Take a Walk in my Shoes

First of all can we have a moment of celebration, it's JULY!!!!!!!!!! No matter how late, or how early, or if he is exactly on time that means we will not be entering the next month without my baby boy! How wonderful is that.

Nonetheless, it still seems to just be dragging on and on. So, I have been spending the time listening to people's labor self-induction theories. From castor oil to Sonic Chili Cheese Dogs to jump rope, there are definitely some good ones.

While I haven't gotten desperate enough to try any yet, I have continued my walking, because I have always heard that walking will help the labor process and help to naturally move the baby down. (There might be some truth to that since he dropped 2 weeks ago-- fingers crossed it also works for the easing of labor pain as well (: )

Anyway, it has become too hot to walk outside, even on most nights, so I have been walking up at the old basketball coliseum. There are always others walking, or running, or doing the stairs, and because it's summer, there are a lot of different camps in and out every week. Typically cheer, dance or basketball. All of these camps add a little excitement to the walk because they give me something entertaining other than a mundane continuous walking in circles.

However, none of the camps, not even the little bitty kids playing basketball with the balls being 4 times the size of their head could compare to these two men that are at the coliseum every day with me.

Well the other day I turned major creeper and decided I would see if I could get pictures of these two men with my phone without them noticing so that I could share their stories with the blog world.

So without further adieu, may I first introduce you to the world's fastest old man.

This man, while it may be hard to see from this grainy little pic, this man is pushing 80. The outift seen in this picture is his uniform. Seriously orange shirt, grey shorts everyday, it never fails.

Okay, so taking in his age, one would figure, that while it is great that this man is still exercising, he would be slow. Well, as I have learned, this is clearly not the case. This dude either teleports himself throughout the coliseum to mess with my head or he is clearly the world's fast walker. No joke.

This guy will be in front of me at one second and within the next 30 seconds he is gone. No matter how fast I walk to try and see where he went, he is gone. I have walked in and out of the arena to the outer lap, looked all around the stairs and corridors, and I never can find him. My original thought was he knew a short cut and wasn't going the whole outer lap, but no I don't know what happens.

I'll be sitting there wondering what happened to my orange shirted friend and all of the sudden he will be behind me. Lapping me or what, I don't know, but seriously, where did this guy come from?

I have been telling people about him and I don't think anyone gets it, that's while I took the pic. It's my proof that he does exist, haha.

Anyway, I guess the orange shirted speedracer will remain unsolved until I can get someone who isn't 38 weeks preg to walk with me and follow this man, haha.

Anyway, onto my next walkin' pal. The topless Lothario.

This man, I don't even know where to start. This picture does his story no justice. He runs the stairs, which is fine. Pre-Caleb man I too ran the stairs. However, here is what separates dude from me- he strips down to his tight little shorts before beginning his workout. Now, while I don't want to knock him since he is apparently trying to better himself through exercise and I 100% commend that, the man is about 280-300 pounds and has floppy body parts that no one wants to see. I will give him this though, at least he's not hairy. If he were hairy, I'd have to change my walking time because I would not be able to take it.

Anyway, the man seems to think nothing of it, even though at any given time there are10-20 other walkers/runners/ step climbers who are always fully clothed. To make matters worse the dude sweats buckets. It's disturbing.

While it really would make it more comfortable for all if he wore a shirt, you can't help but admire the guys confidence and his perserverance to be there every day to exercise.

So while these two guys baffle me in their own ways, I guess there are admirable qualities to each of them and they entertain me on my otherwise boring walks. So thanks strange men who I walk with. Oh, yeah, and sorry for being a creeper and taking your pics, but they just added that something extra to this blog post.

The Past Week

Call me a slacker because that's what I've been this past week when it comes to blogging. So, just in case someone is actually interested in my mundane life, let's play a quick game of catch up.

Last Wednesday, June 23, was mine and Daniel's third wedding anniversary.

It was pretty funny when we woke up that morning and started talking about how much life has changed from this anniversary and our last two. Let's compare, shall we....

