why is my coffee un-appealing?

It's just the strangest thing. You know I LOVE coffee and have often called myself the coffee snob however even the "good" coffee does not appeal to me...not even in the morning. I have been drinking bottled water at breakfast. Is that strange or what? Maybe it is a first/last trimester thing but it just started and I have a month (yesterday) till Brock is here. I don't know what is up with it. Overall, I am feeling better than i would have expected at this point. Today and yesterday feel like he could stay in there another month and I would be fine. Don't really like looking so big-but that comes with being pregnant to 9 months right? I do have to get up tons in the night but that won't change except I will be also getting up changing diapers and possibley hearing crying so i can't complain about that. My back hurts occasionally but nothing severe. I have lots of BH contractions but I am not THAT uncomfortable yet. Not enough to try some of the tricks that I hear people doing to get their babies to come on. I know what is like to have little early baby and it isn't that good. What is a couple more weeks. Somebody remind me that I said this in a couple weeks. Anyhow, I hope my love for coffee comes back. You know I even like the idea of it----just isn't tasting right. I still try. I try to drink it some but it hasn't been the same.

the mouth

Arden went for her 3 year appt at the doc today. He said everything looked awesome. She is in the 98% for tallness and weight. He was happy that she is starting pre-k because he said her verbal skills were really excellent. She was telling him that I was mad at my pants last week--which was true. The belly was pushing them down. Anyway, he proceeded to give me some encouraging words that Arden would be testing the limits at this age. He said 3 is a very difficult age for girls and they are just going to see what all they can get away with. He said it is not uncommon for them to test their mothers especially. He said sometimes it may feel like I am making no progress with her but just to be consistant with making sure that I deal with defiant behavior-where she likes to act like the boss.
I am kinda glad that he brought it up because we have been having tons of that lately. It does make me mad when i am really tired and we have had a long day-basically when i am out of patience. However on a reg. basis I don't really mind it. It is actually pretty funny sometimes. He actually suggested that it will be a quality that will be good for her later in life because she will be independent and have leadership abilities. Yeah, but she might kill her momma in the meantime of teenage years. ha. No really, we have had some funny times lately. you can never ever tell what she will say. Sometimes I will tell her to eat her food and she will look at me and tell me to eat. I could smack her little mouth 3-4 times in a row and she will repeat whatever it is. I have had to count to 3. I have given warnings. I have made her put toys back for talking "ugly" to which she might reply "you were being ugly first". I am telling you--the 3's are a different world away from the compliant 2 year old that never told me "no". I have really been so blessed for most of her life so far. She can go anywhere and do anything and stay up late and go to dinner with us and we never have a problem. She is just realizing that she has an opinion that can be voiced at times. She is still very good but I thought I would share this horrific experience that we had the other night.
I was tired but needed to make a walmart run. Didn't want Matt to let her sit and watch tv so I took her with me. Soon as we got there we got 2 waters out of vending machine and before we even got a buggy we made our first trip to potty. Let me say she has been horrible lately of trying to open door when I am sitting my newly huge bottom on the toilet and today was no exception. There was no door hanger so here I am with my purse around my neck and holding 2 water bottles. She is touching pad trash can and jumping (doing her exercise) while holding on to the handicap safety grips. She proceeds to take her bottle and is licking the outside. I tell her to stop because it's nasty and then she drops it on ground so it goes rolling. Outside of the bathroom, I ask if she wants to sit in front or back of buggy-she cries and says she wants to walk. Walking in the walmart equals me nagging to hurry up and her touching everything and asking if we can get it so I say no. She proceeds to cry while I hoist her 45lb into the front seat of buggy. As we are walking to back of store she still has tears and everyone was looking. I tell her if she doesn't "can it" I am taking her back to the bathroom to "give her something to cry about". She stops immediately and goes into her latest favorite movie voice-CORALINE. She says in a very loud and dramatic voice "I want to be with my REAL mom and dad! I want you to LET ME GO". If child services really worked in the good ol' State of Tn. I am sure they were getting called from other women pushing their buggies. I just have to laugh. She is too funny sometimes. I just get to the breaking point and then sometimes like that happens. She also had to go to potty really bad just as I was getting in line with a whole buggy of groceries. I asked her to hold it till we got home. She did till we got to car and got all groceries in. Then she was holding herself and said her pee pee was hurting her. We had to go back in to the bathroom AGAIN. I called mom on the way home and asked her how she kept from beating her children. She just laughed.
Just thought I would share a day in the life lately. Here is a picture of someone who thinks she does no wrong.

