Late update

 In June, Chad took some vacation time, and we went rock hunting in Central Oregon.  We found lots of thunder-eggs.  It was a new experience, and definitely unforgettable.  At first, we were clueless, and just started pounding away with our hammers.  Then Chad found the right spot, and boom, 8 at once.  We also took a lot that were already opened, and they ended up being my faves. 

 4th of July was great.  We had a lazy morning, then took the dogs out.  There was a guy there flying a remote control plane, and Jet loved it.

 We got to hang out at PK park.

 For Jet's birthday, we all went on a plane ride.  Chad is really close to getting his pilot's license, so he did the flying.  He hasn't flown for awhile so an awesome guy from our ward came with us and did the take-off and landing.  Jet loved it, but then got really bummed when we had to land.  I almost puked.  I was so happy when it was over.  lol. 

 We had to fly really low because it was overcast.  Connor and Colby were outside with Gma and Gpa.  They waved to us from the driveway and lit smokebombs. 

We had our first official "kid" party.  

We had some projects this summer in the yard.  Chad's parents replaced their deck, so we got pieces of their old deck, and put in our yard.  It conveniently covers this old pond that we'd been using as a compost bin...lol.  MUCH BETTER.  We love it.  

 Here are a few of my pinterest projects.  That's a cement leaf casting I did.  I made them for mother's day.  Below is a planter I made from a file cabinet. 

 We also put in a dog-run.  The dogs have access to 1/4 of the yard.  It's awesome.  Great investment.  Tons of TIME!  Ugg. 

Everything is going really well.  Chad started a new job, still in the field, but a different position and different company.  Holy Moly, what a blessing!  Everything about this job is better; the hours, the pay, the position, the atmosphere, the work itself, and more.  We're grateful for it EVERY DAY especially since he works 15-20 fewer hours a week.  Now, during the weekend, we don't have to choose between getting things done, or relaxing, or doing something fun.  We have enough time for it all.

The pregnancy is going well.  It's been so long that being pregnant just feels normal, as if I've been pregnant for A LONG TIME, and it's not going to change.  I've found the best way of coping with all the things that go along with pregnancy, is just to forget about them.  I don't dwell on how I waddle, or how I can only lie on my sides, or how my wedding ring doesn't fit, or blah blah blah, because then it just makes it worse.  I like to not even think that I'm pregnant until I happen upon my reflection and say, "Whoa....oh yeah, I'm pregnant."  Exercise has stopped, it just messes up my lower half too much right now.  When I stopped Zumba, my hips felt so much better....lol.....DUH.  A week ago I had contractions almost all day, and ended up in the hospital that evening.  They said the contractions were small, and to go home.  I haven't had any since.  SO WEIRD, but I'm so grateful.  Now I actually have time to get everything ready.

So, there are the basics.  Summer has been great, and we're just loving spending time together every day.  Chad is the best.  I love having him home more, and not just because he's there to help with Jet, or get things done, but because I just love spending time with him.  We're all just so happy and goofy.  I love being together.  



      

Belly pics and exercising

I've learned that The Belly can look pretty huge, or relatively small depending on how you dress it...at least at this stage.  Here, I would say it looks pretty small.  That's me at 27 weeks.  Yahoo!  I've also learned that spending a bit of money on maternity clothes makes you feel much prettier.  Last time, I skimped on maternity clothes, and I felt pretty ugly most of the time.  I didn't even spend that much, but it's made a big difference.  Mostly, I went to St. Vinnies, bought some large tops, and sewed them in at the sleeves, but not the bottoms, or I added some elastic or little tie-backs.  CHEAP! 

