A lot of little somethings...

I miss Shamu.

We've been having a lot of rain and "storminess" the last few days...last night was a big FAT storm...with tons of lighting- no joke it was going like a strobe light! We even brought the dogs in for the night- which never happens! We pretty much unplugged everything, and opened our blinds and watched the 'show' til we fell asleep. It was nice...'cept it'll be muggy today!

We're off on a mini adventure this evening- My dad invited M'Adam to go dove hunting this season...so Yuma here we come! Hopefully, we'll make it home with the crib this time. It'll be a funny trip-we're taking furniture to my mom's mother...(I don't say g-ma cuz I don't claim her really...long story) and we'll come back with furniture for our home from my grandma (dad's mom). And some Chili Pepper!(really REALLY good "dirty little burritos")...oh! anyone have any good dove recipes??

I am now at 31 weeks...yikes... and I've decided to heck with birthing classes- $70 bucks for something M'Adam can't get to anyway cuz of work, and I'll forget during labor...no thanks. I figure if the women in the bush can do without, I can too. I'm getting to the point where Baby can come out now...if he wants.

YAY! We got our loan for the new house!... Our first time in Escrow- weew! The gal said it should take another week to get our building permit, so they might start as soon as the end of next week! (if you care to check it out, go to http://www.mattamyhomesarizona.com/ , we're in model 250 or Dalea!)

Since I probably won't get to blog til we get home-

Happy Labor day...hit the good sales for me!

And a shout-out to Brother-in-law Dan, who's b-day is the 31st!

No Mexico this year...

For the past few years, we've gotten to go down and help with branding at the end of August. This year, with everything going on near the border and being a big bump...we probably won't get down there. I'm a little sad- it's the only time I get to ride a horse...and I have a two-year tradition of getting to throw down the last, smallest baby cow down for her brand and shots. Who's gonna do it for me?? But, we've had fun in past...here are some fun pics of last year! Max and Jackie with all the grandbabies!
Father and sons getting the work started...and the 'Nina Fresca' in the back (Max's mule)

Good ol' Santa Maria... the cowboy from the ranch- he's a funny old dude, never can tell what he's saying when he talks... but I always get a smile and a nod.

The 'herd' crossing the river, which I hear is chilly if you get dumped in :)

View from the ranch house

And I don't know why but one of my favorite parts of the ranch is the road in. You have a dropoff and the riverbed on one side and a little ditch on the other...it's really shady and calm...especially early in the morning! Aside from all that- I'll also miss eating meat and green chili burros from the 'disco'... but I won't miss being stinky- or racing to get home on the 'moto' to get the shower while it's hot!

Just Breathe... Big Dork

ok, repeat maybe...but I'm getting things added to my 'next 6 months' plate...
my little sister Britney is getting married! In October no less (I don't know if I'll be allowed to go-it's in SanDeigo) and she needs some been-there-done-that help... which is fun, but hello- I'm a big bump right now, there's only so much I can do!

On a different note- M'Adam and I are trying to build a house (we just decided)- I say trying til the loan goes thru- it will be close to where we are, and fabulous! But if all goes well, we'll be packing and moving with new baby- AHHH! There goes my project nursery!... so, my 'get the house perfect' goal may come to a slow...why paint if I'm leaving right? Anyway...if we get the loan I'll post more info on the house. But that adds to my life completely going topsy turvy on me...by January...all sorts of new stuff will have come about! I've gone thru major life changes before...but this one seems different- maybe because of Nancy...but I'm sure we'll be happier than we are now after all is said and done!

I can also feel the crunch for Baby... he's moving so much now and things are getting tight...I'm at 30 weeks today! I still haven't registered for birthing classes (yikes!) and M'Adam and I, as well as the Dr., think he might come early...according to the '147 days' after movement rule, he'll come a full two weeks early! I can feel the other signs too...yesterday I was way too emotional for no reason...AND I couldn't stop myself from putting up the bassinet. The only thing that kept me from packing my hospital bag was the look I'd get from M'Adam :) And today I've been cleaning and re-cleaning all morning...nesting if you will.

