Mixed Bag Of Rant

So we’re off to Tahiti in just FOUR DAYS! I can hardly believe it! I think I have done about all the shopping possible not only for this trip, but I pretty much have my summer covered. I’m so determined to be comfortable for the trip no matter what it takes. I just have to laugh at all the “warnings” that are out there for pregnant women. I swear, they should just put us in a bubble for 9 months. Don’t get me wrong, I love my little boy more than life itself, but some of these things are truly ridiculous. Example… someone said that sunscreen was harmful! Like a naive little idiot I went running to my doctor to ask and she looked at me like I was a moron. She said “I don’t care what kind of sunscreen you wear as long as you WEAR IT.” My hard lesson was learned when I went to Mexico and didn’t lather up quite as well as I should have. I came home with a severe sunburn on my face that BLISTERED (that’s right my forehead BLISTERED) and my right eye was swollen shut. Someone forgot to inform me that your skin can change drastically in pregnancy due to hormones and what not. Well, my skin apparantly got much more sensitive. I am definitely not taking any chances on this trip!! My other favorite is the soft-serve ice cream debate. Now… I know there are some places out there that probably don’t clean their machines up to code; however, I worked at an A & W as a Car Hop in high school and the owners were EXPLICIT on how to clean our ice cream machine. There was no way any bacteria would be growing on it after the cleaning it got on a daily basis (sometimes more if there were more orders). While I’m not running out to McDonald’s on a daily basis for a twist cone, I’m definitely not taking my ice cream off the list! I’ve been somewhat cautious about the deli meats, but I figure eating a Subway (from a very suburban, reputable and CLEAN Subway mind you) is much better for me than getting a Whopper & Fries from Burger King. My other favorite is the aspartame debate. Do you know how much aspartame you would need to ingest for it to cause any serious harm or problems???? I don’t think my daily stick of gum is going to lead to any problems. While I admit, I haven’t been as “careful” as I could be, my babe is doing just fine and great. He’s growing like mad and kicking up a storm. That’s all the reassurance I need!

Other than that… nothing new to report! Just excited to get on that plane and head to paradise.

It’s a BOY my friends!!!

I had my 20 week ultrasound last Wednesday and it was AWESOME!!! We found out that we’re having a little boy and we just couldn’t be more thrilled. More than anything, we are just thrilled that he is healthy and doing well. He was so cute! He kept putting his hands up in front of his face as though he was hiding from the camera. I just couldn’t be more in love with this little guy. The cartoon I chose for today was in reference to his manic kicking- I swear he gets more and more active every day which is AMAZING. I’ve never felt anything more cool and I feel so connected to him when he’s kicking the crap out of me.

We have chosen a name… however we are not disclosing it until he is born! We just didn’t want to deal with anyone’s disapproval of the name we chose. No matter how much anyone begs, we will not break!!! Besides, having this secret between the 3 of us (me, my husband and the baby)… well, 4 if you include Sadie (good luck getting her to talk!), I feel like we have kind of a private, special bond with him.

We did register over last weekend which was… an experience. Two new parents walking around Babies-R-Us absolutely clueless and overwhelmed trying to figure out how the travel system strollers work. We had NO IDEA what the heck we were looking for! It was quite funny. I think we got it figured out though and have registered for an amazing nursery. I can’t WAIT until we are in our new house and can put it all together!

Well, I’m off to eat… which is what I do best these days!

It is hard to believe I am almost to the halfway point!! Thank GOD. This Wednesday, we will finally get to find out the gender and I can’t wait! We’ll finally be able to give this kid a name and identity as well as do some shopping. As far as the name game goes… My darling husband doesn’t want to tell anyone what name we decide on! Says he wants to keep at least one thing secret. I think the idea is ludicrous! Like I said, I want to start giving this child an identity (on top of all the cute personalized things that people can get for him/her). I’m just ready to start making it a person rather than just a baby or a him or a her.

