In Good Company...

So my house isnt quite as small as once I thought. After five days playing host to lots of company, I feel like I am finally in my element and ready to start planning more parties at home. I've never felt like much of a success in that arena before but things went really well so maybe I'll reconsider. I've already made plans w/ two couples to come have dinner in December...yay me!

Wednesday night, my good friend Barbie came and stayed w/ me since hubby was spending the night away (enjoying that show I already mentioned on a previous entry and making me very jealous). We had a nice quiet night of Project Runway, the game of LIFE, and Miller Chill. It was really fun staying up until 2am again, talking. Thanks, cinnamongirl!

Thursday, I did a quick cleaning job and prepared for my next set of company. Craig and Sarah (with their little beauty, Violet) had originally planned to stay in a hotel but since we're so far from the nearest one, I made room for them in Victor's room and they were able to stay here..and I'm so glad they did! Sarah is one of my favorite people, so easy to talk to. We made a quick trip to Wal Mart for some games and last minute items so when Toby and the kids came later that evening, we had JUST ENOUGH food for everyone (but no surplus).

It must be noted that I love to cook for my family but I've always shied away from cooking for guests. This time though, I made myself do it and I just loved every minute of it. Thursday night I made Chicken Parmesan, baked potatoes (brush some sesame oil on the skins prior to baking...so yummy), salad, and garlic bread. Friday morning I got up and made semi-homemade Cinnamon Latte rolls (courtesy Sandra Lee of the Food Network) and for lunch I prepared another Paula Deen recipe, Taco Soup. It was all very successful, I think. Josh and Mo came for dinner that evening (and brought food with them) so we provided a few extra store-bought side dishes and I made a double layer pumpkin pie, which is quick and easy. Thanks again for the ham, Mo, it was AWESOME! I wanted to gnaw on the bone like a dog...ha.

All six of the kids were surprisingly good, especially since they were kind of confined to the house due to the cold, wet weather. We put them to bed at a decent hour still, and were able to enjoy grownup talk and cards until relatively late. Very nice.

Saturday morning, Craig and Sarah said their goodbyes and I was able to make it to the bookstudy...late, of course. Afterwards, Toby and I took all our kids to McDonalds to eat lunch and then we went to the (gasp) Outlet Mall in Lebanon. My van fit everybody just BARELY and the kids were all very well behaved. We even took them to Wal Mart to buy some necessaries and got away with only minimal 'kid' purchases. This was the first time my brother and I have ever been anywhere w/ just us and the kids. It was so great to spend time together like that. When I come to Memphis, I usually end up spending the little time I have w/ my parents at their respective homes so we don't really get the chance to do that. I'm hoping he can make it up here more often now.

Saturday night was the now-famous hayride that Barbie's parents put on every November. It comes complete w/ bonfire, chili, marshmallows, homemade wine, and lots of nice people. The actual hayride was even more of a hoot than usual because Barbie and I sat side by side singing Janis Joplin at the top of our lungs, heedless to the annoyed glances of our fellow passengers...except for Chad who sang along...good for you, man! We rock! My Nathan was so happy to be on the hayride he sat in stunned silence. It was so sweet. We liked it so much, John took us all on a second hayride later (an oh-so-memorable one, wasnt it Barbie?)...hee hee. And I finally tried elderberry wine (but w/out the arsenic)!

Sunday morning, we made it late to the meeting (really really late) and enjoyed good conversation w/ friends at the local Mexican restaurant before heading home so Toby could pack up youngn's and clothes. He left by late afternoon along w/ our other houseguest Michael (who is a regular in this establishment) and we were finally on our own again, as a family. It was so wierd.

But I can't wait to do it all again.

My Neck of the Woods

My husband found a very cool website last night that had some pictures of our itty bitty town, Pleasant Shade, from the air. This photo was taken in the late eighties so there are a few more buildings since then. Our house was, of course, not built yet but it would be to the far right, just out of the shot. I know we have a beautiful view but this one surely takes the cake. Makes me think of the 'old country' overseas.

