I've mentioned before about my extreme love for everything Christmas, especially the music and movies. Well this weekend, as we close in on the final week before Baby Bogart's due date, I found a whole new appreciation for one of my favorite Christmas songs: Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You". If you listen to the song and pay close attention to the lyrics it makes perfect sense. See!
Click me and listen to the song! You know you want to!
I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas
Is you
I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
And I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I don't need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace
Santa Claus won't make me happy
With a toy on Christmas Day
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you
You baby
Oh I won't ask for much this Christmas
I won't even wish for snow
And I'm just gonna keep on waiting
Underneath the mistletoe
I won't make a list and send it
To the North Pole for Saint Nick
I won't even stay awake to
Hear those magic reindeer click
'Cause I just want you here tonight
Holding on to me so tight
What more can I do?
Baby all I want for Christmas is you
You baby
Oh all the lights are shining
So brightly everywhere
And the sound of children's
Laughter fills the air
And everyone is singing
I hear those sleigh bells ringing
Santa won't you bring me the one I really need?
Won't you please bring my baby to me?
Oh I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for
I just want to see my baby
Standing right outside my door
Oh I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
Baby all I want for Christmas is you
You baby
All I want for Christmas is you baby
All I want for Christmas is you baby
All I want for Christmas is you baby
See what I mean?! It's such a perfect song for me this Christmas. So perfect, in fact, that I've started blasting it multiple times a day while singing it to Brock. I'm hoping he gets the hint. But have no fear! I remind him on many occassions that I don't mean for him to take it too literally... I definitely don't need him to wait until Christmas to make his appearance. In fact, I'd prefer that he didn't. I want him to be here before so we can enjoy our first Christmas as a family of three. (Preferably not in a hospital bed with cafeteria food.)
But I guess in all actuality at this point I'm not being too picky... I'm just so ready for him to be here that I will take whatever day he picks to make his debut. Even if it does mean spending Christmas in a hospital and forever trying to make his birthday special even though he has to share it with Jesus. Although, I cannot tell a lie - I'm a pretty big fan of the "sooner rather than later" philosophy if I had any say in it.
But here comes the fun part! In an effort to keep myself mildly entertained this week as I very impatiently count down the days until this Friday when he's due to arrive, I want to start a poll of sorts. I want to know everyone's guesses for a) when Brock will actually decide to make his grand entrance and b) just how much his little (or big!) butt will weigh. I haven't decided yet if there will be any sort of prize other than just bragging rites for the winner(s), but humor this desperate pregnant lady and play along. Pretty please? Just leave a comment either here on Blogger or on Facebook with your guesses and I (in my true nerdy fashion) will start up a spreadsheet to keep track of everyone's guesses. It'll be fun, I promise!
Besides, who doesn't love a little friendly competition on a Monday morning? But make your guesses soon just in case my wishful thinking and out-of-tune singing actually entices the little man to come out in a timely fashion!
Good Luck and Happy Monday!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Lots o' Lights (Fo Free!)
I apologize cyber world for neglecting you all week... please forgive me! It's actually been a surprisingly busy week for the Bogart family. More so for Ryan than it has for me I guess since he's been busy with actual obligations and I've been busy just trying to stay busy (so I don't sit around and dwell on the fact that I'm still pregnant). I've done more cooking, some baking, a lot of Target/mall walking (even though my Christmas shopping is completely done) and I even treated myself to a pedicure, too! It's been a good relaxing and yet productive week. Ryan even took some time out of his busy schedule on Tuesday for us to go see the Bentleyville Tour of Lights.
For those of you who aren't from the Duluth area, or haven't had the pleasure of experiencing the magic of Bentleyville before, you are missing out! It's pretty much amazing. It has been held in downtown Duluth's Bayfront Festival Park for the past couple years now, but it was first started by a man named Nathan Bentley back in 2004 when he hosted the event on his own property. Now it is the largest light show in the upper Midwest with almost 3 million lights and it was voted the "Best Light Show in Minnesota". I told you.. it's pretty much amazing!
Plus, it's free! That's right - it costs nothing. It's sponsored by the Salvation Army and various businesses in the Duluth area and it's set up, staffed, and tore down completely by volunteers. And while you walk around the paths enjoying the pretty lights and views of Duluth you can sip a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, munch on some cookies or popcorn, and roast marshmallows in little fire pits for free! They even have Santa there every night too handing out Bentleyville embroidered hats to all the kids. You guessed it - for free!
Since it is sponsored by the Salvation Army, they appreciate canned food or new toy donations to support their other projects, but it's not a requirement. It's just such a cool event for the community and I've looked forward to it every year since Ryan and I first drove out to the middle of nowhere to experience the original Bentleyville our freshman year.
This year they added something a little different to the lights display - dinosaurs. Sort of weird, right? Not exactly something you would expect in a holiday light show. There was even an article in the Duluth Tribune a couple weeks back commenting on how that and how it didn't fit in with the "holiday theme" and apparently that offended some people...? I don't know. It didn't offend me but it's definitely unique, that's for sure. On a side note, Ryan wanted me to add here that it was his favorite part. (Go figure, right? Ryan liking something that everyone else finds weird and/or offensive... that's so unlike him! Hahahaha!)
The pictures I have don't really do justice to how great Bentleyville really is since my fingers were slightly numb.. So you should all visit the website, learn a little bit more about the "Best Light Show in Minnesota", and go enjoy it for yourself! It's open until December 26th!
http://www.bentleyvilleusa.org/
TGIF!
Since it is sponsored by the Salvation Army, they appreciate canned food or new toy donations to support their other projects, but it's not a requirement. It's just such a cool event for the community and I've looked forward to it every year since Ryan and I first drove out to the middle of nowhere to experience the original Bentleyville our freshman year.
http://www.bentleyvilleusa.org/
TGIF!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Taco Bell, you know me too well
Nothing much to report from the Bogart household today, so I figured I'd just share a tiny bit of humor with you all compliments of Taco Bell... Enjoy!
With my overall general love of Mexican food and my increased craving for it with this pregnancy, we've been eating at Taco Bell more frequently as of late. And you know how they have those taco sauce packets there with the funny/clever little sayings on each of them? I love those! And it's pretty much the highlight of the trip for me picking out a handful to put on our food and reading which ones I get while we wait for our food. Well, somehow the past three (yes, three!) times we've been there, I've managed to get exactly one with this saying:
The first time it happened, Ryan and I both had a good chuckle. The second time, it was even more funny. By the time it happened a third time last week, Ryan insisted that I take a picture and post about it on the blog because he thought it was so funny. It might just dumb luck that I keep getting this message and it might be the employees strategically placing it on the top of the pile for me to grab as they watch me waddle up through the parking lot yet again... either way, it's still pretty funny.
I feel your pain, Mr. Hot, I really do.
Oh Christmas Tree! Oh Christmas Tree!
This Monday night, after a long weekend of Thanksgiving festivities in Walker, Ryan and I finally put up our Christmas tree. I know what you're probably thinking - "Finally? It's not even December yet, you're way ahead of the game!" And you would be right. It isn't December quite yet, and it is only the first week after Thanksgiving, but I have been itching to put up and decorate a tree since it hit November.. so for me it felt like I had waited about two lifetimes.
We decided to go with a fake tree this year despite my hesitation. It just makes sense for us with all the uncertainty of having a baby around the holidays because Lord only knows how long it will stay up past December 25th. I figure taking down Christmas decorations probably won't be my first priority with a brand new baby in the house and exhaustion to go with it. But it still does make me a little sad on the inside... it's just not the same! I miss that delicious pine tree smell! I just have to keep reminding myself about how much less maintenance it's going to require - no crawling under the branches and getting poked by the needles in order to keep it hydrated and no daily vacuuming to pick up those pokey needles either. My tired, pregnant body appreciates that part for sure.
To Ryan, it's not an issue. His family has had a fake tree for many years and so that's what he's used to anyways. Not me. For this northern Minnesota girl with fond childhood memories of picking out a real tree every year with my family the day after Thanksgiving, it is slightly heartbreaking. But there's many more years of Christmas yet to come! And in anticipation of future years filled with great-smelling, pokey pine needles we got our tree on Black Friday for 50% off at Target. That way we won't have to feel guilty if it only gets used for a few years. :)
What's even more heartbreaking than not having a real Christmas tree this year, though, is not having a fireplace to hang stockings over. To a lot of people, I'm sure I must seem crazy. But being the daughter of a fireplace manufacturer, that's a pretty big deal! I was out buying Christmas decorations a couple weeks ago and I got all excited when I found these super cute stockings because we didn't have any and of course everyone needs stockings... and then I got home and realized - "We have nowhere to hang them!" But have no fear friends! Ryan helped me find a suitable place on the wall for them and they still look super cute.
