Life as I know it has changed from what I've been familiar with for the past 28 years. There's the ups and downs, joys and worries. Here's a window into my life:
Dressing in the morning is easy now that I can only fit into 2 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of capris (which I can't wear since it's been so cold), 2 sweatshirts, 2 work sweaters, and a handful of shirts.
Everyday MUST involve a nap (regardless of what I need to do for that day).
I can't see my feet anymore. And forget about putting on shoes. I can hardly slip on my shoes for work. When will the weather warm up enough so I can live in sandals and not have to worry about this anymore???
My diet is a list of "can't haves." I can't have Diet Coke, turkey sandwiches, alcohol, beef, dairy, soy, fish...... After all these "can't haves," I'm often left frustrated and with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Boo!!!
I have to worry about counting kicks now. Is he kicking enough? Is he kicking hard enough? He had an active day yesterday and today is quiet. Is this normal??? God says not to worry but that's impossible when you're pregnant.
And now my anemia is becoming an issue again.
With all these worries, I just want him here, happy and healthy. Until then, I trust in the Lord. My life and the life of my baby boy are in his hands.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart." Proverbs 3:5
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Saturday, January 8, 2011
How "Granola Babies" live...
Nick and I will be faced with many decisions in the coming months that all revolve around our little baby. One decision is the choice to go with cloth diapers. This decision came after lots of talks, advice from those who have used these particular cloth diapers, and the pros and cons of cloth versus disposable diapers. I want to preface by stating that I am in no way a tree hugger and our cloth diaper decision is mostly cost driven.
Nick and I ventured to a small store in Costa Mesa called "Granola Babies" to check out the cloth diapers we would like to use. Upon walking in there, we knew we weren't in Babies "R" Us anymore. The philosophy of this store is that plastic is evil and that food should be stored in stainless steel containers while rattles should be only made of wood. OK, I can deal with this.
The store owner was talking with two ladies that had their babies with them. One seemed somewhat normal while the other (Ms. Dreadlocks) was a little...well...off the grid. When I asked about the cloth diapers, the four of us started talking and the advice started flowing from these "granola moms." They all said that they never used their strollers and that they just carry their babies...everywhere.
Ms. Dreadlocks said that bouncies and swings are a waste. The normal mom said that the swing is nice because it gives you a chance to go pee without the child sitting on your lap. That would be kind of nice.
All three said that a crib was a waste of money and space and only collects laundry. All three said that they co-sleep. Mind you, the store owner has three children. That's a full bed. And PS, forget about a love life with that situation. The comment that sent me over the top was when Ms. Dreadlocks said that her little boy has rolled off of her bed more times than she would like to admit!!!!!!!! I was astonished by this comment! The store owner told her to just put the mattresses on the floor since that's how she solved that problem. WOW!
So Nick and I walked away from the store, speechless, but laughing. We agreed that we would order our cloth diapers online to spare ourselves from having to visit this "unique" store and getting more "granola advice." Yes, we will use a stroller, a swing, and a crib. No, our child will NOT sleep in our bed! The experience was comical and the advice was quickly thrown away.
Nick and I ventured to a small store in Costa Mesa called "Granola Babies" to check out the cloth diapers we would like to use. Upon walking in there, we knew we weren't in Babies "R" Us anymore. The philosophy of this store is that plastic is evil and that food should be stored in stainless steel containers while rattles should be only made of wood. OK, I can deal with this.
The store owner was talking with two ladies that had their babies with them. One seemed somewhat normal while the other (Ms. Dreadlocks) was a little...well...off the grid. When I asked about the cloth diapers, the four of us started talking and the advice started flowing from these "granola moms." They all said that they never used their strollers and that they just carry their babies...everywhere.
Ms. Dreadlocks said that bouncies and swings are a waste. The normal mom said that the swing is nice because it gives you a chance to go pee without the child sitting on your lap. That would be kind of nice.
All three said that a crib was a waste of money and space and only collects laundry. All three said that they co-sleep. Mind you, the store owner has three children. That's a full bed. And PS, forget about a love life with that situation. The comment that sent me over the top was when Ms. Dreadlocks said that her little boy has rolled off of her bed more times than she would like to admit!!!!!!!! I was astonished by this comment! The store owner told her to just put the mattresses on the floor since that's how she solved that problem. WOW!
