Beach Baby

So this weekend we kinda planned last minute to head to Wrightsville Beach, NC with Brandon and Amanda. It was a short trip...a little TOO short for me...but it was worth every minute that we were able to be there. We spent the day at the beach and just soaked in the sun. Boston even cooperated (which I was TOTALLY worried about) but he did okay for his first time there. Kent bought a big umbrella so that he could be in the shade and I think that made a world of a difference. Since I'm still caring baby weight (mainly self conscience about my belly that's still lingering around), I kept my swimsuit cover up on and stayed clear of the water and just basked in the sun reading my US Weekly. I'm going to have TERRIBLE tan lines when I actually do feel comfortable stripping down to just my swimsuit but I'll have to worry about that when the time comes. I'm not going to let myself sit around being pale ANY longer! Plus its summer and I'm going to take advantage of the sun as much as I can.

In the meantime, Brandon and Amanda didn't mind getting in the water and said that it was actually pretty nice! Oh well, so I missed out on a little OCEAN water. That's probably my least favorite thing about the beach is the way you feel when you get out...sticky, sandy and just NASTY!!

Oh and we also dined at this nice seafood restraunt that sat right on the river front. We ate outside on the patio which gave such a nice feel to the whole experience! Now I'm totally not into seafood so I didn't leave with a full belly like I would have liked but oh well...the view and the company were well worth it! Over all the weekend was great! It was so relaxing and has helped me solidify my decision to one day own a cute beach house...which by the way I found some really cute ones in Wrightsville that gave me some pretty good ideas of what I'll have mine look like one day!

WATCH THE WIND BLOW BY...
Since I gave birth via c-section, I have not been able to get out and about too much. For the first few weeks I'm not supposed to drive, go up and down stairs or push it too hard and be too active. I have tried to go to the mall, Target and on a walk but shortly after doing these things my stitches start to hurt and I have to go back home. So I have had to find other things to do to pass the time away. What better way to do that than to READ! Yep! I'm totally into this whole reading thing lately and I've been quite impressed with myself!

I just got done reading "I am a Mother" which I totally recommend to everyone who is or will be a mother. It totally makes you feel that being a mother is probably the most important thing you can do! So please go and read this book...you will love it! Also while I was at Borders picking up "What to Expect the First Year" to help me with my parenting skills, I also decided to give in and read Oprah's book club book from a few months back "The Measure of a Man." I haven't finished it yet but so far I am enjoying it. So instead of going shopping (which I probably shouldn't do any way), laying out (because my body IS NOT ready for a swimsuit yet!), or working out (unfortunately I can't do that for another few weeks but I'm DYING to go do) more than likely you can catch me with a book in my hand reading while rocking Lil Boss to sleep! That's the way time is passing by in my life right now as I sit and wait to be active again!

SLEEPLESS IN CHARLOTTE

You would probably never look at this face and think that someone this precious could cause any issues! But never in my life have I ever been so tired, so helpless feeling BUT never have a felt so much love for someone who causes this kind of stress. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything else in the world. I am now for the first time in my life REALLY learning what patience and selflessness is. He is worth every minute! My boobs may be extremely sore, my eyes may have bags under them, I may get pooped and peed on consistently every day and I may not have money to go on a shopping spree because diapers and wipes cost a pretty penny per week but the happiness this little man brings into our lives is unreal and totally worth every minute. Am I ready to have another one just yet...NO! Ask me in a few years but for now, Boston is the sweetest joy in our life!

BABY CRAZE!!!!

My new plan is to fly to Lehi, Utah and get Boston's baby pictures taken! To some of you this might sound a little crazy BUT if you had a child you might understand! This website explains it all....these pictures of these little babies pretty much brought tears to my eyes. I absolutely LOVE it and in the mean time I have to talk Kent into buying me a plane ticket!

http://skyejohansen.com/

LIL BOSS IS HERE!


I have forced myself to sit down today and blog about whats happened the past week of my life. Really its not that big of deal but I thought I do some filling in...HA! WHATEVER...I SO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL BABY BOY FINALLY after such a LONG 9 month+ wait! But he was worth it!

Boston Robert Hooper

Time of Birth: 10:01 pm

Weight: 8 lbs

Length: 19.5 inches

Since my doctor told me I could induce if he wasn't born by Thursday I was THRILLED! I was so ready to get this child out and get rid of my GINORMOUS belly! So we checked into the hospital at 7:30 am Thursday morning thinking that probably by noon or so we'd have a baby. I have never been so wrong in my whole life! The doc came in to try to break my water and couldn't do it because it was "too thick" and I was still only 3 cm dialated (no progress from my doc appoint a week earlier). So....noon came around and finally he was able to break my water but yet I was STILL only 3 cm! My contractions finally started to kick in and the doc came back and said he leaves at 6 and I'll be turned over to another doctor...me thinking WHATEVER I'll have this baby by then these contractions are REALLY coming now! Before I knew it, it was 6:30 and the new doctor came in...checked me and I was BARELY 4 cm!!! After all that time of pain and agony only 1 cm progression!!!!! I finally broke down got my epidural which KILLED by the way and sat back waiting. The epidural although painful getting was WONDERFUL! I couldn't feel a thing. I was numb from the chest down pretty much....modern day medicine its a wonderful thing! The doctor told me that if that baby doesn't start progressing we would probably have to get him out by C-section because my contractions were too strong and the baby's heart beat kept dropping every now and then. So....we waited...8:30 past....still almost 4 cm...9:30 past still almost 4 cm. So they prepped me and wheeled me in for the C-section. For some reason I wasn't too nervous probably just more anxious and frustrated. I mean HELLO I'd been there all day...nurses were being pulled from my room right and left to help with deliveries and here I was having NO PROGRESS!!!

