Just call me Grandma

You know you are too much like your 87 year old Grandmother when one day of fun activity has you laid out at home for the next few days from pure exhaustion.

The highlight of our weekend was Saturday, hands down. Peapod and I had a fantastic visit with our friends Johnny and Christi and their adorable baby boy Max. Since they were in Blacksburg visiting his sisters at Virginia Tech, baby and I loaded up and headed to the Burg to see them. Even though it was a pretty dreary and chilly day, we walked around campus with the kids and enjoyed their company.

 Once it got a little too dreary, we headed back to their hotel and let the kids play together for a few hours. It was the moment that Christi and I had been waiting for for about 15 months! Max and Chey are only 8 weeks apart and they were the cutest play buddies. Chey was in awe of his crawling and constant moving... and all of his fantastic toys! They played footsies, Chey loved Max's hair, and Max wanted Chey's socks more than anything ;). Too cute these two.

Yes, we'll be adding that piano and stuffed musical dog to the list of toys that she NEEDS :). They were big hits. Finally putting those long piano fingers to use.

I am so glad we were able to visit with them. Thanks Christi and Johnny for coming down! Family vacas are definitely in our future. Chey misses Max already.

Look Who We Saw

BABY MAX!!!

Cheyanne's future play buddy. We finally got to meet this little stud over the weekend and let me tell you, he is precious! All of 11ish pounds and the spitting image of his daddy. It was a nice surprise that the Saia's were coming in town, despite the "destructive" hurricane Earl. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to see them until after Cheyanne's here. Which by the way, she is not yet. I think I might be pregnant for the rest of my life. At least its starting to feel that way. Maybe my long walk last night helped. OK, here's my last picture of me and Max. My cell phone has died and is currently at Verizon trying to be fixed. We'll see. Its pretty d.e.a.d. If not, my bro-in-law is going to give me his old phone tonight and I'll have it up and running tomorrow. Now is NOT a good time to be without a phone!!!

Rough Week

Sometimes life is just plain rough. Its hard. And its unpredictable. And its full of letdowns. But sometimes life hands you lemons and you have no other option but to figure out how to make the best damn lemonade you can make. And so help me God but my lemonade will be the best around. One day. So what are we making lemonade out of?... I'll give you a synopsis and move on.

Two weeks ago, Hubs passed his PAST test, remember... so its been two weeks of waiting on his job to come down with the 2011 Air Force jobs. Tuesday we got word that 12 jobs had finally come down, but we didn't know what they were yet. It was already a rough day for him when he had to say goodbye to his family dog. After that, we were in serious need of some good news in the Wood house. No word Tuesday night. Wesdnesday we were told there were 17 jobs, awesome! More possibility that one of them was for the Giant, but still no word on what the jobs were. Thursday we heard that it wasn't our time. Out of the 17 jobs, one position was special forces, but it was given to another candidate, "the other candidate." This guy just got moved to the same recruiter from another area recruiter and scored seconds faster in his PAST time a month ago. Slap in the face. the next round of jobs will be coming down the first weeks of August so we are holding out until then. I also started to have severe lower back and rib pain that day. I spent a lot of hours that night with tears in my eyes. My right ribs kept me from breathing deep, laying anywhere near my right side, or even being able to touch it from its sensitivity. My back kept me from sitting or standing or moving without cringing or freezing. By Friday I had Hubs wrap me like a mummy- ace bandages around my ribs and around my lower belly/back. I couldn't sit at all for longer than two minutes without pain shooting down my back and butt. I had started to have a few mild cramps that seemed to come with the back pain. My ribs, well by this point I could barely touch them, feeling like they might burn right through my skin. Called my OB. She told me to get to labor and delivery to be evaluated. So, I left work and Hubs and I headed to the hospital L&D. After a few hours of being evaluated, I was discharged with little more knowledge than I came in with and instructions to take it easy. Although, we did rule out gall bladder and liver issues, thank goodness. Don't get me wrong, I am very relieved that my pain is nothing vital, but I was so expecting it to be something fixable. Six more days of the pain until my OB appt for her to evaluate me herself and ultrasound baby girl. Six-long-days-of-pain.

