Hormones Create Soapbox Rants...

I hope I'm not about to jinx myself here when I tell you that this pregnancy has really been an easy one so far. I'm occasionally queasy, often tired, and have the usual little aches and pains, but I am feeling great now that I am well into the 2nd trimester. I'm about halfway through week 17 (out of 40).

We'll have an ultrasound to determine gender in a couple of weeks. I've had a little bump for a while, but a few days ago, I really popped out all of a sudden. Now, it's fairly apparent that I'm pregnant. Also, I cannot reiterate it enough. If you've never been pregnant before, just take a picture of your belly button before you get big. You'll thank me later. It will never be the same. Mine is already sticking out this time. Seriously.


And I need to soapbox for a second. This lady at the store went on and on about how TINY I am the other day. My answer was, "Yeah, it always seems that way to other people, doesn't it?" To which she just kept telling me, rather forcefully, that I was SOOO tiny.

It is never a compliment to continually insist that someone's opinion or feeling is wrong and that your's is right. Ever. And usually when someone is insisting to a thin person that they are tiny/skinny/perfect/etc, it's not a compliment either.
What they say: You're SOOO tiny! Seriously.
What they mean: You're skinny so you have no problems or body image issues, so quit acting like you can even talk about anything like that. I'm the authority here on your body and feelings, not you.

And when it comes to pregnancy, I've never understood why it's all of a sudden ok to comment on a person's size just because they are pregnant. (As if pregnant ladies don't have feelings. PLEASE. We have more feelings than we can handle, which is why commercials and food make us cry.) A couple of my sisters are very thin and they get really big bellies in the late stages of pregnancy. People point and laugh and make comments in the store like, "Woah, you need to see a doctor right away. Something's wrong with you!"

Do you see me walking up to an overweight man in the store and rubbing his belly and telling him he needs to see a doctor? No. Because it wouldn't be funny or polite. Guess what random grocery store shoppers. It's not funny or polite to do it to a pregnant lady either. Just saying.

And when people have really small pregnancy bumps, it's the same attitude as talking to a thin person.
What they say: You are so lucky. You don't even look pregnant. I'm HUGE!
What they mean: You're not massive, therefore, you have no problems and nothing to complain about. In fact, why don't you just stand there and let me tell you how right I am about you because you have a small belly.

I'm not even close to being the only person who feels this way. In fact, I've never talked to a pregnant lady who likes hearing (especially from strangers) that they are MASSIVE or TINY. And is this blog going to do anything to fix the problem? Nope!

I just wanted to write a little PSA in case anyone actually didn't know that pregnant people (or really any people [yes, including "skinny" people]) don't like to have their body shape and size examined out loud by other people. I think a lot of people don't think about it before they say anything or they think they're being funny. And some people mean well. And yes, it's my job to get over it and not let it bother me. But I'm just sayin.


Soapbox over.


The only things that really make me feel like I am pregnant are my dreams and my cravings/aversions. [And let's not talk about my hormones. The soapbox explains that one for you. ;) ]


Last night... well, early this morning, I had a dream that Logan didn't want to sleep next to me so he moved out to the guest house to sleep on the couch. [Because we totally have a guesthouse next to our apartment... you know.] In reality, he just left for work.

A few weeks ago I dreamt that my best friend, who is getting married in August, got married in this leotard dress with pom pom sleeves, and was magically a piano prodigy. [She doesn't even play the piano.]

And the worst one was getting bitten by a rattlesnake when I opened a cupboard and reached in. [But apparently my brother had already "neutralized" the venom... ? So I survived?]

I could never explain the detail in these dreams. But that last one, haunted me for days. It felt so REAL.


I have gained almost no weight, mainly because food has just been the enemy with me this pregnancy. Most of the time food just sounds terrible, even when I'm hungry. One or two completely random things may sound edible, but other than that, I'm just cramming food down to fill my belly. It was not like this when I was pregnant with Audrey.

The other day, I had a bowl of peas for second breakfast. Pizza hot pockets are a staple for breakfast. Ice cream almost always sounds ok. Logan did have to go out late one night for a doughnut with chocolate frosting. [I don't normally like doughnuts at all.] I could drink pickle juice by the gallon. The pickles are OK, but the JUICE!! MMmmmm. [Pause for a break while I go gulp some.] Meat almost never sounds good, except for chicken and hamburgers.

I've learned to get around this by making a list of foods and just making sure that dinner is something that sounds good to Logan that night, and forking it down whether it seems like food to me or not. But some days, I just have to have what I'm craving.

Yesterday it was Mexican beans and rice. Logan is so patient with these unpredictable and inconvenient cravings. So, we went to a Mexican place near us. He ordered a tostada, but didn't realize it was going to be the size of a medium pizza! Largest tostada I've ever seen. I guess that's his reward for being so kind to his crazy wife.


Audrey is as talkative and sweet as ever at 14 months old. She's been especially worried about where Daddy is all day lately. We have long [repetitive] conversations about this all day. She's working on cutting her 9th and 10th teeth, which is always a blast. And she brings me shoes to put on her feet all day.

