Still pregnant

Its been a longtime since I've posted. I have been focusing all of my energy on figuring out a way to get this baby out. Last night was a full moon, and I was convinced that would do it. No. Everyone, doctor included, keeps telling me to have sex. I will admit that we've tried that route and no results yet, although Brent has been walking around with a big smile on his face. At my last doctor's appointment on Thursday, she completely violated me and then told me I was only a "fingertip." That did not make me happy. They scheduled me to be induced on the 22nd, and I am really hoping that it doesn't come to that. My due date is 4 days away, I have another doctor appointment the day after and I am hoping that they give me some really good news. Everyday I wake up thinking "I think today is the day." I can't wait for the actual day!

Christmas

I'm the fat, pale one.

Nicole, click HERE to see the crib stuff we bought. I think it looks better in person. The pictures I took don't look right because of the weird lighting.

Before & After

BEFORE


AFTER


BEFORE


AFTER

When fat things happen to good people

Good lord. This is me December 16th at my work's Christmas party. That poor man sitting next to me is my husband. Through this pregnancy I have gained almost 50lbs, and every bit of it shows in this picture. Wow. It is still shocking to see my new self in pictures. When I picture myself in my mind I am at most 22 years old, and have a very decent shape. The reality kicks my butt everytime.

Before & After

Well, I was going to post pictures of the baby's room before and after its transformation from office/spare room to baby's room, but Image Shack keeps telling me my file is too large. I don't know why, seeing as how I took the pictures with the same camera as every other picture I've posted on here. Those all posted fine, so why not these? I have not quit figured out how to re-size an image, so I guess the pistures will have to wait until I can find someone who has mastered he re-sizing of photos, and get them to help me.

Caption Me

People who cancel plans at the last minute suck.

Which "Saved By The Bell" Character Are You?

Busy Busy

Well, I haven't posted for a while since I figured no one read this anyway. However, at the request of my best friend, I will post once again. We've had so much going on lately that it has been hard finding time.

The Tuesday before Thanksgiving we drove to North Carolina. Big mistake. This is a family tradition, to drive up and spend Thanksgiving with my Grandma and family. However, being as pregnant as I am, an 11 hour overnight car trip is not the most fun. Add to that being trapped in a house with 12 people who were seriously getting on my nerves. I couldn't wait to get home. Unfortunatly, I managed to pick up a horrible cold up there. It's been over a week and it is still sticking around. I've been trying to go my entire pregnancy without taking any medication other than Tums. Monday my cold was so bad that I broke down and had Brent pick up some Robitussin cough syrup, one of the doctor approved medicines. I took one very small dose and felt so guilty about it that I decided not to take anymore and just suffer through. It didn't really do anything anyway. I had a routine doctor appointment and the doctor said that my cold would have no bad effects on the baby, so that made me feel better.

Yesterday we had our first Prepared Childbirth class. That was an interesting experience. It was nice to see so many other pregnant couples. But it was funny how you could tell that all of the mothers were sizing each other up. Is she bigger, smaller, fatter, etc. Kind of like walking in to the first day of school.
Anyway, we had heard the class was kind of useless, but we both liked it. Yeah, they tell you a lot of stuff you already know, but it helped to put to rest some of my fears. We watched a video of a birth, and I think I was the only one in the class that had to look away. Even Brent watched the whole way through. Without going into too much detail, the placenta is disgusting. So gross.

We took a tour of the hospital, went over where to go when the time comes, etc. At the end of the class it got kinda weird because we (mothers & fathers) had to lay on these mats with our pillows and do relaxation excercises, listening to new age music, envisioning ourselves on a beach, taking deep breaths. We go again next Saturday, and I think we are going to focus more on the Lamaze stuff. I liked it because it really added to my excitement, made it feel so much more real. Seeing the room I would be in, seeing the nursery. 44 days to go and I am really excited to go through it all.

I came home yesterday to find a big package at my front door. A nice friend of my Mom's bought us a carseat. That was such a nice suprise.

I've been bummed this week because my shower is Saturday and many of the people that I invited aren't able to make it, one of them being my oldest friend. It will be more of my Mom's friends than mine. Oh well. We have Friday off from work so I am just looking forward to the 3 day weekend.

Survey

What were you doing 10 years ago?

1995 was one of my best years. I was 17, a senior in high school, madly in love with my first boyfriend, Kevin, and had fun, flirty friendships with other boys. I drove an awesome 67 VW bug, I was getting ready to quit my job at Kash n Karry and start working at a beach resort, and was looking forward to graduation. My best friends were and still are Angie and Lenabelle.

What were you doing 5 years ago?