Today, we had planned on enjoying our day outside doing something/anything that would be easy on me (like maybe a little lake action). Well its like 110 degrees outside and I changed my mind. AC feels much better. We did go on a hospital maternity tour this morning at a hospital nearby. We're still working on the whole which hospital thing... So, here we are. I'm doing some research (otherwise known as blogging...) and the Giant is putting together our baby bassinet! I asked to help. He said "NO! This is a daddy's job." Alright... go ahead Daddy-o. Its all you.











I'm still trying to get a handle on things since our plans have changed and am feeling horribly unprepared. I decided last night that we need to make some serious decisions since this baby is coming in less than two months. That might have hit me more last night when Hubs told me (as I lay in a hospital bed strapped to a machine playing my baby's heartbeat out loud and monitoring contractions) our friends the Johnny and Christi were in their hospital too delivering their baby Max three weeks early! So, with that, Max is here! I'd be completely lying through my teeth if I said I wasn't a little jealous right now, but I'm WAaaay more excited for them! Thus his unexpected early arrival has got Hubs and I both getting a little more active in the whole future plan thing. A future plan thing that is coming towards us faster now than before and we are now committed to making lemonade out of its lemons.... next week will be a better week. It just has to be. So, what are you up to on this haiti's hot Saturday?

Ocean City and Beyond

Its just plain painful when long weekends end! After a nice relaxing weekend away at the beach, here I lay in bed, dreading tomorrow! It came too fast. Way too fast! End of month + holiday weekend= not so happy Molly tomorrow. Sorry Hubs, and anyone else that comes across my path in the next 24 hours. But, my weekend was great!

We were invited by our friends the Saias to their family beach house in Ocean City MD. Eh-the beach- friends- sunshine- vacation- eh I dont know- YES!!! PLEASE!!! I'm so glad we went. Neither of us had ever been to the east coast OC before and had no idea what to expect, but let me say, it was MUCH better than I had envisioned in my head over the years. I dont know, somehow Maryland has never struck me as a beach state. But, I was delighted when we pulled up to the house and saw the beach out front! After a first day of "Is it going to rain? Is it not? Should we change out of our suits? Should we change back into our suits?", Mr. Sunshine decided to show up and stayed the rest of the weekend! The boys got in a little body boarding. We preggo ladies soaked up a little sun (on our backs and sides only- so if my backside looks a little ghostish, please don't laugh and point in my general direction). Great weekend. Great games. Great laughs. All around just great time! Thank you Saias for including us :)! Our condo beach next time. AND FYI- Christi, I still am baffled at the fact that you went to CNU for quatro years and have NEVER stayed in OBX! I might have to revoke your 757 card if we don't fix this soon! Which we will. I swear!

My belly looks huge in this picture of me sitting on the beach. I just had to post it for the shock value.

The wonderful Saias

I brought a few little presents with us up there for little baby Saia. Maximilian George actually, Cheyanne's beach buddy. I've been wanting to post pictures of my presents for him for a while, but since I couldn't let Christi see ahead of time, now I can share! Remember my post where I debuted Peapod's first onesie? Well, I got baby Max a matching outfit! I had to :) And, just in the nick of time, I finished knitting a baby blanket for the little man too. Its green like his nursery colors and super soft. 100% washable and dryable too fyi Christi, forgot to mention that. Hope he likes it one day.