The other day, I had her all dressed and ready to swim in the pool at our apartment. We walked over there to find it closed. Since she was already in a swim diaper, (those things DO NOT keep pee in) I had to think fast. So I pulled out a big Tupperware box we have and filled it up on the porch. It was totally redneck and the neighbors stared, but she LOVED it. We are looking forward to getting back to ID where our baby pool lives though, and where we don't constantly get secondhand marajuana smoke in our faces. [Legal in Washington.]


For the most part, Audrey and I hanging out here all day does not inspire any great blog posts, especially not anything farm related. We look forward to being out of this very... stationary and secluded stage soon [check out that alliteration] when we head back to the farm in August.

However, I relearned recently how weird farmers truly are. I was talking to Logan on the phone and he casually told me he was currently shaking potato plants.  .... You're what? Why? He shakes a potato plant, and counts the bugs that fall from it. What was even more weird to me than that is that it isn't weird for me to hear stuff like that anymore and it makes sense.


Remember to check tostada sizes before you order them, to be kind about other people's bodies, and to thank a farmer for finding joy in shaking potato plants so we can have delicious things like french fries that don't have diseases.

Baby Weather

[Insert great news jingle here]

Special Weather Report

We’ve been having some pretty severe weather in our area this week.

       

We’ve had scattered spit ups and a bout of blowouts. There has also been severe screaming and gusts of giggles. We’ve been especially lucky to enjoy bursts of babbling and an extended cover of cooing.

Readers are advised never to enter the storm area without a full-body hazmat suit. People may say that it is safe to enter armed only with a burp cloth, but this is simply untrue. The precipitation can and will find it’s way over, around, and under said burp cloth and onto any inch of skin or fabric within a 1-mile radius. Tarps covering any surface may also be advised.

    

One recent blowout was so severe that it affected 6 separate areas in the vicinity. Affected areas included: the couch, Mom’s pants, the burp cloth, the rug, the playmat, and the baby herself. Surprisingly enough, the outfit on said baby was unaffected. Miracles do happen, folks. (Proof below. Spot the blowout site.)

    

It has been reported that the residents are taking the damages with an excellent attitude. Their coping methods include blogging about it, laughing, taking pictures, and using lots and LOTS of wipes. The reported damages have already been repaired and spirits are high on the premises.

This Special Weather Report was brought to you by Your Local News 3. Your best source on all things Searle.

Up Next… The Waving Reflex

Ok, thanks for humoring me. (Not that you had a choice.) I hope you read that in your very best news caster voice. If you didn’t, I must insist that you start over and do so. It really adds to the effect. ;)

We’ve been back on the farm for almost a week now. It is just crazy how quickly we transition back into this life. We got here in the evening. Logan helped me unload the car, threw on his farm boy clothes, and was out the door and on the 4-wheeler in less than 5 minutes. Harvest is well underway, and the grain dust is giving us gorgeous sunsets every night.

The next morning as Audrey and I drove out to ride with him for a little while, I noticed that my waving reflex is alive and well. I thought living in the big city [Haha… Rexburg…] would have gotten rid of the reflex, but this isn’t the case.

Around here, on these country roads, everyone waves to each other as they pass. It doesn’t matter if you know them or not. You just wave. Another thing that is different about driving here is that it is VERY common to be driving down the road and come across a slow truck, combine, 4-wheeler, or tractor. Instead of it being something that people get really frustrated about and lay on the horn… it’s just another reason to wave. You wave in thanks and understanding as they move over so you can pass them.

Say what you will about the evils of a small town. As for me, I love the sense of community and the slower pace of this life.

We like being here even if the Harvest Widow life is even harder when you’ve got a 3-month-old. I’m sure it’ll get even tougher as we acquire more children.

Audrey will be 3 months old tomorrow! We had a bit of a weight gain battle in the first couple of months, but we are now supplementing, and she is gaining weight and growing up so fast! It was really hard for me to have to supplement Audrey. I really wanted to exclusively breastfeed. It has been difficult and emotional from the start, which I know is really normal for breastfeeding. But, she simply wasn’t getting what she needed, despite constant eating. She was losing weight without ever having regained her birth weight. But, since we started adding some formula into the mix, she has been plumping up and is getting back on track. She still nurses pretty well and will take the bottle too. She likes to keep me guessing and switch up which one she is going to prefer every time she eats though. ;) It’s been hard to do both, but for now, it is working for us.

Audrey loves to talk, laugh, and sing along when Mom is singing to her. She loves Mr Lion and all of her books. She is a Daddy’s girl to the core, and looks more and more like him every day. She is currently boycotting long naps, early bedtime (this means any time before 11:30), and any semblance of a regular schedule. She sleeps through the night and is often a happy little girl.

We blessed her on July 3rd. It was a wonderful experience, and we were surrounded by lots of friends and family.

A few assorted pictures...

