It's a 'Family Tradition'.....now

What up Cardinal Nation! Today is Opening Day for The St. Louis Cardinals, and in true traditional form~I am off work Today and Tomorrow. You know..a day to party and then a day to recoup.

I haven't missed an Opening Day since I was like 18. I didn't even miss last year when I was pregnant. See?



Side Note #1: That's a Busch N.A. in my hand. A FAKE beer. I was preggers, silly!

Side Note #2: When tagging this post, I realized I already had a 'Cards' label saved...so if you'd like to read more about my Pregnant Party last year..you can read it in my April 13th, 2010 post. Since I can't link to anything, I have to direct you that way.
Side Note #2a SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME link to things. I see the 'insert link' button...but it doesn't put it in my blog! :(

Side Note #3 On the topic of my fun shirt~that child was/is sure to be a fan for life. At 7 weeks old we took him to a game. Let me repeat. S.e.v.e.n. W.e.e.k.s O.l.d. *See photo op below* We did this b/c we had the good fortune of having a Suite to sit in, without having to bother with the elements, or crowded seats. Little Lucky Duck!~~speaking of which, his second game that he will attend before he is ONE is mid-April..and we have Redbird Club tickets for that.~~ Suite and Club tickets?!?!...eh, I don't think you can be spoiled when it comes to sports.



For those wondering about the baby and today--we are having a "Date-Day", and P.J. will be spending the day with his grand-parents.

So anyway...back to the tradition part of this whole blog. I haven't missed one Opening Day since highschool---and my husband and I haven't missed one since we started dating in 2006.....ya know, (or maybe you don't) the year The Redbirds won the World Series!! So, needless to say-we are pumped for this party. A tradition that we've vowed to never miss. Rain or Shine (which are both in the forecast!)

I'll post some pics from the craziness that is sure to exist a tad later.

And Ya, it's THAT important for us to be amongst the sea of Red and White. To party with the diehards. To just be.



Where will you be?

I really annoy myself

Sometimes I want to just shutdown this blog.
Othertimes, I want to learn more about it and actually use it!! I need to learn how to do things like, oh-I don't know...get a cool background, tag my IRL friends in posts, get things to actually italicize when I want them to....etc. etc.)

Either way, I will not cancel it b/c I use it to get quick links to my favorite blogs, so since it's here, nagging away at me Each.And.Every.Day...I think I'm going to try to use it more often.

I've said this since the baby, yes. I know.

I've said it over and over and over again.

I think I'll start small, like one post a week. Whatdayasay?

I'm turning over new leaves each and every day...and this blog is already at my disposal. So it's on.

Happy Birthday to Me from P!!!

So, I had to celebrate my birthday in the hospital, as my main man was born 2 days prior to my b-day. The hubster hooked me up with this cruiser that I've been eyeing for a long time now. I was only able to see it in the catalog and he just brought it home tonight. Check it out.

I'mma be "cruisin' down the street, smokin' endo, sippin' on gin and juice...laaaid back"

Check out the pinkness that this bike is, the flower accents, the dice valve caps, the wide handle bars and of course...the white walls. I'm so excited to pull the little one around on this pimp mobile!!

We shall call you...PJ

Here is the crazy (for us at least) story of our boy's birth.



Saturday evening, the 25th, and continuing into Sunday morning, the 26th, I began experiencing some major contractions. For about 4 hours (10pm-2am) they stayed 10 mins apart, so we decided to just wait them out at home until they got a little closer. By 3am they had spread back out to about 20 minutes apart and I was able to get some much needed sleep.

Sunday morning when I woke up the contractions still felt strong, but not close enough together to worry. I spoke to my OB and she said that I could stay home, go about my day as usual and report to the hospital at 8pm that night as we had scheduled, to be induced.
And that is just what we did...we went about our normal activities. We went to a 5 year old's birthday party and I just dealt with the contractions as nothing were happening. We made it home from the party with a couple of hours to spare, so I showered, and double-checked my hospital bag, packed the car and we hit the road about 7:15pm.

