The Truth About Pregnancy and Banana-Strawberry Milkshakes

Yesterday was the 20 week mark! Wooo! We're halfway!

Here's the bump. (And we always end up with like 5 pictures of me blurry while Logan takes as many as he can before I take my phone back, so I had to include one of those.)

This is us last week anxiously awaiting our ultrasound.

I've got an active little GIRL kicking and summersaulting all day long in my belly. We are so excited to have a girl! Although, Logan is a little disappointed that there aren't 2 little ones in there. Next time.

I officially wore maternity clothes for the first time yesterday. And let me tell you. H&M maternity jeans are pretty rockin'. They are more comfortable than my regular jeans and they are 10 times cuter anyways.

I'd highly recommend them for pregnancy and maybe just for those days when you plan to consume large quantities of food. They are thus far approved for the following activities:

• Napping
• Bending over
• Folding laundry on the floor
• Looking fabulous

I know, I know. Too good to be true. And I've been wearing them less than 24 hours. I'll keep you updated on the hidden wonders. Maybe I'll even write a poem.

My cravings have often been sticking to the "yellow food group," but have taken a sweet turn.

Examples:

• Bananas
• Fried bananas
• Banana-strawberry milkshakes (Not to be confused with strawberry-banana. There's apparently a difference. A huge one.)
• Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting
• Pasta
• Tatertots/ french fries/ potato chips
• Nachos
• Pizza

My favorite thing about craving milkshakes is that Logan is THE greatest milkshake-maker known to man. Who knew?? They seriously always taste just right. Bonus hidden spouse quality! 

The funniest thing about cravings to me is that seeing or hearing something seemingly unrelated can make me crave random things. 

Example: I saw a green plastic bag last night. I had the sudden urge to eat sour cream and onion chips because [duh] they come in a green bag. 

Logic at its finest if you ask me.

I cry about really important things. Really. 

Like the day I didn't want to go outside because it was too cold. (Won't Rexburg be fun, then?) Or the time that I poked Logan in the belly button and he joked that I don't have a belly button, but that doesn't mean I could take his. Oh, and after watching Pearl Harbor... Oh boy! That was a mess.

Pregnancy is just weird. And that's the truth.

In other news. Amelia and I have been trying to come up with a plot for a good mermaid story... And we're starting to wonder if maybe there is a reason for the lack of decent mermaid literature... Bummer. Mermaids are awesome. 

Mischief Managed.

English Lessons and Updates

My little sister came to stay with us for Thanksgiving. She is constantly explaining to Logan and me things that teenagers say and do. I'm not exactly sure when we became so old and out of touch with hip things. . . But it's happened. I'd like to share our personal favorite:

"Same" or more commonly, "Saaaaammme!"
You say this under the following circumstances: 1)You can relate to something 2) Something is really weird 3) Or just because. . .

. . .

Remember when people used to come up with actual sentences to explain their thoughts and feelings? Ones that were specific to each situation? Yeah, me neither. Same.

Another favorite is "GOALS!" This is when you see something that you want to happen in your life. (Often used sarcastically or even interchangeably with "same.") But either way, it must always be spoken with super enthusiasm. Think soccer. "GOOOOOOOOAALLLLS!"

Thanks for the education, Liz. I guess I shouldn't have spent time studying grammar and English in college after all since the language will consist of one word sentences within a few years. ;)


Happy Week 18 to me and little tater! I will now post all the bump pictures ever. [Kudos to Hannah for teaching Logan and me that trendy saying before her mission.]

Because I believe in posting "real" pictures as well as cute ones, here's one I took when I was feeling pretty queasy, wearing a baggy shirt, and before showering. Isn't pregnancy sooo glamorous?

It is amazing what a shower will do to improve our appearance, isn't it?

      

I know it looks like I'm just arching my back. . . I don't really know how to help that. My posture is truly just that awful. But, I promise it is a real bump, and I promise that the upper half of my belly button has joined the ranks of the smooth flat skin around it. (But I'm not going to post pictures of that. You're welcome.)

Cravings this week:

• MAC N CHEESE
• Fried things--especially tater tots
• Spaghetti and meatballs
• Pizza with green peppers on it 
• Mashed potatoes and gravy for breakfast
• Sherbet ice cream
• Taco Bell
• Soda
• Blueberry muffins
• Anything and EVERYTHING I hear, see, or read about other people eating. (Logan, they're eating french fries...)

I've been craving a lot of sweets, which is really unusual for me. I guess it must be a girl after all! A few days time will tell.

