Totally OK and Not So Fast...

Hey, it's totally ok to:

nurse your baby after feeding him/her baby food. Contrary to popular belief, sweet potatoes and peas ARE good for your areolas!

walk around with a booger on your cheek. You can always blame it on that sweet hug one of your children just gave you and not on the fact that you just sneezed into your elbow. What? You WERE trying to avoid spraying one million snot droplets into the already contaminated air at Walmart.

share a spoon with AND eat after your baby but not your school age children. He suckles at your breast and the memory of his descent from the birth canal is still fresh in your mind, while those older children of yours are entering puberty and they attend public school. Gross!

let your toddler chew on your daily wear flip flops but have a mini heart attack if he/she even thinks about crawling on the floor at the pediatrician's office. The germs on your shoe are from your house (mostly) while the doctor's office floor is germ soup...

dress your kiddos to the nines while you look like something the cat wouldn't even touch with a 10 foot pole let alone drag in.

go 5 days without washing your hair. I did hear the "wet look" might make a comeback, maybe...

resurrect your day old makeup (that you slept in) with a little bit of concealer and fresh makeup. Work it girl!

stick yesterday's clothes in the dryer with a Bounce dryer sheet AFTER you spiff them up with a wet rag first. After all you did look sorta cute and there just might be a dried booger on the sleeve of your shirt.

give your baby an unplugged small electronic to play with while you try to blog... I may or may not have done this. Ok, it was a clock and it was unplugged!

wash 17 loads of laundry in one week but not fold a single sock

Not so fast:

Mom jeans aren't hot- ever! I don't care what InStyle magazine says. They're just goofy and yes they do make you look fat!

If your bra strap is riding up between your shoulder blades it's too small! You either need a new bra or a breast reduction. Hint- bras are cheaper, easier on the eyes and alot less painful!

Never go to bed without brushing your teeth. Trust me. Yes, it has happened to me recently and it was after consuming garlic and cheese. All I have to say is- cat turd breath.

I don't care what you may think- NO ONE'S grass is greener. Please please please take this to heart. I have to tell myself this often. It may seem like your problems are worse than anyone on Earth, but they're not. Everyone has issues, problems, and concerns. They're either mental or much better at hiding crap than you.

Don't rough-house with a freshly bathed or fed baby. He/she will projectile vomit all over you and his/her freshly bathed self. This has happened to me no less than ten times a day the last 7 months and I STILL haven't learned my lesson.

Don't put off knowing what you are going to wear, how long it will take you to get ready and possible traffic jams. You will be late, you always are. Oh wait. That's what I've been meaning to write on my bathroom mirror- sorry :p

And, there you have it. A small sampling of the do's and don'ts of Mommyhood according to Ashley!

Happy Halloween

hot dogs- check
friends- check
kids in cute costumes- check
big boys at a party- check
trick or treating- check
baby's first Halloween- check
too much candy- check
TIRED- check
pictures- double check!!!

Hope everyone had a fun, safe, tummy ache and swine flu free Halloween!

my sweet sleeping Tootsie Roll


there's a Tootsie Roll in my living room


sleeping candy Cam- look at those fingers...


staring at his new mobile


Chloe as Octomom


Octomom- again


hangin' out with our pumpkin


in the bumbo, looking at the fan


Hayden as Ironman


and again...

Wondering-

how the kids are handling the first day of school, particularly Chloe. Today was her first day of middle school. I am really hoping Hunter helped her out today... it's nice that they are in the same school again this year.

if I can get all of my last minute nesting done before baby.

how many more chocolate chip muffins I can eat before I get sick to my stomach, hmmm... also, if the chocolate I got on my white shirt will come out.

when I am gonna go into labor, how it will start, how long it will take, and if I can manage without the epidural.

what the baby looks like, if I really want to name him what we have discussed, and if he has hair.

if I will find the mental energy to load the very few pictures I took of the first day back to school.

if my kids realize for the first time in their entire lives that I forgot to put notes in their lunches- it's been a tradition since they started kindergarten. I feel terrible about forgetting....

if Chloe is gonna have a good year. Middle school is when girls become Mean Girls and I can't stand the thought of ANYONE being mean to my Chloe girl.

if Jon will surprise me with the fluffy chocolate brown glider rocker I have been begging for.

if Swine Flu is gonna be as bad as they are saying- kinda scary... supposedly flu season starts in a few weeks. Yikes!

if I can get my last minute errands run before baby.

and lastly- if anyone is reading this and if so are you bored yet?

Trying to be Positive Patsy when I feel like Negative Nancy.....

