You and Me and the Baby Makes Three

New Address!

2010-08-13T15:13:00.000-06:00

You can find all of our new posts at http://www.nedandrachel.blogspot.com/

Check out what we're doing this September!

2010-07-30T11:31:00.000-06:00

www.thedirtydash.com

and by "we," I mean Ned.

Quick trip to Colorado

2010-07-21T16:48:00.000-06:00

Jack got to meet his cousin Simon. They are only 2 months apart.

Are they eating carots or playing the flute? Must be some kind of secret baby game.

Playing on the trampoline in his birthday suit

Jamming with his Daddy and his uncle Ross

2010-07-20T18:25:00.001-06:00

Ooo, what's this- a box?!

Still interested in the box, not the pile of rip-able, chewable paper next to it...

Still the box...

There's toys? Do they fit in the box?

He's still playing with that box. (He also loves the toys. Thanks, mom and dad!)

Jack has a girlfriend:

2010-07-20T18:06:00.000-06:00

It's the Kohl's Summer's HOTTEST Sale model with a smudge on her mouth.

Seriously, he has been playing with this ad for almost a week. I know what you're thinking- "What kind of mom lets her baby play with trash?" but I prefer to look at it as a free toy.

Yes, he is giving her kisses. Maybe that's where the smudge on her mouth came from.

Cuddly Cousins

2010-07-20T15:22:00.002-06:00

We have: Simon- 10 months, Austin- 11 months, Dex- 6 months, and Jack- 8 months!

Sh-sh-sh-shake it!

2010-07-11T22:45:00.000-06:00

I watched Kaylene's kids last week and they decided to work out with me doing my new Zumba dvds. I have more video, but youtube will not allow me to upload them. It's a shame.. they're real gems!

It's pretty shakey, but keeping a steady hand is almost impossible while holding a baby who wants nothing more than to eat the camera!

4th of July

2010-07-11T22:25:00.001-06:00

We camped out to see the Stadium of Fire fireworks show with Kaylene this year.

Jack snuck into the cantelope.

It was actually kind of cold and we had to cuddle up in blankets. The one wrapped around Jack is my first creation with my new sewing machine.

Jack was fast asleep before the fireworks began. Maybe he will get to see some on Pioneer Day.

Our baby is 8 months old!

2010-07-11T21:54:00.000-06:00

Jack is learning to clap and loves to wave.

He has 4 teeth: the bottom middle two, and the outside top two. Just in time for the new Twilight movie!

He loves to ride around in the laundry baskets...

...and blow bubbles at his mom...

...and of course play with all his cousins!

I just think that he is funny!

2010-07-11T11:49:00.000-06:00

Not necessarily cute or attractive in these pictures, but definitely funny!

Nana & Grandpa: Jack has something to say to you!

2010-07-11T11:31:00.002-06:00

We're in!!!

2010-06-17T14:17:00.000-06:00

Ned just found out he's been accepted to Utah State University's human resources graduate program! It starts next January and goes every Friday and Saturday for two years- then we're finnished and everyone has to call him Master Ned!

Seven months

2010-06-04T13:52:00.000-06:00

3 teeth - super cuddley - uses anything he can reach to help him stand up!

Who says Jack doesn't look like his daddy?

2010-06-04T13:41:00.001-06:00

I know everyone thinks Jack looks more like me but maybe these pictures can persuade you:

The first is courtesy of Lori and the second is from our trip last week. Pretty similar right?

Our first family vacation!

2010-06-04T13:20:00.000-06:00

23.5 hours in the car with a teething six month old. Whew!

We went to Washington to visit Jack's Grandma and Grandpa-Great, my aunt and uncle, and Steve and Jessica. We had so much fun, and Jack got to see something new everyday (which is great for a baby who gets bored so easily!)
First we went to see my Grandparents in Spokane. We took Jack on lots of walks to go see the horses:

This baby was only about 12 hours old!

We visited the botanical gardens:

and went swimming:

and had a picnic lunch:

We also went to my Auntie Helene and Uncle Tony's for dinner. Jack got to meet his cousin Noah and my cousin Heather:

Then we drove to the east side of Washington to visit Steve and Jessica in Battleground:

We for a hike by the lake:

Everything was SOOO green!

Also, Steve was dying for a mini-makeover, so we obliged.

Steve when we arrived:

...and Steve when we left:

He actually got called to be the young men's president and decided to trim up for it.

And finally time to go home again. We always left in the middle of the night so the baby would sleep as much of the trip as possible, and this was our view as we were leaving- the sun rising over the Columbia River!

Jack of all trades:

2010-06-03T16:32:00.001-06:00

Jackpot!

It's not quite as comfortable as his bumbo...

Drumroll please....

2010-06-03T16:21:00.000-06:00

After a very long 6 years, we recieved the most expensive piece of paper we have ever owned.

