I think I need a reality check because the month of March simply CAN. NOT. BE. OVER. I mean really? If March is over, that means it's April. And if it's April, that means that the very next month on the calendar is May. And May 17 is on that page in the calendar! WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!

Recently I have been extremely tormented inside. On one hand I want this little baby in my arms more than anything. I want to know that this baby is healthy and really, really here. On the other hand, I am simply not done being pregnant. I love it! I love knowing the baby is inside me and even when I grimace because there is a body part trying desperately to climb out of my belly button, I love every second of it.

This household has been nothing but productive recently. My parents and Ben were here for a long weekend and got lots of little projects around the house done for us. Brett has also been working super hard at checking off things on my ridiculous "Must be done before the baby gets here to do list". Thanks to Brett, the baby's room has a new paddle fan, the bathroom has a new floor, all of the doorknobs in the house have been changed (hooray for no more brass). That's not really all, but those are more of the ridiculous things I wanted done.

Brett has also ben getting ready for the baby by figuring out what all this stuff is for. Baby Bjorn tested and loved by Tucker!

While the family was here, my dad, Ben and Brett ripped out our shower downstairs and put in a bigger and better one. This was a necessity because the old shower was out of commission due to a leak in an undisclosed location. The other major accomplishment was taking the bed down in the spare room and getting the mattress and box spring all stored away. That means that our house no longer has a spare bedroom, but rather a nursery! Yep - a whole room dedicated to caring for a baby. The nursery is not done, but it is well on it's way and I am more than pleased with how it is coming along. Last but not least, Ben took some awesome pictures of Brett and I right before he left. These would be officially 32 weeks and 5 days pregnant and I have never felt better.

Is a post a post if it doesn't have pictures?

So I know I haven't posted in a while and it's not because there's been nothing to post. We actually have been up to a lot of things, many revolve around getting ready for BB. I also love to post with pictures and have been struggling to remember my memory card to download them. Anywho, I actually have lots to update and will soon. My parents and one of my brothers will be in town for a few days and after that I have sometime off for spring break. After that, I'll be sure to post - pictures and all!

Here's something though...Brett made Balsamic Steak with Radicchio a few weeks ago for dinner. We got the recipe from the Food Network Cookbook and it was delicious. It was our first time cooking with radicchio and eating it not mixed in a salad. It is bitter, which I did not realize, but was OUTSTANDING with this steak!

Start of the 3rd Trimester Brain Dump

So I am week behind but we have hit another pregnancy milestone - the third trimester! Yep! Last Tuesday we are officially 28 weeks pregnant and in the home stretch. Now, sooner rather than later, this little person will making his/ her debut to the world and we can't wait!

I think Brett and I are both starting to feel the time crunch. While May 17 seems like far away when you take into account all the things going on between now and then and all the things we need to get done, time seems quite precious now.

Here's my brain dump for today...

• Here I am 29 (as of Tuesday, 3/1) weeks pregnant.


• We have a our first prenatal class this weekend.This one is an overview with a tour of the hospital and a Q and A session.
• I finished replacing the knobs on the dresser. The new ones seem a little too modern for this old piece but I like the brushed silver so much better and they are functional. It will work.


• Brett helped me for several hours in the kitchen. Not what you think. There was no cooking taking place. Instead, we removed almost everything from every cupboard and tried to rearrange/ organize better in preparation for all of the new baby kitchen items soon to come. Our kitchen is terrible in terms of space and functionality.


• I made this Sausage, Pepper, and Onion Pizza from Rachael ray's magazine for dinner last night. It was different. I used Italian chicken sausage form Trader Joe's and it was quite tasty. This picture is clearly from her website and not of my actual pizza - I have trouble taking pictures of food lately. I am far to hungry to put off the the satisfaction for a picture.
• There is a substitute sitting in our office right now couching so loud I think he might need help. When he finished coughing, he farted. I giggled. I might be 5 years old.
• Winter...I am done with you.

