Lots of stuff going on

This is a busy week for me. I have lots on my calendar. I must admit, I'm a bit stressed out about how much is going on, but I'm pretty good about scheduling and time management, so I'll get through it all.
I had my Midwife appointment on Tuesday morning and unfortunately the water birth was not approved. The malpractice company said "no". Stupid malpractice people! This is so common in many other countries, yet we can't have that as an option? I don't know if being in a conservative city is a part of this. My Midwife said that we won't break any rules, but if I happen to be in the tub when it's time to push and I simply cannot get out, then that's what happens. Hrmm, maybe that is just what may happen!

I'm getting ready to host a Bookclub tomorrow night. We are reading "Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons" by Lorna Landvik. I really enjoyed this book. Not a "chit lit" like I thought it would be.

Tonight we were supposed to carve pumpkins, but David is possibly fighting a cold and isn't feeling up for it. I had this cold last weekend. It's not a *bad* cold, but not fun either. So, perhaps we can "carve" out some time tomorrow or Friday to do so, or we'll just be simple and place plain ole pumpkins out on Friday.

Just watched the 30 minute Obama segment tonight. Yea, I'm pregnant. Every family he focused in on made me cry. I wish I were a many times over multi-millionaire to try to fund programs to help all those people in need. I truly hope Obama is elected and that all these changes he speaks upon can happen. We need to get back to the "Yes, I am my brother's keeper" mentality. I feel like it's moved so far away from that way of thinking. I hear many people speaking from the "at least it's not me" mentality. Just think what our country would be like if we truly wanted the best for our neighbors and thought about the goodness for everyone and not just ourselves.

Anyway...more to do, better run.

Random Stuff

As I said before, life is about the same with my family. I'm feeling pretty good (except I feel like I'm fighting a small cold or have some kind of allergies). I have been working at my very part time job quite a bit this week. I work with a local Financial Advisor company. I just help them around the office. I've been helping them put together their quarterly reports and newsletter. I actually used Publisher for the first time and did okay!

Lily did okay at school. She did cry when I dropped her off, but the teacher said she only cried for 5 minutes and then did a really good job. I guess she was showing off her knowledge of the Sesame Street characters today.

Lily is talking quite a bit more this last month. She is putting together sentences really well and has now started asking "Why?" and "That?" She loves to look around the room and point to things, tell me what they are, or ask "That?" She's all about pumpkins at the moment. Good timing! We still have yet to buy a pumpkin, but that is on our list for this weekend.

Last Sunday we had dinner with our friends, Melanie and James. This is their son, Ian playing with Lily. A couple of days ago, Lily was eating and asked for "Baby Ian"? I thought that was awesome she remembered him!

31 weeks preggers!

David and I tried to take a family shot, but Lily wasn't into it.

End of the weekend

This week/weekend went by quickly for me. Nothing much going on, but normal, daily life.
Tonight we had dinner at our friends James and Melanie's house. They have a 10 month old, Ian. Ian and Lily played well together. This made me happy, as I'm a bit nervous about the reaction Lily will have to her little brother. I do have pictures of the kids playing, just have to download them. No big plans this week either. I'm taking it a bit easy as I'm feeling quite pregnant the last few days. I'm feeling good over all. No more pain anywhere. Just feeling huge.

Sharing cookies and milk with Dada

Watching the squirrel on the porch

Wearing Mama's hat

Hanging out with Mama

Living Honestly

David and I have made a pledge to live honestly, as in financial honesty. We have moved to a cash budget system and it's working really well for us. I got this idea from Dave Ramsey. I listen to his radio show several times a week. He differs from me politically, but I really am in tune with him financially. As most of you know, I love to watch Oprah too and she has had several financial shows on lately. Mostly with Suze Orman. I do like what she has to say for the most part as well. Another person I enjoy listening to on XM Radio is Jean Chatzky. She seems quite reasonable and has wonderful ideas for budgeting.

David and I figured out on average what we need to spend on groceries, Target runs, household, etc. Then once a month we pull out the money for those items. Once the money is gone, we are done for the month in that area. I think we will also get rid of cable and change internet providers (we found one to be cheaper than what we currently have). We talked about maybe taking Lily out of school as it's 18 dollars each Friday she goes to school, but I'm still thinking about that one. I may take that out of my spending cash as I find it important for her to go and it's good for me to get some time off as well. We'll see.

