Your Eyes Do Not Deceive You

I got dressed...and went out! (Of course it was to church...you guys should know that.)  I'm glad I never got rid of the black dress with the girdle liner in it.  It was perfect for today.  It was chilly when I woke up (31!) and we had frost on the grass and my car.  I wore the warm dress with my interesting gray striped vest, which I bought on eBay about two years ago.  This is only the second wearing of the vest, I find it hard to use.  I think if it were a full sleeved cardigan, I'd probably wear it a lot.

Uhhh, pardon the newspaper on the table.

That's better.  Black Target dress, gray striped vesty-cardi, black Avenue boots.

Fergus doesn't want me to have nice hair.

I'm 9 weeks now.  31 weeks to go...phew that sounds far away!  I think this may be the first time in a long time that I am looking forward to summer, because I'll get to meet my baby!  Spring in Florida is always one of my favorite seasons.  Everything is warm during the day, cool at night, and so green.  I understand why people are snowbirds (up north during summer, in Florida for winter and spring)...the weather is just lovely this time of year and I'm so enjoying it!  But summer?  I'm not a fan.  And I'm going to be 9 months pregnant during the hottest time of the year...for the THIRD TIME!  (Missy's birthday is July 29th, Bucket's is July 5th!)

The stockings were hung by the window with care...

By the way, the girdle liner inside this dress didn't hurt Fergus.  The dress was loose on me, I just wanted to wear something with 3/4 sleeves on a chilly morning.  If anything, I felt like the girdle showcased Fergus quite well, except what I'm showing is leftovers from Bucket 15 years ago, and not Fergus.  But I'll claim it, lol.  Fergus!!!

Just to show some vintage cuteness.  I painted this wooden ornament when I was kindergarten!

Crap on a Cracker

I am so sorry, I have just not been in the mood for much.  The murders in CT has made me terribly, terribly sad.  Even if I wasn't pregnant right now, I know I would be in tears over the senseless tragedy.  I have a tree finally, and I put up the lights.  Then I stopped.  The kids don't seem to care much.  I am almost done with my Christmas shopping, just Missy is left.

The weather doesn't help.  Tomorrow's high is 82.  I have a hard time feeling Christmasy when I am still wearing tank tops and flip flops.  I am craving chocolate right now, but too tired to drive anywhere and we have none in the house (trust me, I looked.)  Over the weekend, I suffered from a painful lump on my right labia (sorry if TMI) which was so enormous that I had trouble walking or sitting.  I actually felt it burst while I was driving, and it was filled with blood.  I'm still swollen but it's gone down quite a bit and I can sit comfortably now.

I am almost over this constantly tired feeling, and I'm grateful for it.  Yesterday I took a nap which felt great, but I didn't today because I had so much to do.   My hair seems to be recovering from the constantly greasy feeling, and Missy took me to get a hair cut last week for Christmas.  I haven't taken a single picture of myself since, although the cut is very nice and I should.  I didn't make it to church last week or this week; between feeling awful and trying to catch up on so many chores, it just didn't happen.  But I am looking forward to our beautiful Christmas Eve ceremony next week.

I'm sure I'll get some pictures in this upcoming week.  Be patient with me.  Being old and pregnant is harder than I thought it would be!

Better Than A Picture Of Me

Introducing to blogworld....it's Fergus!!!!

This was taken today at my OB's office.  I was supposed to be 8 weeks, 2 days.  However, they changed the date to 7 weeks, 1 day.  Which means I am due July 29th; that happens to be Missy's 18th birthday!  Ohhhh, the irony!

I saw the heartbeat.  It was so strong, just fluttering away like a lunatic butterfly.  I didn't tear up like I thought I would.  There was an ultrasound wand stuck up my hoo-ha and I had to pee really bad while she was doing the ultrasound.  All I could think was, "This is so awesome and I want to keep looking but sweet heavens I am going to pee all over the place."  I only got one picture which was sort of a bummer but I know considering how old I am, that I'm going to get lots of ultrasounds and I'm sure I'll be able to wallpaper the bathroom with images by July.

I love you already, Fergus.  I'm tired and you are destroying my hair, and I can't wait to meet you!  Just stay put inside and I'll feed you good stuff and I won't drink or do any crack and you should grow into a healthy baby before we know it!

Sleep Is My New Best Friend.

I don't want to hurry this pregnancy up because I know it's a blessing and "everything in it's own time"....but I'm ready for the second trimester and all the energy it brings.  Because I am pooped and don't feel like doing anything but lie in bed, snooze, watch Food Network and snooze again.  I can barely keep my eyes open these days!

I'm squinty because the sun is super bright on this warm December morning.  82 degrees. 

I'm wearing my teal/aqua strapless Goodwill find, with a black wrap top, my Target flats and my handmade necklace from Natalie.  I did my make up, but these pics don't really show it.

Oy, I'm blind.  Last picture!

Today I am 7 weeks pregnant.  I feel fine except for my extreme tiredness.  I even missed a few hours of work last week due to me clocking out exactly at 4pm and not working a bit over to get to 40 hours.  I'm sleeping past my alarm, clocking in late, taking naps on my lunch break, clocking out early, and taking another nap.  My mattress is going to have a dent in it from my butt being on it all the time!  But if this is what Baby needs to grow into a strong little person, then so be it.  Thank goodness I have older children who don't need me to helicopter parent them all the time!

