babybabybabybaby OH baby...

for those of you who don't read the other blog (babyincredible.wordpress.com) or aren't facebook friends with me (why not? why do you hate me?) you probably don't know that after a few long years of trying, the JulkunenPedersens are finally having a baby! We're due at the beginning of September and we heard and saw some lovely heartbeat action last week! I probably won't post much more here, but just in case you wanted to know...

by semi-popular demand

yeah...so I disappeared for awhile. A good long while. I have to say, it has been nice, to be off the radar completely. I'm back. Well, I'm kind of back. I have 2 blogs: babyincredible.wordpress.com, which is not private any more (also, don't feel bad if i didn't let you read it, once i went private i stopped posting). and theincrediblejulk.com which is more of a political/philosophical/pop-culture-y kind of blog (be warned, it's all the swears). so, if you have missed me, i'm back. if not, well, pretend you never saw this...

moving...

my brain is done. i can't come up with a creative or witty or funny or adorable thing to say, because i'm obsessed with fertility/pregnancy, etc. since my mind can only focus on that for the time being, i've decided to take a break from this blog, and to post only at http://babyincredible.wordpress.com so, if you're interested, that's where i am. see you there...i hope!

Heber Christmas Extravaganza

So this year is the first I've been able to make it to an annual shindig that Cache and Staci are nice enough to throw at their (beautiful) home.  I must say, that as long as it continues, I will be attending.  It was so much fun to see all my old friends!  I think in the midst of being so busy with normal life, the people that aren't on my radar kind of fade into the background, and that kind of bums me out, because the minute I see them I'm so happy and I am so excited to stay in touch and blahblahblah, all those things I never do.  Some of the highlights for me included:

Darcy and her caramels.  I am not exaggerating when I say that I think about those licorice caramels every single day of my life. Seriously. I mean, only good things can come from butter and sugar and licorice and magic all being mixed together. I'm freaking out a little just writing about them (though, let it be said that the handfuls that I ended up eating did little to help my figure...or my whole "not eating sugar" thing).  Beyond Darcy's delicious treats, it was so great to see her. She became one of my dearest friends in high school, and I am sad I don't keep in better touch with her (Hi, Darcy!).  I was telling Vegor when we left that Darcy is everything I want to be when I grow up, and kind of always has been.  She's just so dang cool and talented. It was great to see her and her family (Hi, Sam! Hi, kids!).

Mindy-Suuuuuuuuue.  In fact, this whole post is dedicated to Mindy, an apparently avid/loyal reader of this here blog, who I regularly disappoint with my lack of posting. Sorry. I will try and be better. I haven't seen Minds in ages, and it was so good to get to talk with her.  I swear my whole world just kind of melted away these past five years or so, and not seeing Mindy has been one of the cruelest fates. I got to hold her beautiful baby, Lydia, and talk about old times.  I was sad I didn't get to see, Russ, though, as he's also one of my favorites, and though there were countless munchkins running about, I would have liked hers added to the mix, since I've never met them.  

Crystal, Jake and Kate. I am fortunate to get to see Crystal semi-regularly (a couple of times a  year, sprinkled with a few phone conversations here and there), but I never ever get to see Jake.  And I love Jake! We found out over the past couple of years that Jake knows my sister-in-law, Sarah's dad really well. Wierd. Small world.  Kate is freaking adorable. (Might I add, that with the abundance of fair-skinned, blonde-headded munchkins, it looked like we were raising the Aryan youth...) I can't even tell you how cute it is to watch someone so little sing the Ariel song to you. Adorable. And I can't wait for their little boy to come!

Nathan.  Every time Nathan and I see each other, we commit to being friends in real-life. You know, like staying in touch and doing something once every couple of months or so.  We fail at this miserably, mostly because I hate planning and driving.  We are doing better, as we have seen each other multiple times this past year.  To Nathan, "Real Friends: 09."

Holly Hult (Mahoney).  Apparently, my blog is Holly's internet claim to fame.  You  may remember me alluding to having gained "a whole Holly Hult"  (which is true, if not a little on the light side.  I just saw her. She continues to be tiny and gorgeous and great. I have maybe gained 1.3 Holly Hults.) I didn't get to talk to her much, but got a little freaked out when I found out that she had multiple children, since I remember seeing her at her first baby shower, and it didn't seem all that long ago. Time is flying! She also made these kick-ass rolo deliciousnesses made of pretzels, rolos and almonds.  *note to self, do not write about candy and chocolates before lunch; you are setting yourself up for failure.

