12 Things To Do While Waiting On Baby

Ok, I hadn't planned on doing another post on Baby Wright until he/she was actually here...but every time I sit down to blog something, my mind gets caught back up in baby things. Turns out it is pretty difficult to focus on much anything else when you only have 12 days (give or take) until you get to meet your brand new addition.

So, what to do with all that time you are spending (impatiently) awaiting the new arrival? 12 suggestions:

*Disclaimer: None of these methods are proven to actually make the time go faster...or benefit the pregnant lady psyche. But they are guaranteed to cause frustration for your husband, which tends to have an entertaining effect of it's own.

1. Scroll through Facebook & Instagram to see the ridiculously cute baby pictures all your friends and family post. Go on an envy induced rant about how it's simply not fair that they all have little babies to cuddle while yours is still stubbornly in their primary residence of your uterus with no signs of vacating soon.

2. Research ways to induce labor. Act disgusted that people would actually try some of the things mentioned just to get their baby out ahead of schedule. Secretly consider trying some of them anyway...

3. Eat at least six meals a day. When your husband looks frightened at the amount of food you are consuming, reference that "The baby needs cupcakes/watermelon/two helping of noodles/grilled cheese/ peanut butter bars/ french toast/ sweet corn/ ICE CREAM/ licorice/ biscuits and gravy because it needs to grow healthy and strong." Do not under any circumstances step on a scale. Feel free to avert your eyes at those weekly appointment weigh ins. Additionally, do not even consider thinking about how big your baby is getting from all this nourishment and how that correlates to labor. If you do, accidentally consider this, assume the fetal position and wait for your husband to come offer comfort through junk food. (DO NOT consider how counter-intuitive this is)

4. Go pee for the 17th time in the past hour. Consider the benefits of a catheter as a time saver. Then realize you literally have nothing better to do than walk back and forth to the bathroom and getting out of the recliner probably provides certain health benefits.

5. Organize the baby paraphernalia. Decide that your organization method makes no sense and re-do it. Then decide you liked it better the first way and put it all back. Ignore frightened looks from your husband. He'll see how important it is to have the burp rags in prime location..He'll see. 

6. Make a list of all the freezer meals you are going to make ahead of time to make supper easy when baby gets here. Realize that spending multiple hours in the kitchen sounds like the equivalent of maximum security prison combined with living on the sun from all the extra heat the oven puts out. Use the excuse that you have no room in your freezer to store freezer meals and try to believe your husband when he says "You'll be home all day with the kid for six weeks. Surely making supper won't be that hard."

7. Obsess over the fact that your house isn't clean and it really really should be considering people will probably be dropping by soon. Make a list of all the cleaning that needs done. Become frustrated that you aren't supposed to use the cleaning products to accomplish the cleaning. Do the minimum amount of cleaning and decide the rest can wait. Except that if the baby comes, it will be too late. Lay awake at night considering this, but don't actually do anything about it.

8. Was that a contraction? I think it may have been a tiny little contraction. Does my back hurt? I think it might. Is it time?!!?!? Focus intensely on every nerve ending for about five minutes before realizing no, that was probably just your stomach telling you it's hungry again and/or a well placed knee jab in the kidney.

9. Craft fun new responses to people's questions. Realize pregnancy is not a good time to have a dry sense of humor as people don't always understand you are joking, not literally attempting to perform ancient rituals of witchcraft to expel the obnoxiously jabby spawn from your body.

10. Try a fun new game called "Are you Ready?!" The rules of this game are simple. Wake your husband in the middle of the night under the pretense that it's baby time! Watch his facial expression change from excited, to terrified, to just really tired. Beware, this game tends to lose its luster on repeat attempts and may lead to a "crying wolf" syndrome that may cause unnecessary hard feelings, particularly if it really IS time.

11. Recount your creepy-weird dreams to the hubby to make him question your sanity. Having him sleep with one eye open to make sure you aren't trying to put diapers on the dog is great practice for middle of the night diaper changes that he will most certainly be doing :)

12. Describe all your gory pregnancy symptoms to anyone who will listen. But be prepared...if they have gone through labor before, they will probably share their gory labor stories with you, which may cause panic. Again, it is best to enter the fetal position and wait for junk food offerings to lure you back into a normal (yet still hormone crazed) state of being.

For those of you waiting on little ones (which is like NO ONE according to my Facebook feed- you lucky ducks that already have babies!)  to make their appearance, I hope you are enjoying finding new ways to cope! Please pass along anything that has been working for you....or that hasn't been working so I can share in your pain :)

On a side note, we did finally get the baby room done (YAY)! Before, during, and after pics below. Thanks to my baby sister (almost 16 year olds can still be baby sisters right?) for helping paint, and my loving husband for all his hard work.

