Our Wedding Album

Click here to view this photo book larger

So it took me a little longer than I planned to complete our wedding album.  This is my version of 'nesting' before the birth of our child... trying to get done all of the projects I intended to get done more than A YEAR ago :)  I'd love for you to check this out--enjoy!! :)

I'm Better Now...

I'm not angry anymore :)  Here's a HAPPIER post, just in time for the holidays!!

Actually, Christmas was a few days ago.. but I'm still getting this posted before New Years.. so BOO-YA!

THE THINGS THAT MAKE ME STUPID EXCITED!!!

The Christmas Edition

NUMERO CINCO

A STAR WARS CHRISTMAS

Judge me.. I don't care..

DirecTV's Christmas gift to me was a day-long Star Wars marathon on Spike. 

(Technically, it was both Friday and Saturday, butEpisodes 1-3 suck donkey balls and they don't count... please note the above photo references the REAL Star Wars.)

PLUS.. Brian got me the Family Guy version of Return of the Jedi for Christmas.

PLUS.. when we watched the Family Guy version of Return of the Jedi, we also got the special feature showing the writers playing Star Wars Trivial Pursuit.

a) yes.. we spent 45 minutes of our lives we'll never get back watching other people..

on a DVD.. playing Trivial Pursuit.

b) I NEED THIS GAME... Megan and I, versus Scott and Brian. 

We would destroy them like the Empire destroyed Alderaan.

c) Judge me.. I don't care..

NUMERO CUATRO

MARY KAY SKIN STUFF

Another awesome gift from my awesome husband: some new Mary Kay facial products!!  I LOVE Mary Kay skin stuff--ever since Jenni was a Mary Kay girl when we lived together, I've been hooked.  This stuff makes your skin look and feel soooo soft... I mean, look at the girl in the picture!?! Look how happy she is!!

ok, she's probably getting paid 15 G's to smile in this picture.. which makes me sick.. but HEY!

So I'm excited to kick back in a hot bath with a good book and make myself pretty :)

NUMERO TRES

VICTORIA'S SECRET PAJAMA PANTS

OK, I'm starting to get worried how many pictures of gorgeous women I'm posting on this blog...

but again, LOOK HOW HAPPY SHE IS!! It's because she's wearing Victoria's Secret pajama pants.  They are ridiculous expensive, so I never buy them for myself, but my mom got me another pair for Christmas.  If I could live in them, I WOULD.  And I pretty much do at home.

BRILLIANT. 

If you are coming to visit me in the hospital after Easton's arrival, you'll probably see these pants.

NUMERO DOS

THE LEG IS BETTER!!!

I came down with malaria, a bad cold about two weeks ago.. and I don't know if my nerve sensors shifted their pain focus or what, but my leg has improved TREMENDOUSLY in the last few weeks.  The pain is still there, but I'm not chain-icing, I'm not having trouble sleeping, and I'm not limping as much. 

THANK YOU, GOD.

NUMERO UNO... ALWAYS :)

An INCREDIBLE husband whom I love more than anything,

a sweet dog who makes us laugh..

and an amazing gift from God who we'll meet in just a few weeks!
LOOK AT HIS SWEET, CHUBBY CHEEKS!! :)

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!

I love you all, and hope to see you soon!

The Hate List

Every Friday (I think?) two of my favorite local sports talk personalities have a segment on their program, in which listeners are allowed to call and email in to just B***H about things they hate.  I'm stealing their idea.. as I've just spent the last 4+ hours.. on a Saturday.. the Saturday before Christmas.. Christmas shopping.. while being 8 months pregnant.. with a gimpy leg.  Yes, I'd like a little cheese with my whine :)

1) DOWNTOWN

Whenever possible.. I think it's awesome to shop at locally owned stores.  They are the small business owners that are part of our community, the money stays here, etc etc etc.  So I ventured to this awesome Christmas store in the Old Market to find some great gifts.  I did.. and I also found MANY a driver, who

a) didn't know where they where going so they drove 3 mph...

b) THOUGHT they knew where they were going, but unfortunately didn't fill anyone else in by using a FREAKING TURN SIGNAL..

c) was just flat out confused and turned the wrong way on a one-way street.. right as another car was coming at them.

