26 weeks!!

I’m officially 6.5 months pregnant as of yesterday.  I’m one week closer (96 days to be exact, ) to meeting our precious little baby boy. This is been the most incredible journey of my life.
Here are my likes and dislikes about pregnancy:


 I dislike that my belly button is completely pushed out, I love not having to suck it all in when we take pictures, I love that I don’t have to do crunches every am and pm, I love that I can eat a bowl of ice cream and not feel guilty, I dislike not being able to drink tons of caffeine and alcohol lol.   I love every little movement, kick and flutter, I love my new bigger boobies, I dislike my limitation of clothing, I love the way my hair and skin look, I dislike not being able to tan myself adequately, I love how it brings Jonathan and I together so much more… Having a baby is truly a miracle and we are so blessed. I'm going to try to savor every single minute of these next three months. 


I have started a registry at Target.com but I need to get in the store and do some hands on research.  Our bedding is at USABaby.com and I'm hoping my parents will splurge for some of it.  It's EXPENSIVE having a baby!  We aren't 100% sure on what furniture to get yet.  The original stuff we picked out is still our absolute favorite.  It's such great quality!!  However, we are young and although not exactly broke we aren't just flushed with extra cash either.  We may end up getting some furniture that's a little less expensive like from Target.  We shall see.   I want to paint the baby's room blue soon.  I CANNOT WAIT TILL WE HAVE THE ROOM READY!!!!!!  It's going to make me one super happy mommy!! 

The weekend ahead!!

Thank you Jesus, it's finally Friday.   After having a carnival (I should call it a circus) at work today along with it being my co-worker's birthday and going for lunch (Urban Flats), I feel pretty drained.  I am still very excited though at heart!!  We may be camping Saturday night!  YAY!!! I thought I was too pregnant to camp but my friend Dana and her parent's have a nice, big camper with *air conditioning* and a flat screen lol.  Wohoo. We will be located at the lakeside and grilling out.  Sounds wonderful to me!  It all depends on if it rains though!! 


Here's an Urban Flats' flatbread:  ((Yumm!! I had the Buffalo Chicken one))

I also have my great friend Hellen's baby shower Saturday!!!!!  I am so happy for Hellen.  She is 2 months farther along than me and her son's name is Beckham.   We have already planned the best friendship that Bechham and our baby will have! 

Tonight my friend Jenny is coming by the house and I am making homemade enchiladas.  Nina came by last night and saw our place and hung out for a few.  She and I are going to meet up sometime hopefully next week as she needs to go over a guest list, etc. for one of my baby showers.  She is throwing me one.  


Love my wonderful friends!! 

HUMP DAY

I have sent out about 70 announcements so far..  we ordered 100.  The idea was to mainly send them to our family and a couple of close friends of the family.  Jonathan has not given me all of his family's addresses so there are some people who still need them.   I may end up re-ordering a couple depending on if we need more.  I don't want to not have enough to send out and at the same time I still have plenty left but I have no idea who we skipped on Jon's side.  I do know about 60 of the 70 were my people lol.. so i'm assuming we have a lot on his side missing.  

I just got off the phone with Lebanon Heating and Air.  I was trying not to scream from my cubicle because a technician that I ordered to come out to one of our stores came and was RUDE and also walked on our roof, said the units were too old to fix, and WALKED OUT THE DOOR!  He hasn't called me with an estimate to replace or anything!   I demanded that a manager call me back and that I WOULD NOT PAY for a service call for that sort of service and we will not ever use their company again for any of our stores.   I was FUMING!!    I do not need this stress.  Seriously.  There are a few more details to the rude part and it would take too long to explain.

We went to dinner last night at Mafiaoza's with my best friend Lauren and her boyfriend Josh, another couple Natalie and her husband, and another girl..   it was fun!!!   We spend so little there since it's 2 for 1 on drinks and slices of pizza.   Our entire dinner was $15 even after Jonathan had 4 beers and we had 4 slices of pizza...   (Jon-3 Julia-1) 

It's so gloomy outside.  I hate that.

It's EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION WEEK at work and I joined the committee does the party planning, etc at work.  It's called DEEC.  Today my assignment was for 45 minutes I picked up balloons for the balloon grams people can send to each other at work.   I received one today from my boss.  :)   I also received a CUUUTE gift from my friend Jenn at work.  It's a fortune cookie basket that says "I'm so fortunate to have you".  

