8 months! Wowzers!

Well, as much as I don't want to post any pictures of me at 8 months pregnant, I feel like it would be unfair to those who haven't seen me in all my glory. Ok, its not that bad, but check out the Incredible Hulk hands that I'm sporting. That's the best part.

Other than a little bit of swelling and a horrible pain under my rib, I feel fine. Everything is still going well and we are 7 weeks away from our due date. It gets more and more exciting every week. I forgot to mention that after the big weekend of baby showering and family visiting, I did have to wear a surgical shoe on my left foot because I had a stress fracture. It really was no big deal, it is already off, but my feet were under a lot of stress from all my extra weight. My poor little feet aren't used to carrying around that much person.

Sara Kristine

Happy Birthday Sara!!!

Well, 33 years ( I think that's how old she is) ago on this day, my sister Sara was born into this World. Most people think that we look like twins, but I think it is just the red hair. Yes, she was lucky enough to be born a red head just like me. We are a rare kind and Sara is even more rare than just being a red head. She has always been the one in our family to be the most laid back and would go along with anything as long as it included the rest of us. She is funny, smart, beautiful, and some times really full of bullshit. She loves to give people a hard time, and she loves to be given a hard time.

Sara and I always had a special bond. The four of us sisters had such close relationships, but they are all different. I am the youngest and Sara loved to recruit me to join in on any of her wild adventures that usually included tormenting Tara. Of course that resulted in a lot of beatings from Tara when Sara wasn't around to protect me. I loved hanging out with Sara though. I loved being her sidekick. I loved the thought of us two redheads sticking together to act out mischeviousness. Although, I would still consider myself a very good child.

Well, Sara has grown up now and is a Mom to Madison Riley. She has raised Madison for the last 13 years by herself and has done an amazing job. Her parenting skills might be different from some of the rest of the World's, but it works for her and for Madison. Madison is a good hearted child who loves everyone and forgives everyone at the drop of a pin. She is very well behaved for a 13 year old and has stayed out of trouble, except for talking a lot in school. No one can take credit for her besideds Sara. They have fun together and laugh a lot. They have been through some really hard times because of Sara's unexplainable health problems. Despite all that, they are both happy and healthy.

At one point, we didn't know if Sara would make it through her many surgeries and hospital visits, but she did. We all prayed and prayed that God would allow her to stay here with us and with Madison and now I am still so thankful for that. I love being around Sara. We have so much fun. We don't talk about serious issues too often, but most of the time that is a good break. We try to enjoy one another's personalities and forget that the World or we might not be perfect. There is plenty of time to discuss everyone's faults and how someone else feels about our faults. We laugh and most of the time, we laugh really hard. When Sara isn't laughing, I know something is wrong. I would never want her to be anyone but herself. She's not just funny though, she is giving and would step in front of a bus for any of us. She would drop anything she was doing if I called and told her I needed her. She loves her family and is very loyal to us all.

I miss you and would give anything to be with you on your birthday Sara. Have a great day and know that you are so special to me and to so many. People with personalities like yours don't get told that as much as some others, but its true. I respect you and love you very much.

She is going to hate me for putting up this picture, but I love it. It shows her silly side and that is what I love her most for.

Happy 1st Birthday BB

Today is Miss Betty Beatrice's birthday. Betty (BB) turns one year old today. She is the first child of my cousin, Grace and her husband Justin. Grace and I grew up together and were best friends throughout our whole lives as well as family. Now, she has a one year old and I have one on the way. Time really does get away from you. I really wish that our two daughters could run the streets together like we did, but situations are different and we will get them together as much as possible.

BB you have your whole life ahead of you and I know you may look a lot like your daddy, but believe me, if you are as half as intelligent as your mommy you will do great things in life. Both of your parents are fun, creative, generous, loving, and good people. You really have no idea how much love you will get from the two of them, as well as the rest of your loving extended family. I know how great your mommy's family is and I am sure Daddy's family is just as great! I am sorry we couldn't make it for your birthday party, but maybe next year we will bring your cousin, baby girl Beckwith, to your 2nd birthday. Happy Birthday BB!

Birthdays this Week

Well, I had a very busy last week and super busy weekend. So I have some catching up to do on my birthdays.

Happy Birthday Kam!!

First, Monday was Kam DeLeon's birthday!!!! Happy Birthday Kam and I am sorry this wasn't up on Monday. I know you know that our parents and sister Tara were still here on Monday, so hopefully you will forgive the tardiness of my posting.

I know this was Kam's first birthday as a Mommy. I bet that is a birthday to remember. I hope that you and Terri and Vin had a wonderful day together and that you got some much needed sleep for your gift. From what I can tell, you are doing an amazing job at taking care of Vin. He is growing so much and getting more and more handsome in every picture. Kam has always been so thoughtful and such a fun loving person. She is always down to try new things and open herself up to anyone that comes around her. She has a great smile and uses it a lot.

