Happy Monday

Hi lovers, I sowwy I haven't updated sooner! I had a wonderful trip out in Nebraska with my family. It was truly a very momentous time to be all together and celebrating such a strong, beautiful woman. We had a birthday party for her on Friday night which was filled with good times, pizza, salads, spirits (6 pack non-alcoholic beer thanks to Maija!) and laughter. We continued the party on Saturday by going to the evening church service followed by dinner afterwards at a yummy restaurant. It was so great to just relax and catch up with all of my cousins & aunts, dote on my grandma, and soak in the gorgeous weather. We were surrounded by beauty the whole weekend while congregating in my grandma's apartment. I can't describe the feeling of warmth, travel, art, and family that resonate in her home. I definitely did not want to leave, although I did miss Matt and my little munchkins :o)

While we were on one of our many walks around the lake, my mom took a few belly snapshots with her phone. Here is my 20 week and a hilarious belly comparison with my awesome cuz, Mikael. He is a hoot!

I got home Tuesday night and was able to relax/catch up on a few things before Matt got home on Thursday night. Had a massive cleaning session (you should have seen the state of our place when I walked in the door, lol), unpacked & repacked for DC, caught up on laundry, met up with some awesome ladies for a girls' night/study session (we are reading "What's it Like to be Married to Me" by Linda Dillow...its awesome!), volunteered at the Helping Up Mission where we served lunch on Thursday, worked out, ran errands, etc. It was soo good to see my honey after not seeing him for a week.

We woke up on Friday planning to head to DC around 11. This was in hopes to beat traffic/check into the hotel since we were bringing Millie and I didn't think I could valet car/get all bags out and up into our room/checkin and handle her by myself (can't wait to add a baby to that mix, lol). Lets just say its funny how things work out sometimes!!! From the second we woke up Friday morning, everything seemed to go wrong. First off, Millie had massive diarrhea. This is highly unusual for her since her stools are always normal. (Yes, I am discussing dog shit in my blog!) She had had a loose one the morning prior and I thought it was very odd but at night it was normal so I thought nothing of it. Well we started freaking out. Definitely didn't want her crapping in the historic Mayflower hotel over the weekend, lol. After numerous calls and a last minute vet trip, we were finally on our way after the most tense, rushed morning. And let me say that both Matt and I do not do well being rushed in the AM. Add pregnancy hormones on top of that and it was not pretty.

We made it down to DC in about 1.5 hours where I checked into the hotel, where I had to go retrieve Matt's ID from the car since my name was not on the list. Had he not been with me I would have been shit out of luck. We then proceeded to go the 4 miles to the Nationals stadium so that I could drop him off at the field. Well, this took 45 minutes. Needless to say, I did not have a happy husband. And then I was hungry again, so I was emotional. This became an emerging lesson of the weekend. I have never been able to go lengths of time without food in the past (note irritability, weakness, fainting), but these last few days have proven that to the extreme. If I don't eat a full meal in the morning *right away*, things are going to go downhill FAST. Poor Matt is so patient but it has been frustrating for me as well. I even snacked before we went out to get food, but it wasn't enough. Lesson learned the hard way!

The weather was gorgeous all weekend, but due to some late nights and what seemed like a rain cloud over us after Friday's events, we were very overwhelmed during the trip. I don't know if I got a taste of the baby blues or what, but I spent a lot of the days in the hotel room in bed (ok, so more like mornings). And then feeling guilty about it. Sigh. I did have a great time with the girls at the games, and Millie and I's walks were fun. I also indulged in dessert every night :o) The sun was shining and we won the series, so all in all it was a good weekend. I think lack of sleep and silly nuances dimmed it a bit, but its over and we are glad to be home!

