Thanks Pregnancy!

Well, last night makes the SECOND time in this pregnancy that I have left my city water running, all night long, not knowing it! I even asked myself before I went to bed last night "Did I turn that front sprinkler off?" and I remember myself answering myself "Yes, I did when Ryan dropped Dustin off to spend the night!"

Ha! Low and behold-- I open the front door this morning to a monstrous pool of water in the street and to find my sprinkler still going..... WHY BRITTANY, WHY????? Do you think the city would excuse my water bill from being stupid and absent minded? It just makes me so mad because I now know what kind of water bill to expect. It's going to be atrocious! I already had been watering every morning and evening during the "cooler" hours, plus filled up Jaylee's 1,000 gallon pool--- so now my bill is REALLY going to be out the wazoo! Wonderful!

So, my day hasn't started out too grand today! Hoping it gets better!

Also- Happy 7th Birthday to my one and only nephew- Dustin Trent Cottingham! We love you Dustin! :)

Today....

Well I trekked to Wichita Falls today for a workshop. I have to attend two this summer and I will be finished as of tomorrow! Thank the Lord! There is nothing I hate more than sitting through a useless workshop, wasting my time! So, thankfully I only have to go to 2 of them, and all will be complete! The highlight of my day was getting to have lunch with my sister, kid free! We hadn't had lunch together in forever! What was even funnier is when we both got out of our separate cars, and we both had the SAME thing on! Khaki shorts and a black blouse! To make things even funnier, I was telling our middle sister about it, and she too is wearing the same attire as well today! Too weird, yet funny, to say the least!!!

Jentri must be getting cramped for space or must be getting excited to meet us because it's been a day full of "practice contractions" or the correct term is Braxton Hicks! Too bad they aren't the real thing and I can get more time out of maternity leave! Oh well-- God has a plan and has the exact moment planned for her arrival!

I've been really busy working on my classroom recently! I have ordered all my new decorations for the year and have completed 1/2 of my maternity lesson plans! Yay me! Most teachers don't re-do their classrooms year to year, but I have to. It's something that I always said I would do, and I LOVE doing it! It used to bore me year after year walking into a high school classroom and not ONE thing would have been moved/changed/rearranged from the previous year! So, I always told myself that when I became a teacher, I would always start out the year new and fresh! Now I have become more relaxed in not changing out my bulletin boards periodically throughout the year. But you can always bet that there will be something new and vibrant in my room to start out the new year! So--- I am anxious to get all my new things put up and check this big task off of my to do list before Jentri's arrival!

Anyways- I hope you all have a very blessed week! Jaylee and I will be back off to Canadian Thursday afternoon and won't be back for 2 1/2 weeks--God willing nothing happens before then with this pregnancy! We are hoping to drive onto Colorado for the holiday weekend to see Jeremy's dad on the harvest trail! It shouldn't be too hard of a drive on me, as we will get to stay 3 days, so I think I will be OK!

Just google it!

Well, I endeavored a task that was much harder and more work than I ever anticipated, but it's COMPLETE! I bought Jaylee a small, 2.5 foot pool, with the inflatable ring around the top with the pump attached to the side. The directions said that installation time should be 10-30 minutes. I don't know what Guinness World Record book they found that person who did it that fast in, but it took me more along 1 hour to get it assembled, the ring pumped manually, with an air pump, before I even attempted to start filling! All in all, it did get finished, and I did it all by myself. I was cussing my dear hubby a few times, but then realized that if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be able to provide my daughter this luxury, so I better keep my cussing to myself!

Anyways, as it was filling up, I was trying to figure out, how in the world I was going to get chlorine in this pool. I didn't buy chlorine as my mother in law had a big container in her garage--- where ALL the treasures are! And she said she had a duck floater too-- but come to find out-- it was broken. So, I was back to square one with what I was going to do for chlorine filtration in my pool. I decided to google "home made chlorine pool floater"... and OH MY Gosh--- the response! I clicked on the 2nd option and in a matter of 5 minutes, I had a FREE, HOME MADE, Chlorine floater in my pool! Whoever thought that a Dasani water bottle and a drill bit would do such a trick- but it works! So- next time when you're in doubt about something--- my advice is-- GOOGLE!

Maybe....

