The Middle Name meme

Ms. 4andcounting tagged me for this challenging little meme.

The rules:
1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.
2. Players - You must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don't have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
3.At the end of your post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag.


A -- I have Attitude. Usually it's a fairly good attitude, que sera sera and all, but *sometimes* it's the capital-A Attitude that your mother used to really dislike (and my mother).

N -- I really like Novels. I have tried to read non-fiction but it usually leaves me feeling very blah. I need a good story arc. Maybe a plot twist. Depth of character. Symbolism. And for me, that usually comes in long fiction (not short stories so much, either).

N -- Nutter butters. What can I say? I like Nutter Butters! My childhood friend, Nikki, used to bring them in her lunch a lot and I was so glad when she shared. I Never buy them myself, though (Nutritional value woes). [I was going to use "Naive" here, but that's so boring.]

E -- I attended Emory University. (You wouldn't believe how many E-words I scanned through and considered before settling on this Easy fact! Eavesdrop, Earrings, Exegesis, Editorial...Etc!)

Now, I think the tagging is going to be harder than the meme itself! So here I go: Amy, whom I haven't visited in Ages, Nancy Bond from Nova Scotia, Nancy S. Brandt (hi, Nancy, remember me? I'm sure glad your name is Nancy!), and Ellinetha.

Trying on some new phrases

I just published an article at WorkIt,Mom!, a site I read daily and very much enjoy. I have intended to publish regularly there -- any member can -- but have been devoid of any useful ideas. Until yesterday. And when the Muse appears, you have to put off your actual work to get it done use your time extra-wisely and pay heed to her.

Enjoy: Here's the goods. Ignore the big fat typo in paragraph 2. Argh. Very embarrassing that I can't get back in there and edit it out. Oh well.

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AJ has also been trying out new words lately, seeing what kind of reaction they'll produce. Such as:

Scene 1
Me: AJ, time to pick up those blocks and put them away.

AJ: I don't weally CARE about doing dat. I don't weally care 'bout it.

Scene 2
Me & Hubby: (talking amongst ourselves in the cereal aisle)

AJ: GUYS. Hey. Mama. (stomping off) I'm TIRED of dis!


Where did he learn these grown-up expressions? *looks around innocently* No, seriously, I am sure I don't say, "I don't care about that." Certain.

Questions for you, gentle reader

Thursday is my mom's birthday. Yesterday was my college roommate's birthday. Tomorrow is my best-theater-friend's birthday (from back in my theater days).

Throughout my life, many of the women I've been closest to (save these two) have been Libras, and although I don't put much stock into astrology, I find that interesting.

So I wanted to ask my blog pals -- are any of you Libras? Because I think that would also be interesting.

I happen to be a Gemini, if that means anything to you. :)

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I am wearing Bare Minerals makeup today. What can I say, LAURA INGALLS wears it, and if she isn't fresh-faced and PURE, I don't know what is. I actually really like the stuff. (Pregnancy hormones have been unfriendly to my face so I'm hoping this light-as-a-feather foundation will help.) I am super-lucky because my Libra mom had bought a lot of it several months ago, but decided it wasn't right for her... so this weekend she GAVE it all to me. Score! My sister, thanks to her husband, had a revelation a year or two ago, that she deserved to wear expensive makeup, darnit, not drugstore brands that cost less than $4, just for the sake of costing less. And I agree. I am WORTH the (Mom's) cash it takes to buy quality products. ;)

Question, though, for anyone who uses it -- what's the diff between 'face color' and 'blush?' Is one supposed to be bronzer? I may have to go into Ulta for a demo, although I'll feel funny about that when I say, "Thank you very much for your help, and no I don't need to buy a single thing today." Seriously, Mom hooked me up with PLENTY.

Ooh, maybe I can find a tutorial on YouTube. Gotta love the Internet!


