Baby Face & Peach Fuzz

Contrary to what the title of this post would indicate, this is not a post about Mr. Lougee ;-)

This is a post to show you some pretty big achievements in my journey toward becoming a domestic goddess. 

We bought a box of peaches at the Farmer's Market on Tuesday. 

On Wednesday I canned 7 quarts - my first time ever canning (aside from helping my mom with raspberry jam when I was like seven). 

On Thursday I made a peach cobbler, from scratch. And it was remarkably good. 

Wish I earned some badges I could stitch onto something ..... 

Eric made this collage with an app on his new iPAD. 

In other news, my baby turns 8 months old tomorrow. To celebrate, she got her first little tooth poked through the gums this week and one more about to peak out at any second. We also gave her some bread pieces, licks of a fudge bar and her room is almost finally put together! What a lucky girl. 

What else can I tell you about this girl? 

She doesn't crawl yet, though she can scoot backwards when she's throwing a fit. 

She's started to pull herself up and around things, but not a lot. 

She likes to snuggle with mom and get hyper with dad. 

She loves riding in her stroller on walks (I guess I should do that more). 

She hates when we leave the room or even indicate that we might be leaving the room. 

Her favorite place to do the deuce (#2) is in her exersaucer/bouncer. 

She used to loved peas, but now won't eat them. 

New nicknames: Snugglesaurus, Boo boo, Baby Bear (thanks to her growling) 

Eric and I were talking about a week ago and we both commented that we didn't know that a baby so young could have so much silliness. 

She is so much fun to have in our lives. 

Wouldn't trade her for the world! 

(or sleeping in....) 

Squish squish squish. 

Such a sweetie.

Cheeks!

Riding in my Car

There's some bocce ball to report on. And a baby, too.

But, least importantly, here is yours truly riding in my car.

P.S. It's been confirmed. I hate packing.

Two Weeks

Well, our baby girl is officially two weeks old. It both seems long and short. Short because in the scheme of things two weeks is only a very small fraction (hopefully) of a lifetime. Long because without regular, long intervals of sleep the weeks have felt a bit like one continual day. Like somehow I'm paused on life's time continuum.

We are obviously still getting to know this sweet little girl, but here's what we know so far:

• Ella's least favorite thing of the day is getting her diaper changed. Unfortunately for her this is something that happens at least 8 times a day, you'd think she'd just get over it by now! 
• She enjoys riding in the car - as long as she's got a full tummy. 
• Ella is destined to be competitive eater. She's constantly sticking out her little tongue looking for the next refreshing gulp of milk. 
• She is trying to make the thinning hair look of 45 year old men a cool style. We'll keep you posted on if that catches on. 
• She's got a feisty little personality. 
• She already enjoys getting her nails done. She might be her most calm and serene when this Momma bear is filing her tiny razor nails.
• By far the most popular adjective used by everyone to describe her is "beautiful." I love it. 

Ella is a little bit of a fusser - and that can be trying at times because you just want your baby to be happy. But, she's also such a sweetie and we love to smother her in sloppy first-time parent kisses and coos. 

Additional reading: Baby Daddy

On the first date of Christmas.....

A few days ago I was perusing blog land and while visiting the Rockstar Diaries I read about an idea for "12 Dates of Christmas." So, in a mini-series of epiphanies I realized I CAN have it all. I CAN finish school, enjoy the Christmas season, spend quality time with the hubster, and clean and prep for baby. And I DON'T have to do it all at the same time. It had kind of come to the point where I felt like there was so much to do, I wasn't doing anything.

So, I just wrapped up my internship credits last night, woot. And have my stats final to take next week. But, I've also decided to do 12 Dates of Christmas with Eric. Not every date is really going to be a "go out on a date" type of deal. But sometimes they will. Last night was the "soft launch" of me enjoying my husband, my holidays and staying sane. When he got home from playing basketball, I gave him a Spanish nativity to open and set up. And told him about my 12 Dates of Christmas idea. He was all for it. And, he's in a more care-free mood anyway since he wrapped up his classes Wednesday (now just waiting for final grades) and he's only got one more week of work before the School District goes on winter break.

