Going Home

We decided to use the full amount of hospital days insurance allowed and stayed until Tuesday. That morning we packed up and loaded our stuff, did all of the necessary training/paperwork/etc. and got our lil' man (still nameless) ready to go. 

Picture overload of the process:

It's amazing to look at these pictures and see how much our boy has grown! He certainly doesn't fit in those clothes anymore and he's practically spilling out of his carseat now. He's getting too big too fast! Makes me want to have another one soon just to experience all that littleness again. :) God designed it this way on purpose so women forget about labor and delivery and just think about wanting another sweet tiny baby. He's smart, God. 

September 2014

Baby shower was September 4. So I guess that should be included in this post. But me and my pregnant brain included it in August. Whatever. 

Partied it up in Henderson with this cute thing for her 4th birthday.

I flew back to Rexburg from Las Vegas by myself. A one hour plane ride for $38 sounded so much more pleasant than a 10+ hour car ride. This also left David free to stay in Panaca and hunt longer. He drove back on Saturday up the 93. The I-15 was closed off due to flooding that literally took the road away in Logandale, NV.  I would write more about that craziness, but it's getting late. Suffice it say, Panaca- little, old, little, little Panaca- became a boom town for a while as traffic was diverted up to and through it's Main Street. bumper to bumper for days. Days is not an exaggeration.

The week that I was home by my lonesome, I ate some really yummy food. And took pictures of it, because what else do you do when you're home alone? I would go out each night and pick a few things from the garden to add to my dinner plate. It was heavenly. And delicious.

Zucchini crust pizza. (Actually I think this one was back in August. Whatever. It was dang yummy)

Chicken with zucchini  and peppers saute.

Bread. Nom.

Cucumber, onion, pepper, and tomato salad. 

And then Wednesday night, the 10th, a nasty frost rolled through. The temperature dropped to 25 degrees that night. I knew a frost was coming through, so I went out late that evening and threw a "water blanket" down hoping that would be enough. Um no. Not for 25 degrees! I was 8 months pregnant and didn't want to lay down row covers by myself. I should have. My two rows of tomatoes with fat green and ripening tomatoes, my pumpkin patch, corn, peppers, everything- gone! It was very sad. But now I guess it's kind of a blessing because I would be spending a lot of time right now/ the past few weeks harvesting and preserving things from the garden instead of working on school stuff. And I definitely have more than enough school assignments to be working on and knocking out before baby comes. Blessings in disguise? I'm glad I enjoyed my garden this year while it lasted, I just wish I could have got more out of it and saved from it. Oh well. Se la vie.

School started September 15, and things have been crazy and nonstop busy ever since. 

David's classes: range management, ecology, biostatistics, doctrine and covenants

Giulia's classes: deciduous i.d., interioscaping, pest management, practicum (running the horticulture business for the semester)

A few nights before school started we checked our schedules again. We signed up for classes way back in May so we thought we should reacquaint ourselves with our classes. We had everything lined up perfectly and we didn't have class at the same time for when baby comes. But as we were reviewing everything I noticed that there was an hour in the mornings that overlapped. I asked David about it, and he said I was crazy because that class of his wasn't until 10:15. Turns out, the class he was signed up for... the teacher left. The school assigned a new teacher and a different class time and didn't care to let anybody know. Kind of frustrating. So we both have a class from 7:45-8:45. My class doesn't get out until 10. Luckily, it's a first block class and will be over on October 29. Hopefully we'll have David's mother here still to help us with the little one until then and get us through October. 

A few days into the semester I was informed that the evergreen i.d. class that runs the second block, which I was signed up for, has a week-long field trip to Arizona. I'm going to have a weeks old baby when that rolls around. I can't go on a week long field trip. Why is this information not posted on the course requirements/ course description when registering for classes!? Argh! 

I dropped that class and replaced it with interioscaping for the second block. The class was full but I went and talked to the teacher and he added me anyway. :) [I'm grateful I've taken the time the last year to get to know my professors and make sure they know who I am. This is done by: 1- I'm a good student. 2- I typically make 1-2 or more visits during their office hours to ask questions so they know me outside of class. Those of you new to the college game- take the time to know your professors] Unfortunately, this class is from 11:30-1:30 (...I think...) And David also has class from 11:30-12:30. So we'll need to find someone to watch our lil' man cub for us during that hour. Ugh! Not what we wanted and we worked so hard to avoid this. We just keep telling ourselves that everything will work out! It will all work out. 

This month we also took a childbirth education class. I'm so glad we did. I feel like both David and I are on the same page now about what will happen during labor and we are better prepared to be a great labor and birth team. We got this!

