Searching for creeps

Go check out this link. I was visiting The Trenches and she posted the link to check out sexual predators in your area. I usually try to check this every month or so. We have a Salvation Army a few blocks down the road that apparently houses convicted sexual predators (this is a long story and the reason I choose to give to other charities instead of the Salvation Army) and we had one close at one time that liked to victimize young boys. So I am pretty vigilant about checking on our area. You should too. It takes just a few minutes and you can see all of these creeps (though hopefully you live in an area like us where there is only one and he is 80 years old now). Of course these are just the ones who are "honest" and register. It gives me the willies every time I check, but something that every parent should do.

Passed the test

I just got back from my glucose test at the doctor. I passed with flying colors. The hardest part is drinking that orange crap when you have not had anything to eat yet!! I am now scarfing down an artichoke and spinach egg souffle thing from Panera bread. So. Yummy.

NEVER

Never again will I shop at the good old neighborhood Walmart. I normally shop Target or the local grocery stores but I had a small amount of money on a walmart gift card so I thought I would give the nice new one down the street another try. Wrong decision. I never have any problem with coupons at the super friendly Target. This is not the case at Walmart. They refused to take my coupons because they were over the amount of the product cost and the cashier was appalled I was trying to get something for free. She could not understand that the store gets reimbursed for the coupon (they were manufacturer's coupons) plus 8 cents (read the fine print you twit). The manager was no better, he said you can not use two of the same coupons in a transaction. What a crock.
I actually kept my composure and simply said it was not a big deal, I would use the coupons at Target. She then gave me an attitude about wanting to take the items off of my ticket. So basically Walmart can kiss my heinie! I am done.
Have a good day.

Suggestions

I am getting many great suggestions for names for this little bundle of joy due in 10-11 weeks!! Thanks so much. We still have yet to just sit down and hash it out. I guess because we are trying to avoid arguing about it. Part of it is because I have it in my head that his name is Adrian. The monkeys already call him that and are insistent upon calling him that. It aggravates my husband. It is not that I don't like others, I do and if I could talk the monkeys into changing their minds easily, it would be all solved by now I suppose.
I would love to use my maiden name as the middle name. Only thing is, my maiden name is not really one of those cool names that can be used for a first/middle name. It is just a last name, but I did love it.

Our Mardi Gras rehearsal is Saturday. I should be really excited but I guess since I don't get to ride I am not really that revved up. I am very curious to see how this costume is going to look...I may be exposing the littlest monkey due to a short shirt. Now is when I really wish I had some sewing skills. I also need to see if I can get away with flats or very low heels. We are supposed to be "Paris, the city of lights" so I would guess the higher the better. I am excited to start going to the other parades though. The monkeys have the best time catching all that junk. Big monkey cracked me up last year yelling "throw me something mister!!" We have a good time. You all should come visit for Mardi Gras.

I did some nesting/cooking this weekend. I have mentioned our extreme budget a few times (not really extreme, but any budget for us that really limits our spending is extreme!). Well, the food part has really been cut and it has caused me to do some extra cooking. So in order to actually do the cooking without exhausting myself during the week, I started bulk cooking. Well, as much as I can without owning a deep freezer. I made 3 meals worth of turkey meatloaf, turkey meatballs, banana muffins, and pizza dough on Saturday. I also made fresh green beans and 3 batches of waffles on Sunday to freeze. Anyone know a good way to freeze the cooked green beans? I have no canning abilities so that is out of the questions. It was great to get those made and frozen and I can add them to my list of possible dinners, etc. If I had a deep freeze, I would probably make more meals more often, especially with the new baby coming. It is so nice to just pull something healthy and not prepackaged out of the freezer.

We also started organizing the upstairs for the littlest monkey. It looks worse than it did right now, but we did get the entire storage closet cleaned out and put into the attic (space my husband thought was great for laying fishing poles flat HA HA). So now we have some more room to work with. We also added to the yard sale pile. I am trying to throw together a street wide yard sale so we get a lot of traffic and make a lot of money!

