Ready or not... here I come!!!

Thirty five weeks today... so we went to Dr. Parker's office for a checkup and ultrasound. The ultrasound was to tell us the position and size of Baby Garvin... that, it did. Position was good... size was not so good. There was a point some time between arriving at the office and leaving when we THOUGHT we were going to the hospital to have a baby. First, we had the ultrasound, which showed Baby G's weight (that was supposed to be 5.0% body fat was only at .31% body fat). She also mentioned that she couldn't tell how long Baby G is because the legs are so long it was hard to tell how long the baby was at this point... So basically, we are having a little noodle-baby. Second, we met with Dr. Parker, who said we would do a non-stress test to make sure there was enough oxygen making it to Baby G. This is where the situation got a little complicated. After an hour of being monitored, and our stubborn child not moving enough, they made me drink a Sprite and try again. The ultrasound technician said if we couldn't get "the kiddo" (as she kept calling Baby G) to move, we would go to the hospital to be monitored for a while. If nothing got better there, then "we will have a baby". I answered "Um... like, right now?" She laughed and said "yes!" So then I began praying that it didn't happen today... and the kiddo started moving!

When we were wrapping up at Dr. Parker's office, I was told I would have to come back a few times a week until the delivery date and do the non-stress tests. Dr. Parker says we are now shooting for 38 weeks. That's only three weeks away... I'm getting REALLY nervous. I could see the ultrasound picture today with our little baby staring at us and just thinking "ready or not, here I come".

Cindy Lou Who

Well, I now know exactly how Cindy Lou Who feels in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".

Thursday morning was a normal day. I left my house around nine and headed to one of my nursing homes to deliver Christmas gifts. I was there several hours and returned to my house in between stops for a short lunch break. I opened the garage door, and while on the phone with Jalee, walked into my house with the dogs barking wildly at the door. I thought this was out of character for them, but figured they were just excited to see me home. While finishing up my conversation with Jalee, I started to look around the floor in the living room and master bedroom... there were clothes scattered everywhere, trash all over the floor, and couch cushions overturned. My initial thought was "Stupid dogs!" I thought they were the guilty culprits. As I started walking more into the living room, I realized the TV was gone. Thats when I knew... "Jalee, I have to let you go! I think my house has been broken into... everything is gone." We got off the phone and I called 911. I was walking around the house trying to make sense of everything. 911 told me I needed to get out of the house and I went outside to call Stephen. I felt lost. Absolutely lost.

When the officer arrived, we went back into the house and made a list of everything that was gone. Every single electronic that we owned, guns, baby stuff, autographed OU Heisman winners football, the keys to my Camaro... the list goes on and on. The robbers put a knife and box knife by the garage door, waiting for someone to walk in. It amazes me how careless people like this can be and what disregard they have for the respect and hard work of others.

It's been a rough few days. But I can be thankful that Stephen and I weren't home, that Baby G is safe, the dogs were left here (and although traumatized) they were not hurt. I am so thankful to God that we weren't home. I never imagined this could ever happen to us. I guess I have been so sheltered growing up in a town like Marlow where you leave your front door unlocked all the time and the keys in the ignition.

Why is it that people steal from others? Why can't they get a REAL job? Why violate someone's privacy by entering their home without permission? Why be prepared to kill or hurt someone for coming into their own home? Why be prepared to defend the property you are STEALING against the person who OWNS it? I don't understand so many things about what has happened.

To sum up my feelings over the past two days... YES. I feel like Cindy Lou Who... the Grinch came back for the crumbs. They took everything of value that we own. BUT... they DIDN'T take my family away from me. At the end of The Grinch, he realizes that he could take everything they own, but they would still have Christmas. Life is not about what you own... yes, things are nice. But life is about being surrounded by people you love and who love you back. Things can be replaced... Stephen can't.

Selflessness

As I prepare for the upcoming arrival of Baby G, I can't help but be shocked at the selflessness of a friend of mine, Sarah. I met Scott and Sarah through church several years ago and they have struggled with the loss of a child through miscarriage and were a source of strength for me during my emotional recovery after ours. Since October, they have been struggling with the challenge of getting their second child well. Their baby girl, Emma, has a serious medical condition (you can read more about it on her blog (http://www.emmajanae.blogspot.com) and their journey is one of such faith... the kind that moves mountains.

On today's update, Sarah was explaining that Emma's doctors now have decided she needed put on the heart transplant list. I can't even imagine how hard this news must be for them. She also talks about in her blog how hard it is that Emma has gotten to the point where being held (she has only been held about five times since she was born, due to her heart condition) is annoying to Emma. I can't begin to understand how difficult that must be, to watch your child there in pain and crying, and not be able to pick her up and hold her because it just makes things worse. Emma is just not used to being held.

With all of that said, Sarah's post ended with this comment:

"Please keep us in your prayers as we take this next step. Emma is such a fighter, but it is hard to know how to pray because getting Emma on a transplant list means that our potential gain is someone else’s loss. Please keep the prayers coming."

