Tricks, Treats, Pilots & Babies....

Happy Halloween! Benz visited his Great-Grandma Paulhus (92) today and she got such a kick out of his pilot costume as well as the suitcase he was dragging behind him to hold all of his candy. [By the way, Benz's costume was such a big hit while we were trick or treating tonight, that we actually had one guy whose house we went to tell us to wait at his front door for a minute. We assumed he was going to grab the candy bowl but came back with a camera and snapped a pic of Benz all decked out. He explained that he was a pilot himself and couldn't wait to show all of his colleagues! First time I've ever exchanged a photo for a Butterfinger!] My Grandma P. hasn't seen Benz since he was toddling around at the age of 11 months and now he's almost 4! She must have said "Is he cute or what?" and "he's just sooooo cute" like 100 times! It was pretty darn cute. She was so excited when I told her that we were expecting another one, that she started crying and saying "how bout that!" And she must have mentioned at least 10 times how much she hopes that it is a little girl. No pressure for me or anything!!! She loved it when I told her that I was due on June 24, which was her and my late Grandpa's wedding anniversary. We also told Aunt Lucille and Uncle Gerald that they would have another great niece or nephew and they too, were happy to hear the news. So now all of the key players have been informed of our exciting info and I can finally rest easy, even though the fun has just begun!!!

It's over but it's only just begun!

So to catch you up....I've been on a rampage to get our life organized. I've reorganized the kitchen, sorted our pics & mementos, and donated over 10 garbage bags full of STUFF to Goodwill last week. I was like a maniac on a mission, probably working harder than I should have and overexerting myself, all for the hopes of less worry and better sleep at night. But no such luck...I've still barely been sleeping averaging 5.5-6 hours per night (as compared to my normal 8 hours). Could it be the anxiety of being pregnant or raging hormones? Not to mention the fact that I had to get everything packed and ready to go for our trip to Rhode Island. Other than the above sleeping issues and some dizzy spells here and there, I've been feeling well and enjoying my pregnancy thus far.

And perhaps my anxiety was in part due to the fact that I was keeping this new addition a secret from my parents for almost two weeks! Every time I talk to them on the phone I nearly spill the beans. Some topic comes up that makes me carefully screen every answer. So I was glad and relieved to finally tell them EVERYTHING and congratulate them on becoming grandparents....again! [On a side note: Benz and I headed out early this morning for our trip to Providence, RI via Detroit. On our last leg, we told the flight attendant that Benz was dressing up as an airplane pilot for Halloween and she was tickled to death. She gave us a seat-belt to take home? and also arranged for Benz to meet the captain at the end of our flight. So I'm proud to say that Benz got to do what most kids only dream about....climb into the captain's chair and play with all of the buttons in the cockpit. He was in his glory!] Benz was wearing his new "I'm gonna be a big brother" shirt when my mom first saw him at the airport. It took her a minute to read the shirt and when she did, she looked at me and said: "is this for real??!!!" We told her yes and Benz said he was a "big brudder" and she was smiling and hugging us! My dad came in a few minutes later and he read the shirt (upon being prompted) and was very happy as well. As he walked away to the bathroom, we heard him say "Holy Cripe!" My mom and I stayed up tonight talking about how I was feeling, when & how we found out, and lots of other things baby related. I think we were all on cloud 9 and beyond exhausted! And don't tell Matt, but we stopped by Papa John's tonight to pick up pineapple pizza, giving in to one of my main cravings! It's not allowed at our house since it's a direct competitor of Papa Murphy's...but man was it DELICIOUS!

New Orleans....proud to call it home!

You can find New Orleans on a map bordered by the 17th Street Canal, Lake Ponchartrain, the mighty Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.

You will also find New Orleans in the hearts of the Louisiana people and those around the world who have experienced it....Jazz, Mardi Gras, the French Quarter, Creole and Cajun cuisine.

But my New Orleans is more. It is bigger. The Big Easy goes beyond the borderlines of this great city. It is always a part of me wherever I go.

My New Orleans goes north up the Mississippi River to Natchez, strung together by mighty oak trees, Spanish Moss and a path of majestic plantation homes from an era gone by.

My New Orleans goes east where my family vacationed on the sandy beaches of Waveland, Gulfport & Biloxi.

My New Orleans goes south through the bayous and swamps, where as a young girl my father took me fishing, down the Mississippi Delta.

My New Orleans gets its spice from the west through Baton Rouge and to the heart of Acadiana.

My New Orleans is like a good gumbo with all of the necessary ingredients to make a recipe ric in culture. A gumbo that is stirred by people whose Southern hospitality welcomes each ingredient to melt into the other, to give it the flavor of something you will always take with you wherever you go. Our bloodline flows beyond the borders of this great city. Once you taste it...ya'll will know what it means to love New Orleans.

an excerpt from Ann Dale, www.iknowwhatitmeans.com

Is 9 months really enough time to get EVERTHING done?

