Adventure #3

Josh, Aaron and mom (aka..Gannie..weird) joined me for my #3 adventure. I said originally that I was going to do hikes, but my smart friends suggested I do adventures so I could count all the fun stuff that we do. So..Adventure #3 was a hike to Abram's Falls. 2.5 miles up and back. Easy hike, but I learned an important important lesson for all future adventures. Stop and pee every chance you get before you hit the trails. Maybe I should have read the warning sign rather than just posing behind it. No bathrooms Heather! Not easy peeing in the woods when there aren't any leaves so I just held it! That certainly will not do on longer hikes. :o) So anyway, we had a great hike. I think we did a great job. I'm just a little slower and more careful than usual, but it's working out well. We've done Abram's Falls before, but I don't remember the last time we did it so it turned out to be a really fun day.

Following the hike, we met up with Aaron's family for dinner at the Smoky Mountain Brewery. Good stuff! I think mom had a great time talking Ireland with Aaron's dad, and I had fun catching up with his momma. Love it when everyone just works so well together.

To finish off a great weekend, me and Josh attempted to go fishing today. It was ridiculously cold so our attempt only lasted an hour and a half and we didn't end up with any fish. But we usually don't end up with any fish so the only difference was the cold. hehe..It was nice to get out of the house and try out my shiny pink fishing rod his mom got me for Valentines day.

So add another adventure weekend to the books. Nothing much coming up this week, but I have a baby appointment on Thursday and the Boro crew is coming up Friday night for the hunt on Saturday. Woohoo!

Pants and Advice

About time for a baby post I suppose. Since things are just moving along good this time (yeah for for that), there's not a lot to update. Next appointment is March 4th.

So I am officially in the stupid stage where I almost look pregnant instead of just fat, but I definitely can't fit any of my normal clothes. Yuck! Went to work the other day in one of my bigger pairs of cargo pants. Made it about 2 hours before I had to unbutton and yank my shirt over the top so I didn't look undone. Did I mention that already on here? Feel like I did. Anyways, it's getting worse. Definitely don't want to buy a bunch of those pregnant pregnant clothes yet b/c they're super droopy, but this is getting uncomfortable. Side Note: Hurray for low rise jeans. I made it a lot longer that I would have before they were popular. :o)

Advice? Okay any moms (or dads) out there actually reading this I need your help. I find out what Lil D is on March 17th and after that I guess we're supposed to do the registry thing. Problem is I know nothing about babies. So...if you have an opinion on the best things to register for and the stuff that ended up just sitting around your house wasting space, please post your recommendations here. Sheryl promised to go with me if I'm around Murfreesboro one weekend (woohoo for first momma's in your group of friends), but extra seasoned advice is always nice. And much easier to remember and reference if you write it here rather than telling me next time I run into you in the hall somewhere. Thanks!

Add another weird one to the books

Last night I dreamed I had a bunch of kids living in the woods outside my house. They were everywhere. Tons of them. I would go outside and talk to them. We would hang out during the day. Great group but they were just sad and a little rough. Typical movie stereotyped orphans I guess. Except these weren't orphans. Every few nights their parents would all drive in at once. They descended on the packed but peaceful woods and changed everything. I remember trying to talk to the parents like I did the kids and every thing I would say was wrong. Understandably. I didn't know what I was talking about but I just kept talking. Just dug my hole deeper and deeper with them. Things would tell me to just go back inside but I stayed.

It's strange b/c one night I was trying to get one of the kids back to her dad as he was leaving. But for some reason all the kids had turned into stray cats. Some scattering and hiding random places. Some walking around oblivious to what was going on. I picked up a particularly sad little cat and told this guy it was his. Didn't he want to take her home. He yelled and said to put the cat down. She would find her way home. I kept trying to convince him that she was little and it would just be easier if he took her then. But he wouldn't listen and starting yelling at me. I stood while he did, unflinching, but quietly set the cat down when he finished and went back inside. It was a loud night outside my house. All sorts of craziness must have been going on but I stayed inside.

The next morning I woke up and walked out into the sunlight. The woods were calm again. Empty except for stacks and stacks of sleeping bags piled up between trees. I remember it being completely dry and comfortable looking except there was no grass or leaves - just dirt. I thought well..if you had to stay in the woods, this would be the place and at least they had lots of sleeping bags. I was talking out loud to myself as I said this. "Well...at least they have a nice place to sleep" when behind me I heard footsteps and the little girl say "And what exactly do you mean by they?". It sounded so mean and I was ready to explain myself. They...as in you little kids sleeping in the woods! I don't even know y'alls names. What else am I supposed to call you? I'm sorry alright geez. But I turned around, and she was grinning. Perfect. Just teasing. With all the other kids behind her. Then we started the day once more. And WAKE UP!

