TERMITES!!!

Well, they are here. Jerry and I found out today that we in fact bought a house with termites. Damn! What the heck do we do now? I called up the Orkin guy, and for $2000.00 dollars I can get my house treated with no guarantee.  Uhhh, what the heck do you do? So either option A, go into debt to fight off termites that may or may not die or leave my home because there is no guarantee, or option B, do nothing and watch our first home crumble in front of us. I am so disappointed and asked my mom today if this is something I can just pray away. I would love it if it would work, lol. Last year Jerry and I had thought we might have termites because we had found some in the yard, and over at the neighbors. Last spring I had an Orkin guy come out and he found no evidence of any termites, we still wanted to take percussion's, but could not afford it. Now this year, low and behold, there is no doubt. When they start flying into your house through cracks in the window frame, it's hard to deny that they are there. I caught some and showed them to the Orkin guy, knowing full well already what they were. His response to me is, "I am sorry I hate to see a young family have to deal with this, but you most definitely have termites." Well, crap! So now I know I am living with bugs, in my walls and under my floor. I really do think it is such a crime that they can charge so much for something so potentially dangerous to an entire home. If you don't have it, you just have to wait. Ugh. I am really disappointed, but have decided that nothing can be done immediately, so I might as well not fret over it. I am also going to shop around and see if I can find anything cheaper. I just am really disappointed that this happened, and right now, the timing sucks!

Chance to be in the paper again

I have the opportunity this week to take some photos that could end themselves up in the Clovis News Journal. This for me is exciting, and I would love to be in there once more. Through the local photography club I am in, we have been given the chance to photograph people planting flowers, or gardening for a spring spread they want to do the first week of May. Beside myself I know no one who is doing any gardening, lol. It does not have to be a front facing photo, and they don't want anyone actually looking at the camera. Any takers? Anyone wanna be in the paper? I would love to once again get in the paper and have my name recognised by the editor. I am going to try my best to search out man, woman, or child to enter for my submission. If you know anyone who is maybe organically gardening, or composting, or really improving their lawn by landscaping with flowers and shrubs, let me know, and they could be in the CNJ with their name, and what it is that they are working on.

Our Anniversary

Jerry and I had a wonderful anniversary!

Our anniversary was on Wednesday, the 22nd, Earth day. We got to kick off our anniversary week on the Sunday before, where my beloved mother watched my child for Jerry and I, for half 

the day. Thanks mom! Jerry and I went out and had lunch, which was lovely. Then we played around at LOWE'S for a while looking for our yearly "anniversary/earth day" plant to place in our

 yard. We could not find anything we just had to have, oh well, we still had fun and plan on checking out some nursery's this coming weekend. Then we jetted off to Hastings and picked out some movies, looked at some books, and then off to pick up our child with whom we had now been without for nearly 6 hours and were missing desperately. A great day.

   

Then on Wednesday Jerry had to work. Sad, but it also worked in my favor, l

ol. Patrick and I spent the day and went and bought some candles, some flowers, and some good food. I prepared a rather large steak for my man, with some steamed veggies, mashed potatoes, sauted mushrooms and onions, a wonderful salad, and some sourdough bread. It was yummy! Jerry walked in and saw the candles and food, and flowers, and was genuinely grateful, and of course this made me feel great. 

He  probably told me a million times how good the food was, and how nice it was. Success! For desert we had strawberry shortcake which was delightful as well. Jerry thought it was really special, and Patrick loved the fact that it was such a special dinner. After dinner my wonderful husband and I sat down together and looked through our wedding scrapbook, and read through the entire ceremony that we have typed out. It was really nice to be able to sit, remember and reflect, the wedding, why, when, and everything that has happened since.

 Jerry and I have been together going on 6 years now, 3 of which are now married years. I love my husband. Jerry also came home with a wonderful card for me, and a big beautiful pot of calla lilies. I love calla lilies, and I love my Jerry.

It's hard to think that it has only been three years since our wedding, and it was beautiful. I pride myself in the fact that I planned it in 4 months, and the cost was less than $1,500.00. Yes I am that good! Lol. I will never forget it, the weather and how perfect it was that day for our outdoor wedding. I will never forget the live guitar playing as I came down the isle. I will never forget how happy everyone was, and how wonderful it was to be surrounded by the people we loved. My sister was able to come, mom mother and brother, and father were there. What more could a girl ask for. Our family was joined together that day, and for me it will always be a very special day.