KristinaMichelleStoneBrown, and Jacob.  I talk to Kristina, often, but I miss the crap out of her.  It is no fun when one of your besties lives far, far, far away. I am thinking another trip to the East Coast is in order so I can get some proper Kristina time.  We both, I think, have the problem that neither of us have been around each others husbands very much, yet know a lot about them, so we have to navigate that space without being too awkward.  Kristina did wonderfully, I think I potentially creeped Jacob (who apparently looks exactly like an Evanson, according to Vegor) out, but I like him so much! I'm coming to visit, soon!

I have to say, one of the greatest highlights of my night was seeing Tim and Chad. I haven't seen either of them since my wedding, and I have missed the crap out of them, and boys seem to be kind of crappy at this whole "blogging to stay in touch" thing.  It's nice to know that we'll all be in the same neck of the woods so that hopefully we can hang out.  (Especially since Tim will be on campus, right next to my office...so help me, if he bails on playing I will hit him like he were Nathan Moulton...)

It really was just so fun to see everyone. It was great to see Cache again and have him be as happy and charming as ever, and to finally meet his sweet wife, Staci (who really is the biggest sweetheart.  We all know I'm a little socially awkward, and she came and talked to me, helping me feel more comfortable. Thanks, Staci!).  It was great to see everyone's spouses, and kids, and to just be home, in that real sense.  No matter how far away, or how many times I move, Heber will always be home to me, and it's completely because of these wonderful people.  I hope next year there will be more people there, and that I can be better at staying in touch with these great friends over the course of the next 12 months.  

(These past two posts have been nothing but sap! I really need some winter doldrums to get my head in its right, sarcastic place...)

Merry Christmas!

For the past week I have been baking like crazy. I decided this year that I was tired of scouring stores to find gifts that in no way mark how I feel about the person. "Merry Christmas, here's a kitchen towel." "Happy Holidays, enjoy your socks from the dollar store." See, crap. 

The above is an exaggeration. I actually think I'm pretty good at giving gifts.  I often give music or books that have had an affect on me that year and that I want to share with that person, and I spend a lot of time deciding which book matches which person best, who will want to hear which songs, etc.  I realized the other day, however, that these are things that I could be doing throughout the year, and that I really wanted to give people things from the heart that I had worked on, not just that I had chosen.

So the baking started.  Technically it started for my little sister's bridal shower (yay, Rachel!) for which I cooked about 60 cookies (gingerbread and sugar), a four layer "Finnish Cake" (ask me to make it for you sometime, it is DIVINE!), and a bunch of Pulla (a Finnish sweet bread). Something about working so hard to make things for the people I care about was really satisfying.

I baked a bunch of loaves of pulla for the women in Vegor's office, and it was well-recieved, and after making a bunch of dough last night (along with the 12 dozen cookies I made, mostly for my students) I will spend tonight finishing up so that I can go and deliver these goodies to loved ones.

I think I've moved into the realm of homemade Christmas.  After a traumatizing two and a half hours looking for a Christmas tree stand (in, I kid you not, 11 different stores, from Target to Savers), I realized that I lose the old Christmas spirit pretty quickly when I am forced to walk through crowds of people fighting over the best-priced anything. I wanted to vow that I wouldn't go back shopping until Christmas was over, but I do have to get groceries, so I am a bit out of luck.  However, I won't be buying anything but the food we need, and I have to say, it feels so good!  I haven't felt this Christmas-y in a long time, and I think that not being part of the commercial hubbub that normally surrounds it is really helping.

My friend Nathan did something really cool for Christmas this year.  When people started asking him "What do you want for Christmas," he said, "Do something nice for someone else."  Then he started getting cards/emails, etc. from people telling  him of the things they were doing for others, and how it made them feel.  I would love to see this type of response to Christmas in all of us, as I think it brings us much closer to remembering the reason for the season. I know that we all like to tell ourselves about the "real meaning of Christmas," but let's be honest, when we devote so much of our attention to the gifts, we don't open our hearts enough to think about why we're even giving them. I'm not saying giving gifts (or getting them) is a bad thing, but rather, the emphasis we place on that process often detracts us from just loving our family, friends and neighbors.  I can honestly say that some of my best Christmases have been the most meager because I ended up just spending such great quality time with people that I love. 

