To Share or Not to Share...

Mark and I were out the other night for one of our friends 30th birthday parties.  We saw a lot of friends we haven't seen in a while and as expected a lot of people wanted to talk about the baby. Small talk went on about that...is it a boy or a girl, plans for the nursery....and then I had a guy say "Oh yeah...and going for all natural RIGHT?!" as he laughed jokingly afterwards. Well, silly me decided to say "actually yes, we are going to try for that" and I was surprised at peoples response. I had heard people want to tell you all the "horror" stories of birth and I heard that we would be told we were crazy for going that route but I didn't really think that would actually happen. A few people said "Yeah, good luck. You'll be begging for the epidural!" and then go on with their less than pleasant stories.

I was shocked because as someone interested in going the natural route if everything goes as planed, I could never see me telling someone interested in an epidural..."Are you serious? You can't suck it up for a few hours like women have been doing for thousands of years to bring your child into this world?!" Which, by the way, is not at all how I feel. It is a choice for each to make and I know some people would like to just pass on the pain all together. I see nothing wrong with that. I also know things don't always go as planned and sometimes intervention is necessary.

I was just set back by the lack of support and it made me think. Whose business is it really? I mean, I am sharing it here and with my family and close friends but why share it at a "party" or a "group" setting where it could be discussed for hours whether I'm interested or not. It sounds selfish but until my birth is all said and done I think my response to questions regarding our choice will go something like this "Oh, we will just have to see when we get there" because truthfully, no one (but close friends and family) really even cares. They just want to share their story and go on about their business. They also don't have the weight of giving birth in a few short months on their shoulders. Their time has come and gone so they can only speak from their past experience.

I also find it interesting that all moms that have gone natural will encourage people to go natural and only one time have I heard a mother that had done both say she would choose the epi over natural if she had another.

So what do you think? Would you or did you share your plans with people or just give up it all together? Also, how do you respond to peoples birth plans or how did people respond to yours when you told them?

Danielle

Maternity Wear

Maternity clothes...yikes! What's bringing this subject on is the fact that I just went and spent an arm and a leg on clothes. While I admit I spent too much, it was one of the first times since being pregnant that I went clothes shopping (for myself that is) and had fun and felt pretty. Maybe even sexy. I bought some really cute things and tried to be sure pieces I got could all be mixed together to last throughout the fall and winter.

When I first started outgrowing my regular clothes I went out and bought a size up in some shorts, shirts...basic stuff. That lasted about a month before I was having to replace again with another size up. After that I realized to just suck it up and get some maternity clothes. I think it was a smart move and I would encourage any newly pregnant woman to just dive into maternity clothes rather than trying to just buy bigger. The clothes I bought will now last me throughout my pregnancy and then after until I flatten back out again. It seems like such a large expense and I wasn't going to invest in those clothes but it makes a huge difference to me.

Wearing bigger clothes means they don't fit you right all over and if you're like me you start to feel frumpy. I always liked wearing fitted things that flattered my figure before and since getting a baby belly I haven't had the same confidence and pride in my body. I think it's important to embrace the changes taking place and I'm not that good at that...yet. I am getting better at and buying clothes that help me feel more confident definitely helps.

My typical shopping spree before involved buying anything cute and on sale. I had a boatload of clothes because they were inexpensive and I was happy enough with them. I was plenty confident in my body so even if I didn't totally LOVE the outfit I was always sure I pulled it off. Now a days that is a tad different. For my pregnancy wardrobe I have bought a few signature pieces that I absolutely love and that make me feel amazing wearing, but they did come with a slightly higher price tag.

I will post some photos of my favorite pieces in later posts but for those curious I have done most of my maternity shopping at Motherhood Maternity and Target. Target has some cute tops and SOME cute dresses. Motherhood Maternity has the awesome belly band type thing in their pants that to me is fabulous and worth the extra money. They also have some cute tops and some more formal things. I am finally excited for my next outing with friends rather than concerned about what I will wear to fit in and not just be the preggo.

Danielle

Baby Hiccups

I think maybe, just maybe baby Eli had the hiccups tonight. It was one of the funnest little things yet. Just when I think this little child in the womb can't really do more than he's already done he does something else I think is so adorable! Before bed I did some mild exercises as prescribed by my Bradley class, squats and pelvic tilts, then I turned on the heating pad hoping if I heat my booty some it might help that pain not occur tonight. That and I love the feeling of a heating pad! After I got situated in bed with the lap top resting on my belly I felt a little movement...then again. When he gets active like that I try to stop what I am doing and put my hand on my belly because I LOVE to feel him move.

