Josh has been painting some furniture for me, and I wanted to show you some pictures of his handiwork, but I always forget to take pictures when I get home, so I'm giving up and writing anyways. He really has done a very good job--he made me a headboard for our bed (he took a picket fence and painted it barn red--it's very cute!) and he painted our desk green (he's going to stencil flowers on it for me too). It pays to have a handy husband. We realized that the only two pieces of furniture we own that we paid more than $100 for are our couch and our bed. Of course, we haven't bought curtains yet either (probably because they will cost us more than $100--are you sensing a trend here?).
It was a beautiful day here last Saturday so we went on a spur of the moment hiking trip at Percy Warner park. Everybody was there with their labradors, german shepherds, and golden retrievers. Yes, Percy Warner park is no place for yappy dogs. Josh said when we were through with the 3 (?) mile hike that I can now tell people that I hiked a 600 ft peak while I was 6 months pregnant wearing flip flops. I don't think I'll brag about the flip flops. That was an accident--I didn't know we were going to be hiking, so I didn't put on sneakers--and I started to regret my choice of footwear about halfway through.
And because I seem to enjoy writing three paragraphs at a time, here's some more news for you. I've had to cut back on the amount of news I read. I started paying alot more attention to current events when I started working, because I had the time and I was always sitting at the computer with internet access. Unfortunately, this hasn't exactly been good for me. Really, not everyone can handle being well informed. The more and more I know about what's going on in the world, the more pessimistic I get. Then, one day I read an article about some Russian scholar who said predicted the U.S. would fall apart by 2010 and Russia and China would become the new world powers. Now, every piece of bad news I read is just more evidence that we're all going to hell in a handbasket and pretty soon Russia will take over and no one will have clean towels anymore.*
It's a good thing I didn't marry a politician, because I am going to have to find some other way to fight the culture war--a way that doesn't involve me needing to know very much about current events and public policy. I know! I will have more than two children and I won't put any of them in public school. Yes, that will do for a start at least.
In the meantime--why doesn't anyone write about good news anymore? It's all death, dying, and despair. Journalists must be very unhappy people.
*I don't know how in my mind communism became equated with dirty towels. You can hazard a guess if you want to, but I think it might be safer to leave that one untouched.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
3 Months Left!
I can hardly believe I'm on the last leg of the journey now. I'm encountering new obstacles and new blessings the bigger I get. I can no longer comfortably (or safely) shave my own legs. Josh offered to step in and help, but we're both pretty busy, so I'm wearing a lot of pants these days. Sitting in a folding chair is torture, which makes listening in sunday school much more difficult. On the other hand, Josh has become a very sweet mother hen: he does most of the housework at night and makes me lay on the couch and rest. For some reason I fight him on this almost every night--maybe the hormones are making me irrational. It's also fun to be pregnant enough so strangers notice. I get lots of attention now when I go out in public. And no, no one has touched my belly or told me their labor horror stories--that's probably why I'm still enjoying the attention so much.
Josh and I went to our first childbirth class last week. Most of the people in the class are yuppie couples who work for Vanderbilt (apparently it's a fluke that so many Vandy employees signed up for the same class). There was one hippie couple--he was a former wrestler and she looked like her clothes could have been made from hemp (I'm sure it was a natural fiber). The highlight of the class was the lady who said that the most wonderful thing about being pregnant was "the power of creation." I guess for her pregnancy is the ultimate power trip. There was one couple that was nice and down to earth, of course, Josh already knew them from work. "Ms. Cecil" (she is not even 30) teaches 5th grade at West End.
And...we registered for gifts. I'm very proud of how we did on our registry. We tried very hard to make sure it wasn't very long, and also had a wide variety of prices featured. Baby stuff is so expensive, if you're not careful you can end up with a registry where there aren't any presents under $50, and I'm not exagerrating. Whether we get any presents or not, I think just the act of registering for stuff is fun and special. One of the best parts of being pregnant (I think) is getting to plan for the baby. Josh may have a different opinion next week when we organize his things to make room for Emmie's clothes. Poor guy--he is already outnumbered and our baby girl isn't even here yet! He's very excited I know, but I'm not sure what he's going to do with two women in the house.
Josh and I went to our first childbirth class last week. Most of the people in the class are yuppie couples who work for Vanderbilt (apparently it's a fluke that so many Vandy employees signed up for the same class). There was one hippie couple--he was a former wrestler and she looked like her clothes could have been made from hemp (I'm sure it was a natural fiber). The highlight of the class was the lady who said that the most wonderful thing about being pregnant was "the power of creation." I guess for her pregnancy is the ultimate power trip. There was one couple that was nice and down to earth, of course, Josh already knew them from work. "Ms. Cecil" (she is not even 30) teaches 5th grade at West End.