They laid me out on the surgery table and it seemed like only seconds past and I heard my little son start crying! It was seriously the cutest, most relieving sound ever! Everything else after that seems like history but we stayed in the hospital until Sunday and have been home ever since.

Here are some pics from that eventful day last Thursday! Enjoy!

Minutes after being born

First time I got to hold the little guy
I look totally exhausted and extremely pale!

Right after being pulled out of my belly
(pre-circumcision)

Proud Daddy

Kent all geared up right before entering the surgery room

We have been home for one week and are still trying to adjust to the life of a baby. Thank goodness my mom has been here to help out...she has been absolutely WONDERFUL! So besides sleepless nights, boobs that have grown FOUR cup sizes (34 G to be exact!) and sore nipples, back and gut things are on the up of getting this whole parent thing down. We love our little guy and enjoy every minute of him!

Kent with Lil Boss after basketball
Mimi and Boston

Lil Boss sleeping...what he does best!

After his first sponge bath. He LOVES getting his hair washed but HATES being cold and naked after the bath.
Sucking on his pacifier which Kent thinks is a bad idea to let him have...but I say he shuts him up and I don't have the patience to just let him cry and cry and cry!

Just chillin on the couch when I was down and out with my terrible headaches and nausea. Boston came to make me feel better!
All bundled up and nappin in his favorite chair

DANCE, DANCE, DANCE!

I just got done watching last nights finale of Dancing with the Stars! I don't know who watches this show but I L-O-V-E it! I was so thrilled to see my favorite couple pull it off! Last year it was Emmitt and Cheryl, the year before that it was Drew and Cheryl and now this year its APOLLO AND JULIEANNE! My favs have won EVERY year! They really are VERY good dancers and they totally deserve the win! If you don't watch, you need to start watching it next season!

All of my shows are coming to an end. Within the past week Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, The Bacholor (yes I still watch), and Dancing With the Stars have all had their season finale's! SO SAD! Tonight American Idol and Lost will end too! I'm so sad that all my shows are done for the season....what am I going to do with my life now?!?

P.S. Its Wednesday and still no sign of baby! Looks like tomorrow will be the day! Maybe its a good thing my shows will all be finished tonight because I'll be giving all my attention to our new addition!

BABY UPDATE

I just thought I would give a little update about where I stand in the baby department. Here is it May 22nd and STILL NO BABY!!! LUCKILY after going to the doctor last Thursday he gave me some hope! Even though I haven't felt any contractions, I am 3 cm dialated! He also stripped my membranes (VERY PAINFUL!) which can supposedly help push labor along. Hasn't done much though since. Just left me bleeding for a few days! NO WORRIES THOUGH BECAUSE THERE IS HOPE!!! I'm set to be induced THIS Thursday the 24th! I'm sooooo excited! I'm scheduled to go in at 7:30 am to start the process so hopefully shortly there after we'll have us a little baby boy!!!!

In the mean time I actually feel semi prepared. I went yesterday and bought a nursing bra which honestly I'm not too thrilled about. Victoria's Secret doesn't carry nursing which totally sucks and I was a little disappointed. So for the next who knows how long I'm stuck in a crappy bra! UGH! But I also bought a night gown for the hospital and now I feel 100% more prepared. Hopefully I have everything else I need for the baby. But other than that, I'm keeping my legs shaved, hair washed and bag packed prepared to go at any time!

CHILLIN BY THE GRILL

Sunday we got the whole Pinnacle crew together and had a BBQ at the pool! The weather here has been so beautiful and it was a perfect day for something like this! Besides, what do I do better than eat?!? If someone says "FOOD" I'm there!

Here are a few pics (yes I actually DID bring a camera!)

This is Mandy and Josh Furniss. She's also pregnant and due Sept 19th!
Here's a fat ugly pic of me and Kent being corny in the camera AS ALWAYS! My arm looks HUGE in the picture. I promise its not THAT big in real life....its just the angle I'm sure or atleast I'd like to think!
I'm trying to avoid Kent taking a picture of my huge, pale pregnant self so that's the best shot he got so there ya'll go!
Brandon and Amanda avoiding the camera...

Some of the other salesmen just sitting maxing and relaxing by the grill!

So that was our Sunday...well besides attending church and entertaining our husbands at the dog park. I swear they prefer to go more than the dogs do!

AND WE'RE OUT!

We just got word from corporate that we are LEAVING this ghetto hell hole!!!! We are moving into a REALLY nice area called Ballentyne! I'm really excited because thats where I wanted to live in the first place! THANKYOU PINNACLE! They said we should be out of here by Friday so cross your fingers and lets hope that nothing happens before then!

LIFE IN THE GHETTO CONTINUES.....