The movements got stronger and were happening at a fairly steady pace every 3 seconds or so. He has yet to move this much. The movements were also so strong that I could feel and see a little spasm in my tummy each time he moved. This happened for about 3 maybe more minutes. Of course this is a closing night for Mark so he wasn't here to feel or see but I did text him right away. He said he was jealous. I don't blame him. I am lucky! Well....until the whole labor and delivery thing, then we'll see who's "lucky". Ha!

So I'm torn between thinking they were hiccups or perhaps the tilts moved his position and he was just trying to get back into his perfect spot...or maybe even the heating pad changed his temperature some and he was freaking out. I've heard a heating pad is safe during pregnancy, you should just avoid putting it on your belly so I hope I didn't disturb him with that.  Either way, it was awesome and I love feeling my little Eli move around in there.

Danielle

Sleepless Nights a Pain in the Bum

From the start I had to get up and go to the restroom about 4 times a night. Now I get up about 3x's for that, about 4x's for dreams, and about 3x's for a pain in my bum. Physically a pain in my bum. My butt cheek I should say. I haven't quite figured out what it's from. I thought it was the leg cramps that I've heard you can get when your pregnant and often times when your sleeping but typically you can stretch a cramp out and this pain goes no where until it's good and ready. Sometimes it's a mild, numbing pain and other times it's so sharp I could almost cry. I've gotten up and bent over, I've tried to walk it off. One night it was so bad I couldn't even walk. I can feel the onset of this similar pain sneaking up on me in the middle of the day but it never makes a full presentation until about 2 in the morning...or 4am or 7am.

I have done some researching and am still not sure if it is the cramp or perhaps this sciatic nerve pain that others talk about. They say it's a shooting/numbing pain and that is is very sharp. It is common in pregnancy but not usually until later. It's supposed to start in your lower back & buttocks and work it's way down your leg. I have yet to have it move past my booty so I don't know what it is. I am also doing some self observing here and I am starting to think that it might correlate with dehydration, a poor diet, or lack of exercise. The days that I eat well and have drank plenty of water I seem to sleep fine. The days I wake up thirsty are also the times I have that shooting pain.

Aside from the pain in the bum I have all these crazy dreams. I don't mind the dreams that much, in fact I typically enjoy dreams. They entertain me. I have nightmares sometimes though and that's no fun. Sometimes I get mad at Mark because of a bad dream I had with him in it until I really wake up and realize it was just a crappy dream. Although I pretty much enjoy dreams they are hindering my good sleep. I wake up often with them good or bad for some reason.

Before pregnancy I would usually try to sleep through having to go to the bathroom but I know now it is pointless. I will have to go and it will have to be multiple times and that's ok too. Thankfully I can fall asleep pretty quickly after getting up to use the ladies room.

One thing that is fun I get to see waking up night is Eli being silly. I sleep on my side and  I basically use Mark as my "pregnancy pillow" because I drape my top leg over him and my top arm plus I wedge my belly so close to him that he adds support to that too. I'm not sure if Eli runs out of room or what but when I wake up in the middle of the night my belly is often lopsided and there is a hard ball of baby all pushed to one side...the side that is up and not pressed against Mark. I usually get a big smile from this even though I'm getting up for the 4th or 5th ....or 6th time.

Danielle

Week 1 Bradley Class

We had our first Bradley class and it was enjoyable. She usually does the class on Wed but it filled up and so she is hosting another one on Thursdays. That is is one that we attend. It is held at her house and when we showed up I all the sudden got very nervous. Mark seemed calm and maybe excited but just got scared. I do almost any time I try a new class or group out, it's just intimidating to me. We were the first one's there and that night we learned that there was only one other couple. Actually there is a third that I really hope shows up next week because I was hoping to meet some new people also having babies that we could be friends with.

The teacher seems wonderful. She is experienced in so many areas of childbirth. She is a doula or a midwife...I can't remember which one, a lactation specialist, she is a certified Bradley instructor (duh), her day job is for WIC, and she has helped deliver over 140 babies naturally. We learned about her and the basics of the Bradley method which I had learned from the book "Husband Coached Childbirth" by Bradley. We also learned basic exercises to do each day and a little bit about the importance of a healthy diet.  Things I do need to get back on.

