Tom Petty said it best....

Waiting really is the hardest part!

We put in our offer last night and gave them until noon today.

As in 43 minutes ago!

Argh! The wait it killing me....

I talked to my agent around 11:30 and she was headed over to the house to give the buyer some clarification on a few things we were asking them to fix, so I know the ball is rolling, but I want to know either way what's going on!

(And I really want to go eat my lunch but I'm afraid to miss the call!)

Approved!

So I am over the moon excited right now.

Like stand up, do a happy dance, high five your neighbor kind of excited!

We officially got our pre-approval for the loan on our fave (and most $$) house yesterday!

YAY!!

I'm not going to lie I was on pins and needles all day yesterday.

I don't think I've checked my phone and email that many times in my life just waiting for a response!

It's not that I didn't think we could afford it, because we can.

We aren't stupid enough to buy something outta our league.

But the bank will only use half my income when considering our loan. The other half (and quite frankly the larger half) of my monthly income comes from being a sub dental hygienist. As you may or may not remember this post, that's what put a hault on house hunting the first time. Apparently the banks don't like to give money to people who don't have "guaranteed" income. With all the foreclosures out there it's understandable. However when I see how much money I make coming in week after week it's frustrating when they say "Sorry, can't count it."

Well with my new part time (permanent and guaranteed) job I started after the new year we were praying it would be enough even though I'm still subbing 2 days a week making all that fake pretend money they won't count.

Lucky for us we have a fabulous loan guy who worked his ass off yesterday to make this work! I've never even met this guy but I want to hug him!

The best part is, our estimated monthly payment including all the taxes, insurance, etc is what we were paying on our mortgage back in Columbus. Ummm, hello how fabulous is that?!? Seems funny we're going from a 800 sq ft one bedroom condo to a 2000 sq ft 4 bedroom house for the same price. Thank you bad economy and fabulous interest rates!

We're officially putting on our big girl panties and making an offer tonight.

I'm hoping this is it for us!!

(I'm getting all choked up and teary eyed just thinking about it, I'll blame it on the hormones)

Fingers crossed people.

Extra prayers.

Lots of luck.

However you roll....send it our way!

House Hunters

We've finally jumped back into the wide world of house hunting....and what a world it's been. We spent the last two days trekking over the city with our trusty real estate agent looking at roughly 20 houses.

Yes. 20. I'm exhausted.

And it is NOT as fun as they make it look on TV.

After awhile they all start to look the same and man are there some DUMPS out there. They make them look so glamorous in the online photos. Well let me say, photos are decieving!! They only photograph the new updated kitchen, nice windows and big backyard....convieniently leaving out the mold in the garage, the sloping floor and the buckling walls. YIKES!

We lucked out and found 3 good ones. Which in all honesty isn't TOO bad, it just means less to weed through. There's definitly a front runner between them, of course the most expensive. What can I say, I have expensive taste! However it's the biggest, move in ready and would be a long term house as opposed to the others which would only last 3-5 years (or baby #2) before we outgrew it.

We hear the final word from the bank today on our loan situation. Ideally we would of had the pre-approval done FIRST, but I didn't get them all our paperwork in time (oops, my bad!) so fingers crossed we haven't overspent our budget!

Bump Day -- 17 Weeks

(Not gonna lie, this is letting it out as much as I can, note the weird second mini bump, that's the Easter candy bump. I can still suck a good portion of it in which usually means it's still not all baby. Le sigh. Never thought I'd be bummed I didn't have a belly....or that I would post a picture of my flab on the Internet.)

How far along? 17 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: This week, up 1 pound. Total, still down 2. I think my days of losing are behind me. Oh well, I am growing a human after all!

Maternity Clothes? I'm breaking down and buying some maternity scrub pants. It's just not pretty or comfortable anymore. No body needs to see my crack! Thankfully I found some pants online for only $19.99 a pair. I'm not messing with the tops, I will just wear a maternity tee.

Sleep: Slowly starting to get some more spunk back!

Stretch marks: No, but as I start filling out I'm looking at my stomach with a fine tooth comb, just waiting for one to pop up.

Best moment this week: My MIL has started coming up with "grandma" names when she signs her emails to me. So far we have the Graminator and Gramalicious. I almost peed my pants.

Movement: Yes ma'am! Not much during the day, but as soon as I get home from work and put my feet up it's nonstop swimming in there! I just wonder what he/she is doing...laps??

