"Is Joel ever coming home?"

My little brother (Marshall, who is almost 18) is living with me for the summer since Joel is gone.  He is a super big help and I love having him here.  He even runs my errands and does the dishes! haha I was surprised and a little mortified when Marshall told me that he had chatted with a few neighbors while out moving around sprinklers, and that they thought that Joel and I got a divorce and that Marshall was my new boy friend....THEN the little neighborhood boys who all play accross the street from us came over and confronted me about it one morning while I was leaving for work.  They were concerned Joel was never coming back and that there was a weird guy mowing my lawn. haha I reassured them Joel would be back at the end of the summer and they seemed to calm down.  These are the same kids who about cried when I gave them "a WHOLE dollar" for a cup of lemonade at their stand...ha I love those kids.  But now im kind of paranoid that all my neighbors think that Joel and I got a divorce, and now that im obviously pregnant its even more embarrassing. oh well! haha

This picture is back from 2008 but its one of my favorites! Love my little bro!

One of the only downsides to having Marshall here is that he is staying in what is to be the baby's nursery.  Before he came I had it all cleaned out and ready to start decorating...now it is filled with messy boy things and smells weird.  So I have decided I will put all of my nursery planning on here in pictures, then when he is gone I will actually start accumulating things.  (this is probably for the best so I dont spend as much money haha)

This nursery gave me my color scheme idea.  Joel's favorite color is red, and I really wanted a simple, calming color scheme for the room.  I recently repainted the room this same beige color, and my crib and dresser will be an off white like these in the picture. 

 I am also using two black brown bookcases that are already in there, to put baskets/nic nacs on.  So to tie in the dark color book cases with the lighter crib and dresser...I thought id do both in a chair.  I love these rocking Ikea chairs, we had one growing up and they're so comfy.    I fell in love with this beige leather and the dark wood... 

However after going into the store and seeing them in person, I am torn and also fell in love with this red beauty.  (the base would be the one above, not that brown) 

Im thinking ill have to get them both and see them in the room haha im not very good at just imagining what it would look like. dah decisions decisions.  

 I love these little lanterns and think the white ones would be way cute against the dark book cases.

Isn't that clock AMAZING??  Its going to go on top of the dresser :)

If you know Joel, you know he is a huge baseball nut.  His dad gave him a vintage glove that i'd like to use on one of the shelves...so I thought it would be cute to have some little baseball touches around the room.  BUT nothing really "babyish" im not a fan of really cutesy/baby nurserys.  I want "sophisticated baby" haha

I saw this picture and thought it would be fun to put a baseball in some of his newborn pictures and frame them. 

The other baseball touch I want is a framed picture of classic baseball.  Im thinking Babe Ruth swinging, or Fenway Park in black and white. 



I am so excited about getting ready for baby...and to me this means buying diaper bags, binkies, etc...haha but Joel has told me I cant buy anything for baby until September...I think he thinks im going to turn into a hoarder or something?  haha we'll see how that works out. 

Joel took his FINAL today for his first 6 week "semester" and now we are off to BEAR LAKE for the weekend! Woohoo! Ive never been so I cant wait to go and relax!!

19 Weeks

I am so excited to finally be half way! (by the time im posting this im in my 21st week) I am a slacker and will post more pics soon.  I feel like its been going by pretty quickly, and most of that is probably due to the crazy summer we are having.  Since Joel is living in Utah, the only things I really have to look forward to are when he comes home for a weekend, or I drive down there...and this only happens every couple of weeks.  So for some reason when im looking forward to a weekend with him, the time flys by! I cant believe its already the middle of June. 

I have been feeling pretty great lately, but im starting to move my bedtime closer and closer to 8:30pm every night.  I never felt that exhaustion that some pregnant women complain about...until now.  After being on my feet all day working, ill get home and have some leftover energy to get things done, but its like the minute it hits 8:30 im asking myself, "Is it too early to go to bed?"  Joel keeps reassuring me its normal, "you ARE growing a baby..." ha but I just feel like im 90 years old. 

I had a doctors appointment on Monday, and can I just say I love my doctor, he's the nicest, coolest, most personable docor on the planet.  In short I heart him alot.  Everything seemed to be fine with the baby, but he was concerned when I told him that i'd been experiencing a shortness of breath pretty regularly every day.  Apparently there are some life threatening heart conditions you can develop while pregnant (although very rare he assured me) but one of the signs can be a shortness of breath...so I have an appointment on Thursday with the cardiologist.  Maybe I really am 90 years old?  I was a little freaked out at first and almost cried on the phone when I told Joel I was going to make the appointment, the word cardiologist is just so scary!  Hopefully everything will be fine and all my worrying will be for nothing. 

