Here it comes.... VOMIT OF THE BRAIN!

Monday was my birthday...

I took Tuesday off, got my hair cut (first in 9 months) and colored (first in 5+ years...) I really appreciate that I don't have any grays (YET) to worry about, but sometimes a gal just needs some freshening up... I'm now a california bleach-blond surfer-girl.

Also.

I've gone "over to the dark side," as my co-worker puts it: I got Botox.

Those damn 11's...

another day or two until the effects will be visible, and meanwhile I'm just scrunching up and frowning into the mirror to check for results...



The summer's been busy, and I'm usually glad I just work year-round because then I don't have any back-to-work-panic come now (August); and I had two week-long vacations, but I could have used some more days off!

I did get an overnight trip in with some mom friends - we went down the shore on a gorgeous Saturday, got to beach it (uninterrupted - no "you need more sunblock, come here! Hey, STOP eating sand! Don't go running off to the water!!! DON'T EAT THAT CIGARETTE BUTT!!!")
Just nice calm beach reading and chatting.  And then we were basically too tired to party - a late dinner out on the boardwalk, a noble attempt at barhopping (one bar. one drink each.) and we headed back to the house for some mom-fun: vaping and coloring (LMAO)


We spent a Saturday with the family at a college graduation party up in Connecticut (kids did great on the 2-hour carride!)

We BBQ'd at the in-laws for Father's Day:

Ms. Mack had her 18-month appointment (is it awful? I don't remember her measurements... this is what I get for blogging about it so late....maybe 28lbs? maybe? but 50th for weight, and 50th for height! perfect girl!)

My (adopted) SIL graduated high-school (we only found out she'd be walking like, two days before ceremonies!! ugh)

(bee-tee-dubs: that jumper? was spotted with sweat so bad.... it was so warm that day... ugh)


We made it down the shore (finally!) as a family for the first time this summer:

I grew basil - quite successfully, in fact. (and from seed! ok - I'll admit, E did the in-doors germinating...)

My goal for my basil (and spearmint!) was to make delicious watermelon-basil and strawberry drinks like I've seen and tried from fancy drink menus.
My watermlon-basil aperitif was definitely refreshing and delish!



We spent a day at a lake, watching dark clouds get closer and closer until they broken open right over us, then quickly blew back out leaving sun for 10-15 minutes before returning with a vengeance, driving us to the movie theaters for the rest of the day...

which is when Button had his FIRST EVER MOVIE THEATER EXPERIENCE! (I mean, by default, Ms. Mack had hers too, but it's more exciting for Button - he was all, "I want to buy the ticket! I want to hand the ticket to the guy! I want to get popcorn!")
We saw Despicable Me 3 - he loved it, she only moved into my lap with 30 minutes left where she played with toys and ate graham crackers.
SUCCESS!

We rounded out the first half of July with watermelon and waterplay on warm sunny days:

Second Session:

And of course, let's not forget the day I had work, E was off, and the daycare was closed. So I get home, we're doing dinner (grilling burgers) and while Ms. is in my lap, I start noticing SHIT (figuratively) IN HER HAIR... I ask E - "what do you guys do today?!" and he's all, shrug - "McDonald's, the play place, a store..."

of course I'm all, "It's LICE!! WHAT DO WE DO?! WE HAVE TO FLEA-BOMB THE ENTIRE HOUSE!! BLEACH EVERYTHING!!!!!" and even started making rounds, stripping both kids' beds of sheets and their million stuffed animals, grabbing hats they'd worn that day, ANY AND ALL CLOTHING that was sitting out in their room!

And then E says - "OH! I forgot!! We went to the lake today.... and Button was throwing dirt at Ms. Mack...."

Truckin' Along...

37 weeks yesterday, nothing new to report besides the same old... (to be honest, the last few weeks there's no change in the "weekly updates!")

lower back pain was SO KILLER after Saturday's WalkerStalkerCon (which was fun, and would have been funner if I had a scooter or wheelchair, and if one didn't have to pay like $400 to take a picture with Norman Reedus...)

(DH totally snuck a picture of him through the crowd horde at his photo-op booth...) will have to get those pictures...

Anyways - by the end of the convention, I could barely stand (walking was better than standing in place) and some residual back pain lingered last night...

