Checklist, revisited- again, and again

The other night, I couldn't sleep, so I made a list of all the things I have to do (or think I have to do) before Baby E comes. I feel pretty good about what we have gotten done so far.

Italicized means DONE!

For Baby

1. Install car seats

2. Organize nursery - about 95% done

3. Do laundry

4. Wall decals

5. Pictures/wall art

6. Pack hospital bags - about 50% done

7. Thank You's from New Albany shower

8. Buy hospital pajamas

9. Batteries

House

1. Deep clean both bathrooms

2. Deep clean kitchen

3. Clean out pantry

4. Clean out fridge

5. Organize kitchen cabinets to make room for bottles

6. Organize closets

7. Organize garage (put xmas stuff away)

8. Organize/straighten guest room - about 75% done

Misc.

1. Organize iPod

2. Clean off Mac hard drive

3. Sell/get rid of Dell computer

4. Remove treadmill

5. Order Netflix- March

6. Organize coupons

7. Mail birthday cards

8. Schedule hair appointment

9. Buy new sheets?

School

1. Organize/clean out desk

2. File papers

3. Straighten teacher area behind curtain

4. Clean off computer hard drive

5. Create a benchmark timeline

6. Put documents in Maternity Leave file on computer

7. Straighten cabinets

8. Do Word Stem powerpoints and quizzes

Paperwork

1. Refile mortgage exemption

2. Short Term Disability info- make sure it is filled out and ready

3. File taxes

Checking things off the list

Luke and I have made some headway on our massive "To-Do List" here lately.

We found our pediatrician. Woo hoo! Luke knew her from working at St. Vincent Northeast for his family medicine rotation, and he also worked with her at the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital. Dr. Tamara Woodworth will be our baby's doctor. I am excited to say that we got this accomplished, and we both feel really good about our choice. Both offices she works out of are close to our house, which is nice and convenient.

We have completed childbirth classes. We have pre-registered with the hospital. We really just need to get the car seats installed and inspected, and then in a couple of weeks, we are going to pack for the hospital!

I have picked up some necessities for organizational purposes, as well as some other boring items that weren't cute enough to register for (mattress cover...woohoo). We have been blessed by the generosity of friends, family, and coworkers already, so our baby could really come into the world tomorrow and have everything it needs.

I went for my 32 week appointment today. Doctor Ertel was very happy with my blood pressure, urinalysis, and weight gain (relief). It looks like all signs are pointing to a healthy pregnancy to the end. Baby E's heart rate was 140 bpm. He/she has been really active, and I am seriously just counting down the seconds.

Sleepless in Indianapolis

Pardon the stupid title. I am going on a few hours of zzzzzzz....

I have tossed and turned since about 2:30 a.m....got up, used the bathroom, got some water, tossed some more...finally at about 3:15 I turned on the TV to catch up on this weekend's DVR. At about 4:45, I made it official and got up. I am so anxious....for the weeks to go by....for things at school to develop....for Baby E. It's absolutely maddening! I want to control everything, and I can't! All I can do is dream about how this baby is going to enter this world, and I can't turn off my racing mind! I am jealous of Luke as I see him sleeping soundly in the other room. I am also jealous because he has today and tomorrow off. :-(

I suppose I could do a little weekend update (kind of like SNL, but not as funny). Luke had to work late until 11 on Friday night, so I spent the evening alone. I watched the Hope for Haiti Telethon, which was sad and uplifting all the same. I gave my humble donation and prayed that the world would also open their hearts to give what they could. I was thrilled to see that the telethon has made $57 million dollars so far. That is seriously unbelievable! I don't know how far that goes in the grand scheme to help an entire country in need, but it is a great start, for sure.

Saturday, we got up and headed to New Albany for our 2nd baby shower! Liz and E put on a great shower, and Luke's aunts, cousins, grandma, sister (Clare), and mom attended. My mom and dad even came down for the event. We again were spoiled with great items for Baby E. My mind is stumped as to where we will put all of this stuff, but it is really fun looking at all of it until we find a place. Again, people have been so generous and giving to us! Very overwhelming!

