Hello all. It's presently 4:38. I am pretty sure that I have spent more time and energy avoiding work today than if I had just picked a project and completed it.

So let me give you a run down of my day. At 8:00 I called in two prescriptions. I got dressed, washed my hair, brushed my teeth, etc. I left here around 8:45 and headed out. I dropped a letter in the mail at the post office, then I headed to CVS to pick up my refills. I called Medco on my way to GNC to find out why in the hell my Nexium costs so much. Apparently it costs so much to "encourage" you to do the whole mail order thing. I paid $161 for one month, 3 months mail order costs $100. They call it encouragement I call it having my eyeballs screwed out! I expressed my displeasure with this circumstance to the lady who was unfortunate enough to receive my call this morning, as politely as I could since I understand she doesn't make the policies. So, mail order it is... cause I don't like pissing money away. I am, by this time, in Wal-Mart because GNC isn't open for a bit longer and I don't want to go home only to have to come back. I end up getting Marlie's birthday present while I am in Wal-Mart. Yes it is early, but I don't know what the circumstances will be around her birthday and if I get it now, I can give it to Casie in Louisiana and she can let her open it then or give it to her on her birthday. Either way I am not a crappy Aunt and forget to get my neice something.

After I get out of the Wal-Mart I head over to GNC. I get the Omega 3 chews that I came for and I am outta there. Then it's "Home James". I brought in my pills and presents and got on craigslist to look for a cheap Baby Bjorn. Found one! Corresponded with the lady and arranged to meet to pick it up. I also knew that the oil in the truck needed to be changed so after a bit of IM'ing with Jan-E-Poo I left again. (All this in an effort to take a day off... sounds like I took it easy, huh?) When I left the house I realized that Angie had called, so I called her back. She was going to come over to paint on the mural, but I wasn't going to be home. Also, that's really Tancy's project and I wouldn't know what she wants or doesn't want... so after a good conversation I suggested that she might come when Tancy's home. We'll have to work that out, scheduling you know.

So I go to the Toyota dealership first. They tell me I am due for my 60,000 mile tune up (since we are under warranty till 100,000 we stick to regular maintenance stringently) and it was going to be about $450 and 2 hours. The lady recognized me, I swear between the two vehicles I am in there very regular! She asked if I was waiting, I answered "I don't have much of a choice, unless you are going to give me a car." To which she responded "Let me get you one!" That's how you know we've spent alot of money there and continue to spend alot of money there! It took about 20 minutes and I had a car. I left out to meet the lady with the Baby Bjorn.

I had to wait in Charlotte, at lunchtime, for about 30 minutes. No worries, didn't cost me anything but time to wait and it was better than being at the dealership! She got there, took all of 5 minutes $10.00 and a new (though slightly faded from wash) Baby Bjorn... Craigslist baby!
I headed back to the dealership. By the time I got back I had been gone 1 hour. I had asked them to wash the truck... nasty thing... and I asked about the inspection sticker as well since it expires this month. Since they had done something with the engine that triggers a sensor for a few days they couldn't do the inspection sticker. I waited 2 hours at the dealership from that point for the truck to be ready. But when it was ready it looked good and smelled good. I was pleased.

I left the dealership and went to Sam's Club to renew our membership there. I wanted to see if they had freezers... they didn't at this particular Sam's. I want to check the one in Hickory still. From there I headed home, no point in looking for something to spend money on... cause ya'll know I can spend some money!

I came home, threw the Baby Bjorn in the washer and started the dishwasher. I got on the phone with Blue Cross Blue Shield to confirm some information I had recieved from the hospital and to find out what needs to be done for the name change (once that's final) and to add the baby. I got the information from them (we have to go through Duke) and put that down in Word for future reference. Then I had an email exchange with Kelly, that was good. I think of them often, but with all the technology we still somehow don't stay connected. Life I suppose. I had had a couple of emails with Aunt Wanda earlier, that was nice too.

I just brought the puppies in to eat and in a minute I will go get the laundry and start at least a load of clothes. I am not sure I did a great job of relaxing today, but I didn't do anything overly strenuous... that's obviously the best I can do. I have to take a picture to send to Aunt Jan here in just a bit, I promised I would when I got home... I am home. LOL.

Our roofer/siding/gutter fella came to pick up some tools and check for nails after finishing the siding job. Listen to what this asshole just told me: After asking if we wanted to keep any siding for future use... not wanting to haul it off if we wanted any... and us saying yes.... now he says he's got a dog house he can cover with that and he's only suppose to leave us what needed to be salvaged to replace damaged pieces... like we are scamming the insurance company by keeping it. Cause covering his f*&% dog house would be completely honest and within the full letter of the law. I swear, me and this old man are going to tie into it before its all said and done. He's yet got to do the gutters and we'll be rid of him. I just can't believe the nerve! Am I the only one that this riles up, even just a little bit? I have to check cause we all know it could be the hormones talking. Haha! I doubt it though.

I think we are going to have left overs for dinner... I just don't want to cook today.

The shed guy will be here tomorrow. The lawnmower will be here on Wednesday. So I guess I'll get back to working around here tomorrow.

Alright kids. I think that's all I gots! I hope you are all having a great day today. Its certainly a pretty day here.

Love to all!

Good morning all. I hope this finds you all doing well on this Monday morning.

This is my second time to type this out. I somehow told the browser to go to another page and lost all my blog. Bummer! That'll teach me!!

I added another step to my morning routine, sandwich making. I don't mind doing it, at least I know she'll have something to eat today. She's got a terrible habit of not eating all day long. It does change how I move around the kitchen though. Before I could have gone through the paces with my eyes closed. Now I have to think about it a little bit. But that's alright too. Like I said, just glad to know that she's got something to eat for lunch.

Got an informational email from a friend of ours. I had asked her about carriers. She's got two kids under 2 and traveled quite a bit with her daughter. She said that Baby Bjorn is really only good when they are small (0 - 3 months) that once they get any weight on them the Bjorn hurts your back. But that the Ergo is great and good till they are about 3. So, I am thinking I might remove the Bjorn from our baby registry (no point in someone paying full price for something we wont get to use that long) and get it off of craigslist. Then we'll just have to find an Ergo ourselves. I know that Babies R Us doesn't carry them. I trust Jeanette's input, not only as a Mom, but she could very well design this product and looks at things from that perspective as well. She said they put Luca (their little girl) in the Ergo when they were in London and she would fall fast asleep and Jeanette was comfortable to pack her that way for long periods of time.

I don't know how much travel I will do just me and Lillie, but that is my primary consideration with a carrier... when I am by myself, hands full and have her. Additionally though, we like to hike and camp and be outside, a carrier is certainly easier to deal with than trying to push a stroller up a hillside or carrying a kid in your arms. So, I'll just have to do some looking around.

I slept like a rock last night. I guess it was about 9:30 - 9:45 when Sandy left. She got her fish painted. We love Sandy, she's always there. After she left we headed to the back. I got my bath and got my pillows wedged in under my belly and behind my back to support me and it wasn't long before I was out cold. I woke up at 2:20 with a painfully full bladder, I mean it was ridiculous, especially when I pee 20 times before ever going to sleep! The clock sounded way to early, but I got up like a trooper and got moving. I'm probably not any more tired than Tancy and at least I can make my way through the day at my pace.

