Priorities...

As a true Kentucky girl, I will be the first to admit that when it came to picking a college my senior year of high school, the choice was easy. I mean, I had literally grown up on my daddy's lap watching UK basketball. The opportunity to actually attend a game, for only $5 was a dream come true! I literally remember in 1998 during the NCAA tournament, my dad waking me up every morning for school and the first thing out of my mouth was "Did we win last night!?" During my Freshman year at UK I NEVER missed one home game. This meant on several occasions staying up until well past midnight, waiting in Memorial Coliseum for my lottery number to be called...I was die hard. Stupid Billy G took that away from me...I could barely stand to watch a game because I loathed him so much...But now, with Coach Cal, I can feel the passion starting to burn again. I'm really REALLY looking forward to watching real Kentucky Basketball again.

Which leads me to this problem...

When I first realized I was due in March, I knew that it would make for a hectic time... I mean, in my own immediate family, my nephew Andrew's birthday is March 8, my brother-in-law Rick's birthday is March 17th (also St. Patrick's Day), my parent's anniversary is March 20th, my nephew Isaac's birthday is March 31st, my sister Erica is due to have her 4th baby on March 27th...in extended family, my aunt's sister-in-law is due March 21st, I have a cousin, Nina, who is also having a baby sometime in march....So needless to say, it's inevitable that my baby will come at a most inconvenient time. However, today, I realized the WORST CASE SCENARIO!

The SEC tournament is in NASHVILLE this year, March 11-14th. I would almost give a Kidney to be there in person, but I will settle for watching it on TV! Then, as if that is not enough...The NCAA tournament starts on March 15th!!! I mean seriously!? This is a sick sick joke...I'm essentially being forced to choose between witnessing the rebirth of my beloved Wildcats OR the birth of my own child!? Not cool.

This can only have one solution...starting Valentine's day, yes a month before my due date, I will be taking all the necessary measures to get this baby out before March 11th. There. Problem solved. If for some reason this doesn't work, then I will have to force myself to hold her in at least until someone else is playing, and have her out before the Cats come back on!

Oh dear...I have my work cut out for me...Don't worry John and Dad, I have it under control!

Random Ramblings

Last night I came home to my husband listening to Christmas music already...he also has already requested that we decorate no later than Thanksgiving...I love him! Christmas is his favorite time of year, except for maybe football season, and I love that he gets so into it. I believe I can thank his mom for that!

Also, last night, John and I ordered our crib set! It's a little early, but after doing some searching, I found this amazing dealer/store on Ebay, and I just couldn't pass it up! I have to give Phyllis from kiddiesnmore a HUGE shoutout! Seriously, this lady knows what it takes to run a successful business and to keep customers coming back. Her emails and customer service are prompt, intimate, and inviting. She makes you feel so comfortable, and will put together a custom order for you in the blink of an eye. I am so grateful to have found her and her business and will definitely consider doing business with her again. Her store specializes in all kinds of crib sets (which she will bundle together anyway you want and then offer you an amazing price), all kinds of cool toys (dollhouses, kitchens, train tables), and even some bikes. Anyways, you should definitely check out their store, even if just for window shopping!

Lastly, I just want to say how grateful John and I are for all the love and support so many have shown us. We want to especially thank our families for their support and excitement during this special time in our lives. We love each of them and only wish they could be around more to share this time with. I also want to say how grateful I am that so far, other than some very minor discomforts and this recent cold, things have been easy and enjoyable. I say all the time, that I have absolutely no room to complain about anything when it comes to being pregnant, and this week that has only been even more evident as I have witnessed a couple of my dear friends, one in particular, and my sister, Erica, struggle as their body has set out to fight against them as they go throughout pregnancy. I can only imagine how hard it must be to really feel special at this time and enjoy the moment when all you really feel like is being miserable. They know who they are, and I want to tell them I love them and I pray everyday that it will subside and they can really enjoy this little journey for the second (or fourth) time!

Happy Birthday John!!!!

Today is John's 27th birthday! And in honor of this momentous occasion I thought I would share 27 interesting facts about my SUPER husband.

27 Things you may or may not know about John:

1) When I first met him, he introduced himself as JC, which is what most of his friends refer to him as; after we started dating I decided to start calling him John; However, anyone on his side of the family refers to him as Michael.

2.) One of his favorite things to eat, hands down, is Sushi.

3.) He is a huge STEELERS fan...and don't you dare call him a bandwagoner! He has loved them since he was a child!

4.) He eats, sleeps, and breathes sports...If he has free time at home, he is either on ESPN.com or watching ESPN on tv.

5.) He LOVES cooking and trying new things in the Kitchen, and he has a secret obsession for Alton Brown and Good Eats.

6.) He NEVER takes good pictures by himself...every picture we have of him since being married is either him being goofy, him with another person, or him with a baby...hence the picture above. *(I love my dad!)

