First Haircut!

So people have been telling us it was time for awhile now. It started with friends and family mentioning that Henry's hair is a little long in places...then strangers started to comment. I stubbornly ignored them. I am his Mama and if I don't want to cut his hair, I don't HAVE to cut his hair! But over the last few weeks his bangs have constantly been in his eyes and...well...if I am being perfectly honest, he has started to take on a little "business in the front, party in the back" mullet style. So, I broke down and agreed that after we had his hair captured forever in his 18 month pictures, I would take him for a TRIM. We are still letting the hair grow, because this mama is a fan of mop headed little boy look, but even I agreed it needed to be cleaned up. So here is how the entire thing went down...

We figured it would be a good idea to take him to a Cookie Cutters rather than a regular hair place. I mean, it just seemed like they may be prepared for the crazy that is an 18 month old getting his hair cut. Turns out it was a great idea. Here is a picture pre-haircut of him playing on the jungle gym.

Yes, they had an indoor jungle gym. And it made Henry's day. Also, I know you can't really see how long his hair is because we have it brushed to the side, but for reference look to his professional pictures taken the day before.

So after going down the slide a few times, he got to sit in a race car seat, which he deemed the coolest seat in the world

Not so sure about the strange lady cutting his hair, but the offers of balloons and suckers seemed to help keep him calm. Right up until...

The bangs. Don't feel bad laughing. It was a dramatic over reaction which lasted about three seconds before it was back to "BALLOON!!!"

And then all of a sudden it was BAM! Big boy hair.*

Look out ladies.

*post haircut Mama may have had her own dramatic over reaction and gone all "super-depressed-I chopped-off-my-babies-hair" on Aunt Boo. Even Mama's can get upset over haircuts sometimes. they are stressful

18 Month Pictures (and Christmas too!)

This weekend we took Henry for his 18 month pictures. The place was running about an hour behind, which put us smack dab in the middle of nap time. Henry freaked out. But luckily we had an amazing photographer who really worked with him. We managed to get a few great shots, both for his 18 month pictures and his Christmas pictures. We bought six poses I think, but they gave me the disk with all of them, so now I get to share!

My favorite

He loves his Henry train

On the go

His favorite toy. For the record, I didn't PLAN on having his picture taken with an iphone. He just saw it and HAD TO HAVE IT.

He was attached to his Mama during the entire shoot, so I got into one :)

I should really wait to show you Christmas pictures until closer to Christmas, but where's the fun in that? So here are a few holiday ones too.

Adorable

That tree is HILARIOUS!

Woody came along, but was never in a pictures that was good enough to buy. Still, Henry was happy to have him for moral support

We lovingly call this one Henry's beach pose. He fought us tooth and nail on every picture, then at the very end he plopped down and started doing this, then flipping over and showing the photographer his back side and smiling over his shoulder. It was ridiculously funny. Or we were ridiculously exhausted. One or the other.

Thanksgiving

It's been a hard year. Maybe the hardest. But it's been a wonderful year too. From Missy's cancer and the death of my cousin to bringing home Cici and loving every second of our first full year with Henry. In the end, we know we have so so much to be thankful for. we having amazing family and friends. We have our homes and our jobs. We truly have amazing lives, and we are thankful for them each and every day of the year.

We celebrated yesterday with my family. All 20 of us. And although the absence of Daniel was in the air, it was wonderful to have our family together for the holidays. Today and tomorrow we will celebrate with Nick's family. It is going to be great.

So, from my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoy your time with family and give an extra hug to each and every person there. You never know what the next year may bring.

A Little Late-ICLW

Well, I am a little late announcing it, but it's that time again! It's International Comment Leaving Week, and since I am addicted to comments, of course I have signed up. But, alas, I signed up right in the middle of the sign up period...making me #66 out of 192, which basically means I won't really have many people dropping in. Or I assume I wont. Maybe hordes of commenters start with number #65 or something. We shall see.

Anyway, for those of you dropping in from ICLW, you can see our TTC Time Line Here. The short version is that I have stage IV endo, and after trying on our own for about a year we started fertility treatments. Three failed IUI's and one successful IVF later we have our perfect son, Henry. We are now gearing up for baby #2!