Tancy really wants me to take it easy today. I told her about my hands going numb now. She thinks I've been working too hard. I would like to say "I'll take the day off baby." when she asks me, but I can't promise that. Lately I just have trouble sitting still. I need to be accomplishing things, marking off the list(s), moving, feeling productive. I almost feel antsy lately, that is the best way I know to describe it. Like knowing a deadline is rapidly approaching and that final crunch to meet it. Doesn't make sense to anyone else probably, but that's where I am at. I have a constant mental check on what I still need to get done, what I want done and what I would like to get done (I do know how to prioritize and its important that I do, just in case I can't get it all done). I think it also helps to pass the time to keep busy... 12 hours is a long time to just sit and wait on Tancy to get home. When I'm busy, it seems, soon as I get turned around she's on her way home. And I don't seem to get so down if I am productive.
So, I don't know what I will do today. It probably wont be nothing... but I will try to take it easy. Maybe I will clean the breast pumps and set the parts I need to the side for replacement. That shouldn't be too labor intensive and it is something that really needs to be done. I think I can safely do the dishes and laundry too... that doesn't require alot of energy. I don't know... this is an endless debate for me. Best I can do is try.

Tancy only works three days this week, yay! Then she's got off four days, yay! (It's suppose to rain all but one of those days... bummer.) Then she goes back for 2 nights and THEN we head to Louisiana. I cannot wait. Honestly. I always look forward to going home, but I just can't wait to see everyone and spend some time. Daniele has been so excited that I also feed off of that. I think Casie is really excited too which also feeds my own excitement. I just might pop before we get there. LOL. I even have a list of things I am to bring with me, so I don't forget anything.

Man, I remember when I was younger I could keep up with so much information without ever writing any of it down... now I have lists to remind me of lists. If I don't write it down, its gone! Which some might argue would be a good thing as much as I have to do... But the problem with that is that I know I had something that I was suppose to do and can't remember, so it just creates issues for me. I scratch off my list as I accomplish things. Sometimes I leave the scratched items up on the list instead of wiping it off the board, this way I can see that I am actually making progress.

The start of the week is going to be slow, just hanging out around the house, accomplishing whatever I can... trying not to get myself in trouble. LOL. But the end of the week is going to be a bit busy. I have appointments Thursday (my glucose screening - will take over an hour from start to finish) and Friday (chiropractor for me, MRI for Tancy - so Gastonia first then back towards the house). Friday is also my Pops birthday! Amongst the running we will be trying to finish out the attic door cut out. We wont be bored, that's for sure.

Hopefully this weekend we can try to have dinner with Jenn and Tab. We were going to try to get together last weekend but Tab wasn't feeling well. We were going to try to get together this past weekend but Jenn had to work. Maybe we will actually make it happen this weekend.

When Tancy goes back on nights it has been requested that I make another jambalaya (this time with white beans). So I'll do that Monday or Tuesday of next week for her. Ya'll know how much I love to cook for people. It makes me feel good that people have requested that I cook for them. I am a sucker, I know.

Well, I have some research to do this morning, so I think I'll wrap this up and check in later. I hope you all have a fantastic day today. Its suppose to be pretty here again, maybe its gorgeous where you are too. Oh, and thanks for all the compliments on the mural. It's been a labor of love for certain, but we are both really happy with it. Have a great day!

Love to all!

Hello all. I hope this finds you all doing well. Unfortunately it is the end of the weekend... but its been a gorgeous weekend here, thankfully.

So today we have worked on the mural all day. I mean, it is 8:20 and Sandy and Tancy are still in there working. I only just came out of there myself. I think it is just about complete. I have posted pics here for ya'll to see and comment on... please let us know what you think. We've worked hard on it. There are some parts that we really dig, think turned out really well, we like all of it though. I think I am most proud of the sea turtle. I started on it and Tancy helped sponge in some texture and color to soften it up a bit so that I could instantly see it was what I wanted it to be. So, it is both of us, which makes it my favorite.

Mandy and Lauren got here some time after lunch. Mandy first, Lauren not too far behind. It was fun working with them on it and just cutting up a bit. I had an emotional day but I don't think it ruined anything... I think it is just understood that I can't help it. At least I am not a bitch, lol. I just got upset (cried) and that was that.

I cooked chicken spaghetti. It was yummy, fresh onions, baby bella mushrooms, stewed tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, olive oil and some seasonings. Lauren put the stewed tomatoes, some onions, some mushrooms and some sundried tomatoes in the food processor for me... that was essentially my sauce. It wasn't really saucey... but it had a light summery vibe to it that we all really liked. Lauren made garlic bread for us, also yummy. Once we ate we started to wind down.

Lauren left to go help a friend with a school project not long after eating. I was very glad that she came. I miss Lauren, we really don't get to see her alot.

Mandy helped me clean the kitchen and pick up a bit. Which I greatly appreciate... I was feeling a little overwhelmed by the mess in the kitchen. Tancy has been great all day, picking up, helping out, calming me down when I got upset. I love her so very much. I can't imagine not having her. Mandy was just about ready to head home when Sandy drove up. She stayed and visited a while and then headed home to wash up Lauren's puppy.

Sandy picked out a fish she wanted to paint and she and Tancy went to work on that. I went back in there to try to fix a fish that I didn't like. It was the one fish that really looked terrible in my opinion. We changed the color... but I don't know what else we will do to make it look better. I am sure, if I had to guess, Tancy is in there now working on it. Outside of the fish that Sandy is painting, I think the only thing left to paint is "Bruce" from "Finding Nemo". He's in the top right corner of the wall peaking out. Oh! And Tancy drew a little sea horse in the coral for me (cause I really wanted one).

I am done for the night. My leg hurts, my back hurts... for the last several days I've been struggling with my hands going numb now. I am sure that its all related, something pinched. Not too much to do about it. Luckily most of the hard work is done now and I don't have to worry too much about it.

So this week I need to sand the mud I put on the walls in the utility room. Re-mud if necessary, I know at least one spot will be necessary. Then I want to get it painted. Once that's done we'll get the upright freezer and the one shelf put in place and that will be done. Tancy has off Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday. During those days we plan to work on the attic access being finished out. That has to be done before we end up with birds nests in there.

Additionally the shed guy should be coming out in the next few days for a "site inspection" and to schedule the build. Our mower should be here by Wednesday also. We've done really well with marking items off our list this weekend. I am so happy. I will be delirious when the shed is built and we can move things (in the house and under the carport) into the shed and get even more organized! I love organization!! Haha! It will be soooo nice. It's the little things. LOL.

Maybe tomorrow I will take the day off, just relax. I can't remember the last day that I didn't have a list of things to do and managed to mark off at least half. I know Tancy's only had a few days off in the last three weeks and not only did we bust our asses on those days, but I busted my ass on the days she worked too. So, we'll go with three weeks, at least, since I just had a day to sit at the house in my jammies and do nothing. But then, when I think about doing nothing, I think about all the things I need to add to the list of what needs to be done (getting the breast pump ready for example) and that makes it harder to really consider not doing anything for a day. We shall see, I could go back and forth all night long on that one.

I got fussed at by Mandy today about having bought a changing pad. I told her to leave me alone. I have a list as long as my arm of things that we've registered for, so I am pretty sure one item isn't a big deal... then she fussed cause we bought the bedding (which I have already explained was being discontinued). I think we agreed to let it alone. That's one thing that I can get upset about. I know we are having showers and there will be gifts, I am thankful for that and will appreciate anything and everything we get. However, its hard for me to expect people to buy us everything we need/want. Plus, this is our baby, we are entitled to buy what we want to buy, before or after a shower(s). So, we disagree and we'll just agree on that point.

I am so ready for bed. My word. I want a warm bath (not hot because I am presently in a full blown hot flash... have been since early evening) and then to get in bed, craddled between my pillows to support my huge body (that hurts if I don't shim it up with pillows) and pass the &*$% out! 4:30 will come awfully early. I am sure that my morning routine will set me spinning on getting additional items on my list completed. Never can tell. I might also go back to bed after Tancy leaves. Haha! Yeah right!

Well kids. It is really past my bedtime, not that I can go to bed yet... but I think that's all I've got for today. Hopefully, soon, I will have more to blog about than my 10 thousand "to do" lists and what I've accomplished today. I really would like to blog about something with more substance again, very soon. Until then, you'll all just have to feel completly exhausted with me. Have a great night, if you aren't in bed already!

