Built FORD Tough

I’m a bit of a complainer. I complain about nausea and fatness and lack of sleep constantly, it seems (to me). But please… dont misunderstand this for ungratefulness (not that anyone has… i just dont want to come across that way)!

I feel so unbelieveably blessed to be carrying a child. Knowing that he/she is a little of me (scary!) and hopefully alot of Jeff.. that is EXCITING. I love Jeff with all that I have and am so honored to be having his baby. Even more so, i’m honored and humbled that the Lord hand knit this baby into my womb.

The word in Genesis for "make" is different in the context of the Lord speaking or making the world into existence vs. the word used to describe His creation of us. It actually differentiates to let us know that he didnt just think of adam and eve or speak them into existence, but that he hand crafted them. Like an artist would do to a creation.

And that is just what the Lord has done in me. For me, he created me… he saved me and changed me (although i look less like my father than i wish) to be like Him…. and He took the time to knit this child, its every being, into me. That, my friend, is a miracle.

So while i complain because i’m weak and simply tend to be a bit of a debbie downer (thank you to my friends who laugh at that instead of being annoyed by it!), I am overwhelmed by my God.

Yall…

I’m getting a "bus driver" belly.

Youknow, the kind that sits on your lap with the children….

GROSS!!!!  

My friend Kristy tagged me. I’m supposed to list my top 5 quirks!

1. I hate when people cant spell definitely. I see it posted as definately all the time. Now, i know that i cant spell, either. But for some reason i just feel that word is not all that difficult. Going along w/ the grammar and spelling, i hate it when people use the word "good" instead of "well". Something can be good, but you do something well.  I think it makes people sound uneducated. Keep in mind, i have lots of grammar issues for myself, but this one i know and understand so it drives me crazy!

2. I cannot, will not miss the young and the restless every day. I watch it at work during lunch (keeps me out of the office gossip and makes me bring my lunch). However, if i do miss it while at work, have no fear! We record it at home (Jeff’s addicted as well). The only problem is if Jeff watches it and goes into auto pilot and erases it when i havent seen it yet… grrrrrr!

3. When the heater comes on in the house and jeff thinks its warm enough, he turns the entire unit off. Off! How ridiculous?! Why not turn it down. But no, he turns it off, forgets about it and we wake up seeing our breath the next morning. I hate being cold, so this irks my nerves. He knows it. And he thinks its funny.

4. I get SO annoyed when people come in to get their teeth cleaned and they have food in their hands. Seriously? Most people brush and floss before coming, but the rare crazy person comes in with lunch and scarfs it down as fast as they can before i get to them and I get to pick it all out. I think its the only time my job grosses me out. Here’s the kicker. I’m over it! So now, when a patient does that, I give them a toothbrush and toothpaste and tell them i’ll be with them as soon as they get done freshening up. Its just ridiculous to expect someone to pick chicken from your teeth!

5. Dum, dum, dum…. like Kristy and Donna, i will not go barefoot around the house. This is probably for a very different reason than you think. We have hardwoods (fabricated…shiny) throughout the house and when you walk around barefoot it leaves footprints. Now since we moved in, I have learned to mop w/ vinegar water and it doesnt leave so much of a film so it doesnt leave prints anymore, but by now i’m used to it and still bothered by even the idea of potential sweaty foot marks… so i avoid it at all costs! Socks or flip flops for me!

So… who can i tag? Katie, Morgan and Missy!

I was lying in bed this morning, thinking about how much I want a new mattress! We went looking at some last night and now i must have one. Interestingly enough, we just bought ours less than a year ago. A sealy postrupedic… but its too firm for us and we cant sleep. A year of that will totally make you not care that you just spent a massive amount on one mattress.

