Just a wee bit excited

You know how it’s fun to add things to your to-do list after you’ve already done it, just so you can cross it off? It’s just as fun—if not more so—to do that with a bucket list. I’m transforming my old “baby bucket list” into a “before I die bucket list” and adding “Flash Mob” to my group of must dos.

Funny thing is, we’re going to be in one today.

“We? Who’s going to be in one with you,” you ask. “Surely not your husband.”

Heck no, Lil’ J and I are going to be flash mobbing it up doing chants and dancing with other moms and their babies at Whole Foods.

I hardly ever step foot in that place. It’s too expensive. But I along with a dozen or so other moms are going to pretend like we’re shopping and join in on the dancing and singing with our babies when we hear the cue. My yoga instructor organized this, and we’re expecting a pretty good turnout.

I’m working all day but I’m planning my lunch break around this so I’ll grab a meal at the salad bar right before the routine kicks off, or right after, and have some fun in between. My husband is meeting me there with Lil’ J and hopefully a video camera (he promised) so I’ll be sure to YouTube and post the success (of failure) after.

Wish us luck!

*Update!!* It SNOWED! So the flashmob is getting rescheduled. Now I can officially add this to my list cause we MUST be in one!

If you haven’t seen a flashmob before here’s an example. Though don’t expect ours to look like this, this is the funniest one I’ve ever seen.

The Baby Bucket List

I never dedicated a post to this topic, and now that I'm mentally going back and forth on timing, and with pressure more than ever from my best friend--who first wanted me to wait to have a baby when she did... Then said I could go ahead and she'd catch-up on the second... Now knocked up herself and pressuring me to hurry up and do the same (love you girl)--I've decided to really think about what I want--And what I think is possible FOR ME to handle before and after a baby.

First, the would likes. These are things that aren't absolutely necessary, but I would like to have them done before I even get pregnant.
-Shape up: I really hope I can do this, I kind of feel like it's now or never. I'm trying to get into a habit of running with Snoop every day but it's really hard for me to get motivated!
-Take a dance class with my hubby: The reason I say before I'm pregnant is because I doubt I'll have time to do after we have a baby and I think I'll have a lot on my mind when I am, and less energy to talk him into it.
-Swim with dolphins: I'm not sure they allow pregnant women to do this so I'd like to do it either before, or way later when my kids can do it too.
-Take the GRE: I think if I don't do it now I won't do it for a long time, and I'd rather attempt to study cram now and possibly go to grad school cause I know I'll be more distracted once babies come along.
-Visit New York City: I could do this while I'm pregnant but I'd rather not be on the phat end of my pregnancy. I'm actually hoping to go this fall, so I can cross it off my list.
-Start grad school: I'm not sure how I'll do this as fast as I'd like but I'd love to get a Master's Degree just so I have more options later in life.

Some things that I would like to have done before I have a child, but I could complete them while I'm pregnant, or possibly even after having a baby.
-Feel comfortable in the kitchen: I'm there for the most part. I like cooking now, and I only hope to get better before and after pregnancy and kids.
-Have a 3-month food supply: I'm getting there as well. I have been busing water jugs and pasta every time I'm at the store, and I have a lot of MREs so hopefully we're almost there.
-Learn Yoga: I really want to do this because I hear it's helpful during pregnancy for stretching, and it's relaxing. I think it'll be a nice activity for a stressed mind.
-Visit Trinidad: My hubby lived there for a year on his mission, and apparently my ancestors are from that country. I'd love to take an exotic vacation there, but I also wouldn't mind bringing our kids along one day if we could afford it.

Some things that I would absolutely like to have done before having a child and possibly even before I get pregnant.
-Get REALLY good with God: I'm good with God. He and I, we have a good relationship. But I'd really like to have a plan down of visiting the temple more, reading my scriptures daily... All that good stuff.
-Eat better: I'm already starting to do this, but I'd really like to be in a habit of eating well so it's easy to continue while I'm pregnant. I worry if I can't do it now, I won't be able to later.
-Get my dental work done: Nothing too drastic, just figure out how many cavities I really have and get them filled before it's too late.

A few other things I'd like to have done ASAP just to make my life easier would be:
-Complete grad school: Like stated above
-Out of debt: We don't have student loans or credit card debt but I'd like to pay off our only "real debt"...our second car.
-Sell my condo: If I wait until this happens it'll be at least another year and a half. Luckily we have a wonderful renter to help with the mortgage but I'd feel even better if I DIDN'T OWN IT!
-Buy another house: I don't want to do it until our condo now is sold but I'd REALLY like to have a house of our own again before we have a kid, preferably my dream house, in a place we'd like to call home forever, because I hate moving.
-Have my own company (or lots of freelance work) on the side, or something to that effect that I could eventually solely do from home.

As I look at this overwhelming list I wonder how long it will take and when it'll be possible. I actually hoped next month at one point, then maybe December, but now, dwelling over this... Who knows!

