Jackson is Here!

Jackson Kennedy Roberts was born on December 30, 2009 at 2:17 P.M. He weighed a whopping 8 pounds, 7 ounces and was 21 inches long. We are so proud of him and have enjoyed every moment we have been able to spend with him so far. I was very blessed to have a smooth delivery with no complications and a beautiful, healthy baby boy. Here are a few pictures of our little blessing.

Don't you just love him? He is absolutely adorable! We are so blessed. :)

Counting Down

I am really trying not to get my hopes up, but I am hoping that we will be checking into the hospital in 24 hours or less. I have to call tomorrow at 3:00 to find out what time we need to be there and to make sure there is still a room available. I have a feeling there will be a lot of inductions taking place this week, as January 1 is quickly approaching. We are really not out to get the tax break. We just want the baby to come before our insurance changes. We have been very blessed to have great insurance, but we found out that GE's insurance is changing after the first of the year. With the insurance we have now, we should not have to pay less than $1000 for the delivery. With the new insurance, we would have to pay thousands of dollars. We would not be inducing if the baby was not ready, regardless of cost. However, the doctor says the baby is ready.
Today has been somewhat of a busy day for us. I did not sleep well last night and was pretty tired today. After doing some cleaning this morning, Fred and I went to Chick Fil A for lunch. It was a mad house. The food was really good, but the place was packed. After lunch, we went to Wal-Mart and Lowes. Then we came home, and I watched Days of Our Lives. When Days went off, I fell asleep. Fred played video games while I slept. I have taken a nap almost every day over Christmas break. I guess those days are about to end. I will miss Fred like crazy when he goes back to work. I really love having him around.
After I call the hospital tomorrow, I will try to get on and give everyone the details. I am starting to get nervous, but Fred keeps reassuring me that everything will be okay. I hope and pray that he is right. We are so ready to meet our precious baby.

Productive Weekend

Fred and I have been pretty productive over the weekend. We have managed to clean the kitchen, do laundry, sweep and mop most of the downstairs, and get stuff together for the donation truck. I have been trying to make a list of things that need to be done before the baby arrives so that we can stay organized. I know that if I don't write things down, I will forget about them. My suitcase and the baby's bag are both packed, and the carseat has been installed. We have a freezer full of food we have cooked so that we will have things to eat when we're too tired to cook. Fred had a dream last night that the delivery was great with no complications. I hope he's right. Maybe it was a sign that things are going to go smoothly for us in the delivery room. We are anxiously awaiting the baby's arrival and would be completely fine with him making his entrance before the induction date. The sooner he comes, the more time Fred can spend with him before he has to return to work. Fred goes back on January 4, and my parents are planning on coming up for a few days to help out with the baby. I don't think this baby has any idea how many people are extremely eager to meet him. He will definitely be the center of attention. I know Fred will hate to leave him but will take lots of pictures to work. I have been asking Fred for years now to put a picture of me on his desk at work, but he still hasn't done so. However, I am willing to be that his desk will be covered in pictures of the baby. I can't say that I blame him. I'm sure I will be passing around the photos as well when I go back. I will also be putting his picture on my blog and facebook for your viewing pleasure. Hope everyone has a great week!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you have all had a wonderful day surrounded by the ones you love. Fred and I have had a really great day together, even though it was just the two of us this year. We missed being seeing our families but just didn't have the option of traveling this year, with me being 38 weeks pregnant and all. Santa was very good to me this year, and I got lots of wonderful presents. Fred and I cooked breakfast this morning and then opened gifts. We tried out our new video camera and made lots of pictures. Here are a few pictures from our morning.

Our Beautiful Christmas Tree

Fred's Penn State Shirt

A Gift to Mommy & Daddy from Baby Roberts

Fred LOVES Christmas cookies!

Induction Date

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday, and she scheduled a time for me to be induced. Unless there is a rush of pregnant women who go into labor, we should be going in the night of December 29 and delivering on December 30. I am really hoping everything goes well and runs smoothly for us. We are anxious for Baby Roberts to get here, and I am honestly getting tired of being pregnant. If everything goes according to plan, we should have a baby in less than a week. Wow! It's actually pretty hard to believe.

Fred and I have had a really good week off work. We have made a gingerbread house and cookies for Santa. I think we will probably make these things a yearly tradition for us.

We have had a lot of fun together, and there was been a lot less stress without all of the traveling. We want our baby to know what it's like to wake up in his own house on Christmas morning, so we will probably stop our traveling around the holidays. If people want to see us, they will just have to make the drive to South Carolina.

If anything exciting happens between now and the time Baby Roberts arrives, I will let you know. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!

38 Weeks

Today marks 38 weeks of being pregnant. Fred and I are both so ready for Baby Roberts to get here. School could not have ended at a better time. I have to say that I am quite proud of myself for making it until Christmas break. In fact, I only missed one day during the entire first semester. That's a record for me.
There was pretty bad weather here on Friday, December 18, which was the last day of school. School dismissed at 12:30, which was nice. I was glad to get home because I don't like driving in bad weather. Unfortunately, Fred's truck would not start when he was ready to leave work. I had to go pick him up around 5:20. Thankfully, there wasn't much traffic. We went back to his work on Saturday, but the truck still wouldn't crank. We had to go buy some jumper cables, and he was able to get it started on Sunday. He made it back to the house and put in a new battery this morning.
I was very blessed to receive some sweet gifts from my students at school. I received some homemade goodies and some things for the baby. My 3rd period class all chipped in and gave me a $100 Target gift card. Aren't they just too sweet? I have to say that I think I will actually miss my students while I am out on maternity leave. The students I have this year are by far the overall best group I have ever taught. I feel very fortunate to have them.
I am trying to decide what Fred and I should do for Christmas. It will just be the two of us this year. However, I still want to do some cooking. I plan on making a breakfast casserole for Christmas morning, but I'm not sure what I want to do for Christmas Eve. I will probably make some dressing and a sweet potato casserole, plus whatever sides we want to go with it. We'll have plenty of leftovers to freeze so that we will have some food to eat after the baby arrives. I'm sure we won't feel like spending our time cooking when we could be spending time with him.
Fred and I made a gingerbread house yesterday. It was a gift from my Secret Santa at school. I think we'll try to start making one each Christmas. It was fun, and it also makes a nice decoration.
We go to the doctor tomorrow afternoon, so I'll let you know what we find out. I am hoping the baby will be arriving sooner than later, but that decision is really out of my hands. Merry Christmas, everyone! :)

Christmas Break

Christmas break is officially here! It seems like I have been waiting for weeks to be able to say those words. However, now that it's here, I can't say that it has been too terribly exciting. This is the first year that I won't be going home for Christmas. Things around Greenville have been quite boring lately. My Christmas shopping is complete. The gifts are wrapped and under the tree. My suitcase is packed for the hospital. I have tried so hard to stay on top of things, and now I have nothing left to do. I am sure I will be quite busy once the baby comes. However, until he gets here, I am at a loss as to how I should fill my time.

Last week was a pretty busy week for both Fred and me. I was busy making a cake, candies, and breakfast casserole for school. Fred made a Christmas tree cake for work. It was too cute. He is so talented.

I would have loved to have tasted a piece, but he didn't bring any leftovers home with him. However, I can't say that I'm surprised. I'm sure it was delicious.

In only two more days, I will be 38 weeks pregnant. I can't tell you how ready I am for this baby to come. However, I don't think he's in any rush. He's enjoying lounging around. I am getting to the point of being miserable, and I am ready to NOT be pregnant any more. I would really like for the baby to come while Fred is off for Christmas break, but I'm not holding my breath. I go to the doctor on Wednesday, and I am hoping that she will still be willing to induce on December 28. If she's not, then who knows when this baby will finally get here.

Well, I guess I don't really have any other updates for now. If I don't post again before December 25, I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas! Enjoy every minute of it! :)

Full Term & Three Years

I guess I should start this post by explaining the title. Yesterday made 37 weeks of being pregnant, which means that the baby is now considered full term. Yay! It's hard to believe we've made it this far. It really seems to have gone by rather quickly, but I'm sure these last few weeks will drag on forever. Fred and I have been married three years today. Happy anniversary to us! He is such a great hubby, and I am so blessed to have him. It makes me smile just thinking about him.
A couple of people have commented that it looks like the baby has dropped, which really excites me. It's just one step closer to delivery. The bump does look lower, and I am hoping he won't wait too terribly long to make his grand entrance. His movements have become very distinct and are rather strong. I can put my hand on my stomach and feel his little foot moving around. It's actually a pretty cool thing. Fred talks to the baby all the time and is also able to feel him move. I don't think this baby has any idea how much we already love him and can't wait to meet him.
I'm not sure what we are going to do to celebrate our anniversary. We will probably go out to eat dinner, but I have no idea where we will go. I'm not in the mood for anything in particular, and I'm sure Fred will tell me to pick a place. We put out presents for each other this morning and opened them after breakfast. Fred gave me perfume and a Glee CD. I gave him jeans and a dress shirt. I really like my gifts, and he seemed to like his as well. I am just hoping his fit. However, if they don't, I saved the receipts.
In other news, I only have a few more days of school until Christmas break. There's just something about knowing that I don't have to get up early every morning that puts a smile on my face. I have been super busy making homemade candies and hope to fix up little goody bags for the teachers. We are having a breakfast on Friday, and I am taking the famous breakfast casserole. I am definitely going to miss all of the teachers while I am out on maternity leave, as well as some of the students. However, I'm sure there will be lots of tears shed when we leave the baby at daycare for the first time.
Well, I guess that's about it for now. I will try to post somewhat regularly until the baby is born. After that, I seriously doubt I'll have much time on my hands. Hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday!

