fill in the blank friday

It's Friday!  Once again I am working so my weekend will be cut a little short.  Thankfully  I am only working tomorrow and after this shift, I will only work two more times before Baby Brown arrives.  We have been pretty busy at work so I am looking forward to being done for a while.  Our plans for Sunday include church, signing up for a baptism class, going to the pumpkin patch and working on the nursery.  I keep wondering when I will get a day to do nothing but I don't foresee that happening for a while.  Enjoy this week's blanks.

1.  My first memory is     probably when I put a rock in my nose at daycare.  I'm not sure what I was thinking besides the fact that I obviously needed attention.  I put a rock in my nose and wouldn't let anyone touch me until both my parents left work to come get me.  I even remember that the rock was a green aquarium rock   .

2.  My first love was  a learning experience.  I learned what I would and would not tolerate for future relationships.  It helped me recognize what an amazing person Daniel was when we came along and for that I am thankful     .

3.  My very first favorite color was    hot pink and black.  I especially liked the combination of these two colors on articles of clothing like stretchy bike shorts, which seemed like appropriate everyday wear in the early 90s .

4. The first time I really felt like a "grown-up" was when     I moved to Abilene for my first real job.  I had to find a place to live, set up utilities, and learn my way around town all by myself.  My family was six hours away and my future husband was five hours away.  I was very much alone and on my own .

5. The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is  check my Facebook and email, read my devotional "Jesus Calling," pray, and then turn on the Today Show.  I am a creature of habit and rarely sway from this routine .

6. The first CD (cassette tape, record, etc...) I ever bought was   Whitney Houston's "Whitney" record.  I loved pre-Bobby Whitney.  .

7.  My first car was  a green Honda Civic.  It was a great car to learn how to drive with and handled like a go-cart.  I blame my need for speed on that car  .

Wine and dine

When we decided to go to Spain I had no idea that I would be 10 weeks pregnant.  I did most of the trip planning before we learned that we were expecting.  So when we were planning and learned that there was a large number of vineyards around Madrid, a wine tour sounded like the perfect activity.  And then we found out I was pregnant.

The tour was already booked so I decided to stick it out.  Daniel was looking forward to it and I wanted to be a good wife.

All of the vineyards were within an hour of Madrid but a little higher in elevation, which meant it was cold (of course).  The first town we went to was Colmenar de Oreja.  The town center is built around a circle so an arena can be set up for bull fights.

Town center

A local church

The first winery we visited was Jesus Diaz.  It has been in operation for over 100 years and they still use a lot of the traditional techniques to make wine.  We learned that making wine used to be a little dangerous if you did not allow the gas that builds in fermentation to escape.  

We also learned that I am really good at fake drinking.  We sampled wine at every vineyard and I really did not feel like explaining that I was pregnant so I fake drank.  It made it a little awkward when our guide asked my opinion since I had no clue what anything tasted like but I learned to say everything was oaky.  

The original earthenware vats that still get used

All the bottles waiting to be filled

Vineyard

The scale where they weigh the trucks that bring in grapes

Outside the tasting room

One of the local towns was preparing for a festival and bull fight so we walked around the arena.  I;m not sure if we were allowed to, but we did.

Arena and stands ready for the bull fight

Behind the walls

The second vineyard we went to was Solera Bodegas.  It was also in Colmenar de Orejas.  I liked this vineyard a lot because they also made olive oil, which we got to taste.  I was pretty excited to see something I could actually try. 

The sign for the vineyard's tasting room

The final winery we visited was Bodegas Orusco in Valdilecha.  It was much larger than the other two vineyards.  It is a family-operated company so we got to meet the whole crew.  When we were leaving a truck was being loaded to take their wine to China.  Who knew?

Daniel really enjoyed the tour/drinking so I was glad I stuck it out.  I can fake drink with the best of them.  The one lowlight was when we went to lunch after the tour.  We ate traditional Spanish dishes and everything was delicious except for one particular dish.  It was made with fish was processed to look like baby eels (or worms) and it had eggs on top.   I try to be open-minded but it was where I drew the line that day.  I may have offended the tour guide but who wants to eat anything that looks like worms?  Not me.  