In 2000 I was complacently living with my boyfriend, Darrick, in his house. We would get engaged in March of 2001, and would break up a few months after. I was going to school, and having fun working at the alarm call center. Things were pretty easy, other than my relationship, which many people thought was nearly perfect. It was, except we were more like friends/roomates than boyrfriend/girlfriend. I shopped a lot, I was driving a Saturn, and I had just started working in Brent's department. The flirtation begins. Brent has just gotten out of a broken engagement and was going through an extreme depression at this point.

What were you doing 1 year ago?

In October 2004 I was still a newlywed. We were living in our house, we had just refinanced actually. I was still going to school, looking forward to graduating, and working for the same shitty company that I presently work for.

What were you doing yesterday?

We went to Home Depot and bought a new faucet for our kitchen sink. Then we drove up to my sister's apartment and hung out with her and her roomate for a while. Then we went to Babies R Us and to the mall up there. We bought the baby a couple of sleep n plays. Then we went to my parent's house, my Mom gave me a flu shot, and then we had a pretty crappy dinner at Johnny Carino's. Then home and sleep.

Snacks you enjoy?

Chocolate
popcorn
banana bread
blueberry muffins

Songs you know all the words to?

I know the words to a lot of songs. Some examples are:

many older Backstreet Boys songs
most Allison Krauss songs
Every song on Weezer's blue CD
"Hold On" by Wilson Phillips
"Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix A Lot and "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice
"Soul Meets Body" by Death Cab

Things you would do if you had a million dollars?

Buy a house in North Carolina
Pay for my husband's education
Pay of my student loans and car loan
Quit my job to stay home with my baby
Save/invest the rest


Things you like doing?

Hanging out with my husband
Going out to dinner
Hearing my baby's heartbeat and feeling her move
Traveling
Shopping

Wilmaaaaa!

Soooo, its been a longtime since I've posted anything, but I think it's official that no one really reads this, so who cares?

We did fine with Wilma. In fact, we got a three day weekend because of it. While I don't like the circumstances, I do enjoy staying home from work. I didn't sleep at all on Sunday night. The wind and rain started sometime around 2am, and got progressively worse through the morning. It was loud, and I was a little scared. I'm not so much afraid of the wind or anything, but I am terrified of tornadoes. I have never actually been in a tornado or even seen one, but they are really scary. During a storm, especially at night, when the wind starts blowing really loud, I am always afraid that next thing my roof is going to fly off. Anyway, no tornadoes. By 12pm it was windy and sunny, and the weather had cooled down. It actually felt like fall! It was nice.

Maybe the baby can feel a change in air pressure or something because she has been moving around like crazy lately. Really funny movements too. Last night Brent balanced the TV remote on my stomach and we watched it jiggle and shake. It was funny. Today I had to take that stupid glucose test for gestational diabetes. I HATE getting blood drawn. I am not a very good patient. I usually start crying, hyperventilate, sweaty palms, just really stupid. So I had to go chug the orange drink stuff they give you, and then sit in the waiting room for an hour. Then the bad part, the needle. It really wasn't that bad, I just hate it. Hopefully things will look fine on this test, otherwise I have to go for a 3 hour test and more blood samples. I am very sure that I don't have gestational diabetes. However, I have realized that I am a sugar/carb junkie. I was trying to avoid sugar for a couple of days before this test, and it was so hard! I eat so much sugar without realizing it. I'd better work on that, because that's probably a big reason I am gaining more weight.

Well, I am boring myself. I am half watching a Real World marathon on MTV until the office comes on at 9:30pm. I like that show.

The Devil

I bet you didn't think that the devil would take the form of a dog, did you? But it's true. And the dog lives in my house. It took the form of a beagle, and its sole purpose is to make my home life miserable. You win, Satan. Mission accomplished! This "dog" hates me. It growls at me, licks my tile floors, farts right near me all the time, and just all around messes up my house. Any volunteers to rid my home of this beast and save my sanity? I didn't think so.

I just ate so much tonight. At my doctor appointment this month I got a slap on the wrist for gaining to much weight this past month. I had been doing pretty good, but then I gained 10 lbs. Oops. How did that happen? Well, tonight I ate a ton for dinner and then had a big fat bowl of ice cream, and did very little physical activity. Unless, of course, you count the walking around the grocery store picking up said ice cream.

Enough about weight, I have a little dilemma. In a previous post I wrote about how my wonderful place of business was going to technically terminate me while I am out after the baby. They don't have a maternity leave policy. But they are expecting me to be out the usual 6 weeks and then come back. Huh. I am 99.9% sure that there isn't a chance in hell that I'll be going back there. So, Brent and I have been discussing some options for when the time comes that I am jobless. My ultimate goal would be to start a teaching career next August. However, I want something to do to bring in money between February and August. Since Brent works days and is off by early afternoon, I am looking for something to do in the afternoons/evenings/weekends. It is my goal to not put the baby in daycare.

