SWW

It seems to be about all I have time for these days, but I'm back again for another edition of So What Wednesday with Shannon over at Life After I Dew.

This week I'm saying So What if:

• The last time I blogged was last Wednesday for So What Wednesday
• I'm past due on a BumpDate update
• I'm past due on a cute gender reveal on the blog...it's a girl by the way and we couldn't be more excited to have two girls :)  
• I'm overwhelmed by life at the moment.  We have so much going on and time is going way too quickly and it's all materialistic things that don't really matter in the grand scheme of things, but it still gets me anxious.
• Our tile in the kitchen is officially done (and looks amazing), but we haven't even picked out the granite for our countertops and that is the next step.  See last comment.
• Our house is so chaotic and claustrophobic right now because of our kitchen that I've just gone to bed after dinner.  I can't deal. Luckily Mia is my cuddle buddy and hops right in with me.
• We haven't carved our pumpkins and today is Halloween.  This is so not me.
• Also, on the Halloween note, we have no candy to give out so I will be that person buying candy today.  This is also not me.
• My Hubs birthday was on Sunday and we spent it at the mall since we couldn't really be at home.  Last year we were in Vegas, so yeah.  Nothing says Happy Birthday like hours at the mall, cranky toddler that took a stroller nap in a stroller she is much too large for and dinner at California Pizza Kitchen. Wife of the Year.
• I bought my hubby a laptop for his birthday and he took it back the next day even though he's been talking about getting one for weeks.  It's impossible to buy him anything.  He almost always takes it back.

Hope you all are having a good week.  Happy Hump Day and Happy Halloween!

To all those affected by Sandy, I hope you are safe and sound and warm.

So What Wednesday

This week I'm linking up once again with Shannon over at Life After I Dew and saying So What if:

• I'm working from home today and our password change was supposed to take place this morning and I'm not going into the office to connect to the network to do it.  I'm saving the miles on my car instead.

• We have our anatomy/gender ultrasound tomorrow and it's ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT (and clearly all my friends and family can think about too).

• We had our carpets cleaned less than two weeks ago and our dog already peed on the carpet.  He's old.  We know it, but we don't want to have to deal with what may be wrong with him.  We'll take him to the vet soon.  Just not too soon.

• Hubs and I had to have a conversation with Mia about coming into our bed in the middle of the night.  I'm too tired to make her go back to her bed and she doesn't wake the Hubs (of course) but my sleep was starting to get affected by it because she cuddles into me likes it's below zero outside and the dead of winter.  It's so cute, but I just can't take the space violation anymore.  It's the only space I have.

• I've been craving chili cheese dip for weeks and STILL no one has made me any.  What the what?

• Our kitchen reno is finally starting this weekend and first up is tile.  Small problemo, we have not picked out our tile. Minor detail.

Happy Hump Day!

Moments

I'm feeling a whole lot of sappy lately, so my apologies in advance.

As I near the half way point to this pregnancy and try to overcome the guilt I have for bringing another child into this world, I've felt such a strong need to do things and plan things that are special just for Mia.  Things with just Mom, things with just Dad, things that make her feel special and important and unique to us.

I want to make sure that she understands that even though we are bringing another child into this family, it does not take away from how special she is and how important she is to me and her Daddy.

I know these feelings are normal and the guilt I feel is typical, but that doesn't necessarily make it any easier.

Yesterday afternoon was one of those "things."

I'm blessed in my job that I often get tickets for sporting events which makes my tomboy, Cardinal loving heart extremely happy.  Typically I take the Hubs or my Dad, but the Hubs couldn't adjust his work schedule and my Dad just had knee surgery, so I thought why not, I'll take the toddler.

Now for anyone who has a 2-3 year old or a toddler of any age really, you know all too well what a risk this is.  She's been to a few games in her lifetime so she knows what to expect, but with a 3:30 start and me having to pick her up from the sitter at 12:30 I went into this knowing she would not get a nap.  Ummmm, hi, just call me crazy.

I needed this.  She needed this.  We spend a lot of time together, but it's not always something outside of the ordinary.

We had an AWESOME time!  The people in our row were amazing and laughed with her as she danced to the music and screamed for our Cardinals.

We took breaks from our seats to walk around.  We had Dippin' Dots in an STL helmet, popcorn, peanuts and lemonade.  I even treated her to a Build A Bear Clydesdale at the end of the afternoon because she was just such a good girl and I'm ok with the fact that I spoil my child rotten.

She kept telling me she wanted to walk around.  She just held my hand and we laughed and talked.

At one point, she looked up to me with those big blue eyes and that adorable face and said, "Momma, I can't wait for the baby to be here."

And then I died.

We needed this moment, we needed this time together just she and I.

It was a good reminder that I need to be better about taking the time for just us so she truly knows just how special she is, but especially how special she is to me.

Have a great Thursday!

