Blogger meet up/ cloth diaper?/prayers

It was SOOOO fun!!!! I drove over to P'cola (Pensacola) recently to meet these fine ladies: Lauren (Magnify the Lord with Me), Kaitlin (More Like Mary More Like Me), and Karen (Pray-Hope-Trust) . Y'all, they are so cute, so fun, so full of life and knowledge and most of all, they have absolutely adorable children:) I got to snuggle with all three babies and just loved it!!! I have been wanting a blogger meet-up down south and it finally was accomplished! We really spent all our time talking away and me, learning from all their mom ideas/tricks. They definitely persuaded me to be a cloth diaper momma. I'm super excited about that. What is happening with me....haha....doula, now cloth diapers!!! I'm totally surprising myself and LOVING it!  

On to the cloth diaper topic, I learned a lot from these ladies but am curious to see what else you others are using. I'm thinking of sticking to the Bum Genius brand but am totally open to your thoughts. If any of you have any of your posts on this topic, send me the link in the comment section so I can read please:) Thanks! Oh and what to wash them with????

I've been thinking a lot lately about infertility. That pain is so very close to my heart and will never be forgotten. I just wanted to let those of you who are struggling know that you are always in my prayers. Just a little support reminder:)

Something I never thought I'd do and Blogger meet up!!

Hey friends:) Well I haven't posted much lately b.c I haven't had much to say that would entertain you in the least bit....I have been lazy lazy lazy and I didn't want to bore you with nothing posts! ha. I have been reading up on y'all though and praying specifically for some of your requests. Summer so far has been so nice. I seriously have been sleeping in, watching Today show, getting exercise here and there, getting to some daily masses with momma, reading, and visiting with family and friends. Baby who is doing fabulous and we are really enjoying nesting this summer.


So since I joined the blogger world about a year ago, I have been exposed to more than I could have imagined....in a good way. One of those things is the idea of natural labor and using a doula. I don't know if I would have thought about this whole doula thing if it weren't for the exposure. I'm definitely appreciative!

I did some research for a doula along the gulf coast and was successful. I contacted her and we met for coffee and I immediately felt comfortable. I knew my decision right away. I honestly didn't even think twice about it after meeting her. So here we are, signed up for an upcoming appointment:) DH has been very supportive. He of course is very nervous about the idea of me trying ( I say trying b.c you never know) to have a natural labor. But I know that once he meets her, he will immediately feel comfortable with the decision of getting this doula. And what we get from her....She comes to our home for 6 or 7 in-home classes to prepare us for birth, she is on call weeks before and weeks after birth, she is available 24/7 and will be there to help us do most laboring at home before hospital (hopefully), and she will remain after birth to help with breastfeeding, etc.

I'm just so relieved to have met her and be comfortable about this whole idea. My worries are normal, I know. Of course I worry about whether or not I will be able to do labor without epidural, I worry about the chance of maybe having to be induced or have a C-section, etc. My ideal situation would be to be able to go into labor at home smoothly and go to hospital and have baby naturally. I'm just going to remind myself over and over that it is in God's hands not mine. As soon as I start to control things, life gets a little crazy.

On another note, I'm so excited for this week. I get to meet three bloggers:):):) I'm headed to Pensacola on Tuesday to have a slumber party with Lauren (Magnify the Lord with Me), Kaitlin (More Like Mary More Like Me), and Karen (Pray-Hope-Trust) . I've been wanting a meet up for a while so I am thrilled!! I'm sure you will hear about it from us after. 

As for baby who, hear he/she is:) My little tike:) DH likes to think that the little thing in the bottom right hand corner is a penis....although it's not:) I don't think! haha

Hey Hey Hey!

Ahhh, I'm so horrible, I know! I haven't been on here in over 3 weeks. Crazy! School finished up, thank the Lord! and then I had a week of professional development meetings that followed. Then dh and I packed up and went to the bay for a little R&R and there we have no internet service. I've been pretty lazy these past two weeks and it has been wonderful:):) Now I'm back in town with a stupid sinus infection or cold. Blah!