There's been lots of BH (nothing regular, timing-wise, but definitely probably an average of 6-10 a day, depending on physical activity...

She has gotten pretty low (nurse made a comment at today's appointment... during which, BP/weight/urine was all pretty good...)

And I can tell: there's been some increased pelvic pressure, some hella-bad RLP (in trying to turn from side to side last night, I nearly couldn't do it due to crotch pain... oiy!)

All this to say, my last day of work is Friday - BabyGirl if you can at least hold on until Monday the 14th so I can get some time off of work (unlike when your big brother decided to come two days "early" - in fact, at 38wd5d - mere hours after I left work...)
(and yea, I know - just because she's low and I get frequent BH - that does not mean labor is imminent or any such thing...)

And as I hormonally ranted to DH, bitching (I'm sure) about a co-worker or someone who was still not directing questions to the correct staff who will be taking over during my leave - which is FOUR DAYS AWAY!! - he had the perfect casual chat-response:

KEEP CALM AND PREGGO ON...

Fumin' on Friday...

Can I just let this all out?

Fucking "Darling"Husband... 

It probably doesn't help that in my dreams last night, it was something about Christmas Day at my family's house (we always totally split each year's holiday because his fam = NJ and my fam = TX) and in the dream he left before the meal because he was supposed to be having friends over to his house  (apparently we were all in the same state) and people were going to start showing up... So I woke up peeved at him...

And then, as usual lately, he snoozes his alarm about 10 times while I get up and get Button changed, myself 1/2 ready (makeup only) and then breakfast for the two of us.  15 minutes later I can hear him just getting out of the shower, and when he finally gets down to take the dogs out, Button and I are finishing breakfast and I have about 5 minutes to finish getting myself ready... 

Back upstairs Button and I go for the next 10 minutes (and where is E during all of this?! certainly not coming up to help Button brush his teeth or anything!) of course, a diaper needs to be changed (yay for still not pooping on the potty, ARGH!) and teeth brushed (both his and mine!) and then E comes up and is all, "c'mon [Button] we need to get your shoes on!"

Oh now you want to try to step in and rush him to help? (oh yea, go pregnancy hormones)

And at one point we're discussing weekend plans and I say I planned breakfast/playdate with bestie Dee and her 13-month-old Sunday morning, and E's all, "but I play hockey Sunday morning, and it'll be the last time Button can come watch me..." (and in my head I'm going, bullshit, this is the last time you'll ever play hockey?!) he continues "...I mean, for the next year or so..."

Ok so now you want me to change my plans?! I say that Dee isn't available Saturday morning and (true man) E doesn't hear that part and says, "yea, Saturday morning would work better for me, so [Button] can come watch me plan Sunday morning..." and acts all hang dog that I (I'm sure as he perceives it) won't change MY plans so Button can go watch his daddy play hockey (which will entertain him for all of 2 minutes and then we're sitting there for the other 58 minutes, bored - me chasing Button all over the stands...)

Then I'm having to pack the dog's food and treats (a coworker is "borrowing" her for the weekend - they love to dogsit for her and we don't have any upcoming vacations lol) and Button gets into clear nail polish on the coffee table (that yes, I left out last night - but FUCK, E can you watch him for two seconds this morning?!)

And then - tonight we're going out to dinner - so E suggests it'd make more sense for me to pick up Button and then just meet him down by his mom's (who is babysitting and is local to the restaurant we're going to).

Yup, sure - I'll get Button, run home, get the other dog out and fed, get myself ready for date night and Button ready for your mom's house, and then meet you down there.  

In time for dinner.

SURE.

(oh yea - we're going out tonight for our 5th wedding anniversary... HAPPY ANNIVERSARY "DARLING" HUSBAND!!)

a Tale of Two Weekends...

Since I never shared how fun our play dates were two weeks ago, you're getting a TWO-FER!

Last weekend, E was supposed to go on his annual canoe trip (long story short, another guy cancelled which left them with an odd-man out, and E jumped at the chance to back out of a trip he hadn't really wanted to go on to begin with...)
(He still decided to disappear on Sunday to go fishing with his dad...)

But, so - Saturday morning I took Button to some stores (still trying to find the right one to return some duplicate birthday gifts from July) so we got to see BuyBuyBaby (where I just had to get BabyGirl the cutest two little tutu's from the clearance rack...)

