Personalize it!

I am a huge fan of making things your own (as in my ROCKIN' purse from Lynsie @ Wish Apon A Star Custom Crafts).

I finally got my camo onesies back from Heavenly Stitches here in Crestview, and they turned out so cute, I wanted to share! This is also where I had Kelsey's bachelorette t-shirts done, and my scrub jackets embroidered. They do AMAZING work, and the owner is a sweetheart!
Also, we received these adorable bath robes from Eric's brother Peter & his wife, Nicole.
Since getting back from NC, Eric has gone into overdrive with getting organized...and all around nesting ;o). We went through everything and organized it into sizes, and unpacked & put together the car seat.
He is so excited that he wanted to try out one of the infant carriers, and Koa was happy to oblige!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

This year we were blessed, because of me being on bedrest & Eric being forced to take leave, to travel to the great state of North Carolina to spend Christmas with my brother Mike, his amazing wife Michelle, and their two kids.

The drive up was great, there was no traffic and it only took us 11 hrs. Koa freaked out for about the first 3 hrs in the truck, and finally when I moved to the back seat and put him on my lap, he slept the rest of the way. Mike and Michelle gave us the entire upstairs and even went the extra mile to get an air mattress that sat higher off the ground due to my pregnant state :o)

The kids LOVED Koa, but Koa is a very mellow dog that spends most of his days moving from the couch, to his kennel, or our bed in search of the most comfortable spot to sleep. When we were decorating gingerbread houses Jacob was under the table with Koa, and we asked him what he was doing...and he very clearly said, "I'm touching the doggy's mouth!" Jacob just LOVED chasing Koa, but I'm still sure that Koa would have much rather been chased the entire time, then have to spend Christmas in a kennel!
Here are some pix I stole from Michelle's facebook & blog of our gingerbread houses (I forgot to bust out my camera, so she has all the pix on hers). I used mini nilla wafers to do my roof & I think it turned out pretty awesome...and Eric had fun decorating the walls & making the walk way. Mike & Michelle did the cute train on the right, and Dez made the awesome house on the left.

Lizzie is such a little character! She has a scowl that you wouldn't think possible for a kid under 2, but she never got tired of giving us the evil eye. We later learned that if you scowl back she will smile :o) As requested by my brother, we brought our xbox, and up until the last day this is as close to Uncle Eric that Lizzie would venture.
Michelle, who we now call Martha Stewart, did an amazing job with snowman-shaped buscuits & gravy for breakfast, and Christmas dinner. Eric did the turkey, which somehow always turns out amazing, and I made my Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie, which was a huge success...and second only to Michelle's Apple Pie. (Michelle, because of your mad kitchen skills, Eric has now requested that "since you're not working, it would be really nice if you could have dinner ready when I get home." I blame you for this!)

Michelle and I were able to go catch a movie, after everyone else went to see Avatar, and even though I had already seen it, I thoroughly enjoyed watching "The Blind Side" a second time. We had plans to go out to eat after, but instead we decided to hit up Motherhood Maternity at the mall, and both found something adorable!

We went along with their tradition of filling each other's stockings with goodies from the Dollar Store. I got Eric some silly puddy, little army men, and transformer stickers which are all in his ruck sack and headed to work with him...I can't wait to see where they end up.
Also, as many of you know, we are a house devoted to the Colbert Nation of Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, DFA of the Colbert Report on Comedy Central. He has an "on notice" and "dead to me" board that is always being updated, so when I saw this on their website, I knew Eric would get a kick out of it. He LOVES it, and can't wait to put it up at work and start adding people.

I'm pretty sure Eric and I entertained everyone with our "that's what she said," comments, and my on-going game with my brother of, "ya know how I know you're gay..." and Mike even called us, our last morning there, to thank us for making the trip. We had a blast!!

Our drive home was much different than our drive up. We spent an extra 4 hours in traffic on I-95 through South Carolina & Georgia due to accidents, but we made it home safely, very early Monday morning.

My appointment at the perinatalogist went well and I'm happy to report that both boys (yep, still boys!) are doing great and over 2 lbs each...that means I have over 4 lbs of baby in my belly...and still have 3 months to go! Wish me luck!
Here is Michelle and I Christmas morning...I think we're two hot mamas!

And....we're off!

Just wanted to write a short note to wish all my fellow bloggers a very Merry Christmas!!

We're about 2 hrs away from heading out, and I can't wait to get back home and catch up all on your blogs!

