What exactly is a kumquat?

Okay, I know its a fruit.. or vegetable?

Looked it up, its a fruit.

KUMQUAT: a small, round or oblong citrus fruit having a sweet rind andacid pulp, used chiefly for preserves.

Who cares about kumquats anyway?

I do!! Here's why :)

Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

How cute is little Blueberry/Tadpole (who is not even the size of a blueberry anymore and doesn't have a tail anymore either.. I need a new nickname...and I'm NOT calling it Kumquat. Its weird.)! Kicking and swallowing fluid! Look at ______ (new nickname here) go!  First ultrasound is January 3rd! :) 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

-Olivia :)

The Dreaded Photography Class

I did not, I repeat, DID NOT want to take Photo 1. But my always wise advisor, Mr. Leahy, forced me to. And, surprisingly, I actually enjoy it!! ...sometimes. The first couple of pictures are from the VERY beginning of the semester and to me, they're good. They are OKAY...I mean an butterfly on a flower picture. HOW ORIGINAL (not). But I think I definitely improved over the semester. And I made lots of new friends in this class!! :)

Butterfly on a Flower.... From our VERY FIRST assignment. It's eh.

Photo from our "Abstract" assignment...

The rest of these are from our most recent assignment.. The assignment was night shots and "elements of landscape"...whatever that means. I got an A, I believe, and I'm very happy with them. In fact, my photography teacher wants a print of one of them!!! I about hyperventilated when he said he wanted it :)

I took this on the night of the first snow in Highland! You can kind of see the snow on the awnings of the stores.

This one was in my backyard and I love it. During our critique everyone in my class said it reminded them of a fairy tale. :):) (And we all know how much I love fairy tales)

This is part of an uprooted tree I found on an adventure once. 

And last, but not least, the picture my teacher likes :) Just some roots I found at the Hiawatha lake. I had to pretty much get IN the lake and stand on a very unstable rock to take this picture. Luckily, I had my sweet little friend, Anna, hold the strap for the camera just incase I fell in.. I was okay with me getting wet.. the camera, not so much. 

That's it!! I have been meaning to do this post for quite some time but just now got time. Have a happy week! 

Suprises, Suprises!

I am sure the whole town of Sabetha already knows but I don't want all 620 friends  (a number that is slowly but surely going to get to 300) on Facebook  to know all of my business. Anyway. November 19th (3 days after my 20th birthday) I found out I was pregnant. I went to the doctor for the first time on Friday, December 2nd and my doctor told me that my due date is July 17th and we'll have our first ultrasound on January 3rd. As of the 2nd, I am seven weeks along. The daddy situation is complicated and I might tackle that in a different post someday.

It was a huge surprise and of course, with me being in school and not having a full time job and especially not being married, was not planned. I've only known for two weeks but oh, how my life plans have changed so much. I have one class to take until I am completely done at Highland so I'm moving home at semester (I'll be taking the aforementioned class online) and working. Baby will get here in July so I'll work and work and work so I have a little nest egg built up and then when Baby arrives I'll take some time off but go back to working until I think it’s time to return to school.

This last semester, I feel like I have really gotten myself together. I've been on top of my school work like no one's business. My things in my room (although not perfect) are much more organized and I'm starting to see my mother in me a little when I get real upset about things not being in their place. (I'm only that way 70% of the time so I don't want anyone thinking I'm anywhere close to the organization queen that my mom is.) I'll be on the honor roll this semester at Highland, which I believe is a first for me..at least since my days at Sabetha Middle School. In high school I could've cared less about my school work. As long as I passed, I was happy. And I passed. I graduated on time, but not with the GPA I could've had. But the past is the past. This semester I finally found my motivation (it had been missing since birth).

Also this semester I decided I wanted to go to KU and participate in their Textile Design and Weaving program. I love fabric and I love artsy things so what better thing for me to do?! I thought it was absolutely perfect for me. But for now, it will have to wait a year... or a year and a half.

Baby and I will live with my parents until I am financially stable enough to handle things on my own... and I'm assuming with my financial situation right now ($4.86 in my checking account), I'll be there awhile. Until I go back to school anyway.

I am so happy and thankful for my supportive, loving, caring, reassuring, comforting, WONDERFUL family. I don't have any idea what I would ever do without them. Yes this baby was a huge surprise and not planned but I never want he/she to think that they are a mistake. Things happen for a reason and I know I will love this baby just as much as I would if it were planned. Hopefully I covered all of my bases here. I have a plan and I have a great family that will help me get through. I can't think of too much more that I need.

Enough with all the boring informative stuff. Here's some tidbits from the last two months--

1.) I drove 16 miles at 11 pm to get radishes and Lowry's seasoning salt.

2.) And then the next night I did it again to get pumpkin seeds.

3.) "Morning" sickness is a lie. It actually lasts all day long.

4.) I think my dad will be a darn cute Papa and my mom a cute Nana (or whatever her grandma name will be)..it helps that my parents are the best.. that means they'll be DOUBLE the best when they're grandparents!! Right? :)

5.) Baby is approximately the size of a blueberry and still has a tail. I occasionally refer to it as Blueberry or Tadpole.

So, after the shock and worried-ness all wears off, we can get excited right? I mean this is a BABY!! Yes, sleepless nights. Yes, diapers. Yes, crying. Yes, no money. Yes, my life revolves around someone else now (a much cuter, sweeter, softer, snuggly-er someone else). Yes, I don't know all the hardships of motherhood. But I've always wanted a family. This isn't the situation and timing I would've chosen for myself but what's done is done and there's no turning back now. So, yes, little hands. Yes, a snuggle bug. Yes, baby clothes. Yes, a little baby nose. And yes, little baby smiles.

So, thank you to everyone who has reached out to me and given me love and support. I couldn't pick a better support system to have.

Love, Olivia

...(And Blueberry)