Just some random stuff.........

I am trying to post more often now that I have more time at home. I feel like I am becoming too much of a homebody though. I don't really have any friends here yet that I can hang out with during the day. Everyone either works, goes to school, or has way too many kids at home to really hang out with me. I miss my life twin, Carrie and others that were in the same position as me. We were all pregnant and quiting our jobs. Gosh, I feel like such a loser! I am not working because I am going to be a stay at home mom, but also because I worked my butt off the last few months and was really looking forward to some lazy pregnancy time. Doesn't anyone else in Indiana want to do that with me? So anyway, I am getting stuff done around the house here with the grocery store and tv as my only social outlet. Kevin and I are having so much fun finally living together again after 4 long months away, that we are going on dates every night. We went and saw "Wall-E" a couple of days ago and of course, Kevin cried and we both loved it. So cute! July 4th is coming up and if you didn't know, it is one of my favorite holidays. I love the whole idea of it and I love parades, fireworks, and good food. I'm sure I will post about our celebrations soon. Another reason I am a homebody right now is because I have been having very intense back pain. It's not sciatica, I just have scoliosis (normally harmless) that is being horribly magnified by pregnancy. Now that I am gaining some weight, the lopsided part of my back is being pulled in a way that makes it hard to do anything. That coupled with the bad ligament pain I get in front just makes it extra fun. I really can't complain too much. I have had a pretty easy pregnancy otherwise. No nausea, fatigue, sickness, etc. I knew my back was going to be a problem and I know it will only get worse. It just makes it hard to get things done when it flares up. In other news, Kevin and I will be going to California at the beginning of August. Kevin is playing a show in LA (something he only gets to do once a year cause the rest of the band all lives in other states)and I will be having a baby shower. Very excited to see family and friends since I won't be there again until next January with our new baby girl. We will be in Utah for Christmas this year with Kev's family. We still have not found a renter for our house in Tampa, which is really stressing me out. It means we have to hire lawn maintenance and keep paying both mortgage and rent. When will it end? I don't want to be poor. Paying like $3000 in housing every month sucks. Praying that we will find someone soon. Well, not much more to report really. A new nest of baby birds is in our porch flower basket, the second batch this summer! Other than that, here are some random pics of our ever-flowering yard and our last beach trip in Florida.

This tree, on the corner of our lot, blossomed with tons of pretty white flowers.



Yet another rose bush that we didn't know about that just exploded with flowers one day.



We really started to think this guy was dead. He didn't move the entire time we were there. Finally, a lifeguard went over and checked on him. Creepy.



We will really miss those warm Florida beaches with the white sand, 85 degree water, and beautiful clear water!

5 1/2 months down, only 3 1/2 to go!

Here are pics from 4 and 5 months. I wore the same shirt so you can really see the difference.

20 WEEKS (5 months):





BACK AT
16 WEEKS (4 months):
(There really was a bump, I swear. Pictures just don't pick it up at this point. They are always bigger in person.)



I really have been terrible at documenting everything and taking the typical belly pictures. I really need to start a pregnancy journal or something so I will remember everything for next time. I have gained 10 pounds so far since the beginning, quite a bit in the last couple weeks. I didn't gain any weight during my whole first trimester and put on about 4 pounds between 12-16 weeks. Then another 2 between 16-20 weeks. Then a whole 4 pounds these last couple weeks. I still have about 15 or so more to put on if I want to meet the general weight gain recommendation. It just means I get to eat more! Yay! I love that part....... Anyway, our baby girl is SO active. She kicks all day and all night every single day since 16 weeks. I love it and it is so crazy to see your belly move like something wants to get out. Kevin loves feeling the kicks and squirms and I make him rest his arm on my belly all the time. The only time it gets annoying is when I wake up several times in the night from kicks and a full bladder. I still don't understand how I pee so much. I will COMPLETELY empty my bladder before bed. Inevitably, I wake up a few hours later to pee. So then I think, "Ok, that must be all the water in my body now since I haven't drank anything more" Nope. A few hours later, there is more! Where does it come from?!? Since everyone has been asking, yes we have been thinking of names, but we are not settled on one yet an probably wont be for a while. I am taking my sweet time with that one. It's a big decision. I haven't even registered or bought anything for the baby yet. I am probably a little behind. I feel like I have all the time in the world right now since I graduated and am not working. I still need to get a move on all this baby stuff though. I guess between doing the move, graduating, getting the house ready to rent, and doing 2 operas, I just want to enjoy the rest of my pregnancy. Every time I go to register for baby stuff, I start to feel overwhelmed. It's hard to know which things are the best and what you will really need. Luckily, I have lots of friends having babies this year that can give me advise. Is it just me or is EVERYONE having a baby? It's like the cool thing, or maybe it's just the age we are all at now. Anyway, I am also looking for a new doctor here in Indiana and have to register at a hospital too. I had to take a blood sugar test a couple weeks ago. I failed the first one and got all freaked out that I was going to have gestational diabetes or something. Fortunately, I passed the second (3 hour long) test no problem. I get to eat sugar! Hooray! So all is pretty much good here in Indiana. I am finally here after a month long engagement in Florida doing an opera. We then went to Nashville for a week for a convention, and now we are finally home together. This is a big deal because though we have seen each other every week or two, we haven't lived together since March. I don't know how we did it.......Well, this is getting long. More later!

This one is for Carrie.

I promised Carrie a while ago that I would do this since I was tagged. Now that she has moved, I wanted to dedicate a post to her and the rest of my friends that I am leaving or that are leaving also. Carrie, Kendra, Ashli, all my Tampa 2 friends, Dan & Kim, Christina, Becca, and anyone that I forgot. You have all made such an impact in our lives here in Tampa and you will all be missed. So excited to meet Ashli & Bart in Chicago! The rest of you should visit also. We have extra rooms. We love you all and promise to return from time to time! Now for Carrie's tag:

10 things I suck at:

remembering important things
karaoke (people always expect singers to be good at this)
falling asleep quickly
buying gifts
finishing my food or drink (always get full 2 bites from finishing)
meeting new people
giving in during an argument
being confident in myself
picking up after myself right away
arts & crafts

10 things I am awesome at:

getting ready quickly in the morning
forgiving
singing
stressing about the future
taking time to relax
understanding other peoples feelings
being open-minded
making up different uses for things
cleaning (after I have made a mess)
being married to my amazing husband

Just in case you ever wanted to know.........