Spring Fever!

Here in Ohio we’ve had a pretty mild winter that has most certainly had us forgetting all about snow and looking forward to consistently warmer temperatures.

Which means, of course, that as we approach the start of official spring in 10 days that it is going to be freezing and snowy! There is no question that I live in the wrong area of the country with as much as I (have always) despise winter and being cold.

Regardless, we are STILL looking forward to spring because it is sure to bring a lot of fun for our family! And with the fun, comes a totally crazy schedule. And you know, a new baby!

Gianna and Aleesia (& their cousin Luci) are preparing for their dance recital in May – they have 2 dances each this year and it is sure to be stinking adorable. Aleesia just started a once a week sports class, which she LOVES. Gianna will be starting softball in a couple of weeks, which should be interesting. I hope she enjoys it! On top of the kids stuff, Mike is back to being a head lacrosse coach so we have to take his practice/game schedule into consideration also.

Gianna will be turning 8 in April (which I can’t believe at all) and she is preparing for her First Communion in May as well.  We also have Easter approaching, my niece will turn 1 soon and the girls have spring break and Mike and I will be celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary (again, kind of unbelievable how fast that went by)!  Our weekends through June are pretty jam-packed with the exception of my recently instituted “no plans Sunday afternoons” so that we can get our house clean, laundry done, projects accomplished and try to fit in some snuggling and quality time before the total chaos of each week begins.

I feel like there are other things happening simultaneously as well, but I think they are mostly school related and some of what’s going on there requires a whole separate post. We wouldn’t know what to do with ourselves if there wasn’t 100 things happening at one time, right?! This new baby will fit right into our routine, at least that’s been one of my prayers lately – for a smooth adaptation and entry into our family.

Some things that have helped me to (attempt) remain calm amidst the chaos are to be diligent with keeping an organized schedule (in 3 different places!), meal planning, preparing all of Gianna’s lunches on Sunday nights so it’s one less thing to do during the week, keeping things picked up before I go to bed (it helps, even when I don’t want to do it) and honestly, giving the 2 older girls some responsibility to manage their own stuff/stay organized. As I tell them on the days when cooperation is lacking – most of what we do every day is FOR THEM, not me so when they don’t help out by listening and being ready when I need them to be, they suffer in the end.

It sometimes feels overwhelming, but then I remember that this is our season of life – the chaos, adventure, etc. won’t be here forever so I try to find the joy in it even when really I just want to pull my hair out and hide under the covers!

Talk to me about your spring – what is going on in your life? What are you looking forward to (or not!)? What helps you to stay organized and maintain a cooperative household?!

Progress: Notes

I have been horrible at carving out time to get my thoughts and memories down in writing lately. And it bugs me, because there is a lot going on that I don’t really want to forget. I’m going to try and put together a “progress” series of posts – because let’s face it, everything going on right now is “in progress” anyway we look at it!

A few notes on life right now:

• My new job is going well, it feels like a breath of fresh air and a great professional (and personal) fit right now.
• Traveling while breastfeeding/pumping experience #1 went as well as I could have imagined.
• I super love the age of 2.
• I am almost done with the Piyo workout series. I really like it and I can tell a big difference in my flexibility and the way I look.
• We are getting ready to list our house, which scares the crap out of me.
• The age of 5 is quickly coming to an end for Miss G and I am looking forward to 6.
• Mike and I celebrated our 8th anniversary recently. 8 years ago I never would have imagined this life, it is so much MORE than I imagined.
• My best friend had her second set of twins last month. She has twin boys and twin girls that are 2 years and 10 days apart. She is a rock star (her husband, too!).
• I signed up for a race series this summer – a 10k and 2 1/2 marathons. I am excited but mildly concerned about fitting in proper training.
• The age of 3 months is excellent as well. Vivi prefers to be what I have deemed a “Koala baby” many days, but you know what, we make it work. She’s a great snuggler.
• I would really love for spring to just arrive already. Or better yet, just skip right to summer please.
• My 30th birthday is in less than 2 months. That just sounds so crazy to me, but I’m excited.

