Bye-Bye

This afternoon Danny left for Phoenix. It just happened to work out that he has a client there who requested a meeting all the while his best buds, Darwin and "Rold Gold," have tickets to the Super Bowl. They are making a weekend of it and according to Rold Gold, they're "Going to make it rain." I am assuming this means they are planning to have a really good time. I told Danny to expect divorce papers if I find any evidence they were even near anywhere resembling a topless establishment.

I helped Owen make a card for Danny's suit case. It's just a blue card with his handprint in white. I included a picture and put a banana sticker on the outside (since they're Owen's favorite these days.) I almost couldn't find room in the suit case for the card. Danny, for three days, packed the largest bag we own. I thought I would be nice and put it in the car, but I couldn't even roll it to the hallway. He was even joking he didn't have room for all his man products in his toiletries bag. It was coming down to whether or not he should pack deodorant or his curl enhancing product. Ha! I told him he could just pack it next to the "Brokeback" shirt he purchased for the trip (see shirt next to Owen in suit case.)

...Please cross your fingers for us, we have a showing tomorrow from 10-11am. I went out to the new house today and they are busy doing the electrical work and they have installed our shower and bath tubs.

Breakfast with Owen

Here's a short clip of Owen blowing a kiss and doing his "Jane makes a Super Silly face," and "Peek-a-Boo Violet" from one of his favorite books, Mirror Me. I really wish there was sound.

just a few....

Only the size of an apple?

How is it that I look like I am carrying a cantaloupe and none of my clothes fit properly, but babycenter.com tells me the baby is only the size of an apple?

This week will mark my 15th week of pregnancy. I am officially in the second trimester and I am impatiently awaiting the day I'll wake-up without getting sick, without a headache, and with LOADS of energy. I am also getting very anxious to find out the sex of this baby. It's so amazing how different I feel during this pregnancy. I have started to show much earlier and I have not been as violently ill, nor have I craved the same types of food. With Owen I seemed to want more fruits and vegetables and I wanted nothing but water to drink, this time I want chocolate cake, chocolate cupcakes, ice cream, kool-aide and lemonade (which I have never liked.) I am wondering if the difference in savory vs. junk food cravings could also be the difference in carrying a boy or a girl. Who knows, but I hope to find out soon. I do want to note that Danny and I are not partial one way or the other. We would be equally as happy to have another boy as we would to have a little girl. The only thing we are concerned with is what this poor child will be named. Any suggestions????


In other news... we have been trying to sell our house for several months now with no luck. It doesn't help that we chose one of the worse times to try to sell and we went under contract to build a house with no contingency upon the sell of our current home. AHHHHHH, what were we thinking? The pressure is really on now, considering the house we are building is framed with a shingled roof, siding, windows and some plumbing. We had an open house today and our realtor said three sets of buyers and one nosy neighbor came through. All were interested, but of course had reason for doubt. The first buyer was concerned with price, the second was a husky lady who couldn't fit though our bathroom door (I never thought our bathroom door was small or at least not standard) , and the third wasn't down with popcorn ceilings. It's amazing what things can cost you the sell of your house. In December we had a lady come through who was about to put an offer in when she read through the restrictions of the neighborhood. Undoubtedly, you can only have 2 indoor cats and she had six. Honestly, who would really know you were a crazy cat lady? So, if you know of anyone looking to buy in our area, please send them our way.

As for my Owen, he is growing like a weed and changing oh so fast. He can now say banana (or nananananana), his shirts all look like belly tops, his feet are almost too big for his shoes, he laughs ALL the time, he can almost say oh boy, he says dawg dawg for the dogs, he gives the most precious kisses and he has become quite the little dancer and singer. I just love him (and we really, really hope we didn't use all our cute genes on him.)

gap

For Christmas Danny bought me a sweater from Gap. It was a perfect fit, but I knew it wouldn't be long before my belly couldn't squeeze into it. We tried to exchange it just after Christmas, but no stores had any. I decided to keep the sweater and try returning it later. Danny took it back for me last week and this time a store in Winston-Salem had one in stock (someone must have returned it just for me.) So he returned mine and ordered the one from the other store. Tuesday night UPS delivered a package and a few minutes later came back with a second package. Danny opened the first delivered box and it was a different sweater meant for someone named Alicia. The second delivered box was indeed my new sweater (which I LOVE!). I called the store in Winston and told the manager the story. She asked if I could return the package to my Gap and have them re-ship it to Alicia. So yesterday I took the package back and the store manager gave me a 15% off my entire purchase code to use that day. I had planned on spending a gift card Owen received for his birthday anyways and they were having some really good deals. The associate told me that once Gap marks anything down to a .97, they have the right to half that.