I've been getting in really good shape actually.  Last pregnancy, I was in great shape, and it totally paid off with the delivery.  Besides the pushing, (Mr. big head, big shoulders) everything went really smooth and quick, especially for a first timer.  For Christmas, Chad got me a gym membership.  Ha, sounds awful....but it's not at all.  I really wanted one, but I'm not the type to spend money on it, so he took the guilt away for me.  I've loved it.  They have a daycare, a good one, so I can go as often as I want.  Since I got past the nausea, I've been going lots.  I LOVE zumba!  Now that my belly is big, I cannot look at myself in the mirror.  Bad idea.  Doing zumba moves, especially the ghetto booty ones, look totally WRONG when done with a pregnant belly, and when I say wrong, I just mean gross.  I admit, some of the moves are a bit wronchy, and when you add a pregnant belly to it.....bad.  So, I stand toward the back, and make sure someone is blocking my view to the mirror, and I try not to think about how weird it all looks, because really, nobody cares but me (hopefully), and I just want to have fun, and get some exercise.

In the fall, I started running again, and it felt so good, that I increased my mileage too fast, and I tweaked my right knee.  I rested it for 3 weeks, and it got better, but not all the way.  During the winter, there was a dull pain in it most of the time, and I wasn't interested in running with the weather and nausea.  When the nausea left, I wanted to start running again, but my knee would get aggravated so fast, and it would always hurt when I laid down to sleep.  It wasn't ever really PAINFUL, just a dull pain, a 1or 2 on a 1-10 scale.  By this point I was getting frustrated.  How could my knee still be hurting after 6 months?  I could only do zumba and elliptical at the gym.  I started hearing of all these fun 5ks coming up, (not that I would do them while pregnant, but I would like to do some after the pregnancy) and I knew I wanted to get my knee better.  I felt like not being able to run, would lower my quality of life, because I really enjoy it, and look forward to it...even though, I admit, I'm just a seasonal runner.  But, I honestly think of some of the runs I've done, not even races, and they're such great memories for me.  So, I finally made a doctors appointment.  They couldn't tell me what was wrong with my knee, but they could tell me there were no tears, and that it sounded like it was overused, and even everyday activities could keep me from recovering fully.   They started me with physical therapy.  I just hoped that it would help.  In the first session, I learned I have weak (ish) butt muscles...lol.  So, when those muscles aren't strong, your knees have to compensate.  They gave me some butt strengthening exercises....the very lovely kind that involve sticking your butt way in the air.  Chad loved to tease me.  I also tried to use my bum muscles a lot during my cardio, and she encouraged me to keep exercising.  I wasn't ever sure if it was bad or good, because it did aggravate my knee.  I was feeling good but my knee felt the same.  I was feeling a bit guilty, but I felt I deserved to spend the money to get my knee better.  The 2nd session, I learned that my right foot was twisting out when I ran.  When my toes were pointing straight, I felt like I was running pigeon-toed, but I wasn't.  She said that it would be easy to fix with training.  She also gave me some ankle strengthening exercises.  The next day, I went for a run, and made sure to have my toes facing straight.  My knee didn't hurt!  I couldn't believe it.  I still took it slow, but I was so happy.  Since then, it's gotten better.  It barely ever hurts!  It's easy for me to keep my toes straight.  I've also been working-out more, trying to build my leg and bum muscles.  I went on a run yesterday, and it was glorious.  The wild roses were blooming, perfuming patches of path, and I felt great.  I was SOOO happy!  I can run again!  I know that was long, but it's mostly for my memory.

Sorry, kinda boring, but I like exercise, and I'm proud of myself for doing what I needed to get better.  Yay!      

UPDATE!

 Well, the big news around here....

IT's A GIRL!!!!  Hurrah!  So excited!  I really thought it was a girl the whole time, just because the pregnancy was so different.  The nausea was worse, the mood swings were worse, I got this weird rash on my face (nothing too freakish), and different cravings.  I have never loved steak so much.  Steak?  Me?  Yep, it's perty amazebalss.  When Chad and I went to Outback I was so loud with my MMMmmmmmms.  I didn't stop the whole dinner.  Here's the just of the conversation, "MMmmmmmmms, man, this is SOOOO good.....MMMMMMmmmmm.....steak is amazing, I'm such an idiot for not ordering steak at steakhouses.  You must think all girls are so stupid when they order chicken at a steakhouse!  Oh man, this is delicious!  It's cooked perfectly.  Steak steak steak!  RAR!!!!"  That's how it went down.  LOl.  Now, I'm feeling way more normal.  Well, besides the belly.  I need to get pics!  You're gonna be so surprised when you see it for the first time at 6 months pregnant.   Whoops.

