The Internet Ruins Everything

The Internet ruins everything.  There, I've said it.  And I'm not the only one who agrees - an article from PC World lists ten things the Internet has killed, along with five things it hasn't.

I'd like to add one more to their list of things that the Internet has exterminated from my childhood - instantaneous gratification of contest winning.  Remember when we were younger and your favorite soda company was running a 'look under the cap' promo to see if you've won a prize?  Here's what would instantly make your day better back then:

That's right folks - there was a day that you could be an instant winner.  You could literally walk back to the cooler and grab your free soda.  Here's what you see today:

What on earth?  Who actually inputs these codes into a website?  A middle schooler with no social life?  I know, I know - first world problems...

First Baby Shower & 32 Week Update

First Baby Shower:

This past weekend, we had our very FIRST baby shower to celebrate Baby G's pending arrival, hosted by our Sunday School class.  Our friends, Daniel and Holly, were very gracious to volunteer their home for the festivities, and JD and I were excited to see everyone.  We couldn't believe all the nice gifts that we received, and how much thought and effort everyone put into their shower gifts.  Several of the couples made us burp cloths, diaper cakes and one even monogrammed "Simple Focus" on a baby bib for JD's company.  I am now the proud owner of my very own hospital gown, handmade as well, and it is MUCH more stylish than those ugly ones they give you at the hospital.  Baby G also has his/her own door decor for the big day.  I have to hand it to this group, I knew it would be difficult to have a shower for a surprise gender baby with no name, but they really did an excellent job equipping us with the necessities for a newborn!

Handmade burp cloths and other baby necessities:

Opening Mike and Cassie's diaper cake and Simple Focus bib:

JD wanted to wear the bib himself:

 Here is JD modeling my hospital gown from Randy and Mary.  I don't think Mary had planned on sizing it for JD:

Jennifer was constantly getting creeped out by Lila's Dora doll.  It would move on its own and say "help me":

32 Week Update:

BABY STATS

How far along: I am in my 32nd week.

How big is baby: As big as a head of lettuce, weighing around four pounds.

Total weight gain:  I have officially gained weight - three pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight.  I know, slow down right?  I am sure I will blow up during these last few weeks as I haven't been watching what I eat, just staying active.  I had to stop running at 31 weeks - contractions would flare up and I would have to stop.  So, just walking and weight lifting for now.

Maternity clothes: I generally wear maternity pants to work and out with friends, they are just so much more comfortable.  I still wear all my regular clothes around the house and to the gym.  I have come to the realization that my regular clothes must have been too big to begin with if most still fit at 32 weeks!

Sleep: Sleep comes and goes.  I am much more temperamental these days - the sheets and pillows have to be in just the right position, the heat can't be on too high, etc.  This pretty much leaves JD with one crummy pillow, no sheets and no heat.  Poor baby:(

Best moment of the week: Having our first baby shower - it just makes it all so much more real!  And, on the heels of that shower, we celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary!

Food cravings:  No cravings at all.  Most of the food I eat has been food I regularly consumed before the pregnancy.

Food aversions:  No food aversions either.  That was mainly first trimester stuff.

Symptoms:  Still have sensitive sinuses.  I just feel dried out all the time.  It helps not to have the heat up too high at the house.

Movements: I love feeling the baby move so much!  You can literally see my shirt move over my belly this baby is so active.  And, if I want to make the baby move for whatever reason, I can do simple little things like take deep breaths or sip water.  It does take me by surprise when there is a big flip as it usually necessitates an immediate change in my posture/sitting position.

Gender:  Unknown - waiting until the big day!

What I am looking forward to: This week - it has got to be seeing how Buddy reacts to the new baby.  Any time JD tries to talk to the baby or rub my belly, Buddy sticks his head right in there because he is so jealous.  That little beagle is going to be in for a big surprise in a few weeks!

What I miss:  I really haven't missed anything lately.  I've been blessed with such an easy pregnancy that I have just enjoyed every moment of it.  A glass of wine over the holidays would have been nice, but that time has passed and we are in full baby mode.