Saturday night, we all hung out and enjoyed time together, eating Chinese and playing Bananagrams. Good times!

Sunday was church, then a birthday party for Gus & Sol! I can't believe that soon Gus will be 3, and Solomon just turned 1. I know it won't be long before I am saying this about my own child. Where does the time go? I remember them both being so little and helpless...and now they are walking, talking, running, laughing, playing, learning...all the time. It's so crazy.

Of course, we watched the big Colts game, complete with a WIN against the Jets and our second trip to the Super Bowl!!!!!!!!! I am so excited for February 7th! I was a senior in college when they went to Miami and won their first title, and now, 3 years later, they are going back to Miami to do it again! We stayed up to see that they will be playing the Saints, which will surely make for some great news coverage given that Drew Brees went to Purdue, Peyton's dad Archie played for the Saints, both teams were top ranked in AFC and NFC, both teams "could" have had undefeated seasons (or so everyone thought...even though the Saints' losses were a little more legitimate than us just letting the other teams win), both teams with the most prolific offenses in the NFL, and this being Peyton's 2nd trip to Miami to win a Super Bowl within 3 years. I expect a lot of drama and suspense over these next two weeks. Bring it on!!!

Well, I think that does it for now. I should get up and make good use of my extra time this morning. I get observed by my principal today, which always makes me nervous. I could always get to school early to prepare. Our last childbirth class is tonight, and we are at 57 days for the baby countdown! :-)

31 Week Blues...

Well, this might have been my least favorite week of pregnancy thus far. I suppose I am lucky to have made it all this way and just now be having a bad week, but I think I have had all I can handle right now.

I am beginning to feel some real discomfort in my calves at the end of the day. They are cramping and tight, almost like a permanent charlie horse. Fun! My principal keeps telling me sit down when I teach, but as soon as I sit down, a student raises his/her hand or a line of 10 kids appears before as if I am the tilt-a-whirl at the county fair. I would rather get up and walk to them instead of them bombard me all at once. The joys of elementary school teaching!

I am sleeping OK, but the irrational fear I have squishing my child makes me reposition myself constantly. Whenever I lay on my side, I feel the baby kicking and I feel like it is trying to prevent itself from being steamrolled by its ginormous mother. How crazy of a thought this is, but it still keeps me awake! :-)

I experience my first Braxton Hicks contractions on Tuesday night. I was laying on the couch and felt a sudden, weird cramping sensation that I had never felt before. It was decently strong and enough to make me stop talking and really pay attention to what was going on. It lasted about 30 seconds, and then a few minutes later I had another. I had several within an hour, but I knew they weren't strong enough to be the real thing. It was kind of cool because I got a little taste of what labor will feel like (multiplied by 100), but it was also worrisome and made me hope that everything was OK in Babyland. I haven't had any since.

Then...the WORST of this week was Wednesday night. Beginning at around 11:30 p.m., I got sick to my stomach and threw up. This repeated 5 additional times through the night. Thankfully, I got a phone call that school was closed due to ice, because I was getting ready to take the day off. I am assuming that what we ate for dinner, which I can't even write about because I am afraid I will throw up again, made me sick. I spent all of my free day off school on the couch, sleeping from about 10:30 a.m. until about 8:30 p.m. The doctor called in a prescription for anti-nausea meds, and that helped. Nearly 48 hours later, I am just now taking in semi-solid food. Chicken noodle soup and crackers are about as "rich" of food I have eaten over the past day and a half. I absolutely HATE getting sick (who likes it?), and this was a terrible feeling. I was worried about dehydration because that can cause contractions and premature labor, but thankfully everything seems to be OK.

