9 Weeks & 6 Days

Tomorrow will mark week 10! Hooray!

Here is what I've discovered since my last post:

1. Reglan makes my heart go pitter-patter (and so not in a good way. Dr. B-G said, "No more.").

2. Zofran gives me the yawns, and makes it virtually impossible for me to get anything done in a day. Plus, I was still throwing up while taking it, so what's the point?

3. I would give my left ear to be done with this first trimester! Ugh! The vomiting is really getting old.

4. I am so very thankful to have a mother and husband who are understanding and willing to help out. I can't even remember the last time I cooked a meal for my family!

5. We are excited that this pregnancy has stuck (fingers crossed it stays that way!), and that as each week passes, we get that much closer to adding to our little family!

Wishing you all a Happy Easter full of good food, good friends, love, and family.

Merry and Bright

Avery and cousin, Teghan, received bouncey horses
from Grandma and Grandpa Weatherby.
Ride 'em, Cowboy (and Cowgirl)!

One of the cutest ornaments...
from a Christmas when my husband wasn't quite three.
Coincidentally, it's the same age Avery was for this Christmas.

I love the mix of old and new ornaments.

Nebraska sunrise the morning we left to come back home.

Beautiful!

We hope your holiday was full of the glow from Christmas lights,
gorgeous sunrises,
and the love of those you hold dear.

I Got Sidetracked...

I really have been meaning to get back here and tell you about more of our favorite things. My little hopeful business venture got an unexpected endorsement this week, though.

Oh. Dear. Me.

I had hopes of starting my own day care out of our home. It was put on the back burner, though, after our propery managers failed to install the fence we were promised. So Avery and I have been content just doing as our hearts desire each day.

Until Tuesday!

I've got a little guy starting twice a week with me! It turns out, it's not what you know that gets you places -- it's WHO you know. (I know...we've all heard this before, but in this instance, it was proven to me indefinitely.) A lady who works with my mom at the clinic was looking for someone to watch her adorable nearly-one-year-old son two days a week (her mother watches said cutie the rest of the week).

So, please excuse me if I've been a bit distracted. I've been scrambling to insert all of the outlet covers and crawl around looking for other dangers to little beings.

Hopefully we'll get into a better rhythm after the holidays.

Until then,
Merry Christmas!

Blah Bloggy Blog...

...or Bloggy Blog Blah. Or Blog Bloggy Blah. Or Blah Blog Bloggy.

No matter how you say it, I either A) haven't had anything to say {yeah, right!}, or B) haven't had the ambition to write. The end result, no matter which option we choose, is that I've had a cookie recipe on the top of my blog for far too long. It's been nagging at the back of my mind.

I have a post tucked up my sleeve that would highlight some of my favorite everyday items. I haven't started photographing them, however, and I'm not entirely sure what I'll include and what I won't. For example, I love my face wash...but it really isn't blog-worthy. And I really don't think you care that Matt and I decided overnight diapers would be a good idea, since our toilet-challenged two-year-old soaks regular Pampers like nobody's business.

So...someday soon, probably after Thanksgiving, I'll find the ambition to write a more interesting post. And I promise I'll try to make it more fun than Aveeno and Pampers.

Have a Happy Holiday!

Our Holiday in Photos

First of all, I realized this Christmas what a hassle it is to have to rely on everyone else to take photos of all the special moments you'd like captured on film. I was constantly chasing down my mother and sisters to catch these fleeting events. Then, last night, I realized an even bigger problem. I got some decent pictures of my family during the holidays, but none of them were accessible to me! I begged and pleaded with Danielle to stop over so I could download (upload?) her photos to my computer. Jessica is still in Minneapolis, so hers will have to wait.

In the meantime, you'll have to be content with these. At least until I get that darn Kodak replaced with my dream camera, the Nikon D60. ***Hint hint, Matthew. My birthday's coming up, you know.***


My parents thoroughly enjoyed the calendar we made using ArtsCow (Thanks, Jennifer, for the idea!). I think it will have to become a Christmas tradition.



