Evening Project

This was my project this evening.



My new glider rocker for the baby! I'd been eyeballing it at BJ's (which is like Sam's and Costco) for a few weeks and last week, we got a coupon book in the mail that had a $50 off coupon for it. So instead of $199, I got it for $149. Woo hoo!

You can see the box it came in in the background of the picture, and if it weren't for my neighbor, I'm not sure when we'd have been able to go get it. It was too big to fit into my car, and John's truck bed is full of snow. So she met me there after work, we put it in her car (she's got a Honda Element) and we brought it home, had dinner and dessert at my house, and had a girls hang out night since John was at work. She went home around 9:30 and I decided that I'd put it together. It was super easy!!

I'm not 100% sure that where I have it (location wise) will be it's permanent home, but I know that I do want it down here in the family room. We have a big overstuffed recliner that's been in the basement that we plan on covering and putting in the baby's room. I thought this glider would fit well down here, but it's already making me feel like this room just got even smaller. I don't have the space I thought we did! I can't imagine just how much smaller things will be once the baby and all the belongings he or she will need arrive. Yikes!

Focused

After a morning of sitting on my lazy ass, I decided that I was going to pick up/clean my cluttery house. I made the beds (I had slept in the spare room a few nights ago), picked up the clutter on the island in the kitchen, then lost steam due to the need for lunch.

As I was eating lunch, I was flipping channels and came across "Beyond Scared Straight" on A&E. I've seen the previews for it, but never actively sat down to watch it...until today. There was nothing else on. After the fist episode they showed, I was hooked! It made ME scared to go to prison!! The heartbreaking thing is that it still didn't change some of the girls that had the experience.

I saw there were 2 more episodes on after that one, so I figured that instead of just sitting on the couch and watching it, the least I could do was go downstairs to the basement and walk on my treadmill and spin during the next one. So that's what I did. Again, my mind was blown that that experience didn't change some of those kids. And sadly, I pictured many of my past students as some of those kids. I hope that they've risen above where they've come from and what they've grown up in. I hope that in some way, I helped them realize that there is more to life.

Anyways, as this post is titled "Focused," I clearly am having trouble staying focused on things I want to do or plan to do. I didn't get near the amount of cleaning done that I wanted to do, but I guess I'll let it slide as getting in my hour of exercise is more important to me than cleaning.

John is working all weekend so I have nothing to do. I guess I could clean tonight, but I doubt that will happen. I do have some things on the DVR to watch and a craft project I need to get started on, plus I have plans to pickup Chipotle for dinner (after all, I DID earn it) and return the movie I rented last night. There's always tomorrow to clean.

Revival

I had a hair appointment today for a highlight and trim and I must tell you, what a revival!! It had been since early November since my last highlight so I was in dire need. I left there feeling renewed and much better about myself (well, as good as I can allow myself to). I also made an appointment to get a spray tan on my arms, face, and neck 2 days before my anniversary so I'll have a nice tan and pretty hair! Yay!

PIcking a Gift

Our 4 year anniversary is in 2 weeks and I spent the day (after my dermatologist appointment and blood draw) trying to figure out what I'm going to get John. Last weekend he went out to get my gift, and when I asked him how much he spent, he said, "Don't worry about it." This is not how we work. Every year since we've been married we say we're going to spend X amount of money on each other, and we leave it at that. So I'm not super excited that I have no inkling of what he got for me, nor how much I'm supposed to spend.

What am I supposed to get the man who never wants anything?

Back to Shifts

I'm sad today. John's office job has finally come to an end and he is going back to shift work. He's starting with the 2pm-12am shift, will do that for 7 days, get a day and a half off, then go to the 11pm-7am shift for 7 days, get technically 3 days off, 2 if you don't count the morning he actually gets home from work, then the 7am-3pm shift for 7 days, 2 days off, then an extended day shift for 4 days, then a 4 day weekend. This will last until it's time for us to move.

I should be happy that his office job lasted for MUCH longer than it was supposed it, but I wish he was going to the office job now and had been on shifts for this past year. Oh well. What can you do?

COLD

Brrrr! It's COLD here today!! We woke up to a -24 degree temperature...and that's WITHOUT windchill. The high for the day...4. YIKES!

