Dana Daily

And I'm not talking about that one back in late December 1963. Oh no. I'm talking about last night. I put the girls in bed at their usual time, 8:15, and we listened to them giggling and talking quietly for about 30 minutes. Occasionally, I would pop into their room and remind them that they needed to get quiet since morning comes quickly. By 9pm my patience was wearing thin. I had started hearing thumping, but couldn't catch whomever in the act and one blamed the other. Shortly thereafter I got in the shower. Normally that will put them to sleep since they know it's pointless to fight for attention because I can't hear them. Well, things hadn't improved. I told them one more time to quiet down and I went downstairs. I heard repetitive thumping, so I stomped upstairs, flipped on their light, told Sarah to get out of bed (she had her head hanging off the bed and her feet propped up on the wall), pulled her mattress of the bed, and asked Sal to come upstai...

And so it goes. . . I had terrible heartburn when I was pregnant with Sarah, but I figured out the triggers and kept Tums on hand. I did a pretty good job avoiding the worst, until the very end at least. With Emmy it started much earlier. Everything caused it and nothing made it go away, short of simply not eating. I've been praying this pregnancy that I either won't get it throughout this pregnancy. However, this morning I was drinking my usual cup of water at my desk, and sure enough, I felt it. I'm hoping it was just a fluke, but it did make me gun-shy about getting water with my lunch so I had Snapple instead. Time will tell, but I was hoping to make it to at least 20 weeks without experiencing it.

Today St. Ursula Parish celebrated Joyce Carney's 50 years of service to the church with a special Mass. Both girls sang with the children's choir, and Sarah played the hand bells. Mr. Brewer kept their performance simple, but the kids did a really nice job, especially well considering they've only been practicing for two weeks. I wasn't able to take pictures because that wouldn't have been appropriate, but trust me when I say, they loved it and they looked adorable. I love that Sarah is off and running with the Arts, and Emmy is trying it out as well.

I only took one picture this week. I posted a few pictures from their first class, and this week's class was pretty much the same. Emmy was close to where we were sitting so this didn't turn out too badly. I asked Emmy how she liked swim class and got a more positive response this time. She seemed to trust the instructors a little bit more as well. Sarah loves swim class so there's no problem as far as she's concerned.

I know I'm going to have a baby. I've done this twice before. But, wouldn't you know, it still seems like an abstract concept in some ways. So what if I feel the baby move from time-to-time. Does that mean it's actually real? I am expanding, time is marching on, and somewhere in the back of my mind I know I should be planning, or at least thinking , ahead. But, I'm not. Not really. We've started getting the nursery ready. But, that's pretty much where it ends. Have I made a list of things we'll need within the first few days of being home from the hospital? No. Have I thought about what I'll need to take to the hospital? No. Of course we have time; we also have two other children, so really no, we don't have time. Ever. Today I decided it was time to buy a diaper bag. Out of the blue, it was time. I got online and looked at all the usual suspects. Based on previous experiences, I know a thing or two about diaper bags. Mine has t...

This is a sign located outside my building today. Should I laugh or cry? Are we temporary associates or is this sign marking a temporary entrance? I read the sign as I walked by and sort of giggled. Then I turned around to get a picture. Honestly!!

I have this rule about not decorating for Halloween until October 1. Thirty-one days of looking at the same decorations for my least favorite holiday is plenty. However, we live in a neighborhood that loves all holidays so to keep up with the Joneses (on some level), I broke and put up some decorations. Let's start with a basic fall picture though. Mums! Now mums I like. And, when the marigolds and petunias that I had in these little pots croaked a couple weeks ago for inexplicable reasons, I replaced them right away. I don't know why they look so pink in this picture because in real life they're a pretty lavendar. I bought this wreath on etsy.com last year and added the checked fabric both behind the spider and for the hanger. I wish we had a solid front door. That window might be nice for a little light, but it makes wreath hanging a bit awkward. The wreath is yarn wrapped and the spider is cut from a thick piece of felt. Now that I think about it, I should put ...

Friday evening was the school's annual marshmallow roast, and we had a great time. It's hard to put into words just why this is so much fun, but it's the best event, in my opinion, that Student Life sponsors. The lower church parking lot is right next to the school's soccer field. About an 3/4 of the lot is roped off for parking, and the other side is a tent with all the fixings for a roast as well as apples, apple cider, glow sticks (Sarah created a veil with hers), and other snacks. Also on that side, is the soccer field where the kids can just run free (or play soccer) while parents sit around the bonfires mixing and mingling. One of the school secretaries is also a DJ and she set up in the upper end of the parking lot, far enough away that she can blast her music for the older girls who want to dance all night and it doesn't disrupt adult conversation around the fires. We had fantastic weather again this year as well. It hadn't rained all week either s...

