Before I Forget

In a little while, ranging from a few days to a few weeks, I will become a mother (if all goes well). And before sleepless nights and diapers ransack what is left of my brain, I thought I'd post this picture:


"What a nice picture of a leveler. What does that have to do with anything?" you might think. Take a closer look:

Yes, my friends. That is me. And, no. I'm not just posing in it. I drove it that day. I'm proud to say that I've driven and operated quite a few pieces of machinery: skid steers, pavers (on the steepest road in Utah), and backhoes. It's been one of my favorite parts of my job. This was a brand new leveler, and the controls were similar to playing an play station or x-box game. The designers did it on purpose, to cater to the younger operators that are coming into the field. Play x box? You can drive one of these.
This is a side of me that I'm pretty proud of. It's been there from the time that I used to make mud pies, and beat up the little neighborhood boy across the street. I was a mean little girl. A tomboy to boot, and I would ride bikes, catch grasshoppers, and pull off lizard tails with the best of the boys.
Right now my days are consumed with construction equipment, manhole prices, contractors, untreated base coarse, asphalt, and Portland Cement Concrete (PCC). If I weren't pregnant, I would happily be running from site-to-site in the field watching contractors excavate fiber optic line, putting together post-tensioned concrete bridges, and sampling materials to test.
A baby, pink, bottles, and stuffed animals are the complete opposite of my universe. No wonder I was more excited about getting a butane torch rather than a Cricut for Christmas. So before my universe goes to the flip side, I just wanted to take a minute to remember that I am a completely sane, intelligent woman. That way, when I look in the mirror and see bloodshot eyes and bags the size of Rhode Island, it will give me a little confidence to plaster on some concealer and bravely charge to the grocery store for those much needed wet wipes.

36 Weeks

I can't believe that I only have about month left until Adelei comes. It seems so surreal. She's definitely changed me, and not just on the outside. I do crazy things because of her, like waddle, giggle in the middle of work meetings when she kicks me, and the pregnant lady squat. And as of this weekend, I have another one:

scrapbooking

Don got me a Cricket for Christmas and I found myself wondering several things. What is it? Can it poke it with a stick? Does he realize that I don't have that gene? It skipped me. Actually, it took one look at me and frantically ran the other way. My mind flashed forward to ten years from now, when I would morosely be looking over hundreds of digital pictures that had never been developed, and obviously never been scraped. It's similar to the feeling you get after you flip through a Victoria's Secret magazine, and realize that even if you ran 10 miles everyday for the rest of your life, you would never look like those freaks of nature. Stupid models. Dang scrapbooking.
Besides from the fact that it depresses me, my rational side also points out that it's like pulling on an unraveling string. You will never be able to stop once you start. There will always be that glitter pen, or that adorable new stamp that you have to have. It's vital to your happiness.
Unfortunately, someone's got to document my daughters growth. And since the prospect of Don doing it is as unlikely as him dancing around in a pink, sequined ballerina tutu, I'm afraid the task falls on me.
So, I am pleadingly calling all scrapbooking divas, I am in desperate need of your help!! And to the rest of you...pray for me.

Birthdays

There have been a lot of b-days in my family this past week. My grandmother Goodwin's was on Saturday, Katy-did's (Don's sister) was yesterday (we celebrated Sunday, since they were up). And Jaden's was last Friday. Since his was the only one that I was both present for and had my camera, I thought I'd share the party!


Jaden just turned two. He likes ice cream. And getting it on his face. He also likes cars, and he got a remote control car for his birthday. Within seconds the cardboard box the car came in was unrecognizable. Larry taught him how to play with his car. I recorded the whole thing, for posterity, and for those days when I want a good laugh. The laughing you hear in the background? That's me, and I have a cold, so I sound like a goon.




But let me ask you this,...is it really so bad to take as much mirth as I did at this moment?? It was stinkin' hilarious.

