A Sick Weekend

Long weekend Yay! Or so I thought. Matt and I woke up with colds this weekend and I spent the weekend feeling less than good. Sick and pregnant is pretty much the worst. I'm still feeling crummy today, but I still have to go to work. That is what I get for being the income for my household. Matt used to go to work sick all the time and I thought he was crazy. I still think that actually. I wish I was home in bed. Alas that I have not yet accrued any sick days. Someday maybe, someday.

Last Friday was date night with the sisters. Marie, Sarah, Myself, and Krista took our guys out on a date. We went to Olive Garden for dinner. I brought Nicoley O with me because I had missed her all day and didn't want to be away from her for the night two. It was fun to have a night out, but I was nauseated the whole time and did not get to enjoy my dinner very much. Everyone was suppose to head over to the dollar theater to watch Eclipse, but I opted out because I was just feeling crummy. No point in going to a movie just to feel miserable the whole time. I would rather go and relax. So, we headed over to Mom and Dad Kimball's and hung out with them for a little while.

Saturday was Kristy's bridal shower. I wish that I had been more help for the shower, but I have been working and sick, so I really just brought the drinks. Anne and Momma Kimball did a great job! The food was brunchy and delicious. Kristi got some good kitchen gifts and seemed to have a good time.

After the shower, I raced up to Saratoga Springs for Jakers' baptism. I can't believe my nieces and nephews are getting so old! The baptism was good, but it was crowded! There were like 15 kids getting baptised that day and it was a game of rotating rooms the whole time. One room was too crowded and super hot and not fun.

I came home after the baptism to my daughter and wonderful husband. I love spending time with them more than anyone else! Matt, being the kind husband that he is bought me a mattress pad in hopes that it would help me sleep at night. It is this gel like pad that is super soft. But, after sleeping on it for a night and a half, I was done. That thing hurt my back like nothing else! Halfway through the second night, I was in so much pain I just left the bed and went downstairs to sleep on the love sac. It was a sweet thought, but that thing is going back to the store.

Sunday was a relaxy day, mostly because both Matt and I are sick. Then, on Monday, we traveled up to Riverton to go to their Walmart. They were the closest Walmart with a particular item that Matt wanted to finally get us the internet. The days of mooching off our neighbors wireless are over, we finally have our own internet!

We stopped at Ikea on our way back because I had never been there before. It was interesting how you are forced to walk along a path and they purposefully make you lost in that store. Nicole was good the whole time, which is really what matters most. One thing I have discovered about Ikea, all the furniture is made for small people. The couches, tables, chairs, everything is really short and small. I felt like a giant in a store for midgets.

Later in the day, we headed over to Marie's so that I could take some preggo pics of her. I am really not a photographer and don't know how to pose people. I hope that some of the pics turn out for her. We had to leave as soon as the picture taking was done because I felt terrible with allergies and being sick. I feel like my allergies are worse everytime I go over to Marie's house. I am not a fan of cats, but Nicole loves to got over to Mee Mee's and chase the cats.

I'm at work today and feeling crummy, but at least it is a short week.

Happy and Sick!

Matt and I are happy to announce that we are going to be adding to our family! Baby number two is due to arrive in April of next year. We are both really happy!

I am, of course, sick and feel pretty crappy, but I would say that I feel a little bit better than when I was pregnant with Nicole. I am 7.5 weeks along, so it is still all very new. I have quite a while before I begin to feel better.

Matt and I feel very blessed to have both a job and a baby coming. Things definitely are looking better for us.

Miss Nicoley

I've realized lately that Nicole is no longer a little baby, but rather a sweet little girl (most days anyway). I miss spending my days with her so much. I feel like I am going to get out of my groove with her. I am usually able to interpret what she wants/needs by her cries or her attitude, but as I don't see her everyday, I'm losing my touch. Luckily, her communication is getting better all the time.

She has been getting in her molars on the top and bottom because she can't get just one at a time, she likes to get them all at once. So, last night she went down at 7pm. We thought, "Yay, she is going to bed early." But, I should have known better. She woke up at 9pm like she had just taken a really late nap. Ugh. She was crying when she woke up, so I asked her, "What's wrong, what hurts?" And she said, "Teef." At least she was able to tell me that her teeth hurt.