Ok, so first of all I feel like I should say thanks and sorry at the same time. I feel like I complain ALOT on here and I am grateful for the sweet comments when I do. I guess it's easier to type my feelings as opposed to writing them in a journal. And, I am pretty sure the people around me are tired of hearing me complain, so my internet "audience" gets to hear me rant.
That being said, this last month of pregnancy is doing a number on me. I am sooo stressed it's pathetic. I have ALOT of school shopping left to do, baby stuff that needs my attention, and 4 bored kids. And, to top it all off- Chandler (my oldest child of broken bones, torn ligaments, staph infection fame) has injured himself YET AGAIN...! This time he dislocated his elbow, which doesn't seem that bad to me but what do I know? He had to be taken to the ER where they put him under to put the elbow back in place and is now in a sling for who knows how long and will miss about 6 weeks of his Senior year of Varsity football. Already he is driving me NUTS! Bored, hungry, etc. every 15 minutes. He is on Vicodin ES which has made him pretty much unable to help me by watching the kids so I can get school shopping and planning done. I have been stuck at home for 3 days and I guess I might be having a hormonal woe is me cabin fever kind of thing going on.
Plus, I am FREAKING out worse than ever about childbirth. I made the mistake of reading about unmedicated natural childbirth and I am absolutely scared to DEATH!! I am assuming the fact that I know he has to come out somehow is making me antsy. Really, do they still put you under and deliver the baby? That way I can wake up and he's here! I don't really want to do that, but as each day ticks by I am getting more and more anxious. Not even chocolate is helping.... I think I am quite possibly driving Jon bonkers as well. And, he is the most laid back person I know. In addition to all of that I can't wake up before 11 each morning and I am taking naps right after dinner each evening. Will things ever be back to normal? Really though, what is normal? Anyway, thanks yet again for listening. I am off to take a mid-afternoon bubble bath. Wish me luck and stuff.

Picture OVERLOAD: nesting, re-decorating, and misc...

Ok, so I am finally able to post some pics of all the SUPER HARD STRESSFUL work I've been doing around the house. I am pretty much done with everyone's rooms but the baby's which is ironic because I had this brilliant idea to play musical bedrooms because he was coming.... I have more big plans and cute ideas for the nursery and hope to get started tomorrow, wish me luck!! Anyway- just a short rundown: Hayden's room used to be Chloe's and was pink/cottage green Shabby Chic decor. The baby's room used to be Chan's and was brown and blue stripes, Chloe's room used to be Hunter and Hayden's and was blue, orange, and brown surf. The big boy's room was our home theatre/game room (which was our garage when we moved in) and was purple, black, red, with black carpet, home theatre decor, etc. And, lastly the bathroom was tropical blue surf overload. I'm afraid a little thing called $$ or lack of has put my living room/kitchen plans on hold for awhile but I am pleased with the looks of things so far. All right now- give me some honest feedback.

Big Boy's room


books and stuff


TV watching seats


close-up of bed


room from doorway



picture in kid's bathroom (reminds kids to conserve water- ha, ha, ha...)


mirror and cool towels


shower curtain in kid's bathroom which inpsired everything else


Hayden's book nook


Hayden's room- decorations, TV with Zumiez stickers (skater must have....)


more decor, decals, TV


Hayden's bed (I chose comforter, he picked paint)


Chloe's dresser and chair


dresser (Jon refinished this, it was cottage green with rose knobs)


shelves full of goodies, love the curtains


the bed and new duvet (she chose decor and colors based on the duvet)


crib full of sheets, bumper, etc. (waiting til the last possible minute because the cat has already tried to claim ownership...)


drawerful of goodies


closet (trying to organize...)


bouncer/stuffed animals


crib (again waiting til the last minute to get ready because the cat thinks this is his room...)


lonely shelves (trying to decide what to put on it)


shelves of cute stuff


changing table

Today I-

had new carpet installed in all of our bedrooms- finally!

got to see my mom, my sister Kelli, her kiddos, and some sweet baby kitties. Family rocks!

sorta saw Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince... between potty breaks and dozing off, I saw about 30 minutes total. Cost me $7.50 too!

went pee pee in the potty about 20 times, half of those being in public restrooms. The Chili's in Grand Prairie by far had the nastiest bathroom of all. Flush people!

thoroughly enjoyed being with all 4 of my kids all the day long. They were being turds as usual, but I loved being with them- it's been awhile since Chan and Hunter are always with friends.

bought 11 gallons of paint, took FOREVER.... But, we now have paint for all the bedrooms, which feels awesome!

moved the crib into the future nursery, so surreal. Not only is there a baby in my tummy, but pretty soon he'll be sleeping in this house!

didn't eat a single meal at home which just feels wrong. I had 1/2 of an order of movie nachos, 3 Southwest eggrolls from Chili's, and a grilled chicken wrap from Sonic. I feel yuck and I swear I heard my body ask for an apple or a carrot. Jon managed to move the mattresses out of our kitchen so I can reach the frig for tomorrow's meals. Whew!

didn't get a nap or Facebook time, which hasn't happened once in the last 6 months. I think I am preparing myself for when baby comes and I am at his mercy.

had a tornado named Jon Myers come through my house. Not really, but everything we own was moved into our kitchen, living room, and Jon's trailer. My house looks scary... can't wait til I can redecorate.

left the house at 9:30 am and didn't get home until 10:30 pm. I can pretty much guarantee I am gonna be swollen like crazy, for who knows how long.... I hope not, because I have plans non stop for the next two weeks. I have appointments to go to, baby showers to attend, and of course sleeping and eating.

sold my surf bathroom decor, thanks Mary! Hope y'all enjoy it!

am hoping to get a much deserved bubble bath with a trashy magazine (Us Weekly). Won't someone please get the books, high heels, and pillows out of my tub- anyone?

