trip to slc

So all last week I was wanting to post but seriously there was nothing excited going on. AT ALL. Except maybe that my sister is having a girl too-- but that is more her exciting news than mine. Jeff and I went up to SLC to spend the weekend with his grandparents. We hadn't ever gone up to just see them so it was good to spend some one on one time with them at their house. The guest bed is a full size bed and somehow we managed to make it through 2 nights without either of us wanting to file for divorce-- so if for no other reason than that, it was a good trip! On Saturday a few of my old roommates/friends from the U got together for lunch/baby shower for me. It was a lot fun to see them all, it had been YEARS in many cases since we'd seen each other so it was great to get together again. Thanks Lori for setting it all up! I got a few pictures on my camera, but they all ended up being just me with the gifts, so even though I know you're dying to see me with a diaper genie box, I'm gonna wait until Lori has a chance to send me the pictures from her camera and then I will post more about the shower then. :)

This was the first time since Jeff and I have been married that I have managed to get him up to SLC to hang out with my friends and their husbands. Pretty pathetic after over 3 years but I guess it's better late than never.

It may sound strange but I love driving in the car with Jeff. Even when I'm almost 6 months pregnant and we have to stop 5 times. It's nice to just have that time uninterrupted to talk and laugh. I especially like it when his friend gives him a guilt trip about making his pregnant wife drive so I only end up having to drive about 1/4 of the way. It's the best.

It's still a girl!

I had another doc appt. today. He did another ultrasound, for Jeff's sake, just to make sure it was still a girl. And it is. :) I am glad. She looked a looked a lot bigger than last time. That reminds me, Jeff felt her kick for the first time this past week. His face lit up when he felt the little thump. He has been feeling "left out" so that was really cool for him.

Since it is a 99.9% for sure thing that the baby is a girl-- her name is going to be

Elea Drew.

ABCs as per Tristen's tag. :)

A - Attached or Single: Attached and knocked up.
B - Best Friend(s): Jeff. Whether he likes it or not.
C - Cake or Pie: Cake
D - Day of choice: Wednesday
E - Essential Item: Soft blankets.
F - Favorite Color: Any color that is sort of dull or muted. I'm not too into the bright flashy colors right now. Even though it is spring and I probably should be.
G - Gummy Bears or Worms: Sour Gummy Worms, normal Gummy Bears.
H - Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
I - Indulgence(s): Any form of ice cream I can get my hands on. And smoothies.
J - January or July: July because January is cold and usually depressing.
K - Kids: Not yet. Almost though.
L - Life is incomplete without: Talking to my mom and sister on the phone, one of them, at least once a day and I hate it when I go to fall asleep and realize Jeff and I haven't hugged once the entire day.
M - Marriage Date: January 7, 2005
N - Number of Siblings: 2: Ang & Ta.
O - Oranges or Apples: Apples if I am in a hurry, Oranges if I have time to scrape 99% of the yucky white stuff off.
P - Phobias or Fears: Not really . . . Sometimes I get stuck in "what if" scenarios of horrible things happening to my family and think about them all day long. So something happening to someone in my family is probably my biggest fear. p.s. Gwen you know you are considered part of mi familia.
Q - Quotes: I just read this on the wall of my friend's bathroom the other night, I don't remember who said it: "Faith makes things possible, not easy."
(Apparently R was skipped for some reason.)
S - Season: Summer
T - Tag Three Friends: Angie, Gwen, & Lori
U- Unknown fact about me: Is there such a thing? Umm. . . I filled out a March Madness bracket and so far I am doing better than Jeff!!! Oh yeah!
V - Very favorite store: Pottery Barn, if only I was rich enough to buy something there. Realistically, Target- the one by our house in AZ is brand new and the carts are all plastic, they look funny and the wheels don't squeak &/or shake.
W - Worst habit: Having an attitude with Jeff but then freaking out if he has one with me. And eating a cookie every time I walk past the pantry.
X - X-ray or Ultrasound: Ultrasounds are way cooler than x-rays. I hate how you have to hold completely still, usually in some ridiculous position, for x-rays.
Y - Your favorite food: Ice cream shakes & smoothies.
Z - Zodiac: Virgo.

playing catch up

Okay so here is a quick over-view of our few days in AZ.

Jeff was able to turn in applications at 6 of the 7 school districts that are within a reasonable distance and he met with some of their human resource people. He met with a principal in the Apache Junction school district. She was really cool and nice and the school in relatively new-- but they are the lowest paying district in the area so we'll see. At this point none of the school districts are able to offer positions because the existing teachers have until mid-April or so to turn in contracts for next year, etc. So they told him to be expecting calls in the next few weeks. But he feels pretty good about it in general and I am just really relieved to have his applications turned in and his fingerprints done down there. Also, AZ is stuck up and won't accept any other licensure tests. They will do a 1 year reciprocal license if you have a license in another state, but you still have to take their own special tests. This was good for Jeff to hear directly from the lady at the Arizona Dept. of Education because I told him that's what I thought but all the education people at SUU told him differently. So now he gets to take the Arizona tests on top of the Utah tests. Needless to say, he isn't thrilled.

