Happy Halloween...

...from Liam!



This year's pumpkin

This year, we kept the technoloy theme going for the school pumpkin carving contest.  One of my students had the idea for a skull popping out of a laptop screen.  We changed the laptop to a desktop computer, and added the "blue screen of death" (because, really, is there anything scarier for those of us that use PCs?).  And because the contest was part of Red Ribbon Week festivities, we added a drug-free message.

No word on who won yet...we should know Wednesday morning.  Why that late?  Because I'm at the beginning of a lovely 4-day weekend!  Woohoo! 

Skeleton decorations

I just wanted to share some Halloween decorations I made recently.  I bought these skeletons at Michael's a few years ago after seeing a really cute post on Elsie's blog (her old blog...the address escapes me at the moment...actually, I'm not even sure it still exists).  Anyway, I finally got around to making a skeleton couple.  What do you think? 

Tomorrow is dress-up day at school.  It's also the pumpkin carving contest.  My 7th period finally came up with a design today, and I must admit I'm pretty excited about it.  (Remember our winning robot-pumpkin from last year?)  I feel the need to retain bragging rights...and get a pizza party out of the deal.  :)  I'll have photos to share tomorrow. 

152. :)

I had an appointment with the midwife today.  Liam's heartbeat was 152 (which was hard to find, because someone kept kicking the doppler...on the other hand, my boy has excellent accuracy).  And I got a flu shot.  And now I feel congested and am blaming said flu shot...I never get them, but felt like it was a good idea this year.

Oh, this might be a good time to mention that we're naming him Liam.  :)

After the appointment, I went to Babies 'R' Us.  I had one goal in mind:  buy hats.  Not just any hats...

The kind of hats his daddy wears. 

While we were grocery shopping...

...we saw this.  And I was very impressed.

Then we saw this.  And I was very amused.  :)

Fun Quotes and Vans -- Bourbon Chase 2010

• "Haircats $5"  (Spotted on a sign while lost in Lawrenceburg.)
• "Maybe it's a tribute to the plague."  (Ashley, on the halloween decorations that have ghosts making a circle around a tree...and what it all might mean.)
• "Superheroes don't cry...and they don't chaff either!"  (Words of encouragment yelled to one of our runners.)
• "Looks like I have to do the DQ straddle again."  (My new phrase for manuvering into or out of a tight spot...like the bathroom stall in a Frankfort DQ.)
• "It's me...Mike!"  (Shouted by my husband as he ran past our vehicle during his final leg...it was dark and we couldn't see him.)
• "I'm five months pregnant, and I've been to six different distilleries this weekend.  I'm out of the running for 'Mother of the Year', aren't I?"  (Me, making an observation about the weekend -- the runners handed off to their teammates at six different distilleries during the race.  Don't worry, I didn't sample...I just find it a bit funny.) 
• "You're the girls from the bathroom!" (One of the ladies from Children of the Fermented Corn running past us, who we chatted with while waiting for a bathroom stall earlier that morning)
• Ashley:  "...And he was drafing that girl..."  Alisha and I: "That was a guy."  (Ashley had difficulty recognizing gender this weekeend.) 
• "First of all, he wasn't wearing a mask this morning.  Second, we were in the middle of making a Pocahontas video."  (Ashley, on why we didn't see one of our runners go by.  Yes, there is a Pocahontas video out there that involves Ashley singing "Colors of the Wind" and me blowing bubbles.  No, I don't have it.)

And a few of my favorite team vans from this weekend: 

2010 Bourbon Chase

This year, Mike ran as part of a team in the Bourbon Chase, a 200-mile relay that follows the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.   

There were some very creative costumes (this one looks like the wax seal on a bourbon bottle).

"Children of the Fermented Corn" may have been my favorite team name. 

Mike was the first of 12 runners for his team.  His times improved from last year, and he felt much better at the end.  Go Mike! 

Meanwhile, Ashely, Alisha, Hannah and myself saw the sights...including this awesome campaign sign that they desperately wanted.  Alas, they settled for a photo op with it instead. 

The team ran their third and final leg in superhero costumes.  Kids were really drawn to them...the most adorable part of the entire race!  (Who knew a race could include adorable things?!)

And before any comic-enthusiasts get mad at me, I am very much aware that Mike was Night Owl from the Watchmen.  I just didn't know about the costume until the day of the race, and had already made my Super Mike shirt the night before.  Oh well, it still very much applies.  :)

The team ran across the finish line together...

...and posed for the most awesome team photo ever!

I still have tons of pics and quotes to share from the weekend, so stay tuned.

A few pics from this weekend...

...but no details, because I'm saving them for a future post.  But enjoy the pics for now!

Tried blogging last night...

And failed miserably. Stupid iPhone app.

I was going to tell you about my fun adventure with a carload of some of my favorite girls. More about that when I get home.