So, here you are. Eric LOVED the set. He named the shepherd and wise man and told me the Spanish names for Mary and Joseph as well as the animals. We joked that next year he could play with that nativity, I could play with my tiny replica of a nativity my family had growing up, and baby could play with the wooden nativity we have.

Oh, and why Spanish you ask? Eric did a two year stint serving the Spanish speaking people of Arizona for our church. And he plans on teaching high school Spanish.

Final treat. One of the lovely ladies I work with snapped this picture of me today - at exactly 36 weeks. I promise my hair and face aren't so scary in person. 

Cauliflower

So, on Friday I was officially 27 weeks. Which means by this Friday (a mere 3.5 days away) I will be in my third trimester. 


I've been negligent in taking my side profile pictures - in between work, school and keeping up with the Kardashians, can you blame me? Anyway, so I had Eric snap a shot this morning. 

Apparently, I'm very excited.
Further, I dedicate this photo to Suzanne - had to buy a matching sweater to the onesie she recently sent us! 

I was about to apologize for the sack of potatoes at my feet, but it's fitting, I decided, as my stomach is feeling more and more like a sack of potatoes. I officially prefer having a pillow under my stomach when I sleep. 


Anyway, Eric was looking pretty handsome in his new work clothes and he wanted in on the belly fun. So, here's his shot. 

Sexy, right? 

Here's what BabyCenter says about 27 weeks: 

How your baby's growing:

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

For the record, I have yet to determine if I've felt hiccups. And I haven't yet felt Braxton-Hicks. However, I have felt the great sensation of a uterus growing and seemingly tearing to sizes it's never been before. Aside from backaches, evening heartburn and the occassional swelling of my usually petite ankles, I am really enjoying this time. She's still small enough that I can feel her literally "swimming" around, but not so big that I'm completely uncomfortable. Plus, people actually acknowledge I'm expecting a baby - not that I've just enjoyed binge eating for the last 6 months or so. 

Anyway, family photo! 

This is gonna be one good looking kid! 

"We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!"

First post of October 2011. Wow, I'm not really sure where summer disappeared to. But, here's a sparse photo recap of our quick and not-so-dirty weekend dash to Salt Lake City.

Friday night we went straight to Satan's School - (University of Utah, obviously) 

where we attended a mission reunion for the Arizona Pheonix Mission. 

It wasn't quite as dry and boring as I'd imagined. In fact, it was really great to see and meet the people Eric had spent two years of his life serving and teaching the Gospel with. 

Couple of my favorite parts: 

1. President Gill's message on attending the temple. 

2. The mission "hymn" - what a powerful way to feel the Spirit of missionary work.

3. The mission 'fight song.'

4. The beam on my husby's face the whole night. 

It was a great prelude to the rest of the weekend. 

Elder Eric Lougee, Elder Drew Ensslin, Elder Kyle Smith
We actually met some of Drew's family when we visited Porterville, Calif. this summer. That's where he grew up!

Saturday afternoon we found an Asian Market where I picked up some much anticipated Kewpie as well as large, bargain priced boxes of curry. 

My handsome man texting some folks from his mission during our lunch at Chili's. 

Because of Eric's mission connections, we got two tickets to Sunday morning's session of General Conference. Sunday morning is always my favorite. Music & the Spoken Word, Motab, and the Prophet always speaks during this session. 

Waiting at the Trax (Utah's public transit train) early Sunday morning. 

In the Conference Center - Bird's Eye View.

This place holds 21,000 people. 

I can't figure out how the roof doesn't collapse in because there are NO beams impeding your view. 

It's just a fact of life that it is either rainy or fairly cruddy weather every conference weekend. 

However, October must've snuck up on Mother Nature, because it was beautiful and warm. 

I even sunburned a little. 

From the roof of the Conference Center - which I'd never been up there before - with a view of the Salt Lake Temple behind me. 

I finally got to meet Ms. Teri Lynne Carroll and her two boys Joey and Charlie. 

Eric became great friends with this family during his mission. It was so nice to meet them face to face, such a warm and fun family. 

Teri served a mission in Guatemala, Joey just came home from a mission in New Jersey where he spoke Spanish, and Charlie will be leaving in December to serve a mission in Mexico City, Mexico. 

They'll all speak Spanish, and I think that's awesome!  