But the good news about that is now we don't have to wait for Utah to get him his license before applying for an Arizona license-- he'll just apply for both at the same time. Sweet.

We ate at our favorite restaurant in Mesa- Uno's. The waitress we kind of got to know before we moved was our server when we went and she seemed kind of different. I couldn't tell what was wrong until after we were done eating she was standing there talking to us and we were explaining about our planned move back, etc. And then she said, "So... is anything else new?" And then I told her I was pregnant. She looked all relieved and said that she thought that maybe I was because I had only gained weight in my stomach but she was afraid to ask. So then she wasn't awkward anymore. I guess I am still in that no-man's land between full-on-pregnant-mama-comin-through and that-girl-looks-like-she-just-ate-too-much.

On Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday night we went over to Kade & Maddie's house and played Canasta. Maddie and I managed to kick the boy's butts 2 out of the 3 nights. Thank goodness too because Jeff has killed me every time we've played a two player game. Their baby is due in a month so it was fun to hang out and talk about all the random things that no one tells you about before you get pregnant. Today Jeff said that we will only be able to afford 2 kids. I told him I agree because I don't know that my body will be able to afford any more than that either.

Yes. I am vain. I admit it.

We went to a Spring Training game on Tuesday. I was an idiot and didn't bother to put on any sunscreen. And I forgot that I was in Arizona so I wore a dark colored shirt thinking I would need all the help I could get not to get cold. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. I was literally baking the entire 3 hours. I'm surprised I don't have 3rd degree burns from the metal buttons on my shorts. But it was nice to be outside in the warm weather. And I think it was only a sweltering 77 degrees but I still managed to burn my knees to a nice shade of purple and my nose is going to be red and peeling until the 4th of July. Oh, Jeff was an idiot and didn't wear any sunscreen either. The only difference is he just got more tan.

Our trip also included a stop at Ikea, Babys'r'us, (we managed not to spend a cent in either place) the biggest Super Target I have ever been in, and about 10 shakes &/or bowls of ice cream. I am sort of really incredibly terribly scared to hop on the scale tomorrow at the Doctor's office. Wish me luck but don't expect me to put my weight in print. I think at this point an official gag order is now in place.

Oh, one last thing, Jeff about lost his mind on the drive home yesterday. 4 hours into the 8 hour trip he was asking if we were almost there yet. If we ever have to make that trip from AZ to UT again, I am going to drug him and just plan on driving the entire time. More than once I had to seriously weigh which would be worse-- wetting my pants or hearing him cry out in sheer desperation as the car rolled to a stop in yet one more gas station.

Still smells new!!

Jeff and I are back at our house in Arizona for a few days during Jeff's spring break. As we opened the door to the house I was sort of nervous because I didn't know what to expect. The crazy pessimist in me was expecting an experience similar to the dead husband and wife on Beetlejuice. On the other hand I knew that both the guys renting the house are clean so I wasn't worried. We opened the door and breathed in and it still smelled new! It still smells like it did when we moved into it last June. The walls weren't banged up or covered with holes, the carpets look good, bathrooms are clean, etc. SO HAPPY. In some ways it is kind of strange because almost all of our stuff is still in the house, not just couches and tables, but plates, cups, silverware, seasonings, etc. For example, the glass bottles with oil and vinegar in them are still in the same exact spot I left them on Oct. 1. So it feels like I am home but at the same time, we are sleeping on an air mattress in one of the extra rooms, as visitors. Because right now we don't live here.

I am so grateful the guys renting our house have kept it so nice. It will be an exciting day when we can move back into it with our baby and live like a normal family again. But at the same time, we have been really blessed that Jeff's parents have been willing to let us live with them- I don't know how we could have pulled it off otherwise.

Jeff's got applications to turn in and hopefully some interviews the next couple of days. It will be awesome to have his applications all turned in and know that at that point he's done all that he can for now.

And then we'll get back to Utah and I will make sure and come up with something else to worry about.

taxes done.

Wow, this is an exciting week for posts. First it was cleaning out the closet and now it's a small celebration for finally getting our taxes filed. I totally forgot about the $600 per person rebate which is pretty fantastic, especially since our return(s) otherwise were pathetic.

"well that's not cute"

Jeff and I are heading to Arizona for his spring break next week. We're gonna be staying in our house for a couple of days and he's working to schedule interviews with some of the school districts down there. I had been in the mindset of living with the in-laws with a baby and not having any type of baby's room or anything, but now that we're moving back at the end of the summer, I at least want/get to buy a crib. About 2 seconds ago, I was looking at Pottery Barn baby rooms (a girl can dream, can't she?) and Jeff was sort of falling asleep, sort of looking at them with me.

