A Girl's Getaway!

Mina brought 3 flowers, symbolizing the 3 ladies taking a retreat.



I haven't blogged in awhile. Since my last blog, I went on vacation, celebrated my 30th birthday, Barack Obama was elected president (yay!!!!), had a baby shower in Georgia, and have come upon my 30th week of pregnancy. Oops! A lot has happened. And that's just the big stuff.

I saw an old high school friend at my baby shower in Georgia. We keep in touch through the blogging world. And she reminded me about how people get kicked off her list if they don't update their blogs. Sounds, scary. So, here I am.

My aunt and uncle have a mountain house in North Carolina. A few weeks ago, they so graciously let me and a couple of friends use it for a long weekend. We left on a Thursday and came back on a Monday. It was so nice to see the Fall colors at their peak, and to rest and enjoy nature for a few days. To confess, Friday (Halloween) I didn't even get out of my pajamas until 3 in the afternoon. We went for a couple of hikes, spent one day in Asheville, made some delectable dinners together, sat around cozy fires in the fireplace, and just enjoyed talking, laughing, and retreating with each other.

Here are a some photos that Jamina took with her camera. I'll try and put in some comments.

Whitewater Falls - our Halloween Hike

Jamina, Kari, and Maranda. Oops! I was the only one without some sort of costume. I guess I went as a pregnant woman.

Two big mouth bass...A mailbox we came across on a hike.
The three ladies at Gorges State Park.


Miss Carder giving Baby Jenkins some kisses. The babe finally gave her some action after the trip during another hang out time.


When you gotta go, you gotta go. It's just funnier when a camera captures it.
Friday was Fro Day!!


A Fro, some glasses, and a moo moo.

Evolution or "divine" creation - you tell me?


Homemade Miso Soup and Homemade Spring Rolls Night.

All Fros Hail To The Baby Jenkins!

You can tell Baby Jenkins was not lacking in the love and attention department. It's amazing what happens when women come around and embrace the process of birth.
Mina wanted a pose. OH! I gave her a pose alright.

Jamina's Signature Belly Photo.

For some reason, the girls thought it was so funny that I changed the clocks back right on time. Well, it was 2 am. Everything was funny!
Relaxing on the back porch after our homemade soy chai.

Mmmmm....Baked Salmon in Coconut Milk, Beets, Roasted Sweet Potatoes, and Kale. We dined like queens.

Beautiful Fall Leaves Against The Perfect October Sky.

Finally! We've Registered

So we finally bit the bullet and registered for baby stuff. If you are interested in seeing what we need or are one of those out there that need Christmas ideas, take a look.
Target
Babies-R-Us
Myregistry.com

We did research, asked a lot of friends, and Kari even read Consumer Reports for Baby Products. Even with all of that, it was still time consuming and a bit overwhelming. It's hard to think we'll have a baby in a few months and all of this stuff hanging around the house. Thank anyone in advance for anything we receive. It sort of feels weird to just make a list and then ask everyone to go buy stuff for us. But on that note, keep your eye out for that digital camera at Target. I had to choose between that or a 90 inch plasma tv...... ;-) (just kidding).

You can go to Target or Babies-R-Us or click the links above to view it online. Some products are not available online at Target or Babies-R-Us though.
Myregistry.com is a website that you can set up a registry and register for anything you can purchase online. For Baby Jenkins it's anything from a baby food maker to a Pittsburgh Steelers snuggle ball. When you go to the website, type in Kari Jenkins to search for our registry. Then when you click on a product to purchase, it will take you to the website the product is from. From there you can order the product just as you would anything else online.

The First Glimpse of Baby Jenkins...Boy or Girl??

We had an ultrasound this morning and saw Baby Jenkins for the first time. Everything looks great, and the baby is healthy. We decided not to find out whether or not we are having a boy or a girl. So, the ultrasound tech is the only one who knows. She wanted to tell us so bad, but we wouldn't let her. The important thing is that the baby is healthy!!

There are two feet pictures. She said the baby had big feet...probably Ryan's she suggested. There are two face pics. One is a side profile, and it looks like the baby is doing the thinking position with the hand up by the head. The other one we think the baby may have my chin and nose. We'll find out in a few months.

We would love for you to post a guess of whether or not you think the baby is a boy or a girl...not that you can tell from the face or feet. But it would still be interesting to hear what people have to say.

Here's the first glimpse of the small one pound wonder..........

Watchout. I've Sprung A Leak!

A Faucet. A Tire. A Water Balloon. A House that is not properly sealed. A Boat. The CIA. And of course, Kari's Breasts...All things that can leak.

