Truly blessed...

I'll post a real update soon...being a new parent has been keeping me busy!! Carson Marian Barker was born on May 19 and is doing well. We're working through some fussy issues, but nothing out of the norm. She looks just like me and has Gresham's big ole feet....and of course, she's the cutest baby EVER. (not that I'm biased or anything)

I wanted to post this real quick because I just say it on Oprah and I haven't been this moved in awhile...well, since Carson was born. It's 2 years old, but new to me. It's amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkq0

The countdown has begun....

Well, little miss is stubborn. So stubborn in fact, that she is refusing to move. I guess I just provided a complete pimp palace for her, so she's thinking to herself, "you want me to go down there? it's not as roomy....you must be crazy." So new plan is that we're going to have to go get her!

The big day is Tuesday and I'm very excited. My c-section is scheduled for 2pm, so she should be in the world by 3pm. We're totally pumped! I feel really good about everything and absolutely love the doctor who is going to perform the c-section. There are 7 doctors in the practice I go too, so we scheduled it for 2pm so I could have him do it. The only downside is that I can't eat past midnight on Monday. The plan is to just sleep late (since that will probably be the last time I'll get to do that for 18 years) and get up and get ready and go since we have to be at the hospital at noon.

I do have updated belly pics and I'll post them soon. Then I'll definitely be posting some baby pics soon after that. :)

one more thing....

As I look at the 22 weeks post with my picture.....holy batman! Put me in a bikini! I look so freakin' small compared to what I am now. (and of course, I thought I was big for 22 weeks)

This may be a scam, but look what I ordered (don't laugh):

http://www.bellybandit.com/

It claims that it will help one regain one's figure faster after baby, but I'm not so sure about that. It did mention back support and help in posture while breastfeeding and I do buy that, so that's why I ordered it. If by chance, it does help me bounce back a little faster, even better. We shall see....

Are we there yet?

Wow - it says I haven't posted since January - that's a long time. Anyway, I'm still pregnant. At the current point in time, I no longer wish to be pregnant. Unfortunately, I don't get much say in this matter, but I would give just about anything for this little girl to come RIGHT NOW. Literally, I'm OK with water breaking as I type this or some other surefire sign that she's on her way. It's not like I'm completely miserable, but almost there. Give me a couple of days.

22 weeks!

Here's me and my 2 kids..."Greshina" and Harley. I'm actually 22 weeks and 1 day - can't believe I'm this far along. Before you know it, she'll be here!!!!

Surprise, Surprise

It's a GIRL!!!!

Helllooooo Internet...

Whoa!!!! It's been about 6 months since I posted anything on here. That seems like forever, but June seems like it was just yesterday. Time flies, especially when you get old. Guess I'm just getting old. ;)



Well, most of you who may remember this blog probably already know that I'm expecting. Expecting what you may ask? I would really like to say, "Publishers Clearing House on my doorstep any minute now with a check for $1,000,ooo", but naaa, even better, I'm pregnant.



We found out in late August that I was preggers and it has been quite a ride ever since. The first trimester was challenging to say the least. I never actually got sick, which I'm really thankful for, but I was nauseated constantly. That sucked....a lot. Peppermints were my saving grace and I probably financed Starlite's Christmas party this year. Those were my magic pills. Always seemed to make the tummy simmer down a bit. In addition to the nausea, there were headaches. And usually with headaches, especially bad headaches such as these, they would be kicked to the curb with Excedrin Migraine. (Before being preggers - those were my magic pills.) But since Excedrin Migraine was off limits, I had to settle for Tylenol and I might as well have eaten another peppermint. No effect. Sick to the stomach headache, eyes hurt, maybe a migraine?, maybe a bad sinus headache?, who knows, but I was not a big fan. In addition to the nausea and headaches, I just felt like crap. Emotionally, physically...all the way around crappy. It was really hard before work knew and I had to pretend everything was glorious and then by the time I got home, it was meltdown time. Saved it all in until I walked through the front door and then (poor Gresham), just had to let it all out. Pure crappiness. So, during all this, I was still very excited about my little bundle of joy, but not so fond of being pregnant. Not so fun. But, thankfully I made it through the first trimester without inflicting any bodily harm on anyone, and I'm feeling pretty good these days. The "funny" thing was that as soon as I started to feel better, Gresham got a really bad sinus infection. And then guess what? I got a REALLY bad sinus infection. Nice. And the guess what? Gresham got the shingles. WTF?



So, I'm happy to report that all is well now. Gresham is starting to feel a lot better and we're now getting super duper excited about the baby. And, I'm pretty stoked about everything now. This trimester is the fun one. I'm totally out of my regular clothes and into maternity clothes now. I'm still not big enough to fill out the maternity clothes, so I feel like I'm wearing my PJs to work. It's amazing. I probably look like a clown with everything being so big on me, but at this point, I really don't care. I finally have an appetite again which is great. It's been missing for about, ummmm, 14 weeks. On that subject, in my opinion, that's just a cruel joke. Without being pregnant, appetite BOOMING. If I wanted to lose a couple of pounds, it would be difficult. (I'm not one to restrain myself around good food.) But, in early pregnancy, did I want to eat? NO. The only reason I did was to prevent myself from feeling super sick. So, the time when I'm supposed to put on some pounds, I didn't want food. The time I want to lose some pounds, all I wanted was food. Imagine that?