Have I mentioned I miss y'all!!! Random: Did or do any of you play music for your baby in the womb???? My sister was all about headphones and classical music. What is your take????

Novena girls: I am in the process of saying St. Gerard Novena's for Julie, Rita's Roses, Patiently Waiting, His Perfect Timing and Christy. They all signed up for the Novena prayer list and I just wanted to let you ladies know that I have not forgotten and you are ON MY HEARTS!!! Along with you other sweet friends too:):)

Anyway, life on the homefront is great. DH and I are loving life and each other, obviously:) I am 14 1/2 weeks and happy as can be:) Our 12 week appt went fabulous:):):) I praise you Lord:):) Many of my food aversions have gone away pretty much...except grilled or baked chicken and broccoli....puke!!! I'm not nauseous anymore either:) Oh and have I mentioned I have gained 7 lbs! haha. What! I must admit, it is very hard to accept the fact that you are gaining weight and not turn into a freek. I know I know I am supposed to and I am SOOO happy to have the reason too but it is sill a little mind game that I have to remind myself not to play. No worries, I have never not eaten...I eat all the freeking time. It gets tiring but I swear I can't help it. It's not cravings...it's an all of a sudden starving pain and I have to eat or it doesn't go away. They have gotten better and less often but still occur.

The hospital here where I go to my dr provides free gym membership for pregnant women who are delivering at that hospital:) GREAT! Love it! So I have joined and plan on becoming a little swimmer:) They have huge lap pool and no children are aloud:) Meaning no swimming classes, etc. to get in the way. All I have to do is by me some goggles and I am good to go! Now of course, I will be using a kicking board b.c my booty can't swim one lap without pure exhaustion!

I have picked out all the nursery stuff...a little early I know, but I want to get the nursery done before I start back with school in August. I'm taking on an extra load this next semester so I know I am going to be crazy busy and won't want to have the stress of all that on me. But it's been fun picking out and playing around:)

Here is where I got my idea for my color scheme. I wanted neutral b.c we aren't finding out the sex and also b.c I thought neutral would be easy to throw colors in with...plus, I love these colors together and have always wanted these for some reason. Now of course it's not going to look exactly like this but it's a start. I will post pics as I go.

I got 3 of these for the nursery wall. It was my splurge prize for me:) I have eyed these for the past year and have loved them. I don't like the color so I am going to paint them with some sort of antique brush in mind but they are def going to be lighter color.

I ordered this crib from overstock with free shipping. They also have it at Walmart for about $20 cheaper but that doesn't include shipping...but you might be able to ship to a store near you. I plan on spray painting the wheels white b.c I think the gold is blah. Don't like it! 

Anywho, enough about me. I'm off to read about you. HUGS and glad to be back in touch!!!

MIA 2...Not for long!! Oh and a Novena for you!

I can't believe my life has become this busy. Whoa to the May school life of a 8th grade teacher!!! ONE MORE WEEK AND THEN FREEDOM!!!!! This week has been good but full. I of course have had something every night and am about to collapse. Tonight we have NOTHING!!! I am going home, going for a walk, taking a nap, eating cereal or chicken n stars for dinner (what's new) and crashing!

Random: I totally smell like Chinese food and it makes me want to puke. I teach World History. My fun twist to my class is that if the class makes a B average on the chapter tests (I have a wide range of learners), then we will have a themed lunch. Well, they did this for the recent Ancient China and Ancient Japan tests and sooooo today we had our Chinese/Japanese lunch. Each kid brought in $5 and I ordered what they wanted. It was split pretty evenly....half wanted Chinese and the other half wanted Sushi. So I ordered it, my sweet momma went and picked it up, and we just wrapped up our lunch. They LOVED it!! What a great incentive for them:)

This weekend I am dog sitting a little Maltese puppy named Raindrop! haha. A family here at my school has asked me to dogsit...their kindergartner named the dog...how cute is that. I am thrilled about dog sitting b.c I dream of having a little dog! My dh hates small dogs and claims we are fine with our dog in our lives...our lab, Tide. Which is true...I love Tide, but there is nothing like a little hand held puppy. One day I will get a small dog...maybe when my kids go off to college and I cry, the dh will feel bad and get me one. ha!

