one special day!

I haven't been a faithful blogger as of late; however, this day couldn't go by without mentioning... because today is Nan's birthday!! She is one of the most beautiful people I know, inside and out, and I am so blessed to be able to call her my friend. I am not sure what my life would be like had I not met her so many years ago; but I am sure that it would not have been half as full as it is with her in it. I love you girl and hope you have a wonderful day!

I realized when I was looking for photos of this beautiful lady that most of the recent pictures I have of her include her little man, it's a good thing he's adorable as well :-)

fall pictures

one of my favorites- love his little face!

the most recent picture that I have of the two of us- she looks amazing but you will have to excuse roundness...

Forgetful...

I forgot my purse at the Doctor's office today, yup- walked out, drove home and then realized that I didn't have it. I know that they say pregnancy can make you forgetful, but really?? The office was really great about it, they held it until I got there and I even shared a laugh with the girl at the front desk regarding my airheadedness. My excuse for forgetting it is going to be that I was too preoccupied with news that everything looks great with our little man (and me too). My blood pressure is great, my weight is right where it should be (or possibly even less), he is measuring right on track, his heartbeat sounded wonderful and I was even able to decipher (with help from our wonderful doctor) which lump was a head, a back and his feet. So much fun... have I mentioned I love him??

Enjoy a laugh on my behalf, seriously forgetfulness at it's finest, and have a great Monday...

Latest Belly Picture- 32 Weeks, 8 more to go

a little less grumpy

I am grumpy and was grumpy when I wrote that last post- wanna know why? Because I have a cold- an old fashioned stuffy nose, sore throat, ears popping head cold! So I apologize for the honesty of the last post, I didn't realize that some of the ache that I was feeling was this wonderful head cold coming on...

I woke up this morning looking pretty pitiful, tired and having not slept much last night (no, I am not going to post a picture- if you need confirmation ask Jamie, he will tell you just how pitiful I was this morning). So as I contemplated rolling over and not getting out of bed today at all (except for bathroom breaks of course) the sweet little boy that is growing inside of me rolled over, kicked a few times (gently) and said good morning... I am in love and slightly less grumpy now...

the things that they don't tell you...

Warning- this is a terribly honest post. The sensor I had pre-pregnancy that made me into a somewhat reserved but always polite person has all but flown out of the window. I tend now to think something and then say it, or in this case write it and then post it for all of the world to see...

Recently, I have had conversations about the things pregnancy/birth related that people just don't tell you before you get pregnant. One sweet dear person that I was talking to most recently said, "It's like mothers join a club after having a baby and they all tell you that pregnancy is a wonderful and precious experience- you should do it, go ahead get pregnant. They convince you to think that it's all rainbows and sprinkles so you go ahead and commit. Then when you do they say Ha, Sucker!! Now that you are committed and cannot back out let me tell you the truth about what really happens..." It's evil and well just not nice!

I fortunately, have had a few dear friends that have told me the things that the books forget to mention. I was fully committed at the time when I came to these realizations but the honesty has been nice, a little nerve racking, but nice just the same. I have been warned about all of the following

-the placenta that just "hangs out" in the delivery room after birth like someone actually wants to see it at that point. Why don't they take it away or cover it up??

-about all of the possible things that I may do during delivery (I won't speak of them here in the hope that some of them won't happen to me)

-about the things that I won't be able to do post delivery

-the tremendous postpartum mood swings that make you think you are going insane (as if I don't have big enough mood swings as it is- so sorry Jamie)

-the extreme difficulty post delivery that I will have performing anything that was once a normal bodily function

-that for the first little bit (at least) laughing, coughing or sneezing will scare the daylights out of me because who know what will pop out of me or just pop for that matter. Laughing- really?? I love to laugh, especially when I am sleep deprived, which I am told I will most definitely be...

Does this sound like rainbows and sprinkles, nope I think not. What I am thinking right now is that this kid better be cute! That and

-I cannot get comfortable to save my life right now.

-When did I become one of those people that needs an extra pillow behind my back while sitting in a chair?

-Why didn't anyone tell me that I would have to gather momentum to get myself out of bed or off of the couch?

-I wonder just how often I spend in the bathroom per day? On second thought, I probably don't want to know.

-I think we should come up with a new term for waddle, one that is endearing and maybe even sexy.

