No Judging!

Back to a baby post.  I have no amazing updates on the growth of the baby other than all is going well in the growing department.  We have our next ultrasound Jan. 13th and we are hoping for a gender declaration.  In the mean time, I have been behaving very well.  Okay, I was behaving well and today I walked into Goody's and they had this AMAZING sale.  I couldn't resist the deals and I had to take advantage!  So what do you do when you run into a sale and have no idea what you are going to have?

Well...

16 full outfits and 2 extra pieces and I only spent $50!  All items can be returned so I will be saying goodbye to half of the collections in two weeks.  $2.77 each set is definitely a deal to me!!

Oh the joy of deals!

Just in time for Christmas!

Kevin and I made it back from our cruise on the 23rd of December.  Thankfully, we completed our shopping and gift wrapping before the trip and we were able to get ourselves ready for the holidays. 

Christmas is a bit tough for me because I miss my Noche Buena celebration with my family back in Florida. 
However, I am working on creating my own traditions here with my smaller family unit.  I celebrate my Noche Buena with authentic Puerto Rican dishes (still working on getting pasteles here next Christmas).  My sister has joined us for the last two Christmas' and my friend Sharon spends the evening with us with her family.  Music plays in the background and we enjoy each others company.  Not big but my tradition nevertheless.

Sharon and her family spend the night at the house and we celebrate Christmas morning with the boys and enjoy a big hearty breakfast before dispersing to visit family and friends.  Kevin and I usually spend early Christmas Eve with his family but this year we changed it up to Christmas Day dinner.  Our Christmas Day was BUSY but we enjoyed the entire 24 hours indulging with great company and visiting family!

Summer in December

Kevin and I planned a five day cruise for our getaway vacation.  No kiddo, no responsibility, the ultimate vacation after a long year for the both of us.  This was Kevin's first cruise and it was definitely like Christmas morning when we got on board!  Our five day cruise included two days fun at sea, one day at Progresso, Yucatan, and a day at Cozumel, Mexico.  We ate at the formal dining room each evening and enjoyed all the events possible on the ship.  Our days in Mexico were mixed with an excursion to the Mayan Ruins, touring the cities, lounging at the beach, and shopping for bargains.  What a great vacation pre baby!  I cannot wait for the next one.  In due time...

Christmas Eve

It has been a while since my last post but I was busy with finals and I just got back from a 5 day cruise!!  That was by far the best idea after a hard semester.  Kevin and I had an amazing time; we visited the Mayan ruins in Pregresso and lounged at the beach in Cozumel.  I will update with pictures later but now I have to do my last minute running around before my Christmas Eve dinner. 

Have a blessed day!

Fire Cracker

I am trying to figure out what happened to the deep sleeping baby I once had.  Movements at this time are supposed to feel like flutters and soft movements.  Well...someone forgot to tell this little peanut that!  Apparently, I have Kung Fu Panda growing inside of me.  Sometimes I let out a yelp because the movement startles me.  The good thing about it?  At least I can feel the baby!

Drive by Posting.

I have been extremely busy with school the last month.  I had a few traumatic moments that set me back and have been working extremely hard to get myself caught up.  I am exremely exhausted and I cannot wait until next weekend when I get to head out for a little R&R. 

I have learned plenty in the last month. 
I have learned that God blessed me with really great friends.  I have been fortunate to have a great support system with an amazing bunch of people.  They call in and make sure I am not under my bed soaking on my problems for too long. 
My husband has demonstrated great patience with me.  I know he hates having an absentee wife but understand the stress I am in and supports me and takes care of just about everything so I may focus on my studies.  He has pretty much gone to college with me and I doubt he will want to go after the rollercoaster we've been on for the last four years!  I will give him a break and then harrass him with the thought again.
My son has been understanding and this has been the hardest thing for me.  I am that parent that enjoys being at school events and helping as much as possible.  I want to provide him with all the opportunities and it has been hard for me to pull time out of the time I don't have to begin with.  He has been so understanding and I get emotional thinking about all the memories I could not make the last few months because of school.

