My Crochet Headband Project

I mentioned in a previous post that I was commissioned to crochet headbands for the Rigby High School cheerleaders. I'm finally to the point of putting everything together. I thought I would share a picture of what I have got so far so that you can see!

As you can see I have one headband completely put together and 29 more flowers and buttons to attach to the remaining headbands.

This has been a fun project for me cause I have never made these headbands before. I knew I could make them but I never really had reason enough to venture out and actually try. I'm really grateful for this opportunity. I have learned a lot. I had to create my own pattern and really enjoy the fact that it's something all of my own!

Running Away

On 8.7.11 we decided to run away for the day and go see a part of Kentucky we have heard about but had not gone to see. We ran away to Mammoth Cave. It's the worlds largest cave system with over 390 miles explored! The amazing thing is due to the caverns constant temperature and humidity and by nitre salt in the soil they found 2,000 year old artifacts left by Native Americans and mummies that naturally died and were naturally mummified. We went on the shortest tour they had which barely took us into the first part of the cave but we felt that with me being pregnant a shorter tour would be best. Here are just a few pictures we took from our escape!

Rhett on the stairs heading down to the entrance,



A view up just as you start to head into the cave,



and me resting my feet after the walk we had!

We were going to take pictures inside the cave but we decided not to this time, we didn't feel like being blinded by the flash in the dark cave.

We had so much fun and definately plan on going back to explore after we have our Nadya. There is so much more of the cave to see. The tour we took only went in 3/4 of a mile. Even tho we didn't get to see much, it was wonderful to get away and have a change of scenery. We look forward to going back!

Prego. Thoughts

This is the last picture I took of myself on 7.14.11. I was 31 weeks along then, now I'm 37 weeks! I will try to get an up to date picture within the next week or so..

Truth be told I really haven't changed much more then I did at this stage. People ask how far along I am and when I say I only have 3 weeks left I get some interesting looks and responses. the main responses I get are.. "I looked like that at 4 or 5 months." or, "That's not fare! Your like the Ideal Pregnant Woman!" or, "Your so tiny!".
Yes I am"tiny" but I don't feel very "tiny"!

I'm not going to lie it does make me feel good to know that I look good {I don't think I could call myself a true woman otherwise}, but it also makes me feel a little embarrassed. I guess I just don't take compliments well. I guess I worry I'm being judged over something I have no control over, like I'm trying to show off how small I am or something. Obviously that's not the case, it just is what it is.
I really am so surprised I have stayed as small as I am. I honestly thought I would have a hard time with swelling and would have gained 50-60 lbs if not more! I do count myself lucky for how well I am carrying my Nadya. The only thing I can figure is Heavenly Father must have decided that after years of health issues and nausea on a near daily basis I deserved a break from most of it for 9 months!

The last week has probably been the hardest week on me out of my whole pregnancy. I had migraines, nausea and zero energy every day. After talking with my sister Nicole we decided it was probably due to changing hormones. The nausea is mostly gone this week and the migraines have turned to regular headaches. I'm grateful to feel and look good the last 9 months! I know not many woman can say that so I need to appreciate it.

At my Dr. appointment on Friday they said I am dilated about 1 cm. which I know isn't much at all and I could stay at 1 cm for a long time so Iv decided I'm going to try a few of the tricks to help encourage my body to just move right along. I've been trying to walk more {I still need to do more of this}, water aerobics {thank you to my mother in law for the fantastic idea}, eat spicy food {which for me is really not spicy at all and consists of chips and salsa}, and my personal favorite having Rhett massage my ankles and feet. Even tho I am tiny I'm still uncomfortable and very ready to have a baby {although I might change my mind on that once labor starts :)} I know Rhett is more then ready to have his clothes back! I have to share this and he may be upset with me but I thought it was so funny!
Rhett has this one pair of basketball shorts that I have been wearing cause they are bigger then any of his other ones. I new he liked them, obviously, but I didn't know they were his favorite pair. The other day he expressed some concerns about me wearing them. He was worried my water would break while wearing them and he would never be able to look at them the same again! Hee hee! My response was, "ok, then lets go buy me something of my own that I can comfortably fit in!" That quickly ended the conversation cause we both feel like buying clothes for me to fit in with only 3 weeks left is completely pointless! We just laughed and I still wear the shorts! :)

Blessings

Before we left Idaho my step sisters threw me a baby shower, it was so much fun. I honestly thought it was the only one I was going to have. About a week and a half ago the wonderful ladies in our branch threw me a baby shower! It was so much fun and a wonderful surprise! We were given so many things that we really needed but were unable to purchase on our own.
We are so grateful for all the help and support our family and friends have given us. The past year has been so crazy. So much has happened and changed and we wouldn't be able to make it thru with out everyone's help, love and most definitely the friendships!
We want to make sure everyone knows how grateful we are! We are so blessed.

