1 month to go

I just wanted to point out that I'm still participating in Blog 365 (really 366 because of leap year), and that I HAVE posted every day for the last 11 months. Yes, a few times I had to 'catch up' and post a few days at a time, but that was well within the 'rules' for Blog 365. When I started it, I figured there would be no issue, but I had no idea how much pregnancy and of course the birth and having a new baby would slow me down. Of course I didnt know then that I would be pregnant, so I guess it doesn't really matter. Anyway, one more month and then I can go back to posting when I really have something great to say and not just every single day whether it's drivel or not.

Randomness..

We have our cloth diapers in, but now we're not sure how much/many times to wash them. I've heard anything from 3=10 times washed and dried, and we are paying for our water now, and have no idea how much our bill was from before, so I'm hesitant to just slosh all that water out with no outlet for it except down the drain. Probably stupid, but whatever.

Since we had to buy more 'regular' diapers, we decided to try Luvs as they were cheaper and you got more of them for less cash. So far (it's only been a few diapers worth), we haven't had any leaks, where the other brand we were using (because the hospital used them) had huge gaping holes around the legs, where in said baby peed all over me, the Luvs actually hug her legs and keep the 'stuff' in. Amazing. We'll see what happens in baby land. It's hard to tell these days.

My husband has had a few days off now and I'm kind of mad he has to go back to work. I actually get to breathe and do stuff (like post more than 2 sentences to my blog) when he is here all day. The baby also seems to sleep a lot better. Maybe he wears her out, I don't know, but I know there are extra hands which is super nice.

We got our apartment better set up over the last couple of days. Only a few items left to take care of. My husband is supposed to be printing out a picture to go on his desk at work, but I haven't heard the printer or seen him in a long time. Hmm.. Maybe he's napping.

I've gotten to see my favorite Christmas movies already this year. Makes me very happy.

I also have a present for all the adults and one teenager we buy for for Christmas. My nieces and nephews will get cash probably so that doesn't matter at this point. Just a tiny more bit of shopping to do. Awesome. Now if the things I wanted were actually in the store. Also I am making part of a present for my mom (insane, I know) and so far all I have done is washing the material. Must get started. Before baby wakes up.

Who needs Black Friday..

When you have the internet? Point, click, shop! Free shipping!

Thankful...

In no particular order, I am thankful for:

Healthy baby
Loving spouse
Supportive family
Prayful church family/friends
Loving God
Sleep
I-tunes/pepsi stuff points/amazon
The ability to read
Cell phones
Orange juice in a carton
Dishwashers and washing machines
Razors
Breast pumps
Sleep

oh yeah and Sleep...

Must see ...

Harry Potter movie number six comes out in July. Must see. Anyone want to babysit?

The Ellen Show...

I must say of all the things I've accidentally run across to listen to/halfway watch while attempting to feed the baby, the Ellen show is one of the better ones.

Yes, it is a little silly, but much better than a 'judge' show or some other talk shows where the teenagers cry 'it is your baby look at the nose or look at the ears' and the other ones say 'it's not my baby' and the results scream 'you ARE the father' followed by bitingly awful crying by the mother, cussing by the father, and many bleep outs, followed again by the girl chasing the boy across the stage hitting him and saying 'I told you so and you are paying for this child' etc. etc. They did those 10 years ago too, and you know they're not any better than they were then but the behavior on all parts is a lot worse than it was then.

Give me something where they dunk celebrities for charity, dance every show, and bring out hunks for a lap-on game of musical chairs in order to win tickets to a show in Las Vegas. There's no comparison. Also, Ellen cuts through a lot of crap and wincing around topics that most people do. She asks people stuff straight out and basically dares them not to answer. Giggle. Got to love that.

New clothes...

I was grateful to have maternity clothes as my body was expanding and otherwise I just looked 'fat' --however I took that time to downsize my winter clothing and guess what? Now I only have about 10 shirts that aren't dress shirts that I can wear. And most of them I wouldn't wear while trying to feed the baby.

I did however, pack away my maternity clothes (and size larger underwear that I had purchased) and got out the rest of my 'normal' clothes, yeah!

Doctor's visit...

http://lil-meeces.blogspot.com/2008/11/one-month-check-up.html

Fun monday info...

mariposa is the hostess and she wants to know about high lights of our lives, high moments and great things, read the next entry for my post.

Life's great moments (fun monday)

Congratulations
Will you
I do
The stick turned blue
It's a girl

Life lesson # 425

Speed eating yogurt can give you brain freeze just as easily as ice cream.

Thankful

My lord am I thankful, for a lot of things.

