Games with my baby

So this evening as I was watching TV, the baby starting kicking me, and I decided to play a little game with her. So I started poking her right where she was kicking me. So I poked.....KICK.....POKE.....KICK....and this went on for some time. It's probably completly unrealistic to think that my poking had anything to do with it, but it honestly felt like she was responding to me, so I'm going to try to belive that, even if it's not true! As Jesse always says to me, "It's nice to know that facts don't get in the way of what you belive.." Haha. Now when she kicks me I can often see it. It's really wierd to watch my stomach go POP, and jump around without me doing anything to make it do that. That's a first!! I am 23 weeks tomorrow. 25 weeks seems like a milestone to me...I guess because at that week they say the baby has a fairly good chance of survival if it is born early. Hopefully that would never happen, but it's somehow comforting to know that my baby has a pretty decent chance of survival from here on out! There is no history of premature births, or even complicated births in my family though, so I'm pretty covered as far as genetics go.

Jesse is out flying tonight, and I worked a 9 hour day cleaning rooms, so I think I deserve an evening on the couch! Yeah!

A post for my husband

Jesse told me to blog about something so I will try. It was my birthday on the 20th. (Thanks for all the birthday wishes by the way!) Since Jesse was flying on my birthday evening, we celebrated the day after. He took me out for supper to Boston Pizza, and a sign the times have truly changed, I scarfed down a whole double cheeseburger pizza all by myself, and felt great afterwards. In fact, I could have had another one by the next meal. Just two months ago, we went to Boston Pizza with Jesse's parents, and I had the exact same thing, and I think I ate two peices, and felt gaggy through the whole thing. YES!! I love this new eating like a normal person. It's wonderful. After pizza we went and saw the new Batman movie. Definitely a must see. It is very long, but very well done. Then when we got home, Jesse brought me downstairs, and gave me my present....a deepfreeze! Yes, I am very excited about that. I have hated always having my teeny little fridge freezer so packed that every time you open it something falls out. Plus, you can never stock up on any kind of meat, or larger frozen items in bulk because there was never room. So today we went and bought a huge box of bison burgers, and put them in there. Yes! I'm a bulk buyer now. I also got a firepit from my parents, and it is such a nice one. We have yet to use it...we went and looked for firewood one day, couldn't find any, so we will try harder, and then we can have fires in the evening and roast hotdogs and eat smores. MMMMMM. I also got a new bike from my in-laws which I love as well. Jesse and I go for almost daily bikerides now around town, and mine has a huge cushioney seat, so my little boney butt can handle it. When I rode Jesse's bike, my tailbone always hurt for the next 2 days. You'd think manufacturers would clue into the fact that people don't like rock hard banana seats that ride up your butt crack like underware. Anyhoo, it was a good birthday, and I always said I wanted to have my first baby no later then 25, so I guess I am getting my wish!

So my job at the Pomeroy is trucking along. I was putting away my end of the day sheets in the back today, and I looked at the wall, and there is this huge cardboard poster thing, and my name was on it, along with a bunch of other people, and I had one star...which equals 5 pride points...haha. WOO HOO!! Five pride points. I don't even know what that means, or what if anything I get from these points....maybe just pride, who knows, but anyway, I thought that was funny. Every month they pick an employee of the month, and then that person gets the theme room for a night at no charge. It is an African theme room, and it has 2 complete bathrooms, plus a jacuzzi seperatly. It is a pretty nice room, and goes for about 300 a night regularly. So I suppose that gives me a bit more incentive to try and be a "model" employee, but I'm not the type of person to do much of a different a job if someone is watching or not.....I think I was raised too well for that, so really not much will change. Not saying I don't ever cut corners a bit, but for the most part, I have too much of a concience to not do things properly. However, working as a housekeeper now for about a month, I have developed a few peeves. Here they are:

1. Pubic hairs. I may have mentioned this in a previous post, I'm not sure. They are disgusting and I hate them, and if people have to shed them, chase them down the drain. Seriousely.

2. People who put all their dirty dishes in the dishwasher and then don't start it. What is the point of that??? Then I have to either take them out and wash them, or if I want to come back later, start it, and then have that annoying thought hanging over me that I have to go back to a room.