 

I'm really trying to be extra kind to people I see and come in contact with in an effort to maybe bring the Christmas spirit to them as well, I encourage everyone else to do the same. Merry Christmas!

(That was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too sappy for me.  I apologize.  I'm sure my sardonic wit will be back soon. At least I hope it will.)

Things I've Done Before

Bold the ones you've ever done. I did.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band 
4. Visited Hawaii 
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland 
8. Climbed a mountain 
9. Held a praying mantis 
10. Sang a solo 
11. Bungee jumped 
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea 
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch 
15. Adopted a child 
16. Had food poisoning 
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty 
18. Grown your own vegetables 
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked 
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill 
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb 
26. Gone skinny dipping 
27. Run a Marathon 
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset 
31. Hit a home run 
32. Been on a cruise 
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person 
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language 
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied 
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person 
39. Gone rock climbing 
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David 
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant 
44. Visited Africa 
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight 
46. Been transported in an ambulance [not the patient]
47. Had your portrait painted 
48. Gone deep sea fishing 
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris 
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling 
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater 
55. Been in a movie 
56. Visited the Great Wall of China 
57. Started a business 
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia [I'm counting Lithuania]
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies 
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving 
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check 
68. Flown in a helicopter 
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial 
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt 
73. Stood in Times Square 
74. Toured the Everglades 
75. Been fired from a job 
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London 
77. Broken a bone 
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle 
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person 
80. Published a book 
81. Visited the Vatican 
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper 
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House 
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating 
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life 
90. Sat on a jury 
91. Met someone famous 
92. Joined a book club 
93. Lost a loved one 
94. Had a baby 
95. Seen the Alamo in person 
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake 
97. Been involved in a law suit 
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Seems like I've got a lot to catch up on...

HA! You thought you'd lost me...

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. I suck. I haven't blogged in ages. I've heard the wailing and gnashing of teeth over my absence (just because I live in a magical little land where everyone waits with baited breath over each tiny thought I might be kind enough to share with the world. So I have some ego problems, get over it.) and have decided to please my adoring fans with a little poop talk. (Yes, this is for you Julie.)

It's possible that poop stories are only good when they're about kids, or about someone else. There's a great chance that self-disclosure in the realm of number two is a blogger's suicide. These are risks I'm willing to take. I figure it's the least I can do.

I've neglected writing for the past little while because I've felt like everything I write is "my womb sucks!" or "blahblahblah period." I tried to up the excitement ante with a little recipe madness (oooh. aaah.) but, really, the only interesting things that have been happening to me lately have been in relation to my body, and generally relegated to my bottom (ha!) half.

So, in a moment of respite for you, dear readers, I change my tune from the woes of my menses to the challenges of my bowels.

For a month now I have been eating "clean." This means no sugar, wheat, dairy, anything processed...basically anything delicious. I have had more vegetables in the past month than the last four years combined. Ever tried broccolini? I have. It is ass. Kale? yup, see broccolini. I have discovered the wonders of the sweet potato, however, and occasionally indulge myself with some good old-fashioned butternut squash. A real party. This is mixed with a disgusting blend of herbs and tinctures all in attempts to make this garden grow (if you would). The point of all this is to lead you to the inevitable assumption that my, ahem, b.m.s have been nothing if not regular. Like clockwork, I am. Unfortunately, that clock's alarm usually rings about an hour into my work day. I'm not comfortable with it, but alas, it is my fate.

All of this I say to you that you might sympathize with my strife. Every, EVERY time I come to Colorado I get, shall we say, stuck. I thought that my eating habits and massive water consumption might keep me from this problem, but no. Stuck. I go to the bathroom probably once an hour in the mere hope that I might be able to get rid of some of this pressure, and I sit, and I wait. Nothing. Not even the littlest of poops.

There is nothing I hate worse than being consto. I would rather have the Tijuana trots or anything of the like than being stuffed up. It hurts, and I feel like I weigh a million pounds. The lower gut bloats and you feel like you can't eat anything without choking. Yeah, I hate it.

That being said, after an airplane ride tomorrow, and getting back on the treadmill, I'm really hoping that I can get back to normal. Okay. Yeah, I just wrote a blog about poop. My poop. Imagine me with kids.