Homesick

I debated if I should post this or not, being generally against blatant negativity, but I figured a lot of you are in the process of moving or have already moved and could either give me advice or know you aren't alone.

So here it goes.

Moving to Greensboro went pretty well on Saturday.  We stayed almost completely on schedule (hard to imagine since we had about 1/2 hour to accomplish each task), and were so grateful to have had 8 men from Hickory ward and 4 from Greensboro available to help us.  Thank you!

h.o.u.s.e.

Unfortunately, it has been crazy since we got here.  For weeks we were living in a "construction zone" in Hickory of packing and repainting, etc, and now it's the same here.  It's hard to feel comfortable when you've been surrounded by boxes for weeks on end.  We are living in a two-story place now, and had to spend a lot of time moving furniture and boxes in and out of the right rooms and floors.  Every time I tried to unpack a certain room, I would get distracted with just trying to find something and end up moving a little something into each room, instead. Then I try to re-arrange it because Ben and I can't agree on what we like in the house. It's the slow way to move in, but I bet one day I'll just open my eyes and it will all feel magically done.

For right now we don't even have internet or cable, so there is nothing for me to do all day but try to unpack.  Ben checks my e-mail and lets me know if I miss something important, but, seriously, I can't even watch a show or check blogs to feel more comfortable?!?!?!

c.i.t.y.

It's hard to escape the house, too.  This city is huge and I don't know where anything is, and Wendy, my GPS, has a hard time finding my location when I miss a turn.  It makes me want to tear my hair out! In Hickory the neighborhood streets were complete misery to figure out, but at least the main roads with all the stores, etc, were easy and accessible.  Almost everything I needed was within 1.5 miles of our house!

c.h.u.r.c.h.

We went to church on Sunday, and I was really nervous and excited to try and make new friends.  I'd never been worried about that in previous moves, but I was surprised at what great friends I had in Hickory and how much I loved their support and friendship (especially during the pregnancy) that I'm really eager to find that again.  A few women introduced themselves, but no one was very forthcoming with me.  My first Sunday in Hickory I offered to help volunteer for a project they were working on, and was invited to a play date to meet other women within my first week.  It was so easy to jump in and meet people.  Here....? Nothing.  Yet.

s.a.d.

I am extremely confident that all will work out... eventually... because the Lord really helped us move here.  So there must be a reason.  But right now? I just feel stuck.  I feel so out of place and away from home.  I miss Hickory.  Maybe it's the pregnancy hormones, but I have never felt this homesick before!

A Moving Poem

Moving Day

It’s packing, sorting, selling time
Our house has become a zoo
What goes where, what to keep...?
My mind is full of things to do!

Time to fix the paint and clean the fridge,
Take vinyl off the walls.
But do it all on tiptoe
So the packed box tower doesn’t fall!

You may think this sounds easy
It’s only 3 bedrooms, after all.
But all I want to do is SLEEP,
Eat junk food, whine, and bawl

Because my husband’s hurt both shoulders,
He can hardly lift a thing,
And if you think that that’s bad luck
Meet my pregnant, growing belly.

But there’s a light through darkness
This move is not in vain.
Our house right now is dangerous
And we hate our neighbor, Mr. Sain.

Plus, Ben’s transferring to Greensboro
And the Lord confirmed the change.
He helped us find a townhouse fast
And all our business to arrange.

But we’ll really miss this small town,
The parks and streets that we've bragged of,
And especially the people
Whom we’ve come to know and love.

Thanks for all your friendship,
Your support, and understanding.
Without your help before and now
Who knows where we’d be standing!

For now our growing family moves
But all friends and memories stay
In our minds, forevermore
We’ll meet again one day.

So wish us luck, that’s what we’ll need
In the days and weeks to come
To move in well and find new friends
AND TO FORGET ALL THESE PROBLEMS!

Tired.

MISSING:

sleep. 

one of my favorite things.

