I'm a Mom Now

Sorry to all those friends out there without kids who don't want to hear me talk about kids...My future posts are probably going to be a lot about my new challenges, as life has changed quite a bit for me in the past 4 months. I'm so thrilled with the change, but overwhelmed and exhausted by it too. I'm re-defining myself and trying to find a way to balance my life. I've spent a lot of time thinking the past 4 months. I think about the future I want for my daughter. I think about the lessons I want her to learn. I think about the kind of family I want to be. I think about the kind of example I want to be. I think about all the roles in my life and how I now have to be really good at planning and multi-tasking if I hope to be good at any of them. I'm a mom, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a daughter-in-law, a cousin, a friend...and while trying to maintain all of these things, I need to maintain my identity as Melissa. Someone who likes to read, bicycle, paint, photograph, videograph, play soccer - be active. I'm having a hard time figuring that out right now, although I'm getting there...I think. I'm with Heather and Kristin Armstrong on this one (see a link to her post below). I've got my blinker on. I'm in the turn lane. I'm heading in the direction I want, even if it seems like I'm not going anywhere.

http://milemarkers.runnersworld.com/2009/09/blinkers.html

Crocs

So, Scott, seeing my uncomfortably large feet each day I come home from work offered to buy me a more comfortable pair of shoes on Friday. What a guy. I've insisted that my shoes are still fine...I mean I spent a lot on them knowing that the arch support of the Nike Air sole in a cute black flat-ish shoe would feel great on my feet...but my feet are expanding more wide than I thought possible and I guess a new pair were in order.

I've decided that pregnancy is definitely not a glamorous thing...at least it hasn't been for me, so why stop now? We headed into Macy's Friday and I tried on my first pair of Crocs. After trying on a few other more comfortable (but not too homely looking) pair of shoes, I just couldn't get over how my feet felt in the Crocs. So beware co-workers! You will probably see me in these shoes...hopefully they're not too much of eye-sores...I only hope that my feet don't yet grow out of these!

After 7+ Years...

It took having a soon-to-be dental hygenist in the family to get Scott to go to the dentist. My sister, Briana, is studying to become a hygenist and is using her friends and family as guinea pigs for practice and exams. Scott said she did a fabulous job!

Cankles

I've been reading some pregnancy books (standard for me to be all consumed in books about my latest interest) and I've been hearing them talk about swelling. And I've virtually ignored it because I haven't had any issues. Well, after I got home yesterday, I took off my socks and realized that I couldn't see my ankles. It reminded me of what my ankles looked like when they were sprained years ago. So now I've got cankles and I'm not even 6 months along yet! Never thought it would happen to me, but it has. And I'm guessing its not going to improve until this girl pops out of me. I just hope I don't have to resort to wearing flip-flops in the end...we'll see!

Quick Baby Update: So yesterday I had a doc apptmt with my OB to check-up on our growing baby girl. Heartbeat was 150 (although it took my doc a few minutes to get it as she was squirming around so much), my belly measures 24cm (so right on track) and I'm up more pounds than I'd like to share since my appointment 4 weeks ago. Soon I'll be 24 weeks along!

Argy-Bargy

We had a fun visit from our friend Fergal and Darragh from Ireland on Thurs. We took them to Azia for some non-Maple Grove centered cuisine (Mps-St Paul Mag says this place is great, but the food didn't impress Scott or I) and then to Chino for some drinks. It was great craic. Needless to say I was the sober cab and after a few strong drinks Scott couldn't stop talking about how he was going to show the Northern Irish a thing or two when he goes there in May for Fergal's wedding. Something about starting a riot. I guess this kind of trouble-making is called a bit of argy-bargy (don't know if I spelled it right...it sounds like R G bar G) back on the Emerald Isle. Its got a great ring to it, yah? So now I've got argy-bargy singing in my head! No worries Fergal or Marie, Scott will be responsible and not start any argy-bargy at your blessed affair!

Blogger Award

Well, seeing as I've done like 5 posts in one year I'm amazed that Becky has given me a Kreative Blogger Award. So I'm going to copy the rules from Becky. Here are the rules: List six things that make you happy. Pass the award along to six more bloggers. Do not give the typical answers and go for the less obvious, as you all know that family, friends, God, etc would be on the list.

1. My Snoogle - Laugh as you may, this pillow helps me get a full nights sleep. Maybe Sleep should've been my answer, because if I get a full night (9.5 hours for me) I am a happy woman. I started having real hip soreness after only an hour of laying in bed (I have to only lay on my sides these days) and it was difficult to get some sleep. So I decided to try and buy one of those pregnancy body pillows. Its working and I'm sleeping!

2. Chocolate - Sorry Becky, had to steal this one. I'm a dark chocolate lover (but will eat most any chocolate) . If its in the form of a brownie, cake or ice cream then its extra loved.

3. Our New Car - For reasons stated in the previous blog.

4. Trash TV - Bret Michael's Rock of Love, The Bachelor and then The Soup which makes fun of it all - Although I'm not an addict, watching these people makes me feel oh, so normal...A refreshing feeling. And it gives me something crazy to laugh at.

5. My hubby - He has been awesome through all my nausea and recent flu. He's been doing more than his fair share around the house without complaint and is even now dealing with my more sensitive self (I get teary-eyed at the darndest things these days!)

Of course there are a zillion other things that make me happy, but these were the ones I could think of now.

New (Used) Car

OK, ok. It's maybe a sad thing to be so excited about a car, but I am! After driving some granola cars (which I won't diss because they have been good to me) and finding an excellent deal on a car we weren't even originally considering, we have purchased the nicest car I've ever owned. It's got all the bells and whistles and drives like a dream. So...just humor me if I start talking about the car...At least I'm not talking only babies! :-)