Temp Job

I got a call on Friday for a temp job. It only lasts through tomorrow, but it has been nice to earn some money, little as it is. I just sit in a chair and stuff envelopes all day long and it makes for a LONG day, let me tell you. Still, I am grateful for it. Working all day has reminded me how much of your life work becomes and I hated that and don't miss it at all. It is so hard at the end of the day to come home and still have to do laundry, cooking, dishes, cleaning, bills, etc. The list never ends. I can't wait until Thursday, when I can wake up around 8:30 a.m. and go for a walk and then spend the day cleaning and preparing for another gospel doctrine lesson to teach on Sunday.

As for my lesson last Sunday, Jeff says that it went much better than he thought I would and it went great, minus the fact that I forgot to say an opening prayer and kept shuffling my papers the whole time and only got through part one of a four part lesson. Anyway, there is another girl who is supposed to team teach with me now, but her phone does not take incoming calls, so I have no way to get a hold of her to tell her it is her turn to teach, so that means that I have to do it again. Bummer...maybe I should get a phone like that.

I finished New Moon yesterday and read it nonstop from the minute I started, so Alyssa, when you do finish, would I be able to borrow that one too? Thanks and I hope everyone is doing well! Alyssa, how is your job going? I am anxious to hear!

Two Yummy Recipes

This post is more for Alyssa so she can have the recipes, but also for all you out there who are looking for a healthy dinner that actually tastes REALLY good. This is my favorite salad of all time and Jeff thinks the cornbread is more of a treat then anything else.

Wonton Salad

2-3 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed (I usually season these with something like Mrs. Dash)
1 head green leaf lettuce, chopped

1 small pkg. Wontons (found right next to Tofu and bagged salads...below is what they look like out of the pkg.)

3-4 green onions
1 can mandarin oranges

1 call water chestnuts (I leave these out)

1/4 c. sesame seeds (I leave these out)

Dressing

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 c. olive oil (or any other oil)

2 tsp. salt (yes, this is correct, so if you have high blood pressure already, this is probably not the meal of choice for you)

1/2 c. rice vinegar (found near ketchup & vinegars in store)

Directions:

Cut Wontons into 1/4 inch strips and fry in oil until light brown and crisp. Place on paper towels to dry. Crunch up before adding to salad. Mix together dressing and then add all ingredients in large bowl. Enjoy!

Cornbread

1 c. milk (I use soymilk and it is still great!)

1/2 c. oil/butter/applesauce

1 egg

1 1/2 c. yellow cornmeal (found in flour section of store)

1 c. flour (I usually add about 1/2 cup more)

1/2 c. sugar (can substitute honey...about 1/4 c.)

1 T. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:

Beat milk, butter and egg in bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients. Bake at 350F for 20-30 minutes. I usually take it out when it is lightly browned on top. Very moist!

25 Weeks!

I am now in my 25th week of pregnancy! Wahoo! It is great so far! No stretch marks...yet. I am pretty sure they will come because I have stretch marks on my hips from when I was growing as a teenager. That must mean my skin just doesn't stretch that well, although I am using a butter cream from Bath and Body Works that has Aloe Vera and Vitamin E in it, among other nice smelling stuff. Also, my belly button is almost gone!

I can definitely feel the baby move a lot! He has this habit of kicking me or punching me on my left hipbone inside. There has to be a nerve or something there too, cuz it hurts! He also likes to kick Jeff at night. If I am laying close to Jeff and my belly is touching him, sometimes he will get kicked. It is funny!

I love it when he flip flops. The only way I can desribe it is that it is like being on a rollarcoaster ride and your stomach feels like it is flying out of your head or if you go over a hill too fast while driving a car.

I still don't like too many food items at this point and have determined I will probably be this way throughout the remainder of my pregnancy, but at least I can eat and that is more than during the first trimester! Our favorite names are Ashton, Carter and Collin. The middle name will be Jeffrey, after his daddy!

Last night I had my first "normal" pregnancy dream. When I say normal, I mean that the baby didn't have two heads, like in my first dream about him. I dreamt that I had him at the doctor's office and the nurse/doctor handed him to me and he was all dressed and cleaned and I just got up and walked out the door to go home. Then a couple days later I realized that they hadn't ever weighed the baby or measured him. I called the hospital and they said that it should all come on the birth certificate in the mail. Then I kept forgetting to call everyone and tell them I had a baby. I remember it was a couple days later and I kept thinking, I had better tell my in-laws that the baby is born. I also remember what he looked like. He had really chubby cheeks and a good amount of hair on his head and was perfect! It made me really excited!

Eventful Weekend

This weekend Jeff and I went to the Louisville, Kentucky temple and boy is it small! It has to be about the size of our apartment...okay, so a little bigger, but not much. Still, it is beautiful and I was grateful to go. It was our first time doing a session in six months because we were working in baptistry each week in Provo and then I was pregnant and too sick to go. I am also grateful we were able to go because it prepared me to face Sunday and the calling I would receive in the ward...just imagine the scariest calling in the ward and that is what I got...gospel doctrine teacher!