surprise

I had a great doc appointment today. I have been anxious because of this whole taking shots every weeek and being taken off exercise at 30 weeks and Arden being a premie. But today the doc said I am officially not high risk for pre-term any more. No centimeters dialated and no effacement so now the body should just be able to do it normal because it looks like I am not in hyperdrive this time. So exciting. I had the hospital bags packed just in case and have been trying to get ready like a mad woman. I am even going to go to bellydancing tonight since he said I could resume normal activities. I won't be walking 4 miles a day but some walking wouldn't hurt as long as I don't over do it. I am DONE DONE DONE with shots!!! Yippee! So, I was all releived about those things. Boy is weighing about 5lb10oz and he said there could be as much as half a pound in error so he could be about 6lb. Way to go little boy. We still have never gotten a good picture of him from ultrasound. i have had tons of them and no good pictures. Arden only had a few and tons of good pictures. So he will be a surprise boy. I did have a dream that we saw a head-dot on his ultrasound one day last week. ha. It was in the same place as Arden's and I was like...what is up with that. I make babies with head dots.

Anyway, another big surprise when I came to work after doc appt. Mom and Chas and Andy had painted the old nasty wood paneling back office where I usually rock Arden and decorated it like a nursery for the kiddos.It had dad's old magazines and just a mish-mash of stuff junked back there. I was so excited and shocked. I have been wanting to paint that for ages. it was the best surprise. Not just because it is so cute but because I have been worried about having to come back to work much earlier this time with the two kiddos and feeling a tad overwhelmed. i am a control freak and don't want other people doing my job either so I haven't really taught anyone how to do it and we don't have that many employees anyway. Grammy may have to pick me up after that first week home and bring me to do payroll or she can just bring my laptop and printer to my house. I don't know. I have thought it will be kinda yucky to have to rush back from being at home to the office without all that good watching tv in the middle of the day and letting Arden play with a new baby at home. This really helps though. I feel so excited about them having a room. at the shop. All the silly paint is really out of place in our shop but so great for a nap spot and place to rock or play etc. Just perfect.

oh no, it can't be

I am so hoping i am wrong and it was just creases from sitting in my jean shorts. But-it could be the beginning of some very low stretch marks. Never had any with Arden so I am hoping that I am wrong.They are very low so it is hard to tell. I can't really see down there and Arden never dropped that low so it is a diff. experience. Arden and i went shopping today. We probaby made it to Hamilton Place at just before 11 and maybe home at 5. That is all that both of us could take. We went to the mall and pier one,home goods, world market, etc. We went in tons of stores. I did have some contractions and I would have to go find somewhere to sit. Arden was ready to go and so was I. We did get some cute things for the house and of course Pier 1 candles. They are simply the best, even though not the cheapest. i love them. We also got some clearance stuff for ard from gymboree and we had a 30% coupon so it was awesome. I am just resting with feet up on the couch. I saw this girl (at the kids place area) that was due the end of Oct. Her poor ankles were huge swollen. It made me very thankful that I didn't have that. So maybe i get a few stretch marks but maybe i get to avoid swollen ankles......maybe.

getting back on schedule

Mom has been constantly reminding me that I need to get Arden back on a nap schedule before school starts back etc. I have been so lazy with her lately. it is hard to rock a 45lb kid when you have a 30lb belly in the way. Did i mention exhausting? I am straining my guts loose to get her from rocker to the bed etc. We have busy too and short-handed at the shop so i can't always leave my desk at 2pm to rock her. I have just been letting her do whatever since we got back from vacation a month ago and since she turned 3 but what usually comes of that is an exhausted kiddo at the end of the work day. She will fall asleep on the way home or will stay up and by 9pm she will be laughing to stay awake. So yesterday was a perfect example as you can see from the picture. We were very busy and Jerry wasn't here so dad brought her bed out behind my desk--notice the file cabinets in the background. She just passed out. She is down already for today and I am hurrying to do some bills and maybe run out to get a couple things if i can. I have no energy after work is over and in an hour i can get those things. We will see.

