- My Life As Mrs. B -

26 Weeks Check-In

2011-04-02T12:44:00.000-07:00

Holy cow, how have I gotten to this point so quickly?? In less than 14 short weeks, my boys will be in my arms. I have my moments where I am just so excited and can barely stand it until they're here, but then I think of all we have to do before they get here, and I'm like "Whoa, okay, time, you can slow down!"

This past Tuesday we had a second growth u/s and I was so excited to see my boys again. They have changed positions, which is crazy to me! A couple of weekends ago, I thought that Baby B was laying vertically now and I was right! Both he and Baby A are vertical, with A being head down and B's head being right at my ribs. The doctor says their growth is perfect and that both are big babies! Baby A weighs 2lbs 4oz and Baby B weights 2lbs 2oz! He also says that Baby A being head down is a good indicator that I will not have to have a c-section. I really hope that's true!

Most of you know I'm a pretty active member of The Bump. I often talk about the friendships I've formed and how grateful I am for these ladies. This past week really proved to me that just because you've never met someone in real life, doesn't mean you can't care for them like you would a regular friend. Two of the July mommies-to-be welcomed their precious babies into the world. One had a baby girl named Addyson at 23 weeks and the other was a fellow Twin Mommy, who had Grayson and Audrey at 24 weeks. These babies have such a long road ahead of them and I have spent so much of my time thinking about them this week. I can't imagine the emotions my fellow Bumpies are feeling when they see their babies. I have caught myself complaining so much lately about how much my hips/tailbone hurt, how tired I am or how I just absolutely feel like they are about to rip me in two when they're moving. But, I would take all of that pain and discomfort, if it means they'll stay in there until it's time for them to be here. The girls on the July board are taking up donations for both of the moms and doing all they can to show their support. We may all have our differences in opinions, but when it comes to helping out a fellow Bumpie in need, we all pull together. So, ladies, if you're reading this and have a few seconds, please send some prayers up for the two ladies and their families. Thank you!

Well, that's all for now! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

The Inveitable Crash.

2011-03-28T12:44:00.001-07:00

I'm exhausted. All my energy from this weekend has left me and all I have to show for it is an extremely sore back. Is it 5:00 yet? I wanna go home. :(

What's this? Energy??

2011-03-27T11:08:00.000-07:00

Where has this sudden burst of energy I've encountered this weekend come from? My entire pregnancy I have had zero energy and could sleep for days on end. Our poor apartment has suffered for it, too. I've never been the neatest or cleanest person, but I always kept everything put away (at least when we were having company). Now, there are just piles and piles of stuff everywhere, my cabinets and fridge are a mess, I'm behind on my laundry (no end in sight, I feel) and the dust has set up permanent residence. I'd be at work and think "Tonight, I'm cleaning. I'm going to do this and I'm going to do that." And the minute my lazy rear end walked through my door, I hit the couch and didn't move for the entire evening. I hated it and felt so ashamed anytime someone would come over and there'd be dishes in the sink or floors hadn't been vacuumed.

However, this weekend? It's the complete opposite. I've only had a few hours of sleep and one lousy attempt at a nap and I've had all kinds of energy! The only thing holding me back from really going at it, are the BHs and my back pain! There's still tons of things to do, like laundry because under no circumstances am I to lift the laundry basket, carry it down the steps and down to the basement. I have sorted through the piles of mail we had and they are now divided into keep, shred and things I can just throw away! The downstairs bathroom is clean and I just finished sorting through my "Pampered Chef corner". I've cleaned under the kitchen sink, but now the back pain has me planted on the couch. There are things sitting everywhere that need to be thrown away or put somewhere. Have you ever noticed that? You tackle a mess and when you're done, you have an even bigger mess?

The boys have had tons of energy this weekend, as well! Last night one of them was moving so fast and so much, that I thought my stomach was going to rip apart! Kevin kept going "Oh, that was a hard kick! I really felt that one!" It was so sweet, but I just couldn't help but think "This hurts!!" haha!

When Kevin gets up, we're supposed to be going to see his grandparents. That's the plan, but I doubt we're going since he stayed up all night watching basketball and playing Xbox w/ the guys. I don't get how they all do it!

Well, I hope you ladies had a great weekend! :)

25 Week Check-In

2011-03-26T13:16:00.000-07:00

Happy Saturday ladies! I've spent my day organizing and cleaning, as much as I can anyway. It's hard doing things trying to stay seated and no move too much. I have sorted through our mail/bills that had formed a huge pile on our end table and now have a huge pile to shred! I also cleaned our half-bathroom downstairs. Tonight Kevin and I are going to start sorting through some clothes and other items we have upstairs for a yardsale the bank is having next weekend. Let's hope I don't over do it!

Here's this week's survey! I only take a bump pic every two weeks, so no picture this week! :)

How far along? 25 Weeks
Weight gain/loss: I would say around +25 pounds. I don't weigh myself at home, so I go back what the doctor's scale says. But, I'm sure that's off a bit because I've always ate and drank a lot by the time I get there!
Maternity clothes? Definitely all maternity pants, but I can still fit in a few non-mat shirts.
Stretch marks? Sadly, yes. :( I've noticed a few new ones this week. I knew they'd show up, but it still sucked seeing them.
Sleep? Comes and goes. It's become very uncomfortable to sleep at night. I hurt like crazy!
Best moment this week? Hearing their heartbeats, even though it was because I was in L&D. It was so funny to hear them moving around in there!
Food cravings: Dirt cake. I may make a run to the store later to get the ingredients!
Gender: Two sweet little boys! :)
Belly button in or out? Flat. It'll be out before too long!
Movement? Tons and tons. Some days Baby B is moving so much, it actually gets kinda painful!
What I miss? Ibuprophen, no doubt.
What I'm looking forward to: Seeing our boys Tuesday morning!
Milestones: According to my Peri, the boys should be here no later than 38 weeks, which is June 25th! We now have less than three months to go!

Baby This Week:

25 Weeks Pregnant

Follow Up Appointment

2011-03-24T09:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon was my follow up appointment from my night in L&D. I was still having some cramps and was really worried when I went in. The doctor didn't check me to see if I was dilated, but he seemed confident that I wasn't. He said that the cramps I'm having are stretching/growing pains and that they'll be pretty severe since there are two kiddos in there (MillerTime, it made me think of you and your reminder to me that I'm carrying twins anytime I hurt!). He said that the urine analysis they took showed I wasn't dehydrated anymore, so that was a relief. He did tell me to take it easy and upon reading my discharge papers, I learned I'm on restricted activity. It said no exercising or lifting, minimal walking or stair climbing and things like that. He does want me back in two weeks to monitor me more closely. I don't know if this is for now because of the BHs or if they want to start my two week appointments earlier than normal because of the twins. Oh, he also measured my uterus and I'm measuring 31 weeks! Eek!

This was the first time I had met with this doctor and he was extremely nice. He seemed a lot more concerned than the other two doctors at my regular OB that I'm having twins. I go back to the perinatologist next week and I cannot wait to see the boys again!

Anyone else starting to freak out about the idea of what all we have to get done before our babies get here? I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that we may very well possibly have to bring the boys home to our current apartment. I do not like this at all, but I keep telling myself everything happens for a reason. This pregnancy has flown by and I know the boys will be here before I know it. I'm so excited but scared all at the same time. I like to think I'm a pretty responsible person, but this is a whole nother story. I mean, I'll have two little lives that depend on me and that's very intimidating! It'll be okay and hopefully my children won't be too damaged! haha!

Well, that's all for now! I hope you ladies are doing well! :)

Hello 24 Weeks!

2011-03-22T10:21:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday (3/20) was my 24 week mark....my pregnancy is now considered viable! Yay! I was so excited because I had had such an easy time thus far! I think I spoke too soon! haha! I started getting what felt like menstrual cramps around Friday afternoon. They lasted all weekend, but I just thought they were normal and didn't think too much about it. Yesterday morning they started about 7:30 or so and didn't let up. I e-mailed my doctor, thinking she'd just tell me to drink more water or rest. When she said I needed to come into Labor and Delivery as soon as I could, I got really nervous! I worked the rest of the day and went in around 5:30. When I got there, they hooked me up to the monitors to measure for contractions and get the boys' heart rates. They said my uterus was irritated, which meant I had either been contracting or I was going to soon. They checked to see if I was dilated, which I wasn't. They said I was dehydrated with a minor UTI and that's what was causing the braxton hicks. Not fifteen minutes later, the contractions picked up and were harder than they had been. It was so scary seeing that number rise on the monitor! They hooked me up to an IV with fluids and an antibiotic and then ended up having to give me a shot to stop them. I almost passed out twice! I don't know if it was the heat, the needles or what, but I was freaking out. The contractions stopped not long after they got me calmed down and they let me leave around midnight. Luckily, the contractions never caused my cervix to change, so the doctor is confident it's the dehydration and UTI that caused them. I'm keeping water with me at all times and just relaxing today. I go for a follow up tomorrow afternoon!

The whole time all of this was going on, the boys were moving like crazy! They did not like those monitors and kept kicking them. They finally took the monitors off because the boys kept moving away from them and they were practically useless. They did get a good reading in the first 30 minutes or so, so they felt it was okay to take them off. I was so scared and just kept telling myself everything was going to be okay. I was so relieved when they told me I could come home!

I had planned on doing the little survey at the end of this, but that turned out longer than I thought! Maybe I'll do it tomorrow? :)

Regardless, here's my 24 Week Bump Picture. I'm in lounge clothes and I'm not wearing any make-up because I had spent a lazy day w/ my sister and Emma! So, overlook that part! ;)

Thought I'd share!

2011-03-16T08:03:00.000-07:00

One of the ladies on my month board on The Bump posted the following last night. I thought they were cute and I have bolded my favorites! haha!

Disclaimer: I merely posted this because I think it's funny not because I agree with everything said. I know that when some people do some of the following, they genuinely mean well. Also, I do not mind family and friends rubbing my belly one bit. So, if you're someone I know in real life, know that you can still rub my belly after this! ;)

Dear Non-Pregnant Person,

I hope you find these guidelines helpful in your interactions with pregnant women, as failing to follow them may result in serious physical harm. If you are thinking, surely she doesn’t mean me – then you should probably read this twice.

1. The appropriate response to a couple telling you they are having a baby is ‘Congratulations!’ with enthusiasm. Any other response makes you a jerk.

2. Through the wonders of science, we now know that babies are made ONLY by the mother and father – not grandparents. Unless the baby is in your uterus or you are the man that helped put it there, you may not ever use the phrase ‘my baby’.

3. On the same note, unless you made the baby as defined in 2, the pregnancy, birth, and raising of the child are not about you. You do not have input. No one wants to hear your opinion unless they ask for it…

4. The body of a pregnant woman should be treated the same as any other body. You would not randomly touch someone’s stomach if they were not pregnant, nor would you inquire into the condition of their uterus, cervix, or how they plan to use their breasts. Pregnancy does not remove all traces of privacy from a woman.

5. Likewise, no woman wants to hear comments on her weight…ever. A pregnant woman does not find it flattering that you think she is about is pop, must be having twins, looks swollen or has gained weight in her face. Telling her she looks too small only makes her worry that she is somehow starving her baby. Making such comments invite her to critique your physical appearance and you may not act offended. The only acceptable comment on appearance is ‘You look fabulous!’.

6. By the time we are 20-30 years old, most of us have picked up on the fact that the summer is hot. We are hot every summer when we are not pregnant. We don’t need you to point out that we will be miserably hot before the baby comes. Nor do we need to know how badly you will feel for us because we will be pregnant during the summer and how glad you are that YOU will not be pregnant this coming summer. Hearing this comment drives me nuts!

7. There is a reason that tickets to Labor & Delivery are not yet sold on Ticketmaster. Childbirth is actually not a public event. It may sound crazy, but some women really do not relish the idea of their mother, MIL, or a host of other family members seeing their bare butt and genitals. Also, some people simply feel like the birth of their child is a private and emotional moment to be shared only by the parents. You weren’t invited to be there when the baby was created, you probably won’t be invited to be there when it comes out either.

8. Like everything else in life, unless you receive an invitation, you are NOT invited. This includes doctor appointments, ultrasounds, labor, delivery, the hospital, and the parent’s home. You do not decide if you will be there for the birth or if you will move in with the new parents to ‘help out’. If your assistance is desired, rest assured that you will be asked for it.

9. If you are asked to help after the birth, this means you should clean up the house, help with cooking meals, and generally stay out of the way. Holding the baby more than the parents, interfering with breastfeeding and sleeping schedules, and making a woman who is still leaking fluid from multiple locations lift a finger in housework is not helping.

10. The only people entitled to time with the baby are the parents. Whether they choose to have you at the hospital for the birth or ask for you to wait three weeks to visit, appreciate that you are being given the privilege of seeing their child. Complaining or showing disappointment only encourages the parents to include you less.

Sincerely,

All the Pregnant Women in the World

Happy Birthday, Kevin!

2011-03-13T10:14:00.000-07:00

Today is Kevin's 27th Birthday! I really wanted to make a big deal out of it, but him being the low key person he is, doesn't want to do anything. We went out to the Mellow Mushroom last night (we weren't impressed) and I'm making him a spaghetti dinner tonight. Oh, and baking him a FunFetti Cake because that's what he asked for. He's the total opposite of me when it comes to this stuff. I'm a total AW when it's my birthday! Men!

So, for your viewing pleasure, here is a picture of my handsome hubby! :)

Happy Birthday, my love!

Hello 23 Weeks!

2011-03-12T10:28:00.000-08:00

How far along? 23 Weeks
Weight gain/loss: I'll be honest, I have no clue! I'm thinking 20+ pounds.
Maternity clothes? Definitely wearing all maternity pants, but I can still wear a few non-mat shirts.
Stretch marks? I've noticed one or two on my sides. :( They are on top of ones I had from teen years!
Sleep? I sleep great when I'm actually sleeping, but I do wake up in pain (tailbone and ribs) a few times at night.
Best moment this week? Kevin finally feeling them move & getting to see them at the second u/s.
Food cravings: I've been craving sweets, a lot. When I first got pregnant, they made me sick.
Gender: Two sweet little boys! :)
Belly button in or out? Almost flat...it'll definitely pop before it's over!
Movement? Lots and lots! I love it!
What I miss? Ibuprophen. Tylenol just doesn't help w/ aches and pains.
What I'm looking forward to: Kevin's birthday tomorrow. :)

Baby this week:

Your baby's got a while to go before their lungs will be ready for air and is practicing their "breathing" on the amniotic fluid—sucking it in and out of their lungs. Other highlights this week:

Fat production is in overdrive at this point (for the baby, not you! Well, OK, maybe for the baby and you). Your baby will basically double in weight over the next four weeks! You'll be happy to know the same won't apply to you.

Your Mini is starting to look more like a newborn as their skin becomes less see-through. Their body is looking more proportional now, although their head is still kinda big compared to their cute little body. - Parents 3D Connect

Here is what the babies supposedly look like:

23 Weeks Pregnant

TGIF w/ Pics! :)

2011-03-11T10:33:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday ladies!

I've realized I'm totally slacking on baby updates. I plan on doing better! Also, I'm back to being public because some people were having trouble viewing the blog, even though they were invited to join.

On to baby news! This past Tuesday we got to see our precious boys. We didn't get to see them for very long, but it was enough. They weren't as active as they usually are, but Baby B did turn so that we could finally see his face for the first time. At one point he had one of his arms raised, so it looked like he was either flexing his muscles for us or he was waving his arm for us to leave him alone! Either way, it was so cute! She didn't get their heartrates, but at my regular OB check last week they were at 150 and 147 bpm. Baby A weighs 1lb 1oz and Baby B weighs 1lb 6oz. The doctor says they are perfectly healthy and that the five ounce weight difference was nothing to be concerned about. MuseumMaven (a fellow Bumpie who is pregnant with twin boys, as well...for those of you who are non-Bumpies) mentioned somewhere that if they haven't developed TTTS by this point, chances are they probably won't. So, ladies, cross your fingers that holds true for my boys!

I do believe I've hit a growth spurt this week because I seriously feel like my belly button is being ripped apart from my insides! I have to pee every hour and I feel like my organs are being squashed flat. haha! But, I wouldn't trade feeling them move around for anything in this world. Baby B moves a lot more than Baby A does, but when Baby A moves he makes sure I feel it. Baby B also moves around all over the place, from right behind my belly button over to the right side of my stomach right under my ribs. I honestly didn't think they could move that far over to the side! But, Baby A stays right in the same spot, about two or three inches below Baby B and never moves from side to side. It's the craziest feeling!

Here are the pictures I promised earlier this week! :)

Baby A's Profile

3-8-2011 - 1lb 1oz

Baby B's Profile (somewhat)

3-8-2011 - 1lb 6oz

22 Week Bump Shot

3-5-2011 - Measuring 25 Weeks

I hope you ladies have a wonderful evening and a great weekend!

Happy Monday!

2011-03-07T11:13:00.000-08:00

Hey ladies! How was everyone's weekend?

