We've got a walker. Well he's been walking for a few weeks now actually but this is me finally blogging about it. Ben's still very much Ben- laughs and smiles at EVERYONE! It's pretty awesome to have this little Mr. Concernicus who always have this "in deep, analytical thinking face" but quickly and generously gives adorable dimpled smiles to any one anywhere. I feel really proud to have such a friendly, loving baby (like I had anything to do with it).
Ben's eating is still very typical him too. He's finally open to most pureed foods but isn't taking to solids very well. I try to not stress about it and just take it as this is what he's slow at. He does still love cheddar cheese, some cinnamon rolls (only when they are fresh out of the oven NOT any older) and only likes to drink water- hates milk, OJ, apple juice, etc. which...is just fine with me, I really don't like the idea of sugar drinks anyway.
Breastfeeding ended officially ended 4 days ago too and its awesome. I mean I do like that sweet bonding time but he's really and so were my boobs ;) He has FINALLY been sleeping through the night, as in 12 hours! Its happened a handful of times now and a few in a row, then a few rough times in a row and then back to awesome nights all slowly pointing (fingers crossed) to the norm being 12 hrs nights indefinitely.
We're moving the middle of next month and like anyone knows its been a PAIN! We checked out over 12 different places and funny enough we think we might be going back to our old place! NOT the same apartment but same location. However, we are waiting to hear back if that will even work out b/c.....get this....."we make too much money" WAHHH haha. Not even close people. In a nutshell its one of those situations where we are too rich for section 8, 42 housing but everything else is super out of the question. Long story short, we found a foreclosed property a few weeks ago going for NOTHING people but after we considered property taxes, normal expenses, etc. it cost well over a third of our take home which is OUT of the question but we weren't too bummed, it reminded us in a positive way we are still on the path we feel good about! :D
The fall is right around the corner...isn't that INSANE??? Tom will be in school again meaning we'll basically see him on on Sundays only well...he's now in Elder Quorum so maybe not even Sundays but like everything else I'm happy for our situation, I wish we were through this stage already BUT I'm grateful for it. Just a couple days ago I had thee worst wave crash in the history of J.D.Clark and while it sucked so bad it was a beautiful reminder to me how loved and taken care of I am by the world's most patient and ever-so-quick to make his woman happy- man!
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Saturday, July 21, 2012
2 Years, 2 Steps, 1 Word
Anniversaries are pretty cool. Whether its our wedding
anniversary, day we met, first kiss, whatever- they’re fun! Tuesday was Tom’s
and mine 2nd anniversary, pretty cute, huh?! Though I feel I’ve
known Tom forever I feel like we’ve been married for a couple weeks and yes I
mean that in the best way! =)
We began celebrating the week prior by FINALLY going to Temple
together. It was wonderful, we hadn’t been able to go since November which is especially
ridiculous when we live 10 minutes away! Tom had that night off from Apple so
we got a sitter and didn’t let anything stop us!
July 17th started off awesome! Tom made breakfast. I was
craving biscuits and gravy (my favorite breakfast of all time) but of course I
don’t eat that yummy stuff and instead he made my typical go-to: bacon and cheesy-eggs-with-salsa
oh and a diet cherry dp to help get the AM pills down. –I don’t know how people
take pills with water, it’s just not smooth enough for me.
Then he put on our song, “Try A Little Tenderness” –sung by
Michael Buble and danced while Ben watched.
After we got showered Tom drove us to Mt. Tabor. It’s funny
since Tom and I have been reading the Old Testament I now know Mt. Tabor is
biblical reference! Anyway, Mt. Tabor is this quiet, beautiful park that
overlooks Portland and has a couple water reservoirs or water treatment plants
or whatever the bodies of water are for- they’re pretty!
I remember the first time Tom took me there, I remember we
weren’t officially dating, I remember it was a hot summer’s evening, sun was
getting low and shooting all hues of fuchsia, magenta, and green across the
sky. I can NOT for the life of me remember his exact words during that first walk
but it was something along the lines of how much he loved who he was being with
me and how he’d never known anyone so good and approachable. I know I felt the
same.
It had been over a year since the last time we visited our
favorite spot and obviously Ben’s first time, it was nice.
We came home so Ben could nap, Tom and I even dozed off for
a few watching Man VS. Wild (its our latest library rental craze we’re into).
After Ben got fed, changed, watered, etc. we did more
running around including walking around the mall doing some window shopping (but
not too much, its just depressing seeing and WANTING everything- you know?) and
picking up some baby food. We were totally planning on taking Ben with us to
dinner that evening but by the time 6pm came around and he had had little if
any floor time and instead in a car seat, stroller, highchair, crib all day I
was scared of what dinner in a restraunt was gonna look and sound like! I
suggested we try going another night (fully knowing this night worked BECAUSE
Tom had requested it off months ago from both jobs- later doesn’t happen) and
just pick up a pizza or something but Tom said, “Nope, we are going out!”
Here’s the story about California Pizza Kitchen: It’s the
place Tom took me to on our first date. It was the greatest date ever, possibly
only rivaled by the night we got engaged; I say possibly because I kept
forgetting I WAS on a date! I was so relaxed and just having fun talking, I
didn’t feel like I had to work at thinking of something witty and clever to say
or worry that I was talking too much or not sounding smart, etc, I simply had a
GREAT time sitting across from him thinking, wow this is so nice, and he’s so
fun, and funny and interesting! So here’s where it gets funny, the waitress
comes over and asked, “is this all gonna be on one check or separate?” I looked
at Tom, who hesitated, I really have no idea if it was a genuine 2-mississippi
pause or a half Mississippi, I just know I am SUPER weird about money and took
his “hesitation” as he couldn’t afford to pay for me- probably b/c I was/had
been broke for SO long that I assumed he was too. Anyway, I answered the waitress,
“we can do separate.” Tom said, “you sure?” Which only confirmed my suspicions
in my mind since he didn’t insist, then the waitress loudly jerked, “Ah goin’
stage!” I’m pretty sure I wanted to drop-kick her.
