Larry's Spouse Appreciation Day

So we usually do a "spouse appreciation day" as an alternate to Valentine's Day. I knew I wanted to get Larry's in before the baby is born since you just never know what it's going to be like after a new little one is in the picture. The plan I made for the day:

• Let him sleep in until he woke up on his own (since I normally wake him up by 9 ish at the latest) 
• Let him choose lunch, if he'd like to go out for it.
• During nap time let him go see the new Jackass movie with concessions (he's not as big about seeing movies in the theater, but I know he's interested in this one).
• Go to Nickel City (either he'd go by himself or we'd go as a family and I'd take care of the girls while he got to play games he usually doesn't get to when he takes the girls).
• Go to Outback Steakhouse (because he always says guys just need a good steak dinner for Valentine's Day)
• Come home, put the kids down, and watch a good movie for our Saturday date night.

What ended up happening:

• He woke up earlier than normal, like 8:31, because he had heard a loud bang and couldn't go back to sleep.
• We just hung out outside (it was actually pretty decent outside) in the morning
• He didn't want to go out for lunch AND dinner so I went to get me Apollo Burger because I really wanted that for the day haha.
• He decided he'd rather take a nap than go see a movie, so he got a nap in during nap time haha.
• We went to Nickel City as a family. I was able to entertain the girls for a while on my own, but after about 30-45 minutes he joined us and we played random games here and there together. I also made sure to take Lucy to the carousel they have so she could have fun (it's her favorite part of the whole place). The girls got to do the dance game with dad a couple times, and we made sure they got turns on the ride game that they love. We ended with over 3,000 tickets so we took a good chunk of time picking out prizes (mostly candy, with some fun toys too).

• We went to Outback Steakhouse and had a good dinner. Lucy was having a bit of a fit (I think she was kind of tired from the arcade excitement, too hungry to think of eating, AND she's getting at least 2 of her K9s right now, and that's always the toughest teeth for our kids). Once I caved and gave her her binky she was okay.

She saw the camera and immediately said "cheese"
Which is why I'm laughing

• We came home, put the girls down and watched "Love and Monsters" on Hulu - a pretty cute movie!

I'm definitely WAY too full from eating out too much, but we also had a lot of fun. The girls really loved the games. I think Larry liked having a more relaxed weekend day (I'm usually just so go, go, go) and playing his own games. Dinner was pretty good (we got a lot of food, including an appetizer and we have quite a bit of leftovers - all the girls' food) and the movie was entertaining. Not a lot more you could ask for right now. 

Valentine's Day 2022

So for Valentine's Day tradition this year we were going to make a trifle (if you ask me what the plans were, Larry didn't agree with that haha). After realizing that the Superbowl was going on the day before and I love having lots of chips and dips for dinner for that we came to the conclusion that we should do football game foods. I was hesitant at first because it didn't sound like our usual fun, really ingredient heavy recipe plan. However, I found several ones I really wanted to try and so it felt like it was an even trade. 

I mentioned on Marco Polo to my mom and Cindy that we were making a bunch of football party foods and my mom mentioned she'd like to come over. I figured the more the merrier so why not? Good thing too because we made a BUNCH of food. Luckily, it all turned out really good and everyone seemed to like it.

We got to hang out and chat for a while, until about the half time show, and then said our goodbyes and Larry and I finished the game. It was a great Sunday.

This morning I gave the girls their "gifts", which weren't really a surprise since they were with us when we went out on Saturday to pick them out haha. I just felt bad I didn't get anything so we went to Target and got them each an outfit, a thing of reese's chocolates, and a spill proof tumbler for the older girls and a squishy bear for Lucy. They still acted surprised and happy to see their stuff.

We talked this morning about why we celebrate Valentine's Day and how it's a day to tell the ones you love why you love them.

I told Cara I love how independent she is and how she's always finding ways to play with both her sisters and she's such a good big sister. She smiled big to that.

I told Gwen I loved how she had little naked dances that made me laugh and how cute and smart she is and how she'll probably make at on of friends at school once she goes, just like Cara. She loved that.

I told Lucy how I loved how goofy she is and how she will rub our backs whenever we are relaxing. She got a cheesy grin.

I asked the girls if they knew why I loved daddy and Cara said "yeah....because he's cute" hahahaha. She's not wrong! I told them also because he makes me laugh, he talks me into making better choices (like getting a bigger house), and that he's a great daddy.

Larry told the girls he loves me because I make him a better person. 

It was a great way to start the day. After lunch Larry had saved me some of the girls' candy (because I said I definitely wanted some) and apparently Cara found it and brought it right up to me with a big smile saying "I love you!" It was so sweet. 

We still have tons of food left over to eat, good thing it's good. I'm waiting till this weekend to give Larry his spouse appreciation day, but it was still a good day to celebrate the love for our family.

7 months (weeks 28 - 31)

 


Compare/Contrast: So I've noticed one of the biggest differences this time is instead of wanting ice cream all the time, I want Ramen Noodles or crackers. I've not been a big fan of Ramen Noodles for a long while so this is surprising. I still will eat ice cream, of course, but when I'm hungry I tend to go to Ramen first haha.

Also, a big difference is instead of having crazy back pain and the PGP I just can't breathe and am congested all the time. I'd trade that for the pain, honestly, haha. I remember with Lucy I'd end every night with my back massager pillow and let it push all the pain away. It felt amazing! Also, sleeping with the pain is much easier than trying to sleep when your nose is completely plugged up (I still can't figure out how to sleep with my mouth open).

I kind of also thought that not knowing the gender would make me connect more with the baby. But, honestly, I just feel like I'm staying so busy with cleaning and organizing the house and getting things caught up. I talk to the baby after dropping Cara off at school (or on my way to pick her up) and in the shower, but it's mostly going over my to-do list or what I accomplished during the day. My only hope is that I'm so busy that I'll just be so happy to snuggle with a new baby. It's just weird to not know the gender (although Larry knows so when I talk to him about it I always think "he's totally thinking I so know!!" Makes it a little weirder haha).

Best Moments This Month: I got to take my glucose test this month, and while getting to the appointment on time was quite stressful (dang freeway backup), I did get there on time! AND it all came back normal, so I don't have to do it again haha.

Also, the nesting bug is BIG right now. I'm getting so much organized and cleaned up and I'm purge-happy all the time now (I've gotten rid of so much and it feels great!). I got the pantry and closet cleaned out and they look SO good. I'm so excited to keep working on more areas of the house.

And the day I realized that Larry and I should have our shows caught up on and this blog should be all caught up before this baby comes (as long as he/she doesn't come early) was another great day. I'm hoping this will really help me enjoy newborn snuggles and not stress about wanting to put him/her down to sleep (if there's nothing to do, there's nothing to make me want the baby to just be happy on their own).

In addition, we got a week off in March approved in both jobs so that we can use that time to clean, pack the bag, and get baby stuff set up. It should be great!

Oh! And, not baby related, but Larry got a new job! It comes with a raise and should help him get into a more security-related field (which he really wants) so it's a great next step for him...and the extra money doesn't hurt haha.

Finally, mom came home! She moved back officially on the 30th so we went to welcome her home that night at Grandma's. It's going to be so nice having her here from now on!

What I'm Looking Forward To: Not having the dang pregnancy congestion anymore (I can't wait to breath clearly through BOTH nostrils again and not have a stupid cough from breathing through my mouth all day). Also, once this one is born, I'm looking forward to working out again, but also snuggling with a newborn as much as possible!