december 11th

is my last day of work & i can not wait.

i will miss: some of the wonderful women that have taught me a lot during the last 18 months.
i will not miss: the other women who have made me want to bang my head on the wall & pull out my hair.
i will miss: alcon paychecks.
i will not miss: driving into fort worth everyday to work.
i will miss: lunch dates with girlfriends where we rag about our jobs.
i will not miss: wearing super uncomfortable heels.

i am going to enjoy my time off with my family && take in every new experience with my sweet little baby.

labor questions & update...

we went for our 37 week check yesterday! we had a sono & saw little baby jag relaxing. head is down which was wonderful to hear. my doctor asked me over and over again if i have any labor & delievery questions...and she seemed a little nervous/peeved that i kept saying no. i don't have any because i've heard everyones' version of their labor(s), and i've read books, and i know it's completely different for everyone. but i think she wants me to come back wednesday with questions...so if you have anything good, let me know what to ask. ;)

baby's due date is still set for december 20th and she said at this visit that if i hadn't already had the baby by then, that she'll induce me that monday, december 21st!! yay!!! we'll have a baby at home for christmas. :)


xoxo,
mal

30 things that i'm thankful for

...yea i should have done one each day in november instead of waiting until the last day of the month, but that seems to be my personal theme of the semester---waiting until the last minute!

1. jesse... so, so good to me.
2. jayden... funniest kid i know.
3. jagger... gave me extra motivation to work harder in school.
4. my parents... they're wonderful & supportive & always there when i need them.
5. macy... she's such a great role model for jay & i'm excited to see her interact with jag.
6. my job... just glad i have one!! and that they're always willing to work with my school schedule.
7. my in-laws... they've had such a rough year, but they are constantly putting others before themselves.
*special thanks to the father-in-law for laying our beautiful hardwood floors :)
8. CEREAL & Organic milk... Yummy!!! Craving #1.
9. Dairy Queen's dipped cone... Delicious!!! Craving #2.
10. Tylenol... the 3rd trimester back pain has been intense.
11. my new haircut & color... i feel like a new woman!
12. blogs... they give me good ideas for crafts, decorating my house, and advice on families.
13. our home... its colorful, cozy, and just enough for our family.
14. our new bed... going from queen to king was amazing...especially with a growing belly.
15. my education... i'm so close to having the degree in my hand. finally.
16. sweet tea... giving up cokes sucked & sometimes you just can't have another glass of water.
17. cute maternity clothes... i've never worn leggings as pants until now. they're heaven!
18. paint... everything looks better painted! and if you pick a color & then don't like it...pick another. :)
19. sewing machines... i was scared to try but sewing is one of the most relaxing things to do.
20. plastic surgery... even though i haven't had any, its something i like to think about every time i look in the mirror and don't like what i see.
21. good movies... i love watching something over & over again. steel magnolias & knocked up.
22. good tv shows... criminal minds, ncis, and madmen are my top 3 :)
23. resale shops... i love jag's bassinet. its original looking and not in everyone else's house.
24. iphones...even though i said i would never get one, giving up my blackberry for the iphone was the best thing ever. i love it!!
25. fans... i don't know what i would do if i was 9 months pregnant in july/august heat.
26. pedicures... always nice to have someone else rub your feet.
27. make up... always feel better with my eyes done up.
28. nick jr... for being educational & fun to watch. i don't mind having the tv on if max&ruby is playing.
29. paul mitchell skinny serum... makes my hair smell amazing & cuts my drying time in half.
30. my life... being here & having people to love & having people here who love me.


***tomorrow we go in for week 37 check. at 36 i was dialated to a 1, so lets see if we've made any progress. my semester will be over with on saturday, yay!!!***

Don't know why, but I love this.

