tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80033761317637777362024-03-05T09:02:48.605-05:00ImperfectLee HappyLive, Laugh, Learn, but most importantly- LoveAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-87199102587303775602012-09-10T22:01:00.000-04:002012-09-10T22:01:09.535-04:009 months later....<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I stopped writing because I ran out of things to say and the time to compose my thoughts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Should I get this thing back up and running again? Let's set a goal to write once a week. Think I can do it?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-41173137569615637172011-12-30T17:45:00.001-05:002011-12-30T17:48:13.709-05:0011K in 2011 - A final tally<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me add the final 2 books to the list.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aijbD5R5Z4Y/Tv463S_Bo-I/AAAAAAAAAag/gQCbV5837f8/s1600/51TMK24S6IL._AA160_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aijbD5R5Z4Y/Tv463S_Bo-I/AAAAAAAAAag/gQCbV5837f8/s1600/51TMK24S6IL._AA160_.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Back of the Book:</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For twelve years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black. Convicted of killing thirteen people with a single curse, he was said to be the heir apparent to the Dark Lord, Voldemort. Now he has escaped, leaving only two clues as to where he might be headed: Harry Potter's defeat of You-Know-Who was Black's downfall as well. And the Azkaban guards heard Black muttering in his sleep, "He's at Hogwarts... he's at Hogwarts." Harry Potter isn't safe, not even within the walls of his magical school, surrounded by his friends. Because on top of it all, there may well be a traitor in their midst.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Bibliography:</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. New York, New York: Scholastic, Inc, 1999.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can find it <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Prisoner-Azkaban-Rowling/dp/0439136369/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325284525&sr=1-1">here</a>. Or at your local public library. Support the libraries!!!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total Pages: 435</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total Pages in 2011: 10,923</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total Pages Remaining: 77!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the final book of 2011-</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_VuEP5QYuHg/Tv483Vk3gjI/AAAAAAAAAas/K9eHrBLq7W8/s1600/41BzxbI%252BAsL._AA160_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_VuEP5QYuHg/Tv483Vk3gjI/AAAAAAAAAas/K9eHrBLq7W8/s1600/41BzxbI%252BAsL._AA160_.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Back of the Book: </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">(Actually, it's the description from Amazon... The book cover is upstairs.)</span></i></span><br />
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<i>For One More Day</i> is the story of a mother and a son, and a relationship that covers a lifetime and beyond. It explores the question: What would you do if you could spend one more day with a lost loved one? As a child, Charley "Chick" Benetto was told by his father, "You can be a mama's boy or a daddy's boy, but you can't be both." So he chooses his father, only to see the man disappear when Charley is on the verge of adolescence. Decades later, Charley is a broken man. His life has been crumbled by alcohol and regret. He loses his job. He leaves his family. He hits bottom after discovering his only daughter has shut him out of her wedding. And he decides to take his own life. He makes a midnight ride to his small hometown, with plans to do himself in. But upon failing even to do that, he staggers back to his old house, only to make an astonishing discovery. His mother--who died eight years earlier–-is still living there, and welcomes him home as if nothing ever happened. What follows is the one "ordinary" day so many of us yearn for, a chance to make good with a lost parent, to explain the family secrets, and to seek forgiveness. Somewhere between this life and the next, Charley learns the astonishing things he never knew about his mother and her sacrifices. And he tries, with her tender guidance, to put the crumbled pieces of his life back together.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Albom, Mitch. For One More Day. New York, New York: Hyperion, 2006.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can find it <a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-More-Day-Mitch-Albom/dp/1401309577/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325285271&sr=1-1">here</a>. Or at your local public library. Support the libraries!!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total Pages: 197</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total Pages for 2011 FINAL TALLY: 11,120</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goal accomplished? Hells ya. HELLS ya. Sure, I re-read some of my favorites, but I read those over and over all the time, so it wasn't like it was out of the norm. And you know what? This total doesn't count the numerous blogs and online articles I've read. Nor does it count the pages from the 2 books I started but never finished, nor the pages from the endless resource books I've buried myself with, looking for answers to endless pregnancy and baby questions. I only counted the books I actually finished. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And next year, I plan to do it all over again. Happy New Years, everyone.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-17775794610451939922011-12-22T17:15:00.001-05:002011-12-22T17:17:57.641-05:0011K in 2011 - Harry Potter<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I WILL hit my goal of 11,000 pages by the end of this year! I may have just over a week, but it's GOING to happen!!!!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The back of the Book:</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility. All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley- a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years. But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry- and anyone who reads about him- will find unforgettable. For it's there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Bibliography:</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. New York, New York: Scholastic Press, 1997.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can find it <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Sorcerers-Stone-Book/dp/059035342X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324591720&sr=1-1">here</a>, or at your public library. Support the libraries!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total Pages: 309</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total Pages read in 2011: 10,147</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total Pages Remaining: 853</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d6-GOvJBvAA/TvOowJ9ildI/AAAAAAAAAZs/R3KeDMQtbC0/s1600/51qKFVatzeL._AA160_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d6-GOvJBvAA/TvOowJ9ildI/AAAAAAAAAZs/R3KeDMQtbC0/s1600/51qKFVatzeL._AA160_.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Back of the Book:</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike. And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny. But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone- or something- starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects... Harry Potter himself!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Bibliography:</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. New York, New York: Scholastic Press, 1999.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can find it <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Chamber-Secrets-Book/dp/0439064872/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324592255&sr=1-1">here</a>, or at your local library. Support the libraries!!!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total Pages: 341</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total Pages for 2011: 10,488</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total Pages Remaining: 512 or 52 pages per day. I can do this!!!!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-53769589460196836812011-12-12T21:00:00.000-05:002011-12-12T21:00:05.753-05:00Did I Mention that I Had a Baby?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I'm typing this my poor husband is trying to soothe a tired 2 month old so that she just might go to sleep early tonight.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcMZWsvg8Y5MzKoJ1KwShk8y7PPVq1s5ndccfro_Cvf6XanioIz_Ud39qzi_gWgi8XnRJDEJdPxSuvbYRHgvABzNW8aJg1vSP7wi8DvrUf44r0jnPuk367hSNFWS-UaG18CbKcUQP7mmQ/s1600/IMG_5696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcMZWsvg8Y5MzKoJ1KwShk8y7PPVq1s5ndccfro_Cvf6XanioIz_Ud39qzi_gWgi8XnRJDEJdPxSuvbYRHgvABzNW8aJg1vSP7wi8DvrUf44r0jnPuk367hSNFWS-UaG18CbKcUQP7mmQ/s320/IMG_5696.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wow, she's 2 months old. She'll be 10 weeks on Wednesday, and in less than 3 weeks I return to work. Which makes me want to puke, but I will write more on that later.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBp8sVU1SsCuwavvqCjmwlTyymNkT9ADHyolPGCTWHeSC-0UgiWDyIlnbxCW5-WZV0YJc1SDGZLAwullk6v8-WrzRMpG3lAsCAkxRJ0We1LFDpdZaWaSwKRXinQtEd27MSm0Teff-YvWk/s1600/IMG_5723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBp8sVU1SsCuwavvqCjmwlTyymNkT9ADHyolPGCTWHeSC-0UgiWDyIlnbxCW5-WZV0YJc1SDGZLAwullk6v8-WrzRMpG3lAsCAkxRJ0We1LFDpdZaWaSwKRXinQtEd27MSm0Teff-YvWk/s320/IMG_5723.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So let's see... she's growing like crazy, and is truly a fun little firecracker most of the time. She has a gorgeous little smile that melts your heart. She's very strong.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLxmjWIhDtagCV9cGK7WmvQJDUMtgHgsSnxWrHsUH3bAq3KPyVsuRLzCibaI0uuh4JJN03-V6EsMpkqJeXTkt3gTHC-Whym9vyfTrubavaWxsyF6k9P7rym9CZtvLMZ3_dzohyphenhyphenIacWzE/s1600/IMG_5706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLxmjWIhDtagCV9cGK7WmvQJDUMtgHgsSnxWrHsUH3bAq3KPyVsuRLzCibaI0uuh4JJN03-V6EsMpkqJeXTkt3gTHC-Whym9vyfTrubavaWxsyF6k9P7rym9CZtvLMZ3_dzohyphenhyphenIacWzE/s320/IMG_5706.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am constantly stunned at just how little I can get done during the day. It's even worse since we're having trouble with naps. As in, she doesn't nap unless she is sleeping ON ME. This is obviously a big problem. If anyone has any advice, please let me know.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizta9am1W1S60jFh_0FpauO1up5ldSdqnEei6bhGiIYOBqHl7UxOjtjNcCcTBs1wU_nr8vAGk1v33lutMOHMtRATl_dTY0bbordMKvaYbpktFq-pAqKHof6njmb1WDJE2wcbaMyjh1U5s/s1600/IMG_5700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizta9am1W1S60jFh_0FpauO1up5ldSdqnEei6bhGiIYOBqHl7UxOjtjNcCcTBs1wU_nr8vAGk1v33lutMOHMtRATl_dTY0bbordMKvaYbpktFq-pAqKHof6njmb1WDJE2wcbaMyjh1U5s/s320/IMG_5700.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For example, there are 3 loads of laundry that have been washed, but not folded. I was happy that we were able to get out and pick up the Christmas cards that I ordered online. Might I mention that it's only 2 weeks until Christmas?