Reading

This evening during dinner conversation with Matt, he mentioned a book he wants to read. I instantly became envious of this desire and made the comment "I wish I could read". Which he replied "What? Did you forget how"?

(Huff)

ANYWAY.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read but a few books in their entirety over the past several years. There was a time I would devour most anything someone put in front of me but I seem to have lost my reading "groove". I miss it and wish I could find the spark again.

I've tried many different authors and genres thinking my tastes had changed. I've tried forcing myself to keep going but always end up quitting half way through once I realized that I'd seen the words but hadn't paid attention to what they were saying and was hopelessly lost. I've tried reading in bed, on the weekends, in a different room from my husband, outside, rainy days only, etc. I'm at a loss.

I would really like to reacquaint myself with my old friend but have run out of ideas. Do you have any suggestions?

Karate Kick

Dear Stella,

It's amazing how you have gone from being quiet and unnoticed (aside from my expanding belly) to training for the Olympics. HOLY KICK! I had heard that I would initially feel you as a flutter, like butterflies. Either I missed it or you went straight for the karate kick. Considering you have half my genetic code, you probably went straight for the kick. If this is any indication of our future relationship, and you have truly taken after me, you madam, are grounded. Call it a preemptive grounding and I'm beginning the "ruining of your life" early. You and I have a long way to go and whether you know it or not, you have plenty to time to train for the Olympics, now is not it.

Love,
Mama

P.S. You should really let your Daddy feel you kick sometime. Every time he puts his hand on my belly, you stop moving. I'm sure some people would say he has a calming effect on you. I think you're just being a little stinker already. I'm on to you little girl.

From the Mouths of Husbands, Part III

Matt: (rubbing my tummy) Is Stella craving brownies?
Me: Um. No.
Matt: Oh. It must be me then.

Little One

Dear Little One,

When I found out I was pregnant, I demanded it be a boy. There was never a question in my mind, it just had to be a boy. What was I going to do with a girl? I've never been real good at being a one myself.

As our Ultrasound date approached, I began to brace myself for and come to terms with the words "It's a girl". I was worried that I would be disappointed and so was Matt. I didn't want to feel that way. I had to be okay with those few words.

Today, we saw your legs, arms, fingers, toes, belly, bones, and nose. Even your beating heart and other organs. There were measurements taken and pictures printed. Everything is right where it should be and looks perfectly healthy. A little on the long side perhaps but considering your Dad is a mere 6'6" in height, I had already planned on having a long baby.

Then I saw your face and it no longer mattered what your secret parts were. If you were a boy, we would do boy things then cuddle when you were sure that no one was watching. (I won't tell, I promise) If you were a girl, you could be my tom-boy and climb trees with a pink ribbon in your hair. It no longer mattered to me.



The Ultrasound tech said the words, "It's a girl" and I smiled. I wasn't disappointed, I was happy. You have the sweetest face, with my nose. You are already sleeping just like your Daddy with your hands behind your head. Your name will be Stella Maris. We love that name. We love you.

Love,
Momma

P.S. If you chose to be a ribbons and lace type of girl, I ask for your patience, understanding and forgiveness if I woefully fail to live up to your expectations - your Momma preferred climbing trees to playing with dolls.

From the Mouths of Husbands, Part II

(Preparing Dinner)

Matt: Can you shuck the corn for me?
Me: Sure.
Matt: You can be my Mother Shucker.

Sigh.

Money, Money, Money

With Spawn on the way, Matt and I have begun to look more closely at our spending habits and ways to cut them back. Babies are expensive you know.

We always knew we went out to eat more than we should. It's becoming more frequent for neither of us to feel like cooking at the end of the day. This will now be reserved for special occassions or the once in a while brunch. No, we haven't defined the "once in a while" yet. We just started this process.

We are also looking at our other bills. I know our grocery bill will need to change, especially since we will not be eating out so much. I feel there are ways to greatly slash this bill. We will be working from a weekly menu and sticking with it. I am going to begin to clip coupons from the news paper (and hope I remember to use them) and start looking at buying in bulk.

When it comes to getting ready for the baby, we have found yard sales, second hand stores and sale watching are great helpers. At one yard sale, we bought quite a bit of clothing, a bouncy seat, infant tub, bibs and burping cloths that we spent all of $20 on. All I have to do is put a bit of elbow grease into cleaning them up. I felt like I scored. As much I would love buy brand new baby things and smother my first child in the best of the best, I come from a large family and know that an infant will quickly outgrow most anything before we get our moneys worth from it.

Of course, we can always do things such as cut off the internet, the cable TV, the lights but I refuse to live like a hobbit and would rather look at other ways to save money first.

With that being said, what ideas, thoughts, or suggestions do you have? Do you have any websites that you visit for coupons or making extra money that you would like to share? Any baby swap group? Bring it on - I'm willing to consider it all.

From the Mouths of Husbands

Lately, Matt has made some comments that I feel necessary to share. Both are related to my pregnancy and made me laugh. I hope you get a chuckle out of them as well.

#1:
(As I grow bigger, I'm beginning to realize why pregnant women are always touching their stomachs. Aside from the kicking (of which I think I've just begun to experience), this is the hardest my stomach has ever been. It feels weird).

Me: (poking at my tummy) Huh. This feels weird. Its hard, like one of those rubber balls that kids play with in the grocery store. Come feel it.