I'm thinking that maybe instead of "This Crazy Life We Live" as my blog title, I should just go for the "It's Always Something" title instead! Just when I get back to Canadian, get things settled in, get adjusted to no a/c in the main part of the house.....Jeremy is sent to Georgia! Yes-- GEORGIA! So, Jaylee and I loaded up this morning, and headed back home! Why sit in a tiny confined, not so cool space when there is tons to be done here preparing for Jentri and working on my classroom for my maternity leave! He won't be back for atleast 3-4 days, so here we are....home again! I'm hoping to get alot accomplished these next two days working in my classroom, and then I have two workshops to attend at the beginning of next week.... YUCK! There is nothing that I hate more than wasting my time sitting through workshops that are pointless and I take very little from them! But, I guess I better just be happy to still have a job with the way the education job economy is going!

As the saying goes.....

Well, my friends, it's just as true today as it was yesterday..... it's ALWAYS something! The electrician showed up this afternoon and delivered the bad news! The motor and compressor both have completely burned up and therefore the entire system is not fixable! So rather than replacing a $200 part like we were hoping.... we now have to replace the entire system...roughly estimated at $1,000 with installation! So.. now to debate over whether to replace it.....or to just look like true trailer trash and just put in our two spare window units that we had in our old trailer. Of course the cheaper thing to do is to put in the window units, but my husband isn't wanting to do that currently! Yet, I am to the point of not caring, I want instant relief, and I don't care if it looks trashy! I also am being part of a tight-wod in knowing we have 2 like new a/c's sitting at home, and not wanting to fork over the money for the new unit! I mean, it can't look any worse than the trailer next door that is 1/4 the size of our trailer and they have a house size water heater hooked up on the OUTSIDE of their trailer with the wires/hoses going through the window! And it has the garage sale price tag of $85.00 written on the side! Classy--- I know!! So I say- whatever works at this point!

It's always something!

Well... if you ever lived in the trailerhood...you know exactly what I mean by "it's always something". And let me tell you- it doesn't matter if you are traveling to and fro with your trailer or living stationary for a certain period of time-- it's always going to be something! Last night, we got back to our home away from home, only to find that not only was the entire trailer park being raded with gnats like crazy, but our main a/c had gone out! LOVELY! Luckily we do have an a/c in our bedroom and it does still work! However, my livingroom/kitchen/Jaylee's room are not going to stay cool! We do have a door on the bathroom that is right next to our bedroom, that has a door, so we were able to shut off that part of the house and keep the cool with us last night! It wasn't bad at all-- we were fighting over covers at 2 this morning b/c it was so cool up there! The only part that was a fiasco was having Jeremy, Jaylee, Myself and Jentri's bump, and Daisy all in a queen size bed! Why that dog couldn't manage to sleep on the floor just for last night is beyond me, but Jeremy saw nothing wrong with it! Jeremy did call the electrician first thing this morning, and hopefully they will get to it sometime today! If not- then it's a night off from cooking for this Momma! (Yay!) Jeremy wanted me to call and complain about being almost 8 months pregnant and having a 2 yr old here, but I decided to refrain myself and stay calm........for now! It's hotter than hell not just to me, but to everyone else who is without an a/c. Now if a few days go by like this I will definitely pull the preggo card on them, but I think I'll just wait it out and see how soon it gets done!

Coming along....

Well, I've been working on and off the past few days getting things ready for Jentri's arrival. No, I don't think by any means this indicates the nesting syndrome that settles in before labor/delivery. This is knowing that I won't be back for a while and my next appt is 5 weeks from now- which then I'll be 36 weeks along-- so I want to be safe than sorry! I did get the swing and the duo stroller assembled as well! The carseat cover has been washed and put back on... now to just grab it on the way to the hospital. I've even began to start packing our bags and Jaylee's bag for the big day! I won't be putting it in my car just yet--- so if the day comes and we don't have our bags--- one of you that come to the hospital, stop by and grab it please!!!! I'm starting to get very excited, yet a little nervous about Jentri's arrival. I can't wait for Jaylee to have that sister... but then I am also nervous about how life will be with two! I know God has everything under control and he won't bring us to it if he can't get us through it!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my hubby! Hard to believe that he's 28, and I've been apart of his birthdays since he was 18! Wow how time has flown by! Jeremy is a great husband and a wonderful Dad. Of course, he drives me up the wall occasionally like every other husband does in America to their wives but I wouldn't trade him for the world! He always knows how to make any situation better! He's always up to something, and no matter the stress in my life, he always knows how to make the load lighter! Nothing is ever dull- thanks to him! God truly blessed me with my complete opposite and I am grateful for that! Jaylee Ray is her Daddy made over, monkey hands and all, and has him wrapped around her little finger so tight! I can only imagine with Jentri to arrive soon how he will handle two little girls and them both having him wrapped around! We love him and pray that God blesses him with many many more birthdays to come!

