Okay, actually I like spring, I love summer.
The weather was beautiful, so we took 14-week-old Marcia for a walk. After we got home, she started “talking” and insisted on being listened to. Here is her story.
Category: Health
I’m feeling selfish
I love my baby, and I don’t want to share her. Then I remind myself that if I do, perhaps I will be lucky enough to hear that other people love her too….
So, here goes something: 2 videos. Of Marcia the younger. With brief appearances by the arms of Jacob and Marcia the elder. They are each around five and a half minutes long.
This first one is from the twelfth. In the bath tub. I put her in the bathing suit I wore as an infant (for modesty’s sake). It is nice to see a human wear it. For the past couple decades it was worn by my cabbage patch kid.
This second video is from today. First part this morning, second part this afternoon.
I hope you enjoyed the videos as much as we enjoy Marcia.
2010 Year in Review
Tonight, as we bid farewell to 2010, we reflect on some of the things that have happened this year. In hindsight, it’s been a very big year for us, with a lot of big, big changes. Here’s our list of accomplishments for 2010:
- In January, Jacob went back to school to work on getting a Masters degree in Computer Science.
- On one saturday in April, we got an iPad and learned that we were going to become parents (OK, so getting an iPad isn’t really a huge accomplishment, but it WAS an exciting day, and helped us launch a new business).
- On June 14, we closed on the purchase of a house that had been trying to sell itself to us for two years, and on the same day started telling people that Marcia was pregnant.
- On December 3, Marcia completed her mitosis and now we have two Marcias.
- 2 weeks later, Jacob finished his second semester of graduate school (with a 4.0 GPA, which I’m quite proud of).
- This morning, December 31, we read the Second Epistle of John, which was 373 consecutive days of reading scriptures together. 2010 was the first year in which we read together every day.
- Also as of December 31, we have kept the smaller Marcia alive for 4 whole weeks, which is longer than any plant (and most fish) we’ve ever owned. The original Marcia is still alive and happy as well.
2010 Was very good to us, and we’re excited to see what 2011 brings. Happy New Year!
No exciting news to report at this time
I just want to reflect a bit as this week is kind of a big milestone week for mee. Most people probably think I must be referring to the fact that on Tuesday (two days ago) my pregnancy hit 39 weeks. While that is true, and a great thing, that is not what I am reflecting on today*. On Monday I had the pleasure of going to yet another doctor’s appointment. As I was waiting for the doctor to come in and check things out (you know the “fun stuff.” Well at least hearing the baby’s heart beating is fun) I noticed the date written down “11/29/2010.” Time has flown by! Without my seeing it. Specifically, ten years of time. On 11/29/2000 I entered the Missionary Training Center prior to going to Chile. Wow! That was the day I met for the first time Monica and Amy (and the elders in our district), it was also the last opportunity I had to meet up with Fiona (and meet her new husband Zac), it was nice to have a friendly face next to mee in that farewell meeting. That was still in the day they allowed family/friends to come past the curb. Though living so far away, I flew out alone. Fiona and Zac brought mee a box of Andes mints, which were delicious and I loved them, thank you. However I was probably too selfish to share them, and I am sure I ate them all myself, my apologies to Amy and Monica. I know I am not as good at keeping in touch as I wish to be, but I am grateful for the internet and our ability to be in contact over the distances, and through our own web spaces we can know what is happening in each others’ lives.
*Here is a picture from Tuesday, mee at 39 weeks:
And this one too, because I like my shirt, and I think it hides my belly, kinda, though I am pretty proud of that belly…
(Also, because it makes mee laugh.)
Dreams
A couple of months ago, I had a dream, which started quite normal.
We were attending a friend’s wedding and we were dressed up pretty nicely. (In the start of this dream I did not appear to be with child.) We were asked to go and check on flowers or something to make sure it would be ready for the ceremony to start. We needed to pass through an indoor pool room to check on what ever the thing was. As we walked by the pool, some teenage boys decided it would be fun to see if they could get us wet. Well, when I looked down to see if my dress was wet, I saw something starting to move in my abdomen. I thought that was odd, I had not eaten recently, so it couldn’t likely be indigestion. There was stronger movement, and I saw a distinct foot outline on my stomach. So I got out my camera to take a picture, and before I could push the shutter button, there were 3 strong movements again, and out of my belly popped a foot. This foot was sticking out past the knee and would not relax. We searched all over to find any doctors we could, in hopes that they could figure out how to get the leg back where it belongs. I woke up at this point, with the baby’s leg still sticking out of mee.
When I was awake, I found myself holding my hands as if I was holding the leg, just as I had done in the dream, and there were strong movements/kicks right where I felt them in the dream. Boy was that trippy!
So, Halloween was this last weekend, and I was trying to think of what I wanted to do for a costume. Many people gave ideas, some fun, some cheesy, some I was not interested in at all. I started thinking about how hard it would be to make it look like the alien from Alien. Then it occurred to mee, I had that dream. I could sew a leg. I could make at least one dream become a reality. So I did.
