Wednesday, January 09, 2008

And that's how I knew.

Inspired by this post at Swistle.

We've been married since November of 1999, and together for a bit over four year before that. While we knew we'd like to have kids someday, we held off adding children to our family because, well, we were really young, poor, and nowhere near being done with school. I was on birth control pills for a looooong time.

When Levi finished with grad school and got the big grown up Ph.D job, we decided that we could finally start to try. We moved to New Jersey at the end of 2006, and I ran out of my stash of pills in January. It was official. We were "trying" to have a baby. For months after, I was hyper aware of when my period was supposed to arrive and trying not to read too much into any symptom I might be having. But, of course I did get my hopes up over and over. It was a difficult time for me. I'm not of "advanced maternal age," but I was 28 so I worried a little.

But, enough about that.

From November 2006 to December 2007, we only had one car. I drove Levi to work every morning, and then turned around to go home. I'd finish my morning routine and then go to my office. Most of the time, I drove because it was faster to boot him out and head home. In the evenings, I'd move to the passenger side. If the book I had with me was good, I'd read on the way home. I tend to get carsick, but not if I'm in the front seat or reading.

But, anyway, one weekday afternoon, I had him drive home. It was awful. I was totally nauseous the entire 40 minutes home. That day, I attributed it to Levi's driving. My boobs were *killing* me, too, but my period was due soon and that was normal.

A few days later, on Friday, I bought a pack of three stick tests. I took one and got a weird error. It was kind of, maybe, a little early to test. My last period was kind of funny, and I thought this one might be, too. I decided to wait a few more days before testing again, just in case.

On Sunday, I decided that I wanted to reread the last Harry Potter book before the new one came on on 7/21. I didn't finish on Sunday, and decided to ride and read while Levi drove to work Monday morning. Then, I'd drive myself home like normal. At the time, the drive to his office was about 20 minutes. By the time we got to his office, I felt awful. It was happening again! And I continued to feel sick all the way home.

I had planned to test again that morning, but Monday's are never easy for me, and I'd been too sleepy when I got up. Tuesday (7/18), I remembered to test and it came up pregnant almost immediately! I stared at it... hyperventilated for a minute and then yelled for Levi. Our bathroom was at the back of the house and he was asleep in the closed front bedroom -- shut in with a noisy window unit air conditioner and fan. He didn't hear me.

So, I took my shower and then put the test on the kitchen counter for him to see when he got up to make coffee. He finally stumbled into the kitchen. It took a minute for him to figure out what test was, but then he ran into the bathroom (I was still working on my washing my face and putting my contacts in) and hugged me. :)

Going by the first day of my last period, my due date is supposed to be around 3/15/08.

Monday, January 07, 2008

Goals for 2008

In no particular order:
  • Love the special time I have left with my husband before the baby is born. We've been together for over 12 years now and I am lucky to have found my love in my best friend. Our little super-duo is awesome.
  • Thank my husband for all of the sweet every day things he does for me.
  • Write here more about the good things we do and experience.
  • Get outside my head more often. I'm very much the introvert and live inside the bubble of my own little world most of the time. This has been really bad since moving to NJ and now PA. Not having my friends right there for me has let me shut down a lot.
  • Stay in better contact with my family. I'm awful about this, and I know it's part of the getting stuck in my own head problem.
  • Clean off my desk and keep it neat. Really, this shouldn't be so hard.
  • Clean the dust off of stuff regularly. I'm really allergic, so it's pretty stupid that I don't do this already. And it's gross.
  • Get my hair to grow out another 6 inches at least before deciding to cut it all off again.
  • Exercise every now and again. Dancing around the bathroom when I'm getting ready in the morning or for bed totally counts.
  • Enjoy my life. I really do have a good one.

So, let's review.

I really really suck at keeping up with my blog. Really. And most of it's a pretty boring blog to reread now that I'm playing with it tonight. So, why am I here? Specifically, I got on this evening to see what I wrote at the beginning of 2007 with regard to resolutions/life changes. Let's see what I wanted to accomplish...

******

It seems that mostly I wanted to read more-smarter-grown-up-stuff. Heh. Looking over the big 2007 book list, it seems that I did okay on classics (went on a bit of a Jane Austen and JA spin-off kick), but didn't manage to learn much of anything other than some travel do and don'ts, and that I really wouldn't have liked law school.

Since I'm planning on popping a kid out in 10 weeks or so, and I have a bunch of baby books on the way, I think I'll do okay on any new "learning" goal for 2008. I suspect that I won't finish 80 books again any year soon, though.

