Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Maybe I Should Stop and Breathe?



Yes, we've made it to Maryland. No, I haven't run away and deserted Hubs and Sheepie, even though the thought has crossed my mind. Yes, I've had at least one meltdown every day since we've been here. No, we're not living in our new house yet. Yes, we're staying with my in-laws in the interim. No, I do not know where I'm going and Yes, I need to allow for at least an extra fifteen minutes prior to finding any intended destination for getting-viciously-lost-in-the-country time.

Are you seeing a theme here? I feel like we've been running around non-stop ever since our arrival late Friday night. And it's true. Because we have been. But we're here. We made it. And we're almost home.

The house, which we fell in love with in the state in which it was when we purchased it, is already a different house. With fresh paint on the walls and brand new carpet throughout the upstairs- it looks amazing.

I've gotten really good at picking out finishings and furnishings that are either a) too expensive b) discontinued or c) on backorder. Seriously. Line up eight different types of wood flooring and I'll fall in love with the one that's on backorder for six weeks. Sit me down in a warehouse full of sectionals and I'll fall in love with the sofa that was recently discontinued.

Hey, at least I'm consistent.

Today? We picked out our granite. I'm in love with it. It's from Brazil. And I'm waiting with baited breath for the husband to call and tell me that they don't have enough to fit the square footage in our kitchen. I might have a coronary.

Sheepie has been a huge help and probably wonders why we keep leaving him in my in-law's basement for hours at a time while we head to the new house to unpack. Poor guy. We promised him we'd make it up to him though with his new half-acre of a yard. And maybe even a sheep or two. Just kidding about the sheep. Sort of. Although, there is a farm down the road with a few cows. We could just toss Sheepie over the fence and let him do his thing.. Hmm..

Hang in there with me, folks. I promise to be back and regularly posting as soon as we're moved in and internet-ready. Hopefully around Monday or Tuesday of next week. Sigh.

In the meantime, I'll leave you with a picture of our darling Baby Boy M at 20 weeks and 6 days.


On Friday the 26th, the day of our anatomy scan, he was measuring 11 inches long and weighing in at a whopping 15 ounces! Both Baby Boy M and I are measuring about a week ahead of schedule- but our August 7th due date still stands!

He's absolutely perfect in every little way and we couldn't feel any more blessed or grateful! Throughout the ultrasound, he was pulling his little feet up towards his face and trying to suck on his toes! Just precious...

Happy Tuesday, readers! Thanks, again, for hanging in there with me!!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

20 Weeks Means We're Half-Baked!!


i think it's time to have Hubs start taking some pictures.

Total Weight Gained/Loss? Wow. Carrying around this little cantaloupe in my midsection is tough work. I've gained nearly fourteen pounds since my first weigh-in at 8 weeks. FOURTEEN! Gulp.

Maternity Clothes: Yes, yes and yes. Let's be honest, here. Who wouldn't be more comfortable sitting around in elastic-waisted pants all day? Maternity jeans/leggings/yoga pants are simply glorious.

Sleep? Up every few hours to pee. And then up for an additional fifteen minutes trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in. I don't want to talk about how much I miss sleeping on my belly and back. Sigh.

Best Moment of the Week? Feeling Baby Boy M move! Undoubtedly I feel him every day now and it's just awesome. I started feeling him poke around in there towards the end of my eighteenth week and it feels like little fingertip pokes on the inside of my belly. Other times, it feels like a rolling motion across my entire abdomen. It even gives me that "motion sick nauseous feeling" for a few seconds! My other best moment? Buying an undisclosed dollar amount (sorry Hubs) of THE cutest clothes (for myself) that I've ever seen. Enough of that maternity stuff. It looks and makes me feel like a cow. For real. I'm stylish. I follow trends. I LOVE looking great. But some of the maternity clothes I've seen just don't cut it. However, some of the styles that are out today? The tops with the ruching and the ruffles? I just buy one size up and it's long enough and roomy enough for me and baby boy! It hugs my (new) curves and shows off my belly without making me look (and feel) like a house. Best. Week. Ever.

Movement? Love it. Love it. Love it. He's a little trickster though. Once he gets going, I'll call hubby over to place his hand on my belly? And the little stinker stops poking.

Food Craving? Changes from day to day. It's not that I even crave something specific, but hardly any kind of food sounds good at times. I'm ridiculously picky.

Food aversions: Still cannot stomach red meat. Cannot bear the thought of beef bolognese. Woof.

Gender? He's going to be a Nathaniel. Baby Nate. Sigh. Or a Carter (a family name). Hubs vetoed my number one fave immediately. Grayson. But it's not completely off the table yet. I'm tucking it into my back pocket for delivery day. Heh-Heh-Heh.

Belly Button? Haha. This question just makes me laugh. Can you say, "turkey thermometer?"

What I miss? Spicy tuna sushi rolls. Sleeping on my belly and back. Doing simple things like walking the dog and putting my socks on without getting the slightest bit out of breath.