And...we registered for gifts. I'm very proud of how we did on our registry. We tried very hard to make sure it wasn't very long, and also had a wide variety of prices featured. Baby stuff is so expensive, if you're not careful you can end up with a registry where there aren't any presents under $50, and I'm not exagerrating. Whether we get any presents or not, I think just the act of registering for stuff is fun and special. One of the best parts of being pregnant (I think) is getting to plan for the baby. Josh may have a different opinion next week when we organize his things to make room for Emmie's clothes. Poor guy--he is already outnumbered and our baby girl isn't even here yet! He's very excited I know, but I'm not sure what he's going to do with two women in the house.
Monday, February 9, 2009
She's got Rhythm
Baby girl and I are still cruising along over here. February 25 is the six month mark. Lately, I've found myself thinking more and more in terms of "how much time do I have left to buy a car seat?" instead of "how much longer until we will see our baby girl face to face?" This is either a funny result of the pregnancy hormones, or just another example of me needing to get my priorities straight. I suppose it could be both.
Also, all of those comments I made about her "dancing" are really not far from the truth. She starts kicking whenever fast music comes on. She kicks in the middle of Sunday morning worship, or just yesterday she was getting quite a kick (pun intended) out of that Jose Cuervo song when it was on the radio. You know the song; it goes: "after 1/2/3/etc. rounds of Jose Cuervo..." and it's all about this guy that goes to the bar and gets drunk on tequila and acts ridiculous. I don't like it, but Josh thinks it's funny, and apparently Emmeline has chosen to side with her Daddy on this one. She makes me laugh. I don't know what it is that makes her start kicking, but I guess she hears something she likes.
I also caught her punching her daddy in the hand this morning--over and over again. Josh slept through it, but I could tell.
People keep asking me if I've had any cravings since I've been pregnant. Josh is probably the better person to write about this since he's the one that's had to put up with all of it, but I can tell you it's been a wild ride. During the first trimester I decided I didn't like sweets, but during this second trimester my sweet tooth has returned very much in full force. There was the week I wanted wildberry skittles everyday (until I made myself sick on them), and the week I wanted gummy bears everyday (until I decided I only liked Haribo gummy bears) and then there was the sudden, inexplicable desire for wedding cake. Yes, it was very late at night. Yes, I walked up to Josh, deadly serious, and asked him to get me wedding cake. No, I did not get any wedding cake that night. :-) My latest kick has been cherry coke icees. I can't pass them up (they're available in the Wal-Mart and the Target closest to us). I do share my large icees with Josh, but only with the understanding when I share with him it's to be considered a down payment on a future icee. Right now I'm thinking how nice it would be if there was an icee machine at Lifeway. Maybe I should call my local congressman and ask him to make provisions for that in the stimulus package.
Oh yes, there was also a phase when I hated meat, and another phase when I hated whole grains. Both of those have passed, but now I don't like jelly anymore (except sometimes on biscuits). It's all very complicated. Josh does a good job of keeping up.
Also, all of those comments I made about her "dancing" are really not far from the truth. She starts kicking whenever fast music comes on. She kicks in the middle of Sunday morning worship, or just yesterday she was getting quite a kick (pun intended) out of that Jose Cuervo song when it was on the radio. You know the song; it goes: "after 1/2/3/etc. rounds of Jose Cuervo..." and it's all about this guy that goes to the bar and gets drunk on tequila and acts ridiculous. I don't like it, but Josh thinks it's funny, and apparently Emmeline has chosen to side with her Daddy on this one. She makes me laugh. I don't know what it is that makes her start kicking, but I guess she hears something she likes.
I also caught her punching her daddy in the hand this morning--over and over again. Josh slept through it, but I could tell.
People keep asking me if I've had any cravings since I've been pregnant. Josh is probably the better person to write about this since he's the one that's had to put up with all of it, but I can tell you it's been a wild ride. During the first trimester I decided I didn't like sweets, but during this second trimester my sweet tooth has returned very much in full force. There was the week I wanted wildberry skittles everyday (until I made myself sick on them), and the week I wanted gummy bears everyday (until I decided I only liked Haribo gummy bears) and then there was the sudden, inexplicable desire for wedding cake. Yes, it was very late at night. Yes, I walked up to Josh, deadly serious, and asked him to get me wedding cake. No, I did not get any wedding cake that night. :-) My latest kick has been cherry coke icees. I can't pass them up (they're available in the Wal-Mart and the Target closest to us). I do share my large icees with Josh, but only with the understanding when I share with him it's to be considered a down payment on a future icee. Right now I'm thinking how nice it would be if there was an icee machine at Lifeway. Maybe I should call my local congressman and ask him to make provisions for that in the stimulus package.