To update you on our current cycle, that also seems to be a little late. I took at test on cycle day 22 this month, and it was negative. It is now cycle day 32, and there is no hint of starting in sight. OF COURSE I have taken another test, on cycle day 30, it was still absolutely negative. Not even a shadow of a line. So we are just waiting around for the next cycle to officially start. Gotta love infertility.

*If you are interested, there is also a new post up over at my sisters new blog, Kicking Cancer**

Kicking Cancer- A Missy Update

Lots of people have been asking about updates on my little sister and her fight against Grade 3 brain cancer. There is lots to tell, and Missy felt the easiest way for her to keep everyone informed was to start a blog, so here is Kicking Cancer! I will be doing most of the posting over there, and will do my best to keep everyone up to date on how her treatments are going and how she is feeling. I am sure I will still mention her here on Bio Girl from time to time, but if you want to keep up with her progress, please feel free to follow her blog, or check in from time to time.

People have also asked about making donations directly to Missy to help with her medical expenses and to help with cost of living during her treatments. We have set up a tax deductible account with Fifth Third Bank. All the details about how to make donations can also be found on her blog.

Your thoughts and prayers mean so much to us. Thank you for all you all have done and continue to do.

I'm Ready, Are You?

Because it's time for the last Harry Potter*!!

Representing Muggles

And of course, gotta support the postal service (and honor Hedwig *sob* )

We are seeing the movie tonight after work. So very excited. There are about ten of us going, so it should be fun!

On a similar note, yesterday at work I was in a meeting with a woman when her teenage daughter called. The mom did some sighing and took some notes, then hung up the phone. She turned to me and said, "My daughter is going to the midnight show of Harry Potter and wants to dress up..." clearly indicating she thinks her daughter is over the top.

I say, "Oh how GREAT! We used to go to all the midnight shows, but I guess I am too old! I have a Gryffindor tie, hat and scarf she can use!"

Mom looks at me a little shocked, and says "Gryffindor? Is that from Harry Potter? She wants to be someone called Luna?"

Me, "Oh, Luna is from Ravenclaw! You will need a blue and silver tie. And some Radish earrings and crazy glasses if you can get them."

Mom, *scribbling notes like mad* " My daughter said strawberry earrings...should I just give her a stick for wand?"

Me: "Oh, it's radish earrings. For sure. And I have a wand she can borrow"

Mom: *looks up with the show head turn. shakes head* "You really like these books, don't you?"

Me: "Um....sort of."

*part one of course, so we get to do this all again this summer! *Squee!!*

18 Months

Sweet Henry had his 18 month check up today. Everything went amazingly well. As his Nanny would say, he is perfect in every way.

I just cannot believe what a little man he is turning into. Somehow seeing him there at the doctor, where we took him when he was days old, only five little pounds, really brings to light what a big boy he has become. He ran around, playing and laughing in the waiting room. He walked into the room himself, climbing into a chair on his own. He is becoming his own person now. Still our little boy, but also his own Henry. I love him so much it hurts.

So the stats,

Height: 33 1/2 inches ( 75-90th percentile)
Weight: 21 pounds, 2 ounces (5th percentile)
Head 19 inches (50-75th percentile)

So...tall, skinny, normal head. All good news :)I just can't believe how fast time is moving. Everyone told me, but I had no idea...

"Mama, can we stop talking and start playing?!?!"

68% Sure

I usually don't mind to not drink alcohol when we are trying to get pregnant, but for some reason this weekend the idea of yet again not drinking wine at a big event like Ryan and Arielle's wedding was just annoying to me. How many times do I not drink "just in case". And time and again I am of course not pregnant and having a glass of wine wouldn't have mattered in the slightest. I am not a big drinker, not by any stretch of the imagination, but it just feels like everything we do seems to fall in the two week wait window. And it's getting old.

