Just needed to share with everyone

For the few who do read my blog, please take a moment to check out this as well. It's a blog hosted by a guy named Nate who is on an incredible journey (his wife has Cystic Fibrosis and their daughter was born at 24 weeks gestation). I am not one to talk much about God, faith, etc. but over the past week have really come to examine my life and beliefs, mostly because of this family. Jay makes fun and says I am obsessed but it's true. Perspective is always a good thing and definitely needed by me.

If it can make a difference to someone else, I am glad to have passed it along. Thanks to our good friend Justin - I cyber-stalk his sister's blog and found the site there. :)

http://cfhusband.blogspot.com/

APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION TO DATE MY DAUGHTER

NOTE: This application will be incomplete and rejected unless accompanied by a complete financial statement, job history, lineage, and current medical report from your doctor.

NAME_______________ DATE OF BIRTH_____________ HEIGHT___________ WEIGHT____________ IQ__________ GPA Grid_____________ INCOME TAX FILE NUMBER ______________ DRIVERS LICENSE ________________
BOY SCOUT RANK AND BADGES_____________
HOME ADDRESS_____________ CITY/STATE___________ POSTODE______ Do you have parents? ___Yes ___No
Number of years they have been married _____________If less than your age, Explain___________________

ACCESSORIES SECTION:
A.Do you own or have access to a van? __Yes __No
B.A truck with oversized tires? __Yes __No
C.A waterbed? __Yes __No
D.A pickup with a mattress in the back? __Yes __NO
E.A tattoo? __Yes __No
F.Do you have an earring, nose ring, pierced tongue, OR pierced cheek? __Yes __No
(IF YOU ANSWERED 'YES' TO ANY OF THE ABOVE, DISCONTINUE APPLICATIONAND LEAVE PREMISES IMMEDIATELY. I SUGGEST RUNNING.)

ESSAY SECTION: In 50 words or less, what does 'LATE' mean to you? _______________________________
In 50 words or less, what does 'DON'T TOUCH MY DAUGHTER' mean to you?_______________________________
In 50 words or less, what does 'ABSTINENCE' mean to you?_______________________________

REFERENCES SECTION: Church you attend ___________________
How often you attend ________________
When would be the best time to interview your:
Father? _____________Mother?_____________Priest or Pastor? _____________

SHORT-ANSWER SECTION: Answer by filling in the blank. Please answer freely, all answers are confidential.
A: If I were shot, the last place I would want shot would be: ___________________
B: If I were beaten, the last bone I would want broken is my:__________________
C: A woman's place is in the \
D: The one thing I hope this application does not ask me about is:____________________ E.What do you want to be IF you grow up? ______________________
F: When I meet a girl, the thing I always notice about her first is:________________________
G: What is the current going rate of a hotel room? __________________________

I SWEAR THAT ALL INFORMATION SUPPLIED ABOVE IS TRUE AND CORRECT TOTHE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE UNDER PENALTY OF DEATH, DISMEMBERMENT,INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN BULL ANT TORTURE, CRUCIFIXION, ELECTROCUTION, CHINESE WATER TORTURE and RED HOT POKERS_____________________________

Applicant's Signature (that means sign your name, moron!)__________________________ Mother's Signature ______________________________
Father's Signature _______________________________
Pastor/Priest/Rabbi State or Federal Government Representative_______________________

Thank you for your interest, and it had better be genuine and non-sexual. Please allow four to six years for processing. You will be contacted in writing if you are approved. Please do not try to call or write. If your application is rejected, you will be notified by two gentleman wearing white ties carrying violin cases.(You might watch your back)

What do we all have in common?

Let's see.... a stuffed chick... a pink bear... a shoe... nail polish... and Elmo. These are all pretty much the exact same, right? From this angle the only thing they seem to have in common is that they are all on the table together, right?

Wrong. These are all things Addison has tried to take to bed with her! Every day she gets to pick one thing to take to Kims to nap with and one thing to sleep with at night. And, unlike other kids, she does not have one special friend or animal she likes to cuddle with. She likes variety, to mix it up almost every day. It is kind of nice because we don't have to worry if we lose her one special toy.... we just grab a bottle of water and she has a new best friend. Apparently, being soft and cuddly is not a priority when it comes to comfort objects.

