Baby Mine

Halfway there.

We had the ultrasound yesterday and all went well. The technician said, "you have a very cooperative baby."
Now, I'm know I'm just being a typical "mom" but clearly, our baby is already very photogenic (and perhaps a thumb sucker). For the record, drinking 16 oz. of water before the appointment and holding it for two hours only to be greeted by a techician who plans to further torture you by pressing the ultrasound viewer as hard as possible into your bladder is not the epitome of fun. Although it's all worth it.

And NO, we didn't break down and ask for the gender. It's still going to be a surprise.


Other notes of interest: I haven't had any weird cravings, or any cravings at all, other than milk. I simply CANNOT drink enough of it. It's delicious. Clearly the baby is growing strong bones.

Also, I've been meaning to blog about a song from the Twilight soundtrack, Clair de lune (Claude Debussy), that I cannot stop listening to. (The movie was okay too, although movies are never as good as the books and this was no exception.) Apparently, the baby likes classical music.

No Cause for Alarm

So, my back has really been hurting me lately. I've been thinking, "why is my back hurting, I'm barely showing and I've gained like 4 pounds (which I can do on a normal day if I eat too many homemade chocolate chip cookies). I shouldn't be in pain." I was perplexed...until I went to my handy-dandy book.It so helpfully told me that back pain at this stage of pregnancy is completely normal. The reason: my body is releasing a hormone that tells my ligaments to relax so that my pelvis can stretch open farther to prepare the birth canal for delivery. Well, that's informative and reassuring. That back pain? Just my bones cracking apart. No cause for alarm.

So, in related news, I'm looking for a good back pillow to take to work.

The Stylings of a Belly

Is now a good time, fashion-wise to be pregnant or what? Before I was, I used to bemoan the fact that so many of the clothes were billowy and shaped like caftans because everything I tried on made me look pregnant. Now, of course, it's the best. I don't even need to buy maternity shirts because all the normal clothes are plenty big enough. It's wonderful. Now, I'm not showing very much, but I am big enough that my normal waisted pants are way too uncomfortably tight. All my low-rider jeans are still going strong, but everything else is sadly not an option for the time being. So, I was forced to buy some maternity pants and let me tell you, those suckers are COMFORTABLE. How lucky am I to have an excuse to wear stretchy paneled pants next week on Thanksgiving (and to finally be over that whole every food repulses me thing). However, I am still in that weird stage where I don't really look pregnant, I just look like I love to drink beer...alot (which I don't; it's repulsive). So, some of the billowy shirts I have make me look like I'm trying too hard to look pregnant. I'm sure you all know someone who found out they were pregnant and went directly out and bought maternity clothes and started wearing them. In my opinion, this just looks like they are trying too hard. Plus, sure I love wearing my newish billowy shirts now, but I know I will loath the very sight of them by April. Anyway, this is kind of a ramble, but I will end with photos of the clothes I wore to work today. I know the pants look wide-legged (and they were), but I had my mom make them into straight-legged. Also, they are a dark wash that looks black trouser-ish and less jean (thus making them work appropriate).

Daisy Fuentes Sienna Wavy Top (Kohl's)

a.n.a. Maternity Trouser Jean (JC Penney)

Candie's Larkk Mary Jane Pumps (Kohl's)

It Doesn't Take Much

Two things that please me:

1. A Refresh tea from Starbucks. It's just so (dare I be so corny) refreshing. And it's even better when a co-worker brings you one unexpectedly one morning.

2. Mandarin oranges. On my way home from work, I drive by a number of family owned citrus orchards. (You gotta love small towns and backroads that get you from work to home.) Anyway, yesterday I stopped in and bought a 10 lb. bag from a 75 year old lady who insisted that she give me a sample of the produce. I did not turn her down and unpeeled that thing as soon as I got back in my car.

Happy Halloween

And it is indeed happy, for it's Friday, Halloween, and Homecoming all wrapped into one! Also, I can almost say that my "all day" sickness (as opposed to just morning) is gone.

News

Perhaps you've noticed the new "ticker" in my column to the right. It's true; we're expecting our first child. So far, people have asked/said the strangest/most obtrusive things.

A List (by no means comprehensive) of Things I've Been Asked or Told:

* Had you been trying long? (Last I checked this wasn't your business unless I offered it first.)

* Was this expected/Did you mean to get pregnant? (I am the kind of girl who carries the contents of several cabinets in my purse lest anyone need something. I also try to shop for Christmas gifts all year long. I am not, by any means, the kind of girl who gets pregnant accidentally. No offense if you did.)

* Are you feeling pudgy yet? (No, but why, do I look fat? Thanks so much.)

*"Now you are a sacred vessel." (What can you say to this?)

However, for the record: "yes, we're totally excited and no, we will not be finding out the gender."