I have almost 2 months of adorable pictures still on my camera, including Aleesia’s birthday party, waiting to be unloaded and gone through. Still working on figuring a new normal schedule, which has been more difficult than expected, but I know it will happen some day.

Frozen

Not the movie.

We, like a lot of the country, are frozen! So much bone-chilling cold, so much snow (but not as much as New England!), so many hours spent inside our tiny house with my favorite tiny humans.

I love those girls to death, but MAN do I appreciate them more when we can all get out of the house on a regular basis. Gianna has not been to school for a full week since before Christmas break. We have not spent this much time at home since, I don’t even remember when!

So we have dance partied, had sing offs, crafted, colored, movied, puzzled, played with all the toys! Gianna has “worked out” with me a few times to get some of her energy out. But we are all losing our minds and getting on each others nerves!

Who else is surviving the winter? We need some fresh ideas on things to do that don’t involve playing in the cold.

The cold totally bothers me and I fully appreciate that I live in the wrong state since the cold keeps coming back every year!

Memory catching

I was reading through some blog posts from the end of Aleesia’s pregnancy. So many things are so similar right now – and I’ll get to that, but first – some memory catching NEEDS to happen.

Things to remember about Gianna:

• The age of five is seriously great. She is such a grown up kid but still very much my little girl. Our conversations are hilariously logical and I wish I could record all of them! Lately she has been ending stories she tells me with “it was classic” or “you just wouldn’t believe it”
• She still mispronounces some things. For example, she made a pilgrim bonnet at school and kept telling me it was a vomit! And a bench = vench.
• Gianna LOVES to just rock out in the car. Taylor Swift is a big favorite of hers, but she will sing along to any song she hears and she usually asks me to turn it up!
• She can tell a story with her eyes – they sparkle when she is excited, they show every ounce of frustration or sadness before she says anything at all, they light up when she is surprised or happy. Those blue eyes are the key to her heart and sole, no doubt about it.
• Gianna is a wonderful big sister. She is helpful and caring and nurturing. She also likes her space, which is okay.
• She still loves to help clean and to just generally be helpful! She is so proud of herself when she is a good helper.
• Her dream is to be a ballerina one day. And maybe a horse rider or a pop star.
• Gianna has one of the most vivid imaginations and it comes out in so many ways – she will play with her toys for hours on end making up stories/adventures for them, she likes to color/create things and she makes up songs.
• The older she gets, the more she likes to snuggle up together.

Things to remember about Aleesia:

• The age of 1.5 is so super fun and Aleesia is on a serious language explosion. I can’t possibly list all of the words that she can say but new favorites are “sinta” (santa), “thank you mommy/welcome mommy” (she says them all together!), “muncle” (uncle), “selsa” (Elsa), “nakey” (naked). Not a word really, but she likes to sing too and will randomly sing parts of ‘Let it go’ and the thinking chair song from blues clues!
• If Gianna has it, she wants, or wants to be looking at it/playing with it. She for sure looks up to her big sister.
• Coloring is one of her favorite things to do. And puzzles.
• We are getting into independent play and it is really fun to watch her play and imagine as well. Tonight, in fact, she put an Ariel doll to bed before we went into her room!
• She is still the sweetest snuggler I have ever met!
• Binkie and blankie are never far from her, although we are getting to the point where binkie needs to stay in bed when she is awake because we don’t want her to talk with it in her mouth. Although, admittedly, I am slacking on enforcing this at the moment but plan to get a lot more serious about it when I am home with the baby!
• She loves shoes and clothes. But mostly, she loves accessories. She wakes up every morning and says “I wanna bow” and makes just about anything into a pretty!
• Aleesia also has a big personality – she knows when she is being bad and has this look that she will give you that makes you want to scream and crack up laughing at the same time. She has a big time pouty lip and can bring on the crocodile tears easily. She also just started literally dropping to the floor or putting her head in her hands when you tell her no as if you just devastated her beyond repair! She also has such a big, bright smile and bright eyes that you can’t be mad at her for long.

