Sunday, September 30, 2012

The end of September

Catching up for Em's Photo Challenge

Indian Summer.  One of my favorite episodes of Sex and the City, "I Heart NY," mentions Indian Summer. Carrie says she loves that first night in fall when it's cool enough outside to pull up a blanket.  That's what I always think of when I think of Indian Summer.  When I was little, I always knew it was fall when my mom would pull out the thick blankets from the cedar chest.  I relished going to sleep on those evenings, smelling the fragrant cedar.  The cedar chest has been handed down to me, but since we are vagabonds and the chest is in storage, my picture is simply of a comfy blanket, marking the end of summer and the beginning of fall.

Hope--my dad's fall garden




Harvest. I thought this tree embodied the feeling of harvest with the colors of autumn






AND all these pics are with my new camera. I'm by no means an extraordinary photographer, but I do like the editing functions.  I feel like it's going to take me a while to be able to take WOW photos, and maybe I won't ever be able to.  Any tips y'all would be willing to share would be appreciated. 



Friday, September 28, 2012

Oh, we're halfway there...

...oh livin' on a prayer! Love some Bon Jovi (yes I thought this was Journey...) in the morning :) Well, I'm officially 20 weeks pregnant. Halfway!! It's crazy to think that I've been pregnant for four and a half months. No wine or martinis or coffee (ok, one cup last week) since JUNE.  Wow.  I look at my SIL's 37 week belly, though, and I think, holy moly, how does my belly grow that much more?!  Honestly she looks like a stick with three basketballs in her shirt and does not appear to have gained any weight except in her belly.  I'd be lucky to look like that.  My first niece will be here sometime in the next month!!

I know I'm behind on my photo challenges, both Indian Summer and Hope.  I had a bleh day yesterday and I just couldn't find the inspiration for HOPE.  Maybe today will be better.

Hi to all my ICLW friends, and happy last day of September ICLW.  For my story, click here, and for some of my favorite posts, here you go...on turning 29it's all relative, my dear little angel Malachi  .  I love all the new blogs I've found this past week and all the amazing, strong women I've had the pleasure of "meeting."

So the details on 20 weeks...

Size of Baby: A small cantaloupe weighing almost a pound

Total Weight Loss/Gain: Ugh. a total of 18 pounds so far. I hate my OBs scale.

Maternity Clothes: all my pants are now maternity. I can't wait for cooler temps and leggings.

Gender: Boy! We've decided on a name and I can't decide if I want to share it yet or not :)

What I miss: running

Symptoms: my feet have swelled the last few days, maybe because of heat or not enough water.  Not a pleasant feeling, though I did get a pedicure because of it.

Movement: Nudges here and there (I think).  I have an anterior placenta so it's harder to feel movement.  Dr. N. said I should feel movement by 23 weeks and find a pattern of movement by 28 weeks.

Best Moment of the Week: DH coming home last night and talking to his little boy, telling him, "I'm scared but I can't wait for you to be here." Now that Baby Boy can "hear," we try to talk to him more. 

Next Appointment: October 23, but I'm sure I'll go hear the heartbeat again next week.

In HOUSE news, we're hoping to close between next Thursday and the following Monday. So far, this house is working out better than our last two failed attempts, so we are hopeful, though still cautious (sounds like pregnancy, huh?).  I can't wait to post pics! I also need to load my new camera software on the computer so I can start actually using the camera and posting pics. 

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Apple [photo challenge]

I'm a teacher who doesn't have an apple readily accessible. Such a crime!  However,  I did buy DH some amazing apples this past weekend.  If you haven't tried a Honeycrisp apple before, I suggest that you hop on your bike/a train/a plane/a car and go buy some immediately.  These are the best apples I've ever tasted, but they're only in season late September through about December.  And these apples are steroid-taking apple size.  Unfortunately, so is their price tag, at least early in the season.  I paid a disgusting $4 a pound for them last week (only organic were available), but I knew DH would love them.  The numerous emails he's sent me this week raving about the apples justify the hit to my bank account.  Let me clarify just how huge these apples are: $4 a pound for 3 apples = $8.31 total. disgusting, I know. 

