Another year... time flies... how 'bout this weather?

I came into work today with this lovely bouquet on my desk. I looked at Rachel and said, "Ah, those must be from my mom for my birthday." I opened the card and saw that they were actually from my dear husband. I called him immediately to thank him and he said, "I bet you thought they were from your mom." He knows me too well.

The newsroom is thankful it's my birthday today. Why, you might ask? Because that means they get free sweets. Rachel brought cupcakes and cookies. Yum!

I don't know where the last year went. In fact, where did the last three go? I think having children makes time go by so fast. And in a couple months, with another new addition I'm sure time will pass at lightening speed.

And how about this weather? I think it's perfect, seriously. Mid 70's is perfect in my book. My dad told me today it was similar weather the day I was born, he thought it was maybe even warmer. I had Chris Maiers (meteorologist) check on the weather from March 31, 1978 in Ottumwa, Iowa. The high was 81 degrees that day. 32 years later, it looks like March is once again going out like a lamb.

Thanks for reading,
Amanda
akrenz@myabc5.com

Engagement Announcement

Some good news to report! Our friend and ABC5 reporter Hillary Mintz is the most recent to get engaged. Here's a photo of her with her fiance, Ryan.

This lovely pair met and fell in love at the University of Iowa. They've been together for nearly five years. No wedding date just yet.

A big congratulations to Hillary, or Millary, or Chuckles, or Milz, or Mintz (she's accumulated several nicknames in the newsroom).

Bassinet

We bought a crib and changing table, which have yet to be delivered, but my husband wanted to build a bassinet. He was inspired by our trip to China. We went right before the Summer Olympics and saw all the preparations underway. He loved the "bird’s nest" Olympic stadium and that is what our bassinet kind of looks like (expect rectangular). He just finished painting it this weekend, perfect timing seeing that my due date now is just three days away!

I think he did a great job, don't you?
Rachel Pierce rpierce@myabc5.com

Lots of fun at Honey Creek

This is where my family spent the weekend. If you've never been to Honey Creek Resort State Park, I highly recommend it. My parents got us a weekend stay for a Christmas gift, we picked a weekend and turned it into a mini family reunion you could say. We did the same thing last year and had so much fun.


Here are some photos I found online of the hotel and the indoor water park.

As you can see it's a great place for kids, especially during the winter months when they have cabin fever. During the warmer months you can take in the golf course and all the water recreation on Lake Rathbun. And if a hotel's not your thing, they have cabins and cottages to stay in.

Another plus, it's an earth-friendly facility. Everywhere you look in the hotel they've got energy saving features (even the toilets).

I probably sound like a walking advertisement, and I am. I want this place to succeed. It's the only state-run resort in Iowa and I like to support local whenever I can.

Oh, and did I mention the restaurant has delicious food? What more could you ask for?

Thanks for reading,

Amanda

akrenz@myabc5.com

Pregnancy Brain

So I only have eleven days left until my due date and the brain is really starting to go. I hear from a lot of moms that this happens.

Here is a really good example of what I'm talking about. I was at Super Target on Sunday doing a little shopping. I was over in the grocery aisle and they had a lady handing out samples of chips and dip. Being the good pregnant lady I am I "needed" to eat it. A couple of chips later I continued on my way. About three aisles later a fellow shopper said to me, “wow that's a lot of chips, must be some party.” I looked down and realized I had taken the sample lady's cart and left mine with my purse aisles back. Folks, I didn't even have any chips in my cart and here I am walking around with a cart filled to the top with them and I didn't even notice.

So I hurried back to the samples lady and she said she wondered where her cart had gone. I blamed the pregnancy. Yikes! Thank goodness my purse was still there!

Rachel Pierce
rpierce@myabc5.com

Two More Weeks

The countdown is really on now with about two weeks to go. Our lil' girl is due April 2nd and I thought it would be fun to get co-workers, family and friends to guess her due date, her birth weight and length. (see picture) I've received dozens of guesses, most have me going past my due date and having about a seven pound baby that's around 20 inches long. My husband thinks I'm going to have the baby THIS Thursday. I told him not to be disappointed when the day comes and goes and there's no baby.

Everyone keeps asking if I'm ready to have this baby. To be honest it's been such an easy pregnancy that I've enjoyed it! I love feeling her move and grow. Yes it will be nice to get my old body back and to be able to walk up stairs without being out of breath but, I can wait the few weeks we have left. I guess I haven't gotten to that super uncomfortable stage, but there's still time.

All the baby showers are done, everyone has been so generous to us! I can't believe how cute some of the baby clothes we have gotten as gifts are, I wish they were in my size! The nursery is pretty much done. All we need now is for the furniture we ordered months ago to arrive, most likely won't come until after the baby is born. I'll post pictures when it's all set up. My husband is still building on a bassinet, it's looking really good so far. He's so handy!

The only big thing we still haven't done is pick a pediatrician. We've talked to one and meet with a couple more next week. My fingers are crossed that we'll make a decision before the baby comes.

In the meantime our hospital bags are packed and we're just waiting. This pregnancy has gone by so fast!

Rachel Pierce

rpierce@myabc5.com

Time for Galoshes

We bought Maddox some new galoshes over the weekend. I figured it was good timing, put the snow boots away and try to keep the tennis shoes clean. He was so excited about them he wore them to daycare today. His teacher asked if he got new boots and he quickly corrected her, "They're not boots, they're galoshes."


Here are a couple other Maddox funnies:

Last week my husband took him to a book store that had a bin full of toys for sale in the middle of the kids' section. Maddox loved a little bus, but my husband didn't want to get it. It was probably worth a quarter, but the price tag said six dollars. You understand. So they started to leave the bookstore and Maddox was upset. He didn't want to leave without that bus. So, as my husband carried him out, he started yelling, "Somebody help me! Somebody help me!" Not good. My husband looked at people and smiled, trying to reassure them he was not kidnapping the poor kid.