         

I can now lay on my stomach! I can lift things again. I still have really messed up abs. I tried doing some ab workouts the other day and it still really hurts my incision. Random things tend to do that. We'll get there eventually. I'm glad to be feeling more back to normal. Although, I must say that I'm not sure I would have been quite so excited about my little 16 week baby bump if I knew my belly would continue to look about that big this long after having Audrey... ;)

I am learning all about humility and exhaustion. I am learning to find joy in the mundane and the repetitive. Some days are better than others. But Audrey ‘s smiles and laughs really buoy me up. It’s really fun now that she likes having “sophisticated” conversations with me all day. AND I am really lucky to have awesome family and a loving and supportive husband. I’ve learned just how awesome he really is since he’s been out of the house all day and into the night. I love you, Logan. Thanks for calling me during the day and keeping me sane. And thanks for working so hard all day. You da best!

I’ve most especially learned a lot about how our Heavenly Father feels about us, His children. Being a parent truly does bring us closer to Him if we let it.

Here is your semi-regular, end-of-blog, unsolicited tip:

The Fels-Naptha laundry bar is AMAZING! It is a buck at Wal-Mart and gets poop stains out like a dream. (I’ve also heard that it does wonders on grass stains.) As far as I’m concerned, it could only make me happier if it folded my laundry for me. ;) 

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.

Farming 101

Life is different here. And if you want to fit in with the farmers, you've gotta know some things.

Here are a few observations of this family farm:


1) Truck vs. pickup

If your vehicle only has 4 wheels, it is not a truck. It might be a pickup, but it is not a truck. If your vehicle has 10 wheels, it can now be labeled a truck.

2) Not your pickup? Oh well.

If you need a ride somewhere or if someone needs to be picked up, you never walk. It takes too long. You hop in the nearest vehicle and drive there. It doesn't really matter who's it is. It's unlocked and the keys are in the car. Just take it, and make sure you bring it back sometime or let the owner know where you left it.

3) The lingo

Repeat after me:

Canal. 
How do you pronounce this word? Nope. You're saying it wrong.
It's can-ell.

Corral.
Yep. You're saying this one wrong too. Silly, city folk.
It's correll. Or crell, if you're in a hurry.

Jockey box.
Also known as the glove box/compartment in your car.

The [noun] needs [verbbed].
Examples: The car needs washed.
The lawn needs mowed.
The chickens need fed.
The laundry needs done.

The "to be" doesn't need added in the sentence.

I particularly enjoy this one. I have a B.A. in English. The language quirks are my favorite. No sarcasm.

4) City folk

If you're not from here or another farming community, you are considered a "city girl/boy." This one was really funny to me. I'm from the suburbs in Colorado. I'm from a town, not a city. But, hey. I don't make the labels, I just fit them. Haha

5) Milk

Milk should be and will be consumed with every meal. (Except at our house, where the doctrine of juice has also been adopted.) Water? That's just the stuff you replenish your sweat with during work hours.

6) Flies

I thought I knew what it was like to be annoyed by flies. Nope. You don't know flies until it's grain harvest AND you have cows in your backyard. Bad combo.

Welcome to the life of upside down table settings and fly tape. The life of squeezing through the smallest gap in the door you can with your arms full of groceries and dropping half of them to get the door closed before they buzz in to multiply and replenish your house. Welcome to the life of always having a fly swatter near you, and vacuuming up fly carcasses daily. And mostly, welcome to the life of waking up from every nap you take every 30 seconds to swat a fly from your face.

It's always the face.

7) Harvest widows

I don't know if I was just out of the loop, but I didn't know about the super long harvest hours until my bridal shower up here when everyone congratulated me on my upcoming stint as a farmer's widow. Let's just say that we had dinner when Logan got home at 10:30 PM last night. And that was average. We pretty much only see each other to eat and to sleep.

8) December babies

In the Searle family, there are 5 babies due in December this year. To quote one of the mother's-to-be: "Man, it just goes to show when farmers aren't busy." Between harvest and planting.

9) More terminology

Pivot
One of those big, long sprinkler lines on wheels that waters a field in a wedge or a half-circle like a windshield wiper. This is also used as a measurement. "We had to walk the whole pivot-length of the field to get the cow, and it wasn't even ours!" "We finished a whole pivot [of harvesting] in field 4 today." Sometimes these are called linears too. I don't understand the difference.

Wheel line 
The straight line of sprinklers on wheels that go straight across the field.

Hand line
Big pipes that you move by hand that water the field.

10) The balance

None of these "rules" are set in stone or super enforced because farmers are laid back. They aren't uptight about anything. It is an interesting dichotomy because they work so hard and don't know how to not work EVER, but they are so chill about everything. It is a balance that I someday hope to master.


Congratulations! You now have some "field cred" for the farm! (Like street cred, but better, obviously.)

Two Kinds of Farmers

There are two kinds of farmers in this world. ... Well, in this town, at least.

The ones who wear cowboy boots and cowboy hats, and the ones who wear baseball caps and work boots/ irrigating boots.

I married into a family of the latter half.

Say hello to my first baseball cap.

Yeah. This is a pretty big deal.