The Perfect Drs. Appointment!

Hooray! Ann Mason did awesome today! She remained in the 17% and weighs approximately 4.4 oz! She passed her stress test with flying colors and she seems to be doing great! My blood pressure was down and I had only gained 1 pd since the last weigh in!

But I haven't even told you the best part.... they moved me up a week!!! Ann Mason is on the books and set to arrive on Feb 16th at 8:30 am!!! I am BEYOND thrilled! Of course I want her to stay in there and be healthy but I was SO excited to know that my pregnancy days were fewer than I had thought.

I realize that at this moment I "think" I am exhausted and little do I know how exhausted I will be once she arrives but I am ready! Well, ready might be a slight exageration but I can get ready in these coming weeks! Of course her stuff is neatly organized and her closet is clean. Her room needs a few things hung on the wall but all of this is materialistic stuff that can be done at any time.

I know my heart is ready, it has a lot of love to give! It is funny cause I haven't once worried how will I love her like I love Palmer. I know a lot of moms deal with that before baby #2 is born but I have never doubted that I could love 20 kids :) I guess my main worry is making sure Palmer knows he is just as loved as ever! He has been a big momma's boy lately and like I have said before we just "get" each other. We have a connection that seems to come so easy, no words need be spoken but somehow we just fit together like the best of friends. He has been my biggest fan and my pride and joy for almost 20 months and I am SO scared that I am not going to be able to give enough of myself to both babies. I want to make sure I give Ann Mason the one on one time I got with Palmer yet all the while never make Palmer feel left out! I know this is a struggle for all mom's and it comes with the territory but it sure is scary!

All of that aside, I am beyond excited and so anxious to meet this amazing little lady that has kept me on my toes throughout this pregnancy! I already love her so much.....

There are Readers out There!!!!

So, I am ecstatic! I keep this blog as an online diary and an outlet for my thoughts and memories but I know how much I also LOVE reading other people's blogs as well! I don't know why other peoples lives intrique me so much but they do!

For a while now I have been wanting to find something to track who comes to my blog and I finally found a great site! Don't worry I don't have the specifics but I can see how many hits a day I get and what states they come from! Lo and Behold I have some READERS!!! I was thrilled! I really honestly thought that no one but a few close friends read my blog.

It isn't anything crazy but since Sunday I have had 30 hits :) 30 hits to some peoples blog happens in 5 minutes but to me this was great! I have readers in NY, Utah, Texas, TN, IN, Arkansas and of course the loyals from KY! I would love to hear from you all! I never get any comments so the next time you are on feel free to leave me a message! I am just glad that there are people out there who visit my site! WOOHOO!
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On a side note, I have given into the temptation and decided to follow the bachelor this season! I think Jason is a doll and it warms my heart even more that he is a single dad. I missed the first episode but caught it last night! It seems like there is quite the buzz this season for the bachelor gossip!

My mom is even reading message boards, it is getting serious! :) I realize I have only seen one episode but here is my favorite so far! No mean comments if you disagree, this is just my opinion and it is subject to change a million times this season but based on last night this is what I thought!

Here is the doll himself, Jason! He is SO cute.


And ta-da! Here is my pick Melissa from this past episode,
I realize she is only 25 but she seemed pretty mature and just
like a ball of fun!


Stayed tuned for more bachelor predictions in the future!

*** Say a little prayer for Ann Mason as we go tomorrow and see if she has grown in the past two weeks! I know I have grown but sadly that doesn't always mean that the baby has! I will post tomorrow and let you all know what we find out!

Some of my current favorite things!

So it is Sunday and I am sad that Monday always comes around soooo soon! I am SO ready for maternity leave already! Tex said I couldn't keep on getting pregnant to have a maternity leave :) I don't think I appreciated my maternity leave with Palmer because I was constantly feeling like I should be doing things and getting out and about! I vow that this time around I will cherish every minute of not getting out of my pjs and being around the house all day!

We had a low key weekend which was nice because I just didn't have the spirit to do much this weekend. Sleeping is impossible with my vivid "pregnancy" dreams and my uncontrollable bladder so any chance I get I take a nap with Palmer!

So, since I usually post about kids, pregnancy, etc... I am changing things up and giving some reviews! Here are a couple of my simple entertainment pleasures lately!!

Books:

Product Description Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever. In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant "The Shack" wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him

***This is one of the best books I have read in a long time if ever! The messages in this book are unbelievable and so thought provoking. Anyone that has gone thru a "great sadness" or struggle in there life and has asked the question "why"? this book is for you! I would love to re-read it because I think there is so much more I can learn from this book. I wish I knew of a small group that was doing a discussion on this because I would love to hear others opinions and perceptions of the book! What a wonderful book that gives you hope and faith in a time where we need it most! I definitely recommend this one to anyone!!! Blake

Amazon.com Review In this latest thriller from perennial bestselling author James Patterson, Washington cop Alex Cross gets involved in his partner's effort to save the life of an old Army buddy who's facing execution for a horrendous and inexplicable murder spree in North Carolina. The Army's evidence against Sergeant Ellis Cooper, a decorated Vietnam vet, is overwhelming, which isn't surprising since it's all been planted by a quartet of killers whose reason for framing the erstwhile hero isn't revealed until long after they are. The big secret is who set the murderers loose, and in true cliffhanger fashion, Patterson keeps it under wraps until the very end. Meanwhile, his usual blend of action, violence, fast pacing and uninspired-though-serviceable prose prevail, and will probably do so all the way to the top of the bestseller lists.

