People of Walmart

Tyler and I spent some time on the People of Walmart website today and couldn't stop laughing. There are some funny people out there... some others are just plain disturbing! To enlarge the picture, just click on it :)

I promise you little one, this will NEVER be you!!

Bump @ 16.5 Weeks

16 1/2 Weeks!!!

This bump is growing... Thanksgiving dinner definitely helped!

Snakes, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails... Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice

If We Are Having A Boy, I Am Excited To...

** teach him to treat girls with respect

** play with action figures
** teach him sign language
** build forts together
** play catch in the backyard
** catch frogs and dig for worms with him

If We Are Having A Girl, I Am Excited To...
** teach her to be modest
** play dolls with her
** teach her sign language
** go shopping together
** paint her toenails
** play dress-up

(sub note: I will be enjoying whatever my kiddo will be enjoying. We will support our little one in his/her own interests - just thought I would put my own thoughts down... for now)

What I've Been Reading

Baby Bargains: 8th Edition
Thanks to my lovely cousin Sara, who is two months ahead of me on her second baby, I got this AWESOME book!! She gave this to me on Thanksgiving and I couldn't help but to start reading it that night when I got home. This book is going to be so helpful breaking down the many baby items out there -- The basics, safety, and finding the best deal. It has been a great read so far!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving Eve

At Boston University 121 years ago this Thanksgiving Eve, four visionary women set out to create an organization that would be “something distinctive, something worthy of the best in us – not only now, but always.”

HAPPY FOUNDER'S DAY DELTA DELTA DELTA

Thinking about Founder's Day this year leads me to contemplate the possibilities of how maybe our little one could someday marry a fellow Tri Delta - OR - maybe our little one will join DDD herself when she goes to college. The silly things I think about these days...

The official 2009 Founder's Day message: www.tridelta.org

“Hold it within the secret recesses of your heart, love it, cherish it. Let its radiance be a glowing, warming, strengthening influence in the lives of all with whom you, at any time, come in contact. Then, all joys will be yours.”

Sarah Ida Shaw

I Have Come Here to Confess

Yesterday afternoon my willpower overtook me outside a McDonald's and I found myself stuffing a cheeseburger into my mouth. With every french fry I swallowed, I kept thinking, “I’m the world’s worst mother already. I can't stop stuffing this junk down my throat.”

I even washed my prenatal vitamin down with a big swig of Sprite. Shameful, shameful, shameful. The sad part is, before I was pregnant, McDonald's usually made me gag just driving by those golden arches.

So last night, in an effort to apologize to my little baby, I ate a handful nuts, a gala apple, some cranberry juice, and a balsamic chicken salad for dinner.

I know I had a moment of weakness, but nothing but healthy, good stuff from here on out... Well, after Thanksgiving :)

A Great Joy is Coming

I am changed. I will never be the same - over and over again since the day I saw those two little lines on a pregnancy test, I have found myself saddled with a new emotion. Overwhelming, consuming desire to protect, nurture, and care for this tiny person I’ve never even met. I’ve never held this baby in my arms and yet I would do anything humanly possible to make this little person's journey through me and into the world as easy as possible.

I pray lengthy prayers, read all I can, and will my body on a daily basis to give this baby everything he/she needs to be healthy. I’ve never felt so fragile and so strong in my life.

What I've Been Reading

The Classic - What to Expect When You're Expecting

This is a great book that gives the facts without any extras. I also like that each chapter has sections that are clearly described... So if I know something doesn't apply to me I don't have to read that part.

The Comedy - Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth About Pregnancy and Childbirth

This book is hilarious!!! I was a little skeptical because the author (I typically stay away from celebrity authors) but with some convincing of my cousins who read it, I decided to pick up a copy. Very funny spin on pregnancy and "tells it like it is"
(she does use profanity so if that offends you, don't get this book)

Preg-zilla

I wish I could share with you how I am sentimental over silly things like Halmark commercials, or seeing puppies on TV... Oh how I wish I was THAT girl!! Instead I get to share with you that I have lost myself in a sea of hormonal rage and cannot find a raft or even some arm floaties to keep me above the waters :) I am officially a psycho!