I am feeling slightly better, yet sweaty and clammy and feverish. I made it through school, and I definitely want to be better for this weekend because we have a baby shower in New Albany and a birthday party for Gus & Sol. We also have the big Colts game on Sunday to see if we are going to the Super Bowl. There's a lot to be excited for, and I don't want to miss any of it being sick!

My First Baby Shower!

I am sitting here, looking over the top of my computer screen at the pile of baby shower gifts I received today at my school baby shower. This shower was special to me because it was my first baby shower. I still can't believe I am having a baby. Wow!

Anyway, Baby E is already so loved. I just can't handle it. It's so nice to witness the generosity of others. It is very inspiring and makes me want to do good for others.

We received so many wonderful gifts, sentiments, and well-wishes for our family. It was double the fun, too, because Debbie, my colleague who teaches Kindergarten, is due in February, so this was a joint shower. It was fun to share the experience with her and be "showered" together! (that sounded weird!)

As I sit here and imagine my small child taking a bath in the adorable whale bathtub received today, or eating in the portable high chair, or being snuggled in the sweet blankets, I can't help but think of others who have nothing. I belong to BabyCenter and read their message boards quite a lot. There are moms on there complaining because the shower they had was not the theme they wanted, and then there are moms who comment and say, "At least you got a shower. We have to pay for everything ourselves." I feel blessed to say that I had one today, have one planned for this weekend, and have one planned for Feb. 6th. Again, I am undeserving of this, but I just tell myself this is all for Baby E, and Baby E deserves the best.

I also think of the people in Haiti. The children who have died. The families who have been destroyed. What little possessions they had are completely gone. With all the devastation that has happened, it sure seems silly to be bitchin' about a baby shower's theme, huh?

Debbie & Me

Cute cake! :-)

Word of the day...Maternity!

Today will be a fun day for Luke and me. First and foremost, he is off today, which is great. I haven't seen him very much this past week. He worked 1-11 p.m. Tue-Thurs, I had dinner with my friends Friday night, and then he worked 8-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. So...I am very happy to spend time with him today!

We are taking our maternity pictures this afternoon at Sarah Ordo's house. I am really nervous, not because I think Sarah won't do a great job, but because you can never really predict how a pregnant lady is going to look on camera. I love taking pictures of people, but I have never really mastered the art of posing behind the camera. I can smile when they say "SMILE!" but I am not sure about anything more than that. Oh well....I am going to get myself glamoured up and have fun!

Later today, we are touring the maternity suite at Community North for our childbirth class tonight! I am really excited about this! I have been there one other time to visit Candace and Brayden almost a year ago, but I didn't get the full tour. I am really pumped to see where we will be staying when we have our baby!

I am not sure if anything else "maternity" will be going on today, but the two things we have planned will be great memories for us!

9 more weeks!

Hmmmmmm.....

So, would this be classified as a need or a want?

Need: Our childbirth class instructor told us to bring two bags to the hospital. A necessities bag and a goodies/treats bag. I have a bag to use for the necessities, but I NEED a bag for the goodies/treats....

Want: I want this one. It's a goody/treat bag all in itself.

Vera Bradley Miller Bag in Sittin' in a Tree

Only problem....it's $84....so whether I need it or want it is besides the point. :-(

Sucker for a Sale!

I am such a sucker for a sale. I blame my mom. She taught me how to be a bargain hunter at a young age. We never bought much if it wasn't on sale, but if it was on sale, we went hog wild! I have heard that a deal isn't really a deal unless you really need it, and I have tried to apply that to my adult life as finances have rested entirely on my two shoulders. What I found today at Carter's and Baby Depot, I believe, are needs and will be put to great use soon!

I went to Baby Depot at Burlington Coat Factory first. Burlington Coat Factory really perplexes me because it is not just coats. Why is it named this? It is really like a TJ Maxx. It has really good prices, but I don't frequent there much because it is usually very disorganized and messy. I don't like to have to step over items on the floor to get to something else or see nothing in its proper place. However, I went in because I had an advertisement for the breast pump that I wanted being sold at 25% off. Men, you will probably want to quit reading because this really won't interest you.