</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QqlaNQsTnqALzNHx_Lcig-5Lx3GPqM0hK2c1M5MB0nMP87wmE8dPjqk-kb6wmQtqCsWMxkV0FFiaNzpBM0wadHDzUZASq7CjjZA-fQjGzeWZJflr5n6vxKLbJRznbPXx_W_-11sQ6Oo/s1600/IMG_5774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QqlaNQsTnqALzNHx_Lcig-5Lx3GPqM0hK2c1M5MB0nMP87wmE8dPjqk-kb6wmQtqCsWMxkV0FFiaNzpBM0wadHDzUZASq7CjjZA-fQjGzeWZJflr5n6vxKLbJRznbPXx_W_-11sQ6Oo/s320/IMG_5774.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Romeo has been a champ. He hasn't yet acted out, although he might be a little clingy. He loves Maddie. He gets upset when she's particularly upset. He cuddles with us when we're napping. He holds it when he's gotta go but she's nursing. He has even learned which toys are hers and not his. :)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKalVdeBQ-xAxzQhMe-xypBQkhLKMia3nxyfGQ5zLeMNghOGQw2Dz_G2s4eFrwjh9tVzEDuK_OTYfot5R_QXLZ1w1DfjW_-GJel3v8cD51RWkB1M5zI3NUqAsrx_s7Lv2kly_VVQdR-w/s1600/IMG_5709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKalVdeBQ-xAxzQhMe-xypBQkhLKMia3nxyfGQ5zLeMNghOGQw2Dz_G2s4eFrwjh9tVzEDuK_OTYfot5R_QXLZ1w1DfjW_-GJel3v8cD51RWkB1M5zI3NUqAsrx_s7Lv2kly_VVQdR-w/s320/IMG_5709.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the beginning of January I will be returning to work, which means Maddie will be starting daycare. I'm utterly terrified. I'm second guessing my choice of care, even though I know I looked at several before choosing. I'm worried that she won't adjust easily, that she'll be left crying when she has a hard time sleeping. She's been well loved, and won't be used to being put down a lot. I'm really hoping it works out well. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_2Mj-9h3eb1ZcSK-rKCuA0Ii6w9AlXIpI4409Ty4p1yxpVt-5Py5vSbLPvc5Y9-KyNOkYmZGRRUuAkKhXe_P9TekwjLqNRLTYas-F_sJnfk5MIXWrDy5I3VtrhxFqE-VB0gD9HGaLPk/s1600/IMG_5674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_2Mj-9h3eb1ZcSK-rKCuA0Ii6w9AlXIpI4409Ty4p1yxpVt-5Py5vSbLPvc5Y9-KyNOkYmZGRRUuAkKhXe_P9TekwjLqNRLTYas-F_sJnfk5MIXWrDy5I3VtrhxFqE-VB0gD9HGaLPk/s320/IMG_5674.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We've made it over 2 months breastfeeding!!! :) And it's going very well. So well that before I had considered not pumping and giving her formula while I work. Now I'm actually going to attempt pumping. Heaven help me. My employer is very willing to let me and even help me do this. My actual job, however... we'll see. I work hard. LUNCH was a challenge. Lunch and pumping twice a day? It's gonna be interesting, that's for sure.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-91070121295226959892011-12-11T22:26:00.000-05:002011-12-11T22:26:56.527-05:0011K in 2011 - Destined<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyKiRahQZk2ULkyF8z69mYrN3vinqSzaLxZeD6X2FWdOe5fGs2Xem-Oh1majcuTwWzEdssi4gnZ6c8kTyw_fOpJgLj6sNS7jxHfesvo8aIZM1Htd31NjpciHS2LUVySOGUftz4KaJRo0/s1600/51Z1Lg7l9kL._AA160_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyKiRahQZk2ULkyF8z69mYrN3vinqSzaLxZeD6X2FWdOe5fGs2Xem-Oh1majcuTwWzEdssi4gnZ6c8kTyw_fOpJgLj6sNS7jxHfesvo8aIZM1Htd31NjpciHS2LUVySOGUftz4KaJRo0/s1600/51Z1Lg7l9kL._AA160_.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>SPOILER ALERT!!!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>This book is the next book in the House of Night Series. The back of the book gives away what has happened in previous books.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Back of the Book:</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side and preparing to face off against Neferet - which would be a whole lot easier if the High Council saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together - if he can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But there are new forces at work at the House of Night. An influx of humans, including Lenobia's handsome horse whisperer, threatens their precarious stability. And then there's the mysterious Aurox, a jaw-droppingly gorgeous teen boy who is actually more- or possibly less- than human. Only Neferet knows he was created to be her greatest weapon. But Zoey can sense the part of his sould that remains human, the compassion that wars with his Dark calling. And there's something strangely familiar about him...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Will Neferet's true nature be revealed before she succeeds at extinguishing Light? And will Zoey be able to touch Aurox's humanity in time to protect them all? Find out what's <i>Destined</i> in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The bibliography:</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cast, P. C. and Kristin. Destined. New York, New York: St Martins Press, 2011.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total Pages: 325</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total read in 2011: 9,838</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total pages remaining: 1,162 or 59 pages per day</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-76421665936448259952011-12-08T17:06:00.000-05:002011-12-08T17:06:23.602-05:0011K in 2011 - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok, so the rules never once mentioned not reading your favorite books over, right?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've read this one a hundred times. I should consider reading the others again, though. They were pretty fascinating in themselves.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. New York, New York: Scholastic, Inc, 2007.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all know this book, so I'm not including the description. It's also upstairs in my bookcase and I'm too lazy to go retrieve it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total pages: 759</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total pages for 2011: 9,513</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pages remaining: 1,487</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">23 days remaining, so that's what... 65 pages per day? Oh boy... Wish me luck. Wish a baby, it's difficult!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-77856311986032309662011-11-25T13:26:00.000-05:002011-11-25T13:26:14.843-05:0011K in 2011 - An update<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OF COURSE I haven't stopped reading! haha. My infant only sleeps on my chest during the day, and honestly doesn't sleep much at night any more. I've done quite a bit of reading lately, actually. Nothing too interesting, though. So here's just an update instead of a 1 by 1 post.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Your Pregnancy week by week - 6th edition.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Curtis, Glad B and Judith Schuler. Your Pregnancy week by week. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Da Capo Press, 2008.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm counting this book twice because I read most of it twice, and I've also read lots from other informational books that I'm not counting, so I know that I'm probably low-balling my page estimate this way.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">600 pages- read twice = 1200!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Where the Heart Is.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Letts, Billie. Where the Heart Is. New York, New York: Warner Books, 1995.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read on my Kindle!!!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">384 pages according to Amazon.com</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Twilight</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Yes. I love the series. I re-read all of them, as is my custom for any movie release. PS- I loved the movie. Much much better than the others!)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meyer, Stephenie. Twilight. New York, New York: Hachette Book Group, 2005.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">498 pages</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>New Moon.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meyer, Stephenie. New Moon. New York, New York: Hachette Book Group, 2006.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">563 pages.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Eclipse.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meyer, Stephenie. Eclipse. New York, New York: Hachette Book Group, 2007.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">629 pages.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Breaking Dawn.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meyer, Stephenie. Breaking Dawn. New York, New York: Hachette Book Group, 2008.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">754 pages.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've also read countless Dr Seuss books, Berenstein Bears books, and various other children's stories. I'm conservatively estimating 250 pages. This is definitely a low estimate, only because you know how many words are on those pages- not as many as the other books I've read!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grand total- 1200 + 384 + 498 + 563 + 629 + 754 +250 = 4,278.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total pages read in 2011: 8,754</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pages remaining: 2,246</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Holy WOW! I think I caught up quite a bit!!! I still have a lot to read in December, but I think it's manageable at this point. Earlier in the year I would have sworn I could never catch up. Looks like I've done a pretty good job!!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">36 more days left. So if I can read 63 pages a day, I can make my goal!!!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-64780747469308472732011-10-27T13:02:00.000-04:002011-10-27T13:02:51.202-04:00Maddie Mei- The birth experience<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh hello! Yes, we are still alive. It's been a challenge to get online at all, let alone write a blog post (or 2 or 3). I have barely gotten bills paid!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But Maddie hits 3 weeks old tomorrow, and we are slowly falling into some sort of routine. How do you actually get a routine going, by the way? Someone give me some tips, please.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, right. Birth.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So my birthing experience was interesting, to say the least. I started having contractions Sunday evening. Finally at about 2 am we went to the hospital. They kept me for 2 hours and released me. I had progressed between the doc appointment on Thursday (1 cm) to 3 cm, but in those 2 hours nothing changed. Boo. Mike stayed home Monday, but went back to work on Tuesday. The contractions never really stopped, and finally got intense enough to go back on Tuesday. I called everyone in around 2:15 (my mom and Mike) and we were at the hospital by 4. At 4 pm I hadn't progressed since Sunday (still at 3 cm). They kept me an hour before making any decisions. Miraculously in that hour I went from 3 cm to 5. YAY! Baby is coming! I was admitted.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then from 5 pm to 12:30 am, nothing changed. My contractions weren't intensifying or coming any faster, I wasn't dialating. So the doc came in and asked me to make a choice- go home, break my water, or start pitocin. I was trying to go without meds, and I certainly wasn't going home, so I opted for breaking my water. THAT was interesting. And let me tell you- contractions BEFORE the water breaking- nothing compared to after. HOLY WOW. It didn't take long and I opted for the Nubane.