About a month ago, I was watching the Steelers game while I was visiting Georgia. As Hines Ward is catching one of Rothlisburger's passes with the biggest smile on his face, I noticed my shirt was a little wet. "Hmmm. I guess I spilled some water," I thought. Back to the game. Throughout the first three quarters, I noticed more "water" spots showing up and realized there was no condensation on my glass. "Am I leaking?" It only took me nearly an entire football game to realize it. Once I realized what was going on I called Ryan to fill him in on the news. No quite sure what I thought he was going to do, but I guess in a way I felt like I had bragging rights since this certainly showed my commitment to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

I "googled" leaky breasts and other women have experienced the same thing during pregnancy. I'm not alone. My mom went the next morning to purchase some nursing pads for me, so I could have breakfast in public without the stares. Since then each morning, I proudly pack "the girls" with the pads and mess up Ryan's T-shirts at night.

I asked my midwife about purchasing a comfortable bra to go along with the flowing twins at night (not identical, I must admit), and she suggested not constricted them in anyway since it seems like I'm going to be flowing with lots of good milk soon.

"Well, what do I do at night then" I asked.
Coming from a direct place, she looks at me with a common sense answer..."Change your shirt."
A light bulb went off in my head. "Brilliant, I say."

5 Year Anniversary Weekend Extravaganza!!

If you keep up with our blog, then you might have read Ryan's anniversary blog. I'm usually the one who writes, but he was sneaky and slipped one in on us all. I ditto what he says...not about myself, but about how amazing it is to be married to someone so wonderful. I enjoy living my life with him and am reminded regularly how blessed I am to have someone like him for my husband and the father of my children.

For our 5 year anniversary, we decided to stay in Nashville and isolate ourselves. Most of you know that Ryan has been working 2 jobs since February, so time with each other is to be cherished. This year, we were able to spend 4 days together, and it was so much fun.

Ryan knew I wanted some of my old movie favorites on DVD, so he gave me The Karate Kid series as a gift. He also gave me Juno and Baby Mama. We spent 4 days hanging out watching Daniel Laruso and Mr. Miyagi. On our anniversary, I made him a "Choose Your Own Adventure" Book, and he chose the majority of the day.I won't take the credit for the originality. Maranda gave me the idea, and our friend, Galit, gave it to her. So, if you're ever curious about how to set it up, let me know and I'll pass the fun along.

One of the adventures was the activity, he ended up choosing to explore space which led us to The Adventure Science Center. I posted some pics from the Science Center. You'll get a good laugh at the photo of me as the computer aged me to 72 years of age with and without the use of sunscreen. I'm not so sure if it was a good thing for Ryan to see my photo proposal at the age of 72. I'll definitely continue to wear sunscreen. I opted that over smoking because I thought it wouldn't be as dramatic. Not quite sure if that worked out well.

We also went to The Melting Pot...one of my favorite special occasion restaurants and gave Ryan Steelers/Titans tickets for December.

We had a great anniversary and few days to enjoy each other. Chaco loved it too because we were all home together. As we went back to work, we tried to figure out what we could do and spend more time together. I guess we'll become farmers one day. Who knows? I probably should try growing herbs or tomatoes first.

The Mmmm Bop Men...aka Hanson

I wrote this blog in my head on the way to work yesterday, and I forgot all the brilliant things I was going to say. I guess I will attempt to remember some of it.

For those that recall the tune, "Mmmm Bop" by the little boys,Hanson, came out in 1997. I was graduating High School at the time and had spent much of my elementary and middle school days going Goo-Goo Gah-Gah over New Kids On The Block. I had had my boy band fun, and I was moving past all the silliness of it all. I believe there actually was a time in elementary school that I thought if Jordan or Donnie (of NKOTB) could spot me in the crowd of screaming girls they might actually want to hang out with me. Now, my parents were always there at the shows with me (Thanks, Mom and Dad!), so I'm not sure if they would have come along or let me be a big girl at the age of 10 and hang with them all by myself...but my little girl eyes didn't think very rationally when it came to the New Kids On The Block. So, when Hanson came into existence, my heart couldn't take all the time and energy to be a fan. Plus, I was going to college. I was practically a woman at this point.

I never thought much about Hanson except that there were younger girls experiencing the same addiction and disappointment of ever meeting, becoming friends, or girlfriends with these kids.

Fast Forward - 6 years. And we are at the end of 2003. Ryan and I had been married for a couple of months, and he came home from working at the studio with some shocking news.

Ryan - "You'll never believe who I saw on The Sharon Osbourne Show today."
Kari - "Who?"
Ryan - "Do you remember Hanson? They were on the show singing stuff from a new album. They're all grown up, and they sound good. I bought their new acoustic album. It should be here soon."

