Tuesday, December 23, 2008

17 weeks...and counting

As shocking as it is, I am 17 weeks pregnant. I absolutely can't believe it. Time is really flying by. I went to the doctor yesterday and everything is fine. Baby's heartbeat was nice and strong and baby was apparently kicking away (the doctor said he could feel it...I still haven't felt anything yet...at least I don't know that I feel it). The only odd thing was that I lost two pounds. Which means that I now weigh less than when I went to the doctor for my very first appointment at about 8 weeks. The doctor wasn't at all concerned because the baby is growing and seems to be very happy in there. He said that I would gain weight when I needed to and that as long as I am eating, everything is fine. So, I'm not going to worry about it. My mom said that she only gained 18 pounds with me and 16 pounds with my sister and was back into regular clothes within a couple weeks of having each of us. So, maybe I won't gain that much weight. Or, I'm about to blow up like a balloon and gain 30 pounds over the next couple months. But, we are very excited about our next appointment on January 19...when we get to find out whether little boo boo is a boy or a girl.

With that, I will leave you all with a Happy Holidays! I hope that the next few days are filled with family, friends, and a lot of good memories.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Updates--I'm a bad blogger

Okay, so I am a horrible blogger. I log on to the site every day and catch up on my favorite blogs but I just have no motivation to write an entry. So, here is an update of my life since Thanksgiving.

The day after Thanksgiving, I started a pattern of not being able to sleep. This pattern has continued for the past few weeks. One night, I sleep fine, the next night, I spend most of my night tossing and turning. I expected to have trouble sleeping later in pregnancy, but not this early.

Speaking of pregnancy...I still don't feel pregnant. I'm 16 weeks and I am still having a hard time even remembering that I'm pregnant some days. I am ready to start showing...to have to wear ugly maternity pants! I know that is ridiculous. I'm kind of in between right now...my normal clothes are getting a little snug, but I don't feel like I can justify wearing maternity clothes yet. I'm ready to feel baby move...baby daddy (it cracks me up to call him that) is really excited for that too.

Otherwise, it's been really, really boring in my little world. I have been working and getting ready for a delightfully long Christmas break. We finished a semester worth of programming--rather successfully I might add. I can't believe that the semester is over though. It absolutely flew by. I am looking forward to the Spring semester, though I know that it will get harder as baby gets bigger...and I get bigger. I finished teaching my class, which was a big sigh of relief. I like teaching the class, but it wears me out.

So, yeah, this is the most boring post ever. I'm sorry. I will do better next time!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Thankful

While I should be a better person and think about all of the things that I am thankful for every day, I tend to really think about it at this time of year. So, here are the things I am thankful for right now:

  • My amazing husband who loves me unconditionally, even when my raging hormones are out of control.
  • My family that is always there for me and that entertains me on a daily basis.
  • A job that I love (on most days)
  • A baby on the way that seems to be growing and progressing just perfectly. I am not sure how it is possible to love something that you haven't met yet, so much...but I do.
  • My friends--without whom I would be completely lost
  • My DVR (okay, I have to put something on here that is a little frivolous). I mean, seriously, how did we live without this invention??
Have a great Thanksgiving! I hope that it's full of delicious foods, lots of family and friends, and great times.

Friday, November 21, 2008

1 year ago...

One year ago this weekend, I was at my best friend's wedding out of town. It was the weekend after Thanksgiving. We left at about noon on Friday and drove the three hours to her soon-to-be husbands hometown. Hubby (then my new fiance) and I checked into our hotel. One of my other friends arrived about an hour and a half after us and started talking about the fact that they were delayed because of a really bad accident on the interstate near our home. I didn't really think anything of it. We went about our business of the weekend. My friend got married on Saturday...we had the ceremony, the reception, etc. It was a fun evening...lots of fun stories (but that's for another post). On Sunday, we had breakfast and then we got on the road.

When I got home, I sat down to check my email and to see what had been going on. I got onto the local TV channel's website to see if anything important had happened in the couple days since we had been gone. I saw a story about the car accident that my friend had mentioned on Friday. I clicked on the link and started to read the story. I got about three sentences into the article when my heart sank.

I need to tell you that, at my university, in addition to my regular job, I also teach a class for freshman. It's called University Experience. It's a two credit hour class that introduces students to life in college. We do a lot of work...it's definitely not a blow off class. But, it's a lot of fun.

