The Challenge

I'm worried I'm going to be a bad example for my kids. I always told myself "when I have kids we have to have FHE (family home evening) EVERY WEEK," "I want to have family scripture study and prayer NIGHTLY," and "We have to make it to church ON TIME." Great goals to have, but how am I going to do that then if I can't do that now? I want to say I'm a bad mother and I'm not even a mother yet! Oh dear... That's good for myself esteem. Future kids I'm sorry... I'm trying to get ready and I'm glad you'll soon forget the bad example I'm being right now.

One of the most difficult things for me to do it wake up. I LOVE sleeping in. Even if it's just until 9 o'clock it makes a WORLD of a difference. I only have to wake up at 7am 3 days a week for work (the other two days I don't have to be at work until 1) and I HATE waking up for work during the week. It's horrible. Sundays, I try to get up by 8 so we can be at church on time at 9... How many times has that happened lately? ONCE!! It's pathetic. How am I suppose to be able to not only dress myself, but little people for church every week? I can tell now that sleep is going to be my ultimate sacrifice for parenting. Not getting fat, not stretching and ripping Lord knows what body parts. Not reducing my personal time, but SLEEP!
HELP!!
PS: sorry for the second post today, it wasn't my intent to hog your feeds. This was just a problem for me today as I struggled to put myself together before church and I thought you'd have words of wisdom for next week :)

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Today is my 4 month anniversary of starting this blog! Woohoo! It's also time to draw a winner for my 100th post contest. I got sooo much good mommy advice, and ideas for future posts as well as ideas for cute baby boy stuff to give away in the future. Random.org selected number 38 so the lucky winner is *drum roll please*... Pam from Hands on Learning Fun. Who is actually having a giveaway of her own right now so go check it out!

If you missed this giveaway, don't give up!! I have another one going on right now that ends in a couple of days! So enter away!

The Scary Regret

I try to live my life with no regrets. From time to time there are little things I wish I didn't say or do, but overall, I don't have (m)any major regrets. That's not to say things haven't been difficult. Thinking about how we bought our condo just a year and a half before a major recession and housing crisis doesn't give my stomach the best feeling, but we felt good about it. I have to keep reminding myself that everything happens for a reason. Luckily we found a great renter, and we're praying she'll stay another year.

Moving half-way across the country wasn't easy. Sometimes we miss our family and friends, and wonder why we left... But I know if we didn't move here I'd be complaining about the snow, and wondering worlds of "what ifs" about moving. And I'm actually liking Austin... A lot. I think I could actually make this place home.

I've never regretted getting married when I did. In fact, I think that was probably the best decision I've made in my life. I was young, two weeks short of my 19th birthday, but I knew that I was not making a mistake.

Now I'm approaching life's next stage, one of the final stages of adulthood...Parenting, and I can't help but think about all of the timing questions and what I'll think after--Years after. Everyone always says "it'll change your life" I know that... That's part of the reason why you choose to take that step. Many people then say "...But I wouldn't trade [baby name] for the world." I'm so glad that's the case, I'd feel bad if you regretted your decision. But occasionally I do get the response "If I could do it over and get the same children I probably would have waited longer," and that is what scares me. Hindsight is great when it comes to things you'll have a chance to do over... But going from being a non-parent to being a parent is kind of a one-time thing. So the only reasonable solution I can think of is learning from the wise.

Only once has someone told me "If I could do it over I wouldn't have waited as long to have children." If my memory serves me correctly he had had several kids, all were grown, but apparently he and his wife waited a few years.

I LOVE all of the time I'm getting to spend with my Boo right now. He makes me breakfast, when I come home for lunch he's making me something yummy, and dinner time we'll eat together and watch a favorite TV show or movie. We've never got to spend as much time together as we do now, (though our first year of marriage we took four classes together and that was probably pretty close) and I'm realizing this fun quality time at home and little cheap outings around town is just as treasured as the fun big trips (which we don't get to do often anyway). What's one more person joining in on the fun?

While I'm really enjoying our pre-parenting stage of life, and not stressing about our future as much, I do wonder... Will I regret waiting or not waiting? Five, ten or fifteen years from now, will I look back and think "I could have waited longer?" And what do I want for my children? Do I want my little girls to grow up, get married and have babies when they're still young themselves? Or do I wish for them minds off boys, instead focusing successful careers and bettering themselves? Whatever it is, shouldn't I at least give myself that same advice?

The Bad Joke

It seemed like a good idea at the time. I'd heard of other women pulling similar pranks and I decided to give it a try. I was out with my friends and had a brilliant plan. I called my husband, told him I wasn't feeling well... I hadn't been for awhile. Told him I wasn't sure if my IUD was still in the right position and wasn't sure when I last had my period... Could I be pregnant? He told me I should get a test on the way home and we'd find out that night... Little did he know that's exactly what I wanted him to say.

I had a plan.. A friend of a friends had recently found out she was pregnant. Apparently she didn't believe first because it took not one, but about 5 positive results for it to sink in. Lucky for me she had some extra positive results test lying around so she gave one to me.

I got home, and although it was late, Boo still wanted me to take the test that night. "It works better in the morning" I told him, but he didn't care.

I went in the bathroom, stared in the mirror and practiced my best serious/scared/happy face I could put on... No laughing allowed.

When I walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom I put all of my best acting skills into this one moment. I didn't say anything at first... I decided letting him make the first move would be the best idea.

"So?" he asked simply. I told him the results were positive and he didn't believe me. "Is this an April fools joke?" he asked. I showed him the test with two lines and the key below which plainly stated two lines = pregnant.

The shocked look on his face was priceless. But it wasn't exactly what I was expecting. To be honest I was expecting panic, maybe even anger, but he didn't show any of that. He looked almost happy... Almost.

I initially thought I'd keep the joke going through the next day... Make him sleep on it. But his reaction made me feel bad.

"How do you feel?" he asked me. I told him I didn't know and he told me he was a little scared. BINGO!

That joke was played two years ago and we can kind of laugh at it now. Looking back I know he was ready to make the commitment then because then to him it was a reality facing him. I broke the good/bad news and he was pretty ticked--Understandably. I told him I was planning to keep the joke going through the next day but he told me he was glad I didn't because he would have wanted to tell his whole family the news.

I swore I wouldn't tell him I was pregnant again until I know I am for sure.

The Season

Two summers ago I worked a long side a pregnant reporter in Atlanta, Georgia. She was very pregnant... And running around in high heels, I don't know how she did it! She told me to avoid getting pregnant in the summer months... Or being super pregnant in the summer months I should say.

This memory struck me the other day and got me thinking about when the perfect time of year is to have a baby. What are things to consider? Weather? A tax write off? Are boys or girls more prone during a certain time of year? Zodiac signs for sure need to be considered.

I'm a Capricorn myself and some of my best friends are Cappis. Hubby is a Scorpio, they are great but a little shy sometimes and I'm hoping for an outgoing kid so I should probably stay away from a November baby.

The summers are hot in Austin, I'd prefer not to be super hot while I'm the size of a whale already, but I hate the cold too and I really don't want to feel uncomfortable! Plus you can go swimming all summer... But I'm not sure who would want to see my pregnant belly at a pool!

Man, there's so much to consider! Do you know of many superstitions or have opinions on the best time of year to be pregnant/have a baby?

And for my new readers, unbeknown to my sarcasm... I'm kidding (kind of).

Thanks to Mama Bee for this topic idea!!

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Oh, and the winner of the cute diaper wipes case is Commenter #20... Goldibug! She's been a follower for a while and won my 100th follower contest! Thanks for playing!

I'll be having another big giveaway soon, probably when I reach 200 followers or hit my 200th post... Or whenever I get around to it, whichever comes first :)

The News Story That Opened My Eyes

As many of you know I work as a reporter. Most days I like my job a lot, but days like today I LOVE my job, because I don't know how else I would meet such wonderful people and children.

I work as an anchor and education reporter in Austin. I came across a Craigslist ad begging for awareness for a school in Austin created specially for young children diagnosed with Autism. It's not far from closing down because of lack of funding.

I've been around people with Autism before but never to this degree... But it wasn't just the kids who grabbed my heart and held tight, but their mothers. Never have I seen such love for a child, never have I felt that close to how a mother must feel about her child. A story has never given me the opportunity to sit down a just talk to a woman about her pride and joy--Her child.

I've been told several times that once you hold your baby in your arms it's a miracle when you realize how much love you can hold for a single being.