It also was really interesting to discover that originally, Pleasant Shade was a pretty happening spot. A diagram he found shows that there used to be a furniture/cabinet shop, barber, market, several restaurants, a pool hall, garages of various types, and a dance hall. Now, there is nothing to speak of in the area except a tiny post office and a tiny country store. Even the school has been closed. It's a shame too because wouldnt it be great to have a dancehall close by? Ha.

Mrs. Roper Multiplies

Mrs Roper, my 3 year old beagle, has had a puppy. That's right. One puppy. She was pregnant and we knew she was ready to go any time but when she kind of 'disappeared' over the last day or two, we knew she'd gone off to have her litter. My husband found her this morning under an old boat we have and noticed that there was only one puppy. I guess if she had any others, they didnt survive for some reason. (In the picture above, you can just barely see the puppy's back legs and tail peeking out.) Anyway, she stays with the puppy like a good little mommy and only leaves it alone to eat a few bites. It's cold outside but since the puppy survived last night okay, we figure the nest Mrs Roper made for it is doing it's job. She dug out a hollow under the boat and is well protected from the wind. We're going to get some hay to put under there too and keep Bernice tied up for a while.

There's something strangely comforting about watching her take care of her one baby while I'm taking care of mine. We're bonding, I think.

Stupid Bambi!

Yes, deer can be very pretty. Right now, there are scads of them all over the county. Frolicking on the frosted hills in the morning, standing and gazing with soulful eyes when they're disturbed, dancing into roadside bushes at dusk w/ a flash of their perky white tails. I sit on my window seat daily with my two older sons and stare at them as they forage our hillside for food and brazenly ignore my huge puppy's ominous barking. They walk by the kitchen window in droves every morning as I get my boys their breakfast and we have shared a few magical moments watching them. Sweet li'l Bambi.

Stupid Bambi. Friday night, I was on my way home from Carthage w/ my tiny son in tow and a sackful of Sonic by my side. It was already dark, though barely 7pm, and I had my brights on since the highway was mostly deserted at the moment. POW! From out of nowhere a huge buck ran into the road and I slammed into him at a full 60 mph! I saw him fly into the air, bend in half, and come down flopping in the yard to my right-his long legs flailing helplessly. Fortunately for Victor and I, no one was hurt and I was surprisingly self-possessed as I brought my smoking car to a halt on the shoulder and got out to assess the damage. As you can see, I hit him absolutely DEAD CENTER and not only is my hood and fender horribly messed up but I think my radiator is shot. Part of the headlight assembly has disappeared also and who knows what else was causing all the smoke and leaking fluids. My poor Honda! (As most of you know, I just got this car in May and I love it dearly!)

After checking on Victor, who was frowning but fine, I flagged down a passing motorist for help. You can't get a cellphone signal on this particular highway but luckily, this guy was a fireman and able to radio in to the police. He also had a special cellphone w/ a stronger signal so he called my husband for me. No one was able to find the deer, which I find very unsettling. All that and no deer carcass to show for it? How is this possible?

So now I'm without a vehicle. I know that since my car was older and had alot of miles, the damage may ammount to more than the vehicle is worth and the insurance company may total it out. This would make me very sad since I searched so hard to find this car and it will be difficult to replace. But it would also be a blessing in that I wouldnt have to pay that stupid 250.00 deductible.

On the way home, my husband said 'Now, do you see why they need to be hunted?' I laughed and said 'Yes, I do. It's just a shame this one had to die without my getting to claim even one steak.'

Comme Ci, Comme Sa

And so the fall days fly by in a whirl of tiny diapers, coke zero, data entry, and television. I will not say that I'm stuck in a rut but I will admit to being comfortably stagnant right now, due to my routined existence. My weekdays are very similar. Get up, exercise, see Johnson off to school, breakfast, work, lunch, work, straighten house, dinner, tv, and bed. Insert breastfeeding every two hours and bible reading at the dinner table and you've pretty much got my day at a glance. I know it sounds horribly dull but like I said, I'm comfortable with a routined life. The idea of NOT having a scheduled time to do things stresses me out so basically, I'm back to being myself. I just had to insert another person into the mix.

