Pregnancy Diet

Thanks, everyone for the nice comments! We're very excited, that's for sure. This baby will definitely change everything about our lives.

I've learned so far that pregnancy is the best weight loss program ever. What? You didn't know? Yep, that's right. I'm one of the lucky ones that's experienced all kinds of nausea and food aversions. I'm down 12 pounds, in fact. BUT I'm sure it's going to start packing on now. The last few days it seems like my appetite has returned to normal. Not a whole lot has made me gag.

The last few weeks though? Meat, vegetables (especially green leafy ones), frozen meals, fruit...all of it made me want to puke. The mere smell of it had me running to the restroom. I was living off applesauce, yogurt, string cheese, pasta and rice.

Meat made it's way back in the last week or so. And vegetables have also made an appearance. I'm still a little hesitant when it comes to broccoli. Something about the texture has me grossed out. And I normally love broccoli. What do I want instead? All the sour gummy candy in the state of Maryland.

I guess the good thing about hubs being gone during the first trimester is that I didn't have to cook anything that would have made me gag. When he was home this weekend, he got to see me run back and forth to the bathroom when my lunch made its reappearance.

11 weeks down...29 weeks to go!

Game Changer

Hi friends! I know it's been a little while. I took a little hiatus. Things around here got kind of nuts, what with hubs gone and all. And, well, it's been hard to blog about life, when my life has been changing. 


You see, on February 21, we found out that we're expecting a baby!!!


Yep, you heard right. Our little baby is set to make his/her appearance November 1, 2012. What a HARD secret to keep. We just broke the news recently to coworkers and friends. My family knew right away, and so did close friends. Let's be honest, when I refused my usual glass of wine, they knew something was up. 


To say this pregnancy has had it's ups and downs is an understatement. Hubs has been gone for most of it, meaning he's missed out on my daily upchucking, dry heaving, nausea and overall lack of energy. Lucky him, right? Plus, hormones are NO JOKE. One minute I'm happy face, the next minute, I'm weeping to one of the dogs. My anxiety is in full swing. But I'm learning to deal with it. 


Plus, daycare is HARD to find and it has stressed me to the max. I assumed the one down the street that was convenient and I liked would have room for my baby. Wrong. So wrong. Most home daycares in the area have no room until 2014. Or they're SUPER expensive. After weeks and weeks of searching, I finally found one that I love. It's a little out of the way, but hey, can't have everything. 


You might think I started early, but with home daycares only taking 2 children under 2, infant spots in quality care settings are hard to find. I wrapped that shiznit up this afternoon, signed the contract, reserved my spot. Booyah. Planning at its finest. 


So, now? I'm nearly 11 weeks pregnant. Down 12 pounds due to my nasty food aversions and nausea. Meat and I only recently became friends again. But hey, at least I'm starting down weight, right? I can only assume it'll pack on soon. Especially after that bag of sour gummy candy I ate this weekend.


Am I excited? Of course. Scared? Yep. Afraid we'll have no money anymore because, damn, kids are expensive? Yep. But it'll all be worth it. Mommy is a role I've wanted to play for a very, very long time. 

Have Yourself a Slice of Pie

Today, Nana would have been 76. It's hard to believe we're nearing two years since she's been gone. 

She's the reason I started this blog.

And the reason I ran a 5K.

And the reason raised my family and I raised over $2,500 for lung cancer research.

Happy birthday, Nana Banana! We miss you every.single.day. 

Have yourself a slice of pie :)

Missing the Fam

When I was in high school, I couldn't wait to peace out of my hometown the minute I got my diploma. 

Then I went to college only 45 minutes away. 

After college? I knew that finding a job in public relations and marketing in a tiny town was going to be a big issue. I had just spent four years of my life busting my butt to get my degree and I wasn't about to settle for a mediocre job that had nothing to do with my studies. 

Hubs (then boyfriend) got a job in New Jersey, and I took this as my best opportunity to escape. I packed up my crap a mere two weeks after graduation and headed to the Garden State to start my adult life. 

That was the day I knew that I would never be moving back to Hometown, PA. I discovered a life of convenience. Malls just down the street. So many restaurant choices, my head was spinning. Options for places to start my career in PR/Marketing. A big city within my reach. 

Four years in NJ was good enough for us. We found out it was a little too crowded for our taste. When hubs got his job in Baltimore, we were happy to start a new life in a new city. Although we hated saying goodbye to friends we made, we were ready for something new. Not only that, but we were moving 2.5 hours closer to my family. Which, in my mind, meant more visits.  

But, I might as well live in California or the other side of the world. I only see them when I can make the trip home. Which I tend to do once every 2 months or so. But as far as anyone visiting me? It's unfortunately not a priority. Life gets in the way. Everyone is busy. Seeing us is a chore. And I miss them. Not only that, but there are a lot of days when I yearn to just stop over for dinner. Or call up my sister to go shopping. These are the days when I wish I would have stayed. When I would have opted for a more universal career that could be found in towns big and small. Same goes for hubs. Engineering jobs are usually plentiful in small towns. 

My feelings are stirred up from a canceled visit from my parents this weekend. Unfortunately, life got in the way. It's been nearly 6 months since they've been down. We've changed a lot in the house and I was excited to show it off. Take them to dinner. Spend some time chatting. But? Dad's work got in the way. Sigh. 