I am 11 wks tomorrow! Big deal:):) I'm super stoked! On Wed we have our 12 wk checkup (two days early b.c dr is out of town next friday). I absolutely cannot wait to see how much my little gummybear has grown. Next Wed happens to be the feast day of Our Infant of Prague....a special one to my family. My mom has been so fond of the Infant for years. I went to Prague over Christmas when I lived in Italy and was able to visit the church of the Infant and see the real one....BEAUTIFUL! I find it quite Godly that my dates throughout this pregnancy are falling on special days that relate to my personal life. We found out we were pregnant on St. Gerard's bday, this appt is on the Infant's feast day, our due date is on or near the feast of Our Lady of Guadeloupe....all of this confirms the Lord's wonderful plan and hand in this.

I am continuing daily mass and praying for my sweet blogger girls...esp those suffering with IF. I think of you daily. One of my students gave me a novena packet for St. Gerard. I am going to do a novena for you!!! My plan is to do one for each of you starting this summer. Doesn't that sound like a good idea. If you want, please comment and request and I will write you name down and begin a list. This makes my heart happy to do this for y'all.

I must admit I am slacking on the reading of blogs b.c I have had zero plan periods these past few weeks. Every spare moment has been taken. THIS IS MY FIRST ONE IN FOREVER!!!! And i reserved time to catch up with you!!

Hugs, love and blessings.

MIA

I know! I have totally been MIA (missing in action...for you slow people! haha). Being an 8th grade teacher, May is the busiest month of the year. I swear, I don't have one free moment. AND when I do have have a free minute, I have a major lack of energy and I am taking a nap! haha.

Is it pathetic that I feel as if I am missing out on the blogs! hahha. I miss reading up on you ladies. I feel as if I am missing out on things....and I know I am. When I do have free minutes, I try to check blogs but then I don't get enough checked and then I get behind again. AGH!

Even though I am behind, you are not far from my thoughts. I prayed for all of you yesterday on Mother's Day...especially those who are struggling with infertility. You are so close to my heart. I pray for you daily at mass but yesterday I said some extra special prayers. I hope you are feeling them:)

Life is going pretty well. Still having major food aversions and some nauseousness. I swear, I still cannot eat meat or veggies...just typing those words make me want to puke! ha. I'm going later this week to get an ultrasound. I don't have to but they told me if I wanted to I could do one when I wanted...I decided I didn't want to wait till 12 wks to see my little gummybear...so I am going this week which is around 10 wks.

I have to go again. Class in 5. It's exam preparation time! agh! Hugs to all of you.

We are back:) Prayer buddy announcement finally!

We are back safely, thank the Lord! We happened to fly back on the day that horrible storm was passing through the south. We ended up staying overnight in the Atlanta airport till 4 am then finally arriving home at 5:30a.m.. It was crazy but we were just happy to be on ground and safe. Please please keep in mind all the people in Tuscaloosa, AL and in other areas surrounding, who were affected by the tornadoes. Y'all, it's absolutely horrible. Over 250 people killed just in Tuscaloosa, including Univ. of Alabama students. It's just so sad. The worst part was that it hit in one of the busiest areas of town where tons of shops, restaurants and apts were located and there were people all over that area who weren't able to really get to coverage. So sad. Please pray.