Anyway, our next doctor's appointment is on Dec. 22 and this is the big one - we (hopefully) get to find out what we're having. I'm SO excited to know. Honestly, I really don't care what the baby is, as long as it's OK, but I really do want to know. Eeeck - super excited!!!!! (That was a shrill of excitedness)



So, I'm not going to say I'm back on the blogging scene, but I can say it won't be 6 more months before I update again. I have lots of pictures to share of the house, my fam, and my belly. Speaking of belly, I recently took out my belly ring. I had a true sense of withdrawal on that one. Felt like my youth was stripped away from me with the taking out of the heart shaped, cubic zirconia belly ring. (yea, that's right - super classy all the way - that's how I roll.) I mean, I've had that thing in for 10 years. 10 YEARS!! That's a long time. I've decided that after baby gets here and I get an acceptable version of my body back, belly ring going back in. BOOYAH!



So until next time....


(Oh and by the way - Harley is still the most awesomist, coolest dog EVER.)

Moving...

This is what hell must be like.

Here's another one to add to your list

Hi guys!!! I will post again one day. Lots and lots to tell. Here's a quick recap of the latest happenings...

• Went to Jamaica for a week...it was awesome.
• Bought a house...it's an awesome house.
• Sold our house in 7 days!! Crazy stuff, but once again...very awesome.

But most of all, the meaning of this post is to introduce Gresham's blog. Take a look...

http://greshamspeaks.blogspot.com/

Six Word Philosophy of Life

I know I'm late in the game on this one, but I'm going to play anyway!! Allison tagged me to give my six word philosophy on life...I actually have two, so I'll share them both. (With some revisions to make them six words.)

Every thing always works itself out.

The first philosophy is something that has proven itself to me time and time again. Whatever the situation, dilemma, drama that's going on in my life, surprisingly, it always works out. It always does. For real, always. It may not be the solution that I was hoping for, but it seems to work out for the best. Call it faith, optimism, fate, whatever...it's a true statement in my book.

No coincidence dog backwards is God.

By now, you should know I'm a huge dog lover. And yes, I do believe these creatures are a gift to us. They provide unconditional, uncomplicated love and companionship. Harley is 6 years old and I hope that he has many years left in him. Through the many changes and transitions that I've had in my life since my days as a college student, Harley has been the only constant factor in it all. I know his presence in my life is not a coincidence. So, I don't know if I've just had some of the raddest dogs EVER to make me feel like this, but I highly doubt it. Dogs just rule.

So - I tag...well...everyone I know has been tagged. You're off the hook.


It's been awhile since I've been present in the blog world and to tell you the truth, I miss it! These past few weeks I've literally had NO time to do ANYTHING, much less sit down and write. Work has been insane, but the project I was working on is done and in the client's hands, so I'm hoping life will get back to normal. I've had some cool happenings take place, so can't wait to share! (And no, I'm not pregnant...I know someone was thinking that.)

Working Woman

I haven't posted in forever. I'm still around, but no one rarely sees me because I work all the time these days. 60 hours a week here, 70 hours a week there. Thank goodness the project I'm working on so much is out the door at the end of the month. I'll come back, promise. Just tired. Really, really tired.

(But the overtime checks have been mighty nice.)

Makes me want to have 1000 children

This video has been around for awhile, but I just saw it recently. Literally, G and I watched it at least 15 times and laughed until we cried each time. It's one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

Charlie is my hero.

OMG!!! OMG!!! OMG!!!

As some of you know, I'm from a small, small town near Columbia. I grew up there all my life and in a town such as this, everyone seems to know everyone is some way, shape, or form. Anyway....

Tonight, I went to a dinner at High Cotton sponsored by my work as a "thank you" for helping out on a charitable cause. It was a 4 course dinner (completely FABULOUS) and every course had a wine that went with it. The wine was from Shelton Vineyards in N.C. (it was awesome) and the president from the vineyard was there to explain the wine, talk about the vineyard, etc. So, there was about 12 people at the dinner and I happen to sit next to the wife of the president of the vineyard. He was at the head of the table talking about the wine and she would chime in every now and then about certain processes, procedures, blah, blah, blah. As I sat there listening to her husband, I knew I knew her, but of course, couldn't place her for the life of me. I finally asked the total cliche question..."You look so familiar to me...where would I know you?" She told me that her daughters went to Furman (no connection there) and that lots of people tell her she looks like some old movie star that I didn't recognize (forgot the name). So, I told her that must be it and just let it go, but I just couldn't shake the feeling that I knew this woman.

Further into the dinner, I mention something about being from Columbia. She piped in, "Our main residence is actually in a small town right outside Columbia." I said, "Where?" And wouldn't you know it, it's where I was from. She lives, literally, 2 minutes from my mom's house. She knows many of the people I know, she's neighbor's with my mom's cousin (I guess that would be my 2nd cousin), AND she was my 7th grade Sunday school teacher. WHAAAA???!!! This totally blew me away once we made the connection and we talked non-stop about what's going on in the town, who's marrying who, who had a baby, etc. It was great. I was COMPLETELY blown away that I ran into her again, especially in the circumstances that we were in. Totally crazy!! The good part is that now, I have really awesome VIP treatment awaiting me at Shelton Vineyards in N.C. I can't wait to go!

I still can't get over this...totally blowing me away. Goes to show how small of a world this really is. Never in my life did I think something like that would ever happen. How fantastic?? Even though I'm sure this is part of the wine's doing, but I've had a grin on my face ever since I left the restaurant. It just seems like I was supposed to be there and supposed to sit next to her....such a crazy and wonderful feeling.