So What Wednesday

I'm doing a linky link once again today with the hilarious and always keepin-it-real, Shannon over at Life After I Dew.

This week I'm saying So What if:

• I'm blogging at work on a half day.  I'm having focus problems.  I blame the Cards game and the baby in my belly.
• All I will do is talk, text, tweet and IG about the Cardinals.  If you've even been paying a little bit of attention, you will know I'm a die hard Cards fan and the postseason is serious.  
• I shopped yesterday for myself.  Finally.  I'm running out of clothes that actually fit.  Then?  I immediately had buy stuff for myself guilt.  
• We put up a fly trap in our kitchen last night, like the kind you see on Hoarders, you know, the roll of sticky stuff.  Straight up hoosier, but whatever it takes.  We have a BBQ Saturday and we have to get rid of the fruit flies.  This morning, there were about 10 on there.  Ew, but yay!!!
• Mia still has 18-24 month pants hanging in her closet.  She doesn't wear them, obviously, but she has so many clothes and she won't stop growing so fast and I just can't keep up.
• Mia doesn't get baths as much as she used to.  These days it's shower with Mom.  It's so much faster.
• I still haven't signed Mia up for gymnastics or dance.  My goal is to pick one by her birthday.  That is in THREE weeks.

Happy Hump Day and GO CARDS!

Strength

I had a post planned (in my head) for today, but I'm going to put that off for a few days because today is an important day for something much more important than anything I had to say.

A very dear friend of mine and I were pregnant at almost the same time.  She with her second, me with my first.  She defines strength and courage in her experience.  I often find the most petty of things to complain about, but at the end of the day, although I have miscarried, my experience holds nothing to what she and her family experienced 3 short years ago.

I could never in a million years come to terms with how I would deal or handle with such a situation and I hope that I never will.

Unfortunately, due to circumstances outside of her control, she lost her baby just weeks shy of her due date. She had gone in for her routine doctors visit to find out her there was no longer a heartbeat.  She had to deliver a stillborn child.

Debbie is an amazing human being.  She turned what was a devastating loss to something much more beneficial and positive.  Through her strength in family and friendship she is reaching out to other families that have experienced similar losses to hers and doing her best to provide them with some comfort during their difficult time.

From the loss of her sweet daughter, Layne Grace, Debbie started Layne's Project.

It's amazing what she has done and I urge you to visit her website to learn more about her story and this special project.

Today would have been Layne's third birthday.  As I watch Mia rapidly approach her upcoming third birthday, this is a amazing reminder of just how lucky and blessed my family and I truly are.


"She would want the best for each of us - 
to see the world a better place.
Let's try our best to make it so
in memory of our Layne Grace.
And though we all have separate lives,
this is what we know for sure, to fully honor 
Layne, we must be the ones to 'fly' for her."
                                             -Layne's Grandpa

Google Images via

I encourage you to help and reach out.

To all my friends who have experienced loss, may you find comfort and healing today and always.

Be sure to light a candle tonight at 7:00 pm for one hour in memory of all our little ones watching over us.

BumpDate: 17 Weeks

What I'm craving?: Salt, hamburger - our menu pretty much consists of all things that involve hamburger meat. The Husband mixes it up with chicken, but I'm still weird about it, so it just depends on the day.  Salads.  Love my veggies, but that's not anything different.  Not so into the sweets or fruits really, but I love juice right now especially V8 Fusion.

Funny/Memorable Story Of The Week:  Last weekend, the Hubs brought out his guitar and trumpet and he and Mia had a jam session.  It was the cutest thing EVER to date!  My favorite part of the whole night was when Mia looked and me and said, "Momma, the dogs don't like it, but we're rockin' out!"  She was having so much fun!  And girl can play the trumpet better than I can.

Weight Gain: Two more weeks until my next appointment, so I'm not sure.  I don't keep track at home.

Work Out Regimen: Still very light.  Should be more, but it's not and that's ok.  I need to pick it up a little though, I have a 5K coming up in November.

What's Different?:  My skin.  I'm breaking out like a 13 year old or a stressed out 18 year old (see also: freshman year of college and 3 a days during volleyball season).  I even broke out on my neck this week.  I mean seriously?  Ew.

Boy or Girl:  Still boy as far as I'm concerned.  Either that or I'm just experiencing a pregnancy almost completely unlike my first.

Sleep:  Hit or miss, but I really can't complain.  The cool weather + lots of blankets + sweatpants + sleep = love.  Most weeknights I'm in bed by 8:30-9:00.

Labor Signs: Nada.

Movement: Lots of somersaults going on in there.  Yesterday was a very active day.

What I Miss:  Being able to stand up without getting lightheaded.  Yep.  That time has come.  I just need to slow it down a bit.

What I'm Looking Forward To: My Mom's birthday celebration and getting my carpets cleaned this weekend.  Food and cleanliness makes me happy.