Anyway, with all of our on-again, off-again and finally
officially ON, courtship, engagement, etc., we never went back. In fact, it was
kinda a slightly sensitive subject, sensitive like a 4 on a scale of 1-10 because
I didn’t want to consider it our FIRST date when I paid for myself! Haha but come
on, it WAS an awesome date despite so I’ve let it go.
So here we were, Ben’s to his limit of patience, Tom and I
want to make this sweet return to FULLY rectify our first date mishap but not
sure what to do. I texted Ash. She texted right back (NOTE: THANK YOU for being
such a FANTASTIC texter-backer-quickly-person along with being a REALLY good
go-to person!!!!) Ash came over and we went out, I even wore heels!
We sat in the booth across from our original spot- it was
symbolic! Lol We had a good dinner, nothing fancy, I had a salad (surprise) and
Tom had a pizza.
We talked, funny enough, about our ex’s for awhile, lol I
know –weird but it was fun, then we talked about our 5 year plan, consisting
of: getting out of debt completely, getting Tom through school AND if POSSIBLE
getting into a house, which we then talked about how its gonna be frustrating
working so hard to pay off 66K only to get into a mortgage for more??? UGH.
On our way home, Tom being Tom asked the question we’ve
asked each other often since we were dating -how is he was doing as a husband
and father and for me to give it to him straight even if its hard to hear. My
HONEST reply? I didn’t want him to change ANYTHING he’s doing. He still comes
through the door with a smile for me no matter how late it is, how many hours
he’s worked, even if he’s stressed and needs major cave time, asking what he
can do to make my life easier, just holds me when I’m having a tough day, week,
month, whatever, insists he thinks my body is super hot even with my extra
chub, works incredibly hard for me and Ben AND he’s SO flippin’ good with Ben. I
remember a particular day when I was huge and pregnant, we were barely getting
by and living on faith and I asked Tom, “So do you think the honeymoon stage is
over?” Tom turned to me, smiled and said, “not even close!” It was just a month
ago I was having a really bad day, actually it was more like REALLY hard few
days, I called/texted about everyone in my phonebook but no one returned my
call or even texted back and Ash was out of town. By the end of the umpteenth day
I was miss crazy and I was sure I had worn out Tom, treating him like a
girlfriend. After another big sob episode I looked up and asked, “Why do you
think none of my friends are calling me back? I don’t think I’ve insulted
anyone, not all at once at least. Is it because I’m crazy now?” Tom just shook
his head and shrugged. “I’m sorry I have days like this, believe me however
much its NOT fun for you, its REALLY not fun for me… Do you think the honeymoon
stage of how you see me is over?” Once again he stroked my forehead, shook his
head and answered, “Not even close Jess, it’s just begun.”
When we got home from our date and heard all about Ben going
down in typical TIRED BABY throwing a fit way, we were sorry Ash had to deal
with it and THANKFUL we didn’t take him with us! After Ash left, we checked on
Ben, popped in a redbox and fell asleep soon after.
Our anniversary festivities aren’t over yet though- we are
excited to go see the new Batman movie sometime next week. It will be our first
movie together since Inception.
In other news: I had chocolate on my anniversary. Peanut
M&M’s and Junior Mints, specifically. Before I fell asleep watching the
movie. I was a bit hesitant, I didn’t want it to cause me to go into a
freak-out, in fact I could have very well not had any and been fine since I
went an easy 7 painless weeks without. I wanted the test! I passed. I haven’t
craved it since or missing it or anything. It doesn’t mean I haven’t had a
wicked sweet tooth though- PLEASE… its been so bad I feel like I am living
minute by minute some days resisting the urge to eat oatmeal raisin cookies or
anything for that matter especially since I have NEEEVVVVERRR been so strict
diet wise and getting nowhere, I can not express how demoralizing it is to work
so hard and have no physical results! It was not like this years ago, I didn’t
try half this hard and I lost quickly and it stayed off. I am super confused
and am not sure what I’m missing and not sure Dr. M will have any advice for me
either. Plus I re-read my diabetes books but there’s not a whole heck of a lot
advice for individuals described “there are even some people who do not lose
weight easily if at all even with a zero carbohydrate diet…but finding
encouragement to continue the lifestyle even if it doesn’t produce weight loss”
I think I’ve mentioned before I could try cutting out diet pop and cheese,
after that I have nothing else to cut out. Maybe I’m not eating enough fat? I
wouldn’t doubt it.
I do have ups and downs and on my down days I don’t want to
eat my foods I am tired of so I simply won’t eat- of course that doesn’t help,
I know. For a moment I thought cutting breast-feeding down to twice a day was
helping but I think it was just a coincidence and probably water weight loss.
Tom: Got raises at both jobs- one was a HUGE raise, I think like 35% more. It's awesome and will make up for my lack of income especially since my job did major cut backs and I only work one day a month which I'm fine with. But anyway WAY TO BE AWESOME BABE!
