Let me take a gander in my anger bank...

Well, we are officially in the second half of the pregnancy :)
I am making moves with the nursery...and by moves, I mean I bought a lampshade... big plans for this lamp shade though...lol


Saturday Ben and I ran errands and then that night we hung out with Jonny. We actually went to target so I could get a few more shirts and we started Christmas shopping.

Let me just take a moment to give a shout out to the two guys. I personally don't know of any guys who would be okay with going maternity shopping. I mean, I understand Ben going. He is actually really interested in maternity clothes, and I think it's cute. But given the opportunity to stay and hang out with his friend or taking his friend with us....I just don't get it. And Jonny... this guy's not even in this pregnancy with us, and he was totally fine with it. On the way into the store he said, "Man, a Saturday night and we're going shopping..that's when you know you are friends."  Anyway, it got hot in the store and the guys got the tail end of a hormone rage in the men's department and I sent them away and found them looking at toys in the baby department when I calmed down. So my point is, Ben and I have some pretty chill people in our life. My other point is, the Bradfordville Target gets kinda stuffy.

Then, Ben and I introduced Jonny to the AMC series "The Walking Dead"

We are addicted to this show, which is weird for me, as I don't like suspense or gore. But its so good that I dream about it at least once a week. Mom records it for us on Sunday night and then we watch it on Tuesday night after Ben's done with clinicals and class for the week. We've discussed the fact that we want Finn to watch the episodes when he's older, but there's bound to be way cooler shows out by then.

One thing that I've been wanting to blog about was how frustrating it is sometimes when my hormones get going and I have alot of anger. I wouldn't call it anger, I would call it frustration. I tend to even get frustrated at myself. I've never really wanted to hit anyone in my life, but sometimes when I get frustrated, I just wanna punch someone in the face. Usually I go to my anger bank.
The anger bank is where I store things. Say, you told me something that rubbed me the wrong way..I deposit it in my anger bank. Then you do something nice, I withdraw it from the anger bank and it usually never comes back. But, if you never give me the chance to withdraw from your account at my anger bank, your account keeps growing and growing. Unlike a real bank, that's not a great thing. SOOO, when I get frustrated, I take a look in the bank and usually the person with the highest amount is my mental punching target. Even if that person wasn't what made me mad. I hope this makes sense. and I hope it also amuses you. because to me, it is kind of entertaining.

Another thing Ive been contemplating is making this blog private. I'm not exactly sure how it works, but I know there's a way to add only the emails of the people I'm ok with reading it. and If anyone I personally know, wants to be added to this list, then they just need ask. I just want to put more personal information on here and more pictures without worrying about who I don't know reading it. I'm not sure this is going to happen though.

-Lauren

Busy Finn, Not-so-busy Momma.

We're halfway through the pregnancy now at 20 weeks, and Finn's busy working up a sweat in there. He is kicking pretty much nonstop from the time I wake up to the time I fall asleep. Kicks (that are sometimes visible from the outside) and flips and rolls are the order of the day for him. I love it! Ben has really felt him kick now, and yesterday Mom and Dad both felt him.  Amy also felt him at work. Amy keeps saying "I gotta start talking to this baby so he'll know who I am when he gets here!"

I, on the other hand have been exhausted come 8 o'clock everyday. I've been getting stuff done, but just at a slower pace. One thing this week that I did was make mine and Finn's Halloween shirt.

We had our October appointment last week, and thank goodness Ben got to come with me. We got to hear his heartbeat again, and talk to the midwife about some things. She also said that I need to make appointments for childbirth classes with Ben. They scheduled my next appointment for over Thanksgiving break, and my grandmother is going with me to that one! She's really excited.
The other day Ben and I were thinking of all the 2012 events that little Finn will get to attend. The first possible, but highly unlikely event that he will attend is his Auntie Amy and Tucker's Wedding. It will probably be just Ben and I, but we'll see. Then in May, Finn will get to see his Uncle Avery graduate from high school! then in the late summer, we will probably have Finn's first beach trip, followed by seeing his daddy get his degree in Nursing. Ben and I think it will bes sweet picture of Avery and Ben holding Finn in Their caps and gowns. Then of course will be Finn's first Halloween, which I have the CUTEST Halloween costume idea, and then Thanksgiving and Christmas! Somewhere in there, Finn will get to meet his Uncle Thomas too!

Saturday, Ben and I looked at paint colors for the nursery. Ben doesn't really care about paint colors as long as there's some blue. Soooo, I found 2 colors I love. Bird Song Blue, and Gecko. I will keep all of the furniture white, except maybe the wooden rocking chair. Might do something fun with that... overall tho, I am going with the bird and tree theme.

