32 hours

That's the number of hours Ava has to arrive before we lose out on using her as a tax break. ;o) Ah well. Whatever...I don't care anymore, as long as she's not past her due date. (I realize I just jinxed myself by saying that....wonderful.) In the meantime, I'm just trying to enjoy my vacation. Making a real dinner tonight: rosemary pork chops in the crock pot, green beans, wild rice, and apple cobbler. Good stuff!

Not much to report...

...I just had a rough night of anxiety, sleeplessness, nausea, pain, etc. I got up and walked around the house and goofed off on the computer for awhile but it didn't help much. Almost too tired to drag my sorry butt around today. Still making plans for the upcoming week in an attempt to trick the kid into coming early by making it "inconvenient" but I really don't think it's going to work. Hmmmm. (Oh, did I mention they found me another maternity leave replacement? Hopefully this one sticks around and hopefully I'll have a chance to at least meet her before I'm out of the game!)

Craig did a little nesting of his own and bought a file cabinet yesterday, and sorted/filed a bunch of junk that had been in his office closet (yay!)...then he installed some new lighting in there too. It's looking good! I think he needs a small area rug and a few distinguished-looking pictures for the wall, but that's just me...a couple of years ago I painted the room a shade called "Cosmopolitan Olive" (yeah, that's fancy speak for "dark army green") hoping it would look like an elegant executive office, but really it just looked stupid (that's my opinion, Craig likes it)...the lighting has gone a long way to improve the appearance.

All right. I'm rambling. I really have nothing to say but am trying to kill time until I either doze off or decide it's time to look for food.

Still not laughing.

That is the understatement of the year...I'm so cranky right now that if I were to meet someone I'm not fond of in a dark alley right now, I'd probably rip their head off with my bare hands, just to give me something to do. (No, I'm not insane, why do you ask?) Not only did the doctor tell me today that I haven't changed from my previous 3 centimeters, apparently being dilated in the first place doesn't mean CRAP. So, all of my preparedness, all of my tension, all of my excitement that the spawn will soon be vacating the premises....ALL FOR NOTHING. I wanted that baby to come today...I just liked the 27th for some reason. (I have really weird issues with numbers...if I'm counting a group of objects, I like even numbers; preferably with many factors. For birth dates, I am partial to odd numbers. I like odd composite numbers the best....27 would have been PERFECT. Yes, I have bizarre, obsessive number issues.) Anyhow, someone else who was due nearly 3 weeks after me had her baby today. Yes, there were different circumstances and it worked out for the best and I'm nothing but happy for her, but it just rubbed it in that my kid has apparently sunk her evil little hands into my uterus and is hanging on for dear life. COME ON!!!!! YOUR LEASE IS UP!! OUT ALREADY! We have a gorgeous cradle and a crib with the softest sheets imaginable out here for you, it's much better! I have a stabbing, searing pain in the right side of my ribcage if I don't sit/lay/stand the exact right way. If the baby turns a certain way, she presses a nerve that sends pain down one or both of my inner thighs and makes my leg(s) give out. If I get up in the middle of the night and have a drink of water--WATER!!!--I get acid reflux. I am so done with this. (Oh, and the person who said you can't have I.V. drugs while actually delivering is right, so I guess I'll be going with the epidural at some point for sure. I'd just like to make it as long as possible without.)

On that note, here are some Christmas pictures! I know I said I'd edit and post them in the last one but I didn't. They're right here.

BubbleShare: Share photos - Cheap Hotels Vegas

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I hope everyone has a great Christmas! I'll edit and add pictures later...Craig hasn't even gotten out of bed yet. :o) Still holding out hope that maybe we'll have an early arrival as a gift!

(Not likely, though.)

And it keeps getting even not funnier...

Apparently it is my destiny to have a heart attack before the age of 30. Between the stress of pregnancy and anxiety of childbirth/bringing home a helpless creature I have to keep alive and happy, an ongoing issue I'm having regarding a nutcase parent of a student, and the fact that MY MATERNITY LEAVE REPLACEMENT HAS JUST BACKED OUT, I don't know how much more I can take. I wish someone would stick an epidural IN MY HEAD.

