SO Much To Be Thankful For

This is my little model. You put the camera up to her and she strikes a pose.

We spent this Thanksgiving at my mom's with our friends Leslie and her two boys Trevor and Derek. They are our extended family. Waldie, Leslie's husband, was sick with a cold and so he stayed home. We had a great time. We ate, they drank wine, and acted silly. As you can see, I'm ready to pop.

This is Mary with Trevor. She had a great time with the boys. Trevor was her favorite. It was pretty darn cute how she'd follow him around and only want to sit with him. She knows what boys she likes already.

I had to put this picture up, it's just so darn cute. She has such big eyes, mommy's pretty eyes. I think I"m going to be in trouble in about 13 years.

36 Weeks and Time to Count Down

So, I'm 36 weeks now, in my ninth month. The countdown can officially begin. If you countdown to December 24th, it is 26 days. I'm counting on sooner. Since my original due date was the 11th, I"m going closer to that. I have lotsa predictions from people, so ew shall see who knows best.
This kid has gotten huge and taken over my body. She will move into places that are just down right wrong and I can't move. The doctor yesterday told me that she's going to be at least 8 pounds. Well I figure that since Mary was 8. pounds even. The one dream I've had about her, when I saw her for the first time she was one plump turkey. A white plump turkey, but round.
I had my apt yesterday and she said everything is all good. Well, all they really do is check her heart beat and say they'll see me in a week. That's not really worth the $40 co-pay. UGH! Everyone wants an updated due date, but if there's no reason for it, they are not going to change it. So, it's all about the waiting game. Me and waiting don't get along so well. I"m an impatient person and want to know when things are going to happen and how they will happen. OH well.
Anyway, hopefully it will be soon and we can then decide on a name. We have a pool of names, but not one we can really decide on. I kinda want to see her first and then make up my mind. We were set on Mary only due to the circumstance. So, keep posted. = )

Early Family Thanksgiving

My grandparents live in Arizona and decided to come out for the weekend to visit and see Mary. It's always nice to see them. Grandma is 86 and Granpa is 89 and they are still driving around the country.
They arrived on Saturday. The three of us went to church with the family that night and then back to mom's for dinner. Sunday was our Thanksgiving feast with Aunt JoAnn and Uncle Glenn and Amy. We had a really nice time together. Mary enjoyed all the attention, of course. She's such a little ham for it. We pigged out, of course, but what else are you supposed to do. And we're still supposed to do it again on Thursday for real Thanksgiving.
Some cute pictures were taken, but they are on mom's camera. SO, I"ll put some on when I've got them.

I Stayed Awake!!

Friday was a full on girls day. PART ONE - Mary and I started by going out to Simi Valley to hang with our shopping girls. We met up with mom at 9:15 to drive down at the same time. We arrived at Corner Bakery at the mall about 10. I realized on the way down I had not eaten anything all morning. I was too busy getting ready and making sure I had all I needed for Mary and making Kevin a lunch that I never ate anything for myself. So I was starving. I scarfed down a bowl of oatmeal as us girls gabbed for a bit. Then it was off to start shopping.
I had discovered on our last girls trip about the cool shipping carts/cars to keep her entertained and the train ride. well it's been a month since we've been and this time around the cool car was not going to work this time. She is too independent now and wants to walk with us. UGH, fine! Between all of us we were able to keep her outa trouble. She was a very good girl, surprisingly. I will have to give myself a pat on the back for raising her right, somehow. She did pretty good listening as long as she was able to do things. So, I spent the $5 on the cool stroller to push around everyone shopping bags. haha Next time I bring the regular stroller for that.
Aunt Amy did grace us with her presence by lunch and Mary wanted her to ride the train with her. So, Aunt Amy did.
We had lunch and finally left for home for nap about 2. She slept on the way home. I took her out hoping she'd continue sleeping in her room. She doesn't transfer as well as she used to. Well, she did kinda wake up. I put her in her room and she luckily went back to sleep. THANK GOSH! I needed a nap too.

