it's a blessing and a burden

Monday, July 23, 2012

why doesn't someone write a song about how fabulous monday's are?

oh...i know why. guh.

i thought today would be a fabulous day to report that through many google searches, sweat, and victories, i kind of but not really have a few basic photoshop functions in my back pocket.

"why didn't i take a photoshop class in college!!??"

***shakes fist at sky***

with my very basic understanding of photoshop i tried my first attempt at an inspiration board. and what might i need inspiration for?

answer: gender neutral bebe room

people, this is tricky and inspiration is a must.

"gender neutral" is a blessing and a burden.

blessing: your options are incredibly limited.
burden: your options are incredibly limited.

the other day i purchased some bebe clothes at gap that i was certain were gender neutral. i had a conversation with the salesman that went something like this:

me: "looking at these clothes, would you say i'm having a boy or a girl?"
salesman: blank stare and beads of perspiration began forming on his forehead.
me: "it's okay, there is no wrong answer."
salesman: "a...a...b-b-boy??????" (he was real REAL nervous.)
me: "that's what i thought. thanks!"
salesman: "so what are you having?"
me: "blah blah blah..."

so now looking at my little inspiration board below...does this scream gender neutral or does it lean towards the boy side of the scale?

1  2  3 similar  4  5  6  7

but naturally, since compiling this little board's goodies i've found other goodies i like even more. so maybe we'll have another round of inspiration in the coming weeks.

farmer and i are feverishly working on finishing the basement so we can get my office/guest bed out of the soon to be bebe room...then the transformation can begin. i feel like we may be running a little behind on this task. but a farmer's gotta farm, am i right or am i right?

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27 weeks and an emergency doctor visit

Friday, July 20, 2012

that's right. i had my 475th display of public craziness.

and by "public craziness" i don't mean posing for bebe shots in the middle of a giant parking lot.

i typically pride myself on logical thinking and level headed-ness. but apparently when you're 27 weeks large all bets are off.

it all started two days ago when i realized i hadn't really felt le bebe move. the last time i could remember any movement was when my dear friend put her hand on my gut and told the bebe it was going to like her the most out of anyone. bebe seemed to agree because it gave a quick karate chop/kick and that was that.

fast forward to wednesday afternoon and i thought i should give the professionals a call. they instructed me to drive in right away. i was like, "i'll be there in an hour and a half." not exactly the urgency they were hoping for, but that's how long it takes to drive from le farm to le big city.

upon arrival...before i was even hooked up to anything the nurse pushed on my gut in a few spots...wham! a kick. bam! a kick. slap!

(me slapping myself in the face for being such a spaz.)

talk about embarrassing. but doctor burke and nurse benny were so gracious and understanding. they reassured me/confirmed that while i am a bit of a basket case, they would rather see me 100 times to ensure i have a perfect bebe than not see me and miss something. and so...i feel accepted. *sigh*

since everything was okay with bebe, we had already planned to go to el rod-de-o with some fellow farmer friends.

in case you don't remember, i wrote a post about this adorable gal awhile ago. we call them our neighbors, but they live about 20 miles away. regardless, i still think it's loco that there is another family out in these here parts that we love love love. but really, how could you not love? just look at them...

bebe belly - 27 weeks

quick...make a super awkward face. perfect.

current bebe stats:

bump watch - it literally feels like i'm getting bigger every single day. i guess i probably am. and don't worry...people actually tell you you're getting bigger. i know they mean it as a compliment, but riddle me this: what would they say if the following conversation went down...

person: you're getting bigger! oh my gosh!
me: you're getting bigger too!
person: ***stunned look on face.***

it makes me laugh every time i think about responding to a person saying that to me. either that, or rubbing their belly after they rub mine. WHEN oh WHEN did rubbing someones belly become appropriate? just because i have a gut does NOT make said gut public domain. get real people. get real.

farmer says i should start telling people i'm NOT pregnant when the topic is broached.

i see i have some options.

how big is bebe? the books/online all say something different. but i'm going to go ahead and say bebe is somewhere around two pounds and 15 inches long - head to toesies. i can't even believe it's in my gut. just wild.

clothing - no new clothing this week...minus that glorious teal scarf i snagged at j.crew for $10. yes please. i will say now that i've had my glorious, large-banded, button-free citizens for a few weeks...they are glorious. GLORIOUS.

word of advice - when the sales lady tells you to make sure they fit snuggly because there is quite a lot of stretch...trust her. i'm kind of annoyed with myself that i didn't go a size down. nobody likes a sag-a** pair of jeans. am i right or am i right?