Party Time Tonight!

Friday is finally here, and I am so relieved. Fred's work party is going to be held tonight at Sassafras, a restaurant in downtown Greenville. While I am excited about a night out, I am also tired. It's only 9:17 in the morning, and I am ready to lay back in the recliner and relax. My back and neck hurt, and I am tired. I plan on taking a shower when I get home, in hopes of waking myself up. I have been sleeping an extra fifteen minutes each morning, which has seemed to help a little. However, getting up about four times each night to go to the restroom really doesn't help the situation. I am starting to wonder if my bladder will ever go back to normal, even after the baby comes.
The weather is supposed to be really cold here this weekend. There's even a chance for some icy rain and snow. I'm not holding my breath, and I actually hope it doesn't get bad out. I still have some Christmas shopping that I need to finish, and I'm not driving by myself in bad weather.
I thought I was going to be productive yesterday by going to Wal-Mart after school. Boy, was I wrong! They had pretty much nothing that I needed. I wanted to get Fred a couple of small things for Christmas, but they were sold out of everything I had on my list. The main reason I went was to pick up a gift card for one of the coaches at school. His wife is expecting a baby this month. I thought I could kill two birds with one stone, but I was mistaken. I left the store tired, aggravated, and hungry. At least traffic wasn't bad on the way home.
On a positive note, Fred and I decided on a name for the baby. Yay! However, don't ask me what it is because I'm not telling you. It's a secret. In fact, we have heard time and time again that it is a good idea not to tell anyone. If no one knows, then no one can complain. We even ordered his Christmas stocking with his name monogrammed on it. I need to take his diaper bag by the Pink Monogram so that I can have his name put on it as well.
I have a good bit of laundry to do this weekend, but not nearly as much as last weekend. We did manage to get all of the baby's laundry done last weekend. This weekend I have to get my own laundry done. I still haven't washed my things for the hospital yet. We also haven't installed the carseat. It was on Fred's "to-do" list last weekend, but he just didn't get to it. We were super busy and both exhausted. I don't know what I would do without Fred. He has been so good to me, and I know that he is going to make an excellent Daddy.
Well, I better get going for now. It's time to give my students a quiz on poetry. Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

36 weeks

We have officially made it to week 36! Yeah! We went to the doctor yesterday for the Group B strep test and to confirm that the baby is head down. We also got to hear his heartbeat...music to our ears! He is growing exactly as he should. We go back December 23 to begin our one week visits. I have eight more days of school before my very long Christmas vacation, a.k.a. maternity leave.
Yesterday was super busy. We went straight to the OB after school, then home for 15 minutes, then to the family doctor. I have had this strange rash on my legs for months, and my hands are so dry that they have started cracking open. Fred has some kind of burning rash on his wrists. We both went last night to get ourselves checked out. I was given a prescription for some steroid cream, and Fred was put on two kinds of oral pills. I'm glad that mine is a cream because I don't like taking pills any more than I have to. When we left the doctor's office, we dropped our prescriptions off at Wal-Mart and went to Chick-Fil-A for supper. We then headed back to Wal-Mart to pick up our medicine. Thankfully, it was only around $25 for everything. Yay!
Today has been a really good day. My back hasn't been hurting too badly, and I have actually had a little streak of energy. I'm sure Fred was shocked to come home and see me in the kitchen cooking supper. I even did some laundry, folded towels, and put away baby stuff. I really didn't do too terribly much, but anything is better than nothing.
I'm hoping the rest of the week goes well and passes by quickly. I have to admit that I will probably miss my students while I'm out, but I am going to love every minute I get to spend with my sweet hubby and baby. Life is good! :)

35 Weeks

Well, we have officially made it to week 35. I feel like I have a rock in my stomach. It stays really hard most of the time, which is a sign of Braxton Hicks contractions. These are not "real" contractions, but they are supposed to help get me ready for the main event. We are hoping the baby will come before his due date, but I guess that's up to him. I am worried that he is a little too comfortable inside me. He moves all the time, especially at night. This past Sunday night, he kept me up almost all night moving around. He gets the hiccups on a regular basis. I read that he has already developed his sleeping pattern, which means he will probably have his days and nights reversed...oh joy!
My parents came last week for Thanksgiving break, and we had a great time. They brought tons of stuff for the baby and even bought us a Lazy Boy recliner. I have already been enjoying it. We had good food and a very nice visit. I assume their next visit will be when Baby Roberts makes his grand entrance.
My next doctor's appointment is on Monday, and I am hoping that the baby will still be measuring ahead. It's hard to believe that I will be considered full term on Tuesday. Where has the time gone? I'm sure time will start standing still now that I'm getting pretty uncomfortable. However, it will all be worth it when I see that precious baby for the first time. I know Fred will be absolutely ecstatic.
We plan on getting things ready this weekend...car cleaned, carseat installed, suitcase packed, laundry washed, pack n play set up, etc. We still have a lot to get done before Baby arrives. We have done a pretty good job of staying on top of things, but there are always those last minute things that have to be accomplished as well.
Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

Ready for Thanksgiving Break

I am officially counting down the hours to Thanksgiving break. I have two more hours at school before my three days off will begin. I am so very rest for some rest, relaxation, and quality time with my hubby. I am currently exhausted, and my body is aching. I just want to go home and watching some TV, preferably Days of Our Lives. I was hoping to finish my Christmas shopping before my parents come so that they can take the gifts back to Mississippi with them. I know that we probably won't have any visitors for Christmas since most everyone will just wait until the baby arrives to make the trip to South Carolina. After Thanksgiving break, I have three more weeks of school until Christmas break begins. It just can't get here soon enough. I am not sleeping very well at night and up multiple times for trips to the bathroom. I have also started getting really hot at night. Poor Fred almost freezes so that I can try to stay cool.
On a positive note, our Christmas tree is so pretty. It makes me smile each time I look at it. We even have a few gifts under it. We have had to move Alex in Newton's cage because we found out he has been getting out of the fence and exploring the neighborhood. Half of his little white body is covered in red mud from digging under the fence to make his escape. We certainly don't want anything to happen to him, so we moved him in with Newton. I'm sure Newton is just thrilled. :) We have always known that Alex is smart, but we didn't know he was so sneaky.
I am hoping that I will get to use some of the gift certificates we received at the baby shower this weekend to finish buying stuff for baby. We have made a list of the things we still need, and the gift certificates will definitely help us out.
I will try to make some pictures this week and post them next week. My parents should be arriving tomorrow night. Fred and I are going to start making food for Thanksgiving tonight. Hope everyone has a very happy, blessed Thanksgiving!

33 Weeks

33 weeks

I know it has been months since I have posted anything. However, with baby's arrival drawing nearer, I decided I should try to keep everyone updated. We have made it to week 33, and baby is doing great! I had a doctor's appointment yesterday, and the baby is actually measuring at 34 weeks. We have already talked about the possibility of inducing on December 28, but nothing is set in stone. I have a feeling baby might come before the induction date anyway, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I can feel him move a good bit, especially at night. I think he really likes hearing Fred's voice, as do I.

Once again this year, RMS is competing for the title of Palmetto's Finest. We had judges at the school today. All of the teachers have been super busy putting up displays and making the school look great. I think we definitely deserve to win, but I guess my opinion might be just a little biased.

My parents are planning on joining us for Thanksgiving this year. I think my mom plans on bringing a car load of stuff for the baby. Fred and I plan on cooking a feast and enjoying our time off work.

I had a really great birthday last week. Fred cooked me an amazing dinner and baked a fabulous strawberry cake. He also gave me some wonderful gifts.

Fred making my birthday cake!