****James Patterson is an oldy but a goody! I bought this book back a couple of years ago and for whatever reason it has set on my bookshelf collecting dust. I typically choose to read all of James Patterson's sappier novels such as Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas, etc..... but I picked this book up the other night have been more than surprised with how much I like a good crime drama! It is SO good I have trouble putting it down at night! I am anxious to start reading some more of his crime dramas!

TV:

The Mentalist on CBS Tuesdays at 9!

THE MENTALIST stars Golden Globe Award nominee Simon Baker as Patrick Jane, an independent consultant with the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI), who has a remarkable track record for solving serious crimes by using his razor sharp skills of observation. Within the Bureau, Jane is notorious for his blatant lack of protocol and his semi-celebrity past as a psychic medium, whose paranormal abilities he now admits he feigned. Jane's role in cracking a series of tough high-profile cases is greatly valued by his fellow agents. However, no-nonsense Senior Agent Teresa Lisbon openly resists having Jane in her unit and alternates between reluctantly acknowledging Jane's usefulness and blasting him for his theatrics, narcissism and dangerous lack of boundaries. Lisbon's team includes agents Kimball Cho, Wayne Rigsby and rookie member Grace Van Pelt, who all think Jane's a loose cannon but admire his charm and knack for clearing cases.

***This is a GREAT new show that Tex and I love! Not to mention the main character is not bad to watch! If you like a good crime drama with some additional personal plots this show is for you!

REVIEW Expanding on the hit feature film and best selling book "Friday Night Lights," this poignant series centers on the small rural town of Dillon, Texas, where the coveted state football championship rings are held in the highest regard. The Dillon Panther's faced many challenges their first season with Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler, "Grey's Anatomy") at the helm, but after much hard work, determination and a victory at the State Championship Game, the team's fate at the start of yet another new season and the Taylor family's future with them, continues to remain uncertain

**** My prayers have been answered! They are bringing Friday Night Lights and Tim Riggins back to prime-time! This show has captured my heart and is one of my all time favorite shows! There are very few good shows left on prime-time especially one that the whole family can enjoy, but this is it! I can't wait, it starts Jan 16th at 9!

It doesn't take a lot to entertain me these days! :) I look forward to these simple things in life! haha

33 Weeks Pregnant

I am now 33 weeks! WOOHOO! That is approximately:
45 days
Or 1 month, 14 days excluding the end date
Alternative time units45 days can be converted to one of these units:
3,888,000 seconds
64,800 minutes
1080 hours
6 weeks (rounded down
Until Ann Mason is "scheduled" to come. Ms. Ann Mason has proven to either be stubborn or lazy throughout this entire pregnancy and hasn't cooperated for over half of the ultrasounds that I have had. I had an appointment yesterday for my stress ultrasound and Ms. Ann Mason was in a mood and decided to fail it! I then had to be hooked up to a heartbeat monitor and click a button everytime she moved and she was still being stubborn and not doing that very well so they gave me a boxed grape juice with enough sugar to kill someone and she finally decided to do what she needed to so that we could "pass" and get to go home!

Dr Walsh seemed to not be concerned and told me that she would see me next week so as far as I am concerned we are clear for another week! This coming Wednesday we go for another growth ultrasound and we should know at that point whether she is making progress or at a stand still and proceed from there!

The technician did comment on her hair again and said that not only does she have A LOT it is LONG :) Who is thinking bows, bows, bows? I am!!! Watch her come out bald as a babys butt, either way I hope she stays in my belly to cook a little longer but the anxiousness is definitely rising! I can't wait to meet my baby girl!

Your pregnancy: 33 weeks
How your baby's growing:This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.See what your baby looks like this week.Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:As your baby fills out even more of your belly, lots of things might start to change: Whereas before you were sashaying, you may find yourself waddling. Finding an easy position to sit in — let alone sleep — is becoming more of a challenge. And bumping into chairs and counters is par for the course.You may be feeling some achiness and even numbness in your fingers, wrists, and hands. Like many other tissues in your body, those in your wrist can retain fluid, which can increase pressure in the carpal tunnel, a bony canal in your wrist. Nerves that run through this "tunnel" may end up pinched, creating numbness; tingling, shooting or burning pain; or a dull ache. Try wearing a splint to stabilize your wrist or propping your arm up with a pillow when you sleep. If your work requires repetitive hand movements (at a keyboard or on an assembly line, for instance), remember to stretch your hands when you take breaks — which should be frequently

I am getting so technical....

I added a playlist of songs on my blog! The one by Darius Rucker that I blogged about is on there if you want to hear it!