22 and 23 weeks

Hello there, remember me? I am the one that is supposed to be maintaining this blog.

    This week has been a very busy one, and now we are coming to another weekend. I don't think I have ever had a week go by so quickly. The time goes to fast. The trees are finally recovering from the last freeze, and flowers are blooming once again. The local temp here yesterday was over 90f, and I imagine we have many hot days ahead of us.

   As promised I am posting new pregnancy photos. 

I really, really did not want to. It's so hard for me to publicly post photos of myself not looking, what I believe to be my best

, and would almost rather find a photo of me on the toilet than fully clothed and huge, lol. I get humongous. I got huge with Patrick, and I knew I would this time to. I have not gained nearly the weight as last time, but my gosh, there is no mistaking that I am pregnant, forget the belly for a minute, theres also now a waddle.

 I took one look at these photos and quickly decided that I am never leaving the house again until this baby is born, lol. Joking of course. So here they are! If you scroll down a tad you can tell the difference that has occurred in the last few weeks. Once I hit about 22 weeks, I gained another 5 pounds, not cool, but necessary I suppose. The top photo is me at 22 weeks, and the bottom is me going into my 23rd week.

Ramblings

   Well here we are, lots to talk about today, but I am going to do the short version. First off, I have been told by some, that they have tried to leave comments here on the blog, but they were unable. This problem should now be fixed!

   Patrick and I had playgroup at the Zoo today. The moms group is kinda touch and go, but we tend to get a couple playgroups in a month. Patrick loves it!

   Took my brother to run errands today, not the funnest thing, but oddly enough I do enjoy his company, when he's not picking on me that is. 

   Today is Friday.....TGIF! Thank God It's Friday, Jerry and I have been awaiting the weekend. I am so glad that it is finally here, I miss my husband during the week, badly, and on Saturday and Sunday he is mine, partially, I do have to share, lol.

   Next week hold good things. Next week I should see my midwife, I hit 22 weeks. Hard to believe I know, and this week on Wed, Earth day, will be Jerry and I's, 3 year wedding anniversary. Anniversary's are so much fun for us, because it may be like the one time a year that we get a substantial amount of time alone, and by substantial, I mean a whole 6 hours! Lol, I'll take it! I love my husband so much, and can not even fathom what a wold would be like without him, I am so glad to have been his wife for the last three years and can not wait to see that number get bigger. I will post a new pregnancy photo next week, to mark the 22 weeks. I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Spoiled Housewife

   I love my husband! My husband understands my need to be organized. At most times I think of myself as low maintenance, but every so often I get to that, "I've had it" point where I must spend a little money for the greater cause, organization. 

   This month my husband has made me the happiest girl on the planet, not only did I get a new ironing board, which I desperately needed, but I also got a brand new vacuum cleaner.  This of course to myself sounds odd, and I have to ask myself are you really that easy to please? Yes I am. Help me get organized, and you are my best friend. I take pride in keeping my home clean, does this happen regularly? No! And I mean No! I have a child, a toddler no less, and it is near impossible for me to keep the place clean. All I can do is try, but I also refuse to be a slave to my home, I would rather play with my child in the floor. 

   I have recently taken up sewing, which I love to do, but is something almost impossible to do without a surface to iron on. I have never owned my very own ironing board before, and thought now is the time, so I went out, and bought me one. I even found a rack that goes onto the wall to hang my iron on, so nifty. I feel spoiled, and just the fact that if I want to stand there for an hour and iron clothes or fabric, excites me, lol, I'm such a dork. I also have been the proud owner of a loud, non sucking, smelly vacuum cleaner for way to long, 4 years to be exact and finally I said "No more". So now I am also the proud owner of a new vacuum that very well does suck, sucks the dirt right out of my carpet, lol and does not fill my home with the smell of burned rubber. What more could a girl ask for, lol.

