Nesting: Fact or Fiction

Nesting: the uncontrollable urge to clean one’s house brought on by a desire to prepare a nest for the new baby, to tie up loose ends of old projects and to organize your world.


I have recently been bitten by the “nesting” bug in a huge way. I can feel time is ticking away and Baby H will be here before we know it and I have a million things that are piling up and I am anxious to get done around the house like re-organizing the kitchen, cleaning the carpets, dusting everything, and trying to get all the baby stuff organized and ready. When I do start to clean and organize, everything takes me double the time and I feel like I can’t get through all the necessary things that need to be accomplished prior to the baby arriving, and I am left feeling unaccomplished. After feeling this way several times I started to ponder the whole concept of “nesting” Is this something that naturally happens to all pregnant women? Is it hormonal or is it something that has been conjured up in our heads over many years from other pregnant women? In my opinion it is a little bit of column A and a little bit of column B. I think it is instinctual to want things ready for your little one, but I do think the concept of nesting has grown tremendously over the years and has become a “hot” topic among pregnant women, pregnancy blogs, websites, and forums. Is the baby really going to care if the junk drawer is organized or is it more important that mom and dad are rested, de-stressed, and connected for baby? I think I will go with the later and hope it is awhile before baby see’s the junk drawer.

A Victory for My Husband

Good Morning Bloggers,
Hope you had a great weekend. We did. We were back in Joey's hometown and were able to see his Nana, Mom, Dad, and step mom which was great because the next time we go back we will have baby H with us! Very soon we will be going from a twosome to a threesome.

While we were back visiting family, there was something else that was very important to my hubby and that was the Iowa vs. Iowa State football game. Joe went to Iowa State and cheers for them but also cheers Iowa. He has had family members play for both teams so at times he is torn. For this game though he was cheering for Iowa State. It is a huge game because these two teams are BIG rivals and the game was in Ames.

Well guess who won??????????????????????????????????

IOWA STATE
Joe did a big victory lap when it happened. It was a great game with 3 overtimes!
Below is a picture of Joe and his good friend Jay who happened to be back in Albia sporting some gear:

34 Week Update

Happy Friday Bloggers,

The weekend is right around the corner!! yeah! This house is getting ready to break out our red and gold to cheer on the Iowa State Cyclones vs. Iowa Hawkeyes although we also cheer for the Hawkeyes since Joey's cousin is on the football team!!

More importantly than football, how about a baby update:

I am currently 34 weeks along! It has gone by so fast, I cant believe that I have a little over a month to go. A week ago I was having a problem with swelling of my feet and calves but had a doctors appointment this week and was checked for preclamsia and toxemia and I don't have either which was a big relief and the swelling has pretty much gone away! yeah! Besides the swelling I am feeling good but it seems like this week anxiousness has set in to see our sweet baby and to know if it is a GIRL or a BOY! Joey has been working so hard on the nursery and it is looking great.

What is going on with Baby H this week:
Your baby could be as tall as 20 inches right now and weighs about 5 pounds. The tiny fingernails are growing and have probably reached the tip of his/or her finger. Baby is gaining weight to reach it's birthday and practicing the skills they have learned like sucking, swallowing, and opening their eyes when they are awake and closing them when they are asleep. The skin is also smoother than ever. The central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine


The baby is about the size of a large cantelope but longer
Have a great weekend!

Fall TV Preview

Good Morning Bloggers,

You know it is fall when the trees start changing, the weather cools, and pumpkins and mums fill the grocery store right? Well you also should know it is a sign that Fall is around the corner when the networks start showing previews to their new TV shows right?

This Haluska home doesn't watch ABC, NBC, or CBS very much I would say we are more BRAVO, ESPN, TLC, MTV, and ESPN 2 watchers. But this Fall season we saw a preview of a new show on NBC that we are going to give a shot to:

It is called UP ALL NIGHT  Can you guess what the show is about??

