The last day...

Well today is the last day of work for me. Forever.

Forever is a pretty long time, so maybe I will just say for a really really long time. Like until our girl and future kids are in middle school. Or high school. Maybe even college. We will see how that goes. I am SURE that JM will tell me that I need to find something to do once they are in school... but then I can be class mom right? I can volunteer and try to make the world a better place? I could go and hold babies at the hospital? (OK that is bullshit, all of it... The class mom thing though- I can totally do that!)

Maybe I will have a garden next year. I would like that... and I will be calling my friend Erica for advice there. She is the master gardener (and baker too). She likes me, makes me laugh, and listens to the same music as my JM. I will miss her here. She might think that she is negative (she said it-not me) but I think that she is real, can say it how it is, and she is damn funny. She even gave me suggestions on making a bucket list before baby gets here. That will be next post for sure!

After some tears this morning over breakfast (because my amazing friend Elisabeth brought in breakfast for the entire office for a little going away for me) I have decided that this really is an awesome thing. Yes bed rest, even though it is modified, might suck... being able to be home with our girl once she gets here will be awesome. I am so very thankful that we are fortunate enough that I can do that.

I know that it is not going to be all picnics, dress up, and playing tea party all day. (Well I might have some days like that!) I know that there will be tears from both of us, that there will be a time when I might not get any sleep at all. (I can count on that one right?) But what I do know is that it will be the most amazing thing ever. And that me and JM are going to love her to the moon and back.

While laying down and resting with my feet up watching re-runs of NCIS, Bones, or Law & Order SVU will be nice for a week or two... I know that is what I have to do. Plus I think that JM will like coming home to a few dinners a week. Thank you all for the book suggestions... I am going to start with "The Help" and then start with your books!

I think that this is going to be one hell of an adventure. And I will tell you all about it I am sure.

We are off to the beach tomorrow and I assure you I will not be blogging from there. I will be relaxing in the condo watching the waves. Hopefully I will get down to the ocean some. We will have to see...

See you next week when the adventures of being a stay-at-home wife who is on bed rest begins... I know you are so excited...

Happy-Last-Friday-in-the-Working-world to me,

Short but...

not so sweet...

So today I had my Dr's appointment for my 6 month check up... I had the dreaded Glucose Test today.
Let me first just say that that drink honestly tastes like 10 boxes of cheap orange Popsicles all melted down into a drink. I will never have an orange Popsicle or even orange soda again...

Well I PASSED... by 1 point. I was so excited... until they told me that my iron levels were really low... and that my blood pressure was getting worse. And then that all of the swelling I have is, in fact, NOT normal for being 6 months pregnant...
All of this news was followed by a shot of Rhogam in my ass. (I have O Negative blood type)That was all before the Dr walked in. Nice right?

She comes in and we walk about the swelling, and I hear the words... MODIFIED BED REST.
As in I am on modified bed rest now... laying down, feet up, no stress- bed rest.

I don't even know what to say about it right now. Considering I am at the office right now and trying to clean my desk out, get organized, and prepare to meet with my boss this afternoon... I am a little overwhelmed with the whole thought of it all. I mean let's be real here... it is not as if I was going to come back to work after our little girl arrives anyway.

So once I talk to bossman I will know more...Maybe I can work some from home? Doubt it since one girl burned that for everyone here...

All that I do know is that I have to cut all of my salt intake in half at least. And I do know that I will be at the beach all next week. Which I AM allowed to go to the beach, but it will be in the shade or floating in the pool with an umbrella the entire time.

ALSO I am taking book recommendations as well now. I will have a lot of time on my hands it seems...
Wish me luck!

Lately...

You know how there are days when you are "just not feelin it"... I have had a lot of those lately. They mostly revolve around one thing. Work.

It is not that I don't like that what I do, because believe it or not, I am pretty lucky to like what I do. It is more that I am getting bigger (what feels like daily) and the process of getting here, being here, making it through the day, and even more getting home. It is getting harder and I didn't think that it would be this hard. (or that it would feel as if my tailbone is shattering every time I sit in my desk chair!)
The 60 miles I am putting on my car a day is beyond making me mad as well... but then again at least I am against traffic and that I don't take my work home with me.

I guess what I am trying to say here, is that even though I am just not feelin it, I am still doing it and trying to see the bright side in it all.
I can say that I HAVE a job. I can also say that today I wore leggings, a t-shirt, sports bra, and tennis shoes... It is wonderful when you can wear what you want and there is no "business casual" mentioned here.

While I may not know what the future holds... I can still try to be happy trying to get there right? Right? crickets...

There are many things that are making me happy these days...

