oh darling, don't you ever grow up don't you ever grow up, just stay this little oh darling, don't you ever grow up don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple

It's now Week 30, only 10 to go! At least, only 10 until the due date, who knows when Baby S. is going to make his debut, lol. In eight days, I have my [hopefully] last ultrasound this pregnancy. My doctor wants this u/s as a follow-up to the anatomy scan that I had in October. Thursday, we find out if Baby S.'s kidneys have done what they're supposed to do. If not, then I'm guessing we either have another u/s or we just wait until he's born?

Christmas was crazy this year. I don't recommend traveling anywhere while 29 weeks pregnant. A long car ride, even with frequent stops, is no fun. Neither is sleeping somewhere other than your own bed. But, seeing our families was nice. So it kind of made up for the uncomfy car trips. :)

Just a short update this week. Either, I'll do another post later this week about Christmas and family visits...or not at all. It all depends on what I can get done around the house.

it came upon a midnight clear that glorious song of old from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold

I originally posted this on Christmas day in 2008. But I like it and wanted to share it again this year. I hope all of my readers are enjoying their holiday season and having a wonderful time!


Merry Christmas, My Friend
by LCpl James M Schmidt, USMC, 1986

‘Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone. I had come down the chimney, with presents to give and to see just who in this home did live. As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see: no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree. No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand. On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land. With medals and badges, awards of all kind, a sobering thought soon came to my mind. For this house was different, unlike any I'd seen. This was the home of a U.S. Marine. I'd heard stories about them, I had to see more, so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door. And there he lay sleeping; silent, alone, curled up on the floor in his one bedroom home. He seemed so gentle, his face so serene, not how I pictured a U.S. Marine. Was this the hero, of whom I’d just read? Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan. I soon understood, this was more than a man. For I realized the families that I saw that night, owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight. Soon around the nation, the children would play and grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day. They all enjoyed freedom each month and all year because of Marines like this one lying here. I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home. Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye. I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.

He must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice, "Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more. My life is my God, my country, my Corps."

With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep. I couldn't control it, I continued to weep. I watched him for hours, so silent and still. I noticed he shivered from the cold night's chill. So I took off my jacket, the one made of red and covered this Marine from his toes to his head. Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold. And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride, and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside.

I didn't want to leave him so quiet in the night, this guardian of honor so willing to fight. But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure, said "Carry on, Santa, it's Christmas Day, all secure."

One look at my watch and I knew he was right, Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.

'cause I gotta tell the world what you mean to me wrap you up in a melody so you'll be stuck in my head all day 'cause you're already there anyway, yes you are

Yay! We've made it to Week 29! At least, according to the EDD I got at my first appointment back in July, it's Week 29. Who knows how much longer March 07, 2012 is going to be my due date?

At my last appointment on December 15^th, my doctor measured my fundal height for the first time and it was approximately 13". Doesn't sound so bad when it's in inches, does it? On average, women measure at 1cm for each week of pregnancy. Thirteen inches converts to 33.02cm. This means at 28 weeks, 1 day, I was measuring about the same size as the average woman who is 33 weeks pregnant! If I keep measuring that far ahead, she will order an ultrasound to verify my due date and check his growth. When my doctor showed me the tape measure and said something about being large, I was tired enough that it went right over my head. I asked her, "Wasn't he measuring ahead at the ultrasound?"
To which she responded, "Not that big."
I didn't even catch it, lol. I was just like, oh, okay. My fiancé caught it, but didn't say anything because he knew I was cranky, hungry and wanted to go home. He just let it be until later in the day when it dawned on me that 13" is more than 30cm (I was doing the rough estimate using m knowledge that 12" ruler has 30cm on the other side). I guess, because my doctor was so nonchalant about the measurement, that it didn't occur to me to freak out, lol.

