick of his private herd to replace the horse. It's hard for me to tell him I really don't want a replacement, I want the horse I bought as a baby and spent the last three years starting back, but his heart's in the right place and I feel so bad for him even though I cannot find anyway things could have gone differently. Any other vet would have done the same thing, and Rebel could have slipped the intestine anyplace else as well. It's not like he didn't have the best of care and was watched closely. And it happened so fast, under watchful eyes. I can't imagine if I'd taken him home already. It could have happened on the trip back, or worse, overnight and then things would have been really bad in the morning. The only good thing that came out of this was that Rebel probably never was in pain. He still was slightly drugged from the surgery and most likely never felt anything. That's the only thing that I can think of that makes me feel any better.

Maybe there's a bigger picture out there, but as Rebel was a replacement to the filly that was killed three years ago, I thought he was the bigger picture - and I just can't see where this is going anymore.

Weekend Getaway!

2010-05-02T22:08:00.007-06:00

Nate and I have decided to try and make an overnight or weekend escape more often. Of course this is depending on who can watch his daughter, but this weekend grandma was out of town and since we have no problems with grandpa she was able to stay there.

This is where we stayed in Pueblo - the Abriendo Inn Bed and Breakfast. It's an old historic building that reminds me SOOO much of many of the homes up in Houghton, MI; such as the AGD house! We stayed up on the 3rd floor. It was beautiful, quiet and relaxing...and the breakfast was super yummy! Nate also had flowers and chocolate strawberries waiting for me!

We needed to get away not just for us, but because I'm rapidly finding I have nothing to wear. I had purchased a few lots of used and new cloths off eBay, and those provided me with a pair of jean, a few capris and shorts as well as some shirts. I also ordered a few shirts from Old Navy, but found their mediums were really huge on me. Despite getting a few cute and comfortable items, I quickly found I needed to try some clothes on.

I went shopping at our local Maurice's and picked out a few drapy shirts that would last me through the pregnancy and beyond, but I wanted more.

We hit Old Navy, Kohls, Target, VC, Ross and JC Penny's. I bought 7 maternity items because there were all off about 12 racks of clothes between all of them - or non at all in the case of Old Navy. Ross actually had the best selection and what there was elsewhere looked like a bedsheet - both print and size taken into consideration.

HOWEVER - not all was lost as shirts are running to longer styles, loose and drapy styles are in, and everything was on sale this weekend. Nate bought me anything I tried on he liked and I liked and we went home with a truck full of pants, shorts, shirts, underwear and even regular sized bathing suits in larger sizes. So - thank GOD for the newer cute and comfortable styles! Old Navy in particular had a lot of different things in shirts, dresses and elastic waisted skirts. Kohls had cute shirts, JC Penny had great bathing suit options and Target had great jeans. Ross had everything and I strongly recommend that pregnant women shop there since the prices are so cheap also!

Before we drove home Nate had to run by and pick up some work items and dropped me off at Barnes and Noble. I am book starved in the valley so this is always a great treat. He always leaves me with money and then sees how far I can make it stretch...

EXCEPT .... when I walked into the store this time I was greeted by this:

It was like the holy grail of reading items shining as a beacon from the doorway. I kid you not. I was drawn to picking it up and playing against my will. Everytime I walked away I had to go back...and that's where Nate found me a half hour later, about 20 steps in the front door with one in my hand.

But - before you all think he told me to put it down and walk away...slowly....there is a story surrounding eReaders in our house. I have a billion books and everyone makes fun of me for that fact, especially when I move. Nate decided I need an eReader to save his back. Now, nothing can truly replace the feel of having a real book open in your hands, the smell and crinkles of the pages, the dog ears and favorite marked passages - BUT - there is something nice about being able to carry around more than one book at a time in a format smaller than the average novel. He bought me a Sony reader for Christmas. I didn't like it. No 3G networking, wireless, etc....I wanted a Kindle. So we returned the Sony and never bought the Kindle.

Then I walked into Barnes and Noble and saw the NOOK. I got to play with it. Talk with a sales person. Ask questions. Play with it. Try out cases and touch them. Play with it. It has a touch screen, automatic WI-FI, 3G networking, internet, freebie books, $5 to $12 book options, an extra USB reader card if you fill it up with more than 1500 titles, games, music - the list goes on!

I love it and Nate let me bring one home with me. He even picked out a case. We may not have the 3G network available in our little valley (we only have Verizon), but it can hook up to any Wi-Fi as well as the computer for downloads.