So, there's this job that I've seen in the paper quite often, and it seems like it would be a nice fit for what I'm looking for, at least for the 6 months that I'll need it. It is for a YMCA residential juvenile facility, and it involves direct interaction with the girls there. Now, I'm assuming this kids are no angels, to put it mildly. But, they are looking to fill 2nd or 3rd shift positions, full benefits, and a free YMCA membership. That last perk would be great for trying to take off the baby weight. It would also be good experience along the lines of my Psychology degree.

Now for the problem. This job is in the paper now, but I am worried that come January, it will be gone. I would rather not waitress if I could do something like this. So I was thinking about applying now. But, I am 6 months pregnant. Odds are they won't hire me for that reason. And if for some reason they do want to hire me, pregnant and all, that would mean some changes in my benefits, and I don't know if that would be the smartest thing to do at this point. Also, it pays $4.00 less an hour than what I make currently. However, it might be closer to home which would make up for the pay cut. I was thinking of maybe calling the contact person there and explaining my situation and seeing what they suggest. Maybe they could hold my resume until January and if there's something open at that point, then I could start. What do you think? Anyone out there - friends, family, random strangers. Please comment.

I just did spell check on this and it didn't recognize the word "fart." Isn't that in the dictionary?

Mondays

1. When you look at yourself in the mirror, what's the first thing you look at?: My belly
2. How much cash do you have on you?: about $2.50
3. What's a word that rhymes with "TEST"?: Best
4. Favorite plant?: ummmm...I kill a lot of plants, don't know if I have a favorite. I do but I don't know the name of it.
5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?: Home
6. What is your main ring tone on your phone?: It's called "Funky"
7. What shirt are you wearing?: a pink Old Navy maternity sweater
8. Do you "label" yourself?: sometimes
9. Name brand of your shoes currently wearing?: Westies
10. Light or dark room? dark room to sleep would be nice right now.
11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you?: She seems cool.
12. Do you know what an 8-track is?: yes, but never had one.
13. What were you doing at midnight last night?: Watching tv, waiting for Brent.
14.What does text message you received on your cell phone say?: The last one says "I want ice cream."
15. Do you ever click on Pop-ups or banners?: No
16. What's a saying that you say a lot?: "I hate my job."
17. Who told you they loved you last? Brent
18. Last furry thing you touched?: Brent
19. How many hours a week do you work?: 40
20. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed? 2 that I found from a looong time ago.
21. Favorite age you have been so far?: 21 or 22
22. Your worst enemy?: The company I work for.
23. What is your current desktop picture?: A lighthouse from when we were in Maine.
24. What was the last thing you said to someone? "Peace out."
25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to erase all of your regrets, what would you choose?: million bucks.
26. Who are you thinking about right now? Shania Twain. Her song is on the radio.

More...

While on my 2 hour drive home today, I had a chance to think of some more things that annoy me. Right at the top of the list is snowbirds. It's the craziest thing; As soon as it becomes October 1, you notice a change. A normal 1 hr drive turns into an hour and a half or 2 hour drive. The wait at restaurants is longer. The supermarket is clogged with old people, and the road is jammed with RV's all heading south. My drive to work is normally bad, but from October 1 - April 30, it is unbearable.

I also hate smokers who throw their cigarette butts out the window when they are driving. The same people who do that probably wouldn't throw other trash on the ground, so why do they think the world is their personal ash tray? Cigarettes are tasty enough to put in your mouth and inhale into your body, but they aren't good enough to keep in your car for awhile until you can get to a trash can? Anytime I see someone do that, especially when I am right behind them, I wish I were a big man so I could drag them out of their cars and beat them.

Okay, I think I vented enough. I am looking forward to this weekend. We are registering for baby stuff on Saturday, and then we are going out to dinner with Lenabelle and EJ. I haven't seen them in forever. I am starting to feel really bad that Brent and I haven't done a thing to get the house ready for the baby. We haven't bought anything, we haven't painted the room or cleaned out the closets. I tend to be a procrastinator, but this is one thing I don't want to wait on.

How You Live Your Life

You seem to be straight forward, but you keep a lot inside. You tend to avoid confrontation and stay away from sticky situations. You prefer a variety of friends and tend to change friends quickly. You tend to dream big, but you worry that your dreams aren't attainable.

How Do You Live Your Life?

Things that annoy me...

1. Dump truck on the road (and other large trucks).
2. People who don't use courtesy when driving.
3. Getting up too early or sleeping too late.
4. Kids who hang out at the mall (I know, I am old!)
5. Not liking a haircut.
6. People who ALWAYS sneak into work late and take long lunches.
7. Not being able to find the words to get my point across.
8. Getting late fees from Blockbuster, which are then followed by a phone call and a letter threatening to send me to collections for the $4.00 I owe.
9. People who interrupt a conversation.
10.Politics