Hearing the struggles from these women brought tears to my eyes and tugged at my heart strings like never before. I don't think I've ever cried on location of one of my stories before, but today I did. Today I wanted to reach out and hug every mother in the world--Every mother who has a child with disabilities--Every mother who worries about her child day and night--Every mother who cries daily wishing she could do more for her family--Every mother who loves her child.

Cheers to you mothers. I can't wait to join the club.

To watch the story I'm still boo-hooing over click here. (It takes a moment to start playing after the anchor speaks)

The Rituals--For Gender Selection

A little while ago I posted about the best season to have a baby. Seems like people HATE being majorly pregnant in the summer months... But the upside is swimming. I am cold all the time so I feel like I'd like being pregnant in the wintertime and having a spring baby... So when does that mean I'll have to get knocked up? (Counting backwards on my fingers)... I think that means June or so... Around there. I know I want to try NOT to have a baby towards the end of the year cause like some people pointed out... Having a birthday near Christmas isn't so fun. Plus, my birthday is in January and Hubby's is in November... Our anniversary is in December, there's just too much going on that time of year. June seems sooo far though! And what if it doesn't work right, right away? Ugh! Decisions decisions.

Kayce also gave me a great website that seems to have a 77% accuracy rating for gender prediction. I looked it up and mapped out when my mom had all of us four girls... The system was correct! Same for some of my friends and their moms... So according to this calender if I conceive in June, August, or December I should have a girl (which is my first choice). June would be perfect cause then I should have her in April... Perfect, no? Spring baby!!

My friend also looked up some other stuff you can do to try to have a girl: Avoid salty foods, eat lots of dairy, mineral water and certain vegetables... Oh and my favorite: Put a wooden spoon under my bed and a pink ribbon under my pillow. Worth a try right?

Of course I don't mind what I have... We'll have more than one but it would be fun to try to choose before and see if that's what I end up with. Hubby wants a boy first so one of us will be happy. I know I'll be fine and happy either way though with a healthy happy baby. I wouldn't mind a mommy's boy.

Did you try any crazy techniques to choose the gender?

The Miracle

I've crossed another item off my Baby Bucket List... Possibly the most difficult one to accomplish, it's really a miracle, and you're know what I mean if you're read THIS... I feel comfortable in the kitchen.

I'm trying not to get my hopes too high... It's only been a few items, but a few items is better than no times right? I've made four meals... three from scratch in the last two weeks... And trust me this is A HUGE accomplishment (if you've read this blog or know me you know what I mean)!

We had a couple from church over last week and they ate my Stromboli. I got the recipe from a friend at work. She let me copy it out of a little magazine she had and said she made it and it was pretty easy. I went through and copied several recipes. Here's how I decide if I'm going to cook something.

1. Does the picture looks good? If "yes" then go to #2

2. How many ingredients are needed? If more than six it's out of the question. If six or less, go to #3.

3. Do I understand all of the ingredients? This one is tricky because most of the time the answer is "no," but if I can figure it out using my "Goggle" and "phone-a-friend" lifelines then I'll usually give it a go.

The Stromboli barely passed... I didn't understand garlic cloves, and almost used two entire garlic heads instead of what the recipe called for... Two minced garlic cloves. Luckily, my MIL bailed me out before it was too late. Above was the finished product (but in leftover form).

Sunday was casserole day at my job. I had been craving peach cobbler and we needed some dessert stuff so I decided to try to make peach cobbler. I looked up a recipe on allrecipes.com, found an easy one and had hubby go get the ingredients for me while I was at work Saturday. This morning I threw it all together and it turned out yummy!!

It's actually FUN for me to cook now! Looking for recipes is a little time consuming but I've found when I'm craving something, or get a good review about something, I'll give it a try! My favorite part about cooking is having people say they like my stuff... Including hubby. He has been really nice and helped me get all of the stuff together, he even helped me make the Stromboli.

My skill is definitely a work in progress but I'm feeling more comfortable now and actually enjoying it. It's also making me feel more "motherly" which is fun. That way when my kids are too old for breast milk I may actually be able to make them solid food.

So come on friends! Send me your favorite recipes and sites! I'm all for trying them out now! And thanks for all of your encouragement in the past, it's really helped.