Let me explain the last one: Ned has been telling me for weeks that when he gets his diploma, he wants to laminate it and tack it to the wall above the toilet. This is our comprimise. I framed it and took a quick picture of it above the towel rack.

Like father, like son

2010-06-03T16:03:00.000-06:00

Jack wants to be just like his daddy. He loves to play the drums. Here is Jack's tric with the drums last week:

He loves to sit up and play them all by himself.
And here is his new trick with the drums this week:

Look at him stand! So impressive, right?
(I know there's a lot of laundry behind him, we were still unpacking from our trip.)

2010-05-15T16:18:00.001-06:00

He doesn't feel like showing you his tooth.

Jack Attack

2010-05-13T11:19:00.004-06:00

This is what happens when you grow up without action figures!

Conversation with a 4 year old

2010-05-07T12:16:00.000-06:00

Jack and I spent the day with Kaylene's kids yesterday. While the babies were asleep and the older boys were playing the wii, Eric and I made cookies. Naturally he was curious about my baby.

Eric: How you get your baby out of you?

Aunt Rachel: What?

Eric: How you get your baby out of you?

Aunt Rachel: (Pausing and trying to think fast) Oh, I got him out of my stomach.

Eric: (Not letting me off the hook that easy,) But how?

Aunt Rachel: How did your mom get your baby out?

Eric: I don't know.

Aunt Rachel: Maybe you should ask her.

Eric: Well, did you lie down on the table like this? (He lays down on his back with his knees pulled up)

Aunt Rachel: Yes

Eric: And did he crawl out of your mouth?

Aunt Rachel: Umm, no.

Eric: Did he break your stomach then?

Aunt Rachel: Yes, he did... (I show him a couple stretch marks)

Eric: Wow, there must have been a lot of blood!

I think Aunt Lori shoud watch Kaylene's kids next time and bring along her birthing videos...
Also, Eric told me Eeyore is weird because he's a boy but dresses like a girl with a bow on his tail. What do you call a boy that dresses up like a girl, Aunt Rachel?

4 Cheese Broccoli Fettuccine with Citrus Glazed Sausage

2010-05-05T14:09:00.001-06:00

15 oz container Ricotta cheese
2 cups milk (You may need to add more, because the sauce will thicken.)
3 oz cream cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup Jarlsberg cheese, grated (You can also just use Swiss)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
salt and pepper to taste
3 cups steamed broccoli florets
Fettuccine (I used half a box)
3 cups little smokies sliced on the bias
1 orange
1 lime

Cook the fettuccine according to the directions on the box. Strain, and set aside for later. Combine Ricotta, milk, and cream cheese in a pot over medium high heat until smooth. Add the parmesan and jarlberg, stirring until melted. Add the garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and parsley. Check for seasoning, and add salt and pepper accordingly. Mix in the broccoli.

Add the sausage to a hot skillet and sear until both sides are dark brown, but not burned. Deglaze the pan with the juice of half the orange and the entire lime. Allow the liquid to cook down and add the juice from the other half, reserving a little for the end. Let this cook down until most of the liquid is gone.

Combine the cream sauce with the fettuccine and plate. Top with the glazed sausage and add a small squeeze of the reserved orange juice.

Our 1/2 birthday party!

2010-05-04T14:04:00.000-06:00

Half green, half blue for his half-birthday!

I don't think he really ate any of it.

Half a gift from Aunt Lori- he gets the other half of it on his real birthday!

6 months old!

2010-05-04T13:52:00.000-06:00

He's growing so fast- we can't believe it!

(*Do you love how he gets progressively whiter in each picture?!)

Chopped Challenge- Round 2

2010-04-29T23:01:00.001-06:00

Broccoli, little smokies, oranges, and ricotta cheese.

Okay, I have my menu planned, but I want to see what yall can come up with. I'll post again with pictures and recipes!

2010-04-26T09:34:00.001-06:00

Jalapeno Raspberry Meatball Sub

2010-04-26T09:24:00.003-06:00

Raspberry Chipotle Sauce

Ingredients
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 large jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced very finely
• 1 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 Tablespoons BBQ sauce (I started there and added more as I went)
• 1 container fresh raspberries
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (to taste)

***optional: a few dashes of liquid smoke

Directions
1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in jalapenos; cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Mix in garlic, and bbq sauce; cook for 2 more minutes. Stir the raspberries into the sauce; cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice, salt, brown sugar, and cayenne. Mix well. Simmer until thickened.

Meatballs

Ingredients
• 1 pound ground beef
• 3/4 cup crushed rice crispies
• 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce
• salt and pepper to taste
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. In a medium bowl, gently mix by hand all the ingredients. Shape into 12 large meatballs, and place in a baking dish.

3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cooked through.

Toast your rolls. Slather each side with cream cheese. Assemble your sandwich starting with a little raspberry sauce, three meatballs, then more raspberry sauce. Yeilds four sub sandwiches.

