What does he have against a ladder anyway?

This morning marked an end to one (or at least half of it) project that's been on the list for a while.

Greg finally hung ONE of the light fixtures I bought almost 4 years ago...

And it looks great! I just wish both were done. When we pulled out the fixtures from the box one had a crack in the glass...I'm not sure if Lowe's will take it back (after so long), but we hung the one good one anyway...without a ladder...

What? Without a ladder? Yes, we don't own a ladder tall enough to reach our 20 ft. ceiling, but we do have a handy pony wall in the upstairs loft that if you put your climbing gear on and have your wife hold the end of the rope you can skillfully change a light fixture, with just a little bit of ingenuity and sweat.

You would have laughed if you could have seen it. I threatened to take pictures. Greg unearthed his climbing gear and harness and put them on...or should I say tried to put them on. His thighs have gotten so much more muscular since his climbing days ;-) that he had to remove his pants to get the harness on.

So, here's how he rigged it. Since he was worried about me holding the rope (or belaying - controlling the slack of the rope - in climbing terms) around my waist (seeing as I am eight months pregnant), he tied the rope around our rocker recliner in the loft and my job was to sit in the chair and hold the rope. Ha! What a scene.

BEFORE

AFTER

The Yellow Belt Pregnancy Update

I am undeniably with child.
I wore a wide yellow belt with a black dress on Sunday. I put red shoes on too. A bold look for a woman in her 8th month.
It went against my husband's opinion. He just wasn't that into the belt.
It didn't matter. The belt brought me pleasure.
I've been frugal this pregnancy. Spent little on maternity clothing.
After loosing lbs. since last pregnancy my old stuff just really didn't work.
Accessories have been my saving style. And yellow, mustard to be exact, is my latest hang up.

My dear friend in CA requested a pregnancy update. I admit, I've been putting it off. But this morning when I woke up, way too early, I decided to put this task to end.

Why have I been putting it off? Guilt. Lately I've felt depleted. physically. emotionally.
Not ready for another life to count on me. Tired of working full-time. Tired of being worried and uncertain. Tired of working so hard to squelched the barrage of negativity that comes so easily to my mind.

And I've felt guilt. Because there is so much joy amidst my trials. So many bright and happy things. This baby is one of them. And I am grateful.

I remember a time when I didn't know if I'd be a mother. Then I was blessed with one. Worried if there would be a number two. And was blessed with another.

I would have never written my life the way its turned out so far. I always work back from ideal. Even at work. Really believing that the ideal should be attainable, achievable. Confronted by obstacles and challenges that change ideal. Lost in the fog of uncertainty only to eventual discover the process of getting better is more rewarding than achieving ideal (Or, what I thought was ideal). How I think things should really work, doesn't matter as long as they just work.

I haven't taken a picture of my pregnant self yet. Tried to after friend asked for an update.

I bought a scrapbook for baby #2 and had good intentions to finish scrapbook for baby #1 before #2 arrives. We'll see. I wouldn't bet on me. But, I have decided that I need to spend some time writing about the happy news and happy things around this pregnancy. Shifting my focus to this will help me remember and record all the excited feelings of anticipation less on the uncomfortable, worrisome days.

Thank you friend for asking for an update. Yes, there has been a absence of news about this pregnancy on this blog, but I am happy to report that all is well. It has been a healthy pregnancy so far. I was a little alarmed that I now have to do the neonatal stress tests every week, but I guess that's because I'm reaching the older age bracket. I look forward to weekly views of the little guy.

We are looking forward to having another boy and know that he will bring so many unexpected blessings to our life, most of which I never could have written if I was the controller of my life's story.

Eight weeks left.
(I'm taking one week off because I'll be having a c-section....just in case you notice my numbers don't jive with the baby counter on the right)

My pregnancy self portrait...I promise I'll try again.

Pediatrician Recommendations

I'm thinking of switching Pediatrician's...any recommendations?

How to Hook a Man

Tip #1: Be Remembered

in a good way...

When with pack of girls make sure you catch eye of target and make sure he remembers your name.