LAST SEEN:

two weeks ago. 

thanks, Baby.

REWARD IF FOUND!

I'll give you a really big hug.  And my last Granny Smith apple. 

Happy Father's Day, Ben!

We had so much fun celebrating our first Father's Day with a child in mind!
I realized during the day that Mother's Day is about the thought and gifts, Father's Day is about the food. Thus....

b.r.e.a.k.f.a.s.t.

Buttermilk Pancakes for breakfast with 100% pure MI Maple Syrup

(A gift from his parents which we opened for the first time this morning.  Ben has really been looking forward to this!)

PS- He actually made breakfast for me! He usually has a leadership meeting an hour before church so we drive in separately, but yesterday they canceled the meeting so he came home, all dressed, and made pancakes while I got ready! Thanks, Hon!

l.u.n.c.h.

Homemade vegetable egg rolls!
We have made these before and loved them, but I couldn't find the recipe this time.  We made up our own, and it was great!

Ingredients   

• Cabbage head
• 2-4 large carrots
• Onion
• Soy Sauce
• Ginger
• Vegetable Oil
• Wonton wrappers
• Glass of water

Directions:

• Slice desired amount of cabbage across entire head to shred (about 3 cups) and put in a mixing bowl.
• Grate carrots with a potato peeler and add to bowl. 
• Thinly slice desired amount of onion and add to bowl. 
• Pour a few squirts of soy sauce and a few shakes of ginger in the bowl and stir around to coat. 
• Lightly cook entire contents of bowl in a skillet, turning for even cooking, until wilted. 
• Place wonton wrappers in front of you, add a couple tbs. of vegetable mix to the center

• Wet your fingers in the glass of water and touch against the edge of the wrapper. 
• Fold the wrapper up, on each side, and down to completely cover the inside. 

(Ben is the best at this.  If the wrappers aren't really tight, some leftover cooking liquid

may come out of the edges into the oil... bad news!)

• Drop into medium-heated oil and turn until cooked on all sides

• Enjoy!

We really enjoyed making these together and eating them outside in our backyard (before we move away from it....) It was a perfect Sunday and Father's Day activity/ lunch!

d.i.n.n.e.r.

I have been advised to gain lots of weight during my pregnancy, so I keep track of the calories I eat every day.  I have been way below the recommended daily amount, so our diet has had to adjust a little to our current... situation. 

AKA: We are no longer strict vegetarians. 

Every couple of days (still trying to keep it all in moderation...) we have meat as part of a meal, so Saturday we made a trip to the grocery store to get a pack of bratwurst and deli sub rolls for a special Father's Day dinner.  There is nothing more sad to me right now than eating just two bratwurst of a pack of 5 alone in our disaster of a house, so we were welcomed over to our friends' house for a joint Father's Day dinner!

Ben did the cooking while Adam cleaned some dishes... Nice!

We just love our great friends, Ann and Adam.  Thanks for being so welcoming and understanding to us while we've been going through all our life changes and packing mess!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY 

to the amazing *almost* daddy I married, and all the wonderful men and fathers in our lives! 

I love him!

This afternoon I got a text message from Ben he'd sent at 7:00 am.

(when I finally turned my phone on for the day.)

He wanted to tell me about something that happened on his way to work, even though he knew there was no way I'd be up or responsive that early. 

I can't explain why, but something that insignificant meant so much to me.  

I love that he chooses me to share things with, at any time of day.  

Like I'm his wife and his best friend, or something. 

I am so happy this is the man I married and am starting a family with! 

Time for the breathing exercises.

My sister needs the closet space previously reserved for me in our Mom's house.
...
I cleaned out my stuff (grudgingly... I admit) and found a super-cute red animal print skirt from Express I'd loved as a teenager.
...
I get back home, wash it, and try it on to see if it still fits.
...
I lift my shirt to see the waistline in the mirror.
...
My waistline is thicker.
...
I have a baby bump.
...
Noticeably.

i'm.freaking.out.