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Totally other subject- back to reality. You all know about my niece Winter that I have mentioned countless times. Please send up a little prayer for her. She's had a rough weekend. She had a low grade fever all day Friday that her mom kept an eye on. Due to her very low blood count and drastically dropped hemoglobin levels, her oncologist canceled their Memorial Day plans to go camping at Lake Gaston. Late Saturday night (after 12:30am Sunday morning) Winter began having a harder time breathing and her fever spiked up above 102. Anything above 100.4 means an automatic 48 hour stay at CHKD (children's hospital where she is treated). They rushed her in and that is where she is now. She still has a low fever but it seems to have stabilized. She has sores all in her mouth that are making it hard for her to eat, but this has not stopped her amazing spirit. As soon as we got home today, we went to see her. Big Mike needed some play time with his Winter and I just needed to be around. Her doctor is returning tomorrow from the long weekend, so we will know more then as soon as he comes in to look at her. If you don't mind, just say a little prayer for her. Its always scary when her counts drop this low with little definitive explanation besides "Well that's just Winter on chemo."



I love this little girl! :) As soon as I walked into her room, she said "HEY MOLLY! I can see your baby in your belly!" Well I hope she couldn't really see her, but who knows, Winter is quite special! :)

Team Pink or Team Blue

Hello friends!

This is the week we've all been waiting for! The big Team Pink or Team Blue week. Which side are you on? I was so confident this entire 18 weeks (14 of which I knew about) that it would be pink round and round, but I've got to be completely honest- the closer I get to finding out, the more unsure I am! My gut is still saying girl, but the unknowing is killing me! To my dear sweet Cara Marie, I don't know how you did it- went all 40 weeks without knowing what you were getting with perfect lil chunker E! I thought, wow how cool of you to wait for the big surprise. Now, no no I think YOU WERE CRAZY! I can barely make it three more days without knowing. I think my family echoes the same response here. Don't worry. As soon I know, I'm sure I'll be sure that the rest of the world knows! We moved the appointment to 12:45 instead of 9am because there is just no way either of us could go back to work after that!

I guess its time to start the belly bump pictures. I seem to have sprouted a tummy over the last week or so. I know this because I just got asked. Talking to my sister this morning, I told her I had been indirectly asked-meaning a coworker asked another coworker (who knows but didn't know if she could share the news or not). So as I was talking to my sister, we both agreed I wouldn't be asked directly because it is such an awkward thing if- well -I wasn't. Wrong. A different coworker just grabbed me by the arm (oh, about 30 minutes ago) and whispered, "So, are you....." (note weirdest part: said while reaching to touch my belly) to which I replied "Yep" to which then an eavesdropper said "I thought so, I could see it." Awesome. Thanks for the input mystery contributor. At least that means I'm not just looking a little chubs around the waist! So, belly pics will commence shortly! :) Wish I could think of something to do for them... be thinking...

Let's see, Saturday my MIL Ellen and I went fabric shopping for the baby comforter. We've been brainstorming over this for months it feels like. I have searched and searched for a comforter that I like, and I came up completely empty handed. Notta single one. So, solution. Mother in law quilts and can make just about anything on a sewing machine so I'm putting her to work! Thankfully I didn't have to twist her arm too much! :) Logically, I should have waited until we know what Peapod is, but I tend to lean towards the same colors no matter what baby is- so we went for it. I picked out aqua/teals, greens, whites, robins egg blues.


This is just the comforter colors so I think it will be beautiful when we get everything together. Hubs is "a little" hesitant (to put it mildly)- but hey- we agreed along time ago, I'm in charge of the nursery. I actually thought he'd like it more, but apparently I failed that one. Hmphf- I tried. Oh well, I like it! (Note to giant husband if you are reading this- I really did try to pick things you would like *refer to the hours I spent in the fabric store- you can only imagine* and I am very disappointed you are not as big a fan as I am. But I think you will grow to love it, not for it but for what it will be keeping warm. Sincerely, your dwarf wife). So, dear reader, what do you think? I am thinking white sheets and bumper accessories. Easy cleaning right?!

