Thanks Goodness Its Friday

I have nothing exciting to share, or recap, but just wanted to wish everyone a super duper fabulous weekend. I plan to get a massage, put together a changing table and deal with allergies. Oh, and sleep.

Enough

Pardon this normal post for an interruption of a rant/vent.

Enough. I have had enough. Enough heartburn, back aches, legs cramps and stress. I have had it with work, working out, being a wife and commuting. I am tired. I am stressed. I am overwhelmed to the max.

So enough. Enough worrying, crying, sighing, deep breaths and anxiety.

I am taking a break from being me.

Ok, so not for real. But I do need a break. I need to give myself one. Yup. I am only one person, I can only accomplish so many things in one day. I can only take on so many tasks, so many responsibilities and perform to my best when running on one cylinder.

I am not a super hero, omnipresent, go-go gadget anything. I am one person who can only handle so many things in one day, one week, one month and one lifetime.

Pregnancy brain is real. Pregnancy fatigue is legit. Pregnancy is not easy.

Rant/vent done.

When Things Go Weird in the Night

If you have not heard, with pregnancy comes some strange dreams. I mean, stranger than strange, wake up thinking I have gone mad dreams. Am, I right moms?

So, as of late here are a few of the topics/scenes from my dreams...

• taking a walk with my dogs, while they both walk like humans
• the one where I married my husband's brother
• where I put my baby in the trash can by accident
• the one where I turned into a mermaid, a la Ariel and then gave birth to a fish
• giving birth at work, in the work bathroom no less
• dreams where my baby comes out as anything but a human baby, i.e. I gave birth to a puppy two nights ago
• I have dreamed my husband has done even stranger things like driving me to the gym to deliver, taking me to the car repair man to deliver and so on and so forth

Some of the them wake me up, some of them keep me up, but all of them to some point freak the crap out of me. Hormones are some powerfully strange things ladies. What are some of your most visit pregnancy dreams?

How I Survive

It is hard to believe that the third trimester is upon me. Yup, home stretch. That being said, I have had some people ask me how I have survived being pregnant along with a full-time lawyer.

Well, to be honest, it has not been easy. There are days I just want to quit because I am so tired. But here a few ways I have survived.

1. Working Out - I have continued to workout at least 3x a week. My workouts have vastly changed, but I think they have helped me with the aches and pains and managed the weight gain. I have slowed down a lot, but 30 minutes of cardio and some light weights do wonders for a preggo body.

2. Smoothies - I have suffered from some pretty bad legs and foot cramps as of late. Thus, I need some potassium. I have been drinking lots of banana  infused smoothies. They not only help with the cramping, but  go down nicely without exacerbating my heartburn.

3. Hot Baths

4. Prayer

5. Great Friends

If Only

Hello friends. Its another week, another day, another day closer to baby. Another  weekend come and gone and a lists of "if only."

Friday hubs and I went out for a fancy dinner to the place we had our rehearsal dinner. We had a gift card and so we indulged. Ok, so he indulged. I ate a few bites here and there and attempted to avoid heartburn. He, on the other hand, ate his steak, and more than half of mine, accompanied by shrimp, scallops, potatoes and brocollini. I'm pretty sure he did not eat again until dinner the next night.

Saturday we both worked. He did an 8 hour stint and I did about 5. At least I could work from the comfort of my living room in my pjs. I did however, manage to make it out of the house and over to DSW to grab some new black heels and navy heels. I am pretty hard on my heels with work and I am always in a constant state of trying to find the perfect navy heels, so these were much-needed purchases. I also got in some much needed puppy cuddle time with this one. She was so content with her head on my belly feeling Evie do the rumba on my bladder. When the baby would do a big one, she would look up wide-eyed at me. So cute.

Saturday we did an early dinner at Max's Wine Dive (no wine for me), but had this delish cheese board.

Ya'll it was so good. And since we were already out and about, we met some friends at the bar next door for some good old fashioned catch-up.  The boys chatted, while Catherine and I planned a shower for our other friends who are due in March with a little boy. It was just nice to be out and feel normal for once, despite my lack of a cocktail.

Sunday morning we were up for early church at 8:15. But man I am glad we were. Our church is currently journeying through Genesis and yesterday's topic was abortion. Yeah, heavy I know and the potential for fire and brimstone. But it was so uplifting and just reinforces for me why I love my church family so much.