3. Guys that can't aim. Why don't you pee IN the toilet not all round the rim and who knows where all else. Seriously.

4. Towels EVERYWHERE. At home when you are done with a towel, you hang it on the back of the door. Why is that so hard at a hotel? Ok ok, I know I have never actually thought for more then a single second about the person cleaning up my room either...I have just taken it for granted, so I can't say I don't do that too, but now that I have to bend over 50 000 times a day, I really wish people would at least hang their towels up!!

5. People who pay a ton extra to have a jacuzzi room, (not the theme room, just the jacuzzi rooms) and then DON'T USE IT!!!! I don't why that bugs me, but it does. If you are going to spend more money for it..USE THE THING! That just makes absolutly no sence to me.

NOW FOR MY NUMBER ONE PEEVE

People, my number one peeve is when I knock on someone's door, practically SCREAM housekeeping.....wait.....nobody comes to the door, take my keycard, push the door open, and WHAM!! The dumb people inside have the door locked...have OBVIOUSELY heard me, but just don't even bother to come to the door, and say...no thanks, or, we'll be gone in an hour, or whatever. I think that is so rude. And I can see inside when I open it that far, and the lights are all on, and nobody is doing the nasty anywhere, so they can totally hear me, and are able to come to the door. That is my number one peeve. !!!!!

*Sigh* Now I feel better. My cousin Renae is coming up for the August long weekend, and the rodeo is in Peace, so we are going to go to that and have a great time I'm sure. I guess that is all for this post. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Shopping Trip

Well, I haven't blogged for awhile. Not necessarily because I don't have things to say, but because to formulate and write down what I want to say, takes effort, and at times, it can be hard to find that motivation. First off, this is my latest pregnancy pic, and ignore the spaced out wierd look on my face. You shoudld be looking at my stomach!! Anyway, I was so excited about my shopping trip today, that I just HAD to write about it! First off, on the weekend Jesse and I hit up all the garage sales in Grimshaw...I think there were a grand total of about five in the whole town. And yes, we did go to them all. So we found some pretty sweet deals. We got a Graco Pack and Play ( a small playpen/portable crib) for 50 bucks, from a Grandma, who had just used it for her two grandkids, so it looks brand new. We were really happy with that. And then there was one garage sale selling all kid stuff, so I got a bag packed with stuff for five bucks! There was a lot of stuff that was stained or old looking, and I'm not interested in that stuff, but the newer looking things will work great. Then today, we went to the Thrift Store in Peace, and all the baby clothes there are 45 cents a piece!!! OH MY GOODNESS!! Can you belive that? In a store like that, even Jesse gives me permission to go crazy!! Haha. So I got a bunch of teeny cute little pink pants, and a couple undershirts, and a really cute fuzzy sweater. I figure for 45 cents if she grows out of everything in 2 weeks, I don't have to feel guilty about the money spent! Oh yes, and if you didn't catch it, I did say she....the ultrasound showed a girl, so I guess there is a 20 percent chance it won't be, but I've alraedy bought about a hundred pink things, so hopefully it won't change!! And yes, I am excited about having a girl!! Jesse wanted a boy first, but of course we both would have been great with either...and his little girl is going to have him wrapped around her little finger we bothe know it! Anyway, after the Thrift Store, we went to Sann...which I have not been in since I was a kid growing up in Virden....and they were having a closing out sale, and oh my goodness were there deals. I got a bunch of Christmas decorations for 20 cents!! 20 cents!! That's like giving it away. And they weren't junk either, they were things I would have liked to buy, but wouldn't have because they were too expensive. I also got 2 nice sweaters, which i have been wanting for awhile...all super cheap....then they had a sale on cards....10 for a buck!! So Jesse stood there forever, and picked out 20 cards for 2 dollers. So if you get a card from us in the next 2 years, you know it was from there. Haha. The funniest thing though, is he picked a birthday card out for HIMSELF from ME!! HAHAHAHAH. I laughed so hard when I saw that. It says on the front....To my Husband from your Wife. I told him he wasn't really supposed to pick out his OWN birthday cards from ME. So he said to give it to him next year for his birthday and he wouldn't remember! Hahah. So we had a very thrifty day today. So far I have bought 2 new things for my baby. Little booties and a blanket. Of course I like new things just as much as anyone, and I'm sure if I had unlimited amounts of money I wouldn't be buying clothes at Thrift Stores, even if I say I would, but as this point in life, I find the idea of spending 20 dollers on a little pair of pants and shirt the size of a postage stamp absoulutly ludicrous. It's crazy what they charge for baby clothes. I guess becasue they can, but really baby clothes are no cheaper then the clothes I buy, and my clothes are 20 times the size. Obviousely they are charging for the cute factor, and not actually the amount of material used! And yes, I will buy some clothes new.....absoultly, but if given the option between going broke buying baby clothes new, and having a closet full of cute little things, for a fraction of the price, I know what I'm choosing! And really, some of those things I got today are SOOOO cute! Plus, I've heard babies grow so fast, that she may only wear some of these things twice, so I don't want to spend hundreds of dollers on clothes she will hardly even use. Plus, I'm sure I will get a lot of things at baby showers...so I think I will be stocked up! We still have to buy a crib and change table set...which we will be buying new! Also a rocking chair and stroller and high chair....so we will be going broke on those items apparently insead of the clothes...:) I am trying to pick out a colour to paint the nursery, and I think we have chosen a yellow. I just couldn't bring myself to paint pink. I know it could be cute, but it just goes against my grain...:) Plus we have brown carpet, so I just think it would clash horribly. I'm thinking of getting a white crib.....I think that will be really cute. I'm such a pink person when it comes to clothes though. I have a bunch of stuff already and 97% of it is pink! I'm sorry, pink is just so cute for a little girl! Plus, nobody will ever have to ask what it is! I feel her kicking quite regularly now...some days more then others. Once and awhile she really gets going, and it's like woah....what's going on in there! It's a pretty cool feeling though. When Jesse puts his hand on my stomach he can feel her too, and I think it makes him feel a lot more connected to this little person.

