Chicago Shower.

I was so blessed to have my Mom host a beautiful shower back at home. Now, this was my first shower and I wasn't completely through my 2nd trimester. However, since you're not supposed to fly during your last trimester, the hubby and I had to make an early visit. I do have to say that I had a difficult time registering for gifts so early on. I honestly had no clue what I would need 3 months down the road! But, I did my best!

It was great to visit with family and some old friends. Thanks, Mom, for all your hard work!

Here's some pictures of the Safari-themed shower...

We hadn't yet settled on a name for our lil' guy!

The Brothers

Dad and Mom

The hubby and I

Calling All Moms.

I have some questions...

First off, what was the best advice you received?

What baby registry item could you or your lil' one not live without?

Were the pre-baby education classes worth it?

What is one thing you wish you would have been told prior to the baby arriving?

Thanks so much for your help!

Any additional advice is, of course, greatly appreciated!!

Baby Bump.

Well, I have not been great at taking pics on a weekly basis, or really on a monthly basis, for that matter. But, here's a few to give you an idea of what this mom-to-be is looking like these days.

16 weeks

26 weeks

31 weeks

And the Verdict is in...

It's a Boy!
And he is definitely proud of his goods!!

All along, I thought it was a girl. But, I guess my motherly intuition was a little off.

The Name Game.

In working with middle and high school students, there are many interactions that one encounters that you can't help but laugh. Our youth group students have demonstrated their excitement for our little one to arrive since we have made the announcement. I have found it funny that the interested students have been the boys. Some boys have offered up free babysitting, while others want to feel the baby kick in my belly. The boys even want to host a man shower for my husband!

Another way they have attempted to be helpful during this process is providing name suggestions. Of course, they all want us to name our kid after them. But, two freshman boys went above and beyond to provide me with a list of names to consider. Now, I am not revealing which names I do or don't prefer. So, please don't take offense if your personal name is reflected on this list or if you were planning to name a child one of these in the future...

-Gertrude
-Ralph
-Bernice
-Ferdinand
-Jesus
-Vicente
-Moehahmed
-Barack
-Sadam
-Marquesse
-Bush
- Gulliver
-Coco
-Jermajesty
-Banjo
-Jeronimo
- Jazz Domino
-Fatima
-Suchi
-Viyat
and last but not least- Sarah

So, what do you think? Any favorites??

Cravings.

I was aware that it was common for pregnant women to experience weird cravings or sensitivity to smells, and I would always hear funny examples of food items that are generally not paired together , like pickles and ice cream. Plus, I would say it is a common question that I am asked. Once the 2nd trimester began, I craved cold cut sandwiches, specifically Italian subs! Now, I'm generally a turkey and cheese kind of gal, but for some reason, these subs would just hit the spot. Also, I made several trips to Five Below to purchase Laffy Taffys. I ate candy before, but I just needed to have this type!

Ironically, I was not excited about giving up my Coca-Cola, but it was weird how the taste did not bring as much satisfaction as in the past. Other than that, I have not experienced any other cravings out of the ordinary. With regards to smells, the smell of lawn clippings made me so queasy, and I definitely could not pick up my dog's poop! Granted, that's never an easy task, whether you're pregnant or not. Quick story...when I was on a walk with my hubby and Cooper, I attempted to pick up his doodie and literally puked on the neighbor's lawn! Yeah, we just kept walking...not sure what else to do after that! I'm hoping I can handle some of those nasty diapers in the near future.

1st Trimester Blues.

Seriously, my thought through a majority of the first trimester was "Why would anyone want to do this a second time?" However, I was reassured by many moms that I wouldn't even remember the bad experiences when I'm holding my little one in my arms. Although that was helpful, what I found got me through each day was that I knew there was a potential end to the sickness. Of course, there were those ladies that felt the need to share with me that they were equally as sick throughout their entire pregnancy. Gee...thanks for the encouragement! It's been interesting, to say the least, the stories that certain women choose to share!!

