Ten on Tuesday

1.  My boys, the Tigers, play tonight.  My main main, Justin Verlander, is scheduled to be on the mound.  Here's hoping for a victory!

2.  I'm officially 3 days away from my due date.  If this were the boys' pregnancies, I would have delivered both by now.  This is the longest I've ever carried a baby.  I'm ready to be done.  However, my Dr. appointment today showed no signs of progress from the past 2 weeks.  And slightly elevated blood pressure....which could have been attributed to the nasty headache I've been unable to shake all day....but they'll keep an eye on it.

3.  They told me to make an appointment for next Monday.  Fairly confident they'd see me again.  I almost cried.

4.  And I still have a headache. 

5.  You know you're old when:  your body reacts to incoming high/low pressure systems entering your geographic area.

6.  I can't wait to be able to take ibuprofen again!!!  It seems like the only thing that eases headache pain for me.

7.  The painter is officially done in our house- for now.  He came back yesterday to re-hang all the bedroom and closet doors.  On Friday, we'll see carpeting!  Then, we can officially start moving into our two new bedrooms. 

8.  In the meantime, I've got a few crafts to work on (home decor crafts) and cleaning up my work audit inventory.  I'd like to go into labor without overdue audits.

9.  We're at the point when we call people that they're expecting a baby announcement.  Last night, I called my in-laws and they BOTH picked up the phone at the same time.  As soon as I told them it wasn't related to baby at all, my mother-in-law promptly hung up.  I found this humorous.  :)

10.  Today is Boss' Day!  I got to talk to my boss today- which isn't something I normally get to do- since we are both busy with work, and most of the time (at least, with her) no news is good news.  We just chit-chatted and talked about my work plans for after baby and plans for cleaning up my existing inventory.  She's a really nice lady- and I'm happy to be working for a company with some integrity in the management!

Just some pregnancy observations

• The superhuman nesting power only lasts so long.  And then you're left with a super clean house, and no baby.  And then, 12 seconds later, your kids walk in the door and mess it all up.  So, now you have a semi-clean house, no baby, and no energy.

• When you're close to your due date, and you go to church on a Sunday morning, you will have approximately no less than 26 conversations about your upcoming delivery.  (Yeah....I was kinda counting....) These will include, "How are you doing?  Feel like crying yet?"  "Wow....you're OUT there."  "Hey....try this......(insert tactic to ensue delivery)."  "Man...you look miserable."  "What, no baby yet?"  And my personal favorite, "Whoa!  I didn't recognize you from behind!  Your butt is still the same, but that belly is crazy huge!" 

• I realized that if this was A's pregnancy, I'd be in labor right now. 

• If it were C's pregnancy, we would have been home for 4 days already.  Sigh.

• It doesn't matter how many things you try to naturally induce childbirth....if that baby isn't ready, she's just not ready.  And I've tried *almost* everything.

• A good night of sleep is sometimes better than going into labor during the night.  Waking up refreshed is such a blessing.

• I'm expecting our van to break down on the way to the hospital.  Yep....I am.

• I am aware that I will probably be wearing some maternity clothes for the first few weeks of baby girl's life....but I'm sooo happy to be packing some of it away!

• I cannot get organized enough.

• I'm excited to get carpet installed on Friday so we can start moving things into baby girl's and our room.  This is getting me so giddy!!! 

• I still have Thank you notes to write.

• It's amazing some of the "suggestions" that people are giving me for baby girl's name.  My response is always, "wow...that's close!"  It doesn't matter if their suggestion is Suzy or Eunice....my response is always the same.....and their response to my response makes me laugh out loud.  :)

• Dave has been invited to no less than 4 "fun" functions last weekend and this week.  He's declined because we just don't know when I'll go into labor.  I told him to go....because as soon as he goes, I'll start contracting.  But he declines....and here I sit- still pregnant!  (I blame him, really- hehe)

• With that logic in my head, I'm starting to make social plans of my own.  Babysitter for my boys so I can go to MOPS, coffee dates, birthday celebrations....because as soon as that calendar is full....I'll go, right?

• I can't be pregnant forever, right?  RIGHT?!?!?!?!?

Counting Blessings 101-120

101.    The TIGERS WON LAST NIGHT!!!!

102.  I'm also thankful that I didn't stroke out when Valverde was pitching.

103.  Yummy orange juice (without pulp).

104.  I'm thankful that I can say "go find some church clothes, please."  and both boys know how to find appropriate attire and dress accordingly.  Without my having to help- at all.

105.  Cheap family film festival movies.  The boys and I went to see Madagascar 3 yesterday for a grand total of $3.99.

106.  Carpeting - that gets delivered on Friday.  (yes, my actual due date).

107.  Sweet and sour chicken.  Best homemade Chinese dinner recipe ever.  Yes, I made it (again) last night.  Soooooo good.

