Thursday Thirteen #46

Yes, I know there are still many, many days until my little guy's due, but I'm an obsessive compulsive list maker. :-D So I figured why not start now. If anyone else has any suggestions, please share!

13 Things on my Hospital Bag List

1. Travel size assortment of toiletries
   When I told my husband today that he had to get a travel size toothbrush and deodorant today, he told me that he would just add his stuff to the bag when the time came. I laughed at him and we left the store with travel size stuff for him too. Silly husband! With Nicky I didn't even get to go get my bag! I was at work when they called me and told me I HAD to come to the hospital RIGHT THEN because of the test for pre-eclampsia they'd just run…even though it sat there all day until I called them to find out the results and they remembered to actually do it.
   
2. A robe
   How can you go to the hospital without a robe? Mine is fuzzy and pink.
   
3. Slippers
   Yes, they match the robe.
   
4. Pre-paid phone card
   I think we somehow managed not to get this last time. That was pretty lame considering the only way to call DH's parents in Denmark is with a phone card.
   
5. Ibuprofen
   It's a hospital…but last time DH got a headache and there was none to be had.
   
6. Binkies
   We didn't have these last time either. I wasn't aware that most hospitals have them. Doh! We're taking them anyway just to be sure.
   
7. Finn's Carseat
   Can't leave the hospital without it. :-D
   
8. Finn's Coming Home Outfit
   So darn cute!
   
9. Pony tail holders
   Cause when your working hard you sure don't want your hair in your face!
   
10. Gum
    Because nothing is worse than being denied water when you're working your booty off. Stupid rule that one!!! And I have somewhat of an addiction to drinking water. Even if my body doesn't need fluid I drink a ton of it. Maybe gum will at least keep my mouth from drying out cause me and those ice chips they don't jive.
    
11. Camera
    For totally cute baby pictures.
    
12. Glasses
    In case they make me take my contacts out. If I can find the darn things…
    
13. Comfy lounge clothes
    Cause nothings worse than feeling crumby and having uncomfy clothes!

"Honey, could you stop and get me some medicine on the way home from work?"

My friend Crystal just sent me a most interesting piece of medical research. Possibly the most interesting I've read recently.

Dark chocolate lowers your risk of Pre-Eclampsia in pregnancy!

Now what better reason could I possibly have for having a nice bit of chocolate every day?

Viking Suggestions?

I'm a search for info on the everyday life of the average viking. If anyone has any suggestions for books or websites. I would really appreciate it.

You'd think I'd know tons about Vikings after, you know, living in Denmark and all, but alas I really didn't learn that much about them then. We were supposed to go to Lejre last time we were there. It's a recreation of a Viking settlement. I've wanted to see it forever. Unfortunately, they had just closed down for the cold season when we were there. Doh!

If I find any particularly juicy bits, I'll be sure to share.

Coming Home Outfit

So here is my little guys coming home outfit. I hope it fits. They didn't have one of the strictly newborn, so I got a 0-3 months. It might be a bit big on him, but I'll bet it'll be cute. I just love the tiny little booties! The blankee wasn't actually part of the set, but I thought it matched smashingly. It's sooo soft. It's made out of that microplush stuff. I think that's what they call it. So snuggly!


This adorable little outfit is from one of my best girlfriend's, Amanda. It's toooo cute. I lurv puppies!

"Thank you, your holiness. Awesome speach."

Ummm...wow...just...wow...

And that, my fellow Americans, is your president.

Thursday Thirteen #45 - and my 300th Post!

13 Random Posts That Caught my Eye from my First 299

1. This is my very first test blog!
Not at all exciting, but it was my VERY first.
2. Mommy's Little Paleontologist
Yup, he is still obsessed with rocks!
3. Well Behaved Women?
I just really dig this picture!
4. Norman London and Shameless Promotion!
Because I just can't say enough nice things about the Norman London book!
5. Thursday Thirteen #1
Aww...my very first TT!
6. Are Templar swords really meant for slaying serpents? Methinks not!
This was a very strange experience...
7. I Love You, Bryon!!!
I figure it is worth repeating. *looks at her ring longingly* I can't wait til my fingers stop being swollen so I can wear it again! Ah the joys of pregnancy.
8. It could have gone one of three ways...
A chronicle of the worst plane trip ever that didn't end in death.
9. My Son the Locksmith!
Crazy boy!
10. The Royal Guard Incident
Cause Nicky is so darn cute!
11. Razorback Scooter Gang
Go Hogs!
12. I'm a Farmer's Daughter! I should have some idea of how to grow things!
My gardening woes... Again this year my basil died... Stupid freezing temperature!
13. This Woman is so Cool
No! Really! She's cool!