The Bass Pro Shop and Nesting

So, as a mother of a toddler I am quickly becoming quite the expert on free/really cheap winter entertainment. In previous posts I have blogged about chick-fil-a playground, the ship at the mall and pottery barn kids....but I think we hit an all time low or an all time jackpot depending on how you look at it. :)

Last night we met our friends Nikki, Jon, Reid (Palmer's best friend), and new 2 week old baby Alex at the Bass Pro Shop! Yes, friends you heard me right. There is a Bass Pro shop about 15 minutes away in Clarksville, In and is said to be the 2nd largest one in the country! We thought the boys would enjoy a little outdoor (but indoor) adventure! They LOVED it! They looked at fish, the aquarium, there was a shooting range with animals, they climbed on ATV's and climbed thru trees. As if this weren't great enough there happens to be a full service, pretty nice, restaurant in the Bass Pro shop so we thought we would also have dinner there!

3 Full Hours later we walked out of the Bass Pro Shop with tired toddlers, full bellies, and the satisfaction of a great night! I give the bass pro shop five stars on the free/really cheap entertainment!

****As for nesting I didn't know if it was ever going to come with this pregnancy. I have barely had the energy to shower these last few weeks but I put my mind to being productive this weekend and being productive is what I did! I started with Palmer's room and cleaned out the ENTIRE closet and all of the drawers in his room! We filled a 30 gallon Rubbermaid tub, and filled 2 trash bags to take to Goodwill! Any mom out there knows that cleaning a child's closet (if you are like me) brings some unhidden treasures. I was appalled that we had let one little child collect so many toys, clothes and other things! I then went to Ann Masons room and cleaned out her soon to be entire closet and organize all of the stuff that Tex and I bought at babies R us! I then went and cleaned out all 6 of my dresser drawers in my room! Goodwill is going to be SO glad when we make our delivery! I am proud to say that P and AM's rooms are beyond organized and spotless and our room is working toward that goal! I feel so much more ready to have the baby! I even half packed my bag and Ann Masons bag for the hospital! I LOVE NESTING! Now if I could just keep it this way.....

New Years Eve and New Years Day!

I hope everyone had a great time ringing in 2009! We had a great time but I am sure much more low key than most :)

NYE we decided to at least get out to go eat! We are at the stage with Palmer that we don't like to do this much. Tex and I LOVE to go out to eat but with a 19 month old the cons outweigh the pros and most of the time we just get take out or scratch the plan all together! So, we decided to take him somewhere that he would be mildly entertained such as BW3's (Tex suggested Hooters), etc... We finally decided on Fuji a hibachi grill type Japanese restaurant.

I am horrified to admit that I was so desperate to have a NICE meal with Tex that I did what I swore as a mother I would never do..... I packed the portable DVD player "just in case of an emergency"! I know GASP, GASP! I was just as appalled as you but again I was desperate. Of course that "emergency" happened in the first 2 minutes when Palmer pulled the infamous locked legs and wouldn't sit in his high chair so I busted it out immediately and tried to pretend I was noticing all of the disapproving looks from other parents, oh the shame! (Mind you the volume is NOT turned up so it doesn't really distract anyone else but Palmer :)

For the first part Palmer did great and ate 2 bowls of soup, a bowl of steamed rice and probably half of my steak! We got thru most of dinner great until the end but I will give him credit he is getting better! The little stinker just doesn't liked to be confined! Oh how I wish we had some built in babysitters here! You have NO idea!!! :) Maybe next year I will start in June asking people for NYE!

That night we hung out around the house and watched the Ryan Secrest countdown and fell asleep at 11:30! We tried to stay up till midnight!

Yesterday we had a GREAT start to 2009! We wanted to get out of the house and do something fun despite the freezing weather so we took Palmer up to the Cincinnati Children's Museum http://www.cincymuseum.org/! This is BY FAR the coolest place ever and for $20 for the whole family a trip that you just can't miss! If you live anywhere around Cincy it is well worth the drive! Palmer ended up being a great age for the kids museum I think any younger it might be hard but he ran with the best of them! It literally took Tex and I both running around to keep up with him! There was a Clifford Exhibit, Water and Sand toys, Blocks and Ball rooms, Grocery stores, bulldozers and an entire mini cave city where Palmer would wind his tiny way up all of the tunnels with Tex and I following him about to have a panic attack due to feeling claustrophobic :) My 8 month pregnant body was in no shape to climb and twist around and I am paying for it dearly today! It was such a NEAT trip, we can't wait to go again and bring some of P's friends next time!

It was such an eye opener when we were there that he is not momma's baby at all! He is this big boy that loves to discover things and has NO fear and will try anything once! It broke my heart into a million pieces but also made me so proud of the little independent person he is becoming!

All in All we started 2009 off with a bang! I have debated and debated about NYE resolutions but I decided not to really make any this year. Not because I don't need to improve drastically in many categories but because you make these resolutions and break them within 2 weeks! SO each day I am going to try and think of one thing that I can do better that day and hopefully that will keep me focused and on track!

I hope everyone's 2009 started off great! So Long 2008!!!