Day 3

Pat Sajack is co-hosting Regis and Kelly while Regis is out of town. I have discovered that Pat is quite funny! I have actually laughed out loud while sipping my coffee a couple of times this morning! Who knew?

Oh, and he used to be a weatherman before the Wheel gig. Who knew?

I also think Kelly Rippa is quite cute. I am a fan. Wish I could look that good after 2 kids. And have great hair like that.

Don't worry, I'm not watching the entire program, but I do like their opening 'monologue' thing that is really pretty entertaining. After that, I'm done. I got things to do with my leisure!

Today, it's a walk across Central Park! Well, that's the plan, we'll see how far I get. I gotta jump start this labor thing.

It has begun....

Day 1 of Maternity Leave--Laundry.

I discovered that Monday in the laundry room (that was closed all last week, incidentally, but I'm not sure if that was a factor) is every man for himself. The house-cleaners (maids) are all down there, doing their clients laundry, too (I hope they at least get paid more to fluff and fold). How do I know they don't actually live in this building? I just know. Demographics, mainly. But anyway, not the point. You have to sit down there the entire time or your laundry will just be casually thrown to the side the SECOND the washer or dryer you are using is done. I am used to doing my laundry in the evening, and it's a much more relaxed, laid back atmosphere. Not so during the day.

Those bitches are vicious, I tell ya.

This being a housewife thing ain't easy. Especially without your own washer/dryer.

End of an Era

Today is my last day in the working force for the forseeable future. Not that my current employer knows that yet. Which makes this, my last day of work in NYC, rather strange. No big good-byes, no tears (did I mention I'm an emotional wreck these days?), no packing up and taking my boxes of stuff away. For all they know, I'll be returning in 3 months. It's all a charade. I will be giving my notice of intent NOT to return at the end of March, with the news that I'm also leaving the city and heading back to God's Country. So today I am acting the part. I really will see all these people again, just when I come to say goodbye and pack up my stuff.

I am lucky that Bubba's new job will leave us in a more stable financial situation so that I can choose to stay at home or go back to work after we get settled. I like choices. Who knows? I may really enjoy staying at home and have NO desire whatsoever to return until my children are school age (at which point I think I better be going back to work). Or, I may REALLY miss my sexy life as a civil engineer and can't WAIT to get back to the work force. (I'm really doubting it will be this black-and-white, and I'll want some sort of compromise. But we'll see.) Regardless, it is my choice, and I'm relishing it.

Still, it is somewhat hard to imagine right now NOT getting up to go to work every day. I'm sure I'll get used to it, start enjoying all my 'free time,' and then BAM! I'll have a kid that demands all my attention and I'll only WISH all I had to do today was get myself up and ready and to work on time. But hey, I'm up for the challenge!

I'll miss riding the train with Bubba, though....

Just so you have a good visual...

This is what I look like 37 weeks (9 months) pregnant. That's a Biggo Preggo belly!

 

Under Pressure

Dun, dun, dun, dunda dun-dun. Dun, dun, dun, dun, dunda dun-dun. Sing it with me now!

The Tater is really giving it to me good today. Lots of pressure from my bulging belly. I am so uncomfortable, it's distracting me from getting anything done. Not that I have much to do, but there is one thing on my desk that I feel needs to be done before I take my leave. And it's not that much fun, and kind of boring, and thus easy to be distracted from.

On that topic, I have about decided to make THIS Friday my last day, as opposed to the originally planned NEXT Friday. It's just not fun anymore to traipse to work every day (more like shuffle to work on Bubba's arm every day) via the NYC Subway system and my own two feet. Feet that are so tired and swollen-up that you can't even see my bony ankles....I look like I sprained both my ankles playing basketball. That's what happens when you carry around 35 extra pounds in your mid-section. I'm surprised my arches haven't collapsed (and they are VERY high arches!). The other reason for an early departure is that I'm just tired of it all. I don't sleep well, I don't walk well, I am swelling up, none of my clothes fit anymore, and I just want to sit at home on the couch and do whatever I damn well feel like! We'll see what my doctor says on Thursday, but I'm 95% sure I'm going to wimp out and call it quits a week earlier than I told everyone at work I was. And, Bubba says it's ok.