Oh, yes...Happy Christmas Eve, everyone!

This is so not funny.

My mom said she talked to a friend of hers who's daughter was dilated to 3cm for TWO WEEKS before she had her baby.

I am not amused.

GET. THIS. THING. OUT. OF. ME.

Well, I just got back from school...went in to get the classroom back in order. It's a good thing I did because apparently the cleaning crew waxed the floors (I thought they were just getting washed) and the entire room was in disarray....the sub would have had a heart attack. (Actually she's more mellow than I am, she'd have just had to arrange the room however she thought it should go...but then it would not have matched the seating charts, etc....so it was better for me to have it ready for her.) Anyhow, Craig came with me because he was pitching a fit about me moving desks (for heaven's sake, I can slide lightweight desks across a floor!) so finally I told him if he didn't want me moving things by myself, he was welcome to come with, but I was going either way. So, we had a nice lunch at a deli up in Wake Forest, got my room back in order (it was actually really nice having him help, it was done very quickly) and here we are.

I have to make a trip to the grocery store because we're supposed to go to my aunt and uncle's for dinner tomorrow and I'm bringing a dessert (trying something new...some angel food cake thing that looks GOOD) and if I make it until Christmas, we'll be going to MJ's and bringing dessert for that as well. At home, Craig still has to put up a shelf in the nursery closet and the house needs vacuuming but that's it! Each night before bed I'm making sure the litterbox has been cleaned and any trash taken out, the cats have full food bowls, and the last odds and ends I'd need for the hospital are in a pile so they can be thrown in the suitcase at a moment's notice (things like makeup, my phone charger, etc....things I can't pack ahead of time because I'm using them every day).

So last night I had a dream that I was being pursued by an individual I know who shall remain nameless (I'm quite certain nobody reading this blog knows this person but still)...she's notorious for being a huge advocate of breastfeeding (which is fine) and forcefully shoving it down the throat of everyone she knows (no pun intended...and her pushiness is NOT fine). She has yet to do so to me, but I don't think she likes me much and I'm quite all right with that! In my dream she was trying to corner me so she could give me the whole breastfeeding spiel and I was NOT having it. I don't like being told what to do...by all means, share your insight and advice and experiences, but don't act like I'm beneath you if I do things my own way...at least not to my face. Just look down your nose at me behind my back, please. ;o) Personally I'm only planning on feeding the baby that way because it's cheap, easy, and best for the kid...it's not exactly an experience I'm looking forward to...no offense to anyone out there who found it to be a lovely bonding experience, it just kind of creeps me out. (The entire reproductive process is making me feel like a farm animal.) I love that I'm going to have this baby but the events leading up to her arrival and the ones I'm anticipating immediately following, I'm finding a little less enjoyable than, say, a Caribbean cruise. (Oh my goodness, I would do anything to be on a tropical island, with a tropical drink, laying ON MY STOMACH out in the sun! They need to invent a labor and delivery drug that doesn't just take away the pain but makes you hallucinate so that instead of giving birth, you think you're on vacation.)

That's it...during the day I keep it together pretty well but I'm nervous now when I go to bed at night, wondering if I'm going to be jumping up at 3am and making a trip to the hospital. It must be on Craig's mind more than he'll admit because I got up to use the restroom last night and he was like, "WHAT? WHAT IS IT? WHAT'S GOING ON? ARE YOU OKAY? WHAT'S HAPPENING?" Obviously he was still half asleep but it was pretty funny.

I WANT THIS ONESIE!!!

Okay, my kid has been notorious for kicking the heck out of me these past months...recently, it's gotten kind of painful. (Still humorous though, to see a lump that's obviously a foot suddenly poke out and then start traveling across my abdomen!) Anyhow, I found this online yesterday and it keeps making me laugh...not only is it funny, I've always found it amusing when moms sit around and talking about, say, percentile ranking of their kids' head sizes, etc. (I know, I'll probably do it too, but it's still amusing!)



