Oh Tony . . .
Thursday, January 29, 2009
- In response to watching an ad for NBC's made for tv movie of The Last Templar: "You know that's based on National Treasure." {One of Ton's all time favorite movies} He was shocked when I told him that it was actually a best seller.
Updates
Monday, January 26, 2009
- Tony made due on his goal to finish the tiling this weekend!


Next up, he'll grout, caulk, install the toilet, caulk, install the pedestal sink, caulk, affix the handles for the faucets and hang the mirror, before moving on up to the main level bathroom!
Don't be expecting a pretty, well decorated bathroom to come out of this space for at least a year though. I never got that far. Thankfully we've been purchasing the necessary items for this bathroom, the upstairs bath and the nursery fixeroo for quite some time so everything is on hand, without additional expense . . . with the exception of accessories, the upstairs vanity {being built by my father in law}, and the countertop {which will be bought this week on sale at Menards}. Sorry to disappoint D&R girls, limited funds.
- My first day at my new employment went well! It was extremely surreal for me to board my bus again, after almost a year, especially to go to a new destination. I did not like paying the $3 both ways either. Yikes. My Metro Pass can't come soon enough!
Tony and I are talking through our insurance options right now, combined with the very real reality that I may not be eligible for short term disability, which would mean an unpaid maternity leave . . . so that's fun to think about. I've been reminded quite frequently throughout the afternoon and evening though, that I should increasingly be thankful for the job in and of itself, so I'm focusing on that!
So far everyone seems really nice! I can already tell that I'll need to majorly mind my mouth, so that ever sentence doesn't start with "Well, when I was at Target . . . "
(I HATE WHEN ENTER DOESN'T WORK or BLOGGER DOESN'T APPLY EDITS!)
A bit of a scare.
Sunday, January 25, 2009

Unfortunately, she was rushed to the hospital by ambulance at 12:30 this morning, again for her heart. She was admitted to the ER during the early morning hours, before she was released at 5:30. It was during the release this morning that she gave us all a bit of a scare. She "fainted," but maintains that she never loss consciousness, just the ability to respond. Thankfully she was still at the hospital, because they think she may have had a mild stroke. Her cognitive skills are still intact and there was no paralysis, but it took several hours for her to start speaking coherently again . . . the main point being, she is talking coherently and without much difficulty! praise the Lord!
Tony and I were able to spend some time at the hospital with her and the family today and the progress of her speech was quite amazing. She is being admitted again, as they are running a series of tests to determine if she did suffer a stroke.
I'd appreciate any prayers you'd be willing to say on behalf of the sweetest, strongest woman I've ever known. My son needs to know his great grandma, if for no other reason than his Momma wouldn't know how to operate without her.
Nursery progress.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
So, I'm not sure if every one is aware of how small our house is, because it's small. The exterior walls are 24' by 24'. Instead of a stamp sized lot in the city, we have stamp sized house on a large lot. Going into purchasing this house we had big dreams, only one of which has come to fruition, so far. We plan to stay here hopefully for the rest of our lives, by adding on and renovating it. The next project is tackling the bathroom {yes, we only have one} . . . which has been in progress for quite some time.
Since we are stealing the closet out of the nursery to swing our tub and shower into, to free up space, the pressure is really on Tony now to get the bathrooms finished so that we have a nursery space to work on!
Before gutting this bathroom though, Tony had the fantastic idea of adding a bathroom to our basement so that we wouldn't have to be taking our showers elsewhere, let alone being left without a toilet facility. So taking this back corner {previous owners schtuff} and . . .






I'm that pregnant girl.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
While I can be a bit of a worrier, you will not find me stressed out about meeting new people. I know that not everyone will like me, but it's not worth my time to worry about whether or not people will. From what I've gathered in life so far, if I go in, do my thing, present myself as I am, and pick up things relatively fast, it'll go fine and I'll befriend enough people to make my time enjoyable.
Additionally, while I was both under and overqualified for this position, I can do this new job. Sure there will be a learning curve and I'm sure a fair amount of frustration, but from the sounds of it, I should enjoy the challenges.
What is finally hitting me about starting this new position is that I'll never actually be who I think of as Leah to my new co-workers. I will first and foremost be pregnant Leah, followed by maternity leave Leah, and then finally new Mom Leah. When I first started with Target Corp, it was much the same. I was in a class of my peers, but I was one of only 4 who were married and I was defined by it.
No one will know that I was captain of my college soccer team, because no one will think to ask what my hobbies are or what I do in my free time, instead I'll face focused questions on the pregnancy. That saddens me, because this pregnancy does not define me, and yet it will, without my permission.
Is there something in my teeth?