Tonight, she chose a stuffed bear and a toy dog. Tomorrow, who knows? Maybe a DVD or salad bowl?

Addi Takes the Wheel??

Does this girl look old enough to drive?

Try and tell her that! Last night while making the 5 hour drive home from Evansville, we had to stop three times because SOMEONE is pregnant and has a small bladder (not naming any names). While Jay was inside grabbing a drink, Addi insisted on sitting up front with me. She pretended to drive and was having a grand ol' time until Jay came back out. He knocked on the window and she looked at him and said "Daddy, you go back and sit in Addi's seat. I driving."

I swear, she almost convinced me. They say to get what you want you have to really believe it, and she definitely did!

Happy Spring!

Happy Easter and Spring, everyone! We got home late last night from Evansville (about 11 p.m.) but we have today off so we are watching Monsters Inc. and relaxing on the couch. Big plans include touching up the baby's room paint and possibly scrapbooking. All in all a great way to spend a Monday!

Hope everyone's spring is going well so far! We drove through snow last night so that made it very spring-like. We had the Easter-egg hunt in the Sensmeier's basement because it was too rainy/cold there.

30 Weeks!

This week I am 30 weeks pregnant! An average pregnancy has 40 weeks (I get this question a lot, even from moms!) but most people ask how many months along I am, which is tricky b/c you are actually pregnant for almost 10 months. Why don't we get credit for that last month??

Anyway, because I have already scheduled my c-section, I have 8 weeks and 1 day until May 14th. Plenty of time, right??

Here are some pictures of me at 30 weeks. Just imagine... the baby is probably going to still gain 4 lbs! Not sure where it will go...

The view I see when looking down. Hahaha!
Addi not wanting me to take pictures!

It's 5 a.m.... Do you know where your pictures are?

So, I am sitting here, in the dark, 5 a.m. Sunday. Can't sleep. Am I pondering world peace? Worried about the ozone or the effects of greenhouse gas? Stumped over how I will raise my daughters in this crazy world and have them NOT hold up a gas station?

Nope.

I can't sleep because I can't stop thinking about my new scrapbook machine. That's right... I got a Cricket for my birthday and I LOVE IT!

For those of you not in tune with scrapbooking or my love of it, here is a brief synapses... It's awesome. Done. Nothing more to say. You get your creative juices out there into the universe, one layout at a time. You can spend quality time with friends who love it as much as you do (and who understand your passion better than anyone.) You document the priceless memories of your history, or as Jay put it, you put down on paper memories that previously only lived in your head. BUT... and here is the kicker.... you get to buy supplies, and this part is almost as much fun as using them. I can spend HOURS walking around a store, imagining the possibilities. I can (and have) spent probably thousands on supplies that now fill my awesome new scrapbook carts (yes, CARTS, plural,) in my dining room. I've spent nights filling said carts, labeling and organizing all my cool supplies and pretty much just staring at the awesome new paper I just bought.

I put some pictures up here of layouts I did that I love. Of course, I could love them b/c Addi is the subject and she pretty much rocks. And when I look at them, I really remember her sleeping on my chest, taking her first steps, and even where I was when I made the layout. I can only imagine how much better they would be if I had used my new Cricket machine... Did I mention I love it??? Thanks, Dad, for buying it for me!

Is there a twelve step program I should join? Perhaps. But I hope some of those steps include cropping, cutting, and using a diecut machine.

Dr. Addi?

Today, Addison went with me to my 30 week doctor's appointment (I was running late). The nurse came in, weighed me, listened to the baby's heartbeat, and measured my belly. Everything was perfect, FYI.

The nurse left Addi and I alone for a few minutes to wait for the doctor, and Addi put her doggie on the table and measured his belly like the nurse did to me!!!!!! It was pretty cute... Maybe she can buy me that summer house in Florida someday!

Oh, she also had unbrushed hair and her pants and shirt didn't match. Just one of those days....

