to stay home or not to stay home....

I cant believe I almost forgot to blog about the other exciting news we got this week, David was offered a position within Onslow County Schools as their Food and Nutrition Supervisor! David has worked very hard the past 2 years applying for and interviewing for positions outside of the restaurant. When he got this call and texted me at work I almost fainted...I was beyond excited..but then reality hit..we both agreed long ago that I could stay at home once Baby L was here only IF we could live absolutely 100% comfortably. Which means we would not deplete our savings, traveling is still a must ( esp. once we have expanded), education for Baby L, living credit card free..the list goes on. We also agreed we were not down with the whole day care situation..I have worked in far too many..even super nice ones to allow my child into a day care full time. SO, long story short this would mean Baby L would be with a childcare provider full time because the position simply did pay enough for me to stay home. Then, I began to think of everything else- my gracious parents paid for this education, to set me up for success and a career...and I wasnt too sure I was ready to throw that away. I will have tenure next year and if I stopped teaching and went back I would start at beginning teacher status. dislike. David would love it because he would be home everyday by 5 but there are too many uncertainties to take the position right now. If anything, it gave him a lot of confidence to keep pursuing other opportunities...and the right one will fall into place sometime. :) For now, Baby L will be home with Daddy until 1 and with a nanny 1-4pm most days. His response "Ive got this."

14 Weeks!

Today I am 14 weeks and 2 days...as you can see the mini bump is beginning to take shape! Surprisingly, these are my jeans from this past winter! I am using a hair elastic to close them and they are not my "comfy" jeans anymore but they fit! I am feeling great and LOVING this ride...if I could feel this good I think I'd do this 6 times over. Hopefully Im not speaking too soon but this is just not what I envisioned. I thought Id feel bad all the time but luckily I think Ive been given the easy end of things so far.

Baby L is the size of an orange this week and is beginning little fetal body movements. Baby L only weighs a little over 2 ounces so I cant feel any movements yet. Im eagerly awaiting though....I LOVE this child!







I have been eating a lot of this lately.......yum so good! Here is the recipe:

• cucumbers and tomatoes
  
• add a pinch of basil, Italian seasoning
  
• salt and pepper
• red white vinegar
• water

Odd Craving of the Week: Chicken Wings??!! Normally, I probably eat this once a year...Sunday biggest craving EVER!!! So, D made some delish wings...1/2 hot 1/2 sweet teriyaki bbq. I was in preggers heaven.

Baby's 1st Heartbeat

Yesterday I had my first check-up and we got to hear Baby L's heartbeat! The heart was beating at 160 bmp-so fast!! I loved the Dr., she was the first female in the practice Ive seen thus far. She was really sweet and soft spoken. She only held the microphone on my tummy for about a minute, which was a little disappointing.....I wanted to just sit and listen for a while :) Its a shame you are in the waiting for an hour and back seeing the Dr. for 5mins! My blood pressure and weight are all okay. Im still weighing 122, so no weight gain yet. I couldnt ask for a better best friend in this journey- David has been amazing. On the way home he pulls into Toys R Us parking lot..what are we doing here is my reaction. He says were going to buy something every time we go see the Dr. Sweet! He is so concerned with my health and well being- always making sure Im enough protein in my meals....making sure every contractor that walks up with a smoke is told Im pregnant and to put it out..which makes me feel good...takes the stress off me.
After talking with a friend from work and sharing all her cloth diaper information with David we are 100% going the cloth diaper route. Not only for money reasons but waste reasons. Neither one of us have ever been into the type of recycling that sends materials to a plant..(pollution?) But we are def into reusing things we have around the house...milk jugs for watering pails..reusable grocery bags...reusing ziploc bags ...etc. SO, after some research on the computer it appears it will cost about 300-400$ to get started and yes it will be A LOT of extra work..but when Im determined to make something work it will. Here is one of the websites Ive used: http://www.fuzzibunz.com/

Current cravings- grapes, bananas, grape fruit, cheese, milk, soups, dark chocolate.
Things that make me gag: Thai Grill, Brooklyn Pizza, big meals.

12 Weeks!

I cant believe Im already 1/3 of the way there! I really hope time slows down a bit although I know once Im in month 7 Ill be praying it speeds up! I would say my energy is back 100%, Im always a little worn out this time of year with a new school year but Im feeling great. Baby bump is growing, you probably cant tell in the picture but to me my tummy def has a bump. From other pictures Ive seen many women only stick out in the lower abdomen at first. For me, my entire abdomen pokes out. Its like Ive eaten an entire pizza and look super bloated. I do <3 it!! Hormones are pretty crazy too, haha..Ive never been one to really PMS or anything. These days I can shed tears like its my job. If I even start thinking about holding that little baby I cry! I cried pulling up to my sisters when her older dog Cane wasnt there to greet me. (mind you he was put to sleep months ago for old age) AND if I have something to say whether it is okay or not I say it...like my filter is gone. Hopefully they level out soon for David's sake! Im continuing to stick to my gym routine but Ive eased up on my eating. If I want something, Im eating it! Bagels are so good to me right now!!! This week we get to hear Baby L's heartbeat for the first time, I seriously cannot wait to hear that sweet sound. I thought I would get another ultrasound which I was highly anticipating but the more I read it sounds like we just get to hear it. This week Baby L is the size of a peach and almost 3 inches long. His/her vocal cords are forming and the intestines are rapidly changing and growing!
We received a very cute black/white frame from future grandma Longo, it reads mom+dad=me. Im thinking of putting the ultrasound pics in it. :)

We've had a busy weekend! Cookouts, a little TLC @ the salon..& still working on the house, trying to move things along so we can get in and get well settled before the holidays. Our hardwood floors are being installed this week and we are finishing the storm water plan.
This is what we finished today- priming the front porch columns.