Dinner with the Fortiers

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Oh Boy!

Thanks to the help of Eric, I have majorly upgraded my blog! Now I have a site counter AND I am able to make videos and post them directly to my blog :).
Hopefully, I can start making more movies and show everyone the baby's room and clips from our daily lives down here in the dirty dirty south.
Got to go eat some food with Andrew and Krisha! Perfect day for a neighborhood cookout :).

Peace on the streets.

First Video.......trial part II

Test

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf5vdUPUz0E

Tell me if you can see this short stupid video on this link.......its private on youtube so we don't have to worry about strangers seeing our private lives.

Too Rich for Handouts, Too Poor for Everything Else

I'm just starting the paperwork process of taking my maternity leave and it is quite frustrating. First of all, I have disability insurance through the National Teachers Association and have been paying $37 a month (out of my already measly paycheck) for years now, mostly in preparation for maternity leave someday. That was the selling point for me......that they covered maternity leave. I wanted to make sure that they still covered maternity leave so last week I called them and was reassured by a distracted sounding representative that they do, in fact, cover maternity leave. Yay, things were going my way. I was thinking that I would have that extra income from the disability insurance and that might ease our financial minds during my 8 week hiatus. WRONG. I heard from a coworker that NTA doesn't cover and she suggested I check on it. So I did, I called them and come to find out, they don't in fact cover normal maternity leave unless there are complications (like squeezing a baby out of my 5 foot frame isn't complicated).
Anyways, the title of the post is because I'm frustrated because the middle class gets screwed. I don't get free college because we make too much, yet Jeremy and I will have the cloud of student loans over our heads for decades. Jeremy and I take pride in knowing that we pay for our own health insurance but we have to pay a $400 hospital fee before they even let us in the door. If we were uneducated and poor, it would be free and if we were rich, $400 would be less than I would spend on a handbag. And, if we were poor, we would get free cell phones (that all my students have) with 200 free monthly minutes.
Also, the whole daycare situation (yes I am aware this is a fragmented sentence but I dare someone to correct my grammar. Do it, I dare you). The lowest class qualifies for free daycare and of course we make too much money for that, so we will be paying $136 a week for strangers to care for our son when if I were rich, I would stay at home with my son, finish my master's degree during that time, find an appropriate job with my new degree and return to work when it was most appropriate for our family, not when the sick days ran out.
Sometimes I get tired of fighting the good fight, as they say. Until I see huge results from our hard work, Jeremy and I will keep working, keep saving, keep consulting Norm for our financial future :), keep on pushing with my Master's Degree, and keep fighting the good fight.

Feeling Great

I lost 6 pounds this week just by cutting out junk and eating a ton more fruits and vegetables so I rewarded myself with a shopping trip to Target. I majorly scored. I got 4 pairs of earrings, 3 pairs of dressy sandles, 2 dresses, 1 pair of maternity jeans, 1 pair of maternity capris, 1 yellow T-shirt and 1 printed tank and all for way less than you think! It felt nice to look nice today. I spent more time on my hair than usual and found a pair of jeans to wear that I forgot I had. Plus, it was beautiful outside today so that always makes the day better.
I took the dogs to the park and watched Parker swim and swim and swim and Zoey run and run and run! They are so cute and sooooo tired right now. Parker is acutally sleeping under my left arm, snoring quite loudly but I am used to it and love it.

Houston, we have a hand.

I was chillin at Krisha's today (who is now officially 8 weeks pregnant yay) and I felt an actual hand jabbing my belly! I really think it was a hand but who knows, it could have been a foot or if he was really excited it could have been........well, I shouldn't talk about my son that way haha. It felt so cool and it was a nice reminder that I am pregnant. I know I'm 6 months but sometimes it still doesn't feel 'real' except for when I have one of those 'moments' like the first ultrasound where we saw him kicking and moving around, when I first felt him move, and now when I held his hand for a quick, yet important, moment. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be in love with Ethan yet or if I am supposed to be fully maternal at this point, but I know that how I feel is how I feel, regardless if it is right or wrong. I am afraid that I won't have an instant bond with Ethan when I first hold him and I am prepared (I think) to handle my emotions if I don't feel that instant connection. Everyone tells me that the mother/child bond is an unique experience for everyone and there is no 'normal' but I still want to feel immense love the moment I hold Ethan in my arms. I should really start talking to him because at this point, his ears are fully developed and he is listening to everything that goes on in my life. Note to self: stop swearing so damn much.

