At least the camera is new

Disclaimer:  J and I live in his grandmother's old house.  When I say old, I mean "built back in the stone ages."  We are remodeling, but you will not see our handiwork in any of the pics below.  I am fairly sure that after posting these, I will feel compelled to post before and after pics of the work we have done...

I was not exactly up to being Martha Stewart for Christmas this year.  Maybe when my house is fully renovated and I don't feel like sleeping until June, I will be a little more creative.  Anyway, behold our lovely Christmas decorations....

The front of the house

Our Christmas tree (please note the beautiful Swarovski crystal J at the top), after the gifts had all been opened.

The stockings were hung on the deer antlers with care (please again, note the disclaimer... and yes, I know that technically we could take it down, but the walls are discolored from it being there for so long)

My nutcracker

Okay, I didn't go all out this year, but at least I did something, right?  And there are a few other decorative pieces around the house, but I didn't feel like taking pictures of everything.  Alright, that is not true.  I did feel like taking pictures.  Just not of Christmas decorations...

Duke's first Christmas

Helping open his present

Loving his new rabbit baby

::haven't you had quite enough yet?::

::I give up::

So there you have it.  Christmas madness at my house.  I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday! 

As you may have noticed

I've made some changes to the blog.  Yay!  It was boring me.  No doubt, it is probably boring you, as well.  The least I could do was make it (somewhat) pretty.

See, here is the bottom line.  I am not funny.  I am not particularly witty, either.  However, I- as most other people on the planet- seem to think that people want to hear what I have to say.  Because my life is so fascinating, right? 

Therefore, I will continue to write these random things that come into my head.  Oh, I will try to post more pictures.  At least that will give you something to look at.

I am very open to opinions, suggestions, whatever you may like to throw my way, as far as the blog (it is highly unlikely that I will listen to anything else... no, I kid). 

Hell, while we are here, I may as well tell you a cute story.  J is an avid fan of classic rock.  I listen to pretty much anything.  Needless to say, I was a wee bit surprised the other day when he changed it to the pop station.  I gave him a look of whatthehell, and he responds that he should get in the loop now because he wants to be a cool dad.  Collectively we all say, "AWWWWWWWWWW!"  Right?  Isn't that the cutest?  Damn right it is.

Stay tuned for some Christmas pics!  I have some time off, no school, and I vow to catch up.  I can practically see the excitement on your faces.  It makes me pleased, thankyouverymuch.

I am having a love affair...

With spinach hummus.  Yes, you read it right.  I dip a hard, crispy bagel chip (of the Everything variety) into the creamy goodness that is spinach hummus, and savor every last morsel.  This may actually end my love affair with chocolate... okay, probably not, but it will be a healthy alternative for snacking.

Last night, I ate two hot brownies covered in ice cream and magic shell. 

Ho, ho, ho and a bottle of Champagne

That I can't drink, obviously.  Wine is the thing I've missed most while being pregnant.  And God knows there have been days where I desperately needed it.  Wine and not being able to fit in my size 4 pants anymore ::sigh::  I'm not complaining, seriously.  It is kind of exciting that I can't fit in the same pants that I was wearing just last week. 

Anyway, so one of our vendors brought us bottles of champagne today.  It was the best thing that has happened to me at work in the past two weeks, and I can't even enjoy it.  Meh.  Whatever.  I have more important things on my mind today.  Like growing a set of balls.  Seriously.

Last year, our regional manager* let her office staff go home after a half day the day before Christmas Eve.  She called our office and said that everyone could go, except for one person.  So my (ex)friend and I had to choose which one of us would stay and which would go.  We both volunteered, but since it was techinically her property she said she would stay.  I felt so guilty that I stayed for another two hours, then said that I would take this Christmas if we were given the option to go home early again. 

So here we are, a few days before Christmas.  My job situation is quickly deteriorating, and I've lost a friend because of it.  And I'm pretty damn sure that because we are at least on speaking terms, she is going to expect me to stay.  Now since I haven't blogged the long boring story, let's just put it this way- in the four years that I've worked here, I've never been written up or given a bad review.  I've had both in the past two weeks, as well as the demotion and pay cut.  Funny how it all happened right around the time I told them I was pregnant.  But I won't go there for now, since it isn't really relevant to this story.

My initial reaction is "screw you, your raise, and your Christmas plans."  The day of, I will probably hang my head and agree to stay.  Because I am weak, and I am a sucker, and even though I am one hell of a bitch, I just can't be overtly mean to someone.  To which my husband replies:

"Tell that bitch all prior acts and agreements of friendship are null and void after she stabbed you in the back."

I love that man.  And since I know he would give me the sun, moon, and the stars if I wanted, I asked "May I borrow your balls?  Promise I will return them."

Although I gave it up willingly, a glass of champagne would be lovely right now.  And if anyone has any suggestions on what I should do (suck it up and stay, tell her to kiss my ever-widening ass), please feel free to enlighten me!

