Checking things off the list, lots of lists

My mom has been here a week helping us to get ready and unfortunately Mother's Day was just filled with more preperations. We took a 3 session birthing class - the first one I had to leave a little early to get to the shower, Saturday was good and I stayed the whole time and Sunday was really quick paced which I loved. There were a few minutes of quizzing us and I wished there had been more of that - I feel like when you are quizzed you really know it.

Saturday we had to return something at Buy Buy Baby (those stores just overwhelm me! There are 4000 things but yet only one of something I need. I am better at a Yard Sale - one choice and the price is right!) We then got some lunch at Whole Foods, did a little more shopping and headed home. I was just so tired.

Sunday we grocery shopped - it was bad - I had fed the dog table food FOR THREE meals. I watched Marley and Me last night - my dog is the opposite of Marley. He is patient and gentle, and rarely barks (only when he means it) and I just know he is going to be a good protector of the baby. He eats whatever I put in his bowl and if I am out of food he just rolls with it. We made a nice dinner for Mother's Day but nothing very special.

Last night, we worked on the car seat. We are borrowing this from another family and so we had no directions. Luckily Ernie is a very mechanical thinker and he figured out how to move the straps, add the extra head protectors and how to get it out of the base. Now we just have to install the bases into the car and we are done with that part.

My suitcase for the hospital is slowly getting done - when I come across something that I think I might need or want, I put it in. I have no clothes in there but most of the easy to forget items are there. There are a few things I will have to add at the last minute.

Like I said checking things off the list.

I am truly blessed

Sunday was my third shower - this time with all of my wonderful friends from work and my mom and Ernie's mom were able to attend as well. The wonderful wife of my boss hosted it at her beautiful home. The super fun part is several of the younger girls were there (many of whom I babysit) and they were so excited to play the games and to show me the scrapbook. Gaby (you may remember two short years ago, I planned her shower) planned all the extras, as well as sent out the invites, and just worked endlessly to make it a really special party. All this and she is due with her second the end of June - it's a girl - we plan to have Daisy and Emily be the best of friends.

This photo shows the girls and I competing to put a diaper on the doll with one hand behind our back. OK I won but I was not about to be beat by a nine year old. And I admit I was sweating it a little. Lily before the game had the best quote "I don't even know how to put on a diaper with two hands!" Lily is all personality!

Again my little fashionista got oodles of cutie cutie outfits - including little needlework bunny slippers that were adorable. She got some great books too. And a few practical gifts too!

It was a fabulous party!

Saturday mornings...

where you'll find me is at the yard sales. I really love the thrill of the hunt - sure I could run to target and get everything I need in one fell swoop. but not for 90% off which is the average savings at the yard sales. Sometimes it's 80%. But considering the best I can do in the real world is 10-20% off. Today was no different - my mom and I (yes I drug her out - I offered to come back and pick her up but she did not want to miss the sales) headed to Piney Orchard Community Center - easily 75-100 vendors and loads of people. We picked up a few things - a frame, a photo album, oooh the diaper pail that I was registered for (for 90% off). My mom found a great cardigan sweater. Left there very happy. Next stop - a dud can't even remember what we found.

Then we headed to the other end of the spectrum - the Landon Azelea Festival. Their shopping area is gorgeous - lots of really preppy stuff, monogram's galore, pink and green galore, adorable baby things. Getting ready for the baby has made me a little more tight with the money so i did not end up buying anything but browsing was lots of fun.

We next headed to a friends car party. It is a BBQ where people arrive in their great cars, bikes etc and park in the yard and show off engines and kick tires. Eat some food and that is the party. It was lots of fun.

I ended the day with a pedicure!

Big reminder!

