Whoo Wee! I'm feeling very pregnant. I wear out pretty early now. I have trouble walking long distances or up hills or inclines. Doing the laundry and making dinner is the extent of how much I can do on a typical afternoon. This is very abnormal for me. I can usually cook/clean/organize circles around people. Not anymore!
I think we might need a maid.
:)
I kid. But not really... One would be nice. My house is not nearly at the cleanliness standard I like to set.
And for the first time in my life, I'm okay with it. Granted it's not spotless, but it's completely liveable. I've been ignoring the dusty baseboards since August at this point, and nothing horrendous has happened.
In hopes this blog post doesn't have too much of a "womp, womp, womp" feeling, here is what gives me energy!
-Fear Factor is coming back on TV! Woot! Woot! I love Joe Rogan!
-Peppermint ice cream is back in the grocery stores. Why can't this be a year long thing?
-I love the smell of Dreft! This weekend I washed two loads of baby stuff. I was completely giddy folding and admiring all of LL's little things. (Although everything looks really small. Did I shrink everything and earn my first "bad mother" tallies or were the clothes that small to begin with? I can't remember. I've never had baby clothes to wash! Oh how I hope my baby doesn't come out weighing in the teens.)
- Seeing my family over the break.
-Having the entire week off to get things done. The nursery is starting to look like a nursery.
- The pedicure I'm treating myself to sometime this week.
- Going to bed! Nighty night!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Money Talk
We are officially becoming old.
We met with a financial advisor.
We are responsible people.
A couple of months ago, we created a budget. I don't even want to talk about it.
But I do have to give us some credit. We are doing well with it. When I say "we," I mean me. Randy could pinch a nickel. I needed a little more discipline and the budget helps keep me in check. I guess it's a good thing. I guess...
Well since we are about to be parents, we have some changes that need to be made in addition to adding a "daycare" column in the budget. We also need life insurance! We want to make sure Little Lueders has plenty of opportunities available to him/her if something were to happen to Randy or me.
We were referred to a very sweet man who was tasked with three goals. I laid out the goals because I'm super solution-focused. I wanted to get in there at 6:30 and leave by 8 pm.
1) Set up a life-insurance policy.
2) Discuss retirement plans and options for investments.
3) Discuss and set up a college fund for Little Lueders to attend the greatest university in the world (insert hook'em here!)
Well at 8:30, we still didn't have anything accomplished. It was the most boring 2 hours of my life.
Oh my goodness, I hate finances. I hate discussing budgets, pre-taxes, interest rates, etc. And this guy was plum nuts about discussing all these different options. He wanted to start from square one! Square one was "the value and importance of saving money."
We know. That's why we were there.
My head was spinning. My back was throbbing, and I couldn't get comfortable in my wooden chair of comfort. I even went to the restroom in mid-discussion just so I would have something more fun to do.
He was intense. He was drawing pictures of cash registers, bank bags, and step ladders. I wish we were playing "Win, lose, or draw" instead. I love that game.
But instead the pictures were to prove another boring money saving principal.
Then he moved on to analogies.
He started comparing saving money to "Jurasic Park."
How do dinosaurs relate to money? Maybe it has to do something with extinction? I never quite got the analogy. The only thing that peaked my interest was when he said that T-Rex could be named IRS-asaurus.
What in tarnation was he talking about?
Randy is going to meet with him on his own for the next steps.
I think this will be best. Just tell me where to sign. Although I will be sad if he has more prehistoric money creature stories.
We met with a financial advisor.
We are responsible people.
A couple of months ago, we created a budget. I don't even want to talk about it.
But I do have to give us some credit. We are doing well with it. When I say "we," I mean me. Randy could pinch a nickel. I needed a little more discipline and the budget helps keep me in check. I guess it's a good thing. I guess...
Well since we are about to be parents, we have some changes that need to be made in addition to adding a "daycare" column in the budget. We also need life insurance! We want to make sure Little Lueders has plenty of opportunities available to him/her if something were to happen to Randy or me.
We were referred to a very sweet man who was tasked with three goals. I laid out the goals because I'm super solution-focused. I wanted to get in there at 6:30 and leave by 8 pm.
1) Set up a life-insurance policy.
2) Discuss retirement plans and options for investments.
3) Discuss and set up a college fund for Little Lueders to attend the greatest university in the world (insert hook'em here!)
Well at 8:30, we still didn't have anything accomplished. It was the most boring 2 hours of my life.
Oh my goodness, I hate finances. I hate discussing budgets, pre-taxes, interest rates, etc. And this guy was plum nuts about discussing all these different options. He wanted to start from square one! Square one was "the value and importance of saving money."
We know. That's why we were there.
