tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73067849405142430522024-03-12T21:41:37.255-05:00high heels and gritsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger114125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-21893569227669461832014-05-26T17:25:00.000-05:002014-07-25T16:57:42.518-05:00Whole 30 <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/6804327/?claim=gucashgvsqs">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1936608898/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1936608898&linkCode=as2&tag=higheeandgr0d-20&linkId=YYIH325YNOY3STYX" style="text-align: start;">Discover the Whole30 </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My friend from college posted a before and after picture of her body after a Whole30 experience. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">First of all: SO BRAVE of her! I'm so proud of her, she looks awesome! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Second: I was sold! I googled Whole30 as fast as I could.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It didn't seem too bad, just 30 days of unprocessed foods, grains...easy enough</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But then you can't have beans, rice or even peanuts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Also no dairy!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So basically meat and veggies. Not totally paleo (no substitutions like "healthy brownies") and not entirely Atkins (not pure meat).</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tu3cscjbiPI/U1hgrMVsncI/AAAAAAAAWeI/J-RBwA0h0Ao/s1600/140421+whole30+week1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tu3cscjbiPI/U1hgrMVsncI/AAAAAAAAWeI/J-RBwA0h0Ao/s1600/140421+whole30+week1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Start date: <b>April 13</b> one month after giving birth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This <b>first week</b> has been fun. I'm exploring my small town grocery store (no Whole Foods or Central Market here) and using my imagination with my menus. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm on maternity leave so I have plenty of time to make meals. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">However my husband does come home for lunch and his sister makes lunch for him and his dad. I have slipped up a few times. I had </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">corn tortilla and rice and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">white potato with cheese. Following the white potato I got ill! </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ItrRTonJUvs/U2Fs92r7ASI/AAAAAAAAWvM/HE3xtW0LlFg/s1600/1404028+week+2+whole30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ItrRTonJUvs/U2Fs92r7ASI/AAAAAAAAWvM/HE3xtW0LlFg/s1600/1404028+week+2+whole30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ItrRTonJUvs/U2Fs92r7ASI/AAAAAAAAWvM/HE3xtW0LlFg/s1600/1404028+week+2+whole30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ItrRTonJUvs/U2Fs92r7ASI/AAAAAAAAWvM/HE3xtW0LlFg/s1600/1404028+week+2+whole30.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Week 2</b>: I realize why this Whole30 works for me. It's not called a diet or a detox, even though that's kinda what it is. I guess it's a lifestyle change? A program? I'm not sure what to call it. But the anonymity of it leaves little room for excuses. And I like that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Really doesn't help that this week was Easter and I was tempted with Easter candy. While I didn't give in to the candy I did have some baked goods - brownie and cake. But I'm usually a sucker for a Reese's peanut butter egg and I willingly rejected one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had a doctors appointment this week which means we went in to the "big city". Things got crazy as we tried to squeeze in errands and we ended up on the side of town with fast food restaurants, not REAL restaurants. While I wanted to try the Pita Pit thinking it had healthier options than any place serving fries. My husband was turned off by the name and suggested Sonic. I was tired and hungry and didn't want to stop at two places for lunch so I gave in to Sonic. I couldn't fathom deconstructing my burger in the car so I just ate the bread. #fail However, I wasn't hungry for dinner that day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Week 3</b>: Ok, so they say you can't slip in during the Whole30, but I'm here to tell you: You can! (not in a good way) I made the choice to make/eat jumbalaya the other day - it was the quickest thing I could make for my FIL and Husband. A few days later we were invited to hubby's aunts house and she made gorditas and desserts. That's all that was available to eat! And yesterday I made chinese meatballs with brown sugar glaze and beef shortribs with brown sugar. I'm sure I could have found a substitute, but I didn't. However, I WILL because I had a headache all night due to the excess intake of sugar! I thought week 2 was going to be the worst - my my I was wrong...</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SnkuksHwlC4/U4O9PSxwkTI/AAAAAAAAX1k/RL0Li3PIKLA/s1600/whole30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SnkuksHwlC4/U4O9PSxwkTI/AAAAAAAAX1k/RL0Li3PIKLA/s1600/whole30.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Week 4:</b> Whole 30 has come to an end and I am grateful I've attempted this. I realize that I do eat sugar and that is greatly effects my body. I've found new sources of sweetness. After a fast from sugar you realize fruit is incredibly sweet! I almost wanted to fast from fruit too! I found a new love for coconut in this banana, coconut, nut salad. Quite yummy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I go back to work I will DEFINITELY need to pre cook and pack my lunches. There is TOO much temptation to eat out. And in the past I focused too much on the meal. I expect each meal to have a vegetable, meat, carb, something sweet, something crunchy. I've learned I will survive without that sweet, that carb and that temptation. With a new baby I'll want to spend my time with him, not in a fast food line. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Something I did for my pregnancy was create freezer meals that I could throw in a crock pot. I ended up burning 2 of them, but it was a good concept. Yes, I'm the girl who burns meals as easy as crockpot meals. I found these </span><a href="http://blog.stuffimakemyhusband.com/p/whole30-oamc-freezer-menu.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Whole30 freezer meals at Stuff I Make My Husband</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Worth a shot!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>In conclusion...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I noticed a HUGE difference in my body shape and in how I felt. I was alert (no yawning - even with a new born!). I could see definition in my body. I didn't feel "blah" and "mushy". I felt pulled together and centered. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I guess I need to read the book: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1936608898/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1936608898&linkCode=as2&tag=higheeandgr0d-20&linkId=YYIH325YNOY3STYX">It Starts with Food: Discover the Whole30 and Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=higheeandgr0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1936608898" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I will need to try Whole30 again - maybe in June? and I will need to COMMIT 100%. If that means turning down an invitation to a family event or bringing my own food. So be it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Meal suggestions for next time:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><b>Smoothies</b></span>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blueberry, raspberry, strawberry almond milk </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Spinach, kiwi, banana, pear, almond milk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><b>Breakfast</b></span>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hard boiled eggs and grapefruit </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Breakfast sausage and eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Veggie Omelets with spinach</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><b>Lunch</b></span>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Beef lettuce wraps with homemade taco seasoning</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Chinese Meatballs (with ground turkey - don't tell my hubby!)</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;">Dinner</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Steak, grilled veggies: cabbage, zucchini, asparagus</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Beef <u>stew</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>Beef Shortribs</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #e06666;">Snacks</span></b>: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">veggie chips</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dried bananas</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dried apricots</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Salad: Banana, Cashews, Almonds, Cinnamon, Coconut pieces</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-65320508598918037892014-05-16T21:42:00.002-05:002014-07-03T22:24:40.178-05:00The nursery<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There have been many requests for a post about the nursery. Remember I wanted to do a <a href="http://highheelsandgrits.blogspot.com/2014/01/baby-nursery-brainstorming.html" target="_blank">forest theme</a>? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lesson #1: Finish your nursery before you have the baby! There is so much going on as a new parent you think your maternity leave is a vacation but it's actually more difficult than your day job!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now I know....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">MJ is now 2 months old and the nursery is still a work in progress. Just take a look:</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EBBNWzu-fxI/U3agVxyV7iI/AAAAAAAAXXM/WXg4rEj2bdY/s1600/nursery+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EBBNWzu-fxI/U3agVxyV7iI/AAAAAAAAXXM/WXg4rEj2bdY/s1600/nursery+window.jpg" height="320" width="203" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When you walk in you see a window, laundry basket, artwork from my SIL and yep, that's my bridal portrait...guess I need a new place for that.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-izsYGB5qFyg/U3bLhv2iPMI/AAAAAAAAXXo/qU2bt-4SyfY/s1600/nursery+bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-izsYGB5qFyg/U3bLhv2iPMI/AAAAAAAAXXo/qU2bt-4SyfY/s1600/nursery+bear.jpg" height="320" width="190" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ia3LK4t5OWM/U3bLh28B-ZI/AAAAAAAAXXs/oQcqohRCbbU/s1600/nursery+fox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ia3LK4t5OWM/U3bLh28B-ZI/AAAAAAAAXXs/oQcqohRCbbU/s1600/nursery+fox.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a></div>
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Close up of SIL artwork</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U1_Nb78xe0U/U3agRXnzE7I/AAAAAAAAXXA/133CtPGRFLw/s1600/nursery+crib.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U1_Nb78xe0U/U3agRXnzE7I/AAAAAAAAXXA/133CtPGRFLw/s1600/nursery+crib.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To your right is the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004A15YTC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004A15YTC&linkCode=as2&tag=higheeandgr0d-20&linkId=H3T5GNC24QKEHYOG%22%3EGraco%20Stanton%20Convertible%20Crib,%20Classic%20White%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=higheeandgr0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B004A15YTC%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">crib</a>. Baby cribs are so simple. They can't have too many pillows or blankets so there's just the sheet and a few stuffed animals. Our "nino" sign is hanging up. And yes, we still need a mobile. The one from my previous blog looks cool when you look right at it, but it's not that interesting to the baby. Weird, once you have the kid you're more interested in his needs and not your own. Someone warned me that would happen!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0iOfGJiPS4s/U3agPwotaHI/AAAAAAAAXW8/d90yq943GeY/s1600/nursery+changing+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0iOfGJiPS4s/U3agPwotaHI/AAAAAAAAXW8/d90yq943GeY/s1600/nursery+changing+table.jpg" height="320" width="202" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Across from the crib is my dresser turned changing table turned baby's dresser. My jewelry and make up use to take up the entire surface of this dresser. Not any more! I don't even have all the drawers. He has three and I have four. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is his favorite place in the room because of this DIY mobile I made:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nnc3eXFyjkQ/U3agTmug4PI/AAAAAAAAXXI/Gy9tafuSLn8/s1600/nursery+mobile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nnc3eXFyjkQ/U3agTmug4PI/AAAAAAAAXXI/Gy9tafuSLn8/s1600/nursery+mobile.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Babies can see in B&W so I made this mobile out of a paper plate, note cards and a sharpie. He could sit for hours under this mobile! Ok, more like 10 minutes straight, but to a new parent that time is a much needed breather!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0prYCGnFOzI/U3agLX0z_sI/AAAAAAAAXWw/U0UUTjwGATA/s1600/nursery+basket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0prYCGnFOzI/U3agLX0z_sI/AAAAAAAAXWw/U0UUTjwGATA/s1600/nursery+basket.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What looks like clutter on the dresser is a two-tiered fruit basket that is a diaper holder and diaper accessory holder. We're still going through the disposable diapers that were given to use during our baby showers. I've tried cloth diapers on occasion. One brand did not hold in a #2 while the other brand was stolen by the neighbor dog when I left it outside to dry! Gotta love country dogs.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HtTnCRQsB-0/U3agIjBhnKI/AAAAAAAAXWg/wZpXxpdZAio/s1600/nursery+bookshelf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HtTnCRQsB-0/U3agIjBhnKI/AAAAAAAAXWg/wZpXxpdZAio/s1600/nursery+bookshelf.jpg" height="320" width="193" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All the baby books from my <a href="http://highheelsandgrits.blogspot.com/2014/01/book-baby-shower.html" target="_blank">baby book shower</a> are displayed on top of this dresser. I emptied out this dresser thinking we'd move it but it hasn't made the move and is now full of extra baby stuff. Towels, blankets, clothes in the next size up, clothes he's outgrown...so it has come in handy and won't be moved into storage.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4QBKtlXiUmU/U3agJY4X3-I/AAAAAAAAXWo/9WtHzWMqNLY/s1600/nursery+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4QBKtlXiUmU/U3agJY4X3-I/AAAAAAAAXWo/9WtHzWMqNLY/s1600/nursery+books.jpg" height="205" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Things on the top of the dresser include:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Baby size crucifix, baby cross, frame (that needs an ultrasound picture in it - opps!), <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008DVI3KM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B008DVI3KM&linkCode=as2&tag=higheeandgr0d-20&linkId=27RVCRTER52JZ7TS%22%3EVulli%20Sophie%20the%20Giraffe%20Teether%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=higheeandgr0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B008DVI3KM%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Sophie</a> the giraffe, digital alarm clock used for nature sound feature and static (white noise), baby's hand print will be created soon and MJ's favorite accessory: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BNEBL14/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00BNEBL14&linkCode=as2&tag=higheeandgr0d-20&linkId=OT4H3R6TUCB2F7T7%22%3EMunchkin%20Warm%20Glow%20Wipe%20Warmer%20and%20Diaper%20Bag%20Dispenser%20Set%20(Colors%20may%20vary)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=higheeandgr0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00BNEBL14%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">the wipe warmer</a>! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now you've had a quick tour of our nursery....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have a rocking chair in the family room but MJ prefers to bounce rather than rock. So we use that yellow yoga ball and he's a happy camper! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">High Heels! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">p.s. there is a can of dirty diapers that didn't make the photoshoot. Because who wants a picture of a trash can?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-31772208698058589362014-05-13T08:00:00.000-05:002014-05-13T08:00:08.675-05:00A day on maternity leave<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I thought you might be wondering what happens on maternity leave.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then I realized <b><u>I</u></b> was wondering what was happening on maternity leave. It's been 2 months! This time is just flying by!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My pregnant self had these amazing visions of getting so much accomplished while at home on maternity leave. Three months to just sit at home?! Sounds like a dream come true. Little did I know, it would take FOREVER to get ANYTHING done while on maternity leave.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So to prove to myself that I was actually accomplishing something throughout the day I decided to log one day. This was last Friday:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 am: feeding, dad put to sleep<br />
5 am: feeding, mom put to sleep<br />
7:30 am: feeding mom and baby fall asleep on recliner<br />
8 am: dad leaves for work<br />
9 am: mom and baby wake up for another feeding<br />
9:15 am: baby falls asleep on couch, mom works out<br />
9:40 am: baby wakes up during work out, diaper change, go for walk outside take Max and Ranger<br />
10:40 am: back from walk, another feeding<br />
Mom wonders when she'll have time to make lunch<br />
11 am: baby won't fall asleep, wear baby in Moby wrap and begin making lunch. Turn on podcast<br />
11:20 am: baby is asleep, carefully transition baby into crib, shut door, continue with lunch<br />
12:18 pm: dad finally home for lunch, baby wakes up (of course!)<br />
12:19 pm: mom inhales lunch because baby is crying and must be hungry<br />
12:20 pm: mom goes to feed baby, not hungry, so tries 5 <u>s's</u><br />
12:30 pm: baby falls asleep<br />
12:35 pm: baby is up<br />
12:45 pm: tries 5 s' s doesn't work. Burps baby, dad eats lunch alone while mom is attempting all this.<br />
12:50 pm: baby falls asleep</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Whisper around the lunch table and try to have a conversation...didn't really work out.<br />
