Hi wonderful friends! How have your weekends been? Mine has been fabulously low-key. Things have been so busy lately I needed some time to relax. When constant fatigue and headaches plague you, a weekend with nothing to do is your best friend.

Saturday included no plans besides hitting up the gym in the morning and accomplishing a few of the chores I too easily push aside during the week. Success. I did Power in the morning and felt energetic afterwards for about 2.2 seconds and rounded out the day with some laundry and cleaning all around the house. A crazy thought, though, was that I almost could have been in a bad accident.

I didn’t leave the gym right after Power because I stopped to talk to a friend/instructor who just got engaged. This put me leaving a few minutes later than normal. As I was leaving the gym I heard sirens blaring and when I pulled up to the light for my street there was a bad accident (looked like someone was T-boned) that had JUST happened. I don’t necessarily believe it would have been me if I left like normal, but it still makes you consider how different situations are connected and intermingled all around us. You never know when one moment could end in a completely different outcome than it could have otherwise.

I don’t believe in predestination, but I do think that certain things happen for a reason. I believe we have a choice, but may feel pulled towards choosing a particular path or decision for a purpose. Even meeting a reader like I shared on Friday applies. It was a last minute decision for our playgroup to meet at that Chick Fil A, but I think there was something to it. After the stuff Stacey (the reader) & I shared later that day in email, I can’t help but wonder if there is some reason we met. Or another example is how Emily & I were only connected through the blog even after going to the same high school and living so close to each other. But then we were able to support each other with our trials and then share in our joys together. We found out we were expecting kiddos on the same exact day. There’s gotta be more than chance to that.

Whew. I didn’t mean for that to carry on so much. I guess I’m saying that you just never know. Be open to new things, people, and opportunities. There’s no telling where it will lead you, but if it’s following your heart, gut, or in my mind God, then it will be a great journey. I was not intending to get that heavy. So I 'will shut my mouth here and end with what this post was supposed to be about. My first baby bump picture!

I’m 3 months along now (about 12.5 weeks) and cannot believe how much that bump has popped already. They don’t lie when they say you show quicker with the second one. Or that you show sooner with a short torso. I’m blessed with both so I get to already sport the bump. I know I still have LOTS more growing to do, but just from comparison to the last time it seems like it's popping out so much faster. I love it though. Something about carrying and growing a child makes me feel so beautiful and confident. And exhausted. I have never felt so tired in my life! At least when I was pregnant with Makenzie there was time to rest. Now not so much. She doesn’t allow it. Instead of Chinese water torture it is Makenzie suck the energy from your life torture. So greetings from me, my growing uterus, and the plum that currently inhabits it. Less than 2 months until we find out if “it” is a boy or a girl!

• Do you believe things ever happen for a reason? Or that one moment can change the outcome of other things you wouldn’t have expected?
• What is the most tiring thing you have ever done? I think it is a cruel joke of irony that pregnancy drains you of energy so much, but caffeine is a no-no for pregnancy. Almost as cruel as craving sushi but not being able to eat it. I might have just a little bit of experience with that right now.

I badly wish the title of this post related to being at Disney World and experiencing the magic encapsulated in those 30,500 acres.

However, it relates to still a pretty magical part of my morning yesterday. As always, Thursdays are the playgroup dates for the Mom’s Group I am in. This particular morning we hit up Chick-Fil-A for a breakfast/snack and some playtime on the indoor center for the kids. After devouring a fresh fruit cup and watching Makenzie tackle the tunnels and tower of terror to the slide it was time to pack up and head out. But before any of that I was confronted by someone.

her -- “Hey, are you Tina?”

me -- “Umm, yes.” while in my head saying “How do I know this person?? I’m usually so good with names and faces!!! Why can’t I remember?”

her -- “Oh! I read your blog! How are you?”

me -- “Really? That is so neat. It’s great to meet you. I’m doing wonderful. How are you?”

I got to meet a reader just by chance! It was really awesome. We were able to chat for a few minutes and realized we go to the same gym. We even chatted through email later that day. Even from the brief encounter I can tell she is such a cool, sweet person and has two adorable little girls to boot. I really hope I get the chance to see her again. Hi Stacey!!!! 🙂

We have been having a serious heat wave here. Did you know that feeling like the Wicked Witch of the West is the new in thing?

I’m melting…I’m melting!!!

At least that’s what I tell myself to make myself feel a little better. Or I spend the afternoons at the grocery store or in the pool to cool off. The pool is much more satisfying.

Not only does it help keep us cool for the time being, but it also helps me entertain little Ms. ‘Tude as I have so fondly named her in the past month. I love her dearly, but from about 1 to 5 pm she is not my favorite person in the world. I need to get a picture of the faces she gives me. It looks something like this…

…but cuter because in my eyes she is still the cutest child on the planet. I am also looking forward to entertaining her with the free trial membership I received to review Sesame Street E-Books.

For all you moms and future moms out there – keep an eye on the review post coming after my trial period. M’s obsession with Elmo should entertain her and therefore help keep my temper and patience cool, even if the rest of me isn’t quite there. I never thought there would come a day that summer was not my favorite season. It’s here. Fall needs to hurry it up already!

• Have you ever had a “small world” moment? What was it?
• What is your favorite season? Before M,  summer always was because it was when I got a break from school and work. Now, fall all the way! I love the many activities you can do in the comfortable weather.
• How do you keep cool in insane heat? Ideas are very much appreciated!