One Year Ago

One Year Ago Today:

I woke up without much sleep....

Anxiety (the good kind) ran through my body....

I was surrounded by people that loved me and supported me....

A calm took over my body in a way I had never known because I knew I was marrying the person that was created to be my partner in life....

I spent hours getting beautified with some of the most wonderful women I know....

I put on a gorgeous gown....

My dad walked me down the isle without tears....

I said "I do" to my new husband and kissed him in front of 180 people....

We became united in Christ, all while the Tigers and Red Wings games were on TV (our friends REALLY love us)....

We enjoyed the best wedding reception with 300 people (Kenny knows a lot of people and I have a HUGE family!)....

We danced, laughed, and thanked GOD for all our blessings on the first day of our life together as husband and wife....

All this happened one year ago today. It's hard to believe it's already been 365 days, but it has, and here are starting year #2, almost 8 months pregnant, and about to embark on parenthood. Who could ask for more?

My gift to Kenny...this is actually his little gift. His REAL one will be here on the 30th. I was a slacker on ordering it, but it's WELL worth the wait!

And this is his gift to me. Now you see why I love him so? He has wonderful taste!

Shower Game

The best shower game ever?? Well, it's really not a game, it's a project. Each person gets either a plain colored onezie or a white bib. They use fabric pens and draw or write whatever they want on the onezie or the bib. Now, keep in mind, my hubs has pulled some pretty sneaky, rotten, goofy, completely crazy pranks on people over the years, so some of the messages on the onezies and bibs were CRAZY, but you can see how fun it is!! He also was heavily into ebay back in the day, hence the ebay bib made my my step-mom:

Here are a few more...

It was really fun bringing them home and showing Kenny. He actually made a couple of his own!!! Go to my flickr badge on the side to see some other pics of the shower.

This week has been exhausting, I've probably already mentioned that, but it really has been. I need to take a nap but instead I'm going to tell the tale of our baby's crib. My mom was coming out on my spring break to help me assemble the thing, so I went to Babies R Us a few weeks back, picked it out, and they had exactly one in stock. Awesome. Bought it, brought it home and happily awaited my mom's arrival to put it together. She drove out, painted the room, and opened up the crib box. Apparently, someone else had already had the crib, put it together, and wripped it apart. The screw holes were not only stripped but there were chunks of wood missing from around the screws. I had a small melt-down, not really a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but it was distressing. So I called the store and they said they did not have another one in stock anywhere, and wouldn't be ordering one for months. So on to plan B. They ordered me a new headboard, which is where all the damage was. It came in a few days later, actually right when we got home from my shower on Saturday, and by that time, we decided to take the whole thing back, get our $$ back and start over. So Kenny, Beth (the BFF staying with us for the weekend) and I drove to Babies R Us, I returned the crib and Kenny went to talk to customer service. The new person there said they would have the crib that we wanted (exactly like the one we had just returned) in a week! I told her I was mislead about them reordering the same crib, yada yada yada. So they signed us up for the same crib and we'd get a call in a week to pick it up. Problem solved. Keep in mind, this crib was a standard drop side one, not a fancy crib that converted to a full size bed. On our way out, Kenny spies a beautiful convertible EXPENSIVE 100% mohagany crib that he likes, asks me what I think, and I say, yeah, it's nice, but look at the price. He said he didn't care, he wanted it because it was all solid wood, no particle board or junky materials in it. I thought he was crazy with the price, but he said he didn't care. So back to customer service we go! The ONLY one they had in stock (here we go again, right????) was in the clearance section because it had a ding in it. Because of that itty bitty ding, it was actually the same price as the original crib we wanted. So they shrink wrapped it, put it in the bed of Kenny's truck, and away we go. Just like that. We got it home and discovered it had to be take apart to get it into the house, with Bethy did in like 15 minutes. Then she put it back together in about 15 minutes. The woman is a genius! And that's the dramatic saga of the crib. Which I don't have pictures of yet, but I will!!!

Spring Break Blur

I think spring break was the fastest blur of a week ever in my life. I did get a lot accomplished, including a crib (loooong story for the next post), an overnight with my mom, one of my BFFs staying with us for 3 nights and the best baby shower ever. That was a great week!

Here I am after my kick-bootie baby shower with some BFFs....

I got so much baby stuff that I never even knew I would need!! But thank goodness for the ladies in my life to keep me on track with what I need (or is strongly recommended). We got hooked up! I feel SO completely lucky and blessed! Kenny couldn't even believe his eyes when he saw all the gifts we received! I am going to get some individual pictures of a few gifts including what one of my BFFs did as a game at my shower...it was adorable! I'll save that for my next post and I'll leave you with a picture of me at 30w4d sporting pink pjs and a black lab on my feet, her favorite spot ever!

Prego Chatter

Happy Belated Easter!

Yesterday the weather was so beautiful here! Just like it was supposed to be. Still cold, but no complaints here!

