12/29/04:
* In case anyone was wondering, this is what my belly looked like at around 36 weeks.
Amazing, isn't it? And it's gotten bigger! The funny thing is that the rest of my body has only changed a little bit. I'm sure I'll have to stick with my looser-fitting clothes for months after Valerie is born, but at least they'll be clothes I already have.
I finally found a suitable lapdesk, at Target. It's big enough for my laptop, its mouse, my water bottle, and a cat. I've missed the mouse; the little 'joystick' button on the laptop is good, but ya just can't scroll around the same way with it. Now if I could just have the same luck with a nursing bra.
* In case anyone was wondering, this is what my belly looked like at around 36 weeks.
I finally found a suitable lapdesk, at Target. It's big enough for my laptop, its mouse, my water bottle, and a cat. I've missed the mouse; the little 'joystick' button on the laptop is good, but ya just can't scroll around the same way with it. Now if I could just have the same luck with a nursing bra.
12/28/04:
* Hope everyone had good holidays! I got everything I wanted...to eat! ;) Mmmmm, ham and oatmeal cookies. As I suspected, we were mostly given things for Valerie. We also got the glider rocker that I wanted, and I got the husband a Transformer to add to his collection. The nieces were kinda fun to watch; we skipped out on the crack-of-dawn thing at my sister's, but there were some things out at Mom's for them to open as well and we were there for that. The oldest has this speed-opening method that is both funny/cliched and horrifying to watch. The youngest wanted to play with everything as she opened it, which seemed to bug her sister but it was extremely cute. I can't believe that next year, we'll have a little girl opening presents! I'm really ready for her to get here.
* Hope everyone had good holidays! I got everything I wanted...to eat! ;) Mmmmm, ham and oatmeal cookies. As I suspected, we were mostly given things for Valerie. We also got the glider rocker that I wanted, and I got the husband a Transformer to add to his collection. The nieces were kinda fun to watch; we skipped out on the crack-of-dawn thing at my sister's, but there were some things out at Mom's for them to open as well and we were there for that. The oldest has this speed-opening method that is both funny/cliched and horrifying to watch. The youngest wanted to play with everything as she opened it, which seemed to bug her sister but it was extremely cute. I can't believe that next year, we'll have a little girl opening presents! I'm really ready for her to get here.
12/22/04:
* I haven't been online in days. This is partly due to World of Warcraft, and partly because I just haven't felt like it. It is hard to surf the web when someone's playing one of those MMORPGs, even if there's a properly-set-up network in your house, which ours isn't. What a beautiful game it is! But I've been so physically uncomfortable and therefore fidgety, and mentally disconnected, that a lot of my usual activities just aren't fun right now. The disconnectedness is worrying me a lot more than the physical stuff; hopefully it's all hormones, lack of sleep, and Sudafed. More typically, this sort of 'what planet am I on again?' mental state is part of a depressive episode. Anyway, I've been reading old-fashioned books and actually playing video games a bit. Just the usual old Puzzle Fiighter on my GBA, FreeCell, and Bejeweled, but it's been a while since I've played all that much. There's a stack of PS2 games I keep meaning to try, so maybe I should.
* I haven't been online in days. This is partly due to World of Warcraft, and partly because I just haven't felt like it. It is hard to surf the web when someone's playing one of those MMORPGs, even if there's a properly-set-up network in your house, which ours isn't. What a beautiful game it is! But I've been so physically uncomfortable and therefore fidgety, and mentally disconnected, that a lot of my usual activities just aren't fun right now. The disconnectedness is worrying me a lot more than the physical stuff; hopefully it's all hormones, lack of sleep, and Sudafed. More typically, this sort of 'what planet am I on again?' mental state is part of a depressive episode. Anyway, I've been reading old-fashioned books and actually playing video games a bit. Just the usual old Puzzle Fiighter on my GBA, FreeCell, and Bejeweled, but it's been a while since I've played all that much. There's a stack of PS2 games I keep meaning to try, so maybe I should.
12/16/04:
* You know those Braxton-Hicks contractions I was talking about? I spent literally all day yesterday having them, or some sort of contraction anyway. Did I mention, OUCH? It's like having really bad cramps, except with more ligament/tendon involvement and some odd muscular goings-on. I think I'm ready to have this baby. I'm definitely ready to get her little feet outta my ribs and head offa my bladder! Well, and it would be really nice to hold her and see her little face.
