The Monster Mash

It's almost Halloween!

I'm realizing that this will be one of the last Halloween's that I don't have to do much.

I pretty much stopped trick or treating in middle school, when a lot of my friends kept doing it for a few years. Besides myself and a few friends, there were a ton of other kids trick or treating in my neighborhood, so when we kind of lost interest, that was that. For a few years after that I helped pass out candy, but over the years the trick or treating really dropped off in my neighborhood.

Then I went to college. And literally I am trying to remember what we did on Halloweens...I know one year we opened our door for kids who would trick or treat at the dorms (that was Freshman year, when there was a lot of other options on Halloween and our dorm was so far from life, it wasn't worth the walk). But seriously, I can't recall specifics on college Halloweens. Hmm.

Then I had my own home in a more popular trick-or-treating neighborhood and Danny and I were pumped to hand out candy until like the second group came by and then it was a "no you do it, no you" kind of thing. Lost lots of appeal very quickly.

So last year, we went trick or treating with our nephew which was nice and we didn't have to deal with buying/eating/handing out candy, though since Austin was only 1 and a half, we did eat most of his candy...sorry, buddy.

This year we are going to a Halloween costume party (I got really creative and bought cat ear and a tail...whoo!) and again, won't have to worry about candy, however, now that we've moved back to my childhood home, I doubt the trick or treating has picked up much.

From now on though, I will have a child, upon which this holiday really revolves. Costumes (do I go store bought or homemade?), candy (do I go cheap or fun?), eventually classroom parties (do I become a room mother or stay out of it?) trick or treating (who stays to pass out candy and who takes the kid?). It's no longer a "whatever" time of year. It's one more opportunity to make a lot of decisions, get cavities, and above all else, have fun.

Happy Halloween!

erin

The beating of our hearts is the only sound...

I am 18 weeks pregnant.

We had another appointment today, and though I thought it unlikely, Danny and I wondered if there was maybe a chance of this appointment being the "big one" meaning the gender scan. It's supposed to come around 20 weeks and low and behold, here we are right around 20 weeks. Danny was PUMPED that this was it, to say the least and knowning my husband as I do, I really tried to drive home that this really might not be the appointment, especially since no one at the doctor's office said anything to me about this being that appointment. I said this could just be another quick in and out, hear the heartbeat, pee in a cup appointment.

And of course it was.

And my did the walls fall down around Danny's world.

Poor guy, he doesn't handle disappointment well, but what could I do? I'm not in charge of ultrasounds.

So in 4 weeks, we will be going for our gender scan and for the love the Jesus I hope we can see all we need to see, otherwise, I'm going to have another grumpy guy on my hands.

But in the meantime, I just love hearing that whooshing sound! And I have only gained 3 pounds since my last appointment, at which I had lost 2, which makes my grand total of weight gain 1 ENTIRE pound. Apparently the key to me maintaining my weight while eating without thought was getting pregnant. Who knew? Also, I'm sure that's all about to end as we get farther along. Too bad, it's like magic!

If my camera was worth anything, I'd have a few bump pictures to post, but alas, it's utter crap. That's something I'm going to have to work on before March for sure...so maybe I'll get a wild hair and get on fixing that situation and posting some photos. We'll see!

Looking forward to November 17th!

erin

ps. that new Miley Cyrus (sp?) song is on the radio right now and I really really don't enjoy it.

Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head

Seriously!

So much rain this fall. Days of unending rain. Sometimes I can get into the feel of a rainy day, especially when I'm home with a movie to watch or something, but all day for days on end gets depressing. You just end up taking naps at inconvenient times and eating "comfort" (translate = caloric) food. At least, I do.

But in happier news, this is my first weekend in a long time that I have nothing work-related to do! Hooray! Fall is a ridiculous time of special events at the Conservation District, and I'm so done with it. Too bad I can already think of 4 more weekend happenings coming at me in the next 4 weeks. Boo on that. And as a result of all the special events...we have SO MUCH FOOD AROUND HERE! Danish, muffins, chips, pretzels, cheese, crackers, candy, chili, cookies, hot dogs...it's a pregnant woman's fantasy land. Thank goodness I have a lunch meeting today so I will be away for the tremendous (in size) lunch being prepared for us today by a volunteer...6 pies for dessert alone! Ridiculous.

So, I'm just trying to stay dry, avoid massive amounts of food, and find some down time this season. Can't believe we're getting towards the end of October already. Also ridiculous.

erin

It's Been a Long Time, I Shouldn't Have Left You...

Sorry!

Even though I've been having a jam-packed Fall season both at home and at work what with moving, attempting to sell a house (seriously...sell already!), big work events every flipping weekend, mourning a loss, having a spouse, and growing a person...I just haven't felt remotely interesting lately. Nothing too blog-worthy to note. So, I guess here is a quick run down of some of the activities I have found myself a part of in the last few weeks:

-Hubby's 27th birthday with corresponding party at our house = firepit, marshmallows, good friends, 2am (haven't seen that time in many months!)
-Bears' football season
-New bedding for our bedroom, new light fixture for the dining room, new kitchen mats and towels
-Helped prepare 24 gallons of chili for a work event, then help serve about 18 of those gallons. You do the math...anyone want some chili?
-Dinners with family
-Walks with Mom
-Falling asleep at 8pm most nights
-Birth of a good friend's second baby girl
-Selling a car (again with the lack of actual sale driving me a bit crazy!)
-Vaccuming dog hair...this is really something that I do way more often than I'd like. Wood floors and Golden Retrievers = many vaccum bags.
-Expanding waistline. Most days I'm all for this pheomenon of waking up fatter, some days, I just feel like a cow.
-Mom's old and my new refrigerator (the same one). I appreciate it daily.
-Preparing for about 5 more weekend work events until they are done for the season. It's not all deer and trees out here people.

So, we've got things going on. We get through each day and on to the next and some are easy and some are challenging, but at least the weather is cooperating nicely.

erin