Are you (*^&#@ Kidding me???

So the day started like many other in the last 2 months, I was up early feeding Isabelle only today would be the day I would go back to work full time. I was very apprehensive about it because I really wasn't ready to leave her behind. This will sound horrible when I say it but with the other 2 I was ready to go back, I think it was because I didn't truly appreciate all the memories that were going to be made in the weeks and months to come once I went back to work. I also think I was in a much more selfish place and worried more about me and my needs. So not the case these days!!!

So the commute started like it had many weeks prior I was sitting in traffic in all the same places as before and listening to the same morning DJ's rattling on about current events,the morning weather and traffic.

I arrived at the office and was greeted by familiar faces, surprised faces and welcoming faces. I enjoyed hearing people coo over the baby pictures I had to share and telling me how good I looked for just having had a baby.

Then I met with my boss a mere 25 minutes after my arrival . He greeted me with a hearty hello and hug, looked at pictures of Isabelle and then asked me to come see him in his office.

I walk in and he shuts the door, tells me how wonderful it is to have me back but that he is sorry to have to give me some not so pleasant news on my first day back. I brace myself, certain that all of the blood in my face has rushed out. "Our project has been permanently shut down" those words ring in my ear. Months earlier I suffered the blow that it was put on hold till 2010. I had fears that the end result would be no project at all, but I kept hopefully thinking the delay was for the best and would allow me to enjoy my leave relatively stress free. I knew there was a possibility that it would never get off the ground after our initial delay but I remained hopefully for me and for my team. Those hopes were now in ruins.

To add to my shocking news I would also need to completely redo my budget for 2010 which was due by Thursday that week and in redoing that budget I must cut 2 people from my team for 2010 and cut them as soon as possible. Are you &$#(%@ kidding me?????? Welcome back!!!

I spent the rest of the day fielding comments like "I am so sorry" and "You'll be fine" along with looks of sadness from fellow colleagues as though I had just lost my best friend or a puppy. It was all I had not to scream at them "stop, stop looking at me like I am a pathetic mess!" I went home angry, although I finally did smile when I saw the kids. But I was still really mad.

I have since informed my team of the decision, I am in the process of looking for other opportunities within the organization for them as well as trying to figure out how I will reinvent myself. I am lucky in that I didn't get fired but I do have some decisions to make in the coming weeks.

Bottom line the first week back has sucked!!!!!

It's over!

So today is the last day of my maternity leave! It is 4 am and I just got done feeding Isabelle and I am feeling a huge sense of I don't know what! My emotions range from sadness, anger, frustration, anxiety and being just completely overwhelmed.

The idea of being back to work and trying to juggle 3 kids, their schedules, the household duties, homework and a bounty of other issues has been freaking me out. While home I often had moments of "how the heck did I do this before with only 2?". Now there are 3 and the newest one demands most of my time.

I continue to be on medication for depression and I have seen the therapist a few more times. I am trying to work through several issues first and foremost my need to be a perfectionist at all I do. I am slowly starting to see that being the best mom, best wife, best worker, best runner, best daughter, best friend, etc is not attainable and it is a crushing blow to me and my self esteem (some would say ego).

So forgive me if I am not here much the next couple of weeks as I navigate my way. I will pre-post (as I did this post) a blog about Halloween and hope that the weekend affords me some time to post an update on how I am handling everything till then..........

Disney Half Marathon Training has begun....

I am not sure that is was the smartest thing for me to sign up for my first half marathon a mere 4 months after giving birth but I did and I can't back out now!

So the training has begun my longest race run was 6.2 miles (10K) I am up to 5 miles now. My time is not great but I am building up my endurance. Lucky for me I have a seasoned Marathon runner preparing my training workouts for me.

So if any of you have training tips or if you are running in the Disney Half Marathon in January 2010 drop me a line, I would love to hear from you and what you are doing to prepare.

Isabelle is 2 months today..and a cutie :)

Isabelle is 2 months old today and I must say her personality is starting to come out. check out the big smiles she gave me this week.

So cute!

Checking me and the camera out

Don't want you to think she is happy all the time :)

Smiles for Momma

Marriage is work!

