If You're Looking for Any Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas for Me ...

  ... then I have got an idea for you:

This is the bedding we're going to use for Baby Ward.  I was poking around on the Internet the other day (you know, as you do), and I was really looking for totally neutral, plain bedding, like in white and cream and khaki, maybe a little brown (because I had a totally different vision for a baby boy nursery at the time, one that involved wallpaper ... don't scoff, it was a cute idea), and ran across this, and I lllloooovvvveeee it, so my plan changed.  The plan is to get this bedding, find a crib and changing table that can be painted red, I'm thinking a dark brown glider or rocker, pale blue on the walls, and then I'll have to work on wall decor (I have some thoughts, but they're not totally fleshed out yet).  I like decorating (although I am vvveerrrryyyy slow about it), so I think this will be a lot of fun, and I'm looking forward to it.  One of my best friends, Jessi, is expecting a baby boy (Will) a couple of weeks before me, and when we were hanging out over the weekend, we started talking about nursery ideas.  I described the bedding to her and she said, "Oh, cute!  I think we're doing dogs too!  Mine is a dog pattern with lots of green and blue in it."  Later that evening, she texted me and said, "Well, I knew we were friends for a reason.  We picked the same bedding but in different colors!"  I think it's hilarious, and can't wait to see both of our finished products.

Oh, P.S., my friend Julie is having a girl (which is awesome on its own, but is a little extra awesome since my guess was right ... Alan would say my odds were pretty good in getting it right to start with, but I say:  still right)!

Your Daily Bad Cat

Clyde "helping" wrap presents:

Hope everyone is getting excited for the holiday weekend, and not stressed (if so, perhaps you should get your own helper, like Clyde.  Doesn't he look helpful?)!

The Hap-Hap-Happiest Christmas Since Bing Crosby tap danced with Danny (expletive) Kay!

Christmas is upon us!  I love the anticipation of Christmas, the fun of the time leading up to it (right before you head into January and February, where it's kind of a let down).  We spent the weekend watching lots of Christmas movies:  Home Alone, Home Alone 2, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (that's where the title of this post came from ... we've been saying Clark's little breakdown speech all weekend to eachother - we find it hilarious ... also, discovered that Alan needs to watch White Christmas so he can understand the reference) ... we always watch It's a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve (that's Alan's and my tradition we started when we got married).  I'm looking forward to a particularly restful Christmas this year - for whatever reason, Alan and I have managed not to stress out about Christmas this year - not the gifts, not the getting to relatives' houses, none of it.  Probably because every Christmas after this one will be different!  We've made homemade gifts this year, but I'm not posting til after Christmas on the off chance that someone who is receiving said gift looks on this blog and sees it.  Speaking of gifts, we received our first gift for Baby Ward recently from our good friend Julie Whitt.  She knows we are die-hard Razorback fans so of course her gift was appropriate:

So Cute!  Thanks Julie!

 The funniest part was that she gave it to us and said, "You know, I bought this way back in early November.  It never occurred to me that y'all would have anything but a little boy!"  Julie is due a couple of weeks after me with their first child, and she finds out tomorrow what they're having - so exciting (for the record:  I think it's a girl)!

We also got to hang out with some of our close NWA friends this weekend.  My friend Sheryl's little boy, Andrew Wesley, turned one on Saturday and they had his birthday party in Little Rock.  It was so much fun, and gave us a little snapshot of what we have to look forward to (fun times ... I think it'll be really great when we can all get our kids together periodically, and I'm sure it'll be a hoot when all of our children are up at the U of A being fraternity brothers and roommates and all of that).


Happy Birthday, Wesley-Man!  (You look just like your Daddy!)



The first present of the first birthday!

And, speaking of looking forward, I know you're all dying for an update, right?!

Pregnancy Update
 

How far along? 21 weeks, 1 day

Total weight gain:  Unknown ... at our last doctor's appointment on December 6, Alan said he saw how much I weighed (I think he was a tad concerned :o)).  I told him I didn't want to know and, as has been my argument/justification all along, that if there was a problem (too much or too little), I'm sure the doctor would let me know (and he hasn't, so, you know:  ignorance is bliss :o)).   

 

Maternity clothes? No ... just the Bella Band with pants, and since I wear a lot of dresses, I'm not even wearing that a whole lot.  I'm getting ready for it though ... I was hoping to make it to the third trimester before officially going to maternity clothes, but I think I'm going to have to cave at some point in the next few weeks and get some maternity jeans.

Sleep: Been waking up more in the middle of the night and having a hard time getting back to sleep.  Also, apparently, I've become quite the snorer (according to Alan).

 

Best moment this week: Movement is getting stronger!

 

Movement: Yes!  Finally!  Been feeling it for about a week to ten days now ... feels like a nudge from the inside, almost like how your stomach drops on a roller coaster (sort of ... I don't know ... maybe I should just stick to the "nudge" description).

 

Gender:  It's a boy!  Let the name games begin ...

Labor Signs: None, thankfully.

Belly Button in or out? In.  I guess I never really thought about this particular aspect of pregnancy, but I was browsing on GAPMaternity the other day and saw a picture of a woman where the belly button had popped out and I have to admit I was startled ... definitely not looking forward to that.

Cravings: No cravings yet (again, I define "craving" as a desire for something that cannot be squelched or contained, and would have me or Alan running to the store or wherever to get it because I won't be satisfied otherwise, and that hasn't happened yet), but I am wanting more caffeine than normal (a delicious real Coke or Dr. Pepper), and I am really thirsty a lot.