I'm really discouraged and wondering how long I should wait. Maybe another 5 years wouldn't be so bad... Jeez. I wonder if I could suppress the urge that long. Some days the urge overpowers everything, but then there are days when I dwell on these things and it squashes my baby dreams for awhile. I know having (most of) these things first isn't more important than having a family but sometimes I wonder how specific the order needs to be. I'll be better off for sure if I complete some of these tasks first. I could focus more on my family when the time comes, and probably have less struggles and frustrations, but would my internal frustrations until then be stronger?

To make myself feel better I'm going to list what I feel like I've accomplished and blessings I've recieved in nearly 5 years that's prepared me for a child.
-Earned enough scholarships to pay for college and then some
-Graduated from college (with a 3.3 and I'm very proud of that)
-Bought and paid off my (crappy) car a year later
-Bought a another reliable, safe (possibly family) car that we hope to drive FOREVER!
-After 3 years finally convinced my husband we should get a dog (good practice)
-Bought a condo
-Got several jobs building up my career
-Have several months worth of savings
-Practiced babysitting lots of cute kiddos
-Gone on two cruises as a couple and several vacations (couple time important)
-Signed a contract at a news station in a city with warm weather
-Got TIVO (yes, this was actually on our baby bucket list)
-Signed up for premuim health insurance which is for the most part da bomb dot com!
-Began to like to cook
-Started collecting food storage
-Eating less french fries (hey, it's hard, it's my favorite food)
-Found a church ward we LOVE and started a calling I adore
-Searched pondered and prayed A LOT about expanding our family

Ok I'm depressed now. Were/are your baby bucket lists this long? How did you decided to proceed?

The Countdown Pt1

As I continue my countdown towards turning the baby making machine 'ON' I've decided to up my "to do" list. Yea, some of the stuff on my bucket list I can do while pregnant or when the spawn is born, but I really want to get on as much as I can now. I feel like I'm probably able to cross a few more things off. I think I'm pretty dang good with God right now, although I really would like to have a full-month's worth (habit forming) of nightly diligent scripture reading to feel 100% accomplished.... I'm getting there.

The food storage is coming along. I have no idea how much 3 months worth is, but I have a lot of "just add water" MREs and other crap we can use... If I get a humongous tank of water stored somewhere I'll probably feel pretty fulfilled in that category (you know where I can get that/store that?)

I'm on and off with cooking but hubby is helping more with that lately. I joined a freezer meal group which is helping with that. I have the food in the freezer... Haven't actually cooked the meals yet. But hey... At least they keep!

Still not forming any sort of habit of walking/running. Hubs has been taking Snoop for daily walks so it's left me with no desire to do more, although this week I've already taken him twice. I plan on beginning my real tackle on that next week month. I read it's a good idea to have a regular exercise routein BEFORE getting knocked up, that way you can keep it up while pregnant.

If you read this post, you know I'm not eating that much better yet. My trip to New York is seeming unlikely, the dance class... Even more so. *sigh* I suck.

If that wasn't enough, I found another great article with things I want to do starting NOW to prepare.

Here's a few things the article says are good to check out 6 months to a year before turning your Baby Making Machin' "On"
1. Check-ups. Gotta head to the doctor, just to make sure we're as healthy as we feel (most of the time). We have insurance but haven't been to the doctor in AGES. Might as well take advantage of that free annual checkup! I also need to figure out if I'm healthy, in shape enough, how my blood pressure is, and just ask questions regarding pre-knocked up procedures. I've been researching a family doctor, I think I've found one I may like.
2. SPREAD 'EM! Ladies, you know what I mean! I just had my yearly trip to my crotch doc. And all was swell then! I think I can check this off my list now ;op
3. Talk it out. I'll talk things through with docs... Do I have the tumor I think I have? Am I on the verge of a stroke? Heart attack? Sometimes I don't know... Sometimes I feel like I have an ulcer, a punctured uterus... (remember I'm a hypochondriac) the docs will help me know what's real and what's not, and hopefully give a thumbs up. Also, it'll be a good idea to figure out what I should and shouldn't do relating to work, fires, pig crap, molded homes, 80 pound equipment, dead bodies... I have a crazy job people!
4. Stick me! I've had the chickenpox already... What other things do I need to make sure I'm immune to? Rubella? Do I really need to check for that?
5. Checking my family tree. What kind of genetic problems run in my family, anything I should be aware of? I don't think Cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia run in my family but if they do I should be aware, maybe get tested. This can be tricky cause I mean... I've gotta be sneaky. It's a little obvious to ask "so mom, what kind of birth defects run in our family?"
6. Go to the dentist! I haven't been in about 10 months and if I need any major work and main medicine I want to get it all done BEFOREHAND. I set up appointments for both of us for next week!

Hmm, this list seems to be kind of long. Anything else I may be missing? Something you with you had thought of a year or so before turning your baby makin' machine on? Or am I just over thinking this? Better safe than sorry right?