A great Saturday

While I was at work today, Matt went to work on putting some finishing touches on the front of our house. In case you can't tell, we updated the light fixture, the number sign, and the mail box. Looks good! Matt is already itching to do the other side of the lawn with the brick layer, mulch, and flowers, and a backyard deck but that's going to have to wait until after Europe.



While he was busy at work on the house, after work, I went to Old Navy to buy some more maternity clothes. I got a couple of capris and maternity shirts. They are still all pretty big, but it's only a matter of a couple of weeks where I will have to wear those clothes. Then it was onto the hair salon. What do you think of this haircut? I like it. It's really short but I love the color! I like the haircut too. I can't decide if I want to keep my hair short or if I should start growing it out again. We'll see. Then I figured I might as well as make a girl day out of it and went to my local nail shop where I got a manicure and a pedicure. So now, I'm all pretty and ready to relax for the rest of the day. Too bad it's too late for me to take a nap. That would have made a wonderful Saturday!

Flower update

Just wanted to share how pretty our flowers have bloomed to be. FYI... this is the good side. On the opposite end, it seems like all the other pansies have died. I wonder what that means?

Allergies or pregnancy congestion???

Well, I might be experiencing another symptom of pregnancy... is it pregnancy congestion or just allergies? http://www.whattoexpect.com says "But your uterus is not the only thing that's starting to swell. The mucous membranes of your nose may also start to swell from all the pregnancy hormones circulating in your body, which are also increasing blood flow there. The result? Your nose probably already knows: pregnancy congestion, and possibly even nosebleeds." Well... I haven't had any nosebleeds, but this morning at 3am (I should have known my day would start out hectic), I was awoken by sneezing and nose congestion! Ah hah! But is that from pregnancy or just my allergies? My allergies out here are much worse than any place I have ever lived! I take Claritin once a day plus use a nasal spray that is a lifesaver! So lucky me! It's probably a combination of both. And it can get worse?? Looking forward to it!

Ug! Traffic!!!

So, I leave home at 5:50, yes in the morning to get to my early morning rounds only to discover that there was quite a back-up at 6:05 (yes still in the morning!!!)!!! So you can imagine how upset I was to discover a 5 mile back-up! So, I sat in PARK! for over 30 minutes. Then the tunnel I go through was still backed-up. So needless to say I missed my early morning rounds because it ONLY took me over 1 1/2 hours to get to work at yes... 5:50 in the MORNING! Uggghhh!

On a positive note, I get to watch the sun rise when I leave that early in the morning. Actually, I see the sun rise EVERY morning, because even on a "regular" day I leave the house by 6:20! Gone are the Riley days when I woke up at after 7am to get to work by 8:30 (and that was at the earliest)!

Beauty and sadness

Today is Monday and I am reminded of the beauty of life and sadness of life. Monday is the beginning of the week and sadly the weekend is over, but today I am reminded of how much more life has to offer. One of my old co-workers from Indianapolis experienced the beauty of bringing new life into this world. She gave birth to her beautiful baby girl, Julia early yesterday morning. With life, there comes death and sadly today, I experienced that as well. One of my patients from CHKD passed away last week and her Mass of Resurrection was tonight. This was the first patient I actually had developed a relationship with. Father Ken of the mass reminded us the death is not pleasant, it is not fun, but it is a part of life. We will all face death one day. But with death brings life. Today I am lucky enough to see that life, not only eternal life, but a little life is brought into the world today.

16 week belly pictures

You can also watch me grow at http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=hllnzph.c7gbacrt&x=1&y=5yjwka&localeid=en_US

My weight gain chart. Yes, I am a dietitian and therefore will be keeping tabs on my weight gain. Are you nuts?? Of course, I am going to keep track somehow! My goal is to stick to 25 pounds.

Trying to take a picture by myself...
The bloated belly...

Getting pudgy... and wider!

I kept telling everyone that the car picture made me look much bigger. But here I am at the 16 week mark. As you can tell from my weight gain chart (yes, I am keeping track by weighing once a week on Sundays), I am up 5 pounds today. My pants are surely telling me that I am definitely growing in the waist. I have to use a rubber band looped around my top button to keep my pants closed. Most of my pants are just too small to wear around the waist anymore. I've tried to wear my maternity pants, but they are just too darn big right now. Maybe I'll try again later in the week.

Something to note... My Mom said during the 16 week time is when she felt me move so I am cautiously feeling for any belly movement. I swear I felt movement really early, like at 14 1/2 weeks, which felt like bubbles. Not like just one bubble popping but like a bunch of bubbles popping in a row. But everyone tells me it was probably gas. Now come on people! I have been around for 29 years and I know what gas feels like! But who knows... maybe gas feels differently now that I am pregnant!

Home improvement!

Before the brick lay, mulch, and flowers...
Parker enjoying working being outside and chewing on a branch while we are doing manual labor.
Laying the bricks...
Laying the mulch...
Flowers planted!

We spent a majority of our Sunday doing a home improvement project. It's all about curb appeal per Flip That House on TLC. Let me tell you! Now I know why those landscapers and lawn people get paid so much money! It's hard work! Everything was manageable until we starting planting the flowers. It's so rewarding but geez... all that digging was rough! Good thing I had gardening gloves!