We have decided on who the last person in the delivery room will be :) I will be doing a post soon all about her.
I will be uploading some more pictures soon too!

It's a super cute BOY!!!

Our gender revealing ultrasound was last Thursday and we couldn't have asked for more! We had the normal ultrasoundd with the Tech. She measured Finn's organs and head and stuff, and she was able to tell that Finn is a boy! And if that wasn't enough excitement, there was a student who needed ultrasound experience, so we got extra time to just look at him :) He was very active and she said it was a game of chase the baby. Here's his little body:

Of course we cant tell what he looks like, but everyone says he looks like me. lol I don't know if that's a compliment.....? Anyway, we were really happy that day. I called my brother Thomas-woke him up actually-to tell him the good news, and also my Aunt Stephanie at work, since they wouldn't be there when we told everyone else. I also shared it with a couple of really close friends, who I honestly think I couldn't keep a secret THAT happy from.
So then, we had the bday reveal party, and hid a plastic baby in my grandmothers yard and My friends twins found it....with a little help from me... and then they yelled it out and everyone knew. After cupcakes we got pictures with pretty much everyone grouped into categories.

That's just a few...

So a good time was had by all, I assume :)

It feels so good to know what to look at in stores now. I am going to try not to buy too much and wait and see what I get at showers. But if something is too cute, I will get it. lol

While Ben and I would have been happy with either gender, I am happy to know that Ben will have a little boy to teach all his car knowledge and plenty of guy stuff to. I'm also glad that Ben will be able to teach him how to be a good husband and friend, because those are the things I love about my Ben. I think there are so many crappy people in this world, and If Ben and I can ensure one less crappy person, then our job is done.

As far as what I can teach Finn....well lets just say that Finn's future wife wont have to worry about her husband knowing his way around a kitchen and how to cook a ten course meal, and also knowing how to do laundry. lol

The next post will probably be about nursery planning, as I have  many thoughts a'brewin.

-Lauren, <3

He, She, Who cares?!

This week is super exciting!! Mom's Birthday is Today, So last night I had her, Dad and Avery over for supper when they got back from their beach weekend. Thursday morning we have our 18 week ultrasound where we will get to see all the changes in Finn! AAAAAnnnnnd we will hopefully find out it's gender. One of Mom's birthday presents is that she gets to go with us that morning. She and Ben have been there to listen to me gripe and complain about every cramp, poop question, uterus question, and every person to piss me off, and every emotional thing I've cried about-especially lately.
Last night I cried because the prenatal pill bottle was half empty. I don't know... 
So then, Friday and Saturday are the busiest days of all. I have to try to keep my big mouth shut until Saturday evening. Saturday is my birthday, so Mom, Ben, Grandma and I are going to Tallahassee for a few reasons. One was to see about some pants for me to wear.
I was trying so hard to wait to go shopping, but I am pretty much down to 2 pairs that fit comfortably. so yeah. My pants that I wore pre-pregnancy are size A. So since Ive lost weight, my size A pants fit in the belly, but are extremely loose in the legs and butt. So I dug out some of my pre-pre-pregnancy pants I wore the year after I got married. They are Size B.They fit PERFECTLY in the legs, but they don't button in the belly. So Ben and I went a few days ago to see what was what in maternity pants, and I'm just not large enough yet to wear them, soooo, I bought a BeBand. Basically you wear it over your unbuttoned pants and it holds them up so you wont bust a sag. I have about 4 pairs of size B jeans that I took out of a Rubbermaid box from the closet, which is good since last week we had a few days that required jeans. So now, all my too-big-in-the-legs pants will fit when I gain some weight back in those places and I can still use the BeBand with them.
This BeBand thing is too cool. I don't know why they don't advertise these things for women in general. For days when you're bloated and stuff. Or Thanksgiving. haha.
Anyway back to Saturday, we may or may not have a late lunch in Tallahassee at olive garden. :) The realllll fun begins after Tallahassee. BIRTHDAY BONANZA!!!!. Well, actually just cupcakes and ice cream for Me and Mom's bdays, but we are going to tell the guests Finn's Gender.
Thing is...they are going to have to work for it. A little competition never hurt anyone. But for the ones that don't know the party plans,  they will find out when they get there.
What? What's that? Be nice and just tell them? HECK NO!
I had too many people complain about "I cant wait that long!" and "That's not fair!" My plans of waiting to tell everyone when my brother and aunt were home for Thanksgiving are pretty much dashed because it made me upset. So, let's just think of this as a tiny tiny payback. I will text my brother and Aunt, who cant be there for my birthday, the sex before the party. Let's just say I'm looking forward to this. My Grandmother is already trying to find loopholes in my plans, saying "but when you bring the cupcakes and supplies to my house for the party, wont i see the color of the icing, and then know the gender?!" or "but if you have balloons, wont I have to know, because they'll be blue or pink" No, Grandma, No.
Everyone, except a handful of people, don't care what it is as long as it's healthy and happy. Ben and I don't care if we have all girls and no boys, or all boys and no girls.
Finn's Amy will be there Saturday. This is the same Amy that says she doesn't want to be in the delivery room with me because she doesn't even want to be in her own delivery room. I just love that girl. But Amy and I have been discussing shower ideas, since she wants to throw me one, and it got me thinking how excited I am about showers. They are so fun! The main thing I love about showers (wedding or baby) is that all your friends from different places and points in your life get to come together and be in the same room. I just love that concept.
Well enough of the sentimental stuff.