Dear Non Pregnant Person

Dear Non-Pregnant Person, 

1) The appropriate response to a couple telling you they are having a baby is 'Congratulations!' with enthusiasm. Any other response makes you an arse,

2) Through the wonders of science, we now know that babies are made ONLY by the mother and father- not grandparents. Unless the baby is in your uterus or you are the man that helped put it there, you may not ever use the phrase 'my baby'. 

3) On the same note, unless you made the baby as defined in 2, the pregnancy, birth and raising of the child are not about you. You do not have input. No one wants to hear your opinion unless they ask for it. 

4) The body of a pregnant women should be treated the same as any other body. You would not randomly touch someone's stomach if they were not pregnant, nor would you inquire into the condition of their uterus, cervix or how they plan to use their breasts. Pregnancy does not remove all traces of privacy from a woman. 

5) Likewise, no women wants to hear comments on her weight- ever. A pregnant woman does not find it flattering that you think she is about is pop, must be having twins, looks swollen or has gained weight in her face. Telling her she looks too small only makes her worry that she is somehow starving her baby. Making such comments invite her to critique your physical appearance and you may not act offended. The only acceptable comment on appearance is 'You look fabulous!'. 

6) By the time we are 20-30 years old, most of us have picked up on the fact that the summer is hot. We are hot every summer when we are not pregnant. We don't need you to point out that we will be miserably hot before the baby comes. 

7) There is a reason that tickets to L&D; are not yet sold on Ticketmaster. Childbirth is actually not a public event. It may sound crazy, but some women really do not relish the idea of their mother, MIL or a host of other family members seeing their bare butt and genitals. Also, some people simply feel like the birth of their child is a private and emotional moment to be shared only by the parents. Like everything else is life, unless you receive an invitation, you are NOT invited. This includes doctor appointments, ultrasounds, labor, delivery, the hospital and the parents home. You do not decide if you will be there for the birth or if you will move in with the new parents to 'help out'. If your assistance is desired, rest assured that you will be asked for it. 

8) If you are asked to help after the birth, this means you should clean up the house, help with cooking meals, and generally stay out of the way. Holding the baby more than the parents, interfering with breastfeeding and sleeping schedules and making a woman who is still leaking fluid from multiple locations lift a finger in housework is not helping. 

9) The only people entitled to time with the baby are the parents. Whether they choose to have you at the hospital for the birth or ask for you to wait three weeks to visit, appreciate that you are are being given the privilege of seeing their child. Complaining or showing disappointment only encourages the parents to include you less. I hope this helps- it sure makes us feel better. 

Signed, All Pregnant Women

Easter

   Easter, blech! I do not like Easter. Everyone has asked me all week, "what are you doing for Easter?" Nothing I say. "Nothing? Really?" I suppose maybe I should just make up something next year so I don't get all of the funny looks and reactions, and believe me, if I told you what I really thought about Easter, they would run in the opposite direction praying for my soul, lol.  I however will not give anyone that satisfaction. The biggest question is about Patrick, "No Easter for Patrick?" "Nope!" Lets see, first I would have to distinguish what Easter is actually for, to my child. Either it is a religious holiday, (which I do not agree with) or it is about chocolate and Easter eggs and bunny's. If it is a religious holiday, than it is not a fun one, and if it is about Bunny's and eggs, well, that's just lame, lol. My son can't have chocolate, or 99% of any of the candies on the shelf at Easter time, because of his milk allergies. So Easter baskets really aren't a reality for us. We do not go to church, so no service on murder and resurrection as well.

   Yesterday was a fun day. We, Jerry, Patrick, and I hang around the house, and I stayed in my Jammie's until 4 in the afternoon, lol. I did a little here and there, but not much. Jerry got the new computer up and running, and put it in the spot of the old one. This is very exciting for both of us. Why? Because, well, Jerry has a new computer to play with, and the old computer goes to ME! I now get my very own computer to use for my photography, and photo editing programs. What more could a girl ask for? Lol. Jerry has also set up a network, so the computers can share info, and I can print documents all the way from the back room if I want to....spoiled!

   I finished Easter photos I did for my good friend Beth, and I was happy to have her be pleased with them. She came by, and she selected her photos, and we placed the order. I got a big tip! I like the idea of making money doing something I think is a ton of fun. What more could you ask for. I feel blessed. And to end the day, the "Barela Boys" came over for a few hours and played. I really like seeing them, and Jerry has really liked having a houseful of kids, because you know, it is the perfect time and excuse to behave like one himself!