The qualifications are:
A. Display a cheerful attitude
B. Love one another
C. Make mistakes
D. Learn from others
E. Be a positive contributor to the blog world
G. Love kids
And the rules:
1. Must link it back to the creator
2. Post the rules
3. Choose 5 people to give it to
4. Recipients must fit the characteristics above
5. Create a post to share this
6. You must thank the winner
I'm not sure why I tend to ignore awards, I don't think that they're silly. I'm deeply honored when I receive them . . . I just don't know!
Karen - has maintained a steadfast cheerful attitude to the blogging world through her ttc journey and adventures in decorating and renovating.
AJ - is my girl. While we're not necessarily close enough in proximity to drop over at each other's houses unannounced, AJ has been a huge support to me this past year.
Emily - her blog name is imperfect. How can I not love this girl?
Hbee - in my mind, she writes like I do. Hilarious or heartbreaking, you can't help but know that she's expressing it how she sees it or has experienced it.
Ashley - bless her heart, Ashley is one of the sweetest Southern girls that I've ever come across. Her relationship with her husband is strong, as is her relationship with Jesus.
How can I be more honest?
Monday, January 19, 2009

The lovely little d.a.r awarded me this scrap metal award and while I'm usually so good at ignoring awards, I thought I'd like to participate in this one!
The rules are as follows:
1) Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design.
2) Show the 7 winners names and links on your blog, and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with "Honest Scrap." Well, there's no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon.
3) List at least 10 honest things about yourself.
So here goes . . .
1). Sometimes I've overwhelmed with the thought that Tony may love me more than I love him. I am quick to remind myself though that falling in love, being in love and actually loving someone are all very different. Loving someone is a choice you not only make daily, you must make hourly, if not by the minute, in order to affirm that love.
2). I've never had a hero. Some of my best creative writing came from writing essays about my hero, as we so often had to do growing up. I never had a subject, so I just had to come up with someone I could make a supporting arguement for.
3). Motherhood is not something I ever aspired to accomplish. I did not dream of this day fast approaching. I knew I would someday be a mother, but I always second guessed my mothering ability. To some extent I still do.
4). About this time every year I go through an identity crisis, usually stemming from my hatred towards my physical self. It generally takes a few days of wallowing before I finally remember that it's the middle of winter in Minnesota, I'm beyond pale, my body isn't toned and my hair color no longer compliments my skin tone. It's generally fixed by a cut and color appointment, which I have scheduled next week curtesy of my Mom, again.
5). Sometimes I think my friends over-estimate what I am truly capable of, but I rarely think that I am under-estimating what I can deliver.
6). If I could eat Thai food for one meal everyday for the rest of my life, I would never get sick of it.
7). I love photography, I just don't know it's place in my life.
8). Sometimes I feel as though when reading your blog's that you are having a literal conversation with me. And I truly mean me, not the blogging community, just me.
9). I seem to attract fake friends. You know, the ones who always want to get together with you, but if they were facing a terrible situation they would never call on your for help, instead they would sit there with a smile on their face and say that everyting was "fine." I hate that. It has nothing to do with being stubborn or having a lot of pride and everything to do with not letting people in. These fake friends also seem to be the hardest to shake. I'm sorry, but if you can't tell me you're frickin pissed about something in your life, I don't want to hear how glossy perfect it is either.
10). I truly do have a tendency to overshare in real life. The honesty that so often I hear praise for in comments to this blog provides a lot of humor, but almost equal amounts of pain to those I get to call my friends in real life.
Holy crap, that was sporadic.
Now I call on these beauties: amberdenae, chelsie, meredith, erin, chelsea, sarah, kaitlyn, andrea, julia, and kristal.
25weeks
Sunday, January 18, 2009