Ben: Starting 4th of July night BEN SLEPT THROUGH
THE NIGHT-FIRST TIME EVVVERRR! . I checked on him twice because I was conditioned
to. He continued to sleep through the night for a few days but then…night #4 or
5 he woke up around midnight crying in a panic/pain way, no fever, no coughing,
no tugging at his ears, etc. I gave him baby advil the second night and it
helped, it helped night 3 and a few more after. I’ve asked a few people and I
think Ben’s going through a growing spurt and having growing pains. I’m
wondering if it is the reason for his super cranky episodes during the day too?
Ben took 2 steps by himself on July 15th. It was a fun moment! He still needs to learn to stand up without pulling himself up with something first and then the walking will come. I’m not pushing walking, it means he will that much more work sooner.
This Morning- July 23d he said his first word: Dadda. At first we thought it was a fluke but he has said it several times since! His dad was pretty proud =)
Monday, July 2, 2012
It's ALL about HIM!
I thought I would give an update and show off my adorable Baby Benjamin aka Benjamite or Bjorn-Jamin as Uncle Brian calls him =) This first video when taken 2-3 weeks ago.
Here are some cute photos
These with dad were taken in March but I love them so much I want to show them off:
Here was just a couple weeks ago hanging with Grandma and Grandpa!
Ok so last Sunday we went to the new visitors center that opened at the Portland Temple and Ben was given an oreo and a chocolate chip cookie (and yes it was no temptation for me) but he was given them without our permission which kinda tweeked me but not enough to do anything but complain now. Anyway, here he is loving that oreo (I threw one cookie away, 1 is enough for a 9 month old)
And because its a Miracle of miracle I want to show Ben finally getting into food! YAY!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
The Young & The Restless
The last few months have been pretty tough in all aspects.
Tom has been working harder and longer hours than ever before. It's hard on all of us. I stay up until he gets home. I've NEVER been a night owl, its not a comfortable thing for me but when he's gone I'm nervous and get all dumb and think I hear burglars/rapists every few minutes (of course its only the fan blowing on the creaky doors) Last week started off with Tom getting a call at work Monday letting him know there was a visuals night THAT night at Apple sooo once he left RVKunh's he went directly to his final then went to Apple getting home at 4:45am- this means I basically stayed up that late too since I am a BIG 'OL scaredy cat and think I here all kinds of break-ins happening. Then Tom got up Tuesday went to RVK and then had another visuals night getting home at 2:45am -again along with him I didn't sleep much.
WEDNESDAY was suppose to be the day he was going to just come home after RVK buuuutttt he was asked to cover a shift sooo again no family night. Thursday was long and short at the same time. Ben and I drove out and saw Bek, she's so sick, poor lady and all the while Ben SUPER needy. Thank goodness Bek, Isla, Billy, Liam, AND especially WREN were SOOO good with him! Then on the way home he fell asleep for the first hr and then SCREAMED the last 45 min I was RACING home, you better believe it!
FRIDAY was WEIRD! I woke up very tired and feeling fine and I was in the middle of a conversation when I got an immediate on-set of cramps (note: while I have had countless periods since Ben was born I have had almost no cramps) the cramps were BAD right away, no gradual progression just BOOM bad. Then just as quickly as they started they were HORRIBLE. I was doubled-over and just trying to focus on breathing. I had nothing in my stomach and thought I NEED DRUGS GET SOMETHING IN MY GUT NOW! It took about 5 min to just get some milk I didn't get half it down when the cramps made my stomach hurt bad too- I had to go "THE BATHROOM" cramps got worse and I crawled to the bathroom. Once there the cramps turned to WORSE in fact they felt like contractions! I SWEAR they were WORSE than the WORSE contractions I had when I was in labor with Ben.
Tom took me to my doctor. Doctor didn't know what was going on- it wasn't a constipation issue, it wasn't gas, and i'm pretty darn sure it wasn't a cyst since I've had dozens and dozens and they have always been on ovary or the other this pain was directly in the middle of my uterus. Dr.'s best guess was it may have been due to my birth control, Implanon?
I was glad I was there since that DANG bc has been causing crazy, annoying, no-pattern periods since Texas. I WANT IT OUT!!! I know how flipping fertile I am but I think this stupid BC is causing more harm then good.
LONG story short: I have NEVER and I REPEAT NEVERRR been so strict diet-wise EVER! But I have not lost any more weight since the Texas trip, I HAVE lost inches for sure but the lbs aren't budging. I'm not so upset about the number as I am about what its saying about the possibilities.
I realized my bc is progesterone only kind and at the time I got it I was like ok maybe this will be better for me since I am already so full of progest., testost., and estrogen. BUT progesterone raises LDL's were as estrogen will router-balance that raise and since I'm being pumped full of MORE of it- it is a good guess why my weight isn't budging.
I am also still breastfeeding. That's a good possibility why its not moving either. I AM winging Ben, slowing, but surely.
And my thyroid is still so junked up. I go into another appt with the endocrinologist this month.
I talked and rambled all my frustrations and woo's to my Dr. and honestly, accidentally came off like "Dr. F, you don't know about diabetes and PCOS!" I didn't mean to! I was trying to say that I really feel like I'm getting sicker, my tolerances are way more sensitive- I THINK I need to be re-tested for diabetes or more so hyper-insulin-resistance. Dr. F did go ahead and have my blood drawn to check all my hormone levels while adding he isn't a fan of Atkins diet and recommends South Beach more. Don't get me wrong I LOVE my doctor! What I'm frustrated about is I thought I was being very clear that I knew/know my limitations of food/diet and then he told me to try something that will have me eat MORE than I already know I can't without raising blood sugar.
I am MORE frustrated that I don't know what the fudge to do. I feel like I am climbing a steep mountain, grudging against the wind too. But its not stopping me, I'm still pushing.
