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.

Getting To Know Your Friends

Or in this case... just me....

1. What time did you get up this morning?   11:30... I blame the kid...

2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds.. I think of pearls and I think of my husband and his best friend making inappropriate jokes...
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?  Inception, with my man, Meg and Scott!
4. What is your favorite TV show?  Right now, Top Chef.. overall, Big Love

5. What do you usually have for breakfast?  Cereal

6. What is your middle name?  Leigh

7. What food do you dislike?  Right now, chicken.. I know, what's wrong with me?? And I don't really like the texture of pineapple..

8. What is your favorite CD at the moment?  I don't have the entire Lady Antebellum CD, but I've bought a bunch of their stuff off I-Tunes and love it!

9. What kind of car do you drive?   09 Honda Accord Couple.. TOTALLY miss my 08 Altima Coupe :(

10. Favorite sandwich?   Jimmy Johns Pepe (Ham and Cheese)

11. What characteristic do you despise?  Always being the victim

12. Favorite item of clothing?  Running shorts with stretchy tie waste bands.. brilliant.. and in the winter, Brian's sweat pants.

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?   Bahamas.  Right now.

14. Favorite brand of clothing?  I haven't been shopping in sooooo long... I don't even know... I really like Maggy London dresses

15. Where would you retire to? San Diego with my hubby

16. Favorite birthday?  Every year.. I LOVE my birthday.. and I think this one will rock, since it's my 30th and our due date is ONE DAY AFTER...

17. Favorite sport to watch?  Husker Football or College Baseball

18. Furthest place you are sending this? Techincally, Siberia.. since it's a blog and anyone can read it.. so if you are there and checking this out, Svgorban!.. or however you say hello in your language...

19. Person you expect to send it back first?   I hope Meg comments.. since I think she's my only reader..

20. When is your birthday? February 20

21. Are you a morning person or a night person?  NIGHT.. I'm grumpy in the morning..

22. What is your shoe size?   6 or 6 1/2
23. Pets? German Shephard/Rottweiler adoptee named Mack

24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us?  Baby Paul, coming to a city near you, February 2011

25. What did you want to be when you were little?  A singer.. someone famous

26. How are you today?   Goofy

27. What is your favorite candy.. I was gonna say Hot Tamales.. but then Dani reminded me of peanut butter m&ms.. mmmmmm...

28. What is your favorite flower?  love Gerber Daises.. love roses.. love mixes of flowers..

29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?   August 8th, our first anniversary... then August 13th.. we are taking a romantic vacay FOR our anniversary!

30. What's your full name? Brandi Leigh Petersen Paul

31. What are you listening to right now? myself, clacking away on the computer keys

32. What was the last thing you ate?  chicken fried rice

33. Do you wish on stars?  No.. sounds great though!

34. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?  Traditional Blue
35. What is the temperature right now?  Inside, about 68 degrees?

36. The first person you spoke to on the phone.  Ever? Probably my dad? I don't know...

37.. Favorite soft drink?  Right now I am OBSESSED with straight up traditional Coke.. I know I should drink Diet, but it's just fantastic..

38. Favorite restaurant?  Kobe Steakhouse... mmmm....

39. Real hair color?  Dirty Blonde.  Insert joke here.

40. What was your favorite toy as a child?  A My Child doll

41. Summer or winter?  Summer.. although I'd probably enjoy it a lot more with a better body..

42. Hugs or kisses?  Kisses :)

43.Chocolate or Vanilla?  Twist!

44. Coffee or tea?  Coffee with coffeemate

45. Do you want your friends to answer back to this? Post away, my friends!

46. When was the last time you cried?  Last week at home, sick with a migraine

47. What is under your bed?  Dust

48. What did you do last night? Read a book, watched Teen Mom.. an hour of my life I'll never get back.

49. What are you afraid of?  Losing those I love most

50. Salty or sweet?  Sweet.. like taffee... mmmm.. taffee...

51. How many keys on your key ring?  2

52. How many years at your current job?  7

53. Favorite day of the week? Friday and Saturday

54. How many towns have you lived in? Cherokee, IA.. Omaha.. LV.. Papio.. Lincoln.. 5?

55. Do you make friends easily? Good friends? Nope.  They are few, and cherished.

56. How many people will you send this to?  I have one blog follower... ouch.

57. How many will respond?  Didn't I already answer this?  One!! Rub it in!!

YEEEEE HAW!

Last night, I had a thought that made me smile, and giggle,
and have really happy thoughts.

Ever heard of Mutton Bustin'??  Watch the video below...

IT. IS. AWESOME.  Kids, holding onto sheep for dear life for as long as they can...

kinda like the kid version of bull riding.

And it will take place at the Sarpy County Fair in a few short days. 

Unfortunately, we don't have any kids (yet). 
So I started thinking of who else DOES have kids that would be awesome little Mutton Busters.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Jace and Ashley.

AWESOME.

This is my new mission. 

Megan, I apologize for getting your child involved in my fiendish schemes :)