Thursday: Things I'm Lovin

This grill from Crate and Barrel was a wedding gift from my boss.  And...I LOVE IT!  It has a gas starter, so I don't worry about 'explosive things' and lighter fluid (nor losing my eyebrows and eyelashes).   Plus, we still get that charcoal taste.  Once Michael taught me how to use it, it's super easy.  The best part- is that it's GREEN.  My favorite color.  Naturally, I bought the matching doormat on sale so everything fits together.  We will be ready for grilling anytime.  I wanted to list this before grilling season leaves us.  Here in AZ we still have a few more weeks for it especially on Football Saturdays and Sundays, but it's getting chillier by the day :-)


Eventually, I hope to get better with these items, so they can be things other reads will use.  Yes, maybe you will purchase that grill at the end of the season sale or whatever...BUT my next few probably won't do much for ya.  However, they are the things of the week for me!  FLAVORED TOOTSIE ROLLS.  OMG- I avoid the Halloween candy aisle at the store b/c I know good and well that if I buy any now, it will NOT be there come time for trick-or-treaters.  I made the wrong turn, if you will, and entered the sugar overload, carb haters hell, prego lady's heaven.  I found the world's largest bag of flavored tootsie rolls.  Usually, they are in some kind of mixture with other candy that ultimately makes them taste funny.  (has anyone else ever noticed that candy does that? sick)  But, no, not this year.  AND they have new flavors.  It took all the power in me to not buy the bag (even though it was in my cart not once, but twice! lol)  Then, we attended a friend's son's 4th birthday party Sunday.  He broke open the pinata and lo and behold...there they were. Calling my name.  Since there were only 3 little boys attending the party, prego moved her way in and grabbed a handful of the delicious, chewy, sugar bits.  It was awesome.  Now, if only that curbed my craving...

And not playing favorites, BUT check out these little loves.  These boys are my nanny boys:

Meet Troy and Hunter.

And look at them before:

Man, how time flies.  In the individual pictures, they're almost 18 months (and I just realized I told someone this morning they were 16 months...sad face!).  I have to guess in the picture of them together that they're no more than 3 months.  They were born in May and my iPhoto says this was taken in August.  *sigh* Times flies.  I got teary eyed the other day thinking about them going to kindergarden, then driving and dating, and playing football...I love boys.  I could also go on FOREVER about these two.  They're SO opposite, but are twins.  Hunter has a mouth full of teeth, is rambunctious, tough, loves balls, hits, bites, runs, loves to be tackled, and has a terrible temper.  Troy is more reserve, although he does everything Hunter does, he does so more cautiously.  He has a two for one tooth we love and is a 110% momma's boy.  I think I'd be fine with 4 boys.  I know I say this now and may regret it later.  Michael will die with 4 girls.  So, I'm willing to go the other extreme.  They're fun.  While I love bows, dance class, dressing up, and girly things...they're just SO high maintenance!  (coming from me, right?)  Everyone tells me baby B is a boy...and all my life everyone has told me I will have all boys.  It's great.  I want hubby to have his boy and if I can bring FOUR of them into this world for us...even better!  I might even have that wild hair that tries for a girl on #5...why not?  (again, I say this now)  We shall see.  I am SO excited for March to come so I can see what's growing in my "lovely lady lump" now!

Those are my loves this week...until next time...

I mean- REALLY????

I think I've mentioned Gracie 'acting out' since I've been pregnant.  I haven't divulged the truth to that statement.  I'm not embarrassed..well, not as much as I thought I'd be.  I had heard of people's dogs freaking out when things change (ie. when the mom/wife is pregnant).  I always thought and even voiced that I don't see Gracie as that kind of pup.  She's been such a good dog for years now.  She's no lab...duh, she's a husky.  She doesn't particularly listen, it's more like she listens when she wants to or you better know how to get her to listen, which we do for the most part.  Or I guess Michael does.  When she thinks she's owed something, like a walk, she will not leave you alone until you do it.  She's vocal when we are around, but doesn't bark around other dogs (she'd rather quietly wine).  She's stubborn and will run away if you take her off her leash.  She's overly friendly and will definitely "welcome" you into our home by goosing you or straight up pouncing you.  Again she's a husky and we knew what we signed up for.  However, I didn't know how she'd act when the pregnancy hormones hit us!

Where do I begin?  I take you back to last Monday...I left the house like I do 4 times a week to workout.  I was gone for the typical hour and a half.  Since we were at a friends house on Sunday watching football and eating junk food, I hadn't taken the time to put away our leftovers.  After my workout I came home to a bag of chips exploded on the living room floor, a dozen chocolate chip cookies devoured, and half a bag of Mike&Ike's eaten.  Really?  I've left numerous things on the kitchen table in a standard grocery store plastic bag and not once has she eaten anything.  I would have taken a picture if I wasn't in tears, screaming, and calling Mike to make sure she wasn't going to die.  I left her out of her crate when I went to work, so for 6 hours she was fine.

Now come Tuesday mornings workout.  Gracie didn't get a walk b/c of her incident yesterday (Monday) and we were gone over the weekend.  I knew this was going to be a rough morning, as we go for a walk every day together.  This was one of those things that she feels owed so she gets naughty quick.  Nonetheless, I took her for a walk before my workout thinking she'd behave while I was gone.  When I returned from the gym on this day, Gracie had chewed her water bowl and a cardboard box that was in the entryway.  I mean...really?  It's just so out of her character.  When she's hot she likes to literally dig the water out of her bowl, but I'm there to stop her.  It looked like this is what had happened.  Then upon noticing she had no more water left, I'm sure she got pissed and decided to show that bowl who's boss.  STILL.

We put her in her crate the rest of the week...we actually say, "Gracie, can you go to your office?"  Stolen from my sister-in-law's family, the office refers to her crate.

Friday morning I felt lazy, didn't sleep well the night before, and wanted to stay cozy in bed.  I go up to let G out and went back to lay in bed.  Our roommate, Doug's, wallet just so happened to be on the kitchen table.  Gracie has tried to chew it once before, but I was around to stop her.  This time she was sneaky and quiet, I didn't hear a thing nor did he in the shower.  SO...his cards and such were dumped out and a nice hole chewed on the corner of the wallet.  I wanted to drop kick the brat.

Sunday morning we came back from a fun, friend filled weekend in Phoenix.  We walked in at about 7 pm and G had obviously gotten ahold of something and it was all over the living room floor.  I didn't get a pic of this either, as Michael was extremely pissed and not in a humorous mood.  I did get a pic of the aftermath.  She had chewed a Pizza Hut box to shreds.  AND got a very special, important photo album off the shelf that has been there for months now to chew out every page.  Jenny, brace yourself, I only need a few pictures so I have the complete collection.  But the album of all our wedding photos from my dad and Jenny got chewed apart.  Exhibit A:

   

This was special b/c there were so many pictures in there that Michael and I didn't have or had never seen.  It sat in the same spot since we received the gift and what possessed G to chew it, I have no idea.  SO very frustrating.

Bottom line, she's a daddy's girl.  She will do anything to please Mike.  I feel like she can sense my hormones and is reacting b/c she doesn't know what to do.  Yesterday, G and I had a great day.  She was so sweet.  She cuddled up next to me when I got home from work and slept on or near me all night.  We even shared a pillow this morning.  Hopefully, this is her wanting forgiveness and will be THE END of the naughty madness.  Keep your fingers crossed for us :-)

FOUR and a HALF MONTHS

Happy October!

I do love this month...it seems to be a great 'transition' month.  Summer to fall.  Pool parties to holiday festivities.  And it just to happens to be my little sister, Caitlin's, birthday month.  Fun.  In fact, her b-day is 10-10-10 this year...SO cool.  There's my shout out to you Caitor!

