Getting the Hang Of It

Ever have one of those nights where you wake up and you have no clue where you are? I haven't had one of those nights in months...last night was different. It is amazing what a good night sleep can do for a person...

Yes, Roark slept just as long and as hard as I did...waking up for his four feedings. He had lost weight In the first couple of days which caused some concern for us (the trigger is 10 percent of the birth weight which he hit). Well with a little change to his feedings he is now up to 8 lbs 6oz.

I'm fully aware I need to relish these nights...but quite honestly I'm relishing everything this little bar of gold is teaching me.

What Happiness is to Me These Days

Roark continues to steal the heart of the nurses on the floor, even when he is crying...which he likes to show off.

Happiness is, when he grabs and holds my finger...
Happiness is when he eats...which he did quite a bit yesterday
Happiness is When he falls asleep on my chest
Happiness is a "dirty" diaper...yes I know gross. But seriously it is nice to know all systems are working
Happiness is watching the various faces he makes throughout the day
Happiness is when he stops crying when I hold him
Happiness is watching him as he tries to adjust to his new world
Happiness is when he cries...he isn't afraid of letting me know he needs something
Happiness is when he sleeps
Happiness is holding him

Pictures

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www.bellababyphotography.com

Click on "view my photos"

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Who Needs Sleep

Last night was interesting...very little sleep, a lot of crying (surprisingly not me crying), but in the end a very cute, very full, little boy.

Roark got to use his lungs last night...personally I'm so grateful for the lack of sleep because I am learning Roark's cries. And they are beautiful.

He did have a big first day, yesterday, between various shots, and tests, but the highlight was meeting his big sister Allie. Allie is going to be a wonderful big sister...she did a great job holding him.

Sorry I haven't been able to post any pictures...I'm trying, just haven't figured it out yet.

Getting to Know Roark

Yesterday was amazing. Not just the fact that we finally got to hold the Nugget. Granted, as my mom said, he is not a nugget....he's a whole bar of gold! But just that everything went so well.

Anyway, when we got to the hospital yesterday morning, the security guard sang Happy Birthday to us. Immediately, my nerves were put at ease and I was able to be my goofy self.

Everything went great during the surgery. One of the funniest things that was said came from our doctor and it was something like, "oh look at the big head."

Roark is a Big baby...9lbs 1oz, 21 inches long. He is absolutely adorable...especially when he is all wrapped up in his swaddle. He's all cheeks!!

Erik is wonderful...he is the master diaper changer. It is so awesome to see this nugget on Erik's chest. I'm completely speechless.

Roark slept through the night, surprisingly I got some sleep, too.

Roark, let's us know what he wants...and what he needs, which has been manageable.

He LOVES being held and he feels wonderful. It really is hard not to always hold him.



We are so very lucky.

Today is the Day

This is an ode to my sister.

She said something to me yesterday that made this whole pregnancy experience worth it...she told me that I will love being a mother and to essentially relish every moment.

As mentioned before in previous blogs, the amount of advice you receive can be overwhelming. Some pieces of advice are golden...and having her support and guidance means the world.

Thank you Mary.

Prediction

Okay here it is...

Erik thinks we are having a boy...weighing in 10 lbs 1 oz.

I think we are having a girl...weighing in 8 lbs 9 oz.

What Will I Be Doing On The Last Day?

Many thanks goes out to all of you for reading the blog. A special thank you goes out to Jill for sending me the attached video.

As a result, the birth plan has one more addition...I plan on learning these sweet dance moves and performing it for the doctors as my way of thanking them for a wonderful experience. This video has special significance because Christopher Walken is in it...one of my favorites and well as one of my mom's favorite actors.

Dance Birth Plan

Yes - tomorrow morning is the day that the Nugget will make it's appearance. Truth be told - I'm so very excited...it is like Christmas and I am pretty sure I will not sleep tonight. Guess I will be watching Blazing Saddles.

Make a Difference

Please take a moment today, or sometime in the near future and watch the attached video. It is a wonderful story about making a difference, paying attention, and fully understanding that if you want something to happen you can make it happen.

