5th Grade Camp

I am totally exhausted after spending Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with 5th graders at camp.  This is our big outdoor education program, and the weather was absolutely phenomenal during this trip.  

The kids had a fabulous time doing things they would not normally experience, like canoeing, rock climbing and archery.

I followed behind, loaded up canoes, harnessed kids into safety gear, and watched them truly loving every minute.

I realized on the trip that I had not told most of the 5th graders that I was pregnant.  They had no idea.  I'm not sure how that's possible, particularly how I look and feel these days-

My photographer this week was a 10 year old girl from my cabin who was far more enthusiastic about taking my picture than my husband.

The countdown is on until I know what is cooking in there!  I can't wait!

Meg's House

I loved my Saturday night visit with Nic and Meg.  Babies were out in full effect.  My two pals birthed both of their children on similar timelines.  Madilyn(who wasn't interested in being pictured) and Molly are just two months apart.  They are 3 1/2.  Caroline and Nolan are only a week apart, and were both born in January. 

I got a baby fix.  They smell so good, until they don't.  

Husband and I went to Bazbeaux to eat pizza outside after church on Sunday.  

We also went shopping for some maternity gear.

Here's his face after I told him that's where we were going.

 I've been having some serious hip issues for the past couple of days, just on my left side.  I've been told this is normal, but at 18 weeks, I'm a little flipped that it is happening so early.

I found a great prenatal yoga class via YogaVibes.com and did that in my own private studio. 

That baseball bat offers me some serious protection against being burgled. 

My private session included another attendee, minus the pregnant belly but equally as irritable. 

She watched my every move with great interest.  I know she mocks me in her walnut sized brain.

Sunday night I was forced to take up pole dancing to try and combat my hip pain that was keeping me awake.  

I give you one of two pillars at the front entrance of my home.

I loathe these.  I refer to them as poles, not pillars.

They look out of place, and I think them  a shameful attempt to look stately.

This isn't Tara, people.  

I ate my snarky criticism on Sunday night at 2 a.m. as I swung around this pole, clinging to it, stretching back in a chair position, bending my legs, twisting and engaging in lots of nonsense to try to release my hip.  

This pole might actually offer some stretching/ballet barre style relief over the next few months.

Thank God Trinity was asleep-

Robby's Engagement

Rob and Meg had their photos taken on the beautiful grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art to commemorate their engagement.  You know I like this locale.  I even have picnics there by myself.  I can't think of any snarky comments to make.  The photos are lovely.

Good sun. 

Pretty people.

Star photoggers Kurtis and Jennifer Bowersock. 

I had to include this one.  Robby's face is hilarious.  I can just hear him being encouraged to look at her lovingly.  This is the result.  What  a hoot.

Their wedding is a short 5 1/2  months away.  I will either be a past due pregnant bridesmaid, swathed in gray chiffon channeling Dumbo, or walking down the aisle donning a Baby Bjorn and an infant.  Either way, I'm sure to be a hit.

We have a Bump!

I shan't be told otherwise.

I now rub my stomach all of the time like Winnie the Pooh.  In fact, I could probably eat a jar of honey at any given time of the day.

One of my students told me yesterday that I am getting fatter every day.  I had to explain that the baby was growing and that I would rip his face off if he ever said that again.  

I have been rubber banding my pants together, but by Friday of this week it was time to take some more necessary actions.

I busted into a pair of Jamie's maternity jeans. 

Why, Betsy, that's a lovely self portrait.  

For pity's sake, I think I have found my inspiration to finally go and buy some new bedding, and get started on my gallery wall.  I'm not the most motivated when it comes to home decor.  I can't make a decision, I get overwhelmed, and then I get really mad.

I try to avoid thoughts of home improvement altogether.

We visited T's parents for Easter.

I insisted that we go to Easter Vigil Mass the night before, since we had a seven hour drive on Sunday to get home.