Our health and our baby's health

We have good jobs

The steal I got on a Kate Spade Diaper Bag this weekend... At the outlet... Get this for 50% off the outlet price! (Yes I know snob right? again don't care- it is beautiful!)

That we are going to the beach in 11 days!!!

When we get to see baby kicking me... really cool. She can kick seriously hard! And this makes me even happier when I get upset about something and then feel her moving.

It makes me realize there is nothing more important to me right now than her and JM. Family is what is most important to me right now. I think that I realize that more and more every single day. and I have always dreamed of this... this family when I was growing up. You remember? When we were all playing "House"... The mom, the dad, and the baby. I guess I am living the dream. Tear... and I am damn lucky to be living it.

Family will always be the most important...
Everything else is last.

The Nursery...

Some of you know that JM has been hard working on the nursery for his baby girl... ( yes we do have a name I am just not sure about announcing it yet- sorry that I am a pretty private person- hell I don't even share pics on facebook anymore!)

So...

It has been a SERIOUS construction project... and man has it ever paid off. There are a few things left to do... The window treatments are being custom made by my wonderful MIL, Terry... and she said that she will help me with the bedding too! YAY! They will be here in the final pics of the nursery to come!

Without further adieu... The McCracken Nursery!

Before... a Guest Bedroom...





While I was in NYC, JM surprised me and when I got home and the room looked like this...



and then add a little crown moulding to the top...



and with some fresh paint and furniture... It looks like this!
Yes I am sitting in the glider... might be my favorite place in the house!

and another... the crib! It was mine... and yes we made sure that it is up to code and is not a death trap...



Here is a pic from the night before (we didn't have the crib up yet) but it is me in the glider... the best chair in the world! It reclines and swivels... and even has a foot stool that glides with it. Will be perfect when she gets here! (and yes we did scrape the windows too!)


We love it! we did not want to do anything girly and keep it pretty gender neutral. I mean what if the next one is a boy? We do NOT want to re-do that room again for a LONG TIME! Once the curtains, valence, roman shades (black out of course!), bed skirt and bumpers are done... it will look 100 times different!
More pictures to come...

6 months down and only a few to go. We cannot wait to meet our little girl!

xoxo and a Happy Monday to you!

What I am loving Friday!

So I thought I would do a happy post today!

So far I am having a great day... that might have something to do with the fact that I just got an email that we will be closing today at 2:00! YAY!
ALSO I am happy for this weekend! Fourth of July Weekend is one of my favorites- no only because we are celebrating our Country and our Freedom, as well as everyone who has made that possible for us.... I am also because excited because that means family and friends BBQ at the lake! and of course FIREWORKS!!!

There are also a few other things that I am loving today...

1. Coca-Cola Classic. Yes the one that is NOT a diet drink that comes in the red can! And don't yell at me because I am pregnant. I have to have a coke every now and then...



2. Sea Pac Coconut Shrimp. Don't yell at me for eating shrimp when I am pregnant. I have been through enough and will bite your head off. This shrimp is damn good...


3. Tomato Sandwiches... Need I say more? This is a pretty Southern thing, but who doesn't love home-grown tomatoes, Mayo (must be Hellman's), and White Mountain Bread- toasted of course!


4. Oil of Olay! I love all of their products (JM does too- shhh don't tell him I told you!)


5. Stila Eye Shadow in "Kitten"... Caroline (my brother's wonderful girlfriend) showed my this while I was in NYC. I had to have it... and I love it. I am even wearing makie up again. (sometimes) (yes that is the real color and it is AWESOME!)

6. Chanel's Rouge Coco Lipstick #09 "Organdi Rose". Yes I know what you are thinking.. and yes I am a lipstick snob. I am not even going to apologize for it either. This lipstick is AWESOME and the perfect year-round color. (this too is the real color... it is the perfect light pink/ neutral color! Also makes your lips SO smooth!)

7. I am seriously loving my cousin's Etsy Boutique Adorable Banner Company It is AWESOME!!! She makes some of the cutest original and one of a kind applique products.
Please check her stuff out- Everything is heirloom quality and hand made by her. Her talent is above and beyond anything I have ever seen in ANY gift shop! I am going to ask her this weekend about hosting my first every give away... I will keep you posted on that Tuesday next week! ;)

and last... because I cannot think of anything else I love more right now...
Other than my dearest husband... our wonderful baby girl... and our two kitties...

8. I am loving that JM felt the baby move last night. Not once.. but a few times in a row. She likes to dance around 11:30, and JM couldn't believe how active she was! It was so exciting! I cannot wait to feel her move more and more (from the outside of course!)

I hope that everyone has a fun and SAFE weekend!!!! Happy 4th of July!!!

xoxo