Ladies Thai and Karaoke Night

Wednesday night a beautiful sister in the branch decided to have a bunch of us ladies over for homemade Thai food, and some karaoke.  

It truly was a fabulous evening.  The food was delicious, I will definitely be getting the recipes.  The decor was stunning, and the karaoke was a super fun time.   

The lady singing in yellow is Sister Lynn, she is the relief society president.  Her and I sang to our hearts content.  We were one of the last ones to leave that night.   

Young Men's Activity

For the past two Tuesdays, Chris and his Young Men have held there young men's activity at public beach.  They usually do some kind of recreational activity, swimming, volleyball, football (American), or soccer (they call soccer football, so there is football and american football).  I usually tag along and hang out on the beach. I get a good swim in and enjoy watching them play.  I took some pics of him and the young men.  There are some pretty large kids in the group.  Chris isn't a small man, 6 ft 190lbs.  But he looks small compared to some of his young men.  It is hard to believe they are all 18 and under. 

A new baptism and a girls pizza night.

On Saturday, our branch had a baptism.  This is the 2nd  baptism our branch has had since we have moved here.  The missionary work in Grand Cayman is actively progressing.  In fact the majority of our branch members are converts that have been baptized in the last 3 years. 

Angie was the one baptized and she has two adorable caymanian children, Rayhan 10 months, and Rehanna 6.  Rayhan is an adorable little boy with big blue eyes.  He peacefully slept in my arms for the duration of the baptism.   Rehanna is a very bright and talkative little girl.  I am absolutely in love with her Caymanian accent.  They call it the singsong accent, it encompasses a wide variety in pitch while they speak. So freaking cute! 

Here is a short video I took of precious family of 3.  

After the baptism, we had a girls pizza night at Pizza Hut as a relief society activity.  It was really fun, and I enjoyed getting to know some of the relief society sisters better.   I feel so blessed to be part of such an amazing group of sisters.  

lizard tail

There are millions of lizards on the island.  Not a single day goes by without seeing several little lizards scurrying by.  So it's no surprise that a little visitor made it's way into our home.  I found the little guy in my shower.  That was not a very pleasant experience.  I like the lizards, I think they are cute, and it is great when they are in there natural environment (but they need to stay there).  I am not a fan of lizards in the house.  Finding them in my shower is about as fun as finding them in my bed.   I got Chris and asked him to take the lizard outside.  Well that is easier said then done.  These little buggers are super quick.  He managed to chase the little guy out of my bathroom, and right into my closet.  The closet has a sliding door, the smart, stinking lizard, crawls in between the sliding door and the wall, safely out of our reach.  Well he managed to stay hidden in there for several days.  I was just waiting to wake up in the middle of the night and find the lizard staring at me in my sleep, or crawling up my night shirt, or into my mouth.  yuck!!  Well the little lizard finally came out of hiding and I chased him behind my bed (like that's a lot better).  I got the swiffer and began prodding him out from behind the bed.  Luckily, there is a sliding glass door in our bedroom out to our balcony.  I open up the door and try to prod the lizard in that direction.  In my effort to do so, his tail fell off.   NOT only did he lose his tail but his tail was still alive.  Pretty disgusting.  I took a video of it to share.  

Apparently lizards can lose there tail as a defensive technique to throw off there predators.  Kinda clever.  

Anyway, I am happy to report I did manage to get the lizard outside on the balcony and out of our home. 

Mission Accomplished!

Del Sol Ladies

                        Andrea                  Rosa                 Rena                   Maria               Marla   

    

These are the ladies that work for Chris in his Del Sol store.

They are a really funny group of women, very opinionated and stubborn.  I was trying to get a video so you could hear how they talk and how strong the accents are.  I will try to get a better one to post eventually. 

There are five other women that work in the Cariloha store plus Margs.  I will try to take a picture of them for you to see. 