******

I didn't post many details about my weight loss, but I started the 6 Week Body Makeover on January 22nd. Over the next 10 weeks, I lost 27 pounds. I also lost 32 inches (in total) from my neck, shoulders, chest, biceps, forearms, waist, hips, thighs and calves. I think I went from a 1 or 2x on top down to a L or XL. And on bottom, I went from a 20/22 to a pretty comfy 16. Then, while I didn't go off the plan completely, I switched to more of a maintenance mode.

Most of my weightloss came from simply changing my diet. I found the eating plan for my type (B) really easy to follow once I got used to measuring everything out. After those 10 weeks, I still followed the eating plan for the most part, but didn't worry if I treated myself to desserts not on the plan, or if we felt like eating out. And I really did maintain the loss -- fluctuating up and then back down a few pounds, but I don't know anyone who doesn't do that.

I didn't do well on the exercise part of the plan. Let's just leave it at that.

Since July, when I found out that I was pregnant, all "diet" type plan went out the window. I haven't been weighing myself and my doctors never give me the number. I plan to start the makeover plan again after the baby comes and we (fingers crossed!) get into a more regular routine. Hopefully, there will be some exercise added to things, too. Maybe.

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Books read in 2007.

  1. Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein
  2. Emma by Jane Austen
  3. Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood (Sisterhood of Traveling Pants) by Ann Brashares
  4. Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos
  5. Crazy for You by Jennifer Crusie
  6. The Snake, the Crocodile & the Dog by Elizabeth Peters
  7. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
  8. Pretties (Uglies Trilogy, Book 2) by Scott Westerfeld
  9. The Hippopotamus Pool by Elizabeth Peters
  10. Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife: Pride and Prejudice Continues by Linda Berdoll
  11. Polymorph by Scott Westerfeld
  12. My Last Movie Star by Martha Sherrill
  13. Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson
  14. If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend by Alison Pace
  15. Amanda Bright@home by Danielle Crittenden
  16. Sometimes I Dream in Italian by Rita Ciresi
  17. The Center of Everything by Laura Moriarty
  18. Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik
  19. Wonder When You'll Miss Me by Amanda Davis
  20. March by Geraldine Brooks
  21. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien
  22. Sand in My Bra and Other Misadventures by Jennifer L. Leo
  23. The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Brady Udall
  24. Ivy Briefs by Martha Kimes
  25. Shopaholic & Sister by Sophie Kinsella
  26. Pug Hill by Alison Pace
  27. Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
  28. The Woven Path by Robin Jarvis
  29. Seeing a Large Cat by Elizabeth Peters
  30. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
  31. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
  32. The Raven's Knot by Robin Jarvis
  33. The Myth of You and Me by Leah Stewart
  34. Outlander* by Diana Gabaldon
  35. The Ape Who Guards the Balance by Elizabeth Peters
  36. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
  37. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince* by J.K. Rowling
  38. And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander
  39. No Touch Monkey! by Ayun Halliday
  40. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
  41. The Falcon at the Portal by Elizabeth Peters
  42. The Water Mirror (Dark Reflections Book 1) by Kai Miller
  43. He Shall Thunder in the Sky by Elizabeth Peters
  44. Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson
  45. The Girl in the Glass by Jeffrey Ford
  46. Undead and Unpopular by Mary Alice Davidson
  47. The Exploits & Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy by Elizabeth Aston
  48. The Prophecy of the Stones by Flavia Bujor
  49. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
  50. Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card
  51. Xenocide by Orson Scott Card
  52. Children of the Mind by Orson Scott Card
  53. Behaving Like Adults by Anna Maxted
  54. The Fatal Strand by Robin Jarvis
  55. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
  56. But Enough About Me by Jancee Dunn
  57. Lord of the Silent by Elizabeth Peters
  58. The Golden One by Elizabeth Peters
  59. Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner
  60. Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes
  61. Shopaholic & Baby by Sophie Kinsella
  62. Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir
  63. An Idiot Girl's Christmas by Laurie Notaro
  64. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
  65. The Ghost at the Table by Suzanne Berne
  66. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
  67. Once Upon a Day by Lisa Tucker
  68. Children of the Storm by Elizabeth Peters
  69. Guardian of the Horizon by Elizabeth Peters
  70. Being Committed by Anna Maxted
  71. A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
  72. Devil in the Details : Scenes from an Obsessive Girlhood by Jennifer Traig
  73. The Golden Compass* by Philip Pullman
  74. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
  75. The Subtle Knife* by Philip Pullman
  76. The Speed of Dark** by Elizabeth Moon
  77. Confessions of a Shopaholic* ** by Sophie Kinsella
  78. The Amber Spyglass* by Philip Pullman
  79. Hogfather* by Terry Pratchett
  80. Lamb by Christopher Moore

*Re-read
**Audio book

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Note to self -

Take produce number sticker off of apple (mmm, honeycrisp) before chomping into morning snack.