I'm also feeling like a big moron because at the beginning of my pregnancy, I would read about or hear people talking about "pregnancy brain" or being super clumsy while pregnant, and I thought they were probably full of crap. The humidifier I broke last night suggests otherwise...and I'm keeping my mouth shut from now on!

0 to 3 in seven days

Yes, that's right...since my last appointment, I have dilated 3cm! We're on labor watch! Of course, the doctor seems pretty confident that it'll still be at least another week, but whatever! I'm just excited things are happening! (So, you all thought I was a basket case before, huh? I'm about to go into REAL psycho mode now!) That means that tonight I have to finish cleaning the house, I have to groom the cats, hang up the pictures Jamie made us for the baby's room...oh, and I guess I'll be shaving my legs every night too, just in case. I don't want to be stuck in the hospital with stubbly legs...yes, I know the doctors don't care, but I do. Stubble drives me nuts. If I'm not in labor tomorrow morning I think I'll go get a pedicure, too...the swelling in my feet is pretty much gone AND since my previous trip to the doctor I've lost two pounds! Yay! And I guess I should go to the school tomorrow and set up those desks too...

Also--this baby better know how much I love her--today I actually consented to receive a flu shot. I know, you would assume someone who was going to give birth at any given moment would be less of a wimp about needles, but not me, shots scare the daylights out of me. The nurse did an AWESOME job...I hardly felt it at all! It's a little sore now but I don't care...it's the actual process of receiving the shot that freaks me out.

So. That's that. I'm off to clean!

The Mixing Bowl (A.K.A....the Freezer Bunker)

I went to the Mixing Bowl today and have added six more meals to the collection already in the freezer: beef stew, pork loin with cranberry stuffing, mini pizzas, mexican lasagna, herb stuffing crusted chicken breasts, and balsamic plum glazed pork chops. It wasn't as fun going by myself, but I wanted the meals so it was fine...plus, there's something relaxing about just being silent and putting the meals together. Ahhh yes...the freezer bunker is fully stocked! (I know, I'm so weird. It's not as though once the baby is born, all the grocery stores will disappear or Craig and I will be physically incapable of buying or making food, it just makes me feel better to be ridiculously prepared. I'm like this when I travel, too...making sure I have everything I could possibly need. Riiight....as though forgetting my toothbrush on a trip up to my parents' house would be a real disaster, they *do* sell those things in Chicago! ;o)

I also went back to work to serve the last hour of my workday, but of course, they were getting ready to clean the floor in my room so I could not put it back in order. I swear, this happens every single time I go in...I really have a way of being inconvenient I guess! I did work for an hour but I'm going to go back in a few more days so I can put the desks back where they belong so my sub doesn't have to do it if I go early.

That is pretty much all that's going on here...slept horrible last night, but it was just because I was irritated by work-related things and not cramps, so that's both good and bad. Craig comes home tomorrow and I can't wait to see him again! I can't believe I've been without him for nearly a week, and over a vacation too...it's gone by remarkably fast, and I've been able to stay fairly busy the whole time. Ava's moving around has gone from cute and amusing to downright painful...poor kid is so squished. Not much longer! I've decided that when I go into labor, I'm going to try to stick with I.V. drugs for awhile and avoid the epidural for as long as possible. It has nothing to do with being noble and tough and wanting to go as natural as possible, and it has everything to do with wanting to retain my mobility and avoid tubes up the urethra and needles in the spine for as long as possible. ;o) Maybe I'll last five minutes, maybe five hours, who knows? It's worth a shot...the anesthesiologist is there 24/7 so the option is there whenever I want to take it.

All good things must come to an end.

Last night I slept like crap...I think I'm fighting a cold and I had cramps on and off all night (that was kind of scary, as much as I've wanted the baby to come early I've been praying that she doesn't come in the next two days while Craig is gone). Oh well, at least I'm on vacation and don't have to throw work on top of everything else! Off to the pediatric urologist and the eye doctor today, then I'm spending the rest of the afternoon on the couch, in front of the fire, pretending it's not 23 degrees outside. :o)

What did I do to deserve this....