Ours was mostly uneventful, except for Saturday night. He had a Guys Night In, while I headed out for a Girls Night Out. It was a lot of fun catching up with my four best friends from high school. We ate at a local Mexican restaurant and then headed over to Starbucks. It was really relaxing and nice to just sit and talk about our lives. I really miss the two that live a few hours from here and wish they lived closer, especially now that the boys are on their way.

In baby news, Kevin finally felt one of the boys move last night! I was extremely excited and I think he was even more excited than I was. He has been trying for a week now to feel them and was starting to get really discouraged. One of them was rolling around like crazy last night, so I made him keep feeling for it. When we went to bed, he told me to hurry up and lay down because he wanted to play with the babies! haha! They had stopped moving by that point, so he didn't get to feel them. He tried again this morning before I got up, but they weren't having it. It's so sweet to see how happy and excited he gets about them. He's going to be an awesome father!

We had our regular OB check this past Thursday and it was practically a bust. My appointment was supposed to be at 9:00, but the doctor didn't get there until 10:00 and then rushed me through everything so that he could get to his other patients. To say I was extremely aggravated was an understatement because I actually had questions to ask him. Both heartbeats were strong and I was measuring at 25 weeks (I reached 22 weeks on Saturday). He didn't seem to have a problem with that or my recent weight gain (ummmm....9 pounds in 4 weeks, wow!). He did send me for an ultrasound on my kidneys because I've been having a lot of pain and they think it's from kidney stones. We're supposed to hear back from that either today or tomorrow.

Tomorrow is our second appointment/ultrasound with the high risk doctor. I cannot wait to see our little boys again! I'll try to post pictures when we get back. After that appointment, Kevin and I are going to register at Target. I was going to wait to register, but we have a coupon that if we register by March 28th, we get a $20 gift card. I can't pass that up! I'm pretty excited, but overwhelmed. I've been researching baby items, but there's still so much to get and learn about! I'm going to make it fun though!

Well, that's all for now. I took a picture this past weekend and put it on my FB. I'll try to put it in tomorrow's post, too. Have a great Monday!

Long Time, No Blog!

2011-03-01T07:35:00.000-08:00

Hey girls!

Sorry for the unplanned hiatus from Blogger. Do you ever just get burnt out on something and can't even bring yourself to look at it? That's how I felt about blogger. My interest has been slowly but surely coming back and I've been catching up on everyone's lives. I felt the itch to write this morning and work is slow, so I thought "why not?".

First and foremost, we found out we're having two perfectly healthy BOYS! Most of you know this already, but there are a few of you who aren't on my FB or the Bump. The high risk doctor said that although they're perfect now, they may not stay that way! Since they're identical, they're sharing a placenta. This could cause problems later on in pregnancy and they could develop twin-to-twin transfusion. The doctors have been very vague on what this is exactly, but I basically gathered that one will develop quicker than the other because it's getting more nutrients. Well, I Googled TTTS last week and let me say, in this situation, Google is NOT your friend!

We decided to name them Gavin Thomas (Thomas is after my dad) and Landon David (David is after Kevin's dad and grandfather, who passed away this past week). I can't wait to meet my precious boys! Gavin is Baby A and is very laid back. Landon, Baby B, is a completely different story! At the anatomy scan, he was everywhere and refused to sit still for the u/s technician. So rotten already!

I reached 21 weeks this past Saturday and, I'll admit, I'm a bit scared! Okay, I'm A LOT scared. There are so many emotions going through me at once. There are some things going on in my personal life that are also weighing on me and are really causing me to not put all my focus on preparing for the boys (Kevin and I are fine, just in case you're wondering!). I'm trying to get past all that, but it's really difficult right now. Anywho, I digress.

Well, that's really all for now! I'll hopefully be updating soon, because I just know you guys are dying to know what all is going on in my oh, so interesting life! haha!

Small Break

2011-01-12T06:26:00.000-08:00

Hey ladies! I took a small break from Blogger this past week. It was a mixture of reasons why, but I won't get into them. Anyway, the point for this post is to ask everyone for their e-mail addresses they use to log in to Blogger. I've decided to make my blog private for now. I thought if I did it and you were already a follower, you could still see it but someone said I have to give you approval. So, if you don't care just send me a PM on the Bump, an e-mail, FB message or text. Thanks!

Hello 2nd Tri!

2011-01-05T15:19:00.000-08:00

I'm officially in 2nd Trimester and I'm so happy to be here! However, 1st Trimester sent me out with a bang. I've had a migraine, a stomach virus and kidney stones. The virus and migraine are gone, but I can still feel some discomfort from the stone. My doctor told me that I should drink quite a bit of water and she prescribed me antibiotics to fight infection. The past two days have been rough. I'm hoping to get some energy back and feel better soon. My mom is coming down tomorrow to help me with dishes and laundry. I hate admitting I need help, but I'm just so tired. Can you imagine when the bebes get here, how tired I'll be? I'm just waiting for that comment from someone! haha!

Well, that's all for now. I'll leave you ladies with a progress survey. :)

How far along? 13 weeks 4 days, hello 2nd Trimester!

weight gain: According to the doctor's records, eight pounds. I don't think it's accurate though. I've always ate before I went in. Our scale isn't working at home right now. Bleh!

maternity clothes? Yep! If I'm not wearing maternity pants, I'm wearing my beband. I love maternity shirts, but I have a few flowy shirts from pre-pregnancy that I can wear, too.

stretch marks? None yet, but I know they'll show up eventually.

sleep? I sleep just fine until Mr. Baker comes to bed at 5:30 in the morning and then I'm wide awake.

best moment this week? Hearing their heartbeats! I've never felt so relieved in my life. It was the most beautiful sound I've ever heard!

food cravings: Anything salty, especially pickles! How cliche, right?

gender: We'll find out on February 8th, hopefully! We're thinking boys, but since that's what we're thinking, they'll be girls.

belly button in or out? In. I have a deep belly button. It'll be awhile before it comes out, if it does at all!

movement? I've felt flutters the past three or four days. It tickles like crazy! I've noticed it more at night when I'm laying on the couch.

what I miss? Drinking both sweet tea and coffee in the same day. I don't like choosing!

what I'm looking forward to: Feeling little thumps from them moving and finding out what they are!

So long patience!

2010-12-29T06:26:00.000-08:00

I wasn't the most patient person to begin with, but I've noticed in the last week or so I have lost what little bit of patience I had left. People are getting on my nerves so badly! I just want to stay home with the blinds shut where I don't have to see or talk to anyone. That's how bad it's getting. I'm tired of people's know-it-all attitudes. I'm just tired of people in general. I couldn't tell you one person in my life right now that isn't getting on my nerves.

I'm so tired of people who are older than me that already have kids or even people my age who have kids acting like I don't know what I'm getting into. I told one of my customers I wasn't sleeping well and she looked at my supervisor and said "Oh, honey...she has no clue what she's gotten into, does she?" WTF? Actually, I do know what I've gotten into. These babies weren't a surprise. They were planned. And yes, they're our first and we don't know exactly what it will be like but I know that there will be hundreds of sleepless nights. We aren't going into this thinking that it'll be picture perfect and our babies will sleep thru the night and just be angels. Then last night I was complaining about the noise the kids in the apartment two doors down were making. Seriously. It sounded like they had a boulder throwing it down their steps over and over and over. It went on for thirty or forty minutes. I can't imagine what the poor people in the apartment in between us felt like. Well, I put it on my FB status and two or three people commented about how I just need to wait until it's my kids and how I don't know what noise is yet. Once again, WTF? I'm sorry, but the noise those kids are making has nothing to do with my children. I'll have enough respect for my neighbors (which, I hope to be out of the hell hole before the kids can make that much noise) to not let my children keep the entire neighborhood up. It isn't kids being kids, either. It's kids being obnoxious while their parents don't pay attention to them. There's a difference.

I'm sorry I'm ranting. :( When people who have kids are actually trying to be helpful and give me advice, I gladly accept and appreciate it. However, when people act like they're better than me and I just don't know what I'm getting into, that's when it pisses me off.

Oh, and I have a headache today. I don't know if it's just a headache or if it's because of the emotional breakdown I had last night. In either case, I'm really missing ibuprophen today!!

I certainly hope you ladies have a better day than I am!

Ticker Change Saturday - Merry Christmas!

2010-12-26T17:50:00.000-08:00

Happy Sunday, ladies! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Kevin and I had a great time with our families. Saturday morning we woke up to five inches of snow at my parents' house. I was so excited! We were all so excited to see how Emma acted once she woke up and saw her presents from Santa! She didn't disappoint. The look on her face and the way her little eyes lit up was the sweetest thing I've ever seen. Santa brought her a Barbie Jeep and when she saw it she went "oooooooohhhh" and just circled around it. She ended up opening all of her gifts while sitting in it! haha! Kevin and I got her a keyboard that looks like a cat and makes all kinds of noise. She absolutely loved the thing and wouldn't part with it during the day. My family told me I'd be getting paid back next year! ;)

On Christmas Day, I hit the 12 week mark. Just one week and three days left of 1st Trimester! I know anything can happen at any point, but if/when we make it to 13 weeks and 4 days, I will be so relieved.

According to Parents Connect, this week the bebes eyes and ears will move into place, making them look "more human". Their finger and toe nails are forming and they can now swallow. They have now doubled in size and are the length of your pinky finger. And by The Bump's ticker, they are the size of plums.

Here is a picture of what the bebes look like this week:

12 Weeks Pregnant

And for your viewing pleasure:

December 11, 2010 - 10 Weeks

December 25, 2010 - 12 Weeks

Now, I'm off to relax before bedtime! I hope you ladies are having a wonderful Sunday!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-12-22T11:25:00.000-08:00

Source

My whole world, so far!

2010-12-20T06:58:00.000-08:00

It is no secret that I am head over in heels in love and just absolutely adore my baby sister's 16 month old daughter. I talk about her non-stop and I always have a picture to show off. She's just something else, that's for sure. I've thought she was gorgeous from the very first moment I laid my eyes on her the night she was born, but this little girl truly is beautiful! No matter where she is, she gets so many compliments. People are always telling Whitney she needs to be put in some type of baby contest. On top of being beautiful, the child has such a big personality! It's almost daily that I get a phone call from her! She'll scream "TeeTee" into the phone and just start jibber jabbering! She tells me about her whole day and just laughs. My family says she knows my ringtone and as soon as she hears yet, she screams "TeeTee". I love it! She "talks" to anyone who will listen and never meets a stranger. This weekend, my whole family came down for a visit and we went to a local steakhouse. Emma is at the point to where she wants to walk every where and not be carried. So, as we were walking from the bathroom to our table, she was strutting her stuff! It was hilarious! She waved at every table she passed and when they'd wave back, she'd clap and laugh so loud! One man said "Now, that's Christmas spirit right there!" It makes me such a proud auntie to know that everywhere she goes, people just fall in love with her. I never imagined I could love something as much as I do this little girl, until we found out we were pregnant. I can't imagine the love I'll feel when my babies get here. It's amazing how much a heart can hold!

I also want to talk about our other nieces and nephews! I have two older sisters, who I talk about in this post. Between the two of them I have a 16 year old and 4 year old niece, as well as a 13 year old and a 2 year old nephew. I've yet to meet any of them, but I love them like crazy! I talk to the two oldest ones quite a bit and they definitely make me feel old! haha! Kevin's sister also has two children, a 5 year old girl and a 2 year old son. They're hilarious and just so sweet!

It makes my heart happy that my babies are already starting out with so many cousins! All of my sisters are done having children and so is Kevin's sister, so it seems like our children will be the babies. I see this as a blessing and a curse! haha!

What about you ladies? Any other lucky aunties out there?

Ticker Change Saturday!

2010-12-18T13:55:00.000-08:00

Happy Saturday ladies! My day has been spent sleeping and cleaning. I got a total of 13 hours of sleep last night and still feel tired, but if I sleep too much I feel awful. I've felt okay this past week. My hips and tail bone have been hurting quite a bit, but I expected this sooner or later because of the disk degeneration I have in my back. I haven't been sick yet, but I'm still gagging and stay pretty nauseated. I'm hoping now that school is over and I don't have so much to worry about, I can get some of my energy back. We'll see!

Today, I'm 11 weeks! Only two weeks left of 1st Trimester and 29 weeks to go! I'm really hoping my babies make it full term. I've talked to three or four MoMs (Mommies of Multiples) in real life and none of them went full term. In fact, they were all put on bed rest at some point. I'm really praying this does not happen to me. I know that we will do whatever we can to make sure the bebes stay healthy, but the thought of taking that much time off from work really makes me sick. I'm trying to take it easy and not do too much, so hopefully this will help me out. I've also posted on the Multiples Board on the Bump and their stories go either way. Several mommies carried full term and worked right up until they had them. I'm crossing my fingers I'm one of those "success" stories.

According to the Bump, the bebes will grow to the size of limes this week. Parents Connect says they're two inches in length and weigh as much as two packets of sugar (weird analogy?). I was thrilled to read that all of the bebes' vital organs have now formed, which means the bebes aren't as susceptible to outside influences and the risk of defects decreases. Thank you, God. Now let's just hope nothing has hurt them yet! The fingernail and toenail beds have formed and the ears are in position. Their little heads are as big as their bodies! haha!

Our next appointment is January 4th, and I'll be 13w3d. According to certain calculations, that's my last day in the 1st Trimester. My doctor doesn't listen for the heartbeat until 2nd Tri, so maybe I'll luck up and she'll feel I'm far enough to listen. I was so relieved to see the flicker of their little hearts, but I know hearing them will be a bigger relief. According to the NP, since there are two babies, I get extra ultrasounds. Maybe we'll get to see them again? I'm not getting my hopes up for that though!

Tonight my friend, Jessica, and her little girl are coming to hangout while the hubbies play poker. I'm really excited to see her and Tanzi! They used to live in the apartment next to us, but they recently moved to a bigger place, as they're expecting their second child in April. I cannot wait for that baby to be here! :)

I hope whatever your Saturday night plans are, you ladies have a great time!

Free at last! Free at last!

2010-12-16T11:04:00.000-08:00

This past Tuesday was my last class of the semester! Yay! Our final draft of the paper is due by midnight tonight, so we all know what I'll be doing tonight. I just can't wait to be finished with it!

We all know I love the snow, but ice? That's a whole nother story. Ashley and I barely made it down our hill this morning. My car had a solid sheet of ice on it, so it took us awhile to get it cleared off enough to see through the windows. I'm just hoping I can make it back up my hill after work. Walking up the hill was no fun before I was pregnant, but now? I can't imagine. I get winded walking up our steps! haha!

Kevin and I did some of our shopping for our nieces and nephews last night. We have gifts for four of them down, and three to go. I know what we're getting them all, except Emma. The child has tons of toys and loves Dora. I thought about getting her some clothes with Dora on them. Whitney told me Emma saw a gift wrapped in Dora wrapping paper and just went nuts over it. I would have loved to have seen that!

What about you ladies? Have you all finished all of your shopping?

So very happy!!

2010-12-16T06:43:00.000-08:00

One of the Bumpies that I'm the closest to just got her BFP this morning!! I'm so very excited and happy for her. She and I, along with two other Bumpies, e-mail each other all day long. The four of us say we're like old college roomies who are all in different parts of the country now! Now our little circle is complete, all four of us are pregnant! Congrats, MT! I love you and Baby MT very much! :)

Ticker Change Saturday!

2010-12-11T06:33:00.000-08:00

Happy Saturday, ladies! I've made it to ten weeks! Yay!

I usually put all of this information in my own words, but I'm so hungry right now, I'm in a rush! Here is the info on the bebes this week! I got this from Parents Connect, which is one of my favorite websites right now!

By the end of Week 10, your baby graduates from embryo to fetus, which literally means "little one." It also translates to "I'm just going to keep getting bigger and bigger and so are you!" Other highlights this week:

Your baby has finally morphed from a little tadpole into, well, a baby. Not only is the face more human-like, but that unflattering "tail" (really just the developing spinal cord) has disappeared, fusing into the spinal column.

Your baby now has discernible fingers and toes, which will explain the steady stream of kicks and punches you'll feel down the line.

Junior's skeleton is starting to grow and harden. The ears are beginning to take shape and the eyelids are no longer transparent. Tooth buds are forming, although your baby won't get any teeth until six or seven (or eight or nine or 10) months after birth.

Baby's brain will make an incredible 25,000 new neurons every minute this week. While you may feel like you're losing as many as he's gaining, we can assure you it's not permanent. "Pregnancy brain," like nausea and bloating, is a temporary symptom that soon shall pass. (And then you'll get "Mommy brain," but we won't go there now.)

If you're baby is a boy, he's started producing that macho hormone testosterone. And whether your baby is a boy or a girl, the kidneys are creating copious amounts of urine. Lucky for you, you won't have to change a diaper for another 30 weeks.

Baby weighs only 4 grams and measures 1½ inches, about the size of a mondo Brazil nut.

Here's what the Bebes look like this week! :)

10 Weeks Pregnant

I hope you all have a wonderful Saturday!