Now if only we could get some snow to go with my stellar Christmas decorations, it would feel like it's almost December... Plus, rumor has it that low pressure systems can help induce labor. I don't know about you, but I could definitely go for this baby being born in time to enjoy our fake Christmas tree and a white Christmas. Just saying.
Happy Hump Day!
To Ryan, it's not an issue. His family has had a fake tree for many years and so that's what he's used to anyways. Not me. For this northern Minnesota girl with fond childhood memories of picking out a real tree every year with my family the day after Thanksgiving, it is slightly heartbreaking. But there's many more years of Christmas yet to come! And in anticipation of future years filled with great-smelling, pokey pine needles we got our tree on Black Friday for 50% off at Target. That way we won't have to feel guilty if it only gets used for a few years. :)
Now if only we could get some snow to go with my stellar Christmas decorations, it would feel like it's almost December... Plus, rumor has it that low pressure systems can help induce labor. I don't know about you, but I could definitely go for this baby being born in time to enjoy our fake Christmas tree and a white Christmas. Just saying.
Happy Hump Day!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Remembering to Give Thanks
Recently, and this week in particular, I've found myself grumbling and complaining a lot. But, in my defense, it's hard not to when you're 9 months pregnant... I'm achy, I'm hormonal, and I'm SO ready to meet this baby! But I shouldn't make excuses for it... Really, it's a bad habit to complain all the time. So today I finally decided to stop and give myself a reality check. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving - a day devoted entirely to giving thanks for the all good things in your life that you may take for granted the rest of the year. I realized today that I should spend less time complaining and more time remembering the abundance of things I have to be thankful for. Especially this year. Because I have so many.
So I played this game today. It's called "What I Say vs. What I Mean". Basically, every time I had a complaint throughout my day, I stopped and thought of a good way to say the same thought so I seem more grateful for my multitude of blessings and less like a spoiled brat. It went something like this:
What I say: "Wow, my back hurts again this morning. Imagine that."
What I mean: "Back aches suck, but I'm so thankful that a few aches and pains are all I can complain about when it comes to being pregnant. It could be so much worse."
What I say: "Did these stretch marks grow more over night, or is it just me? Either way, my stomach sure does itch!"
What I mean: "I'm thankful that my son is still inside growing big and strong even if it means getting more "battle scars". I'm so thankful for whoever invented Palmer's Cocoa Butter. It's like heaven on itchy, stretched skin."
What I say: "I really wish Ryan didn't have to be gone all day, everyday with work and school. I get lonely all day at home alone."
What I mean: "I am beyond thankful that I married such a motivated, hard-working man. It's so great that he can go back to school for something he loves and get paid to do it. It's only because he works so hard that we can afford for me to stay home with the baby after he's born and I'm really looking forward to that."
What I say: "How is it possible that our laundry has piled up so much? I really don't feel like washing, folding, and putting away clothes ALL DAY."
What I mean: "I'm so glad to have a closet full of clothes (even though half of it doesn't fit right now). It's awesome to wake up in the morning and not only have something to wear, but to have a choice about what I want to wear."
What I say: "Bills, bills, and more bills! I hate checking the mail and finding bills almost as much as I hate paying bills."
What I mean: "I live in a heated, lighted apartment that has internet and Netflix and I have enough money in our checking account to pay for all of these luxuries. I am one lucky girl."
What I say: "This child has SO. MUCH. STUFF. It's not even fair. He probably has more things than Ryan and I combined. I'll never have his nursery organized and cleaned before he's born at this rate."
What I mean: "We have been beyond blessed by our amazing friends and family with almost everything we could ever need or want for our baby boy. We'll never be able to fully show our gratitude for their extreme generosity and kindness even if we tried. Our son is already loved and he isn't even born yet. My heart is so full of love for him and our support system that it might burst at the seams right along with his dresser drawers."
You get the idea now? It's a great game. I felt a heck of a lot more upbeat and positive today than I have in a while when I just took a couple minutes to gather my thoughts and get a new perspective. And how could I not? When I just sit back and look at all the things I have to be thankful for this year, it makes me teary-eyed. Yeah, yeah, I know part of that is the hormones talking... but seriously!
Okay, enough with the mushy-gushy talk for one day! It's time for me to pack my bags and prepare for the trip to Walker tomorrow where I'll get to see my amazing family and friends and stuff my face with good food. Oh! I almost forgot! That's another thing that I am thankful for this year! I don't have to restrain myself when eating Thanksgiving dinner for fear of gaining a pound or two... I'm already "fat" and I'm allowed to get "fatter" for the next three weeks until this baby is born! God bless being pregnant over the holidays!
Thankfully Yours,
-Big Mama Bogart
So I played this game today. It's called "What I Say vs. What I Mean". Basically, every time I had a complaint throughout my day, I stopped and thought of a good way to say the same thought so I seem more grateful for my multitude of blessings and less like a spoiled brat. It went something like this:
What I say: "Wow, my back hurts again this morning. Imagine that."
What I mean: "Back aches suck, but I'm so thankful that a few aches and pains are all I can complain about when it comes to being pregnant. It could be so much worse."
What I say: "Did these stretch marks grow more over night, or is it just me? Either way, my stomach sure does itch!"
What I mean: "I'm thankful that my son is still inside growing big and strong even if it means getting more "battle scars". I'm so thankful for whoever invented Palmer's Cocoa Butter. It's like heaven on itchy, stretched skin."
What I say: "I really wish Ryan didn't have to be gone all day, everyday with work and school. I get lonely all day at home alone."
What I mean: "I am beyond thankful that I married such a motivated, hard-working man. It's so great that he can go back to school for something he loves and get paid to do it. It's only because he works so hard that we can afford for me to stay home with the baby after he's born and I'm really looking forward to that."
What I say: "How is it possible that our laundry has piled up so much? I really don't feel like washing, folding, and putting away clothes ALL DAY."
What I mean: "I'm so glad to have a closet full of clothes (even though half of it doesn't fit right now). It's awesome to wake up in the morning and not only have something to wear, but to have a choice about what I want to wear."
What I say: "Bills, bills, and more bills! I hate checking the mail and finding bills almost as much as I hate paying bills."
What I mean: "I live in a heated, lighted apartment that has internet and Netflix and I have enough money in our checking account to pay for all of these luxuries. I am one lucky girl."
What I say: "This child has SO. MUCH. STUFF. It's not even fair. He probably has more things than Ryan and I combined. I'll never have his nursery organized and cleaned before he's born at this rate."
What I mean: "We have been beyond blessed by our amazing friends and family with almost everything we could ever need or want for our baby boy. We'll never be able to fully show our gratitude for their extreme generosity and kindness even if we tried. Our son is already loved and he isn't even born yet. My heart is so full of love for him and our support system that it might burst at the seams right along with his dresser drawers."
You get the idea now? It's a great game. I felt a heck of a lot more upbeat and positive today than I have in a while when I just took a couple minutes to gather my thoughts and get a new perspective. And how could I not? When I just sit back and look at all the things I have to be thankful for this year, it makes me teary-eyed. Yeah, yeah, I know part of that is the hormones talking... but seriously!
Okay, enough with the mushy-gushy talk for one day! It's time for me to pack my bags and prepare for the trip to Walker tomorrow where I'll get to see my amazing family and friends and stuff my face with good food. Oh! I almost forgot! That's another thing that I am thankful for this year! I don't have to restrain myself when eating Thanksgiving dinner for fear of gaining a pound or two... I'm already "fat" and I'm allowed to get "fatter" for the next three weeks until this baby is born! God bless being pregnant over the holidays!
Thankfully Yours,
-Big Mama Bogart
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
The Week of The Baby
You know how the Chinese calendar has every year represented by an animal? Like "The Year of the Dragon"? Well, I feel like this week in the Bogart family is "The Week of The Baby". It all started last Saturday with another wonderful baby shower thrown at my mother in law's house by Ryan's aunt, Wendy, and my sister in law, Jen. There was delicious food, baby-themed games, and many more presents for little Baby Bogart. Seriously, this kid's stuff is going to overtake our apartment before he finally decides to make his grand entrance. No joke. Who knew such a little person could have so much stuff?!
After our busy weekend in Rogers, it was back up to Duluth for a week jam-packed with baby classes. Last night was the first class of the week: "Bonus Night" aka Infant CPR and Carseat Safety. The class was "free" if you signed up and are taking the Labor & Delivery courses at the hospital. It was super informative and slightly terrifying at the same time. Although I do feel much more informed and better prepared, I'm also terrified that I will be one of the 80% of parents to incorrectly use my car seat or that I will actually have to do CPR on my own child. What? I'm actually going to be responsible for this life that we've created? Holy. Crap.