This is what you get when this kid is hopped up on sugar for the better part of 48 hours.



Daddy did a great job picking out gifts for Avery!



Or were they for Daddy? (Matt is modeling Avery's Army helmet and goggles. The gadget belt, which holds a mini shovel, compass, flashlight, and walkie-talkie was just a bit small.) They were holed up in that tent for a good long while.



That adorable little horse is Charmin. He was mine when I was Avery's age. My family didn't have a strange liking for bathroom tissue...my father once owned a real live horse he named Charmin.

We're feeling the Christmas spirit!

I just couldn't imagine not having a tree up for the first Christmas Avery is really excited about. So Matt went out to the garage last night (in 4 degree weather) and hauled our Martha Stewart clearance special in, after some persistent nagging on my part.

By the time we got it assembled, fluffed (because that's what you have to do to fake trees after they've been in a box for a year), strung with lights, and decorated, Matt and I were sufficiently frustrated. All we are supposed to have to do is put the three sections of tree together, then plug it into the wall...and WHOILA! "Ooohs" and "Aahs" that took only minutes to achieve! However, try as we might, we could only get two of the three sections to light up.

So if you stop by the Weatherby residence this Christmas, don't get too close to the tree, otherwise you'll be able to see all the bulbs that WILL NOT LIGHT UP. And Mr. and Mrs. Weatherby would rather not be reminded of this issue.



All in all, I think it turned out quite nice. Even after stringing a couple of strands of lights on, trying to strategically position the shatter-proof decorations on the lower section, and competing for assistance with televised college football, I'm still feeling optimistic.

That warm, hopeful feeling was multiplied a few times over this morning when I came out of the bedroom to see not a single decoration had been pulled off the tree by the cat. Plus, as soon as Avery saw it, he said this: "Wow, pretty!"

So far, so good!

The Gift Dilemma

Ok, so after receiving some input (thanks, Jennifer!) about what to do about our gift opening professional, our wrapped Christmas gifts now have a temporary home.



See that pretty purple one next to the gigantic box of oatmeal? There is a little wagon filled with Lego-type blocks in that one. When I was still being silly (thinking he would leave the gifts alone if I just sat them in the middle of the living room), Avery tore it open and had blocks spread across the living room, dining room, kitchen, and bathroom. Uh huh. That'll be a fun one to clean up after every afternoon.

Oh, and see that plain white one that looks just like a shirt box with a green bow? Yeah, it is a shirt box. That's one of Matt's gifts - it mysteriously lost all its wrapping paper. And mommy was tired of re-wrapping, so it just got some tape to hold it shut and a bow.

And while we're discussing bows, have I ever mentioned we have a cat? If so, did I also mention he's the devil's own kitty? You see, he rips ornaments off our tree, and bats them around until they either A) break or B) get lost under the china hutch. Lovely. He also gnaws on wrapping paper and bows. Try to feel warm and fuzzy handing someone a gift that looks as though it was peppered by a shot gun at forty yards.

By the way, the 4th of July is my favorite holiday.

Hustle and Bustle

It's December 2nd and I'm about 95% finished with my Christmas shopping! Yay!

December 15th is the deadline for a project I've had nagging at me for a couple of months now...Emmeline aprons for Jessica and Danielle's birthday gifts. I'm also planning to make one for myself and one for my mother - they're just so dang cute, after all!

I'm not exactly sure what we're going to do about a tree and gifts this year. Avery has already ripped open two of his presents that we brought back from Thanksgiving in Nebraska (Grandma and Grandpa Weatherby have excellent taste!). He also managed to tear apart one of Matthew's presents. So I'm under the impression that we're just asking for trouble if we put wrapped gifts under our tree - if we even put up our full-sized tree. That's the other dilemma. Tree or no tree. I have this terrible feeling that if we put it up, we will have no ornaments left by the end of this holiday season. And even if we do as my mother-in-law suggested and only decorate the top half, I am afraid Avery would just yank the entire thing down on him trying to reach them.

What do you think? Tree or no tree? Wrapped gifts under the tree? Wrap the gifts and let them sit in the closet until Christmas Eve (this one gets my vote).