Fat Fingers

I take my wedding and engagement rings off at night time. Except for tonight because my fingers are so swollen. I am telling myself that I am choosing not to take my rings off but I think my body (and Jeremy) knows that my fingers are too fat. Personally, I think the rings have shrunk. I like the way that sounds better. Maybe I shouldn't have sucked on all that veggie bacon. It was worth it.

Crazy Day

What a hectic day! Hope everyone had a better Monday than I did. The kids were fine but today was a day that required me to do a lot of thinking and planning and I don't like thinking or planning.
Pictures of the nursery to come soon.........we have the crib and changing table set up as well as a buncha other stuff yay

Second Trimester=Forever

I've been telling people that I am 6 months pregnant now when in fact I am not. I am a liar, I know this. Today, I am 5 months and 3 weeks but I look so big that I think it is easier to tell people I am 6 months. So what happens when I am 6 months? Will I tell people I am 7? Or will I just say 6 months. Who knows.
I feel like this trimester is taking FOREVER. I think I read that the third trimester starts at 27 weeks so that means I have.......forever to go. My mom says I always try and rush things and I agree with her but that doesn't take away from the fact that I still feel this way! As uncomfortable as I feel at 5 months and 3 weeks, I cannot imagine what it will be like to be 9 months pregnant in the dead of the Memphis summer.
I was looking at photo albums at my mom's house this evening and I thought "damn, I was a hottie and so thin!" BUT, I clearly remember that at the time, I felt fat and disgusting and convinced that I was a zero. It is strange how that works. I suspect that I am not the only one who has had this experience.
I don't think that Central Maine could be any more depressing! I'm not sure if it is the time of year or the economy or what but I feel so sorry for Waterville. Maybe it is because I don't live here anymore, but I feel so bad for the area because I have such fond memories of the beauty and charm of the area and I feel that same beauty and charm are gone. I've noticed that people aren't repairing things on their houses and it seems that junk is piling up around people's properties. The storefronts looks old and worn and the streets are cracked with faded lines. The only new construction is of a credit union or bank which is probably only being built to deliver sad news to small businesses. Is it me, or has the area gone downhill?
On a more positive note (I hope I haven't lost any readers from being so depressing), I am bringing my mom to work tomorrow and then returning to bring her lunch! I like where she works, as it is the same place I went to school! I love that she helps students and families deal with their hardships. I would love to have her job someday, if I ever get tired of classroom teaching. THEN, after that I am going to visit my Grandma to say goodbye and THEN I am going back to pick up my mom and THEN I am waiting for Libby and THEN we are all going up to Bangor to visit Eric, Erin and Nora! It will be like the finale to my vacation. :)
This will be my last solo visit to Maine. Something to think about.
Even though my vacation is winding down, I am eager to get home to see Jeremy and the dogs. I am such a baby because I miss them so much! I'm sure they miss me because.......well, why wouldn't they? I walk them, I feed them, I play with them, I cuddle with them, I love them......I'm talking about the dogs, not Jeremy. But I do play, cuddle and love Jeremy. Time apart always makes me miss him and appreciate him even more. (Barf, I'm sure you're thinking that)

New Setting

Hey there, I changed the settings so now anyone can leave a comment. If you don't have an account then you can simply select 'anonymous' and leave a comment that way. I had dinner tonight with Brenda, Mike and Carla and they made me aware of this problem! Everyone leave comments, I love getting them.

Enjoy the pics from my baby shower.

Baby Shower

I had a great day today. First of all, I'm in Maine which is always a great thing and secondly, I had my first baby shower at Cheryl's today! It was really nice to see everyone and of course the FOOD was sooooooo good. I felt terrible leaving Cheryl's house a mess but she said it was ok so I'm taking her word for it.
Here are my plans for the rest of the week. Let me know if I forgot something!

