Ankles: What the hey?

We went to a concert last night.

Great music.

Lots of standing.

Lots.

During this pregnancy, my ankles and feet have stayed REALLY close to regular size. Surprisingly.

Then this week, they decided to start to swell a bit here and there. Then last night, post-concert they looked like this:

Please notice how my knees are "normal". Then my ankles are like twice the size. That is exactly what it looked like. My shoes BARELY came off. With a bit of Pam. And a bit of tugging.

Pregnancy PERKS

There are a few perks to being pregnant.

I read in a magazine that one lady told her husband that the smell of dishwashing detergent made her sick while she was pregnant, so she couldn't do the dishes. I haven't gone that far.

A few perks:

• Everyone thinks you look cute, even though you resemble a whale


• You can wear the same clothes in a week, because everyone understands that you just don't want to buy that many prego clothes


• People look at you and smile


• Sometimes they hold the door for you, or carry heavy things for you, or offer you a chair, or water. Only offer you water, and no one else in your group. Ahh the joy!

But the best perk? Chili's Salsa.

After swimming class, sometimes I cruise by Chili's and get some chips and salsa. I don't know where else you can get a bag of chips and some salsa for $2.99. Plus, I LOVE the stuff. I just get it to go and then pig out. A few times that I have called, I have asked for extra salsa, and said "it's because I am pregnant and I LOVE it. I will even pay more for extra salsa". They usually just give me an extra tub or two.

On Monday when I called, I said, I am pregnant and I love the stuff. This was the conversation that ensued between Andrew, the Holder of Salsa, and I:

-I Love your Salsa. I am pregnant and I need an order to go. Stat.

- Oh great. That is so awesome. Babies are great. How far along are you?

-About 32 weeks. Now...about this salsa thing....

-Wow. My wife had a baby last year and she loved Chili's Black Beans and Queso Dip. We have an 8 month old. She is the cutest thing and so much fun....

- Cool. Wow. Back to me and my needs. I LOVE the salsa and can't get enough. I need some to go, but can I get extra? Like a LOT of extra? And a Straw. Or just a straight IV into my arm?

-Of course, crazy pregnant woman.

This is what was waiting for me when I arrived:

Yes, each tub was individually labled for each month:

Viva la Chili's!

Gigantic Proportions

I have reached a milestone. Hugeness

Mowin Green

Our new house has the cutest lawn. It is tiny. And perfect.

We came from a rental house, where the lawn went on as far as the eye could see and we spent mad money trying to keep that thing alive. Kyle spent hours mowing, and watering, and re-positioning the water spickets to ensure optimal coverage. But to no avail. I took a chunk of that dastardly lawn to Zamzows, a local Grass, Flower, and Pet store. Cause "Nobody Knows Like Zamzows" and the dude said "huh, this is carpet grass. Basically, if it gets too hot, it kills itself, then reseeds." Turns out, our suicidal lawn was sick of the heat and dying off, no matter how much water we put on it.

We walked by that house the other day. It is up for sale, no one lives in it and the lawn looks HORRIBLE, so we beat our fists against our chests, and cried a lot for the money we poured down the drain for the last two summers. C'est La Vie.

Onto our new lawn: Hooray! It is only about 700 square feet TOTAL. It is tiny and perfect and cute. A bit patchy, but I can live with that!!!

Kyle's dad gave us his old lawn mower after we moved in:

He was so nice. He spent hours cleaning and oiling that thing. Even cut his finger in the process. It worked one week. Then stopped working the next week. So we cruised to Home Depot and got a Reel Mower. With no motor. Just pure push power. We are SO going Green.......

When Kyle mows with it, the neighbors all look at him with wonder. And I am just glad our lawn is so cute. And tiny. And perfect.

Ole One Kidney

So, yes, once upon a time 11 years ago today, I got my kidney ripped out of my body, and it was placed gently into my sister's body. Hence the motto of my blog: Half the Kidneys, Twice the Fun. It was an experience full of fun, craziness, and lots of presents (thanks everyone for all the presents). The nurses ripped me out of bed 12 hours after being sliced in half to weigh me. I got a sweet 9 inch scar. The Dean of Students at my college called me every Wednesday to see how I was doing. I got a nice bottle of pills to take home with me. Thanks to cable, I could watch 3 hours of 90210, straight. Every time I stood up, I could feel all of my insides swishing around trying to find a new home. I slept a lot. Oh, and my sister got to pee again. So that was good. No, that was great. She didn't puke nearly as much anymore and she actually got real color in her cheeks, not that crap from CoverGirl she would swipe on her face. That was the best part.

