Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Keeping up with the Pregnancy: 21 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 21 Weeks
Size of baby: Baby D is the size of a Banana 
Total Weight Gain/Loss: About 8 pounds  ... holding steady
Maternity Clothes:  Much different than last time.  I don't like baggy clothes.  I like clothes that hug my bump. 
Gender: It's a girl!  Jocelyn Anne.   
Movement:  Definitely some nudges.  
Sleep: can't complain...  except that she likes my sciatica. 
What I miss:  same ole.  
Cravings: same.... Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate and Cranberry Bliss Bars.  OMG!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Oh Shit!

So this weekend Joe has been very "helpful".  Everything I wanted to do ...  he had to help me with.  "I help you mommy!"  And bless his little heart... he's really just SOOOO helpful!  Including the pancake mix on the floor, the broken egg on the counter, the grocery cart that ran over my toes repeatedly and the dinner that was "blended".

So, I was cleaning up and he wanted to help.  Todd was really helping me and I don't really remember how it happened but next I hear is Todd saying

"Oh shit!"

and Joe says

"You not say OH SHIT, Uncle Todd!  That's a POTTY word!"

out of the mouth's of babes!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Dallas vs Eagles.

So, my sister came up this past week and she has a good friend who works for the Eagles. He's a sports commentator...  and he arranged for us to have tickets for the game.  We were supposed to have passes on the field before the game but the guy who had them, got tied up in the locker room.  :(  Ah well.  We had fun!  
 The guys stretching before the game began. 
 the big ole screen
 Are you ready for some football?
 The eagles scoring on the first drive. 
 After the game
 During the game.
Thank you Kiki for the good time.  Thank you D Gunn for the tickets. 

Keeping up with the pregnancy: 20 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 20 Weeks
Size of baby: Baby D is the size of a Small Cantaloupe 
Total Weight Gain/Loss: About 8 pounds 
Maternity Clothes:  Same ole  but man, oh man it feels tighter
Gender: It's a girl!  Jocelyn Anne.   
Movement: butterfly flutters and maybe a nudge.  
Sleep: here and there. 
What I miss:  been craving a glass of wine.  
Cravings: same.... Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate and Cranberry Bliss Bars.  OMG!

 I... feel... ROUND... today. 

Christmas Tree Farm with the Bird's

This past Saturday, my sister and I went with the Bird Family to a christmas tree farm in Alvaredo.  We had such a nice time.  I got a beautiful wreath and Joe got a cute little christmas tree, courtesy of his Aunt kiki. 






We went and fed the animals and the kids ate popcorn. 
That's the tree Joe and Kiki picked out for him.  Which she later decorated for him. 
Jami with H and Biggs with C.  
and Me and Kiki 

 They also have easter egg hunts and you can cut down your own tree for Christmas.  :)  So go check them out!  Sunset Hill Tree Farm

Friday, December 10, 2010

Keeping up with the pregnancy: 19 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 19 Weeks
Size of baby: Baby D is the size of a Mango 
Total Weight Gain/Loss: About 7 pounds 
Maternity Clothes:  Same ole 
Gender: It's a girl!  Jocelyn Anne.   
Movement: butterfly flutters.  
Sleep: here and there. 
What I miss:  I don't really miss anything right now.  
Cravings: same.... Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate and Cranberry Bliss Bars.  OMG!
 

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

shutterfly Rocks!

So.... I have my holiday cards done already (not mailed out but done).  The fabulous Meg did them again (picture something very close to my new header) and I ordered them through shutterfly only to realize that they weren't holiday cards and therefore were exempt from this promotion I am about to tell you about. 

But, my mother still needs her holiday cards and I have just done up the CUTEST holiday card and really... shutterfly has outdone themselves with their cards and ease of use this year.  I was able to put in touns of pictures and even a short letter stating what my parents have been up to this year.  :) 

They have some CUTE choices though....

LOVE this one




but that's not the one I went with. 
I think this one is cute
THIS one is quite appropriate for MY kid

But I guess you'll have to wait and see what mom chose.  :)  (or rather what I chose for her). 

if you have a chance though, shutterfly has some great options this year and not just for holiday cards. 


and if you are a fellow mommy blogger and are behind the 8 ball like us...  well go here and work on your own 50 FREE holiday cards.  :) 

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Eli the Elf and "I don't know bout that...."

