My October Holiday

So I decided that this year, my birthday would really be a day about me. And I think I did a great job! I decided this day was going to be my October Holiday amongst all the activities geared toward the kids in October.

Started the day off with breakfast with the hubby at Stacks- always a winner. Triple berry pancakes and some of hubby's veggie omelet and I was set! Breakfast turned into brunch as we kept talking and let our meal extend a bit further toward afternoon. Time with the hubby these days is a present in itself :).

Then it was off for some retail therapy. I went shopping for the first time in LONG time with NO kids-- not needing to hurry home to feed or care for kids-- and all by myself. I set my own schedule and went to the stores I wanted!!! For all you mamas out there, you know what I mean when I claim Mental Liberation!! The freedom to shop for oneself is a beautiful thing and taken highly for granted these days. Needless to say I came out with many clothes, some shoes, and the feeling of being just me again. But I won't lie and say I didn't think of my family. I also came out with a jumper for baby, lunchbox for toddler, and 2 pairs of shoes for the woman who gave me life (when you're mom is a size 4 1/2 and you actually find a 4 1/2, you buy).

I promised myself I would include some true pampering on my October Holiday. I found myself getting a mani/pedi complete with parrafin wax to soften my achy feet and a gel manicure to look girly for the first time since baby was born. I must say I enjoyed every girly, selfish, all about me, relaxing minute!! It was wonderful while it lasted and I am seriously making this a monthly routine. Now if only I could cut out eating lunch for one week in the month, maybe I can afford it... Hey, 2 kids are expensive!!

I went to pick up the toddler and spend quality time with baby who were both somewhat sniffly-sneezy. I enjoyed the rest of the night with my lil guys. And that completed, what I realize now is, the perfect "new me day. Time with hubby, time for myself, relax/refresh/recharge, and time with my lil guys. That is my idea of a great holiday. Would it had been more perfect if I had the same day,say, in Hawaii? Maybe...but I'll take an October Holiday In the Bay any day :)

12 weeks- it's for real

As if the nausea, fatigue, moodiness, and snug fitting clothes didn't already confirm that I was pregnant, let's add the decreased risk of miscarriage associated with the end of the first trimester. Here I am, 12 weeks tomorrow, and things are going smoothly. The ultrasound taken at 10 weeks confirmed a lil baby wavering around in there- always makes things more real when you see the baby shaped being in the womb. A big sigh of releif as I end trimester number one.

Tomorrow is also my 31st birthday. This birthday eve reminds me that I had a list of 30 things to do in my 30th year. Most of which I completed- others which I didn't even have the time to think about. I did pretty good, but I liked checking things off life's to do list. Most of the things on the list helped me develop personally, or my family grow as its own great lil creature. No matter what, I've loved the journey- ups and downs- cuz it helps me to realize how strong we can be and how we're willing to work through everything together. I love that feeling.

Next on the list is to break the news to work. Although things seem pretty liberal at work as far as life events and giving time off, I'm very hesitant to tell the news cuz I'm new and don't know how well this kinda thing goes there. It will all be ok in the end. And I hope they can see in the past month how much I'm willing to learn and how much I can offer their team. I really like it there and feel like I can have a solid place there.

So, goodbye first trimester, hello second trimester! Bring on the blood tests, pee tests, dr appointments, and growth. I will really begin to look prego and people will know it. People will give me their seat on BART (hopefully). And no one will let me carry anything. I'm good, I'm ready - let's be prego!

Happy birthday to me :)