Oh yeah... any my hot water heater isn't working.  I called my landlord and he said he was trying to get someone out there this evening.   ALSO- at work we have a new security system installed for the entire corporate office so since we are the department that handles that we have had to get everyone a security badge so they can get in and out the doors STARTING TOMORROW.  WELL, certain people who are contract employees have to have their supervisor e-mail a request for them a badge since they are not on payroll & not on our list.  I have people e-mailing me 4pm the day before this goes into efffect (after we have been assigning badges ALL DAY today and yesterday) requesting a badge.  I seriously do not appreciate this!!    They aren't getting one today..   oh well..   Why do I so often feel tempted to teach people a lesson?  Maybe I shoulda been a police officer or a prosecutor instead of a Facilities Coordinator.  lol

relaxing weekend

This weekend Jonathan and I did not do a whole lot.  My sister came in town with my nephew Asher and her stepdaughter Abbey for her childhood best friend's baby shower.  Me, my mom, Camilla and the children all went. 

After that I went back to my parent's house and took more stuff from there that I had been dreading bringing home.  We have so little spare space at our new place despite it being 3 bedrooms.  There just isn't storage anywhere!  I feel like I have to get rid of everything I own to just manage our space. It's frustrating. The baby room is FULL of stuff...  winter clothes, baby clothes, photo albums, shoes, etc...  I need to figure out a good way to keep it in good condition and store it outside in the shed thing we have.  It's an outdoor closet to be exact. 

The doctor called me Friday and said the results of my blood test had shown I am low on iron.  Boo.  My sister brought me some iron tablets from her pharmacy when she came in town Saturday so that was nice.

Father's Day!  I bought my father a Bob Dylan CD and a dvd of an old 1950's series he requested. 

  For Jonathan, I bought him a t-shirt that did not come in in time so we went to P.F Changs for a nice luncheon on Sunday too :)

Pretty funny, right??

We also washed our cars until dark and addressed wedding announcements until bedtime.  Jonathan is supposed to be at the post office right now asking for the "wedding stamps" lol.    I'm excited to send them out!!!!!

I scream for ice cream!!

I MAY have indulged a bit yesterday!  After going to my 3:15pm doctor appointment where I drank my glucose drink, then waited to give blood for the test we went to Las Palmas downtown where Jonathan had a Margarona.. This is a "margarona":

You would have thought he was the one who had to give blood?!   I did have cheese dip and water...yum!   While we were there it was hailing cats and dogs outside so we waited it out and then went home.  Well, I still really wanted a treat for me and decided I needed ice cream. :)   Jonathan agreed and looked up online an ice cream place in East Nashville.   I feel really bad but this place is totally what we had for dinner.  I mean we ate ice cream and went home, watched tv and went to bed lol.    http://www.thepiedpipercreamery.com/
I had the "trailer trash" ice cream and a little bit of the "birthday cake" flavor as well.  Trailer Trash: Vanilla with Oreo, Twix, Butterfinger, Nestle Crunch, Snickers, M&Ms, and Reese’s Pieces!!!
Oh, the irony of taking a gestational diabetes test then eating ice cream for dinner.  Can't say I didn't have that one coming though thinking all day how I couldn't have sugar before my test!

Dr. Dr. Gimme the news....

I am 24 weeks pregnant as of yesterday!  Today is my monthly doctor appointment.  At this particular appointment I will take my gestational diabetes test.   Here is a little about this test:

(That picture says no food but I am allowed food.. However, that's just for the regular glucose tolerance test.  They just told me to monitor my sugar intake today for gestational diabetes test.)

What Is the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test for Gestational Diabetes?

The oral glucose tolerance test is used to screen for gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that can develop in some women late in pregnancy (usually after the 24th week). Women who develop gestational diabetes do not have diabetes before becoming pregnant.

When Is the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test for Gestational Diabetes Performed?

The test is generally given between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy. If you have had gestational diabetes before, or if your health care provider is concerned about your risk of developing gestational diabetes, the test may be performed before the 13th week of pregnancy.

What Happens During the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test?

The oral glucose tolerance test involves quickly drinking a sweetened liquid (called Glucola), which contains 50 g of glucose. The body absorbs this glucose rapidly, causing blood glucose levels to rise within 30 to 60 minutes. A blood sample will be taken from a vein in your arm about 60 minutes after drinking the solution. The blood test measures how the glucose solution was metabolized (processed by the body)

That is what the drink looks like that you have to take.

