Things these past few weekends have been quite hectic, as I may have mentioned in the last post. Nic is currently at Lackland AFB in San Antonio for the Nurse Transition Program, and I've been going to see him pretty much every chance I've gotten. San Antonio is only about 6 hours away, and the drive is actually quite scenic (at least during the half closest to San Antonio). The first time I drove all the way by myself was particularly eventful. I was embarrassed and shameful to talk about it at the time, but it could really happen to anyone, so I'm ready to write about it now.
It was toward the beginning of this month, I was leaving on a Thursday afternoon since we had Good Friday off from school. I was hoping to hit the road around 4:45, but I had a doctor's appt at 4:15 and they happened to be running behind (not usually the case), so it was shortly after 5 by the time I hit the highway.
Things were going really well there for quite a while. I was stopping to use the restroom when I felt like I needed; I was jamming to my jams, talking [using hands free] to my peeps... I was really focused on the directions Nic had given me. I knew that coming up very shortly would be a highway change. It wasn't just a highway change; it was the change that basically meant I was getting really close and it wouldn't be too much longer until I got to him. By this time, I'd been driving for over 4 hours and I felt good! I was almost to my man, and we'd be spending the WHOLE WEEKEND together! Shortly after I made the highway switch, a little light came on... ya... the GAS LIGHT. But no biggie... Nic and I had been (unfortunately) in the habit of letting that happen in the past (in the city though, not on road trips), so I knew that I could drive a while and get to a gas station. As the light caught my eye, I took notice that I was passing a gas station, but I wasn't too concerned; I knew I had quite a while before I ran out. Right? Wrong. I'm sure as smart as you are, you've already figured out that I ran out of gas. Seriously, I went over 40 miles with NO GAS STATIONS. WHAT KIND OF HIGHWAY PLANNER DOES THAT? Anyway, the speed limit was a whopping 80 mph, so my 1st concern was just getting off the highway before someone plowed me from behind. So I got off the highway very quickly, and then realized I should have gotten even further off the highway. I'm feelin' pretty nervous about how close I am to the white line (I had about 3 or so feet between me and the line), but of course I can't move since I have no gas.
I call Nic to come rescue me (which he was very sweet about, considering I was more than an hour from him) and he advises me to stay in the car. The last thing he wanted was his little pregnant wife to be standing on the side of the highway in the dark. So I stay in my car, all the while it's rocking as semi's are passing and I'm thinking, man... I'm pretty freakin' close to the road; PLEASE GOD KEEP ME SAFE!!! I called my parents to update them (since I would not be arriving at my ETA). (Anyone else STILL have to call their parents on long road trips? Yes, I think it's a little silly, too, but to them I'm still small I guess. Even though I'm 27.) Being on the phone with my parents was just bad timing, because I think the following event would have been less dramatic if I were just able to tell them about it. But we happened to be on the phone when this happened: a semi came so close to me it knocked of my driver side mirror. I mean GONE; pieces in the road. Of course it scared the bejeezus out of me so I screamed, and my parents probably thought I'd been hit in a much more major way. Of course it wasn't that bad... but it's scary to think how darn close I kind of came to it! Just a few more feet over and that would have been it for me and little Audra. But God obviously has other plans.
So my parents insisted that I call 911 and get a policeman out there so the flashing lights could help with visibility. I'm not sure why I didn't think of that before. So I called, and they came, and Nic finally came and gave me some gas and we were on our way to finally arrive in San Antonio for bed around 1:30.
The rest of the weekend I was quite shaken by the whole ordeal. Just, you know, frazzled from a semi being feet away from taking my life. And with the whole broken mirror thing came the fact that I got to drive all over San Antonio (a quite large and unfamiliar city to me) to get my mirror replaced (you know, since I don't want to drive 6 hours back home without a mirror). But in the end, the mirror was fixed, I was with Nic, I was fine, Audra was fine and we were able to just count our blessings that it wasn't worse.
I really feel like the worst part of it all is how incapable it made me seem. I have never NEVER run out of gas in my entire life! Between Nic and I, I'm always the one to say that we need to get gas. I like to think of myself as pretty responsible, confident and capable of doing what I want and need to do. Which is why running out of gas on the side of the highway and then stopping close to the white line seems like such an idiot thing to do. Of course, the rest of the weekend my parents and Nic's parents are calling to check on me (particularly on the drive home) and are asking about my gas levels and how everything was working, etc. I felt the need to iterate to all who were concerned that it was just a really REALLY dumb thing that happened. Because dumb things of that magnitude aren't so typical of me. Now dumb things of a smaller magnitude (like losing my keys in my own classroom or forgetting whether I printed something so I print it 4 times) I am more than fine with owning up to. But that time... that was just embarrassing. SO, moral of the story: pay attention to your gas, and even smart people run out of gas. And it doesn't make you less smart or less capable if you DO run out of gas; it just makes you feel dumb.
So it was a big, sincere "ooops" moment. Glad things are finally getting back to normal. :-)
A QUICK UPDATE:
How far along: 34 weeks
How big is baby: weighs about 4.75 lbs. now (about as much as a cantaloupe)!
Sleep: I wake up 1-2 times a night to use the bathroom, but many more from discomfort. My hips are the main problem; they fall asleep and seem to stay asleep, even after I've taken the pressure off. Grrrr!
Movement: She's quite the little mover! The kids can even see my belly move when I'm teaching in front of the class, which is kind of funny. I had read about baby hiccups, but hadn't experienced them until these last few weeks. Now I feel like she gets them almost daily. I can tell they're hiccups because she doesn't really move all that much if I try to feel her except when I feel her hiccup. It feels just like a little bump, very rhythmic and constant. I was surprised at how quick they are. I'd say she hiccups once every 5-10 seconds. I feel like as a grown human, I hiccup once every 20-30 seconds. It's fun to feel her move. I'm loving this part!
Belly-button: Still an innie that's squishy feeling- what I would think an outtie would feel like. Someday I'll take a picture and post it, but not today.
Exercise: Only 2 times last week, but 3 times the week before and this week will be 3 or 4 as well. I'm still doing crossfitmom (from crossfitmom.com) and am now doing the "Beginner" workouts so I'm sure to give little Audra enough of what she needs to keep growing and moving.
What I'm loving: The countdown! The movements! That most people are SO nice to pregnant ladies! I feel like I'm getting waited on hand and food quite often; but I'm not so used to that. It still feels kind of awkward to me to just have people doing all these things for me. But I'll take it!
What I'm NOT loving: That things are seriously getting a bit hard around here. Even just sitting. My stomach kind of rests on my legs, which is not comfortable for breathing. But I don't want to be nasty and spread my legs to let my stomach hang through... (sigh) Standing, particularly standing still, and also walking-- especially in heat-- are all pretty difficult.
I'm also not loving all the sweets I'm craving. I've never been a sweets fanatic till Audra and now I just can't get enough. Anyone who knows me well knows I have a thing about teeth, and I always want my teeth to feel clean... and all of these sweets just make my mouth feel pretty gross. I hope this trend goes away after birth.
What I miss: Life as I knew it: 1) working out like I mean it, 2) eating hot dogs whenever I want, 3) bending over comfortably, 4) sitting comfortably, 5) filling my lungs all the way up when I breath, 6) recognizing the body in the mirror, 7) laying out without concern of overheating the baby and concern for strange tan/burns due to pregnancy-related skin sensitivity, 8) iced tea without worries...
I think that may be it for now. ;-)
As always, thanks for reading! Please let me know if you did so I know to keep up with these things! Love you all, and hope you're well!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
So much to say, no time to say it! [32 weeks]
Well those weekly pregnancy updates obviously got pushed to the side. I wish I were better about getting on here and writing up things. But to be honest, when I have down time, I prefer to just RELAX. Truth be told, I've been going WEEKS without getting on my computer. Facebook on my phone has been my online social outlet, but even then it usually happens when I'm in public waiting on something.
All that being said, there's a lot to catch up on! I truly intended on each of these little things having their very own post, but alas, they do not. So here's what we've been up to:
THE TRIP TO VIRGINIA
We were fortunate enough to have the time and money to visit our future Air Force base in Virginia. I can't even describe to you how pumped we are to get there, now after seeing it with our own eyes. There's SO MUCH to do there! And it's green. AND there's an ocean! And ALSO a very awesome shopping area that reminds me a lot of Zona Rosa in Kansas City, which I always loved to visit. We made the decision while we were there to go ahead and keep our names on the wait list for the Air Force housing. We'll see what we get when it's moving time! We had way too much fun enjoying the bridge tunnel (at least I did) and admiring the views of the bay. Hard to believe that 3 months from now, we'll be there. Virginia, here we come!
THE HUSBAND LEAVES
Nic left around the beginning of March for his Commissioned Officer Training. They basically owned his life for the entire month of March. He was up at 4:30 and in bed around 11:30, and was both physically and mentally exhausted. He says he wasn't having fun (he said "fun" was the wrong word) but I think he did, and won't admit it. He still enjoys looking at his flight's Facebook page and stays in contact with his flight members.
