3 years make a difference

Its been three years since I entered my 30's and it has been one hell of a ride and for the most part I have loved every minute of it.  No way 3 years ago if someone told me I would be a mom, living in Texas and engaged to a AMAZING man, would I have believed them. I am so grateful and blessed to be where I am today. I may not be setting world on fire or super rich, but I love my life, job and family. Sometimes the riches in life are not measured by the size of your bank account but by the people and experiences that you have. For all those moments I am grateful. 

Preggo Rant (caution may contain TMI)

There is a BUNCH of stuff people forget to tell you when you become pregnant and there is no googling or forum group that can explain it to you. Don't get me wrong this is a fun and magical time but WOW do books, movies and tv set you up to think this is a fairy tale time with no aches no pains. Let me tell ya not even watching the Baby Story on TLC would help you prepare for child birth, unless you think it can all happen within 30 minutes. I wish child birth could be so fast.

First trimester:  This time should be exciting because you just find out you are pregnant yet also scary cause so many things could go wrong and loose the baby too. This time for me was HOLY SHIT I am pregnant and sick all the time. My poor co workers had to deal with me being sick at work. And my poor Mark had to deal with me being sick ALL the time. Those that are lucky and get away without being sick during this time I envy you!! On top of being sick morning, noon and night don't forget the boobs that ache like no ones business. And hell even a shower hurts when it hits your boobs (sadly this comes back in the third trimester, too). On top of all this excitement you are WAY too tired to even enjoy it and want a nap all the time.

Second trimester:  The trimester everyone looks forward to!! This is the time you find out if you are on team blue or team pink. This is also the time you get your energy back, thank goodness cause by now you need it. Luckily some of the aches go away and you feel back to normal. But also during this time your lovely baby bump starts growing and NONE of your clothes fit so shopping for clothes you will only wear for a few months and that cost a bunch you must go. Best thing I found to invest in is maxi dresses they can accommodate almost any size your baby bump gets too plus they are beyond COZY. Bonus about maxi dresses is that you can dress them for winter or summer, thanks to pinterest and fashion bloggers. Also during this time you get to see the little bundle of joy and of course feel the flutter/kicks. As the trimester goes those flutters become try outs for indoor soccer teams (it did at least in my case) 

Third Trimester: The final trimester (THANK GOD) and what also seems to take the longest too. It takes forever because now you are waiting for the bundle of joy to get here. On top of all the waiting now comes the fun part your body getting ready to deliver the bundle of joy. The aches and pains are SO annoying. I personally wish it would just all come at once right before I deliver her not this drawn out process. The "experts" forget to tell you that your boobs will now hurt even more than the first trimester and feel like they are on fire. And NO ONE tells you about "lightening crotch" which is the nice way of saying it feels like someone stabbed you in the vagina. "They" tell you hemmoroids can happen and they do, and holy shit they are annoying and I don't wish them on anyone. Pregnancy does screw with so many different parts of your body all at once.  Yes, I do enjoy the movement I feel but its WAY more intense now and I am in the annoying part of pregnancy (37-38 weeks in) I am to the point I am ready to have her!  I can totally see how men weren't built to have children, they can barely handle being sick let alone all the factors that happen to your body for pregnancy. I am glad to report I am THANKFUL for my high pain tolerance cause I am sure what some of the stuff I feel otherwise would be calling labor and delivery every other day thinking it was time. Nope, not me I might just be that one that could have her last minute in the truck ride to the hospital. Let's hope not. 

I can't wait to report on the fun of the after birth that no one tells you about too. The countdown to delivery has begun it's November and this little one can come any day. Hopefully before her due date and not after. I don't want a 12 pound baby. I would be happy with a 7 pound baby. So here is wishing Little Miss comes on the 18th or sooner.

One finger Wave CA vs. TX

As you drive thru the country here in Texas you can always be sure to get a finger wave from a passing truck. Now for those thinking its a bad thing it isn't. Everyone just drives with one hand on the wheel and to acknowledge the fellow driver they just lift one finger as to say hello. Which is such a nice gesture compared to the one finger wave you can get back home. When I first moved here all the waves hello caught me off guard but now it is the norm. For some reason I was trying to figure out if I knew the person or if they thought I was someone else but after time I figured out they are just being kind and saying hi. Now it may have to do with the fact that I drive a big ol' truck instead of a car. And every farmer/country person does drive a a big ol' truck. One day I'll have to try out the theory if I ever own a car.

Now not all the time do people give you the one finger salute in CA but it seems more often than not people in CA are easier pissed off while driving and don't take the time to say hi to a fellow driver. Don't get me wrong there are still people in CA that do wave hello to be friendly it just seems to not be the norm like it is here in Texas. 

Maybe Texans are just a little bit more friendly than the Bay Area people can be. This is just my random thought and observations.

Just when you thought Texans talk weird check out the British.

FFA Week - Looking Back

It's FFA week in case any one has missed it. But if you are on Facebook you can't miss it! Everyone is posting pictures wearing the blue jacket! I am PROUD to say that I own 2 FFA jackets and wore them proudly! I loved every minute of being in FFA ! I am so grateful for the memories and the friends that I made because of  FFA. There isn't a day that doesn't go by that I don't talk to someone who was in FFA with me or not. It is nice to have such a common bond with so many people all from a little blue jacket. 

Proud member of the Pioneer FFA and Santa Clara Section!

