Goals

Short Term Goals:
Finish School and Graduate in May.
Apply for teaching positions this month.
Spend the summer at home with the new baby.

Long Term Goals:
Start placing money in a retirement fund.
Find my place in the career world.
Pay off all my debt (including student loans)
Buy a larger home.
Work on my Masters

Work in Progress

Slowly but surely Kevin and I have been getting the room together for the baby.  I would love to have the room ready before the baby shower this March and we are working hard to meet the goal.  I would like to bring home our love gifts from the shower and find there permanent spot instead of just throwing them in the room to sort through later.

I have some amazing people in my life that are making in effort to join us for our celebration.
My mom and step father are coming from Kentucky
My Brother and SIL will be traveling from Texas
My cousin is flying from Florida

I appreciate the sacrifices they are making to travel the far distance to join us!  I cannot wait for our mini reunion!  Plus that will be 6+ enthusiastic hands wanting to help find places for all the items and how can I deny them the opportunity to help this pregnant lady out? 

Today, Kevin and I will be heading to the furniture store to find a chest and a rocker for the room.  I will finish placing the order for my caramel apple party favors, and I have to go back to the bakery to talk to my baker.

My amazing friends have been busy over here as well.  They have decided to be busy bees on the side and will be helping out with the food for the party.  Isn't that fantastic!?  They are even doing the shopping for me and just calling with all the pricing!  I love it. 

Another amazing gift:  One of Johnathan's old preschool classmate parents and I keep in touch for birthday parties and play dates and they will  be supplying bottled coke products for the shower!  Our theme is vintage fire fighter and I really wanted to buy bottled sodas for the tables.  Now I am going to have them!   I AM SO EXCITED! 

I cannot wait!   The last time I threw a big party was for my wedding reception.  5 years is too long and we are going all out!!

Happy shopping today!

Never Leave the House Without

Are you ready?
Wait for it
Wait for it

My Car Keys
My Wallet
Lip Moisturizer 

There you go.  That is my list.  However, I am afraid that this will change drastically when the baby arrives.  I will then need 1000 extra items because I hate for my kids to be without, and I believe that over packing is a necessity for children.

I have purses.  I use them sometimes.  They are convenient because they hold your wallet and keys.  Plus a purse is a safe haven for other things you can lug around that you rarely need but may need to pull out twice a year! 

What didn't make the list:
My cell phone.

Why?
Although I make a valiant effort to include my phone in all my running around, I sometimes enjoy being off the radar.  I like not having to make a call or answering a call while I am out.  Sometimes I feel like a prisoner to the little device.  It becomes an ankle bracelet.  Yuck.  I'll call you when I get home from my excursions, mkay?

TV worth watching.

Let me begin with sharing that I have been YEARS without paid cable television.  I believe it was eight years ago and I barely watched it then and the transition was lovely.  Today in the break room all the teachers spoke about their bundle packs with cable and dvrs and the what nots that you order for "better" watching.  $150-$250 was about the range.  I guess I am miserably cheap.  I feel the $34 I pay for Internet is too much and a rip off at times.  I also listened as they spoke about all the shows they recorded that they have to caught up on.  All these devices they are paying for are just sitting there collecting shows they may never have time to watch.  So pretty much they are paying to watch the shows later?  I can watch shows the day after they air for free...why are we paying again?
I am not saying I wont fall into the scam of cable one day.  My husband brings it up once in a while.  He enjoys the history channel and other channels similar to it and when he visits someone with cable, he yearns for his own.  I am guessing it is only a matter of time.

Okay now on to my shows.  I wanted to add the preface because I am limited on my show choices.

1. Grey's Anatomy (It started great, became weak, and is building up again)
2. The Bill Cosby Show (An oldie but always a goody!  My son loves watching as well)
3. Modern Family (Makes me crack up!)
4.  Latest add... The Big Bang Theory (This has become a ritual event for my husband and I)

That is about it. 

What do you like to watch?

Baby is good. My big baby is sick.