31 weeks

We are getting closer and closer to the end of this pregnancy.  I know the baby isn't exactly ready yet, but I think I will be more than ready in about six weeks.  I have started putting things in the hospital bag and I have started washing the baby's newborn-sized clothes.  I am like a boy scout.  I want to be prepared as I possibly can be.

How far along: 31 weeks, 6 days

Total weight gain/loss:  Right around 20 pounds. 
Maternity clothes: Leaning towards more maternity clothes or clothes I have bought in a bigger size.  
Stretch marks: None.

Sleep: I have started having a harder time sleeping through the night and when I wake up there is usually no going back to sleep.

Best moment this week: Getting to celebrate our four year anniversary, the shower for my best friend and baby Knox, and continued nursery progress.

Movement: He is still moving a lot but it is getting a little more painful and a little lower.

Food cravings: Brown sugar and cinnamon pop tarts.

Gender: BOY!

Labor signs: None.

Belly in or out: Half of it is in and half of it is out.

Symptom of the week: Loosening joints.  So apparently your joints start to loosen in preparation for birth and it is not the most fun thing ever.  My hips hurt and I walk like a crazy person (it's kind of a dead leg limp).

What I miss: Having more energy.  I am getting back to having to take naps and getting short bursts of energy.  I need to get this nursery done quickly before I turn into a vegetable.

What I am looking forward to: We have a doctor's appointment on Thursday and after this appointment we will be going every two weeks and finishing the nursery, of course.

Weekly wisdom: Hearing about how horrible some people's pregnancies are will make you feel very thankful.  I keep hearing about people who are sick everyday or break out in rashes.  It makes me think back pain is not so bad.     

Milestones: All the large furniture for the nursery is ordered and accessorizing is the only thing left to do. 

What's old is new

I have had a certain nursery project on my to-do list for months.  It was a special project because it meant a lot to my husband.  When Daniel was little, his family's house caught on fire and they lost almost everything they owned.  For this reason we have pretty much nothing that was his when he was growing up.

A few months ago we were at his parents and his mom mentioned that she had a rocking chair that had belonged to him.  When she asked if we wanted it, I did not even hesitate.  We brought it home and it has been sitting in our spare room ever since.

Where we started

Now I am not the craftiest person, but I have been getting better thanks to Pinterest.  The rocking chair was a little worn and the finish didn't really go with my vision for the nursery.  Thanks to my deep love for Pinterest, I was feeling empowered and decided that I could easily sand and paint the chair to match our nursery decor.

After a coat of spray paint (Don't worry, I wore a mask)

After months of avoiding the project, it was finally completed this weekend.  I have to say that I am very proud of myself.  I think it turned out perfectly and Baby Brown has little something of his dad's in his room which I know means a lot to Daniel.

The finished product (and a sneak peek of the nursery)

fill in the blank friday

It's Friday and there are blanks thanks to the little things we do.  Today is a day full of getting things done.  I think I may say that every day though.  We are going to the big city to run lots and lots of errands.  I need to get lining for drapes for the nursery, find a cream crib sheet, look for some nursery accessories, and of course go to Target.  This nursery has consumed my life, but the good news is we are slowly but surely finishing up.   

1.  Something I am very proud of is     our home.  We have put a lot of time, effort, and money into this house.  It was a hot mess when Daniel moved in and still a hot mess when I moved in.  It has been a nearly five year project, but we are almost done and I think it looks amazing.   .

2.  My favorite thing about myself is  my ability to prioritize large amounts of tasks and get things done.  I credit this in large part to my deep love of to-do lists.  This skill is especially helpful when I am at the hospital because it is so easy to get overwhelmed and I think it will be super handy with a baby.   .

3.  My favorite color for fall is    emerald green, which is the color of the season.  I even got an emerald green bracelet for our anniversary because apparently I talk a lot about clothes .

4. Something I've been learning lately is    people change and sometimes you have to walk away.  You also cannot stop someone from talking about you but you can stop caring because what they think really doesn't matter  .