So, back to the story. I read the first two lines and then read the names of the two victims: two sisters, an 18 year old and her 13 year old. The 18 year old, was a student in my class. I was absolutely heartbroken. She was a very sweet girl that I had really enjoyed having in class. She was beautiful, but she didn't seem stuck up like some of those beautiful little college freshmen girls did. She talked with everyone in the class, volunteered to work with people that others didn't really want to work with. She was just an all around good kid.

I dreaded going to class on Tuesday. I teach this class with another staff member, so we discussed what we wanted to do. We knew that we needed to talk about it with them. So, we brought a staff person from Counseling Services over. We had plans to meet in the University Center that day because we were going to be starting on a new project. I found everyone in the class and had them go to a quiet room. We all sat down and we talked about what had happened. Some of them hadn't heard about it, while others had. Many tears were shed. I had a hard time talking with them about it. In fact, it was probably the most difficult thing I have had to do in my professional life. I will never forget the looks on their faces.

I think that for me, it was terribly upsetting because I kept thinking about my freshman year of college when three of my high school classmates were killed in a car accident in October. They were twin sisters and one of their boyfriends. It was incredibly sad. I remember waiting in line for hours at the funeral home to pay my respects. So, for me, sitting there with my students, I knew exactly what they were feeling.

I can't believe it's been a year. This past week, on Tuesday, we met with our class in the University Center to assign them the project that the class was set to discuss that day last year. I couldn't help but think back and to be incredibly sad.

The case will go to trial sometime next year, and all the memories will come back. The person that hit the girls was a state trooper going 127 miles an hour when he lost control of the car and crossed the center median and slammed into their car...I can only hope that he gets the punishment that he deserves for taking these two beautiful lives. While I barely knew her, I know that there are many, many people who miss her (and her sister) every single day.

So, as the one year anniversary approaches on Sunday, I hope that everyone will think about these two and their family. I know they are terribly missed.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Election and stuff

So, I will start this blog by saying that I am a Democrat. However, I promise you that my blog will not be political. But, I had to say something about that historic event that took place on Tuesday. I voted for Obama...and was so excited to watch the election results. As I sat there, watching the returns come in, I was overcome with emotions. At 10:00PM central time, the screen flashed with a photo of Obama and the words "44th President of the United States." I was so excited. I can't even describe the way I felt at that moment. About an hour later, I was lying in bed when Barack gave his speech. I had chills through the whole thing. It was absolutely amazing. I think that he will heal our country.



That night was also sad...I can't believe California passed the ban on same-sex marriage. I was so sure that it would pass...in California of all places. I just don't understand...why can't we just let everyone have the right to get married? I don't understand the people that say "what next...a man wanting to marry a sheep?" First...that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Second, if someone wants to marry a sheep, then go right ahead...it has absolutely no impact on my life. Just like it doesn't matter if two men or two women want to get married. On the day that we elected an African American to the highest position in our country....just a few short decades after segregation ended...I thought that perhaps we would progress in another aspect as well. Obviously I was very wrong. I'm hoping tht the courts will stop this decision.

Friday, October 31, 2008

My BFF

I'm so excited! My best friend lives far, far away in Stupid Ohio (I apologize if you live in or love the state of Ohio, however, Ohio stole my best friend, so I hate it!. Her husband is an engineer and got his first job out there, so Lise traveled to be with him of course. I was so, so sad when she left in August of 2007 (seems like an eternity ago). I have seen her a number of times since then for her bridal shower/bachelorette party, her wedding, my wedding festivities, and when she did a one night stay with me while in town for work the first week of October. I'm super excited because she and her husband are coming into town tonight to stay with Ryan and I for the night. They are going to a wedding tomorrow in St. Louis and are going to spend the evening and part of the day with us tomorrow. I can't hardly wait!! I miss her terribly and wish she would move closer. Baby needs their aunt Lise to be close!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Pregnancy....wow...

I knew that being pregnant wouldn't be easy. Actually, so far, it hasn't been horribly bad. I haven't been too sick...just kind of nauseous, tired, and kind of cranky. After going to the doctor yesterday, I realized that this is going to be a LOOOONG 9 months. I'm sure that when I look back over it after the baby comes that it won't seem so long, but right now, it seems like an eternity. Next week...I will hit 10 weeks...which technically means that I will have made it 25% of the way through the fun.

