Baby Weekend #1

Let me tell you, registering for a baby is NOTHING like registering for your wedding. Wedding registry, to me at least, was sheer bliss. Baby registry.... not so much.

There is a WALL of bottles people. A WALL. How the heck am I supposed to know which one of those bottles my baby will be using? No really, that was a real question so please respond in the comments section. Then there was an ENTIRE isle dedicated to breast pumps. Um, that goes where and does what? And how much did you say that was? Oh, only $275.00, just checking. Most of you are probably thinking at this point in the post, "Wow, she is not ready". And you're probably right, but to reassure you readers who are already scared for my unborn child, let me assure you- my mom will be coming when I have the baby.

After Eric and I meandered down every isle scanning who knows what- we finally finished. We looked at each other like, "I am overwhelmed AND this is all your fault!" And then the baby blankets and boppy pillows cleared, as if it were a sign from God, and we were drawn to the middle of the store. Oh sweet middle of the store. The clothes section!!!! (Cue heavenly music) We looked at each of these small items with such delight. We looked at each teeny tiny tennis shoe with wide eyes and giggles. So adorable, so small, so... trendy! We should have started there even though the registry people at the store say not to register for clothes or shoes or things like that because their inventory changes too quickly. I say BOO to that. We found our sanity again in the middle of the store. We couldn't help ourselves and it was just what we needed to remind ourselves how awesome baby Hoff is! Thank you adorable Carter t-shirts, your clever embroidered phrases made me grin from ear to ear. Thank you baby puma shoes, you made me want to squeeze your head off your shoes are so cute. Thank you onesie pajama outfits with animal feet, you even made my husband squeal with delight!

We've got one more store to register at and then baby weekend #1 will be coming to a close. Shout out to my sister and Eric's sisters for their guidance and support. They have helped so much when I have my melt downs over which bib is best. Also, just in case you were wondering (after this very sarcastic post) We truly are thrilled that we are having this baby boy and..... we really did find our sanity again in the clothes section :) .

Baby Bump pic to come soon!

Hellooo soup weather

Hello soup weather. I can't believe my surprisingly southern self is saying this in the great state of ALABAMA, but for real, this has been one cold winter for the south and what better way to warm you up then a hot bowl of your favorite soup. My friend Lillian has a fantastic blog called A Bride in Boots and recently shared this wonderful website. I found several receipts to try! Perfect for these chilly days we've been experiencing lately and as Lillian so perfectly put it, CARBOLOAD people... it just feels good! I think my nesting instincts are kicking in or maybe I just feel good enough to cook now- either way I am enjoying this new fervor for the kitchen. I have been looking for a yummy cheesy soup lately and I'm trying this one TONIGHT complete with the bread bowl of course.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

... and this one later in the week. Don't you just feel warmer looking at it?

Valentines Day Recap...

My Valentines Weekend started off on Saturday with some beautiful flowers from my awesome hubby and a package in the mail from my parents. Inside the package was a card that made me cry (thank you pregnancy hormones) and the most adorable boy clothes ever! My mom bought me some in almost every size so I could see the growth of the baby over the months. So fun to look at and SOOOO CUTE! Baby clothes are too much fun.

The precious card from my parents

The adorable outfits lined up from smallest to biggest

This one had cute monkey feet on it!

Sunday (Valentines Day) my husband surprised me by fixing a fabulous home cooked meal complete with my favorite dessert- Ben and Jerry's half baked frozen yogurt.

It. was. awesome.

My handsome hubby cooking for me :)

Just waiting to EAT

The gorgeous flowers

It's the little things, isn't it ladies?

One of his very thoughtful and hilarious gifts

I hope your Valentines Day was as relaxing and wonderful as mine was.

another "why my husband is so cool" post

OK so if you haven't check out the local joint blog yet you are missing out. Eric has taken it upon himself to start a blog featuring our local businesses. There are GREAT give-aways so make sure you check it every week for a chance to win some really cool stuff from our wonderful LOCAL JOINTS!

Enjoy!

"OH BOY OH BOY"

Big day in the Hoffman household! We are having a Boy! We found out on Monday February 8th and we couldn't be more thrilled. It definitely seems even more real now. Eric met me at the Dr.'s office at 11:00am on Monday. As soon as we began the ultrasound Eric yelled, "I see it!! it's a boy!" The ultrasound tech replied, "No, that's the umbilical cord". But not long after that we found out Eric was right! The ultrasound tech had to show me where I needed to look because I couldn't see anything :). What a surreal experience to see the baby moving inside me... literally just like an alien. We had an awesome day sharing the news with family, friends, and co-workers. We are so blessed!

This is Eric and I nervously sitting in the waiting room before having the ultrasound

Me finding out it's a BOY!

There he is... "Baby Hoff" I know you can see that so well! ;)

I even got to take this CUTE cake from celebrations bakery to my office to share with my wonderful co-workers.

Recently I'm...

Cleaning: the kitchen.... constantly

Baking: oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

Wearing: my brown and blue scrubs... have I mentioned I love wearing scrubs.

Making: grape chicken salad... yummmmmm!

