week 19

Maternity Clothes? went shopping last weekend for a few maternity work pants, but other than those and 2 pair of jeans, nothing else.

Stretch Marks? no :)

Gender? our boy Kaden

Movement? still nothing yet, but I'm sure he's moving all around in there

Sleep? sleep has been as good as it gets right now... I can't complain

Food Cravings? I've been wanting Cool Ranch Doritos again... probably not pregnancy related though

What I Miss? can't think of anything

Symptoms? similar to last week

Best Moment Last Week? shopping for Kaden :)

Looking Forward to? being at the half way point.  Not because I want this to be over though... I'm completely loving and embracing being pregnant!

Tag- I'm it!- edited

Heather from "Greer's Gossip" tagged me in a fun survey!

I am finally getting some time to play along...

1. What is your favorite meal?

Oh gosh... this is hard for a person who loves food.  Ummm.... I guess it depends on the day.  Mexican maybe??

2. What do you like best about blogging?
I like being able to connect with other women who are going through similar times in life and/or have similar interests as I do.

3. What is your favorite movie of all time?

Believe it or not, I'm not a movie person.  I like watching them, but have a hard time remembering them.  Sooo to this question I would say, no favorite.  However, we just saw The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and it was the best one I've seen in awhile.

4. What would a perfect day look like for you?
Sleep in and go to breakfast with Kirby at a pancake place.  Hang out at the beach for the whole afternoon and snack on junk food.  Play games with Kirby at home and then go to dinner somewhere together.  Notice the food in this day... dang Anna!

5. What is the best book you've read?
I don't have time to read too often, but this summer I was able to read Heaven is for Real and loved it!

6. If someone had asked you ten years ago what you would be doing in ten years, would you have answered correctly?
I'd get 50% correct.  I would have never guessed I'd live at the beach, over 500 miles away from my family.  But I wouldn't change that in a million years!  I probably would have guessed to have children already, but happy with our 1 on the way.  I would have been correct in guessing that I'd be happily married though :) 

7. What's your guilty pleasure?
Probably watching shows like Dance Moms or Jersey Shore... haha.

8. Have you ever broken any bones?
No broken bones.  I've actually never been to the hospital for anything other than the end of a Q-tip stuck in my ear... that's another story though ;) hahah....

9. What time do you go to bed each night?
Well... it used to be 9:30, on the dot, during the weekdays.  However, since being pregnant I'm asleep by 8:30 or earlier every night.

10. What time do you have to get up in the mornings?
I have to wake up by 6:00am to get to school during the weeks.  That's pretty much without a minute to spare either.

11. Do you have a go to outfit? If so, what is it?
I don't have a specific outfit, but more of a style.  If I'm struggling to find something to wear (or as of lately, that fits) for work, I go to the basic colored shirt with khakis.

EDIT:  Okay, I did this wrong, so if you don't participate I understand.  I would play the "pregnancy brain card", but my husband knows I do these kinds of things often.  I'm too quick and in a hurry sometimes and miss things (like directions, ingredients, grammar mistakes).  Sorry Heather and all my friends I tagged!

Now you're tagged- play along!
1. Tami- Little Moments Like This
2. Natasha- Schue Love
3. Kat- Life of a Scott
4. Mateya- The Best is Yet to Come
5. Paige- Boots, Bows, & the 5-OH
6. Linds- A Dollop of my Life
7. Stacy- More about the Morrisons
8. Amanda- Bidwell Blog
9. Tina- The Matthews Family
10. Kristin- The Todd's
11. Amanda- Todd Tales



 

special day

Today we will finish celebrating Kirby's 40th birthday! We went out to eat on Thursday at Chili's as an early birthday celebration.  Today I'm cooking him dinner and hopefully relaxing together.

Even though it's a big birthday (40 can be a big deal to some people), Kirby probably doesn't feel a day older.  It's just a number to him and that's one of the many reasons I love him.... always a kid at heart!

Happy Birthday Sweetie, I love you!

Kaden's first clothes from Mom

Ever since we found out we were having a boy, I couldn't wait to buy some boy things!  I was pleasantly surprised at all the great boy clothes out there.... especially music, surfing, and car related (all of Kirby's passions).  Carter's was having a huge sale last weekend and my friend Gina and I scored some good deals.  I found the bibs today (while maternity clothes shopping for myself) and I couldn't pass them up either!

I can't wait for Kaden to get here!

new page

I've quickly put together a "Baby King" page at the top of the blog.  I know I love to be able to quickly go back and look at other people's pregnancy posts, (don't tell me I'm the only pregnant blogger that does that) so I thought it would be nice to have a page dedicated to just that.  Quick.  Easy.  Hopefully some of our family and newer followers will get some use out of the page.

week 18

Maternity Clothes? just jeans so far

Stretch Marks? no :)

Gender? I can finally fill this section out!  It's a boy!

