Halloween and such.....

I've been kind of under the weather this past week and so my Halloween "spirit" has taken a backseat to coughing, sneezing, sore throat, etc.....HOWEVER in spite of it all I have pressed on!!! Here are a few scenes from Fall/Halloween thus far at our house....

Here is our table centerpiece....

Here are SUPER yummy homemade chocolate cupcakes with homemade cream cheese frosting!Here is my pumpkin au natural: And here it is SPOOKY and lit up......

I have more plans for fall as the weeks go by......More baking and treats to be had!! I better get busy!!!!!!!!!!

The death and resurrection of Carla

Last Thursday Justin and I were racing to class at the last minute, as usual, and we were having to drive separately because he was going to be staying in to work at Lovelace and I was going to come home after class. So I hop into my car and turn the key......nothing. No lights, no sound, no engine roar.........nothing. So I try again......nothing. Justin tries (I'm not sure why he tried but it seemed like a good idea at the time - perhaps I was turning something wrong ?!?).....still nothing. So we scramble to ride together, and I get in the car knowing that I have 3+ hours of nothingness to do after class. I also wasn't feeling well, and have developed a cold (NOT the swine flu) that is really weighing me down. After class we head to Lovelace where Justin goes to work and I take a 2 hour nap in the backseat of the Explorer. I spent the other 1 1/2 hours rummaging for snacks, drinking day old water, and spying on people. I didn't want to wait in the lobby of Lovelace with the sickies and besides the chairs are super uncomfortable.

We return home, try the car, and miraculously it turns on. Friday rolls around......same morning routine....same result - NOTHING! She (she being "Carla the Cavalier" - the valiant name I've dubbed my car) won't turn on again!!! Again we ride to school together, but I do NOT sit in the car today because the wait today would have been almost 7 hours. So I drop Justin off, drive home in the Explorer and get home to deal with Carla's shenanigans. I get in, turn the key, and she turns on. I drive her to our mechanic who immediately tells me it is the alternator, some pulley system and the battery needs to be recharged. I innocently assume this is a$20 job - nope $500!!!!!!!!!!!! Justin and I scramble to figure out what to do - we are both students and so we are on a pretty limited budget - but we know we have to get her fixed. So after much debate, ok HOURS of debate, I hand over our emergency credit card and let the chips fall where they may.

Our mechanic is an older Romanian man, the Romanian Red neck is what he calls himself, and he is rather ummm crude. He curses, smokes (while fixing your car!! impressive!!), tells crude jokes, talks about escapades with (fantasies of course) "babes," and says derogatory comments at the bat of an eye - but I like him. After listening to jokes, stories, watching a quick episode of "are you smarter than a 5th grader" with the Romanian redneck (don't ask) and some elbow grease, finally Carla is ready to roll. After 8 hours of dealing with this car on MY Friday fun day she has risen from the ashes like the mighty Phoenix!! Just when I revel in my victory and sit on the couch for some R&R I receive a text from my dear husband who I've forgotten all about. I scramble to the car as I realize he's still at Lovelace - 45 minutes later I arrive to pick him up and we both marvel at the car - I ask Justin, "Does it make you happy to see her fixed?" to which he replies, "Yes, but not $500 happy." Together we drive home to nosh on Ramen noodles and bologna sandwiches. I love you Carla.

Dear baby

Dear baby,

This week you have started moving like mad - When I am sitting still and especially at night you move almost non-stop. I will admit it is rather nice, however your daddy is getting a little upset because he cannot feel it yet. I guess it will be something you and I share for a while, and I like that (shhhh....dont tell anyone!). Your daddy still talks to you every night, asks you about your day, tells you how excited he is to see you, and tries very hard to feel you move. I reassure him that someday soon you will be big enough to kick him or punch him, and then he will get his wish! My favorite thing, other than feeling you move (!), is sitting in the rocking chair in your room rocking and imagining that you are here....This week we go see your doctor and get to hear your little hearbeat again......We are overjoyed.

What are you up to this week: She's about eight and a half inches long and one and a half pounds, gaining steadily at a rate of six ounces per week. Much of that weight comes from accumulating baby fat, as well as from growing organs, bones, and muscle. By now, that fabulous face is almost fully formed, complete with eyelashes, eyebrows, and hair. Is your baby a brunette, a blond, or a redhead? Actually, right now her locks are white since there's no pigment yet.

We are so glad that you are growing nice and big -- it was cute this week because your dad and I went to a wedding and the daddy/daughter dance happened and we both had tears in our eyes because we could picture this being you and your dad. It reminded us that time goes by so fast and so we have to cherish each moment with you. I know there will be times your cry, yell, scream, defy us, and are frustrated with us however the most important thing we want you to know is that you are truly wanted and truly loved. The best way for you to know this is for us to show you - I never want one day when you doubt you were loved or wanted by either of us.