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nubane is a trip. I rested through the pain for a few hours. 4 am came and I was checked again- STILL no change!!! At this point I have been laboring for 12 hours at the hospital and I was still just at the beginning of active labor??? WTH?!?!? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So despite any plans of mine, pitocin it was! However, the nubane was wearing off, and I was afraid of pitocin intensifying that pain, so... epidural it was. I got the epidural around 4:45 am. The pitocin was started around 5:15 am.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everyone had gone home around 11 pm except Mike. He was napping on the loveseat. My mom stayed at my house and came back around 5:30 am. Which is good, because when the nurse checked me at 5:45 am I was at 9 cm!!!! Apparently SOMETHING worked.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So we woke Mike and he made the calls to everyone. Time became a blur at this point, but a little while later they came in to change out the internal monitor on the baby's head- it was all over the board for readings. So the nurse goes to change it out, and sees that the old monitor had fallen off because oh wow, baby's head is RIGHT THERE! And it's full of hair, which is why the readings were so bad.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So all of a sudden things are set up and the doctor was called in and I'm pushing before I knew what was happening. Didn't take long at all- she arrived at 7:19 am.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7 pounds 1 ounce</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Foj_0vVOwoHpIu8stf2om9hrMiPbnFDVFW7lZSSrBDhM3gjGvEwbhglV5fxSIMhBKx7LEBY-YhQM28tNqAAUOEgdt7n6Zi_hMYJUSPG4LjBXGfTMokEjJUEQZWaHYRcuwf2hHf5acHI/s1600/294538_10100177996505585_21403509_45140455_1707837839_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Foj_0vVOwoHpIu8stf2om9hrMiPbnFDVFW7lZSSrBDhM3gjGvEwbhglV5fxSIMhBKx7LEBY-YhQM28tNqAAUOEgdt7n6Zi_hMYJUSPG4LjBXGfTMokEjJUEQZWaHYRcuwf2hHf5acHI/s320/294538_10100177996505585_21403509_45140455_1707837839_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">20 inches long</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">full beautiful ROUND head of hair</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Absolutely perfect.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I must say that delivery was the easiest part of the whole pregnancy. And I'm recovering just as nicely. The epidural was definitely the right choice for me. The nurse said that the epi is probably what jump started my labor- they barely got any pitocin in my system at all.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And Mike? He was such a champ. Such a good labor coach- very supportive. He made it all the way to the end, heard it's a girl, and THEN nearly fainted. My poor family- they were all out there waiting to hear girl or boy. The hospital plays Braum's lullaby over the hallways when a baby is born, so they knew she was here. And then they had to wait 45 minutes before the doctor would let Mike get up and go tell them!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-13935275097930261772011-10-09T21:41:00.001-04:002011-10-09T21:42:18.946-04:00Proud ParentsBaby Madeline Mei was born 10/5/11 at 7:19 am.<br />
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She weighed 7 lbs 1 oz and is 20 inches long.<br />
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We have been doing very well. There are lots of pictures (she's gorgeous and has a full head of hair) but none are on my computer yet.<br />
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More updates to come when I learn to juggle my baby and non-baby activities.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-86021466170677361962011-09-30T12:55:00.000-04:002011-09-30T12:55:23.009-04:00On raising a boy vs a girl<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I sit here on my EIGHTH day of maternity leave, I've gotten a nice lovely chance to catch up on reading some of my favorite blogs. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I talk about her all the time. Remember Rebecca from Girls Gone Child? She wrote this wonderful post in response to another article somewhere else about complimenting your daughter.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Basically, the original article related complimenting young girls on their looks to telling them beauty is more important than brains and by complimenting them on their looks you are encouraging them to diet as a pre-teen and expect surgery at 17. Along with other things. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rebecca disagrees. Her post is fascinating to read because she really knows how to say it, ya know?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With my impending D Day, and with it the impending knowledge of whether I will be raising a son or a daughter, the topic really struck a cord with me. Why do we focus so much on topics such as these for girls? Maybe it's why I think a boy would be easier to raise. There isn't so much controversy on what to say and when to say it. How to raise them. Why is that, by the way?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like Rebecca, I don't see the topic as polar opposites. Why do people think you can be beautiful, or you can be smart. You can be a successful career woman, or you can be a mother and wife. You can be an adventurer, or you can have a family. This has probably been the hardest thing to get past as I have come out of the college world and into the working world. My mom struggles with seeing this, and I have never understood it. Why can't you be a little of everything?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was raised in a world of compliments. I was also teased in school for my good grades (and really bad athletic skills). I was not a pretty child, but I never really saw that because my family is so loving and complimenting. My grandpa always told me I should be a model! HA! And while I wish I had learned a little more about fashion and beauty at a young age (I still know squat) I at least learned the value of cleanliness and taking care of yourself. First impressions are important, and they often start with how you look. While I was not a gorgeous child I was always clean and dressed appropriately and I was confident in my body. Isn't that the important piece? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm actually of the mindset that the opposite is true when you don't compliment a young girl. Telling her she is pretty is going to instill confidence. Avoiding compliments is going to make an already self-conscious teen question herself and make her wonder if she needed something more. Like... surgery? a diet?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think for the most part parents need to just chill out and stop over-researching every tiny little detail. You raise your daughter in a world where everything is possible- beauty AND brains, successful in the classroom and on the field. Yes, it is possible to have a little bit of it all. You don't worry about what you say and when you say it- you worry about the examples you show her (AND HIM). You teach them the importance of a healthy lifestyle by HAVING a healthy lifestyle. You teach them confidence by HAVING confidence.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But seriously... Why does it seem like there are way too many complicating things to think about when raising a girl vs raising a boy?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Already. I'm just not the "stay at home" type of person. Or rather, I am. I just like to have stuff to do, and to be honest I'm not quite in shape to be "to-doing" it up around here. But we're trying.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I finished the bib. With the except of adding on the button. Because I don't have buttons. But we are going to a fabric store tonight so my mama can make my nursery curtains, and I plan on stocking up on some extra bright and extra big and extra adorable buttons tonight.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also made a pot of homemade chili last night. MMMMMMM it was so good. And so fitting for this fall weather that I have recently fallen in love with. I can have windows open. It's been YEARS since I could do that! Last year, we didn't have functioning windows/screens. Mike has since fixed that. All the college years before that- it wasn't safe on campus to keep windows open. Before that? I had a bird. It has literally been since my first year at UC, or maybe even my senior year of high school since I've been able to freely have my windows open. And my first year at UC- it was one dinky window in a tiny dorm.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, chili, you say? I love my chili. I will look for the recipe today to see if I've ever posted it. I don't think I have, since I've been working on perfecting it for a while. I finally think I have it to where I like it, though. And since it's chili, it's high protein, high veggies, and LOW CARB! Meaning very good for the gestationally diabetic. The cornbread that goes with it? Not so much...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also started one of my organizational projects- Organizing my bookcases! I'm already not happy with it, to be honest. Who wants to come help? There are a few constraints that are really bugging me, and I'm just not sure how to work around them and keep things aesthetically pleasing. This whole room needs the furniture rearranged, though... Maybe that would be enough to fix my woes. I'm just not sure how! Maybe if I draw the room and furniture proportionally from a 2D view from above... that might help me out. Hmmmm....</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other things I've done, because apparently this blog is now going to be a play-by-play of maternity leave? I walked a mall for an hour and a half.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then after eating chili for dinner and sitting on an exercise ball, along with walking a flight of stairs every time I needed to pee, I spent about 4 hours awake with contractions in the wee hours of this morning.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm seriously hoping these things get a little more serious around here. Practice is really cramping my style.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-88031033262970283682011-09-27T13:51:00.000-04:002011-09-27T13:51:03.079-04:00Holy Maternity Week<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Friday marked the beginning of the end. Or at least I hope.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Pregnancy DOES in fact end, right????)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started maternity leave. Which seems weird to me. It's been a long time since I didn't have a job. Ok, it was 2008, and again it was for a medical reason (knee surgery, anyone?) but outside of that awful time, it's been a while. And holy cow, 3 months? More? That's amazing.