BUT, he ate all the apples before I could get a picture of them, so here's a picture of a Honeycrisp apple.
Looks like an unassuming, normal apple.  until you bite into it. Just wait for flavor heaven. 
Borrowed ethically from wpclipart.com
Now GO, buy these apples, and enjoy. And by the way, they make a decadent apple pie, but you'll have to wait until November for pictures of my homemade pies :)

Catching Up...Cozy [photo challenge]

We're on Day 26 of Em Hart's Photo Challenge! I knew all day yesterday what I wanted to feature for COZY, but I hadn't gotten around to posting it. 

In the way of introductions, I'm obsessed with Food Network.  I will almost always choose to watch this channel over anything else on TV, even when working out at the gym.  I realize watching food while trying to burn calories is odd, but I guess I see what I'm allowed to eat since I'm working out.  I was finishing my workout last Saturday, watching the Barefoot Contessa, when I saw this amazing winter soup (in the same episode with homemade marshmallows which are on my agenda to try once I have my own kitchen again).  I had to try it.  Funny enough, my mom said to me the next day that she wanted to make pumpkin soup this week and I said, well let's make Ina's soup!!  For those of you not obsessed with Food TV personalities, Ina Garten is the Barefoot Contessa.  And make soup we did.  It was unbelievable.  I'm linking the recipe below in case anyone wants to try their hand at it.  We don't have a food mill, so we just used a food processor and the soup still turned out beautifully.  Bona note: make the croutons. Do it. 

And to COZY now...I walked into the house after my workout yesterday and was enveloped by the beautiful smell of fall cooking on the stove: the soup.  My mom was making this wonderful concoction in a big, ivory dutch oven on the stove.  Ahhhh, soup is cozy, even when the temperatures outside don't even necessitate  a long-sleeved shirt yet.


Link to recipe: YUM YUM YUM


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Always IF

Yesterday I had low pelvic pains and a back ache all day.  I don't feel Baby Boy move much yet because I'm only 19.5 weeks, so I had no way to reassure myself that these thing are normal.  Yesterday I was overwhelmed with IF. 

Because my baby didn't just "happen," because my baby has a brother in heaven, I don't know how women with oops pregnancies or no losses feel.  I don't know if they worry about every twinge, if they still check the TP every time, expecting something other than normal.  I remember being 6 weeks, 7 weeks, 9 weeks, and always feeling anxious that something was going to happen to my baby.  I thought that when I reached 13 weeks, all of these feelings would miraculously go away.  They didn't.  13 weeks came and went, along with my freakout after my anatomy scan at 17 weeks.  20 weeks is almost here, and while I'm not quite as obsessive as I used to be, I still worry about every little twinge.  I have gone to the doctor every week just to hear the heartbeat.  I rushed over to my SIL's house yesterday to borrow her doppler.  And the doppler is like a drug...it's no longer enough for me.  It's no longer enough to hear the heartbeat.  I want to know that Baby Boy will arrive in this world perfect, and this is a reassurance I won't have until February.

I'm on what's called a Birth Board on Babycenter. Once in a blue moon, women post something worth reading, or something that I find reassuring, so I keep the app for that reason.  More often than not, though, stories are posted that scare me.  I never knew that I would want to reach 24 weeks and viability so badly.  Pre-term labor, water breaking at 20 weeks--seriously, I never knew these things before, and now that I know them, I have to ask my doctor about them. Better to be informed? Yes.  Better to be scared for Baby Boy before he's even here? Not so much. 

This brings me back to IF.  Not necessarily infertility, but the IFs involved because of IF.  What if something happened? What IF I'm not strong enough to weather another storm? What IF the baby isn't growing like he should?  Without IF, would we have ifs?  Maybe, but would they always be there in our minds, nagging, pulling, tugging for our complete and total attention? Is it ever possible to escape the ifs from our past?  I shared this with DH yesterday too, my fears for Baby Boy, and there's nothing DH can say to make it better.  Only holding Baby Boy in my arms will ever make this journey complete, though I'm pretty sure the scars from the trek will never truly fade.  My only other fail-safe? Prayer. Tons of it.

So today, I will go see Dr. N. for my 20 week checkup, complete with a list of questions and fears for her to address.  There will still be ifs, but 20 weeks is still a milestone.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Heart

From our weekend get-a-way last fall. So naturally beautiful. 