I went for my last 4 week OB appointment, from this point on it's every 2 weeks. Eeeek. Can't believe I'm already to that point. Here's what I was told.....until this point in my pregnancy, I've not gained much weight. No concerns, right? Right. The first trimester I lost pounds because I was puking all the time, then in the middle trimester I gained a total of 12 pounds, and then I lost a pound in the last month. Crazy, eh? I'm still exercising 3 times a week (walking and swimming, NOT in the same day!) and eating super well, almost NO sugars to speak of thank you very much! The doctor measures my stomach and says I'm measuring 2 weeks ahead of time, that this is going to be a big baby and that I'm in for it. WTF? First of all, those of you who know me know I was already overweight to begin with, however, I am NOT as big as most women who are 29 weeks (supposedly more now). I'M NOT! My husband was a 10 pound baby, I was a 6 pound baby, I don't know what to expect at delivery, but holy crap there isn't room in my belly at this point for a baby that is measuring 31 weeks! Here's what I think, and since I'm a rookie, correct me if I'm wrong all you pros out there....from the day I found out I was pregnant I have been ahead of the game in the way of symptoms....and I know that the symptoms they talk about in the pregnancy books are not considered the bible, but I have always been around 2-3 weeks earlier than what the book says I should be experiencing. For example, morning sickness is SUPPOSED to kick in (if you are so lucky to experience it) around 7-9 weeks, and I was puking at 5 weeks. That's just one example, there are many many more. I won't bore you with them, except to say that my cycle is longer than most women's, usually 33-34 days, and that may have something to do with calculating my due date. With all this said, it is possible I'm farther along than we've thought this whole time? I truly feel that I am, and I guess it really doesn't matter in the long run. When this little boy is ready to be here, he will! I'd love to hear opinions on this!

This week I'm on vacation, and by that I mean not going to work. As far as vacation and doing nothing, not happening here. Today I have to get a new cell phone (long story and it involves Kenny and Coke, the kind you drink) and then go to the dentist. Then N is coming over to help me move some heavy stuff from room to room to basement....thank GOD for her! Tomorrow my mom is coming to stay with me for a night to get the baby's room whipped into shape and that new crib put together. YAY! Then we're going shopping for various things, my mom lives in the boondocks so when she comes here, we shop! Wednesday evening I might get that pedicure I've been craving, Thursday not sure but MAYBE stay home?? Friday I'm picking up a BFF at the airport to stay with me all weekend and Saturday is my baby shower. Whew!

I will be posting pics of the rooms I'm working on too, just in case you are curious!

The Best Field Trip EVER!

Today was the last day of school before spring break. Our team planned a field trip to a museum, one that we go to often and it's a pretty structured trip, which makes the whole day run smoothly. From a teacher's standpoint, field trips are like holiday parties....depending on parent involvement, they can make or break you. This was literally the best planned trip ever, the parents were even having a great time! NO behavior issues to speak of (I had to leave two kids at school in another classroom because of behavior in the last couple of weeks, unfortunetly, but I suspect that was why the trip for my class was flawless). Anyway, one part of the trip included a 30 minute visit to a domed theater where the seats move kind of roller-coaster like, in time with what was happening in the movie. There are specific rules for this theater, such as NO PREGNANT PEOPLE in the moving chairs. So I had to sit in the front row NEXT TO some moms in the moving chairs. I was bummed, but whatever, I've been to Cedar Point, no big deal. As long as the kids are happy, so be it. So the show begins, the seats move with the movie, the kids are loving the show, and the seats also blow air and water throughout the program, an extra special feature. We leave the theater and it's time to go back to school, so we head out to the buses. A few teachers are talking about the moving seats and are commenting on how they vibrate...in THAT area. I'm thinking to myself that I can't be hearing things correctly, are they really saying what I think they are saying??? And then one of them starts telling me about the chairs and how she needs to get one in her house....and I'm putting two and two together and realize that YES, they are talking about how wonderful these vibrating chairs are and they are all flushed and smiling......OMG it was a SCHOOL field trip!!!! That's not supposed to happen on a school field trip!!! Apparently my idea of this being the best field trip ever is much different than the reasons my coworkers are thinking it was the best field trip ever. At least my head isn't in the gutter!!!!

Prego Pics

Pictures, as promised, are here. Not the greatest, I warn you though! I don't have a glow nor do I feel like I'm glowing. The correct terminology of how I feel every morning is like a beached whale! But I know it's for a good cause. So here I am at 28w4d, or 7 months:

Nothing like C H U B B Y legs to go with pregnancy!!!!

Here's another one, in my bathing suit and yoga pants. LOVELY!!!! It's dark, but you can see the baby boy belly!

Kenny and I went to the dollar store tonight to get table clothes. I have heard rumors of dollar store pregnancy tests, but I've never actually seen them. They exist, right next to the oral gel, camping lighters, and dental picks in the check out lane. FOR REAL! I'm not kidding even a little but. Kenny snapped a picture with his phone but couldn't get it to send, so you'll just have to take my word for it, or better, visit a dollar store near you! Kenny asked the clerk if many chicks buy them, and she said yes, but they never buy just one, usually five or six at at time. AHHHHH!

In other news, I'm completely done with my masters and got my final portfolio back and I PASSED! Just waiting for graduation!!!

Spring break is almost here thank goodness. No school Friday and ALL next week!!! I'm counting hours here.