Sadly, we actually went out to brave the elements to look around at Babies R Us. That was quite the experience. We went solely to look at cribs since I refuse to spend more than $200 on one, only for it to get beat up in 9 or so months after the baby is born when we move. I just wanted to make sure the cheaper ones, didn't look super cheap. And to be honest, in my opinion, the expensive ones look no different than the cheap ones.

After that, we just wandered around and looked at everything to get ideas of what kinds of things we might want. It's a bit overwhelming, but we'll get it figured out.

Police Women of Cincinnati

If you haven't seen Thursday night's 9pm time slot on TLC, then you don't know that there is a show that showcases what a shit hole city Cincinnati is. Police Women of Cincinnati airs at 9pm on TLC and sadly, I watched it. Granted, I will say that it does highlight the areas that most people from Cincinnati already know as the "stay away" areas, but still, it's just sad. I would think that anyone who watches it that isn't from Cincinnati would say, "Good God. What a dump." And I think that's just bad for the city as a whole. The only good part of the show, I know one of the cops. Her name is Rose and she went to my high school, and I was good friends with her brother. She's a tough lady, so I'm glad she's doing a kick ass job trying to clean up the city.

Cloth Diapers

I've been thinking a lot about cloth diapers since I found out we were going to have a baby. Actually, it's something that I got in my head last year when we had this couple over for dinner (the guy worked with John and they were friends) and they used cloth diapers with their son. She said she swore by them and loved them, and that's when I thought, "That's something I wouldn't mind doing when we have kids."

Cloth diapers have come a long way since I was a baby, so chances are they aren't the same as what some of you are thinking. The only problem is that there seems to be quite the variety of brands out there, I think I've come across at least 5, and I'm sure there are more. I can only read so much before I become completely overwhelmed and confused on which ones might be best, and just exactly how they work. Some have inserts and others have a cloth that you fold and insert, etc.

My friend Necole uses them with her daughter so I can ask her, but I want to know someone around here who uses them who can show me what they're all about. And right now, I don't know anyone up here who has kids that I'm friends with.

My mom keeps telling me I'm nuts for wanting to use cloth diapers and how much of a pain in the ass they are/will be...but it really is something I want to try. Of course they aren't going to be as easy as disposable, but I'm a recycle kind of girl. I know that cloth diapers are also quite expensive (some are $20-25 for one) but I figure if you bought enough of them (and they grow with your baby) you're going to end up saving a TON of money in the end. Granted, I may change my mind once the baby actually gets here and I try them out, but I'm really hoping it's something that I like and is worth the hassle.

Round 3

That's right....we got more snow, only this time, after the 4-5 inches, we got freezing rain on top of it. Thankfully I shoveled before the freezing rain, but I'm starting to think that cleaning off my car may turn out to be a mistake. Tomorrow it'll be covered in ice rather than snow topped with a ice. As much as I love the snow, I am getting a little bit sick of when I need to go out. It hasn't been yet, but I know I'll have to get out tomorrow and it's a gamble on whether or not I'll be able to get up my street. My vehicle isn't equipped to go uphill in snow, but a new car really isn't on my radar.

Icicles

These icicles are hanging from my house and I look at them everyday when I'm in the office (soon to be turned into baby's room). The one that is to the right of the divider (whatever those things are called that are on windows), I'm wondering if it'll ever get to be the entire length of the window. I'd say it's only about a foot shy of reaching that point. With the way things are going here lately, I won't be shocked if it makes it!

Bowling

It was a VERY cold and windy Sunday today, so we decided that we'd go bowling. I honestly can't remember the last time I went bowling...wait, yes I can. I went one time with my friend Julie when we lived in WA. Anyways, it'd been quite a while and I was looking forward to some friendly competition with John (we are super competitive with each other when it comes to any kind of games...bowling, playing Wii games, etc).

The first game I was awesome. I finished with a 149 I think and John with a 120 something. What happened between game one and game two I haven't the slightest clue because I couldn't even break a 100 to save my life. Game 2 or 3!! John got a 110, maybe, game 2, and a 104 game 3. Me with a 88 game 2, and 97 game 3. WTH?!?!?! I was pissed. My shoes wouldn't allow me to slide so I just felt off and knew my game would suffer because of it (or that's what I'm convinced of at least).