Sunday, September 23, 2012

UN Balanced

Today's photo challenge is balance. Let's just be clear: I am not good at finding balance. I take on way too many things because I believe (sometimes incorrectly) that I am super woman.  When I was in the trenches of surgery after surgery with no TTC action in sight, I submitted my application to grad school.  Got accepted.  We decided to sell our house and move.  Sold house in three weeks, still have no permanent house. I was asked to take the head position in the English department at school alongside my current administrative position. Accepted position. And then, lo and behold, Dr. W's magic worked and POOF, baby.  (ok, I guess it was a little more difficult that poof)

How in the freaking world do I balance teaching AP students, heading an English department, managing all of the curriculum (yes, K-12 every subject) for my school, studying for grad school AND a baby? Oh wait, not to mention a new house with two storage areas of boxes to be unpacked...yeah, I have no flipping idea.  But everything always gets done, even though I'm not sure how.  The crazy woman has As in grad school so far, and no teachers in her department have resigned yet.  It's Sunday, and I'm about to leave to watch football with my favorite people, so I guess I've found some way to balance at least a few things so that I can have time to myself. 

I thought a picture of our "storage area" at my parent's house would be a good indication of my lack of balance.
UN balanced
And...in other news...we bought a camera yesterday! I've been so impressed with all the photos from photo challenge that I thought it was time to upgrade from my iPhone camera.  We got a Canon Rebel! So excited to learn how to take beautiful photos with this camera.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Autumn?

I'm having a lovely ICLW so far! L at Tiny Bits of Hope wrote a beautiful post about memories and how we change through loss and/or treatments.  Stop by and read it.

Today's photo challenge is autumn.  Autumn is my absolute favorite season.  The crisp morning air, football, afternoon naps with the windows open...I can just feel it.  Unfortunately, autumn doesn't exist here until oh, mid October.  We've had some nice mornings recently, but the heat always returns.  One of my favorite ways to celebrate autumn started in college.  My roomates and I would brew huge pots of delicious coffee (coffee you can only get in Maryland!) and wrap up in blankets and sit outside.  Sometimes we "rebels" would smoke flavored cigarettes.  I laugh thinking of that because none of us are/were smokers at all! I've always been one who associates smells and feelings with memories.  I could walk outside and think, this feels like a Christmas day, or this feels like a fall day, in the middle of any season.  I love that we are capable of having vivid memories; I guess this is also something to hate, when we can have vivid memories of something painful.


Our morning coffee, enjoying the cool in the air
  

Friday, September 21, 2012

Peace, and WELCOME ICLW!

Hoping all of you out there find some peace today in any way you can!

If you're here from ICLW, welcome! After "sitting out" 2 months from ICLW, I'm back and ready to comment.  We're 21 days in to Em's Photo Challenge, so if you're browsing my blog, that's the reason for all of the pictures, some beautiful, some inane. 

The BRIEF rundown...after TTC for a year, a miscarriage at 7w, a chemical pregnancy, rounds and rounds of hormone therapy, and 3 surgeries to remove a very stubborn septum from my uterus, I am currently expecting my first baby in February.  This blog started as a way for me to cope with loss and facing TTC in a world where everyone seems (including my sister-in-law) to get pregnant just looking at each other.  I have met the most AMAZING women in the blogosphere and I know that I wouldn't have gotten through the rough spots without them.  I'm still coping with the loss of my dear Malachi, and it's a slow process to learn how to let go and have trust now that I am pregnant.  I spend a lot of time thinking about the "what-ifs."  This blog has become a way to put my "crazy" on display; at least in this space I find women willing to be crazy with me.  Welcome to my little corner, and I look forward to meeting some new people over the next week.

In response to Em's Photo Challenge for today...peace

Nature and my favorite boy--both things that bring me peace


Thursday, September 20, 2012

18/19 weeks

I'm having a really shitty day, so I'm hoping that posting about Baby Boy will cheer me up a little.  Also, stop by Bebe Suisse and give Elizabeth some love.  She's struggling to believe if her BFP is real or not, and her a-hole OB doesn't help anything.

Eighteen/Nineteen Weeks...


Size of Baby: A bell pepper, almost an heirloom tomato (6 inches, half a pound). DH is starting to hate the food analogies because they don't seem logical. 

Total Weight Loss/Gain: was 12 pounds. Hoping I stay around this weight for my visit next week.

Maternity Clothes: all my pants are now maternity

Gender: Baby BOY!!!  Now if we could just decide on a name.

What I miss: Nothing I wouldn't give up in a heartbeat...such as an ice cold beer while watching football.

Cravings: Sprite right now. In fact, I'm about to go get one

Symptoms: extreme exhaustion, still! Stretching pains, but other than that, nothing.

