Level II u/s was a success!

WHAT. A. RELIEF.

Here are some pictures of Miss Thing who entertained us and the u/s tech for over a hour with her antics. She is a wiggle worm & apparently very flexible. The u/s tech took a picture of her with her feet completely over her head. Like her knees were at her nose. Seriously... how can that be comfortable? Just before that, we were looking at her feet and she grabbing them with her cute little hand. Then she decided to chew on her fingers for awhile...of course this was when the u/s tech was trying to get profile pics. After all of that entertaining, she was worn out because she yawned and started rubbing one of her eyes like she was sleepy. Talk about making your heart melt! Miss Thing is not breech anymore but the tech said with the way she moves, she'll probably change positions about 45 more times until go-time! As long as she's healthy, that's all the matters! She is weighing in at 1 lb 7 oz which is right now track.

These 2 3-D's are of her rubbing her eye. It's kind of hard to tell what she's doing.

And her cute foot!

I think she's going to have her father's crazy toe just like her big sister did! Poor kid!

I won! I won!!

Jen over at Despite the Best Laid plans... nominated me for this award! Thanks Jen!! I also need to thank Jen for telling me how fabulous the Miracle Blanket is. Because of her comment on my blog, the inventor of Miracle Blanket contacted me and is sending us a free Miracle Blanket to have for Miss Thing. How cool is that?? Thanks Jen!!

OK, first I'm supposed to honor other blogs. Several of the bloggers that I would nominate have already won, so I'm going to nominate the blogger that is particular near and dear to my heart and VERY deserving of this award:

Jewels @ Empty Nesting : She has shown so much strength and grace during the last year while venturing on the TTC path, experiencing a devasting loss and pregnant again. She is my TTC soul-sister as we went down the same road this summer just a month or 2 apart.

Next I have to share at least 10 honest things about myself. If nothing else, I am very honest!

1. I haven't seen my natural hair color in YEARS! I always color my hair to keep things interesting. It's either color or cut and my hair is pretty short right now so no more cutting.
2. I need to work out more and take Teddy on more walks. I wish spring would come so I could get outside sooner!
3. The first time I met Lance, I thought he would be a great summer fling! hee hee hee I guess he was that plus much much more as we've been together for 7.5 years and married for 4.5 years.
4. I cannot sleep without my body pillow when I'm pregnant. With it, I sleep so well!
5. I have size 8 feet which is pretty small for someone as tall as I am.
6. I love baby animals. I would have a ton of pets (even more than what we do have!) if we lived on a farm.
7. I love that Lance is reading father books and wants to discuss all the information he finds interesting.
8. I can't wait to be able to ride my horse again... hopefully in July.
9. My brother, Lee, is one of my favorite people in the whole world even though he's a complete smart ass and harasses me constantly.
10. I can't stand pineapple and/or coconut. Good thing I'm not stranded on a deserted island!

The furniture is ordered!

We finally ordered our nursery furniture! I've been dragging my feet because I don't want to ~jinx~ anything. Everything is going so well with this pregnancy that I've been waiting for something bad to happen but it hasn't. Luckily! The furniture that we picked out is notoriously slow in making and delivering so we needed to get a move on it. Our crib is in stock but the changing table/dresser is out of stock until March. The company (Ba.by Appl.eseed) won't ship until they have everything ready to go so it'll be April until we have the furniture which is plenty of time. Ba.by Appl.eseed also plants 10 trees in your baby's name when you buy furniture from them so that's a cool bonus. I absolutely love our furniture. It's espresso color and very well made. I can't wait to get it!

I'm heading out of town tomorrow for a weekend of scrapping with the girls. Its going to be lots of fun except they will all be drinking wine and I'm going to be watching. Oh well... Miss Thing is all VERY worth it! I better get to packing as I have nothing packed except for my scrap stuff. I'd really rather not wear the same clothes all weekend long:) Eww!

Pics from Texas!

First off, thank you for all the fabulous comments here on the blog and via email about my comments on the "it better be a __(insert sex here)__" vent. It is something that obviously really ticks me off. It's best to not even get me started on that one!

Texas was amazing! Not Texas itself... it was enjoyable in its sunshiney 60 degree wonder and brown-ness but the conference and people we met were amazing! I met a great group of women from the New England states that thoroughly entertained me the whole entire time. They were funny, smart and very knowledgeable horse people. I learned a lot at the conference and got a ton of new ideas for our association.

These pics are from the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame.

Off to Texas!