Baby To Do List

I would first like to take this moment to thank our Presidents. Because of those wonderful men that have come before me, I get to stay home in my jammies all day cuddling with my fur babies and the future star of "So You Think You Can Dance" growing inside me (Brett and I wish we were millionaires and could afford our own ultrasound machine to watch just exactly what this little thing does in there to make my belly move like it does!).

So as I sit hear on the couch, sipping coffee, Today show on in the background (how COULD you take the day off Matt and Meredith?), and finally catching up on my blog reading, I think I need a Baby To Do List. Not that I plan on checking anything off of that list today, but a list would at least let me see what I would like to accomplish over the next 12 or less weeks.

• We did not purchase a new dresser for BB's room, but rather will use the antique that we have from Brett's grandmother. I had previously painted it black and antiqued it, so that will still work but I would like to change the drawer pulls. So that will require removing the hardware, filling the holes because they are not standard, and then reattaching the replacement hardware.


• Wipe out the dresser and put in drawer paper to start filling with all the abby stuff taking over the room. Any suggestions on where to find neat paper would be appreciated...I'm not digging the weird stuff at Target/ Wal Mart intended for your Grandmother's kitchen.
  
• Finish spray painting the wooden curtain rods for BBs room and then get curtains hung.
  
• Clean and organize kitchen - this involves taking everything out of every cabinet, wiping them down and reorganizing.
  
• Take down and store the bed in what is the spare bedroom but will be BB's room. We can do this now because we finally ordered our new couch for the basement and....it's a SLEEPER!!!! Delivery is March 5 and I can't wait to post a picture.
  
• Begin freezing meals for after baby is born.
  
• Decide on a few decorations to purchase from Etsy for BBs room. Here's one that we are considering - don't get excited...it comes in pink and blue, it's just shown in pink :-)

• Reorganize laundry room. In desperate need of some better storage!


• Purchase either bookshelf or cubby storage and a glider chair for BBs room. I'm hoping to find a glider on Craigslist and then my plan is to just paint it since I can't seem to find the right color.


• Final sweep of the house for stuff to take to our favorite donation location.
  

I know this list might seem kind of funny, but this is where my brain is at right now. Anyone want to come over and help?

Pregnancy Confessions

I have a confession to make - I LOVE being pregnant. I love every single thing about it. I love when I burp and food comes up with that burp. I love being so uncomfortable on the couch at night that I turn from side to side to side 400 times. I love walking into my closet and not being able to wear 90% of the clothes hanging in there. I love the taste of Tums. I love getting tired at 8:30 and falling asleep in the middle of a TV show. I love the disgusting smell of my prenatal vitamins. I love that yesterday I had to drink 10 ounces of the worst tasting fluid ever and then have my blood taken 1 hour later to see if I possibly have diabetes. I love that my back and my left side hurt. Yeah....I love everything about being pregnant.

While Brett and I only had to try for six months for this sweet baby, each of those months that we weren't pregnant brought tears to my eyes. We in no way went through any ordeal to conceive like so many people. I say prayers for those people every day because to me, being pregnant is the greatest gift I have ever received.

My real confession should be that while I love being pregnant, I don't think I am good at it. I am sure I don't eat enough fruits and vegetables. I probably don't drink enough water. I certainly don't exercise like I should. I can become obsessed with reading online what horrible thing could happen to our baby. But, I don't think I could love this baby inside of me any more. This sweet thing has a personality of its own already. Today in the middle of teaching, I grabbed my side in pain. It was not an "Oh my gosh something is happening" kind of pain, it was a "please for the love of all that is good stop poking me from the inside" kind of pain. It seriously hurt and I loved every second of it because it is one more thing that makes this baby a person, a real live living human being.

For the first several weeks of being pregnant, I simply loved being pregnant. Then I was scared. Not about the baby but because I was afraid that I wasn't sure I actually wanted a baby. I thought maybe I had gotten caught up in wanting to be pregnant that I had ignored the fact that pregnancy only lasts for 9 months and a baby forever. Those fears have certainly been calmed and I can't wait for this baby to arrive. I can't wait to hold BB in my arms as I see that proud Papa look on Brett's face.

