Oaklawn!

We went to Oaklawn on Friday with my dad and Tracey!
It was fun to sit and relax for a day!
I bet on horses based on their names. I only had luck 3 times. Ryan won a few as well, but he didn't write all his winnings in his book like me!
I ate a corn dog and fries (which I told you about yesterday) and Ryan had his Reuben he had been craving. Then I kept seeing people with chocolate yogurt. So, Tracey and I went to get some and they had run out the person in front of me! UGH! I was so sad, but the lady tried to get me some out and then topped it off with strawberry! That was so good! After parking, getting in, books, tip sheets, food and drinks, and betting, Ryan and I only lost $31. I thought that was a good price for 2 people so spend 5 hours at the races!

19 Weeks!

19 weeks!

Overeating! That is what I am learning about this week! When we went to the races on Friday I tried to eat my corn dog and fries and by the end I was miserable. I can honestly say I don't think I have ever over-ate in my life. That may be the worse feeling ever! I have now tried eating more small meals because I do not like that feeling. Since I have felt this way all week, I didn't get on the scale. I'll let it be a surprise at my appoint on the 9th how much I have gained.

I am still wearing my jeans with the bella band, but it is warming up, so I hope to be in dresses and flip flops next week. Though the bump is very noticeable now. There is no more questions about being pregnant. You can tell. I had three people ask me last week if I was pregnant! I smiled and answered YES!

Payne this week is growing rapidly. All of his senses are developing. He is now able to hear my voice. He is about 6 inches long and weighs about 8.5 ounces. The arms and legs are the correct proportion to the rest of the body. His kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on his scalp is sprouting.

I am planning on ordering the crib and bedding in the middle of April and I can't wait. I want the room to be ready by early June so I can enjoy it before he comes. We have also started registering, but I am not sure what all to register for. Any things I should or shouldn't register for? Any other advice you mothers would like to share I'd be glad to listen! Thanks!

Spring Break

Spring Break in officially over. It went by fast, as does any time I have off.

We started Spring Break with 12 inches of snow!

Our back patio.
Lucy wasn't sure about it at first, but then she ran around in it. Though, she preferred to stay inside.


It was all melted away by Tuesday when it was in the high 60's. Tuesday Ryan came home for lunch and we finished redoing our guest bedroom. I worked that afternoon and then Ryan's mom came into town so we ate dinner with her, A and B. Then went to Orange Mango for ice cream! That was a great place! I'm thinking many more visits will be made this summer!


Here are a few pictures of the guest room. It was our office that was all red and Razorback so we tried to incorporate a little Razorback into the room still. We are going to get a new tall chest of drawers and get rid of the computer and desk.





Wednesday I just hung around the house and switched my closet over. Then that night I went to Jose's with some friends from college. We hung out for a while and caught up on everything. It is relaxing to talk to other teachers about situations at different schools and get their opinions.

Thursday I packed and cleaned up a little, then Ryan and I headed to Benton/ Little Rock for the weekend. We went to the Races on Friday(pictures to come), shopped all day Saturday, and went to Michelle's and David's wedding that night( pictures to come). Sunday we went to church and head back to Fayetteville for a little date night at home.

Saturday we got so much done for Payne! I started the day with a bad attitude since I thought the world was totally against boys! Little did I know Little Rock loves them! We found a crib, fabric for the bedding, picked out the stroller and car seat, and got his outfit that we will bring him home in. I was so excited and worn out by the end of the day! I will blog about all that stuff this week.

Proud!

I look into the window of my mind
Reflections of the fears I know I've left behind
I step out of the ordinary
I can feel my soul ascending
I am on my way
Can't stop me now
And you can do the same

What have you done today to make you feel proud?
It's never too late to try
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
You could be so many people
If you make that break for freedom
What have you done today to make you feel proud?

Still so many answers I don't know
Realise that to question is how we grow
So I step out of the ordinary
I can feel my soul ascending
I am on my way
Can't stop me now
And you can do the same

What have you done today to make you feel proud?
It's never too late to try
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
You could be so many people
If you make that break for freedom
What have you done today to make you feel proud?

We need a change
Do it today
I can feel my spirit rising
We need a change
So do it today
'Cause I can see a clear horizon

What have you done today to make you feel proud?
So what have you done today to make you feel proud?
'Cause you could be so many people
If you make that break for freedom
So what have you done today to make you feel proud?
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
What have you done today
You could be so many people?
Just make that break for freedom
So what have you done today to make you feel proud?