Case in point:

I wore this necklace on a group date (bunch of BYU college guys and girls scoping each other out). We went sailing on the Great Salt Lake. Man of interest only remembered my name (out of a half a dozen coed beauties) because I wore it on my neck. Later married man. Much much later son found necklace in old jewelry box.

Moral of the story: Don't wear your heart on your sleeve, wear your name on your neck. Results prove much better.

I read this today...

"Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."

-George Bernard Shaw

...and it inspired me.

"You Get Better"

Me to Cole: "I'm sorry for not being a very good mom sometimes, honey."
Cole: "That's okay mommy." big breath...
Cole: "You get better."

I couldn't help but laugh. Sometimes he says the funniest things.
So, cheers to all mothers and here's to "getting better!"

Supermarket Savings Envy

Okay, so chances are you've recently listened to a presentation about how you can save oodles of money by shopping with coupons. It seems everyone is doing it...and posting pictures of their fabulous findings.

Such as said picture:

Chances are you've also order the Sunday newspaper (for coupons), a copy for every consumer in your household, so you can save more.

Well if you have and you are having success, congratulations to you. I have gone to said training/presentation, saved Sunday coupons (and anything else that comes my way), used the filing and labeling technique taught at the presentation, gone to the website to look for each week's savings and...ended up shopping my regular way. So here's the conclusion I've come to...

I NEED A PERSONAL SHOPPER NOT A COUPON.

I just can't seem to get it together enough to get this "savings" concept going. I'm thinking of starting an online therapy group for other noncouponers, just so we have a presence, because really lately I've been feeling like couponers are taking over the supermarket and I'm pretty lame because I'm just not that into it. I mean of course I'm into saving money...but I lack the organization and where with all to get out my coupons and get it done.

So, for all you who have mastered couponing 101, I'm taking resumes for a personal shopper. Apply now.

I remember

"I forget sometimes that my prayer was heard. Time passes, and I forget I wanted. Forget I yearned so much that I thought my soul would disappear inside of my body. Forget that I couldn't forget.

Today I vow to remember."

I read this on CJane's blog today an it perfectly captured how I feel sometimes about those years before Cole. How quickly despair and heartache have been replaced with abundant love. Sometimes so much so that I forget my prayer was heard.

I'm remembering today, feeling very loved and blessed.

Cysts and all that Jazz

So, this is probably more than you wanted to know, but man I feel beat up. Really, I'm fine, but I'm ready for a little good luck. While I know some of my state was/is completely afflicted upon myself voluntarily, other stuff just happened.

Last Wed. I got myself into a little car wreck on my way home from work. I was on my way to pick up Greg to go and pick his car up from the shop. Yeah, it was a three car fender bender, I was the third car and yes, after waiting for 1.5 hrs. for the cops, I got a citation too. Anyway, thanks to good friends who picked Greg up took him to the shop and came to check on me, not to mention more friends who took Cole in and watched him while I (and the baby) got checked out at the hospital. And then friends who own a body shop and are fixing my car...not to mention friends who called or texted when they heard to see if we are okay... we were well taken care of.

Thurs. night came down with a cold. Caught from adorable son.

Friday called in sick.

Sat. tried to sleep upright and on my left or right side...starting to get to that uncomfortable pregnant stage + congestion = night of fitful sleep.

Sun. attempted to go to church. Thought Cole and I were both on the mend, until he had what I'm calling a "grand maul seizure" of a fit during sacrament meeting...we went home not 10 min. in to the meeting. After we both stopped crying and drunk a little milk, we fell asleep. (okay, really it was just Cole who was crying, but really I was right there ready to join him).

Mon. slept on couch still battling cold and still uncomfortable.

Tues. went and got my cyst removed from my head, but dr. would not fix the huge (okay I'm exaggerating) bald spot on the front of my head from another cyst ordeal that occurred on New Year's eve... Anyway, not a big deal surgery, liked the doc...nice man, but nonetheless, now I'm sitting here with a cold pack on my head...wishing for a little good luck soon.

Optimism seems to follow me fleetingly. Committing myself to a "gratitude" post tomorrow.