BUT we did find out we are having a baby BOY! We are so excited and im glad that now the pressure to give Joel a boy is off! haha I was worried he'd be stuck with all girls and no boys to turn into little baseball stars.  Now the hard part...what to name him....another challenge in itself!

Here are my 19 week pictures and our first picture of our little guy!



16 weeks

Week 16 is dead and gone!

Things are pretty quite around the Palmer house with Joel living in Utah for the summer. I would have probably died of lonliness by now except I have Miley to keep me company. This past week has been similiar to the last one...nothing to exciting to report.

I feel like my baby bump is flucuating big time...I think I was (or felt like) bigger in my 14th week, than I even am now at the end of 16 weeks.  Its so weird.  I'll literally gain 5 pounds from when I wake up to when I go to bed, and I look at pictures of people who are either behind or ahead of me and I freak out because I feel huge compared to everyone.  I know this is stupid because "everyone is different" and all that crap, but I dont want to be different! haha I want to be small and not feel like a hippo half the time!  I have to keep reminding myself that Im not even half way there yet, and that Im just at baby hippo status right now...it'll only get worse! (better?)  

I am super excited for June 7th, that is the day we find out whether we're having a Henry or a Quinn!  These are my top two baby names right now...Joel isnt convinced with Henry but I figure i've got time haha People keep asking me if I want a boy or a girl and honestly I dont care.  There are ups and downs with both and things to be excited about with both.  However, I do have cuter nursery decorating ideas if its a boy...not sure thats a good enough reason to lean towards boy though haha

*by the time I am actually finishing this post I am almost done with my 17th week...I am a slacker so next picture post should be soon!

Little Bun

I havent come out and said it on here yet, but as of February 13th-ish we have a little bun in the oven.  Which puts me at the end of my 15th week.  It seems to go by fast, and terribly slow at the same time. Which is very frustrating/confusing. When I first found out I was pregnant (started being ridiculously sick) I started another blog to chronicle my prego happenings/feelings...but that was short lived because every time I went to blog, it was just about how sick and miserable I was...and no one really wants to read that, hey even I dont want to re-read it.  So I have been waiting to blog about this whole adventure until I was feeling a little bit better. 

Here are my week by week pictures I started taking a few weeks ago.  I waited until there was actually something to see, instead of just taking skinny pictures that would later make me feel like I was now huge. Joel keeps pointing out to me that a peach is bigger than a lemon, and an orange and a peach are like the same size...and I keep telling him who knows, I just go off of what my "what to expect when your expecting" app on my phone tells me haha AND they are definitely not drawn to scale.   

This is the picture we took to announce we were expecting.  I had seen a similar one on pinterest and knew that's how I wanted to do it.  So after getting the picture how I wanted, we framed them and wrapped them up to give to our familys.  It was really fun to see their reactions and their surprised faces. 

I stole this idea for the weekly picture and fruit/veggie comparrison from this blog- littlebabygarvin, and she had a list of questions she would answer every week to track what was going on during this exciting.miserable.amazing.awful roller coaster. haha

So here is my 15 week list-

How far along? 15 weeks

Total weight gain: depends on the day, between 6 & 8 lbs.

Maternity clothes? Nope! but my mom and I had a shopping spree for all things loose and flowy!

Stretch marks? none yet

Sleep: not so good.  this week I was in Cheyenne working and I dont know if it was the hotel, or being alone, but I slept like crap...and I had Joel back this weekend and sadly still slept terribly.  Just a constant wake up, fall back asleep routine all.night.long....

Best moment this week: Realizing on Saturday that I actually felt well enough to go out and weed the flower beds! woohoo!

Miss Anything? ZUMBA!!!! I cannot wait to get back to the gym! I miss zumba and body pump so much, its sad but I hear a zumba song randomly somewhere and its like my limbs cant help but start moving, they're craving it!! haha im crossing my fingers that my feeling good will last and I can start going again soon.

Movement: havent felt anything yet...well that I know of? sometimes I feel something but usually assume its just normal stomach stuff

Food cravings: Ive been craving salads alot...and chili cheese dogs...and when Joel was home this weekend we made chili cheese dogs like 3 times, haha and they were AMAZING!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Cooking, the smell of cooking meat sends me over the edge...which makes cooking anything other than mac'n'cheese difficult...slot just plain meat- like a slab of chicken...yuck- I can eat it in a burrito or something, but not just by itself.

