Wordless Wednesday...

Say hello to my wittle friend... bwuaaahaahaa. I am gonna eat you ;p

Just an Update... 14 weeks pregnant

Head to bottom, your baby's 3 1/2 inches long — about the length of a lemon — and weighs about 1 1/2 ounces.
Her body's growing faster than her head, which now sits upon a more well-defined neck. By the end of this week, her arms will have lengthened and will be in proportion to the rest of her body. (Her legs still have some growing to do, though.)
She's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair all over her body (called lanugo). Her liver starts secreting bile this week, a sign that it's already functioning properly, and her spleen starts contributing to the production of red blood cells.
She's also producing and discharging urine into the amniotic fluid, a normal process that she'll keep up until birth. You still can't feel your baby's movements, but her hands and feet (which are now half an inch long) are more flexible and active.
Thanks to brain impulses, her little facial muscles are getting a workout as she squints, frowns, and grimaces. She can grasp now, too, and she may be able to suck her thumb.

Is that not the cutest thing??

A Pumpkin Extravaganza!

Here are some pictures from my Pumpking Filled Weekend!!

On Saturday, we headed to my parents house to spend time with the fam. We headed to the Farmers Market with Mocha (photgraph above) and Dexter (photographed with my brother, Drew, above). We had such a good time! We picked 4 pumpkins - one for our pumpkin spice scones and the others for carving.

I also started a great new blog called http://www.cookingintexas.blogspot.com/. It has amazing recipes, including the one for pumpkin spice scones.

It is always nice to spend time with my family! I love just being around the family chaos :)

Check out the recipes on http://www.cookingintexas.blogspot.com/!

How to land THE Job of your Dreams!!

I got an email from a friend yesterday saying

"wish me luck... I am headed for an interview today at noon!"
As a recruiter, I responded by saying "give me a call! I have 9 things, you can do, to make any company want you!"

So I thought... this would be a perfect opportunity to share those insider tricks with you! If your looking for a job, or just about go out for the interview. These are extremely helpful inside tips!

1. Bring at least 3 copies of your resume. There is nothing worse than being an interviewer and asking for a resume, only to be told, I didn't bring one. Your officially dead in the water if you say that. This resume should be printed on nice paper (not some everyday white from your printer) and not some crazy hot pink paper spritzed with perfume. Hello "Clueless anyone!" I only say this because, of course, it has happened.

2. Have 10 to 15 questions written down about the position and/or company. This is great! If you get to the point in the interview when they say... "do you have any questions?" and your response happens to be... "no, I'm good!" your really not leaving your interviewer with a good taste in their mouth. They normally assume, your not that interested. Which, in most cases, is not the case at all!

3. Dress Conservatively! It is better to be overdressed, then underdressed! A suit is always a good move, especially when interviewing for a management position. Always have a pressed shirt and ironed slacks. Remember to tuck in your shirt and wear a belt.
Now, a lot of the times we get questions like "if I show up in a suit to work, their going to know something is up, we have a casual work environment where I am now." My tip to them is to wear slacks, and a shirt/blouse. Leave your suit jacket in the car, and for men, leave the tie in the car as well. Once in your car, put on the tie and your ready to go! For women, your always aloud to use the excuse... "I have a hot date tonight!" (wink, smile)
Also, if you know that the company has "casual Fridays" and you are interviewing on a Friday... it is ok to skip the suit jacket. A shirt/blouse, tie (optional), and slacks will be fine. It is NOT ok to show up in a casual Friday outfit!!

4. Always, always, always, research the company before heading for the interview. It is customary to compliment the company on recent accomplishments! For Example, if you notice, while doing the research, that their stock has risen from $1.50 to $3.00 that is a perfect ice breaker! It lets the interviewer know, your not only interested, you know their product!

5. Always be prepared with answers to questions they might ask, such as:
Why would you be a good fit in our organization?
Why are you considering a new opportunity?
What do you know about our company?
What, about this opportunity, interested you in interviewing with us today?

6. Always answer a question with a question. This way, the conversation flows smoothly and the interview seems more like a conversation and less like a questionaire.

7. In interviewing, we recommend you speak half the time the hiring authority is speaking. When the interview is finished, all your questions should have been answered and you should walk out of the interview knowing your exact role and title.

