May... recapped...

Disclaimer: this will be a lengthy post (however, there will be pictures to accompany the writing so I'll try to make it brief)

Well, I know you all think I'm THE most unreliable blogger...but to be honest... I'm doing the best I can....to say the least...

So, where have I been, you ask? Well, the month of May has been a busy one...

-I'm down to only having 6 classes left in school before I start student teaching (hale-frickin-leuia)...

-At work I finished mentoring a group of new trainees...

-Did exactly what the President wanted and used our Economic Stimulous check to boost the economy by (finally) buying a phasing camera- Nikon D60 LOVE IT!! We are so selfless...haha

-We started a registry (#54058881) at Babies R' Us for our little girl on the way...yes, I said we started (we only got through the basics before I was too tired and back-achy to continue (more will be added soon)...

-Got together with friends to play games and to bbq (Blake is becoming quite the bbq-er)...always a good time...

-I threw my back out on Mother's Day (a lovely gift for myself)...

...And had an amazing/tiring/sick-filled vacation...

So the whole Kimball family took a cruise from May 17th-24th (courtesy of Blake's parents for Christmas 2007) to the Caribbean on the largest cruise ship in the world to date... Here's what we did...

We loved cruising...

Our nephew Parker seemed to be getting phased too...

Went to family disco (Blake loved watching his short arms bob on the dance floor camera)...

We played miniature golf...

We wrestled (WWF style) in the boxing ring...

Played around in the rolly polly kiddie chairs on deck...

We watched some pretty descent cruise shows (isn't this curtain just beautiful!)...



Our first port we stopped off on Royal Caribbean's private spot in Labadee, Haiti...

and got harrassed by the locals in the market to buy random wood carvings, imported clothes and random whohaws and whatnots... I have a hard time with this because I HATE bargaining, plus many of those things I would never actually put in my house (I would rather just give them the money to not bug me while I look)

We watched a pretty neat ice skating show (yes, on the ship there was an ice skating rink)...

We splashed around in the H2O Zone (especially Blake and Jax) ...

Our second port we went to Montego Bay, Jamaica and took a tour of the bird sanctuary...

We learned how to make the best (virgin) pina coladas (and how to enjoy them too!)...

We were educated on the many uses of bananas...

Enjoyed the lush green vegitation and beautiful flowers...

And how to properly climb a tree for coconuts... don't try this at home!!

And after our long day in Jamaica, came back onboard the ship to enjoy some FANTASTIC onion rings and a KILLER chocolate malt from Johnny Rockets (not to mention a cheesy dance by the crew)...

We watched some lovely sunsets over the ocean...

Our third port we stopped in Grand Cayman to enjoy the beach and warm crystal clear blue water...

(yes I debated whether or not to put a swim suit picture of me where I could be easily mistaken for a whale- but alas, such is life...

We even enjoyed the formal night on the ship with spectacular food...

Our last port we stopped in Cozumel, Mexico and were greeted by a very aggressive luchador and a silver street performer with a sword (I know how much Sarah would have enjoyed that)...

We watched a man fishing with straight fishing line...

and found some interesting looking somethings in this big pit by the sea...

We even relaxed on these perfectly inclined (and beautifully painted) walls...

We were awe-inspired by the ginormity of these two cruise ships...

We had some world class servers amongst us (shout out to Andy and Jeremy)...

Witnessed some amazing moonlit nights...

And were greeted every...

single...

night...

by...

a new...

towel animal character.

This was an amazing trip to say the least. I am always impressed by cruising...but am always really excited to home too... by Thursday night I had started coughing and by Saturday when we left I felt pretty lousy. This picture sums up the last day of the cruise (I know, this is another picture I debated- however it made me laugh every time I looked at it, so I figured it might do the same for my readers- or it may scare them away (one of the two- let's hope for the first option...haha)

Our trip didn't end by coming home on Saturday though...Blake and I ended up traveling up to Savannah Georgia to Blake's old missionary stomping grounds. Another post will follow about that little jaunt.

Overall- I am proud to say that normally the average cruiser gains 1 lb a day- I got home and was happy to find out that even when I craved french fries and fruit, I only gained 2 lbs the ENTIRE vacation.... LATER!! Pretty good for being prego!! I also got a nice tan and some freckles to add to my pasty body- I'll take it though.

Bees...there are bees everywhere...at least there were.

So, Monday was quite the day....

It started off with a quiet morning grocery shopping trip to Walmart...to end having to have a bee guy come over to exterminate a swarm of bees...

