My New Found Obsession

Vacuuming! I vacuum at least 3 times a day sometimes more. I just hate walking around the apartment and then stepping on something. So I vacuum and then a few hours later I will again, if I feel something on my feet. Sometimes I simply do it because I look at the floor and it looks dirty! I can't just vacuum that one room but I have to do all the rooms! I'm turning into my mother, she is obsessed with cleaning and I can feel myself getting there.

I can't stand dishes in the sink, things on the floor, dust drives me insane, just tons of little things. I don't like windows closed either, it's so pretty outside and usually there is a nice breeze, so I open all the windows in the house. I figured I will let everyone look into the apartment while they are driving past!

Enjoying the life of a stay at home mom....to be

I am officially a stay at home mom...(to be)! I was working as a nanny for a while and well, it just didn't work out. I was getting really stressed over little things and was expected to do more housework than usual. Most of my nanny jobs I made about $300 a week and wasn't expected to clean the house unless it was messes that the children and I made (because a nanny is expected to take care of the child not the home). With this past job I was doing my best but I couldn't clean the house for her (plus I was making less then half of what I usually make!). I can barely clean my own how am I going to clean someone else's?

Well, she wasn't to happy with this and basically let me go on Sunday. Which is OK because I was ready to quit anyway. So this week has been interesting for me.... I've never been one to stay at home, I enjoy being out and working; not so much working but being around other people. I like making my own money and feeling like I'm helping out with things.

Well, Monday was interesting. I thought I was going to go insane... I cleaned the house and watched TV and was still totally bored. I kept calling Nick at work but he can't talk long so it didn't help a ton. As soon as he got home I was so happy, plus we were going grocery shopping so I would be able to get out of the house.

Yesterday, was better =). I started organizing and re-decorating a little in our bedroom (the one room I ignore the most). I couldn't do it all but it already looks better. But, other than that the house was clean so I didn't have much to do other than laundry and picking things up. We went to the library because I still needed to find something to do in my free time, I decided reading was the best.(So if you have any suggestions on books to read please let me know). With all this free time, I decided to curl my hair and spend time on the way I look! Yay no more frumpy days!!!

Today has been a ton better, I got up early, because my visiting teachers came over then I ironed Nick's clothes for work and made breakfast since he went in late today. Slacker! But I don't have much to do, finish our room and maybe work on the hall closet which has turned into a junk closet, but we will see. Other than that read, nap and watch TV!

Monday totally sucked being home all day, I hated it and now I'm loving it. I have time to watch "Rachel Ray" and 2 episodes of "What Not to Wear" and still get more than enough done. Nick gets home and I'm in a great mood, which I know he loves seeing that I was a total beast before. My visiting teachers even said this morning that I look better and sound so much happier. Its totally true, I'm so much happier, I look at things in a more positive way, I'm excited to clean and organize things, not because I have to but because I want to and have time to. I have time to sit and play with my hair and makeup which I have always enjoyed doing, but before it was just hurry and get out the door.

I'm happier about this pregnancy, I'm loving every little thing he is doing. Not loving whatever he is doing to my pelvic bones but other than that, I'm loving everything! Reality hit harder this morning while talking to my mom. I was saying that I go to the doc next week and Ill be 34 weeks and if I'm still measuring 2 weeks ahead then... 36 weeks! 34 or 36 both of those numbers are extremely close to 40! Our little boy is going to be here really, really soon!

I never pictured myself as a stay at home mom, I never pictured myself as a mom actually but I'm enjoying my free time. I won't have as much time to myself for much longer but right now I'm totally enjoying every minute of it. I want to organize and clean everything. Read anything and relax which is something I have NEVER done. Plus, now I can get involved with more at church. Before I didn't have time after work I needed to get a million things done now its total freedom. Tonight I have an Enrichment Night and its getting to know everyone, since there are so many new women in the ward; which is perfect for me because I don't know anyone except my visiting teachers. Tomorrow is my water aerobics class, Friday is Nick's company picnic, and Saturday is Women's Conference, with a dinner at the Stake Center.

