He's here...

He's absolutely perfect.

He was my hardest delivery by far.

I'm trying my darndest to recover, so here's a quick picture...

Hopefully this week I'll get to his amazing birth story! My 8 lb, 5 oz baby boy!

Anyone have a cure for PUPP? Just started a steriod today--praying to God it works. I've never been so miserable.

It's 2am, I must be lonely....

Do you know that song? Oh well--

Just hopped (hahaha hop hahahaha) out of the shower and sitting here about to go to the hospital for the induction. Didn't sleep at all. The boy decided to do amazing acrobatic feats and keep me up. Probably won't update here until we get back home...

Say a little prayer for me....

You know that song, right?

No baby yet...thank you doc on call.

Tuesday night I started having contractions really late. About midnight. So around 3am they were getting a little stronger and I was a little nervous--never having starting labor on my own before. We made the decision to go to the hospital and get checked.

They put the monitors on me and yeah! I heard his cute little heartbeat. The contractions were not painful and coming from four to seven minutes. This was the most regular they had been thus far. But she checked me (painful) and found I was still only 2cm. Same as what my doc said on Monday.

SO she called the on call doc. And he decided to order a shot to stop my contractions. Yes. I don't know why. Apparently it won't stop your contractions if you are really in labor. The part that is irritating is knowing that my doc would have either monitored me for a little longer, or started me on something to get my contractions stronger (since he already offered to induce me on Tuesday.) But anyway, after the shot my contractions spaced out and after an hour she checked me again (painful) and discovered that there was no change.

SO they sent me home. And I've had little to no contractions since. So I guess I'll be going in for my regularly scheduled induction tomorrow. PS I am so freaking miserable. I have an ugly red rash on my belly and the itching has driving me to near insanity, my nose is chronically stuffed up, my muscles are aching like I've done too many situps. Oh and the place where she gave me that damn shot hurts like a bruise. Which means I don't even want D giving me a back rub because he might hit it. And my body temp is on the fritz. Either I am cold, or sweating. ??What is that all about??

On a lighter note, I appreciate the comments and well wishes. They do brighten my day. And I am truly excited to meet this little guy--and I know the memory of all this misery will fade with time. Which is why I am writing it down!! :)

Nervous Nellie

That's me. I just got back from the doc's office. First my BP was high, 148 over something. The nurse took me right back and had me lay on my left side for a minute or two and then took it again....100/50. So I'm good she said.

Turns out I'm about two centimeters dilated and starting to thin out. Hmm. Guess those two contractions I had in the middle of the night Saturday did something. At this rate I only need eight more to be done right? HAA! So after deliberating and what not I'm scheduled to be induced Friday, provided Little md doesn't make his appearance sooner.

I can't tell you how nervous I am. I have never before been dilated prior to being induced. And this is the third one. What if it happens really fast? What if my water actually breaks on it's own?? What if, what if, what if? I do have my hospital bag packed at least. And the baby's bag. But really the house is a disaster area. D cancelled his out of town training for the next two days based on the doc's recommendation, but he will still have to go to work. And that's at least forty five minutes away.

What if this scratchy irritated throat turns out to be more than a little allergy irritation? Deep breath. I'm sure it will all be fine.

Oh and what is with the itchy belly?? Seriously it's like a bad case of poison ivy. I know it was bad when I was preggo with Little d, and I had a bit of it with Little m, but this time--and just here lately--it's insane!

Enough complaining! He'll be here by the end of the week!! Now let's just hope he's not born on Earth day...

T minus three weeks

I had my 37 week checkup today. My BP was 114/72. And my weight was 161. Doc says everything looks perfect. I opted out of the optional internal exam. He checked around on my belly and said "he's very low in the pelvis". Yep, my thoughts exactly. Well, not exactly, I think he's more in the region of my knees... Then he says "if you go into labor tonight that would be fine." Yep, again I agree. Although having a professional tell me that he thinks this kid is good to go is quite a relief.