Food cravings: Well my sweet tooth is back. I wouldn't call it a craving, but I'm definitely indulging in the chocolate a bit more. Damn you irresistible Easter candy!

Gender: I could go either way this week....mother's intuition is starting to wear off. Don't forget to cast your vote!

Labor Signs: Nada.

Belly Button in or out? In

What I miss: Feeling cute. I'm in the phase where regular clothes look bad, but maternity is still too big....and naked is by far the worse. Oh, and the zits that keep popping up on my face aren't helping either. We won't even mention the fact that I STILL haven't done anything about my hair and my eyebrows are starting to look outta control. At least once I day I ask my hubby how he can even stand to look at me.

What I'm looking forward to: Looking like a cute pregnant woman with that motherly glow everyone talks about.

Weekly Wisdom: When you continuly hear people balk, "OMG you're FOUR months pregnant?!?" in reaction to your non-existent bump....try not to punch them in the face.

Milestones: Maternity shopping with my mom! It was our first mother-daughter pregnancy experience....I think she got just as big a kick out of that fake bump as the hubs did!

Flashback Friday (a little early)

So one of my good friends has a new Celebrity Gossip blog and has started Flashback Fridays! This weeks topic is 80's TV star. Be sure to go check her out and post your own favorite 80s star before they were famous! Here's mine:

Leonardo DiCaprio

Long before he was saving people on the Titanic, he was Luke the homeless boy on Growing Pains. I had a HUGE grade school crush on him!

Ummm....why was I here again?

I find myself muttering this more and more everyday. I've always been a pretty responsible person. Not someone who forgets things easily. The girl who could go to the grocery store with no list and still manage to remember everything she needs. Dates and schedules? No problem. I've got a Blackberry built into my brain.

Yeah. Well....not anymore

Pregnancy brain has kicked in BIG time! Half the time I swear I'd leave my own head at home if it weren't attached!! Take yesterday for example..I went to CVS for 2 things..TWO! You think I managed to leave with both items? Nope.

I blame it on the Easter Candy. I got distracted by the pretty colors and the beautiful array of chocolaty goodness. So I forgot the face wash....at least I have the family sized bag of Cadbury Eggs to get me through the day week.

And now today I sit here at work and realize...I didn't put on any deodorant this morning.

Swell.

Dude....my wife is pregnant?

So during this whole pregnancy, I've whined commented to my husband that some days I think he forgets I'm even pregnant. I hear about all these other husbands who talk to the baby all the time and dote on their wife hand and foot. I rarely get any of that. Hmph. Perhaps I need one of those husbands instead. I kid. Don't get me wrong, he's over the moon excited, he just shows it in a different way...which usually in my eyes is the wrong way.

Well over the weekend my hubs and parents trekked over to the outlet malls to peruse the Motherhood Maternity store. It's at that point I think it finally hit him.

The five positive pregnancy tests...(yes five, a girls gotta be sure)

Our first ultrasound, seeing the little peanut on screen
Hearing the heartbeat

My somewhat growing, flabbier belly

Picking up our baby furniture

Wandering the overwhelming aisles of Babies R Us

None of this seemed to do the trick.....

But trying on maternity clothes with that ridiculous fake, Velcro on bump....

that's what did it for him?

I walked out of the fitting room and the look on his face was of utter shock. OMG, my wife really is pregnant. And he must have told me about 5 more times that weekend how cool it was to see me actually look pregnant. If I knew all it was going to take for him was to see a fake baby belly, I'd have shoved a pillow up my shirt months ago! Boys are funny.

I only wish we'd have thought to snap a quick cell phone picture to post...I really did look about 20 months pregnant, it was rather amusing. Oh well. Maybe next time. Here's a few of the things I picked up! Hurry up spring (and baby belly) I want to bust out my new digs!

I'm thinking red shoes...way more fun!

This side rucheing business seems to be the rage in the maternity world. I must admit, it is rather flattering...and as the sales lady so wisely said, it helps you look pregnant, not just fat. Umm...music to my ears, sign me up for about 20 of those!

I think I actually "squeed" when I saw polos. The world is where it should be...my staple spring/summer shirt. The one I got is yellow...I'm sure more will be added to the collection considering my non preg wardrobe has practically one in every color.

The classic white shirt. Note the elastic under the boobs...that's key! Otherwise those blousy ones just look like mumus! It looked especially good with my black polka dot bra underneath.....