Traditional Fall Fun and Corn Maze

Since we've been married we have created our own little family fall traditions. One is that we always go to a corn maze. Over the past few years we have been to a few and I haven't been impressed. A few of our friends have told us about Barton Orchards in NY and how great it is. I was excited to find out they had an orchard as well as a corn maze and several other fun fall things. So last Saturday we made the one hour trip north to the orchard. It was a beautiful day! I can't believe how warm the weather has been for this time of year. At one point I was curing myself for wearing jeans.

There is a lot to do at the orchard and we got there a little past noon. We were both hungry so we went to look for food. I was shocked that so many people were there. I shouldn't have been though, it really was a gorgeous fall day and this is the place to be on a gorgeous day in the fall. We had to wait almost 45 min to get lunch. It was worth it to me because I got a pepper/onion sausage wedge with LOTS of spicy deli mustard, which is my new favorite. Honestly, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. We had out lunch while listening to a live band play some beach boys, the atmosphere was great.

After lunch we walked around and went to check out this family fun area. It did look like a lot of fun for kids, but for the two of us it wasn't that exciting. Maybe when our kids are a little older. Then we went to the corn maze. As mentioned we had done a few and none have presented a challenge. This one however was 5 ACRES... so we knew it would be a different story. They gave us a little packet with a word game in it. (You had to find all the word stations to find the missing letters in the mystery word. Then it had a section where you had to do 9 crayon rubbings that you would find in the maze. On the back was a map of the maze, but you could only see it when put under a viewing station found somewhere in the maze. I was very ambitious at first and wanted to find all the word, rubbing and look out stations in addition to finding our way out. It was clear after about 20 min that our objective was simply - find your way out. This maze was HUGE! We saw several people hold a flag up to signal they needed help, we were determined to at least do it on our own. I think we did pretty good. We applied some strategy and made in out in just over an hour or so. 

As we exited the maze we could smell the warm, homemade apple cider doughnuts. We had been waiting all day to get them. Our friends told us they were the best donuts (I never know which was way is the most socially accepted way to spell doughnuts) they had ever had. I had a hard time believing that, because donuts happen to be a weakness of mine, I've eaten my fair share of out of this world donuts. I wasn't sure how these would add up but I was excited to have one. They sold them in dozen, half dozen and single form. Our friends had asked us to get them a dozen. I even called to confirm that she really wanted a dozen donuts for two people. Mike and I were only getting a half dozen and one single to eat on the spot. I should have known by the size of the line that the donuts would be good and I should have gone with the irrational part of my mind that said "get a dozen." Oncortunanly, after 30 min of waiting in line I got half a dozen for us and the single. Since mike was waiting in line for a milkshake else where I had to walk over to meet him. The donuts I had gotten were still warm and I started to eat my half of the donut n the way to meet Mike. HOLY MOTHER of DONUT GOODNESS!! It was the best donut I had ever had. It was a cake donut, but still light and not to dense.  It almost melted in your mouth, if you had the will power to actually let it stay in your mouth before swallowing it all in one bite. So good. Mike might not have gotten his equal share, but I figured the baby needed her taste too ;) We debated getting more but didn't want to wait in the long line again. It was probably for the best though. I'm trying really hard to watch what I eat when it comes to junk food. 

Mike spent the next 35 min waiting in line for a milkshake that turned out to be less than mediocre. While he waited on his shake I checked out the orchard. I didn't like that they made you buy a bag and pick a minimum amount of apples, I only wanted a few so I decided to opt out of the apple picking part of our trip. Maybe next time. 

We headed home shorty after Mike finished his shake. I got some hot apple cider for the road, even though it was 75 and a cold bottle of water made much more since, it's all part of the experience. It was the picture perfect fall day. OSU was even kind enough to have a by that week so I didn't have to rush home to watch them. Seriously a great day. I love our little family traditions. 

Months 5 and 6

  

How far along: 27 weeks and 1 day
Total weight gain: 22 lbs.
Maternity clothes:  I ordered a TON of clothes online this week and am anxiously awaiting on them to come. I need maternity work pants and jeans ASAP!
Stretch marks: Not yet
Sleep: Normal
Best moment of this week: Finding an awesome sale on baby clothes at baby gap with Amanda!

