Hi Lo: March 4th

HI's:

1) We have had a menu planned out for this past week (and are following it), and even have a grocery list in process on our cork board.  Geez, I feel like a real adult now!  We usually kind of go with the flow when it comes to food in our house, but I think I'm liking this much better.

2) Happy Birthday to our dear friend, Fr. Jay Mello, and Phil's mom (Nana) this week!

3) After the ultrasound, we went out to dinner at my favorite restaurant, where I got a free entree and dessert because it was close to my birthday.  I ordered the Sole Florentine and the Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cake, both were so delicious!  And what should have cost me $24.98 cost me nada :)

LO's:

1) Maggie has a cold and Andrew has a sore throat.  Even though Maggie is the dramatic one in our family, Andrew is definitely the hypochondriac.  You'd think he was dying from this sore throat....he's got the man-cold thing down pat ;)  We are so lucky to be in March, and this is the first cold that is going through our house.

2) Phil's car went in for an Inspection sticker and ended up needing an oil change, a new part for the airbag sensor, an alignment, and a sticker.  What we thought would cost about $40 is going to end up being $400.  But this van of his has no payments, so we are trying to keep it running for as long as possible.

3) Since I now think this baby is a boy, and we already have the most beautiful girl name picked out, I need help finding a nice boy's name.  We like the Irish names and/or Saints names, but can't settle on one that "sticks" with this baby.  Help, please?

Baby Boo's Ultrasound

Yesterday we had our ultrasound where we could have found out the gender of Baby Boo.  I know you want pictures (and don't tell me otherwise!) , but this is from Phil's phone, so it's not the best quality:

Anyway, that was the best shot...the baby looked so darn cute on the screen, moving around, trying to suck it's thumb.  I love our ultrasound tech, she always just tells us about everything she's seeing, and lets us know how healthy and good the baby looks.  I know some techs are scared to say anything before the doctor reviews the pics, but she's so laid back and works for our likewise laid back midwife. 

The baby looks great, (s)he is only 9 ounces (which leads me to wonder why I've gained 12.4 pounds!?!) and is the perfect size for how far along I am.  This miracle never gets old, I am so thrilled to see the baby inside of me every time! And to hear everything looks wonderful is truly a blessing.  It's amazing how every single cell develops correctly and everything lines up to make a healthy baby.  When you think of how easy it is for something to go wrong, it's an amazing gift to have a healthy baby. 

I did try to sneak some peeks at the gender, and I think there definitely was something between the legs...but maybe that happens either way?  I'm going to go with boy - I guess we'll have to wait until labor day to know for sure.

Oh, and I did ask why I wasn't feeling this baby move as early as the others, and she told me it's because the placenta is on top (near my belly button) so it's like extra padding for the baby to bump through.  I should be able to feel more when (s)he is about a pound.  I definitely saw the baby moving all around on the ultrasound, so it's all good! 

Done with Facebook

I just deactivated my Facebook Account, and boy does it feel good!

I jumped on the FB Bandwagon waaaaaaaay after it seemed like everybody else was on it.  At first, it was addicting, meeting up with old friends online, and seeing how everyone has changed since high school.  I even thought maybe I could heal old wounds by "friending" my old high school boyfriend that I had dumped when I met Phil.  Guess what he wrote back?  "You've got to be kidding me."  Ouch, I guess someone doesn't want to forgive me.

After the initial enthusiasm, I basically used FB as an email system.  I never checked other people's updates, because really, I don't have the time or energy to care if it's 3 am and you can't sleep.  And I didn't post anything like that because why would you care? 

Phil thinks FB is from the devil.  He thinks it's a major time-suck, it makes people live in the past instead of moving on, and it creates false friendships.  He thinks if you were friends with someone in real life, you would pick up the phone and not turn on your computer.  Would these "friends" bring you a meal after the baby is born?  Would they come to your parent's funeral?  Would they lend a hand in a difficult situation?  Or do they just want to see pictures of you and your family (sounds a bit stalkerish, right?)?  He's finally led me to see the light.

I really have a hard time finding any value in voyeurism and nosiness, even when  weighed against the opportunity to connect with friends.  FB creates idle curiosity and steals time away from doing many other productive things. 

It's not only FB that can do this....I have been becoming more and more convinced that watching tv, blogging, reading magazines can all be wasteful when used to the excess.  There is a benefit to downtime, after all God rested on the 7th day, but I think we will be judged for what we do with that free time.  If our physical bodies are properly cared for, our spiritual souls at peace, our family all looked after, the financial needs of our home being met, and our good duties done for the day, then sit and relax! 

But, until I can get the rest of my priorities in order, I will be limiting my time with all things idle (if not cutting some out completely) during Lent to help improve my sometimes nonexistent prayer life.  I need all the help I can get, and if unplugging from the computer or tv will help me get a bit closer on the path to holiness, then I would be a fool not to do it. 