My belly has still been sore off and on from all of the stretching. I am not as nauseous on a daily basis. I am still exhausted a lot. Baby moves around a lot. I eat like a hobbit-- breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses. . . .


We had a lovely Thanksgiving, and a great Black Friday and Cyber Monday. We scored on baby items and other gifts.

Our best and favorite find:

Check out the new ride. I really wish I had taken a video of Logan putting it together and getting really excited about the turn radius (This baby turns on a dime!!) and the fact that he can race it up and down our super long hallway. (Can I do this when the baby's in it?!?)

Believe it or not, Logan picked this travel system out and was the most excited about getting it. I guess dads-to-be have ways of nesting too. AND it helps that it was a super awesome deal. You can't beat $99.

Other Black Friday adventures include: channelling our "inner Kristie" and putting anything we might possibly want in the cart and sorting through them later, buying things for each other on the same card that were surprises so we had to turn around in turns at checkout, and not staying out particularly late or going out especially early, but still finding deals.

Thanks to all for the Birthday wishes yesterday. The baby told me to take it easy by making me queasy, and I had a wonderful day. 24 seems so much older than 23 for some reason. I'm expecting my "Welcome to the Mid-Twenties Club" card in the mail any day now.

I'd like to end with a little video of what I like to call the "covey dance."

Don't be deceived. Putting on coveralls is always an adventure.

Stay joyful and remember why we can.

Grateful to Be at Week 17

Week 17 Updates:

The little babe and I are at 17 weeks today. Here's a picture taken a couple of days ago. According to the pregnancy bible (AKA What to Expect When You're Expecting), the little spud is about 5 inches and 5 oz this week and can now hear my voice.

I really don't know how to take bump pictures. Everything I try feels awkward. So... Soak up the awkward and rejoice if you're one of those lucky souls who doesn't herp de derp often. ;)

My belly has been VERY sore. There is a lot of stretching going on in there. And I still have a long way to go. Yikes! My belly button is already starting to look a little weird and flat.

My clothes are getting uncomfortable. I am currently pulling a flower child move and boycotting bras. (I know, TMI.) But I haven't burned them or anything, don't worry. 

I love my belly band because I can wear my jeans unzipped when I can't wear by trademark [at least these days] yoga pants.

I have been able to feel little nudges from little tater for a little over a week now. They make me so happy even if they don't feel that different from regular tummy gurgles and bubbles. Logan has even been able to feel it from the outside a couple of times the last few days. 

This year we will be celebrating Hanukkah. ... Ok, not really. We will just be celebrating on Hanukkah because that is when we have our ultrasound! Woop! 

Boy or girl? Logan says a boy or twins. I say a girl.

Cravings lately:

• Pie
• Fried things (Fries, chicken tenders, tater tots...)
• Mashed potatoes
• Yellow food (still)
• MAC N CHEESE
• Hawaiian haystacks

In other news...

We are officially going back to BYU-Idaho in January. Logan's got a full class load and we have an apartment. It is bittersweet, but it feels right. We're happy about this decision.

We took a hatchet to Logan's beloved Giant Atlantic Pumpkin. The seeds are huge and fat! We saved some for planting.

Logan hatched.

Lizzie is here with us for Thanksgiving, and we are as "funkhalt" as ever.

Happy Thanksgiving week!

Don't trample or be trampled scoring deals. Remember to wear your eating pants (or invest in a belly band.) And most importantly, remember how many things we have to be grateful for.

Harvest Widow, Checking Out! Baby, Checking in!

So... I have been seriously neglecting my sweet blog. But, in all fairness, I have been doing something much more important.

I have been laying on the couch. A lot.

And if this doesn't sound important, then you probably haven't seen this picture yet.

That's right. I've been sick and exhausted. Growing a baby is hard work!

I'm in my 14th week, and hoping to be less sick and more energized very soon. It seems like just when I think I am starting to feel human again, I have a very sick day... or 3.

But, we are VERY excited about this little tater coming our way. It was planned for, prayed for, and hoped for, and we couldn't be happier.

You know. Except for the times when I feel the need to cry about laundry... and Christmas traditions... and whatever else my hormones choose to pick on that day. Thank goodness for my patient husband.

I am normally ruled by cravings, but I have mostly been craving:

• Mustard (I even put it on fried eggs once)
• MAC N CHEESE!!!
• Other yellow foods (Especially cheesy things)
• Tomatoes (Including nasty V8 juice)
• Other day-to-day cravings (This week's examples: Crispy chicken tenders, green olives, smoothies, Taco Bell, mustard pretzels...)

Anyways. Enough excuses. Let's get down to business on a couple of updates.


Sad news: Dawn died. :( We had him at our house for a couple of days trying to nurse him back to health, but we found him dead in the shop the next day. Oh, it hurts my heart that he died alone. But, it makes me happy that he knew he was loved and purred much on his last day.

I have never loved a cat before, and I will never love one again.

My guard kitty. May you find many reasons to purr in kitty heaven, Dawn. We miss you.

Potato harvest has come and gone...

I started writing about potato harvest, including Wizard of Oz allusions and explanations galore, but I lost steam once I started feeling very sick and never came back to it. These pictures of weird potatoes and harvest shenanigans will have to suffice.

Harvest life at the cellar looks like this:

I bet you never had a potato gun THIS cool.

Look! It's a duck! No... It's a deer? Nope. It's a potato.

One potato to feed them all.

Harvest life in the field looks like this. 

We went to General Conference in Salt Lake! A first for all 3 of us.

Beet harvest has also come and gone, and not a day too soon! We finished right before the rain and cold got really extreme.

Sugar beets are hideous.

And crazy to harvest when the fields are super muddy.

This picture covers 3 stages of beet harvesting. They grow with leafy tops, then they are scalped (the white things), then a digger comes through and gets them and puts them in trucks.

We were very blessed to have a safe harvest. And I feel especially blessed to have Logan home more often. This harvest widow is checking out for the year! :)

Halloween has even come and gone! Logan got to wear his dream costume.

Introducing:

Dumbledora the Explorer and Gum stuck to the bottom of a shoe.

I wish we'd thought to take a closer picture, but here's what we've got.

We went to a Trunk or Treat party with our church, and everyone tried to find nice ways to say they had NO idea what we were. "Your costumes are so creative... I'm wondering if you can explain them to me."

Most people thought they were funny once they got it. Except for our little primary kids. They couldn't even begin to understand Logan's costume. And didn't I know that the shoe on my head was way too small to match the gum??

Hopefully I will be a more consistent blogger.

Stay happy, and remember to tie down your wheel lines for the winter! (If you read my Farming 101 post, you'll understand even if you are "city folk.")

The 2 Dollar Date and the "Pocanut" Hunt

I believe in date nights.

In our church, we commonly refer to the everyday, important gospel things we do as "Primary Answers" because our Primary kids (3-11 yrs) know that they are the answers to most questions on staying close to the Lord. Examples: Scripture study, prayer, going to church, etc.

I feel strongly that there are certain things that are AS essential to keeping our marriages and families strong as these "Primary Answers" are to our daily lives. One of those things is date nights.

And before you say that this is just me looking through my newlywed-colored glasses, I'd like to mention that many people who are more experienced and studied in these matters than I am stress the importance of continued courtship. :)

I always think of this counsel from one of my favorite professors.

He and his wife have 10 kids. They've been married 30+ years. Date nights for them are not always grand, long-winded, or easy. Most of the time they don't go out for date nights. But they always try to set it apart somehow. Sometimes they send the kids to bed a little early so they can watch a movie or play a game. Sometimes they eat steak while the kids have mac and cheese and hot dogs. They find creative ways to still make date nights work, even if they aren't typical. They said that their kids always knew the importance of date night. It sends a message to them of how important their parents are to each other.

That being said, I'm sure they weren't able to make it work every week. Sometimes the kids go on date nights with you. Sometimes date nights include some extra pillow talk before drifting off. The important thing is that we do what we can in our stage of life and we don't beat up on ourselves for days that don't go as planned.

Also. This post is not written in any way to be offensive, condescending, or judgmental. It is merely an expression of my belief and the goal I am shooting for. :) Blame it on my minor in marriage and family studies.

Sometimes date night feels kind of pointless as a newlywed because every night is just the two of us anyways... But the point is that we are setting an important pattern. I am sure it will be a blessing to our marriage later in life.

Ok. Soapbox over.


Our Friday date night last week needed to be a quick one because we had family coming into town. We decided on geocaching and ice cream cones. We found two caches and got two ice cream cones.

We love geocaching! And two dollar dates!

 Quote of the night: Man! When you sing with Celine, you just sound better, ya know!?

We may or may not have had a few rousing sing-alongs in the car.


I also believe FHE is essential.


For FHE on Monday, we watched a Mormon Message and went on a "Pocanut" Hunt! (My youngest sister used to call pinecones, pocanuts.)

