two thousand fourteen

As per usual, I've made the resolute resolution to not make a New Year's resolution this year.  It's not my thing.  I fail myself all too often, and I'm hard enough on myself already.

This year looks like it's the year though.  The big one.  2012 was pretty big.  I had my first career.  I married the man of my dreams.  We bought our first house.  And got a mangy pit bull that turned into a beautiful stripey doofus of a pit bull with some love and nourishment.  2013 was a rebuilding year.  I tried to get healthy in the beginning, and then felt like it all came crumbling down when I had a cyst rupture on my ovary.  My Gram died in March, which wasn't unexpected, but it was significant nonetheless.  Then once barely recovered from the cyst explosion, and while riding the waves of a vegan diet gone horribly wrong leaving me feeling even more unhealthy, we found out about our little baby growing within me.

Both of us were scared.  We were concerned that the pregnancy wouldn't hold.  My body was a mess.  I had spent the last two months wracked with anxiety [the combination of a very bad situation at work and the scary cyst rupture did my nerves in], I lost a significant amount of weight and was registering on the BMI chart as "underweight."  Could my body take it?  It obviously hasn't been easy.  Luckily the Zofran helped me gain weight, and gain, and gain.  And the anxiety has slowly dissipated [though I fear that may be due to the pregnancy hormones and I worry it will come back with a vengeance when Ollie gets here].  None of the medical professionals were worried at all.  And I had no complications in early pregnancy.  If it hadn't been for the nausea, I would have been convinced at my 12 week ultrasound that there was no way I was growing another human.  But alas.  He was there.  Moving around more than I could have imagined, but not surprising me in the slightest just confirming that he is his father's busy child.

We found out he was for sure a he.  We've had our scares, but we have made it to 2014.  Still pregnant.  Thankfully, still pregnant.  We need to hold out for a few more weeks and then we can have our little guy whenever he's ready to make an appearance.  My dream would be that I could have as natural of a birth as possible, but if it requires medical intervention to make it safer, so be it.  I just want my guy safe.  In two weeks I start grad school.

So my un-resolutions overall are to be the best person I can be to be the best wife, mother, dog mother, student, etc. I'm doing this for me.  I'm going to try and be healthier, but that's always the goal, isn't it?  We took a step in that direction by purchasing a half of a cow and throwing it [with ridiculously pregnancy inspired organized fashion] in the most glorious and HUGE deep freeze we could buy.  I reasoned with Justin we needed a huge freezer because I plan on producing a lot of boob juice.  I'd like to start a backyard garden this year not only to be self-sufficient and try and save money on vegetables, but also to encourage myself to be outside in the sun to help myself and Ollie soak up some vitamin D.  We're getting a beautiful stroller with off road tires so that we can go on walks with our stripy pit bull both on our street and on the amazing trails by our house.  I've had such a hard time being positive that I'm going to try and see the best in situations instead of my normal drama queen meltdowns.  That one will require years of work, Rome wasn't built in a day...

This year will be hard.  No doubt about that.  The first month not being allowed to work.  Sitting at home trying not to be depressed about being bored.  Then finishing up a hard pregnancy and dealing with the sure exhaustion that comes with being new parents.  School is going to be harder than I can even imagine right now, especially with the aforementioned exhaustion.  Pathophysiology is no joke.  That being said, I'm ready.  I feel I've mentally prepared for what's ahead as much as possible and the rest of it is just going to be a complete leap of faith.  Let's do this 2014.

merp

Sleeping in past four in the morning has become a distant memory without the help of medication, which I'm trying to avoid. I'm not sure if the lack of sleep is due to hormones or Lady's snoring or the fact that all I can think about it cookies, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and thanksgiving dinner coming up in a couple of weeks. Praise be to God for banishing most of the nausea before thanksgiving. And I'll make a mental note never to be in my first trimester over thanksgiving. A holiday about food is my favorite kind people. 

