30DBC - Day 1: recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself

It seems that I'm always the one holding the camera, so there are not many photos of me running around. This is the most recent one (aside from the belly pics - week 25 is coming later today!) and it's from New Year's Day.



Now for the even harder part...15 interesting facts about yours truly...let's see how it goes.

1. I'm 25 weeks pregnant with our little girl. A girl who just like her older brother is a KICKER! But I love it. With every kick I know that she is growing stronger!
   
   
2. I married Michael the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 2006. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and it seemed like a great time to be married, although the fact the Thanksgiving is a roaming holiday tends to cause me some confusion about the actual date of our anniversary!
   
   
3. Every year we celebrate by eating a HUGE steak dinner at The Hereford House. This year we decided to expand the tradition by celebrating Valentine's Day there as well. I think it is a good choice, although last night we both ate so much we were literally in pain. Sweet, delicious, meaty pain.
   
   
4. I am messy and my mom thinks I am a hoarder. There I've said it. It's is something I'm working on, but I have trouble throwing things away...what if I need them later?!
   
   
5. In conjunction with #4 we have close to 40, 20-gallon storage bins in the house holding all the things we are saving.
   
   
6. I volunteer with the March of Dimes and I love it! I love to share the story of Greyson's journey of prematurity. But I am a very self-conscious about the fact that it doesn't make me sad anymore. I never cry when talking about. Now I will cry when I talk about him growing up so fast - where has my baby gone....sniff!
   
   
7. I'm becoming a couponer. I have a binder full of baseball card holders and lots and lots of coupons that are arranged based on the aisles in my favorite grocery store. Last night at Target I saved almost $12.00 using coupons on things we really need and will eat.
   
   
8. I'm not the parent I thought/hoped I would be and I'm okay with that. Greyson watches TV, probably more than he should but we also read, do crafts and play games together. Being a REAL mom has helped me realize that being a parent is a balancing act and you have to do what works at any given time - even if that means letting your son watch yet another episode of Bob the Builder.
   
   
9. I'm a BIG breastfeeding advocate. Once again I didn't mean to become one. I started out wanting to breastfeed because I'm cheap. Breastmilk is free and formula is expensive. Then when Greyson was born early pumping milk for him became the only real thing I could do for him and I was going to do. Then once he came home and I got him off of the added formula (that the NICU suggested we add to help him gain weight) and on to just breastmilk from "the tap" I saw what a HUGE difference it made it him. He was able to get off all his meds, he was happier and healthier. Seeing the direct correlation to my son only eating what my body made for him and an increase in his well-being has made me want to shout from the roof-tops "Breastfeeding it worth it!" Plus it helped to ease my preemie mom guilt - my boobs made up for the failings of my uterus.
   
   
10. When I was pregnant with Greyson I craved healthy food. With May Baby all I want are things like bratwurst and tater-tots. Oh and my #1 craving - cabbage! Never in my life have I wanted cabbage or even cooked with it. Last week I ate a whole head of cabbage in 2 days. It is SOOO good!
    
    
11. Jane Eyre is my favorite book, movie and soundtrack. I'm rereading it again (probably the 20th time) and once again I am in awe of her depth of character. Every time I read it I glean something new. I am so very excited for the newest version of the movie to come out! Watch the new trailer and fall in love too.
    
    
    I'm excited for this version because it looks like both a good Jane AND Rochester. The BBC version that came out a few years ago was nice, but Rochester was too pretty - he's not supposed to be!! Sorry, that drives me crazy. Part of what I love about book is that they are not beautiful people.
    
    
12. This cracks me up. http://nickholmes.tumblr.com/post/2730763379 The whole Nick Holmes site makes me giggle. I'm so glad that Michael thinks it is funny too. We stay up laughing about things on this page way too late at night.
    
    
13. I love the zoo and have since I was a little girl. Taking Greyson to the zoo it always a thrill and even though we have gone several times this winter I'm ready for spring so we can really enjoy it.
    
    
14. I have trouble sleeping alone and wait for Michael to come to bed every night because I can't sleep by myself. In a pinch I'll just go sleep with Greyson. I think we co-slept so long for my benefit, not his.
    
    
15. We talk about moving all the time, but the truth is that I love our house and I don't want to move. I can't imagine our family anywhere else. I know that in the next few years we will need a bigger house in a better school district, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.