I'm 31 weeks and 3 days pregnant.
I find it very difficult to roll over in bed, get out of bed, get off the couch, etc.
I can not sit in a chair for more than 30 minutes at a time.
I can not fall asleep without the assistance of 2 tylenol pm.
Jay and I play 'hospital' everynight! (Many thanks to Nana for the doctor kit...he LOVES it!)
I go back to the dr. on the 28th :)

Ok, I'm trying this out again...

Ok, I really need to keep up with this thing better...it's been a while.

I entered my 27th week of pregnancy yesterday && I feel pregnant...for sure. I'm having a hard time getting up off the couch/bed & I had to buy maternity shirts b/c my regular ones that I've been wearing the whole time are too short. :( We go to the DO on the 30th & we're taking Jay with us for the first time...hopefully he will get to see his brother/sister! Due date is still Dec. 20th and my shower is Oct. 3rd!

*Maybe Mom and I should start working on that nursery?!?!? ;)

School is going good. I'm taking 15 hours (Religion, Macroeconomics, Managerial Accounting, Business-Computer Applications (should be called blow off Excel class...total waste of time!), & Business Communications (class with most real-life things in it...building an on-line resume site). I'm officially at Texas Wesleyan University full-time & will graduate (fingers-crossed && lots of prayers) in December 2010.

Jesse & Jayden are doing good. Jess got a promotion at work! :) And we're very excited for his new title & responsibility. Jay is preparing for his role as "Big Brother" (he said that's what Jag will call him). He talks to Jagger & they tell stories to each other & laugh & he gives my tummy lots & lots of kisses. He always ask when will Jagger come out & play and when 'he' gets here can i feed & hold 'him' (he is positive he is having a blonde hair, blue eye, brother!). He's been getting tons of practice playing with Marissa, she follows him around the house like a puppy.

Friday (09/18) was Bryan's 28th birthday and we celebrated with lots of balloons, cake, and food. The whole family went out to his grave & we let 28 balloons go and played his music, then drove to Grandma's house for lots of mexican food. Everyone had a great time...Jayden even lost his boots in the process. Silly kid...

I will get better at my blog I promise. I will even start uploading pictures again...just been busy with life! :) Lots of love!

wednesday....

first, happy birthday nana! lunch was great and i'm loving the cake at my desk.

second, let's think of ways that i can make money, take care of my kids/husband/house, and continue my school schedule without having to lose my mind completely.

here are some ideas we covered today. each has pros & cons but that will be a different post. if you have more ideas then feel free to share!!

-watch a kid or two at my home
-work @ the aisd daycare (possibly split a ft position with mom)
-subsitute teach
-make a craft (jewelry/notepads/clipboards/gift wraps.....) and then sell at schools & other random spots.
-work @ texas wesleyan before/after classes.
-work @ alcon (this is the one jess is all for. this is also the one where i will make the most money...)
-be an interior painter (would probably need mom to be in on this idea!)

so...one of these has to be the answer. classes start august 24th and the baby is due december 20th, so his allows me only a couple of months to test out my ideas & make something happen. whatever i decide to do it will happen when classes start again after christmas break, around january 18th or 25th... i will take all the advice/ideas you can send my way.

thanks!!

xoxo
mal

the merge

i decided that i could barely keep up with one blog...let alone 2...so i merged them together & deleted the baby one.

news...
we have our 20 week checkup today. yay, i'm half-way through this process. (and as long as it's a boy i may not have to do it again...)
mom & i have been working on cleaning out the baby's room & organizing my house.
we decided on a name (for boy or girl) JAGGER BRYAN BAXTER. "JB" if its a boy after Jess' great-grandfather.
my contract at alcon was extended until i go out on maternity leave. yay!
school starts on the 24th and i am NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING BACK!!!!!! :(
saturday night (08/01) i felt my first real, semi-power movement in my tummy. it was like a rubberband had snapped inside...a little sting and then a smile across my face. super cool! ready for he/she to move around so everyone can share in the experience.

well, that about sums it all up. jess & jay love talking to my tummy and so far no stretch marks. keep your fingers crossed on that one! :)