The "Girl's Day" That Wasn't

Big Daddy and I were both in a funk after we found out a few things on Friday. We took turns consoling each other and went to bed after watching 20/20 and discussing what I was supposed to do if a stranger attempts to kidnap me at the mall. (It's shoot them, in case you're wondering. Oh, I kid...well not exactly.)
Anyway, I wasn't really in the mood to go out for the day and Big Daddy wasn't in the mood for the gym, or studying or doing anything productive either, so we had a family day. We went to a few of our favorite Saturday haunts. T.arget. P.et Smart. The yummy chicken sandwich place that has my most-beloved Sweet Tea. We actually walked around T.arget as a family and left the store without buying a single thing. This has never happened before. I also skipped on the S.tarbucks because I'd had way too much Sweet Tea.
Tomorrow promises to be a relaxing Sunday. We'll be going to church, coming home for chili that will have been simmering while we're away and then I am taking a nap with my Muffin. Big Daddy has plans to go to the gym and then we'll be staying home and NOT watching the S.uper Bowl. My sister is having a little party, but I promise the focus will be on the food and not the game. I am hoping that my Auntie Cisa will post some pictures of the food so that I can pretend to be eating it. I'm not in the partying mood and my appetite has been out of control, so maybe it's a good thing that the party is an hour away.
Speaking of my appetite...I think my belly must be growing at a rapid rate these days. I have a bad case of belly-itch and I feel really big for only 22 weeks. And for your viewing pleasure, there will be a picture of the Baby Belly for 22 weeks. I took it today. It's another one in the downstairs powder room and I'm standing on Muff's potty stool with the toilet behind me...lovely. Maybe I'll try to move back upstairs to the fishy shower curtain background for next week.

Thankful

I complained about lots of stuff yesterday. I didn't even come close to using all of my material for a post on complaining. I could list even more things this early in the day. What I forgot to mention was all of the good things from the past week.

-As I said yesterday, my bad week started on Saturday, but Sunday was a very nice day. We started out at church and the associate pastor started out with this video. It's an atheist that you may recognize talking about witnessing to others. The sermon was about attitudes. The people in our Sunday school class that attend the early service also discussed the video. We talked even more about how because we are Christians our attuitudes are observed more by others.
-Monday, The Muffin and I had a great trip to get groceries. She was polite and sweet and truly a joy to go shopping with. This is usually the case, but after the bad display of temper tantrums on Saturday and Sunday it was a much needed blessing.
-Tuesday, The Muffin was very grumpy. When she started waking up from her nap I put her on my bed and we cuddled. She looked me in the eyes, put both hands on my face and said, "You're my best friend." It warmed my heart and made me feel so special!
-Our Baby-to-be has been kicking and squirming around all the time. Each time it happens, I feel so blessed to have a little baby growing in my tummy...and a little freaky too. Muff's baby kicks all the time to, so we take turns feeling of each other's bellies.
-Today Pete posted a great quote that's one of his favorites. I always look forward to reading his blog, but this has to be one of my favorite posts and now, it's a blessing that I'm adding to my list.

I'm going to try to have a better attitude today and all the days in the future. I'm also planning to take The Muffin out for a "Girl's Day" tomorrow. After our rough week, we need to repair our relationship. I'm sure a trip to T.arget, P.et Smart and our favorite chicken sandwich place will do the trick...and a Sweet Tea and a treat from S.tarbucks couldn't hurt either!

