Smooth Sailing

These last 2 days have been great. No nausea, no fatigue; only some lower back pain that comes to life whenever I sneeze or laugh or reach down for something. I looked up that particular symptom and it has something to do with my uterus growing and pushing against my nerves, which in turn causes pain in the lower back/ buttocks/thigh region a.k.a Posterior Pelvic Pain. Exciting, I know. There's never a dull moment over here, I tell ya. Whatever the case, I'm thankful that I feel a heckuva lot better today. I was actually energetic enough to clean! YAY! And yesterday I woke up superduper early & prepped a meal (using my handy dandy crockpot) so that by the time we got home from church there was food to be eaten for dinner. I love being able to tackle my susie homemaker duties with full force. Feeling sick is no fun! (And being around me when I feel sick is NO fun either. Just ask my husband. Poor fella.)
Anywho, thank you GOD for easing my pain and transforming me into my normal self again! (Well, almost normal... except for this new life growing inside of me. If that makes me temporarily abnormal, then I'll deal with it. I just want this baby to be healthy AND I want an epidural. Oh, wait-- it's too soon for that.)

Lunchables Breakfastables

For the last 2 days I've been feeling what I'm guessing is a fabulous case of morning sickness. They say it's normal for women to develop morning sickness when they're this far along (about 6 or 7 weeks) but DANG! I was SO happy without it. As the world knows, nausea is no fun. I already have too little energy and I'm constantly trying to fight against feeling overly emotional and tired all the time. However, I know in my heart that I'm not as gross as I feel, not as much of an emotional wreck as I feel, and definitely not as lazy as I feel. So, I'm just waiting for the time when all of these random feelings will go away and I can be my normal self again. (Please, normality, come soon!)

Yesterday I forced myself to get dressed and head over to the grocery store to pick up a few things we needed at the house. I practically dragged myself out the door, but I perked up a bit once I felt the sunshine and fresh air on my face.

I decided to buy some things I knew would make my heart & tummy happy: Sour Patch candy and a Lunchables lunch pack. [Jon laughed when he saw the Lunchables in the fridge later that day, but he understands my need for my special comfort food.] I may just have to eat lunchables for breakfast from now on, until these morning sickness episodes go away. They're so convenient, yummy, and easily accessible: just one reach into the fridge and presto! Breakfast is served! (The raspberry tea has also been a lifesaver. It was given to me by someone who had no idea it was my favorite. Yay!)

Despite how I've felt lately (emotionally disturbed and physically handicapped) I have much to be grateful for; God has been so faithful and constant. He always is, but he's opened our eyes to recognize it all the more. He's wrapped us up in His love and I know He won't let go.
The knowledge of God's love for me is better than all the comfort food in the world.

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psalm 73:26)

Fearless: Gladiator Style

Sometimes I enjoy grabbing some popcorn, heading over to the sidelines, and kicking back to watch exactly how God's hand is over my husband's life.
When I first met Jon, his near death/destruction experiences drove me crazy. It has never been an uncommon thing for him to call me and immediately spit out the breathless words, "Babe! My life just flashed before my eyes!" (In fact, he just called me from work today and said that very thing.) I would worry about him and constantly tell him to be careful, and constantly remind God (me remind GOD?! haha) to "please watch over him!" Eventually I learned to let go of all my concerns and just trust that God is and always will be faithful to protect my husband.

It's a good thing I've come to accept that fact, because there's never a dull moment in Jon's life. He gravitates toward walking on the edge, and lives his life on the brink of disaster-- too often for my taste, but hey, what can I say? God made Jon to be an adrenaline rush-loving, fearless warrior.

For clarity's sake, I don't mean that Jon seeks ways to destroy his life; what I mean is (and some of you are not ready for this, but many of you will get my point) Satan seeks ways to destroy him.
Time and time again Jon has told me about how a vicious dog has chased him (he's had to outsmart way too many dogs in the last few years), or how a dog got close enough to bite him but only caught his pant leg... how he's narrowly escaped being pancake-crushed in car accidents.... how he's had various "staring contests" with gangsta thug gentlemen because he's white and a whole lot of Oakland folk some people just don't like white dudes. I constantly observe the way men react to my husband's presence. They stand a little taller, put on their hardest hard face (some don't have to try hard to look hard, cuz they've lived a hard life for so long that their faces are almost permanently scarred with hardness) and I've watched Jon walk through his life with confidence and a warrior-like mentality. He's never a sissy, and always ready to throw down if the necessity arises.

