It's a......

BOY!!!!

So, we had our big ultrasound appointment today.  And lo and behold, there was a little teeny tiny penis on the screen!!  I honestly can say I've never seen my husband smile bigger..  I'm so excited for him, for me, for us!!  

Can't wait to meet our little man! 

The Great Epidemic of early 2011

Hey all...  first things first, I hope all of you that are suffering through Snowmagedden 2011 are keeping warm and inside!!  I have to say that for all the times I wish I still lived in Chicago, these past 24 hours have really made me happy I DON'T live there.  I hope it all clears up by March 10th, which is when I'm heading there for a shower my girlfriends are having for me!! I know it will be cleared up by then, but from the looks of it, clean-up is going to take for-evah....

So, I've been really, really sick.  Like sick as in "sick-as-a-dog" sick.. (not sure where that phrase came from b/c my dogs are rarely sick and when they are, they really aren't that  sick..  but anyways, I digress...  What started out as a innocent little cough turned into some gigantour virus that knocked me out cold for 5 days and counting..  I feel totally fine now except for the fact that a seal has climbed into my throat and chest and is barking when I cough (these are words used by my boss today as he was forcing me to go home b/c my cough was so loud that it was interrupting things!! ) So, I'm on my forced "work from home" day number 2 and I hate working from home!!  Home during the day is soo boring to me..  My hubs is also a sicky and we all know, ain't nothing worse than a sick man.. total drama..  this is a man who judges how sick he is by how many beers he has in one weekend.. he must have been near the brink b/c he ONLY had 3 beers all weekend..  the horror..

I've been able to catch up on my DVRd shows lately which is nice b/c that thing gets packed!  I was watching Oprah yesterday (anyone see it?) her whole staff decided to go vegan for a week and then we got to see where ground beef comes from.  It was eye-opening, but I'll still eat meat.  I agree with the guy on the show that said, if you are going to eat meat, you should be willing to see how it gets to that stage..  I felt kind of bad for the little cows on their way to slaughter but it didn't affect me enough to not eat a burger later.  What can I say, I'm a meat eater, always will be.  I just don't think I could go vegan or vegetarian.. 

Also watched "One Born Every Minute" - holy smokeroos.. I have no idea what I've just gotten myself into..  I was in pain just watching some of these moms give birth..  ay yi yi..

Finally,  babe is doing well.. I went to my OB yesterday to get a bunch of what I call "Old lady who shouldn't be having a child at this advanced age" tests done and then she used a doppler to check the heartrate and everything is good. According to her, my kiddo is quite active already and was moving around like a "maniac".. that's my kid...wouldn't expect anything different!!   We officially find out the gender next Tuesday and I cannot wait!! I'm ready to shop!!!   There are a lot of "Boy" predictions out there from friends so to say I will be shocked if it's a girl is an understatement. 

Hope you are all well!! Stay WARM!!! 
xo,js

Overextended...

Well, it's official, I'm going to need to cut back on my social life a bit.  This kiddo growing inside me is bringing on a whole new level of exhaustion that I never imagined possible!! I'm the type who likes to be moving a lot of things, a.lot....  no more though.. I'm staging a social intervention with myself.  Here's my last week:

Monday - "Bachelor" Date with Michelle
Tuesday - Dinner and Movie with girlfriends from work
Wednesday - Airport pick-up for buddy TK who came to town
Thursday - Dinner with TK
Friday - early AM appointment to get brakes fixed (urgggg), drive to Sedona, hang out in Sedona, dinner and drinks with TK and hubs until 11ish
Saturday - workout, pedicure, party at friends house
Sunday - workout, out with friends to watch Packers/Bears game, drop off TK at airport

I'm exhausted..  Granted, my schedule is not normally like last week's b/c I don't normally have visitors in town, but things are starting to pick up over the next couple of months with visits, trips, etc..  My doctor said the one thing I can control with this pregnancy is the fatigue.. she said "just say no"! SO, I'm starting today.. I'm limiting my during the week activities to just my weekly date with Michelle for the Bachelor b/c honestly, that usually just entails laying on a couch at one or the other's homes..  I also had to have a heart to heart (or as my dad says, Come to Jesus meeting) with Tim on Saturday night regarding him respecting my desire to leave places when I want to. He's usually the one that says, "come on, just one more drink..." and finally on Saturday night, I had had it!  He apologized and I think he's still just getting used to this whole change our life is going to take in about 5 months..  he's definitely a work in progress on this. 

So, anyways, here I go talking about baby stuff.. just when I said I would not be one that does that!! Sorry!  Just that's pretty much what's going on these days!!  Oh, and I think I finally "popped" today..  belly looks BIG!  I even had a couple of people tell me "I can totally tell you are pregnant today"!!  Feels pretty good to finally look pregnant and not just chubby!  In band related news.. my band reminded me of it's presence on Saturday when I was trying to eat a breakfast sandwich and got completely stuck...  gotta love a little restriction when I thought I had none!

So, I mentioned Sedona  - we went on Friday and it was gorgeous.. if you've never been, I highly recommend you add it to your list of places to visit.  here are a few pics! xo,js

I am an Athletic Supporter...

That is me these days!! Since I can't really run a marathon (ha! who am I kidding using the excuse that I'm pregnant as the reason I can't run a marathon?? You couldn't pay me to actually do that!), my friend Jen and I went out to support the other Jenn in our little crew of Jens as she completed her first marathon on Sunday (the PF Changs). Proud does not even begin to describe the feeling I felt when I saw her little self running!!!  Both Jen1 and I were really emotional for her!! I partly blame the hormones, but it's also so exciting to see a good friend complete something they trained really hard for, suffered a knee injury for, and was just generally consumed and excited for/by for months!! So, to all those runners out there, I have such admiration and respect for you!  Why you would want to run that far for that long for no other reason than pure enjoyment or determination (as opposed to being chased by a wild animal or a flaming ball of fire) boggles my mind but to each their own I guess!!! Go For it!!!

xo,js

Jen1 made some awesome signs!