The Big Day

Tomorrow is the big day. Back to school. The students won't actually start until August 19, but teachers have to be there bright and early tomorrow morning. We are having a breakfast and going through the school handbook. What fun! Hopefully, the food will at least be good. I went to the school again this morning to do some more work and get some more points. I was able to get a good bit of stuff laminated, but I can't hang it up until Monday because of the new paint. I have made a list of things I need to buy and will probably do my shopping over the weekend. I guess I can say goodbye to my afternoon naps and lounging around in my pajamas. I am excited about the new year, but I really wish I had been able to enjoy my summer more.
I found out today from another teacher how maternity leave works. I will not receive pay while I am out, and my pay for the rest of the school year will be pro-rated. Wow. That is a total bummer. We will have to take that into account while working the cost of daycare into the budget. Looks like Baby Roberts will only be getting the basic essentials. I also found out that the time I am off will be docked from my teaching certificate. For example, if you have worked three years but were out two months for maternity leave, then your certificate will say you have worked 2 years and 10 months. I think the school system is being a little unfair. I was expecting not to get paid while I'm out, but I think the other stipulations are a little ridiculous. They should really let you know all of this stuff when you first start teaching. That way, you can start saving for all of the money you will be losing while you're out. Oh well. I guess I will know next time. It may be quite a while before we have another baby. I don't know if our bank account can handle it.

Getting Ready

I managed to get myself out of bed this morning and head to the school. I am changing classrooms this year, and I had to start moving my stuff. I was the only teacher on the eighth grade hall who was there today. I am sure more people will be there tomorrow because we get points for the hours we work on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and will not be able to put in as many hours as I would like. I knew I needed to get a jump start. The school was very quiet and hot. I was sweating before I left. Fred and I met at Fatz for lunch because he had early afternoon meetings and would be too rushed to go all the way home. After lunch, I went to the School Spot and Target to buy some school supplies. I then came home and made calendars for August through December. I am hoping to get my bulletin boards done tomorrow and put up my welcome sign. I don't want to do too much before I go to the doctor because I will get too hot. I really want the room to look bright and inviting to the students. While I was at the school, I noticed that a few of the other teachers had also been moved into different classrooms. I will have two new neighbors this year. I am going to try to get up early tomorrow so that I can get two hours of work in before I go to the doctor. I don't want to procrastinate. It makes me feel good to be productive.

Jump-Start

Well, I was actually trying to get ahead of the game. Teachers return to school on August 13, and I was planning on going to the school and working in my classroom today. I got up early this morning and got ready to head out. Right before I walked out the door, I checked my school email. There was an email from the secretary saying that teachers could not go to the school until Wednesday. Oh fiddle sticks! I really wanted to be prepared. Then I got another email saying that we cannot hang posters on the wall until Monday, August 17, which is 8th grade orientation. I'm sure I will be in a frenzy that morning trying to get the room looking good before students and parents arrive. So much for getting a jump-start on the year!
Since I was already dressed, I decided to go browsing around. I went to Kohls and found some more maternity clothes and a cute pair of shoes. I also went to T.J. Maxx, Ross, and Belk looking for shoes but had no luck. I am trying to be really prepared before school and not wait until the weekend before it starts to go shopping. This coming weekend will be tax free weekend, and the stores will be packed. I have discovered that you really don't save anything on tax free weekend. While it is true that you don't have to pay taxes on what you buy, the stores usually are not having good sales. I have saved more money paying taxes when the good sales are going on.
Fred and I went to Roger and Sam's house last night for dinner. Sam's parents are in town, and they are into grilling. We had chicken, ribs, new potatoes, potato salad, macaroni salad, and a tossed salad. I took a strawberry pretzel salad for dessert. We also had cake. The food was very good, and we had a good time. I keep telling Fred to invite everyone to our house for dinner one weekend, but he had been yet to do so. I would really like to have everyone over before school starts and baby arrives. Of course, I will want them to come over when baby does get here so that we can show him/her off. I plan on being one of those parents that takes every opportunity to show off my beautiful baby.
I'm not sure what I will be doing tomorrow other than going to the grocery store. I will be heading to the school Wednesday morning in an attempt to get a lot accomplished. I'm sure I still need to do a little cleaning before my parents arrive. Looks like I am going to be busy until next summer.

Being Domestic

I have been super busy today. I have done three loads of laundry, put clean sheets on two beds, folded towels, swept the dining room and kitchen, swiffered the kitchen, cleaned the countertops, polished the stainless steel, refilled the soap dispensers, put away the baby clothes, went grocery shopping, put the groceries away, and the list goes on. I am a little tired now, but I am proud of myself for getting so much done. It has been a while since I have been able to do this much in one day. I had gotten to where doing one task would wear me out. Maybe this is my so called "burst of energy" I'm supposed to get during the second trimester.
My plan for Monday is to go to the school and start moving my classroom stuff. At the end of the last school year, I was told that I would be changing classrooms so that I would have a promethean board for teaching math. I am hoping some custodians will be at the school to help me move the heavy things. It is also important that I get my stuff out of my old classroom so that the teacher moving in my old room can move her things as well. Also, since my parents are coming to visit next week, I want to get my school chores done early in the week. I am trying not to be a procrastinator.
I received the maternity clothes my mom ordered me from JCPenney yesterday, and everything fit. Today I received a skirt I ordered from ebay. The skirt was the exact style I was looking for. However, it was a little big. I'm sure it will fit within a few weeks.
Well, I'm going to put away Fred's clothes. He is out helping a friend move. Maybe I get more done when he's not here. Anway, it's been a good day. :)

Burger Day

Fred and I had an appointment at 11:30 this morning to learn about and take a tour of a day care in Greenville. To protect the reputation of the day care, I will not mention the name. We were not very impressed with the place and have decided not to put it on our list of possible choices. The place just wasn't as clean or professional as some of the other day cares we have visited. We were only there about twenty minutes and left with somewhat of a negative impression.
After our visit, we decided to go to Fuddrucker's for lunch. It was delicious! It was been quite a while since we have been there, and it was so good. I think Baby really liked it. I even treated Fred to a cookie on our way out.
Before I left to meet Fred this morning, I ordered a maternity skirt from ebay. It is an Ann Taylor Loft denim skirt NWT. It had free shipping, and it looks really nice from the pictures. I had previously emailed the seller to get the length measurements. I wanted to make sure the length would be acceptable for school. I am really hoping it will meet all of my expectations.
It has been raining today, and there's a really good chance for thunderstorms all day today and every day for the following week. I was hoping to get out and do some browsing around this afternoon, but I decided to stay in due to the bad weather. My vision isn't that great, and it is really hard for me to see in the rain. Maybe I can get out this weekend.

Productive Day

Yesterday was actually a day that I managed to get some things accomplished. I made poppyseed chicken, lima beans, and macaroni and cheese for supper. I also made a strawberry cake with buttercream icing. I pulled out my cake decorating tools and put some flowers on the cake. I haven't used my decorating supplies in quite a while. I think it made Fred really happy to see me being somewhat of my normal self.
Around 5:30, I started having these horrible gas pains. They lasted until I went to bed at 10:30. I couldn't even stand up to stir the macaroni. I haven't had these pains in quite a while, and I had forgotten how strong they can be. I didn't have any kind of medicine, so I finally ate some antacids, which seemed to help.
Fred received a call from Babies R Us while he was home for lunch today to let us know that the baby furniture has arrived. We probably won't pick it up for a few days because the weather is supposed to be pretty bad this week. We have fifteen days to claim it. We will probably get it within a few days. Fred will have to get one of his buddies from work to help him lift it since I'm not much help these days.
Fred also called a couple of day cares today. We will probably try to check these out before the end of the week. I can't say for sure, but I don't think they will be as good as the others we've seen. However, I know that you can't judge a book by its cover. We will just have to check them out for ourselves.
My mom called this afternoon to let me know that she and my dad are coming to visit us in a couple of weeks. I am excited to show them around Greenville and go to some baby stores. We haven't done any shopping together for the baby. It should be fun.

Speedy Summer

I can't believe I only have two and a half weeks left until I start school. It seems that I have spent most of my summer break being sick and tired. I am just hoping the symptoms have vanished when school starts. I don't want to be running to the toilet during class or falling asleep during my planning period. Everyone says you are supposed to get this sudden burst of energy during the second trimester. While I haven't been quite as tired as I was in the first trimester, I still haven't felt the "burst." I am hoping it will hit me before August 13.
I am still on my mad hunt for maternity clothes. I was able to get a pair of khakis, a dress, and a shirt at Kohl's on Saturday. The dress and the shirt are sleeveless, so I will need to get a sweater to wear with those. My mom was nice enough to bid on a sweater and some capris for me on ebay. Fred and I went to Goodwill yesterday to look for maternity clothes, but it was a total failure. We first went to the Goodwill on Haywood. This was the most unorganized place I have ever been. There are no signs or sizes. There are just big tubs of clothes all over the store. I thought I was going to be sick when I picked up an item, only to find out it was some nasty looking stained underwear. I was ready to leave at this point. We then headed to the Goodwill on Woodruff Road. It was a completely different atmosphere in this store. The clothes were divided into different sections and we even placed in rows by sizes. They only had about five maternity things, and they were all old and worn out. So much for getting a deal.
I spent some time yesterday looking at bedding sets. My goal was to find one for a girl and one for a boy. I found a few girl ones I liked, but the boy sets just aren't as exciting. We have found an infant seat and stroller that we like, and we have been keeping our eyes open for the best deal.
We had two families come and look at the house on Saturday. We were actually here when the first family came. They liked the house from the outside and stopped by the model to see if they could look around. Fred and I were in the middle of cleaning, but we told them to come on over. They seemed like nice people, and they liked most of the house. They didn't like the fact that there are three bedrooms upstairs instead of two bedrooms and a bonus room. I guess you can't please everybody. It seems like there is always one little thing that keeps the house from being perfect for other people. It usually seems to be the yard. We haven't heard anything back from the second family. I am hoping they loved the house and want to buy it immediately. Every time somebody looks at the house, I always pray that they will buy it. I am trying to wait patiently, but I have to admit that it gets frustrating when your house has been on the market for a year.