It turned out really well. I can't wait for the next challenge!

Chopped Challenge- Entree course

2010-04-22T12:00:00.001-06:00

Have you ever watched the Food Network show Chopped? They have mystery baskets with 4 ingredients in them and chefs have to compete to see who can come up with the best dish containing all 4 items. After making Ned watch it with me dozens of times, he came up with an idea. Once every couple of weeks he is going to come home from work with a few random ingredients and see what I can do with them. This actually solves a big problem for us, because we always argue about who has to choose what we will eat for dinner. Neither of us can ever come up with anything. Now, every once in a while, he will choose the ingredients, and I will decide what to do with them. Perfect solution!

So without further ado, here are this weeks ingredients:

Crispy Rice cereal, raspberries, jalapenos, and ground beef.

I already know what I'm going to make with it, but before I post it, I'm curious as to what your ideas might be. As soon as I make it, I'll post pictures and recipes!

Chopped Challenge...

2010-04-21T21:35:00.002-06:00

Coming soon to a blog near you!

Our fist trip to the park!

2010-04-20T14:17:00.001-06:00

2010-04-09T08:51:00.002-06:00

2010-04-07T16:31:00.002-06:00

Bathtime

2010-04-07T16:25:00.000-06:00

Look at those eyelashes!

Jack of all trades:

2010-04-07T14:56:00.000-06:00

Jack Rabbit

5 monthes old

2010-04-07T14:04:00.000-06:00

Happy Easter!

2010-04-06T12:52:00.000-06:00

Mmmm...

2010-03-15T19:22:00.005-06:00

Jack just started eating rice cereal and he loves it! Well sort of... he didn't really know what to do with it at first, but he's getting the hang of it.

Before:

And after:

Here he is in action:

This is what I do all day

2010-03-10T13:33:00.000-07:00

Also some of this:

this:

and this:

But mostly just this:

Jack has a friend

2010-03-10T13:24:00.000-07:00

Jack loves to play with his cousin, Austin.

They coordinate their outfits,

Wressle each other,

Play tag,

and even give kisses!

4 months old

2010-03-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

Jack

48% length - 11% head - 67% weight - rolls over - loves to be tickled - puts everything into his mouth - crazy about his feet - gives the best kisses!

Jack has a new trick!

2010-03-04T12:29:00.004-07:00

Ta-da!

Check him out in action:

2010-03-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

Jack of all trades:

2010-03-01T19:44:00.000-07:00

Jumping Jack

*Ned thought we might get reported to Child Protective Services and he made me replace the other one.

Holy Crap (Literaly!)

2010-02-26T09:47:00.002-07:00

Ned has been having a crazy semester. It's his last one, and there's only 5 credits left, but I swear it feels like 15 credits. Between work and school, he's been gone at least 13 or 14 hours every day this week. Jack and I decided we would go to the school to have dinner with him last night, because it was probably the only chance we would get to spend some time with him. I packed up the baby, the diaper bag, and the stroller and headed down to UVU.

After trekking up the hike that is student parking in a nasty rain/snow mix we had a nice little dinner with Ned. Because the weather was so bad and the baby was asleep, I decided that I would just wait for Ned to finish up his meeting and then let him help me back to the car. Towards the end of Ned's meeting, Jack needed a diaper change. Not a cute little wet one that I could discreetly change on my lap, but super stinky, nasty one. I shot Ned a look that said "you're lucky you got out of this one, but the next one is all you!", grabbed the diaper bag, and headed out in search of a ladies room.

We found it, but unfortunately there was no changing table. That's okay, I think they're disgusting and covered in germs; I'll just put his changing pad on the counter. Wait, they're all pedestal sinks! How am I going to do this??! Then I spotted a metal book shelf, you know the kind they have in school restrooms. It was about 6 inches deep and above my shoulders, so I couldn't see very well. To make matters worse, Jack had filled not only his diaper, but about half of his onesie, too. It took some pretty tricky maneuvering to get it off of him without covering his face in poo, but we managed. I'm actually lucky, though. Right before I left, I added more wipes to my case. I only had two left, and ordinarily, I wouldn't have bothered with it since he had already pooped that morning. Two would be plenty for a wet diaper, but something made me go back and add more right at the last second before I left. Thank goodness!!

Notice anything new?

2010-02-23T09:05:00.000-07:00

No more goopy eye!

Maybe you needed another look:

Jack of all trades:

2010-02-23T08:59:00.000-07:00

Hi-Jack

Jack of all trades:

2010-02-15T09:49:00.000-07:00

Jack in the Box!