We're leaving tonight to go watch Justin's cousin kick bum in the third round of the high school football playoffs. It's going to be cold, and windy, and super fun. -a brief interlude to share that Lady is running in her sleep- I might as well get up soon and get packed. Maybe eat two breakfasts? We'll see. 

In the sake of being all over the place, I'd also like to share that I'm trying to cut back on sugar in my life [again]. I have my glucose screening test coming up kind of soonish and I'm nervous if I have too much sugar in my system or something that I'll fail it and have to take the three hour test. I really don't want to take the three hour test. I hear everyone feels awful and some people up chuck before it's over and have to do it again. Hell no. To both the up chucking and to retaking the test. 

Can't I just refuse it? I don't have gestational diabetes. Ps WHY CANT THEY JUST DO A FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVEL LIKE THEY DO FOR ALL OTHER DIABETES DIAGNOSES?!?

That is all. 

Lady wearing a shirt. You're welcome. 

what we've been doing

Just a little of what we've been doing since we found out who will be joining us in March.  We've been working late [some of us in particular, not necessarily me.] Eating a lot [again some of us in particular, namely me...] And cuddling rambunctious pit bulls that aren't sure what to do now that it's cold outside.  Should she cuddle under a blanket?  Or run around like a fiend with the dishrag from the sink?  Perhaps a little of both will suffice.

After the great unveiling of the sex of Baby G, we had to go and get him an outfit.  Naturally, it has an elephant.

Some of us prefer to sulk.

Though he's a little freaked out by it, Justin has been feeling the baby kick here and there.  It's so weird, the little guy will be squirming all around but then when Justin puts his hand on my belly he just gets one good kick and that's all.  Stubborn baby.  Also, cute sweats, right?

And finally, it's important to practice before the big day gets here.  Lady was strangely tolerant of this.  She was only done being held after her picture was taken.  Silly Ladydog.

bedtime stories

Way back when I was in college.  And Justin was far away [either Montana or Wisconsin].  I stated to him one day, very matter-of-factly, "Justin, when I'm pregnant, you will read out loud to my belly.  You will read Harry Potter."  Mind you at this time we were not even engaged.  But you know what they say about love.  When you know, you know.

I said this because Justin has never read Harry Potter.  I know, shocking.  I married someone who has never ready any of the Harry Potter books.  Nor has he ever seen a whole Harry Potter movie.  Me, the girl that has read every Harry Potter book at least 10 times, and many more like 20.  Any time I'm going through a trying period, or feel lonely, or bored, or just have nothing better to read, or it's a warm summer night, or the list goes on.  Harry Potter is like going home.

Two nights ago we started reading to the baby because I read that at 16 weeks, the baby can start to hear dad's voice.  Surprisingly, after he got over how weird the character's names, I think Justin started to get interested in H.P.a.t.S.S.  I'm so proud.  He'd never admit it, but I know he's going to love it.

Another huge fan of bedtime stories you ask?  Of course it's the Ladydog.  Pit bulls love being read to, apparently.  She gets her blanket and gets all snuggled in and just sighs with happiness.

fall weekend

It was one of those weekends where we did just enough to not feel like it was a complete waste, but not so much that we felt like slaves to the weekend.  We got a coat of paint in the nursery, then ran out of paint.  I love it already.  White was definitely the right choice.

Friday was pedicures and BLTs for supper.  Baby wanted a BLT, so baby had 3 over the course of the weekend.  Saturday we grocery shopped, painted, made apple crisp, J mowed [hopefully for the last time of the year], then we went to a friend's house for the Iowa vs. Iowa State game.  It was not a pretty sight.  None of us really cared, though, because the 15 month old kept us entertained by splashing in the dog water and dancing.  She also demanded that I share my apple crisp with her.  Apparently mine was better than everyone else's?

Today we went to church where we got soaked in a down pour.  So we came home and made french onion soup.  Perfect for fall.  Now there's stuffing and a chicken waiting to be put in the oven and potatoes waiting to be boiled and mashed for the epitome of a fall dinner.  Plus some apple crisp to polish off.  Let it be known that I have had more than Justin.  But I think the baby made me do it.