I do hate not making my own money and kind of stressing over what money we do have, but Nick tells me not to worry. Plus, me being in a better mood and keeping the house clean I know is enough for him. He loves getting home and relaxing and not having to listen to me nag him about me having to clean everything and how he gets to sit there and watch TV! Now we both relax, eat dinner and relax some more!

I'm never going to want to work again, I'm getting use to this "easy" life just a little too quickly!!!

Little Baby Neacel...

Is just about here! I went to the doctor Tuesday and I'm measuring 2 weeks ahead still so the doctor is starting to agree with me that this might be an end of October early November baby! FINALLY =) But he isn't going to change the due date for a few more weeks once he does the internal exam....which sounds really scary because I have no clue what is going to happen!!
So Neacel could very well be here sooner then we thought. He is still head down which scared me a little bit, I asked Dr. Terry if that was OK. Ever since we were able to tell what position he is in he has been head down and I asked if there is a possibility if he has no sense of direction!! I read that at this point and before that the baby is moving a ton and is usually head up because they then know up from down. I was just scared Neacel didn't. Dr. Terry said its fine and that its probably just his way of saying I'm ready to get out. We both got a good laugh out of it. With him being head down I can now tell what is what, and Neacel LOVES sticking his butt out. Unfortunately, it really hurts! He doesn't have any room anymore the poor thing...He is just constantly tossing and turning, oh and we can't forget the hiccups that happen at least 3 times a day. He is still very active and I'm so excited to get him here. This whole pregnancy has been a blink of an eye but now its starting to slow down....still fast but nothing like it has been.

We were going through all the clothes we have for him and I'm amazed. He is absolutely spoiled rotten already and I haven't even had baby showers yet! He has a ton, but every time Nick and I see something really cute for cheap we buy it....Neacel has clothes from newborn to 24 months. More of the newborn and 0-6 months but still, he has more shoes then I do, a pretty fun book collection, and some cute little toys. With tons more coming...I love my little boy, but we are already spoiling him and he isn't even here yet. Nick said a few weeks ago, "Just think he will be here in a few weekends!" and its pretty much true. I mean not exactly a few but not many more if he comes early! Reality is starting to hit more and more and its really scary! I'm going to be a mom, and this little boy needs me for everything and I need to be there. This isn't a kid I can hand over to some one else and leave and return the next day or whatever. He is 100% depending on me! Its amazing and yet the most frightening thing Ive done. I'm responsible (along with Nick) to raise this little boy, teach him right from wrong, take care of his Boo-boo's, keep him happy, make sure he is always healthy, and so much more. The weight of the world is going to be on my shoulders and its starting to get there now. While I'm taking care of him and teaching him I still have to find a way to be a wife and keep Nick happy too and spend time with him! On top of it all keeping the house clean which I have a hard time doing now and keeping myself from turning into a "frumpy" mom.... I'm understanding why moms are called supermoms! I'm so excited yet at the same time I want to just freeze time and wait a little bit longer for all of this, unfortunately, that's not a power that comes with being a supermom!

My Company's New Building

So back in July the company I worked for moved to a brand new building. A month or so ago we had the ribbon cutting ceremony. Here are some of the pictures.

The South Jordan House

So the House Kara, Chris and I spent our whole childhoods in has been torn down, to make room for another house, they are going to build on the same foundation.

I stumbled across the demolished house, on the way to visit our friends Dan and Stacie. There was nothing left but the foundation, sub flooring, and part of the garage. Here are some photos I took with Mandy's phone. Apparently my Mom knew, but didn't want to tell us, because she didn't want us upset... Yeah, nice plan Mom.

View of the house a year ago, after it had fallen into disrepair, because the owner was a jerk.



Arial view of the house, a year ago, not as pretty as it used to be.


A view from the driveway. I spent countless hours playing basketball on the slanted driveway, with big cracks, and an awful hoop. Good times.


This is a view of what was once the front door. I wonder how many times I came up these steps? Just think of all the trick-or-treaters that stood on this porch. Sigh. Now just a pile of bricks.


This is the living room vent. I used to grab myself a large mixing bowl full of cereal, and sit on the vent, wrapping a blanket around me, and creating a little heat tent. Yep, a lot of cereal was eaten on that spot there. That hole in the floor is where the coat closet used to be.






