Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy 2012 and I've Moved!

New Year? New Blog! I've put this off for a while because I was scared to lose readers, so please prove me wrong, ok? Update your reader and follow me over at...

www.dandelionpaperweight.com


I look forward to seeing you there!

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year's Eve!

I hope you all have a safe and fun night tonight! My husband made reservations for dinner at a fancy restaurant, but won't tell me where. I'm excited for us to have some one-on-one time and enjoy our last NYE baby-free!


What are your plans for ringing in the new year?

PS

Check back tomorrow for some exciting news!

Friday, December 30, 2011

26 weeks



This week was one of the most fun ones of my pregnancy thus far. It was Christmas! I always wanted to be pregnant at Christmas and it was really special. We got tons of adorable baby stuff and had fun showing off the progress of the nursery to family and friends.

My third trimester starts next week! Holy cow, where did the second one go? Time is flying and it's starting to freak me out a little bit. I've been watching that show called One Born Every Minute and it's becoming a lot more real that in just a few short months, I'll be delivering a baby. I'll admit, I'm pretty scared, but I'm trying to take things one step at a time and not get ahead of myself. I can't control how everything will go, so there's no sense trying.

We have finally chosen a name, though it's one we've liked for years. We just told family over the holiday and I'll blog it soon.

My outfit in the photos is new (again - I feel like I'm always wearing a new outfit in these photos, but I swear I don't buy myself clothes all the time), but the jeans were free! I responded to a tweet from Old Navy a few weeks ago and they emailed me saying they'd be sending me a prize in the mail. What I got was a card good for a free pair of jeans! I went there yesterday and got my first over the belly, full panel maternity jeans. My other low rise ones still fit fine, but these are much more comfortable. Since I was getting free jeans, I thought I might as well buy a new shirt (and sunglasses and earrings)... that's how they get you!

I also got new bras and underwear with a Victoria's Secret gift card I got for Christmas. I've worn thong underwear since high school (I was a dancer and they always worked best under tights and leotards), but I've just started to notice that they are no longer comfortable. I got five pairs of these underwear (I think I'm going to get five more) and two of these bras in sizes I never imagined I'd fit into. They're pretty granny-ish, but so comfortable, so I don't care. Plus, my husband still thinks I look cute in them, so that's all that matters, right?

I felt some baby hiccups this week too! My husband was even able to hear them!! Pretty cool. So much moving lately, which I love. Every morning when we're laying in bed, my husband asks me if the baby is awake yet and then we snuggle and he tries to feel some kicks before getting up to start his day. I'm going to miss that!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Christmas 2011

I hope you had a lovely holiday weekend! We had a very nice Christmas and I'm enjoying my time off more than ever before. I've been enjoying it so much that I sort of neglected the blog. Today I realized that I had better recap Christmas before the New Year begins on Sunday!


On Christmas Eve, we had my husband's parents, grandma, sister, nieces, aunt, and cousins over as well as my mom and brother. Here is my mother-in-law with our niece.


And with our other niece.


The kids' table!


Everyone eating. I made lasagna (recipe on the box of no boil noodles from Trader Joe's - it was amazing and everyone loved it, so go try it), caesar salad, and garlic bread. Simple and delicious!


My in-laws looking through the book we made them as their gift. It was a win! She cried!!


Our adorable little niece dragging her present to her aunt to open.


Cuties!


My husband and out niece, the tiny dancer.


She was a cookie monster that day! I didn't make any other desserts because I knew my mother-in-law would bring enough cookies for everyone to have their fill of sweets.


Saying hello to the dogs.

That night we went to church and had dinner at my parents' house before heading out to my in-laws ranch for some relaxation time.


On Christmas, we opened presents (I LOVE these!!),

kept Jackson from licking his wound from his neuter,


and napped. I'm so glad my husband took this picture so we'll always remember how I looked sleeping (not).

The next day, we drove home and relaxed some more before my husband had to go back to work on Tuesday. Yesterday I went to Ikea to return a couple of things (both my mom and my husband got me, er the baby this adorable rocking moose, so one had to go back) and pick up some stuff for the nursery. Today I ran errands, including a trip to Michael's to get supplies for the crib mobile I'm making. I'll do an update on the nursery soon!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Twas the day before Christmas

And all through the house...


Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.


The stockings were hung by the chimney with care (one for me, my husband, the dogs, and the baby), in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads (that line always reminded me of the nutcracker because of the sugarplum fairy).


And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.


When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.




Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.


The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.




With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, and he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!




"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"



As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, with the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.



And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.



He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, and he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.



His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,



Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!

PS
See my husband in the window? He's wearing the union suit pajamas I got him last year for Christmas and his lumberjack hat. What a cutie.