For a whole day where we had nothing we 'had' to do. We went and visited family and dropped off items that had been in the back of our pickup for 2 weeks and no one bothered them at all. Now they are being stored in my in-laws garage. My mom came over as my dad is still sick (at one point the doctors though emphysema, but us uneducated people knew better)... and Keeley had a great time being loved on by both grandmas and aunt Denise and her friend Bailey (assuming that's the way it's spelled). I was really surprised at how much Keeley responded when my mom talked, but our voices sound very much the same and I imagine the child was wondering why there were 2 of me running around and talking to her, but she liked it just the same. Such expressive looks and movements on her face.

After we had our visit we went to the Super Wal-Mart. Yes, I know some of you hate it, but really, it's better than the alternative, which is kind of like paying too much for car insurance, some times you have to do it, but you don't really want to. Anyway, I was thankful that my child was healthy before, but I am doubly, triply, quadruply glad now. This lady was in the bathroom and was taking a while, so I assume she had some business to take care of. She had about 4 kids, 2 of them teenagers that appeared to be mentally challenged, they appeared to be twins or close to it, with facial deformities and odd tics and ways of behaving even for teenagers. Then there was another one that seemed similar but younger and finally another child, who shared the same facial structure but without the deformity and she appeared to be the most mature even though she looked about 10 or 12 years old. They were outside of the bathroom for a while fake punching each other and clowning around and then they go into the bathroom and talk to their mom through the bathroom stall. And here this poor mom was just trying to go to the bathroom in peace and her kids are there with all their problems and I bet at some points she just wants to flush her head down the toilet. Yes, I am a million times over glad that my baby is healthy.

I also am glad we have money and a job. I saw the weary look on this mom's face, she was wearing an older coat and looked like she hadn't taken time to get her own hair cut in several years, but her kids were clean and happy looking. They were strumming on the guitar hero thingy with delighted looks on their faces and I could tell by looking at the mom that she wasn't sure she was going to be able to afford the thing, but she was going to try to get it for her kids for Christmas. Do you know what I mean? There was just a look of desperation to the situation that I remember 'feeling' when we 'waz po' folks'-- the funny thing is I had just said to Matthew on the way to visit family that I didnt ever want to be po' folks again, but if I had to, I could do it. Seeing that situation made me want to cry. I know wanting everyone to be 'even' is called socialism, but I don't care, no mom should ever feel like that. No woman should have to let herself go just to take care of her kids' health and well being. But millions of them do it every single day. And don't complain.

Enough said...

Triscuit hint of salt crackers...

Hey my friend KT mentioned some 'hint of salt' products a few months ago. I told her I thought it was a great idea. We all get too much sodium in our diets as it is which leads to all kinds of health problems, but I digress.

We found some triscuit hint of salt crackers and they are REALLY good. If you're going to be making a dip or anything this holiday, I think you should definitely try to pick up some of these crackers not only are they good on their own, but with most dips, there's cheese (what's wrong with that, right?) but of course that means extra salt, and with only 2% of your daily sodium in a serving of these crackers, you can enjoy that dip (mostly) guilt free.

I was NOT paid for this post, I just think you ought to give them a try, because I love them.

Oh and don't forget to vote for KT 's picture in the photo contest. She's number 8.

Holiday present progress...

I have part of my MIL's homemade gift done, my mom's homemade gift 'parts' are ordered so I can work on them, something for each dad is ordered and for the younger SIL we still buy for is ordered.

Still have to figure out something more for the SIL's birthday and finish up the parents. The nieces and nephews will probably get some cash and maybe some candy or something else easy to ship (if we have to ship)... and I guess me and the hubs will have to look over financials and see if there's any point in doing anything for each other. Guess we'll figure out how to open a college savings account for Keeley or get some savings bonds and an ornament and be done with it.

What do you think? Any point in putting up a tree? To me it still feels like mid-October so I don't know how to feel or what to think.

Re: the blue jeans post...

Someone asked what I was doing to shed the weight. Nothing. It all just fell off by the time we got home from the hospital. I fully expected to have to lose all but her 7 lb. butt by hard work (ie it would never come off)... The only thing I am really doing is attempting to breastfeed and pumping breastmilk every 3 hours or so.

The only problem is I am ravenous and don't give a crap what I eat. The weight loss has plateaued, so the next time we go to the store it's back to yogurt, string cheese, etc. as snacks. The see food diet is history. Hopefully the size 8s are here to stay and with some persistance the size 6s may not be completely gone for good. Note: they are stretch jeans, so in real jeans its still probably an 8 even if I do get down to a 6.

Either way, my husband likes. A lot. I am/will be a lucky girl, once the 6 week doctor imposed no-touchy policy is over with.