We sit on the floor, as Bradley suggest that sitting "Indian style" is ideal for your body and the class is 2.5 hours so my behind was a tad sore after all that despite my extra cushiony yoga mat and a pillow. Mark seemed to have learned a LOT from the class and said it was very interesting. He was starting off with basically no knowledge at all. I know he will learn but it's kind of shocking to me how little he actually did know about childbirth. But...why would he know all about it until now.

I looked all over the internet trying to find blog posts on the Bradley classes or Bradley birth and could hardly find any information at all. I will keep posted on this blog a blurb about each class and obviously my birth story when it comes time for that.

Danielle

Just for kicks!

When I posted about my first ultrasound it was indeed a bonding moment between me and this growing baby boy inside of me. The next moment this child really started wrapping me around his probably not yet even fully developed finger was when I felt him move. Not just on the inside of my belly but with my hand on the outside of my belly.

The first flutters are so amazing, don't get me wrong but I had a hard time telling the flutters of him from flutters of gas bubbles or other tummy issues. I thought I would know for sure right away and it would be a defining moment but by the time I knew what was him and what wasn't I had already felt him several times. This doesn't mean I don't now get happy every time I feel baby Eli kicking around just that it wasn't a clear cut moment when it started happening.

I do, however, clearly remember the moment I felt him move strong enough that my hand on my belly felt it. I was around other people and didn't feel like sharing my special moment with all of them but I was so excited. Mark was there so I told him but he couldn't tell how excited I was because I was trying to contain myself. I think I let out a small laugh but my heart jumped for joy! I pushed all over my belly trying to get him to do it again. It was such a distinct feel and a great reminder of the fact that I have a little miracle inside of me growing and maturing so he can come out and join the world.

Mark tried to feel him and couldn't. He rested his hands on my belly for quite sometime and though I could feel Eli moving inside Mark couldn't get a feel for him on the outside. About two nights later Mark was still trying to feel him and I told him to put his head on my belly and see if he could hear anything. He couldn't hear anything but as soon as his head got down there Eli kicked him in the head. We say kicked but from what I read, at this stage the movements you feel are supposed to be full body movements not just from a limb. Either way....we'll stick with kick. Mark was shocked and so was I. It happened 2 more times before we went to sleep and Mark said it was one of the coolest things he had ever felt.

I was so happy that Mark got to feel Eli and finally get himself some physical proof, besides just looking at me, of our baby. Since then he has not felt Eli with his hand but did get another kick in the neck. We were at 20 weeks when Mark felt Eli and I started feeling movement on the inside at about 18. 

Danielle

Belly Button

When I was in high school or middle school this commercial below came out...

 The point of me sharing this otherwise pointless video with you is because this is the song that comes to mind every time I feel my belly button. And when I am full from eating whatever my heart desires it really comes out or sneeze it really, really comes out, and when I wear tighter shirts....it definitely want's the world to know and I just don't know how I feel about that. At first I was concerned and had so many questions, why is belly button poking out so soon, why is it so tender, does it look darker than normal, why is the darn think still collecting lint if it's poked out for the world to see.

I realize that this is normal. It is only tender because it's been poked in and protected for so long. I also realize that if I don't want to share my new outtie with the world I need to get some sort of belly band or always wear an undershirt. A little poke is fine a lotta poke is not fine, for me at least. Oh the joys. For those wondering when this might happen to you if you're pregnant, 20ish weeks is when my outtie really sprouted. How fun!

Danielle

Obsessed with Being Pregnant

From the blog post title someone may think this means I have so much joy in being pregnant that I want to be pregnant all the time. This is not the case at all. I love growing our son in my tum tum and I love feeling his perfect little movements but I will be perfectly fine when he is born to not be pregnant and start forming habits in our new life. What I mean by "obsessed" with being pregnant is that it is all I can seem to focus on. This is not good considering I am the owner of a retail store and my self motivation has a great factor on the success of the store. So far I am managing to get all the major stuff done but my customers are missing me. I am trying to get the store used to supporting me not being there all the time and my staff since in about 4 months I won't be there often but when I work and see a regular customer they often comment that they haven't seen me in a while.

Things are still going very well at the store which makes it even harder to put more focus into the store and not this life I am supporting. Even at the store you will often find me on the internet looking up birth stories, nursery ideas, tips on handling newborns and what not. At home I am constantly looking up this type of stuff and poor Mark, that's all he ever hears about. It honestly takes up about 90% of my thoughts throughout the day and is contributing to my internet addiction.