As far as our trip went, it was fabulous. DH and I got to SF a day early and did a biking tour of SF along the water, over the Golden Gate Bridge, and over to the bay town of Sausilito. That was one of our most fav things about our trip. Whenever we go on trips, we always do biking tours...they are great and you get to take in so many more things than you can in a car! Napa Valley was absolutely gorgeous. We felt as if we were in a completely different countries. Rolling hills, mountains and vineyards galore! It was perfect sunny weather too! And most of all, we had the best company. My DH's brothers and their others are easy to get along with and very enjoyable. It was great!

We had another ultrasound after we got back:) Our little blueberry has grown into a gummybear!!! I was seriously so surprised to see how much it had grown in just a week! (Go back and look at last post and you can see the growth difference!) No wonder I was feeling queezy at times:) haha. I haven't thrown up though, so that's great. I don't mind the queeziness too much...as long as I have crackers or granola bar near by, I'm good. But I am having some major food aversions. I can't look at broccoli or certain veggies. I can't eat much meat or fish at all without getting that yucky feeling. I am all about the starches...greattttt! ha. But I am loving me some fruit and acids so that's good. Oh and chips, crackers, granola bars, et. We (practitioner & dr.) confirmed a more accurate due date of Dec 10. Yippee!!! Can't believe it still. Oh and my boobs are huge! I love it! hahaha.

My little gummy bear:)

And finally! I feel so bad my prayer buddy has had to wait so long. Sorry prayer buddy:) She probably thought she didn't have anyone praying for her but she is wrong!! I had the honor of praying for Ask and It Will Be Given. I went to daily mass throughout all of Lent and she was the first prayer upon entering the church. I hope so much that she felt my prayers. It felt so good to be able to pray for her and see God working in her life through her posts on her blog. What a sweet one she is! If you haven't met her, please visit her page. She would love your support:)

I miss reading up on all your ladies. I'm sooo behind! I plan on catching up tomorrow. Hope all is well with you:):):)

Little blueberry & San Fran:)

So I had a bit of a scare but all is good. On Sunday, after a 3 hour nap (yes I am experiencing the lack of energy), I started having what felt like ovulation pains on my left side. It felt like pain was in my left tube. They were very consistent...every 2-3 minutes for 24 hours. I was so scared that the baby was in my tube BUT I remembered from my past ectopic that if that were the case, my back would ache terribly and I would see spotting. So far I was in the clear.


I called PPVI and they called my dr here and had me do an early ultrasound. That was yesterday and THAT was amazing!!! Y'all, we were so scared. The last time we went for an ultrasound over a year ago we saw nothing...and that was when our drama all started. It was so sad. This time I took a deep breath, she did the ultrasound vaginally and THERE IT WAS!!!! My little blueberry:):):) And then we heard the heartbeat...utterly amazing to see such a little baby with a heartbeat. How could anyone ever abort...they are crazy!!!


I have been ravenous lately. I mean RAVENOUS. I mean like I eat and then not 5 minutes later I am starving...not hungry...starving! I can't stand vegetables at the moment so thank goodness for Juice Plus...no lie, even my ob here in town sells it to his patients. I would be worried about my baby if it weren't for that b.c I swear, I can't even look at a vegetable right now! ha I have been sucking on Preggie Pop candies in the morning during mass....I know that sounds bad but it gets me through the mass without puking! BUT no worries, I'm thankful for the nauseousness!!!


We leave for San Francisco on Thursday:):):) Happy Holy weekend in San Fran, then Napa:):) I'm super excited. God sure does have a sense of humor doesn't he. Pregnant the month we go to Napa! Haha. AND even though I am preggers, I can still taste the wine and spit it out in the spittone things:) Which means I'm going to be a true wine taster:) No worries...I won't let anything go down:) Gonna protect my little blueberry. Shoot, I'm only gonna be tasting at a couple places...not all.


I will miss keeping up with y'all over the few days. I will be able to check blogs at certain points but won't be able to respond that much. For my special IFers, I am going to light candles for you at Easter Mass on Sunday. I hope you will feel my prayers.
 
By the way, what is that big black space below? My uterus??? It's shaped like a banana????

Baby blueberry:)