8. Always end an interview with 2 questions.
“Do you feel that I am qualified for this position?”
“What is the next step in this process?”

This way, if the interviewer has questions regarding your ability, such as:
"I don't feel you have enough X,Y,Z..." you can reply by saying "well, in my current situation I do X all the time" and so forth. It is easier to clear a missunderstanding while you are in the room, then walk out of the room and leave the interviewer with their thoughts!

9. SMILE and RELAX!!! This is an interview... NOT an interrogation! Be the best YOU you can be! If the job is right for you, it will happen!!

My favorite quote is

"You spend 33.3% of your time working, 33.3% of your time playing and 33.3% of your time sleeping.
If you take away the sleep, you spend 50% of your time working!! Why not love the job you have!!"

*Now all you readers out there that don't comment... leave a comment. Tell us your interview tips! Or tell us a funny story about an interview you had.

Desperatly Seeking Advice...

Thanks for the advice:
After reading your comments I realize, G was in the right. I just wanted to say thanks so much for all the comments. I will let you know what happens with the job.

There are two parts to this, so the more advice you can give me, the better!

Part One: I used to work for this guy, we will call him G, at a recruiting firm here in Dallas. It was, perhaps, the best job I ever had. Granted, it was stressful, the people I worked with were all crazy (most of them were 40 going on 20) and it was some crazy hours (most of the time I was there at 7am and didn't leave until at least 6pm.) The best part was I got to talk on the phone all day, talk to awesome people, and I had the potential to make a crapload of money! Which I was on track to do! G, was awesome as well. We got along great, I had lunch with his wife every so often, and it was just an all around wonderful environment with a wonderful boss!

Then I hit a speedbump. My hubby started traveling and I started spending more time with the crazies! A very bad recipe!! I got so sidetracked by the crazies, I wasn't paying as much attention to my relationship as I needed to. After a long talk with my hubby we decided, #1. I could do this on my own (with no bosses and no crazies) and #2. I would be happier working at home, with my own hours.

So... that is what we did. I got with my mom (who already had a recruiting company) and we tried to do our own thing. Along the way, some major things happened. Such as, my mom stopped working, I got pregnant, lost the baby and went into the hospital where I almost died.

When I got out the hospital, during my recouperation, I really assesed my life and what I wanted out of it. I realized, I loved what I did, and if there was a way to work for G, from a distance, I needed to pursue that. So that is what I did. I said I would work, from home, while also working on other things. He was fine with that and we settled on if I placed a candidate, I would get some money.

Then as the bills, from the hospital, started rolling in. My hubby and I decided I needed another job. Not one as stressful as G's job or even full time, just something to help with groceries and things. So that is what I got. I have this amazing job, where I get to talk on the phone, in a completely stress free environment, and I only work 3 days a week! It really suits me! Not to mention, the other 2 days, I work for G, as much as I can muster (being pregnant.)

Here is where your advice would be appreciated:
When I worked for G, in the office, he was kind of a micro-manager. Always wanted to know what I was working on, looking at how many calls I made and so forth. I thought... since not working directly for him that would change. It, unfortunately, has not.

I got a text today that said
G: "I have a business to run, so I need to know if you are working on the searches and how much effort you are putting into this. If you are not interested in working these searches, you need to tell me so that I am able to find help. I don't want to hire someone that is going to compete with your candidates and then you not get paid."
My Response: "I am sorry for not working on the searches last night, I was tired and I took a nap. I thought, since I was a consultant, I was not under any obligation to work a certain number of hours or make a certain number of calls."

How would you solve this? I have an "ex" boss, who is a friend, who wants me to give him 100% when I have only commited to 30%. I also, have a part time, non stress job, that suits me well. I am pregnant and tired, not to mention the chores at my house are piling? What should I do about G??

Part Two: All you moms, working ladies and super time jugglers... let me know how you do it! I had to admit my hubby does a lot, when he is in town. The problem I now find is there is never enough time to get to the laundry, the dishes, the cooking, the vacuuming and the toilets and showers done. Unless I never take a moment to breathe, things are always waiting to be done.
I would love to know the secrets!!

Job Dilema... Part Deux

First I want to start off by saying thanks for all the advice given this past week about my crazy job dilema. I was really frusterated with the situation and I knew things had to be changed, I just didn't know what I wanted to change.