   My plans for the day? Well, we started off with pancakes, and eggs, and some not so great blueberry muffins that fell in the oven, (no clue why). So now, it is a lazy day. I love lazy days, where I don't have to worry about obligations, at all. I have allowed myself one day, just one, where I can just do what I want, when I want. I will probably start working on my new website I am building for my photography. I will probably do some sewing, and finish two ongoing projects. I imagine I will play in the floor with Patrick, do some reading, love on my husband, throw in a load of laundry and await dinner time where I will then be preparing Lemon and Dill Salmon. So as you can see, I have a very full day, lol, and I must get started. Love to all, and those who do celebrate Easter, and the slaughtering of the lamb, I hope you have a great day. I will!                                     

Photos for a bad day

 
   Today has not been my best of days, but I have trucked on regardless. There is not time for breakdowns, lol. Things may not be that bad, but at this point, I do not trust my own judgement seeing how it is clouded by pregnancy hormones, and the roller coaster I am on now, probably could pass me off as legally insane at the moment. I am sure the lack of sleep I have had lately dramatically influences my day, my attitude, and my current perception of the world. Some say sleep is overrated, I say it is absolutely necessary.

 

  So to celebrate my crappy day, and my

 absolute irrational feelings of doom and dread, I did what any unbalanced girl would do, I prettied myself up, and took photos. It does work you know!?! For me at least, I can have a fat day, an ugly day, a bad day, and take some pictures, edit them, and then feel better about myself, lol. Hey, don't give me crap! Some drink coffee, some have chocolate, or addictions to caffeine, my feel good fix.........photos. So here they are, I am posting my "feel good" pics today. I am not as thin as I once was, I am not as young as I once was, but I think e

veryone likes to feel good about themselves, and I like being able to look at a picture of myself and say, "I look Pretty!" I may not feel that way, but I look it, lol. That's me!

Feeling of frustration

   Today has not been a good day for me, and if you are wise, you will remain out of my way! The day started off with one of my cats going insane, at and at this point, I am [] this close to sending him elsewhere. Milo, the cat, the trouble maker of the two, the epitome of, "curiosity killed a cat", (which will soon become a reality if he doesn't straiten up) has flipped his gourd. Now I would never really kill my cat, but I will find him a new home., lol. I hate that I despise him right now, and he is after all an animal, and him. Can't I just love him for who he is? No, is the answer, not at this point.

   Two days ago a bottom cabinet that leads underneath the house was left open. Milo decided that this was a present just for him, and took the opportunity to disappear. "Where is Milo? Where could he go? Oh, no! The cabinet is open! Crap!" Every morning i let the cats out of the back room, they are contained there at night to keep them from running all over the house at night and reeking havoc. I went to let the cat's out and this is when I realized there was only one cat, not two. Soon the other disappeared as well. I figured that they had to come up to eat and drink......I thought so, and waited until 10:30 pm for them to resurface. I blocked the cabinet with a box of toys. Milo cried all night, and in the morning, until.....silence. Low and behold when I came to let the cats out, there was only one, and the cabinet was open. MILO!!! Somehow that cat moved that box, and opened that cabinet, to get under the house once again. I waited for him to come out...............and every time I would go near him, he would run back in. 

   Lol. So I strategically planed my next steps. Close the cabinet, his exit. Close the door to the back room, with brother cat inside, and open the vent in the hallway. I sat there waiting, and waiting, and then, like God said, "here honey" a fly flew into the house, into the bathroom across the hall. Milo ran out after the fly, and BAM! I blocked his exit. Every entry under the house is now sealed, and the cat is...........VAMPIRE CAT! Lol. This is now what I refer to him as. He is behaving oddly, crying, crouching, not letting you pet him, running from you, ears down, tail down, crying, and moaning. This morning I was woke up at 4am by the delightful sound of Milo howling. And then trying to literally rip the access panel of the wall in the utility room. What the heck? Anyway, eventually, I said whatever, I was tired of the crying cat, so I let him outside, as he seemed he wanted to be. For the rest of the day he sat at the door crying, scratching, and every time I would open the door, he would run! Lol. He is rather odd, and the stress of all of it got to me today.