-Since when do I have long legs, they seem to be growing the more I have to tie my shoes.

-"Squirrel!" I have a case of adult ADD at it's finest.

-I cannot wear my rings anymore and my toes are starting to resemble sausages.

-I didn't think that it was possible for my stomach to be relocated and squished into my rib cage.

-Since when did the kicks from my precious little boy change from endearing to jolting and distracting...

Honesty- I told you, my sensor is broken. However, all that being said I do promise to be honest with anyone that asks, I am starting a new club and anyone willing to share the gruesome and the gory is welcome to join.

dilema solved :-)

What happens when your pregnant wife wants hamburgers but you only have hot dog buns in the house??? You, the genius that you are, come up with this delicious meal...

I think Jamie called them burger-dogs; he's cute and he's sweet- I think I'll keep him.

redeeming picture

Okay I am going to try and redeem myself with this following picture that we took yesterday before heading out on our errands. I have been trying to make more of an effort to take more pictures of us since we seem to have everything else under the sun but those kind of pictures. I think its pretty cute and I like the wreath in the background (it matches with Jamie's shirt)... and more importantly, it is way better than the one that we took at the Wing House.

4 years- WOW!

Four years ago tonight I meet up with a dear friend from school- Lisa, Lisa's husband- Fernando, my father-in-law- George (who I only knew a the time as a former administrator at my high school) and my now husband- Jamie. This was the first time we had met, and it was over wings and beer at Ker's Wing House- romantic isn't it? Lisa asked me about a week prior to this evening if I would be interested in meeting Jamie, to which I replied "Sure, what have I got to loose?"

I went to this "date" with an open mind and a friendly attitude; hoping to at least make a new friend. I had two beers (Bud Light, which I thought was good beer at the time- I had a lot to learn, I know) and maybe two wings- I wasn't really hungry so I didn't eat much and well, I sat and listened to the conversation going on around me. Jamie and I sat on far ends of the table during "dinner" and I am not sure that we uttered more than two maybe three sentences to each other throughout the night. However, after everyone else left we stayed and talked by my car for 2 or more hours- apparently he didn't judge me too much for the lack of eating and my taste in beer :)

We go back every year on the 8th to celebrate our "first date" and to chow down on beer and wings (just Jamie participated in the beer drinking tonight). At the time I never would have guessed that we would be married within the next nine months or even dating for that matter; when I look back I cannot believe how far we have come! It really makes me appreciate dear friends and taking chances because when you think that you have nothing to loose you may in fact have everything and then some to gain...

just for fun- the oldest picture that I could find of us when looking tonight, it was taken when Jamie took me sailing on our first trip to Terra Ceia

picture of me and Jamie from last year's Wing House anniversary dinner

a picture from tonight- I know, it's fuzzy and not great but we were trying to take our own picture and be quick about it... maybe next year's will turn out better

Halloween Recap

I know that this holiday has gone and passed us by but I have too many pictures not to post about it. In general I don't much care for Halloween. I am not all about jumping on board with a holiday who's primary joy is frightening people (I scare easily by the way and don't enjoy it). I also don't think that just because it is Halloween that anyone and everyone should be given a free pass to look like a tramp- via naughty nurse, french maid, or scandalous witch; however, that is a whole other post in itself.

Jamie and I participated in many non-scary holiday related activities and had a blast!! We hosted a pumpkin carvin' party at our place on Friday- thanks to all who came, it was fun. We also went out to the St. Luke's trunk or treat on Saturday to see my favorite little lobster and his chefs and then came home and passed out candy with our neighbors on their porch. We didn't get many kids that night but there was a Tigger that stopped by that made sitting out there all night worth while- he was sooo cute.

Hope your fright-night festivities were just as fun as ours, enjoy the pictures...

some of our carvin' participants, busy in the planning stages

cleaning out the inside of our pumpkin so my dear hubby didn't have to get his hands dirty :-)

the finished products- Grim Reaper, Stork, FL Gator (not ours btw), and the nickelodeon character- Binya Binya Pollywog

a close up of our stork, sorry you cannot see his legs

Piper posing with me in my pumpkin outfit

do you need an explanation?

my favorite "dish" around and his amazing chefs

simply

adorable

one of Leyton and Madison (Leyton's friend)- this is what I think they are saying...

M: "What have our parents done to us this time??"

