In Love...

Ok...I know I am biased but I am IN LOVE with this child! We had our 20 week appointment today and everything is right on schedule. He had 10 fingers and toes, four chambers in his heart, no cleft palate...and definitely still a boy! I have gained 5 lbs so I am right on track...woohoo!!! Me and the baby are heading to the beach for a couple days so this post will be real quick. But I had to share this one picture with you...started crying when I saw it! I just love his little hands up by his face...like I said...IN LOVE with this little man!

Favorite Beauty Products

Okay...so Melinda sent me another challenge by doing a favorite beauty products blog. I really have so many to choose from but here are some of my favorites...sorry there are so many!!

Philosophy Amazing Grace Body Shampoo: I had a client who everytime she came in for a meeting I wanted to sniff her..really! I finally asked her what perfume she was wearing and prayed that is wasn't perfume (b/c I really don't like it) and lo! and behold it wasn't! All about the Philosophy Amazing Grace products...IN LOVE!


Loreal Voluminous Mascara: Ok...if you know me at all you know that I LOVE, LOVE mascara! It is really the one thing that I will not leave the house wearing...well, maybe sometimes if I am just making a midnight run to Taco Bell! haha I have been wearing this mascara since I was sixteen years old and the ex (Brandon)told me I had the prettiest eyes he had ever seen...flash forward 16 years and I still swear by this mascara! AND yes (to Melin and others) I have TRIED other mascaras...but really don't like them!


Proactiv 3 Step Skincare System: I started using this about 6 months ago and my face loves me for it! I don't use it as I should all the time because there again if you know me at all...I HATE to wash my face at night...really need to get better at that!


Neutrogena Body Oil: Melinda turned me on to body oil about four years ago and I have been using it ever since. I mix mine with whatever lotion I am using at that moment and slather it all over my body. I will say I have really soft skin...just hope that it works really well to spare my lady lucious friends from stretch marks!


Cover Girl Lipslicks: (Daring) Melinda who is a product whore (yes I said it!) was cleaning out her product CLOSET a couple years ago and threw in the "bag for Danielle" this lipslick stuff. It is all I wear now for lipstick. I really HATE lipstick and how it feels on your lips...this stuff is sheer and the most perfect color for my skintone. Pop my next favorite on top of it...you are ready to hit the town!


Victoria Secret Beauty Rush Lip Gloss: (Candy) I picked a couple of these up last summer as little favors for Melin's lingerie shower. Who knew they would be such a hit? I think every single lady who was there (including my mom) swears by these...I have about 5 tubes laying around at all times! Candy is the perfect color by the way! (the only one I wear)


Bare Minerals Bronzer and Cover Girl Classic Pink Blush: For those of you wondering how I get maintain such glowing sking admist this pregnancy (just kidding of course) I owe it all to Bronzer and Blush. I first bought the bronzer right before my wedding to try and acheive that sun kissed look...fell in love with the Bare Minerals Bronzer. Side note...I cannot use all the others as I have very dry skin and it makes my face peel from dryness. Then I add a touch of color to the cheeks, nose and waddle (remember Ally McBeal?)...this adds color to your entire face someone told me. My favorite blush of all time is Cover Girl Classic Pink...it is consistently an Award Winner and it is CHEAP! What more could a girl want??












MAC Eyeshadow: (not the color in the picture) To say I am addicted to MAC eyeshadow is an understatement...LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this stuff. My good friend Melissa turned me onto this great product a couple years ago and I swear by it! My all time favorite is Naked Lunch as a all over base and right now I am loving Satin Taupe has my secondary color...it regularly changes though! Plus if you save your empty containers...you get a free one when you turn in 5 empty ones! I am up to 3 empty ones and working on #4 and #5!


Well, I hope you have enjoyed my favorites...I have plenty more if you are interested! We are off to the doctor tomorrow for my 20 week appointment and another ultrasound...THEN I am off to the BEACH!! Woohoo!! A little girls trip for a couple days in Destin...don't care if it rains the entire time...just going to relax! Love you all!