I'm a comparison freak and thought about the Kindle for years. I really wanted one and taking a NOOK home with me was almost flying blind - however, I'm very impressed and have even dealt with the customer service and was SUPER happy with how I was treated.

Two thumbs up in my world. We're broke now - but the trip was sure worth it!

Terms That Evade Me

2010-04-30T07:29:00.002-06:00

Anyone who knows me or has followed my blog knows how I keep myself busy...and also how when events occur in my life they tend to take on the resemblance of a whirlwind. Take my wedding as an example, or even my pregnancy. Despite the fact we were engaged at the beginning of July and married at the end of November many people thought we should have given more time. I'm glad we didn't because there was enough drama built up over such a short time in planning, but I'm still getting used to the married life. Now compound that with being pregnant and having the busiest and most stressful spring work-wise ever.

Husband

Wife

Step-mother

Mother

Pregnancy

Birth (ahhhhhhhh!)

Baby

In-laws (boo, hiss, boooooooooooo)

Anyway - those a a few of the terms that just don't quite roll off this independent gals tongue quite so easily yet. It really hasn't helped that I haven't had much time to actually sit down and contemplate life in a long, long time either.

I don't see this as irresponsible as I still make sure I'm as responsible as ever concerning anything that has come into my life, but I find myself sitting on the couch some evenings after a long day waking from what I can only describe as 'automatic mode', and looking around myself like I'm only just realizing this is all real.

It's a strange and unsettling feeling. I hate going through the motions of certain tasks feeling completely removed from them - such as being instant mom. Nate's daughter and I haven't had the easiest few months this spring as she continue to defy myself and her teachers now after visits with grandma. We tried everything from short visits to overnighters, asked grandma to be on the same page as us concerning behavior, following lines of questioning that doesn't involved how much she misses her and how she should visit more and more along the lines of what she does and school and home - but to no avail. Visits result in swearing, tattling, falsely accusing other children, pushing and acting violent towards other children. After a week of no visits these seem to dissipate - so guess what? No more visits. It also puts a horrid stress on the marriage and things are much calmer in the house when there is no acting up. I've put my foot down with behavior - either everyone behaves like adults or leave until you can. I can't handle the stress. It's working just fine so far.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a family member to trust to watch the kids? I'm afraid that's not written in the stars for this marriage. We're on our own. That combined with her increasing criticism of everything involving me (basically the fact Nate is still married to me - seriously - what a horrible concept eh?), the MIL is pretty much cut out of our lives. And my mother hasn't said a peep to me about my pregnancy all surrounding the facts we had a house before the wedding and I was upset for 30 seconds after getting left with the salon bill the morning of the wedding. I guess when you get married in my family you are supposed to walk away from the family you grew up with. Whatever.

I'm not really in a bad mood or anything, it's just that as things have slowed down I'm finally starting to look at the issues that have been going on that I've been maybe complaining about, but avoiding due to time constraints. Overall the situation concerning parent's is quite bleak - and bothersome. And quite honestly I'm at a point in my pregnancy that I'm not dealing with everyone else anymore. For almost 6 months it's been about trying to make things right whenever there is a spare second, addressing household issues, conferencing with pre-school teachers and psychologists, dealing with school budget woes and the classroom. It think time has come for me.

When I sat down the other night all I could think was, "Oh my GOD I'm PREGNANT!". I believe that was a bit more than a 'little' delay in my thinking.

23 weeks today. Leave the girls out of it. They make everything seem 3 times larger than normal. If they don't get under control later the word 'reduction' will become an intimate part of their vocabulary. Here that gals? After nursing you are going back to normal. This is your one and only warning. I can't afford the size you are. It's too weird and nobody carries it. Are you readers ready for the size? Scroll down....

34F with no end in site (I'm normally a 32D)....right now I'm squeezing into a 36 D which is the best I could do in the valley. I'm heading to Pueblo this weekend to attempt to remedy the situation. I need support!!! I don't like porn star girls.

Titanicized!

2010-04-26T07:26:00.001-06:00

Kudos to Bolte for first guessing the theme. The days leading up to Prom were interesting, meaning I'm using the most polite term I can use. The Juniors decided to charge $5 a head to get in (yes, yes I know - we all paid LOTS way back when, but for some reason, despite spending thousands there isn't usually a cover charge). This caused all sorts of controversy, including some serious verbal abuse sent my way by some parent's. All we could explain was this was a Junior class vote and they were the ones who needed to take responsibility. I know, I know - all over $5. I can't explain it either.