  Miss anything: Being able to breath out of my nose normally all the time.
Movement: Lots kicks and punches. I can see the baby when she moves now and it is kind of freaking, but mostly cool :)
Food cravings: Peanut Butter and chocolate anything. I don't give in to this graving often because its so unhealthy but I do really want it all the time. I also love sour/spicy/salty things more than normal. For example I prefer deli mustard to regular mustard, I want banana peppers on my salads, I love pita chips and popcorn. I try really hard to not eat the things I crave as often as I crave them though.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Driving Mikes car makes me sick. I can't stand the way it smells.
Have you started to show yet: Please!
Gender: Girl
Labor signs: Nope
Belly button in or out: in, but slowly changing

 Wedding rings on or off: I don't wear my wedding bands becasue they are to tight so I just wear my engagement ring.

Looking forward to: Snuggling our little girl and dressing her up in darling little clothes!

Week 27:

My thoughts on breast-feeding include giving it my best shot, being open to what is most realistic. I know it will be hard and I hope that my body will be able to produce enough milk for baby.

Some discomfort I'm having right now includes frequent stuffy noses.

The way I deal with it is wearing nose strips to bed and always having tissues handy.

For breakfast, I'm often in the mood for half a whole wheat beagle with natural peanut butter and a banana.

For lunch it is usually a salad or left overs

My favorite snacks are pita chips with string cheese, skinny pop popcorn, apples, grapes, peach applesauce, chobani yogurt and edemame.

For dinner I just eat smaller portions or I feel very uncomfortable. 

My perfect day includes no work, no class, no babysitting, baby clothes shopping with Amanda, a dinner date with Mike, being caught up with school work so I don't have to do homework, a clean organized house,a good work out and an episode of Scandal or Once Upon a Time.

Baby, about true love, I think its accepting someone the way that they are. Seeing past all their flaws and finding the good intentions of their heart. I don't think true love is meant for just husband and wife, but for family and close friends as well.

  

Week 26: 

This baby seems more real than ever.

The baby's room is coming along. Dresser is finished, bookcase is painted, brib put together... it's coming along.

My Birth plan includes trying to go natural and avoiding and epidural. And possibly a water birth, but I don't think my practice does that.

Worse case sceanari, I'm planning on just going with the flow and doing what feels right at that time.

Baby, when it comes to religion I want you to know, that I have a testimony of the church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. I know you are only on loan to us while you are here on earth for you are a child of your Heavenly Father.

Week 25

My feelings towards my partner this wee are grateful, loving, emotional. But secretly I wish he would frequently acknowledge my sacrifice to bare his child :)

I never realized how much I loved peanut butter until I got pregnant.

During the day, I'm working hard and trying to stay organized. At night, I'm ready to crash, but my constant stuff nose can make this hard.

My perfect meal right now is almost anything I'd normally want with a chocolate peanut butter milkshake for dessert.

Baby, I think our most important decision for you will be all of the decisions we make as we try to decide which parenting methods will work best for your personality.

 

Week 24: 

When I'm on the move, I feel slower than normal (like when I was trying to keep up with Bryant at the OSU game) but I can still move quick if I need to. 

The temperature I need right now is cool with 0% humidity.

I'm wearing my belly abnd all the time these days.

I've started thinking about the birth. When I do, I'm most focused on hot to avoid the process in general. So far I have only been about to come up with the stork delivering the baby to me option. Some say that its to late for that.

Baby, when it comes to the important things in life, more than anything, I hope you choose to keep the Lord and your family close. 

Week 23:

Right now, exercise consists mostly of my normal workout which is only 35 min on the elliptical, 3-5 times a week.

Lately, I've been thinking that what makes someone a good mother is patience, understanding, desire to be a good mother and obviously unconditional love.

When I'm with other peoples kids, I notice nothing really. I don't see much of my friends with my current schedule. 

And having a flay stomach seems like forever ago to me.