Sarah is confused about how to pray because like she said, her gain means someone else's loss. This has to be one of the most selfless things I have ever heard. To think that she doesn't know if it would feel right to pray for a heart for her own daughter, because that means someone else would have to lose theirs. What a difficult situation.

Sarah calls out to her family and friends for strength and for her continued faith. In turn, I am calling out to mine... please pray for Sarah and Scott (and baby Emma, of course). Such a difficult situation and such a hard prayer to pray... All I can hope for is that I will be the kind of mother that Sarah has already become in the few short months of being one. Understanding that someone else would have to lose their child to potentially save another... THAT is selflessness.

And now... what you've all been waiting for...

Michelle Jones did an AMAZING job with our family pictures. I can't WAIT to see the rest... she sent us a few to pick from for our Christmas cards... so I am passing them along to you!

Seven weeks and counting...

Today at the doctor's office, Dr. Parker said something that REALLY freaked me out...

"If you go into labor any time between now and two weeks from now, we will stop labor. If it's any time after two weeks from today (December 16th) then we will just let you have this baby!"

Eeeeeek! Can you repeat that? Slowly?

Yep. That's right. Stephen heard it. I heard it. Baby Garvin heard it.

So not saying it will happen, but if it does, Dr. Parker is totally okay with it. I think he should just stop labor for the next five years and then I will REALLY be ready to be a mom!

Baby Showers and Wishing Trees

Well, let's catch up on the happenings since the last post...

After looking at the envelope's contents, Stephen went clothes shopping and put the clothes in the guest room closet. He keeps telling me not to snoop around the house, but I know where they are and I still don't want to know Baby G's gender. I spent some money at Baby Gap on clothes for Baby G (cause I know deep down in my heart Baby G is Brooks and not Harper).

We took maternity pictures with Michelle Jones Photography last weekend and that was super fun, no matter WHAT Stephen says! I can't wait to post those pictures when we get some to post.

We registered for baby items... I talked Erica Healey (one of my best friends) into going with me to do that stuff. YUCK. In her words "Blind leading the blind"... So then the registry lead to a WONDERFUL baby shower at her house on Sunday.

This was really cool... they had little pieces of paper out and people gave words of wisdom or wishes for the parents to be. It was called a "wishing tree". LOVED THIS!



These are my lovely hostesses, Kari, Erica, Kayli, and Amanda.


This is the book that Stephen and I have been playing with since we got it yesterday. Stephen came to bed last night with the "tickle monster" mittens on and tickled me so hard I almost wet the bed. Brooks (or Harper) loved that game. He (or she) was going CRAZY when I was laughing so loudly.

Then we have the ADORABLE little cupcakes that Amanda made... she's as creative as Martha Stewart (minus the whole prison thing)!!

We FINALLY found a gender neutral baby book!


AND picked out art work for the nursery... which my cousin Kayli is going to make happen:

And also decided on a mobile... but have to find someone to make it for me because I just don't have the time.

So as you can tell... life has been full of letting (forcing)other people to do nice things for me! Oh, the joys of being pregnant!

Stephen Looked!

Well, word's out. Stephen looked at the envelope. Our initial intention was to not find out our baby's gender. So the day of the ultrasound, the technician wrote it down on a piece of paper and put it in an envelope. We said we were going to let the biggest bidder have the envelope. That didn't last too long. Stephen had the envelope in his "super secret drawer" (which by the way, I showed to him when we got our bedroom furniture) and he was SURE no one would find the drawer after that... but it defeats the purpose when he tries to hide things from me because I am the one who showed him the drawer in the first place. Anyway, he put it there and one night as he was finishing up reading a bedtime story to my tummy (this has become a bedtime ritual), I smarted off to him and just said "if you want to know just look!"... and he did (disappointment). He just couldn't take it anymore. So two whole months after NOT opening the envelope and NOT knowing what Baby G will be (Harper or Brooks), Stephen knows for sure. However, I still don't want to know and he isn't going to tell. Although, he has slipped up several times and said "He ______" and since I have thought this whole time that he was a he... it just makes me even MORE sure. And then he tries to play it off like he only said he because I have always said he.

So that's about all that has been going on in the Garvin Household. Just still trying to complete the nursery... it's so dang hard though cause I don't want to make it TOO boyish or TOO girlish. We have about 10 weeks left... so it's probably a good idea to finish the room.

Baby Thumps in the Baby Bump

The other morning I was laying in bed and I felt Baby G kick several times in a row. I have felt little flutters here and there, but this time it made my shirt bounce. That was October 4th. I really wish Stephen would have been there. It was really neat. He has felt Baby G move several times, but NEVER like this. I could actually SEE him/her moving, not just feel it. Also, we went to the doctor last week and the nurse had the monitor out trying to find the heartbeat and Baby G kicked the monitor so hard the nurse pulled back because it surprised her. She turned right to Stephen and said, "DID YOU SEE THAT!?!?!" It was quite adorable!