My knowledgeable friend Jenna, mother of Miss Avigail, has helped me to realize that I should not but a cheap breast pump. I need to get one that works well and works quickly. She speaks very highly of her Medela brand pump, so I decided a while ago that I would want that one, too. I have done a lot of research on prices, and the cheapest I could find was on Amazon for about $250. They list in stores at almost $300. Yes, that IS a lot of money for those of you thinking that same thing. However, I will use it for a while with this baby, and then if I am blessed with any subsequent children, I will use it with them. Hospitals rent them for $40 a month or so, but they aren't that portable (from what Jenna says), and if you use it for 6 months, which most people do (or more), then you will have already paid for your own if you would have just bought it in the first place. This also isn't the type of thing you can buy used...for obvious reasons!

So...I ducked into Baby Depot, stepped over piles of disorganized clothes and other items, and I found two Medela pumps. One was just the type I was looking for, regularly priced at $279.99. I took it up to the register and the lady scanned it at $209! $70 OFF! I had to get it! I knew I wouldn't find it cheaper than that, so I went ahead and jumped on it. YAY!

Then I went to Carter's. The window said take an extra 30% off the already low clearance price, so why not? I went in and fell in love with a ton of adorable stuff. Some for girls, some for boys, and a lot that could work for both. I found a variety of sizes, and I even found some great holiday specific stuff for WAYYYYY cheap. I paid $46.52 for 13 items, most of them 2 or 3 piece sets (including tax).

I always love to check my receipt and add up what it would have cost me if I would have paid full price for my sale items. This goes back to when I would help my mom shop for Angel Kids, her charity she does for needy families at Christmas, and we would get things on mega-sale and then figure what we WOULD have paid. It is always so rewarding to that (and it takes away a tiny bit of guilt!).

I added it up, and I WOULD have spent $196 on the clothes I bought! So, basically I saved $150. WOW!

So, between the clothes and the pump, I saved a whopping $220 today. I am very happy with this and excited to add more to the baby collection.

Baby E, get here SOON! (but not too soon)

Baby Hats!

Today, I went to Target with Jenn. We were in the baby section, and I was talking about how Luke and I wanted to present the baby to the family for the first time in a hat that gave away the sex of the baby (pink for girl, blue for boy). They didn't have a wide selection of knit baby hats at Target, so I got online when I got home and started searching. I found some, anywhere from $5-$15 each, and given that I would need to have two, one for either possibility, I wasn't too keen on spending that kind of money.

A blog article came up in the search about how to make a hat out of an old T-shirt. I have a lot of old T-shirts I have been saving for a quilt, so I decided to try it. I took my Wes-Del Has-Been cheerleading camp t-shirt and my first AOII bid day t-shirt and made them into cute little hats!

For extra style, I attached a bow to the pink one so that Noelle, if we have a Noelle, can be girly and frilly from the start.

Here's the link of the blog where I found this idea. Cute, cheap, and fun! (very easy, too!)

http://www.rookiemoms.com/sew-a-quick-newborn-hat-from-a-t-shirt/

30 Weeks!

I haven't taken my 30 week picture yet...mainly because I haven't had a photographer around :-( Luke has been getting home close to midnight each night this week, so he doesn't see me still looking decent (or even awake) when he gets home. Hopefully we will get a good one tomorrow and I will post it.

While I am thinking about it...

How far along? 30 weeks, almost 31

Total weight gain: According to MY scale, 28 lbs.

Sleep: I am sleeping better than I have in a long time, thanks to the big snake pillow Candace is letting me use.

Best moment this week: Childbirth class with my husband!

Movement: A lot! You can see it through my clothes and Luke feels the baby move at night even when I am asleep and don't realize it is going on.

