EASTER TIME = DELICIOUS CADBURY MINIS

I love holiday candy! Pretty much every holiday has certain treats/candies that go along with it and that I look forward to enjoying when as the day approaches. At this time of year, I can't help but buy a bag of these delicious cadbury minis every time I see them in the store. Luckily, people at work seem to really appreciate me having treats at my desk, so I don't end up eating them all alone. It might be a bit early to be buying easter candy, but when it comes to cadbury minis you just can't get enough. I love the chalky shell, popping it into my mouth and feeling it start to melt, biting through so the shell cracks and I get that milky chocolate delicious taste to fill up my whole mouth. Yum! Yum! Yum! Thank you Cadbury for such a delicious treat!
What are your favorite treats? Especially at Easter what do you like???

VERY AWFUL DAY!!!!!

This is pretty much the story of my day!!! I am already counting down the days til I can quit my job, and after today's DEBACLE I am thinking that it just might come sooner rather than later.....I am not sure how much more I can take at a place where I feel so unappreciated, attacked for decisions I thought were good, humiliated by my senior and manager, and absolutely hate the work I am doing.

I know I should be treasuring my last few months of work, as I probably won't be working after the baby comes, but it is just hard to put my BYU Pride aside from graduating from the #2 school in the nation with a Masters in Accounting and accepting the fact all I really am is a data entry clerk --- yes that is right, I am wondering why I stressed and worked SO hard for all those years in the accounting program only to end up with a job that requires hardly any brain power! And the craziest part, I get paid better than I would have if I had gone with one of the Big IV! It just isn't right! And seriously, I am not sure I can handle that much more!

The only good thing --- every day at 4 pm when I get to walk out the door of the office and not think about work for the rest of the day!!!! And of course, some of my greatest friends in NC; if it wasn't for them being there, I would have already quit! We'll see if I can make it much longer! This day almost did me in! Picture this - a pregnant woman, already emotional, getting attacked in an office about her work, and she tries not to cry - but finally it erupts and she can't breathe or talk or anything for about 15 minutes while the 2 guys continue to talk about her faults as an employee! Pretty good picture -- well, that was me today, followed by an hour in my car crying and trying to get it together so i could go back into the office and finish the day's work!

Halleluah we don't have terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days TOO often!!!!! Hope all of you had a great day! (hey, at least i have 2 hours of american idol to look forward to to cheer me up)!

CRAVINGS, CRAVINGS, CRAVINGS

I have had many cravings over the last few months, including Papa John's Pizza, Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Sandwiches from Subway, Wendys - (including Large Spicey McChicken Sandwich, Jr. bacon cheeseburger, 5 piece chicken nuggets, Biggie Fries, and Chocolate Frosty - yes I ate this ALL in 1 hour's time, twice), Macdonalds (from the $1 menu - cheeseburger, fries, orange soda, sundae, and parfait - also twice), beef jerky, wheat thins, and GUSHERS!!!! I have now cut out all the fast food, and pretty much everything else on this list, but I still want these gushers. They are the greatest little fruitsnack, that when you bite into them oozes out this juice that is just so tasty and delicious - I can eat multiple packs at a time, and bring them to work with me every day for snacks....I may try to cut them out too, but right now they are my treat of choice. So yes, I know I need to cut out the others (the Wendy's meal alone had 2000 calories in the one sitting - i looked it up on the website), and I don't plan on eating it anymore. I am now hoping to curb my cravings to healthy snacks and meals --- bring on the veggies and fruits! Thank you mom for some delicious healthy menus and ideas!!! So anyways, wondering what all you other mothers out there craved while you were prego? Anything funny or just plain weird? I have yet to crave pickles and icECream together, but who knows what tomorrow will bring? Let me have your funny stories!!!! And for any of you looking for a delicious treat --- check out Tropical Fruit Gushers!!!!

First Trimester: Check....and early Valentine's surprise

So the day FINALLY arrived. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Hopefully now I am over the worst part: the nausea, the migraines, the insomnia, the CRAVINGS, the super SUPER tiredness, and wondering when I will finally start to have energy again! I woke up one day last week with more energy than I have had in 2 months, and boy did it feel good. This next week I hope to bring back to my life exercise (I am now in withdrawals and have the energy to get on that treadmill), healthy eating (see next post for update on this one), and feeling once again my old happy self! Although I am now starting to just feel fat all the time - I'll take that to what I felt the last few months!

I realize now that I am feeling sane again that these last few months haven't just been a trial for me - they have been hard on my husband, my mom, and any other friends who have had to listen to my complaints. Thank you all for your support, Chip for being the best husband I could ask for, mom for listening for hours each day to my crying about my helpless state and worries (to the point of almost flying out here to help me), and all friends for the encouragement that it would soon end. I really do appreciate it. And yes, I am now feeling up to actually helping with the cleaning and laundry at the house ---- Chip has been so amazing at not only working so many hours a week, but taking over ALL responsibilities of the house! He is a master cleaner, great at laundry, and wonderful at appeasing me with all my crazy cravings!!!!