My little man woke me up at one in the morning with his loud moaning.  He was flushed in the face and complained of a severe headache.  I got him some medicine and took his temperature.  The thermometer read 101.6.  I automatically freak with my little man since he is usually the healthiest in the bunch.  A temperature like that may not mean much to someone else but in our household it is A BIG DEAL.  Of course he was excited when he heard he was unable to go to school but became rather upset when we had to take him to the doctors.  He does not enjoy the doctors at all.  He hates needles, the thought of blood raises his stress levels, and the experience is horrible before it even happens.

We got him to the doctors and all his test came back negative.  They checked his blood work and found his white blood cells lower than they should be and concluded a viral infection.  We've been fighting a fever of 102 all day but at least he will get the week to recover.  He has another doctor's appointment on Friday, so we will see where we are there.

I have my doctor's visit today as well.  Today was my glucose test!  How wonderful.  I barely managed to drink the entire bottle and was instantly suffering from an upset stomach.  There has to be another way to figure out if an expectant mother has gestational diabetes.  I am still getting over this afternoon.  I have been having a hard time eating sweets this entire pregnancy and they made me chug pure sugar.  Disgusting!

Anyway.  The baby is fine.  I am 28 weeks and measure 28 cm..  I have gained 2 pounds since my last visit, almost 6 weeks ago (due to the snow storms) and the baby was measuring 140 bpm.  Everything seems gravy.

My new issue is determining if I want to do the 3d ultrasound.  There isn't a need for it but I am curious at how he growing and looking.  I want to know how much hair I am expecting and to get a sneak peak on his features.

First Bowel Movement?

Poor baby Noah. 

I was sleeping wonderfully and my alarm went off.  I pressed the snooze button and moved the phone to my side.  10 minutes later it went off screaming!  Poor baby Noah!  He jumped so bad, I think it scared the poop out of him!  My child is going to be born a nervous wreck.

Labeling

Kevin and I talked about my displeasure with labeling people I consider friends.  It isn't a quirk I picked up in my adult years.  I have disliked any form of favoritism with my friends since my grade school years.  I felt I had to follow the norm and I did label my friends as: friends, good friends, best friends and I absolutely hated the feeling that came with it.  All my friends are different.  They have their own personalities and I enjoy them for who they are.  For me to categories people with complete different traits is impossible.  Do you make a check list and the one that gets the most checks makes it to the status as number one friend? 

I couldn't and still cannot understand the exchange of place value on friends.  Today you are top dog, tomorrow you may be replaced since we had a fight.  Do you send a memo?  A letter? Dear You, You have been a stinking best friend lately.  I have decided to replace you with someone nicer.  Or the awkwardness of someone feeling you are their best friend and you don't value their friendship as much.  It is completely a strange practice to me.

Or how about those territorial friends.  We've all had those.  The ones that you are just about married to but you never proposed to.  You have a great time with these friends but when you want to hang out with someone else, they are completely upset and the tension becomes unbearable.  Super jealous friends.  These are the ones that usually consider you their best friends and damn it if they are going to share you.  That is the craziness that comes with labeling!

You are my friend or you are my family.  You do not have to be blood for me to consider you family.  Maybe that is my labeling of friends.  If you are not blood related and I consider you my sister, brother, cousin, something that is a forever attachment, I really value you as a person and enjoy having you in my life.  Family is Family, a permanent fixture.  You cannot be thrown out of the gene pool.  (although we sometimes would like to throw a few oddball relatives out!)

Whose Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

Day 10: Something you're afraid of

This was hard.  My initial thought was, "I am not afraid of anything."  I have regular fears as everyone else but I was thinking deep and hard on something that I am Really Scared of to the point of near paralyzes.  I can manage my fear and suppress it enough to overcome it but there is one thing that no matter how brave I can pretend to be will always upset me beyond belief.

I am terrified and disgusted of Roaches.  I refuse to post a picture of them.  If you really need your roach fix you can google them and enjoy.  Yuck.  I can be as brave as possible but if that nasty creature runs towards me, I lose it.  Thank goodness for exterminators.  We have them visit bi-monthly and we even avoid fly-ins.  I wont explain those, I am too disgusted now and would like to stop blogging.  

Another Milestone

The many stages of pregnancy:

Stage 1:  Sick and Tired
Stage 2:  I think I am getting this together
Stage 3:  Ummmmm can you take this boot off for me?  I can't reach!