Gender: I am still going with my girl feeling, but the heartbeat was 135 this week at my appointment, and the NP did say that it was a "typical" boy heartbeat. Maybe we have a Max afterall!

Labor Signs: No...and I certainly haven't had any Braxton Hicks contractions that everyone in my childbirth class has seemed to have...

Belly Button in or out? Still in a little bit. I don't think it's going to pop out.

Cravings: They are stabilizing. My appetite isn't raging, and I am not pining away for any one thing in particular.

What I miss: The freedom to go tanning. I know, it's SOOOOO bad for you....but I am pale and I don't like it!

What I am looking forward to: The maternity suite tour in childbirth class on Monday! And our maternity pictures!

Update...30 week picture!

This made me sad...

Yesterday, I was at the VP off the Muncie Bypass on my way home from school. I got out to fill up my tank, and I noticed a dad carrying his young son, maybe under 2 years old, to another car in the parking lot of the gas station. The little boy was kissing his dad and loving all over him, and the dad was giving him lots of hugs.

I then put two and two together that the dad was giving his son over to his mom, the picture perfect custody hand-off. In the dad's car was a woman, presumably his new wife or girlfriend. In the mom's car was a man, probably her new husband or boyfriend. The dad handed the little boy to his mom; dad and mom managing not to say a word to each other. The mom buckled the little boy into his car seat, and the dad headed back to his car to drive away.

I couldn't help but stare. I kept my eyes on the little boy...thinking about how much he didn't understand....and how he probably understood more than what his parents realized. The two parties involved seemed civilized enough, but I am sure it had to have gotten ugly at some point along the line, otherwise they wouldn't be exchanging a child at a gas station.

I felt really sad for the boy, but then again maybe it was for the better. Maybe everyone is happier with this arrangement. I felt my belly for my baby and promised him/her that he/she would never have to experience that....a life without Mom and Dad together and in love. The sad part is, the two individuals I witnessed at the VP probably thought that, too.

Childbirth Class #2

Last night was our 2nd childbirth class at Community North. Luke was able to join me, which is good because Elizabeth would have felt really uncomfortable for this session. This session was devoted to all the different positions you can be in for pain management as well as for labor. We also did the stereotypical breathing exercises. HEE HEE HOO...HEE HEE HOO! Pretty corny, but I suppose I will be panting like a dog in about 10 weeks or less.

I don't have much else to say about it, other than I am glad that we are going to these classes because I can't imagine how overwhelmed I would feel without them.

29 Week Update!

Well, my 29th week of pregnancy has come and gone! The weeks are really flying by now, with each week from now until the end of January kicking off with our childbirth classes. Nothing eventful has come about in this 29th week. I am feeling pretty good and sleeping actually pretty well. The most annoying thing as of right now is having to pee every 10 minutes. I know this will only get worse, so I am going to save up some complaints for a little more in the future.

I have determined that if I can get 8 hours of sleep, no more no less, I will feel very rested and awake for the day. I notice a HUGE difference in the days where I sleep more or less than 8 hours, compared to the days when I get 8 hours exactly. This has been a goal of mine so that I feel as alert and ready for the day as possible.

The heartburn still comes and goes, and last night I had a very uncomfortable episode with Chinese food. I hadn't had it in a really long time and was craving it, so we got it for dinner as take-out. I think I just scarfed it way too quickly and before I knew it, I was having the worst indigestion and could barely breathe! After standing up, laying down, drinking water, and belching, I finally felt better a few hours later. Needless to say, lesson learned-- I shall slow down and take breaths in between bites so that I can actually enjoy eating and not feel like I am going to die later.

Baby E moves around a lot, especially when I lay on my side. I call them "turbo kicks..." the baby will kick me like 10-15 times in rapid-fire mode when I switch sides. I don't know if it just doesn't like the switching, or gravity making it fall to one side, or what....but that is usually when I get the most action. A couple of times this week, I have been able to figure out at least where the baby's hard parts were (head or butt). I can't tell if it is the head or the butt, but I do know that I can tell that the baby is hanging out on the left or right side. I have read online how to determine where your baby's parts are, but it kind of freaks me out to be poking around, so I just don't try that hard.

