Birthday Weekend

K and I had a blast in Orlando for my birthday weekend! It was so nice to get away for a few days and enjoy what has now become a birthday tradition. We can't wait to go back next year with Mary-Grace!

I didn't get a lot of pictures because I just forgot. And what pictures I did get were on our crappy camera. We have a really nice DSLR but I didn't feel like lugging it around. Some of these are iPhone pics others are my camera. Ignore the random date on some of the pics...I told you I didn't like that camera. :)







This is why I love my husband! He is such a goofball!!!







The only bump pic I got at Disney. :( I took my jacket off for the picture and it was freezing!!!







My view of the bump while on It's A Small World. :)







:)

We went to Disney on Thursday night. When we got back K had a cake for me. We usually have champagne after Mickey's Very Merry Christmas so this year we had to change plans slightly. :)






















The next day we spent at Downtown Disney. We both love walking around there. We had ice cream sundays at Ghirardelli's! Um...yum! We make a pit stop there every time we are in the area. Best ice cream eva!!!! We then had dinner at my favorite place, Bahama Breeze with my friend S and her fiancé.

On Saturday we made a pitstop at the Florida Mall before heading home.

On Sunday(my actual birthday) K too me out to breakfast at Cracker Barrel! Yum again!!! I did have a mini breakdown over hashbrown casserole that resulted in some tears but I won't go there. :) Let's just say a was being a big fat unreasonable baby!

Sunday night we had our last night with the youth group for a few weeks. We've been doing a lot to really teach them about Advent. The head of the youth asked K and I if we would mind dressing up as Mary and Joseph. We were to walk around the room during the story of Mary and Joseph pretending to be looking for somewhere to stay. She joked that we wouldn't need to use a pillow for my belly. :) it was surreal being dressed as Mary while pregnant. I had to fight back the tears.
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Today I'm 27 weeks. THIRD TRIMESTER! Wow! Just Wow!
I still have absolutely nothing done for Mary-Grace's arrival. The room that will be hers still looks like a storage room. I'm hoping to get things moving next week.

I'm definitely getting more and more uncomfortable everyday. All the walking and late nights this weekend really took a toll on my body. My feet were so swollen. Sleep is definitely becoming increasingly difficult and I'm STARVING ALL.THE.TIME! A new symptom also developed this week. Um...the girls...well, they are leaking! Sorry if that's tmi. I knew this could happen but for some reason I thought it was closer to the end. I almost freaked out the first time. I woke up and noticed my shirt was a little wet. I had a dark shirt on and i was all sleepy-eyed so when I looked down my initial thought was that it was blood. I flipped out thinking they were bleeding. After further inspection I was happy to realize it wasn't that at all. Whew!

Mary-Grace will be here before I know it! I can't wait to meet her and kiss those cheeks and nibble her toes. I feel so unworthy!

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26 Weeks!

I'll be 26 weeks tomorrow!  Only 14 or so weeks left.  I just cannot believe it!

I'm definitely starting to feel more and more pregnant by the day.  I feel like every morning I look down and my belly looks bigger than the day before.  I definitely cannot see my toes without really bending forward to look.

We're leaving shortly for Orlan.do and I can't wait!  I'm curious how Disne.y is going to go tonight.  Mic.key's Very Mer.ry Chirst.mas is from 7-Midnight.  I don't usually last that long anymore.  And I got up rather early this morning.  Hopefully I'll get lots of rest while the others are riding the rides I can't go on.


I had an ultrasound yesterday.  It was actually supposed to be on Tuesday but I totally screwed up my appointment time.  I thought it was at noon.  Nope, it was at 10am.  Whoops!  They tried really hard to get me in seeing as how dh took a long lunch to be there are it's almost an hour drive but they just couldn't.  The office was open for only half a day that day and they were jam packed.  Fortunately they had an opening the next morning at 10am so I didn't have to wait long.  But I still lost it when we got in the car.  I just started to sob.  Poor dh, he didn't know what to do.  I don't know why I was so upset.  It's not like I was having to wait long.  I just can't seem to control my emotions lately.