This photo was taken the night we bought the house- the carpet came out immediately and we sanded and stained the beautiful wood floors underneath.

Hubby getting ready to patch & paint!

The completed project- only minimal amounts of cussing involved in putting together a second hand crib.

My space saving closet door.

The rocking chair corner, featuring some intarsia art crafted by Grandpa Gene.

 ANNNDDDD Finally, some humorous memes of course. Enjoy fellow preggos!

Things People Say To You When You're Pregnant

Maybe it's the putting on a large amount of weight in one centralized part of your body. Maybe its the fact that people know there's a little critter growing in there. Whatever the reason, I have never had so many spur of the moment conversations with strangers as I have being pregnant.  So without further adieu- The most random things people say when you're pregnant:

1. "When's it due?"- This question comes with no preface. It is highly entertaining to pretend you don't know what they are talking about and watch their expression go from curious to horrified...not that I do that for some sort of sick entertainment...

2. "What is it?"- Answering this one with "a baby" is generally not an acceptable answer. But saying "it's a surprise" brings a mixture of responses: either immense satisfaction from the older generation who reply "Oh it's so much better that way. Everyone thinks they need to find out these days. When I had kids...."(cue reminiscent diatribe here). And from the younger generation: "Oh my gosh how can you stand not knowing!?" 

3. "You need to buy...(insert baby gadget)." Being a knowledge collector with input as a strength, I actually enjoy these conversations. Because I am sure there will be a time at midnight in the future when I will be incredibly grateful to know what gizmo will make my baby sleep/stop crying/eat/burp/poop.

4. "You look like you're about to pop." Thanks. I have 10 weeks left, so it's safe to say I will probably look like a cow from now until August. 

5. "Oh it's going to be a long summer." Yes. Yes it is. Considering I already have been getting night sweats and we have only had one 90 degree day so far. What's your vote- will I be judged if I buy a baby pool to sit in the back yard in? 

6. "How are you feeling?" Frumpy. Thanks for your concern :) But seriously I am very grateful to have had no major symptoms so far.

7. The name question. Yes, we are fairly confident our baby will have a name.

8. "Is this your first?" Why no, no this is not the first brownie I have eaten this afternoon. But no, I also was not planning on sharing. Oh...you meant the baby...

9. "When I was in labor/ When my cousin's girlfriend's brother's aunt was in labor....(insert horrifying thing that happens to your body, upsetting reaction of your husband, or other postpartum hormone trip)" I'm all for being prepared for any situation, but dear Lord, I could have done without those anxiety trips for the next two months.

10. "You know it's a ____ if...."

                 - Boy: you grow lots of hair during pregnancy. PREDICTION: BOY

                 - Boy: your stomach is shaped like a basketball. PREDICTION: BOY

                 - Girl: your stomach is shaped like a watermelon. PREDICTION: BOY

                 - Girl: you gain weight everywhere, not just in your stomach. PREDICTION:                         GIRL

                 - Girl: you have lots of heartburn and morning sickness. PREDICTION: BOY

                 - Girl: it has a higher heart rate. PREDICTION: GIRL

                 - Girl: you crave sweets. PREDICTION: GIRL

                 - Boy: you prefer laying on your left side. PREDICTION: GIRL

                 - Boy: you feel like you just know it's a boy. PREDICTION: I HAVE NO CLUE

          

So based on all of this data, I would conclude there is a 100% chance we are having a baby. 

But really, I enjoy all the strangers I have met thanks to my belly being huge. People should start random conversations more often. The world would be a friendlier place. 

So let's hear them- what wives tale/advice/story do you have to share? 

And here is a bump picture for those of you who crave them/want to make your own gender prediction. 

#70DaysAndCounting

#ThankGodForAirConditioning

Oh and for your entertainment, a few pregnancy themed memes.

I Hope My Daughters Grow Up To Love Corduroy

First let me say two things.

1. This is not an admission of the sex of baby Wright. We are still waiting until delivery to find out what baby is. So before my friends go buy all the stores out of pink, WE STILL DON'T KNOW. Please don't give my husband an aneurysm by referring to it as a girl. :)

2. I am not a feminist. I don't need to shout from the rooftops that I am a strong independent woman who can do anything men can do. For one, I can't do everything men can do. For two, my ability to lead, to work hard, and to be a rational human being should show in my actions, not have to be explained. 