Jacob said there was a little something missing, blood.
It did seem to add that little extra umph. The best comment of the night was when a cute kid (not really yelling, but speaking quite forcefully) said, “Why is there a foot in your belly?” I couldn’t help but laugh as I tried to explain that it is not real. And even better is that every time I laughed, the leg would kick around. It was fun!
And because I love him, here is a picture of Husband, and (fake) baby foot*.
And the weekly count down has arrived again. 35 weeks down, 5 to go. Here is what is probably my favorite picture from this weeks photo shoot:
I sure do love my monkey footie pajamas! Now if only I could find some in Copyright sizes…and if Jacob were willing to wear a pair of them as well, we could have a fun family picture in a couple months.
*Foot is also some times known as fot, this developed when one of the ultrasound pictures, that refused to show us if Copyright is a boy or a girl, was labeled with a fot in stead of a foot.
Can you believe it?
34 weeks down
Only six to go?
I can’t hardly believe that there are only six more weeks of this. While it will be nice to have my baby in my arms, I think I will miss the fun stuff that comes with the baby being inside….
I have been busy sewing, and other stuff too, but there has been a good amount of sewing. Lucky mee, I have pregnancy carpel tunnel syndrome-that they assure mee will end when baby comes out. For now I wear wrist braces, and it makes it much more bearable. I have been sewing blankets/quilts, some clothing projects, and I made major progress on my Halloween costume. Pictures will come later.
And the white ghosts on my pants glow in the dark!
I guess it is time to get serious about finishing the “unpacking business”
31 weeks down and theoretically 9 to go. Here is a picture from today:
A great big “Thank you!” to Abby and her friend(s) for the maternity clothes. It is nice to have warmer things to wear as the season is changing.
Let’s see, I get asked all the time how I am feeling…? I am feeling great. I get heart burn. I often feel like I am starving (even though I am not). I am tired. I can’t sleep (unless I build a sleeping tower or nest out of ten pillows). I pee a lot. I feel Braxton Hicks. And yet none of that makes this a bad experience. And over-all I really do feel great. These things are all intriguing to mee, I am more curious about why these things happen, and I enjoy studying them. I have felt hiccups from Copyright, not everyday, but a number of times, it is pretty cool in my opinion. I have been told not to sneeze anymore unless I am sitting in the restroom. I still get out and walk to keep it up. Most days I get in eight cups of water. I think I may need to figure out shoes that do not require tying, or bending over, but I am holding out as long as I can. I am now scheduled to go to the doctor every two weeks. And two weeks ago I was told that I have gained all the weight he would like for mee to gain, there were tears, and a hug and reassurance that it will be okay, and it is common for women who lost significant weight prior to pregnancy, and while I really don’t want to stress about it, I do. (and it appears I like run-on sentences…go figure) Also, I am refusing to waddle, when I feel like my body is starting, I pause and re-balance myself, and then continue walking. I am more than willing to mosey, however.
I guess that is the update for now. We have been keeping busy and trying to stay out of trouble.
Hang up the phone and drive!
Listen lady! It is a busy intersection, and you need to get off the phone. There are stop signs each direction. The car that I let go ahead of mee, had the right-of-way. Then it was my turn, so I started. You, however, were not paying attention to the intersection. And would have plowed right into the side of mee if I had not been aware of you going and you not watching. I braked, and stopped in time for you to not hit mee, and when I put my hand in the air (whole hand, not displaying any particular part of my hand, lest anyone think I was making a rude gesture) as if to ask why you went out of turn. You just shrugged your shoulders, still holding the phone to your ears, as if to answer “whatever” and that it really doesn’t matter because you are allowed to drive irresponsibly.
If you are driving, just pay attention to the road. If you really need to talk to someone, pull over. If you think you need to keep talking to someone while driving, make sure you can keep your eyes on the road, and hands on the wheel. The phones do come equipped with speakerphone after all.
We got to see and hear little Copyright
If you were not able to get your guess posted, you still have time. Like 3 months* to make your guess.
Little Copyright was not as cooperative as we would have liked. So, no, we still do not know if this baby is a boy or a girl**. Copyright kept legs closed and while we did not learn that, we did learn other things.
We learned that this child is definitely ours***. This child is modest (takes after mom). This child is stubborn (takes after dad, okay takes after mom too). This child is healthy. All the other parts were there, in their proper places, and measured well. Heart beats properly.
I had to laugh as we saw the baby’s face. Copyright was sucking, and as a result we saw the tongue go in and out. It was like it was sticking its tongue out at us for wanting to know the sex. In all seriousness, it was really cool to watch.
*Unless we can find a way to have another ultrasound somewhere before that. Preferably not very costly, and if at all possible some 3D ultrasounds would be fun to see.
**Which totally presents us with the enormous challenge of agreeing on names for both a boy and a girl. We were hoping to only have to figure out one name.