Currently I work for this great State Farm agent, where I call customers and let them know it is time for an insurance review. It is very easy, stress free, I get to design my own hours and it is a really nice environment. Not to mention I get to get out of the house for a couple hours a week. It is not a lot of money, but it pays the bills and it is enough money to be happy and get the things I want (ex: mani/pedi's and a maid).

I have also been offered a job with my "ex" boss to continue recruiting for him. I would be working on searches (lots of stress) and it would be a lot more work. It is only a dollar more an hour, however there is the potential to make an additional $6,000 in the next 6 months that I will be working until the baby arrives. Granted, it is a lot more "potential" money, but it will entail a lot more effort, stess, and I would work from my home (which in a lot of cases is a plus - but just to get out of the house sometimes is nice too!)

I really feel I am at a strange crossroads. My husband says to do what I want and my heart says to make the most money and suck it up, but I know deep down the recruiting job is going to be SO much more work and stress.

So the question to all of you... is do you do it for the money (just for 6 months) and say screw the stress, I'll deal with it, or do I do what is easy and stress free and enough money???

Wordless Wednesday

This is my cat, Basil, trying to be dramatic :)

One of THE most amazing days of my life!!

Yesterday M and I headed to the OB at around 2 in the afternoon. I was a little trepidatious just because they were going to do the Down Syndrome Test. Now, as a soon to be parent, I have noticed I have started worrying more than normal. Some times I worry about gaining too much weight, other times it is not eating right, and other times it is simply am I doing everything I can to make this a healthy baby? Matt and I hadn't even discussed the possibility of Down Syndrome, because we didn't want to prematurely worry. We just wanted to cross that bridge (God Forbid) we got there.

So as I walked into the OB's office I noticed the butterfly's started whirling around my stomach. I was so nervous and excited and worried I couldn't even sit still in the seat. I know this was only our 13 week apt but this was a HUGE milestone in both of our lives.

Finally (not really, we waited like 10 min) we were escorted into the sono room. Some jelly was squirted on my 4lb belly and.... there He/She was. SO BEAUTIFUL!! We could see baby immediately! Baby just popped up there, squirmed some, waved at us and finally hiccupped!

Then, just as I thought that moment could not get any better, Baby stayed in place perfectly enough for the tech to tell us, Baby was absolutely normal. No signs, whatsoever, of Down Syndrome. I have to admit I almost just burst into tears. Not only could I see our 3 inch baby, He/She was pefect!!!!

As we sat there, intently staring at the screen, Baby did all sorts of things. We got pictures of Baby's fee, Baby's arm (waving), and Baby's beautiful profile!!

As I left the sono room, I could just feel the emotion swelling inside. Then we went in to see the doctor. He said everything looks awesome. He was sorry I was still nauseas and still throwing up, but nothing that day was going to take the smile off my face!!

Baby... our baby was a perfect 3 1/2" :)

There is a picture up top of the best shot!! So photogenic our baby is already. And Lord knows that is a good thing with the Mother-in-Law I have!!

Not to mention, some of the best news yet... at 20 weeks, which for us falls one week before Christmas, we find out the sex. Now our Baby will either be Brady Matthew or Isabella Josephine!

For All the Animal Lovers Out There

In the wake of "IggyGate" (Ellen Degeneres' plea to get the dog, Iggy, back to her hairdressers family - because the adoption place didn't allow dogs to be adopted to family's w/ children under the age of 14) and the NBC News Story(read more here - http://www.nbc5i.com/news/14392168/detail.html?dl=headlineclick) of a woman's dog being beaten to death by some golfer. I just wanted to reach out to all the animal lovers and plea for the insanity to stop!!

My hubby and I have 3 amazing animals that we saved from the ASPCA.

A little background for you, my hubby and I have lived together for 5 years, but only have been married for 3. Throughout my childhood I was dying to get a dog, but my poor mother was deathly allergic. She even tried to get me a puppy when I was 10 or so and just as she was about to tell me we could keep him, she had to be rushed to the hospital for a very bad asthma attack. Needless to say that was the last pet we ever tried to have :(
My hubby, on the other hand, grew up with both Cats and Dogs.

