Superwoman!

I know a lot of people complain about the symptoms of pregnancy, but there is one in particular that I think is just fabulous;  The superhuman sense of smell.  I mean, seriously!  I can smell things that I never would have been able to 3 months ago.  It can be an issue at times, especially when you work right across the freeway from the poop plant, but how seriously cool is it!  

I know God certainly doesn’t need my approval for things like that, but I am amazed at how much foresight it took to develop it.  It’s such perfect timing!  At the point where everything around you has the potential to effect two people instead of one, God gives you a super power to help you avoid potentially dangerous substances, from rotten food to cigarette smoke.  As far as super powers go it probably doesn’t make the list of top 20 most desired (Flight, invisibility, and super strength have it beat by a mile) but how often in your life do you get a real life superpower?!  

Call me a kid at heart, but I’m totally geeking out about how cool this is!

 

Le Bus

My Mom and dad just bought a bus for their spring break trip to six flags. Alan and I aren't going to make it, since Alan can't get off work, which is actually ok by me.  I don't know if I'd feel up to roller coasters by then anyways.  The bus is a small handicapped bus, and dad has been making requests for everyone to come up with designs.  

This is my vote.





















I think dad's a fan of it.  We'll just have to see how it turns out.    I've also come up with the following designs.

Which one is your favorite?

Guess what?!?!

Guess what!?!?!

We're preggo!

It was actually a total surprise too!  I Haven't had a period since I miscarried back in December, so we took a little break to work on our foster care stuff and just let my body start a cycle again on its own.  About 2 months ago I went in to check and they wanted to start me on progesterone to cause a period.  I started it in February, with no success.  They then gave me a shot of Progesterone that they assured me would work in 5 days of less, and that also didn't work.  I went in on Tuesday to do an ultrasound to see why I hadn't had a period, and they told me that my uterine lining was thicker than usual, so the situation was really bizarre, because everyone starts their period on this medication.  They decided to do some some blood tests to see what my hormones were doing.  They called me back a few hours later to tell me that the reason why I wasn't having a period is because I was between 4-6 weeks pregnant according to my HCG levels!  I could not utter a coherent sentence for about 2 minutes.  I was in so much shock!  I hadn't had a full period in nearly 4 months, and low and behold we were pregnant!  I freaked out a little as I went on a rebellious stage after the miscarriage and had stopped taking my prenatal vitamins, but now we're back on track with those.

After speaking with the nurse I immediately called Alan.  I was at work when I picked up the phone, and several of my cooworkers heard me say "Oh my gosh!  Are you serious?!" and I wanted him to be the first to know.  Alan was super stunned when I called him, because he wasn't expecting it either.  He's been wonderful about it, and I think he's more excited than even I am.  I can't walk within arms reach of him without him rubbing my belly, and he hasn't called me Ani since we found out.  Instead it's "Mommy"  which is a shock whenever he says it.  We have our ultrasound to see how far along I am Monday at 1:15.  I'm hoping they'll be able to see something on there.  We're ok if we don't see a heart beat, I just want to confirm that we have something growing in there.

It's kind of hilarious, as two other girls on my team of 11 people are pregnant, and the only guy on our team's wife is also pregnant.  4 out of 11 is crazy, and most of the rest are too old to have kids now anyways!  I have girls on my fertility group asking me to send them a bottle of water from work.  It does have me a little freaked out, because one of the girls, Emeline, has a three year old daughter who told her she was having twins.  Low and behold, when they went in for the ultrasound there were two distinct fetuses in there.  This same child has also predicted that I will have twins.  I'm tempted to discount it, because we weren't on any fertility meds and twins don't run in my family, but it still freaks me out.  The thing that also worries me is that her HCG level was 3000 when they went in for the ultrasound for her twins, and mine was 5000 on Tuesday and they didn't see anything when they checked my Uterus.  They weren't really looking for a baby, and it would only be about the size of a lentil, so they could easily have missed it, but high HCG levels are one indicator of multiples.  I just hope it's not triplets!

I haven't really had any Nausea yet, which is awesome, but I have noticed other symptops.  My sense of smell has intensified, food (Particularly Chocolate) tastes differnent,  I have been a little over emotional, and I have had some weird cravings.  My dinner last night consisted of a pound of broiled asparagus (Yummy!) a boiled egg, and sausage with cheese.  Alan has just been laughing at all the crazy things I've been eating.  I still hate dill pickels though, so at least that hasn't changed.  A week ago Alan and I had an hour long argument about something he said that really just set me off, when normally I wouldn't have thought twice about it.  Poor guy.

We are planning right now to go with a Midwife for our birth.  I've felt really REALLY good about not going to a hospital, and I would plan on a midwife assisted home birth even if we find out we're having twins.  Our preferred midwife has had experience with twins, so if everything looks good I would love to stay out of the hospital.  I've had too many bad experiences with hospitals not respecting the wishes of their patients, particularly when it comes to medical intervention.   I also have a feeling that if we have twins we would be really pressured into a scheduled c-section if we went to a hospital.  I do not want to do a c-section until after a trial of labor, even if it's a breach birth.  I know that God will direct us in which way is the best way, and that if a hospital is needed we will be know that.  I'm feeling really calm about this pregnancy, and I know it will all work out for the best whatever happens.  I plan on keeping a regular journal on here of everything, so updates and pictures will happen as we go along.  See you Monday with more news!