1:30 pm: hubby leaves for work, baby still sleeping<br />
1:33 pm: try to move dishes to sink, too loud! <br />
Log on to computer. Need to be sure baby's doctor is covered by our insurance. Computer wants to update! Lovely! Don't they know These are precious minutes!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At this point I stopped taking a log of the day. If I remember correctly I did make some calls and pay some medical bills. But I also had a really hard time getting MJ to nap throughout the afternoon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Which means the rest of my day looked like this-</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KHWxp_sotCI/U3F-I4234PI/AAAAAAAAXPs/KWjjFc3UZl4/s1600/0505141058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KHWxp_sotCI/U3F-I4234PI/AAAAAAAAXPs/KWjjFc3UZl4/s1600/0505141058.jpg" height="308" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">He loves being held like this. I hear it's a colic baby thing....</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'll try to log again this week just for some self satisfaction! Only 4 more weeks to be productive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Grits,</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-2897176456082653182014-05-12T20:54:00.001-05:002014-05-12T20:54:09.103-05:00Birth Announcements<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now that the birth announcements have been delivered I am happy to share them with the blogosphere! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But first let me take you through the process of capturing this adorable picture! It was not easy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I visited Pinterest and various blogs for advice and inspiration on this photo shoot. Newborn babies are so squirmy, after my first attempt in Dallas I realized this would be a big overtaking. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The biggies mentioned on every website were:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Keep the room warm</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Use natural light</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Be sure the baby is in a deep sleep</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The first two were a Catch22 for me. It was mid March and cold outside, so if I set up near a window for natural light, it would be cold. I brought in a space heater, but it didn't warm the room well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And yes, newborns sleep, but not as much as they eat! MJ was up every hour so by the time I fed him, burped and rocked him to sleep, I had SECONDS before he would wake up for his next feeding. This is why he's awake in our photoshoot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was telling people I took over 700 picture of MJ during this photoshoot but it turns out I took less than 100! I was so exhausted afterwards I guess I over exaggerated! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now to the pictures....</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mSd5rKUnQXA/U3FwN1AehrI/AAAAAAAAXNg/6tJnMnJG_vM/s1600/Take+1_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mSd5rKUnQXA/U3FwN1AehrI/AAAAAAAAXNg/6tJnMnJG_vM/s1600/Take+1_3.jpg" height="209" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gVLcte_7Rek/U3FwV6MjqrI/AAAAAAAAXNo/TbTIx3L8oWE/s1600/Take+4_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gVLcte_7Rek/U3FwV6MjqrI/AAAAAAAAXNo/TbTIx3L8oWE/s1600/Take+4_6.jpg" height="210" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Outtakes..</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bfuso7hfEho/U3FwdVxadLI/AAAAAAAAXNw/KNFEmiGyNoM/s1600/outtakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bfuso7hfEho/U3FwdVxadLI/AAAAAAAAXNw/KNFEmiGyNoM/s1600/outtakes.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Did you see it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Did you see the ONE perfect little smile? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was in 'Take 4'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This was MJ's 2nd week on this earth so he wasn't at a developmental stage for smiling on demand or smiling in general. One smile in almost 100 photos. That one shot was a gem!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The other contenders were....</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OxyLrym0CSc/U3FxbA3prJI/AAAAAAAAXN8/VZ-eihdfSxU/s1600/mothersday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OxyLrym0CSc/U3FxbA3prJI/AAAAAAAAXN8/VZ-eihdfSxU/s1600/mothersday2.jpg" height="186" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-za3byq9P1_s/U3Fxef54GRI/AAAAAAAAXOE/gSdgnRrmZrM/s1600/mothersday3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-za3byq9P1_s/U3Fxef54GRI/AAAAAAAAXOE/gSdgnRrmZrM/s1600/mothersday3.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">but this</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0EirfB0DSgw/U3FxgWpuz_I/AAAAAAAAXOM/zF_j2922X7U/s1600/mothersday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0EirfB0DSgw/U3FxgWpuz_I/AAAAAAAAXOM/zF_j2922X7U/s1600/mothersday.jpg" height="207" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">is perfection.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You may remember my post about <a href="http://highheelsandgrits.blogspot.com/2013/12/our-christmas-card.html" target="_blank">our Christmas cards</a> and how I should have used Minted.com. Well I remembered my own advice and went to Minted.com for the birth announcements. They have a HUGE selection for baby announcements. It was very difficult to make a decision. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was torn between the following:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wms6W6UkgpQ/U3F64leyNHI/AAAAAAAAXPU/ZbFoKqZj-j8/s1600/MJ+Birth+Announcement_draft1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wms6W6UkgpQ/U3F64leyNHI/AAAAAAAAXPU/ZbFoKqZj-j8/s1600/MJ+Birth+Announcement_draft1.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UQuFFj7Y4Is/U3F64nF4NNI/AAAAAAAAXPI/zlDQGyBvL_4/s1600/MJ+Birth+Announcement_draft2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UQuFFj7Y4Is/U3F64nF4NNI/AAAAAAAAXPI/zlDQGyBvL_4/s1600/MJ+Birth+Announcement_draft2.jpg" height="227" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hoWMtlofMqo/U3F64VAy7kI/AAAAAAAAXPM/spI4foPY6Ak/s1600/MJ+Birth+Announcement_draft4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hoWMtlofMqo/U3F64VAy7kI/AAAAAAAAXPM/spI4foPY6Ak/s1600/MJ+Birth+Announcement_draft4.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I really loved the B&W one, but I also really liked the picture being in color. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I decided on this:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fnYqFvKdI58/U3FzMveTH-I/AAAAAAAAXO4/Sw49CP_jdn8/s1600/HHG_MJ+Birth+Announcement_FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fnYqFvKdI58/U3FzMveTH-I/AAAAAAAAXO4/Sw49CP_jdn8/s1600/HHG_MJ+Birth+Announcement_FINAL.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> and we couldn't be happier!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/239/F3E8E3397A949FC89E455EACF87DF705.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-26056287184358811782014-04-23T21:56:00.000-05:002014-04-23T21:56:55.989-05:00Who's waiting when waiting tables<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before the baby we country folk went to the big city. No not Lubbock, Dallas! While in Dallas we decided to go out to eat. There may be a lot to see and do in Dallas but I love the restaurant scene.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was am ambitious teenager. As soon as I could have a job (age 16) I had two jobs. By day I was a camp counselor and by night a steakhouse waitress. Both jobs fit my personality and satisfied everything I was looking for in a summer job. Two paychecks didn't hurt either...IF ONLY I had saved that 'fun money' and not eaten Chick-fil-a every day! Then again, only in my teens could I get away with eating Chick-fil-a every day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I digress... There is a HUGE difference in Dallas restaurant experiences and country restaurant experiences. I'm not talking Kenichi vs. Cracker Barrel. I mean really....the service in the country is slow. This is expected and embraced. Ok, maybe not embraced but it's dealt with because you have no choice. There aren't as many people in the country, so the waiter is going to enjoy your company, your food will be made fresh (or freshly defrosted) and you'll find little to complain about when the only other table is across the restaurant. This slower pace was a huge transition for this city girl but I've grown accustom to it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">However, in Dallas?! No. Not expected and not embraced. With the restaurants so packed and waiters flying all over the place you expect attention and therefore fast service. During our recent trip, at this un-named restaurant, our waitress was as slow as molasses. Seriously. I understand if you're double sat or in the weeds, but this chick WALKED slow and TALKED slow. Think Daria. (Remember Daria?) I always thought she talked slow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The worst part of the entire meal was towards the beginning when my dad asked for lemons for his iced tea (why didn't the tea come with a lemon to begin with?). She left the table for the lemons and went <i>somewhere</i> (not the kitchen because we could see the kitchen door). We see her walking towards us with the lemons but in route she decides to grab a water pitcher and refill water from another table and they ask for the check. So she goes to a POS, waits for the person using the POS to finish, and then prints the check and drops it at the table. THEN she brings my dad his lemons. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thankfully my parents had their back turned and didn't see this. My sister, husband and I saw her entire journey and knew we were doomed! I am a firm believer in the common saying "everyone should work in a restaurant or retail at one point in their life". I totally agree. I even agree with Maria who writes <a href="http://hellogiggles.com/7-things-you-learn-from-working-in-a-restaurant" target="_blank">"7 Things you Learn from Working in a Restaurant"</a> Her final thought is working in a restaurant <span style="background-color: white;">gives you the<span style="color: #cc0000;"> "</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: Sanchez, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.079999923706055px;">inability to tip anything less than 25% for the rest of your life."</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Sanchez, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.079999923706055px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've been known to over tip. I even have my husband over tipping! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">HOWEVER, after you've worked in a restaurant you realize that it's NOT THAT HARD. That there are certain things you ALWAYS do. Like:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Greet your guests as soon as they are seated so they know you saw them and they know they are important to you. There is nothing worse than looking around the restaurant like a pound puppy thinking "doesn't anybody love me?" Hubby and I have been known to leave restaurants if we don't get greeted in a timely manner. First impressions people, first impressions. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bring lemon with iced tea (and water) <-- why has this stopped being the norm?</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Know that your table is probably watching your every move. And if you would rather stand in line at a POS than serve a table they will feel under appreciated and have a bad experience.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do the 360 turn! When you leave a table turn around in a complete circle and check ALL the tables around you- yes, even those tables that aren't yours. You'll notice something is needed, or a guest will ask you for something. It's a guarantee</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">! Don't just walk away! Do you want your table to walk away from the check? Didn't think so. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I agree with Maria, in that the wait staff isn't a servant or a slave. However, they are the only way to get anything at a restaurant...if I could I would have grabbed those lemons out of her hand and given them to my dad! </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My husband paid for that lunch and I was sure to write a note on the check. Back in MY days the manager would read the credit card receipts to be sure you input the correct tip amount. So I always leave my notes on the credit card receipt. Is this still the case?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Am I turning into a bitter old lady? Sorry for the rant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Grits,</span></div>
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<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/239/F3E8E3397A949FC89E455EACF87DF705.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">p.s. I would never work retail because I know I wouldn't have a paycheck after that job! I would spend everything on the inventory I was selling! I can only eat so much food so I took the restaurant route. Anyone feel differently?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-19411968923968134422014-04-19T11:41:00.000-05:002014-07-03T22:37:35.351-05:00Books I've read during my pregnancy<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've always loved to read. No matter where I am I'm reading something. I give credit to my mother and my grandmother (a retired librarian). Heck, I had a book themed baby shower!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It comes at no surprise that I remained an avid reader during my pregnancy. I'd like to share with you the books I read during my pregnancy and my personal book review.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553381156/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0553381156&linkCode=as2&tag=higheeandgr0d-20&linkId=D3SYKGH6Y2V65M5Z"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0553381156&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=higheeandgr0d-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=higheeandgr0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0553381156" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><center>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> My favorite book this pregnancy was <b>Ina May's Guide to Childbirth</b> which speaks to the very natural process of childbirth. This hippy book is about a midwife who lives on a farm in Tennessee. Women would come from all over the nation to have Ina May and her team guide them in natural childbirth. Each woman becomes a part of the farm during their time before and after their childbirth. They clean their own cabin rooms, help with farming and even walk the woods during their beginning contractions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I heard about this book on a blog and I'm so glad I did! The beginning of this book contains stories of women who had natural births on 'The Farm'. The second half of the book, written by Ina May, speaks to the process of natural birth and explains terms and medications your doctor will mention. I will say this book is very biased. Ina May is completely against a medicated and hospital birth (she HAS had to take a high risk mother to a hospital for a birth - she's not cruel). But the 1960's hippy girl in her never died as she fights for women's rights and sticks it to "the man".</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594712980/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1594712980&linkCode=as2&tag=higheeandgr0d-20&linkId=FIMSRYJXLHX645VJ"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1594712980&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=higheeandgr0d-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=higheeandgr0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1594712980" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><center>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> When I heard about two friends from my Catholic elementary school becoming pregnant around the same time (1 year before I became pregnant) I was so happy for them! I wanted to send them a congratulations gift. I looked and looked for what I thought would be best and I came across this book. Unfortunately by the time I found this book I thought it was too late to send a congratulatory gift. But let's face it, it's never too late to send a gift!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> This book is a week by week journey through your pregnancy. Each week is about 2-4 pages beginning with what's medically going on in your pregnancy, followed by real life stories and advice from the author and finished with a prayer. The prayers were short and always had a challenge for the week: <i>Dear Jesus, walk with me in these final weeks of pregnancy, and hold me close to your Sacred Heart. I am looking forward to meeting this baby, but I'm not necessarily looking forward to the process that gets me there. Keep me wise as I prioritize and focus always on God's will for my every day. Amen. </i>See? I loved this book because it was a light read before bed. Nothing too scary or too heavy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I just realized this book also has a chapter on baptism. I guess I need to read that (we haven't baptized Marshall yet).</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0824524594/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0824524594&linkCode=as2&tag=higheeandgr0d-20&linkId=6IBXHS2THLBWDAVX"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0824524594&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=higheeandgr0d-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=higheeandgr0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0824524594" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Another Catholic book I read throughout the nine months was <b>Prayerfully Expecting</b> by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle. I knew the nine months of pregnancy would be a perfect novena opportunity. A novena is when you pray for nine days in a row. It sounds easy but it is really hard for me! I figured if I had nine months I would at least have 30 days to remember my novena commitment. Believe it or not I still fell behind!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> This novena is pretty intense. You really need to set aside time to pray this. Not only are you praying a rosary (which takes about 30 minutes) there are other prayers and meditations that go with each month. While this was the most challenging book to read/pray. It was also the most rewarding. If you're up for it, I say give this a try!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0761148574/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0761148574&linkCode=as2&tag=higheeandgr0d-20&linkId=WA4KBN2XIHWS27OM"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0761148574&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=higheeandgr0d-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=higheeandgr0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0761148574" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><center>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Funny story. One day I was in a Salvation Army store because they were having a sale. $5 for as many books you can fit in a box. I found a What to Expect When You're Expecting and put it in the box. I figured "Hey, I'll be pregnant someday and these books are expensive!" What do you know, it came in handy! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> As soon as I found out I was pregnant I read this book cover to cover. Seriously. And it was an AWFUL idea! While they guide you through month by month, there are many tangents you can take when you find a symptom throughout your pregnancy. Q: "I have gas, what does this mean?" A: "Gas is very common for pregnant women, it is due to the change in hormones. However, if you have severe gas it could be a sign that this pregnancy will be horrible and you will have a severely painful birth!" I would proceed with caution with this book. It give a LOT of information, most of which I found unnecessary during my pregnancy. Just keep it by your side as a reference but definitely take your doctor's word over anything.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> When I wasn't reading I was visiting blogs, pinterest and the <a href="http://whattoexpect.com/" target="_blank">WhatToExpect website</a>. One day on this website I found a message board for mothers due in March. I joined and someone shared that there was a Facebook group for mothers due in March that would work better than the message board. So I joined the March Mom facebook group. This community was a godsend. No really, God sent me this community. Without them I would have been a nervous wreck throughout the pregnancy. We were all going through similar symptoms at the same time. <i>"Anyone buying new bras? Where are you getting yours?" "My body is doing this funny thing, anyone else?" "Is my baby bump supposed to look like this?"</i> etc. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We turned Wednesday's Hump Day into Bump Day and would share our belly bumps!<br />