Ready for the Weekend

Fred and I decided to buy the crib set we found at Babies R Us. We purchased it on Wednesday night, and it should arrive in about two weeks. We both like it, and we got a really good deal on it. It definitely looks like the type of furniture that can transition as the baby gets older. I am ready for it to get here, but I don't know how we're going to get it up the stairs. The dresser and chest are very heavy and already come put together. Fred thinks that I can help him lift it up the stairs. I told him that I'm not supposed to lift heavy stuff. He told me that I wasn't supposed to lift stuff after the baby is born. I told him I'm not supposed to lift heavy stuff while being pregnant or right after the baby comes. He said that he had never heard that. I guess I'm going to have to find an article online to prove to him that I'm not just making it up to get out of doing work.
The shirt I ordered from Motherhood Maternity came in yesterday, and it is really cute. I am still in desperate need of getting clothes before school starts. I need some khakis and capris and a few more tops. I also need some shoes. It's really hard to find shoes that meet dress code regulations. I can't have any thong type shoes that don't have a strap on the back. I wonder if the people who make the dress code ever do any shopping. I never thought finding shoes would be so difficult.
Fred and I need to get out tonight to get some food for the animals. Alex is completely out of dog food and has been eating chicken and turkey, which I'm sure hasn't bothered him. I was warming him some chicken nuggets in the microwave this morning, and I think the microwave might have burned out. It smelled horrible, and the smell lasted for hours. I was worried the smoke alarm was going to go off, but it didn't. I guess I'll cook them in the oven from now on.
I got very little sleep last night. I felt very sick and just couldn't fall asleep. I have also gotten to where I have to go to the bathroom at 4:00 every morning. I feel sorry for Fred because I usually keep him up most of the night. I might have to start sleeping in the guest room so that he can get some rest.
We are so ready to find out what the baby is going to be. We still have over a month before we find out. I see so much cute baby stuff, but there isn't much I can buy until we find out if Baby Roberts is a girl or a boy. We have found a stroller and infant seat that we really like that could go for a girl or boy. We want to buy something that is kinda neutral so that we can use it again in the future.
I'm not really sure what we're going to do this weekend, but I'm looking forward to having Fred at home. It can get pretty lonely during the day, and I am always glad to have someone here with me. Maybe we will sit down start doing some calculations for day care. Our goal is to reserve a spot by next Friday. I am hoping we will be successful.

Vacation

It has been quite a while since I have posted anything. Fred and I spent four nights in Pigeon Forge, and we had a fabulous time. We left on Friday when Fred got off work. On Saturday, we started our day by eating breakfast at the Parkway Pancake House. Then we headed to the Tanger Five Oaks to do some shopping. I was able to get a few maternity things and some super cute things for the baby. The baby clothes were a great bargain. However, I can't say the same for maternity clothes. I got three shirts, a pair of leggings, and a cardigan and managed to spend $160. Ouch! These clothes better be the best of the best for that price. After we finished shopping, we headed to the Black Bear Jamboree to get tickets for that night's show. Then we went to the Pottery House Cafe for lunch. After lunch, I bought a piece of pottery at the Old Mill Pottery Store. Fred and I were a little tired at this point and went back to the hotel to get some rest. Before heading to the show that night, we made a stop at the Incredible Christmas Place. Then we went to the Jamboree. As always, the food and show were amazing! We had a blast! I couldn't even sleep that night because the songs kept playing in my head.
On Sunday morning, we headed to the Log Cabin Pancake House for breakfast. Then we went back to the Tanger Five Oaks for one last look around. We then went to the Belz Factory Outlet World and the Z-Buda Outlets. We decided to eat lunch at Bennett's BBQ. I had forgotten how good a BBQ sandwich is. It was delicious. We made a stop at the book store before going back to the hotel to get some rest. Around 3:00, we went to the Apple Barn for an afternoon snack. We got fried apple pies with ice cream. Yummy! Then we headed back to the hotel before heading to the Comedy Barn. After the show, we went to Carino's for supper. Then we went to the China Gift Mart to browse around before heading to the hotel for the night.
On Monday morning, we slept a little late. We went to the Old Mill for breakfast before venturing out to DollyWood. We saw the new show, rode the train, and looked around in the shops. We left DollyWood around 1:30 and went back to the hotel. Fred called in some Japanese food at Little Tokyo. I was pretty good. Then we spent most of the afternoon resting and relaxing. Fred wanted to try one of the fish places for supper, so we went to Pop's catfish. The food was very good. After supper, we went by one more souvenir store before turning in for the night.
On Tuesday, we managed to sleep late again. We went to Flapjack's for breakfast. They have the best maple syrup ever. We even got a jar to bring home with us. After breakfast, we checked out of the hotel and started our journey home.
We arrived in Greenville around 2:00. We ate lunch at Wendy's before starting our day care adventure. We went to Legacy Academy and Kids R Kids and got some information and looked around. We made an appointment to tour Park Place Children's Center at 7:00 that night. We decided to go by Babies R Us to look at strollers and cribs. We then went to Wal-Mart and Publix before heading for the house. We unloaded the car and ate a snack before leaving for Park Place. The facility was very nice, and we ended up being there for about an hour. When we left, we stopped by Quiznos to grab a sanwich before heading home for the night.
After we ate, we did some online browsing. We found out that Babies R Us was running a special on a three piece nursery set that we somehow managed to miss in the store. You saved over $300 if you bought all three pieces.
I headed out this morning to check out the Babies R Us bargain. It looked like a really nice set. Fred is going with me tonight to check it out. I also went by the bank and JCPenney while I was out. I managed to find some maternity clothes at JCPenney. When I was checking out, the cashier asked me if the clothes were for me. I told her that they were. She asked me why I was buying clothes for pregnant people. I told her it was because I was pregnant. I felt kinda awkward. I ended up getting a good deal with the sales and a coupon, so I guess it was worth the embarrassment. I then headed home to get ready for lunch. Fred came home about thirty minutes later. We ate lunch together, and I told him that I liked the crib set. He seemed happy about it. If he likes it as well, we might go ahead and purchase it tonight. The sale ends tomorrow. I will let you know what we decide. :)

Sickness Frustrations

I was hoping that since I survived the first trimester, my days of being sick were over. However, I was completely wrong. I managed to lose my breakfast and lunch yesterday. I have never gotten sick twice in one day while I've been pregnant. I guess there's a first time for everything. My body was really weak, and I was exhausted. I was pretty much useless yesterday.
I decided that I wouldn't eat cereal this morning because milk doesn't seem to settle well on my stomach. I made a waffle, thinking I could keep it down. However, that sure didn't last very long. I seem to be having a really hard time keeping down water. I drank some sierra mist at lunch, which my stomach seemed to handle better. I am feeling pretty tired and will probably fall asleep this afternoon.
One of my facebook friends suggested that I try some prego pops. I looked them up online, and I can buy them at Walgreens. I will try to get some before our trip this weekend. I certainly don't want to spend my vacation over the toilet. I am really worried that I will ruin our trip by being sick. I want to have a fun, relaxing time. Maybe Baby Roberts will enjoy the trip as well and won't give me a hard time.
Fred was sweet enough to go out and get me a frozen lemonade last night, which I enjoyed very much. Frozen drinks have helped me survive the pregnancy so far. I guess you could say I've traded in my ice cream days for them. I have also become a huge fan of Burger King. I can taste a whopper junior just thinking about it. Also, Burger King has icees, which is a definite plus. Don't worry. I certainly don't eat there on a regular basis, but a burger sure tastes good every now and then.
I need to pull out my suitcase and start packing. I already have a list made, which should make the packing go rather quickly. I am really looking forward to spending extra time with Fred and getting out of the house for a few days. Maybe we will find some cute baby things while we are there! :)

Half Way

Wednesday is here, which means the week is getting closer to be over. I tried to get on last night and post, but the internet was down. Nothing exciting happened yesterday. I was extremely tired and couldn't even stay awake to watch "Days of our Lives" after lunch. I did feel much better after my nap and am hoping I won't feel so exhausted today.
Fred had class last night but actually got home a few minutes early. However, he has a ton of homework. He started on it last night but didn't even get close to finishing it. He was on the phone with his cousin for two hours helping him with homework. Fred has become quite the teacher these days.
I did manage to get up around 8:15 this morning, which is super early for me these days. I am hoping it won't catch up with me later. I usually get tired around lunch or in the afternoon. It is going to be hard when school starts back because I won't get a time for a nap. I am hoping the kids will be extra nice to me since I'm expecting a baby, but I'm not holding my breath. Can you believe that school starts in about a month? I can't believe it! Summer has flown by.
If anything exciting or important happens today, I will post again later. If not, I will write again tomorrow.