Anyhoo. Thats not why i’m writing. I was lying on my back and i pulled up my shirt to see my belly. It pokes out some when i’m standing up, but its always done that. I have the curse of gaining weight in my midsection. Somewhat easy to hide, but super ugly in a bathingsuit. Well, at any weight I have been able to lay on my back and my stomach is flat (all the fat goes around back i guess). But today, the lower part of my tummy poked on out there, all proud and everything. I was SHOCKED. Like i said, I’ve only gained 1lb! But the tummy is filling out. Now, i know that my jeans get uncomfortable after a bit and i’ve resorted to not buttoning them (thank goodness its fall and sweaters hide that part). Point being…

This has honestly not seemed real to me. I know that they say theres a baby growing. I see the ultrasounds. I heard the heartbeat. But it just doesnt seem real. Not in a "cool, this is surreal" kind of way, but in a this really just doesnt seem real way. I dont know if its because i’m hesitant to get used to the idea because of the past experiences or what…

There are times when i realize just how real it is and I get very excited. I’m getting all sappy lately, thinking of my childhood and wanting my kids to have great memories like I do.

Has anyone else ever felt like this? And when will it change? When i feel it kick? I just have so many questions as to when this will all be more real than I can imagine…

We heard the heartbeat yesterday!!! The rate was around 160 which Dr Pohl said is very normal and that 99% of all 12 week babies have  that heartrate!

And i’ve only gained 1 lb. so far. YAY! BUT… my tummy does seem to be poking out a bit… even at only 1 lb!

This weekend was a busy one. Friday, I went to/co hosted (w/ all the girls from work) a shower for our "front desk girl", Kerri. She’s getting married Nov 8th. We all had a good time getting to see one another outside of work. I feel really blessed that I work w/ girls that i would even want to hang with!

Friday night we went to Ivan (Jeff’s BFF) and Jennifer’s home. He made the most rockin homemade meatloaf i’ve ever had. And roasted asparagus (1st time trying this, and i LOVED IT), salad and sweet potato. Jeff made a rockin vanilla and choclate delight… he’s such a good hubby! We had fun in their recently finished (by Ivan himself) basement playing air hockey, foosball, ping pong and darts. Jeff ruled Ivan, which made his night! Jennifer and I had a great time catching up and she loaned me some GREAT maternity clothes.

PS. I’m all up for borrowing maternity clothes if you want to loan some. I normally wear a small or medium in stuff. Hint, hint. I will return stuff!!!

Ok, back to the weekend. Saturday we had pics done by our friend Christy Martin. You can check out her awesome website at www.christymartinphotography.com . Sat evening, Jeff and I were bored and went to the Washington Farms pumpkin pickin patch/ corn maze/ petting zoo. We loved the goats, rabbits and especially the PIG RACES! They were a blast. Unfortunately, my camera batteries died after taking one pic of jeff that was just his back side (hey, its cute!) so no pics. SORRY!

And today we went to Jeff’s mom’s side of the family reunion. Actually, it was his grandmothers side of the family. We knew like 3 people. But it was good to get to spend time w/ Ronni and Jeff. Good times.

Baby update: 12 weeks today. Feeling much better. I finally dusted and dust mopped the floors and furniture today. I think i collected enough spud hair to make 2 more spuds. Gross. THATS how long its been since i swept… yeah, like 6 weeks… ever since i got sick feeling. So the fact that the floors are clean feels REALLY good. Next, filing the mail.

We go wed. for a checkup and to hear the heartbeat. Stay tuned…

My friend Miriam tagged me in this fun game. So i’ll oblige.

4 Things I did Today:

1. Cleaned out all the summer clothes i’ve had since 1997 and keep hoping will fit again one day. I’m preggo, its never gonna happen.
2. Continued to grow my baby. Its hard work, people!
3. Went to "Kellies" home cooking in Loganville w/ Jeff. Thats as fancy as it gets for us these days.
4. Bought a shirt at belk for our pics to be done next weekend.

4 Things on My To Do List:

1. Sweep and mop floors. Hardwood’s are nice, but a pain!
2. Finish cleaning out the closet of what will be the nursery.
3. Start actually using the elliptical from Christmas.
4. Try on all my pants and get rid of what doesnt (and hasnt) fit.

4 of My Guilty Pleasures:

1. DVR. Its the best thing EVER invented.
2. Which leads me to my tv shows. Biggest Loser, House, Suvivor, Grays Anatomy and of course The Young and the Restless.
3. Naps at lunchtime. I should do my devotional then, but i enjoy napping WAY too much.
4. The snooze button.  (ps. i didnt name any foods cause there are way more than 4 and i dont even feel guilty about them anymore).