Victor is doing great. He's very fat. I laughed last night when I was watching Alfred Hitchcock Presents and realized that my baby resembles the outlined drawing of the director that heralds the beginning of each episode. He sleeps very well at night and I rarely have to get up with him except to change a diaper every now and then. During the day, he stays in his swing, lies on his boppy pillow, or sleeps in his carseat by my desk so he's at easy reach to be rocked. So the fussy situation from a recent entry has somewhat abated.

The other boys have adjusted well. I still have behavior issues w/ my oldest son but as it turns out, he is perfect for everyone but me so I guess I should at least be thankful for that. My Nathan is very loving w/ the baby but other than stopping by to look at him once or twice , he goes about his day exactly as he did before Victor was born. Playhouse Disney in the morning, Star Wars toys and running around outside in the afternoon,and playing w/ Johnson in the evening. Bernice is getting HUGE and eating us out of house and home but luckily she seems to keep a good eye on the boys when they're outside so I don't have to worry too much. She barks if they go off too far and it always alerts me.

I am starting to feel like this house may not be the place we 'end up' after all. So much construction is going on around us and I am becoming such a BABY in cold weather. I have arthritis in my knees from a car accident and as I get older, the cold damp weather really gets to me (switch complaint-free bracelet to other wrist). So I am steadily but non-naggingly tossing 'Go-West-Young-Man' comments to my husband whenever I get a chance. Plus, I will be the first to admit that we spent too much money on this house and it is starting to annoy me. When you build, unfortunately, unexpected costs arise that will inevitably affect the final mortgage payment so collecting on the equity is starting to really look warm and friendly. I guess we'll see what happens.

I need a date with my neglected husband. We are planning to go see The Reverend Horton Heat on the day before Thanksgiving if we can:

I'm going to check around for a baby sitter as soon as I can. Lord knows, I could use some time away since I spend basically ninety percent of my time here at home. I've been a huge fan of the good Reverend and his psychobilly band for a long ol' time and it would be an awesome release to see them live again.

So that's how things are going...'Comme ci, comme sa'.

Victor-Two Week Update

Well, I must say we had a very calm first two weeks w/ Victor. He was the perfect baby...never cried, always happy, calm and peaceful. He slept at night and during the day too. Very laid back and sweet.

He's still sweet but unfortunately, he is becoming quite fussy. He eats well and has gained a whopping 2 lbs and 3 oz since birth! Yesterday at the doctor we discovered this. He also has grown one inch in length so he's 22 inches long now. However, I think over the last few days my let-down reflex has strengthened or something because when it happens, Victor gasps and chokes. He sometimes spits up in projectile-fashion, a problem which plagued Johnson from the beginning. I think he's getting alot of air which prevents him from falling asleep while he's eating and stresses him out alot. He can't seem to settle himself down to sleep afterwards (day or night) so I have to take the time to rock him until he can relax himself somewhat. This, of course, prevents me from getting ANYTHING else done so my house is a wreck, my boys are freaking out from the lack of attention, and I can't cook a meal to save my life! I'm also supposed to be working now but I know I will be 'dealt with' if my efficiency doesnt pick up since I'm currently having to work while holding a fussy baby which means I have to type with one hand. Heh heh. Poor little thing, he really just wants to go to sleep I know. It's pitiful to see.

Anyway, on a positive note. He's very healthy and round. And hopefully this stage will pass quickly. Quickly enough to prevent my strangling my other children, losing my job, or pulling my hair out.

Me and My Moby

Okay the 'baby posts' are probably getting out of hand here...heh heh. But my son took a picture of me in my moby-wrap right after the maiden voyage to the mailbox (hey, our mailbox is really far away!) I loved it! It felt like I was just wearing an outer-shirt or jacket and the feeling of the baby in front isnt very different from being pregnant so it made both of us feel right at home. I'm going to try it tomorrow again when I take the kids to the park and Sunday when I go to the grocery store for the first time.

It says it's good for us to 35 lbs so I should get alot of use out of it.

When it rains...