On Monday I will officially be in my final trimester of my pregnancy.  It has been the most unpredictable adventure so far and I don't see that changing any time soon.  Yesterday I went to Dillards with my friend and they were having a boot sale!!!  I was so excited because I love shoes!!!!  They had the cutest knee high boots and I decided to try them on.  I should have predicted my later struggle when I had to use the top of the boot to slip my foot in the boot.  I did not touch my feet once putting on the boot.  I relied on the wonderful abundance of boot for that.  I walked around looked at the boots and decided not to buy them.  They just weren't singing to me.  I sat down, I looked at how far my foot seemed away from my hands and knew it was not going to happen.  I tried anyway and I failed.  My friend had to help take the boots off.  If I went on this adventure on my own I would have just walked out with a new set of boots! 

I can't take you serious when you use the word BESTIE

Day 9: A favorite picture of your best friend

I would have loved to put one of our AMAZING pictures from Middle School up but I think she would not have appreciated it very much.  Nothing wrong with being little Chongas when you are young.  Being a Chonga as an adult?  That is a complete different story and is greatly frowned upon.  

We have been friends for 16 years.  We've grown close and there were plenty of times when we grew apart.  The beauty of it is that no matter where we are in our relationship, we know without a shadow of a doubt, that we can call and lean on each other.  We are honest to each other.  We encourage each other.  We listen to each other. 

Although we are a 24 hour drive apart from each other, we are just a phone call away.  One day we will live closer to each other so we can annoy each other in person more!  What are best friends for?

Uncle Dean

In 2006 Kevin and I had to opportunity to visit Kevin's uncle in San Juan Capistrano.  We were both on TDY in Las Vegas and instead of soaking in the big city during our free weekend, we rented a vehicle and drove to California.  I am an East Coast girl.  Raised close enough to the ocean that you could smell it in the air.  The beautiful sand beaches were my playgrounds and I always had a wonderful sun kissed tan.  I never imagined that I could find another coast as memorable as the Atlantic Coast but I was wrong.  Uncle Dean was an amazing host and made sure that our weekend was well spent.  We traveled around town, we took in the sights, and spent time on the Pacific Coastal front of Dana Point.  It was absolutely beautiful.  We constantly talk about visiting again.  Hopefully we will get another visit in soon!

27 weeks in the making.

13 weeks left!  Time flies.  Well, last night, Noah had his first hiccup episode.  Luckily for me it was short lived.  Oh the personality that is on its way to grace our household. 

Movies

My challenge today is to share pictures of my favorite movies.
My absolute must have movie is a League of Their Own. 
I love everything about it.  There is great chemistry between the actors, the script is witty, and it is a complete feel good movie. 

THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!

Happiness

Today's challenge is to post a picture of something that makes me happy.  Now I could easily post a picture of the wonderful men in my life but I think I have established that they are both pillars of happiness in my life.  They are my constant reason of being and the peace at the end of my days. No life is perfect but I love mine the way it is!

Now to something outside of my lovely men that brings me happiness...

There is nothing that brings me greater joy than my time spent worshipping my Savior Jesus Christ.  No matter where I am and what I am doing, if I feel a need to worship I do.  He has blessed me with everything I have, He has given me beyond what I asked for, and He knows me better than I will ever know myself.  When I worship, I give Him my problems and I praise Him for the Greatness He is.  The best thing about my worship?  I may come in with a heavy heart but the Lord takes my burden every time I visit Him!

Snow Cancellations

I had a doctor's appointment this past Thursday.  We received an abundance of snow the day before and just about the whole area was closed for two days because of it.  I understand the need to cancel appointments and close shop but I think people should really invest in automated services if they just don't want to personally dial everyone's number by hand.  Luckily, I called in advance to see if they were open but I would assume some expectant mothers showed up at their appointed times to see the doctor.  I would be livid.  Any how, appointment setters can also work from home.  Office calls are able to be routed to another number and they could have made it a point to reschedule us with their two day closed period.  I mean if you are not seeing patients you can make calls and conveniently reschedule.  I guess that would be a perfect world.  I don't know.  I hope someone is reading this and taking notes.

