Nash-Vegas and early bed-times

From college...to now.  This past weekend I met some of my college roommates in Nashville to spend some much needed time together.  It has been a year since the last wedding and we knew that we needed to start making a tradition of seeing each other *at least* yearly!  So....there was good food, no wine for me this trip, good conversation....and of course a long walk.  While so much has changed in our lives since Gay Street in Auburn....some things will always be the same.  

The same:  We all over-packed for 2 days.  There was a "happy hour" both afternoons.  We went on the longest walk, mainly because we were talking and lost track of time.  All of our PJ pants (Lindsay's whole outfit was the same since college, thank you AGD for the tshirts).  Went to bed early and woke up hungry.  Planned our meals before planning anything else for the weekend (as in pre-picked out our restaurants).

(what time we were in PJs and ready to talk in bed, how girlie)

Different:  All of our last names!  Talking to our husbands every night before bed.  Sharing stories of "living with boys". Everyone feeling Graham kick.  Nell and I didn't wear our retainers.  The sheer ability to pick a restaurant that appealed to each of us.

(taking a smoothie break from shopping...just watching the people...from a bench)

We had such a wonderful time together catching up.  I love y'all so much and am so thankful for how God continues to bless your lives and am so thankful that we can continue to grow and enrich each other through our friendship!  *tear*

So...next year?  Same place?  Some things will never change...once we do something we like and works...we tend to wear it out.   Like...must eat at all the same restaurants next time.  I'll prob get the same food too...those choco-chip-buttermilk-pancakes were delicious!  SB, blueberry-buttermilk-pancakes for you?

 However, this hotel didn't have a pool....

 

(I couldn't resist...Mable wanted to go)

I had a dream.

So, lately I've had more dreams than usual.  "Pregnancy dreams" are a common topic, I think it is because our sleep is interrupted more often, therefore we just remember the dreams we are having instead of how we usually forget them.  Anyway....I had a funny one a couple of nights ago.

I dreamed Graham was born.

Now...in typical dream form...I started out in the "birthing" position in "painless dream labor".  Then, my doctor looked at me and invited me to come have a look at him being born.  So I did.  That's right...typical dream...I walked around to her angle and watched myself give birth.  I remember thinking to myself in the dream, "gosh, that looks like it HURTS!"  haha  Then, he's born and I'm back to the "birthing" position.  But I don't have Graham...I'm just chatting it up with my doctor and Matt - I think about something TOTALLY unrelated.  Then I ask where Graham went and the doctor says, "oh, here he is", pulls him out of nowhere and puts him on my chest.  But it's not like the movies where he would be covered in gook and all red and wrinkly....no no.  Graham is like 2, fully dressed and with a head of curly blond hair.  I look at him and say, "wait, he's too big!"...to which Graham responds, "oh hey" to me.  HAHAHA

I mean, WHAT???  soooo many things wrong with the dream, and so many things to laugh at!  Who *watches* themself give birth...and to a 2 yr old?!  Anyway, I had a good laugh about it when I fully woke up.  Could it mean that Graham is going to be huge and have curly blond hair? 

The "what if's" are endless....

 

Oh, and PS - my dream last night wasn't about Graham...I dreamed that I couldn't get gas at the gas station because the National Guard (who were guarding the gas pumps) said I "wasn't a member".  I woke up frustrated and confused from that one.

who would Graham vote for?

Not to be controversial....but this is scary to read when little Graham doesn't have a voice for himself!

So, read THIS and be educated....and tell your friends...especially those who have babes!

cravings

Apparently cravings are a normal pregnancy thing.  I do not think I've had any *outrageous* cravings with Graham - Matt may say otherwise though.  I'm usually a pretty healthy eater, but I am a "kick" sort of person.  I'll get something on my mind and eat it until literally sick of it.

Lately, I've been on a BLT kick...I can't get enough of them!  

Also....Cocoa Pebbles.  Why haven't I been eating these all along???  They're just simply delicious!

Oh, and Nestle Quik.....Chocolate milk takes me back to my childhood.  I wasn't allowed to have it (b/c my mom didn't buy stuff like that)...so really it's just a *childhood desire* sort of memory.