Not sure if anyone out there can relate to my sentiments but I was up yet again last night with tons of random things running through my head. I was so anxious and overwhelmed at the thought of all of the things I need (or would like) to get done around the house before this next baby arrives...move stuff to the attic, clean out the garage, finish Benz and our wedding scrapbooks and SO much more! Most pregnant women can't wait for the 9 months to be over and it just seems to drag by each day, and I'm sure I'll get to that point again soon. But for now, I have the reoccuring fantasy that if a genie in a bottle would come and grant me one wish it would be for this: to stop time around me for about a month. That way I'd be able to go about getting everything done without having to stop to sleep, eat, take Benz to school or go grocery shopping. I could just focus on finishing up all of my incomplete projects and feel AOK about bringing another family member into the mix of our oh so busy life! I think 30 days of uniterrupted time would just about do it. So if you know of a genie you'd be willing to send my way, I'd be forever in your debt:)

In the meantime, I decided to take it into my own hands and do one project each day. Although today I was highly motivated, so when Matt took Benz to a Blazer game, this was the perfect chance for me to clean out all of the kitchen cabinets, our overflowing junk drawers and the linen closet. I feel such relief knowing at least a fraction of the house has been re-organized. Now that's not saying it will stay that way until June, but at least it should help me sleep better tonight...

Cravings, Morning Sickness, & Forgetfulness ALREADY??

Thinking back on the days leading up to when I found out you were growing inside of me, I was definitely feeling more exhausted than normal. I also seem to be hungry all the time! After getting the positive pregnancy test, I noticed more pimples, tender breasts and felt slight crampiness and a full feeling in my lower abdomen. Now that I think about it, I’m starting to get forgetful again, just like what happened the first time around! But instead of taking the wrong exit like I used to do with Benz, a variety of things have happened with you so far. On Saturday (10/13), I thought a gal I was interviewing at work was late because she wasn’t there at noon. I called her and she told me that I told her a few days ago to meet with her at 1pm! And then yesterday (10/20) it really hit home...I left my keys behind at Chuck E. Cheese’s and then I forgot Benz’s big brother shirt at the restaurant we ate at last night! And to top things off, I felt very sick to my stomach on the way home. Lucky for me, I didn’t lose my dinner but it got pretty close. I had to sit still, drink water, and suck on peppermints for a while and then I felt much better. I think it was caused by driving in Babe’s new yellow sports car but who knows! I hope it's not a sign of some not-so-fun symptoms to come!

Keep a secret??? No, not me!

10/16/07-- So Daddy headed back to work and Mommy of course called her best friends, Traci and Julia, who have been on this journey with me the entire time. I think they both had tears in their eyes, as their voices sounded pretty shaky. They were so sincerely happy for me, which made this day feel even more special! I gathered all of my stuff for work and headed over to Oxford for the first day of a new swim session. I called your Great-Grandma & Great-Grandpa Meynier and spilled the beans. I just couldn’t hold it in any more! They were super excited and made me promise to take it easy. I promised as long as they promised not to tell Gma & Gpa P.

I told my co-workers: Tasha, Sara, Kendall, Eryn, Natalia, Linda & Enid as well as my boss about this exciting news of mine! They were all so very happy for me and Angie and I joked how convenient my timing was, being that you are expected around the very first day of the summer swim session, our busiest season of the year! I was so hungry throughout the evening, one of the very first signs that you were growing inside of me. When I got home, your brother was asleep in bed. I thought about waking him up to share this amazing news with him, but decided to wait until the morning since we all had a pretty exhausting day.

10/17/07-- I hardly slept a wink last night, thinking about all of the ways my life would change between now and when you’d join us in our happy home. I was thinking about your future nursery, how to tell both sets of your grandparents in a special way, etc. I woke Benz up today and told him that I had the best surprise in the world for him. [BACKGROUND INFO: He had known for a little while that we were trying to make him a big brother and he has been asking me over the last few months if "baby Mama tummy?" and each time I'd tell, "Not yet, angel boy." And he would put a very serious face on and say "Oh...one minute?" I'd laugh each and every time and tell him "Well it might take a little longer than that."] He was anxiously waiting to see what I would say, so I told him that I had a baby growing inside of my tummy and that he would be a big brother. He seemed to understand and nodded. Later in the day, I asked him where our baby was and he said “baby Mama tummy.” Then he leaned down and gave you a kiss! Before his nap this afternoon, he told me “I wuv you” and pointed to me and then at my tummy and said “I wuv you too, baby.” I can’t wait for you to meet him. He is such a loving little guy.

If it was up to me, I’d announce you to the entire world, get up on a rooftop and scream out the good news! But Daddy wants to wait a few more weeks to be sure things are safe to tell extended family, his co-workers etc. Mommy's best friend in Boston (your Uncle Brandon) called me to chat and I just blurted it out. I wanted to wait until I’d see him in person in 2 weeks, but just couldn’t contain myself! And I can’t wait to tell my parents in person….just 13 more days and counting!

