Bye Bye Ipsi, Bye Bye Summer

Last night I went to a farewell party in the city to send off my good friend Ipsi who is moving across the country. It was a fun, but emotional evening. Ipsi, if you are reading this, I want you to know that you will be incredibly missed, but I know that California has wonderful things in  store for you. The west coast better watch out...the UMass Party Planner is coming your way! 

It makes me think of my favorite quote from my favorite episode of Sex and the City:

"Seasons change, so do cities. People come into your life and people go, but it's comforting to know: the ones you love are always in your heart and if you're very lucky, a plane ride away."

So again, Ipsi, if you're reading this, know that you are never far away from me because you are always in my heart. 

It looks like this will be my final post of the summer. It is September 1st, and in my head, that means it's the start of fall. I bought Dunks' pumpkin coffee today and everything. Fall is actually my favorite time of year, even though as a teacher you wouldn't think that to be true. To me, fall is new beginnings, but it's comfort at the same time. 

So while this will be my last post of this blog there just may be a baby blog starting sometime in February...

I better watch my language...

Because the baby can hear me now! So amazing!

Here you go sports fans, the weekly baby stats:

• Baby is approximately the size of an avocado 
• 4.6 inches, 3.5 oz
• Baby can hear my voice
• Baby is growing more hair, eyelashes and eyebrows
• Baby is developing taste buds (love it - already a food connoisseur!)

Hump Day, Bump Day

I know when you are not officially working you probably have no right to call Wednesday "Hump Day" but that's what it is on TB (The Bump for you non-preggos). 

Sorry I have been absent the last couple of days. I'm pretty much transitioning into my fall routine and have been going into school getting things ready. I actually love being in my classroom. I feel really calm and happy there. It's a pretty pleasant place to be - colorful and homey! I hope I have a great group of kids this year. I know last year's crew was pretty darn awesome and I miss them very much. I hope I get some visitors that first week. I'm bursting to tell them the good news.

I have definitely felt as if I have grown a lot the last few days. I literally can feel it when I wake up in the morning. So for those of you that do not see me regularly, here is my bump picture:



I will be 16 weeks tomorrow! I can't believe it!

And I wish people would STOP telling me I don't look pregnant! I look significantly bigger than I did before I was so that just means I look FAT! Come on - you see the evidence - that's definitely a knocked up belly right?!

Whoa Baby!

So I thought I was already rocking a little mini-bump which in my mind was "showing", but when I woke up this morning I found a whole new meaning of that word. 

I have been reading about women who just "pop" overnight and I think that's what happened. A little TMI, first thing in the morning I had to take a whizz so powerful you would have thought I had a 6 pack of beer the night before. However, after I relieved myself I still felt heavy in the abdomen. I looked in the mirror and cried out, "Holy Mackerel!" I had a distinct baby bump.

Now don't get too excited - I still don't look like I'm 7 months along or anything, but my guess is over the next week or so I may be getting "When are you due?" comments from strangers.

(I certainly hope so. It's better than, "Did you drink a 6 pack of beer last night?")

Back to School...(Almost)

I went into school today to finally unload all the school supplies that have been in my car for a month and to start putting my classroom together. I ended up being there for something like six hours, because the first three that I was there I was yakking it up! Teachers are extremely chatty creatures. I also got a chance to tell my principal the good news, and get this - her daughter is also expecting, and is due on Valentine's Day! So funny! It felt good to be back. I'll probably go in a little every day now until the year officially begins. I'm really excited about it, but it is definitely odd to start the year knowing that I'm only going to be working for about 5 months. 

So then I'm walking out of the building in a great mood..when SPLAT. I fell. I fell right on my butt. Apparently they were waxing, and since it was 6pm and there were no other people in the building other than me and the custodians, there wasn't a bright yellow caution sign or anything. I didn't hurt myself...both my rear and my right hand broke the fall, but I still got slightly panicked that I may have hurt Baby. Now, hours later, I still feel physically fine and my fear has subsided. I posted on the Bump, and some of those lovely ladies chimed in and said that as long as I didn't fall on my belly, there's really no cause for alarm. Also, my sister in law lent us her home doppler, so Kevin and I were able to listen to the heartbeat, so I know little one is alive and kicking. Still, it was a pretty scary experience.

I'll definitely have to walk cautiously when I go back tomorrow. Either that or bring ice skates!

Wedding Dress Shopping!

So even though it was for somebody else, it was still a ton of fun! 

Today I was very lucky to be invited to go wedding dress shopping with Rebecca and her mother. I still love entering bridal salons and seeing all the beautiful white gowns. I now have yet another reason why I'd love to have a daughter...or at the very least, an extremely kind daughter-in-law! I had my MIL there when I got my gown, so maybe I've developed some good karma.

Anyhow, Rebecca looked beautiful in every dress she put on, but there was one in particular I knew she thought was "the one". You could see it in her face when she tried it on, especially the second time. With a big smile and eyes sparkling, she said "yes to the dress" and I was so excited to be a part of it.

On an unrelated note, I cannot stop going into the nursery. It still blows my mind every time I enter the room. In less than six months, I'll have a baby. This time next year, I'll have a six month old baby. And in less than one month, I'll know if I've been carrying little Julia or little Rory. I know I bluster a lot about wanting a girl, and of course I do. I want a girl for all the superficial reasons that any woman wants - the cute clothes and frilly, girly things. But obviously I'd still be super happy with a boy. And he'd be very lucky. He would most likely be voted "Best Dressed Boy" in his middle school yearbook! 

Glider Quest

Today my mother and I went on a quest to find a glider to go with the rest of our nursery decor. The choices at Babies R Us were a little too big and pricey for my liking. I got a tip to check Walmart because they had some pretty cheap deals. The website had a nice looking option for only $100. But before we ultimately decided to just order one from online, we must have checked half a dozen stores looking for this particular item. Who knew it would be so difficult?! So of course, we are going with the Walmart glider, but I think it's perfect for the space and the natural wood matches really well with the crib and changing table. 



It's so awesome to be completing the nursery! I keep walking in the room just to look at it. It's funny because we never used that room for anything before, and now it will be our baby's room!