I decided to babysit this past weekend - promising myself that I would use the money to jumpstart my babies savings account. Three kids boy, age 12, girl age 9, and boy age 7. I love babysitting for this family! The kids are rowdy, and silly, and have the sweetest blue eyes. The parents are easy going. The house is so beautiful - resort like really. Friday night was pretty easy. Saturday morning - things got a little hectic - I took them to putt putt. People must have thought is that lady nuts - having another one. Saturday morning as I cut up a pancake - I found myself saying "Get your foot out of your breakfast." I told them that was one sentance I never thought I would say. Around 1 - I found myself tired and the youngest being bad (he accessed the roof from the balcony and it scared the daylights out of me - I literally started to cry) I did not think I would make it. Luckily they calmed down in the afternoon (it was August hot this past weekend) and Saturday around 5 they played outside until about 9. Went and got showers with me asking only once and fell asleep. Sunday AM was good too, they had friends over to play, I made arts and crafts with them.

All in all, these are good kids! Great kids really. They are smart, funny, healthy, active, adorable. It was a great reminder of what life with a child was going to be like - there are moments that crack you up - like when the little one told me it was his robot that was bad and not him or moments that scare the crap out of you. Moments when you even doubt what your saying - the oldest cut himself and we had to wonder about stitches. Moments when everyone is playing sweetly and you let yourself breathe.

All moments worth remembering!

The first yard sale day of the season!

Last Saturday yard sale season kicked off with a bang as the Pennysaver sponsored their Spring yard sale at the Bowie Baysox stadium. Ernie opted not to be around and I was a little worried to go by myself. I borrowed Mrs Brown's wire cart from Fran and I was out the door by 6:55 am and lined up at about 7:35am. (yes earlier than a work day) I had comfy shoes, my yard sale hip purse filled with ones and quarters and I was excited. My first find was a dishwasher bottle rack, $1.00. I found a lady with baby books and toys, and a pink mixing bowl. I found the lady who sells the cleaning products and toiletries for cheap - stocked up on stuff there. I was tired by the end - but excited about my purchases and so happy to have had my cart.



I hit two more small sales (one had onesies for .25). I found one more at a church in their sports field (again so happy to have the cart) - more baby stuff. And I called it a day - final expenditures $40.00. I stopped at the scrapbook store where all budgeting went out the window - two pieces of paper, and two small packs of embellishments $8.00, I splurged on a magazine called Oh Baby for $17.95 (after yardsaling all morning - that seemed outrageous). I finished the morning at chik fil a with a chicken sandwich, french fries, a sweet tea and A MILKSHAKE!!



I spent the rest of the day relaxing, sorting out all the baby stuff into where you will need it, (you know food stuff in the pantry) and bath stuff together to put in the bathroom, and getting an idea of what I still need. I may have even taken a nap. It was a perfect start to what I hope will be another fun yard sale season.

Baby Shower with my NJ Peeps

One of the things that my mom starting talking about as soon as she found out I was pregnant was a party to celebrate with family and friends in New Jersey. The prospect of that made me so happy as these are women that I have known my whole life. Millville is such a huge part of my life, my grandmother, my mother and I were all born there - we all went to Millville Senior High School. My mom's house previously belonged to my grandmother.

While I realize it is unusual to plan your own shower, I also wanted to make sure that my guests had a great time and I had tons of cute ideas. So I threw proper ettiquette out the door - and helped my mom to make what I thought was a great great event.

This first photo is my mom and me in our adorable matching outfits. I totally scored this dress on ebay and it arrived Thursday. The wreath on the front door was made by my uber talented Aunt Pat full of Daisy's and the sign says "Everything's coming up Daisy!"

This photo is of one of my favorite things - we had a "Candy Bar". I had seen some photo examples of these online. I started looking for pink and yellow candy as soon as I knew it was a girl. We even trekked up to Dylan's Candy Bar when we went to NYC to get some cute additions. There were merangues, pink mints, pink lipsticks, yellow and pink starburst (yes I personally sorted them), lemonheads, marchmellow ropes, pink and yellow peanut butter cups and a pink jelly bean assortment from Jolly Rancher. I had stickers on the bags that said "Thanks for making my day so sweet!" The lighting is a little off in the photo but the whole thing was just too cute!