I washed up some blue newborn clothes last night and my nursing bras. And that's about all the progress I've made thus far to prepare for his arrival. I must work harder this week. I am really starting to look pretty pathetic. I don't know that I've ever carried a baby this low before and it literally feels like I can't walk properly.

D is working on stuff at the house this week. He really needs to finish up the siding as soon as possible. His parents are out there now helping him and tomorrow, my dad and his dad will both be helping.

Grandma Hawes continues to do well. She is on a clear liquid diet and sitting for short periods out of bed.

I think I may just get off here and go find something to organize...

Diamoniques are a girl's best friend...

Not only are my ankles swollen, but so are my fingers. SO I can't wear my wedding band anymore. This makes me too sad, so look what I just ordered myself...

It won't let me post the picture, so here's the link...


http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.J25139.cc.000.cm_scid.crt/walk.yah.0000

I know, I should be posting Easter pics...and I will, but isn't this so pretty? I was so excited I just wanted to share...

It should be here this week...hope it doesn't look too fake in real life HA!

Flower Girls

Tuesday, when we last went to the land (can't wait to just say, 'when we went home') I took a few pics of the girls. And our first ever Bluebonnet--the state flower of Texas.

Now this little Bluebonnet picture is not the best because I was not about to get on my knees and take the closeup.

Maybe someday our yard will look like this!

Ahhh. I can dream.



Here's Little d holding a little yellow wildflower...

Here's Little m, posing as usual!

In other news:



Grandma is scheduled for surgery today at 1:30. I kind of like that's it's on Good Friday. That's the day I had my biopsy surgery.



I am miserably pregnant. I've never been this way before. I've never--yes you read that right!--never had swollen ankles before in pregnancy. I have trouble standing up from a sitting position because my lower stomach muscles and lower back hurt and have to get stretched out again. Yesterday I did shopping for Lin's baby shower and for this new baby and for the girls' Easter gifts...wow. Waddle waddle waddle!



I feel like this baby could come at any minute. But of course I am sure this is not the case. I sometimes wonder if I have just gained too much weight this time ( I'm currently at 160) or if it's just my age (35), or if it's trying to take care of two kids at the same time. Oh well. In any event I only have a few weeks left.

I told my husband yesterday that I have become one of those pregnant women. You know, the kind that bitch and moan the whole last trimester. Well I guess I got to experience that before my baby making days are over. :)

Have a happy Easter weekend y'all!!

Signs of Spring

Day One of the little flowers in an egg pot:

Winter can really drag me down. Maybe I have that Seasonal Affective Disorder. Okay probably not, I don't really have all those symptoms, I just get tired of gloomy weather.

But for sure the last couple of months have held their fair share of stress: this pregnancy, building the house, Memaw's passing, trying to agree on a name for the baby.

Things are starting to look brighter though. We finally agreed on a name. I think.

Mitchell Dane.

Little d wrinkled her nose at first. She really liked Henley. But finally she agreed it was ok. Little m copied sister and then said with a soft little grin "Mishie" and don't know that I've heard anything cuter than that in my whole life.

So here you go kid--you're likely getting the name Mitchell. And around our house, chances are you'll be Mishie. We love you already.

It's starting to look like Spring around here.

Day Nine taken this morning:

Oh and because I know you all are wondering what on earth his moniker will be here since we already have a Little m and a Little d. How about Little md. Kinda cute, huh?

I held off as long as I could

I know most of you found this blog through scrapbooking avenues. And maybe you stayed because of my rapturous humor, or my stunning papercrafting talent, BUT this really is a personal blog with a little scrapbooking thrown in. And if you've been reading for any length of time you know I love a good political discussion.


And boy is there something to discuss now. I really tried to just leave it out. Don't write about and they won't build it. Gosh you can tell I didn't even like field of dreams by that lame-o reference.