Probably one of the most frightening things happened to us last Thursday night. Kent had come home and we were eating dinner (I actually COOKED for him...I was so proud!). It was about 10:45 or so when all of the sudden right out of window we hear "POW! POW! POW! POW! POW!" I looked at Kent and said "THAT WAS A FREAKING GUNSHOT RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR APARTMENT!" Kent hurried and snuck out on the balcony to see if he could see anything. There was one of those old ghetto white impalas with tinted windows driving slowly outside and a man had quickly run past our apartment. Kent hurried in when he recieved a text from a salesman asking if he heard what we heard. About 1 minute past that time, we get a call informing us that 3 of our salesmen were walking out of the office when they saw this same car pull up, roll down the window and stick their hand out with the gun. They turned and ran back inside as they heard the shots go off! Luckily they were all safe in experiencing their first drive by shooting!

So I really am afraid for my life! Pinnacle has said it will cost $40,000 to move everyone to another complex and instead is going to install monitored alarms in each apt...whatever that will do for drive by shooting I have no idea. We have contacted corporate offices again and let them know of the danger we're in. We have still yet to hear anything. Lets hope it doesn't take a life to be lost for them to move us because I think a life is worth more than $40,000!

Besides that not much more has happened. OH! I did go to my doc apt on Friday and he said the baby is dropping, the head is down, and I should start dialating at anytime! They had to take a vagina/rectum swab test for something I don't even know but it was WEIRD since I've never had anything shoved up my butt before! Gross I know, but Kiers I thought I'd just give you the heads up! I go to the doc again this Thursday and we'll see if I'm dialated at all...cross your fingers because I've never been this uncomfortable in my life!!

Oh! I've also been reading lots lately. I just finished "The Road" which I absolutely HATED! I don't recommend it to anyone. Oprah, sorry but that was a bad choice for bookclub! Maybe its too far over my head but I don't think so! I just started reading Angels and Demons right now and I am totally in love with it! Totally recommend!

So that's about it...please pray for our safety!

GHETTO UPDATE:

Everyday interesting things happen here in the ghetto. Its a life that I never thought I'd experience.....one freaking scary life! Here's a list of what has happened so far just THIS week:

1. I saw about 5 cops circling our complex. Nothing new so I didn't think TOO much about it. Kent came back home for something he forgot and came in to inform me that fire trucks, about 6 police cars and a helicopter flying about our complex were outside. Later we found out, it was a KIDNAPPING! One of the wives lives right across from where it happened and was questioned....
2. We came home last night to a gunshot sound around the corner. On the way up the stairs I told Kent that I thought it was a gunshot and he said "Me too.....let's hurry and get inside!"
3. Everyday I hear constant sirens....I kid you not when I say its reoccuring about every hour. Never in my life have I heard so many sirens.
4. Never fails that you hear about 3 car alarms go off every night. No matter what time at night it is, Kent is up in a heartbeat to make sure our cars aren't the ones being broken into. I did find broken glass from a car window about 5 parking spaces away from ours yesterday.
5. Found out that the ghetto mall right across the street is about the shut down because they have already had 8 shootings there this year....

Here it is! Now ya'll can quite asking for a fat pregnant pic of me cuz this is it at 35 weeks! You've got your fat, frustrated pregnant chic! I have just realized this past week that I am much more rude and impatient. I was wondering this past week why all the sudden my attitude is so on edge...I could only come down to one conclusion....THE HORMONAL PREGNANCY! I'm sure Kent will appreciate it when the baby is out and I'm back to my normal sweet self...HA!

SUMMER BEGINS

We have officially made our trek across America and made it to Charlotte! It was SUCH a long drive but it was fun to stop and visit my grandparents, Kristin, Chad and the girls, and take Kent through Louisville to show him where we used to live! I was very excited when we arrived here though....I didn't have to live out of a suitcase any more and I could finally UNPACK!

So what do I think of Charlotte?!? Well...its a pretty state...but we got screwed into living in the FREAKING GHETTO!!!!!! Our apartments are really nice but at the same time I have still yet to see one white person in our complex or even driving on the streets in this area. I hear sirens consistently and Stella freaks out at every black man she sees! The manager informed us to be really careful because not the greastest things go on here AND that she has police patrol the area at night because so much has happened. To top that, at church on Sunday this lady asked where we lived and the FIRST thing she said was "OH! That's a really bad area to be living in....." I'm like way to make me feel safe and comfortable! So I've been pretty paranoid. One good thing, I have Stella. Black people are SOO scared of dogs even if their tiny like Stella. So she's my guard dog and protecter til Kent comes home at 10 at night (I refuse to take Stella outside when it turns dark so I pray that she doesn't have to pee or poo between 8:15 and 10)!

Besides living in the freaking ghetto, the area really is nice. Kent is doing really well with his sells and has a goal of 200. So far he's on his way...our new motto is "2 a day=100k" so lets pray he keeps up the hard work. I got a baby on the way with much to purchase for the lil guy so I'm crossing my fingers!

Speaking of baby I had my first doctor's apt here in Charlotte on Tuesday. Things went well, I'm right where I need to be. I feel like I'm further along and everyone around me reminds me of that everyday. Every place I go people say, "You about to pop anyday?!" or "You got twins in there?!" AM I REALLY THAT HUGE?!?! Seriously people need to watch what they say to pregnant women because that certainly doesn't make me feel good! I don't feel that HUGE but I do feel large but my belly only measures at 33 1/2 weeks and I'm almost 35! I've only gained like 25 lbs which is supposedly what I'm supposed to be at....stupid idiots way to make a fat chick feel good about herself!

P.S. Black people own one kind of dog here in the ghetto....PITT BULLS!!!