Our first anniversary we went away to Puerto Rico. While there we ate at quite possible the most delicious restaurant either of us have ever eaten- Dragonfly in Old San Juan. We stayed at a beautiful resort and went shopping at the massive mall. We hiked waterfalls in the El Yunque, kayaked in the bioluminescent bay, explored ancient forts and ate at other delish restaurants (though none compared to Dragonfly). This anniversary was quite the milestone for those that were in touch with us our first year as we definitely had a rough time with struggling to adjust to island life, as well as newlywed life and all the adjusting that brings. To further celebrate Daniel surprised me with a trip to Aruba as my gift and we hopped on over to Aruba less than 2 weeks later to continue the anniversary celebration.

Our second anniversary, wasn't quite as adventurous, but we had big news to celebrate this time. We were leaving the island and moving back to Auburn, AL. I was going to finish school and Daniel was going to return for his PhD. We knew life would be changing since we were both quitting our jobs, but we were excited. (needless to say we definitely didn't realize how much life would be changing) While we spent our actual anniversary on St. Croix, we had just returned from Auburn where we had found our future home and had time to see some family (very brief home since in September we bought some land and began building) as well as a cruise at the end of May as a Katie birthday/ D&K anniversary gift. On our actual anniversary we dined at Savant our favorite island restaurant. We toasted to the changes that God was bringing our way and enjoyed the night.

Fast forward another year, and to most, it would seem our anniversary was crappy compared. But for us it was the best one yet. We woke up in our bed- in OUR HOME- with a bassinet next to us. While this bassinet was empty, we couldn't help but be delighted in looking at it knowing that in 3 short weeks or so, we would have the ultimate blessing there with us. We then discussed what we would do that night. Unlike previous years, there was not going to be $200 dinners or lavish trips, life had changed. But as we say, we are rich in ways beyond finances and in ways that truly bring happiness to life. Haha- hey it makes us feel better. So, this anniversary we found ourselves wanting to make the day special but conscientious of money as we are now focused on our little man and not ourselves.

Creole Shack

A little too close for comfort, but here we are 3 years in, and 36 weeks and 5 days preg

Luckily, I had won 2 movie tickets a few months back from a radio contest. So a movie was put into the plans and then I had free subs from Subway coupons, so we could eat out too.

No, it wasn't the luxurious anniversaries of years past, but we knew this one was the best yet.

In the end, we did end up going to a movie- Knight and Day to be exact. But we didn't eat at Subway, instead we tried out the Creole Shack-- a little hole in the wall up the road that we had always wanted to try.

Oh my word are we glad we did! This place was unbelievable. We had an appetizer and two entrees for $21 and the food was seriously out of this word good. Now, notice I didn't say healthy, but good it was. Between dinner and the movie we went and walked the mall like old geezers. Then it was off to CVS for candy and then to the movie. It wasn't the best movie of all time, but it was great to get out of the house and just enjoy each other's company.

So, yes 3 years in and things have changed drastically. From a beach front condo on a Caribbean island, to a humble 3 bedroom home in Alabama. And you know what, neither of us would change it for the world. This 3rd year of marriage is going to be the best yet as we have more than we could ever ask for with the upcoming arrival of our sweet baby boy. Have I mentioned God is good!

Anyway, that was Wednesday. On Friday, Daniel's parents got in town. We hung out with them Friday night. Saturday Daniel had an exam then we went over to his parents' club house and watched the US soccer game with his parents and grandmother. We went to Niffer's for dinner, DQ for dessert and after hanging out a little more called it a night. Daniel's grandmother spent the night with us and Sunday we were up bright and early for church.

This is my favorite part-- we have finally decided on a church (I think?!?! lol) Auburn United Methodist Church. It was the first one we went to way back when and we have been back a bunch among visiting all of the other churches, but after returning this weekend we feel this church is going to be the best fit for us. It took us a while to decide on one. I think we were looking for the perfect fit, and we all know that there will always be problems no matter where you are especially when you are looking.

On a side note, I do ask that you continue to pray for us though in this area, just that we have found the right church and that our family can bring as much to this church as possible and that we can also take from it and grow in God's desire as much as possible.