Lost Love it

Again, it is on again!! And it has completely captured my mind, body and maybe soul!?!
I am talking about the show Lost on ABC. I love it. I started watching this show on a Saturday evening marathon catch up with the show deal when big monkey was just an itty bitty baby. I was hooked from the get go and have not missed an episode yet. I even put off meds after my c-section with little monkey so I would not drift in and out during the show. (I did a quick dose during the last 10 minutes!) This is really the only show I watch faithfully. It came back last night with a one hour recap show and then the 2 hour premiere and I was in heaven. I have not watched that much tv in a consecutive sitting in a LONG time. I just don't have time, but I made time last night. My husband was at class so I knew I was on my own with the monkeys and bedtime. I somehow managed to make us all dinner, bake banana muffins, make waffles to freeze for the rest of the week, clean up the kitchen, bathe my monkeys, and get them to bed in time without falling asleep with them in order to watch my show. I was a bad mommy for a few of those minutes, I let the monkeys watch a show while I watched the first 30 minutes of the recap show. I was lucky that they had yoga-nastics that day so they were worn out and missing a nap. That was great, since it took all of 6 minutes for them to fall soundly asleep.
It was a great episode. Things are so twisty and I love it. It is sort of weird considering I really am a scientist at heart and this show plays against this part of me. I do somewhat believe in destiny and fate, but I also tend to overanalyze and look for a logical answer for everything. Well, you don't get many logical answers with Lost. And so far, I am okay with that. So, 8 pm (CST) Wednesdays - you know where I will be!!
Anybody else watch? Who was hoping Sawyer would never find another shirt?! Love his nick names for people.

Name Game

I am taking suggestions on names for this baby! I am 28 weeks and not even close to coming up with a name yet. The baby is a boy and we like the more traditional names, but are open to unique names at this point!!
Thanks!

Happy Work Day for me

Little monkey had a great birthday weekend. He was spoiled rotten by all on Saturday (his actual birthday) and had a blast at his party on Sunday. He is not usually an attention hog or spotlight kind of guy, but he really enjoyed it on Sunday. I think it was a successful weekend.
My parents came this weekend and the monkeys thoroughly enjoyed their company. It melts my heart watching them all together and seeing how much they obviously love the monkeys and the monkeys love and adore them. They had to leave this morning to go back (some of you get the day off today, not me!!). I left before they woke up but called to make sure they got on the road this morning. I know the boys were sad to see them leave. Little monkey started worrying about it yesterday morning. My mom said they were standing in the window with sad little faces waving goodbye to them as they drove off. I have a feeling they will both be attached to me all night tonight.
Now I need a nap!! I think these birthday weekend marathons wear me out more than the monkeys. It was FANTASTIC not to have to worry about anything by having the party at a location other than my backyard or house. But I am still a bit tired and woke up with a stuffy nose/headache. It is probably the beginnings of a cold and I hope it stays minimal and goes quickly.

Funny story, and it further proves my theory that men are the way they are from birth. Big monkey picked up a long (think willow tree type branch) thin stick in the parking lot after the party yesterday. Somehow he managed to sneak it in the van and was poking us all with it while we were driving home. Then he said he was peeing on me (I was seated in front of him and the stick was shaped like the stream of pee would be for a little boy who was peeing outside). That was not too shocking. But then he said he was peeing on me with the biggest winkie in the whole world!!!! I just about died. And then he of course repeated it several times and the van full of adults was rolling with laughter. I just could not believe he came up with that one all on his own at 4 years old!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Little Monkey

Our baby (at least until April) is turning 3 this Saturday. I just can't get over how big and grown up he has gotten the past several weeks. He has undergone that transformation from little boy to big boy in a matter of a couple of months. I find myself watching him in amazement quite often lately. I don't know if it is because this transformation was so sudden (unlike the gradual change in big monkey at that age) or if it is partly because I am going to be having another baby soon and it seems so foreign to me. Big monkey was booted from baby position very quickly as little monkey made his surprise/blessed appearance in our lives while big monkey was still a baby. He has held onto the baby position in our family for 3 years on Saturday. He is so excited about being 3 and having a party and I am so excited for him.