Sweet baby, we love you and can't wait for you to get here...

Oh the Blizard of 2011

I know everyone is pretty much over the blizzard, but I was just looking through pictures and I still can't get over how buried our house was....and how buried the car was... and how beautiful our street looked.... and how funny I look posing as "Brett's snow bunny"....and here's the snow already building the night before!

Stay warm, freinds!

Snow-M-G!

While everything around here seems to be in reference to the unusually large amount of snow - approximately 20 inches - Snow M G was my favorite reference! Tuesday night when all this started, it was the first thing I said to Brett after picking him up at the train station. He thinks I'm funny! So while everyone by now has heard that, yeah, we got a lot of snow, I will tell you how my experience with blizzard 2011 started out.

Monday afternoon, our school announced that we would be getting out at 1:18 the following day to allow students and staff extra travel time home since that was about when the blizzard was going to hit. I was not in school that day, but rather at a training. Well, our "trainers" couldn't decide whether we were getting out early, working through lunch, etc. The decision was made to work through lunch( I was not one who voted for this option seeing as though I need to eat every few hours and I had already grazed my way through all of my snacks) and then we would get out at 1:30. well, by 1:00 everyone had received texts that their respective schools were already canceling for the next day and so we were worse than elementary kids on Halloween. They let us go around 1 and I made 2 stops on the way home. I pulled in my driveway at about 2:10 and by this point, it was an all out blizzard. I couldn't tell exactly how much it was snowing because it was blowing so dang hard. So I get out of the car with my purse (AKA very large bag with everything I would need for the whole day), three grocery bags, coffee mug and keys. I get to the front door...insert key...turn...push down on handle. Nothing. Try again. Nothing. Put bags back in car. Try again. Nothing. Tray again. Nothing. Try kicking the door. Nothing.

Well, our front door has been sticking and we knew it probably needed replaced but those things are pricey so we'd been putting it off.

So there I stand - 6 months pregnant, starving, I have to pee, there is a blizzard going on around me and the STINKING FRONT DOOR WON'T OPEN. So, I did what any rational person would do, I started to think of ways that i could break into the house, weighing the cost of various things I intended to break. In the end, I called Brett who looked up a locksmith and got someone to come and take the lock apart and let me in. Unfortunately, it took him almost an hour to get to our house and another hour to get the lock open. So, at 4:15ish, I finally got into the house.

Additional notes to this story - the dogs barked the ENTIRE two hours that I could not get in (Tucker was hoarse) and the man opening the door shows 4 inches of plumber's crack every time he bent over. You would think he would have dressed better knowing there was a blizzard coming.

A Few Favorite Pregnancy Items (WARNING: a bare belly pic is involved)

Now these things are by no means necessary to get through a pregnancy. I am, however, fortunate enough to have a super excited husband who can't wait to be a daddy and is doing everything he can to make it easier on me. He told me one day that he had bought the baby and I a few gifts and that they would be delivered soon. All I can say is...he done good!

• Belly Buds: Specialized "head phones" that stick to you pregnant belly and adjust the volume of music so it is not too loud for baby. Since Brett and I are both very into music, we felt it was important for the baby to be exposed to some of our favorites ahead of time, mainly Dave Matthews. The baby has however already "attended" two Dave concerts. The neat thing about Belly Buds, is that they have a website that you can send invitations to family members to record messages to the baby. When we were home for Christmas my mom recorded herself singing to the baby. My only complaint is that you can't download the recordings so you have to plug the headphones into your computer. I think it is just easier to make your own audio file. Anyway, we created a lay list so that I can sit at night and the baby can listen to my iTouch!

• Snoogle Pillow: This is a MUST HAVE. I honestly don't think I could sleep with out it. It is a pillow with a hook shape at the top, long straight body part and then a curled bottom. It fits my body so perfectly and helps to ensure that I sleep on my side. A lot of women at this stage in their pregnancy struggle to get a good nights sleep. I don't attribute it all to the snoogle but so far I am having the opposite problem. I feel great but when it's time to go to bed, I have no problem!!!! Brett ordered my pillow from Amazon, but I saw something similar at Babies R Us.