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So my goal is every day I will get up and get dressed still. What, don't tell me you get dressed every day of every weekend! I will make breakfast and then set to work on at least 1 project, preferably one that requires movement (today I've somewhat failed). After lunch I will spend the afternoon doing a sit down activity, and then my evenings will be whatever they would normally be. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This will keep me sane during this waiting game, no?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So far, the entire upstairs is clean (woohoo!!!!!). And after a lot of work, the main level is mostly clean too! We just need to basically sweep and do a few project organization things, and we're good. Next up- the downstairs. I'm mad excited here. My house, for probably the first time ever, is close to being completely clean!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've also started to crochet. I already knit, but I was kind of getting bored with it. So I bought a set of crochet hooks and a book on how-to, and found some patterns on Ravelry, and set to work. We now have a newborn sized pumpkin hat (that is OMG adorable) and about 20 rows worth of a bib. :-D Hopefully by the end of things I'll have a few bibs, and a papoose. Unfortunately the yarn I bought for the papoose is not very crochetable. I can't see my stitches! So I'm going to have to see if I can find a knitting pattern. Because I want this papoose. And this yarn was semi expensive (hello soft and fluffy).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And in the mean time I'm totally getting my arms the workout they need. By throwing a miserable looking "hot dog" dog toy once every 10 seconds for my extremely happy puppy. He has spent a month learning to live at home all day by himself, and now all of a sudden Mama is home every day all day. Holyfreakincowhowmanytoyscanwefindforhertothrowtoday?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And fortunately by noon he's zonked. Like now. He's curled in a ball in my lap. Gotta love tiny dogs. So much energy that honestly runs out so fast.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll maybe get some cute pictures of the hat and soon-to-be bibs before long. I'm sure you're dying to see a newborn pumpkin hat, right? Me too... On the newborn, that is. Any day now.... Any day now.....</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-17378432738782611232011-09-19T21:07:00.000-04:002011-09-19T21:07:48.698-04:00A Dr Seuss Gender Neutral Nursery<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's what you've all been waiting for! And so far, according to my blown up facebook account, it's a hit! That makes me happy. I put a lot of effort into this one. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a nursery!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And none too soon. I'm 37 weeks 3 days. And I just split wide open the ass of my favorite pajama pants, so... ya know. It's about time.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok. Here's the tour. I'll point out the important aspects- those hand made with love... Not necessarily by me, unfortunately. I just make the baby. If you like what you see, I'd be happy to tell you where I got it, so feel free to ask!!!!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8ml-JC5XZ2MPlzd989HS0mPSkB7JT1yt8X7ZxRvk0YA2y33FUqoOvZce7XfZ7SJCf5U5sFi9xIn1GdkwXM85MsqkG1euwmEzfI7Ghi6bZaA9cLpXCrRAC2HIFSFVoQDWTyz5gLZXX_c/s1600/IMG_5516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8ml-JC5XZ2MPlzd989HS0mPSkB7JT1yt8X7ZxRvk0YA2y33FUqoOvZce7XfZ7SJCf5U5sFi9xIn1GdkwXM85MsqkG1euwmEzfI7Ghi6bZaA9cLpXCrRAC2HIFSFVoQDWTyz5gLZXX_c/s320/IMG_5516.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who wants yellow and green all over? Not us. Our gender neutral- orange and lime green.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPTBis_BOExvZ9QjRYD4X6TZickW82s_nAr4fXGvolWpLpG7G1MmHwoNODOLh9zEy1NAchWpmz7_YGwLu6Pr_YcwPMcb2LEzIQckAl0YQucbNO6W-bZAFjuzAoLZZwQ-OxVgCzOR4Q7A/s1600/IMG_5517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPTBis_BOExvZ9QjRYD4X6TZickW82s_nAr4fXGvolWpLpG7G1MmHwoNODOLh9zEy1NAchWpmz7_YGwLu6Pr_YcwPMcb2LEzIQckAl0YQucbNO6W-bZAFjuzAoLZZwQ-OxVgCzOR4Q7A/s320/IMG_5517.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvk6WG-DF9skcAJ2dKecd2BOUnJm9le2Ushq3bYAGACsvmGpSIyKg3aD_G2opcP98aA9h1ocJKUf7IuPbqhwtmN-sDu-yqGgmOArcWr6QMBEUQtCKovRkXPh7v-C4s9iYzZ3_8K-DOko/s1600/IMG_5518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvk6WG-DF9skcAJ2dKecd2BOUnJm9le2Ushq3bYAGACsvmGpSIyKg3aD_G2opcP98aA9h1ocJKUf7IuPbqhwtmN-sDu-yqGgmOArcWr6QMBEUQtCKovRkXPh7v-C4s9iYzZ3_8K-DOko/s320/IMG_5518.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The framed art pieces are actually pages from my favorite Dr Seuss book- Oh Say Can You Say (I just realized I've read several more pages recently). Hand made by my Aunt. There are 5 pages around the room.</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bookshelves- made by my awesome husband after I realized that my huge self couldn't handle power tools. There are 3 and they are really awesome.</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blanket made with love by my grandmother. There are 3 others, along with booties, hats, and even a poncho (if it's a girl).</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Banner was made by my artsy friend for my baby shower. It's made out of fabric, however, so it could be kept and hung in the nursery.</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More detailed view of the bookshelves.</span></div><br />
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</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The only thing missing- curtains! And you should see the material we bought for them. </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-70387866490547887272011-09-18T00:06:00.000-04:002011-09-18T00:06:47.315-04:00I am still alive<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We gotta stop meeting like this. I'm such a better friend than that. And I do consider you my friend!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been lazy with pregnancy. And then third trimester hit and the laziness went away because, oh my god, we're having a baby soon and I need to get my shit together! But here's the thing- there is so much around me that got neglected, I'm still WAY behind! And holy wow, people. Third trimester is THE HARDEST to get things done. Ok, maybe I'm forgetting all the sickness and exhaustion of first, but... I'm going with it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">AND ON THAT NOTE!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pregnancy news!</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As of today I am 37 weeks 1 day. :) This means full term, people! We are all on baby lookout around here. Not that you really want to know, but I am 1 cm dialated, and the baby's head has dropped. This thing is for real.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And that also means that I have of course survived what I may have described as a hellacious gestational diabetes diagnosis and diet. I won't lie, it's been hard at times. Especially after the first few months when you start getting bored with what you eat. But for the most part, I'm enjoying the food I can actually eat, and I'm honestly trying to think of ways to incorporate this style of eating (which is super healthy) into my every day life post baby and post GD. It's really good for you. And it's really been my saving grace. I've only gained about 34 pounds, 30 of which I had gained BEFORE BEING DIAGNOSED. That means for the entire third trimester I have gained 4 pounds. Don't worry about the baby- he or she has been gaining in a very healthy way. At my 36 week appointment (and ultrasound... I get them weekly now thanks to the GD) they estimate the baby to weigh 6 lbs 2 oz.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But with all said and done, I have a list of foods that I will be eating post-baby. Included are spaghetti, a hot fudge cake from frisch's, and my birthday dinner, including cake. Oh, and eventually pumpkin pie. pumpkin muffins. and breakfast foods. I miss cereal and biscuits and french toast.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So that's the majority of the pregnancy stuff. More to come.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Books- </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Apparently the last thing I read was the Song of the Lioness Quartet? That really can't be true, can it? I love to read. I read all the time. No way. I said I was going to read Harry Potter... Did I do that? I can't remember, but I honestly don't think so because I don't remember nearly as much as I would had I just read it... So I guess I need to read that (again). BUT to help me catch up on my reading (which I thought I was behind before... that's nothing now!!!) my wonderful husband got me the Kindle for my birthday. I'm so excited, and I have already downloaded several books. None of which I've finished yet, but I will soon! And happily I will be updating my 11K in 2011 list here shortly with the pregnancy book that I have read not once, but actually TWICE.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Work-</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The main reason I have been so lazy! I thought the 4 months of training for the job was a little much and kind of overwhelming. BOY WAS I WRONG!!! So I guess they like me? Because they gave me a lot more work than expected... It was supposed to be temporary while someone was on leave. But then she came back, and never took back the work! I love it, though! My job is so much fun, and so interesting. Yes, I plan the production for our making systems. Yes, to some people that probably would be very boring. But my job is far from boring. There are issues every day, and the schedules are ALWAYS like putting together huge complicated and sometimes incorrectly cut puzzle pieces. Now that I'm finally adjusting (and have only 4 days before maternity leave) I can tell that the work has been a major cause behind my exhaustion. Not that pregnancy has been enough! It's gotten a lot easier on me now, though. I know my job better. I'm at that stage where I'm ready to learn the next step (believe me... I'm still on a basic level at work). But obviously with maternity leave starting in FOUR DAYS I'm not moving on until I return.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In other news- </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My house is a wreck still. But it's majorly improved. Remember how I said I was lazy? This is where it's been the worst. I have finally gotten most of the upstairs cleaned up. Our bedroom is by far the easiest room to maintain in our house, and I've successfully done so now for over a month. :) The guest room is probably just as easy and I've been doing well with it too. I haven't gotten the office cleaned up, but I at least get in there and dust, vacuum, and clean the window every now and then. And of course the nursery. It's been well worked on! More on that later. The bathrooms have been more difficult to maintain. My husband is messiest in the bathroom, and it's honestly a crappy bathroom to begin with. It's definitely near the top of the major remodeling project lists.