Petr's Violin Shop

Isn't this sign adorable? I love the minty green and cute string-instruments painted on to the sign. I found this gem of a mom & pop shop when I was in Anchorage paying a visit to Anna's Health Food to purchase more primrose oil and raspberry tea.

"Anna" is pronounced with a Russian accent (she, Anna, greeted me with her thick accent when I walked in and helped me to my finds). I believe "Petr's" might be a Russian shop as well... Mamie, come find out!

sun rise

last week (day unrecalled), 5:00 am

goodbye, July

the appointment

no progress since last week:

still 1 cm and 50% effaced

lots of mild contractions (raspberry tea & primrose oil)

9 migraines with vision loss since last Wednesday

(thank goodness for priesthood blessings)

24 hour 'fluids' test for preeclampsia underway

results will be in on Monday

Tuesday I will either be:

calling the neurologist (if negative)

scheduling an induction (if positive)

but, no worries!

beaded

Last Saturday, two fun girls threw me a baby shower. For a thank you, I did up two of the fanciest necklaces I think I've made to date. I love, love, love them! The colors are both very representative of the two girls (at least, I think so!). Graceful and sweet, and bold and beautiful! (if they're reading this, they're probably laughing)

I would have made another bracelet for a friend in Utah, and probably something for myself (I'm so selfish!), but I showed up an hour late because of yet ANOTHER migraine.

So the first two pictures were more to showcase the earrings and body-work of the necklace, these two (above and below) are more for the pendants. Voila!

I've been watching this show called "Bones" every day (TNT plays like 3 a day!! perfect for a girl who needs some good couch time) and her jewelry on the show is exquisite! I'd say it was my 'inspiration.' I'll be going back hopefully soon!

just for kicks

I was reading a friend's blog this morning and she is 14 weeks along and she said is showing. I totally believe her because I remember taking this picture at 14 weeks convinced that I was showing (granted, just a tiny bit, but showing nonetheless). I was too embarrassed to post this picture at the time because I KNEW no one would believe me (and I hadn't finished getting ready yet, Mark had to leave for a meeting so I grabbed the camera sans jewels or make-up - what a difference those 2 girly things can make!). So here is a fun photo-comparison:

14 weeks:

36 weeks (it's like a magic show!):
I wonder if I'll fit into those skirts again! Yes, yes, YES I will....

hopefully. :)

the appointment

This morning Mark was able to go to my appt with me. I checked in to Women's Health Clinic, and told me Col. Yates was seeing her patients in L&D. My first thought was "What's L and D?" Fortunately I kept it as a thought only.

I need to get my brain in working order soon.

So the receptionist walked us and another woman to "L&D" where I had my appt.

The nurse took my blood pressure, 143/80... that's high!! I had just walked half the length of the hospital, and I was in pain from my 'overdoing' it yesterday sitting on the floor painting baseboards and such. So I thought that was an okay excuse.. right? Pain and exercise.

Then she came back 15 minutes later and it was 134/83 or something like that. STILL not good.

Col. Yates (a midwife) came in and said she was going to order me some labs to test for pre-eclampsia. Yikes. So I will find out soon, I suppose.

Everything is fine with the glucose levels; I am in the clear from gestational diabetes. yes!

Because of the high pressure reading, she didn't want to only use the doppler, she wanted to look at the baby's heart beat. It was a strong 136 bpm, and we got to see Mr. Huge!! His face was all smashed against the uterine wall, and he looked like a little gorilla. It was really funny; Mark said he must have his nose! I was laughing so hard the monitor couldn't keep the picture steady. He is already a funny kid.

When she checked, I am 1 cm. dilated, and 50% effaced. Everything is moving right along! I'll keep the blog updated with the lab results. Cross your fingers it's okay!

36 weeks

After church today... I was a bit tired! and a lot swollen. But only 4 more weeks!! If my grandma is right, possibly only a week and a half! Let's cross our fingers her dreams are right. :)

Tomorrow morning Mark will drop my dizzy, fasted-self off at the hospital for 3.5 hours. I'm following through with the glucose test. boooo... Better to know for certain, right? My next appt is on Tuesday!

ps - I turned to the left for this picture because of a nice pretty oven burn on my right arm. AND I just noticed I forgot my fake wedding ring all day. Good thing Mark was in town to sit next to me today! ha ha

paradise brought home

When Mark brought sand home from Diego Garcia two trips ago, I thought it was a bag of sugar-cookie mix. Having that sit on our counter made me want sugar all the time! (maybe that was why I failed the glucose test... and no I still haven't taken the 3 hour test! I'm thinking of letting it sliiiide...) Anyway, I didn't know what to do with the beautiful sand. When he showed me pictures of the broken coral that just sits on beaches there, I asked him to grab some of that next time. I had an idea after all. Now that he's home we set to work.

I've seen this done before, but putting it together proved trickier than I imagined. You pour sand, little bit by little bit, place the shell or coral where you'd like it, then pour sand around it. Then using a cue-tip to dig around and wipe the salty sand off the shells and coral pieces. We like it! I'm just glad it looks like SAND, rather than sugar now!

Mt. Fuji

A preview picture from Mark's 21 day trip: 

Other things under way: 

refinishing crib 

basement almost finished 

chose paint colors for basement rooms

36 weeks (picture coming soon.. if I can remember!)

Mark's birthday is around the corner! 

.. as is the baby's!

odd fascination

I have one with this commercial. 

Might be the music. 

