Becky
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Homepage: http://www.totallyserial.com/blog
Posts by Becky
Poor, neglected blog. Also, no baby yet.
Feb 19th
It occurred to me that we haven’t updated the blog in a while, and if I was reading a blog and someone was expecting a baby at any minute and they didn’t update for days I would assume they had it. I would hate for you to assume that, because you would be disappointed, so I’m here to let you know that no, we have not yet had the baby. Although we have been trying to convince him that it’s pretty awesome out here and he should come join us. No dice so far, though.
I’ve been a little “nesty” although not much. I have lots of plans of things I would like to get done, but my motivation doesn’t last long. I warned my mom that if we have the baby this weekend there is a good chance she will come to our house and there will be boxes of books everywhere (we sorted through them and are donating/selling a bunch).
Work has been kind of crazy lately; we switched over to a new system for managing customer information, but we were “down” for a month in between systems and the new one is very different from the old one, so it’s a learning process while we try to catch up with all the stuff that got done but not entered in the system during the month. It’s been pretty stressful for everyone, and that’s part of the reason that today will be my last day at work until May. My blood pressure has been just a little elevated at my last 2 appointments, and I’m pretty sure that the work stuff had at least a little to do with it. Our pay period ends on Monday, and I have a day of vacation left, so I’ll be taking it to get my full paycheck, but I’m technically done as of today. So that’s exciting; especially because it means that besides the donuts I brought to work there are more donuts from someone else and cookies from another person. We like sweets around here; what can I say?
I have a doctor’s appointment scheduled for Tuesday, and if I make it that far we’ll be scheduling an induction for later that week. Hopefully it won’t come to that (do you hear that, baby?). I don’t mind the waiting; I just don’t want to be medically induced if I don’t have to (but I don’t want to be pregnant for another 2 weeks, either). All that is to say, we should for sure have a baby by next weekend!
None of this seems real; even with the baby stuff everywhere and this huge belly and the weekly appointments and putting the car seat in the truck (it’s that or I have to drive everywhere and Ryan has to sit in the back seat of the car because the seats need to be so far forward)…even with all of that it doesn’t seem real. I’m sure it will become real very shortly, though. And I can’t wait!
No baby yet, and my favorite quotes from this morning’s weather guy:
Feb 12th
There’s no baby yet. Ryan and I feel like we need to clarify that right away with whoever we are speaking to (unless we see/talk to them every day). He called his parents last night, and I think he said “No baby yet” before he even said hello. I have a feeling that will continue until he shows up.
I had to laugh at the weather guy this morning. I like this guy; he doesn’t have a weird shtick or make lame jokes (usually), and he can speak well on television (no small feat for some people). The reason he cracked me up was more about our expectations and feelings about what constitutes “nice” weather in Minnesota in February.
*While the television is showing that the current temperature is -5* “It’s going to be a nice day today!” – Why do I have trouble believing this right now?
“The wind is blowing a little around the lake shore, causing windchill factors only 5-10* lower than the actual temperature, so we aren’t getting into the -20’s, -30’s, or even the dangerous -40’s.” – Yes, -40’s are dangerous, but he made it sound like the other temperatures were decent as long as you didn’t get THAT low. And the fact that we wouldn’t be surprised if the windchill factor was that bad…well, I don’t know why we all continue to live here. My coworkers say it keeps the riff-raff out. I have my doubts.
“The air is trying to move toward the lake because the air above the lake is in the 20’s and 30’s due to that NICE WARM LAKE WATER.” [Emphasis mine] HAHAHAHAHAHA. The same lake that in August will turn your feet blue in seconds and has people surfing and using jet skis in wetsuits all summer long. Compared to the air temps I guess it is warm, but the fact that anyone says Lake Superior ever has “nice, warm lake water” cracks me up.
Rereading this it occurs to me that it’s probably not as amusing to anyone else as it was in my head. I think that happens to me a lot. Unfortunately for you, it’s what I’ve got this morning. I got up at 5 so that I could go into work early because I have a LOT of stuff I want to get done before the baby comes and I don’t want to chance leaving it over the weekend. So I’m a little tired, a little spacey from the last weeks of pregnancy (or maybe I’m always a little spacey – but I’m blaming it on the pregnancy while I can), and already thinking about work. My judgment of what is funny is not to be trusted.
Except for this: this is funny. And I will be printing out her pain chart to bring with me to the hospital so that when someone asks me how much it hurts I can point to one of these faces.
Guessing game continued
Feb 5th
I found a link to this site that will try to predict the baby’s size/gender/hair color/etc. It asked me a bunch of weird questions (What’s the last animal I saw? How many rings do I wear? Do I paint my toes and fingernails?). And if it’s right I’m in big trouble. Not only because we are planning for the baby to be the wrong sex (and his name doesn’t work very well for a girl), but also because he’s (she’s??) apparently a monster baby. Here’s what it says:
The day you deliver, outside will be cold. Your baby will arrive in the early morning. After a labor lasting approximately 15 hours, your child, a girl, will be born. Your baby will weigh about 15 pounds, 6 ounces, and will be 22-1/2 inches long. This child will have light violet eyes and curly black hair.