 

Symptoms:  Itchy feet!  Soooo random, I know, but I'm talking about, I was itching and scratching all the time (but just my feet) - it was bad!  I asked the doctor about it and he was not impressed :o).  He told me to make sure they were moisturized and recommended Eucerin.  Turns out he was right - Eucerin works!  Also, I've always had a tendency for my hands and fingers to swell (if I get hot, or if I work out, and they have always swelled at night) and it's worse now - I've already taken my wedding ring off (because I got scared the other day at court when I was sitting around waiting for the judge to get to the hearing I was there on and I tried to take it off and couldn't get it off) and put it on a chain which I'm wearing around my neck.  Alan said we'd have to get a cheap-o band from somewhere for me to wear the rest of the time - we don't want anyone thinking I'm an unwed mother (ha!)!

 

What I miss: I would like to be able to have a delicious cocktail at all of the holiday parties and gatherings we're going to nowadays, and I'm bummed about not being able to partake in our traditional brandy and eggnog on Christmas Eve.  And Alan had a Sam Adams chocolate bock beer the other night and I was really jealous.

Weekly Wisdom:  It's different when it's your's. 

 

Milestones: Gender and movement - AWESOME!

 

A Fun Week: An Anniversary and Exciting News!

I'll get the exciting news out first:  IT'S A BOY!


Sorry about the quality of these photos, y'all:  my limited technological skills are no good for trying to add pics onto the blog - this is the best you're gonna get (believe me, I tried everything I knew to do to get the original scanned photos on here, but it's beyond my capabilities - sorry!)  This is the baby's profile.

 

Profile - is that the Ward nose I see?

Almost impossible to tell, but this is the money shot - it's definitely a boy!

Honestly, I think I already knew this going into it ... I just had a feeling.  Originally, in the first few weeks of my pregnancy, I truly believed it was a girl.  As time passed, I just got a different feeling (and I had all of the "symptoms" of having a boy - no morning sickness, no real symptoms at all, heart rate of baby, Sheryl's prophetic dream (ha!), no cravings for anything sweet ... so, you know:  really scientific stuff).  When the ultrasound technician announced (almost immediately upon beginning the ultrasound) that it was a boy, I was not really all that surprised.  Alan, I think, was in shock ... probably because knowing the gender makes it so much more real - you can finally start talking about names, nursery decor, you can start buying stuff for the baby ... it just becomes a person instead of the idea of a person.  Plus, this means that Alan's responsibility is a little bit greater - he's really going to be a role model for Baby Ward (not that he wouldn't have been for a little girl, but with a little boy, Alan is the main male presence in his life, and therefore a huge influence ... and that's a huge responsibility).  Alan will be a great dad - think of all of the golf and sports and hunting wisdom he'll get to impart (among other life lessons)! 

We are still discussing the name - we have about 4 names that we like, so theoretically the name will be some combination of those four (and yes, Riker is one of those 4 names).  The other 3 are family names:  Harrison, Hayes, and James (Harrison and Hayes are both way back in my family tree - great grandfathers or great-great grandfathers, and James is Alan's middle name).  I think we're going to be those people that take awhile in coming up with a name for certain - there'll surely be rigorous debate ... maybe I'll start a poll on it on the blog!

Yesterday (December 9th) was our 4th wedding anniversary - 4 years ago today we were on our honeymoon in Jamaica (ssssiiiigggghhhh ... wish I was in Jamaica right now ... we're hoping to go back there next year for our 5th wedding anniversary).  I loved our wedding - I had wanted a winter/Christmas time wedding because my hometown church is always very pretty and beautifully decorated during the holiday season, and it worked out really well time-wise for wedding planning.  Alan and I got engaged on February 14, 2006, so that gave me 10 months to plan everything, and allowed lots of leeway for graduating from law school and studying for and taking the bar exam.  2006 was a busy year!  Alan and I have been together for nearly 9 years and married for 4 - after all that time, we're still learning and growing together, and now we get to embark on another big journey together:  parenthood!  Should be fun, at the very least (ha!).  I know raising a child will be a roller coaster ride, full of ups and downs, highs and lows, but there's nobody else in the world that I'd rather take on that challenge with than Alan.  I don't want to get all schmoopy (I'm just not that way, I guess), but I'll sign off with two of my favorite Bible verses about love, which sum up the way I feel that love is or should be, and that always make me think of Alan.

Awwww ... outside the church on December 9, 2006

Ruth 1: 16 - 17 (this was the verse that was read at my wedding and my parents' wedding)

           "Entreat me not to leave you
            or to turn back from following you;
            For wherever you go, I will go;
            And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
            Your people shall be my people,
            And your God, my God

            Where you die, I will die,
            And there will I be buried;
            The Lord do so to me, and more also
            If anything but death parts you and me."        

Song of Soloman 8: 6-7

           "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm:  for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave:  the coals thereof are coals of fire, which have a most vehement flame.
           Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it:  if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would be utterly contemned."

Eat Your Heart Out, Nancy Drew

So, my very first post on this blog (and, indeed, the very name of the blog itself) referenced my love for Nancy Drew and my not-so-secret wish for red hair.  I've always had the attitude towards hair (at least mine, anyway) of, "it's just hair - it'll grow back or you can dye it back or whatever if you hate it."  So, about 2 and a half or 3 weeks ago, when I went for my regular six weeks hair appointment, I turned to my trusted hairdresser (seriously, Billy Hoyt's been doing my hair (and my mother's and he cuts my dad's) since I was thirteen, except for a brief stint while I was in college) with a picture of Kate Walsh and said, "What do you think?"  I'm not going to lie - Billy and I were both apprehensive (but not apprehensive enough not to go for it).  So, an hour and a half later, et voila :

(It's especially dramatic if you knew me and my blonde hair previously).  Everybody at the hair salon loved it (Billy and I included, although our love was also tinged heavily with relief that it turned out well - hair dye is always a gamble - ha!).  I then went through the (I think, almost obligatory) period where you ask yourself, "Oh God, what have I done?!"  And now I'm back to liking it a lot.  The color that it is now is slightly less intense than it was on the day it was done (which is the way it is with all dye jobs, but particularly red) but I actually think that has helped me like it more over time.  And it's been hilarious to watch people's reactions when they see it for the first time - everyone has been positive (or very nice if they don't like it, so much so that I can't tell if anyone is really horrified by it).  The best reaction was my grandparents:  Papa told me he liked it and that it was just the color of Grammy's hair when she was younger. 

