It actually snowed!

Yea! We finally got our snow for the year! And quite a bit of it, at that. Stupid me saw the weather forecast yesterday and thought we were getting 2-4 feet, hence the labor worries. It wasn't until later in the day when I was writing Daniel an email about it that I realized 2-4 feet did not make sense (2-4 inches were predicted). We ended up with 8 inches, which is still a substantial amount. Definitely a lot more that last year!

It started around 8pm last night, so Emily got to see a little before she went to bed.

It snowed the whole time we were sleeping. Daniel and I periodically got up to check if it was still coming down because we were so excited. It finally stopped sometime before we woke up, so we awoke to a perfect, pristine landscape.

We took Emily out to play, but she really doesn't like getting messy, so she just wanted to be held the whole time.

Our neighbors built the largest snowman we have ever seen. We were joking that they obviously were not from around here. Anyone with that kind of skill has experience working the snow. Turns out, they are from Maine. Figures.

So for the rest of the day, we are staying bundled up in our house, watching the Olympics, and playing "Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games" on our Wii (Daniel's Valentine's Day gift). Our windows will be open all day, though, so we can enjoy the white wonderland while it lasts.

Labor?

How awful would it be if I went into labor tonight?

We don't ever drive in snow.

Plus, our babysitter for Emily is going out of town this weekend.

At least we finally have a 4 wheel drive vehicle.

Snow! It's finally coming!!!!

I have to admit... I have been a little jealous this year. Everyone has gotten snow, but us. I don't know if we could handle this, but even everyone in Texas has gotten to play around in white bliss.

It is in the forecast to snow here from 6pm tonight until noon tomorrow. Hopefully that will give us enough to play in and allow for some good picture opportunities.

Unfortunately, Emily doesn't own anything but a light jacket. Hmm. I guess we will just layer a whole bunch?

We are off to run some errands before this Texas family is stuck inside for at least the next 24 hours.

Expect some pictures soon of a few flakes and me freaking out...

All things pregnancy related

1. Weight - I really don't understand my weight gain this pregnancy. With Emily, I ate horribly, didn't workout that much, and literally gained the textbook amount every week. This pregnancy, I have been eating healthier, working out more, and my weight gain is all over the place. One month, when it should have been two pounds, I gained 10 pounds. The next month, I only gained 1/2 a pound. Then, I gained 15 pounds the next month for no reason. All the while, by the way, my clothes fit the exact same. This past month, I gave up on being healthy -- eating in Charleston, pizza, hamburgers, sugar, sugar, sugar, etc. I got weighed yesterday and found out I gained only 4 pounds, which is exactly what I was suppose to gain. Obviously my weight gain has nothing to do with what I eat, which is a nice revelation. I really won't be worrying about my food intake the last couple of weeks.

2. Lamaze - When learning about labor, everything makes so much more sense when you have already been through it once. All the information seemed to go in one ear and out the other last time. We finally understand. Unfortunately, we are also seeing that my last labor was not ideal. I mean, I can't complain too much. It was unusually short for a first-timer, but we are realizing it could have been way better. Suggestions for an easier labor -- don't let them hook you up to an IV the second you get there (unless it is medically necessary), continuous fetal monitoring is not necessary, remember to change positions, and laying on your back during labor is the most painful position. I got to the hospital, they gave me an IV immediately, hooked on the fetal monitor, and had me laying on my back the WHOLE time. Wonderful. At least we know now.

(I am not one to demand laboring all natural. My last labor was so short, I am worried that with the second one being shorter, I won't have time to get an epidural and want some techniques to get through the pain. I have heard too many stories of women getting to the naval hospital and by the time the anesthesiologist gets to them, they are too far along.)

3. Getting ready for the baby - Although I pulled out and washed all our newborn clothes on January 1st, I have not done anything else to prepare for this baby. I am 99% sure she is coming early, and 98% sure she is coming earlier than Emily, but I don't want to get out everything and jinx myself. The midwife I saw yesterday gave me the green light to get everything together. She said that I am officially in the period where it is not considered wishful thinking. That is some exciting news for a pregnant woman. Now I just need to start walking 5 miles a day...

Multitude Mondays - Week Nine

184. Lamaze classes -- and hoping I am not in as much pain this time

185. babysitting co-ops

186. vanilla chai tea

187. a lazy weekend

188. sugar

189. my doting husband

190. getting our taxes done -- checking one more thing off the "to-do before baby arrives" list

191. my comfort level at this point in pregnancy

192. how much joy our puppy brings this family

193. intellectual conversations (debates)

194. how I have been pleasantly surprised by care at the naval hospital

195. jogging strollers -- how much easier they are to push

196. officially starting our countdown

Getting ready for a fast month

Do you know what happens in a month? My mom flies up to help out with the new baby. THE NEW BABY!

I can't believe that time is already here! I still have a few things left to do before the little one arrives. All of the newborn clothes, blankets, and burp clothes are already washed, folded, and put in their appropriate places (this was done Jan 1st). Now I just need to get out some of the big stuff. She will be sleeping in our room the first couple of months since I will be breastfeeding, so I need to set up the bassinet. I also need to order my diaper bag I picked out, along with a few other things.

And then one more deep cleaning of the house is needed. I was suppose to do spring cleaning this week while Daniel was gone, but we have been unbelievably busy. I haven't had a second to sit down and think. I always work better when the deadline is closer, so maybe I will clean all day before Daniel gets home tonight. We will see.

I have felt bad because I have been exhausted recently and haven't gotten much done, but during my lamaze class last night (more on that later) she said this was your body's message to slow down to prepare for what you are about to endure. I am taking this cue and sleeping whenever I am tired -- a luxury that will soon end. Wouldn't it be great if you could catch up on sleep ahead of time? Every new mother would really appreciate this. Unfortunately, no matter how much I rest right now, I am going to be exhausted in a month.

Oh, goodness. One month before my mom gets here. I know she can't wait to meet her newest granddaughter. I can't believe it was so long ago that this happened.

Is that really my Emily?

Multitude Mondays - Week Eight

Every night our internet goes down at 8 o'clock on the dot. Literally. Every night. It is quite upsetting, especially due to the fact that this is around Emily's bedtime, so we have no internet during the most optimal time for us to get on and check our email or blog. During my brief career in the internet industry, I learned that the internet generally slows down in the afternoon when kids get home from school. I was questioning the cable guys in our area because I was really upset and they told me that when you live on base, the problem isn't necessarily school-aged children, but the thousands of single marines that live in the barracks on base. Apparently, they all eat dinner and spend the rest of their evening playing on their xbox that is hooked up to the internet.

Wonderful.

Sorry this is a day late...

172. the Internet, even though we often don't have it

173. that the week flies by even though the days sometimes don't

174. finding great prayer resources

175. our busy social schedule (compared to a year ago)

176. getting my first bag of hand-me-down maternity clothes

177. looking back in my prayer journal and seeing how my prayers have evolved over the past year

178. realizing that Jolie gave me a little snowcone machine (I have been craving them)

179. family pictures

180. watching our neighborhood coffee grow

181. watching our Bible study grow

182. slowly learning to not make assumptions

183. nesting