Announcement!

We have an announcement to make! Alan and I have decided to adopt!  We are in a situation where we could financially handle a baby, and it truly feels like the next step in our family.  We have been blessed to have many wonderful examples of adoption in our lives, and are thrilled at the idea of finally becoming parents. 

We know that the journey will be hard and may take some time, but we know without a doubt it will be worth it.  Despite all the love and joy we have had as a couple, children have always been the missing factor - the thing that truly makes a family.  Complications have prevented us from having children, and we are thrilled to have this option available to us.

Right now we are in the process of getting signed up with LDS family services, and are also contacting Utah Foster Care to become Certified Foster parents.  We would prefer a child under the age of two, and would love a child of either gender.  At this point we are open to all options, and are working on getting our paperwork completed to qualify for international as well as national adoptions.  

Even with all of the options we are pursuing right now, we know that all of you will be out greatest asset.  The most successful adoptions are via word of mouth, and we hope that if you hear of someone considering adoption, that you will think of us.   Additionally, if you have had any experience with adoption, we would love your advice

We are so incredibly excited for this opportunity, and cannot wait to welcome a little boy or girl into our home and hearts!  

We have started an adoption blog here.  I haven't finished all of our bios and such, but this is the address for it:

http://achingforanarmful.blogspot.com/

Ideas

This is a high image post, so beware.  I just joined Pinterest, which is probably one of the coolest sites I've ever seen!  I follow a ton of blogs, and find a bunch of amazing tutorials that I love, but organizing all of the tutorials so I can find them again is a pain in the butt.  I have just been creating bookmark folders for them, but then I have to constantly export and import my bookmarks to other folders, which just adds to my troubles.  With Pinterest, you can "pin" items that you see into folders that you customize.  Now no matter where I am, I can look up my favorite sites an tutorials!  

In order to add an item to Pinterest, it does have to be posted online, so I am posting some of the craft ideas that I have gathered over the years.  I am not sure who made them, so if you know please reply so I can give them credit.

Pearls of Wisdom

I was reading Along for the Ride and thought this story was too perfect not to share.

via pinterest

The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box..

"Oh mommy please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?"

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face.

"A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself.. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere, Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"

"Oh yes, daddy. You know that I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh, daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the white horse from my collection, the one with the pink tail. Remember, daddy? The one you gave me. She's my very favorite."

"That's okay, Honey, daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?"

"Daddy, you know I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."

"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one.. Daddy loves you."

And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.

A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian style.

As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek. 

"What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"

Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here daddy, this is for you."

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny ...

He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure. So it is, with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures.

God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place. 

Freezer Paper Stencils and Baby Onsies

Today's tutorial is on Freezer Paper Stenciling.  I's seen it done on some adorable blogs as of late (Especially this one and this one), but had never attempted it before, and I was super surprised at how easy it was to do.  I was mostly surprised that I actually LOVED doing it.  I decided on a whim the night before Shambray's baby shower that I was going to make her some onesies and this is the result. 

Adorable?  Naturally.  You wanna learn how to do it?  Do ya? Huh?  

Ok, you talked me into it.

Freezer Paper Stencils.  

You will need the following:

-Fabric paint (I got this multi-pack of puff paint at Walmart for $10)

-Clothing item of your choice (I'm going to do some of my shirts next)

-Freezer Paper (NOT WAX PAPER or you will never get the stencil off your clothes.  Freezer paper is dull on one side and kind of shiny on the other side, and it is the same type of paper your butcher wraps cuts of meat in.

-Iron

-Your design

-Cardboard cut to fit inside the clothing you are stenciling to prevent the paint from bleeding onto the other side.

-1in foam brush (these are about 60 cents at Walmart)

-small dish for your paint

-Something to cut it out with.  I used my Cricut Machine with the program Sure Cuts a Lot.  You can read my opinions/reviews on such here.

1. Iron your clothing item

2. Lay your Freezer Paper shiny side down and cut out your design.  Remember to save any inside pieces as you will use them.  As a side note my settings for cutting freezer paper on the Cricut were Blade 2, Speed 1, and Pressure 3.

3. Lay your design shiny side down on your clothing item and iron in place.  Make sure that all of the edges are ironed down tight.  Do not use steam.

4. Squirt out your paint and dip your foam brush in it.  Less is more and you can always pour out more paint later.

5. Paint on your color making sure your paint does not go over the sides you don't want to paint.  Apply as many coats as needed for nice, even coverage.  Allow paint to dry (at least 20 minutes)

Another nice thing to note, this stuff is a lifesaver when it comes to cleaning your brushes, or cleaning it off the carpet if you happen to knock the brush off the table.  I'm speaking from personal experience here.

6.  Once the paint is dry, remove the freezer paper, making sure to get all of your little inside pieces out.  I find tweezers and a needle are the best tools for the tiny ones.

7. If you are doing an image with multiple layers, paint the first layer then wait for it to dry and remove the freezer paper, then iron on your second layer.  Make sure to iron on all of your little details. 

8. Paint on your second layer, allow to dry, then remove the freezer paper.

These were so popular that I got a request for another one.  It's one of my favorites.

If you think of any other cute sayings you'd like to see please comment below.  These designs are for sale at my Etsy Store, though if you live in Utah feel free to email me your request and I'll waive the shipping.