Vent sesh

Today was an alright day. I had a baby doctor appointment that went well, but short. I'm 134 pounds and am measuring at a 34. Not too shabby. Only 8 more weeks to go! Crazy it's so close.. yet so far. Baby C is breech (as he has been the entire pregnancy).
So... has anyone ever just had a restless feeling like something is wrong or off? Something needs to change but you just have no idea what? Yeah, well.. that's been the feeling I have been having for the last couple weeks.. and more and more as time goes on. I still need to get this intuition thing down.. I think I have it.. I just have NO idea what it means.
So, I've been stressed out with trying to figure out what the heck is going on. I know that I feel like we need to move out of the condo that we are in.. but we have no where to go. Part of me wants to leave and move elsewhere (as in out of state), but now that we are making friends and such, it's harder for me to toy with that idea. I do like it here for the most part, but I like our friends even better. What is frustrating is that the places we are looking at have to meet about a million and a half criteria.. so I don't think that we are going to find ANYTHING that fits our budget/ demands apparently. That's been hard for me-- having the feeling like we should move, and not being able to. There are so many things to consider. Ugh. Things like this make it not so fun to be an adult.
I have had so many impulsive wants lately! Like my latest one is that I want to take this 14-week dental assisting program. Eventually, I want to get my dental hygiene degree, but I figured doing something like that can give me a head start into a career and a good foundation of knowledge going into dental hygiene. The next one here in Willamette Valley starts Feb 5th. It's every Saturday for 14 weeks.. all day I believe. I'm going back and forth about doing that to myself. Do I want to take on that on top of everything else? (I'm thinking I might not work if I decide to do that)... Do I take the risk of doing it, and having my baby 4 or 5 weeks before the program is over? Do you think I could finish it off even after childbirth? I need help! That way, I could have a 'real' job when/ if I decide to go back to work once my big gummybear is born. Suggestions? Comments?
School is going okay. It's getting harder and harder for me to keep up and stay awake while doing homework/ readings. My grades are still up- lets hope that stays like that for the next 2 months!
I am getting stressed with the baby on it's way so soon. I have nothing! What if he comes early (okay, okay, I wouldn't really complain that much if he did). Oh well. Everything will fall into place, I guess.

I'm grateful for my new friends. Phill and I went over to Kristen and Cameron's house for dinner on Saturday night and ended up staying until 2am! It was great fun.
Does anyone have a money tree I can plant?
I would really appreciate cookies. Phill ate all of mine :P
can I just stay in my maternity yoga pants and Phill's sweat pants for the next three months? That would be AWESOME.
Baby C is currently thinking it's awesome to use my ribs as rattle or chew toys.
Oakley is as cute as ever and is learning to be rebellious. Takes after her dad--Phill :P
Sudoku is still my other obsession.
I want to be crafty and make something.
I want to take a week or something and full on just watch movies and do nothing. How wonderful would that be?!
I remember when I used to have pigment to my skin.. now, I'm so see white.. I can pretty much glow in the dark... it makes me excited for summer to come.
Phill and I have been trying to figure out if our boy is going to have blonde hair or dark hair.
I have come to love country music.
I'm excited for Kristen to teach me how to knit. I feel so dorky saying that :)

Well.. I'm off to graze in a field somewhere...

