PPPPFFFFFTTTTTT...

One of my besties had a baby boy last night!!!  His name is Wesley and he's a chunky monkey.  You can find Alexis over at ppppffffftttttt.  She's extremely funny and always keeps everyone laughing.  I'm sure she will have one heck of a labor recap after she gets home and all settled with her new little ham.

9lbs and 1oz - couldn't you just eat him up?!  I'm in L.O.V.E.

Memory Lane

I looked through a bunch of pics this morning of Tank from when he was a puppy.  Melt. My. Heart.

Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Challenge

Cupcakes and Cashmere posted a link today to the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies...Ever.  It got me thinking - I see this title "the BEST (insert flavor) cookies" a lot.  Which is really the best?  I found 3 recipes online that claim to be the Best Chocolate Chip Cookie and over the next three weeks, I am going to try each recipe.  I am sure Jack AND Dawson will love this little experiment!

The recipes I will try:

http://forme-foryou.com/2011/08/the-only-chocolate-chip-cookie-i-will-ever-need-to-know-how-to-make-for-the-rest-of-my-life.html (this one was featured on Cupcakes and Cashmere today).

http://archive.blisstree.com/eat/the-best-chocolate-chip-cookie-ever/

http://savorysweetlife.com/2009/10/alices-chocolate-chip-cookie-recipe/

Yard Work.

Jack and I are VERY lucky.  We have a wonderful friend who is a fabulous landscaper and has the best eye for lawn design, etc.  This weekend, he and Jack planted some new bushes in our front flower beds.  We had some bushes burn up last summer due to our house facing the western hot heat.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

As I was snapping pics of the new bushes, I was also planting some flowers in our pots.  I had a little helper out there with me, you might be able to spot him in the picture above :)  I had to put his leash on him and tie him to the porch or else if another dog was walking by in our neighborhood, Tank would want to run out in the street and play...

After our afternoon of planting, we headed to Utica Square to pick something up from a friend.  Tank loves his car rides:

One last thing.  I wanted to share an article I read today.  If you don't have your dogs micro-chipped or if they are not wearing a tag with your information on their collar, please do one or both right away.  Not all of us could be as lucky as THIS LADY was.  I would just die if my little handsome man ran away and we couldn't find him.  Luckily he has a ton of awesome necklaces to choose from with our information on them and he is chipped.... Plus he's Velcro Dog, so he never leaves our side anyway :)

Liddybug Boutique

One of my friends Jackie has a sister-in-law that is crafty and likes to make things.  She recently started a Facebook page (Liddybug Boutique) and sells some of her items on there.  She makes bows, shirts, all kinds of children's stuff.  Jackie recently sent me pictures of a changing pad her and Holli made together.  Holli now has them posted on her Facebook page.  They are $12 and adorable!  Go like her page and check out her items!

Here's the changing pad rolled up and ready to be thrown into the diaper bag!

Here is it unrolled so you can see the back side with the cute fabric

Picture of the inside - soft and plush for your little baby's tush!

She can make them in different fabrics, for a boy or a girl.

This week's pics

Tank's Grammy brought him a bone at Easter.  We thought he ate it all but apparently he only ate half of it and buried the rest.  Well, Jack's Mom (Tank's GG) is staying with us for a little bit until she closes on her new house.  She has two dogs.  They are staying with us too.  All three dogs were playing outside and Tank went and dug up his bone and sat it on the deck in front of the other two dogs.  I think he was intentionally TRYING to cause a fight.  Tank isn't a good sharer with his toys.  Anyway, Jack put his bone up in the window seal to avoid a ruff situation.  Here are pics of Tank's attempt to retrieve his bone - a bulldog can always dream, right? (warning, all of the wires and boxes on the wall look tacky):

I bought these Steve Madden flats at Marshall's yesterday.  The original store price on the tag was $79.99, they were marked down to $29.99 and I got them 50% off for $15.99!  Such a great deal.  I have them in black also, but my mom bought them for me at Dillards and they were full price.  It's nice finding great steals!