Movement: I felt a couple of nudges today! I'm pretty sure it's the baby moving. It felt like someone was tapping me from the inside, right by where his feet have been in all the ultrasounds :)

Best Moment of the Week: getting my Steelers (the NFL team) pee pee tee pees in the mail!! Finally starting to shop for the baby's nursery...obsessively planning the baby's nursery

Next appointment: Tuesday! (Sept. 25)

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Treasure [photo challenge]

I treasure so much in my life that it was hard to choose one thing for a picture.  I thought first of my wedding ring and engagement ring, something I treasure more than anything in my life because of what it represents, and of course, because of its beauty.  I treasure my husband and my family and my wonderful dog.  But what I treasure most right now...our little boy. 

I've refrained from posting belly pics for several reasons, but I thought that maybe I would share one with y'all for the photo challenge.  This is my 18wk "bump," holding the most beautiful treasure I could ever ask for.  These treasures are even more precious when we think of what we go through to get them.  No pirate ever had an easy treasure hunt. Heck, where's the challenge in that? If treasure was easily acquired, it would not be treasure. 

Em Hart's Photo Challenge, #19
As a follow up to yesterday's post/photo prompt ... I went to hear Baby Boy's HB yesterday because he still won't kick me and while I was standing in the hall waiting for the nurse to get back from lunch, a lady looked over at me and said "Excuse me, but you really shouldn't be wearing heels." EXCUSE ME?! Seriously, she told me that. She told me she didn't wear heels when she was pregnant and that I should be careful. Well, it's not like I'm running in heels carrying 50 pound boxes. I told her that I've worn heels every day for the past eight years, and that until Dr. N. tells me not to, I will continue to wear heels.  Sheesh. Unsolicited advice, 0.  JB, 1 :)

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Fashion [photo challenge]

In another life where I'm six inches taller and 20 pounds lighter, I would like to be a runway models, not for their stick-skinniness or pouty faces but because they get to wear all those gorgeous fashions.  Recently there was a spectacular Carolina Herrera dress from Spring 2013 pinned on Pinterest. In my fantasy world, I would have called the designer and had that dress shipped to my house, much like the Vivienne Westwood gown in the SATC movie.  Sadly, I am just a measly 5'4" school teacher, so I will continue to live vicariously through the models on America's Next Top Model and the beautiful girls on Gossip Girl.  (please don't judge my guilty pleasure TV shows). 

I am not a fashion risk-taker, however. I would call my style classic with a twist--I try to incorporate something about current fashion into a very classic, polished style.  Unfortunately, maternity fashion leaves MUCH to be desired, but I'm trying.  I refuse to be fashionless for nine months.  My feet, though, will not suffer. I have an unhealthy obsession with shoes, particularly boots and just a gorgeous, well-made pair of shoes.  Half of my shoes are in storage right now, and I still have a good...oh 25 pair or more traveling with me.  Like I said, unhealthy. 

As I thought about the prompt today, I knew I had to show off my shoes.  Now, it's very hard to get a good picture of shoes when one is sitting in an office waiting for a student to show up.  Legs on desk...no...and getting legs off desk ends ungracefully. Shoes against ugly blue carpet...well, I guess it has to work.  These aren't my favorite shoes, but how can one go wrong with timeless black peep toes, 4.5 inch heel?   My legs really aren't orange, but the sock tan is very real.

Ahhh....shoes
 People have told me that I will have to stop wearing heels because of the baby. Come on people. My shoes are part of me. I'll agree to wear a wedge or a slightly shorter heel, but don't count on too much more.  Unless of course the dr tells me I have to stop, and in that case, I'll listen. 

OH and for the record, my outfit is actually pretty darn cute today :) I just have no one to take a photo of it.

Monday, September 17, 2012

New and Garden [photo challenge]

First and foremost, CONGRATS to Court at Pathway to Parenthood and L at Tiny Bits of Hope for their amazing news!!!! I couldn't be happier for y'all.

And on to Em's Photo Challenge.  I'm missing Saturday's prompt, "Alice in Wonderland," but I'm waiting for inspiration for that one.  In the meantime, today's prompt is GARDEN.  At our old house, DH kept the most beautiful garden.  Last summer, we had probably about 300 pounds of tomatoes.  I kept and herb garden as well, but this garden is definitely more stunning.  I can't wait till he has room to garden again.