This is happening so fast! I'm only 14 weeks, and still find it hard to believe i'm even pregnant. Everyone warned me about the mood swings, nausea, and fatigue... but no one mentions the psychological roller coaster! This all still feels unbelievable.  And my body is already changing?! When did this happen? 

I need to keep reminding myself that this is normal and healthy.... I'm having a baby... normal and healthy... I'm having a baby... 

I think I'd rather just skip to the I-swallowed-a-basketball stage. 

Fun in the Georgia Sun w/ our Nice Camera!

Last week Ben went on  a business trip to Honduras and El Salvador.  I chickened out about being home alone, and pregnant, so I spent the week in Georgia with my sister and her family (they are about to move to SLC, and I will miss them soooooooo much!!)

Ben and I are fortunate to have the best looking and most fun nieces and nephews ever (I dare you to dispute me. Seriously.  Just try.)

Here are the three I was around all week:

One day Brett tried doing a fun photo shoot with the kids.  As you can see from my pictures, 

it was more chaotic than productive.  But at least I got these fun candids!

And we spent one afternoon at the beach on St. Simon's Island! It was nice to be at the beach,

but my nausea was still acting up and I was good for little more than sitting in a chair at the water break.

The wind kicked up and the waves got stronger, and even that started to make me motion sick!

I did have a lot of fun testing out new photo techniques on the awesome camera we never use, though! 

(My goal is to be as good as my SIL, Sarah, by the time we have our baby.)

e.l.i.z.a.

This little girl has such an infection smile and cute chubby limbs that she is the best comforter for any bad mood. 

j.a.c.k.

Jack is awesome.  He's not sure if he's a big kid or a toddler, and it is so fun watching him discover what he likes and doesn't like.

c.a.t.h.e.r.i.n.e.

This leader-of-the-pack can be overly wise and dramatic for her age.  I can see her being a really good friend one day. 

t.h.e.f.a.m.i.l.y.

I love all of them so much, and will miss them incredibly when they move.  Brett is one of my best friends, Ben and Ben talk all the time, and I am addicted to their kids. 

Thanks for letting me crash on your couch for a week, tolerating my constant need for naps, and sharing my chicken noodle soup! 

New Changes... Part 2

Big announcement here, people!

We're having a baby! 

(but you probably guessed that).

Ben and I found out the day after our anniversary that we are expecting a child! This is an answer to lots of prayers, and we are so excited and happy. 

I am 12 weeks along, and have had a pretty rough time so far.  Nausea and fatigue have ruled the last few weeks, and I can hardly get out of bed or off the couch (partly because I'm too tired to move, partly because I concentrate so hard on not vomiting that I'm afraid I will if I change my position.)

I try to eat whenever I can, but there are only a couple of things I'm willing to put in my body right now. (I've already lost 6 lbs, and the midwife wants me to gain up to 45 lbs during the pregnancy! Yeah, right!)

My Diet;

*Orange Juice

*Ginger Ale

*Cereal

*Mashed Potatoes

*Oatmeal

*Grits

*Chicken Noodle Soup

How awesome Ben is:
*He asks me every morning how I'm feeling

*He doesn't tease me for staying in bed so long

*He doesn't mind making his own dinner-- frequently frozen meals

*He will stop at the store or go with me to the store for whatever I crave that night

*He cleans the kitchen and cooks our food, b/c I can't stand the smell

*He cleans the house when I have no energy

*He makes sure I take my vitamins every day

*He arranges to make it to all my midwife appointments

*He insists I eat or drink as much as I can

*He researches what pregnancy is like in his spare time to be more sympathetic to me

*He waters my garden daily because I can't be in the kitchen long enough to put water in a bucket

*He prays for our baby every night

*When I feel emotional and angry he leaves to buy me flowers

*He does all of this without any prodding from me-- it is his natural, paternal reaction :) 

We are so excited for December 14th!