21 Weeks

So, at 21 weeks today, I figured I should post some more pictures and also share some thoughts and surprises that I've had through this experience.  And please excuse the fact that you will likely notice me in glasses and pajamas in a lot of pictures these days.  I tend to go more casual when I stay at home ;).

Jeremy and I watched Desiree and Emily on New Years Eve.  Rather than worry about having Christina come pick them up late after the movie, I just told her to let them stay the night.  Overall, it was a good experience.  Bed-time was a little bit difficult, but it eventually worked out.  So here are the girls in the spare room (which will eventually be a nursery).

And here is Emily, very proud of her ability to stand on the filing cabinet.

Brad was in town for a few days to see his kiddos, so I had them come over for a movie.  We watched The Legend of Johnny Lingo and ate popcorn. 

And I got them all to smile at me for a moment :).

And here I am today, at 21 weeks.  I don't think I look all that different from week to week, but I'm sure -- to look back at my 15 week picture, I'd notice a big difference.

So as for the things that have surprised me about pregnancy:

1.  I can't believe how often I have to pee.  Good grief.  And probably it depends on where baby is sitting.  But sometimes I feel like I'm going to explode if I don't go right now.  Then I get there and it's like barely a teaspoon!  Crazy.  Additionally, I am considering doing more kegels.  Who knew?  Heehee.

2.  Exhaustion.  Seriously.  I went to the County yesterday to pick up my Pampered Chef can opener and spent a couple of hours visiting my former co-workers.  Additionally, I went to the funeral home to drop off a dessert I'd made (I make them so Jeremy and I can have a bit and then take it away so we don't eat too much...) and visited there.  Plus I went to mail a package to my dad.  Oh, and I went to Wal-Mart.  By the end of those few hours, I was exhausted!  I remember when Julie was pregnant with Callen, and I went to visit her.  She took a nap every afternoon -- and now I understand completely why!  

3.  Baby's movement.  So I guess I always had an idea of what feeling the baby move would be like.  And maybe that will be exactly how it is later, once baby gets bigger and stronger.  But for now, it feels more like hollow bumps randomly inside of me!  It's definitely gotten more noticeable in the last week -- so that I can feel it even when I'm sitting in the car driving or on the couch blogging (like right now!), whereas before, I had to be lying down and looking for those bumps and wiggles.  It's been really cool.  And also reassuring.

4.  Overwhelming feelings.  They come out of nowhere.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm excited.  I think about loving a snuggling a little baby.  But recently the reality of it all has set in.  How do I go from Aunt Hila to Mommy Hila?  Unreal!  32 years, and I've been my own person.  Done my own thing.  This is about to change completely.  I will still be me, but a different me.  I will have these massive responsibilities.  I will be summoned by cries of hunger about every 2 hours in the night (good-bye 9:00 sleep-in!).  And so sometimes I feel overwhelmed and astounded at all that will change.  But then I remember that people do this all the time.  And it will all be okay :).

I have to say that I have also been surprised at the ease I've experienced through this.  Mostly the worst part has been the stuff I've put on myself -- the worry.  Haha...  I am thinking things will get a little less comfortable from here on out as my belly grows bigger (a la Santa).  I'm sure leaning over will become less enjoyable and there will be sleepless nights where I can't get comfortable.  But for now, I am thankful that things have been physically easy.  And I'm thankful to be experiencing this whole thing.  Even when things are a little tougher, and the kicking maybe keeps me up at night, I hope I remember how much I have wanted this my whole life -- and just how much of a blessing and miracle it is to have this life growing inside me.  

Just Some Photos

We've been busy today.  And our apartment is actually starting to look like home!  So rewarding.  I'm still working on Christmas ornaments for the nieces and nephews.  Yep, I get the "Aunt of the year" award.  Sigh.  I should probably do some details of the holidays, but I'll just say that it was good and Jeremy and I spent a relaxing Christmas morning in our own home and then went to my mom's in the evening.  We went to see Jeremy's mom's side of the family on Christmas Eve night and then went and saw some of his dad's side of the family on the 27th.  So here are a few pictures from Christmas, and when we get our house in order, I'll post a few of the new digs :).

 So Jeremy and I included the above picture in our Christmas cards.  Because I like to do corny things like that :).

 This was my last day of work -- Christmas Eve (above).  That's everyone who was there.  We had a lovely little potluck (which is why we were all sitting around there).  My boss (2nd from left) sent us home after we ate, and she held down the fort.  Thought that was really nice of her.  It was a good job to me, and she was a good boss to me.  I am glad for this new chapter, but nonetheless am grateful for what was...

 Emily and Desiree got fairy wings for Christmas.  This kid is just too stinkin' cute!