L: "Don't know, but you have funny things strapped to your back"

M: "Me, you're talking about me?? YOU have four eyes right now buddy"

Holy Crap!!

So yesterday I had this moment, maybe it happened when I was scheduling the remainder of my appointments until our little one's birth or maybe when I realized that I had lost track of how much time I spent in the bathroom that day, I am not quite sure; however, the moment went something like this...

I am pregnant! Holy Crap!!!!! How FREAKIN' cool is that?!?!?

I know that you might be thinking "Is she crazy?? Hasn't she realized that she is pregnant already? I mean, come on she will be 7 months this week!!" Nope, I hadn't. It hadn't sunk it yet for me. You would think that the positive preggo test, the multiple ultrasounds where I saw a baby, the crib in the room that we now refer to as the nursery, or the fact that my feet are becoming more and more difficult to see might have tipped me off a little but nope none of that did the trick...

So as of right now, I am sitting in the office chair bouncing with excitement and anxiously waiting for Jamie to get home so he can be excited with me! By the way, when I revealed this "moment" to him he simply said "welcome to the party honey!" This is a party I could get used to :-)

a picture from this past weekend- I think that it's probably our first visibly preggo couple pic

I didn't forget...

cuddlin' with Piper

snoozin' with kitties

I did not forget to post that my wonderful hubby turned 29 this past Wednesday, time just slipped away from me...

Jamie, I cannot believe how far we have come and what new adventures we are about to take on. You are the most amazing husband and I cannot wait to become a parent with you... I love you!

puppy flu?

Is there such a thing as the puppy flu? If there is a think that Piper might have caught it; and we may have to not play with strangers for awhile to keep it at bay. Both yesterday and today she has gotten sick to her stomach; poor little girl... I feel so bad for her and the puppy dog eyes don't help one bit. The clean-up has been challenging to say the least, my stomach is weak when it comes to this to begin with but add pregnancy and I am sure it's quite a sight. But with patience and a little gagging of my own we are managing...

Two of my most recent favorites of her...

mid scratch but I still love her face in this one- it reminds me of when she was a puppy :-)

Baby Update

Below is the latest baby bump pic, taken yesterday at 22 weeks and a few days. As you can see things are progressing. I looked at Jamie yesterday and said "I think this shirt makes me look really pregnant" he looked at me and said "honey, I think you just look really pregnant. We have now gotten past the point where people are guessing if you are putting on weight or if you are actually pregnant." Thanks dear husband, I guess this is true but I am sure going to miss my toes when they disappear...

There have been so many new things going on during the second trimester that I don't know where to begin so here's a short list of things I have learned thus far...

-Focusing on any one thing is still difficult, not sure that I could handle long term adult ADD very well.

-I am good at nesting and I love it! Things are getting checked off of lists right and left at the Perreault household- yippee!

-I am a klutz normally but pregnancy makes me an ubber-klutz. So far I have only broken two things beyond repair (a bowl and a small glass) but I have tripped and almost fallen over more times than I can count.

-When this kid is hungry, he tells me. You can hear my stomach growl from across the room. He is a meat and potatoes kind of guy, I am not sure that I have ever consumed this much protein in my life.

-Bending has become more challenging, but it is easier if you make silly groaning noises when you do bend.

-The flood gates can open at anytime for any reason and stop at anytime for any reason.

-It is not the most amazing thing to feel your child move inside of you, it is when you get to see your husband feel it too!

dancing baby

this dancing baby made me giggle tonight, check it out here (sorry but I cannot embed it) it's too cute, really...

Fall- it's coming...

Just a fun picture that reminds me of fall, because all posts are better with a picture :-)

This morning, after dragging myself out of bed to help Jamie get off to work (I turned off the alarms- yes there are multiple- so we were running a little behind) I took Piper for a walk. I was still so sleepy that I feared crashing right onto the keyboard if I didn't get out and get some fresh air.

While I was walking I noticed that the leaves are starting to change and to fall (note: this is not nearly as exciting or beautiful in sunny Florida) BUT it means that fall is coming!! Yippee! This means pulling down the decorations for the house from the attic (Halloween, thanksgiving and then Christmas), apple scented candles and best of all our trip to NC!! We are going on a two week road trip, I can hardly wait- how many sleeps left??