This is your warning. This is a political post. A conservative-constitutional-clinging-to-my-guns-and-religion-go-away-big-government-political-post. Keep reading at your own risk. :)

You know I said in the first paragraph up there that I love a good political discussion, but truth is I am tired of discussing. I am tired of hearing liberals/progressives/Marxists/whatever label they wear tearing down our country. I am tired to the point of pissed to hear how government owes the less fortunate something--that somehow the haves owe the have nots.

I could rant about the health care bill. Because let's face it--it was passed by a congress full of paid whores. This is the part where I normally would apologize for such language--not wanting to offend any one's gentle ears. But you were warned. And this is my blog and, someday, a journal for my children. So I'm not apologizing. Not for my opinion, not for my language.

But it's much much deeper than health care. It started long ago before I was born with entitlement programs. Somehow it came to pass that people in charge thought it was a good idea to give people who don't have as much a little piece of the pie that someone else has. That someone else worked to get.

Now this is the part where most of the liberals I know will jump in and say "but don't you think that everyone should have food?" Sure. Tell them to join a church group. Or tell them to depend on family, or a community-based organization that helps the needy, a big corporation that gives millions to help the less fortunate. Because guess what? That's what would happen if the government wouldn't take care of people. Did you hear the story about the homeless guy (I can't remember but I think it was in Houston) who made thousands panhandling?

Americans are generous. But the balance is shifting. You can only have so many people on the government rolls. Eventually there won't be enough paying into the system. And then what? This is why Socialism and Marxism fail everywhere they are tried. Incidentally so has socialist medicine.

I had a really good discussion with my OB/GYN today. He asked how I was doing and I said, 'well I'm a little worried about this health care bill.' And he went into a twenty minute soapbox speech about how this bill will ruin our country. I learned alot from someone I respect on the inside of the issue. Here's some of the highlights:

• 80% of the patients he delivers at the hospital are on medicaid.
• I, as an insured, married, knows-who-the-father-is patient, am in the very small minority.
• When I deliver, the nurses at the hospital will actually talk about me and tell the other nurses to "go look" because there is an actual married couple with a family in that room.
• It costs my OB money to see a medicaid patient. He actually loses money.
• He would rather see an elderly medicare patient for free than a medicaid patient. But the government won't allow him to see them for free.
• He recently delivered a medicaid patient who had in her room a Sony laptop, not one but two Ipods, and a digital Rebel.
• He said 'get ready to see a dramatic decrease in level of care and get ready to wait in line.'

He's a small business owner. He says you 'can't get rich being a doctor.' Between the overhead, and paying employees, and low reimbursement, he said he almost lives 'paycheck to paycheck'. How sad is that? He is one of the best OBs in the area with a reputation for being a leading fertility specialist. He has all kinds of diplomas for fellowships and degrees on his wall. He's worked hard to learn his job and hone his skills. He volunteers his services to programs for underprivileged patients. Why should he bear any more burden by the health care system?

For that matter why should any small business bear the burden? There is some kind of mistaken thought pattern in this country when it is okay to punish the people making money. That's what this whole country was founded on, was it not? Freedom from persecution and freedom to pursue your dreams?

My parents have worked hard their entire lives. Around the time I graduated high school my parents had a wonderful opportunity. Because they had amazing credit and land as collateral they were able to buy a small business--a gas station. My dad is a high school drop out who earned his GED and went into the military. He worked various jobs, sometimes my mom also worked part time. When they got money ahead they bought land, traded land. Not enormous amounts, but enough to help them finance a loan for a small business.

The American dream. You know what? The American dream is a huge pain in the ass to upkeep. First of all, try to keep employees (who won't embezzle $12,000 or who will actually show up to work) to cover the shifts you need. Next, comply with government regulations from environmental, tax, licensing. After that, work with vendors. Vendors who place other regulations on you--you get this price if you put this display here. And the least of your worries? Customers shoplifting or gas drive offs.

But don't worry because soon a huge chain will come in and put you completely out of business. (Ironically after you survived near debranding from Shamrock Gas.)

It's hard to make a small business work. Even when you work long hours every day, even when you look out for your employees and give them bonuses at holidays and time off when they want to hang out with their friends and loans when they are struggling, and even when you comply with state and federal laws. So why would anyone think that imposing more taxes and regulations on businesses is a good idea anytime...let alone in this economy?