As for my first taste of being the Air Force wife, forced to be alone without a husband- um... yea... it sucks. A lot. Nic and I are the type of couple that does nearly everything together. We were friends before we ever dated, and that has remained throughout our marriage. Once he was gone, I was just so SAD. I missed my friend! The first week was the hardest. I didn't even want to clean up things he'd left out because then the reminders of him living in our house would be gone. I cried. And THEN I got over it. I had my pity party, then I buckled up to try to make the best of it and tried to keep him in good spirits. I cleaned the house, sent him a care package, talked to him daily, thought of fun sexy things to make him smile while he was away, and it all worked out! It really did go by fast. And before I knew it, I was watching him graduate in Montgomery! (Which also meant I got to attend his fancy dining out, and got to meet his new friends. Ah, fun times.) :-) We also had the pleasure (seriously) of experiencing 18 hours in the car with Nic's parents. I'm honestly not being sarcastic here... Clark and Dendy are such fun people! It was a good time!
SPRING BREAK
A few weeks after Nic had been gone, school went on Spring Break. That was quite good timing for me-- right in the middle of his time away, which gave me some much wanted distractions and company. The highlight of my Spring Break (besides seeing my family, of course!) : The Missouri Baby Shower! My mom and my best friend, Rachelle, did a ridiculously FANTASTIC job of planning and prepping the shower. There was way more delicious food than necessary, the hugest diaper cake I'd ever seen, and a seemingly endless supply of generous gifts. I felt so blessed that day, to have all of those wonderful people in my life, loving me and loving Audra. I couldn't have imagined a more perfect shower. (And THANK YOU, again!) :-D
SCHOOL
It's hard to believe we're already in our last 6 week session! We've got it organized into a 2 week block, a STAAR testing week, then a 3 week block, then all of a sudden it's the last week of school! The days are going by so fast and I know it'll be here before we know it. This may seem so dumb for me to even mention, but if you all knew how long I'd been looking forward to the last day of school (pretty much as soon as I knew Audra would be coming around that time), then you'd know how important that day is to me. My heart is leaping with joy just knowing how quickly it'll get here!
THE BABY
Well, she's still cookin' away. I'm at week 32 now, so an update is beyond due! So for those who are interested:
How far along: 32 weeks
How big is baby: weighs about 4 lbs. now!
Maternity clothes: DEFINITELY went maternity shopping. These clothes changed my pregnant life! I wish we would all wear maternity clothes all.the.time! They're so comfortable! I should have done that a long time ago!
Sleep: No longer normal. I'm sleeping on my sides, as I'm supposed to, and my hips are constantly falling asleep-- and STAYING asleep! I wake up with my sides incredibly sore and the soreness barely wares off by the time I go to bed again. When I'm at home, I usually wake up only once for the bathroom (due to the TempurPedic putting less pressure on my bladder); when I sleep other places, I usually wake up about 3 times to use the bathroom. Audra doesn't wake me up, but when I roll over (again, due to the hip falling asleep), I feel her GINORMOUS kicks [which is actually kind of fun].
Gender: CANNOT WAIT TO MEET SWEET LITTLE AUDRA!!!
Movement: Movement, lol, how about ALMOST ALWAYS? It's so fun feeling her move around in there! I can tell she's getting so strong! Last night, I was sleeping on my side, with my arm kind of draped over my stomach, and she was kicking so hard she was moving my arm. It was crazy! There was a teeny little concern for a few days when she quit moving like crazy. She was moving, but not like the crazy mover I know her to be. So that worried me. I had a feeling it was connected with my workouts, and once I saw the doctor, my suspicions were confirmed. Basically, she's growing so quickly now that she needs a lot more from me than she ever needed before. My workouts (not all THAT intense, mind you) were stealing away the supplies she needed, so she was moving less to conserve her energy. Interesting, huh? I was advised to ease up on the workouts, and so I have. It feels like I'm doing hardly anything when I work out now, but... AH, the start of sacrificing for my little gal...
Belly-button: It's an innie, but it sticks out kind of (not plush with the rest of my rounded stomach). It's confusing to me, to tell you the truth. It doesn't LOOK weird, but it feels soft and I can push it in a little. Yet like I said, it's what we would all consider an "innie." Didn't anticipate this bellybutton weirdness.
Exercise: I've been sticking to my goal of 3 times a week, and I've been proud of it! I wish I could say my eating habits have reflected the healthy lifestyle, but that's not as much the case. I'm not going nutso like I was toward the beginning, but I'm not holding a whole lot back, either. I make sure I eat at least 1 pretty healthy meal a day so Audra gets some solid nutrients. But I also indulge in more ice cream now than I ever have in my life. Never really been a dessert fan until this pregnancy... and I kind of like it...
What I'm loving: The fact that she'll be here in less than 2 months!
What I'm NOT loving: Missing my husband. But trainings are over before we know it!
What I miss: Painting my toenails (but I DO love pedicures!), being able to take medicine, not waking up to pee, having a neat guest bedroom (which has been taken over by baby supplies... yet gifts are no reason to complain, I know!), having time to relax!
So there you have it! I'll try to be more regular with this, but I make no promises! As always, I hope this finds you and yours all very happy, healthy and well. Keep in touch! If you read, let me know so I don't feel like I'm just talking to cyber-space! :) Take care!
All that being said, there's a lot to catch up on! I truly intended on each of these little things having their very own post, but alas, they do not. So here's what we've been up to:
THE TRIP TO VIRGINIA
We were fortunate enough to have the time and money to visit our future Air Force base in Virginia. I can't even describe to you how pumped we are to get there, now after seeing it with our own eyes. There's SO MUCH to do there! And it's green. AND there's an ocean! And ALSO a very awesome shopping area that reminds me a lot of Zona Rosa in Kansas City, which I always loved to visit. We made the decision while we were there to go ahead and keep our names on the wait list for the Air Force housing. We'll see what we get when it's moving time! We had way too much fun enjoying the bridge tunnel (at least I did) and admiring the views of the bay. Hard to believe that 3 months from now, we'll be there. Virginia, here we come!
THE HUSBAND LEAVES
Nic left around the beginning of March for his Commissioned Officer Training. They basically owned his life for the entire month of March. He was up at 4:30 and in bed around 11:30, and was both physically and mentally exhausted. He says he wasn't having fun (he said "fun" was the wrong word) but I think he did, and won't admit it. He still enjoys looking at his flight's Facebook page and stays in contact with his flight members.
As for my first taste of being the Air Force wife, forced to be alone without a husband- um... yea... it sucks. A lot. Nic and I are the type of couple that does nearly everything together. We were friends before we ever dated, and that has remained throughout our marriage. Once he was gone, I was just so SAD. I missed my friend! The first week was the hardest. I didn't even want to clean up things he'd left out because then the reminders of him living in our house would be gone. I cried. And THEN I got over it. I had my pity party, then I buckled up to try to make the best of it and tried to keep him in good spirits. I cleaned the house, sent him a care package, talked to him daily, thought of fun sexy things to make him smile while he was away, and it all worked out! It really did go by fast. And before I knew it, I was watching him graduate in Montgomery! (Which also meant I got to attend his fancy dining out, and got to meet his new friends. Ah, fun times.) :-) We also had the pleasure (seriously) of experiencing 18 hours in the car with Nic's parents. I'm honestly not being sarcastic here... Clark and Dendy are such fun people! It was a good time!
SPRING BREAK
A few weeks after Nic had been gone, school went on Spring Break. That was quite good timing for me-- right in the middle of his time away, which gave me some much wanted distractions and company. The highlight of my Spring Break (besides seeing my family, of course!) : The Missouri Baby Shower! My mom and my best friend, Rachelle, did a ridiculously FANTASTIC job of planning and prepping the shower. There was way more delicious food than necessary, the hugest diaper cake I'd ever seen, and a seemingly endless supply of generous gifts. I felt so blessed that day, to have all of those wonderful people in my life, loving me and loving Audra. I couldn't have imagined a more perfect shower. (And THANK YOU, again!) :-D
SCHOOL
It's hard to believe we're already in our last 6 week session! We've got it organized into a 2 week block, a STAAR testing week, then a 3 week block, then all of a sudden it's the last week of school! The days are going by so fast and I know it'll be here before we know it. This may seem so dumb for me to even mention, but if you all knew how long I'd been looking forward to the last day of school (pretty much as soon as I knew Audra would be coming around that time), then you'd know how important that day is to me. My heart is leaping with joy just knowing how quickly it'll get here!
THE BABY
Well, she's still cookin' away. I'm at week 32 now, so an update is beyond due! So for those who are interested:
How far along: 32 weeks
How big is baby: weighs about 4 lbs. now!
Maternity clothes: DEFINITELY went maternity shopping. These clothes changed my pregnant life! I wish we would all wear maternity clothes all.the.time! They're so comfortable! I should have done that a long time ago!
Sleep: No longer normal. I'm sleeping on my sides, as I'm supposed to, and my hips are constantly falling asleep-- and STAYING asleep! I wake up with my sides incredibly sore and the soreness barely wares off by the time I go to bed again. When I'm at home, I usually wake up only once for the bathroom (due to the TempurPedic putting less pressure on my bladder); when I sleep other places, I usually wake up about 3 times to use the bathroom. Audra doesn't wake me up, but when I roll over (again, due to the hip falling asleep), I feel her GINORMOUS kicks [which is actually kind of fun].
Gender: CANNOT WAIT TO MEET SWEET LITTLE AUDRA!!!
Movement: Movement, lol, how about ALMOST ALWAYS? It's so fun feeling her move around in there! I can tell she's getting so strong! Last night, I was sleeping on my side, with my arm kind of draped over my stomach, and she was kicking so hard she was moving my arm. It was crazy! There was a teeny little concern for a few days when she quit moving like crazy. She was moving, but not like the crazy mover I know her to be. So that worried me. I had a feeling it was connected with my workouts, and once I saw the doctor, my suspicions were confirmed. Basically, she's growing so quickly now that she needs a lot more from me than she ever needed before. My workouts (not all THAT intense, mind you) were stealing away the supplies she needed, so she was moving less to conserve her energy. Interesting, huh? I was advised to ease up on the workouts, and so I have. It feels like I'm doing hardly anything when I work out now, but... AH, the start of sacrificing for my little gal...