To cap off the wonderfulness of this weekend, I seem to be over the morning sickness hump.  I even forgot to take my Zofran this morning and haven't needed it yet.  That's not saying that I'm completely done being nauseous.  But it's definitely becoming less constant.  Thanks be to GOD!

iPhone evidence of the weekend.  Also known as, I need to charge both of my real cameras.

Lady having a lie in on Friday morning.  Waking up is hard.

One of my glorious BLTs.  Seriously delicious.

Lady wanted the BLT.  But didn't want to beg from the floor, so she tried the beg-from-the-couch method.  

The bump and I in our ISU attire.  Apparently it isn't a lucky shirt.  Also, let it be known; my pants are not buttoned in this picture.

friday+saturday+sunday

[black bean burgers on gluten free bun+roasted sweet potatoes.]

[gluten free/vegan bagels+daiya strawberry cream cheese.  yes]

[confused]

[lactofermentation! this is cortido+can't wait to try it]

[depressed]

[sour stomached pitbull]

[sweet potato+kale chowdah]

recipe:

1/2 onion

1 sweet potato

3 red potatoes [can be replaced with additional sweet potato]

1 Tbl. coconut oil

-combine and saute-

salt/garlic salt to taste

pepper to taste

thyme to taste

1 1/2 boxes of vegetable broth

-cook until potatoes are soft then mash to desired mashiness-

4-5 kale leaves sliced in thin ribbons.

2 Tbl. nutritional yeast

-simmer for a couple minutes-

-eat-

-fill bowl again-

-repeat-

-add and simmer for a couple of minutes-

weekender.

I've decided I'd like to be a professional weekender.  I would like to get paid for this position.  A cool 2 million per year would suffice just fine.  I'll need a little extra cash, you know, for all the DIY stuff I'll have time for.  With includes but is not limited to:

-Gardening

-Building furniture [with what tools....?]

-Painting

-Baking

-Inventing new recipes

-Potting plants [this is different from gardening]

And other various good ideas from pinterest.

I wouldn't mind if this job didn't include digging out plants [which we did this weekend], lawn mowing [our mower isn't self-propelled], tilling, getting attacked by bugs, and the like.

This weekend was the weekend of spiders.  We did yard work and encountered thousands of spiders. Big ones, little ones, hairy ones, ones with white bums, and I'm fairly certain, a tarantula.  Do tarantulas live in Iowa?  To top it all off, I went to put a glass in the dishwasher this morning and there was a daddy long leg spider in it.  Yuck yuck yuck.

I'm fairly certain that Justin is afraid of spiders too.  He denies it, but I know the truth.

And now let the iPhone photos of the weekend commence!

 

Can Rady has some pancakes?

Prease?

The menu for vegan week four.  We're still rocking it.  Some of us miss meat a little more than others...  Some of us might be grumpy about it.  Some of us may have even requested to go to taco bell for lunch even though that one of us hates taco bell.  Basically I'm winning at veganism.  But I've lost 10 pounds so I made this:

COWBOY CAVIAR!  And we finished it in less than 24 hours.  I expect to have gained at least two pounds from this weekend.

And finally, we got this little Lady a year ago from this weekend.  As Justin said, she seems to have adjusted just fine...  Spoiled.

around town

Today we all piled into Jeepy Jenkins [the Jeepiest of all Jeeps] and drove around to some of my favorite spots in town.  We left a few out because of my unwillingness to get ticks.  Here are a few shots.

My favorite view of town.  From the old apartment.

Looking over Dubuque from the park.

Loving the breeze.  Note: We can't roll down the window further lest the idiot jump out.

The countryside.  Lookit!  Cows!

The old homestead.

Did you notice?  My flowering crabs finally flowered.  Well, one of them anyways.

Beautiful.

blog on a dog

It's a thing I'm trying.  It's a little tricky because my computer is subtly rising and falling with Lady's every breath, but it's our way of hanging out and being together.  Or something.  She loves it because she thinks she's getting attention.  She lives and breathes for attention.

