Tidbits

• It has been one crazy week. I've been coordinating some big group meetings and such this week and it actually began with some small preps on Sunday. By the end of the day yesterday, I was at 30 hours for the week. EEEK!!!
• I know I missed my bumpdate for the week, and to be honest, I was so busy we didn't get a picture - other than one on my iPhone this morning. But I'll be back next week with weeks 30 and 31 :)
• I'm getting huge. At least I think so. But don't think I've put on any weight in the last two weeks. Running ragged will do that to you, I suppose. I've been so busy I haven't wanted to snack!
• Hubby cuts and bales hay. Well, last week he bought the last piece of equipment he needs, a rake. It's used, so he's been working on getting it in good working condition. So, last night was the first night we'd been able to spend together since last Thursday. It was great to just curl up on the couch and to be together, watch TV, and the ripples in my belly.
• The photographer I had lined up to do my maternity photos got injured and had to cancel. So now I need a new one ASAP. I really want these pictures on a CD or something because I don't want a ton of prints, just want to have them to remember. So that's a big problem, as most won't do that.
• My parents gifted me with my car and I'm having to deal with changing over the title, etc. It's a lot of fun, let me tell you.
• I'm taking some junk treasures to a garage sale this weekend and I just want to get rid of it! Seriously, I am really looking at what we have and whether we need to keep it while cleaning the house to prepare for Tuff. There is no reason why we should have our two spare bedrooms full of crap, as well as a basement storage room. So I've got a lot of household items that we haven't used since moving almost 2 years ago and furniture that was in the nursery we no longer need, and I'm pricing it super cheap in hopes it will all find a great home.
• The dresser is in and the glider is on its way. So we need to finish cleaning out the room and have J paint before we set it all up! I know we still need to buy a bookshelf and then we're going to sit back and relax until after my shower to see what else we need.
• My family shower is Oct. 1 :) I can't believe that's just over two weeks away! And then my friends are throwing a surprise on for me at some point.
• Last night I washed dishes for the first time since Sunday. I'm gross.
• I also made hubby bring me an anti-fatigue mat to put by the sink until baby is here. Standing that long on ceramic tile makes my legs start to swell.
• At least that's all that's swelling. I don't think my face is getting puffed up (knock on wood) and several others agree.
• I'm extremely scatterbrained, and I'm not sure if it's pregnancy or all that's going on at work. But on Saturday, I decided I needed a day of pampering and set out to get a mani/pedi and spray tan. As I was backing out of the garage, I didn't notice how close I was to the section between the doors and clipped my mirror. Luckily hubby, who is a route salesman for a uniform/mat company, has an account with used auto parts and they had one that fit and gave it to him. So sweet!
• This is the perfect weather to walk with Hank. But we live on a busy highway, so I'm afraid to go without hubby. So I'm hoping we get on a good walking after work schedule soon. Tuffy likes it :)

You Challenge - Week 2 :)

Nine loves ...

{1} My family and friends. 

{2} Hank dog.

{3} My beautiful home.

{4} A fridge and a pantry that are full.

{5} A job that I enjoy that enables me to live a good lifestyle.

{6} Ice cream. I could eat it every day. But I try to keep it to 3-4 times a week.

{7} My Shark mop. It's changed my life.

{8} DVR. How did I live before we could record shows and fast-forward during commercials?

{9} Living in a great place like America! I'm feeling a bit patriotic and sappy, as we are watching 9/11 coverage right now. 

HAPPY SUNDAY!!!

It's OK

Linking up again this week :)

It's OK

... to wear white pants after Labor Day. Yup, I wore mine yesterday, just to make a point! I think as long as you aren't super-summery (like wearing a light-colored shirt as well) it's totally fine to wear them until you need a jacket. I typically pair mine with a dark shirt or cardigan.

... to consider de-friending people on Facebook because they post Big Brother spoilers

... to curse your Internet for an hour because it's so slow you can't make a simple online purchase. Downside of living out in the country - only one crappy choice for Internet, and it costs 40 bucks a month :(

... to, instead of saving money for your babe, decide to blow money this weekend on a spray tan and mani/pedi. I have some important meetings next week that I want to look good for!

... to spend an hour outside playing with your dog when you have a million or so house projects to do.

... to have the morning sun streaming into your kitchen and see just how bad you need to dust the cabinets. I have a fall break in about a month during which my mom is going to help me tackle some pre-baby projects, so I think I'll put that on our list :)

HAPPY THURSDAY! One day closer to the weekend :)

What I'm Loving

{1} I'm LOVING that this is a four-day work week! Thank you Labor Day!

{2} I'm LOVING the cooler temperatures. But I'd like to ease into fall with highs more in the low 80s than these 70s. Although my pocketbook will certainly like the lower electric bill this next month or two!

{3} I'm LOVING Dove chocolates. I bought a couple bags last week when I was having a bad day and needed an escape. I grabbed a handful for J and I to share the other night and ended up with an uneven number. We decided to share the last one. And this was the ever-so-fitting message in the wrapper:

I can't get it to flip, but it says "share a chocolate moment with a friend." :)  

{4} I'm LOVING our new kitchen faucet! Our old one leaked and had ugly wooden handles so we've been wanting one for awhile but couldn't justify spending over $100 for something we already had. I spotted one of the styles with the pull-down nozzle on the clearance rack at Lowe's, but no sticker. It rang up regular price when I asked the cashier to check, but a manager was sitting closeby and said she thought they should be clearanced (it was the last one in the store!) and gave it to us for 75% off. So we bought this beauty for $27, and J had it installed the next day! LOVE.



 {5} I'm LOVING that I have such a handy hubby who can tackle all the projects I dream up.