I think that she understands a lot more than she likes to let on. Sometimes, she will respond to my questions and it is like we understand each other. Then, other times, she pretends that she doesn't know her own name. I think she communicates when it suits her, not when it suits me.

Stolen

I stole this from a friend's blog and filled it out myself. Shhhh, don't tell.

What is your favorite childhood book?
There is a Monster at the End of This Book: My Dad used to read this book to us when we were kids and he had a great Grover voice. I always loved this book because of the way that he read it. I haven't read it to Nicole yet, but I bet my Grover voice is severely lacking.

What are you reading right now?
Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card. I have read all of the Ender and Shadow books, so I finally am reading this one. My sister Sarah had the book and she was suppose to hand it off to me when she was done reading it. Instead, she put it on her bookshelf and forgot about it. I recently went to her apartment and raided her bookshelf. That's what she gets.
What books do you have on request at the library?
Too many to count, but I never seem to be the one who gets the book. I must be doing something wrong when I hold a book. I usually find someone to borrow the book I want from. Library shmibrary.

Do you have any bad book habits?
I break the binding of my paper backs. I like to hold the book with one hand and it usually breaks or creases the binding. When I am reading a borrowed book, I have to be extra careful not to hurt the binding. If everyone broke the binding, then I wouldn't have to worry. Curse you non-bad habiters!
What do you currently have checked out at the library?
Fablehaven book 4.

Do you have an e-reader?
A what?

Do you prefer to read one book at a time or several at once?
I usually read only one book at a time, but I find myself getting bored by books more easily as of late. So, I am reading a few at a time. Usually, it is one I really want to read and then one that I read when there is nothing else to read.
Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
Not really. I guess I get better book referrals since starting a blog because other people blog about the books they have read.

What is your least favorite book you’ve read this year (so far)?
Glasswrights Apprentice by someone that I don't remember. I borrowed this book from Kelli and it was painful to read. I hated it! I almost didn't finish it, but I ran out of other books to read, so I just gave up and read it. But, I felt no need to read the rest of the books in the series. Boring!

What is your favorite book you’ve read this year?
I have read so many good ones this year. But, it is probably Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Or, maybe City of Ashes by that other girl.

How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
Almost never. I used to read required stuff for school, but I graduated 4 years ago and I don't have to read lame books anymore.

What is your reading comfort zone?
Fantasy! With a dash of SciFi.

Can you read on the bus?
Only if I want to vomit. Who takes the bus anymore? Buy a car cheepo!

Where is your favorite place to read?
Bed. I love snuggling up with a book.

What is your policy on book lending?
I lend books all the time, but I won't lend ones that are signed.

Do you ever dog-ear books?
That is like using your book as a lunch table!

Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
When I was in school I wrote in the margins all the time. I would look for books with writing already in them because I liked to read what other people thought about the book. Margin notes gave me great insights.
What is your favorite language to read in?
Wait, books come in different languages? What's the point in that?

What makes you love a book?
Plot and character development. But, lets face it, there has to be romance in the book or it just isn't worth it. It was difficult getting through RA Salvators books because the romance doesn't start until the 16th book in the series.

What will inspire you to recommend a book?
If I was so riveted by the book that I couldn't put it down and couldn't wait for the next book in the series, then it is recommendation worthy.

What is your favorite genre?
Young Adult, Fantasy

What genre do you rarely read (but wish you did)?
I never read the classics because they are mostly boring, but sometimes I wish that I had read more of them. You would think that I had read most of them because I was an English major, but really teachers are branching out in their required reading. I'm guessing that it is because they don't want to teach the same ol' books that they were required to read back in school.

What is your favorite biography?
I don't think I've read one. I probably have for a report or something back in grade school, but nothing recently.

Have you ever read a self-help book?
Yeah, The Five Love Languages. I really enjoyed it and it was very informative. I am Acts of Service.

What is your favorite cookbook?
Allrecipes.com
Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
I don't think that the books I read are inspirational so much as entertaining. Sooo... the Nursery Lesson Book.