Another personal touch that I thought would be cute was to have baby pictures of us and of the grandparents. The big pink scrapbooked one is me. To the right is Grandma Darlene. In the green frame is Daddy and Uncle TC. In front of the green frame is Poppop Ernie and to the left of me is Grammy Kim. It made a sweet presentation. Not shown but on the same table is a frame that I gave my mom when I told her I was pregnant. In it said - look for an updated photo on June 4th, 2009.

There were about 25 women who were able to join us including my best friend from age 3 Ali (from North Carolina) and her mom Paula (from Georgia) and they brought their new nephew Hunter (who has the most adorable blue eyes), who by the way used to live just two doors down. There were neighbors from the across the street, Bernadette and Jaquay, and next door Lynne and Meghan and the woman who introduced my parents, Mrs Cossaboon. My mom's longest and dearest friends, Sally and George from Goldey, and Phyllis who was her single girl friend and they still keep in touch and Dottie who my mom does to Fenwick with. My sister and niece were there - my oldest niece Alix - was off looking at colleges (which blows my mind because she was born when I was in college). My Aunt and two cousins, and then a second cousin from my grandfather side. And in the family tree that adds branches - and aunt and cousin Lacey from my dad's first wife's side of the family. I grew up with three sets of grandparents with an extra grandfather. The beauty was that everyone liked each other (most of the time) and everyone was welcome. And my grandfather's side that was divorced but his family never divorced us were cousins, Donna (who my mom watched her baby when I was in high school) and Brenda and Mary (who you may remember I have had the opportunity to reconnect with lately because she has come back to Millville and settled down a bit with the addition of her little guy Joel.) Mary did a lot of the photography shown here. It was so wonderful to see everyone.

And of course the gifts - it is so helpful to have such wonderful things to surround the baby with and to have the help when there are so many new things needed. I have registered at babies R us and at Target. A few people went to the practical side and picked up registry gifts, a few went more practical and got the sickness supplies that otherwise I would be running out in the middle of the night for. These gals also could not resist the adorable baby clothes and found dresses and day outfits. Kathy, Jill and Dawn went to the most exclusive baby shop in Millville and found a dress with a sash, a sweater and little white shoes for her. Just absolutely gorgeous. Aunt Pat got into the action and sent a few more outfits and some cutie cutie toys up from Florida. Donna and Brenda made an adorable gift basket with an elephant toy, an outfit and one of those towels with a little hood. Make no mistake this girl will be adorably dressed in pink for the first year of her life.

It was a wonderful day, I was so happy for everyone to share in this momentous occasion with me. It meant so much to me.

Quick weekend recap

Saturday I vegged - at home slightly attached to couch. Watched some TV on the web and worked on a few scrappy projects.

Sunday - I was up and out bright and early I had some errands to run. First was the dollar store where I found the exact same candy that I trudged all the way to Dylan's Candy bar in NYC so I could feel all hoity toity - at the dollar store. And I returned something there I had bought awhile ago. Next a haircut - just a bob above my shoulders - cute! Next Target - I live like across the street but I really don't get there that often. I had a coupon for a free gift card just cause I registered there - and they honored it. YAY. I finished Target with a soft pretzal - they have the best soft pretzals and fountain cokes! Next headed to Arundel Mills - not as productive. But I did get to share a coupon with a lady at Bed Bath and Beyond so that was nice to RAK someone. Next Micheals, where I found 2 of the things I have been looking for! Finally Safeway, where I stocked up on some groceries. Headed home and felt good about a good day!

Then last night, due to some drama that is continuing so I am not going to talk about it here, I found myself awake at 3am and staring out my bathroom window - when what to my wondering eyes should appear but a deer! Just mosying through my tiny townhouse front lawn and then mosyed back to the woods. How crazy is that?!?! I would not have believed it if I did not see it.

And that sums it up!

NYC was fantastic!

NYC and the Grace Crop was just a great weekend all around!

Thursday, I left the office at 4pm and unfortunately it was raining and there was road work so what should have taken 90 minutes took 2.5 hours. After that, I met up with my mom in Pennsville (thanks for the help, Jeff) and we the rest went pretty smooth. When we arrived at the hotel, Mel was already alseep - but she had been up since 2:45 Seattle time.