• Prenatal Yoga DVD: I must confess that I have been VERY lazy so far during my pregnancy. Fortunately, my weight has not suffered but I know that it is good for both me and the baby to get some physical activity. Brett realizing that I was struggling with this ordered me a prenatal yoga DVD. I tried it recently for the first time and I love it. It is broken into practices by trimester and then special symptoms (morning sickness, sleeplessness, back pain).

And most of all, the one best thing to have while being pregnant - this guy!

What up on this chiiiiiillllllyyyyy Friday?

I have been off work since December 23, you would think I would have made a little time for more blogging, but nope. So, please excuse this jumbled mess of thoughts going through my head.

• Planning for a baby is overwhelming. Brett and I registered at both Target and Babies R Us and while I sort of know what we need, it is a very overwhelming feeling trying to decide exactly which nail clippers will be best for your baby! HAHA! I know, I know....women have been having babies for a long time with a fraction of the stuff we will be blessed to have. This being our first baby, though, I want everything to be perfect.
• We know the sex of the baby. We have told our immediate families, but that's it....IT'S KILLING ME!!!!!!! I am so excited I just want to tell the world - which would be why I told the lady on the phone with the insurance company this morning and the cashier at Whole Foods.
• Speaking, of knowing the sex, we picked out bedding which is what the theme of the nursery will be. I am not a them-ey sort of person, so it is basically just the color scheme. We will get a few pieces from the bedding set and then coordinate from there.
• Last night, I made dinner....twice, because the first was not edible. I wanted to try this delicious looking lemon pasta from Pioneer Woman. I got the sauce all done (with no lights on in the kitchen) and when I turned the overhead stove light on, there were blue chunks in the white sauce. I am truly at a loss for an explanation and no the sour cream was not moldy.
• I would really like to go away for a long weekend, preferably someplace warm. Unfortunately, if I wait until Spring break, I will be 33 weeks pregnant (WHAT????) and I don't want to travel at that point. Soooo, I am looking for a long weekend relatively soon and relatively cheap. Any ideas? Anyone want to come? Oh, Brett is most likely going on a golfing trip with his buddies in Florida, so I may be counting him out on this trip....just kidding, honey! But seriously, anyone want to go somewhere???
• All I want to eat is cookies, cake, brownies...you get the picture!
• As I said at the beginning, I have been off work since December 23 and go back this Monday. I know that most people will have no sympathy for me whatsoever, but I really don't want to go back. I love being home with these sweet things. I love sipping coffee in the morning, baking warm muffins, being caught up with laundry and having a semi-clean house.

• My brother bought this for the baby for Christmas....the baby is a Steelers fan already!

Happy Friday, friends!

A Look Ahead

Here it is, January 1, 2011. I am curled up on our couch with both puppies under my blanket, each cuddling up to a leg. The Christmas tree lights are on, Brett is snoozing away in the bedroom, and the wind is blowing furiously outside. There is a baby wiggling inside of me (probably because of the M&M cookie I just ate for breakfast). I couldn't feel more blessed. It seems that every time I turn around I read or a hear a story of heartache. Of truly good people that have bee thrown into a whirlwind of suffering - death, sickness, loss, infertility, etc. You get the picture. While Brett and I have surely had our ups and downs in the past 5+ years, I feel that we have come through stronger and more faithful than ever. We are so blessed in ways I couldn't even have imagined.

I don't know what 2011 will bring. It will hopefully bring a healthy baby into our life. It will hold moments of sheer joy that we wish we could hold onto forever. There is a chance that it could bring sadness because we don't always know what God has in store. Whatever 2011 will hold, I know that it is all part of our plan. I have always held deep in my heart that there is a reason for everything, that nothing comes by chance. 2011 will be no different.

Happy New Year!