But the second best part? The drugs right before the surgery. They put this epidural in me. Then shot it full of some happy koolaid. I was higher than high. It was feeling good. I had no idea what was about to hit me. There is a picture of me and Kathryn right before surgery. It was after I had the sweet elixir of morphine, and before Kathryn had any drugs. The picture looks a lot like this:

Hope your (or technically, mine) kidney has 11 more years of fun and sassiness, sis!

Bathing Suit

For my Prenatal Water Aerobics class, I have been wearing the ghetto-est get-up available. Partly because I am cheap. And partly because I haven't had the heart to buy a new swimsuit until I got a bit bigger....and knew it would fit the whole time.

The Old Outfit: A shiny black, hideous WalMart special that was like 12 bucks and is now stretched to the max, paired with a lovely pair of Carolina Blue Boy Boardshorts from Old Navy that I have had for probably 10 years now....I think I took them to Mexico in 1998....

I took a picture the other dayLately, because the belly have gotten big, pulling up the swim suit has involved a lot of deep squats and odd contortions in the changing room. The Shorts now cannot be enclosed with the velcro enclosure, and I have to roll down the top of the shorts a few times, secure with some crazy boy scout knot on the ties, and hop in the pool really quick to avoid being seen by anyone I work with (did I mention these classes take place at my place of work??? How insane am I, really?)

The New Swimsuit: I got bottoms from one store (a skirt with bottoms attached) and a top from another, and when I mentioned that to my lovely husband, he said :I don't understand, you had to buy two parts at two different stores???. I know....

So I took this picture of me in my new swim suit:

Hooray for modern photo taking!

I don't really know why I am smiling. I guess just smiling through the pain.....Today will be the first time I wear it in the pool. I hope it stays on and doesn't fly off my body, but with my luck, you never know.....

Wake Up Calls: Two in one week.

So I got a wake up call in my hotel this week when I was in Nashville. That was exciting, as my morning voice sounded kind of like a witch and the lady hung up really fast so I couldn't cast a spell on her.

But the other wake up call I got? The more exciting and slightly depressing one? Saturday Kyle and I were walking downtown, cruising around and I caught a glimpse of myself in the huge window of a store, walking down the street, like from the side.

This is what it looked like, like this could be a real picture I took that day it is so life like: (mind you, this is really the first time I have seen myself in action, from a side view)

Swimming Lessons

So I decided to be proactive in this whole "Can't Fit Into My Clothes Anymore" thing and take some prenatal exercise classes. This week I started a round of Water Aerobics for the Pregnant and Huge Feeling Whale-Like Lady. Hooray!! I am going Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and I might even sign up for Prenatal Yoga and really rock out my body. Hooray...

Sidenote: Funnily enough, I thought I would feel better about buying a maternity swimsuit than a regular swimsuit (which I have a massive allergic reaction to each and every time~ha). I was wrong. I still had the allergic reaction which involved something like watery eyes, crying and hyperventilating.

So it is fun. The ladies are all pregnant and look all cute and fun and I just look on the chubby side (I know you are all thinking "but it is for a good reason, you are growing a little baby inside of you, it is CUTE"...I know I know I know...but it is still hard and Kyle is still getting sick of me saying "Do you think I am still cute? huh? Do you? Today more than yesterday? or less than yesterday??? huh huh huh????" Hopefully he'll make it through this whole thing still in love with me and hopefully I will make it through an evening at home without falling asleep at 8:15. We'll see.

Pregnancy: Weeks 21 and 22

Oh dear, this has been a more eventful two weeks than all of the other weeks combined


1. Found out we are having a Boy....hooray!!

2. Decided on NOT calling it Bruce anymore, out of fear that it will stick, which we NEVER intended...


3. After the UltraSound, Skeletor is a much more appropriate name..See what I mean?

The doctor came into the room after the US and really didn't have much to say....because so far he is PERFECT!!