I'm off to Amarillo, TX tomorrow bright and WAY too early for a National AQHA meeting. I was nominated to represent ND because I'm an open board member, ammy vice president & one of the youth advisors. I know I ~live~ in MN but I'm a ND girl and we live 30 miles from ND so we go to both ND and MN horse shows. It's very convenient to live where we do! It's suppose to be 60 degrees down there so I'm really looking forward to that! Now if I can just convince them to move the conference outside! This afternoon I was searching my closets for a spring jacket that would fit me... not so much! I found one that kind of fits me as long as I unzip the bottom a little to give the belly some breathing room.

I had another very successful and quick OB appt yesterday. It's amazing how easy a normal pregnancy appt is compared to a high risk one. Gotta love it! I could certainly tell my OB was much more laid back at this appt after the u/s results came back and the fact that Miss Thing looked perfect from what the tech could tell. It's nice to see! My next appt is the Level II u/s the end of Feb to get the rest of the measurements and another, closer look at the princess to make sure everything still looks fabulous! It will be such a relief to have that done and hopefully be just as good as the regular ~big~ u/s. Then it's another appt the 2nd week of March and I'm in the 3rd trimester! Holy crap....what? 3rd trimester?? Yikes!

On a side note... I would just like to complain about how immature and self-centered it is for people to bitch about "it better be a girl" or "I'm going to be pissed if it's not a boy". I think those people need to go through what we did this summer so they can actually realize how important it is to just have a HEALTHY baby not the sex of the baby. Who cares as long as the baby is healthy and LIVING!! Now, I would NEVER wish a stillborn or miscarriage on anyone BUT for all those that complain about the sex of their baby...Shame on you! I have NO respect for you and your kind. If you are that freaking immature that that is all you are concerned about and seem to think it's fine to tell everyone which sex ~it better be~ then you shouldn't be having children because you are not mature enough to handle it. I also hope you give birth to a frog or goat with the sex of your choice of course! That would sure shut you up.

Phew~~ I'm just SO sick of hearing this from people and/or seeing it on message boards I frequent. You people need to re-establish your priorities! Why don't you first thank God you're pregnant and then thank God your baby is healthy because let me tell you... there are very few words that are worse than "your baby has a chromosomal abnormality" or "your baby has 2% chance of living" or even better (or actually worse) is "there is no heartbeat". Just think about how those of us who have suffered such a huge loss or even the rest of the normal, sane population look at you after hearing you say so many stupid things about such a blessing. It's with complete and utter disgust. Yuck!

OK, I just had to get that off my chest because I've been thinking it way too long and I finally need to let it be heard. Plus it's not like me to hold anything in! If I'm thinking it or feeling it, you will generally know about it. Ember says I don't have a filter! It's true but you can always count on me for the truth whether you want to hear it or not!

So. I'll be back on Sunday, hopefully with a little sun "glow" and a lot of great horse information. YAY! Now I'm off to bed as I need to be up by 2am to get to my flight that leaves at 5am. What the hell was I thinking when I booked that?

It's raining.

What a mess it's going to be! It's 38 degrees and raining. It's suppose to be only 28 degrees tomorrow which equals lots of ice. ICK!! Of course tomorrow I have tons of appts that I must be in town for so I'm hoping it stays warm and nothing freezes so I don't have to reschedule.

Miss Thing is doing great. She's moving and shaking like crazy which I'm enjoying greatly. I have an OB appt tomorrow. This portion of pregnancy is all foreign to me as I've never been this far before so I'm not sure what happens at a 22 week appt? Anything fun and or exciting?
We are officially registered at 2 locations. I'm very glad to have that done with :) We have 2 baby showers scheduled, planned and invitations finished. They happen to fall on the only 2 weekends we have open until the beginning of June. The dates are April 4 and May 9. We are enrolled in several baby classes at our hospital starting the end of March. We're also hoping to slide in a mini-vacation in the next month plus we really should do some work. We're not slowing down yet!

I'm still feeling great and very comfortable. I have recently noticed that my very nice innie belly button is starting to get more shallow. My skin REALLY needs to start stretching more as I'm not that big belly-wise and I have a lot more growing to do. We're over half done with only 18 weeks left! Yikes:) I look at the ticker on my blog and see only 128 days left. Where has the time gone? I'm so excited about Miss Thing and the time getting closer to her arrival. Now I know that I still have a ways to go but its starting to seem all so real! Now if I can just get her uncle Lee to get his tush over her to start all the projects I have for him;)

Times a ticking Uncle Lee!!

Lee's post.

Pregnancy Explained by a Dude….For Dudes

A Fact Based Scientific Study

By Lee Fahy

Stages

1. 
   

   Conception – The ONLY fun part….period…… If married this is usually precluded by a begging stage (since self respect left the building long ago)

2. The Embryonic State -lasts for 2-8 weeks and rapid cellular division occurs, (looks like an ameba, or a squiggle line for the stupid people out there).

