Shoo Fly...Don't Bother Me!

My dog is afraid of flies. As the weather warms up, the houseflies breed and begin their oh-so-annoying journey into the heart of our homes. I was sitting at one end of the couch the other day, while our shih-tzu sat at the other. I had already spotted the speedy demon of a bug zooming around the room. My dog, on the other hand, was caught off his guard when the bug soared an inch in front of his nose while he was starting to nap. He sprung to his feet and quickly jumped into my lap as if to say, "Protect me, Mommy!" and was on high alert, eyes darting for the next 45 minutes.

He finally felt secure enough to settle back into his napping position, but refused to let me move him off of my ever-disappearing lap. Andy, the little dog that has no fear of other canines who are many times his size and of aggressive nature, is afraid of a tiny little bug. Then again, I have to admit that I become highly alert anytime an insect of any sort buzzes in my ear while I'm dozing off. So I guess I have no right to make fun.

Garage Saling

My husband and I woke up to the birds chirping at 5:30 this morning and neither one of us could go back to sleep. I rolled over and made the suggestion of going to a couple of garage sales since we were wide awake anyway. Of course, most don't open until 7 or 8am, so we just took our time getting ready and fueled up with breakfast.

I had forgotten that the city-wide garage sale was going on today. It wasn't officially starting until 9:00 according to all of the advertisements, but most of the people were already set up and we figured they wouldn't mind our early browsing. Just adjacent to the set-up sits a little apartment complex. They had posted a sign to the entrance that there was to be absolutely no parking for non-residents. As I'm 8 1/2 months pregnant and really in no mood to walk a long distance and for the fact that we knew we would be super quick browsers, we decided to park in one of the 20 empty spots.

We walked around looking at everyone's junk/treasures and, as predicted, headed back toward the car within 15 minutes. As we were walking up, an old man was just about to tape a sign to the window of our car reading, "This car does not belong to a resident. Please tow!" My husband walked up right behind him and calmly said, "Sir, there's no need for that we are leaving." So the man (I swear, he had to have been around 90) starts yelling at both of us about the posted sign and how every year people try to get away with parking there. I was very polite and apologized stating that I'm (quite obviously) 8 1/2 months pregnant and we knew that we were watching the car the whole time and would have moved it had anyone else pulled in. He spun around like a wild animal, got about 12 inches from my face and screamed, "Get the hell outta here!!!" I was quite taken aback to say the very least.

He's fortunate that I wasn't having an emotional day! I would have ripped him a new one! Fortunately, my husband also remained quite calm, opened my car door and we proceeded to leave as he set up his lawn chair and prepared for battle with the next wrong-doer.

Here's the kicker! I see this guy all the time at the library and have often assisted him in finding material. So, the next time he approaches me for help, should I just say, "Get the hell outta here, you old geezer!"? Oh, so tempting. And if it just happens to be one of those days...watch out, buddy!!

What do you get when you combine a house with a broken air-conditioner in 95 degree/90% humidity weather and an eight-month-pregnant woman?

Ahhhh....That's Nice!

Sitting in childbirth class the other day, the instructor went over some of the different techniques the partner could use to sooth and calm. For example, something as simple as a hand massage. It has been ages since I've been the recipient of a hand massage; it was more than likely the last time I had a manicure and I can't honestly recall how many years have passed since that has taken place. I don't pamper myself very often, but I digress.

Memories of my teenage years came flooding back to me as my husband gently kneaded the palm of my hand. My friends and I used to give each other hand massages during church. Yeah, we heathens used to write notes to each other during the sermons, too. That is, until the Sunday the pastor stood up on the pulpit in front of the whole congregation and read a note aloud that two of us had left behind in the pew the previous week. Pure humiliation! The notes stopped at that point, but the hand massages continued. And those were pure bliss.

It's amazing how something so simple can put the entire mind and body at ease. I don't know how relaxing it will be during labor and delivery, but it sure worked its magic back in those days of innocence. And for now, my husband has yet another chore to keep me comfortable during my last weeks of pregnancy.

What the !?