With all this talk about movement, I have decided two things:

1. Baby G is convinced that I know Morse Code. He/She keeps trying to communicate. I think I will read up... because there is no way in the world these are just baby kicks. This kid is trying to tell me something!

and 2. I think he (if he is a he) will be a kicker... probably for OU (cause if he trys to play anywhere else, he will get disowned). (And if he is a SHE and not a HE, she will probably get disowned either way, since I want a boy.) :)

Casa de Garvin

Here are pictures of the updates we have been making to the house... and by "we" I mean Stephen. When we bought the house, the people who lived there previously put decals on the walls in the two kids rooms. One room had sports stuff, baseball gloves, footballs, golf balls and clubs, etc. The other room had sports cars. The decals were EVERYWHERE. When we went to take them off, we realized they had used some sort of glue that was NOT going to come off. We tried everything... GooGone, paint thinner, all kinds of cleaners... EVERYTHING. Finally, Stephen decided to sand down the spots and re-texture. But after months of trying to talk him out of that and into sanding down the entire wall, it finally paid off and he sanded both rooms, from floor to ceiling. It was a mess! There was powder from the paint and texture all over the place. Stephen would come out of the rooms looking like he had just jumped into a swimming pool full of chalk dust. It was all over him, his face, his eyelashes... everywhere.

I forgot to take before pics and during pics, which really stinks. But here are a few pics.

After Stephen had sanded the walls down, and before the guy came to texture.






The second picture is Stephen painting the guest room. The third and fourth are the almost finished guest room. Then last is what's done of the nursery. It's still a work in progress, as you can tell by the clutter.

God's Plans

Tonight I was Facebook stalking people from high school and I ran across a blog from an old friend. He and his adorable little wife are starting the adoption process soon. Having an adopted brother myself, I know what a challenge adoption can be and I just ask that you pray for the Brosh family daily. In their post, they talk about God's plan for their life together and what a journey they have been through thus far, trying to become parents.

The other day at church, a friend of mine told me something that totally made reevaluate my mentality about being pregnant... and Kayleigh & Matt's blog confirmed how selfish I have been about this whole situation. Rachel (the girl at church) jokingly was saying "I've been trying to get pregnant for a long time and you do it on ACCIDENT!" Another friend of mine, Tracy, also blogged about her struggles of getting pregnant... All of these things have helped me come to the realization recently...

No matter how often I say it was a surprise... It really WASN'T. Just because this wasn't MY timing for my life, doesn't mean it wasn't GOD'S timing for my life. God didn't just surprise Himself one day with me being pregnant. He has been thinking about it long before I even existed. He didn't wake up one day and say "OH NO! I THINK JESSICA'S PREGNANT!" God has a plan for each one of us. He always has.

My dad once told me that ignorant people think that God isn't answering our prayers. Wise people know that God is answering our prayers, but He is just telling us "not right now". Kayleigh (Matt's wife, whom I have never even met) is clearly one of those people who is wise. She sat back and realized that God has another plan for her. A BETTER plan. Just like God has a plan for me and Stephen... a perfect, exciting, wonderful plan.

Precious little puppies

Something I have been very worried about since I found out about Baby G is our other children (Alabama and Jack) and how they will react to having a baby around the house. I have made a list of things our dogs do that I foresee being an issue once our little bundle of job arrives.

1. When Stephen and I are on the couch, there is always at least one 70 pound "puppy" laying across one of our laps. How are we going to hold an infant with dogs laying where the baby should be?

2. When a person is on the floor, our dogs like to pounce on them. The biggest problem with this is when Jack drops his toys under the table, and one of us has to get on all fours to find it, Jack goes straight for the head. I am not sure Baby G will appreciate being pounced on... especially when he/she is on all fours learning to crawl. Baby G's head will probably fit inside Jack's mouth.

3. Our dogs eat on the carpet... Let me rephrase. Our dogs take a mouthful of their food from their bowl (which is kept on the TILE floor) and find a comfy place on the carpet to eat that mouthful, all the while, leaving a trail of food from the bowl to wherever they decide to settle down to eat. There are three underlying problems with this. 1. They eat more that one mouthful. 2. They do not eat in the same spot on the carpet each time they get a different mouthful. 3. They don't clean up the trail of food they drop. These three problems combined lead to fifteen or so trails of food all over the kitchen and living room. Which brings me to my next foreseen problem... What if Baby G is crawling around and sticks a piece of food in his/her mouth?

4. Jack is a very jealous dog. He can't even let his daddy and me hug without whining. I just have a feeling he is going to HATE Baby G for taking up so much of our attention and time.

5. Alabama isn't so needy with our time, but she will come and get it when she is ready for it. She is very independent... and when she feels it necessary to be petted, she will come stick her head under your hand until she is finished with you petting her. If we have a baby in our hands, we won't have an extra one to pet her when she is ready to be petted.