**Pregnant pics to come since people keep asking and I promised Kiers pics by the end of the week....stay tuned!

a·ne·mi·a –noun

1. Pathology. a quantitative deficiency of the hemoglobin, often accompanied by a reduced number of red blood cells and causing pallor, weakness, and breathlessness.

2. a lack of power, vigor, vitality, or colorfulness: His writing suffers from anemia.

According to my blood test results from my last doc appointment, I'm border line anemic. Basically meaning I don't have enough iron in me. So they basically have put me on a high iron diet. BOO! They gave me a list of foods to start eating everyday....now you tell me if any of this sounds good to you:

• Malt-O-Meal
• Lima Beans, Refried Beans, Soy Beans
• Kidney Beans, Black-eyed Peas, Lentils (?)
• Cashews, Almonds
• Walnuts
• Spinach (YUCK!)
• Prune Juice (who drinks that?!)
• Beef
• Tofu (make me THROW UP!)
• Soy Milk
• Sesame Seeds
• Sardines, Shrimp (not for me!)
• Tuna (can't take the smell right now..)
• Broccoli (COULD do...)
• Wheat germ (NEVER bought or had in my LIFE)
• Apricots, Raisins
• Prunes, Plums (plums are fine)
• Molasses (SO SICK!)
• Total Cereal (maybe if I add alot of sugar)
• Cream-of-wheat (mom made that too much that I hate it)
• Captain Crunch, Kix, Trix, Wheaties, Cheerios (SO COULD DO THESE!)

So as you can tell there's not too much fun things to eat on this kind of diet. Luckily I wasn't out of luck though because they decided to give me prescription for iron pills. ALTHOUGH the pharmacist warned me that constipation could be a likely side effect...oh well, I'm willing to risk it. BUT I was reading the label and it says "Take withOUT food and don't lie down 30 minutes after taking and take with 8oz of water." FREAK! Its harder to take this pill then you would think! The things I do for the little one I love...

Cell Phones....

As I said a little bit before, Kent has spent much time lately dealing with Sprint. First, may I advise EVERYONE to stay clear of them and NEVER EVER have them as your phone company! I HATE having them!

For the past ummmm...lets say 4 months, Kent and my 5 month old phones have been jacking up! Whenever people call us we can't hear them but they can hear us. We freaking just got these phone in June and only had them a few months before its started happening. This isn't the first time this has happened either....its the second. Our last phones had problems charging and we'd only had them for about 9 months! So we invested in new phones and had to resign another 2 year contract. We supposedly paid extra for their best phones so we wouldn't have this problem again....well that's crap because 5 months into having them we have problems. So finally after letting it slide for a few months I got pissed and made Kent call. After much research they said nothing was wrong and basically said "Have a good day!" Well we weren't going to have that so finally after talking to about a bazillion people Kent demanded we get 2 new phones worth the same amount as we paid for the phones we currently had and that we didn't have to resign a freaking contract. I swear they rig their phones so that this kinda stuff happens and we have to resign and resign and stay FOREVER! Well I told Kent I wasn't going to have it because once we are done with our contract we are NOT signing up again and we're not getting screwed into resigning with having to get NEW phones which isn't our fault!!!!! So after much talk and frustration, my amazing hubbie somehow convinced them to not have us resign and to give us two more phones for FREE! Ok well not necessarily for "free" because they were only going to give us $600 to put toward phones and Kent supposedly needs a Blackberry for work for internet/email so we had to pay like $99 or something but thats still not bad....although he decided to wait until LATER to inform me the internet on it will be $40! WHATEVER!

My new phone

Kent's New Phone

But just because Sprint did give us new phones doesn't mean I like them because I still totally dispise them! In fact, I always make sure that every month I call in and get my $10 credit each month of dropped calls. We can do that per phone so total we get $20 off our bill each month! HA! I'm going to get all I can out of a stupid company who tries to screw over all their customers! SO SCREW YOU SPRINT!!!!!

Ok, so the past week has been a total BORE and to top it off this week hasn't been too great either! WHY?!?! Well last Tuesday, Kent was in Boise and then he left again on Wednesday to fly out of Salt Lake that night to head to Phoenix for pre-season knocking (which by the way he did really well so I guess I should be proud and not complain....). He then came home Sunday late afternoon and informed me that he's flying to Boise AGAIN on TUESDAY!!!! UGH! So he's gone again ALL day today! Yes, he was home on Monday but he was busy meeting with some recruits, manager meeting, and going out with some possible prospects later that night. So if you want to count that as him being home on Monday....go ahead. Am I complaining too much?! Well, I should be clear that yes I love that he is happy and that he got sales and that he's getting recruits BUT it stinks that it takes up SOOOOO much time! Because when he does get free time he uses it to call freaking Sprint to complain and get things straightened out, figuring out our health insurance, and straightening out school stuff...all of these things which I can not do because supposedly a MAN can get them to act faster and get more out of them. Sure...


Although I'm complaining about not seeing much of my hubbie I will say that I actually had a good weekend. My mom was so gracious to come in town to visit me for a few days! PERFECT TIME MOM! We had a fun weekend of shopping (although more window shopping than anything), going out to eat, movies (Music and Lyrics and The Devil Wears Prada), and bowling (YES we went bowling and it really was alot of fun and I was quite impressed with my mom's bowling skills!). She kept me busy and entertained although I don't think she enjoyed Stella's pestering too much. The second my mom would walk out of her room while getting ready, Stella would some how manage to unzip her bags and pull things out consistently! INCLUDING taking her brand new $150 boots and chewing up the heel! I felt terrible! My mom seemed to try to laugh it all off saying we need to rename her "Snoopy" but I'm sure that she was quite annoyed by the end of it all. But thank goodness she was a good sport anyway. That dang dog sometimes!!