Birthday Milk

I have a confession- I love to check the dates on the milk jugs when I am shopping at Publix and I get really excited when they have an important date on them! Having an important date appear on the milk means that the date is really close and how can you not be excited about that? Yesterday when I ran to the store to grab a few things I practically skipped out of there because I had purchased birthday milk, I am serious it made my day!! Jamie's birthday is a few weeks away and there was my reminder starring at me on our milk...

My first obsession with this came just a short time before our wedding when I stopped by Publix and the jug had our wedding date on it. I snatched up the milk, skipped home to Jamie and announced that we were getting married and we were getting married soon!! I was so excited, Jamie laughed at me thinking it was silly but took my picture with the milk for posterity's sake. You should try it sometime, it'll make your glass so much fuller :-)

it says "Jul 21" I promise

It's a Boy!!

We have confirmation folks, it's really and truly a little boy!! Jamie and I have a fisherman on the way! We had a wonderful check-up at the Dr on Monday, sorry for the delay with the update. The ultrasound went really well, all parts are accounted for and looking great! The ultrasound was actually really neat, aside from being able to see the little human that is growing inside of me, the tech pointed out and measured just about every body part imaginable: arms, legs, brain, eyes, heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, she even showed us that our little one had liquid in his tummy from swallowing and thus liquid in his bladder (good thing I have been stocking up on diapers- this kid is ready). Like I said it was really neat to see. He was bouncing around for the first part of the ultrasound but towards the end he snuggled in and took a nap. I left there feeling great; our order had been placed correctly- one snuggle buddy that sleeps well is on his way! Jamie thinks that I am crazy, right now I will just call it a Mother's Love and wishful thinking :-)

Here are a few pictures of our little butter bean, the nursery bedding (yes, we already had it) and a bump picture (for the many that have been asking)...

the confirmation

the first ultrasound that said he was a boy taken at 13 weeks- trust us it looks like a boy

picture of his little face- if you tilt your head to the left you are looking face to face (his arms are crossed below his chin)

the bedding both near and far. It is a modern fish print- so cute!

the bump picture from week 20 (last Saturday)

update

Jamie and I go back to the Dr tomorrow for our 20 week appointment!! Both of us are really excited to see the little butter bean again and to confirm the sex. Boy or Girl, what's it going to be?? We have been unofficially told by the ultrasound tech that it is a little boy, there was a penis sighting but that will be confirmed tomorrow and I cannot wait!! I am really, really tired of calling it "it" and well I still kind of feel weird calling it a "he" since the sex hasn't officially been confirmed. I will be sure to keep you all posted...

Everything else has been going really well and I have been feeling great! I felt the first confirmed "kick"two days ago and realized that I had felt it one other time about a week ago. It was a funny (and embarrassing) story that I am sure Jamie will tell too many people about but I will spare you (and me). I may take this back, when they baby is kickboxing my sides at night, but I want the little bean to move all of the time. It is just so cool.

We have also been hard at work in the baby's room, putting together a dresser and the crib! I know I am OCD and probably way ahead of the game, but that's how I like it. It's also lots of fun to see that room take shape. Here are a few pics, because all posts are better with pics, of the building projects. More to come soon...

the dresser, it's one million pieces and Jamie's helpers

almost there, seriously the dresser took forever to put together!

the multiple boxes for the crib and bedding

the crib in progress, with helpers again (note the finished dresser in the background)

me and the baby next to the finished crib

Perreault Baby Pool

Before Jamie and I even realized that we were going to have our very own bundle of joy, we joked about starting a "Baby Pool" when we did get pregnant. Well I am now preggo and we have in fact started a baby pool. Don't judge, we thought that it would be amusing if we gave people one more reason to be pulling for us (and certain traits, days, times etc.) while waiting for our wonderful bundle of joy to arrive. We sent out the entry form about a month ago now and have been receiving entries since then. Much to my surprise we have received 49 entries! Our winner is not only going to get the joy of knowing our kid but a wad of cash in their pocket- nice!

It has been really fun to see all of the entries come in, especially since we included a category for name. Thank you to everyone that entertained me during my weeks of pseudo bed rest! Some of the names were serious but others were just downright funny. We have posted a website to share all of the entires with you; we know our "poolers" (sorry for the awkward name but I am not sure what to call you since I am a newbie to this process) are anxious to know their current standing. Here's the link, check it out and enjoy as much as we did!

no words...