I just can't wait until Christmas morning, watching my little one excitedly rushing from one gift to another, surrounded by people who love him so deeply.

23 days and counting...

Shepherd's Pie, Newborn Hats, and Laundry

Those are the three most blog-worthy items from my day.

1. Shepherd's Pie. I'd never made it before today. But what's not to like? Steaming hot veggies (corn, carrots, onion, and peas) and ground beef in a savory gravy topped with creamy mashed potatoes. Mmm mmmmmmm. And did I mention how much I love meals that can be served out of one dish? I do. I love them a lot. If you understood how vehemently I despise doing dishes, you'd comprehend this kind of love.

2. Newborn Hats. Not just for any newborn, either. Read this to find out more. I've never done anything that took much thought or effort when it comes to doing something for the benefit of others. I follow the SouleMama blog. I also adore Ree's blog, Confessions of a Pioneer Woman. Check them out, you won't be sorry. Anyway, the point is, both of these women have been focusing on what living conditions are like in Haiti. And so, after reading and learning more, I couldn't help but want to participate somehow. So I made half a dozen newborn hats from shirts that have been hanging - unworn - in my closet for who knows how long, and sent them off to Amanda Soule.

At a time of year when we're supposed give special thanks for loved ones, good health, and good fortune, I feel infinitely better knowing that someone out there may place a hat - sewn on my mother's sewing machine - on a tiny newborn's head and be grateful for it being there.

3. Laundry. Sweet Lord, the laundry. I did SEVEN loads of it today. And it's still not all done. I realize laundry is not a new concept. But I honestly think I deserve a little sympathy here. My nearly two-year-old boy pees, poops, and drops globs of food on his clothes almost hourly (okay, slight exaggeration, but you get the idea). But my husband! He's nearly as bad! Every morning, the love of my life wakes, showers, puts on a clean pair of boxers, undershirt, work shirt, jeans, and socks. He goes off, earns his day's wage, and returns home. Once inside the door, he throws his work shirt, undershirt, jeans, and socks on the floor, showers, and puts on FRESH boxers, t-shirt, and shorts...which he wears for approximately 4-5 hours. At bed time, he strips off the t-shirt and shorts, sleeping only in his boxers (I promise, y'all, this is as naughty as it's gonna get).

In the morning, we start this process all over again. And do you think he can wear the same shorts and t-shirt he wore the previous night again? No way! You see, after they were taken off, they were thrown on the floor. That's where the cat lays. So they're covered in cat hair. And we can't wear clothes that have cat hair on them. Sheesh.

Madonna and the Gerks

Gerk: noun - slang.
1. a cross between a dork and a geek.
(Or so the Weatherby Imaginary Dictionary states)

~So this is what our Halloween looked like this year.


The view from above while I made Danielle's costume. Nice, eh?


Finished product. Pretty darn good, if I must say so myself! Let it be known: birthday party hats work quite well as torpedo-like boobies! Oh! And fusible interfacing can be stapled and taped into something resembling a bustier (It was all I had laying around at 2:30 on Friday...when Danielle had to be at a Halloween/Surprise Birthday Party by 5pm). And the interfacing even lends a nice sheen to the get-up!





By the way, after one of my most recent posts, Madonna vs. Sarah Palin, don't you find this photo quite ironic? Apparently many bar-goers that evening found it quite hilarious too, as they were asked many times to take photos with random people.



Here's my other sister, Jessica, and her boyfriend, Chad, dressed up as Ron Burgundy and Veronica Corningstone from "Anchorman." Everyone thought Jessica was Marilyn Monroe...she obviously didn't have a talented costume designer helping her out this year - hehe. Oh yeah...Sarah Palin is my sisters' best friend (Jenna) from high school. Her birthday is on Halloween, and a bunch of her friends and boyfriend threw her a surprise birthday party (not at the bar...just in case you were wondering).

And now that I'm looking at these photos again, I can't help but wonder: What's up with some of the facial expressions?! I'm thinking they are the result of too many Spooky Shots, Sex on the Haunted Beaches, Oogly-Googly Beers, and Monster Martinis.