I have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday of this week, and then I will be ready to go to every 2 week appointments!

Well, that's my 29 week update! Can't wait to meet you Baby E!

Snow Day

Well....here it is, my first snow day...it's 6 a.m....and I can't go back to bed. My body's clock is just set to wake up early and stay up, even when I can sleep in. That's ok...I get more out of my days this way.

I've been catching myself daydreaming about the baby non-stop. I can't focus on anything else. I just really to see this baby's face. With the start of the childbirth classes, all I can think about is the day when this baby comes. I look forward to my maternity leave, not to get away from school, but to be home doing a job that is the most important job in the world. I am obsessed with getting prepared for the baby and making sure that everything is organized and ready. It's really difficult to stay on task with the things I really need to do, when I have so much else I want to do. Oh well...it's a good problem to have. In only 10 short weeks, I will meet my son or daughter and all will be well! (and significantly more crazy!)

Luke and I made a resolution to not eat out as much....we need to save some of that money for diapers :-)...and we have made three pretty good meals this week from Rachael Ray. The first was a turkey shepherd's pie. It was really good...had ground turkey, veggies, and mashed potatoes (the real kind) baked on top. The second was a mega meatball pizza, which freaking rocked. I was proud of Luke because he made it while I was at Zumba. It tasted really, really great! The third one we made last night....a chicken soup with orzo pasta. Again, pretty good, and healthy with chicken and veggies.

This entry was pointless...I guess just a tiny update of life around here. Luke is adjusting to his schedule at Peyton Manning Children's Hospital. He worked 6p-4a Monday and Tuesday nights, had Wednesday and Thursday off, then he works 1p-11p tonight. He won't have to work again until Tuesday. I hate the hours, but at least he doesn't have to go in every day. In his off time, he has managed to all but finish the baby bassinet that he has been building for the past several months. He drew the plans and created it himself. It is beautiful and truly something we will cherish with all of our children. Luke is talented in so many ways...from athletics (I mean, he seriously ran a full marathon, and he is great at any sport he plays), to music (been teaching himself guitar for years), to school (the way he can remember the information they teach in med school is beyond me), to wood working (built my blanket chest for Christmas a couple years ago, and then the baby bassinet, as well as various other projects he has done)....he's just a wonderful combination of talents that make for one incredible person! And he's married to me! Woohoo!

Alright, time for breakfast. The baby is waking up and wondering where the food is. If it is snowy where you are, be careful!

Childbirth Class #1

Tonight began our childbirth classes at Community North! We have four to attend each Monday in January. Luke, unfortunately, was not able to come with me tonight because he is working at the ER at Peyton Manning Children's Hospital (he is to CALL ME IMMEDIATELY if he spots #18 in person) for his pediatric ER rotation. He won't be home until 4 a.m. :-( But anyway, he couldn't come, so Elizabeth stepped up and offered to come with me.

We walked into a room full of pregnant women and their baby daddies, and I know they all thought we were lovers. We laughed through the awkwardness until we could introduce ourselves and her title of sister-in-law. The first session was extremely informative (maybe too informative, too soon). They covered everything from the parts of the body to how to tell if you're in labor and when to call the doctor to all the stages of labor. We even watched a birth video (nothing too graphic). The teacher had all the typical dolls and pelvis models to show how the heck a baby is supposed to fit through your pelvic bones. Yipes!

The next session will be about relaxation techniques during labor, and then the third session will be a trip to the maternity ward to visit the rooms, and then lastly the final session will be about recovering after the baby. The teacher was really knowledgeable and tried to lighten things up with some humor. I am really glad E went with me because otherwise I would have been the only one there without a partner.

