Maternity photos!

So, being that this lil girl could come anytime between now and March 6th (since I am officially scheduled to be induced the night of March 5th), I figured it was time to get the hubby to snap a few shots of my baby bump

It also helps a lot that he is AMAZING at photography

and

he got a sweet new macro lens

So, here are a few of my favorites in no particular order...

I am hoping to nab a few more tomorrow including the hubby in them (more than just his hand...)

Pretty pleased with a little at home photo session, plus it was super cheap and we could do what we want and take our time...

Still waiting for baby girl to arrive!

3 hour glucose test

Man, so I found out on last Friday that I failed my first glucose test...So this morning (literally ALL morning) was spent in the doctor's office.

I got there early, had blood drawn, drank a sugary filled drink and waited an hour...blood was drawn then and again at 2 hours and 3 hours after finishing the drink.

I am praying that I passed this one. I have heard there are multiple levels of "not passing" that can range anywhere from a restricted diet (with only 1600 calories...while pregnant...this seems IMPOSSIBLE!) to going to see and endocrinologist and having to get insulin shots...eeeeekkk! I hate shots, probably as most people do.

So, thankfully fnished my testing just before noon, headed out to get food and while driving I started to feel bad. Felt fine all during the 3 hours in the office, but once I had to drive around, I felt BAD!

I literally was sweating all over and was to the point of having the windows down (it's cold today and the air felt awesome to me, but I was probably the only crazy driving around with my windows down)...

Then the complete opposite happened...I get home and park, and start to feel REALLY cold. I start shaking and feel like climbing the stairs to get inside is maybe the hardest task I have faced in life, that bad.

I make it inside, eat food ravenously and cuddle under blankets after cranking the heat up in my house.

A few hours later, I am starting to feel more "normal" and like my usual self. Jeez, these tests are no fun.

Been feeling pretty lazy and wiped out, and about all I feel like doing is listening to audio books while laying on the couch snuggling with my doggy...that's right, I'm too lazy to even read, someone must do this for me too!

Hoping I feel back at it by tonight, but in the meantime, taking it nice and easy over here.

Thankful

November may be one of my favorite months

(I could be slightly biased since I was born this month too)

But I really LOVE Thanksgiving time
For me, this is a time to be around all my family and join together in making a wonderful feast
and also share what we are all thankful for
(I am so sappy that I tend to get emotional when we do this, but I love to hear what the kids usually say since they are so sweet and innocent!)

So this year I will share some of my thankful things with you:
-my husband
I don't know where I would be without this guy, he keeps me grounded and sane and can cheer me up from anything. He makes me laugh non-stop and I know that he loves me unconditionally. I am so thankful to have him be a part of my life

-my family
this includes my parents, sister and her kiddos, my cousins, aunt, uncle and also my husbands family (as well as those that have passed on and meant so much to me). I still get so excited to go home to see family...to me there is nothing better than being with those you love and who love you too-it's such a special and wonderful feeling

-the growing baby girl in my belly
what more can I say, I feel blessed to have this little sweet gal kicking around in my belly non-stop...she already makes me smile and I can't imagine loving anything/anyone more than I already do (is it March yet...I would REALLY love to get to hold her already!)

-my puppy dog
Okay, so my dog really isn't a puppy anymore, but he will always be my puppy in my mind. He got me through some tough times living alone during my first year of grad school and the way he wiggles his entire body each and every time I come home from anything brightens my day.

-my friends
I have a great group of friends that I wouldn't trade for anything. We always have the best times together no matter what the occasion or how fancy or just plain simple it may be.

-my health
I feel fortunate to be healthy (and hopefully continue this way through the rest of my pregnancy). Of course I have days when my back aches, but I can't complain when I know others suffer from much worse...I wish them better health

Naturally I am thankful for other things, such as yummy homemade desserts and things like green bean casserole and Dr. Pepper...but those tend to be much farther down my list in comparison to the big ones I have shared.

I hope wherever you are, that you have a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday!!

Bathing Beauties!

I know you are all probably thinking I am talking about people, but not this post!

I have come to realize that my dog, Channing, is a bathing beauty.

He LOVES to lay in the hot sun and bake for minutes...usually best done when it is 100 degrees and the heat index is near 110!

Did I mention he has black fur!

He's crazy, but I love that furball!

I also have some lovely bounty from the garden...some big ole cucumbers!

We also have tons of cherry tomatoes (from plants we did NOT even plant) and are anxiously awaiting our big boy tomatoes and green peppers to come around...my husband has loved the cucumbers, luckily, since I am not much of a fan

10 Ways to a Better Me

I have been so incredibly busy with work and going to volleyball and so tied up with things each weekend that I feel like I haven't had enough time to reflect on...me

selfish (maybe)...but here goes...

