In Preperation...

This is my Elliot...
he will be 8 this March...He was a gift from my sister...I told her I didn't want a dog, that my lifestyle was not conducive to a dog, reminded her that I lived on the 3rd floor of an apartment building and worked 8 to 12 hours a day and then went out...not a girl-needs-a-pet-to-care-for lifestyle. She grinned at me and put his little fur ball self in my hands (he was tiny) and stated that I needed something to love that would love me back (I was a newly divorced) and that if I did not love him in a week to bring him back. That was May 2001....I LOVE him. Elliot is my fur-baby, cuddle-bug and I LOVE him...I know I already said that but tis true. He understands me and for the most part I him. Walking through 5 years of infertility, 2 deployments, overseas moves, days when I wanted nothing more but to stay in bed and shut the world away....Elliot has been there...curled at my side, sleeping on my lap, licking my arm, sneezing and snorting at me. He alerts me to danger, travels the world on my lap and has given me love....there is something about that dog.
In finding out that we were pregnant, Elliot found out too...I don't know how, he just knows. If I move from the chair to the couch he gets up and moves with me, if I go to the kitchen to get water he walks with me..down the hall to the bathroom he sits in the hallway and waits. Elliot knows and has become even more protective of me.
All that wonderfulness wrapped up in a little fur-baby...who has now apparently decided that he needs to prepare me for this baby...for the past couple night he has woken up (or rather woken me up) with sneezes and snorts (his way of communicating) to let me know he has to go outside....at 145am, 330am and 500am....geezzzz....the first time I got up and let him out, waited by the back door...baby it's cold outside...and let him back in...taking my tired, I-can't-seem-to get-comfortable self back to bed. The 2nd time the first night I put him out the bedroom door and closed it...telling him NO and proceeded to go back to sleep. In the morning Mr. Wonderful found a little present near the front door...not a nice present and no one wants to clean that stuff up first thing in the morning or anytime for that matter. So, the next night I got up each time and let him out and then let him in and then let him out and then let him in...you get the picture. It has been too cold outside for him to just stay out otherwise he would...and the next night and the next and last night...this has to stop!
So, I am being prepared I guess....cause when this baby comes....the sleepless nights, feedings, diaper changes...yes I know.
I just hope he is not getting sick or something...that this a a weird phase. Austin (our Brittney pup) is sleeping inside too, in his kennel...maybe Elliot knows he has free reign in the backyard, no Austin to bug him? Mr. Wonderful said to cut out his food by noon and no water after 8pm...thinking that will help...I don't know...
I guess we will find out....

Just breathe...please

Well, I've been smacked down with a major breathing problem...my nose is completely stuffed and I mean stuffed..I don't think I have EVER had a "cold" or whatever this is...this bad. I read up on the pregnancy stuffiness and well I have it BIG time. And now not to be undone, my lungs have decided they want to play "lets get sick" and I am now developing a nasty cough...to which my hubby looks at me in alarm and states " you're okay right? is sweet potato going to get sick?" Yep, I'm okay, just want to breathe here...
~Box of tissue...check...oh hold on it's empty...and I just bought it on Saturday...back to CVS
~Humidifier...check...but I have to carry it from the living room to the bedroom when it is time for bed..I hope it is really helping
~Getting sleep...hmmmm..not checked...I have to sleep propped up but on my side, then my hip hurts so I change to the left side (after a trip to the bathroom) and then my nose starts to drain...so I lie there with a tissue clutched in my hand, trying to sleep..trying to concentrate on not dropping the tissue..and then I can't breathe...
~Trips to CVS (and spending way over my budget for the month on CVS stuff) with approved medication list from my OB clutched tightly in hand...hoping to find something that will cure this misery.....check....but cure...ya...uhmmm....not checked
~Sitting for moments... that I probably would be doing something else like preparing for Christmas and all the craziness that this month can bring if I let it....to breathe because that is what I need...a little quiet...a little introspection on the miracle happening inside me....ummm...check

That has been my life for the last couple of days with a few highlights in between....
I bought my girl her first pair of shoes...little silver One Star Converse crib shoes from Target! I could not resist and a girl can NEVER have enough shoes...I have a sneaky suspicion that she will have shoes, shoes, shoes and more shoes!

