Being pregnant sometimes makes me lazy, especially on Saturday mornings. Every Saturday morning Noel will ask me what I want for breakfast and I will invariably respond with either “Einstein Bagels with honey almond schmear” or “donuts, mmmmm.” Noel is a good cook and very good at not giving into my cravings to eat out constantly. He’s kept me satisfied for weeks with delectable pancakes, ebelskivers (thanks for the pan for Christmas Danielle!), and omelets. Still, that craving for a delectable Einstein bagel with honey almond schmear continued to nag. So, this week I tried my hand at a new bagel recipe (another thanks to Danielle). I have a go to bagel recipe that I’ve loved for years, but while the bagels are better than store bought, they still don’t compare to Einstein’ s. The new recipe is a little more time intensive, but VERY delicious at dare I say an “Einstein level.” Pair with this simple recipe for honey almond cream cheese and I’m in heaven.
One of my favorite things about the internet is the plethora of free tutorials you can find. I’m glad that there are crafty people out there who like to share their creations, but am sometimes disappointed by their ability to relay information. (See, one more reason why you should take your English classes seriously 
) Sometimes when I’m in the middle of a tutorial and have read the instructions a million times and my eyes are tired from squinting at photos I want to contact some of these tutorial writers with this simple message, “Hello, I see you have a talent for creating, but seem to be lacking in your written communication skills. Perhaps I can offer you my services for a small fee. I promise allowing me to rewrite your tutorials will not only make you seem smarter, but will make your blog much more popular and likely increase your sponsorships and ad revenue.” Instead, I usually just lay down whatever mangled project I’ve been working on and shut the door on my chaotic craft room. Given the alternatives of insulting strangers or throwing my sewing machine at the wall, it just seems like the best thing to do.
In good creating news, I have finished a few simple projects. I’ve tried to save the simpler projects for the end of my pregnancy since sewing can be physically agonizing the larger I get.
Side note: I swapped out the chair at my sewing desk for an exercise ball. It actually makes my ribs and back hurt less as I sew. I’m kind of psyched to try using one during labor, but can’t bring myself to call it a “birthing ball.” Maybe I’ve just taken one too many exercise classes.
Anyway, back to the subject at hand. Here are the most recent successful (and easy) projects I’ve undertaken.
Burp cloths with a feminine touch
and Baprons (tutorial here).
We never really set food diet goals at our house, but this year we set some information diet goals. As much as I love technology, it’s sometimes shameful to realize how addicted and dare I say obsessed I can be with it. For 2012 Noel and I set some goals to free up some of our time and help us be more productive.
- Limit the number of times a day we check Google Reader.
- 90 minute email challenge (Check out this interesting article on Breaking the Email Compulsion.)
- Only watch television/movies after household chores are completed and scriptures are read.
So far it’s only been a couple of days, but I already feel like I’m getting more done and we’ve been going to bed earlier. The best benefit though has been that I feel more fulfilled at the end of each day. I think this Mormon Message does a good job of explaining why.
Now after that inspiring message, I have a confession. I’m thinking about joining Pinterest. I know, I know, embarrassing huh? Generally I have an aversion to doing things that are popular. (This is why my grandma is on Facebook and I am not.) In fact, often if something is popular that is reason enough for me not to do it, unless of course I can find some sort of value in the activity or a really good way of rationalizing its value. When everyone started raving about Pinterest I immediately decided it was something I would never try, but as the months have gone on I’m becoming ever more curious and am very, very close to rationalizing my way into trying it. But then there’s the information diet. Would joining Pinterest be the equivalent of resolving to eat healthier, but rewarding myself by downing a box of crackers and a can of spray cheese at the end of each day? I know many of you are on Pinterest. Is it an effective way of organizing information that can thus make me more productive or is it just something that will waste time and make me more covetous? Thoughts?
I’m told that Golden has just as many sunny days as San Diego. Although I’m sure our sunny days aren’t as warm on average, we’ve had some really warm days this week. (For our friends and family in actual warm climates we’re talking high 50′s here.) I’ve loved opening my windows to circulate fresh air into the house and being able to let Cooper play outside. Yesterday, we went for a family walk during Noel’s lunch break. There were several people out on walks or working in their yards who shouted out friendly hellos. I love how warm weather encourages neighborliness. When we got back to the house, Cooper dug around in the dirt while I lounged barefoot on the porch swing reading a book. Glorious. Maybe it’s because of all the health benefits of Vitamin D or the fact that we’re avoiding a face-off with Seasonal Depression, but there’s something about sitting outside in the sun that just makes me happy.