* The curtains still aren't done. I broke down and got more iron-on tape, the better to put the gingham band on the panels and maybe hem the sheers. But really, curtains and the waffle-weave fleece blankie are the only things left. We got more sheets for the crib, and little tiny socks (grandmas have pretty much taken care of most of the other clothing). A Boppy and some baby hygiene products would be nice, but they're less immediately necessary. I dunno, somehow nothing seems all that important except diapers, of which we have several hundred. Not that they'll last more than a month or two, I realize. Although breast-fed babies apparently don't go through as many diapers as bottle-fed, how weird is that?
* I found the perfect restaurant; too bad it's only in New York and Miami: BED. You take off your shoes, put on slippers, and get in a nice Tempur-Pedic bed with lots of pillows. And, of course, the food sounds really good if really expensive. Incidentally, their online boutique was featuring boybeater tanks! What an apt name for the female version of a redneck standby, the wifebeater. I just thought that was a clever twist. Boybeater. Heh.
* You know those Braxton-Hicks contractions I was talking about? I spent literally all day yesterday having them, or some sort of contraction anyway. Did I mention, OUCH? It's like having really bad cramps, except with more ligament/tendon involvement and some odd muscular goings-on. I think I'm ready to have this baby. I'm definitely ready to get her little feet outta my ribs and head offa my bladder! Well, and it would be really nice to hold her and see her little face.
* The curtains still aren't done. I broke down and got more iron-on tape, the better to put the gingham band on the panels and maybe hem the sheers. But really, curtains and the waffle-weave fleece blankie are the only things left. We got more sheets for the crib, and little tiny socks (grandmas have pretty much taken care of most of the other clothing). A Boppy and some baby hygiene products would be nice, but they're less immediately necessary. I dunno, somehow nothing seems all that important except diapers, of which we have several hundred. Not that they'll last more than a month or two, I realize. Although breast-fed babies apparently don't go through as many diapers as bottle-fed, how weird is that?
* I found the perfect restaurant; too bad it's only in New York and Miami: BED. You take off your shoes, put on slippers, and get in a nice Tempur-Pedic bed with lots of pillows. And, of course, the food sounds really good if really expensive. Incidentally, their online boutique was featuring boybeater tanks! What an apt name for the female version of a redneck standby, the wifebeater. I just thought that was a clever twist. Boybeater. Heh.
12/8/04:
* Curtains. Drapes, if you prefer (I don't really know what the difference is). They are the main things holding up the nursery finishing. I bought a pair of tab-top panels that turned out to be too short, so they need a band of fabric at the bottom or something, and I was planning to make sheers out of some of the million yards of tulle from our wedding. I don't have enough room to be doing this stuff! Anyway, the crib is assembled and has a sheet but no other bedding, the stripes on the wall are done, the carpet is clean around the edges of the room, and the furniture is basically where it belongs. Mom came and transformed the living room into an orderly space while we went to pick up the crib, so if we can just keep from messing it back up for a month or so, we're ready for guests. I've washed every sheet in the house, too. And the pillows. I guess I'm nesting again/some more.
* Ran across some cool things wandering around the net: titanium-laced crystal wine glasses from my Food Network newsletter, carbon nanofiber 'smart yarn' via The Keyboard Biologist at LiveScience.com, and preliminary evidence that GM crops don't affect biodiversity near as much as overall farming methods at news@nature.com. All interesting, and the source sites are fun to peruse as well. Oh, and a neat necklace pattern using Swarovski crystals, pearls, and wire (PDF) on the Bead & Button magazine site. You might need to register to see it, but it's free so if you're interested in that sort of thing, there's a ton more stuff for registered users on the site.
* Curtains. Drapes, if you prefer (I don't really know what the difference is). They are the main things holding up the nursery finishing. I bought a pair of tab-top panels that turned out to be too short, so they need a band of fabric at the bottom or something, and I was planning to make sheers out of some of the million yards of tulle from our wedding. I don't have enough room to be doing this stuff! Anyway, the crib is assembled and has a sheet but no other bedding, the stripes on the wall are done, the carpet is clean around the edges of the room, and the furniture is basically where it belongs. Mom came and transformed the living room into an orderly space while we went to pick up the crib, so if we can just keep from messing it back up for a month or so, we're ready for guests. I've washed every sheet in the house, too. And the pillows. I guess I'm nesting again/some more.
* Ran across some cool things wandering around the net: titanium-laced crystal wine glasses from my Food Network newsletter, carbon nanofiber 'smart yarn' via The Keyboard Biologist at LiveScience.com, and preliminary evidence that GM crops don't affect biodiversity near as much as overall farming methods at news@nature.com. All interesting, and the source sites are fun to peruse as well. Oh, and a neat necklace pattern using Swarovski crystals, pearls, and wire (PDF) on the Bead & Button magazine site. You might need to register to see it, but it's free so if you're interested in that sort of thing, there's a ton more stuff for registered users on the site.
