Another Round of Vapo Rub on the House!

Ugh.  I really hate being sick. Especially when I sound like death and can't take the meds I'm used to taking to knock me out for the night so I don't constantly wake up trying to stifle a cough.  However, I was able to rest a lot today and actually got excited about a project.  Just what the doctor ordered!

I started yarn doodling today and am pretty excited- hasn't happened in a while!  Let's just hope I can keep this enthusiasm up so I can start finishing things, as well. Encouragement is greatly appreciated. Time management is not my strong suit, so any helpful tips you may have are also greatly appreciated.  Seriously.  I'll share your tips online- both so I can have a record I can go back to, and also to share them with others who may suffer the same "I-don't-know-what-to-start-first-so-I-better-get-the-nap-out-of-the-way" time management method that I seem to favor.

I think I'm getting into that "nesting" phase of pregnancy.  Also the "OMG I only have 4 months before a helpless bundle of love and poop comes and will occupy all my time and I have so much to do before he gets here" panic mode of pregnancy.  (Also, I'm still getting used to the fact that I actually am pregnant, much less the fact that there is a little boy inside of me. Too.weird.) Hopefully all my enthusiasm and resolve is not solely the result of fever induced delirium and I'll have something to show off in the next couple weeks.  Crossing my fingers, y'all!

Lawyers and Toddlers and Baby Showers, Oh My!

I just got back home from a great trip "back home" with my sis. (Thank you so much for asking about my disappearance, Tracy- everything has been going great, for reals. :) )  I had started this post while I was there, but I really was so exhausted from all the running around I had to do (I was there to take care of family business, primarily for my 92 year old grandmother...thus the lawyer) that I simply ran out of time.

I had a great time and got to stay with Ronda and her wonderful family.  I have a guest blog of hers to post later this weekend, actually, so you can catch up on her shenanigans, too. She has three adorable kiddos (and it's so weird to see them so big- I remember holding her oldest as an infant at Olive Garden where she decided to have a diaper explosion on me....ahhh....good times.  I'm so going to torment her when she's older with that story.  Over and over and over again.  It's the gift that keeps on giving.)

Ronda is actually testing a pattern for me, which is awesome.  We stayed up every night until 2am catching up and crocheting (more her than me, actually- I was having some digestion issues.  Got a little carried away with the green chile.  If you are from NM, you understand.  If not...I feel sorry for you.) 

The highlight of my visit came on Sunday- my sister, mother, and aunt threw me a surprise baby shower! Ronda was in on it, too and I'm so proud of her (and yet a little irked) for not giving it away.  I was so very touched by my aunts and cousins that showed. (I have about a million of them, so there really was a great turnout). Some of which I hadn't seen in 15 years- seriously, it was an amazing day and I'm still smiling thinking about it. :)

Saturday I was able to do something that could have gone very wrong but didn't so I can still brag about how awesome I am.  I attended a 6 year old's birthday party with Ronda's family at the local roller rink.  Yes, my friends.  I got my ever expanding 5 month pregnant booty on a pair of roller skates and totally held my own with all those young whipper snappers.  As I whipped around that arena, envisioning myself going all roller derby on those whiny little babies as I ruled the rink, I couldn't help thinking to myself, "You are still young, fit, and totally amazing.  Gege, you've still got it.  You are my hero."  The adrenaline rush of reliving my childhood and the pride of not falling and causing a catastrophic event delayed the eventual truth of the situation. Man, I was so freaking sore the next day- my hips hurt, my back hurt, my thighs hurt, and eventually my pride hurt as I thought, "What the heck were you thinking, you moron!" as I popped yet another Extra Strength Tylenol.

It was a great week, but I did miss my Mister and it's always nice to sleep in your own bed. Even though I was picturing a much more romantic return with lots of snuggling at night, I unfortunately caught a really wicked cold out there and am pretty darn miserable right now....as is my Mister who has to endure my mouth breathing and a bed filled with snotty tissues. As well as a pregnancy induced emotional breakdown over a stretch mark that may or may not have formed tonight. He knew I wasn't the most rational person when he married me, so he handled this meltdown like a pro.  I, on the other hand, did not. I'm still slipping and sliding on my bed from bathing in all that Palmer's Cocoa Butter. 