108.  For organization - and my ability to channel Stephenie.  :)

109.  For a good night's sleep.  And waking up refreshed.

110.  For gazelle intensity focus yesterday helping me get through the audit report goal I set for myself.  Hoping that continues through today.

111.  For our small group - that kicks off this afternoon.

112.  For a sweet smelling, shiny, and soft clean dog (nesting at it's best).

113.  For an organized and clean mud room.  (nesting at it's best).

114.  For a husband who will scrub the shower because I can't breathe in those nasty fumes from the hard water cleaner (nesting at it's best).

115.  For completed ironing.  (nesting at it's best).

116.  For my shark floor steamer and our Bona hard wood floor cleaner - and the fact that they saved my back from mayhem.  (nesting at it's best).

117.  For the possibility of a nap on this rainy fall day.

118.  For back rubs.

119.  Belly laughs....and the happy feeling you get long after a good long laugh.

120.  For every bump and hiccup from baby girl.  Even though I'm SO READY to be done being pregnant - I'm in the final days of my pregnancy career.  This is a feeling I will never feel again, so I want to enjoy every last one.

5QF- 39 week edition

GAH!  One week left before my actual due date.  However, if it were my pregnancy with C, I would be coming home from the hospital today....so it's hard not to think of baby girl as being "late." 

On a totally unrelated note....the commute this morning to and from school made me a bit....stabby.  Seriously, I think it was "idiot driver day."  I cannot tell you how many almost accidents I saw- angels in Heaven were working overtime to keep people from dying, I'm tellin' ya!  I will admit I had about 40 swear words (or combination there of) running through my head...but I didn't utter a single one.  For someone who looses her (already loose grip on) the verbal filter during pregnancy...well, it was a modern-day miracle.

In case you were one of the crazies out there on the road, I'd like to provide you a refresher...or a tutorial for not killing me and mine on the road in the morning:

1.  Turn lanes are there for a reason.  Turning.  If you are indeed turning, coming to a full and complete stop in the driving lane (and THEN turning into the turn lane) is ill-advised.

2.  20-30 feet is NOT enough room to turn in front of an oncoming car.  ESPECIALLY if you are driving a semi-truck.  Yes, that happened.

3.  If you do not have the right of way, please don't keep backing into oncoming traffic thinking everyone will stop for you.  You DO NOT have the right of way!!!  People are turning into the gas station, and you are 2 inches from my bumper...and I have a semi behind me.  I cannot back up.  Stop moving.

4.  If you are in the far right lane, please don't make a left hand turn.  There are FIVE lanes here, people.

5.  Get off your phone.  Stop reading your ipad.  I thought you were drunk.  Yes, your driving was that bad.

6.  Driving with one foot on the gas and the other on the brake is just plain dumb.  And a great way to end up with my rusted front end up your arse.  You do NOT need to tap your brake every 5 seconds.... forward motion in the driving lane- that's the name of the game.

7.  If you choose to drive 10 mph below the speed limit, I'd advise you to move into the far right lane.

Ok...thank you for listening....I'm feeling less.....stabby.  :)  You're such a great friend to let me air out my grievances.  :)

Shall we answer some questions?



1. Did you have any homecoming traditions?

Yep.  Avoid homecoming.  :)

I really don't get into going back to college or high school for that jazz.  It's fine for some people, and for those that were all "up in the scene" back then, it may be neat to revisit their glory days...but I'm just not that person.

Meh....to each their own.

2. Do you ask your spouse before spending money?

If it fits into the envelopes, nope.  That's precisely WHY we have envelopes!

If it's a large expenditure that's not budgeted, yep...we have conversations about it.

For example:  my DSLR camera, his larger tools, cars, computers, furniture, etc.

3. If you could be famous for something what would it be?

Ha- my quick tongue.  Blunt honesty.  That's already what I'm known for...so, why not be famous for it?

4. Have you ever seriously thought you were going crazy?

Yep, most days!  Ha!

Kinda like, "have me committed" crazy?  No, not really.  If I ever feel like my emotions are getting out of control, a nice long prayer is always good to refresh the issue.

I will say, though....that I was on quite a downward spiral a while ago.  It was in our second year of marriage.  I had recently had a miscarriage, and was totally jacked up on fertility meds.  There was management change over at work, and they were messing around with my territory.  I was horribly insecure, emotional, and just totally jacked up on hormones.    To top that off, 4 of my friends announced pregnancies within 2 weeks of my original due date- and then one of them (my best friend- at the time) couldn't understand why I wasn't GUSHING all over her and her big news.  I think that's the closest I've ever come to really "going crazy."


5. How do you eat your steak? Burger? (as in, well done, medium, still moo-ing...)

Mmmmmmm, steak.  I like Ribeye Delmonico or and nice T-bone.  Medium.  Still pink in the middle. 

