Oranges.

Last night Brian and I were shopping in the produce section of Costco trying to decide on which brand of oranges to get when we met a lady who took grape tasting to a whole new level.  I picked up a box of oranges from Chile and she told me that they weren’t good—apparently they really dry and mealy.  I’m thinking that she must have bought them before and hadn’t liked them.  Nope—she had just opened up the box, peeled the orange, and tasted it right there in Costco.  While I was glad I hadn’t picked the oranges from Chile, I was in awe at the nerve she had.  I quickly went over to Brian, told him what had happened, and from afar we watched her open two more boxes of oranges, peel them and apparently decide they weren’t good enough to purchase.  I think in the end she chose Sunkist—but even those she picked through until the whole box was filled with good oranges, replacing bad oranges with better oranges from other boxes.  As we were leaving the produce section we saw her taste a tomato—no joke!  

I’m back!

I feel like I checked out of life for about 3 months, but I’m back to myself…almost.  I started feeling pretty sick at 4 weeks of pregnancy, and it just got worse and worse.  For about 10 weeks my diet consisted of strawberry pop tarts, ginger ale, and Hunts vanilla pudding snacks.

I tried a few different medications—Zofran caused such bad headaches and the headaches caused horrible nausea, so I tried Reglan, but I got insomnia and didn’t sleep 4 nights in a row.  My only true relief from morning sickness was when I was sleeping, so that obviously wasn’t going to work.  So, after playing around with those meds for a few weeks, I decided to wait it out without any pharmaceutical assistance.  Around 14 weeks I finally started feeling better.  Brian and I went to Fairfield for a week for Thanksgiving and I didn’t vomit once.  I think my parents may have questioned how sick I ever really was because I was so healthy the whole week.  They had expected me to lay in bed all day and not be able to eat anything without corn syrup in it.  I ate so well that week I think I finally gained back all the weight I had lost from the past few months. 

I still have bad days—but far fewer of them.  I’m loving healthy foods again and I have cooked real dinners for the past week.  I think I could live off oranges! 

Right before we left for Fairfield I had a doctor’s appointment.  Brian was able to come, meet my midwife, and see an ultrasound of our little baby.  They wouldn’t confirm the gender of the baby, but we have a hunch.  We can’t wait until January when we’ll find out for sure. 

Here’s our little baby:

 

We’re already so in love with this little person!

Nate came to town.

Brian's friend came to visit over a month ago.  We had a great time together and tried to get some sight seeing and hiking done between rainstorms. 

Crown Point

The Vista House at Crown Point

Multnomah Falls

Punchbowl Falls

Thanks for coming to town, Nate!

Boat cruise.

A while ago—back in July, Brian and I were adult chaperone’s for a young single adult activity.  The year before we had gone as young single adults.  It was a little funny to be back this time as chaperone’s.  The Portland Spirit left the dock at midnight and got back at 1:30 a.m.  We had fun, but realized again how grateful we are to be married and not single anymore!

More Halloween!

I may be going against the current (with my family), but I think I like Halloween.  I might get some flack for that.  Maybe I should clarify—I don’t like the scary, creepy, ugly costumes, ghoulishy side of Halloween (at all!), but I really like pumpkins, carving, cute costumes, and even a tiny bit of trick-or-treating for the kids.  I have some really great Halloween memories growing up, and I hope I can bring out the great side of it for our kids—I’m convinced there is one!

This year, we went to Brian’s parents for pumpkin carving.  Brian did the carving for our family—I can hardly look at food right now, let alone dig into it and smell it’s gushiness.  So, I opted to watch (from afar) as Brian and his mom carved.

Brian and Barbara carving

finished product

the headless horseman in the dark

A note about our costumes from the last post—I thought of the costume idea and did some of the thinking behind them, but in reality, Brian put them together—he’s quite incredible that way.  He really can do anything, I’m learning. 

Happy Halloween!

There's a bun in my oven!

And this guy's responsible! (is that too suggestive?)

There's 2 buns showing...but only 1 on the ultrasound (thank heavens!)

Timer goes off May 28!

Yay for babies!

Pumpkins!

Monday for family night, Brian and I went to get pumpkins.  We are so excited about spending the holidays in our new house.  We love this season!   

 

And these three little guys: