Will pose for treats

For years I've been trying to capture Darrell on camera.  He usually runs away, shuts his eyes, or hides.  I've never really thought of using treats (duh) until today.  I really wanted a picture of him next to the tulips.  Isn't he just sweet?

Nesting?

Not sure if it's this "nesting" thing, or if my laziness is wearing off (I hope so), but watch out!  This house is clean.  I have been cleaning things I've never cleaned before.  Cleaning was Mike's deal pre-pregnancy.  I purposely picked up shifts on the weekends because that's when Mike does his best cleaning.  I would come home from a day's work and the house would be spotless.  I loved it.  Mike is a very thorough cleaner, but easily distracted.  He cannot multi-task, but he gets the job done.  Recently I've taken over the cleaning duties.  I've swept the floors more in the past two months than I have since we moved in.  I'm really passionate about loading/unloading the dishwasher.  I have to stop myself from huffing bleach when I'm cleaning the bathroom (ahh smells so good).  Last week I vacuumed out my husband's car and cleaned it out.  I've been on top of my laundry pile - the other day I washed/dried/and put away my clothes... all in one evening... which is unbelievable for me.  Typically I get them washed and dried, then let them hang out in the laundry basket for a couple days until I get around to putting them away.  My goal is to keep this house clean enough so that someone could unexpectedly stop by and it would be presentable.  I hope this isn't all due to nesting... I love this new person that wants to clean.  I feel so much better about myself when my surroundings are in order.  Here's a picture of my cleaning buddy, perched on the couch waiting for something to happen:

30 Weeks

30 weeks?  Unbelievable.  I'm excited, anxious, and nervous all at the same time.  I'm feeling great.  If it wasn't for a few kicks from the baby every now and then and this ginormous belly I would forget that I'm pregnant.  I have a doctors appointment tomorrow.  Just the routine stuff.  I'm going every two weeks now until I hit 36 weeks, then I'll go to the doctor every week until delivery.

This weekend was pretty bland.  Mike was in Kansas City running a marathon.  I worked Friday evening and went to a Baby Expo on Saturday.  It was very informative - I have so much to learn!  I wish Mike could have been there because he really has no clue.  We are going to a five hour class in May to teach us everything we need to know about a baby.  Ha!  We need more like fifty hours.

I've been on a sugar craze this past week.  I can't get enough.  I eat the main course of supper only so I can then eat dessert.  I partly blame it on Easter - so much yummy candy!  I've always been a candy fanatic but I've taken it to the next level.  I'm glad I passed my diabetes screening last month - not sure I would've passed now!

Check out baby girl's closet...  I won't have to do laundry because she has a new outfit for every day.

Random thoughts

I'm finally feeling back to normal.  Last week I was smacked in the face with sinus pain/pressure (or at least it felt that way).  It lasted for about a week and I was miserable.  And of course I was scheduled to work a lot last week.  It is so hard to be empathetic to patients, when I'm clearly more sick they are, and they are coming to the emergency room for a stuffy nose.  Plu-eze.  Anyway, I made it through.

I am loving this weather.  It is the perfect weather for a big 'ol pregnant gal.  I've been taking D for long walks.  Tonight we sat out in the back yard - I read a book and D chased birds.  I've also been doing water aerobics.  What a great workout!  I think that so far I have been successful in only looking pregnant from the front... just trying to keep it that way.

I read the book "Last Song" by Nicholas Sparks - it was fantastic!  I want to see the movie... but Miley Cyrus grosses me out... and I can't believe the hot guy in the movie would date her in real life... and movies are never as good as the books... but I may give it a try.

Baby is growing fast.  I'm starting to feel a wee bit uncomfortable.  I can't just sprawl out on the couch anymore like I used to.  If I lay this way, she kicks me in the ribs.  If I lay that way, my back hurts.  And it's only going to get worse. 

Today is our engagement anniversary.  It's a great April Fools Day story if you haven't already heard it.

Check out my sister's blog:  www.BrookeAUD.blogspot.com

Easter is my favorite holiday.  I have to work a few hours that day, and I'm kinda bummed that we're not doing anything special.

28 weeks

28 weeks / 7 months pregnant!  I had a doctors appointment this morning.  I had to drink this fruit punch mixture one hour before my appointment.  I was thinking it wouldn't taste so bad, I am usually a fan of sugary stuff.  This stuff was... disgusting.  It was the consistency that killed me.  I gagged after every drink.  I am glad I passed the glucose screen so I don't have to do it again.  From now on I go to the doctor every two weeks.  Yikes!  This process is really starting to speed up.  I have another work baby shower on Thursday and a Sioux City shower in a couple weeks. 