Gender: Ultra sound is June 7th!! I think its a Boy and Joel thinks its a Girl

Labor Signs: No

Symptoms:  The occasional throw up in the morning- and let me just say, the worst part of throwing up in the morning is the fact that it ruins my mascara! and then I have to take it off and start over, usually making me late for work.  I get winded pretty easily, makes me feel like I weigh 500 lbs.  and of course the constant just crappy feeling, lightheadedness, morning sickness

Belly Button in or out? in

Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or Moody most of the time: I had some very emotional first few weeks of pregnancy when I felt the worst and I thought life as I knew it was ending...but for the most part im a pretty happy girl, not too many breakdowns so far!

Looking forward to: The ultra sound in a few weeks! I cant wait to find out what we are having! I want to start planning nursery colors! I havent been pinning all that baby stuff on pinterest for nothing!



One Down, One to Go

Joel graduated from ISU last saturday and I am so proud of him!

He really didnt want to walk, but thanks to my constant prodding

and begging, he finally decided to do it. 

The ceremony was painfully long, about 3 1/2 hours

but it was great to see Joel walk and get that dang diploma!

haha

My Family above, Joels Family below
So grateful for everyone who came to support Joel

Joels Parents

I wont lie he looks good in a cap and gown
sorry ladies but he's my baby daddy :)



We went to Chili's afterward to celebrate and Joels Mom brought
this amazing cake, and it was delicious!



I cant believe he is finally done with his undergrad- when I look back now it seems like it went by fast...but if you would have asked me a year ago I probably would have said different. 

Joel wasn't super excited about it since he had to start his 12 week organic chemistry course that Monday, but I think once it was all said and done he was glad I made him do it...

what are wives for right? 

So this summer I am pretty much husbandless most of the time while Joel lives in
Bountiful with my parents and takes classes at Weber State.  He's pretty much livin the life. 

But I guess thats ok because he'll have to take the MCAT in Sept...which will be super stressful, and then he has 4 years of Med school after that...so I guess he deserves a little break. 

But I am so proud of him and excited to be moving on to the next chapter in our long school journey...one graduation down, one more to go!  

Gimme Sum Sumisu!

SUSHI. 

I absolutely love sushi.  Its fresh, healthy, and fun to eat. 

I used to hate it, but found out that because i'd never had really good sushi.

It makes such a big difference.

One of our favorite things to do down in Salt Lake when we come down,

is go out for yummy sushi.  

So I was so excited when SUMISU opened up in Pocatello.

and let me just tell you, it stacks up with the best sushi ive had in Salt Lake. 

THING I LOVE ABOUT POCATELLO #1

SUMISU 



This place has such a fun environment, and great people working for them.

The last time we went in the owners stopped and talked with us for 20 minutes or so,

the waiter was amazing, and the food was outstanding. 

This is my new favorite place to relieve stress and just relax. 

If you go, which you should, I definitely recommend this roll

The Portneuf River Roll

AMAZING

Isnt he just so cute? 

haha he loves sushi probably more than anyone I know

 Puttin it down, so yummy!

For my Pocatello Love challenge I decided to start with something obvious,

Food. haha but seriously, this place is great and I would recommend it to everyone!

So go and try it!

Battlefield

One of my biggest battles I fight is with food.  I love food.  When we go on vacations we First- check if there is a man vs food episode on that city, and Second- google what the best places to eat are.  I just enjoy eating great food, is that so bad?  Here is where the problem emerges...I dont like to cook.  Well no, I dont MIND cooking...its the PLANNING of WHAT to cook, and going to the grocery store to buy the ingredients.  I hate coming home from work and standing in the pantry and thinking, "there is so much food in here...but nothing to eat for dinner", I then turn to the fridge, with the same outcome.  So what ends up happening is a little Jimmy Johns guy shows up at my door 20 minutes later.  PROBLEM.  For 2012 I decided we were going to go on a budget, and track everything we spend.  This has been really great and i've gotten a good idea of where most of our monies go...sadly its mostly goes to eating out.  Ok Ok enough about the issue, SOLUTION?? 

 I found THIS blog where a woman who was going to have a baby made all of these freezer friendly dinners, lunches and breakfasts ahead of time, and froze them for easy quick meals.  I decided I was totally going to attack this...however working 40+ hours a week really slims down the amount of time to spend cooking a billion freezer meals.  So instead of getting overwhelmed I decided to take it one meal at a time.  So first meal needed to be something easy, and whats easier than my favorite, 

BREAKFAST BURRITOS

 I was thinking that these are so easy I didnt need to post how I made them, but then I started thinking of all the "easy" things I dont know how to make and thought why not?

So here ya go!