To remember about this pregnancy:

• I have felt so good (with a few exceptions) the entire time. Seriously, I don’t have a thing to complain about.
• Except the heartburn – but I know she has hair so it’s worth it, right?!
• I am 38 weeks pregnant and my feet just started to swell and I am just starting to really “feel” as pregnant as I am. But my wedding rings still fit!
• This little lady is no different than her sisters in that she is super super active and strong! And she also prefers to lay on the right side.
• There hasn’t been much focusing on being pregnant, which I think attributes to how good I feel, but every day on my way to and from work I enjoy the quiet time with her and usually have my hand on my stomach as I drive.
• I am not sleeping much these days, which isn’t very fun, but she is so active sometimes at night one swift kick to the ribs or punch to the hip wakes me up!
• Her big sisters are very excited to meet her. Gianna can.not.freaking.wait until she gets here and Aleesia, well, she has no real idea of what is happening but she’s excited because Gianna is.
• My hair was fabulous until a week or so ago – I want my nice pregnancy hair back!
• My stomach is much rounder this time than I remember it being before. And I apparently look like I am going to give birth at any moment the way people have been acting!
• I’m starting to get a little cranky/extra hormonal but I know that has a lot to do with the holiday season, constantly doing all the things that need to get done, and just you know being unavoidably tired!

To remember about life in general – it is so good right now! We all have our moments and not all the days are great, but I can’t truly remember being this happy and content with the way life is playing out around me – possibly ever. I know a lot of that is my general outlook on things, but it’s also a lot of hard work that has paid off to get us here. While I could do without winter and a little more certainty around when my newest peanut will be coming out to meet us, there is just so much to be thankful and joyful for I feel like I am living in an alternate universe sometimes! But I sure am enjoying the ride.

Some days…

….simply require a bullet pointed list of things that have been going on just to keep it all straight!

• This was a long week – not so good days at work paired with the usual busy and a side of cranky toddler and a broken hot water heater. I’m coping with tums and cookies.
• Thankfully the hot water heater was the easiest fix of all (thanks to my brother in laws) even if it meant replacing it entirely. Also thankful it was still under warranty!
• Gianna started dance this week and is smitten with the fact she is FINALLY in the big kid ballerina class.
• Aleesia has been cranky in the evenings and I just want my smiley toddler back!
• I suspect her crankiness is due to her shortened naps during the day.
• I suspect her shortened naps during the day are because our sitter situation has drastically changed over the past 2 weeks. I’m sure she’ll get used to the new routine soon enough. At least I hope she does. I need her to nap better so I get a happy girl back in the evenings.
• Every time I think we have made progress on one of the 34534 things we need to do to get the house ready for the baby, that progress gets side tracked by two cute girls who think OH! MORE ROOM FOR ACTIVITIES! And mess up the previously clean spaces!
• I miss running a lot lately, I didn’t keep it up past 17 weeks schedule wise and since I am no longer participating in a previously planned relay this month my motivation kind of dwindled. And now I am pretty sure my pelvic bone would give me the middle finger if I tried to pick it up again at almost 26 weeks!
• I finally got Aleesia’s baptism scheduled.
• There have been some really fun giveaways going on and I have really low entries (despite higher than average page views) – I’m not sure how to fix it. But better odds for the people that do enter, right?!
• Speaking of – #cascadeshiningreviews giveaway #1 ends tonight!
• Since it’s been almost a month since our vacation I am putting it on my calendar to do a full review of our trip next week – it was a great one!
• Can I go back on vacation now?!
• It was yucky fall-like weather here today (I’m not done with summer…) and I got a pumpkin chai latte during lunch – so much yum!
• What’s new with YOU?!

TGIFish

Short weeks always feel longer to me and having been fighting some kind of gross cold all week I was extra ready for Friday to roll around.