Faces distorted to protect privacy. It was a secret group on Facebook.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> My sister-in-law was the only person in my life who was pregnant around the time I was. This was her second baby and so she had her hands full with a toddler. With over 200 women in this Facebook group there was always someone to encourage you, comfort you and suggest medical attention. This group is still going strong today as we share milestones our babies are reaching. I've learned I'm already a competitive mom. I said to J the other day: "A baby in my mommy group is already rolling over. Should Marshall be rolling over? I'm going to see if he can roll over." yikes! It has begun!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">High Heels!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-61136418959773240862014-04-07T20:19:00.000-05:002014-04-30T18:36:05.580-05:00What happens PP (Postpartum)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My sister took this picture when MJ was 1 week old. </div>
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Which means I'd been a new mom for one week! </div>
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My expression sums up how overwhelmed I was after 1 week, haha!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was so ready to become a mom. <a href="http://highheelsandgrits.blogspot.com/2014/04/books-ive-read-during-my-pregnancy.html" target="_blank">I read every blog and book out there</a>! I thought I was so prepared for what would happen before, during and after the delivery of my son. However, I will admit I skimmed over the <b>after</b> part. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I took advice from mothers close to me who said:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">take everything from the hospital: disposable underwear, extra large pads (and I mean EXXTRA large), baby brushes, etc.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You won't sleep at the hospital or when you get home so get ready</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You won't want to look, touch or even think about what happened down there - just mentally avoid that area all together. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">require anyone who holds your baby to wash their hands first</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">However there are a few things I didn't expect to happen. Let me share: </span></div>
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<li><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You will lose your butt!</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> It was so firm and tight and now it's flabby and loose. I was wondering why Tracy Anderson was so focused on the glut exercises during my pregnancy workouts... now I understand and it's depressing!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Your <b>baby will not be a newborn for long!</b> We're already out of newborn diapers (thankfully we flew through three boxes of newborn diapers in perfect timing). He outgrew newborn clothes by week 3.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Your boobs will be HUGE</b> for a few days after delivery and then deflate. Womp womp (Don't buy new bras for this new "huge" stage, it only lasts a couple of days)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>You will need night vision</b>. You'll be nursing and changing diapers in the dark. Unless you want to turn on the light and confuse your newborn into thinking it's daytime. Therefore causing him to stay awake all night and sleep all day. Trust me - keep the lights off!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Breast milk will get EVERYWHERE</b>. In some cases that's ok. They say breast milk can soothe baby acne or mucus in the eye - even diaper rash! But it will also be on on every shirt and pair of yoga pants you own. (Because you will only be wearing yoga pants in public now) I say "in public" because you may walk around the house naked. Or maybe in just a pair of boxers and a nursing bra. Seriously- no shame anymore you just squeezed a baby out of you know where! Your body is AWESOME.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Baby spit up will be everywhere too</b>! Think you have enough burp cloths? Think again! Did you buy those onesies with clever sayings on them? Well that will be covered up by a bib until your baby out grows that onesie. Think not? well if your child isn't wearing a bib you'll be changing onesies non-stop because they are spitting up every 5 minutes! Oh, and you probably don't have enough bibs either. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And finally, <b>if you think you are a good person because you </b>went to the baby shower, bought a gift and said "congratulations" the day your friend's baby was born; you're right you are a good person. But after you have a baby you realize a FREAKIN AMAZING person comes over, cleans the house of the new mommy, gives her time to nap and doesn't touch her baby's face and spread germs just in time to leave her with a sick baby. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Of course you'll never truly understand ANY of this until you have a baby of your own. I just had a baby and I still can't believe half of it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Grits,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/239/F3E8E3397A949FC89E455EACF87DF705.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-49692917721637128242014-04-03T18:05:00.000-05:002014-04-03T18:49:11.210-05:00Birth Story<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am so honored to share with you the story of how our little boy entered the world!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> You need to know I read tons of books, tons of blogs and watched <a href="http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/" target="_blank">The Business of Being Born</a> (<i>it's on Netflix) </i>prior to this day. I felt fully informed and aware of my options. I was 100% confident in our doula, Danielle, and in my husband. The three of us attended a doctor's appointment 9 days before the birthday. At this appointment the doctor wanted to know the size of the baby fearing the baby was too big for a vag delivery. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> My husband and I had hoped for a vaginal delivery for various reasons. First, the recovery time following a vaginal delivery is much shorter than a C-section recovery. But along with the vag delivery we wanted to stay away from pain medication. The whole "baby comes out drugged" excuse doesn't fly any more because the drugs used now-a-days don't effect the baby like that. So for us it was a spiritual exercise. In the Catholic faith suffering isn't seen as a bad thing. Hence why our churches have a crucifix hanging at the front showing the suffering of Christ. We believe it is through suffering that we are brought closer to Christ. He suffered and we can too. Life isn't easy, even the Son of God didn't take the easy way out. Also in our faith we believe you can offer your suffering to God for a special request. I had never heard of this before, but the thought of offering my labor pains for this unborn child seemed like the most amazing opportunity to prepare for his future. Forget the college fund, let's store up his treasures in heaven! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Our goal was an all natural birth. At that last appointment we learned the baby weighed 7lb 6 oz so he was technically small enough for a vaginal delivery. I was so happy! They estimate babies gain half a pound a week, so he would be 8lbs at birth. Hopefully that natural birth I wanted. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Imagine my surprise when my due date came and went, when my doctor demanded an induction and I was scheduled to be in the hospital at 41 weeks and 3 days. Most doctors don't want their patients to go past 42 weeks, for the safety of the baby and mom. My doctor was the same way. I was stubborn and wanted my water to break naturally, I wanted the "It's time" moment with my husband. Instead we arrived at the hospital with water bag in tact and facing the induction we didn't want. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> In the end we realized it was better for me to be at the hospital on a schedule. I'm such a planner it would have driven me crazy to have no control over when my water would break. So we came to terms with it and thanked God for giving us what we needed, not what we wanted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I checked into the hospital at 7:30 p.m. My doula, Danielle, met us in the "ambient birthing suite" a larger than normal hospital room with </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">large flat screen TV <i>(we never turned this on)</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">glider rocker <i>(my new best friend)</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">birthing ball <i>(my other best friend) </i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">squatting bar <i>(never got to this side of the room)</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">XM radio with surround sound <i>(never turned this on)</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">alternative lighting <i>(it was AWESOME to be able to dim the lights and keep the room dark during the night hours)</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">mats for birthing positions <i>(never used these)</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">portable monitors <i>(an absolute MUST!!)</i></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> As a first time mom the check-in process was intimidating. We had to sign contracts and liability forms for things you hoped weren't going to happen. When it came time to sign the C-section form I hesitated. "Just because I'm signing this doesn't mean you're going to cut me open right?" I found it important to ask these questions and feel I had control over my choices in the hospital. I wasn't sick, I was just pregnant. The nurse checking us in was surprised with all the questions we asked. I could tell it was going to be an interesting night... As my doula left she reminded us that first time deliveries are an average of 12 hours, some shorter some longer. We prepared for a peaceful night followed by a long day of labor. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> The plan was to dilate over night with a slow releasing progesterone insert cytotec. Following a 2 hour check in process (talk about anxiety!) we finally settled down and prepared to sleep through the night. The last time I looked at the clock it was 11:00 p.m. The next time I looked at the clock it was 11:30 p.m. I couldn't sleep through this dilation! I couldn't get comfortable on the bed and I needed to move around. Thankfully my doctor was OK with the wireless monitoring available in the doula room. Instead of being attached to a machine with wires limiting my movement I was attached to the machines through wireless monitoring. The BEST idea EVER!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> From 11:30 p.m. to 2:00 am I remember standing up, sitting in a rocking chair, eating ice chips and going tinkle a lot! I was given fluids via an IV throughout the night so while I wasn't drinking, I was being hydrated. My husband was a champ through this beginning stage of labor. He reminded me who to offer my pain for (I had a list of many people, living and deceased to offer my pain for). I remember telling him the pain was too much and that if I needed the Pitocin after this I would take pain medication because this just felt awful! His first response was silent. When I mentioned it again he gave me a vague reply like "We'll see". But I never screamed out in pain "GIVE ME THE MEDS!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> The nurse came in at 2:00 a.m. and checked my cervix. The only time I was in the bed was when she checked my cervix and that was the only time I was in EXCRUCIATING pain. Again, so happy I went with the wireless monitoring. She said I had progressed so much that we wouldn't even need the Pitocin or induction medication! Thanks be to God! I knew this meant I could do this natural which meant I could do this! I pumped myself up and got ready for the natural birth I wanted. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> My doula, Danielle, arrived at 5:00 a.m. her scheduled arrival time. She heard from the nurse I was dilated to 5 cm. When she walked in she said "You should have called me earlier." My husband and I just looked at each other, clueless. We thought it was going to take 12 hours...we're not even in active labor yet! While I was happy to see Daneille, I was even more happy to see the birthing ball (we couldn't find it)! This yoga ball on wheels with a kid's wagon handle. Such a brilliant invention. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I think my husband was happy to have her there. Now we had an advocate on our side, someone who knows how the natural birthing process works and he finally got to take a break. I remember seeing him laying on the floor stretching his back. I thought he was sleeping! I felt so bad for keeping him up all night (I had actually kept him up the night before at home, he was going on 4 hours of sleep!). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Once Danielle got there the energy in the room changed. I now had a woman's hand massaging me along with my husband's hand. The ying and yang of her gentle touch to his firm touch was distracting and helpful. I had her new voice and words of motivation and my husbands familiar voice and focused mantras. Knowing I was surrounded by so much love and support, at some point I became fully focused on laboring. I found a rhythm in the contractions. I found a happy place sitting on the birthing ball and leaning over the bed grasping a pillow while I looked into my husband's eyes. I found my previous experience with hot yoga helped me in my breathing as I exhaled "Shhhhh" during the contractions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Around maybe 6:30 a.m. Danielle said to me "You're doing go great!" and I replied "Well, I keep telling myself I haven't even hit transition yet, so this is only the beginning!" The delay in reply from Danielle hinted to me that I was actually going through transition at the very moment! She never told me I was in transition and I never asked. I just kept going and expecting much more pain. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Then there was the throw up and my water breaking while I stood by the bed. It wasn't a gush because the bag was bulging and the baby was pressing on it. Finally around 7:30 a.m. I had this incredible urge to go number 2. I went to sit on the toilet and couldn't bring myself to sit all the way down. But I really felt I had to go number 2!! I was thinking "well, I'll just go on the floor if I can't sit down". Then Danielle called the nurse and everything began.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Nurses rushed into my room, they got me on the bed and said I was dilated to a 10. One nurse said the baby would slide out at any moment. I'm thinking "What?! No, I just really need to use the bathroom". They were setting up the stirrups, I couldn't leave the bed. No more walking around. I was so exhausted at that point I was happy to stay in bed. It didn't hurt to lay down anymore...then again I was just so tired!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> My doctor came in to the room and made a joke. I was so out of it I didn't laugh and he said "Come on, not even a smile?" I smiled but I have no clue what I was smiling about. Then he reached in and broke the rest of the bag. It felt weird, no pain. It sounded like a rubber band being snapped, but it felt like a balloon being pinched to exhale the air...not a dramatic POP! My team of husband, doula, doctor and now 3 or 4 nurses were telling me to begin pushing. This was when things finally got difficult. I had no clue what to do! I had never had a baby before! I didn't know how to use those muscles! They told me to hold my breath and push. I didn't hear them say they needed me to hold and push for 10 seconds. I could only hold and push until count 7 or 8. And I could tell I wasn't pushing correctly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> They kept saying "You can do it!" which I thought to myself "Yea, I know I CAN I just don't know HOW." The doctor got a little frustrated and left the room to check on another patient. Then a nurse stepped in and pointed to the area where I needed to focus my energy. Danielle had brought a mirror, so I could see the baby's head and understood a little better what I was supposed to be doing. They also raised up these handles I could grab on to with my hands so I could push myself into a crunch position easier. THANK GOD FOR NURSES, they knew exactly what I needed. They had me push more without the doctor and he was called back in 5 minutes later. He gave me an episiotomy and a few pushes later our son was born!