dabble on......

sooooo.

2010-05-08T09:39:00.002-07:00

it seems i have beened spammed here on my blog....anyone know how to keep that from happening?

in my little world, i have been a bit busy. but had some off call time as we have had a break between births. the last birth was a super sweet birth. well, they all are in each their own way.

lots of people i know are pregnant these days. its awesome that they are considering homebirth as an option for them! i am excited for new fresh babies!

summer is slooooowly peaking around the corner...i just want to soak in the sun completely, hang out at the creek and be warm! cant wait!

super proud.

2010-01-16T16:06:00.002-08:00

i am so proud of myself for remembering to blog more! i have been super busy the last couple days! had two births in two days! its been so moving!

i am ready for a bit of sleep though! but i think the high from it all prevents me from it! i love what i am doing. so much!

i will post more later as my little rascal just woke up from his nap!

i just want to say that i feel so blessed. so blessed.

a mei tai pattern

2010-01-14T17:15:00.002-08:00

i found this mei tai pattern and wanted to save it here....and share! (it is different than the one shown in the pic here.)

i would love to add a little hood to the mei tai that i recently made (the one in the picture). warren always falls asleep in it when i use it for walks....little dangly head!

i cant wait

2010-01-12T23:02:00.002-08:00

for summer!!! i wish it was summer all the time. year round. for being an oregonian i kinda suck at liking the rain, the drizzle, the grey...however, on my behalf i will tell you that i dont use umbrellas....so i still count as an oregonian. right!?

i just miss being outside more. doing stuff. being warm. i am a tank top and birkenstock gal for sure...and i think i am more becoming as a sun-kissed golden person rather than a pale mole! (i always feel like a mole when the sun comes out...all squinty eyed....). i want to be somewhere warm. anyone wanna throw some air miles my way? hmmmmm?

and i realllllly miss the produce. the fruit and berries. the selection sucks at the market right now. i also miss the music that summer seems to have lots of....the festivals in the park. the back deck music playing while enjoying a tasty libation! or swimming at the creek with nowhere to have to be!

these are my ideas of summer. i heart summer.
i am tired of my wool socks.

so, i want a tattoo.

2010-01-11T23:05:00.003-08:00

i have been thinking that i might want a new tattoo....
the picture here is what i think i want...or something like it. i thought i wanted something that looks like this but has to do with water....if anyone can find anything like that let me know.

and send me your ideas or thoughts!!! i need input!

hmmmm.

2010-01-11T00:08:00.003-08:00

well. well. well.

another birthday come and gone. i am 31. so far its the same as any other age since i have been a so called "grown up"....good bye twenties. i hear that the thirties are the best! i hope so!

my family had our christmas celebration yesterday. it was fun. well, except trying to wrap presents beforehand with warren around! that was a joke! we all met up at my aunts house here in town. we had a lovely long round of present opening, coffee and cardamom (sp?) bread made by my grandma! i love that bread.

today, i just tried to find some knitting patterns and hung out at home til i had to leave for a midwifin' appointment with a lovely mama who is due at the beginning of next month. i am super excited for the next few births!

in the crafting aspect of my little world, i am in the final stages of knitting a hat. it is the pilot hat from littleturtleknits.com. i knit it in my size. i cant decide if its going to be so dorky its cool...like anthropologie cute dorky....or if it will be just plain dorky. i will have to wait til i can wear it to decide!

i found a big slouchy hat pattern to knit a hat for nicole...its like the hat that the little girl wore in the movie version of "the secret garden"....i need the right size needles though before i can start...but i am ready!

aaaaand. i am thinking of knitting a baby scale sling....i half assed drafted up a pattern for one...but i dont think i will get to it right away. but, i think it will be a lace type pattern. i will have to use yarn that doesnt have a lot of give. it may not work...but its worth a shot for a pretty sling for weighing fresh babies!

i am also in a mod swap on craftster.org. i have the perfect partner! thanks pam! i cant wait to get rolling on some stuff for her! this is going to be a fun swap. its been a while since i participated in one! i am happy about it!

alright. tonight is done. i am spent. my bed is beckoning.
goodnight.

soooo. fancy meeting you here.

2010-01-08T00:34:00.002-08:00

its been a while.

alright. i put my blogs back up in my link bar so i will be reminded to post to them every so often....

we have been busy!
it was a fine christmas. i am glad its over. i am very happy that 2010 is here and 2009 is done and gone! woot!

my birthday is exactly 23.5 hours away! i love my birthday. this year we are having my family's christmas gathering on the same day! i hope to get double the presents! :)
i like the idea of being 31! its crazy...and its a prime number! so, i can say i am in my prime and mean it!

the midwiffin is going well. we have had 2 births in the last month. one just two days ago! it was nice! we are waiting on a sweet baby girl at the moment...what do you think the odds are that this lil baby girl will decide to come on my birthday?! it would be great!

on the study front i am totally lacking. and slacking. i hope to really get into a groove after this weekend. although i have yet to receive my curriculum....i still have a ton of stuff that i can work on. i need motivation...and the holidays and this time of transition has taken it out of me! i guess its now time to push through and get to it....

well. i am going to bed. goodnight all.
does anyone even read this blog anymore?...ya'll should remind me to post!

i have read this twice today...in two different places.

2009-11-14T10:26:00.003-08:00

"the best way out is through..."---robert frost.

i think this is such truth...and is such a reminder to keep plugging away at whatever it is you are doing or dealing with.

i have been a slacker in regards to both my blogs. i think of all sorts of things i could write about here and on my midwiffin' blog...usually i think of them in the car...when i am driving...and then abruptly forget all about whatever it was that i thought to write about. its frustrating.

speaking of driving. the soobie broke down two nights ago. sad lil soobie. i should get her fixed next week. it always breaks down when i am on my way to a prenatal appointment. its so frustrating...but at least its not on the way to a birth. (knocking on wood now).

all in all, my overall theme of thoughts lately have a ton to do with family, my son, birth, choice, growth, and trying to stay positive. hence the quote up top.

it will all be fine...especially if i could remember the things i want to blog about! :)

insert witty title here

2009-10-08T22:06:00.003-07:00

per the usual, i am tired. it was a l-o-n-g day today.
some days i really question how i am raising warren. he is his own little person and i really thought prior to having him that children could easily be...well..shaped! haaaa! i always figured it would come with the love and support etc. sometimes doing what feel right is so so exhausting.

i was just reading some interesting topics on an attachment parenting forum. (i would give yall the link...but i am too lazy to go find it again)...ok. i will try to find it before i am done with this post!

anyhow, heres the deal that i am thinking about and perhaps struggling with...i feel that i am so supportive of attachment parenting, slings, co-sleeping etc. meeting the needs of my child...but my lifestyle, my work really, has shaped the way i can really implement these things. well, that, and warrens own ideas about how things should be!

example about warrens own idears: we all co-slept in the same bed. for quite some time. it was easy. made life easy. warren would start out going to bed in his lil pack'n'play bassinette thing next to our bed. then he would join us in bed when we went to bed. at about five or so months, he wouldnt sleep well anymore. so, we tried the crib...and he seemed to sleep so much more soundly and deeply. now, i will be honest, i appreciate being able to sprawl out and not have a wiggling child next to me...but is my child going to be less "well raised" because he chooses to sleep away from us? plus, i miss him next to me! (after re-reading this paragraph, i feel like adding that we do tend to "co-sleep" alot more than what i am making this out to be...i end up with him in the twin bed in his room more often than not because i fall asleep with him while nursing during the night or early morning)....so we do get our cuddle on!)

his needs ARE being met. with a quickness. he wouldnt have it any other way, nor would I...i just wonder.

as for other aspects of AP'ing, warren loves being with me on my back, being carried, being strolled. and i love making wraps and other carriers 9its a shame i dont have more time...i would have a million of them!)

its so funny how these lil people make us question ourselves so much. and worry! i think its the one guarantee of parenting....you will worry. and wonder if you are doing it (or did it)right for the rest of your life!

i am not really doubting how we have chosen to do things...but i cant help worry about the fact that we only get one chance at this...warren will not be the lil person he is today--- ever again.

dear cupcakes. i love you.

2009-10-01T21:00:00.003-07:00

today, was a good day....until dinner time when warren decides to have a nightly meltdown...we survived...and had cupcakes for dessert---which made things all better. sad how food can do that for ya...especially food that is so evil and delicious. oh well. my excuse is that i am still nursing...and i now weigh what i weighed in high school. my butt could use the cupcakes!

anyhow, some days are so so hard when the meltdown occurs. i try to breath. deep.
it really is hard to have patience when you have to every hour of every day....patience is learned. it must be decided upon. but in some of those trying moments, i know i forget to decide to be patient. and then i feel guilty for losing my patience. for feeling exasperated. other mothers seem all calm, cool and collected all the time...and i know its just not the truth! we are human!

i wonder if i walk around looking as ragged as i feel some days....? oh well. its part of the deal!

on the up side, i dont want to complain anymore! so, i will tell you once again that my cupcakes rock my world...and warren and i had a lovely day hanging out at the coffee shop. we also went to the silverton indoor play park, for the first time, which was awesome for him! he had a ton of fun! and we had a visit with uncle aaron and nicole...they came for dinner, which was nice! all in all, it was a pretty chill day.

i am enjoying the change in the weather. especially today. it was cool...but warm still. that nice autumn sunny day feelin! i like it. i am sure in a month i will be sad that summer has gone...but for now i will enjoy this!

alrighty. i have got other stuff to do.

thank you cupcakes. i love you. <3

i crafted.

2009-09-29T21:16:00.003-07:00

so! i was in a swap on craftster for the first time in a really long time. it was a bird themed swap! i had a really great partner! i just thought i would share what i made! the package inclueded a neat little hand towel, oven mitt, and woodburned cooking utensils....as well as a little pair of birdie earrings and a fun little trinket bird....i love the bird material i used for this! so fun!

as for today, warren and i had a date night...we went out to dinner at super pho in salem...which, i must tell you, is amazingly delicious....there, warren managed to get noodles ALL over him...he had them in his socks! and smashed into his butt! after our amazing pho, we went to hancocks to get some fabric for warrens halloween costume! and then of course we had to go to a couple places to run errands after that....all in all it was a great day!

this summer phasing into fall is kinda nice! although i am not used to having cold feet! i am not a sock person....unless they are nice handknit cozy socks...for wearing around the house! i do hope i can find time to knit a bit...but i have alot on my lil plate so we will see!

more pics. for you.

2009-09-24T23:11:00.003-07:00

isnt he cute!!! he just gets cuter and cuter!
alright. i am done gushing now.

inundating you with tons of pics....

2009-09-24T23:05:00.002-07:00

hopefully the pics will suffice for my lack in posting!

warren is growing so so fast.

i will.....

2009-09-21T23:24:00.003-07:00

make an actual post soon! i pinky swear!

ps. random fact: tonight i have been craving tacos, lettuce wraps and chocolate chip cookies.....just an fyi! ;)

oh my goodness. its been a long time!

