March Madness

And no, I'm not speaking of NCAA Men's Basketball.

I'm speaking of the madness that has been the month of March for this family.

I mentioned the sickness that has been plaguing our house for the last three weeks, but that was only the beginning.

I started back at work on March 4th, and the sickness made that transition about a million times harder.  I have to say, that being back at work has gone better than anticipated, but it is still hard.  I've stayed busy and that has at least kept my brain occupied.  I can't help but get excited driving (OK, lets be honest - speeding) to Jessica's at the end of the day to pick up my little man.

I'm learning to deal with a day in the office after a crummy night's sleep.  Good thing this baby is cute.

Things got real interesting when my graduate program comprehensive exam was handed out on March 11th.  I knew this was coming and I knew it would be intense, but the timing could not have been worse.  So, for the last two weeks I have been spending an amazing (and not in a happy way) amount of time pouring what brain function I have left into proving I've learned a thing or two over the past two and a half years.

Did I mention that I've been attending and doing homework for my regular Wednesday night class all this time, too?

Mmmhmmm.

I'm happy to report that I have completed the exam (which I could not have done without loads of help from Ryan, Momma, and Rachy).  And as long as reading through it one more time doesn't cause me to vomit - I'm hoping to do so before submitting it tomorrow.

Only six more weeks of the semester left before I will be done with my Master's program.  Hallelujah. 

 Needless to say, I am ready for the month of March to be over.

I will be oh-so-proud of myself when April gets here.  Especially if my head is still attached to my body.

Take Luck,

LP

What a Year!

Last year I write an elaborate and extensive "2011 - Year in Review" post.

I can't believe we are getting ready to ring in 2013.  Part of me feels like I was just sitting down to write my elaborate and extensive "2011 Year in Review."

These days especially, elaborate and extensive don't really fall into my time constraints.  A sleeping Camden is now a ticking time bomb and will be ready to eat very shortly.  

I can feel it.  Literally.

 This was our year:

- In April we found out we were expecting and I began entertaining you with all things pregnancy.   

*Apparently nothing note-worthy happened between January and April?

- I graduated from my internship program in June and accepted a new job.

- My baby sister graduated from UW.

- We got a belated anniversary gift in August when we were told we were expecting a baby boy.

- I traveled much less this year for work.  Much less is an understatement considering one trip versus the seven I took last year.

- September was filled with baby showers and a surprise visit from my best friend, Becky.

- We took a family trip to Destin, Florida to celebrate my mother-in-law's retirement.  Southwest Airlines lost (without actually losing) our luggage and we met our nephew, Liam, for the first time.

- I turned 27.  Wah wah.

- I completed two more semesters of my graduate program.  One more to go, people.

- I went into preterm labor at 33 weeks.  Ryan and I then sat on pins and needles through November and into December.

- We got off the pins and needles when we welcomed Camden James Peters on 12/11/12 at 11:06am.

What. A. Year.  In 2012 we became a family.

I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for us.

Happy New Year!

Take Luck,

LP

Thankful

Like last year, we have a lot to be thankful and grateful for this Thanksgiving.

I'm thankful for Ryan, who does not realize how strong he is and how much joy/happiness he brings to my life.

I'm thankful for this dance-partying baby boy that is still cooking in my belly.  If my belly button was any indication - it'd be telling you this little turkey is done.

I'm beyond thankful for our families and their love and support.

I'm thankful for friends who are family.

I'm thankful for our health and the continued health of our family and friends.

I'm thankful for our two sweet and crazy pups.

I'm thankful for the walls of our home and the security of our jobs.

I'm thankful that the end of my graduate program is coming closer into view.

and last but certainly not least, I'm thankful for the new adventures and challenges that will soon be upon us.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Take Luck,

LP

More Lately

Lately...

- I've been consumed with midterms.  Consumed, I tell ya.