Blake got strep throat this weekend (yes, it was legit, he had white crap in his throat) so we stayed home most of the time. Saturday he got antibiotics from the Minute Clinic at CVS pharmacy (I would highly recommend this option over going to an urgent care...much cheaper and quicker- we payed $15 + cost of medicine and literally walked right in to see the physician).

By Monday morning he was feeling much better but decided to take the day off in case he was still contagious. After we had gotten home from grocery shopping Blake said there was a bee trapped in the garage- so I went out a corralled it out of the garage. I didn't even know that by the time I went to work at noon- what I thought were rocks kicked up on the driveway were actually about 50 dead bees. Blake noticed later in the afternoon- so I investigated once I got home from work.

So here's what we discovered...a whole SWARM of bees right under the ledge of the roof...

Look a little closer...

BBBBBBBZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

So, once the exterminator came over on Tuesday morning, Blake gave me a play by play (in his car a few houses down) of the beekeeper scaling a ladder two stories up, spraying this stuff on the hive, then bees falling down onto the roof and driveway like clumps of dirt. That had to have looked weird. Here was the after-affect of the spray...the beekeeper literally sweeping up clumps of dead bees.

It just looks like a bee massacre out there. Normally wouldn't feel bad about killing insects, but my dad used to be a beekeeper in his spare time when I was a kid, and I loved having our own fresh honey and homemade honey butter. If I had the option I would've had them moved...because they weren't hurting anybody- they just wanted a new home. I have always been hospitable... too bad I just didn't have many options here. Luckily they weren't killer bees...that would have changed my mind for sure. I've never been stung by a bee, so I don't dislike them- plus after watching "BEE MOVIE" I became much more informed about why we need them around... any bee haters out there?

Na Na Na Na....

Na Na Na Na....Hey Hey Hey...good FRICKIN bye!!!

I'm just glad I don't have to spend one more week looking at that STUPID stance on stage. I'm not trying to be weak...but frickin country singer wannabe was WEAK...I can't even believe she lasted longer than Michael Johns...he was WAY harder than her. Don't even get me started about the UN-originality of the OTHER Cook....I'll save that for future blogs.

A weekend wedding/anniversary/birthday getaway...

So Blake's good friend from high school/bands- Dave and Pamela got married in Vegas this past weekend so we got to take a weekend to enjoy time away from home with friends...

We got to take a few nice pictures (since it was also our 5 YEAR Anniversary)...

The bride, groom and groomsmen...
The girls enjoying the Wedding Salon at the Wynn HotelBlake and I at the beautiful Pilazzo Hotel








The gang kicking it over the strip...can you tell it was sunny?

Sunday was Blake's 27th birthday and he loved the Apple TV we got for him!He also loved the texas sheet cake his lovely mom made for him!!

We just had a fantastic weekend. Once Blake and I were on our own on Saturday in Vegas- our extra night stay was semi catastrophic...but hey, those are memories just the same. Memories I don't even want to bring up on my blog. All-in-all we had a great time!

Rolly polly baby...

So I am officially half way through pregnancy!! Holy crap- time flies...and yet I feel like I've been pregnant FOREVER!! I know everyone says to just love these times and relish the quiet while I still can...but I am just getting so excited!!

The coolest thing (to date) besides seeing our little girl on ultrasound was on Monday night when she did a nice swift kick right in my bladder- it wasn't just a gentle stretch, it was a "mom...are you feeling this...I know you didn't know it was me moving, but this is what it feels like!!" I felt her from the outside and luckily Blake was sitting right next to me so he got to feel her first movements too! It was so tender.

I know being pregnant is hard (for me) from the nausea, to the heartburn, to waking up at least once (if not twice) in the night to pee, then having to pee at least 10 times during my work day, then having a sore back and can't get comfortable when sitting for long periods of time... but I'm just grateful I haven't thrown up (knock on wood), had any weird medical issues, or gotten cankles (yet).

Pregnancy truly is a miracle. It amazes me everyday that millions of women go through this each year- and this is the Lord's plan. Amazing.

Finally...

DINNER PARTY9/8c TV-PG04.10.2008
GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER - Pam (Jenna Fischer) and Jim (John Krasinski) find they have run out of excuses and are forced to go to Jan (Melora Hardin) and Michael's (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) house for dinner. When Andy (Ed Helms) and Angela (Angela Kinsey) are also invited to dinner, Dwight's (Rainn Wilson) jealousy gets the best of him. Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Paul Lieberstein, Mindy Kaling and Creed Bratton also star.

And we're having....

A girl!!!