5. A book I am reading now/have read recently is  the last book I read was "Sarah's Key," which I loved.  I need to find a new book to read.  I am open to suggestions (minus "50 Shades of Grey."  I just can't do it.) .

6. My favorite Pandora Station is  the Adele station.  I love her, fank you very much  .

7.  This weekend I will   attending my best friend's baby shower, going to church, sanding a repainting a rocking chair that belonged to Daniel when he was tiny, maybe decorating for fall, and organizing  .

30 weeks

In just over two months, Baby Brown should be making his big debut.  The fact that it will no longer be just the two of us (plus dogs) is really starting to sink in.  I am constantly reminding Daniel that it will never be like this again.  We are going to have another person to worry about.  All the time.  So long sleeping in!  It is a little scary but we have been calm so far.  I will say that Daniel may be going through a mini mid-life crisis.  I mean, who decides he wants to start brewing his own beer two months before having a child?  Oh that would be my husband.  He picked a fine time to develop lots of new, time-consuming hobbies.

How far along: 30 weeks, 6 days

Total weight gain/loss:  Right around 20 pounds.  I will also say that this is a very unflattering picture and I don't think I look quite so whale-like in real life. 
Maternity clothes:  Still mixing it up.  I am breaking my vow to buy no more maternity clothes.  I need a pair of straight leg jeans and I don't think I can make it two months without any.
Stretch marks: Zero.

Sleep: I am sleeping but I wake up very sore.

Best moment this week: All the nursery progress!  We have carpet and besides touching up and adding shelves to the changing table, we are done with construction.  The baby's bedding is done and I bought a side table, lamp, some art, and a closet organizer.  I am starting to think the nursery may be done before the baby comes.

Movement: He is quite the night owl but I sleep like the dead so it doesn't wake me up.

Food cravings: I still really enjoy ice cream and sweets.

Gender: BOY!

Labor signs: None.

Belly in or out: It is working on coming out.  This was pointed out by a lovely coworker this weekend.

Symptom of the week: Braxton-Hicks contractions.  I don't get them very often, maybe once a day, but they feel real weird.

What I miss: Days without back pain.

What I am looking forward to: Our anniversary, my best friend's birthday and her baby shower are all this week.

Weekly wisdom: Your bladder is your baby's playground.    

Milestones: I finally felt the baby get the hiccups and I purchased the outfit he is going to be wearing home from the hospital.

fill in the blank friday

The weekend is here!  This would be more exciting if I wasn't working both days this weekend.  What can you do?  I am very excited to watch Tech extend their winning streak and get some organizing done.  Next week should be far less busy than this one with one exception.  Daniel and I will be celebrating our four year anniversary!  I cannot believe how quickly they have gone by!

1.  Right now the weather where I live is     changing.  It has been so hot but it is finally beginning to cool down.  I am loving the fall weather but could do without the wind   .

2.  The best piece of advice I've been given is  to pray.  When in doubt, pray it out.  I prayed a lot when we were dealing with infertility and it really did give me a sense of peace and calm.  I pray for anyone and everyone (see question #4). Prayer has definitely helped me get through some difficult situations.

3.  My most favorite person in all the world is    my husband. He is my best friend and I know how lucky I am to be married to someone like him.  He is a good balance to my type A personality.  He was supportive when I decided to quit my job and works super hard so I can stay at home with the dogs (and Baby Brown before we know it) .

4. If I were to have a "mission statement" for my life, it would be    "Constantly changing and growing but making sure to laugh a lot along the way."  I think this past year has been all about growth.  I am getting ready to become a mother and I have started to realize what is important and what is not.  I would rather have less money and be happy than be miserable every day.  I also realized that friendships end and cutting some very toxic people out of my life has been one of the best decisions I have made .

5. My most favorite item in my closet is  impossible to choose.  That would be like choosing a favorite child.  If I had to pick one thing, it would probably be a handbag.  They all represent a different memory (or trip) and I love them all.  I may have to pick my Chanel classic flap bag.  She was my first Chanel and I had dreamed of owning one since I was little.  I also really love the black Sandro dress I bought in Paris .