So, I decided that for the first time I was testing really early. I bought an early detection pregnancy test that said it was 68% accurate six days before a missed period. I didn't know they could be that accurate, but I was exactly six days from the end of this cycle, so I bit the bullet and tested early. And it was negative. Clearly negative. And I was fine. Really fine. I hadn't taken the time to get hopeful on this cycle, I was still at "maybe", nowhere close to "definitely!". 68% was good enough for me to feel comfortable having two glasses of wine at the wedding. No more than that... because I am still a touch of crazy and was aware of that pesky 32%, but it was nice to not give up wine at the wedding for a pregnancy that doesn't exist.

I have never understood you all who test so early. I looked at it as a a waist of money, since they aren't as accurate I thought I would talk myself into it being wrong anyway. But that isn't happening much*. The hope that is usually setting into a cycle by day 25 (today) is not there this time. I am completely at peace with this being negative, and that is such a great feeling. Not as great as it being positive, but false hope is a real bitch.

*Of course, I do keep telling myself that it isn't a 32% chance I am pregnant, just a 32% chance the test wouldn't pick up the extremely unlikely pregnancy. Because I am still a touch of crazy and don't want to let my mind run wild.

Wedding Weekend

Well, the wedding was awesome. We had so much fun, and I have to admit that I didn't even go picture crazy this time because I was too busy enjoying myself! Still, I took enough to capture the weekend rather well. So, here we go!

I didn't get any good pictures at the actual Rehearsal, but I got this great one of the couple at the rehearsal dinner with Ryan's daughter. Love it! And loved the food. You all, it was awesome.

And here are me and Nick at the rehearsal dinner. Where we ate until we were ill. Then packed up food to bring home and eat some more. This habit is probably why I had to borrow dresses for both evenings from my BFF since nothing in my closet was going to fit.

And now the wedding! Well...this is actually the only picture from the ceremony. Because my camera was SO LOUD and very embarrassing. And nobody else was taking their own pictures, so I figured I could wait until the reception. Still, the boys! Adorable.

The girls outside the church (minus the bride...who was with the groom. As it should be)

The bride and groom arrive at the wedding! I know it is dark, but it was too cute to not post.

Me and my groomsman. Nick gave a speech and everything. He did awesome!

Charing and Scott

Boo and Chris

Missy and George

Hanging out at our table, which was awesome

Then there was cake

And dancing (and they took lessons, so it was very impressive!)

A bouquet was tossed (As was a garter, but my picture of that came out too dark to post) And everyone had a wonderful time!

Congratulations to Ryan and Arielle. Your day was beautiful. We were so happy to be apart of it!

Big Weekend

Well, it's here. The big wedding weekend! We have the rehearsal dinner tonight, I have the grooms daughter on Saturday during the day (any ideas what I should do with a 13 year old?), then it is off to the wedding at four that afternoon, where we will undoubtedly have a marvelous time. And I will obviously take a million pictures. Because it's what I do at weddings. So... something to look forward to!

Yesterday around ten am my stomach started feeling...off. And I am not about to try to chalk this up as a pregnancy symptom seeing as how I am still only on cycle day 20. Plus Nick said his stomach felt a little off too. So I figure I had to have eaten something or I had a bug. All I could picture was how sick Henry was a few weekends ago. And how, oh lord the memory is so awful, he threw up on me four times during the night. And he was so so sick. And pitiful. And... vomit-y. And all I could think was "Noooooooo! It's the wedding weekend!" I hoped lunch would help to settle it, but no luck. I actually went home from work to lay down around two, and then just had a bottle of Gatorade for dinner. I woke up this morning feeling completely normal, so I don't know what was going on, but I am so glad it's seems to be over and I can enjoy myself tonight and tomorrow.

On the bright side, after only eating a pop tart and two bites of lunch and the bottle of Gatorade yesterday, my skinny jeans slipped right on without a fight this morning! No need to lay on the bed to get them buttoned and no doing 20 lunges so I could walk (not that I normal have to do that or anything...). And they were right out of the dryer! So...score to skipping dinner and fitting in my clothes! It sounds like the start of a wonderful weekend!

The Two Week Wait Amnesia

Isn't it interesting how your mind works during your two week wait. How your thoughts completely change from the start of the wait to the end. My mind goes a little something like this.

Day 14 of cycle. Approximate ovulation.

