Every Day Is A Country Song

A sleepy Saturday morning has turned into a lazy afternoon. I'm far from tired at the moment...just very comfortable...soaking up the fresh air coming through the windows...

blasting music through my headphones (partly for enjoyment, partly to drown out the noise of Steve's video game).

The days are moving quickly. Faster than I ever imagined them to at this stage in the

~~game~~ pregnancy. Tomorrow, I'll be 16 weeks. Each day, something new makes it even more real - makes me envision all of the beauty we have to look forward to in each coming day, week, month, year.

Yesterday was one of them.

We had another doctor's appointment. It had been exactly one month since our last.
It felt a little crazy to barely have an ounce of worry on my way there. I did wonder if my blood pressure would play tricks on the nurse again. It seems to always be a little high at first, and once taken again, it's great.
I drove with the windows down. Feeling so calm - daydreaming about hearing the baby's heartbeat.
About fifteen minutes in, I came to a lovely detour. I loathe detours. You could say I royally suck when it comes to directions. I get lost in my own tiny town - no lie. I could get lost in the grocery store if I wasn't careful.
I called Steve and told him what road I was on...asking him to quickly give me directions before I got even more off track. Steve's almost always a smartass in these situations. And rightfully so. As he said yesterday - "I don't know where you are because you don't know where you are! How in the hell are you lost, babe?! You have lived here your whole life!"
I decided I didn't need my blood pressure exploding and turned around, called Steve a shithead, and found the nice "detour man" I had passed a few minutes ago. Thankfully, detour man gave me easy peasy directions, even quizzing me a second time before I turned, and I was on my way.

Steve smirked as I pulled in to park. I did too.
And in, we headed.

The appointment was a happy little one.

*Blood pressure - great from the start!
*Weight gain - 2.8 pounds in the past month.
*We had a nice, long chat with our doctor.
*They scheduled all of our appointments until due date week.
*Anatomy scan is November 1st - the countdown is on!! :)

And my favorite part of the appointment - When the nurse almost immediately brought out the doppler. (We had a little chat about bellybutton rings.)

Steve made sure to tape babe's lil' beat...
Beano was moving all over the place.

I've only listened to it about 28 times so far.

My mom and I spent the night together. It started as it usually does - with a phone call - "Wanna walk? Wanna eat?" And ends up with an hour long continued conversation before I get my butt over to her house.

It was beautiful out. We walked around downtown...the streets full of people enjoying "1st Friday."

We stopped in a cute, crowded little shop full of pretty and fun pieces.

And then headed for food.

We couldn't say no to their soup special - apple and butternut squash soup with creme fraiche (Mom, you were right - it means fresh cream! I just looked it up. Ha!)

We laughed out loud when the server placed the whole plate of nachos in front of the pregnant lady.

Somehow, we barely made a dent in that large plate of cheese and chips. I guess it was good we switched the nachos to the middle of the table!

We ended the 7 hour night with a walk for coffee...coming home to sit together in her kitchen and look through the wonderful book I received last week...

A great start to the weekend.

Just a few cravings as of lately...

Big salads

And mac n' cheese with hot sauce

A couple September photos that got lost in the mix

Celebrating Jen's birthday.

Breakfasts with Daxon and his mama.

I'm ending on a crazy cat lady note...

treating Moofy and Krimpyfluffy to a different breakfast

The other night, before bed, Steve and I introduced Muffin to the wonderful world of shadow puppets.

She went crazy!

Ha! Look at her shadow!

She is nuts!

Happy Weekend, friends!!

Hope it's a sweet one. <3

Thank you for all the wonderful words on my last post. I feel truly blessed.

See ya next week. <3

Lazy Day Lovin',

*this song is gonna hang around for a week or so...

"Thank You" - Keith Urban

I've been craving a night like tonight for a few months now.

I planned ahead - making sure to sneak in a long nap earlier. As I hoped, it gave me just the perfect amount of energy to enjoy a late night of writing and reflecting.

Tonight, I sit wrapped up in blankets, cuddled in the corner of the couch with a brand new pumpkin candle burning beside me. Krimpy's paw is dangling over my shoulder as I type.

And peace and quiet fill the living room.

Gratitude and love fill my heart.

October is here - one of my favorites.

Still, I can't help but recall September and all the milestones and memories made.

The past few days were so special. And as I sit here and look back at my photos, I'm reminded even more of just how beautiful life is. And how incredible and astounding the people that bless my days are.

There were so many times this weekend where emotions took over and I found myself wiping tears

of such gratefulness and joy.

Whether I was driving and listening to my music, vacuuming dead bugs and cobwebs out of windowsills at the offices, or getting ready for bed...

