Don't Mind Me!

Over my dinner break, I was sitting on the couch watching a few minutes of TV before heading back to the station.  Mack, my trusty side kick, was sitting right next to me on the floor.

squeak!

Mack's head swiveled around so he could look at the source of the sound...
his own behind.

About 3 minutes later...

squeak!

No head turn this time.. no shame, no embarassment, no acknowledgement.

As I got up to leave...

URP!

Same source.. different end. 

I got back to work, checked my cell phone, and had a message from Brian reading,

"You're right..Mack is constantly farting..Good God!"

I don't know what he ate today.. but hey, at least we know he's not afraid to be himself at home.

I Knew Babies Were Expensive.. BUT...

I don't think any book can prepare you for how many things change when you are preparing to have a baby.  Your home, your surroundings, your clothes, what you eat, your lifestyle.. AND YOUR CAR. 

In our case.. your CARS... plural.

FLASHBACK... NOVEMBER OF 2009...

"Brian?? I really want a baby."

9 seconds later

"Brian? I really want a Coupe."

I think I'm a pretty smart girl.  So WHY, OH WHY didn't I think to myself, 'hey, a 2-door vehicle probably won't work when we need to wiggle a carseat in and out of the back.. day in and day out."

Nope..I just thought pretty white coupe.

DUMB. DUMB. DUMB.

So in all likelihood, I'll be trading in my coupe and my 2+years left of my lease negative equity, for this bad boy

Nissan Altima Sedan

It's not all bad.  I REALLY miss my Altima Coupe.. and I love my bestie Dani's Altima Sedan.

My payments'll stay about the same.. other than the processing fees and taxes you have to pay getting into a new car.  Stupid government.

So just as I was accepting this fact.. and preparing to make the financial/automotive switch.. The Lord of the Jeeps decided to poop on us.  Brian's Wrangler needs needed new tires, new internal-ma-bobs, etc (clearly, I know a lot about cars.)  So today, another switch.

2011 Jeep Cherokee Laredo

Ladies and gentleman (who am I fooling.. LADIES..) I present to you Brian's new ride.  My husband is a stallion and finagled his way down to a payment that's only slightly more than what we were paying for his Wrangler.  But AGAIN.. stupid taxes to get into a new car.  REALLY stupid taxes in Nebraska to get into a new car.  We thought about just fixing up his Wrangler, but when Baby is born, I'll be the drop-off-at-Grandma's parent.. and he'll be the pick-up-from-Grandma's parent.  So again.. there wasn't really any way we were going to cart around Baby Paul in a Jeep with the doors off and the top down.  As much as I'm sure he/she would enjoy it.

SOOOO, here we are.  When I break it down.. I know we can handle it.  And I know we HAD to do it for Baby's sake.  We are successful individuals who manage our money responsibly. 

SO WHY AM I HYPERVENTILATING?? :) 

2 cars in 2 days... Momma needs a cocktail.  And since that's not an option.. Momma bought Pop-Tarts.

Oh, Mack...

"Momma.. don't go to work! Stay home and play with me!"

Sometimes Often, I feel the need to remind my dog that he is in fact, a DOG.

Nevermind that my recent nickname for him is Monkey, which Brian says confuses him.

I digress.. lately, Mack's adventures have been pretty comical, and at least one of them, NOT dog-like.

Mack V. The Treadmill

We 'borrowed' my parents treadmill and moved it to our house, in the hopes that I will use it to get back in shape at home post-delivery while Baby Paul is sleeping and such.  Right now, it's parked in our office/Mack's room right off the living room.  When we Brian and my Dad first moved the thing in, Mack sniffed the hell out of it and examined every inch of it.

"What's this?!? A new toy? Something to lie on? A new bed? Whatisitwhatisitwhatisit?!?"

That night, when I turned it on and used it for the first time at our place.. Mack FREAKED.

"Holycrapwhatisthat?!?! Get closer.. get closer..NO!! TOO CLOSE!!! Must watch it, can't take eyes off it... maybe from behind.. yeah, I'll sneak up on it from the hallway..yeah.. NOOO!! TOO CLOSE!!"

Hopefully, that paints a picture.  Though he appears to be terrified of it--the noise, the rhythm, whatever--he cannot take his eyes off it while I'm using it.  He just paces in front of it, or lowers down on his front legs to 'attack' mode, or comes into the office from the hallway and smells it as I'm running.