What is your favorite reading snack?
Pizza. I know, it doesn't seem like a snack but it is, oh yes, it is.

Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
Breaking Dawn. Lotta hype, not a very good book.

How often do you agree with critics about a book?
Wait, there are book critics? How do I get that job?

How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
Good, I feel good about it.

What is the most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
I once took a Virginia Wolfe class and we "read" 13 of her books. They were all difficult to read and I really only finished reading one of the books. I was very much a BS student. Read just enough to be able to write a paper.

What is the most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
Moby Dick, Great Expectations, Name a classic, I'm probably not gonna read it.

Who is your favorite Poet?
Robert Frost? No, Shel Silverstein; excellent poet.

How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
For me? One. Nicole? Many.

How often have you returned a book to the library unread?
Lots. Some books are boring.

Who is your favorite fictional character?
Jacob Black... mmmmm...

Who is your favorite fictional villain?
The best villain is always the one that you love first. So, Lex Luthor, from Smallville. I know it is not a fictional character from a book, but I don't care.

What books are you most likely to bring on vacation?
Whatever I am reading. Usually 2-3 books.

What is the longest you’ve gone without reading?
My pregnancy. I was not into reading and I think I only read one book near the beginning of the pregnancy and then didn't read for 9 months.

Name a book that you could/would not finish.
Too many to count. Probably just about everything that I read for school.

What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
Nothing. I read everywhere. I read while I walk. I've trained myself to read anywhere.
What is your favorite film adaptation of a novel?
The Lord of the Rings, Return of the King. Still my all time favorite movie!

Most disappointing film adaptation?
Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief.

How much is the most you’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
500 on text books. Curse you school!

How often do you skim a book before reading it?
Never.
What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
Graphic sex, excessive bad language.

Do you like to keep your books organized?
Not really. My bookshelf is beyond full, so I just started stacking them everywhere.

Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
Keep because I read them again and again. I always forget what I have read. Bad memory. I can read a book a couple years after I originally read it and it is like reading it for the first time.

Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Sure, everything non fantasy.

Name a book that made you angry.
Breaking Dawn.... lame!

Name a book you didn’t expect to like but did.

Native Son. Don't remember the author, but I loved the book and it was required reading.

Name a book that you expected to like but didn’t.

A bunch of the books that Tamara Pierce wrote. I like her writing, but some of her books are dumb.

What is your favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
Twilight, obviously. Harry Potter, of course. I have read them so many times, it is too many to count. Probably around 7-10 times.

Missing My Matt Face

Matt and DJ went to Washington on Friday to drive back one of his parent's cars. Mom and Dad Kimball are moving here next week! We are all very excited about this move and Matt was more than happy to fly out just to drive back.

The good thing about this weekend is that I have Nicole all to myself. I love her so stinkin much and I have really missed her! I have loved this time that we have had together.

Yesterday we spent the whole day with Marie and Anthon. I went over in the morning to help Marie clean her house. I know that it is difficult to perform chores while 9 months pregnant. So, I helped clean, then I helped her shop. Nicole was very tolerant of it all. She was really good. She even took both of her naps at Marie's house. Since Marie is all set up for having a baby, it made it easy to have Nicole there. Marie has everything Nicole needed. Nicole let me know when it was time to go home though. She picked up my purse and said "Go go go. Bye bye."

Today, Nicole and I have been lounging around. Well, I have been cooking a lot. I think I cook when I really miss Matt. I made three loaves of banana bread, ham and squash quiche, and ham and cauliflower soup. I really needed to use up my ham I had in the fridge, so I went overboard on the ham dishes. I still have enough ham left for a ham and potato pie later in the week.

Marie and Anthon are coming over tonight to keep my company as Matt won't be back until late tonight. Sigh, I miss him.

Hurry Up and Slow Down

One of the most annoying things about my new job is the hurry up to slow down effect. There is a major rush to get things done and deliver them to development, then there is a big lull with nothing to do until I get my edits back from development. Then, I have to hurry to get the changes back to them... then I slow down again and wait. I forgot that this was a thing with tech writing.