Yet, what I love to tell Jon is this, "Babe, if God didn't have His mighty hand over your life the way that He has all these years, then you would be dead by now."
Jon isn't bold because he's the strongest man on the planet; he's bold because He walks under God's favor, and I like to remind him of that because I enjoy keeping him in check because it's an important thing to remember.
In fact, ANYONE who walks under God's favor is a fierce warrior. You cannot mess with God's children and get away with it. God will put any and every man/woman/child in check who dares to mess with His kids! It's a fact. You can read about it in the Bible over and over again. God is LOVE and He's also a CONSUMING FIRE.
So, this goes out to all God's warriors: be bold, be fearless, and be humble before the ONE who has His hand of protection over your life.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)

Gifts for Baby

So, we have an excited Grammaw Mish who is eagerly awaiting the arrival of her first ever grandchild. In the meantime, she has been gracious enough to buy us a few of the sweetest gifts ever. Here's one that I love: Shakespearean bookends! (She says our baby will need bookends because I have a degree in Literature, and it's only fitting that we teach our children to appreciate (and LOVE, I hope!) literature.) Check 'em out:

They're vintage and amazingful, which is why I'm putting them to good use while we await our bundle. 

Thanks, Grammaw Mish! You're cool!!

Speaking of Shakespeare, one of my favorite Shakespearean sonnets is this one.

Brownie Bits

Is it bad that I'm nibbling at a brownie for breakfast? I did just finish eating a Granny Smith apple (my favorite!) but my tummy is still growling, and my waffles are still in the toaster. So, for the next minute or so I will indulge my sweet tooth and feed my baby some brownie bits! Yummm. I hope my child appreciates chocolate as much as I do. If we have nothing else in common, I'd like for chocolate to be the one thing that we can both enjoy together. Wait, no! Rewind! (I'm telling lies) We will (I'm believing for it) have a love for Jesus in common. . . and an appreciation for chocolate, hopefully.
Eh, Forget the stinkin' chocolate! I just want him/her to love Jesus! =)

Oh my gosh, folks, I wish you could taste what I'm tasting right now. I must give public thanks to my friend, Sharon, for bringing joy to my life by baking me this batch of deliciousness. (So sweet & thoughtful she is!) Not only did she bring me brownies, but she brought her cutie patootie baby boy with her too! (You outdid yourself, Sharon!)

{How cute is his facial expression in this shot?(!)}

Unfortunately, he had no other baby to play with {sad puppy face} but give me about 7 more months, Jedidiah, and i'll have a playmate for you in no time!

Yesterday evening my Jon's awesome mom fed our tummies. (She loves us! Yes she does!) It was a veggie-full, Asian inspired meal and my heart felt very happy after my mouth devoured it. (Plus, there was baby corn in the mix! That alone made me super excited to eat it!)

I also got to enjoy the sunset view from her place.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. (Psalm 19:1&2)

Crabby Pants & my friend, Clearance.

Okay, I spoke too soon. Being prego was a breeze up until last night! (Didn't know I was pregnant? SURPRISE! Read my last post :) I could not, for the life of me, find a comfortable position to sleep in. It was SO annoying, and it doesn't really help that I've developed yet another cold throughout the course of this week. So, my nose is stuffy and, well, I'll spare you all the other gross details. I desperately need a body pillow! Having one will benefit both me and my sweet husband. He was in bed next to me, watching a movie on his laptop, while I kept falling asleep and waking up, falling asleep and waking up. At one point I started pouting like a 5 year old and threw one of my three pillows (yes, 3 pillows! It's the only way I can sleep comfortably these days) on the floor.
If this pregnancy continues to disrupt my sleep, I'll be the crankiest crabby pants in the United States of the World. Meanwhile, Jon is next to me asking me questions like, "Babe, are you okay? Are you hungry? Want somethin' to eat?" ... then he just rubbed my head until I dozed off in this position, on the bed.

