Tummy Time

I'm kind of embarrassed to post a picture of my pregnant self, but at the same time, I really want to acknowledge that I am accomplishing something in my life.  Making an entire person inside of you takes a lot of work, and I deserve to be proud of that.  So here I am at 27 1/2 weeks; so close to the third trimester. Little Jovie is a jumping bean, for sure, and I enjoy that she keeps me company.  I'd be a lot more comfortable if she was just a squooshy baby, but when I try to bend over, I can tell she is definitely built of bones.  Ouch.  Some mornings Taesya greets me with a, "Wow, Mom, your baby is sure getting bigger."  I'm feeling bigger.  But how many other achievements are this visible?  I'm growing a baby.  What a job.

Incubating

Hope you have a good day today.  Personally, my only goal is to remain conscious.  I am beat.  It seems like this baby inside of me might be going through a growth spurt.  It'd be nice to be a chicken and just sit on my egg all day; but who takes care of the other chicks while Mrs. Hen is chillin'?  At least it's Friday: countdown to tag-team parenting.

Stay awake and finish of the week on a happy note.  My best to you and yours.

Feeling wimpy a bit

(Wish I looked this cute)

I'm five months pregnant and beginning to feel very out of shape.  Granted, I have been eating lots and lots of junk.  I crave sugar all of the time, and especially when things are tough at home, I eat way too much of a good thing.  So when I hopped onto the elliptical today, I was tired after about a minute.  I seriously considered sitting on a bench for the hour to at least get my money's worth out of the daycare.  But I plugged along.  It was so hard today.  

I did what I could do.  And I got a break from the house and the kids.  My brain was empty for a small chunk of time and that felt wonderful.  I hope this rough workout doesn't become a trend, because I still have a ways to go in this pregnancy.  As for today, though, I'm proud that I worked my heart and my muscles.  Go me.

Just some yadda

Keller is sorting socks while Canon watches Cinderella in the family room.  I am still in my pajamas and tackling my "list" one thing at a time.  My abs are killing me from yesterday.  Just some basic sit-up type stuff, but apparently I really needed it.  Tae's at school and Benny's working from the library currently.

I bought a new air freshener and it's kind of suffocating me.  I want my house to smell nice, but a muted level of nice.  Whew, I really hope this thing tones down soon.

I think I offended the sun yesterday.  I don't exactly understand it, but I sent Taesya to school with shorts, and I even wore sandals myself.  By afternoon the sky and turned grey and today there isn't a ray of sunlight to be seen.  There are raindrops on the window and I am seriously remorseful for jumping the summer gun.  Please come back, sun, and I promise I'll keep my family wearing pants and socks until May.  Please?

Hey, look, Keller's still in Jammies, too.  G-L-OO-MY Day.  Here's hoping there's sunshine in your corner of the planet.

Take-home treasures

In Relief Society, we studied a talk by Elder Holland called "Safety for the Soul."  I was impressed that in the same way we cannot rely on another person's food storage during an emergency, we also cannot lean on someone else's testimony when the end comes.  (The parable of the 10 Virgins came to mind.)  I have to build up my own spiritual supply so that in the last days, my heart will not fail me.  I need to


"Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him."  


Moroni 10:32 is going to be the theme for my week.  When all the yadda seems like it's making my head spin around, I want to think of my Savior.  He knows me and has faith that I can do good in this world.  I will come unto Him, and become stronger and stronger.  Church is difficult at this phase in my life, but today I came home with a pearl.  I'm so glad.

Breaking up is Hard to Do

Sweetie,

This is really hard for me, because you know how much I like you.  And I don't want you to think you did anything wrong.  I love seeing you on special occasions, and on a date now and then, but this live-in situation is just not what's best for either of us.  I lose track of my goals when you're here, and I'm disappointed in myself.  I can't have this anymore.  We have to break up.

You're wonderful; you really are.  And I want you to know that I still want us to be friends.  But it'll be best for the both of us if you find another freezer.  I really hope you understand.  You're the best.