Belly-button: It's an innie, but it sticks out kind of (not plush with the rest of my rounded stomach). It's confusing to me, to tell you the truth. It doesn't LOOK weird, but it feels soft and I can push it in a little. Yet like I said, it's what we would all consider an "innie." Didn't anticipate this bellybutton weirdness.
Exercise: I've been sticking to my goal of 3 times a week, and I've been proud of it! I wish I could say my eating habits have reflected the healthy lifestyle, but that's not as much the case. I'm not going nutso like I was toward the beginning, but I'm not holding a whole lot back, either. I make sure I eat at least 1 pretty healthy meal a day so Audra gets some solid nutrients. But I also indulge in more ice cream now than I ever have in my life. Never really been a dessert fan until this pregnancy... and I kind of like it...
What I'm loving: The fact that she'll be here in less than 2 months!
What I'm NOT loving: Missing my husband. But trainings are over before we know it!
What I miss: Painting my toenails (but I DO love pedicures!), being able to take medicine, not waking up to pee, having a neat guest bedroom (which has been taken over by baby supplies... yet gifts are no reason to complain, I know!), having time to relax!
So there you have it! I'll try to be more regular with this, but I make no promises! As always, I hope this finds you and yours all very happy, healthy and well. Keep in touch! If you read, let me know so I don't feel like I'm just talking to cyber-space! :) Take care!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
A trip in the works [22 weeks]
Today is Sunday, and on Thursday morning, we leave for a short little trip to HAMPTON, VIRGINIA (aka our future home)! Although this is not necessarily meant to be a "babymoon," I'm sure we'll find some fun non-Air Force things to do while we're out there. We have two plans as of now: 1) to watch the sun rise over the ocean (since it rises in the east), and 2) to check out the CrossFit gyms in the area (there are 3) to see which one(s) we like. If you have any suggestions as to what else we can do, please comment and tell me! We've never been there, thus the reason we're going. We want to see what the area has to offer before we roll up with our huge truck and a 1 month old in our arms. Of course, we're also excited to see the base and meet Nic's sponsor, and to see what housing is like. This little trip will help us visualize the move much easier. We'll be gone Thursday thru the following Monday (which means a lot of sub planning for me... yuck...) and we couldn't be more pumped! I'll update you with pictures and news when we get back.
********************************************
How far along: End of 22nd week (half way through the 6th month)
How big is baby: weighs about 1 lb., is about as long as a spaghetti squash
Maternity clothes: Still haven't found any pants my length, and have come to accept that I'll have to order them online. :( I've been very fond of my leggings and other elastic-y pants lately. Still sporting the Bella band along with using a rubber band/hair tie around the buttons of pants.
Sleep: Feels pretty normal! I wake up about the same amount as I did pre-pregnancy, and dream about as often as I did before, too. No complaints!
Gender: Still a girl! ;) It's been fun calling her by name and thinking of her as a little person and not just a dot in my belly.
Movement: Her movements no longer feel like a floppy fish... now they feel more like a large something thumping round in there. I can tell she's getting stronger by the day, and some of those movements surprise me! She'll be moving around nice and gently and then bam!- a hard one! Well... hard for teeny little her, anyway. It doesn't hurt at all (yet) and is quite fun to experience (as of now). I would tell Nic when she was moving, and would put his hand right where I could feel it but it seemed like every time he laid his hand down she would quit. :( ...Even though I'd just had my hand there 5 seconds earlier... So for my birthday, I had one real wish: that Nic would get to feel Audra move. And alas, when I woke up from my birthday nap I put his hand there and he felt her! That night, he felt her many more times. It was a really special moment for us, and was quite the highlight of my day. Before this week, she would move for only a few seconds at a time. Now, she'll move for hours at a time. I'm enjoying every minute!
Belly-button: Still a tightly stretched innie. And I still think it's cute. :)
Exercise: I met my goal this week of working out 3 times. Yay me! Here's what my workouts looked like:
Monday:
"Baby Desforges" [CrossFit workouts will sometimes have names]
3 rounds of:
5 deadlifts using the barbell at 60 lbs
10 horizontal pull-ups using rings
5 hang power-clean & jerk using the 60 lb barbell
10 toe to bar
If you're interested in seeing the original "Baby Desforges" workout without my slight changes, look here. It's the Jan. 28th workout.
Friday:
"Warrick"
15, 12, 9, 6, then 3 of:
Wall balls using 10 lb ball (This means holding the ball, squatting, then standing and simultaneously throwing the ball up about 10 feet. Catch the ball, repeat w/ squat, stand&throw, squat, stand&throw.)
Step-ups on monster-truck tires
This was the Feb. 3rd workout from CrossFit Mom.
Saturday:
3 rounds of:
500 m row (using rowing maching)
20 Back squats using the 65 lb barbell
40 ab mat sit-ups (workout called for 10 knees to elbows, but bars were all full of tough guys doing pull-ups)
(I can't remember which day this is from.)
I pick & choose my workouts to try to not overwork one muscle groups more than others. So those that I post on here won't always go in daily order from the website. I feel pretty good! I'll continue to do things like using the barbell for cleans and doing ab mat situps as long as my belly isn't in the way. Like I've said before, I take VERY frequent breaks and drink lots of water. I also wear a heart-rate monitor and keep close tabs on that throughout the workout.
What I'm loving: Life, in general. Turning 27 and being pregnant and very happily married with 2 sets of parents to love who love me... having a good job with great superiors and cheerful colleagues. Having things to look forward to (traveling, baby, moving). And, AND (this seems more trivial) SPRING is just around the corner! I am SO ready to wear flip-flops and capris again!!!
What I'm NOT loving: Peeing all the time, that Nic leaves in about 3 weeks, all the things that have to get done before we leave for our trip on Thursday.
What I miss: Margaritas. Today is the Super Bowl and my friends are having a mexican-themed party. I would love to be there eating nachos and drinking margaritas. But I will settle for staying home and doing the work that has to get done so we can leave on Thursday (I have something to do Monday, Tues & Wed after school so tonight is it. Blah.).
Tomorrow starts week 23, over halfway through the 6th month!
********************************************
How far along: End of 22nd week (half way through the 6th month)
How big is baby: weighs about 1 lb., is about as long as a spaghetti squash
Maternity clothes: Still haven't found any pants my length, and have come to accept that I'll have to order them online. :( I've been very fond of my leggings and other elastic-y pants lately. Still sporting the Bella band along with using a rubber band/hair tie around the buttons of pants.
Sleep: Feels pretty normal! I wake up about the same amount as I did pre-pregnancy, and dream about as often as I did before, too. No complaints!
Gender: Still a girl! ;) It's been fun calling her by name and thinking of her as a little person and not just a dot in my belly.
Movement: Her movements no longer feel like a floppy fish... now they feel more like a large something thumping round in there. I can tell she's getting stronger by the day, and some of those movements surprise me! She'll be moving around nice and gently and then bam!- a hard one! Well... hard for teeny little her, anyway. It doesn't hurt at all (yet) and is quite fun to experience (as of now). I would tell Nic when she was moving, and would put his hand right where I could feel it but it seemed like every time he laid his hand down she would quit. :( ...Even though I'd just had my hand there 5 seconds earlier... So for my birthday, I had one real wish: that Nic would get to feel Audra move. And alas, when I woke up from my birthday nap I put his hand there and he felt her! That night, he felt her many more times. It was a really special moment for us, and was quite the highlight of my day. Before this week, she would move for only a few seconds at a time. Now, she'll move for hours at a time. I'm enjoying every minute!
Belly-button: Still a tightly stretched innie. And I still think it's cute. :)
Exercise: I met my goal this week of working out 3 times. Yay me! Here's what my workouts looked like:
Monday:
"Baby Desforges" [CrossFit workouts will sometimes have names]
3 rounds of:
5 deadlifts using the barbell at 60 lbs
10 horizontal pull-ups using rings
5 hang power-clean & jerk using the 60 lb barbell
10 toe to bar
If you're interested in seeing the original "Baby Desforges" workout without my slight changes, look here. It's the Jan. 28th workout.
Friday:
"Warrick"
15, 12, 9, 6, then 3 of:
Wall balls using 10 lb ball (This means holding the ball, squatting, then standing and simultaneously throwing the ball up about 10 feet. Catch the ball, repeat w/ squat, stand&throw, squat, stand&throw.)
Step-ups on monster-truck tires
This was the Feb. 3rd workout from CrossFit Mom.
Saturday:
3 rounds of:
500 m row (using rowing maching)
20 Back squats using the 65 lb barbell
40 ab mat sit-ups (workout called for 10 knees to elbows, but bars were all full of tough guys doing pull-ups)
(I can't remember which day this is from.)
I pick & choose my workouts to try to not overwork one muscle groups more than others. So those that I post on here won't always go in daily order from the website. I feel pretty good! I'll continue to do things like using the barbell for cleans and doing ab mat situps as long as my belly isn't in the way. Like I've said before, I take VERY frequent breaks and drink lots of water. I also wear a heart-rate monitor and keep close tabs on that throughout the workout.