We had high hopes that I wouldn't have to be induced since I was having contractions all weekend. Boy were we right! At exactly 8pm I was hooked up to the fetal monitors. One to monitor my contractions, and one to monitor the baby's heart rate. Not long after being hooked up, the R.N. checked to see how far I was dialated. I was already dialated 5 CM!!!

Not long after that, though, the R.N. and numerous other doctors noticed on the baby's monitor that it's heart rate would drop very low during my contractions, and then raise to normal levels when I wasn't contracting. They decided to lay me all sorts of different ways on the bed to take some pressure off of the ambilical cord. I was also hooked up to an oxygen tank to send the baby more oxygen. They said that my contracting uterus was applying pressure on the ambilical cord, cutting off flow to the baby. Eventually they attached monitors to the baby itself, inside of me, to get a more accurate heart rate.

Pretty damn scary stuff considering we hadn't been at the hospital for longer than an hour and a half and all this was happening so fast. I was given medicine through my IV to stop my contractions to monitor the baby's heart rate on it's own, and everything was fine. It was just when I was contracting that the baby had a tough time recovering.

At some point during this fiasco the nurse told me that my best bet, at the time being, was to get an epidural, considering the fact that I may have to be rushed into an emergency c-section.

So now, at 5 cm dialated, my contractions have been halted, an epidural has been given, and now pitocin was to be given to start my contractions up again. All of course, while the baby's heart rate being monitored by a zillion nurses. (or so it seemed) Patrick and I sat around listening the baby's heart rate at a nice, fast, consistent pace (which at times put us to sleep) only to be terrified when we heard a lag in between beats. Remember, I can not feel my contractions now, so I had no idea when the baby was having a hard time recovering unless I heard the inconsistent beats. Not fun. We would hear the lag, sit up, look at eachother and wait for the dr.'s to come rushing in.

We had to do this for FIVE hours until about 2:30 in the morning when my OB called and gave me two options.

1.) Continue with how things were going, but realizing that the hardest part of birth on a baby is the actual delivery. If it couldn't handle contractions at this point, it would be very stressful during the delivery.

OR

2.) Prepare for a C-Section.

I didn't even ask my husband, I found out later, I just made the executive decision to have a C-section. There was no way I was going to put my baby at anymore risk than it was already enduring.

We called family members at 2:30, telling them to hurry on up b/c the Dr.'s weren't waiting. Daddy got dressed in his hospital scrubs and the Dr.'s upped my epidural dose and off we went to the surgery room. HERE GOES NOTHING!! :)

My arms were laid out flat, pointing directly out. They put warm towels on them, and I was given little nose oxygen plugs. They hoisted a tarp in front of my face and my OB began her procedure. The epidural is no joke. I couldn't stay awake. The lights were too bright, I was struggling to STAY AWAKE DURING THE BIRTH OF MY CHILD. Seriously?? I made daddy talk to me so I could stay awake. He really helped out!

I think the whole C-Section process took about 20-25 minutes. Daddy got to announce the sex of the baby to all of the doctors and to me. We have a baby BOY!!

Picutres were taken, tears were shed. What a surreal experience!
Our perfectly healthy, 8lb 5oz, 20.5 inch baby boy was born at 3:33am!!

We Love You PJ!!

***Editor's Note** My OB had to wait until delivery to inspect what could have been happening to my abilical cord when the baby's heart rate was dropping. She said that my ambilical cord was thin and old (I guess b/c I was 9 days late), and that not everyone experiences the complication that we did, but that it isn't that uncommon.***

32 Weeks and just jammin' out

LOVE my new headphones!! Hope the Baby does too!
*editors note- This pic was taken at 32 weeks, this Friday I'll be 34 weeks.