I have stopped and started this post several times mainly because I was never able to get more than 10 minutes to myself in the last few weeks. So here goes.

Now I am sure all of you would say of course marriage is work! Well, I have never looked at it as being that much work, sure there have been trying times but nothing I considered to be hard work at least not until about 4 months ago.


As I have written in previous posts, my work was a bit crazy before I left on maternity leave and the bottom was essentially pulled from under me on a project I was working on and was extremely passionate about. During this time my husband was dealing with his own stress of trying to find his way in the corporate world after 20 years in the military. Finally he was given an opportunity within his new corporate life that seemed to light his fire he was moving and shaking.


However my husband doesn't always know limits or boundaries, he is an all or nothing type guy so he was pretty much engrossed in this new endeavor, often I felt to the detriment of our family. I dealt with it thinking maybe the pace would slow down and that I might not be as irritated with his long hours once I had Isabelle and I was home to take care of things. I was a bit naive in my thinking because things didn't slow down and on top of everything he was not only working crazy hours but utterly frustrated by those he was working with on his project and every conversation we had together seemed to revolve around his work.

A little over a month ago an opportunity was provided to him that seemed to be a no brainer, more money, more time off, closer to home, etc. However he has been wavering, one day it is yes then the next it is no. I have acted as his counselor at a time when I have been the person who really needed one.

He ended up not taking the job about much drama. At first I was not sure that he had made he right decision but now, it is starting to feel as though it was the right move. However, I felt as though he was completely unconnected to me and the kids at a time I was in need of a shoulder to cry on as I was taking on a lot with now 3 kids in the house and the stress of his indecisiveness as it pertained to his job not to mention my own post postpartum issues. There were many a night where I was the one feeding, giving a bath and putting all 3 kids to bed on little to no sleep of my own because he was working late. I know I shouldn't complain but it had put me at the end of my rope.

Fast forward a bit.....I went for my 6 week check up last week and the Dr. took one look at me and asked "is everything OK?" I broke down into tears, sobbing, to this person who knows nothing about my life, although he is pretty intimate with my body since he delivered Isabelle! He was wonderful and let me vent a bit. He encouraged me to seek some counseling as he could tell in 10 brief minutes that I was in need of a shoulder to cry on, he even went to far as to make the appt for me. He also adjusted my meds in the hopes of trying to get me balanced out.

I spoke with the therapist yesterday and while I don't feel it really accomplished anything it did feel good to get some things off my chest to an unbiased party. However some of those things need to be told to those who can help change them not a total stranger.

My husband has been gone since Saturday on a business trip and comes back tomorrow I hope to talk to him about how I am feeling but I am afraid it will be perceived as me bitching as it seems I have not been very happy for quite sometime. I love my husband but I feel as though we have not connected in a very long time. this I know needs to change and I don't blame him solely because I have not been a peach to be with recently either. Hopefully a good old fashion gab session will help clear the air.

So there you have it! I promise to post a more upbeat post tomorrow. As a matter of fact tomorrow Isabelle will be 2 months old so I will be sure to post some photos.

Life continues to spin in high gear!!!

I think the title says it all. It is hard for me to believe that Isabelle is 5 weeks old. She is starting to get into a bit of a schedule but it is hard sticking to it with the older kids having so much going on. Last night I was so exhausted that I let Izzy cry it out at bedtime while it sucked for 20 min listening to her cry I knew she was feed dry and in need of nothing but sleep as was I.
I am happy to say that at 9pm she was sound asleep and stayed that way till 4am!
I am sure someone will think I am cruel for letting her cry but I truly could not lift my head of the pillow.

On the blues front I am on meds don't feel like they are doing much for me. However I am sticking to them. I have also started my 1/2 marathon training. I was able to log in 3.5 miles on Sunday and while it hurt and I felt like I would die I got it done and am ready for more.

On a good note I am just about back into all my pre pregnancy clothes. I put on my DKNY jeans Sunday and they fit! Talk about a woohoo moment!

I hope to have new pictures of Isabelle up in the next couple of days.