Oh, and considering Ryan is fair-haired and I was blond when I was little and have darkish brown hair now I find it hard to believe our child will have black hair. But this came from the internet, and the internet never lies, right? Anyway, I thought I should give you all the information just in case anyone wants to change their guess. And if you haven’t guessed you can still do so – right up until the baby comes.
In other pregnancy news, there isn’t really any. I think I’ve finally hit the point where I am pretty much ready to be done, although I’m definitely willing to wait as long as necessary (unlike the girl on the forum I read who was asking how to break her own water. Um, WHAT? Yikes…). My back is sore, I can’t sleep or turn over in bed without major issues any more, it’s getting harder and harder for me to get out of chairs/the couch/any seated position, and putting on my socks is becoming such an ordeal that I’ve considered going barefoot. In February in Minnesota. But, all that being said I know I still have it pretty good. My back pain/trouble sleeping is nothing compared to a lot of people, and the rest is mostly just inconvenience. I’ll be ok. I’ll just be very excited to have it all over with at some point.
Question
Feb 3rd
I have a question and I want the internet’s input.
Ryan and I bought a chest freezer from a local appliance store about 2 1/2 weeks ago. It’s one of those ding/scratch places, and the freezer we bought had a damaged lid; it was so badly damaged that it wouldn’t seal (it looked like someone set a forklift down on the lid), but they had one on order to replace it, and they sold it to us for a good price.
We haven’t heard from the appliance place other than when we called a couple times to ask about it, even though both times we asked that they keep us updated. Last we heard (when I called last week) they had gotten a lid in, but the company shipped the wrong color so they had to send it back and were waiting for another one. Today, they called and said that there is a 2 week back order on the freezer lids (apparently they are in high demand??), and they have offered to give us a different freezer instead. However, this one has “some dings on the sides and the top.” The other one, once the lid was replaced, would have looked perfect.
We are going to the store tonight to take a look at the replacement offer, but my question is this; if we decide to take it, should we haggle for a better price, considering it has taken them 2 1/2 weeks to get anything to us and this one is more damaged than the one we agreed to buy? Or should we suck it up and realize that we got a good deal in the first place? We won’t be taking it if it’s too beat up looking, because it will be living in our kitchen until spring (which could be sometime in May the way things go around here).
I’m not a good negotiator, and I don’t have a good sense of what’s fair in these kinds of situations. And part of my problem is that the reason we bought a freezer when we did was so that we could freeze some meals before the baby comes. If we have to wait another 2 weeks it will probably be too late to do much (or any) cooking ahead. But that’s not the store’s fault, so I don’t know if it should count in my reasoning.
So, wise internet, what are your thoughts on the whole thing?
UPDATE: We took the replacement freezer. It was in pretty good shape (just some minor denting on the side; no scratches), and they were selling it for more than the one we bought, but gave it to us for the same price. Obviously (I’m not that much of a pushover). So now our fridge freezer and the chest freezer look pretty empty, but we have the space to make up some extra food. Now we just need to find the motivation to make this food.
What the heck was that? Also, a game!
Jan 30th
I just had the weirdest dream, and since I so rarely remember them I thought I should mark this down for posterity.
I was sitting on a bench by the window in the kitchen of an older farmhouse. There was a paper bag of underwear next to me for Goodwill (sidenote: gross!). I was talking to my friend Adrienne, and this old woman suddenly showed up right outside the window. She was talking to me, and had a creepy old woman voice (think disguised witch from Snow White).
Suddenly, when I had stood up to get away from her, she stole the bag of underwear! Then, she was trying to get in the house, but mostly through open windows. Adrienne ran off to close some, and then I ran into another room to do the same. Except her hand was already over the sill grasping. Then she said that I “dance a pretty jig,” right before we got the window shut.
In the meantime, a friend from college had shown up randomly. Then I heard someone coming down the stairs. There was a door at the bottom, so I tried to slam it shut until I realized it was another college friend. I do not know where these people kept coming from, but they were giving me a heart attack and that crazy woman was still out there, talking to me. I sat on the floor to catch my breath (I wasn’t pregnant in the dream), and then I woke up.
So weird!
In other news, Ryan and I bought the rest of the stuff we need to be ready for baby. Other than stockpiles of sleep. They don’t sell that at Target or on Amazon. The ladies from my work threw us a shower on Thursday, so now all the parties are done and we are just waiting. We also got the stuff we need for the hospital, which is kind of crazy. Now we just need to get it all packed/put away. I am pretty sure I’ll make it to my due date, but who knows.
Speaking of, let’s have a little contest; you guess baby’s birthdate, length and weight, and whoever is closest wins. Probably they just win the satisfaction of being right, though. I’m not good at mailing things NORMALLY, much less after I’ve given birth.
To even the playing field, here are my stats:
As of 36 weeks I was not dialated at all, but I was 25% effaced. I haven’t been (and probably won’t be) checked again.
