Step Up On That Scale

I have always been pretty anti-pregnancy and anti-children until Cory and I got back together.  I wasn't sold on the idea until well, this cupcake was in my belly growing like a weed.  Pregnancy just didn't seem like something I would be interested in.  Getting fat, having a backache, not being able to drink a beer when I want to, and having the delivery the baby from you know where was not on my fun list.  Since being pregnant though - so much has changed.  It's amazing how different I am and how I think about things differently - as a wife, friend, and now a Mom.  Wow, yes, I said it... Mom.

Pregnancy isn't as awful as I thought it was going to be.  My back hurts but it's bearable, I miss having a drink but splurging with a sweet tea is just as awesome... it's not that bad other than the weight gain.  I knew you gained weight during pregnancy or most women do but I never imagined what it does to you psychologically.  It's difficult, really difficult.  With all the Moms who love to give you advice and compare how much weight you have gained to what they have gained - it doesn't help.  Furthermore, I don't care how much you gained.  It doesn't make me feel better about the number that is on the scale when I step off.  IF you are one of those freak Moms who barely gain 20 lbs and you complain about it - keep your thoughts to yourself around me, because I really don't care.

"Step up on that scale" are the words that you know you are going to hear at every doctor's appointment but hate it when you do.  If you are like me, you strip off all articles of clothing that you can [I'm sure that scarf would add a pound or two] before you step on the scale.  I hold my breath and pray that the number that shows up has not increased too much since the last time I weighed.  Apparently the end of your 2nd trimester and your 3rd trimester is when the weight gain kicks it in high gear.  Geeez!



I will not be announcing how much weight I've gained.  I won't be telling you after I have the baby how much weight I have to lose to get back down to my pre-pregnancy weight.  What I will say is, I've gained weight and no matter what the number may be - it is more than I have ever weighed before.  That is a one TOUGH pill to swallow.  I know I'm pregnant, I know I'm supposed to gain weight - but for someone who has always watched the scales and tried to stay between a high and low number, reaching far above that high number is heartbreaking.

So the plan - keep up with my yoga and exercise.  Continue to eat healthy and make good decisions when it comes to snacks (even though I really love Girl Scout cookies right now).

As my clothes continue to shrink and my nose swells across my face - I will continue to pray for strength until the end of my pregnancy and after my little man arrives to get back to those numbers between my high and low...and stay there until I decide to do this whole pregnancy thing again.


My baby bump has come with some extra lumps.  

My week at a glance

A few things from my week.

I have a baby bump.

Don't smart talk your wife when she is washing dishes.  She will spray you in the face with hot water. 

Banjo the dog will do whatever it takes to get in between Cory and I.

Flowers no matter what will you make you feel better, especially when you didn't expect them.

Gun shows are craft shows for men.

I've convinced myself that ice cream helps heartburn.

Have a happy week kiddos!

Weekend O' Fun

Cory and I have really started loving our weekends home -- no special plans, just us being at our house together.  I can't wait for us to find a new house and move -- doing small projects (hopefully preparing for the baby), being lazy, and enjoying each others company in our house is one of my absolute favorite things!

This weekend we did have a date Friday night - Omar's Upton [Gosh I wanted a glass of wine the entire time] for dinner and the Matt Stell concert at the Brickhouse afterwards.  I'm pretty disappointed in Jonesboro and their ability to have fun at a concert.  Go to a concert at the Rev Room and learn how to party at a red dirt concert. 

Please excuse the very pregnant looking face.  Ugh, where did that come from?

Moving on... I was out until 2am, drove home, and the next day I felt hungover.  My feet hurt, my head hurt, and I was exhausted - being pregnant and being old sure does make it hard on the ol' body.  Saturday Cory hunted with customers, I was lazy until I went to a Threads trunk show with Kellie.  I'm really glad I got out of my pjs and went, I got several shirts that I can wear now and later!  Wooohoo!  Kellie and I decided to put together the baby's stroller [Thank you Dianne and James] while Cory napped.  It was a success.  I thought about putting Hank in it and pushing him around the house but I didn't find the need in thoroughly pissing him off for no good reason.