For once, I'm not complaining...I have now racked up not one but TWO good nights of sleep! I've slept at least nine hours each the past two nights, with only two bathroom breaks each night...and each time I've fallen right back asleep. It's been WONDERFUL. I think my body knows that it needs to go into hibernation mode while it still can. Anyhow, today I also--miracle of miracles--actually made it to church! I have the best of intentions when it comes to going, but while my heart is in the right place it's hard to get the rest of my body to follow. I was doing pretty good in the spring until I got knocked on my butt by the morning sickness from you-know-where, and would like to get back in the habit. So consider today the first step...I wish I'd been going the past few weeks because the pastor was apparently doing a series on having a good day every day, and today was a really good sermon: just one little point he made about finding the positive in every situation really meant a lot to me. I'm trying to apply that to my fear of having the baby, so that I can try to get myself to focus more on the fact that when it's all said and done I get to meet the little person who's been kicking my guts these past nine months, and focus less on the fear of the unknown, the pain, and the lack of dignity of the situation. It is NOT easy to not be afraid of what's coming, and I don't think I'm doing anything wrong by being afraid, but I don't want that to be all I am thinking about.

Anyhow, after church I went to Target to stock up on more things we don't really need--the bunker is filled to capacity but I can't help it! I'm probably prepared not only for a baby, but for any number of natural disasters or nuclear war as well. Aside from my outings, I've spent the rest of the day relaxing on the couch. Tomorrow I'm taking in the car for the yearly state inspection, an oil change, and a much needed wash. That's about it! My dad sent a few pictures so here's one of Craig and I at Thanksgiving....the original picture has my brothers in it as well but I cropped them out so it could fit...and because one of them was making a really weird face. ;o) My face just looks exhausted. Carrying around the spawn will do that, I guess....

Vacation Day #1

I've had some cramps today...feels like normal monthly cramps only sharper, and they last for a little while and then go away. From what I've read, it's just my body warming up and practicing for the real thing. Interesting.

Went in to work today and got one of my inservice days out of the way (and put the finishing touches on my maternity leave preparation), still have swollen feet though not as bad, and my hands started swelling more. Thank goodness for vacation! I'm just taking it easy from now on...I have one or two things planned for each day while Craig is out of town, such as getting the car inspected and the oil changed, seeing various doctors, etc. Slept very well last night so that is definitely helping, and I guess I'll just make sure to keep the house clean from now on so that at any given moment I can leave for the hospital and not feel that there's unfinished business to take care of. :o)

0 cm and counting

Went to the doctor yesterday for the first of my once-a-week appointments...he checked to see if I was dilated and though things are progressing, nothing yet. Not that I expected anything this early...but I have decided it's about time to get this thing over with. The baby can come next Friday or later, that way Craig will be home from his business trip and the few things I have to do will be done. Oh yeah, and apparently my birth center does not do the walking epidural. So, if I get one, I'm confined to the bed and doomed to be catheterized. You know, these options are not very appealing...basically I'm being told that I'm going to be in such excruciating pain, that a needle to the spine and a tube up the urethra are going to be preferable to it. WONDERFUL!

Ah well...it's not all bad. The doctor *did* say that with way I'm built, I shouldn't have trouble with the labor or delivery (doctors aren't allowed to lie, right?). And, today kicks off track-out! Woohoo! I can turn off the alarm clock, put my giant swollen sausage-looking feet up, and relax! Even if I don't deliver early and return in January, it will only be for a few days and then I'm out until April...and sleep deprivation and dirty diapers seem a LOT more appealing than dealing with a couple of the parents I've dealt with lately. (Come to think of it, the excruciating pain/needle in the spine/tube up the urethra all sound more appealing as well....) Seriously. I'll keep out the details but I have a few suggestions:

1.) If you have an issue with something, please speak to me about it when it happens. Not months later.
2.) I am so organized it's almost pathetic. If your child is not, and something goes missing, guess what probably happened...
3.) I'm not speaking Chinese. I can assure you, I am speaking in plain English. So when I explain something to you using that plain English, please pay attention so I don't end up repeating the same thing over and over.
4.) Taking on a bossy, entitled tone and giving me orders gets you nowhere.
5.) Neither does going above my head (especially for something petty)...I am a cautious person and I cover my butt, which means before I've made a decision, I've already talked to the powers that be about that decision.