I haven't been completely bored today either....to an extent. I woke up at around nine (Kent had already left at about 4:45 am). I got up, watched a lil Regis and Kelly then hurried and cleaned up a little because people were coming to look at the townhouse at 11. Once they left, I showered and got ready, made some lunch and realized how pretty it was outside. I decided to take Stella on a walk---I'm so sweet to her! HA! After a long walk, came home and left to make a deposit at the bank, stop by the post office and then go vacuum out the car. I was even so good as to get the wipes when I got home and clean all the leather and dash! Kent will be SO happy when he comes home.....lets see if he actually notices. The Real Housewives of Orange County is on tonight (so sad that I like that show) so I'll probably get together with my good friend Amanda (whose hubbie is off with Kent) and get some dinner and sit and watch that tonight. So I got some stuff accomplished today and not a terribly BORING day but not too thrilling either. I'm really excited about the weather though and I've even checked the 10 day forecast and its supposed to be in the high 40's to 50's--although all days except for today are supposed to be rainy! BOO! But I can't complain because its FINALLY warming up!


Now all I wish is that I could go get my Tutti Fruittie snow cone because it feels like summer today!

ADDICTIONS

I have 2 new recent addictions that I just can't get enough of.

#1 Now and Laters

I have eaten 3 packs in less than 24 hrs

#2 The Work and the Glory Books
I'm officially almost finished with the 2nd book. It has only taken me about 1 week!

UNEXPECTED Purchase

Yesterday, Kent and I made a very much spontaneous buy. We went to Wal-Mart to pick up some things and on the way home, as Kent ALWAYS does, we drove through some of the car lots around town. Well, one of the car salesmen convinced us to get out of our car and come inside to "talk." Kent being a salesman himself has a hard time turning these types of guys down. This all began our long 4 hour day at the car dealer yesterday.

We test drove/looked at a few cars-Cobalt, Corolla, Civic, Accord, Mazda6, and Camry. Our fav was the Mazda6 by far. Well then the car salesman, "Dave", did his magic and before we new it we drove off the lot with our new 2005 Green Mazda6 V6 (Kent wouldn't have it any other way)!

**Not pics of our ACTUAL car but its just the same**

We've been talking about getting a second car for a long time but we have just put it off and put it off. We wanted to buy something with better gas mileage for the summer time to take to sell and something we could put miles on so we didn't have to load them on the Lexus. So just like that it just happened. Now Kent wants to sell the Lexus since we'll not be bringing it down this summer and since it'll just be sitting he wants to get rid of the expense. He swears he can make money on it and says that if we sell it before we leave then when we get back he'll buy me a Infiniti QX56, the newer Tahoe, or newer Lexus RX330. I told him if he bought me my Range Rover or Escalade then I'd be SOLD! He hasn't quite convinced me just yet but we'll see. WE JUST BOUGHT IT AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE WANTS TO SELL IT! But hey I must say I do like the idea of getting new cars like this all the time. I'll have to test drive a few before I'm 100% sold because I really do LOVE my lexus...

I am completely bored today. Why? Well...Kent left to go meet with some recruits in Twin Falls with Brandon (our good friend/co-manager with Kent). He left me with no car because he wanted to take it in while he was gone to get the brake pads changed and the tires rotated. GREAT DAY TO DO THAT! So in the meantime, I sit at home trying to do something to pass the time away until he gets home and we can go get the car. I've made lunch (MADE LUNCH I DIDN'T GO OUT AND BUY ANY...YEAH!), dusted, swept, caught up on my Oprah's, and I just got home from trying to wear out Stella and taking her on a walk (she must be pretty tired now because she came home and PASSED OUT!) since it is such a pretty day outside. I will probably throw in some laundry and do some needed vacuuming soon enough.

I would say that I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend but I have a feeling that that won't happen. Kent is busy doing recruiting--if he gets 5 guys signed by next Saturday we get an Apple Labtop and if his region has 100 recruits at their Super Saturday its an all expense paid trip to Vegas the first weekend of March! So I'm totally supporting that because even if he gets 3 signed he gets a video ipod and the looks of us going to Vegas are pretty high. But its still not much fun for me because that means he's gone and I'm pretty much stuck at home doing nothing! BOO! I shouldn't complain because he really is a hard worker but its just not much fun for me right now. I'm just anxiously awaiting the summer in Charlotte, NC!

Only about a month and a half before we head across country! We're only two hours from Myrtle Beach and the plane tickets out of Charlotte aren't too pricey! It really is a beautiful city and I'm really excited to go and experience it for a few months! I'll be laying out with the girls by the pool everyday which I've never really been able to do because I've always been working. Now I get to take the baby and just relax!

VALENTINE'S DAY

I hate to brag about how good my hubbie was to me this Vday, but he's not always much of the romantic who plans in advance for such events like this so he deserves it! After all, this is our last Valentine's day together until we have the baby and have him take over our lives!

