The Old, the New, the Exciting and the Unexpected

Well first with the old. The sun. I love sunshine - in the daytime. It is very hard to sleep with glaring sunlight shining in on your face. And pregnant ladies need sleep or they get very grouchy. We tried covering our window with aluminum foil, but we didn't have enough to cover the entire thing. A half covered window is worse than not covered at all, because the foil reflects any light that is let in. Luckily, my awesome husband sacrificed his blanket and made us an immovable curtain. Now I can finally get some sleep. (Don't worry, he still has one blanket).

Another thing that is getting old- lack of communication. We've both been stressed this week because BYU-Idaho can't seem to communicate. There is still much confusion with the internship. We got an e-mail on Monday telling us to pack our bags and be out of here in a week. I think we have talked them out of that, but this seems to be a never-ending story. Hopefully it will all get straightened out for good in the next week or so (I am not going to hold my breath.)

The new. This week the weather has been looking up. After the much despised snow, the weather finally took a hint from my anger and warmed up a little. Sunday night (around 9:30, although the sun was still shining as bright as ever) Ben and I went for a long walk on the beach. We collected shells (the shells here are itty bitty, not what I was hoping for) and lots of cool rocks. I thought we would start a rock garden in our living room as some sort of decoration. And, hey, it's free. We then found out that the rocks don't look as cool when they aren't wet, so we have a big pile of rocks on our bathroom counter.
Last night after going to the grocery store at 9:30 (the sun really messes up your schedule) as we were pulling into our parking lot, we saw a giant bird sitting in the RV lot on the edge of the bluff. Ben jumped out of the car and started sneaking towards the bird. I parked and then followed. Ben got really close to this monster before it moved, it was probably 3 feet tall. Then it started flying about 4 feet above him, in a circle, which was pretty frightening for a bird with a 7 ft. wingspan. I thought it was going to eat Ben. Then, two more giant birds showed up, and I realized that this monster bird was a young bald eagle. It's a good thing Ben didn't get too close to the bird, or that it didn't attack him, because there are some pretty hefty fines for messing with the national bird. And I don't think anyone would had believed that he harmed the bird in self defense when it attacked him. It was a pretty impressive sight. I didn't take the picture, I didn't have my camera, but that is what it looked like (only it was bigger).

Yesterday we also went in for our second doctor's appointment. It was exciting. We were only there for maybe 10 minutes. But we got to hear the little heartbeat again. 154 beats a minute and very loud. The midwife said it was indicative of a girl. I still think it's a boy. Our baby is very cooperative, I hope it continues. The midwife said I'm not measuring large anymore, so the due date is November 5. I'm having this kid on November 4, because then I feel like I have a good excuse for not voting, as I am not excited about any of the candidates. This agitates Ben. I should vote, but it's like placing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a bologna sandwich in front of me and asking which one I would like for lunch. I would rather skip lunch and wait for dinner if those are my only options. I am a picky eater. Anyways, we are doing the ultrasound around 21 weeks, at the end of June. I think I might go insane waiting that long. I think they should be able to tell at 17 weeks, but she assures me that they can't. I just hope the baby will cooperate then so we can find out if it is a boy or a girl and stop calling it it.

And now for the unexpected. Ben got me to drink milk. For those of you who don't know me well, I hate milk and never drank it even when I was little. I eat my cereal dry. Ben seemed to think I would like strawberry milk, and I thought I might as well try it, because I really want to make sure I am getting enough calcium and I hate tums and all other calcium supplements. Much to my surprise, I didn't just tolerate strawberry milk, I liked it. And I had a glass for breakfast this morning. I think my mother would have appreciated this information 20 years ago. I still think I will eat my cereal dry.

Days Off

This is my little brother. He's not so little anymore. In fact, he's graduating in a few weeks. This is his senior picture, taken by my mother and photoshopped by me.
The above picture is what Dustin looks like without Photoshop. Thank goodness for technology. I love Macs- everyone likes to play with Photobooth, leaving tons of blackmail pictures on your computer.
Ben and I still play with Photobooth. It never seems to stop being amusing. Ben finally got his day off yesterday. I am learning to cherish them. We slept in and then the servants made us breakfast in bed. Well, they would have, if we had any. So Ben got stuck doing it, and we both had breakfast at the table. We had very grandiose plans to deep clean our entire apartment and make that zuppa toscana soup that I love so much. But we threw them out the window. We were bums. We did manage to return a movie to our neighbors, make a deposit at the bank, and help one of his coworkers who'd locked herself out of her car.

Then we went to the visitor's center here. There were lots of dead animals hanging on the walls. And plastic fish. They also had an art show going on. I wasn't impressed by the photography. Terrible photoshopping! I wondered what you have to do to get in the show, because I thought about putting in something. Eventually I'll get my camera back out and start taking pictures again. I am kinda boycotting it until things turn green, or even prettier shades of brown and gray. The coolest thing in the museum was the collection of ivory, there was a lot. I started thinking about how much it would be worth, but my mind can't add numbers that high. Then I started thinking how much the place lacked security and it's within running distance from our apartment. Don't worry, I won't do it.

By the time we were finished with the museum, I was beat. We had a few other things we wanted to do, but I just wanted a nap. I won. After a two and a half hour nap, we realized that making the soup would put us well beyond dinner time. So we settled for pizza. And we made plans for fun things to do before we leave Alaska. And then we watched a movie.