Stephanie's B-day!

Normally I'd just do a shout out...but she's not doing a big b-day deal cuz we all forget how old she really is- wink. So...seeing as there's no sappy old lady card I figured I could get away with a blog. Steph is one of my best friends, and one of the first members of M'Adam's family that I got close to. We live near each other so we are able to hang out a lot, she's always there to hear my sob stories or laugh at my 'retard' moments. I appreciate her sisterhood and am really glad she married M'Adam's brother! It's funny how when you get married you find that you need the members of your spouse's family...and I needed her, she's such a fun spirit and a great support to all of us! I can't imagine our family without her dazzling smile...or the cheeseballs she makes...yum!

Dog saga continues...

So...I love dogs but mine are driving me nuts. My mom's dog went home...but the the other 'new' dog likes to dig. She's made herself a sleep hole that doesn't seem to stop growing...and a few others have grown too. Also- our little dog is a jumper (really annoying) and she's become one too in what a week? Come on now. Oh well, she's happy and it can be fixed right? Then this morning when M'Adam was leaving for work, He went to get something from the yard to throw out...two of the dogs wandered out and were checking out the driveway...then out of nowhere the other dog decided not to be good anymore and BOLTED down the street...nice how-do-you-do at 3:30 am. So I hop in the truck and drive all over trying to find her and the little dog who had decided to follow...I'm tired, want to kiss my honey goodbye, and I'm getting a sore throat...not my best morning. I get down the street and can see them...Dolci hopped in the truck bed knowing she was in trouble...but Otto decided he didn't need to listen and ran off again. I found him barking and running up and down a neighbors fenceline, bugging their dogs...nice. He was too interested to obey still so I had to stand in his path and intercept him while trying not to get runover! I get them back to the yard...and both sit down and look at me like, "what?"- Oh they know!! I just hope my day doesn't follow suit...that seems to happen often, but I like having good days.

Ruden-Deeden-Doo...

I stole that theme song and gave it to my nephew, Reed(4). He's a pretty funny little kid...so I thought I'd share a few little tidbits, seeing as his mom doesn't blog...yet.

The other day we were in the car and Reed says very seriously, "My aunt Stacey called Mommy last night- she was really scared...she heard a noise!" I thought ok, so he's an eavesdropper...whatever and I smiled and made some 'oh no' comment or something. A few seconds later in an even more serious tone he added, "I think it was the Saskwatch." That was new... so I looked at him funny, and he then told me that they eat people. I tried so hard not to laugh- he was so serious! Later he asked if I'd ever seen one- No...had he? Then I got my favorite Reed response, "Nuh...Huh" ( it's means no...uh huh). Wonder where the siting took place...

About two months ago Reed was DYING to have a pet. His mom has little tolerance or practice with indoor animals, and he's not the gentle-est kid, so she was having a hard time choosing the right pet to bring home. She finally decided to take a trip to the PetSmart near our homes. They looked at 'dirty' fish, 'noisy' birds, kittens and puppies...all veto'd for one reason or another... being gross, fur, litter... blah blah. Rodents and reptiles had not even been considered. She asked an animal expert (they really call themselves that) about a good pet for a little boy...the answer- a RAT. Now, for those of you who've met my sister-in-law...this was not ok. The guy pulled one out and Reed was completely in love with the little rodent display already wanting one or the other... Steph almost threw up. The guy asked her and Reed to pet it, and she replied that she would not be handling it at any point...so he could pet it. The guy asked her how she was going to get it out of the cage...after about 5 minutes of deliberation, Steph decided to touch it. This of course was the result of some major reassuring that it was clean, and friendly. She stuck a finger out and the thing curled it lip to smell her- she SCREAMED thinking it was going in for the kill. Reed, who had wandered to another isle, heard and came running back with a bag of bird blocks and a look of terror from the scream. He asked to have a pet and the blocks... then came the ultimatum. Bird blocks, or the rat... Reed chose the blocks. So, no pet for Reed! He was happy enough with his blocks... but Steph felt bad so a few weeks later she got him a single fish. It's named Thomas.