Speaking of Grammy, Alan and I had some delicious Grammy chili on Monday night (we have to have easy-to-prepare foods on Monday night because Mondays take everything out of both of us, and that was especially true this Monday since I had a trial the next morning).

Looks delicious, right?  Here’s the recipe (confession:  this is Grammy’s chili recipe at its heart, but Alan has modified it with the use of the deer meat and jalapenos … everything else is original Grammy though):

Grammy Chili

• One bell pepper, diced
• One small onion (red or white, your preference), diced
• 1/8 to ¼ cup of chopped pickled jalapenos (depends on your tolerance for hotness) and a splash of the pickled jalapeno juice
• one pound of ground deer meat
• one pound of deer sausage
• two cans of kidney beans
• two cans of tomato sauce
• salt and pepper to taste

Sauté the pepper and onion in the bottom of a large pot with a splash of olive oil until they are just softened and the onions are translucent.  Add the deer meat and deer sausage plus a pinch of salt and a pinch of pepper, and cook through.  Add the kidney beans, tomato sauce, and jalapenos and jalapeno juice (if using).  Cover and let it simmer on low heat for a minimum of 30 minutes (the longer you simmer, the better it tastes). 

Simple, right?  The best recipes usually are.  If you haven’t tried it before, I highly recommend sour cream as a garnish in chili – it’s delicious!  Fall and winter are my two favorite seasons because they just beg for the preparation of delicious and hearty soups, stews, and chili. 

Only 4 more days ‘til our ultrasound appointment – can’t wait!

Look at That One ... He Looks Delicious!

So, I've been a negligent blogger - in my defense, I've had a lot going on and Alan took the camera on his deer hunting outings for the past few weeks, and I just now got it back.  Alan loves to deer hunt, and we both enjoy various dishes made with deer meat (this past week we had some awesome deer tenderloin), a small sampling of our favorites being deer chili (made with ground deer and deer sausage), deer tacos, deer sloppy joes, and spaghetti with deer meat sauce or deer meat balls.  I know a lot of people are against deer hunting (or hunting in general), and I'll admit that I don't like watching the Outdoor Channel and seeing the deer go down after getting shot, but my dad is a big hunter too (he hunts everything:  duck, deer, pheasant, quail, turkey, etc), so I've never been too terribly squeamish about it.  I'm okay with it for my family because we do eat the meat - we're not just killing for sport, which I do think is kind of ... I don't know ... mean-spirited?  I don't know what word I'm looking for, really ... Anyway, see the below pics of Alan and his best friend and hetero-lifemate BA with their takings (not for the squeamish), shot on my grandparents' land up in Scotland, Van Buren County, Arkansas (also, the place where Alan and I will retire ... someday):



Alan and the doe

Gross, I know ... Alan was very excited to (for the first time) gut the deer instead of having the processer do it.  This doe came back to us in little white packages of ground deer and hot deer sausage.  He decided not to do tenderloin because we just don't ever cook it, but after the delicious tenderloin dinner we made the other night with all that we had left from a previous season, we were kind of disappointed that we didn't get any more.  Alan probably won't shoot another deer this season, since it's just the two of us and we don't need that much meat just for us.  However, if a trophy buck wanders into range ... guess we'll have some tenderloin then. 

BA and the six-point buck

I'm glad Alan and BA got to hang out together, and I'm glad they got a couple of deer - going hunting at my grandparents' also has the bonus of getting a delicious Grammy meal (or two or three) while you're there:  homemade yeast rolls and beef-burger pie, chicken and dumplings (homemade, obvs), pan fried chicken, beans, corn bread, etc ... it's killer.  It's enough to make you take up deer hunting just to partake.

I was also busy killing myself getting our house cleaned and decorated for Thanksgiving.  We had both of our families over to our house for the holiday, and it was great.  Everything went really smoothly, and it was really an enjoyable time (I barely survived the cleaning and decorating spree that took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, though ... seriously, Alan and I (and my mom, God bless her) did everything we've been planning to do to the house since we moved in six months ago, as far as hanging pictures is concerned and decorating and all of that, and there's still stuff left to do).  It was especially fun to see our nephew, Jonah, and our niece, Mattie (Jonah is Alan's older brother Ricky's son and Mattie is Alan's younger brother Patrick's daughter).   Patrick, Sarah, and Mattie spent the rest of the week with us, and it was great to spend time with them.  I especially enjoyed seeing the two spoiled labradors' reactions to a baby (Mattie is 10 months old).  The verdict:  I think they're going to be good big siblings.  They were very curious about Mattie and watched her a lot, especially when she was crawling, but they tried to share their toys with her (but only their toys ... they wanted to take all of Mattie's toys) and they seemed to generally accept her presence.  The only possible problem I see is that Augie is going to have to learn that he's not always the center of attention:  anytime anyone was paying a lot of attention to Mattie, he tried to insert himself in between that person and the baby, or bring over a toy, or just generally divert whoever's attention back to him.  He wasn't ever mean or bad about it, and it was kind of funny, but we'll have to work on that with him. 