Ben works Monday through Saturday next week. Oh the life of an intern. It'll be good money, and we like that. But we had to postpone our fun plans. We are going to Seward sometime before May 16 and we are going to go on a whale watching tour. And to the sea life center. And for a hike up to the glacier. We found a good deal that includes a night at a hotel there, so it'll be a fun trip. Seward is about 2 hours away. And I hope I see a whale. I've always wanted to see one. I'll definitely be taking my camera on that trip. I'm a little nervous how I'll do on the boat. Hopefully we'll get a calm day.

I can't wait for our doctor's appointment on Tuesday. Ben is excited too (he gets a few hours off that day), because we both want to hear the heartbeat again. And we should find out when they are going to do the ultrasound. Then we will know if it's a boy or a girl!

Urrrrgh! I had to edit this post. I just opened up the blinds to let the sunshine in while I am cleaning, and the everything is covered in snow! Seriously, this is getting old. It is almost May. I want flowers, sunshine, warmth and green things (evergreens do NOT count). It is supposed to snow every night this week. I don't understand how people in Alaska don't go crazy (well, maybe they do).

From the Couch

I've discovered there are 4 things I can do when I am overly nauseous.

1. Read
2. Crochet
3. Watch TV
4. Work on the computer

What do these have in common? I can do them all while sitting on the couch. It turns out that I don't have strep, just my sinuses are acting up. Unfortunately, all that extra snot makes me extra nauseous. Just when I was starting to think that maybe the nausea was coming to an end. Our couch is surely full of Apple Cinnamon Cheerios and Kix, with maybe a couple of Wheat Thins tossed in. I even got to sleep on the couch last night, because my heartburn was so bad that even sleeping in a inclined position didn't work, I had to be sitting up.

Poor Ben is working still. His day off was Tuesday this week. And last night we spent date night cleaning the church. We did go out to dinner at a Mexican restaurant (see sleeping on the couch above- I am no longer allowed to have salsa for the rest of my pregnancy.) I think we are both looking forward to his day of rest tomorrow. I will be a little sad tomorrow though when I have to eat my cheese sandwich without salsa (my alternative to ketchup).

So yesterday and today, between my handfuls of Kix, I both started and finished Odd Thomas. I liked it. Ben did ruin it for me by unknowingly giving away the ending. I would tell how, but then it would ruin it for anyone else who might want to read it. Soon I will be off to the library to get book #2.

I also worked on updating the look of our blog. I needed something brighter- more like Spring. It definitely is not spring here, but there's no harm in pretending, right? I don't know how long this will last, Ben might think it is too "girly."

Anchorage, Away!

Sorry about the terrible pun. I really can't help it. We are getting bad about posting frequently. I hate to post without pictures. And it's so ugly outside that I don't want to take any pictures. So this is the postcard for Kristi's art show. I love her paintings! Ben and I have just been working. It keeps snowing on and off, although today it's been snowing all day. It will probably melt tomorrow and add to the disgusting mud everywhere. We got to watch General Conference and we really enjoyed it. I am glad we were able to watch it on the internet, because getting to the stake center by 8 a.m. would have been a challenge. I had a hard enough time opening my eyes at 8 a.m. I finally got all of my design projects finished- Keith and Carolyn's invitations and Kristi's art show promotional pieces. I forgot how big of a pain it is to print things! I also finished the baby blankets I've been working on, one for little Russell, and the other for Mike & Kari's baby. I bought some really cute material to make myself one. Now I just have to get around to it. My latest thing to keep me busy has been reading. I forgot how much I enjoy it. I checked out several pregnancy books from the library. I think I am tired of reading those now, all of them say the same things over and over. Plus I get unsolicited advice from any random stranger. I think I will read Odd Thomas this week. This last weekend we were able to get away! Yea for us. We really needed it, or at least I did, and I think Ben enjoyed it to. Ben got Friday off, and we drove up that afternoon. After checking into our comfy hotel, we went to Lone Star for dinner. We had a coupon for a free appetizer, so we got wings and then we split a 20 oz. steak. It hit the spot! Then I took a much-needed nap while Ben went and lifted weights. He is still whining about how his arms hurt. But I whine a lot more than he does, so I try to feel sympathetic. We got to go to the temple that night, and it was wonderful. The 8:00 session is a little late for my schedule, but I managed. Then we splurged and went for ice-cream at McDonald's. Saturday we got up and enjoyed a nice complimentary breakfast and took a dip in the pool. Then off for a day of shopping! Poor Ben. Shopping for maternity clothes all day is not his idea of fun. He was a very good sport though. And even a pretty good shopping buddy. We found some good deals and I finally have jeans that fit (never mind that the top half is made up of panty hose material). I finally got Wendy's! I love those chicken nuggets and vanilla frostys. We went to dinner at Red Robin, and that was good too. Ben gets annoyed with how often I talk about food, and that our lives seem to revolve around it now. But I am always hungry! This little baby must be related to Ben, because it sure does eat a lot. Today Ben had his day off for the week. He got his hair cut and brought me home grapes and strawberry popsicles. He is seriously the best husband! We spent most of the day running errands. We did have a nice little surprise when we went to the bank to shut down one of Ben's old accounts, there was twice as much money in it as we thought there was! That is what I call a good surprise. Ben bribed me to go to the doctor. He said I could have a milkshake if I went. I've had a sore throat since yesterday. It's not strep (I'm not surprised). But we don't know what it is so they sent a culture off to the lab to see what kind of bacteria is growing in my mouth. Awesome. I felt kinda bad that Ben had to go into work on his day off, but it was kinda fun to see him helping out the doctor. We just made bowtie lasagna and we are waiting for it to come out of the oven so we can eat it. Then we are going to watch a movie tonight.