11 weeks and counting.

Well, Piper is 11 weeks old today. The little stinker is growing so fast. She has been in 3-6 month clothes for about a week now. In Gerber she wears 12 month because she has a long torso and a chubby tummy. She is almost in size 2 diapers...another week and she will be. It's so crazy being a stay-at-home-mom. Whoever said to sleep when the baby sleeps obviously never stayed home with their children. You can't possibly do it. I can't sleep when the sun is out because that's when I like to get things done.

This is our recent family photo. It was from yesterday (1/10/10).

Piper definetly looks like both of us.

This is the only article of clothing that I have monogrammed with her name on it. I really need to get a few more things done for her. She is always so smiley and giggly when I change her diaper. This little girl sure does hate to be wet or poopy.

This is Piper and her (fake) Auntie Sara. Piper has really spoiled Sara into wanting children sooner rather than later. Her poor husband said not right now......I don't think he's ready for the mountain of laundry and diapers that come with a baby....haha.

This was our Christmas tree this past Christmas. This year we are going to do a traditional big green one because we now have a family to start our own traditions with. This one will be Piper's next year and her's will be going in the kitchen. Her's is a midnight blue so it'll match my kitchen perfectly.

She has her daddy's eyes. She is such a daddy's princess. She sure does know how to spend his money. She keeps growing out of her jammies it seems like we're buying a new pair weekly. She is only 2 months old and is already wearing 3-6 month jammies.

Well, that's all for now folks. We'll see ya later!

Life Has Happened and I haven't blogged since the 3rd trimester

Well, it has been a long time since I last posted. I was 29 weeks pregnant when I did and as you can tell from these pictures that I've had my daughter. She was born on October 26 at 5:11 pm. She weighed 6 lbs 15 oz and 20 1/4 inches long. I am very happy to no longer be pregnant and to have my little girl in person with me everyday. So much has changed since that great day.

I am now a full time stay-at-home-mom while Josh works very hard outside of the home. He is an appliance repair technician. He typically works 10-12 hour days so that we can afford for me to stay home with Piper. Josh is such a great daddy to her. He has been wrapped around her little finger ever since she was born. When he first found out that I was pregnant he told me that he did not want to witness the birth because he tends to faint or get sick when he sees blood. He stayed for the birth (obviously) and was so amazed at the whole act of giving birth. He thought it was the greatest thing he has ever witnessed on Earth. I could've told him that....haha.

Anyways here are just a few pictures from the day before, the day of, and the day after.

Piper at home at 3 days old.

Me holding Piper for the first time.

Josh holding Piper that night.

Me the day before birth in active labor (I was not dialated at all).

Very first family portrait. (We look like highschoolers).

Well, that's it for now. I will be updating my blog more often (hopefully everyday). I have a lot to fill everyone in on so keep your fingers crossed that I can get it done.

That's all.....See ya!

Almost at 29 weeks.....

Well, I am into the 3rd trimester of my fisrt pregnancy. So far I have only gained 4 pounds and it sounds like I may only gain another 3 or 4 pounds. Right now Piper weighs in at 2 pounds and 9 ounces and the placenta they are estimating around 1 pound 5 ounces. So that is all of the weight accounted for. I know that these numbers sound scarey because technically I should have gained 15 pounds or so, but I along with my daughter are very healthy. Everyone (pregnant or wanting to become pregnant) has been asking me what my secret is.....here it is.

I am a vegetarian now (I eat hard cheeses, eggs, and butter still) and I exercise daily and keep my core muscles pulled in at all times.

Crazy.......I know that's how it sounds, but it is partially true.

The real secret is just the fact that I already had 20 extra pounds to spare....by doing the above items I have allowed my daughter to just take my fat supply instead of putting on extra. Hopefully by Thanksgiving I will be back down to a much healthier weight of 145. We shall see.

Stomach Virus

Well, on top of being 26 weeks pregnant today I also have developed the dreadful stomach virus that is going around NWA. Josh had it last week and now I have it this week. I feel terrible. I just wish the virus would end like RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!

Anyways....this Saturday my mom and I (and hopefull my sister, Julie) will be heading down to Ft. Smith to the A to Z store. We are going to try and find an unfinished dresser for the nursery along with checking out their flooring options. Josh and his dad are going to be ripping up the carpets in our house so we can put down wood laminate floors in the living room, hallway, and nursery. This will be done by the middle of August.

That's all for now!

Frazzled because time is running out!

Well, this is going to be a picture free post because my computer at home is not hooked up. We have moved it out of the nursery and into the living room, but haven't plugged it back in yet. I'm hoping I can get it figured out tonight.