Ok. Time to drift off into dreamland where my delusions of grandeur are completely devoid of tantrum inducing stretchmarks and are instead filled with roller derby awesomeness.  And Nyquil.  Alcohol filled nectar of the gods Nyquil.  Oh how I miss thee.

Snips & Snails and Puppy Dog Tails.....

.....that's what my little Geekling is made of. Yayayay!

These last few weeks have been a roller coaster for my Mister and me *(see below), but I'm very happy to report that we were able to cap it off with the wonderful news that our little one is doing very well and that, as one of my dear friends put it, there is indeed a stem on the apple.  Or, as I've said so many times it's now obnoxious but I'll say it again because it makes me giggle: out little peanut has a peanut.

We've been waiting for this news so we can start choosing names- something I must admit that I'm a little stressed about. It's really an important decision to make- something that will have lifelong effects if we make a wrong choice.  We don't want to choose something that's too trendy or so youneek that he's teased throughout school, yet don't want to choose something that is too common, either. Maybe I'll tap into my Native American roots and name him after something I see or feel during birth.  (This is my son, Epidural OhnodidIpoop! He was almost named Episiotomy Iampushingyouwhore, but Epidural has a better ring to it, doncha think?)

I've also been waiting to know the gender so that I can start planning a blanket for reals. I have an idea for one in my mind that I've had for a while. It's something I've thought of since I made my Not Quite Mitered hat which I thought would make a really fun, crazy blanket.



I have a ton of the yarn in my stash (a cotton/acrylic blend for laundering ease) however, I'm not quite sold on it as of yet.  I do think I'll make it into a blanket, but I don't know if it'll be THE blanket, ya know?  Anywho, I've got to really get cranking on this, so hopefully inspiration will soon find me.

Another project that I need to get fleshed out into woolly goodness is something I started on over a year ago but put on the back burner due to the sucky-ness of last year. It's actually a diaper bag that I absolutely adore and I've been wanting to start it again for a while now. However, I could not find the notebook where I sketched it and started the pattern. This notebook also had the pattern for my Coco bag and I was going nuts for weeks trying to find it.  I'm very happy to report that, after some very fervent prayer this evening, I finally found it. It was in the bottom of a box of stuff I had thrown together while "organizing" our house a few weeks ago for the appraiser.  This taught me two lessons: 1) There truly is power in prayer. Why I didn't try that first, I'll never know. 2) I'm never organizing my house again. 
 
Ok- enough updating for now. Time for me to poke my belly to try to get the baby to move go to sleep. Laters.

*(Anytime I pull a disappearing act from here is most likely due to my personal life hitting the crapper. I had a health scare these last few weeks and was preoccupied with many doctor visits and tests. However, I'm very relieved to report I'm doing a-ok. Our sonogram on Friday truly was a wonderful way to cap off two very stressful weeks. I'll be catching up on comments and emails in the next couple days.)

Snow, snow, go away....

I think I'm getting a little cabin feverish right now. It's snowing.  Let me rephrase that: IT.IS.SNOWING. We are expecting 8-10 inches by midnight so, by the accuracy of our weather folks last year, we'll most likely get a foot and a half. I must admit I'm a little upset and worried and bored and not happy right now. 

To make matters worse, my Mister left work an hour and a half later than he said he would- well after the heavy snow started- and is now going to have to spend the night at a friend's house (my BFF and fellow Canadian tourist, lyteyz). So, I'm stuck, in a blizzard, all alone. And pregnant. By myself. ARGH.

My Mister is now safe at lyteyz's house and let me know that I'll probably have to pick him up tomorrow since he won't be able to get out.  Since her husband was still battling the storm and not yet home, my Mister started shoveling off her driveway as soon as he arrived. He's such a gentleman. When lyteyz told me this, the true gravity of the situation occurred to me. Not only am I home alone in a blizzard, but I am also going to have to shovel all that freakin' snow off our driveway tomorrow by my lonely pregnant self if I ever want to see my Mister again.  What the what?!?