Shooting the breeze...

Just a little chatter for the heck of it.

I tried the new KFC grilled chicken. Not bad just not good. I kept thinking I was eating roasted chicken like Boston Market, but it had this weird grilled flavor. I probably won't get it again.

The baby's bedding came in the mail yesterday. OH MY GOSH! It is soooo adorable, more so than the pictures online could ever show. And, the quality is amazing. It is seeming more and more real that a baby is coming. I am NERVOUS! But, once I get a car seat/stroller system, I am ready, sorta... He just needs to "bake" for 80 more days. Wow, that's not long!

I am seriously developing a weird "crush" on the pedicure man. They must have taught him right in pedicure school. Put it this way- I think my eyes rolled back in my head when he rubbed my feet tonight. He could definitely give Jon a few pointers when it comes to foot rubs. I offered him the boy's new bedroom if he would move in and be there when I'm in labor. He turned me down...

Hayden cracks me up. Just this week alone I almost blacked both of his eyes, just because a cute kid is punchable in my opinion. The other day Hunter was lifting his arm to show me his sunburn and Hayden said "ooh Hunter yuck. You have HAIR under your armpits, gross!" And then this little conversation: "Mom, who made everything in the world?" Me: "God did sweetie." "No he didn't, because everything we have says Made in China."

Speaking of Hayden. Apparently his flossing and brushing need to be supervised. He has been complaining of a toothache so we headed to the dentist yesterday and he has 3 small cavities in ONE tooth. Grand total to fix it: $823.52!

Add that to the $1300 fine I got for the time my dogs escaped, the $160 ticket I just got, my $4200 hospital bill, and $5000 for a new a/c unit and I may need to borrow some money. Only kidding. But, yikes! I am more than a little stressed...

Speaking of stress- the constant nausea is getting OLD. Can it be possible that I am gonna have morning sickness my entire pregnancy? It's sure looking that way. I am nauseous all the time and it stinks. Really. Nothing I have tried works. Any advice? I have read about vitamin B6 and Unisom together and then there's Zofran but it's expensive. The phenergan does nothing. Any tips would be much appreciated.

And, that's all for now. I really want to do a giveaway for my 600th post (which I surpassed 9 posts ago) but I'm lazy. Soon, I promise...Anyway, have a great weekend!

Hello and Goodbye!

We made it through another school year! And, boy am I ever glad. I am so not that mom who loves when her kids are in school. The more they are with me the better. Well, as long as they are behaving. I've been home with them for almost 8 years and I definitely love Summer Break! This one will be especially bittersweet for me. In just three short months Chandler will be a SENIOR, Hunter will be in 8th, Chloe will be in 7th, and Hayden will be a 2nd grader!! And, 2 weeks after school starts I will be due to have this baby. Seriously it seems like yesterday that they were running in and out, dragging kids over to eat all of our popsicles, and leaving the sprinkler on forever while they made mud pies. I can't believe they are such big kids already. Their childhood is flying by way too fast. This year I am going to enjoy every lazy moment with them since they will soon be sharing their mom with another family member. It's not that we're not excited about the baby, we sooo are! It's that for so many years it's been the 6 of us. Life with a baby is gonna be interesting, chaotic, blessed, fun, lovely, scary- you name it! Plus, in all honesty- I am not sure they get what's coming.... Anyway, I made a list of things I love about Summer and things I won't miss at all!

Hello

lounging by the pool
sleeping past 6:30
watermelon for breakfast
ice cream for dinner
moonlit swims
cooking and eating on the patio
coconut scented sunscreen
sundresses
pedicures and pretty sandals
having my babies home with me


Goodbye

homework
uniforms
making sack lunches
getting up early
car pool
PTA meetings
school lunches (Chan's worst nightmare)
TAKS tests
being home alone
constantly being on a schedule and in a rush

99 days!

Well, I am officially in my third trimester! Woo Hoo! Par-tay! Ok, maybe just a small party. I can't believe I am down to 99 days until my due date. In some ways it's gone by so slow, but in others it's like "whoa, you're life is gonna be getting even more chaotic and it's gonna happen before you know it and there ain't a darn thing you can do about it!" Anyway, here are some of the things going on in my life related to "my delicate condition":

I am still terrified of childbirth and I am not sure why... Oh yes I do, the old watermelon through a hole the size of a lemon analogy. Which, to me isn't as painful as back labor. And, I know because A) I felt every inch of Hayden come out and B) my epidural stopped working. Lovely huh? I am going to try my hardest to have this baby completely natural. Simply because I have so much scar tissue that an epidural needle won't go in, AT ALL. Somebody hold me...