-Lauren, <3

A Great Birthday Present!!

I had my September appointment yesterday and it was fabulous! I met with the midwife, Rita, and she pretty much told me exactly what i was looking for. So i made my next appointment with her. Ben will go to that one with me. And he will also go to the ultrasound in 9 days too-a great birthday present for myself! I REALLY REALLY REALLY missed him going with me for the last two. The ultrasound will hopefully reveal to us Finn's gender, if he/she cooperates.  :) Ben and I have absolutely no preference. And most of our friends and family don't have a preference either, as long as it's a healthy baby.
In about week 12, my nausea came back, and so I've started taking B6, and I can see a great difference in my toilet bonding time.
I am trying to clean out the spare room. I had it mostly done a few weeks ago but somehow it got cluttered again. So I moved a dresser out and everything else can go into our storage unit. Pretty sure our twin bed that we are re-doing will go in there. There's enough room to have it in there and it will be useful when Ben needs to not be disturbed when he's on call, or if Mom wants to spend the night while she's helping out in the first few days. Also, it might be nice when I'm huge and feel cramped in bed with Ben towards the end. My Grandfather took the dresser that Mom and I brought him and remodeled it for baskets to fit in the shelves. He also has 2 rocking chairs for me to choose from for the nursery, a wooden rocking horse, a child size table  and chair, and Probably a few more things in the works. Its all stuff he made or fixed up.
My 24th birthday is almost October 15th and as a gift from my Mom, the two of us went and saw Drallion-by Cirque de Soleil! It was so good and I would definitely go again.
Saturday I went to a baby shower for an old friend from middle school. She is having a girl. I went to DDP and bought some cute socks and bows off of her registry. I can't wait to register there!

Le bump.

Cheers to a happy and healthy-ish first trimester! We are 15 weeks now, and I have an appointment tomorrow morning. Ben's mom is going with me to this one.
Up until the last week it's been pretty boring here. Then the bump happened. The BUMP.made an appearance on Wednesday. I don't wear tight clothes aver. most of my stuff doesn't show my shape, but i wore some yoga pants and a maternity shirt and va voom! People could really tell, especially my coworkers.
Le Bump:

The picture is a little squished short-ways, so the bump is actually smaller than this, but still there!!



Ben and I started a registry at Target last week. We added some basic stuff and when we find out the sex, and tell everyone on Thanksgiving, we will add a few more gender specific items. People may wonder, why is there so much blue stuff on there now? well, folks, I like the color blue, and YOU don't know the plans I have in my head for nursery stuff, so keep wondering. :)

Ben had the scan gun:

He had fun.
Saturday we had MORE scan gun fun at Babies R US. Ben and Mom and I went and added more items. I'm glad we took Mom because she thought of things we needed that I didn't even realize, and we have pretty similar tastes, so didn't have to shut her down when she handed me a pink carseat or a Winnie the pooh bed set. Yuck. (I like Winnie the pooh, only on TV.)
Also this week, I felt movement! It happens mostly at night and its not regular, just every now and then, except today, Finn was apparently having fun in there. :)
More later!
Lauren, <3



Nothing Much.

This weekend has been really nasty. We got alot of rain and wind from this tropical storm, so we stayed in most of the weekend.  Netflix, brownies, and cleaning was my weekend. I did go out Saturday with Mom and today with Ben's mom and his Meemaw and aunt. Today we went to Hobby Lobby to get some baby yarn since Meemaw is going to make a baby blanket. I chose a color close to this:

Blue Grass, on the bottom.
It is good for a boy, but also its a cute rustic color for a girl, ecspecially with the way the nursery will be decorated.
Speaking of decorating, It is officially Fall in my house now. While at Hobby Lobby, I bought a few pumpkins and pinecone things, and Voila! With things I had stored away, my new stuff looks great!

Just a little Fall!
-Lauren <3