Here I am Wednesday night before a dinner Jack and I went to.  22 weeks and 3 days.  I actually am not wearing any maternity clothes in this picture.  My top is from Anthropologie two seasons ago and my jeans are low waisted, jeggings from the Gap a size up from what a normally wear.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Really. Really?

We've all heard the stories from women who can't believe the Sh*t people say to them while they are pregnant.  I always giggle and wonder what kind of person feels that they can speak so freely.  Well, I ran into one of those people yesterday.  My neighbor.

I walked out to our front yard wearing shorts and a tank after work yesterday to help Jack dig up some old dead bushes.  He was talking to our neighbor lady and when I came out she said "Well hey fatty!  Why don't you try and suck it in?!"  Ha... Ha...  Good one...

This could get old really quickly.  How come when it comes to pregnant people, other peoples manners just fly right out the window?  Yahoo wrote an article on 10 things not to Ask/Say/Do to pregnant women.  I will post the pointers below along with some of my personal feedback on the issues.  Listen up people of the world...

1. Rub or feel her belly - seriously, don't do this.  This is a HUGE no-no in my book.  I have serious space / touching issues and I don't appreciate when people so freely touch my belly, or get too close to my face.

2.  "Wow, you're getting BIG!" - Well obviously.  I'm growing a human inside of my stomach.  Let's not state the obvious here, peeps.

3.  "You look like you're ready to pop.  I can't believe you still have (insert time frame here) to go!" - You look like you are ready to pop?!  If anyone in there right mind said that to someone who WASN'T pregnant, they would be slapped in the face.  What makes it okay to say when someone is carrying a child?

4.  "Are you sure you're not having twins?" - Is that your polite way of saying I look HUGE and hopefully have more than one in there to make up for my bigness?

5.  Telling Labor Horror stories - my advice, don't give people unsolicited advice.  If it's welcomed, by all means, tell.  But if not, keep your mouth shut.

6.  "Should you really be eating/drinking that?" - Unless your name is followed by the letters OBGYN, I won't need your nutrition advice.  Got it?

7.  "Was it planned?" - Haha, this always gets me.  I don't want to talk about mine and Jack's "between the sheets" life with anyone, because let's face it, two tangoing makes a baby.  Privacy Invasion.  Who cares if it was planned or unplanned - it's happening, that's all that matters.

8.   "Are you going to have more babies?" - I have already gotten this question A LOT.  It bothers me for numerous reasons.  #1, I have other babies.  One is in Heaven.  And the other one has 4 legs and fur.  #2, let me enjoy Dawson - she's not even here yet and you want me to start thinking about another one.  #3, you never know people's situations.  Some people could be pregnant with a miracle child and it could be their only chance at having a baby.  You want to keep reminding them of that each time you ask about MORE babies?

#9  "Are you going to breast feed?" - why do you care?

#10  "Did you take fertility drugs?" - Who says that?  Who cares how a person got pregnant.  And this goes back to invasion of privacy in my book.

22 Weeks.

Wow, 22 weeks!  The weeks are passing quickly!  This week Dawson weighs almost a pound - which I am sure she probably weighs a pound since she was a little on the chunk side :)  She's 11 inches and about the size of a spaghetti squash.  I can't believe she is already looking like a tiny human being!  It's amazing to me how God works and how he makes a perfect and healthy baby.  What a miracle.

This past week Jack and I really tried to make a point of eating in every night.  This saves us money obviously, but also helps me eat a healthier, well balanced meal.  I am a chicken fanatic.  I can make chicken every night of the week a different way.  Add veggies and a starch/carb and I'm set.

Nothing too different from last week to this week to report.  My Mom figured out how to bid on Smocked Auctions and won Dawson an adorable alligator dress (don't worry, I already warned her it would become an addiction)!  It already came in and she sent me this picture - So cute:

via

I also managed to snag Dawson her first swimmy!  It was a preorder from Stitched and Smocked on Facebook.  I'm in love with this suit:

Here is a picture of me at 21 weeks and 6 days!

I told ya the bump was growing quickly!  I also made this picture black and white so you all couldn't tell how pasty pale my arms are :) - someone get this girl to the nearest pool or beach!

Happy Friday.

From my sleepy Tanker.

