A Parasite

Have you ever heard of a strangler tree?
I read about it once in a National Geographic when I was in grade school and I've always remembered everything I learned about it.

(source)

It's a parasitic tree, meaning that it relies on a host to survive.
In other words, its a squatter and a moocher.


They are generally fig trees that once a seed has landed on the ground, it sprouts 2 sets of roots, one set to grow into the ground and one that begins to wrap tightly around another tree.

At first, the strangler tree relies on sunlight, rainfall and leaf litter to grow on its own. But it gets greedy. It literally squeezes the host tree until it cant properly circulate water and sap anymore, and the roots overtake the host tress roots. Soon, the strangler tree has grown taller and thicker and blocks out the sun from getting to the host tree.

Pretty crazy huh?


Yesterday, after an extremely awful round of morning sickness (Bryant told me to stay home from church, and he cleaned the whole apartment! I could get used to this...) Bryant was congratulating me on how well I've handled being pregnant so far (he was just being nice, I haven't handled it so well, I'm a fan of complaining these days)

I was telling him that I felt like I shouldn't complain so much and that I don't know how everyone else can get pregnant and seem to breeze on through it.

He replied, well, it's not easy when there is a parasite growing inside you.

He was kind of right.
A baby is just like a parasite in a way...

It attaches to your body, feeding off your food and water supply and using your body to develop and grow. It can be tough, what with all the puke episodes (that include but are not limited to just mornings, as the name would suggest) my super-human sense of smell that no longer allows me to take out the trash, do the dishes or eat anything with garlic. The 3 times a night bathroom runs that leave me tired and super grumpy every day, And my hips, that just this week have begun to be sore and ache, especially when I lay down on my side to sleep.

But I think this is the best parasite in the world to get. I will gladly sacrifice my body, my sleep, my raisin bran (adios to cereal in general these days) and my dignity as I run from my classroom to puke in the trash can in the hallway, just to ensure that this little parasite continues to grow and be healthy.

And don't forget, just because you give birth to the baby, doesn't mean it stops being a parasite, it latches onto you for at least 18 years... haha :-)

Just thought I'd share a photo of me at 10 weeks. I know i'm not really "showing" yet but I thought it would be fun to post a picture of the ever growing belly once a week. Mostly for my Grandma, Mom and Mother-in-law to see.

Yes, I look a bit bigger and yes, I can't wear those pants comfortably without a rubber band through the button, but no, I'm just getting a little chubby is all. For something the size of a lime, it requires a LOT of food. I just had hash browns and an orange juice an hour ago (since I lost my apple and other orange juice this morning) and I'm already STARVING!

The next big adventure!!!

I always thought that marriage was the biggest adventure in the world. And who doesn't love a great adventure? It's an adventure because love is exciting and frustrating and happiness all rolled into one. Marriage means that you and your best friend in the whole world are living together, working on building a life together. You suddenly have to deal with not only your own problems and worries and fears, but also those of your spouse.

As with all adventures, there is a certain amount of danger and scary things and uncertainty that comes along, but the best part is that you're not going on this adventure alone. Your spouse is always there to help get you out of a sticky situation.

Bryant and I are two Indiana Jones and we are about to embark on our next big adventure!
(Drum roll please.....)

I'm Pregnant!!!

Yup, preggo!

We found out a few weeks ago. I was so nervous and I wanted to know right away but I gave myself a date to wait for. Finally, that day came and I pulled out the pregnancy tests that I bought the night before. So that big "pee on a stick" moment came and what did the results show?


One really dark line and one super light line. (It was actually a bit darker than in the picture)

I couldn't put my faith in a super light line. So I started to chug some milk so I could take the second test. About an hour later and I've taken the second test. The results?

Another dark line and another light line...

Bryant was convinced that meant I was pregnant but I'm sorry, this was the next BIG ADVENTURE in my life that I was basing on two light lines.

I ran to the grocery store and decided that I would just get those digital ones. You know, those ones that say weather you are pregnant or not pregnant. In words.

Well, the results were in...Pregnant!

We were both really excited! We were leaving for Jackson Hole that afternoon to go river rafting so we decided to wait until then to tell our parents. It took everything I had not to spill the beans though because not even an hour after I took the tests my little brother came up and told me that he wanted me to have a baby because he wanted to be an uncle.

You want to hear the funniest part? The DAY BEFORE, my mom shows up with a bag full of baby shoes. They were on sale for a dollar a piece and her and my dad had bought boy and girl shoes and in different sizes "just thinking ahead" my mom said. Little did we know that those shoes are going to come in handy in about 7 months!

They are all so cute! I can't wait to get to use them!

We went to the doctor, just to get and "official" pregnancy test and to get a due date. We are due March 24th! They said we didn't need to make a real appointment until at least 10 weeks since you can't hear a heartbeat or anything until then anyways. So here I am, at 9 weeks and I still need to find an OB. I might actually go with my mom's OB that delivered my youngest sister Sage because my mom said they are a team of about 5 doctors and you see all of them throughout the pregnancy. That way if one happens to be gone when I go into labor, there is always a back up.