1.Tender boobies means grabby-ness tends to end with an “accidental” punch in your neck (grabber beware)

2. Morning yack breath is a possibility

   1. 
      

      Suggestion- avoid morning kiss goodbye

      1. 
         

         This stage is void if married longer than 1 year anyway (romance left the building shortly after your self respect)

3. 
   

   No weight gain…….yet

   1. 
      

      This may not be true IF she knows she’s pregnant, or may suspect she’s pregnant

      1. 
         

         If she even THINKS she’s preggers, she will immediately start eating for a family of five…seriously, get a second job, you’ll need the money

3. 
   

   Month Two
   

   1. 
      

      The thingy is starting to resemble a non-alien form

2. 
   

   At this stage your kids “package” is developing

3. 
   

   She pees every four seconds, literally.

   1. 
      

      She will have to pee every time groceries are carried in, vacuuming needs to be done…or generally when work rears its ugly head you will hear, “Oooooo, oooooo…..I have to pee,” apparently peeing now takes 3 hours to complete as well.

4. How can you take in one ounce of liquid and pee for twenty minutes?
   

   1. Ans: Pregnancy symptoms are a conspiracy hatched by women, for women.

Sidebar Note: Somewhere there are evil genius women hatching plans and twisting mustaches thinking of romantic comedies and pregnancy symptoms for man torture purposes.

4. 
   

   Month Three

   
   
   1. 
      

      The thingy within starts to punch stuff, she will tell you to feel her belly. You will put your hand there….feel nothing, then be required to smile and nod like she’s not bat-shit crazy (see mood meter below) while she looks expectantly at you for a reaction.
      

2. The mood meter below describes a variety of emotions she can travel through in a period of 7 seconds. The mood will remain slightly between bat shit crazy and psychotic for the next month.

   For some reason at this point they start counting the pregnancy in weeks, who the hell knows why, don’t ask.

3. 
   

(The sections are (from left to right) Almost Tolerable, Bat Shit Crazy, Good Old Fashioned Psychotic, Contemplating how hard it is to dig a husband size hole in the back yard and One wet towel on the bedroom floor away from committing murder.)

3. **Note: If you make the mistake of asking, expect the mood meter to peg out at Murder Level.

4. During Month Three she will have:

   1. Increased Perspiration

   2. Weight Gain

   3. 
      

      More Peeing….as if this is even possible

   4. Nausea

   5. The only good news is the boobies are getting bigger

      1. Note, the longer you stare the more the needle on the mood meter moves to the right

5. To sum up Month Three

   1. She’s now sweaty, peeing at an alarming rate, “huskie” and nauseous…..can you say AWESOME

Side Note: This was never in the book about the miracle of birth, somebody sold you LIES, LIES!!!

6. At this point the author suggests not saying the following lines EVER:

   1. I forgive you for your hormone-induced rage.

   2. Hey Chubbs, easy on the pork chops, I know it’s been 8 minutes since your last feeding but damn, come on I haven’t had one yet!

   3. Do NOT EVER slowly walk up behind them, grab their hips and moo like a dairy cow.
      

5. Month Four

   1. She finally stops peeing every ten seconds, it will slowly back off to about every fourteen and a half minutes.

2. The belly is gaining quickly in the great “Boobies Vs Belly Race Off”

3. She should be finished Chucking every morning, so avoiding her for the first three hours of the day is unnecessary

4. Note: There are still plenty of reasons to avoid her for the first three hours of the day anyway….be creative and pick one.
   

4. She’s going to be tired all the time (See first Sidebar Note about Conspiracy)

   1. The remedy (at home of course!) is to beach oneself on the couch, eat ice cream sandwiches and vent to Oprah.

   2. Remedy two is for her to call her mother thirteen times a day and cluck about how bad men suck.
      

6. Month Five

   1. Let the games begin.

      1. How many times can I send my husband to the store for frosting covered beef jerky before he breaks?

      2. Will he make me a fish stick-tartar sauce omelet with green beans?

2. Weight gain continues and nothing else happens, like July baseball this stage may seem to last FOREVER.

3. She may also have a shortness of breath, not just from screaming herself hoarse at you for not immediately understanding the importance of picking out the stroller half a year early.

Side Note: Only Miss Cleo can pull off the psychic bit but your woman will expect this ability on a regular basis….or there WILL BE PAIN.