I am just so impatient with everything. I want things when I want them...If I want a taco, I go buy a taco. If I want a new pair of shoes, I buy a new pair of shoes. But, I can't make baby come before it's ready. I'm so excited...but, I know that we have a lot to get ready for before we get to bring baby home. Just thinking about adorable little clothes, cribs, and car seats makes me so happy. In 11 weeks we will get to find out whether little boo boo is a girl or a boy. What do we want? Well, that's a post for another day :)

Monday, October 27, 2008

Doctor follow-up

Well, we went to the doctor today. It was way more anti-climatic than I expected. I'm 8 weeks and 5 days. My doctors office doesn't do a sonogram until about 20 weeks unless they suspect something is wrong. He examined me...talked to me, etc. Everything is fine. It's too early to hear the heartbeat, so they didn't do that either (you generally can't hear it until about 10 weeks and it freaks people out when they try to listen and they can't find it...which I completely understand). So, right now, I'm just going to trust the doctor and wait until I go back to the doctor on November 24...at that time I will get to hear the heartbeat. So, until then, we just wait. And know that the doctor says all is well...

Freaking Out

So, it's Monday morning. Today, I go to the doctor. I was supposed to work this morning, but I decided that I wouldn't get anything done, so I thought it was better just to take the morning off. I am really, really nervous about the doctor. I just want everything with the baby to be okay. Everyone tells me that it's perfectly natural to worry about it and to think about all the things that could be wrong. I just can't shake this uneasy feeling in my stomach. I'm just scared. I just want everything to be okay.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Birthday

So, today is my birthday. Today, at 1:19 AM, I officially turned 27. It's kind of a blah birthday, however, I have been thinking back today and realize that birthdays really are about numbers.

1...today is my first birthday as a married woman. I feel so thankful to have a wonderful husband that I know loves me a lot.

2...two years ago, I had one of the best birthday celebrations with my friends...that was the night that my "puke free since 93" streak ended. Thanks to my friend Emily for my new saying "puke nixed since 06"

3...today is my third birthday since my grandpa died. He really was one of my favorite people in the world. I still miss him as much today as I did the day he died. I wish he was here.

3...today is also the third birthday I have spent with Ryan. I never could have imagined that just a couple years later we would be where we are today.

6...six years ago, I finally reached that triumphant age of 21. I can vaguely remember that evening at Shenanigans.

9...nine years ago, I turned 18 and was in my freshman year of college. I remember being so excited to finally be an "adult"

10...ten years ago, I turned 17. It was the first time that I went to the mailbox on my birthday and didn't have a card from my dad. For years after that, I would still go to the mailbox on my birthday at my moms house and close my eyes and take a breath before I would open it...hoping that he would make that little effort again. It hasn't happened.

18...eighteen years ago, I was turning nine and I refused to celebrate my birthday. My beloved grandpa was in the hospital after having a quadruple bypass and wasn't going to be home. I opened no presents, had no cake...refused to acknowledge the day until my Papa could be there.

25...twenty-five years ago, I was turning two. About two months before, my little sister had come home from the hospital. The same time as my birthday, the new baby was baptized. My mom decided to have a joint "Michelle birthday/Jennifer baptism" party. Instead of a birthday cake, I had half a Smurfette birthday cake and half a "congrats on the baptism" cake. I was soooo mad that I proceeded to sit under the kitchen table and just repeat "stupid baby" over and over again. I still call my sister stupid baby to this day.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Hello My Name is...wait, what is my name again?

For many years, I have heard about the fact that women become forgetful when they are pregnant. I never really believed it...I have always had an amazing memory. I remember EVERYTHING! It is a really annoying fact that I can remember conversations word for work, etc. My husband knows that he can't win a conversation when it comes down to who said what because I always remember it. Well, this week, I have realized that you really do lose your mind when you get pregnant.