2009-06-04T23:04:00.003-07:00

so at the request of kim, i am posting again! so sorry that i havent been keeping up! there is a ton of stuff going on and this is the last thing i think of to do! i need a good kick in the behind....and like 500 hours in a day.

anyhow! just in this week alone i have attended the birth of a new baby boy, gotten a skin tag removed (tmi i know!), found out i dont have melanoma/cancer on my boob, saw anthony bourdain (mmmmm delicious!), rearranged the living room, ate super awesome mexican food for lunch today and did the day to day stuff too!

warren has grown a ton since that last post...i am sorry. we went from his first toothies to having six now! hes got his two bottom teeth and four of his uppers! big boy! he is ten months old today! i just cant believe it at all. he is "toddling" now...he creeps along furniture and is attempting to stand for brief periods of time all by his onesie! hes totally crawling his bad self all over the house...we had to child proof the cupboards...fun times! hes gone swimming at the pool, gotten his very own lil baby pool, is eating lots of different and fun foods, he learned how to pout (i die laughing every time its so cute!)! we take lots of walks in the stroller through town....but not today...that storm put a little damper on that plan! oh! and his hair is cuuuuurly! heehee! anyhow, i am sure there is much much more i am forgetting to post here....but you get the gist of it.

i will seriously try to post more here...its been crazy! i dont even know if anyone really reads it anymore....i know kim does though! woot!

one last thing: my new favorite website----www.bakingbites.com
check it out. it looks tasty!

eggs....are good.

2009-04-11T19:36:00.003-07:00

HAPPY EASTER!

nana gave warren his very first easter basket! and i made his "nerdy" easter pants! go me!

oh sunny day!

2009-04-05T08:20:00.003-07:00

yesterday was lovely! and today is supposed to be even better!
i love the sun!

i am trying to post a little bit more these days. sorry i was a slacker for so long.

busy busy.

2009-04-02T14:08:00.003-08:00

so. i have been super busy. sorta. busy being sick with every childhood ailment you can think of with the exception of the chicken pox!

been running around. going to prenatal appointments with lennon and we went to a midwifery roundtable last friday that was super interesting! we have a mama who is due very soon! cant wait! its such an honor to be able to be invited into these folks' lives' as they go through such awesome changes! i really love the families i am meeting! i think of them often!

i have also been workin a bit and hanging with the boy! i should post some new pics soon! warren has cut two teeth recently! he is still trying to learn to crawl...hes almost got it...but he lets himself get so frustrated! so, in the meantime, he is a'rollin all over the place!

we've been trying to go for walks. yesterday we went for one around town. he is silverton's little hambone! everyone loves the lil speckster!

i cant wait for the weather to turn! i want warmth, sunshine and vitamin D! i cant wait to swim in the creek this summer and be outside. it will be so nice!

well, the warren boy is waking up so i must go. but i thought i would give a quick lil update! someone remind me to post my swap items after my partner receives them! i joined a mama/baby swap on craftster. i rec'd a lovely package today that included some wool soakers, a snappie (which i have wanted to try out), a burp cloth, a onesie for the boy and some wipes! oh! and a cute shel silverstein frame! i will try to post pics sometime of what i sent as well! soon.

i hope all is well!

ps. michele! one month! pho baby!

my face hurts!

2009-02-17T23:16:00.003-08:00

and i am quite sad about it actually! i have myself a bit of a sinus infection...i need me a netty pot!

in other news, i made a fantastic macaroni and cheese this evening for dinner! it was serious goodness. i should have gotten a photograph of it...it was beautious!

i know this blog has sorta turned into the blog about warren and being his momma...i hope yall dont mind! its what i am up to these days! :)

i did recently knit a few stitches to complete a set of four little hats for nicole's boys! i started them about a year and a half ago...go me! *note sarcasm*
now, i just need to sew the seams on the lil brims and they are good to go. i hope they still fit their little noggins!

i found a couple cute patterns for knit soakers i want to make for the speck man. i also want to make him a couple pairs of woolie "longies"...but i havent found the right pattern...i might alter one of the soaker patterns. could work. any ideas anyone?

today, i was thinking about getting coffee with mike and michele at the bipart...i cant wait! and juniors...oh yeah. we have to go to juniors when you get back!

well, i am going to fill the baby up and head myself to bed!

happy V day....

2009-02-16T10:48:00.002-08:00

a bit late!

for team endo-maule

2009-02-09T09:41:00.002-08:00

warren wanted to say hi! click here!

so...its been awhile.

2009-02-08T22:10:00.002-08:00

things have been crazy busy for me....but i am still here. i have been busy workin. and such. i started apprenticing with the wonderiffic Lennon! i have been going to various meetings re: midwiffin! and i had the honor of participating in my very first birth with Lennon a couple weeks ago! the outcome was perfect: a little pink baby girl! it was an honor to be there!

warren is keeping me on my toes...he has started rollin all over the place just recently as well as sitting up pretty much on his own! he has also gotten his first snotty nose! fun stuff!

well, my goal is to try to keep my blog more updated. things have been a bit crazy...but i will try! i pinky swear! i hope yall like the new pics!

merry christmas!!!

2008-12-25T08:36:00.002-08:00

i hope yall are having a wonderful christmas!

snowbaby

2008-12-19T14:50:00.005-08:00

went and met santa for the first time the other day! he wouldnt let go of his beard! poor santa!

so. warren played in the snow today! he was quite intrigued with the huge snowflakes that were falling! he didnt really dig making a baby snow angel though! :)

sorry i havent updated in a little while. i will try to more often!

so.

2008-12-01T22:20:00.002-08:00

this blog is supposed to be about stuff i like...and things i do. well, these days, i havent had much time to do much of either! but i hope the blog is entertaining nonetheless.

thanksgiving was awesome. we went to the beach and had thanksgiving at my grandmas house. good eats and a riveting game of cranium! cant beat that! we even got durin to play!

after that, we came home and really just have hung around the house....and then sunday, we went and had another thanksgiving at durins moms house! warren was a lil bugger there...i think he is teething...he was a lil fuss-bucket.
and again today, fuss central i tell ya!

i am excited because i am organizing a cookie swap on a website that i moderate! i am going to get random cookies in the mail! i cant wait!

christmas this year is going to be a little tight...as i am sure it is going to be for most people...but i am excited to make food and cookies and treats...if i can find the time!

anyhow, i am gonna go to bed...i have to work tomarrow. but i wanted to blog something....i know its not that exciting...but it will have to do for now!

i have the cutest

2008-11-24T21:46:00.006-08:00

..... baby in the world!

and...the cutest van in the world! check it out!

we bought ourselves a camper van! it is sweet sweet campmobile goodness! it has a sink, an icebox, a seat that folds out into a bed, a table, a cot in the ceiling, a lil closet with a mirror and a big old steering wheel! we got a very good deal on it! isnt she cute!?! she does need a new clutch but that shouldnt be too much of a problem! we should get her a new one in the next couple of weeks i think....she does drive just noisy in first gear! i am so excited! i get to make curtains! i am thinking about this lovely alexander henry yellow bird fabric....i think its called "birdseed"...whatchyall think!?!

i have just been workin and hanging out at home for the most part! i did get to go and karaoke last wednesday night! that was nice! i dont get out as much as i used to as you can imagine! which is fine by me...but i do appreciate a couple hours of cheesy off key music to sooth the soul! and make me giggle!

warren is such a big boy now! he now giggles when i tickle him...he still adores his baths! he is starting to do the archy thing like he wants to flip himself over! he is able to hold and grab and play with his toys now! and my new favorite thing...he grabs my face and pulls it to him! its damn adorable! adorable i tell ya!

help me remember!

2008-11-13T23:07:00.002-08:00

i want to go to this conference at u of o....lennon? pamela? you gals interested? its may 14-16th...but its too early to register as far as i know...thats why i need reminding!

holla! :)

we have had a big couple days....

2008-11-06T23:30:00.003-08:00

with the election and all! how amazing is this!
my friend michele helped me to realize that many of us younger folks are, for the very first time, feeling pride in our country as we watched democracy work this week and history be made. i have never felt pride in my country. until now. it is sad to me that i have gone 29 years with out even a real inkling of pride...but tuesday night i was feeling...well, kind of overwhelmed....with what i now know is pride. i am glad that i can be proud of my country...it is about time.

i think i knew in my heart that obama was gonna come out ahead! i know some folks are sad...but i really feel like he wont let yall down. peace and equality is what its all about...and i know that we might not all think the same...but i am glad to know that i am surrounded by folks in my life that respect how i think and sometimes ask me questions that help me to clarify what i think and perhaps why i think it....it is my goal to really understand my own positions...and to be able to articulate them at the right time.....

someone (hi!) recently asked me why i am a democrat...and i really couldnt articulate why...but i know that my values match up...but does that define who i am and really what i am all about...? not totally...partially maybe...
so yeah. i want to be able to really articulate who i am...and why...and i dont want it to be just be "well...its how i was raised"...or some other answer....i think this election really has me thinking about that. well...that and the person who done asked me the question! ;)

other big news! warren has learned that the more noise he makes the more reaction he gets...so he is randomly screaming...not crying...screaming...its really cute and funny! he is also ticklish...and of course, still loves to be nekkid!
annnnnnd he is almost rolling over! no more couch laying for him!

today, i had pho with kelly and owen...and it was deeeeelicioso! i also test drove a new saturn hybrid...it was fancy (as nicole would say) but out of my price range....but i seriously advise yall to take kim with you to the car lot...she dont play 'round! fer real!

anyhow, big week. i thought i would post a quick lil note...i am trying to blog more...

OHHHH! i almost forgot...silverton has made big news AGAIN! we have the nations first transgendered mayor!!! how cool is that! heres the link to stu rasmussen info! see people. it is time for change.

this year has been a huge time for change for me personally...with a new baby and all. change is good. it helps us grow. keeps things interesting to say the least!

happy election day!

2008-11-04T10:19:00.004-08:00

well, atleast we hope it will end happily...depends who you are i guess and who you want to win....! i know i am crossing my fingers! we dropped our ballots off this morning at 8 am! other people were giggling at us while we took pictures of ourselves voting! yep. we're dorks.

halloween 2008! warren was a garden gnome!

and this was warrens first ocean touch with his toesies with auntie susan...hes been to the beach before but never down to the sand and ocean...he seriously didnt mind the super cold oregon ocean....my lil water baby!

AAAAAAAND i was tagged by michele.
heres the deal!
The Rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules.
3. Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about yourself.
4. Tag six other bloggers by linking to them.
5. Go to each person's blog and leave a comment that lets them know they've been tagged.

my six boring things:
1. I FIT INTO MY PRE-BABY JEANS YALL! happy dance!
2. yesterday i made gingerbread ice cream sandwiches. yummmmmmy!
3. the jeep broke down. bah.
4. i am wearing awesome cowboy boots that have chains...they are righteous!
5. its hard to think of random things about myself that anyone might remotely care about. i am having trouble with it today.
6. one time i saw a ghost...well, a ghostly light under my middle school. hows that?

i am tagging: pam, lennon, mikey, jamie, emily, and amy! have fun yall!

Welcome Camden!!!

