Earlier today, after sharing my goal of cooking more new things but holding off until post baby, I began thinking of how I anticipate that time to come. I can’t help but look forward to many things.

I want to cook more again...after things settle down a bit and we no longer have people stocking our pantries. I want to sleep on my stomach again…when my boobs aren’t too full and uncomfortable from all the milk production. I want to get back into my workout groove and see the changes in my body again. And I certainly want to cuddle the little man.

I love pregnancy, but do have difficulty with feeling like I’m not fully myself. I’m much more emotional and moody. I miss striving towards various fitness goals. I prefer my typical eating habits and not the crazy fullness fluctuations I currently experience. I long for the days I have the energy and physical capability to be the active, fun mom and play more with my kids. Right now it hurts to carry M, have her sit on my lap and lean against me, or run around outside with her.

I have just under 4 months left to this pregnancy. Initially, that feels like a lifetime away. Then, I recall the preparation we still have to do. Like getting some new “big girl” furniture for M. Painting two rooms. Rearranging the office into an office/guest room. Cleaning out and organizing the office and the closet to M’s “big girl” bedroom.

I realized 2 of the 4 months will revolve around the holidays. And oh yea…I really don’t want to have to be cramming things in at the last minute to finish renovations like we did before Makenzie. We remodeled our entire upstairs ourselves while I was pregnant with her. We had the final touch of carpet installed on a Friday…I went to the hospital the following Monday. Yea. No repeats of that, please!

Oh, shitake mushrooms we really don’t have much time left!!! Plus, I like my sleep. Baby, I can wait. Maybe, I’m not as impatient as I thought. 😉

• What types of things do you get impatient for?
• Do you ever think something is really far away, but then it ends up being much closer than expected? I always do. I’m a huge procrastinator because I always think I have plenty of time. Good thing I tend to work well under stress.

Oh. My. Goodness. This weekend completely exhausted me! I don’t think I have taken a break since Friday afternoon at 4 pm. This weekend would certainly fit under the “fun” aspect of how I live a fulfilling life, but I need some empty hours this evening. Which is why I plan to sit around, have my legs rubbed, catch up on blogs, and well…pretty much nothing else the rest of the night.  Get ready for a fairly picture heavy post. Sometimes those are the best though. Don’t you agree? 

I spent Friday afternoon/evening at my friend’s rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. The rehearsal part went smoothly. 

Then, we headed back to her parent’s house for the rehearsal dinner. They had a tent set up outside, which was beautifully decorated.

And some family friends who do Italian cooking catered the event. I had some lasagna, salad, and a roll.

Taking cue from my post on Friday about not overeating in social situations, I only ate half the lasagna to save room for dessert. A mocha mouse in a dark chocolate cup. It was tiny, but soooo rich it filled me up.

After giving my toast (which I totally came up with on the car ride over) and mingling for a few hours, I headed home and crashed. Simply to wake up early Saturday morning to go ahead and get some things done ahead of time for the remainder of the weekend. At 10:00 I had my hair appointment for a cut, 2nd coat of color to go back natural, and a style for the wedding.

From 3:00 on, I was on my feet and doing the wedding. My friend looked absolutely stunning.

The venue had such Southern charm, even down to the meal. The buffet featured a wide variety of Southern style casseroles and soufflés. I took a sampling of a baked macaroni & cheese, sweet potato soufflé, salad, green beans, and a roll.

Of course I loved on a piece of cake later that night as well. I forgot to snap a picture of my slice, but here is the complete cake. It screams my friend’s style.

Then, I danced the night away with the abundance of great company at the wedding. We really celebrated! Some of us a bit too much with the open bar. Not me, of course. 😉

This morning I awoke thanks to two brutal charlie horse cramps in each of my calves. My legs hurt soooooo badly after being on my feet all day and dancing. I felt like I had run a marathon! Or what I think I would feel like after running a marathon. Basically, I hurt and I hurt BAD.

That didn’t stop today from going though. I had to lead Sunday school in the morning, attend worship service, and then head to a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese. Thankfully, we had an hour to kill between the party and church so we stopped for a sandwich lunch instead of the nasty Chuck E Cheese pizza. Then, I about lost my mind in the madness of Chuck E Cheese.

I will give them credit that it was much cleaner and nicer on the inside than I anticipated. However, I will never voluntarily go there if I don’t have a very specific reason. The place was a mad house. I couldn’t wait to get out of there. And that pizza – blech! My insides appreciate eating a better quality lunch beforehand.

Now…I’m beat! See you tomorrow for one of the last few posts of September’s 30 Days of Self Love. This month went by so fast. Check out the other posts from this weekend if you haven’t already – Gifts of the Body 4 / Numbers Don’t Matter.

• What did you do this weekend?
• Have you ever gotten those charlie horse cramps? How do you deal with them?
• Lastly…how the heck do you spell mouse/moose for the dessert?