To a Great Father-in-Law

Okay, so I am spoiled with great in-laws.  I know that, but today my father-in-law proved just how totally awesome he is.  No wonder where my husband got it from. Which on a side-note props to Dan once again for being a great husband.  I had to feed the horses last night and it was snowing like crazy.  Last year this wasn't such a problem since we lived ten minutes away from the barn on roads that were usually pretty clear.  However, yesterday I was pretty afraid to make the trek out there alone. Not to mention that hauling two bales of hay around in snow and all bundled up is getting ridiculously more difficult.  Dan was sweet enough to drive all the way out there with me run an errand while I did most of the feeding, and then play with the dog in the freezing snow while I finished up.  (hallelujah for Carharts and Jessica doing the waters for me).  This was huge considering Dan is not a huge fan of being at the barn, the cold weather, traffic, or being out in crowds.  He had to do all of those things just to make me feel better about going out in the weather.  It was a nice memory for me to watch him play with Solo in the snow with the horses contentedly eating and it mostly quiet as it got dark.  Which I am sure Dan will make fun of that sappy comment later.  Altogether though, it was a three hour adventure and I was VERY grateful to Dan.  ANYWAY, back to my father-in-law,  it all started when I needed to finish my christmas shopping and didn't have anyone to go with for many varying reasons.  Knowing my mother-in-law would likely be shopping today as well I figured I would give her a call and meet up.  Turns out I was right... most of the family may even be able to guess what store she was at.  However, she also happened to be with her husband.  They assured me they wouldn't mind the company and I went to meet up with them (I know, very strange for someone to actually want to do this, but I said I have great in-laws).  I met up with them and took care of a few things and then my mother-in-law had a nail appt.  I needed a few things from a certain store and my father-in-law, Gene, said he could use going there too to look for something so we decided we would go continue shopping and meet back up with my mother-in-law after her appt.  Well, we finished up before her and in our shopping I had mentioned I needed socks.  My in-laws had told me I might as well get them while I was out.  I explained I needed compression socks due to a pesky vein in my left calf causing my left ankle to swell enormous (even for me who happens to have cankles when not pregnant)  and my calf to get sore.  So, what does Gene do?  He heads over to Wal-greens with me, walks right down the feminine products aisle, (despite the fact the compression socks aren't on that aisle) doesn't blink an eye about wandering around with a significantly younger pregnant girl, helps pick the right socks out and even insists on paying for my old lady socks.  Thanks so much Gene, you are awesome! My calves will thank you later I am sure! We met back up with Karen and had lunch and it was nice to finish up my shopping without having to brave the craziness myself.  Wow, I just realized how co-dependent this post makes me sound, but really I just get bored by myself. I really can manage going places alone . . .

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Okay, I didn't really think I was being that pathetic, but according to Dan and our last post I was.  However, I am so lucky to have such a sweet and thoughtful husband.  I went to register at Babies 'R Us with my sister Monday night.  Dan didn't go because we had pretty well picked out all of the stuff that he would care about and weren't putting any really large things on our registry.  I figured who better to do it with than someone who has three kids.  (although I must apologize to my sister because it still took a ridiculous amount of time.)  When I got home Dan had a wonderful surprise for me.  It was a christmas miracle! He had replaced our old fake tree, moved stuff so it would fit in our living room and had it all set up for me to decorate.  It was so sweet of him.  So, we have a tree after all and I got to get out my ornaments in the end.  It is a bit of a small tree in a cramped space so go ahead and laugh at how squished the ornaments are.  I couldn't leave any of them off of it of course so they are in tight quarters.

I HATE WINTER!

The only thing more depressing than the latest onslaught of winter arsenal is the recent state of our blog.  We appreciate the loyalty if there are any readers left.  Thank you for sticking with us through the troubled posts or lack of posts in that last month.  School became crazy and I didn't have time to co-author our blog.  Mikaela says "little did you know how bad that would be.  BIG OOPS!"  I had no idea how down she had been feeling until I read our blog.  We've done some major damage control in the form of time spent together to try and satiate the medically/physiologically induced troubles.  I know it must be difficult for Mikaela to only have a husband in theory when school is in session.  She has done an amazing job of supporting me and preparing for our family in the last few months.  Our blog really wasn't that bad but I wanted to do a new post with some pictures of summer to get the blood flowing again.  I am a severe antagonist of winter conditions and each year my feelings seem to get stronger.  Unfortunately, winter isn't leaving anytime soon and so I am going to make the best of what we have by reminiscing about summer experiences through the medium of photography.  I hope that you enjoy some of the photos. 