Mattie and Jonah - Jonah's still working on "sharing"

One of the funniest things that happened is that the spoiled labradors discovered the joys of a high chair and the crumbs that get left behind.  Also, Mattie is already good at sharing with puppies (she has four of her own, and two cats, and three horses, and a donkey!), so she would hand over little bits of food over the side of the high chair to whichever spoiled labrador was waiting for it (usually Augie).  It was too cute.

Augie, trying to score some biscuit, turkey, or sweet potato from Mattie

Augie changed positions, hoping for a better score

 We are one week away from our ultrasound where (hopefully) we'll find out the baby's gender!  Everybody needs to scroll down to the bottom of the page and vote - there's only a week left!  At my last appointment, they did the test for early detection of spina bifida and Down's Syndrome, and other conditions of that type.  I was really nervous about it, especially after reading about the high rate of false positives and having a friend who went through that (with a false positive) and had to do all of the more invasive tests and of course had a couple of weeks of worrying herself sick over it.  Several of my other friends who have had babies opted not to do it for the perfectly understandable and valid reason that knowing about a birth defect wouldn't change anything:  it's not like the pregnancy would be terminated or they would love the baby any less.  My initial thought was that I would want to know, though, just to be prepared and my doctor really wants and encourages all of his patients to get it done though, and I always go with what the doctor says, you know (that's why he's a doctor ... it's like people who ask for legal opinions and then say, "Well, I'm going to do this instead."  Okay buddy, don't listen to me, I only went to school for 20 years and passed the bar exam, but I'm sure your cousin's sister's boyfriend knows better)?  Thankfully, there was nothing abnormal to report, so we are all breathing a little easier, and I think we'll be even more excited after next week's appointment. 

Pregnancy Update

How far along? 18 weeks, 1 day

Total weight gain: Unsure.  Still betting it's around the 5 pound mark and, as I've said before, I'm not worrying about it unless the doctor tells me otherwise.

Maternity clothes? No ... just the Bella Band with pants, and since I wear a lot of dresses, I'm not even wearing that a whole lot. 

Sleep: Still doing okay ... been reading in What to Expect ... that I should start sleeping on my side, so I'm probably going to start trying to do that this week (I'm a stomach sleeper).

Best moment this week: Being around family, especially my nephew and niece:  good practice for the future!

 

Movement: No ... I'm worried that I'll miss it because I don't know what I'm supposed to feel (that sounds silly, I guess, but I always think:  Is it just gas?  Stomach rumblings? and usually decide that it is).  I don't know where the placenta is, and I've been told that makes a difference in how soon you feel it. 

 

Gender: Hopefully we'll know in a week! 

Labor Signs: None, thank goodness ... hopefully we're still 22 weeks away from those shenanigans ...

Belly Button in or out? In.

Cravings: Nothing that I feel could be defined as a "craving" as in, I'm making Alan drive me to the store or wherever to get it because I simply must have something ... but I have developed quite a taste for lemonade.

What I miss: I think I'm definitely about to miss sleeping on my stomach.

Weekly Wisdom:  If the only prayer you say is, "Thank You", that is enough. 

 

Milestones: We're a week away from finding out the gender!

 

Hopefully this long post makes up for my negligence in the past couple of weeks!  I've got a trial scheduled for tomorrow and I am nervous.  I mean, I think I'm prepared and I'm ready to do my job, but I always get nervous when I have to go to court (mostly because I'm still new at all of this lawyering stuff, especially trial stuff, which I rarely ever do ... I think as I get more experienced, I'll get better at it and less nervous about it ... which I think is the way it works for pretty much anything).  It will make my week go by faster, though, which makes Monday and our ultrasound get here faster and the spreading of our excitement will be here faster.

Captain's Log, Supplemental

So, my husband and I are Star Trek fans.  Trekkers.  You know it.  Actually, that's not entirely true.  Alan is a Star Trek fan, and I've been sucked into it by virtue of being married to him (also, when Alan and I first started dating, I once made him a "Top 10" list about why he was such a great guy, and I referenced Star Trek in it, although, being as I didn't know anything about it back then, I called it "Space Trek" instead ... I hope he kept that and we can find it one day and laugh).  At first I would, admittedly, roll my eyes and make snide comments about it, but once I'd watched enough to be able to follow the characters and know who they are and what's going on, I came to truly enjoy it.  So now we DVR it and we watch it all the time (I'll clarify:  we watch Star Trek:  The Next Generation all the time, not Star Trek the original flavor with Kirk and Spock).  I will admit that as much as I love The Next Generation, I have a fondness for the original flavor:  Shatner, for goodness' sake, was Kirk.  That's two helpings of awesome topped with awesome sauce (I will watch almost anything Shatner is in, and I lllooovvveeed Boston Legal:  Denny Crane!).  Spock and McCoy also, awesome.  There is such absurdity to Trek, but it's so loveable too.  Obviously, if I'm choosing a favorite in the OG Star Trek, it's Captain Kirk, and I do love it when he gets into a good old-fashioned fist fight with an alien.  Classic television.

My favorite of the TNG characters is Commander William Riker (upper right, red shirt, beard), and he is also Alan's favorite (I couldn't find it to post it, but Alan has a shirt with Riker on it that says "You're Number One" that he wore to watch Star Trek 2009 at the movie theatre.  It garnered lots of compliments.).  So much so, in fact, that I will disclose that Alan is lobbying hard for the name "Riker" if we have a boy.  I am, of course, somewhat leery of naming a child after a Star Trek character.  But it is on the short list (it is really the only name that's kind of "out there" and it looks funny surrounded by all of our other very conservative, traditional choices).  I also love a good Data episode (particularly one that plays out in the holo-deck, where everybody is dressed up as a different character).  My least favorite character is Dr. Beverly Crusher.  She annoys the #&%$ out of me, and I don't really even know that I can articulate why ... also she's Wesley Crusher's mother, and he is irritating as well ... and he wears a onesie throughout much of the show, so, you know ... he's got that going for him.