I can't forget to send a quick blogging birthday shout out to my cousin Jen who we lovingly refer to as Momma Jen. Happy Birthday Momma Jen!! And also would like to send a dos shout out to our dear friends' the Saias on their second anniversary! Happy Anniversary parents-to-be Johnny and Christi!! So glad we are in this together. (We might have been perroozing our future family vacation beachhouses over the weekend online)... Max and Peapod will be great beach buddies :)!

Happy Monday

Happy Monday friends.

We had a very fun, productive and busy weekend this weekend. Friday I spent all night visiting with my family for game night. We might be the newest lovers of Scrabble. My cousin Heather might actually need to be admitted into Scrabblers Anonymous sometime soon. Do you think she has a problem when she stays up until 2:30am playing scrabble-on a week night? One word cuz- D.O.R.E. It was a doubley (yes, its a word) fun night because my newly-moved to the east coast cousins Adam and Angela came and hung out as well. Their inspiring story- were just recently married, having lived in Denver for a few years they were bored. They have been talking on and off for a few years about moving to VA (but we were doubters). Sure enough, an email in January announced they would be quitting their jobs, packing up the house, and just moving across country in hopes to find jobs and two weeks later- WELCOME TO VA! Ahh! We all couldn't be happier to have them close. Within a week of them arriving to the beach, they both got the jobs they wanted and now live less than a mile from the beach! Jea.lous!

Saturday, I went clothes shopping with my mother in law for my birthday while Mike played some golf with friends. Got my first maternity clothes! Not much a bump yet, actually its still quite non-existant thanks to morning sickness making me lose pounds instead of gain them... My OB has warned me to expect that to drastically change as soon as the sickness subsides-so I'm now prepared thanks to Ellen :) Note to other preggos- Old Navy has some CUTE clothes (also note goes to non-preggos!). I hadn't shopped there in years, but it was worth the trip. Most everything I got is wearable now and will stretch as I stretch (yuck). Look at one of my new dresses that I've been living in since I got it! This is more so for you T :)

Then, FINALLY after counting down for weeks, Saturday night the Giant and I went out to dinner with our dear friends Johnny and Christi from NoVa. Christi is exactly 5 weeks farther along than me in her pregnancy and is one of those perfectly beautiful preggers! I'm so glad I have someone to go through all this with me, fyi. We went to Gordon Biersch which is usually a top pick of Mike's but it was a little off Saturday night for me. Maybe that's just the pregnancy taste buds effecting EVERYTHING i eat. We thought it would be a good place for the boys to grab a good beer while Christi and I caught up, but oops Johnny gave up drinking for lent. So, Mikey suffered through a cold one on his own- poor boy ;) As always (though we always wish there were more times to count) we had a blast out!

And, to round off the weekend- Sunday- TIME CHANGE! Who knew? We sure didn't! Skipped church because of the waking confusion-oops. Sunday was Mike's brother Greg's birthday. We celebrated by all going to the movies Sunday afternoon, different movies of course, but at least we were all in the same theatre (Happy Birthday Greg). We saw Alice in Wonderland in 3D!

It gets a thumbs up from me! I've never seen a 3D movie before but I really enjoyed it. I was afraid that 3D motion + surprise attacks of morning sickness = not happy Molly, but I was wrong thank heavens. Johnny Depp was his usually unusual self as the Mad Hatter. I definitely say its a theatre movie and not a wait until you can watch it at home movie only because the 3D was worth it. Usually, I wait for movies to come out on DVD but this one is not a DVD movie, I don't think. Of course, the Giant reminded me yesterday that I am no Roger Ebert and I tend to have horrible theatre picks when its left up to me. My last theatre pick was Nights in Rodanthe- cute movie I drug Mike too, but definitely could have waited to see it at home. That would be the last time I was allowed to pick on my own.

Anyways, how was your weekend?! Any fun weekend St. Patty's Day stories to share with a preggo not allowed to go out and drink green beer this year?

Happy Monday!