Next appointment: I actually went in today for the 32 week check up.  Baby's heartbeat looked good and my blood pressure, etc., all looked great.  I go back in two weeks for my 34 week checkup on Jan. 25 before we head down to Louisiana for JD's family's baby shower!

Christmas Recap

Our Christmas season was the best yet - even while being in my third trimester with a husband who had major knee surgery.  Sometimes realizing you can't physically do it all makes you relax a little:)

We kicked off the season with a 14-person dinner party for JD's employees and their dates at our house.  I wish I could say that it was relaxing, but we got a little behind schedule and I was pretty flustered by the time everyone arrived.  Luckily, some of the girls pitched in around the kitchen and I was only 15 minutes behind schedule.  We had wedge salads, beef wellington, creamed spinach, twice baked potatoes and rolls.  While that may not seem like much, I'm not sure I sat down for several hours until dinner was on the table.  I don't even know if I ate anything!  We all played a good game of Dirty Santa that was a lot of fun, and we finished out the night with apple cider (brought by one of JD's employees) and red velvet cake.

Later that week, we hosted our Sunday School's annual Christmas party.  Being a potluck, this party was MUCH easier than making all that food for the first party.  In fact, other than heating the rolls and putting the ham on the table, I cooked very little.  Twenty members of the class squeezed into our den eating and drinking late into the night.  It's always a good idea to start a Dirty Santa game after several drinks, then you get pictures like this:

Our Sunday School plays a mean Dirty Santa game.  No one had any qualms about stealing from a pregnant woman or a surgery patient for sure;)

My sister and her crew rolled into town a few days later and we got to enjoy several days visiting with them and my sweet niece Emma.  Despite all of her carefully planned kid-friendly activities, her favorite part was hanging out with Buddy.  Or as she calls him "Buddy Bear Budders."

Here she is taunting Buddy with cookies:

This girls likes my cookies. She was convinced one whole cooling rack was for her and the other rack was for Uncle Deedle.  I didn't have the heart to tell her otherwise:)

Emma has definitely inherited her mother's dancing skills style.  Oh well, at least she's pretty...

We had Christmas Eve dinner at my mother's house.  She made Megan and JD's favorite dish (chicken eden isle), and we all sat around enjoying her warm fireplace.  We have a gas fireplace, and while it is more convenient than a wood burning fireplace, nothing compares to the heat that a wood burning fireplace puts out.  I would switch if I thought I could train Buddy to bring in wood from a wood pile.  So far, the only successful training I've had with the dog is for him to do the opposite of what I say.

Christmas Day was at our house watching Emma open her presents and I got a few goodies for the baby too.  Clint and JD saw a movie and the girls napped until I needed to start dinner.  We played Dirty Santa with the family which pretty much involved Emma stealing everyone's presents.

The day after Christmas my two cousins and their families came over for the "Annual Cousin Gathering."  The name is ironic because my mother comes from a few generations of only children, so our entire family bloodline only consists of less than ten people, mostly paternal relatives.  We act like it's a huge family reunion every year, but we really have a very small family.  My mother was a big help for this meal and made the soup for everyone, so all I had to make was the cornbread.  My cousins and aunt brought the appetizers and dessert.

A few days later, JD's sister and her husband were in Memphis to visit Jacob's family so they stopped by our house for dinner and exchanged presents.  They gave me a funny onesie for the baby:

My sister and her husband were like angels sent from heaven - they packed up all of our Christmas decor and hauled it up to the attic for us.  JD brought it all down before the holidays, but that was also before he had knee surgery.  My mother came over and helped to wrap up all the Christmas china, and Emma even helped a little.  Sort of.  Well she just took a fake nap on the couch because she was too afraid to sleep in her room in case she missed something.  I remember that age fondly:)  After all that activity, we went to eat downtown and to the Grizzlies game with Megan and Clint.  JD and I have been married for six years, and Megan and Clint even longer (I think nine years, but could be wrong) and we have never gone on a double-date.  We all had a good time, despite witnessing Quincy Pondexter's excruciating season-ending MCL sprain.  Hopefully the Grizz can succeed without him for a while.