Anyway, life is great lately.  I'll do more little updates later.  Jet is the biggest sweetheart.  Love that little boy.  He's the best.  Now that the weather has been behaving, we've been able to go on some decent adventures again.  Adventures in the winter are just never as good, I mean, one night we went to the mall to ride all the escalators.  Gee whiz, SOOO thrilling!  Well, Jet loved it.  I was just trying to kill time when Chad had to stay until 9:00 at work.

With the rhodies at their peak, it was time for Hendricks Park!  We got some spendy goodies at Market of Choice, had a picnic, and went exploring....jumping, running, throwing rocks, climbing, smelling flowers, and other lovely things.

Here we come!       

 Jet got a mo-hawk!  It was 100% Chad's idea, and I was really skeptical, thinking he'd look like a little white-trash, punk child when really he's so sweet....but I just let him do it anyway.  It wasn't that big of a deal.  He locked me out of the bathroom, and i couldn't look until it was done.  Well, it turns out, I think it's really fun and cute, and unless we put him in a wife-beater (which will NEVER happen), I think he's very far from whitetrashiness.   

Running down the hill, and ofcourse I joined in!  I only wish I could have rolled down.  : )

The Haggard Life

Over the past nauseous few months, I've actually become pretty comfortable doing errands looking like a haggard wreck.  The trick is, don't make eye contact often, and focus on your child, so just in case you run into someone you know, you're completely oblivious and don't even have the chance to feel like you're the gal who has "let go," and feel the pity in their eyes. 

So, now that I've been feeling better, it's been nice to have my hair in something other than a bun or braid, and do my make-up,  and just plain revel in my femininity again.  Hurrah, I AM a girl!  I CAN feel attractive.  It's AMAZING!

Well, today I wore my deep purple cardigan, and had my hair in a perky curly ponytail so I could run my errands; very cute mom-on-the-go look.  I'm feelin' good, and Jet is being good.   Even in the relentless rain we're having a good time.

I get home, put the groceries away, and head to the ladies room.  Then I get a look at myself.  My straggly-looking bangs are randomly plastered to my forehead, mt. everest (snow-capped and all) ZIT has emerged above my eyebrow, (the revolting kind whose bulbous white tip causes dry heaves) and the lovely elastic waistband on my maternity jeans is completely exposed because of my rumpled-up sweater.  Deep breath.  Wow Jess, that's what you call a hot mess.   

All I can say is....at least I felt cute.  

I'm Back!

I'm back, and in more ways than one!  One, I'm back on the blog, two, I feel like I'm back to being myself, aka Miss Jessica Joy, full of zest and well hello there-ness.

I credit it to being PREGNANT!  Yeah, most Springfielders already know, but I still need to announce it.  I'm due August 25th, and we find out if it's b/g April 2nd.  Woo Nelly.  I'm feeling it's a girl, but I am not allowing myself to think too far ahead with names and decor and girly activities, because that stuff makes me too anxious for a girl NOW, instead of SOMEDAY.  So, we'll see.  Either is great, though Jet's robot punching/fighting phase has me beggin' for some tea parties and doll houses.