Kaden Douglas. 

Movement? Well... I thought I felt it, but we think it was a muscle spasm again.

Sleep?  Can't complain.  Just a typical pregnancy sleep... flip flopping from side to side and waking up to pee all the time.

Food Cravings? nothing.  I'm starting to wonder if people really do crave food when they're pregnant. 

 

What I Miss? nothing yet

Symptoms?  typical stuff... stretchy/itchy stomach, lots of trips to the bathroom

 

Best Moment Last Week? Finding out we are going to be parents of a boy!
We can't wait to meet our son!

Looking Forward to? getting to see Kaden again next week.  We didn't have a chance to talk with our doctor after the ultrasound, so they scheduled us to come back again on the 31st!

juliethefish designs giveaway

I have been reading Megan's blog "In this wonderful life..." since the very beginning of my blogging days!  I loved reading her blog then and I still love reading it now!  I enjoy reading about her life journey as well as getting great discounts and giveaways.

This week she is giving away a $35 shop credit to juliethefish designs, a super cute etsy shop that I've browsed several times in the past!  Stop by Megan's blog and enter to win! 

BUT if you win, you can get this for me since I told you about this awesome giveaway! ;)

(of course, mine would have "Kaden" and "6.??.12")

mom & dad

This is another way we announced to our school families that we are having a boy. 

Right after the appointment on Tuesday, we went to pick up the cupcake at The Southern Cupcake Company.  On our drive there, we stayed busy on the phone with parents, grandparents and made lots of text messages to more family and friends.  We celebrated the news of our baby boy at Carrabbbas afterwards.  It was nice to sit down together and try to let it sink in that we are going to parents of a baby boy!  As we stuffed our faces, I suggested we make t-shirts that said "mom" and "dad" to wear to school the next day.  Kirby agreed and so the rest of the night Kirby had his hands full.  He helped make the t-shrits and worked on the video until about 1:00am while I crashed on the couch. ;)

Thank you for all the nice comments on our previous post.

We are so excited and can't wait to meet Kaden Douglas in June.

It's a....

week 17

Maternity Clothes? yes, maternity jeans!  I can still fit into a few pairs of regular jeans, but maternity jeans are so much more comfortable!  I'm actually sportin' them in the picture this week.

 

Stretch Marks? nothing yet...

 

Gender? we find out TOMORROW folks!

Movement? nope.  Going to this appointment will ease my mind too... because I am starting to wonder what's going on in there.  I think we were spoiled with 4 ultrasounds within a 10 week span ;)

 

Sleep? Still not too bad.  Sleeping with a pillow between my legs and that helps a little.

Food Cravings? I really can't say if this was a "pregnancy craving" or just a typical "Anna craving" (I love food way too much I think), but I wanted Doritos this week incredibly bad!  I talked about them so much Kirby surprised me with some the other day.

What I Miss? I don't really miss anything.

 

Symptoms? Last night I had my first battle with indigestion and heartburn.  At least that's what we think it was....

 

Best Moment Last Week? A fun moment this week was finding out that my students thought that the baby was coming out on Jan. 17.  I told them about 5 weeks ago that on Jan. 17 Mr. King and I would know if it's a boy or a girl.  I guess in a first graders mind that means the baby is coming out then.  Duh!!  How else would you know if it's a boy or a girl?!

Looking Forward to? if you've talked to me lately (or even read the blog lately) you could probably guess... getting to see if we are having a healthy baby boy or healthy baby girl tomorrow!

King, party of 6

Do you like the Christmas gift Kirby and I got each other?!

We've been on the hunt for about 3 years for a dark, square, modern, pub-style table, and during Christmas break we finally found it!

We found it at this little gem of a store....Seaboard Furniture & Mattress Liquidation.  We highly recommend this place as the owner was very helpful, prices were great, and they were easy to work with.  They can pretty much get you whatever you want from tons of catalogs from many different vendors at wholesale prices.  They do not have much in the way of a showroom and the place looks rather messy.  However, if you see something you like elsewhere, or even online, give this place a try as they would probably be able to get you the exact same thing or something nearly identical for way less. The same basic table we got was about $600 less than what we saw anywhere else.  The price the salesman gave us after he looked it up was great to begin with (one we would have gladly paid), but being the negotiator he is, Kirby held a good "poker face" and still got the guy to drop about $150 more.