Jamaican Days

On August 6th Grand Cayman celebrated Jamaica Independence Day.  

They closed off Cardinal Street, right in front of the Cariloha.  There were tents of vendors selling lots of great Jamaican food, drinks, and crafts. 

This was my delicious lunch for only $2. 

A Surprise Birthday Party

Last week was Jordan's Birthday, we decided to have a surprise party at our new apartment in his honer.  It turned out to be a big success and he was very surprised.  We also invited the missionaries, and this other young married couple in our branch, Wynn and Michelle, and a lady that works for Chris who is also pregnant Miriam.   We had pizza, salad, chips, soda, and of course cake and ice cream.

Miriam is originally from Honduras and she made this delicious appetizer for the party.  I can't recall what she calls them, but they are made of a corn tortilla with hamburger, boiled egg and Tabasco sauce on top.  They were a big hit.  Miriam is having a boy the end of November, so she is a great resource for me.  

Happy Birthday Jordan!!  Thanks for having a birthday so we had a good excuse to have a party.  

August 1st

This started out as an ordinary day.   I had a list of things to do.  I woke up at 7am, got ready, ate breakfast, took Chris to work, then went to meet our new landlord to get our electricity and water switched into our name.  As we were standing in line I started to feel a little light headed, after we got the electricity switched over we were getting ready to head back to the car.  I started to see dots and thought I was going to faint, I hurried and sat down and drank some water.  After a couple of minutes I felt fine.  So we drove over to get the water switched.  It was pleasantly fast and easy.  Then we parted ways.  As I was driving back home, I started to feel pretty sick.  I decided I better pull over at the next gas station and get a soda.  I started getting the burps, you know when your tummy feels a little bit gassy and you have little frequent burps.  I really thought that if I could hurry and get some soda I would be fine.  So I grabbed some drinks and hurried over to the counter.  I told the cashier I wasn't feeling very well, I am pretty sure she could tell by the expression on my face.  She started ringing me up, I grabbed my wallet out of my purse and then without any warning at all, I vomit.  I was able to turn away from the counter and my natural instinct was to put my hand to my mouth.  I began involuntarily vomiting all over my hand and unto the floor by the check out counter.  I was horrified, in the few seconds between puking my guts out I manage to run to the restroom, all I had time to do was stand over the toilet as the rest of my breakfast presented itself once more.  It was miserable, after my stomach was completely empty I was able to get cleaned up and head back out to the cashier, I apologized profusely, finished purchasing my drinks, and left, determined never to show my face in that gas station again.  Turns out the soda did the trick and as a drank, I slowly began to feel much better.  I love soda so much!  My upset tummy appreciates the people who came up with this, sugary, carbonated, caffeinated, unhealthy consumable liquid.  

Once I got back to the apartment, I immediately phone Chris to tell him of this mortifying event.  It will definitely be stashed away in my top most embarrassing moments file, which I keep tucked away safely in the security of my brain.

That afternoon we had a appointment with our new doctor here in Grand Cayman.  We had an ultrasound and were able to see our baby for the first time!  We heard the heartbeat and the doctor said that everything looked great and completely normal for this stage in the pregnancy.

Here are a couple of funny videos I stole from a fellow blogger I am stalking.  I hope she won't mind.  These are a great representation of why we are so excited to be parents and how a drastic change in our lives is about to take place.

Sounds and looks like so much fun, eh?

First time to Hell

Last week on Saturday Chris was off so we drove up the West end of the island.  This is the more ghetto section of the island.  A lot more shacks and run down homes.  It is also where you can go see Hell.

Chris as a devil

Me with a miniature devil 

This is a lame tourist attraction, but that didn't stop me from taking pics and documenting it.  They call it hell,  because that field of rock is called Hell Rock. 

Uh oh, Chris better not go in there.

After exploring the west side we hit up the beach, we went to Governors Beach.  Governors Beach is along SMB (seven mile beach) it is basically the backyard of the governors house.  All the beaches here are public so anyone can use them.  There are no private beaches.