Friday, December 23, 2011

25 weeks



This was my first week of winter break and oh has it been sweet! I've slept in every day - well, I actually wake up when my husband gets up for work, but I stay in bed playing on my phone until he leaves. Then, I fall asleep for a bit longer and get up whenever I feel like it. I know that I have to soak this in and appreciate the leisure time while I've got it because in a few short months, I'll be happy to get any sleep at all.

My friend Jessica had her baby today!!! I saw a new post from her in my reader this morning and knew it was almost time, so I texted her asking to be put on her husband's text list for updates. I got just one, then a few hours later, an adorable picture of her baby boy! It was extra exciting because they decided not to find out the sex of the baby ahead of time. Also, they planned a home birth with a midwife and I can't wait to hear/read her birth story. What an amazing Christmas they'll have this year!

While I don't think I'm technically six months pregnant yet, I keep telling everyone that I am. I don't know why, but six months seems really officially pregnant to me. I also think this might be the last month I feel cute. I'm pretty scared of getting much bigger, but I know it's coming.

My dress in the photos is from Old Navy Maternity - I bought it online, which is something I rarely do for clothes, but it worked out! I plan on wearing this on Christmas Eve for our family lunch and to church. On Christmas, I'm going to wear my red and grey striped shirt from this post because we'll just be lounging at my in-laws all day and I want to wear something comfortable, but festive.

The baby room walls are painted and all the trim is up! The last thing to be done is to paint the crown molding and it's ready for furniture!! I am SO excited and ready to start decorating.

We got our stroller yesterday! I put it together by myself (it was so easy) and we have it set up next to the tree like a present. My husband's grandma is coming over on Saturday (she's the one who bought it for us), so it will be nice for her to see it all put together.

Yesterday morning, I woke up with terrible leg pain. After tweeting about it, Bee said it could be sciatica, which makes a lot of sense. Many times, pregnant women have back pain and think it's sciatica, but really, it's not. Sciatica isn't usually felt in the back, it's felt in the legs. I definitely have some lower back pain every once in a while, but this was totally different. It felt like I had run a marathon in my sleep! It went away after I laid in bed for a while and it didn't happen today, so I hope it was just that one time. I do think I need to get one of those maternity body pillows, though, so I stay in the best position all night.

Have you been reading my posts over on Hellobee? Most of them are repeats, for now, but I'm going to get some new stuff up there very soon.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

The Flood

If you know me IRL or have been following for a while, you remember Teddy. If you're new, click here to catch up.

For some reason, we didn't get our dog Jackson fixed, or neutered, early like we should have. My husband felt bad for him and I was lazy to make the appointment, so we kept putting it off until it just never happened. He's a year and a half now, and most dogs can be neutered as soon as their balls drop at around 4-6 months old.

Ruby is fixed, so we wouldn't have to worry about puppies with a boy dog that wasn't, but it is a bit awkward going to the dog park with his huge balls dangling down for the world to see. Also, Jackson is a serious marker (as in he pees on every single tree on walks and at the park and if we go somewhere new, he'll usually mark something there). Over Thanksgiving weekend, someone started talking about a male dog they had who used to mark the baby. The dog would PEE on the BABY. All the time. As soon as I heard this, I looked at my husband and told him it was time for the big snip. I called that Monday and made the appointment for today.

When we first got Jackson, just a couple of months after Teddy died, I took him to a new vet because I couldn't bear going back to the same place where I had to put Teddy down. However, this new place was very expensive. The other place was much more reasonable, plus they come highly recommended from several rescues in the area. So, for Jackson's neuter, I made the appointment at the old vet figuring it would be fine since it had been a year and a half since I went through one of the most difficult experiences of my life there.

Well, on the way this morning, the memories flooded back and I started crying. I kept thinking about Teddy and worrying that something bad would happen to Jackson. When we got there (we meaning Jackson and I), I pulled myself together and took him in. However, once I had to sign the papers that said that if something happened the doctor had permission to resuscitate him, I lost it again. I explained to the techs that I had to put a dog down there a year and a half earlier, so I was very emotional about being back and they were so nice. They reassured me that they would take good care of him and sent me on my way.

I cried the whole way home, but was ok when I was able to snuggle Ruby. I took a nice long nap (it was amazing) because I felt so drained from the whole experience. I can't imagine how I'll handle my own kids getting hurt or going through any medical procedures.

Jackson is home now and doing well. He's a bit drugged and groggy, but doesn't seem to be in any pain and I can tell he wants to run around and play.

Photo by Michelle York

Before I had dogs, I never understood why people would get so emotional over their animals. Now I understand that, for some, pets become part of the family. I can't imagine life without our dogs. It would be so boring! They are such a source of comfort and love to me and I know we'll always have dogs as part of our family.

If you have pet, are they a part of your family? If not, do you ever plan to get any in the future?
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