My last appointment was the one-hour glucose tolerance test. I never got a phone call about my results, so I took that as meaning a I passed. My doctor has said, that if we don't call you about test results, take that to mean good news. I was told that I'd be notified within two business days if my results were abnormal. So Monday, the 19^th, when the clock hit 6:00p, I did a little happy dance, lol. My nurse all but forced me to drink the nasty sugary solution. My appointment got rescheduled due to my doctor's schedule conflict. So my appointment was too late in the day to drink the solution. You have to have your blood drawn exactly one hour later for accurate results. One hour after I arrived would have been right in the middle of the lab's lunch hour. So my sullen child attitude had my nurse worried that I was going to refuse the test and she got one of the phlebotomists to bring up a drink and they had me drink it at 12:00p. Five minutes to drink the nastiest drink ever. I didn't have a choice, I was given the orange flavor. It tasted like pure sugar. Well, okay, orange flavored pure sugar. I hate anything that's really sweet. It made me nauseous, and I kind of think that if I hadn't been so determined to keep it down, I would have thrown up from it. You're given five minutes to get the whole drink down, and I took three minutes. I wanted to stop after the smell hit my nose (so before the first gulp, lol). It reminded me of Tang; I don't like Tang.

Because of the holidays, my next appointment is three weeks after the last. The next one will be two weeks later, though. It's getting so close to the day I get to meet my little one!! Both my fiancé and I are excited to meet him. We're both also hoping that my due date is wrong, he's not a giant baby and there's nothing wrong with him.

Christmas is in a few days. I won't be posting again until next week, when I post the weekly pregnancy update. I have lots of family stuff to do and a few last minute things to get ready for the holidays. I do have a Christmas post scheduled on Christmas day, so if you're interested in reading it, please come back and check it out! Otherwise, happy holidays!!

well this heart of mine has been hardened like a stone it might take some time to get back what is gone but I'm movin' on and you don't haunt my dreams like you did before oh when I would curse your name

My fiancé asked me to post a link on my blog. It's for a cash for surveys site:
http://www.cashcrate.com/3363559
The site is CashCrate. Basically, for any person to click on the link and sign up, he gets a referral bonus. If you do choose to sign up, it will ask you for your first and last name and your mailing address.

I signed up because he asked me to. Plus, I'm home all day and frequently bored. I figured, making a dollar a day wasn't a complete waste of time. I only click on the Videos tab because it will minimize the unwanted emails. I guess if you have a disposable email address for the sole purpose of using CashCrate, then the offers aren't horrible. I'm posting a screenshot so you have a better idea of what I'm talking about. Right-click on the image to view in another tab to enlarge it.

I joined on December 14^th, so you can see that it definitely takes time to build up money. But I guess if you're someone who only relies on CashCrate for an income and spend a lot of time doing the offers, surveys, etc. it might not take as long to reach the $20 minimum before they send you a check. And at the very least, you get $0.03 each day just for checking in and viewing an offer. You don't have to complete the offer for the daily $0.03 bonus.

*shrug* Like I said, it's something to do when I get bored and cleaning the house is already done.

oh, I don't wanna spend my life jaded waiting to wake up one day and find that I've let all these years go by wasted

It's the start of Week 28. Which means no matter how you choose to look at it, I am without a doubt in the third and final trimester now. :) I know that I said last week was the start, but that's when I considered it started. My doctor doesn't consider it started until this week, week 28.

Last week I mentioned that my one hour glucose tolerance test is this week, it's tomorrow. Hopefully I pass! I was told that within two days, I would be notified if there was a problem, but I don't know if two days means by Monday, or by Saturday. I plan on asking that tomorrow when I go in. Still not looking forward to the stupid test at all. The drink sounds nasty. The nurse for my doctor described it as a really sugary, really flat soda. Blech!!

My fiancé is really getting excited about the baby we're going to have soon. It's cute. ♥ In the past week, he's decided that our son-to-be is his little monkey and needs a monkey themed room. Which so far is the bathroom in the second bedroom. We have a monkey face bath rug, monkey toothbrush holder, monkey soap dispenser and monkey towels. He plans on getting the trash can, tumbler, shower curtain and shower hooks to match. I'm not sure if he plans on getting anymore towels or if one hand towel and one bath towel is enough. I just realized that the blue paint we picked out for Baby S.'s nursery is super close to the blue of the monkey towels! When we picked paint, there was no thought of a monkey theme anywhere, lol.