You know that saying, 'When it rains, it pours'? I'm finally beginning to understand the meaning behind that.

Yesterday, all the way to the doctor's office I was having strong, regular contractions and I thought I was actually in labor (which would have been unrealistically convenient). But it turns out these are still 'false labor' contractions and aren't causing any changes to speak of. I'm actually still at 2cm and 30% effaced. The doctor is not very optimistic about my going into labor by my due date (the 28th) and is now throwing the word 'induction' around, which makes me crazy. I do NOT want to be induced. Being induced means being stuck in a bed until contractions regulate, not being able to eat anything, and relying on stupid chemicals to do what mother nature was meant to do all along. No offense to those of you who have been through it with good results, it's just not what I'm used to and I don't want it. So I'm currently doing research on what I can do to stimulate labor myself and hoping against hope that I don't have to deal w/ the induction issue at all.

THEN, this morning, my three year old proceeds to swallow a very powerful magnetic rock- the shiny ones that you can get at places like the discovery center and which I THOUGHT we had put away where the kids couldnt play w/ them unsupervised. I freaked out a little bit, having heard horror stories about kids swallowing magnets, and promptly called both the Poison Control Center and the kids' doctor. The PCC told me that he'd probably need an x-ray to make sure it wasnt 'hung' anywhere but as long as it was only one that he swallowed, the danger was minimal. I also checked Web Md to verify this and made an appointment for the doctor to see him as soon as possible, which was 9:20 am. The doctor promptly sent us to the radiologist at the neighboring hospital and so we had to wait a good half hour in the outpatient waiting room for the x-ray lab to be ready. The waiting area was overcrowded w/ growly people of all ages and I have never seen so many 'crocs' in my life! (Is it odd that the mere sight of these shoes immediately throws me into the pits of depression?) Anyway, the magnetic rock was actually already in his lower abdomen so they sent me home w/ the happy mission of 'searching' through each of his stools until I find it. If he doesnt pass it withiin five days, he'll have to go back and be x-rayed again. So far, I've searched through one batch w/ no luck. Yay.

9 Months and All Is Well...

Here is my last belly picture. Nine months and counting. It's been a long haul but there are now officially three weeks left until the due date. I am suffering a little bit from lack of sleep (can't get comfortable at night) but last night, my friend Jolie came over and administered a MUCH needed and HEAVILY discounted hour and a half massage complete w/ essential oils specially formulated for 'mother/baby bonding', plinky new age music, and dim lighting. When she finished, I realized that I had never truly had a massage before and pretty stupid for having paid over 100 dollars for some of them. She worked out my hips and legs, my lower back (by loosening my shoulder and applying strange but highly effective pressure to my arm socket) and last but not least, my feet (which, after shopping for two hours yesterday at Wal Mart, were near death). When I was finished, I felt like a new person and a little bit like I'd had a few beers. I slept very well last night.

The massage made me realize that it's really a good idea to invest in some sessions during pregnancy, not only for yourself but for the good of the baby. Come to think of it, I also think a pedicure would be a great idea since painting my own toenails at this point is next to impossible. So those are some things I learned this time around. Other very useful stuff I have learned from this pregnancy, so far:

1. If you have other kids, over-do the relaxing part and assume that the family can take care of themselves sometimes. If you aren't a 'napper' (and I'm not), at least take a few hours during the daylight hours to sit and do nothing. Otherwise, by the time it's your usual hour for preparing dinner or getting ready for meetings, you are quite worthless.

2. If you are going to be driving long distances (more than thirty minutes) remember that you may get unusually tired due to the pregnancy and be very careful. I almost fell asleep a couple of times on what I used to think were 'quick trips' to Lebanon or Gallatin and scared myself pretty badly.

3. Morning Sickness can actually be worse the 2nd or 3rd time around and DOES NOT necessarily mean the child is a different sex than your other children...heh heh.

4. Eating Raisin Bran for breakfast every morning is a great way to stay regular (and when you're pregnant, that's a big deal). And Tums still worked the best for heartburn...I am SO sick of those things!