 

   The dog ate Patrick's sandwich today as well. I have had building hostility towards my animals for months now, and wonder if it is not somehow related to my pregnancy. At this point, I feel as if we should get rid of them all. Jerry of course thinks I will change my mind later, and if we were to get rid of them I would regret it eventually. I feel like some horrible person. I am a lover, I teach peace, and try to practice it. I pride myself most of the time with how much patience I can exercise, and yet here I am, hating my dog and cats, my family. I do not understand this, and have had a really hard time, dealing with the emotions themselves. I can only teach my son peace, by showing him peace.

Working hard, or hardly working?

   The weekend is over and here we are, at another Monday. Jerry went back to work, and Patrick and I stayed behind to tend to the fort as usual. Poor Patrick has Allergies today, and has been walking back and forth across the house with his beloved hankie, that grandma gave him, in hand. His little nose is all red.

   To those who do not know, at one time I considered going into photography, home based. I put this dream aside for a while, only to realize it is something I really love doing, and can't live without. So I have newly decided to pursue it once more. I have been working on photos today, that I took on Friday of a friends daughter. I can not wait for her to see them, and think I did rather well. Here is a sample........

My Meeting today

Today was our Attachment Parenting Meeting here in little old Clovis New Mexico. I started this group nearly 6 months ago, and so far so good. It is the first group in the entire state of NM. Our meetings vary in size depending on holidays and what not, but over all has been regular. This month, we had several new moms show up and I am very excited about that. Today we had 18 moms come, which equals even more kids, lol.

The meeting today was on slings and cloth diapers. Jami, one of our members offered to head up this meeting since she knows a lot in both areas, and of course I took the opportunity to have a break. She did well, and had many different examples of cloth diapers, and different types of slings. It was great.

I feel great. This is something I am really excited about, and passionate about. I honestly believe we can change the world we live in, starting with our children. Through AP I am teaching my child love, empathy, respect, independence, honor, and so much more. I love the fact that I am at a place in my life where I can share what I have learned with others. When I first started planning this I thought I was nuts, lol, Jerry thought it was a great idea. We had seen how AP had worked so well for us. I really love being able to meet new moms in the area that are attempting to raise their children in a similar fashion. There is also a military base here, and many of the women are away from their support systems, and families, and the group offers them something great as well.

I just had to blurb about the group today because we had our meeting, and their were even more new moms, and it is so exciting to see something that you created, growing into something bigger and better. In four months we have 20 members, who knows how big it will get.

All about me, me, me

Well here I am.

I was laying in bed last night, so stressed out, thinking of the million things I need to do, and I realized that I have not blogged in a few days. How could this be? Somewhere between the housework, breakfast, lunch, dinner, grocery shopping, potty breaks, and overall tending to the fort, I lost track of time.

So, Jerry and I have decided that my nerves need a vacation. Nothing big, just a few hours to myself which I have not had in some time. Patrick my son, I love him dearly, but if we spend to much time together, lol, somehow we become like fighting siblings with one another. We are rude and short tempered, and it goes both ways folks. When Jerry sees us behaving this way, he knows I need some time off, lol, and so does Patrick.

I have been trying to get a hold of this stress thing. I feel stressed. Why am I stressed? Well because.....this, and this, and this.......etc. Do I need to be stressed? No. Can I stop this? Yes!
This dialogue is what has been going on in my head. I took a moment before bed last night where I locked myself in the dark bathroom, sipped on my chamomile tea, listened to the rain, and zenned out. Of course this was a grand total of about 4 minutes, but my 4 minutes none the less. For some reason, at times, not always, I have this tendency to just feel like the sky is falling, and I am the only one who is concerned about keeping it up. Example: I like to have a clean house, I would like to keep it clean, but having an almost 4 year old makes this hard. He is the destroyer, lol. Jerry does not have much time to help me out with the house, and this bothers me, but at the same time if I catch him loading the dish washer I stop him. Not because I am a control freak and hes not doing it right, no, because I would rather have him relax after working all day. Jerry, god bless him, has never once, ever, complained, or nagged about the state of the house, never, no matter how dirty it is.
When I ask about it, he always tells me this, "Look, if I come home and the house is a wreck, I know you have been playing with our son all day. Which is more important? The house or our son?" Well duh, the answer to that is obvious, lol. He does not make me feel guilty, or like a failure. I do! Lol. I do, I beat myself up. I have to stop doing this, because this self inflicted stress is not cool. Things are not as big of a deal as others may think they are, or I think they are. So, I have decided to pick my battles, with everything. Is it worth it? Is it a priority? Does it have to be done now?