Eric, Charlie, Teri and Joey

We had a nice weekend. We enjoyed our time with Ken and Jan's family as well. They're always such generous hosts. 

We also bought a few things for baby girl - the biggest being a car seat, the smallest being a picture book of Christ. 

It's crazy to think I'm almost into my third trimester! 

Life in a Small Town

Though we live in Hermiston, I adore Pendleton's Farmer's Market. So, with a few dollars cash in my wallet, I stopped by after work on Friday evening. 

 I picked up an eggplant and some ears of corn. 

Then Saturday, I attempted an eggplant parmigiana. I'll say it was 78% successful. 

I even let Eric out of his crib to try some. 

Really he was beginning to prime the crib we bought for $10 at a yard sale.
It's a hard job with all those spindles. 

*Not pictured: my first ever attempt at making cookies from scratch BY MY SELF. I made peanut butter cookies and I'll say they turned out 82% successful - thinking it was just the recipe. 

And pictures from the Umatilla County Fair that I forgot to share with you a couple of weeks ago. 

Just moments before this sheep encompassed my finger with its slimy nostril. 

New form of adult entertainment?

Lonestar!

Remember last year's night at the County Fair? Here's a refresher. 

We also both remarked on looking forward to taking a 7 month old babester to the county fair next year.

How goeth your weekend?

Robbing the Cradle

Okay, so Eric may be 7 months younger than me, but that's not what I was referring to in this post title.... 

Back when I was all of six or so weeks pregnant my mom, Stephanie and I went to a bunch of yard sales in the Athena, Oregon region .... it was there I found two great treasures .... a Beatles "Let it Be" album on vinyl in awesome condition and this old thing:

If you can't tell, it's a wooden cradle. Well part of it. I had already unhitched it when I thought of taking a "before" photo. I made out like a bandit from that yard sale. This rickety, dirty, old cradle cost me $3, the Beatles album $2. That also happened to be the weekend that my constant nausea set in.

Anyway, we finally started rehabbing the cradle this week (thanks in part to Mom's 13th lecture about getting projects done before I'm too pregnant to want to).

First, I took it apart because it was in need of cleaning in every crevice. It was like it's been sitting outside for the last 25 years (probably). And all the bolts needed tightening anyway. 

Then the priming began. It was a much messier ordeal than I'd ever imagined in my life.  

While priming had tired me out, it had sparked Mr. Lougee. So, I started putting the cradle back together, and just as soon as he could, he started painting it. 

He was working so fast his arm is blurry. 

Thanks to his persistence and diligence and patience with my fit throwing when I was tired of trying to put big bolts in too small of holes (I cannot deny or confirm that I threw down the cradle base in a tantrum and stormed out of the room like my former 3 year-old self), we finished the cradle this evening! 

Yes, those are ducks in the cradle. And a cute bear Mom found in my things and washed for me to give to baby.
And yes, Eric put the bear in one of our favorite baby outfits so far. 

 We still have to get a mattress pad (found online for $19), so between that, the cradle and the cost of supplies (new bolts, primer) - this will cost us under $40 - a good deal, we think. 

In other news, I can 99.2% affirm that I've finally recognized the baby moving around in there. It helped that he/she was very active today, unlike his/her mother. Eric was lucky I found the will power to go grocery shopping. I spent most of the day reading my book - feet up - which I think contributed to the ability to feel this munchkin moving. The movement was especially tangible after eating. And I loved every little motion. And now that I know for sure what it feels like, I can affirm that I've felt movement previously, though not as much and not as tangible.... Anyway, blah blah blah. 

Baby Fashion

Koala bear onsie? Yes please. 

The cardigan? The rolled up jeans? I could handle having a boy if I can dress him like this. 

These images are courtesy of H&M.

Now, back to work ...

pfff 

Unexpected

Okay, unexpected thrill from being pregnant? Back-to-school stuff! 

Man, I almost wish I could buy this thing some glue and pencils and a lunchbox right now! 

But the thought that I'll be able to do that in just a few years for preschool is exciting!!! 

(though, I don't want baby Lougee to grow up fast by any means) 

I love that line on "You've Got Mail" where the girl types, 

"Don't you just love fall? It makes me want to shop for back to school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address."

I'd throw in a couple of delicious smelling, freshly bound, unused notebooks, too.