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The downstairs, however... is a disaster. I got the dining room cleaned up last week, though. And I got the fall decorations out- I just need curtains. I imagine I can keep it clean enough. My kitchen is still a mess, and I haven't even touched the living and family rooms. Both of which have been swallowed whole by books, fabric, papers, yarn, more papers, bags (and bags and bags) and shoes. Oh, and empty boxes from all of the baby stuff. But the living room is seriously on my hit list tomorrow. It's going down.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mike, a job, and childcare-</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So my wonderful hubs found a wonderful (and well paying) job!!!!!! It's full time (I could sing) with not only benefits (yay!) but AWESOME benefits (YAY!!!). So we are just thrilled around here. We're both working on the same shift now. That's a plus. We get our weekends together! And seriously. I haven't even looked back to the days where we didn't. How did we seriously manage that for so long? This is so nice.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And with his new job, and a rather long commute, we had to get rid of his car. It wasn't reliable. And definitely not functional as a family vehicle. So with the new job, and shiny new paycheck, we traded in the little coupe for a CR-V. :) We had been planning this purchase for a long while, I'll admit. Don't think we're rich or anything (we certainly aren't). But we knew we'd never be able to afford a car payment until Mike had a better income.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are downsides to the new job, though. One of which is childcare. Our baby will be at a daycare center 40 hours a week. But it's literally down the street from my office, so I can go see him or her at lunch time if I wanted. And we found a daycare that I'm really excited about. They stress education. They start teaching them in classroom style ish at the age of 2. Geography, Music, Math, Science, and Writing. There may have been others too. I can't remember. They play too, though. And still have nap times. They were very organized, had lots of information and were real exciting people. The kids were all happy, and you could just tell. It was a good place. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The only other downside is our poor puppy is not used to us both being gone all day. I can tell he hates it. But we're trying to make sure he gets a walk in the evenings or at least something. And he needs to get used to less attention- a baby is coming after all. It's just sad to watch. He's adjusting well, though. No bad behavior. He really is a big sweetheart. You can't help but love him. I don't care what people say, I don't think my feelings towards him are going to change much after baby arrives. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok, so I've bombarded you with TONS of information tonight! I'm going to write another post on the nursery, and maybe if you're lucky I'll include a post on Puerto Rico (cuz who doesn't want to see THOSE pictures?). And maybe, just maybe, I'll get something read here soon and I'll update my reading challenge. I'm scared to look at the numbers, though... I was so close to caught up.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-63107959542905346362011-07-23T09:56:00.000-04:002011-07-23T09:56:29.087-04:0011k in 2011- Song of the Lioness Quartet<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm getting desperate for pages. I'm SO FAR BEHIND!!! So I'm <s>cheating</s> abusing the system a little bit. But they are still legit pages, people!</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have read this quartet probably a thousand times. It's definitely a good set of books for any young girl to read who is coming of age. It breaks stereotypes. The author is fantastic at building a whole world and all the characters in it. I can actually picture most of them as if they were real and alive. She's wonderful. And she has several quartets out there (and sequels, and prequels...). I still have a few of hers I've never read before, so maybe I'll get on that too!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I won't give you the whole "back of the book" for all 4, because it would give away the whole story! But here's the details on the 1st book- "Alanna The First Adventure"</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6f1TbI2ikrhBAj0VxXwNA7kGLrHsKqg5vjLObxu9_Rx8SLBg0ALMV0icBL1a8yUXxp3x3v_pUjrVBUHJ2OADAMlNf_ZaILMDV2mQaWGbBx7W9WhixuKSbS6OA6MHj45-DGayxXjt7II/s1600/513BBSHP4XL._SS500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6f1TbI2ikrhBAj0VxXwNA7kGLrHsKqg5vjLObxu9_Rx8SLBg0ALMV0icBL1a8yUXxp3x3v_pUjrVBUHJ2OADAMlNf_ZaILMDV2mQaWGbBx7W9WhixuKSbS6OA6MHj45-DGayxXjt7II/s320/513BBSHP4XL._SS500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Back of the Book:</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Alanna of Trebond is no ordinary girl- her dream is to become a knight. So she disguises herself as a boy and begins training at the palace of King Roald. Alanna quickly finds out that the road to knighthood is not an easy one, but her skills and stubbornness help her become friends with Prince Jonathan and his followers. At the same time, Alanna makes an enemy of the prince's uncle, the overly charming Duke Roger.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here begins Alanna's first adventure- one that will lead not only to the fulfillment of her dreams but to a magical destiny that will make her a legend."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>(I'm going to add that I don't like most of the back of this book. Way more cheesy than the book, I promise!)</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Bibliography</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pierce, Tamora. Alanna The First Adventure. New York, New York: Random House, Inc, 1983.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Book two's bibliography</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pierce, Tamora. In The Hand of the Goddess. New York, New York: Random House, Inc, 1984.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Book three's bibliography</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pierce, Tamora. The Woman Who Rides Like a Man. New York, New York: Random House, Inc, 1986.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Book four's bibliography</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pierce, Tamora. Lioness Rampant. New York, New York: Random House, Inc, 1988.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can purchase the box set <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Song-Lioness-Quartet-Adventure-Goddess/dp/0375825649/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311428278&sr=8-1">here</a>, or find it at your local library (support the libraries!!) - also, it might be cheaper to find them sold seperately. $266 for 4 books? holy wow!!! I'm pretty sure my set was a gift years ago... probably for way less.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Book 1 pages: 216</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Book 2 pages: 209</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Book 3 pages: 228</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Book 4 pages: 308</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total pages: 961</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total pages read in 2011: 4,476</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total pages remaining: 6,524</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Up next- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (again- but the first time this year!) (yes, I'm very desperate. But look- I'm just over a 1000 pages away from the half way mark. In July!)</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-38052026518405568702011-07-11T17:51:00.000-04:002011-07-11T17:51:49.099-04:00An update<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh hello. Remember me? I know I haven't been around much other than the few books here or there. It's been a busy time for me. I'll just give you one huge update, mmmk?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>All things pregnancy</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pregnant life has not been a happy life for me. I'm trying my darndest, but it just seems that life refuses to be nice on this journey. (I really just have WAY too much going on). Anywho- I failed my glucose screening. And then I failed my glucose tolerance test. So I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and told to take an education class (I did) and start testing my glucose levels 4 times (that's FOUR FINGER PRICKS) a day. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok, so I got the news in the middle of a rough week, and it's been pretty stressful, and I cried a lot. No lie. But it wasn't bad. The diet wasn't even that hard to follow, even though yeah- it sucks to give up your carbs. I like my carbs, especially in the morning. Cereal? Milk? Fruit? I can live without sweets. But cutting carbs wasn't easy. But I did it. And I was proud of myself!</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until my glucose levels rose again. The diet stopped working. So I talked to my OB, and she put me on an even stricter diet with a follow up this Friday. I started Friday evening. I cried. A lot. It's a really strict diet. I could probably name what I'm allowed to eat quicker than what I'm not allowed to eat. As in- eat at all, not just reduce intake. I'm allowed whole wheat bread (only 1 piece for breakfast). I'm allowed peas (at least she didn't say anything about them), apples, berries, milk (2 glasses a day, NOT at breakfast), greek yogurt, pears (again didn't say anything about them), oranges that aren't too sweet. And then I'm supposed to eat tons of protein and fiber. So leafy greens and meat it is! Good thing I'm still allowed peanut butter. I'd die without at least that.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But my numbers were down again! yay! Except today, but I think I know why at least. I didn't eat a good bedtime snack last night, so I started off rough. Then I had a protein bar instead of a real food for a snack, and I think it shot my numbers up... So no more of those I guess.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But all in all, everything is going well! We aren't finding out the gender (even though we've had 3 ultrasounds and the doc said we'll have another at 36 weeks). We have names picked out. We have done a lot of prepping, and when baby comes I'll do a nursery post (because it won't be finished until after we know baby's name). We have a good amount of cloth diapers. At least for at first.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, and the stats- I'm 27 weeks. I've gained 27 pounds. The doc doesn't want me gaining any more and says with the restricted diet I probably won't. I'm not so sure about this... But what the hell, right?