My nausea is absolutely horrible. Like the worst it's ever been. I am quite sure it's because baby boy is growing fast and crowding my stomach which causes heartburn which aggravates my ulcer. I have been prescribed nausea and heartburn medicine but I hate drugging up my kid at such a young age. So, I'll suffer through. Judging by the scale, I ain't suffering too much...but, today has been especially brutal. I have had: jelly toast, peanut butter toast, wheat thins, and lots of water. Yuck! I think I'm gonna freaking starve!

He is moving like crazy, which is simply amazing! Just this past week he started moving higher up, past my belly button. Before he was squirming and kicking in my lower tummy. He must have had one heck of a growth spurt! And, the hiccups. Neverending hiccups. It's like he's down there throwing back a few cold ones or something. I am a little sad that I will never experience the feeling of a baby again after he is born. Ok, I say that now and I may be lying. If my husband doesn't hurry up and make an appointment for the males only nip and tuck doctor, I may have another uh-oh. And, we don't want that. Love me some babies, but this baby factory is closing up shop in 99 days!

We have finally started shopping and painting for our total home makeover. If this week goes as planned, I will have my big boys moved into their teenage boy pad next weekend. Then I can start on Hayden, Chloe, and baby boy's room. Hayden is getting this bed and baby boy is getting this bedding. We are doing Chloe's room in monarch butterflies, and this picture is being bought by me tomorrow. And, not to be outdone, I am re-doing their bathroom as well and here's my design inspiration. Whew, can you tell I am starting to get the urge to nest? And, just for the record, it was very sad to paint over my cool home theatre decorations. I even had one wall with our names painted like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and that one hit me hard. Darn hormones.

Which brings me to the heat... could it be any more hot and sticky? I went to field day and a birthday party the last couple of days and I thought I was gonna die. It's bad enough when you're out in the heat but it seems like the minute you get home you are useless. It just drains me, like I have been run over. And, all I did was sit, watch, and drink cold water. But, it felt like I was the one running relays and smacking a pinata. Both days I drove home with my a/c on full blast, one vent on my face and the other up my sundress. I also stopped for a water and a cherry Coke at Sonic. Then I walked in the door, laid under the fan and fell asleep. Because I can.

In other news, yes I have a name for him and no I won't tell. Yet. I am also going to get a 3D ultrasound soon, which I am super excited about! I can't stop wondering what he looks like. I mean, I think about it all the time. Which I am sure is pretty normal. So... I guess that's it for now. I am so looking forward to my glucose test next week and before you know it, weekly OB visits to see if I'm dilated. Thrilling.


P.S. #1 Don't be alarmed if you see a mysterious black and white creature floating in our pool. That's not Shamu, it's me, in a fabulous black maternity swimsuit no less... I fully plan on living out back as soon as the algae is cleared up. My dogs decided they would chew the wires on our $250 chlorinator thing-a-ma-jiggy. So, as soon as it's fixed- CANNONBALL!

P.S. #2 I just realized I used the "word" ain't twice in this post... oops!

The week in review

This week has been nutty... I seriously never thought it would end. There's been good moments and bad moments, but I'm just ready for some lazy moments. Anyway- let's just say AMEN to the three day weekend. And, for your reading pleasure here's my highs and lows for the week:

The Highs-

Chandler got a 96 on TAKS History and a 90 on TAKS Math, yeehaw!

Hayden learned to cook scrambled eggs in his very own special skillet

Two surprising upsets on TV. Both American Idol and Dancing with the Stars were won by two wholesome kids and I couldn't be more pleased. Maybe I'm not as tolerant as I thought but I didn't want the favorite on either show to win...

I discovered a new store: World Market and all I can say is WOW!

I got the big boys Nautica quilts for half off, score!

Hunter actually swam in the pool with his family instead of having his face buried in his I-pod or the X-box

We were able to enjoy a home cooked meal at the table with all family members present four nights in a row, which is a record

Chandler finished driver's ed, now just lots of driving practice remains

Chloe got her first 1st place finish in BMX, go sister!

and now,

The Lows-

one of our fish died, during family dinner no less

our septic is giving us fits again to the tune of $700, ouch

Chloe got kicked off the bus for the remainder of the school year. Apparently it's fun to unscrew bus seats and remove their leather covers. Not to mention seat hopping and throwing paper wads.... all which was captured on the bus-cam

both Chloe and Hayden have grown out of or ripped several items of their dress code clothing. Seriously, there's only four days of school left! Ugghh! They may be wearing the same thing the remainder of the year

I am the victim of a bad cut AND a bad color. To sum it up: I look like an Irish Setter mated with a Chocolate Lab and had some butt ugly mutt puppies which were then groomed by a 3 year old... help me. I am seriously embarrassed to go in public.

The End, I hope... So far the good outweighs the bad but it's only Friday. There's always tomorrow.