And if it's done just right, I will pick up the bone and eat meat off of it.  Sexy, I know....but that meat is so tender right off the bone.  Oh my yum!

I'm still here....but I'm next in line.

I'm still here.


I'm still pregnant.



I'm ok with that....for now.  :)


I've got a few people a little curious by not showing up for things, or not posting on Facebook, or on the blog...and they call - wondering how I am.


For those curious peeps:  I'm doing well. 



I'm not in labor....


I'm still pregnant.


My Dr. appt yesterday - while it showed a little weight loss (yay!), it also showed a little more dilation than 3 weeks ago...but still let my Dr. know I wasn't quite ready for labor.

"But that can all change on a dime."  She said.

Yep, it can....but I think that this daughter of mine is cozy in there.

I think she's going to be stubborn.

(Aside:  I have NO idea where she would get that from....really no idea *snicker, snicker*)


Actually, if you want to know the truth of it all, I do believe that the boys and I are fighting off a cold virus....we're all tired, cranky, and a little sniffly.  I'd like us to be totally healthy when baby girl comes!

And I'm starting to freak out a tad about labor.  I'm not a fan of pain....at all.  I know once it starts, I take with a grain of salt, and breathe through them one at a time....  But then again....I'm a BIG fan of the epidural....so, I just have to make it through to that point.  Granolas, judge accordingly....I'm ok with that.


I still have work to get done, and a house to put together (and clean!), but all in all...I'm ready.  Bags packed, nurse's treats made and done, camera battery charged....


All the (6) ladies that were due before me have now all delivered.  So, it's my turn next.  I'm first in line now.


I have no idea how long it will take before I get to jump off the diving board, but I'm ok with that.

This entire pregnancy, God has reminded me that I'm not the one in control here....and this is just another testimony of that.  I'm just along for the ride.

And I'm ok with that.

36 years old, 38.5 weeks pregnant, and nesting.

I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted a picture of myself. 

Until C. reminded me just how long it had been since I allowed him to take a picture of me.  :)

So, here I am....EARLY yesterday morning.

I look high.  And tired.

Well...I'm 36.  It's early in the morning....and I am tired.  :)

Side shot!

So, yeah...that's me.  36 Years old.

38.5 weeks pregnant.

In addition,

I've been nesting.

While I still can't do much in her room...I'm feeling the need to organize everything.

Which REALLY is unlike me.

The first item on my organizational list was our mud room.

It seems to end up a LARGE dumping ground for ....well, everything.

Which irks me...

...and if it irks me, it REALLY irks my OCD husband.

And it's the first thing we all see when we enter the house.

So, I took over.

With hooks.

And labels.

And clip boards.

Book bags get hung up right away when they get home, and all papers that pertain to the boy's school work or extra curricular activities goes on those clip boards (instead of on weak magnetic clips on my fridge).

So far, it's worked out great!  My fridge is freed up, and the book bags

(and folders, books, and everything else)

aren't all over the mud room floor.

Then- I went through all the coats.

I packed up everything that was out of season,

too small,

or if I was just plain sick of looking at it.

I printed out some initial labels on my Cricut,

And wah-lah....

We each have our own hook!

(Yes, I have one printed for baby girl!!!  But it's hidden until she gets home, :)

We have been doing what we can do in the baby's room.

We're (im)patiently waiting for the carpet to come in so we can schedule installation.

In the meantime, we can install light fixtures and window treatments!

My parents gave us baby's light fixture as a baby/ new house warming present.

A mini-chandelier!

It came with cloth gloves for installation.

Apparently, they think that only women are installing these mini-chandeliers- because the gloves did NOT fit Dave.  We had a good laugh.  :)

So...here's the mini-chandelier installed.

And the start of her window treatments.

Look closely:  this will be the ONLY time you see mini-blinds in my house!

(They are the start of the tutorial I was following on Pintrest).

Sorry about the quality of the next two pics- they were phone pics so I could send them to my friend, Gina.

But, here's the finished product!

Roman Shades!

Closed:

And open:

Custom roman shades for two windows for UNDER $50 total?!?!? 

Yep, I'll take it!

Hmmmm....what can I organize next?!?!?!?

36 Years= 36 Blessings I LOVE.

I've done posts like this before on my birthday.

Things I'm thankful for...blessings I'm thankful for....in accordance with the years I am old.

I always think it's a good idea to be thankful....and show gratitude.

So, here's some of my favorites:



1.  Dave.  Who is fixing the water pump in my van as I type.  (His birthday present to me.  Romantic, I know...but I'm VERY happy about this!)  He's a very handy guy to have around.  And we're praying that this will take care of the incessant squeaking my van has been making for the last 6 months!!!  Seriously, though....I love this man more and more every day.