5. Drinking the occasional beer or a couple of caffeinated drinks a day is NOT proven to be dangerous to the developing baby and shouldnt be judged by 'all knowing' strangers.

6. The single greatest purchase I made this time around was the 'Bella band' that I mentioned on an earlier blog entry. ( http://www.ingridandisabel.com/bellaband.html )
Not only was I able to extend my pre-pregnancy wardrobe and continue to wear my non-maternity jeans until I was 8 months along, but I still use it to keep up those stubborn 'under-belly' maternity pants that old navy and Gap are famous for (and do NOT like to stay put), and am confident that it will be even more useful after I have the baby. I can wear it w/ my pre-pregnancy clothes again (while I'm losing the baby fat) and since it's a basic black, it will just look like an added layer while it holds in that inevitable jelly belly and gives me a smoother waist. Now did that sound like an add or what?

That's all for now. The countdown to 'birth-day' begins and I'm anxious, of course. I'll keep everyone up to date and post an entry about the experience as soon as the dreaded day has passed. Readers BEWARE...

Beautiful Bernice...

A Great Pyrenees at full size...about 100 pounds of doggage.
Bernice


Meet Bernice. She is our new 12 week old Great Pyrenees and we already love her dearly. We decided some time ago to get a large dog that may help prevent other dogs from taking over our property and from what we understand, this breed is ideal for that purpose. They are calm, mild-tempered, and extremely loyal. I've never met a puppy like her. She doesnt jump and galavant or get under your feet. She lays in a watchful position on high ground (even w/out being trained to do so) and when she's not doing that, she's making continuous circuits around our property like a palace guard. She rarely barks and when she does, it is an intimidating sound indeed. It took her exactly one day to become familiar w/our family and only one trip around the property line w/ my husband to realize her job. She follows us around obediently, always staying a few paces back, and hasnt been agressive or unfriendly to our current cat and dog as of yet. However, when the dreaded brown lab puppy from next door tried to come around yesterday, we saw her tail go up immediately and she made a low growly sound in her throat. The chocolate lab hightailed it back home immediately (Bernice, at 12 weeks, already outsizes the other dog).

For those of you not familiar w/ the breed, the 1st picture is how she should look when she's full grown, minus the pure white cleanliness...hahah. Living around here, I'm certain she won't look like a champion but she will still be beautiful. The lady we got her from said that her fur will start to 'fill out' in the next couple of months and soon get really long, like the dog in the 1st picture. Typical of the breed, she doesnt get wild and jump up on the kids...as a matter of fact, she doesnt do anything suddenly or compulsively. She seems to be thinking through every move she makes. I know this may not be the ideal 'puppy' for some families, but in our case, it's exactly what we needed.

And yes, it will cost a friggin' fortune to feed her...but at least I'm not inadvertantly feeding four strays instead.

The !@#$%* Dog Days of Summer...

You guys won't BELIEVE the morning I just had.

So my neighbor has this chocolate lab 'puppy' that is already about the size of a small horse and is completely unaware of his own strength. When he was smaller, he used to come hang out w/ my beagle and I was shocked how strong he already was, jumping up on the kids, knocking the three year old to the ground etc. You can only imagine what his added pounds have accomplished over the weeks in this area. He is an unstoppable force now...a juggernaut. And USUALLY his mistress keeps him tied up. But this morning, I noticed as I was preparing to take my 7 year old to school that he was loose and wreaking havoc all over my yard.

When I opened the door to leave, of COURSE the stupid dog was RIGHT THERE waiting and of COURSE he runs into my house and proceeds to skid around on my hardwood floors, run into walls, and terrify my three year old who was coming out of his room in blissful ignorance and probably thought a pony was loose in our hallway. I was so mad that I screamed insulting words at the beast and ran as best I could to head him off and out the door. After much exhausted maneuvering, I finally succeeded but had to CARRY my three year old son to the car, so frightened was he. I also watched in horror as the dog jumped on my seven year old repeatedly, nearly knocking him down, and leaving muddy pawprints all over his school clothes which would have to stay that way since it was now too late to change. Deep breath. Drive.

