Hibernation...

I have decided after this weekend that I am going into hibernation until January 31. No joke. Every single store I went into this weekend a little old woman would approach me and say that I looked like I was about ready to, quote, "pop." Awesome.

Anyway, Christmas was AWESOME. Food, food, food, more food, guitar hero, & movies. I loved every minute of it. Oh and pictures to follow of more crafting fun for Bryant's nursery. I actually learned how to sew curtains (not very well though). My mom's talent for sewing makes me jealous. Hopefully I can learn to sew a straight line one of these days without cursing at my sewing machine once or twice. haha.

Guess what I learned. Fabric comes in standard sizes of 45', 54', and and and and. I can't remember the last one. Fascinating for the ignorant like me. :)

Will work for food...(seriously though, I will...)

As of today I am semi-officially a college grad. For those of you who know me well, you know that the past 4 years have not been the most fun of my life, but somehow I've managed to push through a major which was not particularly within my interest or my personal strengths. I'm forcing myself to release a small sigh of relief at the prospect of being done with school, for the time being anyways. Can I get a hallelujah?

Nevertheless, life goes on, and unfortunantly, continues with its surprises and challenges. I'm not sure how many of our readers out there have heard, but economic trends are not particularly desirable lately, making the job search a rather depressing and tediously discouraging task. While this is in no way a plea for sympathy (that's next week's post), I am wondering if anyone is aware of any possibilities which may be of interest to an ambitious, hard-working young man such as myself. I've found through the past few months' experience that networking is far and away the best way to get my foot in the door these days. So, please, don't go out of your way, and don't cash in any IOU's with your powerful executive friends, but if you are aware of any possiblities, just know that I am more than happy to consider them. Feel free to drop me a line and ask for a resume, references, or any other info. which interests you.

Thanks friends.

Ode to Ovaltine.......

So those of you who know me very well know that I am obsessed with ovaltine. The rich chocolaty goodness mixed with ice cold milk is THE perfect combination. It's like chips & salsa, pancakes & syrup, ketchup & french fries, macaroni & cheese, poop & toilet paper (travis's input). They were made to always be put together. No seriously. I have been craving ovaltine for the last few months but since I'm cheap I would walk down the isle in the grocery store, look down at the $7.00 can of ovaltine, stop, sigh, and then proceed onward. This week I went a little crazy and BOUGHT it. My life is in balance once more. Happiness. So go out and buy some ovaltine. It will rock your world. Life will change as you know it. The end. :)

Bad Poitical Decisions...

So, a strange mix of procrastination and boredom hit me tonight as I was supposed to be finishing (aka starting) a 15 page research paper. So 'lil ol Beccers and myself decided to do what all bored people do when they're expecting a baby soon... we morphed our pictures together online to see what baby Bryant would look like 24 years from now. The result was neither pleasant nor comforting. In fact, this little guy doesn't really stand much of a chance in life unless he aspires to be a gay cowboy or a cross dresser. Even more discouraging is the fact that Becca just leaned over to me and said (a direct quote mind you), "It's really not that creepy. It just looks like you, really." In complete and utter seriousness. My public response, "You're a jerk-face."

So, here's the disturbing result and the apparent fruit of my loins...

Seriously, if this picture were any more femanine I would demand another ultrasound to confirm that he is, in fact, a male.

Now of course the fun couldn't stop there. So I'm just going to shoot down my chances of running for future public office right now and post a few more morphs for your viewing pleasure (or displeasure?).

This is lovely product of a Travis and Vanessa Hudgens (Only because Becca can't stand her). Me thinks this is not a match made in cute baby heaven.

This is the point in this blog where I begin to question why I'm doing this and making it public for all to see.

Becca+ Brad Pitt= Clown- Makeup

Now I feel a little better. It's a shame it can't last.

And finally, the worst of the worst, only because she said I must... Some guy (not me of course) and Lance "Yes-I'm-Officially-Out-Of-The-Closet" Bass.

Um, yeah...I think carefully chosen words are a neccesity at this point. I love my wife. Alot. We're having a baby together. I'm straight. The End.

NOooooo!!

The nauseousness has returned. Welcome back old friend. I've missed you these past few months. OH WAIT. No not really. :(

Nausea + heartburn=delightful combo.

ps. I am getting a little terrified of labor. I'm a baby when it comes to pain. Calm down becca. Calm........

Mod Podge Madness.....