Here is what I bought ....

4 shirts, 1 sweatshirt, 5 pants ($50) all for next winter. I was so excited. I had already cashed in on some Old Navy bargains too. Owen should be in pretty good shape for fall/winter.

Owen and Mickey

Happy 1st Birthday, Colin!

Our sweet nephew, Colin, turned ONE yesterday. He had a great party and was spoiled with new toys, clothes and money. They had lots of food, a delicious cake and Owen especially loved the Mickey Mouse doll he received as a favor. I put it in his crib last night and I heard him talking to Mickey first thing this morning. Way too cute!


Here is the birthday boy peeking out to see his party guests...

His yummy cake....

Digging in....

heartbeat and chocolate cake

(8 week Ultrasound pic)

I had my 12 week check-up today and everything went great. I got to hear the baby's heartbeat, which was around 150-160 beats/minute. I had this fear driving to the appointment that there wouldn't be a heartbeat, so I was very excited to know the baby was doing just fine. I have lost a little weight and this was the only concern my doctor had.

***Mark your calendars***
We will find out Febuary 25th if Owen will be big brother to a baby sister or baby brother.

Speaking of losing a few pounds, yesterday I took Owen for his haircut, got a sub from Subway and then took Owen to see Danny at work. When I was finally driving home, I looked down and noticed my engagement ring was gone. I immediately started to panic and had to pull over. I called Danny to check his office and parking lot and then I tried calling the hair salon and Subway. No luck. It wasn't until I got home and lifted Owen out of his car seat that I discovered he had been sitting on my ring. Because I have lost a few pounds, my fingers are a little smaller and my rings are loser. I noticed this a few weeks ago and I've even mentioned to Danny that I was afraid of losing them. I have decided to not wear my wedding rings until my fingers get back to normal and instead, I have decided to wear my right hand ring on my wedding finger. It fits more snug.

OK, and now about the chocolate cake... for the past few days I have really been craving chocolate cake. I have asked Danny every night to go to the store and get one and he didn't until last night. Around 8:30pm I talked him into going to the store and getting a cake and ice cream. When he got home, he had bought the WRONG chocolate cake. This one had two layers with icing and cherries on top. The one I wanted was a chocolate cream cake with more of a chocolate fudge icing. So when he saw this shear disappointment on my face, he grabbed the cake and drove back to the store. Awwww, what a sweet husband. I asked him if he told the clerk it was for his pregnant wife, and he said just that that per his pregnant wife, this was the wrong cake.
A little after 9pm I had my cake and ice cream and let me say, it was by far worth all the trouble Danny went to to get it.

check out those Chucks!

14 months

at 14 months Owen....

-is walking up a storm. Sometimes I wonder if his little legs get tired. He just goes non stop!
-talks from the time he wakes up until the time he goes to bed (like his Daddy)
-almost always has a smile on his face. He is actually quite the little ham!
-is a great eater! This month we have started giving his a lot less purees and more table food. He loves chicken (imagine that with me a vegetarian), green beans, sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, pasta, cottage cheese, yogurt, artichokes, tortillas, cheese, kiwi, bananas, peas and carrots, tomatoes, olives, and he's even had pickled okra and liked it.
-when we start to recite his books, he'll go dig through them and bring you the book you're reciting. He will also do this with certain toys as well.
-likes to turn the TV's on and off and on and off.
-likes to cuddle before bed time. He'll sit in my lap and lean back. He usually falls asleep around 8:45pm and then I'll take him to bed. This is probably one of my favorite times of day.
-wakes up around 6am. This is probably my least favorite time of day!
-LOVES to watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Perhaps he's absorbing some of the trivia and will be a little genius.
-still loves dogs and has become a much gentler petter. Molly and Sam don't run from him as much anymore.
-is really good at playing by himself. It's so much fun watching him figure things out.
-gives lots of hugs and kisses
-chats it up with all the tables around us when we go out to eat. We went for brunch on Sunday morning and while I was in the bathroom, I could hear him talking to the table next to ours.
-is into squealing (usually at inappropriate times)
-loves bath time. If you just mention it's time to take a bath, he'll walk to the bathroom.
-celebrated his second Christmas and New Year :)

Owen will also be getting his second hair cut this Tuesday and he'll be joining me Wednesday for my 12 week check-up.