I know, surprising! I think it's so crazy that we will be having a girl first! When we first starting trying to start a family years ago I wanted a boy first (as I had an oldest brother) and Blake wanted a girl first (as he had a oldest sister). We just wanted what we were familiar with! When we actually found out we were pregnant I think we switched roles wanting the other gender. I am SO not a girly girl, so I was kind of surprised at my excitement for a girl first. I just felt like I was having a girl. Plus my little 4-yr old neice Camille, who was lovingly saying prayers for me to get pregnant, called the shots- she said I was having a girl. I do believe we don't give kids credit for their own closeness to the spirit sometimes. I just have to question this because she also said I was going to have 5 girls, but only one would be coming out of my tummy this time!!! Oh my gosh. Heaven help me!!! FIVE??? Really??? I don't remember signing up for 5!!! I was really thinking I'd max out at 3 or 4 kids- let alone ONLY GIRLS!! I really hope she said that as she really only knows girls since she has a sister and a girl cousin.



We all know I'm a pretty emotional girl- yes, I cry watching pretty much every movie I see... yes, "Bambi" is included in that. I can find just about anything to cry about. Luckily I have a husband who can (lovingly) make fun of me when I cry in movies that are ridiculous and shouldn't be cried over. Luckily, being pregnant hasn't had a more adverse affect on my emotions...I'm less emotional, with most things. Now I just get mad, instead of crying... luckily that goes away pretty quickly.



PS- now that we know we are having a girl I told Blake we would actually start discussing baby names and picking out nursery colors and such. Pink- will NOT be a main color in my nursery... just in case any of you feel like getting crafty or whatnot. I know I didn't have to tell you that since most of you know me better than that...I just wanted to get that out there early on.



Just for the record...the baby is doing great (the doctor pointed out)! All healthy, 10 fingers, 10 toes. We just are so grateful for this beautiful blessing in our lives...I can't begin to say that enough! We just know what a divine child this one is...truly a miracle!



Oh- the ultrasound pics weren't very good this time, but they did get a video of the baby with hiccups...about 5 minutes later she passed them on to me...that was pretty weird to experience!

Realizations...

I have come to the realization that pregnancy has changed me...you say...well of course it has- your gut is bulging and heaven's knows what is happening to your backside!!

To be honest... that isn't my realization. These are...

1) I have become more funny (or maybe it's just that I am being more honest). In saying that, it just seems like people are laughing more at what I say. I take that as "I really am being more funny, and not that they are laughing out of sheer embarrassment for my brutal honesty...or just plain inappropriate words". One of the two. Blake thinks I should go do stand up with Clay...that's a little far fetched- honestly. Either way, the world is a happier place with honesty.

2) I have been given an immense gift of olfactory senses...it has been borderline ridiculous. Smells are killing me. In dealing with realization #1 (brutal honesty), I do feel bad that Blake has been getting the brunt of realization #2 (can't stand bad breath and stinky toots). As I have publicly called him out on that, I apologize- just know that I love him DEARLY- even when I have to evacuate the house for minutes at a time. He is a man, for heaven's sake.

3) I have become more of a procrastinator than ever. I can't seem to get my motivation on track. All I think about is LOST, American Idol, and my desire to cease having dreams about bloodshed- in the most violent of ways. School has been kicking my butt and it is all up hill from here. Just yesterday I had a paper to write- finished it at 5:30pm when I had to be to class at 6. I can't focus on writing a blog entry or even starting book club books. I am ridiculous.

4) The other day in the car I (lovingly) commented (shouted) at a driver who almost ran my car over...then as I'm sitting there just fuming I realized #1- my baby just heard every last word I said #2- my baby doesn't understand words yet, so I'm off the hook #3- my baby understands sound and tone of voice- I am no longer in the clear- I have just let myself and my baby down. I know we don't become perfect parents over night... but that was just plain ugly behavior. I wanted to cry, but then also realized #5.

5) I have become LESS emotional since being pregnant. Is that a medical miracle or something?

6) I always had a really bad memory- but now I have (what I call, and evidentally others too) pregnancy brain. "Pregnancy brain is a condition that affects expectant mothers, usually during the first and third trimesters. Sometimes known as placenta brain or baby brain drain, the condition is usually characterized by short-term memory loss or forgetfulness. Some medical experts say that pregnancy brain is a myth, but evidence shows that many women have experienced this condition". (www.wisegeek.com) I trust this geek. My vocabulary has digressed and I forget the simplest of things. I am still ridiculous.

Have you made any realizations about me that I am looking over?