I'm super excited to see Mike & Michelle, and look forward to the endless sing-songs (w/ Mike), and fun crafts & baking (w/ Michelle). But I'm hoping for a freak warm front to grace NC while we are there :o)

I feel so very blessed to live in a country of religious freedom where we can celebrate the Savior's birth without consequence.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

My first battle with the mones

So Avatar was an all-around entertaining movie, but I don't think the 3-D was really worth it. We left the theater to head to my OB appointment on Eglin AFB and noticed it looked like a ghost town. I had about 5 minutes til I needed to be checked in so I handed Eric my ID card sent him to check in while I made one of my numerous potty stops.

When I came out of the bathroom he said that there was no one in the office, and one of the entrances was locked. I knew this had to be a mistake, so I went in the other entrance and I heard a bunch of people talking in the conference room (this clinic is notorious for leaving the front desk unmanned because they are busy talking with a friend around the corner). So, being the stubborn person I am, I walked in and said I had an appointment at 1500...they all looked at me weird and a lady escorted me back out into the waiting room. She said they were closed and had no afternoon appointments. *This is when I started to lose it*

Here is the background story why: When I was making my 2nd OB appt they gave me a little piece of paper with the babies heart rates, who I saw, and the time and date of my next appointment. So I showed up at assigned date and time only to be told that I didn't have an appointment and needed to make one. I told them the chick at the front desk wrote it down for me, but because I don't carry around little pieces of paper from morons for weeks at a time, they treated me like I was a huge inconvenience and said they would squeeze me in.

I could feel the tears coming and all I could say was, "this is the second time YOU guys have screwed me over!" Thank the Lord that Eric was with me and could explain, and she asked to see the appointment slip, which I didn't have and should have learned to guard with my life, then when she asked to see my ID she said, "Oh, I recognize your name, you had an appointment yesterday."

Eric was adament about making another appointment right then, but with the computers shut down I knew the likelihood of another screw up was too big, and I was in no mood to be there. I just started walking out. Halfway down the stairs the lady says that there is a male nurse midwife that could see me right now, but we were told BY THIS CLINIC that I was only allowed to see a Dr because I'm high risk. We told her this & continued to the car.

I held it together for about a minute after entering the car, but then Eric asked if I was ok...and I lost it! I just started crying, so he pulled over. I just kept saying how helpless I felt because I didn't have many options, and I felt like they just didn't care.

*Although I live more than 20 miles away from the military hospital, no OB's in my town accept Tricare Prime, so I would have to travel to Pensacola (45 miles away) to see the ONLY one that does accept it, which I hadn't heard good things about. I can't afford to switch to Tricare Standard because the co-pays are too high, and I am without a job because I wasn't at my hospital for a year, so I don't qualify for FMLA.*

I told Eric I just wanted to go home, so we headed north. When we got in our town he asked if it was okay to stop in Walmart because he found a bunch of undeveloped rolls of film while we were cleaning out the office. I said fine, although I was worried about how it would look...a teary-eyed pregnant women waddling behind my big 6'5" sexy beast.

We pulled into a spot and my cell phone started ringing, I could tell it was an Eglin hospital #, so I handed the phone to Eric and asked him to take the call because I was in no mood. They asked for me, and he told them that I didn't want to talk to them, but he could tell them what was going on. It was the only active duty nurse in the clinic and she wanted to find out what was going on, and how she could fix it. She said it was very important that I come in on Monday or Tuesday because she noticed that this was only my 4th scheduled appointment and I was over 6 months pregnant now (which was NEVER my choosing, thank the morons at the front desk!). She told Eric that she was physically watching them enter my appointment right then, and gave her direct line if there are any further issues.

I still felt like poo, and then I saw that they scheduled me with the Dr. that when asked about when I should start taking it easy, said, "well, there is nothing we can do until the point of viability (24wks), so we'll discuss that at the appointment nearest to that date." Way to make a pregnant women feel comfortable! Gotta love reactive medicine!

So, I came home, saw dishes in the sink, filled the dishwasher and went to bed. I was nauseous before we went to the movie, and was feeling worse after. Eric came and woke me up for dinner, which I ate a little of, and then I went back to bed. I can't remember feeling this depressed and helpless since my melodramatic days in high school!

But, there is always a bright side. I slept (stayed in bed) until 0600 this morning, for the first time since switching back to days...and I am SO LUCKY to have Eric by my side to pick up where I can't, and to be my advocate. Thanks baby!!