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I asked MB this yesterday in her 5-question interview, and I thought it'd be fun for all of us to share ideas: What is one meal you will prepare this week? I want to know everything, down to the side items, drinks and condiments. You don't have to write the whole recipe, but if it sounds good I might ask you for it! I'll start:

Last night our dinner was a quickie: homemade pizza (pepperoni and mozarella, plus a little sprinkle of cheddar for the sharpness), garden salad (cucumber, bagged mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and Newman's Garlic-Parm dressing). AJ had an ice-cream sandwich because he ate his ENTIRE slice, which is a rarity. Hubby and I drank tea and water, respectively, and AJ drank chocolate milk. Oh, and I made the pizza dough in the bread machine. Not very gourmet, but very satisfying and E-Z!

Now you.

Speaking of the breadmaker, I got to thinking about baking my own bread for sandwiches. To save us a whole $.49 every week, don'tcha know. If any of you smart, savvy cooks out there have a good sandwich bread recipe, white or wheat, feel free to share. I'm sure the breadmaker cookbook has one, but I thought it'd be more fun to hear yours.

Just what I needed

Blueberry pancakes and coffee.

That was this morning. What I also needed was a weekend away from our routine, and I got just that. We returned home yesterday afternoon after being at my parents' house for... let's see... approximately 35 hours. It was well worth it. Maybe the down-time of zoning out in the car was good for my brain. Maybe the change of scenery was good for my eyes. Maybe the good food was beneficial to my tummy! Maybe the retail therapy at the mall of my youth was comfort to my... um, soul. ;) Undoubtedly the extra love and kisses all around were good for my -- and AJ's -- mood. We got to see some cousins and aunts and uncles, too, and that was a good time. It's never long enough.

Last night before falling asleep, and I'm not making this up, AJ said, "Mommy? I wish I could see Grandmommy and Papa Joe EVERY DAY." Me too, bud. Me too.

Failed

If you were a good student in school like I was, the random fluke physics tests on which you did poorly felt like a huge gash in the smooth surface of your shiny new car.

They felt like a giant failure. And you might be disappointed all day because of that one grade. Unnecessary, really, because nobody's perfect.

Well, today I failed something. Maybe it's my particular kid, or maybe it's symptomatic of age three and a global thing, but there are times when.... well. I just feel so bereft about this morning that I don't even know what to say about it. The daily rush to get out the door, you know? Never a good place to begin with, but AJ picked something up -- a dinner tray from his booster seat -- and dropped it carelessly right in front of the door through which we were all trying to get out.

And then refused to pick it back up and put it away.

Such a minor thing, but his refusal was not minor to me. He's doing this a lot lately. I think I was calm about asking him the first, maybe even the 2nd time. But not the fourth or fifth. I swear, he looks up at me so CALMLY, and quietly says, "No." It's not like HIS emotions escalate when things like this happen, he simply doesn't feel like it. Then he sort-of whines no. And today I just lost it.

WHY CAN'T YOU LISTEN TO MOMMY AND DADDY? YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ME, DO YOU? ONE... TWO....(I *WILL* SPANK YOUR BOTTOM...) AJ, you've GOT TO DO WHAT YOU'RE TOLD. OKAY, THREE.

And I've been resorting to threats and stupid discipline much too often lately. I believe that sometimes defiant kids NEED a swat on the butt, I really do. But I don't like doing it. Still, I have had this argument so many times now I just cut to that easiest, seemingly fastest solution, even though it's not a good one. I forget all those love & logic words about, "You can choose to pick up the tray, or you can choose not to, and (here is the consequence)..." Which doesn't even work since I have to delay it 'til after school in today's case, when he's completely forgotten the whole scene anyway. And why I won't take time for a Time Out, and just BE LATE to school and my job for once, I don't know. Punctuality is so meaningless. What am I thinking? The worst failure, after the swat on the butt and after he said NO to me again, and backed away knowing his butt was in more danger (breaking my heart for the recklessness of spanking at all)... the worst failure was this: "AJ, I AM SO MAD AT YOU!"

He covered his face with his hands and only then started to cry.

It makes me cry now, just typing it, even after moving on to talk about the stop signs and the sunshine -- happily -- before drop-off, knowing he was fine again, and even after a whole hour's commute to get over it myself.