Here's the 'lump' we've all been waiting for...ha ha ha...I had to say it, it made me literally laugh out loud:

Looking a little 'puffier.'  Sorry this image isn't as clear as some of the others.  How about a close up?

From a higher angle I look more prego.  Still waiting on the full 'pop,' but Mike even tells me I look less chubby now and more prego.  Thanks babe!  Baby B is the size of your hand now.  Either a large yellow onion or a sweet potato!  How they're the same, I don't know.  About 5 cm long and more than 3.5 ounces.  It makes me freak out to look at my hand and think the 'thing' that was once the size of this period . is now HUGE.  He or she has started gaining body fat this week, which will continue throughout life.  It's just starting now- how cool.  Also, lil baby B has it's very own finger prints...so in a way, some identity.  I read that the baby can hear the dog bark and may even be startled, which is good to hear now b/c when he or she arrives they'll recognize that noise and will hopefully not freak out.  That will be an interesting adventure- crossing my fingers it goes smooth.  The article also said, he or she will sleep right through the dog barking once delivered since the exposure happened in utero.  22 days until our ultrasound, which will probably be the last one for awhile.  boo.  

I like that I can laugh now at my small lump.  Everyone tells me I don't even look pregnant...I was told all weekend how tiny I am.  But folks, I eat everything...and that's really unlike me.  Most of you know, I follow (or followed) the Zone Diet.  I loathe that the word diet is even in it's name b/c it's truly a lifestyle.  I loved it.  It gave me energy and a truly healthy body.  Then I started CF and gained the muscle.  Anyways, the gist of the eating habits I had were mostly protein with a balance of carbs and fat.  Keeping sugar at a bare minimum, if I even ate it at all, and focusing carbs on fruits and veggies.  I have let the sugar gates down, if there's such a thing, kicked the Zone out the window and I eat what I want.  However, I am proud to say this is all in moderation.  Since I have the Zone background, I try to play catch up and give my body what it needs (usually protein since meat sounds sickening) and not what I want : )  Oh the fabulous life of eating while prego.  (sense any sarcasm?)

We might be having a delayed monsoon season.  There have been several storms rolling through Prescott the past few days.  Full on thunder, lightening, random downpours...and black clouds.  I love it.  It makes me feel lazy.  Wish I could cuddle up with a good book all day kind of lazy.  If the pics I took with my iPhone ever came out as cool as they seem..I'd share a pic with you.  Maybe one day.

I am TERRIBLY homesick!!  I need to see my family.  I want to be closer to home SO bad.  Then I could just go out for a visit and maybe not even have to worry about a flight or taking off too much work.  Ugh.  On the other hand, I am VERY thankful I get to go home for a week in November.  The weekend after my birthday, for an early baby shower, to see family, over Thanksgiving...AND hubby might be able to meet me there.  So exciting!  I am also very thankful that Michael knows I am a family girl and understands I am homesick to the max.  Such a lucky girl.  

I've got SO much more to say...probably should have written over the weekend, but I will be good for the rest of the week no doubt.  Gotta get going with my day though...later gators.

Thursday: Things I'm Lovin

My friend Amber made this button and I decided I/we could put it to good use.  I'd like to list the "Things I'm Lovin" every Thursday...therefore, wait for it, wait for it...Thursday's Things I'm Lovin.  ha ha!  Clever- eh?  I might run out of things and if that's the case, then maybe I could go to an every other Thursday kind of deal.  But here we go...for the first time ever!!  Whoo hooo!

• Coupons!  I have registered myself at coupons.com and other baby related websites (Huggies and Pampers most importantly) and have become a coupon hoarder.  I am not sure if other people have known about these sites all along and I'm the last to jump on the bandwagon, but I thought it was worth sharing.  I used to trash them or just ignore them altogether b/c what's 25 cents on a tube of toothpaste...but now I love adding up my total savings at a store (whether it be Target, Walgreens, Fry's, or Safeway).  Those 25 cent deals add up!
• Bio Oil.  So this is for those pregos out there...or maybe for those that have scars and stretch marks in general, but I'm only 26 and really don't want this first baby to "ruin" my tummy.  So I try to be anal about applying bio oil every night.  It's not too nasty- no funky smell, no weird residue, but it is an oil.  It hasn't stained my clothes or anything crazy either.  I usually wait awhile to get dresses though- just so it has time to soak in before my t-shirt does the job for it.

• Blogging.  I know this seems silly.  Our good friend, Doug, who is actually now a roommate, told me to start blogging about the wedding.  He was probably the only one that checked it (and maybe my dear friend Joanna), but he told me it was boring.  Too wordy, not me, unoriginal, and plain...it lacked pizzaz. I didn't post enough pictures and I wasn't good at retelling stories/life events.  I think I've finally got the grasp of it, although it's far from perfected, but I feel friends and family know what's going on with us.  Who knows where this will lead our family, but I love that soon we will have a little bundle of joy to share with everyone.  Granted, I don't want creeps on my blog...especially when we are talking about baby B here, but I feel it's less 'drama' filled, more personal, and unique to oneself.  It kicks facebook out of the water.  That's just my opinion.  

And much like Amber always loves her little man...I will always love our Gracie Goo: (pic of Gracie's rather new sleeping position...she's pretty much sitting on the wall, but laying down.  Freak!)

A is for Avocado

HAPPY 16 WEEKS :-)
Here's the bump at 16 weeks and 1 day (forgot to take one yesterday morning):

The lump, as I call it, is growing daily.  I decided I'm going to take pictures that are more of my side, so you can see the lump growing.  That'll start next week.  I don't want to give you all a false sense of my growing belly.  I'm anxiously waiting to feel that first kick or movement.  Hoping 18 weeks seals the deal...only 2 more to go.

Baby B is the size of an avocado. As I walk through the produce section next time I go, I will surely go by the avocado and pick one up just to hold in my hand. How awesome! He/She is getting SO big.

They baby can now hear my voice and his skin.  Little hairs are growing, so he/she will have eyebrows.  It's funny b/c both Mike and I were born with a head of black hair.  I can't help but wonder if baby B will too.  The difference was that mine stayed and lightened.  Mike's completely fell out and he turned white blonde...then go darker over the years.  Interesting to see how that works.  And fun to imagine what our little bean looks like.  I pray that if I have a girl, she's born with lots of hair and keeps it.  Mike's hair is SO thin.  Fine for a guy, not so cool for a girl.  However, I will love 'it' no matter what.

I really hate using it when referring to our child.  But we don't know the gender and aren't going to till March.  So...it is an it.  Ugh.

**Don't mind the web page construction that's going on.  I don't love what my blog looks like, so I am determined to find something else.  It will probably change a couple times until I get it just right.  Sorry if it confuses things for awhile!***

I am excited b/c I think people are finally reading my blog.  Although, I sucked at blogging in the beginning, I think I am getting better.  I am happy friends on facebook are visiting my site.  And if you want to be super cool, you can become a follower.  I only have 3 currently- lol.  I'm still 'new.'  However, it's an addicting 'new thing.'  I still haven't started a pregnancy scrapbook, but I think I still will.  I dunno.  We'll see.  I like having a physical record of these 40 weeks rather than solely a digital copy.  Hummm...what to do?  What to do?