- I've developed a "negativity not welcome" attitude.  I truly do not care if you don't like our potential baby names, our birth plan, or if you think prenatal yoga is a joke.  If you are going to be critical of whatever I say - why even ask the question?  I also do not want to hear about your horrific labor, birth and breastfeeding experiences without me even asking about your experiences.  Mmkay?

- I've been kicking the crap out of my Christmas shopping list.

- When getting out of bed in the morning, I feel like a turtle that's stuck on it's back.  I have experienced some separation of my top abs and have been encouraged to literally roll off the bed when getting up.  This would normally be fine, but only problem is - my lower back locks up and I have to quickly and repeatedly roll from side-to-side and gain some momentum before being capable of rolling off the bed.

Source

 

 

 

- We went to a local pumpkin patch and bought pumpkins last weekend.  I am sad to report that they remain un-carved on our kitchen counter.

- I've been working extra long days at work.  I do not like this.

- Momma and I have been having Saturday shopping dates that include a salad bar lunch at Roundtable.  This, I do like.

Take Luck,

LP

This Weekend...

Linking up with Sar and Syndal for This Weekend I...

This weekend I got an extra day off of work for Columbus Day.  Glorious.

This weekend I plowed through my financial management project that isn't due until finals week in December.  I decided I just couldn't have that hanging over my head any longer.

This weekend I (OK, we) hung the rest of the decor in the nursery.  There is just one piece left that can't go up until we decide on this little dude's name.

This weekend I discovered that our sweet neighbor leaves treats for Brock and Sonny in her newspaper mailbox.

This weekend I hit the 30 week mark in my pregnancy.  Time is flying.  For reals.

This weekend I officially started Christmas shopping.  Like my semester project, I just can't let things like this hang over my head as we get closer and closer to baby time.

Take Luck,

LP

This Weekend...

Linking up with Sar and Syndal for This Weekend I...

This weekend I spent several hours working on my financial homework.  I felt a little head rest itself on my shoulder and a little cold nose nudge my neck.  I think she was hoping I would stop and pay attention to her.

This weekend I was reminded how weird (and sometimes human-like) dogs are.

This weekend I watched as my hubby spent time with one of his oldest and best friends.  Hubby was happy.  Be still my heart.

This weekend I showed our out-of-town guests around Port Townsend and Fort Warden State Park.  The sun flare was just a bonus.  And now I really want to watch An Officer and A Gentleman.

This weekend I officially failed at Haus of Girls' #44milesinSeptember challenge.  Our Florida vacay killed it... But I'm not complaining.  It was worth it.

This weekend I hit my 29th week of pregnancy.  And was reminded by my OB that I am now one week away from the 10-week countdown.  Holy shiza.

And now, I'm trying to drown my sore throat and congestion in lemon ginger tea.  Awesome.

Take Luck,

LP

Thursday Thoughts

Linking up with Sar for Thursday Thoughts

[1] Today I put the final touches on an exam for my legal class.  This exam contained sixteen essay questions, people.  Sixteen.  I must have read the instructions seven times in hopes to find a hidden, "Choose ten of the sixteen questions to answer."  Alas, no dice.

[2] It may be sad to some that I now consider "staying up late" to include any time past 9pm.  I however am relishing in the glory that is nine (or ten) hours of sleep while I can.

[3] This blog has been neglected.  Not due to a lack of material, but my time has been taken up with school (the aforementioned sixteen essay question exams), organizing the nursery, enjoying those small amounts of time where I sit here doing nothing at all, and sleep.

[4] Out of the blue the other day I got the serious hankering to clean (or nest, perhaps?).  Among other things, I was on my hands and knees in the kitchen scraping glue from in between sections of the linoleum floor.  Who does that?  Me, apparently.

[5] Grey's Anatomy starts back up tonight and Dexter premieres on Sunday.  This makes me very excited.

Take Luck,

LP

Thursday Thoughts

Linking up with Sar for Thursday Thoughts!

[1] Sneezing has become a new enemy.  My "Oh, no - a sneeze is coming" face has
gotten a whole lot uglier because it's evolved into a, "Oh, boy.  Don't
sneeze.  Don't pee!" face.

