Skol Vikings!

It's that time of year for football... and the Vikings are still in the game! We just need to crush those pesky Saints and then we will have our ticket to the Super Bowl.

In our household, whenever the Vikings play we have to be dressed appropriately. Zelda, the cat, must be wearing her sweater (that she despises), Brady, the dog, must wear his Vikings bandana, and Mitch and I are in our jerseys. We consider it our good luck tokens, if you will. By the way, Zelda's sweater? It was a sweater that was originally on Brady's stuffed bear animal and is waaaay to small for her to the point that it is a source of amusement for Mitch and I as she winds up looking as though her middle is super tiny and her head and ass are huge. Some might call that cruel and unusual punishment, however we like to consider it hilarious.

Speaking of the Vikings though, Mitch is a huge fan and I've become one... mostly due to being married to a Vikings fan. I've always enjoyed football though, so it wasn't a tough transition. And I do so enjoy going to the games! Here is a picture from when we went on our 6 month anniversary (Dec 13, 2009) to the Vikings vs Bengals game. (We won...)



Let's just say that I'm looking forward to the WIN that we will have this upcoming Sunday... we really want that Super Bowl Champion title...

In other news, I can confidently say that I am not pregnant. I was only a week and 2 days late... just a tad bit frustrating when I was wishing and hoping that I was possibly pregnant. Which it sucks, but it isn't the end of the world. We'll just try again! :) This time though? I refuse, refuse, refuse to take a pregnancy test until I am at least 1 week late. I don't want to obsess over it like I did this time... I have too many other things going on in my life as is and I just don't want to add to it.

At least that is what I am saying now. We'll see.

Today I don't have to work until 5pm and it is absolutely glorious to just sit around and do nothing. Sure, I could be doing homework, laundry, cleaning, etc... but I'm not and it feels great! I'm 100% confident that this will bite me in the ass at a later point, but that is future Lindsay's problem. So I think I will go back to my leisure reading on the couch... while wearing my robe with my feet propped up on the coffeetable.

Life just doesn't get any better than that.

I hope pregnancy is contagious...

So there have been quite a number of changes lately.

I recently found out that two of my friends are pregnant. Both of which are in the picture here with me on "Yellow Night". "Yellow Night" was early December (so before either one knew that they were expecting). Ashley had been trying for a year and a half... and Becky's was a surprise. It's just frustrating to hear about other's joyous news when I have no idea if I have succeeded or not. Especially when I hear Becky talking about how stressful it is as she they didn't plan for the pregnancy and it may cause problems with her school schedule.

Either way... it IS a congratulations to them both. I wish them the best. I just wish I knew if I was or not... and if the drinks we had on "Yellow Night" were of the pregnancy inducing variety.

So how is it going with Mitch and I and our plans? Basically, we had plenty of fun with the trying part and we are quickly getting annoyed with the waiting part. By my calculations, I should have started menstruation Monday night... so I thought I would take an early pregnancy test on the Friday morning 3 days early. I bought the test on Thursday evening because I wanted to know if the symptoms I was experiencing were pregnancy related... or mental tricks. As this is something that I want to happen, I figure that my mind is probably creating the same symptoms. Isn't it funny how our bodies work? So I have heard that if you are taking the pregnancy test early that you should take it in the morning for the best results. So I told Mitch I would take the test on Friday morning when I got up as I didn't have to be at work until noon. So he asked if I would call him right away to which I said.... no. See, I just have a problem with telling my husband that we are going to be having a child OVER THE PHONE. That is something that should be done IN PERSON if one can help it. So we agreed that I would get up early with him on Friday morning and take it before he went to work.

And it was a big fat negative.

Let's just say that I was slightly less than encouraged. So I started telling myself that it just wasn't meant to be this time and that we would be successful the next go around. And then... more symptoms. The most frustrating part of all of this is that most of the symptoms are the same for pregnancy and menstruation! Not to mention the highly probable arise of mind tricks.

So I told Mitch that I wouldn't test until at earliest Wednesday... maybe Thursday. So the only thing I have to truly go off of is whether or not my period starts between now and Wed/Thur pregnancy testing. Therefore, Mitch and I have created a quick and dirty communication about the status of my uterus. If no period, I just tell him that it is not a no.