Baby, when it comes to college someday I hope you go to a school that is affordable because I'm not paying for college :) J/K - kind of. I hope you take college seriously and excel. 

Week 22:

When people touch my belly, it's... no one is really touching my belly.

Stretch marks are still a non issue, give it time.

When people make comments about the size of my belly, my response is "Thanks, I sure don't feel as tiny or as great as you say." or I say nothing, because what do you say when someone tell you that you are getting big? lol.

Other than patience and compassion, my plan is come what may and love it.

Baby, I don't expect youo to be perfect, I'll support you by telling you how wonderful and loved you are. Encouraging you to do the things that make you happy and loving you even when you make mistakes. I will do my best to show love in all I do.

 

Week 21:

The Baby's movements feel like a swift kick in the bladder

I'm buying this baby not much yet. I should probably change that, even though I have no idea what I'm suppose to do with it all.

My parents are acting like everything is business as usual, and it makes me feel like they don't remember I'm having a baby. Then again, I hardly remember I'm having a baby.

The things I am most excited about this week is feeling her get stronger and stronger.

Baby, I'm not perfect. Something I'm working on becoming better for you is putting things into perspective and not being so stressed all the time.

It's a Girl

 
 When we started tell people we were expecting one of the first questions they asked was "Are you going to find out what you're having." When we said "yes, most certainly" we got mixed reactions from people. I was honestly surprised to find that so many people do wait till the baby is delivered to find out what they are having. While I can completely appreciate and understand there reasoning for waiting, that's so not my personality. I want to have everything picked out and cute and ready to go.  When it was time to schedule the anatomy scan (where you find out the gender of the baby) I realized it wouldn't be till the end of the summer. That was far to long to wait. I wanted to be able to tell Mike's family in Utah that summer and I wanted my family to be apart of the gender reveal festivities. I was planning to go to Ohio the first week of Aug and would be leaving the day that I turned 17 weeks. I had read that you can get a gender reading as early as 16 weeks so I asked my dad if we could use the ultrasound machine at the hospital where he works.

The ultrasound tech agreed and we made an appt for the day before I was to go home. I felt a little sad that Mike wouldn't be in the room with me when they told me the gender of the baby. So I devised a plan to make it as fair as possible. When I had the ultrasound I looked away when they started looking for the gender. My dad and the tech were not allowed to use gender words and I was not allowed to have the faintest idea at what it could be. My mom and sister were in the room with me as well. My sister had to play my game with me and look away. My mom however would not play my game. "This is my first grand baby and I this is the only ultrasound I'll be able to go to so I want to see everything." I didn't argue with her, and she was able to be in on the secret. So both my parents knew before Mike and I.

During the ultra sound the tech and my dad thought they were about 60% sure they knew what it was. Before they ended the appt they went back to look one more time. This time they got a clearer image and decided they were 85% sure. So I knew whatever they told us wasn't 100% until we went to the scan at the hospital ion Stamford, but that 85% were pretty good odds.

My mom wrote the gender in and index car and stuck it in an envelope. We took it to out local bakery and asked them to make a cake that was colored either blue or pink depending on the gender of the baby.

That night the whole family sat down to dinner together. This was tricky to arrange with the work and sport schedules of my sibling. It was a fun family dinner. After we finished eating we facetimed Mike who was at home anxious to hear the news.

We both thought it was going to be a boy. Mike thought that way because he really, really wanted a boy first, as most men do. I thought it would be a boy only because I had spent the last 14 weeks trying not to get my hopes up. I really wanted a girl first. I have been praying for a girl first since before I was married. I didn't want to be disappointed if it was a boy though, so I just told myself it was a boy.