Looking good around mile 16!!!

Rounding the final curve to the finish!!! 

Done and Done!!!!! 

Up, Up, Up... goes the number on the scale :(

Do you hear the loud UGH every morning that comes from the 2nd floor of my house??  Yep, that's me.. every morning when I get on the scale.  I knew that when my dr. unfilled my band to half of what it was 3 months ago, I would gain some and I knew that it is normal to gain while pregnant, but what I didn't know or realize was how this would affect me so greatly.  Admittedly, I haven't been that fantastic about eating the best, but for the love.. can a girl who has lost 80 lbs get a break and not see the scale go up almost every day?  I'm an emotional wreck about it!  I know that in the end, a little sweet baby will be the result, but I gotta tell you, this is messing with me big time. I think I need an intervention. Otherwise, I'm scared I'm going to find myself in the exact same spot I was in October, 2009 and lord knows I don't want to go there.
I need to get it together and really focus on what I'm eating, not eat the shit that keeps ending up in front of me and really keep working out, which I've been pretty good at.  Wish me luck.

Other observances lately:

• Ok, so we all know I've never been pregnant.  So, we can assume I've never experienced some of the things that are happening with my body right??  So, when I bitch for a minute that I'm super exhausted b/c I get up every 1.5 hours to go to the bathroom every night, which leaves me with a total of about 5 hours of collective sleep, please don't laugh and say things like, "oh lord, you are a mess, just you wait until the baby comes and you get no sleep" or "get used to it, you won't be sleeping for the next 18 years". Instead say, "Yeah it sucks.. I remember when I was pregnant for the first time, it sucked."  I swear if one more person makes light of my complaining (and it's not like I'm complaining 24/7)  and seems to forget that they were pregnant for the 1st time too once, I'm going to lose my mind.  I feel like telling my co-workers, "please don't ask me how I'm feeling b/c when I tell you, you are just going to smirk and make fun of me.. "  And while we are on this subject, please stop telling me I "seem grouchy".. yeah, I am. Get used to it!! And I don't even want to talk about the constipation issue.
• Ok, that rant is over..  sorry, just had to bitch for a minute (or two)
• Anyone seen Black Swan? Ok, I've seen it twice now. Went again with two of my girlfriends last night..  I saw it the first time and thought "What the EFF???"  and then the more I thought about it, the more I thought I liked it, so I gave it another shot..   turns out, I did not like it. After seeing it again last night, I think it's just bananas.  I don't think I like it.
• There is a new show coming in February on Lifetime called "One Born Every Minute" and I'm going to force my husband to watch it.  It looks like it's a reality show about babies being born and it follows the parents as they check into the hospital and prepare for delivery. It looks absolutely hilarious.. the way the wives talk to the husbands..  not a lot of happiness going on pre-delivery!
• Golden Globes are this weekend. One of my most favorite days of the year.  YEah, I'm a celebrity stalker/loser.. can't help it. Always have been, always will be.
• We had our company Annual Event last weekend and it was a snoozer...  normally it's so super fun, but this year, there was a wierd Mexican band and dancers that were kind of freaking people out.  No DJ so people didn't get to make a fool out of themselves, causing weeks of gossip and chatter to follow. 

I think that's it.  SOrry for the diversion from normally happy fun Jen blogs to Crabby Patty blog...  I'll be better next time.

xo,js

Stuffed like a Sausage..

that's how I feel today! Seriously, after over a year of losing weight and feeling lighter, today I feel like a butterball. It's not that I've even "popped" yet, but I'm wearing this newfound garment called a Bella Band.. have any of you tried this thing?  It's supposed to be used when your regular, non-maternity, jeans/pants get a little snug and can't button them. The band goes around your mid-section and holds your pants up and you can leave everything else unbuttoned..  I gotta tell you, it makes me feel as if I'm stuffed in sausage casing.. totally not the effect they are going for here. If I had any balls, I would take a picture and show you how ridiculous this thing looks, but alas I don't.  I feel like everytime I walk, I'm going to drop my pants - it's not a good feeling..   maybe I need a smaller size, but this thing makes me feel all claustrophobic-like..  ugh... I hope this is not a foreshadowing of the misery to come.. 

Not much planned for the weekend. We have my company's annual event tomorrow night, which is usually a booze-filled good time. Notsomuch this year, but I'm sure it will be fun nonetheless.. just maybe not as much fun.

Otherwise, we are furniture shopping and laying low.  We need to put some furniture in this empty house of ours!!! We start having our usual year full of guests in a couple of weeks!!

Have a good weekend. xo,js

Dinner with a Blog Buddy!

So, one of my faves,  Jenny , and I got together on Sunday night for dinner. I'm always amazed at how when we see each other, it's like long lost friends meeting up!!  Of course she continues to look amazeballs!!!  Had some hilarious conversation and some delish food!  We'll be reunited again in March when Timmy and I head to NYC for a long weekend (as part of me being Wife of the Year, I bought Tim tickets to a Knicks/Bucks game in NYC for Christmas) Plus, it'll be a nice little trip before I can't travel for a while.  Jenny and I have a little special date as well that she better not back out of!!! Hope to see some of you other NYCers as well when we are there! We'll be there 3/23 - 3/26!

Here's a quick pic. She has a better one.. but I was trying to prove to her my one arm camera skillz....

Happy New Year!!

xo,js