Llllooovvvveeeddddd the 2009 reboot of the Star Trek series.  Seriously, this movie is in my top 10, probably in my top 5 of favorite movies.  In fact, I might watch it this weekend if I have time (we do have Iron Man 2 waiting to be watched via Netflix, but we haven't been able to set aside time to watch it ... which, speaking of Iron Man 2, I lllloooovvvvveeee Robert Downey, Jr.  Love him.  Will see anything he's in.  Will read any article written about him.  Lllllllooooovvvvveeeeee).  Anyway, Star Trek 2009:  Awesome.  I love the cast, all of them, and would be hard-pressed to pick a favorite from this crew. 

I'll sign off with one of my favorite "inspirational" posters ever (seriously, there are t-shirts with this picture and caption on it, and I have seriously considered buying one because it strikes me as so hilarious).

Admit it:  that's funny and you're laughing.

This is Totally the First Baby Gift I'm Buying Myself ... Unless You Want to Buy it For Me

Not much to report today, but just thought I'd share the first baby gift I plan on purchasing for myself (that is, unless you want to buy it for me), which I found on the Project Gameday blog (my lawschool classmate, Ali Brady, came up with that awesome blog, you should definitely check it out).  Anyway, behold:

Precious, right?!  Makes your womb and ovaries ping with joy, no?!



Love it.  Want it.  It will be mine.

What to Expect in Week 15

How far along? 15 weeks, 2 days

Total weight gain: Don't know, but was very pleased (in fact, felt a little smug) when the doctor told me that my weight gain at this point was "awesome".  As in, right on target, apparently.  If forced to guess, I would peg it at around 5 pounds.  Just enough to make pants uncomfortable.

Maternity clothes? Not yet.  Although, as Alan watched me rearrange the Bella Band after our appointment was over, he did ask if it was time to get me some bigger pants (I explained that this was the whole point of the Bella Band - to avoid having to buy bigger pants as long as possible!).

Sleep: All the time, but getting better.  However, I did go home at lunch and, after eating, took a 30 minute nap on accident (you know how it goes:  "I'll just rest my eyes for a second." and then 30 minutes later you wake up and realize you never saw the end of Barefoot Contessa and crazy Sandra Lee is now making some sort of bizarre cocktail).

Best moment this week: Heard the heartbeat again, which is always wonderful, and reassuring (doctor commented that it was very strong); also, being told that my pregnancy is progressing "perfectly".

Movement: None yet, but the doctor did tell me at this visit to expect to feel it between 18 and 22 weeks, and was given various descriptions of what this might feel like (butterflies, etc.).

Gender: I think I'm one of the only people that thinks it's a girl.

Labor Signs: No ... way too early in the game for that.

Belly Button in or out? In.

Cravings: None.

What I miss: Buttoning my pants.

Weekly Wisdom:  In silence and trust shall be your strength (I take this to mean:  stop freaking out).

Milestones: Strong heartbeat, everything is as it should be (according to the doctor).

ESPN Has No Love for the Hogs

So, I settled in on Saturday morning (bright and early, at 10:00), to watch College Gameday on ESPN, which I love because the hosts talk about college football, and college football only.  I get tired of watching Sportscenter because the hosts there talk about everything.  I appreciate that this is the point of Sportscenter, I'm just saying it's not for me and College Gameday is.  However, I am getting tired of the Hogs getting no love from ESPN.  I swear, every weekend, when everybody makes their prediction on the games, they get to Arkansas and it's like we're a non-issue.  This weekend, for example, the conversation went like this:

Desmond:  Oh, South Carolina by a touchdown, definitely.

Herbie:  South Carolina, easily, no doubt.

Corso:  It'll be a good game, but South Carolina wins by at least a touchdown.

I know, Bobby, I know ... (Bobby says, "Are you kidding me?!")  How long can the Bobby Petrino Haterade keep these people satisfied?  And then, when we rolled over South Carolina like an army tank, we got no mention whatsoever on College Football Final - nothing!  They showed the (admittedly spectacular) one-handed catch by South Carolina, and then brushed over the fact that we dismantled them in every way.  We beat them by 21 points!  Why no love guys (I'm looking at you in particular Herbie)?!

 Don't look so smug, Herbie ... there's lots of rumors on the Internet about your alleged affair with Erin Andrews ... In case you can't tell, I do love the Razorbacks (I've been going to games since I was about 4 and I knew and could sing the alma mater by the time I was 5).  We did have a good time watching the game at our friends' house - delicious cheese dip and assorted heavy hors d'ouerves, and then pizza.  We all ended up talking and hanging out more than watching the game, especially after it turned out to be so ... well, lackluster.  Boring.  Lacking in pizzazz.

I do love fall in Northwest Arkansas though, and it's this time of year that makes me miss living up there.  There's just so much to do, and the foliage is so pretty, and it just feels so festive up there.  We're not going to get the chance to go up there anytime soon though, since deer season is upon us, and the holidays will be here before you know it ... it's just a busy time of year.  Fall is nice down here in the River Valley too, though ... we do have Mount Nebo and Petit Jean right in our back yards, so that's nice.  I should try and get Alan to take me on a hike up there (while I can still hike), but he's definitely got deer slaying on the brain, so I don't know that it would be possible to talk him into it at this particular juncture.