So here I go! On to the next great adventure!
Lets consider this my "before" picture:


I took this when I first found out so this may be the last time in a long time that I'll look tiny in a photo haha!

Macfarlane family reunion!

Last week Bryant and I went to the Macfarlane family reunion! (his mom's side of the family)
It was tons of fun and we were able to go to one of my favorite places, Yellowstone!

I have a lot more photos I want to post, but they are still on Bryant's camera, so for now i'll just post the ones that were on my phone, and post the others in another blog.

This was the view from the cabin we stayed at.


Games!

Marshmallow gun war!
(Bryant really loved these!)


This adorable redhead is Emily. She asked Bryant to color with her, but he made sure she got some breakfast first. This made me really happy because it showed he will make a great dad... even though he let her have some M&M's in between bites of scrambled eggs...
I'm really hoping I get an adorable little redhead like Emily.


Flat tire on the way to Yellowstone


Old Faithful!

Bryant with his sister Chantel, and his brother Tyler.


Despite these tags they give everyone at the entrance gate, everyone still tries to get as close as they can to buffalo. If you've ever seen one before, they are HUGE! You couldnt pay me enough to get that close to one. Id rather watched from the safety of my car.


You probably shouldn't jump into the hot pots either...


Bryant and his dad brought their motorcycles up to ride through the park.

The whole week was really fun and it was great to get to know Bryant's aunts and uncles and cousins a lot better. Looking forward to the next reunion!!!

Sick, sick, sick...

Bryant and I got home last night from a wonderful family reunion!
I was going to write a post on it but I realized that most of my photos from the week are on Bryant's iphone...

And he is at work.

So instead, I'm going to tell you all how awesome my husband is. All week I have been so sick to my stomach. No, I haven't ralphed... yet... but I feel like I am on the verge of losing everything I have eaten over the last week. Including the few dozen saltine crackers I've been nibbling on since yesterday.
(Isn't Bryant so handsome? I got really lucky!)

The 5 hour car drive home didn't help either, seeing as I get carsick anyways.

My poor husband is such a sweetheart. I felt bad because he was so worried. He kept asking "what can I do? do you need more sprite? Can I make you some soup? Want another blanket? Is the TV too loud?"

I told you, he's the best husband in the whole world!

Thanks to Bryant's loving care and 12 hours of sleep, I was feeling a LOT better this morning.

Until I tried to eat breakfast...

Oatmeal+Bryant at work= me feeling like crap.
I want Bryant home. I need him to give me a back scratch and a good cuddle. I think I'm going to call him and have him bring home a movie and another large sprite.

I also need him to make me laugh. Like he did when I hung out with him for the first time ever. He was wearing this Ace-Ventura outfit (it was Halloween)

This was when I realized that I really liked him. He was so funny and out-going.

I'm feeling better already just thinking about him.

Only 5 more hours till he come home...

Family reunion!

Part two of my weekend!

Saturday morning, we went to my cousin Coleman's baptism!


He shares the same birthday as my Brother Colter and he turned 8! Which means that he was ready to be baptized a member of the church! Woo! He did a great job and Bryant got to be a witness and be in the circle for the confirmation. I'm so proud of my husband for being a worthy priesthood holder. It's such a comfort to know that my husband can be there to give blessings, and will be able to baptize our own children someday.

I even got called on the spot by the bishop to talk about my baptism. Of course I panicked for a bit, but I think I did alright. (I was baptized in Hawaii in the ocean... yup, you can be jealous... haha!)

After the baptism, we went back to my Aunt's house for brunch (yummy!).

That afternoon, we went up to a family reunion for my mom's family. We met in a city park and had fun taking pictures dressed up in pioneer outfits (my brothers really got into it! It was awesome!) and eating a big lunch and playing some games.


We auctioned off pies to raise money for the next family reunion.


I got an apple pie (Bryant's favorite of course!) which I found out was the one my parents brought haha!

My parents got a blueberry pie, and my grandpa got a Boston cream pie that he gave to us.


Sack racing!

Red light, green light.

Ron was cheating...


So he got sent back to the beginning. hahaha!


We had a lot of fun, but I was bummed because I had to leave early for work, then when I showed up, they didn't need me again. Thankfully they are letting me use 2 days worth of vacation time this week to make up for the 2 days they didn't need me last week. This is going to be really nice because Bryant and I are leaving this afternoon for a family reunion for his mom's family. I'm excited! They are renting out a cabin, but Bryant and I are bringing our tent to sleep outside!

I could eat my weight in salmon

Sorry I've been lacking in my blogging. Hopefully I'll get the whole weekend updated here today and tomorrow.

Anyways, lets start with Friday.

Friday I was supposed to work, but unfortunately they have been cutting hours so I showed up, only for them to tell me they didn't need me. My dad and my sister were there in the cafe getting drinks and reading magazines, waiting for my mom to get off work and meet them there.