On the way home from the school, I stopped at the store to get my morning fix of coke zero (as well as a few extras, for later) and a powerade for my son. When I got home, I opened the car door and WHO should jump into my unexpecting lap but that insane canine , tearing the bag of drinks in the process and running off w/ the powerade like it was some kind of game! Again, my big ol' belly and I chased him down and finally retrieved the drink but in my haste, I'd forgotten to close the car door and of COURSE the dog was now in my car, stinking it up! I decided to prioritize and get my sobbing son out of the car first, carrying he and the five bottles of drinks, that no longer had a useable bag, into the house in one haul. Then back out to the car I went to pull the DEAD WEIGHT of a dog out of my car since he refused to come on his own. Now I'm exhausted beyond belief, my belly is scratched up, my clothes are covered in muddy pawprints, and to top it all off, I'm evidently allergic to this dog and have developed hives all over both arms.

When I got back to the house and opened the door, he tried to run back inside but I was having NONE of that and managed to slam the door on his smart alleck, smiling face without the slightest regret. One look at my scratched hardwood floors was all the validation I needed.

Presently, I'm looking out the window as he rolls around on his back gleefully, completely unaware of the hell he's put me through, snapping his jaws at butterflies and wagging his lead rope of a tail like the baby that he is. I don't want to be one of THOSE neighbors, but I'm going to have to let the next door lady know I cannot have another morning like this. She's gonna have to keep the beast tied up...that is, if she wants him back alive.

SO how was everybody else's morning?

34 weeks

No picture to post this time. I don't look any different than my last picture really and according to yesterday's doctor visit, I've actually lost a pound. The nurse said it's probably because I've really picked up on drinking fluids...and I have! I have been drinking water, milk, and coke zero like it's going out of style! But from what I understand, that's not altogether a bad thing and the contractions have slacked up somewhat.

I also told my doctor about that strange pinching sensation I get sometimes and he said it's more than likely a nerve being pinched when I'm in certain positions. He
checked me to make sure and discovered that the baby's head is really low so it's no wonder that some nerves would be pressed. A 'low' head also means I probably won't go the full six weeks to my due date! So for once, I will most likely be early! Yay! (Deep breath)

I've been practicing my breathing when I can but I don't feel nearly as prepared this time. Still got lots of practicing to do. I've been cleaning like a crazy woman and completely set up the nursery last week, just in case. The walls still need another coat of paint but my hubby will get to that when he gets a chance and we can deal w/ the thin spots for now.

Yes, I dread the labor. With Johnson, I was in labor for 7 hrs from beginning to end and with Nathan, it was five. The experience is very intense because it is so short and I'm not expecting this time to be any different. I am very in touch w/ how my body reacts to certain phases of the labor so I don't take medication so that I can maintain that awareness. Not all women can or choose to do that and I certainly don't blame them. My biggest fear is not being able to make it to the Lebanon Hospital and giving birth in the Carthage ER among strangers. We'll see, I guess.

Some of you have expressed some concern about not being able to pull up my gift registry at Target. Stupid me, it's under my first name Sharron. I don't know why I did that, exactly. Anyway, here's a link that SHOULD take you to it...

http://www.target.com/gp/registry/registry.html/ref=cm_lc_sr_1/602-7766674-4728631?ie=UTF8&type=babyreg&id=1JI1C4X6KYXP8&jsebd=1


Edit: I recently got several notes stating that the majority of my Target registry is 'online only'. Sorry about that. I wasnt even aware. I started a registry at Babies R Us that duplicates alot of the items in the Target one but there's more available in the store...what a pain. It's under Ashley Westmoreland/ Pleasant Shade Tn.

That's all for now.

Uncouth Invitation...

I am taking it upon myself to invite all my lady-friends to a luncheon/shower at my mom's on the 25th of August. Not 100% sure of the time yet...I think around three? So it'll be a LATE luncheon, I suppose. Heh heh. My mom isnt sending out formal invitations so yeah, I guess I'm inviting people to my own shower...(in the words of Judy Holliday from 'Born Yesterday', 'It ain't COUTH!'). Anyway, there it is. Any further info can be obtained by calling my mom...