And then I got home from work today and the following events occurred:

• Gianna was chomping at the bit to go back outside as soon as I walked in, which seemed odd since she is usually excited to at least say hi to me when I get home.
• I noticed crayon on the screen. Which also seemed odd.
• And then I noticed a beautiful crayon drawing. on my front door. (now the previously noted odd behavior made sense)
• After the ensuing 5 year old meltdown, crayon clean up and punishment there was even MORE crying and screaming which ended in a closed door timeout. Always fun.
• I ended up starting dinner late, which didn’t make Aleesia too happy. Or left her SO HUNGRY that she ended up literally licking her plate!
• Then bath time rolled around and Aleesia does not like to sit in the bath, however she does like to lean over the edge of the tub and play in the faucet as the water warms up. Only this time she leaned a little too far and fell into the tub resulting in a giant goose egg on her forehead! She wasn’t fazed by it at all and was in fact more upset that I wouldn’t let her keep her chap stick while taking a bath.
• Once Aleesia was in bed and Gianna’s bath was finished and Mike got home, he noticed something on Gianna’s wall. Apparently she tried to hang up a poster using purple princess chap stick – you know, like a glue stick.

This all happened in a matter of approximately 2.5 hours.

Thank goodness Aleesia showed me she knows that noses go “beep” and Gianna apologized and helped with the dishes to redeem their crazy antics tonight! It’s officially a great thing it’s Friday because otherwise I would be quitting this week right about now.

Friday Night Leftovers, maybe.

I feel like I have a lot of random to say today. 

• We are part of a CSA and I really love it - it has opened me up to so many new veggies that I would have never tried before.  But right now, I am drowning in veggies and frozen chicken that I NEED to do something with soon!
• Related: I also need to clean out the refrigerator.  I am sure something(s) is growing in there and I am afraid to find out.
• Related Related: It's been nice having fresh fruit and veggies on hand for baby food and the like.  I can't get Gianna to eat them to save my life, but whatever I guess.
• Have I mentioned that I started running recently? Well, in June.  I am supposed to run an official 10k next Sunday (if the national parks open back up....) possible a 15k in November and (if all goes as planned) a 1/2 marathon in May.  I don't really know what I am getting myself into here, but I do enjoy that little bit of time to be alone and clear my head a few times a week.
• I also have a pipe dream of running the Disney marathon next January. Again, I really don't know what I am getting myself into - so who knows if this will become a reality.
• I still can't decide if I want to get an MBA or start a PhD program....
• I did accept an adjunct position for the spring. And I am having second thoughts - not feeling super comfortable with doing it all of a sudden (it's been 3 years!).  If this isn't going to work out, I need to make up my mind NOW!
• I spent an embarrassing amount of time exchanging ecards and funny animal pictures with my sister the other day.
  
• Don't tell me that didn't at least make you smirk.  I
• Mega stuffed Oreos are sadly disappointing.  Double stuff or nothing, my friends.
• We have SO MANY apples left - what to make?
• How is it October, honestly?
• I have tried several new beers recently - all winners. Pumpkin ale, Carmel Apple something or other. seriously, yum.
• Clearly I had a lot leftover - so many things swirling around my mind these days.

Have any leftovers? Share!

and, visit Danifred whenever she posts hers  

Bubbling to the Surface

I feel like I am starting to bubble to the surface after a CRAZY 6 weeks (maybe.) ((sort of.))

We went on vacation and BAM real life smacked us in the face when we got back.  Plus 2 more weekends out of town for super fun stuff.  And now we have all of Miss G’s activities beginning.  She has soccer 3 days, dance 1 day, and of course preschool 4 days a week! 

I am up to my eyeballs in laundry that needs folded.  Little girl’s closets that need organized for the next season. House projects that need finished and/or started.  Fall cleaning and organizing that desperately needs to take place before All Of The Things overtake our house. 

And, naturally, we have the  next 3 weekends packed FULL of things that we need and/or want to do – including the 1st birthday of my niece(!!).  I mean 2-3 things are on the calendar for each Saturday AND Sunday.  I have no idea why I do this to myself…but as we all know, I clearly enjoy chaos. 

I am officially scheduling the first weekend in October as a “stay home” weekend.  I absolutely cannot let myself make plans so I can get caught up and catch my breath.

I need to do some SERIOUS update posts on each girl – there is so much to say about each of them right now!  And a post about road-tripping with kids.  And about Mike’s birthday surprise weekend.  And a few other things that have been rolling around my head lately (choosing a Kindergarten for G, body image issues, 10k training, to name a few).