I should start teaching orphans...that would make my job so much easier!

um....duh....

So the past few weeks, I've been very irritated by the fact that when I eat, it feels like the food is backing up in my throat. Sometimes a little something comes up when I'm laying down or feel like I have to burp....yes, I know it's disgusting, but you know what I mean. At the same time though, I've been thinking, "Well thank goodness I don't have that acid reflux thing!" Umm, idiot...that's exactly what it is. I love how sometimes I have a moment of such density, it scares even me.

ANYHOW...we have three days until track-out! I'm so excited to not be at work for at least the next three weeks....much longer if Ava decides to give her mother a break and come a little bit early! I'm trying to talk her into January 5th or 6th, but she'll do it on her own schedule I'm sure, which probably includes her breaking my water during 4th period Pre-Algebra or something. Yuck. (I know I should just stay home after Christmas break, but I can't stand the thought of wasting my maternity leave on sitting around the house, having nothing to keep my mind occupied.)

In other news, here are a couple of recent pictures for your amusement...I thought it was about time for a "before" and "now" comparison:

BEFORE PREGNANCY



36 WEEKS PREGNANT


Okay, that's a bit exaggerated...I was never Leia-in-a-metal-bikini hot. But aside from the green color (which I may actually acquire in the delivery room), I totally look like that lumpy singer from Jabba's palace in the second picture. Chicken legs topped off by a big ol' gut? That's me! I bet if she turned around, she wouldn't have a butt either.


Last but not least, Anna found this gem online and shared with me:



It's a baby head planter. Sure, why not?

good news

The appointment went well today...the issue with the kidneys, if not resolved on its own, will probably require some antibiotics for the baby after she's born. I'll meet with the pediatric urologist next week and he'll recommend a plan of action for the pediatrician (don't have one yet...if you are local and can suggest one, please do!), they'll check her out after birth, and that's it. I did get a couple of ultrasound pictures but they're not 4-D and she's so big they didn't come out clearly, so there's really no point in posting them. That's pretty much it.

I did have a really scary dream last night: I dreamed I woke up in a hospital bed, I was really sore so apparently I'd had the baby but nobody was there...no doctors, nurses, or husband; and no baby. I dragged myself out into the hallway to look for a doctor but all I could find was a cleaning lady, and all she did was come to my room and start mopping. The floor was disgusting and grimy, and I was really upset that I'd apparently been in a filthy room. I kept trying to find a doctor but nobody would help me and I couldn't find Craig or the baby...I finally got a hold of my mom and one of my brothers but they were in Illinois and didn't have anything helpful to say. I finally woke up when Jack started to cough/choke/heave loudly. Ugh.

oh, the drama...

Last night I got home from work and took a shower. When I got out, I happened to look down at my feet and noticed that they were swollen...I have bony feet with long toes, so swelling is pretty noticeable, in fact, my toes looked like fat cocktail-sized hot dogs, which really cracked me up. I came very close to taking a picture of them and posting it (and I will if it happens again!). Anyhow so my feet were kind of puffy but didn't hurt or anything, so I made dinner and then sat down to help Craig with his math homework for awhile....then I noticed my feet started to feel uncomfortable, kind of numb and tingly. Figured it's because I'm hauling around an extra 30+ pounds now and that's going to happen. When I stood up, my left foot HURT....looked down and it was HUGE. I called my mom, who told me to put my feet up for awhile to see if that helped, and if not to call the doctor. It didn't help, I called the doctor, they had me come in to the birth center to have my blood pressure taken. (Meanwhile I had looked up the swelling online, apparently rapidly swelling feet and ankles, especially when one swells significantly more than the other, can be a symptom of preeclampsia, so I knew that it was probably a good idea to actually listen to the doctor.)

