Snow Day 2010

snow boots... Check!

SNOWBALL FIGHTING friends... Check!

snowman... Check!

snow angel... Check!

AWESOME DAY in VA BEACH... CHECK!

More from snow day adventure:

PBeal & J's winter wonderland (across the street)

Neighbors

The birds came in masses for our seeds!

The front yard- white & pretty, pretty, pretty!

18 Week old Sweet Potato!

157 Days to go!Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon.

Yipee- I bought a changing table/side board!

(Pic by Ryan Shrude)

This was how I felt when I saw it! It's very cool stay tuned!
I'm going to completely clear out the soon-to-be nursery and take a good pic of it this weekend! :)

Fun Day!

Today I helped my "womb mate" Stacey pick up her crib at Baby's-R-Us. She's due about a month after us. ( in August) Stac & I have fun comparing cravings, moods, and chubbiness. Picking up her pretty crib got me dreaming about our nursery again. Here's a link to a VERY cool nursery- this is closest to what I think I want: http://blog.urbangrace.com/?p=1478

About "womb mates"- I actually have two of them- Nikki, one of my Alabama BFFs, is expecting the exact same week as me! This is her third baby- I'm so excited for her little family! :)

I also stopped by one of my dear friends home today- Pam S.! What a gal! She and I got to know each other during my time at CBN & our friendship has grown big time. She makes everything fabulous- she's fancy!

Today she offered to host a baby shower for us.

I'm so exited for this. Thanks Pam!!!!!!!

OH... and on top of that, she gave me some awesome skin care goodies!

It's nice to be loved by a make-up artist. You have no idea.

I like how Simple this is!

I like the colors in this one.

Week 17

Your Baby: Week 17
Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

(from www.thebump.com)

Craving: Chocolate covered apples, Cheetos, & MILK!!!

Cravings...

I cannot go one more minute without one of these!

SMH!

The Mind of a High Schooler

Yesterday might have been my favorite day at work! I've been working on a little project/presentation for a meeting this week and my part in the meeting is to shed a little light on the "high school mind." Well, let me tell you- I've been thoroughly educated.

High Schoolers are incredibly creative and HILARIOUS!

I did a pop culture quiz with a group of HS Seniors and they had me laughing to tears.

Here's are a few of the highlights of my research. If you want to cool

learn this stuff:

1. The word “Jank” means?
-stuff

3. The word “Wack” means?
-screwed up or stupid

4. SMH in text language means= Shaking my head

5. HMU in text language means= Hit me up

6. When High School students say “Hit me on my Jack” what do they mean?
- Call me!

7.What the heck is “gaup”? -Money -this means your stacked

8. What popular rapper sings the song “Successful?” Drake and Trey Songz

9. What do High Schoolers mean when they say Burr!!!!? -nothing- it’s a cool sound effect

10. High Schoolers say the perfect way to end a conversation is by saying this?
-Tru!

12. Which "Jersey Shore" female cast member was punched in the face by a man?

-Snooki

13. Which Twilight star is Taylor Swift dating? Taylor Lautner, however I’ve been informed that they just broke up

14. What are the names of the Jonas Brothers?
-Nick, Joe, Kevin

15. On the show Jersey Shore what does GTL stand for?
-Gym, Tan, Laundry

Week 16

Dennis and I have been eating a lot of Mexican with the neighbors lately (aka "the unit").

All that "guac" has grown the baby to the size of an avocado this week!

My weekly email also says I only have 168 days to go and today that seems alarmingly soon!

https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#search/dr/126325c9812a5069

After the baby gets here we'll all celebrate with one of these. Right, Pam?

With Salt on the rocks please... minus the avocado!

In honor of the warmer weather- I'm dreaming of these!

Porches, Swings, and Pools... OH MY!

(Oh and lately, I've been thinking alot about margaritas but b/c of my prego-state I eat carrots instead.)

If anyone wants to buy me this... go right ahead!

People, I can sooo see myself riding one of these around the hood! I'd be so skinny. Seriously! I love it that much.

Meet the Madsen family utility bike in hydrangea blue:

http://www.madsencycles.com/

I've been eyeballing this baby one for about a year now. Can't you just imagine a little Knox baby poking his head out of the bucket?

Just imagine a much lighter, blonder feller on this one.



And... Oh, I will most certainly do this!