2) CALLING ALL SHOPPERS

Do not.. I repeat.. DO NOT let your children have caffeine, sugar, or any medically prescribed upper before taking them to Target during Christmas season.  They may be fine at home.. but combined with a few sparkly red and green displays.. toy aisles.. and throngs of other Yule-Hyper-Kiddos.. they become PSYCHOTIC.  Unfortunately, Target was my nephew/cousin's kids shopping spot.. I had to visit the toy aisles.. and I almost drilled Barbie Fairy wands and/or action figure swords into my ear drums to stop the shrill ringing in my ears.  No, I am not a parent yet.. I will need many a lesson how to handle a child--not a baby or a toddler, a CHILD--who SCREAMS..NONSTOP.. for this, that, that other thing.. EVERYTHING... maddening.

3)  THEY FOLLOWED ME...

The Hyper-Brats-Kiddos must have heard on the loud speaker or something, 'she's going to Babies R Us next, folks!'  Because sure enough... there they were.. except this time, they were two girls, easily 8 or 9... FREAKING GOING BERZERK inside the store.  Climbing on the riding horse in the entryway, running and shreaking through the store like banshees, knocking clothes off racks, etc.  WHERE WERE THEIR PARENTS?!? No clue... but they were seriously OUT OF FREAKING CONTROL.

4)  THE MALL.. ON A SATURDAY.. BEFORE CHRISTMAS

I don't even think I need to write anything here. 

THE MALL.. ON A SATURDAY.. BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

4 hours later.. I am sitting on my couch, watching Harry Potter, eating a cheese pizza.  My treat to myself for surviving.  And I just went back for 2 more pieces.. after reliving the experience here :)  Did I mention for the first time, EVER, I had to sit down on a mall bench to catch my breath?  YOWSA.  But our Christmas shopping is DONE.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a I'M NEVER SHOPPING AGAIN.

Except maybe for cute baby stuff :)

Now Entering the THIRD TRIMESTER!

OHHHHH GOLLY GEE!

I'm PUMPED!

Only 12 weeks to go!!  It is absolutely CRAZY to me that we have been pregnant for 7 months.  7 MONTHS, PEOPLE!?!  My pregnancy has been great... except for one thing...

No heartburn.. no vomitting in the first trimester.. my hair looks AWESOME thanks to hormones and pre-natal vitamins.. and I love feeling Easton kicking and punching away.  But about 2+ weeks ago... all of the sudden out of nowhere, my right leg started PULSATING with pain.  Prior to that, it had been numb and tingly for about 3 weeks.. and while it was annoying, it wasn't PAINFUL for the most part.

THIS SUCKS.  It sucks worse than cleaning bathrooms, without gloves, when you live with two younger teenage brothers who don't care about hygiene or clean toilets.  Take that and multiply it times a gagillion.

Drama Queen?  Anyone?  Anyone??

So yeah.. my leg hurts.  ALL THE TIME.. it never stops.  Add to that acute, lighting bolt pangs of pain that seemingly hit right above my kneecap or within my outer quad whenever they feel like it.  I've literally sat up in bed gritting my teeth at night.. I've done laps around the newsplex to keep myself from crying.. I've yelled inside my car to pass the minutes until I was home on my couch with an ice pad.

I've talked to my doctor.
I've been to a chiropractor.
I've been to a massage therapist.
I've tried stretches.
I've tried heat and cold.
I've eaten bananas and drank lots of water.
I've tried extra "hurt no more" vitamins, athletic tape, even a special electromagnetic thing-a-majig device I stuck to my leg at night.

NADDA.