But! most importantly, I lost my ENTIRE google reader feed.  I thought I switched it to feedly – but I must have screwed something up.  So! I have to start over. 

What is a good mobile & web-based feed reader? I know I asked this before but I forget the answer.  And!! What is your blog URL so I can add it back and hopefully get back to reading what’s new in your lives (I feel like I am missing a lot of friends!)

Friday Randoms

• Why don't people comment on blog posts? I can see how many page views I get and how little comments I get... I know when I actually take the time to (finally) read I try to comment too.  Hmmmm...
• Speaking of reading - I switched to Feedly and I'm not 100% convinced I love it. Although, I haven't tried the mobile app yet.  Anyone have a new reader they love that you can read online and through a mobile device? Bonus it it lets you get to the content easily so you can leave comments!
• There was a HUGE storm here the other day. And I left my windows down in my car. Because, well, I am a genius obviously.  My car seats are still drying out....
• We are part of a crop share and I LOVE it.  We split it with my sister's family and it is seriously enough food for both of us (and we use everything between the two of us so I don't feel like we are wasting much, if anything). 
• I plan to make some baby food with some of our produce.  Which means I should actually you know, make the food and freeze it for when she's ready for it.
• Related to that - we have tried three times now to start Aleesia on solids because she watches us eat and seems to be interested in the process.  Except when you actually try to feed her - she cries, pushes the spoon away, spits the food out, etc. At first I thought maybe she just doesn't like the cereal, but she was having no part of the bananas we tried last night.  I'm TOTALLY okay with this (feeding a baby is a lot of work!) just surprised! We'll try again after her half birthday in a few weeks.
• How in the WORLD is she going to be 6 months old soon? Sheesh.
• I need to prepare a teaching demo for Tuesday. And I haven't started it yet... I have no idea why I am slacking on this.
• Also slacking on doing anymore research on the PhD program I found.  Have I asked if anyone has experience with Capella University? If you do - can you comment/email me so I can pick your brain?
• Work has been going well and that makes me happy.  Little stress, many opportunities coming up - just the way I like it!
• I have been working out pretty consistently.  I finished the 30 day shred (and saw real results) and am starting the couch 2 5k program (if it ever freaking quits raining here) with some interval workouts on the "off" days.  If I can aim to workout 4 days a week, I think that will fit into my schedule well and won't stress me out too much.  I have a lot more to say on this topic soon! (I hope?!)
• I have been talking to my sister about my niece's first birthday. Again - how in the WORLD can her first birthday be approaching? Nuts!
• What's new with you - anything fun happening?

Friday Randoms

• I haven't done a bullet point post in a while.  
• Gianna went with my parents this weekend camping - she was SO excited! I love their relationship, it makes my heart happy knowing how much those three love each other.  Can't wait until the littlest girls get in on the fun Gram and Papa trips!
• Speaking of littlest girls - I traded a Gianna for my niece Luci for tonight.  That girl kills me.  And, she is the easiest baby ever. Makes babysitting so simple and fun!
• And speaking of MY littlest girl - she has had a tough week.  Tummy troubles, trouble sleeping, lots of crying.  I hate being at work when she is like that.  And I hate even more being a zombie at work on little sleep.
• But this week zombie status hasn't much mattered - it's been a slow one at work.  Which is nice for a minute, but, I do much better on Maximum Busy mode.
• And speaking of that! I might be teaching this fall (or spring).  It's an opportunity that came out of nowhere, but I think it would be good for me to keep my foot in that door.
• I didn't even realize that the 4th of July was next week and that therefore there might be fun weekend festivities this weekend and next.  I love summer fun - it is harder with the babes in tow, but still, next weekend I will have to find something fun to do with the girls while Mike works.
• Do you celebrate the 4th? I'm mostly just excited for a random weekday off of work!
• Last week I had a skin check at the dermatologist (I do mole mapping every year or two) and yet another mole has to be taken off and biopsied.  It's fine, and was expected, and in comparison to what JJ is going through, it's no.big.deal.  So - PSA: get your skin checked. Wear your sunscreen. Etc.
• I am looking forward to our vacation next month SO MUCH! I can't stop thinking about it actually.
• Especially when I am wrapped up in a fleece blanket at my desk because it is OMGFREEZING in my office.
• My sister and I are splitting a summer share from a local crop share arrangement - this week's share had cherries that were SO GOOD. and we are doing stir fry tonight! And I am going to make some baby food for Miss A if I am feeling really ambitious!
• I think I moved everything over to Feedly from Reader okay - I am crossing my fingers that I did it right anyway....