***This child is not a lizard.
Rules are meant to be followed
There are protection/safety/blessings in obeying the rules. From playing games to laws of the land. If you think about it, it may sound funny to think of “protection” in keeping the rules if you are say, five years old and playing Candy Land. Though, there is protection, if you cheat you are likely to be hit (or something similar) by your playmate(s). Sports, there is potential serious injury or death if any of the players thinks they do not have to keep the rules. If you cheat in school, you face bad grades or possible expulsion; often times this goes on your “permanent record” and makes it nearly impossible to get into another school. The basic ten commandments are there for our benefit. So, as we think about it, there really is safety in keeping the rules. This includes the high school track.
A friend and I walk in the mornings at the *high school track. Diana is my fifth (and longest enduring) walking partner in the three-ish years I have been doing this early morning practice. I have not always had a walking partner, but I find that while I do not like to be in a big group for exercise, it does help to have one other person that keeps mee going. Sometimes I can handle having a second person, any more than that, and I start to get a wee bit uncomfortable.
Back on topic, we get to the track fairly early, and over the years I have seen many people come and go. I see most people for less than two months. This summer however there are two ladies that have been on and off through the summer. We always greet each other. I have a story from this Wednesday morning. In this story I will refer to them as **OSL and ISL, standing for Out of Shape Lady and In-Shape Lady.
Well, Diana and I were walking and we were just past the middle of our second lap, and we heard a voice yell something at us, we did not understand the words, and we both asked, “What?” as I placed my hand up to cup my ear.
OSL: Could you let us have the inside lane!
Diana: There is no jogging on the inside lanes. There is a big sign posted.
OSL: We are just timing sprints!
I know she felt entitled to request this on Wednesday because they actually arrived a few minutes earlier than we did. ***Normally we are the first people on the track. Also, OSL and ISL had not been coming for the last three weeks. When they would go to the track, it was sporadic. Each time though they would give us dirty looks like they could not believe we wouldn’t move when we should know to get out of their way. OSL would grunt at us each time she passed by us and get as close to us as she could, and half of her dirty looks were the stink-eye. About five weeks ago (two before they took a three week break) ISL arrived after us, but still about five minutes before OSL. She did some stretches and then decided she would go over and read the posted track rules. She no longer gave us dirty looks or tried to make us uncomfortable with her body language. In fact, she would even politely greet us. It is amazing what knowing the rules can do. Here is a picture of the sign posted:
Back to the story: if it were up to mee alone, we would have stayed put and continued walking in the inside lanes. However, Diana is a good person. She suggested to mee that we go ahead and allow them to jog (or sprint jog) in the inside lane. I didn’t want to. Because I am stubborn and it is a posted rule. Diana however, saw a potential lesson in it for OSL if we gave her the lanes after pointing out the rule. So we moved to a couple outer lanes.
The next time our paths crossed (we were walking the opposite direction from the one they were jogging) OSL yelled out “Thank you!” We chose not to respond, for a couple reasons. First being that by that point I was ****starting to feel a bit snarky, and my reply would not have been very polite. Second, I was not about to allow her to think I in any way approved of her actions. Thirdly, I did not want to give her the validation. This seemed to bother her, because the following time we crossed paths, she tried to thank us with more explanation as to why she was entitled to do what she wants.
If the rules were not posted (and if it was not common knowledge that joggers/runners leave the inside lanes for walkers on a track), and if she had not been giving us the stink-eye through out each encounter thus far in the summer…maybe, just maybe it would not bug mee so much. I think it would still bug mee, just not as much.
The other part of her *****sense of entitlement that really gets to mee is that she totally seems to think that she is so much more important and that it is okay for her to break the rules. And that she thinks nothing of requesting us (not a “please” escaped her mouth) to allow her to break the rules. And did she even consider our wanting to keep track of how far we walk? Why does she think we use the track, and everyday the same lanes? Does it not occur to her that we want to walk a certain distance, and by making us switch lanes mid walk, we no longer have an accurate measuring of the distance?
No, it does not matter to her (or any one else who lives in entitlement-land) what the needs or wants of other individuals may be.
I guess that is why I like/appreciate rules. They are just what they claim to be. Following rules keeps us in check, and helps us not step on others’ toes. What a less thoughtless world this would be (or at least appear to be) if we would all follow the rules out there, and stop looking for ways that they apply to everyone but ourselves.
Jacob suggested that perhaps she may be the bumper sticker driver from here.
* School starts this next week, and we don’t want to have to get up as early as we would have to in order to be off the track so as to not be there after the school day has begun (last year we did it), so we will have to move our walking to the university track, or walk laps around the town square.
** This reference is only to her inability to breathe as she runs/jogs. She is a fairly small person, she just breathes really hard as she goes around the track, and looks as if she will pass out from exhaustion, doubled over at the end of each lap. She might be able to breathe better if she would just drink some water and get her mouth/throat wet.
***While some days there may be other individuals who arrive earlier than us, we have always been there earlier than these two.
**** Oh we all know I was snarky feeling as soon as she demanded we give her permission to break the rules.
*****Really any person’s sense of entitlement bugs mee. You don’t get things just because. You can’t go around demanding things and still have friends (at least not friends that like you).