My cup runneth over...

2010-12-09T11:29:00.000-08:00

Happy Thankful Thursday, ladies! :)

I'm rather emotional today, just thinking about all of my blessings in life. I will admit, I'm the world's worst at focusing on the negative in life and not the positive. I have a mother who is the same and we're both constantly worrying ourselves to death. Kevin on the other hand is completely different and is so carefree. You can imagine how this works out in our household. Can you imagine what will happen when our bebes make their arrival?

First and foremost, I am so very thankful for my bebes. I was just thinking this morning how lucky I have been so far with my pregnancy. During the six months of TTC, it felt as if it was taking us forever to become pregnant, but in reality it did not take long at all. I've yet to be sick (knock on wood), despite all the nausea and gagging I've had. I'm exhausted constantly, but for the most part I feel fine. And now, we've found out we're expecting two miracles, instead of one. I feel so undeserving of this blessing. There are so many wonderful women out there who may never experience one blessing and God has blessed me with two. I know it is still very early in my pregnancy and I could lose one or both of the bebes at any moment, but I'm just so very thankful to be experiencing this at all. I keep staring at the picture at my teller station and just can't believe that those are my babies and not someone else's. I just can't help but smile at the fact that they will have a best friend for life and share an amazing bond with one another that those of us without twins do not understand.

Second, I'm thankful for the wonderful support system Kevin and I have. There are so many people in our lives who loved our bebe as soon as they found out. Yesterday when we told them there were two, it made my heart so happy to see how happy they were for us. So many people are already asking us to move back to where I'm from so they can help us with them. My sister's best friend is already clipping coupons for diapers and my cousin is already talking about the outfits he's going to buy. It's overwhelming to know that so many people are willing to help us. Once again, I feel undeserving of it!

Finally, I'm so thankful that my sister and so many of my friends have small children or are pregnant. My bebes will instantly have friends to go through life with. My close friend Ashley and I were talking last night about how they're all going to grow up as cousins and have a love/hate relationship with one another. I can't wait to watch them all grow together!

What are you ladies thankful for today?

Results of my first ultrasound! :)

2010-12-08T20:12:00.000-08:00

This morning was our first ultrasound and to say that I was nervous going in there is a huge understatement. I've just read too many stories of women going in and receiving bad news at their ultrasound. While taking the measurements, the u/s tech was really quiet but I was so nervous I was talking a mile a minute, so I figured she just couldn't get a word in edgewise!

She finished her measurements and turned the screen toward us. I instantly thought something looked "different" but I pushed it aside....until the u/s tech said the words "Well, there are two babies!" I'm ashamed to say that that the first words out of my mouth were "Holy Sh**!" Kevin was shocked, but gained enough composure to ask if the heart rates were strong and if all the limbs were there. I'm happy to say everything looked great! Both heart rates were 182bpm and both are measuring at 9w3d. My doctor says that both of these are rare for twins! They're sharing the same gestational sac, but are in different amnio sacs. It looks like our babies are identical twins! :)

Now, I'm going to be a proud mommy and show my bebes off!

So precious!

Both of them were standing on their heads at one point! Baby B even waved! :)

I'm so very in love already!

Bad blogger!

2010-12-04T16:50:00.000-08:00

I was doing so well at keeping up with this, too! Let's see what has happened since I've last updated!

Last Saturday, a week ago from today, I hit the 8 week mark! Bebe grew to the size of a raspberry and its eyelids, ears, upper lip and the top of its nose formed. It also began moving, even though I can't feel it! Bebe also went from being an embryo to a fetus. :)

Here's a picture of Bebe from Week 8:

8 Weeks Pregnant

On Sunday, the 28th, we celebrated our 1st Anniversary! We didn't get to do anything special, but that's okay. We ate at Cracker Barrel that morning and then I came home to work on a paper, while he helped his best friend move. We did get to eat a piece of our wedding cake and, amazingly, it still tasted great! You couldn't even tell it was a year old. Hopefully, next year we'll get to do something fun!

Here's one of my favorite pictures from our wedding day!

I have two more weeks of school left and then I'm good to go! The rough draft of my paper was due this past week and sadly, I missed the required amount by 200 words. I was pretty upset, but I'm to the point now where I just don't care. I hate being this way! I have my presentation on Tuesday night and I'm hoping that goes well. I hate speaking in front of my peers!

Today I enter the 9th week! Bebe grows to the size of a green olive, will become a inch in length and weigh less than a penny! It develops hair follicles and little itty bitty nipples, as well as it's pancreas and galbladder. Also, it develops either it's "hoo-ha or wee-wee" (the website's words, not mine! haha!), even though we won't see it for several weeks! Mother's intuition kicked in this week and I feel as is Bebe will be a baby girl. Kevin, however, still feels it is a boy! Some exciting stuff happens this week!

Here's what Bebe looks like this week:

9 Weeks Pregnant

This coming Wednesday is our first ultrasound. I'm excited and scared all at the same time. I'm just hoping and praying and crossing everything I have that my bebe will be growing normally! I will definitely update you all with a picture.

Soooo, enough about me. How are you ladies? Did you all have a good week? I sure hope so!

EDITED TO ADD: How could I forget?! My best friend, Amy Jo, found out this past Saturday that she is pregnant! It's definitely answered prayer for her and her husband, as she was diagnosed with PCOS and has went thru so much to get here! The best part? Our babies will be so close in age! Our due dates are exactly four weeks apart. Amy Jo and I have known each other almost our whole lives and became close friends when were 12 years old. It's going to be so fun watching our babies grow together! We're both going to the same OB/GYN and delivering at the same hospital. Our babies could possibly come the same day! :)

I don't respect the turkey!

2010-11-23T11:00:00.000-08:00

We've already switched the radio to a local station that plays nothing but Christmas music from the second/third week of November until Christmas Day at work. We're also putting up the Christmas decorations tomorrow, that way when we come in Friday it'll be Christmas-y! :)

I have so much due for school in the next three weeks and you know what I'm worried about?? Getting my Christmas decorations and tree out! I'm definitely putting it up this weekend if it kills me and I don't finish my paper. A girl has priorities, ya know!

How about you ladies? When will you put your Christmas decor out?

Well, I really thought I would have more to post, but I don't! Have a great day!

Ticker Change Saturday!

2010-11-20T07:34:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer: I get all of my information from this website. I love reading it! I get the fruit analogies from The Bump.

Today I hit the 7 week mark. I'm relieved, but still feel as if I'm walking on eggshells all at the same time. Just two and a half more weeks until our first ultrasound. I'm scared and excited all at the same time!

This week has been the roughest one for me yet! While I have yet to actually get sick, I stay nauseated most of the day. I can't eat without gagging and just the idea of certain foods makes me cringe. If I could just get rid of this cold I have, I think I would feel tons better. My list from the doctor says I can take Tylenol Cold, but at this point I just don't want to. I know, I know..."then don't complain." It still sucks though!

Now on to my sweet, sweet bebe! This week bebe grows to the size of a blueberry (1/3 to 1/4 inches long) and weighs the same as an eye lash. Isn't that crazy?? It's teeny tiny brain cells are growing 100 per minute and its little skull is see through! The face becomes more defined this week, as the hole for the mouth, tongue, nostril and ear indentions become more visible. Even though it doesn't have any irises yet, bebe's eyes are wide open now! The arm and leg buds are growing and will look like tiny paddles by the end of the week and the umbilical cord is now showing.

Here's what bebe looks like this week:

7 Weeks Pregnant

Here's a picture of a blueberry:

Dork alert!

2010-11-19T16:46:00.000-08:00

Seriously, you're about to witness what a huge dork I am. :)

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 opened today. And guess who was a the midnight showing? That's right, me! The midnight showings have become a tradition for me and two of my girlfriends. To say I'm obsessed with Harry Potter would be an understatement. They're my favorite books, hands down. JK Rowling is a genius. When the final book came out, I was lost when I finished reading it! I always feel like such a dork when I say that, but I've heard a few other friends say this, as well. I kept telling myself there were still three movies left and I'd be okay! haha! Well, now that there's only one movie left, I'm feeling that way all over again! I know in July when the final movie comes out, I'll be taking a box of tissues to the theater with me! haha!

Source

Anyone else a Harry Potter fan?

Thankful Thursday

2010-11-18T11:37:00.000-08:00

I talk about my grandmother a lot, both on here and in real life. I think about her more than I talk about her. There isn't a single day that goes by that she doesn't cross my mind in some way. Sometimes I'll see a car that looks like hers, I'll cuddle up to the afghan she made, or I'll watch Emma with my mom and just pray she looks at mom the way Whitney and I looked at our mamaw. I wish everyday she was here to meet bebe. Oh, how she'd love him (yes, him. My dad and sister are positive it will be a boy)! And no doubt about it, Bebe would adore her completely. I heard someone else say they wish their grandmother could meet their babies, but that they had no doubt she had already met them before they did? Was that you, Kelli? Whoever it was, I'm stealing your thought. I'd like to think she's preparing him for all the crazy drama that comes with being apart of my family!

She's been on my mind a lot more lately than usual. I'm sure it's a mixture of bebe and the Holidays. It's also because my supervisor at work is teaching me to crochet. She could crochet anything! She also did the needlepoint on plastic canvas. Do you guys know what I'm talking about? If not, here are some pictures I found through Google.

It's basically yarn and this plastic grid looking thing. You can buy books that show you the patterns and stuff like that. She would always make all kinds of Christmas decorations. My mom still has all kinds of stuff she made. They're all a wonderful reminder of what an amazing woman she was. I really want to learn how to do this, so after the holidays I'm gonna start on it. Maybe I can make bebe some things?

Anywho, this turned out longer than I thought it would be, but I just wanted to say I'm so very thankful for her. I'm thankful for her every day and I miss her so much!

Hump Day Ramblings!

2010-11-17T09:21:00.000-08:00

My poor blog. It has been severely neglected over the past few months. I always have the urge to write something, but nothing ever comes to mind. I want to be one of those bloggers that people enjoy reading and not one of those that give a play by play of every second of my day. That just reminds me too much of LiveJournal from my high school days! Did anyone else have a LiveJournal?

Next week is Thanksgiving! I can't believe it. Where in the world has this year gone? Time is flying by so quickly. Before I know it, July will be here and I'll be holding my precious bebe. I feel as if there is so much to get done before he/she gets here that I want time to slow down, but at the same time I want it to hurry up! I want to see my bebe!

Anywho, back to Thanksgiving! A few of my classmates aren't even going home to eat with their families. That made me sad. I know we go to school all on our own, but at the same time, I hate it's taking away from family time. One lady said she's worried about finding the time to make dinner. Maybe it's just me, but I won't do that. My family will always come first. Which leads me to some other news. I'm not going back to school after this semester. I thought I could handle both school and pregnancy, but I can't. Obviously the health of bebe comes first. I may go back next Spring, but who knows. I feel as if this whole semester has been a waste. And it's definitely all we hear from the professor, too. Not one time have we been told we'll get a job or even get into a Ph.D program after this. What a way to sell your program, ETSU. Oh, well!

My friend Jennifer and I were texting about Black Friday yesterday. I've never been and have no plans to go anytime soon. Do any of you hit up the sales on Black Friday? Where do you usually go?

Well, back to work for me! Boo! Have a great Wednesday!

Ticker change Saturday! :)

2010-11-13T09:57:00.000-08:00

Today is my 6 week mark. :) Only three and a half more weeks until we see Bebe. I cannot wait!

I received my first order of maternity clothes this morning and couldn't resist trying them on! I don't know what I was expecting, but they fit perfectly everywhere except for my stomach/hip area. I think I was expecting all of it to be too big? The shirts are long, so I'm hoping to be able to wear them for quite awhile! Which leads me to my next question...when exactly do you start wearing maternity clothes? haha! I'm so bloated by the end of the day that I could easily wear the pants, but I know it's too early for that. They are really comfy though....

So, now on to Bebe. :) This week, Bebe resembles a tadpole! The eyes, ears, mouth, arms and legs are all beginning for form. By the end of the week, the arms and legs will looks like flippers! According to The Bump ticker, it grows to the size of a sweetpea. It's measuring at 1/8 of an inch and weighs less than one gram.

Here's a picture of what Bebe looks like this week!

6 Weeks Pregnant

Here's a picture of a sweet pea.

5 Weeks 3 Days

2010-11-08T17:33:00.000-08:00

Today I am 5 weeks and 3 days along (not that I'm counting or anything). As each day passes, I feel I can breathe a bit easier but at the same time I'm still scared. Never have I wanted anything so badly in my life and it terrifies me to think something will happen! As some wise Bumpies say "Today, I am pregnant and I love my baby." I thank God each day he allows me to experience this, nausea and exhaustion included!

This week, bebe is the size of an appleseed. Even though I won't be able to hear it for a few more weeks, its heart starts beating and pumping blood through its teeny tiny body! Also, the brain; the cardiovascular, nervous and reproductive systems; and all other major systems are forming! It's amazing, it really is!

I've thought about taking weekly "bump" pictures, but I'm lacking the bump. It's nothing but bloat! I've also become obsessed with Old Navy maternity clothes. I bargain shopped this weekend and got several deals! I can't wait until I'm sporting the baby bump and can fill them all out.

Kevin and I went grocery shopping last night for the first time since finding out I'm pregnant. All that food made me feel so sick! I couldn't believe it. So far, I haven't been sick one time. I hope it stays this way, at least for a few more weeks!

Well, that's all for now! I thought I'd leave you with a picture of what bebe looks like this week. I think it looks like a manitee!

5 Weeks Pregnant

My 25th Year of Life

2010-11-05T14:42:00.000-07:00

This Sunday will be my 26th birthday. I've never been one of those girls who get upset that she's getting older. I actually enjoy it. I still get comments about how I look like I'm 19, so I love busting out my age and saying "HA!". I know some day I will be grateful I do not look my age, but until then, I hate it.

So, let's see...what major events happened in my 25th year? These are in chronological order, btw.

* I found my two oldest sisters. One of my lifelong dreams happened and we haven't looked back since. We still haven't met, but we talk as much as we can. The time difference really gets in the way of that!

* I got married. I married a wonderful man, who loves me and is so sweet to me, no matter how hateful I am to him.

* I started grad school. What a ride this has been! There are days I wonder what in the world I was thinking and I really hope that goes away soon!

* And the biggest thing to happen to me?? I found out I'm pregnant with my first baby!! Last Thursday night, I was home alone and bored. I decided to take a HPT, just knowing it was going to be negative. Can you imagine my excitement when two lines popped up?? I couldn't believe it! I took three that night and three the next day. I've taken a grand total of seven HPTs! I had my first visit w/ the doctor to confirm thru bloodwork and it was positive, as well. Our first ultrasound is December 8th and I cannot wait! Our due date is July 9th.

And so, it's been a secret for the last six months we were TTC and to contain that secret, I became a member of The Bump. Their message board, Trying To Get Pregnant, was a life saver. I met so many amazingly wonderful ladies through that board and I just know that I will always be in contact with them somehow! I follow some of their blogs on here, and if you ever want some new reads, definitely check them out. Like I said, they're amazing ladies and they definitely made the last six months less stressful!

I'M GOING TO BE A MOMMY! Words cannot express how happy I am, but at the same time I'm nervous and scared. I'm in charge of another life. And although I've been told I'll be amazing mom, what if I screw this child up severely?? Thankfully for me AND the bebe, I have my wonderful husband to prevent this from happening.

So, prepare yourselves...there will be all kinds of baby talk on here! :)

Can't wait to see what my 26th year holds in store for me!

A preview, perhaps?

2010-10-26T07:53:00.000-07:00

I found THIS lovely post while searching for some pictures for my next post. I'm at work and can't save the pics right now, so it'll have to be tonight when I get home. In the mean time, check out the link I posted. I cracked up because, sadly, it hits the nail right on the head for me! Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-10-20T16:05:00.000-07:00

Great weekend!

2010-10-18T11:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday, ladies! And what a lovely Monday it has been so far! I slept until 11:30 and I've been laying on the couch ever since. We have a lot to do this week, so today I'm not doing a darn thing!

We had an awesome weekend! I thought I'd update you guys on the haunted maze! When we arrived (which, btw, this place was out in the middle of nowhere), the first thing we saw was a kid dressed as an evil clown holding a chainsaw. He was chasing all kinds of people with it! Needless to say, we flipped out! When we got in line, we were informed that only groups of four could go into the corn maze. Well, we had 13 in our group! We were pretty disappointed. We decided to do the haunted barn instead, which could take six people at a time. I'd like to say I could tell you about how scary it was, but I kept my eyes closed 99% of the time! I opened my eyes twice! First, when we were going thru this PVC pipe jungle. Luckily us girls were short enough so that it didn't bother us, but my poor husband got smacked right in the face with it! Second, we had to kneel down and crawl thru this tiny space. I freaked out. I don't do well with tight spaces! From what I could hear, it was pretty freaky. At one point, Amy, had both her legs wrapped around me! It was hilarious!

Amy, me and Ashley after the haunted barn! See that guy in the back? That would be my hubby!