My head was spinning. My back was throbbing, and I couldn't get comfortable in my wooden chair of comfort. I even went to the restroom in mid-discussion just so I would have something more fun to do.
He was intense. He was drawing pictures of cash registers, bank bags, and step ladders. I wish we were playing "Win, lose, or draw" instead. I love that game.
But instead the pictures were to prove another boring money saving principal.
Then he moved on to analogies.
He started comparing saving money to "Jurasic Park."
How do dinosaurs relate to money? Maybe it has to do something with extinction? I never quite got the analogy. The only thing that peaked my interest was when he said that T-Rex could be named IRS-asaurus.
What in tarnation was he talking about?
Randy is going to meet with him on his own for the next steps.
I think this will be best. Just tell me where to sign. Although I will be sad if he has more prehistoric money creature stories.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Not to brag but...
I passed my National Counselor Exam!!!!
I can barely believe it!
I haven't even posted that I was going to be taking it, because to be honest, I didn't want to have to post the follow up "I failed" post.
This exam is one of the steps needed to become a LPC, license professional counselor.
Randy has been encouraging me to take this exam all summer long.
"You need to take the exam before the baby. You won't have time to study later."
Oh alright! I signed up for the test, and then realized I didn't have the energy or motivation to study as I rounded out my second and began my third trimester.
I basically "studied" for approximately 15-20 hours. I spent my other "studying" time looking at Pinterest, shopping Etsy, and daydreaming about the baby.
I tried to cancel the exam, but I couldn't get my 250 bucks back. So it was just going to be an opportunity to get some exposure to the test.
You can imagine my surprise when the proctor handed me my print out from the computer test with a smile.
"Congrats! You passed!"
Me: "No, I didn't!"
Proctor: "Yes, you did!"
Well hot dog! Look at me being all smart and stuff!
It feels so good to have this marked off my list.
And to be a slacker...My mom always told me that I over studied for tests. I think she might be right! Too bad, I'm at the end of my tests/quizzes career. Wait, that's not a "too bad" statement. That's an alleluia statement!
I can barely believe it!
I haven't even posted that I was going to be taking it, because to be honest, I didn't want to have to post the follow up "I failed" post.
This exam is one of the steps needed to become a LPC, license professional counselor.
Randy has been encouraging me to take this exam all summer long.
"You need to take the exam before the baby. You won't have time to study later."
Oh alright! I signed up for the test, and then realized I didn't have the energy or motivation to study as I rounded out my second and began my third trimester.
I basically "studied" for approximately 15-20 hours. I spent my other "studying" time looking at Pinterest, shopping Etsy, and daydreaming about the baby.
I tried to cancel the exam, but I couldn't get my 250 bucks back. So it was just going to be an opportunity to get some exposure to the test.
You can imagine my surprise when the proctor handed me my print out from the computer test with a smile.
"Congrats! You passed!"
Me: "No, I didn't!"
Proctor: "Yes, you did!"
Well hot dog! Look at me being all smart and stuff!
It feels so good to have this marked off my list.
And to be a slacker...My mom always told me that I over studied for tests. I think she might be right! Too bad, I'm at the end of my tests/quizzes career. Wait, that's not a "too bad" statement. That's an alleluia statement!
Girl Vibe
Well, I think I have some reasons that I have a strong girl vibe going on right now.
Everyone is saying I'm carrying a little girl.
My principal, who has never been wrong in guessing the gender of babies, even predicts a girl.
Me: "Randy, she's never been wrong! She thinks it's a girl!"
Randy: "Well there's a first time for everything."
hehehe
I'm so anxious and excited to find out if Little Lueders is going to be my sweet princess or my handsome hunk!
This is so much fun! I love not knowing the gender!
Everyone is saying I'm carrying a little girl.
My principal, who has never been wrong in guessing the gender of babies, even predicts a girl.
Me: "Randy, she's never been wrong! She thinks it's a girl!"
Randy: "Well there's a first time for everything."
hehehe
I'm so anxious and excited to find out if Little Lueders is going to be my sweet princess or my handsome hunk!
This is so much fun! I love not knowing the gender!
Things I know...(part 5)
-The baby is a strong little kicker. The other day I almost jumped out of my chair. And then I started giggling uncontrollably! If I'm not giggling, I'm wincing in pain. Sometimes it takes you a little off guard.
-Tylenol PM is like crack. I savor them. I look forward to taking them. I am in love.
I have been so good about the "no medicine" rule. Granted, I always take my thyroid medicine. That's a must. But for over the counter stuff, I'm pretty strict. Well when I hit 30-ish weeks, sleeping became impossible. I was so drained and fatigued, I could barely stay awake at work. So I asked my ob/gyn and he told me it was completely safe.