6. They both have a tendency of jumping onto pieces of furniture without checking to see who or what is in their landing spot prior to jumping. Beds, couches, ottomans, there is no piece of furniture safe and no object safe. The hope of having more kids has been in jeopardy more than once with them flying onto the bed with Stephen still wrapped up (vulnerably) in the covers.

7. The dogs like to go in the car. We have been trying to train them to ride in the very back of the mom-car, but so far, Jack still likes to ride in the front seat, and Bama still likes to ride in the middle, sprawled out. No room for a car seat. Sorry Baby G, we might be strapping you on the top of the Jeep.

8. Dog Toys vs. Baby Toys... They are both colorful. They are both filled with stuffing. How do we teach the dogs the difference? Alabama and Jack both chew on our nephew's toys already... This won't be good.

So many people get rid of their animals when they have kids. I personally think that is HORRIBLE! How can you just dispose of an animal like that? If you bought animals prior to having kids... and KNEW at some point you wanted to have kids... I think you have no right to get rid of your animals. We will just have to figure out a way to make Jack and Bama that they are not people. MUCH easier said than done!

Half Way There!

When we lost Baby #1, it made me paranoid that we would also lose #2. BUT after lots of prayer and blessings... we've made the halfway mark!

We went to the doctor last week with the proud grandparents so they could see the ultrasound. It was really neat to see how far Baby G has come in only 10 weeks.



To recap on the highlights of the past few weeks... here is a short list!
1. We are now over halfway to the due date.

2. The due date has been confirmed for January 20, 2011.

3. I had to go to the Emergency Room and/or dad's office several times for fluids because I was so dehydrated from throwing up, but that has improved tremendously!

4. We bought furniture, a lampshade, bedding, picked out paint, and bought a few pieces of unisex onesies for Baby G!

5. We have decided on names: Girl- Harper Jane and Boy- Brooks (but no middle name... possibly Brooks Ryan)

6. We've bought several baby toys.

7. Our ultrasound technician was able to see, without a doubt, the gender. She wrote it down on a piece of paper and stuck it in an envelope. Stephen decided we should auction the envelope off to the highest bidder (with a promise whoever wins won't tell a single soul). I LOVE this idea, but Stephen has been going back and forth about opening the envelope himself. So I'm thinking Stephen will open it and just not tell anyone.

That's pretty much the update for the past few months on our little human. Here are some pictures from the last ultrasound.

Practice at Parenting

Last weekend, Stephen and I had the pleasure of babysitting our nephew Baylem (AKA: BayWatch)! Me... the girl who doesn't do diapers, bottles, or screaming babies... successfully carried out the responsibility of BayWatch four whole hours WITHOUT killing anyone, pulling out my hair, crying, or puking.

Now, when I say "I" successfully carried this out... what I REALLY mean is Stephen was the responsible one. He fed Baylem, played with Baylem, and when Bay was screaming his head off, I tried picking him up and he reached for STEPHEN! REALLY BAY?!?! We are BLOOD for cryin' out loud.

So the main reason for the post is to brag on myself. I changed my first ever poopie diaper. Yes! I realize I am 24 years old, and YES! I realize I am about 5 months from having a poopie-one of my own... and that's why I finally decided it was time for me to grow up and grab life by the horns (or grab the diapers by the little sticky tabs). And by that, I mean Stephen and I played rock, paper, scissors... and I lost and had to change the dang thing. I tried to play the whole "Stephen, I've been feeling really sick today from being pregnant and I just think I might puke at the smell" card... mission unaccomplished. JERK.

Basically, I am awesome at being an aunt/mom because I can change a poopie diaper (and although I gaged repetitively) I did NOT puke. I have come to a new point in my life... I am a baby butt wiping, bottle makin', bath givin', all around amazing aunt!

Stephen's "Furture"

Two REALLY funny things that I wanted to blog about today.

1. When I was 12, I wrote a letter to my unknown husband. On the outside of it, it was titled "To the Father of my Furture Children"... Yes, That's right. I put FURTURE. And yes, That's right... That's not really a word. So on our wedding day, my dad handed over that letter that he had kept in he and my mom's safe all those years. Stephen read it, and it was pretty corny.

2. Stephen has decided he has THIS to look forward to (Please go to this link and watch this video.) It is hysterical. http://vimeo.com/12714406

Dressing Like a Man

Alright here it goes... I, Jessica Lauren Garvin, like to dress like a man. Cross-dressing?? Don't mind if I do... Count me in!

I wear my husband's clothes every chance I get. There is nothing better than sitting around in Stephen's oversize t-shirts and gym shorts (with no bra on, but I will leave that out to protect my reputation). I actually have been doing it my whole life... there are pictures of me when I'm a youngster with my daddy's t-shirts on. And then once I left home, I would steal my boyfriends' shirts so that I could wear those as much as possible. I actually have to admit, I have one or two (or three or four) ex boyfriends wondering around somewhere missing a few pairs of gym shorts, t-shirts, and several pairs of sweatpants... and I have NO plans of returning any of these items... ever.