</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>In other news</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I spent another 2 weeks in Puerto Rico (another reason for the blog hiatus). This trip was a lot more stressful. I had to go with a guy I'm not very fond of at work (and he's not very fond of me). It makes it difficult for a pregnant woman, especially when you need help. The work was also different. We weren't just learning about the plant- we were shadowing for our actual position and doing some real work. Plus, I used my Spanish a lot more. You wouldn't think it, but it takes a lot of energy to do that. I was exhausted! </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, I got to use my first aid training AND Spanish all at once! It was a horrific story but it's perfect for blogging. There we were in a traffic jam. On a 4 lane road with a 4 foot median (ish). When we get up to the front of traffic, there is a man lying in the road with a helmet on. Not moving much, and very much hurt. No motorcycle in sight (which to me, is bad...). So we stop for a second, and I immediately jump out to help (hello CPR/First Aid training!). I let someone who actually LIVES in Puerto Rico use my phone to call 911 and the guy's family while I spend the next 30 minutes keeping the guy calm and still. Lucky his helmet saved his head. His arm was destroyed, though. But very little blood, so at least I didn't have to worry about that, nor did I have to provide first aid for it. The guy's name was Alex, and for the rest of my life I'll never forget him. He probably had a concussion. Later his family texted me to say thanks and informed me that he had a broken arm (probably both the radius and ulna) and a broken leg. It was one of those moments where you just react, and then afterwards you really feel proud of yourself. My story-telling doesn't at all do it justice. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So... pregnant woman helping an injured motorcyclist... It had to be an interesting moment for everyone else too. And even if they are the craziest drivers I've ever seen (seriously), they certainly care for each other. No one in traffic cared about the pace. Several got out to help and make sure he was ok. It was very nice to see such a great culture.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And on that note I think I'll end right there.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-793216790145692702011-07-02T09:42:00.000-04:002011-07-02T09:42:27.351-04:0011k in 2011- The Lost Symbol<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While I enjoyed the writing style and overall story of the first two more than this one, I really loved the villain! He was... very well written. I also must add that after reading this book I think I can now actually read the Bible and probably take something away from it with an open mind- something I've yet to accomplish. It may be a fictional story, but the message is a good one.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQej7CIBlx9HDgJN2R-5wqiasi0iNKE-2SNDZxsIZ4mVpMv7LViBgAtF9y13RiZ9BnOg36jJ2K1NHDAPoDFuFjCfxWNz0_HeugI6mjMkUVEDoD8Lnpzl7041BO8JETRBuX8LLXgZrHOxs/s1600/51jHvD-ZUrL._SS500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQej7CIBlx9HDgJN2R-5wqiasi0iNKE-2SNDZxsIZ4mVpMv7LViBgAtF9y13RiZ9BnOg36jJ2K1NHDAPoDFuFjCfxWNz0_HeugI6mjMkUVEDoD8Lnpzl7041BO8JETRBuX8LLXgZrHOxs/s320/51jHvD-ZUrL._SS500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Back of the Book:</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"In this stunning follow-up to the global phenomenon <i>The Da Vinci Code</i>, Dan Brown demonstrates once again why he i the world's most popular thriller writer.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Lost Symbol</i> is a masterstroke of story-telling that finds famed symbologist Robert Langdon in a deadly race through a real-world labyrinth of codes, secrets, and unseen truths... all under the watchful eye of Brown's most terrifying villain to date. Set within the hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples of Washington, D.C., <i>The Lost Symbol</i> is an intelligent, lightning-paced story with surprises at every turn. This is Dan Brown's most exciting novel yet."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The bibliography:</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brown, Dan. The Lost Symbol. New York, New York: Anchor House, 2010.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can find it <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Symbol-Dan-Brown/dp/0385504225">here</a> or at your local public library (where I bought my used copy). Support the libraries!</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total Pages: 639</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total pages read in 2011: 3,515</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total pages remaining: 7,485</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-12756097683028173472011-06-05T18:06:00.000-04:002011-06-05T18:06:50.345-04:0011K in 2011- Secrets of the Baby Whisperer<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To be very honest, this is the type of book I normally laugh at. I wonder why people buy such things and really think that parents who read this type of book are probably desperate for help or crazy.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was given this book from someone at work. I read the back and the cover and laughed thinking it was some joke, like all those self help books that really don't get you anywhere. But then I started reading it, and holy Wow it's awesome. It makes sense. It's really not even that challenging. It's flexible. It doesn't say you should breastfeed. It doesn't say you should bottle feed. It doesn't say you HAVE to do anything, except... getting your baby into a routine. I highly suggest any parent or parent to be read this book. It's really that good. It's not telling you what to do, honestly. It's just a nice little common sense instruction manual on how to get on the right track for YOU.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Without further ado, here is: </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfT_jek3PPGk-UHkeeOftXY6WaYJdSoO5OQW34EtGm0zxxiAj5hK05xJP_G3W6d3StRtr5kHLKY7KS2OVPQNiFvB1Yfp2IT2_PdeD6uNK3gmdTCckICgBgUO4Nwi9TVXkrDklYQ-a6O4/s1600/41N52tKu9pL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfT_jek3PPGk-UHkeeOftXY6WaYJdSoO5OQW34EtGm0zxxiAj5hK05xJP_G3W6d3StRtr5kHLKY7KS2OVPQNiFvB1Yfp2IT2_PdeD6uNK3gmdTCckICgBgUO4Nwi9TVXkrDklYQ-a6O4/s1600/41N52tKu9pL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Back of the Book:</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When Tracy Hogg's <i>Secrets of the Baby Whisperer</i> was first published, it soared onto bestseller lists across the country. Parents everywhere became "whisperers" to their newborns, amazed that they could actually communicate with their baby within weeks of their child's birth. Tracy gave parents what for some amounted to a miracle: the ability to understand their baby's every coo and cry so that they could tell immediately if the baby was hungry, tired, in real distress, or just in need of a little TLC. Tracy also dispelled the insidious myth that parents must go sleepless for the first year of a baby's life- because a happy baby sleeps through the night. Now you too can benefit from Tracy's more than twenty years' experience. In this groundbreaking book, she shares simple, accessible programs in which you will learn</span><br />
<br />
<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">E.A.S.Y.- how to get your baby to eat, play, and sleep on a schedule that will make every member of the household's life easier and happier.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">S.L.O.W.- how to interpret what your baby is trying to tell you (so you don't try to feed him when he really wants a nap).</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How to identify which type of baby yours is- Angel, Textbook, Touchy, Spirited, or Grumpy- and then learn the best way to interact with that type.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tracy's Three-day Magic- how to change any and all bad habits (yours and the baby's) in just three days</span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the heart of Tracy's simple but profound message: treat the baby as you would like to be treated yourself. Reassuring, down-to-earth, and oten flying in the face of conventional wisom, <i>Secrets of the Baby Whisperer</i> promises parents not only a healthier, happier baby but a more relaxed and happy household as well.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Bibliography</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hoggs, Tracy with M Blau. Secrets of the Baby Whisperer. New York, New York: The Ballantine Publishing Group, 2001.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can find it <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Baby-Whisperer-Tracy-Melinda/dp/B000CS2T1S/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1307310812&sr=8-5">here</a> or at your local public library (support the libraries!).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total pages: 276</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total pages read in 2011: 2,876</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total pages remaining: 8,124</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-18716169052831125672011-05-23T21:08:00.000-04:002011-05-23T21:08:19.559-04:00New obsession<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Buying cloth diapers on Ebay.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yup. That's right. Diapers- as in something that someone else is going to poo in and then I have to change. And I'm in love.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm 20 weeks pregnant. Half way. I've gained a total of 14 lbs. My baby's gender is going to remain a surprise until birth (even to us!-- eep). Currently baby is around 12 ounces. :)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are doing a Dr. Seuss theme for the nursery! We chose bright colors (grey, orange, and green) and my aunt is going to help me create neat decorations out of the pages of my favorite Dr. Seuss book (Oh Say Can You Say). We plan on doing the totally cliche name on the wall, although it will obviously have to wait until after baby is born. We also are going to incorporate a really cool fortune I got in a cookie somewhere. I currently keep it in my wallet. :)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">AND we are going to cloth diaper. EEEP they are adorable! There were so many good things about cloth diapers that I really couldn't say no. And my company makes diapers, so that's really saying something. So, since cloth diapers are so expensive to buy at the beginning, I'm starting to stock up now. We looked at a few, and I chose Gdiapers. I have won 8 size small and I'm hoping to win 6 size medium today. It'll at least be a good start.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week's projects include painting the nursery and maybe building some of the furniture. I'm SUPER excited. It is so freakin' real.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you can tell, I have ONE obsession as of late. Sorry I haven't written, but I have absolutely NOTHING else going on. Work is keeping me on my toes. I've been in training for a good while, and it's finally sinking in, which is good. It's still a lot, though! I can't wait to really get settled in. I have a feeling baby will be here before that, though! haha. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh. PS. We have a girl's name picked out, but since we aren't sharing it with my family, it's not really fair to share it with you. We have a boy's name that Mike is "sleeping on". I love it. I'm hoping it sticks.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-33153405696120191272011-05-09T18:13:00.000-04:002011-05-09T18:13:40.558-04:0011K in 2011- Angels and Demons<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I read The Da Vinci Code a while back, and I loved it. Barely put it down. With that being said, when our library had their annual book sale, and had both Angels and Demons AND The Lost Symbol, I pounced. I just hadn't had a chance to read them until now.