[2] Our vacation starts bright and early (6am) on Saturday morning when we fly
to New Orleans.  I cannot, repeat - cannot, wait to see Ryan's family and
meet Liam.

[3] There's nothing like a vacation to throw me in a Ihavesomuchshittodo frenzy.

[4] When opening my lunch this afternoon I realized that I was missing my
Laughing Cow cheese wedge.  I called Ryan and asked, "Did I put my cheese
wedge in your lunch?" (I thought I may have put it in his lunch by mistake).
His response: "That sounds dirty."  My response: "Yes, yes. Funny. Do you
have my cheese?"  I'm not really sure why I called him because it's not like
if he did indeed have my cheese it would have helped me any.  So, I hung up
and continued to eat my lunch... Cheese-less.

[5] Last night during our Financial Management lecture I noticed that every
person pictured on the PowerPoint slides and in the text are all happy and
smiling.  I couldn't help but think to myself, "They must not have taken
this class."

Take Luck,

LP

Dear Monday

Linking up with Megan for Dear Monday!

Dear Monday, Even a three-day weekend wasn't enough rest for me to be able to come at you full force.  We'll try again next week.

Dear Fall Semester, Ugh. Up until today I felt motivated and ready for the semester to begin. My motivation has quickly faded and I am now intimidated after reading through my syllabi. Why did I want to go back to school, again?

Dear Ocean Get-Away, You were far more relaxing than either Ryan or I anticipated.  Strolling on the beach, searching for sand dollars, and just chatting was exactly what I needed.

The lovebirds

Pretty sand ripples

 

Dear Brock & Sonny, Apparently this morning I failed to close the cage doors before leaving for work.  Luckily Grandpa came to check on you.  Oopsie.

Dear Florida and Favorite In-Laws, Only two and a half weeks until our vaca.  This lady is super excited.

Dear Hubby, I'd say that yesterday you had the man day of man day's. You purchased a new set of golf clubs and ate crab legs at Hooters. It doesn't get much better than that, does it?

Take Luck,
LP 

Dear Monday

Monday, Monday.  Time to write some letters for the week with Megan!

Dear Monday, All in all - you weren't so bad.  Although, maybe tomorrow I will sleep until the alarm goes off... And not be awake for the 45 minutes before.  That would be peachy.

Dear Friends Episode - "The One Where Phoebe Runs," You are by far one of my all-time favorite episodes.

Dear 7:30 PST, I cannot wait for you to be here.  That will officially bring the end to my semester.  I bet that our neighbors will hear my excessive chanting of hallelujahs.

Dear Baby Alexander, Thank you for letting me hold and snuggle your tiny sleeping body on Saturday night.  I needed that.

Dear Chimpanzee, I really want to watch you... And am probably going to need to bring a package of Kleenex.  I can't get through the trailer/preview without getting weepy.

Dear Hubby, Why, oh why must you have a game tonight at 9:30?  Don't these people know we get up early?!!!  Don't worry - I'll be home waiting for you... And keeping the bed warm.

Take Luck,

LP

Fill in the Blank Friday

Oh, happy day - it's Friday!  Time to fill in some blanks with Lauren.

[1] When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is curse the alarm, feel around for my glasses, and give Ryan a kiss.

[2] I can hardly wait for Monday to be here and gone.  It will mean the end of my semester.  My group will present our project and I will submit my final exam.  Party time, people.

[3] The quickest way to my heart is by doing something thoughtful because it means you are putting needs of others before your own.

[4] A little known fact about me is that I am afraid of the dark.  The movie, Sixth Sense ruined me.  Bathrooms at night are the worst.

[5] The best part about my job is that I know I am making a difference and supporting our country.

[6] Something I just couldn't live without is Dole's Pineapple-Orange-Banana juice.  Enough said.

