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