Nearing the end...

And staying put.
More baby updates later.
Hope everyone had a great Christmas & Hanukkah. We celebrated in fine style at the house. Had something going on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the day after. And in true Irish fashion, the collective masses knocked back some serious libations. I mean, I surveyed my kitchen the morning after Christmas and was frankly in shock at the number of cans and wine bottles -- and that was without my contribution to the festivities.
That and we had enough left-overs to feed a small army.
So good work to all the family. But we did have a good time. I think everyone had a great time. And minus some smack talking over a very critical game of Trivial Pursuit, everyone got along.
Which is good as we are all going to be seeing each other again in roughly 3 weeks when the Little Leprechaun makes his big debut.
Did get introduced to the extended family on Joe's side. As expected, I needed a family tree to keep track of everyone, but I think I did ok. Met his great-Aunt and Uncle, who are both 90+, have been married for 71 years and still live in their own home. She introduced herself to me as she was kicking back a Bud Light.
Suffice it to say. I liked her.
Actually really like everyone. They were great.

What else? Slow work week this week. When do I ever say that?? This should translate to loads and loads of productive things out of my cube. But, not sure that I am gonna get there from here. At a minimum, I am working on getting everything prepped for my maternity leave. So the peeps taking over the work aren't totally left in the lurch.
Which leads us to our maternity update for the week.
Smooth transition I know.
We are on weekly appointments now. Which means I am becoming BFF's with the nurses at the clinic.
The stats as of this week:
Me: gained a total of 26 lbs to date. While this is not a bad thing --recommended weight gain is 25-35 lbs total for the entire pregnancy -- I had a lot to start with, thus have hit some numbers on the scale that are a new high (or low, depending on how you look at it) for me. Bit of a sticker shock when you are looking at those damn numbers bouncing back and forth before they settle on the judgement due to you.
Little Leprechaun: Heart Rate -- sitting at an active 140 BPM. He is head down and frankly, seems pretty darn content to stay put for the time being,
Haven't dropped. And there is no sign of any of the necessary changes down below to indicate that this kid is showing up a second before the 19th -- and that is probably the earliest we will see him. I have maintained for some time that he is going to be past the due date. I guess time will tell. On the upside, we have hit the 37 week mark - which makes us technically full term. So it really could be any day now.
And as such, I have actually started sorta packing my bag for the hospital. It does seem really odd to be doing so, but then again....
So that is about it from this neck of the woods. I would love to report that I have some serious New Years plans, however in recent days I have discovered the following: for every hour of activity that I do, I need roughly an hour of nap time. So rocking out the New Year this year... probably not gonna be happening. That and most of my friends are going the house party route this year, or so it seems. I think Joe has to work, so it may just be a cozy night in with the Dick Clark on the TV -- or whomever is taking his place these days.
Yes, this seals my fate as 1) lame and 2) Really Lame and 3) 8.5 months pregnant on New Years.
Jealous much?
Thought so.

Now Listening: Sister Sweetly by Big Head Todd and the Monsters

Week 36/37 Update

Had the first of the weekly appointments today with the doctor.
This is both a good thing and a colossal pain in the ass.
It is good in that it means that we are down to the final count.
It is a colossal pain in the ass in that I have to go the doctor EVERY WEEK.
And this isn't your typical drive-thru appointment any more.
No, we have reached, well lets just say, the more invasive portion of our programming.
Good times.