We waited a few days for the cd. Ryan took it and listened first. He had discovered them, and I wasn't quite sure of it all. Then, it was my turn. And I've been forever changed. I love music and all, but I'm not real obsessed with music as a whole. As long as it makes me feel good, then I like it. Honestly, there are days that I drive to work and it's completely quiet in the car. Yes, there are the moments when I need some good music to rock out to. Certain moments require certain music. I've already started a play list of music for our birth in my head. But overall, I'm a bit indifferent. Off the top of my head, I can't tell you what The Who sang or too much about The Rolling Stones. But I proudly admit that when it was my turn to receive the Hanson acoustic album, it stayed in my car cd player for nearly a YEAR. That's pretty much all I listened to for an entire year.

Then, the new Underneath rock album came. And some dvds. A few concerts. And the newer album The Walk.
Living in Nashville people are always going to shows. There are tons of shows every night, but Ryan and I have only been to about 4 shows in 5 years. Three of which have been Hanson.

It's so different for me than New Kids On The Block. I'm not waiting in line in hopes that Jordan Knight will sing that one solo song "Baby, I Believe In You." Because when he sang that song, he wore black pants and white shirt unbuttoned and this powerful fan (which I could never find) would blow his shirt open and away from his body. For some reason at the age of 10, I wasn't too concerned with hearing the music.

Now with Hanson, Ryan and I are in agreement that their music is awesome. They harmonize so well...probably partly because they're brothers and have been singing together since they were born. You can tell that they truly enjoy creating and playing music. They're doing some great things with their work. The Walk album helps bring light and help to HIV/AIDS and poverty in Africa. With Tom's Shoes, they are giving us the opportunity to help provide shoes for people in Africa. And when their tour comes into town, you can be apart of Taking The Walk. When you walk with them, they give money to one of 5 charities for you showing up and walking. The charities help provide education and well-building to these places in Africa.

All of those great things, and Ryan and I also agree that their shows are so high-energy. It's not the cable hoverboards from shows like the Backstreet Boys or pyrotechnics, fireworks, and choreographed danced routines. Those things don't exist at Hanson shows. Just the three brothers and a couple of other guys playing all the music they can play for one show. And I wouldn't call it a sing-a-long, but they do get the crowd involved in singing with them to fill the music like you hear on the cd. We always have a great time at the show. And I'm not concerned with what they're wearing or if I'll get to meet them. The music is what keeps bringing me back.

Their website is www.hanson.net
If you're interested in trying them out, I would suggest Underneath Acoustic as a start. Then, Underneath Rock album, and The Walk is great as well. I think there's a new one in the works too.

Now, that I've given my Hanson spill. We did see them last week in Nashville and convinced Jim and Choyer to come too....free tickets - who could resist? Here are some photos from the show.


Baby Jenkins' first concert. The baby would just kick and kick.

Real men enjoy Hanson!



Taylor and Zac Hanson

Isaac Hanson



Some of their acoustic stuff.

5 Years

Kari and I have been married for 5 years this Saturday.
To some of you, 5 years may not be a very long time when it comes to marriage. I mean, some of us have shoes that are older than 5 years right? Well, to Kari and I, 5 years has been both a long time and a short time.
In the grand scheme of things, 5 years compared to the all encompassing forever is not long at all. It's just the jumping off point. The waning beginnings of a much longer journey together. But as I look back on the last 5 years, it seems like we have jammed a lifetimes worth of memories in there already.
Tonight, Kari is assisting a birth, so Chaco and I are sitting in bed quietly by ourselves. Kari texted me earlier to tell me the baby was here and all went well. I started to think about how proud I was of her. I cannot believe I have married such an amazing person. I don't know if all marriages are like this, but I can honestly say I am taken back by Kari on a regular basis. She takes all of life by the reigns and does as she pleases, all while making an adventure of it.
Sometimes, when Kari and I are together, and no one is saying anything, it's just quiet, I will say "I love you" to her. When I think about it, I say that alot. Some people would probably get tired of hearing it I guess. But, I say it not to fill the silent spaces of our time together. I say it because she deserves it. I say it because no other words even come close to explaining how I feel about her. In the last 5 years you probably couldn't count the number of times I've said it. But she has deserved every one. She spends so much of herself letting others know they are cared about, that I hope she knows how much she is cared about.
She gave me a magnet not long ago that says this; "To the world you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world." I have it up at work and read it every day. It reminds me that even though we face our own challenges, we have each other to come home to. We have each other to share the frustrations and joys of life with. We have each other to share this adventure together with. There is a reason we have taken on the motto "Life is an Adventure". For 5 years there hasn't been a boring moment, as long as we've had each other. For 5 years, even the quiet moments are a time to let each other know that we amaze each other. And for the infinitely large amount of forever that we will spend with each other, we will continue to live this adventure. And I will continue to love Kari. Happy Anniversary KJ.