Absolutely None

On my way home from my workout this morning, this dirty, skanky Ford Explorer flew past me in order to turn onto the highway. This fellow, as I learned, cut me off and took an extremely dangerous, sharp turn too quickly. Now, I know I'm not always the best driver...I tend to follow too close to the car in front of me. But this one corner in particular has caused accidents, some even resulting in death, so being cautious is necessary. Plus, he's driving a car that tips...easily. As this dude and I make this turn, I see an infant seat handle sticking up over the seat through the back window. SAD. I'm hoping and praying that little bundle of joy wasn't in the car...I know several folks who leave the car seat in the car and prefer taking the baby in and out itself. I get over it, but notice his over aggressive driving. And I am pregnant and sensitive to pretty much everything around me. I think to myself, "It could be worse. The guy could be smoking in the car." I have my cruise control set (I usually always do as I tend to have a lead foot and no money for a ticket), so I pass him in the right lane mind you b/c how dare this cool dude get over...only to see HE WAS SMOKING. Three windows were cracked. But that poor baby was inhaling his cigarette smoke. Sick. I was livid as I glared at him through my sunglasses. Jerk. Oh AND, his seatbelt wasn't on.

It kills me. I hate thinking about the children who are brought into this world and know no other life. The mom who used meth her whole pregnancy and is on such a bad trip that she can't care for her children, let alone purchase anything nutritious b/c the money was used on drugs. You see several parents around this area like that. Apparently, Prescott is known for meth. I had no clue as to what this drugs is, does, or what people look like who are users. It's SICK. I've been to the park on Gracie and I's daily morning walk watching kids fight on the playground as their mom sits in the car, messed up on something, unbathed, unpresentable, unfunctionable, yelling from the car window at her kids too many times to count on one hand. It's sad.

So, ABSOLUTELY NONE of that in my house...or in my life. If you're a friend and you smoke, don't come over after you've smoked a pack and expect to hold my child. Sorry. Don't expect to be allowed to smoke in the car b/c the window is rolled down. Not going to tolerate it. It makes ME nauseous, think about how a being 1/16th of my size feels. No offense folks. Just being honest :-) We don't have friends or family that classify in any of the above. I'm just venting, sharing with you my thoughts today, and voicing my opinion.

M-I-L-K

The single thing I could be content with all day everyday. Maybe this is why cereal sounds good. I am happy with my new obsession with milk b/c I know it's great for baby, BUT it is SO SO SO SO SO strange for me. I've gone years without drinking a single glass. This might be my one major pregnancy craving. Can't wait to see what happens once he or she arrives. AND what's weird is that in college I'd randomly buy 1% or skim b/c that's what I liked in my cereal...now it's 2% or nothing. I mean I guess I'd drink 1%, but everything else seems sickening. A gallon around this house lasts a maximum of a week. 3-4 days is standard lately. Costco here we come!!

Other than milk nothing seems weird...I "crave" all things terrible for me. I usually eat them and try to counter act what they are going to do in my body with some protein. No lie- I eat wayyyyy too many carbs :-) But they're oh so yummy and right now I have NO CONTROL over turning them down. I will drive out of my way to get whatever it is that is on my mind. Those of you who knew me before know for a fact that that's not me! Especially right before the wedding. Ah!

I also got a lecture about CrossFit...and it makes me cranky. Real cranky. So I probably won't elaborate much. I've been CrossFitting for 2.5 years. My body doesn't know what it's like to not workout. I've made great gains in those two years- I'm proud of the weight I can 'throw' around and the movements I can do. I am good friends with the barbell and pull-up bar, which I've never touched before these 2.5 years. There are a lot of CrossFitters world wide. There are also a ton of CrossFit haters. And I hate them in return...no jk. You have to be extremely careful CorssFitting while prego. You also can't be stupid. Using common sense to me seems legit. As long as I understand why I can't do certain movements, I will know which movements to stay away from. It is a whole new world. And it's frustrating. I can't be competitive, I can't set PRs, I can't always do what the class is doing...it makes me sad. I know I am doing it for a fabulous reason- to keep mommy and baby healthy and safe. I'm not one to ignore what the docs tell me. And I won't start now. But it's cramping my style. Thank heavens for CrossFit Mom. They have saved my workout life thus far :)

Off to enjoy my 3 day weekend. Wishing Michael James was home with me now though...missing his company, as always!

15 weeks and counting...

It's all good from this end of things. Baby B is now the size of a navel orange!! That would be aproximately 110 grams and 120 mm. He or she is getting bigger every day : ) What is more fun for me is knowing that in a little over 4 weeks I will be five months and that's halfway..whoop, whoop. Not that I don't want to be pregnant or that I am wishing for the end (although having my very own child in my arms is pretty much one of the biggest dreams of my life and all the more reason to want the end of pregnancy), BUT that I will be officially showing, cleaning out the now "office/spare room to store our junk" for baby, and deciding on the decor of the room.

I've been thinking LONG and HARD about this issue...buying stuff for a gender neutral delivery SUCKS. However, I will know the gender of the rest of our children and there will be absolutely no holding back on going blue or going all out pink at that point in time. That makes me rest easy. So I am giving myself some more time to think about what I am looking for in a nursery. It's a toughie folks and I will save that for another post.

And, my friends, this is THE bump at 15 weeks and 2 days. This IS a bump for a girl 3 and 3/4 into her pregnancy. OK?



Leave me alone...it IS bigger. Mike can vouch for me on this...I came home from work the other day and both he and Doug were like, "Whoa! There's your belly." I must say it was the shirt I was wearing b/c when I lifted it up to reveal the "bump" they said, "oh" as if they were let down. I can't keep these guys happy for nothin...I'm either too fat or not fat enough. JK! I think Mike is as anxious as I am to be finally showing...maybe this will all seem more real to him?? Not sure. But anyways...just for the sake of my sanity, I stepped on the scale Tuesday morning and saw a typical # as of lately, at the doctor 4 hours later, I was 2 pounds up from last month and from my at home reading, and at the end of the day I was 1.6 pounds up from the reading at the doctor. I literally feel out of my element at the end of the day. I can't breath b/c there's pressure ALL OVER my stomach. No food sounds good- NOTHING. And I swear I weigh 9 times what I do in the morning. It's SO weird. That's why I wanted to see what the scale said. Out of curiosity.

As I type, here's my furry baby laying at my feet:


I can't help but wonder what she is going to think of all the changes that will come in March. What will she think of the baby? Will she be mad at Mike and I? For some reason, I can see her "blaming/hating" me b/c she is a serious daddy's girl :) But we will have to wait and see. She's still waking up once a night to go outside (ugh) and making sure she barks loud enough to wake at least one of us up in a panic. Little booger. Nonetheless, Mommy loves you to the moon and back G!

Another fun highlight about reaching 5 months (I guess there isn't too much cool about 4 months- ha!) is feeling the baby kick/move. I cannot wait till I/we can feel he or she moving. Before our doctor's appointment on Tuesday (the 21st), I was nervous for some reason. I don't feel any different, so I guess I feel as if I haven't progressed. I had nightmares about not hearing the heartbeat at the appointment (terrible). But we did. The doc put the thing-a-ma-jigy up to my belly and heard it right away. "Oh, that's great" he said, "Nice and strong." We were excited. The whole 30-40 min we were there were great. He's a great doctor...knowledgable and caring. I feel like he truly wants what's best for us...Mike, the baby, and I. It was a much needed appt since I don't know much about him...let alone any doctors in this town. It just clicked.

I'm a little bummed- I had SO much to say on Tuesday, but didn't have time before work and went to bed an hour after I got home from work, so ran short on time. Next time I will write a rough draft no matter how tired I am. Lesson learned.

Until next time...enjoy the beginning of fall, as the first official day was yesterday and take is easy!

