~*~*~*~ Spotlight on bmcneal!! ~*~*~*~ « Back to Group Discussions

[TIFF4NY]

bmcneal: If you would like, please take the time to give an introduction about yourself. There are no limits on how long or short.

Members: Please ask any questions that come to mind! Please keep in mind that the spotlighted member has the right to not answer anything she isn't comfortable with.

There are no time limits or end dates to these so ask away for as long as you have questions!

Have fun!

[bmcneal]

My name is Bethany, but most people call me Beth. I'm 26 and live in Indiana. I have two kids, Sophia, who's 7, and Malachi, who's 4, and a fur-baby, my tiny cat, Flicker. I was married to their dad for 5 years, until Malachi was about 6 months old, when we separated and divorced. We're back together now, and have been engaged since September of last year. He proposed to me in the morning, and I found out I was pregnant that night.

I'm a SAHM. This baby was a *big* surprise, and we're just going all the way with the surprise and waiting to find out boy or girl until baby is born. DF thinks it's a girl, and Sophia does too, and Malachi thinks it's a boy. I at first thought boy, but now not so sure. Since we have no idea boy or girl, and DF was having difficulty thinking of nicknames, I've been referring to baby as The Baby Formerly Known As, or TBFKA.  (I like to think I'm really funny, but most people say I'm punny.  Either way, I am pretty good at making people feel better.)

Since other people were sharing pictures, I will share some too. 

Sophia using chopsticks for the first time.

Malachi after his battle with pudding. Not sure who won, but I love his expression!

Our tiny cat, Flicker. I wanted to name her Meowilyn Monraow, but from the first time Sophia heard the possibility of getting a kitten, she insisted we name it Flicker, and apparently, that was more popular. 

I told Malachi if he didn't put his shirt on, I was going to. He didn't, I did, and then I got stuck.  (See if I try *that* tactic again...)

This is what I woke up to, September 12, 2012. He tied the ring to the rose on the heart. He set it up on the back porch of the house we had just recently signed the lease on, and thought a new beginning in a new house would be a good way to start the new beginning of a new chapter of our lives. 

This is actually the only picture I have of Matt (DF). It was the middle of August last year and *very* hot.

We're kind of a crazy-weird family, and we have a lot of quirks, but I love every minute of it, and wouldn't change it for anything!

I'm very open, so anything you want to ask, feel free! 

Edited by bmcneal - 4/4/13 at 7:50pm

[stormysky]

Beautiful family!

Do you have a preference for a boy or girl?

Do you have wedding plans for now?

[alaskanmomma]

I SPY HK ON SOPHIA'S SHIRT! YAY!

Your story about you and DF breaking up and getting back together again really warmed me up :) Yay for happy endings :)

Do you want anymore babies after this one? Where do you plan on giving birth? Are both kids excited for baby or is one more excited than the other?

[bmcneal]

Originally Posted by stormysky 

Beautiful family!

Do you have a preference for a boy or girl?

Do you have wedding plans for now?

Thank you! I'm not sure if I really prefer girl or boy, but if I did, it would be girl, if that makes sense.

We're actually planning on doing a justice of peace wedding on March 21st so (hopefully) there's not so much of issue with paternity, and then have a ceremony/church-type (but probably not at a church) later, for friends/family to come, since we didn't really get that when we first married. I'm so excited! (Y'all are the first I've told about the March 21st, I don't know if DF has said anything to anyone, though.)

Originally Posted by alaskanmomma 

I SPY HK ON SOPHIA'S SHIRT! YAY!

Your story about you and DF breaking up and getting back together again really warmed me up :) Yay for happy endings :)

Do you want anymore babies after this one? Where do you plan on giving birth? Are both kids excited for baby or is one more excited than the other?

The HK fever *has* passed on to the next generation at our house.  I much prefer it to the Bieber fever she *insists/insisted* she had. 

It was not a fun journey, by any means, but honestly... I think the separation and divorce helped our relationship to be better now. Not that I would have chosen it, but... we're all happy now, and that's what matters.

I have always joked with DF that I want to give the Duggars a run for their money, kid-wise. I would *love* a houseful of kids. He, on the other hand, would rather have a smaller family. He said after this one, we can have one more. Mostly, he's worried about money, I think. So later, more than 4 might be alright. 

Right now, I'm hoping to get accepted as a patient at a local hospital, where a lot of my friends have gone. I was hoping to stay with the providers I had (still hospital birth), but it didn't seem like the right fit. So planning on hospital birth. I would rather something more natural, but the options here are slim, with my insurance.

Both kids are excited, but I think Sophia is more excited than Malachi. Sophia always gives my tummy hugs and kisses before she leaves for school, or before I go somewhere, is planning everything she's going to do with the baby, is coloring all sorts of pictures for the baby, and *really* wants to shop for the baby, and Malachi is more calm and laid back about it, he'll give my belly hugs and kisses, but doesn't have the same active level of excitement that Sophia does. He's the more laid-back of the two, by far, so that's probably got a lot to do with it.

[JennJenn84]

Your kids are adorable!

Is there anything about this pregnancy/birth that has you nervous, or are you feeling like a pro this being #3?

[bmcneal]

Originally Posted by JennJenn84 

Your kids are adorable!

Is there anything about this pregnancy/birth that has you nervous, or are you feeling like a pro this being #3?

I feel a little nervous about this pregnancy/birth. I don't know why, but I have the feeling this birth will be completely different than DD's or DS'. With DS, I just knew that I was going to have a VBAC, for instance, and while I'm positive that that is what I want, and that is what I'm going for, I have had the feeling off and on the last couple of months that I may need a c-section.

[TIFF4NY]

D'aww I love that you are back together and how he proposed. That's very sweet. My proposal was nothing to write home about. ;)

Am I remembering correctly that you had some work drama in the beginning? Is that better now?

[bmcneal]

Originally Posted by TIFF4NY 

D'aww I love that you are back together and how he proposed. That's very sweet. My proposal was nothing to write home about. ;)

Am I remembering correctly that you had some work drama in the beginning? Is that better now?

Thanks! It was actually kind of funny, because I was *very* tired, and was sleeping. He kept trying and trying to wake me up. I kept telling him to leave me alone and let me sleep. He kept trying, even tried pulling me off the couch (We were staying with my mom until we could actually move into the house.), and I smacked his hand and told him to go away.  Finally, he basically picked me up and said, "You're going to get up now, there's something we need to take care of." And begrudgingly, I did. Now, I'm glad I did. 

Yeah, I did. It's better now, but only because I ended up quitting after HR said I would "get over it in time." with regards to being harassed. But... it works out, more than my working, because the kids do *so* much better having me at home, and actually getting to see me throughout the week.