Memorial Day

We had a nice memorial day weekend with Patrick's folks. They came to visit us for a few days this past weekend. Patrick and his Dad worked on several projects around the house while my mother-in-law and I spent a lot of time in the kitchen as well as relaxed. Patrick and I actually went to see a movie on Saturday night with some friends. It was the first time I had stepped foot in a movie theatre since before Mallory was born, so it was very exciting for me to be on a double date. Thanks, Gram and Pops!

I'm feeling a WHOLE lot better and my pain isn't nearly as bad as it was last week, though I'm still trying to take it easy. I never heard from my doctor, so I'm assuming I don't have a gallbladder problem. I think it might be ligaments that are strained, but I'm honestly still not sure exactly what it is!

Mallory has been testing out her walking skills and is taking a few steps on her own. I have a video I need to post soon! Well, I'm off to go run some errands...

Mallory in Cayman's Dog Bowl

While I was on the phone with my parents yesterday, I heard a strange "splishy splashy" in the laundry room. I went to see what was going on and I found this:
















Now, my conversation may sound strange because I was still on the phone when I took this video...

Mallory, Cayman and Captain Mickey

What the DR thinks...

Well, I felt pretty good at the DR yesterday, but am now feeling back to where I was a few days ago. VERY FRUSTRATING!

When I saw my DR, he said it could be one of 3 things:
1. I could be stretching from the growth of the baby. He didn't really think this was the case, since the baby is still pretty low in my belly and my pain is higher towards my rib cage. I told him I had round ligament pain with Mallory around 18/19 weeks and it was MUCH lower than where I'm feeling it. But, he said that each woman stretches differently with each pregnancy, so it could be a possiblity. It's still baffling, though, because I'm only 15 weeks. Who knows...

2. I could be experiencing really bad acid reflux. Though it could be a possibility, I highly doubt it because this feels NOTHING like heart burn or acid reflux. But, I've taken my share of Tums in the last several days and I do have a perscription for a more hefty acid relief if I so need it.

3. My pain could potentially be from a Gallbladder disease. I am experiencing sharp pain on my upper right side, but I think my pain radius is more broad than just the right side. But, to "rule it out", we drew some blood and have ordered labs to test my Gallbladder. We should know something by the end of the week. If it is my Gallbladder, it shouldn't affect my pregnancy, which is good.

If it's not #3, then I'm going to continue downing Tylenol every 4 hours. If the pain still doesn't go away, I'll go and see the doctor again to figure this out. In the mean time, I'm finding it VERY difficult to do nothing in my new house. It does feel good to lay down and I'm very thankful for one child at this time...and my child is so good at taking naps and playing by herself. I love her more everyday...I don't derserve a child so wonderful!

Please keep us in your prayers. I'll keep you posted on what the DR says and how I feel.

Mallory's take on all of this:
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Odds and Ends

Well, I've been in bed or on the couch during the majority of the last 3 days. I've had some severe abdomen pain that I'm hoping is attributed to over-doing it with my move, but it comes and goes so infrequently that I just can pin-point what it is. I go to the doctor today to hopefully shed some light on this and help me get back to my normal self. In the mean time, Patrick has been helping a lot with unpacking and playing with Mallory. She's so good at entertaining herself, it's easy to take advantage of it. I'm still trying to interact with her has much as possible, but have to keep her from pushing me in the belly.


Anyway, Patrick got a lot accomplished this weekend and helped me unpack all the boxes in the kitchen. He opened them all, asked me where I wanted the stuff, and put it away. We only have like 4 or 5 boxes left in the garage, which is pretty amazing.


So, since I've been laid up, I've read a book, watched some of the Style Network and USA movies, and slept. Some opinions as of late:


1. I was shocked when Melinda was voted off American Idol. I really don't care now who wins, though it may be nice to see Blake get the title.
2. The season finale of 24 was not as good as the past. I hope next season will redeem itself.
3. I'm totally looking forward to "So you think you can Dance" starting up!
4. I need a good fiction book to read and don't know which one I'll start next
5. I just finished "Don't Make Me Count to Three" by Ginger Plowman and need another non-fiction to read
6. I'm SOOO itching to start hanging stuff on my walls, but need the rest.
7. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my new kitchenaid mixer. It's the BEST.
8. Sweet Home Alabama is a really cute movie, after seeing it twice on USA.



Pics of Mallory:

Celebration Weekend and Miscellaneous Pictures

I had a very nice celebration weekend in our new house. I woke up on my birthday in my new bedroom and it was glorious! I received some very nice gifts as well...can someone say "KitchenAid Mixer"?!?!?!?!? YEAH!!! I can't WAIT to use it. Thanks, Mom and Dad. Also, Patrick gave me a gift certificate for a massage, which I can't WAIT to use. Oh, and he gave me knife, too. I also received gift cards from my in-laws and sister, which will be FUN, FUN, FUN to use. I love gift cards!!! What a special day.