We kind of started Valentine's Day early. It was actually the result of a misunderstanding. I had some things planned and needed him out of the house for a few hours. He had left Tuesday (Vday eve) for a meeting with work. I figured this was my time to prepare. So I texted him to see if he wanted me to do his Valentine's day early so that I could have everything done while he was gone. He said "sure" and so I started preparing. I baked cupcakes and sugar cookies (well bought the cookies) and put my whole "decor" together for him with his presents. He came home completely surprised that I had done all that and had thought I was only preparing for tomorrow not doing my whole presentation that night. So to make a long story short we ended up exchanging gifts early BEFORE vday! I gave Kent some new jeans from Buckle he's been in dying need of, socks, batteries, razor blades (he asked for all that for Christmas but didn't get it...ha....everyone I guess thought that was TOO practical but that's just Kent) and then I gave him 2 books about plants and their uses. Sounds nerdy I know, but Kent wanted some books that told him what plants in the wild you could eat, use for medicine, etc. He's a nerd like that! Kent completely surprised me with my gift. WHY!?! Well #1 he doesn't plan ahead and it was the DAY BEFORE vday and he was PREPARED ALREADY and #2 he actually got me something! He surprised me COMPLETELY with a beautiful diamond/shapire necklace! At first I opened it and said "diamonds and navy diamonds?! Why navy?!" STUPID ME...ITS MY BIRTH STONE! How sentimental is he?! LOVED LOVED LOVED IT and totally and completely suprised! He's the best! So that kicked off our great Valentine's Day!

Like I said, Kent planned very well for this vday. Starting the day he brought him heart shaped donuts, Martinelli's, and strawberries after basketball for breakfast. While sitting and relaxing their was a knock at the door and the florists was delivering a dozen red roses (HE ACTUALLY CALLED AHEAD!!!) After relaxing with each other, he took me too lunch. Once we got home, he said he had to leave because he had some MORE things to take care of. What more could he be doing?!? A few hours past and he came home telling me to get ready and pack my bags because he had another suprise.

He took me to AmericInn where to my surprise was a African hut theme room waiting for us with roses petals, candles, chocolates, and MORE MARTINELLI'S awaiting our arrival! The room was SO beautiful! Theme rooms may sound tacky to some but I promise that this room was VERY nice! I LOVED IT! I think I LOVED it even more because he totally did this on his own and totally surprised me. I told him I HAD to take pics before we touched anything so I whipped out my camera and went to town!

All in all it was a GREAT evening. We left and went to dinner then came back and just had a relaxing night. Its not everyday that I get spoiled like this. Kent was so sweet! I know I'm biased but he really is the best husband EVER!

THE NURSERY aka Lil Boss' Room

Boston's Crib

The Changing Table

Rocking Chair(but will be white not cream)

Bedding (I won't do initials though)

**Courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids

The New Year

Since I have been terrible at posting, I have never gotten on and posted my New Year's Resolutions. I know its now February but I decided I should post them so that it will really seal the deal. I only have two that I've been working on, but for me they are pretty big.

#1: Cook more, eat out less.

Kent and I seem to have gotten in a terrible habit of eating out this summer. I mean it has gotten so bad that I hate to admit that we were eating out for lunch and dinner ALMOST every night of the week. It was terrible! Not to mention UNHEALTHY! We tried to control ourselves by saying we'll just eat out twice a week but that plan never got put into action. I NEVER grocery shopped...EVER! I mean when I say I had no food in my house, I literally had NO FOOD in my house. Which is probably why we ate out most of the time on top of my laziness to get to it and cook! Well, at Christmas, Kristin came to my rescue and gave us all this HUGE 3 inch binder full of recipes from my mom, herself and some of her friends. I decided it was time to me to start over. I have to admit that I really have been doing MUCH better! I cook almost EVERY night except for maybe 2 nights a week and even on those nights we don't necessarily eat out! Its amazing the difference this has played on our weight, health, and bank account! Hopefully I continue to stick to it!!

#2: Shop less, save more.

Since Kent and I have been married, luckily for us we have never really had to worry too much about money. I am very grateful for this. We've never really been in a financial bind and had to struggle like our parents had to. If we needed or wanted something, we never seemed to have the problem of being able to afford it, not to say we're rich by all means but we've just always been financially stable. I would never say that my shopping got out of control but I guess for some reason it hit me this year that I probably shop WAY too much and get things that I don't necessarily HAVE to have at that time. I'm not used to having to save up to get something because the money has always been there. For some reason this all of the sudden hit me and I've become more a stickler about what I decide to buy and if I really NEED it. Let me tell you just with small things it has amazingly saved us LOTS of money. Don't get me wrong, I still spend on occasions but I think I'm learning to appreciate things more. We aren't stingy with our money nor do I think we ever will be because that's just not how we are but I've decided to be a little bit more reserved with our money. I have been able to see our savings account increase dramatically and it gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside! Lets up I stick with this when the baby comes...

The Joys that Come with Pregnancy

I decided that since today is such a snowy day, I would take time out to FINALLY update my blog. I've realized that I'm worse at this than I thought I would be!

Anyway, so for the past few weeks life has been pretty much miserable for me. If I could explain the physical pains of what I have had to endure...I swear! It all happened about 3 weeks ago. Right after dinner, when I was cleaning everything up, all of the sudden I had this SHARP, KILLING pain the my lower right back. Nothing helped, not walking, not sitting, not laying down.....NOTHING! It was hurting so bad that it finally brought me to tears! Kent called the doctor and they said it may just be a pinched nerve and to continue walking around and take a warm bath and that if the pain continued call back. Well, the pain somewhat subsided and I guess you could say I made it through the night.

