tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86001671106098800062024-03-13T07:38:42.796-05:00Jamaican Bun in the OvenAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-61308966191092560922009-09-15T18:04:00.002-05:002009-09-15T18:07:36.047-05:00We've MovedI won't be posting here anymore because the bun is out of the oven. We've taken our journey into parenthood to a new blog with a cool new look! Come check us out at:<br /><a href="http://marlieandmommy.blogspot.com/">Marlie and Me</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-25361891020311247892009-08-16T04:30:00.009-05:002009-08-16T04:44:04.343-05:00She's Finally Here!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KocYt3q15WOYkRPPG0i6NHkPUWhVFPxp3sLQ19JS5D0M6LiWeo_T6aSlZ2Z7E8tFHe74Tzs3uYiQHTh9OVBhUehYsFh1h5kC6xMV6yngUJT3j-XDZMlixYo2LZlYI93OzWIf4_drxFw/s1600-h/marlie9.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KocYt3q15WOYkRPPG0i6NHkPUWhVFPxp3sLQ19JS5D0M6LiWeo_T6aSlZ2Z7E8tFHe74Tzs3uYiQHTh9OVBhUehYsFh1h5kC6xMV6yngUJT3j-XDZMlixYo2LZlYI93OzWIf4_drxFw/s200/marlie9.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370494643716519010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Teresha: This is just a quickie post to let you know that our BEAUTIFUL daughter Marlie is here! She was delivered via natural birth and is happy, healthy and strong! I will be posting her birth story is a few days on the new blog </span></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://marlieandmommy.blogspot.com/">Marlie and Me</a> </span></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">so head over there and subscribe/follow. <br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-32409666218742480732009-08-13T07:07:00.008-05:002009-08-13T21:00:18.943-05:0039 Weeks and Still Sharing One Body<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3RurYbgY6svXFTVWjnmyyGe9r2SbCxnB1yWI2RiF25IiqdNrW5w0hjQVvU6YGhZCJsurAosNShEUQahVLbUCvxLMiHb_iAnD4bQK5aZ7nYoAVefcNtLTRhEpRgfQ5CDJ55sFFXJ7-OY/s1600-h/bonnie.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3RurYbgY6svXFTVWjnmyyGe9r2SbCxnB1yWI2RiF25IiqdNrW5w0hjQVvU6YGhZCJsurAosNShEUQahVLbUCvxLMiHb_iAnD4bQK5aZ7nYoAVefcNtLTRhEpRgfQ5CDJ55sFFXJ7-OY/s320/bonnie.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369418965682850482" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Teresha: So much for predictions...Marlie is still holding camp. I can't believe I lost my own baby's birth date pool. Shouldn't a mommy know these things? All the expectations for an early delivery just set me up for disappointment. Luckily, I have a blog to vent my frustrations and a good sense of humor to see how silly I was being.<br /><br />Baby girl is proving to be more like her daddy and less like me. I am someone who is always ahead of schedule. I don't even need an alarm clock to wake up in the morning. I throw back the covers and leap out of bed ready to start my day. My husband sets an alarm and proceeds to hit snooze at least two times. He definitely is not an early bird. Imagine my horror when I had the two false starts over the weekend...it was like she knew it was time to come out, but kept hitting snooze! I have another procrastinator on my hands! I think she is so cozy and comfortable, that it might take magnitude 5 earthquake to shake her out. At this point, I would be thrilled if she were just on time. My irrational fear is that she decides to take up permanent residence, and I wind up perpetually pregnant like Bonnie from <span style="font-style: italic;">Family Guy</span>. LOL! </span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Please subscribe by email to the new blog <a href="http://marlieandmommy.blogspot.com/">Marlie and Me</a> so you can get notice when she makes her debut!</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-57639928519406854212009-08-11T00:23:00.012-05:002009-08-11T07:52:45.491-05:00My Version of the Stages of Labor<span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Teresha: It is generally believed that a pregnant woman goes through three stages of labor: early labor, active labor, and birth (some believe delivery of the placenta to be a fourth stage). Anyways, I have found these "stages" to be lacking in emotional context. So, here is my version (based on the 7 stages of grief):<br /></span><ol><li style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Eager anticipation: you are 38 weeks and your baby is fully developed. You get excited every time you feel a Braxton Hicks contraction or show signs of pre-labor (i.e. loss of mucus plug). Even though you are two weeks away from your due date, you secretly wish (s)he will come early. You won't entertain any notion that your baby will be overdue. Example: When people ask, "when are you due?," I start to answer "any day now" instead of saying "two more weeks."<br /></span></li><li style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Nesting: you will start cleaning and organizing like a woman possessed. You check and re-check the birthing bags. Everything has to be ready because it could be any day now, right? Example: I woke up at 3:00 am one night with a deep desire to sweep entire first level of our house.<br /></span></li><li style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Taking matters into your own hands: you literally try to make a deal with your baby. You promise him or her a pony if they will come out. If that doesn't work, you try physical encouragement: exercise and constant movement, sex, drinking herbal teas, eating black licorice(?!). Example: I drove over the speed bumps on my block at full-speed.<br /></span></li><li style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Misery: The days, hours, minutes, seconds tick by. You and baby are still sharing one body. Your belly is stretched beyond its capacity, your pelvic region is sore, you have contractions that don't seem to go anywhere. You just feel discombobulated. Your distress is compounded by the fact that you have been tricked into believing that you were in labor a few times. Example: After a walk on Sunday night, I started having contractions that were stronger, closer together and lasted longer. I thought this was it and jumped in the shower to get ready only to have them stop suddenly.</span> </li><li style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Disillusionment: you are confused by all the false alarms and starting to distrust your instincts when it comes to your own body. You might even start thinking that you'll be pregnant forever. You get annoyed when people inquire if the baby is here yet. Example: I stopped checking email and answering my cell phone on Sunday because I was tired of having to tell people, "not yet."</span></li><li style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:78%;"> Consulting: You start seeking advice. You get reassurance from some wise women. They tell you to relax and get plenty of rest because that will be a luxury you can no longer afford soon. You decide to take their advice. Example: I sleep for four hours on Monday afternoon. It was bliss! When I wake up, I stop fretting over my bump and resume my life (which consists of emailing, texting, blogging, chatting on the phone). After all, a watched pot never boils.<br /></span></li><li><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Acceptance: the gradual realization that your baby is going to come out when (s)he is good and ready and not a minute sooner. You stop stressing over the when and start focusing on the now. Example: By Monday evening, I was over trying to rush the process and resolved to live in these last moments when I have her all to myself before I had to share her with the world.</span></li></ol><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please subscribe by email to the new blog <a href="http://marlieandmommy.blogspot.com/">Marlie and Me</a> so you can get notice when she makes her debut!</span><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-71273322813883860942009-08-09T14:23:00.002-05:002009-08-09T14:48:18.076-05:00Please, Baby Baby, Please!<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Teresha: I thought for sure that the next time I posted it would be about sweet Marlie's birth story. Alas, she was not a full moon baby. My Friday visit to the midwife revealed that I was continuing to show signs of an early delivery. But when? I need a date and time! (I know that's not how it works). She told me that she'd be surprised if I made it to my Wednesday appointment. My mother-in-law arrived yesterday. Maybe Marlie was waiting for her grandma to get here? I started having more regular contractions last night that kept me up, but still nothing. We went to church this morning, despite my exhaustion, to witness our pastor baptizing her daughter. It was such a beautifully moving experience and tied in with the message of what children can teach us about spirituality. I can attest that the process of being pregnant and becoming a mother has brought me closer to God. I have been humbled by carrying new life. I find myself letting my guard down and letting go of the hurt and distrust or what Pastor Courtney calls "cleaning out the chambers of the heart." Now I feel ready to experience the unconditional love that is Marlie. I am so ready! So, come on Marlie! Please, baby baby, please! Maybe she knows mommy needs more lessons in patience. </span>:-)</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-14004041234935322212009-08-05T05:05:00.004-05:002009-08-05T05:05:00.461-05:0038 Weeks...Still Pregnant, but Full Moon Tomorrow!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkpT7xlAO_lN9Zb7vJ9Q5dpHiKTcdqOg7AJX8ARO_uXTeZdwzWDdu7QHadYQN-TzkZ1B1AFZqhDxDPfiTH78djy50Gtb4zjZ-flXbta4o59evWvaCJ7QoKrFPeYK3pdBp9cFfkbPng7U/s1600-h/FullMoonBaby.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkpT7xlAO_lN9Zb7vJ9Q5dpHiKTcdqOg7AJX8ARO_uXTeZdwzWDdu7QHadYQN-TzkZ1B1AFZqhDxDPfiTH78djy50Gtb4zjZ-flXbta4o59evWvaCJ7QoKrFPeYK3pdBp9cFfkbPng7U/s200/FullMoonBaby.