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you liked The Da Vinci Code, you'll like Angels and Demons. It's very similar in the character set up, how the plot develops, the suspense, and even how shocking the ending is. Usually, I feel that once you've read one book by an author, you can GENERALLY figure out the ending before it happens in any other books. Not quite this time around, which was very pleasing.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok, enough of my opinion, because I'm certainly not an expert. Here you go.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiBKoe3TaJmeVPvZdzfaYrFl-jiCX1hE2Y9uvLSIh8aors4D84X4rqB7S3_O1np_ae_J_KB7reMvPMfKj5VipacZVwNDxgrLXypymEvYL06Dh67hZ2ankwxxP0G98nW8JMHFK8aH_IXM/s1600/angels_and_demons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiBKoe3TaJmeVPvZdzfaYrFl-jiCX1hE2Y9uvLSIh8aors4D84X4rqB7S3_O1np_ae_J_KB7reMvPMfKj5VipacZVwNDxgrLXypymEvYL06Dh67hZ2ankwxxP0G98nW8JMHFK8aH_IXM/s320/angels_and_demons.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Back of the Book:</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization- the Illuminati. Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious scientist Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth... the long-forgotten Illuminati lair."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Bibliography:</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brown, Dan. Angels & Demons. New York, New York: Pocket Books, 2000.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can find the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Angels-Demons-Robert-Langdon-Paperback/dp/B003TSX3O0/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304979005&sr=1-2">here</a>, or at your public library (support the libraries!).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total pages: 569</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total pages read in 2011: 2,600</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total pages remaining: 8,400</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(I would also like to note that I am in the middle of a few other books as well. 2 are baby books and probably boring to you, but one is not. It's just not easy to get through. I might not finish it, but the pages STILL COUNT!)</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-35767626894103843762011-05-02T21:21:00.000-04:002011-05-02T21:21:49.033-04:00To cry while the world celebrates<span class="messageBody"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I started the day with this tweet: </span></span><br />
<div class="tweet-text"><em>Obama has had quite a good weekend. Good day to be an American.</em></div><div class="tweet-text"> </div><div class="tweet-text">I ended the day (so far) with the following post to facebook:</div><div class="tweet-text"><span class="messageBody"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>A man died today and the world cheered. While he was very clearly atrocious, all it does is make me think back to that dreadful day so many lost their loved ones. I worry about the families who now have to relive that, and I feel for a nation that is now erupting in political warfare over who gets to claim this "victory". In truth, we all lost. They just happened to lose last.</em></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody">I've been rather conflicted all day. I was happy at first. What great news. Finally. And even if you don't care about the events, it was great for Obama (yes, I'm a supporter). </span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody">But it just feels weird celebrating someone's death. I'm pretty agnostic, so I honestly don't feel the "let God bring him to justice now" type of emotion. I honestly wish I believed that. Maybe I would feel better about things. But alas, I don't. So of course, the conflict continues.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody">This just doesn't seem like a victory to me. It really isn't. It's an act of war, yes. I'm against the war (I still strongly support our boys fighting, however). I believe all people are good. Those who make mistakes are often misled, uneducated, or were abused in some way at some point in time. They are not born that way, and if they turn out that way, then we as society have failed them.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody">In the end I feel like a <a href="http://www.girlsgonechild.net/2011/05/complications.html">5 year old</a> can say it better than I can. I've linked you to her blog in the past- her son is a sage for sure. Wiser than anyone I've ever met, I swear. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody">I guess in the end I am a little reassured that he is gone. And while I don't agree with killing, I think it was probably the safest solution for the world, for my country, and for my future children. I will mourn the loss this world has seen, however. Not just this one man's death, but the several who had to suffer a cruel death 10 years ago, and also those who are now reliving those deaths today. And if I ever pray, it is most certainly for the children today asking all of the innocent questions that no one should ever have to explain. </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-28470458270895652422011-04-26T22:50:00.000-04:002011-04-26T22:50:17.506-04:00Brought to you by...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This post is brought to you care of San Juan, Puerto Rico!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">As wonderful as this place is (I can't show you yet, because my camera cord is still in Ohio), I wish I could say I was here for vacation.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We are here for work. That's right. Someone paid to fly me out to San Juan, give me a 2 room suite (with a king sized bed), and let me spend the weekend on the beach just because they want me to visit a manufacturing site. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Ok, I need some sleep. I will update more as I go!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-45089286026365833602011-04-22T16:13:00.000-04:002011-04-22T16:13:01.917-04:00A new master<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A long long time ago, in a world that really does seem far far away, we redecorated the master bedroom!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The idea is to get one room done at a time in this house. A year and 4 months into living here, and we've officially finished 1. The master will be number 2. And now baby's room will have to be number 3. At this pace, the baby will be sleeping on an air mattress on the floor because I'm so freakin' slow at this.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyways, off the tangent.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our bedroom was blah. Very blah. The rooms were an ugly creamy neutral (not to be confused with the pretty creamy). We had 1 bedside lamp that was a broken fake Tiffany's UC lamp. One window had a goodwill curtain covering it, the other nothing. The back window at least had <a href="http://imperfectleehappy.blogspot.com/2010/05/weekend-wish-new-window-treatments.html">nice panel curtains</a>, though.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">See how awful it looked?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd85-gGW2zbx6lHDZiRpwMyQclpQE5hLkddeKKTTS8KdicCd7IBOfi1raw1xzYtn3bKDoXexKcUfLDOdIkz7Kh5uuR__ig7wb2v1y3xhlM-2KQxk1wsyS_iQZ7VGCzCbykvYcx8T5MADE/s1600/IMG_4720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd85-gGW2zbx6lHDZiRpwMyQclpQE5hLkddeKKTTS8KdicCd7IBOfi1raw1xzYtn3bKDoXexKcUfLDOdIkz7Kh5uuR__ig7wb2v1y3xhlM-2KQxk1wsyS_iQZ7VGCzCbykvYcx8T5MADE/s320/IMG_4720.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was the only picture I took of "before". Oops.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So first we had to move the furniture around. And THAT means we got a new bedroom, temporarily.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutYcuJzxgGeXoGexxwCLc0oFxwq8Am8FaPm4hyphenhyphenXWME8EWeQFVLPME3wa27OwKtsvOHrcrG77TFQaUGS2IXJFk75brHTc4NkBa68PSWlcU4kO7Tr_TxXPQ5M7xXR1VNYwog0CAevdICzI/s1600/IMG_4718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutYcuJzxgGeXoGexxwCLc0oFxwq8Am8FaPm4hyphenhyphenXWME8EWeQFVLPME3wa27OwKtsvOHrcrG77TFQaUGS2IXJFk75brHTc4NkBa68PSWlcU4kO7Tr_TxXPQ5M7xXR1VNYwog0CAevdICzI/s320/IMG_4718.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(That's a preview of the future baby's room, by the way). Irony is we found out we were HAVING a baby while sleeping in that room.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So first we painted.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTWr5Yzq9h_Uf3XWyZ6SFq0SsMIUct08RW2NllNQW2pIpOLFVUeKTVOKcDcVAjecZeksBdDGv97KiDgD0nmeORqPKW9g1HjKnzLG58svVDPBRh1_CaV1kj5jquZ_ds5eInrDotRtqYMU/s1600/IMG_4737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTWr5Yzq9h_Uf3XWyZ6SFq0SsMIUct08RW2NllNQW2pIpOLFVUeKTVOKcDcVAjecZeksBdDGv97KiDgD0nmeORqPKW9g1HjKnzLG58svVDPBRh1_CaV1kj5jquZ_ds5eInrDotRtqYMU/s320/IMG_4737.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5XOwIVAzx3FASE3n0YZLX2GpA-dbDTlMBYziMYUeanR1d0W6wbgBcbu7-uSLVFZ5KxH7uQ2sTmKoUJRcrZjgU9k8naplppuGUXCcOOqCwUh6wDx9b_M2RVdv4xvorgSbdrpvIaiMiw4/s1600/IMG_4750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5XOwIVAzx3FASE3n0YZLX2GpA-dbDTlMBYziMYUeanR1d0W6wbgBcbu7-uSLVFZ5KxH7uQ2sTmKoUJRcrZjgU9k8naplppuGUXCcOOqCwUh6wDx9b_M2RVdv4xvorgSbdrpvIaiMiw4/s320/IMG_4750.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The three window walls are a beautiful yellow, and then the wall with the closet and doorway are a rich chocolate reddish brown. It matches the furniture almost perfectly! I was so thrilled.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So then we moved the furniture back in and bought new side lamps.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m_wsiebCTvu2uiitFxsB5VVkcc3u6dBzLX0knfeXq2m3AuWMYH9HQyihxcGBqaFUzgbB251FJzwHcAls9S5xSZj4PDrYGlU3ejgE4jfIcfwKYszCVPsiToUnlymHzpjtFmKXpQHUrOA/s1600/IMG_4753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m_wsiebCTvu2uiitFxsB5VVkcc3u6dBzLX0knfeXq2m3AuWMYH9HQyihxcGBqaFUzgbB251FJzwHcAls9S5xSZj4PDrYGlU3ejgE4jfIcfwKYszCVPsiToUnlymHzpjtFmKXpQHUrOA/s320/IMG_4753.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROjAMPOBQnBUGo5MSY2Ig4RCeMITYBPYMeCJTUGhBM1dJayNHd-C6oAcppBu6mYuLls9z_IeMd8a4h6ZjQYSVi2HXaJacG_g9p1-4tSJOxjaxuEajAXO-Klo5Ctgxb63qr0lQYCbD0-c/s1600/IMG_4891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROjAMPOBQnBUGo5MSY2Ig4RCeMITYBPYMeCJTUGhBM1dJayNHd-C6oAcppBu6mYuLls9z_IeMd8a4h6ZjQYSVi2HXaJacG_g9p1-4tSJOxjaxuEajAXO-Klo5Ctgxb63qr0lQYCbD0-c/s320/IMG_4891.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We also re-hung the window panels, and my mom helped me make curtains (one set... the other set is still waiting by the sewing machine). And we also bought some nice matching frames and hung a few pictures from our honeymoon.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is my favorite:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfG2hw5qyWbdjWmuAYqEDkD1_fkQ1_4kfkNdduckomyB4hmJl2hbX5GJI4qVF0v0u-RLtNPZEOTreVT9q-QWoGnKNRgEOpKrRCPWtPTSHRf2wMbkV2vUYS3gCwWudf27OWrp_boog-IU/s1600/IMG_4755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfG2hw5qyWbdjWmuAYqEDkD1_fkQ1_4kfkNdduckomyB4hmJl2hbX5GJI4qVF0v0u-RLtNPZEOTreVT9q-QWoGnKNRgEOpKrRCPWtPTSHRf2wMbkV2vUYS3gCwWudf27OWrp_boog-IU/s320/IMG_4755.