Inner Joy

Day 3 of Moriah's challenge...................What brings you inner joy?

Every night snuggling with Ashlyn at bedtime.

Winning the football pool at work, especially since I'm the only girl. LOL!

Getting flowers for no reason at all.

Finding extra money that you forgot you even had.

Getting belly kisses from both Britt and Ashlyn.

Having someone let me go in front of them in line at the grocery store since I only have 3 items compared to their 50.

The first night of sleep on clean 800 thread count sheets.

A compliment from someone out of the blue.

Bargain shopping!

Coming home from work to a clean house.

Kobes.....YUM!

My bare feet in the sand with a magazine in one hand and a frozen drink in the other.

Having a girls night out.

Hearing Ashlyn's laugh.

Sunsets at the beach.

Getting a phone call from a long lost friend.

Seeing your baby smile for the first time.

The list could go on and on, but these are just a few of the things that bring me inner joy.

Be You!

Gosh.........this is a tough one Moriah!

I am a neat freak who tries to be messy in order to get over my obsession with cleaning. And it's not necessarily the cleanliness that gets me fired up, it's the tidiness and things being out of order and that drive me up the wall! For example............I cannot sit down and relax at night if there is an object, like a toy or even a stray leaf carried in from outside, laying in the middle of the floor. I never used to be like this, but I have transformed into this obsessive person after having Ashlyn. I, unlike most, strive to be messy instead of clean. What is up with that? It's humorous to me now, but once I get home in the eveinings I am overwhelmed with STRESS if one thing is not put back into it's original spot, or an empty plastic cup has not been thrown in the trash. I literally can't relax until I've straightened the house up and swiffered the floors. So I'm clean, and I'm good at it, but I don't want to be SOOOO obsessed with things that I get my panties all in a wad over toys not being picked up immediately after Ashlyn's pulled them out. I need to get a grip, especially with a little boy on the way! This little guy is going to ROCK MY WORLD if I can't get over this little cleaning obsession before he arrives. LOL!
There are many many other things that make up who I am, but right now at this very moment, this is a huge part of me that I'm trying to overcome. So, today I'm a neat freak, but hopefully down the road I can turn into that messy person who drives me batty today! =)

Speaking of inspiration................

Lately I've been watching the show Jon & Kate plus 8. Have any of you ever seen it? That lady is a true inspiration to all mothers in this world! The show is definitely one of my favorites; I'm so addicted! They have twin 6 year olds and sextuplets that are 3! I don't know how parents of twins do it, but could you imagine having SIX 3 YEAR OLDS plus a set of twins!!??!!?? I mean this lady is a true SUPERMOM! She not only takes care of the kids 24/7, but she also does all that's possible to ensure that they have the healthiest and happiest life possible. She is such an inspiration to me. I myself find it hard to stay organized with one child, let alone 8. She cuts coupons and saves close to $100 each week on groceries. She spends close to $100-$150 dollars a week on food to feed the entire family of 10. I spend close to $100 dollars a week for just Britt, Ashlyn, and myself. Not only does she save money but she tries to buy the healthiest food possible for her family. She buys as much organic food as possible and cooks for her family EVERYDAY! The family do as much together as possible. They even take all 8 kids out to go Christmas shopping. I nearly lose my mind if I take Ashlyn shopping with me even if it's a short trip to Target and back. I HAVE NO CLUE HOW SHE DOES IT! She is AMAZING! If you have never watched the show you should definitely check it out.

INSPIRED

I have been inspired by my wonderful friend Moriah (you may want to view her blog first http://www.moriahwedmonson.blogspot.com/ ) to blog each day up until Christmas. Each day she's going to post a different topic or different questions. This is going to be a tough, but fun challenge. Here goes nothing..........