12/1/04:
* Heavens to Betsy, it's December! How time manages to fly when every day is an eternity of uncomfortable kicks, fatigue, and Braxton-Hicks contractions is beyond me. Anyway, it's past time to have the house in order and the nursery done. I discovered, with the help of my trusty measuring tape and the HGTV Room Planner, that our house is not only too small, our furniture is too big, so it's no wonder I'm having trouble finding places for everything. Still, some small changes have helped enough that I actually feel optimistic about making the place presentable and a bit more liveable. At least the living area! And the nursery just needs a few narrow stripes repainted, the carpet cleaned, and the curtains hung to be ready for the crib, and thus, Valerie. Yikes, I need to pack my hospital-going bag and install the car seat!
* I did finally watch that NOVA about the 2nd century scrolls. Cool show, maybe a bit more emphasis on the religious associations than needed to illustrate the culture that produced the scrolls. Still, I find this stuff fascinating.
* Heavens to Betsy, it's December! How time manages to fly when every day is an eternity of uncomfortable kicks, fatigue, and Braxton-Hicks contractions is beyond me. Anyway, it's past time to have the house in order and the nursery done. I discovered, with the help of my trusty measuring tape and the HGTV Room Planner, that our house is not only too small, our furniture is too big, so it's no wonder I'm having trouble finding places for everything. Still, some small changes have helped enough that I actually feel optimistic about making the place presentable and a bit more liveable. At least the living area! And the nursery just needs a few narrow stripes repainted, the carpet cleaned, and the curtains hung to be ready for the crib, and thus, Valerie. Yikes, I need to pack my hospital-going bag and install the car seat!
* I did finally watch that NOVA about the 2nd century scrolls. Cool show, maybe a bit more emphasis on the religious associations than needed to illustrate the culture that produced the scrolls. Still, I find this stuff fascinating.
11/23/04:
* I got a letter from my Senator! I love it when politicians (or their assistants, at least) acknowledge my correspondence with a pertinent reply. I also like NOVA, even though I rarely manage to watch it. Tonight, the show is about an archaeological dig that unearthed 2nd century scrolls. I love this sort of thing. The materials on the web site are good, and they almost always have some sort of interactive thing for each program. I'd watch the episode, but it's on at the same time as NCIS.
* I visited the La Leche League site today, and they are a bit militant about breastfeeding, but they do have good info. I'm kinda looking forward to breastfeeding, for however long I get to do it. Ideally, until she starts getting teeth; sorry, but that's the point at which it's time to start weaning unless you like being gnawed on. Valerie will probably end up on formula when I go back to work, though. Laboratories and breast pumping don't mix too well. We'll see how it all works out, I guess.
* I got a letter from my Senator! I love it when politicians (or their assistants, at least) acknowledge my correspondence with a pertinent reply. I also like NOVA, even though I rarely manage to watch it. Tonight, the show is about an archaeological dig that unearthed 2nd century scrolls. I love this sort of thing. The materials on the web site are good, and they almost always have some sort of interactive thing for each program. I'd watch the episode, but it's on at the same time as NCIS.
* I visited the La Leche League site today, and they are a bit militant about breastfeeding, but they do have good info. I'm kinda looking forward to breastfeeding, for however long I get to do it. Ideally, until she starts getting teeth; sorry, but that's the point at which it's time to start weaning unless you like being gnawed on. Valerie will probably end up on formula when I go back to work, though. Laboratories and breast pumping don't mix too well. We'll see how it all works out, I guess.
11/22/04:
* Today was a good day to surf. Wish I could really surf, but surfing the net will have to do. I've caught up on my reading, window-shopped a little, and found horrific items such as Internet Porn: Worse Than Crack?. Apparently, some people think that masturbation is addictive and porn leads to masturbation, therefore porn is addictive. Weirdos.
And, of course, a quiz. I guess "Don't Tread On Me" Libertarian is me, alright.