Sleep is overrated?! Ahh..Pregnancy.

Sleep - is it overrated?! I don't think so. I wish I was off in the Snoozeland right now. But I'm not. Ever since I've been pregnant, I've had trouble sleeping. It's either the need for regular bathroom breaks (nearly every hour or two), the bedroom is too hot (i know it's pretty cold with the AC, 2 fans blowing on me, and a frozen neck wrap around my neck), or I'm just plain hungry. Most of the time I can just toss and turn or remedy the situation and grab a couple more hours of uninterrupted sleep.

But then there are the times when I realize - there's no use I'm just wide awake. It's those times that I make a snack, turn on the TV, curl up in a chair with Chaco, and either play on the computer or stare at the TV screen on the wall in hopes that the tiredness will catch up with my body and mind and force me to stumble back to my pillow.

Let's see what do I know that I'm awake at this hour...It's not raining, there's no traffic at 5 am, and Obama is the democratic nominee for president. Hmmm...I think I could have figured out this all on my own without the help of Channel 4.

I try and remind myself that there is a newborn on the way, and I'm just getting ready for "those nights." I hope that the little one doesn't think that this is play time even though I've decided it is.

I would love any suggestions or ideas that those who have traveled this road can give. Or any related stories that could ease my sleepless mind.

To All a Goodnight!

Be BOLD

I received this website from someone yesterday, and I wanted to pass on the goodness. It's a quick trailer/film on what BOLD is. BOLD stands for Birth On Labor Day. From what I understand, a woman gathered birth stories from women and has created a play to educate women on birth. Take a few minutes to watch this film, and if it sparks an interest, peruse the website.

Film Link

http://www.boldaction.org/mediacenter/bold_film.html

Website Link

http://www.boldaction.org

Prenatal Care

For many women deciding on prenatal care is a big choice. Ryan and I have still not completely decided on where to give birth. Being a doula and a huge advocate for educating women on options for birth and prenatal care my obvious choice is a midwife. If there's an emergency, then I don't mind a doctor seeing me. But as long as everything is ok, I trust my body and my birth to a midwife. There's no doubt in our minds about that. It's just deciding who and where.

Many of you know that I've traveled to The Farm in Summertown, TN, for a childbirth education training and midwife assistant training. These world-renown women/midwives are AMAZING!!! My favorite book for women to read about childbirth is Ina May's Guide To Childbirth. Also, Spiritual Midwifery is a beautiful book on childbirth as well. I feel very blessed that these women are not that far from our home.

With that said, receiving prenatal care from them became a definite option in our search. When I was down there in June for a training, I had a quick prenatal meeting with a midwife. Ryan and I set up another meeting this past week. Ryan took the day off, and we traveled down to The Farm for a Day O' Fun!


The Farm Clinic



The Farm Store - They were out of their homemade ice bean.


We met Pamela at The Farm Clinic. We talked and had our meeting for an hour and a half. It was so relaxed and enjoyable. Pamela took the time to discuss vitamins, supplements, diet, and exercise. She even offered to ease my ignorance of a pressure cooker by giving me lessons when I come down again. Yes, I peed in a cup...a dixie cup. And she taught me how to use the litmus paper and read the results. I hopped on the table, and she showed us how to feel the baby in the sack already. It was so much fun for Ryan and me to actually be taught how to feel the baby.

She also took time to get to know Ryan which I appreciated. They talked about park ranger stuff and beautiful national parks. After the meeting, she sat there and let us ask any questions we had. We gave ourselves a self -tour of one of the birthing cabins. All in all - It was a very nice prenatal visit.

We had already decided before we took our little road trip that we would definitely make use of the beautiful weather and the swimming hole at The Farm. We made a quick stop at Target on the way down, so I could get a prego swim suit. After our meeting, it was off to the swimming hole. And it was cold and fun!!!


How do you like my sexy swimming dress?!


Ryan being so cool in the pool.



Prenatal Care at its finest.



Our Day O' Fun!!!

Is That Poo On Your Face?!!

Would you be so happy if you had poo on your face first thing in the morning?!!

Dogs are awesome.

This morning I let Chaco outside. She was crying to go and out she went. When I let her back in, it took me a couple of minutes to notice some "dirt" on her face. Thinking it was funny and imagining what she would have been doing to bust into some serious dirt, I giggled and thought we must go show your daddy.