On to the frazzled part of today's blog:

I have realized over the weekend that I don't have very much time left before Piper is born. It is the middle of July with October just around the corner. October sounds so far away but it's not. Am I really ready to become a mom? I don't really know for sure about that one. I'm the type of person who gets excited after the event has already happened. Am I a bad mother-to-be for not necessarily being overjoyed and filled with so much excitement that I'm actually pregnant? You tell me. I am 24 weeks and 6 days into this pregnancy and it just feels as if I've always been pregnant and that Piper has always been a part of me. I'm curious if any of you out there felt similar when you were pregnant.

Anyways, there is so much to be done at my house to get it ready because we also want to sell it. We still have to tear up all of the carpets to install new wood laminate floors in the living room, hallway, and nursery along with new carpet in the guest room and master bedroom. I have to paint 4 rooms along with their baseboards still. I need to get a new dinette set and fix our front porch. We have to put in a few new pieces of siding on the house along with a new window and back door. We have to repaint and resurface the garage floor (if you know my husband then you understand....he's a mechanic by trade and hobby). Plus, we also have to fix the backyard...I have two dogs that each weigh over 100lbs. They like to dig.....ALOT!!!

This week I am putting on a pom squad dance camp for the Lincoln Jr. High squad. This will be interesting. I have had alot of fun making up the dances because they are so different, here are the songs: Thriller by MJ, Candy Man by Christina Aguilera, Shawty Get Loose by Lil Mamma, She's Country by Jason Aldean, and 409 by the Beach Boys. I hope the girls really like the dances along with their coach of course. In August I get to do another camp for the Sr. High squad....they are wanting jazz so that will be fun.

Okay, I swear this is almost over....on to a little bit of pregnancy news.

I have gained a total of 5 pounds. My doctor says that's really good and that I should only gain about another 15lbs or so if I keep doing what I'm doing. All Piper is doing these days is practicing her kicks and punches. Over the weekend we went to a motocross race to watch Josh, Caleb, and Asa race. Piper loved it the most when Josh was racing. She got really active and flipped twice while he was racing. Anytime we talk about dirtbikes she gets active.....this should be a good sign that she'll want to race when she's 4. She is also a total daddy's girl already. If I think about Josh or even just mention his name she gets jumpy. If Josh is around and she can hear him she gets even more jumpy. The best is when he talks just to her....her movements are so strong that everyone is visible from the outside. I know that he is already her slave for life.

Well....that's all for now. I get to go home and mow the lawn and water my plants after work......oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention this. I get to be a stay-at-home-mom with Piper. YEAH ME!!!!!

Hello everyone...it's been a little while since my last post. Well a few things have happened since then. My best friend got married, I went to a family reunion, and I started the nesting part on my house. Enjoy a few of the wedding photos taken at the Stables on the Hill.

Josh (my husband) and Sara

Me and Sara

Me and Ben

Reflections of a blushing bride


Sean and Sara

Me doing the bride's makeup

Sara and Weston about to cut the cake

She looked so beautiful on that day

Our boss for the day, Heaven the flowergirl

This was one of the best weddings that I've been to in a long time. The weather was perfect for an outdoor wedding. Just enough white puffy clouds and the temperature was 80 degrees. The wedding started at 5:00 which was great because the sun was not directly overhead. I will never forget my best friend's wedding....it is the only one that I have ever cried at. I didn't even cry at my own wedding....I was just ready to be married. Until later...adios!

Physical Therapy

Well, it is now day 3 of my physical therapy. I will have to say this......as long as you do the work you will feel the improvement. Yes, I'm still in pain, but I found out exactly what is wrong with me. Here goes:

1) My sciatic nerve is pulled not pinched
2) My muscles, other nerves, and tendons are all pulled on the left side of my behind
3) My left pelvic bone is basically locked in a backward facing position

My therapist says that it's odd seeing is how when you are pregnant everything in your pelvis region is supposed to be loose and stretchy. Well, my right side is loose while the left side is not. I have been told my entire life that I'm in the 2% of American who are just weird.....I told me therapist this and she agreed that I am in the 2% of weird pregnancy patients seeking physical therapy. I am only 19 weeks along and I have had swelling for several weeks now....again she said that was not normal and my OB/GYN agrees with her.

So far my pain is still there, but I don't have to walk funny in order to be more comfortable and I've had no screamming episodes for the past 2 days. This may not be exciting new to some, but to me and Josh it is a real blessing. Anyways, that's all for now.