The ultrasound went well but my darn anterior placenta made it difficult to get a great picture of her.  There's nothing we can do about that though I guess.  The tech found a great place where she could see clearly.  There was this great big pocket of fluid.  This would have helped with the view except that my sweet girl had already decided to flip head down.  So the pocked only showed her feet.  Cute as they are I would have loved a full view of her little face.  But what are you going to do?

Baby Legs!  Crossed like a good little lady. :)

Sticking out her tongue.

She's rubbing her left eye.

Big yawn!

Laughing! :)

This one is my favorite!  She's looking down with a little grin.  Her hands are near her chin.  We think she looks like she's praying. :)

Sucking on her fingers.

Resting her head in her hand.  BTW, that thing on the left covering the other side of her face is that darn placenta.

She was so much fun to watch.  We also got a video of the ultrasound.  I'm thinking about editing it and putting it to music.  You can already see that she has such a personality.  She was just so funny.  I think she knew we were watching her.  She had her mouth open the whole time.  The tech kept joking that she's going to be a talker.  K just sort of shook his head an laughed.  Poor guy!  If this is the case he's never going to get a word in.  I have a tendency to talk a bit too much. :)

**Updated**One of those days! Prayer Buddy...I need you!

So apparently you need 10,476 pieces of identification to renew your drivers license as of this past January. My license expires this Sunday and it completely slipped my mind. I went to the DMV today to renew. The nice woman behind the counter handed me a list of the 10,476 things I needed. Of course I had none of them. Fortunately I live only about 5 minutes away so I ran home to get them. After I gathered the ridiculous amount of documents to prove my existence, I hurried back to the DMV. My number got called right away! Sweet! I head up, find out I have to take a new picture...bummer! I look tired and swollen today...and the one on my license is actually pretty good. I had just gotten back from my honeymoon and was super happy and really tan! Oh well...gotta have a license right?

I start handing the lady all the necessary documents when she stops me. I guess the marriage certificate from the church is not good enough. Seriously? Why didn't the checklist I was given specify that? All it said was that it had to be certified. The one from the church had a raised seal. Besides it was the only one I had in our safe. I have no clue where the one from the state is!

Lovely! So she says I can go to the courthouse and get a copy. Um...yeah, that's great lady but I'm one county north of where we were married and it's an hour and a half drive to get downtown. With rush hour there is no way I'd make it there before it closes.

This would all not be such a huge deal except for the fact that we are leaving at noon tomorrow for my little birthday trip!!! I know, I know, I shouldn't have waited until the last second. If I wouldn't have, I could have renewed online and wouldn't need all of these documents. But I did so now I'm panicking!

My options are to try to get downtown and back tomorrow morning in morning rush hour, which will at minimum take 4 hours. And then hightail it to the DMV and pray there isn't a line. But even with that there is no way we will leave on time. The problem with this is that we have tickets somewhere tomorrow evening that we've already paid for so we're already on a time crunch. Or, just renew online. I know there is no way I will get my new license before Sunday, which I can deal with. But, there is a chance I won't get it until after Christmas. Um, I don't think I can not have a license all next week. Kind of a busy week. A day or two is one thing...over a week is a completely different story!!!

I double checked the law and in Florida, driving with an expired license gets you arrested. ARRESTED!!! Um...that's not going to work!

Now, again, I realize this is my fault! I should not have put this off. However, there is something I do not understand. Why do indeed my marriage certificate? I gave them that 4 years ago when I got married and changed my name. I even did that at the very same DMV office! So they're saying that for the rest if my life, whenever I renew, I have to bring that in? Makes no sense!!!! It's not like it changes or updates! I could get divorced and still have a copy if that certificate! I get needing your ss card and proof of address. Heck, I even get the birth certificate! But marriage license? I don't get it and frankly, I'm pretty ticked off right now!

Besides, if you need all of these documents why was that not included in the paperwork they sent me to tell me that I needed to review. That would have been very nice of them! Especially since these are new policies!!!!

So...if you've got a minute and could a spare a quick prayer that this thing turns up, I would be forever grateful!