Now that we have gender talk out of the way....

I hope my future daughter loves corduroy. I hope my daughter/s are a lot of things someday- kind, humble, confident, passionate, responsible, hard working. Sorry kid, you've got a tall order. But I don't think I am alone in expecting this from our youth. And while I have always known that FFA instills and reinforces many of these values in young people, I saw firsthand yesterday in a new light the way FFA can affect a young person's life.

 I mention FFA a lot around these parts....ok, around all parts. But with good reason. It is Kansas FFA state convention week, and though I have only been able to catch glimpses of convention this year, I did get to sit in on the prepared public speaking finals, where I found a whole new reason to love that blue corduroy jacket.

The prepared public speaking event in FFA is just one opportunity available to FFA members. Members have the chance to compete in this Career Development Event or "CDE" (so named for the career skills learned in these competitions) and many others (check out all of them!) throughout the year, qualifying for state and then national contests. In prepared public speaking, students research an agricultural topic, prepare a manuscript with cited sources, and then practice presenting a 6-8 minute speech that will be judged on content, grammar, and their oral and non-verbal communication skills. 

Being away from the FFA world for a full year now, I have seen many young ladies (and men for that matter) who place their value in their makeup and hairstyle, their clothes, and being up to date on the latest social media trend, having cool gadgets, and always having a sarcastic comment. Yes, they are teenagers. Yes they should have fun and enjoy discovering who they are and how they want to portray themselves to the world. But yesterday, I had the privilege of seeing four young women who have found something so much longer lasting to place their value in- their own ability to work hard and intelligently. (or as my fellow FFA members are probably thinking- to work efficiently and think clearly, -thanks E.M. Tiffany) And let me tell you, they were kicking butt. 

Yesterday, I saw the top four prepared public speaking students in Kansas present their research and ideas on agriculture topics of their choosing. And I was blown away. Seeing them present their speeches with poise and confidence, there is no doubt they put in many hard hours of work. Watching them respond to the judges questions with organized thoughts and statistically backed up information on their topics with knowledge that came from reading countless news articles and discussing their topic with experts, made me swell with pride for these ladies that I have never even met. How incredibly reassuring it is to see young ladies who have found value in the effort they put into their passions and their own ability to provide input on important issues.

And these were not simple issues they tackled- their topics included consumer perception in agriculture production, the scientific practice of artificial insemination, and the challenges of obesity and nutrition in rural America.  These four young ladies showed skill that many adults and college students cannot claim, overcoming the fear of speaking in front of others, and having the ability to research a topic and discuss it comfortably with experts in agriculture.

Seeing these confident, intelligent young women made me so proud of them. They were being noticed, and not for their hair, makeup, and clothes, but for the incredible confidence, skill and intelligence they demonstrated.

That is why I hope my daughter/s grow up to be FFA members, who love the ever unfashionable blue corduroy jacket that will always be sweltering in summer, and freezing in winter, but will always be my favorite jacket I have ever worn.

Feeding the Future...Slower?

The facts have been in front of our faces for a long time, yet sometimes it seems they don't sink in until it becomes personal.

Since I was in high school, I have tried to keep up with what is currently happening in the field of agriculture- policy changes, how weather is affecting the current crops, trends in the cattle market, international initiatives, and how the challenges of our food system are being tackled, etc. So I nerd out and do a lot of reading.

But I have never wanted to just be a spectator of the agriculture industry. Finally being able to take first steps toward that goal by buying a little chunk of land with outbuildings and some potential is exciting for Lance and I. As we think about our plans for starting our very own agriculture operation, discussing inputs we will need to buy, what equipment will be most useful and cost effective for us, and how our operation will function, it's a little nerve racking to read some of the articles I read about trends in agriculture today.

For centuries, agriculture has marched to the beat of "more efficiency."  This has been, and still is out of necessity. The whole idea of agriculture was born out of the nomadic people of old needing a less taxing lifestyle than expending countless calories, constantly chasing their food. And so we began to cultivate and domesticate. And a few herbs and berries and the occasional livestock animal turned into aqueducts and tillage equipment and technology. When we were finally not chasing our food anymore, not everyone needed to be involved in food production which led to the development of many great things like philosophy and art and engineering and Iphones. Agriculture is the reason for so much progress that we can't imagine life without today.