Doctor Visit

I had an appointment this morning with the doctor. They weighed me, took my blood pressure, and listened to the baby's heart beat. The nurse said the heart beat was great. It was 141. I had a nice chat with the doctor. Because the appointment was at 11:30, I ended up leaving a little after 12:00. Fred asked me if I wanted to meet for lunch. We met at Fatz, and it was delicious.
After lunch, I was feeling really sleepy. I headed home but ended up not taking a nap. Some people were coming to look at the house from 4:30-5:30. I had a little straightening up to do. I also watched "A Baby Story" and "Mystery Diagnosis" on TLC.
Around 4:10, I headed to Woodruff Road to kill some time before Fred got off work. I went to Old Navy, Marshall's, Ross's, and Kohl's in an attempt to find maternity clothes. I bought a couple of shirts at Old Navy but had no luck at the other places. I still haven't found any pants. I am hoping I can find a few things in the mountains next weekend.
When Fred got off work, we met to drive by a day care he learned about today. We both checked out the website, and the place looks nice. It is very close to Fred's work, which is a definite plus. The sign said they were now taking applications for infants. We want to get the baby's name on a waiting list as soon as possible. I read on the internet where some places have a two year wait. Can you believe that? It seems unreal to me. We both liked the way the place looked and will start calling around soon.
My next visit with the doctor will be on August 11. I could have found out the sex the following week, but the ultrasound technician will be off that week. They said that I could come August 19. However, that's the first day of school. I wouldn't dare ask off for the first day of school. So I won't find out the sex until August 27, which makes me very sad. Just knowing that I should have been able to find it out two weeks earlier frustrates me. I guess I will just have to deal with it.
I am now very tired since I had to get up a little early and didn't get to take my afternoon nap. Fred is working on homework, and I am watching TV. Maybe I will actually be able to get to sleep early tonight. That would be so nice! :)

Waffle House

Fred has always been a huge fan of Waffle House. When I first met him, he instantly told me that we would have to go to Waffle House. I had only been once in my entire life, and I was 22 when I met Fred. In fact, our first "real" date was at Waffle House. We went for breakfast one morning in our pajamas. Don't worry. I brushed my teeth and cleaned up and everything like that before we went. It's not like I just rolled out of bed and met him there. We were still in the early stages of dating. I wasn't dare going to let him see me without makeup! I can still remember what we ordered on that wonderful morning. I had a waffle with grits. Fred had a waffle and an order of hashbrowns scattered all the way. I still smile just thinking about it.
After we got married and moved to Arkansas, we ate at Waffle House somewhat regularly. However, since moving to Greenville, we have only been there twice in two years. Today made our third trip. I had forgotten how amazing the food is. We both ordered the all star special, and it was incredible. For those of you who do not visit Waffle House, let me explain the the all star special is. You get a waffle or biscuits with gravy, bacon or sausage, grits or hashbrowns, eggs, and toast. The best part is that it only costs $5.99. It's quite a deal. Our nice waitress even gave us a 10% discount. I guess we just looked sweet. The exquisite breakfast really gave me a good start to my day.
After eating, we went to Target and Staples. Staples was running a special where you could get an eight pack of pencils for one cent. The limit was two packs unless you are a teacher. Teachers can get 25 packs. Therefore, I spent an entire quarter for 200 pencils. Talk about the deal of the day! I am thinking about going back before the sale ends and getting some more.
Fred has been busy crunching numbers to see how we can make it financially when the baby arrives. We still haven't bought the first baby thing. Our first purchase will probably be the crib. I found one at Target that I like. It has gotten good reviews and costs $250. However, the crib is just the beginning. Being first time parents, we have absolutely nothing. My mom has bought the baby some MSU socks and a bib. We have a lot of shopping to do! Once we find out the sex of the baby, we will start doing some serious shopping. However, I do want to get things like the stroller and infant seat in somewhat of a generic pattern so that we can use it again for our next child, if and when that day ever comes!
We spent over an hour trying to research day cares on the internet today. Of course, the websites do not list prices. You can find some discussions where parents have stated the cost per month. Some of these places cost more than my paycheck. Ouch! I have told Fred multiple times to ask some of the guys at work where they leave their kids. He has been "working on that" for over a month now. We really need to leave the baby somewhere close to Fred's work because he will probably be the one dropping the little one off in the mornings. I will be the one picking up after school. We also need to find a place that will hold a spot over the summers while I am off. I am sure that some places want the child to stay there 12 months a year.
I am headed to the doctor tomorrow to make sure the little one is doing okay and probably to discuss more lab work. Have I mentioned how much I hate getting my blood taken? It would be different if my veins would cooperate. I guess I take after my dad in that aspect. My mom has those big bulgy veins that blood just flows out of so smoothly. I, on the other hand, have invisible veins that like to hold on to my blood. I can just see myself trying to push out the baby while they are still attempting to get an IV in my hand. I cringe just thinking about it!
Well, I guess that's about it for today. I'm about to watch the premiere of "Drop Dead Diva" on Lifetime. I'm hoping it will be good. I will let you know how tomorrow's visit goes. Have a great week!

Grocery Shopping

I finally made it to the grocery store yesterday. We had no food in the house, and something had to be done. I got up around 9:00 and had some oatmeal, watched A Baby Story, and hopped in the shower. I knew that I better go while I had to motivation. It is not easy to stay very motivated these days. I left the house around 10:45 and headed for Publix.
I was hoping that there wouldn't be a big crowd in the store, but there was. I still managed to get just about everything on the list. I even got some hoagie rolls and sandwich toppings to make "deluxe" sandwiches. They were very yummy! I got home around 11:45 and unloaded the car. I washed the lettuce and chopped the tomato and onion. I put the remaining groceries away and started making our sandwiches. I was pretty impressed with the end result. I even got some chips and french onion dip. Of course, I went over the budget of $50. I have tried to explain to Fred that you can't buy groceries and other necesseties such as shampoo, detergent, etc. for $50 per week. Can somebody please back me up here? Fred can go to the store and spend less than $50, but he really hasn't bought anything. If you buy a bag of chicken tenders and a box of dryer sheets, you have already spent $12. Things add up quickly!
I even managed to have enough energy to make some spaghetti for supper last night. It was really good, if I do say so myself. Along with the spaghetti we had seasoned chicken, mixed veggies, and salad. I think we both enjoyed it.
Thankfully, Fred took the Mississippi mud brownies to work yesterday. I was ready to get them out of the house. They were just too tempting. I did buy some more fruit yesterday and half already starting eating it. I should probably go get some more since it was on sale.
I guess it wasn't the most eventful day, but I was just glad to feel better. I haven't felt as well today, but I am making it. I am desperately ready for all of these zits to disappear. I hate the way my face looks. Talking about the negative side effects of pregnancy, did you know that you can get carpal tunnel and bell's palsy while you're pregnant? I didn't know this until yesterday. I thought, "Great, that's just what I need." I told Fred that I would rather have all this stuff happen to me instead of the baby. As long as he/she is healthy, I will just have to endure the bad skin and all of the other lovely side effects.

Pity Party

I have decided that every pregnant person deserves the right to feel sorry for herself every now and then. I guess today was one of those days for me. I have not felt well all day. I was very tired this morning, and I also felt very weak. I had very little energy and was on the verge of feeling faint. Fred sent me a text message at 11:45 asking me if I wanted to go get pizza for lunch with some of the guys from his work. I just really didn't feel like getting out. I don't like to drive when I am feeling weak, and I didn't have on any makeup. It would have been perfectly fine with me if he went with them. I want Fred to hang out with his work friends. I just didn't feel like it on this particular day. Instead of going to eat with them, Fred came home for lunch. He was pouty the whole time because he wanted to get pizza. I told him, as I have fifty times before, that he is more than welcome to go out with his friends any time he wants. It certainly doesn't bother me to eat lunch on the couch while watching TV. He doesn't have to worry about me being alone. In fact, I would much rather he go with his friends than be upset with me for not going. It's a fact of life that I'm not always going to do what he wants to do, and that's okay. We are two different people, and we don't always have to want the same things.
Now that I've let off that steam, I'll move on to my next topic. I am so frustrated that we have no food in this house. All we have is junk like ravioli and brownies. We are out of fruit, and we have no meat to make sandwiches. I desperately need to go to the grocery store, but I haven't been going many places by myself since the passing out in Wal-Mart. I asked Fred at lunch if we could go tonight, and he said that we could. Then tonight, he just crashed on the couch. I understand that he is tired after working all day. However, I need a little help. I don't feel well, and I would rather not go out and about alone. Maybe we can get out tomorrow. I don't even have any milk to eat cereal tomorrow morning. At least there's oatmeal.
I certainly don't want to sound like I am complaining about Fred. He has been amazing. Like I said yesterday, my emotions are just crazy right now. I am hoping that tomorrow will be better. I am still sleeping with a trash can by the bed. My skin is awful. I have like fifty zits on my face, and I'm not even joking. I was hoping they would have cleared up by now, but they are only getting worse. I have at least one new one each day. It seems like I have gotten every negative side effect that comes with being pregnant. I haven't gotten the good things, like the thick hair, long nails, and glowing skin. I'm just waiting for the stretch marks to start appearing.
Okay, I guess that's enough feeling sorry for myself for one day. I will try to make tomorrow's post more positive.