As for today -- well, it was kinda cool. We had to get an ultrasound to confirm that he was head down.
He was.
But we got some more pics of the little leprechaun. They are a little harder to make heads or tails from because he is so scrunched up in there. They are on the Flickr site (link on the left)
But we confirmed the following:
He is in fact, still a he. Good thing -- we have lots of boy-centric stuff.
He has a head full of hair. The real question, what color will have to remain a mystery. I still think dark.
He was sucking his thumb -- again. In EVERY ultrasound picture we have, that hand is up by his mouth.
We were not allowed to find out how big he is. The tech said the doctors don't want them sharing the news because it has freaked out too many women. In either way -- too big or too small. All she would say is that he is on track.
Whatever that means.
So now begins the all important, really exciting waiting part of our program.
Like the last 7.5 months HAVEN'T been about waiting?!?!?
Meanwhile, I get to get poked and prodded from the inside out -- and its not that comfortable or cute anymore.
Hiccups = annoying.
Constant moving = total inability to focus on what it is I am doing.
And for the record, there is nothing more distracting that sitting in a meeting and watching my ID badge dance all over my stomach as he moves around.

Ok - back to work. Need to leave right on time today as we have a TON to do around the house in preparation for the onslaught of family this week.

Now Listening: Good News for People Who Love Bad News by Modest Mouse

It's the end of the world as we know it....

For those of you that don't live in Iowa -- I know there are a few of you out there -- you would have thought that the world was coming to an icy end yesterday.
We were slated to be at the center of the perfect winter storm. Snow from the north, sleet & freezing rain from the south. The newscasts were full of warnings, emergency procedures and general wrath of god type stuff.
Keep in mind, this is Iowa. In December. Its not like this is the first time we have seen sleet, snow, ice or any combination thereof.
However, the gloom and doom was prevalent yesterday. So much so that they started letting schools out at 2 PM. Which then means, that the office started emptying out at 2 PM as people left to go get their kids. Our office Christmas party -- postponed.
All the while, not a cloud in the sky, roads were dry and we were business as usual.
3PM - same thing.
4 PM - same thing
5 PM - same thing
6 PM - same thing
At roughly 7ish, we finally saw some sleet. And so Joe and I decided as it was a night we had planned on being at the office party, to go run errands. And frankly, it was great. No one was out. Roads were pretty good and we got a ton done because no one was out. Babies R Us -- ghost town. Target - ghost town.
All this 6 days before Christmas. It was awesome.
And then of course, I came to work this morning. Made it in 20 minutes (with a coffee stop) and I was the ONLY one in my area until about 9 AM. I mean, the roads weren't perfect, but I have seen MUCH worse in these parts before.
So here's hoping I can get a lot done in the next few hours. I would estimate roughly 2/3's of my teams are out. Which means, if I am productive, I am going to try and get out of here around 2 PM and hit the mall. If everyone is hibernating in their homes afraid of the roads, the mall won't be total chaos.
Here's hoping.

Now Listening: Gossip in the Grain by Ray LaMontagne

I think its time to move....

Sign # 12873 that the Apocalypse is upon us:
Heard on the radio this morning on the way to work...
Well, things are looking good in the metro. Looking for a much warmer day today, so enjoy it. Currently the temperature is 4 degrees and we are looking at a high of 22.

Go ahead.
Digest that for a minute.
And all that before coffee.

Now Listening: Autopilot by The Samples

Here kitty, kitty ...

I will admit it, I am a cat person.
I better admit it, I have three of them. This does of course, bring me dangerously close to being the crazy cat lady. I have solved this problem by moving in with a boy and having a kid. At that point, the people to cat ratio will be back to 1:1. I think that absolves me from spending my life in layered cardigan sweaters covered in cat hair and losing track of how many cats I own.
I preface with this so that you can understand where I come from. Cat attitude is not new in my life.
However, the last few weeks I have been noticing a few things with the little fur balls that are either driving me crazy or have be just shaking my head in wonder.
Lets start with the drive me crazy category.
The big one starts with attention. I try to give attention equally. However, there are three of them. This means that not everyone gets all the attention when they want it. But it drives me crazy when I will spend a few hours on the couch doing not much of anything. Do they ever come over to see me when I am doing nothing on the couch?
No. Of course not.
The minute I am eating, drinking, reading or engaged in ANY activity, boom. There they are.
All three of them. At once.

And then, when I think they are calming down, they just start meowing at nothing. Or will sit there on the coffee table and just give me the stink eye.