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Marshall didn't really cry when he was born, he was making noises so we knew he was ok. Hubby got to cut the umbilical cord, which, I was told, was really thick and tough. I think when the doctor started suctioning out his mouth the baby started to cry. Then they placed him in on my chest (a process called <a href="http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&id=82:the-importance-of-skin-to-skin-contact-&Itemid=17" target="_blank">skin-to-skin</a>), he stopped crying, I looked at his pretty little face and my husband leaned over and kissed me saying "You did so good!" A moment I'll never forget.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> There were so many nurse hands on the baby cleaning him off and taking his apgar test (he scored an 8 the first time). I don't even know if I was holding him, I was so tired my legs and arms were like jello! We began breastfeeding immediately and it seemed so easy! My doctor was stitching up my 3rd degree </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">episiotomy </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and I could tell my husband just wanted to get his hands on his son. Eventually my husband held him, bathed him, put on his diaper and got his birth measurements. He was 22 inches long and our "too big for vag birth baby" estimated at 7lbs 6oz was 8lbs 11.8oz! 8lbs 12 oz baby! That ultrasound was off by a pound!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> We are so blessed and happy with our birthing experience. We know God gave us the doula, doctor and nurses we needed for this to go well. But honestly the best part of this process was growing together as a couple. I couldn't imagine anyone else by my side on that day! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/239/F3E8E3397A949FC89E455EACF87DF705.png" style="background: none; border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-57824100602791814252014-03-16T11:01:00.000-05:002014-03-16T11:01:01.306-05:00Name Game Journal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the past...</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We both love the idea of naming our son after our dads. Marshall & Octavio. But then his initials would be MOM or OMM. And our nephew has those same initials. We also considered Saint names. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My #1 goal is something that <strong>doesn't</strong> translate from English to Spanish. I want it to stand on it's own. I don't want this kid to be one person to one side of the family and one person to the other side. Every BIG Saint name makes that BIG change: John/Juan - Joseph/Jose - Thomas/Tomas - Mark/Markos - Luke/Lucas - Matthew/Mateo....see?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So now at mass, we'll pay extra attention to the names in the readings. One day it was Amos, that's Italian and doesn't sound completely different in Spanish. It's Amos with an accent on the O.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One thing is unfortunate for sure. We cannot name our son after my husband. His name is SO common (especially with our last name) that it causes so much trouble with international travel, customs, car registration, voting, Everything! It's so sad!! We don't want our future child to blame us for the troubles in his life due to his name (I'm sure he'll blame us for enough as it is!) </span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sunday, October 7, 2013</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Out to dinner at Joe's Crab Shack (will totally bring the kid here- they have a playground!) and decided to talk about names for the baby if it is a girl. We've talked about boy names before but never really girl names.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">J melted my heart when he suggested naming the baby Rachel, after me! I love my name and I had been secretly thinking that would be a cool name for the baby. I also like my middle name Noel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">However, I would like a name that easily translates from English to Spanish. Something that changes in accent rather than entirety. Rachel becomes Raquel - that is a huge change in my mind. I'm stubborn and refuse to answer to Raquel. It's Rachel! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I suggested Christina. Or in Spanish Cristina. Sounds similar, one is with an accent and one is not. J suggested Caroline. He says it sounds similar in both languages. I've been leaning towards names that begin with the letter C, I'm not sure why.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have plenty of time to think about it...</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After Gender Reveal...before birth</span></b><br />
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When we found out the baby was a boy, all my name ideas went out the window. I am better at picking a girl name because I have more girls in my life, than boys. So we're back to picking boy names.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Still waiting to see what saint day the baby BOY will be born on. For now we're thinking of Marshall Jesus M. Initials MJM. Nickname MJ. Future basketball star, recording artist, who knows? But we aren't committed just yet. We still have time!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">9th Month</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">During this 9th month my husband has become obsessed with the name Tiberius. It turns out it is a saint name so I can't argue there. But I'm not willing to give up my dad's name for Tiberius. Hubs will have to give up Jesus. So his initials will be MTM. I think Tiberius is a cool name, but it has no significance to our family history. I don't want hubby to regret that decision.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We found out if the baby isn't here soon he'll be induced on March 13th. The saints with Feast Days on March 13th are St. Agnellus of Pisa, St. Urpasian, St. Sabinus, St. Heldrad, St. Macedonius, St. Roderic and Salomon, St. Mochoemoc, St. Roderic, St. Ansovinus, St. Theusetas, St. Kevoca, St. Ramirus and Companions, and St. Nicephorus. I don't see any of those working...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Birthday!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We kept the baby's name a secret from everyone! Even our doctor. So as soon as the baby was born and we confirmed it was a boy we were asked "What's his name?!?" by all the nurses and our doctor. I was so proud to be able to say "His name is Marshall Jesus". Very very cool. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So his initials are MJM and his name is Marshall Jesus. Well that lasted for about 12 hours. After word spread my friend nicknamed him Mar Mar, I heard my Father-in-law calling him Chuy, and my comedian of a brother-in-law met him saying "Marshall Marshall Marshall" like the "Marsha Marsha Marsha" of the Brady Bunch. I like MJ but I find myself calling him Marshall for now and it fits beautifully. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/239/F3E8E3397A949FC89E455EACF87DF705.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-77297604389040411682014-03-11T15:05:00.000-05:002014-03-16T10:28:53.473-05:00Last Month Diary<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Journal to Baby Boy as we await his arrival. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>February 7</b>: After feeling a lot of pressure over the weekend I went to see my doctor. Doctor says I can't attend Auntie Shaena's wedding in Las Vegas on February 22. He said you are measuring too big and I will probably have you before March 6. Too many emotions to share. I'll just say I'm thankful for the support everyone is giving us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Saturday, February 8: </b>Daddy and I celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary. Hard to believe we've been married a year and we already have a blessing like you on the way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>February 9: </b>Mommy wanted to relax all day, but couldn't! There was a family birthday party and we needed to look at car seats for your drive home from the hospital. Mommy did sleep on the drive to Lubbock. Dad said it was weird because he "missed his friend" who keeps him company on the road.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>February 13: </b>Went to the doctor with our doula, Danielle. Doctor visit went well. He says I'm a little dilated which means you're getting ready to make your appearance!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Saturday, February 15: </b>Mommy is very excited about your arrival. She has a lot to do to prepare, but she's not worried. She knows you'll come when you and God are ready.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>February 16: </b>Mommy and Dad were surrounded by the love of family and friends at your baby shower at the local Lion's Club. It was quite a crowd and you go lots of clothes and diapers! We thought we'd get a car seat, but we didn't. That's the #1 thing we need before your arrival. You'll soon realize Mommy is a safety freak.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>February 17: </b>I think you'll come on a Monday. Every Monday I feel a little more pressure as you try and make you way out. Dad surprised me after work so we could go shopping for a car seat. When we were shopping I called my friend Sarah G in San Antonio for advice. Instead of advice, Sarah just bought us our car seat on the spot! So it's thanks to Sarah, her husband Paul and your soon-to-be friend Vinny that you will be safe and sound following your entry into the world!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>February 18: </b>Mommy and Dad finished packing their hospital bags. The car seat and stroller are put together and we are ready for you to arrive! Mommy even had the energy to vacuum, cook dinner and do laundry. Can we say <i>nesting!!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>February 19: </b>There is a lot of pollen in the air this week. Mommy is very congested and wakes up every hour to blow her nose. Soon, I'll be waking up every hour to check on you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>February 20</b>: Went to the doctor. You aren't ready to come out yet! I got to see you on the ultrasound (well, the back of your head). The doctor wanted to make sure you were head down. Boy oh boy! You were head down and you have a big head! When I told Grandpa Kellar that he said you probably got that big head from him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>February 21: </b>These allergies really got to me today at work. I left work early because I couldn't focus on doing my job. Went home to rest all afternoon. Saw your cousin Carlos play basketball. He's really good! My doula is officially "on-call" for me which means she'll be checking up on us to be sure we feel healthy and happy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Saturday, February 22: </b>We could have been in Las Vegas today! I'm spending all day on Facebook and Instagram looking for pictures of Auntie Shaena's wedding. I forgot Las Vegas is 2 hours behind us. So I stayed up late trying to catch a glimpse of the bride. She looked beautiful! This week has probably been the most difficult week of my pregnancy. My body aches, my mind is distracted, my emotions are all over the place. I honestly couldn't imagine traveling 12 hours to be in a busy day of wedding activities. I can hardly imagine getting off the couch right now! These hormones aren't helping with the disappointment of missing my best friends wedding either :( I'm trying to get to the bottom of this ice cream tub, hoping there's a morsel of happiness down there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>February 23: </b>Daddy and I spent the day together. I slept in while he checked the cows and the land (he's watering wheat and plowing fertilizer into the ground). We went to church at noon in the next town and ate at Chili's for lunch. That spinach and artichoke dip never tasted so good! YUM! This afternoon we just watched movies and organized the house a little. Daddy's toboggan started falling apart, but Mommy was able to sew it together for him! Can't wait until I can sew something for you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>February 24: </b>You're still not here! No pressure this morning either. So much for my Monday theory. The wonderful people I work with threw me a baby shower for you today. I work with a lot of grandparents so they know what worked in the past and what works now! You got your first rosary (it's from <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><a href="http://www.medjugorje.org/" target="_blank">Međugorje</a>!</span>) , <a href="http://sophiegiraffeusa.com/made-for-baby.html" target="_blank">Sophie the giraffe</a> (for teething), and a<a href="http://www.wubbanub.com/products_main.html" target="_blank"> nubba wub</a>, among many other fabulous items. I wonder if you'll be a pacifier baby. Mommy would suck her thumb when she was a little girl but she needed braces later because of that! You aren't sucking your thumb in the sonograms so maybe you'll save us some money by avoiding braces. The Bishop blessed Mommy, thanking God for new life (that's you!) and praying for a successful delivery (whenever you decide that is...).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>February 24 (evening): </b>Wow! Today was a very hormonal day. You'll learn what hormones are when you are a teenager - until then, don't worry about it! Just be thankful the mommy and daddy have such great family and friends. They also are very good at communicating to each other. Mommy was feeling sad so she texted Daddy and he helped her relax. Then your Tia Mayra called Mommy and took her mind off the emotions. Mommy also talked to Aunt Shaena and Sarah and they both helped Mommy feel better. It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes a Sisterhood to console a mother-to-be. Thanks be to God for my girls (and husband).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>February 25: </b> Met with Danielle the Doula today. She says you'll probably be here NEXT Friday. that's the day after your due date. So much for Doctor thinking you'll be early. As long as you a healthy, mommy will be happy! I had steak and pasta for dinner and you LOVED it. I guess you're a true Texas boy who loves his beef! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>February 26: </b>An uneventful day today. You are still in there! I watched a movie called 'The Business of Being Born' it was an eye-opener to the natural birth process. Mommy is hoping for a natural birth, to keep the drugs out of your system. This documentary helped with my self-confidence about the whole situation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>February 27: </b>Mommy was up at 5 a.m. today and couldn't get back to sleep. I had a doctor's appointment today. Doctor says I'm 50% effaced and at a -3 station. I've felt my hip bones moving around so I thought there was some change. I'm surprised it's -3 stationed. Doctor wants to see how much you weigh next week. He thinks you'll be a big baby and we'll need to do a c-section. I don't want a c-section. Your daddy was 10lbs and he wasn't delivered via c-section. If you're big that just means there's more of you to love!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>February 28</b>: A lot of people thought you'd be joining us today, but you had other plans. People are calling and texting asking where you are. I tell them you are just too comfortable right now. I went grocery shopping today to prepare some frozen meals while we're home recovering from birth. The shopping tired me out so I'll make the meals tomorrow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Saturday, March 1</b>: Mommy was motivated to stay home and get stuff done today. She made 8 crock pot meals from the Six Sister's Stuff blog. These should keep us full for a few weeks following your birthday. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>March 2</b>: It snowed today! After a lazy day around the house mommy and daddy were looking forward to getting out of the house. But around 10 in the morning it started to ice and then snow! We stayed home and did some projects around the house. You decided not to come today which is good because that would have been a slippery ride to the hospital!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>March 3</b>: Mommy was so tired and hungry today! I think my face was swollen too. I tried eating spicy food because that is known to help labor start. I had black eyed peas and white rice with lots of Tabasco sauce. Oh and spinach. Then I had a dream I had triplets! Are you hiding something from me??</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>March 4</b>: Mommy is nervous about tomorrow's doctor appointment. How big are you? Why don't you want to come see us yet? We want to do what is right so we'll get you here as safe as possible. But feel free to get things started on your own. See that bag of fluid? Just pop it!</span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>March 5: </b>Doctor says you are only 7lbs right now. There is a 20% margin of error but I'm not worried. I am concerned that your head measurement was OOR (Out Of Range) which means you have a BIG head! Big head means big brain, so you're going to be smart! We got a 3D photo of you. You are so cute! We think you look like daddy, but you might have mommy's upper lip. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>March 6: </b>Today is your due date! and you're not here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>March 9: </b>Today is Aunt Jessica's birthday and Daylights Savings Day. You want to be a spring baby, not a winter baby. You want those long sunny days so you stuck around until the clocks changed. Actually you're still in there! Are you trying to be a summer baby?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>March 10: </b>I didn't go to work today because I was so tired from the weekend. I spent the weekend cleaning the house and getting ready for your arrival. I thought if I'd keep on my feet today and work out more you might make an appearance. You didn't. and now my ankles are swollen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>March 11: </b>Whew! I was so tired this morning! I drove an hour to work, parked my car and fell asleep in my car seat for about 20 minutes! I was snoring and everything! You are wearing me out kiddo! We have a doctor's appointment tomorrow to check on things. I'm pretty sure there will be no change. But you <u>will </u>be here in 2 days! I can't wait to meet you and I pray everything goes well during your delivery!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br />March 12: </b>As expected, no change in my progress this morning at the doctor. I keep telling everyone you are already a mama's boy because you don't want to leave my womb! We'll head in to the hospital this evening and spend the night. By morning my water will break and you'll be on your way!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>To be Continued...</b></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-77246076567927145642014-03-11T14:56:00.000-05:002014-03-11T14:56:31.564-05:00Prayers!<div style="text-align: left;">
