10 years come and gone

I made it through my ten year reunion! (pictures later!)

It's amazing how easy it is to step back into the roles we had ten years ago. Some of you would have been shocked to see me shrink back down to that little girl. BUT...some of my high school friends were probably surprised to see a different Janet. (this is what I've been pondering in my head ever since) Most importantly...I spent good, quality time with an old best friend, Krystal. We lived a 1/2 block away from eachother from 7th grade-12th grade. Almost every minute of that we were extremely close. We went bike riding together, went walking around on Halloween together, went to Homecoming together, etc. I was there for her getting ready for all 3 proms. (the first...she was the only one of us to go...and I told her that her hair was PERFECT even though she cried because she hated it..haha). I've seen her struggle with her mom, heard her struggle when she found out she'd become a mom & now I've seen her BE a mom! She's amazing! I'm so proud of her...and she's VERY talented! Her husband is amazing too. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to spend time with her. (And...she's a total knockout...think Katie Holmes!).

It was great to see other people too! Of course there was the b-ball crew...Kelly (cross country buddy/competition), Diane, & Mandy. I've never seen Mandy more herself. I think I really like her husband!!! Kelly...wow...BEAUTIFUL!! My one regret is not talking to her husband more. He was SOOOO sweet & just seemed like the neatest guy. I'm going to HAVE to get to know him!! (hint, hint Kel!!) Diane...same Diane. That's what I love about her. She will always be Diane. I told Krystal (when we were deciding what to wear), "Diane will be in a polo shirt & jeans, lets just wear jeans". SURE ENOUGH! And her husband is the most amazing guy ever. He always has a hug & tons of stories to share & he's just...well AWESOME! They are the perfect match! I love you girls!

Justin & I really loved Stephanie's husband. He is just so....different. He and Stephanie are the perfect match. He does NOT care what the world things & really lives to his own beat & that is so cool. (I describe him as just cool! haha). One day we are trekking to College Station to go to his bar!

It's funny how you expect to see some people & just be able to talk about ALL these great times you had. Sometimes you do/can. With others you can't. My senior year & 2 years of college were spent with an old boyfriend. Our relationship ended, but I always look back at us & smile. We were buddies & friends & had really funny times. I soooo looked forward to bringing back memories & laughing. I reallly had this strange thought that we would all share a table & our spouses would even talk! Boy...that didn't happen. It was so sad. But you know...time changes things and people.

I had a GREAT time though. One thing I really learned is, while I had a GREAT time in highschool, I'm so glad we all moved on and grew up. I'm having an even BETTER time now. I have the MOST amazing/crazy/loving husband ever. I have the best little boy and a feisty little girl (in my belly). I love our little house we've built up. This is the best life I could have ever imagined!

10 year High School Reunion

Oh my...I can't believe its been over 10 years since I graduated! It feels like yesterday!

Saturday we will have our official reunion. I'm nervous! I LOVED high school. I seriously liked it better than college. College was filled with boy drama. Highschool was just fun.

Of course...I had always planned on being in super/tip top shape for this. Luck would have it that I'm 22 weeks pregnant! I guess I can't complain.

But then...CRAZY stuff has happened! I have NOT had a haircut since the 1st week of February. My girl charges $60 for a dry cut (so worth it though!! Kara at Tangles). BUT...that's 55 miles away. I finally decided to do a local salon for $20. (see blog below). WELL...they did ok...but I have layers...lots...I look weird. But I can deal with that. NEXT...I wake up today...my right eye is glued shut. I HAVE PINK EYE. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? WHY?? (ok...i haven't changed contacts in longer than i'd had a haircut) Then...the doctor tells me I must wear glasses for 14 days. UM>>>NO! But...I had to throw my contacts away and that was my last pair. I called my eye doctor (also 55miles away) & they refused to give me my prescription because it had been more than a year. SO...I had to drive to go get a trial pair. BY GOLLY...I'm wearing my contacts Saturday night!

Justin told me to just go all out like highschool. Wear glasses and go get braces while I'm at it. haha.

I'm not even going to go into how hard it is to find cute/trendy clothes for me being prego. I'm short, have no boobs, and I have a new fat a$$. GREAT!!! I bought all my clothes in the juniors section today. I HATE MATERNITY CLOTHES!

Hopefully it will all go smoothly and I'll have a GREAT time with my long lost friends! I can't wait!

Janet and the bills

Justin has handed over the finances to me this summer. I have not paid the bills or been in charge of our money since before we moved in together (umm....June 2002...so 6 years). He always grumbles about paying the bills...so I offered.

WOW!

It's scary and...the money does NOT go very far. I now find myself buying cheaper/store brand items a lot more...and just doing without certain things. I like to see AT LEAST $500/week in our checking account. If it ever falls below that...I FREAK & start hyperventalating.

Where does our money go?
1. FOOD!!!!!! (mainly Justin's snacks...when you're a giant...you must snack) ONe day, there were THREE $1.29 purchases from United. I asked him what it was...WATER. I told him to buy a .69cent gallon and refill a water bottle. URGHHHH...AND he has to eat out every day. Ok...I like my sonic Cherry Sprites...but STILL. Oh well. We are both doing MUCH better.

I now know his frustrations. I'm glad I have this opportunity. Makes me a much better spender!