My madsen as a cooler- ABSOLUTELY! How cute would this be a the annual Bama Jama Oyster Roast??? People!
Now, someone build me a garage to keep it in. :)

McSteamy

When we first moving into our house I completely turned my nose up to the wood stove in the den. I thought it was ugly and outdated. Dennis, on the other hand, could envision his pyromaniac tendencies played out. Well, here we are... a couple winters later I've come to appreciate and even "embrace" that big black cast iron fixture. Here's why-

Mom gave me a wood stove steamer for my birthday this year. Awesome gift! You place the steamer on the cooking ledge of the stove and it gets really HOT!

It not only puts humidity back in the air, but you can fill it with yummy, homemade potpourri! I fill mine with Cinnamon sticks, cloves, orange peels, a splash of vanilla flavoring, and lots of water. Check it out!

http://www.plowhearth.com/product.asp?section_id=0&department=0&search_type=normal&search_value=steamer&cur_index=&pcode=2230

I love apples too!

Every Friday I get an email on my phone from

http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-15-weeks_1104.bc?scid=mbtw_preg15:626&pe=2UyL8Lm

I look forward to this email every week and read it almost immediately!

I always text Dennis to give him the scoop. Today's conversation:

Text to Dennis: "Our baby is an apple today."

Dennis text back: "I love apples!"

I love apples too! Especially this one.

Sew much to do....

I have big plans people. Big!

My New Years Resolution

During the Christmas break something VERY cool happened. Dennis and I met a sweet man at the grocery store. We met him at door of The Farm Fresh grocery store on Great Neck Road to be exact. We were picking up some last minute items after doing a little rushed Christmas shopping. As we walked into the grocery store an older man handed Dennis and I a brand new two dollar bill. He just gave it to us with a Merry Christmas and a smile. There was a little curly headed kid standing next to him with a big stack of bills too. They were both handing out money. I was so overwhelmed that he was giving everyone (EVERYONE!) who walked into the store a two dollar bill. We watched for a minute and then I hugged him. He smiled.

Today in the Sunday paper was the story about the two dollar bill guy- today is the day I actually learned his name. His name is Ray Homer. I'm so glad to have met him. His little act of kindness made me want to be more giving. That two dollar bill is still in my pocket- it's my new years resolution reminder. Thanks Ray! This is my year of GIVING.

"Neti Freddy"

Amidst all the excitement and fun, being pregnant comes with a little set of challenges!

It's amazing how a little person inside of you (Ours is the size of a lemon this week- http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-14-weeks_1103.bc?intcmp=timeline) determines everything! You don't want to eat, drink, or consume anything that might compromise growing brains. Ya know?

Well, I got a cold/borderline sinus infection and I was determined to find a natural remedy to relieve it. So I called Cathy Wagner, my go-to remedy galpal! She recommended Grapefruit Seed Extract- it's acidity can cut through almost anything once diluted. She also says it's good for a rotten tummy in a strange county??? Good to know... pack the GFSE!

Then Mom sent me an awesome little contraption- a Neti Pot! Thanks MOM!

YA'LL NEED A NETI POT!

(It's really gross but it works)

So... what's my mix??

Neti Pot + Kleenex

1 cup warm water

1/4 tsp salt

3 to 5 drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract

(read instructions, this stuff is potent & can literally burn your face off!)

Rinse Sinuses 3xs per day while congested

Walaaaa! I'm healed!

(I also doubled my dose of Fish Oil (for inflammation), drank lots of H2O, took a tylenol for fever, & laid around for 3 days!)

I love you Neti Freddi!

New Year = New Room

2010 is sure to bring new decor to our little house! Here are a few of my favorite design inspirations:

(I'm not sure of sources on all of these pictures- I've been collecting good ideas for a long, long time- Thanks for the inspiration!)

Wallpaper in the closet is so cute!

Like the mobile and the rug


I want one of these in my house somewhere- an old school bulletin board recovered.

Cool use of space!

Every kid needs a tepee!

love the little swingy thing- great for the backporch (that I still need)

I like the table and chairs that don't match. I also like the blue wall and pink curtains.

Pink overload but I like it- especially the sofa!

I'm on the hunt for an awesome antique dresser turned changing table.

(I saw this on http://www.urbangrace.com/)

Love the wallpaper on the ceiling and the yellow striped fabric with blue ball trim.