And as if the class last night wasn't enough to make me sweat a little, this weekend Ryan and I will be taking the actual Labor & Delivery classes as well. It is going to be a long Friday night and all-day Saturday spent in good company with other soon-to-be-parents learning about all the "fun" we'll have sometime within the next month or so. I'm sure that these classes will also make me feel better prepared and more informed, and really I wouldn't want to not take them, but I guess I'm just a little terrified in general of the whole daunting task of delivering a baby. I hear that's normal though, right?
Really though - I guess I'm not even that worried about him actually being here and taking care of him as much as I am worried about me having to get him here. Sure, I'll be exhausted for a while and it will be a major adjustment for our family, but at least I have a little bit of experience with babies. The labor and delivery part? Yeah, not so much. I wish we could just skip that part. Wake me up when he's here, okay? :)
Thankfully, after the fear-instilling classes this weekend I have something else to look forward to. My nerdy and totally awesome chemical engineering friends are throwing a party in honor of Baby Bogart on Saturday night. I guess, technically, they are calling it a baby shower but it's more just an excuse for all of us to get together, eat some food, and play some games. I'm just impressed that they found the time and energy with their crazy school/work schedules to fit in anything besides more sleep this weekend. But I'm so thankful that they fit me into their busy lives because I never get to see them anymore since I'm not in school and that's where they practically live. I can't wait! Hopefully I can stay awake past 8 pm to enjoy it.
So there you have it, folks! The Week of the Baby! So much celebration and preparation for such a little person. Hopefully with all this excitement he'll get antsy and want to come out sooner rather than later to join in on the fun. We can only hope...
After our busy weekend in Rogers, it was back up to Duluth for a week jam-packed with baby classes. Last night was the first class of the week: "Bonus Night" aka Infant CPR and Carseat Safety. The class was "free" if you signed up and are taking the Labor & Delivery courses at the hospital. It was super informative and slightly terrifying at the same time. Although I do feel much more informed and better prepared, I'm also terrified that I will be one of the 80% of parents to incorrectly use my car seat or that I will actually have to do CPR on my own child. What? I'm actually going to be responsible for this life that we've created? Holy. Crap.
And as if the class last night wasn't enough to make me sweat a little, this weekend Ryan and I will be taking the actual Labor & Delivery classes as well. It is going to be a long Friday night and all-day Saturday spent in good company with other soon-to-be-parents learning about all the "fun" we'll have sometime within the next month or so. I'm sure that these classes will also make me feel better prepared and more informed, and really I wouldn't want to not take them, but I guess I'm just a little terrified in general of the whole daunting task of delivering a baby. I hear that's normal though, right?
Really though - I guess I'm not even that worried about him actually being here and taking care of him as much as I am worried about me having to get him here. Sure, I'll be exhausted for a while and it will be a major adjustment for our family, but at least I have a little bit of experience with babies. The labor and delivery part? Yeah, not so much. I wish we could just skip that part. Wake me up when he's here, okay? :)
Thankfully, after the fear-instilling classes this weekend I have something else to look forward to. My nerdy and totally awesome chemical engineering friends are throwing a party in honor of Baby Bogart on Saturday night. I guess, technically, they are calling it a baby shower but it's more just an excuse for all of us to get together, eat some food, and play some games. I'm just impressed that they found the time and energy with their crazy school/work schedules to fit in anything besides more sleep this weekend. But I'm so thankful that they fit me into their busy lives because I never get to see them anymore since I'm not in school and that's where they practically live. I can't wait! Hopefully I can stay awake past 8 pm to enjoy it.
So there you have it, folks! The Week of the Baby! So much celebration and preparation for such a little person. Hopefully with all this excitement he'll get antsy and want to come out sooner rather than later to join in on the fun. We can only hope...
Thursday, November 10, 2011
35/35 on 11/11/11
And in honor of me making it this far without any major difficulties (thank The Lord!) and also in honor of my new friends, Stretch and Marks, who decided to rear their ugly heads this week for the first time (bleh! I thought for sure that I would get lucky enough to squeak by without any!)... I wanted to share with you all this beautiful pin that I found on Pinterest:
Well, I'm off to lather on the coco butter! I'll take the stretch marks if I have to, but I won't go down without a fight!
TGIF!
-The Marked Mama
Christmas season controversy
Being that this is the second year of marriage for Ryan and I, and consequently the second holiday season we have spent under the same roof, it is also the second year that he and I have had a little "tiff" of sorts around this time of year. You see, as soon as it passes Halloween and hits November I sort of act like a department store - I immediately get the "Christmas itch" and have this burning desire to decorate my whole house, watch Christmas movies, and play Christmas music all. the. time. Ryan, on the other hand, would prefer to wait at least until after Thanksgiving to break out the Bing Crosby and "deck our halls"... and it causes some problems. (No, not the Kim Kardasian "irreconsilable differences", file for divorce after 72 days sort of problems... but problems none-the-less.)
Luckily for Ryan, this year I have restrained myself pretty well. I have yet to put up any decorations, I haven't watched a single Christmas movie, and I've only listened to Christmas music once. And it was even when he was gone at school! But it's not because I'm trying all that hard for his sake. Oh no, I haven't waved the white flag of defeat quite yet. It's just that the unseasonably warm weather (and lack of snow) has made it a little harder to get into the mood for Christmas. But have no fear boys and girls! The temperatures are dropping and there is snow in the forecast for later this week! I think my goal for next week will be to start hunting down some more inexpensive decorations, slowly start integrating the good ol' clay-mation Christmas classics into my daily routine, and create a stellar Christmas playlist on Pandora. After all, it will be the third week of November! :)
Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Thursday!
Luckily for Ryan, this year I have restrained myself pretty well. I have yet to put up any decorations, I haven't watched a single Christmas movie, and I've only listened to Christmas music once. And it was even when he was gone at school! But it's not because I'm trying all that hard for his sake. Oh no, I haven't waved the white flag of defeat quite yet. It's just that the unseasonably warm weather (and lack of snow) has made it a little harder to get into the mood for Christmas. But have no fear boys and girls! The temperatures are dropping and there is snow in the forecast for later this week! I think my goal for next week will be to start hunting down some more inexpensive decorations, slowly start integrating the good ol' clay-mation Christmas classics into my daily routine, and create a stellar Christmas playlist on Pandora. After all, it will be the third week of November! :)
Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Thursday!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Working on The Range
Okay, does the title of this post make anyone else feel like singing the "I've been working on the railroad..." song? Because that's what inspired me and I'm pretty sure I will have that in my head the rest of the day... and it's my own darn fault... haha dangit. Anyways, enough of my scattered pregnancy brain thoughts! I did a post a couple weeks ago now about Ryan having an interview up at Hibbing Taconite for Cliff's Mining and how excited I was for him because this job opportunity had pursued him, not the other way around. Well, I'm happy to report that I have yet another reason to be excited for/proud of my husband this morning as he officially accepted their offer and will be interning there starting in mid-May. Yippe!
Like I had said before, the location for the internship isn't the most ideal because the mine is about an hour and a half away from our apartment and it will mean many long days for Ryan... but it's such an amazing opportunity and he's genuinely excited about working there. (Plus, it pays really well too!) In fact, on top of the generous hourly wage, they pay their interns who live 60+ miles away from the facility an extra $500/month to cover the expense of either driving every day or living up there.
We still haven't hashed out the specifics about whether Ryan will get a small studio apartment up there during the week and come home on weekends or if he'll drive there every day - but we'll figure it out. Ryan is leaning towards wanting to drive even if it means leaving for work at 5:30 am (because they start their days at 7:00) and not getting home until after 6:00 at night. Bless his heart, he's too worried about leaving me home alone with the baby and missing out on too many milestones in Brock's short-lived infant stage. Man, do I have a keeper or what? :)
And that's about all I know on this chilly November morning! All it takes is a little hard work and persistence and a whole lotta praying to get where you want to be in life. Even in this tough economy, and barely two years after getting turned town for every single summer job he applied for (including Walmart) the summer we got engaged, my husband is employed to a fantastic company six months before his job is even set to begin. We are so blessed. God is so good.
Happy Day!
-The Bogarts
Like I had said before, the location for the internship isn't the most ideal because the mine is about an hour and a half away from our apartment and it will mean many long days for Ryan... but it's such an amazing opportunity and he's genuinely excited about working there. (Plus, it pays really well too!) In fact, on top of the generous hourly wage, they pay their interns who live 60+ miles away from the facility an extra $500/month to cover the expense of either driving every day or living up there.