I forgot that Easter Vigil Mass is like 3 hours.  I'm not sure how I could forget, since we went when I was in college and I believe brother Robby got very frustrated and exited discreetly from St. Joseph's in his pimp Mitsubishi Eclipse.  He was maybe a senior in high school.  Yes, he had a brand new Mitsubishi Eclipse.  I was rocking a Corolla.  Dad displayed a little favoritism with the car selection.

Anyway, Mass was beautiful, but very long, and I do mean long.  I kept pinching myself to make sure it wasn't 1968 and we weren't at a Revival baptizing people down in the creek, while we all fanned ourselves with real hand held fans.

I have a vivid imagination.

This was in my Easter basket.

 That is T's carseat blanket from 1975, hence the odd shape.  I thought we rode in bread boxes back then.  Apparently there were actually child restraint seats back then.  

I think it is adorable.

I can't wait to use it.

I also can't wait to go and have my car seat correctly installed at a local fire station.  Did you know they do that?  They do.  A firefighter will put it in correctly and show you how to use it properly.  I do enjoy firefighters.  

I also bought le bebe a sleep sack that is gender neutral.

We are finding out in a few short weeks about the baby's sex.  Marinda, my party planner BFF, is helping with the details.  I'm about as good at party planning as I am at decorating.

It will be a gender reveal party.

Did you know that "gender" really only refers to the traditions, roles, etc. of being male or female?  "Sex" refers to the physiological factors distinguishing between male or female.  Since we aren't going to find out if our baby will work outside the home, be good at fixing things, like the color pink, etc. "gender" isn't really the correct term.  Yet, somehow "Sex Reveal" party invitations seemed a tad inappropriate.  Guests might come expecting to go in my laundry room with a "consultant" to privately order some "accessories" for one's personal life.  Not that I've been to one of those parties before.  I don't want to confuse anyone.  

Lastly, Jane, Robby and I found a dress for Robeghan's nuptials.

Here she is with the lovely lady at the Chanel boutique in Saks.

Chanel is fancy.

We oohed and aaahed and I put my little grubby hands all over some tweed suited goodness.  Mom tried on some lovelies.  Then she bought one.

Psyche!

She got a lovely suit, but it wasn't Chanel, fools.

It is beautiful, but we aren't that high dollar.

In other news, Robeghan got their engagement pictures back.  Once I get permission to exploit them all over my personal website, I promise to post pictures of people other than my torso.

Tootles!

Spring Break and 16 Weeks of Fun!

This week is my Spring Break.  Many of my friends headed to warmer locales like Florida and The Cayman Islands, but my week is filled with exciting things like 10 minute OB appointments, yoga classes and what seems like constant snacking.

My mom went with me this week to the doctor.  She took my 16 week "bump" picture.  Courtney is growing tired of my bump updates, as she claims she can't see anything.  I'm doing it for posterity, people.  I know there isn't a lot to see.  I'm sure that before I know it I will look like Jessica Simpson.  For now I'll settle for slightly tighter pants.

The weather has been nice  here, so I have spent a little time outdoors, by myself. 

Today I went to yoga and then to Goose the Market, one of my favorite spots for lunch.  I got my favorite sandwich and a giant cookie and went to the Lilly Gardens at the IMA.  

I enjoyed a picnic for one.  

I have been doing some shopping too.  I'm not buying clothes for obvious reasons.  I have launched myself full scale into overpriced beauty products.  I have a beachy theme going on, minus the stretch mark creme.  That stuff makes me feel so pretty, let me tell you.  I am slathering myself up nightly.  That crap is expensive.  It also smells funky.  The other purchases smell great.

I did set up a photo shoot of beauty products in my bathroom.  I am really busy.  I recommend all of this goo, if you're in the market to buy some goodies.

A Little Trip Down Memory Lane

My mother unloaded a bunch of things on me this past weekend.  She has cleaned out my bedroom closet and is planning on putting a crib in there for le bebe.  