So Nick and I walked away from the store, speechless, but laughing. We agreed that we would order our cloth diapers online to spare ourselves from having to visit this "unique" store and getting more "granola advice." Yes, we will use a stroller, a swing, and a crib. No, our child will NOT sleep in our bed! The experience was comical and the advice was quickly thrown away.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
2010 in Review...
As we venture into a new year and a new decade, I can't help but reflect back on the past moments of 2010. It was another big year for us. We had our soaring highs, our deep lows, our devastating loses, and our exciting gains. Here is our 2010 in review...
I finished my teaching credential, struggled to pick up substitute teaching jobs throughout the school year, and was blessed with a part-time teaching job as a reading intervention teacher.
Nick started the year as an assistant manager at Chase, moved into the position of personal banker, and is now happily back as an assistant manager with a fantastic team to work with.
Danny gained weight, lost a whole bunch of weight, and has since gained it all back. He's lost two pasture-mates (due to death and moving pastures) and has quite happily gained two more pasture-mates (one of which is his new girlfriend).
Kyla is wonderful, as always! She's discovered a new-found love of water and spent countless summer hours swimming and "snorkeling" in the pool, lake, and ocean.
We sadly lost two special people in our lives. Nick's wonderful Uncle Bill and stoic grandfather (Big Al) passed away in July. There is a place in our hearts that is now empty at the lose of these two great men but we remember them fondly in our memories.
As a Henry family, we took a trip to the Central California coast for some good food, great fun, and funny memories. Hikes, ATV rides in Pismo, card games, and the occasional zebra made this a great trip!
Nick and I took an amazing trip to Lake Tahoe for a spectacular snowboarding trip. With two feet of fresh powder that fell in only a few short days, we made fresh tracks, played on the slopes between Nevada and California, challenged ourselves with Squaw Mountain, and grew to love Lake Tahoe even more (which I didn't think was ever possible).
The most exciting news came on October 4th when I found out I was having a baby! This was certainly the most exciting news of the year and will make 2011 a year of big changes.
And of course, our love has grown, strengthened, and deepened even more from the day we first fell in love. I think back to our wedding and can't believe I can love my soulmate even more but it's possible.
So 2011 promises new challenges, new experiences, new loves, and lots of new changes. It's going to be a fun year!
I finished my teaching credential, struggled to pick up substitute teaching jobs throughout the school year, and was blessed with a part-time teaching job as a reading intervention teacher.
Nick started the year as an assistant manager at Chase, moved into the position of personal banker, and is now happily back as an assistant manager with a fantastic team to work with.
Danny gained weight, lost a whole bunch of weight, and has since gained it all back. He's lost two pasture-mates (due to death and moving pastures) and has quite happily gained two more pasture-mates (one of which is his new girlfriend).
Kyla is wonderful, as always! She's discovered a new-found love of water and spent countless summer hours swimming and "snorkeling" in the pool, lake, and ocean.
We sadly lost two special people in our lives. Nick's wonderful Uncle Bill and stoic grandfather (Big Al) passed away in July. There is a place in our hearts that is now empty at the lose of these two great men but we remember them fondly in our memories.
As a Henry family, we took a trip to the Central California coast for some good food, great fun, and funny memories. Hikes, ATV rides in Pismo, card games, and the occasional zebra made this a great trip!
Nick and I took an amazing trip to Lake Tahoe for a spectacular snowboarding trip. With two feet of fresh powder that fell in only a few short days, we made fresh tracks, played on the slopes between Nevada and California, challenged ourselves with Squaw Mountain, and grew to love Lake Tahoe even more (which I didn't think was ever possible).
The most exciting news came on October 4th when I found out I was having a baby! This was certainly the most exciting news of the year and will make 2011 a year of big changes.
And of course, our love has grown, strengthened, and deepened even more from the day we first fell in love. I think back to our wedding and can't believe I can love my soulmate even more but it's possible.
So 2011 promises new challenges, new experiences, new loves, and lots of new changes. It's going to be a fun year!
Monday, June 28, 2010
One Year Later...
One year ago,we moved Danny out to Endar to retire him to pasture. He left looking like this...
And after bites, scrapes, weight lost, weight gained, dirt, mud, sun, a winter coat, a spring shed, and lots of love; he looks like this...