Friday morning, we (Mel, my mom, my new dear wonderful friend Teri and Karen "I'm always up for a trip - heck a dog fight in back baldey"and me) got up and out and our first stop was Tinsel Trading. I love their displays but you know - the new store not as much fun. I honestly did not buy one thing. We checked out a few more places in the Garment District and then headed back to the hotel and dropped off packages and coats (weather was about 60 - perfect for just a sweater). Next we headed up town - one thing I always forget - yes the street blocks are short - but the ave blocks are LOOONNG. We eventually took a taxi. Next destination was Dylan's Candy Bar - fun! Then we wanted to have lunch at Serendipidity but the wait was too long - we went across the street to Patsy's for pizza and it was delish! We then went back to Sere... for a frozen Hot Chocolate. Then we headed to Kate's Paperie, and it was almost 4:30 by this point. We skipped our fancy dinner at Sardi's (just needed a rest) and then left for the theatre. Wicked was awesome and I was so pleased with my eBay tickets! We walked home from the theatre and fell fast asleep.

Saturday, we headed to Staten Island for the Grace Crop. We used this car service and I HIGHLY recommend them. If you ever need a car service in the NYC area they are great. Well priced, on time, they call when they are en route and then again on location! I can't stop raving about them. The Grace Crop was fabulous - Barbara and her friends do an outstanding job. As soon as we arrived, Kacey and Kristin started screaming! What a welcome! The food is so yummy - good NY Italian food. And the door prizes -

this pic is everyone from my table that won - notice who is missing?? yes me no luck continues!! Everyone at my table won but poor poor pitiful me. Second year in a row.

Sunday, we headed back to Staten Island to have have brunch at Kristin's home. Her home is beautiful, the table was beautiful, the food delicious and she even had cucumber water. She also has many scrapbook home decor projects around her home which are so much fun to check out. We of course headed down to the scrap room. We rushed out of there to make the 1:21 to the city and the 2:00 ferry. I finally rode the Staten Island Ferry - that was very cool! It was a little foggy but we could still see the Statue of Liberty and some skyline pics. Kristin had said Century 21 was 30 seconds from the Ferry - UH more like 8 blocks. We checked out Century, it was very crowded and then had lots of good buys (but not rock bottom prices) so I was ready to go about 3:30. I still had the trek home - which went very smoothly - I got taxi's quickly, the train was a quick one, traffic was easy and I was home by 9.

It was so awesome to have my last hurrah before I become a mama! Mel flying in from Seattle - it was so great to see her. Teri and Karen are so much fun and a laugh a minute and they were great traveling companions - always up for whatever. And having a weekend with my mom - another nice addition to her 65th year!

NY Bound!

I leave tomorrow for a fun, friend, scrapbook, shopping, Tinsel Trading, Wicked weekend - (do you love the alliteration?) I am a little nervous about this trip. There are a lot of transportation logistics. And really the typical NY thing is to walk everywhere but I am six months pregnant. Of course, I am not packed yet so tonight and tomorrow morning will be a mad dash. I still have my swaps to finish. I just hope my friends give me a by - that I did the best I could to arrange a lovely weekend. I'll report back next week with lots of pictures and I know that we will have fun.

Just say a prayer that I have a safe and stress-free trip.

Whenever...

Whenever I check google reader and my dear friends have not updated and I find myself missing them - I think "Gee, maybe they feel the same way about you!"

So this is NEW with me time:

In an effort to not become a mommy blog - I'll make this quick - all is well. Doctor this morning and all my symptoms are normal. My growth is normal and my BP is normal. I feel good - not as tired as first tri, not as great as second tri.

I am in the middle of reading The Handmaid's Tale - as highly recommended by Alison. So far it is interesting and I am plowing through it but I am not captivated.

Back on the eBay fever, I have 6 items listed and lots more coming around the bend. I love getting rid of stuff and having a few dollars to show for it too!