• I don't think I ovulated. WHY ME. I hate my stupid body.

Day 16 of cycle.

• There is no point getting my hopes up this month. I know it is not happening. My stupid endo had ruined my body and now I no longer ovulate. *mind goes back to first IUI where even on Chlomid I did not ovulate and they had to increase the dose* Damn it. This is a waste of time.

Day 18 of cycle

• Maybe I did ovulate... I mean, I COULD have...now that I think more clearly, I am pretty sure I did. And if I DID, then I could be pregnant RIGHT NOW.

Day 20++

• Maybe...

Day 22

• Probably...

Day 24

• DEFINITELY!

Day 26

• Man, life sure is going to be different around here with me pregnant. I think I am hungry, better eat for the BABY! I am tired too...of course I am! I am growing LIFE! *babybabybabybabybabybaby*

Day 28

• Oh. Right. *crushed*
  

++my approximate location on the 2WW delusional map. I am doing much better with my expectations this month, but still...I feel the hope creeping in.

I think I Speak for all Mom's of Toddlers...

When I say, screw you Daylight Savings Time. We have enough sleep issues around our house without tossing in a "what you thought was seven is now six" wrench into the mix. You would think the worst it could be is that Henry wakes up at his normal time, forcing us to not enjoy the extra hour of sleep. But oh no, havoc as been released onto our sleeping hours. He sobbed when I woke him from his nap at 4:30 yesterday (he had been asleep three hours) because he was still tired. And yet he woke up three times in the night last night, making his official up for the morning call at 5am. FIVE. A. M. I mean, before the time change he slept until somewhere between seven thirty and eight thirty. So five...five is just...cruel.

So yes, screw you time change. I see no need to mess with our body clocks. Especially the clock of an 18 month old. ESPECIALLY when it only lasts eight weeks and then we have to switch back. I believe you just have a mean spirit, and like to watch us cry.

Henry says: Sheesh Mama, relax. Sleep is WAY over rated anyway.
Mama says: Easy for you to say, Henry. You get a nap in the middle of the day. Lucky.

**PS. That eye color...it's still anybodies guess.**

Bachelorette Party Fun

Well, I've got to say it. We did a pretty great job of sending Arielle's single days out in style. It has been a long long time since our group of girls went out for a night on the town like we had on Friday. We drank...a lot. I would say too much, but is there too much when the words "bachelorette party" are involved? We talked, laughed, made complete fools of ourselves, and had a ton of fun being together. Here are a few pictures of the shenanigans...

Out for dinner and martinis. Yes, Morgan on the end is a little young for bar hopping, so her and Charing just came for dinner. We couldn't leave out our junior member!!

Arielle was a big fan of her veil! This was totally worth it :)
Taking shots

Good Times

These two decided flaming Dr. Pepper's were a good idea. The rest of us decided we were too big of babies for such things.

But I did drink enough to actually think I was in this picture...

This seemed like a good idea at the time. Arielle questioned my ability to write, but that CLEARLY says "Arielle loves Ryan". right?

No words needed.

We laughed, we danced to live music, we had an all around awesome night out. And the party is really just starting because next weekend we have the wedding! Woot!

PS. Nick was out at the Bachelor party at the same time, so a big thanks to Granddaddy for keeping H so we could sleep in until 12:30 on Saturday. Lord knows we both needed it :)

Awkward

So today I had to pick up a fake veil for a bachelorette party we are having tonight. I am pretty excited about the party, actually. It has been awhile since we have all gone out together for a night on the town. Should be fun. But anyway, I went on the hunt for a veil. I thought I could run to a cosutme shop near my work,but turns out it had closed down. Or moved. Or something. Who knows. But I was on a time limit, and really needed to hunt down this veil. I thought about running to a little place in the mall that has that kind of thing, but then I remembered the little adult shop right down the street. It will be much faster and I was sure they would have it!

So I go there. I mean, I am an adult. I am not such a prude that I can't handle going into an adult store. I mean, yes, there are pictures of naked women on the wall, but whatever. This isn't a seedy adult store full of dark corners and creepy peep shows. Adult stores sometimes have those, right? This place was well lit, and fairly normal. Okay, so they rent porn, but they also have a rather large selection of Halloween costumes that are rather cute, AND they have a very large bachelorette party section. Which was what I was there for.