You are loved,
Mommy and daddy

The no name store......

Several months ago when we first found out we were expecting we were in AWE and completely dumbfounded with how expensive maternity clothes were. We heard from some individuals about this store (which shall remain nameless lest I get sued) where you can buy used maternity and baby clothes as well as used baby items like swings/strollers etc... They told us how nice it was and just really raved about it. Then we heard from another individual about this store and they really sang its praises....so we thought we'd give it a try. We drove to this store 3 times and each time it was closed - it seemed as if no matter what time we got there it was closed. So the game was on - I was going inside this store even if it killed me.....

I guess I should have chosen by battle more carefully.

We drove up and it was OPEN!! The parking lot was super full of mini vans and other child friendly vehicles. We walked up to see the strollers parked and chained outside - they were filthy. So I though, "Ok this is just the strollers - strollers take a lot of beating so naturally they will be worn out." So we proceeded into the store where I was over taken by the smell of bleach and cheap laundry detergent. The store was filthy and everyone was packed in like sardines. I walked down one aisle and told Justin, "I just can't do it!!!" I ran out. On the way out I almost bumped into this older man and I took note of him because he was (1) male (2) wearing dirty clothes and (3) smoking. I thought he must be waiting for a woman inside or was just passing through --- ummm not. We got into the car and I saw this same man carrying some furniture inside the store -- HE WAS A WORKER!!! He was walking INTO the store FULL of pregnant women and children with his lit cigarette hanging out of his mouth! I marvelled at his dedication to this cigarette - he was going to finish smoking it at all costs!

There is something to be said for that level of dedication in an employee.

Up up and AWAY!!!!!!

On Friday my mom came to visit us but mostly to attend the Balloon Fiesta. Justin an I were attending a Spirituality in Nursing Conference @ UNM that didn't get out until 400 pm and my mom was leaving Fort Sumner around 230 pm - so we were cutting it close to making it to the Special Shapes Glow-deo on time. We left the house around 445 ish and immediately hit the traffic back up on the road. We passed several parking areas on our way with the furthest being a $3.00 lot which we passed on as it was in this family's yard with stacks of non-working vehicles and a rather large bonfire burning in the front yard. Next we passed an $8.00 lot, which we didn't park at because the one at the balloon fiesta park was only $2 more and closer. So we trekked on....by this time it was 6:00 pm and the event started at 5:45 but it wasn't dark yet so we knew we had a few more moments. We made it to the parking lot and were the LAST car allowed in the lot - AND parking was free. Unfortunately it was pretty dark by that time so we were all freaked out we were going to miss it!!! We ran the several miles down the hill and made it just in time for some spectacular sights:

We spent the rest of the weekend with my mom shopping and eating - a good time was had by all!!! We picked out my PIMP rocking chair, which also was immediately assembled - LOVE IT! Then my mom headed out on late Sunday afternoon and all was well.... (cue music: duh duh duh)....when Justin realized he'd left his wallet in my mom's car. We called her as soon as we noticed but she was already in Santa Rosa. Everything we possess (nearly) is in that wallet - all of our access to our money, cash, drivers licenses, SS cards, insurance cards, student ID's -- EVERYTHING.,,.(cue thieves)....We were both frantic to try to get it back. We knew it could be mailed but we've had some really horrible interactions with the postal service - things getting lost never to be found again. We just KNEW that if it got put in the mail that we'd be cancelling credit/debit cards, having to get knew licenses, etc.....and it was not an idea that appealed to us. Thankfully my mom offerred to meet us half way between Fort Sumner and Rio Rancho to drop off the wallet!! So we met her on Monday evening to pick up the wallet and had dinner at the Clines Corner Diner - it was surprisingly YUMMY!!! We laughed at Justin being strung out over the wallet and how now he could finally get some sleep! Even though I was secretly rather strung out as well :)

Haunted?!?! No thanks!

I have a love hate relationship with haunted houses. In the very core of my being I want to love them.....I do love the idea of them....not the reality of them. I think its the fact that I have convinced myself that a serial killer or criminal could easily get a job at a haunted house and go on a mass killing spree ALL under the guise of this being fake. Have I mentioned I have a very vivid imagination. Bottom line: haunted houses and I DON'T mix.