So, Eli the Elf arrived in the mail on Tuesday....  I am sure a lot of you have heard of the Elf on the Shelf...  where the elf goes to see Santa each evening to report on your child's behaviors and to ensure that they are behaving themselves.  :) 
So...  our elf, Eli

 came with an adorable letter
"Dear Joe,
This is an extra special delivery for your Christmas!  My name is Eli and I'm a magic elf.  I was sent to you from Santa Claus from a far away land...  the North Pole.  I will spend the next few weeks with you in your home helping to make Christmas magical!!! I do come with a few interesting facts though... first is that you can't touch me!!!  if you do, my magic powers go away and I have to go back to the North Pole.  Second is that I am always watching and will tell Santa anything that you want me too... hint hint... send me your Christmas list and I'll be sure to get it to the big guy super fast!  

Now for the super fun stuff... you can always leave me notes and talk to me whenever you want.  You will also have some surprises that I'll bring to you and you'll have to wait and see.  I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and I can't wait to have fun times at your house!  

Please write  back soon!

Eli"

The first night, Eli found Joe's guitar... so he played Skippy Dimpledot some songs...  and he set up his chair just the way Joe likes it.




He even wrote Joe a letter.  :) 

Last night, I was asking Joe to clean up his toys.  I told him Eli would tell Santa he didn't need any toys because he couldn't take care of the one's he has...  Joe looked at me and said...

"Oh... I don't know bout that!" 

WHAT?  Cheeky little fellow!

He cleaned up his toys...  :-)

This morning, Eli had found our reindeer... 



I wonder what Eli will do tomorrow... 

Early Thanksgiving...

My friend, Danielle was leaving on Sunday the 21st so the saturday before, we had a traditional thanksgiving at my house.  It turned out fantastically yummy!  :) 
My kitchen kind of looked like it exploded but it was worth it.  :) 
Daddy carved the bird, which Todd and Danielle cooked.  (first time ever brining a turkey and it was YUMMY!)
Mom making the gravy...  that's cornstarch on her forehead.  :) 
Todd making asparagus bundles. 
Danielle working on the clean up and organizing.  :) 
Jim (danielle's best friend, handyman and driving partner) was working hard with ...
Jason. 
Sitting down...

and the clean up begins...
mmmmmm leftovers
it was a delicious meal full of laughs, family, friends and so many blessings.  
Thank you everyone for making it happen.  :) 


Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Keeping up with the pregnancy: 18 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 18 Weeks
Size of baby: Baby D is the size of a Sweet Potato 
Total Weight Gain/Loss: I honestly have no idea..... but maybe five? I'll find out on Friday. 
Maternity Clothes:  Same ole 
Gender: I find out on Friday... canNOT wait.   
Movement: butterfly flutters.  
Sleep: I sleep pretty well but need to start making sure I am always on my side.
What I miss:  I don't really miss anything right now.  
Cravings: not really anything... Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate and Cranberry Bliss Bars.  OMG!
 
Symptoms: If I don't eat said english muffin or bagel I still throw up. 
Best Moment this week: getting to find out the gender Friday!  :) 

Keeping up with the pregnancy: 17 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 17 Weeks
Size of baby: Baby D is the size of a Turnip 
Total Weight Gain/Loss: I think between 3 and 4 pounds.  Depends on my starting place... 
Maternity Clothes:  Same ole 
Gender: one weeks til we find out 
Movement: A few flutters 
Sleep: I sleep pretty well.
What I miss:  not really anything right now.
Cravings: sweets.
Symptoms: as long as I have something in my tummy...  we are good
Best Moment this hearing the heartbeat on the doppler!   :) 
 the only picture I have....  :) Joe was saying... Hello baby! 

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Rock and Roll San Antonio Half Marathon! Part 2

After breakfast, Jason and I walked back to the hotel and I used the facilities...  oh funny story.  So, I got to wear my cute new running skirt that had capri's underneath.  On my way to breakfast, it kept falling down and I was thinking... how am I going to run 13.1 miles with my skirt falling down?  I'm going to have to switch and I just spent way too much money on these!  :(  

I went to the restroom at Denny's and as I was sitting there...  I know, tmi...  I realized I had them on BACKWARDS!  OMG!  I changed them around and voila...  no more falling!  I am so purty!  
On the way back to the hotel, I had to take a picture under my corral number... 
There were tons of runners in the lobby getting ready.  Jason and I sat there and chatted.  
And finally we headed outside to get ready for starting time.  As soon as we walked out of the door of the hotel there were people everywhere.  There was music playing.  People were stretching and warming up and eating their energy gu's.  There was excitement and nerves everywhere.  Yellow numbers (half), red numbers (marathons) and blue numbers (relays).  There were cute shirts and no shirts and sleeveless shirts with funky arm warmers.  There were old people and young people and even one pushing a wheelchair. 