It did remind me though how much I LOVED bowling on a league. I used to bowl with my sister and cousin, along with my aunts, and then after that I started bowling with a girl I used to be friends with and 2 of our guy friends on Saturday nights I think...THAT was one hell of a time. We drank way too much, but it was just fun to get together every week and have a good time. I miss that! I texted the one guy I bowled with, Matt, and asked him if we ended up moving back to Cincy if we could do a league again. He said sure.

Three games ended up enough for us, so John payed while I put back the balls and put my shoes on. I asked him on our way out how much it was and he said, "$29 something." Are you kidding me? Thirty dollars for 3 games and 2 shoe rentals? Either it's been way too damn long since I've bowled, it's just been jacked up that much over the year, or it's just up here. I thought that seemed kinda steep, but oh well. We had fun in the long run...even though he beat me.

The Town

We rented "The Town" tonight since it was a snowy evening and there wasn't really much we wanted to do. If you haven't heard of it, it's about these guys who live in a place called Charlestown in Boston that is known for producing the highest amount of criminals and bank robbers. They rob a bank and the one guy ends up having a thing for the bank manager, so it's a bit of, I don't want to say love story because it's not really that in the least, mixed in with a drama. For a 2 hour and 5 minute movie, I'd say it was pretty good. It seemed kinda slow in parts, and the ending felt sort of abrupt, but it made sense. I'm sad we rented it, but I wouldn't say it was the best movie ever. I liked it enough though, which is what counts I guess.

Debbie Downer

I feel like such a Debbie Downer today and I've been feeling that way on and off for a few weeks. I know that it's the hormones, but it really really sucks. I feel so unmotivated on a daily basis. I always manage to workout at least 4 or 5 days a week and shower daily, but beyond that, I never feel like doing much else. I never put on makeup or get dressed in anything other than yoga pants and a sweatshirt and I just all around feel like shit about myself. I know I could put on makeup everyday, but I just think it's pointless considering I'm not going anywhere, and the same thing goes for getting dressed. I have no desire to go shopping since nothing fits in the regular department and I'm not pregnant enough to wear maternity clothes yet.

I find myself stressing and worrying about how life will be after the baby gets here. It seems stupid because I really don't know how it will be, but I have my ideas. I know I'll have to give up some of the things I want to do, and I'm ok with that, but I'm just afraid that I'm going to be resentful of John. He'll get to go to work everyday, and everyday he'll get to do whatever he wants to do, spending maybe 2 hours a day with the baby...whereas I'll be lucky if I ever get 2 hours a day to myself without having the baby depend on my (i.e, going to the gym or doing anything without having to take the baby along). I'm sure some of you might be thinking, "If you're already having these thoughts about wanting to be away from your baby, then why did you even decide to have kids?" And it's not that I want to be away from my baby, but I know that in order to function and be the best parent I can be, I will need time away. I know being a parent means you have to make some sacrifices, but I just feel like for the past 5 years of my life, I'M the only one who makes sacrifices...and I just want things to feel fair.

I could write about this until I'm blue in the face, but it's only going to make me more upset...so I just end this post now.

My Parent's Chili

I'm a big fan of chili. Skyline and regular homemade. My favorite chili of all time is my grandma's chili that she used to make. I wish I knew how to replicate it, or if someone has the recipe because I LOVED it when I was a kid, and I wish I could taste it again. I remember the bowls I used to eat it in. They were brown and had mushrooms on them, and the chili itself was kind of runny, brown, not like skyline...I can see it in my mind.

Anyways, I've always made chili since I moved out of my house and liked the way it turns out, but it never ever tastes like my parents chili. When we were home over Christmas, my dad made chili one night and as I was eating it I said, "I forget how much I like the way your chili tastes over mine." So my dad asked what kind of mix I used and then showed me what they used and I told myself I should go buy some before we came back home to New York. As always, time got away and I didn't get to buy any, along with any cans of Skyline, so I was glad when I found it at Walmart last week.