Maybe it is the hormones but this story really made an impact on me. It aired yesterday on CBS Sunday Morning and for the past 24 hours, my thoughts keep drifting back to Luma Mufleh and how literally one day she made a wrong turn, but in the end it set her on an incredible journey.

Ask yourself, what one thing can you do today, that can make an impact on one persons life. No matter how insignificant you might think it is, that simple selfless act can mean the world to someone else.

Inspiration

The Plan - Redux

Erik is off the hook...

Originally the birth plan was somewhat simple...Erik was to make sure that I was fully drugged and entertained. The entertainment was:

Birth Plan Entertainment Choices

1. Dance Party CD (I will be compiling a cd that has some of my favorite songs to "dance" to)
2. One-man reenactment of Blazing Saddles - one of my all time favorite movies
3. Either Curb Your Enthusiasm or Arrested Development on a continuous loop

Now that we are having a C-section, the only thing I am requesting is the music - and that I'm drugged. Yesterday, I loaded a variety of songs on my iPod yesterday... 3.5 hours of sweet tunes.

We are all set.

Here are a few selections:
Mandy
Boots
Double Dutch Bus
Relax

Things That Make You Go Hmmm...

First of all, allow me to congratulate you on surviving the Rapture.

Currently we are on a 3-day wait list for a C-section. What this means is that we are second in line to be called in on Tuesday, October 25, first in line on Wednesday, October 26, and First in line on Thursday October 27 (but only in the morning because my doctor will not be in the office in the afternoon).

I'm really not sure what all of that means...I just know we need to show up when they tell us. Granted - the Nugget can still make an appearance on it's own but we are guaranteed to go any of those three days.

The doctor also confirmed that the weight was pretty much dead on at 9lbs. 6 oz. She laughed when she mentioned we'll see how much it grows in the next week...typically you can expect 1/2 a pound growth.

Great.

All along, all I ever said was that I wanted a healthy baby. I didn't care if the Nugget was a girl or a boy, just healthy. My wish seems to have come true. Thank goodness.

So...for your astrology/history buffs...here are some tidbits on the potential delivery dates:

October 25
Scorpio Information for October 25

You should embrace: Poignant memories, artistic expression, peace

You should avoid: Sadness, regret, addiction

The past is never far from Scorpios born on October 25. They compare each new experience to what they have known. With their sensitive and imaginative nature, dreams and illusions are as concrete as reality. There is an ageless quality about them. In youth they may seem older, while aging seems to refine their unique qualities.

My friend Dottie's wedding anniversary
On this day in 1870, Postcards were first used in the U.S.

October 26
Scorpio Information for October 26

You should embrace: Cooperation, commitment to excellence, kindness

You should avoid: Sadness, regret, addiction
 

October 26 Scorpios are easy to love yet hard to know. They value power and know how to use it to help others rather than glorify themselves. They are self-disciplined. Personal honor means a great deal to them, and they are fanatics about keeping their word.

On this day in 1881, the Gunfight at OK Corral, In Tombstone, AZ happened


October 27
Scorpio Information for October 27

You should embrace: Intellect, balance, friendships

You should avoid: Depression, insecurity, making demands

October 27 Scorpios are complicated individuals who like to walk on the wild side. Their quiet personality seems to hide something dangerous and volcanic. They can make others notice them because they're magnetic. While some might use this power to manipulate, they rarely attempt that.

My Uncle Nick's birthday...He was a very special man who lived a very full and rather colorful life.
On this day in 1775, the U.S. Navy forms...that one is for you Erik.

Mother of the Year

For awhile there I was worried about being a good parent...but then just reading various news articles I realized, I will be okay...mainly the latest one brought to us by my cousin Meghan. In a mother's quest at being named Mother of the Year...

Mother of the Year Nomination

Rapture

Back in May 2011 you might recall a California ministry calling for the end of days. Needless to say we all woke up on May 22nd ready to tackle another day. Harold Camping, the 90-year-old leader of the "Rapture," miscalculated...so today is the supposed last day and 200 million Christians will be taken to heaven. Evidently, Harold had a stroke after the May prediction, so maybe he was predicting his own demise and didn't need to scare the weak. Ouch, yes, that is mean and cruel- I know. But if you are going to spout irrational messages to people who are willing to believe in anything, you will have to take the criticism that goes along with it...

