Refresh. Regrow. Renew.

I am just one of your typical, irritated pregnant moms. Well, maybe not so typical. We all have issues when we are pregnant but lately its seems that I keep getting challenge after challenge with this sweet girl growing inside. It began with morning sickness, which naturally lasts all day and all nine months. This was no surprise since I did the same thing with the other two. Next we move on to tachycardia (rapid heart rate) which thankfully is not life threatening but just frustrating for an active person who is being told to sit down and take easy. I don't want to take it freaking easy! I want to swim during the summer not sit on the side to watch everyone else having fun. Moving on. In addition to this, I am having braxton-hicks contractions a few times a day. Again no big deal, just lay down and rest. Crap! Now we get to add two new issues to the ever growing list. It seems that my iron is low so onto supplements I go. Normally, I wouldn't complain about this but iron has the tendency to encourage constipation. Did I mention that I am constipated already from the medicine I take for my morning sickness? This is starting to suck! The next new issue is sugar. My glucose test came back abnormal which means I have to wake up early, not eat or drink anything, have a nasty orange glucose drink and get poked with a needle four times to see if I am experiencing gestational diabetes. Did you know that the best way to combat morning sickness is to eat small frequent meals and stay away from lots of sugar? Great, so I don't get to consume anything but a large dose of sugar first thing in the morning. I hope they have a trash can handy. I think I have got most of it out of my system, so thank you for reading and please pray that I don't have any problems with this irritating glucose test tomorrow.

This company amazes me with the quality of all the dances and how they are able to pull you in to their story. At one point, I thought I might have to leave due to their excellent storytelling but for that I will have to take you back in time. It was sometime after I had my miscarriage and we were watching the movie Prince of Egypt. I was enjoying the movie thoroughly until we got to the scene where the mother must let her baby go and she is singing her sadly sweet song. I began to cryat this point because I had to let my baby go as well. This is a wonderful movie that I avoid for this reason along with a couple of others. Back to the ballet. The dancers began to dance as slaves with giant men carrying whips pretending to beat them and I realized that the music was familiar but I couldn't place it. Until they began the song the mother sang in Prince of Egypt and the mother came out giving up her baby in the most beautiful dance that showed her pain of giving up her son. Out came the tears but with my pregnancy hormones raging through my body, I could barely contain myself. I was thankful when the song ended and the ballet moved on. I enjoyed it immensely even with the tears but I may skip over that part when I get my copy of the performance. Now let's get on with the photos.

Getting ready!

Just before the show!

Look closely to find her looking for us.

Her wonderful teacher

Aunt and soon to be Uncle

Me and my lamb

Us and our lamb

Grandma and Grandpa

Close ups with her lamb

Poor Grandpa

Wearing Grandma's glasses

The family

My sister in law and fiance

Playing games

Sweet couple

Reading with Grandma

The Deep Thinker

Grandpa sitting with his lamb

Another year has come bringing us little lambs and warm hearts. Today was her dress rehearsal and she was thrilled to be up on stage dancing with everyone watching her. This years show is called Deliver Me which is a contemporary look at Moses and as you can tell by the photos she is a lamb.

This next set of photos shows our little lamb receiving her certificate for doing well in her exams.

Here is her face

Foot, naturally!

Before you stands a very proud mommy. Tiffany recently had her ballet exams which will place her in next year's class. She is a beginner and all beginners receive an automatic pass to continue to the next level. What I did not expect was such a thorough account of her ability. But here I am looking a detailed examination report which says she has 'a graceful little dance with promise' and instead of a pass, she received a pass with honors. I realize that does not mean she will be dancing the lead role in New York but I am so happy because I have seen this promise in her since she was two and now a professional sees it also. This is one of my favorite moments and I pray that I never push her into keeping up with ballet just for my sake. Congratulations, Sweet Pea!