Love to all!

Good morning all. I hope this finds you all doing well. It's 8:10 in the morning. I am sure alot of you are up by now. I was awakened at 6:00 to my little bun in the oven squirming and kicking... I wasn't ready to get up yet. So I dozed off and on until just before 8:00.

So, our weekend has been busy thus far. Friday after Tancy got home from work we made yet another Lowe's trip to pick up stuff to start on the mural (we needed a dark color for the coral and sponges). We came home and got started on the mural. Tancy would set up the projector and then trace the picture while I was working on the coral. Once I got as far as I could on the coral I started helping her trace picture. Then I started blocking the pictures in in white while she was working on another picture. We got as far as either of us could go (my leg was really bothering me badly) and called it a night.

Saturday morning we slept till 8:00. That is nearly 3.5 hours later than our normal waking time when Tancy's on days (which she has been forever it seems).The room darkening shade really does the trick! We got up and had coffee... I know its my day off when Tancy makes the coffee and feeds the puppies for me. That is like heaven, just to not have a routine as soon as my feet hit the floor... plus she makes my coffee perfectly. Before long we got moving. We did our water change in the aquarium and cleaned up from that. We needed some things for the aquarium, so we headed out to see our fish guy. Before we left we'd picked up the items on our list plus two fish and an anemone!! We are a dangerous duo when it comes to spending money! But we've put off adding much to our tank for 6 months with the house being on the market and possibly having to disrupt the whole system, so if you look at it like that, we didn't spend that much. Haha! I can justify it if I want!!

We headed back home and I got the fish "floating" to acclimate to the temperature of our tank. Tancy went to pick up a test kit at the fish place here by the house. No one was coming over to help us work on the mural, so we decided to go shop around for a shed and a mower. We need both badly and we've allowed for both with our tax money, etc. We hadn't done any comparison shopping and it was good to just get out of the house for a bit. The plan was to do that, have dinner and then home to work on the mural (darkness is what you really need for the tracing process). Well, we ended up at Home Depot. They had the best prices on sheds AND the mower Tancy had settled on. So, once we'd checked out the shed and made our decision, we headed inside to do the paperwork. Let me just tell you that before it was all said and done I was over it. My leg hurt, it was more of a hassle than it needed to be... It doesn't have to be that complicated. But, we ended up with 12' of 16" deep shelving for a wall, for free (I wont tell you how much that should have cost)! We also ended up with free delivery on the mower (which should be a no brainer... but they wanted to charge us initially... only after a small chat about how stupid that was ... I mean, they'll deliver a $400 freezer for free that is coming from farther away.... did they decide that they were going to waive the delivery charge.).

We left the "homo depot" and went to the craft store for some paint supplies. With all the different colors we are using and the fine detail we need I figured that some true craft brushes (bought some at Lowe's that are for crap!) and a painters tray (that you can put several colors of paint in... and mix colors) would be very helpful. We got that and headed home. It was around 9:00 when we got home and we were both spent. Tancy fed her shark, he actually took the shrimp and she was tickled to no end. I worked on balancing the check book. I also checked out how over/under budget we came on our shed and mower. We were under budget by quite a bit on the mower, yay. But we were over budget, by quite a bit more, on the shed... however, we don't have to do anything but cut down the trees where it goes and then paint it (they want $400 to paint the damn thing). They'll level the ground and all. We financed it, zero interest for a year. That allowed us to go a bit over budget and with zero interest its not a bad deal.... like Mom said yesterday, I think we are grown ups now and can handle that. Plus, since Tancy really doesn't have credit to speak of, it helps build her good credit at this point. We'll pay it off as quickly as we can (within the year is the goal) and that will be another good mark on her credit. So, anyway, the mower will be delivered by Wednesday. The yard already needs cut. Then the guy with the shed will come out and do a "site inspection" and we'll schedule them to come out to build it.

Our neighbor is coming today to look at the yard and tell us what it would cost to make it stop looking like shit. LOL. Our front yard needs graded and then for grass to be planted and fertilized, etc. Our back yard, well, we think we are not going to have grass... with the puppies and a small area, we might have to just mulch it. We will see what David has to say.

So today some of the girls are coming over to work on the mural. We need to decide where the shed will go as well. I am cooking spaghetti today for everyone. Tancy will be back to work tomorrow and work through Wednesday. Come Thursday we'll be working on finishing out the attic door (tacking the siding back up and then framing it in all nice and neat). We also have to finish mudding the utility room walls and paint so we can get the freezer in there. I don't want to get it until the utility room is finished out. Just makes sense to me. It's a big enough pain in the ass to have to move the washer and dryer. The shelf will go up in there and the utility room will be finished! I can't wait. We are going to renew our Sam's membership so we can get bigger packs of fish, chicken, beef and pork to stock our freezer as well as diapers and baby stuff in bulk. I am pretty sure Casie and Chuck get theirs at Sams and save money by doing so. As soon as my list gets a little shorter I am going to start with the coupons and really doing my best to work that system (who gives double coupons, who has sales, etc.).

I absolutely cannot wait to go to Louisiana. I am soo excited! I learned yesterday that Tancy has never had boiled crabs like we have in Louisiana. She's had crabs similar, in a restaurant, but they were already cracked open.... not the same! So, we'll have to figure out how to remedy that. She's been craving crawfish, but I think we can fix that when we head down for the shower. Anyway, I can't wait to see my family and spend some time. I am excited just to be there for a while... and with Casie riding back with us (and us staying the night at their house) that gives us some extra time that I am really happy about. I get really nostalgic and miss my family something terrible sometimes.

Then in a little less than two months Mom, Aunt Jan, Larisa, Nana, Jessi, Missy and who knows who else will be here for our shower here. I am really excited about that as well. As much as I love going home to see family (cause that's the only way to see some of them) I also love sharing our home with our family. It's great to have them in our environment, to see how we live, where we live, etc. 

Well kids, we've got alot to do today so I had better get off of here and get moving. We need to head out in the yard and decide where the shed will go. Then we need to move the picture of the keys. Then we'll start to working on the mural. Gonna be a full day. Somewhere in there I have to cook too!! It's exciting to see the mural coming to life though, I don't mind the work.

Have a great day. I hope your's is much more relaxing than mine is going to be... but I hope yours is just as exciting as mine will be.

Love to all!

Hello all. It's been several hours since I posted last. I got off of the computer and got dressed, made myself a list and headed to Lowe's. I picked up new blinds (plastic to replace the crappy metal ones) for the back bedroom. I also picked up a shade for our bedroom to replace the crappy metal blinds in our room. I had to have the shade cut, which turns out the guy cut it about 1/4" too short (I remedied that by shimming (sp?) it with a carpenters pencil. Ha!). That was a pain in the ass, but I worked it out.

Anyway, obviously I came home with that and got to work. I took down the old stuff, cleaned the windows and put up the new stuff. I also took down the sheers in our bedroom and washed them, dried them and hung them back up. I washed the dishes... well, I turned on the dishwasher. LOL. And I finished putting mud in the holes in the walls in the utility room (wow, that's an awkward sentence).

The fellas are here replacing our siding and gutters. I will be so glad when that is done. Right now its just a noisy pain in the ass, the dogs want to bark and see whats going on... its a circus in the house... and they can't go outside till these fellas are gone because its super important that there's no mud on the siding. I don't know, just telling you what I have been told by the repair man himself. Nonetheless, it will be nice when it is done.

I talked to Mom for a bit this morning, I always enjoy that. She's presently working on putting all her bills on auto-pay. I think it's working her nerves so far... I know it will be a good thing when it is done, but in the meantime its really been a hassle. We had a good talk, Dad's visit, Casie staying a few extra days in Louisiana, bills, working around the house... just about anything. She told me that Maw-Maw had been by and Mom had read her my post about Pops visit. She said that Maw-Maw really seemed to enjoy it which made me very happy. Shortly after that Mom had to run, had an appointment she needed to get ready for, so we wrapped our conversation up.