A few prayers to get the through the next two days...</div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Trust in the LORD with all your heart </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">and lean not on your own understanding;</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"> in all your ways acknowledge</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">him, and he will direct your paths.</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;"><b><i>Proverbs 3:5-6</i></b></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #e06666;">Serenity Prayer</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">God grant me the serenity</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">to accept the things I cannot change;</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">courage to change the things I can;</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">and wisdom to know the difference.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;"><b><i>Breathing Prayer</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Take a deep breath and imagine that you are breathing in God’s Love.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Breathe in God’s love, and breathe out any tension or anxiety.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Breathe in God’s love, and breathe out fear.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Breathe in God’s love, and breathe out negativity.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Breathe in God’s love, and breathe out anger or resentment.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Breathe in God’s love, and breathe out worry.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Breathe in God’s love, and breathe out questions or doubts.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Breathe in God’s love, and breathe out judgmental attitudes.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Breathe in God's love, and breathe out anything in you that is not of God.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Now breathe quietly for a few minutes and imagine that God’s love is flowing through you</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">to every part of your body. Amen.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #e06666;">Advice from St. Francis de Sales</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Rather look to them with full hope that as they arise,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">God, whose very own you are, will lead you safely through all things.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">And when you cannot stand it, God will carry you in His arms.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">The same everlasting Father who cares for you today</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">will take care of you today and every day.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">He will either shield you from suffering or will give you</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">unfailing strength to bear it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Be at peace and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings. St. Francis de Sales</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #e06666;">Fountain Meditation</span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UoDKHp413iE/Ux9o5PErJmI/AAAAAAAAUUw/1-7ldX-VsHA/s1600/beginning+2++of+meditation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UoDKHp413iE/Ux9o5PErJmI/AAAAAAAAUUw/1-7ldX-VsHA/s1600/beginning+2++of+meditation.jpg" height="640" width="352" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3mG1Pa46KCQ/Ux9o7VqSP9I/AAAAAAAAUU4/-fVqg16xbhg/s1600/fountain+meditation+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3mG1Pa46KCQ/Ux9o7VqSP9I/AAAAAAAAUU4/-fVqg16xbhg/s1600/fountain+meditation+2.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qwoX28V_OM4/Ux9pfq9xhZI/AAAAAAAAUVE/4gQvtD-F93A/s1600/edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qwoX28V_OM4/Ux9pfq9xhZI/AAAAAAAAUVE/4gQvtD-F93A/s1600/edited.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the fountain outside the church belonging to the priest who married us.<br />We were meeting with him in 2012 when we snapped these photos. It was a beautiful day!</td></tr>
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<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/239/F3E8E3397A949FC89E455EACF87DF705.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-66726282010308667512014-02-25T10:18:00.000-06:002014-02-25T10:18:16.078-06:00Belly Bump Update!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pWa9Dh86fEc/Uwy_ncwdrBI/AAAAAAAAUJs/G5BmTGGg3-k/s1600/22_39+week+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pWa9Dh86fEc/Uwy_ncwdrBI/AAAAAAAAUJs/G5BmTGGg3-k/s1600/22_39+week+collage.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I promised a belly bump photo weeks ago and FINALLY got around to it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I wanted to take it in the same shirt because what you wear really does effect how pregnant you look. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is one of 3 shirts that I can wear without totally exposing my underbelly! Everything else rides up *awkward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can tell I got a new phone within the past 4 months. 22 weeks was taken with my Droid RAZR and now I have a Samsung LG G2. HUGE difference! I got the Samsung because it's the best camera phone on the market. So proud of myself for knowing what I wanted and going for it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Notice anything different in these pictures? Besides the basketball I swallowed...</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EAHkppT3kf4/Uwy_l2lXrMI/AAAAAAAAUJo/akOuA43cTuM/s1600/22_39+collage+ring+watch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EAHkppT3kf4/Uwy_l2lXrMI/AAAAAAAAUJo/akOuA43cTuM/s1600/22_39+collage+ring+watch.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I can no longer where my engagement or wedding ring (SO SAD!) and I can't even wear my watch! The swelling in my hands and feet is unnoticeable to everyone but me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have a few more blog posts sitting in "draft" mode. Hopefully I can get those published this week for you. </span></div>
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<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/239/F3E8E3397A949FC89E455EACF87DF705.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-35660937497929612642014-02-13T17:00:00.000-06:002014-02-13T17:00:07.078-06:0037 weeks - in the home stretch!<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">How far along?</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;"> 37 weeks</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hI-VUOw4Is8/Uv0vHMbGs0I/AAAAAAAAT68/zbFAkJ-pjYE/s1600/weeek+37.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hI-VUOw4Is8/Uv0vHMbGs0I/AAAAAAAAT68/zbFAkJ-pjYE/s1600/weeek+37.JPG" height="230" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Baby is the size of Swiss Chard (<a href="http://www.babycenter.com/slideshow-baby-size" target="_blank">source</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 15pt;">Total weight gain/loss: </b><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 15pt;">I've gained 22 lbs. I gained those 10 at Christmas which put me at 22 but since then I haven't gained any more. That's good in my eyes. It really feels like all baby now.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Maternity Clothes? </b>Nothing else fits!</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">Stretch marks?</span></b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span> A few on my lower abdomen, under the belly button. But they are very light and Hubby refused to feed my fear. So I'll go with "not really".</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">Sleep? </b><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">Sleep is good. Sleep is my best friend! As I anticipate being in labor for over 6, 10, or even 24 hours all I can think is "but when will I sleep?!" I'm trying to sleep as much as I can now. I fell asleep on the couch yesterday as Hubby warmed up the shower for me. It was awesome! I'm always tired after I eat, I think this baby sucks the life out of me as he digests our food.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Best moment this week:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> It feels like my belly is all baby now. So I feel every movement. It's very cool. Kinda sad that it's at the end of my pregnancy and I only get to enjoy this for a few more weeks (days?). But he is very very active! I'm sure I will miss that.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Miss Anything?</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> Definitely food items. Sushi, wine, rare steaks, and any over indulgence in sweets. I've wanted ice cream every day, but I can't remember the last time I had ice cream. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><b style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Movement:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> Lots of movement! Especially after eating and after taking my vitamins. I can feel him burrowing down south when I wake up in the morning and when I walk for long periods of time.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jNWx5vstAsU/Uv03PU-g2tI/AAAAAAAAT78/5hKKo2E1pig/s1600/32+weeks_33+weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jNWx5vstAsU/Uv03PU-g2tI/AAAAAAAAT78/5hKKo2E1pig/s1600/32+weeks_33+weeks.jpg" height="285" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I will try and take a belly photo this weekend! Sorry these are all I have</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Food cravings: </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> Nothing but I'm not saying "no" to as many things as I was in the beginning. I did crave and go buy orange juice and milk the other day. It was yummy.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Anything making your queasy or sick?</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> Just heartburn after a big meal. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Have you started to show yet?</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> Oh ya!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-weight: bold;">Symptoms: </strong><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Sciatic pain in hip is the worst. Still have indigestion, heart burn, numbness in hands, swollen ankles, very very congested. But as I prepare for an unmedicated birth I am putting all of this into perspective and I think "this is nothing to complain about" whenever I feel like complaining.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uaUJ3OFKtUM/Uv01RA7yJuI/AAAAAAAAT7k/-Jzh9MR2Jcc/s1600/PicsArt_1391699300854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uaUJ3OFKtUM/Uv01RA7yJuI/AAAAAAAAT7k/-Jzh9MR2Jcc/s1600/PicsArt_1391699300854.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super Sexy right? This is after a 3 day weekend in Dallas with PLENTY of walking and not enough sitting.<br />The 'after' picture is thanks to my LOVING husband who kept reminding me to elevate my feet and he wrapped them in ACE bandages for a night. Back to normal! (4 days later!)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Gender:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;"> BOY!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Labor signs:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> A few cramps here and there. Doctor said I was a fingertip </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">dilated</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> at today's appointment. I think he was lying to make the nurse and my doula feel excited.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Belly button in or out?</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> Hanging IN there!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Wedding rings on or off?</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> Off. Still wearing that size 8 ring (1 size up)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Happy or Moody most of the time?</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> Happy. No complaints here. I think I have a great 'tribe' to help me through the birthing process. Loving my doula! So I'm just waiting for the big day. Trying not to think too much about it so I don't get depressed if it doesn't happen soon.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Looking forward to:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> My baby shower this weekend, organizing (nesting) and my BFF getting married in two weeks! Can't wait for her big day!!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/239/F3E8E3397A949FC89E455EACF87DF705.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-83299956783145663352014-01-31T17:00:00.000-06:002014-02-05T12:45:26.375-06:00Baby Nursery Brainstorming<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Typical to my personality I am not satisfied with anything I can find in a jumbo store. While we registered at Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby, there wasn't a "theme" that I loved. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I feel it would be a huge waste to invest in something that wouldn't transition into a toddler or child's taste. Teddy bears? He'll grow out of that in a heart beat (A new mother's heart beat - wahh!! ). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hubby wanted a car theme but Hub's love of cars will be passed down regardless of the bedroom theme. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I never had a brother, so I can only go by cousins and school boys. So I always think of dirty fingernails when I think of little boys. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/112953244/boy-definition-boys-room-decor-vinyl?ref=market" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gb3NJreyUs8/UuveScIt0OI/AAAAAAAATi8/2AeoQsg-I4k/s1600/boy.jpg" height="320" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/112953244/boy-definition-boys-room-decor-vinyl?ref=market" target="_blank">Etsy Vinyl </a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Think Chic Dirt and you'll understand how</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I fell in love with this <span style="color: #cc0000;">Lumberjack </span>themed baby shower I saw on Pinterest </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zDA1qTMn__c/UuvbSPM4GZI/AAAAAAAATiM/P0DXc91zf-g/s1600/lumberjack+shower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zDA1qTMn__c/UuvbSPM4GZI/AAAAAAAATiM/P0DXc91zf-g/s1600/lumberjack+shower.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/263742121901364083/" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I let my imagination flow from there. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50203793/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pBt7wLdR-14/UuvbdarvFPI/AAAAAAAATiU/Vrq4XmMDAnk/s1600/ikea+rug.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50203793/" target="_blank">IKEA Rug </a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not sure if we need a rug since the room has carpet.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10197478/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t2e2V1YwMYo/UuvbpBVwRxI/AAAAAAAATic/tNhUKDm4TKI/s1600/ikea+sheets+2.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10197478/" target="_blank">2nd choice in IKEA duvet cover and pillow </a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50197457/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8NYKDq_Rs_g/UuvbpMtPtRI/AAAAAAAATig/KW9NrEtQVAA/s1600/ikea+sheets.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50197457/" target="_blank">1st Choice in IKEA duvet cover and pillow </a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I can see these easily transitioning into a toddler's bed. Since they are only the duvet and pillowcase, we don't need to worry about spills or bed wetting ruining them. These are VERY INexpensive compared to what they sell at Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">IKEA is great, but I don't always understand the European design. For example: these fruits and vegetables with faces. I'm not a fan.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00194791/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R5-YWnIRUqs/UuvcwhKmbeI/AAAAAAAATiw/h-TPvQBcMZE/s1600/sheets+i+don't+like.png" height="283" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00194791/" target="_blank">IKEA Bed Set</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The following Pin-spirations are embedded from <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/rachelkellar/baby">www.pinterest.com/rachelkellar/baby</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you're on a mobile phone or device you might not be able to see the rest of my nursery inspiration. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">Decor</span></h3>
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<a data-pin-do="embedPin" href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/263742121901836221/">Rachel Kellar's pin on Pinterest.</a>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Baby Clothes
</span><br /><a data-pin-do="embedPin" href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/263742121901338167/">Rachel Kellar's pin on Pinterest.</a>
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<a data-pin-do="embedPin" href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/263742121901304764/">Rachel Kellar's pin on Pinterest.</a>
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<script async="" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <a data-pin-do="embedPin" href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/263742121901260341/">Rachel Kellar's pin on Pinterest.</a></h4>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Baby Toys
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Are we seeing the theme now?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He'll grow up around cows, horses, chickens and goats but this is another side of nature I'd like him to learn about. He's more likely to encounter a fox than an elephant (no jungle or circus themes). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At the end of the day, raising a child is hard enough, I didn't want to over think a nursery. Being a fan of camping and the outdoors, this came natural to me and if mommy is happy everyone is happy!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Of course a part of me LOVES the "little gentleman" theme too:</span><br />