(I've already mentally paired the first with B&W striped leggings this spring... ZOMG)

We then hit up Target (where Momma treated herself to some $3 bootcuffs... yes I could have made them, but the yarn would have cost just as much.  And these are hassle-free, pre-made and perfect. lol)

After Button's nap (and after E was done with all his Saturday morning yardwork) we hit up a local school's playground (holy HOT it was so warm...)

and then shortly called it quits to go cool off and grab some ice cream...

The next day (while E was off fishing with his Dad) we had a planned breakfast with our friend O at a nearby diner, where Button popped a container of syrup all over himself and my shoes, made friends with the waiter who later brought him a free gigantic cookie, and dumped his entire kiddie cup (one with a lid!) of apple juice all over himself...

After a recuperating nap (both for Button and mommy!) we trucked over to my bestie Dee's house to play with her 13-month-old and his fun toys!

We stayed there til nearly dinner time (as Daddy kept texting me he'd be back later and later...) so when we finally got home and settled, Button got stay up an extra 20 minutes to wait for Daddy to get home to see him for a bit before heading to bed... busy weekend!





And this past weekend, whoa nellie!!

Friday as I finished up at work, I got the strange desire to do something fun... and texted E with a "let's do something fun! Let's picnic tonight on the new back patio!"



(Thursday night we finally used an Olive Garden gift card - I'm pretty sure we got for our anniversary, in October last year - for a date night dinner... and took advantage of their great "Buy an Entree, Take an Entree" or something like that... for $13-$16 you got an entree to eat there  (with unlimited breadsticks and soup) as well as an entree to take home for another day!)






SO - Friday night, picnic we did!

The boys were stuffed from ziti!

Saturday morning, while E entertained Button, I cleaned (the kitchen - sinks and counters scrubbed! -  and living room)

As we were sitting on the front stoop, catching some fresh air, our across-the-street-neighbor invited us to come for a quick swim with her and her grandson (same age as Button!)

(While E had to stay at the house and wait for a Verizon technician (no internet, booooo) Button and I jumped at the chance to cool off a bit!)

After the pool, the boys took turns hitching rides:

When we got back to our house, the Verizon guy still had not shown up  (and his 8a-12p window had expired!  UGH)
So Button ate lunch, and went down for a nap.
When he woke up, we had gotten an update that the Verizon guy would be there around 4:30 which freed us up for about 2 hours, so we decided to go check out a local "pond"/pool that our neighbor had told us was "so great!" (not so great. it's a big marshy pond not fit for swimming)
BUT we had a great time on our little "nature walk" around the pond, and it chewed up the perfect amount of time until the Verizon guy was due!

(While the Verizon guy was working on the router, Button and I kept occupied by a few games of hide'n'seek...)

With internet back up and running, we headed out around 5pm for a local fire department's carnival fundraiser! (No pictures, boooo....)
But we enjoyed good food-truck dinner (pulled pork sandwiches! chicken empanadas! ice cream, of course!) as well as a gi-nooormous bounce house and a super slide (on Daddy's lap) - unfortunately, Button was still too little for the motorcycle ride they had set up...

kind of like this, but on a track...

And then E told me on the carride home later that he had eventually told Button the "real reason" he couldn't ride the motorcycles (the "Fake" reasons being, you know - "line's too long!" or "the big slide is SO MUCH MORE FUN!") and poor Button actually kind of snapped his eyes up to E's face in a really? I'm too little? sad face of understanding... #bigboysoonenough!
(Also - on our way to the fundraiser, we passed the coolest chair out on the curb! (really nice rich neighborhood) so a full once-over with Resolve and a rag, we totally snagged this for FREE!) From Target, we found out - though I was convinced it was originally a PotteryBarnKids - so nice, dark blue corduroy!

Button showing off his new chair Sunday morning...

Sunday morning I, again, got to cleaning (our bedroom - HOLY DUST! - and the master bath - YUCKY sinks!) and laundry (I have the most energy first thing after breakfast, so thank you to E for keeping little man occupied and happy - such a hardship, sitting and watching cartoons with him while I clean... lol)
After Button's nap, we headed back to the neighbor's pool - they were out for the day at BBQs and had offered its use!
Once the shade overtook the pool and backyard, we headed back home (a long 20 second walk... lol) and once showered, decided to go to our favorite sushi/hibachi joint for an early dinner.  (Button loves edamame. and green tea ice cream...)
After dinner, we walked next door and did some food shopping for a last-minute BBQ we had thrown together for Monday with our friends.  (Always food shop AFTER dinner - never before.  You buy everything from  healthy fruits to junky muffins and cookies...)

