To do list... Check!

It is hard to believe the month of July is almost over. In just three weeks I will be back at work getting ready for a new group of kindergartners! Call me crazy but I am looking forward to meeting them and getting the year started. I am already starting work on my beginning of the year packets and lesson plans so I guess it is safe to say I am excited!

Each summer I try to make a to do list of things I hope to accomplish by the end of the summer. So far we are doing well with our list and it looks like we are on track to finishing it! Here is what was on our list:

1. Register
2. Clean out room/closet for nursery
3. Replace carpet in bedrooms
4. Get hardwood floors in living room/dining room
5. Buy crib and mattress
6. Reorganize "office" area
7. Visit NYC

This past week we were able to mark #1, #2, and #5 off our list. Tonight we took care of #3 and #4. Tomorrow I should finish up #6. I love knowing that things things will be taken care of before the start of the new school year. Hopefully the extra planning will help us focus on getting ready for baby, Carolina football, and grad school.

Speaking of football (notice I had to include it)...Our first game is in Atlanta and yes it will be our road trip this year. We try to make one trip away a year so we chose the first weekend! So far there are five others going down with us! We will be meeting the rest of our group once we get down there so it should be a lot of fun! I think there are around 20 of us total! That is going to make for one fun tailgate! I am hoping we will get to do a little sight seeing too! As long as I get some Varsity french fries I will be a happy girl!

Baby Bump

Twenty weeks has come and gone and now at 21 weeks I can hardly believe we are half way there. Fortunately we were able to celebrate at the beach with my wonderful family. Three years ago we got engaged on our family vacation. Each year we go back to the same place and have dinner with my parents. While we are there we always take a picture in the place it all went down! It was fun to take a 20 week belly shot too so I thought I would share it. We are already looking forward to next year when we can take a family photo there with all three of us!

Happy Late 4th of July everyone!

Holy Hormones!

Before I got pregnant I heard horror stories of wives who lost all control of their hormones. Scary stories of women who cried and were flat out mean for 9 months straight! I also heard stories of those whose "nesting" instincts kicked in. I even had a friend admit she got up in the middle of the night to vacuum at 2am. Needless to say I thought these ladies were nuts. Never say never right? Well folks it has happened to me and now I am going to have to eat my words.

Today was the first of many emotional days I fear. Sure I have always been tenderhearted but let's get real... crying during the ESPYS (ESPN's version of an award show)is uncalled for. I guess I better hold on tight. I made it 21 weeks without any "crying episodes" but I have a feeling these may be here to stay. All I have to say is thank goodness my husband was on duty and not around to bear witness.

As far as nesting goes that has also started to kick in. In full force I might add. Last night I was making spaghetti sauce at 10:30. Just so my husband could have something "good" to eat for lunch. I bet he was wondering who kidnapped his wife. I love to cook but cooking that late was a a bit much even for me! Unlike the hormones this is a trait I am happy to see arrive. Now I can take full advantage of what is left of summer break!

I guess hitting the half way mark was a catch 22. I got the hormones but I also got a boost of energy to clean and organize. The good always out ways the bad in my house! I am not sure how my husband will feel about this however, he better get used to it. He is going to have to learn to live with another female soon!

Bring on the Pink Y'all!

Three weeks ago a little girl came into our lives... okay, okay she had been in our lives we just didn't know it. That's right y'all... we are going to have a little girl!

She is beautiful, cute, and sweet. Best of all she is going to be our girl. What could get better than that? We were so lucky to also get a sneak peak of her during our 18 week ultrasound. Needless to say my husband was thrilled because so far she looks just like him!

Firemen and Five Year Olds

Today has been one for the record books. The fun began at school this afternoon when I explained to my 20 kiddos that I "had a baby growing in my belly." Of course they were excited and had lots of burning questions. After one of my kids shouted out "I KNEW IT!" (I guess I am really getting more of a bump than I thought!) One decided to announce to the class that they all "need to be nicer" to me which of course I totally agreed with. I then told them that they would have to make sure to help me stay safe at school and that their hugs would need to be a bit more gentle. You know so they don't squeeze the baby out and all. That comment got them going! On their way out they gave me the most gentle, sweet hugs I have ever gotten. Their hugs were followed with screaming down the hallway that Mrs. P was going to have a baby! This day will certainly be a day of teaching I will not forget!