As most of you know, hubs and I were married when we found out about Evie. I remember feeling scared to tell my church family, which we love and are so close too, but they again amazed me at their love and support. Instead of feeling ostracized, we were loved and open arms embraced us as we began to deal with this new chapter. It reminded me of what the Christian way of life is truly about.

So, despite all the wonderful if only moments of this weekend, like if only I could have that glass of wine or if only I could party all night or be on the beach, I realized, if only I had never met this wonderful man I am now married to, and if only I had never been blessed with this growing life inside me, then my life would never be complete.

Here's to a wonderful week of never saying "if only."

Freezing Friday

Courtesy of the lovely Jenn

Friday Favorites // Friday Favorites // Oh Hey Friday// 5 on Friday

It's Friday, I am ready for the weekend and the return of 60 degree temps, since its Fa-reezing in Texas at the moment. So let's link up, hook up and let it all out this Friday.

1. I confess I made a huge change in my life Monday... I gave up my iPhone for an android phone! Yup, so long farewell iPhone and Hello Galaxy S5. Even worse, I love it more than my beloved iPhone. I know, I know.... But its just better.

2. Work has been super busy lately and I am loving it! It makes my days fly by and at this 28 weeks into my pregnancy makes me feel needed and useful when sometimes all I feel like is a host to the ever growing parasite known as Evelyn makes her home in my belly.

3. Mini-rant... there are these commercials played on the radio here in DFW that drive me nuts-o. Its for Ideal Image hair removal center. The premises of said commercial: getting laser hair removal will save you so much time on shaving that you can do so much more with your life. Yeah because when I think of all the things that waste my time I think shaving... Seriously?

4. My lovely friends including the BOFF, are hosting a baby shower for me in February and they had the curtest invitations made. Seriously the cutest, I would show you, but I forgot to take a picture, but think lavender, grey and a unicorn rocking horse! Beyond blessed.

5. The husband and I are reliving our rehearsal dinner tonight with a date night at Eddie V's. We are trying to soak up all the moments we have left to ourselves before baby comes, plus we have gift cards and since we both work long hours we deserve it!

What's up for your weekend? I can be found puppy snuggling and working. Love ya'll.

Just a Little More

Yes, totally linking up and doing this little diddy so you can learn so much more about moi!

Four names that people call me other than my real name:

1. LadyBug
2. Sissy Sue
3. Lynstaphor
4. Mrs. Clinton (law school prof)

Four jobs I’ve had:

1. Assistant Director of Donor Relations
2. Attorney
3. Gym Front Desk Girl
4. Sonic Car Hop

Four movies you've watched more than once:

1. The Devil Wears Prada
2. Beaches
3. Two Weeks Notice
4. The Lion King

Four books I’d recommend:

1. Number the Stars
2. Clockwork Orange
3. Catcher in the Rye
4. Any of the Alex Cross series by James Patterson

Four places I’ve lived

1. Texas
2. London
3. Pennsylvania
4. that's all folks

Four Places you have visited:

1. Spain
2. Ireland
3. Sardinia
4. Belgium

Four places I’d rather be right now:

1. The beach
2. Home with my puppies
3. the spa ( in desperate need of a massage)
4. May, so I could meet my little baby girl

Four things I don’t eat:

1. Olives
2. Anchovies
3. ground beef
4. ranch dressesing

Four of my favorite foods:

1. Fruit
2. salad
3. french fries
4. cookies

Four TV shows I watch:

1. Grey's
2. Homeland
3. Scandal
4. The Following

Four things I’m looking forward to this year: 

1. Baby Evelyn's arrival
2. Seeing the BOFF
3. getting back in shape after baby
4. Warm weather...........please!

Four things I’m always saying:

1. ugh
2. its fine
3. are you mad?
4. i'm sorry

Linking up with *kristin* and *annie*

Changes

First, I want to thank everyone for the kind words after yesterday's post. No one said anything negative about, but rather a blog turned IRL friend. She has received some rather negative feedback as of late and I just want her to know that not everyone is mean, rude and just plain lacking in the manners department.

But today, I am talking about change. To say I have had some major changes in my life would be an understatement. I have tons of major changes in my life in the past couple months. From marriage, job, pregnancy, whew those just make me tired. But I have also seen a change in my demeanor as well. Yes, I am still controlling and high-strung, but I have also realized that I have become more realistic.