To social network or not to social network

So I am a technology junkie. I facebooked and tweeted while in labor to provide everyone I know up to the minute updates on my labor progress.....I think that makes me officially a junkie! I have loved getting in touch with old friends and new ones via these social networks but I can't help but wonder if these sites lend themselves for people to address their issues to or about a person in a passive aggressive way. Without getting into friends which have made random comments on my page and theirs that seem directed square at me and the past that was. Now I know all about holding on to things in the past, my mother is the master of it, but at some point don't you just let it go and move on? Certainly you don't lay it out there for all the world to see?What are your thoughts on these social networking sites? Have you every taken the passive aggressive approach on them to deal with an issue you might have???

Life with 3 Update

It has been a little while since I posted my guess is that you understand I have had my hands full getting Lauren and Jackson off to school along with giving hugs, kisses and general love to little Isabelle Grace.

The first few weeks of Isabelle's life seem to be a blur nothing new for most new moms.Isabelle has been a great baby she has made breast feeding a breeze which was not the case for my first 2. Isabelle has also been a good sleeper however mom has not learned after 3 kids that she needs to nap when she naps hence I have been a bit sleep deprived.

Truth be told as happy as I am in a bit of a funk and I have been here before. However this funk unlike others is identifiable to me and I know there is a solution if I choose to reach out for it. See I deal with depression, before becoming pregnant with Isabelle I was being treated for depression and silly and not so responsible me took matters into my own hands and stopped my medication cold turkey because I did not want to subject little Izzy to unneeded drugs.Fortunately for me I did not have a horrible reaction to my discontinuance of the medication even though I did so at a time that my life was in complete turmoil. Job responsibilities, a new pregnancy, Dan retiring from the military on top of daily life was not easy and was no picnic unmediated. Yet I think it has taught me something and that is that it is ok to as for help and not to be ashamed.

Those of you who read here on a regular basis may know I like to stay busy, it really does make me happy and the way I stay busy is usually doing for others, add the fact that I have a huge desire to do everything well (some would say perfect) and well it can be a slippery slope.So here I sit knowing full well I am not super woman but still trying to be her.I am overjoyed to have Isabelle in our lives however I am overwhelmed by my own issues to be perfect and there for everyone and because of that I find myself burning the candle at both ends and hence very sad and very very tired when I should be at a very happy place.

I am happy to say that I have reached out to family and friends as well as my Dr and I hope to be on the road back to my old self of over a year ago, because it has become painfully apparent to me that I am not where I should be mentally and physically my body can not keep up this pace.So there you have it warts and all. The bright side is that I have this wonderful family to pull me through.

A Birth Story.................

Isabelle Grace Whalen has arrived! She is 8lbs 10oz and 21 inches long and she arrived on August 28th 2009 at 1:59pm

She is wonderful she has 10 fingers and 10 toes and she smells of sweet newborn baby. I am in love all over again. Her arrival into this world went smoothly, so smoothly that I would not rule out more kids. Give me a couple of weeks I may change my mind!!!!!!!!
Dan and I went to dinner alone on Thursday night before I was to check into the hospital it was strange having him all to myself for a meal. As we left I turned him and said so are you ready to be the Dad of 3 and he said "Bring it on!"

We checked in and they wasted no time getting me set up, they hooked me up to the monitors and found that I was contracting every 3 to 4 minutes and was about 1 to 2 cm dilated. They proceeded to hook up an IV line and give me the Cervidil. After about on hour on the monitors they took me off gave me a sleeping pill and called it a night. Dan and I slept from about midnight to 6am.

At 6:30am the day began, I was hooked up to the pitocine and after about 2 hours went from 1-2cm to 2 to 3cm. I was feeling the contractions but they weren't killing me, I asked about the epidural and when they thought I should have it and before I knew it the man with the magic syringe was there. With my first 2 kids I hated this part, I remember it being painful and very scary, not this time around! Sure it had a little pain associated with it but nothing like the first 2. Within 30 mins I could see the contractions but wasn't feeling them like before.