He might not be perfect, but he's happy wandering his pasture with his friend and waiting to be spoiled weekly by me.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Birthday Blessings
I celebrated my 28th birthday on May 14th and it was filled with so many blessings. I started my birthday morning by riding a lovely horse at Dana's. Then, my mom and I headed out to see Danny and I had decided to ride him bareback. As I put his bridle on and tightened up the figure-8 noseband, he had the look on his face like, "You've GOT to be kidding me!" Once I got on him, it was pure joy. Danny felt wonderful...sound, quiet, and happy. After cruising around at the walk for a bit, I tried the trot and quickly decided for future child-bearing, that wasn't the smartest choice. So I stuck with cantering my rocking horse around the arena. And you know what...he still has it goin' on...
He can still stop on a dime with no reins!
After my wonderful ride on Danny, Nick surprised me by taking me to catch the Angel's at Angel's Stadium. The ultimate surprise was seeing my parents, in-laws, friends, and family sitting in the section waiting to surprise me. With hot dogs, beer, and fireworks, it was the BEST way to finish off my birthday night!
My birthday weekend continued as we headed down to San Diego Saturday morning for a hike in Poway. We took Kyla (AKA Billy Goat) and she loved bouncing up the trail, passing all the other bigger dogs. I can't think of a better way to spend a beautiful day than out on a dirt trail, sweating in the sun, and sharing the experience with my husband and my dog. Afterwards, we hit up Barefoot Bar and Grill at Paradise Point for beer and appetizers. A perfect day!
My birthday celebration continued with a BBQ at my parent's house Sunday afternoon. I loved spending the time with friends and family! I look back on the weekend and count the many blessings in my life.
He can still stop on a dime with no reins!
After my wonderful ride on Danny, Nick surprised me by taking me to catch the Angel's at Angel's Stadium. The ultimate surprise was seeing my parents, in-laws, friends, and family sitting in the section waiting to surprise me. With hot dogs, beer, and fireworks, it was the BEST way to finish off my birthday night!
My birthday weekend continued as we headed down to San Diego Saturday morning for a hike in Poway. We took Kyla (AKA Billy Goat) and she loved bouncing up the trail, passing all the other bigger dogs. I can't think of a better way to spend a beautiful day than out on a dirt trail, sweating in the sun, and sharing the experience with my husband and my dog. Afterwards, we hit up Barefoot Bar and Grill at Paradise Point for beer and appetizers. A perfect day!
My birthday celebration continued with a BBQ at my parent's house Sunday afternoon. I loved spending the time with friends and family! I look back on the weekend and count the many blessings in my life.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Where did our role models go?
Call me a traitor, a line-crosser, a "stupid sub," or only in it for the money; but today I served as a substitute for the Capistrano Unified School District elementary school in my neighborhood. I have my reasons why I decided to go forth and apply to be an emergency sub in the event of a strike. I feel students still need a safe place to go while both parents work and can't afford a baby sitter. It is not the students' fault and therefore they should not suffer. Please understand that I DO understand and support what the teachers are doing but this is not my fight to fight. I do not have a child attending the school district. I am not employed in CUSD. Think of it this way: I'm supporting the teachers strike by subbing in their class for those students still at school. Lastly, I have to make a living. I don't live at home off mommy and daddy. We have bills, rent, and a diminishing savings account. We're all trying to make a living.
Upon arriving at school early this morning, I was mocked and made fun of as I walked into the office. "Enjoy your money!" "Oh look! That's my sub!" "Good luck subbing today!" I'm sensitive and these comments almost brought me to tears but I sucked it up and thought of the children coming to school today. I had two 4th grade classes with a few familiar faces from the students I sat in their class last year during observation hours. The kids were wonderful!!! We had fun during discussions, played Sparkle and Around the World Math, and did geography. I was "not allowed" to teach actual lessons so I made do with worksheets and anything I could pull out of thin air (very thin air).
When I tried to leave the parking lot, I had the picketers walk across the front of my car with signs reading "Say NO to subs!" Comforting! The greatest was when the teacher I observed in somewhat recognized me and couldn't look me in the eye. I escaped relatively unharmed with hurt feelings but I survived.
I went straight home and wanted to take Kyla for a walk to the nearby park. Of course, I have to pass another elementary school on my way to the park. At first, I didn't think there were that many picketers. Then, when a sub tried to pull out of the parking lot, the teachers ran to get in front of her car. While they blocked her exit, they screamed "SCAB!!!" at her and "You're just a SCAB!!!" and "Don't you dare take that money!!!" They also took pictures of her as she just sat there taking the abuse. All the while, children are walking by, watching their teachers bully this poor woman until the security guard could break up the unruly mob. These teachers are supposed to be role models for their students. Is this the message they want to send their students that it's OK to scream and yell nasty comments at innocent people. This is a real low for them to hit.