That is what I'm making for dinner tonight and I'm HOPING that it'll taste the same. I'm aware that there will be some difference since I use ground turkey instead of ground beef, but other than that...I'm hoping for the same thing. I'm so excited just thinking about it. The only thing better than my parents chili would be grandma's chili...but I'm afraid it'll have to just be a memory, but a delicious one at that.

Round 2

We got round 2 of snowfall last night into today. I'd say we ended up with maybe 8 or 9 inches overall...nothing overly ridiculous. The news said that over in Bennington county Vermont that they got 3ft. 2inches overall. Now THAT's one hell of a snowfall!! I think 2 feet is as much as I've ever seen fall back when I lived at my parents house years ago. I don't think we've gotten quite as much here.

The only downfall to our snow is that it makes the street up to our house a nightmare if you don't have four wheel drive. I've been victim to this nightmare last year, but have yet to have to deal with it this year. The boy toy who lives with the bitch across the street (and we call her this because last year when she would see Melissa and I shoveling, she'd NEVER help) has had quite a few issues getting up, and matter of fact, so has she. I've watched him shovel parts of the street that make no sense for him to shovel and I laugh. Umm, shovel 2 paths for your tires and call it good...and once you get to where your car won't go up anymore, park it, and shovel right there and ahead so you KNOW where you're slipping. He shovels the bottom and the entirety from side to side. Rookie. I'm more than willing to help people who get stuck, but when they're never offered their help to me, sorry, then I'm not so generous. Maybe this is shitty. I don't know, nor do I care. Everyone else on this street has lent a helping hand to one another but her.

My workout yesterday was shoveling the driveway where we park and where my neighbors park, and after an hour...I was wiped!! I didn't over do it, but sometimes I forget how tired physical things can make me. I spent the rest of the afternoon on the couch and doing laundry. I think I'll be sleeping good tonight!!

Second Trimester

What a great day today has been for a Monday. I'm officially in my second trimester which is exciting because I'm 1/3 of the way finished with being pregnant! I'm not a patient person, so this waiting until July to meet my baby is not something I'm good at. Just give me my kid and let's skip the whole pregnant thing!!

I had a doctors appointment this morning and we got to hear the heartbeat which was cool. But again, can we fast forward to when I can see actually see it on an ultrasound? That won't be until March. The time between now and then seems like years and I feel like the days and weeks CREEP by because I have something to look forward to.

This afternoon, 2 packages were delivered to the house that were BOTH for me. John is usually always the one who gets packages because he orders his supplements, gels, and other nutrition/running stuff online so it was exciting to see they were for me. One was from my friend Mary who used to live in WA, but now lives in RI. She sent me the cutest kids book called, "On the Night You Were Born" and some Preggo Pop Drops which are supposed to help with morning sickness (that I don't have anymore) but are still tasty to eat. It was so unexpected and so thoughtful of her. I read the book immediately and fell in love with it. I can't wait to read it to the baby!!

The other package was from John's mom. It was a cool lunch bag that comes with containers for you to put your stuff in and a flat ice pack that fits between them to keep everything cold. It'll come in handy on the days I don't take salad to work (when work starts in February or March) and for even when we travel pre and post baby.

My neighbor came over for dinner tonight since John had to work late and I attempted to make chicken tortilla soup. It was ok, but didn't turn out quite the way I wanted it to. I felt like it needed more...maybe add beans and rice to it next time, if there is a next time for it. We followed that with some brownies with icing which I believe may be a giant mistake. They're SO good. I love brownies as it is...and adding icing to them only makes them that much better. I have a feeling they won't last long (mainly by my own hand) and I guess the sooner I eat them, the sooner they'll be gone and I'll be sure to steer clear of buying more. Gotta make sure I stay on track for weight gain and not go overboard! So far, so good...but I still got a long way to go!!

The Problem with Steak

John and I went to dinner on Saturday night at Outback because I was wanting steak. 99% of the time when we go to dinner somewhere, I get chicken, and it's been that way for years and years. Whatever it is about this baby, I've wanted more red meat than I generally eat...hence the steak.

