Spring Break Plans!

I cannot WAIT to blow this pop stand of a town on Friday at 3:01 pm! I'm jetting out of work and heading North! After, of course, I go home and let the pups out and feed them. THEN , I'm getting the babe and we are heading to Nashville to see LG and Grannie!!!

LG has some awesome, special, once a year consignment sales for us to hit up this weekend. I am hoping to find some clothes for this child, lest he come out and have nothing to wear except the daygown my momma is making him.

Then, we are going to play with my awesome grannie. She is fitting us into her busy bridge schedule. Girlfriend is 88 and practically plays bridge as a job at Vandy.

I am much anticipating some shopping, eating, gossiping, and generally just hanging out with our babies!!!

Then, on Monday, I get to go see my parents and sissy and brother and niecey Nash!! I haven't seen them in over a month!!!

We are going to play, eat, cook out, and shop! I plan to get my awesome rad stroller recommended by LG and Nicole.

(A little blurry, but still rad nonetheless!)

Then, I'll pick up my awesome two way monitor, thanks to my in laws!

(I know you've seen these pictures before, but I really can't handle blog posts without pictures.)

I have been stockpiling Buy Buy Baby coupons and HOPE I can use some on the stroller. I know I can use some on the monitor.

I'm just super excited to leave town and do something not in my routine. I am in a major rut-this is a super late spring break for us.

Plus, I need to rejuvenate before standardized testing and more conferences!

Husband will be staying behind to work on month end stuff (financial life!) and start getting Emma's big girl room ready. He will be building her shelving in the closet and hopefully setting up the criblet and other room stuff. We only have about 10 more weeks, so we have to get it together! No more traveling or entertaining after I get back-gotta get the crack down!

What all are you doing for a spring vacay?? If not a vacay, then a break? (I know, most people don't get spring break.............but your kids do! )

I'll update with pictures and stories over the break!

Me Likey....

I had a total craptastic day yesterday. Look what my awesome hubby brought home for me! He knows about my reading lust!

Now, I'm going to learn how to "share" books between other Kindle owners and read some stuff before making any purchases.

Thank you J!!!



And because duh. She's cute. My own personal (much cuter, better sounding) Fresh Beat band.




That is all. Return to your regularly scheduled lives.

xoxo

Updates!

HI! I swore I wasn't going to go so long without giving you a "conglomeration" report, and here it is, about a week later!

It's a busy season of life, that's for sure!

So, let me give you some updates on life and my CONVENCH!!!


I had my glucose test today. I PASSED!

Lots of this in my future, thank goodness!

However, my waist is not thanking me. It says, "Stop gaining weight lady!"

But, until the doctor says that, holla.

Don't forget lots of sweets too! Considering I ate almost half a carton of

Neopolitan ice cream at 9:30 before the test. Balls to wall baby.

This one has been a hot mess lately. Her new thing is purses or bags as she calls them. It is so cute. She is also saying, "Love you," except it sounds like luh you. So precious. Because? It melts me.

On Wednesday, I started preparing for my trip to Michigan with Sam and b.e.g. This was the weather forecast that I pulled up. I texted Sam and said, "WTH?" She replied with, "Bring some flip flops! This is warm!" Warm it was not! But, fun was had!

Kindle love! My dear friend Shannon let me borrow her Kindle for the trip and I had the best time reading on it. It was so handy to have about 14 books at my fingertips without any of the bulk. Now, I want my own! I really want it before Spring Break so I can travel with it and read without taking eleventy billion books. We shall see. Husband is on board with this endeavor, but he is also worrying about us buying so many things that require constant purchases. (See Keurig...........) :) My philosophy was that I am going to buy books anyway, and they're cheaper on the Kindle. We shall see!

PS-I secretly LOVE flying and airports because I can READ uninterrupted, not gonna lie.
And, it's not like I can clean or do something productive in the airport.

Upon arriving in Michigan, we went straight to eat lunch, then to spend some of my Starbucks giftcards on cake pops and red velvet whoopie pies! I have to learn how to make these things, and I don't even know how to make cookies from scratch! They were so good! And mini sized!

Rocky road cake pop!

Paisley's neck roll! B.E.G. was highly amused by this!

Fail on some noodles in prep for P Dubs DELICIOUS stuffed shells. Sam had to go to the store to get some more shells. Y'all, I am not even kidding when I say I will eat this about 2 times per week. I'm going to make at least 3 trays to freeze!

Somebody (read: not me) made some red velvet cake balls. Here they are awaiting their dressing of white chocolate. I only ate about 8 the whole weekend-I forgot to try and smuggle some home on the plane!

Not the whole batch, this was the second go round......

Mama found a new Coach bag. It is seriously sexy.

I texted Jason about it-he was less than thrilled.

However, I did not buy it. Yet. I do have SOME restraint.