Finally.. I think I've got a diagnosis: MERALGIA PARESTHETICA.  Basically, whereas about 90% of pregos with leg pain suffer from issues with their sciatic nerve in their spine.. my issues are stemming from the femoral nerve in my groin, up front. AND THERE'S NO WAY TO FIX IT, except to pop out a baby :)  That's just where Easton wants to sit.. and God willing, he'll only get bigger, not smaller.

My favorite part.. is that everything I look up about this puts preggos in the same 'common causes' category as 'obesity and/or weight gain.'

Super Duper.

So I've pretty much accepted the fact my new 'condition' will be around until Easton is born.  I'm starting to get a little more used to the pain and I travel with ginormous gel-ice-packs wherever I go.  I'm sure I look super sexy waddle-limping at work.  Guess what--I don't care :)  I'm done with speaking engagements until after I get back from maternity leave, and as long as our relatives have a place for me to sit down over the holidays, I'll just grin my way through it.

Bottom line, I know in 3 short months, this will all be a distant memory.. and SOOO WORTH IT.  And just so I'm sure of that, God's given me two little reminders:  I dreamed about our sweet little baby last night--the first time I woke up and could clearly remember every detail... and my friend Molly's latest blog post talks about even after a MUCH more difficult pregnancy and some trying moments with her adorable little boy, Jack, how much she wants Baby #2.

Awesome :)  But if any of you have advice.. I'd gladly take it :)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Because I Need To Be STUPID Excited

Every month, my friend Megs posts a special edition of her blog called "Little Things That Make Me Stupid Excited."  I should mention here Megan has 514 followers reading Twinsomnia.

People, 514 followers.  As in Megs could quit her job, write books about babies and motherhood, and really clean up.  She kicks ass.

I am in DIRE need of little things that cheer me up.. it's been that kind of week.  So I am shamelessly stealing her button and making my own list.  In my defense, Megan encourages this every week.. she even created a button that you can take and include on your own page!

514 followers.  Me = in awe.

**ONE**

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

KICKS ASS.  If money was no object, I'd get one every, single morning.  And afternoon. 

Our son would be born asking for a pick-me up.

**TWO**

The Biggest Loser

LOVE this show.  So inspiring.  Not to mention I'm a reality TV junkie.  It's definitely something I look forward to every week.. especially since I've broken up with Project Runway.

Gretchen sucks.  Mondo rules.

**THREE**

Jenny McCarthy

Former Playmate, very loud, not exactly the role model you'd expect. 

But this week, I felt SOOOOO hideous.  I caught some glimpses of myself in video during a story and almost cried... I AM HUGE.  GINORMOUS.  Yes, I'll say the f* word... I AM FAT.

So I decided to break out a book my ladies Melissa and Jenni SWEAR BY, 'Belly Laughs' by Jenny McCarthy, in which she VERY CANDIDLY talks about her pregnancy and everything that came with it.  Not to compare (because it truly is comparing the planets to gravel..) but she talks a lot about being self conscious throughout her pregnancy because she is in the public eye.. preach on, sister!! Preach on!! Because I feel like all of our viewers are at home, watching, saying "wow.. Brandi's really let herself go..."

So this week, I cracked open her book.  To read "I was a size 12 the first time I went shopping for new clothes".. and to read "by 7 months I had gained about 35 pounds"...

INSTANT RELIEF.  I'm at 6 1/2 months and I've gained about 25 pounds. If supermodel Jenny McCarthy, stunningly gorgeous Jenny McCarthy, gained that much weight during her pregnancy, then maybe I'm ok afer all.  Granted, this fat ass is getting a personal trainer after Easton is born. 

**FOUR**

Easton Kicking

My sweet little man is absolutely kicking and punching up a storm lately.. and I absolutely LOVE IT. 

I love putting my hand on my belly and feeling him go to town.  Sometimes I wonder if this is his way of talking to me:  "Momma!  I need love!"  And since I can't hold him yet.. I just rub my fingers along my belly to let him know I love him and I'm here!  Now, if we can just time it out so when I put his Daddy's hand on my belly so HE can feel his little boy... Easton KEEPS kicking.  So far, no dice :)

Ok.. so I only have 4 things.  But I can't top my baby kicking.