When I went into the room to receive the call, the bishopric counselor brought my husband, so I was thinking we both would be called to activities committee again. I never expected this. Of all the people to get it, I am so not the one. I have such a hard time in front of people. I hate the thought of getting judged, like people saying, "Oh no, Sister Bird is teaching again this week! I think I am going to take a nap!" To make things worse, I am pregnant and have extremely volatile emotions AND the other two teachers are both getting released at the same time, so they said I would have to do the calling by myself for awhile--teaching every week! Also, did I mention I have never had a teaching calling? Any suggestions?

Books

Recently I have started reading again, which I LOVE to do and usually can't stop once I start. I have had some troubles finding good books to read. I used to just go to the BYU library and pick up two bags full of LDS historical fiction books (ie. Work and Glory), but out here in Kentucky, with our ward of a whopping 80, they obviously don't have LDS books.

This week I read Peter and the Starcatchers AND I finally read Twilight. The first was okay. I am glad I finished it, but I will not read the sequel, but Twilight was EXCELLENT! I read it all in one night and a morning and I really really wish I had the second one. The reason I waited to read it so long is because all everyone said is that it is about vampires and I am not one for scary books. But then someone finally took the time to explain to me that it is a romance and suspenseful but not scary, like evil scary. So I gave it a try and LOVED it! Read it if you haven't, but I am sure you all have.

Any suggestions for another good read?

Weird

A couple days ago I walked outside to go on a walk and sitting on our front door was a folded up note. I didn't think anything of it and figured someone had just dropped it, so I just kept walking. Later on in the day, it was still there, so I picked it up, opened it, and read it. It was three pages long and was addressed to "My Sweet Man" and signed "Te Amo" with a heart. Basically it was about a girl who was upset because the guy she was seeing was ignoring her. She said she loved him and was frustrated because he wouldn't tell her he loved her except when she asked and begged. She told him to call her at work but that her husband was back in town now and that if she didn't answer to call back another time. Soooo...one of our neighbors is having an affair. I did ask Jeff about it, but that was more or less just to show it to him. He thought it was funny.

Tagged!

I was tagged by a Danica so here is goes!

Jobs I've held:
1. Physical Science TA
2. Leasing Agent for apartment complex
3. Nanny
4. Secretary Human Resources BYU
5. Office Specialist Campus Life BYU
6. ??? Looking for one right now!

Places to go for a weekend getaway:
1. Indianapolis, IN (in-laws live there)
2. Our family's house just down the street...? (can you tell we don't get out much?)

Movies I can watch over and over:
1. Any that I haven't seen...once I see a movie once I can't watch it again. How boring!

Guilty Pleasures:
1. Reading a book
2. Cooking pretty much anything
3. Grocery shopping!
4. Playing Nintendo--I really really like Guitar Hero

Places I've lived:
1. Kalispell, MT (grew up there)
2. Provo, UT
3. Portland, OR (just for a couple summers)
4. Lexington, KY

What were likely the 1st things you thought of when you saw your significant other for the first time?
1. Nothing, he was dating one of my friends.
2. After they broke up...Nothing, my roommate like him.
3. After my roommate realized he wasn't interested in her and gave me the go ahead, then I could finally think, "Wow, he is the hottest guy I have ever seen and he likes me!"

Places I've been on Vacation:
1. Boston, MA
2. New York, NY
3. Vancouver, Canada
4. Cannon Beach, OR
5. California
6. Camping all over the place
7. There are probably at least 10 more, but I will not bore you cuz they are all in the States

Favorite foods:
1. MEXICAN FOOD (when I am not pregnant and the thought of it makes me sick)
2. A really good salad (boring, I know but I like feeling healthy)
3. Anything I haven't cooked

If in a "jam" with your spouse, what tactics do you use to get out of the doghouse?:
1. Smile and bat my eyes :)
2. I am never the one in a "jam" as Jeff is soooo laid back and a peacemaker. A great example!

Websites I visit (ALMOST daily):
1. Gmail & Hotmail
2. Craig's List
3. Blogs

Best First Kisses Landmarks:
1. On my doorstep outside my apartment (yes, this was Jeff and it was less than thrilling for either of us)
2. On the couch in his apartment (this was the second time Jeff and I were dating and sparks flew for this one!)
3. The rest don't really matter :)

Places I'd rather be right now:
1. At home in MT with my family
2. Playing guitar hero at Best Buy with Jeff
3. Running! (oh how I miss it)

Who sent this to me: Danica

Now I get to pick 3 other blog buddies to do this "survey": (Hmmm...let me choose from my long list of blogger friends :)
1. Alyssa and/or Jae Brimhall
2. Viddy
3. Lemira

Babysitting

Today I quit my 1 1/2 week long job of babysitting Tony, a one year old of a girl in a neighboring ward. I was going to help his mom out for a month or two until she got her job squared away and daycare, but I failed! Right now I feel lousy as I haven't ever actually quit something I didn't like, but tonight when his dad came to pick him up the words just came out, so I am done. Tony cried and cried and screamed all afternoon straight, as he does every day. I thought things would get better after a week, but he just screams unless he is being held and I had to cook dinner tonight for the missionaries so I couldn't hold him. I tried to give him a bottle and food and made sure his diaper was okay and gave him toys and set him right at my feet but to no avail. By the time his dad got there I was nearly in tears. I explained to his dad that I just can't pick him up and carry him around all day, especially being pregnant. I said I would continue to watch him until they find someone else or can put him back in daycare. I feel really bad and am trying to rationalize my quitting...really we needed the money and it gave me something to do, but I have just never had to deal with a baby that cries nonstop.