We still haven't hashed out the specifics about whether Ryan will get a small studio apartment up there during the week and come home on weekends or if he'll drive there every day - but we'll figure it out. Ryan is leaning towards wanting to drive even if it means leaving for work at 5:30 am (because they start their days at 7:00) and not getting home until after 6:00 at night. Bless his heart, he's too worried about leaving me home alone with the baby and missing out on too many milestones in Brock's short-lived infant stage. Man, do I have a keeper or what? :)
And that's about all I know on this chilly November morning! All it takes is a little hard work and persistence and a whole lotta praying to get where you want to be in life. Even in this tough economy, and barely two years after getting turned town for every single summer job he applied for (including Walmart) the summer we got engaged, my husband is employed to a fantastic company six months before his job is even set to begin. We are so blessed. God is so good.
Happy Day!
-The Bogarts
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Wittle Baby Hiccups
Hiccups are so weird. What purpose do they serve and why do we get them? And why do some people get them more often and more violently than others? I guess it's something that has always bothered me, but I never bothered to look it up - until today. And so, with the help of the Google machine and WebMD, here are some fun facts about hiccups for your viewing pleasure that may or may not enlighten you:
That's it! See that bolded part up there about hiccups effecting everyone, including babies? Yes, that right there ladies and gentlemen would be the reason for my sudden increased interest in hiccups. You see, little Baby Bogart apparently has a full stomach very often these days because he gets hiccups everyday... multiple times a day. And it is incredibly annoying. It used to be sort of cute, back when he only got them every now and again, but now that it's happening everyday it's starting to grate on my frazzled pregnant nerves. (On a side note, Ryan wants me to mention here that he still thinks they're cute.. and yes, that irritates me even more haha.)
I have read that it's a good sign for babies to get hiccups in utero because it means that their lungs are maturing and it's strengthening their diaphragm in preparation for breathing, and I try really hard to remind myself of this, but it's still incredibly annoying. Plus, I feel bad that he doesn't know any of the "tricks" to get rid of them and he has to suffer through them everyday! I try to tell him to hold his breath and plug is nose, but I don't think he really gets it. I wonder why? Haha ;)
So there is the update from the Bogart household today: Brock gets the hiccups too much and it's driving mommy bonkers.
I hope that everyone is enjoying the gorgeous November weekend and all the deer hunters in Minnesota are having some good luck! My mama and sister are coming to visit tomorrow because my sister has the day of from school Monday and I'm super excited. Now if only those darn bathrooms would clean themselves before they get here...
What are hiccups?
Hiccups occur when a spasm contracts the diaphragm, a large sheet of muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. This spasm causes an intake of breath that is suddenly stopped by the closure of the vocal cords. This closure causes the characteristic "hiccup" sound.
What causes hiccups?
A very full stomach can cause bouts of hiccups that go away on their own. A full stomach can be caused by:
- Eating too much food too quickly.
- Drinking too much alcohol.
- Swallowing too much air.
- Smoking
- A sudden change in stomach temperature, such as drinking a hot beverage and then a cold beverage.
- Emotional stress or excitement.
How long do hiccups last?
Hiccups usually stop within a few minutes to a few hours. <--- A few HOURS?! Holy moly! I get annoyed after about five minutes!
Hiccups that last longer than 48 hours are called persistent hiccups. Hiccups that last longer than a month are called intractable hiccups. While very rare, intractable hiccups can cause exhaustion, lack of sleep, and weight loss. Both persistent and intractable hiccups may be a sign of a more serious health problem and must be checked by a doctor. (How do you sleep if you have hiccups for longer than 48 hours? Do you just hiccup in your sleep then? So bizarre.)
How are hiccups treated?
Most bouts of hiccups go away on their own within a few minutes to a few hours and do not require any treatment.
Many home remedies are used to treat hiccups. Most of them involve increasing the level of carbon dioxide in the blood, which usually stops hiccups. Some of these remedies include:
- Holding your breath and counting slowly to 10.
- Breathing repeatedly into a paper bag for a limited period of time.
- Quickly drinking a glass of cold water.
- Eating a teaspoon of sugar or honey.
- My personal favorite is taking a drink of water while standing up, holding it in your mouth, putting your head between your legs, and then swallowing the water. You look like a complete idiot doing it, but it works for me about 90% of the time...
Who is affected by hiccups?
Hiccups affect males more often than females. (Haha guys!) Hiccups occur in practically every human being, including babies and older adults.
I have read that it's a good sign for babies to get hiccups in utero because it means that their lungs are maturing and it's strengthening their diaphragm in preparation for breathing, and I try really hard to remind myself of this, but it's still incredibly annoying. Plus, I feel bad that he doesn't know any of the "tricks" to get rid of them and he has to suffer through them everyday! I try to tell him to hold his breath and plug is nose, but I don't think he really gets it. I wonder why? Haha ;)
So there is the update from the Bogart household today: Brock gets the hiccups too much and it's driving mommy bonkers.
I hope that everyone is enjoying the gorgeous November weekend and all the deer hunters in Minnesota are having some good luck! My mama and sister are coming to visit tomorrow because my sister has the day of from school Monday and I'm super excited. Now if only those darn bathrooms would clean themselves before they get here...
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Super Mom to the rescue!
This past weekend was jam-packed with celebrations all hosted by my mother, and she did one (pardon my language) hell of a job throwing them all if I do say so myself! The woman knows what a good party is, it's as simple as that, and so she always does a great job brainstorming ideas and organizing shindigs even though it causes her blood pressure to sky rocket. She's pretty much like my party planning super hero. And so, in honor of all her hard work, here's a quick recap of my weekend and all that my mom had to do in order to make things run smoothly:
Saturday afternoon from 2-4 pm was my sister's confirmation party at my parent's house. Now, for those of you who have never been inside my house, it is not big by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, it's pretty small. My mom spent the whole last week deep cleaning the entire house and rearranging things in preparation for 40-50 people to cram in and mess it all up again. She also planned out and prepared a fabulous menu of snack foods to be served during the two hour party. There were deviled eggs, cream cheese pinwheels, chips and dips, bacon-wrapped cocktail weenies, and more! Plus, there was even a delicious and equally gorgeous Kathy Smith cake. Mmmm my mouth is watering just remembering it all!
The party was a great success. Both my mom and dad's extended family were there along with a few of my sister's friends and their families as well. And the million times we repositioned the kitchen table was well worth it because we manged to fit 40+ people in the lower level all at one time. It was a small miracle. There was, of course, leftover food because mom always over-estimates how much people will eat... but it's better than running out. Plus, that meant the guys would have food to munch on for the Viking's game the next day. So it all worked out...
After everyone finally cleared out Saturday evening, we had to clean up the house quick and head on down to good ol' Cafe Zona Rosa to make final preparations for the Halloween party down there. Yes, on top of both the confirmation and baby shower, my mom managed to fit in a costume party at her restaurant too. I told you she's the best! She even had an adult pinata filled with "adult" prizes like scratch-offs, mini alcohol bottles, cigarettes, etc. And let me just say... watching intoxicated adults in costumes smash open a pinata and fight over the prizes might very well be some of the best free entertainment there is.
Are you tired yet? Yeah, we were by this point too. But there was still one big day left in the weekend!
Sunday morning we had my sister's confirmation service at church and then immediately went over to Zona's for my baby shower. Talk about a great party... my mom, my girlfriends, and Kathy Smith did a phenomenal job decorating and planning. (Thanks again girls!) It was perfect.
We had games, good food, and lots of giggles throughout the afternoon. It was great to see all the women who came and both Baby Bogart and I were showered with love, encouraging words, and tons of gifts once again.
Ryan joked after spending over half an hour hauling our loot into the house that he'd have to spank Brock as soon as he was born because he's spoiled already! :)
I really am beyond blessed to have so many great friends though. On top of throwing me the perfect baby shower, the girls also got all the employees at Zona Rosa to pitch in and buy us our stroller and carseat. How lucky are we?? This kid is going to be smothered with love by all his "aunties".. and I'm so grateful for that.
So there ya go, folks! That was my hectic weekend in a nutshell. Sunday evening my whole family fought to stay awake past 7 pm because all four of us were exhausted. My poor mom did end up hanging up her Super Mom cape and going to bed right around 8:00 because she couldn't keep her eyes open anymore, and I can't say that I blame her. The woman did a great job hosting two very important events for her daughters this weekend. I hope she can teach me her party planning ways so I can do the same for my children over the years. Up first will be Brock's baptism! At least I have a couple months to recover from all the parties this weekend before I have to plan that... oofta.
Happy Hump Day Everyone!
- The Bogarts
Saturday afternoon from 2-4 pm was my sister's confirmation party at my parent's house. Now, for those of you who have never been inside my house, it is not big by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, it's pretty small. My mom spent the whole last week deep cleaning the entire house and rearranging things in preparation for 40-50 people to cram in and mess it all up again. She also planned out and prepared a fabulous menu of snack foods to be served during the two hour party. There were deviled eggs, cream cheese pinwheels, chips and dips, bacon-wrapped cocktail weenies, and more! Plus, there was even a delicious and equally gorgeous Kathy Smith cake. Mmmm my mouth is watering just remembering it all!
