:: Brinna's ::

:: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 ::
:: life inbetween ::

I am now back from Thanksgiving in Arizona, and have recovered mostly from the trip. I took Alice to her 4 mo. checkup last Wednesday, and in the early afternoon began the long drive with Kristi and Katie. Long being operative...we got to Tucson about 4am. We all slept on the floor in my uncle's living room. I'm not as young as I used to be... :) Mom got to sleep on the couch, and Dad got to share the guest bed with Daniel and my grandad.

The next day we drove to Yuma and had T-giving meal with my dad's side of the family. I talked to Rochelle (spell?) and Caroline (also spell?) Poe (got that one right, I think), my dad's cousins. They're always enjoyable. I won't call it a feast, and I didn't feel like it was Thanksgiving, either. I felt a bit full, but not a raucous event like I remember holidays as. Too stressful for them I suppose...they prize calmness, apparently. I see why I prefer my mom's side. Can you believe I always thought 'raucous' was pronounced 'racious'? That's what I get for never checking the dictionary.

We kinda had a day off on Friday, we talked a lot to Aunt Bonnie, who had arrived during the night. We had lunch at Aunt Laurie's, then Kristi and I went shopping at the new mall. I got Alice a onesie at Hot Topic that says 'Don't Kick the Baby', with Ike on it. Also, at least 5 pairs of awesome knee high socks. One is fishnet-ish, a pink mesh sort of thing that looks more Victorian than slutty. There was matching leg warmers that I'm using as armwarmers (who needs leg warmers when you've got knee-highs, anyway).

Saturday we went to a little reception dealie at Barbara Senko's house, not sure how she's related. Dad's cousin maybe. Anyway, that had finger foods and sparkling apple cider. It was in honor of Dad's dad and his long-time girlfriend getting married. I like him, but his new wife seems a bit controlling. Not sure though. That afternoon we drove back to Tucson and that night I slept in the recliner, which while still not optimal was definitely more comfortable than the floor. The next mornine we met Uncle Earl's new girlfriend, Leigh, who has a son whose name I don't recall presently. She was nice. I didn't talk with her that much so I don't know much about her but if they get along, fantastic. If she likes him she'll have no prob fitting in with the fam. She's coming to Colorado for Christmas which I unfortunately will miss. I wouldn't mind spending more time with her. Anyway that night we got home about 2am, not too bad. I got to sleep in my own bed with its wonderful pillowtop. (Next time you have a crummy mattress, simply buy a pillowtop, under $50 at Walmart...does wonders.)

The past couple days I've been sewing lingerie. I know, I'm so talented.. :) I saw a cool set at Victoria's Secret in purple (eggplant) silk shantung and saw the price tag. Eek! It was simple enough to make, it seemed, so I bought some fabric ($13/yd) and trim and sewed up a bra and undies for a fraction of the price. It's basically a corset/bustier, with boning. Cost me at most $15...to buy, it would have been at least $70. While I was at it I bought some very good quality velvet-type material in the home decor section, and I'm making a similar set. I actually got the velvet in eggplant and the silk in a bluey/periwinkle. I was surprised with how easy it was to make.

I also made some pumpkin pie with some fresh pumpkin. It tasted very good, but was a bit chunky. We had mashed the pumpkin but not blended/pureed it, next time we'll have smoother pumpkin. We're also going to try cooking the pumpkin over the stovetop, to make it thicker, like in Laura Ingalls Wilder's cookbook and Little House in the Big Woods.

Hmm, what else...did I mention I got Alice's passport in the mail finally, whew! I'm all set for my big trip. I fly to Denver and pick up my bags, then stay overnight in a hotel, lug them back and check in to fly to LA and then Korea. It will be ok (although a pain) to take my bags overnight on the way over, because I'll have Alice in a carrier and the suitcases have wheels, so I'll pull one suitcase per hand with a diaper bag over my shoulder. Tiring, yes, but I'm not that old yet! :) And certainly worth going to Korea. Especially if I get to wear fancy dresses to a fancy ball!

I bought a nursing bra from Australia, they didn't sell the color I wanted in the U.S. and it was cheaper from them. I measured myself and I am apparently a 32DD. Holy cow. My aunt actually asked me if I'd gotten a boob job. As if! My baby's 4 mo. old and I'm getting augmentation already?? I told her nursing IS a boob job. I used to be a 32B. And I was happy with it. I looked at my old bras and whoa do they look small. Anyway, I don't think I'd ever get cosmetic surgery. Especially since I'm still nursing and my body is still changing. I buy a couple pairs of jeans and lo and behold they get too loose. I'm now a size 7, I think. I was at least an 11 postpartum. Quite a size difference when a person hasn't been formally exercising regularly..

Today I went to town (literally, not as in the expression...I live 20 min away from ANYTHING) and returned a couple things to Victoria's Secret. I'd thought I'd bought a pair of dark red undies to match something but they didn't match. So they got the boot. And I got some plain black undies. Cause they match everything. Including what I'd been trying to match. I think. Maybe I'll go check. (But not right now.)

Tomorrow, I have nothing planned. Maybe more sewing. I can't sew non-stop with Alice. Tonight I watch Lost, if possible. I love that show. The last show I watched all the time was Star Trek: Voyager, and only to make sure Tom and B'Elanna got together. I don't like to watch TV that much. I liked 3rd Rock and That 70s Show...also Arrested Development. But not enough to make sure I watched it every week.

I was just reading one of mom's books about being a helpmeet to your hubby, like the Bible tells us to be. (Submit, woman!!) It was saying there's basically 3 types of men: Controlling/Leaders, Visionaries, and Steadies. I always thought Andrew was kinda steady cause he's so quiet, and he can be a bit controlling, but I realized he's really a visionary, who just doesn't talk to ppl that much. Which is getting better, since he's been married to me. Not trying to claim credit, just an observation...I know I could be better about how I react to his ideas. I'm not usually negative, I'm just too quick to strew a little reality. :) The book said that visionaries will usually toss out their own ideas after a bit more thought, so you don't need to...it will only keep him from sharing his ideas. Not sure if it's true, but I don't want it to happen. Negativity should always be stayed away from, anyway. But supposedly I'm already a good match for him, cause I'm flexible and I like adventure too. Can you imagine how bad life could be if I reacted to being in the Army and having a baby on my own as if it was the worst thing ever instead of an adventure? I mentioned it to my mom and she agreed, and mentioned that the situation had the potential to be hell and marriage destroying. Which is what happens to 90% of military marriages, according to a statistic.

Well, thank God I'm not a statistic, and I don't intend to become one. I feel like I'm not a newlywed anymore because we're close, but I guess 3 years isn't much compared to 50, or even 20. Just like I feel really old and really young at the same time. Welcome to life, right?

:: Brinna 3:39 PM [+] ::
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