Baby's First Concert

So little one has already been to his first concert! I had gotten Lee tickets to see Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban for Christmas since he is IN LOVE with Carrie. We went on Friday night and had the best time! Eli (name we like right now) just kicked and danced in my belly all night. Lee even felt him kick that night!!

Growing Belly and Little Kicks

Well, I have been so busy with work this week that I haven't posted in days...I am so sorry! I was 19 weeks on Wednesday and feel great. As you can see my belly is just growing, growing, growing...I love it! My pants are really starting to not fit even with the belly band. I went and tried on some maternity pants today and can't find any that I really love. They are either too tight in the waist and fit perfect in the butt or either perfect in the waist and way too big in the butt. Even when I am pregnant and gaining weight I still don't have a butt!!

Food is still my best friend...but now the middle school cravings are gone! Thankfully!! I am eating tons of turkey sandwiches (heated of course) and veggies. My body is thanking me daily...haha! The only annoying thing is that I am so hungry in the morning that my normal breakfast of fiber cereal and a banana just doesn't cut it. I have to eat like a lunch or dinner meal since I don't really like eggs and bacon. Lately, I have been eating a turkey and swiss cheese sandwich with some hearty wheat grain bread. YUM!

The best thing is that I felt the baby kick or move around tonight!! This week I have been thinking I could feel little kicks but this was DEFINITELY it. It was incredible! Secretly, I am glad that Lee doesn't get to experience this...it is so special to have this time with little man all to myself. I am totally in love with him! I had a dream last night and could see what he looked like...he was beautiful!

Anyways, we are off to a busy weekend...Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban concert tomorrow night...then the Inman Park Festival on Saturday. My office is having a big ole party during the Festival...it should be fun! I think I am going to sleep on Sunday....

Girl's Day

All of us need a girl's day every now and then! Today was the day for me and some of my best girls...what a day! There are about 5 of us that try to get together about once a month since we all lead such busy, busy lives. Four of us (me, Amy, Bek and Melin) were able to meet in Decatur today for a day of catching up and good ole girl time. We met at Bek's to see her newly painted house (which by the way, looks FANTASTIC) then headed downtown to eat at Sweet Melissa's. We ended up sitting outside for about 2 hours or so...we had lots to catch up on! After we stuffed our faces (girl's day is all about eating yummy food...that is not always good for you!) we walked around Decatur and shopped. It was a perfect day! I think we all needed it...

Tomorrow is going to be another kind of girl's day. One that I hope I never have to go to again. My good friend from college, Jessica, will be burying her little sweet Zach. He was born at 23 weeks and fought a very hard fight for six months. His little lungs just couldn't handle the fight any longer and he was granted his wings on Saturday morning around 10:30am. All of us Phi Mu girls are gathering tomorrow in Athens to support Jessica, Kyle and Maddie Grace. Please remember this family as I know the next couple weeks and months will be very difficult.

So Roscoe loves my belly and my luscious counterparts these days...haha! No longer is he content to lay beside me on the couch while I work on my laptop. NO...he wants to lay on me...at all times! It is funny because Winston is oblivious to my new larger parts but Roscoe has clued in big time. I wonder what is going to happen when they are too big for him to lay his head on as I type? Wait...how am I going to put the laptop on my lap and type with the belly in the way? Oh no....

It's a....

BOY!!!!! I just knew that it was a boy...had a feeling I guess! :)

He is so precious and wonderful. I am tearing up just typing this...wow, what an amazing adventure last night was! My mom and Nicole went with us which was so great. Nicole won't be here for any of my showers or the birth so this was a neat way for her to share a special time with us. It was also Lee's stepmom, Kim's birthday so what a surprise for her! We went over there and had dinner and dessert to celebrate. My mom is overjoyed! My dad is in Mexico on business but I called him while they were still doing the ultrasound. He is so proud and excited...and of course he cried! (he always does!) We are having Lee's mom and family over tonight to celebrate. Everyone is just thrilled!

No...we don't have a name yet. We have some favorites and are trying to make our mind up by this weekend. I want to start calling him by his name instead of monkey, little man or buddy. We will definitely let everyone know when we figure it out! It is stressful picking a name for a child. So much pressure!!!

Here are some new pictures...I am 18 weeks today so almost half way there. Only 22 weeks until I can hold this sweet one!!