Mother's Day was nice as well. I started the morning on a walk around my neighboorhood with Cayman and came home to see a beautiful sunrise from our back porch. WOW! I'm SOO excited to spend mornings out on my porch watching the "show" that God puts on every day.

Here are a few random pics of Mallory that make me smile...

Snaggletooth

Watching Praise Baby in the Adirondak Chair Pop's made

Taking a ride in the wagon that Pops refinished

Moving In

Well, we moved in this past Thursday and it's GREAT to be in our new house. It still doesn't feel like our place; I think we're still in shock that this place is ours. We really love our house and praise God everyday for this ABUNDANT blessing. Here are a few pics of our place after we moved it. It still doesn't look "homey" yet, since all my homey things are still in boxes, but you'll get the idea...

Mallory in her new room. Mom and I painted the bedroom a beautiful pink about 2 days before all the stuff arrived. It's a perfect little girl's room with a pretty view of the mountains.

Our living room. This pic is taking from near where the front door is. You can see the entry to the dining room on the far right and the entrance to Mallory's room towards the center. There is another bedroom and the hall bath on that side. (um...the Star Wars picture WILL NOT be our mantle piece...)

Our dining room. I just painted the back wall last night, which is about 2 shades darker than the base coat. It looks REALLY great. Our dining room table came this morning and is PERFECT. This picture does not do it justice.

Our kitchen. This is taken from the back corner of the dining room (our dining room is actually designed as an eat-in).














The office downstairs in the basement. To the left is the 3rd bath and to the right is the 4th bedroom. There is still a lot of space in the basement that isn't captured in this picture. It's a great room...and the only room with "stuff" out, thanks to Patrick's hard work. He REALLY liked seeing his books and his camels again.

Mallory

Mallory now enjoys pushing her toys around and walking behind them. She's so funny!



This will be my last post for a few days. Next time you hear from me on the blog, we'll be in our new house! I'm so excited!

A funny thing happened...

So, yesterday while I was driving up to our new house to unload some stuff, Patrick called me from FL and after I reached for my phone, it immediately slipped out of my hand and into an open cup of water. I quickly got it out and we were able to talk for about 5 minutes, where I informed Patrick of my cell-in-the-water incident, before my phone started acting funny. I took out the battery, dried it up, and put it back in. When my phone powered on again, I had a black screen that told me to insert a USB cable for data upload. What?!?!?!

When Patrick called me later that night from his hotel, he informed me that as he was washing his hands after dinner, his cell phone dropped in the sink under the running water and it died. At first I thought he was joking and making fun of me for "immersing" my phone, but he was serious. Go figure! Two cell phone deaths in one day in the same family, hundreds of miles apart, by the same culprit - WATER!

The dilemma was that we were cancelling our land line as of Friday, which meant we would have no means of communication since ALL of our phones would be unreachable. Our contract ends with Cingular (our Charotte numbers) in June and we were planning on switching to Verizon since all of our family members are "in", so we just decided to do everything a month early. Anyway, one of my first objectives this morning was getting new cell phones!!! We both have new spiffy phones and new numbers. Email me if you need our contact info.

We're homeowners!!!

Well, after my final, final, FINAL walkthrough this morning, we are definitely pleased with the finished product of our new home. We signed all the papers today and received the keys to our house. We're SOOO excited! There are a few things that still need to be completed, but since we're on a time crunch where closing is concerned, we decided to sign the papers with the promise of the builder (in writing!!!) that the remaining items would be accomplished in the next few weeks. Things still need to be done:

1. Entry way light is still not installed - on back order
2. Ceiling fan extensions for 3 fans are on back order
3. Doorbell doesn't work
4. Faucets in all 3 baths are not what we ordered and will be replaced

So, it's a short list, which is good! For the next several days, I might be a bit quiet on the blog. There are some cleaning things I need to do at the new place (seal grout, seal granite, "wax" bathrooms, etc) in addition to finishing our packing here by the 10th, which is when the movers are scheduled to arrive. My mom is coming to help me while Patrick is out of town, which I'm SOOO thankful for, otherwise I think I *may* have gone a little crazy.

Anyway, we're so thankful for this blessing of a home that God has so abundantly provided for us. Now, you all NEED to come visit!

A few pics of the house...

Here are a few pictures of the house. I realized that I only have pictures of the finished kitchen...one of my favorite spaces!!! I'll post more later...I go back again tomorrow for the final, final walkthrough!

Kitchen






































Mallory likes our new cabinets! There are SOOO many to open now!




















Dining Area adjacent to kitchen




















View from back porch...beautiful!!!