* Today was a good day to surf. Wish I could really surf, but surfing the net will have to do. I've caught up on my reading, window-shopped a little, and found horrific items such as Internet Porn: Worse Than Crack?. Apparently, some people think that masturbation is addictive and porn leads to masturbation, therefore porn is addictive. Weirdos.
| You Are a "Don't Tread On Me" Libertarian |
 You distrust the government, are fiercely independent, and don't belong in either party. Religion and politics should never mix, in your opinion... and you feel opressed by both. You don't want the government to cramp your self made style. Or anyone else's for that matter. You're proud to say that you're pro-choice on absolutely everything! |
11/10/04:
* No more Ashcroft! Here's his letter of resignation. His probable replacement, Alberto Gonzales, doesn't look a whole lot better, what with his attempt to justify legally ignoring the Geneva convention when dealing with suspected terrorists, but there's always the chance he isn't a religious fanatic bent on forcing the rest of us to live the way he thinks we should!
* No more Ashcroft! Here's his letter of resignation. His probable replacement, Alberto Gonzales, doesn't look a whole lot better, what with his attempt to justify legally ignoring the Geneva convention when dealing with suspected terrorists, but there's always the chance he isn't a religious fanatic bent on forcing the rest of us to live the way he thinks we should!
11/3/04:
* The nursery is painted, the husband sweater is finished, I got a flu shot. Pretty productive, huh? His sweater actually needs some sleeve adjustments, but it really is done, and the nursery only lacks the stars I intend to stamp on the walls. Well, and the crib and its attendant linens, of course. I got some nice, roomy, warm sweat pants; I'd forgotten how huge they can be. I can wear my normal size in these things, they are so roomy! Not that roomy pants are any help when it comes to keeping Valerie from kicking me in the ribs. She only does it on my right side, even though she occasionally does somersaults and barrel rolls. *Only two more months*, I keep telling myself.
* It's chilly here! My husband is asleep in a heated waterbed with a comforter, wearing a stocking cap, sweatshirt, pants, and socks. Funny man. It's not cold in here.
I wasn't going to talk about the election, because I'm an idiot and screwed up my voter registration, although apparently I should have cast a ballot anyway pending correction of my registration. Anyway, the current compostition of Congress in combination with the retention of Wonder Doofus as President does not inspire any kind of happy or safe feelings in me. We may emigrate before the next four years are up. Am I the only one who remembers the Heinlein classic If This Goes On? You don't think that all this "protecting marriage" and "faith-based initiative" crap is heading in that direction, or that it couldn't happen here? You are so wrong.
* The nursery is painted, the husband sweater is finished, I got a flu shot. Pretty productive, huh? His sweater actually needs some sleeve adjustments, but it really is done, and the nursery only lacks the stars I intend to stamp on the walls. Well, and the crib and its attendant linens, of course. I got some nice, roomy, warm sweat pants; I'd forgotten how huge they can be. I can wear my normal size in these things, they are so roomy! Not that roomy pants are any help when it comes to keeping Valerie from kicking me in the ribs. She only does it on my right side, even though she occasionally does somersaults and barrel rolls. *Only two more months*, I keep telling myself.
* It's chilly here! My husband is asleep in a heated waterbed with a comforter, wearing a stocking cap, sweatshirt, pants, and socks. Funny man. It's not cold in here.
I wasn't going to talk about the election, because I'm an idiot and screwed up my voter registration, although apparently I should have cast a ballot anyway pending correction of my registration. Anyway, the current compostition of Congress in combination with the retention of Wonder Doofus as President does not inspire any kind of happy or safe feelings in me. We may emigrate before the next four years are up. Am I the only one who remembers the Heinlein classic If This Goes On? You don't think that all this "protecting marriage" and "faith-based initiative" crap is heading in that direction, or that it couldn't happen here? You are so wrong.
* Nothing like breakfast out to start the day! Even if it did have to wait until after the doctor's appointment. The husband got the new Grand Theft Auto, and we got some of our manga to while away the afternoon. Looks like we're just going for dinner, though. There is absolutely nothing in the theaters that I want to see.
10/27/04:
* The nursery is ready to paint. The RSS feed works. The belly is reaching new widths of enormity, and Valerie new realms of wiggly strength. She put a well-aimed kick between my ribs and skin, almost knocking my big heavy hardback book off! A good week. Especially if we actually get the nursery painted today! 'Cause tomorrow is our fourth wedding anniversary, and I don't intend to do anything like work or make the husband do any, either. We're going out for dinner and a movie and probably GTA San Andreas. How romantic can you get? ;)
* The nursery is ready to paint. The RSS feed works. The belly is reaching new widths of enormity, and Valerie new realms of wiggly strength. She put a well-aimed kick between my ribs and skin, almost knocking my big heavy hardback book off! A good week. Especially if we actually get the nursery painted today! 'Cause tomorrow is our fourth wedding anniversary, and I don't intend to do anything like work or make the husband do any, either. We're going out for dinner and a movie and probably GTA San Andreas. How romantic can you get? ;)
10/16/04:
* I've gained 23 pounds! Six of them this past month. That puts me at the high end of the weight gain scale. But I passed the 1-hour glucose test just fine, so I'm not worried.
