Que Pasa (What's UP)?

I guess after two weeks, its time for an update. Although I guess it has technically been over 3 since I updated on anything. So let's get into it.

Little Bean's birthday party was awesome. She had a great time, and had quite a few friends show up. Of course she got showered with some great gifts, like play dough, Princess toys, art supplies, and much more. Not surprisingly, she loves it when her birthday rolls around, and still thinks every box that shows up on our front door is for her.

The week after her birthday she and I went and got our birthday pictures taken (we are only 9 days apart). Here are a few shots from the session.

They are going to send us a CD with the photos retouched, and I am hoping they fix the fact that the colors seem so faded and washed out. If not, maybe I will make them retake the photos.

There was one picture from the session that made me cry, and it took me a few minutes to compose myself enough to be able to speak:

I have waited a long time for this picture, and I have gone through a lot to get to it. Making my little girl a big sister has been one of the primary focuses of my life since she was born. To finally see this picture was a very emotional moment for me. We took this picture along with a couple of others and had them make a compilation that I will frame for the baby's room.

Speaking of the baby, I am 27 weeks tomorrow. I can't believe it. I wish I could say that this pregnancy has been all sunshine and roses, but I am going to admit, I have been pretty stinking miserable, despite my efforts to ignore everything unpleasant and enjoy being pregnant. I definitely try to focus on the things I love, like fetal movement, but some most days I am just plain miserable.

My reflux is out of control, and the only thing that helps is to not eat, which oddly enough, exacerbates the heartburn. Zantac and Tums don't help anymore. I can't eat after 5:00 p.m. or else I end up throwing it up before bed so I don't wake up choking on it all night long. Even water gives me reflux! Its ridiculous.

My hips ache so much with this pregnancy, and its constant enough that it has started to affect my morale. I've had a couple of days where everything makes me cry because of the constant pain and discomfort in my hips.

I'm going to see my doctor tomorrow because I think I might have pregnancy-induced asthma. I will have daily bouts where I just cannot breathe. I've had to walk out of meetings at work because I don't want to sit there and pant for air in front of everyone. These bouts will last anywhere from an hour and a half to hours on end. I've noticed that at some points even my nail beds turn purple. Nothing I do helps. I just can't breathe. It could be allergy related, but the allergy pills I've been taking aren't helping at all. All I know is something has to give. I have to be able to breathe.

I am a huge klutz; I drop everything, which is super annoying when you can't simply bend over and pick it up. Retrieving dropped items takes a lot of orchestration and then readjustment of clothing when you're done. Along those same lines, my pregnancy brain is BAD. Really, really bad. I swear I'm lucky I remember my name. I almost left the house without putting in my contacts one day.

I just don't remember my first pregnancy being this miserable. One thing I do remember and that is plaguing me enough this time too that it will be brought up tomorrow is the contractions have set in. They have gotten to the point where they are so hard and long that if I am walking when they hit, I have to stop and wait for them to let up. I have even gotten really dizzy with a few of them the last couple days.

I don't mean to complain, but honestly, I am ready to meet this baby and be done being pregnant. Its not as fun as I remembered it last time. I just want to get my Sweet Pea here so I can hold her and have my complete family.

In other, happier news, my husband bought me a Nea.to vacuum for my birthday. It is a rival to the Room.ba, only it is the better vacuum (believe me, I did my homework before picking one). I seriously LOVE that my house gets vacuumed every day and I never have to do it again. As if that wasn't enough, it has made keeping the house clean an easier. Keeping everything off the floors is half the battle to a clean house. While you pick up stuff off the floors and put it away, you just grab everything around it and put it all away too. Our house has been constantly clean since our Nea.to came home, which is awesome because we've had a lot of surprise company lately.

Other semi-noteworthy news:

• I am interviewing candidates for my temporary replacement starting next week, which should be interesting. I've never interviewed anyone before. I've got two candidates scheduled for a phone screen, and one scheduled for an in-person interview. I am really excited to meet the latter because I think he could be what I'm looking for in my temp.
• I joined Pintrest because my best friend kept telling me about all of these great cleaning ideas she found on there. The jury is still out as to whether I like it or not. I've tried a couple things I read, but want to try a few more.
• We got a water softener last week, which is what inspired the cleaning spree. We have 30 days to evaluate it, and I want to give it a fair shake before saying yes or no to purchasing it. I grew up with soft water for 25 years, so I know I like it. I just want to make sure Hubs likes it, and that it really is worth the expense.

I think that's a good catch-up for now. Hopefully I won't go as long between updates, but I make no promises. ;)