Widget

My husband and I are moving out of Amarillo the first week of July and will be in a small apartment instead of a home. Our new residence does not allow animals, and it would not be fair to our dog Widget to no longer have a yard to run around in. We are trying to find Widget a new, safe and happy home before then. He is a year old Border Collie/Lab mix, has all his shots, is neutered and crate trained. He does well in the house and gets along with both children and other animals. We've regularly taken him out to our friends barn where they have horses and cows and he has done quite well. He is very smart, and super sweet. Whoever has a place for him, we will include his bowls, crate, dog house and toys. If you think you may have room for this sweet boy, or know somehow who does, please let us know.

Baby Love

Today my sweet cousin, and close friend Shannon had her second daughter. At 10lbs 22in, she was not the tiny thing the midwives led on but she looks beautiful! I'm giddy with anticipation of meeting sweet little red-headed Alice Virginia VanHeest.

Feeling the Mommy Takeover

It happened. Today I broke down and bought...a nursing bra.

I hadn't ever even thought of getting to this point but my friends, when you're a busty individual like some ladies (hint, like me) and you are left at 6mo pregnant with only one bra that kind of sort of works, and by works I mean can still hold most of you in place but creates that unpleasant back-fat look and you tend to spill over top at the wrong angle....it's time to accept that you've gone from busty to outrageously chesty. There was a book my friends and I read as teens called "Angus, Thongs & Full Frontal Snogging". In the book, the lead character is a busty girl and is challenged by her friend to see if she can hold a pencil with her "nunga-nungas", only to discover she can hold an entire pencil case. I could probably safely hold my future infant underneath my enormous "nunga-nungas" these days. What scares me even more is the fact that they're not done! I've got months to go, and then they'll swell again once I begin to nurse. Sweet Mercy!

I had been told by several friends that they had been pleased with Target's nursing bra selection, so I tried several on and settled on a sports-bra looking comfy bit with thin straps so I could still where it under normal tops. Yes, I went with comfy. Who are we fooling people? I want comfy, and to be confident it will fit. Plus, I was getting frustrated trying on multiple sizes with no clear indication of which size I really needed now because I've clearly outgrown my 38DD (no, that's not a typo, that's pre-pregnancy, understand my panic now?!) At the end of the day I settled on the Basics Bravado, size XL.

*SIGH*

Six Months & A Prayer

Even though I posted a picture just two weeks ago, here is my 24wks (aka, 6mo) pregnant picture. Adam told me (and there is a good chance he was lying) that he doesn't think I look much more pregnant now then I did at 5mo. I know that my belly is changing shape though because I threw on an old XL Target t-shirt last week, which up to this point has been working as a maternity t-shirt and it came up several inches on my belly. A definite no-go as I am not keen on the white trash pregnant lady look. :) I am seeing the weight gain pretty steadily in my face now though...and was less then pleased with the dark, sickly look under my eyes but I'm pretty sure that's due to my impossible sleep situation as of late.

In other news, Adam has had several interviews in DFW lately and we are praying hard for direction and in the hopes that one of them will pan out. If you have a minute to think of us through out the week, or to keep some fingers or toes crossed, please do! This is something that's very important to us, and causing (me at least) a lot of anxiety. We're ready for a change in the positive, hopefully before little lady comes.

Hope your weekend was relaxing!

Bagel Penicillin

Today I was enjoying my super yummy 'everything' bagel. It was a little too toasted, but I made up for it by burying it in cream cheese. I noticed a funky smell, kind of sweet and sour while I was toasting my bagel, but couldn't spot it and figured the nearby trash might need to go out. Awhile later I decided to enjoy a second bagel treat (don't judge me, I'm pregnant!) and smelled the same gross smell. I happened to look at the bagel I was separating and notice a white fuzzy film around most of the bottom bagel...and all the rest of the bagels in the bag. Yes, I ate an entire moldy, fuzzy, smelly bagel and didn't even notice! *Shudder*

Needless to say I through all the bagels away, tried not to vomit, and ate two containers of yogurt. About thirty minutes later came the stomach cramps and slight nausea. I'm not sure how much of it was mental and how much was a pure physical reaction to the consumed science experiment, but either way it kind of took the sunshine out of my day.

My thoughtful husband sent me this in response to my horrified e-mail:

"The baby wanted mold for breakfast, but there was only one way to trick you into eating it..."

Whirlwind Trip

The weekend before last Adam and I made a whirlwind, last minute trip to DFW for varying reasons and were able to cram in almost all our friends. Having three different social groups there, this is no feat! The time with our friends we left behind when coming to Amarillo was a reminder of how blessed and loved we really are.

Two of our closest friends, and mentors, are moving at the end of the summer to Midland and were determining what was going, what was staying and what was selling. They thought of us as they were sorting through their baby treasures and were kind enough to gift us their "miracle swing", their SnugRider Graco stroller, an extra Graco car seat and base for Adam's car, a bumpo, tummy mat, portable bed for a wee babe, and a Leapster play-table! We were, and are, so grateful and felt so lucky to have our "luxury" items for baby complete!! By the time we left DFW the Fit was filled to every nook and cranny with baby things! Another friend of ours who is in cosmetics gave us a beautiful diaper bag from an organic baby care line filled with goodies! The bag itself is 100% organic cotton and beautiful (pictures to follow) and he really filled it with everything we could think to want, including a rose refresher spray for baby, lol!

We were able to enjoy down time with Adam's sister and her family who we always enjoy seeing and make us a laugh a lot. Sunday I had the chance to surprise friends at a baby shower for a friend from our church. It wasn't until I was hugging the millionth person that I realized just how badly I've missed them. We've been 'campaigning' for a move to somewhere (preferably DC or DFW) since early April, though we were talking about it back in January. Being there feels so right, and so comfortable it seems impossible it's not where we'll end up again. However, I hate to focus in too close and end up disappointing myself...

Our prayers have been set towards certain jobs, but also the broad statement "Save Us." I'm sure it sounds dramatic to some, but the first time we were praying about it, that's what Adam felt compelled to pray, I think it's what we need to ask for. So, if you get a moment and can sneak us in your prayers, please ask that God will take us back to the place we feel so at home and that the doors we're knocking on may open.

That List of Baby Things

Adam and I have written ourselves a list of baby "must haves", things we wanted to make sure we got ourselves during the pregnancy in anticipation of Baby 001's arrival.

The list includes, but is not limited to:

1. Crib

2. Changing Table

3. Dresser

4. Rocking Chair

5. Pack N Play

6. Diapering System (we're doing cloth)

7. Clothes for at least 0-6mo

8. Breast Pump

9. Bedding for crib, pack n play and cover for changing pad

10. Bouncer

11. Swing

12. Books

13. Bath time Necessities

14. Changing Necessities

15. Bottles (at least 3)

Obviously we could get by with less then we put on the list, and there are things we're registered for that would make life easier that we're hoping to get at one point or another. I am excited to announce that a week from six months, all we're missing from our list is our diapering system and the swing! I am a Nervous Nellie by nature, and preparing ahead of time deal by deal makes me feel so much more relaxed and ready. We found an upholstered arm chair rocker this last weekend for the nursery in a soft rose color and it is so, so comfy! The other night I folded clothes and put them in her drawers, arranged pillows and put away things like her carrier, the breast pump, and organized the changing table baskets. While I in no way want her to come too early, I can't help but wish that time would magically fly by and she would be here! Her room already feels so full of life, everything posed waiting for her to be there...what a feeling it will be when she's truly with us!