The sane Marcie is somewhere inside me thinking “Good heavens girl, get a grip”

But today, crazy over-emotional Marcie is reigning supreme. Everyone, run for your lives. (Especially you, Tyler - run honey, run far far away and do not return until my eyes are no longer squinty and smoke has stopped coming out of my ears.)

DEAL OF THE DAY!!!

Thanks to another blog that I love reading, I found a super cute pair of skinny maternity jeans offered by JCPenneys Duo Maternity line. (I’ve never even thought to look at JCP for maternity clothes)

I haven't bought maternity pants yet. I can’t stomach paying a lot for any maternity specific clothing because I’ll wear them for such a short time, but as it is getting cooler out, I’m afraid I will need to abandon my leggings for something a little more substantial.

Today I discovered that the JCPenney skinnies were on sale on JCPenney.com for $21.99. I did a little more digging and found a JCP promo code that gets you $10 off any order over $10. (GR8VALUE - expires 11/23/09)

But wait - It gets better!! At Oak Park Mall they have these jeans in stock to avoid shipping AND are on sale for 2 bucks less at $19.99. I went to the store yesterday and they even honored the code GR8VALUE.

Even though I can't really wear them yet, I’ve got a pair of cute, dark wash skinnies on for a total of $9.99! Yeah, I seriously love a good deal and had to share!

Belly Up to the (Salad) Bar

I’ve noticed that in virtually all pregnancy books, magazines and website, the size of my growing baby is compared to produce.

At week seven, my embryo was likened to a small blueberry. At nine weeks, it became a medium green olive.Now, at 15 weeks my little baby is said to be the size of an orange... By nine months it says I will have a watermelon baby!!

As my brother-in-law has so nicely put it,
"Makes me hungry!" - I agree

Sweat Dreams

We continue to be so very blessed! Tyler and I got a great crib within our budget... FREE!!! God is really showing us that He will provide if we are patient.

I must say that I am really proud of Tyler for getting it all put together without having the instructions. It is now set-up in the baby room waiting until January to figure out what sheets should go with it!

Thank you so much Miss Moriam for your generosity!
It is beautiful.

Things NOT to Say to a Pregnant Lady...

(woman from church): oh! You can start to see your pregnancy is showing on your face.

(me): *chuckle* The bags under my eyes? Yeah, I know I have been really tired lately.

(woman from church): no, not that... I mean your cheeks are starting to look fuller.

(me): *speechless*

Mini Bump @ 14.5 Weeks

14 1/2 Weeks!!!

If you look VERY close you can see a mini bump!! I know that there is not much to look at, but I promise there is more now than what was there 3 1/2 months ago!

Looking Back

So last week when spending some time at my parent's house, my mom brought out three big bags of baby clothes that she had saved from both my brother and myself. It was so fun going through all the mini outfits.

I loved pulling out the clothes and hearing my mom say, "That was one of my favorites!" for each piece I pulled from the bags. I didn't take much from this trip being unaware if I should be saving the blue or pink, however, I did find two very cute treasures that seemed fairly generic to gender and now have them in the baby room at our house. Here is what I found...


A red teddy bear coat - the bears are pockets... And cowboy (or cowgirl) boots!! I am pretty sure both of these were my brother's fashion statements.

P.S. I typically am not a huge fan of teddy bears, but there is something about this vintage coat that I think is just too cute!

10 Things I Never Thought About Before I was Pregnant

THE FIRST TRIMESTER...