[7] Something useful that I wish I knew how to do is sew.  I do not own a sewing machine, and sometimes wish that I did... But also fear that it would just sit there collecting dust.

Take Luck,

LP

Dear Monday

This is going to be a short edition of Dear Monday, people.  At 8:30pm, this is the first opportunity I have had all day to type... And it's past my bed time.

Let's get it going.  Time to write some letters with Megan!

Dear Monday, Mondays without coffee are never a good sign.  Somehow, we made it through together.

Dear Family BBQ, I'm not sure how, but we managed to get, mom and dad, all four kids (and their respective spouses/boyfriends), and all four grand-kids together and failed to get a picture?!  I have failed a major photography fail.

Dear Spring Semester, Only 11 more days.  That is all.

Dear Plum Crisp, I admit that I intentionally cut (and set aside) a larger piece for myself yesterday.  I just couldn't help it.  But you are so delicious, you understand.

Dear Sonny, You wrapped yourself around my back while I was watching class this evening... Like a little, miniature-spare-tire-heating-pad.

Dear Honey Bunches of Oats, Sometimes I want to smack you a little.  Mostly when you are deep in fantasy baseball and ignoring me/my questions.  But then I just sing show tunes really loudly and you eventually pay attention... Even if its just to tell me to be quiet.  I love you.

Take Luck,

LP

Dear Monday

The glorious weekend flew by and it's already Monday again!  Time to write some letters with Megan!

Dear Monday, Mornings out of the office are the best.  If only every Monday could start out like that... And with a hot breakfast buffet, to boot!

Dear Favorite In-Laws, Not only are you my favorite because you are my only in-laws, but you truly are wonderful people.  We had such a good time with you last week and appreciated all you did for us while visiting.  I will always be grateful to you for raising such a wonderful son.

Dear Patience, Please come to me in mass quantities.  I'm going to need you!

Dear Muscles of my Body, Please. Stop. Hurting. Me.

Dear Easter Sunday Service, You by far surpassed any and all expectations I had.  Thank you!

Dear Spring Semester, Please be kind and make the next three weeks fly by.  And if you magically complete my team's System Engineering Management Plan project - I would be more than grateful.  

Dear Rachel,  I am getting so excited to take some senior pictures of you.  You are so beautiful, and I cannot wait to put my creativity to work and capture your beauty in pictures!

Dear Hubby, Today I fell in love with you all over again.  You fill my heart and my life with joy.

Take Luck,

LP

Fill in the Blank Friday

Another Friday is here again.  I cannot believe that it is almost April!

Time to fill in some blanks with Lauren!

[1] My greatest strength is looking at the positive or bright-side of things.

[2] My greatest weakness is getting or feeling overwhelmed and anxious.

[3] People always compliment me on looking young/youthful.  A lady at work asked me this week if I was married.  I said, "Yes."  She said she didn't think I was old enough to be married.  I asked how old she thought I was... And she said 20.  I know I will appreciate this more later in life.

[4] If you found me procrastinating you'd probably find me stretched out on the couch with a blanket over my head.  I figure if I can't see what I'm supposed to be doing - maybe it will just go away.  This never happens as I always getting my caboose off the couch and conquer.  I am not a good procrastinator.

[5] The most cozy place in all the world is our bed.  Memory foam mattress topper = Heaven.

[6] Something new that I tried recently was procrastinating.  I tried to intentionally ignore and put off homework and looming a project, but I caved.  Like I said, I'm not good at that.

[7] This weekend I would like to make the most of the time we have with Ryan's parents while they are in town visiting.  We have a whole week, but Hubby and I tend to be baked potatoes on the weekdays.

Now, please excuse me while I go and clean this house!

Take Luck,

LP

Dear Monday

Monday, again?  I guess so.  Time to write some letters with Megan.

Dear Monday, I would say that in comparison to my tear and doctor-filled last Monday, you weren't so bad.

Dear House Projects, You are seriously never ending.  Oh, the joys of being a home owner.