However, once the day of Prom arrived I didn't much care. This is what I woke up to the day before, so there was some worry about weather since we'd turned all the heaters off to keep the 'ceiling' from blowing all over. But it ended up being just fine as Saturday dawned sunny and cool instead of blowing and snowy!

I managed to get some pictures of everything the evening before since we'd be psycho busy the day of - and sure enough we were. These pretty much represent what there was even though all the tables and chairs weren't set up yet.

This is our ice float where the live four piece orchestra played. Just like in the movie "Titanic"!

And the centerpieces I put together! They were a big hit!

What's Prom without a few pics? I had serious debates over what to wear as the dress I bought looked like a tent on me. I just couldn't do it so I rifled through the closet and found this drapy bodysuit I bought a few years back, wore once and forgot about. It was perfect and comfortable. I hate how much weight I've put on through my face more than anything else. I can't wait to be able to P-90X again. Nate takes horrible pictures (it's a standing joke with everyone who's ever taken our pictures) but I thought you might like to see the belly at 22 weeks.

Rude

2010-04-21T19:44:00.000-06:00

That's what my girls are. Rude. They don't want to fit into anything, don't look the best for my small frame, aren't cooperating at all, don't want to go anywhere and certainly don't want to dress up. All they do it get in the way also. I swear I heard one of them tell the other to, "watch this..." the other night when I rolled over. How inconsiderate.

My husband has named my belly 'Hank'. Why? I'm not sure. But if you remember we used to have a Turkey he named Hank. I think it's a name he uses for anything he has found an affinity for. However Hank the turkey turned into 'Hank the Sunday dinner' after he flogged the crap out of Nate one day. I'm not sure I like the belly called after Sunday dinner. If Hank Williams Jr. was his Muse on this one I'd be totally cool with that, but personally, I think the belly thinks it's a bit rude.

Speaking of the belly...it's getting a little inconsiderate of the space it has been allotted so far. I feel like a science experiment and I strongly recommend never watching the movie "Aliens" if you plan on being pregnant and have yet to see it. The movement I can feel and now see just reminds me a little bit too much of that. I expect something to pop out singing, "hello my baby, hello my darling..." from the "Aliens" spoof. It's creepy and, well, rude....

I did receive the dress I ordered. However my body isn't cooperating and it is a little large. Can't pregnancy clothes be made to 'grow with' the pregnancy so I don't have issues with all the in between crap? I think I can make due with it, but a size medium, a size 32 with the growing girls aren't matching up well. Find a bra in that size and pregnancy clothes made to fit. All straps fall off my shoulders, the belly is too small for most clothing, yet the front completely fills out. How can that be with straps falling off? Can't pregnancy clothes be made for smaller frames that have large girls to begin with? Ones that grow with the belly too? I don't think much thought is put into that... I'm just worried the since my girls are rude they aren't going to cooperate the night of Prom.

Prom is still killing me. I'm a 'jump in and do' person, especially when I see things that need to be done and there are people standing around not doing it. It makes me crazy so I go do it - then I get yelled at for being around paint fumes, getting up on ladders or carrying heavy objects. Don't yell if you aren't willing to do it!!! Seriously!!!

The canned response of, "too much homework" is used by all students who have not been applying wise time management or are otherwise pissed off at a teacher. If I have given a student a week on an assignment and they wait until the last minute it honestly isn't my fault. I don't understand why they complain to parent's or administrators about teachers who are more than fair concerning this issue because they are crabby. It's rude and doesn't speak well of personal integrity.

Consumed

2010-04-19T07:58:00.000-06:00

This Prom thing is totally consuming all my time. Not like there was a lot extra to begin with, but when I'm not getting home until 8pm or later it does get a little trying. ONE MORE WEEK! What does suck is the dress I ordered still has not arrived and the chick DID NOT track it because it was to my PO box. Hate to tell her you can track to a PO so that isn't an excuse and if I don't get it soon I want my money back. Leaves me up a creek though as I'm not sure I have anything I fit in anymore appropriate for a formal event.

So let's see if you all can get this figured out! I'm not saying what's been guessed now as I don't want to give anything away! I know it doesn't look like much - but when the lights are out (as they should be - lighting is from our own effects) it looks awesome! And yes, that is my husband in the second picture. I made him bring the tools we so desperately needed.

I've noticed it's really hard to get clear pictures under fluorescent lighting (such as in the gym). Any ideas how to fix this when taking pictures? I've messed with all kinds of settings with almost always the same results.

Any more of you hazard to take a guess on the theme? I think it's getting more and more obvious!!!