The morning progressed and I was a 7cm when the pain started to pick up but only on my right side. We could see that Miss Isabelle was hanging out totally on my right side and thought that might have something to do with why I had some pain. They gave me a bit more of the epidural and that still didn't seem to work it's magic. By 12noon I told them I was feeling pressure and they said they would wait for my Dr to check me but that there was nothing they could do about pressure pain. I was pretty certain that by this point I was 10 cm but I didn't insist they check me instead I hung out in a bit of pain waiting for my Dr. He arrived and looked at me sadly saying he was sorryI was in pain and that he would see what he could do. With that he checked me and sure enough I was 10cm, time to push. He asked me to try to push in order to be certain I still had some feeling after being epiduraled to the max and as soon as he knew I could told me to get ready to be a mom for the 3rd time in about 3 min. Man was he ever on the money. Within about 5 min I had baby Isabelle in my arms! As any of you that have kids know as soon as she was placed on my belly all the pain was gone. I was nothing but smiles!

We did have one scare but it was the kind of scare you are grateful not to have known about beforehand. Seems that Isabelle when she was a bit smaller tied her umbilical cord (which even the Dr sad was crazy long) into a knot. Thankfully that knot never got tight as it could have killed her by cutting off her lifeline to me. I was shocked when the Dr. showed me the evidence and relived that we had pressed to have her induced.

We were moved from the Labor room to a private room within about an hour. There I spent the next 2 days caring and bonding with Isabelle. I have never been a good breast feeder. I had a horrible experience with Lauren and with Jackson I only made it about 3 weeks and even that seemed to to be struggle. This time it has been different, Isabelle latches on easily and seems to get what she needs. I hope to continue for a while although I will need to assess once it is time to go back to work. A note about the nursing staff I had caring for me in the hospital they were awesome, I have to say this by far was the best experience in a medical environment I have ever had. It is not often that the medical field asks how they can make you more comfortable Dan kept calling this the "kiss your ass" way to have a child, these women got me whatever I wanted whenever I wanted and did it with a smile. By the time I left I felt as though I had bonded with them.

Last night was our first night home and Isabelle was a dream, she ate at 9:30 went to bed and didn't get up till 1:15 we fed until 2 and then she woke up again at 5:45. I won't hold my breath that it will happen 2 nights in a row but it was a nice homecoming.
Here are some pics of the last few days I hope to have some better pictures in the week to come. Thanks for all the well wishes from my Twitter and Facebook posts it was fun posting and reading the response as labor progressed.

Daddy and Isabelle

Isabelle Grace Whalen

The kids meeting Isabelle for the first time

Me all teary eyed

Mom and baby just after Delivery

Well I am finally in the home stretch......

I have made it past all my important dates, what might those be? Well, I was able to have my son's birthday party, I made it to the last day of work (even though I am working from home for now) but most importantly I was able to not have this little girl on my son's real birthday which was this past Sunday the 23rd.

I am however...... done! Every ounce of my baby weight has been in my belly and while it was cute early in the pregnancy it has become painful, my back hurts all the time and I am totally unable to get into a comfortable position for more than 30 minutes at a time needless to say sleeping is great fun...NOT!

So last week at my appointment I was not dilated at all however my cervix start to get squishy (Dr. term not mine) it was decided that we would induce due to the size of my last baby and that this one may be about 8 to 9lbs. I am thinking she might be a bit more because I seem to be one of those lucky women who hide their baby's well. Nonetheless induction was in my future. So we have determined that Friday the 28th will be the day...unless of course she decides to take matters into her own hands before then. I have had contractions off and on since Saturday night but nothing has settled into any kind of true pattern.

I have my final appointment this Thursday at which time if I am still not dilated they will admit me to the hospital that evening to start me on cervidil before giving me the pitocine cocktail Friday morning!

So here I am this is the last picture you will see of my pregnant! Enjoy!

Try to overlook that i have no make up on and my hair is not done!


Also it is my hope to twitter about labor so if you twitter look me up (swhln19) Thursday night and Friday day

Work stress and disappointment

So I have been a bit slack in posting here lately. In my last post I talked about my work situation needing it's own post so here we go.