PART TWO - Now it was time for mommy to have some girl time w/out Mary. I was going to go meet Corie and a couple of her friends for dinner and to go see Twilight, the new movie. The three of them have read the series of books. Me, I got through page 100 of the first of four books. I'm not a big reader and with Mary I'm not a reader at all. No time to read, except if it's a book about Clifford or Curious George.
So, I already had a long day. I tried to nap, but was not having any luck. So, I was going on what energy I had. The movie did not start until 10:30. No one really had any hope for me to stay awake. Well, I was going to prove them wrong. I think the fact that I was going out and doing something w/out mary gave me some extra energy. I made it through dinner and then we had to stand in line for an hour to get into the movie. That was rough on me and my belly, but I did it.
So, we finally get into the movie and sit down. It was packed with a wide variety of ages. Of course the teenagers, but we were not the oldest ones there. There were some there with gray hair. haha The movie starts and I remember the first bit that I read and I'm getting into it. I'm awake and doing good. Then it starts to get slow and my eyes start to get heavy. I was forcing myself to keep them open. I'm pretty sure I did. Then I had to pee. I notice that NO ONE has gone to pee in this theater. WEll, miss prego has to. So I go real quick and come back. Then it was not too much longer after taht the movie was over. We get out and I look at my watch and it's almost 1. I DID IT!!! I'm pooped, but I did it! I finally get home and lay my head on my pillow at 1:16. What a day of fun!

almost ready

This weekend we spent both Saturday and Sunday trying to get thing more in order for the new baby girl. We cleaned out furniture, closets, and anything to make room. Then mom and dad brought over furniture and took some home. So now Mary's room is already set up for both kids, once the new one is sleeping through the night. The other room is now the office/guest room/baby room. Once they are in the same room then that room will e the office/guest room/play room. Then we took all the baby clothes for the first year out of the attic and any other baby items. Now all that is in the office for me to go through, sort, wash, and put away. Mary has sure enjoyed playing with all the baby stuff. She wants to sit in all the toys, cribs, or whatever else she thinks she can get into. I just have to show her it's for her sister and place her doll in it.
It's only two weeks until December and time is getting close to the big day. I have to get my butt in gear to be ready. So much to do with so little no Mary time to get it done. haha She wants to help, god bless her, but really she doesn't.

A Light Came on and she then slept

Mary must be afraid of the dark. This weekend she spent the night at my mom's and even in daylight for her nap she had to sleep with the big light on in the room. All night long she had to have the light on. She never asks for the light at home, so would never think of doing that. She has a night light, but I guess that is not enough.
SO last night I put her to bed at home and she did not ask for the light on, so I did not put it on. Well, 4am, I see it is on. SO, she must have gotten up to put it on at some point. Ok, that's fine. Whatever floats your boat girl.
THEN about 5:45 I turn on the monitor to see what she is doing and she's NOT in her bed. It's quiet though. I can kinda see her in the corner of the monitor on the floor doing something. So, I go to see what's going on. I had a laundry basket full of stuff at the foot of her bed and she was busy playing with all of it. A happy camper and being quiet. Ok, if that's what it takes to keep her quiet and in her room, whatever.
So, this is a new thing we are trying. Light on and we are all good, we hope.

8 month check up

Today was my 8 month check up. All's good. Baby Girl has a strong heart beat and taking up room. I'm stoked I've only gained 13 pounds in 8 months!! We'll see what the next 4-6 weeks brings me with Thanksgiving and cookies and pie and life in general. BUT, it's still good in all. So I go back in two more weeks and then I go every week until I pop. The countdown really begins now. I better get my butt in gear and get ready for her.

Girls Just Want To Have Fun too

Last night Mary and I went down to Kevin's parents house for some girl fun. Kevin's sisters, Linda and Margeaux, and Margeaux's tow girls, met us there for an evening of fun with his mom. Since the boys were away we needed to get some fun in too. We all were there about 4. Mary was very excited to see her cousins. We hung out, ate some dinner, and watched a little tv. Then Linda pulled out her Mamma Mia CD and they all started to dance. Well, Mary loves to dance, so she was in heaven.

A Clean Surprise

Today Mary was taking a bath and I heard the door bell ring. Well, I know you're not supposed to leave your child alone in the bath, but I know Mary is good. So I ran down the stairs to answer the door. It was Anna our new cleaning lady. I forgot we had scheduled her to come this weekend. Well, you're here, start cleaning!!
So I let her in and run back upstairs to Mary. She's fine, playing away. Anna starts her cleaning downstairs and Mary and I stay upstairs. Then when she was done there we switched places. So nice to have a clean house again. Kevin goes off to Laughlin to have some fun and I'm stuck at home with Mary, so this is the least I can get for that. Mary and I have been having fun, but not have someone here to help me is tough.
So, anyway, I have a clean house and Kevin gets to come home to a clean house, other than the dirty messy one it was before. BUT, Mary will still make it messy between now and when he gets home. She has no problem doing that. Oh well, at least I have a clean floor, kitchen, and bathrooms.
Thank you Anna!!