This picture was taken in Moab.

This was the hike to get up to where we took the previous picture.

This was at Lake Mead early in the year.

This was taken on the coast in Newport, Oregon.  You can't really see the ocean because of our extremely large heads but it was a good memory so deal with it.

This was taken in August at a lake in Oregon.

OOPS

Well, the Dr.'s appt. went fine. No concerns that we are aware of. The glucose drink did make me pretty sick and give me one killer headache but my Dr. assured me it did the same thing to him when he tried it and not to worry. However, my left hip has been a little sore since Sunday (a bit of foreshadowing if you paid attention to my last post) I asked the Dr. what may have caused this and how to prevent it. He let me know it was probably a strained hip flexor and that heavy lifting and twisting could cause it. Good thing I moved that furniture around Saturday, it looks so much better now where it is than where it started! Oh, that's right, it's in the same spot. Oh well, I guess I learned that lesson the hard way. Luckily, it is feeling better and no real harm done.

Confessions of a pregnant crazy person . . .

Okay so I admit I actually had a terrible attitude on Thanksgiving, was quite ornery and rude to my in-laws and generally felt sorry for myself. Why do you ask? Because I was being a spoiled brat. Thankfully on the following Sunday at church we had excellent speakers and I was reminded of what this time of year is really about. Unfortunately, it was too late for some sorry suckers that had already spent time with me. I truly had great reason to be thankful I was just ignoring it. I have a wonderful family and in-laws that are so supportive and generous and we really couldn't ask for more from them. I frequently say how lucky I am to have married into the family I did, however, apparently it is really easy to take people for granted when you are working on growing a person. I also can never express enough how truly lucky I am to have met and married the man I did. I do not know what I would do without him and I am so grateful to have him in my life. How lucky that I got an honest, hard-working, patient, kind, therapist all in one (how you liking the post you kept telling me to do Dan? ;op) I also am blessed with amazing supportive friends. I can honestly say I probably have the best group of girlfriends right now that I have ever had and I am SO grateful. Not only that, but Dan actually encourages me to spend time with them. Anyway, either the glucose drink I just had to do before my Dr's appt or this post is making me sick so... on to other topics. Pregnancy is going well, it seems to be flying by and right now I feel like I could use a little more time to pull myself together and become an adult. Dan says I am following the textbooks as far as normal nesting behavior and when I worry about what, so hopefully that means I will actually have some instinctual ideas of how to care for the poor thing as well. Solo decided to give us a practice run of getting up in the middle of the night when he was sick last week. Fortunately for Dan he slept right through it and can thus expect to sleep through the kid too. Unfortunately for me it just reaffirmed how much I love sleep and hate being woken up. One bonus to the the baby is that I won't have to go out in the freezing cold to let him go potty or walk to the dumpster following every said trip outside. As christmas approaches I was realizing our apartment is pretty tiny and our fake tree probably won't fit so I was not planning on doing any christmas decorations. I was pretty bummed because my ornaments are my favorite decoration. My mom has been giving us one ornament per year since we were little kids and they are so sentimental now. I love looking through them each year and remembering the milestones and other events they represent. Dan comes from a family of very matching synchronized trees. The first year we were married his response when seeing my ornaments of all different shapes and sizes was, "You aren't putting those on our tree are you?" I told him of course I was and did. Now that he has a few of his own I realize he is much more interested in our non-matching but very meaningful ornaments. It is by far my favorite tradition and always one of my favorite gifts to open each year. So, I figured, no ornaments no decorations. But, last weekend I was nesting pretty bad and decided I better get out my nativity at least to help me focus on what is really important. I am so glad I did, I ended up pulling everything but the tree and trimmings out and putting it up. Surprisingly Dan who usually complains about the decorations said it looked great and was very complimentary. (Goes to show how scary I am pregnant) I also spent two hours moving the previously mentioned HUGE (not really that huge) baby furniture around trying to make it fit better. Surprise, surprise it ended up back in the exact same spot. Thanks for that trait mom, it was a great work-out. Anyway, off to another Dr's appt.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