I talked all the way home. I talked for another hour and a half when we got home. I cried and talked in circles until Tom said: you sound like you are grieving, grieving the body you worked hard to get and reading/researching that due to things out of your control you may not get it back.
NAIL ON HEAD.
I accept that there are persons with insulin resistance who will not ever achieve goal weight and I am looking like I fit into that category but I am fighting it.
YESTERDAY I realized (while working) that I fight my lot because I have really believed (quietly) that IF I do what I've been doing LONG ENOUGH then I will change my make-up like DNA, everything. It's so silly.
CHOCOLATE- I haven't really wanted to talk about it for several reasons but I think I can now. It's been a month without. This is not me like every time before quitting with a count-down to when I WILL give in again, this is me for ALWAYS. Very long story short, the last month, chocolate-wise, has been the fastest EVER! =) It feels like I gave up yesterday and not a thousand years ago. I am feeling very good. I have been working at really figuring it all out and letting it go. The letting "it" go means not chocolate, not really, but my insecurities. Of course that sounds so easy, its not, I've had tons of freak-outs and needing to talk out my thoughts and feelings but not once have my insecurities brought me to the place of "plotting" how to get chocolate. I HAVE had bad sweet-tooth's lately but that's not anything new- goes with the territory with everything described above. Tom really believes there will be a day I will have chocolate and not have to have it constantly thereafter. I think so too but its not in my thinking at all now. As far as I'm concerned chocolate does not exist in the world any more. When I see it on tv or in the grocery store I honestly think EVERY TIME oh that's so sad its not here anymore, it was eliminated from off the earth!
BEN: Is so close to walking, he pushes objects across the floor while walking. He eats more and more (tho still not a TON) I'm pushing but I can't make him...you all know! I'm winging him well he gets mommy milk before one nap and still in the middle of the night and when he wakes up- like food, he doesn't like his sissy cup. I've tried juice, watered-down juice, he does NOT like those. I made my own decision about cow so I went with it, he takes it (warm or cold) slightly more than water....
Well now I have to run him to his 9 month check-up/shots
Tom has been working harder and longer hours than ever before. It's hard on all of us. I stay up until he gets home. I've NEVER been a night owl, its not a comfortable thing for me but when he's gone I'm nervous and get all dumb and think I hear burglars/rapists every few minutes (of course its only the fan blowing on the creaky doors) Last week started off with Tom getting a call at work Monday letting him know there was a visuals night THAT night at Apple sooo once he left RVKunh's he went directly to his final then went to Apple getting home at 4:45am- this means I basically stayed up that late too since I am a BIG 'OL scaredy cat and think I here all kinds of break-ins happening. Then Tom got up Tuesday went to RVK and then had another visuals night getting home at 2:45am -again along with him I didn't sleep much.
WEDNESDAY was suppose to be the day he was going to just come home after RVK buuuutttt he was asked to cover a shift sooo again no family night. Thursday was long and short at the same time. Ben and I drove out and saw Bek, she's so sick, poor lady and all the while Ben SUPER needy. Thank goodness Bek, Isla, Billy, Liam, AND especially WREN were SOOO good with him! Then on the way home he fell asleep for the first hr and then SCREAMED the last 45 min I was RACING home, you better believe it!
FRIDAY was WEIRD! I woke up very tired and feeling fine and I was in the middle of a conversation when I got an immediate on-set of cramps (note: while I have had countless periods since Ben was born I have had almost no cramps) the cramps were BAD right away, no gradual progression just BOOM bad. Then just as quickly as they started they were HORRIBLE. I was doubled-over and just trying to focus on breathing. I had nothing in my stomach and thought I NEED DRUGS GET SOMETHING IN MY GUT NOW! It took about 5 min to just get some milk I didn't get half it down when the cramps made my stomach hurt bad too- I had to go "THE BATHROOM" cramps got worse and I crawled to the bathroom. Once there the cramps turned to WORSE in fact they felt like contractions! I SWEAR they were WORSE than the WORSE contractions I had when I was in labor with Ben.
Tom took me to my doctor. Doctor didn't know what was going on- it wasn't a constipation issue, it wasn't gas, and i'm pretty darn sure it wasn't a cyst since I've had dozens and dozens and they have always been on ovary or the other this pain was directly in the middle of my uterus. Dr.'s best guess was it may have been due to my birth control, Implanon?
I was glad I was there since that DANG bc has been causing crazy, annoying, no-pattern periods since Texas. I WANT IT OUT!!! I know how flipping fertile I am but I think this stupid BC is causing more harm then good.
LONG story short: I have NEVER and I REPEAT NEVERRR been so strict diet-wise EVER! But I have not lost any more weight since the Texas trip, I HAVE lost inches for sure but the lbs aren't budging. I'm not so upset about the number as I am about what its saying about the possibilities.
I realized my bc is progesterone only kind and at the time I got it I was like ok maybe this will be better for me since I am already so full of progest., testost., and estrogen. BUT progesterone raises LDL's were as estrogen will router-balance that raise and since I'm being pumped full of MORE of it- it is a good guess why my weight isn't budging.
I am also still breastfeeding. That's a good possibility why its not moving either. I AM winging Ben, slowing, but surely.
And my thyroid is still so junked up. I go into another appt with the endocrinologist this month.