We interrupt this bologna sandwich...

To ask: Why on earth is 'Snoop Dogg' wearing his sunglasses to cook mashed potatoes on the Martha Stewart show? I understand on album covers, at appearances for music awards shows and that, but with Martha, seriously?

Also, he has his own brand of cognac, I get that, but why ruin good mashed potatoes by adding it to them? He could have just gotten a glass and offered her a taste of it instead of trashing the spuds.

Not cool man. Not cool.

Help a girl out...

My friend KT needs some help, she got me into blogging, and she's entered a photo contest. I have to admit, among all the frosting and photoshopping, hers is a good, clean photo.

http://www.5minutesformom.com/4857/prego-photo-contest-finalists/

Please consider voting for #8!!!!!!

Fun Monday--Talisman

M is for Misanthrope wants to know: Do you have a piece of jewelry or other item that holds great personal significance for you, and that you wear or keep with you every day? Show us a photo of your talisman, and tell us why it is so important to you.

Okay, I don't have a picture, but here goes:

I wear my wedding ring nearly every day. When I first got my engagement ring, I took it off to sleep and do practically anything, but I got over it. For years it never left my hand unless I was touching raw meat. Then for a long time, it was stuck on. That was in the post-appendix IV bloat and gain 20 pounds of fluid fiasco. When I lost enough weight for it to finally come off, it stayed off for at least a year, until my husband got it 'sized up' for Christmas for me. That was 2 years ago. It's been a pretty good constant, and went with me to the hospital last month, my pregnancy had not taken it away from me. When they hooked me up to an IV though, I knew it had to come off, so it went safely into my purse. And when we took baby home, it went right back on my finger. Now? It practically spins on my finger, and I have my hands in so much pumped breast milk, pee, poop and other 'goodness' that I don't wear it unless I'm going out somewhere. After all, who wants to be looked at like an unwed mother, especially when you're with a guy who's wearing his wedding ring, right? I mean, they might mistake me for the teenage babysitter (ha ha)-- anyway, I love my ring, it's my engagement ring and my wedding band molded together--soldered doesnt seem the right term, but anyway, they are joined by gold like my hubby and I are joined by love. All together now.. awww!

Blue jeans...

Ahh, my pre-baby low rise stretch size 8's fit! Woohoo! And if you really wanted to, you could pull them off of me. Ahh, just like the good old bb days (before baby)... I'm sure the size 6's will have to stay hidden for a while, or they may never fit again, but still, feeling good to be in a size 8 (even if it comes with a nursing bra, constantly feeling cold, hungry and sore)... I revel in the smallness...

You say it's your birthday...

Today is the day Keeley was supposed to be born. She had other plans. To say it's been a busy day would be an understatement. We're busy trying to get this apartment into some sort of state that is fit to live in.

Right now there are a lot fewer boxes sitting around a lot more things put away. Which is really nice.

Ugh...

For the last 2 days our upstairs neighbors have decided that 1 or 2 in the morning is a GREAT time to scream, stomp/run across the floor, and play music with a lot of bass that shakes our apartment. Lovely. Earplugs are the only thing that helps, luckily I can just barely hear the baby when she cries with them in, but it does kill the music.

Hungry...

I've been WAY more hungry the last couple of weeks than I ever have been in my life. My stomach feels way too empty at midnight and four and whatever other time we happen to be awake. I shouldn't really hear it growl out loud at those times should I? But I guess cookies and chips aren't the best idea right now. Even if they DO taste extrordinarily good!

Moving with an infant

Advice on moving with a baby. Moving with an infant. Moving while pregnant. Moving during pregnancy. Been there, done that. Didn't even get a t-shirt, but since I looked for advice when I was about to undertake the adventure and couldn't find anything, I thought I would post some out there for those in cyberspace that might move soon and need the advice. So here goes: as with any move, you should have the boxes labeled as to which room they go in and what is in them. Example: Bathroom: Hygiene. Spare room: Craft items. Nursery: Clothing. Be sure to label anything you KNOW you'll need ASAP when you get there, for example, we always end up eating pizza when we move, don't ask, we just do, so we would label a box with pizza pans and a pizza cutter, because we know we'll end up with it soon after moving. We had most of the nursery stuff in plastic totes, which was really nice because we knew that it all stayed nice and tightly packed in there and nothing needed rewashed or anything unlike maybe with a cardboard box. Skip down to blue text if you already HAVE the baby.