So I find the veil and I head for the check out. I get in line, because oddly enough there is a line at the adult store on noon on a Friday, and patiently wait my turn. I try to not be nosy and look at other people's purchases. I mean, to each their own. But then...the guy in front of me...he starts talking to the clerk. He pulls out...oh, why am I embarrassed to type it...I am an ADULT. He pulled out this huge "adult toy", and starts going on an on about how it doesn't work and he wants to EXCHANGE it for a different one. And the clerk...god bless her, she is like, "Well...what's wrong with it?" And I have to STAND THERE. As they DISCUSS the details of what's wrong. And the perks of other options. Based on some of his questions about how these things work, I get the impression he is there for his girlfriend, and WHO RUNS THAT ERRAND for someone?? And I am horrified FOR THEM. Aren't there somethings that just don't get returned, no matter how poorly they work? Have they no SHAME?

And there I am. With my little veil in my hand. Clearly not a regular. Clearly not there for the "adult" sections at all. Just a little girl trying to buy a prop for a party. The guy really should have let me cut in line. Maybe I am a prude after all.

Warm at Last

Well, our new furnace is officially up and running! It is so beautiful. And so quite. I mean, I didn't know that furnaces weren't suppose to sound like an old Volkswagen Beetle when they are running. Isn't everybody woken up in the night when their beast of a furnace kicks on? This new one...oh it's quite as a mouse. It's just divine.

So now we will no longer be at risk of dying of carbon monoxide poisoning in our sleep. Mainly because our new furnace isn't a death trap like the old one, but also because we also installed a fire alarm/carbon monoxide detector that is hooked up to our regular electricity and doesn't need batteries. Because like four years ago the first round of batteries ran out in our detector and I pulled them out one night when the damn thing wouldn't stop beeping. So for four years we have been living on the edge. On the edge with a furnace that was apparently pumping out carbon monoxide like it was nobodies business. But now that we are all grown up and adult (worried about Henry) we bough a new furnace that is not a death trap, AND we installed a warning system in case something goes wrong. We are so responsible.

At least, I think we are responsible. But as I continually bitched to anybody who would listen that "We can't turn on or furnace! It's DEADLY!! But I am so coooooold!" Nearly everyone was like, "Oh yeah, we haven't turned ours on yet. It's cold, but we are saving money!". Um, really? I must be the biggest temperature baby in the world. We would have fired ours up weeks ago! If I am even a touch cold, it's on. I need to be comfortable damn it! I need heat, or air, or whatever it takes to make me feel like I am constantly at an enjoyable climate. When the furnace guys were leaving yesterday they were like, "want me to set it at 70?" And I was like, "make it 72..." when really I wanted 74, but felt like an energy hog to admit it. But last night when it felt a little cool, I bumped it up. And happily listened as my nearly silent furnace warmed my house to a comfortable 74 degrees. I know all you people who keep it at 68 are shaking your head in horror. What can I say, I like it warm!

Halloween Weekend Part II

So here it is! The last of the Halloween pictures! What? Halloween is long over? You are ready for Thanksgiving and have already started Christmas shopping? Whatever. You are going to want to see these. They. Are. Adorable. So, here we go!

So the day before Halloween my sweet godson, Wesley, had his 5th birthday party. I cannot believe he is five.

Anyway, it was a pumpkin carving party, and the kids could dress up...so...these two decided to go all matchy matchy and be pumpkins.

I love how Wesley is holding Henry's hand. He is always so great with Henry, which warms my heart.

Of course Ciciwas a huge hit at the party. I mean, how could she not be?? Look at those cheeks!

The next day was actual Halloween so we took the babies out to trick or treat. They once again insisted on coordinating their costumes, so I give you...

Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf!

Heading out to get candy for the "kids"

Someone is done with pictures and ready to get this show on the road!

The family out pounding the pavement for some candy

Once we got back he had to survey the loot

He deemed it a successful haul. Henry wants to know how long until next Halloween!