 

Sista-sista weekend in Minneapolis!!!  It was so nice to get out of town and relax.  Brooke always has plenty of fun activities planned for me.  I got into town Saturday around 10:30am (I got up and left home before it was even light out because I was so excited).  Mike had school stuff to do so he stayed home.  Darrell stayed home with his Dad - I feel bad leaving him at my sister's house all day while we bum around.  Other then our honeymoon, I haven't been away from D for more than a night.  I came home to find Darrell's food dish empty and water dish bone dry.  I hope Mike remembers to feed our child when I'm gone...  Anyway, back to the activities.  Saturday: Mall of America, dog park, UFC fight (we're obsessed with GSP - don't know who he is?  MISSING OUT!),  Sunday: water workout at Brooke's gym, back to Mall of America, bingo, home cooked meal.  I drove home on Monday - stopped at the outlet mall and was disappointed.  It should be mandatory that stores in outlet malls are truly "outlets."  I did get baby girl two pairs of pink tights so I guess the stop was successful.  It was a great weekend.  I love hanging out with my sister!

Bingo: We LOVE bingo.  We went to a real bingo place, not a church basement.  It is very serious.  We didn't know that the place (including the concession stand) only takes cash, and Brooke used her last dollars to buy the bingo tickets.  All we could do is sit there and think about how thirsty we were, and watch all the other people eat popcorn.  We kept saying - We need to win some money!  Guess what?  I WON!   My prize: $10 concession stand gift certificate and a free pass for next time.  YES!  It was divine intervention.  The prize for all the other games was $99 but I didn't care... that concession stand money was worth a million dollars to me at the time.  We spent the whole thing.  Huge Pepsi, popcorn, lots of candy.  It was fantastic. 

Frustrated

Tonight I am frustrated about two things:

#1  Went to Sioux City this weekend to visit my parents.  Wanted to pick up the changing table from my grandma's house.  (My uncle built it for my Mom when my brother/sister/and I were babies.  I plan to refinish it, rub on a little wood oil, spruce it up a bit, use it for my babies).  Anyways, it wouldn't fit in my car.  Seriously.  I bought a "family car" with a "family hatchback" so I could transport "family items" like changing tables.  Ugh.  I have some free time this week and I was going to work on the wood, put the shelf liner on, get the baskets in it and fill 'em up with all the stuff that is sitting around the baby's room.  But, no.  Thought of strapping it onto the top of my car Griswold-style...  So my new plan is to wait for someone with a larger vehicle to make a trip westward, and maybe the changing table will come with them.  I'm about ready to say "screw you changing table.  I was going to fix you up and make you new again but now you can rot for all I care."

#2  We have over $300 in Younkers gift cards from our wedding almost three years ago.  (FYI - they never expire or depreciate).  I want to use the gift cards on items for our home, since they were wedding gifts.  We basically got everything from our registry for the wedding, so I've been hanging on to the gift cards for a rainy day.  Or hell, just a day when I need them.  Like now.  Of course Younkers doesn't have anything for babies except clothes.  Why would they?  Then I could've gotten my bedding or furniture or something for free.  Or, why doesn't Younkers sell cameras?  Because we *lost our camera last month.  And we're having a baby that will be adorable and need to be photographed.  Wait - Younkers does sell cameras!  Online!  ...............  That's what I was trying to buy today.  The cameras are about $20 more at Younkers than what you would pay at another store.  But I thought - who cares?  The camera will essentially be free...  Well guess what... you can't use gift cards online.  Seriously.  Seriously?  I finally found something to blow a hundred dollars on and now I can't use my gift card?  I guess I'll just save the gift cards until eighteen years from now when baby girl needs a prom dress.

*When we moved our bedroom from upstairs to the main floor we "lost" our camera.  Mike swears he has looked in every drawer and behind every nook and cranny.  I know it's around here somewhere.  Or it got thrown away by accident.

New this week...

-Leg cramps:  ouch!  I've been getting cramps in my calves during the night.  They only last for about 30 seconds but they hurt so bad!  I have been stretching my legs and doing lots of walking so I hope the cramps stay away.

-Heart burn:  Totally jinxed myself.  I was telling a coworker last week about how I've only had heart burn one time in my life.  That night... I had heart burn.  Granted, I did have lasagna for lunch and supper that day, but still.  I usually never get heart burn.  I had it again today a little bit, after a hot fudge sundae from DQ.  Tums have been added to my purse. 

-My pregnancy books say my uterus is currently the size of a soccer ball. 

-I bought the cutest baby book today.

-I think I finally found curtains for the baby's room.  My mom found them online.  Thank God!  It was stressing me out.  I've been feeling really anxious lately about getting the baby's room finished.  Her closet is stocked but that's about it!  I will be able to get the changing table from my parent's house in a couple weeks when we go for a visit.  Painting will happen in May.  Today I bought art work for the walls.  I guess it's all coming together, but I just wish it was done!

-Mike is ill tonight.  He has a headache and a fever.  He has been quarantined in our bedroom.  I think I might sleep on the couch or the guest room tonight to stay away from the germs.  He tells me tonight that he never got his flu/H1N1 shot.  Tisk tisk!

-Tomorrow is the anniversary of our first date.  Eight years ago!  We're not doing much to celebrate.  I work until 7pm and Mike is busy with school.  When we got married he said we couldn't celebrate "other anniversaries" anymore... like our first date, engagement, etc.  Ha!  He just can't remember all the dates.  I wish we could drive to Iowa City tomorrow and eat at the Brown Bottle like we did on our first date.