The Pottery Barn Kids Butterfly Mobile that I ordered on e-bay came in today! YAY!!! I LOVE IT! Hubby was even impressed! It is hanging in the dining room right now because the study is not anywhere near converted to a little baby girls room...and I want to enjoy it now...to bad I can't hang one in my room...haha...

Christmas is not up yet....I am behind apparently...but am okay with that...it's the breathing thing that has taken priority...but I do have my winter door mat out and while my fall wreath is still on the door, I do have the stuff to make my winter wreath...guess I might be getting on that tomorrow.

My parents are coming in tonight..in an hour give or take...I did not mean to be up this late...but the breathing thing again...and I am reading the Twilight books...way too easy read...I guess that is why they are "teen fiction" and way too easy to figure out what is going on...but they are entertaining.

Mr. Wonderful is feeling the girl move a little more often and the wonder-of-it-all that is in his face is PRICELESS...I am loving this process of making a human...thankful that God has given me a chance to be a Mama...

I hope you are having a wonderful first week of December...remember to breathe...in the hectic pace of all that is this month...take some time and just breathe.

Nameste'
Nili

The days after....

Hi Ya'll! I can hardly believe that Thanksgiving 08 is behind us...we are now 21 weeks pregnant and are 90% sure that we are having a GIRL!!!! I am beyond excited, I know that I would be excited either way but....I grew up in a large family with 7 sisters so...girls well...it just seems natural to me to have a girl first. Now if this little growing one turns out to be a boy...well I have always wanted a lil' boy too, so either way I am a winner!

Thanksgiving this year was mostly quiet, Mr. Wonderfuls' parents came down and we all headed over to a friends house to celebrate the day with her and her extended family and freinds...YAY...I did not have to cook...I did make a casserole dish but that was it! And my in-laws came bearing gifts of Thanksgiving foods so the fridge is full and we are enjoying "leftovers" here in Paradise for the next week...and for that I am very grateful as I am dealing with a nasty head cold and would rather not cook anything if possible.

So....Christmas is here....at least it is starting to make it's appearance here in Paradise. New trimmings are waiting for the door wreath, a small tree has been purchased for my favorite ornaments and I am waiting on Mr. Wonderful to come home from a hunting morning so he can help me get the boxes out so I can get started. We are not putting the big tree up this year...at least I don't think we are....Mr. Wonderful seemed kinda sad that I was not planning on putting it up so..I'll let him decide...we just have to move furniture around and a lot of it I usually do and I can't this year...so rather than hassle with it I thought we would skip it...I guess we will see.

I hope you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving, I know we did...there is so very much to be grateful for...my heart gets overwhelmed with it all. If you drop by leave a note!
Nili

almost halfway there....

Tomorrow is the day...the start of week 20! We are halfway there...only 20 more weeks and this growing little one will make his or her appearance. Mr. Wonderful is certain that we are having a girl....he is so sure of it, I think maybe he is saying that because he would love a boy and is setting himself up to not be disappointed...so in his head...for now...until we know (hopefully) on Tuesday...we are having a girl. Me, I don't know, part of me thinks this is a boy...but for the most I don't know. If it is a girl I will rest a little easy...because we have already agreed on a name, if it is boy... some more discussions will start because we have not (although Mr. W thinks that we have...but I don't want to "discuss" something that we may not have to) agreed on the name. Mr. W is an only child, he is a III and his parents expect and he has also wanted that we name our boy a IV, and while this is all well and good, and I like passing down a family name...I just don't want to call my son by that name, the short versions, the middle name, none of it....We have discussed naming him the IV and then calling him something completely different. Which in part I am okay with but what about when he is older, what about when he starts school, how will this work? I just don't know and am undecided....do you call your babies by a name different then their given name?

I had a hair appointment on Tuesday....I got bangs! and several inches cut....
I like it, I have not had bangs since the 10th grade and well I don't know if I will keep them but it is a nice change. I was thinking of going a little shorter with the long length and then a little more choppy with the bangs and on the sides....I don't know...my next appointment is a couple days before Christmas so I have some time to think about it all.

We find out TUESDAY!!! How I wish today was Tuesday....I so want to know that this baby is growing perfectly, that I am doing a good job. I just want to know that "everything is how it should be". Mr.Wonderful asked me last night if I am worrying because I think something is wrong...no I told him, just worrying...that's what mommy's do.