So at about 11:15pm last night we head over the the birth center....I had to get undressed and put on one of those bizarre gowns and lay in a bed for a good hour or so while they took my blood pressure numerous times and hooked me up to a machine so they could monitor the baby's heart. I was pretty much scared to death...not because I was worried about something being wrong at that particular moment, but because that was like an introduction to the real thing, which will be happening in approximately five weeks. Anyhow, things checked out just fine--Ava is strong and healthy and my blood pressure continues to be great--so the doctor didn't even put me on any restrictions, since I have two appointments next week anyhow. (Thank goodness, I was fearing a bed rest order...I was just told to try keeping my feet up, especially if there was any more swelling.) We got home after 1am, I stuck an extra pillow at the end of the bed to keep my feet elevated while I slept, and they're not perfect but looking much better today. That's good, because I still have to put up a few strings of Christmas lights, get and decorate a tree, run to the store, and tonight is the work Christmas party, which I am NOT missing. It's my one excuse a year to dress up and enjoy the fact that I have a job at a school where they do things like throw nice Christmas parties for us. (Craig on the other hand is trying to put me on bed rest today so that he can avoid the party....sorry, not going to happen! ;o)

That's about it. There are annoying little issues to contend with in these final few weeks, but for the most part, nothing serious to worry about. Except that whole "giving birth" thing. Ugghhh.

5 Things To Do Before Baby Arrives

1.) Submit insurance paperwork to the birth center
2.) Tour the birth center
3.) Pack overnight bag for hospital
4.) Work on road rage issues
5.) No, seriously...work on them. Big time.

(Of course, the road rage comes from being stuck either behind idiots, or in front of them. Note: if you drive completely up my butt with your brights on when I'm already going 10 miles over the limit and then pass me on a dangerous stretch of 2-lane road that's also a no-passing zone, don't be surprised by my wrath. That is all I am saying.)

Anyhow.

Yesterday I worked a good 10.5 hours, because I was being shadowed by the person who's covering my maternity leave. This was a good thing but I didn't get any work done and so I stayed after for about two hours...can't do that any more I guess. Feel like crap today and think I might be coming down with something....would go home if it wasn't more of a hassle than it's worth. Seriously, you non-teacher people are so lucky...if you are sick, you stay home. If I am sick, I have to drag out busy work that completely throws off my lesson plans or entrust my regular plans to a teacher who may not have much math experience. I have to write out my day and all of it's instructions in excruciating detail. Then, I have to spend the next day playing catch-up. Sometimes I really just long for a cubicle. Oh well. Also, my fingers are swollen...not much but enough that I cannot get my rings on. I hate not wearing my rings, but I AM going to laugh at people out in public when they see me walking around all gigantic and knocked up and then try to subtly check out my fingers for a wedding ring.

Sorry for the bitter attitude. I'll feel better this weekend when I've slept. I hope.


Oh, and check out the ticker.....35/35! Ha!

Quick Update

Well, it appears as though the issue with the baby's kidneys has not resolved itself so we will be going to Duke on Monday to see a specialist who will be able to give us more information. Then it's back to the doctor next Thursday...I have to start going every week now. I thought maybe they'd let me hold off until we're tracked out, but no such luck...apparently when it gets down to this point, they say "come in" and you just do it.

Also, she's weighing in at slightly more than 6lbs. according to the ultrasound tech's measurements. (and no, we didn't get pictures....it was a different tech and he was all business. So no fun extra 4-D pics. But he did use me as a guinea pig to train someone else on the ultrasound machine, which means the exam was extra-long, and he was jabbing my abdomen so hard with the wand I didn't know if I should pass out, throw up, or pee in my pants, since I hadn't yet given my urine sample. Seriously...I'm so over this.) ANYHOW I cried when I heard the weight...I was only 5 1/2 lbs. at birth, and I was on time and healthy! What am I having, a baby ELEPHANT?!?! Then the doctor pointed out that 6lbs. five weeks before delivery isn't that big, she's only in the 64th percentile, so that put it into perspective and made me feel a little better.