Yesterday, our picture session with Mandy was so fun! Unfortunately, the trees in the area we went to hadn't began changing, but it was still pretty! We did get to visit the covered bridge and a historical site with a fort and everything! I can't wait to get them back. When she puts up the sneak peek, I'll definitely post some! Meanwhile, here are some pictures I found on the 'net of the places we visited!

The covered bridge we visited:

Source

Here's the fort we visited:

Source

Hope you ladies have a great day!

Happy Saturday!

2010-10-16T10:18:00.000-07:00

Tonight, against my better judgement, we're going to a local haunted corn maze. To say that I'm nervous is an understatement. I don't do well with scary things! The last one we went to, I ended up breaking down in the middle of the maze because someone dressed as Pin Face from Hell Raiser wouldn't get off me. Kevin finally had to push him off me! And why am I going tonight?? I'm very easily coaxed into things by my friends. I don't do well with peer pressure either! I will definitely update you guys on how it goes!

Tomorrow, we're having pictures made with one of our really good friends. I'm definitely excited about this! She's thinking of taking us to a covered bridge and things like that! I'm really excited to have some Fall themed pica! I even picked us up a coordinating outfit. Yeah, we're one of those couples. I'm hoping we'll pick up a pumpkin on the way home and do some carving tomorrow night, too. I haven't carved a pumpkin in a really long time, so I'm really excited about that, too!

This coming week, Kevin and I both are on vacation! Wahoo! I'm so glad to have a break from work. I'm definitely burnt out on the place. We aren't going anywhere big because I have some stuff for school to finish, but we're trying to plan a day trip to Asheville, NC to visit Vance Birthplace. I have to visit a public history site for my research class, so we decided to go there after my professor suggested it. We also have a ton of cleaning to do around here. Sadly, the thing I'm looking foward to the most is sleeping past 8:00 every morning! Pathetic, huh?

Well, that's all for now! Hopefully, I'll update tomorrow with some pictures! Hope you ladies have a great Saturday!

Hello Three Day Weekend!

2010-10-09T09:55:00.000-07:00

I won an award! My girl, Jenn, over at A Day In The Life Of Jenn, gave me the Versatile Blogger Award! :) Thanks, love! If you guys are looking for a new blog to read, I definitely suggest hers.

So the deal is that once you get the award, you list 7 things about yourself and then pass the award on to 15 people (although I may cheat and do less than 15).

1) I hold grudges, big time. Someone hurts my feelings one time and I never forget it.

2) I gained twenty pounds in one year when we moved next to my mamaw. I loved her cooking way too much!

3) One of my biggest dreams is having a huge family. Kevin and I want four children and I often sit and imagine what our life will be like when they're grown w/ families of their own! Yeah, I know.

4) I'm a huge kid at heart! I still love things that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside when I was little. I think this is why I love the holidays so much!

5) I've struggled with my weight my whole life. I know I need to lose weight, but I love food way too much!

6) I think I'm a hypochondriac. I get the slightest twinge in my head and I automatically think I have a brain tumor!

7) When I was a senior, our senior class voted on what the ideal senior girl would look like. She would've had my legs and I think that was my proudest moment ever. Shallow, I know. And sadly, now I won't even wear shorts/dresses! A lot can change in seven years!

Now, I tag:

1) Amy Jo @ Simply Being Me

2) Ashley @ Polish and Pearls

3) Erica @ You, Me and Baby Makes Three

4) Jess @ Mrs. Bishop

5) Kelli @ Many Blessings

6) Jade @ A Room Of My Own

7) Sara @ Domestically Challenged

8) MillerTime @ Taking You Home

9) Mary Ruth @ Momma Ruth Says

10) Melissa @ Mommy In The Making

Seriously, these are some lovely ladies and you guys need to check out their blogs! :)

I'm a Horrible Consultant!

2010-09-28T10:52:00.000-07:00

I have to say, when I started selling Pampered Chef products, I thought I'd be a baking/cooking machine! I had visions of elaborate meals and tons of cookies, pies and cakes being served to my hubby for dinner. Wow, I was way off base! Unless I'm at a cooking show, I rarely use my products, aside from spatulas, spreaders and stuff like that. I've used my torte pans and accent decorator once! I'm ashamed to admit it. I still have those visions, but for now they're just visions. It's so hard to do all that when Kevin and I are on completely different schedules! Between his evening shift and my day shift, grad class and PC Shows, we hardly see one another. Grocery shopping is a pain in the rear because when he gets home, it's too late to make a big dinner and while I could just reheat the leftovers, he wouldn't eat them. So, usually my buggy is stockpiled with frozen pizzas, corn dogs, hot pockets and Hungry Man dinners. The weekends are usually the only time I can make dinner for both of us, but that's usually when we have plans with friends and making dinner is out of question.

This weekend at one of my shows, a girl made Chicken Ranch Tacos and they looked so good! I plan on making them this weekend, I don't care what's going on. I told Kevin that we need to make it a habit to have dinner together at least once on the weekends. Where do you guys go for your recipes? Pampered Chef has some really good ones, but I'd like to check out some more sources, as well!

Hope you're all having a fabulous Tuesday! It's so chilly here and I love it!

You've GOT to read this!

2010-09-22T09:01:00.001-07:00

Seriously. You need to read this blog. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. GO! NOW!

"We're just treading water here and trying our damndest."

2010-09-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

The above words were spoken by one of my classmates last night and when she said them, I literally gave her a high five.

Last night was the worst class I've had yet. I was seriously in tears at the end of it. As my friend Eliza said, each class leaves me feeling more and more discouraged. Going into this, I knew it was going to be hard and I knew it was going to involve tons of reading and tons of writing. I wasn't naive enough to believe it would be like undergrad and I could crank out a paper in no time. Strangely, I'm okay with that. It's overwhelming, but it's something that I can get used to. It's something that I just have to do and hopefully, it'll be my best.

But, last night. Last night was so different. We had to read "Becoming A Historian" by Melanie S. Gustafson. It wasn't a difficult read and the first few pages I read made me feel better. The way she described M.A. and Ph.D students was exactly how I felt! But, the more I read, the more discouraged I felt. In one part, she says that if you're a woman, person of color or gay/lesbian in some places, you're encouraged not to study those fields. Seriously?? It's like telling a man he can't write about a man! She then goes on to say how hard it is for women to get a job and all that. And in our class discussion, our professor agreed with it. I just kept thinking "Why am I wasting my time??" It's infuriating, to say the least.

After class, we had to turn in an assigment. It was me and two other girls left, and my professor asked how we were feeling. Well, we just unloaded everything on him! I don't think he was expecting it! I was trying so hard to explain to him how I was feeling and I just couldn't get it out. This is where my subject comes in! The third girl told our professor that the class was "intellectually intimidating, that we're all trying so hard to prove to everyone else that we belong here." This lead to a nice talk with our professor and he assured us that we're doing fine and that'll be okay. I felt a bit better after that, but I'm still just...overwhelmed. A second year told us that by next semester we'll be so used to it, it won't even bother us. Let's hope so!

Fall Is In The Air!

2010-09-18T10:18:00.000-07:00

Good Saturday morning! Well, er, afternoon! The hubs and I are spending a lazy day at home and rooting on the Volunteers while they play the Gators. I'd love to see us pull out the win, but I'm more interested in seeing how the Gators do without precious Tim Tebow! ;)

Does anyone remember the book A Cranberry Thanksgiving? I can remember reading this book in kindergarten and it's one of the reasons I love Fall so much.

I know I talk about how much I love Fall quite a bit, but I wanted to post pics, too! I mean, how can you not love Fall with scenes like this?

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I hope you ladies are having a wonderful weekend!

Hump Day!

2010-09-15T07:07:00.000-07:00

Good morning, lovlies! I hope you're all doing well. It's a beautiful morning here and Fall is definitely in the air! Yay!

Last night was my third class, and so far, my favorite. We met in the university's archives and got to look through boxes of old letters, maps, and pictures. My box was Box #1 of a ten box collection about a family that lived in Northeast Tennessee. The collection dated from 1856 to 1941, but my box was from 1856 to 1881. I have to say, at first I was disappointed in my box because it had three ledger books from the doctor's practice (some of his patients' medical bills were $2.50! I loved it!), but the day books that actually had what was wrong with them were in another box. My box also had several old letters that took me forever to read through. At first I could only focus on how it was making my head hurt, but once I actually could figure out what they were saying I took on a whole new appreciation for it! I mean, I was holding books and letters that are well over 100 years old! I was so afraid I was going to rip them or ruin them in some way. I am really interested in what the letters were about and plan on doing further research. I'm really excited! My friend Eliza's box was from the Revoulationary War and was very interesting, as well! Hers contained love letters and letters telling about the battles that the man witnessed. It even contained the old envelopes the letters came in. We were like two little kids comparing our letters! haha!

I'm sorry if this bored you, but I wanted to share my excitement! haha! I hope you all have a great Wednesday!

Tag, you're it!

2010-09-13T10:37:00.000-07:00

Ashley over at Polish and Pearls, who is one of my best friends in real life, tagged me in this game! She's amazing and you guys need to read her blog! Aaaaand go.

Here's what you do- answer the eight questions that the person who tagged you made up, then make up your own NEW eight questions to tag others to answer. Whoever I tag will answer the eight questions I make up for them, then they create a new set of eight questions to tag a few others with, and so on!

1. What scent/smell brings back the strongest memories for you?
As cliche as this sounds, freshly cut grass. It makes me think of my childhood running around my mamaw's yard with my cousin and sister while our uncle mowed. It also makes me think of my older cousin, Kevin, riding us around on the riding lawn mower and my mamaw jumping on to him! haha!

2. What's your favorite city and why?
I've never really been to a big city, aside from driving through Atlanta once. The only city I've been to is Knoxville, haha! I love it there, mainly because of UT football. I've only been there in the Fall and it's beautiful!

3. When your hair turns gray (if it hasn't already, lol), will you choose to color it, or go with the gray?
I like to tell myself that I'll leave it gray. It's part of aging and that isn't something I'm ashamed of! Now, when I actually start turning gray, we'll go from there!

4. If you could eat one food item, and drink one beverage, for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Definitely Almond Joy and Mounds candy bars! I love those things.

5. What is your absolute biggest pet peeve?
When someone has to constantly "one up" those around them or brag about themselves. It drives me nuts.

6. What do you consider your biggest flaw?
I have major anxiety and it usually causes me to overreact to everything in a very dramatic way. It's something I'm trying to work on, but it hasn't been going too well!

7. What is the biggest life lesson that you have learned through experience?
I've always been one to hold grudges and not forgive people. When the hubs and I were dating the first time, he cheated on me. I always said that I would never be one of those girls who stuck around when a man cheated on her, but when I was faced with that dilemma, I couldn't walk away. I'm not going to lie, it was very hard and it tooks us months to get passed it. He was going through a really rough time at that point in his life and wasn't himself. That sounds like an excuse, but it isn't. That isn't him and I knew it. I'm glad I got passed it because I would be missing out on life with him! Whew!

8. When you put a new roll of toilet paper out, do you let the loose end hang from the top of the roll, or out from the bottom?
Definitely from the bottom. I've seen a tv commerical lately that says people voted for the top, but I don't care.

Here's my questions:

1. What's the one place you want to visit before you die?

2. What's your dream job?

3. Are you doing it?

4. Who is one person you look up to?

5. What's your favorite holiday and why?

6. If you could go back in time, what era would go to?

7. If you could have dinner with any two people, dead or alive, who would they be?

8. Annnnnd what's your favorite color? :)

Now, I tag Ashley, Amy, Jess and Kelli!

My 100th Post!!

2010-09-13T06:49:00.000-07:00

Today marks my 100th post. I wanted to write this at home so I could add a picture to it, but I'm bored and want to write. I will probably go home and add a picture later! :)

I thought since my blog is titled "My Life As Mrs. B", I'd write about my dear husband. My dear husband that I love so much, but can drive me absolutely crazy. My dear husband who can make me so angry one second and the next second have me laughing uncontrollably. My dear husband who, although I don't always see it, is my biggest fan. Since starting school, he's told me countless times how proud of me he is and how he knows I can do it. He tells me to ignore the rest of them and that I deserve to be there just like they do.

We've definitely had our ups and downs in the past nine and a half months. We were told over and over again that marriage is hard, that it could possibly magnify every problem we already had. We ignored them, said we were different. We thought that the year we lived together beforehand cancelled out that old saying. Boy, were we wrong! But, when I actually sit back and look at it, there's no one else I can imagine going through this with.

I think about all we've been through in the past six years and I can't help but smile. We've had our rough times, but there are more fun times than anything. I think about that gorgeous 20 year old boy who stole my heart that night on the river and I love the fact that he's now the 26 year old man that I will spend the rest of my life with! I watch him with our nieces and nephew and with Tanzi Belle and it makes my heart melt. He will be an amazing father to our future children. I have no doubt in my mind should we have sons that they will look up to him as the man they want to be and I definitely have no doubt in my mind should we have daughters that they will look at him like I look at my daddy. Although I don't always see it or believe it, I'm pretty lucky to have him as my hubby!

Happy Tuesday, ladies!

2010-09-07T07:16:00.000-07:00

Good morning, lovlies! All is well here, aside from being dead tired this morning. What's new, huh?

First, I logged in this morning to see I have 24 followers! I know that is a small amount compared to what some of you have, but I was really excited. Thanks for following!

Now, on to the weekend! Mine was super busy with no time to rest, but I had a great time. Saturday the hubs went over to his best friend's apartment (which is actually right next ours) to watch college football, while I stayed home to clean. I couldn't tell you the last time our apartment got a good cleaning! It was a cool, beautiful day, so I turned off the a/c and opened our windows. It was so relaxing! I even put out our Fall decor. I'm definitely ready for Fall now!

Sunday was an absolutely amazing day! I don't know how often I've mentioned this, but when my mamaw passed away in 2000, our family had a huge falling out. About a year ago, some of my cousins and I decided we've had enough and we're tired of not having a family because our parents are mad at one another. Well, all of our determination has paid off and we had a family reunion Sunday! Words can't express how happy I was. Of course, some tears were shed, but we all had the best time. It was like we've never been apart. We've already planned our Christmas dinner and I can't wait!

Yesterday we spent the day at my in-laws and I had the chance to meet the hubs' aunt and uncle who live six hours away. I loved hearing all the stories they had to tell on my FIL! He was such a mean little boy! I have a feeling should we be blessed with a son, he will no doubt take after his papaw!

What about you guys? Did you do anything fun or just relax?

::Thankful Thursday::

2010-09-02T07:42:00.000-07:00

Today I'm participating in Thankful Thursday. So often, I focus on the bad things in my life and not on the good. I think I'd be a lot happier if I could switch this somehow!

Today, I'm thankful that I have the chance to go back to school for my M.A. So many people aren't in a position to pursue their dreams and I'm having the chance to go for mine. It makes me want to work that much harder so that I can be able to help my own (someday) children pursure theirs!

What are you ladies thankful for?

Back To School!

2010-09-01T07:36:00.000-07:00

So, last night was my first class. I'm not going to lie. I'm completely overwhelmed and thought to myself "what the hell am I doing here??" several times! It started before class even began. Some girl, who I can tell I will not like, was talking about History and you can tell she just thinks she's suuuuuper intelligent. Throughout the whole class she had this smirk on her face that made me want to smack her! However, I did make a new friend and I'm really happy about that! She and I both were feeling the same way after class, so I have a feeling we're going to bond throughout the semester!

This class is not going to help my anxiety, which is getting progressively worse as the days go by, at all. At one point last night I felt panicked because we were going to have to tell a little about ourselves and even my professor saw it on my face. Aaaand he called me out on it. I could just feel my face getting red. I'm hoping that since it's only one day a week, I can get by with only a few panic attacks. We shall see though. We already have two assignments due by next week and one of them is an essay on a book about footnotes. Footnotes? Seriously?? I know, I know. This is all a part of becoming a Historian, but that doesn't mean it's always going to be fun and interesting! haha!

In other news, the hubs and I are 90% debt free!! I can't tell you what a relief this is. The day we paid off several of our bills, I cried I was so happy. It just felt like the world was lifted right off my shoulders. Things are lining up for us quite nicely and I couldn't be happier!

It's finally starting to cool off in the evenings here and Fall is definitely in the air! I think this also has a lot to do with my depression slowly, but surely, going away! You know how Fall/Winter depresses some people? It has the opposite effect on me. I don't wear sundresses or shorts, so I just don't get excited like everyone else does. Now Fall/Winter? I get excited! The area I live in is absolutely gorgeous this time of year and it's during this time, I couldn't imagine living anywhere else! I love the leaves, the pumpkins, Halloween, sweaters, coats and football! It all makes me very happy!

What about you guys? What's your favorite part of Fall?

If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor. - E.R

2010-08-15T12:29:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday, lovlies! I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend. It seems they go way too fast these days!

