Daydreams
	March 1, 2010 | Filed Under Family, Friendly, Pregnancy | 58 Comments

It was like one of those mornings that you read about in a book or a magazine, depicting a perfect scene at home, on a weekend morning.

One boy off playing, my husband just made us breakfast of french toast sticks with sprinkled powdered sugar, my daughter ate at the table, I ate on the couch, sitting with coffee and orange juice.

I wonder, now, what my daughter was thinking about while eating her breakfast because soon after she finished she retrieved many toys from upstairs and the basement and gathered them into the kitchen.  I picture her daydream being one of big plans and many shapes and colors.

She played for so long – it was interesting to me the detail and care she put into her play.  She would often break out into a Taylor Swift song, almost as if she forget her parents were nearby.

She just played.

Finally, after almost an hour, I sat on the kitchen floor with my camera.  This is no small feat as my belly is now the size of a small pickup truck.  As soon as I sat, I wondered how I would get up.

She noticed me across the way and began explaining her city to me.  The garbage trucks and the homes and the apartments.  It was interesting to me; she reminded me what it was like to be little and young and that play is so good and so vital.

I soon had Brian help me up because I actually felt like working in the house.  I wanted to clean and set up the baby’s room.  It felt right and it felt so good to be doing things.

So, I let her play.

And I began my own kind of play.  Going through baby clothes and new purchases and picturing what this boy (it’s so hard for me not to use his name) will look like in these little tiny monkey shoes, how he will smell, what his skin will feel like against mine.

I spent a lot of time daydreaming.

Probably a lot like my daughter, as she ate breakfast.

	Nest Feathering
	February 28, 2010 | Filed Under Friendly, Pregnancy | 33 Comments

I’m sitting on the couch, looking down at my enormous baby belly.  Even though it’s enormous, I still can’t believe there is a baby in there big enough to be born in just one month.

I’m amazed that we have spent so much time during this pregnancy counting up and now suddenly…we are counting down.

We are preparing.

Yesterday?  We bought diapers.

and I opened them and marveled at the TEENY-TINY SIZE.  I showed them to the kids and to Brian and we all said “awwww” and “how cute” and one of the kids may or may not have hugged the diaper.

(For a really long time.)

And now?  To add more reality to our lives … Stephanie, my best friend, my sweet, caring, beautiful, old-lady hippy friend, who would go to the ends of the earth for anyone, an incredible Mom, wife, FRIEND … she is hosting a virtual shower for me.  For this baby…for my family.

I know she has put so much work into this.  All of the companies involved have generously donated items for me … but also for a lucky reader.   That’s right, everything I am receiving from this “good new-fashioned shower” a lucky reader will receive the same item.  (it’s like we’ll be sisters!)  (or brothers!)

It’s like a big nest of BABY and LOVE and HOPE and OHMYGOD, just pure awesomeness.

So, go here and read how the shower works and also see all of the amazing and generous companies (big & small!) who are involved. Then check back many times a day from today until March 6th to enter to win SO MANY ITEMS.  Also, almost everything that she is showing you, is what I picked out, it’s EXACTLY what I’ll be receiving.  (but much of it, you’ll get your own choice.)

Also, please feel free to add the cute little button onto your sidebar (share the love with your expecting friends and readers!), Stephanie has the codes on her site at the bottom of this post.

(That cute little button and the shower name were created by my fabulous best friend, @sarahviola.  She is pure brilliance, don’t you think?)

Thank you again to Stephanie, I never take for granted that you are in my life and thank you for loving this baby and for showing me TRUST since the moment you found out I was pregnant.  I’ve needed you so much during this time, which has really been the greatest gift of all.  (ILY,M)

	His Aunt Rocks
	February 14, 2010 | Filed Under Family, Friendly | 30 Comments

Seriously.  I do.

	Sweetness
	February 13, 2010 | Filed Under Family, Friendly | 38 Comments

One of the perks of visiting my sister isn’t just the donuts, the chocolate, the biscuits and gravy. Oh no, it’s visiting with Trey, who is already 7 weeks old. He and I are very, very good friends.

And then, we went to Target.  And while his Mom tried on jeans, he and I walked around and took photos.

and people looked at us funny, but that’s okay.

	Friday Morning Coffee
	February 12, 2010 | Filed Under Friendly, Pregnancy | 26 Comments

I just finished a bowl of Cocoa Puffs.  Okay, maybe two, but who’s counting?  I am really loving cocoa puffs this pregnancy and the milk that is left in the bowl.  I was just telling my sister they should sell Cocoa Puffs Chocolate Milk.  That would be so good.

I am having a small cup of coffee right now but I would like to ration my caffeine today since I have a lot to do and need all of the help I can get later on without going overboard.  Friends, I am so tired.  Yesterday morning started out horribly, I was totally out of breath, going upstairs nearly knocked me off of my feet and then I had an NST where my blood pressure was the highest it’s been this pregnancy, which makes me so sad.

HOWEVER, it finally went down and Baby Boy and I left to go shopping at Target.  I came home, ate lunch, wrapped up a few things, took a nap, did homework with the kids, ate some M & Ms, drank a diet coke and after that, I felt much better.  I actually cleaned much of the house and reorganized and cleaned the fridge.  I felt completely different from when I had woken up in the morning.  THANK GOODNESS.

Oh, and I packed the kids because we are going away for a three day weekend to visit my sister and her family.  We are all so excited.  I can’t believe it’s our final trip as a family of four.  I just can’t believe it and probably won’t until this tiny baby is snuggled safely in our arms.

Oh and speaking of tired…my sleeping sucks.  I can’t get comfortable.  I mean, look at this, this is what I looked like last night, looking down at my belly:

It’s REALLY hard to get comfortable with that being attached to you, you know?  Either way, I wake up often and just feel this beautiful boy moving and dancing and punching his Mom and I’m reminded of what a gift he is, even now, before we’ve even met him.

Speaking of gifts, the sun is shining today and it’s painfully cold.  All of  the twigs and branches are covered in icy snow that looks like they’ve been dipped in glitter.  On one tiny tree on the side of the road sat two perfect birds, the sun shining behind them.  Oh, that was such a beautiful sign.

Anyway, before I head out to the Chiropractor and come back and clean and pack, I wanted to tell you about my best friend, my SOUL SISTER (of 15 or 16 or 17 years, I can’t keep track!), the girl who I have experienced everything with – she has done something so powerful and amazing that I need to tell you about it.

Awhile back, she told me about a dream that she had to bring women together to create balance in their lives, a balance between work, family, spirituality, etc.

Last year was her year to get the wheels moving on this phenomenal idea.  I am one of the lucky people who have been involved with this since the fall, I am an architect of this forum.  Back in September we had a Beta version in Chicago, it was a small overnight workshop and it was LIFE CHANGING.

And now?  Her dream?  IS REAL.  Yesterday was her brand launch for Triple W Forum, an awesome workshop built for busy women who need to achieve and maintain that fine balance in LIFE.

So, I had to share with all of you, not just the Triple W Forum, who you can follow on Twitter (PLEASE DO!  I may or may not be the voice behind @triplewforum) and become a fan of on Facebook (YOU SHOULD!) and go to the site to sign up for future email newsletters (HURRY!), but I wanted to share with you this person who had an idea and who trusted in her idea enough to create something that WILL be changing lives for women everywhere.  I am so proud of her, mostly for believing in her idea, for believing in herself.  I wish we would all do that.

(if you do any or all of these things tell me in the comments so I can come by and say “hi!”)

Who do you want to show up when you look in the mirror first thing in the morning?