On to other thoughts:
We have nothing out for Christmas yet.  I hope that this weekend will be the weekend to put up the tree and decorate the house.  I am glad that I keep my stuff up until the Epiphany has passed!  So I will have the house decorated for a bit.  Also my household has really been discussing a 1 gift rule for Christmas time.  We have shared our thoughts and ideas with J and he took it pretty well.  I do not find it bad for people to lavish those they love with gifts on Christmas if that is what makes them feel good but my household does that throughout the year.  We see things that the other would love and we get it for them.  J does not go without and I know that he will be pretty blessed with gifts from family and friends that think of him during this season.
I also have been really wanting to give back during the holiday times.  Families are going through tough times and instead of spending money on myself on things that will one day perish, I want to spend my time and resources spreading the message of Christ through acts of love. 
As a Christian we celebrate and rejoice the birth of Christ on December 25th.  He came to us in the most humble of ways and spent His entire time preparing the way and giving of His mercy and love.  That is what is important.

So much for a drive by...

This Could be a Good Thing

I had an ultrasound appointment today!  It was the most uneventful eventful appointment.  I found out this child could sleep through an earthquake and Armageddon.  We spent the entire video attempting to wake the baby up and we lost.  Maybe that is a good thing?  Maybe a sleeper?  I could only hope!  Enjoy!

Week 14

I am officially in the second trimester!  Woohoo!  Okay well it was yesterday but I was too busy to add a post then. 
According to Babycenter.com :
This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.
Pretty neat things going on in there.  I was on the babycenter website and one of the member's documented her baby gender pee test.  Kind of weird but still curious.  She took two different brands of the gender pee test.  Did her duty and both test showed a boy results.  She went to the doctors and the U/S confirmed that it is was indeed a boy.  Supposedly it is 90% accurate but you should paint the walls until the the doctor confirms the results and or the baby is born.  I told Kevin about it and he just about threw me out the door to go get one of the test. 

I have yet to get one but I can see how easy it is to spend tons of money double and triple checking.  Maybe one for fun.  I am not sure yet. 

Party Party

We finally had a free weekend and threw J his birthday party.  Thankfully the weather was bearable and the sun was out giving us a little warmth.  The kids had a blast at the park.  Great weather, kiddos, games, candy, cake, and a fully equipped park is the complete package needed for a super birthday.  The kiddos dressed up.  J was Darth Vader, we had a Spider Man, a cheerleader, Tigger, Wolverine, a pirate,  a Roman soldier, a flapper, and a skeleton diva at the party.
Kevin grilled hamburger and hot dogs, my friends helped set up, and Sharon and I made the cakes.  Glad the sun sets early in the fall because I was beat by four!

Happy Veteran's Day

Here are snip-its from elementary students thank you letters:


"I hope you are safe and not getting hurt."
"I hope you beat them til their heads come off."
"Thank you for keeping us safe."
"They are probably setting a plan to get you, be ready."
"I was sad because I thought you didn't have food.  But now you have food and I am happy."
"Thank you for fighting for our freedom."
"I hope to grow up and help just like you.  Good Luck."
"Thank you for all you been doing for us."
"When I grow up, I will join the Army to protect people too."
"I hope you win this war so we don' have to be kidnapped."
"I hope you beat the crap out of the evil people.
"If I could I would send you a lot of stuff and if I did I hope you like it."


Kids are so unpredictable.

Boy or Girl?

What will the baby be?  Oh, what will the baby be?  No preference on my side.  The hubby is hoping for a boy and the rest of my friends and my immediate family want a girl. 

What I do want is to know!  I hate the waiting game.  I would prefer to know how I am going to decorate the room.  I have themes picked out and a vision that needs to be made a reality!

Baby boy will have a fire fighter themed room.

Baby girl witll have a Paris themed room.

The furniture will be the same regardless of the sex.  The Jenny Lind Spindle Crib, a black washed 5 drawer chest, and a black spindle rocking chair. 