I have a really fantastic best friend!

Saturday night included a quick spaghetti dinner, Wal-Mart and grocery store trip and bed before 10:00pm.  SUCCESS!

Sunday Cory and I attended church at First United Methodist of Jonesboro.  So far, we are really enjoying the church!  We decided to head to the mall to find me some boots -- Happy Valentine's Day to ME!!!

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend.  I have entered the 3rd trimester!!!  Happy Monday!

I'll tell ya what I want

So I busted out singing the Spice Girls...  I'll tell ya what I want, what I really really want....so tell me what you want, what you really really want.... I want a... I want a..  Ok - moving on.

If we all sat down and listed what all we wanted, not just material things but what we wanted out of life, we would all have a pretty big list.   So, instead of what I want out of life but what I want for this pregnancy.  Ugh, I know don't plan, don't get your hopes up, keep an open mind, I know, I know, I KNOW!  I'm the pregnant girl and I can list what I want if I want... so here it goes.

If you all haven't noticed, I've changed a lot since being pregnant... in a lot of different ways.  I have boobs that feel real, a big belly, wide hips, well wider hips, super thighs, well more super thighs, swollen ankles, and a movement in my stomach that no one can explain.  I've changed in other ways too.....I don't take over the counter medicine any longer.  I have learned to pick my battles, with the dogs -- I'm trying to prepare myself.  I eat as many fruits and veggies as I can, I find it much more important than I use to.  I believe in getting vitamins and nutrients in it's natural form is best.  I don't clean as often or feel that my life is out of order if I haven't mopped that day.

My Wants for this pregnancy, delivery and baby:
I want to continue to have a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby.
I want to deliver our baby into a calm and happy environment.
I know it hurts - you really don't have to tell me.  I do not have plan -- natural, epidural, c-section.  At the time of delivery I hope the best decision is made for the health of the baby and me. 
I want to breastfeed my baby, exclusively.
I know it is going to hurt and it is very time consuming.  I hope and pray for patience and strength during the first few weeks and for my body to do what it is supposed to do, produce milk.
I want to immunize at our own pace, not on the schedule of the doctor.
I know I'm not a doctor but I am a Mom - We will do what we feel is best for our baby. 
I won't use the timeline to feed him cereal, solid foods,etc.
Every baby is different and when we feel that he is ready, we will start that.  Did you know that there are babies that on their first birthday they have only had breast milk?  No solids, no cereal, only Momma juice. 
I want to make my own baby food when he starts eating solids.
I know I can buy it but why should I when I can make it?  We make smoothies for ourselves every morning, so I hope we can get into the practice of making baby food weekly as well. 
I think cloth diapering is great and I want to do it -- but know that I can't!!!
I think that if you have the set up (and the stomach) then go for it!  Cory and I both have weak stomachs, having to change diapers is going to be difficult enough - we shouldn't push our luck.  More power to those Moms who can!!!!

Every pregnancy, delivery, and child is different.  I have been one of those judgmental non-Moms basically my entire life.  Well, that has changed too.  I will do things different than a lot of people, people will judge us for the things we do and don't do.  If you know me, you know I don't color in the lines very often, why start now?!?

In a few months I may post about how all of my Wants were out of reach and I was just a crazy hormonal pregnant lady with big ideas.  Until then, I will continue to research, read, and pray for guidance!

Buying a book today called Redeeming Childbirth.  Hopefully I can read it soon and will let you all know what it is about!

Hip Hip Hooray!

As I look thru fashion websites, maternity fashion blogs, and all the "natural pregnancy" blogs that I read daily -- I think I'm turning into a hippie.  I'm not sure how I feel about it.  These days, I have no idea if I'm happy or sad, crazy hormones.