Me and Addie at 30 weeks

Two Sundays ago my brilliant photographer friend, Kim Larsen, came over and took some maternity pictures for me. She is such a sweet heart, and must be partially clairvoyant because I was secretly hoping and wishing that I could get some pictures of my pregnant self to save for my future posterity, and share with all y'all. By-the-way, Kim has a wonderful photography blog that you should all visit by clicking here.
Addie is growing fast, and it must show. Because I have people ask me all the time when I'm due. I know it's stupid, but whenever this happens I'm sure I get a surprised look in my eyes for a split second. I'm so used to being able to hide it, I wonder how on earth they know. It's taken a while for the reality of pregnancy to sink in. It must throw others off, too, because I went down to my parents house for the first time in a month or two, and they kept saying how strange it was to see me expecting. I think it kind-of freaks them out a little bit. I'm not sure why, because as far as age is concerned, here in Utah, I'm among the grandmothers of first time pregnant women. But what am I rambling on about?? Here are the pictures:


Thanks again Kim for the wonderful pictures! They are beautiful and I love you forever!! To see more prego pictures visit Kim's blog, and check out her other stuff, too. She's wonderful, and has been doing it for quite a while.

Unexpected

If I could pick a theme for my life, it would be, "expect the unexpected". And I think that after two decades, I'm finally catching on. There are a few things about pregnancy that I didn't expect:
• The pregnancy. But since I was a little surprise to my parents, it only seems like poetic justice that my own daughter would be a surprise as well.
• Bending myself into a human pretzel just to tie my shoe.
• Gagging at every unpleasant smell or every single time I brushed my teeth for the first two trimesters, or that my gums would bleed because of said toothbrush. Gross.
• Massive heart burn.
• Craving hot dogs (7-11's are the best), chicken broth, Arby's beef & cheddar sandwiches (me oh my), chocolate (ahhh! ambrosia!), ice cream, chocolate ice cream (rocky road rocks my world!!...no pun intended.)
• Leg cramps in the middle of the night...whose idea was that?? Is it supposed to be funny??
• Taking to this pear shape as well as I have. The first time I went maternity shopping I was only about 3 months pregnant. They have these little pillows you can strap to your belly to see how you'll look in a couple of months, and after putting that on and some maternity clothes, I laughed uncontrollably. It looked ridiculous! And I was a little worried that I was going to get that big. To be honest, I was really worried, and the uncontrollable laughter was a defense mechanism. The second time I went begrudgingly. All of my clothes were looking ridiculous, and something had to be done. This time, after trying on an outfit, I laughed again in surprise...I didn't look ridiculous--I looked pregnant, and kind-of cute.
• Turning into Fumblina. I've just barely learned the cause of this: a hormone causes your joints to relax, including all the joints in your fingers, thus causing you to drop more things. I think that this is a practical joke as well. Hey, you guys! Do you know what would be hilarious?? If we made it so that pregnant women couldn't grip things very well, and make them drop them, and then they have to actually try to pick them up with a soccer ball sized belly in the way! Wouldn't that be funny?? Ha. ha. ha. So funny. I drop everything. I watched my grandmother's crystal hurricane lamp shatter into a million pieces on the floor because of this.
• That my relationship would change with every single person I knew because I was pregnant. I admire mothers everywhere. I give pregnant woman a sympathetic, "I know how you feel" look, and they give one back.
• Falling in love again. It's like life has given me another set of rose colored glasses to slip on-only with a more powerful prescription that helps me see clearer, and a deeper hue that gives me the capacity to love deeper.
• My worry gene to switch on. It's true, mothers don't sleep; they just worry with their eyes closed.
• Being baby hungry. It took me being pregnant to catch the bug.
• My "momma bear" gene to kick in. If anyone hurts my baby, I will tear their eyes out with my bare hands.
• How ecstatic I am every time Adelei moves. I'm proud and a little terrified (for the future) at how active she is.
• That a cradle would make me so dang happy. Oh, and ruffle bum tights.
• How relieved I am that Don thinks pregnant women are beautiful. (thankyouthankyouthankyou)
• How extremely sweet it is to have your honey's hand on your stomach as you fall asleep. Don loves Addie. And even if I'm asleep before he gets there, sometimes she'll give him a little kick goodnight while I'm sleeping. In fact, she moves more for him than almost anyone.

I was so certain that I would be a miserable pregnant woman and that I would have morning sickness 24/7 for nine months straight. But, unexpectedly, I love it, and I'll put up with just about anything for Addie.