Matt: (pressing on my tummy) Yeh, it's because you've got a bunch of water and stuff in there.

Me: And stuff? Your unborn child is STUFF?

#2:
(As I'm passing him in the kitchen)

"It's a good thing you're pregnant, you'd look funny with a beer belly"

It's a damn good thing I love him.

Vehicular Decison

Dear Mommy Friends and Friends of Mommy Friends,
(Mommy Friends: please send your Mommy friends here to give their opinions. Being new at this "thinking like a Mommy" thing, I'll take all the help I can get)

Talk to me about cars. My lease on my beloved Chrysler 300 is ending in 6 months. Just a month after Spawn is due to arrive. (I guess I should explain that the unborn child I am carrying is affectionately referred to as Spawn by Matt and I). So I ask you, what type of vehicle do I want? Better yet, what type of vehicle do I need? A car? An SUV/Minivan?

Keep in mind:


1) my Father sells Jeeps, Chryslers, Dodges and Kias at his dealership and I have my pick (after he weeds out the models he deems unworthy for his daughter & grandchild)

2) Matt drives a (leased) Jeep Grand Cherokee that we will be returning in about 2 years for something new and sparkly - and bigger if needed.

3) Matt will be a SAHF (stay at home Father) and we planned that the car seat will be permanently housed in his Jeep as my car barely goes anywhere other than to work.

4) The new car will be purchased, not leased so I will have to like and it will have to fit us and our plans for a good long time.

5) I married a very tall man and there are a limited number of vehicles that he will fit in. (You'd be surprised what he won't fit into!)

What have you found? In a household with 1 parent working inside the home and 1 parent working outside - is it really necessary to have 2 vehicles that can easily accomodate car seats/baby gear (i.e. 2 minivans, 2 SUVs)? Or is it more practical to have 1 larger vehicle as the primary child cruiser and 1 vehicle that is smaller but will work if necessary?

My thoughts? The Jeep will be fine for now and we can re-evaluate when it comes time to return it. I'll get myself another Chrysler 300. (I really like my 300) If I wasn't trying to be a grown up, I would really like one of those sexy new Dodge Challengers. Rawr, purr.

Yes, I admit to being somewhat of a 13 year old boy. What do you expect from a Daddy's girl w/four brothers? C'MON - it's just sexy!

Help.

Thoughts on Pregnancy, so far

As I said, I learned I was pregnant on January 26th. I found out early - real early, like barely pregnant early. Call it a hunch and just happened to have an EPT on hand early.

I have a few girlfriends that have children and I come from a large family so I have a clue about pregnancy, what can happen or not. I won't even begin to complain after seeing what some of my friends have been through, I know I'm lucky. My nausea was morning only and lasted all of four days, the blinding exhaustion the first few months was nothing like I have ever experienced (but hey, I wasn't puking!), I'm out of breath a lot and I'm still dealing with the daily headaches although they seem to be letting up a bit. All said, I think I've gotten off pretty easy - so far.

I am currently 18.5 weeks pregnant. Almost half way and up until the weekend before last, my normal clothes still fit. They had begun to get a bit snug but, meh, nothing I couldn't work with. Then! "I popped"! And I do mean popped. I had heard of this phenomenon. I understood the concept. Or at least I thought I did. However I had no clue that I would go to bed one Saturday evening after wearing my normal clothes all day to waking up Sunday morning desperately needing to go shopping for clothes that fit.

So I ask you, where did this come from? I have to admit, I like this picture, it makes my tummy look much smaller than it is and my face looks skinny! (Good job honey. Thanks!)

I have found one fantastic thing about pregnancy that I never would have ever guessed. The best feeling in the whole world is to scratch my tummy when I change out of my work clothes. Oh sweet heaven!

Oh and all you girls that got those, uhhh, "nice" dreams - you know the ones with George Clooney or Brad Pitt or your neighbors husband, your husband, clowns, mimes...whatever - wish some my way. I've been having horrid vivid nightmares for the past couple of months. I've never really remembered any of my dreams, but these are sticking with me and I could use something, ummm, "fun".

So We Meet Again

Huh? Oh. Hi! I know, it has been quite a while since we've last spoken. I've missed you too. It's just been so crazy lately.

Lets catch up, shall we? I'll start.

1. When we last spoke, Matt and I had just bought a 3-level townhome. I'm happy to say we are darn near fully settled in. Home improvements are nearing completion and have been very time consuming. Yes, I have been taking before and after pictures however...

2. ...my laptop died. My new laptop died. Nope. Not kidding. I've spent a large portion of my free time trying to correct what the VISTA update destroyed with no luck. I've had to ship my laptop off to Gateway to repair it. Needless to say, I've lost all 'pre pictures that were on it. Descriptions will have to suffice.

3. Work keeps my insanely busy. Really. It's a madhouse.

4. Finally, the most shocking and exciting news of all, on January 26th I learned that I am pregnant with our first child. Needless to say, this has put a whole new spin on "got to get the house ready as soon as possible". Obviously, this is including setting up a nursery and gathering baby gear. I'm weary already.

So lets recap - bought house, got pregnant, killed laptop, work is trying to kill me. All in three months. It's got to be some type of record.

So whats new with you? Anything exciting?

Again, I apologize for my extended absence but, I am back and have lots of stories to share - including pictures.