#17

We've almost hit 17 weeks! 

17 is my number! Born on March 17th... 17 was my jersey number in volleyball (and in all my college intramural sports), I was married on the 17th, my dog's birthday is the 17th, and I have two siblings born on the 17th as well! Fun stuff. 

My back is beginning to suffer the effects of this pregnancy. The muscles in my hips and lower back are being pulled and stretched significantly... ouch! I saw a chiropractor Saturday morning, which was lovely. However, after doing some yard work that afternoon my back was shot again. Sigh. Guess I'll have to take it a little more easy. And I think a massage is due soon... :)

I'm waiting expectantly to feel baby move... although I know it probably won't be for another couple weeks. Every time my tummy gurgles a little I wonder if it's baby saying "hi mom!"

My husband and I are beginning to research diapers, strollers, and carseats. Realizing how NEW we are at this! Wow, what an overwhelming feeling. It's nerve-wracking making these important decisions for the safety of our future child. Currently hubby is looking up the benefits of using amazonmom.com for purchases like diapers, detergents, etc. Anyone had any experience with this? Would love feedback! 

For the stroller we've found a wonderful combo pack... jogging stroller along with infant carseat. Our Stroller Pick! We're thinking (and mom's feel free to weigh in) that it will be more cost effective to first buy an infant carseat and then purchase a front-facing seat when the time comes... as we will mostly likely (Lord-willing) be adding more children to the family in the future. 

Now the decision to be made: cloth diapers or regular? 

Canola instead of Olive...

Who watched "The Magic School Bus" growing up? Ms. Frizzles catchphrase is "get messy, take chances, make mistakes..." and have a great time doing so. I need to have that attitude more in my life. It's so easy to get uptight. But instead of doing so I simply need to smile and laugh things off. Learn from my mistakes and then just let go. Not always easy to do, but a very helpful school to have.

This week was a crazy one... especially one day in particular. The window in my apartment bedroom had a bad leak, and I went to let my puppy out at my boyfriend's house and found that he learned to jump over the gate in the kitchen and had ripped apart the living room. He also decided that the guest room made a good bathroom.













 I have continued to try different recipes cooking... and am learning ITS OK if things don't turn out perfect, or if people do not like what you cook. I attempted to make some garlic noodles with the Maple Salmon recipe I posted before. Right after I poured in the oil the recipe called for in the noodles I realized I had used Canola Oil instead of EVOO. And I had used TOO Much. Oops. A little extra EVOO wouldn't have been bad. But noodles covered in and dripping Canola oil... that wasn't the tastiest thing I've ever created. I also made my own version of a carrot/apple salad, because I needed to use up those ingredients. I only added mayo and black pepper, and while I enjoyed it others did not. So that meal was a dud. However I allowed myself to laugh about it. I'm learning it's very very important to stay light-hearted when I cook. It's something I enjoy and I don't need to make it into something that's stressful, or something that defines me. Just because people don't love my carrot/apple slaw creation does not mean that they don't love ME.

Life definitely can be messy, and things do not go as planned. Smile, let your dog dig in the dirt, and the wash off the mess later. Live your life to the fullest, don't put limits and boundaries on the possibilities that are out there. Make the memories that will stay with you for the rest of your life and forget the days that don't go like you planned. They are just part of the journey.

Adventure: Good for the soul

Adventure: it's good for us. It's so easy to get caught in routine... doing the same thing over and over. Doing things the easy way. Never stopping our busy lives to enjoy the beauty of God's creation around us. And we don't go seeking it. Compared to Oregon, where I grew up, Texas terrain is much less green, lush and the lack of mountains can be saddening. Today I took a drive with my dog and ran across beauty here in Texas. I found a place only 10 minutes from home that was silent. When I opened my car door and stepped out, no noise greeted me but the quiet wind and the slightest movement of water.

We walked around, exploring and soaking in the sights (and smells) and just enjoying the brisk weather. I love people out in the "wilderness", they are so friendly. Both trucks that drove by waved politely as they passed. Why can't we acknowledge those around us in the store? Or as we're driving through town? Or waiting in line somewhere? Why do we always ignore each other instead of taking the chance to brighten or bless someone's day? Take this year to revamp the way you live, the way you define life, the way you interact with those around you. Make sure you go on little adventures. Mine took less than 2 hours today. Do not make excuses :)