Baby Kimball Pics

So, Monday we had our first ultrasound...wow, so awesome!! Technology just really amazes me. Baby was very photogenic and even did a little dance for us.

Baby Kimball at 13 weeks old- and about 3 inches long!

This is the pic the ultrasound tec said if she were a betting woman, we were having a boy...no painting any rooms or buying boy stuff just yet though! We'll have our next ultrasound on March 31 that we will know the gender for sure!

Here is baby Kimball just stretchin out!

It was such a neat experience for us...even Blake kept saying "Isn't our baby cute?" I totally agree. I love baby Kimball!!

What you've all been waiting for...

I know you've been wondering "where is that witty and totally funny Mandy?" well, no need to keep you all wondering...yes, I'm pregnant! I'm about 12 weeks now and just surviving. It's been a rough last month but I'm just extremely grateful just to be pregnant. I know that timing is just the way it's supposed to be.



Blake and I have been "trying" to get pregnant for almost 3 yrs now so this is a wonderful surprise. We had been seeing a fertility specialist since October and were supposed to start doing artificial insemination at the end of December. However, we (unknowingly) conceived at the beginning of December so it was wonderful to find out we didn't have to go that route.


It really explained a lot when going to Colorado for Christmas, feeling nauseated the entire time, then waking up every night to pee. I knew something was different over the holidays, but didn't actually find out what that was until New Years Eve...what a fantastic present for the new year!!



So, this has been me a lot lately. Tired, nauseated...yeah that's me. Falling asleep at the drop of a hat...anywhere I find a soft surface. It's taking a real toll on my back. Stiff....ouch. I goes through days of complete and utter exhaustion- hense no posts and no comments on your lovely blogs. "They" say that "usually" the feeling crappy goes away after the first trimester, AKA right now, so hopefully I will be feeling more up to blogging, commenting, and don't forget- work and school full time. Thank you for being my friend...even if I've been a crappy one lately. I promise, I'll make it up to you.

Your vote...

So I'm usually a pretty patient person...oh wait, that is how I wish I was, nevermind. So, this single guy that lives across the way from Blake and I has (on multiple occasions) come over and (embarrassingly) asked to borrow 1) our vacuum (since girls are coming over) and 2) our toilet plunger. Where do I even begin with this? Isn't that supposed to be an unmentionable? I mean, really... what guy would rather have a married woman imagining him fishing a gigantic pooh out of the toilet rather than just driving 2 minutes to Walmart to spend $3 on a plunger? So, where is this all leading, you ask?

Well, since he and his roommates moved in around October, I have heard this guys car alarm go off at least twice each night. How does that happen? How do you as a car owner, not understand how annoying that must be for other people? Nevermind, he is the same guy that would borrow a plunger from a married woman than buy one himself. Sheesh. What is even more funny is that if you touched the car from the outside the alarm wouldn't go off, but if no one is around it just goes off all by itself. I am really tempted to write a note and put it on the car that says "Please turn the sensitivity of your alarm down, since it obviously goes off for no reason". Or maybe it could just say "Dear Neighbor: Your car alarm goes off an awful lot. Anything you can do about that?" Please cast your vote...is that too harsh/not harsh enough?

Resolutions...

I've always had a problem with resolutions since I aim for the moon and don't even get close to the stars. The very first Sunday of the year I listened to a great lesson about making goals and I really think this is a good year to start. First things first...write them down.

My top 8 for 2008

1. Read my scriptures. period...no and, ifs, or buts about it.
2. Say morning prayers...I just have a hard time with this one- nightly prayers=no problem.
3. Clean my house little by little each week so I don't get overwhelmed one day trying to do it all.
4. Not jump to conclusions before hearing a response.
5. Listen better (in general)
6. Walk 3 days a week for 30 minutes... ( I have to start somewhere right?)
7. Tell people I appreciate them more...I don't thank people nearly enough!
8. Don't criticize self or others for imperfections.

That's my list and I'm sticking to it. At least most of it- I hope....maybe I should've put "Be more positive".

Happy New Yiz... '08 style.

The start of our New Yiz party '08!!

Who came: The Reeds, The Rogers, The Dentons, The Grants, Chelsea and some single dudes, Jonny Hajax and Rajiv (after midnight).

My friends are so dramatic. Kaylo enjoying her human blanket E-man.
Schmilies looks like a cute little turtle.
How creepy are we in 2008!
All in moderation....Martinelli's that is.
Little m stayed up longer than the Reeds. I think they played the "tired" card so they could go get booty at midnight. Same goes with the Grants. The Rogers look so cute.And the night rests. Goodnight moon.