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<a data-pin-do="embedPin" href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/263742121901360098/">Rachel Kellar's pin on Pinterest.</a>
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<a data-pin-do="embedPin" href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/263742121901360096/">Rachel Kellar's pin on Pinterest.</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He may be a boy, but mommy still loves shoes!!</span><br />
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<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/239/F3E8E3397A949FC89E455EACF87DF705.png" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px !important;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-45543132320539484512014-01-23T15:05:00.002-06:002014-01-23T15:05:43.068-06:00Book Baby Shower<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Of course there is no where I'd rather be on my birthday, than my home town Dallas Texas. So I was fortunate this year to have a baby shower the weekend of my birthday. It was hosted by my 5th grade teacher who is now my mom's new BFF. She just renovated her house, you'll catch glimpses in the photos. She really opened it up, it looks great!</span><br />
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It was a 'Book' themed shower. All guests were asked to bring a gift and a book. I wasn't expecting the menu to be book themed as well! Too cute!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cloudy with a chance of meatballs - served along side meatballs!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E-SGtVaq854/UttBfpDua6I/AAAAAAAATWE/EfDMCZu7Emc/s1600/DSC_0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E-SGtVaq854/UttBfpDua6I/AAAAAAAATWE/EfDMCZu7Emc/s1600/DSC_0245.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss with Green Deviled eggs<br />One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish with goldfish crackers and home made crackers</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xgh8yjzrTzo/Uts_NGaEgYI/AAAAAAAATR0/cWkSPnwWTAA/s1600/DSC_0243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xgh8yjzrTzo/Uts_NGaEgYI/AAAAAAAATR0/cWkSPnwWTAA/s1600/DSC_0243.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Book of Virtues with bumble bee cupcakes<br />featuring virtues such as "Bee Honest", "Bee Friendly" etc.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pozD9Gm0TP0/UttBcaNi_zI/AAAAAAAATWM/mouECRRHSWI/s1600/DSC_0246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pozD9Gm0TP0/UttBcaNi_zI/AAAAAAAATWM/mouECRRHSWI/s1600/DSC_0246.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Hungry Little Caterpillar next to the veggie tray. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MwONX55vSC0/Uts_Y6WtO1I/AAAAAAAATV4/-mEhb5slr9g/s1600/DSC_0242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MwONX55vSC0/Uts_Y6WtO1I/AAAAAAAATV4/-mEhb5slr9g/s1600/DSC_0242.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh, the Places You'll Go with sugar cookies shaped like feet!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6PCmFumKBOI/UttCZCukhfI/AAAAAAAATWc/WOJlO42w02w/s1600/DSC_0248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6PCmFumKBOI/UttCZCukhfI/AAAAAAAATWc/WOJlO42w02w/s1600/DSC_0248.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I could not get enough of the cheese and crackers. <br /><i>Maybe that means the baby will love this book!</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SKqv3hw1WoY/UttCfT2V0AI/AAAAAAAATWk/8ullJftMOvQ/s1600/DSC_0249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SKqv3hw1WoY/UttCfT2V0AI/AAAAAAAATWk/8ullJftMOvQ/s1600/DSC_0249.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I registered at Buy Buy Baby. I love that they offer a free wrapping station. Some guests did wrap their presents there. That is a diaper cake back there! yay!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N8BoO0mj5D8/UttEoTKcIuI/AAAAAAAATTg/6ZZ-7_7jMhc/s1600/DSC_0260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N8BoO0mj5D8/UttEoTKcIuI/AAAAAAAATTg/6ZZ-7_7jMhc/s1600/DSC_0260.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NDD3wIkdZo8/UttF6VgRfqI/AAAAAAAATW0/Q0gPzms7xzE/s1600/DSC_0264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NDD3wIkdZo8/UttF6VgRfqI/AAAAAAAATW0/Q0gPzms7xzE/s1600/DSC_0264.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A Texas onesie from my mom with a baseball hat.<br />My hubby wears baseball hats all the time and my mom swears she's going to buy a matching Texas shirt too.<br />She's loving this grandmother thing.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SC9E3PlH0NY/UttHobiUzkI/AAAAAAAATXc/SP4m7aeXlxc/s1600/DSC_0275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SC9E3PlH0NY/UttHobiUzkI/AAAAAAAATXc/SP4m7aeXlxc/s1600/DSC_0275.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lTRYHIHPPdE/UttIecoj_jI/AAAAAAAATUo/IAuGWqoIBok/s1600/DSC_0277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lTRYHIHPPdE/UttIecoj_jI/AAAAAAAATUo/IAuGWqoIBok/s1600/DSC_0277.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This beautiful piece of art was created by our family friend.<br />It is a collage featuring our last names and stamps from areas significant to our family.<br />Such a great personal piece!<br />I need to tap into my creative side when it comes to gift giving!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XEJZkB9nQ1Y/UttIly2al0I/AAAAAAAATXk/a3sXfUDFRhc/s1600/DSC_0278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XEJZkB9nQ1Y/UttIly2al0I/AAAAAAAATXk/a3sXfUDFRhc/s1600/DSC_0278.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Baby's first tie!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-At6nfOqyp68/UttI2qGNbRI/AAAAAAAATU4/bABmuoU56bs/s1600/DSC_0281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-At6nfOqyp68/UttI2qGNbRI/AAAAAAAATU4/bABmuoU56bs/s1600/DSC_0281.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The largest gift award goes to my two best friends (and bridesmaids)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This 3-in-1 walker Ally and Shaena. <br />Shaena swore she only bought off the registry, but she didn't on this one!<br />It is a black car that looks like a bat-mobile, Hubs loves it.<br />I said it'll be great for when it's wine night and I don't want to chase the baby around. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y8oHiJEuQXc/UttJrGE4s4I/AAAAAAAATXs/1jzUvXYWTkk/s1600/DSC_0284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y8oHiJEuQXc/UttJrGE4s4I/AAAAAAAATXs/1jzUvXYWTkk/s1600/DSC_0284.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Good Night Moon book and stuffed bunny from little sister Theresa/MOH</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rw5SqfUa66g/UttJzXOqOzI/AAAAAAAATVI/5Ns9k3KL6Kg/s1600/DSC_0285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rw5SqfUa66g/UttJzXOqOzI/AAAAAAAATVI/5Ns9k3KL6Kg/s1600/DSC_0285.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Baby got lots of stripes!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x-ePeobx5FA/UttLB-pfO1I/AAAAAAAATX0/ix_dtS4Dcgo/s1600/DSC_0291+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x-ePeobx5FA/UttLB-pfO1I/AAAAAAAATX0/ix_dtS4Dcgo/s1600/DSC_0291+-+Copy.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had a lot of fun. Didn't get emotional at all! No tears from this hormonal mama!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-khZm_fsKV5I/UttLR4vqRpI/AAAAAAAATVk/Y8cclKKWXvM/s1600/DSC_0292+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-khZm_fsKV5I/UttLR4vqRpI/AAAAAAAATVk/Y8cclKKWXvM/s1600/DSC_0292+-+Copy.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The highlight of the event was the new BumGenius cloth diapers.<br />I registered for the One-Size diapers so guests were figuring out how the snaps and folds worked.<br />After looking at them when I got home I'll need a crash course also!</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6spcX_7A6FE/UuGAvXFJaHI/AAAAAAAATbs/QiOjBt2QBxc/s1600/DSC_0330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6spcX_7A6FE/UuGAvXFJaHI/AAAAAAAATbs/QiOjBt2QBxc/s1600/DSC_0330.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All recorded by my mom in the baby book we received at Christmas!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MazsT7VDBRA/UuGA1WY-39I/AAAAAAAATcI/XWiqn_jlo3I/s1600/DSC_0350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MazsT7VDBRA/UuGA1WY-39I/AAAAAAAATcI/XWiqn_jlo3I/s1600/DSC_0350.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My younger sister, Jessica, (she's 3 years younger than me) and my mom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jessica was the photographer throughout the afternoon and did a great job! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think I'm standing on my tiptoes since Jessica is like 5 inches taller than me. No fair!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qxInGuJ7mdM/UuGA2Q0aSPI/AAAAAAAATcM/rY3wZJNAiE0/s1600/DSC_0351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qxInGuJ7mdM/UuGA2Q0aSPI/AAAAAAAATcM/rY3wZJNAiE0/s1600/DSC_0351.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A pleasant surprise was seeing my friend from college who is also pregnant!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I missed out on a belly bump with my Sister in Law, but Danielle was the next best girl!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/239/F3E8E3397A949FC89E455EACF87DF705.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-22363859582608503092014-01-22T13:51:00.000-06:002014-01-22T13:51:22.998-06:00Dear Daddy-to-be,<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Can you believe it's been 8 months since I asked you "Do you want to start trying?"? It feels like yesterday! Seriously, I remember exactly where we were and your facial expression when you heard the question. Now-a-days I can't remember my own name, but I'll never forget your face! Time flies when you're having fun! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think this pregnancy has been awesome for our relationship. Not that things were ever bad, but with the could-be stress of a pregnancy things are going much better than I expected.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You have been such a support throughout these 8 months. I am actually looking forward to the support you'll provide me during the labor and birthing process. I wouldn't want anyone else by my side in the hospital.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On that note, I want to say Thank You:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for joining me on this adventure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for supporting me along the way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for listening.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for calming my nerves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for having your own opinion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for dealing with my mood swings, <i>even though you say they aren't that bad, I kinda think you are lying to make me feel better. ;) </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for coming TO me when I cry (due to hormones) instead of "giving me space".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for agreeing to keep the name a secret.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for the many <u>many</u> massages.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for dealing with my awkward sleeping patterns and positions now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for the food runs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for tempting me with ice cream and congratulating me when I refuse.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for gaining more weight than me! (I don't really mean that - haha)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for not overreacting to my stretch marks like I did.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for your positive outlook on our future.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for attending the birthing classes and doctors appointments.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for planning a paternity leave.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for your prayers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and of course, Thank you for being who you are! I think we make a <b>great </b>team! You are one of a kind and I wouldn't have it any other way!</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">High Heels!</span></i><br />
<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/239/F3E8E3397A949FC89E455EACF87DF705.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-76129823360970656022014-01-21T12:00:00.000-06:002014-01-21T12:00:04.674-06:00Wedding Season 2014<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Forget the baby talk, Wedding Season has begun! My best friend for the past 23 years (I'm 28 years old) so my lifelong friend - is getting married. She is a savvy sexy successful woman who is way to cool to call me her friend but for some reason she does. (Thanks!) Her #1 no-no is most social situations is children. She'd just "rather not". Rather not deal with the crying, rather not deal with the distraction and just "rather not". So at her upcoming wedding at the end of February she has a strict NO CHILDREN rule. Five of her nine bridesmaids are married and three of the five have children. More like</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> toddlers, not children. Either way, they are not invited to the wedding.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was so anxious for her reaction when I announced my pregnancy. I expected her initial reaction would be one of the following Pinterest comments:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9_bc4zLNgtw/Uf_7_kJ5-LI/AAAAAAAARwo/P-ymJ11fgo4/s1600/You're+OUT.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9_bc4zLNgtw/Uf_7_kJ5-LI/AAAAAAAARwo/P-ymJ11fgo4/s400/You're+OUT.PNG" height="400" width="223" /></a> </span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">YIKES!! Not so nice...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"> <a href="http://styleunveiled.com/wedding-blog/tamera-mowrys-wedding-photos-by-jose-villa.html" target="_blank">Style Unveiled.com</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H52hT6rRJvI/Uf_8AyzOIGI/AAAAAAAARww/aClgsVDYeDk/s1600/bridezilla.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H52hT6rRJvI/Uf_8AyzOIGI/AAAAAAAARww/aClgsVDYeDk/s1600/bridezilla.PNG" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">God Bless this bride with THREE pregnant BMs</span><br />
<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/267542034086021542/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">source</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ack! Even hubby recalls the bride-to-be saying "You better not knock her up!" ayayay</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When the day came I missed my chance to tell her face to face. However, she knew something was up and asked me a few days later. She is happy for me and hasn't banned me from her wedding.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let's face it, this pregnancy hasn't change me much. I'm a pretty lame friend anyways. I'm definitely not the one you call for a crazy night out. A crazy night IN? I'm all over that! lol</span><br />
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<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For all other pregnant bridesmaids out here: I found <a href="http://www.babble.com/relationships/10-insider-tips-for-pregnant-bridesmaids/be-honest-with-the-bride/" target="_blank">this website</a> with pregnant bridesmaid advice. </span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1.<b> Be honest with the bride </b><i>With this being my first baby I have no clue what to expect! But she is my BFF so she pretty much knows everything about me anyway.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3. <b>Order a bigger dress </b><i>Done!</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0T1_41WaoYA/Ut6qpuQ4VLI/AAAAAAAATaM/7IpskiCzSmY/s1600/1226131826a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0T1_41WaoYA/Ut6qpuQ4VLI/AAAAAAAATaM/7IpskiCzSmY/s1600/1226131826a.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PpUVUOItZds/Ut6qpuDL0WI/AAAAAAAATaM/-C-EIf6exyM/s1600/1226131825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PpUVUOItZds/Ut6qpuDL0WI/AAAAAAAATaM/-C-EIf6exyM/s1600/1226131825.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the dress straight from the boutique. Yes I said boutique, not store because it came with a boutique price tag, we're not talking David's Bridal here!</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I took this picture in my 17 year old sister's bedroom so the color doesn't do it justice. It's a really pretty dress I will ABSOLUTELY wear again, believe it or not. Also I had extra spark that day (notice the static cling). </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is before alterations. Can't wait to see how big I get by the end of Feb!</span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.babble.com/relationships/10-insider-tips-for-pregnant-bridesmaids/be-honest-with-the-bride/" target="_blank">More advice....</a></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">7. <b>BYOB: Bring snacks and water to stay hydrated</b>. <i>Fainting bride, cute. Fainting preggo, "TIMBER!!"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">8. <b>Comfortable shoes! </b><i>Flats for sure!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">9. <b>Laugh at yourself </b><i>Hormones = emotional. But tears at a wedding are OK!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm signing off with Grits on this. Being pregnant is hard enough, add in supporting your BFF on the most important day of her life and it's hard to remember to take care of yourself. So a definite Grit post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Grits</i>,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/239/F3E8E3397A949FC89E455EACF87DF705.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>It's not like I can wear high heels right now anyways.</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-42274800898546664472014-01-16T11:02:00.000-06:002014-01-16T11:02:00.449-06:00Baby is not the size of fruit<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I figured out the whole "your baby is the size of a _____" controversy I created.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks to my 4 pregnancy apps I realized the "size" they are talking about is <i>usually</i> the WEIGHT of the baby.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When you look at it that way they do kinda go up in weight..</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">18 weeks: Bell Pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">19 weeks: Heirloom Tomato</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">20 weeks: Banana</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">21 weeks: Carrot</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">22 weeks: Spaghetti Squash <i>maybe a small squash</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">23 weeks: Large Mango</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">24 weeks: Ear of Corn</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">25 weeks: Rutabaga</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">26 weeks: Scallion <i>ok, not this one</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">27 weeks: Head of Cauliflower</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">28 weeks: Eggplant</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">29 weeks: Butternut Squash</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">30 weeks: Large Cabbage</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">31 weeks: Coconut</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">32 weeks: Jicama</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">33 weeks: Pineapple</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then, Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Head of Romaine Lettuce, Swiss Chard, Leek, mini watermelon, and finally pumpkin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Close enough. I'll settle for an average of length and weight just to keep me happy.</span><br />