On a lighter note, it is Matt's Birthday today :o) Happy Birthday to my amazing honey! There was a light drizzle all day, but I think it was almost necessary. It was a great opportunity to snuggle and catch up on a lot of things when he headed to the field. Slow the pace down a bit. I got a great workout in and got to go pick up some goodies for Matt to surprise him when he gets home :o) I got a chocolate covered cheesecake for him at Whole Foods and had them write his name on it, hehehe. I also picked up some blue irises which are gorgeous. Who says you can't spoil men? I hope that everyone had a great Monday :o) Love you all and write more soon!

Milestones

I am officially 20 weeks today, where has half of my pregnancy gone? lol. I am so excited for the second half and the preparation/nesting for little Maverick to get here :o) I had my 20 week appointment on Tuesday, and it was about 15 minutes. I wanted it to last longer! My doctor said that I am healthy, baby is healthy, and all is going wonderfully. She said the next few appointments might be a little "boring" because he and I will just be continuing to grow. In a way I was a little let down because there wasn't any new, revealing news. As I walked to my car I couldn't believe my feelings! I should have been praising God that all is well and that he is working wonders. Talk about convicting! Humbled and asking for a heart of gratitude, because each day and healthy kick is a precious gift. So keep me positive, girls! These hormones often have me overlooking the big picture, and that is to wake up each day thanking Him :o)

I've been a little delayed with my pictures, but here is a shot from 19 weeks :o) I opted for just a belly shot!

In other milestones, I get to celebrate and be apart of an incredible one this weekend :o) My beautiful grandma is turning 80! I am flying out tomorrow to Nebraska to be with her, my momma, sister, and incredible aunts and cousins for what is sure to be a fabulous time :o) I can't wait to see her, since the last time was in mid January right before we found out that we were expecting. For those of you who have met my grandma, you know how special of a lady she is. There will be lots of hugs, smiles and happy tears. I'm so glad I will be able to spend Mother's day with my mom as well, and with the women who inspire me the most :o) I'm sure I will have lots to write about when I return from the good ole midwest!

Us celebrating her birthday 3 years ago. Her favorite color blue making an appearance on the table!

Commence hibernation mode...lol

I am home! And had a fabulous trip to Boston :o) Oftentimes when I an en route to a destination I have a wave of thankfulness that overcomes me, just for the simple act of being able to travel. I'm able to go and see my husband or dear friends and family, and that is a huge blessing. Safety is a blessing as well, and I praise Him for getting me and my loved ones from point A to point B. With the fast pace of this life, I feel like its so easy to take the little things for granted and not acknowledge the greater picture. I feel so fortunate to be able to have the means and the time to visit, explore, and experience new cities and places. It is something that will never grow old to me. Even frequenting cities I have visited before, there are always new things to do and sights to explore, leaving you with a new perspective. Ah the joys of traveling!

The reasoning for my title is that I often go into "hibernation mode" when I return from my trips. Call it a way to recharge the batteries. I like to go in my cave for a little while and be a hermit, or else I definitely get worn down from the hustle and bustle. This time is precious for catching up on tasks, relaxing with the furbabies, and just honing in on goals for the future. So I guess these next few days will be full of just that!

Matt and I had a lot of fun in beantown, and I even got him to go on a walking food tour on his off day. If you know my husband, you know that he isn't a big fan of walking (especially on his day off from squatting for 3+ hours), but I was hoping the food part would compensate, lol. We had a great time and would highly recommend it if you are up for some good grub and a history lesson along the quaint South End neighborhood :o) We relaxed in the hotel room following our foodie-ness and then enjoyed more food at dinner together. I figured if I can't enjoy the local Sam Adams beers, at least I can make up for it in the food department, lol. On Friday I got to spend almost the entire day with Tara, and we had a blast. It was yucky weather all weekend but made great time for catching up :o) We walked/shopped, explored surburban Newton where they are living this season, and had dinner at the EMC in Fenway while watching the game. I am so thankful we play the Sox so much so that I can get my Tata fix! Although I hope the 13 and 17 inning games of this weekend don't become a trend, lol. On Saturday I had a bit of a loungy day since we were up so late the night before. But it was awesome because I got to facebook chat with my sweet friend Jackie who is stationed in Afghanistan. With the time difference and her busy schedule (defending our great nation!), time to live chat is precious and rare. Definitely one of the highlights of my day, as well as our second win of the series and a yummy dinner with B & D! I think I was just spoiled this trip with great conversations :o)