Someone is always waiting on someone else in order to complete their work. Development can't make the build without my work, I can't do my work without their edits... it is all very yo-yo, as in I feel as if I'm being pulled up and down to complete my work. But, on the bright side, the work is not too difficult, just time consuming.

I miss my Nicole. It was so much easier just being with her all day. No deadlines, just mealtimes. No pressure, just playing and having fun. Plus, the naps were a glorious time. Apparently, companies frown upon their employees taking naps during the day, lame! Though being a mom can be stressful at times with the lots of whining, I prefer that to deadlines stressful. I miss her!

New Job

My new job is great! I am super busy because even though I just started, I already have a deadline! But, the people are nice and the environment is good. Right now I don't have a desk so much as a card table in an open area. But I have been promised that I will be moving to a more permanent location soon.

There is free food all the time, free drinks, and I get all the office supplies that I need right away. It is very different from my last company in those respects. They definitely roll out the red carpet when it comes to equipment and food.

Thus far, things are good, but super busy. Back to work!

First Day

It is my first day of work! I am nervous, excited, and really sad. I'm sad because I will miss Nicoley. But, I know that her daddy will take good care of her. Big breath in, and go.

The Hunt is Over!

I finally got a job! I was offered the technical writer position for AccessData, a forensic software company. It is perfect. I get to write, which is what I love to do, it is close to home, and it offers the money that we need to support ourselves. I am very excited! I start on Monday, which is quite soon, but I wasn't about to say no. Matt and I are both very happy and grateful for this offer.

Though I am happy about the job, it is also very bitter sweet. This means that in just a few days, Matt and I will be switching roles; he will be stay at home dad and I'm going to be bringing home the bacon. I will miss my sweet little Nicole so very much. I love her so very much and I'm sad to know that I won't get to spend my days with her. Plus, Matt starts night school soon, so we probably won't see each other much during the day as I will be gone during the day and he will be gone at night. Hello new phase of our life. Even though it will be challenging, I know that it will be worth it to get Matt through school so that we may always have a steady income.

It is such a relief to have this finally happen. But, now I have the fear and nervousness that comes with starting something new and challenging. The job does require a lot of travel, which will be a whole other challenge, but I am eager to start.

Thanks for all the love and support that everyone has given me! I love you all.

I hate the wait

The most annoying part of job hunting, the waiting. I interviewed for a technical writer position yesterday and I really want it, though I know that I am not perfect for the job because I don't know anything about networking (curse you perry the platapus!). But, I love to write and I want to write. That is what I am good at.

I asked when they would be making their decision and was told today. I hate the wait though! I want to just call them and know already. But, logically, I know that I should wait until at least the later half of the day, if not tomorrow. I know that it is a long shot, but I want it. I don't want to work as a receptionist or in a menial paper pushing job (I would for the right pay, but it is not ideal).

I interviewed on Friday with my uncle Darin's company and they offered me the job. I turned it down yesterday because it was just not enough money to pay the mortgage. Matt and I have been getting help with some of our bills and we really want to be able to not have to ask for help anymore, sustain ourselves. Matt is working for about 11.00/hr + bonuses, so I would have to make around 14 to make it worth it for Matt to quit his current labor. I feel bad turning down jobs, especially ones that are outright handed to me, but I have to think big picture.

So, I continue waiting...

Feeding the Shadow

Nicole discovered her shadow last night, but she thinks it is just another baby. Last night she was drinking her bottle when she started putting the bottle up to the wall. I didn't know what she was doing at first, but then I realized she was trying to feed the shadow her bottle.

I tried taking a picture, only to realize that the shadow disappears when the flash goes off and it just looks like she is putting her bottle up to the wall. So, I took a video, but it is pretty dark because it had to be dark enough for a shadow to show up. Matt and I just laughed because it was so stinkin funny.

So So Tired

Nicole started getting her molars this week. I could feel them coming in her gums and she has been extra cry face as of late. She woke up at 1am this morning with a fever of 103.7. Yikes! That is just too high for my little one. We immediately got her into a cool bath, to which she freaked out because she hates cool baths. I was up with her until 4am. She woke back up at 6am and Matt was up with her until 7:30am. She has been in and out of sleep since then and her fever hung around 102 until about 9am.