Wishing you happiness and whipped cream,
Amber

Like a Big Band-aid

I spent the afternoon at my momma's (Has anyone ever noticed how people generally call it their "mom's house" even though both parents live there and own it?) and I feel sooo much better than I did 5 hours ago.  The kids got to play with grandma and grandpa, whom they adore, and I got to breathe and sleep, in my parents super-clean and nice bedroom.  And now I like my kids again, I'm not angry, I am chilled.  Thank you so much to my wonderful family for understanding that some days are impossible without help.  Oh thank you, thank you.

Tuscan Tomato Soup

Yum Yum Yum.  Saw this recipe made on Good Things Utah one day.  Give it a try.


(From the Chef’s Table Restaurant)

Ingredients:

3 Tbs. Olive Oil

2 Lg Onions, small dice

5 Cups Tomatoes, diced and seeded

2 Cups Chicken Stock

1.5 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream

1 Cup Basil Pesto

TT Salt and Pepper

Method:

Heat Oil in a medium large soup pot.

Add onions and cook over moderately low heat until completely translucent.

Add Tomatoes and allow to warm to a simmer.

Add Chicken stock.

Bring to a simmer and allow to simmer for 15 minutes to allow for an interchange of flavors.

Add Pesto.

Blend to desired consistency in a food processor or blender.

Add Whipping Cream.

Salt and Pepper to taste.

Yawn

I am so so so so so tired this week.  I really wish I could just take off a couple days to rest.  :(

The dreaded 4 am

(Completely random photo)

Oh man, four in the morning and I am a-wake.  I got up to go to the bathroom an hour ago and, for some crazy reason, I can't fall back to sleep.  My brain started planning "music time" for Relief Society and my fingers wanted to practice a hymn (seriously, laying on my tummy, my hands were playing "Come Ye Children of the Lord" under my pillow) and I could not turn it off.  Tried the couch, no progress.  Tried to tell myself, "Go to sleep, go to sleep, go to sleep," but that didn't help.  Grrr, it makes me frusterated.

Normally, I would read.  But I finished my intense Court drama yesterday, The Simple Truth, which rocked, by the way, after reading The Life of Pi last week.  Waiting on deck is The Saddlemaker's Wife, which doesn't look too promising based on the cover.  No reading tonight.

As I was laying on the couch, and trying not to fall into the spaces between the couch cushions, I was thinking about googling yoga routines and home pedicures.  Then I laughed as I realized I've been googling my whole life (even before the internet was a big deal) by using the Topical Guide in the scriptures.  Really, so similar.  I choose my search term and am presented with a variety of options, all a little abbreviated.  I "click" on one to see if it's what I need (lots of times the number one option isn't a match) and then return to my "search results" for another page to maybe answer my inquiry.  Ha, it's so funny to me how I use these two search engines to answer the questions of my life.  (Maybe this won't sound so insightful once the sun comes up.)

My eyes are tired, but my brain is--ugh--go to sleep, go to sleep, go to sleep!

Real Simple Recipe

Check out this Super Yummy Pizza Recipe that we had for dinner tonight.  We make it with our own homemade pizza dough; de-lish.

Just another manic monday

Ben and I are exhausted.  We were dragging ourselves out of bed this morning; apparently our weekend wasn't as restful as it should have been.  It just boggles my mind when I see how chipper the kids are at 7 am.  What's their deal?  But really it makes sense, since all three of them are asleep by 8:00 every night; Ben and I sometimes doze off around 11:15.  Maybe we need to make an adjustment to our routine.

Keller discovered that he can lift the toilet seat.  Just this morning I found him with both hands in the water and I thought, "Oh no, not this phase again."  

Canon thinks he owns the refrigerator.  He just informed me that he has spilled apple juice on the table, floor, and himself.

Good news, I actually look cute today.  Don't think that I'm conceited--this is really a huge deal for me.  The days when I feel cute are few and far between.  I guess that as I wash my baby's potty-hands and wipe up the juicy floor with my oh-so-tired self, at least I can feel pretty.  :)