Another great thing about this place is they work on a referral system.  If you refer 2 or more people to them and they buy something (regardless of price) from their store, you'll get something in return.  We were told if we get four people to go in and buy something (anything) they'll give us 2 additional chairs at no cost.  So, if anyone local is looking for any type of furniture please let us know so we can give you one of their business cards with our name on it for the referral.
 

countdown

We have 2 countdowns going on in our family right now.  

1.  A countdown to the new Van Halen CD release & the concert in April.

AAAAND

2.  A countdown to find out if we are having a boy or girl!  7 days... but who's counting ;)

week 16

Since we finally added pictures to our entryway wall, we now have a new picture-taking location from here on out.  (still have that horrible shadow though...)

 

 

Maternity Clothes? haven't worn any yet, but bought some today!

 

Stretch Marks? no stretch marks....

 

Gender? We find out in 10 days!

 

Movement? not this week...

Sleep? I'm getting a good night sleep, but waking up with backaches and sleeping arms.

Food Cravings? tangy, salt stuff...

What I Miss? nothing

Symptoms? itchy skin (I think I have that remedied though) & backaches

Best Moment Last Week? the letter & gift baby King gave me

 

Looking Forward to? finding out the gender... we are excited!

the big 3-Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

Happy Birthday to my beautiful, glowing wife!  I love you and look forward to sharing many more birthdays with you!

Here's a birthday wish to you from baby king too...

Hey mom,

I just wanted to tell you Happy Birthday!  Sure is dark here in your belly.  I can’t see anything, but since I’m 16-weeks along now, I’m starting to hear things.  I know it’s your birthday today because I overheard you and dad talking about it!  Since dad wasn’t allowed to buy you anything, I snuck out for a bit the other day and picked up a little something for you.  You didn’t even know I was gone, did you?  I hope you like it!

Anyway, keep taking good care of me like you have been.  I’m sorry if I might make you feel a little sick sometimes or give you headaches.  And that little rash you have on your arms?  Don’t worry, it’ll go away eventually.  Oh yeah, I’m probably gonna start kicking you soon, too.  Sorry ‘bout that.  I’m growing down here and sometimes I just need to stretch out. 

I know dad’s been tearin’ up that 1^st part of “Eruption” on guitar, as he’s trying to learn the whole solo.  I love it when he plays it over and over about a thousand times, so please tell him to keep it up J

Well, I better get going.  I know you’re going to Carrabba’s tonight for dinner, so I’ll need to rearrange a few things down here to make room for all that extra food.  I hope you’re enjoying your day and I’ll see you in a few months!

Love,

baby king

fun with D & D

We always have a good time when Dave & Darlene come into town and this time was no different.  We did our normal Mexico Lindo night out, went to the movies, tried the new Carolina Fish Fry on Main Street, and rang in the New Year together. 

nuts and bolts...

As per request from one of our readers (sorry ladies, another manly post), here's a little build write-up on our latest vehicle...

I told myself the only way I'd buy another FJ Cruiser was if I messed around with it a bit.  Nothing too major, just enough to have a little fun turning some wrenches, bust up a few knuckles, get dirty, and change things up some.  First item of business was installing a Daystar 3" lift/leveling kit.  What was supposed to take about 4 hours to install, ended up taking about 10 hours as I misinterpreted one simple direction for the front suspension components and ended up installing it "the hard way".  Next up was a set of 18" XD Rockstar wheels and Nitto Mud Grappler tires.  Not a fan of the way the center cap stuck out and the bling-bling look of the chrome star, I cut off the posts so it would sit flush with the wheel, and painted the star flat black.  Next, I cut and modified the roof rack so it would work well for surfboards, then added new Quiksilver pads, as my old Dakine ones were in need of replacing.  After that came a set of All-Pro rock sliders (or what I like to refer to as "baby King protectors").  They came as raw welded steel tubing.  After spending a couple hours filing off random steel spurs and weld beads and prepping them, I painted them, then cut out some non-slip grip tape to put on for them to also be used as side steps.  Since the new tires stuck out past the fenders, I finished things off by installing a set of Bushwacker fender flares. 

All that's left now is finding the right baby seat :)

Before...

After...

i heart Pinterest

I've actually completed some ideas I found on Pinterest within the last few weeks!  Some... I think they turned out great!  Others.... okay, I guess.... haha. (I threw away the roast recipe if that tells you anything)

Source: projectphxhome.com via Kirby N Anna on Pinterest

Source: mariescookingadventures.blogspot.com via Kirby N Anna on Pinterest

Source: ericasweettooth.com via Kirby N Anna on Pinterest

Source: tipjunkie.com via Kirby N Anna on Pinterest

I also did this with my class, but can't post it on this blog.

It turned out cute and I'll do it again next year too!

Source: blogs.scholastic.com via Kirby N Anna on Pinterest