{Who woulda thunk I'd be comfortable sleepin' like a purdy ballerina!}

So, Jon is a gem and he's married to a 5 year old whiner. That's okay cuz I know he'd be just as cranky if he felt all the changes i've been feeling in my body. It's both amazing and perpetually uncomfortable. And this is only the beginning, my friends!

On a much brighter note, I got to go shopping with one of my newer friends, Maria. (Her name is awesome because it reminds me of a million other Puerto Rican women I know. . . even though she herself isn't Puerto Rican. Doesn't matter.)

Anywho! We went over to Berkeley (can you hear the choir of angelic voices singing?) and did some window shopping/real shopping. I've never really developed the skill of window shopping. It's pretty pointless to me. If I'm in a store it's because I wanna buy something. Period. However, sometimes you just gotta walk through a store and realize that you probably shouldn't buy any of the overpriced items in there, and walk right out. I'm pretty good at THAT kind of shopping.
One of the reasons why I enjoy going to Berkeley is because of the awesome thrift stores. I always find great deals in thrift stores. I know the idea of shopping in thrift stores grosses some people out (Ugh! How could you wear something that touched someone else's armpits?!) but I only buy things that are either new or fairly new, and I always wash or dry clean the stuff before wearing it. So, I found this midnight blue, super classy/perfect fitting Bebe dress coat for $18 (Can we say WOW together?) and a really cute top for $6. I also bought a dress for $10, but that wasn't at a thrift store, it was in the clearance section of a "normal" store. So, I spent a total of $34 and got myself a coat, a dress, and a really cute blouse. I'm patting myself on the back right now, just so you know.
My dad always told me, "You really know how to get a lot for your money," whenever I would come home with a whole new wardrobe for only $150.
I always gravitate towards the clearance rack. The clearance section is my friend! We go waaayy back; Clearance has never failed me. We'll be friends til the end.

A [SPECIAL!] Delivery.

Dearly Beloved friends and family,

I tried to think of the best way possible to get in touch with all of my family and friendsies in one shot, and this is what I came up with. 

We (Jon & I) would like to let you know that God has blessed us with the opportunity to be parents. In more simple terms, I'm pregnant and we're having a baby!

[AHHHHH!! Our VERY OWN bundle of joy!! Those of you who know me well know how excited I must be!}

{The faces of two elated parents-to-be}

We are aware that while most will be excited and happy for us, there are those who will be quick to criticize highly concerned for our well-being. So, we'll gladly answer some questions that we expect to be asked:

Q: Why so soon? Shouldn't you have waited a while before taking such a major step?

A: God's timing is the best timing, and God has made it crystal clear that this is part of His plan for our lives. We trust He knows best.

Q: Babies are a major responsibility; are you both aware of what you're getting yourselves into?

A: What kind of a question is that?! =) It's not the end of the world, but the beginning of a precious new life! We'll go through parenting struggles, like all parents do, and we'll rely on God for wisdom and guidance.

Now on to the FUN questions!

Q: How far along are you?

A: A little over 6 weeks and feeling great! (A little heartburn, fatigue, and emotional roller coaster rides here and there, but I'll take that over morning sickness any day!)

Q: Any cravings yet?

A: Garlic! Pickles! Lemon juice over everything I cook! Vinegar! Sour Cream & Onion chips! (My mouth is watering as I type...)

Q: Do you want a boy or a girl?

A: We want whatever God gives us, but we both have a feeling it's gonna be a boy. 

Q: How many pregnancy tests did you take when you had a feeling you were pregnant? (Okay, so no one is gonna ask this question but I thought i'd throw it in there anyway...)

A: Only five. :) In a span of two weeks, not back to back. That would be pretty pointless.

Q: Do you have a belly yet?

A: I'm slowly gaining weight, and can already see my stomach beginning to grow. . . but no belly yet. It'll be a few more months before the baby bump starts to really show. 

Q: Have you thought of any names?

A: Yes and no. We have a few in mind for both sexes, but we'll let the world know the name once the baby is born. 

Q: Why so secretive?

