My Own.

There's a lot of things I'm good at. Few things I'm great at. I have been trying to find something to make my own, something I can focus all my energy on and become amazing at. Make something unique, something that not a lot of people do or create.

It's difficult. I have been racking my brain, asking myself "what can I make awesome? What can I make my own?".

I have yet to find it. I think about it constantly. I do lots of different activities. Photography. Painting. Crocheting. Language. Blogging. Building fish tanks. Gardening. Dancing. Cooking..... but I want to me known for something, be the only person I know to do something specific. "Oh, that's Alie. She makes awesome ________".

I know when I find it, it'll be amazing. And I know it'll take a lot of time and energy, which I realize I will soon not have much time for. But I'm still on a mission to find this hobby or craft to make my own.

*sigh*

I will find it. Eventually.

I found a new band tonight, I am in love with this song. Give it a listen. All the way through. I have their album "Touch Up" and I am hooked.

Don't be a crappy friend.

Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I have the plague or that I'm no longer capable of hanging out and maintaining friendships. My level of existence didn't change. I may not be capable of hiking or power walking but I am still able to be a friend. And I still have feelings.

I think that when people have friends that are having children, they think their friends will no longer be interested in being human beings with social lives. This is not the case. I don't want to be left out because I'm pregnant. I don't want to stop being invited out.

I understand that there are some stages in pregnancy that ladies are less likely to be out and about. But that doesn't mean we want to be made to feel like there's something wrong with us. Don't drop out of our lives. Don't stop including us and inviting us. It's nice to be thought about, even if it is unlikely we are able to participate. A friend just invited me to her rollerskating party. She knew I wouldn't be skating. But you know what? It's pretty incredible that she was still thoughtful enough to think about me and include me in her birthday events.

And have some patience, please? For all the time I have listened to my friends talk about their love lives (or lack of), finances, animals, jobs and other random occurrences in their lives, I don't think it's too much to ask that a dear friend listen as I talk about the most important, substantial thing I have ever done in my life. Especially when it's pretty much... a miracle. Support would be appreciated. Don't feel like hearing it? Then you probably shouldn't be a part of my life. Because the most important thing in my life is no longer me.

My friend Stephanie sent me a link to a great article. If you have a friend that plans on having a child soon, it might be beneficial to read this:
Rocking Aunt and Uncle hood.

Quinoa!!

Let's keep it real here. It's not easy to eat your healthiest while you're pregnant. I will see something I know I shouldn't eat, but end up "needing" it. Like the Skittles I had at around 10:00AM (I must add, they were only a small Halloween fun size). I had barely any issues keeping my food decisions controlled before baby and hope that gift returns after Cooper is born.

One awesome thing about having a sister-in-law with a degree in dietetics, is that there's no shortage of influence when it comes to making amazing, healthy dishes. Even more awesome? Is having her live next door. Tara is one of the best cooks I know and I'm not just saying that because she's family. She constantly keeps me intrigued with food and helps give me new ideas when healthy just sounds... blah. I'm waiting for her to start a food blog. (Do it Tara. Do it.)

After one of our weekly work out groups about 6 months ago (I attended these regularly before becoming impregnated), Tara oh-so-effortlessly threw together a salad that I will never forget. I tried to mimic the salad tonight and although it wasn't as incredible as the original, it was pretty damn delicious. I changed it up a little, as there were a few ingredients I didn't have.

I made a pot of quinoa with fresh zucchini, diced shallots, garlic and onions. After the quinoa was done cooking, I threw in a can of black beans and some sea salt. Quinoa is one of my favorite foods and I can thank my dear friend Elayne for introducing me to it.




Then in a separate bowl I tossed a handful of baby spinach with a very small amount of the best salad dressing EVAR (Newman's Own Light Sun Dried Tomato Dressing). I added a large scoop of the quinoa and topped the heavenly concoction with some unsalted sliced almonds.

Even after 6.5 months, I'm still learning how to fulfill my pregnancy cravings for amazing food while keeping it healthy, so my baby gets as much nutrients as possible. More to come.

Aeroplane Over the Sea

It's not often that I post lyrics... but sometimes a song grabs me and I have to share. This song is in my top 5 all-time favorites. I highly suggest you check this band out if you haven't heard of them. The lyrics very much describe the state of joy I've been in recently. Things are good. Very, very good.


Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel

What a beautiful face
I have found in this place
That is circling all round the sun
What a beautiful dream
That could flash on the screen
In a blink of an eye and be gone from me
Soft and sweet
Let me hold it close and keep it here with me, me

And one day we will die
And our ashes will fly from the aeroplane over the sea
But for now we are young
Let us lay in the sun
And count every beautiful thing we can see
Love to be
In the arms of all I'm keeping here with me, me

What a curious life we have found here tonight
There is music that sounds from the street
There are lights in the clouds
Anna's ghost all around
Hear her voice as it's rolling and ringing through me
Soft and sweet
How the notes all bend and reach above the trees, trees

Now how I remember you
How I would push my fingers through
Your mouth to make those muscles move
That made your voice so smooth and sweet
Now we keep where we don't know
All secrets sleep in winter clothes
With one you loved so long ago
Now he don't even know his name

What a beautiful face
I have found in this place
That is circling all round' the sun
And when we meet on a cloud
I'll be laughing out loud
I'll be laughing with everyone I see
Can't believe how strange it is to be anything at all

Election Day

I've got to say, I am very proud of my sweetheart. It's a special day for him, as this is the first time he's ever voted in his 36 years of being alive. He put aside his stubborn ways for one day and actually voted. It may have something to do with the fact that legalizing marijuana was a ballot initiative... but he still voted.

Now we wait and hope.

Belly

Belly at 25 weeks.

The Fury of a Thousand Ninjas

I'm quite disappointed in myself. These Converse All Star BOOTS have existed without me knowing it for a while now. I'm not sure how long they've been around, but I caught my first glimpse of them yesterday at Doumit on Park Street. I have to say, it was a jaw dropping experience. I couldn't believe how amazing they were and would have purchased them if all my money wasn't being hoarded away for my maternity leave. I have been wanting a pair of wrestling boots, but this far surpasses the amount of "Fucking-Awesome" that wrestling boots possess. AND they zip up the back. Gimme.

That is what has been on my fuzzy mind all morning and my mind has been beyond fuzzy today. We had a new experience last night. Usually I fall asleep with no issues but then end up waking multiple times in the night. Last night however, I was not able to fall asleep until about 1:30 AM.

Cooper was kicking with the fury of a thousand ninjas. I have never felt him as active as he was last night. It was non-stop, for hours on end. When I woke up to pee, I'd get an intense reminder that he was still there and not going anywhere fast. It was entertaining at first but then it just didn't stop. I'm quite happy to know that he is in there, having a good time, albeit his mother's comfort and sleep patterns are severely compromised. Today while at work there's been a pretty busy day in the uterus as well. It almost seems as if the little guy doesn't sleep. It used to be that I could only feel him while sitting at my desk or laying down. Now I can feel him while I'm standing. This kid is going to be a moose.