And then there is the shaking of the head behavior...
Now, I am convinced that they know something is going on with this kid. Don't ask me how, but they do. I will come home, Joe is on the couch, all three cats spread out in their usual spots, and the MINUTE I sit down on the couch, all three of them are up in my grill. Wanting to sit on my lap. Like they know that their time for attention is rapidly coming to a close.
The other ones of late are specific to the holidays.
I was really curious to see what would come with the Christmas tree. Especially since it had been a few years since I have had one. And in actuality, it is not the LIVE tree that they have been bothering. In fact, they have all but left that one alone. Its the little fake tree that I have in the dining room and the Santa on the steps that seem to keep their interest. And if by interest, you think trying to eat their way through assorted fake greenery, then yes you are on track.
The big one this weekend was the newest one.
Our dining room has a built in buffet on one wall with a banquette seat in between. So the open shelf is readily and easily accessible via the seat. I have had little decorative things on the open shelf since we moved in without any issue.
Well, this year I put the nativity scene on one of the shelves. Shouldn't have been a big deal. And for 2 of the 3 cats, it is a non-issue.
But Boris, she has decided that she has it out for the nativity scene. And not just the whole thing, one figurine in particular.
Not the sheep.
The Shepard.
The three kings...
Oh no, my blasphemous feline has it out for baby Jesus.
Its the only one she chases.
So she tries to bat baby Jesus all over and I am waging a war of attrition with a water bottle.
I think it might be working, as she didn't go near it at all today.
Lets hope that mini-brain of hers remembers all this in the upcoming days.

So that is my cat bitch for the day.
Now watching: Sunday Night Football before I go back to reading more project management standards.
Good times.
Oh - added a few pics to the Flickr site of the nursery in assorted stages and the Christmas tree.
Enjoy.

The Simian Affect

Did you ever see Madagascar? Either one, it doesn't matter.
The reason I ask. You know those monkeys that are in it? One doesn't speak -- just drinks coffee and flings poo, the other speaks with an English accent?
Yeah, I am convinced that those two monkeys could do a better job than some of the people that I work with.
Yes, you read that correctly. Fictional, cartoon characters -- monkey's no less -- could do the job that actual humans do in my office.
Ready to blow a gasket at this point and that is not a good a sign.


Now Listening: To the phone ring.

The Cover Shoot

We had our sitting yesterday for our maternity pictures. Used a great photographer here in town, Paige Peterson. She is around our age, way laid back, super cool aesthetic and just liked her work. I decided to do them for a number of reasons. I haven't had professional pictures taken in AGES. I mean, I have been in some weddings and such, but the focus of those events clearly is never me. Also, not that having more children isn't something to consider, but how often are you pregnant? I mean think about it, this is the ONLY time in a woman's life when a super-large belly is cause for not just celebration, but emphasis. I had a couple people ask me if I was gonna do the full Demi Mooore thing. They were, I believe referring to a cover she did ages ago, while pregnant but she was fully nude.
The answer is no.
While I did say that this is the only time when large belly is ok on a woman, I am not that silly. It would take a team of make-up artists to get me to that point. And for some reason, I don't have one of those around.
I did more than a few in assorted stages of no top, so that was as close as we got. She did some of Joe and I as well. Which is good, because we have ZERO pictures of the two of us. I mean, not even a snapshot.
It was sorta awkward at first. We are not the most PDA happy people. Even at home. So she has us facing each other or in some couple-y position and is like, ok, now just sorta love on each other. Which shouldn't be a hard thing, but like I said, was a little weird at first. Based on the few that she let me sneak peek, I think we figured it out.
So keep your fingers crossed that they turn out well. I actually had fun with it, which was weird. I am NOT the photographic type. Prefer to be behind the lens -- pretty much all the time. However, it was a good time and I hope the results will be great.

Now Watching: what looks to be the start of another snow fall.