Or the paintbrushes.

are we ready?

...we will be after reading this book! happy studying, Mark! 

purple mountain's majesty

Yesterday morning, ~ 5:00 am. Cool and beautiful morning! 

3 minute make-over

Before: 

After:
I love all the little fresh colors!! My bathroom is primarily green and white, so to throw in blues, oranges, yellows, and pinks adds a fun little punch of color. I almost did a lime green, but I thought this was more fun. I moved Mark's colognes to the downstairs bath (where he likes to get ready) and took his cubby over for my little pieces of jewelry. 

Ta-Da!! I'm loving it. Something so simple, but so enjoyable.

midnight snack

Today I went out on my 'investigation.' Instead of bear spray, I had my camera as a weapon; you know, to throw at it, if it were still nearby. 

Instead of trash, I found what looked like a grocery bag full of dairy products. Lucky bear! Sour cream, miracle whip, and lots of yogurt. 

Look at how the bear was able to get the lids off! So dextrous! I think when I can't get salsa jars open I should just go ask my neighborhood bear from now on.  

Hopefully the bear didn't have a 'rumbly in his tumbly' today... 

I sure would after a snack like this. yuck.

BEAR

...in the backyard!! I got it on video (on our actual video camera), Buckwheat thought he could kill it from the 3rd story deck, again...of course. But it was just eating trash; same snacking spot as last July's bear.

I heard munching and crunching, so I got up to look. There was a big black shadow "thing" on the hill, and I knew JUST what it was. 

So I said, "Buckwheat!! come here! come on sleepy head!!" ha! So we watched it for a good 5 minutes before I decided to be brave and call the neighbors. 

Even though it was after midnight I called Cat and they were all excited and happy that I called to tell them. 

It was a good sized bear, too! FINALLY I saw one this summer. Without doing my hikes I thought I might not see one this summer. Glad I did. Buckwheat's not getting a late-walk tonight.

Sincerely,

The Neighborhood Bear Watch

Post-sighting pictures just for fun: 

This is how light it is at 12:30 am, facing West:

Buckwheat now is on guard-dog/bear-watch patrol:

It will be a long night for him! "all in a night's work:"

pizza stone

Yesterday was a Visiting Teacher's opportunity to make a dinner for the family of a new daughter, Ryley. I was wondering how to make two large pizzas without falling over by the time I was done. A friend of mine had mentioned buying Pizza Man's dough for $2, so I went and checked it out! Also while I was out, I bought an $11 pizza stone from Target; genius! It proved FAILSAFE!! Anyone else use a pizza stone? It was an $11 well spent. 

I oiled the new stone, rolled out the wheat-dough, put on Prego spaghetti sauce (my secret, secret sauce - shhh!), mozzarella cheese then the pepperonis (while sneaking quite a few to the Buckwheat). I will be making these weekly, I believe! I just hope it tasted as good as it looked. 

I'd proudly guess it did; because tonight I used the small dough to make a spicy thai chicken pizza. It was scrumptious!! I forgot to take a picture, though, dang it! On it, there was: 

peanut sauce (Padang - it's a bit spicy!)

chicken

red onion

bean sprouts

carrot threads

mozzarella 

and a splash of olive oil

go on and try it!! 

films

I wish everyone could see this movie; 

but only if they have a tissue handy. 

the synopsis: Two lost souls, Nina (Tammy Blanchard), a pregnant, unmarried waitress, and Jose (Eduardo Verástegui), an introspective yet troubled cook with a mysterious past, find solace in each other as their lives become unpredictably linked throughout the course of one incredible day. An uplifting story of love, hope and forgiveness, this remarkable tale is co-written and directed by Alejandro Gomez Monteverde.

someone call peta

Buckwheat thought these were devices of torture this afternoon: 

So as soon as he could, he scrambled underneath the BBQ. 

While I waited I took some pictures of this pup's 

sad, sad, heartbreaking day. 

I didn't even get to finish, 

and he STILL got a bone and treat afterwards. 

Just because he's cute.

"L-7...wienie!" 

happy things

This is what I learned today... how to make Jodi's famous french bread! Since this is my favorite french bread in the world, I was pretty dang excited to see how it is made. (try it, then try disagreeing) The recipe she uses is SO not what she does. I've never braided with 4 pieces, but it was easier than I expected:

So I took notes: 

Here's the finished 'mini-loaf' that I did. I didn't get a picture of the above loaf when it was finished because we all ate the loaves too quickly. But I took this one home. The seasoning we used on this was Parmesan + Garlic Pampered Chef Seasoning: 

While I was writing in my journal this afternoon, Buckwheat alerted me to the UPS man:

A few days ago I ordered a PUJ baby sling (there's a splendid little video if you're interested), using a discount from Progressive Pioneer's site:

To top off my day, I made a salad wrap of avocado, tomato, mozzarella, salt, pepper, and a zing of lemon juice... tasty!

Off to see Angels and Demons. EEE! Scary!

fickle fabrics

An explanation: I'm "fickle."

Flannel: fabrics that I think are too "ordinary" but would look like a magazine clipping with a dark dark crib... and warmer in the winter! *added note: if I used these, they would be a pair:

Cotton: I like the whimsical feel of this fabric, like a Peter-Pan sky that our little boy could dream happy things about. But it's blue, thus being stereotypical for a boy! I'm having a tough time:
Julia, I loved looking at those fabric sites! If anyone knows of any fabric sites that you have used, let me know! I'd love to window-web shop!