I know Bubba is sick of me complaining. I try not to, but it's hard when all anyone ever says to me is 'How ya doin? You're still here?!? Geez, when are you going to HAVE that baby! You're HUGE!' It is starting to really irritate me, even though people mean well. Yes, I'm huge. Try finding a 9-months+2-weeks pregnant lady who ISN'T! The comments are just not funny anymore. Neither are the pitying looks from other women who have been there, done that. At least my size gets me an automatic seat on the subway. People take one look at me and hop up, as if I'm going to fall down right then and there. It's rather nice, actually. :)

OK, rant over. I'm ready for this kid to BE HERE!!!

A Change in the Weather?

Once again, it is colder in Texas than it is here. This has been a pretty frequent occurance thus far this winter. The temp is dropping steadily today in NYC, but no falling precipitation, which is a blessing, I guess. It's all north of us. I'd likely just stay home to avoid falling on my pregnant butt again. (Hey, maybe that's not such a bad thing!) But the Texan in me is still wanting a big storm! Snow is still a novelty for me (and for Bubba), and I am feeling cheated out of my last winter here.

Of course, now this means that February and March will just be terrible, right when I'm wanting to get out and about with the Tater! ~sigh~

Snow, snow, snow, snow, SNOW!!!! I wanna wash my hair, my face and hands with SNOW!!!

We Have A Crib!!!

After much ado, Drew has a place to sleep now!

 

I Don't Know Why

I thought I'd copy Bubba and write a little note to Baby Drew. However, I have to admit that I didn't come up with this. Shawn Colvin wrote this song for her daughter when she was born. I can't wait to sing it to my little boy when he arrives. The tune is good, too, but for now, you'll just have to read the lyrics.

I don’t know why
The sky is so blue.
And I don’t know why
I’m so in love with you.
But if there were no music,
Then I would not get through.
I don’t know why I know these things.
But I do.

I don’t know why
But somewhere dreams come true.
And I don’t know where
But there will be a place for you.
Every time you look that way
I would lay down my life for you.
I don’t know why I know these things.
But I do.

I don’t know why
But some are going to make you cry.
I don’t know how
But I will get you by.
I will try.
‘Cause they’re not trying to cause you pain
They’re just afraid of loving you.
I don’t know why I know these things.
But I do.

I don’t know why
Trees grow so tall.
I don’t know why
I don’t know anything at all.
But if there were no music,
Then I would not get through.
I don’t know why I know these things.
But I do.

I don’t know why I know these things.
But I do.

Thanks, Shawn. Couldn't have said it better myself.

Fall Down Go Boom

I spent the day in labor and delivery.

The short story is that I fell in the street (how embarrassing!) on my way to work this morning, landing mainly on my knees and hands, but with the face-forward fall, I wasn't sure if I hit my belly or not. We were a block from home, so Bubba and I came home to settle down, see if the baby was moving, and call my doctor. She recommend we go to the hospital for monitoring, just to be safe. So, we did, and I'm glad we did. Makes me feel better to see/hear the heartbeat. Ironically, Bubba and I JUST toured the hospital's maternity ward last night! So we knew where to go this morning! I got hooked up, everything was fine, but my doctor wanted 6 hours of monitoring, just to make sure there was no trauma that would show up after my adrenaline levels dropped back down. I was having some contractions show up on the monitor, too, but no worse than I've been having.

The bad thing was that my back started hurting because I was laying on it instead of my side. And, I couldn't eat. I could have water, though, so I drank enough to stay hydrated and ensure I could get up for potty breaks!

Needless to say, we are glad to be home, glad The Tater is fine, and glad we got our dry run through before we have to deal with the real thing!

In The Round

Per cjh's request, a belly picture! This is from a few weeks ago. I'm getting very round....




























And here's one of Bubba and his belly! I think he's jealous....

It's Going To Be A Long Month

It's not even January yet (well, in another 7 hours it will be), and I already feel sorry for Bubba.

He is going to be TOTALLY bored by the time this baby arrives. Why? Because he likes to go out and do things and go for walks and see the City, and my pregnant ass can't really do that anymore, and I've about decided that I WON'T do it anymore. It is just too hard for me to get around with this extra 35 pounds hanging off my front. I'm doing good just to get from my apartment to the subway, then up the stairs and the several blocks from the subway to work. It is still a toss-up as to whether 3 long blocks+2 short blocks with no subway transfers is better than 4 short blocks plus a bunch of stairs to transfer. Right now, I'm going with the extra walking, but we'll see....

And, and! I'm sure Bubba is sick of hearing how my back/feet/legs hurt. There's another month+ of that, too.