Back from a hiatus

Hello blog-world. Been awhile, and if anyone missed us, I apologize! There hasn't been a shortage of blog-material happening, that's for sure, but there's been a shortage of time, and a shortage of will. I will recap a few of the highlighted moments that have been happening, but I tell ya what...We may not continue this blog much longer, I think we have more fun living life, rather than writing about it. I suppose if I participated in the 'Wordless Wednesdays' and 'Thankful Thursdays', etc., then I would have a desire to hop online and have some fun...so maybe I'll begin doing that. I just usually take to facebook to quickly summarize each day...so who knows...we will see.

**Two Saturdays ago (5-15-10) we had my baby shower at my mom's house, thrown by my mom, sister, and MIL. It was a success I'd say! (A few pictures to follow) It started at 1pm and ended at 1am. Although, I had to disappear and TRY to nap around 10:30pm, finally getting fed up with my father and his sound system, I left to head home around 12:45. I simply couldn't stay awake any longer!! We got a ton of great presents and I'd say that being surprised by the sex definitely worked in our benefit...we received every big-ticket item that we desired plus a TON (read:FOUR) handmade blankets, 2 diaper cakes, and our personal fav, some little soccer shoes!! All in All, we had a blast and I loved sharing it with our closest friends!

**Patrick recently received a nice raise at work, FINALLY, although that hasn't hindered his efforts to get a different, 9-5 gig...but for the time being, the timing couldn't be better!!!

**I am officially 32 weeks pregnant, which leaves us 8 to go!!! Whoo Hooo!!! I simply cannot wait. It's no secret that for me, pregnancy isn't the funnest event around, so I will be sooo happy when we have our little friend in our hands to hold...but daydreaming, and feeling the little one all day long will suffice for now :)

**We had to call the local police recently for the first time in our lives, over a domestic assault situation courtesy of our White Trash neighbors. Sigh. Knowing a policeman on the force is helpful, but it is RIDICULOUS how much power they really don't have. She won't leave him, or press charges and there's nothing the police can do. Awesome. So happy to be raising a child in this environment. Thankfully they are only renters and I'm working every avenue to have them evicted. Wish us luck.

Okay...I'm thinking that's a nice quick recap of some things that have been happening on the homefront. I will try to keep this blog up-to-date, I know so many of you are anticipating our next entry! HaHa!! Have a great Memorial Day Weekend everyone!! Due to Patrick's work schedule, St. Louis' summer heat wave, and sleeping conditions, we are unable to participate in the camping festivites with our friends this year. We will miss that so much. But however you chose to celebrate, have fun and be careful out there!!!

Some Quick Things

Okay, lots on my mind, and I think I'll feel better getting it out!

~~Tomorrow I am 27 weeks!! That seems so close. And so far away. AAHHH. Also, it seemed to have been going a little quicker before, but now we've just reached a stand-still. I'm guessing that's because we are super anticipative. (Is that a word?) So time always crawls in those situations.

~~Patrick finally felt the baby kick this week! It's so fun. He would leave his hand on my belly in the evenings while winding down and as soon as he'd remove it, BOOM, KICK/PUNCH! And so now he says the baby is stubborn like it's mama. :( :) Whatev!

~~Monday we are sitting with the photographer to finalize our wedding album. Finally! With the selling of the house (read: TRYING) and the baby and yada yada, I never took action, but we've picked our prints and hope to see an almost-finished album next week!

~~My Friend Anna, over-there on the left of the page (Companion to the Wind)...((I can't link!!!) has asked once and reminded me once to get my Ultrasound pics emailed out/posted to our group of friends. DUH! Soooo, I wrote it on a post-it (that I didn't invent) and will make the hubster set up our scanner TONIGHT!!! I will do this mama, promise!!

~~The weather here in the Lou has been amazing, so we really enjoyed ourselves last night BBQ'n with our good friends, Z and N. Over-there on the left of the page (Life of a Flat Foot Floozy)...((I can't link!!--HELP)) I can't wait for more summer BBQ's with good people!

~~I'm trying to get better with leaving blog love (comments) and tonight after work I left TWO comments on TWO blogs, (that I can't link to) and they didn't show up. BUMMER!!!