Little monkey was my very large monkey from the beginning! He was 8 lbs 13 oz at birth (nearly 2 lbs bigger than his big brother was at birth) and is the same size as his big brother now. He was an amazing baby from the start. So easy. He was happiest when being nursed, and he did this quite often and very well! He had gained several ounces (without losing any) before we left the hospital! I had no stress while nursing him (for nearly a year and a half) and found out how wonderfully peaceful and beautiful breastfeeding is. We found out that his blood type is completely different from mine, causing jaundice, but he was fine after a few nights on the lamps.

Little monkey is a mommy's boy. He loves to be near me if I am around and I love to have him near. He has always been easy to make smile and is the most ticklish person I have ever met. He can even tickle his own feet! He is a daredevil in his own right and is always trying to do what his big brother is doing. He took a lot longer to walk and to talk than big monkey. He has always been happy to just be who he is at the moment and not stress over getting to the next milestone.
Just lately, he has started talking everyone's ears off. It is wonderful to listen to him have conversations with others, after being concerned for so long about him not talking much. Little monkey is pretty laid back, like his daddy. But boy does he have a temper. He is not shy about letting you know he is mad at you and guilt has never worked on this child. I foresee many power struggles with him in the future.

Little monkey has taught me so much. I really believe that if he had not come along so soon after big monkey, I would not have enjoyed parenthood as much as I have so far. I am type A, little monkey is type B. He makes me more mellow and that is something I can always use help with. I did not know how in the world I would bond with another baby so soon after the first one. He made that easy for me. He makes me smile constantly and at the same time drives me crazy with his constantly being underfoot. He is less open with his emotions, and makes me feel incredibly special when he randomly tells me he loves me.

Little monkey has a thing for boobies and pooting. This can be funny and it can be embarrassing - like in church when he flashes my boobies or when he runs over to me just to make me feel special by pooting on me! He is all boy and I am sure is full of surprises in the future. He is so excited to be a big brother, after being quite apprehensive when we first told him. He has been eating his vegetables so he can stay strong to protect his new brother when he is born.

So happy birthday Little Monkey. Mommy loves you and you will always be my baby!

Yummy

My wonderful husband put gift certificates to Jimmy John's in my stocking this year for Christmas. I am a sandwich type of person anyway, but in a big way this pregnancy. I crave white bread (which is abnormal since I usually love the grainy types of bread) and Jimmy John's has the yummiest white bread around - they also have whole grain bread. So I went there today to grab a sub. Of course I got the vegetarian which comes with cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo, cucumbers, and avocado spread. It usually comes with sprouts but seems like I remember a warning about eating these while pregnant. I also got the jalapeno chips. I expect a full afternoon of burping and indigestion. I was so excited when we finally got these two wonderful sub shops in my city. It brought back some fond memories of college and going to get a sub after drinking dancing all night.

Speaking of fond memories, my cousin Lacy has put an interesting picture of me from way back when on her blog. Check it out. I expect much ridicule from the few of you that know me in real life!

90 Days

Yes, it does. My ticker thing says 90 days until this littlest monkey's due date. Oh wow. I had a slight panic episode last night thinking about how I have put things off to the beginning of the year and now have done NOTHING to get ready for this baby!! That is not completely true, I have been stockpiling diapers, wipes, and breast pads. But we have not even cleaned out the room for him to call his own. Granted, he will sleep in the bassinet (or next to me) for the first 3 months. I still feel like he should have his room ready like the other two monkeys. I don't even have the newborn clothes here (they are at my parents' house still). AAAHHH! It is going to be here before I know it and I am a planner and can not stand not having things the way I feel they should be before due dates!

500 Miles

Okay, I have signed up to join the looney bin. Well, not really. But I have signed to do CM's running and reading challenge for 2009. The challenge is to run 500 miles and read 50 books this year. I know I will probably not get the 50 books in. I just don't read that much and with a new baby in April, reading is going to be even more limited. But I will still record my books read just to see how many I do actually read.
The 500 miles is a bit of a challenge too considering my current condition. I do think that I could normally do it, especially if I set up races to run as goal points. I am going to cheat a little and add in my walking time. I have not been jogging as much since my half marathon. This is mostly due to the back pain I sometimes get after running. I know it is from the baby being so low and I do wear a support brace, which I guess I should consider wearing on days he is really low too. I do walk at least twice a week and usually at least 3 miles. Then I do some jogging and the elliptical twice a week.
There have been several people jump on board with different versions of this challenge so ANYONE can do it and EVERYONE should try.
I was really inspired and wanted to lace up my sneakers yesterday morning. There was a marathon threw my city and we went by several parts of the course and I just stared at them with admiration. The monkeys were in the van and I made sure to point the runners out to them. I wanted to stand out by the end of my street after church and cheer them on, but we had out of town plans so I had to settle with excitement as we drove on by. I am going to add the half marathon to my goal for 2010!