Oh, I also yelled at my husband about it, did I mention that?

I feel like I've fractured our entire family this morning, instead of shepherding us through, and *I* feel the effects of it so acutely, I'm just a mess. I know I need to forgive myself and just try to do better next time. Nobody's perfect. But, oh. This red-hot gash is one I just don't know how to buff out.

Let's hope I do better than Miss Teen South Carolina

It's Interview Time! I willfully signed up for a hard-hitting interview by one of my newest blog-pals, typelittlea. She seems quite cool. I'm grateful to her for offering because y'all? I'm frrrresh! out of ideas, zapped of all creativity.

So here are the rules: Leave me a comment (you, yes you) saying “Interview me.” I will respond by emailing you or leaving a comment with five questions. I get to pick the questions. If you don’t have a valid email address on your blog, please provide one. You will update your blog with a post containing your answers to the questions. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Here are typelittlea's questions to me.

1. What did you want to be when you grew up? How close/far is it from what you're doing now? Heh. I WIN! When I was little, I usually said I wanted to be a "Mommy." I am a sparkling career success, then! However, I also wanted to be a teacher most days -- in fact, I subjected my sister to a kafrillion games of "School," where *I* was the teacher because it was *my* chalkboard to begin with and also, I was older and obviously smarter. In my working-life, I am nowhere near a teacher. I sometimes email college professors, though.

2. What kind of eater are you? Are you picky? Or are you all, pan-fried songbird in a chocolate-asprin sauce, yum just like mom used to make! NOT PICKY!! Hear that, AJ? NOT PICKY. Picky eaters kinda get on my nerves, actually. (It is therefore very difficult having a toddler.) I, myself, am willing to try a variety of *normal* things, ethnic things, etc., but you won't catch me dead eating Fear Factor delicacies or some of Anthony Bourdain's crazy feasts. I will say this, I like food to taste good. And tofu isn't my favorite. Pretty basic criteria.

3. If you had a substantial amount of money to give away, where would you give and why? Give it away?? Wah-huh? No, I kid, really. I suppose first I would (finally) contribute to my parish's capital plan -- they're building new buildings, updating the school, etc. -- to be sure my son gets into Kindergarten! Eek. Got to work on that. Right after we fix the car and replace the upstairs air conditioner and have some trees removed from the backyard. And THEN, after that, I'd probably give some to the Delta Gamma Foundation (my college sorority which helps lots of causes, most notably sight conservation & aid to the blind), the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (near & dear to my heart), St. Jude's (because kids just shouldn't have to be that sick, they break my heart), and the Special Olympics (added to my list quite recently - in fact, I'm wanting to volunteer with them someday).

It's really, really hard to choose just one charity, by the way.

4. Do you have any sore spots that you don't laugh at/make fun of? I have never been obese myself, but I really hate when movies, comedians, or TV shows make fun of fat people. Really. Hate.

5. Do you drive like an asshole? If yes, please NEVER come to NJ. My blood pressure is high enough. KTHKSBYE Whooboy. I was thinking about this just the other day because as I was driving through midtown Atlanta on the interstate, in difficult traffic, I realized I can be fairly aggressive on the road. I definitely follow too closely. I don't consider myself an asshole namely because I try to avoid talking on the cell while cutting you off, and I don't zip around you at 85mph like a teenage boy in a pimped-up Civic (hate those guys). I really try to be careful. But if you are from Po-Dunk County USA, you probably think I drive like an asshole. I've definitely been citified.

Great questions, man! So sign up and I'll interview you! And the US Americans, who... the Iraq and everywhere like such as...

(I actually played this little interview game once before.)

