Welcome to Fertility, PA!!

Well, we finally made it to New York after spending a couple of days in Pennsylvania! Those Pennsylvanians sure do have a sense of humor!! We found this town directional sign in a hardware store and couldn't pass up the photo op!! There is also a town named Intercourse! Too funny! We have had the best time with Chris's brother and his wife and their adorable 5-week-old daughter, Eliza!! We're completely smitten with her! Bailey has loved holding her and talking to her and helping to change her diaper. I've heard her say several times, "You're doing great, Eliza!!" It's the cutest thing ever!! Eliza's crying has kind of freaked Bailey out, but hopefully, by the time the Bean is born, she'll be more prepared. Pray for that, please!!

See you later!!

YIKES!!

Yesterday, I was checking out this big on-line sale that Lane Bryant was having and I was immediately drawn to the Clearance tab. THIS is what I found!! Seriously?!?!? Big girls really shouldn't wear zebra-print jumpsuits!! And look at the style of this jumpsuit!! Everyone knows that a boot-cut pant is more flattering because it balances out the hips. Apparently, whoever designed this monstrosity did not get that memo. Can you even imagine what you would look like in this outfit? Me, either, which is why I had to make fun of it here on my blog!!

See you later!!

Return to Two-Car Land!!

Do you remember that little song you sang in Sunday School or Vacation Bible School where one side of the room would sing "Praise to the Lord" and the other side would sing "Hallelujah?" Well, we were singing that song today after we found a car!!! We've been getting along OK sharing Chris's truck but there was NO WAY we could drive to NYC in it and we're supposed to leave on Thursday!! So, after driving around West Knoxville and finding most of the car lots to be closed (OK, seriously, Beatty Chevrolet, don't put a full-page ad in the Sunday paper if you're not going to be open on Sunday!!), we headed back to Lance Cunningham Ford (where we went yesterday) and bought an Explorer!!! It is so much cleaner than our old car! And it has a DVD player so Bailey is completely in love with it. There's also plenty of room for the Bean upon arrival and also Bean's accessories! Very exciting and we are very thankful to be back in the land of two cars!

See you later!!

Delicious Date Night!!

So, on a scale of 1-10, our date last night was a solid . . . 15!! We really had the best time! The food was exceptional! If you've never been to the Melting Pot, it is a wonderful experience. Chris and I had a nice little corner table so we could sit close and whisper! The server brings out a fondue pot and heats it up on the burner at your table. After it's nice and steamy (watch out or you'll get an unexpected facial!!), she added garlic and wine and cheese and a little flour to create our delicious Swiss cheese fondue. It's really my fave - what could be better than dipping cubes of fresh bread into molten cheese? Hang one . . . I'm drooling now . . . OK, I'm back :D So, after you've scraped every drop of cheese from the pot, you get your salad, and then the main course. I got steak, shrimp, chicken, pork, and potstickers, all deliciously seasoned, and Chris got the same meats except he had cedar plank salmon, too. Next, comes an even bigger fondue pot filled with Court Bouillon - once it's all nice and steamy, it's time to cook that meat!! Very relaxing and very romantic. And those sauces - the best! The grand finale? Chocolate fondue with strawberries, marshmallows, tiny Rice Krispy Treats, pound cake, cheesecake, and brownies. I must stop now and say that if you've never had brownies dipped in warm, melted chocolate, well you simply haven't lived!! IT IS TO DIE FOR!! After a wonderful meal, we walked around the Old City for a while, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying being together. Happy Anniversary to us!!

See you later!!

Happy Anniversary!!

Well, yesterday was our 15th anniversary and it was . . . nontraditional . . . to say the least!! Chris worked all day, then we went to check on our car that died (more on that later!), and after we got home, we ate and Chris took a nap so he could go back to work at midnight. Exciting, right? We did have lunch together at the delicious Tomato Head, so that was nice. But we were really, really shocked (read: blown away!!) that our Explorer is beyond repair which means buying a new car . . . right now!! Just as we are preparing for our big Spring Break trip to New York. We've always been known for our excellent timing!! But, Chris & I are a team and we will get through this bump in the road just like we've gotten through all the other bumps that have come along. I am so thankful that Chris takes such good care of us. So, hopefully, before too long, we'll have a car that won't break the bank! Fingers crossed!!