This song makes me the happiest person every Tuesday night! It doesn't matter what has happen that day, I can watch Biggest Loser and the world is better! Does anyone else watch the show like me and cry because I feel like these peoples best friend? I know I am loser and I watch entirely too much TV.

18 Weeks!

18 weeks today! I can't believe that it has only been 10 weeks ago that we found out we were having a baby! It seems like yesterday I was waiting on the couch for Ryan to come home, so I could tell him.



My email this week tells me that the little guy is 5.5 inches long and about 7 ounces. His food comparison is a bell pepper. That is funny to think he is about that size. I imagine him so much bigger. I can feel him move a little. He likes to push on my left side and well frankly sometimes it hurts.

So far, I think I have gained 4-5 pounds. I am not sure my scale is so accurate. I have felt huge this past week. I keep saying I am having a fat week. My jeans that I so loved wearing with my bella band, are not so comfortable anymore. So Spring needs to hurry on up and get here so I can wear dresses all the time.

I love eating grilled cheese and turkey with Cheetos dipped in ketchup and mustard. I know I have eaten about 5 times this week. Pickles have become a huge part of my diet. I have eaten a jar and half of pickles since last Tuesday. That only took my three sittings. I have been eating more snacks in the afternoons, so I am eating dinner later and later. (Not such a good thing.) My lovely husband went to Sam's on Friday and came home with a box of sour straws!! UMMMM! I love them!

Sleeping has become an issue over the past week, after last week saying I slept fine. I can only lay on my right side, which is the side I normally sleep on so that is fine. Though my arms and legs fall asleep and tingle if I lay too long. I don't sleep has deep as I used too. Therefore, if Ryan makes a slight noise (snoring) or Lucy snores or cries, I'm awake for an hour or so. I don't know if this will pass, but I am not hopeful.

I am still looking forward to my doctor's appointment and the ultrasound in a few weeks. Though to add to my things I am looking forward, I can't wait to get the glider for Payne's room so I can sit in there and read my books about pregnancy and just daydream about him being here.

We are going home this coming weekend and I can't wait to see everyone. We are also going baby furniture shopping. Hopefully decisions will start being made in the next 2 weeks.

Baby Room Ideas

We decided that we want to go with dark brown furniture. We would just get the crib and the changing table/dresser. Then we also want a book shelf for his toys and books. I want to get the convertible furniture so that he can have it for many years. Now, the key will be to make sure that is stays nice for that long. Ryan's big input so far as been that he wants the back of the crib to be a straight back and that the bottom of the crib to be off the ground a little.

We think that whatever fabric pattern we go with we want to paint one wall in that pattern. For bedding I know we are going to do the bumper in the brown minky dots with the trim in the pattern fabric we choose. I want the blanket and the bed skirt to be in the pattern and a solid crib sheet.
Here are some of the fabrics we have seen so far.
For the bumper and the back of the blanket.

This is not a very good picture. It is brown and kind a mix between sage green and lime green. I like it but I think it might be a little dark and boring. I like this one, but not my favorite.

I really like this one, but I am concerned that it doesn't have brown. ???This is my favorite! I really like it and think it looks just like a baby boy! P.S. Ryan picked it out!


Then for the rocker/glider
I want a big chair with an ottoman. I want to do this is a solid brown fabric with a little texture and a really cute pillow. I think if I did it in a fabric that it can be for a boy or girl I can use it for the next baby and keep it for a long time.

For the art work in the room I have only thought about one thing. I want to get a frame built and have it painted brown and then get a canvas made that says "We'll love you through the good, the bad, the sunshine, or the rain" I love that saying and I want him to always know that is true!

I think I want so much brown that the room will be dark so I am thinking a brighter color on the walls.

Any other ideas to throw into the mix?

Census!!

I know it sounds stupid, but I was excited about being able to participate in the 2010 Census! I know I have been counted before, but I have never gotten to fill out the papers. We got our papers and I filled them out right then and put them right back in the mail box!
It's the small things in life that excite me! Sad to say!

17 weeks!

Today I am 17 weeks!