Brain dump of nothing much

I just don't have anything much to say today... so like a good little blogger, I am going to ....POST ANYWAY. Lucky for you. Let's see:

-- Yesterday I had one of those days at work where I couldn't have cared less about what I do for a living. I actually hoped that we won't get a few jobs that are out on proposal, just because I don't want to be the one to have to DEAL with them. This is, quite fundamentally, a poor business attitude. (I told a coworker last week that I need a nametag that says "Bad Attitude." Just to warn everyone.) Y'see, I'd spent the evening before with a nurse, an occupational therapist, and a mom who takes in 2 peoples' kids a couple days a week, and was thinking, now those are jobs that actually mean something AND bring a paycheck. Novel concept. Am continuing to mull this over with regards to my life, but likely won't change anything because I never do. If I weren't pregnant, this recurring mood would be blamed on PMS. Bleh.

-- We are going to Florida this weekend to visit my parents. It's going to be SUCH a short trip -- a tiring after-work ride down on Friday night (5 hours, but we gain an hour going from Eastern to Central, woo hoo), a full Saturday of shopping, swimming, and watching AJ bounce around his grandparents' house, a fun! new! venue! for exploring!, and then a quick Sunday morning and right back into the car... but still, in my mind, so worth it. I wonder if it's the maternal/pregnancy thing making me want to see my mommy and daddy. :) DH is a trooper for indulging me in this, not that he doesn't like going down there, but it's a bit of a hassle.

-- Speaking of the hero that is my Dear Husband: Last night as I was putting 2 frozen chicken breasts in the microwave to thaw, he said, "Oh, is that what's for dinner? Because I was thinking we could... maybe... go out. To break up the Monotony of the week." Isn't he great? :)

Knowing what's ahead

Friday afternoon I got all melancholy, anticipating our predictable nightly routine: eat dinner, bathe AJ, stories, bed, CRASH on the couch while Hubby plays Xbox. I made my feelings visible while I was cooking, enough that Hubby asked me a couple of times what was wrong. And instead of being a baby like usual and sighing, "Nothing," I went ahead and told him. It was probably horomone-related since I do seem to be having a surge of those going on (see: my blemish-ridden forehead), but I laid it out for him and told him I was just bored with the mediocrity. PitymebutnotyourfaultbutI'mboredwithlifeandsadaboutit.

And then what did I do right after putting AJ to bed? FELL ASLEEP ON THE COUCH, anyway. At 9:00 like a big doofus. My sweet DH came over to me during a brief wakeful moment, and we laughed and rolled our eyes at me. And then he leaned in close and whispered,

"Enjoy it now... in six months you'll be WISHING for this."

And, oh, we sighed and laughed again at the monumental truth of that statement.

Updates: a Thursday 13 list

It's been forever since I've done a Thursday Thirteen. Thought I'd take this opportunity to jot down a few updates for you.

1. I still have not received results of my second AFP test, if you can believe that. I'm choosing to remain positive about this and say "No News is Good News." update to this update! 12:45 pm: NORMAL. Normalnormalnormal. Sigh of relief, and thank you Mom, for all your prayers and petitions. :)
2. AJ has not had a Time Out in daycare for a week or more. However! Yesterday his teacher told me they'd had a little "issue" on the playground. I'm so embarrassed... evidently MY kid was the kid pulling down his pants and showing off his privates. ::kill me dead, seriously:: I realized later that I had dressed him in pants that are actually too big (STUPID me! I should have taken those out of his drawer months ago because usually when I put them on him, I take them right backoff in favor of clothes that FIT). The pants were falling down as he ran around outside. I don't even blame him for wanting them off, because how annoying! But still. I didn't punish him because it was really my fault, but we had a little Talk about keeping our privates to ourselves. !!
3. I ordered a maternity dress in black, for my brother-in-law's wedding. It will hopefully look much more acceptable than the Demi Moore bridesmatron belly exposé.
   