So for our very first Easter together we decided we were going to get a Cat. I have never been a cat person, but I gotta say, once I layed eyes on that guy (his name is Basil and his picture is above) I fell deeply in love!! We took him home and he has been my amazing pet for almost 5 years!
Then as the years progressed we got another cat, he is older and was a stray for over 2 years, his name is Sammy. And then finally to round it off, we got our only dog, Mochachino. He is a Chihuahua/Terrior Mix. He is so loving and so small!!

Here is the thing... I am 13 weeks pregnant now, and as I was laying in bed last night, cuddling with Basil, I thought... am I always going to love Basil more than the rest of the animals?? Is your first animal (or child) always going to have a special place in your heart??
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Sammy and Mochachino!! But is there just a special place in your heart for that very first pet??
You see... I want 3 children... and I am worried that once I have this first one I won't want any others, because the love of that child will be overwhelming and then if a second or third child does come along... will I love them more? or the same? Or God Forbid less??

All you readers out there with multiple animals or children let me hear what you think!

Ciao for now,
~Andrea

A Totally Random Blog

So many things happened this weekend, I just thought I would lump it all in one!

First, we got a very pleasant surprise! We had lunch with Chad and Bri on Saturday. It was so awesome catching up with both of them!! I miss hanging out with those guys. Here is a picture from Chad's last dinner in Dallas.

Then, unfortunately, Chad got a flat tire, but the good news was we got to spend all weekend with him. It is so funny to have a "brother like" figure hanging out to help us with stuff around the house.

On a totaly random note...

We grow Basil, Rosemary, and Bell and Jalepeno Peppers. The picture up there are all the peppers we just picked today. OH My Gosh! If you want some fresh Japs or Bell Peppers feel free to email me :)

And finally, I read this awesome blog called Ms Adventures in Italy. She is this American Gal in Italy and lets us know all about the difference in culture, not to mention all the cool places to visit!

So, as I was reading, I noticed there are all these awesome recipes! I clicked on

http://www.pinchmysalt.com/ and found an AWESOME recipe for Pumpkin Scones! Woo Hoo!

Here is the recipe from her page.

Pumpkin Spice Scones
1 C. all purpose flour
1 C. cake flour
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. ground nutmeg
1/4 t. ground allspice
1/4 t. ground ginger
6 T. unsalted butter
1/2 C. raisins (optional)
1/3 C. pumpkin puree
1/3 C. heavy cream
6 T. brown sugar
1 t. vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Get out a baking sheet and line with parchment paper (not required but makes cleanup easy!). Cut the butter into small pieces, put it in a small bowl and put it back in the refridgerator. In a medium bowl, combine both flours, baking powder, salt, and all spices. Whisk together well. Place bowl in freezer (refrigerator is fine if you have no room in freezer).
2. In a separate bowl, combine pumpkin, heavy cream, brown sugar, and vanilla. Whisk together well. Put this bowl in freezer (or refrigerator) and take the other bowl back out. Get the butter pieces out of the fridge and dump them into the bowl with the flour mixture. Cut the butter into the flour using a pastry blender or rub it in with your fingertips until it resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the raisins if you are using them.
3. Get the liquid mixture out of the freezer and pour into the flour mixture all at once. Stir with a wooden spoon until everything is just moistened. The dough will be very crumbly, this is the way it should be. Turn the mixture out onto the counter and push the pile together with your hands. It should stick together fairly well. Knead it just a couple of times until everything is together. Don’t knead it too much or the dough will get too sticky.
4. Pat the dough out into a rough circle, 3/4 to 1 inch thick. Cut it like a pie into 8 pieces. Place pieces on the baking sheet so that they are not touching. Bake scones for about 15 minutes at 425 degrees. They should be light brown on the bottom, the tops will darken as they cool.

Icing: For ginger molasses icing, stir together 1 T. molasses, 1-2 T. milk, and 1/4 - 1/2 t. ground ginger (to taste). Adjust the amount of sugar or milk to make the icing the consistency you want. It should be pretty thick. For cinnamon icing, mix together 1 C. powdered sugar, 2 T. milk, 1/4 - 1/2 t. cinnamon (to taste). Again, adjust amounts to change consistency. Icing can be brushed on or drizzled.

A Ruined Evening :(

So yesterday I was SO excited about our ladies dinner! Missy put together this awesome dinner for just the ladies. Apparently when your a new momma it is a rare occasion to wear earings, a necklace and lipstick (love you Michelle!) So all 6 of us headed to this nice Pizzaria for dinner. I showed up first and put our names on the list to wait for a table.