HELP! I need to snap out of this obsession and I keep telling myself that as the holidays near their will be so much going on that I won't have time but I feel like I'm turning into a hermit thinking of nothing but my pregnancy and our baby.  Ugh...I supposed their are worse things to be taken over with but I'd like to still be a productive member of society for the 4 months that I have left!

Danielle

20 Week Pregnant

Holy basketballs batman!!! Ok, ok, so it's not really basketball status but I did have a tummy growth spurt. I have had several customers at work ask about me about expecting now so it must be more than obvious. That or I just have some very brave customers. Although I was scarred of the belly, I have to say it brings me comfort. I now look pregnant not just like I've been hitting up the junk food aisle...which I have but when someone comments and I say "Yes, I am expecting. I'm halfway there actually" I say it with pride and occasionally someone will say back, "Wow, halfway and you're still that tiny". Then I can breath a sigh of relief that I'm not a whale yet and though I hardly feel "that tiny" I'm glad to know that maybe I'm not as large and in charge as I feel. Maybe just in charge.

20 weeks pregnant

20 weeks pregnant

I thought long and hard before daring to post shirtless, bare tummy pregnant pictures up and I decided to share them because I am a little self conscious and mini photo shoots sometimes make me feel better about myself. I have been gaining the recommended weight...maybe a few pounds over but not much and I'm accepting that. These pictures will also be great to look back on and be motivation for my postpartum "get back into shape" routine. 

Bare tummy, 20 weeks!

I think I'll be brave until the stretchies start showing up. 

Thumbs up for baby & me!

I do love this little boy!

I hope that you enjoyed my 20 week photos and if you are expecting I hope that you take some photos of yourself too. If I can embrace my changing body so can you!

Danielle

20 Week Ultrasound

Oh my. We have been counting down the days until our 20 week ultrasound. Mark missed our last one and it was one of the biggest events in the venture so far. We could hardly wait until the date to come and could hardly sleep the night before. It was like Christmas Eve. We both woke up early, got dressed and ready...then had time to kill.

Excited parents!

 This was us just sitting and waiting. We finally decided the best way to kill time was to put stuff on our Amazon wish list just in case the growing little being was still the same sex she said it was at 14 weeks. I also ate some oatmeal and drank this here coke in hopes to get the little kicker moving around on the screen for daddy. Giedo, our dog in the background, is already not sure what to think of not being an only child anymore.

Coke to get the baby kickin'!

 After waiting so long for this day we got so wrapped up in choosing things for the nursery we were almost late for our appointment! We got there and it was the first time we didn't even have to wait. We got called by the lady, a different lady this time, and she invited us into the same softly lit, comfortable room perfect for baby's first (or second) viewing. She asked if we wanted to know what it was and we said yes. We explained that the lady told me last time what she thought but we were skeptical. She smiled and continued her job, putting on the blue goo, turning on the screen and then up popped our baby on the TV.  She looked at the screen and said "OH YEAH, it's definitely a boy"!

Oh happy joy! Not only because he already had about 15 outfits, a pair of shoes, a blanket, and a whole nursery basically picked out but also because Mark and I had both already built ourselves up for a boy since I was told that at 14 weeks. We both hoped for a boy from the start and I just couldn't believe that we were actually going to have a baby boy. A son.

The 20 week ultrasound was amazing but it was much harder to see things this time. Perhaps because he was getting bigger but we got to see no flips, kicks, or anything like that. For the most part I couldn't tell what I was looking at except when she put it in 3D which at 20 weeks is just a little on the scary side. She said he was very healthy and everything was as it should be. She did say he had the largest fingers and toes of any baby she had seen, which in one 3D photo was quite evident.

So here it is...proof of our baby BOY:

20 week boy ultrasound

And yes....you are looking at what you think you are looking at. ;) His name is Eli Davis Motley and we can not wait to meet him!

Danielle

Child Birth Classes

As we are now 21 weeks into my pregnancy it was time to start looking for classes. Mark and I both work retail and trying to commit to a regular class in the month of December would be near impossible. We are due in January so I figured we better start taking classes now. I am very interested in the whole subject of childbirth and pregnancy even before I was pregnant. I knew that I was interested in a natural childbirth but at the hospital. I feel like that is the safest route to take even if the pressures for medication are more probable. After researching birthing methods, almost obsessively since day one, I decided to find a local Bradley Method Class.