Heck, I'm just now seeing the weight in places other than the humongus belly! Of course, there's still a couple of months for my butt to get bigger, too, but I'm not worried. The tummy (well, uterus) is in the normal size range, 28 cm. Mom says it just seems huge because I'm so short. >:p To which I say, 5'6" is not short, just shorter than her, and half the other people in my family. I guess it's nice that somebody thinks I'm dainty and little. I always wanted to be tall and Marilyn Monroe curvy. Dern genes.
Is this not a funny quiz, and how true are my results? All our cats are rescued, and we have a water filter. But I'm more likely to start a sentence with "Jon Stewart said..." than any other actor/ess. The book from which the quiz is derived looks pretty funny, too. I certainly like men who cook. Not that I married one, but he's got other extremely attractive qualities. ;)
* I've gained 23 pounds! Six of them this past month. That puts me at the high end of the weight gain scale. But I passed the 1-hour glucose test just fine, so I'm not worried.
I am Progressive Girl
Click on the picture below to read more:
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Is this not a funny quiz, and how true are my results? All our cats are rescued, and we have a water filter. But I'm more likely to start a sentence with "Jon Stewart said..." than any other actor/ess. The book from which the quiz is derived looks pretty funny, too. I certainly like men who cook. Not that I married one, but he's got other extremely attractive qualities. ;)
10/14/04:
* I have a tidier house! Mom has her dressing table back, all the clothes are off the bedroom floor, and there's finally room for the Pack-n-Play and maybe the papasan chair. The nursery just needs a few more things out of it and the walls cleaned a bit, and then it's ready to paint. And the entry is once more passable and its closet accessible - less tripping and cat escapes. The parents took all the boxes of old magazines to the recycling center, so that's quite a lot of space cleared right there. Now if I can just get the office back to some sort of order, and the living room definitively picked up, the place will be baby-ready, and just as important, grandparent-ready. Mom has been a lot of help, and so have Dad and Phillip. Not that I don't still complain about how the husband never helps!
I'm on leave from belly dancing for a while. My joints have gone all wobbly, and the result is even less graceful than my normal. That means I missed performing at Autumnfest, though I did go down and watch. It's annoying to have to stop doing things, but it beats being so uncomfortable; my back often hurts as it is, and several sitting and standing positions are just no fun at all. I'm amazed at how big the belly is, and how wiggly the Valerie is. She's found my ribs, unfortunately. That has to be the weirdest feeling ever, little appendages poking the inside of my ribs. Luckily she likes to kick places that give more than bony places do, so she isn't doing anything actuallly painful up there.
* I have a tidier house! Mom has her dressing table back, all the clothes are off the bedroom floor, and there's finally room for the Pack-n-Play and maybe the papasan chair. The nursery just needs a few more things out of it and the walls cleaned a bit, and then it's ready to paint. And the entry is once more passable and its closet accessible - less tripping and cat escapes. The parents took all the boxes of old magazines to the recycling center, so that's quite a lot of space cleared right there. Now if I can just get the office back to some sort of order, and the living room definitively picked up, the place will be baby-ready, and just as important, grandparent-ready. Mom has been a lot of help, and so have Dad and Phillip. Not that I don't still complain about how the husband never helps!
I'm on leave from belly dancing for a while. My joints have gone all wobbly, and the result is even less graceful than my normal. That means I missed performing at Autumnfest, though I did go down and watch. It's annoying to have to stop doing things, but it beats being so uncomfortable; my back often hurts as it is, and several sitting and standing positions are just no fun at all. I'm amazed at how big the belly is, and how wiggly the Valerie is. She's found my ribs, unfortunately. That has to be the weirdest feeling ever, little appendages poking the inside of my ribs. Luckily she likes to kick places that give more than bony places do, so she isn't doing anything actuallly painful up there.
10/4/04:
*Weekend fun. The bead cave was great fun. The drive wasn't, and I'm not going to sleep anywhere but my own bed again until Valerie's born, but it was great to see everyone and learn new stuff. Now I'm really tired, but it's a good tired. Besides, Miss Wiggly makes it hard to get back to sleep when I wake up in the middle of the night, which is often - she's started getting her toes up under my ribs and seems to be using my bladder as a headrest. My belly button is almost an outie now! Humongus belly-band maternity pants, here I come.
*