I know it's not the New Year (or anywhere close to it!), but I want to write down 10 ways to a better me, and maybe by doing so it will hold me more accountable to doing/sticking to them!

in no particular order...

1. Do something active 30 min/day

now that I don't have vball 2 nights a week for 2 hours each night, I gotta keep on the exercise train and keep active! Even if it's just walking Channing dog for 30 minutes around the neighborhood (he would probably LOVE that anyways!)...I also feel like somedays this is WAY difficult from already feeling like I have run around a lab for 8 hours of the day...but alas, it's on my list...I will try!

2. Drink more water

I am the WORST at this, but realize it is a much healthier alternative to the soda I adore...so I am trying my best to drink 60-80 ounces of water a day...and if I meet that, then I can "splurge" on other beverages!

3. Be less stressed

this is hard, I am your Type A personality ^max, and I have tried in previous years to reign in on my stress...any helpful hints/tips/tricks MUCH appreciated!

4. Spend more quality time with my husband

this is NOT to say that we don't do this already, but like I said in #1, I had been busy with volleyball and he is also busy with soccer too...I really enjoy being around him, he always knows how to make me smile

5. Continue to be crafty

I have truly LOVED getting back into sewing things and want to *try* to branch out and make clothing...this may be a work in progress!

6. Live in the moment

I make lists, it's who I have always been...I feel accomplished when I cross something off or when I finish compiling things...but I also get stressed in anticipation of not being able to finish things on time...so in trying to help with #3, I will live in the moment

7. Spend more time with family and friends

I always feel loved around my friends and family, which makes me less stressed and relaxed...even if it's something during the work week, I need to start hanging out and being less of a home-body

8. Try to get into yoga

I have tried this before doing P90X workouts, but the 1.5 hour long thing didn't really fit into by busy days...I think I may try to find some 30 minute routines and work my way up...plus this would be good for my back (which constantly seems to be in some sort of pain)...as well as a boost to relax a bit more

9. Be less negative

We ALL have those days where we put our own selves down, saying anything from "I am the worst at _____, or I suck at ______"...well, it doesn't help me in the least and takes up energy to think/say this crap, so be gone with it!

10. Find what makes me happy, and be around it/do it

I plan to be around people that make me happy and do crafty things or activities that make me happy...it seems only fair to live life to its fullest and enjoy every moment I get here by doing what makes me happy, right?

and as a bonus one, I *might* try to be better at getting less fast food/junk food...
but I don't think I would pass up the french fry if offered...
it might be a weakness of mine along with candy
(any candy!)

What sort of things do you think you could do to make a better you?

How does your garden grow?

Remember WAY back when I started growing things from seed...

well, I now have a garden...more like 2 small gardens since our first one filled up FAST with all the goods we have!

Now things look more like the following:

(onions, green peppers, tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers)

Big ole tomatoes

Cucumbers, green peppers

So big and tall! Yummy tomato plants!

Even Channing enjoys looking at the garden with me

And we have basil and cilantro in some pots

and a few carrots (although I need to find some room in the ground for these guys!)

I'm very excited and can't wait for the yummy stuff to start sprouting off these bad boys left and right!

Mount Vernon

Yesterday I went to Mount Vernon with my family...

My sister and her kids were pumped Mike and I came (I was pretty pumped too!)

We got there a little after lunch time and stayed til it closed down

I will let the pictures speak for themselves...

Despite pouring rain, at the sight of Mount Vernon, Corbin was SOO excited (I was so happy to be there and be a part of that :)

Mount Vernon from afar

What a backyard view...jealous much?

Beautiful arches and lovely flowers
Lillie and I

Me and the hubbie :)

Mike playing around with the kiddos

sweet ride

I kinda love this pic of Megan and the kids...wish I had zoomed in a bit...

GOATS!

stroller cruisin'

16 sided barn

Playing dress up before we leave

We had a blast and finished the day off eating some dinner before we left and headed back to our pooch Channing.

Can't wait for the next adventure!

And you shall be my squishy!

Meet my new pet...

No, not the wood pile....

Or the tree...

Or the wood fence..

keep looking...

There s/he is!

As of yesterday there is a baby Robin bird that has adopted our backyard...

Maybe more like the porch furniture...s/he has been out there since I got home from work this afternoon.

I was worried yesterday morning when I let my dog out and s/he was perched on a part of our porch banister and my dog sat on the step closest and stared...

Immediately brought the dog dog inside!

So now my squishy fluffy (as I have deemed this bird) now sits perched on our porch table (a small one)...

I totally feel like Dora from "Finding Nemo"...

"I shall call him Squishy and he shall be mine and he shall be my Squishy. Come on, Squishy Come on, little Squishy."