The party was a great success. Both my mom and dad's extended family were there along with a few of my sister's friends and their families as well. And the million times we repositioned the kitchen table was well worth it because we manged to fit 40+ people in the lower level all at one time. It was a small miracle. There was, of course, leftover food because mom always over-estimates how much people will eat... but it's better than running out. Plus, that meant the guys would have food to munch on for the Viking's game the next day. So it all worked out...
After everyone finally cleared out Saturday evening, we had to clean up the house quick and head on down to good ol' Cafe Zona Rosa to make final preparations for the Halloween party down there. Yes, on top of both the confirmation and baby shower, my mom managed to fit in a costume party at her restaurant too. I told you she's the best! She even had an adult pinata filled with "adult" prizes like scratch-offs, mini alcohol bottles, cigarettes, etc. And let me just say... watching intoxicated adults in costumes smash open a pinata and fight over the prizes might very well be some of the best free entertainment there is.
Are you tired yet? Yeah, we were by this point too. But there was still one big day left in the weekend!
Sunday morning we had my sister's confirmation service at church and then immediately went over to Zona's for my baby shower. Talk about a great party... my mom, my girlfriends, and Kathy Smith did a phenomenal job decorating and planning. (Thanks again girls!) It was perfect.
We had games, good food, and lots of giggles throughout the afternoon. It was great to see all the women who came and both Baby Bogart and I were showered with love, encouraging words, and tons of gifts once again.
Ryan joked after spending over half an hour hauling our loot into the house that he'd have to spank Brock as soon as he was born because he's spoiled already! :)
I really am beyond blessed to have so many great friends though. On top of throwing me the perfect baby shower, the girls also got all the employees at Zona Rosa to pitch in and buy us our stroller and carseat. How lucky are we?? This kid is going to be smothered with love by all his "aunties".. and I'm so grateful for that.
So there ya go, folks! That was my hectic weekend in a nutshell. Sunday evening my whole family fought to stay awake past 7 pm because all four of us were exhausted. My poor mom did end up hanging up her Super Mom cape and going to bed right around 8:00 because she couldn't keep her eyes open anymore, and I can't say that I blame her. The woman did a great job hosting two very important events for her daughters this weekend. I hope she can teach me her party planning ways so I can do the same for my children over the years. Up first will be Brock's baptism! At least I have a couple months to recover from all the parties this weekend before I have to plan that... oofta.
Happy Hump Day Everyone!
- The Bogarts
Friday, October 28, 2011
So much excitement for one morning!
Ooofta! Today has already been a very busy and exciting morning in the Bogart household and it's not even 8:30 yet!
Ryan is off and running (well, technically driving) to Hibbing for an interview/tour with Hibbing Taconite today. They had contacted him about a month ago now asking for his resume, which is pretty darn cool if you ask me. They contacted him. I'm very proud. Granted, it isn't the perfect situation because Hibbing Taconite is about an hour and a half away from where we currently live... but it's a great company and a great opportunity. So keep Ryan in your prayers today if you can.
On top of Ryan's exciting morning, I'm packing up and getting ready to head back to Walker for a big weekend as well. We have a double whammy of celebrations: my sister is getting confirmed and I have my baby shower. It will be great to see all my friends and family that I haven't seen in a while!
And that's about all I know! Sorry for the semi-boring update on life this morning... but my bags are not packed and I am not ready to go. So I should get to that! I hope you all have a fantabulous weekend full of Halloween fun and I will be back on Monday with a post about all the celebrations and (hopefully) a good update from Ryan's interview.
Stay warm everyone!
Oh! I almost forgot! I would also like to give a special birthday shout out to my cousin Molly Dailing who is celebrating her 24th birthday today and my sister-in-law Jen Bogart who is celebrating her 21st birthday today as well! I hope you both have a great day - you deserve it! And have a delicious cocktail for me. That's an order.
That will be all. :)
Ryan is off and running (well, technically driving) to Hibbing for an interview/tour with Hibbing Taconite today. They had contacted him about a month ago now asking for his resume, which is pretty darn cool if you ask me. They contacted him. I'm very proud. Granted, it isn't the perfect situation because Hibbing Taconite is about an hour and a half away from where we currently live... but it's a great company and a great opportunity. So keep Ryan in your prayers today if you can.
On top of Ryan's exciting morning, I'm packing up and getting ready to head back to Walker for a big weekend as well. We have a double whammy of celebrations: my sister is getting confirmed and I have my baby shower. It will be great to see all my friends and family that I haven't seen in a while!
And that's about all I know! Sorry for the semi-boring update on life this morning... but my bags are not packed and I am not ready to go. So I should get to that! I hope you all have a fantabulous weekend full of Halloween fun and I will be back on Monday with a post about all the celebrations and (hopefully) a good update from Ryan's interview.
Stay warm everyone!
Oh! I almost forgot! I would also like to give a special birthday shout out to my cousin Molly Dailing who is celebrating her 24th birthday today and my sister-in-law Jen Bogart who is celebrating her 21st birthday today as well! I hope you both have a great day - you deserve it! And have a delicious cocktail for me. That's an order.
That will be all. :)
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Just in case you ever need to (literally) feed an army
Yesterday the Bogart household was filled with the sweet smells of baking. Only this time, it wasn't from a burning candle... it was the real deal folks! I tried out a new recipe called "The Bread That Feeds 5000" or "Amish Friendship Bread" compliments of my mother in law. I was pretty nervous because it is one of the few sweet baked goods that Ryan actually enjoys and I didn't want to mess it up. It was a pretty high pressure situation - let me tell you...
But have no fear - I thrived on the pressure and came through in the clutch. It turned out fantastic! It turned out so good, in fact, that I decided to post the recipe today so all of you can make it. It's kind of a "process" because it takes multiple days before you can actually make and enjoy the bread, but it's super easy and sooo worth it. Enjoy!
Bread That Feeds 5000
Starter Mix:
Mix together: 1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk
Put these three ingredients into a one-gallon size ziplock plastic bag.
DO NOT use a metal spoon or bowl for mixing.
DO NOT refrigerate.
If air gets in the bag, let it out. It is normal for the batter to raise, bubble, and ferment.
Day 1: Squeeze the bag.
Day 2: Squeeze the bag.
Day 3: Squeeze the bag.
Day 4: Squeeze the bag.
Day 5: Squeeze the bag.
Day 6: Mix 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk and add to the bag. Squeeze the bag.
Day 7: Squeeze the bag.
Day 8: Squeeze the bag.
Day 9: Squeeze the bag.
Day 10: Combine in a large glass (or plastic bowl):
Batter in bag
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
Mix with a plastic or wooden spoon.
Pour three 1 cup starters into separate gallon-sized ziplock bags. Give bags to friends with these instructions.
To remaining batter in bowl, add:
3/4 cup oil 1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla 3 large eggs
1/2 tsp salt 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups flour 1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp baking soda 1 large instant vanilla pudding packet
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
Pour into two large loaf pans or muffin tins, well greased and dusted with cinnamon/sugar. Dust top of batter with cinnamon/sugar as well (optional). Add nuts, chocolate chips, raisins, banana, etc. if you like.
Bake at 325 for approximately one hour or 45 minutes for muffins. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans.
Yield: 2 delicous loaves
You will want to loosen the edges of the bread from the pan before trying to remove it, or else the bread will have a hard time coming out and you might have some of it stuck in the pan. Yes, that did happen to me. Notice how the loaf on the left is slightly misshapen in the front... yeah, that would be the missing part. Don't worry - It didn't make the bread any less delicious, but it did slightly irk the perfectionist part of me.
Happy Baking!
-The Bogarts
But have no fear - I thrived on the pressure and came through in the clutch. It turned out fantastic! It turned out so good, in fact, that I decided to post the recipe today so all of you can make it. It's kind of a "process" because it takes multiple days before you can actually make and enjoy the bread, but it's super easy and sooo worth it. Enjoy!
Bread That Feeds 5000
Starter Mix:
Mix together: 1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk
Put these three ingredients into a one-gallon size ziplock plastic bag.
DO NOT use a metal spoon or bowl for mixing.
DO NOT refrigerate.
If air gets in the bag, let it out. It is normal for the batter to raise, bubble, and ferment.
Day 1: Squeeze the bag.
Day 2: Squeeze the bag.
Day 3: Squeeze the bag.
Day 4: Squeeze the bag.
Day 5: Squeeze the bag.
Day 6: Mix 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk and add to the bag. Squeeze the bag.
Day 7: Squeeze the bag.
Day 8: Squeeze the bag.
Day 9: Squeeze the bag.
Day 10: Combine in a large glass (or plastic bowl):
Batter in bag
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
Mix with a plastic or wooden spoon.
