136

Since I can't come up with titles to my posts, I figured I might as well just countdown the days until the baby is due. That way I can look back and remmeber how I was feeling so far out (or so close when the time comes).

Anyway, Byron's birthday was good. We had Meaghan come and babysit (she is great with Brannan) and we went and blew $170 at Flemings! OMG! It was all a gift card for watching some friends' dogs for two weeks, but man, I don't think I've ever spent that much money on one dinner for two people before - and I wasn't even drinking! So we were going to see a movie, but dinner ended up taking so long, we missed it and went to Monkey Pants instead. It was weird being in a bar and drinking water only. I can't imagine doing that all the time. It is probably one of the last times I will be in a bar for a while.

I found out yesterday that my unemployment benefits have run out. Man, that gave me a nasty feeling in the pit of my stomach. I really, really, really don't want to go back to work. I don't know what I am going to do. I don't have any sort of career goals - I really just want to be a mom! I don't know what my husband thinks. We haven't sat down and talked about it just yet. I think we may be ok with just his income, but we need to sit down and talk it out before we make any moves. Plus, with the baby coming, it just doesn't seem right to start in on some career path. Oh, who knows. More about all that later I think.

Anyway, I have to get dinner ready. Everything is feeling good baby-wise. I haven't had hardly any nause and I have been feeling the baby moving around a lot more lately. It is getting pretty exciting being at 20 weeks. And, I got approached by a woman today asking me for pregnancy/workout advice at the gym. Pretty good for the ego, that's for sure!

142

Wow! The days sure are flying by lately. All of our visitors have left today. It seems like 10 days just flew by, and we didn't even get half of the projects done that we wanted to. Oh well, at least we got the flooring in and half of the countertops. One of the countertops didn't work out so well, so it will need to be redone. Fun fun.

We had an ultrasound on Tuesday.

Here you are little puddin pie...

Mommy drew some funny stuff on your face.

Daddy and I think you are a little boy - mostly because everyone else thinks you are going to be a girl. At the ultrasound, the technician looked at your privates, but we didn't! We looked at each other and giggled a little bit knowing that in 142 days you are going to show them to us and let us know who you really are.

I posted this picture out on Facebook too. Not too many people commented on it. I guess they didn't find it as funny as I did. Oh well.

Today we are having a major storm. All this week things have been rainy and windy and wet. I love it, but unfortunately we had visitors from the northlands who didn't really need to see clouds and rain. Oh well - I can't predict the weather. I made lots of food and tried to keep everyone happy. Sunday was a really tough day for me. Up early for the marathon, then cooking, then running around the marathon for 2 hours looking for people, then hosting a little party. Whew - I was dog tired! I haven't been that tired in quite some time, honestly.

So, now I am catching up on all the laundry and things are kindof back to normal. Daddy is reading a bedtime story to the big boy and then putting him to bed (in his OWN bed tonight!). Brannan has been in our room in his pack and play, but man, he is a light sleeper - AND he talks in his sleep! He was talking about ice cream last night around 2am. He just kept saying "my ice cream mommy" and I would say "shhhhhhhh, it is still night night time" and he kept saying it so finally I said "ok, brannan, now go to sleep." Too funny.

Anyway, nothing major happened while everyone was here on vacation. Just the regular stuff. Lots of visits to the zoo, the parks and a museum. We went to Disney on Ice one night and the kids really liked it, I think. It was cute to see.

I am so tired tonight I am going to bed early in my clean sheets! Nothing better than clean sheets on a tired night.

150

One hundred and fifty days to go little puddin! Puddin pie! What are you up to in there? I haven't heard from you in a while. Things in there have been a little quiet. We are going to see you soon though. On tuesday we are going to see you! Daddy is going to come too.

We have visitors in town right now so the house is a big mess and kinda crowded.

We got a new wood floor in the front room today though, so things in there look really nice. I can't wait for just a little more space, though. At least we will be able to sit on the couches again.

I really don't have too much time right now, but just wanted to let you know that I'm still thinking about you and can't wait until Tuesday when we see you!

BTW

157 days to go. It still seems like a very, very long time...

Happy 2010

Do we say "twenty ten" or is it "two thousand ten?"

Not sure.

I guess I haven't really been put to the test yet since my toddler barely cares what day of the week it is let alone what year it is.

Anywho - it is already the new year and it is starting out great. We finally got most of the house painted. Just a few touch ups here and there. We ripped out the front room carpet - I wish we weren't storing the old carpet behind the couch, but whatever, I'll just deal with it. And, we got the wood flooring here, so we are all ready for my brother in law to come and help with the handiwork. I can't wait for the new floors to be in. It will look great. Oh, and we got our countertop laminate, and I really need to go and get a new sink. I can't decide what to get - another stainless steel or should I get a black ceramic? All the other appliances in the kitchen are black, so maybe a black ceramic sink? Ugh, not sure! Maybe my sister in law can help when she comes to visit.

They will all be here on Monday. It should be fun. We are scheduled to go to Disney on Ice one night and then there is the big marathon that is really the whole reason they are coming for (as well as other family members) which should be fun. I guess I should make a big dinner for Sunday night, but I'm not sure what I should make, and if I can make enough to feed everyone. There are going to be a LOT of people here. I don't want to make any decisions. I guess that is why I have been called a pushover. I don't want things to go wrong, so if I happen to make the decision to do something and everything falls apart then I don't want it to be my fault. Well, whatever. I'm going to feign tiredness or something so I don't have to be involved in too much.

Brannan has been so good lately. He has been really loving. He comes up to me and gives me spontaneous hugs and says "I love you mommy!" It is the cutest and most endearing thing ever! And, he even wants to sit with me now and then when he is watching Sesame Street or something in the morning. He is still taking naps, thankfully, and if he doesn't get a nap, he is absolutely freaky! He gets a little sleep deprived and won't listen if he doesn't get a nap. I'm not sure what is going to happen next week. He is going to be totally crazy. I hope he and Wyatt will be on the same schedule so they can nap at the same time.

I'm really excited to see my sister in law. We have become really close these past few years. It is great to have someone else to vent to when you need to. We have husbands in common and that means a lot. They are totally similar and totally different in ways, but they are related, so we can relate. It is great. The husbands have also become really close too. I'm so happy about that. They used to hardly ever talk on the phone to each other, but now, they talk at least 3 times a week. It's great. I'm glad that they get their "guy time" with each other. I can't possibly offer all the stimulation he needs, so at least he can get it from another brother.

Otherwise, January is off to a good start. Went to yoga today and my instructor is really sweet, she came up to me, readjusted me a little and asked how "we two" were doing today. It made me smile. I feel a little awkward at times doing yoga, especially when I see myself in the mirror (particularly sideways) and see my belly, but I'm so excited for this next baby that I don't even mind.

I've been a little worried about the baby lately. I had some mega major cramps a couple of weeks ago and have barely been able to feel the baby move at all. Maybe it just isn't time yet, but there is still a little anxiety there. It doesn't help that I read all this stuff out there on the internet about things going wrong, either. It doesn't help at all.

This year I'm going to try to be a better friend - especially to one particular person. I guess I'm not that easy on her so I've been trying to invite her to all sorts of things lately. I know I will get a "no" most of the time, but I think if I were single, I'd love to have all these invitations. Speaking of which, I need to go invite her to another event.