Fast-forward to this morning: Bailey rode to school with a friend, so I after I sent her on her way, I went back to bed. When Chris got home, he brought me the most beautiful flowers! And tonight, we're going to the Melting Pot for dinner. So, our seemingly nontraditional 15th anniversary is turning out to be a wonderful celebration!

See you later!!

What an Awesome Day!!

I FINALLY GOT TO COLOR MY HAIR TODAY!! I'm sure the midwife at my dr. office thought I was a little crazy since that was the first question I asked her, but I looked like a goat and was desperate to feed my "chemical dependency!!" So, anyway, enough about my hair! Today was my first appointment at my OB's office and it went very well!! Aside from the fact that they drew 6 vials of blood (YIKES!!), it was a great visit - the ultrasound showed a very strong heartbeat (167 beats) and its little face was visible! So precious and still so amazing to me! After I left the dr. office, I headed to Starbucks (of course!) for their delicious Dark Chery Mocha Light Frappuccino - my new fave!! - and then it was off to West Town for a little retail therapy! Had to hit the 'hood, where a found a *few* new things to try and then it was off to Target, where I found a *few* more things, including a birthday card for my sweet daddy (tomorrow) and an anniversary card for my sweet hubby (Thursday) . . . and 2 boxes of hair color!! Chris surprised me with an invitation to lunch and I ate an incredibly-delicious-and-so-wonderful-I-could-eat-it-again-tomorrow Tuscan Chicken Sandwich from Tomato Head - chicken, melted cheese, pesto, and sundried tomatoes! It was a little piece of Heaven right there in Market Square!! All in all, a wonderful day!

See you later!!

OMGosh!! I almost forgot!! I LOST 12 POUNDS!! WOO HOO!!!

Cravings, part 2!

So, on this cold rainy afternoon, I am alternating between Reese's peanut butter eggs and Kettle chips . . . good, but sooooooooo bad, too!!

See you later!!

First Trimester OVER!!

I absolutely cannot believe that I am already through my first trimester!! And I still don't fell pregnant! Well, I did there for a bit, with the waves of nausea, over-the-top sore breasts, and exhaustion x10, but now I just feel normal . . . and my jeans are a little tight, which isn't all that unusual!! I go to my regular OB next week and I can't wait to see another ultrasound pic of The Bean! Things are getting exciting around here!!

See you later!!

"The Nod"

So, I'm pumping gas after I picked Bailey up from school today and this guy on a motorcycle smiled at me and gave me "the nod." I don't really know what that means, but I must have really been ROCKIN' my new maternity top!!! Isn't that HILARIOUS?!?! Yes, it is!!

See you later!!

Cravings!

Oh, those wonderful pregnancy cravings!! Luckily, I've never been plagued with the whole pickles-and-ice-cream thing (who has, really?!?!), but this go-round, I have been nearly manic for orange juice!!! I could literally drink an entire half-gallon carton at any given moment! I've already had two gigantic glasses today! And it doesn't matter what time of day it is, either! At least, I'm not drinking as much diet Coke (caffeine-free, of course!). Yea!!

See you later!!

Treat Myself Day!!

So, Day 1 off my Prometrium has been AMAZING!! I have shopped and shopped and talked and had a great day!! But, I'm pretty sure my sweet husband is going to put in his request that I not go shopping on my own anymore!! Is it my fault that Vera Bradley knows exactly what I want and how to get me into the store to buy it? I got a postcard yesterday announcing their latest promotion (a little $15 wallet with purchase) and since I was already lusting after their new Rosie Posie Hipster in Sittin' in a Tree . . . well, you get the picture! Two new additions to my VB collection! Plus, I found a great deal on Yellow Box flip flops that are black with pink, green, and white polka dots at Belk's and I got to park in the Pregnant Mama's parking space at the mall. It's the little things that thrill me!!