Spread the word

It seems like everyone loves to make big announcements except me and Josh! It’s funny b/c we love for people to know, but we’re both terrible about telling people. So about two weeks ago after stressing out about it for the past 4 months, I told my new boss Sandi that I was pregnant. Being the wuss that I am, I prepped her by emailing and saying that I had big news and we should meet. Hehe...Being a great grandmother twice over plus having 3 kids she quickly figured it out once I walked in her office and shut the door. I told her that she could help me tell everyone around the office thinking ladies are good at spreading the word, but I know now that Sandi is a much better secret keeper. She didn’t mention it to anyone. Sigh.

So after another 2 weeks of stressing about it, I decided I would try the HR lady under the disguise of needing to know what my leave options were. Since my one year anniversary with Tremont will be December 2010 and Lil D will arrive in August I wasn’t sure how it was going to work out. Working at a small non-profit I figured I wouldn’t get any paid leave, but I didn’t want to have to quit my new fun job b/c of a stupid rule! I was in luck! Charlene was the perfect person to tell. At my request she has successfully told the whole of Tremont in less than a day. Ah...I love it. :o) Most of the folks here are either in grandparent mode or not ready for kids yet so I am the lone babymaker in the group. Hehe...Needless to say they are very excited and already want to know when Lil D will be around to play. My stress level is now back to normal. I can look forward to busy work days but also great support. Yeah! What kid wouldn’t want to grow up hanging out with smart folks in the national park? Hope he/she likes the outdoors.

Like old times...with a new twist

Went back to the Boro this weekend for a visit since Josh had guard. Convinced Isaac to go with me so I wouldn't have to drive alone and so he could meet all my friends there. The weekend was amazing! At least I thought so. Drove up Friday night. Drove the whole way myself and didn't even fall asleep! Thank you..thank you..thank you!

Saturday morning Aaron got in the kitchen and made me some BISCUITS! No really...we were well treated house guests and had a wonderful breakfast. After food, me and Isaac headed out to explore the Boro. A trip to Wesley turned up sad b/c all the students were away at a conference. A nice walk around campus. Then we headed up to Woodbury to visit my grandparents (thanks Isaac..you're a trooper). After that we headed up near her old house to visit the fire tower.

When I was little we spent alot of time in the summer at Granny and Papa's house in the country. I remember climbing the fire tower when we were really little and what an adventure it was. We would plan it out. Walk by the cemetery and pet the goats. Then journey up the fire tower. All the way to the top. Always locked so I've never been in it but still fun. When I was a little older and found Woodbury and Granny's not quite as excited as it once was, I would walk up there on my own with my journal and write. Perfect place to write. We combination of being alone and being with others as the cars drive by on the road right next to it. Quiet and noisy. Always a good breeze and something to look at in the distance. Isaac's a writer too so I figured he might like it. Though it was man-made I consider this my second hike with Lil D. :o) Ours this coming weekend will have to be #3.

The rest of the weekend was typical for our group. Dinner. A short break for Brandon's Dragon Tales bedtime ritual. I now know how to repel funky sad clouds. Then games all night. Don't remember how many we played, but I'm sure the girls won the majority. hehe..

Church was fun! Almost cried pullin' the parking lot seeing all the familiar faces walk in. (I'm supposed to be emotional right?? Come on. Give me a break.) Nice to see everyone and felt like home. At least my Sunday home.

Great weekend with great friends. Thanks guys!

Hope it's a fast day!

I'm headed to the Boro for a fun weekend of catching up with everyone after being gone for what feels like FOREVER. Josh has guard so I'm dragging Isaac with me to make the rounds. Should be an interesting weekend.

No baby news other than I gave up buttoning the pants I was wearing yesterday, and I will be thankful now for all these ridiculously long t-shirts they make that I never understood before. Haha! You stupid long skinny t-shirt - I will use you to hide the fact that I can't button my pants. :o) Josh claims that I look pregnant already, but I say I only look it right after I eat. That or this baby keeps appearing and disappearing in my stomach.

Have a good day!

The sleep after you hit snooze...

Okay so I figured out I usually dream in the short time after I hit the snooze button and before I actually get up. It's funny b/c it's only 8 minutes or so, but I have epic dreams. These two below aren't huge ones, but they get WAY worse. Enjoy.

The other night I dreamed that the whole crew was going on a cruise again. It was boarding time, and I wasn't going on this one b/c I was super pregnant by then. I was totally fine with that, but for some reason I REALLY wanted to eat the buffet they have the first day right after you board the boat. Which is funny b/c it's never really that good, and there are like 800 people eating at once. Regardless..everyone helped me sneak on the boat so I could eat the buffet then my plan was to exit before the boat set sail later that day. I got my food and was sitting down at a table with everyone and noticed that the group wasn't the same. Sat down next to Sheryl and asked what was up and she said that all the rooms were screwed up b/c they had weird numbers of people in their group this time. Some how Dave magically had another brother who wanted to go on the cruise, and he just so happened to be retarded (whatever the PC term is..I'm not sure. My sister Christy's "special" too so I get a pass when talking.). I looked across the table and there sat Dave's new brother acting goofy. Total sweetheart of course, but totally out of control. I remember thinkin' well this will be an interesting cruise..about time for me to get off. Then...I woke up. Weird...