I wanted them for crafts. (Which I will post pictures of soon, hopefully.)

Logan saw this perfect pinecone. The only problem is that it was still attached. So he started throwing our keys at it. ... Flip flops are really good at getting keys AND pinecones out of trees. ;)

We found the mother load of [unattached] pinecones after much searching.

Fact: Pinecones smell REALLY good if you bake them in the oven for a few minutes to get them to open up. 200 degrees for 10 to 20 minutes on a foil-lined baking sheet. Mmmm!

Canning Peaches and Pears, OH MY!!

Fact: There is a Wizard of Oz allusion available for every situation.

The last two days have been consumed with canning. I'm a well-seasoned noob now. But still a [major] noob. I forgot to take any pear canning pictures. So here is me creepily posing with a jar. 

Canning pears is not my favorite. 

Here's why. You know when you're peeling a potato, and you're almost to the end... And the dang thing is just so slippery that it is hard to hold onto? Well, pears are worse. They jump out of your hands. 

Fact: I am pear-peeling challenged. Shawna, my MiL, can peel two and cut out the centers of three in the time that I can peel one. She's the boss. 

But, I have to admit that I DO love pulling the stems out of the pears. That is quite satisfying. 

I enjoy peaches a little more. Possibly because I like eating them more... and blanching is involved. 

First you wash them. 

Then you blanch them so the skins come off easily. 

Usually, the best canning peaches are Elberta peaches because they slip right out of their skins, but we couldn't get them this year. So we got O'Henry and Elegant Lady. (Or "Pretty Ladies" as Logan says.) O'Henrys peel ok, but Elegant Ladies... Oh boy. They're way high maintenance. 

 With Elegant Lady peaches, you CAN and SHOULD rush Blanch.

Peeling is my favorite part. It's like peeling the dead skin off of a sunburn. ... But gooey and peachy smelling. Ok. That sounds super gross outside of my mind... But trust me, it's good. I think I dreamt about peeling peaches last night.

You cut them and pit them, cover them in sugar water, then stick them in the canner.

And Ta Da! Dozens of peaches. Peaches for me. Boxes of peaches. Peaches for [not quite] free!

I love the nice rosy color of these peaches. It's like a peachy sunset in a jar.

Just remember: You can't can more than you can. But you can can as much as you can.

Hairy Things... Like Corn and Beards.

Remember all of those vegetables? Well, I found a great first use for my enameled dutch oven. My first attempt at vegetable soup was pretty decent. :) And I loved this dutch oven. Best soup-cooking pot ever.

Saturday was corn day in the Searle families. The farm plants lots of corn for silage for cow feed. But, they also plant a few rows of sweet corn for canning and human-consumption purposes. Logan and Kelly (FiL) woke up early and filled 6 huge bags of corn.

We shucked (or "husked," as the Searles say) all of them right on the bed of a truck for easy clean up.

Lots of flies. Lots of hair (silk). Lot's of fun.

And lots and LOTS of corn!

 One of the best things about canning corn (which is actually freezing it, not canning) is that there is a ton of corny humor to be used. More and more of it was used as the day went longer and we got a little slap happy.

Please take a moment to enjoy this awkward picture of me holding a cobb. #frizzyhairdontcare

The summarized process goes like this:
Wash corn. Blanch corn. (Put in boiling water for 3 minutes, then an ice bath to cool.) Cut all of the kernels off. Put in bags. Freeze. Consume as desired.

Logan and I were on sink duty. We washed and cooled the corn. Logan earned the nickname "Blanch" because he really got in the blanching zone and took over Momma's job of boiling.

Rule number one of corn freezing: "You can't rush Blanch."

Brittni and Jill were the "kernels" of the operation. They stuck the blanched cobs on a long nail sticking up through a board and used these little, round cutty things (Yes, that is the technical name...) to de-kernify (also a totally technical term...) the corn.

They were speedy pros. They were sometimes "a little board" (hehe) because Blanch was too slow. You can't rush Blanch.

You gotta love a man in an apron. Especially a man named Blanch. ;)

We laughed. We cried. But, in the end, we triumphed. 

Last night for FHE we decided that it was time to cut Logan's hair and shave the beard. :( He wanted to start Hogwarts... I mean September off clean-shaven. We had quite a bit of fun with it.

Enjoy these mug shots. (Beware: Shoulder nudity. Super offensive.)

Before:

During: (Yikes!)

Hitler/ Charlie Chaplin moment:

Clean shaven baby face. :)

Remember to eat your vegetables! And if you have none, come eat some of ours!