I am learning more about life every day throug the greatest teacher ever.......my daughter.
I love my family.
I yearn to be the grown up that I've always hoped to be.
I feel excited about our growing family.
I understand that the house is never going to stay clean all of the time. I am the type that is usually right behind Ashlyn picking up any and every mess that she makes. What's the point? It just gets messy again. Why not let her enjoy her toys and enjoy her childhood instead of worrying about the house being tidy at all times. I want her to remember her childhood by playing with her toys and making messes, not remembering that she couldn't make a mess because the house had to be spic and span at all times.
I can't stand whiney children! (I'm with you on this one Moriah!) This is why I want the elf from the post below! =)
I trust too much.
I depend on people way too much! I would like to be more independent.
I show my emotions way too easily.
I think I'd like to get my real estate license.
I believe in God.
I don't relax nearly enough.
I could eat Italian food EVERY DAY!
I should bite my tongue instead of trying to argue with Britt all of the time.
I really want to finish school. Hopefully I'll be able to achieve this goal!
I see so much of myself in Ashlyn.
I hear Ashlyn whining as I type. =O
I smell a clean little girl. Ashlyn just had a bath and smells like her berry shampoo.
I touch my growing belly everyday. I guess it's a pregnancy thing.
I can do anything as long as I believe in myself.
I did turn into my mother.
I do thrive to be the perfect mother and the perfect housewife.
I am looking forward to adding onto my family. Adding a little boy to the mix is perfect! Life is good!

BRILLIANT!!!!

Why didn't I think of this? It is such a wonderful idea. I think that it would work perfect in my house since the only way that my 3 year old will behave is if I threaten to take her toys away, or better yet, now that it's Christmas I can threaten her with Santa. Love it!!!


The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition™ is an activity the entire family will enjoy. Based on the tradition Carol Aebersold began with her family in the 1970s, this cleverly rhymed children's book explains that Santa knows who is naughty and/or nice because he sends a scout elf to every home. During the holiday season, the elf watches children by day and reports to Santa each night. When children awake, the elf has returned from the North Pole and can be found hiding in a different location. This activity allows The Elf on the Shelf to become a delightful hide-and-seek game.

http://www.elfontheshelf.com/#

HILARIOUS!!!

GIRLS...................YOU HAVE TO CHECK THIS OUT!!!!!!!!!!

I haven't laughed this hard in a long time!!! ENJOY!

=)

http://www.jibjab.com/starring_you/receipt/3263169

Ashlyn's School Pictures

Oh BOY!!!

Yep............that right.................we're having a little boy! We are thrilled beyond belief! Not that we wouldn't be thrilled if it were a girl, but adding a little boy to the picture makes it feel like the all american family. =) Honestly I would have been happy if it were a boy or a girl, but I know that deep down, even though he would never admit it, Britt wanted a little boy to play ball with and do all of the father son activities. Now Ashlyn and I can have our shopping outings while Britt and the little guy go golfing together. We are ECSTATIC! And Ashlyn, well she's been saying all along that we're having her a baby brother, and she was right! Now she keeps asking when "Zippy" is going to be here. She can't wait to meet her new brother! I've asked her what she thought about names other than Zippy, but she told me, "NO! We're naming him Zippy! That's his name!". All I have to say is BLESS HIS HEART if he gets stuck with Zippy for the rest of his life. =)

The baby measured about a week further along again. On Friday the baby measured 19 weeks and 4 days, so we're at the half way point. I can't believe how fast this pregnancy has flown by! Now we have the nursery to decorate, so I'm sure that the next few weeks will go by in the blink of an eye.

WARNING: MAJOR VENT SESSION IN PROGRESS!!!