Last week Chip went to NY for work for 3 days. He asked me if I wanted him to bring anything back to me - to which I responded I really wanted some new Chanel sunglasses since I had broken mine (of course the knock-offs from the street vendor I am referring to). Anyways, he called to tell me the next day he had went to find them, but upon getting off the subway had been soaked by the rain, and that no street vendors were outside selling them. Well, at least he had tried, right?

Upon returning home he put his bag up on the couch and asked if I wanted my presents he had brought me. Confused as to what he could have gotten I said sure. He then proceeded to pull 2 gifts out of the bag. He had gotten not only my sunglasses (he had made an extra trip after the rain back to the vendors), but also my MOST favorite perfume - ISSEY MIYAKE. Smells SOOO good!!!! What a husband! Happy Valentines early! It was a happy ending to a very LONG 3 months.......and now bring on the next phase!!!! (and good ideas of things to get your husband for valentines day....pressure's on!)

How Happy He Must Be!!!!

What a tender, sweet reunion this must have been!

I know I should have felt a sadness when I heard the news that our dear prophet had passed away! However, my first reaction was at how happy I was for him that he was finally back with his sweetheart. She passed away about 3 years ago, and I can't remember a talk from him since that he hasn't mentioned her, or how he missed her, or how he couldn't wait to see her again. I am happy that he has had that chance. I will miss his quick witted humor and wonderful talks, but feel blessed to have grown up during his time as president of the church. What a great legacy he left for us, what an incredible example and speaker he was to the whole world, and what a great example of hard work --- til the day he died he put in a full day's work every day, and at 97 that is an amazing thing to me! I have so many wonderful memories of hearing him speak at devotionals and in the conference center. How I loved when he would wave his cane at the crowd. His smile just made me feel so happy and full of hope at every speech! I am so grateful for the lessons learned, and the wonderful memories I have of him as our Prophet. I won't forget them. Below is a quote that has become very meaningful to me in the past few weeks as I have felt down with being so sick and not being able to do much but lay around on the couch! It is one of many inspiring quotes, and has become my motto daily! I am working on memorizing it and hope you enjoy it. I played this song earlier on the piano today and really have been thinking a lot about him the past few days: Praise to the Man! We love you our dear prophet and are happy you are in a better place with your sweetheart! I am sure she had something great to say when she saw him again! What a great couple to strive to be more like!

Quote:

“It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of his blessings, He will hear our prayers.” Gordon B. Hinckley

I AM BACK......and have BIG NEWS!!!!

So we are joining the ranks, and will becoming PARENTS this year!!! We are super excited, I am sick as a dog, and feel like this little baby above but with the question "is it almost over yet?" I have been extremely sick this last week, had a little trip to the ER this last Tuesday at 4 am, and yet all ended well (pretty well that is), with the first appointment which was also on Tuesday at 8:30 am (go figure the emergency couldn't wait just a few more hours huh?).

It was an amazing experience getting to see the first picture of our future baby, hearing that the heartbeat was ok and that everything should be good going forward. I am terrified of needles, and while in the ER apparently was a little out of it but kept repeating to Chip that "I was being a soldier", and asking that if I was good throughout my stay we could go get donuts afterward. It was a pretty crazy experience. However, after having my blood drawn TWICE in one day, experiencing more than enough pain from the headaches and nausea than I thought I could stand, crying multiple times to the greatest mom ever, and sleeping only 3 hours in a span of 4 days because of the insomnia and overwhelming illness I felt, I did finally get some rest. I slept yesterday after arriving home from the Dr. and, of course, getting my donuts, from 10 am- 5pm, and then got a full night's sleep from 11 pm -8 am this morning. Thank you heavy medication!!!!!! It was much needed, and for the first time in 2 weeks I feel like I have a little life in me!

So now, I am calling all mothers, for your advice. I am scared, have no clue what I am doing, and am totally new to the idea of becoming a Mommy!!! Any advice for making the pregnancy easier, tips for preparing, or anything related to pregnancy at all is NOWrequested!!!! Fill me in! I found out I am 8 weeks and 6 days along, meaning the due date is August 21. So off we go to embark on this amazing journey. I really want to hear your thoughts!

I also will be better at posting now that I am feeling a little better! Happy New Year to everyone!

Thanksgiving Madness!!!

We had a blast with everyone on Thanksgiving - and quite a big crew! For the dinner we had 15 people, so for my first time cooking the pressure was on! Despite my little bout of Pneumonia I was diagnosed with on Tuesday, Thursday was great and the meal came off tastin' mighty fine! Thanks Dad for all the recipes and live coaching via my cell all week. The stuffing and bird came off just like I remember it at home!

We loved having Jordan and Beth (Chip's sister and husband) out here all week! It felt a little more like a real holiday with them around. Also, we had a blast with Cady and Jeff and little Jarrett, and the Stevesons (both down from DC). All in all, an absolutely perfect day!

We ate lots, relaxed more, watched a LOT of football! (GO COUGARS), shopped a bit on Black Friday, and laughed even more. A perfect way to start off the wonderful holiday season. I am truly grateful for wonderful friends and family with which we have such good memories and so much fun!

The countdown is now on for Christmas!