It's a creepy day

2010-02-11T13:41:00.000-07:00

I had someone come to the door today and I wasn't expecting anyone. That always makes me nervous, so I went to the window first to take a peek, and it was a man I didn't know. I asked who it was through the door, and the man told me he had my pizza. I told him, no thank you; I didn't order any pizza, back through the door and made sure it was locked. Then I watched him leave through the window. The guy didn't have a pizza with him, he wasn't wearing a pizza shirt, and there wasn't any pizza sign on his car. It was probably nothing, but made me feel kind of wierd. I called Ned to tell him about it, and he told me about a really strange situation they were having at the hospital (a possible abduction, I think). Plus, Jack has been screaming ALL day. Probably a coincidence, but maybe he knows something I don't. It's all gray and cloudy today, and it just feels eerie. A good day to just stay home.

Lumber Jack

2010-02-06T19:32:00.002-07:00

*Notice, for safety reasons, we have the blade turned away from his face.

3 Months Old!

2010-02-06T19:25:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how fast Jack's growing! He loves to stick things in his mouth, and he wants to roll over. So far he can only get to his side, but he's working on it!

2010-02-01T14:48:00.002-07:00

We have an American Idol fan! He fits right in with the rest of the Chamberlain clan:

What do you think?

2010-02-01T14:40:00.002-07:00

I think it looks like this baby's had his beauty sleep. That's right- 8 hours of it!

Ever since he found his fingers, Jack has been sleeping so much better.

Good morning!

{I know it looks like he has a black eye. We're still working on the plugged tear duct.}

Where's the baby?

2010-01-22T16:31:00.000-07:00

Jack got this cute little number from his cousin Simon and it matches this blanket perfectly. When I lay him down on it, I can barely see him!

2010-01-22T16:21:00.000-07:00

So all I ever post anymore is baby pictures, I know, but that's pretty much all that's going on in my life these days. Plus I have to keep the grandparents up to date, so here are a few more:

My Little Bear Cub

2010-01-22T16:01:00.000-07:00

Jack has a new friend

2010-01-15T16:35:00.003-07:00

Meet Dex:He's super tiny, has tons of hair, and just perfect!

Two month update

2010-01-11T12:02:00.006-07:00

We went to our 2 month check-up today and measured Jack's weight and height. He is 22.5 inches (23 %ile), weighs 12.5 lbs (61 %tile), and his head is 15 inches around (8 %tile). So we have a short and chubby baby with a pin head!

0 months:1 month:2 months:

Jack has a really strong neck and loves to practice standing. His legs can hold up all his weight but he needs help with the balance. He's also started scooting around, using his little feet to push off.

Isn't he beautiful?!!

2009-12-28T19:07:00.001-07:00

Jack's 1st Christmas

2009-12-28T11:04:00.002-07:00

It's a Christmas Eve Miracle!

2009-12-28T10:56:00.003-07:00

I caught his smile on camera!

A new do:

2009-12-11T21:58:00.005-07:00

We got tired of waiting for Jack's hair to grow, so we took matters into our own hands:

Feet & Fingers

2009-12-10T22:04:00.002-07:00

Our boy is growing fast!

2009-12-07T12:47:00.006-07:00

Baby Blessing

2009-12-06T14:13:00.004-07:00

We had Jack's blessing on Nov. 28. We had lots of family and friends come celebrate with us!Great Grandma Val and Great Grandpa BillAunt EffieUncle Ray and Grandpa NickUncle Jeff and Uncle Ross

Touchdown!

2009-12-06T14:11:00.000-07:00

A Brand New Belly!

2009-11-18T09:42:00.003-07:00

My stomach isn't the only one looking a little different these days!

Before:

After!

Labor and Delivery

2009-11-13T09:11:00.006-07:00

We have the sweetest boy! He is so obedient- he even came on his due date! I went into labor at 7:30 on Monday night with contractions every 5 minutes for the next 10 hours, until we went into the hospital the next morning at 5:30. We were expecting to be sent home, but the baby's heart rate was dropping every time I contracted, so the doctor decided to speed things along and get this baby here.

They told me the doctor would be in a 7:00 to break my water and I would probably want my epidural then. I was definitely wanting it then, but there was an emergency c-section, and they said I would have to wait another hour for them to finish. I thought I was going to die! The doctor said he would wait to break my water until I got the epidural, so we worked our way through the next hour from hell with contractions coming every minute and a half. I finally got my epidural and it was AWESOME! The pain was totally gone, and I was relaxed, but we had to wait until 11:30 for someone to come break my water.

At that point, we just rested for a while. Ned and I both took short little naps. Around 3:00, I started feeling my contractions again, and they told my it was time to start pushing. Apparently they just tell you how to do it then leave the room and let you get to it for a while. No doctor in there, no nurse; just Ned, my mom, and his mom. I guess they were pretty confident I wouldn't make any progress for a while. The doctor checked me after a while and told me they would have to turn the baby. He moved into position, and after about an hour and a half of pushing, baby Jack was born at 4:43 pm, 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and 19 inches long. After a bath, we got to hold him for a while. He was so alert and even nursed a little. We got to spend about an hour with him before they took him to weighed and checked out. Unfortunately, his temperature was over 103 degrees, and they said he would need to start IV antibiotics right away. The nurses kept saying "hopefully it's nothing" over and over. I can't tell you how many times I've heard that phrase this past week. They took some blood cultures, and said they could rule out sepsis (I think it's a blood infection?) in 48 hours, but he needed to stay on the IV until we knew for sure. That meant my baby was moving to the NICU. Next, they came and told me there was a problem with his blood pressure, and he was going to need an EKG to see if there was something wrong with the arteries to his legs. Again they were saying "hopefully it's nothing." It came back clean, thank goodness. Finally around 11pm, they let me go visit him.

