'the sprain'

It is something you hope never happens when you are pregnant: falling down the steps.

But yes, my clumsy pregnant self slipped on our basement steps last night while going down to get my suitcase for my trip to visit my sister in Montana.

I was actually stepping very cautiously (as I was helping Cormac walk down as well) and I was holding onto the railing on my right side.

So I have no idea what caused me to slip, but down I went, in a furious tumble.

About halfway down I felt my right foot turn inward with a painful crunch.  When I finally landed for good, my palms were propping me up and my legs contorted behind me, still on the lower steps.

My first thought went to my 19-month-old, who was howling above me.  Luckily, he had only gone down a couple steps and was already on his feet, albeit in tears, staring down at me.  I reassured him, trying to be calm and comforting, that "Mama is okay, mama is okay!"

I moved myself into a sitting position as gingerly as I could, taking stock of my extremities.  Arms - fine.  Hands - scratched up but fine.  Legs - moveable.  Feet - ow.  The one that got twisted felt extremely wrong.  It throbbed.  It shook strangely.  Pains shot violently through it.  I touched it to the floor and knew I couldn't walk on it.

Then, when I knew there were no bones jutting out of my body or bleeding, I checked out my pregnant belly, which seemed surprisingly unscathed.

I was able to pull myself up to a stand, grab the railing, and hop painfully up the basement steps.    All the while, wincing through the pain, I tried to smile and assure Cormac that all was well...mama was just playing a fun game, hopping like a kangaroo.

The kid is no fool.  He followed me up the steps and continued to howl, not buying my story one bit.

I couldn't pick him up like he wanted {insert extreme mama guilt here} so I hobbled slowly around the side of the house (we have no interior basement entrance as of right now) and kept trying to cheerily convince him to come with me.  Finally, he followed me to the front door and came inside, where I contemplated calling an ambulance, but called Hubby instead.  It was then that I allowed myself to shed tears due to the pain.  He came home immediately, and I felt baby move in my belly in his/her normal fashion...which made me feel much better.

Long story short - a sprained foot.  My first sprain or or any type of injury requiring me to wrap up a body part and use crutches.  Only took thirty-one years!

So here I am, less than 24 hours later, on my way to visit my sister in Montana.  Very glad nothing worse happened and I am still able to make the trip.  I told my sister I will be hopping around like Lisa Turtle on Saved by the Bell, dancing 'The Sprain.'

If you don't remember this, you need to.  Here is the clip so we can wax nostalgic together...




Surprisingly, I am having a lovely time in the airport, getting wheeled around by sweet and chipper airport personnel, and having person after person offer to carry things for me.  I am shocked no one has followed me into the bathroom stall to help with that, too!!!

This all restores my faith in humanity.  

My faith in my own equilibrium is completely shot, though.

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mama-razzi...life in random photos

I am not a big Instagrammer (c'mon spellcheck...surely that is a word by now!)

I use it on occasion and have absolutely no clue how to transfer the photos to my computer.

I actually lug around my dslr most of the time to capture the randomness...because mostly I am around the house.  I also have a small point-and-shoot that I keep in my purse, but usually forget about.   It is right there next to my phone...if I haven't forgotten that at home.

My point is that I can't join in with my fellow bloggers and do "Insta-Lately" posts, or some other creatively named posts consisting solely of coolish-looking Instagram shots.  

Instead you get these.  Normal photos.  Sorry.  

Okay, is it weird that his molars are already coming in????  He practically has a full set of baby teeth!

I would be remiss if I didn't post a completely inappropriate naked butt shot of my child.  'The naked chef...'

"Mom...is it nap time yet???? 

All these crazy pillows on your bed are making me sleepy!"

Yes, he chose to insisted on putting on my fuzzy slipper boots.  

Elmo, why do I always have to be tripping over you???
{PS - Cormac can now say "Eeeeeeel-mo!"}

Donating some sweetness to this 'Shepherd's Share!' 

Dang - these two are inseparable!  No wonder 'Elmo' is his first real two syllable word.

Random salad creation - and new catalogs to peruse - double awesome!

arugula, halved red grapes, walnuts, goat cheese, creamy poppyseed dressing, grilled chicken

 Baked some homemade blueberry muffins...

Hubby brought me an orchid home one night.  I must have been extra whiney that day... :D

Look!  My son is so amazing he can already spell!  Okay, so he can draw a bunch of straight lines...but still...

These next few photos will show you that my child is definitely a daddy's boy.
Here they are, watching last night's basketball game...