After talking to Mom I called Maw-Maw, see what she was up to, how she was doing. I miss talking to her. I promise myself I am going to do better about calling her every day, or at least every few days... but somehow I never manage it (occasionally I will do it for a while, but it always falls by the way side). I feel terrible about it. She's my last grandparent. I love her dearly and I always feel better after hearing her voice. Especially when she's got an amusing story to tell. My Maw-Maw has a way of making you chuckle at something, even if you maybe shouldn't find it funny. She's a mess and I love her. Anyway, she told me that Mom had read her my blog and that it brought a tear to her eye. She complimented me on how I write and that the words were like looking at a picture. This is quite possibly the highest compliment I have ever received from anyone in my life. I say this because my Maw-Maw, like my Pops and myself don't go on and on about much of anything (that I know of anyway, haha)... it really takes some doing for them (and me) to let on about something being impressive. We just don't get overly excited (enthusiastic might be a better word cause we all know how excitable I can get!) about stuff. So, for her to tell me how much that meant and how beautiful the words were, how clearly she could see it... well, its a big deal... to me, if it isn't to anyone else that doesn't really matter. During my conversation with her the guys arrived to work on the house and the dogs were in full tilt so I cut our conversation a bit short just to avoid her not being able to hear me through all the commotion. It was a good conversation though. I can't wait to see her in a few weeks.

After talking to Maw-Maw I started thinking about Paw-Paw. I don't know how much I have talked about him here, but he was a truly wonderful man. He never would have hurt a fly, just a gentle, kind man. There have been people who have said we (the Devall family) act as if he walked on water. Well, he didn't, but if there was a man on earth who might have, he was right up there with the best of them. And to those people, who say that as if we are all delusional, you would have had to have known him... if you had, you would clearly understand the love and admiration that we all have for him to this day. I have been blessed in my life to have known and been related to some pretty wonderful people. Paw-Paw was one of them. I have so many fond memories of him. Even if its just the many memories of sitting on the back porch swing with him, trying not to swing (he didn't like to swing) and just wanting to talk to him, or just wanting to be near him. He wasn't a talker, when he had something to say you could bet it was important for you to listen. He didn't ever share his opinion about what might be going on in your life, unless you asked. Then you could bet that he would tell you his honest opinion. It was never mean or hurtful, even if it wasn't what you wanted to hear... he had already given it alot of thought and gave you the answer you'd asked for with nothing but love and sincerity. He was full of knowledge about things that to this day I don't know he knew... I only just learned that he had gone to carpentry school, but then decided he'd be better served to become a police officer. He wasn't boastful or judgemental at all. He was just a sweet, kind, wonderful man. I know, I am gushing... I've already told you that I am emotional and reminiscing about my Paw-Paw is no exception. The more I thought about him the more I wished that he were alive to meet my Lillie, to give her the love that he gave to me. I already know they would have gotten along well. Maybe he already knows her... maybe they met before she was sent to me. I don't know. But I can tell you that there's a picture of the two of them in my mind, one I knew and loved and miss dearly and the one I've not met yet but love more than words can express and can't wait to meet. She's sitting on his lap and her head is cocked back looking at him. She's laughing and cooing at him and he's smiling and chuckling at her. It makes me smile and tear up all at the same time. I realize this picture will never exist in reality, but it does very vividly in my mind. (Oh, and our boy name has changed, if we ever have a boy his name will be Brodey Fischer Dean, to honor my Paw-Paw, the man, the legend (big smile).) Brodey was his middle name, and though he didn't go by Brodey that name only makes me think of him. I have always wanted to name a son I might have after him. I think he would be pleased just the same.
I have a very clear picture of her with Paw-Paw Leo too, only he's holding her looking at him. He's belly laughing and telling her who she looks like and that makes her squeal with happiness.
It also exists with Maw-Maw Lillie Mae, her name sake. I think Maw-Maw would be incredibly flattered to have a great, great grandchild named after her. I think she might have just thought that was cool as all get out. She'd have probably had to have a beer with my Pops just to celebrate.
Again, these are my thoughts, day dreams, fantasies, whatever you want to call them. But it is certainly comforting to think of those who wont get to meet my children and be able to see them there, with them, some how. Call me crazy, it's never bothered me before! Haha!

So! Have you cried yet? Cause I have been near tears, of joy of course, but tears still yet.

The plan is still to go to Louisiana for a few days in September. I don't have anything finalized yet. With all the work in the house and getting ready for Pops to get here, getting ready to go to Louisiana for the shower, etc. I just haven't managed to get that done. Its a priority, don't get me wrong, just not as big as getting the floors cleaned, the attic together, the pantry finished, Lillie's room ready... I am sure you can see how it might get lost in the shuffle right now! But I will and when I do I will post it here so that ya'll know when I'll be home for ya'll to see Lillie for the first time. I can't wait for Maw-Maw to see her. Mom and Dad will of course have seen her because they will come up just before or just after she's born. Casie and Chuck will do the same. Tancy's family will also make a trip here shortly after she's born. And even though we will be in Louisiana for Christmas this year I just didn't want to make Maw-Maw wait that long to meet her newest great-grandchild. I should even have some quality time to spend with her. That always makes me so very happy. Outside of visiting with Maw-Maw, one of my favorite things to do is to rummage through a closet or dresser and have her tell me the stories behind what's in there. She's got stuff from when Uncle Roddy, Aunt Judy, Aunt Wanda and my Dad were kids. She has stuff of her Mom's. She has stuff that we played with as kids, that her kids probably played with. Tancy says her house is like the Smithsonian! She's right. Not only does Maw-Maw have these things, they are in great shape and most of it is in its original packaging!! It's impressive.

Well, I've really taken a trip down memory lane today! I guess I should get back to work in the house. I have managed to get the floors swept. That was bothering me. It's amazing what we track in... and then there's still bits of insulation turning up, stuff off the walls where I am putting mud in the holes... and the puppies and their hair. It's a never ending battle. I still need to put the dishes away and I really need to get something to eat. I just realized the time (2:15) and I haven't had anything since about 8:00. I'm not particularly hungry, but I should eat something any way. I expend alot of energy walking circles around the house trying to remember what the hell I am suppose to be doing. Haha!

It's a gorgeous day here. I've got all the windows open and enjoying the fresh air. I love days like this. I hope your weather is equally beautiful and you are able to enjoy it. Have a great weekend if I don't blog again before Monday.

Love to all!

Hello all. I hope this finds you all doing very well. It's Friday and that's wonderful. I am looking so forward to the weekend. I am sure all of you are as well.

Well, lets see, where did I leave off yesterday? I am not really sure. I talked to Mom on the phone and got emotional about Pops leaving. We had a good talk and it was good emotion. I just wasn't ready to let go of the connection I was feeling with him, wanted another day or two or three. But, that's kinda the way it goes and I am truly, eternally grateful for the three days we had. I look forward to many more like them, cause I know there will be more.

Prior to talking to Mom on the phone I had managed to fill 2/3 of the holes in the utility room walls (I couldn't get to the ones behind the washer and dryer). I took the stroller and car seat completely apart, washing all of the fabric and wiping down everything else with disinfectant wipes. I also took apart the bouncy seat that Aunt Jan and DJ gave us and washed that fabric. I had already done two loads of normal laundry prior to that and put them away. I washed all the bedding for Lillie as well as the hooded towels we've got. I put the stroller and car seat back together and put them in the car. I know I've got two weeks, but its what I wanted to do (and it keeps them out of the bedroom where we will be working this weekend), so I did it. I put the bedding on the bed and put the hooded towels away (not where they will remain, just where they needed to go for now). I put my dry erase board on the wall where I wanted it also.

