Update: weeks 17-20

Life has just been getting away from me lately! I'm now in week 25, but I wanted to do a couple posts to catch up from my absence.

I left off on week 17. There wasn't much happening this week, but I remember loving spending this day with Jakub, exploring the woods and eating some wood sorrel that he foraged. It is such a peaceful memory that reminds me of how much fun I can have with this guy I married.

I remember feeling so big in this picture, and now I find that pretty amusing.

During this week, something unimaginable happened: I had signs of those erratic hormonal breakdowns that are synonymous with pregnancy. I thought up until now that maybe I would defeat the odds and remain completely sane during my pregnancy. I was sadly mistaken. However, they didn't come in their full force until a few weeks later. This week it was as if they were new to the neighborhood and just stopped by to introduce themselves. By week 23, they were showing their true colors and now (week 25) I feel like someone needs to be calling the cops to make a noise complaint.

The picture for week 19 was taken on our way home after our trip to see our baby kick and cuddle on the ultrasound screen. It seemed so much more real than the first two ultrasounds, where we were supposed to believe that the blob we were looking at was actually a baby. Up until that baby was on the screen, I was still convincing myself that I couldn't really be pregnant, that it was all in my head.

It was so exciting to see all of its little features, and to glance at Jakub as he watched this little being who was resting inside me. We didn't want to find out the sex, and luckily the technician did a great job at keeping things hidden (with the exception of two images, that each look to be telling of a different sex, which is a good thing I suppose because it keeps you guessing.)

Our due date got moved up a few days to September 20th. I was worried that we were going to have a big baby since I'm measuring three weeks further along, but thankfully this baby is being respectful to me at the moment and measuring at a normal weight.
 

Week 20 came with a much-needed trip to Chicago. I got to see my cousin, Margaret, and my aunt and uncle, as well as Grandma Puckett! I loved getting to have a glimpse into my cousin's life in Chicago. She really is one of the most interesting people I feel you could ever meet, so I felt rather privileged to have her to myself for several hours.

We ate at some amazing places while in Chicago! From Ria (a 2 Star Michelin restaurant) to Moto, the Aviary, and Hot Doug's, we ate to our hearts' content.

Jakub was pretty upset that we couldn't eat at Alinea. To make it worse, they called while we were in the air with news of an open table, but when Jakub returned the call it was already filled. To make it up to him, I just so happened to spot Grant Achatz at the airport just in time for Jakub to grab an autograph! It was such a funny thing to see him go from disappointed about not eating there, to super excited about the call, to completely bummed, and back to a grinning little boy after shaking his hand and knowing that his wife could spot a famous chef (perhaps better than he).

We had such a great trip, but it opened my eyes to how different a vacation is when you're pregnant!

I'll be posting the second half of the update soon, and then hopefully I'll get back in the swing of doing this regularly. It's awfully hard to keep track of things as time passes.

To Grandmother's House We Go

photo via

It's time to go and I can hardly stand it. I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve, fighting sleep because of anticipation of the coming morning.

In just a few short hours I will be making my way, along with Jakub, my parents, my brother and sister, and all of their kids, to the grand ol' city of Pataskala, Ohio. We'll be celebrating Thanksgiving with some of my favorite people on earth.

Did I mention Grandma Puckett will be there?! (you can read more about her here, if you are one of the few to not have heard of her yet). And on top of that, her food will be there in all its glory.

Since living in Oklahoma, holidays have been somewhat of a disappointment. I love big family gatherings, and frankly, we just don't have the numbers in this town. I love my family here but there's something about all the noise and laughter that I can't get enough of.

I can't wait to be with my cousins again, and for Jakub to see what Ohio is like. He hasn't met a lot of my family yet from Ohio so that will be exciting.

I hope everyone has a great week, and if you're having a difficult time coming up with something to be thankful for, I highly recommend you read this post. It opened up a whole new selection of topics for when you have to go around the table and tell what you're thankful for. Definite conversation starters, I'd say.

Life in 33 Days (Image Heavy)

I've been absent quite a while from this here blog and I think it's about time I cut that out! I haven't been absent for lack of topics to talk about. In fact, I've had an overload of life lately and sometimes in order to process it all, you just have to move through it and then at some point, look back and piece things together. So much has happened in these last several weeks and I feel like I have a million stories and thoughts to tell you! How about I start with something that I've been talking about for (quite literally) months without any sign of making headway!

Drum roll please......

That's right, I FINALLY finished my 50's inspired two-piece swimsuit last week! Just in time for a Sunday lake trip with some of the best friends around. Unlike my attempt last year at making my own swimsuit, this one held up to the water test (that is, everything stayed where it was supposed to when it got wet ha). I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out. It takes a while to get used to wearing such high-waisted bottoms, but really, I feel so much more comfortable and confident in this style of suit than a modern two-piece. ( I mean, I can sit and not feel like I'm a lazy slob, which is always a plus). It also helps to satisfy my desire to live in that era. I love the clothes and style of the 1950s, but would I really want to live without the modern conveniences? ehh....