What I'm loving: Life, in general. Turning 27 and being pregnant and very happily married with 2 sets of parents to love who love me... having a good job with great superiors and cheerful colleagues. Having things to look forward to (traveling, baby, moving). And, AND (this seems more trivial) SPRING is just around the corner! I am SO ready to wear flip-flops and capris again!!!
What I'm NOT loving: Peeing all the time, that Nic leaves in about 3 weeks, all the things that have to get done before we leave for our trip on Thursday.
What I miss: Margaritas. Today is the Super Bowl and my friends are having a mexican-themed party. I would love to be there eating nachos and drinking margaritas. But I will settle for staying home and doing the work that has to get done so we can leave on Thursday (I have something to do Monday, Tues & Wed after school so tonight is it. Blah.).
Tomorrow starts week 23, over halfway through the 6th month!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Off we go into the wild blue yonder...
Well, I've alluded to this post many times, but was unable to really spill until now. I did say something way back during the summer, before Nic graduated nursing school, but since he got hired at the Heart Hospital we've kept things pretty mum.
He had done his clinicals at one hospital here in town, and initially interviewed to work there- as they'd encouraged- as graduation approached. The outcome of the interview was that they absolutely LOVED him... but he wasn't in the best interest of the hospital since he'd told them about leaving for the Air Force. They openly said that the job would have been his if they didn't know he was going to leave. He interviewed at a second hospital here in town, and literally the exact same conversation took place. I guess he was hoping that they'd still take a chance on him and would be happy for his loyalty to our country by rewarding him with the job. But no such luck. They said they loved him, but wouldn't risk taking on someone who would be leaving within the year. They advised him to not tell those with whom he next applied. So that's what he did. The honest guy I married had a real moral issue with this, not to mention was dying inside from a) keeping a secret, b) not being able to share his excitement about that secret and c) being afraid that somone would find out and he'd have to come clean before he was ready. Needless to say, we aren't the secret-keeping type. But alas, his departure date is approaching and he had the conversation and put in his two weeks. They weren't exactly thrilled, but in the end they wished him the best and things are going smoothly. He has only one more week left there and then he's all mine for about 3 weeks until he leaves.
People have asked if I'm getting sad and bummed that he'll be gone, and the answer is OF COURSE! He's my husband and I love every second I spend with him and I actually MISS HIM when he's gone! BUT I also know that he's going to be right in his element and I think he'll really love what he's getting himself in to. He'll have cell phone and internet access and I'm sure we'll talk daily or at least every other day, so it won't be the end of the world. AND it'll be less than a month before I see him again, and then we can see each other a bit more regularly.
Each time I talk about him leaving, I get the standard, "Where is he going again?" and "How long will he be gone?" In general, people are easily confused by our timeline (and I would be too) so I'll tell you as much as I know. He hasn't officially gotten his orders yet (which is why he waited so long to put in his two weeks) so there' still a teensy chance this timeline could change, but I'll update you below on as much as I know. Since the arrival of Little Miss Audra is clearly intermixed in there, I'll add that too, because most people eventually get to the question, "So what does that mean for you and the baby?"
May 2011:
Nic is 1 out of 30ish to be accepted into the United States Air Force Nurse Corps that year. He gets a heads up of this probable timeline in advance.
October 2011:
We find out WE'RE PREGNANT! His first concern is leaving me during this exciting and predictably difficult time.
December 2011:
My dad (a retired Army Colonel) comes to Lubbock and swears Nic in as a military officer. This makes Nic an officer on 'reserve' status since he hasn't officially started his training and full-time employment. This ceremony took place at the World War II Memorial, next to Nic's grandpa's brick and was quite a special day.
End of February 2012:
Nic leaves for Commissioned Officer Training (COT) in Montgomery, AL. This is a one month deal where he learns the ins and outs of being a military officer. He can't leave the base nor can he have visitors (until graduation). But like I mentioned before, he'll have phone and internet access, when he has time (which will be minimal).
End of March 2012:
Nic graduates as a Commissioned Air Force Officer. This is the beginning of a long and adventurous road! His parents, my parents and myself will be joining to celebrate the event and also to see how cute he looks in those uniforms. ;)
Beginning of April 2012:
He'll have about one week at home, and then Nic will leave to San Antonio for the Air Force Nurse Transition Program (NTP). This is where he'll learn what it means to be a nurse in the Air Force. He's already received his degree in nursing (an obvious pre-requisite) and this is his step into Air Force nursing. This will be more like his clinicals in that he'll follow an Air Force Nurse and will be able to come and go from the base as he pleases (& have visitors as often as he wants). This will allow us to see each other while he's there. San Antonio is about 8 hours from home.
June 2012:
Audra is due to come around the 4th! Nic's NTP doesn't officially get over until the 21st. This is the part that initially had us worried. He's done some research and is comforted by the information he's found: he'll be able to come home for the birth and will possibly be allowed to stay home and not return to the program without consequence. Staying home depends on whether his commanders feel that he's excelled enough and learned what he needs to know, and if it's near enough to the end of the program. This month holds the major question mark. We'll just have to put it in God's hands and see how it goes!
July 2012:
They give him about a month from the end date of his NTP to his official start date at Langley. Yup, that's the Langley you may have heard of in movies. It's on the east coast in Hampton, Virginia, about 30 minutes north of Virginia Beach. Needless to say, we're quite pumped about being on the ocean and away from all of this dry DUST! What we're nervous about: having only about a month and a half (or so) between giving birth, recovering, showing her off to everyone, getting our house packed up, and then moving 27 hours across the country to a new home. OH and somewhere in there, finding a place to live. Just thinking about it gets my heart racing. WOWZA that is a LOT of things to do with not a lot of time! AND what we'll REALLY be wanting to do is just stay home and be a family! That will definitely happen, but maybe not for as long as we'd like. Duty calls!
August 2012:
Nic will now be working daily as a full-time Air Force Nurse, and I"ll be staying home (at least for a bit) with the baby. We'll be in our new home on the east coast, and *hopefully* things will be coming together quite nicely.
And there you have it! Now I say all of that like it's set in stone and that's just the way it'll be. But I know as well as anyone that sometimes God has a plan that's different (and ultimately better!) from our own. I'm just saying that as of now, that's what we're predicting to happen if all goes according to plan. You'll definitely be updated as time goes on!
Now that he's put in his two weeks, we can talk a lot more about the Air Force and how excited we are to be starting a new adventure in our lives. Well... technically, a couple of new adventures will be starting at about the same time! He's quite pumped about this, so if you're reading and have questions or want to chat with him about it, just shoot him a message & he'd be happy to talk with you. :-)
As always, I hope this update finds you and yours happy and well!
~*Stefanie*~
He had done his clinicals at one hospital here in town, and initially interviewed to work there- as they'd encouraged- as graduation approached. The outcome of the interview was that they absolutely LOVED him... but he wasn't in the best interest of the hospital since he'd told them about leaving for the Air Force. They openly said that the job would have been his if they didn't know he was going to leave. He interviewed at a second hospital here in town, and literally the exact same conversation took place. I guess he was hoping that they'd still take a chance on him and would be happy for his loyalty to our country by rewarding him with the job. But no such luck. They said they loved him, but wouldn't risk taking on someone who would be leaving within the year. They advised him to not tell those with whom he next applied. So that's what he did. The honest guy I married had a real moral issue with this, not to mention was dying inside from a) keeping a secret, b) not being able to share his excitement about that secret and c) being afraid that somone would find out and he'd have to come clean before he was ready. Needless to say, we aren't the secret-keeping type. But alas, his departure date is approaching and he had the conversation and put in his two weeks. They weren't exactly thrilled, but in the end they wished him the best and things are going smoothly. He has only one more week left there and then he's all mine for about 3 weeks until he leaves.
People have asked if I'm getting sad and bummed that he'll be gone, and the answer is OF COURSE! He's my husband and I love every second I spend with him and I actually MISS HIM when he's gone! BUT I also know that he's going to be right in his element and I think he'll really love what he's getting himself in to. He'll have cell phone and internet access and I'm sure we'll talk daily or at least every other day, so it won't be the end of the world. AND it'll be less than a month before I see him again, and then we can see each other a bit more regularly.
Each time I talk about him leaving, I get the standard, "Where is he going again?" and "How long will he be gone?" In general, people are easily confused by our timeline (and I would be too) so I'll tell you as much as I know. He hasn't officially gotten his orders yet (which is why he waited so long to put in his two weeks) so there' still a teensy chance this timeline could change, but I'll update you below on as much as I know. Since the arrival of Little Miss Audra is clearly intermixed in there, I'll add that too, because most people eventually get to the question, "So what does that mean for you and the baby?"
May 2011:
Nic is 1 out of 30ish to be accepted into the United States Air Force Nurse Corps that year. He gets a heads up of this probable timeline in advance.
c
(Sorry for the blurry pic.)
He notified me of this exciting news by bringing me my own Air Force shirt to school. It was quite an exciting day!
October 2011:
We find out WE'RE PREGNANT! His first concern is leaving me during this exciting and predictably difficult time.
He's not fond of this photo, but I like the classic look on his face, when he starts to think of all the things to come...
This was a still shot taken from the video I had running when I told him the news.
December 2011:
My dad (a retired Army Colonel) comes to Lubbock and swears Nic in as a military officer. This makes Nic an officer on 'reserve' status since he hasn't officially started his training and full-time employment. This ceremony took place at the World War II Memorial, next to Nic's grandpa's brick and was quite a special day.
Making it legal... signing the documents!
[See one of our FB accounts for more pictures.]