Tancy called on her way home, earlier than expected (which I was thankful for) and before that conversation was over I cried! Jeeze, I had really hoped to get that out of my system before she got home. She felt guilty, like something she said had caused it... I of course told her that she hadn't done anything, I was just a mess. I am always a mess the day family leaves, but not always for the same reasons... this time it was 100% because I'd had a great time and missed him already. I wanted him there with me filling holes in the walls and putting the bedding on his grand-daughters bed... I can't say that he would enjoy doing those things, but just sharing those moments was all I could think about. Like I said yesterday, this visit was very different. I've had time with my Dad before, just me and him... but not for three days... and not the same somehow. It just was a big deal, his first trip to see me by himself. And of course I am pregnant and hormonal, so that makes all those feelings (all good of course) bigger. I had worked so hard not to cry at the airport, wanting to just smile and know that I would be in Louisiana soon, and I'd managed not to cry... but now I was just a mess.

Tancy and I talked on the phone till she pulled up in the driveway. I barely had a minute to pull my shit together when Tylor pulled up with the truck. He sat down on the couch and waited a minute, I could see him looking at me. Then he asked "Jodie, have you been crying?" I said "Yes, my Dad left today." that was it. I have no idea if crying for that reason makes sense to anyone but me. Tancy and her family don't really get emotional like that. They feel the same love and miss each other the same, they just don't cry (for the most part, there are always exceptions) like that. I haven't in a while.

Tylor was here for a while, we enjoyed visiting with him. When he left we ate our left over steak and potatoes from the night befores dinner at Linebergers. We watched some TV, I felt antsy, but tried not to just get up and clean the entire house or take something apart just to occupy myself. Tancy took me for some frozen yogurt and we headed  right back home. Then it was time for a bath and bed. I guess it was 8:00 (give or take) when we got in bed. I felt completely drained, emotionally, physically and mentally. I got my pillows situated with Tancy's help and was asleep in no time. I slept soundly till a little after midnight when my bladder woke me. I couldn't get the pillows in place by myself so I just got as comfortable as I could. I didn't sleep as well after that... the pillows make a big difference at this point. I woke at 4:30 to cramping in my right hip, almost like a sharp pain right on the inside of that hip bone. (before you go worrying, I already know that this is just part of it, ligaments stretch, sciatic nerves get pinched... but nothing to be worried about) I know that this only started because I didn't have my pillows supporting my body the way I should have. Ugh.

So I told you yesterday that the nesting had kicked in full force right? Well, it has. I want to clean and organize everything. I've got most everything cleaned already, and as far as organizing, I've got alot of that done too! I don't have Lillie's room all done yet, but we haven't even had showers, so there isn't alot more to do at this point. I am waiting to wash clothes till we have at least the Louisiana shower. I know there will be blankets, socks, gowns, etc. to be washed from there. I'll come home from there and nest away I am sure. I wont wait till the shower here just because it is so close to my due date. I'd like to know that if she comes early I am as ready as I can be. I still need to get new tubing for the breast pump. Maybe I'll do that in the next few days. That's probably the last thing I've got that I need to break apart, clean up, get parts, put it back together and get ready.

Today I am going to finish filling holes in the utility room walls. I also want to sweep the floor (if my hip will hold out) and just make sure everything is in its place. I've got laundry done. I need to run a small load of dishes (coffee cups, etc.). I am thinking that I might go ahead and replace the blinds in our bedroom, they are pretty crappy and yuck... and in the spirit of nesting I find that I want anything "yuck" gone. We shall see. It's easy to go overboard and I am trying really hard not to do that right now.

I am also battling worrying about having family in at the end of May (yes, two months away). I am worried that I wont be able to clean the house like I want to clean it before Mom, Aunt Jan and Larisa get here (Casie probably wont be able to make it). I am going to try to maintain as much of the "cleanliness" as I can between now and then... not having to do any heavy duty cleaning, but I know how I am... and I know how I will want it done. LOL. And since I am due just two weeks after that, I worry further about the state the house might be in when who ever is coming in for the birth gets here! Jeeze!

Ok, on a lighter note. This weekend we will be working on the mural. Tancy is really excited about that. She wants to get all the girls together and cook something and just make it a party so to speak. I think its a good idea. I could use a distraction to keep me from wanting to clean and organize, especially when I am running out of ideas in those areas (without going completely stupid about it). So I need to get in touch with all the girls and get that together.

I have hit an emotional phase of the pregnancy. I know that yesterday was not the cause, but it certainly seems to have set it off spinning. Its not bad, not pissy, teary. I could cry over just about anything at this point... lol... which you all know I hate! And just because I am crying doesn't mean it is bad... I could be crying because I am happy. The emotions are just more intense, appreciation, love, happiness, joy, gratitude (if you got the "hey can you make some calls for me when Lillie is born" email, you will see what I mean), all the good stuff. I feel that times about 20 at this moment.

So, I will take a moment here and express to my friends and family reading this how I feel about all of you. From the moment we found out we were pregnant (and for many of you the months prior to that) we have felt nothing but love and support. We knew that everyone was happy for us and it was so wonderful to know that we have that network should be need anything (and you all know that new parents need that network for many reasons) we could turn to any one of you and you would be there. We know that this is a new experience for alot of you, especially our families... its new to us, so its got to be new to you. And we know that explaining how your daughter (sister, cousin, etc.) is having a baby with her partner isn't always the easiest thing to do... but you've found your way of explaining it and sharing your own joy over becoming a grandparent, aunt, etc. We LOVE you for that. We know and have known from the moment we found out we were having a baby, that this child was already loved, before we knew boy or girl even... that she would have so many people there for her, loving her, looking out for her... and that is such a comfort. We know those same things exist for us... and that is equally comforting. We've gotten gifts since very early on. They mean so much, just to know that Lillie is already in your hearts and minds, that you want to show us that. We are very grateful. I am telling you, I am constantly surprised by the excitement level of people, in the most unexpected places. I hope that you all know, truly, how much we love and appreciate you... words never really are enough to express it, but they are all we've got, so I hope it gives you an idea at least. We are fortunate, blessed, loved, each and every one of you are precious gifts that we are always aware of. Thank you all.

Ok, see, emotional... and I had to stop myself! With that said, I think I need to get moving. Otherwise I will sit here and just sap it up! Haha! I hope you all have fantastic weekends and enjoy your time away from your hell holes, I mean jobs. LOL! Get used to hearing "I love you" and "thank you so much" from me... I feel them overflowing and I have to say them to those who mean the most to me.

Love to all!

Hello all, it's Thursday around lunch time. I hope this finds you all doing well. It's Thursday so I am sure you are certainly feeling better than you were on Monday.

Wow, it's been a great three days. I think I posted Monday evening. We picked Pops up at the airport and then had time to kill before my doctors appointment. We had lunch and just stopped in where ever we felt like it. We got to the doctor early and they took us back early. Everything is good, bp, weight, heart beat, all is as it should be. I start going every two weeks now. Also I have my third trimester glucose screen on the 26th. Not excited about that, it made me so sick last time, but it has to be done. After the doctors appointment we came home and hung out for a while before I cooked dinner. Pops and Tancy put the missing pieces on the crib... solving the mystery as to how the sides go down. LOL. Its amazing what you don't know when you don't know. Haha! It always makes me so happy when those two do things together... means alot to me. I made dinner, baked chicken with broccoli and cauliflower. It was pretty good. Cleaned the kitchen and parked it on the couch for a bit. I think we were all pretty tired from the day. I guess it was 8:00 - 9:00 when we all headed to bed.