Funny at first, but when my routine hits running sprints, I'm gasping "OUT.... MACK...NOW" in between breaths.  No longer funny.

Ok, it is still kinda funny :)

Mack V. The Fence

One of the things we were SOOOO looking forward to when we moved, was that we were going to immediately build a fence.  Mack is a big boy, and he doesn't get nearly enough exercise.  We were JAZZED at the thought of just opening the door and letting him frolic with nature without one of us being dragged around behind him on a leash.

It timed out PERFECTLY that the first weekend the fence was up,

was also the weekend we hosted Brian's family for our nephew Jace's 5th birthday. 

Or so we thought... 

"Ohmygoshwho'sthat? Who'sthis?Theysmellnew, mustsmellmore, mustjumpandlick..whoareyou??OhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygosh!!!!!"

Lots of people + large dog who turns PSYCHOTIC when new people are around

=

PISSED OFF MOMMA AND DADDY.

So we put Mack outside.

He didn't like that.

First, he tried to claw his way back inside and ripped apart our back screen door. Then, the second we let him back inside, he escaped out the front door as more people showed up and SPRINTED up the street, zigzagging through various new neighbors front yards and backyards, before getting into a "smelling confrontation" with the black lab across the street.

We didn't like that.  So we put him BACK outside.

Now, every time we try to let Mack out, even to do his business, he RUNS in fear with his ears down and tail between his legs, and hides under our dining room table.  We have to literally drag him by his collar to the back door, and even after we shut it, he stands on the deck and watches to make sure we stay there before he turns to head down the deck.

Negative reinforcement, anyone?

Mack V. Momma's Sense of Discipline

Despite all of this, I'm definitely the softy of Mack's parents.  Brian may be his Daddy that he cowers to if Brian even LOOKS at him wrong.. but he lays by me in the living room and follows me around.

Probably because he knows I'll always rub his belly and give him a treat when his Daddy's not looking.

This morning, after a really tough workout (this Momma's OUT-O-SHAPE!!) I basically collapsed on the floor just to breathe without movement for a few seconds.  Mack walked up (treadmill was turned off by this point.. once the evil-enemy-machine was asleep, Mack returned to normal), he plopped down next to me, and just laid there. 

For a few seconds.. just peace.

"It's OK, Momma.  I'll help.  Belly rub?"

He may be crazy, but he's our boy :)

You Know You're Pregnant When...

Everything became clear tonight as I was driving back to work.

Sundae cones.. better known as "Drumsticks" to many.. are GENIUS.

Seriously, the person who came up with this should be given a Nobel Prize.

A snack that combines salty (peanuts) with sweet (the ice cream) and leaves you with savory (the crunchy cocoa-laden cone), in which you eat every component and therefore have no mess. 

No spoon, no cup, no fuss.  AND DELISH!

You know you're pregnant when you're blogging about ice cream....

pretty sure this is a cry for help.

Or a reason to stop at Bakers for more on my way home tonight :)

We're Goin' To Kansas City!

... actually, we WENT to Kansas City. 

Brian and I have a new plan.  Every year on our anniversary, we're going to visit a new major league ballpark to watch a game. On our honeymoon, we went to Anaheim to watch the Angels play.. and this year, Brian wanted to go to KC.  I figured--hey, let's make a yearly plan out of this! And it works for both of us!  Brian gets to see MLB games at a new park every year--new teams, new players, etc... and I get to see and travel a new city every year!  Win-Win!

This year, we visited good 'ol KC.  Brian's kind of a big deal and has 'connections'...

so we got great tickets and a great deal on our hotel.

FRIDAY

We pulled into town a little later than expected... but still had time to dump our stuff, change, and head to a fancy-pants dinner at the Skies in KC... a fancy-pants restaurant that TURNS on top of a Plaza hotel, so you can see the whole city while you eat.

PRO:  The scenery was INCREDIBLE.. especially since we were in the middle of a thunderstorm and got to watch lightning decorate KC from 40 stories up.

CON: Not asking how much "the special" was before we both ordered it.. then getting a heart stopping bill at the end of the bill.  It's not a good sign if both you and your husband keep repeating "it's a special occasion.. it's our anniversary.."