The next couple days passed in a blur of delicious hospital food, 20 minute bathroom routines, and trips to the NICU to hold and feed Jack. He was so agreeable, even when they were drawing labs or changing his diaper, and he was the perfect little nurser. Trying to cuddle with him with all those wires was hard, though. At the end of the second day, it was time for me to be discharged, but we were still waiting for the blood cultures for Jack, so he would gave to stay. They were also worried about reflux and wanted to watch him through the night. He kept gagging and trying to swallow, and all of his stats would drop. There weren't any empty rooms on mother baby, but the nurses said we could pay for a room on pediatrics if we wanted to stay the night, and I could keep coming in for feedings. We did, but held our breath in the halls all night, trying to avoid H1N1.

The next morning, they told us everything looked great and he could go home! We waited for him to get his circumcision, and then finally took him home. We took him back to the hospital every morning for the next couple of days to check his biliruben count, and it kept rising, so Monday the doctor decided to put him on bili lights. This wasn't a big deal to me, but I didn't love not being able to snuggle with my baby. We kept checking his temperature once he started the lights, and it was low. Only 96 degrees. We called up Lori and our doctor to find out what to do. We tried warm blankets, skin to skin, heat packs, everything we could think of, but it only got up to 96.6. They told us to bring him in to the after-hours clinic, and I couldn't stop wondering what I was doing wrong and why he kept having problems. The doctor there gave him a catheter to test his urine (poor kid- the circumcision was only a couple days old!) and sent us back to the hospital to have more labs drawn to test for a bacterial infection. They came back fine, but showed that he did have low blood sugar.

So now everything seems to be fine. He takes medicine for the reflux, and to help with the low blood sugar, I'm supplementing breast-feeding with bottles. Also that kid has a mind of his own when it comes to breast-feeding, so pumping probably isn't such a bad idea for us. He's a little fussy, but I think the reflux might have something to do with it. He was beautiful eyes and makes the funniest expressions with his mouth! I'm feeling great- almost 100%- and I'm already 7 pounds lighter than when I got pregnant! Now if this belly would just go away...

2009-11-10T08:52:00.002-07:00

3 days in the NICU, 5 other trips to the hospital, 1 late night visit to the after hours clinic, and billi lights around the clock- all in just 7 days of life. A little dramatic, but he's so worth it!

Jack Parker Chamberlain

2009-11-04T16:37:00.002-07:00

Welcome to our family

7 lbs 12 oz

More pictures to come

2009-10-29T12:45:00.001-06:00

Grrr... Induction date off unless I make some major progress by next Tuesday. Just waiting now...

2009-10-21T13:25:00.003-06:00

I tried my hand a baking last night for the first time in a while. It's not as much fun on this diet, but it does keep me from licking my fingers ;) I made some lemon bars and some lime bars which actually turned out really good- I'll post the recipe on my side bar. They're from http://www.ourbestbites.com/ - one of my favorite food blogs. Anyway, I forgot how messy baking is, and I decided I really should have an apron if I'm about to be a stay-at-home mom, and look how cute this one is! Better yet, you can win it in a giveaway here.

Vegas!

2009-09-23T08:13:00.009-06:00

~{{(WARNING- TONS OF VACATION PICTURES!)}}~

Ned and I decided that we need one last trip as couple before our baby comes. He's working full time, taking 16 credits, and expecting our son this semester, so we took advantage of a quick weekend away. We had SO much fun!

This was not our favorite part:

We went to the Venetian. Don't the ceilings remind you of Alamo Cafe?

The gondola rides:

I posed with the street performers: (look at that huge belly!)

The outside of Treasure Island:

The Forum Shops by Caesar's Palace. What does it say about your level of class when you are too afraid to even go in the stores, because they're way too upscale for you. We were scared we'd touch something and have to spend $10,ooo to buy it. Seriously, the shops were insane!

Our hotel was AWESOME!

It had a full living room, kitchen, dining room,

multiple TVs,

jacuzzi tub in the bedroom, washer and dryer, and tons more! We could have moved in!

My extremely tired, 7 1/2 month preggy body was loving the pool!

We also saw the Wynn:

and we got to see Blue Man Group. It was the best part of the trip; we would go see them again in a heartbeat! Super entertaining and squeaky clean- a perfect show for the whole family!