I am waiting until I get another 25% off coupon. Anyone want to
donate one now so I can fulfill my bag lust? :)

We all treated ourselves to a shellac mani. It is cool. I will see how I like it before I decide if I'm getting another one in a brighter color. PS-I guess I'm clueless, but pedis in Atl cost 18$. They cost THIRTY 30!!! in Michigan. Ann Arbor. WTF? I almost passed out! Good thing I got my toes in shape last week!

UPDATE: I just re read my post and cracked up that I want a 300$ purse

and think 30$for a pedicure is ridic...just an observation.

 

Playing with Paisley. She sounds like an Ewok when she is excited.

Emma's present from the airport. She put tortilla chips in it when I got home on Sunday!

Super dark pic, but look at my love nug at Mexican! PS-not a

Mexican restaurant to be found in Ann Arbor. I would die.

Yes, I see that this particular paci looks a little obnox. She's still cute.

Bathtime!

Comb over-lookin like a boy..........

Saw this today at the store. Are you for real? FAKE TOENAILS!?!?!? Gross!

So, basically I had a blast, but was ready to get back and see my little family on Sunday! Next convench will be in Atlanta in the fall! Holla, we'll put an invite out for you Atlanta bloggers!!

Spring break starts on Friday, April 1st at 3:01. CANNOT WAIT! I will update you with plans on break soon!

Have a great week!

This Weekend

Glorious weekend. It involved the following:

Pedicure with this color

Got a criblet.

And some bedding.

And a new mattress.

And some other decor items for HME's room.

"Bought" a new pack and play with our AmEx points,

We'll need two when we travel.

Next up on the list to buy is this monitor-a two way one. This will come in handy when Emma is trying to get out of her bed, and I can say, "LAY DOWN CHICA!"-at some point.

Got some MUCH NEEDED maternity shirts (at least 6 of them! BOGO 50 % OFF!)

Some shorts (they look stunning with the giant belly)
I swear I'm not gonna wear mine with heels, and they
aren't that tight!

 And a skirt, to make my boss happy. He will be glad when i stop wearing jeans/jean capris/2 sizes too big khakis from my first pregnancy. Plus, it's cotton, comfy, and matches my flip flops!



What did you all get up to this weekend?

Travel Tips (a.k.a. I need you...)

Sorry for the Debbie Downer post the other day, sometimes I feel like a bipolar wackadoo with my sad/happy/stressed/yay! routine. I guess it's hormones and life! :) Thanks for sticking around.

Moving on, I'm flying to Ann Arbor, MI on Friday morn for CONVENCH 2011 and can't wait. But, I have to travel with carry on since A) it's a weekend and I don't need a lot and B) I'm pregnant and don't dress cute anyway. Plus, I think it's ridic to pay MORE to check a bag. Unless I'm going to Europe or the beach or somewhere for a long time.

OK ADD lady, round it up.

I have never (since the "smackdown" of the 3 oz rule) traveled carry on with toiletries. So, I bought a nifty set of travel bathroom containers that fit into a quart size bag from Walmart. Very handy, but I have a few questions for y'all.

I am planning on putting my essentials in here like shampoo, conditioner, face wash, toner, moisturizer, body lotion, and toothpaste in here. I am planning on putting my deodorant, floss, razor (can I take a throw away razor carry on??) in my makeup bag. I'm assuming makeup like foundation (less than 3 oz) and my powdered makeups are okay to take in a makeup bag. That doesn't all have to be contained in that clear bag do they? This is where I need your help. I don't want to get to security and have 200$ worth of makeup confiscated because I can't follow directions.

Times like this (rare once a year plane travel) make me wish for a Kindle. Things are gonna be tight in that carry on, and momma needs at least 2 books to read in/on the flight. Alone time!! But, I love real books, so it's not happening.

Please share any carry on luggage advice/tips you may have!

Good thing I can borrow from my girls on the trip!

Conglomeration

I'm alive!!

Sorry for the blogging silence. I am almost to the end of this "tunnel" of March. I have to do my state writing assessments (mucho paperwork!) and finish conferences, then it's off for a weekend of debauchery with Brown Eyed Girl and Mrs. Ruby Turtle Hippie Times in Michigan. CAN.NOT.WAIT!

In the meantime, I've got a HUGE random conglom of "stuff" to share. Let's begin with some pictures, shall we??

I got this gem from a friend yesterday (the recipe and picture). It is a chocolate cake made in a coffee cup in the microwave. Seriously. I have not tried it yet, but girlfriend knows me too well to be sending me chocolate/dessert ideas.  Recipe is at the bottom of this post. If you have tried it or do try it, please inform a sister on how it turns out! 

Oh my sweet baby Jesus. Look at my girl at 8 weeks old. Another friend emailed me this picture-this is Emma and her friend Harper. Are they not God's gift? Precious angel babies. They are now 19 months old. I teared up, then thanked God for letting me be pregnant again to see another sweet face like this. Which one is Emma? :)

Girlfriend is doing SO WELL with the glasses. It's been 8 days and she doesn't take them off! I am so relieved and so thankful that God answered my prayers on making this transition easy!! She is adorbs, duh. Here she is puttin' down on a Frosty.