Today started out on a sour note, I killed a bird.  Let me clarify, Jeepy Jenkins killed a bird.  He flew into the back window as I came to a stop on my drive to work.  I watched him tumble to the ground through my rearview mirror and was distraught.  Considered crying.  Thought about calling someone but realized it was too early.  Then thought to myself, "ugh what a perfectly horrible way to start the week."

Luckily it didn't stay horrible.  It stayed moderately good throughout the rest of the day.  The weather was lovely.  We grilled out for supper.  Had left over BLT pasta salad [which was divineeee].  Seriously, Monday, thanks for taking it easy on me.

And here's a recap from the weekend.  This suburban girl learned about prom in a small town.  I'm learning all sorts about small town life being married to a boy from a tiny town.  Turns out that prom is a big deal to everyone who knows anything about anyone going to prom.  Half the town [if not more] showed up for Grand March to watch all of the couples parade around in their promery finest through the gymnasium that was transformed into a swampy wonderland.  I realize that swampy may not sound pretty, but it was so sweet and romantic.  Perfect.  And now the photographic splendor that is prom in Small Town, Iowa.

The gymnasium.  This picture doesn't do it justice, but you can see how many people are there, this was taken probably 30 minutes before Grand March even started.  It got more crowded.

JB and his pretty date Madi.  

Cousin-In-Law Hunter and his date.  In this picture he's
got a big smile because he got a cheer from the
crowd for utilizing the whole runway.  Atta boy.

Cousin-In-Law Reecey-pie and his date.  I love her dress.
So much poof.

Reece is a good little cousin and does what he's told.  He's so cute.  But let's all draw our eyes to the top left-hand corner of the screen and admire that neon green mermaid number.  I announced to everyone that was listening that THIS was my dress in my imaginary world that I would chose to wear for my imaginary world prom.

I caught baby fever.  This little Sydney is one of two.  TWO!  Twins are the cutest!  I loved them both.

And finally because I think Justin doesn't feel he's getting enough sympathy.  Here is his poor swollen ankle.  It's all black and purple and swollen twice its size from his pick-up game of basketball on Thursday.  He still won't listen and go in for an X-Ray.  Who's the medical professional in this house again?....

Now I'm going to do something productive because I can.  Thank you.

april showers

We spent the weekend in Minnesota where it snowed.  All weekend.  Happy Birthday, Mom, here's a bucketload of snow and some lovely January worthy temperatures.  As the whole midwest has been complaining, it has been a dismal spring.  Last year at this time my crabapple trees were in beautiful full bloom and all the leaves were out.  Today it drizzled and was 38 degrees.  Seriously April 15th?  Last night when we returned to Dubuque, however, it was 70.  We experienced a 40 degree temperature change over 250 miles.  That threw me out of whack!  I was dizzy from the pressure change but after a weekend of snow, it was welcome.

These are my trees last year at this time.  If not a few weeks earlier.

I had a very negative week last week.  I started about 4 blog posts and deleted them out of frustration.  I didn't get into the graduate program that I applied to and felt very unwanted because of it.  I spent the weekend at home trying to rise above my funk through shopping and chocolate chip cookies.  Let me tell you, it worked.  There are many grad programs that I can apply to for the next year.  And the one that rejected me would have been a pain anyway with the two hour drive once a week.

Adorned with my new attitude, I kicked bum at the grocery store today and got a week's worth of food for 65$ [boom].  Then made kick bum fajitas [boom].  Then cleaned all the floors and kitchen cabinets [seriously, boom].  The following are the reasons why I love cleaning the floors:

1. I love when the carpet is all going the right direction before it gets mussed up by a certain pit bull.
2. I love watching homeland security [Lady, the aforementioned pit bull] try to decide how to deal with the vacuum and swiffer.  They're frightening.  Tonight she ended up hiding behind Justin on the couch with her poor little ears back.
3. I love, LOVEEE the way it smells in the house when the floors are clean.