Of course I asked, "Define completely." After getting the clearing and some major guilt, I have allowed myself one pill on occasion. Stop judging me. I've taken a total of about 5 pills in the last six weeks. And it's the equivalent of waking up on Christmas morning for presents.
-I can't get out of the passenger side of my car when it's in the garage. I, umm, sorta don't fit anymore.
-I bump so many chairs and squeezing down aisles is downright difficult.
-I have not had a single stretch mark...yet. Someone please knock on some wood. I'm really keeping my fingers crossed on this one.
-I'm starting to get a strong girl vibe again. Next week, it might change, but for this week, I'm thinking pink.
-My wooden bangle that I tried to wear this morning didn't fit over my big puffy man hand.
-I have to accessorize to the max now, as I can't even stand to look at my maternity clothes. I'm pretty tired of wearing the same thing all the time.
-I answer the "How are you feeling question?" about 10 times a day.
-I can't see my feet or paint my toenails anymore.
-Randy's excitement is my favorite thing in life right now.
-Tylenol PM is like crack. I savor them. I look forward to taking them. I am in love.
I have been so good about the "no medicine" rule. Granted, I always take my thyroid medicine. That's a must. But for over the counter stuff, I'm pretty strict. Well when I hit 30-ish weeks, sleeping became impossible. I was so drained and fatigued, I could barely stay awake at work. So I asked my ob/gyn and he told me it was completely safe.
Of course I asked, "Define completely." After getting the clearing and some major guilt, I have allowed myself one pill on occasion. Stop judging me. I've taken a total of about 5 pills in the last six weeks. And it's the equivalent of waking up on Christmas morning for presents.
-I can't get out of the passenger side of my car when it's in the garage. I, umm, sorta don't fit anymore.
-I bump so many chairs and squeezing down aisles is downright difficult.
-I have not had a single stretch mark...yet. Someone please knock on some wood. I'm really keeping my fingers crossed on this one.
-I'm starting to get a strong girl vibe again. Next week, it might change, but for this week, I'm thinking pink.
-My wooden bangle that I tried to wear this morning didn't fit over my big puffy man hand.
-I have to accessorize to the max now, as I can't even stand to look at my maternity clothes. I'm pretty tired of wearing the same thing all the time.
-I answer the "How are you feeling question?" about 10 times a day.
-I can't see my feet or paint my toenails anymore.
-Randy's excitement is my favorite thing in life right now.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Seuss Shower!
Little Lueders is the luckiest little one ever. I have such amazing friends and family members who helped celebrate this sweet little life that's just growing away in my tummy.
My Dr. Seuss baby shower was incredible!
Seriously, Theodor Geisel would be so proud!
Check out how crafty the hostesses are!
Yah my baby shower had a candy bar!
the food table was my favorite...you'd expect the pregnant lady to say that though!
Gotta have green eggs! I'm telling you, they went all out!
Nana and Mimi!!!!
Whoa! Look at that glow:)
Kara, Jana, Lauren, Hannah, and Kari blew me away with this baby shower. I wish I could show more pictures, but this blogger photo uploader is ticking me off. These girls thought of everything. I had a jar of jelly beans layered to resemble the cat's hat. Kari made me Seuss thank you's to fill out. I had a baby advice book decorated with Seuss stickers.
In the words of my aunt, "Your friends have it together. They impressed me."
I couldn't agree more. I love you girls so much! Thanks for helping to spoil my little one. I'm so glad they have been apart of my journey. I don't know what I would do without each of you!
Blessed beyond belief!
Oh, and in case you're wondering, Randy got a big, no huge bag of Skittles. It might have been his favorite baby shower gift:)
My Dr. Seuss baby shower was incredible!
Seriously, Theodor Geisel would be so proud!
Check out how crafty the hostesses are!
Yah my baby shower had a candy bar!
the food table was my favorite...you'd expect the pregnant lady to say that though!
Gotta have green eggs! I'm telling you, they went all out!
Nana and Mimi!!!!
Whoa! Look at that glow:)
Kara, Jana, Lauren, Hannah, and Kari blew me away with this baby shower. I wish I could show more pictures, but this blogger photo uploader is ticking me off. These girls thought of everything. I had a jar of jelly beans layered to resemble the cat's hat. Kari made me Seuss thank you's to fill out. I had a baby advice book decorated with Seuss stickers.
In the words of my aunt, "Your friends have it together. They impressed me."
I couldn't agree more. I love you girls so much! Thanks for helping to spoil my little one. I'm so glad they have been apart of my journey. I don't know what I would do without each of you!
Blessed beyond belief!
Oh, and in case you're wondering, Randy got a big, no huge bag of Skittles. It might have been his favorite baby shower gift:)
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Still Need to...
-write shower thank you's
-post about my fabulous shower
-decorate the nursery
-pick out a name
Oh my list keeps growing...
