Anything-but-Relaxing Memorial Day

I would like a re-do of Memorial Day weekend. Actually, I wouldn’t take anything we did back, I’d just add three more days, and good weather ones at that. Those days I’d use to relax and rest after a busy, busy few days of:

My nephews - such boys, so great.



• Attending the Hill Air Force Base air show – cold and rainy, but fun to see the planes overhead and feel a sense of patriotism with my nephews in tow.
• Celebrating my sister’s birthday with lunch and fun with the kids. Mostly we just ate and talked for a few hours. Worth the three hours of driving we did to get to that point.
• Blessing a new baby – Tyler’s older brother blessed their second son. Family came to town and it was great to see everyone. The day was dampened by rain, but nice just the same. I tried to sleep after the festivities were over, but failed. I think I have a sleeping problem.
• Playing tennis, then golfing nine holes, then enjoying a family barbeque and a Heat game and late night Walmart run to finish the night.
• Making three desserts for the events above and doing who knows how many dishes.
• Realizing I have bronchitis. I’ve had bronchitis way too many times in my life. It’s definitely not welcome.

Man, I look so happy in this picture. I really do like to golf, I promise.

I slept little last night on account of the pelvic bones saying I’ve done too much. I promised to never do it again. Probably I lied. I am exhausted, but actually kind of proud of my body for all that it has accomplished. Tonight, I rest. All in the name of a three-day weekend, right?

Almost a Mom

Tyler took me flower shopping for Mother’s Day so I could fill the pots on our patio. We had a really great day together. I can’t wait to be a mom and our kids are so lucky to have him as their dad. It’s getting close and exciting.

They Call it Nesting

I have a sewing machine. Up to this point in my life I have been totally ungrateful about that fact. To my recollection I’ve used it twice. Until now.
Amidst the fabric purchases, new needles, thread and incredible left-handed sewing scissors (Finally something for my side of the world!), Tyler has been left to wonder outloud “why this sudden obsession with craftiness?” He’s not complaining at all, in fact I think he oddly likes this side of me. Just amused and maybe slightly confused. Me too, to be honest.

One day I decided I wanted to make a crib skirt (not that we have a crib yet…). I found some dang cute fabric at Hobby Lobby and after much discussion with the helpers at the fabric counter and a “simple” pattern, I was on my way. One full day of sewing and a half day of unpicking later, we had the “coolest” crib skirt ever. It is so darn cute!

Then I made a skirt (my waist had to be measured and re-measured for this one because I was sure there was some mistake – no wonder my hips feel broken!). And another. I own a double needle now and elastic thread, which I never even knew existed. I spent my fun money on fabric, and I was ok with that. What’s happening to me?

Third Trimester and All is Well

I gained 30 lbs. 

I looked at the scale and looked again, until I had Tyler hide it. I have been within 10 pounds since junior high. And now, I’m just not. I had a few panic moments in my realization that I will never be or look the same. Regardless of the awesomeness of the reward – that fact is a little startling. Then I had a talking to by not one, but all three of my very right sisters. Just roll with it and be happy. There’s growing going on.

Taking their advice brought relief. They're smart, it seems.

Beyond the weight gain, I am really pretty stoked about how this pregnancy thing is going [today]. Granted there are a few things I wish I could do, but can’t:

• I wish I’d gone sky diving before.
• I wish I could run fast and long. The spring is perfect for it. It’s race season.
• I wish I could sleep through the night and sit comfortably somehow, anyhow.

But there are a lot of things I can do.

• I can watch my stomach make waves of its own as our cool baby kicks and rocks and rolls. It’s my favorite pastime.
• I can still exercise four mornings a week and make it to the 7th floor by stairs.
• I can clean – I’m in deep cleaning mode, but get ultra tired, so I stick with one task a day, like vacuum couch Tuesday, wash baseboards Wednesday, wash light fixtures Thursday. I’ll get there.
• I can eat a balanced diet, and I generally don’t get sick. When I do get a little green, a $1 slurpee refill fixes that.
• I can work hard and have fun with Ty.

With the change to May, I feel like the end of pregnancy and the beginning of a new life is much closer. At times I’ve wished to hurry things along, now I’m alright to have it stay this way until July. I think soon I’ll ask for slow motion. You’re only pregnant with your first baby just the one time, and I’m assuming the others are a little harder to focus on. I feel pretty blessed, today. It’s becoming real.