(Sorry I couldn't get a good pic without showing my fatness in the mirror. haha)

So it's been a crazy crafting time at the Barnes home lately. I found an old mirror at my parents house (ironically in the same shed that I found the old dresser in. It is apparently the place to find unwanted furniture treasures) that hadn't been used for MANY years and decided it might be fun to spice it up a little for Bryant's room. My mom and I found some cute fabric on sale and decided to try to paste it on with mod podge. I think it turned out pretty perfect (very whimsical. Love it). We added a green wooden border to the inside to finish it off (what do you think about the green mom?).

The next project was some wooden letters to go above the crib. I know I know very generic but I think it adds a little somethin somethin. Mod podge + cute scrapbook paper =magical-ness. Oh yeah.

And just for the heck of it I thought I would add a pic of the "gingerbread" (i.e. graham cracker) house that Travis and I made at a Christmas party on friday. Pretty sweet. It is the one holiday decoration in our house thus far. Yeah we suck. :)

Anyway, sorry if this makes no sense. I feel a little sleep deprived today!!

Ps. I am 32 weeks along TODAY! Bryant (according to babycenter.com) is 3.5 lbs and 16.5 inches long. Wow!!

Peacin' Out!

We'll be here for Thanksgiving...Doing this...And of course some of this...Holla back at cha'll later...

Stuff & Things.....

So it's been so long since I posted I decided to make a little list of things that have been happening lately...........

1. Travis and I have both been sick for a week now......but it does pay to be sick when your wonderful neighbors bring you cookies and rolls.

2. I wake up every morning at 4 and proceed to check both my email accounts, facebook, and then my blog. Oh and then I blog stalk others. I came across Travis's "Ecuador mission group" on facebook the other morning. It made me so grateful to live in a cozy little apartment instead of a house built on stilts on a garbage river. I was a little ashamed at my obsession for a perfect nursery and new couch pillows. I made a new goal of being thankful for what I have.

(My cute Travis in Ecuador)

3. On a more superficial note. I went and saw Quantum of Solace. Daniel Craig is hot with or without his clothes on (Travis don't hate haha). He has such a swagger........me likey. Travis has now put a ban on james bond commercials because I instantly go into a stupor and stare with my mouth hanging open.

4. My fam is throwing me a baby shower on Saturday. I absolutely HEART my invitations. They are the cutest freaking things I have ever seen. (Nat we really need to start designing soon.)

5. I have been looking for SOMETHING to wear to my baby shower, since I now apparently fit into only 4 things in my closet. (I stand and stare at my clothes. 5 minutes later I sigh and grab the same dress that I wear every week). I ordered a shirt online since people give me weird looks if I go to the "normal" non-pregnancy department at the store to look at clothes these days. Hopefully it will fit!

6. Travis's Broseph and Mom are coming to P-town on Thursday/Friday!!!! Which means I feel the need to clean my apartment like crazy in order to avoid shame and disgrace. Today I attacked the laundry. Tomorrow the bathroom. Boys=messy.

7. I am now 29 weeks pregnant. Wow that went fast. Sometimes Travis talks to baby Bryant. I think it is pretty much the cutest thing I have ever seen.

(28 weeks)

8. The End.......for now.

books Books BOOKS....

Today I decided to feed my obsession for reading and get a Provo library card. I, of course, picked the "little kid version" with a giant green fun-loving frog on the front. Then I proceeded to check out Pride & Prejudice, Mr. Darcy's Diary, and Sense & Sensibility. Good thing they have a self-checkout line or I would have been slightly embarrassed by my Jane Austen addiction. Why is checking out your own books so fun? It's like the first time they opened up the self-checkout line at the grocery store and I got to slide my food item across and hear a pleasant little beep. Very satisfying.

Anyway let the fun begin.........

Crappy random picture of Colon firth. Best Mr. Darcy ever......

I'm Fat...

So yesterday was a rough day. I had my "27 week" appointment and found out to my utter astonishment and disgust that I have gained 28 pounds since the beginning of my pregnancy (I have never owned a scale at home, so it's always a special little treat to be weighed & humiliated in front of all the CNA's. Love it.). 28 freakin pounds people!! Yeah the estimated range that I am "supposed" to gain is around 28-40 lbs total. So I am just a little concerned that I will have a GINORMOUS baby and let's face it who wants to shove that out? My doctor also told me that my uterus is measuring a bit large so I need to make sure I get tested for diabetes. Awesome. Let's just say Travis had to calm his frantic wife over the phone (he was at work no less) and tell me that I wasn't fat, just pregnant and that it is better to have a big baby then a too-small baby. He is a very rational person thank goodness for me (I'm a bit emotional ha). Anyway, I"m probably blowing this way out of proportion since I don't know anything yet and I'm still in the normal weight gain range. Just venting.........

