I Just Stepped Out For A Bit...

Well, folks, I’m back. Again. It’s been a long couple of months with lots to process. I don’t really feel like going into the gory details of everything that’s been going on. I don’t really want to drain you that way.

On the baby front, things are great: most of the things I used to like, I like again; the nausea has been gone for about 8 weeks; and….I had my ultrasound on Tuesday.

I saw the evidence before the tech even had the chance to say, “Looks like you’re having another boy!”

I cried.
I cried in front of the ultrasound technician.
I cried in front of the OB Nurse.
I cried in front of my OB.
I cried when I called my mom to tell her.
I teared up twice at work when talking to co-workers about it.
I cried Wednesday morning.

This is not to say that my experience with Mini hasn’t been everything I could have asked for. He’s the best kid in the world. Hands down. But, I wanted a little girl, I’ll be honest. People like to give a neutral response when asked if they have a preference (FYI – they’re lying!). I never hid the fact that I wanted a girl.

Why? Because when Hubby is in the floor making vrrrrrrooooooom and/or explosion noises with Mini, it comes easily for him. When I’m playing with Mini, I’m thinking…. “What the heck am I supposed to do with THIS?”

Selfishly, I wanted a girl. I wanted a girl to put dresses on. And big bows on her head. To plays dolls with. Because I know what the heck I’m supposed to do with THAT.

I feel like there is a little girl that I’m supposed to have, and the fact that I’m not having her now (maybe never?), is really difficult. Hubby put it into words perfectly. He told me that I need to stop feeling guilty, that the sadness I feel over not having a girl is completely separate from this little boy that I AM having. And it’s true. But, I’m still sad that I feel guilty over feeling sad.

Unselfishly, I know it’s probably best that this is a boy. I know I’d go overboard with a girl and Mini’s perspective would be that I had a favorite. And, it’s not like this is the end of the road as far as kids are concerned. b but I’m not getting any younger and, let’s face it, just because we go for a third doesn’t mean it will be a girl then either.

Yes, I know how self absorbed this is. I know that there are people who no longer have children that were born to them, and people who can’t have children of their own. THIS momma is still getting used to the idea of another boy. I’m not the first person to ever cry over it. Nor will I be the last.

Is it really Christmas?

Busy times have equaled less than normal holiday cheer for little ole me. Anybody else having this problem?

Hubby just had his wisdom teeth out. It’s been a long three weeks since he first found out he needed this done. You would have thought he’d been told he was having open heart surgery. That walk into the dentist on Wednesday… sheesh. Like he was walking The Green Mile. Seems to be recovering quite nicely, though, and is taking it much better than I would have expected from him given his propensity for drama.

I found out on 12/11 that my official due date is June 27. This is perfect. I’ll squeeze the little booger out before the heat of the summer really kicks in. I was pregnant with Mini over summer 2006 and, like 95% of the homes in the NW, our house at the time did not have A/C. It was miserable. And considering our current house also is without A/C, the thought of NOT being pregnant in July and August is most appealing. Next big step – finding out the sex. Let’s all cross our fingers it’s a girl. Pray, do chants, fast, whatever you do…DO IT.

Finished up (sort of) some Christmas shopping today. By finished up, I mean that I bought all of the gifts I need to send back to Oklahoma. (Everything else can wait until the last minute, right?) I went a couple of places and didn’t have any luck, so I headed to my old stand-by: Ross. I got my nephew an Izod Windbreaker and a really awesome Nike shirt and my niece three shirts all for around $40. The windbreaker alone was originally $70! I rock the Christmas shopping.

What I don’t rock so much at? The details.

I thought I was sooooooo smart because I managed to bring a box from home to ship all my gifts in. After I finished up my shopping, I came back to the office to get my box. I put everything in the box, be-bopped over to the UPS Store, plopped down my $17 to get it there by the 23rd, came back to my desk….and discovered one of my nephew’s shirts and my niece’s birthday present (her birthday may or may not have been back in September) sitting in the floor.

I’m an idiot.

I'm hungry.

Here are things that I currently love:

1. French Fries with Mayonnaise. (I might have mentioned this the other day)
2. Taco Bell – not the Fresco menu which I usually can’t get enough of. Nope, it’s all about the Steak Quesadilla and the Double Decker Taco. If I could get them to replace the beans on the DDT with cheese, I would be in heaven. Next time, I will ask.
3. Burger King, Burgerville, McD’s. Yum. Yummy, yum, yum, yum.
4. Chips and salsa and Mexican Food in general.
5. Hummus.
6. Red Robin Cheeseburgers.
7. Anything chocolatey.
8. Iced Tea. Lots of Iced Tea.
9. Regular Coke. (Whattheheck?)
10. Milk (Whattheheck?)

Here are things that I am not currently loving:
1. Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, any Diet sodas in general. The thought makes me gag.
2. Bananas. Typically a staple of my diet, I currently have to choke the suckers down.
3. Broccoli. The smell kills me.
4. Spearmint gum. The taste kills me.
5. Chicken breast. Gag.
6. Cold sandwiches on regular or wheat bread.
7. Sun Chips.
8. Tomato Swiss Bisque (formerly my favorite soup)
9. Hearing people (i.e. Hubby) belch.
10. Flintstone Vitamins

All of this equals one thing and one thing only.