Soooo...it is back to job hunting. Seriously I think I might just be a checker or something part-time at a grocery store. I know it sounds crazy and all, but I have always wanted to try it out. I am exhausted and bummed that yet another job didn't work out. I have no idea what I am supposed to be learning from all of this besides I am questioning my ability to be a mom...I used to LOVE all of my jobs until my experience at BYU and now it has just gone downhill. And yet it can't be normal for a kid to cry all day long for 1 1/2 weeks, can it?

Jeff in Scrubs!

He didn't want me to take this picture, hence the face.

Our Apartment

I wish I had taken a pic before we took the wallpaper down, but this is after stripping the wallpaper, double-papered (and very ugly I might add). The following is the after pic, with our new piano! $500 off of Craig's list...I talked him down from $700. It is a Baldwin and is about 8 years old. It needs tuning, but other then that, it is great to have! This is our living room. It was just white when we moved in. We painted it this green color, which extends into the dining room.
Sorry this one is so dark...Jeff is "studying."
And here is our baby's crib. We still haven't decided on what color to paint the room, but will probably do either brown or green to match the crib bedding.
A close up
Here is one of our bathrooms. I stripped the wallpaper from this one. What a chore, but apple cider vinegar is the trick!

The finished product! A little brighter blue then we were hoping for, but with some decorations, I think it will turn out okay.Here is the wallpaper in the other bathroom. This is the "best" looking wallpaper that we have in our apartment...we still tore it down. There was mold growing underneath, so I am glad we got it taken care of. I am painting this bathroom right now, so I will post a pic as soon as it is finished, but I LOVE the color. The kitchen will be next! I think we will do yellow in there.

My First Kentucky Doctor's Visit

I went to the doctor a couple days ago. It was my first time to one out here. It was at the University of Kentucky where the students that have already graduated from medical school complete their residency. I wasn't planning on going there for my pregnancy, but the woman I met was great and although she has just done 30 deliveries, I feel very comfortable with her delivering my baby. She just had one of her own and has great bedside manner. Also, I will be able to have her the whole time and she will deliver my baby, whereas if I go to another place, whichever doctor is on call at that time will deliver my baby, so there is a chance I will not like him/her or never have met them. Anyway, she will also have the head doctor there in the room to help out and supervise and an ob/gyn will be walking the halls in case he/she is needed. So far I am not scared at all about delivering...just excited!

The doctor (I call her Dr. P because her last name is forever long) measured me and I measured perfectly and we heard the heartbeat again. It was in the 150's. I am now about 5 months along. She asked if I had any concerns. My only concern so far is that I have only gained about 5 pounds still...from 139 to 144 currently and two of those pounds were put on in the past week. She said that I should not worry yet because I am measuring right on and my belly seems to be growing just fine. As long as I am eating three meals and snacking in between she said it should eventually catch up. My problem is that I am really not hungry at all. When I do eat it makes me feel sick, so I can only eat a little bit at a time. I still throw up once in awhile. Anyway, I am going to try not to worry too much about it. I think part of the reason is that I don't eat junk food and walk 45 minutes a day and lift weights still. If anyone has any thoughts on how to gain weight or their own experience, I am open to suggestions!

My Sister's Reception

One of the purposes of going to Montana a few weeks ago was to attend my sister's wedding reception. They were married last December 7, 2006 in the Salt Lake Temple. The reason why they waited seven months to hold their reception is because a few days before their wedding Zach's parents were in a bad car wreck. They were hit by a drunk driver on their way back home from watching Zach play in a basketball game the Saturday night before their wedding. Zach's dad broke his femur and his mom had a crushed rib cage, collapsed lung, broken neck, and internal bleeding. They were not sure she would make it, but seven months she is doing better and got the halo off (this is a contraption she wore on yher head to keep her neck in place--it was screwed into the skull), although she is still suffers from the damage the broken neck caused to her eyes and has pretty bad nerve damage throughout her body. Thus, she is in pain quite a bit but thankful to be alive. Zach's parents still told Valissa and Zack to continue on with the wedding without them. They saved this reception for Zach's mom, so she could have a part in the wedding and something to look forward to. Here is a pic of my sister and me. She is wearing my wedding dress (now hers) and I am wearing my cousins's dress because my tummy was too big then to fit in my dress I wore back in December. Here is the whole wedding party. I like this photo because the sun was coming down through the trees right onto Zach and Valissa.
My mom, Valissa, and my dad.