The other night while in bed, I spooned up behind Tony, with my legs rounding back behind his, so that my stomach was meshed to his back and butt. Just as I settled into this position, our baby boy started up some kicking antics. I immediately asked Tony if he could feel the kicks.
Me: "Can you feel your son? Kicking your butt?!"
Ton: "Yes, and I'm sure it won't be the last time he does."
Hah!
Apparently I'm in for some fluid retention, particularity in the facial area, and I dare say that I think it's presence is noticed. Additionally the top of my uterus is now between my bellybutton and my ribcage, who knew?
Also to be noted,
"Your increasing size may cause increasing discomfort. You might be experiencing back pain, leg cramps, headaches and pressure around your pelvic area. " Let's just say there's a resounding YES.
Sleeping and I are still failing to align our schedules, as it seems I'm only good until about 3:00am before I awake to back pain. New this week are the frequent leg cramps, oddly enough on the outside of my shin, something in all of my years of soccer and running, I have never experienced. I'd have to say that the oddest pain though has been that of my pelvic area, let's be honest my vag hurts. It's peculiar.
Also, for the first time in my life, I've been seeing stars. Growing up, I always thought that the stars drawn for cartoons were goofy looking things and I often wondered what on earth people actually saw that related to the cartoons! Now I know. I also know that seeing stars is not something to be particularly worried about and that they are associated with a drop in blood pressure, however, what does concern me is that I'm seeing stars without provocation.
It should also be brought up that although I'm well past halfway of this pregnancy, I'm trying to just now cut the caffeine. Caffeine and alcohol {along with soft cheeses, hot dogs and lunch meat} are definitely hot topics, but I think that most can agree that some form of moderation is acceptable. That is not to say that I've been drinking alcohol {I haven't had a precious sip}, but if the people in my life weren't so set against it, I probably would. Just as I have eaten lunch meat and my fabulous blue cheese and feta! Sorry, I'm off on a tangent. Caffeine. Back to the point. Some doctors say to abstain, other's allow 2 cups, so I've felt very middle of the line with my 1 cup a day {I have cut out Diet Coke altogether, although that was surprisingly easy and required little discipline}. Now that I feel Baby Bless kicking though, it has been very disconcerting to realize that eating my breakfast and downing my coffee is now simultaneous with Baby Bless' first movements of the day. I do understand that some of the kicking can be attributed to breakfast . . .but it's just not good enough for me. So Tony has supported me this past week in changing our morning joe to 1/2 decaf, 1/2 regular in a 2 week progression to a caffeine free Leah!
One last pregnancy related story . . . at my serving job, there is the cutest little 19 year old server. I mean honestly adorable with just the most pleasant personality ever! If it isn't clear, I'm quite enamored with her . . . and she's lucky I am!
Casey: "You know, Leah, every time I see you, I swear your butt has gotten bigger!"
Me: "I can't believe you would say that to me!!!"
Casey: "No, no! It's a good thing! Guys love it! I'm jealous is why I notice."
Me: "Yeah, I know, my husband is a fan, but honestly, I can't BELIEVE you said that to me."
Casey: "Well, I'm sorry, but it is and I think it's a good thing!"
Recap:
Baby bless is 1.5 lbs (not 20).
Our son is already kicking his Daddy's butt!
Sleep is still not my friend, but leg cramps and back aches are.
Seeing stars is not as comical as I'd imagined.
I'm trying to cut out caffeine, currently doing 1/2 decaf, 1/2 regular.
My butt is H-U-G-E.
Ooof-da!

-44 even at 9am that morning with windchill! We Minnesotans surely are hardy people.
On bedding . . .
Thursday, January 15, 2009
It was instant like, but as with so many others, I could do without the cutesy turtles . . . everything else, from the clean blue and green lines to the wonderful topstitching? Love.
Giggling turtles as it's called, isn't a fortune at $250, but it's also not a steal, especially not when with a few little tweaks I could love it fully. This of course let me to call my Mom to discuss our resources and wouldn't you know it, she took on the challenge fully!
So with the help of this pattern (please ignore the frilly flowers lol), with the inspiration of giggling turtles.
And these fun materials, with a few missing solids . . . Baby bless is going to end up with a fabulous bedding set, all made my his talented grandma!
Randoms.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
- Telling work went very well, almost scarily well.
- Tony's been notified that he's been selected for jury duty in February.
- Easy Mac is delicious.
- I really was wearing two pairs of Spanx at my interview.
- My treadmill and I are friends again.
- It was -18 this morning, not including windchill . . . and Thursday is supposed to be colder.
24weeks
Sunday, January 11, 2009