Whoa Belly!

I had no idea this is what others were seeing!  This snapshot was taken last night as I worked on my school work in the living room by my wonderful husband.  Last week he called it a soccer ball and this week I've upgraded to a basketball.  Thanks Kevin!

California Dreamin'

In the last 6 years that I have lived here, we have NEVER had such an abundance of snowfall during the winter months.  This Wednesday, we had a whole winter's worth of snow in one day.  The schools are closed for the second day this week and I am at home locked up because it is way too cold to go frolicking in the snow.

With that being my introduction, my current mood song would definitely be a Mamas and The Papas selection:

California Dreamin'

...I'd be safe and warm

If I was in L.A.

California Dreamin'

On such a winter's day



Acrobatic Training

This week school was out for two snow/ice days.  I took advantage and relaxed at home.  I guess my relaxation allowed the baby to explore his space in the womb.  Until Wednesday, the baby just occupied the space between my pelvic bone and my belly button.  But now I am guessing to his great amusement, he has realized his space range.  That would be fantastic but the movements are extremely aggressive and he is constantly flipping from one side to another.  It is serious acrobatic movements in there and the last two nights have been miserable because he just wont find a spot.  Kevin put some music on the belly this morning and I was able to enjoy 3 songs worth of stillness and then the baby went pounding where the music was laying on my stomach.  He is quite the active baby lately, oh what to look forward to after birth!

Meet the Parents

My mother and I are very close.  We are constantly in contact with each other and I don't go but two days without calling her or my phone ringing with her on the other line.  We are honest with each other but we always encourage each other often.  She is funny, caring, temperamental, and very sensitive.  She is known for her bad temper but I know her as the one that goes out of her way for others.  She is always helping others and giving of herself.  I love her dearly.

The sad truth is that I never really had a relationship with my father.  He was out of my life before my memories began to stick.  I have vague snippets in my memory of times in my youth when I saw him.  I do remember spending an afternoon with him at the mall when I was very young.  I don't recall much but I do remember falling in love with some cowboy boots at the shoe store.  He bought them for me and I wore them out of the store.  I can still here the clicking sound of the heels on the polished concrete floors.  Sadly I was never given a chance to build a true relationship with him.  He passed away when I was 15.  I would share a picture of him but I do not own not one picture.  I did however found this picture.

Oh, how you stole my heart!

My First Love

I was nine years old.  Boys were not a big deal for me.  I still played the barbies and fantasy play with a big part of my life.  Boys were, eh.  That was until he showed up in front of me.  I had to see more.  I needed a daily fix.  I wanted to know all about him.  My fixation continued for 5 years and it still makes me smile when I think about it. 

Mike Vitar as Benny The Sandlot 1993

Behind a Name

Day 2: Meaning behind your blog name
When I found out I was pregnant, I decided to document the journey.  My Life Double Dose stands for the addition to my family that will arrive very soon.  It wonderfully worked out that I am having a baby boy and that adds extra significance to the name.  Just when I thought I was finished with the early childhood years, I just served myself another dose!

About Me

Day 1: Introduce, recent picture of yourself, 15 interesting facts

Picture taken 2/1/2011

A little about myself:
I am married, I have a 9 year old son, and I am expecting my second child this May.
I am currently interning and will graduate with a teaching degree in Education.

Interesting Facts:

1.  I am the youngest of my siblings.
2.  My husband and I married 1 year and 2 months after meeting each other for the first time.
3.  I was technically a high school drop out. 
4.  I returned to high school after two months of leave.
5.  I joined the Air Force when I was 19.
6.  I am 1/4 of the female population at work.
7.  I've been to Afghanistan and lived in a wonderful 40 person tent.
8.  My clothes in the closet need to be in a specific order.
9.  I depend too much on spell check.
10.I got married 05/05/05 and it was not planned for that specific date.
11.I over analyze the simplest of things.
12.If I could, I would pick up all stray dogs.  I love dogs! 
13.I used to be so skinny that it concerned most people I met.
14.My first car cost me about $700 and it was a complete piece of junk.
15.If I could get my hair fixed at the salon bi-weekly I would!