Right before I went to cut the cake I had my dad give Mike his version of what he saw on the ultrasound. While he was talking he said "I can't be 100% sure because it's still very small." I took this as, it was a boy but his manhood was still very small." My mom made a face that said "you just let it slip" and I vocalized that I felt like he just ruined the surprise. As much as I had prepared myself for a boy I still felt like pouting at that moment. Maybe because I thought it was a boy and maybe because I was sad the surprise had been ruined right before I cut the cake. I didn't feel like cutting the cake anymore. Pregnancy hormones. No one else could stand the suspense so they had me cut the cake.... and it was PINK. I was so excited! My mom had tried to trick me and I played right into it. I was so thrilled to have my girl first. Mike was shocked to hear it was a girl, but after the shock wore off he was excited as well. In the end all we really wanted was a healthy baby, the gender doesn't matter. We would be happy with any child we were blessed to have, boy or girl.

 Katie refused to admit it was a girl. She still calls the baby a "boy." Maybe next time Katie. Also please note the goofy faces the girls are making in these pictures. First KT is making a face at Mike on the ipad, then Lizzie is making a face at Bryant who was taking the pictures. Silly girls. They will be the funnest aunts, I know my daughter will adore them, as will they adore her.

Half Way There (20 weeks)

Before I got pregnant I swore I would be good about updating on the blog and taking pictures each week. I'm not doing as well as I had planed, but am proud of what I have been able to get done so far. We are about halfway through this whole pregnancy thing. I'm still feeling pretty good, just more tired than normal. I haven't bought to much for the baby yet, but have done a lot of online research and know what products I want. I feel like that is an accomplishment. I'm still trying to work out often but it is becoming harder as things start to pick up with my fall schedule. Mike and I still haven't processed that we are going to be parents... I'm pretty sure we won't believe it till we are sleep deprived and changing diapers. We are excited though and can't wait to meet this little one!

Week 16:

I'm really starting to look pregnant.

Romance is getting... ??? is this is a normal question ???" ... right now.

I cannot wait for the baby to one day snuggle up in my arms.

When that happens I'm going to have Mike take a ridiculous amount of pictures,

Weight gain is fairly normal for me right now.

I'm choosing to eat normally and work out 3-5 times a week.

Baby, it's so important to me that one day you have lots of love and happiness in your life because

that will make your life meaningful and complete. 

Week 17

Lately I've been imagining meeting the baby.

My favorite baby name right now is Eden.

Wardrobe items being left behind include my shorts from last summer.

My partner is amazing about everything.

Baby, I want you to grow up to be happy. Whatever you decide to do we will support you as long as it is something that makes you happy.

Week 18

My Favorite activity at the moment is eating bean burritos from taco bell (with lots and lots of mild sauce.)

Childbirth classes are on my radar. There's a chance we will try to find one to sign up for soon.

In a couple words, my current plans fro the birth is natural.

Baby, someone gave me this advice about you and I don't want to forget it: to feed you in the day with noise and lights, but for the last feeding of the day have it be in your room with dim lighting and soothing noises to teach you about the bed time routine from the first day.

Week 19

Physically, what's driving me crazy this week is my belly not fitting into what I want to fit it into.

The thing I an NOT worries about is.... what kind of question is this? I am worried about everything! lol.

The baby can hear now. What he/she probably hears most is me frantically try to prepare for school/work and the arrival of the baby.

My emotions this week are starting to become a little more irrational at times. I started to cry when Mike wouldn't take me to Zuppas for dinner. I thought he was being mean. In reality he was being reasonable but in my irrational mode I felt very picked on and I cried. lol. Poor Mike.

 Baby, I hope you always have enough faith in the Lord to help you endure the challenges and sorrow that this life may bring you. Also that you will be able to counter the sorrow with lots of love and laughter. 

Week 20

Halfway through! Lately, my mood is mostly stressed

Sleeping requires finding the time in my busy day to rest or go to bed early.

Sometimes I just wish it was always nap time.

We know the sex of the baby. In my heart I thought it was a boy then thought it was a girl.

Baby, this week, what I'm mostly worried about for you is that one day you'll be sassy and think you know everything. The same way I did in high school. I'm not looking forward to having a hormonal teenager.