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366290362419665346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Teresha: Before you Twi-hards get all excited about the mention of full moon and think I have some scoop from the movie set, I am talking about the lunar schedule. This is the week my midwife predicted our baby girl would be born. It also happens that the next full moon appears tomorrow. It is a long-held, old-wives belief that many full-term pregnant women will go into labor on the night of or shortly after a full moon. From what I gather it has something to do with atmospheric pressure and the moon's gravitational pull that can cause the amniotic sac to break. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence (stories from maternity nurses about overcrowded delivery rooms) and some unscientific research to back this up. I found that this article, <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Moons-Effect-on-Natural-Childbirth&id=70253">The Moon's Effect on Natural Childbirth</a>, sums it up best. So hopefully, our next post will be about Marlie's birth story! If it happens, I'm going to get that T-shirt!</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-size:78%;" >Damon: There are a lot of old wives tales about the full moon <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werewolf">(click here)</a>. While I don't know if Marlie will decide to break camp tomorrow, I am excited that she will be here soon. I have also heard the babies are covered in hair - so maybe there is a link to the full moon.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-62434950344359118732009-08-01T10:23:00.020-05:002009-08-01T17:27:05.230-05:00Cat Metaphors and New Blog Coming...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjF7Ro3mglD88aaFDZ8bLd5wmN1Bc8cQGxkFDwioiFt9oquYKaTTm5_UT-I9BT_O51LHY_MwneXI6jE2i6wISh1SngmErUAONoT6gcBelrpmhOwdlmL_f2Yh98orJAFZjfZqN4SIF-82c/s1600-h/kitty.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 168px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjF7Ro3mglD88aaFDZ8bLd5wmN1Bc8cQGxkFDwioiFt9oquYKaTTm5_UT-I9BT_O51LHY_MwneXI6jE2i6wISh1SngmErUAONoT6gcBelrpmhOwdlmL_f2Yh98orJAFZjfZqN4SIF-82c/s200/kitty.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365124657238594114" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >I am so giddy and ready to burst (literally and figuratively). But before I delve into the excitement, I have a confession...I do not like cats. This may not come as a surprise to those who have read about our dog </span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><a href="http://littlefrecklebaby.blogspot.com/2009/03/my-turn.html">Butters</a> </span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >who has his own</span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1761554054&ref=ts">Facebook page</a></span></span> <span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >and is a star over at <a href="http://www.momlogic.com/2009/06/show_us_your_hot_dog.php">MomLogic </a>(yep, that's him in the photo). He is our best friend in every sense of the word and a lot like a child to us. But back to my disdain for cats (and I beg my bloggy friends who are cat people to hear me out). First, I am allergic to them. Second, I find their demeanor creepy. Third, I can't grasp the kitty litter thing. My feelings about cats, however, have been challenged by the discovery of an abandoned kitten in the crawlspace of our house. I first heard his pitiful mewing on Thursday evening. My hubby pulled back the grate and there was this tiny, apricot-colored feline just all alone and so adorable! Usually, I would have left the kitten to fend for itself, but my heart melted and something switched on in me. On Friday, I started emailing neighbors and calling no-kill shelters and found a foster home for him with some neighbors who are coming for him today. Meanwhile, it rained all night, and I kept getting up to go check on him to make sure he was staying dry. When I finally got into bed, I asked myself why I cared so much about this kitten when I don't even like cats. It struck me that kitty is a metaphor for my impending motherhood. This kitten was sent by the Universe to tell me something. What does it mean that I suddenly cannot abide seeing a kitten in distress? Is it a reassurance that I am ready to be a mommy? Interestingly enough, this week's issue of <span style="font-style: italic;">Entertainment Weekly</span> devotes an entire article the whole Internet cat video phenomenon and what it represents culturally. The article isn't up on their site yet, but here is a link to the report card the <a href="http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/07/30/cat-videos-webcats/">best cat videos </a>on the web.<br /><br />Now for the exciting news! I am launching a mommy blog to continue documenting my journey into motherhood. It has a different blog address and a fabulous new design thanks to Diana Rambles at <a href="http://customblogdesigns.blogspot.com/">Custom Blog Designs</a>. It is still under construction while I transfer some stuff over and set up widgets, but I figure it's not too early to start building my readership there. Please register for an </span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MarlieAndMe">email subscription</a> </span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >so you can get the announcement of the big unveiling. I don't want to lose any of you! I am planning some cool things for the blog launch, including a giveaway, after Marlie arrives. I'll see you on the flip side real soon!<br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-89011630347654809002009-07-28T08:16:00.009-05:002009-07-28T21:13:41.045-05:00The Waiting Game: Week 37<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FMIwfgTHgDtNt_TlVqqOjIZ7xjA9gJ50VI7blqknltjstWxUH4Ls2hzHqwiw1hadw2fCjNDMxJBAzlhotwOvTcU8SDMFSNeHydVggiK7WV310jiocdclvqkWskllXjbf3n4Jc6ao4Bg/s1600-h/calendar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FMIwfgTHgDtNt_TlVqqOjIZ7xjA9gJ50VI7blqknltjstWxUH4Ls2hzHqwiw1hadw2fCjNDMxJBAzlhotwOvTcU8SDMFSNeHydVggiK7WV310jiocdclvqkWskllXjbf3n4Jc6ao4Bg/s200/calendar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363611947917512482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:78%;" >Teresha: So last week I experienced a period of manic activity otherwise known as nesting. I washed all of Marlie's cloth diapers and hung them to dry, organized her drawers, packed the bags, got the car detailed, and had Damon install the car seat. Last Wednesday I had some intense Braxton Hicks contractions that felt different. Hubby told our midwife about them at our prenatal appointment on Thursday while I was in the ladies room checking the PH and protein levels in my pee. She asked me to describe them and silly me says, "they are spasms 'inside,' but they kind of hurt." I guess she is used to clients who lack a grasp of medical terminology because she turned around without a puzzled look and said, "it sound like your cervix is opening up. Let's take a look." Sure enough I was almost 2 cm dilated. She tells me this is unusual for first-time mommies, but great news because I will probably have a fast and easy birth. Yay me! On the other hand, she prefers the babies she delivers to be at least 37 weeks, so no physical activity for the next 7 days (this meant S-E-X too in case you are wondering). She ended the visit by predicting our baby will come in the next two weeks. My heart soared. I could be seeing our honey bunny soon, which was my hunch anyway. Since our appointment, I have on hyper-vigilant watch for signs of labor. This week, a weird calm has come over me, and I have been taking crazy, long naps like a lazy dog in summer! Is this a sign? I have also been looking for the telltale "biological" signs such as shedding of my mucus plug or 'bloody show' and the obvious breaking of my water. But I have a feeling that it will be more subtle for me, like I will start with a slow leak instead of a gush. Several people have also told me that their bodies "cleansed" themselves just prior to going into labor. This would be a welcome change for me! Okay, enough of the over-sharing. I set up a baby birth date pool. The widget is located on the upper left-hand sidebar (the one with the teddy bear graphic). So go take a guess as to when Marlie is going to be born. Will she stay put or will she make an early escape? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:78%;" >Damon: I was kinda worried that Marlie would be a bit early. I think we are physically ready for her to show up, but I don't know if we are mentally prepared yet : ) I still need my three weeks! Butters also wants to have a little more time as a single child. All I can say is bring on the baby.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-48175987511423033062009-07-23T15:50:00.012-05:002009-07-27T18:07:27.198-05:00I Got Christmas Presents!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIAhqus6fY7HmMjAOJYXzwRAc7nY0HSk0A4ZyK4CtIforpfWwrkm-3C_ZZ4fMEXrO0JahT768cxSFbvbce9TN_X_7zzmrCqf1ZLV80vJumPhMRRUrvJQGPCzhuYTswe5PSlo2ASOYctQ/s1600-h/XmasinJuly.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 184px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIAhqus6fY7HmMjAOJYXzwRAc7nY0HSk0A4ZyK4CtIforpfWwrkm-3C_ZZ4fMEXrO0JahT768cxSFbvbce9TN_X_7zzmrCqf1ZLV80vJumPhMRRUrvJQGPCzhuYTswe5PSlo2ASOYctQ/s200/XmasinJuly.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362000598211903298" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >A few weeks ago I signed up for my first blogger swap. I have done scrapping swaps before, but this was a different experience. This was<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> Christmas in July!</span> First let me say, that the swap hostess <a href="http://anticswithangie.blogspot.com/">Angie</a><a href="http://anticswithangie.blogspot.com/">'s Spot</a> did an outstanding job organizing this goodie exchange. She is hosting another swap in November with another fun theme, so go subscribe to her blog to receive the post to sign-up.