Anyway, just thought I would be informative today!  I doubt I have it.  They make everyone take this standard test. 

baby shower favors

I know, I know.. I'm clearly not going to throw myself my own baby shower. However, I happened upon some baby shower website that had favors for unisex parties and noticed some gifts that surprised me!!!

Baby Shower Shooter Glasses!!  WHAT!?!   lol  Sorry, it's close to my taste but at a BABY shower?  What is the theme??  Get drunk and make babies?? lol

Maclin

I helped my mom come up with some great looking announcements to send out to our family last week.  Yesterday I went ahead and ordered some return address labels for Jonathan and I.
Here is what they will look like:

I got a great deal on them at VistaPrint.com!  

About the baby..  We have decided on MACLIN for sure for the first name.  As far as the middle name goes though- not sure at all.   Maclin is a family name on my side and so I don't mind if Jonathan picks the middle name. I have veto power though! 

Last night our friend Brian from Chicago stayed with us again. His car broke down on his way through town in Smyrna!   Jonathan picked him up and we all ate at Rippy's on the rooftop downtown. His car needs a new engine. Bummer.  He left it at the shop and flew back to Chicago today.   Not sure what they'll do about his car.  He is hoping they make him an offer for the parts.   

So today for lunch I tried Healthy Choice's Ravioli... Not so good!  I recommend the LEAN CUISINE version of this!  Here is what I'm talking about:

I think Healthy Choice was trying to compete (notice the "new" logo) but it has too many onions, something that is making it spicy and not enough ravioli's compared to the sauce. I found myself brushing everything off of the ravioli's with my fork so it wouldn't have that weird taste to it.  

Photos from Kelly's

We had a great time over at Kelly and Mark's house!  Kelly has to be the most wonderful photographer!!   She knew just how to pose us.  She also has a nice, huge, professional camera & photoshop ;).   We took shots in about 4 different outfits all in about an hour and half.   I am pleased with the results.  They don't look too preggo at all!!   Here is a SMALL preview.   I don't want to post the others until the announcements have been sent out.

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Strike a Pose!

Last night we went to Mafiaoza's again for the 2 for pizza slice and 2 for 1 draft beer special they have.  Of course, I just indulged in the pizza.  Afterwards, we both went over to Crystal's house where she dyed and highlighted my hair and then trimmed it up.  We ended up doing a medium/dark brow with very subtle highlights.   It may fade a bit though since it was bleached underneath.  It looks good though!!  I'm pleased! 

I just bought a cute white dress today on my lunch break for our pictures tonight.  We will be going over to Kelly & Mark's for her to take some engagement/wedding announcement photos of us for our wedding announcements.  I thought white would be sorta fitting since I never had a wedding dress.  I wore a really cute white blouse the day we were married though!! ;)

I will be sure to post some photos once we are done and she has put her finishing touches on them. 

Here are some inspirational ones I found online:

make me pretty!

I am getting my hair done today!   SO EXCITED!  I hope it turns out good.  My only problem is I don't even know exactly what I want.   I just know I want it to look better and fresh.   My parents are sending out wedding announcements in the coming weeks for Jonathan and I.  Mainly for distant relatives and a couple out of town people who might just want to know.  Not everyone is on facebook or keeps up with facebook lol.    We would like to have a photo for them and our good friend Kelly is going to take a couple photos for us (She is a wonderful photographer!) on the fly either tomorrow or Friday.   Figured I'd like to have my hair done BEFORE then!   I haven't even thought of what to wear.  It makes me nervous because I am picky about my pictures and lately I hate all the pictures of me. I understand that I'm pregnant and I just have to get over it. 

Work is still super busy.  I took home some work last night just to see if I could complete some paperwork at home.  We watched a movie instead.   We rented  The Dilemma with Vince Vaughn.   It was pretty funny.  Not a classic but not bad either.   I did end up finding enough time to do SOME of the paperwork I brought home.  I shouldn't have to bring anything home anyway.  Our department needs to expand and get a little help.  I'm pretty sure it will in the future..   

Happy Tuesday??   =D

a weekend of furnishing the home and grilling out

This weekend was pretty relaxing.  Jonathan and I spent Friday night in watching Grand Torino, which I LOVED.   Clint Eastwood still hasn't lost it after all these years lol.  