The next day, I already had my regular appointment scheduled to go in and get an ultrasound and confirm the sex of the baby (and YES it is FOR sure a BOY!). I told the tech about my pains and she sent in the R.N. After giving her a pee sample and telling her of my pains, she said to take Tylenol around the clock and they would call me in 2 days with the results (she thought it MIGHT be a urinary track infection or just regular pain that just "comes with pregnancy!"). Whatever, I new it was more than that and that this was NOT normal! So, STILL in pain, we left a lil pissed (well me mainly) that we had to wait a whole freaking TWO days for the results! HELLO I don't think she understood what kind of pain I was in!

After continuously taking Tylenol every 4 hours and still enduring MUCH pain, I started vomiting that night after dinner. I told Kent I couldn't do it anymore. Finally, around 11:30 pm I had Kent take me to the ER. As soon as I got to the room, I threw up some more and then they started running all kinds of tests the rest of the night. I got blood drawn, urine tests taken, I.V.'s run threw me for fluids, and xrays taken. All this time I am still freaking taking on this STRONG MISERABLE PAIN!!!!!!!!! They thought it could either be a kidney infection, appendicitis, or a kidney stone. They couldn't know FOR SURE because I couldn't have a cat scan run since I'm pregnant. Well they ended up ruling out appendicitis and checked me out of the hospital at 6 am. I was so drugged up from the pain killers and meds (WHICH NEVER SEEMED TO HELP!) that I couldn't even keep my eyes open. Kent was so great to just sit there patiently while all this was going on all night. Well we went home and slept for about 2 hrs then we had to go meet the doctor at 8:30. After our visit with him and finding blood in my urine, he checked me back into the hospital. For the rest of the day I was up there getting fluids/meds pumped into me. I wish I couldn't have taken a pic so I could have shown how swollen I got from pumping all that into me. My lips, face and arms were freaking HUGE! Anyways, around 4:30 they sent me home because I had held down food for a few hours and I had finished all the fluids the doc prescribed. But low and behold shortly after I got home I started throwing up AGAIN!!!! I had pain meds the doc prescribed and antibiotics. Neither seemed to work that well. I went back to the doc on Friday and he decided that I needed to get an at home nurse to come pump fluids into me all weekend because I had lost 7 lbs in 2 days since I couldn't hold anything down. They still didn't necessarily no what was going on and basically seemed like all they could tell me was to freaking endure it and wait it out! These stupid docs must not have known what kind of pain I was in!!!!

So after a long weekend of pretty much just sleeping (cause that's what those fluids did to me), a funny nurse who agreed with me about the doctors, and 8 liters of fluid later I went back to the doctor to take more blood and more urine samples. Well apparently, according to them everything LOOKED normal. No more blood in the urine and my white blood count was back to normal. He was about to let me go when I got a lil impatient and told him I was still in pain and nothing feels different!!! He then set up an apt for me to get an ultrasound done on my kidneys to check for blockage or a stone...why they couldn't of done this a week ago I don't know!

Back off to the hospital I went the next day for the ultrasound. Apparently she said I had fluid in my right kidney and some sort of blockage on that side as well. There was no stone that was in my kidney but could have been moving on down and be the cause of the blockage. Supposedly since the baby's head is in the way she couldn't do much more investigation. I waited a few more days (STILL IN PAIN I MIGHT ADD AND THROWING UP AGAIN since I wasn't on fluids anymore) for the doc to get the results...because apparently even though his clinic and the hospital are right next door it takes that long for him to receive them. Whatever!

By that Friday when I met with him, much of my pain had miraculously subsided. I still had it on occasion but nothing nearly as severe. He said I had mild to severe blockage but that since my pain is much better if it WAS a kidney stone, it had probably past and then he sent me on my way and that was pretty much the end of it!

It took a few days for the pain to stop completely after all that. I attribute no thanks to the doctors though. They were the most frustrating part of it all. Kent was my rock through it all! He really was great! I will say I haven't had to take any of the bazillions of meds they have had me on at all this week. YEAH! This is also the first week I haven't thrown up! So things are definitely on the up...thankfully! I don't know if I could have taken that much longer. They say that what I went through is worse than labor and let me tell you IT BETTER BE or else I don't know how many kids I'll want after this!

The New School Year Begins.....BOO!!!!!

We started school again last Thursday! I'm totally not excited about getting back into the swing of things especially since I had the somewhat luxury of taking last semester off (well I took one class but it was pretty easy and I didn't have to do much work!). So this whole school thing feels weird and I'm WAY not in the mood. I would be graduating in December but now I for sure have to go until next April. We'll see if I can get it all done by then. Cross your fingers because as each day passes the more and more I just want to quit and be done with it ESPECIALLY since I'm not doing ANYTHING with it. My main motivation is for my children's future and I can be used as an example and not a strategy to get out of finishing the education. Hopefully that can push me through. Kent is taking night classes since its his off track. The good news is that if he takes MINIMAL of 13.5 credits a semester he'll be done in 4 semesters....so maybe if we get lucky he'll be done in 3! Cross your fingers because his motivation lately has dropped extremely low as well.