Monday night was our last childbirth class. Not to sound cynical, and this is really all I am going to say about it at this time, but these classes were a waste of time and money. We learned nothing, however, we did have some good laughs at the expense of others. Not nice, I know, but true. I mean you wouldn't believe some of the things that came out of these people's mouths. You just have to hope that when their baby arrives that parental instinct and common sense kick in at some point.

That brings us to today. Nothing too exciting. Just some house chores and pool time for me and school for Daniel.

Tomorrow is our 38 week check up, here's to hoping we get some good progressive news!

A Sneak Peak..

So, these pictures are far from good and the room is still a work in progress, but here are some nursery pics. Once it's complete this weekend with the glider and all, and I get my SLR camera skills up to par I will upload better ones.

One side of the room, minus the left part of the wall which is still a work in progress. Daniel built the bookcase from scratch and I painted the canvas up top. Still have to add a Bible verse, but I really want it to be a verse he can hold onto throughout life, so I have yet to find the one I want to stick with. There are so many great ones!

Knobs I painted for his revamped dresser. I like to see the dresser as vintage chic, some might prefer budget friendly, others just plain ol' cheap =). Either way, he'll love it.

Window and junk in front. It's more cleaned up now, but still not perfect. Need to figure out stuff to put on the walls possibly. Now the bookcase is in the left corner and the glider is going in the right, but I'm thinking about painting some canvases and stuff, a la the rec of Erica. It will add to the room and give me something to do to pass the time.

Perfecting the Waddle

Well, according to my ticker at the top of the page I only have about 25 days to go, if the lil man arrives on his due date. However, I have my fingers crossed that he'll be a little earlier-- as long as he is healthy-- because this kid has dropped and he has me waddling everywhere I go now.

As we know, per Dr. Marino's lovely description of my "good sized kid", Caleb' is not exactly the smallest of babies. Now that he has dropped I am feeling just how "good sized" he is. I have carried low the entire pregnancy but now the kid is practically hanging out at my knees and my lower back is feeling it.

While it's not excruciating, it's not pleasant. Thus I am asking for the early reprieve. I have also been having contractions more regularly, but as the docs say and the trusty What to Expect When You're Expecting book, that doesn't mean crud for first time mommas. The baby could drop anywhere from 2-4 weeks before delivery and contractions could start at 30 weeks and you could still go full term.

So while these little signs aren't exactly the golden ticket to knowing I am going into labor soon, at least they are a sign that things are progressing ever so slowly.

Luxuriating at the Lundy Chase Pool

Curious about the title? Well, no worries, that's just my word of the week after watching TLC's Toddlers and Tiaras (hey, cut me some slack, I am seriously bored so I just have my tivo set to record any and every show that might speed my days up some while I sit inside these walls). So anyway, this week there were 3 fams, as always, and one was a family from Loganville, GA. Well, not to take away from the family, because the little girl was just lovely, but let's just say the
mom was a bit different and she had a word she used all the time- luxuriating.

So anyway, she would throw that word out all the time. She would tell her daughter to "luxuriate across the stage" "luxuriate in her beauty" etc. etc. Never once did she describe what the word meant and by her various and sundry uses, context clues did not help.

Anyway, come to find out, it is a real word. But the mom definitely didn't use it correctly per dictionary.com and neither am I going to. I like that she made it her own and so shall I-- ha!

So, I have adopted the word luxuriate and for me it means to relax in a luxurious way. Not that our neighborhood pool is luxurious, but it is relaxing, and when you're 36 weeks pregnant, it's not going to get much more luxurious than the neighborhood pool.

So, that's what I've been doing this week. I've been luxuriating.

I now am the proud sporter of some wickedly awesome tanlines.

Due to the fact that I was too practical- or cheap as some might view it :)- to invest in a maternity swimsuit, I only really have 2 suits to choose from. They are each non maternity tankini tops and regular bottoms. Well, they each still fit, but one is longer so it covers more of the bulbous baby belly I am toting around, so I wear it more. It just so happens that this suit also has much thicker straps and, man oh man, if I don't have the worse white stripes running around my neck and down to the top of my chest. Not to mention how white my belly is compared to the rest of me as well. Oh yes, and then there is the fact that I am two-toned.