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<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/239/F3E8E3397A949FC89E455EACF87DF705.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-61723325837749908062014-01-10T14:29:00.000-06:002014-01-10T14:29:16.344-06:00It's my birthday!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This will be the second year in a row Hubby woke up early to make me birthday pancakes. He's so awesome! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here's to many more birthday's together and even more pancakes!</span><br />
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<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/239/F3E8E3397A949FC89E455EACF87DF705.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-76771218704096396452014-01-09T15:09:00.001-06:002014-01-09T15:11:43.488-06:00Working Out while Pregnant<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am SO grateful for my years in sports. My high school basketball and softball days helped me transition into TaeBo classes in college. Unfortunately those classes were only offered my freshman year. After that I had to find the time and energy to run on the track or go to a gym (yuck!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After college I become an at-home work out person. This included daily dog walks up and down hills in San Antonio and Arlington. I also enjoyed at-home yoga and hot yoga in a Dallas studio.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Since moving to the farm, I've kept up with dog walks without the hills (because there are none). I've also done yoga in my living room and zumba in the school gym. All are very satisfying. None are as strenuous as high school sports, but then again I'm not 16 anymore.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now that I'm pregnant it's even more obvious that I'm, as my dad said, "not a spring chicken anymore". During my first trimester I was tired ALL the time. I lost weight in the beginning and then started gaining about 1 pound a week (as recommended). My second trimester flew by! I got my energy back so I added a lot to my plate. Thankfully, I was energized enough to workout consistently too. My biggest workout deterrent is travelling. During the holidays when we traveled to Dallas or Lubbock to see family and friends I never found the time to work out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally, the holidays are over and I have no excuses. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've gained 15 lbs over the past 7 months and I have 2 months (hopefully!) to go. Which means I could end up with a total weight gain of 23 lbs if I gain 1 lb per week for the next 8 weeks. Since I was overweight to begin with, I would be comfortable with a 23 lb gain. While I'd prefer less, it's really up to the baby. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As </span><a href="http://highheelsandgrits.blogspot.com/2014/01/31-weeks-less-than-2-months-away.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">you read the other day</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, I have almost every symptom in the book. I've been ignoring my copy of 'What to Expect When You're Expecting' (I kinda read the whole thing as soon as I got it, scared myself into a stressful state of mind and decided to play it cool and just go with the flow which meant NOT reading that book anymore). Well I re-read the sections regarding my symptoms and everything could be fixed with a healthy diet and exercise. I've been eating really well and not giving into sugary or white flour cravings. So I feel more motivated than ever to workout!</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CDVng8_UcTk/Us8KxDKKpCI/AAAAAAAATHE/POscA7AOUto/s1600/tracy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CDVng8_UcTk/Us8KxDKKpCI/AAAAAAAATHE/POscA7AOUto/s1600/tracy.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The workout routine I've been doing is the <a href="http://tracyandersonmethod.com/interspire/products.php?product=Tracy-Anderson%3A-The-Pregnancy-Project" target="_blank">Tracy Anderson Pregnancy Project</a> DVD. I love it. I bought this DVD set in my first trimester. The only research I put into it was reading the reviews on Amazon. I'm still not into pregnancy magazines or anything like that so I went where the money is actually spent by consumers.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>PROS</i></b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The stage is all pastel colors and she plays relaxing music</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--NKbkpa74TU/Us8L_vZw60I/AAAAAAAATHQ/6Kmzm-wwRiE/s1600/TAM_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--NKbkpa74TU/Us8L_vZw60I/AAAAAAAATHQ/6Kmzm-wwRiE/s1600/TAM_2.jpg" height="174" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">See? Really muted and relaxing (<a href="http://www.themamamaven.com/2012/10/03/nyc-event-this-friday-tracy-andersons-pregnancy-project-dvd-series-launch-supporting-every-mother-counts-a-few-tickets-available/" target="_blank">source</a>)</span></td></tr>
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</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are 9 discs. One for each month. I have found each disc corresponds perfectly with where my body is during the pregnancy. And I could share the DVDs with my SIL who was 3 months further along than I was. (In return I got her extra changing pad and stroller!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tracy is SO nice! I've always liked the video trainers who say things like "you can do it" even though they don't know that I'm actually sitting on the couch eating potato chips. j/k I'm usually yelling back at them "Shut up! You don't even know me!" </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The further into my pregnancy, the more impact I see with the workouts. I couldn't even image some of the position she puts you in, but once you get in that position it feels amazing! For example, in months 8 & 9 we use a chair to help with balance and stability. I would have never considered that!</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>PRO & CON</i></b></span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is relaxing and doesn't "feel" like a workout. In the beginning I wanted it to feel like a workout (which is why this is part Con), but it is important to keep your body burning calories making the baby not making a 6 pack. (They say pregnant women have 40% more blood vessels in their body, so Tracy really works on getting the circulation throughout. I can tell a HUGE difference in my circulation on days I work out.)</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>CONS</i></b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tracy is BEAUTIFUL and her boobs are spilling out everywhere. It's not a bad thing, just makes me wonder why I am working out in a messy bun, no make up, and two sports bras and she has her hair perfectly curled, a face full of makeup and no bra?</span></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wSHZxAHNkPc/Us8MSWk3f6I/AAAAAAAATHY/cCeHMvfnnos/s1600/boobs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wSHZxAHNkPc/Us8MSWk3f6I/AAAAAAAATHY/cCeHMvfnnos/s1600/boobs.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">See? boobs everywhere! Then again, she's pregnant! (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUClIj4q1II" target="_blank">source</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are a lot of butt workouts. Tracy says we are "lifting" our buttock. If you've seen my buttocks, it is quite lifted so this big booty lady doesn't see the need in getting it higher up on my back!...but I do enjoy what it does for my hips. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Remember those biceps in baby boy's sonogram? I think it's safe to say he gets it from his mama! ;) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>High Heels!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/239/F3E8E3397A949FC89E455EACF87DF705.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-6062023286468562582014-01-08T16:01:00.001-06:002014-01-08T16:01:43.356-06:0031 weeks, less than 2 months away!<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">How far along?</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"> 31 weeks</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-epmLHYRW6M0/Us3CboMt_LI/AAAAAAAATA0/azfR8IcMJbI/s1600/31+weeks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-epmLHYRW6M0/Us3CboMt_LI/AAAAAAAATA0/azfR8IcMJbI/s1600/31+weeks.JPG" height="232" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You baby is the size of a coconut (<a href="http://www.babycenter.com/slideshow-baby-size">source</a>)</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Really?! He was a large head of cabbage last week and now he's a coconut? Isn't a coconut smaller than a large head of cabbage? Are they thinking of those big green coconuts hanging from palm trees? Those things are HUGE! I prefer this clever diagram from How To Be a Dad.com: </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ba-ILajImKY/Us3DKNilkUI/AAAAAAAATA8/xA2KKpshuRI/s1600/how+to+be+a+dad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ba-ILajImKY/Us3DKNilkUI/AAAAAAAATA8/xA2KKpshuRI/s1600/how+to+be+a+dad.jpg" height="640" width="364" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/244812929717664108/" target="_blank">How to be a Dad on Pinterest </a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Baby is the size of a JUMBO bag of chips! Okay, now we're talking!</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 15pt;">Total weight gain/loss: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 15pt;">I </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 15pt;">gained 10lbs after Christmas! My mentality was "no wine at dinner? Fine, I'll have 2 desserts!" I've lost 5 of those. So my total weight gain is 15lbs. My doctor does not seem worried.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><b style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">Maternity Clothes?</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">Oh ya. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">Stretch marks?</span></b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span> The stretch marks from my 5th grade growth spurt are darkening, but nothing ON the belly yet.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">Sleep? </b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">What is sleep again? I'm either passed out from exhaustion or I'm tossing and turning all night. Last night I came home and took a 4 hour nap. I'm pretty sure the only reason I woke up was because I was hungry. </span></span></div>
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<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Best moment this week:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> I'm just loving the baby kicks I feel all day long. I am slowly realizing that "don't you just love being pregnant?" mentality. Too bad it's only for a short while longer! </span></div>
<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Miss Anything?</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> I miss the way things were. Now, before he's even in my arms this little guy has taken over my lifestyle. Even hubby is having to adjust his finances to </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">accommodate</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> for our new addition. For example: movie theaters. We can't take a baby into a movie theater! So we are trying to enjoy the movie theater as much as possible (which is difficult when you have to pee every 30 minutes). Before you know it it'll be Redbox rentals and rated G movies for the next 13 years!</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /><b style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Movement:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> Tons and tons of movement. My office is usually pretty quiet, so when I answer my phone he starts kicking at the sound of my voice. During and after every meal he's jumping around. And when I lay down he's all over the place! I think he <i>may</i> be asleep in the car, so we might become those parents driving around the block in the middle of the night to get the baby to sleep.</span><br /><br /><b style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Food cravings: </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> None. I crave milk and ice cream to soothe the heartburn. I had skipped 2 days on my iron supplement and I was craving a hamburger BAD. I gave in. It was amazing.</span></span></div>
<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Anything making your queasy or sick?</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> I was telling Mr. Y at work about this family of rabbits that was living in our backyard and he told me I should shoot them and eat them. Then he started describing the skinning process and it made me pretty queasy, but I think that would have happened pregnant or not!</span><br />
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<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Have you started to show yet?</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> As Mrs. Y (Mr. Y's wife) told me today at lunch: "You are all baby!" </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">I wonder if I'll have a shelf like Halle Berry</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gDrFJ1kHx7Y/Us3I9zI5CmI/AAAAAAAATBM/yaElm41XAbY/s1600/halle+berry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gDrFJ1kHx7Y/Us3I9zI5CmI/AAAAAAAATBM/yaElm41XAbY/s1600/halle+berry.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2427658/Halle-Berry-masters-maternity-chic-stops-grocery-store.html">dailymail.co.uk</a></td></tr>
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<strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">Symptoms: </strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">What ISN'T hurting?! I need a prenatal massage BAD!!! Haven't done my workouts in a week, so I'm pretty stiff. We had our first childbirth class on Monday and they had a list of all the possible symptoms. I have everything except </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">hemorrhoids</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">. And I pray to GOD I don't get those!</span></span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Sciatic pain, indigestion, heart burn, dizziness, numbness in arms and hands (especially at night), headaches, tight muscles in stomach and legs, overheating, congested at night, lower back pain and a million more I cannot think of right now.</span></span></li>
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<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Gender:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> BOY!</span></div>
<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Labor signs:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> none</span><br />
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<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Belly button in or out?</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> Still in. I don't think it's going to "pop"</span><br />
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<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Wedding rings on or off?</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> Off. I bought my sisters and I these very thin sterling silver rings for Christmas. Mine is a size 8, so it fits my swollen ring finger perfectly :(</span><br />
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<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Happy or Moody most of the time?</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MOODY. Hello hormones! Stay out of my way if you don't want tears or an evil glare. Trying not to stress out about things, but it's </span></span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">inevitable. I thought planning a wedding was stressful but at least then you don't have the hormones to accelerate the drama. Hubby has requested I text him on my way home what my mood will be when I walk in the door. Yesterday he did a very good job of blending into the wall and avoiding the wrath of Rachel all together. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Ok, that's pretty exaggerated, but I definitely need a work out. As Elle Woods says in Legally Blonde </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">"</span></span><span style="background-color: #f6f6f5; color: #333333; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy....."</span></span></blockquote>
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<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Looking forward to:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> My baby shower in Dallas this weekend and attempting sewing projects with my new sewing machine. Mission 1: pajama pants Mission 2: Hospital gown </span><br />
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<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/239/F3E8E3397A949FC89E455EACF87DF705.png" style="border: 0px !important;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-42845018117851681142013-12-25T17:03:00.000-06:002014-01-07T17:05:20.680-06:00Our Christmas CardMerry Christmas!<br />