The one positive is that we are officially looking into the buying within the next few months! I'm extremely excited but nervous about having a bigger payment. Even though we can afford it just the jump in payment each month makes me nervous. We are trying to decide whether or not we want to buy a townhouse or a home. We did find these REALLY nice town homes with LOTS of upgrades in it. I was really excited about it and thought that might be easier to handle instead of worrying about a yard and a bigger payment with a house in the summertime. But who knows, the idea of a home with more space excites me too! Who knows! We are going to talk to a builder within the next week or so to get a price figure set. We are also planning on buying another car soon. Nothing too fancy but maybe an Altima or an '02 Acura or something. We'll see what we can afford because we don't have to have a payment on it. But that'll be another exciting happening when it actually DOES happen and Kent makes up his mind with what he wants! He can be so indecisive!

BIG NEWS! Stella has officially become a woman! We picked her up from the boarding place the day we got back in town. She was sitting on my lap and licking alot on my pants. I didn't know why so I moved her over and noticed quite a bit of blood on my leg! We searched all over to find where the blood was coming from. Orginally thinking it was her quick from her nails after being groomed but come to find out it was coming from her va-jay-jay! Sure enough she was "in heat!" Come to find out she goes through this every 6 months for 3 weeks. We wanted to breed her but after 1 day of dealing with diapers we set up an apt. to be fixed! I felt so bad making such a big decision so quick and hope that one day Stella will forgive us for not letting her bring her lil babies into the world!

So yesterday Stella under went surgery and has not been herself since! The poor lil girl has been so sleepy! She tries so hard to fight it but I wish she could just get comfy and sleep! I hope she's not in pain! We bought her pain killers so hopefully that should help. She's still struggling jumping on and off things and cries when she needs help getting off the couch! SO SAD! The one good thing is that she has become a momma's girl! Its so cute! She loves coming up to me a cuddling and even today when I was getting ready she stood at my feet the whole time and wouldn't leave the bathroom. I love that part but feel bad because I know it has to hurt! She's been through so much lately. After staying in the kennel for 2 wks, she then went under the knife! I'm surprised she doesn't hate us!

CHRISTMAS IN BATON ROUGE!!

We headed home for the holidays and I must say it was probably one of the best trips we've had going back to the dirty south! I'm really not sure if it was because we had our own transportation (daddy let us borrow his company's lil pimp VW bug that was wrapped in Hancock Investment logos front to back...I was a lil embarrassed to drive it so I wouldn't get in it unless Kent was driving!) or if it was because I really missed home and realized how much I would LOVE to go back and live there! Crazy I know because I never thought that I would want to be there but there was just a warm sense of security. But who knows what will ever happen with us. For all I know I'll be in Idaho the rest of my life!
But Christmas was really great though! We spent Christmas Eve at Carol's house and opened presents with Kent's side of the family and then Christmas day was spent at the Bluth house! Kent and I had decided that we would not spend money on each other this year and instead put the money towards someone else that needs it more. I'm a lil reble though and really had a great gift in mind for Kent so I couldn't resist but atleast getting him that! But how surprised was I when on Christmas day my dad hands me a gift from KENT! He had thought the same thing! I was also even more surprised about what was inside! Kent had actually broken down and bought me a REAL...I mean REAL Coach wallet! I would have never thought Kent would ever do that because he thinks its rediculous to spend that kind of money. He said he was tempted to buy a purse with it (I probably would have passed out) but decided against in last minute(dang it! My chances are over!)! I guess its a good thing because with that and the gift I got him we, like usual, went WAY over our Christmas budget! He was also surprised to see the Hank Aaron real authentic autograph picture that I gave him! It was such a suprise to him but that's why I HAD to do it! He's been wanting it so bad and he just didn't want to pay the money every time he looked into it! But his lil wife surprised him like the great wife she is and just bit the bullet and did it!
Other than that I mainly got pregnancy clothes and house decor for Christmas! OH YEAH! And Kristin put together this HUGE binder FULL of her/mom/friends recipes! I mean this thing weighs like 10 lbs no joke! But it was so nice of her to take the time and make us all this recipe book! My new years resolution: COOK and STOP EATING OUT! So hopefully this will help! But all in all it was great being home with the fam and being able to see friends as well!

IT'S A BOY!!!!!!

Alot has happened to us over the holidays! I guess the first big news is that we found out right before Christmas that we're having a BOY (if you can't tell from the pics....HEY he's a lil small right now but Kent SWEARS it'll get bigger so don't make fun of him ok?!). I was TOTALLY and completely shocked when the doc said it was a boy! He didn't even give me time to prepare myself or even let me take a guess! My eyes teared up a lil and Kent just danced and hollared around the room! This kinda thing just doesn't happen in the Bluth line! But Kent says it was all him! I guess fate would have it because between the Bluth blood, the pencil trick, and the chinese calender, we proved them all wrong! So we've got our lil football player on the way (is it wrong to already have his life planned out for him?!?). Let's just hope now that he gets Kent's height and not mine or else I'll feel forever sorry for him! No for sure names yet but I'm really starting to like the name Boston (we could call him Lil' Boss!) and Barrett. The middle name will for SURE be after my dad, Robert or Randall, I mean HELLO this poor man has NEVER had a male in his line! I am getting fatter by the day! I swear I doubled in belly size over the holiday! I went to the doctor and couldn't believe I had already gained 10 lbs! I feel so obese even though Kent swears its all in my belly/boobs (yes my boobs have pretty much doubled in size too and I'm not even lactating yet!!) Its crazy all the changes your body goes through in a pregnancy. So far I've experienced much hip and back pain AND constipation (gross I know but I've never experienced it until NOW!) But its all done in much love for the lil joy that will be here May 22nd (I hope sooner!!!!!)