But today, many consumers call for farmers to step away from efficiency. In March, Whole Foods announced it will begin using slower growing breeds of chicken for meat production. These slower growing breeds will take 23% longer to reach market weight. (Read more details here)

To those in agriculture production, this is a bit scary. Now I know not everyone shops at Whole Foods and I would like to believe there is a place at the table for all types of agriculture. But between the articles I read and some of the comments I see on blogs and videos of what affects food decisions for shoppers, its a little nerve racking to think this could be the beginning of a total change in the market. Will the cattle my husband and I plan to raise even be profitable if the consumer wants them to grow 23% slower?

Doing things in a less efficient manner is a bit of a mind boggler for many in agriculture production. There are so many pieces of the puzzle to consider- all the way from large scale things like environmental impact and using the least amount of resources to produce the most food (aka efficiency), to more personal, yet make or break things, like trying to balance our own checkbook. Not to mention the fact that this planet has a growing population that I don't particularly want to see go hungry.

So farmers/ranchers, how do you make production decisions with consumer decisions in mind? 
And fellow food purchasers- do you want slower growing food?

How To Answer the Toughest & Most Important Question in an Interview

7 Seconds- that is how fast we form a first impression about someone. And the only thing scarier than that? That impression is what we form all other opinions about that person on. Yikes - sure makes a person reconsider not brushing their hair this morning! 

So how do we ensure that the first thoughts that cross people's mind (especially an interviewer's mind) about us are good- or better yet- great? Well we can do a few things to get a good head start- the typical hygiene and dressing for the situation are definitely at the top of the list. But who wants to be judged solely on their appearance? Not me, that's for sure! That's why I have put together a formula for how to answer a question that is almost guaranteed to be in any interview, and that I have always struggled to answer intelligently.

As an almost 25 year old, when interviewing for jobs I dread the "tell us about yourself question." I think this is probably a common sentiment for many mid-westerners who don't enjoy talking about themselves, as well as a challenging question for many of us as it is so open ended. 

When answering this question in high school, I always felt like I was reaching for things to say- "Hi I'm Lexi and I like FFA, my favorite class is English, I have a little brother and sister, and my parents work at the Natural Resource Conservation Service and at the Elementary school....that pretty much sums up what I can definitively tell you about me." 

Now the situation is reversed. I have far too much to explain for one little question without sounding like a deranged lunatic who bounces from job to job on the slightest whim.  How do I possibly fit where I am from, where I went to college, what I studied, valuable internships and organizations,  and the four jobs I have had since graduating into a one minute answer that paints an accurate picture of my experience? That's a pretty tall order. 

Add in the fact that I often have to explain what my major even is (Horticulture = ornamental plants, fruits, and vegetables), followed by the journey I took to work as a high school agriculture education teacher, an administrative assistant, a communications specialist for a hospital, and finally in client care at a veterinary diagnostic lab, and I usually am looking into some pretty confused faces after only one question. I don't know about you, but confused is not the first impression I like to leave in interviews.

Which is why I have come up with a formula to answer this question without traveling down 15 different rabbit trails. So- here it is:

#1: Who you are and where are you from?

If they don't say my name when they ask the question, I always start by stating who I am. This can save confusion for interviewers, especially if they are a on a panel and weren't notified the order that applicants would be coming in. You may see a sudden shuffle of papers indicating that they had someone else's resume in front of them. Save them the confusion and say who you are. Then let them know where you grew up or where you consider home. This can help form instant connections with your interviewers, allowing them to place you in their mind and improves their likelihood of remembering you.

#2: What defines you?

This can be a starting point for your career path or something that has always stuck with you throughout every job you have had. Maybe it is a passion, character trait, or value that has guided you. For me, I always start with my involvement in FFA. I joined the National FFA Organization in high school and have been passionate about it ever since. It is where I learned the field I wanted my career to be in, and the organization that led to my personal development, preparing me for a wide variety of careers. For me, this is a nice transition into my college major and first job after college, which were a direct result of joining the FFA and wearing the blue corduroy jacket. 

 #3: Where have you been?

The most important piece for this is to keep it SHORT! You will get the chance to expand later. I have found it is ok to leave out pieces of your journey, especially if you like to be involved in a large variety of things and/or have had a long list of jobs in varying fields. I focus on things that are important to me or that helped develop me the most into the person I am today. I state a few of the things I was involved with in college, followed by why I enjoyed my time at my two favorite internships (Gieringer's Orchard and the Center for Engagement and Community Development), followed by my first real job- being an ag teacher. I usually delve into this one just a little bit (my responsibilities and what I liked about it) because it made a big impact on me. I then skip on to my job as a communications specialist and describe the useful skills I acquired there.

#4: Wrap it with a bow.