1. Nobody told me that your butt grows with your belly... that was an unpleasant shocker!

2. Along the same lines as number one, I was unaware that there is maternity underwear to go with the maternity clothes. Talk about some serious 'granny panties'

3. Saying goodbye to sushi, hot dogs, uncooked deli meats, eggs, caffeine, tuna, raw cookie dough, wine & margaritas (well I did already know that one, but it is still a tough reality) and my waistline ;)

4. You can re-live your teen years with hormonal acne

5. Before you get "the bump" your body seems to transform into something I've seen on National Geographic

6. I have never gone from such extreme excitement, to extreme panic, back to excitement, to then extremely overwhelmed, and to feeling completely and totally blessed within seconds

7. Germs are now my worst enemy - They are everywhere!

8. A complete and total loss of modesty... I am sure the birthing process will take this to another level

9. I have always known that my husband is AMAZING, but seeing him start to view his life as a father is something that I just can't explain. Plus he is unbelievably patience when dealing with my unbalanced hormone levels. I love him to pieces!!

10. You can be pregnant and not "feel" pregnant at all. If you know me pretty well, you know I hate, hate, hate, HATE going to the doctor's. This has now changed b/c the only time I "feel" pregnant is when I can see our little one on the ultra sound or hear the heartbeat... I just LOVE going to the doctor's :)

Not the Right Fit

Being pregnant has presented a whole new set of challenges in the fashion department...



As I have posted in a past blog, I have been using hair rubber bands threaded through my button hole and then attached to my button to preserve the life of my "normal" jeans. HOWEVER... I have decided that this is no longer an option today when the sweet old man that drives Alexia to and from school said boldly, "Hey! Why is your zipper down?" I guess it is a good thing the kiddos are deaf - saved me a little embarrassment. To be honest, I noticed that my zipper will fall sometimes since I haven't been buttoning my jeans, but I thought that I was being very careful about checking. The creativity stops here - time to go shopping!

A moo moo sounds like the best idea for comfort, but since I have to go out in public, I better look into other options. This seems like the next logical step to savor my jeans: Belly Band

Bump Ahead

“A babe in the house is a well-spring of pleasure, a messenger of peace and love, a resting place for innocence on earth, a link between angels and men”

Martin Fraquhar Tupper

This little piggy went to market, And this little piggy had influenza A virus subtype hemagglutinin protein 1 neuraminidase protein 1

Oh how nursery rhymes have changed!!!

Before I was pregnant I’d eat anything without a second thought, I confidently held the metal railings of public stairs, germs were … ehhhh whatever in my book.

And then I found myself solely responsible for growing this little bean into a fully functioning human being and suddenly I’m suspicious of the sanitation grades in every restaurant. I push open doors with my foot or shoulder, I give anyone who coughs or sneezes within ten feet of me the stink eye like you would not believe.

I kept thinking my hands were so dry because of some weird pregnancy symptom but later realized it’s because I wash my hands 18 times a day.

I’m armed with a fresh bottle of hand sanitizer in my bag and a package of disinfectant wipes. I may or may not have also contemplated where I could find one of those big plastic hazmat suits.

Stay away from me, H1N1 - I’m warning you!

"Sometimes, the smallest things take up the most room in your heart"

Today we went to the doctor's for our 3rd visit. We waited for about 45 minutes to spend about 5 with the doctor... however, it was worth it! We were able to hear the fast muffled sound of a tiny beating heart :)

The doctor said she could tell that the little one was even already moving around a bit. We were just overjoyed and left with huge smiles on our faces! God is showing me in new ways exactly how amazing He truly can be.

I am a little bummed that our next appointment we will not yet get the BIG sonogram - to find out if we will be having a girl or boy... That means we will have to wait until the first of the new year to find out. I guess I will just have to suck it up and wait a little longer.

Maybe my aunts can help me out at Christmas with a drain-o test. HA!!

I haven't taken any "bump" pictures yet because frankly I don't have much of a bump. Just a diminishing waist line... I have started to keep a few hair rubber bands on the shelf right next to my jeans to savor my clothes as long as I can :)

Our Situation

Tyler and I were waiting until after 12 weeks to make our announcement. We were out to eat at Mi Ranchito when I was around 10 weeks pregnant. While we were eating Tyler leaned in and whispered, "So, when are going to tell people about... (pauses and then takes a quick look around)... our situation."

I could not stop laughing!!! He is so funny. I still like to call our pregnancy "our situation" :)