Sunday Night: catching up

I feel like I just need to catch up. With a lot of things, not the least of which is blogging and reading blogs (I am embarrassed at how long it has been since my google reader has been open)

In the spirit of catching up – bullet points:

• When I was sorting baby clothes before Aleesia was born I donated a LOT of (seriously cute) summer clothes in 0-3m size.  My baby was due the end of January – no way would she be in that size by summer! HA! My four month old is barely 10 pounds.  Ya, we could use those clothes now….
• But! It was a reason to get her some really cute stuff for summer.  Although she could use more.
• Breastfeeding/pumping is still a tricky situation.  We are working through it and supplementing consistently.  Which is okay. 
• I need to not let other people get in my head about what/how much/when she eats.  I get frustrated because I really have no control over things all week since I am at work, but Mike has things under control, I think.  She is obviously unsatisfied at the breast 98% of the time – so that is frustrating, but again, we are working through it as best we can.
• There is more I want to say on this topic, but I find myself really sensitive to what other people say, even when  I don’t want or mean to be.
• I started the 30 day shred this past week.  I NEED to workout because it makes me feel good.  I also took “before” pictures.  I like to torture myself. But I hope to see some change once it’s all over.  I am already planning on attempting to do insanity once it’s over.
• I also NEED to workout because we are going to the beach in 2 months.  I would like to get a handle on this fluff by then.
• That beach vacation can’t come soon enough.  We are going with 2 other families and it is going to be so much fun!
• Gianna had her dance recital last week.  It was freaking adorable. But OMGAH dance is such serious business.  So many extra rehearsals and practices and rules.  But the recital was really nice and Gianna hammed it up big time.  who cares if she didn’t really do her routines?
• She did two routines (one ballet, one tap) and we didn’t get home until  9 from the (closed!) dress rehearsal and after 10 from the recital.  But it was worth it – she hammed it up.  And we brought one of her BFF’s with us to watch her, so it was fun!
• After her dress rehearsal she told me that Jack’s sister was “the most prettiest ballerina ever” because she wore a really pretty pink outfit and she had her hair in a bun.  She hasn’t stopped talking about her ever since.  She has also said many times that she can’t wait to dance like the big kids and that Aleesia can be in the little kids class when she is “growned bigger”.
• I say it all the time, but watching life evolve through her eyes is truly such an amazing thing. 
• It seems I can’t really keep up with life too well these days.  I had to actually put a reminder in my phone to pay bills.  And to put the bills in the mail box (yes, I mail 2 things a month! I live under a rock, obvi).
• In an effort not to look like a dead tired mess lately I have started to try really hard to take better care of my skin and I hope to get a new haircut soon-ish.  I just always get the same style and am pretty lazy in the mornings, which is the biggest dilemma in achieving cute hair.
• Also – I am in that post-partum hair loss phase.  And my hair is suddenly wavy-ish. 
• Do you ever wonder if everyone’s life is as over-scheduled as yours? Or is that just me?
• How long has it been since you’ve been on a date with your husband? Do you go on regular dates? 
• Another crazy week on deck for us – how about you?

December PhotoDump

I can’t seem to come up with much to write these days that doesn’t involve or revolve around the them of “COME.OUT.COME.OUT.COME.OUT.LITTLE.GIRL”   And I know not everyone is interested in THAT.