So, I sit on my butt on 'my' couch (the love seat) with my feet up reading/cross stitching/writing thank yous/surfing the internet. And Bubba takes care of everything. I can not be more thankful for that, he's the bestest hubby EVER!

My Mind is Blank

Why is it so hard to come up with titles?

This was always my No. 1 problem when writing an essay or something in school. I would get the whole damn thing finished and STILL not have a catchy title. When my English teacher was always telling me that the title should come FIRST! I think it just proves that I really am NOT that creative. I could never be a writer, as I'd have to come up with good titles for my writing. Otherwise no one would read my extremely intelligent drivel. Like they don't right now.

You! Out there right now reading this! What would YOU title this blog entry? What about the one after?

Crowd Control

I am sick of all the damn people that have flooded my town for the holiday week. After yesterday, I am convinced that it is, in fact, the TOURISTS that are the rude people in NYC. Locals are quite nice and accommodating and only get riled up because some damn out-of-towner was acting like an IDIOT!

I worked a half-day yesterday, and took off at lunch to hang out and run around with my parents and sister for the afternoon. They got in on Tuesday and left today, so it was my last chance to spend time with them. I met my parents and Bubba at Rockefeller Center because they wanted to see the Big Tree, and then we were going to do a little shopping, maybe stroll up to Bloomies to look at their after-Christmas-ornament sale. I beat them to the rendevous point, which was the concourse level of 30 Rock, where they have some lunch places and a Starbucks and lots of tables like a mall food-court. It's also the way to get to the skating rink entrance. I figured I'd just plop my large-overly-pregnant self into a chair and wait for them, then we'd be on our way. There were GOBS of people already looking like they needed a nap from their stressed-out demeanors and sour faces....like they'd be doing this for HOURS. I realized that there was no way I'd be able to get a whole table for myself, as there were lots of other table-stalkers, so I started looking for just a CHAIR to sit in, thinking I don't need a table at all, I just want to take a load off and sit my body down for a few minutes. I start heading to a table that looks like they're getting up, when I get elbowed out of the way by a couple who then said 'WE WERE HERE FIRST!' I almost fell down, but managed to say "I just wanted a chair, take the damn table, and I hope you get heartburn for making a great-with-child preggo lady stand up! A pox on you AND your children!" Well, I didn't say that, but I really wanted to. I just shrugged at no one in particular, because no one was paying me ANY mind, and waddled over to the wall. They don't let you sit on the floor in Rockefeller Center, and I know this, but I though 'WTH, I DARE anyone to come and get me up!' So I slid to the floor, got out my cross-word, and proceeded to wait for Bubba and the 'Rents. The 2 security guards glanced over at me a few times and started heading my way, then realized the 'state' I was in and left me alone. Finally they both came over and asked if I'd like to find a seat and I said, in my sweetest voice, 'I'd LOVE to find a seat, but good luck getting anyone to give theirs up for a pregnant lady!' He kind of nodded sympathetically, told me to stay there, and he headed off. Bubba calls about the time the guy shows back up with a chair, and I tell him thanks, but I really was just waiting for someone, and he helped haul me off the floor.

Now, on my normal, everyday commute and trek through this great City, I usually have no problems with this pregnant state that I am in, and it's quite easy to get around (although it can be quite tiring). People on the subway can be kind of oblivious when hooked up to their ipods, but for the most part, when I say excuse me, they all hustle to get out of the way of the Big Giant Belly that is headed their way. And I will usually get a seat on the subway. I've even had offers from people to carry my bags, but I'm not that desperate. Yet. Bottom line, most locals that I see on a daily basis are all sympathetic to a pregnant woman trying to get around, and don't huff and puff that I'm going to slow, or glare at me as I try to move over so they can get by my huge belly. MOST of them give me a glance and a small, knowing smile, and the really brave ones ask when I'm due and wish me luck, etc. It's quite pleasant, really.

So, back to my original point of rudeness. The tourists seem to walk around the city thinking they own the place. That they are entitled to act this way because everyone else seems to. They fail to grasp that those of us who live here manage quite well by SHARING the limited space we do have! For example:

• They bump into you on the sidewalk, when it's clear that I really CAN'T get out of the way without stepping off the curb into on-coming traffic, then they glare at you for the disruption, even though THEY were the ones walking 4-across on a crowded sidewalk!
• They race for the seats on the subway, or if there aren't any, they REFUSE to move into the car and away from the door so others can get in! It's like they think they'll not be able to get OFF this crazy train once they are ON!!!
• They stop on a dime in the middle of a crowded sidwalk, and then get irritated when you run into them.
• And my favorite: they give you the look of death when you ask if they need directions somewhere. How dare I assume they don't know where they're going?! Like I'm going to steer them in the wrong direction just to amuse myself, or this is a diversion and my super-stealthy partner is currently picking their pocket!