But I'm the one that moved away. I had dreams of a different life for myself, outside of Hometown. So you could say it's my fault for leaving. And I shouldn't complain. Just cherish the time we do spend together. Most people would love not seeing their family often. Me? I'm not that person. 

Guess I'll be planning that trip "home" soon. 

Free to Breathe 5K

After over 4 days of agony, our power finally returned last night around 6:30PM! About 2 minutes after it came on, you could hear all the neighbors outside cheering in celebration, followed by the simultaneous shutting off of all the generators. Thank you, Lord for hot water, a cold fridge, TV, dishwasher, washing machine...


In other news, last Saturday, right before Irene swept the coast, my family and I participated in the Free to Breathe 5K. Yes, that's correct, I completed my first 5K. I didn't run it all, but I ran enough. I finished in 40 minutes, which I know is horribly slow, but I'm signing up for another very soon!


In addition to the glorious feeling of crossing the finish line, Team Nana had many a cause for celebration. We raised $2,393 for lung cancer research, awareness and education. We got this sweet trophy for being #1:

Me accepting our team trophy.

Julie and I before the start of our first 5K!

Left to right: Aunt Chris, Uncle Kevin, Momma, Uncle Dan, Aunt Wendy

Left to Right: My sister, Cousins Ryan, Kaylin and Keenan

Hubs after the race. Yes, that's a pool of butt sweat. Ew.

Big winners for Team Nana! Chris with second overall, Keenan with first in his age group and Kevin with third in his age group.

Kevin, the top fundraiser for the entire event.

I'm SO proud of my entire family for participating! This is our second year and I can't wait for the third!

Lessons Learned from Dad

Happy Father's Day! Perhaps next year, hubs and I will be celebrating his first Father's Day? Let's hope so. 


In honor of Father's Day, I'd like to take a minute to recap some of the lessons learned from my daddy-o:

1. "You don't know what you don't know." - Seriously peeps, this phrase rang through my house growing up pretty much every day. I hated it. Hated the words as soon as they came out of his mouth, while I stewed in my teen angst thinking that my dad knew nothing. But, he was right. When I was younger, I didn't know shit. I learned a lot. And usually the hard way.
   
2. Get renter's insurance BEFORE you move into your apartment. - Again, advice from dad I ignored. We got it after we moved into our first place. Which didn't kick in until AFTER the place burned down. True story. I'll share more on that someday.
   
3. You won't get what you want unless you work for it. - Dad owns his own business, so a good work ethic was instilled in me as a kid. My sister and I are both workers, and have never expected to be handed things in life. My dad works more hours a week than anyone should, but he owns a successful business and he didn't get there sitting on his ass.
   
4. Pay yourself first. - Take a designated amount of your paycheck and put it into a savings account. If you never have that money to begin with, you'll never miss it.
   
5. Coffee is a helluva drug. - Seriously, this man drinks coffee like it's going out of style. Although in recent years, he seems to have cut back, in his hayday he took a GIANT thermos to work. And probably got an additional cup or two. I hated coffee. Until I was forced into the working world. Now, I can't survive without it. Sad, I know.
   
6. If your kids don't listen to you the first 15674 times, time for drastic measures. - Like the time I refused to hang up the phone after being told three times. Dad's solution? Cut the cord. Or how about when I slammed the door after being told not to. Take the door off the hinges. Had to hand it to him, he got his point across. 

Happy Father's Day, dad! Thanks for teaching me lessons, and making me the huge smartass I am today!

Last Week: A Photo Essay

I may have mentioned my crazy life last week. I've decided it's better show you how it went in a photo essay...


My week started out with visitors from out of town! We drove down to the Dogfish Head Brewery for some beer tasting and brewery touring. 

Hubs (sweet fro, huh?), Ace, Tony and Jen tasting some free beer.

The hubs and I. Like his shirt? I got it for him for his birfday. Pug lifffeee!

Then we packed our crap up and headed to PA for my sister's wedding weekend!

Amped up bride.

We needed serious caffeine. 

Bridesmaids

Beautious.

Me and Momma

Sisters <3

Cake smashhhh!

Seriously. Stunning cake. 

Hubs and I bringing in the night with some cocktails.

Fun Fridays!

Today, I'm linking up with Jen over at A Girl in Pearls & A Boy with Toys for...

This weekend, the parents will be coming down for a visit. My mom hasn't been here since I moved a few weeks ago so I'm excited for her to see the new place!

My dad has been kind enough to hitch his trailer up to the Durango and bring it so we can go pick up my brand spankin' new tractor tomorrow.

Oh yeah! Are you jealous yet? I'll be riding this bad boy around the yard until hubs gets home to take over lawn duty. Lord help us all because I've never mowed grass before. I know. I was spoiled.

Then we'll probably do a little shopping, a little grilling and a little relaxing. And on Sunday, we have reservations at a local restaurant for a Mother's Day brunch. And for my momma? I got her this:

Not only is she Vera crazy (like her daughter), she is always looking for something small and easy to carry when she goes shopping. This should be perfect. 


Happy Mother's Day to all you mommas out there! Hopefully, next year will be my first as a momma :)