How far along: 20 week and 6 days
Total weight gain: 10 lbs.
Maternity clothes: I have a pair of work pants and two tops. But really I'm just wearing my regular shirts and a belly band.
Stretch marks: Not yet
Sleep: Normal
Best moment of this week: I started to feel the baby this week {18 weeks}. I think I have been feeling it for a while but wasn't 100% sure. This week there was no denying those tiny movements belonged to my little one. It is so sweet to be able to feel you move around and kick all the time. I can't wait for your dad to be able to feel you too!
Miss anything: getting up from the floor after bending down easily.
Movement: Lots of little kicks and flutters
Food cravings: Bean burritos from taco bell with lots of mild sauce... actually maybe just mild sauce. One day I ate about 5 packs on the way home from taco bell. But I decided it wasn't good for me so I stopped eating them. Nothing else yet.  
Anything making you queasy or sick: Being in a moving vehicle
Have you started to show yet: Yes.
Gender: Yep... but waiting to take a picture before we go public
Labor signs: Nope
Belly button in or out: in
Wedding rings on or off: on 
Looking forward to: Mike being able to feel the little one.

Day 20 - Tuesday July 9th, 2013 - All good Things must come to an end

-My final thoughts on my amazing trip-

It's always hard to believe it when a vacation you have looked forward to comes and goes. I remember booking this trip in January and thinking it will never come. Now here it is come and gone and I'm on the plane back to the US. I really LOVED my trip. I sincerely enjoyed all the time I got to spend with my mom and my sister, Katie. Since I don't live at home I think it's good when we get that type of time with one another. It's fun getting to know her on a more grown up level. I admire my mom's sacrifice to let me drag her around and love that I got to experience some of my travels with her. I also enjoyed spending time with Mandy and her family. They are so wonderful to have hosted us. I loved watching Mandy and George interact, they are so good together. I love how they can play off of one another, that makes a good marriage. They also are such great parents to their sweet little girl. I really loved my time with Mike. we don't get time like that at home so it was great going on fun dates with him every day. I always give him a hard time about being a bad driver. I learned on this trip he is actually a fantastic driver. He's only a bad driver when he has a cell phone to distract him. However, given our current car situation (my car in the impound for 10 days) I don't think I'll have to worry about that too much anymore. I think he's learned his lesson.

Anyways after being away from home and traveling for three weeks I've made some great memories, seen a lot of beautiful places and enjoyed fantastic company. But I must say I am incredible happy to be going home. I am soo glad to live in American. I know a lot of that is because it's what is familiar to me, but regardless of the reasons why here are some things I won't miss about Europe

Paying for water
No ice
Worrying about pick pockets
People trying to con you out of money
Everything being more expensive because the € and £ are worth more than the $.
Disregard for personal space
Lack of personal hygiene
poor labeled streets
Streets with names like ss263
Ridiculously high gas prices and road tolls
Having "service" added to you bill rather than paying based on performance of service
Ketchup that taste like BBQ sauce
No lines or organization, people just jump in front of you if you seem to be in a line.
No signs or stop lights in intersections, just make space for your car then floor it.
Salads being served with only oil and lemon

All that being said, I really did enjoy my trip. And here are some things I will miss to prove it.

Lemon soda
Peach yogurt
European chocolate
French baguettes
The rich history of the area
the magic that comes in discovering a new place
Fanta
Fresh orange juice (I promise it's better there)
Gelato
Learning about other cultures
Making memories with my favorite people


And here are my top 5 favorite things I did over the whole trip

Drive on the Amalfi Coast
Beach day in Cinque Terra
Disneyland Paris
Les Miserable on West End
Fireworks over Sorrento