Okay...the irony of the situation is today is the estimated due date of the Nugget. I'm doing my best not to make any off-colored religious jokes and comments, so I'll just say second coming.

Needless to say, it looks like both, the Rapture and the Nugget will not be arriving. As a matter of fact, I had a rather comical conversation with my doctor yesterday talking about the girth of the baby - anywhere between 8.5 - 10.5 lbs. I'm still amazed. We will be scheduling a C-section. So probably in a week the Nugget will be here, and I can't wait. Truth be told it is a bit overwhelming knowing that life as we know it is going to change...so maybe Harold was right after all...and we are just experiencing a much better version of Rapture.

Any Day Now

So, just a minor correction - the estimated weight is 9lbs. 6oz. Either way we are talking about a 10cm/12cm head. Yes, I'm fully aware that the head is soft but this size is still a shock. Mainly because I thought for sure the little one was going to be somewhere around 6lbs. 9oz. - just a little bit more than the 5lb. bag of flour I carried around for my Home Ec. class in high school.

Luckily, I was able to sleep last night, but had really strange dreams - like something out of Gulliver's Travels. Also, I was reminded of a cartoon I used to watch as a kid called The Littles.

So, as we wait to hear what the doctor has in store for the Nugget, I will provide you with an another example of expert parenting...

Have a great day!

As Promised...

Well, well, well....the doctor's appointment was a success. A success in giving us some crazy crazy news. I still don't believe it...all I know is that I need to do some serious weight-lifting because they estimate the Nugget to be 9.6 lbs. SERIOUSLY?

I will have to get a second job just to feed the bambino.

9.6 lbs.

So needless to say I don't know when the Nugget will arrive...at 9.6 lbs, if the estimate is correct. Granted there is 15% wiggle room but the kid still sounds like a bruiser.

3 Days...

Today's blog will be updated after our doctor's appointment today...thank you.  Until then, here is a parenting tip...don't let your child be your designated driver...Proud Dad, no matter how proud you are of him or her.

4 Days...Oh My...Bringing Comedy to The White House

So yesterday the big joke in the Republican race was Herman Cain's comment on the 9 foot electrified fence at the boarder.

Yes, I can see how that could bring comedic relief to the White House.

Really. Sinbad's movie, First Kid was funnier...

Here is something that I found amusing, hopefully you all will as well. Yesterday, my dear friend Nikki called to inform me that she thought "Today is the day you are going into labor." So...as the wise person I am I realized there are still some things I need to get at the store...so I gathered the dogs together and off we went.

As I'm driving to the store it occurred to me, why did I bring the dogs? My immediate reaction - "so they can help with the delivery." Seriously...This baby brain, irrational thinking that the hormones are causing...Maybe it was the emotional support they would provide...the licking of my face. Or perhaps distracting me from the pain - only to focus on petting them. Come to think of it, these dogs would be great Doulas.

I SWEAR I haven't had a drink.

5 Days Left, However

More than likely, the Nugget will be fashionably late. Which is a good thing because the extra time is allowing me to wash the clothes again, clean the apartment again, remember things like baby wipes that we don't have but probably should get, again.

But really, I'm not worried.

I've resigned myself to the fact that we will not be ready when the Nugget arrives. Because, really, are you ever truly prepared for what is about to turn your world upside down in the most exciting way possible???

So again...I sit here and wait. Luckily, I get to work from home these days until the Nugget arrives. I never thought that I would get so jazzed as to have projects to work on...to keep my mind off of the fact that I only have 3 bottles. How many do you really need?

Maybe we should just wing-it.

6 Days, I Live in a Zoo

I'm okay with it, too.

Right now, I have Archie at my feet... Baxter on my left side, straddling the arm of the chair...Tory is behind me in the window sill, and Lady Diana is on my right.

I dare not move. Lady will attack. Which will then set off patrol dog Archie, causing Tory to run in to the mix followed by Baxter to wake up to see what he missed.

It truly is entertaining to see these four interact. Yesterday was a prime example...Lady was in the chair, asleep. Tory jumped up...watched her for a second then smacked Lady awake. Lady hissed, which was the exact reaction Tory wanted because she jumped on Lady and Archie came to the rescue. Baxter remained under the table - in hopes that some food would fall...even though we had finished eating an hour earlier.