I talked and rambled all my frustrations and woo's to my Dr. and honestly, accidentally came off like "Dr. F, you don't know about diabetes and PCOS!" I didn't mean to! I was trying to say that I really feel like I'm getting sicker, my tolerances are way more sensitive- I THINK I need to be re-tested for diabetes or more so hyper-insulin-resistance. Dr. F did go ahead and have my blood drawn to check all my hormone levels while adding he isn't a fan of Atkins diet and recommends South Beach more. Don't get me wrong I LOVE my doctor! What I'm frustrated about is I thought I was being very clear that I knew/know my limitations of food/diet and then he told me to try something that will have me eat MORE than I already know I can't without raising blood sugar.
I am MORE frustrated that I don't know what the fudge to do. I feel like I am climbing a steep mountain, grudging against the wind too. But its not stopping me, I'm still pushing.
I talked all the way home. I talked for another hour and a half when we got home. I cried and talked in circles until Tom said: you sound like you are grieving, grieving the body you worked hard to get and reading/researching that due to things out of your control you may not get it back.
NAIL ON HEAD.
I accept that there are persons with insulin resistance who will not ever achieve goal weight and I am looking like I fit into that category but I am fighting it.
YESTERDAY I realized (while working) that I fight my lot because I have really believed (quietly) that IF I do what I've been doing LONG ENOUGH then I will change my make-up like DNA, everything. It's so silly.
CHOCOLATE- I haven't really wanted to talk about it for several reasons but I think I can now. It's been a month without. This is not me like every time before quitting with a count-down to when I WILL give in again, this is me for ALWAYS. Very long story short, the last month, chocolate-wise, has been the fastest EVER! =) It feels like I gave up yesterday and not a thousand years ago. I am feeling very good. I have been working at really figuring it all out and letting it go. The letting "it" go means not chocolate, not really, but my insecurities. Of course that sounds so easy, its not, I've had tons of freak-outs and needing to talk out my thoughts and feelings but not once have my insecurities brought me to the place of "plotting" how to get chocolate. I HAVE had bad sweet-tooth's lately but that's not anything new- goes with the territory with everything described above. Tom really believes there will be a day I will have chocolate and not have to have it constantly thereafter. I think so too but its not in my thinking at all now. As far as I'm concerned chocolate does not exist in the world any more. When I see it on tv or in the grocery store I honestly think EVERY TIME oh that's so sad its not here anymore, it was eliminated from off the earth!
BEN: Is so close to walking, he pushes objects across the floor while walking. He eats more and more (tho still not a TON) I'm pushing but I can't make him...you all know! I'm winging him well he gets mommy milk before one nap and still in the middle of the night and when he wakes up- like food, he doesn't like his sissy cup. I've tried juice, watered-down juice, he does NOT like those. I made my own decision about cow so I went with it, he takes it (warm or cold) slightly more than water....
Well now I have to run him to his 9 month check-up/shots
Thursday, June 7, 2012
When in Doubt, Color Your Hair
Fact I: the first time I EVER colored my hair was on my 14th birthday. I spent the next 8 years coloring so often I had really no idea what my "real color" was until I quit the winter of '04 when I shortly after found out I had (for the most part) been coloring my hair pretty darn close to its natural color. haha HOWEVER, my natural color is mousy-brown with blond and red high-lights.
Fact II: I've never owned a blow-dryer, or hair spray. Only when my mom bought a second curling iron did I ask to have the old one. I used that one maybe twice all together last year. Reasoning? I hate the smell of "cooked hair" and I hate the look of "cooked hair" on anyone. I just don't understand it? Like, spend so much time drying, straightening or curling- all that work everyday or however often JUST to ruin your hair, leaving the ends broken, lighter color than the rest???? It's gross. What I DO own is 2 different leave-in moisturizers and a leave-in frizz stuff.
Story: On Sunday I put mouse in my hair for the first time in EVER I put it in in an attempt to control my frizz and maybe help define my curls since my hair is not quite straight not quite curly. Mouse didn't work I came home from church looking like I had come straight from "bedroom hair"...what must my ward think? -For the most part I go with wet hair lol
Anyway, Sunday I had all this waxy weird ick on the top of my head and I just assumed it was from the mouse since it wasn't there before. Next day, more wax even after shampooing, then the next and the next.....It was GROSS. So last night I had had enough of looking like I was a grease-monkey and when Tom got home I drove to McDonalds and sat out side sucking in their WiFi to google about this issue.
Findings: Lots of chicks writing about it, most with the exact same story- perfect healthy hair, hardly use/never use hair-dryers, etc who all of a sudden got a waxy/greasy issue on the crown of their heads. Mostly its caused from build-up from shampoo-conditioners. I usually change up my shampoo/conditioner ever 6-8weeks but I think I was really liking the cheap but nice Suave so that's where I went wrong.
Solution: Apple-Cidar Vinegar. Wash your hair with it. This morning I tried it. I used more than half the bottle (some even flicked into my eyes- only cool) than I didn't add conditioner to my roots, just ends.
Results: It worked about 85%. It's amazing how difficult it is to get that waxiness out people! It's kinda like if you got candle wax in your hair. GRRROOOSSS
What's next: I decided last night that IF the vinegar didn't work I was just gonna color my hair (since my latest color is a bit too dark from my own color causing my roots to appear even MORE mousy). I really wanted to take a coloring pause since I didn't care enough more if my grays started showing but my thinking is coloring has to strip the wax out, right? In fact, I have a theory about coloring!!!
Theory: If and when my kids ever get the dreaded LICE I'm coloring their head with ammonia! That lice shampoo is as effective as hoping for a wish to come true by throwing coins in a fountaine. I THINK ammonia would kill them- I'll ammonia/color their color their natural color and hope for the best which leads me to my...