Now, the reason for the post. Stephen Shane Garvin has been wearing my stinkin' socks. He says "they fit better" because he likes his socks to fit REALLY tight. The problem is... once he wears them... 1. they are no longer tight and 2. they no longer fit me. See, when I wear his clothes, I don't stretch them out. It makes me soooo dang mad. No matter how much I complain to him about wearing them, HE WON'T STOP!

Ok, I've said my peace.

Crib... Check

Stephen and I went crib shopping on Saturday. We spent a whole two hours in Pottery Barn Kids, and ended up purchasing the one we went into buy in the first place.

Last weekend Aunt Kari and Aunt Siiister have helped pick out baby bedding, a lamp shade, and paint colors. So now all that's left is picking up the furniture, putting it all together, painting the room, picking out a rocker, finding accessories... and OH! growing a baby.

I have to admit, when I first found out about Baby Garvin, I was a little upset. I felt like my whole life was being put on hold for this... but now, I am starting to realize that God has a plan... and that MAYBE I won't be as terrible as a mom as I think. I know Stephen's gonna be a fantastic daddy. I just cant WAIT til he/she gets here so I can make HIM do all the hard work! :)

Super Mom!

I have decided to make a list of five women (who are not relatives because they already all know I want to be like them when I grow up) who I think are "SUPER-MOMS"... Women I aspire to be like. Women who I know. Women who I think go above and beyond normal moms. I think I will try to do this every once in a while... but this weeks super-moms (in no particular order) are:

1. Suzanne Winn- This lady is amazing. She is super crafty, thrifty, and soooo creative! She is so much fun to be around, always smiling, hilarious, and VERY sweet! I just hope when my kids get to be Jax's age, I can have as much fun as she does with her son (and baby on the way). Someday, I will let my kids paint the snow and make a spaghetti octopus!

2. Tara Kohlbacher- Wow. That's the only word I can think of to explain this super-mom's dedication to her Creator. She and her hubby are in the middle of adopting a baby from Rwanda (check out her blog @ http://kohlbacherclan.blogspot.com) Their story is one that shows the true impact of letting God be the Ruler of your life and the focus of your existence. She is so selfless, compassionate, and beautiful inside and out. Her honesty about her journey is truly humbling and inspiring.

3. Jalee Abbott- This woman is the person who encourages me more and more every time I speak to her. She is the strongest woman I know. She takes hit after hit and still gets up, puts a smile on her face, and never complains about anything. She is the most positive person I know, always sees the good in everyone and in every situation, and has more love in her heart than anyone I've ever met in my life. (No offense to all of you other people I've met in my life.)

4. Kendra Mobley- This smokin' hott super-mom just makes me excited about being a mom. The way she talks about how amazing it is to be a mother is just precious. I am so nervous about being one, but she makes it look so easy. She has made me see the true JOY in children and see what a blessing a child really is going to be for us. She makes me appreciate the miracle of creating life... and that has been one of the most important things for me to learn and understand over the past few weeks.

5. The momma bird that lives in the nest above my front door- No seriously. Stephen and I have a pair of birds that have been coming back to the house ever since he bought it over three years ago. The barn swallows mate for life. They also go back to the same nest every year. I just think that's amazing. This momma bird is REALLY awesome because this year she gave birth to TWO sets of baby birds. One group of four about two months ago and then another group of three about a week ago. These birds only come back to the same place if they feel it's safe for their babies. I love that they are so little, but have one goal in mind... finding a safe place for their babies. This little momma bird has taught me about being protective (She freaks out every time someone comes anywhere NEAR our front door! Yes, even us.) But its beautiful that although she is protective, she knows at some point she's gonna have to teach them to fly. Watching her raise the babies from eggs to flying birds is incredible. And although they make quite the poopie mess on our porch... I'm glad they are there, and that they come back every year. I just think it's sweet.

where are we gonna keep this thing?

Recently, many have questioned where in the world Stephen and I plan to keep this thing. Well, after ten months of growing Baby Garvin inside the baby bump... Baby Garvin will have a bedroom! We have decided to hire a professional team of interior designers to turn one of our guest rooms into a "little person room".

Now, one might ask: Jess, what's the difference between a nursery and a little person room? Let me show you.

THIS is a nursery:


and so is THIS:


and one last one:


So now you see what we are attempting to avoid. Not that there is anything WRONG with this style of nursery, don't get me wrong. We are just striving for something a little less "matchy" between sheets, bedding, and wall decals... and more "matchy" to the rest of our house.

With that said, let me define difference between a nursery and a "little person room". A nursery is a room you walk into and think "yes, a baby definitely lives in this room"... A little person room is a room you walk into and think "yes, an itsy-bitsy person lives here".