I constantly had such overwhelming thanks running through me this past week.

Love has spoiled me so greatly...

Thursday, these babes took me to dinner.

We sat and ate and talked and talked and talked. We would have gabbed some more, had the place not started throwing signals at us. Turning the lights down, the music off, and walking by our table a dozen times did the trick. But that didn't stop me from grabbing some photos...

Friday, Steve and I went to a late movie.

I did pretty well - I didn't fall asleep like I expected and I only had a few bathroom breaks.

However, I learned that movie theater popcorn is not this pregnant lady's friend.

I came home on Saturday afternoon to Steve, his friend, Jamie, and the adorable

Parker hanging out - what a nice surprise!

Saturday was a ~~good~~ great one. I always look forward to time with Jessica. I headed over her place at 3:30. A sleepover was planned. And a walk that never happened. As soon as I arrived, we sat down and began one of our signature chat sessions. Three gabby hours later, we decided to skip the

walk. Our marathon chats burn more calories than walking anyway.

Jessica made the perfect meal, ringing in fall with pumpkin lasagna. We stood in the kitchen and continued our yapping as Jessica whipped up an amazing meal. She even let me crush the cashews (and eat half the container of em'). It was so good...I am gonna try and make it sometime this month - stay tuned for that post - I'm sure it will involve something burnt and mushy and possibly, a fire.

This girl makes an art of gift wrapping and gift giving...presents so pretty you don't want to open them. Presents so thoughtful, they bring tears to your eyes.

I may have woken up the neighbors with my shrieking and uncontrollable laughter when I uncovered this gift.

I wish I could tell you what it is, but I can't. :)

After changing into our pajamas, she had all the ingredients lined up on her kitchen counter for ice cream sundaes.

We filled our bowls and headed back to our perch.

There was more "pretty stuff" waiting for me.

"Another set of gifts?! Are you nuts?!" I asked Jessica.

"It's nothing much, I promise" she answered.

I have learned never to trust her with that reply, as she is always so thoughtful...paying attention to every detail and remembering the little things that mean so much.

Wrapped up, were tons of gifts that brought back memories of our teenage years.

Oh, the memories we share.

I started going through the contents of the bag.

There was our old favorite nail polish, a pink slap watch (that I totally plan on rockin'), Mad Libs and kitten stickers. My favorite - something I have laughed out loud about for the past two days when it comes to mind - a handmade birthday card that included a blackmail photo Jessica has been holding onto for about fifteen years...with the words "Still Got It" stamped underneath. I would post the card, but I'm not sure if seeing me under the covers in a satiny bra with Fashion Bug underwear on my head is appropriate. (No boys were involved in the photo. Promise.)

Richard Marx, Celine Dion and Kenny G cassettes. Yeah, I may have had all of these at one point.

(And I may or may not be breaking out my old boombox to blast these babies.)

And lastly, a handmade best friends bracelet. I cried. Not only did she make this herself, but she stitched on our initials and the year we met...and made herself one too.

We ended the ~~night~~ morning with a few rounds of Mad Libs. Jessica said it's my calling - to answer these things. Again, I'd post some pictures, but I got a little immature..."bellybutton lint" and "tampons" ain't got nothin' on some of the other words I used.

It was a wonderful ~~sleepover~~ awakeover and day with "Cinnie."

Sunday, Jen and Kim came over to take me out to brunch.

They told me last week they had a surprise for me and to not ask any questions.

I admit, I was intrigued.

We sat at the restaurant, ordered and then they began telling me a bit of what was going on.

As it turned out, both of them had contacted Steve with the same gift idea for my birthday. Steve gave them one another's contact information and a password of mine

I would later come to find out they needed.

I had no idea what it could possibly be and already was teary at all they were telling me.

Without saying another word, Jen popped a gift bag up on the table as they wished me a happy birthday.

I'm sitting here crying right now because of how insanely beautiful that surprise was...

They took every single one of my blog posts...from the very first one I wrote a year and a half ago,

to the one from last month - the one that was my most favorite to write so far...

and had it made into a big, gorgeous, heavy, hardcover book.

Every single one of my words, thousands of my photos, some of the toughest, yet most magical stories of our journey these past years - all painted on fresh, pretty pages where I could see them. I was so overcome with emotion, I bawled shamelessly for a good ten minutes in front of everyone in the place. I was completely blown away.

Kim taped me with her phone a couple minutes after the surprise.

I haven't been able to put it down...haven't been able to stop thanking them. All the hours they spent...all the love they put into it...I am beyond touched.

The past two nights, I've sat with it in my lap. Opening up to random pages...reading post after post.

I plan on starting from the beginning this week...reading all 231 pages as they come...reliving it all.

From my first entry...