4. DH has informed me he does not like the name Justin! So that one's out. I'm okay with it.
5. I made another batch of mint-chocolate-chip cookies and this time, I'm keeping them all for myself. (Last time, I shared them with the coworkers.)
6. Some friends of ours got divorced in April. Last Friday, we had the guy friend over for dinner and he is doing great. In fact, he went on his first little date Saturday and reported that it went well. We are quite happy for him, as he seems to really have found himself in this whole process. Still, it's odd.
7. Remember when I started displaying the Small Change banner? Yeah. Um. I have not done so well in giving to my fellow man. I think it 8 months, I've done.... 4 of the monthly challenges. I sent greeting cards to some sick kids; had a yard sale; gave money to my church; and sent a donation to St. Jude's, I think. This month, the challenge is to pay it forward -- just do something nice for a stranger. Pretty cool! I am going to try it somehow. Especially if it means I get to go to the Starbucks drive-thru. (wink)
8. I've never mentioned this before so it's not really an update, but marybeth and I were discussing a girly getaway weekend for the 2 of us. I TOTALLY want to do this now. We need to do it STAT, before I'm too fat to see my feet (and our pretty pedicures that we're totally getting).
9. The Georgia heat has finally dissipated, I think, and signs of fall are beginning to show. In the mornings, it's nice and cool out. One of the things AJ does, that he came up with all by himself, is to greet the trees before he goes to daycare. We go out to load up the car, and he steps onto the driveway (this morning he said, "It's lovely out-hide!") and shouts, "Goo-Moaning, Tweeeees!"
10. On the topic of our new parental friends from daycare... the school has scheduled a Movie Night in October. On a Friday night, they're renting a big inflatable screen and a popcorn machine, and inviting families to bring dinner and chairs and blankets, and meet on the playground for a screening of "Happy Feet." I think it's going to be awesome, and is a fantastic idea! I can't wait to see what family we will sit next to on the lawn. :)
11. On the topic of updates... my sis has not updated her blog in a while. What's with that? ;)
12. I'm not getting much movement from the baby. Teensy little gas bubbles but nothing I can discern as real "kicks" yet. AJ is still leaning into my tummy and saying Hi every night, which is cute. He said yesterday he wants a sister, which is opposite of his usual request.
13. I'm getting my hair cut on Saturday which will be the most needed update of all! Hooray!

My decorating idea

Had a Brain Flash last night about possible decor for AJ's big-boy room! Am excited but need opinions.

• Red or black comforter
• Black tab-top valances, replace the default buttons with (or add) large yellow 4-hole buttons
• Cut out and frame a couple of DH's old Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck comic book pages, recently acquired from my in-laws' attic, with wide black mats in red frames
• Paint a Mickey ears silhouette about 4 feet diameter in black chalkboard paint, down low on one wall
• Maybe add one or two of these wall stickers
• If only I could find these sheets in a queen size!
  
• Commission my Aunt Kim to build and paint a Mickey and Friends growth chart/stick/thingie to hang on the wall...

Anyway.... ideas! I have always said I'll never decorate in "Disney" like the fanatics, but my kid loves his Mickey Mouse. Sleeps with him every night. And I'm thinking it's a very easy look to "grow up" just by painting over the chalkboard (that's easy to do, right?), and replacing Mickey with simple red and black things like lamps and accents.

Also, we're going to Disney world in November, so I can stock up on fun stuff maybe afford one or two items!

Whaddya think?

Lard?? You must be joking.

Okay, she could have probably chosen a different outfit. And her performance was certainly, clearly lackluster. I don't want to excuse Britney's behavior or her other flaws over the last 2 years. But if *I* looked like that after having my 2 babies? HELL, YES, I'd strut around in a black sequined bikini. And we would be MIGHTY IMPRESSED WITH MY ABS, too.

I can't believe the words people are using to describe her: Fat. Bulging. Lard. Paunch.

If that is a 'paunch,' don't EVER send the journalists to my bathroom mirror.

Give the girl a break, I swear.