I haven't decided on the paint on the walls.  Right now I have a soft green color, it will definitely need to be changed.  White, eggshell?  I don't know...

Knowing the sex would help.  Okay no it wouldn't; I don't see myself painting the walls pink. 

Paris or fire fighter?  Fire fighter or Paris?   We will see!

Kappa Delta Pi

Tonight I was initiated into the International honor society in the field of education.  I accepted the invitation last semester but was unable to attend the initiation due to my deployment overseas.  I was glad to take a moment to reflect on the hard work I have put into my education and it was definitely a pick me up to strive to end the semester strong.  I am behind in work which I completely hate and I hope that I will have healthier days ahead to catch up and be done very soon!

Blogger Stalker

To my self proclaimed blogger stalker:
You know who you are.  I've heard about your complaint and have been working on posting more thoughts and stories.  I think you should start your own blog.  Your story is amazing.  I remember seeing your Bank of America run and the spark that came from that.  It was Bank of America tower run, right? 

I know we don't talk much but I am happy to know that you find interest in my blogs and I wanted you to know that you are a true inspiration.  I can't deny spending countless moments looking over running information and wishing I had the drive to start a journey as yours.

Congrats on the NYCM!  What an amazing adventure you will have this weekend.  Document it, not everyone will be able to able to say that they accomplished such a feat. 

Good Luck.

Time to beat:
Freddie Prinze Jr. 5:50:49

Got Zzzzzz?

I sleep and feel restless in the morning.  The last three days have been miserable!  I have had that crazy person look in the morning.  Eyes blood shot red, my limbs barely useful, and the whole Quasimodo thing going on.  

However...
This post is not about that!


The baby's crib arrived today.  Yay for us!  The iron crib was beautiful but ridiculously expensive for an item that will be used for about 18 months if that.  I thought about it and decided to go with the Jenny Lind Spindle Crib.  We bought it in black to be gender friendly and I just love the look of it!  It reminds me of the cribs my siblings and I used as babies.  Still vintage looking, beautiful in its design, and on sale for $99.  I know.  Awesome.

Happy Day After Elections!

I know some are happy for today and others have well...lost hope for the American people.  I will tell you what I think.  I am happy that I get to stop hearing this extreme level of party bashing and nastiness.  It is embarrassing and completely a turn off.  I know that people are still going to talk bad about the parties but for some reason it is unbelievably tacky during elections.

Maybe... if just for a second... we evaluate this massive divide in our country... we may conclude that some of our problems are branching from that!  I don't know, just a hunch.  I could be wrong.

However, I do know that after the hoots and hollers and rants and raves of today, most of the commotion will die down.  We become this extreme group making a difference at the polls but after most of us get home from the polls we hang our skin on the coat rack until next election.  There will be no support.  We will not see this mass gaggle still supporting their party.  The town halls will not be anymore packed and causes will be expected to be taken care of by our officials.

Am I wrong?  Could be.  But lets see. 

My guess is that next election we still will not be pleased and will blame each other again.

Happy 9th Birthday!

Today is J's birthday.  My goodness, time has flown by so quick.  I remember that he decided to grace the world on a Friday of a 3 day weekend.  See, even from the beginning he planned his actions!  He was a great baby, I can say that he was very mild and easy to please! 

When I think back at his first years, I see his chipmunk cheeks and this great big smile that lit up the room. He was his uncle's little fence partner from the moment he could walk.  I remember watching them sword fight in the living room.  Oh the good ol' days.  J would watch Chicago with me and even dance to the music; just as long as we could watch Blue's Clues afterward. 

I still see him that way; although he is now officially 9.  I guess that is what parents do.  We enjoy our children but deep down we still see them as the young toddlers they were.  I cried during his kindergarten graduation.  I was happy to see him achieve so much and yet sad that my baby was no longer a baby!

