Some very good friends of ours offered to take some maternity pictures for us, and they came out beautiful!
All of their work is fantastic, I recommend them to anyone and everyone :)
Thanks again Mike & Stina!
"Life isn't about finding yourself, It's about creating yourself"
Monday, December 23, 2013
Fun Things to do When You're Prego...
1. Go to the liquor store- The scuzzy looks alone are worth it- I can buy wine/beer for other people ya know! I may even, GASP, cook with it!
I was almost tempted to say something like "Where's your cigarettes?"
2. Grab huge belly and say "Whoa!" just to freak out the jerk who just tried to cut you off in the Target checkout line.
3. Use it as an excuse... "You want a 9½ month pregnant woman to drive in a blizzard to DirecTV's billing office to fix something that YOU should have never done in the first place?" "Uh, no ma'am- I can fix it over the phone" That's what I thought! (PS, this is the only time I used my pregnancy as a way to get something- after 1½ hours and 2 different people on the phone, I felt it was warranted)
4. Eat a completely disgusting meal with no regrets: Pistachios, grapes, nachos and SweeTarts was one such combination. (I eat a very healthy and balanced diet otherwise- don't judge me!)
5. Record your husband's face when the midwife says you are dilated to 4cm and may have a baby by the end of the weekend... Priceless!
6. Punch the ten thousandth person who tells you that you: Look too small for how pregnant you are, Don't look old enough to be pregnant (I'm 27 ya'all), Shouldn't be working this far into your pregnancy, Should really have a name picked out by now OR gives you any other stupid, inane and otherwise unsolicited advice about your fetus.
7. Tell people fake names you are thinking about giving your child so they stop asking you. "Yep, we just really feel like Thor is a really strong name"
8. When someone nervously asks you how far along you are, deadpan say "I'm not pregnant" and walk away.
9. When someone judges your diet, "I never ________ when I was pregnant!" Kindly point out that they probably shouldn't be eating that cheeseburger/fries/shake combo now that they aren't pregnant.
10. Tell your husband you've changed your mind regarding circumcision :)
I was almost tempted to say something like "Where's your cigarettes?"
2. Grab huge belly and say "Whoa!" just to freak out the jerk who just tried to cut you off in the Target checkout line.
3. Use it as an excuse... "You want a 9½ month pregnant woman to drive in a blizzard to DirecTV's billing office to fix something that YOU should have never done in the first place?" "Uh, no ma'am- I can fix it over the phone" That's what I thought! (PS, this is the only time I used my pregnancy as a way to get something- after 1½ hours and 2 different people on the phone, I felt it was warranted)
4. Eat a completely disgusting meal with no regrets: Pistachios, grapes, nachos and SweeTarts was one such combination. (I eat a very healthy and balanced diet otherwise- don't judge me!)
5. Record your husband's face when the midwife says you are dilated to 4cm and may have a baby by the end of the weekend... Priceless!
6. Punch the ten thousandth person who tells you that you: Look too small for how pregnant you are, Don't look old enough to be pregnant (I'm 27 ya'all), Shouldn't be working this far into your pregnancy, Should really have a name picked out by now OR gives you any other stupid, inane and otherwise unsolicited advice about your fetus.
7. Tell people fake names you are thinking about giving your child so they stop asking you. "Yep, we just really feel like Thor is a really strong name"
8. When someone nervously asks you how far along you are, deadpan say "I'm not pregnant" and walk away.
9. When someone judges your diet, "I never ________ when I was pregnant!" Kindly point out that they probably shouldn't be eating that cheeseburger/fries/shake combo now that they aren't pregnant.
10. Tell your husband you've changed your mind regarding circumcision :)
Friday, December 13, 2013
Showering Baby
My sisters and mom held a baby shower for me and it was pretty great. You never know if people are going to make it and since we did it the weekend of Thanksgiving I was worried it would just be me and my sisters sitting around a table eating :) We planned it for the holiday weekend so that Becky would be able to be there. I am really happy that both my sisters were there for me.
Tons of family and friends showed up and supported this little guy that is currently sticking his arse in my ribs- We really are very blessed and I couldn't be more grateful.
It was a circus/carnival theme, even though that isn't the theme for the nursery- in the rough draft of the invitation Jennifer kindly called me the "fat lady"... there was a slight re-write.