And I realized I haven’t posted a lot of pictures lately.  So, even if you aren’t interested, here’s a little december photodump for you.  I don’t think I posted any of these before, but if I did, here you go again.

beginning of december:

a little mid-december cookie making.

christmas eve!

christmas day!

the awesome christmas madness at grandma and papa’s house!

snow!

because everyone paints at 7 am

disco dance party

NYE, threenager style

Catch-up

• I am at that point in my pregnancy where people look at me as if I am going to birth this child right in front of them. And they panic a little every time I call or don’t pick up the phone.
• Every time someone asks me “so, when is the baby coming?” I answer them with “I don’t know”.  They probably think I am being a huge bitch, which okay maybe, but I really DON’T know.  As many times as I have asked her, she hasn’t filled me in on her birthday plans.
• My coworkers threw me a little baby shower today at work – it was really sweet and unexpected.  And they got me a Reese’s blizzard cake. And chicken bacon ranch pizza. So, it was a winning kind of day.
• We are surprising Gianna and taking her to see Disney on Ice sunday – she is going to flip out. 
• Speaking of my little threenager – apparently today was a rough day.  I actually spent a few minutes just listening to her spout off about how “I don’t have to listen to you when you say ‘Mommy said so’ because I just don’t want to and that’s not fair” She really was going on a good long tangent and finally, she stopped and did what I asked her to do in the first place (pick up her toys).  Clearly she just needed to vent…..
• I got my maternity leave and short term disability paperwork this week. Short term disability at my work is terrible and barely worth contributing too.  I wish I had known or understood this better you know, a long time ago.  I requested to take off the full 12 weeks thinking I might be able to pull off a work at home scenario for the last few weeks.  It’s not working out how I had planned and it has me a wee bit freaked the hell out about how we are going from a solid income to well, not much of one.  Nothing is lining up how I thought it would and it’s just generally a little scary for my type A self.
• But I know it will all work out.  Or I have to think that it will, because, it’s happening.  I’m flexible enough to go back to work early if I need to – but I SOOOOO don’t want to.
• I had forgotten about all the uh… joyous… things that leak from your body at the end of pregnancy.  I feel like a giant science experiment – what will come out next? can her belly really expand any further? will her belly button pop open? how hard can a fetus punch a bladder before it bursts? Is that REALLY a contraction or just a baby stretching?
• the room is done. the car seat is ready to be installed. my breast pump came today. the house is in an acceptable state.  I am feeling slightly more prepared.  if I can get my eyebrows waxed tomorrow I will be feeling awesome!
• I still haven’t put the big sister gift together yet – I don’t know why I am having a hard time getting this done.  I have all the things, they just need to go in the box!
• It’s been a long week. G is finally asleep.  Mike has been dicking around on his computer with headphones on for hours.  I’m going to bed – I hope my attitude is slightly better tomorrow because I really don’t like it when I am in a bad mood.  And I have some fun stuff to do with G and my sister.
• Three day weekend ahead! Yay!

Friday Night Leftovers

• It’s the last Friday of 2012 – can someone tell me how in the hell that is possible? The year, especially since June, has FLOWN past me.
• I realize that we are probably busier than the average family – and I’m sure that has something to do with the way time seems to fly by at warp-speed. But still, I just want a day to breathe!
• Christmas is over, and judging by the ridiculous amount of stuff all over the living room – I’d say we all had a pretty great holiday.  We had the in-laws over for dinner Christmas eve (which was a nice change) and spent Christmas morning at home and the rest of the day with my awesomely growing family.  It was pretty perfect, actually.
• I’ll post pictures from the holidays someday. Maybe. I hope.
• We got some storage items today to try and contain the insane amount of teeny tiny Barbie/my little pony/random itty bitty toys Gianna got for Christmas.  I can only hope this works because she really gets upset when she can’t find that one shoe for that one doll… And you know, it will help to keep those little parts our of the hands of little people.
• Mike and I are going on a date tomorrow. A real life date.  I can’t tell you the last time this happened (seriously, maybe my birthday? in MAY! or mike’s birthday in September?) or the next time it will be able to happen.  Very excited about it.
• Today was the only day all week that I worked in the office the entire day. Next week is going to be similar.  The only perk to being a salaried employee during the holidays, perhaps.  If you don’t count the fact that I have work to do this weekend…. but whatever, I guess.
• It is blowing my mind that in just weeks my little family of three will be officially expanded to a family of four.  I really can’t believe this is happening so soon!
• More on my thoughts and updates on this pregnancy soon. I promise.  I need to document these things before I forget them.
• I am in planning mode now for my sister’s wedding shower.  It’s going to be really fun but I need to get things pretty much settled sooner than later since, you know, baby!
• I have a million things going on this weekend, and a million other things I hope to accomplish. Which means I should try and sleep first….