I told him that I thought we should just use the old extra dresser we have at the house for a changing table, and just put a pad on it. His response:

Well, that's not cute. And I want it to be cute.

And he was 100% serious. Sometimes I wonder if somehow we got mixed up and he should be the one carrying this baby! At least now I have proof in 6 months that he really did agree and want me to fix up the room, even if by then he has changed his mind. In the meantime I get to find myself a fairy godmother to make it happen.

i concede

I guess the only thing more boring than cleaning out your closet is reading about someone else cleaning out their closet. So I apologize.

Yesterday I spent all morning making lists of the school districts in Arizona that have schools within a reasonable commute time from our house and their application requirements, etc. Jeff and I are heading down to AZ for part of his spring break to get his applications submitted and jump through as many of the requisite hoops as possible. I think the most frustrating thing about the applications is the employment history. I totally understand them wanting to have a good idea about the teacher's they are potentially hiring-- but it's a pain in my butt to find the information about jobs Jeff had 5 or 6 years ago. (Luckily for me, he got away with not working at all until after his mission- so I am off the hook for his high school years!) Anyway, I didn't mean to turn this into a complaint about the applications, I actually in some sick way like doing it because if nothing else it makes me feel like there is progress being made.

Now about the cleaning out of the closet. When we moved my clothes here it was done late the night before the morning we drove to Utah. And I can't believe I was even conscious because the clothes I brought and the clothes I really needed ended up being two different things. For example, even though it was Oct. 1st, I managed to leave every jacket/coat I own in AZ. Smart. I also made sure to bring all my workout clothes because surely with all the free time I would have on my hands I would make it to the gym often. Or not. But I can't take too much blame about all the other clothes because I had no way of knowing that I a) would get pregnant 3 weeks later and b) I wouldn't get an office job and need all the business clothes I own.

Jeff is in love with Footlocker's 4 or 5 t-shirts for 20 bucks deals. He loves them. What does that have to do with cleaning out the closet? Well, every time he walks into that store he leaves with 4 or 5 more t-shirts. I like it okay too because then I have an excuse to either steal a couple more of his old softball tournament t-shirts from 5 years ago to wear around the house, or pack away a couple of his old baseball tees. But when he came home with 4 more on Thursday and I still hadn't managed to find a place for the clean clothes from the dryer (yes, I really did do laundry), I knew something had to be done.

So after I couldn't stand to think about teaching applications another second, and I'd had 48 hours to get motivated, I headed upstairs and started to pull every piece of clothing out of the closet. I then proceeded to try on every pair of pants I own, just to see if I could still pull off the elastic through the button hole trick. No go. At 21 weeks I am officially out of normal people clothes and into the world of elastic waist bands and pants without zippers. So in an act of good faith, I packed all my pants, skirts, and shirts that aren't in the realm of possibility now and will move them back to Arizona, hoping and praying I will be able to wear them again by this time next year.

Happy Birthday Ang!!

My big sister turns 28 today!

teaching applications. yay.

Jeff decided to go into work on his day off. Again. But this is me having a happy face about it because I really shouldn't complain about a husband who works overtime every week plus goes to school while not complaining. Sort of sick really.

Since tonight was supposed to be the night that we worked on his job applications for Arizona school districts no matter what, I am about to begin the ordeal all by myself. Do you think it is possible he is avoiding it?

I seriously am stressing because I am pretty positive in his family's eyes I am dragging him out of Southern Utah kicking and screaming. I really don't think that I am especially since moving to AZ was his bright idea in the first place . . . but nevertheless, I must strap on the bad guy bandanna once again and start downloading AZ applications.

they're heading back to omaha . . .

Ang & Der and their girls have been visiting the past week and just left today. It has been really fun hanging out with them-- I was sad that they had to leave. I have pictures that I will post later this week. We played the game canasta a ton. I had never played it before but am now officially addicted I think. So fun.

bassackwards

On Saturday when Ang was here visiting, Shanna invited us to a digital scrapbooking class with her. It was a great excuse to get out of the house for a few hours and I learned that I make things difficult. I knew this already-- I can usually figure things out on my own, but tend to circle around and around until finally landing on the conclusion, i.e. on math problems, I take for-ev-er because I don't remember the formula, but figure it out on my own.

Knowing this, I figured the same thing applies to anything I have ever done on Adobe Photoshop Elements because I have never taken a course or been taught how to do things. And that was very much so the case. The class showed me how to do things about 100 times easier and faster. Very cool. I haven't had time to mess around with it too much since Ang was in town until this afternoon, but I am kinda excited to start working on some stuff. :) So yay for people who actually learn how to do things easily and share with the rest of us who are stubborn and try to figure it out on our own!