I finally started getting a little nap myself when my phone rang. The good news is that it was a call for a tech writing job interview. The bad news is that I am now awake and not napping. I have to get ready for an office manager interview anyway. Hopefully Matt will be home soon so I can pass off my parenting duties and go to the interview like I've actually had more then three hours of sleep.

Starting Over

I'm starting to feel like Matt and I are starting over. When we got married, we both had good jobs and ample money and we were able to buy a house within a few months of getting married. Most young married couples don't have the opportunity to do this. I look at Sarah and Johnny who married not long after Matt and I and they are still renting and going to school and living at a minimum. Matt and I are kinda starting over and living that low income way that most couples do even though we have been married for three years.

I have to say, I would rather have started out with nothing and worked for more rather than having a lot and then losing it. Retreating is a lot more difficult than the other. But, I expect that this experience will lead Matt and I to learn more about each other and we will have a better marriage for it.

Matt starts school soon, which will be weird for both of us I am sure. I graduated four years ago and Matt stopped his schooling 5 years ago. A return to school feels weird. Even though I will not be taking the classes or doing the homework, I will be right there next to Matt watching him do it and helping when it is possible. Hopefully, this little journey of ours will not take more than a couple years to complete. We both know that this is the right decision for us.

Some days are harder than others when facing the unknown, but today is a better day. I will continue to have faith that the Lord will care for the things that we really need. Thank you for all your prayers and the help that has been provided.

Nervous

Today I am feeling nervous. Perhaps this nervousness will pass tomorrow, but for today it remains. I have been job searching for three months now to no avail. The few tech writing jobs out there that have actually responded to my resume will now not take my calls to verify if the job has been filled. Some people might wait patiently for a response, but I have decided to call them... a lot. I figure if I call enough, someone might actually answer.

School starts next month for Matt. He will be attending UVU. Unfortunately, the math credit that he earned back in the stone age is no longer viable. So, he has to take a math test to get those credits back. But, he can't register for many of his core classes until he has that math credit. Stupid school rules. Hopefully everything will turn out with that.

Once Matt starts school, he will no longer be working during the days, so the pressure is really on for me to find some sort of income, which makes me nervous. I really hope something will happen soon. I apply for jobs most every day, but I usually do not get responses. I quit my babysitting job so that I could focus on the real job getting. It is difficult to schedule interviews and such when you are tied to watching a kid twice a week. This has reduced my stress a little.

Matt enjoys working in the HVAC business for now. He is actually pretty good at it. We are very grateful to Anthon for providing the work, but it won't last forever as school will be starting up soon. I am really hoping that we qualify for a student loan. That will ease some of our financial burden.

I was hoping that this post would help me vent some of my nervousness... but no, it is still there.

My Quilting Efforts

For Christmas last year, Momma Kimball gave me a quilting book because I wanted to learn how to quilt. Naturally, I felt the best way to learn how to quilt was from a book. This did not prove to be as simple as I thought it would. Apparently, there are all sorts of tricks and tips that books do not always provide.

When I found out Marie was pregnant, this provided me the perfect opportunity to make my very first quilt for her baby. I figured that a baby quilt would be nice and small and a good project to start with.

So, Marie went shopping with me and we picked out some fabric for the quilt and me and my book did the math to figure out how much fabric and the type of pattern I wanted to do. I didn't want my first quilt to be too simple of a pattern because that is boring and not challenging at all. Sarah made a quilt with her in-laws before she got married and it turned out really cute, but it was just squares sewed together. Thus, I decided to go with a windmill pattern. Don't know what this is? Just keep reading.

So, first thing I had to learn to do was cut out the squares using my brand new cutting mat and rotary cutter, compliments of Momma Kimball's gift card she sent me. I messed up right away and accidentally cut my backing rather than my squares... oops. Then, I messed up again when I cut all my squares with a 1/2 inch extra for seams when I should have added more seam allowance for the smaller pieces. Luckily, I anticipated my own messing up and had bought extra fabric for such an occasion. I eventually got it right and cut my squares accurately.