So, January and February were tough.  I was NOT myself.  My life was nauseous, tired, and depressed.  I remember singing "Peace in the Valley," for personal comfort, telling myself the agony would end.  Then I would sing opening lines to "Like a Virgin," because it started with,  "She made it through the wilderness somehow, she made it through..." and  "I was beat...." which was me, but then the chorus would come and the whole, "Like a Virgin," just didn't really fit my circumstances.  Then, I started feeling better.  The sun was shining.  Then, I got the stomach flu.  BAD.  Ya know how all that loveliness goes, so I won't describe, even though I truly love talking about bodily functions.    After a week, I was feeling great, and almost back to normal.  Then I had more energy, and I wasn't nauseous, and the house wasn't a disaster.  Yay!  Then, I got ANOTHER stomach flu. Chad took me to the ER when I couldn't keep down any fluids all day.  It was my first time being the patient in the ER.  Aaawww.....the luxury.  Chad seems to find his way in there about every other year, so it was nice to be the sick/melodramatic one.  : )  After a long weekend, I felt pretty good.  My family took great care of me, and Chad spoiled me.  After I'm sick for so long, I kinda forget how to thrive.  I make it through the day, but not with much pizazz.  Ya know?  My mentality is still in sick mode, though my body isn't.   

But now, I finally feeEEEEEEEeeeel good....na na na na!  I FEEEEeeeeeeEEEEllllll Good....nanana nanana.  I knew that would.  SO GOOD!  I'm just livin' it up now that I'm not nauseous anymore, and my brain has some serotonin pumpin again.

It's been too long. 

So, sorry for the hiatus.  I'll post pics later.  I've still been reading everyone's blogs.  Love 'em!             

Let's be random, shall we?

 Today, I just feel like posting.  So, enjoy that random rantings.  Huzzah!

Above photo, Harvest Landing.  I have taken the dogs and Jet there in the mornings a few times.  GORGEOUS in the fall. WOW!  The river is even bluer.  But, Jet is a hit or miss with taking the dogs out.  Sometimes he has the time of his life.  We had a major puddle stomping session the other day.   (reminded me of you, Erica, remember?)  We were such crazy free-spirits, I only hope someone was watching, because that would have made my day seeing people act like they were in a musical, in real life.  But then there are times that don't work out, like when there are tractors at Dorris Ranch, and he's horrified the whole time, and says "TOO LOUD" for an hour straight.  But, it's get us outside, and that's good.  

 Here's Jet being a goof at the mall.  In the past month, this guy has gotten 5 times goofier.  I would not be surprised if he's the class clown one day.  He goes around the house in his Iron Man mask, with a giant sword, and a golf club bag.  He sits in laundry baskets.  All kinds of random, hilarious stuff.  He gets timid around other kids, so I'm taking him to the mall more.  He's getting much more confident.

 Here's my little ode to fall. 

 Darn this tree!!!  2 and 1/2 hours of raking yesterday, and that was only half of it.  Curses!  Plus, it drops sap on our car, so we can't even park in our own driveway.  It's gotta go.  Sorry tree.  You're gorg, but such high-maintenance.  You're the trophy tree that's too hot to handle.  We're just not ready for you.

 OUR EMBARRASSING MOUSE STORY.