2008-10-29T21:52:00.002-08:00

my dear friend jean had her lil baby boy Camden yesterday...i am so happy and excited for her and justin...and i realized tonight that while she was laboring and once she delivered her babe it made me quite sentimental about warren and our own birth experience....time has gone by so fast since that day....its almost like you really dont have time to process each special moment like you want to....

i just wish i could catalog each moment...from the beginning of my pregnancy til the perpetual now....is this how all mamas feel?!

its almost impossible really...while i have been so focused in each moment i have also lost track of time...and all of a sudden its a month later...and while so much has changed i have realized that i am still the same yet so touched by time.... and this little person.

its hard for me to articulate...but i imagine that all you mamas know exactly what i am talking about!

i feel like one day i will wake up...and my lil boy will be a man. and i dont want to miss any of all the inbetween! i feel like the little details are so so important.

anyhow, CONGRATS JEAN AND JUSTIN!!! you are beautiful parents already! i cant wait for our boys to meet someday soon!

good things. oh yes.

2008-10-21T09:25:00.003-07:00

so today was supposed to be my first day back at work....so, last night, we pack EVERYTHING up for warrens first long day at day care...i get milk ready. i get a crazy lunch ready for myself as i wont have time to get lunch at work because i will be pumping milk every chance i get...i have to take the pump. and ready my scrubs that i dont even know if they fit (i am only 13 pounds shy of my pre-speck weight!)....and we didnt fall into bed until about 12:30 am last night....at exactly 5 am this morning i get a call from a fellow nurse telling me that i am on stand-by! gaaaaah! so, i roll over and go back to sleep....the extra sleep is good...but can i get this first day done already!!!?! geesh!

so, tomarrow will really be my first real day back unless they call me in sometime before 3pm....which i doubt.

after waking up again at 7:45, i fed the warrenator and readied him for daycare anyhow....over the weekend he decided that the boobie bottle wasnt cutting it...so, i have been worried about him going to daycare for upwards of 9 hours or so....i took him this morning...i neeeeed him to get used to it...so, if i dont get called in to work i will pick him up around 3pm. i hope he does well.

in other news, i started knitting again! i had to stop when i was pregnant because i was having severe wrist pain...so knitting was one of the first things to go! i am excited! i am knitting Juliet from Zephyr Style in a lovely heather-y brown...i just got past the arms! so far its an easy peasy knit! now, i just have to figure out how to knit and breastfeed at the same time...warren is a little squirmy at times!

i dont remember if i posted this on my blog yet...but i am hoping to start the midwifery curriculum from the Ancient Art Midwifery Institute soon...i need to come up with some monies in order to start it (i want to pay it in full...no payments for me!)...but i am really excited to get that ball rollin'. hopefully soon!

and lastly, durin just called me...to randomly let me know that he wants a bullwhip for his birthday....i have know idea where that came from or why...chickens beware!

2008-10-18T09:43:00.002-07:00

its almost halloween time!!! i havent had time really to make my boy a costume...i was thinking about making him a gnome costume...but then we were discussing the possibility of making him dr. evil from austen powers....:)

but his skellie onesie might have to be it if i dont get my bootie in gear for something else....

warren is starting to really and intentionally grab stuff! he loves his elephant toy and the awesome squishy ball thing that a friend gave to him! its awesome!!!

hes a pretty happy boy...with the exception of yesterday....he wouldnt take a bottle for the life of him...it was battleriffic...we had to go buy a boob shaped bottle...it worked like a charm...the bottle, in case you care, is called adiri natural nurser...it is softer like a boob...so babies can obtain a similar latch onto the nipple as they do when they breast feed...it worked very well...and now i less scared about him starving to death at daycare next week! yay for boobie bottles!

thats it for todays update!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
so i copied this from risingpheonixmama's blog...i am a sucker for the surveys....here goes!

Four jobs I’ve had:
Lifeguard (my very first job!)
Barista (i miss slingin' coffee sometimes!)
Certified Nursing Assistant
Registered Nurse in Women and Childrens Services

Four movies I can watch over and over:
The Emporor's New Groove
The Green Mile
Fried Green Tomatoes
Darjeeling Limited (i love the soundtrack too)

Four places I’ve lived:
Silverton, Or
Portland, Or
Beaverton, Or (that sucked)
Vancouver, BC (for a little while)

Four TV shows I have seen:
No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain
Oprah
The Biggest Loser
Wife Swap (guilty pleasure tv yo)

Four places I’ve vacationed:
the oregon coast
disneyland
Rockhill, New York
Puebla Mexico (for a month...)

Four of my favorite dishes:
Pho from Pho Vinh
cupcakes from St. Cupcakes
Crab at Jakes
Soft Tostada from El Burrito Loco

Four sites I visit daily:
Craftster.org
My blog buddies
i cant think of four that i visit everyday.

Four places I would rather be right now:
eating cocunut crab in tahiti
eating yummy food in mexico
eating food any old where really! i want anthony bourdains job.
skiing baby!

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check this out peeps!

2008-10-16T22:31:00.004-07:00

its about freaking time that they show natural birth on television...i am sure it will be censored, which is sad, but it will be interesting! get your DVR on!
mines all set already!

go to this url: http://freebirthing.org/

for some reason it wont let me make ya a link to click right now...but go check it out! definatly interesting.

a quick note.

2008-10-02T00:30:00.003-07:00

i just had my first bath ALONE since i had warren...it was nice! he typically takes his bath with me for now...its fun...but i needed a little me time....i sat there just reflecting over the last couple days...and i am so very blessed. i knew this already. but really, right now, i feel it more than ever. i have an awesome family. i really appreciate you all so much. thank you for being here for us.

i love you all. very much.

Announcement

2008-09-23T14:31:00.001-07:00

2008-09-15T13:21:00.003-07:00

a little questionaire i found....

1. Besides your family, what is your most prized possession? i have no idea...material things? my knitting stuff perhaps...my sewing machine....on my person---i really have come to terms with my hair....hows that for an answer!

2. If you were on death row, what would your last meal be? Pho. seriously.

3. At a party, would you be hiding in the corner or hanging out at the punch bowl talking it up? And, what food item would your bring to the party ? definatly at the punch bowl...i would bring cheap beer and cookies...or roasted veggies cuz their easy peasy!

4. What is the most “girly” thing about you? i like a good pedicure...recently i started wearing more dresses...i have always felt like a bit of a tomboy...but a girly one....

5. What is your favorite piece of furniture in your home? thats a hard one....i love my poppazon (sp?) chair....and my couch...but really, my bed is the most comfortable bed in the world...yes. the world.

6. What is most likely to be painted — your toes or your fingers? definatly my toes. the fingernail polish just chips so easily!

7. If I was going to buy you a bottle of Bath and Bodyworks lotion, what scent would you want? i have no idea! dont care really. my new favorite smell is the burts bees complexion mist...it is defiantly an earthy yummy smell...especially mixed with my postpartum B.O.! :)

8. Do you like to nap? If so, how often do you get to during the week? I love to nap. i am averaging about one or two naps a week...i should be napping more with Warren...but thats what i am getting at this point!

9. Do you have a place in your house where you “hide”? A place where you can have a long phone conversation with a friend without interruption? Where is your quiet place? ummm. not really...but i go on the back porch alot to talk on the phone...or whatever. i organized my crafty area yesterday...so that will be my lil space!

10. At this point in your life, are you living the life you imagined back when you were in high school/college? sorta...i am where i wanted to be when i was in high school/college...but now i want more. i am not done yet! :)

11. Would you ever get plastic surgery? What would you have done?
depends. is it free! just kidding...i dont think i would actually.

12. What have you accomplished (besides having children) that you feel most proud of?
being true to myself almost always. following my heart. continuing to dream...

his dudeness...

2008-09-09T22:35:00.002-07:00

we bought the tenth anniversary edition of the big lebowski...god. we love this movie. so happy!

other things that make me happy:
ribs. ribs are good.
durin. hes a good man!
my dear friends. i love you guys!

friday.

2008-09-05T16:56:00.004-07:00

my man! hes fillin out! and practicing smiling! we are getting things figured out...!!! i think he is getting used to being here!

so its friday. we got a tax return finally!!! woot! took forever!
i got to do a lil shoppin! warren got some stylin clothes and we got him the raddest coat for winter...so cute! i got some new pants! my old pants dont fit and my funky maternity jeans are saggin in the boot-tay! :)

i also got a book to read while i am spending lots of time feeding the boy. i think i will read to him...i suppose it depends on the content! :) i got "the birth house" by Ami McKay...it was referred to me by my friend Amy! i am looking forward to reading a novel! this reminds me, i need to get some books back to my midwife...someone help me remember!

we may or may not leave town this weekend...its a little up in the air at the moment...so we are ready to do whatever.

this week i have been thinking alot about initiating my journey into midwifery...i dont know really how i want to go about it...i definatly have alot of work to do...and there are schools, online programs and/or self study etc...i need to take a moment to figure out how i want to begin...i know that online seems like a definate perk being super busy with the boy! i am just so afraid that if i dont make a little effort to get some sort of ball rollin', i will never do it...i really feel like its what i need to be working towards....any advice and thoughts appreciated!

anyhow, i hope you all have a beautiful weekend! lots of love to you all.

mas bebe!

2008-09-02T11:51:00.003-07:00

he smiles!

motherhood has proven to be one of the most difficult and rewarding things ever! i love my boy!

hes gonna hate me later for all the nekkid bootie shots!

hope that i am keeping up with picture demands! i am sorry it takes me a while to update...and even then i dont really get the time to really make a real post...but enjoy the photos yall!

lil dude!

2008-09-01T10:26:00.003-07:00

here is the boy with my dear friend pam!

little man!

soooo.

2008-08-14T13:34:00.002-07:00

aint he cute!
i think he has durins nose.

quick update! warren is sleepin!

2008-08-13T11:03:00.002-07:00

sooooo, its been a week and two days since the big day! it really feels like a couple of really loooooong days....just gettin' into this groove....

warren is a gooooood boy and we are learning eachother...he loves to take baths...which i think i encouraged in utero when i was taking baths almost every night!

being a mama is seriously a crazy job...but so far so good...there are moments where i feel helpless but i have durin and he is such a big help! at one point i had realized that i hadnt brushed my teeth in three days...i feel for speck as i showered him with kisses with that nastay breath! :)

today, i see my midwife, pam, for a postpartum visit...and my friend sage is coming to have lunch...i should get off here and wake the child up so that he gets fed before i do!

weaddababyitsaboy!

2008-08-05T13:12:00.004-07:00

just a quick update! we had a baby! his name is Warren Galen and he wieghed in at 7 pounds 7 ounces. he was born yesterday morning at 10:36...in water into durins hands.

i started having contractions on his due date over at nicoles house as we were barbequin'...went to bed and awoke to more contractions at about 2 in the morning...
he was born with his caul (amniotic sac) on him and intact (check out this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caul)...we also had a "special" placenta...it had an extra lobe! pretty cool eh?! you can check it out if you are so inclined at my midwife's blog in my links.....she posted about it there...

everything went perfectly...i will give more details later...the boy calls!

thank you to all you for your support and well wishes and love sent from all over! it was a Speck-tacular day all around...and now we rest!

happy due day to me and speck!