4. Celebrated my first mothers day for real, kind of for real at least!

5. Grew THREE inches in ONE week. What???? THREE INCHES~!!!! What kind of insanity is that????

6. Still keeping the impending name choices for Skeletor a secret and it is KILLING our moms...sorry moms! We love you still!!! They are good names, you don't have to worry.

7. Speaking of names...You can comment on potential names! That would be rad. We are having a hard time, and have whittled it down to three or four, but still aren't sold on any of them....

8. Got a mattress for the crib. Organic filled so little Skeletor won't be sleeping on formaldehyde soaked cotton.

9. Back at "fighting weight" as the doc called it....

10. Discovered that people patting my growing belly isn't as cute as they think it is.

Recap: Week 20

Hungry hungry Hippo.
Little bit of Rage.
Hungry.
Threw up for the first time!
Haven't felt little Bruce move yet.
Starting to show more.
Not as sleepy, but still sleepy.
More anxiety.
Looked into Day Cares. Got depressed.
More Hungry.

Goodbye, Old Friend

To some of you, it may come as a shock that this weekend, I said goodbye to an old friend

And hello to a new one:

It was a good 20 years, wasn't it?

Sweetest Girl Ever

Last time I was at Kyle's sister's house, Iwas sitting with the nieces and nephews and we were talking about things I would need for Bruce (my favorite toy mentioned : a three car train that hooks together and moves around the floor) and names for Bruce if it was a girl or boy. Before I left, I told them I needed them to continue to brainstorm names.

Maddy, my 8 year old niece totally took it to heart. Kyle and I cruise over to visit last night and Maddy had done the follwing:

1. Kept a running list on a piece of paper of Boy and Girl names, polling her family and friends for good names.

2. Handed each member of her 2nd grade class a white square of paper and polled them for names too. They each (mostly) wrote down and girl and boy name. She is SO thoughtful! Example: One of her cousins fell from her bedroom window and broke some bones. Maddy also had her class make the cousin Get Well Cards and mailed them to her.

Sweet and thoughtful Maddy.

In honor of Mother Earth and Babies

We saw this book at Fred Meyer the other day, and I want it: It talks all about how to raise your baby in a more organic environment, as well as has hot tips on cool baby gear etc. Maybe one day I will get it....or just rent it from the library....

The High Chair

As I am with child, I get a lot of unsolicited advice. Like, "Oh you are going to HATE being pregnant in the summer", and "Wow, your life is NEVER going to be the same", or like my NP said at my last check up appt, while listening to the heartbeat and trying to discount the old wives tale that Girls Have Faster HeartBeats, said "It's only 50 percent accurate". I was like, really? 50?

So, basically I am saying, I am used to it. I am going to post some products I am interested in looking into further for Little Bruce, and all I can say is Bring On the Advice...let me know what you like/dislike etc.

First: The High Chair. This is the one I want. I don't think I can be persuaded in any other direction, so here goes;


The Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair.
I am really excited about this high chair because of the following reasons:

1. The kid can sit at the table. With everyone else.

2. The Seat and Foot rest are adjustable and can grow with Little Bruce so s/he is comfy when eating.

3. It is compact. This suits our house very nicely, as our house will not really work with a big rolly polly high chair.

4. It comes in an array of FUN colors. and you can get different cushions in different colors for added comfort and cuteness..

5. You can only use it at about 6 months and up, when they are sitting up on their own, but that is AOK with me.

Well....what do you think? I saw this in a magazine probalby three years ago and cut the picture out and pasted in one of my blank books, knowing I wanted it for my littles one day. Hooray for Germans!

Pregnancy: Weeks up to 17

Maybe I will start posting about my thoroughly exciting pregnancy... as SO much has happned (not really) I will give you the best highlights of the past 17 weeks:

• Am really hungry all the time, like I have a tapeworm, but, nope, just an energy sucking organism feeding off of my body.
• Haven't been sick at all (knock on wood). It has been a pretty easy pregnancy so far, and I have lost about 8 pounds since week 6, mainly due to eating better all around)
• There was some Pregio Rageio (that means Rage...it didn't type the way I heard it in my brain)- about weeks 13 through 15, but thankfully we made it through alive and I am still married.
• Heard the heartbeat, which I was thankful for, because sometimes I am like, huh, really? there is something in there? Today it was beating fast and little Bruce was doing somersaults and moving all around.
• Cloth Diapers or disposables? Doing some research.
• Find out the sex the first week of May then I am going on a shopping binge.
• Been a bit picky about what I eat.