Growing up in the City that doesn't value Agriculture wearing the blue jacket was hard at times because so many made fun of it. But I would like to think because of the little blue jacket that it made me who I am now. I wouldn't have it any other way growing up! I loved that I was in FFA and so was my Dad heck we even had the same AG teacher at one point! Yes, my ag teacher was that old. LOL 

The bond is like no other when you spend HOURS in the AG van to get to a conference or to a contest. You learn a lot about your class mates as well as your teachers. 

I am saddened that so many in the town I grew up will never get to know that bond or the dedication to something that is bigger than a football game or a play. So many young people in the city can use an organization like the FFA to find themselves and get on the right path. I BELIEVE in the blue jacket and I BELIEVE in the words of the Creed that we all must learn as Greenhands. 

You may out grown the Blue Jacket but you never outgrown the experience!! 

TX Words (get your dictionary out)

F

This looks like a shopping cart and it is but in TX this is called a Buggy!!

 There are a few words that can describe an item but I have learned that there is WAY different names for items in Texas than there is CA. A shopping cart is not a shopping cart in TX but a buggy. I thought a buggy is what you rode in with a horse or in the sand (my bad)

And of course how can we forget the famous Texas words: "Reckon" well in CA you say that word and we hear "wrecking" so out West we think you are breaking something. But in Texas "reckon" just means " I guess so".

Now this next word was a great debate with the boyfriend, his mom and I yesterday! A "Beanie" is what knit cap in CA but I guess they have never heard of that in TX cause its a "Toboggan" We had a fun debate over what

This a a great ski cap or what we call a BEANIE in CA but in TX this a TOBOGGAN

 a Toboggan is and well I would like to think I am right. A "toboggan"  is what you ride on in the snow not put on your head to stay warm. I guess on this topic I'll agree to disagree with them. But I still think you don't wear "toboggans" you ride them.

This a real TOBOGGAN you ride on them not wear them, Texas!!

Now there is a funny little word called "Fixing" now in CA we would think you are fixing something that is broken. Not the case in Texas in Texas when you are "fixing" you are about to do something. This could all be confusing for an outsider but you can catch on quickly!!


As you can see I find all these words amusing and I'm still learning them all and I get confused on what they might be talking about but I'm starting to figure it out and starting to speak like a Texan. It takes time and sometimes I still need a dictionary to understand what is being said. All of this is in fun and it just reminds me that I am not from around here and that's ok cause I feel like I am bringing some CA culture to Texas!!! 

Wedding Fever

I think the wedding fever is in the air and SO SO many people are catching it. I haven't seen it this bad since a bunch of us graduated college back in 2004. Don't get me wrong I am super happy for everyone who is getting married/engaged or even having a baby. And maybe a part of me is jealous cause deep down I want all those things too but at the same time I can wait too. It just seems like the boom on engagement rings is CRAZY!!!

I am excited for everyone getting married cause I know what it is like to be excited to plan the BIG day!! But it's only one day and the rush fades and you are left with reality. I miss the marriage part. Being divorced I feel I have a totally new look on marriage and everything. Yes, the ring would be nice to wear and show off but I want the MARRIAGE!! I want the security of a marriage can bring, I want the feeling that this is my person FOREVER!! I know its pretty ironic coming from me (being divorced in all) but I cherish a marriage and I want one again. I hated that I got divorced and I still do this day hate that my marriage didn't work and that I failed at something. But I did learn a lot about what I want in a relationship and partner. And a PARTNER is what I want not a grown child or someone who thinks they are better than me. 

One day I'll get there again and maybe I have found that one, who knows we are only 9 months into our relationship and I don't want to rush it. Luckily I have found someone in a similar boat we both have been divorced so we know what it is like and don't ever want to do that again. Meanwhile I am going to be happy for everyone getting engaged and married (secretly I'll be a little jealous too) and  patiently wait for the day it becomes my turn to show off a sparkler.

Until that day this is going to be my motto ----->

How Texas is WAY different than Califonia!!

Over the last 8 months or so that I have lived in Texas I have learned so much about the different cultures! And here is just a few of them!!

* Weather is unpredictable. "Wait 5 minutes and it will change"

* Southern Accents!!!!

*Firework or Snow Cone stands on every corner!

*Gas stations actually serve decent food, some even have great BBQ (go figure)

* Lightening storms are NO JOKE out in Texas

* Parking lots are made for trucks ( THANK GOD)

* Every high school as a FFA program ( at least in Wise County they do) 

* It doesn't cost an arm and leg to register your vehicle.

* TORNADOES!!!!!

* It doesn't drop below 70's on summer nights in Texas 

*Don't have to wear (4-H/FFA) uniforms to show at the county fairs

* Everything is meat and potatoes 

* NO TRI- TIP or LINGUICIA

* The town revolves around the town square and a court house is always in the center of the square. 

* The gas prices are AMAZING!!! ($3.23 for gas and $3.51 for diesel) 

* BIG hair and BIG jewelry is the norm 

* FISH FRY'S

* Cowboys are REAL!!! Not just weekend warriors like in the bay area lol!

* Someone either works in the oil fields or drives truck or knows someone who does. 

* Sports are a religion no matter what level ( t-ball to pros) 

* NO 4-H UNIFORMS

* Live music is a way of life out here. 

* The boys 2 step not line dance ( thank god)

* Brisket is a BBQ staple in Texas 

* No such thing as TOO MUCH bling

* Texas has their own pledge and anthem. 

* No food festivals the revolve around a growing season. ( Sadly no Garlic Festival here) 

* Catfish is considered a good eating fish (YUCK)

I know there is more to come but this is all I can think of as of now.