A: Why so nosey? : )

On a serious note, we'd like for all of you God fearin' folk to keep us in prayer as we hope to successfully reach each and every major milestone in this pregnancy. The first few months are said to be the danger-zone months; It's common knowledge that many women miscarry during this period of pregnancy. However, our hope is in God and not in common knowledge.

With that said, I'm EXCITED and truly feel like I'm living a dream. God knows how much I adore babies, and for me to be able to have my own baby is something that I don't take for granted. I feel privileged and honored, and know that God has some amazing things in store for our little family of three. 

Love & Hugs,

Becky & Jon

I Did the Right Thing!!

When I married Jon, I did the right thing. 
I mean, I knew beforehand that it was the right thing, but now that I'm HERE in good ol' California and livin' the good ol' married life, I witness daily proof of my having done the right thing. 
It's a swell feeling, it is! And I obviously just want the world to know that I'm lovin this!! 


With that said, here's a picture of us on a sweet little date we had a few weeks ago. There was a lot on my mind that night. . . 

Can you tell? =) 
Anyway, the waiter (as smart waiters usually do when they want a good tip) offered to take a cheesy couples picture of us. 

I made Jon hold my hand. Haha. I'm cheesier than any cheesy person I know. 


Back to my original point:
my husband is awesome and I love him. 

Bumpy road?

You ever have one of those days where you wake up in the morning feeling jolly and blessed, just BURSTING with joy and then a certain "sandpaper" person/situation makes its way into your joy-party and *ZAP!* your mood takes a turn for the worst?

Just the other day I found myself laying face down on the bed, tears flowing, frustration building in my chest, feeling like no one understood me and the world was against me. Then I heard that still small voice that I recognize as the Holy Spirit. Get up, the assertive voice said. I didn't listen; I wallowed in my sorrows just a little more when I heard the voice again: Get up, now.

Lately God has been showing me that I sometimes act like a 2 year old. When things don't go my way, I throw little hissy fits. The fact that I was having my own little pity party, alone in my room, was not okay with God. It's okay to cry when you're frustrated, but I wasn't just crying; I was being a 25 year old brat. God didn't like it, which is why He told me to get up. When I realized the firmness in the command and actually stood up, my perspective changed; I realized exactly how childish I was being.

Instead of immediately responding to that sandpaper situation/person (that makes you wanna scream), it's best to hold off for a second.
Stop. Just breathe, and think "Is what I'm about to say or do actually worth my time or theirs?"
Most times your initial instinctive response is definitely not worth your time. (I know mine isn't, or else I'd go around smackin' everyone that got on my nerves. No bueno.)

This is where God's grace comes into play BIG TIME.
When you feel like you have not an ounce of patience left, no strength, and no desire to act your age, God's grace is sufficient for thee.

"God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
2 Corinthians 9:8

Laughing Fire

Most women have a mental list of at least 3 things they want in a boyfriend/husband. One thing that i've heard countless women say is, "I want a man who can make me laugh." Not to rub it in anyone's face or anything, (rub-a-dub! =) Just kidding!) my husband makes me laugh all the time. An average day consists of us laughing together a whole lot, and the laughter level only increases when we're hanging out with his buddies. They are hilarious when they get together.
Anyway, Jon does random funny things like pray for candles to light up (when there wasn't a lighter or a match to be found and we wanted the warm candle glow to spread cozy Christmas cheer throughout sister's home.)

{Pray harder! It's not working!}

This is the kind of silly-billy stuff he does all the time, and our marriage is all the better for it. 

side note: the candles never lit up. He obviously needs to work on his praying skills. (Love you, babe!)

PS
If you've never read the true story of God sending down fire as a response to Elijah's requests, then what in the mundo are you waiting for? It's only ONE of the many captivating stories in the Bible!
Check it out: 1 Kings 18:16-39.

Laundry & Thank You's

Today I washed a million loads of laundry and have not folded one single article of clothing.  It was a very productive day nonetheless!

Before I lay my head on my comfy pillow tonight I've made a promise to myself to finally get around to ordering some photos to stick in our thank you cards. Sadly I have not sent out a single thank you card to any of our wedding guests. Proper wedding etiquette calls for the thank you cards to be mailed within 3 months of the wedding date. Therefore, I have 38 days to mail them puppies out!   I know I can do it! I just know I can! (Help me, Lord.) Writing out thank you's is just one of those things that most guys would rather not do. I personally don't mind writing. I could write down my thoughts and feelings all day and never get bored. Jon, on the other hand, would rather eat dust.