I am now over the sinus infection stuff. I still feel great! Payne weighs about 5 ounces and is about 5 inches long! I can't believe that because that seems so small, but on the ultra-sound at 13 weeks he looked so big!
I can't wait until the next ultra sound to see how much he has grown!
I am afraid that it really isn't a boy and I have been planning to have a boy now for 5 weeks. People keep making me second guess myself!
Ideas are still bouncing back and forth between Ryan and I on how we want to decorate the room. My goal is to decide by the first of April and then start ordering stuff after April 9th ultrasound to confirm once again that it is a boy.
People still say that they can't tell I have gained any weight and that it doesn't look like I have a baby bump. I think those people are crazy. I can look down and clearly see it!
I eat a lot of grilled cheese and turkeys, hamburgers, fries, jolly ranchers or anything I can suck on that is sour, peaches, and plums.
I'm still sleeping fine and have gone down to being able to go to the bathroom only once at night or even not at all if I quit drinking at 7. I am waiting on the day where I can't get comfortable any more. I sleep on my side most of the time so I am hoping I can continue to do that.
Overall, I am loving being pregnant!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Last Thursday was my 24th birthday! I had just a great past few days I just wanted to share with you all! I got many wonderful cards and presents from family, friends, and my students.

I started my day by being sung Happy Birthday over and over from my kids. Then my wonderful co-teacher, Lina, brought Rick's cookies for the whole grade! They even had polka-a-dots on them!

That afternoon Allison and Baxter sent me these beautiful flowers.



Then my mom sent my class cupcakes and chocolate cover strawberries for me. They were so yummy and my class thought it was great! We ate them on Friday afternoon because we had enough sugar that day! So, they sang to me again and gave me presents! They were all polka-a-dotted themed. I got a clip board and note pad, sticky notes, magnets, and a small notepad! Thanks!

That night Ryan, Heather, Adam and I went to Red Robin to eat dinner. Ryan brought me an ice cream cake!! OHHHH MYYY! So good!! I didn't get a picture until we got home so it was half eaten.



On Friday since Ryan and I were still a little under the weather and had a long week, we laid low at the house. Then Saturday, Ryan let me do whatever I wanted. We went to watch my 3rd grade boys play basketball, went to Wal-Mart, then to watch my 3rd grade girls play basketball all before lunch. Then we came home for lunch and Josh and Jennifer brought me chocolate chip cookies! Homemade might I add and they were SO good too! Thanks you all! That afternoon Ryan and I went fabric shopping for Payne's bedding. We got a few fabric samples. I will share them with you later. Then we came home and moved the guest bedroom to the office so that we can REALLY start planning Payne's room. I was so happy he wanted to help me move the furniture.

Thanks again for everything over the week and all the birthday wishes!!

Ooo la la

The love if my life. Bottled coke.


They were on sale today at walmart and I couldn't pass it up.

Baby Update

Well I am 16 weeks and 3 days.
(pictures to come later)

We went to the doctor on Wednesday and heard the heart beat again. It was 162. She said everything sounded good and she would see me again in 4 weeks.

So far, the only thing I am craving are things that aren't good for you! Candy and fried food! I love it and I can't help myself! Though before I was pregnant I loved chocolate, now no so much! (Maybe that will stick around after the pregnancy. )

I think total I have gained 4 pounds, but I pretty sure that varies from day to day. I don't like the way my clothes fit now. I use the bella band for all but one pair of my jeans. None of the khakis or J-crew pants fit anymore! I was bummed about that.

I still haven't had any morning sickness, but this past week I have had a sinus infection. That has really taken a toll on my body. I still sleep a lot and go to the bathroom once or twice a night, but I am getting used to the routine of getting up and going back to bed pretty fast. I have noticed that I fall asleep faster and hit my snooze two more times in the morning that I used too. Oops!

Today I told my students I was pregnant and that about the time they come back to school in fall I will be about to have a baby! They were so sweet and excited! Most of the questions were how long have I known, why I waited so long to tell them, when will it be here, will you have him on my birthday, can we all come the hospital and visit? Then, they kept telling me I was to skinny to have a baby growing in me! I told them to keep flattering me with comments! Going into it was scared to tell them, but it turned out so well!

We went baby furniture shopping last weekend so my brain is spinning with ideas. I will share a few of those later next week. We are so excited I am ready to move our guest bedroom to the office and get Payne's room ready! ( I tend to jump the gun about things when I am really excited!)

The plan this weekend is to rest. Ryan and I are both battling this sinus stuff still, so I hope by Monday we are all well! Thanks for all the comments on strollers and car seats. I will let you know what we finally decided.

Strollers and Car Seats Advice!

Ok, all you mommy's out there! I need help choosing a car seat and stroller. I am a planner and need to know which one I need way ahead of time. I am not sure which one is the best or which one will fit our needs the best. I kind of want it to be for a boy or a girl, so that we don't have to buy another one in the event that we have another baby down the road.

Ryan is all about Consumer Reports, so we will also be checking that out as well!

Thanks ahead of time for any advice!