Last weekend Jamie and I were in the truck headed probably to Hot Dog Heaven (although I cannot be sure) when a song came on the radio... I pause here because there are no words to describe this song. We were taken back, shocked and I would go as far as appalled after hearing the trio singing loud and proud "she's rockin' the beer gut" blah, blah, blah... yada yada. Yup, you read that correctly this song is about the wonders of a women- yes a female- rockin' a beer gut!! Call me a prude but what?!?!? Since when do songs get written about beer guts and women's beer guts at that?

Since Saturday this song as become sort of a joke between the dear hubby and I, we are past appalled to amused. Although my ever growing tummy bump has forced a change in lyrics to "she's rocking the baby gut". Yup, we do have a sense of humor and I hope that you do as well.

If you would like to waste 3 minutes of your life and have a laugh check out the oh so classy Trailer Choir (yes, I kid you not that is the name of this group) here. One of the members of the group is named Butter, yup the thing located in your fridge! I promise you will not be disappointed, you know you want to check it out. You can hear their music and view their videos on their site and as an extra bonus their music video is the Free on iTunes music video of the week! So hurry and download it before next Tuesday so you can have it for your very own...

yesterday

Yesterday was wonderful! Jamie had the day off so we were able to enjoy the whole day together; that in itself would have made the day amazing but fortunately the wonderfulness did not stop there!

We had our four month check up in the morning where I was given the all clear from bed rest- woohoo!! I was so excited I skipped to the car, literally! I was told that I could walk and go swimming again. Piper doesn't know if yet but she will be so excited that she can return to her happy place- check out some of her most recent swim pics here. After our appointment we were able to catch up with Nan and Jeremy for lunch since they were on our side of town. We went to PR's which is a really, really yummy Mexican restaurant (double yippee that I have my Mexican taste buds back, they had left me for awhile). After lunch Jamie and I were planning on spending the afternoon outside enjoying the weather but it happened to rain most of the day. We enjoyed the rest of the day regardless, tooling around and running a few errands. It was a terrific Tuesday.

Below are some pictures from lunch and then the requested bump pictures. My family up north has been asking to see the bump (which is growing steadily), so here it is...

the boys- Jeremy being a goof

goof, again

caught you smiling!!!

Me and Nan :)

the bump- the first picture is two weeks ago when I was 15 weeks along and the second is from last Saturday when I was 16 weeks

lunch with Grandpa

Every week we get to enjoy a yummy firehouse sub lunch with Jamie's Grandpa. This has been a long standing "date" with Jamie and Grandpa; I used to only get to indulge when I was home from school on a break but now that I am not teaching it has become a weekly treat! Some weeks we have more than the usual 5 lunch participants (Grandpa, Jamie, Piper, Dolce, Bella and Me) but it is usually just us.

I realized the other day that we don't have any pictures from this event, so I took a moment to rectify that today. Piper is sitting waiting patiently for her Kong filled with peanut butter (her weekly treat during this lunch), and the kitties are waiting for their treat from Grandpa. All get spoiled at lunch...

definition of friendship

As we grow-up our definition of friendship changes; when we are young it may be the person who shares the tire-swing with you, in high school it is the person that complains with you when some stupid boy hurts you. At my age, a new category of true friendship can be added. A super-duper friend is one that hands over a stack of stretchy top pants and other assorted maternity clothes when the things in your closet are starting to not fit and you are feeling large. Yup, you know it is true friendship when the ever expanding pants are passed on to you.

My dear, dear friend Nan did just this (and more) on Sunday. We went over to her place for a change of scenery, it is not fun being cooped up in one place- so this was so nice. If Jamie would have let me skip to the car I would have, I was so excited to go to go there and leave our place in the dust. While we were there she fed us- this is huge since Jamie (bless his heart) has not been getting a whole lot of home cooking at our place (10 minutes on your feet at one time limits the menu options), gave me stretchy clothes and entertained us with her adorable son, Leyton. I swear I could watch that kid all day!! He does this almost-crawling-rocking-action thing that is hysterical and well with a face like this who could resist???

smiling at his momma

GQ

funny faces

pucker up

wet kisses

denied kisses- sorry Nan I had to post this, it's so funny

Tuesday, I wore my first pair of maternity bottoms and was comfortable for the first time in weeks. It was glorious and I may have to live in these clothes even after the baby comes. Thanks friend, I love you and the two boys that live with you...