According to the internet, this is what Fergus looks like right now:

Wow!  How amazing is this?!?!  I have my first ultrasound on December 11th, very much looking forward to it.  Of course, it's way too early to find out the sex of the baby, but I should get to see the heartbeat and take measurements.  How exciting!

Now, since I am still Sarah, what has been on mind lately?  Clothes.  Namely, maternity clothes!  The last time I was pregnant, it was 1998.   My style has completely changed since then.  I wore jeans and shorts, tee shirts, and sneakers.  I can look back at that and wonder how in the world I managed to do that in the hottest parts of the summer in Florida.  It has to be youth...my brain can't even wrap around wearing jeans in Florida in July when pregnant!  I just bid on a denim skirt on eBay, hoping it will fit.  If not, they easily sell again.  Other than that, I intend to live in maxi dresses for the entire summer.   I own three maxi dresses already, all Target.  The solid purple, the blue print, and the black and white print.  I also own a red Target maternity dress, too.  *** oooh, just remembered the aqua dress I wore today, that's a good maternity dress too****  I think I just need to pick up three more dresses and maybe a few maternity tops to wear with the denim skirt, and I should be set.  I really don't want to spend a ton of money on maternity clothes.  I definitely want to get one black dress.  Other than that, I'll be looking for sales and I don't really care what color(s) the dresses may be.  I also need to get a couple of pairs of "nice" flip flops, meaning no squeaky rubber soles or bought in a WalMart for $3.  I will have to research this, but I want a small wedge heel and a decorative thong.

Things that bug me right now:  Underwear.  Mine are the devil.  They ride up, they bunch up, they twist.  I told Mr. R that I wanted to throw every pair of underwear I own right out.  Every time I move, they do not stay put and I keep having to tug them back into place.

Also have been going through my closet and getting rid of my more "corporate" items.  Cotton wrap button ups to wear under a suit?  Buh-bye.  Anything resembling a pant suit?  Outta here.  I am keeping my purple corduroy blazer only because I changed out the buttons and put sparkly daisy buttons on it, so it doesn't look corporate anymore.  Not sure I'll get much use out of it this year, seeing as by the time it gets cold, I will probably be in my second trimester and not able to button it, but that's ok.  Also keeping my cardigans because a lot of maternity dresses are sleeveless and I will still wear cardis over my dresses, just not buttoned all the way. 

I Swear I'm Not Complaining....BUT!

Wow.  WOW.  All I have to say is, being pregnant at 37 is A LOT DIFFERENT than being pregnant at 22!  I mean, I was tired back then, too.  But I swear I have yawns now which could dislocate my jaw.  As soon as I get up, I am plotting the next time I can lie down!  I think I probably say this every Friday, but I have never...and I mean NEVER...looked forward to a Saturday morning as much as I have this past week.  If anyone wakes me up tomorrow morning, I'll end up in jail, because I will kill them.  Yes, I will.

Besides, being utterly exhausted, this little one has decided s/he doesn't like caffeine.  I'm telling you, if this little one wasn't already inside me, I'd wonder about his or her background.  How can a child of mine not like caffeine?  My ob told me to cut caffeine, I'm sure expecting me to make a big deal out of it.  I already have.  Fergus (my name for the baby until we know what s/he is) made that decision for me.  I have switched to decaf, and I'm sure it is adding to my sleepiness!

I also am having trouble wanting food.  Mr. R has purchased protein shake mixes for me because I can't hold food down in the morning.  By noon, though, I am ravenous and have a very good hearty lunch.  I'm trying to cut my carbs due to my diabetes, so I am grilling lots of chicken, with veggie sides.  Normally I like eggs but the smell gets to me right now.  I also keep bacon on hand to nibble, and sharp cheese.    I also put grilled onions on practically everything.  Due to these changes, I am losing weight, not gaining.  My ob says that it's perfectly fine considering I'm starting this pregnancy as a large woman anyway.  In fact, she says there is a very good chance I will finish this pregnancy weighing less than I started, and that Baby should still be quite healthy.  Of course, I haven't met with the high risk OB yet, and I'm frankly not looking forward to it.  I am really hoping that visit doesn't suck the joy out of this pregnancy.  I realize doctor visits and ultrasounds are always a part of a high risk pregnancy, but still.  I want to be happy!

Other things that are weird:  certain parts of my body have already turned into a darker color than usual.  I just had to wax a mustache which suddenly showed up on my face.    My hair is disgustingly oily, when it's normally coarse and dry.  My skin is also oily, so I have basically given up on make up except on Sundays when I wear it just so I don't scare the littles in Sunday School.  Only another month and I'll be in the second trimester...hopefully my skin will get back to normal and I'll be back to my perky self!

Our New Beginning

I have thought for days on how to start this post.  Some ways seem too cheesy, or too emotional.   Words simply can't describe the emotions of my heart right now, so instead of trying to write, I chose photos instead.

Yes, it's true.  After 10 months of trying, I am pregnant.  We're having a baby!!!

Mark 11:24     Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Lord, I asked for another child, and You answered.  I have gratitude in my heart, utter joy in my attitude.   While my body is already tired, and my bladder is not happy with me, I am happy and thankful.  I hope my readers will continue to join me on this journey as we begin to prepare for our fourth child, due July 2013.