I've basically quit washing my hair unless I have to.  Do you know how nice it is to put it some dry shampoo (or baby powder), do a new style for the day and call it good?  Day 1 - curly hair, down Day 2 - hair on top of head, bun Day 3 - low side pony tail (I really meant to braid it but that's difficult to do while driving to work).  I will wash my hair tomorrow, I promise.  [I take a bath every morning it has become more difficult to lean back and wash these blonde locks]

I may feel more "hippie'ish" due to the fact that I am now throwing clothes together and calling them an outfit.  Since I don't have much that fits anymore, I layer up with muted colors, throw on a big thick scarf, chunky jewelry and call it a fashionable maternity outfit.  They say when you are pregnant to carry a big purse and wear big accessories -- this takes the eyes away from the belly (and huge thighs) and draws them to your pretty parts.

Another new thing for me is, little makeup.  I'm so over the smokey eye.  I mean, if you have the time and it looks good on you - go for it.  I have been putting one color of eyeshadow all over and eyeliner.  Actually, I'm not even wearing eyeliner - I'm wearing a dark smokey grey eyeshadow and putting it on as eyeliner.  I smudge it a bit to make it look not so perfect.  Super easy and it makes my eyes stand out.  Lately it's been base, powder, bronzer, eyeshadow/eyeliner and mascara.  Booms!

I really like Nicole Richie's style.

I guess I will go drink some green tea, smoke some grass, and tie-dye my sheets.

Have a Lavish Wednesday!

Pregnancy Madness

So before getting pregnant I never really realized all the things that happened to your body.  Yes, I knew you got a huge belly, big boobs, and a Mom butt.  What I didn't know was the other things that happen to your body; it isn't all about the glow, the great hair and beautiful nails...  So far, I have not been that "you have that glow" type of pregnant girl.  I've heard, "you hardly look pregnant" to "you are going to be huge by May."  I don't have flowing beautiful hair, my nails are just the same, and being sick every morning for several months was far from anything "beautiful."

So here are a few random thoughts I have on pregnancy:

• If you aren't going to tell a pregnant girl she looks pretty, keep your mouth shut.  Don't call her fat, don't point out her belly, and don't discuss how large you were with your kids.  Really, it doesn't help.
• I have to unbutton my bra during the workday sometimes because if feels like it is smashing Tanya and Tucker to the point of no return.  I need these babies to produce milk.  
• I now have a space between my thighs, which I've never had.  That means my hips are spreading apart and have been for months now.
• I miss Diet Coke, Busch Light, and being able to put on my shoes without getting out of breath.
• Hearing how awful childbirth is doesn't help me.  A child is in my stomach and has to come out one way - ya, I know it's going to hurt like hell.
• Maternity clothes are pretty awful but pull together a cute outfit without the floral print, cotton shirts.  If you decide to not be dressed up, wear yoga pants and sweatshirt and tell everyone you are sick.
• Even though you are eating for two - people still judge you with all that food.
• Pushing on Cupcake and having him kick so that Cory can feel him move around is one of the sweetest and most perfect things I've ever had the pleasure to enjoy. 
• Baby clothes are expensive and I do not think they are all cute - a lot of them are actually not cute at all.  I'm an awful Mom.
• Heartburn is the devil.
• I don't mind people touching my stomach, it doesn't bother me at all.  Don't comment when you touch it.  Just rub and enjoy the moment.
• Sometimes I just want to feel normal again.  Talk to people without them talking about my belly.  I don't bring up your belly, why do you keep bringing up mine?
• I always thought that I would freak out feeling an "alien" [this is what I use to call babies] inside of me.  I actually love it and find it so comforting to know he is saying, hey Mom I'm ok today just working on my hand, eye coordination

Being pregnant has had its ups and downs but whose doesn't?  You talk to Moms and they talk about how wonderful everything was.  Maybe they didn't puke, slept every night, and didn't feel the lava that constantly burns the back of their throat -- or maybe, they just forgot.  I hear when the baby gets here, I will forget all of the downs and only remember the ups of this pregnancy.  I'm really ready for Cupcake to be here!


Son - Mom and Dad are patiently waiting!  Continue with the working out, it's good for you and it makes me smile expectantly!