<br /><br />I had the best time getting to know my swap buddy <a href="http://www.sixflowermom.com/">Six Flower Mom</a>. We hit it off right away and sent each other several five-paragraph emails. On Wednesday morning there was a package on my porch decorated with Christmas stickers. Inside was individually wrapped items that I couldn't wait to tear open. Be forewarned that my buddy completely spoiled me! Try not to be jealous as you read the list of presents she sent me:<br /></span><ul style="font-family:verdana;"><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Scrapbooking supplies (a scrapper can never have too many)<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Burt's Bees chapstick and a packet of herbal sitz bath (will come in handy before and after labor)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">A Target reusable bag (fits nicely in my purse so I'll never forget to take it when I go shopping like a good environmental cheerleader should)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Stuff for baby (natural baby wash, a handmade Scrubby, an organic toy, and a maple teething ring made in VT)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Serendipity</span> on DVD (to add to my John Cusack movie collection)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">A journal and writing pens (the journal cover has butterflies, my favorite animal in nature)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Yummies (herbal teas bags and Vermont Maple candy-I had to remember not to eat all of these before I took the picture)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">BOOKS!!! (<span style="font-style: italic;">Motherhood Rising, The Continuum Concept, The New Age Herbalist, Love You Forever. </span>Now I have to decide which one to read first)<br /></span></li></ul><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >I can't thank her enough for all the cool stuff! This was a blast and can't wait to do it again!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">UPDATE: Visit </span><a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.sixflowermom.com/?p=929">Six Flower Mom </a></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >to see what I sent Amy</span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">!</span><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-5896002236549148502009-07-22T08:15:00.003-05:002009-07-22T09:12:43.237-05:00In the Home Stretch (Literally)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9m8ZEOOGPVctpuk6ZkXMlWgz1NlXsD0KkR1C3P7DZdfiIrloUkiaLgnoTgBYD04fYsdjdVrF4Th6wpYp0FF19gmyA4MWB-uKLxG7S1hBd8_8P8W-419djrCHuxb1h8zmB7k7frGu4AKo/s1600-h/36weeks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9m8ZEOOGPVctpuk6ZkXMlWgz1NlXsD0KkR1C3P7DZdfiIrloUkiaLgnoTgBYD04fYsdjdVrF4Th6wpYp0FF19gmyA4MWB-uKLxG7S1hBd8_8P8W-419djrCHuxb1h8zmB7k7frGu4AKo/s320/36weeks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361268096040074162" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Teresha: My apologies if the picture grosses you out, but I wanted to give you an illustration of what I mean by literally being in the home stretch. I'm 36 weeks, and my belly looks like an over-inflated balloon. I don't think it has the capacity to grow any farther. Throughout my pregnancy, people have commented on how tiny I look. I just think I seem small because the bump grew entirely outward giving the deceptive impression that I'm not pregnant from the front or back views. From my profile, there is no denying that there is a bun in the oven, especially now! In the past two weeks it feels like my abdomen has been stretched to the limit. Even my belly button, which has stayed hidden this entire time, has popped out. Oh, and I found two stretch marks while doing my weekly belly inspection in the mirror! So much for the old wives belief in cocoa butter and vitamin E oil. I also developed a "pregnancy" rash and started itching beyond belief. Thank goodness for Standard Process USF ointment. It has lanolin and other good stuff that took care of that bit of unpleasantness. Ready for more TMI? I have struggled during the last week to pay my taxes to the porcelain king. Every day is an exercise in pain, strain, and little gain. If you don't get it, let me just add that I now own stock in Metamucil.<br /><br />In other news about stretching, I have been obsessing about not tearing down there. My holistic doctor back in Atlanta advised that I begin <a href="http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/plabor/0,,midwife_46dl,00.html">perineal massage</a> at 35 weeks. He swears by it (well his wife does...she delivered two babies naturally without an episiotomy and didn't need any stitches). So, I sat down last week with my olive oil and gave it a try. It felt too weird. I haven't done it again. I really want to avoid tearing though, so I asked my midwife if I should resume the massage or any other preventative measure. She shook her head and said she doesn't believe the massage makes a difference. What she does advise is in the form of postpartum perineal care by pre-freezing kotex pads (whic can be soaked in soothing, antiseptic herbs). I also read that a <a href="http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/pppericr.html#Comfort">sitz bath</a> is really helpful in the days after giving birth.<br /><br />Marlie is almost here, so I am dedicating this week to the final preparations, including making sure the birthing and diaper bags are packed and ready to go! I have a two-foot to-do list, but it is impossible to get it all done. So I have priortized tasks by things that will be disappointments (getting a small water fountain to listen to during labor) or disasters (installing car seat, hello hubby!) if we don't get around to doing them. I have a feeling that she will come way before my August 20 due date. I can feel it in my soul. I have been dreaming of her every night for a week. Plus she has already dropped and is head down. She is ahead of schedule and following nature's directions, just like her mommy before her.<br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-81530703220188799832009-07-19T17:51:00.015-05:002009-07-19T18:16:12.553-05:00It Takes a Village to Party<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rkpQWNArgJJR05f56-C5xx2Xg4mDbRWZRWg7cRN-hMJLXmwXL-pTG5NTVhYvvGpnLfieod1Qg64tGEbVekbPZm-kQUMPbJSqUGWr6rAlVACHnyIWFcYzqrBXj0ibICNwixoDOcd5QZY/s1600-h/luau_damonandteresha.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rkpQWNArgJJR05f56-C5xx2Xg4mDbRWZRWg7cRN-hMJLXmwXL-pTG5NTVhYvvGpnLfieod1Qg64tGEbVekbPZm-kQUMPbJSqUGWr6rAlVACHnyIWFcYzqrBXj0ibICNwixoDOcd5QZY/s200/luau_damonandteresha.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360313472047187090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMn14WaTlW3QHCIdG1VU7J4gECkBfjZiCsSDWW0LNFvQUEcDxZJ8TLL6klpP9rU7xLs3nlvRcYehXjflYWJmSD60mG0fERDNdTFoHkk6oSfC3YMAUr0tqr29cfHjFBSgSSYeGl0ke0xzI/s1600-h/luau_limbocontest.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMn14WaTlW3QHCIdG1VU7J4gECkBfjZiCsSDWW0LNFvQUEcDxZJ8TLL6klpP9rU7xLs3nlvRcYehXjflYWJmSD60mG0fERDNdTFoHkk6oSfC3YMAUr0tqr29cfHjFBSgSSYeGl0ke0xzI/s200/luau_limbocontest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360313467811563042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBHhfCogkrCf0DpE9dvvh-_A7ylgPEUbLQI6QRH3Eq1JRkF5Kqy6h-1Tdn2TQH5XoaBWLY-b9u9AAs9ecx5fSj1S5wG2EiSpanxak7f0DXe4J-8qafu-8sFehzRVlYXOCtGT_z5RO79w/s1600-h/luau_guests.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBHhfCogkrCf0DpE9dvvh-_A7ylgPEUbLQI6QRH3Eq1JRkF5Kqy6h-1Tdn2TQH5XoaBWLY-b9u9AAs9ecx5fSj1S5wG2EiSpanxak7f0DXe4J-8qafu-8sFehzRVlYXOCtGT_z5RO79w/s200/luau_guests.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360313461349021794" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Teresha: Last night we threw an Hawaiian Luau to celebrate three milestones this year: our first year in our new house/city, our ninth wedding anniversary, and the upcoming birth of our daughter. Moving last summer took a brutal emotional toll on me. I left behind in Atlanta ten years of memories (our wedding, our downtown loft, our friends, my work in youth development, our favorite restaurants and farmer's market--to name a few). Plus, I had no job waiting for me and knew no one in Dallas. I thought I was going to die of loneliness. It took me awhile to end my pity party and start to reach out. I have met some truly wonderful people in our neighborhood, at Damon's job, and through our journey into parenthood. Last night was affirmation that it's going to be alright and that we have people here who love and support us. Sometimes, it takes a party to realize just how good life is!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-64906626224037961732009-07-15T00:33:00.000-05:002009-07-15T00:33:00.251-05:00We are 9 Years Married Today!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9paSbXyv0tI_nn2pF0ijhdyWHhUy5quTL44XBg0NCokQ6vuVKqxDSWkuL2SgdhUMl4BDaGom_-1OdqmG34vWn-f8Mf2RSTpJHe18DLYByqjNq4yguWvb8nBr13yqBZ2ddI4EsrKyF_0/s1600-h/UF_DamonandTeresha.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9paSbXyv0tI_nn2pF0ijhdyWHhUy5quTL44XBg0NCokQ6vuVKqxDSWkuL2SgdhUMl4BDaGom_-1OdqmG34vWn-f8Mf2RSTpJHe18DLYByqjNq4yguWvb8nBr13yqBZ2ddI4EsrKyF_0/s200/UF_DamonandTeresha.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358355326887979554" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16zxRCpjGsq5V0LbMWL3pa0XCCQOdP6BqORMDLE9uaqXnJ6uRsvhFMt1SIfFgyNPPCCUyuSidDbNeKTgbEG92VnLsGDJCyiSXUR676vgDpPT9qNn15gBAnvsK6_xKBl6mawszfu5c2qE/s1600-h/The-Bride.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16zxRCpjGsq5V0LbMWL3pa0XCCQOdP6BqORMDLE9uaqXnJ6uRsvhFMt1SIfFgyNPPCCUyuSidDbNeKTgbEG92VnLsGDJCyiSXUR676vgDpPT9qNn15gBAnvsK6_xKBl6mawszfu5c2qE/s200/The-Bride.