End of February 2012:
Nic leaves for Commissioned Officer Training (COT) in Montgomery, AL. This is a one month deal where he learns the ins and outs of being a military officer. He can't leave the base nor can he have visitors (until graduation). But like I mentioned before, he'll have phone and internet access, when he has time (which will be minimal).
End of March 2012:
Nic graduates as a Commissioned Air Force Officer. This is the beginning of a long and adventurous road! His parents, my parents and myself will be joining to celebrate the event and also to see how cute he looks in those uniforms. ;)
Beginning of April 2012:
He'll have about one week at home, and then Nic will leave to San Antonio for the Air Force Nurse Transition Program (NTP). This is where he'll learn what it means to be a nurse in the Air Force. He's already received his degree in nursing (an obvious pre-requisite) and this is his step into Air Force nursing. This will be more like his clinicals in that he'll follow an Air Force Nurse and will be able to come and go from the base as he pleases (& have visitors as often as he wants). This will allow us to see each other while he's there. San Antonio is about 8 hours from home.
June 2012:
Audra is due to come around the 4th! Nic's NTP doesn't officially get over until the 21st. This is the part that initially had us worried. He's done some research and is comforted by the information he's found: he'll be able to come home for the birth and will possibly be allowed to stay home and not return to the program without consequence. Staying home depends on whether his commanders feel that he's excelled enough and learned what he needs to know, and if it's near enough to the end of the program. This month holds the major question mark. We'll just have to put it in God's hands and see how it goes!
July 2012:
They give him about a month from the end date of his NTP to his official start date at Langley. Yup, that's the Langley you may have heard of in movies. It's on the east coast in Hampton, Virginia, about 30 minutes north of Virginia Beach. Needless to say, we're quite pumped about being on the ocean and away from all of this dry DUST! What we're nervous about: having only about a month and a half (or so) between giving birth, recovering, showing her off to everyone, getting our house packed up, and then moving 27 hours across the country to a new home. OH and somewhere in there, finding a place to live. Just thinking about it gets my heart racing. WOWZA that is a LOT of things to do with not a lot of time! AND what we'll REALLY be wanting to do is just stay home and be a family! That will definitely happen, but maybe not for as long as we'd like. Duty calls!
August 2012:
Nic will now be working daily as a full-time Air Force Nurse, and I"ll be staying home (at least for a bit) with the baby. We'll be in our new home on the east coast, and *hopefully* things will be coming together quite nicely.
And there you have it! Now I say all of that like it's set in stone and that's just the way it'll be. But I know as well as anyone that sometimes God has a plan that's different (and ultimately better!) from our own. I'm just saying that as of now, that's what we're predicting to happen if all goes according to plan. You'll definitely be updated as time goes on!
Now that he's put in his two weeks, we can talk a lot more about the Air Force and how excited we are to be starting a new adventure in our lives. Well... technically, a couple of new adventures will be starting at about the same time! He's quite pumped about this, so if you're reading and have questions or want to chat with him about it, just shoot him a message & he'd be happy to talk with you. :-)
As always, I hope this update finds you and yours happy and well!
~*Stefanie*~
Friday, January 27, 2012
The Gender Reveal (& other fun info)! [21 weeks]
To jump straight to Gender Reveal Party details, scroll stright through the 21 week update. :-)
How far along: 21 weeks / 1st week of the 6th month
How big is baby: 10.5(ish) inches long (length of a full-sized carrot)
Maternity clothes: I bought some shirts at a big Old Navy sale, and was also given a large box of maternity clothes from my friend/coworker Charlotte. I've been wearing some of those, but I have *yet* to get the much-needed maternity pants. So the belly band and rubber-bands have been getting quite a bit of use (and also bottoms with elastic).
Sleep: I've been sleeping through the night without getting up, which is AWESOME in itself! (Though Nic tells me I toss and turn so much that he often thinks I'm awake.) BUT I've also been having some pregnancy dreams. I was actually quite a vivid dreamer pre-pregnancy (we're talking 2-3 per night that I could still remember in the morning), so dreaming in itself isn't all that strange. What IS strange, though, is dreaming that I'm taking tumbling classes while pregnant and feeling scared that I'm going to fall on my stomach. It's kind of fun to be thinking about little baby in my dreams. :)
Gender: This is the exciting part! We had our Gender Reveal Party last week Monday (see end of post for party details), and it was AWESOME! Through the party, everyone was able to find out that IT'S A GIRL!!! Hurray, no more keeping secrets! And her name is...
AUDRA KAYTE WILLIAMS!
How we picked the name: Audra: Nic and I both really like the name Audra. It's been on our list since we first started thinking of having kids and talking about names. Truth be told, though, I just couldn't decide. I knew I liked Audra, but was it the one? What about Kinley? And Danika? And Alyson (Ally)? How do you decide on a name to last a LIFETIME? Then, after we'd been talking about names for a while, the talk in the kitchen happened. Nic and I were both in there, just standing (I think waiting on the microwave) and he did something that confirmed her name for me. Out of excitement, I hugged him and said something like, "Babe, I'm so excited to be a little family with you!" And he said, "Yea, just you, me, and (points to my belly) Audra." That was the first time he called our baby by name with such conviction and intent... not as a suggestion, but as a statement. My heart melted inside me. Yes, that was it, no more wondering. Her name is Audra.
It's fun to think of baby Audra (which is what we call her), toddler Audra, elementary-aged Audra, middle and high school aged Audra... college-aged Audra (Lord help us), adult Audra, Mom Audra, and old lady Audra... it's a name that we feel can withstand centuries. We think it will fit her perfectly. Right now as I type these words, I'm wondering how many times in my life I'll type the name Audra. It doesn't flow freely from my fingertips YET but I know it will eventually. :)
Kayte: My mom's middle name is Kay, which she also gave to me. I always knew I wanted to keep the 'Kay' tradition but I also wanted to put a spin on it and make it my own. I thought of a lot of different options: Kaycey (after my brother's middle name Casey), Kaylee, Kayla, etc. But the one I REALLY liked best was KAYTE. Something about it is so feminine and cute, and now elegant (thanks to Kate Middleton); I just LOVE that name! In fact, I thought of Kate for a first name, but decided it would fit more perfectly as a middle name with Audra to carry on the tradition. And so it is. :)
Movement: About 3 days after my last post, I was laying on my stomach on our bed, playing on the computer. I felt a little rumble, which demanded my attention. At first I thought it might be gas (let's be real, it happens). But then, I felt it again. Each time, it was for only a few seconds, but I knew it was different from what I'd ever felt before. The next day I felt it again, but only once. For about half a week there, I was feeling it only once a day for just a few seconds. Then toward the end of that week I would feel it twice or three times. Now this week, I feel her multiple times throughout the day, but each time it's only fore a few seconds. Almost like she's just shifting position to get comfortable and that's it. I wish she would keep moving! I know as she continues to get stronger I'll feel her more often and for longer periods of time. It's the coolest thing for me! Before I was pregnant, I'd always ask my pregnant friends what it felt like. Some have described it "like a floppy fish" and some say "like a butterfly fluttering its wings." For me, I guess the closest one would be the floppy fish. Not like a little goldfish, that's too small. More like a long fish you'd catch in a lake. It just moves around so you can feel it in your whole stomach (well, uterus). I know that's kind of weird to think about (because Audra will DEFINITELY be cuter than a fish) (yet will possibly come out equally slimy), but it's the best I can do.
Belly-button: Still an innie. Is it weird to say I kind of like the look of it when it's stretched tight over my stomach? Now if only I can make it look that tight AFTER being pregnant...
Exercise: My goal of 3-4 times in one week was not met. But 2 times in one week was! Better that than nothing. :) Yesterday when we got to CrossFit, I put on my heart rate monitor and went to warm up. I was surprised to see that my heart rate was already 155 before even beginning! I tell you, I guess growing a baby and giving it blood and oxygen and nutrients and HOUSING it really does require a lot of work from your body, and particularly your heart. It didn't make me not work out or anything, it's just shocking for me to see; I'm not used to it. It WOULD explain the being more out of breath lately and how it's generally harder to breathe even when I'm just sitting in a booth at Cattle Barron eating my salad and NOT working out. The CrossFit Mom workouts that were TOO easy in the beginning are just perfect right now. I can complete the Advanced workouts and get a small sweat going, when before I felt like "What was the point in even coming? This was too easy."
What I'm loving: LIFE pretty much! I love: 1) knowing the gender and calling her AUDRA!, 2) that we found a doula I think I'll love, 3) Nic being happy and excited for Officer Training (see next post), 4) the kids, particularly my "hardest" class being such a joy to teach lately, 5) feeling her move, 6) the fact that Nic put in his two weeks and they were actually happy for him and his future (HUGE relief for him), 7) all the travel plans we've made (also mentioned in next post), 8) registering for baby stuff!, 9) our sweet families and friends that are so eager to be there for us and help, what a blessing!, and 10) being HEALTHY right now! I've got so much to be thankful for, and I really am just one happy girl right now.
What I'm NOT loving: 1) the fact that breathing is getting harder, 2) people I don't know putting their hands on my belly... not cool..., 3) the lack of exercise happening despite the great desire within me, 4) that Nic is leaving exactly one month from today (see next post), 5) the HOURS of grading ahead of me this weekend, 6) Nic still working nights (but only for two more weeks!), 7) feeling hungry all the time even though I KNOW I just ate and can't possibly need more food, 8) how much all this cute baby stuff costs, 9) the lack of motivation to do house work, 10) having 3 months and 3 weeks to meet AUDRA.