Note: If you plan to move while you are pregnant: WARNING! Pack your hospital bag and keep it with you at all times. Also, go ahead and install the carseat, even if you're not due for a month or so. You may very well need it (I did)--make sure you have at least one newborn or 0 mos. outfit washed and in the bag for going home in and hospital pictures.We had none of this done and when my water broke, we weren't prepared at all, the carseat was still packed up (at least we knew where it was), I did not have more than one set of clean clothes (we were planning on doing laundry the next day, and had nothing to pack for me to wear), and no pre-washed baby clothes. Most likely, your husband will have no idea which clothes still fit you and which don't (mine packed clothes twice and we still had to go buy some in order for me to get through the last 2 days of hospital stay where I had to be up and walking around after the c-section). Although, please take note: All is not lost: We had family buy and wash some baby clothes, which we used for pictures and taking baby home in. My husband ran out and bought some plain men's
tshirts and some yoga/stretch type pants in a larger size and a new package of underwear and a nursing bra straight off the shelf and it all worked out just fine.Although I must admit, running around with amniotic fluid gushing out and trying to stuff a towel in your pants, put plastic bags and towels on the vehicle seat, and etc. was quite hysterical. I wasn't in labor, yet, though, so I still had a sense of humor. Also charge your camera every couple of days and leave it plugged in and 'with' the hospital bag. The hospital took pictures for us. I'm really glad they did. Our camera and cord were in separate places and was not charged.

Okay, as far as moving goes... Have one box or container that you keep with you or know where it is at all times. Contents: Napkins or paper towels, cups, plastic plates and cutlery, toilet paper, hand soap, a dish towel and hand towel for bathroom washings and kitchen spills. Also very important: Trash bags! Pack this stuff all into your (clean) trash can or laundry basket for an easy carry into your new place. Load your vehicle with bottled water or sodas, and if you have the baby of course enough diapers/wipes/ formula/pre-expressed breastmilk, etc. to get you through the move and a day or two beyond. Don't forget your pump if you're expressing and a bottle brush and other items necessary for feeding baby at whatever stage you're at-utensils for cereal, etc. If it's just a short move and you'll have time to hit a grocery store, don't worry about food, but if not, keep a cooler out and grab some microwave meals, chips, cookies, cheese and crackers, bagels, yogurt, and other finger foods to get you through a couple of days while you unpack. Bottled juices that don't have to be refrigerated, water, etc. should be stuck in the floorboard of your vehicle.Go ahead and find out the pizza delivery place nearest to you and pre-program the number into your phone before you move. Chinese, Italian, or whatever else you like instead, we just like pizza. This is where your 'box' comes in, you'll already have enough stuff to get you through the night and ready for the next morning. Tuck some juice and water in the fridge before you go to bed and either plan to run to starbucks, or find your coffeemaker/keep it with you and set it up for the next morning. This is where cash comes in handy, as well. Keep $50 of mad money tucked into your wallet for emergency diaper runs, lunch on the go, etc.

Impractical advice for some, but if you can, have movers pack and move you. Sometimes they can even hold your stuff for a day or two so you can get your new place cleaned to your satisfaction before everything gets in. We have moved twice, once while pregnant with the movers doing everything and once with a newborn and we did everything. Luckily most everything was still in the boxes that the movers packed for us. What wasn't: we put back in. If you plan on moving close together, keep your boxes, bind them together and stick them in a garage or spare closet so you'll have an easier time of moving the next time around.

Feel free to e-mail me with questions or add comments on anything I may have forgotten.

Veteran's Day

Thank you for serving.

Maternal Grandfather
Dad
Matthew's Stepdad
Matthew
Cousin Glen
Cousin Amy

And all the other souls, both living and dead, that have served our country.

Aww..and more stuff...

My husband wrapped up the 3 biscuits we had left over in the foil we baked them on. Into the shape of a heart. Aww. Isn't that sweet? I have my 2 week postpartum visit today. 4 weeks after that and 'life' will be normal again. At least in theory.

Right now, I'm just hanging on and praying none of us gets sick.

Go bears...

Keeley wore her Bears outfit for the first time today. She was really cute sleeping while the game played on, even though she fought to stay awake to watch it. Mom slept too. Sleep while baby sleeps, right?

What did they do that for?

They TOTALLY ruined one of my favorite shows. Ghost Whisperer. Yeah, maybe it's a bit kooky, but I could see it coming, and I didnt have the energy to cry. I have an idea that that is it's 'shark' jumping moment. They killed off the sexy paramedic, wanna be doctor, loving, caring, every girl's dream husband who totally understands that the woman sees ghosts and puts up with it all and love her anyway guy.

I'm officially pissed off.

No I'm not...

I did NOT take the laptop into the bathroom while the people in my life sleep, just so I could read blogs. Nope.

Well...