Moving right along the produce section

The 'bean' is in fact, no longer a bean and is the size of a lemon. Odd to me b/c I imagine a lemon fairly small in comparason to a peach, but whatever. It's what they say and it makes this waiting game much more fun : )



Come on...now you've got to see the bump growing. It's there. No I don't look prego. I still look like I just ate three meals at home with my mother or father cooking. *Side note: ALL I think about is food...I plan my day around what my next meal will be and I usually have a flashback of what my choice was/will be. So going home sounds ah-mazing! Anyways...we will get there with the belly showing. Once it's "pops" I will post SO many pics, I promise. I cannot wait for that day/week...or whatever. And- just FYI I don't always wear the same thing like a sicko...I am trying to get the same type of pic at each week, so you can see the growth. They're taken weekly and I do laundry on the weekends : )

We're at 14 weeks now. THREE and A HALF WHOLE MONTHS! Yippee!! I am starting the phase of 'round ligament pain.' Not so fun. It pretty much just means that my insides are stretching, which is why you start to show in the 2nd trimester. They're growing pains...and I do feel them. Sometimes worse than others...usually worse on my left side. Strange. And what's rad is the only recommendation for making them feel better is RELAXATION...yeahh buddy! Just gotta get Mike some palm leaves to fan me and some new grapes (I just ate the last of them this morning) and we'll be set.

Interesting fact: your (or my) uterus expands 14 times in size and 20 pounds in weight. Pretty cool huh? All because a woman can carry a baby inside it. SO fun to know. I'm getting more 'sentimental' about my tummy, the being growing inside it, and eventually bringing that being into the world.

What baby can do this month: thumb sucking, toe wiggling, urine making, and breathing the amniotic fluid...it's a busy lil thing. Oh, and it's growing HAIR!!!

Other fun things...Mike is FINALLY home. He went to an air show in the boonies of IL over the weekend. 4 whole days without him were long and lonely!! And he flew himself there in a school plane, which always has me on edge. Even though he's an outstanding pilot. We also got two cool gifts this week. One from Kyle Mays and Alyssa Garcia (Kyle was a groomsman, obviously both attended the wedding and got engaged about a month ago I wanna say)...the Cherish Willow Tree figure. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. I cannot wait to add to our 'family' collection as I know there are so really sweet ones out there. Exciting. (Pic to come) And our trainer's wife, Andrea, bought us some bottles, binkies, and nipples on sale...and even threw in some hair gel for Mike : ) The bottles were $1.79 each, nipples 89 cents, and binkies $1.19. Crazy bargains and a great gift!


Alright, off to shower before lunch and work- cheers!

We've Got A Peach

And the bump @ 13 weeks



Not much is new this week. Feeling much more normal now and very, very, very (did I say very?) excited that we have officially crossed into the Second Trimester. All my email this week were saying "Welcome to the Second Trimester" and "Welcome to the trimester most women claim as their favorite." All kinds of positive vibes coming our way! Yayyy! Finally. I know it was only 3 months...but it was a LONGGGG 3 months.

Labor Day Weekend

Yesterday was an awesome day. We went down to Scottsdale for a 'nuchal translucency' test. It's a non-invasive test for Down's Syndrome. We are not at risk by any means, but our insurance covered it and we thought, why not? Better to be prepared! So, we got a Level 2 ultrasound and I got a lovely finger prick. Let me tell you...the stupid needle stabbing your finger hurts worse than getting your blood drawn. Stupid, yes? Why, I have NO freaking clue! But my little index finger is still sore. Ggggrrrr.....

Level 2 ultrasound is really cool. I guess they're just more in depth than a normal ultrasound. And this place had 3D machines in every room...so everyone got a 3D ultrasound too! We saw SO much. Two legs, two hands, two eyes, a heart (all four chambers developing- really cool to see), the brain (you could see the different sections, or lobes?), stomach, umbilical cord, nasal bone, jaw, and then placenta and my ovaries. The 3D part was really, really, really cool. BUT it freaked me out. Sorry, baby B, but you look funny in there. The black and white ultrasounds look much bigger...and the 3D shows this tiny little scrawny thing! It was awesome to see you moving though. Arms and legs going hog wild in there. Too bad I can't feel you yet. We've still got a few more weeks for that fun to begin!





I must say I feel 99.9% better. Maybe it is in part b/c I know we got passed the highest percentage of miscarriages. Maybe it's b/c I've let myself know it's the beginning of the 2nd trimester and things are going to be different. And maybe it's b/c I so desperately wanted to feel all around better. I know, I know...I didn't ever feel that bad. However, mentally I was a basket case! I am not as tired. I am more positive. I am anxious and eager to get everything ready. I am beginning to finally show (although, it's small...it's there!). No weird 'cravings' but when I want something...I best get it, soon preferably. Poor Mike : ) For example, last night I saw an image of something that looked like a green Mike & Ike and it was downhill from there. Mike & Ike's it was for me while watching The Last Song...good movie. Sad. I absolutely HATE watching movies where the Dad dies (and moms too, of course). I refuse to ever think about that...and as far as I am concerned, nobody else in my family is going to pass away. Anyways..before I get all teary eyed again. Geesh.

I am still an emotional basket of fun. I snap at Mike w/out meaning to and when he responds (however, I must say he could react differently), I cry. Ha ha. Help us all.

Matt Lyons is coming into town to hang with us this weekend. Although, we have nothing planned. Well, the boys have a football draft tomorrow, but that has nothing to do with me. It was great b/c I got my fill of my hubby yesterday...now he can have "man time" the rest of the weekend. I don't have Monday off either...bummer! But we never see Matt, so it should be fun just hanging out. So, it's a low key prego holiday. Yippee! What I would give for a Z Tejas Chambord margarita with a Patron floater...you don't even know : ) Oh little baby...I can't wait until you come out! Yes, I will survive though.

Hope everyone has a Happy and Safe Labor Day! Cheers!

12 weeks

Happy "end" to the First Trimester- Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!

I never thought I'd get this far b/c time was creeping by at the pace of a slug on the pavement in the middle of summer. Ugh.

But here we are! Baby B is a PLUM
Already a biggin : ) Lol. So, it's funny. Mike and I had a weeks worth of facebook status posts to put up leading up to the 13th week. We were all excited to post them and the very first post, Danielle, called me out. Man, people are good. Not that this was a toughie or anything. But I thought people would be curious to see what the rest of the posts say. Lol. It's great. So I guess the cat's out of the bag. Although, I am not responding to anything anyone is saying until I am 13 weeks...I don't want to jinx anything! Plus, I want to finish our posts of the rest of the week. I called Mike and all he said was, "I told you." Meaning people can read me like a book- no surprises here : ) He knew people would know what I was going to say. Blah.

Hate it when he's right. But love it that more people know. Little baby B...we've got 28 more weeks together. Let's make this go by quickly. Here's the belly @ 12 weeks:

My Little Lime

Baby B is the size of a lime. Man, these babies grow fast. I feel like last month baby B was less than, or roughly, half an inch. So, it's not a basketball in my tummy, it's a LIME! We went to the doctor today and heard the little heartbeat. Doc says that he can't guarantee that we are "in the clear" but he said we have less than 1% chance of miscarrying with the progress we've made this far. Good news...yes. What we wanted...I think so. But I'd rather be 13 weeks already!!!! Aaahhhh!!! Why is time flying by sssssssssssooooooooooooooooooo slooooowwwlllllllyyyyyyy?????

Since we didn't get to see baby today, I looked online for pictures of 'fetuses' at 11 weeks and found a couple of cool images. I guess it's more real that way. Baby B has eyes, a beating heart, bones, skin, a few 'functioning' organs, and a whole bunch of other stuff. He or she no longer has a tail or webbed feet and hands. The body is slightly more straight and more baby looking. I still can't believe I have something, a being, growing inside my gut. A growing gut at that.

Belly @ 11 weeks:


Goodnight to all- besos!

