AngelaLollar.com

Belly Pic - 29 Weeks

Getting closer...and bigger!!  Hey, when you're as big as a zebra, why not dress up like one, right?!

OCS Application for the iPhone - YES!!!

Phill is going to be so pleased!  A few months back, Phill bought me an iPhone out of frustration with my Samsung i760's rapid decline in capability and reliability.  His desire to be SURE we can reach each other when that all important day comes justified it.  And I've got to say...I have changed my "iBrick" description to "iPhone" since my original review of the phone.

Keep in mind that from that first blog, the iPhone has increased it's capability by leaps and bounds as all devices do after they first come out.  But today, my latest application just HIT it for me!  OCS has FINALLY hit the iPhone! 

If you're organization is running Microsoft Office Communicator 2007, or the newer 2007 R2 then download iDialog RIGHT NOW from iTunes!  Note that you MUST HAVE a Communicator Web Access (CWA) server deployed in order for it to work, but I've got mine running and I'm excited, or scared to share this news with TGIWF tomorrow when he's back from his latest business trip! 

All the necessary features to get you mobile are there!  You can:

• See the same contact list as you are used to seeing with Microsoft Office Communicator
• Initiate Multiple 1:1 or multi-party IM Conversations
• Update your presence info, INCLUDING your "note" or location
• Redirect inbound voice calls from users dialing your OCS phone number
• Search for users from your organization's global address list
• View information about the availability of your contacts, including their phone numbers and status

It's very cool and yes, while you are view contact information, you can click to initiate a call, though it is not a OCS Communicator call, but rather a typical AT&T call from your iPhone.

We're getting closer!!

Van-Aire Shower

With so many friends and family that already love our little girls, we were blessed with ANOTHER shower this weekend and I can finally say that I feel completely ready for our little Sea Monkeys to arrive.

Thank you so much to my mom and Amy for hosting a Van-Aire "Pretty in Pink" shower this past Saturday.  It was so nice to see all of the women in my home neighborhood that watched Amy and I grow up come out to share the day with us and celebrate our girls!  And BOY did they all spoil these girls!! 

I had a great childhood growing up in a flying community full of neighbors who all knew each other and supported each other!  Saturday was a busy day and somewhat of a community reunion!  And it was a great time!  Thank you all for spending the day with us and for your generous gifts!  Be looking for pictures soon!  Only about 5-7 weeks left to go!

No More Mold - Nursery is DONE!

I didn't blog about it, but we recently had mold in our nursery due to some issues with massive rainfall and water settling along the edge of the outside wall that seeped into the nursery.   Luckily, Phill didn't let the musty feeling of the room go and he pursued it enough to get Richmond Homes to come out and safely remove all of it.  This of course included pulling ALL of the furniture and work I had already done in the nursery completely OUT and storing it in our living room for a few weeks, but I'm happy to report that the mold is gone, the drywall is back up, the paint has been re-painted, carpets re-stretched and cleaned and as of yesterday I get to finally say THE NURSERY IS DONE!

Below are pictures of everything all put back together and there is literally not one thing left to do in that room except put healthy babies in it!  It's monkey-fabulous!

Introducing Bessie

I was shocked to see all the notes on Facebook at how many people were dismayed to hear that Bertha, my beloved Louie Vuitton handbag had officially gone into storage.  All my friends know how much I love that silly bag and know that I drag her with me EVERYWHERE I go.  Hey, a woman's handbag is something she uses everyday and Bertha has indeed gotten her mileage since Phill bought her for me on our honeymoon and she has sentimental value for that reason.  And if I do the math, the length of time I've had her vs. the cost we paid would work out that I've paid $1.91/day to enjoy her beauty.  People spend more than that a day on Starbucks coffee so I just chose a different vice!!

SO, to explain WHY Bertha is going into early retirement and ease the concerns of my Facebook friends that are completely confused by my actions...

With the upcoming arrival of the Sea Monkeys, I have realized that my hands will be full...literally!  I'll need both hands free to hold both car seats!  I can't exactly have a handbag with short straps that go around my arm.  It's time to grow into a shoulder bag.  And with that, I introduce you to Bessie...my mommy Louis Vuitton.

Now before you jump to rolling your eyes and going "PLEASE!!!  How selfish!" I will defend my Bessie as follows:  I have had a job since I was 16 years old and have NEVER been without one since.  I've worked very hard my entire life for the achievements that I have and as I start my 7th month and 28th week of pregnancy with TWINS, I am still at work every morning and while I may have cut it back to 7 hours a day here and there, I still work VERY hard. 