So with that, I greatly hope they can resolve their issues with the district and get back in the classroom. Until then, use some class, continue to be a role model for your students, and leave your nasty attitudes at home. You're really embarrassing yourself!
PS - If you don't agree with me or if I offended you, get your own blog!
Upon arriving at school early this morning, I was mocked and made fun of as I walked into the office. "Enjoy your money!" "Oh look! That's my sub!" "Good luck subbing today!" I'm sensitive and these comments almost brought me to tears but I sucked it up and thought of the children coming to school today. I had two 4th grade classes with a few familiar faces from the students I sat in their class last year during observation hours. The kids were wonderful!!! We had fun during discussions, played Sparkle and Around the World Math, and did geography. I was "not allowed" to teach actual lessons so I made do with worksheets and anything I could pull out of thin air (very thin air).
When I tried to leave the parking lot, I had the picketers walk across the front of my car with signs reading "Say NO to subs!" Comforting! The greatest was when the teacher I observed in somewhat recognized me and couldn't look me in the eye. I escaped relatively unharmed with hurt feelings but I survived.
I went straight home and wanted to take Kyla for a walk to the nearby park. Of course, I have to pass another elementary school on my way to the park. At first, I didn't think there were that many picketers. Then, when a sub tried to pull out of the parking lot, the teachers ran to get in front of her car. While they blocked her exit, they screamed "SCAB!!!" at her and "You're just a SCAB!!!" and "Don't you dare take that money!!!" They also took pictures of her as she just sat there taking the abuse. All the while, children are walking by, watching their teachers bully this poor woman until the security guard could break up the unruly mob. These teachers are supposed to be role models for their students. Is this the message they want to send their students that it's OK to scream and yell nasty comments at innocent people. This is a real low for them to hit.
So with that, I greatly hope they can resolve their issues with the district and get back in the classroom. Until then, use some class, continue to be a role model for your students, and leave your nasty attitudes at home. You're really embarrassing yourself!
PS - If you don't agree with me or if I offended you, get your own blog!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Day 5 - Blue Bird Day of Perfection
Our last full day in Tahoe started with an early wake-up call to be at the gondola when it opened at 9:00. We awoke to blue skies and no wind. These days are known as "blue bird" days on the mountain. Apparently we weren't the only ones planning to be on the mountain early. When we walked up to the Village, the line for the gondola wrapped around the fence and people milled about.
We decided today would be the day we took pictures while we rode and we'd get some video footage. Since the skies were clear, we headed straight for the top of Heavenly (10,040 feet) and saw the amazing views of Lake Tahoe, Carson City, and the mountains of Nevada and California. We made fresh tracks in the corduroy-groomed runs for the first few runs we took. Lift lines were a bit more crowded with the extra people on the mountain but nothing to complain about.
After riding in California for most of the morning, we headed to Nevada for a few runs through the trees before taking the gondola back to our hotel for lunch. Nothing beats a half-block walk for a "free" lunch and then back up the gondola for more riding. It was at this point that I found my legs saying, "Ya, we're done!" The tightness of my boots around my legs with scarred stress fractures were screaming in agony. To add to the mix, a piece of my bindings had popped off which made riding extremely difficult. Instead of moving easily across the snow, I had to literally pick my back foot up and move it back and forth to carve the snow; all the while praying I didn't catch an edge and take a digger in the packed snow. I think it's officially time to retire my trusty bindings. My legs were just done.
Nick and I decided we'd ridden enough and headed back to the hotel. After a boot change, we headed straight for The Brewery for pilsners and appetizers. This completely hit the spot! Drink Tahoe Brew!
We headed back to the hotel to shower and change. It was while I was blow drying my hair that I blew the fuse to our hotel room and all the rooms around us. It was at that point that we quickly decided to go walk Heavenly Village instead of look guilty. We enjoyed our last walk of the Village before our departure tomorrow morning.
This winter trip has been amazing! Yet again, we've fallen even more in love with Tahoe and could move here in an instant. So until possibly summer, we say good-bye to our home away from home...Lake Tahoe.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)