2008-08-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

waiting game.

2008-08-02T10:40:00.002-07:00

this waiting is torture i tell ya!!!

i dont think due dates should be allowed...i guess thats why they stress that they are "estimated" due dates....its stupid...makes you edgy...and i am pretty sure that that doesnt help it work its way out.

speck, it seems, is super cozy in there...methinks that he/she will all of a sudden want out...no leading up to it...i think it will happen all at once...

i just want to meet the lil bugger i have been home to for the last 280 some odd days...apparently i am a good home. pink warm fluffy...what more could a baby want!?!

i also really want a dirty martini....nice and salty...and yummy...perhaps (thanks mikey) i do need me some pho....damn silverton is pho-less....well, there is no vietnamese pho here...there is a thai place that has a similar noodle soup but is not quite pho vinh....mmmmmm.

anyhow, i will post here when there is more action! wish me baby action luck! send the vibes my way....lets gitter dun...

mat leave....

2008-07-31T12:36:00.002-07:00

just chillin. playing the waitin' game.
i am officially on maternity leave....so, speck can come any time.....any time.
i am hoping that it wont be too hot when i go into labor...but right now its looking like its going to be....nighttime will be my friend....
two days ago, i had a bit of cramping, which i was hoping meant we were on to something good...but they subsided...speck is comfy in there....i think i will make durin walk with me tonight....maybe start drinking the red raspberry leaf tea....eat spicy food...all the old wives tales....are they true...do they work?

i have been making foods...cobblers...chicken noodle soup....i have all the stuffs to make cookies today...i will probably do that after i am dont babysittin' nicole's monkeys!

i dont know if i shared here that amos pulled his ACL in his left hind leg...hes hobbling around but seems in good spirits....the vet said that we could do surgery but that he is an old dog and it might just be better to see how he fares for the next couple weeks....so, we are giving him rimadyl and just keeping an eye on it....i hope it gets better....

well, i am on maternity leave! so holla' if you wanna hang out!

clouds. happpppy clouds.

2008-07-27T11:38:00.003-07:00

i am so delighted that it is cloudy today...i dont feel like i am sweating to death!
i might get some motivation here in a bit....we have my nieces birthday party to go to today which should be fun.

the other day, i went to breakfast with tiffany and sage at the top-o-hill restauraunt in aurora and then we went berry picking just outside of aurora ...it was loverly! i got a ton of boysenberries and blueberries...i made boysenerry cobbler the other night and oh my god it was delicious. i think boysenberries are my favorite berry. i also made boysenberry freezer jam as well. so good. yesterday morning, for durin (and because it was our anniversary-6years), i made blueberry coffee cake muffins that were absolutely delicious. especially warm. i have more blueberries to use up....so, what should i make!? i should do something with it today. hmmmm. any idears?

on the speck front, we basicly got his/her room finished. i got cute ikea rugs and red drapes and need to just tidy it up....he/she wont sleep in there for a while...but for some reason i felt like it needed to be finished and ready....i shall post some pics soon....i actually think durin is nesting for me!

i have horrid nasal congestion...which is normal because of an increase in (i think) estrogen that helps ready your cervix for labor by softening it up....this also causes your sinuses and nasal passages to swell up...real fun. i am a mess at this last little juncture! good thing everything went so well prior eh?! i feel for women that have to go through crazy symptoms throughout their entire pregnancy....i guess it has to get miserable at the end so that mentally and physically you will push the lil bugger out....hopefully soon.

yesterday, i used my serger for the first time! it was awesome...the skirt i made, not so much...but still, it gave me practice overlocking...which to my surprise is not anymore difficult that sewing a straight line really....thanks again to amy dear for threading the thing for me and helping me understand that i shouldnt be afraid of the serger!

well, this post has proven to be a long one...i am trying to pick myself up outta yesterdays funk...hopefully today will be better....

flickr fun...

2008-07-26T21:31:00.002-07:00

How it's played:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.

1. What is your first name? Angie
2. What is your favorite food? Pho
3. What high school did you go to? Madison High School in Portland, OR.
4. What is your favorite color? Greens and Browns
5. favorite pastime? crafting.
6. Favorite drink? coffee
7. Dream vacation? carribean perhaps.
8. Favorite dessert? st. cupcakes
9. What you want to be when you grow up? a midwife.
10. What do you love most in life? happiness.
11. One Word to describe you. pregnant at the moment.
12. what town do you live in? silverton, oregon
13. what is your occupation? Registered Nurse
14. what did you have for breakfast? warm homemade blueberry muffins. i made em.
15. favorite element? water for sure.
16. favorite season? summer
17. favorite seasonal activity? swimming.
18. fave music when you dont know what else to listen to? bob marley
19. celeb you would like to meet? anthony bourdain...i just am jealous of his job.
20. what is on your computer desk top? specks ultrasound pic
21. favorite shoes? right now, birkenstocks....i have huge feet!
22. favorite alcaholic drink? dirty martini
23. favorite candy? jelly beans.
24. favorite flower? poppies.
25. what did you do today? sewed.

1. Blue Angie Beginning, 2. pho, 3. Made in Oregon, 4. green spar, 5. coloriffic pincushion, 6. Coffee has two virtues: it is wet and warm., 7. A View of Heaven, 8. Untitled, 9. Birth, 10. Eid Mubarak - عید فطر مبارک, 11. 40 weeks, 12. Poppy and Hay Fields at Dusk, 13. Nurse, 14. Blueberry Muffin Anyone?, 15. water droplets in the shower - o.k. bokeh, 16. i can taste summer! a.k.a. childhood summer! a.k.a. childhood reminiscence! a.k.a. those were the good times!, 17. Mallorca 2007 -- Waiting for summer to come, 18. Bob Marley and B. - Jamaica, W. I., 19. Anthony Bourdain Cooking, 20. Untitled, 21. I love cables on socks, 22. Dirty, 23. jellybeans, 24. poppy, 25. Sewing Machine HK

your turn!

sooooon. so soooon.

2008-07-21T20:35:00.003-07:00

we are so close. things are pretty much ready for the speckster to come a'speelunking on out!

everyone keeps callin and inquiring if i am in labor yet......not yet...but i think i am ready! i am ready and content and really just ready to roll with however speck decides to make his or her appearance! people keep asking if i plan on a water birth....i have all my options open...we have access to a pool and will have it ready to go when i go into labor....but i am not deciding on specific ways to deliver...i dont want to narrow it down...it will happen how it wants to happen and i am happy to ride that big old wave! if for some reason the homebirth doesnt work out, which i have every faith that it will, i will deliver at silverton hospital....but i am at peace with however speck chooses to come! i cant wait to see specks lil face!

i cant wait. i am very excited....in the meantime, i have still been working...and swimming and chillin out. just a waitin game at this point. its a fun wait though. my wrists are still given me trouble...but i am a'dealin!

anyhow, i will try to keep yall posted! i cant wait!

new stuffs.

2008-07-13T19:06:00.003-07:00

hey everyone.
yesterday was the baby bbq! it was a blast. super relaxing and i got to see many folks that i havent seen for quite some time! plus, we made out like bandits with the baby booty! included are just a couple pics here from yesterday....thanks to all of you that came or sent well wishes! it was fun!

according to my lil ticker thing on here i have 20 days to go and am 37 weeks along! soooo crazy! i think i am totally ready though....i need my wrists back! shaving my legs might be nice again! and of course seeing my feets! that would all be good again! plus, i am really excited to see speck....

we had a midwife appt the other day...my blood pressure is all good...everything is good really...i am just having the wrist pain...and there isnt much that can be done....so, me and my sore wrists wait......we are so so close at this point....our lil fam damily will be three from here on out...which is kinda a trip albeit an exciting one!

thanks again to all yall that came out here yesterday! and to those of you that couldnt, you were there in spirit for sure! we loves ya!

its 4:47 am.

2008-07-08T04:47:00.002-07:00

it is very very early and here i am...up. i have to work today, so this will be fun. i dont think there will be enough coffee in the world today. too bad there is no stumptown coffee to be had round these parts.

yes. my wrist again. one tiny little part of my body can throw my whole being off. the one really good thing about it all though, is that i will be ready to pull all-nighters when speck comes! bonus eh?! although, i did want some sort of rest before i get to marathon this kid out!

i have been reading "adventures in natural childbirth" which shares many mothers' stories about differing ways of birthing with different folks in attendance...it is quite interesting. i think its making me have little dreams (in between wakefulness) about going into labor...

baby showery/bbq is this weekend! i am excited. it should be cool lotsa folks there!
i ordered diaper service yesterday and got a week free! fun stuff! now i need to find a cute diaper pail...
aaaand i got my maternity leave stuff in order...finally. its not easy. my hr department really doesnt want you to have it easy....

well, i am gonna lay down, AGAIN. and try to sleep for one more hour...i am going to laugh if i get called off today....gahd.

update.

2008-07-06T04:37:00.002-07:00

hey everyone,
sorry for the slackage on the posting. i have actually been avoiding the computer a bit because i have hurty wrist pain and am trying to not exacerbate it by typing etc. i believe that its partially carpal tunnel that is caused by extra fluids in pregnancy....and partially a nerve being pinched off on the the right side....anyhow, that is why i havent posted recently.

the other day we got specks room painted (that was fun with the wrist action let me tell ya)all that is left is the edging by the ceiling. the color is a nice chocolatey brown! i think its going to look awesome! well, it already does.
then, alls we have to do is set it up in there! i went to ikea and got some fun stuff the other day...lamps and things. i heart ikea.

tummywise, my belly is big! i feel ok! when i am walking i get the braxton hicks contractions...but have all along. there is new pains and pressures...but they are totally tolerable at this point! only 28 days left. that is crazy. just crazy. seems like we should be doing more to prepare.....we have bbq next week...then what!??! wait and wait i guess! this lil bugger will do its thing then i suppose!

well, thought i would update yall...as i am up very early this morning....hope to see ya next week at the bbq. if not, lots of hugs and love to ya.

more belly for you folks.

2008-06-24T19:55:00.005-07:00

i had a lovely day today! i went to water aerobics, got coffee, babysat nicoles boys...we went to the park...and then to get ice cream. after that nicole came over and we sunbathed in the back yard....my belly is a tad bit burnt methinks. and then we went and got sushi! what a great day!!!

i hope you all had a lovely day too!
only 40 days til speck!

long time no update...