weight gain - i'm still poppin' along at seven pounds. however, i think my face may be filling out. bring on the fat face and the stretch pants. oh...and grab me some ice cream.

when the doctor weighed me two days ago he thought everything was perfect. he said that i'm right on track to be at the 20 pound mark by 40 weeks since you gain so much towards the end.

stretch marks? after a quick examination, the only stretch marks i have are as a result of the damage i did during college.

workouts -  still running...if you can call it that. it's more of a shuffle. i try to sneak in about four miles four to five times a week. it just makes a gal feel better. however...i realized i'm down to two workout shirts that kind of fit. and i CERTAINLY don't enjoy how tight my running shorts are so i've been rockin' some spandex.

guess it's time for a shopping trip!

gender - i get pretty strong urges of wanting to know, but we've made it this far...may as well plug along to the finish line.

cravings - if by "cravings" we're talking the days when i eat everything in site...then yes. i've had cravings. anything in particular? yes. does it have sugar? i'll eat it.

craziest moment of the week - i think we're well aware of my craziest moment.

have a snazzy weekend, y'all. i'll leave you with a few glamour shots...

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sunday fun day - gettin' with the goals

Sunday, July 15, 2012

i hope y'all have had a restful, productive, inspiring, relaxing weekend. (excuse the contradictions.)

my little week/weekend has been each of those things plus some. a recap if you will...

as you know, i was in denver visiting sissa kelli belli smelli of denver. we just had a fabulous time but there were two toppers on the list. on sunday morning i was here...

it was this super, fantastic retro-mod restaurant that EVERYONE wanted to be at. we waited 45 minutes to be seated and it was WORTH it. worth it. worth it. belli and i made the decision to split breakfast. quantity-wise it was the right choice, taste bud-wise i wish we hadn't.

picture 1 - that is an egg, sausage, and cheese sandwich on pretzel bread with a side of hollandaise sauce. not contrived. not overdone. just perfection. it was the pretzel bread that set this sando over the edge. just DELISH. like yum.

picture 2 - this is a red velvet pancake with a cream cheese topping with espresso infused syrup and walnuts. holy balls. that's right...i said it. normally after eating a few bites of a pancake my teeth start to feel like they have little sweaters on them and like maybe i'll develop a cavity in the next five minutes. but this, my friends, was fantastic. i could have eaten three.

pair the not overly sweet pancake with the salty pretzel sausage sando...you've got yourself a treat. i wish i could remember the name of the restaurant. i'd recommend it.

on monday i was here...

this is red rocks. we saw the beach boys. they rocked. they harmonized. they touched my soul. the childhood memories came flooding back. i'm pretty sure my sissa and i burned through our beach boys tape making up dances to kokomo and barbara anne. those were the days...

naturally, kell bell and i were some of the youngest at the beach boys 50th reunion concert...but that's okay...these people have good taste in music. it just makes ya feel good.

we also found this stray wanderer. he was nice enough and we liked his shirt...

so we let him stick around. here he is enjoying a glorious caramel salted brownie. i enjoyed three. then i felt a sick.

alas, my visit to denver couldn't last forever. i had to get home since my farmer was also returning from his river trip.

it's wonderful to be home. where i can seclude myself from the public eye. forget about society. focus on my goals.

i also get to attend glorious birthday parties for cute, little gal-faces...seriously, isn't she the cutest? (the one in the zebra...)

and then this morning i got to go check water with my farmer. this consists of riding a four-wheeler all over the glorious acreage at 7 am. it's peaceful. serene. romantic. i love it all.

not romantic? when farmer has to stop and clean out the pump stations. he even pulled up a dead carp but i'll spare you that picture...

and rather than help farmer clean out the pump station...well...i just take self-photos...

speaking of goals...i did real good this week.

1. my goal was to do at least 45 minutes of cardio every day. and i totally did! it was a combo of walking/running/hiking/elliptical. i guess all that really wiped me about because i slept 12 hours yesterday.

2. hot mom arms - i'll probably need to refocus on this goal again this next week. i only did some random push-ups here and there. there was no concerted effort involved. redo.

3. my final goal was to complete some house projects. that didn't work out so well.  but i think i made up for it today by starting to clean/organize/discard the insane amount of "garbage" we have stored in our basement. it's...ummm...disgusting. i'll have before and after pictures next week.

a teaser...

that's just the TIP of the iceberg. it's way worse. we look like we could be on an episode of hoarders. you can clearly see why touch-up painting got put on the back burner.

new goals you ask?