Oh but Meredith you're just saying all this because you have insurance.

Yes you're right. I have insurance. I have amazing insurance. Do you know why? I went to college-local cheaper community college. Worked hard and got a degree. Graduated with honors. I stayed clean and sober. I went to the police academy. I got a job. I saved enough money and put it into a CD so that later it would be the down payment for our house. I met a guy who had the same values as me. A guy who went to college earned three degrees, got a great job that has great insurance that allows me to stay at home and take care of our children. We don't spend more money than we have--except to have a home mortgage and one car loan. We don't run up credit card debt. We live by the rules. We pay taxes.

And now we are trying to buy a piece of land with our dream home on it. Because we deserve it. Because we are working for it. Not because we are owed it. And if my husband loses his job, we will make radical adjustments. We will delve into savings and investments. We won't immediately think of welfare. I will immediately try to find a job, as will he. (Right now I could sign up to be a substitute in the school system and make about $70 a day.) We will re-finance, sell off possessions, what ever it takes to become self sufficient again. That includes leaning on family if need be.

I am so disgusted by what's going on in our country...not just the health care bill, but the whole mentality. Okay. I'm done for now. I'm sure I could go on, but I'll save it for another time.

Oops and for the record books, all is well with baby and me. Weigh in was 157.

One of these windows is not like the other....

Can you spot the difference? Yes the bottom panes don't match. One has six panals and one has nine. It may be hard to see in this pic because of the screen on one. So we'll need to get that window replaced.

Here's our front door and transom installed. I am so excited to see it finished and painted red!!

Guess what else is getting installed? Air conditioning!!

This is the attic part--I know, I know, so exciting right?!?

I call this the giant silver spider:

By the way...I AM SO VERY PREGNANT!!!!

Name Game Part Two

Or this post could be titled "From the desk of Should Be Cleaning House..."

Anyhoo. Still no agreement has been reached. I bring it up about once a week and he's still not budging. Last time I talked to him he said "why don't you ask a guy what he thinks of the name?" Sigh.

So I did. I asked my brother. Previously he had said 'I'm not getting into it.' (which incidentally is exactly what my dad said.) But on this occasion he said "I like it." But it was more like, 'I like it, but don't let D know I like it...' I guess there's some kind of guy code with this?? Anyway coming from someone named Hugh who has had his name butchered more than you can imagine, this was a big deal for me.

Next I asked my BFF's husband. He liked it. He said "like Don Henley".

So today I was talking to D on the phone--he's at work--and I said what are we going to do about this kid's name?

He said he didn't know. So I asked him if he's asked some guys at work what they thought. And he said yes and that "they agreed with me."

Me: Who'd you ask?

Him: Bubba.

Me: (peals of laughter)....No really, who'd you ask?

Him: Seriously, Bubba.

Me: You can not use someone who is named Bubba to base your decision. Who else did you ask?
Him: That's it.

Insert eye roll here. I am at a loss as to how to convince him {And if you're commenting, don't think of using the advice my mom--yes mom-- said which was 'I guess you'll have to use your womanly wiles.' Seriously?!? My womanly wiles are on extended vaca!}

His argument boils down to he thinks it's a name he will be teased about. My husband is named David and he says he was teased about his name. In 7th grade some lame nut boy called me Megadeth (after the rock band). In conclusion ANY name can be teased. And it's not like we're naming him Rosebud.

And D likes the name Landry. So tell me how different that is from Henley? Except that my BFF's son is named Landon, so I can't see naming my kid Landry. If fact every time I go to say Landry I have to stop myself from saying Landon.

Uhhg. Maybe I should do a poll of my FB peeps. Off to clean...for a bit anyway.

She's an emotional girl

So after my freak out post Monday, I spend a beautiful, idyllic Tuesday out at the land with my husband and daughters. I came home to a chaotically disorganized house with my exhausted husband. And I hit a wall.