As I sat there I had a pretty bad headache, but I tried to ignore it and think to myself that it would go away if I just didn't think about it. I don't know if any other preggo gals gets headaches, but I get these headaches that really knock you for a loop. Plus I am allergic to Tylenol, so I can't really take anything for them.

As all the girls started to arrive, I realized my headache wasn't going anywhere, but I was having so much fun I just didn't want to leave. We finally sat down and ordered some apps. As we waited for the appetizers I realized things were progressively getting worse! The smells of the restaurant were really getting me nauseas and no matter how much lemon I put in my water (Docs say the tartness of lemon is a natural way to cure nausea - the best is lemonade) this wasn't going away!

As I sat there in the corner I thought, I am going to hurl. I quickly threw some money on the table, grabbed my bag and jetted out the door, wishing my friends goodbye as quickly as I could. I ran to my car and just sat there trying to regain my composure. I buckled myself in, called my hubby, and set to head home.

Unfortunately, while in the left turning lane onto the highway, I just started throwing up. It was so weird, it was non stop and no matter what I did it went everywhere. All over me, my beautiful car and there was no stopping it. I finally got home, took a shower, and went to bed.

It was just so sad that I had to leave a great night of laughs and ladies.

Too Much Weight??

My nature is to naturally worry... maybe too much sometimes.

So everything I read about being pregnant keeps telling me you won't be in maternity pants for at least a couple of weeks. My friends, however, tell me they were in maternity pants by 6-8 weeks. I don't know what is right and what is wrong? I do know that every peson is different... and I get that. I just really hope I am not gaining too much weight?

This morning I put on my black maternity pants (still a little big, but I am sure I will grow into them) and a normal top. As I look at the profile in the mirror I noticed I had a little pouch... noticable through my clothes?

So I ask all you friends and preggo woman... is this too early, do I need to hold back on the food? What is going on? I think I only gained 3 lbs. If you have a normally flat stomach and you put on 3 lbs of baby weight... should your stomach already be protruding??

Naturally... I am worried!

12 Weeks/3 Months!!! WOW!!

Your baby's hit the 2-inch mark (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce. Her face is beginning to look more human. Her eyes, which started out on the sides of her head, have moved closer together on her face, and her ears are near their final positions on the sides of her head.
Your baby's intestines, which have grown so rapidly that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into her abdominal cavity about now. Her kidneys are secreting urine into her bladder. Her nerve cells have been multiplying rapidly, and synapses (neurological pathways in the brain) are forming. Your baby may have acquired more reflexes by now, including sucking, and she'll even squirm if you prod your abdomen, though you still won't be able to feel her movement for several weeks.

Inventions you couldn't do without...

Tuesday is Great Invention Day!!

I am officially making Tuesday's ... great invention day!! Give a shout out to those inventions you couldn't do without!

Today my greatest invention is the orange peely thing. I have no idea what the real name of it is, but being pregnant I am Loving the Grapefruits. What I love equally is the person that came up with that plastic tool that you stick in the skin and drag, so that they are easy to peel.

WOO HOO! Orange/Grapefruit skin peely thing!! You make my Tuesday happy!

Deceptively Delicious

Ok... all you Oprah buffs out there, you have GOT to check this cook book out. As you all know I am a very picky eater, but not like most picky eaters. I would so much rather eat a vegitable than any type of meat. The problem... my lovely husband is just the opposite. The man won't even eat eggs unless there is beacon or sausage present. In our 5 years together I have slowly but surely changed his eating habits... for the better. When I first met him he would cook me organic fish with a cream sherry sauce and Texas Toast. Lord knows it is good, I just can't eat like that all the time!

Now he is more likely to skip the carbs and eat some broccoli or cauliflower for dinner :) So this morning I was watching my tivo'd Oprah and saw Jessica Seinfelds book... Deceptively Delicious. This is the answer I hace been waiting for. I cannot wait to try these recipes. If you want the recipes I have posted some below or I just bought the book on Amazon for only $15 bucks! Seriously awesome!!

