Three French Hens

I appear to be REALLY behind on the holidays this year. I blame it completely on school. I didn't even start holiday shopping until about 6 days before, which made for some frustrating mall parking experiences, being as it was mostly too late to shop online. Today is technically the third day of Christmas, it still falls in the realm of THE SONG, so I still want to wish everyone yummy eggnog or treats or whatever jingles your bell this time of year. May 2009 treat you even better than 2008!

One semester has officially ended, which means I am officially one-quarter done with grad school. I couldn't be more relieved! I appear to have performed better during the second term than the first term (read: I saved my ass by studying more) so I'm hoping this is a continued trend in the future. I am overloaded the next two terms, taking 21 hours total, in hopes to make the second year a lighter schedule. We will see how that pans out for me. My energy levels have been really low lately (blame the energy-sucking-baby) so I get the feeling next semester will be a struggle for me.

The holidays were relatively low-key. We spent the Sunday before Christmas with Andrew's Mother's side of the family, Christmas Eve with my family, and Christmas day with Andrew's Father's side of the family. We managed our scheduling a little better this year, so it wasn't quite as much "just driving back and forth" as I had dreaded. One of our big gifts was new front-loading washer and dryer, which sounds really lame to be excited about, but these are the things that tickle my fancy these days people. FASTER, ENERGY-EFFICIENT, NON-TIME-SUCKING laundry. Do you see what I mean about scheduling anxiety? It is a sickness in me. There is no medication, and even if there were, I wouldn't be allowed to take it seeing as how I'm not allowed any meds whatsoever anymore anyways. I would kill for an Rx prescribing me a margarita.

This week we have two weddings to attend, and then Sunday we are off to one of my favorite places to go: Big Mountain, Montana. My family has gone there frequently since I was 17, and this will be Andrew's first trip, since my parents gifted us with the condo for the week (Babymoon?). I can't wait to hear the crunch of the powder beneath my boots! And before everyone gets in a huff about me skiing while preggo, don't worry, I'm going to take it easy and see how I feel. I think I'll be fine, but I promise to listen to my body and take it easy. See you in 2009!

Month 4

I'm in final exam period, so what better way to procrastinate than blog entries? Those accounting and finance books will just have to wait their turn.

Mid-November and On
Changes have been subtle, a lot of people finding out, including slowly, people in my class. Mostly this is met with disbelief. At a company dinner in the Petroleum Club one night, a friend in my class thought he'd be nice and "refill my drink." He assumed I was drinking vodka on the rocks (right, I see how ice water could be deceptive). I took one wiff and almost died. "Mike, I can't drink this, I'm pregnant." Mike: "What??? No way!" [staring at my stomach] "But you don't even look it!"

Belly Report: THAT is the deception. Budding pregnancy during the winter months is a lot easier to conceal. I have one pair of jeans left that I can button all the way, the rest are hanging on by a combination of rubber bands and Bella Bands (which I do love - especially the ones with lace edges). This is that limbo point everyone talks about. I'm not big enough (or mentally prepared for) maternity clothes, but some of my regular clothes are starting to feel snug and just plain unattractive. The benefit is that many styles right now have some room in the midsection, so I haven't relegated myself to even trying maternity clothes yet. Janet has graciously said she will go with me and be supportive during winter break, and she promises she will tell me when something looks hideous and reminiscent of a circus tent.

Food Report: Thankfully, I am ok with raw onions again. The most common question I get asked is "do you have any weird cravings?" Even when I'm not preggers, I am one of those people that will want something, become fixated on it, and not rest or stop bugging anyone until I satisfy it. Pregnant, I haven't had that feeling as intensely. However, I do have a very strange love for beets right now (never liked them before) and Italian food sounds good every day of the week: Starchy pastas, pizza rolls, cheese bread etc. I attribute the latter more to the cold weather that has rolled in to town. The Tums and I are still kindred spirits, going every where together. I get headaches more often, but I'm told that's normal. This month I have occasionally been able to feel pressure, but no movement per se. I keep wondering when that will happen. Books tell me sometime around 17 weeks, so I'm waiting for any day now. Although honestly, I don't think I would recognize movements anyways. I don't sit still enough to have that kind of focus or attention span.

Andrew's Report: This month Andrew has been focused on what the baby hears. He made a classical music playlist for my ipod, and I have been instructed to walked around with headphones on my stomach daily so she will have healthy brain cells. As you can see, Andrew is the reader in this duo. He is reading his book diligently, and instructs on what is happening with me and what will happen next. He even tells me the things the books says he shouldn't mention to me, lest he anger the Delicate One. Apparently he's not too worried about that.

Tomorrow we have our fancy ultrasound with the genetics testing center, so I'm looking forward to good quality photos. Maybe if there's an amusing one, I'll post it here!

Elf Yourself

It's that time of year! "Elf Yourself" is back by popular demand (and enormously successful viral marketing campaign!) so because I see my team members more than anyone right now, we put together a little diddy to keep us from killing each other. We all have love for Team 5, but there is a limit to how much time you can spend trying to reconcile 5 strongly-opinionated-perfectionist people. Cheers to 10 more days!

Team 5 Gets Elfed!

One More Time!

I need one last survey filled please (this one is even shorter and funner!).

If you are a student, please fill it out with your opinions. If you ever were a student, fill it out based on how you think you would be effected now as a student.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=L0tVdmaV2azDsjz5zqwTEQ_3d_3d


Thanks everyone!! :) I will love you to pieces and bits!