Case in point, early last week, I was at the mall. I went into a Payless store with a friend. Of course I have to try on the shoes (even though I have no intention of buying any since apparently my feet are going to grow too). So, I pick up a shoe from a box, put it on my foot, admire it for a moment, and then take it off. I go to put it back in the box on the shelf, but I don't immediately see it. No biggie, this has happened before. So, I look, and look, and look. Still, no shoe box with a missing shoe. Seriously, five minutes later I am still looking when I realize, holy crap...said shoe box is in my other freaking hand. Now, my friend thought this was hilarious when I told her as we left...I however freaked out! I am not ready to lose my mind!! Ugh!!!

But, in other news, I am still feeling pretty good...I am exhausted all the time, but I haven't been sick yet. I'm hopig that doesn't hit me. I go to the doctor a week from Monday...which I'm very excited about!

Saturday, October 4, 2008

When it rains, it pours...but in a good way

In August, my husband and I decided to try to buy a house. We weren't sure if we would be able to get a loan or if we would find anything that we liked. But, we did get approved for a loan, and on our first trip out with our Realtor we found a house that we fell in love with. So, we put in an offer, which was accepted. But, one thing after another happened (more of that story later). But, finally, a month after our offer was accepted, we closed on the house. We moved in last weekend. It's a wonderful first home for us and I completely love it. I am still in the process of unpacking and organizing things, but it is coming along!

Before we got married, the hubby and I had the talk about kids. We both knew that we wanted to try to have kids right away. So, right before the wedding, I stopped taking my birth control. So, the first couple months passed with no real excitement. But, last month, I actively tried to determine when I would be ovulating so that we could really, really try. In the week leading up to the day I should have gotten my period, I was EXHAUSTED and emotional. The emotions I chalked up to the fact that I probably had PMS...the exhaustion I decided was from my lengthy work days and the preparations for moving.

This part might start with a bit of TMI for some...On Saturday, I had awful cramps. Which was really abnormal for me...because, well, I don't usually get cramps at all...and if I do, they don't hit until after I start. Here is the TMI part...my cycle is extremely regular. I start at the same time every month...I am never, ever late. I told hubby that I would start by noon on Sunday. He looked at me as if I had two heads or something. He just couldn't comprehend what I was saying. So, Sunday morning...nothing. I spent the day wondering, and hoping. We had to go to his parent's house so he could mow the grass (they had gone to Arizona to visit his sister). Eventually, at about 5PM that night, I finally went to Walgreens and bought a pregnancy test. I didn't actually take the first test until about 8PM that night. I read the directions, peed in a cup (that sounded easier than trying to pee on the stick) and waited. The directions said not to read the results for at least three minutes. I had purchased one of the tests that says "pregnant" or "not pregnant". So, I dipped the stick and tried not to look down. I probably made it about 30 seconds. I looked down, and it already said "pregnant". My hands immediately started shaking. I went downstairs with the test and walked over to my husband. He looked at me and said "Michelle, what's wrong? You look like you just saw a ghost!". I said, "I think I'm pregnant." He said, "Why do you think that?" To which I responded "because this test says I am". He looked at it and said "you took it already? Doesn't it take a while?" He later told me that he really thought pregnancy tests took at least half an hour to give results. We then decided that we would tell our immediate families (for him, his parents and his two sisters, for me, my parents, my sister, and my grandma), but that we would wait to tell anyone else until I had gone to the doctor.

My doctor won't see you until you are at least 8 weeks...so I am not going to the doctor until October 27...which means we haven't really told anyone...however, I did tell two of my good friends this week. They came over for dinner and kept flat out asking me if I was pregnant. Ryan and I had decided that if someone asked, we would tell them the truth. They were so excited! On Monday, my best friend Lise is coming to town just for one night for work (she lives in stupid Ohio...did you know that the full name of Ohio is Stupid Ohio? Sorry to anyone that lives in Ohio...I am sure it is lovely, but Ohio stole my best friend! I can't like it). I am going to tell her when she comes to town.

I guess that's it for now. I will definitely have much more to share as I progress in my pregnancy!

Monday, September 8, 2008

Early Marriage

So, I got married about two months ago. It's been a total whirlwind of honeymoons, thank you cards, work, and deciding to buy a house. I haven't really had time to sit down and think about the fact that "holy crap! We really did get married."