I've learned over time that when you order steak, it tastes better and isn't as dry and tough if it is a little bit pink in the middle. So I always order my steak medium well. The problem with ordering steak when you're out is that they just stick a meat thermometer in it and when it reaches whatever temperature, they say, "OK it's (whatever you ordered....medium, medium well, etc)." Or at least that's what I'm guessing happens. Unfortunately, my steak was more on the well done side. No pinkness, tough, and not the best steak ever...but it was steak, so I wasn't totally upset. When we went to Outback with John's family the night before Christmas Eve, I got the same thing, medium well, and I think it was more on the medium side, because halfway through it was bloody and red, and way too rare for my taste. I hope this steak kick goes away because I hate gambling my dinner on whether or not my steak will be right.

Weekend Snow

I'm patiently waiting for the weekend snow we are forecasted to get. It's been snowing all morning...a very fine snow, enough to cover the ground and trees but not cause problems. More heavier snow is supposed to come this evening and overnight, putting us in the 5-8" range. I'm hoping that it'll shift and the 6-12" that's due just 30 minutes north of us will fall at our door instead. The plows have already been out to plow (which is unnecessary at this point) and to salt, so whatever happens overnight won't be awful.

That's one of the things I love about living up here when it snows. Everyone doesn't run to the grocery as if it's Armageddon, the plows do their job, people drive slower (for the most part), and life goes on as normal. We'll actually be going to the grocery later on today since it's Friday, and Friday is always our grocery day...snow or no snow, and I'm not worried about it being a mad house. My guess is that it'll probably be dead!

Best Pants

I am pretty sure that I own the softest, warmest, and most comfortable pants on the planet. They are Northface Polar Fleece pants and I am in LOVE with them. I kept seeing them at Dick's and every time I went past them I would touch them and think, "These are amazing." I put them on my Christmas list and my mom delivered! They're so awesome, I'm considering going back to get another pair in grey since they're marked down to $25 from $50! Can't beat that.

I had them on the other day and when John came home, said to me, "Are these your new pants your mom got you? Am I gonna come home from work every day and see you wearing these?" Both to which I answered yes :) With as cold as my house is...how can I not wear them?

Christmas Cards

So this post may seem a little out of place since Christmas is long gone and we've moved into the new year, but as I was taking down the tree and other Christmas decor Monday, it reminded me that I was going to post about this.

The Christmas spirit was nowhere on my radar this year, and I'm attributing that to the fact that I never felt like going Christmas shopping because I was either too tired, too irritated with the general public, or just feeling too sick to even want to go out of the house. Along with the lack of desire to go Christmas shopping came the lack of desire to send Christmas cards. I distinctly remember saying last year that between both of our families and friends, I felt like I was sending wedding invitations out all over again. And then, after all was said and done, we ended up hardly getting any from his family...most came from my family and our friends. I was irritated.

This year, I debated on whether or not to even send them to his family other than grandparents and parents. John said he didn't care what I did. But, the stupid feeling of obligation got the better of me and I sent them once again. Can I just say that I won't be making that mistake next year?? I think I sent 15-18 for his side alone and got 5 in return. Hell, I only ended up with 6 from my family (although I know 2 people didn't send them out so that's not an issue, and I know who does and doesn't send them) and even the lack of cards I got from friends was really disappointing.

Next year (or rather this year), I'm not sending the 50-55 I sent out this year. I'll send cards to people who sent them to me...so that'll be like 20-25. It's not worth my time or money to send out cards to people because I feel "obligated" to. (I'm having issues with feelings of obligation lately which I'm sure will be tomorrow's post). I don't know if it's the pregnancy hormones that makes this more irksome to me or what, or just the fact that maybe it really is shitty when you send a card to someone, and KNOW that they sent them to other people, but for some reason left you out of the mix this year? It sucks when family does it to you, although if it's not someone I'm super close with...it's whatever, but when "friends" do it...it just makes me say WTF.

This whole obligation thing has really got me heated...or annoyed...or just really thinking about what matters the most. And this post doesn't pertain to anyone who reads this since I know the very few people who read this, so please don't wonder if you're on this list of ranting. You aren't :)

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! 2010 proved to be interesting and 2011 will definitely be filled with new beginnings, chaos, joy, and everything in between. Not sure how ready I am, but regardless...it's coming!