Chicken Nuggets (with Broccoli or Spinach or Sweet Potato or Beet)
Created by Jessica Seinfeld

INGREDIENTS
1 cup whole-wheat, white or panko (Japanese) breadcrumbs
1/2 cup flaxseed meal
1 Tbsp. grated Parmesan
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 cup broccoli or spinach or sweet potato or beet puree
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast or chicken tenders, rinsed, dried and cut into small chunks 1/2 tsp. salt
Nonstick cooking spray
1 Tbsp. olive oil

In a bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, flaxseed meal, Parmesan, paprika, garlic and onion powder on the paper or foil and mix well with your fingers. In a shallow bowl, mix the vegetable puree and egg with a fork and set the bowl next to the breadcrumb mixture. Sprinkle the chicken chunks with the salt. Dip the chunks into the egg mixture and then toss them in the breadcrumbs until completely coated. Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and set over medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot, add the oil. Place the chicken nuggets in the skillet in a single layer, being careful not to crowd the pan, and cook until crisp and golden on one side, 3 to 4 minutes. Then turn and cook until the chicken is cooked through, golden brown and crisp all over, 4 to 5 minutes longer. (Cut through a piece to check that it's cooked through.) Serve warm.

The key to the puree is on Oprah.com!

Macaroni and Cheese!

1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni
Nonstick cooking spray
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/2 cup nonfat (skim) milk
1/2 cup butternut or cauliflower puree
1 1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese (about 8 oz.)
4 oz. (almost 1/4 cup) reduced-fat or nonfat cream cheese
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. paprika
1/8 tsp. pepper

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the macaroni and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain in a colander. While the macaroni is cooking, coat a large saucepan with cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add the oil, then the flour, and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture resembles a thick paste but has not browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the milk and cook, stirring every now and then, until the mixture begins to thicken, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the vegetable puree, Cheddar, cream cheese and seasonings and stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Stir in the macaroni and serve warm.

Shopping, Babies and Friends!!

Today was so awesome. As most you know I have these two amazing friends... who are also mommies! They really get me ready for what I am about to experience with the baby. I see boobies and crying babies. Happy babies and sleepy babies. Babies that only want Momma and babies that are happy to see almost anyone.

So one of those amazing women decided to get us gals together and go shopping at this 380 trade days! I have to say I have never been, but it was SO awesome. I bought this beautiful cross and got to just walk around on a gorgeous day! We had 5 women, 2 pregnant, the rest with children. It was so much fun to hang with the baby brigade.

As a mom to be... my advice to you ladies is soack in all the wisdom of Moms. They know more then they could ever share and you can see it in their eyes just how their lives have been altered by such a little beautiful thing!

Ciao Bellas!

I am officially in materninty pants!!

So about two weekends ago Matt and I ventured out to get some maternity pants. I know what your thinking, Why??, but I have already gained 2 lbs, which I am hoping is normal.

So we went to Gap first (because I buy their clothes there regularly) so I figured Gap maternity would be an easy place to shop first. We get there and realize all they have are 2's and 4's maternity which are ginormous on me. Maybe it is because my hips haven't spread as big as normal or you are supposed to grow into them or something? Who knows. They didn't fit. Not to mention every inseam I tried on was a 34. Considering I am 5" nothing... that didn't work!

Then we headed to Motherhood Maternity... I heard great things about it and thought it would be my saviour. WOW was I wrong! First of all they only have S, M, and L... in everything! I am sorry... what? What if your an XS, what if your an XL... come on? What is this 3 sizes fit all. Those 3 sizes didn't even come close to fitting.

I am was so frusterated by the end I was almost in tears. Then I went back to GAP to pick up some shirts and at the cash register the lady asks me if I need a gift receipt. Maybe they ask all the people that because they don't want to be rude, but for some reason that got to me! I said no, they were for me and she began laughing. Look... I understand I am small and petite and a lot of people would die for my figure, but when you 10 weeks preggo and looking for things that make you feel as beautiful as you wished you looked, I don't need things to be 8 times too big and the get laughed at if I want to buy flouncy shirts!

Finally, I headed online (about 2 days later, after my greif had dissapeared) and went to GAP online. I certainly found what I needed. A 0 maternity and short ass legs :) I got my first shippment yesterday and I was SO happy, I almost fell over. I know they are not the cutest things but damn I wish I could wear maternity jeans with everything :) I have to return a skirt but my maternity woes are certainly looking up!

Here's to many more glorious maternity shopping days... ONLINE!