 The girls are always ready for Christmas presents...

 So this was around the time Emily found out I am going to have a baby.  Not right at this moment...  But somewhere around here.  The look on her face was priceless.  It was like it took a second to sink in (after Christina was rubbing my stomach and saying, "That's all baby." and then Emily's face got this look of recognition and this smile that formed on her face.  It was cute.  And then later she said, "Where's its head?"  Haha...  So we explained that the whole baby (head and all) is still in my tummy and will be for a while longer.  Because the baby is awful small at the moment.  And so she still got all excited and said, "you're getting a baby!"  She makes it sound so simple.  If only ;)...

 Here are me and my sweet Desiree.  She is just such a pretty girl.  And a sweet one too.

And here I am today.  19 weeks and 3 days.  Mostly I think I look fat, but it is starting to look more like a preggo belly. 

On that note, I'm off to bed -- with prayers that in my pregnant need to pee in the middle of the night, I don't find my bum placed on a slimy slug...  Why would that be a concern? you ask.  Oh, because Jeremy was taking care of our lemon tree (which had slugs living in it apparently, from when it was outside at the other house -- it's now an indoor plant until it warms up again) and he put 2 slugs in the toilet (but didn't flush).  When he returned an hour later, it turns out only one was accounted for (the one that has since been flushed).  He came out here to me just now and said, "All I can say is I may be sorry..."  Just thinking about a night-time slug experience on my rump is giving me the heebie jeebies.  I may just hold it 'til morning light!!!

SAHW to SAHM

So if you flip one letter upside down, it changes the whole meaning :).

Today I had my second appointment and heard a strong heartbeat (144 beats per minute!).  Everything is looking good; and I will be scheduling an ultrasound for mid-January. 

We won't be finding out if it's a boy or a girl.  We want to be surprised :). 

Some of you might know already -- or possibly suspected.  But this is the official blog announcement :). 

We've moved, but we don't have internet access set up at home yet.  Hence we are using my mom's internet at this particular moment, and my battery is about to die.  Ugh.  And I didn't bring my adapter, since I thought I had a full battery.  Lame-o.  And now I must go!  Pictures later.  After I take my 19 week (and 3 days) picture.

Ketchup

I crack myself up. 

Anyway.  Life. Is. Busy.  So here's a little ketchup ;). 

We are moving!  As in, we signed a lease and got the keys tonight.  As in we have moved one van-load over.  I am so totally excited!!!  It's over twice the size we're in now (roughly).  Two bedrooms, washer and dryer in the unit.  Close to my mom's, and closer to Jeremy's work.  Quiet.  None of the other tenants have yappy dogs (or any dogs, for that matter) (sorry, folks...  We aren't yappy-dog people).  Room for a Christmas tree and Christmas decorations!!  And yeah, so moving is a bear and I hate it.  But I am so glad we found this place and it is really quite perfect for us right now :).  And it all happened so quickly and easily, I think this is just right for us right now.  Even if we were thinking buying a house would be a wonderful thing... I think the timing is just off for that.  And I'm okay with it.  Anyway.  So yeah, we're moving.  We have until the 31st to complete the move, since we're all paid up here.  And it might just take us that long, since Jeremy is working all weekend.  Blech. 

I only have 5 more days of work.  Yahoo!  I am so excited to get to work on making our new home a home :). 

Meanwhile I've been trying to cram in the Christmas-goodie-making, the packing, the Christmas ornament cross-stitching, the other details of life... around work.  I could have used a few extra days off before Christmas!  Mostly I do it to myself.  I get all ambitious and think things take less time than they actually do.  But I'm pretty much done, and all I need to do now is pack up some boxes and send them (with love) to Alabama.  Wish I would fit in that box and ship for less than $20 ;).
 
And I am including a few pictures.  I think 3 of them are from Thanksgiving.  Terrible of me to wait so long, I know.  The last one is from today, when I took Miss Emily for her birthday ice cream.  She turned 4 this week.  She ran some other errands with me today, including a trip to Costco.  And her ice cream of choice?  Cotton candy with sprinkles and M&M's.  What is it with kids and sprinkles?  I think it's all the pretty colors. Then one day they grow up and realize the dark chocolate peppermint ice cream with oreos mixed in is phenomenal.  :).  Way better than cotton candy with sprinkles ;).  But maybe I'm just an old fogie and not a young kid anymore, huh?  Also, I don't like that picture of me.  That's just for the record.

