Half-Way there!

Both these pictures are essentially the same, but here I am at 20 weeks. These were taken almost 2 weeks ago, and yes, my tummy has gotten a bit bigger. So far, I've gained about 13 lbs., so hopefully this will keep up. The doctor's scale is always a bit more generous, so I like to go with his measurements. :-)

Defective Dog Part 2

The massively huge tumbleweed of dog hair I swept.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my house. I love the fact that I finally have the hardwood floors I have coveted for so long. However, along with the territory, comes the unending supply of dog hair. I literally am sweeping every day. It really isn't too big of a deal....only 15 or so minutes worth of activity. But, what gets me.... is, I'll sweep, and then 2 minutes later turn around to see a tumbleweed of dog hair!

This particular photo is pretty bad. It was taken about 2 weeks ago. I had been sick over the weekend (lazy bum), and then worked full-time the following week. So, needless to say, the sweeping did not get done that week.

So, once again, the defective dog wins out! He so kindly wanted to be a part of this picture, along with his massive fur ball.

Ah, Winston! Gotta love you! xoxoxo

Baby it's cold outside...

This picture was taken last week, one morning before work. Since then, the icicles are appearing almost daily...

As I am writing this, there is frost in our yard. Plus, we had snow flurries two days ago. It was only very briefly, but still.

IT IS COLD.

Bob's 30th!

Can you see Bob?

(There he is, right in the middle.)

I am still feeling guilty over not having my camera that night, but here is at least one picture for me to document the occasion. I was sorting through old emails this morning, and found this picture, taken by a co-worker.

We celebrated on his 30th birthday, November 6th, at a local restaurant here in Birmingham. It was a surprise. I believe there were about 30 people there, give or take (including Bob's parents who drove over from Atlanta). Cake was served after dinner.

Overall, it was a great night!

Half-way there!

Today, I am 20 weeks pregnant!

Bobby will hopefully be making his entrance into the world in another 20 weeks! As I am sitting on the computer this morning, I am feeling him like crazy! He's quite active right now. If Bob is around, I always tell him when I feel him. He is just dying to feel him too! I think he'll have to wait a few more weeks. It is so amazing, I love it!

Oh, I think I have found the diaper bag I want. It's the new Vera Bradley Baby Bag in Cupcakes Green. It is kind of pricey, but so cute! Of course it is green :-)

My neighbor and friend ordered furniture for her baby from JC Penney's. It is good quality, cute, and reasonably priced. We don't want to spend a lot of money on furniture, but we also want something that is safe, and durable. I have been scoping out their furniture, and we are hoping to order it in March. I have also been looking at bedding from Pottery Barn Kids, and JC Penney has a cute selection too. I need to check out Babies 'R Us. I am definitely planning on registering at Babies 'R Us, and possibly Pottery Barn Kids, if I decide on their bedding.

I'll be ordering a BOB stroller from work. I should be able to buy one at cost. They are great jogging strollers, and can be used full-time. I'll have to buy an infant car seat adapter, for the first 6 months of munchkin's life.

I still have a lot to look into and research. For any mom's out there, do you have anything you highly recommend? Do you know of any items out there that are a complete waste of money?

Do you game?

GroceryGame.com is my new obsession!

I am always up for a bargain, and with a baby on the way, saving money is the way to go! This is how it works at GroceryGame.com:

You sign up for a weekly list of savings and sales from your specified store. For example, I have signed up to receive my list for the closest Publix to my house. The site will each week, show an updated list of all the sales in the store. Here's the catch though, you have to still clip coupons. Basically, the site will tell you when to use your coupons you clip, along with the advertised sales in the store. I clip coupons anyhow, so this is not a big deal for me. So, with the advertised sales and coupons, you spend next to nothing, and get a lot! The coupons will always come from your local Sunday paper. The site is smart enough to know which sales will be happening in what stores, and what coupons will appear in each Sunday newspaper. Amazing, right?

Look how much I saved my first week! $49.66!!! And, over time, I will only spend less, and save more.

Please see the website for more details. You can try the site for 4 weeks for $1.00. After that, it is $10.00 for every 8 weeks, per store.

If you sign up, use my email address as a referral - jen_ross@earthlink.net.

Update from Winston

Hello beloved Blog Readers,

I have stolen mom's computer to say Hi! First of all, isn't this picture just the cutest thing ever? I love to sleep, and I always look like an angel, right?!?!