Also today I got my Kohl's card in the mail.  It is evidence that some people just need to retire.  My first name and middle initial is repeated on it about 4 times before they put my last name [Megan M Megan M Megan M].  Who even sent that out?  Obviously that cannot possibly be my name!  Plus my address is jacked up.  It's a miracle the card got to me in the first place.  So that's something exciting I get to work on tomorrow...

Happy Monday.  Bring it on week.  Also Universe, please can I have some blossoms? 

UNrecipe

Today I bring to you a delicious and healthy UNrecipe.  Which basically means it's so stupid easy, my pitbull could do it.  Obviously that's not true.  My pitbull can't even defend me in the dark of the night when there are strange banging noises in the garage.  She hides deep under the covers and pretends not to be awake.  True story.  Also, please don't rob me?

Back to the UNrecipe.  This weekend Justin and I exclaimed that we would make healthier eating decisions and made new rules for ourselves [again].  This one was less unhealthy meat.  There have been studies done showing that red meat isn't the healthiest decision, so we've decided to cut back.  More chicken, fish, veggies, and legumes are happening over here!  

Tonight I threw together a delightful spring vegetable and chicken pasta dish.  It reminds me of alfredo without the obvious creaminess, and with the added bonus of fresh lemon juice.  So good and it took all of about 12 minutes to come together.  Honestly the longest part was waiting for the water to boil.

UNrecipe

8 oz. of pasta [gluten-free, or of your choosing.  We used shells because I didn't eat enough shells as a child and now I'm obsessed with them, but any shape would do as well.]

1 lb. of chicken [grilled, roasted, etc. Or no chicken if you're feeling particularly vegetarian]

Spring vegetables of your choosing, we used snap peas and asparagus.

The juice of 1/2 of a lemon

1/4-1/2 cup of grated parmesan

Many good cranks of freshly ground pepper

Garlic salt.  [My favorite can be ordered here.  It's the best ever]

A drizzling of olive oil

Just heat everything up and combine in a big bowl and toss.  It makes enough for 4 big servings, which is convenient because I love a good leftover lunch.

Leftovers.  That is all I have to say about that.

A couple of things

1. It is Tuesday and we had tacos.  Unintentional Taco Tuesday win in the Gross household.  Can we just reminisce for a minute how much I love tacos?  See here & here [specifically number 8].

2. Apparently I really like numbering.  I don't know why I'm acting surprised.  I send Justin text messages with numbers too.

3. The guy on tv right now talking about some suicide case looks like the oldest Brady brother of whose name I have forgotten.  I know it's not Bobby...

4. Lady does this thing when she sees something out of the window, she thinks it's out every window.  Or something.  Today some kids dropped an informational packet about a food bank fundraiser off on our front porch and Lady went bonkers.  When a strange noise is heard in the dark of night she'll give off a little woof, but when a child comes innocently to the porch in broad daylight she decides to sound the alarms.  Weirdo.  Anyways, after the threat had been neutralized she ran to the back window to...watch them?  Obviously they weren't out there.  This dumbfounded her.  She is equally confused during the summer when the chipmunk [Stuart] teases  her outside our patio door.  He'll run down under the deck and Lady will run into the next room expecting him to be there.  Every time.  We've given up hope on her figuring that one out.

5. I have a secret stash of jellybeans that Justin can't find.

6. I've filled out my March Madness bracket and this year is the year.  Gonzaga will win!  I don't know where Gonzaga is even, but every year I choose them to win the championship because of their awesome sounding name.  I can smell it this year.  It's happening.  I also have Bucknell going pretty far.  Where the h is Bucknell?  Finally, why did I not go to a more excitingly named school?

And since it snowed another 4 inches yesterday [March 18th gosh darnit!] here is a picture from our honeymoon.  It was blessedly warm, and we ate so many hamburgers.  Disney World is the best.  But also... Hogwarts. Hogwarts.  Hoggy Warty Hogwarts. teach me something please!

Nerd.

fin.

