Enchanted

"I finally get it" said Heather as we glided out of Tim's Toyota Center still under the spell of Stevie Nicks. Over the 6 years that we've known eachother she's listened to me ramble about how she is my absolute favorite. Hell, I wanted to name this baby Rhiannon but that was quickly vetoed by my husband. I know many of the stories behind her songs and cried in my gray Stevi-like dress when I snuck into a Pharmacists convention to see her in San Diego when I was 19. I honestly don't think that anyone can completely grasp the presence that is Ms. Nicks until you see her in concert. The scarves, the shawls, the boots, the spinning it's intoxicating.

My sister was able to put a check next to one of her "to do" items on her life list after Friday night. She danced, she cried, she pissed off the lady in front of her by sloshing a little whiskey. When I say she cried I suppose that's an understatement. During landslide she had a mini-breakdown. I do blame Stevie though, while singing this song she had a slideshow of pictures of her and her father in the background. Poor Clara walked (ok stumbled) out with no mascara on her eyelashes but instead had it strategically wiped all over her eyelids and cheek bones. I sat dry-eyed but remembered dancing to Landslide with my dad at my wedding. I didn't cry all day but suddenly let out a sob as we danced. This was the song that I would listen to when I was in California and realized that I had been a stubbon, dramatic fool. I even taped it and sent it to my dad - whether or not he listened to it I'll never know but that was my way of saying "I screwed up, you were right".

Evelynn wasn't overly active during the concert but I did stand and hold my belly while I danced with her. I imagine this isn't the last time that we will rock to these songs.

Rhiannon was by far my favorite song that she performed. I had goosebumps and a lump in my throat. This was closely followed by Gold Dust Woman and Lanslide.

Call her a witch, call her dried up but I call her amazing. I call her music an escape to poetry and rhaspy throats from belting out lyrics and slamming my hand on the steering wheel. She is and always has been completely enchanting.

27 Candles

I feel like Molly Ringwald today where it seems like nothing right can happen on her birthday. I really hope it ends with a cake and Jake Ryan.

I woke up this morning on the verge of tears - probably left over from being quite butt hurt yesterday when my husband told me that he had scheduled band practice for tonight. He un-scheduled it but the damage is already done. I got to work to find out that a person that I used to be super close to who I got the job here and has been here less time than me was moving into her own office. I then got an email saying that the pay cuts would go into August. At lunch I came home to Buddy having shit on the carpet (I didn't get too mad because I asked Oakley to let him out this morning and I'm not sure if he did - it's not like the dog to do that and he hasn't since he was a puppy). The afternoon is picking up. The carrot cake from the company helped. A regular paycheck would have been better.

Brian is making me dinner tonight and we will all hang out and have a quiet evening together.

Clara and Brandy get here on Friday and this is more needed than I thought it would be. My bday party has turned into a full-fledged pity party. . . and if anyone can snap me out of that it's them.

So - bring on Stevie Nicks and the baby shower. Maybe that's my equivilant to Jake Ryan and a cake.

Transition Day

Any step-parent can recognize and dread the term transition day. This is the day that you get your stepson/daughter and the day that you send them back.

The day that you get them you spend the entire day insisting that all the rules are the same and do, in fact, still exist. This makes for a very awkward day because you are so excited to see them. In cases like mine where my stepson has zero rules at his mom's house this can make for an interesting day.

The worst is the transition day when you have to send them back to their other life. Yes, this is a fact of life for a stepmother, but it's certainly not easy. Never have I been relieved to see him go. Instead I dread what kind of week he will have. What nonsense will be put into his head, what kind of people he will be taken around, where he will be sleeping, etc.

The uneasiness of this day is multiplied by 20 when said mother changes her plans 4-5 times a day. There have been times that Oakley has been patiently waiting on the couch, with his coat on for his mother to come only to get a phone call after 30 minutes of waiting that it won't be until later that afternoon.

Today she was supposed to come and pick him up between 12 and 3. Very ambiguous if you ask me. Of course this was met with the behavior of Who's rules do I follow between now and then? How much can I get away with? What kind of punishment can I get if I'm leaving today anyways? Where exactly do I belong? Is it wrong to be excited to go to my mom's? Is it wrong to be a little sad to leave my dad's? Also, the dreaded "ask your stepmother a million times how much longer until my mom gets here". Which, even the most level-headed person gets a little butt hurt upon hearing. Today she called at 11:30 and talked to Oakley to find out what to pack for Camp Verde. She has been complaining a lot that it's too hard to let him go and that she cries because she misses him so much. Fine. Come get him first thing Sunday morning. Oh no! Instead she calls at 11:30 and says that she'll be here between 3 & 4 (change of plans #2). Then she calls and says that her car doesn't have air conditioning and that she was wondering if we would bring him into town so she doesn't "have to drive all the way to Dewey" (not like I don't do it every morning to take him to his "school".) Change of plans # 3. I was pissed - we don't have a/c in our cars either. Brian has been at work since 4 am. I told her that it was up to Brian and he AGREED to come home from working all day, pick up Oakley, turn back around and drive a half hour and then drive all the way back home.

I find it very hard to believe that a woman that truly misses her child would even take an air conditioner into consideration. My daughter isn't born yet but I would walk to the ends of the earth if I hadn't seen her for a week. She even has the audacity to tell Oakley that she cries while he's gone because she misses him so much. No child should have that kind of burden.

So - today was like many Sundays. A confused little boy not sure how to express his feelings and a pissed off stepmother - angry that she is the more qualified person for the job, but will never equal his mother. I've accepted this. Is it easy? Hell no.

Might have been the Iced Soy Mocha!

She cooperated! She had her feet up and she was playing with her toes. Perfect time to catch a peek. I really hope that her vagina is never on the internet again! But here she is in all of her glory! I'm so excited! Now if I could only win the lottery and begin shopping! (or if only I had a nickel for every freakin' exclamation point - my hell! Sorry! haha.)

I had to whore myself for diapers...

It seems like everyone has a story of falling on hard times while they were pregnant. "we were so young... your father had been laid off... your father had gotten his 2nd DUI (this one is a personal one from my childhood!)... Grandma died... the great depression began", etc.

But not me! I waited until I was married and had my own house, dog, cat and husband. I was "doing it the right way". That is until...

1. My work cut our pay by 20% - which has equalled over $400 a month.
2. My dog tore his claw and the vet bills cost $270 (so far).
3. The air conditioners went out on my car - and Brian's.
4. My state tax refund has yet to arrive
5. Work started doing layoffs - which so far I have avoided
6. Medical bills for prenatal care started rolling in.
7. HOA dues are due.
8. Just to begin and name a few.

I have to shake my head and chuckle a little. Or else I would cry. I waited until I was 27 to start a family. People do it at 16 and make it look easier. They have multiple children. I am petrified of affording one. My dad had two daughters without health insurance. My grandma had her first baby at 15. Surely we can get through this.

Perhaps this is just part of the pregnancy experience. It will give me a chance to gingerly remind my hellion teenager of all that I had to endure while pregnant with her. Of course then I will throw in the birth story (exaggerated of course because my labor will be fairly quick and painless - with absolutely no tearing).

Speaking of vaginas - fingers crossed that the baby flashes hers tomorrow! 80% just isn't good enough for me.

What they don't tell you in Health Class... but should

I have come to the conclusion that in order to scare teenage girls away from becoming pregnant they need to talk to a girl that is currently pregnant. Nearly all teenage girls are completely wrapped up in appearances and trying to be "normal". There is nothing normal about pregnancy. If there was ever a time in your life that you feel more like a freak of science - it's now. Keep in mind - I am only 20 weeks, things will get worse... I realize this (and yet people feel the need to laugh at me and say "just wait" like I'm stupid) I'm not stupid and I am fully prepared to revisit this topic in a few months.

1. You bloat. I'm convinced this happens right after conception. Every bit of fat on your body suddenly swells and sitting, breathing and crossing your legs becomes a chore.

2. Your hair becomes thick and lustrous - ALL your hair. Everywhere. It grows much quicker also. And grooming? Forget about it. Unless you get waxed by a professional all of the unwanted hair is hard to reach and you are tired and cranky. Your husband will be sleeping next to sasquatch.

3. You become stupid. Not cute Jessica Simpson stupid. Literally retarded. You forget in middle of sentences that you were even talking. Once I came home from the store and walked into the house and left my car running.

4. Your china swells. It swells so bad that sometimes when you pee late at night (one of the 8 times you get up to pee) the pee shoots straight to the left because of the swelling. It runs down your hairy legs and you are too tired to care. You also get the same "happy trail" that looks so sexy on men. It does not look sexy on you and becomes longer as you grow bigger.

5. Your farts stink worse than the dogs and you become extremely gassy.

6. You don't have your period but don't throw those pads out! You get discharge, lots of discharge - or twatsnot if you will.

7. Unless your mother and grandmother didn't get them you WILL get stretchmarks! All of the vitamin E, cocoa butter, olive oil, what have you does not help. And slathering yourself up (as Jenny McCarthy so delicately put it in her book Belly Laughs) makes you feel like you are greasing a huge ham.

8. You are either constipated or have diahrrea.

9. You get acne.

10. Your belly gets in the way during sex and you feel more like you are sumo wrestling your husband.

11. Strangers offer you advice as well as their own horror stories.

12. You get more boogers. Tons of boogers, and bloody ones. Just like your cervix becomes more "mucusy" so does your nose. There's a term called Pregnant Rhino-something or another. What this means is that you constantly have your finger in your nose.

13. You smell everything. You give you husband a complex because you can smell the sweat that has not left his body and you ask him daily if he forgot his deoderant.

I am very sure that if the guest speaker at the sex ed class walked in and showed her ungroomed, swollen vagina while letting out the worst fart on earth - covered in Acne, finger in her nose, bloated and adorned in stretch marks... girls might think twice.

*disclaimer - don't get me wrong. I am delighted to be pregnant and so excited to have a baby. Many women feel like if they complain about their pregnancies then they are somehow being ungrateful. This is not meant to come across that way and I would love to type more but I need to change my pad and grease up my ham.

It's a GIRL! (or so we think...)

The ultrasound was yesterday at 9:00 am. We dropped Oakley off at zoo camp and then went to Denny's so that I could eat sugary pancakes and drink some OJ so that the baby would be awake and moving. No such luck - she was sound asleep and wouldn't wake up. She also had her legs crossed the entire time. The tech had me try to go to the restroom (which sometimes wakes them up and was a huge relief because I had to show up with a full bladder - which in pregnancy language means ready to burst, literally) lay on my left side and she even kept wiggling my belly and pressing the ultrasound thingie on it to jar it awake. She must be as stubborn as her parents. We saw many of the organs but I'm measuring a week less than I thought I was (17 weeks and a few days rather than 18) so it was difficult to get great pictures. She knew right away that we would need to come back in a few weeks but was very determined to find out if we had a cheeseburger or a hot dog. Finally - she said "ok - do you want to know what I think?" Well - yeah! She said that she is 80% sure that it is a girl. They look for 3 lines and she saw 2 and no sign of a penis. Also, girls tend to be a little more shy and have their legs closed up.

Brian and I are so excited. I am a little scared that I am going to be in high-girl mode and then have to do a 180 come July 3rd. Brian started making phone calls and wasn't even mentioning the whole 80% chance - he was just like "it's a girl!" This also makes me nervous because I feel like I really need to produce a girl now - as if I have any control at all.

I will hold tight for 3 more weeks but I do have to admit that I have pink visions dancing through my head. I am picturing dance recitals, soccer games and tea parties. I can't wait to see my husband head over heels for a little girl. I have even bid on the cutest bedding set on eBay that is sage green w/ pink roses. In my strange supersticious way I'm convinced that if I win the bid then this is even more of a sign that it's a girl! If not, then thank goodness for returns.

Random

On Wednesday night I told Oakley that he could make his own lunch. If I had been given this opportunity I would have made a peanut butter and honey sandwich and filled it full of junk food. Not Oakley. He decided to make a "wrap" (what 8-year old knows the term wrap and orders balsamic vinegarette at restaurants?) he put refried beans in a tortilla and topped it with cherry tomatoes. He asked if we had any lettuce and I said we only had Spinach. This was actually a good thing to him and he covered that in Spinach leaves. He then put more tomatoes in a ziploc baggie and packed some crackers. I hope that the new baby get these eating habits - however I doubt that we will be that lucky.

When I went home after my doctor's appointment and filled Brian in on my decision not to do the testing on the baby (I would have considered his side if he wanted to do them - but he didn't) and he was like "well - of course we don't have to do genetic testing - I'm the Dad!" Duh hon, not paternity testing!

Brian's best man Chris is in town for his "gig" tonight. This meant that Brian went out and got a blow up mattress and made the bed, set out towels and soap, etc. He was so proud of himself. Oakley loves him some Chris - and don't get me started on Buddy. He wouldn't go back to sleep at 1 this morning when he knew that Chris was out there and may or may not want to pet and wrestle with him.

Oakley came home with an envelope "To Dad, From Oakley" Inside was a picture of our family with my name spelt Necha. All of the stick figures in a row. If you turn it over it has a stick figure laying down with spiked hair and says "the new kid". Apparently this is the new baby in its crib. I am going to keep it for the baby book. It is the cutest thing.

Perhaps I should include a picture of what happens when your husband decides to serve beer that's 9% alcohol and the DJ plays "Baby got Back"

Random post much?

Uncle Traveling Max

As I was replaying my trip to Utah and Nevada in my head I was reminded of Uncle Travling Max on the Fraggles. I loved him.

Thursday 8:00 am - Went to work to hitch a ride to the post office to catch the airport shuttle. Drove for an hour and a half in the back of a van with a driver with a death wish. There were a few times that I literally thought I would get sick. All I could do was hold my stomach and breathe. Arrive at the airport in record time (although I had plenty to spare and would have preferred to use it.) Went through security without a problem only to find out that my terminal didn't have crap to eat as far as morning snacks go. I ordered a kid's meal from Wendy's and sat on the ground and dipped my fries in my frosty. I save the Cheeseburger for later and ate it before we landed. Once in SLC I got my suitcase and waited patiently for my sister - and waited, and waited. We used to have a rule that you would just wait on the sidewalk while the other circled and then picked you up I wasn't sure if we had decided to fall back on this rule or not. I called her on her cell from a pay phone using my credit card. It cost $3.86 - absolutely ridiculous. We then went straight to pick up our friend Cristina - who hasn't changed even a little bit. My favorite trait in someone is their ability to laugh at themself - she has this in abundance. We went to a head shop (sp?) - I wanted a button that said "I promise I don't smoke pot while pregnant" Instead I hung out in the front of the store and tried to pretend to be very interested in the display of Nag Champa. We then went to the party store to pick up some more nautical decor for Lamont's graduation party and then off to see Cristina's new house (totally cute by the way! : )

Next stop - Uncle Jim's house where we had a bbq with all of the cousins and my four second cousins. A visit to this house is like stopping at a Texaco and filling up my soul. I always leave with a huge smile on my face. In a world where so many are trying to appear perfect - they are perfectly real and wonderful. We had a yummy bbq and then went to bed and got up and had coffee with Aunt Jody. Then, off to Elko! After a three hour drive I arrived on Morning Breeze Drive to the house that I have lived in since I was 9. I was greeted by the cat that I got in 7th grade. LaMont's graduation was that night at 7 pm. Clara and I dragged him into the backyard for pictures. He was so handsome and I was so proud. Graduation was hell as they usually are. The same speeches that go on far too long, etc. Afterwards we went out to pizza and then off to bed. LaMont followed suit and didn't go out at all. If I was proud before I was beaming now. I can only hope that this baby is as good as my little brother. Maybe he actually learned from watching Clara and I that partying isn't everything. Or maybe we did enough for all three of us.

Saturday we woke up and went to a casino breakfast with the grandparents. It was such an enjoyable visit. Then we went to set up the graduation party and get ready. Before the party Clara and I had to pick up the sub sandwiches, stop and blow up balloons, hang balloons at all of the turns, etc. This was after we had gone to Walmart and Fashion Bug for nautical tops and shoes. The party was quite a success - but came before we were ready. I was busy stressing myself out over a veggie tray that I somehow convinced myself had to be perfect while Clara and Brandy were running around doing last minute preparations. The food was fantastic and the company was so great. I saw family friends that I've known my whole life. The DVD that I made of LaMont's life in pictures was a hit. My dad and I left at about 7 and I was in bed by 9. The rest of the party stayed up and lit a fire and drank some wine. Compared to some of the parties we've had this was G rated!

Sunday was supposed to be our relaxing day that we didn't have anything planned. Somehow we still managed to run around for most of the day. My dad bbq'd that night and this made 2. We saw Shrek 3 later that night. I think it was the best by far.

Monday morning - back on the road after a couple of stops to say Hi/Bye. Three hours later we arrive in Tooele and stop by Aunt Holly's. LaMont braved the Pequops by himself and was very proud of himself. By the time we were his age we had done the drive from Elko to Tooele a million times by ourselves so this was his rite of passage. By this time Clara has been really tired and her ear has been bothering her for about a day and a half. I drop her off and jump in the car and meet Tracey and Austin at Albertson's. I drag them with me to pick up the ingredients for some artichoke dip and Tylenol for my pounding head. We went had had yummy, overpriced ice cream and then went back to Aunt Holly's to make the dip and visit. We then went to our third bbq. I ate the most at that bbq of the whole weekend. It may have been that they had shrimp salad or that the hot dogs were black on the outside but I think I may have had like three plates. At this bbq I had one grandpa, two uncles, four aunts, and seven cousins (did I mention that I did a little bit of visiting family over the course of 6 days?) I was able to pick my Aunt's brain a little bit because she is a labor and delivery nurse. I, of course, asked her about pooping on the table and all of that fun stuff. But - lately my biggest fear is that I am going to make a complete melodramatic fool out of myself and the nurses and everyone else are going to be irritated with me. I would love to think that I am going to be brave - but I'm pretty sure once the epidural wears off it will be like one of those morning waking up after too much to drink and remembering slowly all of the stupid things you did. This is one of the many reasons that there will not be a camcorder in the room. We then went to visit the grandparents and a couple more Aunts and Cousins. I sat and talked and talked about the pregnancy while Clara sat there. I didn't realize that she was more quiet than usual. Suddenly I looked over and realized that she was beet red. More than any rash that she's ever had. She said she didn't feel very good and got tears in her eyes. My sister never cries, ever - and if she does it's bound to last a few days because it's been building up. Everytime I even see her on the verge I get so nervous. Come to find out she had a 101 degree fever. I felt so bad for not noticing that on the way to take her back to Aunt Holly's I cried right along with her. That night we visited with Aunt Nisha and then went to bed. Clara with a fever and me with my migraine - I puked quite a few times. We were quite the house guests. The next day we had breakfast with LaMont and then they hit the road back to Elko. Clara had a doctor's app't when she got there and had a sinus infection and bronchitis. LaMont drove most of the way home. Aunt Holly drove me to the airport (half hour) and then I got on my flight - but not before eating a small frozen yogurt with oreos and pecans! The flight was shakey and I thought I was going to puke on that too. The shuttle driver back up to Prescott was the worst driver ever! I was so sick and then the air conditioner went out - in Phoenix - in May. I only tipped him a dollar but felt more like smacking him for being such an idiot and needing to talk on his walkie talkie the whole way and almost drive off the road four times.

Then I drove home to my husband and animals. It was so nice to sleep cuddled up with my dog holding Brian's hand again. For all of this talk about needing a vacation - I think that I will be recovering from that one for a while! I am exhausted and think that I may have overdone it. It was worth it though. The biggest high point was strengthening my relatioship with my little brother. I moved out of the house when he was 9 so up to that point it was he and I at eachother's throats. He has always been just a pesky little brother - but I was surprised and delighted to find out that he has turned into a really cool young man. I loved hanging out with him. It's unfortunate that I figure this out right before he goes off to boot camp - but I doubt that I will ever take him for granted. I am such a proud big sister. I am so glad that my baby and Oakley will have a real-life hero to look up to.

16 weeks on Saturday

I had another doctor's appointment this morning and finally met my doctor. She found the heartbeat right away and it sounded very strong. I have decided to opt out of the tests that they run to find out if it has downs syndrome, etc. I feel pretty confident that they would find anything on the measurements that they take during the ultrasound. Also, it wouldn't affect me keeping the baby. I know of a lot of girls that get more scared after these tests. You really learn a lot about yourself when you're in different situations. There are so many things that I thought I would never do or that I would do for sure until I was in that situation.

The big ultrasound is scheduled for June 12th! I'm SO excited. This will let us know whether or not to hose the nursery down in pepto bismol pink or not. I will be happy either way. Oakley however doesn't want to discuss the posibility of a little sister. He wants a little brother SO bad. If we have him I will bring him to the ultrasound, I think it is something that he will always remember.

I am off to Salt Lake and Elko this weekend for my little brother's graduation. I am so excited to see family and go home.

Let the dreaming begin ~

So many women have talked about the crazy, realistic dreams that they have during pregnancy. I noticed fairly early that my dreams seemed to go on all night and it was hard once I woke up to try and figure out what happened the day before and what had been dreamed that night.

The first major dream was hilarious to me. One of my coworkers called me before I had fallen asleep (at about 7:30 pm) and asked me if I could pick her up the next morning because her car was in the shop. I said "no problem" and then layed down and reminded myself over and over to not forget! I dreamt that I was at work and kept gingerly opening my desk drawer and grabbing a black napkin with an extremely rare steak in it. I would then SHOVE the steak into my mouth and chew as blood ran down my mouth and hands. I knew that I hadn't picked up my coworker and was sitting at my desk instead with my eyes rolling back in my head as if I were the Vampire Lestat. I didn't care. I would then wrap up the steak in the black napkin and put it back. Only to do it again, and again. At one point another coworker asked for a bite. Pure fear ripped through my body. I did not want to share.not a little bit.no sharing.no.not for me. The steak melted in my mouth like butter and was seasoned with just the right amount of black peppercorns before being "warmed up" as nothing about this steak was cooked. I woke up just laughing and did end up picking up my coworker. And regaled her with my steak story. I was about 7 weeks along and we decided that the baby needed Iron.

I have had two dreams that I am having a little girl. I am hesitant to mention this in case I am wrong but have decided to so that if I am right then I can act as if the universe told me! Either way me and the universe have a 50/50 chance. The other night I was holding my beautiful little girl and was looking at each feature and trying to decide where she got each of them. Suddenly I recognized her chin! I am lacking a chin - or should I say generations of my family were distracted while the chins were being handed out. She had her daddy's chin! Then, I looked closer and realized that she had her daddy's goatee! I tried to wipe the hair away but it was full blown, thick whisker hair. There was even a gray one in the mix! I did calm down and decided that it would all be ok. But upon waking up and telling Brian he did not seem very impressed.

Speaking of the cosmos and the universe - I am convinced that Ms Stevie Nicks has been booked in the Prescott Valley Ampitheatre as a SIGN. Just as Steve Zahn was cosmically connected to Neil Diamond in Saving Silverman, my baby will be cosmically connected to Ms Stevie through the womb on July 27th. Need more proof? This is two days after my 27th birthday. Also, my sister was able to convince my dad to put the tickets on his mastercard so that all five of us (yes, I rounded up four people from three different cities to go to the concert in 3 hours) could sit together and get good seats. She also convinced him to make my ticket my birthday present. If this isn't proof that everything is aligned and the age of aquarius is upon us then I don't know what is. This coming from the man who when Brian asked for his daughter's hand in marriage said "you're not getting a dime out of me!". And yet I called the ticket office and had this same person charge 5 great seats to see my idol. My husband has decided to remind me that it is not 1973 anymore. I realize this - and in some ways wish that it was. I would have fantastic taste in clothes and hair and would be able to smoke pot to cure morning sickness!

Perhaps I will also convince my husband to name our daughter Rhiannon. So far, it's a no go.

I can say one thing though - this pregnant woman's dream just came true. I get to see Stevie Nicks again (last time I was 19 and cried) with 4 of my most favorite people on earth. I better not wake up.

Vegas Baby!

I went to see my lovely friend Stephanie get hitched in Vegas over the weekend. I didn't cry at my own wedding but hers brought me to tears. It was so sweet. She and her husband are just so great together.

The best part? Everyone went to the World Buffet at the Rio afterwards! Pregnancy + Buffet = very happy me!

I stayed with Brandy so I had a personal chauffer. I think that the worst part of travelling is maps and directions so it was so nice to have someone to cart my ass around! She was so great.

Brian ran the Whiskey Row 10k and it nearly snowed in Prescott that day. He still finished in an hour and five minutes. I am a very proud wife.

It is so nice to get away, but even better to come back home. I had a husband and a dog that missed me very much and that's just the best feeling.

Hwy 69 Dance Party

My 8-year-old stepson's favorite song is Whoomp There It Is - followed closely by C&C Music Factory's Everybody Dance Now.

I have these two songs and others on a mixed CD for him. We listen to it every morning on our 30-minute treck to his "school" in Prescott. And we dance our asses off. He does a killer robot and we both do some serious head bobbing. He is trying to memorize the words to Whoomp There It Is and I'm a little relieved that he is pretty bad at doing so. Isn't this a song about getting laid? Even the title of the song eludes him. For him it is HOOOONT (said from very low in the diaphram) de da diz! HOOOONT! De Da DIZ! HOOOONT! shaka laka shaka laka... I love this time in the morning. We used to try to have serious talks - usually involving the fact that he wished that the whole world were made out of candy and what he would eat first as he stared longingly out of the window. One day I decided to have the "new baby" talk with him. I went on for like 15 minutes about how there is no way that we could ever love the new baby more than him and that he is so important and that he is going to make the best big brother, etc, etc - I about made myself cry. When I was finally done there was a slight pause followed by "Those clouds look weird." I just had to continue driving and cross my fingers that a fraction of what I said may have sunk in, even a little bit. Now all of those mushy talks have been replaced by Oakley and I - shaking our groove thang!

I went to the doctor's yesterday and heard my little bean's heartbeat. Right when she found it I recognized it and this made me feel so maternal. Like perhaps since I can recognize my child's beating heart then I will know what to check for when making sure that it has not died in the middle of the night - or afternoon - or morning. I am sure that there will be a lot of "checking" going on. Hell, I didn't enter Oakley's life until he was in Kindergarten and he thought I was completely loco when I used to sneak in his room to make sure that he was still breathing! When the nurse found the heartbeat she said "Hi mommy, happy early mother's day" and I just teared up. I would love to say that everything came together and seems real now - but all that I can say is that it seems "more real" now. I feel more of a connection to my belly.

After I dropped Oakley off and turned around to make the 30 minute drive back I put in some loud country music and sang my ass off. I drummed on my belly to include the new baby. I hope that one day my bean and I will dance down the highway - it won't have to look far to learn some great moves. No, not me - Oakley.

Welcome - now step directly into a rut....

I think that the most important thing that I have read since becoming pregnant is "There is no right way to do pregnancy". I think that this should be every pregnant woman's mantra. The moment that you find out that you are pregnant and start sharing your news you will find that every person is an expert on how you should be doing things. Like you aren't scared enough after reading a bunch of books and websites suddenly you have strangers telling you how well they did during their pregnancy - that they didn't show until they were 6 months - that they wore heels up until nine months - that they ate only organic products and opted for a natural birth at home - that they worked up until the moment that their water broke. Add all of this to the fact that you are exhausted, scared, sick, on the verge of crazy and you have a very volatile equation!

My first 10 weeks were met by a complete and total rut. One that I'm not completely out of, but doing better. I was in bed by 8 and nothing mattered to me anymore because I was just so tired. I only missed one and a half days of work and I was very proud of that. That being said, I did not look like a model employee. I work in an office that is very casual so we can wear whatever we want. I showed up at work barely out of bed or out of the shower - no make up with pregnancy acne and half asleep. Greasy, unwashed hair or a wet ponytail and stretch pants became my staple look. Add this to a bra with boobs that are spilling out and arm pits that need to be shaved and I am quite the sight to behold!

I started to seriously wonder if I was cut out for pregnancy. I pictured other girls that wouldn't show for months and who were able to wear their professional clothes and keep complete compusure and thought that I was supposed to be like that. (surely they wouldn't throw a wooden spoon covered in taco meat at their husband's head or cry because they sneezed on their arm) I started to wonder if I'm not cut out for pregnancy - then there's no way that I can handle motherhood. One night I turned to Brian and said "I don't want to be pregnant anymore". I didn't mean that I didn't want to have this baby - but I was doubting myself so much and thought that my whole pregnancy would be stuck in this rut. I wanted the nine months to be over.

Now that I am feeling better I am able to look at that time a little more clear headed (a little being the key word). I was seriously handling everything the best that I could and the only way that I knew how. It worked for me. It wasn't fun - I didn't make it look easy or graceful by any means but I did it. The first trimester is a bitch any way you look at it. I know that there will be ups and downs this whole time. I've learned to imagine a woman's plethora of stretch marks as she tells me that she didn't have morning sickness and when they laugh at me because I'm only 11 weeks and say "just wait". I'm not stupid - I know that there is a whole lot ahead of me. I also imagine that these women's vaginas are stretched beyond recognition from their natural births. haha.

My 1st appointment

I realize that this actually took place two days ago - but morning sickness (or all day sickness) has taken full residency and I was in bed for the past day and a half trying not to puke or cry. Sometimes the need to puke would make me cry. It was not a pretty sight. I am feeling a little better today but these food aversions are for the birds... especially coming from a girl that loves to eat and enjoys food. My kitchen makes me sick.

So, now to my appointment. I went in and had to fill out like 80 pages of paperwork. They had me pee in a cup and then wait. The office was a little hard to find and then once I did find it I couldn't find the entrance door! I saw Brian pull up and watched him try to find the door too, it was cracking me up.

We got called back and got my blood pressure taken (Brian stood there holding my purse!) and I got weighed. I have gained 2 pounds. However, I really don't need to be gaining anything. I am petrified of seeing the scale hit numbers that I've never seen before. Then we went into the room and I got into the gown that opens in the front. While I was getting undressed Brian totally averted his eyes! Like he'd never seen me without clothes on! The nurse practitioner came in and went over the family history, etc. She talked about morning sickness and other "complaints". She said that Propel water has been known to help because it has vitamin B6 in it. So then it was time for the Pap and I've never seen my husband want to be somewhere less than at this moment. I slid down on the table and he was like "I'm just going to run across the street and get some of that water you were talking about!" She was like "hold tight and we'll let you hear the heartbeat first!" I really don't see how a man can be more uncomfortable than his wife who is actually getting the pap!

She took the little microphone machine and tried to find the heartbeat. Nothing. I started to panic and she could tell. She told me that my uterus is tilted towards my back and that was probably why. Most doctors would have left it at that. She wheeled in "max" the ultrasound machine (it's an all-woman doctor's office so they named the ultrasound machine Max) and did an "unofficial" ultrasound. I could see the little heartbeat going and felt much better. However, it still doesn't seem "real". I feel like a walking science experiment. I am so sick and tired and gassy - I just don't feel like myself and I definitely find it hard to believe that there is a little person in me. No matter how much research I do.

I can say this: If this nausea lasts for the entire pregnancy then this baby will be an only child!

The Hack Job

This morning I had to be out of the house at 7:30 am to run Oakley to "town" (where his charter "school" is) and be back at work by 8:30. I have been looking forward to my first doctor's app't since I found out I was knocked up. Somehow I still didn't find the time to do the necessary leg shaving and grooming. So this morning I jumped out of bed and grabbed Brian's electric razor and plugged it in. Much to my dismay it didn't reach to the toilet so my first plan to just do my duty over the toilet was foiled.
So, I laid out a plastic bag and tried to hold my belly out of the way and get the job done. Let me preface by saying that my dear husband and I haven't messed around since we found out because he's afraid he will hurt the baby (I will have the doctor nip that in the bud today!) so I was overgrown. And Hello?! Flatter yourself much Brian? haha Anyways, it was more of a job for a machetti than an electric razor. Of course I'm half asleep and the next thing I know I have a bald spot right in the middle and my skin is a strange color because I think that I may have scraped it. In my defense I couldn't really see and was having trouble doing it one handed and making sure that the "clippings" went on to the Safeway bag below.... all while holding my bloated fat to the right. It is really a sad sight. Sigh. There is nothing, nothing cute about pregnancy.
This will be a great first impression for my doctor.

25-35 pounds.

That's the healthy amount of weight to gain during pregnancy. Many women gain as much as 60 pounds. This has me thinking that I will be seeing the inevitable 200 mark on the scale. The one that I never wanted to see.

I haven't completely gone hog wild since finding out about the pregnancy. It hasn't been a free pass to eat whatever I wanted - however the things that I can actually stomach are limited. I am more obsessed with food now than I ever was before. I go through my head and list foods until I land on one that I may be able to go near - and eat. And then, I must have that. Everything else is completely repulsive.

I haven't gained any weight yet. I have tried to continue going on walks. I found out last night that my pilates class has been cancelled. I was hoping to do this throughout the entire pregnancy. I have added a bunch of preggo workouts to my Netflix list and hopefully I will find one that I like enough to buy and start doing. The real workout these days? Getting out of bed and making it through the day! I always loved to sleep. Naps make me smile just at the prospect. Now, I dread climbing back in bed...again! I'm afraid that I will get bed sores anytime now. I am in bed by at least 8 every night and have a hell of a time dragging myself out of bed. I suppose that this is just the first trimester (or as I refer to it - HELL)

My first app't is on Monday and I will get to hear the heartbeat. Hopefully this will put my mind at ease. I have been a complete basketcase thinking that something could be wrong.

I have purchased my plane tickets for my little brother's graduation in May. I am very excited to go home and spend time with loved ones. My sister has decided to throw me an early baby shower since many people won't be able to attend one down here.

Letters from a knocked-up girl...

Dear Mr. Webster,

Please take pity on a first time preggo. I don't know what most of this stuff means. Even after reading online it is difficult. Layman's (sp?) terms please. Thanks!


Dear Preggo book & website authors,

I need you all to put your heads together and get on the same page! It is ridiculous that one person says one thing, while three others say another. I was cross-eyed over the weekend trying to figure out what the hell I could eat or do! Also, can you make it more clear that a miscarriage is not caused by a woman drinking too much caffeine or eating tuna fish, it is from an unhealthy fetus which we have no control over. That information would have been extremely helpful in the beginning while I was petrified that lunch meat may or may not kill my cute little parasite (as I've started calling it much to Brian's horror). Of course, the lunch meat theory is not present in all reports or websites!

What I've learned so far:

~ Listen to your own instinct. I KNEW that I was pregnant despite two negative pregnancy tests. Don't listen to everyone else or start to doubt yourself. Trusting your instinct is a very powerful skill that you will need in 9 months - when everyone will try to tell you what is best for your child.

~ Take all of the prenatal information and put it towards the back of your head. Enjoy this. Nothing you can do can change whether or not God has other intentions for this fetus. When people tell you "not to get your hopes up just in case" kick them in the shins. They are probably the same people that recited the newest divorce statistics when you announced your engagement.

~ HcG is good. We want this to continue to double and triple. For the first time in your life a foreign horomone multiplying is a fantastic thing. Friday the 9th = 66. Tuesday = 590 & Today = 1515!

~ Don't apologize if you panic. This is the first time that you have been through this! When you start spotting at work and think that you are miscarrying and bawl in front of everyone... it's ok. You don't owe any apologies and you would look much more ridiculous if you didn't seem to care.

~ The brain decreases by 8% during pregnancy. This is a valuable excuse as well as... what was I talking about again?

~ Enjoy and write down all that you can. Things have already started to become foggy.

And, the blog is tilted in a different direction

Up until now I have talked about my struggle to get my little brain around being overweight. The reasons for it, what I can do about it, etc. Now, I must gain at least 25 pounds in the next 9 months. Doctor's orders!

Yep, you guessed it right... I'm 6 weeks pregnant!

I have made the decision that I don't want to milk this and sit at home w/ fuzzy slippers and bon bons. Yes, I'm SO exhausted and nauseaus and scared and my boobs hurt like hell. But I'm not handicapped! The best thing I can do is eat right and excercise. And, you know how I talked about battles and how it's easier to do the right thing for others? I actually think about what I am putting in my mouth lately! Go figure! I'm not doing this for me anymore, I need to be healthy for a real little one that is growing in me. . . not a hypothetical someday child anymore.

Also, I am petrified of miscarrying. I am counting down the days until I hit the 11 week mark and the likelyhood is decreased. We've already told so many people... I would just hate to have to tell them bad news. We have had so many elated relatives. It has been so much fun.

Battles

I have been thinking lately about battles. We all have them, but the difference is which ones we choose to take head on. The saying "choose your battles" is true in a million instances throughout our daily lives.

::Said like Carrie Bradshaw::
But I can't help but wonder, when it comes to choosing our battles have we chosen wrong?

Some battles aren't ours to fight, and this can be very frustrating. In the matter of Oakley's mom and my husband, it isn't my battle. I am in the ring, but on the sidelines.. rubbing Brian's shoulders and spraying water in his mouth. But, when he goes to bat there is literally nothing I can do. If I were to run in there and put in my two cents I would just be looked at like "helloooo!? This isn't your fight!" For someone like me who loves my husband and stepson and wants to protect them from all that I can, this just kills me. It is a battle in itself to stay out of it. Believe me, I have put myself out there more times than I can count, but this just leads to complete defeat and feelings of helplessness.

Other battles probably are't as important but these are the ones that we seem to approach with the most gusto. We gear up in our armor with shield and sword and lunge towards our husband because "gasp" he didn't put the clothes away correctly, or (fill in your own example here). Lately, when an ex-friend decided that she hated me and to treat me like pondscum I couldn't confront her on it. One - because we're at work. Two - because I was so angry that I might cry and I hate that because it takes away from how angry I really am. Brian made the comment "why don't you lay into her like you lay into me sometimes?" I couldn't agree with him more, why am I able to be such a flaming bitch to those that I love but not to those who deserve it? More importantly, why is it easier to stand up for those that I love than it is myself? A tip from counseling? Choose your favorite childhood toy and imagine that what is being done to you is being done to them, then proceed accordingly. I went off on some people that had hurt my little "snow tiger!"

My mother passed away when I was 4 1/2 and when I was 16 I found a note that she had written days before she died that hit a core. She wrote "do I surround myself with other people's problems so that I don't have to face my own?" I felt as if my heart had spilled on to the page! I am guilty of that now as I was then. I have had to battle to make myself aware of being too helpful, to the point that I am no longer facing my own demons.

The main battle that I have chosen to ignore lately? The dreaded weight battle. When I should be putting on my armor (or tennis shoes) I have chosen to battle the dishes or laundry... or the leftover pie. When I should be focused and steadfast I have been distracted.

It is so easy to put ourselves on a shelf. I can't imagine that this will get any easier, especially once I have kids. I want so much to be a good example for my children and to teach them healthy choices. I want them to be confident and happy.

Perhaps we could all stand to do some reconfiguring in our lives. The next time our husband does something irritating, choose not to round up the troops. And, the next time that we are treated unfairly, get out your jousting pole and show them what you are made of! Realize when to step up and when to step back. Also, realize when you are just marching in place and need a good smack on the ass to make something happen! Most of all, choose wisely.