Single digit weeks!

I cannot believe that tomorrow I'll be 33 weeks pregnant! First thought - thank goodness; I cannot wait for the baby to be here! Second thought - I can't believe it went so fast and I lived through it! As I've said before, being pregnant isn't for me. The first 2/3rds of this whole thing was really painful and tried me to the core. I've been feeling pretty good lately and now am just excited.

A before picture (June 2011) and new picture (24 Feb 2012).


It seems our boy already has quite the personality. He wakes up with the alarm and promptly starts kicking to let me know it's time to eat! After breakfast and a shower, we relax for a bit and this seems to be his playtime - bumping around my belly (kicking and punching). He also seems to like the bus - he moves, kicks the whole ride to work. He knows work is boring already so he keeps quiet until about noon....warning me that lunch better be on the way. Once I eat, he seems to have some energy so spends much of the afternoon exploring - not kicking, but moving around! I can watch his bum move from left to right all afternoon (clearly I've checked out of work since I'm mostly watching my boy). He's quiet for my journey home then starts the food warning again before we eat dinner at 7. Once I eat, he seems happy enough to finish his daily booty wiper dance....left to right until bedtime. He's been pretty good lately and sleeps mostly through the night. Let's hope we can keep him on this schedule once he arrives! Unlikely, but we can hope :) If he is a true Giffrow, he'll keep and like the routine!

He is certainly like me at this point - if I wear clothes that are too tight in one area or that push in on his space, he will punch at it all day long! If I have my blackberry resting on my belly, he punches at that and if his Mama J puts her face on my belly, he'll give her some jabs as well! This boy likes his space - and I can't blame him; I'm the same way.

Like I said - 7 weeks left! Holy cow! I can honestly say in the next two weeks we will probably start freaking out. I did get a bit nervous this last week and ordered nappies (diapers) and wipes to be delivered in our weekly shop; we got them today so I feel a bit more prepared. JaNae thinks we should pack my hospital bag tomorrow, but I think that can maybe wait another week or two (although EVERYONE has told me to have it packed by now). Honestly - I'm sure I can pack it in about 2 minutes if it was really time to go. My instincts are pretty good, so I think we are fine for now. The boy seems happy in there and I still haven't washed any clothes for him - so there's no need for him to come out yet. Although, I think JaNae is freaking, so tomorrow may be the day for some clothes washing - maybe just a couple outfits.

During the first trimester, I honestly thought I wasn't going to make it through. People told me I would forget about all of that and once they place the boy in my arms, I'll forget all about the pain of labour too. I'm happy to say that the worst days of my life (weeks 5-10)seem like a lifetime ago and I think I could actually live through it again. With this, I'm sure that once labour is over I won't even remember the pain. At least, I really, really, really hope so!

We had a 4D scan about a month ago and here's a pic of our little guy:


His arm is up as he was scratching his nose before this was taken and the sonographer said he was practicing his inhaling - you can see the bubbles/lines in front of his mouth. I think he's been practicing a bit more this week as he's had the hiccups quite a few times!

Anyway, keep your fingers crossed the next 7 weeks go fast! Pray that we only have to wait 5 weeks - I'd love to go a little early :)

Home Sweet Home (part 2)

Today  I got exactly what I wanted my sister's basketball game, ESPN, BWW, and Romeo's. What made the day even better was that my grandma was in high spirits because we are all here. It has been almost a year and a half since I last came home and I knew that a trip was going to be needed soon. My thoughts were to come home durin the summer so that I didn't have to deal with the cold weather and snow,but that plan changed quickly when my gma got sick. Whether cold or sunny, I am very thankful to be home with my family, just wish Beth was here. Okay enough of this emotional stuff.....

After Jeana's game, my little sisters and Bobby (Jasmine's 8 foot boyfriend whom played football at Michigan State) headed to Buffalo Wild Wings. If you have been to Buffalo Wild Wings, you have got to try it. If you haven't already guessed, they are famous for their wings!! They have over 15 different sauces to choose from. Sweet, tangy, spicy, herby. The other best part of this place is they have 20 different flat screens in different sizes all playing sports. So today they had 5 different basketball games being played at the same time. Oh it was great. I think during March Madness I will have find a buddy to hit the sports cafe, eat wings, and watch basketball. I have the missed the last two tournaments since I have moved to London. It has been mostly my fault because it is not easily accessible. 