Then I had to cut my squares into triangles and some of my triangles into smaller triangles. Then came the sewing, the hard part. My first square that I pieced together was awful. I had to redo it three times before I even got the pattern right and even then the corners didn't match up. I got frustrated, decided I couldn't quilt and gave up for two weeks. I got over it eventually.

Once I finally figured out that I was matching up the wrong corners, I figured out how to put together a block. Then, I sewed those blocks to my solid blocks and then made rows. It eventually all came together to make a quilt top.

At Marie's baby shower, we tied the quilt. It made for a fun activity. I considered sewing the quilt along every seam like most quilters do, but then I decided that that was way too much work and tying was easier.

Mom came over today and helped me figure out how to sew the border and back on and now it is done! Behold my accomplishment! Now I am going to make a quilt for my sister-in-law, Lisa. I am now a quilting fiend!

Ants!

Apparently, having a toddler means having crumbs in the house. No matter how hard I try to keep my house spic and span, Nicole continues to drop food on the ground. Our dining room is carpeted with a shaggier carpet and the food is often difficult to spot. Additionally, I sometimes let Nicole take a few snacks downstairs to eat while she is watching her cartoons (I try to get her to eat as often as possible so that she can gain weight). This all adds up to a lot of crumbs around the house as I don't want to vacuum everyday.

This also means ants! I hate ants. They are all crawly and everywhere and just gross. But, they are like super smart or something because within minutes of Nicole dropping food on the ground, they are on it. I can't see them in my carpet because it is all shaggy and so I only see them when they emerge to eat Cole's crumbs. I vacuum a couple times a week to try and stop them, but they just keep coming back.

We have tried putting those ant traps outside the house near windows and doors, but it seems to be doing nothing at all, I just don't know how to get rid of those buggers. Ugh, this is just one more reason to hate summer, too many bugs!

Party at Marie's

A few weekends ago I invited everyone over to Marie's house for a BBQ. You would think that I would invite them to my own house, but I didn't. Marie has a better house and yard for entertaining and a bigger grill.

Nicole is afraid of grass and she was barefoot at this event as I had not yet bought her shoes. I figure they don't need shoes until they start walking. So, Matt decided to bring her out into the middle of the grass to get her used to it.

Mom and Dad came.
Marie was there cuz it's her house.

Nicole was so stinkin cute once she got used to the grass. She was walking and playing a lot.

Nicoley Oley Oley O!

I have been a bad mother and have neglected to post new pictures of Nicole. This post is my attempt to rectify that situation. She is 15 months now and gets cuter by the day. She is walking all over the place and often does not want to be held because she loves to walk. This makes going anywhere a fun "chase Nicole" game.


She is also talking a lot! She can say the following words: Mommy, Daddy, Oley O, One, Two, Three, Cracker, Night Night, Bye Bye, Please, Thank you, Up, Help, Baby, Kitty, Meow, Roar, Why, No, Water, Bottle, and a lot of others that I can't remember.

She knows those words, but she is also in a mimic phase where she likes to mimic everything that Matt and I say, or the last word of a sentence anyway. This is cute, but also makes me more careful of what I am saying.

She loves to read books, that is currently her favorite thing to do other than watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. She loves being in nursery with Mommy and Daddy. She is a wonderful joy in my life and I love her!

Better Now?

There, I changed my background just for you Sarah and Marie. Better Now?

Sad

I went to a job interview today and it was going great until they told me that they do not offer insurance to full time employees. So, I left feeling despondent and twenty minutes later they called and offered me the job. I told them I would have an answer for them after I spoke with my husband.

I called Matt and explained the offer. It was only 1 dollar per hour more than what Matt is making installing A/C units and there is no insurance. If it were just Matt and I and not our sweet little Nicole, I might consider going without health insurance, but we have a little girl to think of. So, I turned down the job. We just really need insurance when we have a kid to think of.

I feel crappy though. For months I have been applying and interviewing and I finally finally got an offer, but it isn't an offer that will work for me and my family. I'm just sad about it.

I got a call about a part time technical writer job and I sent in a writing sample for that. I also called about a full time tech writer job that I applied for in May but they are "on hold" with the hiring process. Lame.

I've just got to find something positive to do to get me out of this slump.