Oh, and last night we went into Walmart for coffee creamer and milk. We came out with a large stuffed monkey, lol. Don't worry, we also got the coffee creamer (two flavors), a gallon of milk and 5-piece bakeware set. I needed a bread/loaf pan so I can make banana bread. And even though we did not buy a super, high quality pan, it doesn't bother me. I plan on using it once every few months or so, I didn't need the best available. I just wanted something not aluminum foil with a clear plastic lid, lol.

I think from now on, I'll be referring to Baby S. as Baby Pages. His initials are P.G.S. and pgs. is the abbreviation for pages. We didn't do it on purpose, it just worked out that way. So when I think about him, I think of his as Baby Pages.

but Mama I'm in love with a criminal and this type of love isn't rational, it's physical Mama please don't cry, I will be alright all reason aside I just can't deny, I love the guy

Woo! Made it to the third trimester! Week 27 starts today, is also the start of the third trimester and means there are exactly three months left until the due date! Next week I have another appointment. This time I'll have the one-hour glucose tolerance test, I hope that I don't have gestational diabetes. This appointment was three weeks after the last one, but starting with my next prenatal appointment, it switches to every two weeks. And then I'm guessing, starting with Week 36 my appointments will switch to every week until Baby S. is born.

On Friday (12/02), my fiancé and I went on our monthly grocery shopping trip. My budget for the month is $200, but I try to keep the big trip on the first or second of the month to under $175 so that there is some money left over for little things that we might need later. Like milk - we go through so much milk. I'll be happy when I'm no longer pregnant and my lactose intolerance comes back, lol. And yay me! I kept it under $140 and that was with buying stuff that was not on the original grocery list, lol. But anyway, we went grocery shopping on Friday and in Walmart, my fiancé was standing behind me and placed his hands on my belly while I waited for some people to go by so that I could push the cart into the aisle I wanted, and a guy about the age of my parents walked by and said, "it's a boy!" We laughed, because it was kind of funny since he was right. And then at Giant Eagle a little later in the day, the girl doing the wine samples offered me one. Umm, hello? I definitely look pregnant now, no longer fat. I just politely told her, "no thank you." It's possible that when my coat is zipped up, as it was when she asked about a sample, I just look chubby. So I brushed off her silly offer. :)

Then on Saturday (12/03), we got together with some friends. And I got to play with their little boy. He's 18 months old and adorable!! After he went to bed, the adults played Carnival Games for the Kinect. It was fun, even if I didn't actually play. But the boys had fun. The weekend before, we'd all played Mario Party 8 on the Wii. Apparently, it's going to video game night every weekend, lol.

Last week, I mentioned the belly shots. I think I'm going to wait until the end and make a slideshow of the progression. But if you're really interested in seeing the growth of my belly, you can always check out the photos on facebook. Those are bi-weekly shots starting with week 20.

if you go hard you gotta get on the floor if you're a party freak then step on the floor if you're an animal then tear up the floor

It's the start of Week 26. Time is flying by - as long as I only think about what week I am in, not how much time is left until March.

Tomorrow is the first of the month, so that means grocery shopping for the month. I hate grocery shopping, and I'm starting to hate it even more while pregnant. I'm slow moving and too much walking around hurts my stomach. Of course, once I stop moving and take a break the pain pretty much goes away. So for that reason, I guess I can't complain too much. Because I don't want to have to grocery shop more than once, our meals for the entire month are planned out before I go grocery shopping. I only buy what we need to make those meals (and work lunches for my fiancé). If there's still money left in the budget after that, we get the snack stuff. And so that I don't get bored and want to go out to eat all the time, I try to make a variety of meals that includes both staples that I know we like and a 3-4 new meals that we haven't tried before. Plus, a lot of times, I end up making a meal that is way too big for us, but I can then portion it into another meal (or two) that can be frozen for up to three months. That means one less day to cook in the future!

::sigh:: The preceding paragraph makes me feel like someone's mom, lol. Not the 20something I am. Oh, well...I guess technically, I'm already someone's mom and being budget friendly isn't the worst thing in the world.