1. you guessed it...more cardio! i'm going to give myself a little break this week and only do five days of cardio for at least 45 minutes.

2. finish de-hoarding the basement and get that bizz organized for a yard sale. once that's finished we just may get the carpet installed.

3. remember when my farmer and i lived in a single-wide trailer and i didn't like to cook in it? seriously...that was my excuse because i said there wasn't enough room. well...what's my excuse now? i haven't one. it's time to get focused on actual meals for dinner as opposed to the salsa, crackers, hummus, cream cheese dinner we had last night. seriously. no need to judge me...i'm judging myself.

have a great week kids. i plan on it...starting with a grilled salmon dinner this evening...

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countdown - bebe week 26

Friday, July 13, 2012

when i started this little bloggy i'm not sure why it never dawned on me that it would be like a little memoir of the life my farmer and i will experience together, what we share, what we did, my craziness, his awesomeness, our good-lookingness (stretch?)...you get the picture.

but wouldn't you know it...the deeper i get into this thingy, the more i have realized WE'RE MAKING MEMORIES PEOPLE. and these are just some highlights. i'm loving it.

so why not do some bebe in my belly memories, yes? yes.

bebe belly - 26 weeks

that's my sister kell bell and a mister we found at the bike race.

current bebe stats:

bump watch - i'm rockin' along at week 26. 14 to go and that just seems insane. i think i'd like this whole process to slow down just a tad. i mean...how could anyone trust me to take a bebe under my care? i can barely take care of myself.

however, the other part of me says, "gosh...i really am loving my cartoon-esque tas and all...and it's super fun that none of my tops fit...oh! and the pain i feel post-workout is real REAL fun, but, i just think i'd like the next 14 weeks to speed right up."

how big is bebe? that little mystery in there is probably about two pounds and about 13 - 14 inches long.

beat the heat - never have i felt so dehydrated in all my days. be it the bebe or the 100+ degrees, the constant dry-mouth is the pits. not to mention the 45 bathroom visits each night. luckily my farmer is quite the sleeper so he's never disrupted.

clothing - gee goll. i've been packaging myself in some trusty cut-offs, t-shirts, unbuttoned jeans...you get the idea. my saving grace has been some glorious maxi skirts and some lightweight scarves to downplay the ladies.

but during my little visit to denver i was able to stop into a store called a pea in the pod and they carry some nice denim. i snagged myself a pair citizens with a giant belly panel. i foresee myself wearing those jeans for...a long long time. they'll definitely come in handy during large holiday meals. so gloriously comfy.

weight gain - if there is one thing i've learned...there is no standard. the tiniest thing can gain 50 pounds. the average gal can gain 15. bodies are just so different. so when i tell ya i've gained seven pounds (5 in my bra), what does it even mean? i'm certainly not starving. i have plenty of energy. i'm feelin' real good. at my 24 week appointment the doctor said everything was great. so, everything is great.

stretch marks? i think i spied the beginnings of some on my left hip area. son of a...but when i asked my sister to inspect she said she couldn't be sure. i'll just be sure to lather the dickens out of all susceptible areas. i have the palmer's cocoa lotion. i was told it's good stuff, but the smell kills me.

workouts - i'm oh so proud to report that i'm working out at least three times a week, but usually more like four or five times a week. running, walking, hiking, or a bike ride. i am also considering hand polishing the hardwood, painting the house, and house projects a form of working out.

gender - i NEVER thought i'd be the gal to report that we're not finding out. but we really aren't! not only does it REALLY cut down on the things you can buy, but the element of surprise is the most amazing feeling. i'm SO SO thrilled farmer and i decided this route.

cravings - what i wouldn't do to sip on a delicious IPA...like...right now. other cravings? subway sandwiches i guess. i average about two a week.

craziest moment of the week - about 25 seconds ago i felt a kick and literally saw my stomach move. bring on the movement and kicks. i don't care what time of day or night. the more movement, the more i feel like i know what's going on.

that's probably PLENTY of not-needed information for a friday morning.

i'll be posting all about my glorious little trip to colorado to see the beach boys and visit sister. a teaser for now...

yes, i'm THAT funny. (maybe not.)

have a nice little weekend.

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sunday fun day and i'm in denver!

