We Passed!

Well, that's what they tell us, but the real test will be when baby Drew arrives.

We finished our 7 week birthing/Lamaze classes this past Monday. I'm not sure if we will remember all the techniques while I'm in labor, but you never know. The hardest part for us is remembering which breathing method to use at which stage of labor. I'm thinking that as long as I use a techniques at some point, that is ok with me.

The best part is since we attended each class, we received a certificate for reimbursement for our insurance company. Sweet! That means the class will eventually be free for us, that is when ever the insurance company decides to cut us a check.

So, the classes were definitely an experience. I learned some things about the different epidurals, breathing patterns, watched some video's on birthing, learned how to bath and clean a boy (that was somthing I really needed to learn), was taught how to swaddle a baby and everything in between. I'm happy we went since it was a refresher for Jeff and hands on learning for me.

Happy St. Patty's Day

I am a tad bit 'o irish. I am a "mut" if you will, of ethnic background from my family. I don't mind it. When people ask me what "I am" I may rattle off the whole list, or I may just say a few. It all depends on my mood at the time.

Well, today is St Patty's Day. I'd like to share my favorite Irish poem. Yeah, its on a lot of collectables if you walk into an irish heritage store, but I like it. I have a blanket with this poem stitched into it and I love it so much, I don't use it. I don't want to ruin it.

May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields, And until we meet again, May God hold you In the palm of his hand.

Just remember, even if you aren't irish the rest of the year, you are irish on St Patty's Day. Celebrate responisbly and enjoy!

New Celebrity Crush

We all have them, those celebrity crushes. Some people do go over board with there's, but I just like to watch them do their handy work whether it be acting, comedy or sports. Since that's the reason they are in the spot light and get the celebrity attention right? I may catch up on some gossip from time to time on them too, but I wouldn't even think of stalking them or anything silly like that since that is way too creepy.

My new crush added to my "list" of favorite's is Dane Cook. He started off as a comic and has been in a few movies from time to time. If you've ever heard his comedy routine, he's very rude, crude and raunchy.....but he's hilarious at the same time. Oh, and to me, not so bad on the eye's either.

He's coming around our area for the first time for a show at one of the Connecticut casino's, but I can't go since its a few days before my due date. That is all I would need, to be sitting in the audience, laughing and my water break. Then have to rush almost 2 hours home to get to the hospital. So, hopefully soon he'll be back in the area again since that will be a great night out!

My other crush that hasn't left the top of the list is Wentworth Miller. He's been on my "list" since we discovered Prison Break a couple of years ago. Yeah, he is the main reason now to watch the show since the story is way out in left field, but with him in the show, its tolerable. Jeff teases me that we have to watch my boyfriend when we watch the show. Hey, he has crushes too!! I'd like to see what he'd do if Christina Aguilera walked by him and see his reaction!

So, who are your celebrity crushes? Any new one's like me? Any old one's you'd like to share?

Touch of Sadness

Cancer has been a part of my life history. My mother was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma when I was 6 years old (she was in her late 20's). She had a 30% chance of living and she survived. The end result is I still have my wacky mother around and I am grateful.

Others aren't so lucky. Jeff's mom passed away several years ago from lung cancer. It was hard on the entire family from the start of her illness and continues through the present. She tried her best to fight what was taking over her body, but the cancer won.

In the past two years I've known 4 people who was diagnosed with some sort of cancer.

A co-worker, a little over a year and half ago was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a successful battle and is doing well.

One of my cousins wife was diagnosed with colon cancer in the fall. She was told in February, she is free and clear of the disease after her treatments.

A close friend in Maryland was diagnosed with prostate cancer in February. His cancer was caught early so his outcome looks great.

A co-workers mother was diagnosed with lung cancer 6 weeks ago and lost her battle on Sunday. She went to the hospital for pneumonia and they found the cancer in her lung and by that time it already in stage 4. She was only 54 years old. Her wake was Weds evening and considering the circumstances, it was lovely. A lot of people showed their respect for the family in a beautiful setting.

So, what I want to say is this.....live your life to the fullest, don't take anything for granted, always tell your family you love them and enjoy the day to day adventures since you never know what card you will be dealt with in your life. Its hard to do that everyday with things we may come across, but its so worth it. You just never know what tomorrow will bring and its better to know that you did something rather then say, oh I wish I told that person I loved them for one last time.

What a Sweetheart

Yeah, I'm talking about my husband. Yeah, at times he can be a pain, not listen, play those stupid video games and just not get what I try to tell him.

But, when he does little things to show that he cares or loves me, it just erases all the petty things.

The other day, I received a text message from him while I was at work. It put a huge smile on my face when I read it. He mentioned he doesn't say it enough and its way over-due but pregnancy agrees with me, that I have that glow that everyone talks about and it looks great on me. He also said that I am doing a great job taking care of our child and he is proud of me.

It just blew me away. I didn't respond with my usual saying of, OK what do you want. But I wrote him back that I think we will make a great team raising our child and that he was the best. Then his smart-ass response back was yeah I know. So, we were back to our "normal" harassing each other moods at that point, but, I just thought it was so sweet to get a random text from Jeff saying stuff like that.

Wordless Weds - Grandpy's Party

Grandpy's Apple Pie/Cake

Ally & Grandpy

Uncle Jeff & Ally

Do you feel pregnant?

People look at my basketball size belly and ask, do you feel pregnant? Most of the time, no. This is the common question of the day.

When the little one isn't moving around, I don't feel the extra weight like I thought I would, so at times I don't feel preggers. Yesterday morning I was driving to work, and Drew was quite and so I felt like I did pre-pregnancy. Its a weird feeling now-a-days. I thought I would feel extremely bloated or something like that, but for the most part I don't.

The times I do feel pregnant are when I have to pick something up off the floor, tie my shoes, shaving my legs (when I have the ambition to do so), anything to do with my feet, when my belly gets in the way of others walking around me or when the baby is moving. But this isn't constant (except for Drew moving around), its only at certain times. So, I don't mind it.

Over all, my pregnancy has been smooth sailing (after the first trimester hormone adjustments) and I'm enjoying every last bit. I can't wait to meet the little boy that who has sparked this question.