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Yeah, I was cool over ten years ago.

I got a link to Sticars.com from Daily Candy. They sell cool magnets that you can stick on your car to give it personality.

I did the same thing, but with real, well, sticky stickers when I was in high school. I drove a baby blue '89 Plymouth Horizon that had a lot of personality issues, but was very cute and spunky looking after being decorated with a couple of big 70s style daisy stickers. I had a big foot wide one on the hood -- placed off to the side near the shield like a beauty mark, and another on the gas tank.

It wasn't overdone, and people smiled when I drove by (unlesss there was something noxious leaking from the car). I lived in a fairly small town back then, and all the kids at my school(s) and at our local concerts recognized the car as mine.

I don't know how much personality one can give a small SUV, but I'm thinking about trying.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Okay, so a lot has happened...

Since I last (more or less) posted...


  1. My husband was in an accident (he was fine, just scared of my wrath ;>) that ended up totalling my pretty purple Mustang. ::sigh:: I'm just about over crying whenever I think about it.
  2. In between wrecking the car and buying a new one, we had a rental and then a loaner from Levi's boss. Yeah, that was awesome.
  3. So, we had to buy a new car. Now, I'm driving a Subaru Forester. It's green and looks just like every other car in New Jersey.
  4. Levi turned 28 & I turned 29. We celebrated by going into NYC for a day, wandering about Central Park, sharing carrot cake cheesecake, and seeing the matinee of Avenue Q. It was hilarious and we had a great day.
  5. I totally got knocked up. That's probably the most interesting thing that happened.

Monday, May 21, 2007

I'm famous!

Okay, so maybe not really, but my friend Martha really is, and I'm on her blog. Thank you, Martha, for not putting up any of the really unflattering pics Levi took of me.

Monday, May 07, 2007

All spotty. Again.

Went to the allergist today. Was ambushed w/skin test pricker things. Am now spotty and loopy.

They didn't warn me about getting actual testing done today, so I'd taken my normal OTC meds. My allergies are so wicked cool that I got all spotty and itchy, anyway.

Have lungs of 20 year old. Am very close to 29. Take that social smoking!

And I get to go back in two weeks for more testing w/out meds. The fun never ends around here!

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Free Hugs!

We just got home from the Westfield Spring Fling, and there were kids there doing the Free Hugs thing. I got a hug from a cute little red head punky boy. :)

So... I had a lot of food. Levi and I split a grilled cheese sandwich made w/cornbread pancake looking things, a really good cupcake from Bovella's Pastry Shoppe, fried Oreos (kind of gross), and shrimp on a stick (yum). Levi also had a pulled pork sandwich that looked a bit stomach turning. It was getting pretty hot and crowded by the time we left, so we ran through Starbucks for a couple of cold drinks.

Oh! And I got to try on some of the Masai Barefoot Technology shoes at Scott's. I'm going to get some as soon as I decide which style/color I like best.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Rassinfrassin Shopping

So, I had a WHOLE HALF HOUR to spend shopping by myself tonight before I had to pick Levi up. I've been wanting to at least get a new shirt or two so I look cute this weekend, so I decided to go to Kohls (20% off coupon!) and look around.

My credit cards have been living in my freezer and after about five minutes away from my house, I realized that I didn't have my Kohl's charge in my wallet. You can't get the discount w/out the card. So, I had to turn around and go home. That didn't take long and I got to the store pretty fast.

I found three 1X tops that I liked in the fat lady section and on XL summer sweater in the misses section. And one pair of gray dress pants in 16W (fat lady section), because my 20s died a long time ago and I've been wearing black everyday. Which is depressing and limits what tops I can wear to work. But, anyway.

The good news? The 1X shirts were all too big. And the pants were okay, but not the right cut for me. But the regular sized person XL fit funny, too. So, I didn't get any of it.

I couldn't even find any earrings or a purse that I liked.

I suspect that I'm deformed. I know I'm lacking in cute new accessories.

Monday, April 09, 2007

I'm an addict...

I'm an addict to, specifically, Whoppers (the malted milk ball kind, not the BK variety) and Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs.

Easter is mean.

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

I just want to note...

That getting your period when off the pill is very different from getting your period while on the pill.

And that's all I'm going to say about that.