We lost the baby fund that night:

Just kidding! We're really not into that kind of thing!

The next day we went to the Bellagio and saw the gardens:

I just think this one is funny. Here's Ned now:

...and after a few restless nights with the baby:

It was such a great little getaway from our everyday routine!

Jalapeno Hands

2009-09-10T15:39:00.002-06:00

The title sounds scarier than the actual story, if you know our history with jalapenos. Kaylene and Daniel gave us some of their jalapenos from their garden and so last night I made some bacon-wrapped, cream cheese-stuffed jalapenos. It's one of our favorites, and it happens to be really low in carbs, so I was way excited for it. I noticed my hands started to burn a little while I was cutting them, but I just thought, "good, these ones must be really hot." By the time I was done, my hands were red and puffy and screaming hot! I've never had a burn like this. I felt like I they were glued to a searing hot frying pan and I couldn't get them off. Nothing I could do would cool it down. I scrubbed them at least 10 times; I soaked them in milk; I tried citrus juice. It went on for at least 3 hours. Nothing worked until I called up Kaylene, and she found on the internet that some people actually got chemical burns from them. I put on some silvadine cream my mom gave me for burns and that finally did the trick. So I asked my doctor today, and he said it was really strange, but being pregnant probably caused my skin to react so badly. Weird, right? I've cut up jalapenos a thousand times before and never had any problems! (Ned might disagree.)

We are officially sugar free!

2009-08-21T09:38:00.005-06:00

...at least I am. Ned is too, but only because he's a very supportive husband who feels bad for his diabetic wife. Because of my GD, I have to have a very specific amount of carbs at very specific times throughout the day. Not exactly what you want to hear as a 7 month preggy who's finally getting over nausea and starting to have cravings. This is what we're living off of these days: It doesn't look all that bad, but try eating it every day for the next 2 1/2 months! It's a great diet, though- I'm pregnant and I've already lost 6 lbs! As soon as this baby comes we're having a pizza, pasta, cake, and ice cream party- anyone coming?

Tummy Pictures

2009-08-04T14:42:00.003-06:00

For those of you (ahem- mom, dad) complaining that I never post any tummy pictures, here you go:Here is Rob and Lori's new baby, Austin. He is so sweet and tiny-only 2 days old!

Catch up! (Warning: TONS of pictures!)

2009-08-04T13:08:00.014-06:00

I know I'm a month behind (to the day!) but I finally got around to emptying my camera, and here's what we have:

This is our annual 4th (3rd this year) of July picnic with Paul & Rosie's family:We played Texas-sized Foosball.Ned and Kaylene fought over it:Keri, Lela, and I were goalies:The kids cheered from the sidelines:Next came the jalapeno eating contest which actually included flamin' hot cheetos, wasabi peas, fresh and bottled jalapenos, pablanos, serranos, and crushed red pepper flakes!Ned was all geared up for it.He made a valiant effort......but he was no match for the tar-lined stomach of Daniel. He was eating it so fast, you can't even see his hands!We even had confetti eggs!Poor Avery was NOT a fan!She did, however, enjoy cleaning it up.We all went over to Rob and Lori's to watch fireworks from there back yard and to light a few of our own too!

Prosti-tot

2009-07-01T16:53:00.002-06:00

Isn't she the cutest thing ever? Too bad I won't be able to play this game with our little one!

Ultrasounds

2009-06-24T09:15:00.007-06:00

Here are our first pictures of our boy:

This is a profile

Another profile

This one shows his legs. It's taken as if you're on the ceiling looking down on him. On the far right is the top of his head, then his arms and hands, then going left, are his legs stretching out and his feet are touching.

This is his footprint.

He wasn't very shy. This shot is from under his bum looking up.

This is my favorite- a big thumbs up!

He kept trying to clasp his hands or clap in this one. It almost looks like he's making a heart with his fingers.

It looks like he's smoking a joint here, but he's actually sucking his thumb.

This one is the face. The tech said she doesn't usually get to do this kind of shot, but he was in such a good position, so she turned on the 3D setting and was able to take this one for us. He has one hand up by his face, and you can see the cord coming accross his chest. No worries- it's not wrapped around his neck!

It's a ...

2009-06-19T11:49:00.013-06:00

BOY!

Embarrassing Preggy Story

2009-06-16T10:14:00.002-06:00

Peeing apple juice...

2009-06-11T09:34:00.004-06:00

So I know I've been kind of neglecting this blog lately, but that's mostly because nothing interesting happens to us.

-We wake up.
-I am sick.
-Ned gets me a nausea pill.
-We go to work.
-Ned goes to school.
-We go home and fight about who has to decide what we will have for dinner. (I can never think of anything; all of Ned's suggestions make me nauseous)
-We watch So You Think You Can Dance or Fox News.
-We go to bed.

