passing the time by doing a little browsing...

I love Internet shopping!! I always forget about it and always instead drive from store to store and fight the crowds. Being on bed rest, thank goodness, does not let me endure this. Instead I can browse from the comfort of my own couch. I purchased a few last items that I needed for the baby coming...

Pink of course!

I was bad and added this to my registry at the last moment so I could get 10% off of it when completing my registry. Gavin needs it for his new room!!

I also ordered Teagan's Easter basket, but was broken hearted when I realized Potterybarn kids did not have the liner I wanted this year. It also matched Gavin's liner!! Luckily I found it on Ebay. Not only did I find it, but it was cheaper too!! I was over the moon!

...and then I started looking at some other fun stuff. I can not tell you how excited I got finding matching outfits for Easter on Gymboree.com. How cute is this stuff! I LOVE the matching striped dress and button down collared shirt.

Mark, if you are reading this, don't worry. I SOMEHOW was able to restrain myself and did not purchase any new clothes. Our family usually keeps it pretty casual for Easter anyway. Instead of dressing up for Easter church service we like to go to the beach for the sunrise service. But how cute would the new little brother and sister be matching??!!

By the way, in case you didn't catch it written above, we did finally decide on a name for our little girl! Teagan Grace. Can't wait to meet her... well I can wait a few more weeks... or... at least a few days!! :)

up, up and away...

So sorry, I am still here!! I know I have had a lot of time on my hands being on bed rest, but it is hard to type on my side (the position I am supposed to lay) and Mark has been using the laptop a lot for work. The good news is that I am still pregnant. We did get another scare on Sunday. I went to the hospital again with more contractions and my condition was worse this time. I wasn't responding to medicine as quickly and actually was admitted to the hospital to spend the night. Just as Mark and I were getting settled in my room the nurse came in and told us that my belly had settled down for enough time and the doctor was sending me home. Yippy!! My bed felt so good that night! Things have stayed fairly quiet since with a few contractions here and there. I did see one of my doctors yesterday. I love him. He is Jamaican and has a very humorous, calming way abut him. I asked him if he thought this little girl was going to stay in for a while longer and he responded, "Well... I believe in the power of prayer." I couldn't help but laugh and say, "oh great....!!!" So, if you are not too busy, say a little prayer for me!!

Gavin is having a much better week than me. He is over at my mom and dad's this week so I can completely rest and Mark can work. My parent's picked him up in my dad's airplane on Tuesday. I talked to him about flying before he left and he informed me that he is Grandpa's co-pilot. So glad for that!!

 This is Gavin's serious thumb sucking routine. When he brings both hands up you know he needs some serious comfort. He rubs his upper lip. He must have been a bit nervous about performing his co-pilot duties.

I miss him dearly, but I know he is having a great time. I also know I have to move my mommying thoughts onto this little girl right now to get her baked. She lets me know she is doing good. It feels as if she is doing dance aerobics in my belly!!

to my valentine...

I am a lucky girl. I woke up this morning to my Valentine greeting me in bed with a special valentine card just for me. I don't feel too special this year... big belly, in bed, but somehow my husband still finds me loveable... or so he says! Thank you Mark!! I dedicate this post to him. I know this is totally cliche' and stolen from someone else, but my husband completes me. I can't imagine my life without him and I don't feel whole unless I know he is near. Here are my other top ten reasons why I love my husband...

10.  He knows my past. Mark and I met when I was only 14 on the big yellow school bus. We truly grew up together and he totally gets stories of old friends, teachers, events, etc. I love being able to reminisce together.

9.  Even though it drives me nuts sometimes I love that he has such a spirit for life. He keeps things interesting with all his dreams and plans.

8.  He is the funniest person I know. He and I are able to laugh even during the oddest occasions. For example, I had to go to the hospital on Saturday and Sunday for some medicine and monitoring. I did NOT want to go! On Saturday Mark dropped me at the door of the hospital and went to go park the car. As I was waiting, all of a sudden I saw him flying around the corner wheeling as fast as he could in a wheel chair for me. He was flying down the street. He had ridden in it all the way from the parking garage down the ramp! He had the biggest, silliest smile on his face and I and the rest of the onlookers couldn't help, but laugh.

7.  He is the best daddy! He makes time to make Gavin feel so special and knows how to make him laugh more than anyone else. Right now, with me on bed rest, he has started to take Gavin to his weekly partners and play class for toddlers. He gets right in there with all the kids and moms playing and singing the songs.

6.  He is the best dad to the dogs too. Even though he might be so tired or busy he makes time to take them to the park, beach or play with them in the backyard.

5.  He cooks! When he has the time he makes the best concoctions. I especially love his popcorn and milkshakes.

4.  He works so hard for our family. While we were living full time in Colorado Mark sacrificed sleep, peace and mental well being to fly back and forth between Florida and Colorado every other week to keep all the businesses afloat.

3. He is very, VERY giving. He works hard to be loyal and take care of the people that are important in his life. As I write this, with everything else he has to do, he is on his way downtown to take gas to our neighbor who is stranded and can't reach her husband.