Climbing High

For the past two years, I’ve had a daily quest of climbing the stairs to my office on the 7th floor of the High Rise. Two years I’ve done this almost every day. This walk helps me start my day warm, both mentally and physically. Stairs seem unlovable, but I truly crave this daily hike.

When I found out I was pregnant, I made a few goals for the next nine months. One was to continue climbing the stairs to the 7th floor until there was just no way. My goal was to climb until labor. For me, this activity reassures me that I can still be active. Honestly, it reassures me that with every crazy, unexpected thing that happens to my body, I’m ok. I’m still me and my body is strong, not sick. Me and this little boy are just working hard.

When I fell last week, I was distressed for a number of reasons. It hurt like mad. It still hurts like mad. But it symbolized a lot of things for me. It made me feel weak, like my body was out of control. It made me feel that I’d never be able to do the things I love, like running or climbing the stairs or getting in and out of my car easily. And in this pregnant state, it made me believe that I’d never be able to do those things ever again in the whole world as long as I live (yup, I’m pregnant and I haven’t been for a run in two weeks. That’s what happens).

I am so excited for this baby – to put my best effort into being his mom and his dad’s wife. But I am also trying to remain me. I fell, and somehow I felt that I was lost.

Until today. I made a decision. I climbed the stairs, all of them. Slowly and painfully, but I did it. It felt amazing.

I felt like me.

Best Two Years

On Monday Tyler and I celebrated being married two years exactly. So awesome to look back and realize how happy those two years have been. I really didn’t expect it to be so great. I don’t know what I expected, but I didn’t expect it to be this.

I went to a bridal shower last night and she was asked the same question I was two years ago, and gave nearly the same response. What are you most excited about about being married? She thinks the best part is being able to spend more time together and never having to say goodnight. I still think she's right. It really is one of the many "best parts."

I love Tyler because he’s the best friend anyone could have. He’s sensitive, he’s kind and he’s practical. He is willing to do anything to help. Last week he cooked every day because of my knee. Then he cleaned the floor. I’ve done the dishes a total of 10 times since we’ve been married. He’s that good.

He doesn’t like to see anyone sad. He’s absolutely hilarious. He’s a good, good person. I would rather be hanging out with him than doing anything else, pretty much always. Our kid is the luckiest child in the world to have him as a dad. And I’m the luckiest wife.

No Longer An "It"

I was so excited to go to the doctor Tuesday. So, so excited and nervous. So excited, distracted and nervous that I forgot how to walk a little bit. I walked out my office building, giddy, hit the first step just fine, then faltered. My arms were nowhere to be found (luckily – broken wrists for sure). My head was held high (another bonus). My stomach was safe (thank goodness). But my knees crushed to the pavement. Oh, how it hurt. My skirt flew over my head, my phone flew into the street. It was in a word – awesome.

I humbly righted myself and my attire. What a blessing nothing seemed broken. I picked up my phone with Tyler on the other end. I explained what had happened and walked hurriedly from the scene and the staring eyes of construction workers across the street. Then I looked down. Blood. Everywhere. Blood dripping on my boots, blood pooling down my legs into my socks. Blood on my skirt. Everywhere. I made it to the car two blocks away, stuck a few napkins on the situation and drove straight home where Tyler helped me clean up and grab about 19 band-aids.

Then we were off to a very important appointment.

And soon I forgot about the pain. Our baby is so real, so perfect and soooo BOY! The ultrasound tech started to giggle right off – she asked if we wanted to know what we were having, then said “he’s an exhibitionist.” And he pretty much was. His was folded in half with his legs clear up over his head, his arms tucked neatly, certainty of his gender completely in view. She commented on the baby’s “beautiful heart.” No cleft lip. No club feet. Everything. Is. Perfect.

He didn’t seem impacted from the fall and was only slightly active (I wish I could have an ultrasound at 8 p.m. - he goes crazy!). He even yawned a couple of times.


I don’t know anything about how to raise a boy, but I didn’t have too many ideas on raising a girl either, so we’ll learn as we go. But we are so totally stoked. Life is as it should be. Times like that make it worth it. Tyler sitting next to me, the kid in full view. Above my knees everything was right with the world.