The Second Wife

So J asked me the other day what my plan would be if he died. After making him realize this was purely hypothetical (he has already promised me he isn't going to die) I told him what I had figured I would do which would be to try and get rid of whatever we have down here, move home, buy a home with the life insurance money, and try to either go to school with what was left, or just get a job. He hounded me with questions (I guess he didn't like my answer), but he never brought up the re-marrying. Probably because I've told him several times that I honestly don't think I could remarry. Obviously, I am not in that position and never ever want to be, but I can't see it. I can't see anyone that could ever compare or even anyone that could just put up with me and my craziness. Plus, what J and I have is forever...I don't take that lightly and having that perspective makes me think I would be strong enough to live the rest of my life without someone. Like I said, I hope I never have to find out. I always say, "God won't give me more than I can handle," but I never really know if I can handle it until God gives me that trial. I am definitely not asking for it...I don't want to find out, but we never know what God has in the plan for us.

I read a blog post this morning from a man who recently lost his wife who was the mother of his six children. We've joked around about and I would "half" kid with him that he couldn't remarry when I die. I would just be too jealous (yes...I have a horrible problem with the green monster). I thought about me, in the Spirit World, looking down on a different woman raising my kids, being loved by my husband, living the life I was supposed to live, and...even the thought hurt. But lately my attitude toward that has been changing. Heaven forbid I did die, I love J enough to put my own selfishness aside and hope that he does find someone to share the rest of his life with (I most likely won't be happy about it). Having this little one puts it into even a bigger perspective. He needs a mom. But then I thought...maybe I will have reached some sort of enlightenment when I die and I won't look at it that way. Maybe I will be rooting for a certain woman I want my husband to be with. Someone I know would take care of him and my children. Would I want her to be someone like me? Probably not. I would want her to be better...but a little less attractive (OK maybe a lot less...I still want him to love me more).

Baby Shower

So...yeah. I gave up on the 30 days of blogging thing, but I made it pretty dang far!

My awesome-est, best friend in the world threw me the most amazing baby shower on Saturday! :D Here are some pictures for ya!

My baby shower was filled with the cutest decorations:

Yes...isn't that the cutest diaper cake you've ever seen? Look at that moose! And you can't see it, but those are John Deer socks on the side of the cake. Jenna, my friend...you know me all too well! :D

Wouldn't be a truly "Montana" themed baby shower without antlers!

On the hunt for a jacket like that...if anyone knows where I can find one, let me know!

Complete with fishin' poles, campfire, and a tent!

The best tastin' and best lookin' food:

Camo cupcakes!!! Even the insides were camo! Kudos to Robin for being so awesome!

Colorful, delicious fruit complete with dip! (Thanks Lu!)

Carbs, carbs, and more...carbs. O yes.

The food table. But wait! There is something missing!

O yes...MONKEY BREAD!!!!!!!!

And...the sweetest people:

Me and my baby boy sure got spoiled!

How awesome is this bib?!

My "pregnant buddy." She is exactly two weeks and one day ahead of me. Everywhere we go, we get some kind of comment like, "Good timing," or "Double trouble!" or "What is this, the pregnancy club?" Haha...I love it.

A little pre-party picture. This is me at 30 weeks!

Thank you to everyone who came! It was the best! And a big, big thank you to Jenna (the bestest friend and amazing party planner), Robin, Kim, Missy, Krystal, Janae, and Lu! You guys made it an amazing day! :D Love you!

Days 21, 22, & 23--A Recipe, A Website, and a Youtube Video

Yes...I fell behind. Motivation is something I lack as of late...for anything really (not good when you have work to do and a house to pack up and move).

Today is the 3 year anniversary of the day that J proposed. We finally wrote down the story, with both of our points of view. I will post it later today...you do not want to miss that story. Basically...I married the most amazing man ever.

Kung Pao Chicken
*I found the original recipe online and tweaked it to how I like it. Hope you enjoy! (How could you not though, seriously.) Serves four.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts-cubed
  
• 2 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoon peanut oil
• 4 cloves garlic-minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 8 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 8 tablespoons soy sauce
• 8 teaspoons sugar
• thai chili peppers

Directions:

1. Combine the chicken and the cornstarch in a small bowl. Toss to coat evenly. (To evenly coat with ease I put the chicken in a ziploc bag with the cornstarch and shake to my heart's content.)
2. Heat peanut oil in a large pan on medium high heat. Add chicken and stir fry 6 to 8 minutes or until no longer pink in the center. Transfer to a plate.
   