Here's to hoping that I continue to say that. I'm really hoping I'm pregnant.

One week countdown?! Where did the time go?!

It's beginning to feel very real. Very, very real. Mitch and I are going to be attempting for pregnancy in just one week. One week! It seems absolutely surreal and I cannot believe how excited I am over this. I am excited, nervous, anxious, worried, and all kinds of other feelings that I simply cannot translate into words.

As seen with the picture, on our 6 month wedding anniversary, Mitch and I were at Chianti Grill (the restaurant he took me to on October 17, 2008 right before he proposed to me) and I could not help but stare at this young couple that was out with their family celebrating the new addition... their baby girl that was 4 weeks old. I knew I was staring, but I wanted to take it all in as that is something that I want and desire... and we are so close to that now. All that is left is for me to continue eating healthy, continue taking pre-natal vitamins, and to drink more water... in addition to a lot of lovemaking with the husband!

Merry Christmas, Lindsay. If all goes as planned, you could potentially be a mother in the next year.

And yes, I know that I keep saying that I shouldn't get my hopes up for immediate conception, but how can I not? When you make the decision to attempt to conceive... you are admitting that you are ready and willing to have a baby. You do not start trying to conceive thinking that you want to wait another 2-3 years before you are successful. So although I have said that I need to try and not get my hopes up, I now know that as a pointless and unobtainable goal. Truth is, my hopes are up. I am hoping that by the middle of January that Mitch and I will both have a secret to keep to ourselves until we decide to let our family and friends know of our baby news. I hope to be successful right away to spare ourselves the disappointment of each unsuccessful month that follows no conception.

Either way... in one week we are playing for keeps. I can't wait.

It's the holiday season!

Thanksgiving came and went in a blur. Christmas cards have gone out and the majority of gifts have been purchased, wrapped, and placed underneath our beautifully decorated Christmas tree. The stockings have been hung and Christmas music abounds.

And the countdown for Mitch and I to start trying to conceive is beginning to tick very loudly.

Here it is, December 11th. This is my last week of caffeine, alcohol, medium-rare steak, fish, cookie batter, etc. This is my last week of birth control pills. This is the start of a new chapter in my life.

I've always loved the holiday season. Christmas is my all-time favorite holiday and this year it has that "extra" feeling about it. This will be our first Christmas as a married couple and it might (hopefully) be our last Christmas with it being just the two of us.

This year will be Mitch's first Christmas away from his family. Yes, I am stealing him away to Tennessee with me to have Christmas with my grandfather and all of my extended family on my mom's side. Da-Da's house at Christmas time is just absolutely magical and something that I always look forward to. My family has always been one to have traditions and Christmas is full of those family traditions. The reading from the bible and lighting candles for everyone involved with the birth of Jesus Christ. The sitting around in candlelight and singing Christmas songs with the family. The love and the warmth that comes from quality time with loved ones.

It's no wonder why this is my favorite time of year.

An Upcoming Whirlwind of Events

... free time? I will miss you.

So, looking ahead I have discovered that free time will soon become an absolute luxury for myself. This week/weekend we have Thanksgiving and Black Friday (because saving money on Christmas gifts is always a good idea). The following weekend (Dec.5-6) we are visiting Grandma for her 90th birthday celebration and we are also cutting down a Christmas tree with my family... which means that Christmas decorations need to come out and fall decorations need to go back into storage. The weekend after that it is our 6 month anniversary and we will be going to the Vikings game.

Yeah, that weekend might not be a "non free time" weekend, but whatever.

The weekend after that we have Christmas with Mitch's family and Christmas with my dad... and Christmas with Da-Da and all of the extended family on my mom's side is Christmas weekend. The weekend after is New Year's and the weekend after that is me preparing to go back to school while working full time. Once school starts I will hardly ever see my husband seeing that Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays I will be away from the house from 6am-9:30pm, Wednesdays 8:30am-7:30pm, Fridays 4:00pm-9:30pm and a couple of Saturday mornings as well.

...

All while also trying to conceive and make a baby in this belly of mine.