2008-06-23T22:32:00.002-07:00

so, i have been pretty busy i would say...for having had so many days off i feel wiped! the weekend before last i was hired to take pics at an anniversary party for my aunts awesome parents....who have been married for 50 years! it was super fun! i hope the pics are ok!!! i get so self conscious when i am not just dorkin around with the camera....

this last weekend, i went camping with my family! it was super! the weather was great and i just kinda chilled the whole time!

i worked today...and had a great load of patients...it was an ok day at work despite the fact that i didnt get lunch---yet again.

i also went to my midwiffers today! it had been a little bit of time since the last time i saw her...my last appt was canceled due to another lady havin her kidlet (how dare she go into labor and mess up my schedule!) heehee! i got to meet the new apprentice.....and baby is still chillin head down in the right occiput anterior position which is good. speck feels lower but its head hasnt engaged....or moved down into the pelvis yet...i suppose i will know when that happens! not too long now....only a few more weeks...my belly measures 35.5 centimeters....which is completely appropriate and normal for this week!

my to do list:
get invitations out for baby bbq tomarrow.
order candies and such from oriental trading company.
continue going to water aerobics on my days off.
order the rest of my birth kit.

for those of you following along and wanting to contribute anything to the baby bbq, please text me or call me and i can give you nicoles phone number or vice versa so yall can figure it out....i honestly dont know what she wants help with or what i should be doing....so yeah! also, just know too, that it will be pot luck style with some foods provided...it will be at the farm here...probably in nicoles yard where there will be shade...and a traeger bbq...mmmmmmmm. we are aiming at starting around 3 or 4 in the afternoon....folks are welcome to campout here on the property instead of driving home...i do imagine that there will be beverages/beers around....so no drinky and drivy! we may need tables.....so let me know if you have one to bring! or loan to us! the bbq will be pretty informal...with a baby shower element to it....no dorky games....we do have a baby registry at babysrus.com....you can find it under mine or durins names.....so fun!

i hope to see many folks there!!! i wish everyone could be there but it is understandable that life can get in the way!

i hope all is well with those of you i havent talked to.....
peace.

saaaaad. and some happies.

2008-06-11T15:05:00.003-07:00

i was supposed to be leaving for boston tomarrow to see some friends but it fell through for me. i was wishing to get in one vacation before the lil speckster made his/her debut....hopefully i will get some funs in prior! i am missing out on some serious crab eating and fun times with my gals this trip....

we are scheduled to go camping with the fam next weekend. which reminds me that somehow we need to find a tent! and bring lots of blankets. we will be camping up at mt. hood....i think its going to be cooooooold! it should be pretty fun though! lots of chill time.

i only have 52 days to go til speck!!!! can yall believe that! crazy i tell ya.

i am really excited too that my friend eva, who lives in tennessee is probably moving to wenatchee washington which is only four hours away!!!
this makes me extremely happy as i always needed someone to run away from t-rexes with! ;)

this post is pretty random...but its just a couple things that i have thought about today and wanted to share.

Mo' Belly!

2008-06-05T20:59:00.003-07:00

only 8 more weeks left folks! i just cant believe it!!!

we are finalizing dates for the baby barbeque! it will be july 5th or 12th...and we are leaning more towards the 12th....

speck has been moving a ton and i have been more and more able to identify his/her position inside m'belly, which i think is way cool.

many many moons ago, i stated that i wanted to deliver babies when i grew up....i am thinking more and more about this...i also thought nursing was the best way to go about this....but i am thinking more and more about becoming a midwife and getting my butt out of the hospital....its brewing in my noggin and i am thinking of pursuing something that seems more fulfilling....more enlightening. empowering. i dunno. i probably need advice...so, if you have any, holla! just thoughts rollin around in my head is all.

i just cant believe that i have 8 weeks left. then, we meet. we all do!

enjoy the belly!

oh.my.gosh.

2008-05-28T22:34:00.000-07:00

i want burgerville....like. now.

fetoscope. fetoscope

2008-05-25T14:55:00.002-07:00

i was laying on the couch just a few minutes ago....and was feelin around my belly. i am getting really good at figuring out where speck is lying and which parts are his/her lil rump and back and such....my midwife gave me a fetoscope to borrow and up until now i hadnt heard specks heartbeat with it that i know of....but i plopped it right where i thought specks upper back was and there was the lil fast heartbeat! sooooo cooooooool! durin got to listen too! hes all grinny!

i like using the fetoscope because it is the real heartbeat noise rather than the fake whoosh whoosh of the doppler! and i have it here at home! how freakin coooool.

just thought i would share. (the pic above isnt of us using the fetoscope....just so ya know! we were trying to hear speck with our stethoscopes...to no avail!)

seven irrelevent things...

2008-05-24T17:25:00.006-07:00

i was tagged by miss michele....and now i must answer life's most important question!

what are 7 irrelevent things about you? are they interesting? who knows. i will just choose at random. here we go.

number one: (caroline knows this only because she lives with me now) i have a serious aversion to blue M&Ms. like. seriously. i put them back in the bag and ask others to eat them. whatever ever happened to the baby poop brown one that the blue one replaced....that one was perfectly fine thank you.

number two: one of my serious crushes in my teen years was norm abram from "this old house". nancy and i used to watch norm because he was super cool. norm rules!

number three: i have an iphone. and i love my iphone. you are jealous. i know it. although i have almost killed myself using my iphone whilst texting nicole in the car...not the best idea.

number four: someday, i would like to move to nashville. i have never been there but i seriously know i love it. i really want to visit dollywood...and plan to. memphis would be cool to visit as well. who can resist graceland baby. maybe i was born to be a country singer....a country crooner or what have you....where are my cowboy boots?! i love my cowboy boots, which reminds me, i seriously need to get speck some cowboy boots! :)

number five: i took a nap today. after having slept in. and playing wii fit and my wii agatha christie game...it was a lovely nap. i havent done a damn thing today!

number six: i hate ketchup. like, really hate ketchup. the one really bad thing about disneyland, when i went there, was the unnending smell of ketchup. what the hell is that? the perpetual smell of kid? i mean really. kids should smell like something other than ketchup! i dont understand the kid/ketchup relationship. i am crossing my fingers that speck will never come into contact with ketchup....yeah right. maybe organic real ketchup is better...anyone know?

and lastly,

number seven: i used to have a guinea pig named mister pig. he was a cute ruddy red guinea pig with the squeaks that could melt your lil guinea pig lovin' heart. he died tragicly during the spring break quake of 1993....poor mister pig.

so, there you have it. seven irrelevent things about me.....brought to you today by the color blue....and the number 7!

thursday. thursday.

2008-05-22T18:15:00.003-07:00

i wasnt going to post the pic i am posting with this post....but i decided not to be shy with it....it is my belly! and i love it! i hope you do too. :)

i have had a very nice day today. i basicly finished up a swap package! it is for the "pregnant and newborn swap" on craftster! i am quite happy with how it turned out! and i cant wait to receive my package from my partner! once i know my partner has recieved from me, i will post pics of what i made! soooo cute!
i made speck a couple of things too! so fun!

i had another midwiffer appointment yesterday! it was fun. everything looks good! speck was a movin around alot when we were playin' with the fetoscope! speck is head down so all the kicks i have been feeling are up top-o-the-belly! we are going to borrow pams (my midwife) pool...we have to buy a liner in case we want to use it! and we will be needin to get our lil birth kit together! so exciting.....only 10 weeks left! can yall believe that!?!! i get to have a car bomb in 10 weeks!!!! well, and meet speck of course! i am doing both on specks birthday!

when i think about being pregnant...i really think about the wonder that is going on with my bod! and then it makes me think of how empty i might feel after the fact...like physically....we will see. i wonder if that is why people get knocked up again shortly after having had a baby....probably.
i hope you are all having a lovely week!

happy belated midwives day!

2008-05-07T20:45:00.002-07:00

ok. so i was bloggin' and of course i checked out my midwives blog a bit ago...and i learned that i missed midwives day....so, if you're reading this pam and lennon: speck, durin and i want to shout out "happppppppy midwive's day! you rock and you are both very inspiring to us and to many others as well!" woot!

for those of your that are interested, you can check out an interview with my midwife here. it might give those of you who think i am "being a rebel/crazy/hippie/insertanythingyouwanthere" some enlightenment...or ease your fears....or something. i know that the more i read and educate myself on the issues surrounding birth and birth options i am encouraged by my midwive's thoughts and eased by her trust in birth....

i really wish more people had open minds...and the people i am really talking about are my peers at work. they seriously look at me like i am insane when i tell them that i am not delivering in hospital (especially not in the hospital i work at)...the NICU nurses especially like to attempt to scare the shit out of me when i tell them that i am going to birth at home. i seriously had one nurse tell me that she "was there when a midwife was bagging a baby on her lap all the way into the NICU....and she did it ALL WRONG....etc.etc." first, this pissed me off because she hinted that it could be MY midwife....secondly, what the hell is the midwife going to do....not rescusitate the child....i dont give a crap if its in her lap....she was maintaining life support for that baby....gahd!!! these folks, these peers, that really think i am crazy need to step back and really evaluate their own fears. i dont think they have it within themselves to really trust what they are capable of. true gumption to go against what we have been told...against what has been ingrained into our own thinking by society, by rules, by regulations...regarding our bodies and our capacities.

i could share more craptastic things that OB docs and other nurses have said (or not said) and or implied when i told them that i was homebirthin'. but i want to move on...i am getting all riled up over here!

the last time i was at the beach i chatted with my grandma about birth and some of the issues surrounding it and how things have changed over the years....i suppose it does seem quite radical...my decision...if you yourself experience pregnancy and birth in quite a different way than now....if you werent given any options...where fathers really didnt participate in the birth process...where you werent allowed to choose who was in the room and how you might labor...you were told. or merely expected....to act a certain way during the birth of your own child. i really want my grandma at specks birth....it is very important to me that i share that with her. (hi grandma, if you're reading this!!!) :-)

i know i am rambling a bit...but alot of this is stuff that i have had alot of time to think about...and i dont really know if i have shared it...i am just feelin it i guess. i am gonna go and watch a cheesy girl movie now! happy wednesday to you all.

baby stuffs.

2008-05-05T21:11:00.002-07:00

here is the baby set i got from mona the other day! soooo cute! nicole gave me the crib...which she used as a lil bebe! all this is in our room.....so yeah. almost ready.....

undie butt. prius style.

2008-05-01T18:11:00.006-07:00

so, i just purchased diapers for speck....or actually a starter kit for them atleast....i bought these here: www.gdiapers.com

check em out...gdiapers baby! they are the prius of diapers! pretty cool eh!
arn't they darned cute....? well, i think so.
the inserts are flushable and compostable and the covers are washable...i am thinking that i will use the old school cloth diapers inside the gdiaper covers and liners for the most part...and use the flushable inserts for out and about or for when speck is being babysat....all to do my lil part for my corner of the planet....

i know that many of you have never thought two seconds about diapers....and may never...i hadn't either, but for some odd reason i have had to do a ton of research......and finally settled on this plan for now. i just cant justify using huggies or whatever....did you know that each disposable diaper takes roughly 500 years to decompose....thats nasty.

so yeah. here is just one endeavor i have embarked upon as a soon to be new parent....some day, i will be bloggin about my baby's bowel movements! how fun!

bye scoot.

2008-04-30T16:38:00.002-07:00

today is a very sad sad day. my scooter is going to live with someone else. luckily, it is moving back to its hometown to live with tiffany! but i will miss that lil cherry bomb!

i will get another one...someday. i loved that scoot. i loved scootin' all over ptown with her...hence, the ptown pics. just thought i would share my sad sad scooter news....

bump.