Today Sarah is seven and a half. She's pushing 8 years old folks. I will never forget being home from the hospital for just a couple of weeks. She was screaming in my arms, all red-faced and angry with seemingly nothing wrong. I laid her down on the bed, put my hands down on the comforter next to her, got really close to her face and said, "Why can't you just be 5." That moment still makes me laugh. Not only did I make it to see her turn five, she's now almost three years past my original goal. We survived. Seriously, I love this age. My mom told me those early school age years are the best. Now I believe her. Hard to believe I'm going back to the infant stage very soon. At least I know they don't last forever and kids do grow up.

All this week the kids at St. Ursula's have been talking about using sidewalks, walking to the building, looking both ways when they cross the street, etc. Parents have also been made aware of proper drop-off/pick-up zones and procedures. Today the kids took a safety survey at recess, and one of the moms caught Sarah with a couple of her classmates. I'd also like to point out that Sarah is a better kid than I was at her age - her jacket is not only on, but zipped. I love these little sneak peeks into "the littles" lives when I'm not around. This evening is the school families' marshmallow roast, complete with hot chocolate, bonfires and a dj. We had a great time last year and can't wait for 7pm. It may be difficult to get pictures given the darkness, but I'll do my best.

PregnancyCorner.com has been my go-to website this pregnancy. This is a picture next to week 17. According to my What to Expect When You're Expecting  app, the baby is the size of a turnip. Pretty amazing. Don't you just want to squeeze and love on that baby? Look how sweet. I have felt some movement; tiny tickly bubbles in the first trimester, rolls starting around week 14, and I felt two kicks at 16 weeks. This pregnancy is a little different to me because once the girls started moving around they pretty much moved all the time. I don't feel this baby as frequently or even as strongly as I feel like I should, but my doctor assured me everything is normal. Up to this point, I've been really focused on being pregnant and all the symptoms that come along with it. Lately, I've been thinking more about actually having a newborn at home, and seeing Sal as a father (to a baby). Honestly, I can't wait to get started.

In today's installment of places I want to visit, here are stock pictures from Shenandoah National Forest. I believe I traveled through this area on a business trip, but it's only five hours from Pittsburgh and I want to go. I need to do some research. We visited a couple national parks this year; what's another one? I'm sure there's a lot of Civil War History to be explored as well. Like I said, research.

Here I am at 16 weeks (and 4 days, to be exact). My belly is 40.5 inches around. Unfortunately, I didn't measure myself when I was pregnant with either of the girls to compare, but I do know I'm a lot bigger a lot earlier this time. As a result some tasks are becoming more difficult to accomplish, like getting off the couch. I'm a fat girl in a bean bag chair. (That's a Friends reference.) Overall though, I am feeling well and finally just enjoying this. While I'm experiencing fewer symptoms related to the hematoma and placenta's location, we won't really know the status of either "condition" until my 20 week ultrasound in October.

The girls took swim lessons a few years ago, but when I divorced their dad that was one thing that ended up being dropped. He enrolled them in soccer this past Spring and for several reasons I decided that I didn't want to sign them up again. I saw and ad for swim classes posted outside the intermediate school, and it was in the back of my mind that maybe it was something the girls would like to try again. I debated saying anything to their dad, but he actually approached me about it. I took it as a sign and said it would be fine. Sarah went to a play camp over the summer and had pool time every day. I was so impressed to see how well she does. She also loves it. She was very enthusiastic when I asked her if she wanted to take lessons again. I was quite surprised to see her swim to the middle of the pool on her own. While her motions weren't necessarily fluidic or coordinated, she certainly had all the motions down, arms scooping, feet kicking, and head alternating sides as...

Today was the home opener for the Pittsburgh Steelers. To make it even more exciting, they were playing Sal's team, the Cleveland Browns. I found a Steelers maternity shirt on clearance and so we decided to wear our colors to church. So many people stopped us after Mass to comment on Sal's jersey, including the priest and deacon. I'm sure they were all thinking of him as the Steelers took a large early lead only to nearly lose the game in the second half. It was all luck that got the Steelers a win, or maybe it was the 100lbs of Hershey kisses I ate. I had a few during the first half and then at halftime I fell asleep. (I told you I sleep a lot) I woke up just as the fourth quarter was beginning and it appeared to me as though the two teams had switched uniforms in the locker room. I started pounding the kisses and the Steelers started shaping up. They won by a field goal with about 10 seconds left on the clock. I guess it's going to be that kind of season again .

I finished painting the yellow stripes on the nursery wall back in August, and the next step was to  remove the carpet.  Sal had some time on Saturday, and by himself ripped out the carpet and padding. He also got the tack strips and staples out of the floor. So, what I was I doing the entire time? Sleeping. That's right. Sleeping. The doctor has ordered me to take it easy thanks to a subchorionic hematoma and placenta previa. I haven't been put on strict bed rest, yet, but I have been told to not do any kind of physical labor or lifting. Being told to rest worked out great because I still have days where I am just completely exhausted, and resting (or sleeping) is all I can do anyway. I feel bad for the girls because we get such limited time together, but they are old enough to understand why I feel the way I do. They don't seem to hold a grudge.  More pictures will come of the baby's room as we start to decorate.  A dry sink that belonged ...