Today he is 9.  His likes have changed.  I haven't seen him pick up a fencing sword since he was one and blue's clues is a vague memory.  However, we get to see him get excited about sports, excel in his academics, and blossom into this great child!  He is a phenomenal reader; He reads leisurely daily and the books can not come in the home fast enough.  He is passionate about his beliefs just as much as he is passionate about helping others.  He has this heart for humanity and a level head that will get him anywhere!

I am excited to see what he will grow up to be!  His potential is limitless and he can achieve whatever his heart desires.  I love my caring gentleman!  I am and will always be proud of him.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Expensive taste

I was really set on having the baby's room very vintage in furniture.  I wanted an iron crib and an aged chest.  Have you seen the prices on iron beds?  I was so off on the price.  But just look at the craftsmanship!  It is beyond beautiful and everything I would have wanted.  Now the price would not be too bad for someone else but it is not in my budget.  Just admire it though.  It was worth my dream.  Now directing my energy on a wooden crib with the same effect.

11 weeks

Yesterday marked our 11th week of pregnancy.  This pregnancy has been rough.  They say that the second trimester marks the best part of the pregnancy.  2 more weeks.  I will be waiting for some miraculous health transformation.  13 days.  I can do it! 

Met my doctor last week.  I am not too sure how I feel about him.  Rushed in and out.  Very systematic.  Before I knew it, he was gone.  I will give him another chance and he is staying until I am satisfied not the other way around.  His nurses are amazing but he didn't even ask if I had any concerns.  I didn't even have a chance to open my mouth.  Next appointment, I am going to tell him to sit down. 

13 days!  13 days!  13 days!

Life as we know it.

This Sunday I went to the movies and watched Life As We Know It.  I really enjoyed the movie but I found it very sad.  Tonight, while watching Private Practice the topic came up again.  Orphaned children.  What happens to your children if something were to happen to you?  I have had a Will since I was 19 years of age and I have thought long and hard about who I would leave my children with.  Can that change?  What happens if that person has a change of heart or like in the movie, the people you choose are conflicted about the life change they will have to endure by taking your children in? 

Death is something that we choose not to think about but I believe should be planned in advanced. 

I guess I am a soft heart at knowing children are in the system because conditions cannot permit them to have a home.  I know that it is okay for someone to choose not to help but I cannot help but feel like I am being selfish with what I have been given because I have yet to open my home to a child in need of a forever home. 

No child should suffer the loss of their parents at in early age but they should also not suffer the instability of not having a family either.  Be it blood or love.

I love hate you

We are now in our 8th week!  Elbows, hands, feet, and eyelids!  So excited I can just vomit.  Maybe not that excited but close enough.  This last 4 weeks have been wonderfully nauseating.  My doctor prescribed me some anti nausea medication that worked amazing the first day.  The end with that.  Hopefully I  will be over this before the second trimester.

Yes, one more thought!  I love hate food.  It actually scares me at the moment.  Everything taste awkward and makes my stomach upset.  So far tomatoes and lettuce are yummy; everything else not so much.

Anyone found a natural remedy for nausea?

Oh yes and I am thirsty all day, water makes me sick too.

Changes

September 29, 2010 was my first official appointment with my doctor. 

Highlights of the visit:
Had my ultrasound done before I filled out all my paperwork! 
The visit was impressively close to my scheduled time.
The nurse practitioner was very thorough with the process.
My due date changed by 2 days.  Now we are at May 16, 2011.
We got to see the little peanut, hear the strong heartbeat, and got two pictures of the ultrasound.

Down side:  Excuse me doc but who schedules the first visit on your day off?

The hubby and I decided it was time to tell J about it.  He took the news like the champ I knew he would be!  He is excited and is already wishing for a brother to teach things to.  We've allowed him time to tell his friends and school about the news.  It sure didn't take him long to get the news around.  His principal congratulated me the very next day.  I love kids.  J is really going to be a tough act to follow!  He has been discussing names at school and comes home to share the results.  I am proud that he is proud.  I could not ask for anything more!