T.C. is visiting us from Colorado and the boys have done lots of riding and just hanging out being brothers. Last night we had dinner together and then they went and got us ice cream. I really like having the two of them together - yes there is a lot more commotion. But last night as I was in my room reading and could hear them in the basement talking - I could not hear what they were saying except when they insulted each other - it just felt nice. Ernie and T.C. are exactly what brothers should be - close and fun and wrestle each other and protective and loved with no mushiness. Sadly, he leave on Monday. But he will be back the beginning of July to see the baby and attend a family reunion.

Oh I got my Stampin' Up! order this week - great chipboard album and their baby girl kit. Plan to use as the baby album for the first year. I wanted something easy - that I could just throw pictures into and not feel the need to keep up but to have something ready to show and share at the end of the year. and someplace I could journal the milestones. I need to cover the chipboard - not sure what the best way to do that is going to be.

That is all the excitement I have for now.

in response to said Tag

In response to Mel's said Tag - 4th folder, fourth picture - I present my cousin Mary's baby boy - J! This guy is so awesome - for one he is about 5 months old in this pic, we are at the Texas Roadhouse where it is very loud - and he is sitting up on the table taking a milk induced snooze.

At Christmas, about 9 months old he was teetering around and getting a few words out. Yesterday was his first birthday!! How exciting is that. Big brown eyes and just a little curl to his hair, two parents who adore him. He is a sweet little guy.

As for who I tag, I say if your reading this and go check out your 4, 4 and then if your so inclined blog about it.

Last weekend was just so great!!!

Saturday morning - early I got up, dropped Ernie off for an errand and headed to the Wee-Cycle sale in Havre de Grace. This is such a great idea!! I found a few things - I am truly trying to hold back because I know there will be gifts coming from friends and family. My fabulous photographer friend - Ashley -(seriously book a session with her - you will be thrilled with the results - she has this special camera that makes you look younger and thinner and more glamorous than you thought possible. (Insert my maternity shot she did here!!) She is bogged down now with photos from the weekend but as soon as she sends mine to me - I will post here. I left the sale and went to Anne's crop to scrapbook with all my friends. Jean made me the most adorable bibs - I LOVE more than anything a homemade gift - my friends are so talented. (Add photo here too!) Here is a shot of our table. The other great part there was sharing 3 boxes of scrappy stuff with everyone and coming home with a little cash from the swap table!!

After the crop, I drove to NJ to my mom's house! When I got there, my cousin Jeff was there - not really surprising - sometimes when he finds out I am coming, he comes down to see me. But my mom opened the door and she was dressed up, her hair was done (many many times she greets me in curlers!) and she had on makeup. They ushered me into the bathroom - I'm pregnant and had been on the road for an hour and half. And then took me into the living room to surprise me with a Baby Shower - ALL FROM MY AUNT PAT!! I was so exhausted that I asked if it would be ok for me to open in the morning. Sunday morning we had a nice breakfast and talked to Aunt Pat on the speaker phone and I opened all of these goodies. Gorgeous clothes, the softest sweetest blankets, the teeniest, tiniest socks, great organizers for the room. Everything was so perfect. My aunt has amazing taste and style - she always has!

This is my mom explaining that all of this is from my aunt! They had been in cahoots for 6 weeks to plan it out. She had mailed everything and then had my mom put bows on and fluff it up.

Can you see all the presents surrounding me? Everything was so pink and sweet and soft and perfect!!

Monday morning we woke up to a winter wonderland outside. Luckily I had planned to stay through Monday and was able to come home Tuesday morning. My mom and I lounged around, worked on some scrapbooking projects. She had made yummy food - again yummy food as rare at my mom's as makeup. We did have to take an hour or so to clean off the car and sidewalk. The neighbors were kind enough to come by and shovel her driveway.

It was a just a perfect mix of a perfect weekend!

Took care of more preparations

First of all, I spent a lot of time in the craft/guest room this weekend trying to weed out, clean out and rearrange to make room for my baby girl and my wonderful mother/live in nanny. Plus T.C. will be visiting us the whole month of March (yeah for soldiers safe arrival back to US soil!) A big bag of trash went out this morning, a big box of recycling will go out Thursday and I have lots of things to sell/give away at the crop this weekend. Lot's more to get rid of!!