7.) He loves reading....just not textbooks.

8.) He is a walking book of random knowledge, and would be a fantastic contestant on JEOPARDY.

9.) He is the 2nd oldest of 7 kids.

10.) He LOVES kids and babies...I really mean LOVES...if you need a babysitter, call him!

11.) He is incredibly smart...since we have been married, he has taken at least 15 credits a semester, and spent more time on the Dean's list than off of it.

12.) His dream job would be to become a Team Doctor for the Steelers, but he will settle for just graduating medical school!

13.) He served his mission in Salt Lake City, Utah...Spanish speaking...and he still speaks Spanish fluently.

14.) He drives a beat up car that is older than his wife, and never complains about it...

15.) He loves playing sports, especially Golf, Football, and Softball.

16.) His favorite thing to wear is jeans, a t-shirt, tennis shoes, a hoodie, and a baseball cap.

17.) He grew up in Fresno, California.

18.) He's really bad about keeping in touch and other than to me, rarely talks on the phone.

19.) His favorite holiday is Christmas...in fact, as soon as Halloween is over, he wants to turn on the Christmas music and start decorating the house.

20.) Until he married me, he had NEVER ridden on a riding lawnmower.

21.) He has never seen the movies Dirty Dancing or Fried Green Tomatoes....which I personally think is a sin.

22.) He LOVES serving in the Young Men and working with the Scouts...as Priesthood is just a little too serious for him...

23.) He LOVES having a dog, and would be ecstatic with about 3 more.

24.) He is SO excited to be having a baby, and especially a little girl...he can't wait to have his very own Daddy's Little Girl.

25.) He HATES shopping, but LOVES getting new things.

26.) He could probably eat his weight in Ice Cream.

27.) His favorite drinks are anything lemonade and chocolate milk.


John is really one of the most fun and exciting people I have ever known. I am so glad that he is my husband and best friend. I love him to death, and wouldn't know what to do without him by my side. Happy Birthday Sexypants!!!

Catching Up

There was a time when my dad's side of the family was really close, and we ALL used to get together on a pretty regular basis. But now since my grandparents have passed, and all of the grandkids are grown and have gone in different directions I'm not nearly as close to my cousins as I used to be. I always am hopeful and looking for opportunities to re-connect as much as possible, and over the last couple of months, I have had the opportunity to really get close to my cousin Destiny. Growing up, I always admired her and thought she was beautiful and fun. She's a few years older, so eventually she went away to college, got married, had kids, and I really hadn't gotten to see much of her, but over this past summer, alot of things have happened that have allowed her and I to get to see each other more often, and I am so grateful. I have especially enjoyed getting to know her little boys, Preston and Parker. She has called me on a few occasions to come over and watch them, and together we have so much fun!

Parker

Preston

John and I also got to go to Preston and Parker's Halloween Birthday Party last weekend and catch up with even more family. I got to see my cousin Jenny, her husband Jeff, and their baby Jacob. I got to see my fabulous Aunt Lou, and introduce her to John. And I got to see my cousin Summer. The lot of us closed the party down talking and laughing about family stories and the good times. John really enjoys getting to meet and spend time with my LARGE family. He loves to sit back and just observe when we get together and get to talking about what it is to grow up a Spurlock. And I always LOVE the opportunity to get to travel back to my roots and reminesce!
Anyways...other than catching up with family, John and I have gotten to spend alot of time talking and planning for the future. I'm definitely going to try and return to school next summer after the baby is born, and John has decided to hold off a year on applying to Medical School. He took the MCAT pretty late, and has been rushed to get his applications completed. He feels like he is not presenting his best self in all the rush, and would rather use this next year to really refine his applications and maybe even pad them a little more with some more extensive classes and experience. Although he is applying to several schools, he has informed me of his intense desire to stay here and attend UK if at all possible. He really likes the school and has grown to really love Lexington and being around so many friends and family. He has grown to feel really established and at home here. So, I just sit back and consider myself lucky that he feels this way without me even having to twist his arm or anything. In the end, I think the extra year will be really good for us as a family as well.

In closing...here is the halfway mark belly picture that so many people have requested...*(you are NOT getting one of my bare belly...so don't ask!) Also, I don't have one of before I got pregnant to compare it with...I kind of consider this a good thing though...no pressure after I have the baby...Anyways, enjoy and have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Getting Excited for Baby!