SpongeBob... Hells yes
35 Weeks and going strong!
"Aunt" Susie and Aunt Cleo
Doris, Stephanie and Aunt Sally
RoseMary, Aly and Martha
Martha and Prego Me
BFFs fo life :) Diana and Me
The cutest little girl ever, Anna
Amanda, Anna and Me
Mom and Roberta
Mandy and Aunt Anita
Rach, Tina, Sophie, Tia Vir
Tia Fab and Tia Flo
Lynne, Stina and Kira
Adrienne, Juana, Victoria and Maria
RoseMary, Rose and Aly
Rose and Me
Three Prego Muskateers
The "Sandoval" Girls :)
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Grief
I am the youngest of the grandkids and therefore renamed 'Hot Lava Monster', I was the little one that no one wanted to play with- so I spent a lot of time with my Grandma and Grandpa when we spent the weekends at their house. I cooked with my grandma and gardened with my grandpa.
I think about it now and I marvel at these people, they always told us yes when we asked to stay at their house- there would be at least 4-8 of us grandkids there. They fed us, entertained us and never called our parents to come pick up our loud asses from their house.
I get worn out watching my nephew for a few hours- so now I can appreciate how much love and patience she had for us.
She had a stroke two years ago, the week before my wedding, and has been slowly declining ever since. First it was a little of her motion and speech and has progressed until the point where she was unable to get around without a wheelchair and assistance, her memory was almost completely gone and would often just start speaking to us in Spanish, even though we all speak English.
Getting a call saying that Grandma isn't doing well wasn't really a surprise, but it was still a shock to my system when I got there and she was unable to even speak or hold herself up in her chair. She'd never get back up out of that bed.
She passed away on November 14th and it breaks my heart to know that my son will never get to know her like I knew her. He will never get to yell at her for eating cookies even though she was Diabetic. He won't have to tell her "No, I'm not hungry, we just ate" and then spend the next 30 minutes dodging food until you finally just gave in and made a plate. He won't get special home made cakes with all the fancy frosting- I can try, but it just won't be the same.
I feel as if I mourned my grandma two years ago, she was never herself after the stroke. What I am mourning for is my grandpa. When my grandma was still with us and not doing well, I asked my grandpa if he was ok, what he said broke my heart.
He told me, "I didn't deserve her. She was a loyal woman, a good woman, I had 63 years with her and it was more than I could have asked for." Then he cried.
My dad has always told me he never wanted to go to a viewing for his parents, I was worried that he wouldn't go. He pulled through, I think for my grandpa. I watched the two strongest men in my life break down and it shook me to my core.
Going through the pictures, the memories I realized how much I want to be like her. Love and food can cure most things and that's what people will remember about you.
I get worn out watching my nephew for a few hours- so now I can appreciate how much love and patience she had for us.
She had a stroke two years ago, the week before my wedding, and has been slowly declining ever since. First it was a little of her motion and speech and has progressed until the point where she was unable to get around without a wheelchair and assistance, her memory was almost completely gone and would often just start speaking to us in Spanish, even though we all speak English.
Getting a call saying that Grandma isn't doing well wasn't really a surprise, but it was still a shock to my system when I got there and she was unable to even speak or hold herself up in her chair. She'd never get back up out of that bed.
She passed away on November 14th and it breaks my heart to know that my son will never get to know her like I knew her. He will never get to yell at her for eating cookies even though she was Diabetic. He won't have to tell her "No, I'm not hungry, we just ate" and then spend the next 30 minutes dodging food until you finally just gave in and made a plate. He won't get special home made cakes with all the fancy frosting- I can try, but it just won't be the same.
I feel as if I mourned my grandma two years ago, she was never herself after the stroke. What I am mourning for is my grandpa. When my grandma was still with us and not doing well, I asked my grandpa if he was ok, what he said broke my heart.
He told me, "I didn't deserve her. She was a loyal woman, a good woman, I had 63 years with her and it was more than I could have asked for." Then he cried.
My dad has always told me he never wanted to go to a viewing for his parents, I was worried that he wouldn't go. He pulled through, I think for my grandpa. I watched the two strongest men in my life break down and it shook me to my core.