September has quickly moved into October. Baby will be here in no time. Parenthood here we come!

Internship!

April 14- June 14 I was in Downey, Idaho (south of Pocatello) completing my internship. I worked at Brady's Plant Ranch Monday-Saturday from 9am-6pm. I stayed with my sweet Uncle Klain and Aunt Elaine in Arimo. We couldn't find a job for David down there so we decided that he would stay in Rexburg and keep house, keep his campus job, maintain the yard, work on his online classes. I would come home Saturday night and head back down early Monday morning. I want to say it was a long 9 weeks. But it went by really fast. It definitely wasn't the happiest 9 weeks of my life- working in hot greenhouses, pregnant, away from my husband and my home. But it was a good 9 weeks of learning and gaining the experience I needed and wanted in the field of horticulture. 

The horticulture department requires a 400-hour internship. I wanted to complete my internship next spring after I had more of the horticulture classes completed. In December, Brady's came to the school and gave a presentation. I really liked what they do/how they do things so I interviewed with them just to introduce myself and talk about future possibilities of working with them (like a year out).

In January I really felt like I needed to complete my internship this spring. I really didn't want to. But I kept feeling like I really should. I knew the Brady's already had a BYU-I student lined up to intern with them for the spring and so I was scratching my head wondering what I could do and where I could complete my internship that was relatively close to home. I felt like I needed to contact the Brady's again. But they already had an intern lined up. But if I was going to do this I really wanted to get my hours in at Brady's. I was frustrated and confused. And not feeling well, ever. (Pregnant and didn't know!)

One day while working in the drafting design lab, I overhead the girl that was going to intern at Brady's say that it just wasn't going to work out, blah, blah, blah. I found my in. I contacted Brady's that night asking if they would be willing to take me and all my inexperience on. Seeing that they suddenly had an open spot, they said sure! Heavenly choirs singing! 

I still didn't know why I was doing this so soon, but I got it all set up. A few weeks later of still never feeling good, I peed on a stick and was shocked to see two pink lines (mid February). Beginning of March we went in for the doctor appointment and sure enough I was pregnant. Click, click, click- that's why I'd been feeling nasty all the time, that's why I felt like I should set up my internship for this spring instead of next, that's why I gathered my courage and asked Brady's to hire someone with no greenhouse experience. Don't you just love it when things work out? 

After getting the doctor's confirmation that there was a little person growing in my tummy, I told my mom....and then I called Karen Brady and told her the situation and if they would still be willing to hire me. She said yes and I was so relieved. She told me that when I contacted them about doing my internship this year instead of later she figured that I was pregnant and needed to get my internship done now. It's a lot easier to do that when a little person is inside of you instead of running outside of you- her words, not mine. We had a nice conversation about when we are listening the Lord will lead us down the road we wouldn't have chose for ourselves but the road we need to be on, even when we don't understand why. Could I have found better employers? I think not. 

I'm working on my final report right now and should be ready to submit it to my adviser soon. I'm so glad that I have my internship done and I can just focus on school, especially with little boy on the way. I will graduate before I die dangit! And having the internship part completed makes this goal much more attainable. :)

Brady's Plant Ranch is the largest greenhouse grower in southeast Idaho. They have 11 greenhouses. The growing houses open up in March as they get production started. When retail opens in April and the stock in the growing houses empty into retail, the ground in the growing houses is tilled and planted. The retail house shuts down at the end of June and Brady Market Days begin every Friday. They sell all the produce from the garden and growing houses- tomatoes, onions, peppers, corn, raspberries.... In the fall/winter they shut the houses down and let mother nature do her job of eliminating pests and diseases. They bring hogs in to winter in the greenhouses. The hogs snout and root and tear up and eat the plants/stalks. And then they house chickens to fertilize the soil. How cool of a cycle is that? They also have a floral shop as well as raise grass-fed/finished beef. You should stop in if you're passing by this summer! You can see the greenhouses from the interstate, to the east just north of exit 36 on the I-15.

And now a few pictures of my time at Brady's Plant Ranch:

Stocked, watered, dead-headed, maintained retail:

1- Floral arrangement for Ashley's birthday! I was able to do a few other cut flower arrangements as well. I'm so glad I took the floral design class! 2-Kitten in a tomato tree. 3 & 4- Custom plantings (two of many)

Top- planted hanging basket recipes- about 3,000! Bottom left- lots of pruning, pinching, dead-heading. Bottom right- filling lots of trays, pots, buckets, and baskets with soil. I went through the soil bin, which holds about a 1/2 ton of soil, about 4 times in my first two weeks alone. I can shovel some dirt seriously fast now.