Introducing my uterus, and forthcoming second child, to the world. You were warned.

Oh, JHo

This morning when I heard the news about JLo’s big fall, I was so disappointed that I hadn’t watched the AMAs. Fortunately, I didn’t miss anything because they tried to dupe us West Coasters. Seriously, why edit it out? It’s not like it wasn’t going to go viral the instant that it happened.

I wouldn’t call myself a hater of JLo, but she is symbolic of much that is wrong with our world. She’s a mediocre actress (though I can admit to owning copies of both The Wedding Planner and Maid in Manhattan), mediocre dancer and even more mediocre singer, but is widely regarding as a “Triple Threat.” More like a Triple I-Could-Do-Just-As-Well-As-Her. And to add insult to injury, she’s to blame for the media and our culture in general for identifying celebrities by their first initial and the first syllable for their last name. I HATE THAT. Almost as much as I hate the use of “T” instead of t-shirt, “cardi” in place of cardigan, and “cami” instead of camisole.

That said, I was most excited to see the video of her busting it at the AMAs. I was really looking for a good laugh. Much to my dismay, I didn’t find it!!! I don’t want to give the chick too much credit - let’s be honest, her rear is so fluffy that she might just naturally bounce back up like that ANY time she falls. But that woman jumped right back up and went on with the show. I actually think she started performing better after the fall. She bounced back (pun intended) pretty well.

I tried to laugh and find joy in what happened. I watched minute 2:44 three times for crying out loud to try and get a cheap laugh, but it didn’t work. I hate to admit it, but I was mildly impressed. I may actually have to….gasp!.... LIKE her now.

That Which Does Not Kill Me...

I have been jonesing for French Fries all week, so today I finally gave in and went to the café in my building. I was contemplating how sad I would look if I asked the guy behind the counter if I could have some ranch dressing to go with it and decided I’d just settle for grabbing some ketchup packets on the way out. I mean, OBVIOUSLY, tomatoes are healthier on my french fries than ranch dressing. But, to my pleasant surprise, when I reached the condiment counter I found something far, far better than ranch. Mayonnaise.

Not Miracle Whip (gag!), not low fat, not “made with olive oil.” That stuff is all fine and well when it comes to making sandwiches. But if we’re talking fries, we gotta be talking Kraft REAL Mayo. And it’s at its peak if it can be squeezed, at room temperature, out of a little packet. Buttery, creamy, mayo-y goodness.

I refuse to be judged for loving heart attack sticks dipped in cholesterol, so we just won’t be going there, folks.

You know you’ve got it bad for something when you actually write about it. Those french fries were the highlight of my week.

Long lost me.

What? What is this? A new post? Why yes it is! I’ve been away from the blogging world for ages it seems. I’ve spent a few days casually catching up on the goings-on in the lives of people I don’t really know (well, some of you anyway!) and realized how much I’ve missed posting silly stories, rants and what-not myself. It’s a catharsis I have been lacking!

I don’t really know that I have anything to say today, so a list may be appropriate.

1. I am so into “V”. It’s not the same as the one from my childhood – the one that had Marc Singer in it (when I was a kid, I thought he was so cute. Him and Buck Rogers.) It just has a different feel, but oh-so-good regardless.
2. I have had all manner of work-neighbors (anyone remember Farty McFarterson?). I am now exposed to someone who uses the word “fabulous” to annoying excess. This is painful.
3. As much as I hate to admit it, I am excited about New Moon. Probably because of Taylor Lautner. He’s a cutie. Okay, he’s more than “cute”, but I just can’t bring myself to go there. It just feels wrong.
4. Something in Mini’s psychological make-up has predisposed him to rooting for the villain. He is fascinated by Zurg (and, I believe, roots for him over Buzz Lightyear) and has recently developed an affinity for Darth Vader. I’m not concerned. Yet.
5. I’m really, really super-duper ready for Christmas. I can’t wait to decorate!
6. Speaking of decorating, after living in our house for a year and 8 months, I have finally tackled the second upstairs bathroom. Let’s get one thing straight – wallpaper is rarely a good or successful idea. Keep this in mind for any possible future owners of your home, who like myself, will spend an entire weekend taking down that weird fleshy pink crap that got glued up.
7. I just had Macaroni Grill. I desperately need a nap. Connection? (probably not)
8. I just had Macaroni Grill. I have a stomach ache. Connection? (probably)
9. Will I ever learn NOT to go to Macaroni Grill? (probably not)

I think that is all for now…

Love is a Battlefield

....And marriage is the hostage negotiation meeting.

Hubby informed me the other evening that he plans to stop farting so much. He said he just doesn't want me to think he's a caveman anymore. Which is nice.

This morning I came to him with a counteroffer. He can keep the farting, if we (and by "we," I'm referring to him) can be more careful about the use of cuss words in front of the Mini. I had a dream last night that Mini and I were on a walk in our neighborhood and he kept saying, "That bitch! That bitch! That bitch!"

I don't want that to happen in real life, except with the F-bomb somehow in play.