2008-04-29T17:27:00.003-07:00

heres some pics for yall! i hope you like!
the goofy belly pic was a pic i took to show off my tunic made by my lovely friend and soul sistah miss amy! isnt it rad! she is probably one of the best seamstresses ever! i think i have a link to her blog if you are interested in more of her work...she is really a crafty gal!

the speck pendant was sent to me by another crafterrific friend of mine named lothruin (whom i dont have a link for....the shame) whos specialty is jewelry...isnt it awesome....i love it and thought it should be shared! thank you loth!

and the other pics were just taken around the property....you can check out my awesome maternity jeans! woot! ;) they actually are a godsend. i love goodwill!

oh, and i want to say thank you to kim for the puzzle toys and the maternity trousers! thanks!!!! :)

lets see. as for an update....i am about 26 and a half weeks pregnant....speck moves ALOT...sometimes, mostly in the car, the movement makes me giggle out loud...when i am all by myself....it is that much. in the same breath though, the old speckster is stubborn...when other people try to feel for the movement, he/she clams up!!! i dont know why...its weird....stubborn lil bugger!

my belly is getting bigger and bigger....thats really all there is too it!

oooooh. the goats out on the island here are pregnant...and, according to nicole, are ready to pop! i think i may try to make goat cheeeeeese!!! with the guidance of my aunt susan perhaps! mmmmmmmm. cheeeeese.

ok. i am hungry. i need to go stuff my face!

eggling round 2

2008-04-28T22:09:00.002-07:00

meet eggling number two. this is a basil eggling that is actually growing! i love it. i found a little shop in salem that sold them and i couldnt resist....again. if you remember, i killed the last one....by placing it next to a cold window too soon and forgetting to water it....i am really good at killing plants...just ask my grandma...she is still saving an orchid i almost murdered.....its still in recovery....what like two years later....

the new eggling came with a lil seed packet so i used it in both the new egg and the old one....and the above pic is what i have so far! they both live by the sink so i remember to water them! they are adorable! michele, did you grow yours?

i will be bloggin more and more...i found my camera cord and have some photos to upload....but i dont want to inundate yall with random pics...i feel like a few pics per blog post is enough at one time....so, i will be trying to spread em out a bit!

enjoy my lil eggling!

I........

2008-04-28T12:40:00.002-07:00

found my camera cord! i hope to have muchas photographias for yall!

things i miss.

2008-04-20T09:59:00.002-07:00

i miss car bombs. and a good beer. and sleeping completely on my belly. having tummy muscles.

i woke up with the milkshake song in my head....so i changed it up a bit and sang "my yogurt...is better than yours. damn right. its better than yours" to durin all through breakfast....i must say it was fun. he likes eating is activia....and i explained to him that tillamook yogurt has all the same live cultures to "regulate" as the activia does....and it tastes better and you get two ounces more per container....how can you beat that!?! plus...a bacteria called bifidus regularis just cracks me up! go jamie lee curtis!

in other news, we went to the midwife yesterday...lennon, my midwife's apprentice felt specks lil bod...he/she was hanging out in breech position....which is fine for now! heart beat was good. my blood pressure is rockin! our appointments are mostly just chit chatting and hangin out...we measured my fundus yesterday! what is a fundus you say?! its the top of the uterus...and you measure from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus...mine is 21 cm right now....in case you care!

we also went to the pancake house yesterday...best place in salem if you ask me! it was delicious....

we went for a walk around the pond yesterday as well...it was nice. i took some pictures but cant find my camera cord at the moment...so of course, you'll have to come back sometime and check em out.

over all it was a good weekend....i am going to bonnie's baby shower today...should be fun to see everyone!!! (i am hopin' and a'prayin that we arent going to do the diaper choco bar sniffin game today....please god no....)
mikey and michele, you guys wouldnt happen to be coming home for any reason in june wouldya? i am thinking of doing a shower then.....?

i hope all yalls weekend was a good one filled with pancakes and raining cotton....(yes. its snowing here today....weird).

random stuff

2008-04-17T09:33:00.003-07:00

hey everyone.
i havent posted in a little bit...so, here i am....i have just been coming and going to and from work...fun stuff. my belly is growing by the day and speck is a lil acrobat in there....i think he or she is going to be a very active baby in the mornings and in the later evenings....thats about the times i feel movement the most!

today, i am meeting a gal in salem who is giving me a jogging stroller that i scored off of freecycle! yay for freecycle!

i am also going to scout out some cheap clothes to wear perhaps at value village or the like...

last weekend we had family over to the new house for barbeque action...it was super actually. good times. good foods! and good weather! cant beat that!

i havent really been craftin' or knittin' or anything as i lack motivation (any ideas to cure this problem) and i havent organized the space for it. i did get a baby registry together but i am unsure if it is the only one i am going to use...there is only babies-r-us...and it is a huge baby comglomerate (sp?)....i might make an online wish list as well so folks have options! :)

we are thinking of baby shower in late june or early july. i think its just going to be barbeque style hangin out...as i dont really want to participate in chocolate bar diaper sniffing if i dont have to....you girls know what i am talking about....its lame.

i see the midwife this saturday! probably just the usual checkin in! we are only a few months away. i cant believe it! i just cant believe it....

well, that is all for now. i know i am slacking on photos....especially in the belly department...i will get some as soon as i can!

i miss you guys.

2008-04-05T14:16:00.002-08:00

dear mikey and michele.
i am sad cuz i miss you guys. i just wanted you to know that. your comments on my last post made me feel all weepy and sad.

i want you to know that you are family in my eyes...and i miss ya. and you are totally specks auntie and uncle.

ok. i am gonna cry now.

lets try pics again....

2008-04-04T07:38:00.003-08:00

yay! the pics worked this time! the above pic is a ring sling that i had made for a swap a while ago...i never got to send it out...i am not fond of sparkly purple...but i did want to show that even you can sew a baby sling to carry your kitty litter around in! :)

this pic is a recent belly pic with a happy durin in the background! the belly is taking over the world....or atleast MY world! lil speck baby weighs about a pound now! yowzers...thats a huge kid!

aaaaand this is my mei tai sling (with kelly's baby owen in it! he was my test subject!). i am so happy with this sling....it is pretty comfy...even with my own belly in the way! i want to make a few more....i am obsessed with slings....i really have a feeling i am not going to like dealing with strollers and carseats all the time...slings seem like the best and coziest option for speck and i....

the last few days i have dreamt about speck and not being ready for him/her. and it freaks me out a little. so, i have started researching baby stuffs. yesterday i spent many hours looking into the potpourri of cloth diapering options....it is quite overwhelming at first...but i think i have come up with a plan that works for durin and i....i think that i am going to go with a diaper service and call it good! if you know durin at all you KNOW hes not going to want to soak and rinse and fling poo all over in order to cloth diaper...he would gag. AND if you know me, you know that i am not real keen on laundry doin'! so, the diaper service seems like the right choice...and its pretty inexpensive (please note: you can gift diaper service as well! hint. hint.). so, we will have all the prefold diapers delivered...and i am hoping to get a bunch of wrap type diaper covers for ease of use....i am currently talking with a lovely lady on etsy about making me a bulk order...but we will see.

the average spawn, in their diapering years, goes through about $4000 worth of disposable diapers....with even a diaper service its cheaper! and my baby's poo won't be chillin in the landfill for the next 1000 years! so yeah, it seems like the proper and good thing to do...and cloth diapering isnt as crazy hard as it used to be...

if anyone has any personal experience or advice---please holla!

alright. i am out! i have to go get ready to meet tiffany for breakfast! wheeee!

its been quite some time.

2008-04-01T06:51:00.002-08:00

so, since the last post here, we have moved---again! nicole is now my neighbor! my belly is getting big (for some reason i am unable to upload my pics at the moment)...

we are still in silverton...just now we really are on the outskirts of town in the country...it is lovely...except the roosters that wake us every morning. we now live on a pond with lots-o-fowl around. there are goats out on the island in the middle of the pond. the dogs seem to like it here!

my aunt caroline came to stay with us while her house sells in Ashland and that has been cool! well, with the exception that old dog brody died the morning after they got here. brody was an old man dog...he was a very good happy loving being and it is sad that he isnt around...poor boy.

there is alot for us to do here...its just "where do we start"....and i am so up and down with nausea at the moment that i cant do anything...or make any damn decisions!

anyhow, i know that i have more to write about...but i am going to head to portland to get sticky rice and papaya at Owajimaya and perhaps call a friend for coffee.

i will try more to keep this blog updated....we have been without internets til yesterday so i really couldnt update at all til now.

cupcakes in my noggin. and a mei tai.

2008-03-18T02:27:00.003-08:00

i cant get cupcakes outta my head. i want cupcakes...but not just any old cupcakes...they need to be delicious cupcakes from Saint Cupcake in p-town. salem pretty much sucks.....if you know of any delicious cupcake having places in salem please text me up....or tell me here.

good god. i really am in love with a cupcake. are there cupcake subscriptions...? i think if i decide not to be a nurse (which is becoming more and more likely every day) i will go into the cupcake subscription business....whatever happened to that online delivery business....what was it? kozmo.com? i bet they would have cupcakes.

so, on another note (that has nothing to do with cupcakes)....i had the hankerin to make a mei tai today....what is a mei tai you ask! it is a baby carrier....i have practically finished it and it is (to quote my friend nicole) fancy! all i need to do is top stitch it tomarrow morning and its all done! i just need to find a baby or a large kitty to practice on! (i am not so sure limubai would be up for the job....if i can convince him, i WILL get pictures!)...

i also made a ring sling a couple weeks ago for a swap....but alas the swap partner didnt work out...and now i am stuck with a sparkly purple ring sling...if you or anyone you know likes purple and would like to have my ring sling...its all yours....oh! i have to share the best part about this ring sling....i got the rings in the cattle section of the feed store here in town...they are hefty! i dont know why, but craftin' with cattle rings makes me giggle.....

oh! if you are cool like me, you will go to your netflix and instantly watch "the business of birth"....fantastic video...one of the most amazing birth vids i have ever seen. i am so so so happy with my choice to go with a homebirth....(like i had to think real hard about it)....i am so content. and after watching that movie...i love ricki lake. she rocks. i liked her before...especially in "cry-baby"....i digress....this documentary really is one that every woman should watch...so, go!

i am now going to bed....to dream of cupcakes and babies.
(sorry this post was so spastic! its late...and i want cupcakes)

baby! shoes!

2008-03-16T22:45:00.002-08:00

so, i have been sick for the last few days....i have had the cough from hell that wont go away....and then on top of that, i got a cold a few days ago. so, its been swell let me tell ya. i even went to the doctor to see if i could take something for the cough.....he prescribed me amoxicillin....even though he thinks its a virus....real smart. so, yeah. i am not taking the antibiotics if its just a virus....does no good.

i have basicly been laying around...but i had lunch with my aunt yesterday, which was cool! we drove around and looked at the town and at some houses for sale....!

today, we went over to nicoles to help out a bit...i wasnt much help actually...too tired and sick to really help, plus its hard helping someone else move their stuff....when its not all packed up ya know.

so, the shoes. i got a boost of energy and felt like sewing. so i found this pattern online to make lil baby shoes! so the above shoes are what i sewed today! i think they are damn cute! i think the suede ones are not quite done...i am going to get some leather lacing and lace it like sheepskin slippers......i think they will be cute that way! i am awfully proud of these lil bebe shoesies!