We have 4 weeks left before our little Nadya comes. I think we finally have everything we need.
There is one item I have really been wanting since we found out we were moving to Kentucky, a video camera. I couldn't make up my mind on if it was something that was a need or want. With a tight budget I felt like a camera was more of a want then a need till I realized a few things.
It was hard to move away but it seemed especially difficult since we are expecting. I feel terrible taking away some precious memories from grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Especially with this being Rhett's family's first grand baby. I finally decided that if they could not be here to watch her grow that I need to try and capture those moments on tape for us and our family members.
In our first ward in Idaho there was a family who lost their 15 month old baby. It was a terrible accident. Hearing how grateful they are for the pictures and video tapes they have of her really helped me realize that a video camera is something that we needed. If something were to ever happen I would never forgive myself for not splurging a little to capture precious memories.
So after months and months of watching adds and prices I finally found it! We got the Flip video camera today for $50 bucks at the worlds best store.. Best Buy! No we didn't get the latest and greatest model, or the camera with the coolest features, but for $50 dollars it works perfectly! I'm so excited to use it! I have heard good things about the Flip. I love that it's going to be so easy to upload the video on to our computer {especially since our only working computer is a netbook that doesn't have a CD drive}. It will be so easy to upload the videos on to the blog as well so all our friends and family can easily see! It's great! This find was a wonderful deal, a true blessing!

Here's to Projects

So I realize it's been 3 weeks since my last photo post.. and unfortunately there probably isn't going to be another one anytime soon. It's hard to come up with ideas to take pictures of.. I feel like we really had nothing going on except making food. As wonderful as food is I didn't think it was worth making a collage of.

We have been keeping somewhat busy the last 2 weeks..

I'm finally making friends! It's great! It's funny how much I have in common with one of my new friends Dani! She grew up in L.A. and played WATER POLO! {totally awesome cause now I can finally talk to someone about it and maybe someday throw the ball around!} She has a 14 month old little boy who is such a doll! {We secretly plan for Nadya and little Dallin to fall in love someday.. hee hee! :)} She also took photography in high school and college and is going to teach me how to better use my camera! Last week Dani took me shopping and gave me fantastic opinions and ideas for the things I do and don't need to still get for my Nadya. {I love shopping with Rhett but it's so nice to go shopping with a girl, especially one whose a mom and has already gone thru it} We also went swimming a couple times last week at another new friends house. I didn't realize how heavy my tummy was till after I got out of the pool.. I was amazed by the difference! It was great to just float in the pool!

We finally bought paint to finish our "Honey Do" list! Our first week in our apartment {First week in May} we found a nice kitchen table and chairs out on the curb for any one to take, and take it we did. I think it was in a smokers home tho cause it smelled a little icky.. so we decided to sand it down and paint it. The table and chairs have so many curves which is cool but it made sanding it down a little difficult. Needless to say sanding it took a little longer then we expected. While we were at it we decided to sand and paint our bedroom dresser. We bought the paint on Saturday and have been painting like maniacs ever since!! We obviously want to get it done before Nadya comes. I hope by next week we will be done. I'll make sure to post before and after pics of the "Honey Do" projects.

I just got commissioned this week to crochet 30 cute headband head wraps for the Rigby High School Cheerleaders! I'm really excited to do this! I came up with the pattern all on my own, it's my first time making anything like this but I think they are turning out great! I really want to try and sell some of the products I have been making and this is getting me well on my way!
It would be a dream come true to be able to turn my love for crafts and crochet into my own little private business.

Last Friday we had another Dr. appointment. I guess my little Nadya's tummy measured small in the ultrasound they did at the last appointment. They did another ultrasound this appointment to check and see if there was any growth of her tummy. The Dr. called and everything is fine, she said she is completely proportionate and that it had probably measured weird cause of the angle. {I could have told them she would have a tiny tummy due to the fact that Rhett and I are thin!}
We found out at the appointment that she weighs 5lbs 1oz already. They say at this stage of the pregnancy baby's tend to gain about a half a pound a week. So far this fact has been true for our Nadya. Supposedly we still have 6 weeks. If she keeps baking for another 6 weeks I'm going to be delivering at least an 8lb baby.. The thought of this terrifies me for some reason. I find myself hoping she'll come a little early and still be healthy. I hear the odds of that happening especially with the first are slim. Please pray for me!! :)

In June I made the bumper for my Nadya's crib. I have been wanting to buy ribbon to sew on so we can attach it to the crib but was waiting to buy it. I decided this week that since I only have 6 weeks left {unless I get lucky and she comes early and healthy} that I needed to finally get this project finished. I'm happy to say of all the many projects we have going on right now, I finally finished that one today! It turned out great! I love it! I'll take some pics once we get our house back together and we get the boxes of books that are currently being stored in the baby room out.