Tuesday I had some things I wanted to take Dad to see and some things I needed to do that I was glad he was here to do with me. First we headed out for the cigar store. I took him by the plant where Tancy works first. I am sure my tour guide skills aren't all that, but I wanted to show him where she was at. We still had some time to kill before the store we were going to opened, so we headed to Wal-Mart to look at crib mattresses. We found one that would fit, my crib is apparently a bit longer than most, and a changing pad as well. They were much cheaper at Wal-Mart than they would have been at Babies R Us. $60 for the two, the mattress alone would have cost twice that! I was so pleased with our find and we paid the lady and took our plunder to the car. Now it was time we head on to the Tinder Box, a cigar shop in South Park. It is in the middle of the lower level parking. It's a smaller place than where he goes in Baton Rouge, but I think it had some nice things just the same. He picked out some cigars for him and Tancy and got her a box to make a humidor. That tickled me to no end. I never, in a million years, would have expected such a wonderful relationship between my partner and my Dad. Just seemed too complicated and different... hell, I don't know that I ever expected it when I was married to be honest! Anyway, we got him a nice cigar lighter for his birthday present. It has a lifetime warranty and seems like a nice lighter to me. And hey, if he's gonna smoke cigars, he should have a nice lighter. Nothing like smoking a $7.00 cigar with a bar-b-que lighter! Haha.
Anyway, we left there and headed out to get lunch. We ate at Chili's and could have both taken a nap by the time lunch was over. Instead we headed to Lowe's to get a screw for a piece on the crib and crib rail protectors (which they didn't have). We left there and went to Wal-Mart. (Yes we'd already been there once, but I needed some grocery items.) We picked up a few things, one of which was a formed pillow for Pops neck, since his shoulder has been screwed up those seem to really help him. We picked up some grocery items I needed and headed to the house. Pops packed in the mattress and changing pad for me and I put away the groceries. I tell ya, it seems silly, but just having the mattress in the crib makes it look so much different... and real. We sat on the couches trying not to fall asleep between then and when Tancy should be home. It wasn't long, thankfully, before she got home and we left out for dinner.
We took him to El Paso, a place in Hickory that we recently found and LOVE! It was delicious. I dont think any of us left there hungry. Our only issue was the waiter, bless his heart, didn't speak much english and forgot our appetizer altogether. He kinda sucked... probably the owner. LOL! Nothing like a language barrier to make you wonder what you might be eating. Once we were adequately stuffed we went to Babies R Us. Since I hadn't been able to find the crib railing protectors anywhere else we decided to check there. I knew they would have them, just had been trying to avoid that trip. It's hard to leave out of there with only what you went for. They had the ones that are sections. Not what I wanted and it made me worry that they might slide and pinch her fingers. Tancy said the box said that they were made that way as to be dish washer safe. I like that idea! Then it was time to come home... finally. Tancy and Pops headed to the back deck for a beer and a cigar. I stayed outside with them for a while, but then wanted to just sit down, so I cleaned up the puppies paws (muddy from all the rain) and we headed inside. Another wonderful memory for me, looking out the back doors and seeing them out there talking and smoking cigars together. Unbelieveable. We were all tired. I think we pretty much went to bed shortly after they came inside... seems like it anyway. I know it didn't go exactly like that, but I know as soon as it was dark we were headed for bed!
It was a great day, we talked alot and laughed and just enjoyed the silence too. It was comfortable and wonderful and everything I had hoped for. We had found our groove with each other (like Mom and I have found) and we both seemed comfortable there. My heart was full.

Wednesday morning we had planned to go look at the nascar shops. Pops is a big nascar fan and we haven't ever really gone to check out the shops. The fog was terrible, so we left early and pottered around back roads. We got to Hendricks Motorsports first, this is the team he routes for. First we went to the gift shop/museum. It was pretty cool. They had alot of stuff in there. But from there we went next door to their shops. You get to see them in there working on the cars. You would NOT believe how many of each car they have in the shop! It was impressive, speaking as someone who is not a fan of nascar. They have two shops. One is Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson and the other is Dale Junior and Mark Martin (I think I got that right). The one for Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson was cool, but the one for Dale Junior and Mark Martin was awesome. We could have reached out and touched the mechanics. And both shops were sparkling clean. Again, not a fan, but very impressive! I would hate to be those guys behind the glass though... bet they feel like a bunch of monkeys at the zoo. Even though we probably looked more like monkeys. Haha!
Dad had heard on the morning news that they were suppose to be doing something at the speedway, free to the public. So we asked the lady at the Dale Junior shop what was going on and she told us they were testing tires for the next race. That between 12 & 1 they would sign autographs and that if you had tickets for the May race you got to go to pit row (we of course did not have tickets). So, once we finished up at Hendricks we went to Lowe's Motor Speedway. That place is massive. We've been there before, for a job fair. But it has a completely different feel when you are there to see the cars.
It was too foggy when we got there for the cars to be on the track. We hung out for a bit and figured that we had a little time so we picked up some lunch and headed back. By the time we got back they were running. You could hear them as soon as we stopped the car. Dad was tickled, I could tell. I was excited, just to get to share that with him and see him so excited. It was awesome already and we had only just gotten out of the car. When we got in they were running and man, the speed that those guys move around the track! Again, not a nascar fan, but when you see them cross the line with another car halfway around the track behind them and count seconds... and it takes 8 - 10 seconds to make it halfway around the track, they are bookin' it! They would get so close to the wall coming out of the last turn it made me cringe every time. They look like they are just sling shotted around the whole track when they come out of those turns. It is truly a sight to see. They stopped running right at noon, talked, signed autographs, did the whole publicity thing and by 1:00 they were running again. Amazing! No, I have not been recruited, but it was something else. Honestly, I could have hated it (which I did not) and it would have been totally worth it just to see how much Pops enjoyed it. It was clear that he could sit there as long as they were running and I was immediately thankful to who ever was watching over and made sure we heard the news that morning. Otherwise we would have been none the wiser and missed it altogether. We talked, we laughed, it was great!
At 1:30 - 1:45 Pops decided it was time to leave, so we made our way home. I asked if he wanted to see any of the other shops or anything while we were out that direction, he said no, nothing else would compare. I had to agree. Now you tell me, how the hell am I going to keep that standard up next time he's here?! Haha! Just kidding, next time Lillie will be here and that will be plenty for him!
We stopped to get the distilled water we had forgotten the day before for Tancy's make shift humidor. Then it was off to get Mom a 'prise. I took him back by (we had gone that morning, but the fog was so thick you couldn't see anything) this old farm house on a back road by the house that is just gorgeous, on our way back in to town. We picked up Mom's trinket and then home.
I took tags off of baby clothes and we both just rested. It had been a full day and very exciting. Tancy was home before long and we left out again for dinner. This time we went to Linebergers for steak. Mine was delicious. I can't speak for anyone else, but it was tender and tasty. We talked and laughed during dinner. I just soaked it all up. No matter how hard I tried, at this point in the day, I was well aware that he would be gone soon... it was a sad thought. I wasn't ready. Seemed that the past few days had been so wonderful, nearly perfect (cause I don't believe in perfect). I had felt connected to my dad in a way I don't think I've ever felt before. Our conversations seemed easy and comfortable. I also felt like I had something in common with him... I have tended to feel like we don't have alot in common in the past. But this trip, this changed it all for me in a very positive way. I mean, don't get me wrong, our relationship has been truly great over the last 5+ years or so... this just made it even better. I just wish I had another day, or two, or three... lol.
We came home and watched TV for a bit, every last one of us waiting for dark so we could go to bed without feeling bad about it. Haha! The last few days had kept us all busy and very tired at the end of the day. By 8:00 we were all in bed. Tancy was asleep almost instantly. Dad couldn't have been far behind because by 8:30 I could hear him snoring. It was a bit after 9:00 before I was asleep. Just a little to wound up from the day... and knowing that in the morning he'd be leaving.

