33 down, 7 to go

I'm sorry to say that nothing very exciting has been going on in my life recently. However, for the sake of the blog, I'll post a weekly recap tonight. Steve is at a Ray LaMontagne concert with his brother. At first I was planning to go, but we then decided that a number of patrons at this particular concert may be partaking in a "dance with Mary Jane" if you know what I mean, so I made the responsible decision and opted out. I'm actually pretty relieved because it's been a long week and I'm exhausted. My job is going well and I love it (and I'm getting better at it everyday, thank goodness), but I've been working crazy hours and now I'm ready to totally collapse.

We had our 4th week of childbirth classes this week at the hospital. This week included the tour of Labor & Delivery, which is pretty much the only reason I signed up to take the class. I feel more comfortable now that I've seen where this will all actually go down. We walked by the nursery with the brand new babies which was obviously a highlight. It's hard to believe we are so close to that reality ... still haven't completely wrapped my head around it.

On Wednesday there was a luncheon shower at school for me (and for two other girls who are also pregnant). It was very nice, and I walked away with some pretty hefty gift cards, for which I'm very grateful. My staff definitely spoiled me.

Last night we watched "The Office," which was good from start to finish for the first time this season. Is anyone else watching the SNL Thursday night election specials? They are hysterical! In the wake of all of the serious political news everywhere I look, it was nice to enjoy some laughs at the expense of all these people. I'm thinking about early voting to avoid the crowds, but I feel more official when I vote on election day, so we'll see. If next week is anything like the last couple, I'll make lots of plans and never get to them (which means I'll be voting November 4th).

The "Sex and the City" movie is finally on On Demand, and since Higgins in the only one in this house who will watch it with me, I think that's what we'll do tonight. I know I'm the last one to see it, but I'm getting there. Tomorrow morning I'm going to book club/breakfast with my neighbor friend Renee. I'm going more for the breakfast because I didn't even open the book ... I'm telling you, I've been busy.

Coming soon: pictures of the nursery and perhaps one of my 33-week belly. It is BIG and all over the place and I can hardly bend over the sink to even brush my teeth anymore. You'll be able to see it for yourself shortly.

Thanks, Friends!

Some of my college girlfriends pooled funds and sent us a generous Babies R Us giftcard, so today we went on a shopping spree! We were able to buy many necessary items from our registry, including a stroller that I love. Rachel, Heather, Leigh, Katie, Lisa, Merry, Brooke, and Brooke, I thought you'd like to see what you bought for our baby girl. Thanks so much! Here's a picture of the goods:

We followed up our shopping trip with brisket tacos from Mia's on Lemmon Ave. If you live in Dallas and haven't had Mia's tacos, you must. Before coming home, we hit up Half Price Books for a couple of bargains. Now Steve wants to watch this new scary movie he bought (it's Halloween time afterall), but I'm not so sure. I should probably just man-up and watch the movie, but I know that if I do, I'll be scared of the dark for at least a week. I might feel better about it if I go change into my cozy sweatpants and make a quick batch of cookies. Sounds like a plan!

I Cry About Everything

Here's just one example:

I went to Wal-Mart tonight to purchase some storage-solution canvas totes. Now I know that many of you want to quit reading right now to tell me to stop shopping at Wal-Mart. I'm sure you have a totally valid argument with which I'd probably agree, but I need you to focus on the issue at hand. Anyway, you can imagine my excitement when, upon arriving in the section with canvas totes, they were very clearly marked $4.98 per pack of two. What a bargain! I placed four in my cart and continued shopping. Everything was going well until I was standing in the check-out lane and the totes, upon being scanned, rang up at $9.92 each. I quickly alerted the check-out man about the mistake in price, and he flipped on his light for assistance. I swear I could hear the entire line of people behind me moan (and I don't really blame them. Flipping on the blinking light can be like a death sentence, especially for the guy two people behind me who just wanted to buy his beer on be on his way. I get it). After consulting the check-out lady in the next lane, it became clear that not only was the very clearly marked price suddenly "unknown" to all Wal-Mart employees, but that they weren't going to take my word for it either. I told the guy to forget it; he didn't have to check further, and he should just take the totes off my total because I no longer wanted them. I know I could have paid $9.92, but it's a matter of principle, people. Now comes the part about the crying. I came this close to losing it right in the line. This close. By some miracle, I was able to hold it together until I got to the door. Luckily it was dark outside, so nobody really noticed that I walked all the way to my car crying uncontrollably.

This instance is just one of many. I've never been a big crier, and now I can't stop. Steve doesn't understand it, and I can't explain it to him in any way that makes an ounce of sense. I'm beginning to think even Higgins thinks I'm nuts.

Pregnancy, you win. Are you happy? I give up. Please just hurry up and finish your business and then get the heck outta Dodge.

Surprise!

This weekend we took a quick, surprise trip to MN to see my family. My mom actually knew about the trip, but Todd and Melissa didn't. It was so fun to see the looks on their faces when we pulled into the driveway Friday afternoon. Todd had a gig Friday night, so we surprised lots of family friends, too. It felt good to catch up with people, let them rub my belly, and prove to myself that pregnant girls can still dance. Random side note: a former skating coach, Susie, just happened to be at the establishment that was hosting the band's gig. We were so surprised to see each other and spent lots of time catching up and reminiscing. She's someone who certainly had a big impact in my life, both as a coach and a parent-type figure. She was around for some of the hardest years, and seeing her made me feel like someone aligned the stars that evening. I'm so glad that she can be part of my adult life now, too.