Friday was a big day for me. First, and most importantly, it was little Miss Emma Jade's first birthday! I can't believe my little niece is a year old. It just seems like yesterday my sister was giving us the good news! I had some things I needed to get done, so it seemed fitting to take the whole day off. After I finished my errands, I headed back to my hometown to spend the day with her. She slept the whole day away. It's hard being the birthday girl! Her party went great! It made me happy to see that so many people love her!

Now, on to some big, exciting news! Friday morning I met with one of my professors from my Master's program. There is a Women's Studies course that I'm very interested in taking, but it doesn't really help me out in the long run. So, the program director mentioned me taking an Independent Study course on the FDR years. Those of you who know me, should know how excited this made me. WWII is one of my favorite eras in History and FDR is a very interesting person to study! So, I met with the professor and he decided to make my topic Eleanor Roosevelt. At first, I felt a flicker of disappointment. I love ER, and I love all that she stood for, but I wanted to study FDR. However, the more we talked, the more excited I became. Unfortunately, with that excitement came a huge case of anxiety. I've never taken an independent study course and I'm not really sure how well I'll do with the lack of a set schedule. He told me that I'm to make my own Bibliography for the course and I just about lost it. I know this is something I shouldn't be nervous over, but OMG, really? It isn't that I can't find my own books, but it's the fear that my books won't be good enough...that my professor will think I'm not cut out for this...that I'm just going fail at this completely. And to add to my anxiety? He also informed me that if my paper is good enough (which he expects it to be, his words), that I will present it at the Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference this Spring. He also wants me to come present the paper to the regular class one day this Fall. No pressure, right?? As someone who longs to be a teacher, I should be able to present something like this with no problems. However, my peers make me so nervous. I can speak in front of students in high school with no problem. I fear I will pronounce something wrong, get my facts mixed up and, once again, be looked at as someone who cannot do this. It's enough to make me want to back out of this before I even get started.

I'm sure as the semester goes on, you guys will hear me complain about this, but I also hope to share my findings with you. I hope it doesn't bore you! Now, I will leave you with two pictures of Emma. One from the day after she was born and one from her One Year Pictures that an awesome local photographer took. Enjoy!

One day old, but I already loved her so much!

I may be a bit biased, but is she not the most precious thing you've ever seen?

Never too young for pearls!

Happy Hump Day!

2010-08-11T07:18:00.000-07:00

Good morning ladies!

I'm in a pretty good mood for it to be so early! I slept great last night, so I'm happy about that. Plus, I bought some new body wash and lotion that smells like vanilla, honey and oatmeal. My skin is so soft and I catch a whiff of my lotion every time I move my arms. Nothing like a little aroma therapy! :)

I've been itching for a new pair of high heels lately. Let me begin by saying, I am not the type of girl to wear heels at all. My whole life I've been a good four or five inches taller than all of my friends, so I never wanted to seem like an Amazon next to them. I can hardly walk in them now! But, for some reason, I've been dying for a good, basic pair. Target has some really cute ones that I'd love to have, but I just can't bring myself to buy them. Maybe once it gets colder and I can't wear my flip flops anymore I will take the plunge. If you're looking for some new heels, head on over to BonBon Rose Girls. They've been posting some pics of heels the past week or so. There are some really cute pairs!

Well, that's all for today! Hope you ladies have a wonderful day!

Feeling a bit nostalgic.

2010-08-10T19:47:00.000-07:00

"Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent.” - Victor Hugo

We've all been there. At some point in our lives, we've been driving down the road flipping through radio stations when a song comes on and instantly you're back in time, thinking of a certain memory associated with said song. This has been happening quite a big lately. I found my old CD case that I thought I had lost. There are CDs in there from when I was 14 years old! They're all marked with the year I made them and I love going through them all. They certainly reflect how I was feeling the night I made the CD. There are CDs full of love songs, some full of rap, pop or country and others with sad love songs when I just thought for sure the world was over because my latest relationship had ended. Then there are those that are so full of horrible songs that I can't believe I'm the one who made it! One of my favorites is the one I made the hubby on our first Valentine's Day, five years ago. I'm not sure why I'm the one who has it had it, but it was still fun listening to it. It took me back to those feelings of a new, exciting love! We surely have been through a lot since then! Another favorite was the one I made when I thought I was leaving Virginia for Missouri. I called it my "goodbye" CD and it has so many great songs on it! Some are sad, but some are inspirational. They all talk about finding a new life and moving forward, leaving the past behind. Finding this case definitely has made me happy. Each time I listen to one of them, it takes me right back to that moment and how I was feeling. I know it isn't good to dwell on the past, but it's nice to take a trip down memory lane every now and then!

Tired Tuesday...

2010-08-10T06:38:00.000-07:00

Coffee is definitely my friend this morning. I had a hard time waking up this morning, despite one of the best night's sleep I've had in awhile. Weird how that works out, isn't it?

Last night, I babysat one of my best friends' daughter. We had the best time! We danced, we jumped on the couch (more like she jumped while I held her hands), we took a walk, we colored, we played outside and then we watched The Little Mermaid. I only put it on as background noise while she and I played around in the living room, but she loved it! So, we plopped ourselves down on the couch and watched it. It made me so excited for when it's my turn to have my own child and I can spend evenings like that with it. Hopefully, by then, I'll have more things to keep it entertained than poker chips! haha!

It's miserably hot again today and is supposed to be the same tomorrow. Shew, Fall where are you?? Sunday night Kevin and I watched the NFL game that came on and it made me even more excited for Fall. I love "football weather" and I can't wait to start watching Friday night football games! I don't care how old I am or even if it's my old high school, I will always love watching Friday night football.

What about you guys? What's your favorite part of Fall?

Hello, Monday!

2010-08-09T06:17:00.000-07:00

Good morning y'all! How was your weekend?

My weekend didn't consist of much. Saturday the hubby and I went out and about to run some errands and then later that night I went home to my parents' house for a bit. Mom, Whit, Emma and I just had the best time. Mom doesn't like to get out much, but she actually went out with us that night. We went by to see Pops and ran around Wal-Mart for a bit. It was 11:00 when we got home that night, but Whit and I were craving taco salads. So, what does my mom do? She makes us taco salads at 11:00. Whit and I were shocked, but we loved it! It was one of the best nights I've had in such a long time. I've decided that no matter how old I get, I will always love being babied by mom. A co-worker and I were talking about this the other day. She's exactly five years older than I am (go Birthday Twins!) and she got sick at work. So, her mom came to get her. We laughed about it because both of us still want our moms when we get sick. I also got some quality time in with Emma, who is growing so fast. Friday is her first birthday and I just can't believe it. Whit is having her a party at a local park and I'm excited to see how she does with her birthday cake! I will definitely update about that this weekend.

I've become obsessed with reading Emily Giffin books. I'm currently on her fourth one, Love The One You're With, and I love it. Her first two books, Something Borrowed and Something Blue were really good, as well! I skipped the third, Baby Proof, but I plan on going back to it this week. Are you guys reading anything good? Any suggestions for me once I finish Emily Giffin? I highly recommend reading her books, if you're looking for something to read!

Well, that's all for now! I hope you ladies have an awesome Monday!

Wow.

2010-08-03T19:38:00.000-07:00

Has it really been two months since I've posted anything at all? Yep, I guess it has. I think I burnt myself out on blogging, as well as Twitter. I've been itching to write for the last few days, but I really have nothing to blog about.

Life is still the same as it was two months ago. Summer has flown by and I, for one, am very happy about that. I've always loved Fall/Winter and counted down the months until my two favorite seasons arrived, but this year? I'm ready for them to be here in a way I never have been before! It's been unbearably hot here and I can't stand it. We're under a heat advisory for the next few days with record breaking temps. Whew! I deal better in cooler weather while wearing peacoats and scarves.

Let's see, what else? Emma Jade will be one year old next week. I can't believe it has been a year since that precious baby came into our lives. She is growing and learning so quickly. She can say a few words (including TeeTee, which made me very proud!) and is crawling everywhere. She dances to any type of music she hears, including ringtones. She had her very first sleepover with TeeTee this past weekend and she did great!

We cancelled our trip to NYC to meet our sister. To say I was heartbroken over it would be an understatement. My oldest sister says it's an even better excuse to come out to California this Fall. I'm definitely crossing my fingers for that.

No teaching job for me this year. I thought I had a chance of getting one, but, according to a little birdy, they hired a friend of a school board member. Oh, well. I've told myself it's okay. I'm giving it one more year and, if by next Fall I still haven't gotten a teaching job, I will just move on. I will find something else. Easier said than done though, right?

OH! My Master's program begins in three weeks! Ah! I'm a bundle of emotions when it comes to this particular topic. I'm nervous, terrified, and excited all at once. I've been e-mailing my professors all week and it is calming the nerves just a tad. I'm really excited about shopping for school supplies though. I'm 25 years old and the thought of shoppingn for school supplies still makes me happy! There are just some things I guess you never grow out of.

How are you ladies? I have been keeping up with your blogs throughout the summer, whether I've commented or not. Forgive me?? :)

I'm a dork.

2010-06-02T07:24:00.000-07:00

...and I know it. So, today, I'm here to tell you things I'm completely ~~obsessed~~ in love with.

1) Harry Potter series -> I know this series isn't the greatest to be written, but they are my favorite books ever! I was in high school when they first came out, but I didn't start reading them until I was in college. To say I'm obsessed would be an understatement. J.K. Rowling is a genius! Her creativity just pulls you in. The books have a bit of something for everyone: tragedy, horror, comedy and romance. I was on the edge of my seat through out the whole series. When I was finished with the last one, I will admit I was a bit lost. Luckily for me, at the time there were still three movies to go. Now there are only two left and I'm afraid of how I'll react when the last one is over! haha!

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2) The Twilight Saga -> Once again, this isn't the greatest to be written, but I can't help but love these books. The movies are horrible, but I can't help but love them just because of what they are. Does that make sense? We already have our tickets for the midnight showing in June and I cannot wait. And I am totally Team Edward! :)

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And to make me an even bigger dork? In November, the first parts of both The Deathly Hallows (The last Harry Potter book) and Breaking Dawn hit theaters. Breaking Dawn is November 18th and Deathly Hallows is November 19th. When I saw this? I seriously got upset. That would be two midnight showings in two nights and this "old lady" just can't do it!

3) The Sound Of Music -> This is my favorite movie of all time. I will never get tired of watching this movie! I know all the lines and songs word for word. Growing up, anytime this movie came on I stopped everything I was doing and watched it. I still do that when I catch it on ABC Family. Julie Andrews is amazing! The wedding dress from that movie was my dream dress. If I could have afforded to have one speically made, it would've been modeled after her dress with a modern twist!

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4) Oklahoma! -> This is a close second on my Favorite Movies list. I've seen it performed live at a local theater and it made me love it even more. I loved the costumes, music and scenery! A few years ago, I planned to move to Missouri. On my visit out there, I went through Kansas City and I couldn't help but sing the song "Kansas City" the whole time!

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5) Glee -> Yep, I'm a Gleek. It took me a few episodes to get into it, but now that I am I can't stop watching. I haven't missed an episode yet! Me and my neighbors were outside last night and when we realized we were missing Glee, we took off running back inside like some type of monster was out to get us! I love musicals, so I love getting a weekly dose of people breaking out in random song!

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Do you ladies have any obsessions that make you feel like a dork??

Hello, Friday!

2010-05-28T07:41:00.000-07:00

Today is Friday and I never thought it would get here! I'm so ready for this weekend. It's the first holiday of the Summer season (well, technically it's still Spring)! We're spending the weekend grilling out and lounging by the pool. However, this weekend isn't about Summer. It isn't about cookouts, suntans or drinking with friends on the lake.

Memorial Day is about those men and women who have given their lives for our freedom. Those who left their loved ones behind and fought for complete strangers like you and me. It's really overwhelming when it is put like that. I couldn't imagine being so selfless. It really makes me want to be a better person!

So, this weekend, while you're out with friends and family, take a moment to remember those brave men and women!

Excitement!

2010-05-26T07:15:00.000-07:00

Hey ladies!

I apologize, once again, for my lack of updating. Do you ever just get in a funk where you don't want to write anything? Many times I've brought up the template to type something, but I end up closing out of it. I still log in to read what's going on your lives, whether I comment or not!

Not much has been going on with me, aside from Pampered Chef. I've been working hard on it, just getting organized. I've only had one party and one catalog order. It's all overwhelming, but exciting at the same time! My first thirty days will be up on June 1st and, as of right now, I'm the top seller in my cluster! I was really excited about that. They set three goals for you to achieve in your first 30 and 90 days. So far, I've reached one and I'm on my way to another (if all goes well). The third I won't get because I choose not to. If you recruit someone to sell underneath you, you receive what they call PC Bucks. I just feel that while I'm still learning, I shouldn't be teaching someone else. Does that make sense? I'm pretty excited about the goals I have reached though. I will earn anywhere from $400-$500 in free products. I have no clue where I will keep them! I have set up a "fan page" on Facebook and it already has 74 fans! I was pretty excited to see that. Hopefully, that'll help me get some bookings!

I'm really looking forward to this weekend! I love Memorial Day! I come from a family of veterans, so this weekend and Veterans Day are always special days to me. Plus, it's the first weekend my parents have their pool open! We're all very excited about putting Miss Emma in the pool for the first time. My mom tells us we shouldn't because she could drown, but we all just tell her that it isn't like we're going to let go off her or anything! Now that it's getting closer, I'm worried about it, too! haha! She should be sight to see in the water though!

Do you ladies have anything fun planned??

My Best Friends: The "Click"

2010-05-21T17:57:00.000-07:00

In high school, I was lucky enough to have four best friends. We were inseperable! Somehow we earned the nickname the "click" and it has stuck ever since. I know it's really spelled clique, but we changed it for us! We were loud and silly, but we had the best times together. The times with those girls are some of the best times of my life!

Now, seven years after graduation, we're still best friends. Brittany and Denise moved away after graduation, but Pris, Amy and myself are still here! Although we don't talk or see one another everyday, each time we're together it's like we've never been apart. We always say we were all meant to be best friends because of this. We've all helped each other through some pretty tough times and I couldn't imagine my life without these four girls! :)

The five of us four years ago. :)

Now a little something about each one:

Denise -> We met in Kindergarten, but didn't become close friends until 7th grade. After that, we were inseperable. She was like my second sister and her family was my second family. I called her siblings "bubby" and "sissy", just like she did. Her mamaw was my mamaw. She and I understood one another when no one else did. We share the stupidest inside jokes that earned us so many weird looks! This past weekend, Nisey got married to one of the greatest guys I've ever met. She made a beautiful bride and I'm so happy for her!

Priscilla -> Pris and I were also in the same class in Kindergarten! She pushed Nisey out of the chair during a round of Musical Chairs. We still pick on her about that! She was the girl that everyone wanted to be friends with. I can remember racing some little girl through a coloring sheet so I could sit beside Priscilla! haha! Although we weren't friends until high school, Pris was always so nice to me whenever we would talk. She really is one of the nicest people I've ever met, although she can let you know how it is sometimes! If it weren't for Pris, I wouldn't have made it through my first couple years of college! We had every class together! We were both so nervous about starting out a new place and meeting new people!

Amy -> Amy and I met in 8th grade and definitely had our ups and downs! haha! There would be times we liked one another and times we didn't. Finally, we got past that phase and become very close in 11th grade! However, sometimes we still bicker like sisters do! I'd still be lost without her though! We worked together for almost four years at her sister's daycare and we have so many crazy times from that place! Amy married one of my hubby's best friends, so we now have another connection!

Brittany -> Britt is one of the most beautiful girls I've ever seen in my life. She's always so put together, even when we're just lounging around in our pajamas. However, she'll disagree with you! And she can sing like an angel! Her and her sister both. She moved away after we graduated and we hardly ever have the chance to see one another. When we do see one another, it's like we haven't skipped a beat.

This weekend with my girls was so fun! We laughed and cut up the whole time! I miss them so much when we aren't together. It's like all is right in the world when the five of us are together! haha! We've decided we're going to start taking trips once a year, just us girls. I'm really excited about that!

Ready for the ceremony to begin!

Out on the town for Nisey's Bachelorette Party!

Exhaustion

2010-05-19T06:29:00.000-07:00

Hello lovlies! :) How were your weekends?

I've been meaning to update since I got home from our trip, but honestly? I've been t-totally worn out. I had a blast this past weekend w/ my girls, but we were constantly on the go. The one time we had a chance to relax, we were woken up as soon as we fell asleep. Needless to say, we were not happy! Sunday night when I crawled into my bed, I was so happy/tired I could've cried.

Despite being so busy, the weekend was amazing. Denise and Jason were awesome hosts. They took us to all the best restaurants (my wallet was hurting when we left!) and made sure we were comfortable the whole weekend. Denise couldn't have found a better man. Jason and his groomsmen are some of the nicest, most gentlemanly men (haha) we've ever met. However, although we know Jason would never do this, we did have to have the mandatory "if you hurt her, we will hunt you down" talk. He proceeded to tell us how much he loved her and how amazing she was. So, of course, we all cried!