Baby Stuff! And Walmart is Silly!

I must be nesting because my best friend's due date is looming near, because it's still AGES until this little dude will make his arrival. Yes, ages I say! Pay no attention to the ticker with the countdown to your right. It's ages I tell you!

Anyway, I finished cleaning out my bedroom closet, so that I can clean out the guest room closet, so that I can clean out the boy's playroom/future bedroom closet, so that I have somewhere to put my children's clothes.

I also got some little bottles with drop in liners. I'm planning on nursing, but last time it took my milk almost a week to come in. They kept telling me to keep trying, and I had no intention of giving up but looking back I sure as heck would have given him some formula before I did. Poor little guy lost 15 oz that first week. He was a tiny little guy and only weighed 5 lbs 15 oz when he was born because of the pre-eclampsia. This time I'm going with my instincts and forgetting what the doctors and nurses say. Nicky had no trouble going back and forth between bottle and mommy. Ideally this time it won't be an issue at all, but I'm going to be prepared for it this go around. I've also got a new Isis (No, for those of you who know me well I didn't just buy it cause of the cool Egyptian name) pump that got rave reviews and a good storage system for freezing.

Sunday after going out to eat with my girls, we went by Kohl's, and I found a great little going home outfit for Finn. It's adorable. It has a little sleeper, cute slippers, a hat, a bib, and a matching blanket. Pictures will come later, but my camera bit the dust and I'm still waiting for the new one I ordered to come in.

Which brings me to an annoying point. Walmart is just silly! I found the camera I wanted on Walmart.com and saw they had a replacement warranty for 3 years which I wanted because if it lasts three years then I figure it's lived up to its expected lifespan quite nicely. Mine that just died lived four years. It was a good camera. So I went to the store to buy it, and they had the camera but it's not available with a warranty from the store... So they suggested I order it online and have it sent site to store so I could get the warranty too. Which I did, and even though they have it in the store and I'm going to pick it up FROM THE SAME STORE I have to wait for them to ship it from like California or somewhere so I can pick it up at the store where they already have it...

Well anyway maybe it'll be pretty fast.

So now all I desperately need for the little man is a new car seat and stroller and I'm pretty much set. Back to my nesting now. hehehe

*Gags* I just....*Gags*

Wow...I have no words other than *gags*

Hey! I said STOP IT!

I think my plea for no more rain has gone unheard!!!

Flooding Shuts Down School in DeWitt and Stuttgart

Yeah, so DeWitt is where I grew up and Stuttgart is where my parents live...

I don't remember it ever flooding except on some really low lying spots growing up. It's just nuts!

Thursday Thirteen #44

13 Ideas for Girls' Night Out

My girls and I were coming up with a list of things that would be fun to do for our Girls' Nights/Days so I figured, Hey! What a great Thursday 13!

1. Ice Skating
2. Paint Your Own Pottery
3. Horseback Riding
4. Visit Wineries
5. Putt Putt
6. Visiting a Tea Room
7. Tie Dye Party
8. Sewing Party
9. Roller Skating
10. Beading Party
11. Scrapbooking Party
12. Bowling
13. Movies

My Husband...The City Boy

Now my darling husband spent most of his life growing up in Copenhagen so I understand that the WILDS of Arkansas can be intimidating, even to a big, brave, strong man such as himself. However, I was throughly amused by the situation that arose the other evening.

I was taking a nice, relaxing bath. Nicky was already snoozing away, and big brave hubby was taking the dogs out for their evening excursion into the backyard. He came in with a horrible look on his face and said with a great deal of concern, "I saw something moving under the leaves and moved them out of the way, and there was a giant scorpion under them."