10 weeks- 6 days

Tomorrow is THE day : ) Yayyyyyy! 11 weeks tomorrow, doctor appointment to confirm all is well inside, and the news will be out. I will probably post a pic on facebook, but only after calling my grandparents (soon-to-be Great Grandparents...how exciting!!). Still can't help that I wish my Nana was around for all of this. I know she is here...just watching from above in the form of my guardian angel. It's just hard and not the same. I am thankful I have other grandparents to share this joy with. Our family wouldn't be the same without them around. I love all 4 of them in Rolla, MO...I even have a set of Great Grandparents myself. It'd be awesome to get a picture of 4 generations once Baby B is born : ) How cool to think about. I also have a set of grandparents in Chicago. Getting married is fun because you get more family!!

On the down side (even though I know the post was a downer), I AM SICK! Ugh...not sure what I caught or where. The kids at work might have had it first, but either way I cannot take anything to feel better! Just standard tylenol. I think it's a head cold and I hope it goes away quickly. Runny nose, slight fever, sore throat, plugged ears, and aches all over...just a stuffy head overall. Blah. I can't help but think this is a bad start to the 'flu/cold' season, but hopefully being positive will nip that in the butt : )

Lets hope tomorrow is a happy post- cheers!

9 weeks and 3 days

Still feeling good. Hoping and praying that this baby sticks around. We are almost in the clear! In just 2 weeks we can go way public...I mean like screaming from the rooftop that we are expecting our first. That's also when I will post all these 'belated' blog entries I've been hiding : )

However, I just read that once you hear and see the heartbeat there's a 5% chance of miscarriage. Seems like we're in favor...even though SO much can go wrong.

Question: Do these prego hormones change your 'positiveness'? I feel like I'm way more 'chill' and 'blah' than usual. I guess it's because there is SO much unknown in our lives right now. And it's stressful. Really stressful. Especially for my personality type. I like to be in the know, in control even. I also seem kind of bored...my 'to do' list daily doesn't have too much on it. Workout, eat proper meals, nap, shower, and work. Maybe I am slightly 'depressed' b/c the wedding planning is over...the wedding itself is over...and we've moved on from that to the next step in our life. An expected step, a planned step, an exciting step...I've just transitioned from newlywed to mom-to-be : )

I guess it doesn't help that I don't really feel pregnant. I mean, I eat more, I'm exhausted, and I no longer get to enjoy a glass of wine or Captain and Diet. I have a pooch...that normally isn't there, but it doesn't look like a 'baby bump' and therefore, just stresses me out. I don't want to gain too much with this pregnancy, I don't want to be stuck with a load of weight to try and work off post baby's arrival. And that's probably more stressful than I really think...it lingers around my head fairly frequently. I know I am going to gain weight, I know I will have a baby pooch and my 6 pack with disappear, but I also know it can come back. I've seen it before. No I won't be the same, but that's OK. I've accepted that. It's just the process of feeling the urge to eat everything terrible for me, that I haven't eaten for years, right now. I'm pretty sure my body is in shock!

So I don't know what to do...I'm bored. I'm lonely. Mike's at work most of the time and he doesn't really understand this process (a friend of mine told me yesterday, "Please don't tell me you expected him to understand?!?!" but I did). I don't have friends here...and I wish my family was closer. Kind of has me down. Work has been stressful b/c the twins seems to be irritable, fussy, cranky, and fighting the majority of my time there. Little Miss Caitlin challenges everything I say and do. And Colleen is just bored and needing attention- school in her near future will hopefully help!

A happier post to come for sure. Next appointment is August 24th!

First Ultrasound

OH MY GOODNESS- how cool!! The ultrasound was amazing! We saw the amniotic sac first, then found baby. Such a tiny glop of stuff. We measured you from top to bottom and the computer told us you were 8 weeks...so your due date still stands. March 15th it is. The placenta is forming, as is the umbilical cord. We saw both of those. But I think the coolest part was seeing your little heart beat : ) You are alive in there and it was ridiculous to see. Even daddy was stunned, saying, "wow- that is really cool." Since we were able to see the heart beating, we were able to hear it!! I got the goosebumps and tears filled my eyes. I think your heart is beating at 155 beats per minute. Which was well over the minimum and fairly fast for a lil' bean! We also got to hear mommy's heartbeat in comparison and it was louder and faster, but interesting to hear what you are hearing too.

Happy 8 weeks of life in my tummy!! Only 4 more to go until we are "in the clear." I am still praying these 4 weeks fly by! Our next appointment is August 24th. I cannot believe it's already August...where did time go? How is it almost 2 months since our wedding day?

We got a great book for mommy to read about you in the mail from Grandma Kim (we aren't sure what you are going to call your grandparents yet). And we got a lullabelly from Grandpa Keith- it will play music for you once I download some "Baby Einstein" on my iPod...lol. Your Auntie Hannah (I call her Scooby), helped pick it out.

Also, on a fun note I changed my name on my driver's license yesterday! Now it is official, Chalfant is no longer my name. SO SO SO weird. ID changed, SSN changed, credit/debit cards changed, passport update needed, and I think that's it! We got some good pictures of these highlights last night.

I DID IT!!!!

The little things in life that mean so much : )

Baby B, I had my blood drawn for the very first time ever in all my 26 years of life!!!! I was so brave. I am not being modest here at all...I am downright PROUD of myself! I didn't have an appointment (huge issue #1), so it was all up to me to drive my booty to the lab and know what was in store for me at that time. I was sick to my stomach, no vomit (I haven't done any of that thus far). I am TERRIFIED of needles (huge issue #2). I am TERRIFIED of seeing blood...especially my own(huge issue #3)! I tend to get light headed and pass out at the sight of anything real gory. I have no idea what got me into my car, turned the key, and made the drive to the lab. It was like I was in autopilot and my head was in a very different place than my body : ) But I did it for you Baby B. I knew I had to...and I did. The nurse told me I did a great job. Even she seemed proud of me.

Whew that's over....and I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW! Mommy and Daddy get to see you for the first time in my belly.

Ultrasound #1 tomorrow at 11:15 am. Off to work now, but will report in tomorrow, of course!

First Doctor's Appointment

Little Baby, you really are in my belly! The doctor confirmed that this morning. On my way to the appointment, I was terrified. What if if I am not pregnant, it was just a fluke thing? What if it's a tubal pregnancy? What if something is wrong? Did I do it?

I went in- updated my insurance form and told them about my name change. Then, peed in a cup. It was nothing glorious and it was strange that I peed into a Dixie cup?!?!? I sat in the waiting room for quite some time. Several other pregnant women walked in...most with other children. So clearly not their first child on the way. Most looked really cute and happy and had that "I'm going to be a mom" glow. My nerves started kicking in as people who came in after me were getting called back before me. Was something wrong? Did they have bad news? Then they called me. Stepped on the scale to see a glorious 128 #s and went into room #3. The first thing the nurse said was Congratulations! Whew- we made it, you are real, and I am not crazy.

Now I know it's early. We are only 7 weeks along, BUT I can't help but be excited and have a feeling that I am not going to lose you. I don't know a mom who says they're going to lose a pregnancy, but just for the record I feel great. I still have cramping and I have to go get my blood drawn for the first time ever tomorrow. Please pray for me : )

Dear Baby B,

Your ETA is March 15th, 2011. That is also Grandma Pat's birthday. Will you please give Daddy and I a heads up that you're ready to come out when you do? Daddy may not be in town and I really need/want him there for your arrival.

Love you,
Mommy

4 weeks or 6 weeks?

Lil baby growing in my belly...why are you so confusing??