The Merry Month of Des Moines

Book club on Wednesday created a whole new month for us here in the heartland.
The month of Des Moines. Courtesy of our good friend -- Carissa.
Outside of the center of the universe known as book club, it is technically the month of December. But how fun is that?
Among the many topics we covered at the gathering -- aside from the book, which we did actually discuss, at least a little bit were:

• Eating habits of husbands/significant others and how much they still love the comfort food their moms used to make them.
• Gay mens chorus
• The economy (see we actually do more than just bitch about men)
• A girls night outing -- tied to the Gay Men's Chorus.
• And assorted other gossip and general catch up.

All in all, we had a great time and Brooke put out quite a spread. Including this Apple/Carmel dipping-goodness that she was unable to share the recipe for.
Total bummer, as it was AWESOME. And not just pregnant woman awesome, everyone liked it.

Moving on, I shall devote the rest of this post to bitching about being pregnant.
Fasten the seat belt kids...
And AWAY WE GO...

Someone brought bagels in today to work. Not an infrequent sight around here, but a nice gesture. One of my co-workers goes walking past my cube on his way to his cube, followed closely by a manager of another group. He made some off-hand comment about how he should grab a bagel before they are all gone. To which the manager-in-tow comments, "Better get one before the pregnant woman eats them all"
He was (I think) joking, but not funny.
Really.
At all.
Like I had established a periphery around the bagel bag and was actively monitoring anyone that went near it.
Not to mention the though of scarfing down a dozen bagels, sorta makes me want to throw up.

Shortly after this little incident, I was walking to get some water from the water cooler. Walk past another co-worker who exclaims loudly -- "That belly is just getting bigger and bigger by the minute"
Yes - I will totally admit it is. I have said so myself, but come on. Like if someone had just put on weight would you announce to the world "Hey, your ass sure has spread a lot in the last 4 months!"
No. You would not. At least, I wouldn't think that you would.

I am convinced there is some pregnancy switch in most peoples mind. It does one of two things. It either convinces you that I am somehow disabled and totally incapable of normal physical function. Or it removes any and all filters from your brain that somehow make you think it is totally acceptable to ask the most outrageous and personal of questions. Are you going to breastfeed? How much weight have you gained? Or my personal favorite, how are you planning to deliver, vaginally or c-section?
WTF?
NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
If I wanted to share those facts with you -- you wouldn't be asking the questions, as I don't have an issue talking through it with people that are actually friends. Discussing my breastfeeding plans with the DBA Manager is not my idea of a good afternoon.

Yes, I am in a mood today. But people are stupid, so its just a natural reaction.

Now Listening: Under Construction by Missy Elliott

Speedy Delivery

We had our last birthing class last night!
Hooray!
Can't believe it has been 6 weeks.
Holy crap, here's hoping we don't forget everything in the next 6 weeks.
The entire last night was spent in two ways. One: a full blown labor dry-run and Two: touring the maternity ward.
Let's just say that if I can squeeze the entire labor process into one hour like we did last night, I am SO golden.
Right.
It was a 14 hour process shrunk down into 1 hour. Not likely that it is going to go that fast.
Nope. I am mentally preparing myself for the full blown 14+ hours just to make sure.
But we spent the hour breathing, changing positions and getting massaged. Here's hoping it sticks.

We also got our Christmas tree last night.
It was a busy day at our house.
A full 8' Douglas Fir now resides in my living room. It smells awesome. We went out to the tree farm to pick it up so its nice and fresh. Now there is the small issue of lights and getting it decorated. That is the plan for the next few nights. Oh, and making sure the cats stay off and/or away from it. They seemed pretty un-interested last night. Which struck me as fairly odd, but it was still standing this morning. I view this as a good sign.