Conclusion: I think coloring your hair is awesome. It's a fun change of seen, if you totally hate it than color it something else. I'm such a believer/user of leave-in conditioners and moisturizer everytime I get hair cuts I also am told my soft and healthy my hair is even WITH all the coloring that goes on and I also say the same thing, "Because I don't blow-dry or treat it like I'm making toast!"
Fact II: I've never owned a blow-dryer, or hair spray. Only when my mom bought a second curling iron did I ask to have the old one. I used that one maybe twice all together last year. Reasoning? I hate the smell of "cooked hair" and I hate the look of "cooked hair" on anyone. I just don't understand it? Like, spend so much time drying, straightening or curling- all that work everyday or however often JUST to ruin your hair, leaving the ends broken, lighter color than the rest???? It's gross. What I DO own is 2 different leave-in moisturizers and a leave-in frizz stuff.
Story: On Sunday I put mouse in my hair for the first time in EVER I put it in in an attempt to control my frizz and maybe help define my curls since my hair is not quite straight not quite curly. Mouse didn't work I came home from church looking like I had come straight from "bedroom hair"...what must my ward think? -For the most part I go with wet hair lol
Anyway, Sunday I had all this waxy weird ick on the top of my head and I just assumed it was from the mouse since it wasn't there before. Next day, more wax even after shampooing, then the next and the next.....It was GROSS. So last night I had had enough of looking like I was a grease-monkey and when Tom got home I drove to McDonalds and sat out side sucking in their WiFi to google about this issue.
Findings: Lots of chicks writing about it, most with the exact same story- perfect healthy hair, hardly use/never use hair-dryers, etc who all of a sudden got a waxy/greasy issue on the crown of their heads. Mostly its caused from build-up from shampoo-conditioners. I usually change up my shampoo/conditioner ever 6-8weeks but I think I was really liking the cheap but nice Suave so that's where I went wrong.
Solution: Apple-Cidar Vinegar. Wash your hair with it. This morning I tried it. I used more than half the bottle (some even flicked into my eyes- only cool) than I didn't add conditioner to my roots, just ends.
Results: It worked about 85%. It's amazing how difficult it is to get that waxiness out people! It's kinda like if you got candle wax in your hair. GRRROOOSSS
What's next: I decided last night that IF the vinegar didn't work I was just gonna color my hair (since my latest color is a bit too dark from my own color causing my roots to appear even MORE mousy). I really wanted to take a coloring pause since I didn't care enough more if my grays started showing but my thinking is coloring has to strip the wax out, right? In fact, I have a theory about coloring!!!
Theory: If and when my kids ever get the dreaded LICE I'm coloring their head with ammonia! That lice shampoo is as effective as hoping for a wish to come true by throwing coins in a fountaine. I THINK ammonia would kill them- I'll ammonia/color their color their natural color and hope for the best which leads me to my...
Conclusion: I think coloring your hair is awesome. It's a fun change of seen, if you totally hate it than color it something else. I'm such a believer/user of leave-in conditioners and moisturizer everytime I get hair cuts I also am told my soft and healthy my hair is even WITH all the coloring that goes on and I also say the same thing, "Because I don't blow-dry or treat it like I'm making toast!"
Monday, June 4, 2012
Cloud 9 (months)
Gosh where to begin...hmm I think I'll start from the present and work backwards. Wait no, the pictures don't reflect that ..but ...the pictures are out of order really soooo....I'll talk about whatever and whatever order. hehe
Well Ben had a check-up today, one day shy of 9 months. He is 15lbs15oz (with a diaper and socks) in the 2% tile for weight and 1% tile in height. I feel so bad for the little guy he is gonna have such horrible growing pains some day! He's alllmmmooosssttt graduated out of size 2 diapers but more note worthy HE'S INTO EVERYTHINGGGG. He's opening cupboards and banging those pots and pans, he's munching on plug-in cords every chance he gets. He's totally bored with his toys and ready for the stuff under the kitchen sink, detergent and cleaners and stuff that will blind and burn but he's determined dang it.
Benjamite (as I've been calling him more and more lately) has been acting very close to a terrible-2 year old than a 9 month old. Yep, that's right, he's even throwing fits, and throwing his head back. Tom and I are doing our best to keep on top of it along with his vocal, ear-percing screeches he does- we say, "Hey! NO." But he just smiles back.
The thing I can't seem to figure out is for the past week he's been waking up around 10pm-midnight just screaming, like PANIC screaming. We'll try to let him scream it out until you KNOW he's not gonna stop and nothing calms him down except for nursing.... He won't have a fever, no messy diaper, I am always watching for him tugging more than normal at his ear, if he's constipated, etc. but none of those things are present. I've been thinking about it and I think there may be a correlation between the days he's had some kind of dairy product and when he's having a freak-out. I've also noticed TONS of gas along with the uneasiness. We'll see, today is trial #1.
Good news though, HE'S EATING FINALLY! Miracle of Miracles! It adds up to one of those Gerber fruit or vegetable containers a day along with 1/2 a jar of meat, which he seems to prefer over the other foods and I'm VERY happy with that! I'm gonna do my best, not psycho-ie of course, to limit grains, starchy vegetables and fruit. Of course I'm gonna let my kids have a pop now and then (i.e. Holidays, vacations). And for goodness sacks, no I'm NOT judging anyone of you who DO allow those things- please. Your genes are YOUR genes and my genes are my genes- you do the best with what ya got (and hope I get better on the other side!!!!)
Also, he's cut one top tooth and working on the other. And he's a pro at rolling his tongue completely over.