Sunday I stayed home from church due to a horrible cough that had kept me up way too many hours of the night. Noel and Cooper went to church by themselves and when they came back Noel told me at least two people had excitedly asked him if I’d had the baby. I don’t expect everyone I know to remember my “due” date, but guessing I’m 10 weeks further along seems outside an acceptable margin of error to me. True, I’m used to people thinking I’m way farther along than I am (Thank you cashier at Whole Foods, telling me you hear women get a lot bigger with their second pregnancies really made me feel better.), but I’m remembering how fun other people’s reactions can be during the final weeks of pregnancy. So before you ask me if the doctor is concerned about how big the baby is going to be, question my doctor’s verdict that there isn’t a twin, or are rendered speechless when I tell you the baby isn’t due until the beginning of March, allow me to explain something. I’m almost 5’2″ (two inches shorter than the average American woman) and I have a small frame; I don’t really have anywhere to hide a baby. My baby isn’t any bigger than other women’s, it’s all just an optical illusion. Based on past experience, I’m guessing this baby is staying put for at least another 6-8 weeks, so please at least try not to act too surprised when you see me doing my normal rounds with what looks like a watermelon sticking straight out of my abdomen. In return, I vow to do my best not have my baby in your home or fine establishment. Deal?
30 1/2 weeks and going strong.
Sorry to post about pregnancy again, but when you look like this it’s sometimes hard to think of anything else. Maybe I’ll get Noel to post about something else soon 
It’s that time of year when everyone is creating ambitious training plans and hitting the gym daily. Not me though, at least not this year. Becoming a mom has taught me a lot about respecting my body. Prior to Cooper my body was a lean machine that frequently had its limits pushed in various races, nights of little sleep in order to complete “important” tasks, and back to back scheduling that kept me constantly on the go. Years of training as a distance runner had taught me to ignore my body’s “complaints” and given me the idea that I was in control. When I was pregnant with Cooper I was dismayed at what I perceived as my body’s betrayal as I was forced to ease up on physical demands and give up some activities altogether. In retrospect, Noel’s wearied reminder of, “You know you’re pregnant, right?” is comical, but at the time it was really hard for my brain to compute.
The biggest blow came after Cooper was born. I had somehow gotten it in my head that all of my dedication to exercise would make for an instantaneous recovery. I foolishly packed pre-pregnancy clothes in my hospital bag and I remember having a break down in the grocery store parking lot three days after Cooper was born because I was still wearing maternity outfits. Not working out for a month and a half post-baby was torture and I was admittedly frustrated by what I perceived as my doctor being overly cautious and treating me like a wimp. When I was finally cleared to exercise, I went on my first run in months and arguably the worst run of my life. It was like one of those nightmares where a bad guy is chasing you. No matter how hard you try you can’t get away and it feels as if your feet have gotten stuck in cement. I was sure there was something wrong with me and was more than a bit frustrated when my doctor checked me out, told me everything was normal, and suggested I try speed walking or jogging for awhile and just build up to running again. It was a humbling experience for me, but I learned that not doing everything all out was okay.
Over the past 2 1/2 years I’ve learned that my body deserves my respect. Sometimes sleep is the most important thing for your health, listening to your body isn’t necessarily a bad thing, natural childbirth is way more impressive than qualifying for Boston, and sometimes it’s not just “okay” to take it easy, but a really good idea. I still love exercising and even though my running heart hurts some days when I waddle down the street instead of running effortlessly Chariots of Fire-style, I’m learning to be okay with just doing what I can. These may not be my PR years or the decade of ripped abs, but perhaps after the baby years and the period of maternity pants I’ll fit that in. Right now, I’ve resolved to simply appreciate what my body is capable of, exercise as I am able, and to do what I need to just feel good.
This year Noel’s family came to visit us for the holidays. Our guests traveled from the four corners of the earth (or at least the US) arriving from Alaska, Nevada, North Carolina, and California. We made so many trips to the airport we began contemplating buying a giant van and starting our own shuttle service.
The weather cooperated nicely, dumping several inches the day we weren’t doing any traveling and providing abundant sunshine all the other days so the roads were safe. Christmas itself was pleasant. We started the day off right with a church musical program (where Noel sang a lovely duet) and after the last person had arrived that afternoon we opened gifts. It’s kind of nice that Cooper doesn’t get Christmas just yet and didn’t insist we open presents at the crack of dawn.
After the present opening frenzy ended we had a delicious dinner of mashed potatoes and roasted chickens.
The next day when everyone had recovered somewhat from jet lag, we showed the family some of the sites.