This morning we all got up around 5:00, like every other morning this week. I did the coffee, puppy thing like always and then got dressed. I got some laundry going and picked up a few things around the house. I asked Pops to put the crib rail protectors on for me. We had a little time to kill and I just wasn't ready for him to go yet. I wanted a few more moments to lock away as memories... what better than him helping me do something in Lillie's room? That's probably been one of my favorite things about him being here, him helping in Lillie's room, being a part of that process in his way. Living so far away has a great way of helping you appreciate soo much more than you might (might I said) have appreciated if you lived right next door. I do my best to soak up every second (blogging about it I continue to remember things that I go back and add... and it keeps it for my own future reference), to just take it all in and store it away for the times when I don't get to see them or share something with them. By the time we finished with that, it was pretty much time to take him to the airport. We stopped for gas, then for breakfast (to go). We talked all along the way. I was near tears at some points, happy for the last three days and sad that he was leaving. I have had many trips with Mom like this... but this was the first with Pops... so hard to let that go.
Anyway, sorry, got a little emotional there... just not ready for him to go home yet.

I keep telling myself I will see all of them in two weeks. I can't wait. I can't wait to see Mom, Casie, Marlie, Dad, Maw-Maw, Chuck, all of them! And I will have a few days with all of them. That makes me smile even now... I just want to process this before Tancy gets home so I am not a blubbering mess as soon as she hits the door. Haha!

After leaving the airport I went to Lowe's and got some dry wall mud to fill the holes in the utility room and a few other things that I needed to get. I came home and opened all the blinds. I put up my dry erase board where I've wanted it. I started filling holes in the utility room walls. I stripped down the stroller and car seat that I got to take to Louisiana for Mom and Dad. I moved the laundry around and put those things on to wash. I wiped down every nook and cranny of the stroller and car seat with disinfectant wipes. I took the fabric off the bouncer Aunt Jan & DJ gave us to wash it. I pulled out the baby bedding to prepare it to be washed. I cut the non-slip material to put under the changing pad on the dresser. I picked up around the house. I've folded and put away two loads of clothes already. I've got the stroller/car seat material in the dryer and the baby bedding in the washer. Once the wash is done I'll pull the washer and dryer out so I can fill the holes in the wall behind them. Then that'll be done.

I feel accomplished, but I wish my Pops were still here. I guess that will ease some... or maybe I'll just have to keep busy for a while. I think that's how I got the holes filled already! LOL.

Well kids. I need to wrap this up. I am feeling pretty emotional and I think I have shared everything I can think of to share. You all know that I will post more if I remember more... but for now that's all I got. Tylor will bring our truck back this evening. I don't know what I will do tomorrow... I am sure though, that the real nesting has begun. I have taken tags off clothes, I am reddying the bedding, I will (after we get back from Louisiana) wash a load of baby clothes and put a cover on the changing pad. I will stack diapers in the diaper stacker and put diaper supplies in the portion of the dresser to be used as a changing table. I will get the room ready little by little between now and when she gets here. I know that the work I did for the last two weeks was prep of some sort, but this is nesting.

Love to all!

Just a quick note. Today has been a busy day.

Tancy got a cortizone injection in her "bad" knee this morning.
We headed to the airport and picked up Pops.
We had lunch at McAllisters. Not bad, not great.
We killed hours waiting on time for me to go to the doctor. Let's see, Wal-Mart to look at crib mattresses (opted not to buy). Then the Harley Davidson store. Fun! Then Northern Tool (store closing sale).
We got to the doctors office about an hour early and got taken straight back. Yay!

My blood pressure was 110/70, good. I had gained one pound, good. The babys heart rate was 140, good.
I start going every two weeks now. Then at week 36 I start going every week. Also, I go for my last trimester glucose screen on the 26th, fun (not really).

We headed home and showed Pops all our hard work in the house & Lillie's room. He showed us what we were missing on the bed and how the rails slide up and down.

We watched some TV. Pops and Tanc had a beer. I cooked dinner. We ate dinner. Now we wait for bedtime. Haha!

Very brief over view, but just wanted to post quickly while it's fresh and I had a second.

Love to all!

Hello all and good morning. I hope this finds you all well, probably still in bed if you are lucky! I am jealous. I'd like to still be in bed myself. This morning I am actually wide awake, I slept like the dead last night!

So yesterday I got off of here from my last blog and cleaned all the mirrors and wiped down both fans (globes, blades and body). I had said I would save it, but I got caught up and decided to just get it done. I worked till about 2:30 (cause I also decided to make the bed for some strange reason) and then got in the shower to clean up before my ME-ssage (cause its one thing I do just for me). I was worried about time because I had intended to be in the shower at 2:00. I still managed to be ready and out the door by 2:54 (needed to leave at 3:00, that's one good thing about not primping, I can be ready pretty quickly. Even with shaving my legs, washing & drying my hair and getting dressed I got it all done in 24 minutes! Hell, I even had time in there to let the dogs out, bring them back in and give them something to chew on while I was gone.

Anyway off to the spa! I got there about 15 minutes early and visited with the owner a bit. She's really nice, asked about the pregnancy and Mom. She also asked if Mom was coming in while she was here in May. I told her I wasn't sure yet, that I knew she would like to, but it would depend on time. My fella was nearly 15 minutes late with the client before me. That's alright, he's worth it. I ended up with an hour massage, which was great. My body is so tender in spots, its strange. But that's why they don't do deep tissue when you are pregnant, everything hurts already LOL! Just pressure in spots felt like deep tissue. But it all felt really good. There were times I could have gone sound to sleep.

After the massage was over I had to head up to Mooresville. I needed to pick up a projector (that I forgot to look for on Friday) and some more gnaw-gnaws for the dogs. Since we've taken down their kennels they pretty much stay in the hall while we are gone. I like to give them a bone or something of the like sometimes when we are going to be gone for a bit, makes the hall a good place cause they get treats there. Anyway, I get these things taken care of and realize that I am never going to be home in time to get spaghetti ready for when Tancy gets home so I pop in Target to pick up a few ingredients for a quick dinner.

Sure enough I get a call from Tancy not 10 minutes after leaving Target, she's on her way home. I tell her that I have stuff for a quick dinner tonight because of time (not that she cares as long as she gets to eat) and that she'll probably beat me home. She does. I get home, unload, cut the sausages and the onions and get them on to cook. We have sausage po-boys with onions smothered in bar-b-que sauce. They were yummy. I remember eating that as a kid, which is why I picked that for dinner to be honest. By the time we were finished eating dinner it was 7:30 and I was exhausted, Tancy was too.

I fully expected to sleep soundly after such a fabulous massage. Tancy's day had been crap because her knee is just getting worse. We were both happy to head to bed. We watched "The Celebrity Apprentice" solely for the people competing (I cannot stand Donald Trump) and I was ready for sleep by 9:00. I think it might have been 9:15 and I was out! I didn't wake up until 4:!5 this morning to the call of my bladder, I responded by saying "shut up and go back to sleep, you've only got 30 more minutes" and out I went again.

The clock went off at 4:45 and we both rolled out of bed. I could have slept longer, but I also feel rested. I got 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep and then another 30 minutes of that really wonderful sleep just before the clock goes off (when you are lucky enough to get that sleep). I haven't slept 7 hours without having to pee in I don't even know how long!

Today will be busy, but not nearly as crazy (hopefully) as days prior. All that I have left to be done in the house (on my cleaning list) is the floors and dusting. I have managed to get everything else done. I do have to put sheets and pillow cases on the bed in the spare bedroom still, but that'll take all of 10 minutes. I have to wait for Tylor to get here and get the other bed out before I can get that done though. In a little bit I am going to get the roast going that I picked up Friday. It can cook all day, so it was a great choice and it'll feed everyone with relatively no work at all. I'll brown it up good before I stick it in the oven and aside from chopping a few onions, that's it! The oven does the rest!