Beautiful garden
 Yesterday's prompt was NEW.  This is the piggy bank my principal gave me last week when we found out we're having a boy. So precious! I could really label this whole experience as "new," but I don't think there's a photo for that :)

Friday, September 14, 2012

Risotto recipe as a follow up to the grains photo

Serves 4 (courtesy of AD and probably RH before her)


Ingredients
 
  • 3 C water
  • 1 C arborio rice
  • 4 tbsp butter (1/2 stick)
  • 1 chicken bouillon cube
  • 1/2-2/3 c grated Romano (or any salty cheese. I've used good, aged white cheddar as well as Parmesan)
  • salt to taste
  1.  Bring water to boil in medium saucepan and add butter, bouillon and rice. Cover and turn heat to low and simmer 20 minutes.
  2. Uncover and turn heat to med, stirring until rice is goopy but not wet, about 5 minutes. You must be stirring constantly. I find that I like a "wetter" risotto, so stir to whatever consistency you prefer.  As Wolfgang Puck says, a good risotto should spread on the plate when you shake the plate. 
  3. Add Romano and salt to taste and stir until combined. This is also where I add in the "fixings." I typically use a good quality mushroom, sauteed, but I've also used prosciutto (to die for).  My friends use squash as well.  

Grain [photo challenge]

I love carbs, and to me, grains means carbs.  I mean, I have a love/hate relationship with carbs, or at least I did before Baby Boy popped into the scene.  The only time I guiltlessly ate carbs was before a long run.  One of my favorite GRAINS (per today's photo challenge) is arborio rice, more commonly known as the rice that turns into the amazingness that is risotto.  I had the pleasure of living with three chefs-in-training in college who are now the most amazing chefs ever.  The meals they create on weeknights make my meals look like fast food.  And I think I'm a decent cook. 

Anyway, one of the girls shared her recipe for easy risotto. Seriously, easiest risotto ever.  No pot-watching or boiling-water-filled-ladles involved!  One of the best things is that this risotto is a blank slate for other flavors.

Easy risotto, for dear Em Hart's Photo Challenge

I'd be willing to post the recipe if people want it :)

Thursday, September 13, 2012

The BLUE details

I apologize in advance for this long post, but I have a lot to say :)

If you didn't see my blue picture from last night, we found out yesterday that we are expecting a little baby boy in February, and we couldn't be more excited.  After losing Malachi in December, I thought for sure that we had "used" our boy chance, but God is good.  There is a part of me that feels proud to be carrying a boy, as if I've done something great (ha, I didn't do anything actually). I am currently reading the Game of Thrones series in which it is the duty of the queen (one of the only duties) to produce a boy.  Now, I'm not saying this is my duty at all, but I like to think that our little boy will carry on our name, and that's a pretty cool feeling. Plus, I'll have to pay a lot less for a wedding one day. 

Ok on to the actually anatomy scan. I was a nervous wreck.  I think I felt baby move yesterday during class; it felt like someone had lightly drawn their finger across the back of my hand, but across the top of my tummy.  We got to Dr. N's office.  She doesn't actually do the anatomy scan--another company comes in and does it.  We waited for about 30 minutes during which I peed like five times and almost died of nervousness.  We finally got back there and the tech was horrible.  She was mean, listening to her Pandora OUT LOUD, and really not willing to answer any of our questions.  We wanted to know what each part was and if it was "normal," and she says to us "do you have a history of birth defects in your family?" I said no...WHY? She responded, "you just seem very concerned about it." Well, no shit Sherlock.  Isn't everyone concerned about it? I will be complaining about this woman today. (yes, I'm that girl)

I told the tech we wanted to know the gender immediately, which she didn't tell us.  Every time she flashed to the body, though, it was VERY obvious we had a boy.  He was showing that thing off!  Much to his daddy's pleasure, of course.  Baby Boy was CRAZY, moving everywhere, kicking, squirming, and generally blocking his face from our view.  At one point, he flipped from one side to the other!  I am not feeling all this yet, and I can't imagine having this little jumping bean in my belly.  So far, baby boy is just like his daddy--never able to sit still. 

As we got to the end of the scan, I asked the tech if everything looked good.  She said yes.  I asked about Down's Syndrome markers.  Anyone who reads the Internet (and cares) knows these markers--no nasal bone, issue with the heart chamber, shorter femur bone, etc.  I asked if she had determined any of these and she said, "you didn't get the genetic scanning? That's the only way to know." Bullshit. As we left the office, I asked DH if he was excited.  Of course, he was thrilled with the BOY, but he was worried that something was wrong and that she didn't tell us, or that she didn't take enough time to care.  He said he was hoping to know if baby had any issues and he didn't feel confident in the tech at all.  Well, this threw me into a tailspin.