Don't you worry, I have seen momma and/or poppa birdy coming by at least 3 times in the past hour to feed this little tyke! (that would be me staring at my squishy fluffy on commercial breaks or when I don't feel like watching the tv show).

I know one day Squishy Fluffy will be old enough to fly away (although I have seen her/him fly a bit already)...but until then, I am happy to be with a Squishy Fluffy to watch over and amuse me :)

I swear I'm usually not this busy!

Wowza...these past 2 weeks or so have been CRAZY!

I had an amazing trip to Atlantic City with the girls May6-8. It was Martha's Bachelorette weekend, and boy did we live it up!

Upon coming home Sunday afternoon (and also Mother's Day), Mike's family were in town...they went to a movie at Cinebistro (I stayed home and got things together for the work week/rested...pure exhaustion!) They were naturally celebrating Mother's Day and also Mike's father had a birthday May 9th.

Monday I had volleyball and also had to finish up my towels I was making for my mom and sister...Mike's mom loved hers and luckily I was able to give them to her on Mother's Day while she was in town...

Either Tuesday or Wed. I made homemade pepperoni rolls (with major help from Mike). They were for the cookout his work was having on Friday (the 13th!!)

Thursday I had more volleyball and also packing to head home (FINALLY)

Friday was the cookout, which was a spread of amazing food (potluck type deal) and I got to finally meet some of Mike's coworkers (he just got a new job about a month ago).

We then skidadled back home to see my parents along with Channing dog :) He loves car rides!

I gave my mom her Mother's day and birthday presents (she loved the handmade towels which she thought I bought at a store and the handmade candle)...

Saturday we met up with my sister and I gave her a set of earrings from this rad chica and also the set of towels I made for her, she loved both! We had a yummy dinner made by my dad (and his grilling skillz) and hung out

Sunday morning was spent at Bodo's (BEST.BAGELS.ON.EARTH...for serious!) We then went to feed ducks at Boar's head and finished up with a Pen Park visit where my sister's kiddos got exhausted.

On the way back home, my dad said we could either hang at the house all afternoon OR go for an impromptu pontoon boat trip since the weather was cooperating (silly weather forecasters!)

Being on the boat again was awesome. It was Mike's first time and also a first time to get the boat at MAX speed (if we wished). Mike decided to do some wakeboarding and was awesome at it (as usual!)...My dad was getting used to towing people and then picking them up after they fell, so it was a good experience all around.

We headed back in JUST IN TIME...we got the boat docked and the cover snapped back on and everything in the cars when the rain fell outta the sky like nobody's business.

It was a crazy week or 3...but worth it...

In need of relaxation and peace now...

And not to forget a lovely giggly girl dinner last night and a fun float/boat/sun/grill/and drinks time this coming weekend...oh and a BBQ too on Friday.

I mean,
come on,
there is no time for sitting around here-
we are on the go type people

Crazy Bizzy week

Things have been hectic this week!

I have been so caught up in odds and ends every night this week that I have barely had time to think!

I guess things got busier when I got back into sewing this past Sunday. I am in the midst of sewing towels for Mother's Day and also for my sister...hopefully they will like them.
I did bring these into work yesterday and got rave reviews (and even asked where I bought them!-such a compliment since I made them!)

Monday night I had volleyball and witnessed that cute "ask her to the Prom" scene...followed by coming home and working on a towel til 11pm

Tuesday I finally went back to my chiropractor (I have the worst back EVER!) and got re-aligned...you know it's bad when you get told "you may wanna go home and ice your neck/back tonight..." (it was real bad, I still hurt today...but I needed to get this body back to where it should be!)...I also headed to the liquor store to stock up on a bottle and some mini-bottles for this upcoming weekends fun!

Wednesday (last night) I headed out with the girls to do some bachelorette shopping at a few stores. We spent HOURS shopping, talking and gawking at things and finally ended up with some great lil purchases!

Thursday (tonight) I have my coed volleyball and I need to finish packing for the weekend, make at least one full set of towels and try to get in some quality time with the hubby and dog (since I leave tomorrow and won't be back til Sunday night)

Friday-off to Atlantic City for a really fun bachelorette weekend! This should be loads of fun with some of my fav gals of all time! I will be sure to take lots of pictures (or have someone take tons) and try to post some...but no promises!

I get back Sunday afternoon/evening and have to gear myself up for the work week and volleyball! Hopefully my body can handle this!

In saying all this, it feels like time has been flying by! I have no clue where April went...how is it May already! My goodness. I think I need an extra 24 hours in my days just to get some stuff accomplished...maybe things will quiet down a bit next week so I can finish things up (probably not, but a girl can hope!)

Serenity Now...(thinking of the beach...always calms me down...)