Finally, a Christmas Overview

If you think my break is due to the "blizzard" we're experiencing...you'd be sadly mistaken.  Here in the western suburbs of Philly, we only got about 6".  Although, that's what shut down London for so long, right?  All the snow meant for us was that we left Ohio EARLY Sunday morning (we're talking about 4:30 am ya'll), and drove back in time to beat the "onslaught".  We both still went in to work the next day.  Though, the roads were pretty empty.

Ohio was lovely.  They had a coating of maybe 4" of snow on the ground.  It was just enough for Harper to go, "Oh, yeah!  I remember this stuff!"  And promptly turn into insane-o-pup.  We went to the tennis courts at the middle school a couple of times so that she could chase her ball, and she just thought it was the absolutely most exciting thing she had ever experienced.  That, and, even though she usually has the nose of...well...something that can't smell, she decides to track everything once there's snow on the ground. 

Alright, below are going to be some pictures of our walk on Christmas Eve.  That were taken with our broken Canon Rebel.  It will allow you to take manual focus pictures either 1) With a flash or 2) No flash and INSANELY slow shutter speed.  So...I'll show you some of each, and you can experience the torture. 

Lovely, isn't it? 

Harper thoroughly enjoyed  Christmas morning, too, and insisted on helping open presents.

Yes, she received an Ohio State football, and the Lion got an Ohio State onesie.  Chris was not so thrilled, and immediately called his mother to tell her she had to help balance the sports attire that our child will be wearing.

Finally...visions of the "blizzard". 

Oh, no, she wasn't enjoying herself at all.  Just a little more than poor Chris.  Who wouldn't let me help him shovel.  Sometimes this pregnancy thing is alright.  ;)

Oh Christmas Tree

I haven't really shown any of our decorations, and Chris will be disappointed I don't have pictures of the outside of the house, but here are our 2 Christmas trees.  Every year we debate doing a 3rd of just Penn State ornanments (yes, we have that many), but never quite make it to number 3 before burning out.  Feel free to blame any bare spots on the dog and cat who both like to use the trees as their personal smorgasborgs.  One of the smartest things we ever did was to decorate the front tree with bells so that we have a little bit of a warning if someone is sticking her nose where it shouldn't be.  (Harper, I'm looking at you!)

The front one.  Chris always feels it looks too bare...and honestly?  From the picture?  I'm agreeing.  We can just never agree!  He wants to put fake snow (ugh), and I want to put ribbon (and he objects).  So...it remains sparse.

My little Charlie Brown tree as Chris likes to refer to it.  This was my tree from my single days.  At least it looks full!

Maybe I should have taken pictures with the lights on.  Oh well.  Post for another year.

Passing on the Word

Alright, I will still try and post at lunch, but I just HAD to share a series of posts that I have thoroughly enjoyed.  Lizzie at Mother Runner has been doing a really fascinating series of posts on running during and after pregnancy.  I have not ran more than a few feet after the dog during this pregnancy, but I might be considering it after reading her inspiring story.  It would be a lot easier if it wasn't so cold!  Anyway, check these out!

During Pregnancy - http://www.themotherrunner.com/2010/12/running-through-pregnancy/

After Delivery - http://www.themotherrunner.com/2010/12/back-on-the-road-after-pregnancy/

Montage of Random Thoughts

1.  It is pathetic that it took until 2:00 pm for me to shower and dress.

2.  It is REALLY darn tough to take pictures of yourself.  How do those teenagers do it?  Maybe I need to be making the "duck face".

3.  You still can't see much of a bump straight-on.

4.  The scarf?  I won it from a give-away on Katy's Neverending Story.  Isn't it great?

5.  The downside of hand-me-downs?  You smell like someone else.  It's probably technically that I smell like someone else's DETERGENT, but still.  Rewashing everything I haven't worn now because it's driving me crazy.

6.  My husband rocks.  He knew how down I've been and got me flowers.  There used to be daisies, too, but I failed to take a picture before they died.

7.  Just been awhile since I posted a picture of my girl.  Still super skinny, but she's kinda behaved herself today.  Got sick on the new carpet once, shredded an egg carton (further), but generally, good.  So, I'll be happy with her and take her with me to the post office.   

Ode to the Fast Food Burger

(warning...giant dorky moment ahead)

Oh dear, vile, greasy heaven in a bun,
Why do the books all keep you from my babe,
I eat you and I fail to swim or run,
Two times in days consult the astrolabe.

At Wendy's I was quite distressed to find,
New fries were good but they too changed the beef.
My burger was no longer my prime bliss.

At Five Guys times were better in my mind,
Cheeseburger all the way with fries ain't brief,
Too stuffed the Lion said heartburn won't miss.




Ha!  Just had to subject all of you to more bad poetry!  Yes, I had burgers 2 days in a row this weekend.  I'm being SOOOO healthy.  I think the Lion will forgive me.