If you haven't tried Starbuck's new Dark Cherry Mocha concoctions, go right now . . . I'll wait . . . !! Since it was 60 degrees today, I opted for a Light Dark Cherry Mocha Frappuccino, which was DE-LISH!! So, you can see I have really treated myself today! I didn't even murder anyone at Kroger today! I actually SMILED at all the old people (Wednesdays are Old People Days at Kroger, in case you didn't know!!) I usually try to avoid Kroger at all costs on Wednesdays, but I needed stuff so I had to go! I'm cooking an actual meal tonight and I needed a third item to go with my very favorite pork chops and risotto.

So, if you haven't treated yourself lately, you have my permission to do so today . . . or if it's too late to really make it count, do it tomorrow! Enjoy!!

See you later!!

Nesting?

I think so! My sainted hubby took Bailey to school again today so I could sleep in, so I figured it was only fair that I cook a hot meal for the fam tonight. Shocking, I know!! So, I made a delicious (& pregnant-mommy approved!) sausage and egg casserole, pumpkin muffins, biscuits, and Paula Deen's Symphony brownies (those are for tomorrow night's stamping extravaganza!). Plus, I cleaned our guest bathroom, which looked like it belonged in a gas station! Lots of good nesting goin' on here . . . let's hope it lasts!!

See you later!!

Seriously?!?!?!

I get e-mails from my fave store, Target, all the time, but I usually just delete them because I'm in the store, like, 15 times a week. But, for some reason, TODAY, I chose to open the e-mail and click on the "Daily Deals" link because who doesn't like a good deal?!?!? Boy, was I disappointed!! THIS is what I saw - this bathing suit (or as I like to call it, the dental floss suit!) is on sale today for only $14.99 - HALF PRICE!! Isn't that wonderful!?!?! Aren't you so glad that you can buy this swimsuit today for ONLY $14.99?!?! Except, wait a minute . . . if you're like me (and you know you are!!), there is no way in H@#$ that you could get your right ANKLE into this suit!! Really, Target?!?! This is all you have to offer?!?!? I'll go out on a limb and say that it might be my raging pregnancy hormones that have caused this lengthy diatribe . . . but maybe not! So, let's just pray that Target's next "Daily Deal" will appeal to the other 99% of us who won't be buying the dental floss suit this summer!! The end! Sermon over!

See you later!!

A Pregnant Girl's Best Friend

So, the way I've been feeling these past few weeks, I never imagined that a Food Network show would become my new best friend, but I think "5 Ingredient Fix" is every pregnant girl's best friend. I mean, you feel like crap, you're tired, you're busy and distracted and, if you're like me, you simply cannot think of anything to prepare for dinner. Seriously, "thinking" and "pregnancy" are about as close as Tennessee and . . . Mars!! Enter "5 Ingredient Fix," a show dedicated to delicious recipes using 5 ingredients!! Tonight, I made an Easy White Pizza and oh my sweet Lord, was it delicious!!! I'm so glad the rest of my family made their own pizza because there was NO WAY I was sharing mine!! How can you go wrong with cheese and bread and garlic? That's right . . . you can't!! I hope you'll check out the website, even if you're not pregnant, and enjoy making all those deliciously easy recipes for yourself!!

See you later!!

10-Week Ultrasound

OMGosh!! I feel like I've already been pregnant FOREVER!! We went for my 10-week ultrasound last Thursday and it was so amazing! We could see The Bean's arms and legs moving and its heart beating! The Bean slept during most of the ultrasound, but the doctor jiggled my stomach a couple of times (let me tell you THAT was a self-esteem booster!!) to wake it up and it started moving again. It is an amazing miracle that a being that's only 1.5 inches long could move and react and learn!! The doctor said everything looks great and he has officially turned me over to my regular OB. And I'll be off my progesterone in a little over a week so YEA!! Our computer died last week and I still don't have the scanner up and running yet, so I'll post the ultrasound pic as soon as I can.

See you soon!!