A few weird things have happened in the past few weeks:

1. During Easter brunch the Easter bunny was walking around from table to table giving little eggs to all of the kids, so I (the big kid that I am) stood with the bunny while my husband took a picture. Then the Easter bunny proceeded to lean over and start rubbing my belly with its big, furry paw. NO JOKE!! TWICE!! I knew that the time would come when a stranger would touch my stomach, but I never thought that it would be the EASTER BUNNY and that I wouldn't be able to see the face of the person doing it. Very strange!! I'm guessing that it had to be a woman in there...would a man touch a pregnant woman's stomach? I really don't know. Anyway, I thought that was kind of amusing while unsettling.
2. One hilarious comment I got from one of our regulars at the library. Let me just preface this by saying she's so sweet but a bit flighty. She asked me when the baby was due and I said in July. Her reply was, "...THIS July?!" Seriously! I about lost it and murmered "Gosh, I HOPE so!!" It didn't even register as odd to her! The coworker next to me busted out laughing as soon as she walked out the door and said that I should have made a sarcastic comment about being an elephant, but I really don't know if she would have comprehended that either.
3. Last week, the temperature got up to 80 degrees and I had my first experience with swelling. My feet were so swollen at work that one of my sandals popped off of my foot while I was walking! Calling my ever-so-understanding husband to bring me a new pair of shoes to wear paid off as I didn't have to resort walking around barefoot and pregnant. Oh, NOW I get it! I think it might be wise to invest in some cute flip-flops.

30 Weeks and Counting....

I haven't written anything in a LONG time! Not that anyone is reading my blog anymore...but for my own entertainment here we go. This has sort of been my online pregnancy journal for the world to see. I am very hesitant to write anything too descriptive or weird about my pregnancy, but strange things have happened (they are bound to!). I am about 9 weeks from my due date and am in my third trimester. It is mind boggling how quickly this pregnancy has gone by so far. And now that I am going to my checkups on a two week schedule, I'm certain that the remainder is going to be a mad dash.

My husband and I went to our first 5-hour childbirth class last weekend. Nothing was all that surprising to me...well maybe a couple of things. When we saw the video of the placenta being delivered, I was shocked by the size of the thing. I had no idea that the placenta is half the size of the baby itself. That's insane. Then, when my husband whispered something about freezing it for possible medical use in the future, I was caught offguard a bit. What really surprised me is how very little the RN went into breathing methods. I assumed that the bulk of the class would be practicing these techniques and she barely even touched on them. Preparation is key, isn't it? Most women, I would assume, would like to learn the basics of breathing to get through at least part of the labor process without wimping out and being pumped full of drugs. And if one does opt for drugs, what if they don't work as well as you would expect?

I had my latest appointment today and everything looks good. The doctor guided my hands to feel how the baby was positioned at this point. Being able to feel that tiny butt and shoulder and head in there was quite a thrill. The baby's already flipped to the head down position and, according to the doctor, will more than likely remain in that position until birth. The heartrate was around 150, which according to the wives-tales, means that we are having a girl...or a boy...let's just say it's a healthy little beat and leave it at that. We'll find out for certain in July.

A couple of girls are throwing a baby shower for me in a few weeks, which is so exciting! My mom, sister and mother-in-law are all flying up for it, which is even more exciting! My mother-in-law has been planning to come out for a while...she says that she wants to see me big and pregnant in person and to see our new house. Then, when they found out about the shower, my mom and sister called to tell me that they really wanted to fly up for the weekend to be here for it. I was so giddy and giggled like a school girl all night long...couldn't sleep...kept the hubby awake. It was great! Then I started cleaning like a fiend. Question is, is it anticipation of all the company coming or the nesting instinct. Who cares! My house is looking really nice today.

I love being pregnant. There are definitely some negatives (i.e., morning sickness, water retention, hot flashes, round ligament pain and backaches), but overall I have had a very healthy and wonderful pregnancy. We are so very blessed to be on the road to becoming parents. I teared up in church last week thinking about next Sunday being Mother's Day. I'm going to be a mother!!!!

Cooking Out in the Rain

Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous outside and (bonus!) it was my day off (for once). I went to the local garden center and to Home Depot to check out all of the new annuals and perennials that have arrived for the spring. When I got home, I planted some peppers and herbs in the garden, pulled some weeds and trimmed the shrubs. Then my husband and I took our dog for a long walk around the neighborhood.

It was so beautiful and sunny that we decided it would be the perfect day for a cookout and headed for the store in search of all the fixin's. We prepped the hamburger patties to suit our desires...giant burger for hubby and little burger for me; preheated the oven and popped my famous homemade steak fries in to cook for a good half hour; cut up all of the vegetables and green chile (an absolute must for hamburgers) to top our finished products.

Then, at the moment we stepped outside to fire up the gas grill, the sun disappeared behind ominous clouds and the sky opened up. And the rain came down in buckets. Just like that. For three hours. We discovered after the first hour of waiting patiently for it to clear up that you can indeed operate a grill in the pouring rain. It takes much, much longer for the food to cook, but it can be done. What is really interesting is watching the top of the grill sizzle and steam as the giant raindrops land on it. One can really open their pores standing over it...curious way to get a facial. Those burgers were mighty tasty, but I think that we'll watch the weather forecast next time. At least my new plants got a healthy drink. They'll be ready for the grill in no time!