Taking a poll ...

Crib bedding has been on my mind as of late. I've found several things that I like, but I guess I'm looking for a second, third, fourth opinion as I can't seem to make up my mind.

Here are a few options for you to choose (in no particular order). Keep in mind, we don't know the genders and probably won't find out. Cribs and furniture will be painted white. Walls are painted a blue-ish green that tends to change colors throughout the day with white trim. Wall colors could be painted if we have to go that route. We're buying for 2 and as much as I'd love to spend $1,000 on crib bedding, I can't justify it.

Option A: The Callie bedding from Pottery Barn Kids. We would choose the bright green and find a more neutral (non-floral) crib sheet in green or white.

http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/nb80/index.cfm?pkey=cbdgnbd%7Cb

Option B: Stella from Pottery Barn Kids. Again, I would do a different crib sheet in green or yellow.

http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/nb75_1/index.cfm?pkey=cbdgnbd%7Cb

Option C: All Creatures Great & Small from Land of Nod.

http://www.landofnod.com/family.aspx?c=167&f=4157&pc=67

Option D: Womb with a View from Land of Nod

http://www.landofnod.com/family.aspx?c=167&f=633&pc=67

Option E: Squirt from Target.


http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=sc_qi_detail/601-5681841-1567335?&frombrowse=1&page=1&node=15991011&rh=&asin=B000WIF2TY

Option F: Pique bedding from Pottery Barn Kids. In either chocolate or green, then we could add in other colors when the babies are here.

http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/nb50/index.cfm?pkey=cbdgnbd%7Cb

Please cast your vote in the comments section. If you have other ideas, please leave them as well. Baby A & Baby B thank you for your support!

Happy Birthday, Z & Z!

It's hard to believe that the "Z" dogs are 4 years old today. It really just seems like yesterday when we picked them up and I rode in the back of the car with them for the 2 hours trip home.

I remember that during our first weekend, no one really slept much. Seen here at 7 weeks old.


They did help us finish our wedding Save the Date cards by posing for us.

Zoe's favorite past time - swimming at the lake.

Here they are this past Christmas.

And today, enjoying a celebratory drink & cookie!

Pregnant Woman in need of congestion relief

Here's my latest love note to Mother Earth:

Dear Mother Earth,

I hope you are having a beautiful day. Currently, I'm not doing so great. Yesterday, from 3PM to about 9PM, I had about 10% use of my nasal passages. I finally propped myself up on about 90 pillows to make that number rise to about 40%. Being "with child" and all, I'm really limited on what I can snort or swallow. The stuff from my allergist isn't cutting it. (Yes, I know it may take a few days, but I'm a little desperate. Breathing is kind of important.) I am asking you to please dispose of all pollen and ragweed from my nearby vicinity.

XO,
Susan D.

Any neti-pot users out there or anyone feeling the same way? If we're in a 300 mile radius from each other, I'm sure we are. I'm looking for an all natural (or Pregnancy B category) remedy that I can add to my non-effective nasal spray and antihistamine!

Documenting the belly

20 weeks, 3 days on Easter Sunday

I felt the babies move for the first time this week. I've been waiting for these so-called flutters, but today, I think I felt someone flip over. More like riding a roller coaster sensation, than a flutter.

Making me happy

A few things that are making me happy ....

A much needed pedicure in OPI's Pansy

Daffodils from my yard that have a found a home near our kitchen sink

Ben & Jerry's

This one's a little bittersweet - New bras that actually fit. At least for now.

Take5 Tuesday

I was looking for a little Tuesday fill-in, so here goes. Thanks to Take5 Tuesday.


I chose the topic of my 5 favorite Breakfast Foods, so here goes:

One of my favorite as of late is Old Fashioned Quaker oatmeal mixed with skim milk, raisins, cinnamon, and ground flax seed. Ok, the flax seed stuff isn't my favorite, but it's good for you.

The breakfast casserole that my mom makes - eggs, sausage, cheese, and sourdough bread all mixed together in a yummy baked goodness. Can it really get much better?

Omelets. I am not a huge fan of eggs, but when eggs meet cheese and salsa, they become my friend.

Pancakes. Don't have them often, but they definitely earn a space in the top 5.

Biscuits and raspberry preserves. Yes, I know I'm in the South, but this Southern girl doesn't like gravy. Give me a homemade biscuit and homemade preserves with a glass of milk, and I'm a happy girl.

Why I shouldn't take sick days

1) I've stayed on my work email most of the day, working anyway despite not being able to breathe properly and nursing a sore throat. Oh well, I'm still in my PJ's so that counts for something.