We went into the bedroom and thank goodness I caught her before she planted onto the bed...I raised her up to show Ryan her "dirt" mishap and then "the wiff of Lucifer" crossed my nose...."Oh gaw. Ryan it's poo!" Trusting my heightened sense of smell, he thought it was time for a bath. We came up with a few different stories of how exactly poo was smashed into her white neck, but Chaco wasn't handing over any answers.

So, Ryan and I started our much anticipated day together washing poo off the dog. The pleasures of having a furry child. Chaco didn't seem to mind, so I guess we'll let it go too.

It's Business Time.

If you're familiar with Flight of the Conchords, then hopefully, you're singing the title of this blog.

For those of you who don't know this, I felt like it was about that time to sit down and blog about it. A couple of months ago, my friend, Maranda and I went out on our own and started our own business. We both felt like it was about that time for us to take more responsibility for our careers. We have a similar vision about birth services and with us both doing massage therapy as well - we felt like we would make a good team and we would be answering a call for a much needed business around town.

We have a small, cozy space on Music Row called Gaia Rising Massage and Healing Center. Our website is www.gaiarisingnashville.com if you'd like to learn more about "Gaia" and what the name actually means. It has a two fold meaning...one for the massage side of things and the other for the birth services side. Ryan is helping us design and get the website up and running, so please be patient - It's up, but it's not finished yet.

We found the spot, painted, decorated (a great deal of help from family and friends), and then we were off and running. We're still working on logistics with the accountant, gift certificates, merchant services, advertising, the list is never ending...but it's been such a great experience learning how to get a business started.

On the massage side - In a nutshell, our vision is to provide a space and services that allow people to take a break from their busy lives and go inward. Allow them to take time for themselves and rest and heal their bodies, so that they can be of service to others.

On the "mama" side - we want to provide services to families who are going through the transition to parenthood. For the mamas, taking time to relax and connect with their babes...also, the birth assisting...educating and empowering women to make informed choices about their birth experience and then providing the physical, emotional, and informational support they need before, during, and after labor. Women love having a calm presence with them during this time and the partners love it too. The partners don't have to feel like they need to know what happens next or what to do...we get to help them both through the experience, so they can be present for the birth of their child.

There's a lot more info on our website, so come and check it out.
www.gaiarisingnashville.com

I would love to hear any suggestions that you have about the site.

NFL - Shows up everywhere.

Today- Maranda and I were meeting with the guy who will be setting up our merchant (credit card) services for work. I got his name from Choyer who uses them and is very pleased. So, I called a few weeks ago and from an hour phone conversation felt like his company would be the right choice. He taught me so much about how the credit card transactions work. He's very personable and seems trustworthy. We've passed a few emails back and forth, but today he came in to meet with us.

Our meeting lasted nearly two hours. Like I said, he's very personable. We talked, and he shared stories about his wife and kids. I really enjoyed meeting with him. We signed the papers, and he was finishing up one of his last stories. By this time, I was very hungry and had started to slouch in my chair from all the business and story telling - zoning out for sure...when I heard him say he was from Cincinnati.

As a die-hard Steelers fan, those words perked me up. Could this kind man love my rival?!! Certainly, not. But he's from Cincinnati - he has to be. As my mind went back and forth, I knew I couldn't let him leave without asking. I just needed to know if I was doing business with a Bengals fan. I wiggled and squirmed in my chair and asked him if I could pose a simple question (definitely before we shook hands).

"Since you're from Cincinnati, does that make you a Bengals fan?"

He smiles and seems to enjoy my question. "Yes, of course."

He can tell by the look on my face and my body language that I wasn't thrilled. He tries to stutter his way out of it by saying he's a Titans fan these days as well. And he can still tell that I'm not satisfied. He asks me - "Are you a Cleveland fan?"

"No," I speak firmly and forwardly...suggesting he try again.

"What other rival do you have that would make us doing business questionable?"

"Steelers," he lets quietly slip off his tongue.

"Yes!!!"

Then, we proceed to discuss Chad Johnson's role as a player and Carson Palmer's anger towards the Steelers. He just had to get in that the Steelers broke his leg on purpose during the playoffs a couple years back in order to kick them out.

"Well, that's your side." I laugh. "Good thing I've already signed those papers."

We continued to joke for awhile. He fills me in on his bestfriend being a Steelers fan (trying to win me back, obviously). He admits that when the Titans are playing the Bengals, he cheers for the Titans. Hmmm, I think to myself...well, then he couldn't be too much of a fan. I guess business will be ok. I tried to remember how much I liked his business before I knew his dark secret, and I reassured myself everything will be alright. We shook hands and both silently understood that we both love NFL Football, and I'm sure he knows deep down that the Steelers are the best. I know he felt it in my handshake. Next time I serve him water, it will be in a Steelers cup.