My front is tanner than my back because I can't lay on my belly. Let's face it, it's just not going to happen. You try balancing all of your weight on a basketball and lying there for an extended period of time. Oh yes and also consider this so-called basketball is the most precious thing in the world to you and it is constantly moving.

Yeah, not laughing so hard now, are ya? It just can't be done. Preggo women were not meant to be evenly tanned.

So for now I will embrace my multicolored bod, and continue luxuriating at the pool- aka trying to sweat Caleb out- until the time comes for my handsome man to arrive!

D-Day = T minus 1 month!

So we went in for the 36 week check-up today. I just knew there was going to be some progress..... nope not a darn thing.

We are no longer seeing Dr. Hensarling since she is set to deliver in two weeks, so we went to Dr.Marino today the other young doctor. He measured my belly then felt around on it to feel Caleb and literally said, "Well, don't know if you know this, but that is a pretty good size baby you got there."

Thanks, dude. I know. I have been told the whole time, except the very very beginning when he was measuring small for the first 6 weeks, that he was a big boy. I don't want to hear it anymore or I am going to have nightmares of birthing watermelons the size of Duke for the next month.

Anyway, he thought maybe there would be some progress, and got my hopes all up, but alas there was nothing.

So that's the big news for today, that and that the official due date is one month from today. Fingers crossed the little man isn't as stubborn as his mom and dad and maybe decides to debut a little early because I am miserable.

Not miserable in that I am huge and immobile and just bitter, but miserable in that I sit in this dang house all day with nothing to do because it is too hot outside for a big ol' preggo lady. I miss walking outside with Duke and I miss class. That is sad.

Selfishly, I am also hoping for an early arrival so that I have more time to get acclimated before school starts. One, I need to get used to the whole baby depending on me for everything. Two, I want to be healed and able to walk and work out by the time school starts. I have only gained 22.5- 23 lbs so far, but those are 22.5 or 23 lbs that I am ready to shed asap. Hey, you try being 24 on a college campus that Playboy time and time again says has the prettiest girls, and you tell me those size 0's and 2's aren't enough to make you want to skip a meal or ten.

Other than the boredom I think I have nested all I can nest. There is one slight glitch, however. The glider and storage ottoman we ordered from Premier Fabrics in Germantown is back ordered. Seriously, I didn't pay what I did to not have this on time, especially when I was given a very latest finish date of next Friday. This is not cool people, not cool at all.

I need to find some way to get some more color into his room as well. Maybe I should have painted the walls, I just didn't feel like the hassle. Although our neighbor, Rick, who owns his own painting business has offered to do it for free, but I feel like it's a little late in the game to be picking out paint colors and embarking on all of that now.

I also can't hang everything until we have the glider because I don't know how everything will fit together so that is another issue I am running into.

Can you tell I am bored? I am rambling like a mad woman.

I guess I'll stop.

Maybe I'll go to the pool, it's not as hot today, but most likely I won't. I am going to go walk in the old coliseum at 4. That will eat some time. But not enough. If you have any cures for boredom send them and send them fast. My patience ship is slowly sinking.

And the nesting continues

That nesting bug that seemed to bite me hard a little over a week ago, still hasn't left.

Daniel and I have spent all weekend continuing our work to make this the best and most beautiful house possible for the little man before he arrives.

Last night I cleaned, this morning I cleaned, this afternoon I cleaned... get the picture. It wasn't like the was was just that dirty, it was just that I wanted it that clean.

Oh and this was all in between our 3 Lowe's runs thus far since yesterday.

We have completely redone our landscaping. Halleluljiah! We hated the crap they put in when we were building the house and we were happy to say goodbye boxwoods and pine straw, hello azaelas, hydrangeas, flowers, dogwoods and more. Here are some pics!
working on the front yard. Goodbye boxwoods, hello azaelas

backyard, one of the plots before (well technically a mid work shot because he'd already uprooted the bushes and pinestraw)

And after, the hydrangeas. Doesn't the satellite dish add such a great touch, ha!
All of the nasty boxwoods. And look after 6 months, they still hadn't rooted, the landscaping was so pathetic that they did.