 I like peppers and onions in mine, you can pretty much add any vegetables you like

just dice and Saute

I dont know about you, but cutting onions is bad news for my eyes.  I dont just tear up, I have full on non stop elephant tears...so this renders my sunglasses absolutely necessary while cutting the onions

Next add in as many eggs as you'd like, I used eight, but everyone has their own "egg to veggie ratio"  Also while eggs are cooking, I cooked up some bacon on the good old George Foreman

Cut up bacon and add to cooked eggs...then of course I add in some graded cheese

Then you just roll them up into tortillas....easy enough

Then wrap them nice and snug in either foil or wax paper, and freeze in freezer bag

I promise you these are delicious, and I was a little skeptical about how good they'd be once they were thawed, but they're still amazing!  Best way i've found to defrost is in the microwave for 2 minutes, wrapped in a damp paper towel. 

Its been so nice to be able to just grab one before I head to work, and has made it so Joel doesnt have to eat cereal every morning haha

This is my first step to saving money and eating better.  I know its not much but hey its a start right?  Next dilemma is lunch...

Pocat [hell] o

I have been kind of down about living here lately. But rightly so. (in my opinion) This sleepy dead railroad town has nothing to do. The only two things to do are go out to eat, or go to the movies. Which is fine, but every weekend?? I think there are two reasons for my frustrations. First being that I grew up in Seattle...therefore I know better. and Second, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Joel going to Med school is becoming more of a reality rather than just something way down the road. The thought of moving to a new place, exploring a new city, having an adventure with my fun husband, is so exciting and now that its a reality, im feeling very impatient with little Pocatello.
So last Saturday instead of feeling sorry for myself that there wasnt anything to do, Joel and I decided to go explore. And let me tell you, Pocatello has some random stuff. We drove up Pocatello Creek and took our new little Jeep. We drove as far as we could on the pavement and then tried out the 4 wheel drive in some snow- While Joel was laughing and having fun, I was clutching the arm rests and squealing. But no worries, our little guy did great, even though I doubted him. haha.
After we drove down, I started noticing a bunch of random stuff on the side of the road and in peoples fields etc...this led to a two hour drive around Pocatello. In the end it ended up being an awesome adventure because it gave Joel and I time to talk, listen to Brett Dennen and just relax. Here are a few of the many random pictures we took :)

Pretty sure this thing is a million years old, and could probably be sold for a lot of money...but instead its just sitting in a field. haha

I thought this was super cool, but Joel informed me that there are old trains like this all over Pocatello...Im still a little skeptical since i've never seen one....

(also just sitting in the middle of a field)

I love the Hotel Yellowstone, Im not sure why, but I think it looks like it should be in an old movie or something- I love the yellow sign

I guess Pocatello isnt THAT bad, there are some upsides to a small town; no traffic, hardly any creepers/crime, relatively quiet...mmm yeah thats about it. haha I guess that will be my goal until we move, find more things to love about Pocatello.

Challenge Accepted.

ps. that last line is a tribute to Barney from How I Met Your Mother...we're done with all the seasons on Netflix and I think im in mourning.

The terrible awful

While updating my phone a few days ago my awesome computer decided to be extra amazing and completely restore my phone, aka wiped everything...so all of the fun pictures I'd been taking to blog about- poof! Gone in an instant. (I hate iTunes) so after I stopped crying about it, mmm like ten minutes ago, I decided I can't let this terribly awful thing hinder my blogging! (and yea I am aware I've been a slacker for the past 2 weeksish but no more)
Awfully exciting things happening in my life?? Well Joel finally decided to get on the bandwagon and play words with friends- loooving it. Not loving that he's super good at it though...Joel is also taking a mock MCAT on Saturday for like 6 hours (cringe) I guess that's more awful than awfully exciting, oh well good luck babe!
And now on to terrible news...we are almost done with all of the seasons of How I Met Your Mother on Netflix (gasp!) I know I don't know what we're going to do from 10-11 every night now. Other terrible news? It's freezing, and I need it to be spring already! Baaah I secretly hope Joel gets into this US med school in the Caribbean so I can lay on the beach everyday, how amazing would that be? However I think I'd miss my parents too much.....well that's a pros and con list I'll put off for a later date!
So for a picture update- a friend took our Palmer family pictures and here are some faves! :)

Halloween

It's scary how late this post is! (haha) but back in October Julie (Joel's mom) an I decided we needed to throw a Halloween party- and throw one we did! Halloween is probably my second favorite holiday behind Christmas (third is 4th of July in case you were wondering) so obviously I was excited! I wish I would have taken more/better pictures but oh well. We had lots of games and tons of great food, and everyone's costumes were awesome. I can't wait for Halloween 2012 and I am determined to get Joel to finally do a couple costume...we'll see how that goes.