Looking for: some great nursery ideas

Loving: hot chocolate and a cozy seat on the couch next to my hubby

Watching: Lost, The Bachelor (you know you do too), and whatever Netflix movie comes in the mail

Wishing: I would exercise more

Happy: for my friends who just adopted a baby

Hoping: the Colts win the Super Bowl

Reading: What to Expect When You're Expecting

Thinking: my husband looks great in his purple shirt

Craving: chips and dip

Excited About: finding out what the sex of the baby is next Monday!

There and Back

We made a whirlwind trip to Michigan this past weekend, which seems to be starting a trend for us unfortunately. We always leave wishing we had just one more day to spend with family and friends. The reason for this trip was to celebrate a wedding! One of Eric's best friends got married this past weekend and Eric had the honor of standing in the wedding. Here is a recap of the very fast 3 day trip we had in the cold and wonderful state of Michigan.

Eric's adorable niece Marina and nephew Nathan sporting a very crazy hat!

Eric holding Marina... awwwe!

My adorable niece Abbi doing what she does best.... looking SO CUTE!

Eric and Dan (the groom)

My beautiful friend Rachel

The CRAZY bridal party cutting a rug

We miss them already

Here's a tip

I know I have seen similar posts on this subject from some of my other recently pregnant friends but, since I'm pregnant I now have first hand experience. And I have a feeling it's only going to get worse.


Have you ever had someone give you some unwanted opinions? You know, someone coming up to you and sharing their thoughts as though you asked them for it? Let me give you a few examples of my experiences thus far.

"Oh my gosh, I cannot wait till you get fat".
and
"I can tell you are pregnant, your face is getting fatter".
and
"Just wait, your butt is going to get HUGE".
and
"You know you should eat something, you don't want to be an anorexic pregnant person".

Ummm, thanks? I mean really? Really? I hope some of you are laughing because when I retell these stories to my husband he roles on the ground laughing. I think there is a law I was unaware of that allows people to say dumb things when women are pregnant. I thought I was the one with the excuse to say off the wall comments since I am the one with the raging hormones.

I am not disillusioned, I know my butt, face, and rest of my body will get bigger. It comes with the wonder of growing a baby inside you. But, come on... even when you're pregnant you don't want someone to comment on your newly grown booty. Here's a tip.... How about commenting on the baby bump or glow I'm supposed to have (OK, I'll even take lies). Let's just lay off the "you've grown 3 chins since I've seen you last" comments.

baby bump beginnings

So here is the first baby bump pic at 17 weeks. I know I am just going to wake up one day and have a large volleyball sticking up under my shirt. I also chopped my hair pretty short. I needed a pick me up from the frumpy in-between stage I had going on.

A Great Disappearing Act

Oh so much to tell. But, no one cares because I have been absent for MONTHS! Please let me explain....

It's been since the middle of November since my last post and this is because November 1st Eric and I found out that we are, I mean, I am pregnant. Soon after my last post my nausea kicked into full swing. I mean I was sick people. Sick in the morning, afternoon, and night. After a couple of weeks my nausea decided it would be at it's worst from about 3pm until I went to bed. So I say all of this to tell you that, I wanted to write, I was thinking about things to tell you internet, but, alas, my nausea. It just would not let me get up off the sofa to make it to the computer.

My days have consisted of:

dragging myself out of bed

throwing-up

trying to make it through work

throwing-up

going home

hitting the sofa

throwing-up

staying on the couch until I could drag myself to bed

doing it all over again the next day

Oh sweet relief! It's coming, slowing but surely. I have felt the grips of nausea loosen and I am now starting to feel like a slightly "normal" person. It only took 3 1/2 months!

So here is the fun stuff to know.... When Eric and I found out I had the whole- I'm happy but, scared out of my mind cry. Didn't know that would happen but, definitely did. Eric was awesome, by the way. He knew just what to say to comfort and help me see how AMAZING this pregnancy is. We found out November 1st and told family right away. My parents were the last to know as they were coming that Friday to T-town to go to a BAMA game with us. They were the only family we were able to tell in person. We bought baby balloons and placed them in the middle of the guest room so when they came to our house and walked in their room they were surprised with the news. They were thrilled just like the rest of our family. December 6th Eric had the opportunity to speak on a Sunday morning. With this opportunity he thought it would be great (while he had the microphone and the entire church's attention) to let everyone know that we were expecting. I had no idea he was doing this so when I showed up to the 11 o'clock service I was greeted with lots of excited friends. I was officially 4 months Tuesday the 12th of January. I'm still waiting for my baby bump to show up but, I know it will be here any day now. We are going to find out the sex of the baby and will be able to find out in February. I know I could find out now but, for some reason they did not schedule my ultrasound until February so I'm just going with it. And finally, the baby is due to be here June 29th! Woa... that's coming quick!

So there you have it! I think I just laid out a pretty good excuse for my disappearing act from my blog... right? Well, I plan to be on here much more documenting all of the new and exciting things happening in our lives. Now that I am not bound to the sofa I think its safe to say I will be seeing more of you. :)