When I found out we were having a girl, I immediately thought, "Oh no...never ending PINK!" It's not that I don't like pink...It was one of my wedding colors. It just seems that when you look for anything baby girl, Pink is the standard. There are a few purples and an occasional red, yellow, or green, but 95% of all things Baby Girl are pink. As a result, since finding out we are having a girl, I have had this weird obsession with finding cute girl things that aren't pink. See there are so many cute Pink things, that I just figure we will automatically end up with alot if it, so if I see something cute that's not pink, I am drawn to it. Needless to say, I spent the weekend browsing MILLIONS of crib bedding sets online from every retailer imaginable. I narrowed it down to three, and then John came in and gave the deciding vote. I absolutely LOVE it, and I can't wait to see our little girl snuggled amongst it all!

My Papaw

Today would have been my Papaw's 82nd birthday. It's hard to believe that it's only been two years since he passes, because there are times when it feels like forever. My other grandparents died when I was young or, in the case of my mom's dad, not even born yet. My Papaw was my hero. He let us do whatever we wanted! Some of my favorite memories are sweeping the hayloft, riding laps around the house in Mamaw's wheelchair, eating as much junk and pop we wanted, and sitting on his bed late at night listening to him tell stories about him and Mamaw. He was so proud of me and the decisions I had made. He used to tell me how wonderful John was, how proud he was that I was becoming a nurse, and how he couldn't wait to see me be a mom.

I always promised him that once I graduated nursing school, I would always take care of him whenever he needed it. Sometimes, he would randomly call me just to ask questions about his health, he believed in me, and trusted me. I have never felt so helpless in my life than the moment I got the phone call that he had had a stroke and I was thousands of miles away in Utah. There are still times I feel guilty that I wasn't there to take care of him...

It was always important to me to get his approval on everything...The first trip John made to Kentucky, I loaded him up and took him to Papaw's...When I got accepted to UK for my freshman year, I called Papaw...I always made sure he knew what was going on in my life, and that there was always an open line of communication. Sometimes, it makes me sad to think that he isn't here to talk to now, that I can't get his wisdom on everything anymore. Sometimes, it makes me sad to think that I won't be able to drop everything and drive to his house so he can meet my new little one and bounce her on his knee...he always had an extra soft spot for the girls in his life. But deep down, I know that he is doing that right now...He has my little girl right now, and he is preparing her to come to me.

I am grateful to my Papaw for teaching my dad how to be a loving and devoted Grandfather, and I know that my little girl will get to see glimpses of Papaw through him. But most of all, I am grateful that my Papaw was faithful in the Gospel and that he set the path for my family to follow. I know that one day, I will get to see him again, and that we will be together for eternity. I love and miss him every day. Happy Birthday Papaw!

The Results Are In!

The Drano test was determined to be inconclusive...I think we were so engrossed in the fun science experiment, that both of us forgot to even really pay attention to the timing and color changing. We decided that we would perform it again after the ultrasound to really test its accuracy. I have some pictures, but I'm sure you don't want to see my urine in the midst of a crazy chemical reaction...just take comfort in knowing that we performed the test outside, promptly hosed everything down, and threw the containers away so that no one would have to chance drinking out of the pee cup!

Moving on...Our gender ultrasound was today. John and I talked back and forth for a good hour last night about boy vs. girl and if either of us had a real preference or real strong feeling as to what it was. As I stated a couple of days ago, John was indifferent, and was just excited to finally give our little baby an identity. I, on the other hand, was really wanting a boy, and actually had convinced myself that that is what it was. I have even done alot of window shopping for boy stuff. There has been this one outfit in particular, at Sears, that has been on my mind nonstop since I first found out I was pregnant. It has seriously been on the clearance rack for 4 1/2 months and no one has bought it! So before we went to bed last night, I made sure and informed John that as soon as the appointment was over, I was going to head to the mall and buy this adorable outfit that was destined for our little guy since no one else had purchased it....

Anyways...On to the ACTUAL RESULTS!!!

Our little one was being a little camera shy today, so we only really got two good pictures...

Here's a nice little profile...

And here's the money shot...This can be referred to as the "plain hamburger" view. See it? Bun, meat, bun...nothing else sticking out. Plain hamburger can only mean one thing...It's a GIRL!!!

John and I both are very excited and surprised! I'm a little apprehensive to raise a potential Erica or Erin, or even a mix of the two (a.k.a ELIZA)...but nonetheless very excited! On the bright side:I don't have to worry about getting a Daughter-in-Law down the road!

Anyways...I still made my trip to Sears after the appointment. And I still bought the little boy outfit...it was marked down from $37 to $9! It's seersucker! And clearly no one else was going to buy it... ;)But I also managed to snag some adorable girl outfits too! They were marked down from $25 to $5 a piece, so I HAD to get more than one! And I'm pretty excited that they aren't all pink! There are 3 little dresses with matching bloomers, a little shirt with matching skirt, and a little bathing suit cover-up. All that, plus the boy outfit (I'm sure there will be a need for it eventually!), for less than $40!!!

We are so excited for our little girl, and we are hoping that tomorrow morning will bring news of another little girl!!! *(That's when Erica finds out!)