Dearest Snoogle...

Oh Dear Snoogle,

What would I do without you? You wrap around all of my extra and expanding body parts just as I need you to. You never complain. You never disappoint. You, my new best friend, are just there to support me through my now interesting nights of sleep. I get up multiple times during the night just to pee...and who's there waiting for me when I return? You.

I'm sorry my husband calls you the "Electric Fence". I don't think you deserve that title. Truth be told, when I crawl out of bed in the morning...he cuddles with you, too!



Thank you for giving me the restful sleep that I need as I **still crossing fingers** breeze through this last stretch of pregnancy. You're the best friend a sleepy pregnant lady could have.

Sincerely yours,
Jenni

Houses for sale...

There's something so exciting about buying a new house. Yes, we've done it before...but this time feels more real. Eric and I are on a search for our family's dream home in Waukee, Iowa.

Last year around this time we were just getting settled into our new lives in West Des Moines. I landed the perfect 1st year teaching job on the South side of Des moines; Eric transferred to a lending position at a bank instead of a credit union, and life was great! We had no idea where the next year would take us. We planned on renting our fabulous apartment - equipped with vaulted ceilings, dual walk-in closets, and two bathrooms - for another year. It was as close to home as it was going to get for awhile. We didn't plan on purchasing a house until we got to know the area better and figured out where we wanted to plant ourselves and raise a family.

Well, a year later, I've landed yet another amazing teaching position - this time in a very close-knit/family friendly school district and town, Eric's been promoted to Branch Manager, and we have our first little one on the way. My how a year can change things! We are now looking to 'settle down' and buy a house in the coming months. Thanks to my perfect teaching job...we know we want to do so in Waukee.

Each day I get email updates on homes available for purchase. Eric does research to find all of our "must haves" in our dream home. And, on the occasional Sunday we'll roam through some homes in nearby Waukee neighborhoods. It's our little get-out-of-the-house adventure together.

This time our search is so different. We can afford so much more than before...in fact more than double our first home! It's amazing what two incomes will do to a household budget! :) We know we need at least three bedrooms, at least two bathrooms, and we'd prefer a two-story home this time around. The best part: all of those options are so attainable, and usually are boasted in brand new or nearly new homes!

One thing that stands out to me in Waukee is the family-friendly atmosphere. Drive through any cookie-cutter newly developed housing complex (my favorites!) and you'll see play sets, families out throwing the football around, and lots of bikes. I also noticed signs that say "Please drive slowly we love our children". I love them. They just make it the perfect place for us to start our new family.

So, here's to our house hunt! Wish us luck...

Waukee, here we come!

Growing up...

As I am sitting on an uncomfortable bar stool with no back, watching friends drink the night away, I wonder...is a night out on the town ever going to be the same?

One of my best friends is getting married in a month and a half. We celebrated her bridal shower and bachelorette party this weekend...which ended as a bar hop on Main St. Cedar Falls. I was a trooper! I wouldn't have missed it for the world. I didn't even let the 7 month pregnant belly I was sporting ruin my fun! And, it was a great time!

However, I realized a lot in my life has changed. As I drove through the streets of Cedar Falls...I pondered. Oh, the days of dorm life and sweat pants to class are over. The days when I thought I was so grown up (I was taking 15 hours of class and working about 15, that's being an adult, right?) WRONG! As we passed a couple of girls walking to the bars on the hill it hit me - mini skirts and tank tops in the cold are a thing of the past. I've got one foot into adulthood, and the other foot is on it's way into motherhood.

If you ever want more looks and stares while you are out at a bar...sport a pregnant belly :) People move out of their seats so you can sit down. Waitresses constantly refill your ice water. People watch out and make room. Fabulous? NOT! It feels strange to be taken care of - by other people! It doesn't feel right dancing. I held my breath as we walked by smokers. I gave little man "ear muffs" as I heard random swear words. Going out just wasn't the same.

As I look forward to bringing home baby, I also look forward to growing up. I look forward to date nights out with Eric, where we enjoy a few glasses of wine together while gossiping about our bundle of joy. I am excited for weekends at home, in comfy clothes, as we move into our new roles in life - Mom and Dad. I look forward to the simple things - a home cooked meal and a play date with light-up toys and books. And, I look forward to trading in my nights out every weekend to once-in-awhile girls nights out with my best friends.

Ready or not, I'm growing up.

28 Weeks!

How far along: 28 Weeks

Food cravings/aversions this week: I am not really craving too much this week. I still feel like I eat just like normal.

