14 Weeks Pregnant

I am three and a half months pregnant today, and in my second trimester. My baby's eyebrows are growing in, he may be sprouting hair on his head, he's making facial expressions, and he might even be sucking his thumb! My belly has definitely popped, but since I have a fair amount of belly fat I only really look pregnant to people who know I am, otherwise I just look kinda fat. I can't wear my old pants anymore, but thankfully I found two pair of maternity pants at Goodwill, which I've been wearing since week eight. I've had to pack away all of my regular shirts, and switch to maternity ones with some long tunics and tank tops thrown in. Oh, and another significant change? Lets just say that I've moved way up the alphabet in the undergarments department. Yup, lots of fun.

Nick and I scheduled our 20 week ultrasound, and will be finding out if we'll be bringing home a son or a daughter, on December 6th!

13 Weeks Pregnant

Dear Baby,

Second trimester, here we come! Supposedly, I will soon begin to have more energy. That would be nice - after all, I plan to make your nursery bedding and decorations myself, and I can't do that if all I want to do is sleep! Your crib is almost paid off, and your Daddy and I plan to paint it a pretty shade of buttery-yellow. I think you're going to love it!

Love you always,

Mommy

Entitled To Nothing, Yet Grateful For Help

When I was able to work, I paid taxes. My husband pays taxes. We pay taxes, even though we don't make enough money to live on. And at the end of the fiscal year, we get at least part of those taxes back from the IRS in the form of a tax return.

There are some who would consider us mouchers or "entitled" because we use certain welfare programs, and we get some of our taxes back each year. I find this strange, considering that we do actually pay taxes - we take that hit every paycheck, just like everyone else. Just because we live in a country that recognizes that some of its citizens cannot afford to lose that money permenantly does not make us bad people. It doesn't make us any less hard working, nor does it make us any less patriotic. Frankly, I am offended by the very thought.

To anyone who thinks that all people who have to use "the system" are slackers, or that they are all living high on the hog on tax dollars - take a look around you. Yes, there are some who use the system as an excuse to not work, to live like slobs, to abuse their children, or any number of other horrible things. But for every one person like that, there are hundreds like us; people who want to work, who want to be independent, but because of the economy or other factors outside their control cannot make enough of an income to live without those welfare programs. I do not feel entitled to your hard earned tax money. But I do thank God every day that we live in a country that does its best to take care of those in its midst that are unable to take care of themselves sufficiently.