Total Failure

I have been up since 3:30 am unable to sleep for the second night in a row. What is up with that?!? This kills me as I soon will be getting no sleep at all!

It has come to my attention that I am a failure as a pregnant lady. Apparently, my belly is not nearly big enough for most people out there. Whenever I am out I get the inevitable question of when I am due. I have come to dread this question. I'm thinking about fabricating a new due date just so I can fulfill others expectations. =) To which I reply, the 18th. Every time I get pretty much this exact response, "OF THIS MONTH?!?" Followed by, "you're not very big!" This is said in a very accusatory tone of voice making me feel like I must defend my too small belly. This is where I point out the obvious fact that I am very tall. (Finally, being the Jolly Green Giant is paying off for me!) One would think I would have BIG babies but they have all been average 7 1/2 pounders, though long. People are still skeptical though. They think my dates are wrong or encourage me to question the doctor on if "the baby is growing properly". In this day and age of ultrasounds do they really think the doctor could make that big of an oversight? And don't they think that might be upsetting to a lot of pregnant women to hear? Yes, I am starting to get just a little annoyed by these observations. I have heard it with each of my pregnancies so you would think I would be used to it by now but still find myself becoming annoyed. I do feel huge and uncomfortable, if that would make anyone feel better. Though, I will admit it would be harder to hear "you're huge comments" so it could be worse. Always looking for that silver lining! And does anyone ever even hear you're belly is just the right size? I'm guessing probably not.

Also on this note, I really do love all those pregnancy experts out there. My all time favorites are the ones who think they can divine the sex of your baby just by looking at you! They come up to you, and make bold, overly confident statements such as "you're having a girl". Even though they have a 50/50 shot on this one, somehow they are almost always wrong. When I tell them, no its a boy, they do not give up. They make smug comments like "I wouldn't count on that, if I were you!" Then, I get to pull out my trump card by saying, "I've had an amniocentesis and the chromosomal testing shows a boy." These people stand firm in their convictions. Though, I suspect they don't really understand what an amniocentesis is. Despite the fact that they are "experts". No worries though, soon I will be enjoying comments from all those baby "experts" out there. =D)

A Persuasive Argument

Whitney loves to read and her all time favorite books are by an author named Erin Hunter. The series is called "Warriors" and is about cats. She has read them all and anxiously awaits the newest release. Thanks to their handy website she is able to keep track of when a new book is coming out. Needless to say she has been lobbying and campaigning for the last 2 months laying the groundwork of her case. This morning while I was fixing her hair for school she reminded me of this fact and asked for the book. Chris and I have been trying to be better about teaching her the value of money. Plus, as everyone knows, as your kids get older their hearts desires get more and more expensive. =) I pointed out that the book would be around $20.00 since it will only be out in hardback right now. Her response was, "but if it keeps me off the streets, isn't it worth it?"

MY SURPRISE BABY SHOWER!!!

I was treated to quite the surprise yesterday. I thought Emilie and I were going shopping with a little detour to drop off some boy scout papers to Rome's house. I never knew my friends could be so devious!!! In fact, I'm a little disturbed by their talent for sneakiness. ;) Not for one moment did I suspect what was going on. As we pulled up to Rome's house I did notice there were a lot of cars at her house. But I figured she was having some kind of family get together so when Emilie asked me if I wanted to come in with her, I said I would just wait in the car. I didn't want to bother Rome when she was obviously so busy! A few minutes later Emilie comes back and says she wants you to come in, so she can show you something. Still not even a flicker of suspicion. Even when I walked in and saw the roomful of women and table of presents, I was still a little slow on the uptake. It took the shouting of surprise for me to fully grasp. I was completely blown away! I was so touched that Rome and Emilie went to all that trouble for me. Thanks guys, you're the best! And thank you to everyone else who came and gave me such awesome baby gifts. We had the yummiest food and lots of fun. Chris of course, was in on this little secret and never made any slips either which in itself is a miracle!

A Father/Son Moment to Remember

I hope no one is offended by this post but I thought it was pretty funny. Gavin just started practice for his first season of baseball not t-ball mind you, but real live actual baseball. Chris tells me that at their first practice/meeting the coach recommends that they get athletic supporters for the boys. Which quickly prompts Gavin to ask Chris what an athletic supporter is. To which Chris replies, its something you wear so your "eggs" don't get crushed by a baseball. To which Gavin even more quickly replies, that he wants one! ASAP!!!

Before practice yesterday Chris takes him into the bathroom for their special father/son moment and instructs him on the proper wearing of his first cup. Gavin comes out with a-not-so-sure-about-this look on his face and a very funny walk. On arriving home he immediately goes to the bathroom removes the cup, comes out, waves it around and announces "this thing itches like the Dickens!!!" About 20 minutes later I find it on my kitchen table. Then he and I got to have a little mother/son talk about appropriate places to keep one's athletic supporter. =)

The Cursed Dress

I don't really believe in bad luck but sometimes you just have to wonder what fates have aligned against you. =) I bought this dress over a year ago for Ashlyn because I loved it so much!!! Natalie Pierce and I were shopping together when I found this gem. Do you remember, Nat? I just love pink and green together and though its hard to see the detail in the photo, the flower cut overlay at the hemline. I even overlooked the fact that it was dry clean only which I usually can't see past when dressing a 3 year old, silly of me, I know. Finally the joyous day came when I pulled it out of Ashlyn's closet for her to wear at long last! Only to find a small brown spot smack dab in the middle of the bodice. How this happened when it had done nothing but hang in her closet, is still a mystery to me. After two trips to the cleaners the spot was vanquished to a hardly noticeable ghost of its former self. It's a good thing I snapped a few shots of her in it before church yesterday. Because about 30 minutes into church what do I hear but the unmistakable sound of ripping fabric as Ashlyn gets off her chair. ARRRGGGHH!!! She ripped right through that fancily cut overlay and there is no repairing it.

Chris's Newest Obsession. . .

Chris has been wanting a canoe for some time now but being the bargain hunter he is, has been patiently looking around for about a year now. I was actually treated to a little lecture, compliments of Chris, on how patient he is. Yes, that is right Patient Chris!!! But after some thought I realized in this particular instance he has shown quite a bit of patience. He found this steal on Craig's List and drove up Saturday with the kiddos to Wetumpka to pick up his sweet lil' Wenonah for only $60! Though she was made in 1984 and needs some TLC and work, he assures me he has made off with quite the steal and is the envy of the outdoorsy fitness forums he likes to frequent online. I think Gavin might be even more excited about it than Chris.

Scarred for Life

I had a check up with my OB doctor today. (I will be 36 weeks on Thursday, so about 3 more weeks to go!) I had Ashlyn with me and wasn't expecting to have a pelvic exam done at this visit. Now Ashlyn has seen a lot of doctors in her short little life and is not a fan. From a young age she could identify medical personnel on sight. In fact just the day before she had blood drawn and was not happy about it! In the middle of my exam I look over to see poor little Ashlyn cowering under a chair looking terrified. I know she was worried she was next because once the doctor was done and left the room she starting asking me what the stirrups were and repeatedly saying this is Mama's doctor, not Ashlyn's doctor. I assured her that yes, this was my doctor. Despite this assurance she was in a awful big hurry to leave!

Also to go off on a complete tangent, does anyone else have a child that loves the giant red balls sitting in front of Target? Ashlyn insists on hugging them every time we go!