Part of the crowd, and naming the baby

It's so fun to feel part of the crowd. Like, this weekend, AJ was invited to a birthday party for one of his schoolmates, Madison. There have been 1 or 2 parties since he started there (in infancy), but we've never gone. Well, scratch that -- I TRIED to take him to a McDonald's party once, but the not-so-bright mom just put "McDonald's" on the invite, didn't say which one, and there are 2 equidistant from the school... she also didn't put an RSVP phone number. So we attempted to guess and visited 2 McDonald'ses that day. The party was located at? Neither. But anyway, this Saturday we succeeded in attending a party at Monkey Joe's (hoo-boy, that is an energy festival for a group of 3-year-olds!), and I really, really enjoyed meeting the other parents. Some of them, I've seen going in or out of the classroom through the years, so I knew which Mom was Evan's mom and could see the resemblance in Megan's mom, for instance, but we're always in such a hurry to drop-off and pick-up that we've never actually exchanged names or talked. And it turned out that everyone was NICE people. Interested, and interesting. Kind. Funny. Good parents. There were a few dads, too, and DH had a good time talking with them. I was surprised because usually I get all nervous and introverted and don't talk to anyone. Maybe it was the venue; you can't really help ga-gah-ing over the kids as they bounce around having the Time Of Their Lives, and you want to help the parent who's kinda misplaced their kid for the moment, because it'll happen to you 5 seconds later. It's all just jovial and friendly. Wheee! So that was fun. I wish we'd traded phone numbers, in case some Saturday I'm dying to invite one of AJ's buddies over to play, but maybe next time.

I'm also loving the little following (well, HUGE following is more like it) that Swistle has gathered -- y'all know how much I've adored her myself -- and since there is someone else, jen, who's pregnant and in her circle, and recently revealed her list of Baby Names, I thought, why not? I'm feeling like an accepted part of THAT crowd, too. (You like me, you really like me.)

Now, DH and I didn't Tell last time, and it drove people crazy. We wouldn't even tell our long list. This time I'm not feeling so secretive, although yesterday my neighbor asked and I refrained from telling him, for some reason.

I've had real trouble coming up with boy names that I like. Our last name is one syllable and begins with "T" so my rules include No T first names because: "Tee-Tee." I also don't allow "S" first names because the first names of my in-laws, down to the bride-to-be, are all "S" names, and by darn I'm not going to be the ONLY one without an "S" name on that side of the family. I suppose I should tell that AJ is really A#le#X. So, for boys:

Carson -- DH's father's middle name, and one I liked a lot last time, but I'm only 'meh' about this time. It's trendy and that turns me off a bit. I typically pair it with Joseph, which is my dad's name.

Justin -- have always liked this name, since I was a child

Owen -- which DH doesn't like

Jonathan -- haven't even told DH I'm mulling this one over but I think he'd approve

William (Will) -- ditto this

DH likes Logan, but I wrinkle my nose at it a little. He also suggests Blade, but I wrinkle my nose at it a lot and hope he's kidding.

Marcus is another one I kinda like, but not Mark. Of course one of my best friends from college is Marcus (Mark) and so I hesitate.

For girls:

Jenna -- for me this is the top runner. Jenna Elizabeth, I think. Maybe Jenna Elaine.

Julianna -- DH's suggestion, and I love the sound of it, but our extended family includes a Juli-AH-na, and we prefer the other pronunciation. I think that would just get confusing.

I really was keen on Molly for a while, but we have some friends we see pretty regularly with a 4-year-old Molly, and maybe they'd be too close in age? I hate that argument, too, that someone ELSE named their kid "X..." but when it's people you actually SEE regularly or hear about in family news (Juliana), I think it makes a big difference.

Some other girl names I like:
Avery (LOVE this, although I'm not sure I care for the "A" alliteration)
Megan
Katie or Kate (not Caitee or Cate, but would probably be Katherine)
Brianna (too bad, another family name that *truly* can't be used; but I do like the way it sounds; didn't realize that 'til recently)

I mentioned to "my crowd" (hee) that I like Bernice; I do, and it's a family name. But when it comes down to it, I'm maybe not brave enough to really use it. (I do still think it was cute in Hope Floats.)

Kiddie Coaster

I got a phone call yesterday from the OB's office saying one of my blood tests had come back abnormal. >>Insert unnecessary medical information about what it could mean, here (coughdownssyndromecough), and why did you need to tell me that at this stage, Nurse Helpsalot?<< It made us a bit nervous that they wanted to schedule an ultrasound right away (today). But they wanted to measure Tummy to make sure that my due date was correct, because if not, the test results could have been skewed and maybe normal, after all.