As I ran my errands to prepare for our reveal, I called the nurse and left a message, asking if Dr. N. could look at the preliminary reports and get back to me.  And then the absolute panic hit.  I lost it, sobbing as if someone had died.  I called the nurse AGAIN and left a hysterical message, convinced that something was wrong with the baby and the tech didn't tell us.  I called DH hysterically saying the same thing.  I had lost all joy, partially because the tech was horrible.  My wonderful nurse L finally called back and said if something was wrong, the tech would've gotten the Dr.  She said the techs often say TOO much, so if she told us everything was fine, then most likely, everything is fine.  Dr. N. will review my preliminary report today and L will call me back.  I also believe that this was the Enemy's attack on my joy.  My greatest fear is that something will be wrong with my baby, and I believe that the Enemy preyed on that.  I began praying for peace, and sure enough, within about an hour of getting home, I was at peace. 

I will say that there is a part of me that is still nervous and worried, but not to the point of hysteria.  We have great crotch shots (I'll post one on Baby Boy's page later today), but because he was moving so much, his profile picture is just like one big forehead (clearly defined nasal bone, though ;-) ).  I go for my next check up on Sept. 25, and I may see if Dr. N. will do another scan--not a big one, just a peek--since this one was so horrible. 

If you've read this far, thanks :) The outpouring of LOVE and CONGRATS here has just been unbelievable!  Court, L, Elizabeth, and Mommy Someday are all in "waiting" situations right now, and I hope and pray that all of this situations end with good news.  I'm officially in blog stalker mode :)

More pics of gender reveal to follow!

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Blue

In the words of Carrie Bradshaw, "you have a teeny tiny penis growing inside of you!"

Run [photo challenge]



walking shoes not fulfilling their true purpose as running shoes

I am a runner.  I have run 4 half marathons and a full marathon, and I plan on training again for at least a half marathon post-baby.  When we had our pre-conception meeting in Feb. 2011, Dr. N told me to cut back on the running because I was losing too much body fat.  So as if I thought I'd get pregnant right away (ha.ha.ha) I cut back.  Since then, I probably only averaged 12-15 miles a week.  After each of my surgeries, December through March, I wasn't allowed to excercise, so my running tapered off.  Now, if I run, I think I will fall forward flat on my face.  My body feels off balance, and I've definitely lost my stride.  However, I am still a runner.  I love the first run in the cool fall mornings; I love watching the world wake up on an early morning jog; I love the feeling I get when I sit down to stretch and take off my shoes.  One of my greatest accomplishments in life is crossing the finish line of the marathon. If my favorite running shoes weren't stowed somewhere amidst the two storage areas and countless boxes, I would've taken a picture of those, but these, my current "running" shoes, have been downgraded to walking shoes. You'll notice my bare feet in the pic, as my shoes got no action yesterday.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

One more sleep until...

To Em and all you other photo challengers out there...I'm switching today and tomorrow's prompt because....


TOMORROW WE FIND OUT THE GENDER OF BABY B! 


So maybe, just maybe, I will have a little BLUE photo for you tomorrow.  We are going to do a gender reveal with our fam and closest friends, minus DD who has now left the beautiful south for drier pastures in California :( 

Of course, DH wants a little boy. But here's the kicker: he wants to name him Legend.  I still can't figure out if he's serious or just pestering me.  We decided on the middle name Jerred for a boy when I was pregnant with Malachi.  Jerred is a combination of both of our dads--Jerry and Ed--two of the most important men in both of our lives.  So after DH suggested Legend, he immediately suggested Jerry as the middle name.

Legend...Jerry...yes, like legendary, like How I Met Your Mother.  Oh. No. This will NOT be the name of my firstborn.   I am not amused, especially when he keeps patting my belly and saying "my little legend." UGH! What do you think of my oh-so-clever hubs, or the name Legend for that matter?

So I will leave you waiting with bated breath, I'm sure, until I post a BLUE or a PINK photo tomorrow. 

Monday, September 10, 2012

Honey and Morning [photo challenge]

Honey and morning are two words that just sound so beautiful together.   

My English muffin, smothered in southern honey. 

Dear Em, are these muffins really like the muffins you get in England, or do people just call them that for fun?