Is IMAX or 3-D really worth it?

Eric seems to be obsessed with IMAX & 3-D movies, so when he heard about 'Avatar,' thats being released today and available in both, he was over joyed! That is until he discovered the nearest IMAX theater was in Tallahassee (over 2 hrs away), but was still planning to make the drive because he is convinced it's worth it!

Is this the male obsessed phallic-extension syndrome like cars/trucks, guns, electronics, or is the 'experience' really worth it?

I say no. I have seen a few movies in IMAX, 3-D, and a combination of the two, and I just don't see why it's so awesome. Now, I did enjoy seeing an IMAX presentation about sea life while we were at Disney (I think), but not enough that I would make a 2 hour drive to see it again!

Alas, I convinced him NOT to make the drive and agreed to go see the first showing today in 3-D and then we are headed on base for an OB check up on the twins.

**Only 3 days til we leave for NC!! Michelle, can you handle it?!

Am I the only one?

On Sunday, my husband asked me why I was in such a bad mood, and I ever so nicely replied (without a hint of anger in my voice) "maybe it's because I haven't really slept in over a week!" I'm still struggling to get on a normal daytime schedule, which you can tell if you look at the times I post/comment. But, don't you wake up in a bad mood sometimes, for no real reason?

I was feeling really horrible about being in a bad mood, but then I was talking with a friend yesterday and she said that she woke up in a bad mood the other day for no real reason! So, I can't be the only one right?!?

Also, I'm really making an effort to be in a better mood and finishing my Christmas shopping last week totally brightened my day. I had found a few things the week before that I knew Eric would love, and last week I polished off his list with some of his favorite holiday treats (no worries, he doesn't read my blog...ever!). Just the simple act of wrapping them made me smile because I knew he would appreciate the thought, even if it wasn't electronics, which is supposedly a must for the male population.

I was VERY proud of myself for my behavior at the post office. I'm sure I'm not the only one that has had to brave the lines while trying to ship out the last few boxes. When I walked in I was abruptly stopped because the line was to the door, but I didn't let it bother me and took the time to address my envelopes so I wasn't being "that guy" at the counter wasting the clerks time. But then I hear a cough behind me and I turn around to this old man completely invading my space! I'm not talking about being 3-4' away, he was close enough to smell my hair!!! So, being the paranoid person I am, I swung my purse to the front of me (because I trust no one) and took a small step forward...but he did too and was even closer! Then he started coughing and I was thinking about all the horrible illnesses he could be harboring & scrolling through possible antibiotics & treatments he should be on (can you tell I miss nursing!!). BUT, through all my manic thoughts, I kept my composure and held my tongue even though I wanted to turn around and say, "I can just tell you what shampoo I use and save you the trouble!" I didn't let it affect the rest of my day, but just brushed it off as one of the many people I encounter that don't understand person space.

AND...I leave for North Carolina in 5 days!! This has been a constant spirit lifter lately as Michelle and I coordinate what goodies we are going to make and finalize the menu while we are there. My brother is in his first year of residency at an Army hospital, and doesn't have a lot of time off, so I'm really looking forward to spending some time with him. Michelle even commented that Mike and I use some of the same phrases...even though we haven't lived near each other since I got married! And, I'm going to be able to meet up with one of my Army wife buddies from HI that has retired in the same area. I'm so excited that even people invading my space can't keep me down!

My baby shower!!

So I know everyone has been DYING to see pix from my shower, so brace yourself because I am seriously one hot mama ;o)

Vanessa made me pose by her amazing spread of goodies...she did a sweets theme, and it was AMAZING!! (if you look closely you can see the sock monkeys her MIL made for the twins, in their matching camo vests & hats!)

striking a pose

baby food game (Gina & Sonya)

Molly & me (it was a really bad one!)

Amber & Desiree

Me, dog-Molly, Vanessa, & Jayden

my neighbors Kayla & Kendra

Guess what candy bar is in the diaper...I didn't really lick it!

Guess how many toilet paper squares it takes to fit around my belly...everyone guessed way higher than it really was

Ornament from Gina & Terry (my FL parents) was says "parents to be, 2009"

my "RAWR" face b/c the onesies were jungle themed

Some great Pooh stuff from Amber & Gina

Kelsey taking notes

Blankets from Kelsey & Jake that say "got milk"

adorable onesie

matching!!

Aloha onesies from Vanessa

handmade plush/satin blankets from Molly...don't you love the camo!!!