4 Random Facts About Me:

1. I love to cut grass. Bermuda, specifically. I’m allergic to fescue.
2. I loathe cooking. I dont like anything if i’ve been the one to prepare it. Eating out is so much better.
3. I get grossed out by feet that are not taken care of. Long toenails are a specific gag inducer for me. uggg….moving on.
4. I’ve drank choclate milk every morning for the last 10 or so years. But now that i’m preggo, i cant stand the thought. I’ve even tried more choclate…its a no go. You cant understand how this has reaked havock on my life.

Well, i hope you’ve enjoyed these useless facts about me. If i were creative and detailed I would have added pics for interest, but i really dont care for the computer and uploading pics takes time away from potential naps, so i forego them.

I want to learn more about some of you, so the 4 people I tag:

1. Lou Ellen
2. Kristin
3. Donna
4. Heather

Last night I wanted some of those presliced apples from publix. So in the rain, I trotted myself to publix after work to get groceries, therefore missing church for the first time in AGES. Serioulsy, a girls gotta have what we’ve gotta have!

Ok, so as i’m walking in there is this shorter, very wide woman walking VERY slowly w/ a cane in the rain and sometimes just stopping. Well, she was getting soaked so i walked up beside her to share my umbrella w/ her. To which she said "i dont need an umbrella, i cant breathe. i need a motorized chair. GO." Wow. Ok, so i know from experience of having asthma that not being able to breathe is a very scary thing and can make you say things you normally wouldnt. So i smiled and said i’d be right back, for her not to move. I got the chair, took it out to her and without so much as a thank you, she got in it and drove off and went about her shopping. I passed her twice in the store and she never even aknowledged me. Now, i wasnt looking for a gold medal, but i was hoping that an act of kindness (really of humanity!) could soften her tough exterior. I guess not.

What is up w/ ppl and their entitlement issues these days?

Warning: This post updates you on the entire summer. Pics finally included. It is not for the faint at heart, but is my attempt to catch up on blogging and get you all up to date on all the most important stuff. If you ask me, its worth making it to the end…but dont skip there! You can click on any of the pics to enlarge it.

First, my bday. Jeff took me to longhorns.

This is Jason’s girlfriend, Liz, and I at her bday celebration (we are 1 day apart in bdays) and the 2nd pic is just for funsies.

Jeff and I enjoyed dinner w/ some good friends, Jeff and Carrie.

Then we enjoyed Central Gwinnett’s 10 year reunion.

And i have enjoyed 2 girls trips this september, w/o jeff. I did feel bad for leaving him twice! The 1st trip was w/ girls from church and we went to Pensecola FL, where my friend Beverly owns a beautiful home. The birds were stalking us for our lunch!

My 2nd trip was to Myrtle beach with high school/ church pals.

We also went to the fair!

But most importantly, we found out that we are growing our family!

At a little over 5 weeks

Just past 7 weeks

And most recently at 9 wks 2 days.

We are due may 3rd and i am 10 weeks preggo today. We have been quite nervous becuase of our history, but are SO grateful! I have been clinging to Isaiah as I posted earlier:

Do not remember the things of the past, nor consider the things of old. Behold I am doing a new thing and it will spring forth, shall you not know it?!!!

I am spoiled to so many ultrasounds because of being "high risk"! I wont have another until 12 weeks and then not again until 20~ i’ll miss seeing him/her grow during that 8 weeks! The obgyn gave me a dvd of the last ultrasound and he (for sake of time, i call it a he for now) kicked his little leg! I’ve gotta admit that it made it all to real to me then! We are calling him our little gummie bear.

God is so good. Not because He has given this to us. But because he just is. And he didnt have to give us this life, but did! Definitely undeserved.

I am nasty nauseated all day 24/7 and i’ll be honest…i’m tired of it! But i know that SO many women have it so much worse! And i know its a good sign. But i’ll be glad when food is appealing again!

I will post pics of the "baby bump" when i can blame the bump on the baby. Lets face it, right now, its all me! haha!

Do not remember the things of the past, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing and it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?

I know that my past haunts me sometimes in my own heart. And i find GREAT comfort in this.

What is holding you back from living life to its fullest?