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358356776943567826" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZndDaPMi9-Qk7BoCnk5BnC-Y6-CsnnzJIH2-1sjIpo8evCqPSM7WEU8P2bg6H8jM-HphOGdEAkH9-I61wbNiVhk905UF2JQIFxecf0Sf77Zd7e9tOEENM3UpxrgqL2W7-hHJQ5H-o8Q/s1600-h/ATLbabyshower_Marliesparents.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZndDaPMi9-Qk7BoCnk5BnC-Y6-CsnnzJIH2-1sjIpo8evCqPSM7WEU8P2bg6H8jM-HphOGdEAkH9-I61wbNiVhk905UF2JQIFxecf0Sf77Zd7e9tOEENM3UpxrgqL2W7-hHJQ5H-o8Q/s200/ATLbabyshower_Marliesparents.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358357000950665202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Teresha: We met at the University of Florida in 1995 through a mutual friend. I was instantly smitten and something told me that he was The One. He was playing it cool though. We actually started dating after an argument about the same mutual friend. I just marvel at how divine intervention works when I look back at our fourteen years together (five dating, nine married). Yes, we work hard at our relationship, but I truly believe that God brought us together, has kept us together, and will hold us together forever. There is just no other way to explain how we've managed to survive as a couple through some pretty rough stuff (break ups, being broke, living in separate cities while married, illness, a move halfway across the country). I also credit the grace of God for all the happy times and joyous milestones in our marriage (our travels abroad, buying our first home and the impending arrival our firstborn next month). I can't imagine sharing these experiences with anyone else. He's my wing man, my road dog, my ace, my everything.Happy Anniversary boo!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Damon: I think she was playing it just as "cool" as I was when we met - maybe a bit more. When I look back over our fourteen years together, I can't believe how fast the time has passed. I don't know if there was ever a time when I felt that Teresha "was the one" but I have always felt that this (being our relationship) felt right - it just came natural. For instance, the first time I told her that I loved her (and she is the ONLY woman I have told this to outside of my family) we were out watching a movie and having a conversation about a love scene and how it related to our relationship. Without getting into too much detail, I causally blurted out that I loved her. The weight of it hit me as the words came out of my mouth - it was like I was watching my self say it: "I L-O-V-E Y-O-U". But it felt right and natural. So the other example of feeling "right" is a bit morbid. When I think of being on my death bed and who I would want to be there to comfort me, Teresha is the first and only person who comes to mind - even before we were married. She calms me and makes we want to be a better person. So that is how I knew this was right. I can't imagine sharing my quirky ass life with anyone else. I love you buttmunch!</span><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-82398422606237834332009-07-12T17:26:00.001-05:002009-07-12T20:08:46.761-05:00Most Beautiful Woman in the World: Take that Angelina and Halle!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyY5izi_osC1_DdrTkQbq9-mRnyUeaPVK97p15cHiet3G1rWGRhyphenhyphenZ4JKLDhsQK8Rgp-5x9JP6j7EsgM4XYfztu9Jka18ja5yDITzmWWVN6krxr1QWyYKnew4x8RkB-I_a7HmSk2w-qDA/s1600-h/Teresha-8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyY5izi_osC1_DdrTkQbq9-mRnyUeaPVK97p15cHiet3G1rWGRhyphenhyphenZ4JKLDhsQK8Rgp-5x9JP6j7EsgM4XYfztu9Jka18ja5yDITzmWWVN6krxr1QWyYKnew4x8RkB-I_a7HmSk2w-qDA/s320/Teresha-8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357721689423342114" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Teresha: My family is full of </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UJ07r-9zhMQHtT7Z-RYDD0qZh6RFBFAxqa3TiS9xC5Kzv6dqkVvrgwA0vm_W1q9dzjWx68OPovOsJ4Jm605bJRm-3tFF6NGUlBiVaDEH5W3bVgzn8Yhd4OV4l7mk6r3oQPoi_bzZDck/s1600-h/Teresha-5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UJ07r-9zhMQHtT7Z-RYDD0qZh6RFBFAxqa3TiS9xC5Kzv6dqkVvrgwA0vm_W1q9dzjWx68OPovOsJ4Jm605bJRm-3tFF6NGUlBiVaDEH5W3bVgzn8Yhd4OV4l7mk6r3oQPoi_bzZDck/s320/Teresha-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357720409675519986" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >women with smooth skin ranging from cafe au lait to dark chocolate in color. In addition to their perfect complexions, they tend to have narrow features. I have a round face and struggled with acne all my life until a homeopath diagnosed me with a gluten allergy. My point is that I grew up being told I was ugly or the more PC "not very pretty," and I believed it. Even as an adult, I have a hard time accepting compliments about my looks. It took being pregnant for me to finally recognize my own beauty. I may still not fit society's definition of beauty (or my family's), but it doesn't matter...I am gorgeous! To prove it, the hubby and I recently had maternity photos taken. We were both sick with a stomach bug, and I threw up and fainted during the shoot, (I think I've discovered the models' secret). But our photos turned out perfect and I can't stop looking at them...does that make me vain? I don't care! So this is what it's like to feel like the most beautiful woman on Earth!</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:verdana;" >Damon: Yeah - so despite the vomiting and fainting, the shoot went really well. I have always thought that Teresha was the most beautiful girl in the room (no matter what room we are in). So - I love the shots and I can't wait for our next turn in the studio when Marlie gets here. </span><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-59608637598951235572009-07-09T15:43:00.000-05:002009-07-09T22:21:53.856-05:00Finding a Spiritual Home to Raise Baby<span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Teresha: I have struggled with the concept of religion and church since I was young. I was the type of child that asked questions...lots of questions. My curiosity often drove my family and teachers crazy because they frequently did not have a good answer to my inquiries. This was especially true when it came to religion. Most of my mother's family are Seventh Day Adventists, and me and my siblings would attend an SDA church with our grandmother when we visited for summers. What I remember most is that we weren't permitted to watch television from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday and going to church on Saturday for hours on end while other kids watched cartoons and played in the streets. Why? My mother was a Jehovah's Witness for a few years when we were very little. I recall suddenly not being allowed to celebrate birthdays or holidays anymore and having to give up certain toys that were deemed devilish by the elders. Why? Life in the Kingdom Hall was particularly hard for a six-year-old who was already dealing with her parents' divorce. So my first memories of religion was that it equated to a lot of rules, rigid regimens, and restrictions. By the time I entered high school, I had enough of "church." Friends would invite me to their place of worship in hopes that they could save my soul from certain damnation. I would go, but always left feeling unsatisfied. I began seeking out spirituality in other forms and wrote my senior paper on Transcendentalism. My English teacher gave me a copy of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Celestine Prophecy</span> and my suspicions of organized religion was intensified. In college I decided to give church another try when I started dating my future husband who was raised Catholic. We started attending service at a Methodist church where I first learned about grace and free will. I liked these tenets. We married in a Methodist church and were members for many years. Then my foundation was shattered over a dispute between the outgoing pastor and the church board over leasing the annex to a gay youth organization. When we moved to Dallas last summer we visited several churches, but I need more than scripture readings and singing hymns on a Sunday morning. I want open dialogue and community engagement. I also want to raise our daughter (and any future siblings) in a spiritual home, but I don't want our child(ren) growing up resenting religion like I did. I had almost given up when we were referred to a small, non-demonitional church that met at the recreation center in our neighborhood. Church in the Cliff is casual, welcoming, progressive, and interactive. On the Sunday we visited, the message and discussion was about body prayer. We actually practiced yoga-inspired prayer! Yesterday we attended Wednesday dinner at member's home where we fellowshiped over Ethiopian peasant food and talked about fasting using Jesus' 40-day lent in the desert after he was baptized as a central theme. When the time came to go home, I was making mental notes for Sunday's service. Damon and I talked all the way home about the topic. Isn't that how "church" should inspire its congregants? I have a good feeling that we are home. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-17664986502807836542009-07-05T02:00:00.000-05:002009-07-08T11:12:17.165-05:00Project Nursey: The Big Reveal and How We Did it on a Budget<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfdrZ70dXlX2vbyDIH-gRyp2KdlPzJCYB5HuBGuLYPArjCH4pIGnxI5MDSVRDH9yMt3zhdKwH0yuNd0tdHLcERoUynIS1xnySzBzQAL_6CTgcs4OoscdhHweZeZjTnDVXYjoPKgQ_V4E/s1600-h/nurserycomplete1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfdrZ70dXlX2vbyDIH-gRyp2KdlPzJCYB5HuBGuLYPArjCH4pIGnxI5MDSVRDH9yMt3zhdKwH0yuNd0tdHLcERoUynIS1xnySzBzQAL_6CTgcs4OoscdhHweZeZjTnDVXYjoPKgQ_V4E/s200/nurserycomplete1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354825870898908434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1F310aqoJ7C4j4qV41vRMd3UMbpjxSCSw96PmTWZq7PxV54-CaWl7cifhWDarUN1bs1VszV6fn2nfgkNd3v11xiKi8Ac7AU_73FvhuBmHff9KWl-bx-r94ZPpOmelUsPlDtcbxZloXw/s1600-h/nurserycomplete2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1F310aqoJ7C4j4qV41vRMd3UMbpjxSCSw96PmTWZq7PxV54-CaWl7cifhWDarUN1bs1VszV6fn2nfgkNd3v11xiKi8Ac7AU_73FvhuBmHff9KWl-bx-r94ZPpOmelUsPlDtcbxZloXw/s200/nurserycomplete2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354825877005590706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Take a look at our baby girl's nursery! We are even more proud of it because we did it ourselves (and with the help of family and friends). Do you want to guess how much it cost to decorate this entire room? If you are thinking around $1500+, try again. Our outlay (excluding the crib and glider, which were gifts) is in the $500 ballpark. Our nursery just looks expensive, but anyone can design a nursery like this on a budget. Ironically, the biggest hurdle is resisting the urge to spend. This being my first pregnancy, I wanted everything to be brand new, designer, and top-of-the-line. Then I came to my senses, realized that the baby does not care if she is sleeping in a $1,000 crib, and that our family would be better off putting that money in a trust fund. Besides, who can really afford to splurge in this recession? Here are my nursery-on-a-budget tips:</span><br /></span><ul style="font-family:verdana;"><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Step away from baby stores or go with a list and stick to it. Any product that is labeled as a baby item is priced at 500% markup (a bit exaggerated, but it seems that way to me). That $75 everything-but-the-kitchen-sink diaper bag? You can find an equally practical tote or "un"diaper bag for $25 or less. That $40 must-have diaper pail? You can get a similar 5-10-gallon garbage pail for $15. Another reason not to go to the baby store is that you wind up buying a lot of things you don't need. Those places are designed to tug on your emotional heartstrings as an expectant parent and get you to buy, buy, buy! Think...does baby really need a wipe warmer? Skip the hoopla and save your dollars to buy diapers. There is no skimping on these!</span></li></ul><ul style="font-family:verdana;"><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Shop at discount stores and outlets. Tuesday Morning carries closeout nursery bedding, plus lots of other baby items like blankets and layette sets. Sign up for their eTreasures newsletter to get first dibs on special offers, new arrivals and markdowns. Big Lots, Ross, TJ Maxx and Marshall's are my favorite stores for great deals on decor items like rugs, pillows, lamps, and picture frames as well as baby clothes and toys. Instead of purchasing a nursery collection with matching accessories, which can cost you upwards of $500 or more, pick a few colors or a theme (like underwater or shabby chic) and search for decor pieces that work. I like Target and Wal-Mart as much as the next gal, but you will always find me in the clearance racks. I purchased the shag rug in our nursery for 50% off at Target. You will be surprised at how much more flexibility and value you get when you bargain hunt.<br /></span></li></ul><ul style="font-family:verdana;"><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Go for second-hand. There are big savings in buying gently used items and even items that someone bought, but never used. Craigslist was my go-to web site for finding baby stuff for sale. I once saw a post for a brand new crib and dresser set for $100 that had only been used for display in a model home, but it was snapped up quickly. Lesson: you have to be vigilant and act fast. I also checked my local thrift stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army. Hand-me-downs are also nice if you can get them. Someone in your family or community might have baby furniture they can pass down to you. We got a custom-built dresser/changer that was offered for free on our neighborhood parents' email list that we painted to match. Freecycle is a good place to look for baby goods that people are giving away. You can also post items that you want. Remember to check the <a href="http://www.recalls.gov/cpsc.html">national recall list</a> before you buy or accept a second-hand item like furniture, toys, gear, or clothing. Then inspect the item for damage. Don't be afraid to politely decline an offer if you think it's unsafe to use with your baby.<br /></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">D.I.Y. A little elbow grease can save you big bucks. It takes time, but the feeling that you get from doing it yourself is priceless. If you can sew, knit or quilt, why not make your own bedding, blankets, curtains and pillows? Those wooden hanging letters that cost $15-25 each at baby stores can be found unfinished at a craft store for around $2.50 per letter and then painted. We did this and think it looks better than store-bought! The same goes for painting the nursery. Throw a painting party and invite a few family and close friends over to help you. Murals are very popular right now, but artists charge anywhere from a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars. There are several online companies that sell mural kits that come with stencils or transfers that make it easy for you to do it yourself. The mural in our nursery is the Splendid Garden theme available for $100 from <a href="http://www.mywonderfulwalls.com/index.html">My Wonderful Walls</a> (disclosure: I won a gift certificate toward the purchase of the kit from the blog, </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >3 P's in a Pod</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">). We couldn't be happier with the results! Wall stickers and decals are another inexpensive way to produce the desired effect on your nursery walls.<br /></span></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Re-purpose.This may be a little harder to imagine doing, but here is an example. For ten years, we lived in a 750 sq. ft. loft that had no closets, so we bought two armoires. Last year we purchased a </span></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">2500 sq ft. </span></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">house and brought our meager furnishings with us. Our new house has closets (lots of closets), but we kept the armoires anyway. We are now using one in the nursery in lieu of buying a new dresser. So, go rummage in your attic, basement, or garage. You might find a forgotten rocking chair or </span></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">nightstand </span></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">that can be painted or re-stained or a floor lamp that fits perfectly to go in your nursery!</span></span></li></ul><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Have fun designing your nursery and don't break the bank!<br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-72126337632246995902009-06-29T02:43:00.001-05:002009-07-01T16:37:10.543-05:00My Week<div> </div><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Teresha: It's hump day and I am already exhausted and looking forward to the long 4th of July weekend. It's hella *HOT* in Texas so I will be avoiding the outdoors and just relaxing because I have done so much this week (overdoing it is more like it):</span><br /></span><ul><li style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:78%;">I hosted a cloth diaper show at the house on Sunday. I made one sale...just confirmation that I am not a good salesperson. However, I am working on scheduling one at hubby's company for their employees and letting Kristi Rooks, the owner of <a href="http://hip-green-baby.com">Hip Green Baby</a> do the product presentation. Kristi has a wonderful selection of products and a wealth of knowledge to share. Visit her site and see for yourself!<br /></span></li><li style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:78%;">I had a guest post published at <a href="http://www.gograhamgo.com/2009/06/make-something-monday-cure-summer.html">Go Graham Go!</a> on Monday. Check it out!</span></li><li style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Still mourning MJ. He was the icon of my generation. I can't believe he is gone. Enough has been said about his personal decline over the last 15 years, the circumstances surrounding his death, and the fallout over his kids and estate. I just want to add that his musical legacy is unmatched and untouchable, and I hope he is resting in peace.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have been slow to accept the physical limitations of my final stage of pregnancy. I have been trying to do too much and suffering the repurcussions (back pain, insomnia, Braxton-Hicks contractions). So I made a decision to take it easy and not view this as a sign of weakness (Superwoman is temporarily hanging up her cape). I had a pedicure today at The Spa at Whole Foods. I have been sleeping on this gem of a service at one of my favorite places. A couple of neighbors clued me in. It was heaven and all natural...no harsh fumes or chemicals in any of the products. Tomorrow I get my hair done. yipee! </span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We've been experiencing some problems with one of the midwives at our birthing center. She has a prickly personality and it was rubbing me the wrong way. I strongly considered transferring to another facility (even took a tour at one in another city in the Mteroplex). I have been guilty in the past of avoiding confrontation with people who remind me of someone from my past-who shall remain nameless. I want to break free of this habit, so using the tools from The Secret and Birthing from Within, I brought the issue to the attention of the head midwife. In summation, she did a bit of mediation. We had a good visit at our appointment today and I am optimistic that we are going to have a positive experience from here on out. </span></span></li></ul><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Okay people, I've recapped my week as a way of letting you know that I am emotionally drained and tired. So, I am going to be scarce over the next few days on self-imposed exile from blogging, emailing, Facebooking and general web surfing. I'll see you rejuvenated and refreshed on Sunday!