P.S. I had another ultrasound today. It was supposed to be yesterday but that's a whole different story! It's been a crappy few days! I'll post picks as soon as I can. She's a cutie! :)

**Update**
I spoke with my BIL's girlfriend who happens to be a cop. She said that if I renew online and do not receive my license on time to just carry the print out that shows I renewed in my wallet. If I get pulled over, she said to give the officer both. She said they will take my license because it's not valid anymore but they will just look me up in the system and see that I renewed. She also said that a real nasty cop may write me a ticket for not having my license on me but I wouldn't be arrested. That makes me feel much better! I'd like to not have my mugshot out there for public record. Especially a pregnant mugshot. Wouldn't that be attractive? :)


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Yikes! Two posts in one day!

So I don't want to detract from my earlier post but I just noticed something...

I'm at the 100 day mark! Only 100 more days until my due date! Seriously? I know I say this all of the time, but when the heck did that happen?

I just can't wait to meet her and see her sweet little face! I get giddy and all misty eyed thinking about it. I have another 4d ultrasound tomorrow at noon. I'll be almost 26 weeks! Hopefully I've put some chunk on that skinny little body we saw last time. :)





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Prayer Request for a Stranger

So last night at Mass I took my usual seat in the second row while I waited for dh to finish up some things for youth later that night. A few seconds after insatiable down I realized a bathroom trip would be a good idea before Mass started. Upon my return I noticed a couple in the row eight behind me. We end up sitting near them every week. I stopped and smiled. The woman looked at me, then my belly, then back at me and said hi. I look pretty darn pregnant now do there's no denying it. It's been pretty obvious for a long time now. I'm pretty sure this isn't the first time she's notices.

Anyways. I tool my seat right I. Front of them waiting for K. Then I hear the woman start to tell her husband about a woman she works with who is pregnant. Then she tells him that something is wrong with the baby and that whatever it is is making the mother sick. She said something about it causing the mother some sort of kidney problems. I thought to myself, that is so sad! They the lady tells her husband that this particular woman also already has an Autistic child. I thought, wow! This has got to be a really hard time for this poor mother! The next thing I heard this woman say nearly caused my jaw to hit the floor. She said, "You know, I just don't know why women put themselves through these things! It's just not worth it!"

My first reaction was anger. I thought to myself, what is she saying? Is she suggesting that the woman should just abort the baby because it is just too much to deal with. Is she seriously sitting in church, in front of the tabernacle no less, having this conversation with her husband in a very audible voice? It's not like I had to strain to hear this conversation. I wasn't trying to listen, I couldn't avoid it. And then I thought, my gosh! She is talking about this in this loud voice right behind me, a woman who is obviously pregnant. What if there were some medical issues with my baby?

The whole situation broke my heart. And then I realized that me sitting there stewing in my anger was doing no good. I decided to say a prayer for the woman, her baby, and her autistic child. I also said a prayer for the couple that was sitting behind me. After Mass I told K, the story. He was sickened just as I was. We decided that we would add all five if these souls to our Advent prayer list. All five of them need our prayers.

I thought I would tell you all about what happened because I know what amazing prayer warriors you all are. If any of you have a minute and could pray for these 5, I think that would be wonderful! It certainly can't hurt.


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7 Quick Takes

Before I get started...thanks Leila for answering my question on my post yesterday. It has been something that has been eating at me for a really long time. Noe I wish I could just wish I could get him and the rest of the family to understand this. I feel like he doesn't understand his faith enough to get it and unfortunately neither does his family. They are steering him wrong. :(

So Anyhoo...let the quick takes begin!

1. I'm having lunch with a woman I met through working with the teenagers at church. She is a bit older than me (I believe late 30's) but we have so much in common. She and her husband suffered through IF for 11 years. They just finally had a baby girl this past February. Her little girl is one of the sweetest, most adorable little girls I have ever seen. It's kinda funny though. I always noticed her at church and one day our priest did the blessing of expecting parents at our 6pm Mass. It's never done then. It's always once a month at the 9:30am Mass. I remember she and her husband walking up to the front (he did it special for them) and tears started streaming down my face. However, I stead of my usual sad, poor me, tears I had nothing but tears of joy for them. I did not know them at the time. I had no real knowledge of their struggles. But I just knew. I knew this was special. It's like all of us IF girls have this unspoken bond. What a blessing!