Grandma Virginia wasn't so sure about the Colorado snow and wind - definitely different than Las Vegas.
Zipping Cooper up against the cold
We hit up Lookout Mountain to see Buffalo Bill’s Grave, the Coors Brewery for a tour, and saw the inner workings of Noel’s work.
Vanessa Joy and Danielle at Coors
In front of the world's most energy efficient office building.
Not too shabby of a Christmas.
Back in July I was taking you guys on a tour of our lovely home and left off with a promise that the basement was up next. I’m sure many of you were continuously disappointed as you checked our blog week after week and we never made a second mention of it. Don’t worry, I didn’t forget, I just didn’t really know what to say about it. Even though the basement was 80% finished when we moved in (carpet, paint, the whole shebang), it didn’t change the fact that we only have enough furniture to fill up 50% of our house. For months all the basement housed was an old television on a rubbermaid container, random boxes, and a futon. It was a great place for doing aerobics, but wasn’t very aesthetically pleasing. We’ve gradually collected a few pieces over the months (Have I mentioned how shockingly expensive furniture is, even the crappy kind?) and with family arriving for the holidays we’ve at least made the place into something slightly cozy. It’s likely that the basement will remain much the same after our guests leave (barring us winning some sort of home makeover contest), so at the risk of losing even more readers due to further postponement of the basement tour, here is what we’ve got:
First of is the unfinished portion of the basement. It houses our extremely swanky laundry room. Maybe some day we’ll be like those people in Better Homes and Gardens who run out of rooms to remodel and have too much money laying around, so they have to put granite counter tops and fancy sinks in their laundry rooms. Maybe.
Off the laundry room in one direction we have our furnace, plumbing, and a space that will someday become a bathroom (not pictured). In the other direction we have our storage room.
In the finished portion you will first find the family room. Someday we envision it being a place where we will lounge on comfy couches and watch movies on our projector, but for now there’s the lawn chairs and the spacious 22″ television on the shelf.
The air mattress is not one of our permanent fixtures
This is the shelf that usually houses the tv, but we moved it upstairs so guests could enjoy movies and television while sitting on couches.
This room also doubles as our workout room. All guests are welcome to use our extensive home gym equipment.
Here is a close-up of the “art” montage we have on the wall. Really it’s just some pictures of us and a bunch of National Parks postcards that we framed.
As you head down the hall you’ll pass this closet
and the owl art. The owl art is really just some cute wrapping paper that covered one of my birthday gifts that I framed in clearance frames from Target.
At the end of the hall is my “Do Room,” which I’ve showed you a bit of before.
This air mattress is also not a permanent fixture
The last room is the official Guest Room. It’s actually bigger than our Master (complete with two closets) even if the picture doesn’t exactly portray that.
The Guest Room also comes equipped with its own entertainment center. Very snazzy.
Yeah, we still haven't completely phased out the rubbermaid furniture.
And that my friends, is our awesome basement. Pretty close to five star accommodations wouldn’t you say?
Noel celebrating his snow day. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. Clear skies the day we picked people up from the airport and a huge dump of snow that gave Noel the one day off his PTO didn't quite cover while family was here.
Today we woke up to a revolution of snow,
its white flag waving over everything,
the landscape vanished,
not a single mouse to punctuate the blankness,
and beyond these windows
the government buildings smothered,
schools and libraries buried, the post office lost
under the noiseless drift,
the paths of trains softly blocked,
the world fallen under this falling.
In a while, I will put on some boots
and step out like someone walking in water,
and the dog will porpoise through the drifts,
and I will shake a laden branch
sending a cold shower down on us both.
But for now I am a willing prisoner in this house,
a sympathizer with the anarchic cause of snow.
I will make a pot of tea
and listen to the plastic radio on the counter,
as glad as anyone to hear the news
that the Kiddie Corner School is closed,
the Ding-Dong School, closed.
the All Aboard Children’s School, closed,
the Hi-Ho Nursery School, closed,
along with—some will be delighted to hear—
the Toadstool School, the Little School,
Little Sparrows Nursery School,
Little Stars Pre-School, Peas-and-Carrots Day School
the Tom Thumb Child Center, all closed,
and—clap your hands—the Peanuts Play School.
So this is where the children hide all day,
These are the nests where they letter and draw,
where they put on their bright miniature jackets,
all darting and climbing and sliding,
all but the few girls whispering by the fence.
And now I am listening hard
in the grandiose silence of the snow,
trying to hear what those three girls are plotting,
what riot is afoot,
which small queen is about to be brought down.
- Billy Collins
