Girl or Boy?!

The ultrasound is scheduled for February 19th to found out if our third child is a boy or a girl. We already have one of each, so either way is fine with us. Having said that, some people have asked us if we will wait 'til the birth to find out......NO! We did wait to be surprised with our first child. The anticipation and then the excitement as "It's a girl!" was announced after she was born was wonderful. But, no, not this time. I really need to know this time. I was not prepared for this pregnancy, so I want to start planning for this baby to try and feel like I have some sort of handle on the situation. Not so much nesting as it is a need to feel in control. I will confess to you as I did at my small group last night, I have "control issues". So, there, we're finding out and the countdown is on!

Football Feminist

Okay, I am not a football fan. I will watch it, but prefer to watch other things. But, at this time in the year I don't have much choice. It's been on the TV a lot at our house lately. Even when there are not games on, there are annoying newscasters talking about past and future games. Well, we were watching these newscasters chat about football the other day and they really irritated me with some of their comments. Now let me preface this by saying that I am not a Jessica Simpson fan, either. I have listened to her songs (well parts of them), but definately prefer to listen to other things. Frankly, she annoys me...but the newscasters comments annoyed me more. These men were saying that because she is dating Tony Romo, the Dallas Cowboys quarterback, that it has adversely affected his game. It is her fault that he is playing poorly? Now come on, why do they have to blame it on the girl? They pay that man to play football, a lot of money I'm sure, and he should be able to play regardless of what's going on in his love life. I can't believe they shifted the blame to her. Is it not his own fault that he did not play well? I'm not really sure why this bothered me so much, seeing as I don't really care for football or Jessica Simpson.
But it has added a new folder for my posts...Random Stuff....cause this was definately random!

What I Have Been Doing, Since I Haven't Been Blogging

Well, I haven't blogged in a while. Here's what I have been doing:

1. Since returning from my trip, I have been unpacking. 4 suitcases: one for each of the kids that they took to their grandparents, mine and Justin's. That's quite a bit of laundry. I blogged on my hatred of laundry once. Sadly, it is still not all done!

2. Cleaning my house. Well not the deep cleaning that it really needs, but constant de-cluttering and straightening. I really feel like this is an endless battle. It seems that one room is undone while I'm cleaning another.

3. Taking Anderson the doctor's. Which all culminated with him having tubes put in his ears last Tuesday. He's doing great!

4. Updating my resume, contacting references and going on one job interview. I am hoping to get a part-time job (2 days a week) at a speech therapy clinic that recently opened close to my house.

5. Watching football. Well I usually doze off, but it's been on our TV a lot lately. The Super Bowl is always somewhere around my birthday, which is a fantastic way for a girl to celebrate.

So, now that all that is done..actually it's never done, but regardless I am hoping to be a frequent blogger again soon.

My Getaway

I post this in hopes that my fellow mommy bloggers do not get jealous as they are dealing with piles and piles of stuff and are exhausted to tears. I was right there just a few days ago. And I will be back there in 2 days, however I am praying that this getaway leaves me refreshed and ready to deal with the piles and exhaustion that accompanies motherhood. And I also pray that you mommies out there find a moment to relax and be refreshed as well, even if it is just a coffee break or a trip to the store without children. We derserve it!

Yesterday was my first full day here. My flight was delayed on Tuesday evening and I did not arrive in Chicago until 10:30pm our time. The hotel is actually in Rockford, IL which is an hour away from the airport. So, I didn't get to bed until around midnight. I slept like a baby...well not like my baby because he is still waking up in the middle of the night...but I slept well on the Sleep Number bed. For those of you that have not experienced a sleep number bed, you press a button on a remote that makes the bed softer or firmer to your liking. Praises to whoever invented that one! I have slept 'til 9:30 both mornings. 9:30 was early in my college days, but by my current standards that's late! I stayed in my jammies until 4:30 yesterday. I was somewhat embarrassed when I recieved my lunch via room service and still had them on, but that quickly passed. I stayed in the sleep by numbers bed and channel surfed on cable television for most of the day. I have concluded that I am not missing much by not have cable at home. When I do get home I will, however, miss these hours of relaxation. But, I'm looking forward to seeing the sweet faces of those two precious children of mine...even if it is in the middle of the night.

I need a break!

I have not been myself lately. I'm not sure if pregancy hormones are to blame? I have been on an emotional rollercoaster. Not fun. My husband has been as supportive as can be expected of someone who doesn't understand female emotions. Bless his heart. He tiptoed around the news that he may have to leave for a business trip for 6 days. Six days! I pleaded my case of a much needed break.
"The hotel room is paid for, right?"..."It is your birthday week, and we need to celebrate together. "... "I may go crazy before you return!"
Well, it worked. I am counting down the days until I meet Justin in Chicago next Tuesday. I am looking forward to a hotel room with a bed that I can enjoy uninterrupted sleep in, cable television (I will not have to watch PBS children's shows for 3 whole days), and a much needed break from the daily duties of my stay-at-home mommy life. I checked on Oprah's website for last-minute tickets, no luck. She only has tickets available for the January 16th taping, darn it! Oh well, I will settle for watching it on TV in the calm, quiet hotel room in my pajamas.

We made it!

Here is the end result of three photo shoots...blood, sweat and tears! I think it turned out pretty good. Anderson is ready to crawl out of the frame, but they are both looking at the camera and actually smiling....Hallelujah! I gave up on JC Penney and went to Portrait Innovations to have the photo taken. The photographer there did a fantastic job with the kids. I'm sold out on that place, now.

So, we made it through the photo shoot...we made it through the busyness of the holiday season...and we made it through another year!!

Happy New Year!