"Idleness appears as desire for a quiet life; yet can rest be assured apart from the Lord?" ~St. Augustine

Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...

...rainy and gray.  I am very much missing the sunny Florida days last week.

I am thinking...

...about how in the world my first baby is now 8 years old?  I had him on my 24th birthday, so you can do the math to see how old I am too.  We celebrated our birthdays with breakfast in bed and ice cream at the airport.  Phil's family had a cake for us On Saturday while we were in Maryland, and John-Paul will have another party this weekend with my side of the family.

I am thankful for...

...precious vacation time together as a family.  Eamon said it best "this is the bestest vacation EVER!"  We wholeheartedly agree.  We are also thankful for my parents who gave us a place to stay in FL, Phil's parents who gave us some spending money, and two people (who wish to remain anonymous) who helped us out with DisneyWorld tickets.  There is no way we would have been able to take this vacation without all the help :)

From the kitchen...

...the menu for the week includes: roast chicken and mashed potatoes, ravioli, veggie burgers and salad, pizza, and chicken divan.

I am wearing...

...Brown maternity pants, a white Maternity button-up shirt, and brown boots.  The shirt accentuates the bump :)

I am creating...

...a baby. 

I am going...

...to stop eating ice cream every day - geesh!

I am reading...

...nothing.  I just read about St. Gianna, and I'm about to start a a book called Burst to review in the future.

I am hoping...

...that although we are keeping this baby's gender a surprise, I will be able to tell what he/she is just from looking at the screen myself.  Not likely, since I usually can't even differentiate between the head and the belly. 

I am hearing...

...country music on the radio.  Why does it always make me cry?

Around the house...

...Phil ran around like a mad man when we arrived home yesterday and unpacked all our clothes.  Then he went grocery shopping for the week with Maggie while I stayed home with the boys.  I can not say enough wonderful things about my husband, and how helpful he is!  Plus, he's a hottie...I mean how lucky can one girl get?

One of my favorite things...

...blog friends.  Sarah had her baby, and I feel as though I am missing out on not seeing her in real life, even though we've never even met IRL.  Another blog friend, Lisa, is coming up to visit and go to the Mom's Day Away hosted by Faith and Family with me.  I am so excited!

A few plans for the rest of the week:

~Ultrasound on Wednesday and a dinner date with Phil afterward to my favorite restaurant.  They give you a free meal and dessert to use on or around your birthday!

~A wake (Tues) and funeral (Wed) for my boss's father that passed away this weekend.

~A pool party for John-Paul and my niece, Katie's birthdays on Saturday.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing:

None, I have already posted a zillion vacation photos over the last couple days. 

The End of Vacation: Tired Kids and Burnt Legs (mine)

 If you saw this little runt walking around by the pool, how could you not smile?

 The boys.

 The girl.

 The birthday buddies...breakfast in bed!

 Down time ~ watching tv before some MORE swimming.  We swam every day except one.  It was 85 and sunny each day.  Thank You God!

 Driving home from the airport - sleepy heads.

I got this sunburn on the last day in FL (of course!).  My sister the dermatologist is so going to yell at me...sigh!

We had such an awesome trip.  We ate ice cream every day, swam and walked around a TON, and laughed together like crazy.  There were a few meltdowns (ahem...Maggie) but overall the kids did extraordinarily well.  We are saving our money to go back in five years (hopefully!).

Disney World: Day 2

My Dad, "wearing" his sunscreen.  So punny:

AH, Maggie...so dramatic!

This nice guy, working at the Buzz Lightyear ride, stopped to talk to Eamon who was wearing his new Buzz Lightyear hat from Gammy.  He discovered that Eamon is a HUGE fan of Buzz Lightyear, and gave us a pass to come back anytime and skip the line.  So Eamon got to go on his favorite ride three times!

The boys thought their great laser skills on the ride were actually the reason the Zurg was imprisoned!

Sometimes she's nice...

Snow White...that's for you, Laura:

Dopey...that's for you, Mom:

The sword in the stone:

Splash Mountain ~ John-Paul and Andrew in the last row, Phil, Eamon & Maggie in front of them:

So I have one bone to pick with Disney.  Not only do you have to wait in line for rides (understandable) but you also have to wait in line to meet the characters.  I think they should have the characters waiting by the rides with the long lines, so that halfway through the line-ride, you get to meet the character.  Makes sense, right?

Enjoying our tropical soft serve and pineapple floats..mmm!

Dumbo.  The longest ride we had to wait in for the worst ride.  But the littles wanted to do it :)

Eamon's Buzz Lightyear hat glows in the dark, so on every ride that went inside, he would take off his hat and look at it with pride.  So cute!

Shooting The Evil Emperor Zurg:

The Making Dreams Come True Parade: