I’m back to tell it the way it is around here.

• There is too much going on for my liking. We have plans tonight and I don’t have a great attitude about it. But not because it won’t be fun. Just because I’d rather stay home and watch Dateline.
• My wonderful husband turns 31 tomorrow. Why does 31 sound so much older than 30 did? No offense to TC or to anyone else who is 31. I don’t think 31 is old, I just think it sounds a lot older than 31.
• I love my new iPhone. I knew I would, but those first few times took some getting used to. I do miss some things about my Blackberry.
• But I especially love the Wheels on the Bus app for toddlers. And so does Hudson! It saved us from a few airplane tantrums.

• The pregnancy-caused pain is almost unbearable at night. I have gotten sore so much earlier this time than I did last time. My legs, my pelvis, my back. Ouchy wow wow. And every night I go to bed and am so thankful I can be off my feet. Thank goodness I’m in the third trimester because my countdown to delivery day has begun.
• To celebrate, TC’s birthday tomorrow, we’re going to see Taken 2, also known as Unknown. Yay!
• And for his birthday dinner, he requested Bow Tie Fiesta and Not Yo Mama’s Banana Pudding. He could have had any home-made meal or restaurant meal he wanted and that’s what he chose? I love that he’s easy to please.
• Perhaps the above should have been one of TC’s “confessions.”
• Someone told me yesterday that I look “plump.” I love her dearly and I know without a doubt that she didn’t mean any harm by it. I just laughed and thanked her.
• I also heard from a few people that I look like I’m about to pop. That doesn’t hurt my feelings either except I wonder what they’ll say to me in another 10 weeks and I really am about to pop!
• I haven’t gotten my orange push ups yet, but I’m heading out today to pick them up when I pick up a few other things for the Oscar party.
• I did, however, eat Kellogg’s Corn Pops for about three non-breakfast meals this week. Then I kept saying, “Gotta have my Pops.” TC not only found this to be completely unfunny, but I’m pretty sure it drove him crazy.
• I have considered putting myself on bed rest in a couple of weeks, but I’m confident I won’t be able to find anyone to come take care of my daily duties and love on Hudson for free. Unless KK is ready to move in with us right now!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

I absolutely love themed parties! That is why I was so excited when I was asked to throw an Oscar viewing party sponsored by Orville Redenbacher’s and their new Pop Up Bowls.

I am spending a lot of my weekend preparing for Sunday’s party and have been doing a little digging around online looking for Oscar party inspiration. I had some old posts saved in my Google Reader and this one from Bakerella is one of my favorites. These Oscar cookies are absolutely adorable and the way she has them standing is just so festive!

Cookies by Bakerella

Bakerella’s movie marquis sugar cookies are absolutely adorable, too, and can be done with the movie posters from the awards shows from year to year.

For my menu, I am going the more “themey” route and having a meal based around the movie titles of the Best Picture nominees. This is what I have on my menu:

Shrimp and True Grits- traditional shrimp and grits

Winter’s Ham Bone and Collards- collard greens and ham

Blackened Swan Wings- swan errr chicken wings

The Cupcakes Are All Right- black and white tuxedo cupcakes

Mark Zuckerburgers- sliders

and

Tea Cookies for The King’s Speech- butter cookies

My friends and I will be having dinner, playing Oscar Bingo, filling out our Oscar ballots, and critiquing the stars as they make their way down the red carpet. Will you be watching the Academy Awards on February 27?

I have decided to wait until Hudson is 22 months old to begin potty-training. This way he will be all settled in his big boy room, but can still be working on potty-training before his little brother comes along.

When I was in Dallas last week, I was shopping for Christmas decorations (a post for another day) and had to use the restroom while I was in the store.

I saw the most genius thing in the women’s restroom. A bathroom stall that was the answer to my “potty-training a boy prayers.”

If I had ever seen this before I definitely didn’t remember it. Too bad all public restrooms don’t have these!

I’m sitting here at my desk, which we have moved to the master bedroom (all 700ish square feet of master bedroom that needs to be filled with something), looking out our little window. I’m catching up from our week away. Filling out paper work, responding to countless emails, and daydreaming.

My stream of consciousness is something like this…

• Holy preschool, Batman! I am so happy that after 2 years on a waiting list, Hudson got accepted to our preschool of choice which also has a great 5K program. But the paperwork? I am pretty sure my college application wasn’t that thick!
• I would pay someone $20 to run to Target, pick up a box of orange push ups for me, and bring them to my house. You could even stay to enjoy one with me!

• But then I remember that we’re doing Dave Ramsey and I can’t give you $20 to do something that I can do myself!
• But Hudson is asleep, so I can’t do it myself right now.
• I need to do my book club posts! I read the book and thought up questions, but I haven’t done my post to answer them.
• I’m having an Oscar party this weekend, but haven’t done any grocery shopping to get everything together. What am I waiting for?
• I kind of want to go look at fabric to do some dining room curtains.
• But I need to clean out the closets in Hudson’s new room and the guest room.
• Can we have a garage sale before the baby is born?
• I’d love to announce his name in big bold lights, but I have a feeling I’ll regret not waiting until he’s born.
• My mind keeps thinking of the dream vacation that I want to take to Napa or Costa Rica after the baby is born. Preferably in the fall.
• That Rockaway burger I had for lunch was delicious.
• And it was even better that I got to enjoy it while sitting outside!
• I had a fantastic doctor’s appointment today and saw some sweet cheeks on our precious baby boy #2. I cannot wait to meet him and kiss those cheeks!
• Hudson has another ear infection, but acts like he’s feeling great. He’s such a funny kid!
• We’re going to see an ENT soon. Tubes are in our future!
• I really want those orange push ups! Don’t they look delicious?