We have been "sisters" for I think 13 years. When I say "sisters" I mean we weren't born sisters, but our parents married and then we became step-sisters. I decided this weekend that I don't like using the term step, but it does help people understand the dynamics of your family. The point is: I don't know everything there is to know about Kam and vis versa, but we have still shared a lot and our parents are so good about getting all of us together for family time. I am sure as our lives continue we will learn more and more about one another. I would have to say that Kam is one of the most daring and creative people I have ever known and I respect her for always pursuing her goals. Happy Birthday Kam!!

Kam, Terri, and Vin

I hope the baby likes pink

Well, we finally started the preparing of the baby room. I had initially wanted to do a non traditional color, but Kevin really wanted to have the room pink. He thinks that every little girl deserves to have one pink room until they decide they don't want pink anymore. Well, he sure got his pink room and now he probably is rethinking that decision. I am sure that he was hoping for a more pastel pink, but I really don't like pastel pink and I picked the color.

I admit, it is a little overwhelmingly pink, but it is for our little, pink princess. As a redhead, I have never owned anything pink, not a notebook, not a shirt, nothing. I never thought pink and red hair went well together. I hope that if our little one does have red hair that she won't feel the same way her Mom does until she is a lot older. I don't want to have to repaint the room for a while. So here is a sneak peek of the paint job.

4th of July

Kevin and I had a small cookout in our backyard full of fun, food, friends, and fireworks. I took the opportunity to get a friend to take a picture of Kevin and myself so everyone could see how happy we both our to be in our 6th month of pregnancy.

Everything is still going really well and we are just trying to prepare for our baby girl by buying her furniture, cleaning out the house, and staying as healthy as we can. Of course Kevin and I both took advantage of the holiday and ate hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans, and Popsicles. I sure do love Popsicles in the summer. I actually found some that were sugar free so I don't feel as guilty about eating 2 a day. It's hot, gimme a break, they're sugar free I said.

I had to at least buy some sparklers so Natalie, Jennifer, and I could spell our names in flames.

What to Expect When Expecting: Short version

I have decided I am going to write a book that is a really short and to the point version of what women should expect when they are pregnant. The other books are helpful, but I really have found it unnecessary to read why I have all the ailments that I do. The point is that most women will have these symptoms and there is really nothing you can do about it. So, do you really need to know why your head hurts for 3 weeks or is it ok just to know that it is normal?

Here is my book up to the beginning of the 3rd trimester:

First trimester

• You will be so tired that you wonder what is wrong with you. Then one day you realize that something might be happening. Oh, I might be pregnant.
• You feel nauseated, some women actually vomit, some don't.
  
• You are so hungry all the time, especially in the middle of the night. Of course you are so tired that it takes the pain of hunger to actually get you out of bed to get anything to eat.
  
• You are irritable from being hungry and tired. You also might not feel like yourself and wonder if you will ever feel like yourself again. You will, on occasion.
• Your husband or partner will want to tell everyone you know that the two of you are having a baby. They will most likely want to tell everyone separately in a special way and you are way to irritable to do that. Then you are more irritated.
• You begin to outgrow your clothes and wonder if it is really time to move on to maternity clothes. You should eventually just break down and buy some, you'll feel much better in them.
  
• Did I already mention that you will be tired, you will, so tired.
  
• The first ultrasound is exciting, but it will be uncomfortable and painful. Especially for husbands. However, you do get to see your little peanut, sweet pea, or whatever you choose to refer to it by the way it looks.
  

Second Trimester:

• You will slowly begin to feel better and more like yourself. You might actually be in good enough of a mood to be excited when people want to talk about you having a baby.
• Heartburn begins, even if you have never had heartburn before, you will most likely have heartburn now. It is very easy to know when you have heartburn. Tums are wonderful and they have calcium.
• You might experience very painful headaches for a long period of constant time. Tylenol doesn't seem to help, but a little caffeine goes a long way. Sure, you might not be drinking caffeine, but after 4 days of having a headache, it will be very helpful.
• Other people's opinions. That is a big one. They will tell you what you should and shouldn't do and they will tell you if they think you are "too big" or "too small" for you stage in your pregnancy. Your doctor is the one you should trust and listen to. People should really mind their own business and think about whether they are too small or too big and whether or not they are eating healthy.
  
• Your baby is growing and so is your ass, thighs, stomach, and chin. It's going to happen even if you workout, watch what you eat, or are "thin". It is a part of the process of the miracle of birth.
  
• Back ache, feet ache, leg ache, and so forth are normal. As well as a little bit of swelling at the end of the day. There might also be parts of your body that have a tingly sensation, known to my doctor as a "hot spot". I don't know what it is, but it is annoying. I think it has something to do with nerves and your baby pushing on them.
• You get to find out the sex of the baby. It is very special to see your baby again and how much he or she has grown. Hearing the heartbeat is also very special. These things really help to outweigh the annoying symptoms.
  
• You start thinking about all the things you have to do to prepare for a baby. It can seem overwhelming, but take it one step at a time and it will be fine.
  

So, that is my book thus far. I know that it will probably change women's lives all around the World. I have finally found my purpose!!!! Thank goodness, I am exhausted.