Other than the wedding, I don't have anything to update about! I do have the Best Friends post written, I just have to add the pictures to it. Be looking for it tomorrow! :)

Busy As A Bee!

2010-05-12T10:45:00.000-07:00

Hello ladies! I hope this finds you well! I've been going non-stop lately and I'm loving it! My Grand Opening Show was a great success! I was really excited and it meant a lot to me that everyone came out to support me on my first show! Last night I met with a future hostess and met with another to close out her show. After her show totals and my Grand Opening, I've already made the money I invested back! I was pretty excited about that.

This past weekend was a total girls' weekend! Friday night a bunch of us had plans to meet at my friend Ashley's (who is 7 months preggo) house to watch movies. Well, once we settled in to watch them, we started talking and never watched the movies. It was so relaxing to just sit and talk about anything and everything. Then, Saturday I met three of my friends at Kelli's house for lunch. Kelli and my other friend Brittany each had their newborn daughters there. And I must say, they were so precious. After lunch with them, I rushed home to get ready for my show! I had a blast and the food was declicious! Two of my preggo friends stayed for awhile after and I had the best time with them. Mother's Day I spent the whole day at home w/ my parents and Whitney. Kevin's mom lives six hours away, so we couldn't visit with her! Although it was a busy weekend, it was much needed time spent with friends. However, it didn't really help with baby fever! I was around pregnant women or babies all weekend! One day, one day!

This weekend is Nisey's wedding! Me and the other four members of "the click" are heading out Friday morning for, yet another much needed, girls' weekend. We're all so happy for Denise and we can't wait for her big day! I'm waiting for this weekend to be over before I make the post about "the click". We'll have an updated picture of us all dressed up and looking nice! ;)

Sorry for the play by play of my life lately, but I was bored and wanted to update! :)

Guard your feet!

2010-05-06T10:28:00.000-07:00

I may step on some toes with this, but in no way will I apologize for it.

Before I begin, let me explain something. I am all for people from other countries moving to the US, as long as they do it legally. Foreign cultures fascinate me to no end. I love talking to people who have moved here and love listening to what it's like in their home country. I love love love listening to them speak their first language. Kevin and I often disagree over this. He thinks once you've moved here, you should stop speaking your language. I disagree. While I believe that if you've moved here, you should learn our language and learn our culture, but please don't forget your roots! At one of the preschools where I worked, one of the mothers was from Finland, but the father was an American. She spoke English to him and us, but she never spoke a word of English to her three boys. Their father was the same, except with English. They had the perfect balance and all three boys embraced both of their cultures and languages.

However, this bothers me. Yesterday (Cinco De Mayo) five students were kicked off their school's campus for wearing clothing that had an American flag on it. The school has a large Mexican American population and the school's officials felt that it was disrespectful for AMERICAN students to be wearing AMERICAN flag apparel on AMERICAN soil. I understand that yesterday was a Mexican Heritage day and that it is an important day for them, but they're still in America. Were we supposed to take down every American flag in the country? Like I said, embrace your roots but don't get mad at us in our own country for showing our pride. One Mexican American student was quoted in the article saying that they wouldn't wear Mexican flag apparel on the 4th of July. Honestly, if I saw a Mexican wearing a Mexican flag on the 4th, it wouldn't bother me one bit. It just saddens me this happened. So many American men and women have died for our freedom and something like this happens. It's like they did all of it in vain.

What's your take on this? Like I said, I am not against people moving to our country nor am I for them giving up their country's culture. I just think they need to respect the fact that they are in America now, not in their country.

My Bucket List #6

2010-05-05T10:51:00.000-07:00

My whole life I've dreamed of going to New York City. Everything about the city just draws me to it. I've been trying for the last year to think of when would be the best time to go. I thought of our anniversary. However, we got married the weekend after Thanksgiving and prices are extremely expensive then.

How could you not want to visit the Big Apple?

Source

But, guess what? I actually get to mark something off my Bucket List! I'm going to visit The City That Never Sleeps in July!

My sister Christina's in-laws live in NYC and she is going to visit them in July. They were going to make a detour here, but they didn't realize how far into Virginia we actually are. So, we've worked it out for me, my sister and Emma to fly up there! Do you guys have any idea how excited I am?? I'm so excited I could just scream! Meeting my older sisters is one of the things I've always wanted most in my life, so I get to knock out two birds with one stone! So, prepare yourselves ladies, because I will be talking about this from time to time! ;)

Hope you're having a lovely Wednesday! :)

Long time, no blog!

2010-05-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

I apologize for my lack of updating lately! I've been really busy setting up my Pampered Chef stuff. I'm hosting my first Cooking Show this weekend! So, if you're in my area come on by! :)

Aside from Pampered Chef, not too much has been going on. Baby fever is still in full swing, though! This past Saturday I went to my friend Caraline's baby shower and there were seven pregnant ladies there! They all lined up for a picture and we barely got them in it. It was so cute! haha! Also, last night I had to go to my recruiter's house to watch her host a show. There was a 21 month old there and her name was Clara. Isn't that beautiful? When you would ask her what her name was, she'd say "Cwawa". She and I took to one another instantly. She would come cuddle up in my lap or get me to pick her up. That definitely didn't help the baby fever! :)

The diet is completely non-existent now. :( I'm pretty upset and disappointed in myself, but I'm not giving up just yet. I'm just extremely stressed right now and have so much on my mind, that I can't really count calories and make sure I drink so many ounces of water. I'm hoping to get back on track in the next couple of weeks! Wish me luck!

As far as Pampered Chef goes, I have two catalog orders out right now, as well as two parties booked! My business cards and stamp come in today, so I'm all set to go. I'm really excited, but nervous about this. I know the economy is rough right now, so a lot of people can't afford the extra luxuries. I just keep telling myself there isn't a lot of money invested in this and that once I make my money back, I have nothing to lose. I'm going to work hard but enjoy this. Plus, getting all the freebies consultants get are quite nice! ;)

I hope you ladies are doing well out there! :)

Obsessed, maybe?

2010-04-30T19:20:00.000-07:00

I may be a bit obsessed. I'm not sure. This has always been one of my favorite songs. Seriously, I get so excited everytime I hear it. No matter how crazy she is now, Madonna is an icon. And since I'm slowly, but surely becoming a Gleek, it makes me love it that much more. :)
Sorry for the lack of updates this week. My PC kit came in and I've been trying to get everything ready for it. I promise, I'll update more about it soon!

Discover The Chef In You! :)

2010-04-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

Today I signed up to be an Independent Consultant for The Pampered Chef! I'm going to order my kit tomorrow or Monday, so I should be ready to have Cooking Shows by the first week of May! :-)

I opened up a checking account just for my PC buisness and I ordered my business cards and my stamp with my name, e-mail and cell phone number on it today, too! I'm pretty excited! I have a list of stuff to do to get myself ready for it and I'm almost finished with it. :)

I just thought I'd share my news with you! Hope you're having a great day!

My Best Friends: My Baby Sister

2010-04-22T06:45:00.000-07:00

My baby sister, Whitney, is one of the people that I love the most in the world. I do believe if anything ever happened to her, I would have to be locked away somewhere. I'm just not sure that is something I could ever handle. She is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. Mom and I often talk about how no matter what she wears or how she fixes her hair, she's beautiful! Her make up is always perfect and her hair always just falls into perfect place.

Me & Whit @ her high school graduation in 2006.

However, we weren't always so close! We were the textbook example of the phrase "sibling rivalry". We couldn't be in the same room with one another without being at one another's throats. I always look back at those times and wish we could've been those sisters that shared everything without any problem and always went to one another if something was wrong. I'm really glad that we're like that now though!

Me & Whit when I graduated college in 2008. Dad told us to be our true selves! :)

In August 2009, she gave me the greatest present ever: Little Miss Emma Jade. Whit is a wonderful, wonderful mother. She works full time, goes to school full time and still manages to keep up with her housework (her hubby is one of those guys who think the women should do everything!). There have been times I'm talking to her at 10:30 at night and she's just starting laundry and cleaning the house because she's had school, work and had to put Emma to sleep. I can only hope that when I have children, I will be just as good of a mother as she is! :)

Me, Whit and Emma (in her Halloween Costume) at my household shower! :)

Something New. :)

2010-04-21T14:20:00.000-07:00

When Kevin and I were planning our wedding, we knew that we would have a large bridal party. We ended up with ten on each side, but at the last minute one of his groomsmen (his best friend from NC and who lives 8 hours away) couldn't make it for the wedding. So in the end, I had ten beautiful bridesmaids and he had nine handsome groomsmen. To say we had the best wedding party ever would be an understatement. Our big, but yet, close-knit, group of friends is assembled of some of the funniest people I have ever met. The majority of us met six years ago while attending college and we've added a few along the way!

The greatest wedding party ever! :)

I've been thinking of a new series to do and I had an idea today. No matter how many changes I've had in my life, my best friends have never changed. And I'm lucky to say that each one of my bridesmaids is someone I can call my best friend. It may seem like I use the word loosely, but I can assure you that isn't what's happening.

I'm going to do a post about each one of my best friends. And to save time, I'm going to divide them up: my sister, the click (my high school friends), Erica & Johanna (my college buddies) and then Ashley & Jess (my favorite Filipino sisters who I became friends with after college). I'm really excited about doing this series! We're all so busy that it's hard to take the time to let someone know just how much they mean to you. I'm hoping these posts will definitely express that for me!

Weigh-In Wednesday

2010-04-21T06:20:00.000-07:00

For those of you who were following my Weight Loss blog know that Wednesdays are my day to weigh-in. Well, I weighed this morning and I'm up not even half a pound.While that isn't a bad thing, it certainly isn't a good thing. I'm ready to start losing again! I've decided to set myself a week to week goal. I'm going to lose three pounds a week. I've already lost 15 pounds out of my goal of 40. That's 25 to go and if I do three pounds a week, I should reach my goal within the next two months. Let's hope it goes well! :)

As I've said before, I'm not the most religious person out there. I wasn't raised in church, but I did attend for several years while in high school. Sometimes I find it hard to just turn it all over to God and let His will be done. It wasn't ingrained in me to do so. I know I should, but it's just hard to let control go. I was thinking of my current job/financial situation the other day and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm where God wants me right now. There's always a plan and it is always what He has planned for me, not what I have planned for me. Now, this doesn't mean I'm going to stop working toward my goal of becoming a teacher and being financially secure, but I'm going about it with a different view now. When something doesn't work out, I'm not gonna go all "woe is me" anymore. I'm going to shrug it off and just keep trying!

The ladies over a BonBon Rose Girls just wrapped up their latest give away. It's a $25 gift certificate from an online store called Ruche. I was browsing the site and found the prettiest scarf! I've been in the market for a scart lately, but I can't ever find one I really like.

Petunias To Daisies Floral Scarf

You ladies definitely need to head over that way and check out that site. You'll find some really pretty stuff! :)

It's rainy here in Virginia today...the perfect napping weather. Hope you guys are having a great day! :)

Champagne Saturday!

2010-04-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

** Please note that this was scheduled to be published early this morning. It didn't work, so I'm doing it on my own. I'm too lazy to fix it, so just pretend it's Saturday morning! ;)

BonBon Rose Girls

Good Saturday morning, ladies! :)

Its once again Champagne Saturday and, as you're reading this, I'm on my way to Chattanooga, Tennessee for a bridal shower in honor of one my best friends. She and I were in Kindergarten together, but it wasn't until we were 12 years old did we become friends. She was my best friend through thick and thin, no matter how many times she and I had it out. A couple of years after we graduated, she moved to Tennessee leaving me and our three other best friends here to fend for ourselves! ;) Next month she's getting married and the four of us are making a girl's weekend out of it. No hubbys and no boyfriends. Just the four of us on the wide open road, with not a care in the world. Except making sure our friend's wedding goes as planned, of course! I'm quite excited to see Denise! She doesn't know I'm coming though. The other three girls have to work and her other two bridesmaids (who are also still here in Va) can't make it either. I had planned on going, but didn't think it was going to work out for me to. When she found out that none of us could come, she was heart broken. So, I've decided that no matter how much money it takes in gas to get there, I'm going to see her. Her sister, who also lives there, knows I'm coming. Its been hard not letting it slip to Nisey, but I'm excited to surprise her!

Anywho! I digress. Like I said, its Champagne Saturday! :) The shower is billed as casual, so I'm sporting khaki capris and really pretty top from Old Navy. I can't find any pictures on the 'net, so I'll have the hubby take one for me to post tomorrow. And my drink of choice? Since we're having to leave at the crack of dawn to get there, you better believe I'll have a nice cup of coffee on hand. :)

Make it a great Saturday! :)

** Since I'm already home and I do have a picture. I will upload it now for your viewing pleasure! :)

(Just in case) Nisey's on the left and I'm on the right.

A Few Of My Favorite Things Edition #7

2010-04-16T19:21:00.000-07:00

I love sweet tea and I come by it honest. My little mamaw made the best tea I've ever had and it is definitely a favorite family drink. Whenever me and my cousins go out to dinner, every one of us get tea.

However, I hate to admit that I've never had anything but just down home, Southern iced sweet tea. I've never drank it hot, I've never tried herbal tea....basically, I've never strayed from Lipton. :) I've been wanting to try different varieties of tea lately. I mean, how can I say I'm a tea lover if I've only ever tried one kind? I had a professor in undergrad who was from Ireland. He told me I hadn't had tea until I tried real Irish tea. His mother would often send him some, but I never had a chance to try any of it.

Tonight my nerves were frazzled and I was just in a weird mood. I found it strange because I actually had a good day. I was cleaning and I just thought "I want some hot tea." Of course, I only have Lipton, but hey, it worked! I didn't want to make a big pitcher, so I settled for a single cup. A few months ago my mom gave me a little tea pot, with a strainer and what I'm assuming is supposed to be the cup to drink it from? I used it tonight and I love it! Its now one of my favorite things. :)

I think I used too much water because the tea is kinda weak. Hey, practice makes perfect! I did like it hot though. Its very relaxing!

Hello, Friday! :)

2010-04-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

This week has flown by, but I'm so glad it's Friday! I've been so tired this week. I have to force myself out of bed every morning. I'm sure I look like a zombie moving around our apartment. One morning I even fell over! I don't have anything too exciting to do tonight, except clean. I have a busy weekend ahead of me, so I'm getting that out of the way tonight. You guys have anything fun planned?

Yesterday's meeting with Teresa went really well! I'm excited to start, but I'm not sure when I'll be able to. I'm hoping to get signed up by the end of the month because they're having a promotion for new consultants right now! I'm really looking forward to it though!

I deleted my Weight Loss blog. I'm still on my diet and doing quite well (this week, anyway). I just got bored with it because I was saying the same things over and over. I will just keep up with it through this one. :)

Well, that's all for now. I was a little bored, so I thought I'd upate! :)

Make it a great day!

I'm a bad wife.

2010-04-15T11:11:00.000-07:00

Today the hubby and I have been married for 138 days. When I saw that, my heart sank. How could I have missed our 100 day mark? I'm usually very good at keeping up with things like that. Life has been rather crazy lately, so I could use that as an excuse. Right? The hubby didn't remember either, so that makes it okay. Right? This doesn't make me a bad wife. Right? Right.

Sometimes I wonder if I am, and then I get mad at myself for even wondering that. While I dream of being a domestic diva and an absolute kick ass mom, my life goal isn't to be June Cleaver. I know that the man is supposed to be the head of the household and the bread winner, while the wife stays home to keep house and watch the children. In this day and age, you're lucky if you can do that. And while I wouldn't mind terribly to do that, it just doesn't seem possible given our current financial situation. So, with that being said. I work just as many hours a week as the hubby does, even though my job isn't as strenuous as his, it certainly is stressful. I believe its only fair that we divide up the household chores and cooking duties. Now, does it happen that way? No. I still end up doing a majority of the work around the house. In his defense, the hubby does wash his own clothes and we take turns washing dishes. He takes out the trash and if I need help with something, he'll do it. If I don't feel like cooking, he'll fix him something to eat. No big deal.

However, I always see women on Facebook talking about how they're doing this for their hubby and they're doing that for their hubby, or better yet "a woman's work is never done". And I instantly feel guilty. I feel like I'm not taking care of him like a wife should. Does that make sense? While I grew up in a home where my mother did everything for everyone of us (sometimes pops chipped in), I was still taught that I'm my own person and that I'm a man's equal. I feel that a marriage makes you a team, with both sides giving an equal amount of effort. While I'm not biblical scholar, I know that the Bible states that the man is the head of the house and he has the last say. But, I also know that the Bible also says the man should love his wife as Christ loved the church. While ultimately, I know if there ever was a big decision, whether I was against it or not, I would go with what he says. I just can't ever see us dealing with something like that. For the most part, we are usually on the same page. And for that, I am very grateful.

Finally!

2010-04-15T07:36:00.000-07:00

For quite some time now I've been trying to think of ways to bring in an extra income. A couple of ladies I work with sell Premier Jewelry and I thought about that. That's too much to start up, and while I've come to love jewelry, I'm not a jewelry person. I thought about Mary Kay or Avon, but I'm not a big make-up person either. I thought about getting a part-time job in the evenings, but I knew once school starts in the Fall, I'd have a hard time with it.