Sunday, July 08, 2012

super-fog on our way to winter park resort

that's right you gorgeous people...i'm with my sister while my farmer is on a seven day rafting trip down the middle fork of the salmon river. (this river is no joke. 100 miles of pristine wilderness, zero traffic/roads,lots of scampering animals...did i mention the rockin' whitewater??? i wish i was with him. ***le sigh***)

pardon the photo memories from our last middle fork trip...

so as i sit here watching a movie with sister belli and eat far too many pretzel M&M's (i'm on vacation!! give the pregnant girl a break!) well...i think now is a great time to set some goals for the coming week.

1. i'm going to do a form of cardio every single day for at least 45 minutes. not only is it a great opportunity to tune out and "catch up" with yourself, but i've been spending way too much time in the house. like whoa. it's so so so easy to forget there is an outside world when you live on a farm in the middle of...i don't know where. where do we live??

2. me thinks it's time to get focused on some hot mom arms. i mean...i've heard that here in about 14.5 weeks I'll be holding a bebe...like...a lot. so it's time to condition these old gals. i bought some kettle bells a few days (months) ago and they are itching to be dominated. in addition to the arm focus i need to get focused on the booty. nobody likes sag-a**. i'm very susceptible to sag-a** because my booty is quite bubbly. without the right attention the bubbliness could go right into sagville. nobody wants that...especially my farmer.

3. the third and final goal for the week will be house related. something i keep looking at and then continue to put off. out of sight out of mind...right? the shower needs the grout scrubbed. when my farmer tiled our shower he was a little overzealous with the grout. it kind of got...everywhere. so i'll give the walls a little scrub-down and the do some touch-up painting. it's been driving me loco for a few months now. it's time to take care of bizz.

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bell & bebe - running

Thursday, July 05, 2012

21 weeks

people people people. i have got to put something out there. i need advice. i need some direction. i need a plan.

for those of you who know me...you know i'm slightly over the top when it comes to fitness, weight management, and talking about it.

it's no secret that i gained a few L-B's in college (like...20) and after graduation i worked super-de-duper hard to get it off. i never EVER wanted to go there again.

***enter my obsession with running***

so for the past seven years i would consider myself a runner. to call yourself a "runner" you certainly don't have to be good, you just have to do it. and i do it.

i can rock a 10 minute mile like it's my job. (actually...i started out running 13 minute miles, which closely resembles a quick walk. slowly but surely i worked it down to a low 8 minute/mile pace. i was really proud of myself!!!)

my best running gals showing me bebe support. they are obviously all too skinny to be preg.

***enter a bebe growing in my gut***

slowly but surely as the weeks have ticked on my 8 minute/mile pace has disappeared. i kissed it goodbye. slower and slower as my gut has grown. i'm now back to a 10 minute/mile pace. some people are shocked i'm still running. some people are proud. this person? i'm mostly just in pain.

i've had several issues with the running game:

issue #1

at week 16, about 20 minutes into my workout, both of my legs would fall asleep below the knee to the tip of my toes. we're talking dead. gone. couldn't feel them. obviously i couldn't stop my workout...i couldn't risk dipping below my 10 minute/mile pace. so i would just run on my dead stumps.

finally, using my better judgement, i decided to implement a plan. every 10 minutes i would walk for one minute. this would help the blood "catch up" before my legs actually fell asleep. AND it totally works! no more dead stumps.

issue #2

apparently there are these round ligaments below the belly button that need a good stretching as they prep for the growing gut. well...running really irritates the heck out of them. we're talkin' some serious agony.

i'll be running running running along and feel great. four miles go by. i cool down. 10 minutes later i can barely walk. imagine how it would feel if you had been kicked in the groin area like seventeen times. i think that's what i feel after i run...for about two days. the weird part? if i go running again, the pain goes away, but comes right back about 10 minutes after finishing the run.

or...

if i just take about three days off, i fully recover and there is no more "you've been kicked in the groin" pain.

i've discussed my issues with the doctor and he's given me the go-ahead to keep running. obviously the answer would be easy if he told me to stop...but he said i'm fine. alas...i want to keep running.

so what to do? stop running? it feels so so good! i am genuinely one of those people that just feels like a total rock star after running and no other workout makes me feel the same.

i've tried: yoga, road biking, briskly walking...i would say swimming, but there aren't a lot of swimming options out here on le farm.

my ultimate goal is to be a fit bell with a rockin' gut. so let's figure this out.

i'm open to suggestions, advice, insults. send them my way. help a bell out.

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