of a pregnant lady's January.

     I am going to talk about anything but the snow we currently have collected on Keel Mountain.

Anyways.

     So, green tea with pomegranate is really good with a little bit of honey in it. It makes you feel extremely healthy and even raises your self-esteem a few notches. Reading is also good for January. I have finished "Anna Karenina" (a-mazing), "The Great Gatsby" (will someone discuss this book with me?) and am now halfway through "The Hobbit." Tolkien is a good author to cozy up to during the winter, but I have to say I do not like fantasy books, so it's a little straining to get through. But since I am not in school this spring, I'm working on a HUMONGOUS book list to fill up my time and my academic cravings, I have resolved to read what's on the list whether I am personally drawn to it or not.

     Another plus for January (think positive, think positive)? American Idol!!!! I was so concerned that the judging team would be a mess, but so far I think they work absolutely wonderfully together. I have even become personally attached to each judge in their own way. I'm rooting for the Russian girl with the curly hair. What about that southern belle Victoria? Her response to the judge's compliment on her sweet and colorful knee-high dress: "You know, I like to show just a little for the men, but I also gotta be a lady!" She seriously needs to write a book, everything she says is precious.

     As for Eva Therese, she is still snug in the womb. I am two days away from being 37 weeks: officially full-term! I would LOVE for her to come today. The doctor says she is doing great. She's in a great position and bearing down so heavily that they will induce me at 39 weeks if she isn't out by then. At this point, I just want her to be here, and I don't care how! It's hard to believe I'll be a mommy in 2 weeks (maybe shorter). I can't wait to hold her and experience all those "firsts." I'm really excited for the first time she'll look at me and know who I am. My first baby shower is tomorrow. I'm excited!

     Lastly, I'm obsessed with this Glee song mash-up of Darren Criss singing "Teenage Dream" to the music track of "Apologize" by OneRepublic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMlkUDdXp8c

If you are a Glee hater, just don't judge me. I can assure you I won't change my mind and you probably will  really regret bringing it up to me.  :-P   I'll be watching the next new episode with my little baby, who is to be very cultured in all things artistic!

Hello 2011

This was our view out the window on Christmas morning. It got ALOT heavier by the end of the day--no patches of ground were left uncovered.

However, inside was as cozy as ever. I had a red Yankee candle burning (candles are everything you need to make a home, says me). John also started a fire, which is something we don't do very often.

This Christmas was truly a special one, and I can't point to one reason why. I had my cousins in town, which was wonderful. We got to see alot of family on John's side as well. It was a white Christmas--something I haven't seen since my childhood in Indiana. I guess the biggest difference this Christmas was that the tree had presents for someone extra this year--Eva's gifts were so much fun to open, even though I wrapped them myself. She got a Shirley Temple movie, an Olivia pig book, and a cute outfit from me. She was very spoiled by family and friends. I can't imagine what next year will be like--she'll be around 10 1/2 months old, so she'll probably be crawling around crunching the wrapping paper. What a precious thought!
     Well, the corner has turned now. The holidays are over, and it's that bleak time of winter when nothing goes on except my husband returns back to work and school over-full-time, and I sit at home with a severe lack of motivation because I just want my baby here! It's been very hard lately. I still need to finish some projects for her--a cross-stitch stocking I haven't begun yet, an almost-finished crochet blanket, and a 1/16 finished baby quilt. I only have 5 weeks until her due date! But I have zero desire to do anything. I've been pretty sore and uncomfortable. I can't wait to meet her--literally, I can't seem to wait. Also, I am SO DONE with maternity clothes!!!! I have stuck to my original plan to not buy maternity stuff (except pants and camis) and just wear long shirts and sweaters as well as loose-fitting attire, which is actually in style these days. But still--my choices are SO limited, the area in my closet where I hang the "unwearable" items is getting larger and larger. I don't want to go buy more clothes since I'm due so soon, but switching between 2-3 outfits is rather miserable for me. On the plus side, I have avoided wearing sweat pants or sweat suits out in public. I've still managed to somewhat be put-together. When I couldn't wear my heels anymore, I just got some really cute boots without a heel. I just don't wear sweats and tennis shoes in public, no matter how comfortable they are. It just isn't me.
     I pray that this big transition from having a baby in our tiny apartment with John being gone ALOT goes smoothly. Only by His grace can it be done, because the thought of John being so overloaded kills me, and the impatience of being a very expectant mommy is also getting on my nerves. Overall, we're truly having an eventful, stressful, and exciting beginning to 2011!

It's a Wonderful Life

     Before we got married, I contemplated if it'd be hard or "boring" to have an anniversary just a few weeks before Christmas. It's only proven to make it more sparkly and special. :) Our honeymoon was amazing amongst all the festivity and lights in Gatlinburg, and our 1st Anniversary was just as special. Celebration is already in the air, and we get a day to claim it as all ours!
     Yes, we've been married an entire year now. We celebrated our first anniversary on the 12th. It was a very special day, shared just between John and me. I thought we'd go on some grand cruise or vacation to celebrate--but when the time came about, I was thirty weeks pregnant. That leaves out alot of options. Christmas is also a busy time of year--not to mention expensive time of year. I don't know how we would have managed a cruise or 5-star hotel somewhere anyway! The point was, we were together, and that's what made a seemingly normal day so much fun.
     Well, I'm just about 32 weeks pregnant. It has gone so fast--yet it does feel as if I've been pregnant forever! I have so enjoyed this phase of life. Despite the aches and pains--not to mention the penguin-waddling-walk--this has been a moment by moment blessing. I am not taking the miracle of life for granted. I've been praying for my future children since I was five years old--and I know God heard those prayers.

     It's hard to imagine how huge I am--I've toppled over completely a few times while in sitting position. It is pretty much hilarious. It's hard to brush my teeth because I can't lean completely over the sink. I can't reach alot of cups or plates from the cupboards because I squish uncomfortably into the counters. I definitely can't try to balance--and sleeping isn't the most comfortable thing in the world. This life is so different than my previous prancing-around-lifestyle. I was the yoga queen and pretty darn flexible, getting from one place to another in a flash. That has all changed.
     In fact, everything has changed. It's like those diaper commercials--"A baby changes everything." Maybe that's cheesy, but it's so true! I love her like nothing else. Each time she kicks or rolls around (which is QUITE often), I just smile and put my hand wherever she is. I can't wait until I can really touch her and catch up on the months of cuddling we've missed while she's been inside of me.
     I'm in the home-stretch now . . . just 8 weeks to go until her due date, and 5 weeks to go until she's considered "full term." I am so beyond excited. I know I won't get sleep, I know I won't automatically look how I did before pregnancy, I know labor will hurt, I know I'll get frustrated as a new mother at times--but compared to the thoughts of cuddling her close, brushing my fingers across her chubby cheeks, changing those tiny outfits, comforting her when she's upset, or just staring at her when she's asleep--no negatives could compare to the simple benefits and overall miracle of a new life entering my world.