Here we go Steelers! Here we go!!

I Love Another Man!!

Yes. It's true. Ryan knows about it, and he's ok with it.

It probably helps that he's just 6 months old.

If you've been keeping up with our blog, then you know my bestfriend, Jody, had a baby boy, Bodie, back in January. I was there the evening he was born, but I hadn't been around him since. I've been keeping up through pictures and phone calls. Jody, being true to her adventuresse (check February's blog to find out what an adventuresse is) self, packed up and brought Bodie up here to Nashville last week for a visit. When they arrived, I felt like I was meeting him for the first time. And he is something else. He's so adorable and good little man at that. I asked him if he wouldn't mind speaking to the little one growing in my belly and offer suggestions on how to be so cute and so good. I guess we'll see how he did in due time.

I enjoy watching my friends be parents. They are so good at it. They've all blown me away as they become mamas. Watching their transition and how they get in this flow of motherhood brings me into this state of awe. Jody and I had so much fun. The first evening Jody was preparing the rice cereal and discussing something to the effect/affect?? of how the whole feeding thing is tedious and how she's still in the process of figuring it all out (it was something like that - "pregnesia" as i call it has caused me to forget the details). Right after she had taken the time to brew up and concoct this yummy rice cereal/applesauce thing, she turned away to get something and Bodie reached over and flipped the bowl onto the floor. SPLAT!! - ever so nicely cereal and applesauce splayed out across the floor. Bodie's Masterpiece. I'm sure he was entertained as two women on their hands and knees at his feet clean and wipe up the floor. We just laughed.

Like I said, I'm totally having pregnesia, so I've kind of forgot what we did. We talked and talked. Played with Bodie. I showed her my work. We visited a friend who lives up here who had also just had a baby. We cooked dinner. We watched a movie. We had special Popsicles - Las Palatas. We went out to dinner and had pizza. We drank coffee. And of course, reminisced.

Bodie enjoying Uncle Shooter's Camelback

I'm so glad they came to visit. It flew by. On Friday morning, I admit I teared up at breakfast and our goodbye. It's been five years since we've been in different states, and we questioned when or if it would ever get any easier. We didn't come to a conclusion.

On a lighter note, I must share another humorous story. After bath time, Jody was drying Bodie off on the bed with his cute hooded towel when I hear - "Oh no!" Walking in the room, I had just missed his sprinkler spraying all over the bed. Another time for laughter!

I don't know how to end this blog, so I'll just stop typing.

Family

Some of my family was able to come down this last weekend. Mom, Ken, MawMaw, and PawPaw all paid a visit. It was great! I haven't seen MawMaw and PawPaw for almost two years!
The first thing we did when they walked in was tell them we were having a kiddo. They were so excited for us. It was fun to tell them because we had been waiting so long to let them know.

We spent Saturday morning being lazy because Kari had a client at work. It was nice because I haven't had a day off of work since I can remember. Then Saturday afternoon we all jumped in the car and went to Radnor Lake, the park I have been working at as a Seasonal Ranger for 6 months or so. My family was able to meet my boss Steve there and I showed them around a bit. They met all of our birds of prey and all of our snakes. It was a good (hot) afternoon. That evening we went home and grilled out and stuffed our bellies.

Sunday we woke up early and headed out to the Nashville Zoo by request of my Mom. (She loves the zoo!) And although it was boiling hot outside, it ended up being a nice day. We walked alot, saw a bunch of interesting animals, learned a bunch, ate some zoo (junk) food, and had an all around good time. Ken and I had a great time luring people to bridges and fences and making them think there were hippos or big fish in the water or bear behind the trees. (There was nothing there, but seeing peoples faces looking for something that isn't there is fun! Hey, you have to find some way to stay entertained!)




























That night we went out and ate at Demos downtown in Nashville and took everyone to mine and Kari's work. By the end of the evening we were all worn smack out so we went home, had a little of Kari's home-made dessert, and hit the sack.

Monday morn we all went to Cracker Barrell for pancakes and said good bye. It was a short visit, two days, but it was a good visit. No matter how long you are away from family, the people you love are always close to you and when you get back together, it's like you never left. But it was still a sad good bye as it always is. If it was a perfect world we could all live close to our families and visit on a much more regular basis. But because we have responsibilities in a different city and family in multiple states, we have to squeeze all of our life into phone calls and weekend visits. I hope that those that love us realize that just because we live a days drive away, doesn't mean our love is far away. I like to think that the love of a family closes the gap that distance creates.