Oh, and McDonalds.  I love fries and they win a gold star in my book.

Oh, and not to leave out something healthy....watermelon.  Love it!

I won it.

Notice anything?

That's right.  Mable is so ferocious.  But yes, meet our new rug.  Our feet are sooo happy.

Oh, and Mable thinks she has to exercise her "superiority" over it all the time.  She's so weird.

Thank you Ebay.

to honor the Fathers

This past Monday we celebrated Father's day with all of the dads in our life.  We had the fathers (and Matt of course this year!) to our house for pizza.  *side note, there is this AWESOME pizza place right around the corner from our house, simply fantastic.*  Anyway....there was pizza, salad and ice cream pie.  Oh, and also...my brother, Adam's, birthday fell on Father's day this year, so we also celebrated him.  He turned 15...wow.  I remember when he was born, literally.  Is it really possible he is 15?  So, Adam isn't really a "sweets" person - not sure what's wrong with him...did he grow up in our family?  But he does love ice cream pie with reeses.  So, that's what we had.  

We got my dad a set of Washers.  He loves a good outdoor game....and for some odd reason, has gone this long without his own set.  Problem solved.  We know how much Ron LOVES a good book, so we got him a Border's gift certificate.  Matt learned his love for books at such a young age from someone!  This is Matt's first Father's day - even though Graham can't get him anything on his own, I did my best.  Matt somehow lost his copy of Tolkien's The Hobbit, not sure how/where...but I know he loves it and can't wait to read it to Graham (so sweet!) - so I got him a new copy.  Matt gave it his stamp of approval... apparently it uses Tolkien's original drawings, so that's an extra gold star :)

For Adam's 15th bday, we got him an AMC gift card.  With summer here...I think the boys go to a movie every week or something!  So we thought we'd try and help him out a little.  Love you little brother!

Here are some pictures from after dinner.  Some are quite funny.

And finally....one where BOTH are smiling.  Love you Daddy!

Such a good looking group of Men.

My super handsome "baby daddy".  I love you Matt!  

Graham has no choice...he's going to be obsessed with you.

Thank you Dads for all of your love and support.  We love you so much and can't wait for Graham to experience your love and make wonderful memories with you too!

high maintenance?

Are we high maintenance?  Matt and I have come to the realization that we might just be.  How embarrassing!  While we each have our little *things* that make us somewhat control freaks....and while Matt has his hilarious breakfast routine...it's really our night-time thing that got us thinking. 

No matter what we do, no matter what time we eat dinner or brush our teeth.....watch a movie or not.... we CANNOT turn out the light before 11:18 pm.  I mean, what???  Why such a specific number you may wonder?  Well, when we get in the bed, it goes something like this:

-Matt laughs at me and my pillows (see post below)

-I put on my chap stick and lotion because I HATE going to sleep with dry lips and/or hands.

-I also turn on the fan and the noise-maker.  I can't sleep without noise, call me crazy, but it's awesome!

-THIS is when I look at the clock to make sure the alarm is set and realize that it is yet again, 11:18.  Never fails.  How is it possible that we usually do that at the same time most nights?

-We turn out the lights say good night and such, and then, in the dark, Matt starts shifting his feet around b/c he has a *thing* with the covers touching his feet.

Let me explain Matt's *thing*:  it sort of collides with my *thing* with the covers.  I can't sleep if they're dis-organized.  Oh my gosh, I sound crazy!  But the sheets need to be straight with the comforter...and they can't be crooked on the bed.  I promise, I'll wake up in the night and while asleep, fix them.  I don't know what's wrong with me!  So, back to Matt's *thing* - when I pull the covers up straight, it makes them tight on his feet...and then he starts the shifting thing.  He says that he really needs a "pup-tent" for his feet, so that they have their *space* at the end of the bed.  I mean, have you ever heard of such a thing???  Are there others out there who suffer from "squished-foot" and would benefit from such an invention?  I know I'm totally NOT the one to be laughing at Matt's *thing* given my own many *things* that I'm weird about....but this is soooo funny to me!