This was the beginning of May I saw Tom holding Ben and starting to drift off, when I grabbed my camera Tom opened his eyes and smiled nicely at which I said "NO. Close your eyes and act like you were sleeping like you were two seconds ago!" So here's Tom totally looking like he's faking and Ben with him "Mr. Concernicus" look wondering why Mom is so weird. The answer is yet to be determined.
This is in San Antonio with Tom's sister Cassi, her husband Bryce and their kids: Baby Keegan and Action-Jackson! It was so fun visiting with some of Tom's side of the family- they are AWESOME people, inside and out! (Not that I saw their insides, you know what I'm saying)
Here's another pic in San Antonio. Someone keeps their house temp at 500 degrees thus the reason I'm red and shifzing all over while everyone else is freezing!
Ben loves laundry time. He likes walking from one machine to the other and sometimes, as seen here, he wants a piece of both (i'd make a bad pun here but I'll resist)
This is a cute little recording of Ben being Ben!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
*insert Side-Show-Bob groan*
Anyone who loves The Simpson's is familiar with the unique groan Side-Show-Bob (voice of Kelsea Grammar) growls when he steps on a rake and whacks his face. Here let me just help (since many of you grew up in the sad shadows never knowing the sweet, sweet love that is The Simpson's)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EryhQdXTjP8
Heads-up everyone this is a true Jessica SOAP BOX MOMENT!
Sooo it started once I got married, the roar that was my passion for romantic-comedies began to flicker, and even turn to cinder. Why? Because for 99.2% of them were/are complete cod-swallup. Truly, they are soooo forced, disturbing hour and a half films repeats of two themes:
The chick is in a lame relationship, goes away on a business trip AND/OR boyfriend/fiance does, she cheats, runs away and then the realizes she's in-love with #2 and #1 was a selfish %#!$@^$ who didn't pay her ENOUGH attention that she "deserved" thus "justifying" cheating, especially AS LONG as it's to realize you're in a relationship you didn't want AND consequently cheating with real "The ONE" (gag)
ORRRRrrrr
The chick is poor and Mr. Rich-pants woo's her BUT of course after 45 mins of her brow lashing Mr. Rich-Pants (and the audience) how he should feel guilty for being rich and she's SO great b/c she's "devoted" her life non-profit bla bla bla.... they end up getting it on, he choose to do a business transaction that's completely LEGAL but she's morally against, she runs, he fellows and apologizes and swears to give up the "EVIL" capitalist business and they end up together in the end. (bigger gag)
Why do these pathetic movies make me so mad? Easy. Because not a single one is LOVE. Yes, the films are categorized as "Romantic Comedies" and not "True Love" I get it however, this crap is branded, labeled and slapped in our faces as such and girls, young girls then believe its those kinds of themes and actions of the characters are realistic and more disturbing...ACCEPTED!
And YEEESSSsssss I do see the irony of my own "Love Story" beginnings, full of epic selfish cheating, and me running away only to be chased and woo'ed. LOL Gosh that feels like a long time ago. (Anyone interested who hasn't heard all the nasty details can call me, its a GREAT story). So why is MY story different? For a few reasons...but in short I'll say it's different b/c while were we apart (before we were officially dating, NOT exclusive before, and certainly not engaged or married) we both worked really hard on mending our individual self-defeating behaviors. It's by the sweet guidance of God beer cans half full of beer and molded with tobacco leaked all over the pad of my trunk that fateful hot, summers day THUS I needed a hose (and TONS of cleaner) to get it out and the person I called who I knew had a hose (no sexual pun intended) was Tom, to which we fell in love with each others BEST SELF! hehe
Okay, me being me has digressed terribly. I wasn't even planning to talk about all this! My point (taking in a new, deep breath) is of the crap I see on tv. The crap I see from just the one channel we get that isn't even on most of the time! Crap that is advertising junk. But here's the reason I'm soap-boxing tonight....it makes me cringe that I see that crap entertainment being bragged about on FB from married women, married LDS women no less, excited to go watch a movie with a supposedly "hot guy in hollywood" who's a stripper and "TOTALLY going to see this movie of course husband won't come with me girls? Who's with me?!" It makes me want to barf. Why do I even care. Because behind my anger is sadness, to be honest.
Can you IMAGINE one of your friends' husbands, or heck YOUR husband getting ALL excited when a trailer for a movie with a "perfectly in-shape hot chick" is a stripper and that husband publicizing how he's "TOTALLY gonna go see it, and of course his wife or YOU won't be going with him so he needs a group of other ogling guys to go and get turned on with him??????? (okay that sounds wrong for more reasons than I meant) That husband would be in the darkest, coldest dog-house EVER not to mention the retaliation he'd receive from women EVERYWHERE.
Tonight the cherry was topped on this sore soap box issue of mine. I had the one channel on while cleaning up the house and it was the 8'oclock news, a reporter talking to a group of women, here in PDX, about some book trilogy of crap.... what was it called...something about gray? Shades of gray books? Whatever, I'm sure you reader ppl know what I'm talking about. Well the whole segment was how its considered erotica (S&M erotica which is even more disturbing) and how all these women are loving the books and justifying reading pornography because they have been married for x amount (no pun intended again) years and are bored and how the main nasty S&M "sexy man" character get all these women readers libidos working again THUS its okay and totally finnnneeee.
Again, if I were that women's husband and my wife were on the news proudly stating it takes a fictional S&M character to get HER off because she is BORED with the hubby at home- I would be MORTIFIED and SOOOO emasculated.