Did I fool you? Ha! Here's just a sampling of my weird cravings...
A little round chocolate cake from Hy-Vee - just for me.
Parmesan Goldfish - the one's in the green bag.
Milky Ways...I've finished an entire refrigerated fun-sized bag.
Sun-dried tomato turkey from the deli.
Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, the original.
Lucky Charms - the cereal saga continues.
Tacos.

And like I said this was just a small sampling...

Changes/feelings: My belly is growing! I haven't really been gaining weight anywhere else but my belly, however, so I'm very thankful for that. Also, Baby Krieger kicks and moves all the time. He's found his way to my rib cage, I'm thinking I can feel his little hiccups, and I'm guessing he has really, really big feet.

I'm feeling very ready. The nursery is ready, and has been ready. I'm even considering putting our Chicco travel system in the trunk...you never know, just in case?! Little man's clothes are freshly washed in baby Dreft, and are organized and ready to go. And, we have enough diapers and wipes for triplets I swear. I'm feeling very comfortable with my kiddos at school and am positive I can leave them in the hands of another teacher...and that teacher will come out alive! :) Benefits of working in such a great district! And, deposit is paid and spot is reserved in my aunt's fabulous in-home daycare - perfectly placed on my way to school! SO, little man...we're READY!

Memorable moment this week: Goodbye second trimester, hello third! Who knew we'd make it this far. And, without any bumps in the road (crossing fingers). I'm so excited for this last stretch of pregnancy. I'm determined to face it with my bubbly, positive attitude! Bring it on, big ol' belly!

Least favorite moment this week: Yesterday was my first truly "uncomfortable" day. I wasn't comfortable sitting...and that's what I did a lot of. I am thankful that I am on my feet all day, otherwise the little man would be squished in my tummy as I'm sitting!

What I am looking forward to: Making it to the finish line...it's getting much closer now! Can't wait to hold and cuddle our little man =)

Count your blessings...

Today I am thankful. For the past few days I've been really struggling with losing my independence. I promised I wouldn't, but there's no real way around it. I can't bend over, I can't seem to find anything to fit over my belly, and I can't walk very fast! UGH! And the worst part: I have to take a break while cleaning...

Plan A: blog of my troubles. Plan B: be thankful for what is going right in my life!

So, I took a break from life and walked around my house. I actually glanced at what was surrounding me. I found signs that said "Life is Good", "Simplify", and "Count Your Blessings", among many other inspirational quotes. Who knew my walls and tables could be so inspiring. It was then that I realized, yes I could complain of my troubles...however I have so many things to be thankful for.

1. My husband. Eric is my soul mate, my role model, and my best friend. He works hard, sometimes too hard, and is always there for everything. He sits by my side at my doctors appointments, even though they have not much to do with him. He runs a bubble bath for me every night - no questions asked. He's already figured out how to get off work for two whole weeks to spend time with baby and Me! I love him :)



2. My friends. I have a fabulous group of friends that come from all of the many stages in my life. Friends from high school, some even earlier than that, friends from college, friends from moving to different places, and friends I've met through teaching. I am SO thankful to be surrounded by so many amazing people. There's never been a time where I needed to call someone to talk - and didn't get an answer or a listening ear. I always have something to look forward to, someone to do dinner with, someone to go shopping, and someone to come visit. If this is you...and you know who you are...thank you :)



3. My career = my dream fulfilled. I wake up everyday excited for a new adventure. I am lucky enough to spend my whole day working with kids...and I get paid for it! It's a tough job, but I love every minute!



4. Baby Krieger. We are so lucky to be blessed with this soon-to-come precious little life. We have been planning and perfecting every detail from our college degrees to our dream careers in preparation for building a family together. We were given the opportunity to start our little family pretty much as soon as we decided we were actually ready! :) I am so excited to give our little man everything we've always dreamed of, and more!

After pouring my heart into all of these things I am thankful for, I quickly realized that there's not enough time in a day to waste it on complaining! So, be thankful for all that you have and have been given, and don't ever forget to count your blessings...

School...

I made it. I've successfully been back-to-school for an entire work week! Whew I'm exhausted...but it's absolutely amazing.