So, for now, I bid you adieu :)

What To Wear When You're A Planet

So I've finally conquered the "running out of clothes that don't cut off my circulation" problem.  I finally 'womaned' up and forked out the dough for a few pairs of maternity pants.  2 pairs of black pants complete with kangaroo pouch for work, and a pair of maternity jeans.

By the way, I Heart the consignment section at Belly Bumps.  Definitely beats the three figure price tag on most of the other options I looked at.

So I thought I was doing better.. until this week... when I looked at my calendar and realized I'm emceeing three fancy pants events coming up--fancy pants, minus the pants.

Ew.

So I forked over more dough and found a nice little black cocktail dress complete with extra fabric in the online maternity section of Nordstrom.  Perfect... until this week, when I had a working-planning lunch regarding one of the events.  Fancy pants X $250 a plate dinner = BLACK TIE EVENT = LONG GOWN.

So much for my little black extra fabric dress.

I tried on one of my Miss Nebraska dresses for my seamstress mom to see if there was any hope in resurrecting it for post-pageant/pre-Momma me.  Did I mention pageant-Brandi was a size 2?  I'd like to Nancy Kerrigan her right about now.. ('Why me?!?! Why?!?!?!?!!!!')  Suffice it to say, there's no chance in hell we can alter it.

So I spent my Friday night researching some options.. and I need help.  VOTES, PLEASE!

OPTION #1, BUT IN BLACK

OPTION #2, ALSO IN BLACK

OPTION #3, COME DOWN WITH SMALL POX THAT NIGHT AND STAY HOME

Thank you for voting. :)

Random... Like My Brain Right Now

I'm jumping from thought.. to story.. to feeling.. to wish.. to worry.. back to thought.  If you proceed reading this post.. proceed with caution!!

1) THE HOUSE
  We cut ties with our first realtor, and signed with a new.  The same girl Jenni used to sell her house and sold it 'lightning fast'.  Day one on the market--2 showings.  One is 'very interested'.  Keep your fingers crossed for us.. WE WANT THAT HOUSE SOLD!! It's been almost 5 months.. enough!

2) THE CLOTHES
  I have not yet gone maternity shopping, so everyday is a "What To Wear" challenge.  This week, I have one pair of pants that still fit--barely--and they are at the cleaners.  That leaves me with one maternity skirt Melissa loaned me, and two other skirts that I can hike up high enough that they still fit.. and are long enough I don't look like a hooker.  Thank goodness this is a short work week for me, or I'd be in trouble.

3) THE POLITICS
  We (everyone at KETV) are knee-deep in election coverage right now.  I love politics.. but after logging interview.. after interview.. after interview.. my brain is MUSH.  EconomyillegalimmigrationsocialsecuritywhyIwantyourvotemwwwwwaaaaahhhhhh.
It's very important for us to produce these stories for our viewers.  But I don't have much left in the noggin' at this point.

4) THE VIEWERS
  I just spent 15 minutes arguing with an irate caller, convinced that we had not aired ANYTHING about a man who duct taped his girlfriend's baby to a wall.. and how appalled she was that she had to find out about it on Nancy Grace.  News flash--we've shown the photos 8 times just since Saturday (I counted), and we've covered the case consistently from the beginning.  She's never seen it.. therefore I'm lying.
  I also received my third letter/email from 'fans' in the last week.  Today's was from England.  Last week's was from a man who told me, "I can't smoke.  Do you smoke? You should come visit me."  Before that, a facebook photo a viewer 'created', superimposing my picture over the ocean.

5) THE TRIP
  I'm making my debut in Canada this week (woohoo!) for my good friends' wedding.  Dilemma: what to wear? We've already covered my clothing crisis.  Carrie--can I wear Brian's sweat pants to your Niagara Falls wedding?

6) THE BABY
  Why should anything else matter when I have this to look at all day?  :)  Our little boy will make HIS debut in just four short months!!  And WE CAN'T WAIT!!