Here is a little info

Christina Applegate ("Samantha Who?") stars as Reagan Brinkley: loving wife, successful career woman, life of the party and, most recently, mom. Determined not to compromise her career or cool reputation to the cliches of motherhood, Reagan adjusts to life with a baby and returns to work with the support of her stay-at-home husband, Chris (Will Arnett, "Arrested Development"). As Reagan and Chris figure out their new life, self-doubt, sleep deprivation and the pressure of today's parenting protocols rattle their confidence. What's more, the endless needs of Reagan's boss, ambitious but vulnerable talk-show host Ava (Maya Rudolph, "Saturday Night Live," "Bridesmaids"), threaten to throw Reagan off balance.

So basically a show about first time parents, it couldn't get any better right??

Are there any shows that you have seen that looked good?

Taste of the Vine 2011

Goodness it is crisp this morning!!! September has arrived!!!!

For the past couple of years I have been volunteering for an organization called the Junior League of the Quad Cities. I have really enjoyed it and it has been a great source to meet women in the area. Over the years I have slowly taken on more responsibility and this year became the chairwomen of our annual fundraiser Taste of the Vine Wine Tasting. We have been plugging away on the fundraiser since May and now the month has arrived and the event will take place on September 29th 2011. I have really enjoyed working on the committee because I have been blessed with a great group of women to work with that have inspired me and kept the motivation up to make this a successful event. Another aspect has helped me grow in is planning non-for profit events and obtaining sponsorships which is huge when you are fundraising.

This event is going to be filled with entertainment, a wonderful silent auction, wine tasting, delicious food and the spirit of bettering our community!!!

With only a couple of weeks left I know it will go fast and I will make sure to give you an update after the event takes place and to post some pictures from it as well!!!

Have a great day!

Good-bye to Summer, Hello to Fall

I had been thinking about this posting for awhile now and wasn't really looking forward to it because I would have to admit that summer was over! BOO I love warm weather and being outside so I am always sad to see this season end. However, after this weekend I am in a completely different spot with Fall arriving!! I am EXCITED! Joey got all my Fall decor out yesterday and it really put me in the mood for Fall. All the beautiful colors, new sights, new smells, crisp mornings, leaves falling, and fires in the backyard and of course Baby H's arrival!!!!! So below is a mini tribute to summer of the things that I will miss and then some things I am looking forward to this Fall!

Good-Bye Summer

 Sunbathing- you will be missed

Outdoor Entertaining- you will be missed (no this isn't my backyard but I can dream right)

  Lemonade Shake Up's- you will be missed too!

Welcome Fall

 Fall decor. I just added these to my pinterest account and I love them. yesterday I started working on the mantel!

 Carmel Apples- these are apple pie Carmel apples and I think I am going to try to make them as well.

 Fall trees!!! Don't the colors just warm you up!

And finally . . . . . . . . . .

BABY H!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happiness Is. . . . . . .

Good Morning Bloggers,

This morning I have some gratitude statements for you. In my opinion it is always good to be grateful for the things in life that make your heart smile=Happiness!!!

Happiness is . . . . . . . . . .

Watching and Listening to Madeline Jane and Joey laugh and twirl in the rain and saying how good the rain smelled!!

Holding newborn onsies, they are so little I cant imagine what it will be like when there is a baby inside of them.

Embracing swollen feet, this is a sign that the baby is coming right??? ha ha ha ha

Carrying a bundle of beautiful flowers from Trader Joe's to the car, they are beautiful and you don't have to feel guilty for getting them at the great price.

Reading a book on a front porch, this is happiness no matter rain, or shine.

Painting little toes and nails!

Looking at recipes for baking, I am not a good baker but maybe one day I will be!!!

Catching up with family and friends via a phone call!

Starting to plan our first family vacation of 3!!!!!!!!!! Details to come on that!

and
Being loved!

Have a great day and find your happiness!