I know this is very random but I'd like to take a sentence or two to thank all of our wonderful friends and family who flew and drove in from different places (Puerto Rico, California, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,  Florida, Washington, etc.) to be present at our wedding. You really blessed us with your presence and we do not take for granted the fact that you paid big bucks to be there. Your presence was much appreciated! 

{Photo of my wedding shoes: Ben Armerding)

My Life Lately

Aside from the fact that I was sick as a dog last week, things have been going great. As the days go by I'm realizing more and more exactly how much I truly enjoy cooking. I've never made so many experimental dishes in my life, and each of them have turned out surprisingly yummy! I haven't heard any food complaints from Jon, which makes me love to cook for him all the more!
This is what I made myself for lunch the other day:

{Sidenote: Thank you to Michelle from Oh Mishka for inspiring me to make myself somethin' shrimpy!}

So, that's Rigatoni covered with pasta sauce (added some celery) and garlic shrimp. It was SO good!

And this is what we ate for dinner yesterday:

It's pizza porkchops over pasta! (Don't worry, I'm not completely out of my mind-- yes, that is lettuce. =) I did a little switcharoo on my dish and had my porkchops over lettuce because I wasn't very hungry.) I found the recipe online and it turned out amazing! Got to use the crock pot for the first time ever, and my life will never be the same again. I've fallen in love with my Crockypot! (Thank you, wonderful mom-in-love, for giving it to us!)
So, I've obviously been on a bit of a pasta craze, but it's been great. Both Jon and I could use the carbs, that's for sure.

Last Friday I had the pleasure of going with Momma Mish to her card-making class. I had SUCH a fun time. It was basically a group of about 10 women who get together to learn new scrapbooking techniques. Scrapbooking is something I really enjoy doing, but I'm not necessarily the greatest at it. Anyway, these women are pro's and I learned some cool new things. I'm definitely looking forward to going back with her. This is what I made:

{It's a Valentine's Day card with yummy M&M's on the inside!}

My card was definitely not the best looking (if you look closely, things are a little crooked) but I think it turned out great for a first try!

On Saturday we got together with Jerry & Danielle and went out to Tlaquepaque in San Jose for some slammin' Mexican deliciousness. I had garlic Shrimp (again) Mexican style. What can I say? I love garlic and I love shrimp! (Although shrimp is not necessarily the healthiest, I do go on shrimp tangents from time to time.) I've never in my life eaten so much Mexican food. It's so delicious though. I have zero complaints.

Here we are enjoying our quality time together:

Sunday was filled with church and more quality time with friends and more awesomeness that I have no pictures of, because I left my camera at home. {sad face}

Bottom line-- I'm so happy here in California! All I miss about NY are my loved ones. As for NYC itself, I can totally live without it. This is where i'm supposed to be and I feel myself thriving here. Thank you, God!

Elephant Pain

Here I am, in bed at 6:12AM, feeling like an elephant sat on me all night long. I don't know what I have, but it's not the best feeling. . . to say the least. Before my husband left for work he made me tea. I've been drinking lime tea with honey like it's a new trend. I have lime juice flowing through my veins as I type, and I'm hoping that somehow, some way I'll be better off for it. I haven't had the mental energy to sit down and type up a post in the last few days. If you could see me now, you'd know why. I'm literally laying in bed, with my lap top propped up on the quilt, typing in this awkward position. Everything hurts, but I feel pretty emotionally spectacular right now. No sadness, just achey-ness.
On a brighter note, Jon and I went to Costco last night and stocked up on some essentials: chicken soup, bread, raisins- (my healthy candy), yogurt, and a few other things we can't possibly live without.  He never liked Costco before we got married, but I proved to him that it's a great place to buy certain things if you wanna save money. Now he enjoys our Costco trips way more than I do. We're all about saving a buck these days!
If I type anymore my arms may just fall off (they ache pretty bad) so I'll just cut this short and include just a couple of photos taken on New Years Eve. 

{At church} 

{singing}