Is this cute?

Or am I crazy??

I've been scouring the internet ever since I found out we're having a little girl to get room ideas, nursery colors, cribs...etc. There's a ridiculous amount of stuff out there and it all started looking the same to me until I found this:




I'm in love. Like LOVE love with this...and pistachios. I then searched for HOURS trying to find the wallpaper and no luck. I won't give up though. I found this on an interior design website and e-mailed the firm to see if they'd tell me the brand of paper they used. I'm hoping they'll be nice enough to respond without charging some kind of finders fee. Anyway, just thought I'd share. My hubby's not a great judge of these things and supports whatever I like because he knows I love to do both the handy man thing and decorate, so I need some outside opinions to validate how adorable it really is.

Make room girlies!

Do you think these two cuties can make room for a third wheel cousin in September??


That's right! We're having a baby girl!! Also check out the sweet Bumbo seat I scored at a garage sale. Baby H is doing a great job testing for quality control.

IT'S A....

SECRET!!!

haha.

Okay, so it's kinda mean for me to know what I'm having and not share it with the 6 of you...ehem...5 of you, but I feel a little powerful keeping a secret so many people want to know. And I haven't felt anything but nausea the last little while, so let me bask in my new-found power emotion a couple days. I will give you a hint...well, I'll tell you what wives' tale symptoms I've got and you can make the call.

(You'll have to click on the picture to see the list clearly)

So far, 3 people have said boy, and 2 girl.

It was pretty exciting to see a little munchkin actually growing. From the little bean sprout it once was, it now has arms, legs, hands, feet and the cutest little beating heart. On the ultrasound, you could see full on bones and everything. Pretty cool. Our goober weighs 12 ounces now...so explain to me why I've gained 15 pounds?? ugh. It's actually crazy that I'm halfway and baby will grow to more than 8 times the size it is now! And I'm happy to announce, I've been puke free a whole week and counting! That's the longest yet! I hope it's finally gone. I really could go the rest of my life without worshiping a toilet and be perfectly happy, NO, ECSTATICALLY HAPPY!

Ode To My Yogurt

The first time I tasted this yogurt,
I knew I'd found a good match.
It came to the rescue in my time of need
And has helped cure the morning sick patch.

Yogurt I love you, I can't tell a lie
You're kind to my stomach unlike pizza pie.
My first choice of fuel everywhere I do bring
I have yet to lose you to the porcelain king.

My one source of protein has solely been you
For chicken and pig seem to ensue the spew.
You're drinkable, portable, and just plain taste sweet
Dear Glen Oaks Farms, thanks for the great treat!

Quality Entertainment

We have our fair share of funny stories from church like many of you do. With 160 primary age children and over 40 in nursery, not to count the toddlers under 18 months we have a ward more full of rustle than of reverence. One Sunday, a little girl's dad gave the opening prayer and afterward she shouted out, "That was a good prayer Daddy!"
But today, hands down was the best. Although the meeting was great...I kept chuckling over this comment made. The row ahead of us had Grandparents visiting and the next row up was a little girl, maybe 2, who kept looking at this grandpa. She finally whispered something to her mom and her mom just started laughing. She turned around to tell the man what her daughter had said.

"Is that man President Monson?"

Really?!?

So a good friend of mine passed along this cute baby swing to me because her little one doesn't use it anymore and she's done storing it. I was very excited to bring it home and set it up for Brian to see but I think it shocked me more than him! Every time I look at it I say to myself, "REALLY?!?!" There's going to be a baby in there in 5 months!
I've been going through denial about this whole baby thing, except for the fact that my pants no longer fit unless I sag them like a gangsta. I actually asked the doctor because I was feeling a little guilty about my lack of enthusiasm. He said it was normal until you start to feel it moving and know the sex.

What's your guess??

Boy or Girl?

I really just want healthy. Brian wants a boy because all the grandkids on the Arnold side are girls. In fact, all the Arnold's want a boy. No pressure.... Ironically I have girl names I love, but no boy names. I don't know if that means anything, but we'll find out in a couple weeks what this baby's gonna be!!

Confessions...

Okay...I might have eaten an ENTIRE See's Bordeaux egg while watching an episode of Biggest Loser. Darn you Easter Bunny!

I'm usually so motivated while watching that I'll do sit-ups at the commercials but the more they sweat, the more I ATE! Talk about your ultimate oxymoron.

I Pledge Allegiance To...

Alright, I've been a loyal Costco fan since the 5th grade...(maybe 4th, elementary school's a bit fuzzy for me) when I read a book about kids spending their days hiding out in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and then having exciting adventures there at night when it closed.
I've loved Costco since I can remember and would often beg my mom to take me on the 40 minute journey for the free samples alone! But it wasn't until I was asked to write about a place I would love to spend the nights having adventures that I pledged my true devotion to the mega warehouse.
At the time it was strictly a logical choice. I mean, where else has furniture, food, and toilet paper within 20 yards of each other. And don't get me started on the flat bed carts. THAT'S where the adventure came into play! I thought I was much more clever then the other kids who chose places like Chucky Cheese or Disneyland. (Okay, I do realize Disneyland might have been a more fun choice...and I could definitely live off Churros and the corn dogs from the old fashioned red cart. Wow, I'm shocked that sounds so good in my current puking place.) And yes, I'm corn dog specific to the cart at the end of Main Street. Once my sweet in-laws bought me a corn dog right before they left the park and flew back with it for me. :) They're the best.