After walking around so much and standing up way too much, my back ached and my hips hurt and when I walked it felt like my body was just going to shatter into little pieces. And my husband (who had worked nights and only slept three hours) made the mistake of saying he was tired and had no patience.


You know in movies how there's that needle-scratching-the-record-player noise? I actually heard that in my brain. And I think the old brain then said 'you've gotta be effing kiddin' me!' Not out loud...I don't use that language, out loud. (well not often...and definitely not in front of the kids)


I shed a few silent tears while fixing Little m her night time cup of milk. Hubby slept sitting up on the couch. I may or may not have then unloaded and loaded the dishwasher entirely too loud. We finished getting the kids to bed and every time he spoke to me or asked me a question I may or may not have been really short and snippy. He came to bed after laying Little m down. Little d was asleep also. I was watching something stupid on TV that I can't even remember now. And I just knew he was going to say 'love-you-goodnight' and roll over. And I may or may not have been seething angrily in anticipation about this. {Because we all know it is a cardinal sin to go to sleep when your wife is angry!}


But instead he tried making small talk. I gave a few snippy answers. And he gave up and just laid there quietly. So then--because I'm really good at it--I started crying. And he said "what's wrong?" Just a simple quiet concerned question.


And I nearly bit his head off. I ranted about the house and not wanting to live in such a pigsty and how I never have the energy to clean anything and how I spent two days doing miniature loads of laundry (thanks to the washer on loan from my parents that is not capable of spinning out two pairs of jeans*) and mountainous loads of dishes and look--just look--at the sad mess the kitchen is still in not to mention that I spent 30 minutes trying to clean the pantry but my back ache and heartburn were so bad I couldn't bend over anymore, and speaking of backs, I'm hobbling around because it hurts so bad and I can't sleep between the raging heartburn and the inability to breath and the having to pee every five seconds and he's working for the next eight EIGHT! days and nights straight and there's no end in sight and and and...


We went back and forth a little--me being mostly mad that he can't physically be in two places (or three) at once. And him getting a little peeved that I won't let him finish a sentence. An exchange that ended in me sniveling and snotty amid piles of tissues laying on my left side (because God forbid I lay on my right and cause the fire that is my esophagus to explode from my eyes).


And he says. Are you ready? Are you ready to hear how amazing this man is that I married? He says, "if I rub your back do you think it will help?"


God bless him. God bless him for dealing with these crazy pregnancy hormones. (okay maybe they are not entirely blamed on pregnancy.) And God bless him for his amazing backrubs.

*Don't think I am ungrateful. My parents had a spare washing machine in their barn for a backup when theirs crapped out. And they are letting us use it. And we were going to have toorder a new one, but my brilliant dad fixed ours!! So now we aren't out that money!! I have the best parents ever!

Prep Work

It just hit me. Well actually it hit me around 5am, along with yet another bout of middle-of-the-night heartburn, that I only have seven weeks left on this pregnancy. And given that my doc has twice before induced me a week prior to my due date to prevent me having a large baby and c-section, that means actually only about six weeks left. Whew. That's not very long.

I am starting to freak a little.

I need to do a ton to this house. A ton. There really is no room to put a baby right now. The laundry room is cleaned out--thanks to the flood, but there is also nothing baby related going into that room. So that's a wash (hehehe ah I crack myself up with the puns!)

I know it will take me at least three weeks to do all the work I want to do with the house--and that's working steadily. Mostly this is because I have no energy.

Also, with the girls I spent a weekend (with my mom) during the last month of pregnancy cooking tons of freezer meals for the weeks following birth. Because who has the stamina to cook then? So I also need to get thinking on that.

Car seats. We have a Chevy Trailblazer, and it has a third row, but I'd rather not put one of the kids there. And three car/booster seats won't fit across the center row. So I have to contact the DPS and see if there is a law against kids in the front seat and then contact the dealer and see if our airbag is weight sensitive or if it can be turned off. Then Little d could sit there. If I end up having to use the third row, Little m is the only one that can sit there with Little d's motion sickness issues and me needing access to the baby. UGH! We are not going to be getting a new vehicle!! You know now that I'm thinking about it, maybe we should just see if all three seats would fit in the middle row...I'm not sure D actually tried it.