Driving to work this morning. What you can't see in this picture is that our temps are in the low 60s after months of near-100 degree weather! What an amazing start to my week.

Truly enjoying Em's photo challenge!  

Friday, September 7, 2012

Golden [photo challenge]

**I talk about babies in this post, if you're in a rough place right now, you may not want to read on**

I'm sitting here typing as our student worship band is practicing for chapel this morning--chapel is my favorite part about being at a private school :) I wish you all could here the voices that are emanating from the auditorium and through my office. What a beautiful way to start my day, and my optimistic post on GOLDEN.

One of my best friends EVER EVER in the whole world, DD, found out she was pregnant about a month ago.  I've blogged about her before, and before that, too. She and her hubs had been TTC for a while (almost a year, and then she had tried for years before that with her exhub), and after a visit with a really, horrible, terrible doctor, she had prepared herself for fertility testing starting in November.  And then came the positive test. 

So my golden picture isn't really GOLD, per say, but to me, it is golden.  There is nothing that can touch the elation I feel at this news.  That, in itself, is golden.  Our baby besties--these are worth more to me than gold, I guess you could say.  And trust me, I know that gold is expensive. My grandma sells her old gold for money.


I don't like this pic of me (on the right) but she sure is adorable!
 The second golden thing in my life right now (for which I don't have a picture)...WE HAVE A HOUSE CONTRACT!!!!!  Our house journey is so metaphorically similar to our fertility journey that it really deserves its own post :) So it's coming. It will be legen....wait for it....dary!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Emotions and a BOOK photo

I was flitting through my blog roll this morning and stumbled across two women who both miscarried at 9 weeks.  I do not "follow" these blogs but was simply clicking through from other blogs I do follow.  In addition to these women I do not know, one of my college girlfriends has now had two losses since January.  All of my emotions from eight months ago came flooding back.  I am always amazed by the poignancy of a feeling, even when far removed from the event.  I remember visibly what it was like to see no flicker, no heartbeat on the screen.  I remember feeling dead inside, like a piece of my heart had been ripped out.  Crying in the shower because at least then it was harder to tell that I had been crying.  Even sitting here typing this makes all those emotions real again. 

My heart breaks for these women.  I know that I am pregnant now, but every single day I am reminded again of what a blessing this is.  Babies aren't "luck" or "mistakes," and for women who think they are, try walking in the shoes of someone who's experienced loss or infertility, or both.  To those of you struggling right now, you're not alone, at least in this community.  No matter how many babies I am blessed with, I will never forget what loss feels like, nor do I want to.  I am part of Malachi and he is part of me, forever, even though I never held him.  "I will never forget you.  See, upon the palms of My hands I have written your name." Isaiah 49:15-16



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So now, on a different note, Em's photo challenge! Today, our prompt was "book." So, here is the book that I am somewhat unfortunately tied to right now.  My Educational Leadership textbook...in all its 40-pages per chapter glory.  This picture cannot compare to the beautiful one that I posted yesterday, unfortunately!

Don't you just love the cover? Oh, and the international edition was cheaper :)


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Pure [photo challenge]


Photo taken by DH


Tuesday, September 4, 2012

School [photo challenge]

Thanks to Em, I'm really enjoying documenting my days :)  DH is also very excited to see my pictures each day which I think is absolutely adorable. 

Today's theme is school which, as a teacher, is a pretty easy prompt for me.  This year, I am teacher, administrator, and student.  I think this picture sums up my life well.  Grading student papers while my own coursework lurks menacingly in the background and the Internet tries to summon me away from both.  DH made this little "cove" for me in my parent's dining room as we currently are homeless and study-less. 


My exciting Labor Day "schooling"
 In other news...we put in an offer on a house yesterday! Cross your fingers, toes, and whatever else you can cross that our offer is accepted, or at least counter-offered at a decent price.   I will be calling Dr. N today as I had some weird "things" going on this weekend, and honestly, I really just want to hear baby's heartbeat again. 

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Monday, September 3, 2012

White [photo challenge]

White is pure and innocent.  In this picture, my white puppy dog was sick.  She knew she didn't feel well and there was nothing she could do about it.  She just looked at me with those big eyes and I felt terrible because there was nothing I could do to make her feel better.  She didn't deserve to be sick. She did nothing wrong, and yet I was powerless to help.


My darling, precious dog curled up on our white comforter.



White.





Sunday, September 2, 2012