Well here it is folks, the first baby bump pick at 15 weeks, and in a bikini no less.  It hasn't really formed into an actual bump yet, but my flat little tummy is vanishing away rapidly.  I am not sure how much longer I will be able to brave a bikini.  It might be time to bust out the tankini pretty soon.

Trampoline in the Ocean

Last Friday night after Chris, Margret and Jordan got off work, we went for a swim to the tramp.  Can you see that blue and yellow tube looking thing out in the ocean?  Well that is actually a little trampoline, you can climb up and jump around.  We had a couple wars going on trying to push each other off and doing tricks, flips, and dives, off of it into the water.  It was a fun time, and we will for sure be going again. 

After the trampoline adventure we headed over to the Hard Rock Cafe to take advantage of there Buy 1 Get 1 Free deal on all there legendary burgers.  So delicious! 

That is something I love right now, burgers, pizza, onion rings, and coke! 

I'm going to be a big sister!

While we were in Idaho and Utah we told are families about the new baby to be.  I bought a little t-shirt for Zuri that says "I am going to be a big sister"  as a fun way to tell my parents.  I got my mom's reaction on video.   It is basically priceless.  

I was waiting for the perfect time to do it. But I began to think that she might be wondering because I was not acting like myself, so I knew I had to do it soon.  

While I was home was when I felt the worst.  About 4 weeks of sleeping 15 hours a day.  Lots of naps, and laying around. I only vomited once while I was home (and I cried afterward) but I had a constant stomach ache, and never really felt normal.  It was nice that I didn't have to work, or have anything to do but spend time with my amazing family.  

Pregancy Cons that I have experienced so far include: 

1.  a constant nauseousness

2. headaches (I would never get headaches before) 

3. bloating

4. constipation

5. the need to urinate quite frequently

6. gagging to the point of  almost vomiting while brushing my teeth

7. food aversion (nothing ever sounded or looked good, especially salads, I used to eat salad everyday, now I can't even look at salad without wanting to vomit) 

8. hunger striking with seconds notice and feeling like I needed to eat something right that very second or the world might end.

9. learning I needed to carry snacks around with me wherever I go in case number 8 happened and because I needed to eat something every 2 to 3 hours.  

10.  getting light headed if I have to stand for semi-long periods of time.

11. some of my clothes are getting really tight and uncomfortable to wear, and I hate having anything tight around my belly. 

12. i love soda right now, especially Coke.  This is weird for me, before being pregnant, I would never drink soda, I didn't even really like it at all. Now I crave a soda every single day. 

There is probably more but that is all that is coming to me at the moment.  

Now for the Pros of being pregnant: ........  this list is most likely going to be quite a bit shorter, but there are a few that I have noticed.

1. I have had great skin.  Taking my prenatal vitamins and smothering my body in vitamin E oil (in hopes to prevent ugly stretch marks) has done wonders for my skin. 

2. I have had really great hair.  It seems thicker and really silky. 

3.  Chris and I's intimate relationship is better than ever!  It is like being wound up newly weds again.  That perk alone almost makes up for all the many cons. 

The other difference I have noticed I can't decide if it is a pro or a con.  But my emotions are on edge and highly influenced by what I read, watch on TV, and listed to.  I can go from crying, to laughing, to terrified, to ranging upset lunatic, to horny virgin teenager within seconds.  There are definitely some pluses and minuses to that. 

   

Despite it all, I keep telling myself the end result will be worth it. 

Surprise!

Well if this picture isn't obvious enough, yes this test is mine and yes I am pregnant!  

Woohoo!!!

