you've got *more* mail

Yesterday was yet ANOTHER great mail day. I got not one, but two special packages. I allowed myself to open one right when I got home. It was from my Southern friend Harley or Rachel if you must. It was a sweet card with some scrappy embellishments. So unexpected. So appreciated. Thanks Rachel, such a sweet surprise. I loved it. The next one was not allowed to be opened until I did some work in the soon-to-be-nursery. So, once I made a significant dent in that project, I opened up envelope #2. This one was from my God daughter Ava and her mom and my best friend (we've known each other and have been friends since we were 12 years old- OMG!) Tina. From Ava I got this wonderful drawing. I love kids' art. She drew me with a baby in my tummy and I think the fella next to me is Tones... but who knows. It is a CRACK UP! Check it out. (click to enlarge). It's kind of light, but I think you can see it all.







The babe in the belly is priceless. Thanks Ava. You are the bomb and such a great artist! keep 'em coming! Tina also included some super shee-shee note cards that I love. You have such great style girl. At least my note cards will have style now. What a great surprise... I love them. Thank you.

In other news.
I have an hour and a half before my VACATION starts! Wooo hooo! Only 2 more days until the ROAD TRIP of the YEAR begins. Not only are we going to the creative extravaganza of the year, we are hitting up SPRINKLES cupcake shop while we are there. Gotta love me some cupcakes. I might even get to squeeze in a visit with Krista while I'm out there. That would be icing on the {cup}cake. I don't know if I will be posting while on the road.... actually I know I won't be posting from the road. I might manage to get another in before I leave... but I am not making any promises. I'll touch base as soon as I get home though....

You've got mail!

I heart getting mail. The good kind, not bills or political propaganda. The best ones are surprises, like this cute outfit my friend Krista & fam sent over for the boy. Awww... look at those little jeans... I can see it now... little dudes bubble butt in those jeans... I won't be able to resist just taking a big bite! Thanks Krista, you're always so thoughtful and on top of it.

What is it about wanting to eat babies? I know I'm not a cannibal, but cheeks and arms and legs and toes and bellies... YUMMY. I can totally understand why animals eat their young, they're just so cute and fuzzy they can't help it! Weird? Does anyone else out there want to eat baby parts too?

On another note... I have a rant about panhandlers. Geez... just STOP IT already. I swear, everywhere I turn, someone is asking for money or for me to buy some of their crappy candy or candles or ______ (fill in the blank). Don't get me wrong, I donate to charity, etc. I have a heart. But it is SO annoying to constantly have to dodge these people. I was at the grocery store and as soon as I pulled into a spot, this teenager comes up to me with this huge plastic bin with some schpeal about trying to go on a trip or something... "no thank you." I don't think they should be combing the parking lots (or knocking on my door for that matter)... I don't know where they should try this but when I was selling stuff to raise money for new cheerleading uniforms or something, I hit up my relatives and maybe a few good neighbors... I didn't dare go out to flat out strangers... So after I'm done shopping I walk out of the store and some guy asks if I can spare a quarter. Oh sure, let me just drop all of my crap right here and dig a quarter out for you. I should have said "sure, do you have change for a hundred?" Every corner you stop at, every highway off ramp, every mall... isn't that what shelters are for? I don't know... I feel bad for them, but seriously... I also can't go around giving every one a quarter, a dollar, a job, food, beer....

17 weeks

3 weeks away from the half-way point, which will quickly become the home stretch. I can't say that this has been flying by so far... it hasn't been. I worry too much not to "just let it happen" so each day goes by very slowly. I'm at the point where I feel much better as far as my boobs don't really hurt much and I'm not nauseous but I don't yet feel the baby moving. At least I don't think I do, although I've been told that these "things" I feel are probably the baby moving. I'm waiting for that one definitive KICK so I really know it was the little dude and not just a gas bubble. So, since I don't really feel anything one way or the other, I worry because I think "is everything down there as it should be?" I'm a nut-job, I know... but at least I'm admitting it.

Here is the latest belly shot taken after a 6 mile walk... so I know it's not just bloating b/c there was nothing in my stomach.

On another note...

My good Friend Naomi and her hubby welcomed little Mr. Alex B to the world last week... what a cute, serious face on this guy...

Welcome to the world little guy... enJoy the ride!

we're on cloud nine...

we couldn't wait to share the news... and for the record... Tony is the one that started telling people... "because they asked."