Going through the pictures, the memories I realized how much I want to be like her. Love and food can cure most things and that's what people will remember about you.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Help me... I'm Poor
I am very careful with my money. I don't balance my checkbook on paper, but I am sort of like Rainman with my accounts- I know how much I have and what I have to spend, what I need for bills etc.
I always give myself a buffer of a couple of hundred dollars when paying bills, just in case something comes up. It's been a very long time since I've had to use any money in my overdraft- we aren't living paycheck to paycheck.
Anticipating a check to clear, I had been checking my account on my cellphone app- Imagine my amazement when instead of the $500 I was expecting, I see -$200 available in my account.
I get up and check my account online- in the space of an hour, five different transactions in three different countries equalling over $700 had been made to my debit card.
After the initial shock and cancellation of my card- I got weepy and then mad.
How dare you, stranger.
Who the hell are you to steal my information and use it for your own wants. I say wants because once I looked up the companies that my card was used at I was livid- it wasn't for gas or groceries- something I could console myself with by saying "Oh, they needed it more than I did"... It was spent at a shopping mall in South America, a spa in Italy and an online store in China.
Well, this is who you stole money from stranger.
A first time mom trying to save money for a safer car, someone trying to put together a nursery for her unborn son, someone trying to pay down her student loans- SOMEONE who is responsible with their money and doing their best to live right.
I'm over the seething rage, which swept in quickly after the wave of despair and tears.
I do, however, hope you get caught. I hope that you are held accountable for your horrible actions. I hope that you never have this happen to you, I hope you never have to worry how you will get through until your next payday because someone took it upon themselves to spend YOUR money on their wants and desires. I hope you never have to worry about bouncing a check to the power company because someone else spent your money on a shopping spree in another country.
I do, however, hope you get caught. I hope that you are held accountable for your horrible actions. I hope that you never have this happen to you, I hope you never have to worry how you will get through until your next payday because someone took it upon themselves to spend YOUR money on their wants and desires. I hope you never have to worry about bouncing a check to the power company because someone else spent your money on a shopping spree in another country.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Grammar Lesson
There are not a lot of things that frustrate me more than people's awful grammar- Especially now that social media is so popular. If you want to tell me all about how much you hate "blah, blah, blah" I just ask that you spell check yo'self....okay? Thanks!
If you want to SELL your shit online, make sure it is for SALE.
I would rather be over THERE by the smart kids because THEY'RE not making me stupid with THEIR misuse of words.
If I went to the LIBRARY a few times a year, I would know there is no such effing thing as a LIBARY
I would rather walk on nails THAN read people's misspellings THEN listen to them bitch when I correct them.
YOU'RE sure to look like a jackass when YOUR use of the English language is worse than a child's.
Those pants will fit LOOSE if your fat ass would LOSE some weight.
If your dog needs a BATH because he smells like poo, you should definitely BATHE him right away.
There are tons more... these are just a few that came to mind... I may add to this list as I remember more...
If you want to SELL your shit online, make sure it is for SALE.
I would rather be over THERE by the smart kids because THEY'RE not making me stupid with THEIR misuse of words.
If I went to the LIBRARY a few times a year, I would know there is no such effing thing as a LIBARY
I would rather walk on nails THAN read people's misspellings THEN listen to them bitch when I correct them.
YOU'RE sure to look like a jackass when YOUR use of the English language is worse than a child's.
Those pants will fit LOOSE if your fat ass would LOSE some weight.
If your dog needs a BATH because he smells like poo, you should definitely BATHE him right away.
There are tons more... these are just a few that came to mind... I may add to this list as I remember more...
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Birthday Miracle!
I turned 27 on September 30th. Since we just wanted to do something at home we had family and friends over for carne asada and carnitas tacos. Chips, salsa, guacamole, Spanish rice, and birthday cake rounded out the menu. I was really glad that so much of my family and a lot of our friends were able to make it.
I don't do it for the attention of my birthday, I don't do it so that people will buy me presents- I have a job if I really want something I will buy it myself- I really do it because it is a good reason to get people together. Just inviting people over on a Saturday to gather and hang out- maybe half of the people will show- You tell them it's because it's your birthday? Your percentage goes up significantly :D
I was super happy that my bestest friend and her family were able to come and hang out all night- our lives have changed since we left high school and so we don't get to see each other as often as I would like. Everything went well and fun was had by all... The real miracle happened on my real birthday the following Monday.