What I'm looking forward to: Our anatomy scan and moving into our new house next week!

Weekly Wisdom: Remember to take it easy. Don't push yourself. You can't do the things you used to do in the same fashion. Relax.

Milestones: Movement, Momma's got a new look and we're half baked!

Friday, March 19, 2010

Packing Wisdom and Almost Goodbyes.

Well, this is it. We're down to the wire. Crunch time. By this time next week, we'll be living in Maryland full time. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little. Just kidding. Please do not mistake my sarcasm for unhappiness, although that hint of sadness you've detected? It's sincere.

I'm excited to move. Really, I am. I'm excited at the prospect of being first-time homeowners and beginning this new phase in Hubs' and my life together. But I'm a ball of emotions. I'm anxious. I'm upset. I'm excited. I'm simply overwhelmed.

Over the course of these past couple of weeks, I've had to say goodbye to patients that I've known for years. I've been readying myself to say goodbye to a place, to a town that I've lived in for over ten years. I've had to say goodbye to some of places where I've made memories that have shaped me into who I am today.

I feel like I'm breaking up with my favorite dog walkers and my amazing dry cleaning lady. I've loved being able to walk into stores where the owners recognize me and we strike up a conversation, picking up right where we left off the last time I stopped in.

I've been so busy packing, moving and preparing our new home that I nearly cried when I went home to New Jersey this week and saw my parents for the first time in over a month. I choke back tears every time I think about the four hour drive that will soon separate us. Yuck.

I don't even want to write about what the next week holds. Saying goodbye to some of the most compassionate, hardworking and hilarious women I've ever met in my entire life. I honestly wish I could take each and every one of my co-workers with me to Maryland. Saying goodbye to my identity as a nurse. Saying goodbye (albeit temporary, as we do not know what the future holds) to a profession that has taught me so much about life, strength and hope.

I hate saying goodbye.

I really should get back to packing. Speaking of packing, however, I wanted to impart some of the things I've learned over the course of the past few weeks:

1. Hubs and I do not need to buy another bar of soap, another bottle of moisturizer or another box of tampons for a solid two years. I probably could've filled an entire LARGE Home Depot box with these items alone.

2. It's very easy to toss/sell items of clothing when a) you haven't worn them in an entire season and b) there's no chance in heck you'll be wearing them again this season. What am I trying to say? Being pregnant makes cleaning out your closets and parting with JCREW and Lilly favorites extremely simple.

3. No one needs sixty seven pairs of shoes.

4. Individually wrapping and packing your husbands pint glass collection, although tedious and annoying, is laugh-out-loud funny as you reminisce about where those pint glasses were (stolen) from.

5. Sheepie is no help whatsoever.

6. Speaking of Sheepie, no dog needs two dedicated boxes worth of belongings. Dishes, beds, blankets, bones, balls, toys... Spoiled little Sheepster!

7. Packing sucks and there are about a bazillion other things I would rather be doing. Like catching up on my DVR'd episodes of "16 and Pregnant," for starters.

8. Selling JCREW and Lilly favorites as mentioned above, is a prime source of income for the new pair of skinny leg Momma jeans I plan on purchasing as soon as I click "post!"




Welp. Happy Thursday, friends! Sorry I've been such a craptastic blogger as of late- but I promise to remedy that as soon as we're settled a bit further south! Have a fabulous weekend!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

I'm a Liar. A Big, Fat Liar. Just so I can park my car in the garage.

I have several, several pairs of black dance pants laying on the floor of the passenger seat of my car. Why? Because I have to lie to get into my parking garage at work. I know, I know. Sometimes even I think my life is a big, fat joke. But I couldn't make this up if I tried.

I am not allowed to park in the same garage as the building I work in. It's supposed to be for patients only. However, I don't think many patients drive Ford F150's with all types of construction materials hanging out of the beds. Yes, construction workers, I mean YOU! I see you sneaking into the parking garage before the security guard takes his post out front of the gate. Truth be told, I'm insanely jealous. I would try to do the same thing, but that would entail waking up even earlier than my already 5am wake-up call.

However, I digress.

It makes me giggle, albeit out of frustration, that I have to wake up in the mornings before work, shower, dress only in my proper scrub attire from the waist up, throw on my black North Face fleece, zip it up to my chin, and don black dance pants, so that when I pull up to the parking garage gate and the security guard leans into my car, he will take note that I am wearing black yoga pants and indeed, could never be a nurse working in the building, because no sane nurse would wear COMPLETELY HALF OF THE WRONG OUTFIT TO WORK ONLY TO GET AWAY WITH PARKING IN HER OWN DOGGONE PARKING GARAGE.

At least that's better than when I used to lie and tell the guard at the gate that I was there for my daily radiation treatments.

Once he waves me through the gates, I quickly drive down to the basement level parking where I proceed to park in the furthest corner of the lot and stealthily change out of my yoga pants into the pair of navy blue scrub bottoms that I had strategically shoved into the bottom of my handbag. Don't worry, I've already canvased the area for security cameras. Whew.