Doctors go by the first day of your last period in order to calculate how far along you are. I know that date. I also know that's not when baby B was conceived. Then I read that it goes off that date because, in most women, ovulation occurs two weeks after. They say you get a "two week head start." It frustrates me because that means that I am not 6 weeks prego. I am only 4 weeks prego. I did ovulate two weeks after the first day of my last period and that just so happens to be the week of our honeymoon.

Anyways...I still feel weird. And EXHAUSTED. I go to bed around 9 pm and the alarm goes off at 7 am. Usually, I am easy to get out of bed. Not hitting snooze once. But lately, I just want to lay there. Hit snooze. Maybe fall back asleep. Or just lay...comfy in my covers. I go workout around 8 or 9 am, come home, shower, and when I pass my bed on the way into the bathroom, it takes all I have to not climb back in! I feel lazy, but know that I have something to blame. Something really small growing in my belly...but it's a big thing to my body.

Boobs hurt. Cramps still come and go...I might have pinpointed it on sugar!! Imagine that. My body/baby not liking the intake of sugar. We will see. It's not a substance I typically put in my body, so I know this is something I can get used to. I'm overly emotional, which is hilarious b/c I am an emotional person anyways...imagine normal me...times 15. Ha ha ha. It's great. These hormones are crazy drugs! I feel huge- and everything I read keeps reminding me that it's not baby...not yet. It's just bloated. ie. FAT. Ugh. It's miserable. But I know it's for a good reason. And who cares what those on the street think of me!

First doctors appointment is Tuesday, July 27th. Hopefully that gives us confirmation and good news- if there is such a thing at this point!

Goodnight : )

'Tis the Season

Two weekends ago, Mike and I were down in Phoenix for his Aunt's surprise 50th birthday party. This was the weekend after we took our home pregnancy tests. I figured I'd have better luck finding the book "What to Expect When You Are Expecting" in Phoenix. I checked two Targets and a grocery store, but had no luck. I asked an employee if he had some in the back and he said they can't seem to keep them in stock and I quote, "It must be that time of the year!" I couldn't help but replay that line over and over in my head. Every time I do, I start to wonder why? Maybe because lots of people get married in the spring/early summer and are now expecting...like we are. Are there really that many people in our shoes? Seems strange. But fun. I hope I meet more women who are pregnant.

We spent this past weekend in California. I was DD every night and enjoyed almost every minute of it. My favorite part was waking up feeling like a million bucks while everyone else struggled (sorry Mike and Lauren!). We spent close to or more than 30 hours in 3 days at The Home Depot Center in Carsen, CA for the Crossfit Games. It was INTENSE, fun, nerve racking, and an all around great time. I loved it.

Mike celebrated his 26th birthday on Sunday. He is not a real big birthday guy, so we did exactly what he wanted. Kept it low key and went to dinner. I think I love his birthday more than he does...it's a day to be over the top about him. I wonder if he will become a birthday guy once we have baby B. Will Mike then see the importance of a celebration on this day every year? I hope so. I am thinking he will have to change into a birthday guy b/c what kid doesn't want a b-day party?? And I am so not planning/putting a party together solo- sorry buddy!

And yesterday was our one month anniversary of being married. Four whole weeks have flown by...it seems so strange. Honestly, July 19th was unfathomable for me. Where did June go? I want to go back. I want to relive that day, every weekend until it gets old. Ha ha- I doubt it gets old.

Now we sit and wait. Sometime this week, baby B is 4 weeks old. He/She has begun the attachment to my uterus lining and is about 1/5 of the size of this period . Weird. How does that grow into a baby?? Just for the record, Mike keeps saying I have twins growing....and I repeatedly tell him, he does not want my first pregnancy to be twins. Please! We will get what we get and be extremely happy. BUT I am nervous, scared, and flat out terrified at times of ONE...and I don't want to think about TWO. Since we will NOT be finding out the sex of our child, the good news is if it's twins, I get to find out : ) I will most definitely need to better prepare for two and must know what their sex is if this shall come our way! I read you can hear the heartbeat in as few as five weeks, so maybe we get lucky and get to hear what it next week!

Cheers!

Baby B

So, here it is. The next phase of our life. Coming at us like a line drive back to the pitcher.

We let almost everyone know we wanted a honeymoon baby. It just so happens that's what we got! On the evening of July 8th, Mike and I wonder out to our local grocery store and bought a home pregnancy test. We moseyed on over to Chili's to eat salads we were both in the mood for and headed home for a mellow night in. When we got there, I took the first of two pregnancy tests. Peed on the stick then waited for 3 minutes, which felt like 15! Mike had a gut feeling there was going to be one line (meaning I am indeed not pregnant and, therefore, am crazy). I, on the other hand, had a gut feeling that I couldn't possibly be that crazy and there'd be two pink lines. I won. Test #1 was positive at 9:30 pm on Thursday, July 8th.

We freaked. Looked at each other for a good while and said, "Wow. We did it!" Knowing the MANY complications that can happen when trying to get pregnant and within the first trimester, we were slightly worried it would take us awhile to conceive. Yes, we wanted a honeymoon baby, but we weren't going to be all bent out of shape about it. Not trying, but not NOT trying either. In the midst of our celebrations, hugs, kisses, smiles, and, "Wows" we got an email from our wedding photographer announcing our wedding pictures and slideshow posted. Ironic? Meant to be? We think so!

Friday morning I woke up at 7 am and took another test with that first pee of the day, which is supposedly "the best." After another 3 minutes that didn't seem as long, the test again revealed two pink lines! We are pregnant!!

Now it begins- no alcohol (I will miss my wine), no caffeine (therefore, good coffee), no Advil. I am now on Mike's healthcare, so next up is finding a doctor and getting the official stamp of approval from a professional.

Just FYI- decaf coffee tastes like crap. I do have had some pretty scary lower abdomen cramps. They are extremely painful. We are not 100% this baby will make it the 1st trimester...just like with everyone else's first trimester, but we are being positive and hoping for the best. We also know that what is meant to be will be! I will keep everyone posted via this blog on our little baby B : )

Cheers!

Our Wedding Day

Not sure how or where to begin this post. I am speachless...utterly. And that doesn't happen often. Thousands of things running through my mind. It flew by- super fast, too fast. Did I spend time with everyone? Was everyone happy and having fun? What are the bad things that people are saying about our day? Did I mess up? Were there obvious things that went wrong? Did I hurt anyone's feelings?

Once I put all of that aside, I set myself straight- back to reality. I cannot change anything that happened and I don't think I will ever say I want to. Our day was PERFECT. It was us. Our families and closest friends celebrated our love for seven and a half hours. I am not going to lie or pretend- I AM SAD IT'S OVER : )

The one thing that bothers me the most looking back on the event was we didn't give a 'Thank You' speech. Not pointing blame or calling him out, but I told Mike this was extremely important to me and he told me he had it covered. As most of us saw, he got stage fright and I had to step in. At that point, I was livid at him b/c I had NOTHING prepared...b/c he told me he had it taken care of. I rushed through the names and faces of people I saw...probably leaving important people out. I was a mess...from being an hour late to our rehearsal b/c of traffic, then the storm that hit, to traffic to dinner, and thinking I was going to be late again...I was completely 100% unprepared to have Mike throw that on me. Oh well. I told myself I'd make up for it on Saturday and we totally forgot. I had a list of things to say and it sat on the table all night : /

After hours of frustration at the both of us and tears shed b/c I felt I came off as ungrateful, I thought I could use my blog.

I know the wedding was 'destination' for most people. I know it was pricey with flights, hotel rooms, food, and transportation. But I am forever grateful for every single person that attended my special day. I don't even know the exact number in attendance...somewhere around 120. Each and every one of you created our day...your presence was a gift to us in itself. We are beyond extremely lucky.