{6} I'm LOVING that my sinuses have eased somewhat. Enough for me to function without meds, which is good, because Tuff didn't move near as much when I was taking the Tylenol and it scared me.

{7} I'm LOVING that today is payday at my old job! Between using up my accumulated vacation hours and a couple of freelance jobs, it will be a very nice paycheck. So the "extra" will go toward my camera fund.

{8} I'm LOVING this sweet guy, who took great care of Tuff and I while I was sick. And who massages my belly with tummy butter every night. While hubby is already a daddy, I can't wait to see him with a physical baby to love on!

What are you loving today? Link up with Jamie to share!

Bumpdate - 29 weeks

As of today, I have about 77 days to go!

Baby R continued to make big changes during his/her 28th week. Then, he weighed around 2 1/4 pounds - about that of a Chinese cabbage - and measured just under 15 inches from the top of the head to the heels.

He can also now blink his eyes, which sport lashes, and with the continued development in eyesight, could be able to see light that filters in through the womb.

Body fat continues to be added, while Baby R is also developing billions of neurons in his/her brain.

I had my blood drawn last week for my glucose test, and passed with flying colors! However, I am slightly anemic (low on iron) so I take a daily supplement for that.

Mama continues to do well, just starting to get tired and swollen a lot more easily. A nasty head cold was going around last week and I ended up catching it and absolutely having to take some medicine (which I haven't done at all since learning I was preggo) to operate. Daddy bought some Tylenol Cold and it has been working wonders! Although I did have a panic attack last night when I realized I hadn't felt her move for awhile. So I shook my belly and got a jab. I guess she was just sleeping :)

I either lost a pound or stayed about the same. I don't remember, ha! I can't remember if I've mentioned it yet, but I did find a stretch mark about three weeks ago :( Since then, I've been practically religious in applying tummy butter morning and night, so it's the only one, and seems to be fading a bit?

The doctor said she is very pleased with my weight gain and everything appears to be right on track. Baby's heart beat is still in the 140s (little stinker!) so no more guesses on the gender. We now go to the dr. every two weeks until I hit 36 weeks, then every week. So I'm sure that will really make time fly.

We've made really good progress on getting the nursery cleaned out over the past week, and could finish it in one night if we really set our minds to it. No big rush though, as I believe it will be J's project in a couple of weekends. We also ordered a dresser for the room. So once it's painted, we just need to have the carpets cleaned and then can assemble the crib and dresser. And I can finally begin washing all the little clothes I've bought Tuff and have a place to put them.

So, here we are this week (taken this morning so I look somewhat presentable, ha!) And I know I've got to get a better camera --- hopefully next week, I just need to decide between Nikon and Canon and if I want an awesome point and shoot or a DSLR. If you love your camera or have any suggestions, please let me know!



You Challenge - Week 1 :)

I've seen this challenge floating around on a few blogs but known that I would *never* be able to keep up with it for 10 consecutive days.


But then I saw where my friend Elizabeth made it a 10-week challenge, and I figured I can *totally* do that! I'm gonna try to do it every Sunday (love scheduling posts!) but we'll see. 


So ... 10 secrets:

1. I was born with jet black hair and such a dark complexion that they had to look at the name on the bassinet to tell me apart from the Asian baby. And now I have a fair complexion and dirty blonde hair.
2. There are some shows/movies that I watch every time I catch them on TV, even though I can recite them by now. For instance: Sex and the City, HIMYM, anything Julia Roberts ...
3. I am one of the most wishy-washy people out there. But once I *know* something is right, I stick with it. 
4. I remember the smallest details (like license plate numbers) but forget big things, like paying a bill on time. 
5. I wear a size 11 shoe. And I'm terrified that my feet swelling with make my shoe size go up. I can't have that. 
6. As excited as I am to be a momma, I'm a little scared of babies. They are SO TINY! Sometimes looking at/buying newborn clothes freaks me out, because they are so tiny.
7. I love buying new things for the house, myself, etc., but would rather bank the money. Always afraid something will come up and we'll be in a bad spot.
8. Sometimes I feel like the above causes me to miss out on enjoying life
9. I'm scared that J and/or I will die early and never get to meet our grandkids. And although he's almost 11 and I know the day will come, I can't imagine anything ever happening to our Hank dog.
10. I'm scared of the dark. If I'm outside in the dark, I have to have a flashlight and Hank dog or hubby 

It's OK ...

Linking up again!

It's OK

... to think your hubby is a wuss for needing meds to fight his sinus infection when you did it totally natural a week ago. And think of the irony, considering you used to take meds at the first sign of a head cold.

... to love summer but be ready for highs in the 80s, not near 100, in September!

... to lock your dog in the garage all day (minus bathroom breaks) until he eats! Hank has probably lost 10 lbs and we aren't sure why, but we think there must be a dog within a five mile radius in heat! GRRRR!

... to be pissed that Big Brother won't come on until 1 a.m. tonight due to football. And even though you're exhausted, try to think of a way to wake up and watch it.

... to feel like you're awesome at life one week, only to feel like you such at it the next.

... to have weird pregnancy fears. Like a feeling someone is going to roll down their window and shoot you while you drive by. No joke. But then ride around with officers during a warrant roundup while 7 months pregnant and feel perfectly at ease.

... to get hamburger meat out of the freezer in the morning and figure out what to make with it when you get home from work.

... to not leave your office all day, then comment to yourself when walking outside how bright and warm it's gotten since 8 a.m. Ha!

... to be completely exhausted and wonder how you'll survive when waking up to a crying baby.

... to want to lie and tell everyone you know that you're going camping for the Labor Day weekend, then just hide out at home and do absolutely nothing.