What else? It snowed some more this morning. Which translated into a 10 minute commute becoming a 40 minute commute. Seems people forgot how to drive. I don't think I hit more than 35 MPH on the interstate this morning.
Keep in mind, I am not talking a blizzard here. Maybe, key word: MAYBE, 2" of snow overnight.
But it freaked people out. On the upside, it has stopped snowing. The sun is out. Which is awesome, as it will start to melt just in time to freeze overnight and we get to do it all over again tomorrow morning.

I should have more snarky comments on the state of the world today, but I just can't seem to get motivated, so I will go back to work. Whee.

Now Listening: Change Is Gonna Come by Leela James

An apple a day

Does not keep the doctor away when you are knocked up.
NOTHING keeps the doctor away when you are knocked up except other knocked up ladies.
Learned that one yesterday.
Had my appointment in the afternoon. Joe was unable to make this one due to some work stuff. Really not a biggie, the appointments have become pretty routine at this point. The high points being:

• pee in cup
• get weighed
• blood pressure
• baby heart rate
• measure belly
• Any questions?
• Go home or back to work.

And that is it. Really, all of it. You spend more time in the waiting room than in the exam room.
So, get there yesterday. And the nurse informs me there is only one doc there, so they are running a "little behind".
The fact that there is only one doctor there is a little odd as there are 5 doctors in the clinic. Turns out doctors want time off too and 3 of the 5 had planned to be out for the day. Of the two that were scheduled, one got called away to a family emergency. Leaving just, one.
I proceed to grab the paper and get comfy in the waiting room. As I am sitting there, I hear the nurse at the desk tell the next woman that comes in, "The doctor had to leave for a delivery, so we will just want to reschedule you".
I am thinking, hhmmn. Odd, they haven't rescheduled me. Maybe someone came back from lunch and can see me?
They don't say anything to me, so back to the paper I go. Make it through that. Get to the magazine rack. Grab something roughly 3 months old and get to work on that before I hear my name. And its not the nurse escorting me to the back area for the appt. Its the booking nurse at the desk.
Bottom line -- no doctors in the house. And I have been sitting there for about 35 + minutes at this point. But -- silver lining, if I don't have any big issues to discuss with the doctor a nurse can see me.
Done and done.
So, see the nurse, the sequence above, doesn't change and this is how things played out:
Me: gained 5 lbs. 5 POUNDS IN TWO WEEKS. Ugh.
Tummy: Measuring at 34"
Little Leprechaun: Confirmed head down (good thing) and heart rate @ 135.
So, bottom line, he and I are both doing what we are supposed to. Although I would argue that 5 lbs in two weeks is a little aggressive in my mind.
So an HOUR later. I left the office.
Oh, and I got a flu shot.

In other news, got some pictures of the baby shower from home posted on the Flickr site. Thanks much to Brooke for passing them on. Now I just need to get cracking on those darn thank-yous. I swear, you all will get them before he is born. That is my solemn promise.

Now Listening: Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite by Maxwell

Its white, powdery and

Makes people drive like idiots.

Snow people, I am talking about snow. Get those filthy minds out of the gutter.

But we will get to that Monday morning rant in a bit.

I survived.

Yes, the official start of the holiday season is upon us and it was ushered in among a waterfall of wine, beer, turkey, shopping & well, general family overload.

I hope yours was the same as there really is nothing like it.

Headed to Omaha on Thursday morning after whipping up two apple pies while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade.

The pies, for the record, kicked ass, if I do say so myself.

Joe headed off to family events in the opposite direction that same morning.

Turkey dinner was good. I think we had somewhere in the neighborhood of 25 people there. And that wasn't a drop in the proverbial family bucket. I believe that only accounted for about 1/2 of the immediate family. But ate too much - not too hard for me these days and chalked another major family event up stone-cold sober.

This, I am afraid, is getting old.

And, it wasn't helped by the fact that I had to pour my whole family out of my Aunt's house Thursday night and play taxi driver to all of them.

Whee.

Only one more to go -- Christmas and then eventually back on the band wagon.

Here's hoping I make it in one piece.