2) I can watch A Baby Story on TLC and see a woman give birth to what looked like a toddler. Ummmm, a little scary to this first time new-mom-to-be.

Have you heard?

We recently featured this company in our magazine. Of course, Oprah wrote about it 2 years ago. Guess we were a tad slow!

It can actually replace your google or yahoo search engine and the great thing is that you can choose your favorite charity or non-profit and proceeds go back to that non-profit. You can also shop via their site and make more money for your chosen non-profit.

I personally volunteer for a non-profit and we're up to nearly $2.00, but every little bit counts. So, do your good deed today, use Good Search, pick your charity, do a little searching online like you would anyway, and raise money for someone who needs it.

Baby naming is hard

A co-worker sent this article to me yesterday. I really couldn't believe some of the names that they found in past censuses. King Arthur? Ima Hooker? Candy Storh? Really? Plus, do you really want your child to have to grow up dealing with this?

Yesterday, Hubby met a family with twin girls named "Maggie" and "Valley." For those of you not as familiar with NC, when I hear Maggie Valley, this is what I envision. While picturesque and scenic, not what I would plan to name my children.

I did work with a guy whose last name was Naylor. He always joked that he would name his kids Woody and Didde. I digress ...

Walking dogs = out of breath

Pregnancy observation #12546

Either I am way out of shape or having 12 ounces of baby inside me is already cutting into my lung capacity.

Back from the beach

It's only 7:30 and I can hear two sleeping dogs snoring from their kennels. Hubby & I headed to Wrightsville Beach for the weekend to celebrate my birthday, and the pups went to Air Canine for a weekend of swimming, running, and baths.

We had a good, very relaxing weekend, albeit cold and windy. Walks on the beach were pretty short, but it's still nice to have the ocean as your backyard. Lots of eating and napping, a little shopping, and I even stayed up to watch UNC beat Duke last night. Go Heels! I think my afternoon nap helped me out for the 9pm game. And, not to forget my alma mater, a little shout out to the Peay for making it to the NCAA tourney!

As always, it's nice to be home. Loving the daylight savings time ... I'm sure I'll grumble tomorrow morning, but for now, I love the extra daylight.

See you next week!

We're off for a few days of R&R. See you on Monday!

Lipstick dilemna

Oh the topic is heavy and serious today .... I have been unhappy with my current lipstick/lip gloss choices.

I used to wear Clinique's Black Honey. It always seemed to be a good standby.

I love Stila's LipGlaze in Berry, but wanted to try something new.

I flirted with Benefit, Bobbi Brown, Chanel, MAC, Target brands and others. Help. What's a girl to do?

I'm brunette, fair skinned, with hazel eyes. Anyone out there with a perfect shade for me?

5 things I've learned ...

I've been tagged by Kim to tell 5 things that I learned and with her great suggestion, I think I'll do the pregnancy theme.

1. I have learned that when a pregnant woman says she's hungry, it means she's hungry, like right now, this very second and she must eat immediately. In my case, you may not know what you want, but food better by nearby. Peanut butter crackers are now a staple in my house.

2. From attending pre-natal yoga classes, I have really learned how pregnancy looks different on everyone. I know that everyone's bodies are different, but I'm always amazed at how different women carry, who gets swollen ankles, who complains of the increasing bra size, and those lucky girls who turn around and you can't even tell that they are pregnant.

3. I'm beginning to think that something is in the water in our neighborhood. We will be having the 4th set of twins on our street (East side & West side together), and at least the 6th set in the neighborhood. I've learned that there was a family with quads, but they have moved.

4. I now understand when a pregnant woman says that she can't touch or cook raw chicken, can't remember why she walked into a room, remember an answer to a simple question, or the sheer thought of a specific food makes her nauseous.

5. If we had the means to afford it, I would be like Tom & Katie and rent an ultrasound machine so I could look at the babies on a daily basis. We went today for a very detailed and long ultrasound and I enjoyed every minute.

I won't tag anyone, but if you're looking for a topic, feel free to tag yourself!

I'm in trouble

I was in a candy conversation last week with two of my co-workers. Yes, we were actually talking about what kind of candy we liked. You know the norm - dark chocolate, peanut butter and chocolate, and then I discovered that these two women and I are soul mates. We all love hot tamales.

One of them bought about 6 big boxes and filled up a cute little jar that now sits near our desks, along with another jar of Good n Plenty's.

I restrained until the afternoon yesterday, but one of the women was already nibbling before 8:30. I hope I don't eat the entire jar!