These are the stairs that led to the basement. Right on top of them were the stairs that led to to the top floor. 30 years worth of Burt's ran up and down these stairs. The most memorable of which were Christmas mornings, where Grandma Ada would say we couldn't come down until she checked to see if Santa had been stopped by. He never failed to show up. I attribute that to the nice porch light we had, he couldn't miss it.

This is a view from inside the garage. The door is still there, but the roof and attic are gone. I started fires here, rollerbladed, and practice my ninja skills. Also, there were a whole lot of cats born in this garage.

This is a view of part of the backyard. That tree there was planted when I was little. It was small enough to jump over. Not anymore. I must have mowed this grass a million times. And it was the perfect place for tag, Frisbee, and jumping on the tramp.

A view of our old garden, and field. Along the fence is the grapevine that Joey planted. Every year it produced green grapes that were rarely eaten, but fun to throw.

Here is the back of the garage. For years there was a large metal dog cage, covered in chain link fence. It was perfect for climbing, and led easily to the roof. It was also great for jumping off, and landing on the trampoline. Not so good for keeping dogs locked up. Also, that small square under the window was a doggy door.

This is a view of the basement windows in the back. That was Chris's window, and the other led to the storage room. Whenever you were locked out, this was the window that was easiest to break into. Parallel to the foundation was a pathway with white quartz type rock. Very fancy.

Here is a view from the back, of where the kitchen used to be. At the far right would be the family room, the far left, the living room, and bottom left, the laundry room. The den was out of site, on the left.

This is a look from where the backdoor used to be, looking into what we called the breezeway. At the opening of the breezeway was a black rod iron gate. This is the way we typically came in and out of the house. The doorbell to this door rarely worked. But you could touch a couple of the wires together, and sometimes get it to ring.

A view from the east of the house. Totally blocked by the sun. Sorry.

This is a view of the living room wall, crashed onto the side porch. Before the porch was there, there was a sandbox. It was used as much by neighborhood cats as the kids.

This is a view of the family room, and the base of the lava rock fireplace. The old stove was taken out a long time ago, probably because it got so hot that we used to melt crayons on it. To the left is where the couch usually was. I spent many, many, far too many hours of my life in this room.

Another view from the front of the house. Just a pile of bricks, where a front yard used to be.

This is a view of the basement. I am standing in the corner of Chris's old room, facing towards the old "fruit room," where we had all of our food storage. There were eight large, metal, green containers we used to store wheat. It was a favorite past time of Dan and I to play in the wheat, like sand. I think there are still some burried Barbie parts. That toilet is my old bathroom we had finished not too long before we moved, and to the left of that is my old bedroom I had for quite a few years; during most of middle school and high school. My Childhood room was upstairs.

Another view of the basement. This is the old bean bag pit, that was never used for that purpose. At the top of it was where we stored all of our camping equipment and holiday decorations. The room on the other side of the wall is the fruit room.

This is the view from Chris's old room. At the far wall is a fireplace that was never used, meant to warm those chilling in the 70's bean bag pit, eating fondue, and combing their afros. For the longest time, there were two rooms on this side of the basement, with the far room not being finished. Then a couple of years before we moved, the wall was torn down, and this was turned into one long room.

Yep, too many great memories in this house to list on one simple blog. But suffice it to say, this home will be missed, and forever kept in out hearts. We miss you, South Jordan house.

Another Twilight Book?

So, Nick just emailed me a news article about another book in the Twilight series. Here is the link for the news article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080903/lf_nm_life/books_meyer_dc

Apparently, its on hold...Indefinitely :(

Her exact words are "I feel too sad about what has happened to continue working on "Midnight Sun," and so it is on hold indefinitely."

I'm excited to know there is another book, sad because its on hold.....Indefinitely. That just sounds so depressing :(

So after Breaking Dawn (I only have about 100 more pages) Ill have to find something else to read.

I enjoy Jane Green books like

Swapping Lives

Babyville

and of course The Other Woman

They are definitely different but I get into them enough to want to finish them. But I think I want to find something new to read, something that isn't smuck. Something that isn't drama. So if you have any suggestions please let me know. I enjoy reading but I will admit that I do judge a book by its cover...literally!