What else? Watched a lot of football (go Huskers!) and some basketball. Chilled out a bit. Did a smidge of shopping. Got one Christmas gift. It was the only thing that I knew I wanted to get for Joe, so that is done. Of course, I still need more, so that challenge is on the table. Along with what to get for EVERYONE else. I shall muddle through it.

Moving on to the inevitable pregnancy portion of my broadcast.

One of the key reasons that I went to the mall on Saturday was to get a new bra. I say this as the ones I bought roughly 2 months ago were digging into my sides -- a sure sign that they don't technically fit anymore. So, I find the women's department and a willing sales lady (they were everywhere) and asked to get fitted.

Now - for those of you that haven't been fitted in a long time (or at all? is that possible) its a fairly painless process. Hold up arms and cross fingers that you are not into some record setting sizes. And women's bra's consist of two measurements. The one around your chest - measured in inches and the cup size -- not sure how that science works but translates to a letter.

We have all heard the ideal, 36 something? right? Or seen the strippers on Jerry Springer that are rocking out like, a 38F or something. Which for the record is GI-NORMOUS.

Within 6 weeks of finding out I was pregnant I went up once size around the chest and a cup size. I have done it again. And lets just say that when you get to the size I am ... cute goes out the window. You are shopping in the section that you only thought your great Aunt who is like, 75 shops in. There are three colors available to you - white, nude and black. I mean we are talking needing a structural engineer and some serious load bearing girders or something.

And the best part -- I can only expect to get BIGGER once the kid arrives.
So after that humbling holy-crap moment of mammary-magnitude, I took off for my shower.

Which was lovely and had a great time. We got more stuff -- actually some really needed stuff, so that is all good.

Got to see some friends I haven't seen in ages -- and their super-adorable new babies. And catch up with family members and their super-adorable babies. It was good.

It was sorta a new Omaha experience for me as I was actually staying in a hotel for the whole trip. In all years past, I have stayed with a good friend in her guest room. Well, she had the nerve to turn the guest room into a nursery for their new little girl.

So, I was out my cheap and always lovely living arrangements for the weekend. Which meant sharing a hotel room with my sisters.

This had the potential for well, some sisterly love (translation: bad juju).

But we did ok. I felt sorta bad, as we had two beds. Which wouldn't have been an issue except they were full beds, not Queen. So they had to, well, snuggle, as they both insisted I have my own bed.

The only eye-opening event was my sister Melissa. Now, I have known for some time that she takes a little long to get ready. But you would have thought we were going to the Oscars or something Saturday morning. We had committed to being ready to meet my Dad and brother for breakfast at 10 AM. Not 6 AM, not even 8 AM -- 10 AM. Nice little brunch.

In order for her to be ready at 10 Am, she set her alarm for 8 AM. Yes, TWO HOURS.

TWO.

2.

One less than three.

And she still was rushing out the door!!!!

Unbelievable.
Let's just say that by the time we left on Sunday, I was ready to be home.

Which brings me back -- finally -- to my original point. We woke up on Sunday to a light, and I mean, light dusting of snow in Omaha. So I wasn't expecting anything too bad for the drive home.

And truthfully, it wasn't. However, as I got closer to Des Moines, the light dusting became noticeable accumulation. But the roads were fine.

It all culminated about 20 miles from home when I literally was in bumper to bumper stopped traffic. So we are creeping along, and I am waiting for the construction signs, the accident, SOMETHING to warrant a full stop on the interstate.

And you know what, there was nothing.

Nada.

Just people driving like momo's.
I mean, this is Iowa. Most of the plates I saw were Iowa plates. Did you forget between last winter and this one what that means during the months of November thru March?

And like I said, there was NOTHING on the roads. So really, even using the "I forgot how to drive in the snow" argument didn't hold water.

Now, I have to admit, this time of year, it is cool to have snow. But it all needs to melt starting 01/01/09.

Anyway, there is your small novella of catch up.

Now Listening: Give Up by The Postal Service