Seeded and transplanted lots of things. Here is one set that I kind of kept track of. I seeded these tomatoes. Top- seeded trays in the germination chamber. Bottom left- I didn't kill them! Bottom right- transplanted into 1202 packs. 

When I'm done with my report maybe I'll put it up here with better pictures, more details of how I spent my time. But then again, maybe not. We'll see. This at least gives you a taste. :)

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

As part of the university's required course work, all students must take FDREL 200- Family Foundations. We have spent the entire semester studying a document that was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995. It is titled, "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." I believe these words to be prophetic, and the counsel found therein to be critical to be able to raise a family in an increasingly amoral world. We had the opportunity to memorize and recite this proclamation as part of our final exam, 9 paragraphs total. I passed this off in November and have thought about making a video recording myself reciting the proclamation in its entirety, but I really hate hearing myself on video, so I decided to just type it out from memory instead. The more places this document can be found on the world-wide internets the better! So, here we go:

Started typing at 12:02 p.m. with freezing cold fingers.

WE the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

ALL human beings- male and female, are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents and as such, each has a divine destiny and nature. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

IN the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred covenants and ordinances available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God, and for families to be united eternally.

THE first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

WE declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives- mothers and fathers- will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

THE family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, father and mothers are obligated to help one other as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

WE warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities, will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations that calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

WE call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

Finished typing at 12:13 p.m. with still frozen fingers. Why is it so cold in this classroom????
There might be a few errors or punctuation differences, but the bulk of it is up there. I was kind of intimidated at the beginning of the semester upon seeing in the syllabus that we had to memorize all of that. But I took it a paragraph at a time- carrying around note cards all semester and working on it whenever I had a few minutes. Breaking it up in small chunks made it seem less daunting and in a matter of two short months I had the whole memorized without being overwhelmed or staying up late reciting it over and over.

I think my family is really cool. Each of my parent's awesome children have turned out to be responsible, independent, hard-working, contributing members of society. I attribute the success and happiness of our family to my parents and their adherence to the teachings found in this document.

{Hairy Thursday}

no tutorial today. sorry! 

but really, a braiding series is in the works. 

For today's {Hairy Thursday}, I need to make a public vow to never wear my hair down for a wedding EVER AGAIN! 

The pictures always are outside, and it seems to always be windy. And my hair and face always look ridiculous. For example:

I look much better here sans make-up and not yet having touched my hair.

And then I always end up pulling my hair back in whatever possible way given however many resources I have (i.e. bobby pins and elastics)

I must admit that this is not the first time I've set myself up for the heat and wind to shed light on my ridiculousness on special days. Let us look to the past for pictorial proof:


 

Brianna's Wedding:

See me? In the back? With my hair blowing in my face!?

Between the temple and reception venue I pulled away the hairs that were stuck to my lips and eyelashes (and also grabbed a date (a handsome and charming one to boot!)

Dia's Wedding:

holding back the hair

out of the way and wrapped in a braid for the even windier, but absolutely lovely,  reception!

Paige's wedding!

shortness of hair! I got out of the shower and hopped in the car the morning of this Idaho wedding where I was subsequently wedged in the back seat between Regan (pictured above) my mom, ...and someone else. So, hair air dried on the drive (which you can't really pull off very well with short hair) and when we got to the temple I ran inside [wearing sweats], changed into "nice" clothes and put a braid in to hold back the bangs. ay yi yi yi yi!

Breezy's Wedding!!! Although this was a rather windy day, I don't look quite as ridiculous as I feel.

Erin's wedding:  I don't feel too ridiculous; however, the sunshine on my blonde hair is making me look like I have a sweet bald patch. Awesome.

At least for these two I got it right:

Keith and Keri wedding '08: a quick french twist

Daniel and Tricia wedding '09: hair done in the car on the way to the reception. while driving, just kidding.

Concluding thoughts:

1- That's a lot of wedding in two years! Wowza!

2- I now remember why I try to avoid pulling my hair up or to the side for wedding days. I feel like the bride will have a similar hair do and I don't want to step on her turf and have the same hair did!

3-So, sisters/friends/brides, are you happy? I allowed myself to look ridiculous so that I didn't risk copy-catting your hair! 

4- Luckily for Courtney's wedding I remembered that I never fair well with wedding pictures if my hair is down. Alas, I have no picture to prove that [yet]. 

5- I am tired and writing in a silly manner.
6- I'm on Facebook a lot more often now [the last week or so ish], and it's strange. I'm hardly ever on there! I don't know what happened to me. 
good night.