Happy Anniversary!

It's so crazy to think that a year has already flow by since Brad and I got married (25th). It's even crazier to think a year ago at this very moment we were probably lounging on the beach at the Dominican Republic -- wait. Now that's almost depressing, considering I am the size of walrus and confined to my desk at work.
We had a pretty good day celebrating! All week we were debating what to do. Bed and Breakfast? Nice dinner? Baseball game? etc etc. It turns out we woke up and made last minute plans (I think I like the unexpected better than the planned events anyway).
We went to the Rib America festival that was downtown. Had some pretty good BBQ.

Afterwards we went to the Zoo. Brad really likes the zoo. It poured rain on us just a few times, so otherwise our day went great. I was pretty exhausted towards the end. So tired in fact I passed up the opportunity to see my beloved giraffes.

We saw Planet Earth 3D - not worth it. I'd rather been at home on my couch watching it. Here are some pics I took at the zoo...

After the Zoo, we went to the Jewel Box and had our pic taken infront (this is where we were married). The camera was using it's last bit of battery, so luckily we got this pic.

Lastly, we went home pulled out our cake and took one teensy, weensy nibble and threw it in the trash. Look at it...would you want to eat it??! (It is covered in plastic wrap, so it looks even less appealing in this photo)

Maternity photos!

I absolutely love our photographers. Dan and Crystal are so sweet and amazing. They run Color Touch Photography out of St. Louis Missouri. It's kind of ironic that we managed to get maternity photos. I was actually calling them to order our wedding photos (yes, one year later...) and ended up scheduling photos 10 days shy of our wedding anniversary!
They have some posted in their blog (Color Touch Photography Blog) - but here are some. I can't wait to get the wedding photos and these!!

Dan and Crystal are awesome. I would recommend them to ANYONE! Plus, they just make you
feel good to be around them.


I wish I never pierced my naval...ugh...

I like this! But we're squishing my belly too much, so I think I just look fat...

yea! stretchmarks disguised!

Brad is so sweet here. I LOVE this photo...

32w dr appt

Went really well! Nothing to report actually. 17 pounds gained so far (stretch marks to reflect 80 pounds of weight gain - can you tell I'm bitter?); blood pressure great; measuring right at 32 w....good job baby :)

I asked about the laboring tub. Turns out that there is a fee to use it. Dr. Chen said that if I'm the kind of person that feels relaxed in water, then it is probably a good place to try and labor at times. However, he really thinks that the Bradley relaxation methods will be great too. It was hard for him to tell because obviously every woman's labor is different. I was sold 100% that I wanted to labor in a aquadoula, but after swimming in a pool last week for the first time, I really don't think I like the feeling.
Maybe it was the chlorine, or the fact the thought of a public pool grossed me out at that moment - I'm not sure. We'll see. Also I'm sure $$ will be a deciding factor.

I also asked if he thought it would be worth me taking a BF class. They are only $35 one evening for 3 hours. Brad's all for it. Dr. Chen said that he doesn't think so...which surprised me. He thinks that the lengths that I go to educate myself in combination with the MOBAP nurses and LCs, I should be okay. I'm still interested because it would be great for Brad to go and learn too (he's been a good sport about going to birth classes, learning things, etc) - We'll see.

Next appointment is in 2 weeks. May 29th....Time is fllllyiiiiiiiing by....

Survey - because I'm bored at work

How far along? 31w4d

Total weight gain/loss: my scale freaking broke, so I'm not sure. Two weeks ago it was 13 pounds

Maternity clothes? either shrunk or I'm too big, because my belly hangs out

Stretch marks? WHY me....WHY meeeeee -- yes....tons. ::I hate palmers, vitamin E oil, olive oil, eucerin cream, etc, etc, etc::

Sleep: not so well anymore. I pee too much in the middle of the night

Best moment this week: getting my cat shaved ::I feel a sense of sanity coming over me::

Movement: very strong! Hurts sometimes around my ribs - but not often

Food cravings: I really enjoy eating Bandana's BBQ

Gender: Boy - confirmed with 3D last week. I didn't realize baby's balls are so huge

Labor Signs: I think I had my first BH last night. Hard to tell if it's gas or BH.