This call could also be the result, or at least encouraged by the fact that I have not been getting much sleep. I am getting too much vitamin B, which is keeping my from sleeping. Of course there is also the issue of getting up 6 times a night to use the restroom, and that this growing belly is not getting in my way, and comfort when it comes to sleeping. I didn't have all the these sleep issues before with Pat, but then again, if I was tired, I could just take a nap. No naps this time around. Ever since Patrick stopped nursing, he also stopped taking naps. How I long for those afternoon naps, lol. I also realized yesterday that I have skipped several weeks of pregnancy photos. My belly has grown since my last photo, I will have to update that as well.

A Lazy Saturday

Today was Saturday. 

   A good day to take it easy. We need more days like that, I think everyone does. Today we made no plans. Usually when we have time, it is quickly filled with lists of things and projects to do, but today was no such day. We did almost nothing all day, lol. We accomplished nothing. 

   The only thing we did was take Patrick to go see the new movie, Monsters vrs. Aliens in 3D. Wow! My first 3D movie, and I have to tell you, it killed my eyes. Patrick was intrigued and curious and utterly fascinated, it was amazing seeing something in 3D like that. The movie was good, I have seen better, but it made us laugh more than once. The theatre was packed, and we almost did not find a seat. The only thing bad about the experience was the fact that they charged extra for the movie because it was 3D. Like  we had an option. Eight dollars for each of us, eight! In any event, Patrick liked it, and had fun, and sat still through the entire thing, and that after all was the goal, to do something that Patrick would enjoy. After that we all hung out on the couch all afternoon and evening  together. This is not productive in anyway, but I think we were all in serious need of a lazy, family, couch potato day, and that's what it was for the most part. I love my couch buddies.

Snow days and baby shopping

   I suppose today is a good day for a blog.

When I woke up this morning there was snow on the ground.

We have had an amazingly warm winter, and no moisture. That is until the last month or so. We got our first snow of the year a couple weeks back, and I was sure that was the last snow I would see for this year as well. I carefully waited, and planned my garden layout for this year. I waited until there was a clear 10 day forecast of above freezing weather, and put everything in the ground this week. Then, the forecast revealed itself, snow, 24 degrees. LOl. Seems only right, but no worries. I have decided not to dwell on it.

   I am a thrift shopper, I love to thrift shop, and take extreme pride in really good deals I find. I have not set foot in such a store in 

some time, because then I want to spend money, lol. Yesterday I took the chance and popped in 2 different places. There's a little thrift shop here in town called the The Kids Closet. You can find good deals there some of the time, but almost always you find way overpriced items in bad

 shape. The thing I hate the most about this little shop is, even with their new advertisement, and cleaning up the shop, the woman who runs the place smokes in the store. This bothers me, because even as an ex smoker, the last thing I want to do is buy baby stuff that reeks of cigarettes, yuck! I did buy some gender neutral baby outfits there, and came home and threw them in the wash, with extra soap, lol. I got them for a good deal, but like I said, I really hate the fact that when you walk into this store it smells of smoke. It also makes me wonder if it is legal? This city has a no smoking ordinance in buildings, no smoking in bars, restaurants, nothing, so can she legally smoke in there even if it is her shop? I don't know, but they are getting really bad business, and I just can help but wonder if others are as turned off as I am, it's gross and tacky. I do have to confess that while at the store, I wanted to, and fought off the urge to but ruffled socks, and bonnets. I really think this baby is a girl, and want to shop for a girl, but have remained safe in yellows and greens, lol. My mom let me know yesterday that she thinks I am a coward, lol, you know its a girl, so shop girl she says. We will see.