They were all going to the Salmon Bake.

Since I suddenly had a free night, I called up my Grandma and asked her to buy Bryant and I a ticket, and once Bryant got off work we drove up there.

The Salmon bake is a fundraiser for the city. And at 15 bucks a plate, and well over 2000 people, I'd say it was a very successful fundraiser! And the food was amazing!!!


Tons of food!!! (and I think I ate everything on my plate!)
They overnight the salmon from Alaska, so it's super fresh! (It's rare here in the desert to get fresh fish!) And it was amazing!

Lots of people!


Grandpa and Dad

Mom, Nichole, and Brad (my aunt and uncle)
I know, we are adorable...

After the dinner, my little sister Sage, Bryant and I went to my cousins house for a poker night.

I don't know much about Texas hold 'em but thankfully, Bryant's really good at it so he was able to help me. I still lost pretty badly. It could have been that I was having too much fun with this little guy to really pay attention.Isn't River adorable? He's always happy too, he smiles at EVERYTHING!Don't you think Bryant will make a great dad some day? He got River laughing so hard he got the hiccups!
My cousin Layne, his wife Carrie with River and their son Colter.
Macey!!!Sage, Moose and Macey!

Well, it's official, I'd take Salmon and poker night over work anytime!

Grandma's Birthday

Yesterday was my Grandma's birthday!

We had a party for her on Monday with the whole family at a park.

My grandma is such an amazing person. She really loves her family, anything you need from her is just a phone call away. Advice, help, a hug, anything!


She's a such a sweetheart, and I love her to pieces!

The party was great. We had a beautiful cake and homemade ice cream!

(Who knew the American Flag could be so tasty? YUM!)

Bryant and the kids had fun playing football...And I had fun holding the babies!

(Please excuse my wind-blown hair...eeek!)


Isn't baby Jackson just the cutest thing ever?! He was so content to just sit on the grass with me, watch everyone play football and play with my bracelet.

Grandma, I love you so much! Thank you for everything. You really deserve the best birthday in the world!

I was an adorable 2nd grader...

Today my mom was cleaning out a box to put some school supplies in it and she found a folder from when I was probably in the second grade.

It had a handful of papers that I had to write. Poems, short stories, essays.
I was pretty adorable.

For example, I had to write a paper about what I would do if I had 1000 dollars. My response roughly stated "If I had 1000 dollars, I would buy a convertible, I would buy a dozen candy bars, and then I would give the rest to the poor because I want to be a nice person." (but there were a lot more spelling errors...)

I like that I would have been content with a dozen candy bars...

I must have really been on a candy bar kick because I also found a poem that went something like "I like the night, it is light, I like candy bars, light like stars"
(I know, I'm the next Pablo Neruda... but with a sweet tooth)

Another thing that really made me happy: when the little girl next door told me her dad's name is Brian and I said "thats like my husbands name, except his is Bryant!" She then got a funny look on her face and pointing at Bryant asked "You mean that green guy with the shirt?" (Bryant was wearing a green shirt... He wasn't actually green...)

Kids are adorable.

Breaking out of my creative rut....

I love creating.

It's in my blood.

My dad is an artist and my mom does graphic design and crafts.

I was raised around craft shows every summer because my parents were always vendors in them.

We always had homemade Halloween costumes, the best school state report dioramas, and our Christmas tree had more handmade ornaments than store bought.

Lately, I have been in a creating funk. Not much inspiration coming my way lately. But the other night I finally took out my sewing machine and dusted it off (literally, it was caked in dust!).

Have you gone over to visit my good friend Rachael over at Talk2thetrees? She is super creative and she did a tutorial the other day for an adorable dress.

I love dresses because...

1. They are lightweight enough to wear in the summer
2. They are comfortable
3. They are pretty
4. I can wear them to work
5. They are really comfortable now that all my other clothes are fitting just a bit more snug these days...

So I headed over to wal mart (I made Bryant come with me cause wal mart literally stresses me out every time I go) and browsed the $1.50 fabric, and got a t-shirt for $3.50.

Just ignore the trash bag full of weeds next to me...

The whole thing cost me about 8 bucks to make.

I love it! I'm definitely going to be making more and I'm planning on making one for my little sister too.

If you want to make one for yourself, it's super cheap and incredibly easy. For the tutorial go here.

And after you make your dress, head on over to Talk2thetrees Etsy Shop to get a cute hat or beautiful hand painted necklace to accessorize!

Speaking of accessories... I also dusted off my jewelry junk and made a bracelet to go with my new dress.



The charms were from Roberts, but you can also get them at Michaels. (I know because I bought the same set there when I made my mom the same bracelet for mothers day).

There are other things in the works right now, like spicing up my craft storage boxes and there will be TONS more here in about 2 or three months, but I can't tell you what they will be yet, partly cause that would ruin the surprise and partly cause I don't know yet what they will be... Exactly... (now i've made you curious right? Hehehe!)