6. The best cure for a bad day is  hot chocolate, junk food, a couch, and Bravo  .

7.  Today is   a day full of getting things done before I have to work this weekend   .

Barcelona a Madrid

We travelled from Barcelona to Madrid by train.  It probably would have been cheaper to fly, but Daniel loves a train.  We took the AVE which takes about three hours.  Apparently no one speaks English at the Sants train station which made finding where we needed to go very interesting.  Thankfully we got there early because I think we tried to go through every security point we could.  

Once we actually found the train, it was pretty easy.  The car was super nice and the food was actually really good.  We also got to watch the first twenty minutes of Tangled in Spanish about fifteen times, which was exciting.

Our train car

The Biebs

I'm happy because I was ignorant of how cold I would soon be

When we got to Madrid, we took a cab to our hotel.  Let me be honest, I did not like Madrid as much as Barcelona.  Maybe it was because being pregnant was catching up with me or that it was incredibly cold.  Our hotel was pretty centrally located but it seemed like we had to walk miles to get anywhere and I was not so impressed by the restaurant selection.

Our room

It was very much open concept

The sitting area

A cute garden

Our view

I think I may actually wrap up the Spain blogs very soon.  Madrid was cold and I was tired so we didn't do as much as we probably should have.  We may have to go back so I can give Madrid a chance to redeem itself.

29 weeks

Well we pretty much have something to do every weekend until the baby comes.  Not quite, but I think our next free weekend is not until November.  I am hoping that I get some time to relax and finish up baby projects.  This weekend we are organizing the utility closet on the back porch and I am not going to lie, I am super excited.  I love organization.  Next week we are going to start organizing the baby's closet and sorting through all the fun things he has received so far.  We have also made a ton of progress on the nursery.  There is carpet and a few pieces of furniture and even some accessories.  It feels good.

How far along: 29 weeks, 6 days

Total weight gain/loss:  Almost 20 pounds and apparently 3 pounds and 1 ounce of that is baby.  
Maternity clothes:  Mixing it up.
Stretch marks: I am thankful to report that I still have none.

Sleep: Last night I experienced my first bout of insomnia.  I woke up around 4 and could not go back to sleep.  I was not a fan.

Best moment this week: There were lots of best moments this week.  We had a doctor's appointment and sonogram.  The baby is measuring a little big and I am still measuring small.  He has lots of hair and is practicing breathing.  We also went to Houston for a shower there.  I am so blessed by amazing friends and family!  Baby Brown got lots of clothes, a stroller, a playmat, swaddle blankets and lots of other fun things.  Daniel also had a birthday which we celebrated multiple times.     

Movement: Constant.

Food cravings: Entemann's coffe cake.  I could not find any in the northeast Houston area.  Boo!

Gender: BOY!

Labor signs: None.

Belly in or out: It's a halfsie.  Part innie/part outie.  

Symptom of the week: Bloody noses (again).  I told my doctor about my recent bout with bloody noses and apparently I have a severe inflammation of my right nare.  He told me I may have to go to an ENT.  At least I've met my deductible for the year.

What I miss: Being comfortable.  We spent almost 24 hours in the car driving to Houston.  I am still hurting.

What I am looking forward to: Finishing the nursery and possibly getting a chance to relax.

Weekly wisdom: Babies will move like crazy until someone, like a grandparent, wants to feel him move and then nothing.  I feel like this may be foreshadowing.  

Milestones: The baby is growing so fast!  Getting to see him again was very exciting and we will get to see him one more time before he makes his official debut.  I also had my first baby shower which was lots of fun.

fill in the blank fridays

It's time for blanks from the the little things we do!  We are in Houston enjoying civilization and having everything a pregnant girl could crave at our fingertips.  Maybe it's a good thing we live in the middle of nowhere.  My mom and I went shopping today and Baby Brown got even more clothes.  This child has more clothes than his father, but still no signature accessory.  The hunt continues.  And now for the blanks.