Boring, I know (except for the SYTYCD part). Tomorrow, though, Ned gets to interview for an awesome internship! It's an HR internship at IHC. Hopefully everything goes well, because this is really the kind of job he wants to get when he graduates. The experience will be great- fingers crossed!

Whew!

2009-05-06T14:43:00.002-06:00

What a weekend! Hopefully I will soon post details and pictures about:

Surprise visit down to Texas
Piercing my little sister's ears
My mom's 50th birthday
Possibly the worst flight experience of my life

For now, I am nauseous, tired, and just want to spend time with my husband who I missed very much over the past few days!

2009-04-30T15:41:00.003-06:00

My new favorite:

Let's face it, I can rarely eat the same thing for more than a day or two without the smell or even thought of it making me nauseous, but right now, I am LOVING bubble gum. And craving banana creamies. Maybe I should stop by the store on the way home. I've got a long night of packing to look forward to for my weekend away... Some banana creamies might make it go better!

It's Official!

2009-04-23T17:44:00.002-06:00

We had our "first" doctors appointment today (let's be real, I've been four times now for various things) and we got to hear the heartbeat!! It's a huge sigh of relief considering the early drama we've had and especially since I will be 12 weeks tomorrow. I finally feel comfortable telling people about it. We are getting SO excited! Our due date is November 6 and if you want all the nitty gritty details you can check out my pregnancy blog on the sidebar.

Trend-setter

2009-04-23T12:53:00.004-06:00

We're pretty big American Idol fans, at least on Ned's side of the family, and last week I noticed something interesting. Take a look at what Allison wore on the Tuesday show:

Now take a look at what I dressed Kaylene in way back in January:

I'm just saying, they're pretty close! Take Kaylene's sweater off and stick it on her head, and you have a pretty dead-on match. Maybe I should start applying for a stylist job on AI!

Miss California is my hero!

2009-04-22T09:26:00.005-06:00

How sad is this? I'm sure yall have all seen the clips of Miss California being asked about her stance on gay marriage during the Miss USA pageant. If I was a little more computer savy I'd put up a clip of it. Well, she tells them how she feels about it-that she thinks marriage should be between a man and a woman only, and then loses the crown. What really gets me, though, is when people are angry about her not being a good representation of the state of California. A state that just PASSED proposition 8! Good for her for standing up for what she believes in! She's a winner to me.

New find!

2009-03-13T15:28:00.003-06:00

I know I'm a little slow, but I just discovered etsy stores. This one is my FAVORITE! Most of her stuff has a vintagey, one of a kind feel and it's SuPeR affordable. Check it out: MD sparks

It's a bridal shower!

2009-02-24T20:39:00.008-07:00

On Saturday we had a shower for Remily.

There was family:

There was food: There were games:
And there were presents!

Grrrr....

2009-02-24T09:45:00.003-07:00

So, I'm going to go have my wisdom teeth looked at today. NOT excited. I always though that they sounded miserable, so I just decided I wouldn't grow any, and for 22 years it worked. Then, on Sunday, all my plans went down the drain. I thought I had a chip stuck in the back of my mouth, but, sure enough, it was a tooth poking through my gums. Of course, it's GOT to happen 2 months after I loose my dental insurance. Hopefully it won't be too complicated, because nothing hurts yet. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Never Eat Candy from a Stranger

2009-01-31T09:11:00.003-07:00

Yesterday at work, a man came in for a meeting with one of our tenants. While he was waiting, he asked me if I had some mints or gum. I had both in my huge purple bag, so I gave him some, and we started chatting about why he had bad breath. Apparently he sprays his mouth with this stuff that blocks all the fats, sugars, and carbs of anything he eats right afterwards. And then I did something really stupid. I tried it. He was offering it to me and his buddy was right there and I caved. Bad idea, right. Seriously, how did I get through high school without trying cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs?? It felt rude to just tell him no after pretending to be so interested in this product that makes food pass right through you without absorbing it. Not only was the spray gross, it completely changed the way food tasted in my mouth for hours. No explosive diarrhea yet, but I'm not counting anything out. Has anyone heard of that stuff? Maybe you can pass along some of the nutrition facts and side-affects?

Bells on her shoes

2009-01-26T19:52:00.004-07:00

Here's my first attempt at bridal flip-flops. I've never heard of them before, and I don't know what they're supposed to look like but here's my best go at it.

Before:And after:

2009-01-15T22:36:00.008-07:00

Kaylene and I went shopping last weekend. She wanted some of my expert style advice. So, drawing upon all of my vast stores of fashion wisdom, I chose several outfits for her. What do you think?She actually got lots of really great new tops and an awesome pair of trouser jeans. Since Ned was such a good sport, he got a little something too:

And the job search is over....

2009-01-15T22:33:00.001-07:00

...I think. I was offered a job as a receptionist at a legal firm today!! Hopefully everything goes as planned.

The job search is on!

2009-01-08T13:13:00.001-07:00

Anyone know of any administrative/receptionist job openings??