My first "wow, we're married" moment came this week. I was sitting at home with my wonderful husband, just watching TV. All of the sudden, I hear this "clip, clip, clip" coming from the couch cushion next to me. I look over, and my lovely husband is clipping his toenails. I become immediately disgusted. I mean, I understand that everyone must clip their toenails every now and then, but does it really need to be done on the couch while watching TV? I really don't think so. I told him that it wasn't appropriate to be doing that while sitting next to me on the couch. So, what does he do? He gets up and moves to the other couch across the room. Not exactly what I had in mind!

I'm sure that this is not the last time that my husband will do something like this that will annoy and disgust me. I guess I just need to train him better...just kidding (kind of)!

Monday, August 25, 2008

House Hunting

My new husband and I are in the ever so pleasant process of buying a house. We are fortunate that a very good friend is a Realtor. He is very patient with us and has done a TON of work for us. So, yesterday, we went out for the first round of looking. We had seven houses to visit. The first two were absolutely awful. The third was okay and was still on our "maybe" list. The fourth was, well, interesting. The fifth was absolutely horrible...and there was a stain in the basement that made me think that someone had been murdered down there. Then we got to the sixth house. As soon as we pulled up, I thought "This is the perfect outside of a house". When we walked inside, I immediately knew that I wanted to buy the house. It is small, but cute...everything has been updated, from the floors to the roof. Even the walls are great colors.

After falling in love with it, we decided to bring our parents over to give their approval. They all thought that it was cute and a great starter house for us. So, that night, we put in an offer, which was accepted the following day. So, now we are just waiting for the mortgage company to get their act together and get the appraisal set up (we are getting an FHA loan so we have to get it appraised before we even have the inspections). We know that it will pass inspections, but we are seriously hoping that it will appraise at what we offered.

Barring any complications, we will actually close in a couple weeks...the current owners have already moved and just want to get rid of the house. So, we will hopefully know within a few days if everything is okay. In the meantime, we are in the process of cleaning and purging and packing at our apartment. It's amazing how much stuff you can accumulate in two years at an apartment...especially when you get married and get lots of gifts!

Anyway, I'll let you know what happens with the house!

Friday, August 22, 2008

Move In Day

If you have ever lived on a college campus, you should be able to understand what I'm talking about. Move In Day on a college campus is one of the most hectic and exciting days in the world. Today, thousands of students are moving into residence halls and apartments. Today is mainly reserved for freshmen move-in. The University Center is filled with excited looking students and anxious looking parents. The parents are probably my favorite part of this day. They are so excited for their children, but you can see that sadness in their eyes as they drop their baby off. As an employee of the university, it's easy to look at this day with disdain as our summer has quickly come to an end. But, this is actually my favorite day of the year. It's a day filled with such hope of the future.

Every year, on this day, I flash back to the day that I moved into my residence hall my freshman year. I was the first child to go away to school, and my mom was a mess! We waited in the lines patiently and were finally allowed to head up to the residence hall. I, as most freshman do, brought way, way too much stuff! The upper classmen can volunteer to help with move-in day. Basically, in exchange for their hard work, they get to move into their apartments and dorms a day early and beat the crowds (it's a pretty good deal!). When I moved in, they were so helpful and all of my stuff made it to my third floor room in one trip. I remember being scared, excited, and hopeful all at once. My roommate Kourtney was very nice, but I soon realized that she was going home that night and I would be all alone for my first night. I laid in bed that night and couldn't sleep. But, that day started my foray into college, and eventually led to my career!

So, basically, Move In Day is great! So, the next time you are out shopping in August and see that mother and daughter or father and son (or whatever) out stocking up in the "College" section of your local Walmart, Target, or Bed, Bath, and Beyond, remember your first day of college, or when you dropped your kids off...I'm sure the memories will come flooding back!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Welcome!

Hello! Well, let me introduce myself to you! I'm Michelle...a twenty-something girl living in Illinois. I work at a University in the Student Activities office. I spend my days working with our Programming Board and planning about 150 events every year. I absolutely adore my job about 90% of the time. I enjoy working with college students and am constantly amazed at the creative ideas they come up with.

In addition to my job, I am a newlywed. I got married in July and am currently basking in the glow of having completed my thank you cards! We are also embarking on the major task of buying a house. Needless to say, there is a lot going on in my life. So, I wanted to start a blog that would allow me to share my life, my thoughts, and, well, mainly many ramblings with whoever wants to read and listen.

Thank you for checking this out and I hope you will look for future updates!