Happy Happy Birthday Maima!

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Maima,
I know you don't usually have the birthday you want because it is shadowed by Halloween. I just want you know how lucky I feel to have you as a sister. You have helped me through so much and inspired me throughout my life. I have always looked up to you and sometimes even despised you for how talented and strong you are! I hope you have a wonderful birthday and try and remember all the great and wonderful years you have had with our "super cool" family and now your wonderful husband and BEAUTIFUL SON!!

But, what if I don't think my child is cute?

I had my big ultrasound today. You know the one that is supposed to detect birth defects and make sure everything is ok. Well, it turns out Bentley is doing great. She is growing normally, heart is strong and healthy. She is in picture perfect health.
But, picture perfect is not what we got when we had a 3D scan. I wish the tech would have never offered it. I know Bentley is still developing and still very much a skeleton with some very thin skin, but she was...alienish. I was not prepared to see that come up on the screen. For all of you that have had one, I hope yours looked better than mine. From what I can see, she has two rather large dark holes where there should be soft eyelids. She has the same mouth you see when a geriatric patient removes their false teeth and she ...well she...how do I say this...she just isn't what most would consider "a beautiful baby".
I am sure she will be beautiful, but don't ruin a mothers dreams by showing her this. I just thought I would warn all of you that have yet to experience this.
Good luck out there. The imaging room at the OB can be a cruel, cruel place.

Have Busy Ball Popper, Will Travel!

This is a public service announcement. I am pretty sure Playskool will recruit me for their marketing team after this one. For all of you that have kids between the ages of nine months and five years or ever will have children between these ages...you NEED one of these.
The utterly AMAZING Playskool Busy Ball Popper. My sister-in-law discovered it first. She bought it for my nephew and then turned me on to it. Brade and I gave it to Jackson, (check Amy's site if you haven't already) for his first birthday two weeks ago. He has not taken an eye off that thing since he opened it. It is a pretty basic concept, but it does wonders. So you say you need a little time to catch up on some tube or whatever you like to do, you just put this is the middle of floor, give your child a brief demonstration how to keep it running, and you are home free. In fact, I watched Jackson for a few hours today at my house. Yes, you guessed it, he came with a diaper bag, blanket and his Busy Ball Popper. Really I could have left the house and he would have been perfectly fine!!
You can find this Gem (I call it that because children of ALL ages fell in love with it at his birthday party) at your local Toys R Us. It is a small price to pay for sanity!!
For every baby shower here on out, yup, you guessed it, Busy Ball Poppers all around!
I would love to hear other succes stories if you have them!

Really? This much time spent on a nursery?

I really do not have a life. My sister, Amy, convinced me to do a blog because I would have "so much to talk about". Well I am quickly finding out that is not true. I go to work, I come home work on the house and then wake up the next morning to do it all again. So I apologize for the content of my posts being pretty much the same topic. However, if you want something to read, like I know I do everyday, you will just go with flow.

Brade has decided that he wants to redo the entire house before Bentley is born. He is covering all the wood floors with carpet. I know, I know, many of you think we are lame. This is how our conversation went:

Brade:"You know I really want to be that dad that rolls around on the floor with their child. I want to be everywhere they are."

Linds: "I think that is great. I agree with you. What are you getting at?"

Brade: "I have decided I want to cover all the wood floors in the house with nice plush carpet so Bentley can go anywhere and feel comfortable."

OK, how am I supposed to deny him that. It was way too cute. Needless to say the carpet is ordered. We are in the process of painting her room now. I found this bedding online for a mere $800.00 dollars!! Really, who buys bedding laced with gold these days. I feel in love with the pattern and the color so my WONDERFUL friend at work is going to whip it up on her sewing machine! People never seize to amaze me. The bottom half of the walls in her bedroom will look like the lime colored fabric in large vertical stripes. I have decided to be very bold and paint the chair rail, trim and door casings black. We will see how it works out. She has a black crib and changing table as well. Maybe, a little morbid, but we will soon find out!!

Dear Bentley,
Even though I have had a pretty rough pregnancy, I did want to highlight some of the best times we have had so far. Bee, your dad and I are so excited that you are going to be part of our lives. I have never seen your dad so happy and so engaged. When he talks about you his face lights up. He is very proud of his daughter, even though he has yet to meet you. Trust me on this on Bentley, your dad will be your protector from now until forever. He will watch over you and protect you as long as he is able. Just be prepared.
Bee, you and I have had some amazing memories already. You and I have traveled to nine different states and shared some great moments together. We have been to Alaska, Chicago, Jackson Hole, San Jose, Colorado, Idaho, Florida, and Georgia. Atlanta, GA was my favorite by far. Your dad and I decided to take a "Babymoon." While you are still pretty easy to travel with, we took one last get away. We went to the PGA Tour Championship, where we sat feet away from Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and the rest of your dad's heroes. There is only one thing that makes your dad happier than being a husband and a father...GOLF. You will soon be hitting the links with him, I am sure! You have been a pretty good traveler, except when I had to get up early, sit for long periods on a plane and stand at a trade show.
Bentley, not only are your dad and I excited, you have so many close friends and family that are anxiously waiting to meet you. Your Grandma Annie, Maima and Emma have spoiled you rotten already. You have a whole closet full of clothes, shoes, and accessories. I don't think you will ever have to go without. Your Grandpa Jeff could not be more excited. He tells everyone about you and happy is for your dad and I. He does call you Mercedes though. We love him.
Bee, as your mom, I can not tell you enough how excited I am to meet you. I feel like I know you already. You have already changed our perspective and outlook so much. We love you!
I promise to be the best mom I know how to be!
Love ya,
Mom

Vampire Veins!

I have been reading the Twilight series, so that is probably why this title came to mind!

Unfortunately, I did not receive the first time mom memo when I found out I was pregnant. You know the one that reads:

ATTENTION: you have now officially lost your immune system. You will contract every illness or infection from here until delivery.

In the last six months I have had everything from kidney infections to bronchitis. Let me just tell you about my latest adventure with illness. I have a very overprotective husband who insisted I call the nurse because I had not kept any food or liquid down for over 36 hours. I had the stomach flu bug that has been going around. The nurse suggested I come just to make sure I was not dehydrated.

Come to find out, yes I was severely dehydrated and I did need an IV to get some fluids in balance. Just my luck! After trying for about ten minutes to get a vein, they decided it wasn't going to work so they put me under a heating blanket. Just when I was all nice and toasty, they started the IV. If any of you have ever wondered where they store those large bags of the mysterious liquid...wonder no more. I took it upon myself to find out. They store them in the sub zero!!

I have never been so cold in all my life. After the first bag of ice crystals, I asked for a blanket. We all know what kind of blankets they supply. The nice warm quilt that was offered to me reminded me of the little apron the dentist places on your chest while in the chair. Needless to say, after three bags of fluid and six hours later, I had officially turned stone cold!

I now know how Edward Cullen feels!!

New Blogger

I am so excited to finally be blogging and not just stalking everyones blogs. This is a glimpse into the exciting life of a saleswoman, wife, and soon to be mom.