Life is good!

Football season is underway!!!

GO COLTS!!

Shopping for gear

Mark and I made our first voyage out to Baby Depot(Burlington Coat Factory) and Toys R Us on Sunday to actually look at stuff. I had been doing research online, but this was our "hands on" trip.
Our conclusion? Most of it comes down to preference because it seems like most everything meets the safety requirements.
We have decided on getting a travel system (stroller and car seat). The practical side of me wanted to get a convertible car seat - so we wouldn't have to be buying one anytime soon, but that may not be what is necessarily best overall. Allowing a sleeping Matthew to continue sleeping when he falls asleep in the car seat seems to be the wisest decision. We did find a Graco system that allows the baby to be in it up to 34 pounds. I think that's where we're leaning at this point - most of the other ones only went up to 20-24 pounds.
We are happy to hear suggestions on this and other gear - it's a bit overwhelming to tell you the truth.

We are obedient owners

Mark and I admit it, our cats have us trained.
Mackey and Moe play fetch and catch. They bring their little toys to us and then start off in the direction they want us to throw the toys. Then they bring it back for you to throw it again.
Another fun activity is throwing the toy into the air and then watch the cat jump up for it to catch it - either with his mouth or in his paws - imagine a dog catching a frisbee and that's pretty much what it is like.
Occaisionally, I'll round up all of the toys and put them away on the bookshelf in a big crystal vase - it doesn't take long before you see one of them picking out a toy from the vase and bringing it to you for another game of fetch.
Although they drive us crazy sometimes, Mackey and Moe are a lot of fun!

better safe than sorry

Saturday started out being a typical, uneventful day. We needed some stuff at Target and wanted to eat in Little Rock. We drove up in the afternoon, on the way up I occaisonally felt some back pain, I told Mark that my back was hurting, didn't think too much of it. I didn't really feel that great - which is not that unusual these days. We went to Chi's (chinese) to eat and while we were sitting there I kept noticing that my back pain would come and go. After a while I realized that it would come in a wave and then subside. It was what I only could describe as contractions - just guessing since the miscarriage was different.
So, by the end of the meal(or should I say Mark's meal - since I really didn't eat but a few bites) I decided that I should probably start timing the pains.
We did go ahead and go to Target, the pains were from 3-8 minutes apart. We drove home, still having the pains, but now they were consistently every 2-3 minutes apart - I was starting to get a little nervous.
When we got back, I called my OB/GYN and he told me to head to Labor and Delivery at the hospital. By the time I spoke with him, it had been about 5 minutes since the last pain.
While I was being checked in(three hours after the pains started), I felt a couple more pains, by the time I got up to my room - I really wasn't feeling anything.
They did a UA and that was fine, they hooked me up to the "contraction monitor" and we listened to Matthew's heartbeat and him kicking for an hour. No pain or contractions the whole time. A doctor's visit, three pelvics and an hour and a half later - I was on my home.
I'm glad that I called - but, you know, I just felt like an idiot. I felt like I had to prove that I really was having pain, and it really was every 2-3 minutes. Oh, well, it was a great relief to know that everything was fine, we are very thankful for that!

blue dodge spirit

Blue dodge spirit - a call him my arch nemesis when commuting. This old guy drops someone off at the university, presumably for class every morning and picks him up every afternoon. He drives the road that I do to about my halfway point to work - which is about 20 minutes. I wouldn't mind it so much except for the fact that he always(and I do mean always) drives at least 5-10 miles under the speed limit.
It is so frustrating that I leave for work early so that I won't have to encounter him on my way to work.
So, that is how I know that summer is over, I met my arch nemesis on the road when I was coming back from work yesterday ---------- and he had a line of about ten cars behind him.

An attitude of gratitude

Taking a cue from Leanne, I realize that I, too, am too often negative or sarcastic about the goings on down here (i.e. the path that God has currently brought us to). I really do want to develop a thankful heart and project a thankful attitude to those around me.
To me, it really doesn't count to say that I'm content when I'm getting the things that I want - how do I know that I'm content if life is as I think that it should be?
With that said, here is my list for right now. I would like to do this periodically - more for myself - to see it in writing, than for anything else.
1. ...for my godly husband. What a blessing to know that I can trust and respect his judgement - even when he tells me what I need to hear - not just what I want to hear.
2. ...for Mark having a job that he enjoys and not having to have taken a temporary, one-year position like most people in his position. Meaning - we would have just finished moving again - to who knows where.
3. ...for living in an area where housing cost are reasonable - so that I don't have to work full time if I don't want to (which I am not). If he had had to accept one of those one year positions in Indy or Atlanta - I really would not have had an option, not only because of housing costs, but because one-year positions don't pay much.
4. ...for being able to connect with friends and family. Those relationships so often energize me, how blessed Mark and I have been!
5. ...for the job that I do have. Yes, I would rather be working in town and not commuting, yes, I would like to be making more money. But, I actually do like the work that I do.
6. ...for the relationships that we have made/are making down here.
7. ...for our little Matthew, I love feeling him move around inside of me. I'm so glad that Mark can feel him move, now, too.
8. ...for our new central air conditioner!!

McD's vs. BK

It is my humble opinion that I think that, although the Mocha Joe Iced Coffees from Burger King are good, the large Iced Coffee from McDonald's is a better deal.