Monday: Sleep. Spend day with schmommy. Go over to Cheryl's that afternoon/early evening. Dinner with Libby and Nick.
Tuesday: Sleep. Dinner with Mike, Carla and Brenda.
Wednesday: Sleep. Visit my Daddy-o and Patty.
Thursday: Sleep. Visit my mom at work! Visit Lauryn and Jason? Go up to Bangor to see Erin and Eric?
Friday: Sleep. Figure out a way to get to the airport. Go to airport. Go to Memphis.

I want to fit in time to see my friends Justin, Mylinh, Kelly and others but I don't know if our schedules will work together. It happens.

One thing is for sure........I'll be sleeping and eating a lot! :)

5 Month Appointment

Yay we had our appointment. We got to see Ethan again, he was punching me! We even got to see him swallowing, it was really cool to see him! I wished I could hold him but I know he has a lot more growing to do before he's ready to be held. He weighs 1 pound and 1 ounce now which I think is so cool because he was 1/2 pound one month ago.
On the DOWN side, I have gained 2o pounds.....yea I said it, TWENTY. It is all in the belly, not in the hips or butt too much. I know every woman is different but I have such a complex with numbers on the scale and numbers on my clothing. I'm not as bad as I used to be but still, who likes gaining 20 pounds?
Weight aside, I am so happy that everything is developing normally. Today was the first time I felt really connected to my son. Watching him swallow was so cool and I know Jeremy felt the same way. I wanted to keep the ultrasound going forever but all good things must come to an end.

Just Some Pics

Editing project on a pic of Zoey at the park last summer

York Beach 09

One of the first times the dogs played

Freaky picture of Parker! Whats weirder, the tongue or the eye?

Flower garden from last year. I HOPE I get to plant another one this year! It looked so good last year, I was so proud of myself.

Jeremy and our friends middle child. He's a natural :).

My little bastards at the Christmas Parade. Friggin cold. Friggn long wait for parade to start. Then I had a kid pass out and taken in an ambulance. Thank god Jeremy, Norm and Cheryl were there for support.

Damn tourists in St. Louis! Cut off Jeremy's head.

Parker on the first day we had him. This was before he became posessed and then saved.

6 Days

I can't wait to come home! But first, I have a doctor appointment on Tuesday at 3. They need to do another ultrasound to get pictures of the aorta. The last time we went Ethan was in a position that wouldn't allow them to get all the pictures they wanted. That means Jeremy and I get to see Ethan again! I'm excited to see how much he has grown over the past month.
Then on Thursday I have signed some of my students up for an indoor drumline competition. I have no idea how they will do, it depends on their attitudes this week and how hard they feel on working........I hate teaching drumline and look forward to not doing in next year. BUT, the kids love it so I'll finish it out for the rest of the year.
I have to figure out how to get sound working on my school issued dvd player because I dont' feel like teaching on Friday. The kids have been working sooooo hard lately and we haven't done anything 'fun' or out of routine lately so on Friday I'll surprise them with a treat.
OH, Mike and Carla bought us the pack and play! Yay, we were happy. The baby's room is really coming together. I can't wait to get the crib and set it all up!
See ya soon!

Thank you!

Someone bought us the pack and play we wanted! It came today but we have no idea who sent it because there wasn't any card or message or anything. We put it together quickly and are quite happy with how functional it seems. I also like the way it looks :).

Thanks!

Today I.....

barfed in a garbage can in the teachers lounge. I had a small audience but they all understood. And if they didn't, too bad. Barf happens.

My Goodness

People need to stop asking me how I have been feeling and if I am getting sick anymore! I swear, I haven't been sick since the day before I left for Pensacola. Yesterday, I caught up with a bunch of friends and family and everyone asked me how I have been feeling and I said "great! Haven't been sick for weeks!".
WELL, lemme tell ya that this morning has been awful. Sick sick sick, and sick some more. I blame all the people that care about me, just kidding :). I still love you all and will think of you when I am praying to my commode all day.

Baby's First Published Photo Shoot

These were taken on February 23rd, 2010. He must be so much bigger now. :)