I would have to say my biggest fan throughout this experience has been my sweet dog, Cooper. Well, of course, aside from my loving hubby...:) When I was hugging the toilet early in the morning, Mr. Cooper was right by my side. He became my shadow...everywhere I was, he was right next to me soothing my pain. I've heard that dogs can sense pregnancy, and I would have to say it's true based on my dog's behavior over the past few months. I've enjoyed having him around, but I'm curious to know how he'll adjust once the baby is born. I would love to hear your stories about how your pet adjusted to a new addition in the home.

The Process.

Okay, so I'll spare you the details about how it all went down. But, I stopped taking birth control pills in the end of December and conceived in March. So, our official due date is

December 6, 2011.

Now, I do have to mention that we are truly grateful for our ability to conceive so quickly. It is never a guarantee, and I am aware that others try and try without any success. So, we definitely feel blessed.

We decided to first share the news with our families. I couldn't keep the secret from my mom, so I ended up just telling her over the phone around 6 or 7 weeks. The little puzzles above give you an idea of how we told my dad, brothers, and sister-in-laws. We told my husband's family at a family party by gathering them together for a picture. My hubby then said, "On 3, say Josh and Kristen are pregnant!" One aunt was like "Yeah right!" since Josh has joked about it before. While the others just looked at each other wondering if it was the truth or not. It was a lot of fun seeing everyone's reactions!


One thing I have recognized is that everyone chooses to document their pregnancy differently, but I've found that doesn't mean that one expectant mom is more or less excited based on the amount one updates on Facebook. Some take weekly baby bump pictures and share it on social media websites, while others keep more of the details to themselves. I found that I haven't been one to remember to take weekly photos or share all the details with everyone...I'm lucky if I take pictures every few weeks to send to my mom who lives out of state. So, I'm hoping by reminiscing the past few months via blogging will help me to not forget the experience and be able to share it with my little one someday.

New Beginnings...

I started this blog a few years back because I had a LOT of free time on my hands. I just moved to a new town for my husband's job and didn't have a job of my own. I wanted to capture my random thoughts on any given day and thoroughly enjoyed the evolving process. Then, life happened. I got a job, started grad school, and seemed to not have any free time. Ultimately, a blog hiatus was much needed.

Well, I still have a job, have completed all my grad school coursework (minus the practicum and internship), and have jumped into a new phase of life...pregnancy! Initially, I had a 5 year plan from when we got married before I would've thought of having kids. But, last December, it just felt like the right time to start trying for kids. I think my husband was genuinely surprised when I presented my babyhood thoughts since I was even surprising myself. So, the journey began...

As a result, I decided to start blogging again because I LOVE free advice, whether giving or receiving. Plus, I feel as if I have more time to dedicate to it. I am looking forward to documenting this next phase in our lives! It's definitely exciting!

Drive Free. Retire Rich.

My friend, who is crazy about the Dave Ramsey plan, recently introduced me to the concept of driving free cars for life. I had never heard of such a concept, so I decided to check out this video

Now, I do own "The Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey; however, I have not fully jumped on board. I definitely agree with his concepts, but haven't taken as much action as I should. I also fully support the idea of living debt free. I cannot imagine having such a burden lifted off of my shoulders!

Another great idea that my friend suggested was to go through my house and sell those unused items. You know exactly the things I'm talking about!! You'll likely get more money listing them on Ebay or Craigslist, than selling them at a yard sale or allowing them to collect dust in your house.

Now, the catch is not to go buy more "stuff" to fill your house, but to be proactive with this newly, accumulated money. She mentioned taking the money and opening up an IRA. To be honest, I am ignorant when it comes to investments, but I do know that my husband's job does not offer a 401K. Therefore, we need to be proactive to save for our future. So, I think this is where I am going to start. Yeah, I may only have $100 to open up the IRA, but it is better than nothing, right?!

So, what are your savings and investment secrets? I would LOVE to hear about them...