26 weeks

So yesterday marked 26 weeks in this pregnancy. I got a new ticker thing on my side bar just to remind me!
I have had an incredibly uncomfortable day. I think it is mostly because this littlest monkey boy just won't hang out higher than my belly button. He likes to lay low and play drums on my bladder and back and kidneys! I don't mind sometimes but I really need to have him move up some. When he does move up it is such a relief. So I will be staying in my workout clothes the rest of the day. I went for a walk this afternoon for my lunch break and it helped relieve some of the discomfort. It was nice to get out and the sunshine was out finally. It has been several weeks since we have had a nice sunny day. Yesterday I went to the gym and ran a little over a mile. Wow, I missed running since I took it lazy easy over the holidays. I wanted to run more but had promised myself to take it easy my first day back so I did not mess up my back. I did get on the elliptical trainer afterwards and it was actually not too bad. I usually don't care for that machine but I had some great new music on my ipod and that helped.
I tried to post a picture of the belly but blogger is being difficult with me this afternoon so maybe later.

The new year

Back to work this week and feeling the pain of having a lot of time off to enjoy life and being back at work with absolutely no desire to be here!
The monkeys had a wonderful Christmas, well we all did thanks to the monkeys and their pure innocent enjoyment of the holiday. I think that we all had a better Christmas because of how excited they were. One gift from my parents was a pack of new Cars sheets. Big monkey thought they were pull ups and went on and on about how excited he was and that he always wanted some more pull ups! So cute. We had a great time in Atlanta. It went quickly. I was spoiled by not really doing anything. I got everything I wanted, including egg salad sandwiches. My husband is enjoying his new chair as far as I can tell. Little monkey loves to sit in it too.

We had some great friends over for New Year's Eve. Kids and all, we had a good time. Some of us had a bit harder of a time staying up, but the kids seemed to run through the house the entire night! Of course we ate our cabbage cooked with silver coins in it on new year's day. It was yummy, we had to force/bribe the boys to eat it but they did and it made me happy.

I spent a lot of time going through my house and trying to get some more organization to it. Nesting has kicked in and I am throwing things out as fast as I can. I am in the process of looking for some sort of storage solution for the monkeys' toys. I should have thought about that before I started my new budget system. I am hoping my husband can really stick to the budget system in place. I have goals. When I look at the end result it makes me so excited! I just have to get us there. Well, WE have to get us there. And we will, eventually. I would like to even get the house paid off. That would be amazing. And it is very doable.

Hubby starts school again next week. I think he is taking two classes. I really hate to see the bill for the books. I just hope he appreciates all of our sacrifices (once again!!)!! I know he does and I am more than happy to suck it up for him to finally get his degree finished and hopefully get into something he likes. It will just be nice once that happens!

We are putting the rental house up for sale by owner in a couple of weeks. I will be praying very hard that the house sells, I cringe every time I think about that thing. We have an offer in for the business. I think we are supposed to hear back today on the counter offer we gave them last week. Cross your fingers that it goes through and it is decent enough and this guy can get financing. It makes me nervous, but it needs to be done.

On a lighter note, Mardi Gras season is pretty much just around the corner. I came back to a bunch of emails about our ball and parade and am so excited. I wish I could ride this year, and I could right now, but not in 6 weeks!! Littlest monkey, with no name yet, has become incredibly active in the past week. I am happy to report that he is mostly active during the day and I hope to keep it that way with hopes he will be a good sleeper! HA HA

Happy New Year

I am enjoying the time off of work for sure! Unfortunately it is nearly over. I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday. I can't wait to get a few minutes and post some pictures. The monkeys were so much fun this Christmas.