~~I think that's it...we've got some family-time to be catchin' up on this weekend, so Saturday, My mama's house, then Sunday, His mama's house. I'm sure I'll have a nice blog on Sunday!!

***EDITORS NOTE*** There will be no Ultrasound scanning work tonight. We got kicked outta the house for a showing, so our evening plan was thrown a curveball. Maybe tomorrow!!!

Until Then.

Checkin' In...

Whoa! It's so hard to blog. I didn't realize how busy I am. I suppose if my company didn't block blogger, then I could keep up more. I'm a crappy blogger, and a crappy commenter. I am just crap. ;) My apologies!!

Tonight we relaxed and bbq'd and I was able to take a few more pics of our baby's room's progress. Pictures of the gorgeous view off of our deck are attached too. I Love Spring!!

~~Note: The walking stick that is shown below has a cute-to-us story. I'd like to share. About 2 years ago, Patrick and I were on one of our many walks together through a local park. We had recently experienced a storm that had knocked lots of loose branches off of the trees along the path. I fell in love with one of them. Claiming that I could wrap tons of different types of fabric all around it and make it a festival-walking stick. (I saw some diiirty hippie dude with one at Rothbury and really wanted to make one of my own) Patrick was right when he said it would be too heavy to carry as a walking stick, and he wasn't too keen on the idea of carrying this stick around for the rest of our walk, and though I begged, literally, I got over it. We continued on...no stick in tow.

Two days later I came home to THE STICK. He got in his truck, retraced our path, found my stick and brought it home. (I love him!) So, walking stick idea out...we decided to save the stick and coat the puppy in about 6 coats of polyurithane. (My parents have a log that is also polurithaned that is special to them) Now the stick was perserved for a lifetime. But we didn't know what to do with it, so it was a corner piece in our living room for awhile. Now that the baby's sex is going to be a surprise, and we've decided on a Nature Theme for it's room, the stick makes perfect sense to be a staple in that room. Check out how the hubster purchased some twine, and hung this baby...for the baby!!

Gorgeous Spring Afternoon here in the Midwest!

I am a Fool

Happy April Fool's Day ya'll!! I love love love this day. Or at least I used to when I was younger. It feels I'm too busy for such non-sense now. Ba-humbug! I didn't even think of anyone to punk today. Makes me sad. I was totally aware of jokes being played on other people, so it's not as if I just 'forgot' about the day.

Perhaps I just have too much trust placed in my husband.

Dumb.

I need to fill you guys in real quick on what the topic of our texts is about exactly, and because I know that none of you know who Gary is, I will explain. Gary is a mouse that Patrick found in his shop's trashcan a little over a week ago. (Patrick names all animals Gary, as a funny aside). Anyhow, Somehow this critter managed to get onto Patrick's workbench and fall into the trashcan. Patrick heard some rumbling around and found Gary. They hung out all day, and Patrick even fed his little buddy some chips that he had for lunch. (Sad, I know) Anyhow, at the end of the day, Patrick freed his little buddy in some brush behind his building and that was the last we'd know of Gary.

Until today.
Here are the text messages exchanged between Patrick and I this morning.

Patrick: Gary's back, and he brought a friend.

Me: OMG! TWO in the shop? GROSS. R u sure it's the same one?

Patrick: How am I supposed to know?

Me: Well u said. You can't have them run around ur store, customers will freak out! Maybe now you will clean that shop.

Patrick: Suck it. They're in the trashcan.

Me: Unreal. How do they get in, and then go to the trashcan? Weird. BUT what if they run out while someones in the store? What if they make babies?

Patrick: I need mousetraps.

Me: Don't kill 'em.

Patrick: Oh, let me get my flute and I'll serinade them out like the pied piper.

Me: He He.

FIFTEEN MINUTES PASS.

Patrick: I smashed them with a hammer.

Me: OMG. You r evil and disgusting. I can't believe it.

Me: Swear?

Patrick: mm hmmm

Patrick: APRIL FOOL'S! HA HA HA HA HAAAA!

Me: OMG. I hate you even more. At least I have a blog topic now, butt.