1.  My favorite grade in school was     my senior year.  I think by then you have established who your friends are and the pressure to fit in is pretty much gone.  Plus my friends were a lot of fun   .

2.  My favorite teacher was  Mrs. Rioux who taught Honors World History and AP European History    because,  I loved history and she made it fun.  Her histoy class was one of the hardest at our school but I liked her so much I took European History as an elective.  Nerd alert     .

3.  The highest level of education I have completed is    three Bachelor's degrees.  I have BA in advertising, a BBA in marketing and now a BS in respiratory therapy.  I am a degree slore and I don't know that I am done .

4. School lunches for me were usually    brought from home and the same thing almost every day.  I am a creature of habit so I pretty much ate the same breakfast and lunch every day of high school .

5. The amount of money you'd have to pay me to go back to high school would be  a lot however I would go back to college for practically nothing .

6. A few things that will always remind me of going back to school are:  school supply shopping, picking out new clothes, and fall  .

7.  The first day of school was always   good and bad.  It was exciting to get to go shopping and pick out an outfit but I never really got that excited about the actual act of going to school   .

28 weeks

We are going on a trip!  We are driving to Houston and this is our last road trip before baby.  I'm incredibly nervous because I get real uncomfortable, real fast in cars these days.  I do have a chauffeur, which will be nice.

How far along: 28 weeks, 6 days

Total weight gain/loss:  Somewhere between 15 and 20 pounds.  
Maternity clothes:  Still a mix.  I am trying to not buy any more maternity clothes.
Stretch marks: None but I am getting more intense about my moisturizing routine.

Sleep: I am getting up a lot more during the night and my back hurts pretty much every morning.

Best moment this week: Texas Tech football season started with a win and we have continued with nursery progress.  The room is painted and trim should be going up tomorrow.  My hope is that construction should be done next week and we should be able to start moving furniture in.    

Movement: Constant.

Food cravings: This week it has been no bake cookies and chocolate ice cream.

Gender: BOY!

Labor signs: None.

Belly in or out: It's still in.

Symptom of the week: Being plain uncomfortable.  I have to sit in crazy positions and they are not always very ladylike.  It's hard to drive with this thing on my lap, as well.  Oh and I still have two and a half months to go.  Yay!
What I miss: Honestly, being skinny.  I would really love to shop for fall clothes but it is pretty impossible when you have no idea what your body is going to be/look like in a few months.
What I am looking forward to: Daniel's birthday, our sonogram and doctor's appointment tomorrow, Houston, and the nursing being done this coming week (See how I am putting positive thoughts out there?  Oprah taught me that.).
Weekly wisdom: Focus on small tasks instead of all the things you need to get done.  This has seriously helped me keep my sanity.
Milestones: I have successfully completed the first week of my third trimester.

Progress at last

I am ecstatic to report that we have made some real progress in the nursery.  I am not going to lie, the crib in our living room is getting old.

Here are a couple before pictures.

The closet area

This is where the glider and side table will go

The bookcase that we will be using as a changing table

Daniel got the ball rolling my pulling down all of the ceiling and pulling up all of the flooring.  Since we are raising ceilings and adding carpet, these were the first two things that needed to be done and they happen to be our contractor's least favorite things to do.

No more dropped ceilings 

And no more laminate

Our contractor started his part on Wednesday.  He added drywall to the new ceilings and then mudded and taped.  Yesterday he put up texture and today is painting day.  I am not going to lie, I am nervous about the paint.  It's a color we have used before but I fear it is going to look more brown than gray.  There are few things I dislike more than painting and I have a feeling that if the paint isn't right, I will end up doing just that.

Drywall

Mud, tape, and texture

The bookcase progress

That is where we stand right now.  Our hope is to get some of the trim up before we leave for Houston next week.  When we get home all that should be left is finishing up the trim and laying carpet.  I am more than ready to begin moving things into the nursery and am anxiously awaiting ordering the closet system.

I started a list with what we have to left to buy and it is a little longer than I expected.  My only hope is that we continue the forward momentum and get the room done before my parents visit next month.