New Fence

We've been wanting a new fence since we moved to this house 4 years ago (almost). It was a chain link. Last summer a tree fell on it & bowed it during our storm. During that storm, our dog Bandit got out & got run over. THIS summer, our new dog, Maverick, learned to climb the fence. We finally decided its time for a 6ft wood fence! It's been in the process since the middle of May. My dad helped Justin put the posts in, we hired out for concrete, etc. Finally...yesterday we started putting the fence up. It looks GREAT! I can't wait to experience the finished product! Please pay no attention to our chipped wood siding...that will be repainted before we move (if that's soon) or next summer! haha

19 week appt

I totally forgot the specifics...so thought I'd share!

I gained 0 pounds!!!! Which puts me at a total weight gain of 7.5 lbs this pregnancy. I had gained around 9 with Cole at this point...however...I'm 1.5 pounds over my weight with Cole. Overall...I'm pretty happy with that!

Little Natalie's heartrate was 146! She weighs about 11oz.

Next time the doc will give me "permission forms" for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesaerean). I really want to have a natural birth...but I'm scared too. The chance of uterine rupture is EXTREMELY low considering my low cut. (less than 1%) We'll try it out and see!

Next appt is 7/8!

It's a girl!!

Wow...we're having a girl!

I laid down at the doctor's office and the technician started doing her thing with the ultrasound. I said, "Hmm...I think I see the boy parts!". She said, "No...I don't think so". I just sat there with a smile on my face STUNNED. Sure enough...she made it her mission to prove to me that there were NO boy parts!!!

I could NOT BELIEVE IT!!! I have had 3 dreams she was a girl...but I still figured...NAH... Actually...I'm a little surprised at my reaction. I've always wanted a girl, but I found myself a little sad that Cole won't have a brother so close in age. So...I told Justin...we have to have another real quick! haha...we'll see about that!

We got several pics of her kicking her head! The technician kept saying she has REALLY long legs. I'm 19 weeks 4 days prego & her legs measured over 20 weeks. She also weighs about 11oz! Almost a whole pound!!!! I can't wait to see her!! Actually...she'd better stay put & not try to make an early entrance like her BFF Taylor Marie! (My BFF cousin Amber's baby girl who has been trying to come out since she was 26 weeks!)

I also bought the baby bedding. I was in Target and wandered across the clearance shelves in the baby department the CUTEST bedding popped out at me for 39.99 for the bumper, coverlet, 2 sheets & ruffle. It's "Tadpole Cherry Blossom" & is kiwi green & bright pink. I got home & saw that it's normally 149.99! I'm so glad I got it...I LOVE IT!!! (It's much brighter in person than it shows on the pic)

"totally worth it" things about being a mommy.

This one's for Kelly~

Ok...I'm not one to lie...being a mother is NOT a walk in the park. It's TOUGH, it's ROUGH, they TOTALLY PUT YOU IN YOUR PLACE once they make their entrance.

But it's all amazing! I really don't even like saying, "It's totally worth it". The saying just seems like at times having a baby may not be worth it...like it's a mistake. THAT'S NEVER TRUE! You can't guage it like that. You never look back and say...we shouldn't have done this. Or...it wasn't worth it to have this kid. You just KNOW that life is so much better with your baby in it. Life without your baby is unthinkable...and if you DO think of it...you want to die.

Being a mommy has made me really realize why I'm here. It made me realize why Justin and I met...to be parents!

The minute I felt Cole move...I was IN LOVE (even before then). I spent 9 months growing this tiny little person...I was taken. The first time I held him was priceless. You can't even begin to explain what makes it so amazing...it just IS! I mean...a part of YOU made this baby...he's your flesh and blood...it's a MIRACLE!

Late at night or early in the morning or anytime when they're brand new...sure...you're tired. But it doesn't matter...you can't help but stare at your new baby. Look how he breathes! Look how he eats his yummies...look how he grabs your finger...how he looks at you when you talk. He knows you already...WOW!

When I went back to work...I cried and cried ALL DAY LONG. I would RUSH back to daycare during lunch to see & feed him & then RUSH back to pick him up from daycare after school. Just like a girl running to see her boyfriend after he's been gone for a while. Each time my heart would RACE! I STILL do this & he's 15mos old!!!

When he started smiling...Ahhh I could've exploded with happiness & tried tickling him all day to make him do it again...and then laugh. I bawled when I moved him to his own room at 6 weeks (mean old grandma tried it out & he liked it :() I bawled when he slept all night (ok...partly because I was engorged)...but because I missed him. I was HEARTBROKEN when he weaned at 9months. That one was tough...HEARTBROKEN really describes it. Breastfeeding is the most wonderful experience. I still miss it & look forward to it again with this new baby (I hope it's as good of a latcher like Cole).

Now he says mama & HUGS!!! I say, "JUMP INTO MY ARMS" & he RUNS & does it & HUGS my neck so hard. I say, "Give me sugars" & he either kisses me with his mouth WIDE open, or leans his head in to be kissed. When he cries, he says, "mamamamama"...I'm who he wants! When he sees me at daycare he giggles & RUNS to me!

I can see him learning all day...whether its by watering the yard, watching daddy work, watching me work, "reading" a book, or looking at pictures or just PLAYING...he's learning! We sit & read about "tatoos" (tractors) all day long & he's so happy. He loves the mud & cuddling with animals & he LOVES DADDY.

All of this and so much more make it so "worth it". But this isn't even the BEGINNING of why. It just is. It's different for everyone. Even when he's mean & fussy...I never regret having him...I regret I can't make him happier at that moment. He makes me want to have TONS of babies.

And all those worries I wrote about in my other blog....those make me a mom...I welcome those worries...they are sweet & once you have a baby you realize you ALWAYS will worry & WANT to worry. It comes with the territory of being a mommy...the best job in the world.