Happy Valentine's Day

Last year, E asked me what I wanted for Valentine's Day. I was just exstatic when he offered to make a special dinner that night for me. Of course, dinner took forever to make and we didn't actually sit down to eat until almost 9pm and I also found myself helping with it because I would see things that were about to burn. But I guess it's the thought that counts. He's not the "send you flowers" kind of guy. More of the "get you something you actually need" kind of guy. I remember for V Day while we were still dating, he got me a USB flash drive. Another time, I got a choice of some really cool looking bands for my digital watch which was starting to smell.

We really don't do anything major for holidays for each other. We are typically content just to be together, healthy and happy. It's typically just a day of reflection on everything that the Lord has blessed us with. He is so funny though...every year we make a plan of what we are going to do and then when it gets closer, he just wants to make sure that he is meeting my expectations so he asks "Are you getting me anything for V Day?" This is meant to test the waters. With all this being said, I need to say that I have never recieved flowers. He knows that I would rather have something I actually need. Last year, he asked if I wanted some flowers and I think my comment back was "Why? What's wrong? Are you cheating on me? "

This year, I think we are just going to have dinner somewhere together since it may be our last quiet meal together without paying for a babysitter for the next 20 years. Ironically, we did this last night too??? I just enjoy not cooking and not cleaning up the kitchen and not feeling guilty about feeding my husband cereal for dinner for the third night this week.

So to all of you and the ones that you love, Happy Valentine's Day!

Same Old Nothing!

The much anticipated Dr.'s appointment was yesterday and we had lots of questions since I am less than 2 weeks away at this point. I had been working my butt off all week trying to get my body to start "getting ready" for birth. Every week I go to the Dr., I hear the same thing... "Nope, nothing yet!" And I have been determined not to hear that again this week.

After getting a lower than usual blood pressure reading and a "mile marker" of a weigh in, I was feeling a little bit down by the time we made it into the exam room. The nurse practitioner came in and we talked for a while. Then the Dr. came in towards the end of our conversation to "check" things to see if I had made any progress. And guess what? NOTHING!!!!!!! STILL!! Sigh! So this isn't a good sign at this point. I am going in again next week to get checked one more time and if nothing is happening still, I am being admitted to the hospital next Monday night and having the baby Tuesday morning. The risk for a C-section is higher when you get induced with your first pregnancy but with my blood pressure dropping and the fact that body is not getting ready as it should, I am carrying that risk regardless. Sigh...this is so scary but the fact that this will all be over in 10 days ...wow...I have no words for that!

Too Funny to Pass Up!

Last night, E and I went to Babies/Toys R us to buy a glider. (And not a moment too late...boy, I just thought they kept that stuff in stock. I didn't think about them having to order it and then it takes 2 weeks to come in. Whew!) The whole time, E kept chiding me about the fact that I get a rocking chair, why can't he have an X-box. (But does he actually want an X-box? No. He just likes to get a rise out of me.)

So after we ordered the rocking chair, we walked over to the Toys R Us side of the store. We walked through the little girl stuff at his insistance for a little while. He was looking around in disgust at all of the toys for girls and said "I just don't think I am going to ever be ready to raise a girl. I don't know how to play with any of this stuff!" Then we passed by the GI JOE/Star Wars row and the kid in him came out VERY FAST! I heard "Oh Cool!! Check this out!!" and knew we were going to camp out on that aisle for a while.

It's no wonder that I am a military wife since my husband worships GI Joes, so much so, that he still has all of his old Joe's that move around with us wherever we go. One Joe in particular caught both of our eyes, and evidently we both have good eyes because the part that stood out was the small print on the front of the box that read "Made from 100% recycled AWESOME!!"

How funny is that??

Weekend Update

While we typically work at least an hour a night on the house these days, Friday night was the exception. Since we worked all night Wednesday and Thursday, we figured that we deserved a break. So a little pizza and a little movie .... much needed.

But back to work on Saturday. It was a long day of painting, laundry, cooking and caulking. No more pictures of renovations for a while. It's nice to see a little bit of difference being made each day and I want you all to be floored when you see the final product.

E left early to attend a boys night at Matt's house where they grilled some fish and he was able to take Maggie too so that she could play with their dog, Neal. While they did their "boys thing," I stayed home and made The Lady and Sons Lasagna, Blueberry Compote and Chocolate Espresso Shortbread Cookies. I love to put the Blueberry Compote between 2 whole wheat blueberry waffles for breakfast and I had a Ghirardelli dark chocolate toffee bar just sitting around looking for a good use...so why not cook. Besides this may be the last time I actually want to cook for a while. But I also made the lasagna so that I would have a few meals in the freezer for after the baby gets here. So I plan on putting it in the over tonight and eating it for dinner, BUT that still leaves 3/4 of a casserole dish for left overs.