The Bradley Method focuses completely on a natural childbirth  by relaxation and coaching from your husband. This could also be coaching from a partner, mother, or whatever else but Bradley was quite traditional and calls his method "Husband Coached Childbirth". This method makes sense to me because it stresses that childbirth is a natural thing that your bodies are made to do. If you can learn the most you possibly can about labor and birth and prepare your body physically in advance for the event, then you can succeed in a natural delivery.

I don't think a medicated delivery is a bad thing it is just not what I have in mind. I think that having a baby could be a very empowering experience. I feel that after you finally get to meet your baby the pain is gone and I would like the opportunity to feed my baby, walk around after birth, and not have to worry about any side effects an epidural or any other form of medication might have on me or our baby. I also LOVE that Bradley includes the husband and makes him a necessity for the birth. I feel like there could be no stronger bonding moment between the two of us than working together to bring our baby into this world. I know that it will make that incredible moment of meeting our child that much more special.

I am fortunate that Mark is interested in the classes and the whole natural childbirth thing. We bought the book "Husband Coached Childbirth" and I am almost done reading it. When I finish I will give it to him. So far he seems interested and wanting to read it as well.  We have our first class next week so I will let you know how it goes.

Danielle

Watch Me Grow! Week 8-17!

     One thing I was concerned about in all this was putting on too much weight. I have always been pretty active and eaten healthier things. When I found out I was pregnant I was very surprised at how fast my body started changing which was even more scary. I assumed, when I saw the two pink lines in May that I would have most the summer to enjoy my body and current lifestyle (minus the margaritas, duh) but boy was I wrong. My tummy ballooned up rather quickly (probably bloating I hear), I was way to tired to maintain my running or working out, and I had food aversions to anything but carbs. I was hard on myself and thought I was turning into a lazy sloth just weeks into this but I didn't realize that the first trimester was the most draining. So...be forewarned but take joy in knowing that it gets so much better. Since being in my second trimester I have regained energy, slowly started getting back into a workout routine and started eating better. Well, eating better when my husband isn't saying "Come on, let's have ice cream. You need the calcium...." He is enjoying my pregnant eating way more than me I think. That being said here are some of my first trimester preggo photos.

 8 weeks

 8 weeks

 10 weeks

 10 weeks

 16 weeks

 16 weeks

17 weeks

It's strange how your belly grows. One day you look pretty pregnant the next day you just look like you've put on a few pounds. Around 15 weeks I remember waking up and feeling my stomach and their being a hard, large, round bump to my lower abdomen. It made me so happy to see & feel physical signs of baby that I could also share with Mark.

Danielle

Our First Ultrasound

Mark, my husband was so excited about this little bundle of joy from day one. He was supportive of my feelings and knew that any doubt I had would go away some day & sooner that later. He had been to each doctors appointment, bought me the classic "What to Expect" book, tried to be sure I had everything I needed including putting crackers and ginger ale on my nightstand even though I really didn't suffer with morning sickness, he read our baby app that stated what fruit our dear child was the size of each week, (those of you sharing in this maternity adventure know what I'm talking about. I remember when it was just a blueberry and now...a banana. Haha!) and he was the main reason, in the beginning, that I could accept this little bundle as a bundle of joy and not a bundle of...inconvenience.

July 31st was morning of our first REAL ultrasound...not just the little dot on the screen and Mark had a meeting at work he could not get out of. I should have rescheduled our appointment and I still regret that I didn't because it was such an incredible moment. I thought that we would be looking at another dot, maybe a slightly bigger dot, perhaps a blob, but nothing more did I think we would see at this stage in time. I was thought to be 12 weeks a long and my all knowing iphone app, that has already proven itself more valuable than my OB so far, stated our child was hardly a half an ounce and about 2-3 inches long. "That's great" I thought, "What is the point of this ultrasound?!"

I awoke from my sleep this morning, got dressed, in my lightest clothes possible since I knew I'd be weighing in once again and made my way the appointment, alone. No handy husband to keep me entertained. Sign in, wait the typical 20 min, get called by a new person not my Dr. and am directed to a new room. This room was softly lit with a reclining "bed" type deal and a big screen TV on the wall. Instantly I knew Mark was going to be pissed disappointed. The ultrasound tech was a younger lady and got right to work. Small talk from the lady, a little blue goo on the belly, tv on, magic wand that shows you your growing child touches the skin and what to my wondering eyes should appear ......OUR BABY!!!!