I have been working on a rather large project for the last 16 months, this project was going to be my biggest accomplish to date in my working career and it was my hope that is would get me promoted to an officer level VP, needless to say a bit of a big deal.

The past year has been full of long hours, road trips and tough meetings but it was all starting to come together and even though I missed my first target date of July 1st things were still going well that is until July 15th. When road block after road block seemed to appear. The Sr. management of my company changed drastically and suddenly my project was not a popular project. It was very hard not to take it personally but I kept fighting through a) because I believed in what I was doing and b) because I knew this would have great payoffs for not only my family and the company but me as well. To say I was driven and passionate would be an understatement.

My dreams of stardom came crashing down Aug 10th when I was informed by the President (my boss) that my project was being put on hold till late 2010 due to capital (money) issues. Seems that we had a rough 2nd quarter which resulted in a company wide loss and the powers that be were hunkering down and looking to ride out what they perceive as a storm ahead. I was crushed...beyond crushed….. I was devastated. For those of you that know me personally and those of you who have read my blog long enough you probably get that I am a very driven person. When I make my mind up I throw myself into something a 120% add to that I am a very competitive person well it can be a very scary sight. My project it seems has gone up in smoke and I have been told to stand down. So for a week I went through a bit of a grieving process. I kid you not when I say I went from shock and disbelief to anger to shear emotion. (Not good when very pregnant)

I am trying my best to look at this as a glass half full situation, it will allow me to focus on the birth of my daughter without distraction, I can relax a bit while home on maternity leave and hopefully come back to work with a fresh perspective instead of felling like I never left.

All that said it is still not easy to switch gears. I am now working from home because the hour long commute to work was getting the best of me and I plan to work from home till I deliver while it is nice to shift gears it feels very odd and I am doing my best to adjust. Honestly I think I am still in the grieving process just a bit. I am hoping the arrival of our daughter will take some of the sting out of the last week and half, as I need something happy to look forward to.
Tomorrow an update on my baby creating progress and a finally belly picture!

This and that......

Well a lot has been going here in the house of Whalen........

Last you heard from me I had an incredible surprise baby shower hosted by dear friends, I have finished all the thank you notes and put away all the lovely things and I am officially ready for baby business. Now let's just hope and pray that the child is a girl because a boy is going to feel very out of place in pink and purple clothes and the pink room we have ready!

My work colleagues also surprised me with a shower where they were kind enough to provide me with $225 dollars worth of gift cards as well as a gift certificate to a local spa! Talk about spoiling a girl!

We have also celebrated my 37th birthday. Surprise of surprises both my mother and my husband bought me the exact same thing ... a telephoto lens for my Nikon. One of course went back and earrings were given as the replacement, another really cool gift too.

This past Saturday we celebrated by son's 5th birthday even though it is not till the 23rd I wanted to be sure that he was not cheated out of a birthday party should I go into labor. We had a blast and I have the pictures to prove it. I had a face painter come and she did an amazing job. If you are in the DC metro area and need an idea for a party I highly recommend her (http://www.facesbyarla.com/) Check out her incredible work.

Jackson as Batman

Jackson blowing out the candle

Jackson as Batman with his Alien Ballon hat

Lauren as a Butterfly Princess

Now check out what she talked me into doing... I am not one for showing off my prego belly as a matter of fact I never took any prego pictures before this pregnancy but Arla was able to not only get me to show my belly she got me to take pictures of it up close and personal. I have had several people who have told me I should make this my profile picture on Facebook and that I should make this the first page of the baby's baby book. I just think it is way cool !!

My belly at 37 weeks!

I am on week 37 of pregnancy and still no sign of movement hence no induction date to be set. I am hoping for new this Thursday when i go to my appointment. Also since this week has already been a trying week at work I am hoping the stress has made my cervix say enough time to start opening! On the work front I will post about that separately because I think it deserves it's own post. Hopefully I will get to that tomorrow.

Till then look for my posts on Twitter (swhln19) and facebook Stephanie OToole Whalen who knws I might tweet while in labor!

What is nesting you ask???