So, after writing this...and re-reading it.....I've come to the conclusion that YES, we're crazy.  I only hope that by sharing our insanity with you, you can have a laugh at our expense.  Feel free, we deserve it. 

Oh, and yes, we're probably high maintenance.  Should I be insecure about that?  The good news is, it's not this way with everything.....just most things. 

I'm sure Graham will be some sort of "therapy" for our problems.

Oh, and should we invent this so-called "pup-tent"???  Is there a market out there for such a thing for weirdos like us?

driving.

For me, driving is fun, it is therapeutic...it's somewhat of a sport, a game...dare I even compare it to a race?  I've always loved driving, the planning and strategy involved in "beating" all of the other cars on the road and avoiding those police traps.  Some might call me an "aggressive driver"... but I prefer to think of myself as a "smart driver".  Since the goal every time I'm behind the wheel is to win, to beat all of the other cars where I'm going...i might *sometimes* speed.  So...speeding presents another aspect of the game: don't get caught!  haha.  (I hope my brothers don't read this, I'm painting a pretty bad example to follow)  *I must interject here that I have a pretty good record....while passengers may be scared on occasion, I haven't been in an accident or had a ticket in several years*

All of this background to say.... I've recently turned over a new leaf.  I don't speed.  Anymore.  I heard on the news recently that if you hover around 60 mph on the highway, you get better gas mileage, so I thought I'd give it a shot.  You know what?  It didn't take me *that* much longer to get to work.  Usually I'm all the way on the left going *insert fast speed, which I'm not saying for my own protection*...and for this whole week I've been setting the cruise control on 62 and staying more on the right and I'm shocked that it's not adding more time!  Just think...all of these years speeding because I thought I needed to in order to be fast...who knew.

So, whereas I used to spend ALL of my driving time strategizing about the "gameboard" that is the road (much like checkers if you really want to know how my brain works) - Oh, and scanning for those sneaky police traps..... I seem to have much more free time to let my mind wander.  For this week anyway. 

What do I spend my new free-time thinking about you may wonder? 

Answer:  Missing the thrill of the race and being a *little* upset that the other cars are now beating me. 

Hopefully my "new leaf" will last, it's probably safer this way.  Maybe I just need more to think about than winning.  Does this mean I'm too competitive?

 

***I must say that when I told Matt of my  new discovery...his response was: "but where's the fun in that?"

planning for Graham

As we get ready for Graham, there are sooo many thing to consider!  I mean...we're becoming parents.  THAT is the major thing.  Are we ready?  Can we survive with little-to-no sleep?  Do we have the patience? 

We know that the Father is in control and has a plan for little Graham that is bigger and better than anything we can dream or make for him.  Such a comfort!  We pray for him daily, that his little heart will be tender and will never know a day apart from Jesus.  The little son of some friends of ours was baptised this past Sunday.  Baptism is such a beautiful picture of the covenant of Grace our Father has sealed for us and our children.  We anticipate the day when little Graham is received into this covenant!

Until then...while we continue to pray and prepare ourselves for parents, we also get to think about adding "baby stuff" to our house.  I have problems when it comes to planning.  I LOVE it!  So, constant streams of ideas go through my head all day long.  Poor Matt, I unload on him sometimes so fast he doesn't even have time to interject :)  (Thank you for listening to me!)

Here are some pictures of the things I *hope* Graham is able to enjoy!

 Isn't this so cute?  The caption says "stimulate your child from the beginning to learn the alphabet with this colorful bedding".  Doesn't that sound so smart?

 

 Seriously adorable.  I just love green...and small stuff...so green baby stuff is irresistible!

 Anyway, I figured I'd unload some "baby thoughts" on the blog so that maybe Matt can have a break later tonight :)

upgrade.

So, Matt and I have had a couple of extra *luxuries* added to our lives recently.

It's really the small things in life that bring the most joy.