Waiting...waiting...waiting...

It is like I am 5 years old and it's the night before Christmas! We find out what we are having tomorrow and I can barely concentrate on anything. The poll closed a couple days ago on what people thought we were having - majority thinks it is a girl. Lee and I think it is a boy but we only have a girl's name picked out so who knows?? I am ready for either...I just want to know what it is so I can start calling it by it's name and SHOPPING! My mom and I ran into Kohl's on Saturday and both of us could barely contain ourselves in the baby department. I kept picking up cute things and oohing and aahing...but then reason stepped in and I put them all back. Well, except for one set of onesies that had firetrucks on it....girl or boy my child will have to wear them in honor of my dad - Cap as he is going to be called. (Short for Captain - what they called him at the fire house)

Anyway, check back tomorrow night or Wednesday morning. We will post the BIG NEWS and some pictures of the little one. I am really excited about finding out but even more thrilled to see my little monkey (Amber, I am stealing this!) and see how big he or she is!!

So Thankful

I am so thankful today...for my sweet little angel growing in my belly. I am 17 weeks today and have known for 13 weeks about this miracle. Most of you may not know what it was like for me to find out I was pregnant. It was an ordinary Wednesday morning and I was working from home. Around 10:30am I decided to take another test (the previous one a couple days before was negative)...I really wasn't expecting for it to show two pink lines. But it did! It was a beautiful day and I remember looking out the window and crying out to God and thanking him for this precious child. I then fell to my knees right there in the bathroom and started praying and crying and laughing all at the same time. God had blessed me with a child! Now there had been no hardships before...no miscarriages, no years trying, no fertility drugs....we had been TRULY blessed!! But I still felt like it was a miracle...I guess we all do.

The other day I was searching thru my daily blogs and came across this blog...and my life was changed. I was blown away by Todd and Angie's love for their child and trust in God. I went back and read all the posts and cried the entire time. I promise that if you read this you will never be the same person again. Angie just like me had that moment in time where you find out you are going to have a child and you are thanking God. Then weeks later her life was changed....her baby was not going to make it. Instead of giving up on this child she decided to do what so many of us would not do...she decided to carry this precious girl until she was full term no matter what. This entire family pulled together and loved this sweet baby just as if she were already here. They knew that she would not live past delivery but that didn't stop them. Audrey Caroline was born on Monday and spent about two hours with her parents and three sisters...to read about it will both break your heart and inspire you.

I wanted to share this with you to remind you how thankful I am for this blessing that I have been given. I will not take this role of mother lightly and will try even harder in memory of sweet Audrey. Please if you get a chance...read this blog and let it change your life.

http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/

Yes...I am addicted to General Hospital! I am fully admitting to my addiction that started about two years ago. I have never been a huge fan of soap operas but this one sucked me in real quick. Thank goodness for DVR...now I don't have to make up elaborate stories of why I can't come to work when something big is going to happen on GH. (Not that I ever did that!) Here are some of my favorite episodes:

Maxie's Eulogy at Georgie's Funeral


Kate the Fashion Queen and Claudia the Mob Queen


Maxie and Robin Talking About Pregnancy


Sonny and Carly Let Go (just first 5 minutes or so until Carly leaves)

All you need is love...

Millie is finally here! My cousin, Kristin, had her sweet little girl on Friday around 1pm and she is BEAUTIFUL! I am not just saying that because she is family...that little girl is one pretty gal! Kristin was amazing and is loving being a mom. I headed up to the hospital on Friday to see her with my parents...so crazy to think that I am growing one of those inside my belly! Then Lee, Melin and I headed back on Saturday evening to have dinner with the new parents and chill out. It was such a fun night! The boys drank a couple celebratory beers and watched the Final Four as Melin and I oohed and ahhed over Millie.

I am just so proud of Stephen and Kristin. You can tell they are going to be amazing parents to Millie. She is one lucky girl! They already love her so much and are being so patient with her...learning all about newborns and their needs. Kristin just radiated love! I think this child completed her in a way she didn't know was possible.