We finally heard from the lawyer and he is just telling us not to worry and stress, which is of course what I'm doing. Constantly. And if the neighbors upstairs would be so kind as to NOT play their music loud, I might be able to sleep when the baby does. No such luck. She's only slept long enough for me to shower, eat, pump and now very quickly check email and blog. I may have to ignore my husband half the night and just sleep. That would suck, but still, I am VERY tired.

Moved...

We moved, again, out of that nasty house with all its ucky bugs. I'm not a girly girl, but lord that was awful. We didnt feel safe having a preemie (no matter how big she is, she was still almost a month early) in the house with that much 'grossness' and stinging bugs. Her health and safety is too important.

No one said life was fair...

But when your lender AND your realtor tell you that you can back out of your deal any time before closing and the only thing you lose is your earnest money, and then you find out you are probably being sued for more than that, it doesnt make you feel very good. Especially since you have held up your bargain every step of the way. We're starting to feel cheated by our real estate agent. He didn't put any safeholds in for us, he basically used the other real estate agent's form (the seller's agent) and didn't advise us on anything else. Basically it was just sign here and everything will be fine. If anyone has prayers or whatever else they do, please do it. We live paycheck to paycheck and it's not like we can afford to pay out a buttload of cash to her. She's not 'out' anything except the sale, and she can easily sell to someone else. We have paid utilities for the past few weeks and have made improvements as we are living here and keeping it 'fresh' --keeping the water going through the pipes (which has improved the smell of the basement tremendously--and taking care of it. We don't care about losing our earnest money, we always knew that if we backed out at the end, that would be the only way we'd 'lose' it--since we had a VA loan, we were told that that was the only way we'd lose it, and basically nothing else would happen to us. Guess that's what happens when sleep deprived, desperate people try and buy a house on short notice.

I'm not sure they can 'force' us to buy the house, as we never signed the final papers, but they can sue us for whatever they think they can get, I guess, but we don't HAVE anything to give them. My husband has contacted a real estate attorney he knew when we lived elsewhere, and sent him the paperwork to see what options we have. But at this point in time, this place is such a hell hole we are wanting to get out from under it. We don't feel the baby is safe here. Please pray for us.

Apartment...

We are turning in an application for an apartment much closer to Matthew's work. It seems to make the most sense right now, even if it is VERY expensive. Less expensive than getting into a mortgage, though, and right now, we need to sit back and chill before we lose our freaking minds. Too late!

Ha!

Election...

Hey someone let me know who wins, alright? I'll be sleeping..
just kidding, I'll check my email and find out in the morning who won. Don't tell me, because by then I'll already know ;-)

Yikes...

First day alone with the munchkin. So far, she's eaten and is trying to sleep. I managed to pump, stuff in some toast and check my email. I am going to try and sleep again while she is, I just need to check on her really quickly here. Anyone else remember their first day of staying alone with the baby? Scary. Shiver.

no luck...

We looked at a house for rent but it wasn't even 'finished' on the inside yet. Matthew said the corners weren't done or something. It was pretty tiny and in another town we know nothing about. So that's out.

We may just rent an apartment really close to his work for 6 months and see how that goes, and where we are by then.

We just dont want to buy a house we won't love. I wasn't able to make any kind of rational decision at 9 months pregnant and I dont think the house we're staying in (and not buying) is as good as we thought it was. Not by a long shot. All the windows and doors need replaced, and that's the minimum. We can't do that and take care of her. No way, not before winter comes. We just don't have it in us. So we're taking the next train to splitsville and revoking our offer. It will mean moving and a big pain in that way, but otherwise will be okay. We will make it, we will. Someone please pray for us.

Umm you know that weight I was worried about?

It's all gone. Plus a few pounds. Of course that means all my muscle is gone as well. Dangit. But... I must say, the little bit of roll that's left looks kind of pathetic compared to the nice healthy belly I had before...just a little weird.

But hey, guess that means I was meant to grow babies.. not birth them very well, but grow them, yup, I'm good at it!

Umm hi...

Be sure to check out just how big I was over at the meeces blog. http://lil-meeces.blogspot.com/
There's pic of me holding my friend Trish's baby Ben. My belly is WAY out under him.

Can you imagine how big she would have been if she'd have been full term? My guess is about 10 lbs. Just a guess. Anyway, I will try and continue to update this blog (since I started blog 365 I intend to finish it)..

But I will also post a lot over at the meeces since my life literally is revolving around the littlest mouse right now..

oh and by the way, she squeaks...how's that for a mouse... so go see the meeces page for pictures and more!

I will update, I will...

3 living, breathing, eating, pooping, sleeping bodies still alive. more later.
hugs to everyone!