11 Weeks and G-I-A-N-T-S... YES!!

Your fig-size baby is now fully formed — measuring 1 1/2 inches long and weighing a quarter of an ounce. His skin is still transparent, allowing his blood vessels to show through. Some of his bones are beginning to harden. His fingers and toes have separated, and he may soon be able to open and close his fists. He's busy kicking and stretching, but because he's still so small, you won't feel any of his aquatic workouts for another month or so. As your baby's diaphragm develops, he may also start getting the hiccups.

So amazing!

As for the GIANTS! They killed the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets in 35 - 24 victory... woo pie!

Childlike Instinct??

I think when your young you automatically gravitate towards people that interest you. Make you questions things in life, and generally amuse you! In my case, since we moved so often, I had to figure that out pretty darn quickly.

What I have come to realize, in my 26 years on this earth, is that the friends I had when I was young, seem to be TRUE friends! Now I say this in the kindest sense. It is not that I don't have friends, that I have met recently (in the scheme of things) that aren't amazing people to be around!

I just feel an amazing connection to the friends I once had, who are friends yet again. I know I am probably not making any sense... let me summarize... I truly believe that kids have an inate instinct about people. They can call it like it is and don't really care what the other person thinks. When I was 0-9yrs we lived in VA, and me and these 2 girls were THE BEST of friends. Why... who knows?? One lived down the street... yes... the other, our parents met in lamaze class?? Now, as I have re-connected with them, we have SO much in common, and we generally seem to get one another.

It just seems to me between the ages of 16 to 19, maybe you don't know yourself as well as when you were 6-9? Who knows? I just know, I am experiencing some of the best old friends a girl could ask for, and some newer friends that just don't cut it. But also some newer friends that are completely amazing and I wouldn't know what to do without them!

Children... absolutely amazing!

Two AMAZING Doc's apt's

So, as most of you know my health has been sort of up and down this year. One minute your fine and having a baby, then next your kidneys are failing and your dying on an operating room table, and then next minute you are a Healthy 26 yr old girl expecting her first child.... whew! What a year!

So today I went and saw a specialist GI guy. I waited 4 months to see him, so I was kind of expecting a lot. When I finally got there, in the morning rain, I had a really good feeling about it. I spoke to the unenthusiastic nurse and was brought to my room. As I waited for the doctor I had a thought that this is exactly where I needed to be. So, finally, the doc came into the room. He was a balding, 5"6 gentleman, very soft spoken. He asked why I was there and I tried to explain to the best of my ability. As we started speaking he asked me some weird questions, such as do you get motion sickness "YES, the worst!" was my reply, then he asked what happened when I took the drug zofran (they use it for Chemo patients with nausea) and I told him how it didn't work. Then he brought nurse in and asked me to do this weird test. He said close your eyes, cover your ears and march in place for one whole minute. I did so adn was absolutely amazed when I woke up. When I started my back was to the wall and I was facing the table, when I opened my eyes, I was facing the door and my right elbow was touching the wall. "How did I get so turned around?" He tells me with a very straight face. You have no GI problems, you simply have a very bad case of Vertigo. In other words your ear canal is off balance, making you off balance, and making you nauseas. The reason Zofran didn't work is because it fixes the nausea in you belly, which you didn't have, the reason the promethezine works is because it has a balancing agent. SO weird! I go to the GI and find out I have an ear problem. I was SO releived.

Then I head to my OB apt. The nurses take some blood, take my weight (I have gained 2 lbs... very exciting) and I pee in a cup. Then I head to the OB room to hear the baby's heart beat. As he prepares the doppler I can feel the emotion whirling in the my stomach.

Finally he puts the doppler on my stomach and there it is... a whooshing heartbeat and around 150 beats per minute. SO EXCITING!!

I have never been too happy with going to the doctor, but I feel this could be a great sign of brand new, HEALTHY, things to come!

10 weeks, I can't believe it!!

Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

Hot Tea, Facials and Football!!

All I have to say is I LOVE being a tomboy! I don't know what I would do if there weren't football in the fall!

Yesterday I had a WONDERFUL day with my Matt, my parents and Drew. Daddy made me eggplant and we sat around watching football. It doesn't get any better than that.

Then I came home to watch my Giants conquer the Eagles (with 11 Sacs from Osi Umenyora) in a 16-3 victory. A nice glass of Hot tea and a facial and a win, I couldn't ask for much more.