I see that I cannot do everything. Literally, the growing bump has brought about a realization that I am not queen of the world, nor do I want to be. I am limited in what I can eat, do, and just physically and emotionally handle right now.

Some of the changes I have struggled with more than others. The inability to workout like I used to have perhaps been one of the biggest struggles. I still want to run and lift and my body just cannot do it. I sigh as I see the lack of definition in my arms and legs after working so hard to tone and lean out. I get frustrated when just a walk on the treadmill lasts less than 5 minutes do to the round ligament pains. I want so badly to just break a sweat at the gym.

I also had a breakdown in Banana the other day because all I wanted to do was buy some cute new clothes and I just watched longingly as my husband picked out jeans and I just stared at the pretty things. I feel limited by what I can wear and I am not excited to get up and go to work because I just have no desire to wear the clothes that "fit."

Besides my body changes, my mood. I go from crying to laughing in a matter of seconds and man its exhausting. As is just making it through some of the day. I want to just curl up to nap so that my body can rest, but there is no rest for the weary and a million things on my "to-do" list. I am told to slow down, but more is put on my plate as I prepare for the epic life change that is coming in just under 3 months.

I also see change my in relationship with my husband. I feel more needy for his love and admiration now. I am in constant need of reassurance that he loves me and sees me as beautiful. I also struggle to see that he truly loves the growing child within me and is excited for this next step in our lives.

Change is good and this change is wonderful, but it does not come without its own set of worries and struggles.

Sticks and Stones

I need to rant/vent for a moment. This is about the blogging community and social media in general. I get that as bloggers we kind of put ourselves out there. We share items about our lives and are often seen as attention seeking. The truth is, we are still people. We still have lives that are sometimes kept private. We have feelings and we have rights just as though who do not blog or choose to share things in the public eye.

It has become far to easy for people to harass, bully, and downright threaten others while hiding behind social media. I am sure you have all heard news stories about teens who committed suicide over fake social media pages and harassing people who pose as other teens. But its happens to adults too. There are sites like GOMI that allow people to rant about bloggers and often harshly criticize without true facts. Its a forum for online bullying and threats. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram allow comments to be placed that are nothing more than bullying as well.

I agree that everyone is allowed to speak their mind, have their own opinion and disagree with one another, that is a right as Americans. However, no one has the right to tear down anyone else, to harass anyone else, or publish nothing more than petty childish taunts towards another person. So, I ask you as bloggers to help end this cycle.

Do not engage in online harassment. Do not indulge in online forums that tear each other down and make the blogging community look like nothing more than high school mean girls. While you may not agree with what one another say or do, please don't call names, write hate posts, or use photos as subtle innuendo to break others down.

We should be each other's biggest supporters not break each other down.

Confessional Friday

I am linking up with the ever lovely Leslie for a little confesh sesh!

I confess.....

I am having BOFF withdrawals! After a whole weekend with my BOFF, and life seeming perfect, she is gone and I miss her like whoa!

I finally went to the doctor for my tummy pain/issues. While she thinks its just acid/indigestion, since the pain is on my right side, she is having my liver tested to make sure its not HELLP Syndrome. So I spent the better part of the afternoon getting blood drawn, having my vitals checked and oh she threw in my glucose test while I was there. I admit the Zantac helps, but reading about HELLP is scary.

Le husband was put on mandatory overtime for the foreseeable future at work. Ick. I mean as if we do not see each other much now. But, we will take the extra $ and power through.

I am in major planning mode. We have picked out everything except a dresser and a carseat and its driving me nuts that we have not done these two things. I mean, we cannot take her home without a carseat!

The return of the sun in Dallas and a tad warm-up is making my day.

One of my best friends from law school is getting married tomorrow and I am elated! Congrats Taylor!!!

The Sun Will Come Out

It has been a week since I have seen the sun in sunny ole Texas. Yup, you heard me, we had a week of clouds and yuckiness. It's amazing how not seeing the sun for a week can get you down and in a funk. I truly believe in the winter blues people. There is just something to be said for the sunshine and warm breezes of spring and summer that make you feel wonderful.

So for those of you who have not seen the sun in a couple of week and might not see it for a couple more months here is some sun-speration for you!