Pour three 1 cup starters into separate gallon-sized ziplock bags. Give bags to friends with these instructions.
To remaining batter in bowl, add:
3/4 cup oil 1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla 3 large eggs
1/2 tsp salt 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups flour 1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp baking soda 1 large instant vanilla pudding packet
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
Pour into two large loaf pans or muffin tins, well greased and dusted with cinnamon/sugar. Dust top of batter with cinnamon/sugar as well (optional). Add nuts, chocolate chips, raisins, banana, etc. if you like.
Bake at 325 for approximately one hour or 45 minutes for muffins. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans.
Yield: 2 delicous loaves
You will want to loosen the edges of the bread from the pan before trying to remove it, or else the bread will have a hard time coming out and you might have some of it stuck in the pan. Yes, that did happen to me. Notice how the loaf on the left is slightly misshapen in the front... yeah, that would be the missing part. Don't worry - It didn't make the bread any less delicious, but it did slightly irk the perfectionist part of me.
Happy Baking!
-The Bogarts
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
My little eskimo
Today is a sunny, but mighty cold morning in the Twin Ports area. I do believe that the temperature on my phone display showed 30 degrees this morning when I woke up. And as much as I would like to believe that was just my eyes playing tricks on me in the early morning, it was also mighty chilly in our apartment when I kicked off the covers. I can tell it's almost November when I need to rush to put on socks as soon as I get out of bed... but I guess I don't really mind. My husband, on the other hand, likes to think I'm trying to "freeze him to death".
Ryan is kind of a wimp when it comes to a cold house I've come to realize. It's incredibly comical to me because I'm the one who grew up in a house that was heated by numerous fireplaces and was kept around 76 degrees in the winter. I'm also the one who loves warm weather. But it's not because he doesn't like the cold that he complains, it's only because he likes to walk around in shorts and a t-shirt year round... and that doesn't work so well when it's only 64-66 degrees in our apartment.
See here's the problem boys and girls: Heat ain't free and money don't grow on trees! Unless, of course, you're heating with an amazing wood-burning Wilkening Fireplace... and then your heat literally comes from a tree. (Sorry, I don't know if that follows as logically as I wanted it to, but I just had to put a plug in for my dad's stellar business in Walker, MN while I was on the subject of home heating.) I can't wait until we own our own place and I can have multiple fireplaces...
Anyways, back to what I was trying to say: heat is expensive. Aside from our rent, it will be the largest bill we pay throughout the winter months. Especially because we will have a newborn in less than two months during the coldest part of the year. (Poor planning on our part, I know.) So my theory is this: Ryan will just have to suffer through the next 7 weeks of me "freezing him to death" so we can afford to keep the house warmer for the rest of the winter when the baby is here. Makes sense, right? I thought so. Keep our heating bill low now so we can afford to pay through the nose to keep the apartment above 70 when it's -20 without windchill outside.
Well, it's either that or I'll have to keep Baby Bogart bundled up like a little eskimo at all times. We do have a nice little snowsuit thing for him anyway. Which I guess could be pretty darn cute, but I'm thinking it would probably get old awfully fast with all the diaper changes and what not... and so we'll freeze until December! Or at least Ryan will - I'm my own little heater these days. :)
Happy Hump Day! I'm off to spend the rest of my day cleaning and baking..
Love,
Christina
Ryan is kind of a wimp when it comes to a cold house I've come to realize. It's incredibly comical to me because I'm the one who grew up in a house that was heated by numerous fireplaces and was kept around 76 degrees in the winter. I'm also the one who loves warm weather. But it's not because he doesn't like the cold that he complains, it's only because he likes to walk around in shorts and a t-shirt year round... and that doesn't work so well when it's only 64-66 degrees in our apartment.
See here's the problem boys and girls: Heat ain't free and money don't grow on trees! Unless, of course, you're heating with an amazing wood-burning Wilkening Fireplace... and then your heat literally comes from a tree. (Sorry, I don't know if that follows as logically as I wanted it to, but I just had to put a plug in for my dad's stellar business in Walker, MN while I was on the subject of home heating.) I can't wait until we own our own place and I can have multiple fireplaces...
Anyways, back to what I was trying to say: heat is expensive. Aside from our rent, it will be the largest bill we pay throughout the winter months. Especially because we will have a newborn in less than two months during the coldest part of the year. (Poor planning on our part, I know.) So my theory is this: Ryan will just have to suffer through the next 7 weeks of me "freezing him to death" so we can afford to keep the house warmer for the rest of the winter when the baby is here. Makes sense, right? I thought so. Keep our heating bill low now so we can afford to pay through the nose to keep the apartment above 70 when it's -20 without windchill outside.
Well, it's either that or I'll have to keep Baby Bogart bundled up like a little eskimo at all times. We do have a nice little snowsuit thing for him anyway. Which I guess could be pretty darn cute, but I'm thinking it would probably get old awfully fast with all the diaper changes and what not... and so we'll freeze until December! Or at least Ryan will - I'm my own little heater these days. :)
Happy Hump Day! I'm off to spend the rest of my day cleaning and baking..
Love,
Christina
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Sneaky Mr. Weatherman!
Alright who did it? Huh? Who told the weatherman about my post last week praising the amazing fall weather we've been having (or WERE having)? No one wants to fess up? Bueller? Bueller? Well whoever did it, just know you are on my bad list... and I'm telling Santa on you!
But seriously... the fall weather has officially arrived here in Duluth now and I'm none too pleased about it. Not that I don't love the fall - remember, I really do. I just don't love the bitter wind that accompanies the cooler temperatures in Duluth. It makes it much less pleasant to take walks, which means I have been staying inside more, which means I'm getting awfully bored.
Thankfully, this weekend will bring a change of pace as Ryan and I venture down to Rogers to see his parents. Ryan will be riding his motorcycle down (brrrr!) so it can get stored there for the winter and I will be driving down our BMW so he can do some work on it with his dad this weekend as well. I will probably just watch him do his thing and fetch a tool or two... or maybe just play with his cat and nap a lot. ;)
That's about all I know. I apologize for the lack of posting this week, but like I said... I haven't been doing much. And not doing much means there's not much to blog about. Unless, of course, you want to hear about how much longer it takes to sweep and mop now that I'm getting more pregnant? Yeah, didn't think so.
Enjoy the weekend, folks! I'll try to do something in Rogers this weekend interesting enough to blog about.
-The Bogarts
But seriously... the fall weather has officially arrived here in Duluth now and I'm none too pleased about it. Not that I don't love the fall - remember, I really do. I just don't love the bitter wind that accompanies the cooler temperatures in Duluth. It makes it much less pleasant to take walks, which means I have been staying inside more, which means I'm getting awfully bored.
Thankfully, this weekend will bring a change of pace as Ryan and I venture down to Rogers to see his parents. Ryan will be riding his motorcycle down (brrrr!) so it can get stored there for the winter and I will be driving down our BMW so he can do some work on it with his dad this weekend as well. I will probably just watch him do his thing and fetch a tool or two... or maybe just play with his cat and nap a lot. ;)
That's about all I know. I apologize for the lack of posting this week, but like I said... I haven't been doing much. And not doing much means there's not much to blog about. Unless, of course, you want to hear about how much longer it takes to sweep and mop now that I'm getting more pregnant? Yeah, didn't think so.
Enjoy the weekend, folks! I'll try to do something in Rogers this weekend interesting enough to blog about.
-The Bogarts
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Showered With Love (aka baby shower numero uno)
So here are some of the things Baby Bogart and I received:
A few adorable outfits.
A ton of books (including two children's bibles and a couple biblical stories).
Some more practical baby necessities like diapers, wipes, etc.
A Boppy pillow and a crib mattress cover.
And a couple hand-sewn receiving blankets and bibs. They're SUPER soft and I absolutely adore them.
See what I mean? All of the women were so generous! And on top of all the new things I received, I also inherited two full Rubbermaid Tubs of hand-me-down clothes and a gently used bassinet from one of the women. I am so lucky to be a part of this church...
Well, that's about all I know on this windy Tuesday evening. I better resume my place on the couch and find something to watch on Netflix now.
God Bless!
- The Bogarts
Friday, October 14, 2011
Just a little vent before sunrise
I used to be an incredible sleeper before I was pregnant. I could fall asleep at the drop of a hat, sleep in until noon, and take three hour naps like they were going out of style. No joke, if sleeping/napping were an Olympic event, I would have taken the gold hands-down. It wouldn't have even been a competition. But these days... not so much.