<br /></span></span><div><a href="http://www.gograhamgo.com/2009/06/make-something-monday-cure-summer.html"><br /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-39157229884319655722009-06-28T08:57:00.001-05:002009-06-29T02:48:03.210-05:00Just When I Want to Kill Him...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdMy04LTPlc1qlYrPytFKR7IWg9Ky0il4sMAx747gynsvyZCSgiYzpAOfYPv8K9Sc7f6P_r3hqz8JMOFft4b_uAeHApFZK6rSCqAwvs8vusM6-5m91Ia0FGd_U8M5uBJgXjdkwHDdqU4/s1600-h/damonbreakfast.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352386611161672002" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdMy04LTPlc1qlYrPytFKR7IWg9Ky0il4sMAx747gynsvyZCSgiYzpAOfYPv8K9Sc7f6P_r3hqz8JMOFft4b_uAeHApFZK6rSCqAwvs8vusM6-5m91Ia0FGd_U8M5uBJgXjdkwHDdqU4/s200/damonbreakfast.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;">Teresha: Since becoming an involuntary homemaker (more on that later), I have developed a fixation with crime shows. Not the fictional TV dramas like <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Law and Order</span> although I am known to watch SVU from time to time. I am talking about real-life criminal case shows like <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">48 hours Hard Evidence</span> and <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Captured</span>, the ones that recount the crimes of murderers, rapists, and gangsters. My favorite is <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Snapped</span> on the Oxygen network. This TV show tells the stories of women who kill...usually their husbands. My husband hates that I watch this program. He thinks I am getting tips on how to get away with murdering him. He has warned me that he told all his friends to suspect me if he dies suspiciously. I admit that I have learned from the mistakes that the wives on <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Snapped</span> have made--like never use your cell phone when you are disposing of the body. The police can put you at the scene based on your phone signal pinging of cell towers in the area. Now don't go thinking that I am plotting my husband's demise. Far from it. But there are days that I do want to just kill him (FIGURATIVELY). Like this morning when I am preparing for a luncheon at our house this afternoon and there is no space in the fridge to put the platter of crackers or fruit salad because he has all these containers of leftovers that need to be thrown out and packages of fresh meat that need to be wrapped and put in the freezer EVERYWHERE!!! I am asking him to clean out the stuff so I can get the food for my guests ready and he tells me to stop bossing him around! Excuse me, but do you not know me?! Fast forward an hour later. He cleans out the fridge and makes me breakfast, but just not any breakfast. He has made a veggie omelet placed neatly inside whole wheat toast cut in the shape of a house with a side of butter shaped like the sun! I am touched...deeply. I make him go get the camera to capture this unbelievably loving gesture, and so I have proof that he is not always a butt-munch. He gets to live another day. I love you hubby!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-13814051430140476782009-06-21T09:28:00.000-05:002009-06-22T13:35:00.978-05:00Pregnancy Confessions<div><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Teresha: When people ask me, "how's the pregnancy going?" I am quick to extol the virtues of carrying a new life. I usually respond by saying that I would have done it sooner had I known it would be this easy. This is mostly the truth. I have little to complain about...I had no real morning sickness, no disgusting food cravings, no heartburn, no stretch marks so far. But I do have my off days, so I am coming clean about the dark side of pregnancy:</span><br /><ul><li><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Some days being pregnant makes me miserable, especially now that the weight of the baby is straining my petite frame. </span></li><li><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >I don't care if I ever have sex again.</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Paradoxically, I am horny all the time, but usually can't muster the energy to do anything about it.</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >I stopped shaving my legs (and other areas of my body) at 26 weeks.</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >I don't always eat healthy. Sometimes I prefer a bowl of cereal to a well-balanced, homemade meal.</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >I have reached the point where I just spot clean the bathrooms</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >I resent the fact that my husband can do things I no longer can like lay on his stomach, bend over, see his toes, walk fast, climb the stairs without gasping for air, and drink alcohol. </span></li><li><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >I relish the fact that I have this amazing bond with the life growing inside me, get to feel her every movement and response to my voice, and he doesn't! </span></li><li><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Being pregnant is one thing...baby girl Petite is safe and snug inside me, and I have to do very little to except take vitamins, eat right, exercise, go to appointments, and get plenty of rest. I am petrified about the life changes that parenthood will bring.<br /></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ></span></li></ul><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Whew! It feels good to get that off my chest! So, what's your pregnancy confession? Spill it, sister!</span><br /><p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Damon: I don't think there really is a "dark side" of pregnancy for guys. And even if there was one - I think my wife would kill me for putting any of it down in writing: ) To tell you the truth, the pregnancy has been somewhat uneventful for me. Don't get me wrong, I can't wait for baby Petite to get here, but right now it's just a waiting game. </span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >So, instead I have included a little cheat sheet below that I found on the internet for what expecting dads <strong><em>should </em></strong>be doing during the pregnancy. Um, I do each one to varying degrees - and I have about two months left to work on it!</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" ></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-style: italic;">List of Things To Do For The Expectant Father (Source: babycenter.com)</span><br /></span><ul style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><li><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pay attention</span></span><br /></li><li><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" >Be there</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" >Get healthier, too</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" >Love her changing body</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" >Go the extra mile</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" >Memorize the route to the hospital</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" >Be a a partner in labor</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" >Shop, talk and make lots of decisions together</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;" >Prepare for your new life as a family</span></li></ul></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-76492282684305009562009-06-17T13:43:00.000-05:002014-02-08T21:59:35.244-06:00I'm on a Hot Blue Winning Streak!<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 78%;">Teresha: So I discovered the mommy realm of the blogosphere only when I was expecting my first baby and started a blog for family and friends to get pregnancy updates. I started reading other mommy (and daddy) blogs to whittle away the hours because I was home all day (bad economy, no one hiring, ya know?). I became entertained by posts, educated by product reviews, and obsessed with giveaways! I want to share my prize bounty list because my cup overfloweth, and I want to support these vendors and mommy blogs:<br /><br />My first win:<br /><a href="http://www.miracleblanket.com/">Miracle Blanket</a> @ <a href="http://www.momstakeonthings.com/">Just a Mom's Take on Things</a><br /><br />Other recent wins:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 78%;">Two <a href="http://www.boobdesign.com/boob_eng.html">Boob</a> maternity dresses @ <a href="http://www.lifestarringellieandeve.com/">Life Starring the Kids and Me!</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 78%;">$100 <a href="http://www.mywonderfulwalls.com/">My Wonderful Walls</a> gift certificate @ <a href="http://www.3psinapod.com/">3 Ps in a Pod</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 78%;">$5 credit toward blog design @ <a href="http://customblogdesigns.blogspot.com/">Custom Blog Designs</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 78%;">One-year supply of <a href="http://www.ballparkfranks.com/">Ballpark Franks</a> and <a href="http://www.gomeat.com/">Hillshire Farm </a>products @ <a href="http://community.momlogic.com/">momlogic</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 78%;"><a href="http://www.bridgeross.com/dysfunctional.html">Dysfunctional Father's Guide to Pregnancy, Birth and Babies</a> @ <a href="http://www.abusymommy.com/">A Busy Mommy </a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 78%;">Melissa dress from <a href="http://www.picaflorkids.com/index.html">Picaflor Kids</a> @ <a href="http://www.myorganizedchaos.net/">My Organized Chaos</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 78%;">$25 Amazon gift certificate from <a href="http://www.got-free-ecards.com/">Got Free Cards</a> @ <a href="http://www.themombuzz.com/">the Mom Buzz</a></span></li>