Saturday we went to our friends (and Ernie's boss - technically my boss too) house and his wife, Denise loaded us up with all kinds of great baby stuff. We just went through the basement and pulled out all kinds of good stuff. Denise's dad is a hunter and has a room in his home devoted to his trophies - all I can say is it is more amazing than I would have even thought.



After that we headed to a whole other planet known as Babies R Us. Oh my goodness - I had researched ahead of time, and I had a small list but still the place was crowded and noisy - and Ernie was less than enthusiastic about the whole experience. He liked to fire the scan gun. I was just so overwhelmed when we left there. My thought is - there are a few certain things that I want - but it seems to be from a few different stores. I love the things on ETSY with this being my favorite - http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19559962 Are they not beautiful?? And this hat - http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19457305 How adorable is that??

Sickenly Sweet!

Friday morning, I woke up at 6:30 and had to go to the bathroom - I am 24 ish weeks pregnant - nothing earth shattering about that. Then all hell broke loose - I had caught the dreaded stomache flu. I knew exactly what to expect as Ernie had had it on Wednesday. At 6:30 am, I thought to myself 6 more hours and this will all be over. Right on cue for the next 6 hours, on the hour I wretched my poor guts out. In between, I was even slightly productive, taking calls and emails from the blackberry in bed because sitting up was more than I could handle. I slept the afternoon away and by 6:30 was done being sick (I only scheduled myself 12 hours). That is the sickenly part.

Saturday, my wonderful valentine, surprised me with roses and a perfect card that said all the things I needed to hear. He also went to the grocery store and cooked up steak, mashed potatos, and corn for dinner. We even had ice cream for dessert. Sunday, I got the best present - he started doing some fixing up around the house. The trim got painted, the bathroom wall is being patched and the broken toilet even got repaired. All the roses and chocolates in the world don't hold a candle to someone doing the home repairs.

And thats the sweet part!

How can you not love this face?

I thought before the baby comes, I should blog about our other baby - yes the dog! I never ever ever thought I would be the owner of a pit bull. But love of my man brought this dog into my life and I am forever changed because of it. I still remember on our first date - Ernie said my dog will love you - HOW TRUE. I still remember the first time I met him - I was so afraid to put my hand out to pet him. I was so nervous of stepping on his tail and having him bite me. And that is the best part about Diesel - he senses the fear and just parks himself at your feet until you like him. He did it with my mom too!

He has a bully side too and will try to get away with as much as possible. He takes up wayyy too much of his fair share of the bed. He has torn up the carpet in the basement, the blinds on the sliding glass door, he figured out how to open the door knob so now I have to lock it.

In preparing him for the new baby, we have taken to pulling his tail, or ears or poking at him when he is sleeping, taking his food away just making sure he does not display any aggressive behavior. Sometimes he does not even wake up. Most times he gives me a look like "oh please, it is going to take more than that to get a rise out of me."

What I love most, is that if you get mad or yell, he always bounces back. His love for us never waivers. He is as happy to see me if I leave the house for 2 minutes to get the mail or 9 hours to go to work, every time he is at the door - ready to love me. I wish more relationships were like that.

I know in a few months, our lives will change. I know everyone says the dog becomes just a dog but I hope I never forget what a great dog he is. How lucky I feel to be his mommy. How much I love his face.

Early stages of nesting

So here I am about 23 weeks along - it's a girl by the way - and I have started the nesting process. On Saturday, I spent the whole day in my craft room/spare bedroom trying to clean out and even played with my scrap stuff a little. I have a bag of trash, gave away a bag of stuff on Saturday and have another bag ready for VVA to pick up on the 19th and a bag of paper recycling. And in the midst of all this I found a medical receipt good for $10.00, a gift card to Nordstrom, the wireless adaptor for the computer (yeah for having a desktop and a laptop at our house) and a 2G card for my camera. Once the current bags get moved, I will start again.