Patrick: I let them outside. But if I see more than 3 at once i'm getting traps.

Me: Fair.



AND THAT, my friends, is a normal day at the office between he and I. I love this kid...but he gets me everytime.

Anyone have a funny April Fool's story--I'd love to hear it!!

Body Movin' Body Movin'

I can't help but sing this Beastie Boys song while FEELING MY BABY MOVE.
Sing with me! Baby Movin' Baby Movin'.
Catchy huh?
I sure think it is!!

Finally...I'll be 22 weeks tomorrow, but at 21.5 weeks into my first pregnancy I felt my love move. I scare when I can't feel it, but then I realize the poor thing's gotta sleep too! I am convinced though, while singing to Steve Miller on my way home from work, that it was dancin' a bit.

Baby Movin' Baby Movin'

Baby Prep!!!

Well, it's been a crazy-busy week, but we are making some progress I tell ya!!

To catch some of you up to speed, our condo has been on the market for 6 mos with no luck in selling. :( We placed it on the market before we got pregnant, with the hope of selling in time to start our new family in a new home. Well. The. Market. Sucks. We aren't in a terrible situation b/c I purchased a two-bedroom before we got engaged, so there is room for the baby and us. I just want a yard, and a basement, and a garage, etc. We want a home, not a house. But if we have to raise our baby for a year or so in this house, I'll be damned if we don't make it a home. The current plan is to keep it on the market for another 6 mos and then if it doesn't sell, take it off and enjoy our new family for a year, then put it back on. Sigh.

Okay, now the fun stuff. We received an antique-like Radio Flyer Red Wagon about a month back. My incredible husband decided to clean this puppy up, get rid of the rust and give it a new look. He did amazing, I am so proud of him.

Next, my Aunt and Uncle gifted us a Circa 1984 Bassett babyroom set. Complete with two dressers, (one with a mirror), a changing table and the crib. I'm in love. They are my godparents, and I babysat in the summers for my two cousins who both used this set. It's just neat all around.

NOTE** I have to brag a bit on my husband. Watching his handy-work in action, the care in his hands, and the smile on his face when doing all of these projects this week has made me so damn proud to go through life with him. I knew him while I was in a previous relationship and if I wasn't with him now, I would be so sad. I'm very lucky.

So without further ado, here are of some of the projects that we've completed this past week. I would have added some before's of the wagon, b/c it was a mess of dirt and rust and spider eggs, but blogger is saying I'm over my limit, so try to use your imagination! ~~And a little shout-out to my Brother and Sister and Parents for helping move the stuff and assemble all day yesterday. I got a pic of the 'help' in progress--and my bro set the mirror up so I could be in it too!! Aww! Also, the changing table isn't in the pictures b/c of bloggers size problem. Bummer!

Inept: My feeling this afternoon.

I'm going to begin this blog by quoting verbatim an email that I sent today to our dear friend, Nikki. ("Life of a Flat Foot Floozy" blog over there on the right)((don't yet understand the linking aspect of Blogger.))

"Oh my Gosh.

I just went to babys r us to take a gander.
I want to cry.
Mental Overload.
How in the world did you know where to begin?

I'm gonna freak out. AHHHHHH"

And that pretty much sums up my afternoon.
:)

Nikki did, however, calm my anxiety by quickly replying back offering to go with the both of us to help. And I quickly accepted. I love you, Nikki.

You know, We LOVED registering for our wedding. We got to play with the scanner thing, have eyes bigger than our wallet, and have FUN...we simply had confidence in this field. I was shopping for my home, on someone else's dime. ;) How hard could this be? It wasn't. It was fabulous.

I suppose the stress comes into play with this registry b/c it's for another little person who will NEED the junk I register for. Not WANT....NEED. I went online today to babys r us to take a look around, to get familiarized...but then I quickly clicked the X in the top right hand corner of my screen and took 3 deep breaths. Then read about Cardinals Spring Training.

At least I have my stroller picked out.
Something I need not register for as my Mom is gifting this.