That's all. I'm not feeling chatty. I'm showering and eating and going to bed.

The REAL nesting?

This weekend, I was hit by an uncontrollable desire to get ready for Christmas. It was less about the spirit of the season and more about going totally insane, I think. Anyhow, as a result I am done with all but a few tiny odds and ends of my Christmas shopping, and I have written out, sealed, and stamped all of our Christmas cards. All of them. Friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, you name it...done. (They won't go in the mail until we get a little closer to Christmas, though...and I am baking my usual Christmas bread for the neighbors but that can't be done until I'm ready to deliver those cards.) Today I am going to drag out the decorations: I'd like to start early because usually I take everything down on New Year's Day, but this year I want it down before then so I can have the house back in order long before our due date...I'm also not doing as much decorating this year...I don't go crazy anyhow, but I'm just going to do the tree, a few strings of lights on the porch railings outside, wreaths on the doors, and a couple of things here and there inside. Oh, and probably those candles in the windows.

In other news that's equally disturbing and a little disgusting, back in September my mother-in-law gave us a really pretty framed picture for the baby's room that says "Ways to Welcome a Baby" and then goes through twenty-six ways, A to Z. (Keep reading, that's not the disturbing or disgusting part.) Today, Jack and Toby decided to contribute their own way of welcoming the baby, to be filed under the letter "V"...for "Vomiting on the carpet in the baby's room." Thanks, guys. :-P

New Toys

My birthday was last Tuesday (officially the last one I want to acknowledge!) and it was pretty low-key...we went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner, and then just hung out at home and watched TV...Craig gave me something I've been running my mouth about for the past six months or so: a video camera! I have one that's about 10 years old or so, and it's huge and does those little VHS tapes that you need an adapter to watch, so we really didn't use it. (Plus, what were we supposed to videotape? Ourselves, sitting on the couch and eating dinner? The cats?) Now that we'll have a kid, I really wanted a good one so I can be the annoying video-camera parent. ;o) (I refuse to be Soccer Mom or Minivan Mom....I have to have something mommy-ish; besides, with so many relatives far away, it makes sense to record the things they'll miss.) Anyhow we've used it once thus far, we recorded each other acting like idiots and making hot chocolate, and the cats whining by the back door. That's just so sad. (I should also say that I got two other gifts--The Chronicles of Narnia, which I've been wanting to read for ages but never have, and the latest Die Hard movie. Yeah!!!)

ANYHOW, at the beginning of the week, Craig also broke down and bought himself--errr, I mean, "us", a fancy new TV. Flat screen something-or-other. He's wanted one for a million years and has spent about the same amount of time bugging me about whether or not he should get one. I didn't really feel like we needed one but finally have just said yes, please get it so I don't have to hear about it any more! So he bought one on Monday. And yesterday, he returned it. ARGH!!!! Hopefully it's out of his system now. Last night, we did invest in a Tassimo beverage maker:



It's a Christmas present to ourselves and would seem like an unnecessary appliance if we didn't drink an abnormal amount of tea, cappuccino, and hot chocolate...it's great because there's no mess involved whatsoever, you just put in the little packet of whatever you want to drink and press the button. It brews in a few seconds, so I can actually have a cup of tea BEFORE work if I want...nice. (I never eat or drink before work...I also shower and dry my hair at night because I have compacted my morning routine to the smallest possible amount of time because I hate getting up. We have to be at work by 7:15am which means that I like to get there no later than 7:05, and I live 15-20 minutes away, depending on whether or not I get stuck driving behind a moron.)

That's really about it...sorry I'm not more interesting, and have nothing baby related to report, other than the fact that for some reason I'm sleeping better but getting more scatterbrained by the minute. Example: instead of putting down "cottage cheese" on my grocery list, I typed "cottage twins" and I didn't even notice until this morning. I have no clue where it came from...Craig was talking to me at the time so maybe I started typing something from the conversation? I don't know.