jibber jabber

Things are going well, and I really don't have much to complain about.. Today I got to go to this new gym with my friend Krystal and I got my butt kicked with weights. It was awesome. I've never been much of a weight lifter at all.. which is probably why I've never been super strong or toned.. but I'm happy to get into it. I'm super sore, but it feels great! I do miss running.. but I just keep telling myself that time will go by faster than I think it will, and that I'll be running in no time. It's all worth it.
I'm getting bigger by the day, I feel like.. but not really. My belly grew kinda fast and then just stopped. I look at pictures of other girls at 31 weeks and they can balance bowls or cups on their tummies. I can't do that yet! I'm not sure whether to be thankful for that, or worried or kinda sad that I'm not in with the 'cool balancing' crowd.
I'm exhausted all the time, but what's new. I don't really sleep well, because I can never get into a super comfortable position. I've always been a belly sleeper.. and to not be able to do that has been a challenge. Occasionally Phill will create a little bed for me that has a hole in the stomach part so I can lay on my stomach.. I sleep best like that. It's great. Thanks, hunny.
It's getting hard for me to stand for long periods of time now. My back feels strained all the time. It's not used to having so much weight right on my stomach! I try to stand up with good posture and that helps temporarily, but I just get so tense that I get massive migraines that lasts for days. I've been looking into prenatal massages to give my poor back some lovin'. Does anyone know of a cheap place that will do it? OR anyone going to massage school that needs someone to practice on? ;)
School is going well. I'm starting to get in the hang of balancing everything going on. I am getting A's in all of my classes so far.. but then again it's only a month into the semester... Hopefully the rest of the semester will stay that way!
I feel very blessed lately for everything I have. I have been blessed with a lot in my life, and I tend to take it for granted. I have an amazing family. I couldn't have asked for a better one. I have amazing friends. I have a wonderful husband that works really hard for us and continues to grow, and I grow with him. I have a son that I have such an immense love for already I can't even begin to explain. I have a car that runs and gets me from point A to point B whenever I need it to. I have a place to call home.. and a nice one at that, that I don't deserve nor need. I have a body that allows me to do what I want (for the most part). I have my health. I have a cute pup that never ceases to entertain me with her goofiness. I have the Gospel in my life. I have the Lord that has never let me down or left my side even when I have left His. I have the means to get an education and learn more about the wonders of this world and develop my talents (which are...?). Need I go on? This life has dealt me some good cards, and I think it's time for me to be thankful about it and recognize it.
I am stressed, and wish that I wasn't. My mind is full of jibber jabber that competes with each other constantly! Mmm.. that post is for another day and time.. or maybe just for myself.

I'm so sore that it's hurting a little to type. How pathetic.
Phill and I ate garlic jim's pizza tonight and it was delicious. that takes care of that craving!
I look forward to watching Phill squirm in birthing classes.
I had a dream the other night that we lived in New Zealand. I wish Salem was more like that!
Waking up for 8:30 church on time is not working out for me.
...or waking up for really anything before noon, really.
I have lost all want to read books since my psych and child development class has me reading 300 million pages a night.
I'm tired.. I think I'll retire for the night.. and the rest of the weekend... and then maybe for the next 3 months. Hibernation.. here I come.

chocolate.

Yup. You guessed it. All I can think about is chocolate, ice cream and sweets. Why?! During the majority of my pregnancy I really haven't had much of a sweet tooth... in fact, I just wanted sandwiches, cereal, milk, cucumbers and cheese. But now.. not so much.
I must resist.
This week has been a really good one. I haven't worked really at all, which has been splendid. On Monday Phill and I went to my doctors appointment. I tried talking Dalisky into doing and ultrasound, but he refused my simple request. How rude.
After my appointment, Phill knew how much I was wanting to go to the snow and play in it, so he took me up in the cascades to play! It was a blast. We brought Oakley with us and she loved the snow. She would run as fast as she could, while trying to bite at and eat the snow. It was funny to watch. Unfortunately, the snow wasn't good packing snow, so we weren't able to build a snowman or anything. Instead, Phill let me drive the jeep, and we offroaded a bit.. slipping and sliding, and getting out to shoot our AK-47 and let Oakley run around in the snow.
But don't worry.. the fun doesn't end there. The Ducks were playing in the BCS game, so we went and joined Renae and Caleb at The Coombs' house. We enjoyed yummy junk food while watching the game. I was rooting for the ducks to win, but I'm glad they didn't. It meant I didn't have to work on Tuesday, so it gave me time to do homework and really focus on my studies.
So, that night.. around midnight we decide it's time to go home. hmmm.. Since we had such a good day, of course something had to go wrong. We go out to the jeep.. and uh-oh. Where are the keys? Good job, Alise.. you misplaced them! i spent a good 45 minutes searching the house and jeep and the outside for them.. and the WHOLE time they were in my coat pocket. Retard.
Then Phill goes.. oh no, Alise... I think they battery is dead. Yup. I had forgotten to turn off the lights on the jeep and had drained the battery dry. The batter is 6 years old.. so there was no recovering that baby. We then had to go find the key to my in-law's spare truck and drive home in that.... there was barely any gas in it, so we were hoping and praying we got home without it breaking down.
Sheesh.
What a day.
The next day, we bought a new battery, switched it out, and returned the truck. Phew. Now I'm paranoid about the lights, and check them every time I get out of the car.
Let's see.. Tuesday and Wednesday were just spent doing homework and being productive. Let me tell you... taking 14 credits online is NOT easy.. on top of a 4 credit math class at the community college here in Salem. I feel like my work load is never ending..
Thursday I went back to work..unfortunately.. it wasn't too bad, but it was a short shift. We'll see how I do Friday and Saturday. Can I just tell you how I'm excited to perhaps never work in retail again?
I'm excited for this weekend. We were invited over to my visting teaching companion's house for dinner on Sunday, and we are having my visiting teacher and her hubby over for dinner on Monday. Who would have thought that Phill and I would be social butterflies? Well, Phill.... Anyways, I can't even express how excited I am to make some Mormon friends. I miss it. I'm used to most of my friends being members.

