Growed Up

I am impatient. Once I know I want something I go for it, this is usually ok as I am the one in charge of me. Well it has made being in a marriage a little more difficult. Example:
Will you ______?
Sure!............................................................
How about NOW?.........................
Ok............................................................
Are you going to do _________________?.................................
I told you I would!.............................etc. etc. You get my point.

I have grown infinitely as a human being since I've been in a healthy relationship with my now-husband. It has taken us 5+ years to get to where we are now and if anything pregnancy has slowed me down enough to allow even more progress to occur.
Not everything has to happen RIGHT NOW, it's ok if the dishes get done in the morning- as long as they get done. All the things that I'm anxious to do are not necessarily up on the priority list for him, and vice versa- this is where that novel idea communication comes in handy.
If you tell your significant other WHY you want them to do something they are more likely to do it on your timetable, or closer to it, than theirs. Crazy right?!
I know this is probably nothing new to most people of the world, but it has been enlightening to me and I just discovered that by NOT continually asking my husband to do something, he is actually more likely to do it because I have not annoyed him into getting it done.
Yay for progress!

Belly Laughs

I have been relatively the same weight since high school, give or take 3 or so pounds. I have gained 9 pounds in one month and instead of being sad about it, I am ecstatic! I may not be so excited about it after this little man makes his debut, but that is another day.

I was worried that I wasn't gaining the 'recommended' weight for pregnancy... My baby is not only the right weight, he is a little big for his gestational age. We are both healthy and our path is just a little different than the norm, go figure. I am 24 weeks today and don't know how I will manage to make it through the next 14, hopefully less, weeks till I can see our babies sweet face. 

Happy Anniversary!

Our anniversary was last week. Our vacation to the Dominican Republic was really our present for each other so we didn't plan on doing much except spending it with each other. I got him a shirt and a card- I just wanted more for the occasion than a "Happy Anniversary!"
I got home from work and he brought me in a beautiful bouquet of flowers. The flowers themselves are a beautiful gesture- what they mean to me is even better. When we first started dating, Armando would send me flowers. Not at home, but at school or work- which is pretty much where I was most of the time anyway. They always had a handwritten card- so I know he took the time to go and pick them out at the florist. I never got roses, or daisies or mums... they are stargazer lilies. These huge white lilies with the purple/pink stripes and flecks of gold in the center. When I asked why, he told me they reminded him of me. I can't see lilies anywhere and not think of this man.
That got me to thinking how much our relationship affects me. Songs on the radio bring a smile to my face because we saw the band live together, or I know the silly made-up lyrics he sings because he doesn't remember the real ones. Icee's and hot Cheetos are still one of my favorite night-time snacks because he loves them and I can't handle the heat without my blue frozen drink. He can finish my sentences and we still have creepy moments of  "I was just going to say that! Get out of my head!!"
Now, in the second year of marriage, fifth of our relationship, we are hitting a stride that I didn't know if we would reach or not. I'm bending and he is bending- just enough so we don't break- but enough so we know the other is trying and we are making it work.
I'm so happy with where we are, and so excited for where we are headed. Yay for us!

Kickin' It

I read a lot of books anyway, when I am doing something: getting married, stressed during school.... experiencing pregnancy... I tend to read up on things.

Having said that, I tend to take things in books literally. On the first day of my 12th week of pregnancy I was extremely upset when I threw up my Ramen noodles. WTF! My second trimester was supposed to be full of sunshine and happiness- not 'morning' sickness.

Turns out... gasp!.... not everyone is the same. I had random bouts of vomiting up until 16 weeks. Nothing helped. Hard candies made it worse, filled my mouth up with even more spit- attractive right? Forget gum. Ginger anything disgusts me. I couldn't exactly stop brushing my teeth for 16 weeks now could I? These books are filled with nonsense!
'They' also said that you would start to feel your kiddo start kicking around 16-20 weeks. 16 weeks came and went... no 'butterflies'. As I asked around- most people said it was more around 20 weeks- eff.
I have been so detached from this little one because it still doesn't seem real to me. Only recently have I really started to show, and even at that I just look like those malnourished kids on TV that you can sponsor for $10 a month rather than a 'glowing' vessel of life. Everytime we see little kicks on the ultrasound and Mondo asks me, "You can't feel that?" I feel like a bit of a schmuck. There is a human being inside of me and I can't feel it.
About a week or so ago I started feeling something that was not gas rolling around in my guts- but it sure as hell didn't feel like 'butterflies' felt like someone was twirling my guts like spaghetti on a fork- not exactly what I was expecting. For several more days I felt this twinging, uncomfortable movement... inside. Still nada on the outside. No matter how much I jiggled or pushed I still couldn't feel him.
I finally felt him on our last day of vacation- still didn't feel like butterflies- more like when someone comes up behind you and flicks the back of your ear. It has taken five more days for Mondo to feel it but I'm so glad that now I don't think I'm crazy anymore and someone else has felt him move!
It is very comforting to know that there is a little guy in there moving around and all is well. It actually calms my nerves to be able to feel him moving- I'm not so sure I'll feel the same way when I'm complaining in 4 months when he is kicking my ribs and I can't sleep anymore- but for now I am loving it. Happy mama here :D