We walked out to my corral.  Each corral held 1000 runners and each one was separated by two people holding a rope.  I stood there chatting with Jason and all of a sudden Danielle showed up.  It was about this time that the first corral was sent off.  As each corral moved forward we would move closer and closer.  It took about 30 minutes to get to the starting line and it was sooooo neat that Jason got to stand with me almost all the way to the start.  Danielle broke off to get some more pictures.  
Imagine...  30,000 people all running toward the same goal.  30,000 people with hearts pumping and legs moving.  Some were running for someone.  Some were just running for the joy of it and some were running because of their own personal battles. 
Some were dressed for fun and to be recognized...
As we were closer to the starting line, Jason started to leave and kissed me goodbye and wished me luck.  A very nice lady asked me where he was going...  and we both said he wasn't running he was just keeping me company.  She asked me if I was running alone and if this was my first.  I replied yes to both.  She offered to run with me.  She was actually a running coach and she was going to run 4 minutes walk 1.  I agreed and secretly wondered if I was making a mistake... would it be better to run by myself?  Or with someone?  Oh well... too late.  Her name was Kim.  She turned out to be a Godsend.  I really do think that she was the reason I made it through.  
When we got to the starting line and crossed it...  it was electrifying.  We were there.  We had worked hard to get there and now...  it's time.  
Kim and I settled into an easy pace.  She was fantastically amazing.  We hit a hill early on and it winded me but the walk was right after so it timed great.  We ran through a part of San Antonio I had never been and the bands set up along the way were fun.  They were all different and unique.  
We really settled in and I was feeling fantastic.  I was getting periodic texts from Jason and he missed me at the 3 mile marker so he headed to the 8 mile cross.  Because of the way the course was laid out there were plenty of opportunities for he and my family to meet up with me.  

We refilled our water bottles and ate a gu along the way.  Kim would warn me to watch my step when there wre cups on the ground.  She would warn me when there was a curb or to cut a corner.  She warned me that mile 5-7 were a steady incline so to save some energy for that.  It was so nice to have a coach.  We ended up meeting up with one of her other "charge's" along the way and her sister and friend.  They turned what would have been a good race into a great one.  Having the company was nice and encouraging.  
this was mile 8...  feeling great.  
dropped my jacket with Jason and off I go!
Kim and I kept trucking and I got a text from Danielle that they were at mile 9.8 near the band. 
I rounded the bend and headed on.  The marathon and half marathon people split around mile 11.  I was starting to feel pain in my feet and my legs were beginning to get tired.  Oh yeah... and all that water I had been downing... yeah, bathroom was nearing.  Maybe I could muscle through.  
As I approached mile 11 though I found a porto pot that had NO line...  bingo!  I ran off and separated from Kim.  I really feel like this was my mistake if I could pinpoint one.  
This really killed my groove...  my momentum shifted at this point as if my body said... oh good, you stopped, we're done!  
When I took off from the bathroom I saw my family one more time... 
and kept going.  I really can say that I ran the whole next mile trying to catch back up with Kim but I think I killed at least two minutes in the port o pot.  
I made it to the Alamodome and came down a big hill...  oh yeah and you know what goes down... must come up!  The final 1/4 of a mile... yeah it was UPHILL!  Oh dear God!  But I made it.  I came around the top of the hill and found that finish line! 
I met back up with Kim and Miranda, then Connie and Crissy came running through.  We got our covers to keep us warm and got some post race food.  
from left to right: 
Miranda, Crissy, Connie, Kim and Me.  
Miranda and Crissy had been in a wedding the night before in HOUSTON and drove in, got there at midnight and ran the entire 13.1 miles.  CRAZY! 
I met up with Todd and Danielle at the family reunion center... 
and we headed towards Jason, mom and dad and Joe. 
Jason was so proud of me.  He was so excited.  It was sooo good to see him.  
Then we had to walk back to the hotel... with a stop along the way for a family photo.  
 this shows all of our shirts.  Mine had an arrow with a heart leading to my baby.  Theirs had a squiggly leading to 13.1.  :)  Thanks again Meg!  I love them! 
So we got back to the hotel and so I could shower and pack up.  Soreness started setting in and I stiffened a bit.  But, what an accomplishment. 
The organization of the event was second to none.  With 30,000 runners running, it never felt overwhelming.  It was so much fun!  
I achieved my goal and I seriously cannot wait to do it again.  
In fact... I am planning on doing the Disneyworld Wine and Dine Half Marathon on October 1, 2011.  5 month's post baby and I will most likely still be nursing.  I canNOT wait!  :) 
anyone want to join me?