This cracks me up! We went to Buy Buy Baby (superior store) and were looking at cribs for Emma's new room. We put her in it and told her to go, "Night Night" and this is what she did. Then, she proceeded to CRY when we took her out to move on to other things.

 

Love the Elmo she janked from the shelf and toted around!

Aaaaannnnd, said Elmo came home with us. She is seriously obsessed with him. I'm not sure where she picked this up, because we don't watch Sesame Street or have really anything with Elmo on it. She says, "Melmo." Be still my heart. He has a little mouth opening, and on Saturday she was stuffing it with banana nut cheerios. Priceless.

Reading with her Great Aunt Ginger. She calls her GiGi. Is this not presh??

 

Eating snack. I just have to show you how the glasses are just no big deal.

She is just my love nugget. Sorry.

 

Moving along, we're in week 26, almost 27 with Mr. HME. I'll do a little meme for you all, but I'm too slack inconsistent to keep up with it every week!

 

Frontal

 

Side

 PS if ONE MORE PERSON says I'm huge, I'm not going to make it all the way, etc, I'm gonna bash their skull in. So STEP OFF. Damn! How Far Along: 26.5 weeks

Total Weight Gained: I really prefer not to say. But, it starts with a 3 and ends with a 0.
Shut up or I will stab you.

Sleep: I'm sleeping okay. With earplugs. And a beanie pillow. And getting up at 4 am to pee every night.

Best Moment of the Week: When HME wigs after I eat sweets and does little karate movements in the belly.

Food Cravings: Cheez its, Edy's fruit popsicles

Food Aversions: Eggs

Symptoms: Nothing really. I've been tireder (is that a word?) this week.
Movement: He moves a lot during the early morning hours and after dinner. After school I'll feel him banging around. However, I have an anterior placenta and don't feel a lot of his movements. This makes me a little sad b/c I felt EVERYTHING with Emma.

Gender: Boy-HME

What I miss: Alcohol lately-not sure why? Seasons changing?

What I'm looking forward to: Getting to the 3rd trimester on Saturday.

And finally, here is the cake recipe:

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE COFFEE MUG CAKE!!


4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla essence
1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to your largest mug and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using), vanilla essence, and then mix again.

Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (high).

The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!

Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

EAT! (This can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?
Because now you are only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!




What's been going on with you all? I have 75 items in my google reader right now-from yesterday and today. So, I'll get around to reading/commenting. Thanks for all your sweet comments and such on my last post-it's just "that time of year!"

xoxo

A good day for glasses

Emma got her new glasses yesterday. So far, she has been excellent about wearing them!!

Plus, she looks presh, she's my little hoot owl!








Not a great pic, but still cute!




For some reason they look really square here-not sure why???



I'm feeling better, thanks for all the well wishes. I am in the total middle of HELL week. I am about one second from totally losing my mind and temper-no lie. I just feel so swamped and overwhelmed!!!

On Monday I have report cards due-that may not sound like a big deal, but we do standards based grading, which equals about 10 grades per subject. Times 22 kids. Not to mention I am still taking up and grading quizzes all week!

Then I have my professional evaluation due Tuesday-I have to compile 4 types of professional growth evidence and make a webpage. I HATE this. For obvious reasons.

Finally, I'm in the midst if parent teacher conferences. That's enough to send anyone over the edge. I have a conference on almost all of my planning periods and after school this week and next.

So, when you add in "normal" teacher jobs and responsibilities, it's enough to send my type A self off a cliff.

Did I mention I'm married, with child, and have that precious hoot owl up there to take care of? Yeah.

Sorry for the bitching, but I'm trying to hold it together and need to vent my frustrations! ;)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Love ya all!

Sickness and Compassion

So, I got the nasty sickness from Jason on Tuesday. I was feeling foul all day, then all of a sudden (while sitting in my director's chair at work, teaching from a chair) I got super hot and decided I may need to go to the bathroom and hurl.

And hurl I did. And continued to do. In the OB waiting room for my check up, at home, in Emma's bathroom, and in bed that night. Puking at six months pregnant sucks. So does shivering from fever.

A day of "rest," six loads of laundy later, and six pounds down, and I'm back to work.

Moving on, the other day our assistant principal sent this video out to the staff. It really got to me. I normally don't watch videos or things like this, but it's short and it's from Chick Fil A. It really reminded me to think about other people and how "Every Life has a Story."

Not gonna lie, I was crying. It's not pregnancy hormones either. Watch it and maybe next time someone acts a fool, you can dig up some compassion for their "story."


Every Life Has a Story from Dan T. Cathy on Vimeo.

Love ya all!