The Flip Side

So I already mentioned our sad loss this 4th of July (See previous post), but we also had a lot of fun that day too. We had tickets to go see Los Lobos and Los Lonely Boys at Deer Valley in Park City. Park City is this beautiful little resort town in the mountains- it gets a lot of press every year for the Sundance Film Festival. Deer Valley is a swanky ski resort that I have never ever skied at, and probably won't either.
However,  we scored some awesome lawn seats and a Groupon deal for the hotel room so we went: Jen, Casey, Wes, mom, dad, Bud, Rose and Me and Mondo. Wes did amazing- mostly because he could run around apeshit since we were on the lawn. He even got into the band because he could yell 'Wooooo' at them :)
The show was great and I loved that Los Lobos played so many songs off of their old cds, I love the old stuff!

Rose is crazy and so we got to meet the band, get our stuff signed aaaaaaaand got their drumstick :)
Very exciting stuff!

My bag that I am planning to frame with our tickets and drumstick.

Fun day!

Moco Fred

Mr. Moco came into this world in 2005- on my sister and brother in law's wedding day- they didn't get him for a while after that-but it was a significant day for them. Half Chihuahua and half Jack Russell Moco was an adventurous little pup. Very smart, he learned a whole slew of tricks with a 5-pc nugget meal- just the right incentive. He was a master escape artist- in and out of the house and very nimble- he was able to jump the baby gate. He was a grumpy little bugger when he wasn't around his mom and dad- always looking for them when we babysat him- but sweet as can be and always willing to get a belly rub. 

Moco, his sister Lula and cousin Randy were having a sleep over in Jen and Casey's backyard while we celebrated the 4th in Park City. The little trouble makers dug their way out of the back yard and unfortunately poor Moco got hit by a car. It breaks my heart that this sweet dog was hurt. With the extent of his injuries, the most humane thing was to put him to sleep- which they did with Casey by his side. 

Moco was loved and will be missed greatly. Luckily his sister was returned by a neighbor- she had been running wild in the neighborhood. Randy is too scared to run and Jen's next door neighbor was able to coax him into their house where they kept him safe and were able to call me (my number is on his chains). 

Please, if you have pets- chip them with current information or have up to date info on their chains and make sure they are wearing them- even if they are just in the back yard. You never know when it could be your puppy. 

We love you Moco!

Freedom

I've been thinking about everybody's different FB posts regarding the 4th of July and what it means to them- I was in bed,  my husband with his arm slung across my hip and our baby in my belly.
Some posts were ridiculous- Mentioning guns, beer and the pursuit of drunkenness; some were patriotic and mentioned those who have died for our freedoms or are currently away from their home and family to help protect us. All from one extreme to the next.

I am extremely grateful for everything I have. I am glad that I pay taxes- it means I make enough money to help support our family. I am grateful for dirty clothes and dishes- because it means we have shirts on our backs and  food in our bellies. I am grateful for picketing, hate spewing idiots- because it means I live in a place where my personal thoughts and beliefs are not censured. I am even more grateful for the loving, kind people who protest the haters- sending out messages of love and tolerance. (http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/the-upbeat/girl-westboro-lemonade-stand-140819768.html)

I am grateful for the change that I am seeing in the world. Women taking office, lots of different colored people everywhere, laws ensuring everyone's rights are protected beginning to pop up.
I am sad that it is has taken this long to get to this point, but nothing warms my heart more than seeing hundreds of LDS people hugging Pride participants at the parade or the pictures of same-sex couples getting engaged/married just like every other American has the right to do.

Way to go America! Keep up the good work :)

Thank you for your sacrifice sexy veteran!!