I was the ultimate nester this weekend! This was my Sunday!
By 10:30 AM on Sunday I had accomplished the following: Done a load of laundry and put it away Made a cake Made a pumpkin pie made biscuits made Rice with black beans and corn chicken was in the oven for dinner and I was trying to install my video ripping software on my computer. My husband was standing back and keeping the children busy as he is afraid what I might do to them LOL Still on my list was: Costco run Picture ordering Bill paying and who knows what else!

I accomplished all of the above as well as took the kids to the pool for what else a diving lesson. Check out my coaching skills (or lack of) we had a blast but I was so tired I couldn't fall asleep you know that tired when you are overly tired well that was me. I tossed and turned all night long. I finally felt good about 3 am only to get up 2 hours later. Tonight I will crash and burn.

Like this!Watching poolside looking like I am about to pop, Only 3 more weeks

Ah close but not close enough!

She never listens!

Perfect form

Stay tuned for tomorrow where I spill the beans on my Birthday Celebration!

Dr appt at 36 weeks

With my first 2 kids I was induced for no particular reason. Well, ok with the first it was because my husband was in the military and in an area where getting a call to him was nearly impossible and the idea of him missing our first child's birth did not float with me. So we elected to induce at 39 weeks. The second induction was done out of sheer convenience but thank goodness it was because none of us (including the Dr) had a clue that my son was so big 10 lbs 2 oz 22 inches. I was in labor when they finally started to induce.

So here I am with number 3, I have a new Dr (that is another post all together) and the practice has been great, I just naturally assumed I would be able to induce like the other 2. Well the reality of that came crashing down a bit for me on Friday after doing an internal exam and finding that nothing is moving, not effaced, not dilated the Dr. warned me that if my body does not cooperate meaning dilate and efface he will not allow me to induce at 39 weeks. Panic set in! "I am a planner" I said
"The idea of going into labor at home in a non clinical setting terrifies me"
"I hear ya" he says
"but the last thing you want is a C section if your body is not responding"
He right I ahve never had a C section and I don't want to start now if I don't have to... I have a 1/2 marathon in January to train for!

He did agree that because I have had 2 non eventful births by induction and because of the size of my last baby and potential of this baby to be big he would at least schedule my induction but not to have my hopes set on things going that way. As he said "You could go all on your own at 38 weeks you never know" Next week they will let me llok at the schedule and pic a day.

I know women have been going into labor on their own for years but the whole having my water break or having contractions in the middle of that night, not my cup of tea! So here I sit waiting.

Yesterday, I drove my husband crazy because at 6:30pm which is either my weekend napping time or my I need to go to bed time I was full, I mean FULL of energy, I kept saying I need to do something! I think nesting has totally really set in. Today I have cooking and baking planned along with all the laundry to get done and I am not at all overwhelmed by it!

Stay tuned..... we know there is more to come.

35 weeks and counting.....

Well here is the peanut! At 35 weeks she is a whopping 6lbs give or take 30%

Face Shot

looking at htis I would say she looks just like her brother and sister when they were born

Profile Shot!

My other kids were born at 39 weeks and Lauren came in at 8lbs even and Jackson was 10lbs 2ozs yes he was delivered vaginally.

Not sure what to expect of this one yet. I am not all over huge like I was with Jackson yet I am not small like I was with Lauren. I guess only time will tell.

I am feeling very tired these days and being on my feet or sitting at a desk for any length of time is killing me because I am so uncomfortable. While I would love to have this baby soon I want her to cook a little longer because I have a plan and those that know me know I don't like to have my plans messed up. I have written about our summer nanny who was our former Aupair, and she has been wonderful with the kids. Since she is from New Zealand she lives with us during the summer. She will be here through the 18th of Sept which is the way I planned it based on my original due date of Sept 3rd. The goal was to have some help here for the first couple of weeks, then be on my own. While it has been wonderful having Abby here and she has been a big help there is something about having someone in your home for an extended period of time that can get on your nerves. Abby is like family, but she isn't and I am ready to reclaim my house and not have to be cheery if I don't feel like it. I know, you can say it I am a mean person. Really I am just a frank person who doesn't pull punches which has gotten me in trouble from time to time.