THIS is a little person room:


as is THIS:


and the last one:


So, although I know you all are a little nervous for our accidental addition to the Garvin Home, you can rest assured, knowing that we won't be keeping him (I say "him" and Stephen says "her") in a cardboard box in the closet. Baby Wyatt (or Owen, Brooks, or Boyd) or if Stephen gets his girl, Baby Harper, will be comfortable in his (or her) cute little person room.

Pregnancy Secrets

I've decided to make a list of things that no one tells you BEFORE you get knocked up. (And for those of you who are offended at the term "knocked up", as my loving husband seems to be... I apologize. However, as I've stated before, "getting pregnant" is on purpose... "knocked up" is accidental.) Anyways, my whole life I've heard people talk about how WONDERFUL it is to be pregnant. LIES! It's terrible. Therefore, I have decided to make a list of the terrible things about pregnancy.

#1- Morning Sickness- Now, the common misunderstanding between normal people and pregnancy is that this thing called "Morning Sickness" is when you get nauseated in the morning. The TRUTH is, morning sickness can last all day. And another thing is that some women just get nauseated... others (like me) are nauseated AND vomit. So this is the first worst thing about pregnancy... throwing up all day long. I've even had to go to the "ER" a few times to get fluids pumped into my body through an IV because I've been puking so much and so stinkin dehydrated.

#2- When you get knocked up, your bottom half has to make room for the baby. Therefore, your hips start to expand. Causing the devil himself to create pains so terrible in your body that you can't walk straight. No, seriously. My hips and back hurt so bad if I didn't have a little heartbeat down there somewhere, I would cut my body in half and throw everything from my boobs down into the trashcan.

#3- Boobs. That brings me to my next point... not only do they grow, which is a problem for those of us who are already "well-endowed" but the hurt like heck! And I hear, when you get even closer to your due date, they leak. Now someone please explain to me what sounds so wonderful about leakage.

#4- Sleepy!- I already have a huge problem with my desire to stay awake. Sleeping is perhaps my favorite thing to do in all the world. So now, where I could typically make it through a work day (and possibly take a nap when I get home) I just want to take a nap about an hour after I get there. And then another after lunch... And then another about an hour before I get to go home. Then I come home, and I want to take another nap. And then another after dinner. And then another about an hour before going to bed. And then off to bed about eight. The sad thing is... it's not like I do manual labor for a living. I sit in a desk for cryin' out loud!

#5- Emotional Wreck- I will be the first to admit... I'm an emotional train wreck. I cry for the stupidest reasons. And sometimes I even cry for no reason at all. This is fine when surrounded by family and friends. However, that one time I was in line at Wal-Mart and there were several people in front of me and several people behind me... I just started thinking about how badly I wanted a drink of water and lost all composure. The guy in front of me turned around to me crying hysterically and said "I know hun, it makes me so mad when there are 40 lanes, 500 people in line, and only three open checkouts."

Well, after only a short six weeks of knowing I am pregnant, those are my top five. I'm sure there's more to come.

Our Little Baby Bump

Well, word's out... we have a tiny little baby bump growing. Alright, it's a HUGE baby bump. I keep telling myself "you're not fat... you're pregnant"... but it doesn't exactly seem to be helping.

So here is "the scoop" (as my dear mother likes to say).

Back in March, we found out we were pregnant (on accident). I woke up one day and thought to myself "I am stinkin' pregnant". Which actually turned out to be true. So that Sunday morning, we drove down to Duncan and took a pregnancy test at my dad's office. Four tests (and three positive test results) later, I decided to give in to the pregnancy test fairy and admit that I was, in fact, KNOCKED UP.

After the emotional roller coaster we went through that day, things continued to get worse. I was sick all day Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday... then Thursday, I woke up, went to pee, and found I had started to bleed. So four days, seven tests, and six positive test results later, I was beginning to miscarry. I had finally started to warm up to the idea of being a mom... and all that came to a crashing halt four days later. Stephen took me to the emergency room... sure enough, I was miscarrying.

So then several weeks went on, although I was healing emotionally, I was still getting sick, still having sore ta-ta's, still peeing every twenty seconds, and still feeling really tired. So I decided I was going to go to my dad's office and figure out what was wrong with me. After blood work was drawn, I learned I was pregnant.

SERIOUSLY God? Not funny.

So long story short, it's a good possibility that I miscarried a twin. How is this possible? I have no clue. But it is... my little sister Katy (http://girltobride.blogspot.com/) was apparently a twin. It happens. It won't be confirmed until July 8th, but my doctor is pretty convinced.

So now, nine months of being married, nine pregnancy tests, and eight positive results later, we have a tiny little (MASSIVE) baby bump.

