No Smoking!!! And, a JD!!!

No More Smoking -

Officials in Keyport, New Jersey, have just upped the ante in the war against secondhand smoke. Smoking in your car in the presence of a child is now a ticketable offense. The Keyport Borough Council adopted an ordinance last Monday that creates a $75 fine for smoking in vehicles when anyone 17 or younger is present. The violation is only a secondary offense, so a cop can't pull you over just if s/he sees you smoking with kids in your car, but if a cop has another reason to pull you over and finds you with a lit cigarette and kids in your car, you will get the additional ticket.

Wow, how great would it be if Greenville would take this approach! However, since they apparently aren't even able to enforce a ban in a public area such as downtown, it is doubtful that they would be able to enforce it in personal autos.

On a lighter, more Bishop-ish note -

Other breaking news out of North Dakota: With prom season upon us, many teens (or their parents) are renting limos, stretch hummers, and other absurdly over-the-top modes of transportation to enhance their prom-going experience. Refreshingly, a more practical young man from North Dakota thought he'd do things a little different - he drove his date in a 1992 John Deere 8760 tractor!

I have to admit, I'm a bit envious!!

I thought this was fun!!! I have to say that they pretty much pegged me as the Cookie Monster:)

You Are Cookie Monster

Misunderstood as a primal monster, you're a true hedonist with a huge sweet tooth. You are usually feeling: Hungry. Cookies are preferred, but you'll eat anything if cookies aren't around. You are famous for: Your slightly crazy eyes and usual way of speaking How you live your life: In the moment. "Me want COOKIE!"

Try it!!!!

Something Nice

I'm curious! I want to do something really nice for M, but I don't know what to do! I want it to be different than just going to dinner or something, but also pretty inexpensive. I just want to be able to show him how much I appreciate all that he does. SO, bloggers, any ideas?!?!?!

Too Much of a Good Thing?

Can you ever really get too much of a good thing?

LIKE CHEESE?!?!??!

So, lately I have been downing some cheese! It doesn't matter what kind - grilled, pimento, mac & cheese. JUST LET ME AT IT!! I think I have eaten 3 grilled cheese sandwiches, 1 helping of mac & cheese and a couple of pimento cheese sandwiches just this week! I will cook dinner for me and Michael, look at it when it's done and decide that it really is not working for me, then make myself a grilled cheese sandwich while Michael has a healthy, home-cooked meal! I have had other cravings too, such as peanut butter and fried foods, but usually I have the will power to keep me from eating these foods. However, this cheese thing is more than a craving, it is an OBSESSION!!!

Will this last throughout the entire pregnancy? If so, I'm suggesting that everyone invest in some Kraft stock!!!!!!

So the past 2 weeks have gone from beautiful Spring weather to cold/wet/even snowy weather! It has been crazy but we've had a lot of fun with friends and family. I have really attempted to take more pictures so this blog isn't too "wordy" and boring! So, here's what I got...


This is Abby on one of our BEAUTIFUL days when we were wearing shorts and t-shirts - where are those days?!?!?!!?

A couple of weeks ago, Michael went to the Masters in Augusta with some friends for the day, so the wives got together and ate (naturally, that is what we women do for fun!!!!). We went to Macaroni Grill and then followed it up with ice cream. It was a blast!! I haven't had the chance to go out with the girls in a long time. I didn't realize how much I missed it:)

This is my brother, Robert. The night before Easter we had my parents and brother and Michael's parents over for dinner. The original plan had been for us to tell them we were expecting when we were eating. However, I couldn't hold it in that long, so we just had a nice meal together and visited.

This past Friday Michael and I went to see Mannheim Steamroller at the Peace Center. I had to drag him there, but he enjoyed it once he was there. The next morning he was getting up at 2:45AM (CRAZY!!!!! Especially for a Saturday!) to go fishing with some friends. So, needless to say, as soon as the concert was over, we bolted home to the bed. But, it was a good night to be "out on the town"!

Being a Mom...

Here is an e-mail I had to share:

Being a Mom We are sitting at lunch one day when my daughter casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of 'starting a family.' 'We're taking a survey,' she says half-joking. 'Do you think I should have a baby?' 'It will change your life,' I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral.'I know,' she says, 'no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations.' But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes. I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable. I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking, 'What if that had been MY child?' that every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her, that when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die. I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub; that an urgent call of 'Mom!' will cause her to drop a soufflé or her best crystal without a moments hesitation. I feel that I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right. I want my daughter to know that every day decisions will no longer be routine. That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom. However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother.Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself. That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give herself up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years, not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs. I want her to know that a caesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honour. My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks.I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child. I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic. I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving.I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or cat for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real it actually hurts. My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. 'You'll never regret it,' I finally say. Then I reached across the table, squeezed my daughter's hand and offered a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings. Please share this with a Mom that you know or all of your girlfriends who may someday be Moms. May you always have in your arms the one who is in your heart.

I Finally Figured Out How To Get Pictures On Here!!

Yay! I finally figured it out!!! THANKS BETH:)

3 MONTHS PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, now for my big announcement - we're expecting our first miracle in October:)!!!!!!!

The whole reason I started this blog was to act as a journal through my pregnancy and then to keep family and friends updated on everything going on once the baby is born. We found out at 4 weeks and have been attempting to keep it a secret ever since. How hard!! I finally told my parents when I was 10.5 weeks, but they were sworn to secrecy and if you know my mom, that is VERY difficult for her! Yesterday was my 12 week appt and everything looked to be on track. Oh, I wish I was able to upload pictures and could put the ultrasound pic that I received. The baby was flipping and kicking it's legs over its head! It was amazing, this is the 3rd ultrasound I've had done (first at 6.5 weeks, then 8.5 weeks and then yesterday) and it is truly a miracle how babies grow both in the womb and after birth!! We went to M's parents' house last night and told them the news. Well, the way we told both of our parents was by giving them a picture frame that I had decorated (quite creative if you ask me!!) with a picture of the first ultrasound in it. Later the frame can be used for a picture of the baby. So, anyway, it was so much fun to watch their expressions as it sank in what was going on - I thought my mom was seriously going to have a heart attack. Wow, I am so excited but I don't think even still that it has completely sunk in for me or M! Many prayers needed!!!!