How Baby's Growing: This week the baby is the size of a turnip at about 5 ounces and 5 inches long. The skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone.

The Big Sister:  This is such a great age and we are having so much fun doing all of our fun fall things.  We planted our mums, visited the pumpkin patch and have decorated for Halloween.  She is into every single bit of it all and it makes my season loving heart very happy!  We are gearing up for her #3 birthday party next month and she's so excited!  How is my baby almost 3?

Happy Friday!  Have a great weekend!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Another First

Her first year that she rode on the train at the pumpkin patch all by herself 

and to tell you it didn't make me a little emo would be a lie.

Happy Hump Day!

This Is Me

I try to eat well, but sometimes I just don't care.

I don't work out as much as I should.

I love french fries and onion rings way more than one person should, but pregnant Melissa likes them even more.

I suck at putting away laundry.  My own, not Mia's.  Her closet and drawers are always fine, mine not so much.

I work hard to help provide for my family, but some days I just want to throw in the towel.  So much wasted time and noise!  Work ethic has changed and I find it extremely irritating.

I often take my job too seriously and allow myself to get entirely too stressed out about things not worth stressing over.

One day I feel all put together in life - work, Mom, Wife and other days I feel like a total failure.

I consider most people's feeling and reactions before I do my own.  Especially when it comes to family.

I don't say no easily, but I am getting better.

I could be a better Wife.

I could be a better Mom.

I try to stay positive, but there are some days that such a simple task seems very difficult.

I struggle with how much time I'm away from home.

I get mad when I sometimes feel punished for actually wanting to work and the cost of daycare in order to do so.

I'm nervous about how we will balance a family of four.

Time at home, when all three of us are actually together, is limited and I often get frustrated by how little time that truly is.

But at the end of the day, I give what I can, I do what I can and I try to be the best that I can.

And these two?  They rock my world with their awesomeness.  Just a typical Saturday night in our house.

This is Me.

It's Tuesday...So A Few Things

1. This is Find Out The Sex Of Our Baby Month and I'm so excited!

2. I'm totally into fall and most importantly (for me and the Hubs) cooking!  I love trying new recipes, especially lots of new soups and fall-type food.  Sunday, I tried Skinnytaste Baked Potato Soup and it was amazing!  Um.....yum!  Here's the link: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/02/baked-potato-soup.html

3. Mia made her first cupcake yesterday and her delicate nature when applying the sprinkles made me smile.  She was so careful not to make a mess and therefore I feel complete as a mother.

4. We crafted on Saturday night - me, my sisters, my Mom and my cousin and it was so fun!  I stayed up until almost midnight and drank sparkling juice from a wine glass.  It was perfect.  To see more, I linked up with Ashley over at I Love You More Than Carrots for her Project Pinterest link up.

5. This weekend is pumpkin patch weekend - a tradition since I was a kid that we now have continued with my Hub's side of the family.  It's so nostalgic, I can barely take it.  I just hope I don't cry.

6. I took a three hour nap Sunday, but then slept like crap Monday night.  Oh well.  The nap was amazing!  Nothing like a fall nap with lots of blankets, windows open and cuddles with my little one.  And I'm quite sure the Hubs enjoyed the quiet, football time all to himself.

7. My Hubs has always been a black coffee only type of guy.  He now puts creamer in his coffee and even asked me if Starbucks was really that good.  I can't help but laugh.  The day I see my Hubs by a $5 coffee, I may faint.

8. My dining room is officially turning into a staging area for the new stuff that will be hung after our kitchen reno is over.  I just need to accept that I will not get that room back until its over.

9. Mia picked up her playroom all by herself (mostly) Sunday.  Took her almost 45 minutes, but she was so proud of herself.  Melted my Mom heart quite a bit.  She's such a big girl.  Think I might be able to have her trained to change diapes by March?  Ha!  Kidding.  Well, kinda.

10.  Happy October and Halloween month!  Love this time of year (can you believe next month is Thanksgiving and then we have Christmas).  Who the what?  We're going to need things to slow down a smidge.

Happy It's Not Monday Day!

Project Pinterest: EAT

I'm obsessed with all things Pinterest and as we get our kitchen reno underway, one of my big focuses is going to be some sort of organization, mail, schedule station.  With Baby #2 only months away I feel like we really need it to keep our family on schedule with our crazy life.

Last weekend while enjoying some girly time with my sisters, cousin and Mom while drinking my sparkling juice from a wine glass, I created my first piece.

What a better time to link up with my one of my favorite bloggers, Ashley over at I Love You More than Carrots for her Project Pinterest Link-Up.

Here was my inspiration:

via

Here is my project, in three phases:

Cardboard Letters (purchased from JoAnn's)

Turned Black

Turned Metal-ish - Final Product!

I love the metallic look that it created and it was very easy.  The color was created exactly has the pin indicated (love when that happens).

Eventually I will have something like this, but a slightly modified version.

via

Happy Pinning!