Baby Blues

I knew the whole no morning sickness thing was a curse. Because, now here I am at 26 1/2 weeks and miserable. I have cramps in my feet and legs, I cannot sleep, I get the worst pains in my stomach when I eat and I think the indigestion is just here to stay.

I know its worth it, but right now I just want to poke the belly with a pin as if to let the excess air out. And my back? Wow, I just want a good popping and for the love of all things, I just want to sleep on my back!

Can we also talk about the need to get up every 5 minutes to either pee or just walk because it allows my belly to stretch and not feel so compact!

I hate to feel like a complainer, but this is the pits. At this point I would do anything to be on a beach, sand between my toes and warmth on my face and not a pregnancy woe in sight.

But, for another 3 months, I will endure the pits just to see my little girl.

O-H-I-O

I exchanged purple for scarlet and adorned the OSU colors last night. Yes, I am still a rabid Horned Frog, but last night I was one proud Buckeye fan. Here is to the end of a wonderful college football season and hopefully, next year we will be clad in purple and white in Tempe.

BOFF and I

Hubs

We kinda like each other

Go Bucks

Baby Its Cold Outside

Literally, its freezing in Texas. Yes I know this is normal for most people around the country this year, but not in Texas. Its 20 degrees and my booty is freezing. The puppies are adorned in sweaters and well they are none too happy to head outside these days. The only plus side? The 25 1/2 week baby bump I am sporting these days.

Please ignore the vast amount of pillows accumulating in our room that do nothing to help me sleep.

So, at 25 1/2 weeks I am not sleeping, still working out 3 times a week, beginning to have a lovely waddle, and just want to have this baby (I know not for another 15 weeks....).

Its not that I haven't loved carrying little Evelyn, but man what's a woman gotta do to get some sleep that is comfortable and not interrupted by  a "break" in the middle of the night?

I can feel her move now more than ever, but hubs has yet to be around when he is squirming. We have a crib and bedding, but waiting on the glider and dresser/changing table. Our first shower is planned and we have a stroller just waiting for walks!

I'm still trying to eat healthy, but sometimes if all there is to eat is pizza, I am eating the pizza!

At this point I have gotten more advice then I know what to do with and I am going into full on planning mode.

Next week I will give you a sneak peak of her nursery/office... yeah we live in  small townhome people!

Angry Pregnant Woman

I hate to admit it, but I am one angry pregnant woman. I am tried. My body aches, my hips hurt, I have this bruise-like pain below my right breast, and did I mention I'm tired?

I get this is a miracle, the whole carrying  person in your womb for nine months, but  I'm a tad over it. And I know I should be happy that I avoided the whole morning sickness thing. But, seriously, this is the pits. I have vivid dreams that keep me up, I cannot get comfortable no matter how many pillows or combo thereof, and I could bite the head off of anyone at any given moment.

Add in the nagging sore throat and just plain ole  sluggishness from carrying around some extra pounds and I am just one plain old angry pregnant woman. All I want is a massage, to sleep on my back and a hottub.

I apologize to my sweet husband for the thing that had possessed my body and turned me into an emotional, mean mess these days. Bless his heart.

Bright side? Only 15 weeks to go!

Back to the New Normal

As 2014 came to a close and le hubs and I were snuggled in bed at 12:04 am, it dawned on me. This was the last NYE with no baby, the last Christmas where the gifts are mostly for us and the last few months of our only babies being covered in fur.

I went shopping with my mom Friday and she pointed out the great sales on baby clothes for next winter and I oh'd and ah'd over tiny baby jeans and Christmas dresses and as le husband and I hung those tiny things in the closet we had a strange realization that our new normal was closer than it seemed.

We have put together the crib and baby bedding is arriving. We assembled the stroller and let Sophie be the "test" baby.

We have talked daycare and diapers, and have begun planning for a move to a bigger house with more room for Evie. It seems so strange, yet so good at the same time. Yet, a year ago, my mind was far from babies and houses and closer to just falling madly in love with le guy.

Yes, le guy. The man of my dreams. For now, I will cherish the moments we have together, just the two of us. Because soon, the new normal will include tiny hands and tiny feet and nights spent watching Homeland will be replaced with fairytales and falling exhausted into bed. But for now, I will continue to just be head over heels for my love. And prepare for the Ohio state fan invasion that is happening in our house this weekend. Yes the bro and sis in law and the BOFF will be in town to cheer on the Buckeyes as they take on Oregon! Party in the Fort!