Today's Random Thoughts......

Well, as OCD as I am you would think that everything was ready and waiting to go for Jentri's arrival, and surprisingly-- it isn't! Of course her bed is up, swing is put together, clothes are in the dresser and the diaper bag is packed, but there is still much more little bitty details that need to be done! Had a doctor's appointment today, and everything is looking good. I'm measuring bigger than what I need to be, but I did the same with Jaylee and she came early so I'm praying, for numerous reasons, that she will come early like Jaylee!

For once in my life, I am actually PROUD to say that I SAVED something and am now needing it to use AGAIN. I never, ever thought I'd say something like this. I bought Jentri's letters for her name on the wall above her bed, and since the nursery is the exact same as it was for Jaylee, the letter color/ribbons will be the same. Last year when we moved Jaylee to her big girl room, we just re-painted her letters and I saved the bows that my mom had made off of her Red letters. So, when I went to purchase Jentri's letters today, I didn't need to purchase the ribbons-- I had SAVED Jaylee's and there are the same amount of letters in both girls names so I can re-use them! So for once, ONCE JUDY, I saved something and now have a reason to re-use it! I know you will be proud!

I also treated myself to a pedicure and oh my-- was it worth every single penny! I just about lost it though, when the lady brought out, I kid you not, a cheese grater (one with the tiny holes) and worked it all over the bottom of my feet. Usually they use the small handheld foot shaver for my feet and their roughness, but NOT today! Oh well- whatever works to make these feet feel better I guess!

I also bought my PJ's to wear at the hospital. Yes mother, I NEEDED these as I don't have any SUMMER Pj's that button up the front for nursing purposes. The set I used for Jaylee were long sleeved and pants, so that won't cut it in 110 degree August heat! I guess now all that I lack is getting that bag packed for the hospital and put in my car just in case something happens while we are in Canadian and we aren't here to grab it and go!

So, all in all it was a very good, yet HOT day today! Jentri's things are slowly coming together! I finally bought her baby book today--- so proud of myself-- just will be even prouder if I can keep up with #2 like I did with Jaylee AND take pictures of her as well! That's a huge goal of mine as I myself came at a not so very good time in life and my baby pics are very limited as are details of my baby years!

Heaven is for Real

Yes, it's true my friends- Heaven is really, for REAL! If you don't believe me-- you must read this book. Lots of you already have and have encouraged me to read this, and I am very glad that I did. Wow, I can honestly say that every wondering thought I ever had about heaven- has now been answered....well almost. I still wonder if baptists and catholics will be seperated as society has once portrayed, but I guess I can wait until I get there to find out.

The one thing that really boggled my mind was that Colton (the little boy telling the story) made the statement that "nobody is old in heaven". He met his "pop" there, but had never known Pop while he was alive. Upon going through pictures with his Dad, he never recognized Pop in his older years, but once they showed Colton a picture of Pop in his prime, he recognized him dead on. Oh my gosh- what is my Gran and Grandpa, my Paw, and Papa Ray going to look like?! I never knew these during their prime, and all 4 of them wore glasses, and Colton's statement was that "Nobody is old and Nobody wears glasses". I have such an excitement and anticipation now to get to Heaven just to see what my grandparents look like! I almost feel, with my OCD, that I may do some research NOW and find pictures of them in their prime so I can be "prepared" as to what they will look like. Because, everyone knows that those with OCD-- do not like to be unprepared! Ha!

Another question that I have always wondered about heaven is "Can they REALLY see what is going on down here on Earth?" and my question was answered. I still don't believe that they can see everything. I feel that God only lets them see what he wants them to see. I feel that heaven is a place for glorious thoughts and happenings and I don't think God wants them to see us sinning here on Earth or being a failure at something. I feel that would only sadden them, and the bible says that there is no sorrow in heaven.