I may/may not survive

Kevin went off to Laughlin yesterday with his dad and brother for the weekend. They were taking him on a belated birthday trip. His dad used to do this with his brothers and dad each year. So, they are trying to do something like that.
SO, I'm left alone with Mary until Sunday. I'm not sure how this will go. Thankfully I have my parents to help me out, but the at home part is not easy. I usually have Kevin here part of the time to relieve me of Mary. With the time change and her waking up early and not being on a great schedule, it's tough on me. Last night she was asking for her pj's at 8 and then asking for bed right after. I said she had to stay up a bit longer and she was not going to have it. She then kept on me. Ok, fine, go to bed. Then she was up at a quarter to 5. Well, I was not going to have it. So I let her lay there and roll around. She did go back down for another half hour. Ok, fine, I'll get up. I'm awake now anyhow. It's pitch dark out and I want to lay down, but what does she care.
Ok, so off to a new day. The sun is finally out. She is already eating mac n cheese trying to get candy. Uh, no candy for you little girl. We'll see what else the day brings us. Hopefully a good nap, for both of us.

Big Girl Bed

We decided it was time to try to transition Mary to a big girl bed before we start to move furniture around for the new little one. I found a toddler bed on Craig's List for $40. What a deal!! It came with the mattress and everything. Perfect! Kevin picked it up after work last week. He put it together on Monday. Mary was at grandma's that night so when she came home she saw her new bed and was all excited.

This time change has really ruined her all around. I know we have internal clocks, but hers is all screwed up and it's screwing me up. The morning of the change we were down at Sal's and she was up at 5am on the dot. The next morning she was up at 5am again. Monday night she went to mom's and so Tuesday she was up at 4:45. Today, Wednesday, she was up at 4:30. Each night we got her to go to bed about normal time, if not just a tad bit early. I hope this changes soon, real soon. I cannot live waking up at that time each day. I know I will have to once the new one comes, but really, not now!

Anyway, back to the new bed. She slept great in it last night. She did lay down and was happy. I think being super tired helped her not want to get out and play. When she woke up at 4:30 she just sat up and called out my name and did not try to crawl out. Kevin went in to tell her to lay back down and then she crawled out. She was happy to take her nap in it today and stay as well. She's still down at the moment, so we'll see what she does when she wakes up. But it's been a good transition. She is even happy about giving up her crib for her sister. Well, that's waht she says now. We shall see what happens when she is actually here and using the crib.

Halloween Fun 2008

This Halloween we went down to Sal and Steph's in San Diego, well Escondido. Sal is Kevin's best friend. We left about noon on Friday to get there in time to trick or treat. We made great time and go there about 2:30. This is Mary and Sal when we got there. We had stopped to drop off some work for Kevin at another office and he took her in to show her off to all the girls. She was given a sucker for Halloween. We told her that she was not able to eat it until we got to Sal's. When we pulled into the driveway Mary said, really loud, "SAL! SUCKER!!" Yes, she was not really excited to see Sal, she just wanted to have her sucker. So, here she is eating her sucker with uncle Sal. And as you can see, Sal has his sucker too, beer. haha

Sal's brother and his kids came over along with their neighbors and their two kids. All the kids were around Mary's age within 2 years or so. It was great. Mary was having so much fun. They were all boys and she loves boys. Below is Gabriel as Merlin and Vincent as a skeleton. Vincent is only 9 days younger than Mary and Gabriel's birthday is December 21st. Their age difference will be the same as Mary and her sister.

We headed out to go trick or treating about 7. Mary got the hang of it right away. Trick or treat she'd say. They would give her a candy and then she would go to grab another and say "one daddy". haha, how could you resist that. We went around the block and then headed home. That was all us parents could take. Mary had to be walking around holding one of the boys hands and dragging them from house to house. It was cute.

Kevin wore my costume since I forgot his Homer outfit. He was not unhappy I forgot it. In this picture he is showing off his full size candy bar he got for being in a cool costume. Did he share it withe anyone? NO!

This was Mary at the end of the night walking back to the house. She was a little pooped. She was one tired doggie. But she had fun.