I know I know...thinking ahead!!

Sunday, I made 2 big pots of Southwest Chicken Chili. One for us and one for Renee and Russell who just a baby on Wednesday. Congratulations to them on the birth of their son, Isaac. Renee was three weeks ahead of me and so I always got the 411 on everything that was going to happen to me 3 weeks ahead of time!! That was nice!! And we didn't even eat half of our pot of chili and I can throw the rest of that in the freezer too for the post baby season! Told you...thinking ahead!!

I do have a picture or 2 though from Sunday night. I took a nap and when I woke up, I saw this. E, napping, and Maggie watching tv (which she never does) in the living room. But then I took a closer look. She was actually watching the AKC Dog Show. It makes me wonder if she actually got a hold of the remote control...

Thanks GOD It's Friday!!

I know I am not the only one that is exhausted after a long week. Raise your hand if you are ready for the weekend!!!

Since "NOTHING" is happening regarding the birth of my daughter (can you tell I am still bitter about this?!?), I am keeping busy at home. I was told by the dr. that misery was in my future. Those last 3 weeks, you just start spitting venom you are so miserable. But I was feeling fine and thought nothing of it. The next day, the misery began. But I am not that person that can sit on the couch and relax when there are things to be done. Plus, I always feel guilty when E is working on the house and I am relaxing. So, instead of putting my feet up, I decided to put a coat of paint on the walls of the laundry room, do the baby's laundry, and help E install the new carpet tiles.

I felt so bad for him scraping the old vinyl tiles off of the floor but we put all of the carpet tiles we had down and realized we only had enough to do about half of the room. So he put down as much as he could and then laid in the floor and wrestled with Maggie on the new carpet!!

Getting Ready

While I didn't hear what I was wanting to hear last week at the dr office regarding how the pregancy was progressing (AKA not at all), I was hopeful for this week. Last week, "things" should have already been happening and I knew for sure that this week, "things" would definately be happening and I would get the report I wanted from the dr this morning when I went...high hopes huh?

HA...I hear the nurse say "Sorry Sweetie...it's not good news! Still nothing!!"

WHAT!!!

Why doesn't this baby want to come out! Doesn't she know that I am ready to quit work and come home to hang out with her. Doesn't she know that I am losing precious sleep over this!! Just how long is she going to make me suffer!?!?!

Breath Bailey Breath...and remember that you are not in control here.

I got the word that labor induction may very well be in my future if nothing is happening at this point! So...I guess I will just keep moving and keep getting things ready. I went to Target yesterday and used the gift cards I had to get all of the extra odds and ends that I needed. There is still work to be done on the house and baby laundry to be done and dishes to be washed...life goes on!!

Baby Shower and Other Surprises

This Sunday I had my baby shower here in Texas. Elizabeth hosted it at her house with the help of Erika, Lucy and Kristy. Everything was beautiful and delicious! (especially the cake I told you about yesterday) The baby and me got lots of cute and useful stuff so here are just a few pics of the shower and the booty!!

Me with the hostesses...sorry for the silver shirt and the flash RADIATING off of my shirt!!!

2 summer dresses and a long sleeve onesie.

Some burp cloths, teething rings, car seat protector, and Baby Einstein CD.

A bottle sterilizer.

A feeding pillow/baby prop cushion.

E has already claimed this baby gift for his own...he says that the video monitor is just the first step in the video home surveillance process!!
Also, I got a gift in the mail from Ashley at the Linares Family with a sweater and onesie inside. So cute! They both say "Sweet Pea" which is what we called the baby for the longest time until we found out she was a girl! Thanks Ash!

The Cake of All Cakes!!

Well, we had quite a weekend...and of course I forgot to bring the pictures in today to show you all but I can tell you about this cake.

Erika made this cake for the baby shower that her and the girls threw me on Sunday afternoon. She is a big Smitten Kitchen fan just like me and tried the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake for her family. They all loved it and so, it seemed only right to bring it for a bunch of chocoholics at the baby shower!! Oh Yum!! Here is Smitten Kitchen's picture...

I took a large piece of what was left home to E and BOY did he finish that LARGE piece off quickly!! I guess I now know what cake is next on my list of cakes to try!