It's true!

Well, we're pregnant! After a week of telling all our family and friends, I kind of feel numb today. I've been so excited about sharing the news, that after a long week of being ridiculously excited and happy, I feel like I have no emotions left. Kind of sad. Also, I'm crazy tired, which is to be expected.

Here are the stats. We're due October 24th, so right now I am just over 11 weeks along. I'm almost to the second trimester! That's kind of huge. I have had a type of "morning sickness", but no actual throwing up yet. Around week 6 I was incredibly nauseous, and it got worse when I got hungry, so I had to eat, but I felt sick so I didn't want to eat, but I needed to eat because I felt sick....it was a crazy feeling. It's started to get much better these last two weeks, and I am thankful for that.

Daniel is pretty stinking excited, but like me, he is drained after this weekend. We have been tossing around some ideas for names, but nothing has been decided just yet. I assume we will tell everyone our choice of name when we find out what we're having, which should be in about 9 weeks or so. We still have time.

It feels really strange to talk about it openly now. We've kept it a secret for so long that it started to feel like it was keeping the baby "safe", and now I have been nervous that now that everyone knows something might happen.....I know, it sounds weird and I can't really explain it. I'm a weird person and I am also a worrier. Just pray that everything is going smoothly AND that I will stop worrying! I have been dreaming a lot about this baby and everything that goes with it! I need sleep!

Speaking of dreaming, I have had some weird dreams so far, and one of them is pretty funny. I dreamed that we had the baby, it was a boy, and 2 weeks later we decided to go out to eat. Well, Daniel takes the kid and sits him up on the table like he's 3 years old or something...and the baby slowly falls over! I grabbed him and said "Daniel, stop that! He can't even sit up on his own. He doesn't need to be on the table" and Daniel kept grabbing him from me and put him on the table again! Over and over, it was like a cartoon or something. Really weird.

My first appointment is Thursday, so we will see what all that involves! We are so excited and this is by far the biggest thing to ever happen to us.

These are a few of my favorite things

The simplest things in life are often my favorite. I have decided to list a few of these things, because I'm sure someone else has at least one of these things in common with me.

Warm
Really warm towels from the dryer are so awesome, and to make it better, they smell soooo good!

A warm fireplace on a really cold night is such a great thing. I enjoy curling up with a warm blanket with the fire going to watch a movie.

A really nice smelling candle is so great. I got a MacIntosh Apple Yankee Candle for Christmas and I love it so much.

Fuzzy
Really cushiony, fuzzy socks are my favorite. I currently don't own any, but my birthday is coming up in less than a week.......... =)

A super fuzzy scarf is so nice in the winter. I need things like this to get me through the cold months!

Clean
Opening up a new bottle of fabric softner is something I live for. I love shopping for new scents and really love trying them out for the first time. I'm currently using Downy's Spice Blossom Dare.

I really get a kick out of coming straight home from work to wash my face and brush my teeth. It sounds weird, but there's something about washing the day off you, it makes me feel refreshed and relaxed. I love having clean teeth too, so this one is a given. After I wash my face I love to use a really good night cream. I'm currently using this awesome stuff from Oil of Olay.

Organized
I really love organizing things that really need it. I love shopping for organization supplies and things.

Delicious
I really love the smell of bread baking in the oven, but then again, who doesn't!

There's something about the smell of sauteing onions that makes me feel like I'm back at home as a kid and Mom is in the kitchen cooking. Divine.

Surprises

I LOVE getting mail that's actually for me from a person!! None of this junk mail stuff. Christmas time is my favorite because of all the cards and picture cards we get. So fun.

I love love love little surprises! It doesn't have to be anything big or expensive. When I was a kid, Dad used to bring me home things like RC Cola and little toys. The other night Daniel brought me home a chocolate orange! I love these things!!

Well, that about does it for this edition of "Mandy's Favorite Things". I'd like to hear some of your favorites!

It's Quiet Here

Daniel is on a hiking/camping trip this weekend. He left early this morning. So I've got tons of free time! I'm filling it up with fun things like laundry, craft projects, and facebook. =) Actually, laundry is no fun, and it shall never be fun. But it is filling up some of my time.