So wait, why do I do this? Because I'm crazy? Perhaps. However, I would like to believe it's done out of convenience. My other parking option consists of parking in a satellite lot, five long city blocks away from my building where I will be charged fifteen dollars a day to park. FIFTEEN! It's ludacris, I tell you!

It's bad enough I have to pay ten dollars a day to wear the wrong clothes to work and lie to the securty guard.

Only six more days...

Monday, March 8, 2010

My Painting Muscles Hurt.

So, what have we been up to lately? Paint, Paint, Paint! And very little time to blog. I seriously feel like I've been handpicked out of my life as a nurse and plopped straight into a brand new episode of This Old House. Just without the.. experience.

This past weekend (and the next three weekends coming) Hubs and I will be shoulder-deep in all things house. Stripping carpets, sanding, spackling, refurbishing and painting are all very recent additions to this girl's daily vocabulary. Don't worry- while the boys strip, sand and spackle, the girls shop. This pregnant lady has to contribute somehow and what better way? Let's not even talk about our trip to HomeGoods, which just so happened to be attached to a TJMaxx, which just so happened to have some of THE cutest baby boy clothes I've ever seen in my entire life. I won't even mention that, while looking for an accent chair, I happened to buy close to $100 necessities for Baby Boy M, including but not limited to sleeper sacks and RL Polo seersucker overalls. Nope, not even gonna mention it.

Here are a few pictures (albeit crappy iPhone pictures) of our weekend:

Our new home:

Hubs getting my paint ready for the unfinished living/dining rooms:

Behr Premium Ultra Plus in Cricket (green) and Spiced Cashew (yellow):

The dining room - ready for crown molding and our chair rail:

Our half-finished family room in Wheat Bread:


Needless to say, we've been quite busy! And we certainly couldn't have done it without my favorite brother-in-law and future sister-in-love! As you can see, the flooring leaves little to be desired and it's our hope that we'll have our new hardwood floors installed later this week! Even though my painting muscles are sore (painting muscles? which ones are those, might you ask? Oh, All of them.) I know it's worth every little ache as we watch our first home come together!

Oh, and one more thing. Meet my newest love. Our brand new sectional due to arrive mid-April.


So there you have it. Two days of manual labor. Shopping counts as manual labor, right? All I know is, this pregnant momma could use a massage! Hope you all had a fabulous weekend! Stay tuned for Bumpdates and some more episodes of This Old House, er.. Our New House!

Friday, March 5, 2010

Domesticated Wife Turned Frat Boy?

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Pregnancy ain't always that pretty.


Hubs: I know you're pregnant and all. And of course, you look amazing. But, sometimes? I feel like I'm living with a frat boy. You burp. You fart. And when we're sitting on the couch watching TV, you even scratch your belly. I feel like I'm back in college.



Wednesday, March 3, 2010

You Mean... We'll Be Normal?

A few posts ago, I mentioned how I would only have X number of days stretched out before me as a working woman. Eleven days, as a matter of fact. Eleven more days of waking up four mornings a week, putting on my proverbial "nurse's cap" and tending to the terminally ill. Holding hands, administering chemotherapy, laughing and crying with my patients, many of whom I have known for the last five and a half years. We've shared birthdays and holidays. Vacation stories and anniversaries. Over the years, we've become family and as excited as I am to begin a new chapter in our life, I'm not sure I know how to be anything other than a nurse. Sure, staying at home sounds like a blast- but with 23 weeks until Baby Boy arrives, I'm worried about how I will spend that time. Will I still feel.. Useful? Important? Needed? Will I continue to make a difference in people's lives?

Not only do I have eleven days left as an active registered nurse, but more importantly, I have 22 days left until Hubs and I become a "normal" married couple. Normal. What exactly is normal? I'm not sure. But in my head, it's consists of a marriage where both partners are together each night. Cooking together. Walking Sheepie together. Curled up on the couch, catching up on our DVR together. Getting into bed together at the same time each night and kissing eachother goodnight. No more "goodnight phonecalls." No more having to make lists of things to "remember to tell Hubs on the phone tonight."


And in 22 days, that will finally be Hubs and I. Normal. After six very long, very travel-packed years. Did you know, one year, he spent 190-something nights in a hotel? That's half of the year. Away from home. Away from me and from Sheepie.


Granted, it wasn't like I never saw Hubs. I don't want to make it sound worse than it really was. He's always been home on the weekends, landing Thursday or Friday night and flying back out Sunday evening or Monday morning. But now? In 22 days? He'll be home every night. He'll come home to me every night. Words can't even begin to explain how excited I am. How long we've both waited for this. How hard he's worked to get to this point.

What will I miss? The vacations. The frequent flyer miles. The hotel points. Pretty much the only silver lining to being a Consultant's wife. Now we'll just have to plan and save for vacations like normal couples. There's that "normal" word again.



Normal. I can't wait.
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