What I miss: My husband! Our schedules were so opposite last week: I had SMART board training right after school (which is when we usually have dinner together before he goes into work), then he had a staff meeting after he got off at 7 AM (preventing the 30 minutes we have together before I go to work). It was about a 48 hour period that I didn't get to see him, yet he was in the house and one point and so was I. It pretty much SUCKED. I know I'll (obviously) go much longer without seeing him after he leaves for Officer Training, but that'll be different: at least I'll know he's out of town. It was no fun having him so close but yet not here. :( Thankfully he doesn't work too many more days until he's finished at the hospital here. It will be nice to go to bed at night with him a few more times before he leaves.
The Gender Reveal Party!
Hosted by: Erin Vaubel (whom Nic met in nursing school) and also Lindsey Harkey (also a friend from Nic's nursing school) helped a lot.
Party Details:
Cast Your Vote: I got a cheap chalkboard from Hobby Lobby and partiers put a mark for their prediction. More people thought boy!
"What do the Old Wives Tales say?" Game: I found this idea on another blog, and it worked out perfectly! See the link for the Old Wives Tales we used. (FYI- the Old Wives said it would be a BOY!)
Guess the arrival date: This was one of Erin (the host)'s ideas. She had a small chalkboard and people wrote when they thought the baby would arrive, judging from our due date of June 4. These pics are of Erin and Lindsey, since they helped so much & it was Erin's idea.
These are also great photos to see one other thing we asked of guests: wear blue or pink to cast your prediction.
Food: I had a "rainbow" cupcake theme in mind, and I think it turned out pretty cute! To drink, we had the classic sherbert-ginger ale punch (but we also added ice cream to make it creamier). We also had a counter of my cravings... just because I thought it was a cute idea and I didn't want all of the sweets to give people a sugar coma.
The Big Reveal: Erin and Lindsey did a REALLY awesome job making the cake. A few days before the party, Erin and I met to party plan- at which time I told her the gender. She told Lindsey to get some cake assistance, but the two of them and Nic and I (well, and our doctor and ultrasound tech) were the only ones that knew! After we played the Old Wives Tale game, everyone gathered around the cake/cupcake table (we took off the punch bowl) and Nic and I cut right in! The grandparents and Nic's sister's reaction was priceless. SO FUN to have everyone find out at once!
So there you have it! All the fun details of how we told everyone we're having a sweet little GIRL!
Sorry this post was so long, but I hope it found you well!
How far along: 21 weeks / 1st week of the 6th month
How big is baby: 10.5(ish) inches long (length of a full-sized carrot)
Maternity clothes: I bought some shirts at a big Old Navy sale, and was also given a large box of maternity clothes from my friend/coworker Charlotte. I've been wearing some of those, but I have *yet* to get the much-needed maternity pants. So the belly band and rubber-bands have been getting quite a bit of use (and also bottoms with elastic).
Sleep: I've been sleeping through the night without getting up, which is AWESOME in itself! (Though Nic tells me I toss and turn so much that he often thinks I'm awake.) BUT I've also been having some pregnancy dreams. I was actually quite a vivid dreamer pre-pregnancy (we're talking 2-3 per night that I could still remember in the morning), so dreaming in itself isn't all that strange. What IS strange, though, is dreaming that I'm taking tumbling classes while pregnant and feeling scared that I'm going to fall on my stomach. It's kind of fun to be thinking about little baby in my dreams. :)
Gender: This is the exciting part! We had our Gender Reveal Party last week Monday (see end of post for party details), and it was AWESOME! Through the party, everyone was able to find out that IT'S A GIRL!!! Hurray, no more keeping secrets! And her name is...
AUDRA KAYTE WILLIAMS!
How we picked the name: Audra: Nic and I both really like the name Audra. It's been on our list since we first started thinking of having kids and talking about names. Truth be told, though, I just couldn't decide. I knew I liked Audra, but was it the one? What about Kinley? And Danika? And Alyson (Ally)? How do you decide on a name to last a LIFETIME? Then, after we'd been talking about names for a while, the talk in the kitchen happened. Nic and I were both in there, just standing (I think waiting on the microwave) and he did something that confirmed her name for me. Out of excitement, I hugged him and said something like, "Babe, I'm so excited to be a little family with you!" And he said, "Yea, just you, me, and (points to my belly) Audra." That was the first time he called our baby by name with such conviction and intent... not as a suggestion, but as a statement. My heart melted inside me. Yes, that was it, no more wondering. Her name is Audra.
It's fun to think of baby Audra (which is what we call her), toddler Audra, elementary-aged Audra, middle and high school aged Audra... college-aged Audra (Lord help us), adult Audra, Mom Audra, and old lady Audra... it's a name that we feel can withstand centuries. We think it will fit her perfectly. Right now as I type these words, I'm wondering how many times in my life I'll type the name Audra. It doesn't flow freely from my fingertips YET but I know it will eventually. :)
Kayte: My mom's middle name is Kay, which she also gave to me. I always knew I wanted to keep the 'Kay' tradition but I also wanted to put a spin on it and make it my own. I thought of a lot of different options: Kaycey (after my brother's middle name Casey), Kaylee, Kayla, etc. But the one I REALLY liked best was KAYTE. Something about it is so feminine and cute, and now elegant (thanks to Kate Middleton); I just LOVE that name! In fact, I thought of Kate for a first name, but decided it would fit more perfectly as a middle name with Audra to carry on the tradition. And so it is. :)
Movement: About 3 days after my last post, I was laying on my stomach on our bed, playing on the computer. I felt a little rumble, which demanded my attention. At first I thought it might be gas (let's be real, it happens). But then, I felt it again. Each time, it was for only a few seconds, but I knew it was different from what I'd ever felt before. The next day I felt it again, but only once. For about half a week there, I was feeling it only once a day for just a few seconds. Then toward the end of that week I would feel it twice or three times. Now this week, I feel her multiple times throughout the day, but each time it's only fore a few seconds. Almost like she's just shifting position to get comfortable and that's it. I wish she would keep moving! I know as she continues to get stronger I'll feel her more often and for longer periods of time. It's the coolest thing for me! Before I was pregnant, I'd always ask my pregnant friends what it felt like. Some have described it "like a floppy fish" and some say "like a butterfly fluttering its wings." For me, I guess the closest one would be the floppy fish. Not like a little goldfish, that's too small. More like a long fish you'd catch in a lake. It just moves around so you can feel it in your whole stomach (well, uterus). I know that's kind of weird to think about (because Audra will DEFINITELY be cuter than a fish) (yet will possibly come out equally slimy), but it's the best I can do.
Belly-button: Still an innie. Is it weird to say I kind of like the look of it when it's stretched tight over my stomach? Now if only I can make it look that tight AFTER being pregnant...
Exercise: My goal of 3-4 times in one week was not met. But 2 times in one week was! Better that than nothing. :) Yesterday when we got to CrossFit, I put on my heart rate monitor and went to warm up. I was surprised to see that my heart rate was already 155 before even beginning! I tell you, I guess growing a baby and giving it blood and oxygen and nutrients and HOUSING it really does require a lot of work from your body, and particularly your heart. It didn't make me not work out or anything, it's just shocking for me to see; I'm not used to it. It WOULD explain the being more out of breath lately and how it's generally harder to breathe even when I'm just sitting in a booth at Cattle Barron eating my salad and NOT working out. The CrossFit Mom workouts that were TOO easy in the beginning are just perfect right now. I can complete the Advanced workouts and get a small sweat going, when before I felt like "What was the point in even coming? This was too easy."
What I'm loving: LIFE pretty much! I love: 1) knowing the gender and calling her AUDRA!, 2) that we found a doula I think I'll love, 3) Nic being happy and excited for Officer Training (see next post), 4) the kids, particularly my "hardest" class being such a joy to teach lately, 5) feeling her move, 6) the fact that Nic put in his two weeks and they were actually happy for him and his future (HUGE relief for him), 7) all the travel plans we've made (also mentioned in next post), 8) registering for baby stuff!, 9) our sweet families and friends that are so eager to be there for us and help, what a blessing!, and 10) being HEALTHY right now! I've got so much to be thankful for, and I really am just one happy girl right now.
What I'm NOT loving: 1) the fact that breathing is getting harder, 2) people I don't know putting their hands on my belly... not cool..., 3) the lack of exercise happening despite the great desire within me, 4) that Nic is leaving exactly one month from today (see next post), 5) the HOURS of grading ahead of me this weekend, 6) Nic still working nights (but only for two more weeks!), 7) feeling hungry all the time even though I KNOW I just ate and can't possibly need more food, 8) how much all this cute baby stuff costs, 9) the lack of motivation to do house work, 10) having 3 months and 3 weeks to meet AUDRA.
What I miss: My husband! Our schedules were so opposite last week: I had SMART board training right after school (which is when we usually have dinner together before he goes into work), then he had a staff meeting after he got off at 7 AM (preventing the 30 minutes we have together before I go to work). It was about a 48 hour period that I didn't get to see him, yet he was in the house and one point and so was I. It pretty much SUCKED. I know I'll (obviously) go much longer without seeing him after he leaves for Officer Training, but that'll be different: at least I'll know he's out of town. It was no fun having him so close but yet not here. :( Thankfully he doesn't work too many more days until he's finished at the hospital here. It will be nice to go to bed at night with him a few more times before he leaves.
The Gender Reveal Party!