Makin' Plans

I have come to the realization that there is no use makin' plans in life. It's wonderful to be organized... but the thing is, when you make plans for yourself, and then God's plans take over, you just have to reschedule your plans anyways. This is why I have decided to take the advice that a great man once told me... "Let go and let God". I never realized what that meant until recently. Although at first I was somewhat annoyed at God's lack of consultation with me, I realize that He knows best. He knows the plans He has for me... So there is no use being annoyed.

Life is full of unexpectedness, but it's important to remember, it's not REALLY unexpected... God has been planning it since before we were alive.

Let go, and let God!

Is Talking Dirty REALLY Appropriate?

So the question of the week is this... Is talking dirty REALLY appropriate?

Scenario: I am working in Colorado at one of my facilities and one of the nurses, after two days of working with me, spats off "Girl- You need to go home and get laid." She continued to tell me that I am too young to be this stressed and uptight. So SERIOUSLY... Can you really tell people you barely know that and get away with it?

This lady is one of my favorite people at ANY facility I ever go to. And I have to admit, I laughed so hard I almost peed on myself. But REALLY? I am STILL shocked.

So then it got me thinking... Am I so caught up in my job that people seriously look at me or talk to me and SEE how stressed I am, and then think "WOW, She needs a good old fashioned molesting."

So with that said, I go back to my initial question: Is talking dirty REALLY appropriate?

Valentine's Day

Stephen and I switch off year to year who gets to celebrate Valentine's Day. So our first married Valentine's Day, we spent driving back from Kansas City (visiting Chris and family). When we got home, we made dinner together and watched Enchanted. This year was Stephen's year... so he got to pick dinner. Then I took him out for ice cream. For an early present, Stephen got the windshield he has been needing since we met. On the way home from taking him to pick up his truck (new windshield installed) I got a chip in mine. Seriously... Annoying.

Wisdom teeth came out yesterday. Miserable. I feel terrible. Just sore and tired.

Everything has been somewhat clam for the past few weeks.

There goes our symbol of love...

RIGHT DOWN THE DRAIN! No seriously, right down it. I was catching up on one of my favorite blogs to read. (My little sister Katy's blog about her journey into wife-hood.)***See end of post for her URL.*** When I was reminded of something that will be totally important for our children to know. Kids, I hope you are sitting down for this one. The day of our honeymoon, your father and I got to our hotel room in Italy, and after three minutes of some explicit things we shouldn't discuss until you're a little older, your dad lost his ring. That's right... Lost it. Right down the sink. He had gotten something on his shirt on the way to the hotel, and decided to wash it out in the sink. His ring slipped off his finger. I heard a DINK DINK DINK in the bathroom, and a few minutes later "Uh... Babe." I responded in a very newlywed manner "Yes dear?" Actually, it was more something like "Stephen, what in the heck was that?" Needless to say, it was his ring. Luckily for him, and I really do mean luckily, because he wouldn't have gotten a darn thing from me for the rest of the week, we called a plumber at the hotel and they were able to get it out of the drain... STRIKE ONE.

Christmas Day, the first Christmas we had as a married couple, we got snowed-in in Duncan so we decided to play in the snow. He was throwing snowballs at my head for a while, and then we went inside to warm up. After taking off his boots... he noticed... STRIKE TWO. His ring was gone. Luckily for him, and again, I mean luckily, Josh found it on the side of the drive way a few weeks later. We had rented a metal detector to find it, but no luck. Then Stephen hid the fact that it had been found. Two weeks later he made a comment "how much you wanna bet we find my ring". I told him "I bet you 60 bucks (because I could get a mani & pedi for that much) that we won't find it." Then he informed me that Josh found it two weeks ago, and slid it onto his finger. That should have been strike three. But I'm being nice.

The inside of his ring has a song title that we played as we were leaving the church after he kissed his bride. It says "Forever and ever, amen". The song by Randy Travis. Hopefully, as many times as he has lost it already, the RING will last forever and ever too!





http://girltobride.blogspot.com

I should have paid more attention in premarital counseling...

So after an entire day of being with Stephen (we are having another ice storm here in Oklahoma), I realized that although he is thrifty... it doesn't extend AT ALL to helping save the planet. Ya see, one of my biggest pet peeves is when people leave lights on when they leave a room. I actually spend a lot of time going through my office and turning out unnecessary lights on a daily basis. Thus, the reason for my post...

Stephen and I attended premarital counseling with our preacher before the big day. We did hours upon hours of therapy sessions, (which were NOTHING like that movie with Robin Williams where he makes Mandy Moore drive blindfolded). One day in particular that I remember was when we had to write out a list of things we don't like other people to do. Stephen's list included things like "Not using a coaster on the coffee tables" and "Not getting the dogs water when they need some". Mine, however, included much better and more important issues, such as "Separate the lights and the darks before you wash them" and "When you use a dish, put it in the washer. And if the washer is full, empty it or start it".