The beginning of this year of teaching was filled with "new" things. A brand new building, in a new district, and I'm teaching a new grade - 8th graders. Although this will be my 2nd year of teaching, all of the "new' things make it feel more like my first. But, I am utterly impressed with all that I've experienced so far. The staff is fabulous. Everyone I meet is positive, helpful, and enthusiastic about teaching and learning. The students are amazing...they will do anything I ask the first time, and I practically could leave them be and they'd still do the work...and do it well! And, the administration has it all together and are always working towards the best of the students! What a change :)

My classroom is filled with storage...and for those of you teachers out there - you know storage is hard to find. I have three entire walls will so many cabinets and drawers that I've lost count. And, I have my own personal storage closet for extra materials :) I have brand new black desks and matching chairs...and there's no engraving of lovely choice words on them...yet! We'll work on keeping them that way. I will no longer have to dust off or listen to the awful sound of my chalkboard, as I have a wonderful new white board.

I'm trying to decide what's harder: starting a new school year almost 7 months pregnant, or coming back to school after a 6 week maternity leave and being mommy to my little man? I'm hoping that it's harder to be pregnant?!

So, here's to hopefully another wonderful year of doing what I love, and getting paid well to do it! My dream was always to become a teacher and a mommy...

"The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams."
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Ready or not...here you come!

Dear Baby Krieger,

Today is August 19, 2010. There is approximately 102 days until your long-awaited arrival. I have this funny feeling time is going to fly by and soon enough you'll be here...

In order to feel prepared for my coming school year, I dedicated (okay and maybe obsessed) over getting your room ready. To date, thanks to my all-day shopping sprees and baby showers, your room is ready. You have an entire drawer filled with dreft-washed cotton footie jammies you can snuggle into on your first few weeks of life. Your little butt will be pampered with your gigantic stock of diapers and wipes piled in your daddy's closet :) Your bedding is washed, cuddly, and ready for a sleepy newborn.



OH, and don't worry, you'll be clean and ready to go...whether we go shopping, hang out with all of the many visitors who will ooodle over you, or if we're just cuddling and spending quality mommy and baby time. Check this out:



I really would like your help on all of the little essentials you might want for our everyday travels, but I did get a head-start on filling your diaper bag. I assumed you'll want a clean and dry butt, some toys to slobber all over, and a pacifier to hold you over in desperate situations. I can't wait for you to give me advice on what else to fill your designer diaper bag with :)



And, even though your tiny little hands won't know what to do with these yet, we have a collection of noisy, light-up, and colorful toys ready for you to play with! I can only imagine how many you'll end up with over the years...but for now I think you have a pretty nice stash!



Oh, and we thought we had your name all picked out. I've been sure of a name since the day I found out I was pregnant. I pictured a little boy and had the perfect name. Well, my mind has changed. Your daddy and I have been writing and crossing out many names and are down to a few. Your dad wrote several names in cursive writing on your changing pad cover to practice what we liked best :) It was really sweet. Instead of just choosing one name, we've come up with a few...and we're going to let you do the deciding. When you join us in this wonderful world, we'll see which name you look like and then choose!

So, sweet baby, keep kicking, wiggling, and moving. You've entertained me during my back-to-school meetings that normally put me to sleep with your kicks that move my crossed arms and your wiggles that make me smile. Keep growing big and strong so you can be the rough-and-tumble little boy I'm preparing for.

I can't tell you everything about being a mom yet, but what I do know is that you have a very loving mommy and daddy who can't wait for you to be here, family and friends who already spoil you, and fabulous little room awaiting you!

I love you already little man :)

Love,
Mom

25 Weeks!

How far along: 25 weeks and 3 whole days!

Food cravings/aversions this week: I'm still hesitant to eat chicken, however, cravings for it have been so terrible that I've given in. Each and every time I give in - SICK! Whoops...maybe I'll learn my lesson one of these days. My cravings are still constantly changing. I could spend hours in Hy-Vee and still not know what sounds good. I'm continuing my cereal-filled diet; I've finished my sixth entire box of cereal - a task I've never accomplished in my life. I am drinking a cream soda as I type this up, and it's scrumptious! We'll see how long this craving lasts...

Changes/feelings: This week I've been working at school. My first official meeting was on Tuesday, and the rest of the week I've been at school and in meetings from 8-4. It's been a change, that's for sure...but I'm definitely ready to be back to work. The first day I was able to work in my room I stayed from about 8 am - 8 pm. Lesson learned. This body is not meant for long hours after a lazy summer filled with pool visits, sweatpants, and afternoon naps. I took it easy the next couple of days by staying at school for just an hour or two, and now I'm feeling pretty much in the swing of things.