On a completely unrelated note I registered at Target for my baby shower. I found this adorable lamp. I heart it.

It's a sad day...

I didn't mean for my last post to cost anyone their job, but it seems that it has. I'm sorry, Phil, I didn't mean for you to take it so seriously. This news is pretty upsetting to me.

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/8747354/Reports:-Fulmer-won

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/8751744/Fulmer

"Dubbed the dean of the SEC coaches for being the longest tenured in the league, Fulmer is the third winningest active coach among coaches with 10 years of experience, trailing only Florida State's Bobby Bowden and Penn State's Joe Paterno...Fulmer currently has a record of 150-51 all-time in 17 years"

Yet the man no longer has a job...

The Great Depression...

I can spell DISAPPOINTMENT with just one letter.

Can you?

Alien..

So has everyone seen the movie Alien? When baby Bryant kicks my stomach and I can actually see it move from the outside, it totally makes me feel like that guy who has an alien pop out of his belly. Kinda freaky.

Also, I HIGHLY recommend "Color me mine" for a date night out. It is super fun to pick out a piece of pottery and then sit and paint and let the creativity flow. Travis and I picked up our finished piece tonight and it turned out surprisingly cute (we painted a baseball "piggy" bank for Bryant. Pretty pimp).

One last thing.....does anyone else ever have a crazy desire to live in a condo in the Riverwoods? Every time I go there at night it is so festive and "alive" with people. I always end up wanting to sneak up to one of the condos and people watch. Yeah I'm creepy. The End.

The following is not endorsed by anyone...

So, does anyone else out there ever read The Onion? It can be pretty questionable sometimes, so you gots to be careful what you read, but it can be pretty hilarious sometimes too. Case and point...


John McCain Accidentally Left On Campaign Bus Overnight

So wrong, yet somehow so right...

Dresser....

I have been up at my mom & pop's house for the past 2 days "helping" redo an old dresser that my parents had (i.e. watching my parents paint and slave away from my seat in the kitchen. paint fumes=bad things for pregnant girls). Anyway, I'm an anal person so decided it would be best to get the "big" furniture in before it gets too cold outside. I was psyched to find out that my parents had an old dresser just awaiting some lovin in their garden shed. I am SO EXCITED about how it turned out! I love the new handles. It looks like a pottery barn dresser to me :) Thank you thank you thank you Mom and Dad for giving us a dresser and THEN beautifying it. Love you!!!

Before....

and After.....

Phone Home...

So, Becca's up at her parent's house in Hooper to paint a dresser for Bryant. This leaves me at home alone on the couch procrastinating homework and watching all the girly TV shows that I normally complain about being forced to watch (I seem to no longer have a mind of my own).

I think that she should come home now...







I also think that I should regain my apparently missing manhood...

Random Shtuff

So, there's no real way to organize this post other than to say it is the randomness that comprised our weekend. Some of it was fun, the rest of it was brought on by extreme, immeasurable boredom.

Friday we got together with some friends from our last ward. We carved pumkins, ate large amounts of candy and watched a movie. Due to our lack of creative abilities, we printed a stencil and traced it on the pumpkin before cutting it out. Due to my lack of enthusiasm I'll post some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Saturday was pretty uneventful. After a long day at home, we decided we needed to get out. We've been trying to spend less money lately, so it was difficult to figure out something worth leaving the house for which didn't cost money. So, we kind of kept with our goal by not spending money from our bank account. Instead, we scraped together all the change we could find and headed to Albertson's for our first Coinstar experience ever. We placed bets on how much change we had. I won (But you all probably already knew that). It wasn't much, but it did afford us a "free" evening. And just in case you're worried about our financial position, this little adventure was more due to boredom than actual need. Don't feel like you need to send us money, unless you happen to be my parents, then you can send us money...

Then we found a little hidden gem. Did you know Macey's has soft-serve ice cream? Yeah, for $1.25 we got two cones, mine was chocolate dipped, and both made us sick. Best $1.25 date ever. The rest of the change money bought us pizza and drinks.

Mmm...Ice cream, Pizza and Drinks. All in all not a bad night.

Crib Set..