If I could do it all over again, I would add a few things...
1. Don't leave the light on when you aren't in the room... walls don't have the ability to see.
2. If you leave streaks in the potty, use the brush... that's what it's there for!
3. Don't dip Copenhagen in my house... And NO, in this circumstance, it's not your house too!
4. If you turn the light on after I am already in bed... I WILL kill you in your sleep.
5. If I go to bed before you and you try to wake me up to say goodnight... don't be surprised if I punch you in the face!

and lastly, 6. If you talk while I am watching TV, but expect me to wait until a commercial to talk to you, I will take away your TV privileges.

Needless to say, I should have paid more attention in premarital counseling... then I would have known I needed to set those rules then... cause Stephen seems to think they don't count if they weren't set BEFORE we got married!

What Is a Marriage License Anyway???

Last night, I finally got home from working in Colorado for a week. Upon my return, I half expected my wonderful husband to meet me at the airport with flowers and a big hug. When I walked out of the terminal and didn't see him there waiting, I proceeded downstairs to the baggage claim, carried my terribly heavy suitcase to my car (actually I wheeled it, but for purposes of making people feel sorry for me, let's say I carried it), and headed home.

On the way, I thought to myself "Well, maybe he didn't come to the airport because he was so busy planning something sweet for me when I get home." Nope. Nothing. Nada. He was sitting on his stupid "gaming chair" playing on his XBOX 360 with Chad. He didn't even come to the car to help me carry my bag, after I called him and said "I am about to pull up."

A little disappointed, I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and crawled into bed. That's when he decided to be interested in having his wife home. So me, who has not been sleeping well for the past six days JUST wanted to go to bed. But no, Stephen starts kissing on me... And then up come the dogs crawling all over us. So Stephen kicked them off and pulled me close, saying he just wanted to cuddle. Slowly drifting off, and trying to get him to stop trying to take advantage of me, Stephen finally says "I have a piece of paper around here somewhere that says you have to let me take advantage of you whenever I want."

So herein lies the question... What is a marriage license anyway?

Absence makes the heart grow fonder...

Now THAT'S a load of crap! Absence just sucks.

Well, I am on the road once more. This time, Colorado... again. I am starting to realize how hard it gets to be away from home. I cried today when I left Stephen to head to the OKC airport. I can't imagine how people who are away even more than me have a family, husband, or animals. I love getting to help people, meeting new people, and saving OmegaCare, one contract at a time... But I don't love sleeping in the hotels alone, eating dinner by myself, and not being able to lean on Stephen's shoulder in the airplane. Maybe one day, when our company is much bigger, I will just be able to manage the people who make all the flights and spend so much time away from home.

This weekend was lots of fun. It was the first "girls weekend" since Kari and Matt got married. The two of them stayed at our house. We went to the COOP Ale Works 1 year anniversary party. Stephen had a little too much to drink (keep in mind, we just don't really drink often, so one beer does him in)... Saturday afternoon was girl time. We went to Erica and Chase's house and drank a bottle of wine, chit chatted, and just caught up. Those girls are my best friends. I am so glad that I decided Jessi wasn't all that bad.... because if it weren't for her, I wouldn't have such amazing friends.

Well, the plane is about to leave. I hope the ride is smooth. I also hope I will be home within the next couple of days. Another week in Colorado sounds NO fun!

Happy (1st) Holidays!

I have realized I am really bad at writing frequently.

To catch up, November was a busy month. I spent a lot of time working in Colorado. I realized how much I miss Stephen when I am away. It is hard working away from home so much as newlyweds. I think it's because newlyweds are supposed to be all lovey-dovey and we can't be that way since we aren't together much. For my birthday, we went to The Melting Pot in Bricktown. We also went shopping and Stephen got me some new jeans. Then, our first Thanksgiving as a married couple. December was another month full of Colorado working. I spent one weekend with Hudson and Barbara in Colorado Springs. We got our wedding photos back. The rest of the month was full of Christmas shopping and family time at the in-laws.

Speaking of holidays, I have realized one of the biggest hurdles we have had thus far is deciding how to do the holidays. There is so much pressure in being married, because where we used to just go to our respective parents' houses, he to his and me to mine, now we are married... and there are expectations. To add to the mix, Chris came to Thanksgiving in Poteau for the first time in 7 years. So that was VERY special! Family has always been important to me and him both, so it was difficult coming up with a plan that worked. But, we spent the day before and Thanksgiving morning with my family, Thanksgiving evening and the rest of the weekend in Poteau. Then Christmas, we spent the day before Christmas Eve and Christmas Eve with my family, with the expectation of going to Poteau on Christmas Eve morning. We did, however, get stuck in the 2009 Oklahoma Blizzard. So after driving from Duncan to Marlow, we turned around back to Duncan and stayed there until Christmas day. Then it was back to OKC, where we spent the rest of the weekend. For New Years, we spent the whole time in Poteau, had Christmas dinner and celebrated Christmas with Daril & Janet.

We had a wonderful (and busy) holiday season, and we were able to fit everything in. Now it's time for some rest and relaxation before more work trips to Colorado!