Belly Button in or out? In

What I miss: michelob ultra

What I am looking forward to: maternity leave

Weekly Wisdom: stretch marks have to be genetic - don't fall for the gimics

Milestones: I think I might have had a BH contraction...my whole stomach got tight...

um, is my ticker right?

only 60 days left..... :0

Another niece/nephew on the way!!

OMG! I am way too excited. Let me straighten out all of the details. I have two nieces already 6 and 3 years old. I am expecting a nephew in July (Brad's sister). I am expecting my own in July. I am expecting another niece in September (my sister) and now I am expecting another niece/nephew in December! (My brother & SIL).
WOW. All I can imagine is that when my baby has his first birthday party there will be:
1 - 7 year old
1 - 4 year old
2 - 12 month olds
1 - 10 month old
1 - 7 month old
----and that's just cousins!
We all got married within the year (just last year!) so we should have expected this too!
I am really excited and feel really blessed. Congrats George and Steph. I can't wait!

my 3D u/s pics!

Look at him. I am really speechless and overwhelmed when I see him.

I can say however that he takes after me and Brad both with STUBBORNESS! The little stinker would NOT move his feet away from his face the whole time. So, yes that is his foot under his nose in the 2nd photo.

Now that I've gotten a 'sneak peak' I thought it would hold me over - not so much -

I can't wait to meet him...until then I feel nesting going into overdrive (anyone know someone that is willing to shave a cat with claws?)...

This was a nesting weekend!

I am so happy to say that my organic/ecofriendly milkpaint arrived in the mail on Friday! (Safe Paint) Our plans were to paint all day Saturday. Well, we were postponed a little with shopping with Brad's parents - but we eventually started around 7 that evening! I LOVE the color. Unfortunately and fortunately we didn't have enough paint to do the whole room. We ordered one gallon and thought it would cover it, but we were afraid to try. So we did one wall and then Brad came up with a stripe idea. I love it! It's simple and not like walking into a cave. So here are some photos of the progress...we still have to get wall hangings and more decor, but I am SOOO pleased that this is done.

Also, let me add that milk paint/safe paint is AWESOME!

There was NO odor whatsoever!

Brad's tan is reaaal nice :)

Oh, and this is Brad's mom first time painting! Great Job!

He got to use his laser lever finally...

Good job Goose!!

I look like crap, but at least I got to help!

I look a little better now ... just really tired! Because what you can't see is that EVERYTHING is washed, dried, folded and organized in those drawers...I will have to take a pic of that too.

more pics to come as we progress with his room...

30 Weeks tomorrow

Time flies...I have so much to catch up and talk about...so this may be lengthy.

1. I finished my last final yesterday evening! We'll see how well I did...but at this point I don't care, I'm glad to have a weekend to not worry about school. (Summer semester starts next week)


2. This may TMI, but it's my blog so I say what I want. My boobs have gotten out of control. I was trying to avoid buying a new bra, but HAD to. Basically what I think was happening is that because the cup was too small, my excess boobage was pouring over and getting circulation cut off or something....anyway a few people suspected that things were clogging up in there. Some places would get extremely hard, and it was wierd. So I went and purchased a new bra last night. I told Brad I feel like a new person, I truly do...I just hope they go back down to normal size eventually...because it's almost embarrassing now.


3. I'm expecting my milk paint (organic/ecofriendly/No VOC paint) to arrive in the mail soon. I realy want to finish the nursery before next week because I start class again. ::crosses fingers::


4. Baby is moving like crazy. I think I felt him in my ribs a few days ago. It's very strange, but exciting at the same time.


5. I don't know how I feel about sex anymore. I feel like a walrus trying to get around sometimes. So in combination with feeling like a walrus, being naked and contorting my body in strange positions to only make me feel like a 'big naked walrus' is not so sexy or mood stimulating. Oh well...


6. AH! A very exciting thing I will post later is that I am going to get a free 3D u/s picture taken on Tuesday. I ran across a girl from thebump who lives in STL and she told me to call this place because they were giving away "sneak peaks". So I'm set up for Tuesday, and I CANNOT wait to see what he looks like. I know it's like cheating, but I don't really care.


7. I've started making my own wipes...yet another project to try and complete this weekend. Luckily it's going to be raining, so trying to get color on my pasty legs will not be in my weekend agenda.

I'll post later too. I go see Dr. Chen this afternoon, so maybe there will be something exciting to report.