Last year at this time, this was not a problem.  I even posted a pic of me shoveling snow after our humongous, record breaking storms- I do not mind the hard work.  Or at least I didn't last year when I was working side-by-side with my Mister.  This year is another ball of wax.  Not only am I by myself and not able to fit in my snow pants anymore, but it is also sleet mixed with snow which means it's going to be super heavy and/or icy tomorrow morning.  Oh, and I AM PREGNANT.

On the one hand, this is a prime opportunity to start racking up the mom-guilt stories for my unborn babe. (Not only was I in labor for 30 hours with you, but I also had to shovel heavy, icy snow for hours while I was carrying your unborn keister just to be able to walk 4 miles uphill both ways to get to the one-room schoolhouse so don't you dare talk to me about needing a potty break! Get back to work- my toenails do not cut themselves, you know!)

On the other hand, as much as I would love to think I'm Wonder Woman (I truly do look like her when I wear my blue contacts- true story), I must grudgingly admit that some things are not as easy for me to accomplish as they were just 4 months ago.  Like, going just 1 hour without burping, farting or wishing I was.

Like I said- Argh.

Of course you know that I'm going to go with what's on the third hand- putting my SUV in 4 wheel drive and muscling my way out. Yeehaw! Snow- you have met your match! Wonder Woman? Nah- Tim Allen is more my speed. (Cue grunts now).

Feed Me, Seymour!

This week, while mostly spent sitting on my butt either driving to/from or attending meetings, marked a turning point for me.  My appetite is slowly returning, my food aversions have abated somewhat, and I haven’t had my indigestion filled belching spells in about 5 days.  AND I picked up my hooks again this week. (!!) Woot!

I’m actually working on a Felted Watermelon Tote for my mother.  It was supposed to be for her birthday in September.  Then, it was supposed to be one of her Christmas presents.  Now….it’s looking more and more like a Mother’s Day gift.  Oh bother.  Actually, I’m heading back home next month for a short visit, so my goal is to have it completed- lined and all- by the time I leave.  Oy to the vey….wish me luck, y’all.

I must admit that I’m thankful my taste buds aren’t as mutinous anymore and are actually letting me eat some of my more regular, healthy foods.  One of my goals is to keep my weight gain in check and a healthy diet is so very important for this.  Unfortunately, the last few months haven’t exactly been filled with adequate fruit/veggies and whole grain, but the tide’s a changin’ my friends.  Thank the Lord since those foods are very fiber rich and I can definitely use more fiber in my life.  Seriously-I’m four months along yet my “baby bump” is actually more of a poop tummy thanks to my slower digestive system brought on by those awesome pregnancy hormones.   As I down yet another glass of Metamucil, I try to remind myself that the bloat is also my adorable little sweetums and I will soon grow into those maternity jeans I prematurely bought on clearance at Target. 

Here’s a pic of me two days ago.

Me, texting my sister: "Where's the baby??"  Her reply: "In your boobs?"

Even though there hasn’t been that big a change in my body so far, I’ve been worried about the changes that will happen ever since I first saw that second line appear telling me my urine had superpowers.  What the heck is going to happen to my body after I, ever so lovingly, expel a miniature human being out of my girlie parts?? I mean, your body cannot go through such an incredible change, growing, stretching, moving and pushing a 7 pound bowling ball out of a 2 inch hole (10cm is small, folks!) without leaving behind some sort of battle scars.  Oh man…what have I gotten myself into???

*hyperventilating break* *hyperventilating break* *passing out break*

*Deep breaths*

Ok.  I think I’ve composed myself again now.  (Ack! No! I choose to ignore you visions of stretch marks and cankles!)  I think I’ll be ok. Focus on the positive, Gege- eyes on the prize.  Finish the Watermelon Tote for your mom.  Mmmm….watermelon.  You like watermelon.  No, no!  Stop thinking about your stomach looking like a watermelon!  I have wool for you!  Yes….that’s it…..breathe it in.  Good girl.  Here’s some Metamucil for you…..you’ll thank me later.