Everything about this makes me happy.

Sorry Hubby...this was too cute not to share.

Tackling the steps.  I have to stay at least six feet away or he will come push me away...

The smile that makes all the tantrums and toddler 'tude completely vanish from my mind...

...momentarily.

:D
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sweet somethings from : a sock monkey shower!

Yesterday I had the honor of throwing a little baby shower for one of my dear friends.

This is her second pregnancy,

as she has a darling 4-year-old girl,

but her first boy!!!!

The trend these days is to call it a 'sprinkle'

if it is a second baby; 

but...call it what you want...

we did our best 

to shower 

Alicia and soon-to-be 'big sister'

Avery with all our love.

Avery picked the theme of 'monkeys'...

so we ran with it!

cake and all desserts done by Alicia's friend Laurie - so talented!

guests-of-honor...with mama enjoying a mango mimosa {alcohol-free version! :)}

sock monkey riding a 'diaper motorcycle'

faux champagne and onesie decorating!

my friend and co-hostess, laura {also, it was held in her beautiful home!!!}

another sweet little one in attendance

avery enjoying the monkey from the cake

even the inside was cute!

a truly lovely group of ladies - we had fun!!!

me and the mama and sister-to-be

I'm not above taunting small dogs with sock monkeys

soon to be a family of four!

Thank you for letting me be a part of this celebration, Alicia!

You have been such an awesome friend and you inspire in many ways, 

especially as a mama.

Can't wait for many more play-dates to come!

You're almost there!
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{24 week bumpdate}

It's getting real.  I'm getting huge.  I'm having those Braxton-Hicks I also had around this time (I think) last pregnancy.  At best I can say I am muddling through.  Trying to stay active. (succeeding!)  Trying to not get sick (failing!)   Trying not to be a crazy, emotional nutcase 100% of the time (no comment!) Trying to eat healthy (many successes and failures!)   On that note, I think it is funny how I used to feel guilty if I ate too much.  I am hyperaware of how much food I am consuming when I am not preggo.

Now I feel guilty if I skip a meal.  I am always thinking - "Baby needs food!" whether that be a rational justification or not.  I probably eat more than baby needs.  But it is awfully fun to have this excuse.

I will enjoy this new mindset - to the fullest - it while it lasts.

And yes, my kid is sucking on a Tootsie Pop.  Judge away, people.  I had pictures to take.

(Here is my blog post at 24 weeks last pregnancy -- I think I look so much younger! Oh, how children age you!)

Rants {the crappy stuff}:

• Sleeping, or lack thereof.  Every little sound/breath/snore/movement wakes me up.  Takes at least a half hour to fall back asleep.  
• Bump discomfort.   I can't lean over while sitting to pick thing up anymore.  I can't hold Cormac on my lap like I used to while reading him books.  I struggle to hold him/carry him at all.  Needless to say we have been practicing 'walking like a big boy' a LOT.  I can't even imagine how I am going to look/feel at forty weeks...if I make it that far, which I doubt.  I am predicting at least two weeks early.   I really think my due date is off.  More than the six days off that I measured at my ultrasound.  Just a hunch.
• Leg cramps.  I got one while Paul and I were out on a movie date.  We were, sadly, in the middle of the row and I hate walking over people.  It was also the end of the movie, which I didn't want to miss.  So I half stood up in my seat and did a fun little dance to work out the leg cramp, tears nearly streaming down my face from the pain.  I'd like the call it 'the Django' - the D is silent.
• Got violently ill a couple nights ago and spent the night hugging the toilet.  Got a nosebleed and broke a blood vessel in my left eye, it was that bad.   If you look closely at the pics you can tell.

Raves {the happy stuff}: 

• Blissfully indulging in dessert each night. 
• Feeling the baby move...although I tend to not notice it as much this pregnancy.  I don't have as much time/focus to sit quietly and tune into my body.  
• Watching Cormac try to 'feed' my belly plastic food, give it hugs, rub it with lotion, and give it a high five.  
• No stretch marks, leg vein issues, or linea nigra - yet. 
• Not having to shave my legs as much!  For some reason when I am pregnant my leg hair gets really fine, so I hardly have to shave them.  Um, awesome!   
• My sister is pregnant, too!!!!!!  We always wanted to be pregnant together, and here we are, she on her 4th pregnancy, me on my 2nd, 24 and 13 weeks, respectively.  Added bonus:  I am traveling to Montana to visit her this month!  