...I digress...

ANYWAY

Now, though I would drive a 40 minutes journey to get to a Costco, it's by default my go-to store as it's the closest place to our home. I love it! The fact that I can buy a baby shower gift, tonight's dinner, and a lifetime supply of paper plates in one stop is the greatest thing. Many days, Brian heads to a Costco close to his work for lunch...but not food court lunch...SAMPLE PLATTER LUNCH! Is that abusing the system??
I haven't been to Costco in awhile. Frankly, I haven't been to any grocery store in awhile because the smell of food in general gives me cold sweats that lead to throwing up. Lovely I know. So being Costco's #1 fan is not my biggest priority at the moment, and after looking through my kitchen, buying bulk food is NOT the answer when pregnant.
I've got more rotting food in my fridge and pantry and don't even have the stomach to clean it out! Would you like the run-down? There's half a box of clementines rotting in my fridge along with almost a full bag of snap peas that are getting slimier by the day. Not to mention the drawer full of string cheese I can't bear to even look at with a carton of eggs that have been there at least 3 months. (Hey, I might have baby chicks for Easter!) I would take a picture, but I'm embarrassed I've let so much go to waste. The pantry's got less spoiled food, but there are potatoes with more eyes growing on them than the weirdest looking alien and other similar Costco items that have been nibbled on for the stomach test and ultimately failed after a few meals.
So what's a girl to do? When I figure that out, I'll let you know! But for now, Costco no longer has the hypnotizing effect I've been entranced by since the 5th grade. Don't worry though, when I'm over this hump, I'll be back.

Warm Strawberries

Are one of my favorite things! Weird?...Maybe. I constantly pull them out of the fridge, and Brian always puts them back in...like he's doing me a favor. I'm not sure how the majority of the world enjoys their luscious red berries, but I can explain my infatuation.
I grew up on the Central Coast of California...prime strawberry growing weather and there were fields all over. I can't recall a summer when we didn't go pick strawberries ourselves. It's so satisfying to overfill your own cardboard flat of bright red juicy fruit, knowing there's not a single bruised or unripe one waiting for you on the bottom. BUT, the best part is the all-you-can-eat buffet WHILE PICKING! Hence, the warm berries. We use to roll out of those rows...and thought the farm owners would be smart to weigh us before and after and charge for each pound of fruit we consumed. I don't know if my taste buds really prefer them warm or if it's just nostalgia, but I'm glad the sunshine is out and yummy California berries are back in the stores.



okay...I need to preface this picture by saying I stole if off some blog I found through Google. But I couldn't resist. This is my NIPOMO STRAWBERRY FIELD!! In the back you see the bend in the road lined with Eucalyptus trees and the delicious strawberries in her flat complete with handle....so don't pay attention to the girl...I'll replace this with my own picture the next time I'm down there.

Work with me HANDS!!!

So, this whole making life inside of me has brought about some interesting side effects. Most of them like extreme sleepiness, and the barf bus I somewhat anticipated, but this new development is just plain irritating!!

I've lost the use of my hands. That's right. I drop things. Things I have a perfect grip on suddenly slip between my fingers and ALL make a big mess! It's like my fingers are revolting against me.

The first...and worst thing I dropped was my most favorite eyeshadow that they don't even make anymore. Now this wouldn't have been such a big deal except that it's a pot of loose powder that exploded ALL OVER THE BATHROOM FLOOR!! Channeling my best Napoleon Dynamite, the only thing I could say was.."IDIOT!" I literally left it there for a few hours before cleaning it up because I was so mad about dropping the darn thing!

Next...and the funniest was none other than a full bowl of corn flakes. Milk included. Securely in both hands one minute and then whoops, GONE! I was just grateful the bowl didn't shatter on me. THAT would have been fun. I laughed a little, then cried a little and then cleaned up the mess.

Lots of other things have slipped through the newly developed cracks in my hands: cell phone, mail, clothes..it's quite frustrating!

The last dramatic drop was a package of graham crackers. Now these have been like gold to me lately as they've been one of the few foods that haven't booked me a trip on the barf bus. So you can understand the upset as I went to set them down on our little entry table and CRASH! Graham cracker crumbs all over the tile! Brian suppressed a laugh and covered it up with a sympathetic sigh...and then heroically pulled out the broom to clean it up. Good cover buddy.

Anyway, I googled this dropsy syndrome and it turns out when you're pregnant all your tendons and ligaments are loosening up to allow for the growth that's coming so you become exceptionally clumsy. I haven't started bumping into things yet, but I'd just like a set of hands that won't fail me!! Anyone want to trade?