I am looking forward to Christmas and I've been listening to Christmas music at work during the day. I have created a few awesome Pandora stations that are perfect, and our house is totally decorated. 1- because we love Christmas so much, and 2- because we didn't really have any other weekend to do the decorating. Our schedules are crazy.

So to get you guys (all two of you...) excited about Christmas, here are some videos!







My favorite Christmas cartoon.

Four Things

I coped this from a friend of mine. Hers was way more interesting though...






Four jobs I've had:
1. Waitress
2. Spray tanner
3. Bank Teller
4. Imaging person


Four places I lived:
1. Mansfield, AR
2. Malvern, AR
3. Fayetteville, AR
4. Rogers, AR


Four places I'd like to live:
1. North Carolina
2. Colorado
3. Ireland
4. Hawaii


Four movies I've watched over and over:
1. Zoolander
2. Office Space
3. Waiting
4. The Princess Bride


Four shows I watch:
1. The Office
2. Community
3. Lost
4. 30 Rock


Four places I've been:
1. Paris, France
2. Niagra Falls
3. The Rocky Mountains
4. North Carolina


Four people who e-mail me regularly
1. Freddy
2. Jewel
3. Daniel
4. Heather


Four favorite things to eat:
1. Italian food
2. Chips and Salsa
3. Hyper Stripe Popsicles
4. Cheesecake



Four places I'd rather be:
1. at home being artsy craftsy
2. snow skiing
3. in Hobby Lobby
4. with Family


Four things I'd do with 1 million dollars:
1. Save it
2. Travel
3. Invest it
4. Pay stuff off


Four things I look forward to this year:
1. Thanksgiving
2. Christmas
3. Baby showers
4. Family time/making memories

FOR SALE!

1997 Honda Accord LX.

193,000 miles

4 door

Automatic

4 cylinder

Power windows/locks

Great mileage, between 25-32

Original radio/tape deck

Only two owners, including myself

ONLY $3,250!

Email me at mandyhamrick@gmail.com with any questions.

Customer Service

The other day I was at Wal Mart getting groceries, and getting ingredients for a dessert I wanted to make. The recipe called for Lady Fingers, but Wal Mart didn't have any. Actually, the lady I asked in the bakery was pretty rude. So I went online and Google'd Harps. they had an email address you could email with questions. I sent them an email, and it has proved to me that they go above and beyond to help customers find what they need. Here's the conversation.




Does Harp's carry Lady Fingers of any kind?

Thank you
Mandy



Dear Mandy,

Thank you for visiting our web-site and for your interest in our bakery products. We do carry Lady Fingers in select stores. They are unfilled and come 12 to a package for $1.99. If you will tell me where you shop, I will make sure we have some for you.

Best Regards,

John C.

Director of Bakery and Deli Operations




John,

Thank you so much for getting back to me so quickly! I live in Rogers and have not visited any of the Harp's stores in the area yet. Is there one close by in the Rogers area?

I also was wondering if Harp's carries Provel cheese. My mother lives in Farmington and was wondering, so I told her I would try to find out.

Thanks again for the quick response!

Mandy




Dear Mandy,

I would recommend our Harps store at 715 N. 2nd Street in Rogers.

John F.- Bakery/Deli Manager-Rogers (Not the same John as before)

John F.,

Do you stock Provel at your store? Also, please let me know if you have Lady Fingers in stock so I can tell Mandy. Provel is available through Kehe or DPI.


Thanks,
John C.




John C. , I do have Lady Fingers in stock. The Provel cheese, I will need to order and get in. The quickest time I will be able to receive the cheese is on 10-27-09. Thanks for sending the business my way. John F.



Hi Mandy,

Our store on 2nd street in Rogers has the Lady Fingers you were looking for and will be ordering in the Provel for next week.

Thank you for your business!

John C.





So there you have it. They went to a lot of trouble just for me to make a dessert, and for my mom to have some cheese. So, if there is a Harp's near you, please go there and buy something from their bakery. It's the least I can do to thank them for helping me out.

My New Favorite Website

A friend of mine recommended this website (blog) to me a few weeks ago, and ever since I have been addicted. I check it daily for new posts, and explore all the past posts during the rest of my day. It is one of the best sites I have seen in a long time. It's just hilarious.

Check it out.

http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/