Oh, on another picture-related note... I was showing Jeremy pictures on my jump drive.  Mostly old pictures of everyone in my immediate family, because, in the packing process, he came across an old picture of my parents when they were dating...  Anyway...  I came across one from almost 4 years ago, and I suddenly realized how Desiree has lost all her baby fat.  Her cute little baby cheeks are gone.  When did that happen!?!  She's so tall now, and reading and writing.  I'm so proud of and excited for her.  But the Aunt Hila in me feels my heart break a little at the thought of her growing up :(.  It happens way too fast.

SAHW

I'm counting down the days to December 24th.  And not because I'm anticipating a visit from the fat man in the red suit.  Although I have been a very nice girl this year :). 

Nope, it's more because that will be my last day of work.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I'm quitting my job.  To be a SAHW (that's stay-at-home-wife, for the Jeremys of the world that didn't get that acronym :)).  Woohoo!  Jeremy and I have decided life is busy enough and full of enough things to keep me busy at home.

At the top of the list is finding a new home.  This tiny house is just too tiny.  We need more room.  So we can actually have our food storage.  So we can have more than one parking space. 

And I can finally get our 72 Hour Kits together. 

And work on family history.

And do menu planning.

And actually cook dinners most nights -- instead of grazing when I get home and then letting my poor sweet husband fend for himself whenever he gets home (closer to midnight these days). 

And do laundry (though hopefully this will be accomplished with much less hassle when we have a new apartment...  That's one of the requirements:  a washer and dryer!)

And go grocery shopping (and discover what is the best time to avoid the big crowds!)...  That's early in the morning, but maybe there's a little window in the middle of the day in the middle of the week, right ;)?

 So yeah...   13 more work days.  I'm counting them down!

The Horror!

I made two terribly horrible discoveries last week.  Perhaps these are actually good things in the long run.  But while not impossible, that's highly improbable.  You'll understand.

Horror #1:  It's official....  Target (at least the one closest to me) no longer offers their wonderful Target nachos.  I tried, yet again, to swing by to get some since I was up that way.  And this time I took the time to notice that the cheese dispenser wasn't there -- AND it's no longer even on the menu.  Sigh.  Now where's a girl to get some oh-so-good-but-oh-so-bad-for-you-cheap-nachos?  No, seriously... Where?

Horror #2:  No more Twinkies!?!  Jeremy and I actually went to the store Saturday to see if there might -- by some slim chance -- be some still on the shelf.  No dice.  But there was a notice posted where they should have been indicating the company was not in business any longer.  We were not so focused on this goal that we store-hopped... We only checked one store.  We figure the others would produce similar results.  Not only does this sort of stab at the heart of anyone who wants to know Twinkies are available if the craving ever arises (it doesn't very often for me... I can't honestly tell you when I last had a Twinkie -- but I can tell you I want one now (that I can't)!).  But it's also a bit of a blow to those with a nostalgic streak.  I've even blogged about Twinkies (more times, it turns out, than I had even realized.... I seem to be obsessed with the idea of having a fried Twinkie one day.  Now what am I supposed to do with that bucket list item?!?).  (You can read all about my Twinkie posts by clicking the link).  And today I read that the reason they had to file for bankruptcy is that too many workers have been striking due to bargaining issues.  Well, unions, you can consider yourself with another black mark on my list.  You have just killed the Twinkie.  How will my children ever know the joy of a Twinkie?  I blame you.

Actually, there's one glimmer available...  The company MAY be able to come to an agreement and be saved.  Or sold off to some big company willing to make Twinkies.  And deliver them in the same truck that they deliver other food items (apparently this is one of the issues with Hostess:  they had to have separate delivery trucks for Twinkies from all their other products.  What!?!  That's got to be among the stupidest things I've ever heard (and trust me, I've heard some doozies).  And it was established because of some bargaining agreement.  Seriously?!?)  Unions.  Blech.

The other good news?  Jeremy and I opened our snooty cookies :).  And they are oh so good!  We ate them and key lime pie frozen yogurt while we watched A B.C. Thanksgiving on Saturday for date night (and also Daffy Duck's Quackbusters).  Thankfully there are a lot of cookies in that tin.  Because I want to savor them for a while :).

It's Almost Nap-Time... For ME!

I'm serious.  Jeremy is back on swing shift, so I have about 2 more hours before he gets home.  And I'm tired!  Clearly I should have been writing this blog instead of perusing pinterest.  Clearly. 

But I had to eat half of my birthday caramel apple.  (I had to eat some more perishable birthday goodies first, so I'm only just now getting to the apple... and I still have half to go.  Unless Jeremy gives me a helping mouth...  And that's entirely possible ;)). 