Weight gain: 18 pounds.  In the last four weeks I gained about seven pounds.  Feeling it in the booty, and of course, the bump. 

Nausea:  Had a few bouts of it around 22 weeks.  I think it was indigestion/acid reflux related.   

Skin: Blech.  

Boobs:  Same.  Large and in charge.  Hate wearing bras. Ow. Ow. Ow.

Cravings:  Grape soda.  Must be in a can.  Root beer.  Must be on ice.  Craved a glass of wine last night...but showed good restraint.   

Aversions:  None.  I can eat anything in sight.  Literally.  I shouldn't say that...I probably am being much more healthy/moderate than I am letting on.  Although I did eat Cheetos and a piece of cake for lunch the other day.  Not my proudest moment.

Exercise: Pilates starting to get a little awkward/difficult...but I still go every Friday.  Instructor says she is surprised at how much I can do.  Sadly,   Trying not to overdo it during my M-F gym workouts, but can still go pretty fast on the elliptical and stairclimber.   I do 45 minutes of cardio and 15 minutes of free weights/squats/lunges each day. 

Dreams: I dream a lot, and very vividly...but not about the baby or pregnancy.  Bummer.

Clothing:  Maternity pants, sweatpants, yoga pants.  Maternity tops are a must.  Needing to invest in larger/longer/stretchier gym clothes.  My two pair of maternity jeans from last time maybe fit a little better...but still - butt sag!

Heartbeat: 145 

Baby movement: Plenty!  Baby seems really low, though.  I always feel him/her sub-belly button. 

Gender speculation: I still think boy.  I still think I was born to be a 'boy mama.'   Although I did buy a couple cute girl outfits...just in case!   Baby seriously needs to be a boy or we'll go broke.

Baby names: Had a few moments of waffling recently.  Second-guessed my boy name a couple times.  (Then went back to it, since Hubby did not like the 'new' name I came up with.)  Here is a another hint: it is the name of a character in a movie.  An awesome movie. Also, an awesome short story, which the movie is based on.  (I know, I am always very helpful with my hints.)  Boy or girl, we have had one middle name chosen for quite a while, that we both really love.  Hint is that it is the last name of a female author.  Chew on that.  :)

jeans - old navy maternity//shirt - liz lange(target)//scarf - gift(thanks karen!)//coat - gap

Hubby feels: Thinks my belly is as big now as it was when I delivered last time.  {It's not.}  Laughed when I burst into tears during a segment of Ellen the other day (she paid for a bunch of kids to go to college!!!!} Also thought it was funny when I ate a huge dinner the other night and had to "let out" my already elastic-banded maternity pants.  (That is when you know it's bad - the maternity pants are not even comfortable.)  Also remarked that we needed a crane to get me up off the couch at night to go to bed.  Somehow he is still alive today.  (PS:  Before you go thinking he is a mean hubby...he is also very complimentary about my preggo bod!!!)

Bump progress:

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snow day!

I love this photograph.   I don't know why.  My siblings and I look a little silly in our snowsuits.  (If you can't tell, I am the androgynous one on the bottom right in the grape-colored getup, with the giant red mittens.)  These snowsuits are all hand-me-downs from my older brother, the strapping lad holding my adorable baby brother.

I guess it reminds me of a simple time -- when it was completely normal to bundle up and rush outside whenever there was a dumping of fresh, beautiful, white snow.    Dad would take us hiking, cross-country skiing, sledding, and  snow fort building.  In Minnesota there seems to be a completely different mindset about snow.  You just plain embrace it.   It is a part of life for what seems like most of the year.  At least that is how I felt.

Where I live now, even a couple inches is known as 'the white death.' Snow days are determined before there is even an inch on the ground.  If there will be any snow at all school is cancelled.  Despite what seems like a lot of hullabaloo over an inch or two, I am hoping the kiddos still enjoy romping around in it as much as we did!

All that being said...Monday was a snow day for me.  Not because I was "off" from work...but because it was one of the few days we get here in Kentucky that actually looked like Minnesota.  It was that kind of snow.  Sure, it was mostly melted the next day...but it sure did look lovely while it lasted.

That afternoon I excitedly I dressed Cormac up in his snowsuit...his first time wearing it!

We tromped around for about about an hour with the dog, enjoying what could be the only pretty snow of the winter.

I wish I had a photograph of when he fell in a pile of snow and was on his back and couldn't get up...but alas, I was trying not to get my camera completely ruined in the big fat flakes that were falling.

Trust me...adorable.

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