Day 19 - Monday June 8th, 2013 - Capri/Rome Airport area

We slept in as long as we could then went to breakfast. Sick of eggs and bacon we stuck to fruit and cereal. Then we packed up and caught the ferry back to Sorrento. We were able to catch the hotel shuttle back to the hotel where our car was. Upon returning to the hotel the first thing I did was run to the car and check my suitcase. The first thing I saw when I opened it was my cellphone! I was so excited to see it, I have no recollection of putting it in there. Could this be my first sign of pregnancy brain? If I hadn't had so many pictures from my trip on my phone I actually could have been ok with loosing it. I'm due for an upgrade but Mike wants me to use the thing till it stops working. Anyways, we looked up the address for the Rome temple construction site and put it in our GPS then once again hit the road. We drove the three hours to the construction site. Before arriving we had to stop at a toll booth. There was a man standing there, he was not dressed in any official outfit but seemed to be assisting people at the booth. I remembered this specific toll had cost €2 on the way there. I got out my €2 coin and gave it to Mike. the guy at the booth said only bills no coins. he was very admit about it. I was very hesitant, not really trusting anyone but not being able to think fast enough to connect the dots on the spot. Luckily I had a €5 bill and gave that to him. When he gave me my change I quickly counted it to see if he had given me the right amount, but Mike had already driven through the stop when I realized the dirt bag had taken some of our change. I was only given €1.50 in change instead of the €3 I was due. I was furious. I quickly explained to Mike that the scum bag probably didn't work there and just prayed off of people like us, I'm sure the coin machine worked just fine but had we given perfect change the dude could not have stolen any money from us. I was seriously fuming. When we arrived at the temple site it was all boarded up so we really couldn't see to much, but saw enough to get a good idea for what it will look like. It was still pretty cool to see. Then we went to the hotel to check in and get rid of all of our bags before dropping off the car. On our way to the hotel we had to find a place to get gas so we could return the car on a full tank. When we got to the gas station a guy came up to our pump and started helping us. I thought it was kind of odd since the sign said self service, but we had stopped at another gas station where someone who worked there had helped up. When you buy gas at places in Italy you have to give a € amount first then pump your gas, so trying to fill a tank completely is tricky. We started at €40  and we got pretty close. I suggested seeing where €5 would get us but the guy peeked over Mikes shoulder and said €5 was not enough we would need more. So before I could protest Mike told me to give him €10. Not wanting to make a scene I just gave it to him. When the tank signaled full after only €6.50 Mike asked for his change. This is when the dude told us he couldn't give us change because he didn't work for the company then asked for a tip. I was again furious that some scum bag, trying to make a buck, had lost me money. Mike had to rip the coin for his "tip" out of my clutched fist. I could rant about these type of people all day but as my blood pressure is already rising just thinking about it I know it's probably not healthy. Lol. We checked into the hotel at about 4pm. We hadn't had anything to eat or drink since breakfast and were about to pass out. We went to the hotel bar to get a snack but they weren't selling food till 7! Even though Mike had a terrible headache coming on we decided we needed food. Not knowing where to go for something we would like we reverted to an American classic, McDonalds. We searched for it in the GPS and set it to take us to the closest one. However, when we "arrived" at the destination there wasn't one anywhere to be seen. We quickly picked another and were happy when it was a real McDonalds. I generally don't get fast food but after a week of pizza and pasta nothing sounded better. I ordered a feast large enough to clog every artery in my body. I ordered a deluxe quarter pounder, side salad (they had dressing!), chicken nuggets, strawberry milk shake and I shared a large fry and fanta with Mike. And I'll tell you what, McDonalds has never tasted so good! I think I had eaten my whole meal in 15 min. After we ate we took the car back to the airport. We checked it in, which was a little confusing, then searched for the shuttle back to the hotel. It was the longest shuttle ride ever. It took about a half a hour but it was in a hot van with no ac, we were in the back and the driver was jerking all over the place. I was so sick and Mike was even worse than me because he was getting a full blown migraine. I've never been so happy to get to a hotel and lay down. The rest of the night was pretty boring. We didn't really leave the room. Mike tried to kick his migraine and I just hung out and packed to leave the next day. Of course we spent a good amount of time trying to finish our book. After a few hours mike decided to use our spare change at the vending machine. He got a couple sodas and some wafer cookies. The wafers were pretty good so he ended up going back to get more. That was the excitement of the night. I feel asleep fairly early. When I woke up at 3am I felt terribly sick. I think it was a combination of morning sickness and my body yelling at me for the McDonalds meal. My mom happened to text me so I ended up Facetiming with her and my sister for over an hour. Lol. Then I went back to bed. I guess you could say I was trying to get back on USA time.