Matt gave me this big glorious thing for my first mother's day. The huge C-shaped pillow is *maybe* the best gift a pregnant woman can get.....I don't think I've slept so well since I was under anesthesia.  Thank you Matt!  The smaller pillow is just for Graham. It is a "belly wedge"....go ahead...laugh it up....only someone who's had an extra belly or does right now can truly appreciate with me.  I'd say if the main goal here is be *fully* surrounded by pillows.....Mission accomplished.  

Before......

After

With this summer heat/humidity....we came to the realization that we needed a ceiling fan.  Matt insists that I'm putting off more heat at night because of my new HUGE pillow and such. I just think it's hot outside.  Either way, the fan is a much welcome addition to our room.

*Matt just called me a "human incubator"

*I might go cry myself to sleep with the pillow. 

 

Also, thank you Bryan for helping Matt get started with the fan

(I was in charge of counting the screws, nothing important)

unbelievable.

I just got WAY too excited to put gas in my car at $3.79/gallon.  I mean...WHAT???  When is this going to end?  Since it was $3.88/gallon yesterday at most places, I am however, glad I decided to test the limits of my car's tank and hold off until today. 

However, this proves my point.  I stand by my "system" of only putting in about $15-$20 at a time...what if I had filled up yesterday and spent waaayy too much on stinking FUEL...only to find that it went down almost a dime overnight?  What if I had filled up and been in an accident with my newly full tank???  you know what would have happened?  REGRET.  So, I'm sticking with my system....I just put $20 in my car.  Thank you Shell for your cheaper gas this morning.

This is when I wish I had a scooter. 

Or I could fly. 

Or teleport.

a small dream

ok, so I really want this. Pretty bad.

What can I say, I dream in house-hold items.

Matt's feet also want this rug, he hates the one we have in our den.....maybe one day..... *sigh

Matt and the cereal situation

Below in an earlier post, I mentioned Matt's "breakfast routine" a couple of times.  I feel as though this deserves it's own explanation.  See, Matt HATES mornings.  He is slow to wake and slow to get moving.  There is an exception to the rule though, if surfing is an option, he can get himself together pretty quick :)  So, back to the routine.  Matt has the same order of morning activities each and every morning, even saturday.  He wakes up, several different times, then takes a shower to fix his cowlicks.  They he mixes his cereal: Kashi on the bottom, layer of brown-sugar and maple mini-wheats, then a LOT of Maple Pecan Clusters on top.  He eats cereal faster than anything I've ever seen because he wants even the last bite to have some crunch, hahaha. Then he eats some fruit - usually over the sink. His last step is fixing his one cup of coffee.  He and his cup of coffee then go into the den to read the Word and pray to get the day started.  This process from start to finish usually takes half and hour to 45 mins.  I love Matt's routine, it is a constant in my morning for sure! And it's always a little fun to see his reaction when we're out of something...just throws everything off!

All of that was background to tell a funny story about Matt.  He is finally at the place where he can laugh at this, so I think it's time to share.

We were at an *extended family member's house*, (not specified to protect the innocent). We are preparing to leave REALLY early in the morning to get started on the long drive back to St. Louis.  So, Matt is already up way earlier than he ever wants to be. [Scene: my entire family awake at this hour packing and preparing to load way too much stuff in cars for a really long drive]. The breakfast of choice is S'more Poptarts.  However, one of my brothers just ate the last one.  The rest of us are going to drive through somewhere and eat a greasy biscuit that will make us wish we hadn't.  But Matt would rather eat some cereal.  He sits down to a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats.  He's just eating...probably half way through the bowl he looks down.  And oh my goodness...there are little bugs floating around.  GROSS!  Apparently the cereal was a *little* old and had those little bugs living in it.  I've never seen the color run out of his face so fast!  Needless to say, he threw the rest of the bowl away and was just going to settle for a piece of fruit.  But there wasn't any fruit....it had been eaten earlier in the visit.  So, Matt's breakfast was ruined and he was sort of sick to his stomache about eating bugs.  So we finished loading the cars and I'm pretty sure he ended up ordering a biscuit like the rest of us, but he didn't like it. 

Moral of the story.  Always check your bowl.