<li style="color: black;"><span style="color: #ff6666; font-family: verdana; font-size: 78%;"><span style="color: black;">So Easy Baby Food Kit from </span><a href="http://freshbaby.com/" style="color: black;">Fresh Baby</a><span style="color: black;"> @</span> <a href="http://myfourmonkeysproductreviews.blogspot.com/">My Four Monkeys</a></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 78%;"> (new win!)</span></li>
<li style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 78%;">$50 gift certificate for Tiny*Prints </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 78%;">@ <a href="http://www.myorganizedchaos.net/">My Organized Chaos</a></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 78%;"> (new win!)</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pretty awesome, huh?! So, go enter some mommy blog contests, you gotta be in it to win it! </span></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have more blogs listed on my blog roll...<br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #009900; font-weight: bold;">UPDATE: People have been asking me how I've won so many times. Quantitatively, I haven't won a lot considering that I enter 1-3 giveaways every day. Statistically, I am in the bottom percentile. I do it for fun, so this doesn't bother me...it chases away the boredom, and I get to meet some cool mommy bloggers and learn about some great products. If I had to share one tip for winning, it would be to do the bonus entries and read this post by Victoria @ Life Starring the Kids and Me! </span><a href="http://www.lifestarringellieandeve.com/tips-and-tricks-for-entering-blog-giveways/" style="color: #009900; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Tips and Tricks for entering Blog Giveaways</span></a><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-89345318742793010992009-06-14T09:50:00.000-05:002009-06-14T10:13:54.622-05:00I'm Going to Some Parties! Join Me!<a href="http://tipjunkie.com/"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc10/TipJunkie/BirthdayBash_Post-5.png" source="blank" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tip Junkie is turning 2 years old and converting from a .blogspot to a Dot Com. In celebration of her anniversary, blogger (and fellow DFW resident) Laurie is hosting a birthday bash. For five days, she will be will be giving away 50 amazing prizes from June 15-19. Ten prize packages will be awarded each day during the Going Dot Com Birthday Bash. Go check it out! </span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://anticswithangie.com/"><img src="http://i582.photobucket.com/albums/ss269/anticswithangie/christmasinjulyswap.jpg" alt="CIJ Swap Button" width="125" height="125" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I love swaps! I have done several scrapbooking swaps and enjoyed picking, packing, and shipping gifts for my swap buddy as much I loved getting a package. Angies's Spot is hosting a Christmas in July Swap. I am so there! The first 50 participants or whoever signs up by June 24 are accepted. Don't miss your chance to get in on the fun!</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-9714807425042882372009-06-11T12:36:00.000-05:002009-06-11T14:52:18.139-05:00My First Blog Award!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5jMiSim-PIA06rGnHKJU9pGQeeZuWhhyphenhyphenpejhtMfBdfKXBOYIQ7rwrPtUPRhomwjCUldnk35JICQKflUdFI5IID192In_rFAhyphenhyphenNVyuIDXMkAn5HUnnm5SQ6_9tX_ya0BZ0Ti1m-u4RTU/s1600/OLBa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5jMiSim-PIA06rGnHKJU9pGQeeZuWhhyphenhyphenpejhtMfBdfKXBOYIQ7rwrPtUPRhomwjCUldnk35JICQKflUdFI5IID192In_rFAhyphenhyphenNVyuIDXMkAn5HUnnm5SQ6_9tX_ya0BZ0Ti1m-u4RTU/s1600/OLBa.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Teresha: This blog is a few months old and was initially intended for family and friends to get updates on our pregnancy. Then I met so many wonderful women bloggers sharing their lives, Superwoman secrets, product reviews and giveaways. I started to expand my writing so my blog can be like theirs when it grows up. Today I was tickled when Robbie at <a href="http://coachabby.blogspot.com/">A Spiritual Connection</a> selected me as a recipient of the <span style="font-style: italic;">One Lovely Blog Award</span>. Go visit her, leave some comment love, and feed her fishies. I am so honored to receive this recognition and support, especially from fellow Dallasite!<br />So, now I am passing the award to these bloggers I've recently discovered, listed in alphabetical order:</span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ><br /></span><ol style="text-align: left;font-family:verdana;"><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Akilah @ <a href="http://www.execumama.blogspot.com/">Execumama</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Brandy @ <a href="http://irishbabybump.blogspot.com/">Irish Baby Bump</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Cafe Mocha Momma @ <a href="http://cappuccinoconfessions.blogspot.com/">Capuccino Confessions</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Courtney @ <a href="http://theartis6.blogspot.com/">The Artis 6</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Dawn @ <a href="http://paintermommy.com/">Painter Mommy</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Denene @ <a href="http://mybrownbaby.blogspot.com/">MyBrownBaby</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Diana @ <a href="http://customblogdesigns.blogspot.com/">Custom Blog Designs by FreestyleMama</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Diane @ <a href="http://dkmommyspot.com/">dkMommy Spot<strong></strong></a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Dumb Mom @ <a href="http://parentingbydummies.blogspot.com/">Parenting BY Dummies</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Felicia @ <a href="http://www.gograhamgo.com/">Go Graham Go!</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Jeni @ <a href="http://www.abusymommy.com/">A Busy Mommy</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Lolli @ <a href="http://1momof5.blogspot.com/">Better in Bulk</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Paulette @ <a href="http://revelationsthatturnpages.blogspot.com/">Revelations that Turn Pages</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Shari @ <a href="http://www.apsychmommy.com/">A Psych Mommy</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:78%;">Stephanie @ <a href="http://apocketfullofbuttons.blogspot.com/">A Pocket Full of Buttons</a></span></li></ol> <span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" ></span><div style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:78%;">What next? Follow these rules and pay it forward: </span></div><div style="font-family:verdana;"> </div><div face="verdana"><span style="font-size:78%;">1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.</span></div><div style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:78%;">2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you have newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-23058321187045596332009-06-07T08:45:00.000-05:002009-06-08T09:26:57.696-05:009 Things You Should Never Say to or Do to a Pregnant Woman<span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Teresha: Pregnancy is one of those life events that bring out the best or worst in the people around you. Family and friends will be a mixed bag of reactions. Some will be appropriately supportive and some will annoy you with unsolicited advice, poorly-timed jokes, maternity health warnings they read about on the Internet, or plain rude remarks. Strangers will think they can invade your body buffer zone. I have faced the fact that being pregnant is a personal moment on public display, so people will think they are not out-of-bounds to get nosy and all up in your business. Etiquette should not go out the window when you see or talk to a pregnant woman, people! In case you forget your manners, here is a cheat sheet:<br /></span><ol><li><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Never ask her if she is pregnant unless it's absolutely obvious (like she will deliver at any moment). If she is, it's her news to tell, so don't ruin it or force her to lie. If she is just gaining weight, you will make her feel horrible. Either way, you are going to look like a heel. </span></li><li><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Never tell a pregnant woman that she has stretch marks, swollen feet, hemorrhoids, leg cramps, varicose veins, etc...to look forward to. It sounds like you are wishing these dreaded conditions on her and just because it happened to you, your wife, your sister or friend does not mean it will befall her.</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Never share tragic pregnancy or birth horror stories like, "my sister's-best friend's-cousin was 16 weeks pregnant when she miscarried" or "this woman at my job went into preterm labor due to an incompetent cervix." Are you trying to freak us out? If you don't have something nice to say, HOLD YOUR TONGUE!</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Never ask if she is having a boy or a girl or what the name is going to be. Offering to guess is even more of a no-no. If this information has not been volunteered already, then it's probably a secret.</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Never suggest baby names. Do you really think your opinion matters in something so intimate?</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Never pat or rub her belly without permission. Strangers, don't even ask!</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Never, ever look at a pregnant woman and exclaim, "Wow, you are huge! I know you're not going to push that big baby out." Pregnant women come in all shapes and sizes, which don't correlate to the weight of the baby.