Oh, thanks to everyone who voted in our poll. It's official, we are going to have a big baby!

TIME…

So, that’s all I can think about…. Various aspects of time!

The TIME change… and how it’s wrecked havoc on Addi’s bedtime (but on the bright side, 2 of my clocks are finally “right”, since I never changed them before!)

TIME left until Baby gets here… and how I have a ton to do still… really, we have plenty of TIME left but I am impatient and want it done yesterday… I guess work is finally rubbing off on my personal life!

Nap TIME… and how I think it should be mandatory at work!

Potty TIME…. Not just a song Elmo sings anymore! Addi woke up on Sunday and said she wanted to wear her princess panties (AKA Pull Ups) and went twice on her own (the picture is from her proudly showing off her stickers she got)…

Managing TIME… how not to be left with lots of laundry to fold and no TIME to do it!

I guess that’s what parenthood is all about… Managing TIME, making more TIME, and just enjoying the TIME we get with our kids.

Sunday Morning, Say Cheese!

Did everyone remember to change their clocks last night? Jay actually had to work this morning (luckily at 7 instead of 5) so we changed the important ones last night. Now, Addi and are slowly starting our day, we have a LOT of picking up to do today! Here is what practically EVERY room in our house looks like (minus Addi) - apparently she thinks every room needs toys!



Addi was taking a picture of me while I took one of her... she is such a great photographer.
Thanks to everyone who has voted in my baby-size poll.... Apparently, I'm having a toddler.

A new poll.....

So, it occurred to me today that I have been working on updating my blog more frequently, mainly because Addison changes so frequently that I don't want to miss/forget anything. Like right now, while she should be sleeping, she is undressing a Barbie ("Darby" to her) and telling me she pooped her pants. I mean, come on, how funny is that??? But what occurred to me is I don't know if anyone ELSE actually reads this thing! So, while I am losing sleep, trying to come up with someone witty and interesting, there is really a darn good chance that it's just me and you, computer, reading this!

So, to spice stuff up (and validate that anyone is actually READING this!) I started a poll. I've been thinking a lot about prepping for the new baby, but not so much about how big/little/etc. the baby is. Those of you who have seen me lately know that I am bigger than the average bear... leading me to believe that the BABY is also a chunker.

So, if you actually read my blog, why don't you vote on the baby's size at birth? Addi weighed 9 lbs 4 ounces if that helps! I'll get some validation on whether I'm birthing a cow and some validation that I'm not just talking to myself. This time.

Oh, and if you scroll the very bottom of my page, there is a ticker on the baby's development. Apparently today it says she is smarter than Paris Hilton. As if there was any doubt.

30... It's really just a number... Right?

30.

Got a funny card today in the mail from Jay's sister Jill. It said, "Don't worry, 30 is JUST a number. You could totally still get into a frat party."

It made me laugh but also made me think... Thirty has brought a few things I wouldn't have expected... Arthritis at such a young age to totally make me feel old... A few wrinkles (although I have yet to see gray hair!)... and a little more of a grumpy disposition than I would really like some days... But thirty has brought some good things and a lot of GREAT things.... For each of those I am grateful, and very very happy.

And of course, 30 will bring cake. Always love cake.

Super Pooped!

We have had a busy day, and Addi is super pooped! Jay painted the new baby's room and Addi and I tried to stay out of his way, so we ended up heading to get a car wash (almost 70 degrees today! So awesome!) then went to the mall. All in all, a pretty good day. Now, Jay is cooking steaks on the grill and I am REALLY hoping spring is on it's way!

28 weeks.... or 74 days left...

Today I am 28 weeks prego.... 70% "baked".... and/or have 74 days left until my c-section. I'm definitely getting big! Jay and I went to a Rivermen game tonight and the guy next to us made a comment (he has six kids! holy cow!) about how kids are the best retirement investment you can make. Jay and I had the same thought and said "you mean so you have 6 kids to take care of you??" and he said "No, when you are 70 you won't really need much but a big family, grandkids, etc. will always be there for you." I thought that was a great sentiment!

And NO WAY am I having six kids.