How will the Nugget fit into the mix? Time will tell...

7 Crazy Things That Happened While Pregnant

Today my cousin Bridget is running the Baltimore Marathon...she is sending out updates as to what mile marker she's at...so it is almost as if we are running with her (but we aren't all sweaty and icky).

Last week was the Chicago Marathon...there was a woman who ran who was, I believe, 37 weeks pregnant. Right after completing the marathon, she gave birth. I give her credit for inducing her labor - I'm 7 days away and running a marathon to get the Nugget to make it's grand entrance is not on my to do list.

Luckily, my pregnancy has been pretty good (knock on wood). I'm still able to bend over and tie my shoes, AND I can still see my toes. I've done some pretty crazy things while pregnant and maintained some sanity but to run a marathon 37 weeks pregnant? I ran the Shamrock Shuffle (an 8k) when I was about 13 weeks...but I took it easy.

Some other things I did during this pregnancy include:

1. Studying for the CFP (I've taken 5 of 6 classes and have averaged a B+)
2. Started a new job
3. Moved my stuff out of the apartment so Erik could move in
4. Got engaged
5. Planned a wedding
6. Got married
7. Eventually had a baby

Now, after looking back at these activities I can understand why the Nugget doesn't want to come out...it's too crazy and there is a lot of stuff going on. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to "relaxing" once the Nugget is in my arms, safe and sound.

8 Drinks to Knock Back Once Nugget is Out

Not that I'm a lush...but with my super sonic sense of smell, booze smells like chocolate to me these days.

It seems that when I am around alcohol, I'm like a bloodhound. Poor Erik...whenever he has a glass of red wine I find myself standing way too close to him just to inhale the beautiful aroma. It has somewhat turned into an uncontrollable, almost embarrassing behavior.

To make matters worse, the soap at my doctor's office smells like Pina Coloda's. Now that is torture...immediately when I smell the soap I'm taken back to the last time I was in Las Vegas drinking Pina Coloda's by the pool.

So today's blog is dedicated to the 8 drinks I can't wait to have once I've been given clearance to drink:

1. Red wine - any kind...I've never been a big fan of red wine until I got pregnant. What's up with that?
2. Pinot Grigio
3. Margarita, with salt
4. Pina Coloda
5. Jack and coke
6. Amstel Light
7. Vanilla vodka and ginger ale
8. Vodka slurpee...why not relive college?

9 days...tick tock...

So there are only 9 days left until the estimated due date.  I do plan on continuing to update the blog once the Nugget arrives.

Granted, I'm not sure how frequently I will be updating the blog but the plan is the blog will be my outside contact with humans - especially because winter is coming.

So brace yourself people...I might be updating the blog with silly animal videos/pictures or photos of the Nugget...

I plan on creating videos similar to this either of the ones below. I have to be honest, these videos ALWAYS crack me up...

Enjoy. Be careful - there are some naughty words in the first video...

Cat Video
Sweet Ride
Monkey

10 Reasons To Be Happy Today

Today is my birthday. Every year on this day I take a look at all things to be thankful for...this year there are so many that I had to share.

1. Erik...that is a given. Making someone laugh is an art and he has perfected many ways of making me laugh.
2. Allie...what a wonderful girl. She is so much fun to have, she will make an AWESOME big sister.
3. Mei Li and Lu Li - my beautiful nieces. I am so looking forward to spoiling them this Holiday season.
4. My family: Mom, Dad, Chip and Mary- please refer to the previous blogs...
5. My In-Laws. Boy howdy did I win the lotto with loving in-laws. From the moment we met, they were so warm and welcoming - I felt that I knew them for ages!!!
6. My Sisters-in-Laws...Again, both Lori and Kristen have really helped me out tremendously throughout this pregnancy. They have really been sort of an inspiration to me and I don't know if they are aware of it...
7. My Brothers-in-Laws...You guessed it...these guys are truly wonderful. I've never had the good fortune of having a brother as a sibling and now I have 3 on Erik's side. From the moment I met Erik's brothers I felt that same welcoming feeling that I did with his parents.
8. My friends...they have been a tremendous amount of support throughout this year. I would be truly lost without them.
9. My co-workers. All the ones from Claymore who continue to support me, but also my new boss, John, my partners-in-crime, Michelle, and Kelly. In particular Kelly and Michelle have really made this transition from Claymore to Guggenheim easy...by educating me on the ways of a new area of the financial industry that I was rather unfamiliar with...
10. The Nugget...I've never been happier...