21w 6d

I'm very stuffy tonight.  I think that explains the frazzled look. 

Check out my newest scrapbook friend

 

This is where she likes to hang out while I scrap. 

Also, do you think cats can sense pregnancy?  This was Lola tonight while I was watching tv.  She's not normally a cuddle-in-your-lap kind of kitty, but tonight she kept her head very still and close to my belly for about 10 minutes.  Last week, she tried to (lightly) pounce at my stomach (I assume she might have been trying to figure out what was going on in there...kind of like she sometimes does with our feet under the covers). 

Decisions, decisions.

So I've been driving my Mom crazy with links to various crib beddings.  After lots and lots of looking, she told me last night that I might not have the "this is it!" moment I had with my wedding dress.  But here's what I like so far.  Which one is your favorite?  

It might help to keep in mind that this was the color we painted the room the week before finding out I was pregnant:

Things that made me smile today.

• Amazing brownies in the faculty lounge (complete with little chocolate shavings!)
• Being kicked. 
• Browsing crib bedding online with my mom.
• A sweet card from the baby's future Sunday School teacher. 

• A envelope full of goodies from the amazing Amy Lapi.

My favorite easy dinner

This is one of the easiest healthy meals I've ever made.  My "I don't want to spend a lot of time on dinner" dinner.  It's changed up a bit from the A Man, A Can, A Plan cookbook

Ingredients:  4 pork chops * pepper * salt * italian seasoning * 1 green pepper * 1 zucchini * 1 jar whole mushrooms * 1 tsp. garlic * 1 can italian-seasoned diced tomatoes

1. In a skillet, sprinkle salt, pepper and italian seasoning on pork chops and cook all the way through.  Remove and set aside.
2. Add chopped green pepper to the pan, and cook on medium for about three minutes.
3. Add zucchini to the pan.  Continue to cook on medium for about two more minutes.
4. Add garlic and mushrooms to pan.  Continue to cook for about one minute.
5. Add tomatoes to the pan.  Stir vegetables and add pork chops.  Allow pork chops to heat up and serve. 

Today's highlights

We woke up early. It was a little chilly, so snuggling under the blankets was a good idea.

We decided to go to Lexington for a few hours, but ran into a small problem with a broken tire vavle, so we spent a little time at the local tire store.

We had lunch at Panera.

Mike treated me to Starbucks.  Probably because I was a tiny bit cranky. 

We went to a 5-year old's birthday party.  He had the most fantastic train cake. 

I made t-shirts with Ashley...and forgot to take pics.

Then we went to the 8 o'clock Ghost Walk with Forrest and Ashley. I don't believe the ghost part of the local stories, but the history surrounding them are pretty neat.

We love Lola!

The new TAAFOMFT challenge is up -- your favorite animal (or pet). Of course, I chose Lola. 

I love the Basic Grey Max & Whiskers paper I used for the background.  I bought it for the other side, but decided that the design was much to perfect to be hidden.  I love the little black cat in the pattern!

20w 6d

The little guy is definitely making his presence known.  I think it goes wtihout saying, but I look pregnant.  I can also feel him moving a lot more.  He went almost non-stop on Saturday.  Most of it's light movement, but I can tell it's getting stronger, and every now and then he gets in a good kick. 

And I'm officially in maternity pants.  Shopping for them is the absolute best -- one would think with all the hormones, I would break down in tears twice as fast as I normally do (oh, yes...shopping for pants is usually traumatic) -- but it's so easy, and so much actually fits!  Plus, they're kind of like classy sweatpants. 

I hope you can forgive my excessive baby blogging this week.  It's been a big week for the little Bess.  Never fear -- I have a recipe and a layout to share this weekend!

Today someone said I was glowing. I'm pretty sure she was right.

Thank you all for your really sweet comments about our baby boy!  I spent today being this smiley, weepy, crazy lady showing off his picture to anyone who would look at it.  I am one proud mama.  :)

I wanted to show a few pics from the rest of the day.  After the ultrasound, we went to Babies 'R' Us to start our registry.  So overwhelming!  I think the pic below says it all:

Yes, he kept the scanner most of the time (based on advice he received from a friend). 

But, he managed to get into the process.  Doesn't he look like a natural with that stroller?  (Don't worry, we're not getting a pink stroller...they just didn't have a non-girlie version on display.)

I should also mention that while browsing the clothing section, we came across what I can only describe as the "Mike Bess Baby Collection", which included the cutest little courdoroy blazer ever, and a couple of ivy hats (if you know much about my husband, you probably know that's his favorite type of hat).  And I thought the clothing was only going to get me in trouble if we had a girl...

And after 2 1/2 hours of analyzing baby things, he was still nice enough to take me to Target and Meijer to look at more baby things.  :)