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I wanted to stay a head of Christmas this year. I didn't want to get stuck in the last minute rush of everything. So I intended on buying my Christmas cards early. Following our wedding this year in February, I wanted to do a wedding themed card, think: Married and Bright<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.minted.com/product/holiday-photo-cards/MIN-X68-HYC/married-bright?org=photo" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iBAa8U0q60M/UsyFlAAOJtI/AAAAAAAATAY/LqsEJ7oJg2g/s1600/minted+2.JPG" height="228" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.minted.com/product/holiday-photo-cards/MIN-X68-HYC/married-bright?org=photo" target="_blank">from Minted.com</a><br />"May your days be Married and bright"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H0vPHxxblmE/UsyElcLmkWI/AAAAAAAATAE/BwUBz3FWJao/s1600/married.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H0vPHxxblmE/UsyElcLmkWI/AAAAAAAATAE/BwUBz3FWJao/s1600/married.JPG" height="222" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Zazzle.com </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.minted.com/product/holiday-photo-cards/MIN-X6H-HYC/much-mistletoeing" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1aYUxQ-Ifek/UsyE9x7JfxI/AAAAAAAATAM/c3SG2LfSgw0/s1600/minted.JPG" height="228" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.minted.com/product/holiday-photo-cards/MIN-X6H-HYC/much-mistletoeing" target="_blank">From Minted.com </a><br />"There'll be much mistletoeing and hearts will be glowing"</td></tr>
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I think Minted.com has such amazing designs but it seemed overpriced to me at the time. Looking at the prices now I realize I paid more with my Zazzle purchase and received less cards! Next time I'll go with Minted.<div>
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We went with a pregnancy announcement/Christmas card. It was nice to kill two birds with one stone. (or is is it six french hens and one pear tree?) </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iBHq6RqjAA0/UsyHgfVJepI/AAAAAAAATAk/iKsepP3CLOs/s1600/mtz+card.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iBHq6RqjAA0/UsyHgfVJepI/AAAAAAAATAk/iKsepP3CLOs/s1600/mtz+card.JPG" height="285" width="400" /></a></div>
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I couldn't be happier and we received great compliments on the card!</div>
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I was very satisfied with the quality and print of the card. The only unfortunate mishap was the shipping. But that's another story!</div>
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<i>High heels!</i><br />
<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/239/F3E8E3397A949FC89E455EACF87DF705.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-34158120567601676362013-12-17T16:42:00.000-06:002014-01-08T16:45:29.242-06:0012 Things You Should Never Say to a Pregnant Woman<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I came across this list from <a href="http://www.babble.com/pregnancy/etiquette-rules-pregnancy-jokes-humor-rude-comments/etiquette-rules-pregnancy-jokes-humor-rude-comments-6/" target="_blank">Babble.com </a> about pregnancy etiquette. I'm sure I said one of these "don'ts" to a pregnant friend or family member of mine and if I did let me apologize! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I wanted to share this with you all because it is CRAZY the things friends and family but especially STRANGERS feel they can say to you. Consider your words before you open your mouth people!</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Was it planned? <em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">What to say instead</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">: “Congratulations, kids are great!”</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Did you take fertility drugs? <em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">What to say instead</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">: “Do multiples run in your family?”</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You look like you're ready to pop! <em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">What to say instead</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">: “How are you feeling?”</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><i>Hmm, a lot of people are asking how I'm feeling. Does this mean I look ready to pop?!</i></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Are you sure there aren't twins in there? <em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">What to say instead</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">: “Do you know what you are having?”</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Can I touch your belly? <em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">What to say instead</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">: “Wow, you look great! What a cute belly!”</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have you picked a name yet? Instead say: <span style="color: #999999;">"Are you having fun picking a name?"</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>This helps avoid the whole awkward "We're not telling the name to you because you're not important enough"</i></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Enjoy _____ now because once the baby comes, you can kiss that goodbye. <em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">What to say instead</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">: “Parenting is certainly full of ups and downs but it’s worth it!”</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">You shouldn't be eating/drinking that. </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">What to say instead</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">: “Boy, does that look delicious!”</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><i>If you aren't close enough to tell me what I should/n't be eating when I'm <b>not </b>pregnant, then don't share your opinions just because I am pregnant.</i></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">I never had morning sickness. </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">What to say instead</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">: “How have you been feeling? Any morning sickness?”</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><i>And THEN you can chime in about you not having it...haha</i></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">I was sick my whole 9 months. </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">What to say instead</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">: “Don’t worry, you will feel better soon enough!”</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">I was ripped open from end to end </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">What to say instead</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">: “I had a rough experience, but not all women go through what I did.”</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><i>Seriously hearing horror stories is SO awkward. First because it's so personal and I probably don't know you that well and secondly how is that supposed to help my pregnancy? We have nothing in common except that we've both been pregnant. Why will my experience be like yours?</i></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">Get an epidural! </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">What to say instead</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 22px;">: “I decided to get an epidural because…but everyone is different.”</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 22px;">My personal suggestion:</span></div>
<span style="line-height: 22px;">Instead of "Woah! You're getting so big!"<span style="color: #666666;"> Say, with a smile, "You're blooming!"</span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;">That was hand down the nicest "compliment" I've received from a stranger during this pregnancy.</span><br />
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<i>Grits,</i><br />
<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/239/F3E8E3397A949FC89E455EACF87DF705.png" style="border: 0px !important;" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">p.s. Dear family and friends, you know I love you. And if you did say anything to offend me you know I'd let you know ;) No worries, this post isn't directed at anyone specifically.</span><br />
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Source: <a href="http://www.babble.com/pregnancy/etiquette-rules-pregnancy-jokes-humor-rude-comments/etiquette-rules-pregnancy-jokes-humor-rude-comments-6/">http://www.babble.com/pregnancy/etiquette-rules-pregnancy-jokes-humor-rude-comments/etiquette-rules-pregnancy-jokes-humor-rude-comments-6/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-51599851451066146162013-12-10T19:00:00.000-06:002013-12-10T19:00:04.985-06:0027 weeks pregnant - 3rd Trimester begins!<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">How far along?</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"> 27 weeks</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.babycenter.com/slideshow-baby-size" target="_blank">Your baby is the size of a head of cauliflower (source)</a></td></tr>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 15pt;">Total weight gain/loss: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 15pt;">gained 5 after Thanksgiving. Lost those five within 2 days</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 15pt;">. After a few weeks of </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">fluctuation</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 15pt;"> I'm at 8lb gain according to my app. I did workout last night, so that helps tip the scale.</span></span></span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><b style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">Maternity Clothes?</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;"> pants all the way, slowly working maternity sweaters and shirts into everyday wear</span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">Stretch marks?</span></b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span> nope</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">Sleep? </b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">With the heater on we had to put the </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">humidifier</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> in overdrive. It's louder, but it does help me breath at night. Summer mommies complain about the heat, but there are lots of things for winter mommies to complain about too:</span></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">buying expensive snow boots in a larger size to fit swollen feet</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">no coats that fit around a belly; only capes and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">ponchos</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> which aren't as warm</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">layering only to undress once you enter a building</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">Christmas shopping with pregnant</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">drinking water when all you want is a hot beverage...but that hot cocoa will make you hot!</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">Maybe if I have a fall baby I'll be able to compare the two experiences.</span></span></span></div>
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<br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">Best moment this week:</span></b><span style="background-color: white;"> How about the last three weeks since I haven't written since then? That would say Thanksgiving with family. Probably the first Thanksgiving in years where I was the designated driver. Hubby had a fun time though. I just laid in the reclining chair watching football with my dad.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">I also enjoyed creating our Christmas card this year. I wanted to go with a "married" theme since we got married this year, but we went with a "we're expecting" theme. It's super cute. I'll post it around Christmas when I know everyone has received one.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">Miss Anything?</span></b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span> I miss my body! It wasn't <i>that</i> great, but at least I could touch my toes without going blue in the face.<br /><br /><b><span style="background-color: white;">Movement:</span></b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span> Yes, usually after I eat or if I lay down. I can't catch him move every hour, but it might be happening. I'm not sure.<br /><br /><b><span style="background-color: white;">Food cravings: </span></b> None. Well Hubs was craving pie last night so that sounded good. We didn't get any pie though. Actually last night and this morning I had to have peanut butter. and I did. Yum!</span></div>
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<br /><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Anything making your queasy or sick?</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> I'll get a certain whiff of a random smell and sometimes it just makes me sick to my stomach! With the holidays and all the candles and </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">perfumes</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> around it is overwhelming.</span></span><br /><br /><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Have you started to show yet?</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> OH ya... This is AFTER thanksgiving. So I'm 5lbs heavier ;)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span><br /><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">Symptoms: </strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">What ISN'T hurting?! My Tracy Anderson video workouts are getting easier now that we're in the 7th month, so I'm going to try and stick to those every night to help with circulation and muscle stretching. My stomach is HARD. It was a little fluffy during the first six months, but now it's solid kiddo - he is the size of a cauliflower so ya, that'll do it. However I do think my body is doing great. I will have moments when I think "woah - pushing myself too hard" - when I stand up to fast or get dizzy from overheating in a winter coat. </span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Sciatic pain, dizziness, numbness in arms and hands (especially at night), headaches, tight muscles in stomach and legs, overheating, congested at night, light lower back pain and a million more I cannot think of right now.</span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">I had my glucose and iron test. Passed the glucose, didn't pass the iron. So I need to take an iron supplement and eat more meat. Since starting the iron I think I am feeling better.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Gender:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> BOY!</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Labor signs:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> none</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Belly button in or out?</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> in. I'm waiting for it to POP! My SIL said hers never popped, so it might not happen.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Wedding rings on or off?</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> Off. With the weather cold and my office/home hot my hands are swelling and unswelling throughout the day. I said "forget it" and decided to keep them off. No, I'm not wearing them around my neck either.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Happy or Moody most of the time?</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Neutral</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">. 15 days until Christmas. Hopefully all my gifts get shipped in time with no weather </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">interruptions</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">! Trips to Dallas to budget for and a Vegas wedding plus oh ya, our nursery and baby! Bring on the bills!</span></span><br /><br /><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Looking forward to:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;"> Christmas!!! It's my FAVORITE holiday just because of all the JOY in everyone's hearts. I'm sure I'll cry all week. We had the Catholic school choir come sing carols today at work and I was on the verge of tears the whole time. Tis the season!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1286986261"><img border="0" height="536" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rFB45tPvnyk/UqeBIv2dsnI/AAAAAAAASyk/sBnD2_50g2Q/s640/27+weeks.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://howtobedad.com/">howtobedad.com</a></td></tr>
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<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/239/F3E8E3397A949FC89E455EACF87DF705.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306784940514243052.post-77103712577708906432013-11-25T17:21:00.000-06:002013-11-25T17:21:14.240-06:00A few more cow photos....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By Sunday evening we had about 4 inches of snow. I wanted to see the cows Sunday "morning" (more like 10 am) so Farmer J let me tag along again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The adventure started with a serene drive making the first tire tracks out on the country roads.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Follow High Heels and Grits on Instagram! @highheelsandgrits</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When we pulled into the first field Farmer J spotted a cow in the second field who had jumped the electric fence so we raced over to field #2. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cow in the road, cow in the road, Good God Almighty there's a cow in the road!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't understand how Farmer J can spot this black dot half a mile away. When he asked me if I saw it, I fibbed and said I did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How did he jump the fence? I think it was the snow that brought the ground up to a certain height that allowed the cow to jump the electric wire. How do you get him back on the field? Well, these animals weigh over 600 lbs so you definitely don't get out of your car. They aren't smart so the minute they see a truck coming they get scared. If you were to approach them on foot they might freak out. Or like last year, they might charge at you - which is what happened to Farmer J. Each animal is different. We just pulled up next to him, honked the horn, corralled him near the fence and he jumped right over.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Again the cows were not friendly and I could only catch a few shots. There are black cows, white cows and these orange cows. I like the look of the orange ones. Farmer J says people don't like the taste of their meat so they are usually used for other purposes.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M8jMGns8CMk/UpPXnvhI0NI/AAAAAAAASws/DZem7IxIo94/s1600/cow+chow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M8jMGns8CMk/UpPXnvhI0NI/AAAAAAAASws/DZem7IxIo94/s640/cow+chow.jpg" width="520" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With 4 inches of snow they had to dig for that wheat. See the mouthful he got? Love it!<br />Farmer J does put out dry hay, but they prefer the fresh wheat and rarely enjoy the hay. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yee haw!</span><br />
<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/239/F3E8E3397A949FC89E455EACF87DF705.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0