A few hours later the excitement just kept coming. Around 9 I started to hear a noise. At first it sounded like the refrigerator doing its usual moan but them as the night went on it got louder. Around 9:45 I was certain a puppy/dog/something was under our house. Of course the hubs was on duty and no where in sight. After an initial inspection I gave him a call and instead of suggesting I call a neighbor he sent the fire station down the road to come to the rescue. Just imagine 8 grown men in in uniform in their TWO fire trucks pulling up to my little old street. They got out of those trucks on a mission. At this point I was worried it was just my imagination and that I was about to be humiliated. Fortunately they all confirmed they heard something too. After crawling under our house they decided to take it inside making their way into the attic.

Once one firefighter made it into the attic three more decided to join him. Four firemen later we still have no animal in sight but I will tell you... this has got to be one for the record books. Both for me and for them. I have to say I feel reassured to know that when I am in need of help I know I can count on the boys down the street! Now I know why they say the fire department is a "brotherhood." I guess tonight they came out to help their little sister.

So I've been a little MIA lately... Here is my excuse!

That's right y'all... my eggo is prego! The hubs and I are thrilled to announce we are expecting our first child in November. The past three months have been a whirl when (hence my absence and lack of postings) so I figured it was high time to let our little secret out to the world!

This whole story starts just around the same time I wrote my last post. Back in March when I was headed to Texas. We had been trying and I had a little hunch things were starting to happen. When the hubs dropped us off at the airport I can still remember telling him something was up. Ya know girly stuff that I hadn't really experienced before. I went to Texas... had a blast, ate lots of yummy brisket BBQ (oh my LORD where has THAT been my whole life - I must dedicate an entire blog post to that subject alone later), and spent some QT with my daddio. Although we didn't get a turkey who would have thought I was actually "baking" my own!



Fast forward two weeks later... we are at Outback and it hits us that Miss Susie has not yet graced us with her presence. We stopped by CVS on the way home and low and behold the rest is history.

At first it was hard to believe because literally I felt like nothing happening. I kept wondering around aimlessly thinking this couldn't really be happening. My prayers had been answered and I was certainly not worthy of such a gift/miracle. On April 21st we went for our first ultrasound (again... another topic completely worthy of a separate post) and it was confirmed. It was amazing to see such a tiny blob of life. It was official SOMETHING was happening!

Today we went to our third appointment. This time they did a ultrasound and we were able to hear a heartbeat! I must say nothing in the world could have prepared me for that moment. I had an idea of what I thought it would be like but it was beyond my wildest dreams. As soon as the hubs saw the image on the screen he literally shouted out, "WHOA... No way! That is amazing." My thoughts exactly honey! Our little one was moving all around and even waved to us (I say it was more like a high five because our kid will just be cool like that)!

I am happy to report that our turkey (Let's see... due date one day before Thanksgiving plus turkey hunting trip to Texas... you know that ridiculous nickname was just too natural for us.) is right on track measuring at 13 weeks and a half weeks with a strong heartbeat! I promise I will post a picture later. The quality of this shot was not that great so I am going to need to work on it a bit before it is worthy of the internet.

With the first trimester behind me I am just going to continue to pray for a safe and healthy pregnancy and that my child will inherit his father's hair and ears.

Oh and just in case you were wondering, fortunately I have not been hugging the porcelain thrown... that is until today when I took my vitamins at the wrong time. Try explaining that to a group of 20 kindergartners!

This Time Next Week...

I'll be in the great state of Texas! I know you may be thinking I am visit for all the other touristy reasons someone may visit. Oh no. You are mistaken. Next weekend my daddy and I are going turkey hunting! I feel so blessed to have this awesome opportunity. Not only have I never been to Texas (well there was this one time I had a lay over but that doesn't count) I have never been turkey hunting out of the state. I feel pretty official if I must say so myself and I am really looking forward to it. I even got to go shopping for more camo! I am ready! Bring on the turkeys!

Here is my huntin' buddy and partner in crime. My daddyo.