Actually, that last one isn't a bad idea.

It's time for the rude tourists to leave and give me a last month to enjoy my city, albeit slower than before, before I become a mother and have a whole separate list of complaints about how people with babies/children are treated.

The First of 'The Lasts'

Wednesday night was my last concert with the Juilliard Choral Union. It was also my last day of choir, as I won't be coming back to rehearsals after the New Year. This was my third year with the chorus, and it really was so much fun and a fantastic experience. I've gotten to sing a huge variety of music, in several famous venues.

It kind of snuck up on me, actually. This is the first thing I've 'stopped' doing since getting pregnant, but I know it's only the beginning. It was rather bittersweet, as I am really getting tired these days and it's just hard to make it through the work day sometimes, let alone sing for 3 hours straight. But I will miss singing on a weekly basis, and miss the friends I've made.

Now I'll have to satisify my need to sing in church, and singing to my little guy! Although I think he prefers Bubba's voice to mine, as he definitely kicks more when Bubba sings to him than when I do!

Weird Guy or Super Spy?

There is an older gentleman that Bubba and I see Sunday morning's when we ride the bus to church. We call him Duane Reade Guy. We don't see him every Sunday, but almost. He gets on the bus the stop after we get on, and then always gets off at 70th Street and Broadway. There is a Duane Reade (that's a local drugstore for you non-New Yorkers) at that corner, and he ALWAYS walks over to 'window shop.' Always. He will persue the window display, which is usually non-existant because they just don't put anything in there but pictures, and that's just the beginning of the confusion. He'll walk the entire length of the store, then look in the windows at the closed Northfork Bank next door. This is his standard routine, never waivering, and he even gets very irate if the bus is late. He never goes in the store, just walks along the store-front from one end to the other, pausing to eye some particular ware. But, again, all of the Duane Reade stores recently took all their merchandise out of the store-front and there's just pictures of things you can buy there. So he can't be window shopping if there's nothing in the windows!

Bubba and I always watch him a bit bemused, and then try to figure out what the hell he's doing on a Sunday morning at 9:15, taking the bus from 103rd Street to 70th Street, just to look in the window of a Duane Reade.

• Is he meeting someone? We never see anyone, but granted, we are on the bus that leaves promptly after he gets off, so we don't get to stick around and see what happens.
• Did he use to live there and just likes that Duane Reade? But he never goes in!
• Is he a child-predator and is waiting for the mommies to walk their kids by en-route to the park?
• Does his estranged son/daughter work there and that's the only way he can get a glimpse of them? By staring in the window, pretending to be window-shopping in a window with nothing in it?
• OR, is it a sign/signal that something has happened or is about to? Like in spy novels where the spy gets 'tips' from just someone showing up at a particular time and place. It always reminds me of The Sting: when the 'mark' walks across the street and down the alley, one of the characters is in an apt. across the street and rings the bell to alert everyone else that the 'mark' is on the way.

I think it's this last one, sheerly because it is the more entertaining idea and can lead our imaginations down so many different roads. Who knows? Maybe Duane Reade Guy is really affecting the stock market by appearing when his 'client' needs to buy/sell a particular stock! We could get him for insider trading! Or, or, or, he's working for the Mob! Or he's letting a kidnapper know that he's still around and working on the ransom money! The scenarios are endless! Fine Sunday morning fun for the remaining 10-15 minutes we spend on the bus before we get off ourselves.

Also just proves that the bus is WAY more fun than a taxi!

My sentiments exactly

Bubba has a new post that I wanted everyone to read. Granted, most of you that read MY blog read his as well, but I just wanted to point you in that general direction.

32 Weeks

That's about how long I've been pregnant (well, offically 32 weeks on Friday....so I'm a few days early). 8 months. 2 to go. That's right, pregnancy is, in fact, 10 months. Do the math, people. 40 weeks at 4 weeks per month equals....that's right, 10 months!