Second dream this one was this morning. We were on a mission trip. A pretty gnarly one in some bad place. I remember a little hut that we all gathered in and then just trash every where. Like we were literally staying in a dump. Kind of like in that movie the Labyrinth when what she thought was her room was actually the dump with that weird lady. So anyways everyone was outside doing something and hopping from trash heap to trash heap. Things where getting crazy. Don't remember if it was dangerous or if it was just alot of work but something was going on. I was, of course, hugely pregnant (can you tell I might be worried about this??) so I was staying back kind of waiting. No one in my group knew I was pregnant so I think I was thinking about what to do and that I shouldn't have decided to come when one of the local guys came up to me. He was super tall and rough looking, but you could tell he was a nice guy. Maybe not the most trustworthy character, but friendly and thoughtful. So he stepped up to me and whisper (aye..girl what are you doing here like that? you know you shouldn't be here) and then glanced real quick at my belly and looked back up at the crowd. He said it so quiet no one could hear but me even though we were surrounded by people packed in. I was shocked b/c no one else who knew me realized, but this guy I had never seen did. He didn't out me..just left me standing there shocked and walked away. And I woke up.

Ha! Two strange ones. I love dreams!

Nice Environment

Okay so nothing baby-wise happened today, but I did stay late at work for their annual picture sharing night. It was really sweet. They all (by all I mean all like 15 of the people who work at Tremont) bring food for a potluck and put in 10 pictures. Then we have a big slideshow, and people tell about their year. Very family style. People joking, goofing off, just having a good time together. Definitely not a corporate feel. So nice. These people really love what they do. You can tell b/c they do it during vacations too! Tons of hiking/nature pictures. It's inspiring to work with people who love their jobs so much!

15 weeks today! 29 more days until we find out whether Lil D is a boy or a girl.

The Beginnings

Okay so here's the back story on Lil D for now and to begin my blog.

We had been trying for a while to have a kid since I had a miscarriage early last year. Just as we were starting to get worried that it would never happen and starting to get anxious, I found out I was pregnant! Yeah! It's interesting b/c we just moved back home, Josh just started his new job in October, and I started mine in December. We have no permanent living situation b/c we're trying to sell our house in Murfreesboro. Luckily - mom and dad's house hasn't sold, and they're letting us stay there. Not the ideal situation for a kid, but a good one.

I'm bummed b/c all my baby type friends are in Murfreesboro and my church. I feel kind of disconnected and lonely here now b/c we can't settle until we move to Maryville. It'll be okay though. You're all only a phone call away; right?

So as I said earlier the original idea for this blog was to be a pregnant hikers blog. I am going to try and complete as many hikes as I can in the smokies before Lil D makes his/her entrance into the world. Should be fun, and I would love to have you join me. Anyone? :o)

Here's the info on the first hike: 

To begin, we have my first official pregnant hike. Spruce Flats Falls and Middle Prong Trail Cascades with Isaac. Josh had guard that weekend, and it was supposed to be the prettiest day we had seen in a long long time so I called and begged Isaac to go hiking with me.

He didn't want to go at first b/c he said he was severely allergic to poison ivy/oak (or something in the woods). I laughed and said nothing was going to get him in the woods in winter and we would be extra careful not to touch anything. He was convinced!

So Saturday I packed us up a picnic lunch, and we loaded up the Echo for an adventure. We hiked around Tremont since I always hear people talking about the stuff there, and I have never hiked it. It was easy to see how little exercise wise I have been doing b/c I was winded on the first hill. Depressing. We got lost within probably the first 100 feet and had to follow a group of name brand sporting baby carrying family hikers to the correct path. We did make it to the falls and they were very nice. Had a great time catching up with Isaac and for the first time since I've come back to Knoxville it was easy hanging out with him. Kind of like it used to be.

After that hike we stopped for an early lunch (SORRY pregnant here..can't hike on an empty stomach). Then we successfully got lost trying to find the middle prong cascades. In our defense, the sign on the correct trail did say that the trail didn't go anywhere. Why would we follow a trail that said that? We ended up asking some old ladies (who looked like experienced hikers by the way) where to go and got going in the right direction. So we ended up with 3 hikes for the price of two and a little confusion and had a great time. As a follow up though...Isaac did get poison ivy just like he said he would. Which resulted in a outward appearance that apparently frightened small children and sensitive ladies and a shot in the butt. lol...sorry. So not funny. Definitely not funny. But if that was his last attempt at a hike in the woods, I'm glad it was with me.

Next hike: Aaron and possibly his parents and my mom on a hike in February!