One of THOSE Weeks

My bad week started on Saturday. Things were great when we first woke up, but then Big Daddy lingered too long before he left for the gym and that just irritates me. Then, he was later coming home than what he said he would be and he didn't answer his phone when I called to request an important item (it was Sweet Tea, if you're wondering). I guess all of that combined with The Muffin's 45 temper-tantrum set me off and I was in a rotten mood for the rest of the day. She hadn't had any tantrums this bad since I read this book and began to understand her a little more. (Before then, I was tempted to drop her off at the preacher's office one morning so that he could pray with her all day.) She's had tantrums several times this week and between that and our persistent cough and stuffy noses I have felt really bad. Big Daddy hasn't been very helpful and he came home an hour and a half later than he'd said he would on Tuesday night. I called both of his cell phones and they rang and then went to voice mail so I knew that he had them on and didn't hear them. That really makes me mad. The whole time I was pretty sure that I knew where he was, but he'd only said he was going to the library, so there was no way that he'd be at his friend's house talking about guns, fighting and the stock market. No. Way. Then he calls to tell me that he's on his way home from his friend's house. I gave him a long lecture about everything he does wrong and he just looked at me with that you're-pregnant-it-must-be-the hormones-look. Do you know how much I hate that look??
As long as I'm sharing that story, I should share the one about what happened with The Muffin Wednesday morning, but I just can't do it.

That being said, I think I have a new question to ask myself instead of chanting my mantra of "I'm doing the best I can".
“If something happens and I don’t blog about it…did it really happen at all?”~ Pioneer Woman

Random Facts

I love to read blogs, probably because I love taking a glimpse into the lives of others. I often refer to my favorite bloggers as "friends" when I talk about them so that people don't think I'm crazy. I love to hear the stories about spouses and children and church. A couple of weeks ago, Whitney had a little question and answer post that I truly enjoyed. Here's my version with a few random facts about us.

-I get up around 5:00 every morning.
-I watch S.ex In The City if I'm awake at 3:30am.
-We have never had cable or satellite. We watch "free tv" and that's fine with us.
-The Muffin eats chocolate chip pancakes and drinks chocolate milk for breakfast 5 out of 7 mornings.
-I love sandwiches.
-My dream job would be a kindergarten teacher or a coffee barista.
-I was probably a better preschool teacher than I am mother.
-The first two years of our marriage, Big Daddy and I were not very happy, but we loved each other and hung in there anyway.
-For the first time in his life, Big Daddy loves going to church!
-We had four cars until October. Now, we're down to three, but I think there is a convertible in our future.
-Having to get a minivan is one of my biggest fears.
-Big Daddy and I have been together for nearly 13 years.
-We met when I dated one of his college friends. (We never talk about that)
-I like to clean, but I really love having a clean house and car.
-I worry obsessively about Big Daddy when he travels. I once packed up me and Muff while we were at my mom and dad's at 11:30pm so that we could make the 1 hour drive home to get his hotel information. He was supposed to call and didn't. He called about 10 minutes into our drive home and had forgotten about the time zone difference.
-I love my gun.
-The Muffin loves to talk about breastfeeding.
-Big Daddy would be a professional fighter or a Navy Seal if he could.
-The people that I consider my truest bestest friends are all from middle/high school. We hardly ever see each other, but keep in touch by email. I know I could call on them for anything.
-I never touch hotel beds with my bare skin.
-Getting into the hospital bed when I went for my scheduled induction with Maggie took more courage than I could have ever imagined.
-I once had an appointment to have a fibroid removed on Halloween. My gynecologist was wearing his Navy uniform and the assisting nurse was dressed as a hunter.
-I have trouble making even the smallest decisions.
-I like to save money and often carry around merchandise only to put it back and leave the store without purchasing anything.
-I'm obsessive about recycling.
-I love to brush, floss and go the dentist for regular cleanings.
-My favorite things about being a real estate broker were paperwork and going to look at houses with my fellow-agent, Gladys. We used any excuse to go out together just to look at decorating and stuff.
-Our best family time is in the morning when Muff gets in our bed and falls back to sleep.
-The Muffin and I like routines and we both have special ways of doing things. She gets mad at Big Daddy because "he just can't do it right".
-We have never owned a set of scales. I weigh at my mom and dad's house and Big Daddy weighs at the gym.
-Big Daddy is not a very good gift-giver.
-My most expensive piece of jewelry is the three-stone diamond anniversary band that I got for our fourth anniversary...after he told me that he'd planned on getting me a gift card to L.owe's Home Improvement to put towards a storage building. I cried when he told me and then I picked out the ring after he encouraged me to get anything I wanted at he jewelry store.
-My broker-in-charge was afraid to get me a L.owe's gift card for my following birthday (even though it was the office standard) because he thought I might cry.
-I've been known to cry over the silliest things. Like the Christmas Eve that I had contracted hand, foot and mouth disease from a preschool kid and my aunt was on a diet. I cried because we couldn't have hot dogs like everyone else.
-Each time our phone rings I worry that it may be my mother-in-law.
-I love moving around the furniture.

Of course, there's more, but we'll just leave something to the imagination.

The Baby Belly (minus the belly)-21 weeks!

I cannot believe that it's week 21!!!

Our Baby-to-be weighs approximately 1 pound now! Baby's eyelids, eyebrows and lips are growing. (I can't wait to kiss those sweet lips!!!) I didn't do a belly picture this week because I'm too lazy to go downstairs and get the camera. Big Daddy did lots of snoring (very unusual) last night and I'm ready for my nap.

You may notice that even though we have named our baby Pacey Grace, I don't refer to "her" as that. I never do. I'm not sure that "she" is a "she" and I wouldn't want to offend a "he" by calling "him" a girls name. Got it?? I had hoped to see definite genitalia in the ultrasound and be able to monogram the initials and decorate according to the baby's gender. While I feel much more confident in the sex of this baby that I did with The Muffin, I just can't let myself go to pink, purple and Pacey Grace-crazy...I just can't. I'll truly be so happy when this baby comes out alive and breathing and boy or girl doesn't really matter. I just feel better keeping things neutral...except the M.iracle Blanket that I registered for... I decided to be bold and go for pink! The Muffin calls the baby, "Baby" and then says her name is Pacey or Sunshine. She always refers to the baby as "sister", "she" or "her". There is no possibility that our Baby-to-be is a boy in her mind.

I was the exact same way with The Muffin. We had picked out the name Maggie for a girl and Big Daddy desperately wanted to name a boy Forrest, which wasn't happening because my Daddy would constantly say, "Run Forrest! Run!" Even though Forrest was NOT our boy name, The Muffin became "Peanut" or "Maggie-Forrest". My niece Callie had the idea of calling her "Maggie-Forrest". The Muffin is still called Maggie-Forrest by a few of my friends from the real estate office even though she is Maggie Louise.

P.S. Check out a couple of great Bloggy Carnival Giveaways at Musings of a Housewife and When Does Daddy Come Home?! It just so happens that I have one giveaways from both of these great ladies in the past so it could happen to you too!!

We Interrupt This Pregnancy To Bring You An Uh-Oh

***UPDATE***
I spoke with Nurse Audrey at my OB/GYN's office this morning. "We" think that it sounds like sciatica, but she said it also have something to do with the baby's positioning. Of course, I had already decided this on saturday evening, but I like to get a second opinion and keep the midwives informed. So, the baby isn't even here yet and it's already getting on my nerves??? Oh, I kid. The baby is not getting on my nerves. I'm in no pain, but it's sort of strange to have constant numbness and tingling in one leg. If things, worsen or change, I'm to call the midwives a.s.ap. If nothing changes, I'll be seeing my perky midwife Wesley Tyler next week. It is such a blessing to have three midwives and want all of them to deliver your baby!

First, we'll start with the Uh-Oh portion of the post...
Last night my right leg started going a little numb and it worsened throughout the night and today. I'm going to call the midwives tomorrow because I really don't want the Labor & Delivery nurses to tell me to head to the ER. I'm sure if it's what I think it is (sciatica) that it will wait until tomorrow and I can avoid a tremendous bill. Big Daddy will take the necessary time off work to be with Muff or go to the doctor with me and Nana is on stand-by in case we need extended care. Please pray that this is not anything big and that I'll have no further complications...one of those complications being bedrest. That would so mess up mine and the Muffin's arrangement.

On a brighter, more exciting note, we picked out the bedding for the baby's room! It's a secret (except for my sister, mom, aunt, Muff and Big Daddy) for now, just in case something happens and we aren't able to get it. It's gender neutral ,just in case the baby is not a girl and it is not real baby-ish, which was my biggest requirement. My other big requirements were no green, no theme and no animals. All of the bedding sets we picked out were blue and brown, but the final choice is not a boy-blue and not a chocolate brown. (I think it's beautiful and I keep pulling up the picture to look at it!!) Muff's bedding was sage green and then we she came, we added little pink accents to her room. This decor can go girly or boyish when we add the final touches. Now, if Big Daddy will just clean all of his stuff out of there we can get started! I'll have to order the bedding and then pick out the paint color. I had a great painter (Nana/my mom)volunteer to paint for me such I'm a pregnant asthmatic with a husband who is inacapable of NOT messing things up. Am I blessed or what!?!

Muff is down for her nap with her beloved yellow blankets and I'm about to grab my yellow blanket and hit the bed too. All of this while Big Daddy is at the gym. We were all able to go to church and The Muffin was especially happy to be back with her friends in Sunday school.

Children Change Everything

Just the other night Big Daddy and I were talking about those first few days after we brought The Muffin home from the hospital. We were insecure and unsure of our abilities to care for her. She cried all the time. And there were blankets everywhere. On the couch. On every chair. In the bassinet. On the changing table. We used the blankets for The Muffin, for ourselves and often in lieu of that burpie that was just out of reach.

Fast forward to now...

My side of the bed.

In the foyer.

the house is covered with different things. Friday morning it was ponies. One day it is cars and trucks. Another day it's babies. More often than not, it's the Wizard of Oz "babies" that we collected from H.appy Meals.

I like things neat, clean and tidy. You may find a pony here and there, but there's usually no dust underneath. I clean around The Muffin's stuff. She's scattered throughout the house. Nana gave her an old watch that she constantly wore each time we visited. She promptly placed it on my bedside table and put it there each time I would move it. She has a place for everything, even if it's not the place that I would like it to be.

As they say, having a baby changes everything.

Finally...

we can start on preparing a nursery for our Baby-to-be.

I'm not going into all of the details (which some of you know), but you could say that our prayers were answered. Things didn't turn out quite the way that we thought that they might, but we have so much peace and so much less stress than we did yesterday. We look back on other big decisions that we've had to make in the past and we know that God always works things out and things turn out exactly like they're supposed to. We're happy!

As for the nursery, it will be a long, slow, painful process. We probably won't do too much towards decorating at first. The first step will be getting Big Daddy's stuff out of the "spare" room. I'm still having a hard time not going gender-neutral...more on that later!

Please remember us in your prayers as we prepare to make our family of three a family of four.

I Heart Etsy and Babywearing

I think I first discovered Etsy from Big Mama's Blog. I was immediately in love. You can find so many things for sale on there...the catch is, Etsy is for all things handmade. The things you are buying are actually handmade...lots of items are made by SAHM's who have become WAHM's, like Joy.
My latest favorite things to look at are of course, baby things. There are tons of personalized items, diaper and tote bags, swaddling blankets and my absolute must-have baby item, a ring sling. If you can make it, then someone probably sells it on Etsy...even cute hospital gowns so that you can look fashionable while in labor!!! The prices vary to fit your budget. And if you have a super-crafty mom like me, you can get a few ideas and then buy the supplies and have her make some of the stuff for you.
As for ring slings, I've got a bid in on a cute one on ebay right now, but I found a cheaper back-up on Etsy. I loved wearing The Muffin! I probably used our front carrier more than my mesh New Native Sling, but the front carriers can be harmful to baby's spine and leg development, so I'll probably use the sling more with our Baby-to-be. Plus, I'm trying to be more realistic than some of the moms that I see out and about chasing a toddler while trying to carry a baby in their arms, push a stroller or carry the car seat. I also liked that when Muff was in her front carrier or pouch sling, strangers stayed away.
If you have any babywearing questions, you can probably find the answers and lots of great tips and advice on Steph's blog, Adventure's in Babywearing.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

First steps in the snow.

Our Little Snow Angel

Feeding Daddy

Adding marshmallows to the hot cocoa.

This is what Big Daddy does in his spare time- makes Baby Joy into Baby Ms. Potato Head. Of course, nothing upsets Muffin more than for the potato to be upside down.