Since I am a planner, as soon as I found out I was pregnant I have been trying to maneuver everything at my job. FMLA paperwork, PTO and maternity leave. Well I was sadly mistaken that I worked for a company who cared about it's employees when I went and visited HR and they informed me that we DON'T HAVE MATERNITY BENEFITS. Wtf Iasis?!? You are a healthcare company and don't provide maternity benefits to your staff?
So... As it was, I would work up until this little bean makes his debut and then I would burn thru all of my paid time off, short term sick and long term sick that I have accrued... at day 61 I was eligible for short term disability and would be receiving 40% of my normal pay. Sounds great right?! (Sarcasm inserted here) Well the thing is we accrue time at the slowest rate possible and I wouldn't have enough time to cover the 60 days between going out and disability kicking in. I would basically be going about 40 days of NO PAY and then getting only 40% for the remainder of my 12 weeks. Eff.
On September 30th Iasis changed it's PTO policy and for once things were in my favor. We no longer had separate PTO and Sick- it was all lumped into one bank to draw from- we were given 3 more days a year and best yet.... Short term disability kicks in at 30 days rather than 60!. If I don't use any PTO until I go into labor I will have almost the entire 30 days covered before disability kicks in- HUGE WEIGHT LIFTED OFF OF MY SHOULDERS!
I know we would have been fine- budgeting a little tighter and not going out as much- but it is nice to know that at least some money will be coming in whilst I am home with the little one.
Walgreen's had better benefits when I worked there, 8 weeks of full pay and 4 weeks of half pay...another 4 weeks at half pay if you had to have a C-section.
My husband has better benefits at Kroger... He gets two weeks of paternity leave and has 240 hours of vacation to use however he wants. I let him know that 'he wants' to stay home a good month with me to figure this baby thing out :)
I don't do it for the attention of my birthday, I don't do it so that people will buy me presents- I have a job if I really want something I will buy it myself- I really do it because it is a good reason to get people together. Just inviting people over on a Saturday to gather and hang out- maybe half of the people will show- You tell them it's because it's your birthday? Your percentage goes up significantly :D
I was super happy that my bestest friend and her family were able to come and hang out all night- our lives have changed since we left high school and so we don't get to see each other as often as I would like. Everything went well and fun was had by all... The real miracle happened on my real birthday the following Monday.
Since I am a planner, as soon as I found out I was pregnant I have been trying to maneuver everything at my job. FMLA paperwork, PTO and maternity leave. Well I was sadly mistaken that I worked for a company who cared about it's employees when I went and visited HR and they informed me that we DON'T HAVE MATERNITY BENEFITS. Wtf Iasis?!? You are a healthcare company and don't provide maternity benefits to your staff?
So... As it was, I would work up until this little bean makes his debut and then I would burn thru all of my paid time off, short term sick and long term sick that I have accrued... at day 61 I was eligible for short term disability and would be receiving 40% of my normal pay. Sounds great right?! (Sarcasm inserted here) Well the thing is we accrue time at the slowest rate possible and I wouldn't have enough time to cover the 60 days between going out and disability kicking in. I would basically be going about 40 days of NO PAY and then getting only 40% for the remainder of my 12 weeks. Eff.
On September 30th Iasis changed it's PTO policy and for once things were in my favor. We no longer had separate PTO and Sick- it was all lumped into one bank to draw from- we were given 3 more days a year and best yet.... Short term disability kicks in at 30 days rather than 60!. If I don't use any PTO until I go into labor I will have almost the entire 30 days covered before disability kicks in- HUGE WEIGHT LIFTED OFF OF MY SHOULDERS!
I know we would have been fine- budgeting a little tighter and not going out as much- but it is nice to know that at least some money will be coming in whilst I am home with the little one.
Walgreen's had better benefits when I worked there, 8 weeks of full pay and 4 weeks of half pay...another 4 weeks at half pay if you had to have a C-section.
My husband has better benefits at Kroger... He gets two weeks of paternity leave and has 240 hours of vacation to use however he wants. I let him know that 'he wants' to stay home a good month with me to figure this baby thing out :)
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