Even though we have to make some sacrifices lately, I'm feeling much better living this way. I feel more authentic. I've moved so far away from buying things to make me feel better or to keep up with my friends. The last two months or so, I have told my friends that I can't join them for dinner or some outing because I want to be honest with my money. Once a few things change in our lives, I know we will get to go out to eat, see a movie, get a babysitter and have some extras for fun money. But until those changes come, David and I will live financially honest!

Playing with Dada

Voted

David and I voted this weekend. We both got the absentee ballot. Man, Colorado's ballet is HUGE this year. If you live in Colorado, I would highly highly suggest you vote early if you can. I can only imagine the lines this year. They are talking about record numbers and with all the Amendments and Judges and what have you on the ballot, it's going to take awhile. And please please please know which way you are voting for each Amendment, Judge, Referendum and Initiative. Some of the writings on those are quite lengthy.

I'm feeling much better these days. My sciatica let up. I also had a day or two with plantar fasciitis and that was interesting. But, that is gone as well. I actually feel human again - pregnant human.

I got another ultrasound today and it's still a boy in there! This was the 3D ultrasound and it was neat to get a sneak peak of what he may look like. It appears he has some chunky cheeks and David's nose.

I pulled out a harmonica I found recently and Lily's been playing for us. She is quite good actually!

All By Myself

David is at work. Lily is at school and it's just the dog and me. I do have a list of chores to do. I plan to work on those here in just a second, then take the last hour and a half of Lily's school time to read, watch Oprah, knit, or whatever the heck I feel like doing!

Lily had a really really hard time going to school this morning. I haven't heard her scream that loudly in a long time. It was quite hard leaving her this time. I start to get paranoid when she is that upset. Are they treating her okay there? They tell me she doesn't cry for long and when I do pick her up, she is normally happy. I just hope that the day where she is excited to go to school comes quickly.

Baby's got new shoes

Okay, so they aren't Lily's shoes and they aren't exactly new. This is one of Lily's new favorite activities. Get Mama's shoes and walk around the house. She seems to like us wearing our shoes. She brings David and me our shoes and says "Dada's (Mama's) shoes. Put on. Do it."

My sciatica is finally clearing up. I have an appointment with a chiropractor for next Monday and now I' wondering if I should keep it if I'm not in excruciating pain. Perhaps I may just to make sure all looks good? Just not sure I want to spend the extra money on it right now.

For some reason, Blogger is placing this picture in sideways and I can't get it to turn around. Even David (the computer guy) looked at it and couldn't figure it out. Weird! Anyways..Love this picture of Lily.

Oh So Pregnant

Lately I have been feeling very very pregnant. I'm at 28 weeks, so I still have about 12 weeks to go. My belly is definitely present and at times I forget I have the belly and try to sit too close to the table or turn too close to a corner. Sleeping is a bit challenging too. I'm dealing with sciatica and just found out from my friend Amy that I'm not sleeping in the proper position. I need to sleep on my side with my legs straight down - I tend to bend my legs. I called my midwife and she gave me some names of physical therapists and a chiropractor I could see. Just have to make sure my insurance pays for them. (If only we had Universal Health Care...but anyways)

I do enjoy being pregnant with regard to knowing that a new life is growing and I will soon get to meet this little guy. However, I seem to have harder pregnancies. Although, I have heard stories of women who are on bedrest or who have to be hospitalized during their pregnancies, so perhaps I shouldn't complain. Oh, for those of you who knew I dealt with gestational diabetes with my last pregnancy, I did pass my sugar test this time!! It's on the higher end of normal, so I am still staying away from the white stuff and sweets, but I'm so so so so so happy to not have to go through the 3-hour glucose screening.

Lily is at school right now. She starting crying in the parking lot asking "School?". When I said "yes". She cried harder and said "Mama!". Breaks my heart man! We said our goodbyes and the crying seemed to cease before I left the building.

I'm having my friend, Nicole over for coffee/lunch at the house early this afternoon. No big plans for the weekend. With my painful walking, I'm fairly happy to not have many things to do.

Lily saying hello to her little brother