2.  I can share anything with him and know that he loves me unconditionally. I couldn't ask for anything more.

1.  He is my best friend and I love sharing all of life's experiences with him.

Happy Valentine's Day Mark!

update... in the pursuit of baby baking...

Sorry for the delayed post this week, but life has been a little crazy. Life has made us check ourselves and reminded us that things are unpredictable. On Monday I went to the hospital with cramping, pain... and then contractions. I was actually very stubborn. I talked to my doctor's office in the early afternoon and was so upset when my doctor recommended me to go to the hospital. I told the nurse I really thought I was fine, that the pain was mild and I waited about 3 hours before heading to the hospital. As Mark and I were preparing to leave I had my first contraction. It kinda slapped me in the face and told me yes, my doctor was right!!! I continued to have contractions at the hospital, but they were able to stop them there and I got to go home after about 5 hours. But now... alas... I am on bed rest. I don't know why my body does this!!! I am not complaining though! Things could be SOOOO much worse and I am already blessed with being pregnant, I will do what ever I need to to keep this baby bakin'!!

Thank goodness for family and friends!! Mark's mom took care of Gavin on Monday, my friend took Gavin and her little girl Tuesday (to a carnival!) and yesterday, my mom is here now helping (our house is a disaster!!) and Mark's mom is helping again this weekend when I have to go back to the hospital for some medicine. I can not express how blessed I feel for my husband, family and friends. Everyone is pitching in. Mark is so amazing too. I could not even imagine a better husband. I am so lucky.

The only thing is... I am so antsy!!! You would think bed rest would be a gift, but I was ready to get up after about the first 2 hours! All my friends and family out there... call me... anytime... about anything... I am here!!!!!

I will try to continue to post new stuff other than what I am reading. Gavin did switch to his new room and big bed last Friday. I am dying to take some pictures and share them with you! He is doing great! He loves his new bed and is sleeping really well. He does love to look at books in bed when he is supposed to be sleeping though. Before we go to bed we always check on him and have to pull a huge stack off of his bed. His room also has french doors with glass windows. The second night he was sleeping in his new room Mark and I were watching a movie and all of a sudden Mark whispers to me, "there he is... he is looking at us..." And sure enough there was a little face peeking around his curtains at us. I had to do everything in my power not to laugh. What a little monkey... in his new big boy bed!

good golly tamale..

Wednesday the 2nd was the day I was to make tamales for everyone after finding the Baby Jesus in the Rosca de Reyes. If you are COMPLETELY confused please refer back to this post. I must confess I did not hand make any tamales. Actually Mark went and bought some for me. But I did give them to our crew leader, Carlos, who seemed much appreciative and happy I participated in this tradition.

The tamales were awesome. I had no idea how to cook them. I heated them in the oven and then tried to fry/toast them on either side.

We then realized that the outer shell is a corn husk I don't think you are supposed to eat. Our family had the worst (nutrition wise) dinner. We had some of the tamales, nachos and of course some guacamole... which we ate all of it! Everything was so good though!

The funny thing is is that one of the Baby Jesus figurines has become Gavin's new favorite toy. I think it fell off my bulletin board and Gavin claimed it as his own. We find him in the weirdest places. Playing in Gavin's rollipop...

In candles, under the dog beds. Actually Gavin said that Baby Jesus was hiding under the dog beds. Didn't know Baby Jesus was so mischievous!! I never thought I would be yelling across my house to some one that I think I saw Baby Jesus on the couch!

milestones...

I have always felt milestones in Gavin's life with both happiness and pride AND tender sadness. When he was first born everyone, even strangers, told us how fast he would grow and now I tell new parents this same thing. Time really flies!! We are getting ready to embark on a new milestone, moving Gavin from his crib to a big bed. I can't believe it! Even though he is not attempting to climb out of his crib I think it is about time. He looks pretty big on his little mattress. And yes, we have to get it ready for his little sister! My mom and Mark painted his new room this weekend. and I am slowly setting everything up. Today, when I put Gavin down for a nap, he actually got upset and said he wanted to get in his new bed. I better finish things!! In my eyes he is still my little baby, but I think he is ready to become a big boy.

I can't believe it was a little over two years ago we were preparing this room for our sweet Gavin's arrival.

Luckily our renters did not paint the walls and we were able to set his room back the way it was. I will admit, it was the one room I had such a hard time packing. I cried! I am glad Gavin got to enjoy it after we moved back.

 We did a baseball theme for Gavin's room. The joke was that we chose sky blue and baseball diamond dirt orange for the walls. I was able to download of the Internet the same font the Boston Red Sox use and printed Gavin's name in it.

 I painted a plain white table cloth with a baseball, grass and ants.

 I also printed out pictures from the Internet of our favorite and most famous baseball stadiums. Fenway, the old Yankee, Wrigley, the old Tiger stadium and Coors Field are all included.

 Luckily this couch is white and Fenway green striped to fit into the design scheme. If anyone is not a Red Sox fan this color green is sacred to fans! You can actually find out the panetone number of this color!

I actually was glad to get some pictures for his baby book. I admit, things were too crazy when he was first born that I never took pictures before we moved!!

I will definitely share some pictures when his new room is completed... hopefully soon! I know Gavin is ready!