.09-present.

Day 2:
I've come to the conclusion that I must take more pictures. I was seriously looking for a decent picture from last year this time and there were very few. Same with this year. Oh well...you get 2 head shots because it's all I've got.

The obvious difference from last year: It was just Roy and I, now we have a little guy waiting to make his appearance.

Last year no missionaries.

This year, Roy's younger brother Ryan is preparing to head off into the great unknown of the Salt Lake City North Mission.

Last year we were paying off a car

This year, Fran is ours!

Last year I was growing out my hair

This year I'm happily back to short

Really, there is a bunch of things that have changed, I'm older, wider, slower, and happier! I look forward to the great events of 2011!

.30.

I'm back from my day of death...I spent most of yesterday catatonic on the couch letting my body fight it out. Today I'm feeling, if not completely recovered, then definitely 80 % better then yesterday. So as life creeps back into my veins I've decided to attempt to actually make this blog more journal-esq (at least for the month of Dec). With the help of other more creative people out there, I have a list for 30 days of different posts to give more insight into ME.
Day 1:
5 things about you that nobody really knows.

- I bought my car "Fran" because I wanted to learn how to drive a manual. I knew if I bought a car with a stick I would have no choice. It took me 23 years, but I finally learned, and I really do feel more accomplished.

- A guilty pleasure of mine...70's soft rock. I used to make fun of this stuff, but some of it is seriously good. If "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John comes on the radio, I turn it up and sing out loud.

- Hate wearing dresses and/or skirts. Its never been my thing. 3 hours on Sunday and that's just about my limit.

- Love the smell of gasoline...especially diesel fumes. I don't make it a habit, but gas stations aren't the worst place for me.

- As a kid I loved gum so much that I would take it in form anywhere I found it...on the ground, under tables, in the garbage. It's completely gross when I think of it now, but at the time all I could think about was, "oh, GUM".

So there you go, perhaps more than you ever wanted to know about me!
Day 2:
A picture of you from last year and this year and how you have changed.
Something to look forward to tomorrow...

.long december.

My mom has a shirt that says "No Whiners", but I'm totally going to whine today. I'm at work...the last place I want to be. I'm cold, my head feels like it weighs a ton, my nose is running, I'm achy, my throat hurts, I'm tired, I want to curl up in a ball and cry. I want to be home in my bed warm and asleep. I'm trying to have a better attitude today, but I'm lacking any kind of energy to even care all that much. What a way to start off the first day of December! I'm thinking I may be calling in sick for young women's tonight, as we would be downtown in the cold. Amazingly enough, the little man is as happy and content as can be...moving around extra this morning to show momma all is right with him. What a combination we make!

.perhaps not.

The blizzard to end all blizzards did not actually come to fruition as most of us wanted it to. This might be because we've never experienced a real blizzard and ones imagination can do wonders especially induced by all the hype. It blew and froze as promised, and looked quite dreadful for about an hour, but then the snow flurry's slowed and eventually stopped leaving only frigid arctic air in its wake. It's that type of cold where the air is heavy with stillness and hurts just to breath. It conjures up memories of a March morning in Russia where the air was almost tangible with the weight of the cold. Or days walking to school in Logan when you would get to class and notice your hair was stiffly frozen because apparently you didn't dry it thoroughly. So although the storm didn't quite deliver it's promised doom, it was nice for just one night not to go anywhere, stay inside, and feel cozy.

bad picture from our deck as the storm was ending

.here's the thing.

My belly is getting bigger by the second, but my arms remain the same length. This makes the whole sitting at a desk all day increasingly difficult. My back is protesting at this moment...I think I might go take a quick little jaunt around the office and give the leaning a break.

Winter is flexing his muscles today in UT with a blizzard warning. A blizzard WARNING folks! Yeah that pretty much never happens here. We tend to just deal with what winter has to deal out...it is just what it is. So now we are all scrambling around trying to figure out what one does in the case of blizzard warnings. Schools are closing, people are leaving work early, 72 hour kits are being pulled out. It would be quite the disappointment if this storm came and went without a hitch...only time will tell.

If this storm is everything it's supposed to be maybe...just maybe we will get a free day tomorrow. One can dream of starting their Thanksgiving Holiday early, especially because we get to hang with the Lamberts (our UT family) tomorrow for a little early feasting. I plan on getting some tips on making the best mashed potatoes seeing as there is a small competition between me and my brother in law. Let the best potatoes win!

So besides sore backs, and impending doom all is right with the world!!

.soon enough.

The weekend couldn't have shown up any sooner. My weeks seem to fill up faster then I can schedule them, and frankly I'm feeling a little out of steam. But go on one must, because that is life. This week has been filled with meetings, Dr. Appointment(S), too much money spent, & not enough sleep. This morning as I hobbled my way upstairs (another story in itself), and plopped down with my bowl of cereal. I watched as Roy, my morning person, made his way up even slower then I did. I made a quip along the lines of "you look how I feel". Ha, sometimes the week just runs you over and leaves you staggering. We did finally accomplish the impossible by getting the land bruiser registered. It only took 4 trips to pass. And I finally caved and got my flu shot. It feels a little like someone slugged me in the shoulder *ouch*!
So sorry to drag you all into the mire, but it's an honest snapshot of what my Friday morning feels like. By Monday things will have improved!

.29.

and so it's come to this...29 weeks. Those weekly increments of time have continued to tick off sometimes to my amazement, and sometimes to my anxiety. I looked at myself in the mirror last week and thought, "when did all this happen?". Even though I've seen myself everyday for the past 203 days, it still seems so strange to find myself staring back at an every growing gut.
I was recently talking to a friend about the frustration I've felt about wanting to do some of the things I miss and took for granted...like working out. I miss having that freedom to just move without thought or concern. I'm feeling completely motivated to get my butt in shape, but now is not the time to undertake anything major. So I will wait...hoping that that motivation is still there when I can do something with it.

You know what I'm loving right now? Ice. It's true, ice goes into nearly everything I drink. oh and suddenly my sweet tooth is running rampant (luckily I'm also craving fruit). I always want something sweet after meals. I've taken to eating the chocolate chips from the cupboard. I have my mom to thank for this. Growing up we didn't just have candy lying around in dishes, but mom always kept chocolate chips for baking. During the day I would sometimes catch my mom grab a handful of semi-sweet morsels to satisfy her cravings for something sweet. Well mom, I watched and learned well.

On top of getting larger by the week, trying to drink enough water (it's never going to happen), and mastering the "waddle", I'm feeling very happy and well. I love watching this little man move his buns around. It really is all amazing to think about and realize what a little miracle we have!