I have given up on finishing christening blankets and scrapbooks in time for this baby to be born. As long as I get them done by the time my kids get married right??

And this is not even close to including stuff that needs to be done for the new house. We have a deposit to send with a contract for the concrete floors, D has work on electrical and A/C prep, not to mention starting on siding and trim. Then there is work to do on this house because (egads!) we are going to have to put it on the market soon...

Really wish I was at least getting a good night's sleep. Chuckle, chuckle. Okay on to the great cleanout of 2010!! Today's agenda...the kitchen pantry!

The Name Game

ETA: I've edited the names out of this post, since I don't want my kiddos names up for world wide veiwing anymore. :) If you reading this post and just can't stand the suspense, email me and I'll let you know the names....maybe HA!

Naming someone is a huge responsibility. It shouldn't be left to amateurs. I mean remember the whackjobs that named their kid Adolf Hitler? So I take that responsibility seriously. Very seriously.

And I've been thinking about what I would name my kids for as long as I can remember. As a small child I loved the name Linda. Surely if I didn't change my name to Linda when I grew up I would name my daughter that. Of course I love my name too, Meredith. But as a second grader everyone else had a nick name and I didn't. Until I watched the movie "Where the Boys Are." Then I chose Merit for my nickname. Stuck all the way through high school. I still have FB friends that use it...the first time I saw it I thought 'oh yeah, that was my nickname.' Now close friends and family call me Mere. Or meremere. But enough about my name.

When Little d was born it was easy. I read a book in HS titled "When Calls the Heart", a Christian 'romance' western that Memaw gave me. The male main character's name was Wynn D*. Loved it. Loved the book, loved the name, loved everything about it. I then and there decided that my daughter or son would be named D*.

I've always had a thing for unusual enough names. Unusual enough to not be one of two in a class, but not unusual enough to elicit stares of 'huh?' Does that make sense?

So while preggo with Little d I had to convince my husband. We didn't know what we were having that time around, so after I told him that 'yes, you can learn to spell D*' he gave in to that for a girl's name. When it came to a boy name we settled on Ellis. It was weird because we thought of it independently of one another on nearly the same day.

Moving on to Little m. I heard the name M* on Oprah. It was some French author...and probably the last time I've watched Oprah too... Anyway. Again, D was on board pretty quickly after he learned to spell it.

On a side note, I am a stickler for having a middle name to flow with the first. Little d's middle name is R* (after her maternal grandmothers Ray Beth and Anna.) See? D* R*. And Little m's middle name is L* after her Aunt Lindsay. M* L*. So as far as I'm concerned, two home runs.

Sigh, but now...

Now we are at an impasse. My husband and I.

I have chosen a name. He doesn't like it. He says it's too feminine, not masculine enough. I say it's absolutely perfect. And for the record it only appears in the BOY section of the baby name book. Also for the record, D* appears in both the boy and girl sections.

He's thrown out a list of names too. Here they are in no particular order...

Bryce (along with 400 other boys in this area)
George (really? Curious George, George of the Jungle, Georgie Porgie)
Robert (he has a grandfather, uncle AND brother named this....nope!)
Ronald (as in McDonald?)
James (he has an uncle named this)
Kristopher (do you really want the boy to go his entire life saying "no, Kris with a K"?)
Hrodebert (no explanation needed...and I can't spell it let alone pronounce it)

Do you want to know mine? Are you just waiting on pins and needles to find out the horrible, no good, very bad name I want to stick this kid with? Are you ready? Are you sure you can handle the name my husband refuses to consider? I mean especially after you just saw his selections.

H*.

Yep. That's it. And I love it. I love it so much that I can't envision anything else at this point. I love it so much that I am very afraid to put it out in blogosphere for someone else to grab.