Oh yes, there was also a phase when I hated meat, and another phase when I hated whole grains. Both of those have passed, but now I don't like jelly anymore (except sometimes on biscuits). It's all very complicated. Josh does a good job of keeping up.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Babymoon
Never heard that word before? I swear I didn't make it up. Google it and see for yourself! A "babymoon" is a romantic getaway which is taken by an expecting couple. You see, since your life is about to change completely, you go on vacation and take some time to cherish each other (and your freedom) before the baby comes. Josh and I went to Louisville, KY last weekend and had a fabulous time. And now...pictures!
For breakfast on Saturday morning we went to Lynn's Paradise Cafe. It was featured on Throwdown with Bobby Flay and on Oprah. If it's good enough for Bobby and Oprah, it's good enough for Josh and me! It is crazy in there, and I'm not just talking about the crowds--there are legs growing out of the ceiling, pants made out of used tea bags, oh, and our table had a train set underneath it. While we were waiting to be seated we browsed in the World of Swirl gift shop, which is mostly full of items from FredFlare. Among the crazy merchandise was a hat section. I sensed a photo opportunity!
I like to call this, "A wolf in Josh's clothing"
What an egghead!
Oh, and the food at Lynn's? Worth the wait. It was amazing! I had smoked sausage frittata with tomato cream sauce, served with a side of the best cheese grits I've ever eaten. Josh had french toast (which was sliced at least an inch thick). His french toast had a crusty layer of cinnamon and sugar on the outside, and it was not soggy--the mark of a good french toast.
After returning to the hotel for naps (when you're five months pregnant, what could be more romantic than sleep?) we got spiffied up for our evening out. We started the evening with an early dinner at The Melting Pot. It took us 2 1/2 hours to eat, and it was good. We were so stuffed! We decided that The Melting Pot made a very nice, romantic dinner, but it's a lot of work. It may be a while before we want to go back. Oh yes, our favorite course? The cheese course. The bread was our favorite thing to dip, but I surprised myself by also loving the Granny Smith apples dipped in the cheese sauce. Here we are with our dessert course.
After dinner we went to see Wicked! at the KY Performing Arts Center. Josh and I have wanted to see it for a long time, and it was the main reason we wanted to visit Louisville this January. It was wonderful. The seats in Whitney Hall, however, were some of the most uncomfortable seats I've ever sat in. Puny armrests plus no cushioning, they definitely failed the sore butt test.
Here's proof that we were actually at the theater:
I realize I look drunk in this picture, but I promise it's just the poor quality of the photo. We had to take it ourselves. Of course, it could be the sugar high from that super sweet chocolate fondue we ate.
Here's our view of the stage:
And Emmeline kicked whenever an especially loud song came on. Now, it could have been that she was on a sugar high too, but I think we have a little Broadway baby!
On Sunday afternoon we went to go see the world's largest baseball bat.
Pretty impressive, huh? Oh yes, I'm also exactly five months pregnant in this picture.
Josh, sensing the imminent danger posed by the leaning bat, rushed to save the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum from certain doom.
Don't worry, he can fix it!
We decided that while we were there we should try to find me a good baseball glove.
Remember, when you're looking for a glove, it's essential to find one with a good fit.
This looks about right!
In case you were wondering how big the giant glove is, my sweet, obliging husband climbed inside of it to show you.
We bought Emmeline a couple of souvenirs from the gift shop. After all, she is half the reason why we went on the trip in the first place.
For breakfast on Saturday morning we went to Lynn's Paradise Cafe. It was featured on Throwdown with Bobby Flay and on Oprah. If it's good enough for Bobby and Oprah, it's good enough for Josh and me! It is crazy in there, and I'm not just talking about the crowds--there are legs growing out of the ceiling, pants made out of used tea bags, oh, and our table had a train set underneath it. While we were waiting to be seated we browsed in the World of Swirl gift shop, which is mostly full of items from FredFlare. Among the crazy merchandise was a hat section. I sensed a photo opportunity!
I like to call this, "A wolf in Josh's clothing"
What an egghead!
Oh, and the food at Lynn's? Worth the wait. It was amazing! I had smoked sausage frittata with tomato cream sauce, served with a side of the best cheese grits I've ever eaten. Josh had french toast (which was sliced at least an inch thick). His french toast had a crusty layer of cinnamon and sugar on the outside, and it was not soggy--the mark of a good french toast.
After returning to the hotel for naps (when you're five months pregnant, what could be more romantic than sleep?) we got spiffied up for our evening out. We started the evening with an early dinner at The Melting Pot. It took us 2 1/2 hours to eat, and it was good. We were so stuffed! We decided that The Melting Pot made a very nice, romantic dinner, but it's a lot of work. It may be a while before we want to go back. Oh yes, our favorite course? The cheese course. The bread was our favorite thing to dip, but I surprised myself by also loving the Granny Smith apples dipped in the cheese sauce. Here we are with our dessert course.