I have been feeling for a while now that it was time to start a family.  Chris was a little slower to come to this conclusion.  Saying that it probably wasn't a good time right now, and blah, blah, blah.  I remember talking to my good friend E from Key West about it for quite a while and she told me that if you feel like it is right then you should try and God will provide a way.  It always works itself out somehow.  Then later on I was watching an episode on TV, I can't remember if it was private practice or Greys Anatomy (I love both those shows) anyway one of the characters (I don't remember who) really wanted a baby, but didn't know if it was the right time.  Her doctor counseled her that if she wanted a baby she should have a baby. That there is never a perfect time to have a baby, there are always going to be things going on, and life is always busy, and before you know it, it could be to late.   This episode really hit home to me, I was bawling.  I told Chris that night that I was going to quit taking my birth control and we would just see what happens.  

Ok, I am warning those who wish to read on that I go into a fairly detailed explanation of my cycle from this point on, so some of you males out there might want to quit reading here.   

That was last June, after several months I started to wonder if something might be wrong.  I started charting my cycle in December, I read some books, and did some research on fertility tips.  We didn't feel like we needed to go to a doctor or anything yet, but wanted to take some more action on our own.  I remember getting so frustrated because two of my close friends in Key West both started planning for a baby way after me and were  both pregnant in a flash.  Those fertile rabbits. I wish they could share some with me!  

When we got the job in Grand Cayman and decided to accept, we thought it would be best if we put off the baby trying, and get back on birth control for a few months till things got settled in Grand Cayman, and we were active on our new insurance plan.  

Well wouldn't you know, about two weeks later I was late.   I told Chris I was late and he replied in his nonchalant way you always think your late, and then a few days later it comes.  I must give the guy some credit, and I admit this is true.  I had been charting for several months and my cycle is very inconsistent so I never really knew when I was supposed to start.  Of course I had stopped charting at this point and hadn't written down the days of my last cycle.  But I had put tentative dates of when I was suppose to start.  So I waited and I waited, days went by and they felt like weeks.  I was hesitant to take a test because I had always taken them to soon in the past, and something about that 10 minutes waiting and hoping what if?  All for the disappointment of NOT PREGNANT to show up.  NO WAY I had two pregnancy tests left and I told myself that I wasn't going to buy anymore.  The next one was going to be for real.  So I waited a few more days.  Chris and I had agreed that if I hadn't started by June 1st I should take a test.  Well I didn't make it that long.  I just had to know.  I told myself that I didn't care if I was or wasn't pregnant, I needed to take the test, so I could know either way.

We came home from work one day, Chris goes straight to the living room to turn on the TV as usual and I snuck into the bathroom.  I pull out a test and pee.  Then I wait.  10 minutes later.   PREGNANT!!!

I couldn't believe it.  I was in shock.  I go out to the living room and hand Chris the test.  "Hunny, what does this say?"  Chris looks at the test with confusion.  "Where did you get that?"  He asks.  "Umm... where do you think I got it?"  I reply.  "Is this one of those jokes, like you bought a fake pregnancy test, that always, or already reads pregnant?"  He asks still confused.  "No my dearest this here is the real deal, I bought a normal pregnancy test from the store, from this box (I show him the box) I followed the instructions, and this was the result."  Hunny, we are going to have a baby!!"  Chris still watching the TV, replies, "ya, I guess so."  It took him a while to get used to the idea.  I didn't really seem real to me either.  So a week later I took another test, just to make sure it wasn't some sort of fluke.  Result, Nope, still pregnant.  

It finally began to feel real when we told our friends, E and her husband L.  They were so excited for us!!  I felt great at the time and had no signs of morning sickness yet. 

(I wish I could still say that now.)

We waited to tell our families till we arrived in Idaho and Utah, so we could tell them all in person.  I will write about that soon. 

Ahh... It feels good to share the news, with all you fellow blogger friends out there.  I am afraid that from now on this blog might be overcome with posts of the pregnancy, how I am feeling, baby bump pics, and so on's of being pregnant, along with the weekly documents of what we do for fun around here. 

According to the doctor I am about 15 weeks, and the estimated due date is January 26, 2012.