Memorable moment this week: My baby showers! I felt so honored and thankful as all of my best friends and family gathered to shower the little one with all of the essentials. It was still surreal to see myself surrounded with pastel colors and baby carriage gift bags. The gifts kept coming and coming, and soon enough the Venza and I were packed and ready to have a baby! Thanks again for all of the gifts everyone!

Least favorite moment this week: This weekend I looked down while watching T.V., and for the very first time I could only see my belly protruding. It was the first moment that I realized: there really is baby in there...growing and slowly but surely running out of room. This might be only one of a few times that I go through these changes in my entire life. How amazing. How am I going to feel for the next few months? And more importantly, where is this little man going to go?! November will be here soon I can tell! :)

What I am looking forward to: Meeting this little man. I can just picture him sitting on my lap...tiny and innocent. I can't wait to begin this next journey in life, and I'm feeling VERY ready!

A combination of the two?

As I flipped through old pictures reminiscing about our 9 years together, I stumbled into a pile of baby pictures. A small piece of our past was captured in this handful of memories. I couldn't help but to think about what this little baby is going to look like.

All summer long I've been creating "To do" and "To buy" lists. I've been obsessing over the perfect paint color, the exact way to organize drawers and cupboards full of bottles, footed pajamas, and boxes of diapers, the overwhelming thought of leaving my classroom of students in another teacher's hands for six weeks. I mostly forget about the miracle that's soon coming into our lives.

When I first glanced at the pictures, I thought, hmmm...so that's what we looked like as babies? I guess I never paid attention to our hair color as little ones. I never thought twice about how big of baby I was; yet how small of a baby Eric was. All I have to say is SORRY BABY K! We apologize for all of the things you might inherit that are not wonderful attributes. For example: I was nearly a 10 pound baby. That's right...10 POUNDS! Oh lord... Your dad: he has long, skinny toes and was born with this scowl on his face that to this day landed him with the nickname "The BIZ". I've boasted a double-chin since the day I arrived on this Earth...and sorry to fill you in, little man, but your daddy has one, too!


A combination of the two of us...a little mini-version of Eric with I'm sure a sprinkling of me - I hope! Well, baby Krieger...there are some good things about your Mommy and Daddy that we hope you inherit...those things just aren't as easy to see. They are built in, and hopefully we can "build" them into you, too.

We're not perfect, little pork chop, but we're sure trying really hard to become the best parents we can be. I hope you have your Dad's eyelashes and my love for learning...among many other things. I hope you love your life, and everything we've worked so hard to have for you. And, again, our apologies for the not-so-goods!

Can't wait for you to join us in this wonderful world of life!

Love you already,
Mommy

23 Weeks!

How far along: 23 Weeks...in one week I will be 6 months preggo!

Food cravings/aversions this week: My crazy cravings change all the time now. I never eat a whole bunch at one sitting, but I can guarantee you I'm eating all the time!

When we were sitting at the Sea Lion show at the St. Louis Zoo a little girl was downing a can of Pringles - Original. I almost snatched them out of her little hands...so I went to the nearest grocery store and bought myself a gigantic can of pringles :) There's still 1/2 a can left...I'm proud.
Ordering at restaurants has become difficult as well. Something sounds good, I order, then I see someone else eating something and I want what they have! It's a bad habit that's been slowly forming. Yesterday, Autumn and I went to lunch. I started with a fried pickle appetizer, followed by chicken wings (I know...why do I even try to eat chicken?) which I ate two bites of, and finished off with a kid's hot dog meal. Who knew?! I really only ate a few bites of each :)

Changes/feelings: I can feel little Baby Krieger kicking and squirming all the time now. The other night in the bath tub, I literally saw my stomach move from one side to the other. I could feel feet on the side of my tummy (they are normally towards the bottom). My bladder got a rest from his soccer-playing antics!

Memorable moment this week: Eric felt his first real kick on the outside of my bump! He always touches and rubs my belly, and talks to the little man on the inside. But, until this week, feeling kicks were unsuccessful. However, he finally felt his first real kick...and boy was it a kick! I even jumped!

Least favorite moment this week: My belly is growing, and growing, and growing. I know. That's what it should be doing, right? WRONG! In my mind, being pregnant means having a cute little baby bump for the whole 9 months...not one that keeps growing and growing. How am I ever going to find teacher clothes for this gigantic mound that I get to see everyday?

What I am looking forward to: Starting at my brand new school building...which means I'm that much closer to actually having this little baby! Just a few more months...