Happy Mother's Day!

I just wanted to say Happy Mother's Day to my mom, sisters, and friends. I hope everyone had a great day! I had a pretty neat Mother's Day, celebrated over the entire weekend and it was pretty darn memorable. I think my hormonal ranting finally caught Jon's attention. So, for the first time in 14 years he went all out for me. He also wanted to be able to go to the big BMX race that was held today so he knew he better be on is best behavior. Friday I got 2 dozen roses and chocolates. Then, he took Saturday off and he and the kids actually served me breakfast (that he cooked) in bed! While I was eating they gave me my gift: several cards and a cute gift basket full of candy, my favorite soda, and bath products that he and the kids shopped for. I was pretty floored. And, he didn't stop there. He mowed the yard, washed clothes, swept, mopped, and vacuumed. I was stunned but very pleased. After all that he took me to dinner at H3 steakhouse down by the stockyards. Funny thing was, I thought we were going to dinner to celebrate our anniversary and that all the goodies were for both occasions, but he totally forgot about our anniversary which is Monday! I think he's off the hook...
Today was equally as nice as I went to church and lunch with my mom and afterwards took a great nap. When everyone arrived home from BMX we sat out on the patio while the kids swam and watched the sun go down. I really had a great weekend! It really put into perspective for me how blessed I am and what a sweet, beautiful, amazing family I have. With the everyday hustle and bustle, pregnancy hormones, teenage drama, etc. that we go through each day I think we lose touch from time to time. It was nice to be remembered and pampered. I just love my family so much! I am gonna miss them tomorrow when they are at school and work and I am here with the animals and the quiet. It will make them coming home at the end of the day all the more sweet.
Jon and kiddos- thanks for a great weekend! Love y'all!

How lazy can one woman be?

Well, the day started out decent enough, I actually woke up before 11. That's the beauty of having older kiddos- they can wake up, get dressed, and have breakfast almost digested before I know what day it is. I had so many plans today, kind of a pre-nesting if you will. I intended to wash and fold every ounce of dirty clothes in the house, I was gonna continue on my picture organization project, we were supposed to go to Home Depot as a family for flowers and pool furniture, not to mention pedicures for me and Chloe. But due to one nasty disagreement by text with my husband, I got like nothing done. Ok, so I watched 5 episodes of True Life on MTV, washed all the dirty clothes, played Jenga and Connect Four with the kids, worked on a 1,000 piece puzzle, and consumed my weight in Crunch~n~Munch. I also got the crap scared out of me by a mouse on our back porch and one heck of a nasty thunderstorm. Wow, I amaze myself... Not really, I didn't even make dinner. Thank you On the Border! Anyway- I am optimistic that tomorrow will be better. And, just because, I have a few pics to show you. I have been having a really hard time getting my computer to download pics and every now and then they all show up... freaky. So, I selected a few just for the heck of it. Happy Soggy Saturday!

A tree by my house that looks like Tyrannosaurus Rex


Hayden and a few of his classmates at this week's field trip


Pedro hanging out in the basket on my bike


Chloe, Reagan, Hayden, and Madison after they made mud pies


Chan, Julie, and Patrick on his 17th birthday (yes, he had a birthday as did Hunter and no I never blogged about it, but I will. Promise.)

Status Quo

Well, since I don't have any awesome pictures or groovy stories to tell I am gonna just do an update kind of post.

I am so glad that warm weather is here! The kids have been swimming every day this week and are already begging for their friends to be able to come over and join them.... not ready for that part! Personally, it's too cold for me. But, I can almost guarantee that when I am giant preg-o I am gonna be out there like Shamu at Sea World...

Chandler FINALLY started driver's ed. Not sure how I feel about that... I mean I am excited but also nervous. Excited that I won't have to drive him around all the freaking time, but nervous for obvious reasons. Thank goodness he has to drive with me or Jon for 6 months before he can get his license. Jon was able to get him a truck already (a '77 Chevy) and he only paid $475 for it. He bought it an auction for a children's charity as a non-running vehicle and all it needed was a battery. Plus it's in mint condition. Score!

We still plan on trying to sell our house, bad economy and all. We are decluttering here and there and will be working on little projects throughout the next month. The goal is to have it listed by late May. I personally will be praying diligently that what is meant to be will be. If it doesn't sale by January we will take it off the market.

One of these days I plan on changing my blog design but I am currently feeling lazy, forgetful, and design challenged. I actually have a neat idea but I keep putting off getting the ball rolling. Maybe this upcoming week... we'll see.

Hunter, Chloe, and Hayden are all doing good. Hunter has a new girlfriend and is always texting. Big surprise. Chloe is becoming more and more of a teenage drama queen by the day. There are many unpleasant moments around here... that's all I'll say about that. Hayden is just as sweet as ever. He told me today that he would skip the big BMX race in November to help me with the new baby. Awww. And, he gets to go on his first ever field trip on Tuesday. Complete with sack lunch and bus ride. He is very excited. I am going along as a chaperone. I really can't wait.