34 weeks and counting

I went to the doc this morning and it was a very uneventful appointment--which is a good thing. I have been kinda anxious because I had Arden this week--on Wednesday.I definately had some symptoms that I have not had with little boy and the main thing was that I was already having some pretty good contracctions and she was not head down. The doctor checked my bp and the baby's heart rate and both were very good. My fluid levels looked good too and they were a little low with Arden-which complicated an already complex situation. This was a very reassuring visit. The doc's exact words were "i am very pleased with this pregnancy and how it is going-I think you will have a very successful vaginal birth this time". Hooray! Boy is still head down and he said all the cramping feelings that I am having at night can be attributed to the body releasing relaxin with is a hormone that causes your joints to loosen. He said that usually causes aching in the hips and in my case-legs. He said just watch for contractions that won't slow down and try to take it easy after work. I have been going home and eating pb&j everynight and nesting and watching movies with Arden. We watched Chronicles of Narnia last night in our bathrobes and ate popcorn. It was great. I am getting so excited for boy!!! For some of you who know me, I like surprises. I like to plan but i also like surprises like sweet notes for no reason (maybe Matt should read this :)) and surprise Christmas presents etc. I am feeling the same way about boy--I don't know when he will come but I am excited that it might not be the same as last time and it might be cool. I know it will hurt-I am not that dumb but I just mean a whole new experience of going to the hospital because the baby is coming and all that jazz. We have not been able to see him well at all on the ultrasounds so I am excited to see if he has hair or if he looks like daddy or whatever he looks like. I am just excited for a new experience-even if it is scary or strange-it will be something i always remember. So, I will know alot more about dialation and the like next week. Until then I will be resting and nesting.

oh and I almost forgot-----Matt bought a fan at walmart last night and it is the best thing since sliced bread. no sweating at night and saving money on the electric bill.

only 1 more to go!!!!

HOOORAY! I am almost done with the shots. I had my next to last shot today. I have one more next Friday and then I am free. They are the P17 hydroxyprogesterone shot to prevent preterm effacement. Mom has been so good to give them to me since 20 weeks.

don't forget-Miracle treat day

it's today. me and shelly are having a date there tonight. girl scout blizzard here i come.

some porch pics--all complete

I still don't have furniture for the open part and Matt has been working on the grass. It is just too hot to be out there for this bigger version of me right now. I can go out with my coffee in morning but i am not really waking up early enough for that right now. Cherishing my sleep. I had to include this picture of my girl because it was just too cute!!!! She fell asleep watching a movie. Also, they are doing another Miracle treat day at Dairy Queen on Thursday.I am definately going this time




.

running out of room..

just have a look for yourself. 32.5 weeks.
whoa. still have a belly button though. And still amazingly feel okay with much pressure. need a belly bra. ha.

get a blizzard today..you know you want one

In Chatt town today is miracle treat day at DQ. I know the advertisements say Aug 13th but Chatt-town does things a little different. I was in there Tuesday getting my first blizzard (maybe not last) of this pregnancy and they told me if i came in thursday and bought a blizzard then all the proceeds would go to the local children's miracle network hostpital. Do you really need any more incentive to get a blizzard than that. If you need another reason I will give you this---the blizzard pictured above is the THIN MINT girlscout blizzard. it is just for the month of August and I am thinking it could be extremely awesome. The guy at the window this week told me it was the best one that they made. YUM!!!

growing baby boy

He is getting so big. 4lb 1oz. I went to the doctor and he is already head down. I could tell on Sunday when i was walking around target. I had tons more pressure and had to go to the bathroom about 5 times in an hour. I feel very good though. I am so thankful that I don't feel like poo.......yet. I know everyone says that last month will kill me. I am even sleeping better too.
I am getting together all the things we might need that I borrowed from last time. I am anxious but really excited about the unknown. I am praying that this delivery is much different than last time. I am also concentrating on having a more grace filled attitude toward myself and the ideals that I have for myself post-baby. I was not realistic at all last time.When i get frustrated with myself those are some of the worst times of my life. I thought I would be back up at 5am and running and nursing a baby and doing it all with one hand tied behind my back. I laugh at that now. So I am looking forward to a little down time and growing our family and getting to know a new little personality.
I had a shower last weekend at my house. it was so great!!!! I need pictures of how awesome the flowers are. They are still making my house look awesome. Still eating the cake too---strawberry with cream cheese icing. :) It was just really nice to be able to talk to everyone and have everyone in my home. I enjoyed it so much.
I will try to keep everyone updated on what doc says on the 17th. It was this next visit where they put me in the hospital to have Arden. I am thinking that will not happen this time but it still makes me a little scared. I did not suspect it at all with her--not that early. but he has been checking much more closely this time and I have been taking the shots weekly to try to keep this boy in. He is already head-down so that is different than his sister who was standing up. I would post a pic but none of the 3d ones have been any good. maybe next time.