I think I decided that I've basically given up blogging this year because every time that I think Oh let's log on and blog about that, it reminds me of the 10  other things that I meant to blog about, and then I just feel overwhelmed! So today's blog won't be about something that occurred two months ago or me trying to catch up...it will simply be about what's on my mind today and the happenings of the Bal household present tense. If I find the time, I'll go back and blog about all the fun we've had in the past months, but I'm going to move on so that maybe I won't feel so overwhelmed to "back-blog" and maybe, just maybe, my blog won't be so lame.

Today, I went to the Dr for my 26 week check-up. (I feel the need to say that Adam and I are having a GIRL bc the "it's a girl blog" has been on my to-do list for a couple months now...ok, see I'm starting to stress myself out!)  We are beyond excited to be adding a girl to our little family and I can't wait to see how Adam is with her. He has always said he wanted a daddy's girl and I'm almost certain that from the moment he lays eyes on her, he will be in big, BIG trouble. At today's appt, she weighed 1 lb, 12 oz and is 12.5 inches long. She was very animated ( probably had a lot to do with the glucose screen, and that they had just made me drink 12 oz of orange syrup). She is definitely my child by the way she was loving the sugar. We saw her chomp her lips like she was smacking them and rub her eyes and yawn and then stick out her tongue. It amazes me. I would watch her everyday with a sonogram machine if I could afford one at home. How cool would that be "Hey let's see what the baby's doing" anytime I wanted. Oh to dream.....We can't wait to meet our little girl!!

Garrison. My sweet little boy turns 3 next month. He won't let me call him my baby. He says NO! I a big boy! He already loves his little sister. He talks to her in my belly and tickles her. He says tickle, tickle, tickle, while trying to tickle my belly. It's cute bc he even says it in a baby voice. If I'm laying on the couch, he will come over and lift my shirt a little bit and put his hand on my belly and just pat it. Let's hope his love for her continues because right now, he really has me amazed. Last night, we had chicken nachos. Garrison had taken the shredded cheese to the table and so I needed it and said to him "Garrison, I'll bring this right back" in order to avoid a fit. The boy loves cheese. I used it and took it back to him and he said "Thanks mom, I knew I could count on you." Ummm seriously?! Where did he learned that. He cracks me up on a daily basis!!

Expanding our family

Pretty much everyone already knows that Adam and I are expecting our second baby. What a blessing! I am 18 weeks right now and finally starting to feel somewhat "normal" again. I've felt so horrible this time around and that is partially to blame why I've had no motivation to do anything, except sleep. Maybe now that i'm feeling better I will get my blog caught up and blog more frequently. I'm sure I won't be too busy with a second baby or anything. Our next sonogram is scheduled for April 25th and then we can confirm whether we are having a boy or girl. At our NT sono, around 13 weeks, the sono lady thought we are having a girl but of course told us not to go out and buy a bunch of pink. I now have it in my head that i'm having a girl, so the anticipation of waiting another month is really killing me!! Several of my friends and my mom, haven't been able to resist buying cute little stuff in pink. I already have about 6  pink outfits, so if it's a boy I'm not sure what I'll do with these gifts! Either way, I love looking at it, and thinking about the baby inside my belly. Stay tuned....one more month!!

This looks safe....right?!

He's trimming out tree with a small electric saw while standing on one of my bar stools....My family might be rubbing off on him just a little bit. :)

Funny story

I just realized that my last post was December 8th....that is just plain sad!! It's definitely not because I have nothing to share or nothing that is exciting enough that I think you would care....in fact, it's simply because I have had no energy and been pretty blah and tired and without energy (did I mention I don't have any energy?!)....but I'll wait and share that in a post very soon. Promises Promises!!

So to start my New Year off right...a funny story to share about what happened to me today. It's embarrassing but never the less, should be shared so that you can get a good laugh in. This morning I was chewing 1/3 of a stick of gum. Now, if you are like my friend Laci, you are probably wanting me to stop the story here and explain why I only was chewing 1/3 of the stick of gum. You see, it was my last piece, and I wanted to use it sparingly. It's not like there are gas stations on every corner here in this small city of Dallas. Ok, so for Laci and other's like her, back to the story we go....All the sudden I sneezed. Violently sneezed. The kind that creeps up on you and you have no control and your neighbor can probably here it. Then I realize, my gum is gone. My first thought was that I swallowed it but I don't remember swallowing it. So next, I check out my hair. I just had a vision of it getting stuck in my newly highlighted hair and me having to cut it out. Nope, my hair was clear. Checked my clothes and the ground all around me. Nope. The gum had just disappeared. I looked for several minutes and finally gave up. Obviously, I had swallowed it.

Fast forward, 4 hours. Yes...four...4...FOUR hours! I'm eating a salad for lunch and something catches my eye. Its lime green and small (thankfully only 1/3 of a stick) but completely out of place. I grab the object still not really understanding what it was. Yep, found my gum! Stuck, in no other place, than on my boob. Kind of the underpart, in the cleavage so it was sort of hidden. I'm not well-endowed so it's not like I could feel it sticking to the other boob. I guess it was content there but not anymore. So next time you loose your gum....check there first. :)

Maybe I should get into modeling....

I get flyers in the mail from time to time from Victoria Secret. I had one in the mail the other day and it was sitting on top  of my coffee table with the mail. Garrison was playing with his toys in the floor and saw the flyer. He brought it to me and said: "Mama that looks like you." Such a smart boy already...and apparently with very good eye sight. Yes baby boy, that is exactly what mama looks like.....

Thanksgiving

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thess. 5:16-18

Today started off with me running the Turkey Trot with my girlfriends. We did this last year and decided to sign up again. I've been really slacking with my running lately, so this was a great way to motivate me to get going again. My 5k time was 39.2, not really that great, but not terrible either. It was really cold, about 41 degrees out, and the wind was really blowing hard. Running against the wind is not fun! I'm signing up to run a 10k in January with my dear friend, Laci. Sunday starts our training. 6 weeks. I can do it!!

The rest of the day was spent at my parent's house with me, Adam, Garrison, my papa Bob, mom, dad, amy, cody, and Julie. Julie was my Papa's dear friend. My family stays in touch with her and she didn't have Thanksgiving plans so we invited her over. It was good to see her again. We don't get to see her much anymore since my papa passed. We ate and watched football and had a fire. It was a nice time.

Give Thanks...I am so thankful for an amazing husband,  a beautiful and healthy son, loving family and friends, employment, my Church family,  Hank, Kazi, and Ross, and most importantly a loving and forgiving God that has promised me the greatest Gift of all.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16

Hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving! I know we certainly did!!

Today I am thankful for....

Coffee....

Specifically nonfat, sugar free vanilla latte's from McD's but on the days I don't want to pay for coffee...coffee from work will suffice with sugar free hazelnut creamer....ahhh the perfect way to start my mornings!! :)