Honorable Mentions:

• Our wedding
• The Golden Nugget - and their grilled sandwich
• My pets - and the happiness they bring
• My doctor
• Dunkin' Donuts
• My sweet ass pillow
• The strangers who helped me along the way - offering me their seat on the train or helping me load the groceries into the car
• My mid-wife, Luke

11 Quotes of Pregnancy

***Warning***

Some of these quotes are disgusting, and I apologize beforehand.

Some of these quotes occurred in the doctor's office, at work, or in the comforts of our home...

1. If going to the bathroom was an Olympic event, I would be a gold medal winner.
2. Do you want to die naturally, or at the hands of your wife? (I never said this to Erik, I swear)
3. Pregnancy is the best job I've ever had.  
4. I growled at someone today.
5. Take that!
6. You have to be the happiest 8.5 month pregnant woman I've ever seen. 
7. Erik gets 9 months of me being a designated driver...I get 18 years. That is our arrangement.
8. How many pregnant wives go out to McDonald’s to pick up food for their husbands at 1 in the morning?
9. I've given up. I'm at the whim of my body - I know not what my body is doing these days.
10. Can I call the doctor to find out what you all are having?
11. Scratch your butt for good luck.

Honorary mentions:

• I just farted the 1812 overture down the hall.
• I’m doing everything in my power to make the delivery easy, everything but installing a slip and slide up my ho-ha.
• Every hole has been violated.
• I am not your hobby.
• Hiccups echoing thru my ho-ha, that is how I know the baby has descended.

12 Days...Beauty

Honestly, when I think of beauty, I think of my mother. She has a wonderful smile - lights up her face and makes her eyes dance.

She is extremely intelligent, well-read, talented, and is a great role model. She is an expert seamstress and cook...to which I pale in comparison. She made both my sister's and my wedding dress.

As a matter of fact, she's made the dessert multiple times:

She was even featured in the local paper with one of my favorite desserts - Mile High Strawberry Pie.

Several years ago we had a bit of a scare where she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Holy Cow. She showed AMAZING strength throughout her surgery and treatments. I need to remind myself of her resilience and courageousness whenever I get sick or complain because she never did. In fact, it was almost as if she ignored what was happening and continued to persevere.

The other week she was kind enough to come to a doctor's appointment with me. It was great to have her there and it has been incredible to share this experience with her. I've learned a lot from her - and continue to do so. I can only hope that I am 1/2 as good of a mother as she is to my sister and I.



Lucky 13...another sappy one...

So the other day I witnessed Vince Vaughn playing with his daughter on Michigan Avenue. This image is stuck in my head simply for the pure joy both parties were experiencing. It was so pure, innocent, and the laughter was wonderfully loud.

Then the other day at work, one of my mid-wives brought his son to work - they were going out to lunch. The relationship they had was so endearing, loving and warm, it made me even more excited to see Erik with our child.

The weekends with have with Allie are some of my favorites! To be a witness to their relationship is an honor. Early on I knew Erik was special by the way he would talk about Allie. His whole face lights up, even his posture changes - he's so incredibly proud, as he should be. Allie is an intelligent, beautiful, fun (I could go on)10-year-old. One of my first memories of their relationship was meeting Allie at Hamburger Mary's. To sit across the table and watch the love the two of them shared for each other made me speechless. I remember leaving there thinking I just witnessed unconditional love.

But I, too, have been blessed, as I get to experience that own bond with my father. My father is an amazing individual. He did so much for his family, my mom's family and our family. He taught me about life, that hard work pays off, but it is just as important to not take yourself too seriously. He's been a true inspiration. But one of the real things that warms my soul is how supportive he has been during this pregnancy. He'll ask about my doctor's visits and what happened at the visit. He'll question as to whether I'm eating well, and taking it easy. When we visited in Colorado, he was concerned that I was doing too much. It is so refreshing to feel so loved...I can only wait for our Nugget to experience the same.