Monday morning, while E mowed the lawn and string-trimmed, I planned on taking Button to Burlington Coat Factory (to return a wallet from E's birthday in July).  First, of course - we spent some of the morning in our undies playing on our new chair...

Of course, there was a KMart in the same parking lot as Burlington (in fact, "earlier" in the lot) so we went there first - with the intentions of getting undies (for Button and Mommy lol) and checking out their stock of yard furniture - hoping for good end-of-summer and LaborDay sales!

Well - we got mommy undies and Button some socks, and then headed back to the Garden area where I found these great chairs for $90!

 (it was for only the chairs, so now we'll be on a hunt for a matching high-top table!)
((We already have a really nice 5-person round set that looks gorgeous on our new patio... once the fence is installed - next few days! - and the grass seeded, I'll take some finished pictures!))

So with the assistance of a very helpful sales guy, we got this ginormous box loaded into my trunk (go Kia Sorrento!) and got the trunk, which wouldn't close by just a few inches, tied down.

And I decided I wasn't going to stop at Burlington with a car that couldn't be locked, and so the return of the wallet will have to wait even longer...

But the patio chairs!

Perfect for our BBQ later that day!
(Button's naptime was perfect for E and I to run around and finish setting things up -  pool and water table for the two boys, food tables, new chairs, etc)
I blog-failed and didn't get any pictures until dessert time, and even then only got shots of Button eating his elmo cupcake (HOLY ICING... and thanks for bringing them for the boys, Dee!)

And of course, the "TAKE OUR PICTURE BABE!" big boys...

(no. they're not really peeing off of our new wall... just comparing.. LOL!)

Thankfully our friends are all pretty awesome (especially the last couple here last night!) and they helped us clean up and get the food inside (and took some leftover food as well!)


This momma was still pretty zonked after the long day long weekend, and was beyond ready to put her feet up and celebrate having passed Viability Day on Sunday at 24weeks! 
(Also - it's fun celebrating V-Day with a bona fide Y.I. - albeit still unconfirmed via culture as the Doc never called me on Friday like they were supposed to with results, and of course the work day flew by and next thing I knew it was past 5 and they were closed.  For a long holiday weekend...
With very weak and sometimes non-existant symptoms, I managed throughout the weekend - but you can bet I'm on the phone with them as soon as I can get away from my desk today, and will be picking up some OTC treatment on the way home from work!)


How was your Labor Day 2015??

Mantras

So I recently came across these PGAL Mantras and I need them a lot right now (and probably for the new few weeks!!)

Today I am pregnant and I love my baby.

I am pregnant until someone tells me otherwise.

My past does not dictate my future. A previous m/c does not mean I will have another m/c.

Just because something sad is happening to another poster, does not mean it will happen to you. We all know m/c and complications are not contagious!

Hope does not make bad things happen" You cannot jinx your pregnancy by creating a ticker, getting excited, or telling someone. Live in the positive!

(actually, I AM TOTALLY MAKING THAT A HOMEPAGE TAB!)

With that said, I am so so so so grateful for the positivity from E right now...

Let me back  up first and tell you how the "cute tell" I had somewhat planned fell apart...

E had a dentist appointment yesterday at 5pm, so I headed to MIL's house to pick up Button.  Got there around 5:30, she tells me he ate dinner (THREE bowls of pasta!) and invites me to sit and eat. 
I think, CRAP - there goes getting home before E so I can pee on those digi's I just bought today!

But I sit down, eat some pasta, and watch E's adopted sisters play with Button in the backyard.  Around 6pm, we finally get in the car to head home - and I see a text from E that he is still in the chair waiting for the dentist to finish some "bullshit conversation in the hallway."

SWEET! I'll still get home before him! like, way before him! Now let's see.... what can I do to tell him in a "cute way"...

I get home, and I have a million bags to get in the house, Button is insisting on carrying in a Mickey doll and a toy car from my car, and there's Zoey (our min-pin who comes to work with me every Thursday to visit the residents!)