Really, I have been wanting to introduce you to my friends for some time now. Here is a picture of me and Beavertown. As you can see, he's an actual beaver. Yep, he is. I have several other friends just like Beavertown. Beavertown was given to me this past Christmas by my grandma and grandpa from Orlando. They shower me with new friends every time I see them! What would I ever do without them?

My first friend I made was Mean Horsey. You guessed right again! He's a horse. He was given to me by mommy and daddy for Christmas one year. Mean Horsey and I have played a bit too hard though, and he's in the hospital. Dad needs to surgically put him back together. I can't wait to see him again though!

My next furry friend is named Sneaky Squirrel. He was brought home one day by mom and dad too. In Florida, there were squirrels everywhere, and I was always trying to catch one in the backyard. Mom and Dad thought it would be fun one day to lure me to Sneaky Squirrel by tying a string on him and hiding. Of course, I did not fall for this! I'm much too smart. Anyhow, that's how he got his name.

Bunny Hunter is another friend of mine. He's the smallest one, but oh so cute! He was also given to me by my grandma and grandpa from Orlando. They must really know how much I cherish my friends. When we lived in the apartment complex, before our house was done, I was always chasing bunnies! They were everywhere! So, my friend the bunny, is called Bunny Hunter, when it really should be my name. But, whatev's.

Oh, and by the way, Mean Horsey really isn't mean. Mom thought it would be funny one morning to make him mean, and that's how he got his name. How cruel!

So, there ya go! If you ever feel like buying me a present, I'm always up for a new furry friend. I really do love them, and play with them all the time. I sleep with them too.

Ok, I need to go. Mom's going to catch me on her laptop, and probably be ticked! Yikes!!!

Bye for now,

Winston Labradoodle Ross

New Year's Day Recipe

A Southern Recipe for Prosperity

(with this economy, we need it!)

In the South, on New Year's Day, the traditional menu includes black-eyed peas, ham, collard greens, and corn bread. The motto is "eat poor on New Year's Day, and eat fat for the rest of the year!" The greens represent the green of money, while the black-eyed peas bring wealth because they represent coins.

This is the soup I made for dinner on New Year's Day. The recipe is a little late coming, but it's not like you'll make it any time soon ;-)

Ham & Black-Eyed Pea Soup with Greens

In a large saucepan, heat and cook, until tender:

1/4 cup olive oil

4 medium onions chopped

5 garlic cloves chopped

Add:

2 pounds collard greens, stems removed, and chopped

8 cups chicken broth

8 cups water

1 cup of chopped ham

Simmer until greens are tender, about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, rinse and drain:

4 16 oz. cans of black-eyed peas (you can mash some, to thicken the soup)

Add to the soup mixture, along with 4 16oz. cans of diced tomatoes.

Simmer 5 more minutes, and season with salt and pepper.

Serve with cornbread.

Serves 8 people

Enjoy!

It's a BOY!

Well, if it isn't too obvious to you, you guessed it! We're having a

BOY!

We are so thrilled, and had very strong feelings that our little munchkin would be a boy. His name is Robert Jeffrey Ross III, and will go by Bobby. We are already so much in love with him, and we cannot wait to meet and hold the little guy.

Sure looks like a boy, doesn't it?

Here's a picture of his spine! It's amazing how clear the sonogram was!

This is my favorite picture. You could see his cute little nose even better in person, and it looked just like his daddy's.

Out with the Old, in with the New

Happy New Year Family and Friends!

2009 is going to be a life-changing year for Bob and I. As most of you know, we will welcome our first child in June. As we were waiting for midnight last night, we couldn't help but giggle over this. I am so blessed in so many ways, and I know that Bob is going to be an amazing father. How could he not be? He's an amazing husband!

We had a very nice New Year's, considering I am pregnant. We went to the resort for dinner with some friends from the neighborhood. Afterwards, we stopped by our neighbor's house across the street for a party. It was great to meet so many new people last night! I love this neighborhood. Everyone is so nice, and social. I think people live in Ross Bridge to have that social connection with their neighbors.

Today is going to be a low-key day. I have a few things I want to do, but for the most part, it will be spent watching football and eating. I am planning on cooking the traditional New Year's Day meal of black-eyed peas, ham, cornbread, and collard greens. Normally, we would have gone to my Mom and Dad's for this feast, but this year, it's my turn to cook! I'm very excited! Bob and I will be starting so many traditions this year, with being on our own here in Birmingham, and of course, with becoming parents.

2009 is going to be a GREAT year!