So. I cried a bit. DH worried himself a headache. We prepared as much as we could for possibly having to do an amniocentesis if the gestational age WAS, in fact, correct. Went for the ultrasound this morning, and the first thing the technician said was, 'oh you can't be 16 weeks.' She said she thinks my due date should really be Feb 24, (15w4d) and that therefore they drew the blood too early and probably everything is fine.

They did another blood test and we should get those results next week.

What an interesting 20 hours it has been. I've always known truth in the phrase, 'Where much has been given, much will be required..." and I've anticipated that someday Much would be required of me with all my innumerable blessings in this life (...but really, God, I'm not sure I am strong enough to handle this, are you sure?...) And to start thinking, "It isn't that it's a BAD diagnosis, it's just different from what you were expecting..." (and then secretly cry when you think of it anyway)... So. I did my best to keep calm since there was not really anything to get stressed over yet, but emotions have been running rather high. Like a roller coaster, but not a really big one. A small one. Like, 2 or 3 hills, some jerky turns -- the Georgia Cyclone if you've ever been to Six Flags here. Not the Scream Machine.

Okay, now the fun part where your hair blows in the wind and you hope the ride never stops: The technician said she could GUESS the gender of the baby... but not to go shopping just yet, because it's still really too early to know for sure....





Her guess was a Girl. :)

Play by play

I pretended I was away for Labor Day, blogging-wise. I only opened the laptop once during the long weekend, and that was legitimate, focused work-time on a freelance project. (I worked one whole hour. Woo.) Otherwise I spent my time laying on the couch or sitting on the carpet next to a blue train track, helplessly trying to save Thomas and Percy from being "crashed" by Skarloey and Bill (2 really useful engines). Skarloey and Bill spent an awful lot of their holiday weekend in Time Out, for pushing their engine friends. At AJ's direction, we replayed this scenario oh-i-don't-know-a-hundred times, me being the wise, omnipresent Voice who had to give the offenders A Talk after they committed their wrongs.

(Wonder if last week's Time Out discussion has given AJ this impression of me?? Heh.)

That plus a few loads of laundry, a few restaurant meals, and one movie night I actually stayed awake for, and we arrived at Tuesday. Holiday over. It was nice overall. Dear Husband suggested that I take it easy, since, in fact, I might be more tired this pregnancy than the last (y'think), so I tried my best to take him up on that. :) Oh, and we did go out for ice cream Sunday afternoon (swooooon).

We intended to get a closet cleaned out and that didn't happen. However, most of our 900 CDs have been installed in CD binders and their jewel cases disposed of. Even my Broadway musicals DH had never heard of, like Godspell (wha-a? never heard of?) and Sunday in the Park with George. We've been meaning to do this for ages. That's three CD bookshelves that will no longer take up space in the guest room/AJ's room.

That's what we parents DO for 'play' I guess -- reorganize. Or, let me rephrase, that's what my husband does. In the span of a week, he's single-handedly reorg'ed the master bath vanity, the CDs, and one of my kitchen cabinets, and I'm super-grateful for all of it. I would bumble around in completely organized Chaos (read: everything stuffed away, but godhelpya if you open a drawer!) if it were just up to me.

Man, is this the most boring thing you've ever read or what?!

Let me add a small funny that only my Mom and Sis will get: On Saturday, AJ called to me from across the room, "Mama? You're my poopy dommy mommy." (Hint: Awwwwww.)

Oh also! I went to try on the bridesmaid dress for DH's brother's upcoming wedding. Want to see how ridiculous it was? Here is the top:


and here is the skirt:


HAHAHAHA! I will be Eight. Months. Pregnant. She knew this when she picked it out (for her New Year's Eve wedding, Eyeroll.) I'm no bridesmaidzilla, but can assure you I will not be wearing a cropped strapless top. Or a poofy Gone with the Wind prom skirt. HA!

(Thankfully the bride and I worked it out.)