We have been busy bees at our house, getting things put together and put away (although we are STILL waiting on the damn crib part!), doing Christmas shopping, wrapping gifts, writing thank you notes. Time is flyin' by, I tell ya! It seems like forever until my last day of work on February 2 (provided, of course, that the Tater makes it that long), but at the same time, it is just around the corner! December is flying by, and I'm hoping January does, too. While I've had an easy pregnancy for the most part, I'm about sick of my wardrobe, it's getting harder and harder for me to get up and around, and I'm ready to get on with it already!

The Tater is doing well, he moves more and more everyday. I'm starting to feel body parts and can tell what side he's laying on, etc. He's got a regular sleep/wake pattern, and he responds by poking/kicking/punching the ever-lovin' crap out of me when I put my headphones down to my belly for him to hear some soothing Mozart at work. I guess it's not so soothing. But, I get the same thing with other music, so maybe he's telling me it's too loud? It's fun watching and feeling him move, though. I'm measuring 2 weeks ahead of schedule, so we'll see what's in store for the next 2 months.

It wasn't meant to be....

My poor Longhorns. We played terrible, though. The Aggies totally deserved to win that game. They out-played us. I realize that most of you who read this blog were rooting for the Ags, and I still love you, but yesterday was a tough loss. Always hard when you lose at home to you arch-rival. And then OU won today, so we're not even in the Big 12 championship! WHY did we have to lose 2 weeks ago to K-State? Why? Ugh, two losses in a row to less-than-stellar teams. What does that make us? Yep, less than stellar, too. It wasn't meant to be.

In other news, we put the crib together before the game, only to discover that the hardware for the drop-side of the crib was not installed properly, we have a wrong part. And we can't do anything about it until Monday, when the 'parts guy' is at work at the store we ordered it from. Boo. So, instead of being done, we are half-way done, but with still all the crap out in our room/living room because we were planning on using the crib as 'storage' for a while. ~sigh~ So much for getting everything organized over the long holiday weekend. It wasn't meant to be.

Oh, and can I tell you how annoying it is to be walking around the West Village on Saturday, think what a great idea it would be to walk over to Magnolia Bakery and get the BEST cupcake in the City, only to find the usual line to be AROUND THE CORNER AND MORE THAN 3 BUILDINGS DOWN FROM THE CORNER! Ugh. Stupid tourists. All this preggo lady wanted was a cupcake at that particular time, since she couldn't just go sit here and have a beer with Bubba, and it was ruined. It wasn't meant to be. I had to settle for a black-and-white milkshake at a diner down the street.

Avoiding the plague like....the Plague

Seems everyone around me is getting a cold. Some of you out there in cyberspace, which I clearly can't catch just from reading your blog (at least, I don't think so), but there are more right here in my line of sight. While I am sorry for you sicklings out there, I am hoping to God that I don't catch the bug. Or the flu, or the Plague, or whatever IT is that's going around.

I blame the weather. It has been nice and balmy here in NYC, and I am enjoying the light-jacket-required weather before the rush of the cold arrives. But the cold-ish weather needs to get here soon and kill whatever allergens or bacteria or whatever so that my sinuses can be happy again! And, I'm just HOT most of the time, thanks to my internal heater. But that's another story. Katielady is ready for the Cold Front.

In the meantime, I'm thinking of getting some police tape and putting it up around my cube so that sick people will stay a good 20 feet away from me.

Pregnancy is Gross

It is a wonderful, beautiful, natural, glorious thing, too. But no one can really prepare you for how gross it really is.

I'm speaking right now of the extreme gasiness I tend to have all the time. Bubba will tell you that the flatulence has increased ten-fold, but that's really just at night, so he's the only one that really experiences it. Lucky him. However, the belching is just terrible! I'll be walking along, minding my own business, talking to Bubba if we're together, or just taking in the City and the fall weather, and little burps will just rise up out of nowhere! Again, I usually reserve my burping and farting to the privacy of my own home (again, poor Bubba....he learned that women really, actually do all these things when he married me), but in the 7th month of my pregnancy, it's starting to be out of my control. Especially the burps, they really do come out of NOWHERE! Then I'm embarrassed because I just burped while carrying on a conference call at work with our client! How un-lady-like of me! The shame of it all!

Other things:
- You also start to grunt and groan a lot more when moving out of a sitting/reclining position.
- Thickening membranes mean your sinuses thicken, too. Hard to breathe, lots more mucus, snotty nose, etc. Grossness.
- Sweating.

- That's all I'm going to list right now, this is a PG blog after all and I know most of you really don't want to know this stuff.