Ready & Waiting

Had another miserable night. Slept well for about 3 hours, then woke up to go to the bathroom. Laid down & had 2 strong contractions in a row & that woke me up again. I laid there for a while, then fell asleep again. Woke up at 3 & had to go to the bathroom, but it was just pressure. Was so uncomfortable that I just got up and roamed around the living room. The downward pressure was miserable, and my side started to hurt like it did in January. I got semi-comfortable with the heating pad & finally went back to bed. I'm so glad that Peaches was worn out & didn't come in until 8:30 (yes, very late, I know). Oddly enough, my body felt much better this morning & for most of the day. I was grateful for that, as I don't think I could take 12 more days of feeling like I did last night. I don't have much to gripe about - this pregnancy has been relatively easy on me. I think everyone just reaches a point where they are READY, and I am right there right now. Funny thing though - I had those contractions last night & started to worry that I wasn't ready, that I had projects to finish for work, that my bag wasn't packed, that I'd have to call & bother someone in the middle of the night to take care of Peaches..... a classic neurotic if there ever was one. I think I am getting better. I was MUCH more tightly wound when we were in Oregon & I was commuting so much. I wonder what having two kids is going to be like - will it make me more uptight or more laid back?

FYI - my daughter told me tonight she didn't need me to help her in the bath any more. Part of me was relieved, as I can barely bend down to put on my own shoes, much less hunch over & chase her around the tub with a bottle of shampoo, and part of me marked it as another indication of how fast she is growing up. I miss my Baby Girl, but also adore my Big Girl. Time flies......

What's New?

It's been a busy few weeks. Peaches started a new preschool, and is loving it. I love the free time it's giving me. 5 hours a week to myself makes me feel a little bit human again.

• I've also been busy making baby blankets and diaper cloths. See above. I finally found the courage to make a blanket for The Boy, too, and will add a pic when I get it all washed and purty.

• Ebay has been my new best friend, and it got a bit out of hand for a few days. Seriously, when you can buy Robeez at less than half the price, who could resist?? Let's just say that The Boy will have some very stylish kicks - not that he'll actually need shoes for another 9-12 months, but fashion is everything, ya know.

• Looks like the house might actually sell. We accepted a low-ball offer and even though it's much less than we would have liked to sell for, the idea of being unburdened is almost dizzyingly appealing. The night we agreed to the deal I slept better than I have in WEEKS. (Unfortunately that didn't last, as this morning I woke up at 4 am and when I finally fell back asleep, Peaches woke me up about 15 minutes later).

• I had brunch with some friends today, and they were sweet enough to bring gifts for the baby. It was like a mini-shower - the first one I've ever had. So Nice! It was such a treat to have some girl time, and Robyn was so great. Thanks for being such a great hostess, Robyn!

Now, I loves me some Christmas, but....

I'm pretty amazed that I see houses on every block that still have wreaths, garland and lights up. I also see random snowman decorations on porches. People, it's almost March. And every day has not been horrifically cold, so there's really no excuse for keeping this stuff up. Bunnies and Frosty really don't mix.

I just don't get it

• Why do some ebay sellers try to rip you off on shipping? Seriously, do you think I am going to be OK with paying $11.00 to ship an item that should cost no more than $4.50 through the post office? Are you that cheap that you have to squeeze every nickel out of your buyers, and leave them feeling extra pissed?
• Is the winter weather that much of a hassle that you have to moan about it even on a sunny, snow-free day? Granted this is my first winter here, but I don't think it's been that bad. Yes, it has snowed. Yes, there have been some sub-zero days. No, I personally don't have to go out and shovel the sidewalk and driveway. Hang tight for another 4 weeks, Spring will be on the way. And PS - this is NOT bad. I still remember a time in Colorado when it was -20 for two weeks straight. THAT was COLD.
• Why is TV programming so horrible on Saturday nights? Friday nights are not much better, but usually I can find a episode or two of House, then hold out for Las Vegas to come on. Saturday night? I sat through 3 hours of Fried Green Tomatoes, with commercials every 9 minutes, then watched Kathy Griffin's stand-up on Bravo (not so bad - a LOT funnier than that idiot Dane Cook). Unfortunately, I enjoyed the stand-up a lot more than the movie, and was sort of pissed that I ended up staying awake until 11 pm, then had my usual restless sleep until 6am when Peaches woke me up.

I almost forgot.......

I found this while bored at work in Vegas. I laughed so hard I almost cried.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8761780

I've never seen an animal look so unhappy.

Nothing to report

I'm back in Iowa, but don't have much to report. The 3 weeks gone was a long time, but mostly enjoyable. I was ready to come home though - there's nothing like your own bed, kitchen, and remote control. Now I'm just nesting a bit - obsessing about getting organized and supplied before The Boy arrives. Sometimes I look around and can't figure out where all this clutter came from. I like to edit my stuff, but feel sort of frozen. I think part of it is feeling constricted. This is a small apartment for 3.75 people, and I feel like all our crap is just jammed into every available corner. I also can't really bend over without feeling nauseated so that doesn't make me feel inspired to clean.

Last post of the year

I'm leaving tomorrow for a 3 week trip (similar to the fateful 3 hour tour, but hopefully with a less climactic outcome), so this will be my last post for a while. A few reflections on 2007:

What I am most grateful for: My family. It's been a year of changes & transitions for all of us, but I feel we are stronger than ever. M graduated and started medical school. Peaches has grown and evolved, and is very much the young lady. Sometimes when I look at her, I can see her 12 year old self just bursting to get out. We've got another monkey on the way, and although there are days when I have no clue how I am going to handle another baby, I am so excited that our family is expanding and my parental dreams are beginning to be fulfilled. This year has also shown me how important they are to me. Despite taking a 40% pay cut when we moved to Iowa, the time I now have with them is precious and irreplaceable. This change has really shown me how unhappy I was with work in Oregon, and how negatively it was impacting me as a parent and a wife.

Best purchases: 1. Sorel snow boots 2. Twin bed for Peaches 3. 37" LCD TV 4. Louis Vuitton wallet (fake or not, I get a little thrill of pleasure every time I pull it out of my purse - I know, it's selfish and completely shallow, but I can't help myself)

Lessons learned: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Selling the house in a matter of a few days was impossibly easy, and sure enough - it all came crashing down. We're still trying to figure out what to do next, but are grateful that it hasn't bankrupted us yet. Second lesson - don't let your work talk you into taking a pay cut without a specified reduction in responsibilities. OK, I could have pushed back harder, but I was in the throes of pregnancy hormones and feeling precariously on edge about even being able to keep my job. I'm still glad that I have a job with health insurance, and I do make more working part-time than many people do working full time. I'm still trying to balance it all out, but know it's a work in progress. With a little bit of jockeying and help from the FMLA, I'll still have the same job and pay when I return from my abominably short maternity leave.

Thoughts for the New Year: Be more supportive of my family; take time to be grateful for what I have; be confident that all will be well, no matter how bleak things seem; make time to do something nice for myself every day; even a 15 minute walk can change your perspective; remember that I am a smart, talented, attractive woman with many marketable skills and a willingness to go the distance.