I guess that is about it. I am excited to meet this Bruce person, girl or boy.

Oh, and we are keeping the names a secret. So don't feel bad when I won't tell you because no one knows. We might give it up to the highest bidder........

Just One Word Answers, Ma'am.

Just a Little Exercise to include One Word Answers. Only. Just try it. It is harder than I thought it would be, thinking of one word for a few things... You can copy my list and add your own in the comments section, or do it on your own blog....

You're Feeling: Uneasy
To Your Left: I-Pod
On Your Mind: Bruce
Last Meal Included: Cheese
You Sometimes Find it Hard To: Motivate
The Weather: Teasing
Something You Have a Collection of: Candy
A Smell that Cheers You Up: Clean
A Smell that Can Ruin Your Mood: Dirty
How Long Since You Last Shaved: Days
The Current State of Your Hair: Ponied
The Largest Item On Your Desk/Workspace Right Now (besides computer): Binder
Your Skill with Chopsticks: Ridiculous
Which Section You Head to First In the Bookstore: New
...and After That?: Baby
Something You're Craving: Salt
Your General Thoughts On the Presidential Race: Mudslingers
How Many Times You've Been Hospitalized this Year: None
A Favorite Place to Go for Quiet Time: Bathtub
You've Always Secretly Thought You'd Be a Good: Spy
Something that Freaks You Out a Little: Bruce
Something You've Eaten Too Much of Lately:Chicken
You Have Never: spelunked
You Never Want To: Mislead

Washing Clothes

We bought a new house in November. Our washer has two settings:
Small.
Extra Large.

Spandex=Sexy??

Yesterday I was sitting in this lame meeting about Emergency Prepardness at Work. Probably, I should have been paying more attention, but basically, I just couldn't. So, I started thinking about how clothes really do hide a lot, and the question came to mind:

What if EVERYONE HAD to wear Spandex. Like that was the only material available. And you had to.

I heart Obama.

I like Obama. I must admit. I saw him speak in Boise.

I am a fan.

I also like this shirt.

Here is another AWESOME one...

My Desk Drawer

So, sometimes I go to the store to buy Healthy Stuff to Eat. Because that is what WTEWYE says.

(Note: In case you don't know, WTEWYE stands forWhat To Expect WHen You're Expecting. AKA: The Bible of All Pregnant Women, even if it does go a little over the top, , and basically will scare you straight out of your mind about what to eat, what to wear, how to sleep, how to move, how to breathe, etc.)...

Okay, so back to the store. I usually go to the WalMart (Evil Empire) across the street from my new office buildling. When I go, sometimes I think, Gosh, I need a treat after I eat this healthy lunch, because I am pregnant and it is okay to have a treat every now and then. ThenI buy it and stick it in my desk drawer for such occaisions. But I never eat it. I just collect it. I just am never in the mood for treats. I know, CRAZY.....People ask if I have cravings, and I don't, really, but I don't like treats as much as I used too.....weird...

Well, here is the list, laid out for all to see:

• Half Eaten Bag of Pretzel Sticks (got sick of eating them and being thirsty all the time)
• Two Logs of Saltine Crackers (just incase I GET sick)
• Box of Nurtigrain Cereal Bars, Mixed Berry (You know, just because)
• A ZipLock Bag of Cinnamon Hearts that I still have yet to eat more than 2 of
• An unopened box of Junior Mints
• An unopened bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs...the yummy chocolate ones with that crazy addictive shell...you know the ones
• A real Cadbury Egg (unopened....)
• An unopened bag of Tootsie Rolls
• A Box of PopSecret Homestyle Popcorn, Snack bag size (I DO eat this. And it is the BEST Flavor)
• A few granola bars, Nature Valley Sweet and Salty Nut
• A bottle of Tums

There it is, the confession of my Secret Stash. Now, if I can just find any of those darn Girl Scouts at the WalMart, then I could add a few more line items.......