SATURDAY

We decided to tour the Plaza.  Neither of us are big shoppers (especially after our car-payment dinner the night before) but it was fun walking around to all of the shops.. and laughing at how much people are willing to pay for clothes and accessories.  $1595 for a jacket?  HA!  $195 for sunglasses?? HA!  We splurged on cinnamon popcorn and Cold Stone Creamery.  We're REBELS!

After a quick nap at the hotel, we met up with our good friends Justin and Meredith.. also in KC for the game for Justin's b-day because he's a huge Yankees fan.  No one's perfect. 

Good times.. good drinks (for everyone but me..) then we were off to the game!  KC versus NYY! 

One of the perks of Brian's awesome ticket deal... he also got an awesome parking pass!  I particularly enjoyed Brian and Justin's friend Andrew, driving past all of the people WALKING to the stadium, saying "have fun walking, POORIES!!"

Hahaha.. poories... :)

PRO: Our seats were FREAKING AWESOME... first row, right behind the Royals dugout.  I'm telling all of you.. if you only visit 1 MLB game a year.. splurge on great tickets.. the game is so much faster, crisper.. you really get a feel for how AMAZING these players are!! 

And boy, do I love men in uniform :)

Derek Jeter on first base.. yes.. this is how close our seats were

CON:  Being a pregnant woman.. in 95 degree humid heat..

and paying $7.50 for a freaking bottle of water!!!!  BEER was only $7!!!!

So we are now back from Kansas City.  Great trip, great husband.. I'm a pretty happy girl.

NEXT YEAR--ST. LOUIS!!

We're already planning on forcing our friends Scott and Megan to go with us. :)

Love Is In The Air...

And because it's so darn hot and humid.. it's just HANGING in the air.. that should be a good thing, right?

It's hot.  How hot is it? Head over to my friend Megan's blog for a spot-on breakdown:  http://www.twinsomnia.com/2010/08/yo-summer-is-so-hot.html

I DIGRESS.. love is in the air... because my handsome hubby and I just celebrated our 1 year anniversary.  Readers, I am probably the luckiest girl in the world.  This is what I got for breakfast:

Heart shaped french toast.

He handed me my plate and said "and I'll eat the scraps!"

Presh.

He's the absolute best--and hey, as long as the love is just hanging in the air.. might as well soak it all in.

Happy Anniversary, handsome!!

Bumbles and Baubles

It's no secret I'm a clutz.

For those of you who didn't know me in high school.. I tripped down the stairs, walking off stage at homecoming coronation.  Hopefully no one noticed.

Years later, I also nearly fell on my skirted arse while walking to center ice at a Lancers hockey game to perform the national anthem.  Many people noticed.

So last Thursday, I really shouldn't have been surprised when walking off set after our 5pm newscast, my stiletto heel caught inside the cuff of my pant on the opposite leg, and I proceeded to go tumbling down the two stairs that make up our set, did some kind of stop-drop-and-roll move in the process.. and landed on my arm/side/butt/back.

I'm gifted, people, I'm telling you.

Most of my coworkers and all of my bosses know about the baby.. so needless to say everyone came RUNNING to make sure I was ok.  Physically, I was fine.  My  pride was another story.  Thank God we don't have web cams anymore (Carrie, I know you were thinking/wishing it :)

So alls OK.. right?  Everyone had a good laugh and we're moving on...

 Until two days later, I was walking through the mall and under the neon/super bright mall lights I noticed that I had knocked loose one of the tiny diamonds that makes up my wedding band.  The big sucker was fine THANK THE LORD.. but I about PUKED thinking I had lost ANY of the diamonds making up the ring that is soooo precious to me.

No worries.. the fine folks at Borsheims assured me it was a quick fix.. for the low, low price of $18!! 

AND they are rushing it for me so I can have it back in time for our first anniversary this weekend. 

People, I heart Borsheims.

In the meantime.. I'm sporting this little beauty from Claire's.

I feel NAKED without my ring.. and the last time I came to work without it, I got emails from little old ladies, telling me how they recently lost their husbands of 50+ years.. and WHY WASN'T I WEARING MY WEDDING RING!?!?   So I tried substituting my class ring for it instead.. and then Brian made fun of me, I had flashbacks about falling off the stage at homecoming coronation.. it all came TUMBLING back..

Claire's it is.

Let's hope Baby Paul gets Brian's moves and not his/her momma's.