Saturday morning we woke up pretty early and found a yardsale on craigslist that sounded interesting.  We went and this girl was with her boyfriend.  She was moving in with him and so everything inside this rental house of hers was for sale.  I mean ALL of her belongings.   She had really nice taste too!  Pottery Barn, Pier 1, etc.   So,  immediately Jonathan and I found several things we thought would go well in our home.   We went to an atm and gathered enough money to buy 2 lamps, 2 side tables (beside couch), 2 ottomans, a tv stand, a kitchen storage counter (for microwave), and a wicker drawer unit for our bedside table/storage.  Not to mention some seasonal summer plates and more cooking utensils.   We really hit the jackpot of yardsales, which is unusual.

 By Saturday afternoon we met up with Lauren and her boyfriend and another couple at the Taste of Music City downtown.   We stayed for about an hour sampling food and beverages.  After that we went to a co-worker of mine's house and grilled out some brats and had beans and corn bread and a fire pit going.  It was a nice relaxing end to a nice Saturday.   

Sunday morning we woke up early again.  This is not on purpose; trust me.  We have some shades but not blinds and the sun comes right in our window by the bed.  So Sunday morning we decide is cleaning day!  We did clean a bit and also went by Ross and TJ Maxx.  We bought a big Marilyn Monroe picture to go next to our other black and whites in the living room.  Then we went to Goodwill and found a vaccuum for $17 and 2 beautiful matching paintings.  I couldn't believe our luck this weekend with our findings! 

After all our shopping we went to my parent's and my dad grilled out burgers, chicken, and hot dogs.  YUMMM.

 I came home on lunch today and since Jonathan has Mondays off he had put up all our pictures and the place is just feeling so much like home now.  The pest control guy is supposed to come today too.   Pretty happy about that!   I REALLY HATE ANTS NOW.  

Work is busy busy busy and I am looking forward to this baby coming like no other thing I have looked forward to!   It's even better than anticipating a vacation.  :)

TGIF!!

Thank GOD it's Friday.  This week has flown by with visits from family and long days at work.   Not to mention it was only 4 days long  :)    Not sure what the plans are for this weekend but i'm sure it will be fun as well.   I welcome the cookouts as they are an inexpensive way for me to spend time with good friends and enjoy good food.  Perfect for when you are preggo!  We need a grill ourselves.   I suppose we need a lot more than a grill but I bet I could find someone who would give us their old grill  ::cough cough mom dad::  

I went through the clothes my sister gave me.  They are adorable!!  I think I have a whole box worth of 0-3 months.  That's awesome.  I have no idea how big this baby will be when he comes out though lol.   Jonathan was 10 lbs when born.  And his mother was smaller than me.  I have some more clothes a lady at my work gave me to go through next.   The baby's closet is not going to fit all of this!  Good thing we are going to get that dresser.  *crosses fingers*  ANYONE who wants to just give me money instead of baby gifts ought to know it will go to a REALLY good place!! ;)    Baby furniture is expensive!  

  I'm starting to wonder about our landlord.  He had just had a baby boy when we moved in- so I know he is busy.   We have started to notice an ant problem and asked him about that and he said all old houses in the area needed treatment and he would have someone out to do it.  No one has come yet.  As my job at work is to call out vendors to do stuff... i know pest control takes about one day before they come out if not the same day...  so someone is slacking!   Also, our landscaping??  We have lived there over a month and I am pretty sure the guy has come twice. BUT only once to cut the front and then a different day to cut the back - tell me if that makes sense??   I hate to seem like a you know what but I think I will send him a little bit more demanding e-mail today.  It's not as if we would MIND doing it but we don't even OWN a lawn mower.  It was in the deal.. I definitely think we are paying for it considering rent.  

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Wednesday June 1

Jonathan's dad came into town last night on his way to Arkansas for a funeral for his aunt.  He brought us some furniture that was from his wife's mom's house (she died a couple months ago).  We got a kitchen table (FINALLY!), a rocking chair, a little bookshelf, and a mirror.  The table looks like this:
                                                    
There are only 3 chairs but it's in great shape.    We also went by Goodwill where I bought 3 matching picture frames.  I want to buy paint and refurbish them and make them into something cool where I can either decorate the kitchen or a bedroom.   We haven't done much decorating since moving in.   I think Jonathan's dad may come back through tonight and stay the night with us.  I also was going to get my hair done by Crystal tonight.  I may reschedule. 
We are talking about making my hair back brown a little and keeping the bottom blonde-ish.  Here are some pics of hair color I like for me:

What do you think??