When they were in the car Maddox explained to my husband, "I don't like Daddy. I like Mommy." That made me smile.

Along those same lines... My husband asked Maddox the other day, "Who's your favorite daddy in the whole world?" Maddox answered, "Mommy." :) He was probably still scarred from not getting the little bus at the book store.

Thanks for reading,

Amanda
akrenz@myabc5.com

What Lies Beneath

I couldn't be happier that the snow is melting. Granted, that means we're on constant flood patrol and our team of reporters and meteorologists are staying on top of the situation. Also, the snow melt reveals the unattractiveness of our society... LITTER.

I've been appalled at how much litter has been hiding under the snow banks. Highway ditches look like trash cans, and the sides of city streets look like people just don't care. Just the other day I looked out my window at the grass median near Jordan Creek Town Center. In the small area directly outside my window there were several fast food wrappers, bags, and an empty box of cigarettes. Gross. Is it really so hard to throw that stuff away?

Here's my fear. City's, counties, and states don't have the funds to clean this trash up. The winter plowed through snow removal budgets and money for road repairs. My other worry is that it simply may not be a top priority. I know Iowa has the Adopt-a-Highway program. I took part in that program a couple times when I was younger. It's not glamorous, but it's a much-needed program. I hate to think of what happens when all that junk sits around, blows away, or spills into the environment. It just shouldn't happen.

Amanda

akrenz@myabc5.com

Variety The Children's Charity Telethon

Thank you to those who helped with the Variety the Children's Telethon, whether is was through donation or volunteering. It was a huge success we raised $3,077,418 for Iowa's kids! 23 hours of entertainment and a lot of hard work payed off for our 36th annual telethon.

Above Picture: Me and my co-anchor Amanda Krenz ready to kick off the Telethon on Saturday night.



Here's some pictures from the Stars Dinner, the night before the Telethon. Picture Above: My brother-in-law Steve Bellman, my sister Jessica Bellman, my parents David and Jenny Licht, me (Rachel Pierce) and my husband Matthew Pierce, my sister Natalie and my sister Magdalena and my brother-in-law Justin Battles.

Picture below: Me (Rachel Pierce), my mom Jenny Licht, my sister Jessica Bellman, my sister Natalie Licht, my sister Magadelan Battles

Telethon=Raising Money for Iowa's Children

If you haven't heard this weekend is the Variety The Children's Charity Telethon! Almost all my family is in town this weekend to support the cause, driving in from Sioux Falls, SD and Chippewa Falls, WI and flying in from Naples, FL. My sister Magdalena Battles is an amazing singer and a new performer this year! You can watch her from 2am-7am on Sunday.
This organization is near and dear to my heart. I currently am on the board and help out in anyway possible. Let me tell you why I'm committed to the fundraising efforts of Variety – The Children’s Charity.
We know the NICU care in the early months of a child's life play a critical role; however, not all children, regardless of their start in the world, are as fortunate. Having said that, Variety – The Children's Charity helps these less fortunate children who are challenged with poverty, neglect, and physical and mental disabilities. I work to raise money for these kids because they can't do it themselves... so please help.

With this information in mind, I hope that as you consider numerous requests for donations this year, you will consider becoming a miracle in the life of an Iowa child by supporting Variety. Variety-The Children's Charity is happy to receive any amount of money, however, a "half miracle pledge" is only $26, a "miracle pledge" $52 and a "double miracle pledge" $104. Any of these amounts, when put all together, can make a huge difference to children and the services they are provided by the Variety – The Children's Charity.

I will be working the weekend of this weekend March 6-7 and you can always make a pledge then!

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I recognize how busy we all are and how we must all carefully consider which causes to support. If you would like to show you support the link below is a very easy way to help out!

https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorreg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=335937&supId=283110498&extSiteType=1

Thank you again! And don't forget to tune into ABC5 starting Saturday at 7pm until Sunday at 6pm. You'll see myself, Brad Edwards, Amanda Krenz and celebrities from all over the world!

Rachel Pierce rpierce@myabc5.com

Light-hearted Weather Wars?

This week, Cityview (an independent weekly paper in Central Iowa) did a feature about the weather competition in the Des Moines TV Market.

If you haven't read it, you should. At the very least, it's entertaining. It starts out with a sarcastic tone, but quickly digs into the weather rivalry among ABC5, WHO, and KCCI. And in my opinion, it supports ABC5 as the station with the most accurate forecast.

Here's a link to the article titled, "TV Weather Wars:" http://www.dmcityview.com/2010/03/04/features/

Our ABC5 Chief Meteorologist, Brad Edwards, is known for his candid weather forecasts and you'll quickly pick up on his candid personality if you read the article :) This is what makes him such a treasure to Central Iowa. And Brad will be the first to tell you, ABC5 weather isn't just him. He has a great team of meteorologists, Chris Maiers and Chris Conoan.

Here's the funny behind-the-scenes story to this article. When the Cityview reporter approached Brad about doing an interview, he informed Brad that he was doing a fun, light-hearted piece. When the reporter emailed several of Brad's ABC5 colleagues (including me) he asked for quotes about what it was like to work with Brad, again informing us he was doing "just a light-hearted, fun piece." I don't think that's how the article turned out, maybe that was the original plan and it fell way off track. Still, our newsroom was pleased with the end result and we hope a lot of people pick up this week's issue or read the article online.

I'll be anxious to hear from you. What do you think about the article?

-Amanda

akrenz@myabc5.com