Phill and I both work very hard for what we have and reward ourselves as such.  We have very little debt with a house and car payment.  We live well below our means to achieve total well balanced happiness.  My house is only 1,300 square feet, but it's a doll house and I get a maid to clean it!  We have our fun trips in the Jeep and while it may not be the largest, fanciest rig on the trail, we still wheel with them and we pay cash for those trips.  Phill spent the weekend riding his little Honda Shadow ACE motorcycle with the big Harley's this weekend and had just as much fun.  (Congrats BTW to C.L. and his new baby and kuddo's for not being a Harley SNOB!!!  No digs there.  That's your Louis Vuitton.)

Bottom line, Phill and I chose to dabble in a little of it all and enjoy many things and we work hard to make it happen all within our means.  That all being said, I dabble in my Louis Vuitton collection.  It's very small and Bessie is one of the cheaper bags that still brings me joy and serves a purpose with having a large accessible bag for the new storage I'll need and the convenience of being able to throw her over my shoulder.

Bessie is my reward for being a hardworking mother.  Phill and I plan to do our best to not lose ourselves with this new adventure of parenting.  Yes we are parents now and things will change, but the Jeep gets bigger, it doesn't go away.  Phill still rides his bike, he just does it while his girls are all set for their own adventure for the day. I'm still TGIWF's assistant and regardless of the office pool, I WILL BE BACK!  I will still get my pedicures and hair done on daddy duty day.  Just remember that when you see us do all these things, you'll be watching two laughing, happy, healthy girls who have everything they need plus more.  And while we may not live in the largest house on the block, love and happiness grows best in little houses...with Louis Vuittons.

Sea Monkeys 3D Picture Day

Couples Shower

This past weekend was another fun filled weekend of preparing for our upcoming family of four with a couples baby shower that was hosted by my sister Amy, sister-in-law Heather and good friend Lena.  Fitting enough, it was held at the park where Phill and I re-met at our 10-year high school reunion back in September 2005, and here we are four years later! 

The girls did a AWESOME job and we all had a great time!  I'm only slightly worried after watching Phill running around the playground with his baby in his mouth, but it was only a game!

We received lots of great baby girl stuff and the MOST IMPORTANT GIFT...(well, maybe not THE most but it was really cool and one that we didn't register for but were secretly hoping we'd get!) are the girls very own pink Chuck Taylor shoes, given to them by Cop Chuck and Angela!  Obviously Phill was thrilled with that, as am I!  They are his girls after all and it's only fitting that they sport daddy's infamous style! It's a family thing now!

We still have alot more to get done to be ready in time for them to be here, but we're off to a VERY good start, thanks to all the help from our friends and family.  We still have another 8-10 weeks I'm guessing before they get here, but the room is filling up nicely with the furniture and cribs, little onsies, diapers, wipes, shoes, Broncos cheerleader outfits (a must), bedding and a whole bunch of other gear that I am going to have to read the manual on to understand!!  Since the kids won't come with a manual, I'm going to have to rely on the product instructions I guess! 

Pictures of this weekend are posted in the "Couples Shower" album link to the right.  Thank you again to everyone who came out to celebrate with us and for all the wonderful gifts.

Tomorrow we have another check-up and the 3D Ultrasound that I'll be posting so be sure to check back for our first live footage of the girls.  My understanding is that in addition to the 3D stills, we'll have 3 minutes or so of actual footage of them moving around in there!  Technology...isn't it grand?

Let The Baby Showers Begin!

I am very blessed to be having multiple babies!  I'm also very blessed to have so many great friends and family close by that are just as excited about our little girls as we are and who have graciously offered to throw us MULTIPLE baby showers!   Our first baby shower was this past weekend at Phill's parents house hosted by little sister Kara and our good friend Jen! 

The theme of the party was so creative and cute, Two Peas In A Pod!  I was completely overwhelmed by gifts, incredible food (all my favorites!) and wonderful company to celebrate with me. 

We received so many wonderful baby goods from car seats, to onsies, to blankets, to pink monkeys!  Seeing everything and actually getting to go home and wash them and put them in the drawers (that are currently in the living room!!  More on that later) tucked away where they will wait until the girls are here was such a comforting feeling.  I knew they would be loved, but it was truly overwhelming to see such a great group of women gathered in Karen's new living room to giggle about pink stuff and laugh at the fact that I couldn't bend over to pick up bags to open! 

This weekend, my sister Amy - aka: Aunt Mi; sister-in-law Heather - aka Auntie Heeether; and great friend Lena - aka Ena...which I'm guessing the girls will call her, have all planned a fun couples shower at the park where Phill and I re-connected and it all started.  I'm anticipating this to be a good time with our closest friends, good BBQ, and crazy games to make the guys enjoy a little rowdy fun!  I can't wait!

To see pictures of the Lollar Baby Shower, click on the albums.