I LOVE this crib set. I must have it. It seems like the perfect combination of "soft blues." ahhh happiness.

Ps. I think Travis won the name war. So Bryant David Barnes is the name (for now anyways). David after my dad :)

Oh dear...

I actually made a homemade dinner for Travis tonight (and it was yummy too). A funny moment happened however when I went to go check on my beautifully risen rolls baking in the oven only to discover that Travis had never taken the plastic wrap off the top of them. MMMM baked-on plastic rolls. I laughed until I almost wet myself (easier to do these days) and then tried to make him feel as dumb as possible about it. :) The End.

Ps. I am going to the opera tomorrow with my mom & Nat (oh and nat's high school students haha). I'm so excited!

Holidays...

So I usually dread winter. Every year I whine and complain as it gets cold outside because I guess I have always just LOVED the summer. Swimming, getting tan, dressing up on summer nights, movies, drive-ins, snowcones, vacations, etc. However, I read my sister Nat's blog today and realized I need to be thankful and excited for winter. Winter can be happy! It can! It can signify sledding, skiing, christmas lights, hot chocolate, cuddling with the hot hubby, homemade soups, and HOLIDAYS. As I was recalling the past joys of winter today I actually got REALLY excited about the holidays. I love spending time with my family and friends. The older I get the more I realize that time spent with my family is a constant source of happiness in my life. What a blessing it is to have family close right now. I have decided to post some pics of some AWESOME things that I have done during the winter to get me even more PSYCHED for the coming months.

My first Christmas "time" with Travis. It was awesome even if he was monolicious. :)

This picture reminds me of some good make-out sessions in the winter. ha.

Winter brought the best surprise of all-time. A diamond ring. boo-ya :)

My first Christmas with Travis. He gave me a rad sleeping bag. love it. We opened our presents to each other a few days before Christmas. We couldn't wait!

Another Christmas pic. Presents are always a good thing.

Our first pathetic christmas tree. Good Memories.

Ode to the sunglasses. They were lost this summer on a rafting trip :(

Sexy Biotch

Valentines Day!! Who wouldn't love waking up to this? It rocks to be married on valentines day. Everyone should do it.

And of course....SKIING with Travis. He is way better than me, but it is oh so attractive to watch him.

Yeah Travis just came home and surprised me with flowers and my favorite DOUGHNUT HOLES!!! I love that kid. He pretty much rocks my world.

Boring Becca...

So, today Becca and I made pizza, a Barnes family tradition. This provides me the perfect opportunity to do one of my favorite things...make fun of the women in my life. I can't say that my pizza tastes great (ok, maybe I can), but it sure can be pretty. (I was looking for a picture on our computer for the last 45 minutes only to realize it's on my mother-in-law's computer, not ours.) Unfortunantly, I don't get to make good-looking pizza because my wife is boring. Becca eats cheese pizza (which I also love)... BUT, if I'm going to the trouble to make pizza, I like to make it look good with all kinds of colorful toppings and stuff. But no, if the food looks good, Becca won't eat it. It must look dull and boring. Somehow I managed to get an exciting assortment of six shredded cheeses by her, but she said the pizza wasn't as good this time, so I'm thinking she was on to me.

And just since I know that my mom reads the blog, Mom, my pizza can beat your pizza up. Boo Ya!

Just so Becca's not upset at my poking fun of her, here's a nasty picture of me. Equal?

Fatness....

This pic was taken a couple weeks ago ;) baby bump

I have finally decided to swallow my pride and post some pregnancy pics of me on the blog (mostly for Travis's mom. You should feel loved right now :). I think my face looks chubby, not to mention my belly. At least I can guilt Travis into rubbing my neck and back every once in a while. He can't say no to his pathetic "waddling" wife. Oh and exciting news!! Our crib finally came and we put it together today (by "we" I mean Travis, while I sat and occasionally threw candy into his mouth to make sure he didn't get grouchy ha). We don't have a mattress or crib set yet, but more pics to come when we have enough money to buy more :)

Bigger baby belly today

Tired of Travis taking pictures......

Grouchy Travis. Just because I made him put together our crib 4 months early. He loves me.

Awkward picture but the finished crib!! Thanks Travis! It's so cute!

Kill me now, please...

This has been a hellishly long week. Between class, work, homework, tests, bills, the career fair, online job applications, job information sessions, the consulting fair, a couple of research papers and all of life's usual tricks, I'm ready to find creative and painful ways of ending it all.

Am I complaining?...Yes, I certainly am.