This used to be the hardest part for me. When I ran out of things to say to answer their question, I would just sort of trail off, end with a super lame "so, yeah." or start to ramble down a rabbit trail because I didn't know how to end my answer. Placing a "bow" on it allows you to present a poised and polished demeanor while giving a definite end to complete your train of thought, not leave them wondering if you were going to tell them about the time you spent in prison, the time you switched jobs 5 times in 6 months, or some other red flag. My "bow" of choice is a statement similar to my "addend #2," describing how my passion has tied together each organization and job I have held and how I hope to continue that passion in the position I am applying for.

 #5: SMILE :)

Remember that first impression that is made in only 7 seconds? Make sure you don't come off as a grump! Smile, make eye contact, sit up straight, and fold your hands in your lap so you don't fiddle with them. Even if you don't feel confident in the interview, fake it til you feel it and remember an interview is just a conversation. They want to find the best candidate for the position, and you want to focus on feeling out if the position aligns with your goals and strengths. 

And that's it! Set the stage for a great interview and first impression by tackling the first question with ease. This is your chance to tell your story, so put your best foot forward by being prepared. Nailing the first question will leave you feeling accomplished and set you up for a smooth rest of the interview. Remember, no one has a story that is perfect. Sharing who you are authentically helps the interviewer to relate to you- after all, they are people too! 

What question do you struggle with in interviews? Do you have an interviewing secret or tip? I would love to hear it! 

Where Does It Start & Where Does It End?!

Life at best is a mess these days! Just a few things we have going on?

• Getting hitched- I tied the knot with the most amazing man I have ever met. It was cold. It was windy. We were thankful for the friends and family who joined us to celebrate and showered us with love on such a happy day for us.
  

  
• And now we're expecting- August will be bringing us a baby Wright. As I enjoy telling people who ask what it is, we don't know, but are hoping for a baby, not puppies. I have been so grateful for an incredibly easy pregnancy thus far and am hoping the heat isn't too unbearable this summer.
  
  

  
• We've been through a few jobs- Lance has opted to take his leave from the feedlot gig and return to landscaping and day working for local farmers/ranchers. I have been through a whirlwind of job searching and trying to find the right fit. I spent a few short months working at Barton Community College as an administrative assistant, enjoying the flexible summer hours which allowed me to tag along to Lance's ranch rodeos and check wedding planning things off my list. In the fall, I found a position as a communications specialist at Clara Barton Hospital where I got to really pursue my passions for writing and learning, writing newsletters and press releases, managing their social media accounts, and designing flyers and logos for their events. I loved the chance to get more experience in this area and having the freedom to be creative! Now, I am just learning the ropes at my newest job at the KSU Vet Diagnostic Lab and researching the best ways to continue to get closer to my dream job or ways to pursue my passions outside of 8-5.
  

  

  Always enjoy watching a ranch rodeo- especially when my hubby is in it! Photo credit to Hall Photography. 
• If you can't tell from our job changes- we moved! Lance and I are now happy residents of the rural Leondardville area and are looking forward to making our house and 20 acres home. We've made a little dent in the short three weeks since closing- ripping out carpet, sanding & staining the wood floors underneath, tin repairs to outbuildings, spraying the obnoxious weed population, and planting our first tree. And or course the dreaded task of getting everything put away and organized. I have been lucky enough to have some supper from Nelson's Landing twice so far and can definitively say the chicken fried steak is armed and dangerous for those attempting to avoid weight gain.
  

With all these changes happening in just an 8 month time frame, you could say it's been a bit of a whirlwind and has left me feeling a lack of direction. This led to a conversation with a friend I have a lot of respect for and who has allowed me to pester her for advice- Brandi Buzzard. (You can check out her blog for some great insight on agriculture topics as well as a glimpse of her experience in married and rural life.) 

One of the outcomes of that conversation has been to invest time in exploring exactly what my goals are for my career and setting achievable steps to reach those goals. Now that I no longer work as a communications specialist, my creative writing outlet has vanished, which brought me to realize I want to continue to develop my skills as a writer. Returning to this blog as an outlet is my solution (hopefully) to keep me on track with this goal, as well as get me back in the habit of staying up to date with friends and current events . I hope you will help keep me accountable and provide your own input in these conversations :) Deciding what to write about has been a constant source of confusion for me on this blog (which is why I often don't update it), so I am going to utilize one of my favorite life strategies and just go with the flow. If it's on my mind or is something I have been noticing/discussing with others a lot lately, then that's what I will write about.

Until further notice...

-Lexi