I'll try to make it brief.  So, to start where I left off.  I set a humane trap, and caught a mouse.  HURRAH!  Chad let it free for me, even though he wanted to keep it.  So, we thought we were done.  Nope.  New mouse doody found.  CHARMING!  So, I set the humane trap.  3 days.  NOTHING!  Move the trap, new bait, yadda yadda. NOTHING.  Mousy isn't falling for it.   I start having dreams about mice invading our house, and other scavenger like creatures ruling over me.  Very planet-of-the-apes-esque.  So, I set some inhumane traps.  After all, they could take over the world!  I caught one in a few hours.  I set the trap all by my lonesome, and disposed of it too.  I couldn't not tell Chad.  He was highly disappointed in me, saying it was an innocent creature etc, which I agreed with, but not when we can't catch it any other way.  So, we're done.  No.  Please don't think we're trashy, dirty people.  It's our first winter in this house, and we're learning how to keep these buggers out.  So, a few nights later, we're putting Jet to bed, and I see a mouse scurry into his closet.  Long story short, Chad amazingly caught it in a bowl.  That's the above picture.  We set it free.  It was fun watching it for 5 minutes.  So, Chad was happy.  We didn't hurt it, it was free.  So, the next day I spent hours sanitizing everything.  UGH!!  Then, I find a fresh turd.  ARG!!!!!  I want to get rid of these things.  I set inhumane traps.  5 minutes before Chad gets home, there is a mouse caught, but only by its leg.  Its leg is broken.  I feel terrible.  This is just what Chad didn't want.  I go set it free outside, and it barely hobbles along.  I can't kill it.  What do I do???!!  Chad comes home, I'm crying, and I HAVE to tell him.  It may sound crazy that I was crying, but I felt SOOOO TERRIBLE.  He goes and rescues the mouse, and makes a little home for it in a plastic container.  The next day Chad got a real mouse cage.  We had a pet mouse.   It was cute, I'll admit, but I haven't posted about it 'til now out of embarrassment.  I felt good about saving the poor thing.  Chad even called the vet, and researched painkillers for it...lol....such an animal softie.  The mouse would either live or die, and there wasn't much we could do.  A few days later, I couldn't find him in his cage, so I lifted the lid, and spotted him.  I put the lid back on, but couldn't get all the clamps down.  It was still really tight, so I didn't worry.  The next day, Chad went to clean his cage, and he was gone.  LOL!!!  Broken leg and all, he made it out of that thing.  Obviously, it didn't like our hospitality.  Sorry hun.  So, after all that work of trying to catch mice humanely, and it TOTALLY backfiring, Chad finally agreed to inhumane traps.  We have caught two.  None of them looked like "Lucky" (yes, Chad named the mouse (before he escaped)).  And we haven't caught any more since.  Oi.  No planet-of-the-mice dreams lately either.   

And, I finally got a picture by this lovely.  yay. 

Nicole, I need your expertise

 My sister has a degree in interior design, and I really need her help.  I put this on the blog because it's the easiest way to share photos and info.  So, here's our house.  We moved in late last Spring, and it doesn't feel like our style yet, but we're very grateful and definitely enjoying it.

 So Nicole, we're just focusing on the living room now, so we don't overwhelm ourselves, but if you have ideas for the other rooms, let me know.  If not, no bigs.  We moved the piano to the spare room to make way for another chair, and because Chad thinks it looks cluttery.  I'm not sure.  It is nice to have the piano out of the front room, because that's where we watch tv.  If it stayed in the LR, I would paint it.

 Here is what things look like now.  Nice-ish....but SNOOZAROO!  It has no pizazz.  There is no fun going on.

Here are our ideas.  Chad really wants get new mid-gray to dark gray carpet, that's less shaggy, because this stuff has lots of stains, and Chad hates it now.  I'm hesitant about the dark gray.  There are stain-proof carpets, but I wonder how stain-proof they really are.  We want carpet, but something that can withstand the dogs and Jet. 

 We move the dog beds to the bedroom at night, and when guests come.

I really want to paint this wall (fireplace wall) charcoal gray.  I would LOVE to do chalkboard paint and draw cool frames and stuff in chalk, but then I have an idea for the other walls, and it would be too much.

We don't like the color of the tiles.  Dingy.  But there is nothing we can do about those.  Wish they were white.  Ol' well.

 Ottoman, ick.  We were thinking two small white leather or leatherish ottomans.  Again, we like low-maintenance fabrics, and we love to put our feet up.  Maybe I could recover this one.  Eeks.

 View from the front door.  Too traditional.  We need more fun.

 This "media center" is warped and chewed.  We want to get a credenza (st. vincent) and paint it a fun color (orange, peacock blue, something fun).  We're going to start using our smaller tv.

On these walls (the one with the tv, and the wall perpendicular to it)  I was thinking of doing large horizontal stripes, in a light gray.  But then I also like the idea of doing horizontal striped curtains, and that's just too over the top. 

We love this mirror.  We love distressed wood.

So, I invited you to my pinterest...but I don't know how it works.  I just want you to see my inspiration boards, so if you need my username and password, let me know.  I'm loving charcoal lately.  SO PRETTY.  I love the mustardy, muted light yellow that's going on right now.  I like black and white.  Anyway, it's just so much easier if you see my boards. 

If anyone else has any ideas, bring 'em on.