Supposedly Baby Bless sleeps and wakes in a more regular pattern now, and I am to notice that he is particularly active when you are resting. Which actually, yes, does seem to be true. Speaking of which . . . Tony felt his kick for the first time Thursday night and we could actually see my stomach move today!
Breaking up.
Friday, January 9, 2009
The past 4 weeks have been a very odd time for me here, especially since the majority of my job seemed to have been spirited away by the partners. I had two very specific tasks, first to assemble and distribute our client Christmas gifts and second to create and deliver our proposal. Now that I am finished, I have no idea what is expected out of me, since the partners are busy meeting with the clients that I normally would . . . but I'm not being invited, nor are important recaps being given. I'm supposed to be finalizing a marketing plan, I started a few months ago, but as time went on I realized that it would just be my marketing plan, because I wasn't actually being included in the partner's conversations regarding the coming year. It's such a mess, which again brings me back to the relief and disappointment.
I'm breaking up with a boyfriend who tried to do right, but just wasn't prepared for the commitment and in the end just liked doing things the way he was prior to ever knowing me.
Quick Sugar Free (Delicious) Dessert
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Raspberry Chocolate "Pie"
1 large box of Jello Sugar Free Chocolate Pudding
2 containers of raspberries
1 jar of Polaner's seedless raspberry all fruit spread (halved)
2 cups milk
1 premade graham cracker crust
Take the first half of the Polaner's and spread on the sides and bottom of the crust. Next take one container of raspberries and layer on the crust, followed by spreading the remainder of the Polaner's acting as a filling. Next whip together the Jello pudding with the 2 cups milk, detracting 1 cup from the box's directions to make it thicker and sweeter. Once it has set pour on top of the raspberries/spread, use the remaining container to decorate the top of the "pie."
Delicious and all on sale! :)
Interview Recap
Wednesday, January 7, 2009



Pregnancy related.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Additionally, there is no shortage of sweet sweet smiles given to me by my male friends, brother and husband. It's just the cutest thing to catch them staring at my stomach with a little crooked smile as they think of the possibilities. Unfortunately, Christmas Day, the first such day that my brother blessed me with this smile, he followed it up by saying {still with sweet smile}: "Wow, Leah, you've really exploded."
Finally, I failed to mention the melt down that nearly was on Friday. Tony ate my lean pocket, right before we were to leave for our doctor's appointment, so not only had I not eaten in 3 or so hours, I was unable to eat for an additional 1 1/2 after I really wanted to. Of course I got an "I'm sorry," but honestly, it was the closest to flippant that Tony has ever been. I wanted to start crying and throw a hissy fit on the way to and from the doctor, but somehow, I realized that that just wasn't rational. Thankfully. So when we got back, I ate.
23w
Monday, January 5, 2009

Baby bless is still swallowing amniotic fluid (which provides an important nutritional supplement to the nutrition he gets via the placenta) and is passing some of it as urine. The swallowing of the amniotic fluid may cause him to get the hiccups, which I may possibly be able to feel. Also of note, I think for sure maybe that I can feel him kick now!
In the past two weeks I had my first major encounter with heartburn {extremely unpleasant} and have been sleeping terribly. I find myself waking up repeatedily throughout the night. Additionally, I have discovered my linea negra, which really freaked Tony out, since he has abandoned reading his pregnancy book.
Waitressing as much as I have been has been great exercise, but it's also caused a bit of an exhaustion related cold. So I apologize for the lack of posting lately, but all I've been wanting to do is go to sleep, knowing unfortunatley that I would not stay asleep. :(
We had our 2nd doctor's appointment on Friday. Baby bless's heartbeat was a steady and strong 150 and well, my weight is around there as well lol. I avoided a talking to by the dr, as she seems pretty pleased with my weight gain so far and seemed thrilled with my blood pressure, so I'll take it! Next up, I made my appointment to be tested for gestational diabetes by the glucose tolerance one hour test.
The interview is Wednesday morning. It's taken so long and arrived so quickly.