I'm totally thrown off by Daylight Savings Time ... I'm tired, but not tired, you know?  Draggy.  And it seems like today has lasted a week.  I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and, true to form, I'm nervous about it.  I just want an uneventful, healthy pregnancy, and I should probably stop reading about all of the statistics and bad things that happen in pregnancies, being that I am a worrier (it would also be helpful if people would quit sharing their random stories about how they heard about so-and-so who had a miscarriage at 6 months:  person telling me this, do you honestly think this information is beneficial to me?).  Must remain positive though:  it's all in God's hands.

Random update:  I won at the hearing on a motion for summary judgment that I mentioned last week.  I don't know how much my lawyering skills can be factored into it, as I suspect that the judge read the pleadings and had pretty much made his decision based on those, but it was still nice to get the win.  Of course, then the judge yelled at me and opposing counsel while we were trying to set it for trial, but I think that's just the way he is, and he likes to take it out on young, inexperienced lawyers (which both I and my opponent are).  Anyway:  victory!  And I didn't even have to wear my glasses.

What is Real?

One of my favorite children's books is The Velveteen Rabbit, and my favorite part is the following passage:

The Skin Horse had lived longer in the nursery than any of the others. He was so old that his brown coat was bald in patches and showed the seams underneath, and most of the hairs in his tail had been pulled out to string bead necklaces. He was wise, for he had seen a long succession of mechanical toys arrive to boast and swagger, and by-and-by break their mainsprings and pass away, and he knew that they were only toys, and would never turn into anything else. For nursery magic is very strange and wonderful, and only those playthings that are old and wise and experienced like the Skin Horse understand all about it.

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

"I suppose you are real?" said the Rabbit. And then he wished he had not said it, for he thought the Skin Horse might be sensitive.

But the Skin Horse only smiled.

Layla and Ally Gator

This is Layla and Ally Gator ... Ally Gator has permanent dirt spots on her that no combination of Spray & Wash and Tide can get rid of ... one of her nostrils is missing (having been pulled off by Layla, or possibly Augie), and one of her eyes is deformed (from all of the love given by Layla, and probably Augie too), and there are worn spots all over her body.  Layla loves her.  Whenever I let Layla in from outside, the first place she runs is to get Ally Gator and bring her to me to show me.  She is so excited about it, her whole body is wagging, not just her tail, and you can almost hear her saying, "See it!  See it!  Isn't it great!"  On a practical note, I highly recommend the line of toys that Ally Gator comes from:  they are made with some sort of special skin (underneath the plush fur part) that is, apparently, indestructible.  I wouldn't have thought that a stuffed toy that couldn't be destroyed by labradors existed, but:  there you go.  Ally Gator has survived, and is beloved.

Augie and Layla and Philip the Pheasant

 This is Augie and Layla and Philip the Pheasant (which could be known as the Skin Pheasant, since he has no stuffing whatsoever, having lost it a long time ago to both Augie and Layla).  Augie has always been more partial to the "bird" toys (we also have a goose, a duck, and a quail:  a matched set), but he does love this stinky skin pheasant with the big rip down the middle.  The highest compliment Augie will give you is bestowing the pheasant upon you.  He'll come right up beside you (or sit right beside you ... neither dog has any respect for the concept of "people only furniture" and they treat the couch as if it belongs to them) and gently place the pheasant in your lap, then look at you like, "See, see how much I love you?  Look at what I gave you ... something I love!"


Clyde and fur mouse

This is Clyde and the fur mouse (Clyde was being a ham during all of this picture taking, if you can't tell).  This mouse is ... well, it's definitely seen better days ... lots of missing fur, missing eye ball, it is constantly being batted around and carried around in Clyde's mouth, and kicked and chewed and just generally taking a beating.  But it, too, is loved.  Clyde never loses track of it.


Shaggy Dog

This is Shaggy Dog, and he belongs to me.  So the story goes, Shaggy Dog has been around since I was born.  He used to be soft and silky, and I think that is the third pair of eyes that Shaggy Dog has had in his 29 years of my ownership.  He's still soft, but in a more worn way, and his limbs are barely attached to his body (and, in fact, he has had multiple surgeries through the years to keep those limbs attached).  Shaggy has always gone everywhere with me, even if he is not always out on display:  he went to college with me, to every house/apartment/dwelling that I had in law school, and he lives on a special shelf in the closet right now (he is, honestly, much too delicate to be left out on the bed or in plain view of the spoiled labradors).  Shaggy Dog is, most definitely, real.  My mother also had a stuffed dog named Sleepy, and Sleepy is still in existence, although she too is worn and fragile (she is in storage up at my grandparents).  I plan on getting Baby Ward a stuffed dog when he or she is born, so that tradition can be continued. 

Eeyore

 This is Eeyore, and he belongs to Alan.  Truthfully, I don't know much about Alan and Eeyore's history, only that Eeyore has been his for a long time, and is special enough that he too has made the journey to college and the numerous moves after college, and now resides in the closet with Shaggy, on the special shelf.

All of these things are REAL.

Clyde the Cat is Not Impressed by Your Shenanigans



What?