In which Lady smells like a rotting fish. And makes me crazy.

Lately my pit bull has been driving me bonkers.  I don't' know what it is.  Let me restate, I don't know what it is that has gotten into her to make her so annoying.  

On Tuesday we got an epic March snow storm.  It snowed to beat the band.  An inch per hour.  March snow is wet snow, heavy snow.  Of course this just being our first year of homeownership, we have yet to purchase a snow blower.  I beat Justin home, and ate over half of a Happy Joe's BLT pizza [let it be known, BLT is the best flavor of pizza] and felt like I should be a helpful and supportive wife.  I shall shovel so that my knight in shining armor can make it safely into the driveway! This I boldly stated to myself and my Ladydog.  

I put the aforementioned canine on her chain outside and set out into the tundra to partake in my first commitment to tundra removal in many a moon.  I probably lifted about 16 shovels full of snow, but those shovels were HEAVY!  Oofda.  Lady hated it.  She was barking like an idiot.  Being a considerate and embarrassed neighbor, I decided it was time for this beast to be placated by putting her in the garage.  This is where she goes when we aren't home lest she feel the need to take a poo on the rug or pee on my blanket.  Again I say, MY BLANKET!!! 

As I escorted her royal barkness to her throne room, she did a bunk.  Pulled a fake.  Blitzed the quarterback.  So I called her.  Lady, sillyhead, don't run up the driveway.  Come back! Lady!  LADY!

LADY!

Oh $&*%!

Picture a girl, not very big, in green hunter boots, a brown eskimo parka, and chartreuse mittens running like the wind after the skinniest, stripiest pit bull hell bent on getting the H out of here.  She was gone.  I panicked whilst I ran.  Will the neighbors hate me?  Will she jet out into the street and be squashed under a passerby?  Will I throw up that pizza?  Will Justin divorce me in the event of a lost forever dog?  Will I slip on some well hidden ice?  Seriously, am I going to upchuck this pizza?  Then as I yelled "STAY" my pit bull finally came to a stop about 5 or 6 houses down.  She kept trying to skulk away from me.  I used my angriest mom voice [you have to practice before you need to use it for real] and finally was able to grab her by the collar.  She wouldn't come willingly, so I carried my 50 pound pit bull back to the house. Then I called her grandmother.  Her grandmother was disappointed by her choices.  She then made excuses for the pit bull because she loves her to pieces.  On days again like today I don't quite understand why.

So far today she has tried to lick the clean dishes in the dishwasher maniacally, tried to remove all of the pillows and cushions from the couch and chair, told me THREE times that she needs to go outside only to be put on her chain to sniff at the snow and cast judging glares into the neighbor's yard, tried to assault me on the couch because I was on the computer and not spooning her [spooning is kind of her thing], and last but not least, turned on my caps lock.  

She's currently curled up next to me sleeping, her ears and eyelids twitching.  I guess she's pretty cute.  

This is our B-E-A-UTIFUL new couch that was delivered yesterday.  It's everything I wanted in a couch.  Plus.  Seriously those pillows.  

   

Today

My Iphone 3S is capturing what's going on today.  Aztec print, paper snowflakes, insulation blowing, grocery list making and all.

Lady is petrified of everything non-threatening.  Swiffers, Tape Measures, and now insulation blower tubes.  She cowered in the bathroom overseeing the operation.  Complete with dramatic shivers.

Insulation blowing is actually really boring.

These have been added to my wardrobe.  Justin is unsure about them.  I'm very sure about them.

Our rug from World Market got delivered yesterday.  We got it 40% off.  Pretty proud of that.  Don't worry, I've already spilled a large glob of chocolate icing on it.  

What one does whilst their husband, husband's friend, and the family pit bull blow insulation?  Make a bomb-diggity grocery list.

And admire the two foot tall Christmas tree with her paper snow flake friends.

Fun Fact: I had to look on Martha Stewart.com to figure out how to make a paper snow flake.  The first one I made fell in pieces because I cut the very important corner that shall never be cut.  Oops.