I swear, once I hit my third trimester of this pregnancy it was like little Baby Bogart flipped a switch that immediately made it hard to sleep at night. First, I lay in bed for hours trying to get to sleep in the first place. Then I wake up every hour or two all night long because a) I have to use the bathroom b) I'm incredibly uncomfortable or c) I am incredibly uncomfortable AND I have to use the bathroom. It's really quite unpleasant. Really though, it wouldn't be so bad if I could just sleep in.. but alas, I can't seem to do that these days either. Between the construction down our road starting between 5:30-7:00 a.m. and my tendency to rise before or with the sun it just doesn't happen anymore. And it's not like the reason I can't sleep is because I'm not tired - I'm exhausted! It's just cruel and unusual punishment I tell ya...
My mom has been trying her darnedest to convince me that it's just my body's way of preparing me for when the baby actually comes and I have to be up with him every couple of hours. Which makes sense.. I suppose... kind of... (Not really.) Wouldn't it make more sense that my body would want to rest now while it still can? Shouldn't I cherish these last two months of uninterrupted sleep while I still at least have the opportunity? I guess not.
Really though, this pregnancy has been good to me overall and I have very few reasons to complain. I never had morning sickness, I haven't started swelling too badly or retaining insane amounts of water, and both the baby and I have been healthy enough that I haven't been put on bed rest or any other type of restriction. I know that I am very blessed compared to many others out there. It's just this darn lack of sleep thing! It starts to wear you down after a while... But I just have to keep reminding myself daily about the incredible prize at the end of all this and that, although it feels like it sometimes, I won't be pregnant forever. This too shall pass.
Well, my coffee is finally done! At least I can enjoy a cup of Folgers Half Caff with a bit of delicious Pumpkin Spice Coffee Mate mixed in as I sit here and wait for the sun to come up...
TGIF!
I swear, once I hit my third trimester of this pregnancy it was like little Baby Bogart flipped a switch that immediately made it hard to sleep at night. First, I lay in bed for hours trying to get to sleep in the first place. Then I wake up every hour or two all night long because a) I have to use the bathroom b) I'm incredibly uncomfortable or c) I am incredibly uncomfortable AND I have to use the bathroom. It's really quite unpleasant. Really though, it wouldn't be so bad if I could just sleep in.. but alas, I can't seem to do that these days either. Between the construction down our road starting between 5:30-7:00 a.m. and my tendency to rise before or with the sun it just doesn't happen anymore. And it's not like the reason I can't sleep is because I'm not tired - I'm exhausted! It's just cruel and unusual punishment I tell ya...
My mom has been trying her darnedest to convince me that it's just my body's way of preparing me for when the baby actually comes and I have to be up with him every couple of hours. Which makes sense.. I suppose... kind of... (Not really.) Wouldn't it make more sense that my body would want to rest now while it still can? Shouldn't I cherish these last two months of uninterrupted sleep while I still at least have the opportunity? I guess not.
Really though, this pregnancy has been good to me overall and I have very few reasons to complain. I never had morning sickness, I haven't started swelling too badly or retaining insane amounts of water, and both the baby and I have been healthy enough that I haven't been put on bed rest or any other type of restriction. I know that I am very blessed compared to many others out there. It's just this darn lack of sleep thing! It starts to wear you down after a while... But I just have to keep reminding myself daily about the incredible prize at the end of all this and that, although it feels like it sometimes, I won't be pregnant forever. This too shall pass.
Well, my coffee is finally done! At least I can enjoy a cup of Folgers Half Caff with a bit of delicious Pumpkin Spice Coffee Mate mixed in as I sit here and wait for the sun to come up...
TGIF!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Christmas in... October?
For longer than I can remember I've listened to my grandma and mom complain about how "Christmas comes earlier every year!" and I never quite believed them... until yesterday. Now I've heard of Christmas in July... but Christmas in October? Hallmark, this is getting a little out of hand!
Yesterday, as Ryan and I were out running some errands, I noticed that several stores in the mall were already full-on decorated for Christmas. I know that time has been flying by and I literally have no idea where September went, but it is only the first full week of October, right? I thought so... I also thought it was sort of a "rule of thumb" that stores waited to put out their Christmas decorations until after Halloween was over? Apparently I was sadly mistaken.
Don't get me wrong - I LOVE Christmas. It is my favorite thing about winter. I love the warm cozy feeling that Christmas decorations and a Christmas tree brings, the delicious smell of freshly baked Christmas cookies that permeates through the house, the 25 Days of Christmas specials on ABC Family, and of course... the Christmas music! I love everything about the whole holiday season.
But I have sort of mixed feelings about Christmas in October. On one hand, I'm excited because it's a reminder that Baby Bogart will be here before we know it. But on the other hand, it reminded me that I really need to get my tush in gear and actually start thinking about starting my Christmas shopping before:
a) I'm too fat and tired to navigate the crowds and the stores OR
b) I've got a newborn to haul around while I navigate the crowds and stores. (That is, assuming he comes before Christmas...)
Well, it's time to get back to my cleaning! Ryan's parents are coming for a visit and I have irresistable the urge to scrub down the bathrooms... oh silly nesting!
Enjoy the weekend!
-The Bogarts
Yesterday, as Ryan and I were out running some errands, I noticed that several stores in the mall were already full-on decorated for Christmas. I know that time has been flying by and I literally have no idea where September went, but it is only the first full week of October, right? I thought so... I also thought it was sort of a "rule of thumb" that stores waited to put out their Christmas decorations until after Halloween was over? Apparently I was sadly mistaken.
But I have sort of mixed feelings about Christmas in October. On one hand, I'm excited because it's a reminder that Baby Bogart will be here before we know it. But on the other hand, it reminded me that I really need to get my tush in gear and actually start thinking about starting my Christmas shopping before:
a) I'm too fat and tired to navigate the crowds and the stores OR
b) I've got a newborn to haul around while I navigate the crowds and stores. (That is, assuming he comes before Christmas...)
Well, it's time to get back to my cleaning! Ryan's parents are coming for a visit and I have irresistable the urge to scrub down the bathrooms... oh silly nesting!
Enjoy the weekend!
-The Bogarts
Friday, October 7, 2011
Strike a pose
Yesterday was another absolutely gorgeous fall day up here in the Duluth/Superior area. To celebrate the perfect weather and our growing family, Ryan & I took a drive just outside of Superior to Pattison Park with our friends Al & Kati Reich and took some maternity pictures. Now, if you're like me, you probably didn't even know that this particular Wisconsin State Park even existed... but it does. And let me tell you, it's stunning. Especially with all the fall colors this time of year. As Mr. Al Reich so eloquently phrased it, "Wisconsin is filled with hidden gems". So true.
Anyways, the whole point of this post is to give you all a little peek into the phenomenal work of Kati Reich (not ramble on about the hidden beauty of the cheese state haha). So! Here is a link to her blog post with some of the great shots she captured yesterday:
I LOVE them! She did such a fantastic job! And would you believe that this was her first time doing a maternity shoot? Don't worry, me either. She's just so good at what she does. I'm so thankful to have such talented friends...
On a side note, I am exactly 30 weeks pregnant today and that means that our little boy will hopefully be coming out to play in only 10 weeks. Although, according to my mother, it will be more like 11 weeks... she's convinced that I am going to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the hospital delivering him. I sure do hope she's wrong. Not only would I have to miss out on all the great food and Christmas cookies, but then his birthday would be overshadowed by all the Christmas festivities more than it already will be. Not that sharing a birthday with Jesus Christ isn't totally awesome.. I just think he might regret his choice to come late as he gets older. Oh well, I'll just have to explain it to him when he grows up and remind him that it's his own darn fault for not being born when he was due... haha!
Enjoy the pictures and the rest of your weekend all! TGIF!
-The Bogarts
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Shhhh! Don't tell the weatherman!
Has anyone else noticed how unbelievably nice the weather has been this week? Have you also noticed that it is now October? Nice weather in northern Minnesota in October... it's almost like an oxymoron! The sun has been shining, the temperature has been in the not-too-hot-but-not-too-cold range, and it hasn't even been too windy (which, in itself, is a small miracle in Duluth,MN).
The highs all week have been in the mid 70's and the lows at night have stayed in the 50's. That is far better than the average highs we normally see in the low 50's and the lows of mid 30's. Ryan and I actually have only had to turn our heat on a couple times so far this fall, and only at night.
I love it. This is the way fall should be. This is the perfect weather to accompany the perfect fall colors. This is the fall I missed out on last year when Ryan and I were in Sweden. As a matter of fact, I have a post from October 14th of last year that documented the first real snowfall in Lulea... and the snow never melted until long after we left. Ugh, it makes me cringe all over again just thinking about it.
I guess I probably shouldn't even say anything to jinx it because I know that it might very well be snowing here in Duluth by October 14th. But maybe... just maybe... this nice weather will hold out if you all promise not to remind the weatherman that it's fall. I won't if you won't, deal? Deal!