I am officially in my third trimester now, and at 29 weeks. The next 11 weeks can't come soon enough. I sleep, eat and breathe for this baby! He's all I think about now- especially with him constantly moving and kicking my organs and ribs.. and now that I have been introduced to Braxton-Hicks contractions. Usually they don't bother me, but sometimes they are really, really uncomfortable.
Now that we have finally chosen a name for our little boy, I can't wait for him to pop out! I keep trying to imagine what it's going to be like being a mother... and I can't quite wrap my little brain around it. All I know is how much of a blessing it's going to be.. and a challenge. But I can't wait.

I want to run again. Today, phill and I ran for like 1 minute with Oakley while we were going up to Renae and Caleb's to borrow a movie... I thought my stomach was going to rip off. Ouchie. What does that mean? Are my ligaments not strong enough? In any case, I am excited to find a jogging stroller and enjoy one of the activites I love most with outside and my baby. ahhhh, bliss.
I've decided to not care about weight gain during this pregnancy. I'm gonna get swollen and bloated and bigger anyways... so might as well enjoy the journey with some yummy treats I wouldn't normally indulge in while I have an excuse. :)

I'm obsessed with the new Taylor Swift CD. It's fantastic.
My math teacher is the bomb.com- who knew that Alise could understand numbers?
I want sunshine.. or snow. No rain and clouds though.
We will miss Wendy's dog Woodrow. I hope he's running around pain-free in dog heaven now.
A prenatal massage would be nice.
The Town is an awesome movie.
So is Mexican.. I was surprisingly entertained.
I still love Sudoku.
My kitchen is clean, and I love it.



Ninja time.

Christmas and New Years

My Christmas break was absolutely perfect. I was able to take a full week off of work and my parents flew Phill and I to California. I've missed them so much and it was nice to relax and enjoy that time with them. We got to do some hiking along the beach, go to Redding for my cousin's reception, take the dogs to the dog beach, explore lovers point, enjoy the Monterey aquarium, cannery row, eat my mom's amazing cooking, sleep, etc. Christmas day was the best. We slept in and lazily started our day. We read the scriptures and watched the Luke 2 movie like we do every year. It's one of my favorite traditions. We opened presents, and had a wonderful, long conversation with my TWIN!!! He is doing so well and it was the best being able to hear his improvement in the language and spiritually as well. I'm so proud of him. That night, we played catch phrase for a couple of hours, which I think will be my new favorite game to play with my family. We found out my mom has catch phrase induced high blood pressure and my sister has catch phrase induced retardedness :)
I was really sad to leave California. I'm still having a hard time adjusting to real life. I'm having a heard time getting back into the groove of work and responsibility and not having my sisters and my mom to sit with me and watch my belly move and groove when Coombs Jr. starts partying in my stomach. I miss them.
Our new years was pretty lame, actually. We didn't do or plan anything. I was able to hang out with some of my friends, but eventually went home and watched The Town with Phill and his friend Jerry. Then we went to sleep.
2011 is going to be quite an eventful year. Our baby is due in April, and I absolutely can't wait to meet my little miracle. I will finally graduate from BYU-Idaho with my associates so I can move onto another school, unfortunately. Although I won't miss the winter weather in Idaho, I will definitely miss the people and the classes and the environment there. Maybe someday I'll get to go back.


You know, one thing that I have come to realize... is that life has no depth, excitement, real feeling, smiles, plans for the future or peace without love... Love for yourself, for others, and for the Lord. I have found that when love in my life has been lacking, happiness lacks as well.
I have lots of hope, predictions, and goals for this upcoming 2011 year. Bring it on.