Well, yesterday I was talking to the girls here at work and we were talking about The Pampered Chef. I love their products. You guys know me and my longing to be a great cook with a big kitchen. If not, get up to date here. Anyway, Melissa suggested I look into selling P.C. products. It isn't much to start up and you get all kinds of neat things in your start-up kit! I got really excited about it and I hadn't even talked to a consultant yet! But, one did call me last night and we're meeting this evening to discuss everything.

I really hope this works out. I'm tired of being broke with no end in sight. I don't mind having to work another job, I just can't think of anything I'd like to do. I know, beggars can't be choosers. At least this is something I'll enjoy! Kevin's worried that I'll be too tired to do the parties and stuff, but, believe it or not, back in the day I loved getting out and running around. I liked meeting new people! Hopefully, this will help me get back to my old self! Instead of the current 80 year old woman that has taken up residence in my body!

I'm looking forward to meeting Teresa today! I'll update tomorrow to let you guys know how it went. And then, you can start booking your parties with me. ;)

Hope you ladies are having a great day!

A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That!

2010-04-13T07:38:00.000-07:00

I really don't have anything specific to update about, I just wanted to update.

First, I was out of creamer for my coffee at work, so I went to get some yesterday. I decided to get the chocolate flavored one. I mean, how could you go wrong? Coffee AND chocolate? I tried it this morning and I'm hooked. It's 60 calories for four tablespoons, but I only used a little more than one. I couldn't imagine using four tablespoons of regular creamer, let alone chocolate!

Second, more baby talk! :) One of my nearest and dearest friends and his wife are expecting their first child together! I'm so happy for CJ and Kristy! They were married a few weeks before we were, so this was quite a shock to me! Kristy has an 8-year old daughter, so I know she's a great mom! I just know CJ will be a great father. He's one of the nicest, funniest, just all around great people I know. This child is definitely blessed!

And as far as baby talk goes, concerning me? I started taking a prenatal vitamin! :) My doctor told me in October that I should start taking them, so I've had them for a few months. I was afraid to take them. I hate feeling sick, so I kept putting it off. So far, so good. No sickness! :) Friday was a long day here at work, so I browsed baby sites all day long. I picked out furniture and bedding! Haha! All I need is the baby now! I can't wait!

Third, Little Miss Emma Jade is 8 months old today! She's growing so fast! Friday she said her first word: "da da". Now that she's got that out of the way, I'm gonna start teaching her "TeeTee". haha! Whit said she also said "uh oh" when she dropped her toy. She hasn't started crawling or anything yet. She hates to lay on her stomach, so that's hindering her when it comes to crawling. Maybe she'll be one of those babies that skips crawling and goes straight to walking!

Finally, I'm definitely feeling a lot better about the whole not having a teaching job thing. I was feeling sorry for myself and it was just getting out of hand. I talked to a friend of mine who is in the same exact boat I am. She and I have been friends since 6th grade and went all the way through college together. We're both certified to be History teachers, but neither of us can get a job. After talking to her, I definitely feel a bit better. But, hopefully something will change soon.

Well, that's all for today! Its nice and sunny here today...hope you're having great weather wherever you are! :)

When I Grow Up...

2010-04-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

I can't ever remember a time that I didn't want to be a teacher. ~~Okay, scratch that.~~ Now, that I said that, I can. My last year in undergrad, me and the hubby (boyfriend, at the time) had broken up. I was one of those girls who always, always had a boyfriend and I was always known as so and so's girlfriend. I never really formed my own identity. I liked what they liked, I did what they did. We had been having some problems and I just felt like our lives were going in opposite directions. He didn't want college, I planned on attending Grad School. I wanted to travel, he was content on staying here in SWVa.

Anyway, I digress. When we broke up, I went through the phase that me and one of my friends (who was going thru it with me) called our "rebellious, finding ourselves" phase. That time was one of the best times of my life. I had it in my mind I was going to go to school until I received my Ph.D, travel the globe until my doctors told me I was too old to fly anymore and then retire in a big house with a ton of cats. And I hate cats! I wasn't sure if I wanted to be a teacher, so I didn't do my internship for teaching. And although I was told that it wouldn't hinder me once I started looking for teaching jobs, I can't help but feel that it has. The state certified me to teach anyway, so I'm thankful for that.

Anyway, so here I am, two years later and no teaching job. We all know I'm frustrated and discouraged about this. So, here lately I've been thinking about alternative career options. Bank Teller is definitely out. A stay-at-home-mom would be ideal, but I just don't see that ever working out in our favor. I love to take pictures, but there are so many photographers in our area, it would be hard to build a big client base. I love party/wedding planning and have definitely tossed that idea around. Once again, this isn't a big area and it would be hard to make money with it. Me and a friend of mine have mentioned starting our own daycare. Once again, not a lot of money to be made.

But, that's the one thing I keep going back to the most. I worked in a daycare/preschool enviroment for six years and I loved it. There was a time that I was extremely stressed and I shouldn't have been working around children. I switched from the daycare to the preschool and I was fine. That is the one thing that I take pride in and I can say that I'm good at. I love children and I love working with them. They make life so much fun.

If only the economy was different. Maybe one day...

Champagne Saturday! :)

2010-04-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

Today's my first time participating in BonBon Rose Girls' Champagne Saturday! Its pretty neat. All you do is list the outfit you're wearing today (whether it be a lazy Saturday in pjs or you are going out on the town with friends) and also list your beverage of choice!

Its a beautiful day here in Virginia, so my friend Amy over @ Simply Being Me is having a cookout at her and her hubby's house. I'm pretty excited! I love cookouts! :)

I'm just posting pictures I got from the web, instead of a pic of me. I may try to post one tomorrow! :)

I'll be wearing:

American Eagle Shirt Tail Tank w/ a cami underneath & just plain jane skinny jeans.

I love Old Navy flip flops! They're cute, comfy and cheap!

And my drink of choice?

Sweet Tea, of course! :)

If you ladies want to participate, just head on over to their blog, copy their button and then blog about your outfit today! :)

Six years! :)

2010-04-09T19:44:00.000-07:00

Six years ago today, I met my hubby at one of my closest friends' birthday party. That night I thought he was the most gorgeous guy I had ever seen and I still think that six years later! He may be the one person on the face of this Earth who can make me the maddest I have ever been, but then he can turn right around and make me laugh so hard! We've definitely had our ups and downs, but what couple hasn't? I'm so glad I have him to spend the rest of my life with! :)

BAM!

2010-04-08T19:36:00.000-07:00

I've decided that the next time we have $20 to spare, I'm going to buy a BAM! discount card. Sad, isn't it? That I have to set aside $20 to buy something! I went in there tonight to buy a bookmark because I was tired of using flimsy pieces of paper that I constantly lose. I found a really pretty one that has an Asian look to it with a quote from Confucius.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

I found it rather inspiring. There are so many things I want to do in life, but I can't just sit around and say I want to do them. I have to actually take that first step toward my goals. No matter how scary that first step may be, if it's something you really want in your life, the outcome will always be worth it!

So many times I've thought I needed to do something, but I always talked myself out of it. I'm a creature of habit and the slightest change just throws my whole world off its axis. Take going back to school, for example. Sending that first e-mail to the graduate coordinator (or taking that first step) was scary. I just kept thinking I've been out of school too long for this or I'm not smart enough for this or this is too big for me! While this won't be a piece of cake, it will be worth it when I officially have my M.A. in History! While it isn't a huge campus, ETSU is a larger campus than where I went for undergrad. The day I met my advisor, I was freaking out because I didn't know my way around. I just kept saying "I shouldn't have came alone, I shouldn't have came alone." And thats another thing. If I have a friend around me when I'm going to be around a ton of people I do not know, I'm okay. I'm still somewhat self-conscious, but I'm still okay. However, take that friend away and I'm a mess! For the first two years of college, I had every class with my best friend, Priscilla. Once we got into our majors, we were separated and I was terrified. Once I was in my classes and was settled in, I was okay. It's just that first step that was hard!

So many of us are going through some big changes in our lives and we're all scared! However, we don't need to be! You have to take a chance at something, or take that first step.

Well, this was supposed to be a blog about the perks of a BAM! Discount Card, but turned out to be something entirely different. Isn't that what journals/blogs are for? For you to write down what's going on in your head? If you don't have one of those cards, I suggest you get one. The cashier had me talked into it, until I realized I have things to buy for one of my best friends' wedding. If you're an avid reader, the $20 will be worth it!

I'm off tomorrow, so hello three-day weekend! The weather has cooled off a bit, but regardless, I'm spending my day indoors to start on Spring Cleaning. Jealous? I know, I know.

Tweet, tweet! Tweet, tweet!

2010-04-07T19:28:00.000-07:00

I've had Twitter for awhile now, I just never keep up with it. You can follow me, here. I've been on it for the last hour and I do believe I've become obsessed. Does anyone know if there is an app for Blackberry?

Also, in my last Bucket List Post, I didn't get to add any photos. That killed me. So, while I was playing around tonight, I decided to put up some pictures of San Diego and LA. As if we all haven't seen them enough, but, hey, its my blog! ;)

San Diego Temple

San Diego Skyline

Hollywood

I've got the fever...

2010-04-06T14:38:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted children, but never have I felt like I have "baby fever". That is, until now. Kevin and I had talked about starting to try around our one year anniversary and I was totally content with that. However, after seeing Emma Friday, Saturday and Sunday, plus seeing the bank courier's 4 month old grandson yesterday and seeing Tanzi so much, I now have baby fever. In a bad way!

There are so many of my friends who are pregnant or have just had their babies. There's probably at least 15 of them, no lie. And every one of them are little girls, except two! I love listening to their pregnancy stories and love looking at pictures of the nurseries they've all decorated. I have some baby showers coming up and I can't wait to start shopping the baby section.

Kevin and I have been playing around with names, too. Its fun to think of different names. However, he wants very plain, everyday names. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I don't want my child going to school with ten kids that share their name and they have to be known as "Joshua 1" or "Ashley 2" (sorry, Ashley! haha!). According to him, I want names they'll never be able to spell! I don't want anything too far out there (like Apple or Mowgli Bronx), but I would like for it to be somewhat unique. We've picked one name out for a boy and a few names for the girl. We always go back to the same middle names. I know by the time we actually are pregnant, it'll change 100 times, but its still fun!

Kevin sleeps like a rock and I'm constantly telling him that will have to change once we do have a child. He also has no idea how much of the bed he takes up, so him rolling over our sleeping child is a definite possibility! I don't want them to sleep with us anyway, so that just gives me some extra motivation to stay strong!

Once we do start trying, we're keeping it a secret. I know I wouldn't be able to handle all the questions people would ask, especially if we're having a hard time conceiving. Just know that it'll be by the end of the year! :)

Freshly Cut Grass

2010-03-30T11:39:00.000-07:00

Today, while on my lunch break, I drove by the city workers who were mowing the grass. I knew what they were doing before I even got near them because I could smell the freshly cut grass. Its totally cliche to say I love that smell, but I do.

Once again, I instantly thought of my mamaw and the summer days my sister, my cousin Aaron and I would spend at her house while our parents worked. Her house is on a small slope and the yard is at the bottom of that slope. So, we call the yard "the bottom". Pretty clever, huh? We'd play in "the bottom" for hours. We'd roll around until we were covered in dirt and grass stains, but it was always so much fun! And I loved the smell of the grass as my Uncle Jackie mowed while we were out there.

Her house is back in the woods, so there are a ton of trees everywhere! Behind the house is a hill that has three huge apple trees. We didn't spend much time under them because of snakes, but we loved laying underneath those trees! I can remember riding on the riding lawn mower with my older cousin Kevin under those trees. Mamaw was so upset he took us on that thing! Then there was peach tree beside her house and two chestnut trees that stood between her house and the bottom. I hated when those stupid chestnuts fell onto the ground. I can't think of how many times I was running barefoot and stepped on them. Those thorny things hurt! If you aren't sure what I'm talking about google it, you'll see why! haha! She also had a snowball tree that was absolutely gorgeous. I loved playing with the petals when they fell to the ground. They were so soft!

When I was nine, my parents cleared off some land next to mamaw's. I loved living next to her! And what makes it even more special, is now my (future) children and Emma will get to play in the same yard I have so many memories in while playing at their mamaw and papaw's.

My Bucket List #5

2010-03-28T07:57:00.000-07:00

First off, thank you so much to everyone who commented on my last post. Those comments really did make me feel better!

Second, today's Bucket List really isn't a destination, but just something that I will have someday. I love to cook and bake. Now whether or not it turns out right or not is another story! Our little kitchen here doesn't really allow me to make anything special, but someday I dream of having a big kitchen. One that I will have room to make anything I want. I wouldn't even mind cleaning up the mess! haha! I also want a KitchenAid Stand Up Mixer. Could you imagine all the goodies I could make with that?? Yum!

KitchenAid Stand Up Mixer

California Kitchens

Have a great Sunday everyone! :)

New hair, again! :)

2010-03-28T07:43:00.000-07:00

Here's a "before" pic.
This is me and the hubby out for his b-day dinner! :)

Here's the "after" picture! :)

Thank you, Ashley for coloring my hair for me! I love it! :)

I'm exhausted.

2010-03-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

I am just flat out exhausted in every aspect of my life. I'm emotionally, physically and mentally exhausted. I really believe there isn't much more I can take. I'm struggling with feelings of being unworthy and just plain not good enough. It sucks. Big time.

I should be thankful I have a job in such a bad economy. I should be glad its a job that is looked at as "respectable". I should be extremely grateful that I have insurance provided for me by my job. And that's why I feel so guilty for saying I absolutely hate my job. I'm tired of having to deal with one person telling me one thing and two days later being told it was done wrong by another person. One day last week, I had to stop working on a customer's transaction because I was so stressed with everything that I broke down bawling. Right in front of this man! I was mortified! Of course, he was extremely sweet about it but I felt really unprofessional! I know every job you have will have its problems, but if I was teaching, if I was doing something I really loved, I wouldn't mind those problems as badly. Like I said, this is a respectable job, but this isn't for me. This isn't what I want for me. I'm on salary, but when it is broken down, I'm barely making $8 an hour. I feel like such a failure for being here and not teaching. I refuse to live the rest of my life this way. I know that there lots of people out there struggling and that things could be a lot worse. I know that, so please don't leave me comments telling me that. One time, a few years ago, I said I wanted a good job to where I didn't have to live paycheck to paycheck. One of my coworkers at the time told me that such a thing didn't exist, that everyone lives paycheck to paycheck. Um, I'm calling BS on that one. I see people around me all the time that aren't living paycheck to paycheck, that can buy a new vehicle, that can go shopping without feeling guilty over it and those who can just up and take a vacation like nothing. I want that, not only for myself but for when I have children. I don't want my children to feel guilty for asking to go to the movies. I want to be able to take them on fun vacations. I know I'll have to work hard for it. I don't want it handed to me. I know that a lot of these people who are comfortable now struggled in the beginning, but I just keep wondering to myself when is it going to be my turn to be "comfortable"?

I'm meeting the Graduate Coordinator today after work to discuss my schedule for this Fall. I'm not dreading it, but I'm not exactly looking forward to it. I've wanted this for as long as I can remember. But, looking at my current situation, I can't help but think is this going to be worth it? Is this going to be worth going into more debt for something that, from the way things are looking right now, I'll never use? Why spend countless hours of stressing over my thesis or reading 100 pages before class the next day? Then I tell myself. I want this. This is something I've wanted and whether I ever use it, I'll be proud to say I have it!

I know I said no more "Debbie Downer" posts, but sometimes you just gotta vent a little! I hope you guys are doing a heck of a lot better than me!

My Bucket List #4

2010-03-18T09:47:00.000-07:00

This week has been so calm compared to the last two. Its so beautiful today and I'm in such a good mood. I feel good for the first time in weeks!

I got some good news this week! One of my older sisters, Christina, is coming in the third week of July! I'm super excited. The other one, Andrea, is still up in the air about when she can come. When Chris told me she was coming, it made my whole week. Her daughter, Noelle, will be on a mission trip when they come in, so I won't be able to meet her. :( I'm really bummed because Noelle and I have become really close. We talk quite a bit and she just cracks me up. Sometimes it makes me feel old because if I suggest something she just flat out tells me that isn't cool anymore! haha! So, Whitney and I are planning a trip out there! We're trying to decide if we want to drive or fly. We all know I'm afraid to fly, but like I said, I need to get over that. One of our main concerns is Emma. Its gonna be a rough trip either way with her. She won't be old enough to understand to pop her ears in the plane and she's going to be restless in the car. Whit would rather drive, but I don't care either way. I just want to go! Chris lives in San Diego and Drea lives in LA County. I'm not sure which one we'll go to...probably whichever one has cheaper air fare, if we fly! haha!

I hope guys are having a great week and have an even better weekend! :)

Closer to 30!