3. Add garlic, crushed red pepper, and ginger to pan. Stir fry for 15-20 seconds. Remove from the heat.
4. Stir together vinegar, soy sauce and sugar in small bowl (This is the sauce portion). Pour over the garlic mixture. Add chicken. Add whole Thai chili peppers. Heat through until sauce glazes and sticks to the chicken. Serve over hot rice.

(I'd post a picture, but I don't have one, and none of the online pictures do it justice. You'll just have to see how it turns out yourself!)

The following website is where I go to make myself sick of junk food before I even eat any. You'll see why...

This is Why You're Fat

I should've visited this site more frequently in the last couple weeks because I gained a little too much weight over that duration due to my intake of glorious sugar. (I resolved yesterday to go off sugar again when I have this baby...don't know if I'm emotionally stable enough to attempt it right now.)

And since I'm all about babies lately...here's a Youtube video for your viewing pleasure.

Day 20--A Hobby of Yours

Dear Reader,

Hobbies.

When I was younger I actually used to write down every license plate number I ever saw. Walking, riding my bike, riding in the car...anywhere. I would write it down, until...an 80-something year old man saw me taking down his license plate number, gave me the what for, and told me I was some punk kid trying to steal his identity (I was probably about 7 or 8 years old...why would I want your decrepit identity, old man?). I gave up that hobby pretty quickly after that (remember I was a sensitive little thing).

I have been straining to remember a hobby I've had since then and, other than music (see last post), I can't think of any. I have activities I enjoy doing, but nothing to really make a hobby out of.

I'm not "crafty." I don't have vision when it comes to refinishing old furniture, or scrapbooking, or any kind of thing like that. I can sew a pair of pajama pants and managed to sew a couple of aprons, but that's about it in that department.

I read a lot. Is that a hobby? Somehow I feel it isn't because it's not a very productive one. All I do is lay on the couch and absorb another story into my sponge of a brain.

So, dear friends, I need your help. I am on the hunt for a new hobby. One that suits me. Any ideas? What hobby should I adopt?

If you could suggest anything at all, I would be much obliged.

Sincerely,
Hobby-less

Day 19--A Talent of Yours

Well...most people don't know this, but...

I can give thumbs up with my big toe. I would take a picture, but my feet are a little dirty right now, so I will wait on that.

What most people do know is that my main talent lies in music. Heavenly Father blessed from the start with long fingers to play the instruments effectively and an ear to hear the music. I feel very blessed to be given this gift and I love to use it as much as I can.

My main instrument is piano and I also play violin. I dabble in guitar and I like to sing. But, the singing is usually when I am alone...I am really shy about singing.

Since I've been married I've taken up composing. I adore composing music. It's an amazing process and it's one that I'm still learning a lot about. I have started composing about 10 songs and have finished composing only 2. I have "writer's block" a lot and finding an ending is ridiculously hard. I have the music in my head but getting it to feel final and complete in itself is difficult to say the least.

The two pieces I composed were for my sister-in-law and my best friend. I wrote a piece for my sister-in-law titled "Danse de Kylene" and I haven't been able to record it because I don't know people who play the instruments that the piece requires.

My best friend had her first baby last year and as a gift I composed a lullaby for her daughter titled "Kaleigh's Lullaby." (My titles are not very original...I'm striving to be a composer, not an author, right?) I was very fortunate (with the help of some awesome friends) to be able to record it and give it to her at her baby shower. If you click the link at the bottom and click on the link on the page that pops up you can hear it!

I am currently working on my baby boy's lullaby. My goal is to write a song for each of my babies before they are born. It's proving to be a difficult task (that darn writer's block).

Kaleigh's Lullaby

Day 18--Whatever Tickles Your Fancy

What tickles my fancy today? Let me show you...

My working air conditioner and...


high quality H2O.

Yes. Living in the desert and feeling like you are sticking your head in an oven every time you step outside makes you grateful for these things that you would normally take for granted.

You know what else tickles my fancy (and my insides)? My little man. He kicked a lot more today than he did yesterday (which is great because I was worrying a little bit yesterday) and I still can't get enough.

Day 17--An Art Piece

I am really not an art connoisseur as I am not very educated in art and haven't been exposed to a lot of pieces.

If I had a picture of it, I would definitely put a picture of the moose my mother-in-law painted (she is amazing). It used to hang in our cabin and now, once we get it down here, it will hang in our baby boy's nursery. I adore the moose painting.

But...as I don't have a picture of it, I will put this picture up:

It's not my favorite, but I've always been somewhat fond of it.