This is from fellow blogger Jeannie, these are what I would call deployment dolls. You put a picture of your service members face in them, so they won't forget what they look like....a must for any Army brat!

a Boppy from Amber & Gina!!!

And, Vanessa & Kelsey got me this Pooh carseat, one down & one to go!!!

And, Sonya wrote down everything I said while I was opening presents, then read it as what was said the night the twins were conceived:
'ok'
'that's so cute'
'i like it'
'oh yeah'
'i love the blue'
'i love blue'
'it says remove before you try me'
'noise makers'
'thank you so much'
'like, how dare you'
'oh my gosh'
'holy crap'
'really'
'thank you so much-oh my goodness'
'that's not a bad thing'
'exactly!'
'isn't that adorable'
'thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you'
'are we done?'
'Yeah!'
-this produced the most laughes of the night! Sonya also gave me the amazing gift of a photo session with the twins, once they are born!

I didn't post pics of everything I received because that would take forever, but I am set on clothes for the first three months (check out my facebook page for more pics)! I had a great time am so thankful for everyone that came & especially Vanessa & Kelsey for throwing it all together, and Desiree for helping them!

Sunday moments, on Monday

Yesterday I was very captivated by the High Council speaker we had in church. He made some excellent points and I walked away feeling inspired. He brought up the fact that many people seek spiritual guidance from their leaders without trying to change any of their behaviors first, such as making sure they are saying their daily prayers and reading the scriptures. Which reminded me of a piece of flair I saw on Facebook:I am a firm believer in helping those that help themselves, which I feel is the inspiration behind our church welfare system.

The speaker also reminded me to take control & responsibility of my own salvation. I have often heard of people complaining about different teachers at church, whether they are boring, they don't like the way they present the lesson, or they disagree with everything they say...but is that really the attitude we need to have? Only you can decide what you are going to take from a lesson, even if it is just a peaceful atmosphere.

And here is a poem that the speaker shared, which I had never heard before, but appreciate it more everytime I read it!

Invictus by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Vulgar or Hilarious?

Maybe I have been corrupted by my husband (which he loves to brag about), but when I saw this baby onesie in Spencers I died laughing, and immediately took a picture and sent it to Eric.Now, would I ever buy it...possibly, but unlikely ;o)

I just get a kick out of whacky stuff like this when I look at cute baby stuff all day.

Eric also showed me these from a t-shirt website, that also made me laugh.I have always liked non-traditional things...does this count?

Mary, out!

I had my last shift Monday night, and I was lucky enough to work in Pediatrics. As my belly has grown, and my body changed, it had become increasingly difficult to work on a normal medical-surgical floor and have up to 8 patients in my care. I really enjoyed working with a majority of the staff in these other departments, but I really like Pediatrics.

I am a HUGE believer in patient education/teaching, and make it my personal mission to answer every question posed, or find the answer. In my experience, as a patient, I often forget to ask the doctor questions during appointments and the military has more of a reactive approach to patient care. So, when I got this card in my box last month I was completely giddy!There are so many times that I attempt patient teaching and either the patient doesn't care, or I'm not as clear as I would want to be. It was also nice to run into the family, that wrote this, at Walmart 2 weeks ago, and they remembered my name and asked about how I was doing, and were excited to show the progress in their family.

With all the crazies I have come into contact with over my very short nursing career, it is patients & families like this that make it all worth it.

I'm going to enjoy taking a break while on 'modified bedrest' (which is just a precaution), but I truly look forward to having the opportunity to work with the community as a nurse.

For the first time in 8 years...

We have the opportunity to spend Christmas with family!!! Normally I would be working through the holidays, because people get sick all year, but due to my modified bedrest starting next week I have Christmas off. Also, for the past few years Eric has worked during Block Leave (mid Dec through beg Jan) but since he re-enlisted, he has to take his vacation days or he will lose them.

So, we are planning on heading to Fort Bragg to spend it with my older brother & his family. I haven't seen them since his med school graduation in May, and I look forward to seeing my SIL Michelle & my adorable niece and nephew. I called Michelle the other day and screamed "only 3 weeks!!!" She has been gracious enough to put up with my numerous phone calls, and mine & Mike's long conversations of swapping war stories.

My last two posts were not so happy, so I wanted to share this wonderful event that I have to look forward to. Michelle is also due the same day as me, so keep an eye out for AWESOME photos once I get back of all the fun we're going to have. Oh, and the best part...Koa gets to come with us!!