And last but not least I painted a scripture on canvas for my Nadya's room. It turned out great! {You'll see pictures of it when I post the pics of the bumper I made.}

I hope you all have had a great week!

Good Quote

Rhett and I were talking this morning and he told me about this quote he read by Emma Watson on Facebook posted by one of my best of friends Kaley. He pulled it up for me to read and I totally LOVE it and thought I would share it with you all.

“I find the whole concept of being ‘sexy’ embarrassing and confusing. If I do an interview with photographs people desperately want to change me - dye my hair blonder, pluck my eyebrows, give me a fringe. Then there’s the choice of clothes. I know everyone wants a picture of me in a mini-skirt. But that’s not me. I feel uncomfortable. I’d never go out in a mini-skirt. It’s nothing to do with protecting the Hermione image. I wouldn’t do that. Personally, I don’t actually think it’s even that sexy. What’s sexy about saying, ‘I’m here with my boobs out and a short skirt, have a look at everything I’ve got?’ My idea of sexy is that less is more. The less you reveal the more people can wonder.”

-Emma Watson

Looking back on my life there are quite a few years I refer to as "the lost years". You know when your trying to grow up, but you don't really know who you are, and you try all sorts of things thinking at the time that they are you, when really your just portraying who ever your hanging out with at the time.

I feel like I have taken on many different identities from my Jr. year in high school clear to 2008 when I finally moved back home from college. I just remember feeling so lost, feeling like I didn't know who I was or what I wanted from life. My style was always the thing that changed. For a time I wore immodest clothing always feeling awkward and really uncomfortable. It just wasn't me, but it was the me I thought I wanted at the time.

I am proud to say that I feel like I have found myself again. It was so refreshing when I met Rhett cause I knew the he loved ME.. not me pretending to be me.. {if that makes sense..} I really always was a modest person.. I love simplicity. I have always felt like less is more.. I feel like once again I am finally living my life the way I should be. I feel like my family can once again finally be proud of who I've become.

I love how grounded Emma Watson seems. Becoming a mom really makes me hope that I can raise our Nadya never fearing to be herself. I hope that in this world of ever failing morals and values she will never be afraid to stand strong for what she believes.

My Birthday..

So Rhett came home last night from work and saw that I had updated the blog and the first thing he said was..... "You left out your birthday!! You have to post about your birthday." {I tried to get him to do the post about my birthday. Obviously I lost!} So here's the break down of my Wonderful day!

7.16.2011
Rhett woke me up with breakfast in bed.. it was super sweet! I do most of the cooking so it's a real treat when he makes something for me! We had German pancakes with home made maple syrup and peach juice! {All made by Rhett except the juice, my husband is awesome!}
Then we went to, "The Worlds Best Flea Market"! It was fun! We walked around and found a local fruit and vegetable grower that we plan on buying from for now on! {I love supporting local growers! It's always ripe, tastes sooo much better, and it's cheaper!!} Ever since we moved to Kentucky Rhett has wanted to check out this Flea Market.. He says, "Flea marketing is a must do when living in the south."
After flea marketing we got some tasty Grater's Ice Cream! I L.O.V.E. ice cream! I don't think you can ever have enough! Then we went on our way to HARRY POTTER!! I am a huge Harry Potter fan! {Even tho I only read books 1-4 we have all the movies!} We loved it! They did such a good job! I'm a little bummed tho cause Rhett and I have gone to see the movies for my birthday every year.. I don't know what we are going to do now that it's over.. :(
After the movie Rhett treated me to dinner of my choice so I chose Red Robin.. YUMM!! We kinda stuffed our faces on popcorn at the movie so we shared onion rings and their tasty guacamole burger. The Burger was.. ok.. we should have sent it back when I look back on it cause the guacamole was kinda brown and had obviously been sitting out long enough to turn brown.. It still tasted good tho. I say we should have sent it back cause by midnight we both had horrible tummy aches that lasted clear thru Sunday.. :( I can only assume it was the burger.. Even tho the day ended on a kinda sour note it was a fantastic day! I loved every minuet of it {even the tummy ache part cause Rhett snuggled with me :)}!

So there was the break down of my birthday! It came and went so fast! Truth be told, I feel exactly the same! no older no younger... just me! Thanks to all for the birthday wishes!
I feel so lucky to be married to a wonderful man who loves me and loves to surprise me! Even tho things don't always work out quite as well as we plan them to, we always have fun. He helps me remember how important it is to see the humor in life, to laugh when there's not much more you can do. Thanks for being wonderful!