Hosted by: Erin Vaubel (whom Nic met in nursing school) and also Lindsey Harkey (also a friend from Nic's nursing school) helped a lot.
Party Details:
Cast Your Vote: I got a cheap chalkboard from Hobby Lobby and partiers put a mark for their prediction. More people thought boy!
"What do the Old Wives Tales say?" Game: I found this idea on another blog, and it worked out perfectly! See the link for the Old Wives Tales we used. (FYI- the Old Wives said it would be a BOY!)
Guess the arrival date: This was one of Erin (the host)'s ideas. She had a small chalkboard and people wrote when they thought the baby would arrive, judging from our due date of June 4. These pics are of Erin and Lindsey, since they helped so much & it was Erin's idea.
These are also great photos to see one other thing we asked of guests: wear blue or pink to cast your prediction.
Food: I had a "rainbow" cupcake theme in mind, and I think it turned out pretty cute! To drink, we had the classic sherbert-ginger ale punch (but we also added ice cream to make it creamier). We also had a counter of my cravings... just because I thought it was a cute idea and I didn't want all of the sweets to give people a sugar coma.
The Big Reveal: Erin and Lindsey did a REALLY awesome job making the cake. A few days before the party, Erin and I met to party plan- at which time I told her the gender. She told Lindsey to get some cake assistance, but the two of them and Nic and I (well, and our doctor and ultrasound tech) were the only ones that knew! After we played the Old Wives Tale game, everyone gathered around the cake/cupcake table (we took off the punch bowl) and Nic and I cut right in! The grandparents and Nic's sister's reaction was priceless. SO FUN to have everyone find out at once!
The icing completely covered the inside, which reveals the gender...
Excited to tell everyone...
The cake was pink! IT'S A GIRL!
So there you have it! All the fun details of how we told everyone we're having a sweet little GIRL!
Sorry this post was so long, but I hope it found you well!
Friday, January 13, 2012
I've Just Begun Havin' My Fun (yeah) [19 weeks]
So much is happening at once, it's hard to keep up with it
all! I read my friends blogs and see all of their pregnancy updates and I feel
shameful! I have been SO NOT
on the ball with this! ...and I SO wanted to be! So here's the first update (of hopefully many): the good, the bad, and the ugly.
How far along: 0-19 weeks (this update should be interesting with so much to cover!)
How big is baby: Obviously started as a twinkle in Nic's eye, and is now anywhere between 6.5-9 inches! Wowza!!! Tuesday's ultrasound informed us that baby is around 10 oz right now!
Weight gain/loss: Not exactly sure about this one... I think prob around 7 right now. I do know for sure (thanks to the appt today) that I gained 2 lbs within the last month.
Stretch marks: None yet! Which is amazing since my boobs feel ginormous and are itchy all the time! I put Vitamin E oil on the high stretch zones (when I remember, which is about 2-3 times per week)... I hear it works out pretty well!
Maternity clothes: Around weeks 16-17 I noticed it was harder to button my jeans. Maybe it was the baby, maybe it was all the delicious homemade food my mother-in-law made for all of us. ...regardless, things were getting a bit tight in there. At that point I started leaving them unbuttoned and using a rubber band or hair tie, looping it through the hole and around the button to give me some extra room. That's still what I'm doing now, though, truth be told-- I can barely ZIP them now. I think here in the next few weeks I'm going to have to get some maternity pants. Lucky for me, I have quite a few long shirts that completely hide the button/zipper area, so I've been getting away with it.
-ALSO- my mother in law bought me a belly band, which has really come in handy. I'm able to leave the pants unzipped & unbuttoned (though I still like to use the rubber band or hair tie to keep them from hanging open) and I can cover up that area with the belly band, which looks like a shirt (for times when I don't have a long enough shirt) and also smooths out any muffin-toppage that may be happening. (Not that it does. ...I'm so sorry for that horrible image in your head I may have just created.) The band has been EXTREMELY helpful.
Sleep: In the beginning, I was waking up SERIOUSLY 2-3 times a night to pee. I am not exaggerating! I found it hard to go back to sleep as well, because... well, a baby is EXCITING! Around 14 weeks, we got brand new furniture (so the little wiggle worm can have our old stuff), along with a Tempurpedic mattress. I kid you not, my bathroom usage has cut from 3 to 1 and sometimes zero! I'm pretty confident that this is due to the fact that this new mattress puts less stress on my body, and therefore my little one isn't pushing as hard on my bladder. I'm finding it easier to go back to sleep now, too, which is nice. :)
Week 18 I had a pretty nasty upper respiratory infection, which left me super drained and made it hard to sleep (coughing, phlem, wheezing, the whole fun thing). Since that's been over, sleep has been blissful.
Diet/Cravings: Well, in the beginning I couldn't get enough tater tots! ...with ranch dressing! Yummmm! Then there was a while when I would eat whole pineapples by myself. Now, I'm pretty much just craving nutritious food. We had been eating a really well-rounded diet for months before getting pregnant, and after we found out I just ate whatever I wanted because I wanted it SO BADLY. I started to feel the sluggish effects of not eating healthy (or is that just called being pregnant?!?), so I've started trying go back to our old ways. So far, so good! I feel better about what I'm taking in, knowing it's good for me AND BABY!
Gender: At first, we wanted to wait. Then I decided the new mom in me wanted to know for planning purposes. Nic still didn't want to know. And he made it VERY clear that he didn't want to make a big party out of it.
~WELL~
We found out the gender on Tuesday and will be revealing to friends and family on Monday! The original plan was to just have a dinner and cut into a gender cake. Then I started thinking about how week nights are bad for a lot of people since their kids have sports, meetings, etc... so then we made it a Saturday thing. Then decided people shouldn't have to pay for dinner, so now it's just a little 2 hour shindig. So far [today is Thursday] we've got about 20 people total who'll be there (including us). We'll have a table full of tots, pineapple, and cheese (of course) for my cravings, also a table for the cake and other nicely colored sweets. Pics and updates on the gender reveal in next post. :)
Movement: At our 16 week appointment, the MD said I should feel it any time. She also said, don't be alarmed if I don't because some don't feel it until after their 20th week. There are times I think I feel it, but then I talk myself into thinking it's gas or me being hungry. I just can't tell! So, I'm going to say no... but when I do, you'll know all about it!
Belly-button: I believe one of my childhood friends had a sister who used to tell me my belly button was like a black hole: it never ended. And I have to say, I think I agree. Who knows how far that thing goes in there? You need a flashlight to even get an idea of the depth of this anomaly. I hear that eventually in pregnancy, all innies become outies... but I'm having my doubts about whether mine actually will or not. Again, I'll keep you updated!
Exercise: I've done CrossFit Mom the whole time. There were about 3 weeks there (15-18) that Nic's family was in town and we were quite busy with Christmas stuff, so I didn't work out. And I missed it. When I did manage to workout in the 1st trimester, it was usually only 2 times/week, which was quite a change from my normal pre-pregnancy 4-5x/wk. Then those 3 weeks of ZERO working out made me pretty sad and gross feeling (and remember, that's the same time the pants stopped buttoning... didn't make me feel so great). This week I did two workouts, and I'm hoping next week I can get up to 3 and eventually keep it at 3 or 4. The workouts are meant for preggo ladies, and I have to say- I love it! At first, the low intensity was a shock to my hard-working CrossFitting system. But now, it's JUST what the doctor ordered! (And yes, she has OKed these workouts!)
I've noticed things that used to be extremely easy are getting harder and harder (like just trying to lift the bar above my head). The effects of this are elevated heart rate, which I keep track of on the monitor I wear. I take VERY frequent breaks to let my heart rate drop and then resume activity. It's usually in the 150s to high 160s as I'm working out but 170s make me nervous... mostly b/c every time it's that high I'm also getting to be out of breath. I mostly just listen to my body and when I feel like I'm pushing it too hard, I slow down or stop all together to get a big breather. There has been a lot of new research about working out and pregnancy and I find it all very fascinating. I have no plans to quit any time soon! :)
What I'm loving: Actually looking pregnant! People are starting to comment on my belly. It's nice to be out of that stage when the kids say, "Miss, you look fat!" (and yes, they have seriously said that) to the stage when they say "Miss, I can tell you have a baby in there!" But of course, adults are noticing now too. The in-between stage made me feel awkward, but I feel like enough people have assured me that it looks like a baby bump and not a fat bump. So I.am.happy. :-P
What I'm not loving: Keeping the gender a secret right now! I am such a spiller of exciting news!! (You will know it whether you wanted to or not! One year, I even ruined Nic's surprise I had planned for him... I wanted to whisk him away & not tell him where we were going, but before we even left town I presented him with the concert tickets. Sigh. This is the way I roll.) Tomorrow I can FINALLY tell my parents [b/c they'll be on a cruise during the reveal] but Monday is still SO FAR away!!!
What I miss: BEER! MARGARITAS! Hot chocolate with BAILEY'S! I'm making myself sound like an alcoholic here, but trust me, I'm far from it. I just enjoy being an adult and partaking in very delicious, very RELAXING adult beverages. For now I am settling with smelling Nic's beer (or his beer-breath, if that's all I've got. I just realized that probably sounds disgusting to you. But oh that sweet smell...)