I got home today safe and sound and got to love on the kitties, unpack & clean before I went and picked up the crazy monkey aka Millie. I turned on the game to watch around 2:30, hoping that we would possibly sweep and that the guys would be on the road pretty quickly after the game. Well, there were definitely other plans in store! I kept on delaying walking Millie, eating dinner, etc since I thought that someone (anyone!) would break the tie and end the extra innings. I finally succumbed to my hunger pains and walked to go get my favorite takeout (Jasa Kabob, lol) and our neighbors were actually doing the same thing, so they invited me over to watch what now had been a 5 hour game. They are so awesome and I'm so glad that I was able to celebrate the 17 inning victory with them and their adorable 18 month old twin boys :o) We have the best group of people in our neighborhood, its such a blessing. And way to go O's! Talk about an incredible game and series. Now we are all waiting for Matt to get home, which is hopefully very soon. I am pooped and ready for bed! I will upload pictures to facebook soon :o) Nighty night! xoxo

Hamming it up

Click here for your daily laugh!

My mom sent this to me, I think she is just a tad excited to have a grandson :o) I'm not going to lie, I think I could watch this everyday and it would still make me smile! I hope Maverick has half the moves of this little dude! Enjoy!

Gracias & 18 weeks :D

A huge, supercalafragilisticexpialadocious *thank you* for the thoughtful & heartfelt calls/texts/emails/facebook love on my Birthday yesterday:o) Even though I couldn't celebrate with my faves, it was still a wonderful day. The sun even came out which was what I think I needed the most! I took it easy in the morning and watched Northpoint church online with the furbabies (makes me miss ATL!), and then headed to the Yard to catch the O's game and say goodbye to Matt before he took the train to New York. I think I saw him all of 5 minutes during the entire day, but we will get to have some QT this weekend. Patience is not my virtue but it is something that God is teaching me more each day! We made an awesome comeback and won the game, which was very exciting! Then a few of the girls and I enjoyed some dinner and cake, they were so sweet since it was such last minute planning. Aren't those the best get-togethers though? Random & spontaneous, I love it :o)

I'm adopting these questions from a friend's blog, since I think its a great way to reflect and fun to see how each answer changes from week to week. So here goes!

How Far Along?: 18 Weeks!

Total Weight Gain: I think the last time I was at the Dr I was 130? So maybe 6-8 pounds? I feel like I fluctuate so much day to day

Any Baby Preparations? Um, this is a sore subject since I have many friends that are due around the same time as me and already have their entire freaking nurseries done! Sadly that will not be my story but it is okay! I can prepare in other ways :o) I have started researching nursery looks/ideas that I like and that makes me happy. I plan on registering sometime soon for some necessities/goodies.

Clothing Situation: My go-to's are workout clothes, but that is nothing new, haha. When I have to wear normal clothes I am reaching for leggings since it is still cold here and the adorable long tops that my sweet Daniele sent me in the mail last week. The box contained a smorgasbord of multiple friends' maternity clothes, so thank you so much Daniele, Emily & Christina!

Any Appointments? None this week, next will be on Tuesday, May 8th for my 20.

Bodily Changes: Belly is definitely growing. I notice it mainly when I rest my hand on my stomach in the morning while I'm still in bed. Its defying gravity!

Sleep: I'm sleeping well, I've been so tired because of my cold. Definitely don't want to wake up in the mornings, but that is nothing new either ;o) I have been having some weird dreams and having to get up to pee all of the time, but that is pretty normal for me non-pregnancy as well. I guess I'm just high maintenance.

Best Moment(s) of the Week: Finding out what Baby Wieters was on Thursday :o) And seeing Emily & Hadley! It was so thrilling to know for sure, and also to see Matt's excitement he had been harboring! The ultrasound was amazing too, seeing him move and his little hands and feet was incredible. Each appointment they change so much.