The only downfall of the experience was sizing myself up against all the other prego ladies. It's hard to take when a woman who says she is due one day after me is literally smaller than what I was at my skinniest this summer. Her baby bump looked like one extra roll from Texas Roadhouse, and she asked really obnoxious questions that drew all kinds of attention toward her. For example, she said that she got horrible back pain, especially after she would go for a run. OK...you are almost 30 weeks pregnant, and you are still running? Show off. She also wanted to know if there was a way to decide if her pelvis was going to be big enough to give birth. Please-- give me a break!

I would say most of the women were due pretty far ahead of me and were noticeably smaller in the belly area. I am not sure why I developed this buddha belly so quickly, but I am loving it and I think the baby appreciates the extra space.

So, big thanks to E for helping me out tonight and providing a few laughs (as always). We will never look at life savors the same, will we? :-)

In other news, we are really working hard in the nursery, and it looks like a real baby's room. I will post some pictures soon!

Quick Update...

I learned this week that I passed my glucose test. Woohoo! No Gestational Diabetes for me! I took every opportunity to gloat to Luke about how healthy I am, and how he doesn't need to worry about me getting all my nutrients! He will probably never stop placing vegetables on my plate when I am not looking, but at least we don't have to worry about high blood pressure (for now) or abnormal blood sugar levels. Baby E and I...we're a great team!

Welcome 2010!

My first post of the new year! I can't believe I have been keeping up with this blog for over a year. It's so cool to look back on things, the good and bad, that I have written about.

We rang in the new year with some friends last night. It was a lot of fun, and I couldn't help but think about how we would be celebrating the new year next year. Will we be home by ourselves with the baby? Will we be at a party while the baby is at a babysitter's? Will we have friends and family at our house? How will life be different a year from now?

I am also thinking about how life is going to be different, starting today. You guessed it folks-- it's RESOLUTION time! Allison calls them goals. Jenn calls them life shifts. I am not sure what mine are called, but I am going to give them an honest try. (Try to keep the "yeah, right's" and "keep dreaming" comments to yourself)

1. School - I have about 10 weeks left of school before I go on leave, and by golly I am going to make the most of them! I will be prepared each week, I will inspire creativity, and I will change some lives! :-) (it's ok, I laughed out loud on that one, too.) No, but seriously, I am going to be prepared for the next day before I leave at night just in case the baby decides to come unexpectedly. (don't get any ideas, Baby.)

2. Health - I want to give birth to this baby 10 lbs (or less) heavier than what I am now. I do not want to gain over 35 lbs with this pregnancy. I have about 10 weeks to go, so that is a pound a week. I know the baby will put on pounds rapidly, and that is fine-- but I don't want anything extra on my butt or on my arms. I went to the gym today to walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes. I ate pretty well today, and I am going to make more of an effort to eat more vegetables and less junk. I obviously have goals for after the baby is born, but I am just going to wait and see before I put those in writing.

3. Money - Luke and I need to adhere to a pretty strict, cash only budget. We need to set money aside for diapers, my insurance increase by switching to the family plan, and daycare. We need to eat out less (started that tonight by making a Rachael Ray turkey shepherd's pie tonight instead of going out) and save some of that money for other things.

4. Personal Growth - I am far from perfect. I will never be. I make mistakes...say and do stupid things. I am far from the best wife, friend, daughter, and sister. I think I lack a maturity level that is becoming more and more necessary. It's time for me to get there. I know that looking into my child's eyes for the first time will help to expedite the process, but I don't want to wait until March for the growth to begin. It needs to start now...in how I handle situations that make me upset, in how I handle jealousy and envy, in how I handle situations that make me uncomfortable....I am 25-- closer to 26...I think it's time. (doesn't mean I can't still laugh at the 1,000 fart noises Abe has on his phone-- somethings are just funny.)

I have more, but those are the biggies. I hope you are able to set some goals and have plans to achieve them, too. Few things are more refreshing than the start of a new year!