Making Progress

I'm not really sure what was wrong with me earlier today. I was very depressed and spent the first half of the day crying. The thing is, I'm not really sure why. No one had hurt my feelings, and I wasn't sad. I guess it's just crazy, random emotions. I got a little better after lunch. I could tell that Fred was concerned about me, but he also knew that it wasn't his fault. I guess it's just hormones.
I have decided that the baby likes shrimp. I finished the leftover shrimp from Fatz today, and they were still good, even cold. Fred says the baby has Florida genes because it likes seafood. I normally like oysters more than shrimp. However, I haven't had oysters in so long, I've forgotten what they taste like.
I did manage to finally make the Mississippi mud brownies today. I have been wanting to make them for weeks and just haven't been able to get the motivation to actually do it. After being upset all morning, I somehow had the desire to make them this afternoon. I am crying one minute and laughing the next. What a crazy life! Anyway, they look really good. I haven't tried one yet, but I am going to get one when I finish typing.
Fred is playing Mario Kart against some of his friends from work. He is doing really well, especially considering he just got the game last night. He had intended on playing last night, but he got on the phone right when we walked through the door. He managed to stay on the phone with his cousin for three hours. Fred was helping him with homework. I told Fred I expect him to help our children like that. Of course, he said that he would. He is really a genius, at least I think so. He is a really good teacher, and he really enjoys helping other people. He is so patient.
I have continued my online search for maternity clothes. I have looked at tons of stuff on ebay. However, the thing that is so aggravating about ebay is that the shipping costs are more than the cost of the item. I have found a few cute shirts on jcpenney's website and plan on trying to go to the mall the weekend to see if there is anything in the store. I am having a horrible time trying to find pants. I would really like to try them on before I buy them. I know that I can always return them, but I am trying to keep things as easy as possible these days.
Well, I guess that's about it for today. I am going to head downstairs and try out the brownies. I will let you know tomorrow how they turned out.

Great Lunch

I have started waking up earlier these days but usually remain in the bed until about 9:00. However, the phone rang at 8:04 this morning. Fred was calling to let me know the house was going to be shown at noon. He also asked if I would like to meet him for lunch. Of course, I told him that I would love to. I got out of bed, fixed some cereal, made the bed, and washed the dirty dishes in the sink. I then went upstairs to watch "A Baby Story." I seem to watch this show multiple times a day, trying to learn a few tricks that might make pregnancy and delivery just a little easier. I know you are probably laughing at that idea. I am mesmerized by the show about girls giving birth in the bathroom and claiming they didn't know they were pregnant. I just don't get it. How could you not know? Girls who claim they didn't gain any weight deliver eight pound babies.
Anway, after watching TV, I straightened up the house, took a shower, got ready, and threw some towels in the washing machine. I left the house around 11:45 to meet Fred at Fatz Cafe, one of my favorite places to eat. Fred let me pick the location. He is so sweet. We both ordered the calabash and popcorn shrimp lunch plate. You get calabash chicken tenders, popcorn shrimp, a side item, and poppyseed rolls for only $5.99. You can barely eat fast food for that price.
After lunch, I went by Kohls to look at maternity clothes. They had pretty much nothing. I was very let down. I am having a very difficult time trying to find maternity clothes. I went by Old Navy on Sunday, but they had very little. The few things I did like, they didn't have in my size. They do have some cute stuff on their website, but I would rather be able to try things on. However, I guess I might not have that option. I can always order some stuff and take it back to the store if it doesn't fit. I am going to have to do something. I only have two outfits that still fit. I am going to wear them out washing and wearing them so much.
I had every intention of making some Mississippi mud brownies when I got home this afternoon. Instead, I ended up watching Law and Order: SVU and falling asleep on the futon. I always have good intentions. I just don't have the energy to fulfill them these days.
Fred and I went to Target after supper so that he could buy Mario Kart. I got some shoes and peanut M&Ms, one of my weaknesses these days. I looked at maternity clothes while we were there, but their selection was extremely small. Does anybody know where to go to get cute, inexpensive maternity clothes?
Anyway, I guess I will keep looking online and browsing when I am out and about. The day has been good and somewhat productive. Hope the rest of the week is even better!

4th of July Weekend

We had a really good three day weekend. I actually got up before 8:00 Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Fred was up around 6:00 doing yard work. He has really become "Mr. Fix It" lately. We planted my rose bush on Saturday, and it looks really pretty. I hope it continues to grow. I was pretty tired on Saturday and didn't take a bath until 2:00. After my bath, I cooked the baked beans and put the finishing touches on the flag cake. Fred was sweet enough to get me some peanut M&Ms and a coke Icee while he was out running errands. He also bathed Alex so that we could take him to the party with us.
We headed to Roger and Sam's around 6:00 that evening. Alex was a nervous wreck. He doesn't handle strangers well, and Mickey wanted to play with him. However, Alex was not interested in playing with a strange dog. Alex only associates with Max. Other than that, he has no dog friends.
The party was a lot of fun. There was also a lot of good food. We had burgers and hot dogs, chips and dip, baked beans, sweet potato crunch, and more. It was delicious. After we ate, the guys played video games for a while before we started the fireworks. The fireworks show lasted about an hour. It was now 11:00. Surprisingly, I wasn't very tired. We watched a comedian for about 45 minutes before heading home.
The flag cake was a huge success, and we had very little to bring home. We had about half a pan of baked beans to bring home, but that didn't bother us. We really like them and don't mind the leftovers. I am really glad we went. We had a really good time!

Busy Day

I am so proud of myself. I was out of bed before 8:00 this morning. This is really quite an accomplishment for me since I have been so exhausted lately. Last night was the most rest I have gotten in quite a while. After Fred and I ate breakfast, we got ready and headed out to Target and Lowes. There is a baby bed I saw on Target's website and wanted to check it out. It was on display, and I really like it. Fred likes it, too, which is a good thing. While we were in Target, Roger called Fred and asked if we would like to meet up for lunch. We agreed and then continued on with our shopping. We managed to find a few good deals and then left for Lowes. Fred needed to get a few things for the yard. He couldn't find what he was looking for, and we didn't have time to find an employee because we needed to leave for lunch.
We headed downtown to the hospital to eat with Roger, Sam, Dan, and Roger's family from Michigan. I know you are probably wondering why we would eat at a hospital. Sam works at St. Francis, and she was not off today like the GE guys were. That's why we ate at the hospital. The food was really good and reasonably priced. Fred and I ate for a little over $10, thanks to Sam's discount. I had a salmon patty, macaroni and cheese, green beans, a roll, and sweet tea. It has been a really long time since I have had a salmon patty. I haven't had one since I was a kid. I actually like those things.
After lunch, we headed back to Lowes to make a purchase. Fred got some flags to mark the sprinkler system, a cap for part of the sprinkler system, and some type of lining to go around the area he is going to mulch. I got a rosebush that was on clearance. I can't remember the exact name, but the roses are yellow with pink tips, my favorite.
After we left Lowes, we headed to Publix. I had to get a few ingredients for my flag cake and baked beans that I am taking to the cookout tomorrow. We also needed a few groceries for around the house.
Overall, I have felt much better today. I have had a good appetite and have not gotten sick (yet). I am keeping my fingers crossed. I am really hoping and praying the worst part of the pregnancy is over and that I can get back to being myself. I'm sure Fred hopes so, too. I think he has really been concerned about me. Hope everyone has a great Fourth of July tomorrow!

Ultrasound Day

I had an ultrasound appointment at 9:30 this morning. Fred left work to go with me. The baby looks great! The lady said he/she is exactly where he/she should be for 13 weeks. I also got my finger pricked. Thankfully, I didn't pass out. We got a beautiful little picture to bring home with us, and we will be making copies to send to our families who live out of town. We got to hear the hearbeat, and the little hand was waving. It looks like the baby has long legs. It is already 15 cm. She told us we can find out the sex at 18 weeks. So, hopefully, we will know what we are expecting in 5 weeks. I am ready to find out so that we can start looking at little clothes, bedding, etc.
Other than the doctor's visit, my day has been pretty uneventful. Fred went in early this morning so that he wouldn't have as much time to make up. I am hoping that he won't have to work late. He is off tomorrow, so that gives us a three day weekend to spend together. I am looking forward to it.