I know that it sounds crazy, but I still want us to try for a baby in December. It is something that I really want and I know that I can make it work. Besides, school is only for a couple of months (under 5!) and that will be finished early on in the pregnancy; which is also under the assumption that we are even successful right away. By the way, yes. I absolutely realize that I am complaining about my upcoming lack of free time when it is all self-made obligations and tasks, but still. I can't say that I am completely looking forward to the upcoming schedule I have given myself. At least I have the TTC to look forward to.

Date Night Traditions and Discussions

Ever since August 7, 2007, Mitch and I have gone on "date night" every single Tuesday that we possibly could go to. We've missed a handful (less than 10) due to illness or vacation, but it is something that we treasure and cherish in our relationship.

It used to be that we would always go to Grizzly's Bar and Grill right here in town every single week. We were known by name by a majority of waiters and waitresses and we were always recognized. Our main waiter for the last year was Dan and we truly did enjoy having him call us by name; joking and having fun with us. We were even joking with Dan that he would be one of the first to know if we were successful in our attempts to become pregnant because that would be the night that I would order the "Kodiak Burger", the biggest burger that they had on the menu. Unfortunately, Grizzly's did not last as they went out of business after 15 years of being open just a few months ago. Since then, we have still continued our date night, but we have made it a traveling date night. We keep trying new places in town and we haven't quite found the right place yet.

It's odd to be jumping from place to place on date night when, for over 2 years, we always went to Grizzly's. Mitch and I both enjoy having traditions and it can be difficult to alter a tradition that you have grown to love. It is a little disappointing to know that we no longer have the relationship with the "Grizzly's Society" that took 2+ years to build and that I will never have the Kodiak Burger to announce my pregnancy to that particular group of people.

We are still looking for a new "home" for our Tuesday Date Night, however I am beyond thankful that we still continue to have our date night. It is so wonderful to have something to look forward to each week and I firmly believe that it does wonders for our relationship together. It is something that I want to continue to do throughout our marriage and I know that Mitch feels the same. Even as we begin to create a family, we both know that Date Night will carry on and we couldn't be happier knowing that.

So last night after our date night at Carbone's, we discussed exactly *when* we are going to start trying to conceive. Previously we have always said "January 1, 2010", but due to my cycle, that is not going to work. So, we are faced with either the end of December or the end of January. This may not seem like a big deal, but in all reality it is to us. December is prior to when we discussed, but only by about a week. January is after we discussed, but a little later than what we had originally been thinking. I am of the opionion that we should start trying in December as it is only a week earlier and we never know exactly when we will be successful. We may be successful on our very first try or it may take 6 months. We decided that we still have a month to make any final decisions, but I think December will win both of our votes.

I also think that we might keep the fact that we are going to start trying in December a secret from most others if that is the route that we decide upon. So far, it is just my mom outside of the two of us that knows of the potential new "attempt date". For some reason I am very nervous about the potential of not being able to conceive right away and I think that maybe if others don't know of our first attempts, it might take some pressure off of us. This is probably me just being silly, but it makes sense in my mind. I guess I need to just try and content myself with the knowledge that what will be, will be.

New Chapter to Begin

Just under 5 months into our marriage, Mitch and I have decided to start preparing for the next step of our life together. We are making plans to start a family and we are determined to do everything that we possibly can to plan appropriately. Just yesterday I began taking prenatal vitamins and even though it is about two months before we actually start trying... I am beginning to feel my heart beat with excitement and anticipation.

The idea of starting a family is both wonderful and frightening all at the same time. It changes your whole life and your marriage which are both things that I do not want to lose. However, while it does alter current situations, I do not think that it is necessarily for the worse. Family is something that Mitch and I have discussed at length and it is a step that we both want to experience together. While things will change, I know that we will be able to embrace the new chapter of our lives with arms open wide.

I honestly think the most difficult part of this new chapter will be trying not to get our hopes up too high when we do begin trying for our baby. There is never a guarantee that we will be successful and Lord knows that I am not one for much patience. This will be our hardest obstacle and I hope that we are successful when we try so we can avoid this possible hardship.

Either way, there is no possible way for me to know what lies in store for us, so I am starting to prepare for our attempts by taking prenatal vitamins. Next on my "To Do List" is to start eating healthier and exercise more regularly. I also want to start this blog/journal as something I can write down my thoughts and experiences as we do begin this new and exciting chapter, or journey, of our life together.