What is going on with this freaking swine flu? Seriously, as if there weren't enough things to worry about! So scary. My prayer is that it can be contained and that proper medicines will be found and that everything will be ok. Maybe I'm being paranoid, who knows. When I was pregnant with Hayden 9/11 happened and I was so worried for my family and our new baby. Looks like I'm gonna be on edge again for awhile.

And, lastly: the pregnancy. Somebody help me- I am a hormonal monster! Ugghh! Also, I am still suffering from awful nausea. It is so bad that I had to go to my doctor for an anti-nausea RX. It does nothing but make me tired. So, I am back to wearing motion sickness bracelets. They don't work either and they don't match any of my clothes. And, you'd never know because of the nausea- but I still have little cravings here and there. Right now I could go for a steak and baked sweet potato or Chinese. It's Saturday and I am so not cooking, maybe I'll get one of my cravings satisfied... And, speaking of cravings- I have gained about 15 pounds. Yikes! My goal is to not exceed 10 more pounds, then I'll be back where I started before I lost all my weight. I fully plan on breastfeeding 24 hours a day so I can burn a ton of weight off. I have done a little shopping here and there. Mainly clothes. It is super hard to find cute boy stuff, but I'm trying. Jon and I are gonna go this week and look at travel systems and a bassinet/cradle. Once I get those I have everything I need for his first week of life. And, my personal favorite: he kicks ALOT! So sweet, like popcorn popping in your tummy. That is a feeling I could never, ever get tired of.

And that's it! Hope y'all have a great weekend! Plus, be on the lookout for a fun giveaway... I am only 10 posts away from 600! And, I plan on doing a giveaway to celebrate! Yee haw! Y'all come back now- ya hear?

More things I've learned today...

After 17 years of being a mom, it finally hit me like a ton of bricks: my children really can't clean their rooms very well, they can lose things like shoes rather easily, they will watch you looking for their shoes as if they were at the movies, and they don't listen EVER! Oh, and my "favorite", they truly can't do much without me. Neither can the man I married...

I have been married to Jon for 13 years and he can't find things AT ALL either, he doesn't listen worth squat, and the most annoying: the manner in which he puts things in the refrigerator. Case in point, last night we had burgers and hot dogs for dinner. He oh so sweetly helped me put things away and this morning when I opened the fridge it looked like an explosion had gone off. Condiments wherever they would fit (instead of the door where I thought most people kept condiments), the cheese slices sitting on a plate of leftovers, a baggie of lettuce sitting on a pitcher of juice... I mean, aren't those nifty little drawers there for a reason? Really this made getting lunches packed a nightmare! I should have insisted that the kids only had one option for lunches, the lunch line. Who was I to ever allow them to bring a homemade lunch?

Whew! Put it this way- this morning was emotionally and physically exhausting! I was pulled in more directions than I even knew possible. I even got everyone up early and Chloe still missed her bus, for the 2nd time this week and it's only Tuesday!! If my family would only listen to me they would realize how much smoother things would be if we all worked together. To say I am ready for this school year to be over would be putting it mildly. I am tired of packing lunches, school uniforms, getting up early, getting yelled at by pubescent little turds, etc etc. I am sooo ready to sleep in every day. I long for the lazy days of Summer: ice cream, swimming, sundresses, naps, cookouts, and watermelon just to name a few. Breath Ashley. There are only 49 days of school left.

grrrr....

Please tell me when it is ever ok to walk into someone's house without knocking? I have had two of the neighbor kids walk in like they lived here THREE times today. Twice the front door was locked so they went around to my side door. The third time it happened I about lost it and then I got smart and locked every door. I can still ocassionally hear the rattle of various door knobs. OH MY GOSH, go home! We are doing chores and it's too cold to go out anyway... I feel like we are being stalked! People- watch your OWN children please. Thanks!

Finding Out

Wow! Thanks so much for all the congrats and well wishes! I have awesome friends! I am finally on here to post about how I discovered I was pregnant. Here we go:

Let me first start by saying that I didn't think more children were in the cards for me. It had been 7 years since my last baby was born and I wasn't getting any younger. I knew the chances were slim that I would ever be pregnant again. My biological clock had started ticking loudly and I was really feeling desperate for a baby for quite a few years and nothing. (That was such an odd feeling too. I was weepy about babies and I already had 4!) We weren't trying, we just couldn't agree on if we wanted a caboose baby. I had finally come to terms with the fact that I wasn't going to have any more children and I was ok with it. I was gonna get skinny and was seriously considering going back to school. It had been almost 6 months since I had asked Jon if we could try. I had lost some weight and that felt awesome! So, I got busy with Christmas plans and was thinking of what to do and accomplish in 2009.... little did I know!