Oh, the weather outside is frightful....

2008-12-27T14:36:00.007-07:00

We totally got dumped on this week. This picture was after our first storm.

We didn't have anywhere to park so we had to shovel the street too.

This is the view from one of our bedroom windows:After shoveling for 2 hours: Ned says that this is God's way of slapping Al Gore around a little. It's snowing like crazy and the price of gas is down to $1.30 a gallon.

Freaky Friday

2008-12-07T09:54:00.002-07:00

I had the weirdest day on Friday- not a bad day, just weird. It started out with my work Christmas party. This isn't just a little party with my coworkers; it's all of Wasatch Mental Health- probably over a thousand people. I only know 20 at the most. Not a really fun party. It's actually more like a big meeting with lunch. Well, they called me up in front of everyone for my five years of service award. Since I've only worked there three years I didn't budge, expecting there to be another Rachel Chamberlain. (We have 2 just within our family!) Apparently its actually not that common of a name. They were all confused, I was shouting from my seat that it wasn't me, it was a huge mess... So later I was picking out a couple white elephant gifts at Wal*Mart when all of the electricity went out. Not a little flicker, but a full minute in total darkness before the lights came back on. Strange. The weather was clear and everyone was kind of giggling in the darkness. When they finally came back on, I got in line and put all of my items on the conveyor belt. The lady in front of me turned around and started going through all of my stuff. She picked up the game I was buying and read the directions, asked me what a gift of Ned's was for (I can't go into detail, because he does occasionally read this), and she picked up the personal massager and tried it out on herself. Really strange. It didn't bother me too much, but what if I had been buying something embarrassing like ky jelly? Would she have asked me what I was planning to do with it? Later that night Ned and I were trying to figure out where to eat dinner. Seriously, we had driven to 5 different places trying to decide when Ned took a wrong turn and almost ran over his mom in the target parking lot. So she just jumped in and we all had dinner together. What are the chances? Overall, it was a good day, just kind of odd.

Jazz articles

2008-12-01T09:07:00.005-07:00

One of Ned's co-workers gave him this article in preparation for the Spurs-Jazz game:

Utah Jazz Hope For A New Tradition in Texas

Break the San Antonio Curse

SALT LAKE CITY (November 21, 2008) -The Jazz are out in San Antonio tonight looking for one of those special games; not only looking for the team to translate their home play into a quality road win, but to win in San Antonio for the first time in 10-years- and this may be the game to do it. The Spurs are dealing with a boatload of injuries just as the Jazz are, the biggest difference however is in the records. The Spurs (5-6) are just 2-4 at home, one of their slowest starts in some time, while the Jazz (8-4) are 2-4 on the road thus far.

Ned returned the favor with this newsworthy tidbit:

Jazz Hope Not to be Embarrassed in Texas

SALT LAKE CITY (November 21, 2008)- The Jazz are once again in San Antonio, hoping to not wet themselves during the game. The game will be considered a success if at least three of the starting five do not run away crying. Last year, Kirilenko stayed strong until the sight of Tim Duncan driving into the lane caused him to soil himself uncontrollably. Andre refused to comment, as him mother sent him to bed because he was cranky.

Future Hair Stylist

2008-10-19T11:36:00.004-06:00

In preparation for starting hair school, I decided to try out my skills on Kaylene's kids. Since she was stuck in the hospital giving birth, I was free to do whatever I wanted to them.

I call this one the punk rocker look.
And a profile shot:
This one I either call Bozo the Clown or Old Man:
I hope you have a nice relaxing recovery, Kaylene. Don't worry about your kids- they're in good hands!!!

Zion

2008-10-11T13:31:00.009-06:00

It is freaking cold! I guess it's time to turn on the heat when you want to wear your winter coat inside the house and it's forcast to snow in a few hours... Our house is filled with that "1st time you've used the furnace in a long time" smell. On a warmer note, here are some pictures from our quick trip to Zion's Park a couple of weeks ago (temperature: 93 degrees).
Can you see me way down there through the trees?Here we are on the trams that run up and down the canyon.Look how strong I am!You can't really tell from the picture, but this pool was the most amazing shade of green!

Again, you can't really tell, but I have a blister the size of a nickle on my pinky toe. (Please excuse the gross feet!)Ned, stealing the last bite of bumbleberry pie. If you've never had some, do it! It's amazing! I don't even really like pie and I love it.As we left, it started to sprinkle and there was a lovely rainbow.

We had a great time! It was just what we needed to round out the summer before this nasty cold weather hit.

2008-09-28T16:34:00.004-06:00

Last time we went over to Lori's, Carter came up to me and asked me if I had a baby in my tummy. I made my stomach as flat as possible and asked him if it looked like there was a baby in there. He said, "No, but are there some up there (pointing to my breasts)?" I said, "No, that's just my chest. Doesn't your mommy have that too?" He said, "No."