Friday, March 30, 2007

10 Things You Might Not Know / Who Wants to Play Tag?

Via: http://alisonpace.typepad.com/

  1. I read a lot. I'm actually reading an Alison Pace book right now.
  2. I love to draw, but haven't in months.
  3. I had a craniectomy when I was six months old. My scar runs from the top of my head to my right ear. My head feels weird and I love to make people touch it.
  4. I'm constantly injuring myself. Last night, I dropped a window on the top of my head. On the bit in front of my scar, actually. I cried when my husband laughed at me for standing there with the window resting on my head. It still hurts.
  5. I never wear opened toe shoes because I have an irrational fear of something happening to my toes.
  6. My right leg is shorter than my left. When I was younger, I had a heel lift to put in my shoe. I have no idea where that thing is now, though.
  7. I think my right boob is bigger than my left, though. Odd, that.
  8. I have scoliosis and really should have that checked out because it's getting noticeable. It's been well over 10 years since I've had treatment.
  9. I married my high school sweetheart. In November, we'll have been together for 12 years -- married for 8.
  10. I tell my husband that I want our future kids to have green eyes like me, but I secretly hope for at least one dark brown eyed baby.

If you have a blog and you’ve just read this, you have to go write ten things about yourself on your blog. Yes, really, you’re it.

Otters holding hands...

Oh, the cuteness.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Gift giving is also hard...

Gift giving is also hard when you're trying not to shop.

My father's birthday was February 23rd. For Christmas, I gave him two nice sweaters and a giftcard for Sam's Club. Oh, and a tin of handmade chocolate dipped Oreos. And was whined at because the gift didn't live up to his expectations. Usually, I buy my dad something weird or fancy. Last Christmas, though, we had just moved to New Jersey, I didn't have a job, and I didn't even have a car most of the time.

And did I mention that my mother was visiting when he called to say thanks and whine at me? Like I wasn't already stressed enough...

Because of these high expectations, I'd been looking for months trying to figure out what to send him. Nothing seemed right. Or something seemed really cool, but was about 10 times my budget. It was a pisser.

Finally, I decided to just send a big box of handmade treats. I figure I can try again on Father's Day.

I ended up sending Man-Catcher Brownies. And OMG, they are the best damn brownie ever. The day he received the box, he called and said, "Did you make these!?!" No hello or how are you, just, "Did you make these!?!"

I think they were a hit.

::Sigh::

Another thing that I've been working on is my shopaholic tendencies.

I am really really sad right now, because Lucky Accessories is running a 30% off everything on their site w/code Spring07. I have the woodland peapod necklace and earrings and they're absolutely gorgeous.

Wouldn't one of the reminder necklaces w/the word "spark" look totally awesome?

Shopping w/out buying sucks.

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
Chauncey Olcott and George Graff, Jr.

There's a tear in your eye,
And I'm wondering why,
For it never should be there at all.
With such pow'r in your smile,
Sure a stone you'd beguile,
So there's never a teardrop should fall.
When your sweet lilting laughter's
Like some fairy song,
And your eyes twinkle bright as can be;
You should laugh all the while
And all other times smile,
And now, smile a smile for me.

When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.

For your smile is a part
Of the love in your heart,
And it makes even sunshine more bright.
Like the linnet's sweet song,
Crooning all the day long,
Comes your laughter and light.
For the springtime of life
Is the sweetest of all
There is ne'er a real care or regret;
And while springtime is ours
Throughout all of youth's hours,
Let us smile each chance we get.

When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.

Monday, March 12, 2007

A great big year of great big change.

I guess you could say that this is the year I'm going to grow up. A little. :)

There's been a lot of stuff I've wanted to change in my life, but never really had the will, nerve, or whatever it takes to actually follow through. This year, though, I've decided that it's finally time. There are a lot of little things that need to be fixed, but right now I'm focusing on two big things. The first is my health.

I decided that I'm tired of being overweight. In no particular order:

I'm tired of hurting my body. Looking at my stretchmarks makes me feel so stupid. I'm tired of feeling and looking so much older than my cute girlfriends. (Okay, so that one is stemming from jealousy.) I'm tired of shopping in the plus sized old lady section. I'm not even 30, but I've been a plus for a loooong time. I'm tired of having to buy mens L or XL shirts.

I want a baby. I want to be stong and healthy when carrying little him or her. I want to be able to buy maternity clothes that aren't enormous. I want my belly to actually be baby. It would be nice to take pics that don't have the gross frontal waist dent that I'm sporting now. I want to be able to chase that kid and not have people think, "Wow, she moves pretty quick for a fat girl."

I want to go out with my sister and feel fabulous instead of frumpy. She's so gorgeous and smart. I'm completely in awe of the woman she's grown up to be.

When I was in high school, a friend told me I move like a ballerina. I was 17 and that's stuck with me. I want to feel that easy confidence again.

I've worked so hard for so long at being quiet and hidden. I've had enough of that.

Weight/Inches Lost

As of 3/12/07:
23 pounds
28 inches