Just One Of Those Days...

So today could easily be considered to be one of my least productive and uneventful days since being pregnant.

I have been so ridiculously sick all day that the thought of moving made me queasy and to top it off... I was so exhausted that I literally just fell asleep... in the middle of doing something. Add in a random hip pain that has decided to come out of no where, a very excited puppy who just wants to play and a cat that desperately wants to venture out in the great outdoors.

All of this at 8 months pregnant with a baby in my belly who is a very VERY active little girl... trust me I have the bruises to prove it.

I didnt get a thing done today... and there is LOTS to get done. The most productive thing I have done all day is take Zoe out to go potty... I guess it is only 5:00... there is still time left in the day to get stuff done... right?!


-Dani-

36 Weeks... Aint No Turning Back Now!

So today I woke up a little earlier (6:30 BTW), I took Zoe out to go potty and then fixed Ryan some breakfast before he quickly jetted off to work.

I hopped on the computer to check email, created a list of things to get done today, loaded the dishwasher, cleaned up after breakfast, brought the garbage can back from the curb and after sitting in bed trying to fall back to sleep I realized I wasnt going to get anymore rest. I checked the weather from my phone to see what I should prepare myself for... sure enough more rain.

So... what did I do at 36 weeks pregnant?! I went outside to pull weeds and plant flowers! I wanted to beat the rain since it has been raining constantly for the past couple of days.

Here are some pictures of my morning accomplishments... This was all done before 10.

(The infestation of crab grass I pulled out of my sidewalk border)

(My lovely new flowers I bought from a local green house for $1 a 6pk. flat, I bought 8 and it has filled it in nice!)

Here are some pictures of my belly... Did I mention my belly button has decided to go on vacation while I have been pregnant? Yeah, it just one day disappeared (It is about 98% gone). So I provided pictures for your viewing entertainment of my disappearing belly button as well as how big my belly has gotten.

(Hey look I take up the whole frame! You like the tiny stretch marks that sprouted over night?!)

(Look Ma... no belly button!!! You can kind of see where it used to be but believe me... it isnt there anymore!)

I couldn't resist putting this picture up of Zorro... I came in the Computer room the other day and found him passed out in the window sill... he didnt even flinch through all 5 pictures I took of him.

(Isnt he cute?! Yes he is in fact laying on that oh so comfortable plastic peice of the window frame)

As for an update on the pregnancy... I had my first weekly Dr appointment yesterday and he said everything looks and sounds great! My blood pressure looked great & I gained 1/2 a pound from the week before, I am up to 160.5 lbs. He laughed when I asked him if my belly button was ever going to come back... he reassured me that it would in fact return to normal! As for little Olivia ( I sure hope this baby doesnt turn out to be a boy or I am going to have to serious explaining to do one day) she is MOVING & SHAKING!!! My stomach has started to look like a waterbed with all of the activity... she actually has been giving me bruises from kicking so hard!

Well there you go... 36 weeks pregnant and still truckin along... just at a much slower pace!

---Dani---

Thought You Might Find This Funny...

So Michael Jackson might have been a little weird this last decade or so but you cant deny that he was an amazing musician and an even more amazing dancer!

I personally grew up not only listening to his music but dancing to his songs... whether it was by myself in the privacy of my own home or on a team in front of hundreds of people.

Apparently I am not alone in this aspect... many have enjoyed his music from west coast to the east coast but his influence doesnt end at our shore lines... watch this video...

These are inmates from a Philippines prison practicing a synchronized "dance therapy".

Hope you got a kick out of that video... I sure did. I dont know how many times I have performed that dance routine. *sigh* memories.


--Dani--

Update On Our Recent Happenings

Well recently we were faced with in interesting decision as far as Ryans job is concerned. He was placed at the top of a short list of candidates who were being considered for a school down in Virginia. What a great opportunity... Ryan would be on a permanent day staff position, no more rotating shift work, and the position would have been wonderful for his resume once he gets out of the Navy.

Only catch was... Ryan would have to report to Virginia on the 20th of July for a four and a half week certification school. Now if my due date WASNT July 31st it wouldnt have been a big deal at all but I was scared out of my mind to go into labor and deliver our first child... by myself!

Well aside from my own wishes to have him home I told Ryan that we shouldnt just jump in and say no but that we should pray about it and come to a guided decision. So we prayed together, prayed seperatly, had a constant prayer in our hearts and I just did not feel confident or comforted in the decision of him leaving despite the major advantages of him leaving.