Tune in later to hear about my mom.

You Can Create Your Own Life - 14 days...

So I've mentioned in previous entries the various unsolicited suggestions and unsuspecting belly rubs...but there is something else that happens. With all the baby books, your friends, family, strangers, the Internet, etc., everyone has something to say...sometimes wise, other times in one-ear-out-the-other, and yet other times, worrisome.

Everyone does have good intentions...however sometimes I wonder. When people ask me if I'm scared, I wonder scared of what? I know it is October and Halloween is just around the corner and I don't have a costume. Turner Classic Movies is having a marathon of horror on Halloween and I can't wait, but am I scared?

Honestly, I'm not scared of the pain, labor, delivery, etc. I figured generations of women have given birth, many without drugs. I'm lucky in that regard I have a great doctor who has eased any fear/concern I've had throughout our pregnancy.

What I am scared of, is screwing up our child...however I saw a quote from a teacher today that resonated with me. "You can create your own life." I want our child to believe in that, to live that, experience that, to be passionate about life. I want our child to realize that his/her dreams are possible and that life is beautiful. Inspiration is all around us, we just need to be open to the possibilities.

Inspiration

No, that is not a watermelon under my clothes…15 Days and holding

According to my phone application, “What to Expect.com Pregnancy Tracker” the Nugget is as big as a watermelon weighing in at about 6.5lbs.

Honestly, aside from the fact I have to sit three feet away from my desk because of my “added” watermelon and the fact Erik and I have to hug as if we are at a middle school dance, I’m feeling pretty good.

It really is hard to believe that we are two weeks away from the “estimated” due date. At this weeks doctor’s appointment – everything looks good, except that the Nugget hasn’t descended. Obviously our bonding has already begun and the Nugget is well aware that life is crazy and the bambino wants to remain safe and close to Mom.

Not to worry Erik, I won’t baby our Nugget too much once it decides to make its grand entrance, I promise. Boy howdy, I’m making a lot of promises.

Anyway, the other night I was trying to figure out what parts of the Nugget were protruding from my side and center. The Nugget likes to stick out its butt from my center then do this running motion out of my right side. That's right, not only has the Nugget already stuck its tongue out (my awkward turkey timer), it looks like he/she will be a "mooner."

So I was finally able to see the foot kick out…which if I do say so myself, was pretty darn cool; I thought for sure I would be disgusted when it happened but it was really neat. I estimate the foot is about 1.5 inches and by the estimate of where the little butt was sticking out the bambino might have some long legs. Long legs would be good…but I hope they are long chubby legs, with a chubby belly, and chubby cheeks. Alas, I just really want the Nugget to be healthy.

But who knows how big the bambino will be…we just sit here and wait, wait, and wait some more.

Luckily we don’t have to worry about the Nugget being as tall as my friend Justine’s, fur-kid, Sadie…or do we…

16 Days - The Plan

Poor Erik, he is not aware yet of the birth plan I created. As with the names we selected, our birth plan promises to be unique.

It really is quite simple. Erik's job is to make sure I'm fully drugged and entertained. Now, you might be concerned for Erik as to how will he entertain me...I've already thought of that:

Birth Plan Entertainment Choices

1. Dance Party CD (I will be compiling a cd that has some of my favorite songs to "dance" to)
2. One-man reenactment of Blazing Saddles - one of my all time favorite movies
3. Either Curb Your Enthusiasm or Arrested Development on a continuous loop

Now, the Blazing Saddles might be a little difficult  - but if we can find someone that knows a majority of the lines - I can fill in the gaps. My Uncle Michael might be able to help in this arena, my cousin Meghan just informed me. That way we keep everything in the family...

 Blazing Saddles

17 - Shenanigans, Part 2

So the other day we were discussing predicting what the gender the Nugget will be...I neglected to share with you some of predictions:

• My mom and sister think we are having a boy
• Erik's mom thinks we are having a girl
• The Dunkin' Donuts employees by home think we are having a girl
• The Dunkin' Donuts employees by work think we are having a girl
• The girl at Sbarro think we are having a boy
• My neighbor thinks we are having a boy
• Nikki thinks we are having a boy
• My cousin Meghan thinks we are having a boy

Needless to say, it is still undecided.