Miss Anything? Drinking, lol. And running without feeling discomfort.

Movement: Feeling more and more each day. Usually at night while I am sitting still on the couch, which is a rarity for me!

Food Cravings: Nothing super strong where I absolutely have to have it, but I've been in the mood for fresh/sauteed veggies, Middle Eastern or any ethnic food with lots of flavor, and a sweet indulgence after dinner :o) Oh yes, and bubble tea!

Anything Making You Queasy? Nope, not really

Gender: BOY!!!

Mood: Emotional. The littlest things make me tear up. I broke down today and started crying in my meeting with the BARCS Director, thankfully she has been preggo and understands! Thats a story for another day. I also almost started crying walking by the athletic fields where there was a little league co-ed game going on...I was smiling and so happy to see little kiddos and then so overcome with emotion I wanted to weep! Pass the tissues.

Looking forward to: Boston trip and seeing my awesome hubby and Tara!

Hope everyone had a great Monday!

Love, Ria

Welcome Friends, again :o)

Hello dear ones! Here I am again, attempting to write on a more consistent basis :o) Except this time there is even more incentive to keep you guys updated, with little Wieters impending arrival :o) Matt and I could not be more thrilled & feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be proud parents! It is still sometimes so surreal to me, but is becoming more and more real with each jab in my belly! Baby W is already an active little guy, Matt says he must be like his momma and not able to sit still :o)

I have had on my to-do list to blog for the past 2 months, and debated upon starting a new page or just picking back up where I left off, let's see, a year ago!?! lol. So here is MnMDub, with a new fresh title. Glad that I can change it whenever I want, since my decisiveness has been all over the board! As I sit here writing this, it marks my 3rd date night with the couch, my computer, and the O's game on TV (and the snoozing furbabies surrounding me :o)). Matt and I have been battling a stubborn cold that has been passed around the team--its like one big family so everyone is bound to get it at some point, right? Feeling under the weather but mainly trying to rest up so that Baby W doesn't bear the brunt of it. I don't know how the hubbs does it, he has been so strong with playing every night and then comes home and is just as tired and sniffly as I am. He is a toughie, that is for sure :o) Glad I have his unconditional support to cheer him on from the warmth of inside, especially since it has been so cold and rainy...not my cup of tea! He leaves tomorrow for NY and I will join him in Boston on Thursday for the weekend. Excited to head to Bean-town where we will have an off day together and a day game on Saturday, where we will be able to go to dinner! Hopefully with dear friends :o) Praying that the weather warms up for a beautiful trip.

So, to get back to what everyone has been asking me for: Belly pics! I will try to sum up the past couple months in this introductory post :o) I did miss the 13th week, but I guess that's okay because of the unlucky number, lol. At least that is what I am rationalizing in my head :o) Enjoy

17 weeks- pardon my PJ's and post shower hair

16 weeks- in Chicago

15 weeks- Happy Easter!

14 weeks- at home in FL

12 weeks- at home in FL

Its crazy for even me to see the transformation in pictures :o) I will be sure to take one soon for our 18 week. I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend, sending lots of love from Baltimore! xoxo

:o)

33 Miles~Arms that hold the Universe...an incredible reminder at all times :o)

And the arms that hold the universe
Are holding you tonight
You can rest inside
It's gonna be alright

And the voice that calmed the raging sea
Is calling you His child
So be still and know He's in control
He will never let you go

Through many dangers toils and snares
You have already come
His grace has brought you safe this far
His grace will lead you home

You can hope you can rise you can stand
He's still got the whole world in His hands
You can hope you can rise you can stand
He's still got the whole world
The whole world in His hands

And the arms that hold the universe
Are holding you tonight
You can rest inside
It's gonna be alright

And the voice that calmed the raging sea
Is calling you His child
So be still and know He's in control
He will never let you go
He will never let you go