Sickness and Symptoms:
The very first thing I noticed was my boobs hurting. That's actually what convinced me to take the tests. After that, I was nauseous during the rest of the 1st trimester. I never had to befriend the porcelain throne, but man did I feel like hurling on some kids sometimes. (I even told one particularly annoying kid to leave me alone before I puked on him. ...probably not my best teacher moment...) I was really sleepy (which is strange for me b/c I'm normally a night person), and went to bed around 7:30 or 8. Around week 14, I started feeling those round ligaments stretching. To me, it felt like stabbing sharp pains in my lower abdomen. But they'd be gone as soon as they came. Oh, and since the beginning (and I read that it would be this way throughout), my skin has been quite a bit more oily... which makes me break out more, and can really be noticed in my hair if I'm extra grungy and decide not to shower (which I would never do...). That's just lead to staying on top of washing my face and showering, since all of those things help rid me of the oils. So far so good! (And I'm also becoming a very huge fan of spay-in shampoo for Saturdays... [I mean, um, never mind, I wouldn't need it since I'm showering all the time...].) Oh yea, and pretty much anything cute with a baby makes me cry. Or anything cute in general. But that's all the more reason for Nic to laugh at me. ;)
So there you have it! The next one should be significantly shorter since I'll have less ground to cover. I have to say, it's been quite uneventful as far as sickness, pains and negative side-effects are concerned. And VERY eventful as far as excitement and planning are concerned! I am loving every minute of this pregnancy business! And most of all, I cannot WAIT to meet our baby!!!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
...December and There's Reason to Believe... [16 weeks]
Ok, well... that little goal of writing twice a week- yeah, that didn't happen. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if you forgot this thing existed. Not only did I not post twice a week, I didn't even post ONCE a week, or AT ALL for that matter...for four months! So I'm sorry, and I agree- it's been too long! I'll try to get better. :-/ I promise I have a good excuse (and I bet by now you already know what it is)!
THE BIG MOMENT:
About a month and half into the school year, I decided I couldn't take it anymore. I'd read about the symptoms, and they were spot on. After Nic went to work, I took the test and didn't really expect the outcome that it gave (despite the aforementioned symptoms). Instead of 1 line, there were TWO! So you guessed it, WE'RE PREGNANT! Nic and all of our families, of course, are elated. We knew some sources advised on waiting to tell family and co-workers, but, um... we didn't really do that. We told our families the same day we found out (because I'm really REALLY bad at keeping secrets), and I told my best work friends within that first week. My reasoning is that I WANT my support system there for us, should something go wrong. I don't really want to keep something like this (good or bad as it may go) to myself. So anyway, the day we found out was one of the most exciting days of our lives (I think it's safe to speak for him on this one), and even now- a few months later- it's all pretty surreal.
THE DISBELIEF:
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BABY. Isn't that something that other people do and I only dream about? It's a similar feeling to the one I had when I realized we were really getting married. Marriage... that's for other people. It seemed so unattainable for me, and then I met Nic and it happened and it was real and unbelievably amazing! And now, a baby! It's still hard to believe that WE will have OUR OWN BABY! Something that started from nothing, is going to grow into a huge baby, that will one day be on the inside of me- and the next day, will be on the outside of me. How strange.
THE BABY & THE JOB:
The due date is June 4. Yes, to those of you who are teachers (or think along the school timeline) that means I have the lovely pleasure of being pregnant almost the whole.entire.school.year. JOY! (Could you sense the sarcasm?) There aren't many things I can think of that are more miserable than having 28 8th graders, at their peak of adolescence (and corresponding attitudes), trying to TEACH them things they DON'T REALLY want to learn, while experiencing all of the pain that pregnancy brings. I've already gone through the first trimester (which meant I felt like puking on them at times) (too bad I couldn't, b/c I bet that would teach them to not mess with me), but I anticipate the 2nd being much better.
THE 1ST TRIMESTER:
I would be lying if I said my 1st trimester was completely miserable. I feel very fortunate in my pregnancy thus far. I haven't thrown up once (although the all-day nausea wasn't really that fun), and although I fall asleep MUCH earlier now, I don't feel like the baby has kept me from doing the things I most want or need to do. Score on that end! I look forward to my energy level picking up even more in the upcoming weeks. (And for those of you who may be wondering, yes I'm still doing CrossFit, but have begun doing CrossFit Mom workouts. Google it. :-) )
THE CONFUSING MATH:
Anyone who knows much about having a baby knows that the math is quite confusing. We've always been told it takes 9 months for a baby to come, right? Well, we found out we were pregnant at around 6 weeks, and now we're at week 17 (tomorrow). And we all know that 4 weeks x 9 months should equal 36 weeks (which would make the due date at the beginning of May) but they actually put the due date at 40 weeks (beginning of June). So, in my opinion, all of the talk about 9 months just makes things confusing to people. The kids ask me on nearly a daily basis how far along I am and when the baby's coming. It's confusing for them to hear that I'm starting on my 5th month this week, then they count on their fingers and and the end date comes out all wrong. Yea, I'm with you there, kids. Sometimes math is hard.
OK, enough baby talk. Let's talk about other things!
THANKSGIVING:
We had "Thanksmas" with my family in Missouri. It was SO great to see all of them! It was my parents year to host the BIG family, so that was just some icing on the cake. Our big Christmas gift this year was an AWESOME camera which we love. We spent quality family time dancing with the X-Box Kinect, putt-putt golfing, and of course- eating! :)
POST-GRADUATION:
Given the length of this post already, Christmas posts will have to wait until next time. (And I promise the next will be more recent than the last!)
I hope this finds you all happy and well. Feel free to comment so I know you're actually reading! :) Take care!
~*Stefanie*~
THE BIG MOMENT:
About a month and half into the school year, I decided I couldn't take it anymore. I'd read about the symptoms, and they were spot on. After Nic went to work, I took the test and didn't really expect the outcome that it gave (despite the aforementioned symptoms). Instead of 1 line, there were TWO! So you guessed it, WE'RE PREGNANT! Nic and all of our families, of course, are elated. We knew some sources advised on waiting to tell family and co-workers, but, um... we didn't really do that. We told our families the same day we found out (because I'm really REALLY bad at keeping secrets), and I told my best work friends within that first week. My reasoning is that I WANT my support system there for us, should something go wrong. I don't really want to keep something like this (good or bad as it may go) to myself. So anyway, the day we found out was one of the most exciting days of our lives (I think it's safe to speak for him on this one), and even now- a few months later- it's all pretty surreal.
THE DISBELIEF:
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BABY. Isn't that something that other people do and I only dream about? It's a similar feeling to the one I had when I realized we were really getting married. Marriage... that's for other people. It seemed so unattainable for me, and then I met Nic and it happened and it was real and unbelievably amazing! And now, a baby! It's still hard to believe that WE will have OUR OWN BABY! Something that started from nothing, is going to grow into a huge baby, that will one day be on the inside of me- and the next day, will be on the outside of me. How strange.
THE BABY & THE JOB:
The due date is June 4. Yes, to those of you who are teachers (or think along the school timeline) that means I have the lovely pleasure of being pregnant almost the whole.entire.school.year. JOY! (Could you sense the sarcasm?) There aren't many things I can think of that are more miserable than having 28 8th graders, at their peak of adolescence (and corresponding attitudes), trying to TEACH them things they DON'T REALLY want to learn, while experiencing all of the pain that pregnancy brings. I've already gone through the first trimester (which meant I felt like puking on them at times) (too bad I couldn't, b/c I bet that would teach them to not mess with me), but I anticipate the 2nd being much better.
THE 1ST TRIMESTER:
I would be lying if I said my 1st trimester was completely miserable. I feel very fortunate in my pregnancy thus far. I haven't thrown up once (although the all-day nausea wasn't really that fun), and although I fall asleep MUCH earlier now, I don't feel like the baby has kept me from doing the things I most want or need to do. Score on that end! I look forward to my energy level picking up even more in the upcoming weeks. (And for those of you who may be wondering, yes I'm still doing CrossFit, but have begun doing CrossFit Mom workouts. Google it. :-) )
THE CONFUSING MATH:
Anyone who knows much about having a baby knows that the math is quite confusing. We've always been told it takes 9 months for a baby to come, right? Well, we found out we were pregnant at around 6 weeks, and now we're at week 17 (tomorrow). And we all know that 4 weeks x 9 months should equal 36 weeks (which would make the due date at the beginning of May) but they actually put the due date at 40 weeks (beginning of June). So, in my opinion, all of the talk about 9 months just makes things confusing to people. The kids ask me on nearly a daily basis how far along I am and when the baby's coming. It's confusing for them to hear that I'm starting on my 5th month this week, then they count on their fingers and and the end date comes out all wrong. Yea, I'm with you there, kids. Sometimes math is hard.
OK, enough baby talk. Let's talk about other things!
THANKSGIVING:
We had "Thanksmas" with my family in Missouri. It was SO great to see all of them! It was my parents year to host the BIG family, so that was just some icing on the cake. Our big Christmas gift this year was an AWESOME camera which we love. We spent quality family time dancing with the X-Box Kinect, putt-putt golfing, and of course- eating! :)
(Nic & my brother... I wish I had gotten their faces; this was BEYOND hilarious!)
POST-GRADUATION:
- Nic graduated and found a job at a hospital here in town. I knew he would-- he's too great to pass up!
- He got commissioned as an officer into the Air Force just this very weekend. My parents came into town and my dad (a retired Army Colonel) swore him in. It was quite a special time for him (and us).
- Of course, there's more to this Air Force story, but we'll have to wait until the time is right to tell you all about that. :)
Given the length of this post already, Christmas posts will have to wait until next time. (And I promise the next will be more recent than the last!)
I hope this finds you all happy and well. Feel free to comment so I know you're actually reading! :) Take care!
~*Stefanie*~
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