Well Ryan came home after work on Friday and slyly mentioned... "Oh and by the way Planner School is booked solid so they wont be able to send me..." He said it with a grin on his face and I just wanted to start crying out of relief. If that wasnt an obvious answer from the Lord I dont know what would be.

Well Saturday I started feeling sick... just crumy... no energy, shortness of breath, nasuas ... the works. I have felt this way off and on since I found out about Ryan was not leaving for Virginia. Last night as I crawled into bed I looked at Ryan and said... I guess the Lord knew I was going to be feeling crumy and that I couldnt manage the last leg of this pregnancy without you.

Funny how the Lord knows us better than we do and if we just trust in Him and let Him take care of us... He does just that...

Making The Most of What You Have...

So apparently I am one of very very few that do this let alone have even heard of doing this.

Once a year, or as needed, I re-dye all of my black clothes... black. I wash all of my dark fabrics in cold water but they still fade so my once worn weekly favorite black tee finds its way to the back of my closet... until I re-dye everything... It is like buying my new favorite black tee all over again!

This time around I had a load of all black laundry which included: button up shirts, Ry's work socks, a bra, sports bras, black under tees, dance/yoga pants, and a few other regular casual tees.

It works great for pretty much every fabric and only costs a couple dollars. I opt for the Washing Machine method since I don't really want to sit and wait for things to soak and what have you... that and there is virtually NO mess. Just make sure you run an empty cycle of JUST WATER & BLEACH after wards... or your next batch of laundry will have a nice surprise ready for you when you take them out!

Here is the link to the web site for all of the colors they offer as well as fun dyeing techniques and craft ideas. They also have really good stain removers and color removers (which works great for all white clothing!).

Try it out and tell me what you think! Happy Re-Dyeing!

---Dani---

Im About 90% Done...

Well... I promised to post more pictures of my garden... So here they are! But first lets take another look back at the lovely landscaping before I got my hands on it.

(Eww... I didnt realize how sad our lawn looked too!)

The 90% finished product! I say 90% because I still have some little seedlings that I am working on that I will be planting here in a week or two.


Dont you love the awesome concrete work the people before us did with the stairs? Bleh! Being a concrete finishers daughter... I cringe every time I see these stairs... why?! Because finishing concrete isnt THAT HARD! lol. Oh well... good thing my dad is a carptenter! Oh Daddy!!! he he he.


I prefer this view of the stairs better lol... at least you cant see the horrible patch job they did. But look at my cute little flowers starting to take root. Oh I cannot wait for them to bloom. Once they do you can expect a ton of pictures!Yes, I am aware that my yard needs to be mowed... but hey at least it is green... ish!


My cute little seedlings! Every time I have a new empty egg carton I start another set of seeds. I know I am cheap but hey ... I guess you can call me "green" too lol... mostly just cheap.



Speaking of cheap guess what I got in the mail!?!?!

Ok... So I know I am not in need of a sippy cup right now... but hey they were giving them away for free with no shipping and I can always hold on to it for when Olivia gets old enough.

Last but not least... my babies. I told you they have been attached to my hip. Sometimes more literally than others.

(33 weeks & 4 days)

Well back to being productive. I have more weeds to pull, dishes to do, laundry to fold, more seeds to plant, and floors to sweep... and yes that mulch in the pictures was spread this morning. Nothing like breaking a sweat first thing in the morning! Hope everyones day is a spectacular one!


---Dani---

Pedi's & Pets...

So as MANY of you may already know a couple of my friends and I went to get out tootsies treated! Boy was it great! Sitting in the massage chair while the lady papered my toes... **sigh**... I was in heaven!

(On the left is Sandra, Jennie on the right and my pudgy foot at the bottom)
Next time I am getting a cute flower like Jennie has... SO CUTE!

Aside from getting the royal treatment... I have also been enjoying the crazy personality of my dog. Zoe is what we like to call... "special"... Watch the video and you will see why... dont worry it is super short!

Zoe is hours of entertainment... I love having her as a dog! She loves to cuddle and has the cutest puppy dog face ever! Lately she has been glued to my side... I think she knows that the baby is coming soon and is trying to fill her "reservoir of attention".

Although she is cute and funny... she is a digger. Yes, a digger! We now have booby traps in our backyard that she has so kindly laid out to protect us from intruders. Thanks Zoe... dont know where we would be without you!


---Dani---