2010-03-13T08:21:00.000-08:00

Happy 26th Birthday

to my wonderful husband!

Really??

2010-03-11T14:26:00.000-08:00

Once again, I apologize for my lack of updating! Its been one crazy week, that's all I gotta say!

We all know that I love The Today Show. Yesterday they had a story about Lindsay Lohan. And we all know I absolutely despise this girl! She's seriously a waste of space. And yet, here I sit, blogging about her. She isn't a talented person, at all. She can't act and she definitely can't sing. She used to be somewhat pretty, but now when I look at her, all I can think is that she looks like a drugged out, anorexic, just all around sickly person. I can't figure out why the media insists on torturing us with the happenings of her life. And yet, here I sit, blogging about her!

I digress. The story is about how Lindsay is suing E*Trade for a commercial they first aired during The Super Bowl. If you haven't seen it, here ya go:

So, now that we're on the same page as far as the commercial goes. I think its an adorable commercial! Its my dad's favorite and I can't help but laugh everytime I see it! Anyway, Lindsay's lawyer is insisting that Lindsay, the milk-aholic baby, is modeled after Lindsay Lohan. SERIOUSLY? Lindsay is a very common name. In fact, there are 98,000 Lindsays in the US! Thank you, Today Show! She's suing for $100 million, plus demanding that the commercial be removed from television. Her lawyer even said that even if the baby isn't modeled after her, that they should have sought Linday's permission to use her name because the name "Lindsay" is so closely associated with this idiot. I'm sorry, but when I hear that name, she definitely isn't the first person I think of. The Today Show hosts took a vote amongst themselves on whether they thought of her and Ann Curry was the only one who thought about it!

I just can't get over how egotistical she is to think that this is about her! Seriously, honey, get over it. Your time in the spotlight has lasted entirely too long and you just need to let it go with some dignity, what little you have left anyway!

Now, its time for me to step down off my soap box. :) I hope you guys have a wonderful evening!

My Downfall...

2010-03-07T10:54:00.000-08:00

I'm not the luckiest person when it comes to technology. In the past year, I've went thru three cellphones. Seriously. I've dropped them so many times that the screens crack and I even dropped one in the toilet while I was getting ready one day. Yuck! The latest one I had was starting to randomly lock up and just wouldn't work sometimes. Luckily for me, my contract was up and I could get a new one for cheap. I went back and forth with getting a smart phone, but I ended up getting the Blackberry Curve 8530.

Since the day it has arrived, the thing hasn't left my hands! I'm obsessed, really. It has so many neat features and I love the BB messenger on it! I've spent so much time looking at every detail of it so I can make sure I have it all personalized just for me, but I still don't think I've gotten it all! haha! It has a MP3 player on it, but I have to have a memory card for it. That will be my next purchase! I got a protective slip cover for it last night, just in case I do drop it. I don't want to scratch or destroy this one! haha! I think Kevin is kinda jealous! Hopefully, within the next few days or so, I'll be able to step away from it without dying to get back to it. Its kind of embarrassing, actually!

Work was crazy this past week. I'm really hoping it calms down this week! It just seems like everything was going crazy and I just couldn't function properly. Say a prayer for us this week! haha!

Have a great Sunday! :)

My Bucket List #3

2010-03-02T07:34:00.000-08:00

I love Europe and everything about it. Its so classical and romantic. And there are so many areas untouched by the modern world. There are little towns nestled in the mountains that still look like they did years and years ago.

One of the places I want to visit the most is Neuschwanstein Castle built by Mad King Ludwig. Located in the Bavarian Alps along the German/Austrian border in Bavaria, the castle was the model used for Sleeping Beauty's Castle in Disney Land. Which makes it even better, because Sleeping Beauty is my favorite Disney character! My best friend had the chance to go there a few years ago and brought me back some postcards and a Swan figurine. I still have them and can't wait until I can actually see them for myself someday! :)

Bavaria, Germany

Neuschwanstein Castle

Hump Day!

2010-02-24T09:14:00.000-08:00

Hello Wednesday! I love Wednesdays. It means we're half way through the week and one day closer to Friday! :)

Not much has been going on lately. I've kept my nose buried in a book everyday. I've finished the second Percy Jackson book and I'm getting ready to start the third one. I'm definitely hooked! I have noticed a lot of similarities to the Harry Potter series!

I've been really tired the past few days, though. Hopefully, this will pass within a few weeks? I think its the weather. Its been really cloudy and rainy the past few days. We're under yet another Winter Storm Advisory! This past weekend was sunny and in the low 50s. It was extremely nice. I'm definitely ready for Spring!

I guess that's all for now! Hope you guys are doing well out there! :)

Ah, Saturday.

2010-02-20T13:13:00.000-08:00

Its absolutely beautiful outside today! I even went outside earlier without a jacket and was completely comfortable. I am definitely ready for Spring! :)

I don't usually update on weekends, but I finished The Lightning Thief just a few minutes ago. My verdict? Its definitely on my top favorites list and I'm dying to buy the second one. The hubby looked for me yesterday, but he couldn't find it. Maybe its just the "teacher" coming out in me, but this is definitely a book all children (and adults) should read! I know a lot of my classmates found Greek Mythology boring growing up, but these books put a modern twist on the Greek gods and goddesses that make them interesting and fun enough for you to keep reading!

On the back cover of the book is an advertisement for Rick Riordan's The Kane Chronicles. I think this series revolves around Egyptian gods and goddesses. I'm going to look into them more before reading them. I'm such a dork. I know I should just go buy them and then decide, but I don't want to waste money on them. The local library doesn't have any of Riordan's books, which totally shocked me.

Well, I'm off to enjoy whats left of this beautiful day! :)

TGIF! :)

2010-02-19T07:09:00.000-08:00

Helloooo, Friday! This really hasn't been a long week, considering we were off on Monday. But, I've been so tired. Kevin's been off the past two days and he always looks so comfy and warm when I have to get up before daylight to get ready. That's okay. I'll get "revenge" when he has to work next weekend and I'm off! haha!

I just realized that I haven't once spoken about married life. We've been married for almost three months now. People are always asking how married life is and honestly? It isn't much different than before. We already lived together and shared the bills and our bank account. We were functioning as a married couple, we just didn't have the certificate to make it official. We have our disagreements like all couples, but I'm happy being his wife! I think sometimes about when we're gonna have kids and how I'll tell them that the first winter their daddy and I were married, was the worst in 10-15 years and how we had to "rough it" that one weekend the blizzard came. haha.

Oh, update on my inner dork! I really like the Percy Jackson book! It talks about all the Greek gods, their backgrounds and stories that involve them. Its sort of like a mini-history lesson in Greek mythology! Its no Harry Potter, but I love it. I can't wait to read the rest of the series. I'm trying to talk Kevin into going to see the movie with me. I know several adults who have seen it without children and they had nothing but good things to say about it. If we go see it, I'll let you guys know how it was!

In other entertainment news, the trailer for Eclipse will be shown with RPat's new movie "Remember Me" on March 12. I'm not really interested in seeing that movie, so I'm not going to waste my time going to see it just for the trailer. A friend told me this morning that the trailer will be available on the 'net the day after. I can definitely wait until then. I've also heard that Breaking Dawn will be split into at least two different movies (just like Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows) and that it could possibly be in 3D. I really hope they split it up. The book is just too long for them to make into one movie. I cannot wait until June 30th!

The snow has finally stopped and, according to the weather forecast, we aren't getting anymore in the next ten days! We may get some rain, but no snow! Finally! Spring is definitely right around the corner.

I hope everyone has a fun weekend! :)

My inner dork.

2010-02-17T07:22:00.000-08:00

Its no secret to anyone around me, I love all things Harry Potter. I remember when it first came out, I was in 8th or 9th grade and churches everywhere in our area were throwing huge fits about it. At the time, I was in church, so I stayed away. But, for some reason, I was always still interested in them. When the third movie came out in theaters, my friend Brittany and I went to watch it. I was hooked. So, I started reading the series. That's all it took. I was obsessed. When they announced the release date for The Deathly Hallows, it was an eight month wait. I preordered my book that night and it was in my mailbox the day it was released! I was pretty pumped. When I finished, I kinda felt lost. haha! I didn't know what to read next. I found a few books, but I was never really thrilled with anything until Twilight! Once again, I love all things Twilight!

I can remember buying the HP books from Amazon and seeing the "You Might Also Like This" section and it always had the Twilight Saga or this book called Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief. When I saw they were coming out with the movie, I was rather curious. I went back and forth with buying it. It was in the same age range as the HP books and all the reviews from the 18-24 age group said that it could actually rival HP. So, I caved in the other night and bought it. I'm only in the third chapter, but so far I really like it. Its no Harry Potter, but that's okay. Its all about the mythical Greek gods and goddesses. Being the History dork I am, I'm really excited about that part. When I finish, I'll let you guys know what my final opinion is! :)

Aside from that, nothing much is going on with me. Work, deal with the snow, clean house, sleep. That's it! I get so excited when it starts snowing, even after seeing it continuously for the last two months, but I'm ready for Spring! Tank top and flip flops, here I come! :)

You Are My Sunshine #2

2010-02-13T10:53:00.000-08:00

Emma Jade is 6 months old today!

I thought I'd share my current favorite picture of her.

As my dad likes to say, she's the "cat's pajamas"!

We all love you so much, Emma! :)

Traitor?

2010-02-12T10:53:00.000-08:00

Okay, Mary Ruth. I've set up an account over at Tumblr. And I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. haha! It isn't much different than this site, but I guess its gonna take me awhile to get used to it.

Okay, another thing. Can someone please explain the significance of Twitter to me? Is it just status updates and whatnot? I have an account and even some followers, but I never get on there. At Tumblr, I can have all my posts feed to Twitter. I thought that was kind of neat.

Its Valentine's Day weekend, as well as a 3 day weekend for me. Thank you Mr. Presidents! The hubby and I aren't doing much. I know we both decided we wanted to eat Cracker Barrel for dinner either Saturday or Sunday night. Although Cracker Barrel is always crowded, I have a feeling it will be even more crowded Sunday. So, my vote is Saturday night. However, its supposed to snow this weekend, so all plans are pending. Do you guys have any big plans?

I doubt I'll post anytime this weekend. I hope everyone has a romantic, fun weekend! :-)

My Bucket List #3

2010-02-10T09:46:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite classes I took in college was History of Human Rights in Asia. The class was taught by a woman named Dr. Nath, who was from India. She, without a doubt, is one of the most fascinating people I have ever met in my life. While in India, she went through an arranged marriage. She said she was so upset and cried all the way to his home during the procession. Together they had a son, but at some point she left him. In India, this is unheard of. She said her grandmother had a hard time accepting her back into her father's home, but her father took her side and welcomed her back! Now, she lives here in the US with her son. She only taught at my college for year before moving to Texas. Me and my friend, CJ, grew extremely attached to her and both of us still talk to her. While in her class, CJ and I decided that one day we were going to take a trip to India!

I've been obsessed with India for as long as I can remember. From the first time I watched The Jungle Book, I was hooked. Its such a fascinating place. And all those people! I couldn't imagine living in such a crowded place. I had another Indian professor, Dr. Kahn, in college. He told us that he grew up three blocks from where his wife lived, but her met her in Wyoming! Wyoming, of all places! haha! I love the saris that the women wear. They're so beautiful! Dr. Nath would sometimes wear the saris and I thought she was so pretty in them!

So, the third destination on my Bucket List is definitely India! :)

Go India

Sociology Compass

But, American Eagle says its cool...REALLY?

2010-02-09T08:01:00.000-08:00

I'm not a very fashionable person. I'm usually too self conscious to try the latest trend, but there are some trends that I absolutely just cannot get over why they're even in style. And why some people pay what they pay for some of these ridiculous pieces, thinking they're 'oh so cool' b/c of it.

Here's a small list of things that I cannot understand! Enjoy!

AE Warm & Fuzzy Boot

I found these on clearance @ ae.com. And they're ONLY $49.95. Before clearance they were $59.50. Really?

Aerie Harem Pant

I'm sorry, but I don't think I'd be caught dead wearing something that has "harem" in the name. That just isn't an image I'd like to project. Oh, and they're $35. REALLY?

I Love Ugg

Okay, and my all time favorite fashion that I just love to hate: Ugg boots w/ mini skirts. Ugg boots on their own are okay. They actually look cute with jeans. But, with a mini skirts? I used to laugh at the "wannabe Hills-girls" I went to college with. It would be 30 degrees outside and they had one a big fur lined parka, ugg boots and a mini-skirt w/ a t-shirt. REALLY?

Are there any fashions out there that you just can't understand??

Go Me!

2010-02-08T07:31:00.000-08:00

I got my first award, thanks to Ashley!

Here's the instructions:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award
2. Paste the award on your blog

3. Link the person who nominated you for the award

4. Tell 7 interesting things about yourself

5. Nominate 7 bloggers or less

6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominated.

Thanks, Ashley

Interesting things, huh? Here goes nothing!

1) Growing up, just like Ashley, I wanted to be an archaeologist! And just like her, I'd take my mom's old make-up brushes outside to dust off the rocks. I was going to be the female version of Indiana Jones!

2) My biggest fear in life is being trapped underwater in a car, plane or caught in weeds. It makes me feel sick just thinking about it!

3) The hubby and I met my freshman year of college, but had actually been around one another at football and basketball games when our schools played one another. I still try to think back to see if I can remember him or find him in the background of pictures!

4) I'm the only blonde in my entire family. On my dad's side everyone has dark skin and dark hair. On my mom's side, everyone has brown hair and fair skin. I'm told I look exactly like my mom, but I do favor a lot of my cousins on my dad's side of the family. As I've gotten older, my hair has gotten darker though.

5) My lifelong dream is to travel the world. When I was single, I said I'd travel the world until my doctor said I was too old to fly and then I'd settle down as the resident cat lady.

6) Funny enough, I'm terrified of cats!! I was babysitting once and was attacked by one. He jumped out of a bush out of nowhere and jumped on me. He didn't hurt me, but he scarred me for life!

7) I'm terrified of planes. Not of them, but the idea of them crashing to the ground as a big ball of fire with me in it, doesn't really appeal to me. Or crashing into the ocean! However, this is a fear I need to conquer, seeing as how I'm going to travel the globe one day!

Now, I nominate:

1) You, Me and Baby Makes 3! - Erica
2) Mrs. Nathan Cobb - Amy Jo
3) Little Moos and Mommy, Too! - Christina, my older sister! :)
4) Many Blessings - Kelli
5) Domestically Challenged - Sara
6) Momma Ruth Says - Mary Ruth
7) Pursuit of Favorable Brainworks - Melissa

Better Luck Next Year, Boys

2010-02-08T06:36:00.000-08:00

The hubby and I are Colts fans. Well, the hubby is a Colts fan, while I personally love the Steelers. However, I was pulling for the Colts last night. I know, I know. Its the first time the Saints have been in the Super Bowl and they did go through Hurricane Katrina, but I just couldn't pull for them. So, when they won last night, to say the hubby and I were disappointed was an understatement.

That is, until I saw this:

Huffington Post

I saw this on The Today Show this morning and I couldn't help but tear up. It was such a sweet moment between Drew Brees and his little boy! It changed my whole attitude toward the outcome and I was actually happy the Saints won.

I still love my Steelers though!

God's Little Miracles

2010-02-05T07:46:00.000-08:00

Wednesday evening around 7:00, one of my closest and sweetest friends had her first baby. My "honorary niece", Alyssa, was 6 pounds, 9 ounces and 18.5 inches long (I'm not 100% sure about how long she was). And she is absolutely precious. I went to the hospital last night to see her and I just could not get over her. She is so beautiful and a good mix between her mommy & daddy. Although she looks a bit more like her daddy! She's so tiny! I felt like I was going to break her. I do believe she's the smallest thing I've ever laid my eyes on. Any newborn I've ever been around was at least a pound or two heavier than she is! Except for my friend's daughter, Tanzi. She was also 6 lbs, 9 oz but I don't remember her being that tiny!

It made me all the more excited for when Kevin and I start trying to have a baby. We've always said we want four! haha! Being a mother is the one thing in life that I've always wanted the most. I can't wait to experience all the emotions, good and bad, that come with being pregnant. Or feeling my baby kick my belly because he/she can't seem to get comfortable. Or have them kick their daddy in the back like I used to my daddy!

Last night, looking at Alyssa, and watching Emma as well, I couldn't help but think babies truly are little miracles! Just everything about them is so special. I don't see how anyone could ever be mean to or physically harm them!

In others news, its Friday, which means our area is under a Winter Weather Advisory. Spring, where are you?! This seems to be a pattern the last month or two. I don't think we'll get anything big this time. Its on a different path and will probably hit our friends in Northern Va. They're calling for 20+ inches where one of my friends live. I just hope they don't lose power and stay safe!

Sunday's the Super Bowl and we're heading to The Cobbs, weather permitting, to watch it. Kevin and I are pulling for the Colts. What about you guys?

I hope you all have a safe and fun Super Bowl weekend!