12 Weeks Prego!!

We can finally blog about it! We wanted to wait until we were able to tell Ryan's family in person, and we did that this weekend when they came in town for a visit. It may have worked out better this way because the blogging world (cross my fingers) may have missed the constant nausea stories.

We found out in June. We both sort of knew, but of course you want to verify with the good ole pregnancy test. Baby Jenkins should arrive sometime at the beginning or middle of February!!

We would be so grateful for any prayers or good thoughts as the little one grows.

We're excited about the journey, and we look forward to sharing it with you all. From constipation, midwifery care, food cravings, a big belly, and whatever else comes up - we hope you all will enjoy the adventure.


The morning that sealed the deal.

Mr. Rogers - The Best Neighbor Ever

Ryan sent me this CNN story on 15 Things That Make Mr. Rogers The Best Neighbor. It's fun to read about how he lived the same way off screen as he did on screen. He seemed like a pretty wonderful man. I would have liked to have met him.

Here's the link for the story. Just click on it, and it should take you there.

Enjoy!


http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/07/28/mf.mrrogers.neighbor/index.html

Welcome To "The Jelly Toaster!"

Where to begin with this one?

I got in a car accident last Thursday. I was at a two-way stop sign, stopped, and looked. I know I stopped and looked in all directions because I was contemplating a bike route. Ryan and I bought bikes last week, and I was attempting to create a bike route to the Park and to work. After stopping and looking, I decided to go straight. Before I knew it, as I crossed the two lane intersection, my car and I were spinning. It's easy to place fault and blame, especially when dealing with insurance, but I'll leave that alone. I don't have any broken bones, but I am healing from some nasty bruises and whiplash. What was our only car sits at the wrecker waiting for an adjuster to let us know if it's totaled.

On to The Jelly Toaster...Ryan and I have been saving money to buy a car in the Fall. We've been talking about buying a new car for a couple of years, gone to car shows, read and researched the different cars that we're fond of. Well, when this all happened, we double checked our finances. We had a certain amount and said to each other....let's go and see what happens. We went and test drove a couple of cars that we've had our eye on that we knew we were interested in. There are some things that Ryan and I just know deep down, and we both knew deep down which vehicle we wanted before we even went. Of course, after the fact - we admit that to each other. After a day of driving and talking, we purchased a new car. It's a 2008 Honda Element that we named The Jelly Toaster.



Let's see - what have I gleaned from this experience so far.

In a nutshell, be conscious and aware when you're driving. They are huge metal machines that are not to be reckoned with. You are not invincible just because you are in a metal cage. When you're driving, drive.

Our bodies are amazing. Knowing how the body works is pretty interesting. I could feel my body doing the whole "fight or flight" thing during and right after the accident. And now it's healing itself. I haven't had to take pain medication - just ice, heat, rest, massage, and Epsom Salt soaks.

Family and true friends love and support you. Ryan came immediately to my rescue and has been dealing with the insurance companies and loving on me ever since. He's even taken a couple of days off to spend time with me. Our friend, Jim, dashed out of work to check on me and give me a ride home. Ryan was on his motorcycle, so I needed a way to get my stuff and me home. Jim and Choyer as well as our friend, Logan, offered up vehicles to the Jenkins'. Logan and Becky brought ice cream over - Soy!, of course...and my favorite flavor at that. Both of our parents have called to check on us a lot and give us advice and their love. Maranda, another friend, gave up a slot for a paying client to give me a massage the day after. A group of friends rearranged "Girls Day" so I could be there. Everyone has been so kind and nice.

Show gratitude. At first I had a hard time being appreciative for the new car. I had this guilt for having an accident and then spending money for a new car. I didn't feel like I deserved it! I admitted that to a friend, and she put it into perspective for me. Speak your gratitude. I am very grateful that we have been able to buy a new car, the one we've had our eye on for years. I am also grateful that everyone is safe and healthy.

Airing Out the Family Trash

Airing out the Family Trash, huh? I wondered if that would spark anyone's interest. What is KJ up to now? Is she about to disclose some family secrets for the world to read? Sorry to disappoint, or should I say "You are so welcome." No, this time I literally mean...Here is The Jenkins' Family Trash!!

Honestly, I never really thought about recycling. Don't roll your eyes - I'm being honest here. In Spring Hill, there wasn't a system of recycling that I was aware and so I never thought too much about it. I didn't know what I could or couldn't recycle or what to do with it. So, nothing ever got done. I didn't even know where or how to start.

When we moved into Nashville, there was a green trashcan and a tan trashcan. What in the world did we need 2 trashcans for? Common sense...green is the color for the environment. Hmm...recycling?