I had been feeling kinda weird I guess you could say. The girls (Bertha* and Martha*) were feeling tingly, like they were trying to tell me something... Plus, I kept getting dizzy (remember the Titan and the Omni theatre?) and that's not like me. So, one evening I made up an excuse to run to Target and grabbed the cheapest 2 pack of pregnancy tests I could find. When I got home I went straight to the bathroom and took one. Positive immediately. I got out of the bathroom and made dinner as if nothing was wrong. After everyone was asleep I took the second one- and it too was positive. All I can think of is that I am the lucky fart who got not one but two faulty tests. I mean Aunt Flow wasn't even due for 6 more days!! So, I immediately Google the brand of tests I bought and they are notorious for false positives. I knew it! I wasn't really with child... or was I? The next morning I ran to CVS and bought 5 more tests. I went home and walked straight to my bathroom and you guessed it- I took them all. My bathroom looked like a science lab. And, one by one they all came up positive. I guess you could say I'm a little dense, seeing as it took 7 tests for me to get the hint. It took me three whole days to tell my husband. I got my first positive on December 28th and held it in til New Year's Eve. He was a little shocked to put it mildly. I went back to Target within 30 minutes of telling him and bought the new edition of What to Expect When You're Expecting and a giant bottle of pre-natal vitamins. That next week my symptoms kicked into high gear. I must say being pregnant at 34 is nothing like being pregnant in your late teens and early twenties... I kept the news to myself as long as I could telling only a few people like my Relief Society prez (since I was suddenly sleeping ALOT and kept missing church) and my hairdresser, who along with my OB assured me it was safe to color my hair. I only recently told my kiddos, who were in total disbelief and asked if they were being Punk'd! I then slowly but surely started breaking the news to the whole world! I really wanted to surprise everyone and hope I was successful! So, there you have it- The Discovery. You know I am gonna get on here and blog some more about it, but I'll shut up for now. And, I promise to blog about something other than pregnancy all the time. Scout's Honor.

*Bertha and Martha= the twins, boobs, breasts, etc etc.

All about US!

Since I am so bad at blogging lately I thought I'd give you the rundown on the family. Basically we are all anxiously awaiting Spring Break as we are ready to come out of our Winter cave! But, I'll add to it just a bit.

Me- I have been watching TV, reading, eating, and sleeping more than necessary. Isn't that what one who is hibernating does? I am having a hard time kick starting my diet and an even harder time staying off of Facebook. I am growing my hair out again. I have a new Spring wardrobe and now need sandals and flats to match. I am more accepting of my birthday this year than last... could it be that I am maturing? Although 35 is a scary number!

Jon- He is growing more addicted to BMX by the minute. He is also getting into Facebook too, just not as much as his wife. He still falls asleep on the couch every night and snores more than ever! He is thoroughly enjoying all of his Valentine candy, maybe too much. He will be 39 next week, yikes! I am married to an old fart! But, I love him anyway. I just wish he had more gray hair than me. So not fair!

Chan- What can I say? He is a teenager. He finds hanging with friends much more appealing than family. Although this could be because his friend's moms cook every night... He got a letter jacket for football. The school paid for most of it but we spent a hefty chunk of change on add ons ($165) and he has yet to wear it. He is hot natured, yet HAD TO have that jacket! He gets better at guitar every day and is still not driving. I am putting it off as long as possible... I'm a smart mom like that. He will be 17 in 3 weeks, holy cow!

Hunter- I am not exactly sure what Hunter looks like anymore. His head is always down because he is texting or on his I-Pod touch. He too is getting super fast at BMX. He doesn't have a girlfriend currently and for the first time in 2 years only got Valentines from me. This is because he has "dated" every girl in his school and there is no one left who adores him. Poor Hunter. He has the stinkiest feet of any human being I have ever encountered. He is still working his way through puberty.

Chloe- She too is working her way through puberty, yet she seems to be hitting more roadblocks than Hunter. I am guessing because she is a girl and we are odd little creatures... She changes clothes 5 times a day and sometimes when we run errands together she sneaks on make-up. Her favorite thing to do is take pictures of herself. Some are really good, I just don't understand why we need 100 shots of the same pose. She keeps taking my blow dryer and flat iron. For real. I am not ready for this... She is also fixing to start racing BMX.

Hayden- He is doing great at spelling and reading and writes the funniest little stories that crack me up every day. His most prized possession at the moment is a plastic wallet from a Jack in the Box kid meal. He has $5 and a photo of himself in there. So cute I wanna punch him. He is doing awesome at BMX as well. He is a very sweet, laid back, kind hearted little boy. Definitely helps when his sister is being a turd. He tells me about 50 times a day that I am pretty and he loves me. I am keeping him forever, until he meets a girl who is worthy.

Coco and Daisy- They are super happy to be back home. They went straight for the pool for a drink and a welcome home lap. They have been very well behaved. Makes me think they are grateful... And, I can't help but wonder about their adventure. Coco still won't stop barking and Daisy still walks while she pees and poops. Whatever, I guess dogs have quirks too.