Hurrumpf.

Day Off

Ahhh, a day off. Went to the dentist this morning, got my toofers in check. Scheduled my next appt for after the baby is born...2nd thing planned for after-the-fact! Means it's not too, too far away!

Not sure what to do with my day--I have some pictures I want to take for some baby keepsakes, a nice big-fat healthy turkey sandwich made for lunch, perhaps I'll start my 3rd book in as little as many weeks...just Veg out and casually accomplish things~~it's nice that way!

~Editor's note~ I have a afternoon apps scheduled with my girlfriend Tiffany and then dinner scheduled with a couple that we are good friends with....not too bad of a day I'd say!

Hope everyone's enjoying their Monday too!

Kodachrome

Another snow-covered start this morning.
Driving to work.
9 Miles from home.
Hardly long enough for more than 3 songs.
Last song that pops on.~~Kodachrome~~Paul Simon
Make my day I tell ya!!
Stayed in the car until it finished.
Late arrival to my office.
B.F.D.
All kinds of pumped.
Dancing and Drumming along.
Upbeat song!
Daydreamin' of dancing with our baby, at our cabin.
21 weeks left and counting!!
Does this song make yo botty move too?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SExsuRIGAlg


Here are they lyrics to follow along with! If you really research this song, there are million different interpretations...which I LOVE about music!!~~Please listen!!


When I think back
On all the crap I learned in high school
It's a wonder
I can think at all
And though my lack of edu---cation
Hasn't hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall

Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, Oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don't take my Kodachrome away

If you took all the girls I knew
When I was single
And brought them all together for one night
I know they'd never match
my sweet imagination
everything looks WORSE in black and white

Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, Oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don't take my Kodachrome away

Mama don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama don't take my Kodachrome away

Mama don't take my Kodachrome
Mama don't take my Kodachrome
Mama don't take my Kodachrome away

Mama don't take my Kodachrome
Leave your boy so far from home
Mama don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama don't take my Kodachrome

Mama don't take my Kodachrome away

Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes (turn and face the strain)

I have requested 2 weeks of vacation prior to my 13 week maternity leave, to prepare my house, my husband, my family, and myself for what's about to rock our world!! (Well, not "about" in a sense of current time, but you get the point.) I have been at my current job for 10 years as of June. I get mad vacation, and mad maternity~~loves it!!

Anyhow.

I am so super-excited to be out of the corporate world for a few months, that I have a list of to-do's for myself, to be accomplished right before, or for those that have to wait, for right after the baby is born.

Here we go!~and not particularly in this order!

1.) Hello Mystic Tans! Never have had this done, I usually bake myself~but that's not healthy. So spray me already!!

2.) Fixin' to get this mop on my head straightened, dyed summin' crazy and cut, ya hur me?

3.) I haven't decided on the exact colors yet, but I am getting 3 different colored extensions attached to my dome, all over...(did I mention I am off work for like THREE months?)

4.) I will be getting two new tattoos. Yes hubby, I said two. One of my new family name's motto, (in Latin of course)-(to match my maiden name one)...and the second in relation to my baby somehow. That one I haven't quite decided on, but it shall come to me, I just know it. This will put my tat count to 7. Good thing I get addicted to PERMANANT things, eh?

5.) One not-so-permanant form of expression I will be delving into is Henna. I've already purchased the kit, and chosen my artist, (rock it sis!). This will be to decorate my belly once I'm huge and not feeling so pretty!

~~There's a zillion other things rushing through my head, like scrapbooks for the baby when it arrives, etc...but I figured I would post the things I am going to do for myself, before I put my needs and wants on the back burner!!

I smell Spring in the air, and it reminds me that there are some changes-a-comin'. These days, that's all I want!

Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes!!!!

A Few of My Favorite Things...

Had an extra-large slice of Drama Pie this afternoon.

Sooooo

-When the dog bites

-When the bee stings

-When I'm feeling saaaad

-I just simply remember

-My favooorite thingsssss

And then I don't feel so baaaaaad.