If you can't tell by previous posts...my family is my world! You mess with them and I am Mama Bear! I am so blessed to have close, close relationships with my cousins which is rare in this day and age. We all make it a point to be a part of each other's lives instead of just seeing each other on holidays during the year. This week I have been even more aware of how awesome my family is....of course by Millie's birth but also hearing about a friend's loss of a child. Lee's current boss and my old boss just lost his teenage daughter in a car accident a week ago. I didn't know her but to hear people speak of her...she was an angel on Earth! Lee went to Jacksonville, FL this week to her funeral and was so moved by the events and words spoken. I am so incredibly lucky that I haven't gone thru anything like this...but life is short and you never know when someone is going to be taken away. Love, love, love your family and friends unconditionally and without reserve!! You will not get another chance...God just gives us this one life to love and make a difference.

To all of my family and friends out there...I love you from the depths of my soul! You are my world and I could not imagine a day or minute without you. I am so thankful for this new sweet, precious girl that has come into my life...I make a promise now to love her unconditionally and without reserve for the rest of her life! Love you Millie!!

Challenge by Melinda

I am responding to Melinda's challenge - but not adding all the quotes like she did!

So, Empire put out a list of the top 50 greatest television shows of all time. Bold if you've seen (almost) every episode, italicize if you've seen at least one. Enjoy!!

50. Quantum Leap
49. Prison Break
48. Veronica Mars (Thanks Melin!!!)
47. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
46. Sex & The City
45. Farscape
44. Cracker
43. Star Trek
42. Only Fools and Horses
41. Band of Brothers (One of my alltime favorites - Thanks Lee!)
40. Life on Mars
39. Monty Python's Flying Circus
38. Curb Your Enthusiasm
37. Star Trek: The Next Generation
36. Father Ted
35. Alias (Thanks again to Melinda!!)
34. Frasier
33. CSI: Las Vegas
32. Babylon 5
31. Deadwood
30. Dexter
29. ER (when it was still good - first 4 - 5 seasons)
28. Fawlty Towers
27. Six Feet Under
26. Red Dwarf
25. Futurama
24. Twin Peaks
23. The Office UK
22. The Shield
21. Angel
20. Blackadder
19. Scrubs
18. Arrested Development
17. South Park
16. Doctor Who (new version)
15. Heroes
14. Firefly
13. Battlestar Galactica
12. Family Guy
11. Seinfeld
10. Spaced
9. The X-Files
08. The Wire
07. Friends
06. 24
05. Lost
04. The West Wing
03. The Sopranos
02. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (only once with Melinda - Thank God!)
01. The Simpsons

I Love Lists!!

Ok....so if you haven't figured out by now I surround myself with tons of creative people so that I can steal their ideas. It is genius really! Today I am stealing my dear friend Amber's List idea from her blog and making some lists of my own. I will make some slight changes but this is straight from her idea bank! THANKS DOLL!

I love lists....my grandmother actually saved little lists that I would make as a child. Even at 8 years old I would write out what I wanted to accomplish that day or which chores to do first. They are theraputic for me....LOVE crossing off an item when I am done. What a sense of accomplishment! Today, I have compiled some different lists....some are my regular ones and some are stolen. (as I said before, not ashamed to steal!)

Grocery List

squash, zucchini, and tomatoes

hummus

Quaker Oats Cereal

Dasani bottled water

chedder cheese

organic chicken

Brown Cow Jrs.

Jolly Ranchers Fire Cinnamons

2% milk

Baked Doritos, Sour Cream and Onion

My DVR List

The Hills

General Hospital

American Idol

Grey's Anatomy (April 24th)

Real Housewives of the OC

Any Dateline special that sounds interesting

To Do List (now)

start Lee's laundry

get food together for dinner with friends

give the dogs a bath (YUCK!)

change sheets on our bed

put in order for Comair shirts

To Do List (future)

be a good mother

learn a new language

eat healthy during this pregnancy

have 1 or 2 more children

have a successful marriage

become more creative - sew more

Baby Names (no comments people!)

Priscilla James "Cilla"

Ginny Lou (just for my mother)

Thomas Roy

Cole Thomas

Calvin Thomas "Cal"

Wyatt, Miller, James