Needless, to say I was completely grossed-out yet again. So disappointed in the selfish, hypocritical and PATHETIC-ness of it all. But most of all and I really mean this, I feel SO sad for all those husbands. How are they suppose to react? If they stand-up and argue then they are "horrible men, taking away their wives right for fun entertainment, arousal, and even girls-night" to name a few. But of course, when men DO act like this, "they need intervention, its sick and perverted and totally humiliating for their wives and women everywhere." Oh feminists, how to went to far 40 yrs ago and have emasculated our men and turned women into gross, men-repressing creatures. I spit on thee.
Ok I think I'm done here.
PS- what movie/book do I think is a TRUE romantic, LOVE story well come on....the one that is my favorite, the one that my own Love story mirrored.....Pride & Prejudice ahhhh soooo good!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EryhQdXTjP8
Heads-up everyone this is a true Jessica SOAP BOX MOMENT!
Sooo it started once I got married, the roar that was my passion for romantic-comedies began to flicker, and even turn to cinder. Why? Because for 99.2% of them were/are complete cod-swallup. Truly, they are soooo forced, disturbing hour and a half films repeats of two themes:
The chick is in a lame relationship, goes away on a business trip AND/OR boyfriend/fiance does, she cheats, runs away and then the realizes she's in-love with #2 and #1 was a selfish %#!$@^$ who didn't pay her ENOUGH attention that she "deserved" thus "justifying" cheating, especially AS LONG as it's to realize you're in a relationship you didn't want AND consequently cheating with real "The ONE" (gag)
ORRRRrrrr
The chick is poor and Mr. Rich-pants woo's her BUT of course after 45 mins of her brow lashing Mr. Rich-Pants (and the audience) how he should feel guilty for being rich and she's SO great b/c she's "devoted" her life non-profit bla bla bla.... they end up getting it on, he choose to do a business transaction that's completely LEGAL but she's morally against, she runs, he fellows and apologizes and swears to give up the "EVIL" capitalist business and they end up together in the end. (bigger gag)
Why do these pathetic movies make me so mad? Easy. Because not a single one is LOVE. Yes, the films are categorized as "Romantic Comedies" and not "True Love" I get it however, this crap is branded, labeled and slapped in our faces as such and girls, young girls then believe its those kinds of themes and actions of the characters are realistic and more disturbing...ACCEPTED!
And YEEESSSsssss I do see the irony of my own "Love Story" beginnings, full of epic selfish cheating, and me running away only to be chased and woo'ed. LOL Gosh that feels like a long time ago. (Anyone interested who hasn't heard all the nasty details can call me, its a GREAT story). So why is MY story different? For a few reasons...but in short I'll say it's different b/c while were we apart (before we were officially dating, NOT exclusive before, and certainly not engaged or married) we both worked really hard on mending our individual self-defeating behaviors. It's by the sweet guidance of God beer cans half full of beer and molded with tobacco leaked all over the pad of my trunk that fateful hot, summers day THUS I needed a hose (and TONS of cleaner) to get it out and the person I called who I knew had a hose (no sexual pun intended) was Tom, to which we fell in love with each others BEST SELF! hehe
Okay, me being me has digressed terribly. I wasn't even planning to talk about all this! My point (taking in a new, deep breath) is of the crap I see on tv. The crap I see from just the one channel we get that isn't even on most of the time! Crap that is advertising junk. But here's the reason I'm soap-boxing tonight....it makes me cringe that I see that crap entertainment being bragged about on FB from married women, married LDS women no less, excited to go watch a movie with a supposedly "hot guy in hollywood" who's a stripper and "TOTALLY going to see this movie of course husband won't come with me girls? Who's with me?!" It makes me want to barf. Why do I even care. Because behind my anger is sadness, to be honest.
Can you IMAGINE one of your friends' husbands, or heck YOUR husband getting ALL excited when a trailer for a movie with a "perfectly in-shape hot chick" is a stripper and that husband publicizing how he's "TOTALLY gonna go see it, and of course his wife or YOU won't be going with him so he needs a group of other ogling guys to go and get turned on with him??????? (okay that sounds wrong for more reasons than I meant) That husband would be in the darkest, coldest dog-house EVER not to mention the retaliation he'd receive from women EVERYWHERE.
Tonight the cherry was topped on this sore soap box issue of mine. I had the one channel on while cleaning up the house and it was the 8'oclock news, a reporter talking to a group of women, here in PDX, about some book trilogy of crap.... what was it called...something about gray? Shades of gray books? Whatever, I'm sure you reader ppl know what I'm talking about. Well the whole segment was how its considered erotica (S&M erotica which is even more disturbing) and how all these women are loving the books and justifying reading pornography because they have been married for x amount (no pun intended again) years and are bored and how the main nasty S&M "sexy man" character get all these women readers libidos working again THUS its okay and totally finnnneeee.
Again, if I were that women's husband and my wife were on the news proudly stating it takes a fictional S&M character to get HER off because she is BORED with the hubby at home- I would be MORTIFIED and SOOOO emasculated.
Needless, to say I was completely grossed-out yet again. So disappointed in the selfish, hypocritical and PATHETIC-ness of it all. But most of all and I really mean this, I feel SO sad for all those husbands. How are they suppose to react? If they stand-up and argue then they are "horrible men, taking away their wives right for fun entertainment, arousal, and even girls-night" to name a few. But of course, when men DO act like this, "they need intervention, its sick and perverted and totally humiliating for their wives and women everywhere." Oh feminists, how to went to far 40 yrs ago and have emasculated our men and turned women into gross, men-repressing creatures. I spit on thee.
Ok I think I'm done here.
PS- what movie/book do I think is a TRUE romantic, LOVE story well come on....the one that is my favorite, the one that my own Love story mirrored.....Pride & Prejudice ahhhh soooo good!
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