7. Month Six

1. Baby is apparently trying to punch its way out to freedom.

1. Think the closing scene of Alien Part One when it punches through Sigorny Weavers chest….

2. The temptation to poke the pregnant one is NIGH TO IRRESISTABLE

   1. Refrain from part B, she WILL punch you in the neck
      

8. Month Seven

   1. Your lovely lady is now:

      1. Spherical in shape

         1. Apparently her brand of gravity attracts weird food combinations instead of moons and other planets

      2. Sweating profusely

      3. She may now have developed blotchy skin as well

      4. She’s probably short of breath all the time

      5. During month Seven they develop the dreaded Kankles

         1. This is the case where the calf attaches itself to the heal by completely bypassing the ankle

            1. Due to “Swelling of the Ankles”….my ass it is, could it be due to eating frosting covered movie popcorn with a 3 Lb skittle chaser?
               

9. Month Eight

1. She will experience occasional headaches during the month
   

1. Good news, these “headaches” should only last for the next fifty years…. usually brought on by you being “in the mood” good decision to get married champ, nice move.

1. She may experience difficulty sleeping and you know what that means?

   1. ANS- YOU may also experience difficulty sleeping…. Imagine that huh?

1. 10.Month Nine
   

1. So by now she may have gained more than 30 pounds, ya I said THIRTY pounds!

   1. Resist the urge to slip a couple of orange flags in her back pants pockets and giggle every time she backs up while you make “BEEP BEEP” noises.

2. She’s going to pop this thing out and its going to smell funny and be gross. Don’t tape it, that’s gross.

Side Note: If you see some guy with the uterus cam in the next delivery room with his wife you are completely entitled to punch him in the face for being gross.

3. When the deed finally goes down try not to YAK on her and when they ask you to cut stuff here is the procedure:
   

   1. Once again try not to Yak on your wife

   2. Feel free to death glare the nurse or doctor who asked you to cut the cord, frickin sick.

   3. Politely say no thank you, this is your wife’s moment, don’t make a scene
      

4. Make sure they clean that little bugger off before they hand it to you, otherwise you get baby leftovers on you and that’s gross.

Side Note: Did you know babies pee in the womb and then wallow in their own filth for MONTHS before delivery? Nasty, make them hose that crap off before they hand ‘em to you. PS Do you think the baby is in the womb with its mouth closed? That baby has had PEE IN ITS MOUTH! Aaaack, chew it back, try not to think about it when they hand the thing to you.

Going shopping...

Lance and I spent 3 hours in a baby store on Thursday. Talk about the blind leading the blind!! What the hell is a lap pad and do I need 4-6 of them, which is what their registery guide suggests?? By the end, I think Lance was scanning anything that was pink and/or purple! Yikes! Lance's family is VERY excited to get buying as they are already looking at our registery for guidance. That is so nice but wait until we have more on there than just a stroller and bouncer! At least they're looking at the registery and not just buying things all willy nilly!

So for those that have baby experience.... what are your most essential items? Things that you couldn't live without? I'm sure we'll buy WAY more than what we need but I don't want to miss out on those essential items that will make our lives a lot easier.

Today I'm off to buy my Grandma a birthday gift. She'll be 89 tomorrow. She decided a couple of weeks ago that she needs to do everything to stretch her life out now that she's going to be a great-grandma so she's started exercising. Now my Gram is very with it mentally but her body is failing. She has to walk with a walker but still gets around pretty well. So she's exercising everyday. What a woman!!

Lance is off skiing with the boys. Hopefully he's having a blast and getting some well deserved and needed R & R.

I have a post from Lee but I'm still trying to figure out how to transfer his graph into blogger. It's not working well but this post is absolutely hilarious!! I was shaking and laughing so hard while reading it. Completely inaccurate, in my opinion but funny as hell!

Entering Unchartered Territory...

I hit 21 weeks tomorrow. That means I will be past where we ended with Lily. I will be in the 22nd week on thursday and that is all new to me. I welcome the new-ness! Miss Thing is starting to really get some strength behind her jabs and kicks. She is currently breech so it's kicking on my lower right side and punching on my upper left side. I have an anterior placenta so I don't feel as much directly in front unless its a really strong jab.

Lance and I are on the road again. We're heading home on thursday because Lance is going skiing with the guys this weekend. I'm going to scrap with the girls on Friday and help my MIL and AIL with the baby shower invites. They want to make the invites so we'll hit up my scraproom for supplies.

Also I'm going to feature my brother, Lee or whatever name he's currently posting comments under, as a guestblogger. He's going to be posting about pregnancy from a brother's point of view and then a man's point of view. He is by far one of the funniest people I know. He has Lance and I laughing constantly when he's at our house. So I hope you enjoy!! For a preview of Lee's sense of humor check of the previous post's comments....he's Anon!!