And, my baby shower is in one week! I know how much effort Vanessa & Kelsey have put into it, and I look forward to see lots of friends that I haven't seen in quite a few months.

That's about it for now, I've made my fudge for Girls Bake Day, so we'll see if everyone likes the changes I made from the original recipe.

-----------------------------------

**UPDATE**
Eric just called me from work (we both ended up working 6p-6a on the same night) and he has picked out the middle names for the boys, and I'm very impressed with his choices.

Cooper Aedan & Carter Amos

He picked Aedan, which is pronounced the same as Aiden but spelled the traditional Irish way (which is part of both of our heritage). And Amos, to pay tribute to his soldier that died in Iraq in 2004.

I have to say I'm quite surprised and so EXTREMELY happy that he didn't insist on using King as a middle name, like he has been threatening for the past 8 years ;o)

Do you really need to be that close?

Let me start by saying I love people, which is why I have chosen a profession that allows me to serve the communnity. That being said, this doesn't mean that I want to touch you, or be touched by you.

I have never really been a touchy person. I enjoy my alone time and ESPECIALLY my personal space. But, when in line at Disney World and other related events I understand that this is a priviledge, and I am willing to sacrifice.

I think this graphic explains it best, but in my perfect world, the 'intimate space' would stretch out to 4' with the 'casual space' being 4-12' away.

I'm not even a cuddler, ask Eric. Even when we are at home, we are on opposite sides of the couch. I just can't help but feel suffocated when I'm trying to relax and having someone touch me. I often put at least a pillow between me and the other person. When we are out shopping we only hold hands about 1/2 the time, which is almost always initiated by him...my poor Sexy Beast! I love him with all my heart and sometimes I'll keep my arm around his waist while we walk, but I just enjoy my space. I think a lot of it comes from all the years as a teenager being taught that touching was bad, then dealing with crazy long deployments where I was living thousands of miles away from family and didn't have that close personal contact with anyone. Once when Eric got home on mid-tour leave, he put his hand on my leg & I just about crashed the car!!! But I don't have a problem snuggling with Koa...who was the only 'person' I had that contact with while I was alone.

With this pregnancy I had extreme fears of random people feeling the need to touch my belly, and it hasn't been too bad. There have been about 3 incidents that made me think, "how would you like me to rub your belly without asking??" But for the most part, people ask before reaching in which gives me the opportunity to allow them into my personal space instead of them invading it, and I don't mind at all. This might all stem from my insane need to maintain control...

Am I just crazy, or does anyone else feel like this with people?? I don't have this problem with kids or animals...it's mainly just adults.

Yes, I already know I look tired

Some days I feel as though I should save the world a little trouble and start every conversation with, "I know I look tired/sleepy/in need of rest/like general poo." And, to everyone that feels the need to tell me this (every time you see me) it is getting harder and harder not to reply with "thank you Captain Obvious!"

As most of you know, I work nights. More specifically, my shifts start at 6pm (although I'm expected to be ready to receive report at 5:45pm) and end at 6am (which on a lucky day means I clock out before 6:45am). So, when you see me out running errands in the middle of the day, take a minute to think about how you would look functioning on 2-3 hrs of sleep. I have come to accept the dark circles under my eyes because I chose to work nights, and I understand it must be hard to look at me, but suck it up! I have never been one to wear make-up because I always considered the extra time it would take, which would cut into my much needed sleep...and I still don't plan to wear it.

I start my 'modified bedrest' next Tuesday, which means no more work. So, people of the world, please hold out for one more week. Hopefully once I am back on a normal daytime schedule, I'll stop being such a horrible sight!

P.S. I think most of the comments must be out of spite due to my rocking baby bump & ginorm rack. Being jealous makes my heart hurt!

A-mazing!

We had the pleasure of going to see "The Blind Side" this weekend, and were shocked by what a great movie it was. Eric had told me the first time he saw a preview a few months ago in the theater, and I knew that since it had his favorite actress, that we would be seeing it soon after the release.

Sandra Bullock was MADE for this role, and continued to keep the audience's attention throughout the film. She has always been one of my favorite actresses, and I was thoroughly impressed by her last film, The Proposal, but all her films pale in comparison to this performance!

It is based on a true story about a young man that is adopted by a family, 'because it's the Christian thing to do,' and his rise in football and the changes in his life.