Let me start off by saying - GET YOUR CRAP TOGETHER PEOPLE!!!! I am referring to my OBGYN office. First off they give me the run around on my blood pressure medicine. Then I have to do a 24 hour urine sample. This means that from my first pee in the morning to my first pee the next morning I have to catch the sample and put it into a gallon jug, store it in the refrigerator (I know.......YUCK!!!), and then bring the sample with me to my next visit. This particular lab only has to be done for people with high blood pressure, and since I have a history of high blood pressure, I was one of the lucky people who get to go through this lovely ordeal! It's not that bad, just more of an inconvenience than anything else, but after you've done it once you don't want to have to do it again. At my last appointment the nurse called me at work after my appointment because she FORGOT to tell me that my 24 hour urine sample came back incomplete...................whatever that means.......................so I would have to do it all over again. And by the way, "we need you to come back and pick up another container and have it sent back to the doctors office before your next appointment so that we can have your results back by your next appointment", which is this Friday. Since I work all the way in Denver I had Mom pick the container up on Friday, did the 24 hour thing on Saturday/Sunday, and had my lovely husband Britt carry my pee back up to the doctor's office this morning for me. Britt calls me this morning and says - "you're not going to be happy about this, but you have to be at the doctor's office no later than 4:30 today to have blood drawn." WHAT!?!?!?! They couldn't find my bloodwork, if they even did it, to go along with the urine sample that has to be sent in to the lab! UUUUGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am FURIOUS!!!! Why did nobody tell me until TODAY that I have to have more blood drawn TODAY????? I have already been poked and prodded about 5 times in the past 3 months from these people! So this week I will have to go to the doctor this afternoon for MORE bloodwork that I didn't even know about, go Thursday to a neurologist for my headaches, and go back to the OBGYN on Friday for my ultrasound. Get it together people!!!!!!!

Pregnancy/Baby Update

I went back to the doctor on Friday. The baby's heart-rate was 140. It's getting a little lower each visit. We find out next Friday what we're having! HOW EXCITING!!!!!! I probably won't be able to sleep the night before due to the anticipation. I can't wait to pick out colors, nursery bedding..................that is if we have a boy. If it's a girl she's going to get shafted because she is going to get all of Ashlyn's hand me downs. The lucky boy will get all new everything! As for the names I think that we finally have them picked out.........for now anyway. They have a great possibility of changing before the baby arrives. =) For a girl - Chesney Adeline (not quite sure of the exact spelling yet) Cody, and for a boy - Walker Reid Cody.

The doctor measured my belly and told me that it was just the right size. Britt and I both chuckled. I told her that it was just funny to me because I feel like a cow. It doesn't help that EVERYONE, whether I know them or not, continue to tell me how big I am. I constantly hear - "That's going to be one big baby!", "Are you sure that there's only 1?", "Are you sure that they don't have your due date wrong?"!!! Now, coming from my friends and family it's ok to hear these comments, but to hear them on a daily basis from strangers and people who hardly know me, well it's really starting to give me a complex! I KNOW THAT I'M BIG! I wasn't this big when I was 6 months pregnant with Ashlyn! Give me a break people! I can't help that I am showing alot sooner since it is my second pregnancy! At least that's what all of the doctors keep telling me, and it makes me feel somewhat better about being so big. =)

This pregnancy has been wonderful besides the dreadful headaches that I've been experiencing. I talked to the doctor again on Friday about the frequent headaches and how terrible they are. She referred me to a neurologist. I have an appointment on November 15th. Hopefully we can find out the cause of these nuisances and help me find a way to keep them at bay. I really don't know why I haven't been referred to a specialist before, especially with my history of headaches the past couple of years. It's about time!

Things are good at home. Ashlyn is loving school. It's so funny that the same girl who would wake up crying and begging not to go to school now wakes up on the weekends crying and begging to GO to school! Too funny how things work out. It was hard on all of us in the beginning, but it was so worth all of the struggles in the morning those first few weeks. I can tell that she has already learned so much. Her teachers are WONDERFUL! I couldn't ask for a better preschool for her!

Ashlyn is looking forward to meeting her baby brother or sister. She went with us to the doctor on Friday and got the hear the baby's heartbeat. She's named the baby Zippy, and that name has stuck for about 5 weeks now, so I have a feeling that no matter if it's a boy or girl and no matter what the real name is, it will be baby Zippy to her. We've even starting referring to it as baby Zippy since we don't know the sex yet.

Can you believe that Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner? Time really does fly! I plan to have all of my Christmas shopping finished up by the beginning of December. Yeah right! I want to go to the Gaffney outlets one weekend and knock out numerous names on my list. If anyone wants to go with me I'd love to have the company. I'll probably leave Ashlyn at home so that we can shop til we drop. These outlets are the best around!

I'll close for now. I better get back to work........uggghhhh! Ta Ta until next time.