What am I doing right now instead of all the above plus twenty other things that need to be done?
I'm watching "Swamp People."
Why?
Because this show makes me feel like Einstein!
If you've never watch it, tune into the History Channel. These people can make anyone feel like a genius.
And what other show with subtitles is this enjoyable?
But let's not discredit all of our accomplishments recently.
-We have a sweet lady who is going to be watching our little love bug! I'm so pleased with how this all turned out. I have a warm heart feeling. Praise God!
-We toured the hospital. The labor and delivery suites are posh. (My doctor used this term to describe it. I love him, so we'll use his phrase too.)
-We met our pediatrician. I love him too. In fact, at Wednesday's ob/gyn appointment, my doctor said, "Oh, who have yall decided on?" After supplying the CORRECT answer, he said, "That's who our pediatrician is. He's the best. We drive really far to see him." I picked the doctor our baby doctor picked. I just gave myself a high five. I'm 3 for 3 (daycare, ob/gyn, and pediatrician).
-Mopac is still the cutest dog on the block. Oh my goodness I love how she lays on my stomach and responds to all the kicks and wiggles. She even gave my stomach the head tilt. She's super confused, but oh so precious all at the same time.
-Randy has finished his PE test. I can't believe that nightmare is over with! Oh it's so nice to have my husband back. This past weekend was all about Randy. We went out for lunch on Saturday, ran errands, and cheered on the Longhorns at DKR. The sweet lady behind me was not only a Longhorn fan but obsessed with pregnant ladies. I told her I was due in December, and she responded with "You're so tiny!" She clearly knows a lot about pregnant people:)
Randy's college roommates were also in town, and we had such a great time hanging out and going to dinner. We ate after the game at one of my all time favorite college places. The Alamo Bowl at EZ's might be the best thing on earth. It's a scrumptious bowl of rice, black beans sauce, grilled chicken, pico de gallo, cheese, and a southwestern sauce. I know that sounds like a burrito bowl at Chipotle, but it's way above this. I can't even tell you how great it is!
I know you're concerned that I ate dinner too late. No worries, Randy and I shared nachos at the game.
Randy: "Do you really want nachos and dinner later?"
Penny: "Umm yah I do!"
Heck the lady behind me called me "tiny." At this point the nachos are non-negotiable. I was actually debating whether or not to add chilli.
-post about my fabulous shower
-decorate the nursery
-pick out a name
Oh my list keeps growing...
What am I doing right now instead of all the above plus twenty other things that need to be done?
I'm watching "Swamp People."
Why?
Because this show makes me feel like Einstein!
If you've never watch it, tune into the History Channel. These people can make anyone feel like a genius.
And what other show with subtitles is this enjoyable?
But let's not discredit all of our accomplishments recently.
-We have a sweet lady who is going to be watching our little love bug! I'm so pleased with how this all turned out. I have a warm heart feeling. Praise God!
-We toured the hospital. The labor and delivery suites are posh. (My doctor used this term to describe it. I love him, so we'll use his phrase too.)
-We met our pediatrician. I love him too. In fact, at Wednesday's ob/gyn appointment, my doctor said, "Oh, who have yall decided on?" After supplying the CORRECT answer, he said, "That's who our pediatrician is. He's the best. We drive really far to see him." I picked the doctor our baby doctor picked. I just gave myself a high five. I'm 3 for 3 (daycare, ob/gyn, and pediatrician).
-Mopac is still the cutest dog on the block. Oh my goodness I love how she lays on my stomach and responds to all the kicks and wiggles. She even gave my stomach the head tilt. She's super confused, but oh so precious all at the same time.
-Randy has finished his PE test. I can't believe that nightmare is over with! Oh it's so nice to have my husband back. This past weekend was all about Randy. We went out for lunch on Saturday, ran errands, and cheered on the Longhorns at DKR. The sweet lady behind me was not only a Longhorn fan but obsessed with pregnant ladies. I told her I was due in December, and she responded with "You're so tiny!" She clearly knows a lot about pregnant people:)
Randy's college roommates were also in town, and we had such a great time hanging out and going to dinner. We ate after the game at one of my all time favorite college places. The Alamo Bowl at EZ's might be the best thing on earth. It's a scrumptious bowl of rice, black beans sauce, grilled chicken, pico de gallo, cheese, and a southwestern sauce. I know that sounds like a burrito bowl at Chipotle, but it's way above this. I can't even tell you how great it is!
I know you're concerned that I ate dinner too late. No worries, Randy and I shared nachos at the game.
Randy: "Do you really want nachos and dinner later?"
Penny: "Umm yah I do!"
Heck the lady behind me called me "tiny." At this point the nachos are non-negotiable. I was actually debating whether or not to add chilli.
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