The belly shot

I had to add this to the blog for those who don't use Facebook. Yes, it's still pretty small, but it's still a baby bump to be proud of. Two months to go. YIKES!

Lovin' Craigslist

When I first discovered Craigslist, I was in Portland and Michele had a hot water faucet that she wasn't using, but it was still perfectly good. She posted it on Craigslist, and someone came by her house and she handed it over, no questions asked. That is one less thing in the landfill. I went home and started looking at the Wanted section to see if there was anything I had that I could give away to satisfy someone's need. One ad seemed to perfectly describe a 3 bin recycling container that was in our garage taking up too much space. I emailed the ad writer, he called, he came by and picked it up. I had more room in the garage, and he had something that his son really wanted to use to help his family recycle more. Lots more out of the landfill.

In the last few weeks we've debated whether we wanted a glider rocker for the nursery. I don't enjoy rocking. I don't know if the baby will want to rock. Babies R Us has some really nice models for $400 or more. So, I turned to Craigslist, and I sent emails to the holders of 3 gliders all under $50. The result...



We went from not sure we wanted a glider, to the proud owners of two of them. One is in the basement TV room (Man Room), and one is in the nursery. And, in Benji's opinion, the best part about the new chairs is that the footstool part is exactly the right height for him to get an ear massage. This is one of his favorite things. He often walks up to our feet and bumps into them to let us know he's ready for his massage. Perfect placement in the eyes of the doggy! And as Jon and I often say, it's all about the Benjimin!

Jason Mraz told me to have a baby

I don't actually know my favorite musical artist Jason Mraz, but when I first heard a song on his latest CD when it came out in May 2008, I was in the midst of trying to decide if we were parent material. I felt this song was telling me to get over myself and have a kid already. I believe it brings to light that there is so much more to life and the best thing to do is live all the way or- "Live High."

Live High

"I try to picture a girl
Through a looking glass
See her as a carbon atom
See her eyes and stare back at them
See that girl
As her own new world
Though a home is on the surface, she is still a universe

Glory God, oh God is peeking through the blinds
Are we all here standing naked
Taking guesses at the actual date and time
Oh my, justifying reasons why
Is an absolutely insane resolution to live by

Live high
Live mighty
Live righteously
Takin it easy
Live high, live mighty
Live righteously."

For the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA6sh1FM82w

Pregnancyland

Things change daily in Pregnancyland, and the latest development... I am now completely lactose intolerant. I LOVE milk, cheese, ice cream, etc. I have never had a problem digesting milk before ever. Then one day I had ice cream, and my tummy hurt like it has never hurt before. Of course the next evening, I had ice cream again, and same pain. It took Jon's nurse know-how (and his own case of milk blahs) to correctly diagnose me. A few days later I drank a glass of milk, because I do that almost every day. BAM, more pain. The final straw was cheese on pizza, tummy pain all night, etc. I hope, hope, hope that this is just a result of the baby, and it will all go away on November 20 (cause I'll have the baby on my due date). But in case I'm stuck, I am wondering if baby will also be lactose intolerant. Jon was from day 1. He was on soy formula, so we will be purchasing some of that, just in case it is needed. No point in all 3 of us sharing tummy aches.

So after a week of no dairy and drinking juices with calcium additives, I decided today to buy something I've never purchased before- Silk Soy milk, unsweetened and lactose free. And I actually like it. I mean really like it. It's like I am drinking milk. I am very happy, and it has calcium, which baby needs right now as she expands throughout my ever expanding tummy. So, at least one of the inconveniences of Pregnancyland isn't so bad after all!

Work to do

The cooler weather means that maybe I can actually get some work done in the yard. I have given myself the rest of September to tackle our overgrown backyard. I am done in front, but by done I just mean tired. There is still lots to do, but I take comfort in the fact that it will soon be covered in snow and no one will be able to tell exactly what I didn't get done. The main front flower area looks good though.


In the back I need to weed the rose garden, weed under the deck, and weed the dirt and weed area. It is also our garden, but it mostly doesn't know that. I did finally find good weed block fabric, so I will get more of that and place it down all around the areas I weed in the hope that next year I can just landscape rather than wrestle weeds for the first half of the summer.

I refuse to accept that summer is over. Yes, it's not 90 degrees, but until I NEED a jacket to go outside, it is summer!

I plan to turn to the inside of the house come October, mainly because of the fact that my belly will probably get in the way of much of my outside work by then. So far there isn't much of a belly, but there sure is a baby in there. She likes to kick and push me at the same time. It is a strange feeling. I have also surmised that she likes chocolate. Every time I eat it, she flutters around happy! -Jenni

The two sides of Benji

Day time Benji


Night time Benji




After 8pm every night, Benji becomes a crazy animal who has to play play play. After all he's been through lately, we are happy to see him playing, but it would be nice if it wasn't during our TV time.