So I was in the grocery store a week ago Wednesday and happened to be on the phone with Dan. I figured I would ask what he wanted for dinner and get an "I don't care," as usual. Oh no, he decided he wanted Thanksgiving. For some woman this would not be a big deal. For me, enormous deal. First off, I don't do meals well. Dessert? SURE! any time. A meal? Not so fast. I have actually been known to make pancakes for sunday dinner and then have homemade brownies after. Dan admitted later he expected me to blow him off. Instead I laughed and reminded him I had never made a turkey in my life. He kindly pointed out that I could call my mom like I do for any other cooking question and get it sorted out. And, I must have been sick because I took the bait. He said later that since I laughed he figured he could push his luck. It worked, I bought a turkey breast, took it home and made turkey, potatoes, home-made gravy (yes actually from the drippings not a packet) stuffing and even cherry pie. (I had made pie crust a few days earlier and had some left over I needed to use) More miraculously than I actually tried, it actually turned out. Dan's comment when he walked in the door was, "even if it didn't turn out at all, I'm impressed." Needless to say I was pretty proud of myself. I also learned that it really isn't such a big deal and added a decent recipe to my scanty dinner possibilities. One success out of like twenty different tries at new ideas. It was a pretty exciting thing for me. Most of you who read this blog probably already knew about it because I called half the people in my phone the next day to brag about my big-girl accomplishment. Anyway, now that I already did Thanksgiving for two I just have to show up at my sister-in-laws with a couple desserts for the real thing and can feel pretty good about it. Sadly, I realize to most this is pretty embarrassing that i was this impressed.

Keri This is For You

The moment you have all been waiting for....... the infamous belly shot.  I will admit I had not taken any pictures and was not keen on the idea.  But, my dear friend Keri asked, and this will keep my parents from being so shocked when they see me at Christmas and I have turned into a hippo, or Santa.  This is at 24 weeks, I can admit, not too bad but this is only the beginning. 

In Response

First off, the combination of tube socks and slips ons isn't that weird unless you're wearing a skirt, which I wasn't.  (despite the fact that those who responded seem to reply as if it is weird and she should be accepted in the attire.)  Second, I found whatever is comfortable is what you wear when you are pregnant, which Dan wouldn't be able to understand.  (I never knew that tube socks and slip ons were so comfortable.)  Third, we are not naming our child Abednego Nebuchaneezer or ever, ever in all of time considering calling our child Wes for short.  Those who know me well would understand why I would be against this.  Unfortunately Dan finds the subject of a certain ex-boyfriend hysterical, perhaps understandably from his point of view.  However, mentioning him at random or not so random times really isn't as funny to me as it is to Dan.  Some people are born without wisdom teeth, Dan was born without the capacity for jealousy, which is an excellent attribute most of the time, but highly obnoxious when it comes to this subject.  (That's what she thinks.)  Finally, the furniture is not huge and was an excellent deal.  (I work at a furniture store which clearly makes me more of an expert on this issue.)  Aside from that not much else is new.  Conveniently now that Dan has finished midterms I have been able to hold myself together.  Unfortunately for Dan, I seem to have emotional breakdowns precisely when he most deserves to.  In regards to the potential name, the poll was a failure.  Riley, Lance, and Asher were only on there as false options.  We were hoping people would leave more comments.  (There were 7 comments which I believe is an abundance in the blogging world.)  So we are still trying to think of other ideas, neither Shadrach or Kingston seems perfect.  (I am totally lost!  I thought she liked both of those names and didn't realize we were starting from scratch.  This must be a pregnancy thing and she will be certain about one of those names tomorrow.  I am learning that diversity of affective experiences is one of the benefits of pregnancy.)  I am done because I am dictating to Dan and it's too weird.  (Commentary contained in the parentheses is provided by Dan.)  

MIKAELA IS WEARING TUBE SOCKS AND SLIP ONS

There have been interesting results of pregnancy for Mikaela.  Overall, she has handled it remarkably well, however in her own words this last week was a "down and further down week" when I suggested it had been an up and down week.  Today she wore tube socks and slip ons after church.  I don't believe I am remiss in seeing this as an oddity despite her claims that it's normal.  Not to mention that her shoes emit an odor that reminds me of my late '80s checker board slip ons.  In my defense, I was a prepubescent child with various body odors.  She also went through all of primary with her top button undone.  She claims that this was unitentional but who knows.  What is a good sign is her response to me typing this.  She is laughing about it and acting kind of silly.  This means that it is going to be a better week.  We lent our sofa to my brother and his wife to make room for the enormous baby furniture she had purchased with her mother.  Fortunately for our little bundle of boy he will be able to use the furniture for the rest of his life because it's larger than adult furniture.  I know this is true because I am presently a furniture professional.  Thank you for your voting and comments regarding the name of our child.  We have settled on the name Abednego Nebuchadnezzar Phillips and will call him Wes for short.  Please let us know what you think!  There is not much else to report and no pictures.  Maybe at some point we will be interesting enough to put pictures in our posts.  Don't hold your breath.  Adios!