Gifts for the Grandmas

As neither of Avery's grandmothers are especially fond of the cyber world, I'm quite confident I can post these pictures without worry of spoiling a surprise Mother's Day gift.

Jessica, one of my sisters, is nannying this summer for a local family. The little girl she has in her charge is approximately 2 1/2 months older than Avery, which gives us an opportunity for playdates! Her name is Mia (pronounced My-Ah), and she's awfully cute - as you'll soon see.

Jessica and I decided we should make something crafty for Mia's mom and Avery's grandmas for Mother's Day. We ventured out to Hobby Lobby and came home with unfinished birdhouses, non-toxic acrylic paints, some foam adornments, and a can of interior/exterior clear finishing spray.

Here is our adventure:






As you can see, my child decided it was much more fun to eat the paint, while Mia stayed relatively neat. While all Jessica had to do was put a dollop of paint on the surface for Mia to spread around, I had to use my child's hand like a paintbrush...You can tell he was really into the project, can't ya?

The grandmothers will love them, though - And that's all that matters!

What the Easter Bunny Brought...

I love this picture...My husband has that "duh" look on his face that I see pretty frequently. Don't get me wrong - he's an intelligent man - he just has his moments. I have no idea what he's picking off his arm; cat hair, fuzz, food remnants - it's anyone's guess.

This is Grandpa Russ (Matthew's dad). When Avery was born, he looked just like him. (We're not talking a slight resemblance - we're talking frighteningly similar) That lovely little yellow duck with the bunny ears is my newest enemy. He quacks a song ---- AND DANCES! Avery adores him, but at 92 decibals, I find it a little offensive to the eardrums. Oh well. Easter's over, we can pack him away til next year. And maybe we'll be lucky enough to have the batteries die by the time he's taken out again!

St. Patrick's Day

Yesterday was officially St. Patrick's Day - March 17 - a Monday. For most of the average Joes, I suppose this meant less - if any - green beer during their celebrations. Many, however, celebrated during the weekend prior, avoiding green beer hangovers for the workweek.

This was the case at many of the local bars. My husband and some of his/our friends went out on Saturday night (I can't even tell you the last time I went out drinking 3 nights in a row! Avery was at Grandma & Grandpa's for the weekend...). We first found ourselves at our usual stomping ground, Applebee's. Most of the guys present enjoy heavy thrasher metal music, and SOP, a band with local roots, was playing in town that night.

We mosied to Rick's at approximately 11:30. Yes...that was Rick's - just in case you thought it might be a typo. First of all, I rarely wear anything more dressy than a shirt and jeans - and NEVER high heels - my feet aren't made to accommodate them for more than 20 minutes or so. Saturday night, of course, what do I wear??? Dressy, flowy black top, jeans, and 3-inch heels!

Now, that may not seem especially stand-outish. Until you consider what everyone ELSE was wearing at Rick's. Oil-stained, dusty jeans, ripped button-down trucker shirts, smelly utility jackets, more facial hair than the entire 1970's American male population, and either skinned heads or MOHAWKS!!! Oh - and let us NOT forget the "Louder Than FUCK" T-shirts that evidently support the growling singers who make up SOP. Let me tell ya, the t-shirts were frightening, but they were definitely accurate.

Ok - back to the whole point of this story: Celebrating St. Patrick's Day. Close to the end of the evening, the band took a short break from their performance. A man from the crowd (whom we were slightly convinced must know the bandmembers) went onstage, STRIPPED!!!, allowed himself to be smeared with Creme de Menthe, and was sent running across the parking lot to a neighboring bar -- just to say hello and run back! NAKED!!

I have now seen a man strip...and let's just also make sure that I add this to your mental picture: Sticky, green-tinted, pale, North Dakotan skin, a dark green 4-inch long mohawk, an amazing amount of piercings, all found on a man who was howling in an excited, drunken stupor.

Not exactly the sexy, male stripper experience I imagined I might someday witness.