Last week, for Thanksgiving, we went to visit my family in Michigan. Also, because it was decided that we should cut costs and go down to one vehicle, we "gave" my car to my 16 year old brother. He does have to pay for it, but not too much because before too long he's going to need to replace the tires with new ones. But it has brand new brakes on it and my fiancé did an oil change recently, too. So it's not like we took it up to MI for him in crappy condition. Clean, maintained and in pretty decent (maybe even good) working order. I don't actually know about the working condition of my Cavalier because I haven't driven it since October 15^th. I drove the S10 to MI for our Thanksgiving visit. Let me just say, I still hate driving anything bigger than a small car, lol.

And sorry, there still isn't a baby bump picture this week. While we have taken the pictures each week, they're still not on my computer, so I can't upload them. Maybe once they're on my computer, I'll make a post that includes the missing weeks. Or maybe side-by-side progression from Week 14 to whatever week I'm in when I get around to that post, lol.

now I'm in the fast lane going 98 by now I know she can smooth operate me I know now she's no goody two shoes but hey I got myself nothin' to lose

Day 30: Best song you've been introduced to on this challenge
I haven't been introduced to any new [to me] songs on this challenge. So...I'm just going to pick a song I like. It's currently the one playing on Pandora. :)

well you know everything's gonna be a breeze that the end will no doubt justify the means you could fix any problem at the slightest ease yes, please...

Day 29: Favourite TV theme song.
The Wizards of Waverly Place theme song is catchy and I like it. And y'know, I'm a dork and like the tv show, too. :)

I'm a Barbie girl, in the Barbie world life in plastic, it's fantastic!

Day 28: A song that can be thought of as cheesy
Umm...no clue. Isn't that a very subjective adjective? Anyway, my choice is...

Guess this means you're sorry You're standing at my door Guess this means you take back All you said before Like how much you wanted Anyone but me Said you'd never come back But here you are again

Day 27: A song you play when getting ready for work
Umm...I'm an unemployed mother-to-be. I don't get ready for work and haven't in six months at this time (I'm counting getting ready for school). But usually there was no specific song, just whatever was on the radio as I was getting ready.

but you gave away the things you loved and one of them was me I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee clouds in my coffee, and...

Day 26: A song your parents played when you were a kid that you liked
I don't really remember anything specific that my parents played because I have very similar tastes in music to my mother, so she's almost always had a radio station playing that I would pick out as well (plus, the rule in her car was that the kid in the front seat got to pick the radio station). My dad, the same thing, I have very similar musical tastes to him. So...that really only leaves my step parents. My stepdad, while I think he plays "old man" music, I like a lot of the stuff played on his favorite radio station (one of the classic rock stations). My [former] stepmom would mostly play crap that I don't like. ::shrug:: So...I guess she's my best option for this challenge. I'll go with this song...

it's been a long time since I rock and rolled, it's been a long time since I did the stroll ooh, let me get it back, let me get it back, let me get it back, baby, where I come from

Day 25: Song from an artist/band you'd like to turn your kids on to
Woo! I'm actually going to have a kid to fulfill this challenge, lol. But honestly, I have no idea what kind of music I want my son to like. I just know, I don't want him to like something too horrendous. I can tolerate a lot of different music, but some I just can't. So...I think a band that I want him to like is...

I can make your bed rock I can make your bed rock girl Kane is in the building nigga I can make your bed rock I can make your bed rock

Day 24: Memorable song from a vacation
Well...I guess it's a good thing that the only vacations that are coming to mind are ones that I went on with my fiancé. Too bad I can't remember any of the music listened to, just the fun. Oh! Wait, I just remembered a song. I don't like this song, but I don't dislike it either. I just remember us finding it funny that the radio stations in Northern Michigan were playing the song with how heavily they edited it, lol.

don’t ever laugh when a hearse goes by you just might be the next to die they’ll wrap you in a big white sheet from your head down to your feet

Day 23: Great song for a Halloween party
Okay, so this challenge day is a little late seeing how Halloween was nearly a month ago. But I couldn't stand to listen to Christmas music (challenge days 15 and 16) before Halloween. It's bad enough that stores, radio, etc. feel the need to play Christmas music starting November 1^st.
But anyway, best Halloween song is this one. Creepy, yet campy.