So, to those 120 folks at The Sears Tower on 6/19/10:

Thank you, thank you, thank you for attending our wedding. I wish I had more time and more fun on the dance floor, but all good events come to an end. It meant more than you will ever know to have your face present. I hope each of you had fun, enjoyed a couple cocktails or wine, and had a full belly. I hope you saw the sunset and caught up/met with other people there. I hope you got the chance to look out the window and see the beautiful city of Chicago. I hope you got to spend at least a couple minutes with me and maybe got a picture too. If you didn't, I am sorry. Terribly sorry. Time seemed to fly by and before I knew it people were leaving and we did our paper airplane exit. I also hope to see all of you within the next year!

Love,
Heather

Is It Really Over?

This might be my longest post yet...but I will try to break it up the best I can.

The week before the wedding FLEW by! I woke up every morning promptly at 6:30- without an alarm. There was so much on my mind, there was no way I could sleep in. Mike was typically up with me or shortly after...helping me out. We went to CrossFit Tri Cities on Monday and had every intention of going a couple more times that week, but we failed on that mission. I did run every day- not just to keep my shape for the dress, but as an amazing stress reliever! It was intense with the humidity- we were drenched with sweat : ) We attended the Cubs game on that Tuesday...yes, the night game that was delayed for 2 hours or something because of the rain...KILL ME. A literally soaking wet Bride-to-be is not a happy thing. We were in the empty bleachers with ponchos. Ugh. After the game, the Chicago Blackhawks brought out the Stanley Cup...that was really cool. However, I was on Mike's shoulders and dropped my camera...nice.

Wednesday we, or I should say Mike, Doug, and Matt, picked Caitlin up from the airport while I organized everything to be brought to The Met Club. She got to eat a Chicago style, Portillo's hotdog- YUMMY! And we were off to the city for the day. First stop, the W for a spa appointment. Then to Doug's hotel to drop off his backpack. Third stop was The Sears Tower, to The Met Club to drop off our not so small load of wedding crap. Fourth and final stop was my Dad's hotel to get ready for dinner out with him and Jenny. We arrived on time to Trattoria No. 11 (I believe that was the name) for a FABULOUS, relaxing, fun dinner. Caitlin and Matt got to hang out and chat it up with us.



Thursday was nothing short of a BLAST!! We had our family, our whole wedding party and their significant others/family attend a Cubs game at Wrigley. It was outstanding to have everyone there altogether and the Cubs owon on a walk off!! I made Mike and I Cubs Bride and Groom t-shirts. Mike's mom sewed a veil onto my favorite Cubs hat...it was a hit! We also made signs for just about everyone in attendance with the role in the wedding. ie. Mother of the Bride, Father of the Groom, Bridesmaid, Maid of Honor, Best Man, Groomsman, and Ring Bearer! It was awesome. However, I do not believe we made it on tv. Oh well...stupid announcers/tv crew.



Friday was an event all in itself. The day started off with my dog-in-law Koty almost dying. He inhaled the bag of dog food too quickly, as he was not supposed to have gotten into it in the first place, and started throwing it back up. And in the process chocked, rolled onto his side, legs stiff, eyes rolling back in his head, and had to be resuscitated by my brother-in-law, Ron. I witnessed the whole thing, ran into the garage telling my sister-in-law, Kim, what happened shaking uncontrollably. It was really intense and scary. Thus, we were late for our nail appointment and because of traffic, I was an hour late to our rehearsal : ) Typical if I do say so myself! as the rehearsal is wrapping up a HUGE storm rolls in. We are on the 66th floor of The Sears Tower, so we have a great view of this monster. However, once it hit we no longer wanted the good view...the building was swaying TERRIBLY...it was extremely noticeable when people couldn't walk straight. We all made it safely down to the bottom floor- whew! (Turns out they later shut down the elevators and people had to walk down from the 105th floor- ugh!) Upon our arrival at the bottom there were several fire trucks and firemen not allowing us to exit. We were then informed that windows were bursting upstairs, therefore making it unsafe for us to leave the building. There was glass everywhere!! After a short while, we were released and then battled the terrible traffic again to our dinner. We were actually on time for that- Thank you, Mag for driving. Mike was late as there were road closures for fires and flooding. It turned out to be a fabulous dinner- everyone a little shaken by the whole ordeal and starving from waiting in traffic for hours : )



Friday night, most of my girls stayed with me at Kim's house. We had French Kiss martinis and dessert- yummmm! I couldn't sit still for too long remembering all that I had to do, but got to relax with some of my closest friends and new family! I got a good nights rest and woke up ready for the big day : )

I get the shakes just thinking about it, but will save that post for later. It's 4th of July weekend and we are headed to the pool.

Cheers! And Happy 4th of July to everyone!!

We Arrived Safe n' Sound

We had an eventful day Saturday! We woke up to a wonderful breakfast display: fresh fruit, bacon, sausage, english muffins, and a scrambled egg casserole. Mike, Doug, and I brought down champagne we had left over in our frig and drank that with some OJ to get started on the right foot : ) It was a fabulous treat- Thanks so much to Mike's mom, Pat, for preparing, cooking, and cleaning up after us. We were a little behind schedule post breakfast and had to rush to the airport. Upon our arrival, we checked the gate and it was empty, so we figured they hadn't started boarding. Little did we know, they had already boarded and our names were being called over the intercom. Oops! There's a first for everything and we are just thankful we didn't miss our flight.

I wore my "Bride-to-be" sash for one last hurrah. That turned out to be a great match with Mike's tux t-shirt and several people congratulated us throughout the airport. Once we got seated, the flight attendant, Rob, made an announcement over the intercom about us, "the about to be married couple sitting in or near the exit rows." Another round of congratulatory cheers. We weren't sitting together (remember we were the last people on the plane on Southwest), so Rob said if anyone would switch us seats in order for us to be together, they'd get free drinks. About mid flight a kind lady switched for us (and she never got her drink!!). The lady flight attendant whose name I did not get, asked us for our first names. This seemed extremely out of her character, as she was the one glaring at us when we got on the plane. Shortly after, she got on the intercom, asked everyone to close their windows and turn on their call buttons. They turned off the cabin lights and played "Going to the Chapel" over the intercom. They called us up to the front and crowned us with peanut pack and stir stick crowns. It was great. Again, everyone cheered and said Congratulations. They really made that flight special for us!



Doug was counting how many people congratulated us in any way, shape, or form and quickly lost track.

We landed safe, got our rental car, grabbed lunch and headed home to see the family. The weather has been rainy and cloudy thus far, but we are happy with that now (rather than later in the week or on the big day). Off to start my last Monday as a fiance!!

Cheers

Chi Town- we are so ready for you!

Not quite yet, however, since we leave for Chicago this Saturday I feel as if that's D Day! I honestly did not realize how much crap I have accumulated over the past year+. We are going to end up paying a large shipping fee, but whatever. At this rate, this is what I chose to do months ago, so I gotta suck it up.

It's not that I feel unprepared for the wedding. I feel unprepared to travel to Chicago in a day and a half! Once I get there, I know I will take a couple deep breaths and let my mind be at peace. A "whatever is left behind is stuck in Prescott now" mentality. We have to get our marriage license, attend 2 baseball games, a dinner with my dad, a dinner with his grandparents, hang out with family, bring all our shipped boxes downtown, and attend the rehearsal & dinner. Then it's THE BIG DAY. I don't think I could have prepped myself better and I don't have many 'regrets,' I'm not even sure that's what you would call the things I do have : )

I am still anxiety stricken about leaving Gracie. Although, I know she will be just fine, I hope she doesn't think we've left her. We have done this before...I think. Maybe over Christmas or even a trip to Chicago?? Either way, she was perfectly fine and was so happy to us upon our return. I just wonder what's going through her lil' noggin.