On that same token… I’m sure he’s just afraid of unsolicited advice from people (that I’ve already gotten). The LAST thing we need is anyone criticizing the name we choose for our child. I can name at least 2 people who will be pissed if we don’t choose what THEY want. If they aren’t pissed all we’ll ever get is guilt trips. So, yeah… I guess I can see my husbands point of view; however, it is OUR child and OUR choice on the name! Nobody else. The other unsolicited advice came on the subject of labor and delivery. This person had the audacity to question my want and need for an epidural if/when I should need it. I think it went something like this… “I had my children naturally and never needed the epidural. I used breathing techniques.” Well yippee for you! No woman is the same and should I choose to ward off the pain with a little medication that is MY CHOICE. The other comment was in regards to the hospital I will be giving birth at- let’s just say, I don’t give a shit how they treat their employees or the “politics” involved with this hospital system- I only care about quality of care which is top notch. Both my nephews were born at the same hospital and my sister and all of us were treated with only care and respect. Despite that- I have no choice in this. My doctor only does births at this hospital. I LOVE my doctor and refuse to give her up! Those who don’t want to show their face there don’t have to come!

My sister could not have put this any better: Hormones, hormones, whatever, you are the one pregnant, you are the one carrying the legacy, you are the one who is miserable most of the time, they should be kissing your ass. It’s all about YOU. This is YOUR time. That was my attitude during pregnancy, funny how most people forget what it’s like though.

I’ve been a ball of emotions and mood swings for the past couple weeks. Can you tell?

Importantly, this Sunday will be my first ever Mother’s Day as a mama-to-be and I’m so excited and so blessed to finally be able to celebrate.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mama’s and mama’s-to-be out there!

“My Wish” by Rascal Flatts

I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you’re faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin’ till you find the window,
If it’s cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you’re out there getting where you’re getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God’s grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you’re out there getting where you’re getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you’re out there getting where you’re getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

This is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big

That’s right! It’s my birthday today!!! Kinda funny… this is the first year I think ever that I just don’t care all that much. Too many other exciting things going on! On the other hand, I have to admit that I wish someone would at least try to make a big deal out of it, ya know? I mean… I’m taking myself out to lunch, I’m going shopping by myself… I had to remind my husband what I wanted for my b-day dinner (a little tradition of ours) AND he wasn’t planning on getting me a gift!!! He said “Oh- you wanted that ON your birthday??” Someday, he is going to surprise me… I just know it. Yeah, right. Keep dreaming! LOL!

There are a lot of exciting things happening though. Today is not only my birthday but the start of my 18th week and 5th month of pregnancy!!! Holy CRAP! 5 months along already!!! In so many ways it still feels a little surreal, but now that the baby is moving around a bit and I definitely am showing it has begun to feel real. I feel as though it is really happening and I will actually get to meet this little person in just 4 short months!! In terms of my showing, this cartoon says it all. Just yesterday a bunch of colleagues who haven’t seen my in awhile were all touching my belly and it was… odd. I kind of laughed it off but couldn’t help but feel mildly violated! My husband is still a little freaked out by the belly, but he did say it looked cute! I love my baby belly!!!

The other exciting news is that we might be close to FINALLY getting an offer on our house!!! What a GREAT GREAT GREAT birthday present that would be!!

As you can see, there are many exciting things that have happened to us over the past year or so. I attribute all of these great things to my study and practice of The Secret. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, just Google it. The main theory behind it is simply the power of positive thinking. When you surround yourself with positive energy, then the things you want and hope for are attracted right back to you. I kid you not, when I started to read this book, I wanted a new job, more money, a baby and quite simply to be happy and content. I HAVE GOTTEN ALL OF THESE THINGS by applying The Secret. Another way to look at it is to call it a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you THINK that bad things are going to happen to you, then bad things are probably going to happen to you. Imagine that if you change your outlook and start thinking about things in a positive light, then good things will only come your way! I have a friend who seems to constantly have bad luck happen to her- I keep reminding her of The Secret and how important it is to think positively, even when things seem horrible. Yet, every e-mail and phone call I ever get is how desperate and horrible her situation and finances seem to be. I know it seems insane, but if she’d just change her line of thinking I KNOW that things will get better for her! Being who I am now, it is so hard to be around this kind of negative line of thinking.

Now that I’ve gone on and on…. my main advice is to be happy and think positively in all aspects of your life and you will be rewarded!!!

Don’t believe me? Read this: http://www.thesecret.tv/secret-treasures-stories.html