I never updated you all about the glucose test. The 3-hour test was a huge beating: the drink was way worse the second time around, as were the bruises on my arms ... it turned out to be 4 pokes for blood rather than 3. Luckily, round two paid off, and my results came back clean. No diabetes for me! The more people I talk to, the more I realize that failing the test the first time around is pretty common. I'm not a doctor or a scientist, but I don't think this is a crazy suggestion: if a test gives so many false positives, doesn't that indicate we should look for an alternative test?

I've finally added a couple of bump pictures. One of these days I'm going to take one wearing a real outfit with my hair and make-up done. Maybe one day I'll even be brave enough for the bare belly shot (don't worry, I've been lathering with my cocoa butter cream religiously). Anyway, you'll notice significant growth; it seems like there is a little (or a lot) more everyday. I'm starting to feel huge, and I'm definitely getting worried about where my body is going to make space for the baby over the next 10 weeks. Today she was simultaneously punching/kicking me in the ribs and the pelvic area. It made for some uncomfortable moments and shortness of breath, but it was kind of fun, too!

Trimester #3

Today officially marks the beginning of my third trimester. I think there was (is) a part of me that believed this point would never come (or at least not so quickly). I would post a 28-week belly shot, but Steve is out of town and if I try to take it, you're going to get way more than you bargained for ... maybe next week.

The nursery is coming together, which feels weird, too. We worked on it some last weekend with the help of my in-laws. The crib is put together and there are a few things on the walls; we still need to get the dresser/changing table, which will happen at some point in the near future. I have to be honest: putting items in the nursery was totally overwhelming to me. It was exciting, yes, but certainly the biggest reality check to date during my pregnancy.

Tomorrow morning I have to go for a second round with the glucose test. I failed my first one even after I did everything right: I fasted for 12 hours prior to the test, I drank the nasty drink in under 5 minutes, I had my blood taken at the accurate time ... and I failed. My feeling upon receiving the news was mostly just one of annoyance; who has time to take a three hour test? Thanks to Saturday morning clinic hours, I'll start my weekend with another round of the glucose drink, an empty stomach, and three needle pricks (one on the hour for three hours). At least I have good veins. I really hope the first test was a false positive because gestational diabetes sounds like a beating. A strict diet during pregnancy ... how unfair is that?

All in all, I'm feeling great. Sometimes I almost tend to forget that I'm pregnant, but amazingly enough, in most of those moments, a window or a mirror appears before me and I'm quickly reminded of my state. My reaction in such moments is another post all its own. I'm tired tonight after a LONG week, so Higgins and I are heading to the couch to watch a movie.

And to top it all off ...

Dear Stupid Cyclones,

When I realized this morning that our trip to Iowa wasn't going to happen, the one thing that lifted my spirits was knowing that I'd get to watch you beat the Hawkeyes today. To my dismay, you played at a level comparable to a poor JV team. You would've saved everyone a lot of time and energy if you'd just handed over the Cy-Hawk Trophy before the game. Keeping it for two years in a row would not have been a crime, you know. I know that the Big XII has to have someone to rank at the bottom of the pack, but share the wealth, guys ... isn't it time to give someone else a chance to spend the season at the bottom of the barrel? And would it kill you to recruit a kicker who has enough talent to execute his one and only job (for clarification, that job involves simply kicking the football through those big yellow posts at the end of the field)? Today you made playing football (your so-called forte) look as difficult as passing enough 100-level sociology classes to graduate from Iowa State. I hope you use your ride back to Ames tonight to think long and hard about all of the bad decisions you made today. I'm sure that fancy bus you get to ride on has a DVD player. It may behoove you to watch some film ... perhaps "Air Bud: Golden Receiver" or "Angles in the Endzone" would help improve your game.

Sincerely,
A Broken-hearted (again) Fan

Disappointment

*Update: Further disappointment set in Sunday morning when, upon waking, I realized that the threatened flooding and tornadoes were not going to happen. I'm angry at Ike, irritated with the meteorologists, and mostly just frustrated with myself for being a huge wuss. I knew this would happen.

We're supposed to be on a plane right now headed to Kansas City, where our good friend, Brooke, was going to pick us up. Then we were all going to head a couple of hours north to Des Moines for Leigh's wedding. I had so been looking forward to this weekend ... I haven't seen my college girlfriends in so long, and this time there was going to be a new baby, Ben, to meet. But here we are in Texas, trying to stay out of Ike's way. We watched the weather channel non-stop last night in an attempt to make a decision about today, but really didn't come to one until very early this morning. I wanted to wait until the last possible moment to cancel, and it was a tough decision to make. Our plane did leave (not on time, probably due in part to some storms in KC, too). My concern last night was that we'd be able to get to KC today as long as yesterday's storms and funnel clouds stopped there, but that we wouldn't get back on Sunday evening. We've done the overnight-in-an-airport thing before, and I'm guessing it wouldn't feel quite so adventurous at six months pregnant.

I am disappointed and so sad. I'll probably sit here all weekend saying, "Well, we probably could have made it," but when we made our decision we felt like it was the most prudent one we could make with the information we had. I know we made the "safe" decision considering all of the obstacles that appeared to be in our way, but I'll still be kicking myself for a while.

Today it is very windy and rainy, and it is being predicted by the meteorologists that the wind will be the root of a number of tornadoes. I could do without those. I'm sure gas has skyrocketed already, but I'm not venturing out to see. I also saw a report that nearly 70% of the state may lose power as one of the main providers is located down near Houston. When a hurricane is nearly as big as the state it hits, you know the effects will be devastating. Keep the people of Houston and Galveston, especially, in your thoughts.

As for the wedding, I know it will be so wonderful. Leigh, we love you and we're thinking of you today. Maybe tonight we'll crank up the music, pour a cold one (for Steve), and pretend we're living it up at your reception. In your honor, I may even whip off my bra on the dance floor!