Dear Liam, I cannot wait to meet you.  Neither can your Uncle Ryan.

Dear Wallpaper Removal, I now consider you to be a form of torture.  

Dear Academic Motivation, I still have seven weeks of school left.  You cannot fail me now!

Dear Dairy Queen, I may be treating myself to a miniature Oreo Blizzard this evening.  It will be my reward for sitting through class.

Dear Hubby, I just watched you try to get out of your stinky work clothes while keeping an iron-grip on the bag of Trader Joe's Spicy Soy & Flaxseed Tortilla Chips.  I far underestimated your talents.

Take Luck,

LP

Fill in the Blank Friday

Friday, here at last!  Time to fill in some blanks with Lauren!

[1] I started my blog because I enjoy writing, and it allows me to look back on our life and experience stories all over again.

[2] One thing I love seeing on other blogs is honesty in stories.  Life isn't always clean, pretty, and fields of daisies.  I like to read stories that are real.

[3] Something I love about blogging is being able to be me, say what I think and feel (no matter how drenched in sarcasm), and just put it all out there.  I also love that I can share stories about my funny Hubby that can be used for blackmail someday.

[4] A favorite blog post of mine is probably Hopeful from Sar's 15 day challenge, stuff my three-year old niece says , a look back at 2011, that time a bird flew into our house, and stuff my dad says.

[5] Something my friends in real life know about me what I've never before mentioned on my blog is I moved 2,500 miles away from home to play softball at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.  I know I've said that I went to school and played ball there, but I don't think I explicitly said how far away from home I moved. 

[6] My new favorite blogs to read are  Pregnant Chicken, Tiny Twig Goes Out on a Limb, and Bleubird Vintage.

[7] Some things I tend to avoid doing on my blogs are being overly negative, rambling, and complaining.  Sometimes that doesn't work out so well.

Happy weekend everyone!

Take Luck,

LP

Dear Monday

What better way to start off the week than letters with Megan!

Well, I started writing this post on Monday (yesterday), but our internet totally crapped out on me.

So here goes nothing - Dear Monday letters on Tuesday!!

Dear Monday, It amazed me how you were smooth and calm until I got off work.  Then the craziness began.

Dear Camo-Jacket-Wearing-5am-Walker, You are an idiot.  If I had hit you, I think I would have had a perfectly good explanation.

Dear Super Bowl Commercials, I wasn't overly impressed with you but I did enjoy Honda's Ferris Bueller spoof, Fiat's Abarth and the Sketcher's French Bulldog.

Dear Internet, Of all nights, you chose last night to crap out.  I wasn't trying to watch class or anything.  Only thinking of yourself.  Sheesh.

Dear System Engineering Professor, I find it crazy to think what Washington State University is paying you to sit and read to a bunch of graduate students for two and a half hours.  Maybe that's why our tuition prices went up so high.


Dear Pregnant Chicken, You just may be my new favorite blog/website.  You make me laugh.  Hard.

Dear Ryan, The other night while I was watching a DVR'd Glee episode, I swear you came down with a case of Turrets.  "He sounds like a girl." "This is awful." "Oh, sorry." "I love Michael Jackson's music." "She's really good." "Do they sing the entire episode?" "This is lame." "Ok, I'll be quiet."  Geesh.  Either Turrets set in or you reverted back to being 4-years old.  I'm not quite sure.


Even though it's now Tuesday, wishing everyone a great week!!

Take Luck,

LP

Fill in the Blank Friday

Hooray for Friday!

Time to fill in some blanks with Lauren!

[1] If money wasn't an issue, the first thing I would cross off my list is redoing our kitchen, bathrooms, and roof.  Oh, the joy of being a homeowner.

[2] Picking apart my Subway sandwiches and eating everything individually is something I like that other people think is weird.

[3] If my life were a movie right now, the title would be "The Busy Lady Diaries."

[4] Three things I am looking forward to this month are Valentine's Day, an extra day off of work (President's Day), and getting closer to the end of this semester.