Please say hello to Speck!

2008-03-09T19:25:00.003-08:00

so, last thursday we got to see speck for the first time! it was pretty much the coolest thing ever! ever! we got to watch him/her for a little over an hour....what a squirmy lil bugger! its amazing that i dont feel the movement yet (although, i think i am starting to more and more). i just included three of the best pictures for now...we also got a really cool video of it to take home where you can see him/her swallowing, arching and moving around...so cool. i cant stop watching it!

i cant seem to upload the actual video for your viewing pleasure....but i sure would like to...i tried everything i know how to do...they made it in a funky format...but alas, i will show it to you in person if you ask!

i realized today that i am almost 5 months....this is going by so fast! its crazy!

last weekend!

2008-03-04T19:04:00.003-08:00

i had a blast last weekend! i got to hang with my ladies amy, pam, and miranda! and of course old man pederson and the old durbucket as well. we went all over ptown to yarn stores, craft stores, baby stores, fabric stores...and antique stores...we did alot of shopping. i have to say that i didnt buy as much as i wanted to! but i got my fair share of fun stuff! and i have fallen in love with a cupcake. fo' real.
mark and pam are seriously the most gracious hosts'....i want to send em a big old shout out! wooot!

as for this week, i worked yesterday and today....i am a bit tired. the tiredness is weird with this whole baby carrying thing....its like a "hard" tired....it hits ya. hard. i dont think i have felt "tired" like this before....its really uncontrollable and theres no turning back once you feel that weird restless tired feeling...all you can do is submit to it....i missed the end of 'no country for old men' last friday night because of 'the tired'....that was a damn long movie to sit through just to fall asleep at the very ending....what a waste.....

one more thing on my agenda this week: no one informed me that pregnancy causes you to pee yourself....yeah yeah. i am a nurse i shoulda known....but this early in the game?! i have to really concentrate on NOT peeing when i cough....which has proven to be difficult as i have had a horrid cough for about two weeks now...so yeah. i know all that is a little too much information...if only someone wouldve warned me! its the least i can do for others before they too get stuck in the leg squenching predicament i am finding myself in!

i hope you are all having a good week....and not peeing YOURselves.

speck phones continued.

2008-02-27T00:09:00.002-08:00

so, when i put the "speck phones" on my belly earlier....i had the music a blastin'. after about five to ten seconds i felt a bubbly feeling on the left side of my belly...right under one of the headphones.....i think speck drop kicked me. i also think i scared the shit outta him/her. perhaps he/she doesnt like james blunt....or doesnt like his/her little world disturbed.....

tomarrow i shall see if bob marley meets speck's approval......

one more thing.

2008-02-26T14:15:00.004-08:00

i just realized that i had put "grow my fingernails out" on my 101 things list....and i have! i forgot that i had that goal...and here are my new nails! if you know me at all, you know that i dont normally have any fingernails! so, this is a feat!

i got big headphones!

2008-02-26T13:48:00.003-08:00

yes. yes. i got big headphones! they rock actually. my friend lori is calling them "speck phones" cuz i can wear them on my belly....speck will be enjoying some bob marley for sure!

i made the ultrasound appointment this morning! i will be going in for that on thursday, march 6th at 8 am. i am excited...but i dont want the ultrasound technician to mess up and accidently tell us what the sex is....i have heard of them slipping up on that....i wonder if you can sue for that! haa!

we are basicly just going to get the ultrasound for the pictures....vain. yes.

i am organizing a pregnant and newborn swap on craftster! i should get some fun stuff...and i have some great ideas for my partner as well! should be fun!

not much else to write...except that my big headphones rule. that is all.

i am eating a pickle.

2008-02-23T17:20:00.002-08:00

i need to go to costco again and get the jar of mega-pickles...i am almost out!

yesterday, we did go to see the midwife! annnnnnnnd we heard the heartbeat! durin actually heard it and recognized it first cuz i was too busy holding my breath! it was very cool hearing it for the first time. i have heard other peoples babies in utero...but it is definatly different when its in you.....it made me all grinny! durin thinks that the heartbeat sounds like the alien detector in the movie "aliens"......he is kinda right about that....

the top of my uterus reaches up to my belly button....i have money on where the placenta has placed itself....i think it is on the front right upper portion of the uterus....we will see if i am right when we get an ultrasound.

we can make the ultrasound appointment on monday morning! i am really excited.....i am going to try to get digital pictures to email to those of you that are far away!

so far, so good! there have not been any real issues with this whole baby havin' thang.....(knock on wood)....i hope it stays that way! i am four months and one week...today. Speck is roughly 5.5 inches from the top of its head to its butt! i should start to feel it anytime from now to a couple weeks from now.....how cool is that....and kinda weird. i will keep y'all posted!

happy baby!

more belly. more craft.

2008-02-21T13:02:00.003-08:00

so, back by popular demand...here is another belly shot...yes, i am wearing all black again...it is slimming you know! dresses and skirts are my new bestest friends...jeans are pokey and irritating. i have another appt. with my midwife tomarrow. perhaps this seamonkey will grace us with its lil' speedy heartbeat for once....if not...i think i will worry this time. i think i will have my ultrasound next week. we ARE NOT finding out the sex of this seamonkey if we can help it! so, you will have to wait! heehee! did you know, my uterus is the size of a small melon at the moment! cool huh!
so, i made some earrings the other day....and i had to make some for myself! i actually like them! now, i need to figure an outfit to wear em with! they are made with leather and beads...obviously. i like them because they are kinda eighties bohemian hippy style...oh yeah!

not up to much else. just going to work and taking care of sick chitlins...its RSV season...so the pediatric unit is hoppin'! i am still loving my eight hour shifts! i just found out the other day that my aunt caroline (hi!) got a job at the same hospital as me in the ER! how cool is that! i will have someone to meet for lunch....that is if we actually get a lunch! but really, i am excited! it means she is moving up this way from ashland! Speck has a great auntie! heehee!

well, i am off to get a massage...this is the life! then, after that, i am going to pop in my earbuds, sport my new sunglasses and take a walk at the Oregon Garden...i want to see if any crocii (crocuses?) have popped up there!

i hope you all are having a lovely day!

a quilt for speck!

2008-02-09T21:06:00.000-08:00

I made speck a quilt today!

besides quilt making, i have basicly just been hanging out, cooking, and going to the gym....it feels good to go to the gym again! i am hungry, so i must go now...perhaps my next post will be more interesting! :-)

this is the life.

2008-02-04T23:02:00.000-08:00

yup. its this good!

so, after almost three days of hurlin'....i felt less queasy and overall pretty good today!.....and now i have a cold. got i hope i dont get fired....this is not the way to spend a vacation......hmmmf.

the weekend of sick.

2008-02-03T12:50:00.001-08:00

so.....i have been sick since thursday night.....fun fun stuff. i couldnt keep anything down....til this morning really....i think i had a flu bug...but cant be too sure.

i dont have much to write...except that i have watched a bunch of craptastic movies on FX and lots of animal planet. i have yet to make it to the gym...who needs the gym when they are having a bout of bulimia! woot! :)

anyhow, this morning we made breakfast sandwiches that tasted similarly like the ones they make at juniors! mmmm. i miss juniors. i have been able to keep that down...so, i think i am on the mend! we may be going to nicoles for superbowl...but havent totally dedicated....durin really wants to watch the puppy bowl.....i dont really care about the super bowl....but i would think it was cool if the patriots won....because noone has done what they might do....ever....and thats cool.

but yeah. thats my weekend...in a nutshell.

as promised!

2008-01-31T22:36:00.001-08:00

sooooo, meet Speck!

i definatly have a belly! and i really cant put some of my pants on! its kinda fun watching my belly change....i havent really felt anything but waves of nausea for the last few weeks. i do get tired easily still...but thats ok...i like naps! i have however felt funny muscle pulls in my groin...i wonder how much longer i will be able to sleep on my tummy! this is definatly worrisome...as i cant sleep on my back...but alas, i will manage!

happy belly! :)

my pants dont fit.

2008-01-31T17:41:00.000-08:00

no siree, they dont. i think i need to buy more skirts for the belly. i really need to get my belly pics started...or i will regret that i wont have any. perhaps tonight....

anyhow, i have been pretty busy at work. i did, however, have the day off today and that was lovely. i sat at the coffee shop and chilled. it was nice. i also joined a gym. so i will go there tomarrow...perhaps they will have an assmaster3000! i also cleaned the mountain of clothes that had accumulated on my side of the bed. i decided yesterday, that durin has had his side of the bed for far too long. i think its time we switched!

i dont really have anything too exciting to post....but that i am gaining weight as i should be...but it is kinda depressing not being able to wear pants that i have worn for forever. its just weird. oh yeah....we saw the midwife a few days ago! it was cool...but Speck wouldnt entertain us with his/her heartbeat.....alas, next time. i will go again to the midwife in a little less than a month and then we will make an appt. to have the ultrasound....we are basicly just getting it so we can have the cool picture! we wont be finding out the sex of our baby....because we like making yall wait! oh yeah!!! i got the most awesome pin from michele in the mail yesterday!!! it states "i am so crafty i make people!" and has the raddest preggo lady on it....i am going to attach it to my current favorite scarf! thank you michele!!! durin totally giggled at the pin! and i, of course, love it!

alright, i am burning my chili....i will try to get pregnant belly pics tonight!!!!

michele done tagged me...and wants amos to fill out this questionaire....amos misses michele and mikey....and beggin in their kitchen.....

AMOS says:
What are your 5 favorite songs?
1: Black Dog by Led Zeppelin
2: Back in Black by AC/DC
3: Black by Pearl Jam
4: Paint it Black by the Stones
5: anything by Tori Amos...cuz we have the same name.

What are your 5 favorite toys?
1: my fuzzy bone...before i destroy it.
2: the remains of all my old fuzzy bones.
3: my duck
4: i used to have a hedgehog
5: my leash...cuz it means we are going for a walk.

What are your 5 favorite things to eat?
1: I heart Cheese.
2: anything off the floor
3: pizza
4: beer
5: anything really.

What are your 5 favorite activites?
1: laying here.
2: swimming
3: begging
4: laying my head on my fuzzy bone
5: barking out the front window....which annoys durin and angie.

What are your 5 bad habits?
1: uhhhh. begging.
2: barking out the front window
3: running up on people
4: trying to get on the couch
5: more begging.

my head hurts.

2008-01-17T17:44:00.000-08:00

i finished up some thrift store shopping today...it was fun. for a while.

i really dont have much to write right now.....

we are going to the beach either tonight or tomarrow morning....we are going there for the second coming of christmas with my family....it should be lovely. i have missed my grandma. i need to remember to pack my camera and my new birding binoculars that durin got me for christmas! and lots of warm clothes....i cant seem to get warm today!

i just decided that i need a cute banner for my blog...and i am totally inept...i dont have a clue how to make them...and really, honestly, dont wanna learn....so, hear my cry mighty blog gods!!! or mikey....or michele....*hint hint*.

alright...i am gonna go lounge on the couch...until durin gets home. which will just be a few minutes i am sure....i hope you all have a lovely weekend!

the lunchbag that stayed at work.