I also gave my mom the "okay" to tell her friends and family.  How does my mom go about sharing the news?  She puts it in the Church bulletin!  LOL.  I already received a phone call about the bulletin.  Priceless.  I guess that is what I get for making her wait a whole month.

So today is the day.  I figure it will not be long before everyone knows our news.   My job knows, my hubby has been spreading his wonderful news to everyone, and now between J and my mom the rest will know. 

To all my friends and family:
Today is the day I tell all of you.  Of course, if you visit the blog from my fb post you are the first to know.  For everyone who chose not to check out my posted link.  Too bad for you.

Love you all!

6 weeks in the making.

Today marks 6 weeks!  I don't know why but I think that is a big deal.  Maybe because I am super late that must mean something significant, right?  Next week is the first visit with the doctor and I have no idea what is going to get done.  I am hoping some checking of a heartbeat will be on the schedule and maybe some blood work.  If I get seen and just have to pee on a stick and fill out my family's past health history I am going to snap!  Maybe not but I will become THAT lady.
I don't want to think about it!   I don't want to think about it!

On to other things, I am student-teaching at a nearby school and have to get the kiddos all excited about Christopher Columbus.  I am in a first grade class and the kiddos are supposed to be taking the drivers seat to the learning and researching.  I am not really sure how I am going to work this out but I will definitely provide the kids with as much information at their level as possible. We will see how that works out.

Today is one of those days.  I have been sick as a dog, I can't stop sneezing, I cannot concentrate, and I was sent home early from class because I looked dreadful.  I hate sick days.  I would prefer for it to be "Always Sunny in Philadelphia."  Which reminds me...that shows always cheers me up!

Channel 5 Top News

I know I said we were going to wait...but...

Who have we told?

We told the soon to be aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

All the rest of our family and friends will be told later on in the pregnancy.  I could say we would wait to the end of the first trimester but most likely the rest of the world will know at the end of the month.

So congrats to the soon to be again aunts, uncle, and grandparents!

Working While Under the Influence

Oh my goodness.  This has been the longest weekend ever!  My job is usually one of the coolest EVER but considering that I am under the influence of a baby, I am now under light duty.  I went to my work clinic to get profiled and when they went through my work hazards I had no choice but to step down.

Bending
Pulling
Pushing
Climbing
all weather conditions
extreme high noises
hazardous explosives
products that contain lead
balance not an option

and so on.

Luckily I work here once a month.  I couldn't see myself not doing my job on an everyday bases.  Next month I will be placed into admin work.  Yay for me.

Toy Story 3 a Snoozer?

 

This Labor Day I took my husband to see Toy Story 3.  My son and I both saw the movie a few days after it opened in the theaters but my husband was at work.  He never let me down so I decided since we both had the day off, what the heck!  Toy Story 3 was very entertaining the first time around and I was looking forward to seeing it again...or so I thought. 

After the first 30 minutes of the movie I became VERY tired.  I mean I couldn't stay up so...I took a nap.  I woke up after a quick 20-30 minute nap and felt refreshed and ready to go.  Too bad I missed a good chunk of the movie!  My poor husband was confused and gave me the crazy eyes a few times but I had to do what I needed to do.

After the movie, I really went into thinking mood.  Was Toy Story 3 really a snoozer?  

Why did I have a Narcoleptic moment?  

Well I went home and went straight to research my condition, it wasn't too long before I found the answer.  It took 3 minutes.

 

My journey begins again.  My son is eight; about to turn nine.  I am nine months from graduating college.  I am interning next semester in an elementary school.  My schedule is busy!  

I went to the doctor's today to confirm my pregnancy and to get referred to a OBGYN.  My first appointment is at the end of the month and my due date is May 16th.  Nine days after graduation and four days before my birthday.

On top of all this, I will blog to document my pregnancy and my life adventures.  I pray all will go well and at the end of the month I will share the news to my family and friends.  Till then, cyber fam you are my avenue to share my current exciting news!

To answer my original question...Toy Story 3 is definitely not a snoozer!