2. It's Friday and I still haven't heard from my doctor about my gestational diabetes test. They said they would call by the end of the week but only if there was a problem. Fingers crossed they don't call today!

3. We are leaving for Orlando in less than a week! Wahoo! I'm such a 5 year old! I live Disney and am so glad we don't live too far. An hour, hour and a half away, tops. My 28th birthday is on Sunday the 19th and we are celebrating with my best friend S by going to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas. We have done this almost every year since K and I have been together. It's AWESOME! I cannot wait! I told K we need to get some bump pictures in front of Cinderella's Castle all lit up! And I. Front of all the beautiful Christmas Trees. One day we can show Marry-Grace her first trip to Disney. And believe me...we'll be taking her with us next year! She won't remember it, but I will! I can't wait!

4. Mary-Grace is moving around more and more everyday! And all of her little kicks are getting stronger and stronger. I can now see my tummy jump when she does it. It's got to be the coolest thing I've ever seen. Sometimes she kicks at the sMe time on opposite sides of my belly. I imagine her stretching her whole body. So sweet! I tried to catch it on video the other day so K could see it. She doesn't like to do it for him. But alas, she must have known it was for daddy. She's a bit stubborn like her mama. :)

5. I'm am just sew stinkin happy for Sew! What a trooper! Hannah has for to be one of the most precious little girls ever! Such a cutie! A 6lb 10oz preemie? That's bigger than I was at full term! And no time in the NICU! And got to go home with mommy and daddy in just 2 days! How amazing!!!!!

6. Hannah's early arrival reminded me that everything is in God's time. We so often make all of these plans and try to plan everything out down to the last detail. We want everything on our own time. But in the end it is God and his perfect plan for our lives. And Gods way always turns out to be better than our way. I find that very comforting. If everything went according to my plans I would be in big big trouble! :) Oh, and it also taught me that I may want to have my hospital bags packed a little sooner than I originally thought necessary. :)

7. I'm going to a special Advent Mass tonight. I wanted to let all of you IF girls who are still waiting know that you will be in my prayers. You are all still always in my prayers. I have not forgotten you. I know how hard this time of year can be. Please know you have not been forgotten and thy I love you all!


Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!


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Thoughts

What am I cooking?
I made BBQ Chicken tonight. Well Kevin actually cooked it on the grill. Raw meet is still giving me the creeps so he's been helping a lot in that department.

What are my weekend plans?
Saturday I'm going to look at some fabric for Mary-Grace's bedding. My MIL is going to help me make it. We may pick out paint colors if I find some fabric I like. Sunday I have a cookie exchange party! Yum!

What are my prayer intentions for the day?
Prayers for my prayer buddy of course! Also my anxiety. It's gotten pretty bad and I'm sure if I wasn't pregnant my doc would be recommending meds. I've been down that path and don't want to again.

What have I done for my marriage this week?
He was very happy with how clean the house stayed this week. I actually stayed on top of it! I also made him cookies on Tuesday.

What am I reading?
For the first time in as long as I can remember, nothing. I just haven't had the brain cells to comprehend much of anything.

What’s challenging me lately? Shaving my legs and painting my toes.

Something that made me think?
The annulment process. Does anyone know much about it. Not because I need one of course! Let me give you a situation (I don't want to name names). Say a man gets a divorce a year and a half after marriage (very sad). He wanted the divorce. He was actually the first to brig it up. The divorce was final about a year ago. He is interested in an annulment but has yet to start the process. He may have a valid case but I'm thinking it's definitely not a slam dunk situation. He is already dating a woman very seriously. Is this ok? I'm thinking no. Shouldn't he seek the annulment first? My thinking is, what if he is not granted the annulment? Then what? Isn't the annulment period (when sought soon after divorce as in this case) supposed to be a time of reflection? I have many more questions on this topic and will more than likely do a whole post about it soon. I just wanted to get a feel for how it works since I have no clue and I'm concerned about said person.

Happy almost Friday!!!!


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