All our best from sunny, beautiful Duluth,
The Bogarts
The highs all week have been in the mid 70's and the lows at night have stayed in the 50's. That is far better than the average highs we normally see in the low 50's and the lows of mid 30's. Ryan and I actually have only had to turn our heat on a couple times so far this fall, and only at night.
I love it. This is the way fall should be. This is the perfect weather to accompany the perfect fall colors. This is the fall I missed out on last year when Ryan and I were in Sweden. As a matter of fact, I have a post from October 14th of last year that documented the first real snowfall in Lulea... and the snow never melted until long after we left. Ugh, it makes me cringe all over again just thinking about it.
I guess I probably shouldn't even say anything to jinx it because I know that it might very well be snowing here in Duluth by October 14th. But maybe... just maybe... this nice weather will hold out if you all promise not to remind the weatherman that it's fall. I won't if you won't, deal? Deal!
All our best from sunny, beautiful Duluth,
The Bogarts
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Fall has it all
I love fall. It's by far my favorite season. I get to celebrate my birthday, witness leaves change colors, bundle up in comfy, warm sweaters, and eat as much delicious fall-like foods as I can stomach. Mmmmm caramel apples, pumpkin bread, homemade soups, apple cider, pumpkin bars, apple pie, pumpkin pie... I love me some apple and pumpkin in the fall!
On top of all that, as if fall couldn't get any better, it has one more thing that makes it the perfect season: Seasonal Coffee-mate flavors! There's just nothing better than enjoying fresh pumpkin baked goods with a hot cup of Pumpkin Spice flavored coffee. (The Peppermint Mocha and Warm Cinnamon Sugar Cookie are also to die for..)
I'll be interested to see how much weight I've gained over the last two weeks at my next doctors appointment. Oh well, you know what they say - eat, drink, and be merry... for next year I won't have pregnancy to blame!
With love and lots of pumpkin flavored things,
The Bogarts
Monday, October 3, 2011
There's a good possibility that I may turn into a bird
Nesting. What a silly word. I had heard stories from other moms about how they started "nesting" during their third trimester... cleaning and organizing everything in sight, stocking up on food, and baking all sorts of things. I've been wondering for the past few weeks since entering my third and final trimester of this pregnancy when that instinct would kick in for me. Well, I shall wonder no more! I'm officially nesting. It started slowly this weekend when I had the sudden (and very odd) urge to dust all of the blinds in our apartment, and I do believe that my nesting is in full swing on this lovely October day...
So far today I've:
So far today I've:
- Washed/folded/put away all the laundry
- Washed the dishes
- Washed, disinfected, and put away the baby toys my aunt gave to me a couple months back
- Swept both bathrooms, the entry, and kitchen floors
- Ate lunch
- Worked out
- Made an appointment to get my hair highlighted and trimmed
- Written this blog post
And it's only the middle of the afternoon! Assuming I don't take a three hour nap again today like I've gotten in the habit of doing, I could accomplish more in this one day than all of last week combined. I must say that I do enjoy having this much energy and ambition... I wish I could just turn into a bird forever.
And now it's time to scour my cook books for something delicious and entirely unhealthy to bake!
Happy Monday Everyone!
- Mama Bird
Saturday, October 1, 2011
True Life: I'm addicted to garage sales
The past two mornings I've been up at the crack of dawn like normal, but unlike my boring Monday through Thursdays... I took full advantage of the morning hours by scouring the city of Duluth's garage sales. I'll admit, I get quite a few odd looks being a mid-twenties woman garage sale-ing by myself, but I just don't care! Garage sales are where it's at people!
Where else would I have found a white down Ralph Lauren winter jacket to fit my pregnant belly for a mere $10? Or how about a brand new car seat cover for $5 that sells in stores for $25-$30? Nowhere. On top of those awesome deals, I also found some quality maternity clothes for $2-$3 a piece and some adorable Vikings baby sweatpants for only twenty-five cents. Twenty-five cents people! That's as much as it costs to get one of those crappy gumballs from a machine whose flavor only lasts about five minutes- it may as well be free!
But my best find of the whole weekend was a pair of brown Hush Puppies dress/casual shoes that look like they've barely been worn (aside from the worn-out shoelaces). Guess how much those cost me? Just guess... Nothing. That's right, they were in a "free" bin at one of the sales I stopped at. And let me just tell you - "If it's free... it's for me!"
There's just something about bargain hunting and finding a great deal that makes me down-right giddy inside. It's addicting. And as sad as I am to say this, it's probably a good thing that the garage sale season is drawing to a close soon. I need to detox before I cross that fine line of bargain hunting and hoarding...
Enjoy the weekend and the beautiful fall weather!
-The Bogarts
Friday, September 30, 2011
Technology: a Pregnant Lady's Best Friend
Technology never ceases to amaze me. Truly, it doesn't. And I think that I appreciate it more than ever now that I'm pregnant... In all honesty, aside from the infinitely more attractive maternity clothes, I'd say the coolest thing about being pregnant in 2011 is all the resources available to me 24 hours a day. Take, for example, my phone. I have an app on it based on the "What to Expect When You're Expecting" book; it gives me daily and weekly updates about what my baby and body is doing as well as tips for sleeping better, choosing a childbirth class, exercising safely, and the list just goes on and on. It's SO cool! And that's just the app on my phone! That doesn't even include all of the pregnancy-specific websites on the internet that give moms-to-be a way to educate themselves about pretty much anything and connect with each other. And registering for baby stuff? Beyond easy with today's technology. You can add/remove items from your registry or even complete your entire registry online! This came in handy for us when Ryan and I became entirely overwhelmed in Target by the endless rows of baby products and got tired of maneuvering around other extremely pregnant women. Plus, by looking up online reviews of different things, we were able to get feedback before deciding if that product was something worth registering for or if it was just an expensive piece of junk.
By the way, in case you're wondering, a lot of baby stuff today really is nothing but expensive junk. Who cares if your burp rags cost $5 a piece and have cute designs on them if the spit-up runs straight down and onto your shirt instead of being absorbed like it should be? And who wants to carry around a baby bouncer from room to room that weighs 25 pounds? Not me! Call me old-fashioned, but I don't care if it has super-sonic vibration something-or-the-other and a giant light-up bar of toys... I just want it to securely hold my baby. Alright- rant over for now.
Moral of the story is this: technology makes being pregnant a lot easier. And when I'm an exhausted, third trimester mama-to-be, I like easier. Now if only technology would make it easier to paint my toes and put on my shoes... ;)
Today I am exactly 29 weeks pregnant. That means it's only 77 more days until Baby Bogart is due to make his appearance!
Happy Friday - TGIF!
-The Bogarts
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Testing.. Testing.. 1,2,3.. Is this thing on?
Well, we're back! It has been over nine months since we left Sweden (wow, where does the time go??) and I wrote my last post, but I have decided to jump back on the bandwagon and give this whole blogging thing another try. It really was a convenient way to keep everyone updated on our daily life while we were abroad and hopefully it will serve the same purpose back here in the states. Plus, it gives me an opportunity to stretch my creative muscles a bit.
So here's a quick update on what Big Adventures the Bogarts are on these days...
As most of you know, Ryan and I are expecting our first child in December. A little boy! We're SO excited (and nervous) to start this new chapter in our lives as parents. Talk about a "big adventure", huh? I am currently taking the year off from school to be a stay at home mom as I am due the last day of fall classes - December 16th. Ryan and I agreed that it would be best for my sanity and the baby's health if I just took the fall semester off to rest before he comes and then stay home with him for the first few months after he's born. No worries though, I will be returning to school next fall to finish up the six classes I have left and get my degree in Chemical Engineering! I've worked too hard for too many years to not finish...
Ryan had an internship this summer with St. Louis County doing safety and risk assessments and graduated this past August with his Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering. He really loved the work he did over the summer and actually decided to go back to school for it. He is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Environmental Health and Safety at the University of Minnesota Duluth and will graduate in the spring of 2013- the same time I will be graduating. In order to finance his education, he is working as both a lab assistant and research assistant. The two jobs combined pay for 100% of his school, which is beyond amazing. And as if all that wasn't enough to keep him busy, Ryan also started up his own independent consulting business this fall. He is currently contracted to St. Louis County and will be doing some work for them part-time while finishing up school. In case you're wondering... yes, he is incredibly busy and stressed by the many commitments he's taken on, but each of them was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
We are still living in Duluth for the time being, although we did move to a bigger apartment in a different part of town back in August. Our little 600 square foot, one bedroom place wasn't going to be big enough for three people. Heck, let's be honest, it wasn't even big enough for just the two of us! One of these days soon I'll try do a video tour of our new place if I can figure out how to post videos...
And that about sums it up! I think I've rambled on enough for my first post back. Plus, this cold/rainy weather is making my Kindle and cozy bed call to me. Have a fabulous day, folks!
God Bless.
-The Bogarts
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