In other words,  utter chaos trying to get in the house... And then a text from E that he's on his way home, ETA 30 minutes...

I run upstairs (carrying Button basically over my shoulder) to PIAC - dip a Wondfo and a digi, and set the timers (5min and 3min respectively...)

Watch the "Pregnant" pop up on the digi (SQUEEEEEE!) and check for a second line (decent shade, considering it's late evening) on the Wondfo.

Then I decide to haul Button back downstairs (two flights!) to his playroom, to try and crack open a new paint set so he can make Daddy a picture that I'll try to "hide" somewhere the writing "Big Brother!"  Panic ensues because I couldn't get the damn paint open (seriously?!) and nearly spilled the red all over the carpet once I did get it open... faintly write "BigBrother" in blue crayon on the BACK of the picture and set it on the highchair in the kitchen - envisioning E picking it up and flipping it over (for some reason) and seeing the words...

Then I take a picture of the digi test (what's plainer than that gray-scale word!) to send him via text about a minute after he walks in the door, in case he skips over the painting...

Got bases covered, right?


WRONG

He arrives, my heart starts pounding with excitement, and nothing happens the first few minutes.  I HEAR my text come through on his phone, but he's too occupied with saying hi to and playing with Button... (COME ON! Be a bad dad once and check your phone!!!)

I point out the "painting" - which he does look at the back, but assumed his sisters helped Button paint and, well - he (E) is their "Big Brother" - FACE PALM!!!

Then he FINALLY picks up his phone, only to glance at it (probably sees it's just a text from me) and then plugs it in without another glance.

 SERIOUSLY?!?!?

At this point I'm about to collapse with anxiety/nerves/excitement... I am trying to be nonchalant, wandering around the house, wiping the stove, putting a dish in the dishwasher, waiting for him to discover SOMETHING...

I finally decided to just go upstairs (get a full laundry basket of dirty clothes) and bring him the actual damn digi test... and said, "Since you didn't quite get the message on the picture, and won't check your phone, HERE!!!!" (but not in a really mean way. lol)


And - aw man, he was so excited =)

and tossed Button and shouted, "You're gonna be a big brother!!!! Do you want a baby?!" (to which Button replied, "Yea!" meltsmyheart)

All this to say - E is so excited, and so positive about it - and I need the positivity, because my mind still can't help but add on the caveat "If everything works out ok..."

And he tells me, he doesn't "want to do the secrecy thing this time, because it's the second one" and I am totally on board with that because, (I CANT HELP IT DAMMIT)
 "if shit hits the fan" - I want people - family, my bestie Dee, etc - to know what was, and what happened...

Of course, I still want to wait until after the first doctor appointment (more importantly the first u/s to see/hear a hb!) which I'm hoping I can schedule the week before Mother's Day and we can tell the Grandmas the great news on their day!



Big Breath:         Today I am pregnant and I love my baby.

"Your WHAT comes out during your period?!"

Hopefully E will forgive me for this, but I had to tell this story. =)

We were getting ready for bed last night (me reading my Nook and him changing into those basketball shorts guys are so fond of sleeping in) when he said, "So when are you supposed to get your period?"

I was a little confused because he was asking as if I was supposed to get it any minute... I just had a D&C 1.5 weeks ago from which the spotting was just starting to taper off. 

So I looked at him and said, in a kind of duh shouldn't you know this mind set, "anywhere from 4-6 weeks I've heard.."

He couldn't believe it could be "that long!"  I turned into Teacher K, kind of like when I used to play school with my little sister and made her take fake tests with questions like "what color is a zebra" and I would actually take it and grade it.  Never as fun as when we played grocery store and pushed our twin beds together with me standing in the middle, swiping "items" down our bedspreads saying "beep, beep, beep..."


"Honey, why do you think a period happens?" I asked him.  He just kinda shrugged, said "No clue."

He was FLABBERGASTED when I told him, "A typical period is the uterus realizes there was no implantation of a fertilized egg, so it sheds its lining in preparation for the next cycle."

For some reason I just found it really funny that he was semi-grossed out, semi-amazed, and completely thrilled to have just been educated - no sarcasm here, I could have just told him the solution to World Peace and world famine all together.

As we were turning out the lights and falling asleep, he rolled over and mumbled "I can't believe your vagina falls out during your period..."