After the 'shower', I'm gonna plan on leaving my kids w/ their nanna and heading off w/ any who care to join me for a 'girls' night out'. Karaoke and sushi sounds sweeeeet!

Showers and Such...

I am now at 32 weeks. I am so big all of a sudden! I've gained 14 lbs now and 4 of those were in the last two weeks! I've got visions in my head of a nine pound baby...sweet lord noooooooooo!

Anyway, not much to post. I went to the doctor yesterday and everything is going normally. I have lots of 'false labor' contractions (aka: Braxton Hicks contractions) and I notice them more this time than I did w/ the other two. The doctor says I'm probably not drinking enough fluids and the dehydration can contribute to more of those so I have to be more conscientious about making myself drink water now. Too many of those 'fake' contractions can supposedly cause your body to believe it for real and result in premature labor. Yikes!

Saturday, my congregation gave me a shower. It was so nice and most of the congregation was there, which made me feel really special. The sister who hosted it worked SO HARD to get it together and it was such a HOT day. So, thank you so much Michael! Johnson was still visiting in Memphis, so Nathan and I enjoyed all the attention alone. Thankfully, some of the sisters got my boys presents too so they wouldnt feel left out. Awwwwww. I got lots of sweet little clothes and blankets and some of the congregation went in together on my stroller from my registry (one big item down...whew!). As the day cooled off, the nicer it was to be outdoors and by seven o'clock, when everyone was leaving and Michael and her husband were cleaning up, I was still sitting placidly in my folding chair. By the way, I'm SO SORRY Barbie, that I was late! (My friend Barbie showed up at 2pm like a faithful little friend and I didnt show up until four so she had to leave right after I got there...sigh.)

Anyway, Sunday I got some more 'deep cleaning' done around here. I'm 'nesting' in spurts, to conserve my energy, and deep cleaning one room a week. Sunday, I cleaned out the kitchen cabinets while my husband finally got all the bathroom accessories (towel hooks, cabinet hardware) installed in the hall bath. I felt so much better by the end of the day.

Yesterday, I took the day off and picked up Johnson in Bellevue where my dad met me. My son has been in memphis for the last week and a half so I'm very glad to have him back.

25 weeks

6 months and counting.

Everything seems to be okay so far but I'm already feeling a bit of pressure due to weakened muscles, I suppose. At my doctor's visit last Monday I found out that I have gained 7 lbs in all. I was excited to finally go up on the scale but then last Saturday the whole family came down w/ a stomach virus and I think I may have lost some of that.

Victor is very active and likes to kick things off my belly. I'm curious to see how he differs from his brothers who at this moment are arguing loudly over which of them gets to play with the blue 'clone trooper'. Johnson is such an analytical academic and Nathan is just the opposite. He's kind of an athletic , happy-go-lucky sort.

I'm really looking forward to the convention in a couple of weeks. I hope my ankles hold out and my little aches and pains don't get too unbearable for those few days. The chairs are hard so I'm gonna try and remember to bring a 'huge pilla'. I'm also determined to wear my cute shoes, no matter what. The ones I'm wearing are heels but ones I've worn a few times so they are nicely broken in. The other day at the meeting I got up from my chair and proceeded to fall right on my knees at the entrance of the ladies room. Everyone freaked out and told me I had to stop wearing heels and no manner of explaining that my foot had fallen asleep and it would have happened if I was barefoot would appease them. So I'm thinking I'll get lots of scolding when they see my cute 'lucky lous' and 'dancing hearts'. :)

12 Years and Still 'Twitterpated'...

On May 20, 1995, the old man and I got 'hitched'. We were married at The Magnolia Room in Overton Square (Memphis) at the ripe old age of nineteen. Two and a half kids and one house project later, I can honestly say we've made a nice little success of us. I guess sometimes even teenagers know what they're doing. :)

( Listen honey, they're playing our song! So help me, it still makes me swoon. )

Song Title: Buttercup

Artist: Brad

http://www.badongo.com/file/3151684