Those that haven't read the book probably are wondering, "why are you believing a 4 year old?" and I asked myself that questions numerous times throughout the book. However, until the part in the book where he finally saw a picture of Jesus as another girl had drawn because of her short visit to heaven, is when I finally believed this entire story. If this little boy's story wasn't true, I don't think his and her stories/visions would have matched up like they had.

So, overall- if you haven't read this book- you MUST! If you have any doubts or unanswered thoughts/questions about whether or not heaven is for real-- then you need to read this book! It took me one day to read it-- it is a really quick read! Those of you that encouraged me to read it- thank you!

It's been a while....

Well..... it's been several days since I have blogged, not because I haven't wanted to, trust me- I have! But, our laptop that we just received at Christmas, the power cord went out unexpectedly, so luckily with it under warranty still, I've been waiting on the company to mail me the new one! So finally, this evening, I got the new one! I am so excited to be back on the internet. Of course I had my phone to facebook/email but it's just not the same!

Summer so far is going great! Jaylee and I are LOVING it! We have slept in until 9 or 9:30 every morning this week, relaxed around the house, took 1-2 hour naps, cooked supper for Daddy....and enjoyed the evenings with him! This week has been probably the worst week of my pregnancy thus far. I haven't complained hardly any of this pregnancy, but it's just been an umcomfortable week. I feel that baby Jentri is now breech as all her kicks are coming out the side and it just feels like she can't get comfortable in there! I don't remember Jaylee ever being sideways..... so this is new to me! I'm sure not being on my feet all day teaching and now sitting lot has something to do with it! Maybe I could go shopping more...that requires walking and standing....we'll see if Jeremy goes for it! Any bets!?

I did finish my first book this week, Heaven Is For Real. My thoughts are coming......

Our Weekend Getaway!

So, after the long drive to Houston and then onto Galveston we finally made it! We had such a great time, but I think Jaylee had a total blast!!! I really thought the beach would intimidate her and be scary for her-- boy was I ever wrong! She was a brave little girl! Every time a wave would knock her down- she was ready to get back up for more! She loved the waves, the sand, the birds that would fly around close to her.....it was such a fun time for her! I had more fun watching her than enjoying the beach myself. I remember as a child that my mom would always sit back and watch us do things, and I never understood why she was just sitting there, not having fun with us. However, I get it now. The feeling I get when I see Jaylee having a fun time and enjoying herself is my fun now. I could have taken pictures all day/night of her and her Daddy enjoying the sand and water! We did eat at Landry's while at Galveston and it was by far complete deliciousness! We totally splurged with an appetizer of grilled shrimp that had Monterrey jack cheese and bacon wrapped around and served on a bed of onion strings......oh my...it was amazing! Jaylee and I shared a bowl of shrimp alfredo, mainly because I wasn't too hungry after that appetizer and she loves alfredo noodles. We then topped off the meal with a bananas foster dessert that was really good/ different. We very rarely ever treat ourselves to a full course meal, but it was nice for a change!

After enjoying our meal at Landry's we headed off to Houston/Katy to Uncle Don and Aunt Christi's house. It's always a fun time when the Ray's get together! Jaylee was a fish the entire time at their house, she saw from 3 that afternoon until 9 that night.....she really enjoyed their dog Willie getting in the pool with her and playing ball! Uncle Don prepared a huge feast that night for us all and then as well the following morning for breakfast!! We then were on the road back to come home!

Yesterday, was a day of Goodbye's for Jeremy's family. Jordan left for his new job in Monohans..... Justin went back to Frederick, Jeremy and I came back to Canadian, and Judy left this morning for a trip to Arizona...... talk about a spread out family currently! I swear God is really trying to teach me something throughout this time of my Mom being far away, and now Jeremy's family being all strung out in different directions. I know there is a reason he has put all of us in different locations, I just have yet to figure out the true purpose/meaning of it all.

Galveston, Oh Galveston!

Today, we are leaving on a mini-vacation for Galveston! Even though it's not the prettiest beach in America, I think it will satistfy my recent craving for sand, water, and sun! What's the use in paying to go to a beautiful beach when you have a belly the size of a whale on you!!? So.... check back later for pics of Jaylee playing on the beach!