This is Clyde C. Tanner Ward, the family cat (the "C" stands for "Cat").  Alan got Clyde for me as a Valentine's Day present back in 2003.  I had always wanted a cat because I had never had one growing up due to my mother's allergies.  So Alan took me to the pound, which was sssssooooooo very sad, to pick out a cat.  There were no kittens, and I recall there being about 15 cats or so, one of which was Clyde.  Right underneath Clyde's kennel was a long-haired black female cat that kind of caught my eye (also, the pound had named her "Eliza" and my love for My Fair Lady (and, truly, all musical theatre) kind of influenced me).  I pointed her out to Alan, who agreed that she was pretty and looked sweet but then said, "What about this guy?" in reference to Clyde.  At that moment (honest to blog, true story), Clyde reached his paw through the wires in the kennel and grabbed the bill on Alan's hat.  Obviously, it was a done deal, and Clyde went home with me about a week later, after the pound had checked my references and neutered and vaccinated him.  Since then, Clyde has been part of the family, and is a source of great amusement around our house (if you ask Alan, he'll tell you that Clyde is the source of great frustration around our house, at least to him ... secretly, though, Alan likes for Clyde to sit on his lap in the winter time.  And, really, I defy you to find somebody whose heart isn't warmed by a snuggly cat sleeping on their lap.).  Alan is also the person that named Clyde, stating that Clyde just seemed like a good name for a cat (and, in retrospect, he was obviously correct and I can't imagine Clyde being named anything but Clyde, especially when I think about the names I was considering, like Sebastian ... Sebastian!  What was I thinking?  This cat is no Sebastian.).

Clyde gets along okay with the two spoiled labradors.  They have learned to co-exist.  Clyde's cat facial expressions each time we brought home a new puppy were pretty priceless.  He was definitely not impressed by our labrador-buying shenanigans.  Augie and Layla, of course, love Clyde and wish he would play with them more ... I think they think he is an extremely complex and life-like stuffed animal.

Feeling MUCH better today.  Managed to finish the last Hunger Games book (verdict:  well written, but huge bummer of a book and the ending seemed rushed, so:  meh) and pull off my wish from yesterday and got an early dinner and bedtime (8:00!) last night, so I feel very fresh and rested today.  Also, decided to wear my glasses so I'm feeling extra smart.  I'm considering wearing glasses tomorrow since I have a hearing on a motion for summary judgment, and looking smart couldn't hurt, right?  It also helps me look a little bit older, which is a plus sometimes in the practice of law; you would not believe how many people (most likely meaning it as a compliment, which I can accept to a certain degree) tell me all of the time that I look too young/too pretty/too sweet to be an attorney.  Most anything in court makes me nervous:  I'm more of a paperwork/negotiate with others kind of attorney than a litigator, but sometimes you end up with cases that are headed to trial no matter what ... I try to avoid those, but it's not possible to avoid them all entirely.

Clyde, however, is not impressed by my lawyer shenanigans.  In Clyde's world, I'm just the lady that brings him his tuna.

Thank Goodness I'm 29 and Pregnant

I tried to finish the last book in The Hunger Games trilogy, really I did, but I still have a little bit to go since I had to take a time out for my favorite guilty pleasure:  16 & Pregnant. 

People that are close to me know that I am mildly obsessed with this show, and I can't even really articulate why.  It's just so ... I don't know!  There's just something compelling to me about watching these girls and the poor decisions they've made and are making.  That probably says something bad about me and my tendency to be judgmental (at least where these strangers are concerned), but I will say that I usually end up wanting to root for them and for something to go well in their life (and in their baby's life).  Last night was Felicia from Texas.  I really felt for this poor kid, especially at roughly the mid-way point when it becomes clear that her boyfriend/baby-daddy was not going to take responsibility for anything, and then even more so later when that became even more abundantly apparent (ex:  she asked him to take care of/watch the baby while she studied, which he did briefly, and then complained that she needed to hurry up, he had stuff to do, followed by him telling her to quit moving around so much in the middle of the night when she got up to take care of the baby).  I wish that they would give more information about the dads in most of these - how old are they, education level, what are their family situations like, etc.  Very lawyerly of me, right?  Wanting to have the information on both sides before I commence arguing for one or the other ... also, I was not a fan of the name they chose for the baby AT ALL:  Genesis.  They didn't give any reasons for why they chose the name either ... I thought it was weird and they can look forward to that baby growing up and changing her name to Genna at the first opportunity.  Alan and I have a short list of names we both like for our little bundle of joy.  We have tabled the name discussion until after December 6th, when we find out the gender.  I will say that all of our names are pretty old-fashioned/traditional/old school ... no Genesis or Nevaeh for the Wards (both names seen on 16 & Pregnant, FYI).

Anyway, so I stayed up late watching that (late for me = 10:00) and then I just could not handle finishing my book.  I will also probably go to bed pretty early tonight since I didn't sleep well last night.  I never sleep well when Alan is out of town - I get creeped out easily and I have to leave the TV on, which doesn't really help with sleeping, and the two spoiled labradors are always restless when their routine is disturbed (like when one of us goes out of town), and they got me up in the middle of the night to go outside.  So, to sum up, slept pretty fitfully and am feeling pretty tired today, despite the deployment of a favorite yellow sweaterdress, tights, and sassy boots.  Alan will be back tonight, so hopefully we can do an early supper and early bedtime so I can feel better tomorrow.