What in the ******?!?!?!?!?! It's a person! A tiny adorable little kicking and twirling PERSON. How does it look like a person? It's supposed to be a "plum" and hardly weigh a half an ounce. I could see tiny hands, tiny feet, a head, a nose, and this was our baby living life inside of me. It did flips and turns and kicked! I could hardly contain myself and tried not to annoy the lady but I couldn't help but giggle the whole time and feel a little sad that Mark was not there to see this defining moment.

The lady stated in a confident tone that our due date of February 9th was going to have to be changed to January 28th. I admit I tell everyone my due date is January 25th. For no good reason really, just that it makes it seem sooner and sounds more like a January birthday than a possible February one. So instead of 12 weeks along I was about 14 and although I had found a new unexplainable joy this day I had no argument against moving the due date up as far as she wanted. She also asked me if I wanted to know the sex of the baby. I know what you're thinking, at 14 weeks? I thought that too but what the heck. I texted Mark and he did not respond. I told the lady to tell me anyways and she did. We didn't keep it a secret and it sure didn't stop us from buying things but I tried to tell myself not to get too excited until our 20 week ultrasound and then we would know for sure.

I left the appointment that day feeling on top of the world. I talked to my mom and my mother in law and couldn't give them ALL the details until I talked with Mark. Thankfully he was getting a lunch break shortly after my appointment ended so I could see him and show him the pictures of our growing baby and my growing love!

Danielle 

Original Post 9/10 transferred from WordPress. Am I the only one who just couldn't get that site? 

Half Way There

We have made it half way and I am just so excited. It wasn't always this fun though. Some are instantly excited the moment they know they will be bringing a new life into this world. Some people are scared. I, however, was shocked and distressed. I like to plan things out and this wasn't in the plan for surely another 2 years at least. When thinking about it, my reasons were quite selfish but I just wasn't quite ready to part ways with my old life. Actually, it wasn't until about 12 weeks a long when the joy well overcame the....disappointment. I enjoyed later nights out with friends, having cocktails on the weekends, thinking about only myself and my husband and having my husband only think about me. I liked our financial situation, our room mates, and our house being baby free.

When people think about their life and things they want to do before having a child the list usually includes being financially stable, traveling, enjoying married life alone for a while, having a house & a good job. These are all things we have accomplished, though we could have enjoyed married life alone a tad longer. We have been married 2.5 years. Some people want to have a baby immediately and others are fine with waiting. Some try for children for years and years and YEARS hoping so much for this miracle to happen to them and I was not appreciative at all.

I don't mean for all this to sound so negative. I am saying it to be honest and to also give light to anyone having similar feelings because the truth is not everyone accepts this amazing news from the time they get "two pink lines" on the test. So when did I have a change of heart? It wasn't at my first doctors appointment when I saw the little dot on the screen that was my "baby".

 

I may have had a speck of joy the first time I heard it's heartbeat, though it wasn't quite enough to convince me that there was a truly an amazing life growing inside of me. It also wasn't when my family, husband, & friends started buying this beautiful being tiny clothes just about 10 weeks into things.

They say seeing is believing and though I'd like to think I can have more faith in things that, it wasn't until my 12 week ultrasound that I became overwhelmed with joy, excitement, & wonder. All the things my patient husband and loving family have been waiting for me to feel since week 5. These positive emotions have grown ever since and I even feel guilty to have felt anything but blessed from day one.

Danielle 

Original Post 8/7 transferred from WordPress. Am I the only one who just couldn't get that site?

Getting Started

My name is Danielle and I am married to my bff. We recently discovered that our little family will be growing. This news came as a surprise to us and though it took me a bit to accept I am very happy now. I would like to start this blog as a way to ground myself and keep myself on track & focused. I also have extra time since late nights out with friends just simply aren't happening like they used to. I work full time in the small retail store that my husband and I own. Our store is a franchise & nature shop called Wild Birds Unlimited. You can expect to possibly hear me talk about this venture as well. When I am not working or with the hubs I am interested in photography, nature, health, & fitness though most ALL hobbies have been put on hold. This first trimester has wiped me out but more on that later. Thanks for stopping by!

Danielle 

Original Post 7/16 transferred from WordPress. Am I the only one who just couldn't get that site?