I am also still slightly sad this is all winding down. I cannot wait to be officially married to Michael, but I don't know if I want this phase to end. I know we will just move onto the next thing in life...whatever that may be. Being married, moving to a different state, buying a home, and starting a family...just to name a few we'd like to do. But being a female, I've dreamed of this time in my life for YEARS...all 26 of them, I'm sure. Ok, maybe not 26, but 21? As soon as a girl knows about Princesses and her daddy tells her she is one and she will find her Prince Charming one day...that's when a girl's mind starts going. I drew an image of my wedding dress when I was in 5th grade. I still have that today. Now, my wedding isn't going to be red, white, and blue, on the Fourth of July, and we are not skydiving down to our ceremony like I had once planned/imagined/dreamed. But it's still happening in NINE days.

It all seems so surreal (still). For the most part, my feelings haven't changed. Sure there have been some bumps in wedding planning, I've shed tears and Mike has wiped them from my cheeks. But it was fun. I'd love to be a wedding planning...I think I have a drive for excitement, adrenaline rushing planning. To get to see and feel that, then have everything pan out perfectly and see your Bride & Groom as happy as ever...what a rewarding job. Now, I know not all brides are cool...thanks for the show on TLC (is it?) 'Bridezillas.' So, scratch that...I'd rather work with kids!

I loved planning this day, this whole experience, I love Mike and I's love story- how we met, how things played out for us, how we've lived together w/roughly no issues too big to tackle, I love that he loves my family, they love him, and I love his family, I love that he is going to be my Husband...he is going to take my hand and hold it for life...LOVE is in the air...and I get teary eyed just thinking about him standing down at the alter by the Pastor. Ah!

I'd like to write on here the night before the wedding, but I doubt that happens. Maybe I will journal and retype what was written. Either way, I probably won't be back till after the Honeymoon : ) Whoop, Whoop!

Cheers!

We Survived : )

Ha ha ha- that's an understatement! Surprisingly Mike survived much better than I. However, we both had the time of our lives and could not have asked for a better weekend. I only have a picture of the ladies to post...not sure if Mike even got a group pic!

So, now it sets in...we will be HUSBAND and WIFE THREE WEEKS from today. Oh my heavens! I cannot believe it. Where did the last 15 months go?? Everything is in place. I have a few things to complete this weekend and the week ahead, then I plan on doing nothing but relaxing. We leave June 12th for Chicago. A week together smoothing everything out. Problem with a 'destination' wedding is that I cannot get anything ready right now. I can't go drop off our favors, decorations, guest book, pictures, etc b/c I don't live there! That's what is stressing me out.

Hopefully, I get some 'me' time this week. Working out has been beneficial and helping with those positive endorphins. Also, not thinking about the big day for an hour plus is fabulous : )

Not too much to report. Mike is flying a Riddle airplane home from Denver with his mom as I type. We are going to grill steak and veggies with her. You will find me poolside today. Working on that tan for my WHITE DRESS. Eeeeekkkk! Shrilling with excitement.

Happy Memorial Day weekend- cheers!

ONE Month (and ONE day) To Go!

As you can see by my lack of posts, May has been nothing short of busy!

My Land Cruiser that my boss gave me to drive got traded in. Mike and I had a minor heart attack phase when we realized we'd have a large car payment coming up. Not two months before the wedding- yuck! Not only that, but we 'splurged' and bought a king size bed b/c I was not sleeping in the queen. If you are unaware, Gracie sleeps with us. She's really not that big...about 45 pounds. And you will usually find her snuggled up in a little ball when she's anywhere else in the house. In bed, she sprawls out and becomes as big as she possibly can. The king was much needed for my sanity and has turned out to be a wonderful idea on our behalf. I can now sleep with Gracie at my feet and still have room to roll over to give us both space : ) And with the wedding a month out, I am actually sleep much better than I did last month! Who would have thought??

Thankfully, Dad decided that since he had wanted a new car for awhile, he'd graciously give us his. His Acura had over 100,000 miles so, he wouldn't get much for it in a trade in anyways. We lucked out- BIG time! Mike flew out on Friday and drove the car back on Saturday. He made the trip in one full day, but was safe and still had energy to unpack the car when he got home at 2 am. Crazy kid. My mom also had several boxes of my "keep stuff." I have notes from every year of middle school through senior year of high school. I have notebook after notebook of college classwork and kept most of my education books (I thought I had all those with me, but I was wrong). Those we fun to go through. I got my baby book and all my childhood things as well. It's great to have them with me now.

It was a stressful situation. Mike and I knew I wouldn't have the L.C. forever, but thought we'd have more notice.

Then, we took a 7 hour road trip with my boss, Lauren, and her 4 kidos. Plus, another three kids from a friend. All the way to Huntington Beach, CA. We rented an 8 bedroom house for a long weekend and had the privilege of watching the Southwest Regional Qualifier for CrossFit. It's hard to explain, but it's an awe inspiring weekend of the most elite athletes in the Southwest. Out of 100+ females and 100+ males only the top 4 got to continue on to the CrossFit Games, which are the Olympics of our world. They strive to be "The Fittest Human Being in The World" with athletes and spectators worldwide attending. This year the winners will receive $25,000 each (one male and one female). We also took the kids to Disneyland and hung by the pool awhile. It was a great trip and all seven kids were great. Can't ask for much more!

Last weekend was a whirl wind. Gracie has been sick from what we think was eating chicken grease off the grill (sick- I know). She was waking us up several times a night with the runs and had a couple of nasty accidents in the house- miserable! I felt so bad for her. She had her tail between her legs and ears back as if she was in huge trouble. I let her know she was a "good girl" and she couldn't help pooing in the house. I just hope she doesn't eat more chicken grease. I had my FINAL dress fitting...eeeeekkkkkk! I love it. Now they will pack it up so I can carry it on the plane with me! Exciting! It seemed so weird. Watching other girls select several dresses to try on for the first time. I felt like that trip for me was just yesterday. But bada-boom bada-bing it's done. We also said our 'good-byes' to a good friend who is going into the Peace Cor in Kenya for two and a half years.

That leads us to this week...Bachelor/Bachelorette Party Weekends! Thank goodness these are happening on the same weekend. I plan on leaving my phone in the hotel and having much needed/deserved girl time : ) I wish all my friends far away were with me...however, I know all you ladies are with me in spirit, which is sometimes just as great!

The weekend after this is the last weekend in May, which brings another heart attack my way clearly! We are celebrating a Belated Mother's Day with Mike's mom and working on reception decor. It should be fun and low key. Oh, and I think we will get my wedding band. It takes a few days, as they create the bands in the store, which is nice! We received Mike's band in the mail a couple weeks ago...it's absolutely beautiful. I love it.

Next up will be printing Menus, Favor Tags, and Programs. Then scheduling hair and makeup appointments for my ladies and I. I am creating t-shirts for Mike and I to wear on Thursday for the Cubs game. I've ordered half the favors and need a better idea of our final head count for the most important favor. I need to go check out the boarding resort for Gracie this week. She's only going to be there three days, but it's KILLING me. On top of all that, I work every day from 1-7 pm and workout every morning for at least an hour. Ugh! There really isn't time...ever...ha ha.

I cannot wait for Chicago, June 12th and every day for two weeks after that. We were golfing with Mike's Uncle last weekend and Mike sat down in the golf cart with me, looked over, and said, "So do you wanna get married or something?" I think it's finally setting in. We are going to be Husband and Wife. We are going to start a family together. We are going to be by each other's side from here on out...for the rest of our lives. So empowering, mind boggling, and content. I love my life.

Cheers until post Bachelorette Party : )