I'd also like to take a moment to describe some peculiarities that have been going on...and it is not a full moon. In one week I had three different homeless men make interesting gestures/remarks to me: First one said, "hubba hubba," pressed his face against the glass and watched me go into the store; the second one whistled at me, and the third one told me he loved me. I feel so loved.

Then yesterday, a stranger rubbed my belly. Looking back there were so many funny things that I could have done. The moment she touched me I could have fainted, faked that my water broke, punched her, the options are endless. Instead I told her I hope it brings her luck and better fashion sense...

18 Days...The Name Game

Trying the decide what to name the Nugget was not as difficult as I thought. Erik and I saw pretty much eye to eye in the fact we wanted something unique for either a boy or a girl. We wanted something strong, independent, and meaningful. So we decided on Bob for a boy and Shirley for a girl...just kidding.

I truly love both names we picked; however when we do mention it to people they look perplexed. Needless to say we are not going to name our child something like Ima Hogg. True fact: She was the daughter of the Governor of Texas.

Here is a link about her:
Ima Hogg

Here are a list of some of my favorites from The Simpsons:

1. Al Caholic
2. Oliver Clothesoff
3. I.P. Freely
4. Seymour Butz
5. Mike Rotch
6. Hugh Jass
7. Amanda Hugginkiss
8. Ivana Tinkle
9. Anita Bath
10. Maya Buttreeks

19 Days, Are You Kidding Me?

So one of the many questions we received during our pregnancy is, "Do you know what you are having?" We decided, thank you Erik, to be surprised.

It is amazing the amount of various old wives predictors out there. There is the Chinese Gender Predictor...where I just took two different tests and the first one said we are having a girl, the second said we are having a boy.

Then there are the ones that ask about your complexion, your hair, how fast your leg hair is growing, whether you are craving salty or sweet (I had both)...it is crazy. Honestly I really want it to be a surprise. However I did have a dream where I was holding a little girl - she was beautiful. She had my dark hair, but Erik's eyes and facial features.  But then again I've had some really whacked out dreams. Even my mom had a dream she was pregnant.

One of the other questions we heard was, "Do you have a preference?"

My answer is "No, I don't have a preference. I just want the baby to be healthy and have an awesome sense of humor."

Honestly. I want our child to be optimistic, happy, loving, etc. There is absolutely nothing better than to hear a baby laugh. I cannot wait until our little one laughs at all shenanigans going on at our place...and there are many opportunities for that!

Gee, I Hope This Doesn't Happen To Me...

So the due date is fast-approaching and I’ve been preoccupied with the thought of when this Nugget is going to make its appearance.

Then I saw this article in the Chicago Tribune about a woman who gave birth on a street in Chicago.  Please, please don’t let this happen to me.

My other fear is that I will go into labor at work. Keep in mind that I love my job and my co-workers are great; however, there is one co-worker (who I really do enjoy and find amusing) who has a plan of attack if I do go into labor in the office. He claims to be a certified mid-wife and vowed that the conference room would be available at any time we need it…his attention to detail is was concerns me about the possibility of this really happening. I truly appreciate his care and concern too...as he has "directed" all my calls to 911 to be forwarded to his cell - since he is always on call, eagerly anticipating the Nugget's arrival. Honestly, it totally cracks me up. He has assigned other duties to various people in the office; for instance my boss is the anesthesiologist and there is another mid-wife. It certainly makes work exciting these last few weeks.

I will continue to hope that the Nugget will make its grand entrance at a time that is convenient for both Erik and me. That isn’t too much to ask, is it?

Gee, I hope this doesn't happen to me...

21 Days...Aka 3 Weeks - OH MY GOODNESS

In keeping with yesterday's theme...I promise to all of you, I will never do this to our son, if we have a boy.
Boy Pageants

You have my word...

It is hard to believe we are 3 weeks away from the official due date...that is like Holiday Break for many colleges...mind blowing.