As far as my job goes, I guess I haven't blogged about it yet. I have been working at the Pomeroy as a housekeeper. Definitely not something you want to make a career out of. Changing beds and cleaning people's pubic hairs up is not the definition of a great way to make 11 bucks an hour. However, I am thankful God has given me the ability to work, and provided me with a job, so I can't complain too much. It does have it's interesting moments though....very wierd what goes on in hotels. I thought people just came and went, but people seem to live there. Mostly people who work there, and the company puts them up, but still....it's strange. There is a Muslim lady with her three kids that have been there for 2 weeks, and you wonder what all these people are doing here in Grimshaw of all places. It's always the best when you find an unopened bottle pop in the fridge, buecause they you get to keep it, and the best is people who leave tips....I never would have thought of that myself, but hey, it's nice! It is really hard work, and a lot of bending and lifting and pulling mattresses away from the wall, and pushing them back. I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday ...(21 weeks!) so I will ask her then what she thinks about how physical it is. I am planning on working till the end of September but we will see how I feel, and course I don't want to do anything that will hurt the baby, so nothing is in stone. Alright, well I am feeling blogged out for the moment. Jesse is gone on a medivac flight, so I had the evening to myself, which I don't mind once and while. Sometimes solitude can be refreshing....but not for too long, and I will be glad when he is home again tomorrow! And my favoritist show is back on TV...Big Brother...so the summer is looking up! And yes, I know that is sad, so you don't have to tell me.....:) Hey, thanks to everyone who reads and comments.....

Tamara

Latest Pregnancy Pic

Baby Ultrasound

So today we had our first ultrasound!! I've been staring at these pictures compulsively all afternoon. The ultrasound itself was very uncomfortable. I think I drank way too much water. Every step was painful. The nurse actually told me to pee before we started....that's how bad I must have looked!! Anyway, it's pretty cool to actually see this little person taking over my life. I'm 18 weeks on Friday, and I already am looking forward to holding this little baby and being able to love someone so completly. I always swore I wouldn't be the type of mother who is totally ga ga goo goo over their babies to the point where it makes you want to throw up - - - - but for the first few months people may have to cut me a bit of slack! I just can't stand it when there is a new baby and the Mother obviousely thinks she is the ONLY person in the whole world to EVER give birth to a baby, and apparently ignores the fact that really she is the only one so enthralled with the poop machine, and thinks everyone else thinks her baby is as cute as she does. Yes, this is one of my peeves. Get over it!!! Everyone has babies. I'm sorry, I'm just a realist. I can only exclaim over a new baby for about 10 seconds before I'm bored. I've never really liked kids though, so that could be part of my problem. AND, I've never had anyone in my immediate family give birth, so I think I could be different with those kids. Anyway, I hope I can, because my sisters are exactly like me, and I expect them to be pretty in love with my kid...haha. Not saying I'm not happy for people with kids, or that I don't find babies cute....I do...but only for a short time. There are some Mothers who when the baby is awake, you can't have a converstaion with them, because they are just constantly talking baby talk, and gooing and cooing and staring at their baby like the world is going to end in the next 10 minutes, and then you know it's time to go home. Yup....you can all throw this back in my face when I'm exactly the same...:) I know I shouldn't talk of what I don't know...but as first an unmarried single, and then as a young married couple with no kids, you definitely notice the difference between friends who have kids and friends who dont't have kids! Totally different culture. I still find it hard to belive our life will change all that much, but that is inexperience talking I know!!!