It is amazing how fast babies grow, this little one legs are about 4 inches long and the tiny sweet feet that I can't wait to kiss are 1 inch long....18 weeks from conception and dividing cells to legs 4 inches long and a perfectly formed baby! We read every Friday the changes that the baby has made and will make in the coming week...I love Fridays! Last week I was on the way to a friends baby shower and had some 80s music playing...this little one was just a moving and a grooving inside of me, I have never felt that much movement at one time for that length of time...and then of course after the punch and some cake...there was more movement. I can't wait to feel this growing one more and more....movements that tell me that everything is good and this baby is just a growing!

I hope you are having a great day! If you stopped by..leave me a comment...I would love to know who is reading!
Nameste,
Nili

Fabulous Quilt Give Away

Dana at Old Red Barn Co.
is GIVING AWAY..yes giving these 3 fabulous quilts away to three lucky winners. I am in love with her quilts and when I didn't win at her last give away I went out and bought the identical fabric ...because I loved it so...to make my very own fabulous quilt...which I have yet to start and the stack of lovely fabric is still sitting on the corner of my desk....I've got to get started! So anywhooo go and visit Dana here.... www.oldredbarnco.blogspot.com or click on the link at the top right of my page and check her quilts out....and well if you must enter..I know I am doing EVERYTHING I can to get the most entries possible...hello baby needs a new fabulous beautiful quilt!

Sweet Sleep....where oh where are you?

Here we are week 18....the first week of the 5th month, I can hardly believe how fast this time is flying. This pregnancy so far has gone very well, no morning sickness, no really horrible headaches....the ones I had were allergy related...took me way to long to figure that out, weight gain so far steady and slow, no huge mood swings...so pretty well. And now...now...I am having the worse time sleeping, aside from waking 3 or more times a night to pee...and I know that is just going to increase...I cannot seem to get comfortable for the life of me. Here I am finally comfortable (or mostly) and am sure Mr. Wonderful is screaming (in his head) for me to stop moving around...and then I have to get up and pee AGAIN. Of course the whole cycle starts all over again. This morning I went and bought a Boppy Total Body Pillow at Target....I can't wait to try this pillow tonight...I hope it works...I hope sweet sleep while not leave me stranded...waiting, tossing and turning...I'll let you know how it all works out.

The Day After...

Here we are, new president in the wings....I am proud to be an American, proud of my country, proud of my freedoms! I didn't vote for the president elect....I am however interested to see how he does, what he does and how the American people will respond. I have always been proud to be an American and living in a foreign country from 2005-2007 made me even more American in my heart. Being a Air Force spouse and saying goodbye to my Mr. Wonderful every 12 months for three, four or six long months....gives me a greater appreciation for the sacrifices that the countless brave men, women and their families have made every day since the founding of this nation...instills a pride of America in me. I cannot stand and place my hand on my heart and pledge to Our Flag...with out crying. Nor can I stand and raise my water glass in honor to our MIA and POWS with out realizing the sacrifices that our made for this freedom we hold so dear.

That being said I do not understand how someone can say "Now, I am proud to be an American..."or "After eight long years I am proud to be an American." and no I am not speaking of Mrs. Obama (although that does cause me to pause)...I am speaking of several friends of mine. My patriotism does not come from who the President is, what political party is in "power", how other people and other countries view America....No, my patriotism and love for America comes from inside me...from my core values, beliefs and life; from who I believe this country is, the hope she offers and the freedom she gives. Other friends have said "Well, I am sure glad my vote counted in this election" as if somehow mine did not or their vote did not in the past if they voted for the "other guy". That is like saying, I do not want to play the game if I cannot "win". Sorry folks someone always has to "lose". But that does not mean that your vote didn't count or your voice was not heard.
These next four years will be interesting, these last eight have been interesting. I am willing to give Mr. Obama a chance...why not, don't we all deserve a chance....I am also going to pray for him and for this country. I hope you voted, I hope you exercised your right to make your voice heard...a right and a voice that many on this great planet do not have...a right our brave men and women continue to fight for. Whom ever you voted for I hope that you are proud to be an American!
I know I am.
Nili