2008-01-17T00:35:00.000-08:00

i pretty much had the awesomest day at work today, with the exception of leaving my fancy new lunchbag (made by the one and only Lori!!!) in the fridge in the break room....(i actually JUST remembered this now...wayyyyy late.)

i had my 6 month eval. it went quite well. although, i dont get a raise til a year...but that is typical at this hospital. they dont do raises until then....i do however, get a cost of living raise in april...how cool is that!!

so, you know how i was wishing for 8 hour shifts a post or two back, well, my wish came true. it was someone else's misfortune, but i landed their position....it includes three 8 hour shifts and one 12 hour shift a week. this, folks, will be better for me....as i have self diagnosed myself with Pregnancy Induced Narcolepsy with secondary Retardation as of late....and being at work for more than 8 hours at a time seems to exacerbate the symptoms....so, my new schedule actually starts next week! i cant believe how lucky i am...and how awesome my boss was to offer me the position!

on top of all that, i felt really good about my day, as i had a difficult one yesterday....as a new nurse, i feel like a real truly good day is hard to come by....not because being a nurse is horrible or anything...but someday...sooner than later i hope....i will go one day without feeling dumb....but thats a whole other topic to chat about some other day....today was a decent day....its too bad about my lunch bag though.

the random pic i forgot to add to the last post.....

2008-01-13T14:35:00.001-08:00

Today.

2008-01-13T14:24:00.000-08:00

i am feeling quite lazy as one should feel on sundays...but i have to get my butt offa the couch and go to costco...durin is out of activia....and we better watch out if he runs out! :)
i will be getting yummy crap food to cook in my deep fryer....perhaps i will get a huge jar of mayo...for no reason....last time it was a huge body-pillow sized bag of pretzels...they are now waaaay beyond stale at this point. i love costco.

later, i am going to take a walk with nicole...if the weather stays decent....i have my budonkadonk to worry about...why do you need to gain weight in your ass when you are growing a lil human...i just dont see the point....i can understand in the belly...but not the ass.
michele, i need the assmaster3000 now.

i just finished the handmaids tale for the second time. i really think its an awkward book to read when pregnant....but is definatly still one of my favorite books....its so freaky.

oh yeah, michele, i did read the time travelers wife and i loved it! thank you for loaning it to me! what a great book.

ok. i have absolutly nothing else to write about...i work tomarrow and i am not looking forward to it....i wish i worked eight hour shifts. for real. my tummy feels empty...i think i need taco time.

i am 29.

2008-01-11T10:54:00.000-08:00

turning 29 was no large feat. i worked that day...and my lovely charge nurse let me off at 3pm so i could go have birthday dinner. i called jeremy, kelly and tiffany to see if they wanted to meet for an impromptu birfday dinner....we all met at pho vinh in portland. my most favoritest place.....we ate pho. then we proceeded to pix patisserie and had lovely desserts....it was delicious. and simple...and i got deliciously full. it was almost perfect....i think though, that last year for my birthday, we did about the same thing...but it involved mikey and michele....and probably more drinking....it was lacking both this time....but alas...i still made it to 29.

i like 29...its a prime number you know!

womens choice...

2008-01-07T17:18:00.000-08:00

we aint got none.

for real. heres why i am mad.
i am hoping to have a home birth. if i have no risk factors contraindicating it.....so, i have made and appt with a liscensed midwife (LMs are completely and utterly legal in this state) for a consult....i am trying to get my homework done....i call my insurance company, Great West Healthcare (great my ass) to see what their coverage is....the midwife i have picked out "isnt a participant under our health care plan, therefore you will have to find somebody else"....gah. what the lady on the other end of the phone really meant was "damn girl, you so crazy, you must get yourself a Cert. Nurse Midwife, cuz girl, we dont cover that other shit!"

basicly, they dont cover any one that is not a certified nurse midwife.....and there arnt any in this area that will do a home birth. dudes, oregon freakin health plan covers liscensed midwives....and i make too much money to qualify for that! how is that freakin fair! baaaah.

if any of you have any idears, post them...this is kinda important to me...and i feel like my freedom to choose is being ablated by a freakin insurance company.....

i like having a blog...

2008-01-05T19:33:00.001-08:00

today was kind of a lame day. i went to work....on the mother/baby unit...i was exhausted....and i only worked for five hours....but, i didnt get ANY sleep last night...not a wink. i just laid there. bah.

last night, nicole, nate, durin and i went and saw "i am legend"....now, i am by no means a movie critic...i like shittastic movies...i like chick flicks...i like all types of movies if i am in the mood for them at the moment.....now this movie was just ok. it wasnt bad nor was it good. one thing really bothered me about it....they kept repeating the same bob marley song over and over....there are so many good bob marley songs....i mean really...why did they decide to repeat the same one over and over....it just bugged me. thats all i have to say about that.

i think i found a midwife that i may use....she seems cool...she has pink bits in her hair...and her birthing philosophy is similar to mine i think! i will be meeting with her for a consult next saturday at 2pm. today, i am 10 weeks. pretty kewl eh! (michele, i will start getting belly pictures for you pretty soon...my tummy is nothin special just yet!)...i am seriously contemplating a home birth....i know some people might think its crazy...but i think that if a pregnancy has no high risk factors and everything is going smoothly, that it is a normal thing that can occur in ones own home....plus, i know too much. and i dont like the factory-line birthing process that happens in hospital....so, we will see...i will meet with her and see if we click and if its something that will work for me! and durin of course!

ok. i am once again being hypnotized by the couch....i. must. lay. down.

day off......and some random pics!

2008-01-03T10:23:00.000-08:00

it snowed here just the other day! it was pretty cool!

a bird friend....

the above picture is kellys boy Owen! they came over to visit about a week ago! he is very drooly and cute!

so, my speck is about 9.5 weeks....it is the size of a big martini olive (mmmmm, dirty martini)....a little over an inch! wheeee! everyone keeps asking if i am feeling ok....i must look like crap! :) because generally i feel ok....i had one week of real queasiness...but i consumed food like no other to keep it at bay.....it worked splendidly! now, i dont have any quease really, unless i get reeeeaaaal hungry.....my only real symptom at the moment is narcolepsy! i can fall asleep if i blink wrong! the couch is my dearest friend and worst enemy right now...if i sit on it...i sleep. so, i just cant sit on the couch right now!

today, i have the day off, thank goodness! and this day off is all to myself....i just made myself a lovely garlic tomato and basil frittata and it was delicious! i need to clean the house fo shizzle! i have alot of stuff to get done on the computer as well, as our internets were down for a bit (we forgot to pay the bill)....

i will try to post more....i pinky swear....i know a blog where there are no new posts is really boring to read.....so yeah, i will try!

self absorption....

2007-12-11T12:02:00.000-08:00

so. last time i posted i didnt know a little something about myself. see pic.

so, its been a week since i learned this about myself. in this week. we have already come up with a bunch of nicknames.....my favorite being "Speck". durin loves "Booger"....and my current fave of the day is "lil bean" from michele! heehee!

also in the last week, i have basicly quit smoking cold turkey (so not cool) and stopped the beer habit. i have learned that soda water is a great substitution for a vodka tonic when you are at the bar. noone realizes you arnt drinking! durin thought he would be extra caring and supportive and he brought me home some o'douls from costco....yeah. thats like rubbing salt in the wound man! so he decided he would drink them....in order to cut back on beer consumption! isnt that nice of him!

a few days ago i got the upset tummy feeling which i am supposing is morning sickness. it isnt horrible until you let it go too long. if you let yourself get hungry, it gets worse. if you eat all day every day you are fine! i will be a heffer soon.

yesterday, Speck took coffee away from me. on my way to work, i stopped at Gear Up Coffee (they have the most excellent coffee in silverton) and the coffee tasted like ass. so, when i get to work, i think "maybe it was a fluke...i am gonna get coffee at the work coffee shop"...so i do. this coffee too, tastes like ass. so its me. bah. if you know me even a little, you know that coffee is the serum of life to me. its my favorite thing ever. really.

so. being preggo....has made me very self involved. i am very very aware of everything little thing i am feeling. i am always in my own head now...like i need to be more self absorbed...i mean really!

the mental part of all this hasnt really hit me yet i dont think....the physical has hit full force and fast....but mentally will this be real before it really happens...? i hope so!

michele, when are you planning on your wedding date.....are you going to have a heffer as a bridesmaid! haaaaa! ;)

at work the other day, i found a lil wheel thing that tells you your due date...so i calculated it out and it is roughly aug. 2-5.....ish. i get to wear a bathing suit with belly! this actually makes me really happy.

i hope all is well with everyone. i am sorry if i havent called you. or told you personally....really, this does make you super self involved....and i am sorry for that! and i just plain suck at calling people....

okay. i suck.

2007-12-02T12:39:00.000-08:00

i resized my pics for that last post and they still are getting cut off.

i also dont know how to add links to my blog....like links to the other blogs i like to read. and perhaps etsy. and craftster. but i suck.

swap package for amy. or atleast part of it.

2007-12-02T12:09:00.000-08:00

i was in the stocking swap on craftster.org and here are some things i included in that package for amy.
i tried some new things for this swap....such as oil painting. (mikey, i suck). i tried a new ornament pattern.....here. i will just show you guys. dont laugh at my oil skill for those of you that really are artists! :)

skully ornaments

lil gnome guy ornaments (these are a fun lil knit!)

this is a collage-y art piece i made for her...she loves sacred hearts and such. i kinda like this but i would choose to use a different sealer next time. i dont like what i used.

i knit her a stocking and then felted/fulled it.

i also included this necklace in the package. it is made out of a choker base and vintage (replica) buttons and hot glue baby!

here is one of the oil paintings. she loveeees grain elevators, so i wanted to incorporate that into her package somehow. i think i need more practice....or a different medium altogether.

i also made a vintage inpsired hat for her that i am quite proud of...but i am going to wait for an action shot to post here of it.

all in all, it was an awesome swap. stressful, but fun!

This was my eggling.

2007-11-25T12:19:00.000-08:00

alas poor eggling has met its death.

First Blog entry....

2007-11-25T12:02:00.000-08:00

it is funny to me about blogs......i like to read my friends' blogs but i am unsure that many folks would want to read mine. but here i am.....michele has a blog and i like that i can keep updated with her life even though she is a kabillion miles away....i feel like i am hanging out with her a little when i read about her days. and of course i love seeing pictures of mikey cuz i miss his face.

anyhow, i will take time to mentally compile the things i have been up to and try to post here every so often. mostly, i think i will be posting swap packages and things that i make for others in swaps on Craftster.Org.

i just finished a package up and i hope to post it soon. amy hasnt received it yet but she doesnt know about this blog....so maybe i shall post it sooner than later. we will see.

today, i would like to go get a christmas tree. i am also thinking of making cottage cheese rolls (recipe from dawn on c-ster) cuz they sound delicious. i am still in my pajamas. i should change or move. or do something.