Baby Shower...I mean "Sprinkle"

I have incredible friends!

So Saturday I was thrown a surprise baby "sprinkle" Being this is my 3rd baby a full blow shower was not in order! However I think it was more of a downpour because my girlfriends were all so so generous. Just look at the stack of gifts in front of me. It was a wonderful afternoon full of fun, food, laughs and good times. My dearest closet friend Magin came armed with her camera and took a ton of photos some of which I will cherish forever. She is super talented and owns her own photography business so if you are in the DC metro area and you are in need of a photographer look her up!

View all

Get your own

I am finally starting to feel ready for our new addition and I can't wait to meet her!

If you need new sheets ....I have the sheets for you!

I am a huge fan of my bed I know who isn't right? Whenever I go away on business or pleasure I am constantly critiquing the bed and the bed linens, I have even gone so far as to purchase the same products used on beds I dub as comfortable in an effort to recreate the sleep experience I have had.

Well, when I was given the opportunity to try out the Tempur-Pedic Egyptian Cotton 420 Thread Count sheets, I jumped at the opportunity! So last week I washed the new linens and put them on my bed, from the time I touched them for the first time out of the package I was sold. They felt soft and silky before they had even had one wash. I washed them in my favorite tide fragrance (Tide® Simple Pleasures™ Vanilla) and put them on my bed one Saturday afternoon. I must say this was one of the first times that while making the bed I wasn't grumbling about the wrestling moves needed to put the sheets on my King sized bed, because there was no need for those moves. Which of course I was happy about since I am 8 months pregnant. The fitted sheets have deep pockets which allow for an easy fit but not so easy that the corners work their way free after a couple of nights. Tempur-Pedic was smart about their design and placed an anchor of sorts so there is never any slippage! Check it out above!

My first night on these sheets were heavenly! Some sheets can be scratchy even after several washings these were not, my kids and even my husband commented on how comfy our bed was. So comfy in fact that I think it is time to replace my back up sheets with other colors from the Tempur-Pedic line. Check out the colors that are available to you.

If you are in the market for new sheets I highly recommend that you check out Tempur-Pedic's website, they have other great products there that you might be interested in as well.

33 weeks belly shots

Seems that my blogger account has been doing some funky things I noticed there was a post yesterday that should have posted about 2 weeks ago!

So here I am at 33 weeks I have blossomed as someone at work told me, but honestly I am about done. I am uncomfortable, unable to sleep and tired of all my bodily functions. (to be graphic, the leaking boobs and the constipation are killing me)

Me from the side 33 weeks

Me from the front 33 weeks

So of you have asked so here are pictures of the babies room thus far I still have a ways to go but I am trying to hold off because I have been told by more than one person wait. Which for those that really know me know that is not something I do well, when I want something done I want it done.

The Changing table all ready to go

The Crib with the bedding all washed and waiting for her

In this picture you get an idea of the room I need to hang some stuff on the walls and I have a glider coming from a friend of mine that no longer needs it, so that will go between the dresser and the crib.

Beach Pictures

As promised here are the pictures from our beach trip! We had a great time as you can tell by the photos. Don't laugh to hard at the beach whale you see that is me in all my pregnant beauty NOT!!!

Dusty Keyboard

I have been a bit busy and maybe even a bit lazy in the last few weeks. Shame on me as the Catholic nuns use to say to me. Let me bring you up to speed!

First Abby our former Au pair arrived in mid June and has been a huge help to us with the kids and around the house. I took her arrival as my chance to try and catch up at work so for her first 2 weeks I logged some long hours. last week we went on vacation to LBI NJ had a blast and thankfully had great weather as well.

I have finally started to get the baby's room in order. The crib is put together and I ordered the bedding yesterday. I finally bought a few more outfits and I am very excited to meet my best friend for dinner Saturday first and foremost to catch up and second because she has a ton of stuff which will put my mind and my wallet at ease :) Love you Magin!

I have tons of blog topics running around in my head so I need to write them all down and start posting!

Tomorrow's post will be our beach vacation photos!

I'll be dropping by soon!