It didn't take long for me to get curious about recycling. For one, the county dropped off another set when we moved into the house, so we have 2 tan ones and 2 green ones. Here we have 4 trashcans and only one was being used. Ryan and I got on the internet and researched "Curby." That's Nashville's recycling! We read about what could and couldn't be thrown away in the recycling trashcan, what day Curby comes to pick up our recycled trash - which is once a month, where do you take your glass and plastic bags, and where exactly the recycling goes. It's a pretty interesting website.

We started one week setting aside everything that could be recycled at the end of the counter. It was overflowing with aluminum cans, junk mail, empty frozen veggie bags, cardboard boxes like Cheerios and Oatmeal, and glass jars and bottles after a couple of days. When the garbage came that week, we didn't even have a bag that needed to be taken. Whoah! It hit me all the trash we were dumping in landfills that would never go away. And there is a solution. It can be reused.

Now that we've been doing it for over a year, it's real simple. And it's efficient and good for the Earth we live on. Every couple of days, we walk to the back of the house and dump our recycling in the can. Once a month we have to take one or maybe two of our green trashcans up to the road. And on our normal trash day, we often times don't have a bag to dump or if we do, it's usually one measly plastic bag. It really does blow our minds every time the trash comes.

My new interest now is composting. Because when I take a look in the trash, all I see is food that could be composted and used as fertilizer. We'll let you know as that adventure progresses.

Oh! And about the glass and plastic grocery bags. I had my first experience this week. We kept our glass bottles in our basement and the plastic bags that people manage to collect for nearly a year. I admit Ryan and I are procrastinators on certain things. But there are stations throughout town that you drop off those items. The closest one to us is a couple of miles away. I went to Kroger and gave them back their bags in the bins placed outside the store. Took a total of 2 minutes tops. And then I went across the street to dump the jars and bottles. They even had a system there!!! I dumped brown colored glass in one bin, green/blue in another one, and clear in yet a different one. Let me tell you - I had so much fun. If you have any pent up tension that needs a way out, offer to recycle someone's glass. As you threw the glass in, you could hear it shatter when it hit the bottom. It was a great stress reliever!

Anyway, check out your local recycling. I mean you are already on the Internet. See what's available in your area and look into what you can do. Write your local officials if you need to.

Thanks for taking a look into The Jenkins' Family Trash today!

Life with a Honda Civic...

...and only a Honda Civic.

Kari and I sold our truck last November. It was an ol' 98 Mazda B3000 we lovingly called the White Buddah, only because we had to rub the dashboard to make sure it'd get us where we wanted to go.
We decided to live life with one car for a while, just to save money so when we bought another vehicle we could pay cash. Luckily I have my motorcycle to rely on, so the going hasn't been too tough. If the temp was above freezing when I left in the morning or the rain was holding off, I was ok riding the Yamaha almost every day this winter. But we came to a realization this week...
...A Honda Civic and a motorcycle are no help when your trying to bring home 5 large shrubs for your newly bare flowerbed...
I took some of the precious free time that I am allotted now and dug up the flower bed in our front yard. The folks before us had just put a hodge-podge of shrubs and bushes there, and we promised ourselves we would work on it this April. So Wednesday Kari and I stopped by the store after work to pick up some boxwoods for the flowerbed.
First of all, I left two shrubs that I thought were boxwoods in the flowerbed, just because they were still alive and I thought we could just add to them. Well, we get to the store and start looking at the boxwoods and Kari says...."that's not what we have at home." I was convinced it was. But after careful consideration...(Kari's always right)...I realized what we had at home were a type of Holly bush. So we ended up buying a couple of those and 5 Boxwoods.
Now realize that the Boxwoods were about 2-3 feet tall and fairly wide. We cart them out to our car and stand there wondering "how in the world are we going to get these things home?"
Bad planning on our part.
So sure enough, because we live by the motto of our life being an adventure, we begin stuffing the plants into the innocent Honda Civic. About 15 minutes later, we finally had them all in...and this is what we looked like:

Now, I'm not sure if you can see or not, but Kari is stuffed in the middle of the back seat between all the shrubs. Don't worry, she somehow got her seatbelt on and miraculously I was able to see out of all the rear-view mirrors.
It would have been nice to have a truck or large SUV to throw all the plants in and head home, but what fun would that have been? We laughed the whole way home wondering what people thought of us.
We got the plants home and I spent some time today planting them. I have to say, I wish we had a before picture, because it has made a world of difference. I actually feel good about the front of our house now.
So if you are looking for a vehicle to help you move a large load of....well, anything, then look no further than a Honda Civic. We know from experience.