Saturday Randoms

• I intended to do a little photo dump, but I am having technical difficulties. so randomness it is.
• I take a lot of pictures with my phone. Almost 2,000 since I got my phone last October, in fact. I also like to take pictures of G while she sleeps, apparently.  I can’t resist the innocence of those long eyelashes.

• Do you delete the pictures from your phone once you upload them? I feel like I don’t NEED all of these on here for ever and ever, but can’t bring myself to delete them either. 
• Mike is working all day. My plans changed about 29472x today, so right now we are home and G is playing nicely in her playroom after we had a fun morning hanging out, doing laundry, a little lunch, etc. A perfectly normal way to spend a Saturday yet something that we get to do only once or twice every year.
• That is not an exaggeration.  The last time we had NO plans at all for the whole day, well, I have no idea when that was.
• And it’s a good thing because the house has been neglected and with all the holiday things, and other things, going on the next 20482 weeks, we probably won’t have another one of these days for a very long time.
• Also a good thing to have no real plans today because it was a long week and my big old pregnant self is glad to stay in sweats all day.
• I am 31 weeks and 3 days (I think) pregnant and 2 things are official: 1) this little girl is JUST like her sister in utero –highly active. this only makes me slightly nervous for how things will be on the outside. 2) my maternity clothes are shrinking. Or, I am growing out of them. I am measuring exactly on schedule, yet the belly is huge and the hips are preparing themselves for birth leaving me with exactly 3 pairs of pants I can wear to work and a handful of shirts.  And I am too cheap to buy more. Except I have been debating getting a pair of maternity leggings….
• The cord on my computer charger is on its last leg. which is no good since the actual computer battery doesn’t hold a charge at all. must fix this sometime.
• I find all of the pictures of all of the elves highly annoying.  We have an elf, I do take her picture almost every day (am going to put them together in a little book for G, I think. or at least that’s my plan) but does anyone else really give a shit what is going on with her besides G? I didn’t think so….
• Who else is rocking out the Christmas shopping? I am 99% done with G (I can’t say 100% because her stocking isn’t finished and chances are, I’ll buy her something else she really doesn’t need in the next 24 days), and about 70% done with everyone else on our list.
• I realized that we have gone from the only one of our really close friends to have a baby to having 1 of TEN kids! I found some really fun stuff for the little people in our lives, though so I am excited about that!
• I also may or may not have a Christmas excel spreadsheet. Because listen – I can not remember anything and I know I would forget someone otherwise. (& this reminds me I need to update it….)
• Christmas cards are on this weekends agenda also – we didn’t do any specific pictures (maternity pictures aren’t until next month) and that is making it really hard for me to come up with what to use on our cards.  I realize I am WAY over thinking this. 
• Last weekend I got the playroom and that catch all closet organized and cleaned out. It took me 2 days to recover from all that work! (also, separate project post to come, I finally figured out what to do with all that craft stuff!)
• This weekend, I am attempting to tackle our bedroom and office area. Although, it makes me nervous just looking at it! I made a small dent already but I am probably the only person who can tell!
• and that is enough randomness for today. happy Saturday!

Wordless Wednesday

A few random pictures from the past few weeks – because I fail at ACTUALLY blogging lately.

Pumpkin Patch (did I post these ever? I forget)

Some random dress up

Pumpkin Painting

Preschool Play! (also, cutest sweet corn ever!)

Celebrating my oldest BFF, her successfully kicking infertility’s ass and her journey to motherhood – one girl for me, two boys for her!