[5] My favorite song to sing in the shower is "Forever" by the Beach Boys.

[6] If I found out that the production of Sobe Fuji Apple Pear Lifewater was ending this month, I would go out and buy as much as I could tomorrow.

[7] One thing I'll never grow tired of is enjoying the little things with Ryan.

Wishing everyone a great weekend!!

Take Luck,

LP

Fill in the Blank Friday

It's Friday!  Time to fill in some blanks with Lauren.

[1] One of my favorite things to do when I have free time is absolutely nothing.  I love curling up on the couch or in bed with a snuggly blanket, puppies, Hubby and a book or the laptop.

[2] When I have free time I tend to find things to make it so my "free time" is occupied by studying, cleaning, organizing, or some other domestic-goddess duty - instead of curling up on the couch or in bed with a snuggly blanket, puppies, Hubby and a book or the laptop.

[3] If I had an entire day completely to myself I would sleep in, soak in a bubble bath, read a book, drink a vanilla latte, have lunch at Panera Bread Co., take an afternoon nap, watch a "chick flick" or two, bake, and eat ice cream.  Lots of mint chocolate chip ice cream.

[4] I would prefer to spend my free time (alone or with others...) Both.  I love spending my free time with Ryan or friends and family, but sometimes I really do enjoy spending some free time alone.

[5] Most of my free time happens on my Fridays off and the weekends.  Glorious, glorious days!

[6] The best thing about free time is it's free!  You can do whatever you want.

[7] The next time I have free time I should probably soak it up and enjoy being "bored" but I'll probably keep myself busy with something... And then regret it later.

Hoping everyone has a weekend full of relaxing free time!

Take Luck,

LP

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

Even now that it's here - I am still having a hard time grasping the fact that it is now 2012.

Ca-razy.

We didn't get too wild last night.  Shocking, I know.

We had a nice dinner with friends, and then welcomed the new year at our house with games and lots of belly laughter.

Ringing in the New Year - Peters style

So, I've come up with a list of New Year's Resolutions and New Year's Goals.  And I thought if I wrote them out like this (versus just keeping them as a note in my iPhone) I may hold myself a little more accountable.

I made them two separate lists because I feel that while all resolutions are goals, not all goals are resolutions.  Hopefully that makes the same sense to you as it does me.  If not, whatev.

2012 New Year's Resolutions

- Walk the puppies at least 4 days per week

- Drink more water

- Drink less soda

- Attend newlife church services as regularly as possible

- Plan meals for each week prior to grocery shopping on Sundays

- Take more photographs/pictures

- Take advantage of hiking in the area

- Take vitamins everyday

- Paint fingernails

(I painted my nails red (Ruby Ruby) last night for NYE and loved/love it.  I can't help but feel a little sassy with red fingernails!)

- Make the most of each day

- Be thankful/grateful every day

- Make sure Ryan feels loved and appreciated each day

2012 New Year's Goals

- Start a family

- Complete two semesters (three classes) of graduate program so I will then be 90% finished

- Put a certain (to be determined) amount of moo-la each month into savings

- Accomplish a major-ish renovation on our house (i.e. new roof, new counter-tops and cabinets)

We'll see how these all pan out.

At church this morning, while writing out our prayer requests on our information card, I was a little stumped.  So, I wrote out some brief (and broad) statements:

- Start our family

- Make smart financial decisions

- Love and respect each other

- Health and safety of us and family/friends

Ryan whispered that he had a "good" one to write down.  He doesn't usually write anything down so I was very curious what this request may be.  I half expected him to write down, "I pray that Albert Pujols will be the worst mistake the Anaheim Angels ever made!"  But, when he gave me back the card, it said:

"I need to make eye contact with my Wife when we are having discussions."

How sweet and honest was that?  More honest than sweet, but still!

Before putting our card in the bucket, I wrote (Amen!) after Ryan's addition.

******

Did you make any New Years resolutions or goals this year?

Take Luck,

LP