After dinner we went to see Wicked! at the KY Performing Arts Center. Josh and I have wanted to see it for a long time, and it was the main reason we wanted to visit Louisville this January. It was wonderful. The seats in Whitney Hall, however, were some of the most uncomfortable seats I've ever sat in. Puny armrests plus no cushioning, they definitely failed the sore butt test.
Here's proof that we were actually at the theater:
I realize I look drunk in this picture, but I promise it's just the poor quality of the photo. We had to take it ourselves. Of course, it could be the sugar high from that super sweet chocolate fondue we ate.
Here's our view of the stage:
And Emmeline kicked whenever an especially loud song came on. Now, it could have been that she was on a sugar high too, but I think we have a little Broadway baby!
On Sunday afternoon we went to go see the world's largest baseball bat.
Pretty impressive, huh? Oh yes, I'm also exactly five months pregnant in this picture.
Josh, sensing the imminent danger posed by the leaning bat, rushed to save the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum from certain doom.
Don't worry, he can fix it!
We decided that while we were there we should try to find me a good baseball glove.
Remember, when you're looking for a glove, it's essential to find one with a good fit.
This looks about right!
In case you were wondering how big the giant glove is, my sweet, obliging husband climbed inside of it to show you.
We bought Emmeline a couple of souvenirs from the gift shop. After all, she is half the reason why we went on the trip in the first place.
You'll never guess who wanted to buy her the little bat. :-)
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Baby is kicking--I think.
Josh and I have found something new to get excited over: we can feel Emmeline kick now! Well, at least we think we can. It's very possible that we're "oohing" and "awwing" over a gas bubble or a muscle spasm. But, considering the fact that these mysterious little interruptions are occurring more and more often, and always in the same general area of my belly, I've decided it must be our future Rockette practicing her eye-high kicks.
I get to feel her kick more than Josh, which I think made him a little bit jealous at first, but then one night he was talking to her and she kicked him a couple of times, and he was over the moon about that. Also, little Emmeline's favorite time of day is first thing in the morning, apparently. The alarm goes off around 6:30 am, and then it's like a mini version of A Chorus Line until I get up to take a shower. I guess Josh and I should start bracing ourselves for life with a morning person.
I get to feel her kick more than Josh, which I think made him a little bit jealous at first, but then one night he was talking to her and she kicked him a couple of times, and he was over the moon about that. Also, little Emmeline's favorite time of day is first thing in the morning, apparently. The alarm goes off around 6:30 am, and then it's like a mini version of A Chorus Line until I get up to take a shower. I guess Josh and I should start bracing ourselves for life with a morning person.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Halfway done and counting...
It seems that time has been getting away from me. I'm halfway through my pregnancy and I haven't written anything pregnancy related on my blog since I made the first announcement. The baby will be here before we know it and my poor blog readers would be none the wiser. I can hardly believe it, but I'm four and a half months pregnant. Time has been speeding by so fast I feel like I just found out yesterday. The first trimester didn't have any newsworthy events, unless you consider some extra pimples and more exhaustion newsworthy. Granted, I did have acne on my neck that kind of looked like vampire bites--maybe I should have posted about that, eh? My back did bother me more than usual, and that meant I had trouble sleeping at night, so I was pretty tired all the time. However, I was so grateful to not have any morning sickness to deal with that I felt like I'd be whining if I complained too much about my little problems. And therefore, the blog went ignored. And now that I've caught you up on the last three months, let's move on to the good stuff, shall we? Now that I am actually visibly pregnant, I have to admit that I spend alot of time staring at myself in the mirror, because I can't believe it's really me that looks like that. The fun part of that is now I get to wear maternity clothes! After over a month of nothing fitting (I had two pairs of pants and a couple of shirts that I wore ALL THE TIME) it's nice to have cute clothes that are actually comfortable to boot. I think part of the pregnancy "glow" is just sheer relief that I have outfits in my closet to choose from! My mom took me shopping for maternity clothes when they were in town and I had a great time picking things out with her. The weird part about actually having a belly now is that it gets in the way! It still feels so early to me, but already it's harder to do things like bend over, sit on the floor, or roll over in bed at night. I have to admit, I feel ridiculous. Call me naive, but I thought it was only the women who were "really pregnant" that had trouble doing those things. I figured that gave me at least a couple of more months. And oh yes, I got a prenatal yoga dvd, and it's really funny to see those pregnant women in their unitards doing all of the yoga poses. At least I thought it was funny until I was really sore after I did the workout the first time! I guess I have alot of progress to make before May 25 gets here! That's all the news for now, but we find out the sex of the baby tomorrow (YAY!!) so you can expect another post pretty soon. And here's my week 20 picture:
My project for next week is to find a better backdrop! That white wall would wash anyone out.
Thanks for reading!
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