Pie Time

Fred informed me today that he has never made a pie other than pumpkin pie. I was in shock. I told him that we could make one together and that I would help him. I asked him what kind of pies he likes. He said that he likes strawberry and cherry and coconut cream. I love coconut cream pie! Then I started thinking about Brusters. They have an ice cream flavor called coconut cream pie. I haven't had it in a while, and it is delicious. However, the thing about Brusters, is that you never know what flavors they are going to have. The flavors vary from day to day. We set out for Brusters in hopes that they would have our flavor of choice. Of course, they didn't. They did have a new flavor called peanut butter crunch with butterfinger. We both ordered a scoop, and it was great. I ate mine very slowly. I don't want a repeat of what happened last time I ate ice cream. I am really hoping I won't regret eating it later tonight. I'll put the trash can by the bed just in case.
While we were at Brusters, we saw the cutest little baby girl in a watermelon dress. One of the best things about having a girl would be the cute clothes you can buy. It really doesn't matter to either one of us if we have a girl or a boy. We just want a healthy baby. If we have a boy, we already have a name picked out. We are still contemplating a girl name. We have decided that we're probably not going to tell anyone the name until the baby is born. Too many people in our families are opinionated. We want to name the baby what we want, not what pleases other people.
I am going to the doctor tomorrow morning for an ultrasound and some blood work. This ultrasound is to check for down syndrome. We are certainly praying that the baby will not have down syndrome, but we will love the baby no matter what. We are already in love with this child, and he/she hasn't even arrived yet.
I will try to update you tomorrow on what the ultrasound looks like. We are ready to have some pictures to send our families.

Rough Day

I don't think I could have gotten more than three hours of sleep last night. I felt sick all night and wasn't able to rest. I got up at 9:00 this morning, which was actually pretty good for me. I have always been an early riser, but not since the pregnancy. I put a trash can by the bed last night because I though I would throw up, but I never did. Finally, at 10:00 this morning, the vomit caught up with me. It did make me feel better, but I was so weak after I got sick.
I met Fred for lunch at 12:00, and I was still feeling weak. We ate at Fatz, which was really good, but I just don't enjoy food much these days. I am rarely able to finish a meal any more. I thought that pregnant people ate tons of food. Maybe I could eat more if I could actually keep it down. I am usually not hungry at meals and then get hungry about an hour after I have finished. I don't like snacking on junk. I would rather just eat my three meals and have a little snack in between. However, this just doesn't seem to work. I miss being able to enjoy food. The one thing I seem to enjoy these days is an Icee. I don't even really eat ice cream any more. I am sure that this whole phase will eventually pass, and I am ready. There are few things in life I am able to enjoy these days. Even when I have an agenda of things to do, I rarely ever get to do them. I actually dusted the dining room table and put out some Fourth of July placemats tonight. This was a big accomplishment for me. I really hope I can sleep tonight. I just want to sit down and cry. I don't want to seem like I am full of self pity, but I miss enjoying life.

Time for a Change

Okay, so I am officially tired of being tired. I sleep all the time. I want to be energized. I'm tired of spending my days snoozing. There are so many things I would like to be doing and need to be doing. I miss the days of cooking big meals and desserts. I still have the desire, but I just don't have the energy to do it. Fred has been amazing at helping around the house. I can't say enough good things about him. He is really amazing. I had intended to make chicken spaghetti and a strawberry cake today but discovered that I was missing some of the ingredients. I am in desperate need of going to the store. I have Fourth of July decorations that I need to put out, and I would like to make a flag cake for the big day. I really don't even know what we're doing this weekend. We haven't made any plans, and Fred is also tired. I really don't want to spend the holiday weekend sleeping.
This has been a short, depressing post. I will try to update later if anything good happens.

Movie Day

Fred and I rarely ever go to the movies. We do the whole Netflix thing, and that's how we see our share of movies. Actually going to the movies is pretty expensive, and it is a rare treat for us. However, as I'm sure most of you know, Transformers is now playing. Fred is quite a fan of Transformers, and he wanted to see the new movie. So, we did. It was pretty good. We went at 10:00 this morning, so we got the matinee price. After the movie, we went to Chipotles for lunch, which was very yummy.
I have felt better this weekend and have managed to make it two days without taking a nap, which is quite an accomplishment for me. I can tell that the baby bump is starting to get bigger, and I'm not quite sure how I feel about this. I definitely want the baby to be healthy, but getting a big belly is a lot to get used to. I'm sure I will get used to it, though.
Overall, the weekend has been good but uneventful. I am sad that tomorrow is Monday and that Fred will have to go back to work.

It's Been a While!

Let me begin by explaining why I haven't posted in so long. Our internet has been going in and out for over two weeks. It might start working for five minutes and then stop working for seven hours. It has been very frustrating, but we are hoping it is now fixed. However, I was just telling Fred yesterday that I miss the days before technology took over the world. I can remember being a little kid and not having a computer, cell phone, or cable TV. Life was really good then. People actually talked to each other, and I think my family was a lot closer. Life was simple, and I really don't think we knew how good we had it. I know that now days, a teenager will tell you he/she can't live without a cell phone. It makes me kinda sad to know that my child will never know what life is like without having everything at his/her fingertips. I can remember the days when you had to go to the library to do research. There was no google. I learned to type on a typewriter. There was no backspace, no copy or paste. Anyway, I will get of this soap box and move on to my next topic.
I have decided that Wal-Mart is not so bad after all. I have been somewhat against Wal-Mart lately and have avoided going when at all possible. It is usually extremely crowded, and the employees are not very helpful. However, my perspective has changed since Wednesday. On Wednesday, I decided to head out to Wal-Mart to pick up the things on our list. I was done with all of my shopping except getting some sun-dried tomato turkey from the deli. If you haven't tried it, you must. It is amazing! Anyway, I was waiting in line to have the meat sliced, and I started feeling dizzy and hot. The next thing I know, people are holding me up and screaming to call 911. One of the ladies with me told me that I had passed out twice. I didn't remember anything. I was extremely weak and sweating really badly. They got me a chair. After a few minutes of sitting down, I started feeling better. The ambulance showed up, and two very nice EMTs checked me out. My blood pressure was low, as always. My heart rate was close to perfect. They tried to check my blood sugar, but their little finger pricker wouldn't work. This was probably a good thing, as I might have passed out again. They said they would not make me fill out any paper work or charge anything for coming to my rescue. How nice! I tried to call Fred several times, but he was in a meeting. I didn't really want to drive home because I was still weak, but I had no choice. Let me take a minute to point out that the two ladies who stayed with me until the EMTs arrived were Wal-Mart employees. However, they were not on the clock. They were doing their own shopping after their shifts had ended. I cannot thank these two very nice ladies enough. I guess I will now be known as the girl who passed out at Wal-Mart.
I guess that's the biggest event that has taken place in my life lately. I am still sleeping the majority of the time and feel sick almost every day. I am ready for the rough part to pass and look forward to the point where I can enjoy life again. Hope you all have a fabulous weekend! :)

Dogs

My dad decided to let Rox and Max stay in the house last night. They have been sleeping outside since Saturday when they put on their little show and kept us up all night. Rox acted like he was going to sleep on my suitcase. When my dad tried to get him out of my room, Rox ran under the bed. Immediately when my dad left, Rox got right back on the suitcase. I didn't have a problem with him staying in my room, as long as he stayed on the suitcase. Of course, that didn't last very long. In less than five minutes, Rox had jumped from the suitcase to my bed. I didn't even attempt to mess with him because he can get snappy. However, I would not allow him to get under the covers. He had to sleep on top of the covers. He kept me up almost all night walking around the bed and licking his paws.
After a night of sleeping and waking up every few hours, we got out of the bed at 8:50. I made my bed and ate some rice krispies for breakfast. Rox and Max spent some time outside. I heard them start barking, and one of them was making a crying noise. I went to the door to let them in. As soon as I got to the door, the door bell rang. There was a girl standing at the door saying that she thought Rox had hurt his leg fighting with another dog. Rox ran right under my bed, and I have not been able to inspect the possible injury. Maybe he will let me check it out later.
Mary Margaret is coming home tonight, and my mom should be coming back from her secretary training. I am hoping to get out of the house tonight. I have been cooped up in here for way too long. I am hoping I will not be as exhausted today as I was yesterday. I am already feeling a little tired, and I have only been up for approximately two hours. However, I really didn't get any good sleep last night. Of course, there are some nights when I sleep for 12 hours and still feel tired because I was dreaming crazy stuff all night. I really don't get much good sleep these days. I think that's why I nap all the time. Anyway, we'll see what the day has in store for me. At least it's Friday! :)