Big Brother Tank

I can't wait for him to be able to love on his new little sister!  Jack sent me this video today.  I melted.

21 Weeks.

This week Dawson is the length of a carrot.  That makes her approx. 10.5 inches long!  She's just a growing girl!  I have felt better than ever the past few weeks.  I actually love this time now being pregnant.  I feel great!  I am growing by the day.  Every morning I wake up I feel a little bit bigger, which I don't mind at all.  I'm embracing this belly.

This week Jack has been able to feel Dawson move!  It's so crazy.  She is really active at night and I can feel her more and more each day.  Looks like we could have a little night owl on our hands :)  I have been waiting for the day when Jack could put his hand on my stomach and feel her.  It's just so amazing.

I am completely out of regular pants (I was still in work pants with the button undone week before last).  I am now wearing my work pants with my belly band and I went and bought a couple of cotton skirts from old navy this week I can wear to work.  I dress very casual to work.  I have a feeling the cotton skirts will be my summer work wardrobe with a tank and cardigan.

I am still eating a lot of cereal and as of my doctor's appointment at 19.5 weeks, I have gained a total of 3lbs (I said I would keep you all posted).  Oh and I really like eating Air Heads right now.  You know, the taffy type candy?  I like the Cherry flavor.  

We have gotten a few deliveries the past week!  Some super cute nursery items:

Here's a picture of what Jack picked up Dawson at the Master's.  She's going to be the best dressed girl at the club next Spring and Summer:

Our flowers are starting to bloom this week!

Here's me at 20 weeks and 4 days last week:

And here's Tanker Baby.  Showing us his teeth :)

Oh Hey Sis.

I don't know if I have ever formally introduced my blog readers to my fabulous sisters.  I have two - Lindsay and Abby.  They are great.  We all get along so well and we are very close.  We are all the same, yet totally different.  I'm the middle child, which is funny, because I think I am a good blend of Lindsay and Abby.  Abby is extremely laid back and care free (she's the baby) and Lindsay definitely has it together - she's so sweet and thoughtful (she's the oldest).  Do you see a trend here?  I really think we all kind of fit the oldest, middle child and youngest molds.  Abby and Lindsay are both funny and beautiful girls on the inside and out.  I'm very lucky to have them both as sisters.

Here's a few pictures:

Here we are with our Mom :)

Now that I have formally introduced you all to my sisters, I can talk about them like you know them.  Lindsay stayed with me two nights this week after my mom left while Jack was still out of town.  When she came, she brought Dawson some goodies!  I took pics but the pictures do not do justice of the cuteness.

Jack is in a Football Fantasy League.  Each August, his league gets together for their big draft at the lake.  It's always the same group of guys.  Nobody gets out and nobody gets in.  The kicker is the winner wins a lot of $$, so it's a very fun but serious time.  All of the wives even get into it because of course, we want our husband's to win the loot at the end of the year!  Of course, when approaching draft weekend, the big talk is always who will draw first pick and who they will draft.  Dawson is due right around the weekend of Jack's draft this year.  So Lindsay and her friend Jill made Dawson this adorable onesie (and matching bow) for her to wear while watching football with her dad :)

#1 Draft Pick 2012

Back :)

She also brought a TON of bows.  Small and Large for Dawson to wear when she's born and as she get bigger!  Lindsay's friend Jill has a little boy, but loves all things girly, and she loves making bows.  She made all of these and Lindsay helped glue clips on the back of them.  They even made little skinny bands for the bows to clip onto!  I love them all!

Abby was recently in NOLA for a wedding and picked up Dawson her first party bib!  Fat Tuesday 2013, Dawson will probably want virgin Hurricanes in her bottle instead of milk.

Happy Closet.

I like to be organized.  So purchasing these were a no brainer.  A closet with size separators is sure to be a happy, organized closet :)

I bought them last week on Zulily.com.  (Caution, here comes a "mom plug") If you are a mom or soon-to-be mom and you aren't signed up for Zulily emails, I highly suggest it.  They have fabulous deals each day for kids of all ages.  They have things that aren't for kids, too.  But the majority seems to be for children. Check it out!