I was raised in the country, and though I have never seen a scorpion I learned at a young age to have a healthy respect for all wildlife. So I responded with, "Well then leave it alone."

"No," he insisted, "if I leave it alone it could come in the back door or sting one of the dogs." Let me add here that it wasn't even that near the back door, so unless it launched itself through the air in a mad attack, its hurting the dogs was very unlikely.

"Well, just make sure the dogs stay away from it when you get them in and don't let it in the door! Didn't anyone ever teach you to leave wild animals alone? Especially the kind that sting."

That won me a sound glare. He went outside again to get the dogs from the fenced in area, and I wasn't sure whether or not he would actually leave it alone.

A few minute later he came back with a look of confusion gracing his handsome features. "I don't think it's a scorpion."

"Oh, really?" As I said, I have lived her my entire life and never seen a scorpion. Now that doesn't mean we don't have them, but they are certainly not common.

"It kind of looks like a tiny lobster."

At this point I dissolved into giggles. I then explained to him that what he'd seen was, in fact, not a scorpion at all but a Crayfish, more commonly known where I grew up as a crawdad.

To which he responded, "Oh, like the ones that live down in the ditch."

I spent a good portion of my childhood playing with crawdads and various other water creatures that I captured in the reservoir behind the house I grew up in. I've never heard of them mistaken for scorpions before but I can see the similarities if you don't see their tails. hehe

I love you, Sweetie!

Thursday Thirteen #43

13 Questions I've Been Pondering

1. Is my due date club (the group of women on the forum I go to that are all due in July) cursed or something?
   It's been so sad and scary lately. We've had so many of our mom's with problems. One poor mommy went into labor at 22 weeks, and they couldn't stop it. Her little one passed away not long after being born. Another went into labor and they were able to hold her back until 26 weeks. She's doing remarkably well. Thank goodness! Another mom has been put in the hospital for constant monitoring for early rupture of membranes. I hope she's doing well. I can't imagine how hard that must be since she has some older kiddos as well. And there were more than a couple others who have been having problems with contractions. I wish them all the best!
   
2. Is it ever going to stop raining?
   See the post below for why it REALLY needs to!
   
3. Is Finn going to flip over so that he's not kicking me in the bladder soon?
   I'd really appreciate it if he could do that!
   
4. Has my muse permanently abandoned me or is she just afraid of babies?
   Seriously I have no inspiration whatsoever. I think it has something to do with be exhausted beyond belief all the time, but I'm not sure.
   
5. Why does Nicky insist on throwing every no matter what I do?
   Everything my son picks up is a ball, a car, or an implement of doom. Sometimes they are all three. I mean I respect the fact that he has a pretty awesome arm, but does he have to throw things at the head's of people and animals? Really?
   
6. Will the plants I made my hubby plant for me grow?
   We planted 6 Azaleas, 2 Forsythias, and 36 little Vinca plants. I hope that they all live. I also planted basil, cilantro, mint, and pansies, but I don't really worry about them as much because they're pretty darn tough.
   
7. Will I get to go fishing this summer?
   I wanna go fishin'!
   
8. Is Nicky gonna go to sleep so I can too?
   I'm a sleepy girl.
   
9. Why does the Diego from the early Dora's before he had his own show look so funny?
   Or does he not really look funny? Maybe it's just that it's a different voice and that makes me see him different?
   
10. Why am I pondering a cartoon so deeply?
    
11. Has anyone else ever noticed that Thomas the Tank Engine is promoting socialism?
    I mean everyone has to BE USEFUL! Don't get me wrong I think we should all strive to be useful, but doesn't it just seem like an odd thing to say over and over in a cartoon meant for preschoolers?
    
12. Did anyone else see this article?
    It's the one about the 3^rd graders who plotted to attack a teacher… I mean… I just… WTH?????!!!!!!
    
13. Will the fact that Finn is so much more active in my tummy mean that he is more hyper than Nicky?
    If he is more hyper than Nicky will I crumble and be unable to cope when their hyperness is combined or will they work as calming agents for each other? No one answer that. I prefer to believe they will calm each other. Yeah, that's it. Calm each other!!!