Reed has a pretty extensive collection of cars and trains... and the crazy part is, he knows them all. Anyway he's always trying to get everyone to play with him, not wanting to share the good ones and I don't think he's left the house without a proper handful of cars. M'Adam and I kept him overnight once and when we woke him up at 8 for waffles, he yawned, rubbed his eyes and said, "will you play cars wis me?" - too cute!

Life comes at you fast!

I had a Dr. appt. the other day...everything went really well- so well that my new due date is Nov. 3... a week different then the first but geez! I'm trying to stall as it is! It's so crazy to think that we have so little time before Baby arrives! M'Adam is so excited- he can't wait- he's already talking about adding on! I myself am starting to get nervous...mostly the physical stuff...pushing out a kid is getting more real everyday I feel him move...and I only have a little over a year before someone calls me MOM! Crazy!! I already know that he will grow up way too fast- they all do. I guess I should try to enjoy the next few weeks...while still mobile...and not think about all I have to prepare for, easier said right?

I feel old...which is silly- the other day I cleaned my room up really nice, and looked at it long and hard after I was done. It is all grown-up and pretty...I almost had to umake the bed and jump...and buy something bright and obnoxious to take the edge off of 'growing up'. That's crazy too- being (as my dad says) a "bigger girl!"...

So many things going on- siblings moving, people joining our family (Emily and Wendy are both engaged), babies- I can't imagine how dramatically our lives will be changed in the next 6 months- for the better- it seems so great right now, and we are so blessed to have our fortunes continue!

BAH!

Well- You asked for it. So, here it is...a "Nancy" pic. No cute- I haven't done my make-up in some time...but at least my hair ain't in a pony tail! As you can see...still not very big, but like I say- that kid is up in the back... and he likes it. He discovered recently that he could turn upside-down and kick my in the guts... knocks the air outta me! So I KNOW he's his father's child! (oh- and in my defense... I am really tired right here.) The next preggy pic I post will be of my new swim suit- it's friggin' funny.

OH NO!

This WAS my favorite place to get dessert... Gelato Freeze. Now- it's nothing! I was so heart broken to walk up to it...all happy and contemplating the day's flavor and BOOM. No more gelato. I think I might have cried inside.

I mean, are they trying to crush a pregnant woman's dreams?? How could they?!

Make-shift pound?

Everyone knows we have our two dogs...Dolci, a Lab/Dalmation mix- and Otto, a German shorthair (though he totally acts the hound way). M'Adam and I have recently reconsidered if it was a good idea to have them around- they don't get too much attention when it's so hot...and we feel bad for not working with them, especially the puppy. Well I called a few shelters- all full...I guess people can't afford to feed animals anymore. Then I felt REALLY bad. So we made a few goals and decided they would stay...and then we inherited my mom's Rottweiler for a week while she vacations, and the dogs get along great so no biggy right? Other night M'Adam's sister calls us- she has taken charge of the family dog Dubie, a CockerSpaniel, who out of anxiety had started completely trashing her home...poor Emily and poor Dubie. So Doggie number 4 has come to stay with us, already tried to run away-which is understandable...no familiar dogs (she had a 'playmate' in Mexico) and no 'Mommy'...I'd run away too! Thankfully she had a tag and didn't get far at all...silly dog left in the AFTER a storm and was probably terrified! She was really happy to be back in the yard though- and we boobie trapped her in, so I hope she's ok 'til she can get a ride back home to Mexico. But it's funny...the other day we considered no dogs...and now our yard is full! (no- we are not offering a drop-off service!) But hey- we love dogs!