I have thought of this name in different scenarios. Childlike care as he draws it in Kindergarten. High school girls scribbling in on their textbooks with little hearts. Paging Dr. Steves, Dr. H* Steves. And now, best selling author, H* D* Steves--the crowd roars. H* Steves Attorney at Law.

So give me your thoughts. Am I crazy or is this the very best name ever for my son? Although all the people around me in real life (including Little d) love it and that's hasn't changed D's mind. I hear the hospital takes mom's word over dad's in filling out the birth certificate...

Busy busy

We've been a little busy these last couple of days.

Yesterday my mom's mom fell and after spending the entire day in the ER, they determined she had a fractured femur and other small, but stable fractures in her pelvis. This morning she had surgery to put a rod in her leg to stabilize the break and everything went great. My mom has been at the hospital until just this evening.

This afternoon I had my glucose tolerance test and 3D ultrasound. We got some great pictures of the little toot. He has his dad's feet and nose and also some cute chubby cheeks. I would try to load them tonight but I'm really tired.

Just wanted to do a quick update here. Hopefully things continue to go well with Memaw and she'll be out of the hospital before too long. If you pray, keep her in your prayers. Thanks!

Well look at that!

This will be the third creative post in a row. Bet you all thought I forgot how to. Amazing what a clean scrap desk will motivate you to do.



My BFF was having an off day, so I made this card today to send her. I'm hoping it will cheer her up a little. We have the best relationship. We can call each other anytime and bemoan what's going on or if we're in a funk and it really helps out. Of course that's not all we do! We also share family life anecdotes and what have you.






On the inside I wrote "In other words...cheer up buttercup!" And then put a little message that I'm always here to listen.



House news: To wet to pour the walls Tuesday, waiting to see if they can pour at the end of this week of not. Also, my dad and I have decided to build the kitchen cabinets ourselves. I know, I know, almost as crazy as my idea to raise chickens, but I think this could work.

Baby news: I really think this boy likes keeping his head directly under my stomach and lungs. I'm almost at week 26 and that makes me extremely happy! Also I think (fingers crossed) that D is going to agree to use the name I picked for him. If so this will be a Little h. We'll see!

Other news: I'm in a really good mood today and it has quite a bit to do with a certain Senate election that's not even in my state...

Ooooh I almost forgot! Check by at Karen's Doodles (there's a link on my sidebar). She is have a super give away--gosh I love those digi images she's drawing! Y'all have a great day!

Details: (all CTMH unless noted)

Paper: Key to My Heart (love that special), Juniper CS, Colonial White CS

Ink: Juniper, Sorbet, Tulip, Creme Brulee

Stamps: Flower Pot--an upcoming stamp of the month!

Other: edge distresser, cream ribbon (Hobby Lobby) sponge dauber

The walls are going up!

Today the ICF Constructors started bright and early. They plan to work all week and--weather permitting--pour the walls on Friday. Here's some pictures from today.

The first row of ICF going up.

A picture of the back of the house showing the bay window in the kitchen.

This is the front of the house and that's the porch and front door.

Here is the front of the house with the garage slab showing in front. Our garage walls are to be made of regular wood frame, the wall separating the house and garage is ICF.

The girls has SO much fun running around on the slab and around the house. Can't wait until we actually live here!!

Also today I had an OB appointment. We got to hear the heartbeat and guess what? I am weighing in at 145lbs. Must. stop. eating. junk! But all else is well. And I'm not worried about my weight. If the doc doesn't mention it, I'm not concerned.

To excited to sleep

Remember this commercial a few years ago? That was me at 4am this morning. Not because I was going to Disney world, but because we were going to our ultrasound! My appointment was scheduled for 1:40pm. HOURS away! And then the doc's office called before nine this morning. They wanted to push my appointment back to 2pm. UUUHHHHGGGG! I can't wait any longer. "Sure, no problem, see you then."

First we went to the wrong office. Then we finally got there. Okay here's what you really came here to find out...It's a BOY! We are still in total shock! And very excited to begin a new rollercoster!