Sunday in my love for a bargain, I went to Costco and aside from the sample lunch I was served, I left with nothing. I jotted down prices for comparison sakes but I find the grocery to be about the same if not cheaper when you get stuff on sale - which I always do. I then headed over to Safeway where they were practically giving it away.

Next weekend's goal is clothes - as in closets. Then the following two weekend's I have quite a honey do list prepared - including moving furniture and maybe if I am very very lucky painting.

My wonderful mother is turning 65!

First I can divulge all kinds of info on here because not only does she not read my blog but she does not have a computer - gasp I know.

Friday January 16th is Mom's 65th birthday. First I started this idea of a card party and contacted all sorts of friends and family to send her a birthday card to celebrate her big day. She thinks my cousin started it so I have just been playing along. It has been very fun to check in to see who mailed her a card every day.

Next I took the day off on Friday well a half day and I will be driving up to visit her and take her out for afternoon tea at this little tea shoppe in Millville. That part is a surprise -I just told her to be ready. I also plan to have some balloons in the car to tie to her mail box and her porch. Friday evening we may go to the movies or we may just watch a chick flick at home.

Saturday we are going to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Neither of us has ever been and we thought it might be fun. We jokingly said we would get a wheelchair and she can wheel me half the time and I can wheel her half the time. We plan to take a tour, eat at the Museum restaurant and check out the store - not too long a day for these gals.

Finally I purchased a digital camera for her. I thought with all the baby pictures it might be a good idea to go film free. We will see how that goes over. Sunday, I think we will spend the day training on the new camera.

I also plan to have some special treats through the 65th year!! She is such a special person in my life I wanted to do everything possible to make it a fun great day.

Scroll past 100 things

I finally posted something I had started back on the 9th. Scroll past 100 Things to check it out.

100 Things

This has been floating around and I finally had a chance to do it too! All I can say is read carefully.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill but I justify it as mental illness
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondol a in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling - snorkel never scuba
52. Kissed in the rain
53.Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies lots and lots and lots of them
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check - just recently and I was t-ed off
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square - this was awesome - they had shut down the street - wait I'll post the pic
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous - yes from Jenny McCarthy to a Supreme Court Justice
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one too many loved ones!
94. Had a baby - no but I plan to on June 4, 2009!!!
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Did you catch it? If so you better comment!

Dear wonderful Friends and Family,

I thought I would share my holidy letter - since my cards still have not gone out - sad I know!

2008 has definately been a wonderful year for Ernie and me. Our most exciting news: We are expecting a BABY!!! We, along with all of the grandparents, are thrilled with the news. I am due on June 4th and we will get to find out whether we are buying little pink stuff or little blue stuff soon! So far, everything has gone very smoothly - I have had very little discomfort but I have been exhausted which accounts for the boring fall season.

I was busy with my scrapbooking friends in the beginning of the year including a trip to New York in March to attend a crop and hang with Susan and Catherine. About 2 weeks later in April, Ernie and I drove to Nashville (he on the Harley) the weather was TERRIBLE and cold. The best part was attending the American Country Music awards, we were on the floor and it was an experience. Ernie headed back and I spent four days at the Opryland Hotel scrappin with all my girlfriends. It was so great to see everyone.

The summer was filled with Beach, Bike, Birthday and BABY. I headed down to the beach to spend a weekend with my mom and her girlfriends and Ernie and I headed to the beach for the 4th of July. Bike - most weekends found us on the Harley taking trips here and there. Birthday - My birthday was in July. We finished up the summer by seeing Sugarland at the Sunday in the Country show in the VERY FRONT ROW. It was awesome. Little did we know, I was about 3 weeks pregnant on that day!

We, including Ernie's parents, spent Thanksgiving in New Jersey at my mom's house. It was a great visit. We plan to spend Christmas with each of our own parents - since it will be the last year as us being the kids.

As always keep in touch, be my friend on facebook.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season, filled with much love and laughter that continues all through 2009.

Megan & Ernie