10/20/07-- We met your Gma & Gpa Brawley at Laurelhurst Public House & Brewery for dinner tonight. Benz & I snuck away to the restroom as they were seated at the table and then we came back. Benz was wearing his “I’m gonna be a big brother” t-shirt and Grandma and Grandpa B. smiled and said “Congratulations!” and seemed pretty excited to be grandparents again. We were talking about changing Babe’s exercise room into your nursery and where we would store everything. We went back to their house for dessert. Gma B. put a candle in the angel food cake and we sang “Happy Brotherhood to Benz” and he made a wish and blew out the candle. It was so very cute:)

10/21/07--Told my co-worker and fellow Bible school teacher, Jenelle. She didn't seem the least bit surprised and told me "I knew it. See I told you so." It was funny now that I think about it. Last Sunday at Bible school we had the kids go around during circle time and share who is part of their families at home. When it was Benz's turn, he said Mama, Babe, me and baby. I laughed and said "no, not yet." Jenelle smiled and said maybe he knows something we don't:) So she seemed to have it all figured out by the time I told her and she matter-of-factly said it would be a boy too...we'll see!

Is that REALLY a pink line????!!!!

I kept hoping to get a sign this month, but didn’t feel any early pregnancy symptoms like I had when I was pregnant with your big brother. I took the first pregnancy test on the morning of Oct. 12th and it was negative, as was the next 6 of them!! By Mon. October 15th, I was getting depressed, wondering if we still had the energy to try again next month. We made caramel apples that night and Daddy & I snuggled; he was trying to console me. I woke up the next morning and figured what’s the harm in taking just one more test, as I had bought them in bulk anyways! So I took one on Tues morning (Oct 16th ) and to my surprise, I noticed a super faint pink line. Just like with Benz, it was so faint that I kept asking myself if it was really there or if I was making it up in my mind! I was so anxious and nervous….so I took another test with my same first morning specimen and sure enough the exact same line came up on the second test. Hmmmm, I thought…..could it be??? I had hoped and dreamed of this day for so many years. Could this be it, was it hitting me? No, I better not get my hopes up; I’d hate to be let down. It’s probably not a pink line. But maybe it is???

As you can tell, by mid-morning I was driving myself crazy trying to figure out if today was the big day. So I got dressed for work, got Benz ready to go and then dropped him off at school. On the way home, I made a spontaneous stop at Walgreens and picked up a digital pregnancy test (for almost $20)! Since this one is idiot proof and actually SPELLS out the words PREGNANT or NOT PREGNANT, I figured it would be worth the money for the piece of mind it could bring me. I brought it back home and waited for the answer to register. Daddy was home for lunch as usual and I started making lunch for myself, all the while the test was processing on the kitchen counter . There was a little hourglass icon which told me it was thinking, meaning I must wait. It probably took a little over a minute but felt like an hour! I casually glanced over at it, and to my surprise I read the most beautiful word in all the world….PREGNANT! I rushed over to Daddy and slapped it down on the computer desk. He couldn’t believe it either, but could tell how happy and excited I was by the permanent grin on my face (that lasted for at least 30 minutes)!! We were both in shock, I think, and could hardly process that all of our dreams were just beginning to come true. I hopped on the computer and typed in the first day of my last period (Sept. 19th) and calculated that I will be able to hold you, my precious baby, in my arms around June 24, 2008!

When did we start thinking about having another baby?

Mommy had been longing for a second little one to join our family for so many years, probably since I can ever remember. When I was a little girl, I just loved playing with dolls and pretending like I was a mommy and whenever I played house I would always have two little babies to look after. When Benz turned 2 years old, I started thinking about expanding our family. Your Daddy wasn’t on board with a second child back then, since he felt like Benz was plenty enough work already and now, looking back on it, I’d have to say I agree.

Back in 2005 when the very thought of you was just coming to fruition, Benz was struggling with his speech and was nearly 18 months away from potty training, not to mention that we were just beginning to recover from 9 months of no sleep; so we felt like we needed to put all of our time and energy into moving Benz in the right direction, finding the right services to help him, etc. Also, Mommy put a lot of time and energy into getting her body back by working out and eating well; it eventually paid off and I lost almost 100 pounds since being pregnant with Benz! And amongst all of these changes, Mommy started working at Oxford Athletic Club in the supervised play area and then moved on to working lots more hours and getting several promotions.
A year went by and I didn’t give up, bringing up the idea over and over again of baby #2 to your Daddy. Both sets of your grandparents starting wanting another grandchild, so that helped push us to think harder about making Benz a big brother. Also, by summer of 2007, Benz had been working so hard on his speech and also woke up a few months ago and decided he wanted to wear big boy underwear! So we have the potty training thing under our belt as well as feeling financially stable and more settled, so the time to think about creating you was really impending.