A post to push down posts

I like to read other people's blogs. To get to these blogs conveniently and only when there is something new to read, I have them listed on the left hand side under "blogs I follow", which means I am frequently visiting my own blog page and getting a good eye full of what you all see every time you check in.

Since my last post, the 33 1/2 week update, I have gotten ridiculously sick of looking at my perfectly posed self. I don't know how you people do it! Swollen face, awkward pants that don’t fit well with the sneakers (huge pet peave. I don't mind comfy tennies, but not at the expense of looking slightly  normal! I feel as though these jeans are an epic fail. Skinny maternity jeans, you win hands down), cheesy smile (I find with a swollen face, there is no such thing as noncheesy smile...they all look weird) <insert 20 more things I don’t like about myself>

And now to top it off, my lovely blog isn’t saving. So all of this may or may not be for nothing.


What else, what else. Things I'm looking forward to:

• Running, running, and more running! I miss it. Please let me be able to figure out a way to get back into without failing miserably right away
• Real spring/summery weather. Enough of this post-winter garbage! It is cold, sporadic, windy always and I am ready for some serious window opening and walk taking
• Having my first experience with labor be over
• The showers that my friends and family are throwing!
• Normal sized feet
• Last but not least... a baby girl that will be all ours, that was created by us (well, really God), and entrusted to us to raise and develop and protect... no small task!

Tonight is dinner with the in-laws... Tuesday night tradition that has consisted of Mike's mom cooking, serving, and cleaning up while I either sit down (Tuesdays I stand... a lot) or sleep on their "not made for sleeping on" couch, exhausted from standing, eating, and generally just living. Maybe someday I'll be that lovely daughter-in-law that is helpful and productive and a joy to be around... give me 6 weeks or so! Most of the time, while I'm sleeping, the rest of the family is playing a game and being all "family-like"... I guess thats what I get (being discluded) since I can't keep my eyes open even a little bit as soon as the meal is finished.

And tomorrow - Tutti Frutti with my dear friend Katie after only a half day of work!! Oh the joys of half days! I'm sure I'll be less than productive, it's kind of my thing these days, but I'll enjoy it in a "full of guilt my husband works so hard and I hardly do anything" sort of way. Its not the truth, I just sometimes feel that way. Darn him for being so workaholic-like. I know I carry this trait too...where is it these days??

33 1/2 weeks ft. Lara



Auntie's getting excited... :)




She's really in there??



And just because we'e featuring her, here are a couple of pictures of her playing with her nephew, Mr. Buckley Michael Deyle (his true full name).
-these pictures were taken a couple of months ago, and are just now making their debut

That was fun... but now I'm exhausted

Worst 1st of May ever...

Really? Must it be this cold when it is supposed to be the start of summer season? Mike and I agree that we practically had frostbite from walking around our  neighborhood handing out the May Day baskets. I just cannot believe it is this cold! It also sucks all my ambition away. I had a nice list of things that I would like to get done... and it probably won't happen. Oh well I guess!

I was a little worried that it would be awkward walking from house to house in our neighborhood. Some people saw us, but nobody said anything. We got a couple of good long stares, which kind of annoys me since you wouldn't think walking door to door would be the weirdest thing you've ever seen. I remember people dropping stuff off on our deck all the time growing up... its just kind of unheard of in our neighborhood. Everyone lives in their backyards, and the front door is just about unused. I even wonder if some of the baskets will go unnoticed for more than a couple of days since the front doors are not the first choice. I have to admit that we have not noticed things on our doorstep in the past... we'll see!

I want warm weather... on a weekend... Please God give us a beautiful weekend soon!

Happy May Day!

This is what I started with. Well, really I started with tissue paper, pipe cleaners, etc... but that's boring to photograph

With the help of my bible study girls, I got about 120 of these done! Fun to make, but not in large quantities

the "baskets"

crepe paper stuffing

candy to go in the basket

the invite going to our  neighbors so we can hopefully get to know them in a couple of weeks

finished product

doesn't look like much, does it? can you believe it took  me all day today to make these?

I always manage to make little projects into huge projects. We will invite 36 neighbor families and we hope that 9-10 actually show up. We'll see! May 15th - you will come very quickly... hopefully the prep for that doesn't kill me.

Time to go take a great afternoon nap. I have to take these while I can! In six short weeks (or so) I'll be getting 2 hr naps in... and no good sleeps in...right? :)

OH BTW. Avatar was fine... but not amazing. It reminded me of every other "we're destroying the planet and dooming ourselves" movies. I'd probably watch it again, but wouldn't pay for it!

Any ideas for a good Mexican supper for tomorrow night? Can't be too hard because my sister will be making it without our supervision (she's not as bad in the kitchen as she thinks she is, I swear!) and she has a ton of schoolwork that needs to get done... 2 weeks left is what I hear for all my lovely students friends/family members.

Ok for real this time, I need me a nap!

Best appointment ever

I cannot believe what a difference time of day makes. I've heard it a million times, that having your appointment early in the morning is so much better because you don't have to wait for all the appts that went late during the day. My appointment was at 8:15 and I got there right on time. I was out the door by 8:45. That is impressive and all, but what really got me was how much nicer everyone was!! That alone is worth having our appointment early on in the day. I can honestly say I have no complaints about my appointment today.

PLUS I only gained 2 lbs. :) Thats less than a lb a week and I am very happy with that. Too bad my doctor was gone and I couldn't brag in his face. Oh wait - I'm not doing this for him? Thats right, its to keep my child healthy... how  quickly we get off track.

Tonight we are watching Avatar. Obviously we've heard good things but we are going in with no expectations. We'll see.

Here's a little peak of what else has been accomplished at Sarah's art and crafts store:

The fitted sheet experiment worked! I really truly did make these myself. And they fit the mattress. Only thing I'd change is that I would have less elastic so they would be a bit more snug. Nothing I can't fix next time! (And yes there has to be a next time... I already have the fabric for the green fitted sheet)

Latest thing that I have been working on is making tissue paper flowers for the May Day baskets I'll be distributing throughout the  neighborhood. 40 in all - call me crazy ambitious! I have time on Saturday but really just hope that it doesn't take the entire day. Mike sounds like he will be ambitious this weekend and we might be able to get a ton done. We can only hope?

Wait did I not tell you ALL the things we got done last weekend??

• Finally got rid of  borrowed  a dresser to my sister which now leaves room for one of the many dressers upstairs to move to a more permanent home
• Bought a new washer (review of that to come in the near future)
• Picked out carpet for our rug in the baby's room
• Bought a ceiling light and a matching mini lamp for the baby's room
• Bought a ceiling light/fan for our room

That is progress people! Another weekend like that could really get us in a good place... Lets all just take a moment in prayer... :)

I better pay attention to this movie. Its looking weirder and weirder each minute.