Pedro- He is the oddest cat we have ever owned and we've had over 10 cats in 13 years! He goes outside and immediately runs to the backyard where the dogs cover him in slobber. He claws at them like crazy, even drawing blood. Yet he still stalks into their territory. Weird. Last night he managed to detach the teddy bear from my Valentine flowers. Which he then took to the hallway and molested. Freak. He drives me batty.

And, there you have it. The down low on the fam. I sure hope my creative juices start flowing soon. Have a fantastic weekend!

Doggie Drama!

Yesterday morning my dogs decided to get out and go on an adventure! We must have driven for miles and yelled our lungs out looking for those dogs. So, today after not seeing any found ads for Labs on about 5 different websites I decided to head to the Humane Society in downtown Fort Worth and nothing. They told us that there was another shelter in FW that we could check at. It required us to drive around and through a TERRIBLE neighborhood, because yes, we did get lost! If you have ever been near the homeless shelter off of Lancaster you know about the neighborhood of which I speak... enough said! On another note, if Jon had schooled me in how to use my new navigation system I might have gotten us there quicker. We were about to turn around and go home when we decided to say a prayer that we would be able to remain calm and know where we needed to look. I was able to find the street I needed pretty easily after that and we found our destination. We go inside, sign in and start walking through a maze of dog kennels. I was feeling pretty hopeless at that point because I know my dogs and their bark and I didn't hear them. But, as we turned the last corner there they were cuddled together asleep in a little ball! They were soo happy to see us! My white dog Daisy has a pretty big gash on her head and will be going to the vet tomorrow. It cost me $120 bucks to rescue them. Boarding fees, renewal of their county license, and micro-chipping. I actually got a decent discount because they are spayed and up to date on their shots. But still! They are home now, fed, watered, and in their kennel for the night. And, tomorrow Jon and I are gonna be doing some MAJOR fence repair. So much fun! Really, I have said it before and I'll say it again: "Hi, My name is Ashley and I have a black cloud over my head."

Good Stuff

I am feeling this overwhelming urge to blog, but can't really think of squat to blog about. So, I thought I would do a good stuff list. Little things that make me happy. Enjoy!

1. warm chocolate chip cookies and a cold glass of milk, enough said

2. when the perfect outfit just comes together, one that people notice and one that makes you feel great

3. sleeping with the windows open on a cold night but being warm as toast under a thick goose-down comforter

4. crisp new magazines

5. an awesome book that you can't put down, one that makes you think days after finishing it

6. hitting all the green lights, not getting behind slow drivers, and finding a front row parking space

7. getting a basketful of awesome-ness at Target and spending under $100, doesn't happen very often, but when it does- boo-yah!

8. my babies sleeping... mouths hanging open, covers tangled, hair every which way, little snores here and there, dang I am lucky

9. lunch dates with my hubby

10. soft, warm, squishy babies (Kelli and/or Amy, I need a fix...)

11. Friday afternoons, no homework, pizza for dinner, and just knowing that on Saturday you can sleep in and spend the day with your family

12. a blog post that people can laugh at, sympathize with, or be cheered up by

Ok, so I am feeling all warm and tingly now. I hope you are too. Have a Happy Friday!

Wintry Mix

I so wanted today to be a "snow day"... but no such luck. They did do an early dismissal at 2, whoopty doo. All that accomplished was me having to stand in long lines at each school, some of the time OUTSIDE while I waited my turn to sign my kiddos out and show my ID. It was a mad house! Parents everywhere and GERMS! The main office of any school during winter makes my skin crawl, but that's another post.
They only gave us a 30 minute warning, nice huh? And, they neglected to tell us in the message that even though school dismissed at 2, buses would be running from 2:45 til 3:45. Which meant if I didn't get the kids myself I would have been home waiting on the buses, likely a nervous wreck. So, after 1 & 1/2 hours at 4 different schools we headed to Wal-Mart for firewood (sold out) and stuff for dinner. That took less time than the school debacle, we were in and out in 20 minutes! We hadn't been out of the van for 30 seconds when Hunter stood on the mini BMX gate in our front yard and promptly fell on his butt. It was a solid sheet of ice. I've never seen a kid contorted that way before! He just laid there arms and legs splayed out, drink spilled, his bag of jawbreakers busted in the grass and laughed his butt off. We all did. Really I almost wet my pants. The only thing that held me back was the fact that it was below freezing and I didn't want frozen pee on my jeans. We did manage to have a nice dinner: homemade lasagna, salad with my famous Ranch dressing, and garlic bread, yum! It's now 11-ish and I am sitting on my bed with the laptop and a sleeve of Thin Mints. I am refreshing the school closings list every 3 seconds while I listen to the TV. Oh yeah- I am also listening to what sounds like a train in our attic. I thought our heat pump was about to explode, but Jon assured me it's only the attic fans trying to spin but they are too frozen to do their job. Wonderful. Anyway- stay warm and cozy and don't drive if you don't have to. And, cross your fingers that there's no school tomorrow....