Sleep Day

Today I have been totally unproductive. I got up about 8:45 this morning, put away the clean dishes, made my bed, and ate breakfast. I then watched TV but started feeling sick. I laid down for about 45 minutes before getting in the shower. I was in the shower no longer than 10 minutes but still felt sick the entire time. After I finished showering, I started feeling extra sick and threw up. (I know, just what you wanted to hear.) I have only thrown up a few times during the pregnancy, and those times have been immediately after I had eaten breakfast. This was about two hours after breakfast. I started crying, as I always do when I get sick, and did some sanitizing. Fred is usually the one to sanitize after me, but he's not here. I miss him so much. I know all girls say it, but I really think he is the best hubby ever. I really needed to be hugged and held, but I was all alone. I then finished getting ready and called Fred. We talked for about 10 minutes. I then made one of my deluxe sandwiches for lunch with Doritos on the side. I ate lunch while watching an eleven pound baby being born. What a combination! It was then time for my daily dose of Days of our Lives. There's always drama in Salem. I then turned on TLC and fell asleep. I woke up at 4:00. I know, such a productive day! They say its gets better between weeks 12-14. I am now 11 weeks, but I have seen no improvement. I am just hoping I will be okay during vacation next week. I don't want to spend each day in the hotel room asleep. It's not almost 4:30, and I have wasted yet another day. I feel so useless. It seems like all I do is sleep and cry these days. I was extremely productive yesterday, which is a totally good thing. If I had not been, we would have no food for supper tonight. Well, I think I will go call Fred and see what's up with him. I am hoping tomorrow will be a day of energy and productivity.

Busy Day

Well, I've been up and at it since 6:30 this morning. It was certainly not my intention to be up this early, but I just couldn't get back to sleep. I've already washed and sliced strawberries, boiled and chopped a chicken, and put a cake in the oven. I really do need to stay busy today since I was so exhausted yesterday. I took two naps yesterday and pretty much just sat around the house. I felt tired and sick all day. I felt sick this morning, too, but I am starting to feel a little better. I did manage to make spaghetti last night, which was pretty excellent, if I do say so myself. I also went to the grocery store and Wal-Mart with my parents. I think it actually did me some good to get out of the house. I am meeting my mom for lunch at the Bypass, which I'm hoping will be quite yummy. They have the most amazing bread pudding. I am drooling just thinking about it. I am making dressing for supper tonight at my mom's request. We should have plenty of left-overs to make it the rest of the week. I sent about 50 pecan tassies to work with my dad yesterday, which, of course, were all eaten. Other than all of my cooking today, I don't really have anything else on my agenda. I did teach my mom how to move the mirrors on her car this morning, and I am going to teach her to use the ATM this afternoon. I know...she is way behind. She still hasn't mastered swiping her debit card when she makes a purchase. Good thing I am here to help! I am still missing Fred terribly and will be glad to see him. I am also ready for Mary Margaret to get here. Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday! :)

Weekend Update

I know it has been a few days since I have posted anything. Let me explain. On Friday, our internet service would not work. Fred called Charter, and they said they couldn't send anyone out to fix it until Tuesday. Ugh! Anway, I left Saturday to visit my parents. After an eight hour ride, I was pretty tired by the time we finally arrived. However, I managed to get about five hours of sleep Saturday night. Two very sweet (but annoying) chihuahuas kept me up most of the night. Rox and Max decided they were going to sleep in the bed with me. My parents said they probably had fleas, and I decided they needed to get out of the bed. However, they would not budge. I know what you're thinking. They are small dogs. I should have just picked them up. Well, you don't know these dogs. Small dogs still have sharp teeth, and I was not taking any risks. I tried to get them to jump down, but they weren't giving in. I was really worried that I would have fleas crawling all over me, so I decided to sleep on the couch. Max started crying because he wanted me in the bed. Rox could have cared less. He would have slept all by himself in the bed. I got Max out of the bed, but then he cried because he wanted on the couch with me. I put him in the dog crate, but then he cried because he wanted out. It is now after midnight, and I am very frustrated. I laid in the bed and bumped Rox off when he wasn't paying attention. So both dogs are now in the floor crying. I got up to use the restroom and stepped in dog vomit. That was just the icing on the cake. My mom heard all the noise and got up. She let the dogs outside to use the restroom. When they came back in, they decided they would just camp out and cry by my bedroom door. I am glad that they love me so much, but they were driving me crazy. I just wanted to go to sleep. My parents finally get the dogs in their room, and Rox continues to cry. My dad finally got up and put both of them in the pen outside, where they continued to cry. They have been outside ever since. I was very tired yesterday and took a nap from 3:00-5:00. We then went riding around and got a sandwich at the Short Stop. It was amazing! I savored every bite. I even got an Icee, which I have not had in years. I cannot believe how expensive Icees have gotten. It cost $1.81 for a small. I was like, "Wow!" When I was a kid, you could get a large for $0.99. The times have definitely changed. After watching Army Wives, I headed to bed. I am still a little tired, but at least I didn't have to listen to dogs all night. I think today is going to be a pretty boring day, but we'll see. I miss Fred terribly and will be home alone all day. I will try to post again either tonight or tomorrow.

Another Day

After I published yesterday's post, I realized that I forgot to mention by delicious lunch at Quiznos. I know you will find this hard to believe, but I had never eaten at Quiznos before yesterday. I have been to many different sandwich type places, but I've just never made it to Quiznos. After giving the place a try, I have decided that Quiznos is a very good place. The sandwich was awesome! I ate with Fred and some of his friends from work. It was so nice to get out of the house and hear voices other than those on TV. I was pretty tired after lunch, so I headed back to the house. I watched Days of our Lives and relaxed on the futon. I managed to fall asleep around 5:30 and woke up at 7:00. It is pretty rare these days that I can make it through a day without falling asleep.
I got up around 7:30 this morning and enjoyed some time with Fred before he headed to work. I then fixed a bowl of Smart Start and put it in the fridge to get soggy. I know that many of you are thinking, "Ooh, gross!" However, I just love soggy cereal. I let me cereal soak every morning. While the cereal was in the fridge, I made the bed and unloaded the dishwasher. After breakfast, I checked me email and dabbled around on the computer. I was feeling somewhat motivated today and decided to take Alex for a walk. I guess I should give you some background information about Alex. We have had him since April 2008. He has always lived inside, but he has recently moved outside. He has thick white hair that sheds everywhere. We decided to put him outside because we don't want the baby living off dog hair. It is literally covering everything in the house! Anyway, back to the walk. Alex became ecstatic when I put his collar and leash on him. He loves to go for walks. I used to be really good about taking him for walks last summer. I guess I have been somewhat of a bum lately. We had a good time on the walk. It made me feel good to get out and get some fresh air. I think Alex enjoyed it, too. We were both super thirsty when we got home.
I don't really have any plans for today. I do need to go to Wal-Mart, which I am dreading. I am not a big fan of Wal-Mart. It is always crowded. I just want to get in and get out, but it's just not that easy. There are a few things I need to pick up before my trip. We are supposed to have thunderstorms today, so I may not make it out. Oh well, I'll just wait til Fred gets home tonight. I'm sure he won't mind going with me. He is such a good hubby!
Well, if anything exciting happens, I will let you know. Otherwise, I will try to post again tomorrow. Hope you all have a fabulous Thursday!

First Time Blogger

Well, summer is finally here! It is something I have looked forward to since August. However, now that it's here, I am extremely bored. Who would have ever thought that I would miss school? It's too quiet at home. After being surrounded by teenagers for the past nine months, I don't handle the peace and quiet too well any more. I am sure that most of you think I am probably crazy, and maybe I am. I am already looking forward to the first day of school. There's just something about seeing those new faces and looking forward to using what I've learned from the past to make this year the best one yet.
In an attempt to help pass the time, I have decided to start blogging. I would like to think that this is something I will update on a daily basis, but I can't make any promises.
Anyway, here's a little update as to what's been going on in the life of the Roberts. Fred and I have been married for two and a half years now. We are expecting our first child in January. We are super excited! However, these first ten weeks have been anything but enjoyable. I feel tired and sick almost twenty-four hours a day. Fred has been so nice and sympathetic. I am just ready to start feeling better.
I am leaving this weekend to go visit my parents. It will be nice to get away for a few days. After a few days in Mississippi, we are leaving for Pigeon Forge, TN. My sister will also be joining us, which should be fun. I am hoping this trip will be fun and that everyone will have a great time. I am trying to convince Fred to take me on a vacation as well, but I don't know if he will give in.
Well, I guess I'll get back to watching Full House now. They just don't make good shows like this any more. I would have to say that Saved by the Bell is my favorite show of all time. Ah, the memories! I will try to make another post tomorrow!