Exhibit A: Approximately 4 years ago Justin and I went to the KLAQ haunted house with some friends in El Paso. They were having a dual haunted house - you paid per thrill - and being the cheapskates that we all were we selected to do just one of them. I believe one was a Circus theme (which we chose) and the other was "Hell" themed. Hey, the circus one sounded the least scary of the two, but I'm not convinced we made a wise choice. We entered and (it was my first "real" haunted house) and I bravely entered laughing at some of the characters we encountered along the way. Then I realized that one of these freak shows was following us, and I was in the back of the pack. He was saying, "Are you laughing now?" as he banged his chains on the boards that made up these narrow walls and walk way. There was horrible heavy metal music blasting and the strobe lights began. I was becoming disoriented and this clearly vindictive man was out to get me. In the midst of things jumping out at us and the maze of it all I was coming undone. This man literally followed us through the whole haunted house - did he not have others to scare?? We approached the end - I could see the end in sight - and this Charles Manson looking man wearing a simple cloth diaper appeared. He blocked the only way out - a bridge. The four of us were caught in this circular room with "Charles" and my hooded/chain banging friend behind us. "Charles" approached and began getting too close for comfort - at this time we all made a run for it across the bridge. Only to find ourselves in the pitch black with the only familiar sounds being screams and a chain saw. Again I was in the back of the pack -- I knew I had to make a move. I pushed Justin out of the way, pushed someone else out of the way, and found the other female in our party frozen in fear (or so I assumed) so I did what any caring friend would do. I grabbed the back of her shirt, pushed her and used her as a shield against the chain saw menacing clown. After running for what seemed like miles we hit day light - I survived!!

Exhibit B: Approximately 2 years ago we went a haunted corn maze at midnight -- after having watched all of the Saw movies. We waited in line FOREVER but finally were admitted, and I immediately knew this was not going to go well. I wanted to turn around before we even hit the haunted part because I pretty freaked out by walking in a corn maze in the pitch black. However the people we were with would not let me turn around, and there was a huge sign saying there was no turning back at that point (for safety or some BS like that). We approached this barn guarded by a small man wearing a mask. I didn't want to go in the barn, but I was forced. The man approached me and said in a raspy voice, "Are you scared???" So I walked up closer to him and screamed at the top of my lungs (RIGHT in his face mind you) "YESSSSSS!!!!" At that point I was unglued. I pulled my winter hat over my eyes, clutched Justin's arms (to the point of leaving him bruised for a few days after), and went through the rest of the maze as such. I was near tears, and this was THE longest maze in history. I only knew what I could hear-- footsteps, gunshots, and the rustling of the corn. My fear was interrupted only momentarily when someone let out a yell and we stopped and looked back only to see that someone had gotten scared by a scarecrow that popped out of the corn that she literally fell backwards and landed on the cornfield behind her. She was lying on the ground with her eyes closed and swinging her hands and feet at those trying to help her up. At least that wasn't me, right?!?! After making it out of the maze the rest of my party wanted to go to the haunted barn - ummm no. So as they went I sat at the gift shop and waited for them....and investigated whether this gift shop sold new underwear (they didn't).

So there you have it -- me and haunted stuff. Enemies. Friends. Haunted houses, I love to hate you.

Dear baby: 13

Dear baby,

This week has been super busy and your dad and I got quite a bit accomplished in your room. We put together your crib, organized your closet, and bought some wall hangings - it looks quite nice and classy if I do say so myself!! I have felt you moving more and more each day - you really like to swim around at night, which has been a really special ritual. However, once you get a little bigger you might just be strong enough to keep me awake!! Your dad is still talking to you each night and I think he really likes the times he can spend talking with you. He is very anxious to be able to feel you move himself and tries every day, but with no luck so far!

This week: Your baby's blood circulation is completely functional. The umbilical cord system continues to grow and thicken as blood travels with considerable force through the body to nurture the baby. The placenta is now almost equal in size to the baby. Your baby will be getting much larger during the second half of your pregnancy. Your baby's crown-to-rump length at this time is 7.2 inches and she weighs approximately 10.5 ounces. Your growing baby is about the size of a large banana. You should be able to feel your uterus about a half of an inch above your navel. Your weight gain so far will be around 10 to 15 pounds. Your baby's different organs and systems are maturing. The fetal digestive system is functioning in a simple way and your baby can swallow amniotic fluid. After your baby swallows the amniotic fluid, she is able to absorb water and sugars from the fluid and then the waste is passed as far as the large bowel. Your baby swallows the amniotic fluid in order to prepare itself for life outside of the womb. Some babies consume as much as 17 ounces of amniotic fluid in a 24-hour period. Your baby already has a high number of red blood cells and the white blood cells are beginning to be produced. Taste buds are being formed on your baby's tongue this week also.

So you are quite bigger than even last time I saw you -- how exciting!! We are so excited for your arrival and each Friday I know that the week changes and we keep a very close count on how many weeks old you are. Soon and very soon you will be in our arms, and we are very excited for that day!

Love you with our whole being,
Mommy and daddy