I took pictures of me and Jeremy on Saturday.  But not at the restaurant.  I would have felt super-conspicuous, being that Jeremy and I made up 2 of the 3 people dining in the restaurant when we first arrived.  I'm happy to say that more people arrived later.  But, initially, it was a small crowd.  We so enjoyed it, though!  It was a fun experience.  So it was a restaurant called Aladdin's Palace.  It serves authentic Mediterranean food and is a family-owned restaurant.  We got Baba Khanoush (or however it's spelled) as an appetizer, and since Jeremy couldn't decide between that and the olive appetizer, the guy threw a bunch of olives on top :).  I love olives.  Anyway, the base of this stuff was smoked eggplant pureed.  And you dip pita bread (fresh) in it.  It was pretty good.  Then came the soup.  It was a sweet chicken curry vegetable soup with lemon.  It had a bit of a kick to it, but we liked it a lot.  Then came the main dish.  I got a gyro (I always go with the safe bet -- the thing I can identify.  Food is one area I don't want to have a bad experience, even if that means I'm unadventurous ;)).  Anyway, it was a fresh pita with strips of grilled steak and sauteed bell peppers and onions topped with what I'm thinking was a yogurt sauce; served with rice that had some sort of nuts cooked in it and topped with cinnamon.  Which was surprisingly good!  Jeremy got a sampler plate, so he had grape leaves, cabbage rolls, kebobs, and a couple other items.  Plus the rice.  It was quaint, and we really enjoyed the food and the opportunity to try something new together in celebration of me :).  The dark cloud on the evening (okay, that's dramatic) was what happened next.  See...  We joined Costco last week and we got our cards in the mail (I signed up at a benefits fair at work because we got $20 worth of gift cards if we did it that way!) on Saturday.  So I was thinking we'd go eat, walk around Costco to let our food settle (and spend some money, of course ;)), and then go get our Coldstone.  Um...  Costco closes at 6 on Saturday.  It was 6:45.  I was peeved.  I mean, seriously.  Who closes at 6 on a Saturday?  Ugh.  Oh well.  We went to Coldstone with full tummies.  Well, probably mine was more full than Jeremy's.  He's known for his ability to eat a lot.  Jeremy had never been to Coldstone before, so this was a treat for him.  I always get cake batter with cookie dough mixed in.  But this time...  Oooo they have this dark chocolate peppermint flavor out for the holidays.  Holy. Cow.  It was delicious.  I sampled it before making that big decision of stepping away from the cake batter.  I was not disappointed.  I mixed in oreos.  Yum.  I want more.  I should have gotten the "gotta have it" size, like Jeremy did.  Jeremy sampled cheesecake flavor.  He wasn't impressed, I guess, because he went with Sweet Cream and mixed in pecans, almonds, and graham cracker pie crust.  And put it in a waffle bowl.  He's cute.  He'd never had a waffle bowl either, so he informed me he was going to have that.  We opted to bring our ice cream home and eat it snuggled on the couch while watching Garfield's Thanksgiving.  And this is when we took pictures.  And because he loves me, he always has to do a silly one.  But this is the fun stuff life is made of ;).

His facial expression in this one cracks me up.  Reminds me of a dignified Englishman or something.  Maybe even a little snooty.

Anyway, it was a really enjoyable evening.  Plus, he didn't have to go to work at night for the first time in 13 days.  And that was nice. 

On a totally unrelated note...  I have issues with eating vegetables.  They are just not easy for me to eat.  I like raw broccoli and cauliflower dipped in ranch.  I am totally cool with veggie trays.  I'm just lazy and don't like prepping the veggies.  I also really enjoy spinach -- like in soups (so baby spinach).  Do you suppose I can count pickles?  They are, after all, just really really salty cucumbers.  I love pickles. 

There was something else unrelated I was going to share from last week.  But it's gone.  I have old lady brain now.  I'm 32, you know. 

Oh.  We probably aren't going to get that house.  Due to various walls that we've been hitting along the way, we are thinking it may just be one of those things that isn't meant to be.  And we're okay with it.  Kinda sad in some ways, but I do think there is a reason for things like this.  But that wasn't the aforementioned thing I was going to share.  The house thing is much more recent than last week. 

Oh.  There it is!  I want to share with the cool people who read my blog that World Market has the best gingersnap cookies ever.  Seriously.  I don't even like gingersnaps.  But I paid $13 for these (because I was determined I was going to buy some this year before they sold out, before I knew how expensive they are...).  They are worth it.  That look on Jeremy's face in picture #1 is the look he took on when I told him about the $13 cookies and he said, "Oh, these are snooty cookies.  The kind of cookie you offer while saying, 'would you like a cookie.'"  With that facial expression (and you can imagine the tone).  Yeah.  He cracks me up. 

It's nap time.