2.  This kid right here.  And his sensitive little heart.  His new thing:  he makes "specialty toast."  This means butter and jelly.  But, apparently, he's good at it.  :)

3.  This little guy too!  And the fact that he's on the mend.  And that he sleeps in.  And has a real heart for God.  And loves to cuddle.  And loves animals.  And loves to sing and learn.  And have lots of fun.

4.  This little baby girl.  And the hope that she'll be here sooner than later.  But knowing that she'll be here in (no longer than) 4 weeks.  YAY!

5.  For friends.  I have great ones.  The ones I choose to spend time with are high quality, awesomely loyal ones.  And I'm SO grateful God has put them in my life right now.  Seriously, it doesn't get much better than this!!!

6.  For parents- who are willing to come my way when I can't go theirs.  And everything else they do in between.  :)

7.  For in-laws.  Who still believe birthdays are to be celebrated.  I love that.

8.  For being debt free.  It's a blessing.  A big one.

9.  Being gluten free.  Yes, it's a pain in the arse sometimes....but it beats feeling like I'm dying everyday.  And being malnourished...and being chained to the bathroom.  Inflammation is down, my bones don't hurt, and I haven't had a migraine in over 3 years.  TAKE THAT, WHEAT!!!

10.  For this puppy.  And the fact that she LOVES to cuddle.  And has adorable markings.  And a cute little slack-jaw.  :)

11.  For pumpkin flavored everything.  I love fall.  And pumpkin.

12.  Colors of fall.  I sometimes think that God uses fall foliage to either show off- or prove- beyond a reasonable doubt - that He's still around.  Seriously - those colors on the trees soothe my soul.

13.  For the hope of change this fall.  Praying America wakes up.

14.  For this blog.  And the freedom of speech guaranteed to me by our Constitution.  And the fact that you're reading it right now....my brainless dribble.  And my hope for your laughter somewhere along the way.  :)

15.  For birthday/ baby pedicures.  Yep, I bit the budget bullet and went to get a pedi yesterday.  Totally worth every cent of that $30.  Totally.  Soft feet, glowing feet, exfoliated skin, and pretty nails.  I'm ready.

16.  Texting.  Eliminates the need for small talk.  Something I don't always have the luxury of with little kids underfoot.  And I can text while on the phone for work- when the people I'm auditing don't have their numbers ready.  It makes me feel like I'm a multi-tasking super star.

17.  Ecards.  Man, they crack me up.

Source: someecards.com via Sandy on Pinterest

18.  For work.  And being able to do it from home.  Sometimes in my pajamas.  Without having to put my kids in daycare.  And choosing my own schedule.

19.  The Melting Pot.  And their wait-staff that totally understand what gluten free means....and can give you great substitution ideas.

20.  For our school.  And our principal- who says the kindest words that can recharge my mommy-batteries in 2 minutes.  God certainly knows what he's doing when he puts people in your lives sometimes.

21.  TUMS.  My best friend lately.  I'm grateful for them now...but am really looking forward to not needing them anymore- in about 2 weeks.

22.  A clean house.  I really wouldn't know what that is at the moment....but it's a blessing when I do know what it is.  :)

23.  Cute earrings.  And jewelry in general.  Accessorizing with the prefect earrings and necklace really has a way of making me feel polished and put together.  Doesn't happen often, but when it does- it's a fun day.



24.  Honey crisp apples.  Doesn't get much better than this!

25.  Coffee dates with friends.  And having 3 hours go by before you even think to look at the clock.

26.  MOPS.  And all the wonderful women it's brought into my life.

27.  For Pintrest.  It makes life prettier, tastier, and just more fun.

28.  For purple rooms :)

29.  For people who are always willing to help.  With kids, with house stuff, with a place to stay, with PTL stuff, with just about everything.  Helpful people make the world a better place to be.

30.  For craft dates.  And getting projects done.  And spending time with a friend.  :)

31.  For my NEW blue room!  And the new bedding set that inspired this blue...and the new lamps I'm planning on putting in this room (although I need to bling them out first).  But I'm SUPER excited!!!

32.  For dinners that don't require a fight at the table.  These include:  meatloaf, breakfast dinner, rib eye Delmonico steak night, and tacos.  Apparently, my kids are carnivores!

33.  For our MOPS consignment sale- coming up at the end of this month.  And the opportunity for me to start packing all my maternity clothes up for sale!  Adios, maternity!!!

34.  For my wellness Dr.  And the fact that they teach me what's wrong with my body, so I feel completely educated to make my own health care decisions- and make lifestyle and medication changes accordingly.  And the fact that they are available to me- whenever I need them.

35.  For Facebook.  They really know how to do birthdays.  :)

36.  For you.  For reading all 36 points.  Thanks.