Mandy is going to come over and help with the floor. I think I'll work it out with her if she'll sweep I will mop. I just can't do both. Or, I could sweep before she gets here and get her to mop while I dust. I don't know... I should just get the roast going and not do much before she gets here. I think, no matter how we do it, we can get it knocked out pretty quickly.

Tomorrow morning we go in to see the doctor and for Tancy to get cortizone shots in her knees. Hopefully it will help her. She's really been suffering with the one knee and other knee has been trying to compensate and has started hurting now too. So something has to give. If the cortizone shot doesn't work then an MRI is next. What comes after that is only a guess. I know hurting like this really frustrates her. There are some people in this world who always have something wrong with them or seem to thrive on the attention from an ailment... that isn't Tancy.

After her appointment we head out to pick Pops up. I am soo excited, I can't wait. Then we are off to my doctors appointment. It will certainly be a full day.

I dreamed last night that I was in labor. I had started to bleed a bit and called my doctor to see what to do. It grew worse, but the cramping or contractions were only mild, so we waited to hear from the doctor. The doctor didn't call back and I was starting to get worried because I am not even in my third trimester yet. But the dream ended there.

On Tuesday I'll try to give you my weekly pregnancy update (I know I haven't done it in a while). But don't be alarmed if I don't (like you would have anyway) cause Pops will be here and I may not get to it.

Well kids. It's still dark outside... I've run out of things that I want to talk about and I really would love to go back to sleep right about now. I hope you all have a great Sunday. I really hope that your weather is much better than ours... another day of cold and nasty ahead.

Love to all!

Good afternoon kids! How are you? Playing outside in the rain and the cold? Or maybe, if you are lucky, in the sunshine and warmth. Either way, I sure hope you are enjoying your day.

My morning has been kinda slow. I just don't have the steam I had earlier in the week. After I blogged I looked around on the computer a bit, checked to see if I could find anyone else I know on Facebook and then got moving.

I took the dry erase board that's gonna go up on the wall above the phone and made my lists (yes, plural), one "to clean", one "to do" (projects) and one "to buy" (don't think I need to explain that one). I cleaned out bathroom cabinets, night stands, vanity, etc., which is always good... but doesn't exactly do anything that anyone other than me can see. We still have a ton of stuff under the bathroom cabinets. I have got to figure out a solution to that pronto. Also, our medicine is still in my night stand (we took the medicine cabinets out of the wall when we remodeled the bathroom) and that has to be resolved before Lillie is toddling around (I know, I have time before that's a concern, but I have to put some thought into how to work it out now). I freed up some space in the back bedroom (moving the stroller and car seat into the baby's room) and that made me happy. Once the bed is gone out of there it should be right where I need it to be. Fresh set of sheets and pillow cases, sweep, dust and mop and it'll be all ready for Pops.

I unloaded the dishwasher and reloaded it. I played on the computer a bit more. Not feeling very motivated. Then I was hungry... I got left overs and I am feeling like maybe I need some peaches for dessert. I am looking at the clock at this point, too much time left between now and time to get ready to just sit and do nothing. Alright already, I'll clean. I get out my bleach spray (one of my favorite cleaning smells, sick, I know. Pinesol is my absolute favorite cleaning scent!) and get to work. Counters, stove, cabinets, sink, fridge, MICROWAVE. I had to spray and scrub three times to get that son of a bitch clean. Not a happy moment for me I gotta tell ya. I wiped down the bench by the back door and looked around. Kitchen complete!

What's next? I refer back to the list I made. Damn me and my lists! I guess I'll move on to the bathrooms, I've already got the bleach spray out. I clean our bathroom first, cuss at certain individuals for the wax that is stuck to my counter tops from eye brow waxing (we're gonna have to resolve that issue). I scrub our bath tub and then move on to the toilet. I clean every solid surface in there (baseboards included) except the mirror and the floor. I'll do those tomorrow. Part of what I consider "polishing". Which reminds me, I need to add mirrors to my list. On my way out of there I wipe down the bathroom door, front and back. I then wipe down our bedroom door, front and back (the air return seems to help with dust accumulating in the door jam (is that the right term? the framing that stops the door when it shuts). I check the walls in the hall way and wipe anything that looks like it might need it.

Hall bathroom is next. Small room, same process, every solid surface except the mirror and the floor. When I say every, I even wiped the base of the toilet and every part of porcelain I could reach. I put everything back in place there and head out satisfied that everything is clean. I check the other bedroom doors for the same issues with dust as our bedroom door, nonexistent. Good! I wipe down the wall behind the table. I wipe down the bottom part of the back door (muddy doggie prints), I wipe down the utility room door and the carport door. I wipe down the wall that the carport door is on and the pantry door as well. I wipe down the washer and dryer.

Anything that was white and looked like it needed it got sprayed with bleach and wiped down. The side of the fridge next to the trash can, the trash can, the wall behind the trash can. I presently don't even want to think about there being another place I might have wiped down.

As I drag my ass across the floor, much the same as Scout does, just for a different reason, I start to think that I am getting waaaay too far out there with the cleaning. Now, part of it I have to attribute to nesting. It's a nice thought that the house could be clean when everyone is here after Lillie is born... cause you know at that point I am not going to be able to or care about that stuff. And Tancy will clean house, but she doesn't go to the lengths that I sometimes need. Anyway, I digress. But I am also gonna go ahead and call it like it is, I am cleaning everything like a crazy woman because my Pops will be here in just a little less than 48 hours.

Now, before you take that statement and run, let me explain myself. I always clean like a crazy lady when we have family coming in. Specifically my family. The reason for this is very simple. It isn't that they are judgemental or clean freaks... it isn't like that at all. It's because we have inside dogs. None of my family has inside pets, nor would they because of the hair, dirt and general mess that comes with inside pets. So I get worried that my house is filthy, that they wont feel comfortable because there's dog hair or paw prints or something ridiculous like that. This is just another fine example of me being waaay out there with something. I know my family loves me. And although inside pets aren't their thing, I really don't think they have a problem with mine (if they do its good that they haven't voiced it, lol). I don't think they walk in and look around the house for evidence of canines, expecting a mess or filth, disgusted by piles and piles of hair (there's signs of the dogs everywhere, but no filth or piles of hair). But I can guarantee you before tomorrow night is over I will have worked myself into a lather cleaning and worrying about what else needs to be cleaned before he gets here.

It's his first trip here without Mom and I just want it to go so well... the only place I can focus my attention to help that happen is cleaning. Again, out there. I just can't help it. So, I thought I would blog about it and let it go. I know, just like any other time, once the visit commences I will stop thinking about cleaning and the dogs and just enjoy my time. But as I sit here with the pups sleeping on the couch I think, I need to clean the couch and love seat before he gets here. Its been raining & muddy and they are gross, they aren't gross, but this is where my brain takes me. And yes, I realize I am a total nut case! And I didn't stop with wiping down everything... I knew I needed to, so my compromise was running my shark (small, flexible, lightweight vacuum) under the spare bedroom bed, down the hall and through the living room... as a precursor to tomorrow's rigorous floor cleaning.

Ok, so all that is out there now. Maybe I can let it go and not obsess about it too much between now and Monday. I will be expecting comments on how crazy I am and maybe even some understanding comments. Either way, I am sure I'll get comments.

So, that's my slow day. Probably doesn't sound too slow based on the blog... but honestly, I've stopped alot, played on the computer, wasted time and taken my time. It's been a slow day. I could have accomplished twice as much with just a little more effort. Which reminds me to add wipe down fan blades to my list of things to do.

Well, in about 15 minutes I am going to get in the shower and get ready for my massage. Hopefully, if all goes as planned, I wont do any more house work today. I need to go look for a projector when I leave the massage and then home. I'd really enjoy just taking the evening off and taking in the relaxation from the massage. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Have a great day.

Love to all!