Great Shoes Can Change Your Life ... Just Ask Cinderella

So, stayed up late reading the second novel in The Hunger Games Trilogy last night, Catching Fire.  The Hunger Games trilogy takes place in an unidentified future time period after the destruction of North America, in a nation known as "Panem." Panem used to consist of a rich Capitol, located somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, and thirteen surrounding, poorer districts which cater to the Capitol's needs. As punishment for a previous rebellion against the Capitol wherein the thirteenth district was supposedly destroyed, every year one boy and one girl from each of the remaining twelve districts, between the ages of twelve and eighteen, are selected by lottery and forced to participate in the "Hunger Games." The Games are a televised event where the participants, called "tributes," must fight to the death in a dangerous outdoor arena until only one remains.  The books follow Katniss Everdeen, the tribute from District 12, as she participates in the Hunger Games and navigates the changing world of Panem, particularly the rebellion of the Districts.  As you can probably guess from the description of the books, it's pretty dark (and it's a young adult novel, believe it or not ... I've quit holding the "young adult" designation against books - I read all of the Harry Potter books and the Twilight books so I figure I shouldn't start judging a book by its cover at this point ... also, I read Danielle Steele and Nora Roberts, so obviously my taste is wide and varied (you:  and suspect)).  Anyway, started reading it last night about 9:00 and then, when I realized it was 11:30 and I only had about 100 pages left, I said, "What the heck" and finished it out.  I'm going to read the final novel tonight, since I'm bacheloretting it up (Alan is in Hot Springs for a banking seminar).  The writing is good, better than Twilight, but the subject matter is such a bummer, while you're reading you're just hoping something goods happen to someone eventually.  I read somewhere that they're going to make it into movies, so that might be interesting (sidenote:  super-pumped about Harry Potter opening at the end of the month).  I'm really just kind of passing the time until I get the next Lisbeth Salander novel ... I'm on the waiting list at the library (this should come as no surprise:  I love the library).

Since I stayed up late and was feeling pretty draggy on this particularly cloudy and dreary morning, I thought I'd try and boost my spirits and energy levels by wearing one of my favorite accessories:  patterned tights!  I love them - check it out:

I feel sassy (although I apparently need to put that sassiness to work and polish my shoes ... hmmmmmm).  I usually stick to patterns in muted tones (read:  gray, black, brown, navy) so it's not too outrageous ... I am an attorney, after all (pffffftttt).  I love dresses, and would say I wear a dress to work about 4 out of 5 days of the week, so tights are a good way for me to keep that up during the winter ... and I've been told that dresses are the way to go during pregnancy, so I've got that going for me too.  Speaking of pregnancy, thought I'd do those "pregnancy updates" I see on other people's blogs - I think they're fun/interesting, so why not give it a shot, right?!

How far along? 14 weeks, 2 days

Total weight gain:  Honestly couldn't tell you; I never look at the scale at any doctor's visit, so I have no idea what I was at the beginning or what I am now.  I plan to only worry about it if the doctor tells me I need to.

Maternity clothes? No ... but I do wear Bella Bands with jeans, per a recommendation from my friend Jessi ... I could get the jeans buttoned, but they were really tight, and really tight right across the place where the baby is, so I figured that was probably not good for him or her.

Sleep: All the time.

Best moment this week: Not much interesting happening right now, truthfully.  Going back to the doctor in one week.

Movement: Not yet.

Gender: I think it's a girl; Alan thinks it's a boy (he bet me a coke he's right).  We find out on December 6!

Labor Signs: None ... thank goodness.

Belly Button in or out? In.

Cravings: None.  Although the other day, while collecting on another coke bet with Alan, I was moved to get a root beer, which I haven't had in years.  It was delicious.

What I miss: Energy.

Weekly Wisdom: It's all in God's hands.

Milestones:  We're through the first trimester and we're telling people!  It was definitely difficult to keep it a secret from everyone, but that was probably for the best.

Everything I Need to Know in Life, I Learned from Nancy Drew

When I was younger, I wanted to grow up to be Nancy Drew.  Sometimes, I still do (or, at least, I would like my life to resemble Nancy's in some ways).  Nancy was a great role model:  smart, pretty, physically fit, a good friend, a sharp dresser, and, apparently, financially set for life (check out the wikipedia entry on Nancy Drew if you need a refresher; it's a pretty interesting read).  Nancy made me long for red hair ... something I still yearn for periodically and am currently considering (my fair, fair skin and light eyes make it possible for me to try on various hair colors ... for about a six month period back in 2006, I vascillated between brunette, red, and blonde.  Currently, I'm blonde since it is, honestly, the easiest for me to maintain).  Nancy Drew was the inspiration for the name of this blog, and will probably be inspiring a lot of posts on here, along with other childhood favorite books and toys, which I plan on using as a springboard into talking about my life in general (if you are feeling particularly nostalgic about literature, please go over to this fabulous website ... you won't regret it ... unless you don't have hours of time to waste laughing and reminiscing).  As far as the Nancy-Drew-inspired-the-name-of-my-blog tidbit is concerned, what labradors am I referring to, you ask (you:  "Duh, that would be the two labradors in the picture at the top of the blog?")? 

My husband and I have 2 labradors:  Augie, a male black lab, 5 years old, roughly 95 pounds, terribly spoiled; and Layla, a female yellow lab 3 years old, roughly 90 pounds, very sweet and pure of heart.  Way back when Alan and I first got married, a good friend of his passed on some advice that had been given to him while he was in medical school:  When you think you might be ready to have a child, get a puppy.  Raise the puppy into adulthood.  After the puppy is grown, if you still think you are ready to have a child, get another puppy.  Ha!  Unintentionally, we've followed that advice, and I think it will turn out well as we head into the uncharted waters of parenthood.  I'm pregnant with our first child, due on or about May 1, 2011, so hopefully all of this Labrador-raising will come in handy (ha!).  I'm only 14 weeks, and am ready to get further along into the pregnancy, since I'm a worrier and will feel more certain about everything when it's more obvious that I'm pregnant, and I can feel the baby moving, etc.  As excited as we are for the baby, I am hoping that this blog doesn't turn into me talking obsessively about being pregnant and then, later, about the baby.  I'm sure it will be a part of my blogging, but I want to try and be pretty diverse.  So, get ready world:  a new blog is born!