About The Name

So Dan and I haven't really agreed on a name so far. We had given up trying to think of boy names until we knew since not only did we expect a girl originally, but good boy names are sooooo hard to come by. I put a few of our ideas here but we really are interested in feedback not just the winner of the poll. Be aware, we could completely disregard any opinions and do something crazy, but.... let us know what you think, honestly please. And if you have any other great suggestions feel free to let us know. Apparently I wasn't clear... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let us know what you think of the list, if one particularly sticks out as awful, you had a hard time choosing between two etc. keri, thanks for your comment, you get it. Also, I can't change it in the poll but the spelling for Shadrack would probably be changed to shadrach if we chose it. Thanks so much for your input.

And the winner is......

Sorry the picture didn't work, but none of you really wanted to see the poor boy's parts anyway. If you did, we don't want you to.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM, IT'S A BOY!!!

One more day

Okay, obviously we don't have any sanity left based on Dan's last post.  I will admit I have lost it, despite the very frequent ultrasounds at work still no news on the gender.  We even had an ultrasound specialist try twice.  Come on, she can check the kidneys on a kitten, or the adrenal glands in a chihuahua, but can't tell the bits on the baby?  I suppose it would help if it would quit hanging out with it's legs crossed and feet pointing to my spine.  As cool as seeing it have the hiccups or sucking it's thumb or going nutso in there is, I really would like a clear shot at the jewels or lack there-of.  Of course, tomorrow is our ultrasound and we should find out then, but based on attitude and obstinance... I'm guessing it is a little Dan.  I was not a difficult baby, my mom says so.  If I am allowed to say so myself, I had a spectacular beginning, coming into the world unaided and unexpected and stayed wonderful until now.  Dan on the other hand was first caught skipping school in kindergarten, and didn't quit until high school was over.  I will admit though, I'm all for a little boy so cross your fingers.  I don't know what could be scarier than a female version of Dan with me raising it.... oh I should be careful saying that.  I have so just jinxed myself.  Anyway, after tomorrow, we should all know.  So long sanity.

This is Dan

You can all thank me for removing the widget that displayed an alien looking mammal floating in a circular bubble of nothingness.  I think that a child's appearance is less than flattering prenatally.  Unfortunately, Mikaela has access to the ultrasound machine at work and we have printouts of aliens all over the apartment.  I think she takes an hourly ultrasound and have some concern for the affects this may have on our child.  Let's be honest, the child is already at a significant disadvantage having been laced with my genetics.  That's assuming, of course, that the child is indeed mine.  I have been impressed with how well Mikaela has handled the pregnancy.  She has knitted nearly as many items for the child as she has taken pictures of it.  I know what your thinking, "It has Dan's genes and will be wearing knitted clothing until the age of five?!"  I also hope to read from my favorites during the child's bedtime.  This will include the pontifications of Thoreau, King Jr., Bourdieu, and Marx.  Either the child will join the extremes of hippiedom or rebel and be the most materialistic capitalist ever to walk the Earth.  I have convinced myself that the latter wouldn't be so bad because the child could pay for my retirement.  I am going to get going now but I do encourage all who read this to watch the SNL skit of the vice presidential debate on nbc.com.  

Surprise!

I am sure no one ever thought we would do this, start a blog that is,  I will admit I was hesitant.  However, with life as busy as it is Dan wanted to start keeping track of what was going on.  We first talked about it after going to Europe last fall, now that it has been a year it's about time.  Not to mention that other really big thing no one thought would happen.  Despite everyone being convinced we were infertile, (not true, not trying and not able are not the same) or simply going to wait until we were, Dan and I are expecting our first child March 5, 2009.  In case anyone is wondering Brenda is directly responsible for praying this child here.  That means we only have a few more months of whatever sanity we had left so we better capture it while we can.