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really need to get a good couple of pictures of the whole room, but that would mean making the bed and cleaning up the mess. Oh, and probably finishing that last curtain (don't worry- the goodwill curtain is still covering the window).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's a beauty, though! I love my new room. The lamps are perfect, the colors are just what I imagined, and the curtains match to a T! </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-32987900842538849292011-04-05T19:50:00.000-04:002011-04-05T19:50:15.416-04:00Secrets Secrets are no fun<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have to unfortunately tell you that you are the absolute last to know my secret. And since you are the last, it is obviously no longer a secret.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have an ever-growing belly. Ok, not FORever-growing. Just about 26 1/2 more weeks of growing, and then hopefully WHOOSH it'll start shrinking back to normal.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's right. I'm 13 1/2 weeks pregnant! (See why I've been sort of MIA around here? It's exhausting starting a new job while trying to finish the first trimester.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, it's not my only excuse. We're also hosting a bridal shower this weekend, we had to celebrate a birthday last weekend (and visit with an out-of-town friend), plus all the cleaning to go with having company, and oh by the way I started my new job, and I literally slept 12 1/2 hours the first night after (that means I got home, ate, fell asleep, woke up and went to bed).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfortunately you are the last to know. I mean to tell you earlier, but I've been rather busy, distracted, sick, sleepy, and busy.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And of course, everyone is ecstatic. Including Romeo. He won't be once the baby's here, but he currently enjoys cuddling up next to my belly to sleep. I kid you not. I think he maybe thinks he's keeping baby warm? I don't know. He's also become clingy to the point that it's annoying both my husband (he won't even EAT when I'm home unless I'm right there with him) and myself (I have to be there with him for everything, including EATING).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So now you know. I've been dying to write about it! And I can't wait. I'm not so sure I enjoy pregnancy. But of course the fun is yet to come- feeling baby move and such. I'm very happy about what the end result will bring, however. It's all very much worth it. Now if only I can get my mother to stop telling me what I'm not allowed to do, I'll be just fine!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To satisfy everyone, here are a few pictures. Baby bump at 12 weeks (I haven't uploaded 13 weeks pics yet) and an ultrasound picture.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNr-M4yA7I4JN61FcHUcpSfu6R0r0SSAoPIUOUh1mG9tbPUzoBml-_xzv9cNvzcJwHXWDKalnXJ1i7bolgL7lasshAIUmWJO64YM6if9rK07BT_ipt9yvaHNDsHRkD8MxhazPhmz_RGg/s1600/0315110938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNr-M4yA7I4JN61FcHUcpSfu6R0r0SSAoPIUOUh1mG9tbPUzoBml-_xzv9cNvzcJwHXWDKalnXJ1i7bolgL7lasshAIUmWJO64YM6if9rK07BT_ipt9yvaHNDsHRkD8MxhazPhmz_RGg/s320/0315110938.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvdOm3JLByHdKv9kDBAqAcgVVJPUoBBuemfhcuzGBMi7EveIXdDnaH0QqD6ySYpw2-8df60q8Kw4x9mAfhN43PoNLp504yHhtJ9P8MrFP29SNsW3Va647H81Kj_kh8I5qyFYZHELia18/s1600/IMG_4910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvdOm3JLByHdKv9kDBAqAcgVVJPUoBBuemfhcuzGBMi7EveIXdDnaH0QqD6ySYpw2-8df60q8Kw4x9mAfhN43PoNLp504yHhtJ9P8MrFP29SNsW3Va647H81Kj_kh8I5qyFYZHELia18/s320/IMG_4910.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIFLCHQ4w_4coj7S1Nxyb2yqTN798co1PI3KJb5xpxT-ii38wb817T-B26Ojg0whQt8cmRhWAhUg44VXc08ot78mpFy68SKzED9WimKwcmaB2iiJtxtEtdmYFk7vVpG0p8woJmvjXtYE/s1600/IMG_4913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIFLCHQ4w_4coj7S1Nxyb2yqTN798co1PI3KJb5xpxT-ii38wb817T-B26Ojg0whQt8cmRhWAhUg44VXc08ot78mpFy68SKzED9WimKwcmaB2iiJtxtEtdmYFk7vVpG0p8woJmvjXtYE/s320/IMG_4913.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I honestly feel I just look fat at the moment. But the bump is steadily growing, so I'm sure it's merely temporary. And the alignment of the mirrors really is no help at all for the photos- Mike is supposed to be fixing that.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PS- My mom has nicknamed him/her as "Panda" apparently because that's what he/she looks like in that same ultrasound photo. So that is what we are calling baby.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8003376131763777736.post-3548280652448238632011-04-04T20:30:00.000-04:002011-04-04T20:30:40.189-04:0011K in 2011- An Echo in the Bone<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This massive book was rather disappointing to me, and if the author happens to read this, you really upset me. It is the 7th installment in what my colleagues and I have nicknamed "The Jamie Books". The series starts with Outlander, and continues with A Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager (my favorite), The Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, A Breathe of Snow and Ashes, and finally this one. If you love history and romance, and wild amazing plots, and terrifically rendered characters, you should pick up Outlander. If you already have, you've already read this book and can ignore my ramblings.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And not that I was disappointed in the story per se. It just seemed that it started with no real direction, too many plots to keep up with, and way too many details that could have been left out. The second half really picked up, but then I guess she felt she had to stop writing after 820 pages so, she did. In the thickest part of the plot when everything was FINALLY coming together and really had you on the edge of your seat. I really hate it when my favorite authors do this. I was going to buy and read the next book anyways. You could have at least rewarded me with ending the story. I DID read 820 pages, after all!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyways, without further ado:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEick0_VhppJU-82QnSd-qo_Yd8737tRhYIcpJ-lSna2ITcSzrh_WnLjuDGmGnjnveCpi1Tj6TV-LWvmzQ5-8hZIeD2G4UpipHmUJYkS5z6w2B-aHMkiS8J1ROX4DjVrdDlNaxDor-730bc/s1600/echo-in-the-bone-an-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEick0_VhppJU-82QnSd-qo_Yd8737tRhYIcpJ-lSna2ITcSzrh_WnLjuDGmGnjnveCpi1Tj6TV-LWvmzQ5-8hZIeD2G4UpipHmUJYkS5z6w2B-aHMkiS8J1ROX4DjVrdDlNaxDor-730bc/s1600/echo-in-the-bone-an-3.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The back of the book:</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE FIRST 6, THIS MAY BE A SPOILER ALERT! I WILL INCLUDE THE BACK OF THE BOOK FOR THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES AT THE BOTTOM. SKIP TO THE NEXT BIG BOLD SECTION TO AVOID ANY SPOILERS (OR CONFUSION).</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Jamie Fraser, former Jacobite and reluctant rebel, is already certain of three things about the American rebellion: The Americans will win, fighting on the side of victory is no guarantee of survival, and he'd rather die than have to face his illegitimate son- a young lieutenant in the British army- across the barrel of a gun.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Claire Randall knows that the Americans will win too, but not what the ultimate price may be. That price won't include Jamie's life or his happiness, though- not if she has anything to say about it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, in the relative safety of the twentieth century, Jamie and Claire's daughter, Brianna, and her husband, Roger MacKenzie, have resettled in a historic Scottish home where, across a chasm of two centuries, the unfolding drama of Brianna's parents' story comes to life through Claire's letters. The fragile pages reveal Claire's love for battle-scarred Jamie Fraser and their flight from North Carolina to the high seas, where they encounter privateers and ocean battles- as Brianna and Roger search for clues not only to Claire's fate but to their own. Because the future of the MacKenzie family in the Highlands is mysteriously, irrevocably, and intimately entwined with life and death in war-torn colonial America.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With stunning cameos of historical characters from Benedict Arnold to Benjamin Franklin, <i>An Echo in the Bone </i>is a soaring masterpiece of imagination, insight, character, and adventure- a novel that echoes in the mind long after the last page is turned."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would like to add that I disagree with this "Back of the Book"- it really doesn't paint the picture well at all. If I had written it, I would not have mentioned Claire and Jamie's "flight" as they call it. I would more or less word it as their journey, and not on the seas, because they spend very little time on the boat. They also don't mention William (Jamie's illegitimate son) enough- he has a huge role in the story (along with Jamie's nephew Ian). And Brianna and Roger's fate is certainly not as connected with the past in this book as it lets on. It will be in the next book, however (shutting up now).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Bibliography</i>:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gabaldon, Diana. <i>An Echo in the Bone</i>. New York, New York: Delacorte Press, 2009.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can find the book here or at your public library (support the libraries!).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total Pages: 820</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total pages read in 2011- 386</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total pages for 2011- 2,031</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Total pages remaining- 8,969</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>END OF ALL SPOILERS- YOU MAY START READING AGAIN!</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Back of the Book (Outlander, book 1 of the series):</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon- when she innocently touches a boulder in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach- an "outlander"- in Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of Our Lord... 1743.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life... and shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire... and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would like to add that the author has done some extensive research. While this is obviously a work of fiction, the history is legitimate. Even the clans. Don't let the fantasy portions of time travel push you away. It is extremely well done, with lots of history, great characters, and an amazing plot that continues to thrive 7 books into the series. You'll understand why we call them "the Jamie books" very quickly. And Claire is what every woman really wants to be. I swear.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Bibliography:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gabaldon, Diana. <i>Outlander</i>. New York, New York: Dell, 1991.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10751314701586648218noreply@blogger.com0