Anyway, I'm starting to look more and more forward to having this baby!!! And yes, I did post ultraound pictures which is another thing I could never understand people doing......it's blurry!! And the picture isn't even clear...what is that??? Haha. *sigh* I need to stop saying I won't do things, because I always end up doing them. !! Guess that is all for now!!

Kinda Pregnant

I think today for the first time, I looked down and thought, hmmm, I look kinda pregnant. Guess that was inevitable....:) I am 16 weeks today. I threw up this morning while cleaning up Jesse's leftovers from the night before...(garlic pork or something gross like that) suffice to say he finished cleaning it up not me. Other then that, I haven't been feeling nearly so neausous lately.
Tonight I made rau kueken for supper, (however you spell that). For the few non-mennonites out there that read my blog, it is one of the best summer suppers to have, and one of the reasons your really missing out if your NOT mennonite!! Yes, we do make good food! Anyway, I had made it once before with Ange in Ethiopia, but this was my first try alone, and they turned out surprisingly well. A bit messy with the oil and everything, but worth all the effort.

So I have secured 2 jobs for Monday. Yes, I tend to overdue it at times, and have brain dead moments as well. They are actually both part time, but like the idiot I am, I said I could start both on the same day, so I am working 7-3:30 at the hotel, (in the laundry section) and then 4-10 at the pizza place. I think I will try to change one of those yet! That's too much. From too little to too much. Anyway, ideally I will try to do each job 3 days of the week. We'll see how it goes. If it gets too complicated or too exahusting I will have to re-evaluate. I like the idea of having more variaty and not doing the same thing every day. Just so long as my employees are willing to work around each other a little bit. :)

I am tired tonight. Not sure why since I didn't have a very strenuous day. Cooking always makes me tired though! Haha. Anyway, I think I will go sit in my bathtub, read a book, and go to bed. :)

Updates

So have you ever noticed it's hard to blog when you feel blah about life? Well, I do, but I'm going to give it a try anyway. I'm still looking for a job. I thought it would be a bit easier then it has been. I've applied about 7 or 8 places now with 1 phone call. Honestly, if you don't want to hire people, why do you put an add in the paper??? I'm not applying for jobs that are way above my skill level, so my ego has taken a bit of a beating this last week! I'm so bored sitting at home though, I was so desperate, I almost went in and got an application at McDonalds...yes people, I am getting very very desperate. Never mind that the thought of a McDonalds burger brings on the gags, I need to get out of the house!!!!! I applied for a job today working in the Peace River hospital in the kitchen, so we'll see if that pans out or not.
I am almost 15 weeks, and haven't thrown up in about a week. Last week I threw up one supper, and then the next night, I had the plate of food in front of me, took one bite, went and threw up, then came back and ate the rest. As you can see, I'm getting pretty used to this throwing up thing. Anyway, maybe I'm past the worst now. I never seem to be hungry though. I eat because I know I should, but I can't really remember the last time I've been truly hungry. Very odd. I still don't have any maternity clothes, and I'm thinking I need some bigger stuff, because stuff isn't fitting so well anymore. Plus, our washer is broken, and won't get fixed for a few days, so I am seriously running low on options here. I even went to Jesse's drawer today and almost put on one of his shirts. I think in the near future that may be my only option if I don't want everything hanging out, which I don't.
I watched the last game of the Stanly Cup Playoffs tonight, and unfortunetly Detroit won, but that was inevitable so I wasn't TOO dispaointed. Hopefully we will have satallite by the end of the week, and then I can get back to the land of the living, and my SHOWS!! Yes!! (We manged to watch the hockey games by Jesse hooking up an antenna with tin foil, containers, clothes hangers, and wire) Pretty classy I know. Hey, it worked!! Farm-o-vision at it's very best. Anyhoo, I guess that's my update for now. Anybody need a nice long road trip this summer, make your way to Peace River, Alberta! There's a guest bed that's begging to be used. :)