This is definitely going on my must-buy list when it comes out on DVD, and I suggest that you ALL take the time to see it in the theater. You will not be disappointed!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I have been thinking a lot about what I wanted to say on this wonderful day, and no matter which way I looked at what I was ultimately thankful for, it always came down to one thing...people. I'm thankful for my family, friends, and everyone I have had an chance to come into contact with.

I have had the opportunity to work with a new hire at work who is from Japan and has only been in the US for a short time. Her English is coming along great but she is still very unsure of herself, as I'm sure I would be too, so I took every opportunity to celebrate every accomplishment. There were ups, downs, freak-outs (by patients & families), but also quite a few high-fives and smiles. I try to take the time to congratulate her and remind her that she is a smart person, and one time she said something along the lines that 'if I only knew.' So I said, "there are more than enough people in this world that will drag you down, don't be a part of it!" After a further explanation she said she will always remember that.

I am so thankful for chance I have to interact with the public, even when the outcome is less than desirable. Just this week I ran into a family whose baby I helped care for, and they remembered my name and were so excited to see me and interested in how I was doing.

I am so thankful for my calling at church and those AMAZING teenagers I have the chance to interact with every Sunday. We have such great conversations about applying the gospel to our everyday lives, and they can all recite my own personal mission statement: approach each situation with love.

But, when all is said and done, I am most grateful for my Eternal companion, Eric. He drives and motivates me to be the person I want to be. He is my best friend and confidant. He is my partner in crime...and I am a better person with him by my side.

I am a people person, and I want to thank everyone that reads my blog for letting me express myself and fulfill my innate desire to interact with people everywhere.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mary's Baby Shower

To all that read Mary’s Blog posts and that are as amused as I am by her outlook on life,

My name is Vanessa and Mary is one of my dearest friends. Mary and I met in nursing school a few years ago, but it feels like we’ve known each other a lifetime. I’m not sure I would have made it through nursing school without her. You see….she was the other half of my brain many a days. I have 3 crazy children, was working part time during nursing school and had a husband who was always gone (military). On the days that we had school, Mary would always show up to my house early and jump in to do whatever was necessary to get me out of the door. She made sure my kids were fed, their teeth were brushed and their clothes matched (a feat within itself with my daughter, Jayden). She would find my misplaced keys, books, homework or all the above and she even plucked a kid or two out of the bathtub a time or two. She did all this never complaining (maybe under her breath, but I never heard it)…. and never expecting a thing in return (except for me to carry her unborn child if she couldn’t get pregnant... thank God she did… but I so would have!) She has helped me paint, completely remodel my daughters room, lay hardwood floors, driven me to the ER and even made sure I had my favorite Starbucks white chocolate mocha delivered to the floor on my first day of clinical 4th semester(I was crazy nervous because I was the first one to be team leader). Not to mention she has also been a “fill-in” parent for my kids soccer/ballet/school orientation when a “real” parent was unavailable.

Needless to say, Mary has been a great friend over the last couple of years, so I want to return the favor by throwing her a super awesome baby shower. This is why I am writing to you. I am a silent stalker on Mary’s blog page, so I know how much support and encouragement you provide her and I can see how much you all care about her. She would be thrilled if you could all be a part of this special time in her life. I am having her baby shower on December 12th, so if you would like to send a small gift, donate a couple dollars towards a bigger gift (stroller, car seats etc) or even just send a card with some words of encouragement… (she is having twins… and boys at that) then please email me at vrittle@gmail.com and I will send you my address. I promise I will post tons of pictures after her baby shower. Mary is truly blessed to have friends like you.

Thank you,
Vanessa

Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby

While shopping at Wal-Mart or Publix, I often find myself grabbing the generic brand of almost everything because I can be quite frugal. This is often the better choice because of the price difference, and most times the brand name product isn't visibly that different. I practically lived off of the Publix brand of Diet Ginger Ale the first 15 weeks of this pregnancy, and don't mind grabbing a Wal-Mart brand soda if it is available.

I'm not sure if you could call them "cravings," but there are certain things that I have started to prefer. Orange anything being the main offender. I have always loved orange juice, but now I have to keep Sunny D in my fridge and a case of Diet Sunkist in the pantry.

Our last trip to the store I decided to give the cheaper brand a try:


They are both the most disgusting soda ever!! I don't have to worry about them going to waste because Eric will eat or drink anything that hasn't spoiled, but now I'm CRAVING 'good' orange and grape soda.

So, take heed, and stay away from these drinks!!! Your mouth will thank you!

What off brand have you bought, and then regretted???