Current

I figure since I've never put up a good photo of the husband and I
(unless you count the one in my sidebar) ,
this was a good time to post an updated one.

It's the best I can do right now.

I have been very uninspired lately. I get up at the crack of dawn, against my will, to go to work, where I count the hours until I can leave and go home to lay on the couch like a lump. It's hardly fodder for blogging. In lieu of anything interesting in my own life, here are some sites that I enjoy:

Calling all Office fans

Thinking about getting a pet, but would like to rescue one?

Do you need new address labels or have started thinking about your Christmas cards?

Need a unique gift or are looking for something for someone you don't really know well? Try this site.

Always a time-waster.

Another amusing time-waster that is not for the faint of heart.

Last and totally unrelated, I recently discovered this conditioner:

Yeah, yeah, it's moisturizes, but more importantly, it smells fantastic. In fact, the smell of my own hair is the only thing keeping me going today.

It can't be only me.

Has anyone noticed how more and more men are not wearing an undershirt under their dress shirts? I cannot be the only woman grossed out by this. I feel like seeing the hue of a man's skin through his dress shirt is the equivalent of panty lines on a woman: unsightly and totally unnecessary. Maybe, this year, in lieu of a Christmas baked good I will get my male co-workers an undershirt, thus giving a gift and solving the problem all in one benevolent gesture.

Going for Broke

Two reasons why it's a bad thing that I'm now within 15 minutes of an Anthropologie:

Gossamer Garden Dress

Marakata Dress

The plight of women everywhere.

Don't be deceived, these feel amazingly and wonderfully comfortable in the aisle of the store and even in your own house when you get them home, but the second you step into work, they become pewter torture chambers. I'm sure I'll be hobbling by noon.

Isaac Mizrahi Marissa Crinkle Sandal in Pewter

I am grateful.

Thank God that I have a door on my office and I'm not stuck out in the thick of things like the rest of the office ladies. Instead, I can ensconce myself in a cave of serenity. I owe Linda a debt of gratitude for choosing the location of this office. Without her, I might have not have lasted this long. When I feel grouchy (which is strangely more and more often), I simply close my door and my blinds and commence working in glorious quiet and solitude. Linda, you are a benefactress.

You'll probably need a kleenex.

A Story:

A son asked his father, "Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?" The father, who despite having a heart condition, said "Yes." They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons; the father always saying "Yes" to his son's request of going through the race together.

One day, the son asked his father, "Dad, let's join the Ironman together."
And his father of course replied "Yes." (For those who don't know, the Ironman is the toughest triathlon. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile marathon along the coast of the Big Island. Father and son went on to complete the race.

Now watch the video.

(In case you're wondering, I went through at least 11 kleenex while sitting in my office at work.)

It's the little things that keep me going.

Best part of my work-day?

When, in the middle of a long, very scintillating lunch meeting of approximately 80 people, the person next to me pulled out a copy of this

and we commenced to read it.

Don't bother me

because tonight I will be reading this:

(It's a good thing we have leftovers for dinner, else my husband would go hungry.)

Unfun

You know how you're supposed to relish the last day that you have of your "summer break " and have loads of fun with nary a care? Not me. The gloom of going back to work pretty much overshadowed the last THREE days of my break. Although my feelings can be described by a monologue from the made for T.V. movie "A Place for Annie" starring Sissy Spacek,

they can also be more than adequately depicted by the following sketch.

Totally Great Time Waster

"Personalized" Mosaic

To Give Credit Where Credit is Due:
1. Pirate,
2. Atlantic halibut,
3. La Torre del Oro,
4. Purple Haze,
5. gerard-butler,
6. caffeine curve,
7. Prince Edward Island - Fog & Red Dirt / Soil Road,
8. dark chocolate brownie,
9. The Reader ,
10. Orchids,
11. National-Sarcasm-Society,
12. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof...

Wanna make your own? Instructions found here.
(Special thanks to Kelly for being the inspiration.)

If you love NBC's The Office, this might amuse you.

Please to enjoy...
Office Spoof

It could be worse.

For no apparent reason, I have recently become completely addicted to these things. They look like dog bisquits, but they taste like manna from heaven. Seriously, they are delicious and since they are so small, they do not suffer that unfortunate crumb problem that regular graham crackers suffer from. Should you have a three year old or simply an unnatural craving (like me) run to the grocery and buy two boxes. I would like to forewarn you against the Honey Maid "Bees"; they are far too small and are without the delicious sugar sprinkle atop them. I made the mistake of purchasing the "Bees" first and was made to suffer through the whole box before I could give these sticks a try. Now, I hope to prevent you from suffering the same fate.

Paula's Choice is My Choice

If this cosmetic and skin care line, developed by Paula Begoun (author of "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me"), was sold like Mary Kay, I'd be a rep in a second.

Paula's Choice Skin Care and Cosmetics

Go there. Order. It will change your life. Or, at least, your skin.