*Just thought I should mention that my regional is an extremely miserable person.  She is pathetic, really.  The only reason I refrain from calling her a bitch is because that would imply a certain level of intelligence, which I do not believe she is in possession of.  She stays late at work everyday because her husband is a fucktard and they don't like each other.  Oh, and she has no style and bad (as if there were good) 80's hair. 

Welcome to 2nd Tri!

Being in my second trimester seems like such a huge step.  Other than not being so ridiculously exhausted and hungry all the time, I really don't feel much different.  I guess first trimester was mostly uneventful, and that is a good thing.

I've decided that I will start posting a Pregnancy Quiz every once in a while.  Not every week.  So, here goes...

• How far along?: 13 weeks.

• Total weight gain: Holding steady at 8 lbs. What can I say, I was constantly starving for the first two months.

• How big is baby?: the size of a peach

• Maternity clothes?: Just my Bella Band.

• Stretch marks?: Nope.

• Sleep?: Sleeping like the dead, going to the bathroom a couple of times, dozing from about 4 to 6am, then not being able to drag myself out of bed until about 6:20.

• Best moment this week?: Seeing the baby on our surprise ultrasound. He kicked me! I wish I could have felt it.

• Movement?: Not feeling anything, but the u/s showed a very squirmy baby!

• Food cravings?: Carbs and anything sweet. 

• Gender?: I’m thinking boy. J called the baby a “she” twice on accident the other night.

• Labor signs?: Nope.

• Belly button in or out?: In

• What I miss: Red wine. I actually stuck my nose in a friend’s glass last night just to be able to smell it.

• What I'm looking forward to: Telling our friends from my hometown on Christmas Eve!

• Milestone: Moving up to second tri and picked our day care this morning.

• Weekly Wisdom: When everything in life is stressing you out, just remember that nothing else is worth the health of your baby. That will straighten your ass out quick.

As I mentioned, J and I picked a day care!  We went to take a tour this morning.  It very nice, and VERY clean.  The lady who owns it is wonderful, and the children all seem so happy.  I thought we would have a harder time, but it was so much fun.  Now if only I could figure out a way to take my baby to day care and yet not have to actually leave him there....  ::sigh::

First Trimester- Things I Hope I Always Remember

Forgive me, but this was kinda-sorta stolen from someone else's blog.  It was just so nice that I couldn't resist.

Things I Hope I Always Remember


1.  The nervousness and excitement that I felt the morning I saw the word "Pregnant" pop up on that Clear Blue Easy test.


2.  The way J laughed and hugged me when I told him he was going to be a Daddy.


3.  How hungry I was for the first few weeks- I'm not sure I have ever or will ever feel that way again!


4.  How good those absolutely-exhausted-sleep-like-the-dead naps felt.


5.  J stopping at five different fast food restaurants on the way home from Clemson at 10:00 in the morning because I HAD to have french fries and no one was serving lunch yet.


6.  Seeing my baby on the ultrasound for the first time.  It is a feeling that can still bring tears to my eyes.

7.  Telling our friends and family and enjoying the looks of shock and awe and pure joy.


8.  My Daddy questioning me about what I could eat, not letting me carry my own bags upstairs (even thought I was only 6 weeks), and calling my Mama while we were shopping to make sure I had eaten.


9.  J calling to tell me that HE had called and found us a day care.  He was so proud of himself, and I knew in that moment that he was a Daddy, and a damn good one.


10.  The sheer terror of not being able to find the baby's heartbeat and then the elation and relief of seeing it wiggle and kick away on the ultrasound monitor.

Introducing... Baby Jacks!

My sweet little squirmy baby...

J and I went today for our second appointment.  We had to wait forever, but it was totally worth it.

Right off the bat we had to sign paperwork agreeing to what we would be paying the doc's office. It wasn't too bad, but if I lose my job we are screwed because my deductible will go from $2000 to $5000 (because it would be me and J on his plan).
Anyway, my doc was running late because she had an emergency at the hospital.  When she did come in she gave me a lecture, a nice one, on the immediate need to eliminate stress. I didn't mention this before because I wasn't sure what it was, but she thinks that (based on my description) I have experienced a couple of contractions. This is obviously not good at 13 weeks. She asked if I wanted medication to deal with my anxiety, but I turned it down. She asked if there was anything she could do and even mentioned me quitting my job, which I don't think is going to be an option. Of course, I cried through most of this conversation. Not sobbing, but just teary-ish.
She then brought in the doppler to hear the baby's heartbeat. She told me that because of the position she may not be able to find it, and not to stress over it. Haha. When she couldn't find it, the waterworks started again. The battery in the doppler started dying so she said screw it, let's do an ultrasound.
I was really scared, but at the same time knew it was somewhat normal. The tech found the baby right away and the first thing he did was kick the shit out of me. J and I both laughed, and I immediately felt better. And, you guessed it, I cried again.  The baby wouldn't stop wiggling, and the tech said it was no wonder the doc couldn't find the heartbeat!
 
So there you have it.  My baby is  happy and active!  And I could not be happier... or less stressed.