Slowly but Surely

Life is still a bit overwhelming, but I'm slowing getting the hang of it. LOL, by "getting the hang of it", I mean I gawk in the mirror on a regular basis at the growing melon in my midsection and the overall tightness of nearly every dress or shirt I own (I've already banished all "regular" jeans to the back of my closet until they can behave in such a way as to not laugh when I ponder the thought of putting them on).

I guess getting the hang of school comes with higher than usual blood pressure. Not sky high, or run to the doctor worthy...but enough to make me chug water and pay extra attention to Parker Baby on those days to make sure she doesn't take a vaca from kicking the be-jesus out of my bladder. Needless to say she hasn't. Her nearly 2 lbs body is quite the expert at hanging out below the belt these days.

She's 25 weeks grown today. Capillaries appearing, fat filling, air sac growing lungs all are on overload in her mini-me body. Sounds like her tiny little image is changing about as quick as mine. The thought of a full head of white hair cracks me up (we could see hair in her ultrasound at 18 weeks, but there's still no pigment! Can we say Baby Einstein??).

Running Club is well underway at school for 3rd, 4th and 5th grade kiddos. I am in love with the program. The image of 60-70 students, staying after school to get in shape, run and really just MOVE is pretty glorious. Plus it gives me someone to jog, walk and talk with!! I overheard a group of my 3rd graders talking yesterday.
The convo went something like this, "I can't wait til Thursday. That's Running Club day."
"I love Running Club!"
"Me, too. Hope it's not hot or doesn't rain this time!"
The Running Club weather gods have not smiled on us thus far. Day 1 was huge rain storm day. Day 2 was 90+ degree weather day. I'm hoping Day 3 will be cool and windy, exercise your buns off day. For me it won't really be the buns I'm working to exercise off, it'll be the gummy worms and orange Fanta pop. That's my once...or twice... a week splurge. Sister craves SUGAR.

Ok, gotta feed the melon and think about heading to school. I guess there's one good thing about waking up at 4am on a regular basis. Time to write. Time to breath. Time to just laugh like a weirdo at this crazy life that comes with spending all day with 26 eight year olds, and all evening with a kick-like-a-mule baby belly and gun obsessed hubs. (Mikey got his concealed weapon license. <Insert cave man grunt> "He feels the need to protect his family."

I'm sure Mr. Man also feels the need for man time in the midst of all this baby/belly time.

Happy Wednesday!

Life Goes On

School is kicking my butt. Hell who am I kidding? Life is kicking my butt. But...I'm focusing...and I'm wading through it and with cooler weather is coming rejuvenation. Right now I'm doing my best to find a bit of zen and not take my overwhelming exhaustion and overall feeling of crumminess out on my husband and anyone else I come in contact with. I think being able to go out for a run/walk will help (now that it's not 100+ degrees!!).

We've had SO many things going on. Getting back into school. Working on baby girl's nursery. Dr's appointments. And believe it or not, the Democratic National Convention and the Republican National Convention ruled our lives for six long days. Because of those conventions, I crawled in bed alone quite a few nights. My husband was enthralled and couldn't wait to watch, cheer and curse at the TV. :) Parker and I other hand, watched when it was interesting but found our bed to be a much better place to spend our time.

I know one thing...I can not wait for the election to be over. It must've been my grandparents who taught me religion and politics should be discussed lightly and rarely.

The teachers at school have already begun to spoil Miss Parker. I can NOT wait to see her little tootsies in these. :)

Gina...I'm sure we'll take you up on your offer to babysit more times than you'd like!

I got to hang out with Mr. Maverick for a bit on Labor Day. That kid is a MESS. He annihilated a potato. Turned the water on in the sink. Had my grandma chasing him all over the house. Argued with my grandpa about shutting the door and more or less reeked havoc on everyone in sight.

He's pretty much awesome.

 Parker's nursery is coming along beautifully. Her crib is together...and for the most part it's decorated.

Thanks to our parents and grandparents she is pretty well set!! The pile of quilts/baby blankets have all come from family. I'm excited she'll be born in winter so we'll be able to bundle her up!!

 

We had a check up last week. She is growing like a weed (and so am I). She weighed a little over a pound and my book says she's the size of a papaya!

I have to say...even in fuzzy black and white, her ultrasound pics were amazing. Apparently she's found her hands...because we caught her sucking on her fingers/thumb. Pretty freaking incredible.

Even though there's an overall sense of being tired, cranky and just feeling a bit frumpy...all is well in the world and come late December/early January the crazy little bug that is currently reeking havoc on my rib cage will make her presence known. :)