When we leave BWW, we had to run to Panera so my mom could eat. Let me say that I totally forgot about Panera! Um, hello, broccoli cheese soup in a bread bowl!!!!!!! Yum! So I have added that to my list. Jasmine then tells men that we have to go to Walmart. I know that this is a bad idea for me considering I haven't been to Walmart in ages. I told her I wanted to walk around but she pulled a mommy-Tude and told me we were only getting water. Ifnyou know the Mosley's, you know that we easily get distracted in large places like Malls, parking lots, Walmarts. as soon as we walk into Walmart I am stunned at just how big it is. We walk down the aisle and see baby clothes and I immediately make a detour. Jasmine follows but gets distracted by the lullaby sing along kiosk. She calls me over and we start singing along to the Sunday School songs. They were all songs were used to sing from summer bible scoop and Sunday school when we were kids. After spending twenty minutes in that area of the store we finally decide that we should get what we came for: the water! Per mom's request we ended up getting two 24 packs of water and realize that we can't carry it. So we get a cart. This was where went wrong. We ended up getting almond bark, puffy popcorn, crescent rolls, doritos, orange juice, shelled in peanuts, and ready to bake pillsbury chocolate cookies. So much for just getting water.

Home Sweet Home (part 1)

Today I am making my way back to good ol Nebraska. It has been almost a year and a half since I have seen my family. Words can't express how excited I am to see my family. I feel like I have missed so much on my little sisters' lives and I dint really like it. I haven't really seen them grow up, only far from afar. It's not until the last couple years that our relationships blossomed. This weekend I will be able to watch Jeana play basketball for the first time in a high school game. But my main reason for coming home is to see my grandma. I am not going to go deep into details but I feel that the good Lord will take her soon. I wanted to be able to see her before that time came and I'd been praying everyday that he wouldn't take her before I came home. Praise God he hasn't. So with all these mixed emotions, it is still good to be home. 

With an eight hour flight from Londin to Detroit I couldn't contain myself when I saw the movies available on the flight.  I started off with columbiana ( who would've known that the girl from Drum Line could be such a bad ass!). Then it was on to Drive with Ryan Goslng, boy was that gory. And I finished my movie marathon with Happy Feet Two, but by that point I was so anxious for the movie to get over because it meant my flight was almost over. So I didn't really enjoy the movie that much. 

When I arrived to Detroit I was so happy to be on US soil. I don't know why but it felt right. Listening to the American accents, watching CNN, and then seeing the restaurants at the airport. First it was Eintein Brothers, then Wendy's, and Fuddruckers (I had no idea they were in airports now!) I was on overload with just those three places and it was so hard to pick. Wendy's was the choice cause of the frostys. I had a choice of vanilla or chocolate. I only remember there being one kind of frosty- chocolate. It was a great frosty. After eating my frosty and junior deluxe cheeseburger I began thinking about all my favorite restaurants back home that I will hit: Runza, Imperial Palace, Buffalo Wild Wings, Romeo's and yes, Taco Bell! The airport had a Taco Bell, but it was in a different concourse and I didn't feel like walking that far. Why walk, when I can have drive thru!!!!

I am going to gain about 50lbs in 5 days!

My first stop in Omaha is Jimmy John's. One of the best sub shops around! I forget what the menu is like, but know that I like their food. As soon I read through the menu, it's like second nature. I would always get the turkey Tom without sprouts! And that's exactly what I got. Tasted just like I remember. 

We headed to my little sister, Jeana, basketball game against our rival Bellevue West. Watching her play was a joy to watch. She has good court vision and great at rebounds. And yes, we won. 

I let my other sister,Jessica,drive me from the game to grandma's. She actually a good driver. Just a little bit of road rage which reminded me of Beth. It was really good to spend time with her. She is going to Liberty University in Virginia. Can't believe she is going so far away, but I am extremely proud of her. I am so thankful that our relationship has blossomed. 

Can't wait for my Romeo's, BWW, Runza, and Chinese from Imperial Palace.