I can't take it, take it, take no more never felt like, felt like this before come on get me, get me on the floor DJ what you, what you waiting for?

Not much has changed since Week 24, but it's now Week 25. I had my monthly prenatal check-up yesterday and tomorrow is Thanksgiving.

At yesterday's appointment, we heard Baby S.'s heartbeat. It sounded like normal. I learned that in three weeks I will have my glucose tolerance test. Here's hoping I pass it! And then after that, every two weeks. Depending on when that appointment is scheduled, we will get to see our baby on the ultrasound just before 2011 ends or just after 2012 begins. :)

A couple of days ago, our cat Socks ran into the laundry room (he's not supposed to be in there) and I swear that kitten knows that I'm not able to bend down as well to pick him up. He ran into the corner, between the wall and the washer, behind the broom and crouched as low to the ground as he could. I was like, 'really? you little turd.' Lol, but of course, as soon as I picked him up, he started purring. The only reason he's no longer allowed in the laundry room is that he likes to bunch up the rug and make it all but impossible to open the garage door. So for our safety when trying to come back in the house, he's no longer allowed in there.

and I'm gonna keep on lovin' you 'cause it's the only thing I wanna do I don't wanna sleep I just wanna keep on lovin' you

Day 22: Favourite song from a movie
Hmm...I have quite a few soundtracks, but when I think of movie songs my mind automatically goes to Disney movies, lol. But after thinking about this for a few minutes, I realized that my favorite movie song is probably from the the movie Drive Me Crazy (1999). While it's not my favorite song from the group, it is a song I like a lot. Or at least, it's my favorite at the moment. :)

well I'm going home, back to the place where I belong, and where your love has always been enough for me I'm not running from

Just having a little bit of homesickness and using humor to get over it. One of my facebook friends posted this and it made me laugh. :)

Michigan, according to Jeff Foxworthy:

.:. If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you may live in Michigan.
.:. If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't even work there, you may live in Michigan.
.:. If you've worn shorts and a jacket at the same time, you may live in Michigan.
.:. If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in Michigan.
.:. If "vacation" means going anywhere North of Grand Rapids for the weekend, you may live in Michigan.
.:. If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Michigan.
.:. If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in Michigan.
.:. If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' in the same day and back again, you may live in Michigan.
.:. If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you may live in Michigan.
.:. If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both doors unlocked, you may live in Michigan.
.:. If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you may live in Michigan.
.:. If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you may live in Michigan.
.:. If the speed limit on the highway is 70 mph -you're going 80 and everybody is passing you, you may live in Michigan.
.:. If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you may live in Michigan.
.:. If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction, you may live in Michigan.
.:. If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you may live in Michigan.
.:. If you find 10 degrees "a little chilly", you may live in Michigan.
.:. If you actually understand these jokes, repost this so all of your Michigan friends and others can see, you definitely do live - or have lived - in Michigan

not long ago you found the answers were so crystal clear within a day you find yourself living in constant fear can you look at yourself now can you look at yourself you can't win this fight

Day 21: Favourite song from a genre you don't usually listen to
Most often, I listen to Pop (e.g., Britney Spears, Katy Perry, etc.) and Country (e.g., Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum, etc.). So even though I like other genres equally well, I listen to the Britney Spears and Carrie Underwood stations on my Pandora account the most often. I'm using that as an excuse choose my favorite Rock song. :)

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it this brokenness inside me might start healing out here it's like I'm someone else, I thought that maybe I could find myself if I could just come in I swear I'll leave won't take nothing but a memory from the house that built me

Day 20: A song that perfectly matches the video
I don't really watch music videos. So this is hard one. I had to think about it and watch a lot of music videos. Took me a couple days to complete this challenge day (yes, that means most posts were done long before the date posted). After spending almost an hour the second day, I finally gave up and just went with a video that followed the lyrics pretty well.