One of the random things she unearthed was my ancient Canon Elph camera that weighs a ton.  It's amazing how much technology has changed in the past 8 years.  

I managed to download the pictures that were left on that camera  card to my computer.  

As I rubbed overpriced stretch mark cream all over my abdomen, I started to look through these pictures and think how much life really have changed in the last several years.  Most of these pictures are celebrations from around 2005-2006.

Enjoy-

We start with Court's birthday.  I believe this is 25.  She will be 32 in May-

Nice t-shirt, nerd.

Sisters at Kirby's summer 2005 bachelorette soiree.

Cinda and Lisa.

Cinda now has twins.

My sorority sister, Christy, at her Chicago bachelorette party in 2005.

Geez, I liked that khaki blazer.

The irony is I wore it to the OB this week.

Delta Gammas at her wedding in Chicago that summer.

Nicole, Angel and Lynn.  

Sidenote:  Angel is an actress in Los Angeles now.  She will be on the show Devious Maids which I believe starts this fall.  I'll be able to say I knew her way back when at IU-

Allison's 30th birthday

Courtney will never live down breaking out the hot rollers that night. I got really toasted and may have thrown my purse in the street.

Ah, 26 was awesomesauce.

This is my favorite picture of me and Jamie at the lake

Nic's brother wore a baby blue tuxedo to her wedding rehearsal in 2006.  I thought he was really funny.

 College besties

 Meg delivered flowers as a bridesmaid in Nicole's wedding with me 6 years ago.  Now she delivers babies.  Dr. Megan is pretty fabulous.

I went solo to Conine's wedding in 2006 or 2007.  

Mom and Katie dropped me off at the venue in Nashville and I was terribly self conscious about being alone.  Girl didn't have a boyfriend.  I remember thinking I was pitiful.  Thinking I was pitiful was pitiful, as I remember now.  Break ups and singledom brought me to Sweet T.  Thank you, Lord.

She was the sweetest and tiniest little bride.

Lastly, Kate and I used to rock many a weekend in the Windy City.  Here we were stuffing ourselves in Ethel's Chocolate Lounge.

Palm Sunday

We went home to see my parents for the night on Saturday.  We spent the evening watching the Final Four games and eating Chinese food from Panda Garden, one of my favorite spots.  

We woke up Palm Sunday to an Easter basket filled with some baby goodies.  Mother has decided that henceforth (for the next four weeks) our baby shall be known as Bunny.  This non-gender specific moniker shall stick until we know what kind of baby we are having.  

What?  

An Easter basket for my bambino?

What about me?

No dark chocolate Reece cups?

Operation Bunny tops Betsy has commenced.

He/she did receive a Sophie giraffe, which I just think is darling.  I was a little tickled about that.  

Dad knew I was feeling a tad jealous so he made a classic TH donut run.

These things defy description.

Heaven in your mouth, hell on you stomach.

So worth it.

Mom and I drove to Bloomington for a fun lunch to kick off my spring break.  No trip to Btown is complete without a stopover at my old stomping' grounds, ye Delta Gamma house.  

A darling girl answered the door and welcomed us in.  I told her I was a former resident and she grew excited exclaiming that today they celebrated Founder's Day.  This date was once a big deal during the sorority era.  She even started prattling off the Delta Gamma founders' names.  She was sweet, and even said, "come on, you know them!"

Um, no, honeybun, I don't.

When you're 32 and pregnant, dates and names from 12-15 years ago go by the wayside.  

I rushed straight into the arms of this saint-

Mom Kyle, our house mother.

Love her!

My senior composite picture is probably hanging in the basement behind the treadmill.  

My parents surprised us with new porch furniture.  It is divine!

 Family portrait

Mom had some wine in our outdoor living room.

I observed, sniffed and pouted.

Look who found the only spot in the house that doesn't have her fur?

She fixed that immediately.