He was moving around SO much he kept the tech laughing. She was chasing him all around my belly with the wand. Everything looks good and measures normal. He weighs exactly one pound.

We are so very grateful for another healthy baby-boy or girl-what a blessing!

Rain rain go away!

Well things are definitely on hold with all the rain we've been getting. I'll say a big "you're welcome" to farmers and ranchers around Texas for single-handedly ending the worst drought in 50 years of Texas history by starting our house.

We still don't have a tree. Our artificial one is in storage in POC and it would be Thursday or Friday before D could go get it. (it weighs a TON). So I'm leaning towards trying a real one this year. It might be fun to have a real one for our last Christmas in this house. Don't tell D but I really want to put up a couple of trees in the new house...

If any of you fellow consultants have a MyCTMH site you would like me to direct customers to, let me know. I'll be sending out an email telling them about the online clearance sale later today or tomorrow. I don't have one, and I don't know anyone locally that does, so I thought if I were throwing business around I would try you my fellow bloggers. Don't get you're hopes too high though. None of my customers are really buying anything...for months now.

I feel like this pregnancy is racing by. I think it's because I am so busy thinking about house and Christmas stuff and plans. I have been feeling more and more movement which I am so happy about. I am savoring every minute of that, because this will likely be my last pregnancy. I have a feeling there will be a lot of sappiness on my part because of that, especially with every milestone that passes. {Of course watch God surprise us in a couple of years....}

New Moon was an awesome movie in my opinion. Get this. We purposefully waited until it had been out for a while to miss the huge crowds. The Cinemark here has it showing on 3 screens, so I thought it would be pretty safe by now. Then we chose the noon time slot to avoid screaming tweens and teens. So we pull up and are happy to note about 5 cars in the parking lot. As we are waiting in the concession line, guess what? A bus of teens from an area school pull up. Wild guess as to what movie they ended up seeing... Oh well, I guess it wouldn't have been the complete theater experience without a couple of teen girls screaming when Jacob took his shirt off.

My wonderful husband brought me flowers last night for our anniversary AND an evergreen wreath for the door. (I get one every year and hang it on the inside so even with a fake tree we still have a little of the real tree smell!) It was perfect timing too, just yesterday afternoon Little d said "mom, it seems like everyone is getting ready for Christmas except us!"

Okay today's the last day for the BLOG CANDY draw. It closes at midnight tonight.

My little stinker (baby news)

We had an appointment today for a heartbeat check. First, I've gained three pounds since last month, so my weight now is 133.2. But who counts the ounces, right? ANY way. I'm sure some of you could care less, but I am using this as documentation for me.

We went in for the check. My doc always asks if anything is going on or if I have any questions and most of the time I don't, like today. He joked 'just doing time then.' We smiled. When he was about to use the dopplar he said that he has to be careful who he says that too. Once (when he was doing his work with a program catering to low income patients), he made that comment and the woman's boyfriend popped up and said "no, I'm already out."

So he tried to find the heartbeat and tried and tried. Nothing. I started getting nervous. He said "this is the hardest time during the pregnancy to find it..." Not feeling comforted, I just bit my lip while he keep listening. Occasionally it would pick up the heavy thumping of my heart. I was not fooled. I've heard it too many times to know. Still we listened.

Finally he said, 'try straightening out your legs and I'll try it a little lower.' So I did. And instantly we heard the quick soft swishing that caused my lungs to fill with air. Apparently the little stinker was hiding somewhere in my pelvis! Already the little toot is giving me heart attacks.

Next stop we went to a local clinic and D and I got our H1N1 vaccine. I am so glad to be done with that nagging worry in the back of my mind.

I am very much looking forward to our Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for this year. God has truly blessed us and I hope that you all are feeling His blessings as well!

(Oh and I'm going to forget that I turn the big 3-5 on Thanksgiving day!) I'm kidding, I LOVE it when my birthday falls on the holiday!!! The turkey feast is my all time favorite meal!