Week...17.5?

Ok, I'll use our dead Canon Rebel as an excuse.  SERIOUSLY.  That thing is less than a year old, and having major issues.  Need to try and figure that out.  So...here is a picture of slightly lesser quality.  :P

Apologies for the hard-to-determine bump, but I figured I better take a picture RIGHT THAT SECOND when I thought about it, or it wasn't going to happen for another 2 weeks.  No time to change.  I'll be 18 weeks on Wednesday. 

***EDIT***  I forgot the weight stat.  Apparently my scale is screwed up because the official doctor scale said I had only gained 3.5 lbs total as of Wednesday.  Not the 6 mine was scaring me with.

How are you feeling?  Much better on the nausea front.  I haven't been sick in over a week.  I don't want to curse myself, but we may have moved past the morning sickness stage.  I've started having some crazy sciatica pain shooting up my tailbone, but at least it's not consistent.  Comes and goes.  VERY tired all the time.  Which, hey, wasn't that supposed to go AWAY 2nd trimester?  Taking a lot of naps.

C'mon, have you found out the sex yet?  Nope.  Haven't even scheduled the anatomy scan.  Need to do that.  I've even taken to referring to the Lion as a "him" most of the time, so I'm gonna really have to change my thinking if it shows a girl!

Feeling any movement?  OH yeah.  Particularly when I'm playing concerts.  I think that's part of why the concerts end up being so painful!  (that and sitting up straight in metal chairs)  The kid goes NUTS.  It's like being seasick on a boat.  He just starts rolling around having his own little dance party in there. 

Anything odd food wise?  Really?  No, not at all right now.  I'm feeling much more like myself.  Even to the point that I've debated dropping the meat.  Though the doctor said my iron levels were great from the bloodwork...and that's rare.  I usually show up as anemic, so maybe I should stick with it for now.  I'm still having a lot of trouble drinking water.  I don't know why I hate it so much.  But my blood pressure at last appointment was only 100/60, so that's verging on worrisome-low, and mostly says DEHYDRATED.  So...trying. 

Exciting events?  Ok, see that picture?  I'm wearing the hand-me-downs from my friend at work.  And those jeans?  Size 4.  Well, size 27, but same thing.  WOO HOO.  I'm so pleased that I'm going to be able to fit in her stuff!  Well, although (any males reading may want to stop), the boobs are out of control.  About to buy the next size up in bras.  Again.  This big-to-begin with girl did NOT need to go up 2 cup sizes.  Already.  Unless they plan on stopping.  Like...tomorrow.  At least Chris is enjoying it.  I think that's why the belly doesn't look so huge.  They kind of balance it out!

Anything bad this week?  Y'know, kid wise?  Not really.  The concerts were crazy painful, and I was certainly spasming afterwards.  Did not sleep well Friday because of it.  Other than that?  It's been alright.

Any funny quotes?  I really need to write them down when I hear them.  Preggo brain's not letting me remember.  Only vaguely funny one I can think of is a friend came up to me after a concert with her 4-year-old daughter and said, "She has a baby in her belly."  And her daughter said, "Nuh UH.  I'M a baby."  Cute.  Don't think she gets the whole process yet. 

Why so...quiet?

I'm trying really hard not to only write with anger, frustration, depression, or all the other negative emotions that have been swarming around.  And...since I have known that I would fail at that, I've chosen to stay quiet.  I've thought about plenty of fluffy posts I could write...about my love of the Singing Bee, the meatballs that were so successful, the flodni that was a complete disaster, or all of my decorations.  You may see any or all of these later, but I guess I'll own up to what's been going on.

I'm feeling fairly angry about the part-time lay-off, though I'm trying to not let it show too much.  It feels like I'm being punished for only having been there for four years.  FOUR YEARS.  In any other company I'd be getting a prize, but here I'm the newbie who deserves to be a sacrificial lamb.  It also feels like this is a decision based on the fact that I'm somewhat more financially responsible that others, and because I can't walk away because the pregnancy won't allow me to get a new job.  Yes, a fairly illegal rational.  I can't say I have felt very respected during the whole process. 

Pregnancy emotions are fairly unstable beings to begin with, but this has been really hard.  There's been a lot of crying and anger when I'm behind closed doors.  I feel so trapped, used, betrayed, any and all of the above.  I just don't have a solution.  And that's the hardest part of it all.  I try and figure out options, cry over other people's posts on getting things for a nursery that I can't afford, or snap entirely too often at the animals or my husband.  I can't even say that I've made it out of my pajamas yet today, though I have made that my goal for once I finish this post. 

Hopefully, I'll find a way to at least feel the holiday spirit soon, or find a way to see the pregnancy as a joyful event, and not what is trapping me, or even feel put together or attractive, but for now...I'm kinda wallowing.  And I know it's not a pretty picture to share with the world.