Aside from that, here's just a few other noteworthy events that have happened since my last post:

I got a ukulele and I'm actually getting the hang of it! I can already see there will be plenty of "jam sessions" with my dear friend meg, so watch out everyone, we may get famous.

We took a trip to the zoo, with my parents and all of the nieces and nephews, including these two:

Jakub and I fixed up this little table we found at an estate sale. I'll show the finished product another time. That process, from start to finish, is rather addicting so you may be seeing more additions later on.

I've been spending a lot of quality time with my brother's kids and it has been the time of my life! This little lady isn't too fond of females so when she sat on my lap, I had to document it! Unfortunately, this was the only picture I was able to snap before she was off. But don't you worry, she's taken a fancy to me and we'll have plenty more.

My nephew, Jesiah (top row, second from right), finished up his first t-ball season. This has been a highlight of my summer and an experience unlike anything else!

Did I mention, he scored the last two outs of the last game! We were all so proud!

She has Jakub wrapped around her finger, and I don't blame him!

Everyone got together last night and it was full of laughter, good food, games, and love

To welcome my Grandma Puckett, Aunt Karen, and Uncle Scott to town! Every moment with these people is so special.

Since my birthday, my life has been centered on family, both physically and theoretically. It goes without saying that I have had some great times with these people, but we have also experienced some heart-wrenching moments together in this time period. Moments that have challenged my ideas on what it really means to be family, and what aspects are pivotal to community. This has been an extreme period in time in which my whole being has been challenged every which way the wind blows. Through it all, I have seen that God is good and though it doesn't all quite make sense yet, my view of God's love and how he calls us to love has been heightened. I'm sure I'll expand on some thoughts in the coming days, but I just wanted to say, I'm still kicking and hopefully I won't be absent that long in the future.

Here She Is In All Her Glory: The one, The only...

She is known by many things to many people: Martha, Marty, Mom, but the most legendary? Grandma Puckett. I cannot express to you the deep sense of pity that wells up from my heart for those of you who do not know her, because I guarantee you will never meet another one of her kind. She's not your typical grandma; she's the stuff legends are made of.

Though many of my friends have not met this treasured beauty, they know of her quite well. In fact, some of them ask for Grandma Puckett stories, because let me tell you, they are numerous and diverse. She is the best cook, has the greatest story telling abilities, and is quite the stained glass maker. Oh, that sounds typical of a grandma, you say? Don't be foolish. She is a 78 year old ball of fire and if we were to get in a brawl, I'm quite certain she would whoop my butt. She has more energy than I'd know what to do with and spends most of her time working outside on her garden. To say she's an outspoken liberal would be an understatement. If her tv's on, it's either CNN or sports. She's very active in her church and community and she's always putting things together with other people in mind. She is not a typical grandma and from the stories I've heard, she wasn't the typical mom either. She is the toughest woman but yet she is still so in touch with her emotions and has the greatest way of displaying them. You will never have to guess what she's thinking; whether she thinks you're the most gorgeous thing she's ever seen, or you just made the stupidest mistake of your life, you'll know. How can someone be so completely honest in every situation?! And I tell you what, she has the smoothest skin of a woman her age and it's not because she got cosmetic surgery.

While my family was in town for our wedding in 2009, I had the pleasure of hearing more stories about her that left me speechless with my mouth wide open. She is the type of person that I dream to be like. When I think of her in my day to day life, sometimes I just have to ask myself, what in the world did I do to deserve to call her grandma? How did I get this blessing? As I'm writing this, my emotions are welling up inside of me and I get so frustrated because no matter what words I use, I won't be able to get across just how unique and utterly awe-inspiring this lady is. She is everything: strong, caring, adventurous, a storyteller, tough, funny, independent, vibrant, unexpected, a wise ass, outgoing, beautiful, talented, driven, young, loving. She is a joy to be around and she doesn't take anyone's shit (pardon my language if it offends you). I think she knows she doesn't have to, she's paid her dues. I wish I could have known her more and all throughout her life because something tells me she's never taken it from anyone. But still she's the sweetest person you could know.

I'll stop now because I'd just go on and on. Bottom line: This is a woman, by every meaning of the word. Her youthfulness and spunk are unparalleled by anyone I know. She has a life that you wouldn't believe (trust me). And she's coming to town tomorrow! It's not under the best of circumstances (in fact, it's downright crappy) but I'd be lying if i said I wasn't tickled to death. She is my soul mate. Each time I get with her I walk away knowing a little bit more about life and how you really don't have to pay attention to all the rules. I wish she could write a book about her life so you could understand what I'm talking about.

Did I mention she snuck alcohol into our wedding reception?