</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Never ask the private, personal details of her birth plan. If she tells you voluntarily, this is not an open invitation to give your "expert" opinion about how "epidurals are the best" or "too many women are having C-sections." There is no right or wrong way to have a baby-- it's a matter of choice to be discussed with her maternity care provider, and you aren't part of the decision-making.</span></li><li><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Never look at a pregnant woman coming down the aisle and not make room for her to pass or offer up your seat the front of the bus. Come on!</span></li></ol><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >On behalf of expectant mommies everywhere, I beseech you to think before you speak to us. I know you mean well, but we are already anxious as it is about having a healthy pregnancy plus emotional from the hormonal rollercoaster. We don't need you adding to the stress by making insensitive comments. What we need is positive affirmation! So, when you see me or call me or email me, just express well wishes or ask how I am doing/feeling. I will happily share some details with you.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Damon: On the subject of pregnant women and questions, it is very clear and simple. I always call upon the tactics used to keep the Clinton marriage intact - "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Again - very simple. You don't ask a pregnant woman anything. You definitely don't ask her - "are you pregnant?" Even if her water has broken and she is ready to pop, don't ask - I would first just assume that she has wet herself or maybe she's bloated from eating at that discount Chinese Buffet. I could go on, but why? Again, clear and simple - "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Trust me! </span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-67716024919318563972009-06-01T07:09:00.000-05:002009-06-08T06:57:34.339-05:00Pregnancy is a Process of Self-Discovery<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Teresha: I am a spiritual woman, but I am also a thinking woman. This duality has served me well as a human being. I can deal with any situation from a sensitive, yet logical approach. Well, almost any situation. Pregnancy has really thrown me for a loop. It has heightened all my feelings, which now clash when they used to complement each other. It was rough going until we started our childbirth classes recently. Our instructor Leigh Anne teaches <a href="http://www.birthingfromwithin.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Birthing from Within</span></a> along with the mechanics of birth outlined in the Bradley Method. <span style="font-style: italic;">Birthing from Within</span> focuses on the emotional journey of pregnancy, labor and birthing. We are exploring our anxieties about becoming new parents and learning techniques that will make birthing a positive experience for both of us. As you might have guessed, you have to be open with your feelings to be able to succeed at this. So, in our first class we discussed suppressed feelings, worries, and fears that might interfere with a smooth labor and delivery. Leigh Anne said stress can make the process of giving birth more difficult and painful. That's all I needed to hear to let the floodgates open and let down my guard. I talked openly about the rift between me and my mother. I expressed the hurt over her not being engaged in my pregnancy, not attending my baby shower in Miami, and not calling me on Mother's Day or my birthday. Tears started to form. Leigh Anne thanked me for being honest and assured me that we would work through it so that I could resolve the emotional pain. Afterward, Damon asked me to call my mother. I dug in my heels and said no (I am a Taurus and I do have my pride, darn it!). Later in the week, I was talking to Tene (of nursery painting fame) and asked her opinion. She agreed with Damon (they often gang up on me). I agreed to give it some thought, but God was not letting me off the hook. On Friday, I happened upon my horoscope on Yahoo! This is what it said, <span style="font-style: italic;">"Even though you love them dearly, your family is not totally in sync with you right now. Do not be surprised if you have a hard time communicating with them. Saying what you truly want may feel difficult, but is that a difficulty you are imposing on yourself? Today, come clean with what you are thinking and just speak from the heart. You may be surprised at how warmly you are received. Expect the best, and you will get it."</span> FREAKY! After consulting Damon and Tene, I finally submitted to the universe and called my mommy at work and asked her to call me when she got home. We talked for 2 1/2 hours that evening and I didn't have a meltdown! We both got a lot of junk off our chests, most of it just plain, ole' misunderstandings. I am happy to report that we are well on our way to mending our relationship. I am so loving<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span>this journey!</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-91196516633174809642009-05-25T13:00:00.000-05:002009-06-08T06:58:05.046-05:00Yikes! I've Reached the Nesting Phase<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Teresha: It's happened. That maniac stage of pregnancy where expectant mothers develop a sudden urge to clean, organize, and plan everything down to the last detail. I thought I had another month before the madness set in. I am barely 7 months and I am already feeling the need to get everything done...like right now! It started innocently this weekend with shopping for baby gear. Babies R Us had a huge Memorial Day weekend sale. Armed with a 15% off coupon and a gift card from a friend, I was ready to hunt for a car seat. I swear I did not plan to have my husband drive 80 miles in one day to procure said car seat, but the one we wanted was not available at the first store. So, we had to drive to another location 30 miles away to get our hands on it. I am sure DH would have preferred to wait until the next sale, but I already had a mental checklist going and was not about to procrastinate. You want to know what else I did this weekend during my period of hyperactivity? I bullied the DH into spring cleaning on Saturday. We had our first childbirth education class on Sunday evening. Friends came over on Monday for BBQ and to paint a mural in the nursery. My husband is dead tired, and I'm just getting started ladies and gentleman! Next, I am going to see a pediatric chiropractor to get adjusted, shop for the rest of the nursery furniture, and schedule appointments to interview prospective pediatricians. Oh, and that's just this upcoming week. As long as I have the energy and motivation, I am going to complete as many tasks as possible because, once Miss M is here, I know I won't be up for anything except feedings and diaper changes. </span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600167110609880006.post-13991763237534002972009-05-19T22:14:00.001-05:002009-05-23T06:14:23.749-05:00Shower Me with Love, Cake, and Gifts!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDm-ibeT8HTVzwgLvQGl-ycaVXGB_0lSMHAajpToDaHGZ640n-3tOB12dlNUZ2T6dhAUpqyaG3Ax3ME9jwPWNiTo5k-9SRGSC15Q4-y-HqBkPOcJGaoAlQnqUgm8l7ST9tltpYJs1tte8/s1600-h/ATLbabyshower_Marliesparents.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDm-ibeT8HTVzwgLvQGl-ycaVXGB_0lSMHAajpToDaHGZ640n-3tOB12dlNUZ2T6dhAUpqyaG3Ax3ME9jwPWNiTo5k-9SRGSC15Q4-y-HqBkPOcJGaoAlQnqUgm8l7ST9tltpYJs1tte8/s200/ATLbabyshower_Marliesparents.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337739475144871410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Teresha: Damon has been complaining that my posts are too long. So in the spirit of compromise, I will keep this short and sweet. We had a wonderful time this past weekend at our co-ed baby shower in Atlanta. It was one part reunion and one part baby shower, full of celebration and nostalgia. The hardest part of this pregnancy has been being in a new city away from all my family and friends. It was rejuvenating to be surrounded by people "who knew us when" and to share this special moment with them. We hadn't seen most of them in nearly a year. Everyone was so excited about our first baby and it showed in their video messages (which can be viewed on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=519549568&ref=profile">Facebook</a> page) and thoughtful cards and gifts. I felt so loved! I was also geeked to have my two favorite cakes...<a href="http://www.myspace.com/chefhaynes">Chef Haynes</a>' famous strawberry cake and a carrot cake with whipped, cream cheese frosting from <a href="http://www.mattycakes.com">Matty Cakes</a>. Special thanks to the Ruffins who opened their <a href="http://ngartscenter.org">Neighborhood Gallery Arts Center</a> for the event and to the planning committee...Bonita, Charnae, Gwen, Lauren, Tameyer, and Tene. I love you ladies! </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;" >Damon: It was nice seeing friends and being back in Atlanta. Oh…life was soooooo simple then. The Atlanta shower was the second one I have attended. While I had a good time at the Atlanta shower, I don’t think that baby showers were meant to be co-ed. Guys don’t write poems about other guys and we really don’t like playing party games – unless they involve drinking. Our friend Tene was nice enough to let us stay with her – thanks Tene! We got to go to our FAVORITE pizza place in the world – Mama Rosa’s in downtown Atlanta. So, all in all it was a great trip. So officially our little bun has visited Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia. That is a good amount of travel to be only seven months old!</span></span> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:78%;" ><span style="display: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com0