I was born about 3 days after my due date and weighed 8 lbs plus some ozs. I don’t remember the specific amount or my length at birth.
Ryan was 7 lbs 13 ozs, I believe. I don’t know his length at birth or where he was in relation to his due date, although I think he was close.
Personally, I think I’ll make it to my due date and that he will be right around 8 lbs and 20 inches. We shall see!
Go ahead; take a guess. There’s no penalty for being wrong!
Randomness
Jan 25th
A few random things that have been running through my head:
Baby Shower: Awesomeness
My friends Nicole and Adrienne threw a baby shower for us, and it was fabulous. I love an excuse to get together with friends and family, and it was the perfect sized gathering – we could all hang out and visit together instead of splitting into smaller groups. Of course we received some awesome gifts, and I had a great time. I got to stay late and visit with my high school friends and a friend from college, so that was fun too. We are so blessed to have such great friends and family…Ryan and I are both really lucky that way. *commence puking from the sappiness*
Things that make me irrationally angry/frustrated (but not really)
Snickers Fudge candy bars: I tried this new concoction, thinking that I like Snickers and I like fudge, so how could I go wrong? Well, let me tell you: they take the caramel out of the Snickers to put the fudge in! Why would you do such a thing? I was very disappointed in the whole experience. Thankfully I have learned my lesson. No more Snickers Fudge candy bars for me.
The weather in Duluth: it is pissing me off lately. We live in Northern Minnesota (at least by most people’s standards. My parents live in REALLY Northern Minnesota, but the rest of the world doesn’t acknowledge that the state extends that far North. That is a whole ‘nother discussion, though). It is expected to be cold and/or snowy here from basically early November until the end of March. We do sometimes get a “January thaw”, but that means a few days where it reaches 32*. And usually it’s accompanied by a crapload of snow (side note – did you know it can be too cold to snow? I don’t know the scientific reason why – I’m no meteorologist – but I know that if it’s 0* or below it won’t usually snow). This year, we are getting rain. At least in the part of Duluthwhere I live (at the bottom of the hill, near the lake). I hear they have snow over the hill, but down here by the lake it rained all weekend and was near 40*. What the heck is up with that?
Normal people would say “Aren’t you glad you don’t have all that snow?” But they would be mistaken. I am not glad. Because it rained all weekend and our parking lot/roads/driveways/sidewalks got all wet, and then the temp fell below freezing. And it’s supposed to cool down even more, to the point that the salt they use to melt the ice won’t work. And so we have a perpetual ice skating rink pretty much everywhere you go. It is annoying and dangerous. And my balance is bad enough these days without adding a layer of ice between my shoes and the ground. Arg.
Just one pregnancy-related rant: I have enjoyed my pregnancy for the most part. I mean, yah, I have some joint and back pain, and it’s hard to get around. But for the most part I’ve had a pretty easy time of it, and I like feeling our little boy kicking and moving around. And Ryan and I are in a good place to be having a child, which I know isn’t always the case for people. So yah…I’m enjoying it.
The thing I’m not enjoying as much? People assuming that I am “SO ready to be done.” I get asked at least 3 or 4 times a week (usually by strangers) if I’m ready to just have this baby already. And I know they mean well, but jeebus. First of all, I’m not even “full term” yet (tomorrow!). Secondly, it’s not like things will suddenly get easier once the baby is here. In fact, I have a feeling they will be much more difficult. Very rewarding, of course, but still. Right now I can still do stuff around the house that requires both hands, and I can take a shower or a nap or read a book whenever I want to. And even though I’m not sleeping the best, I can still lay in bed when I’m having trouble sleeping; there’s no one crying that I need to go pick up and soothe/feed/change. So yah…I’m good with him staying put for a couple more weeks, or however long he needs. Now if I’m pregnant still the last week in February my answer might be different. Ask me then if I’m ready to be done. (ps, if anyone that reads this has asked me that question, I’m not talking about you, I swear! It’s the strangers that ask that bugs me more than anything).
I can’t think of anything else that I want to rant about (except the Vikings, but others have done plenty of that for me), and it’s lunch time (leftover lasagna and the 5th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris (the books True Blood is based on)). Sounds like a good time to me.
This is kind of awesome.
Jan 20th
I lost my phone over the weekend. It totally disappeared. Obviously going without a phone is a bad idea; especially these days. So Monday Ryan and I went up to the Verizon store to beg them to let me upgrade early. They were awesomely helpful, and I came home with a new phone.
I previously had the LG Chocolate, which I liked, but since we were planning on upgrading me to a smartphone when my contract expired in September anyway, I got an HTC Droid. And so far I love it. In fact I’m writing from it right now.
The major downside to this story is that unless Ryan has your phone number I don’t have it anymore. So if you could email it to me that would be awesome.
Anyone else out there have a Droid? What do you think?
Delurking Day
Jan 14th
It’s apparently national delurking day on the internetz, and I personally wouldn’t want to delurk on a ranty post like the one previous to this one, so I’m adding a new one.
If you’ve been reading and not commenting now’s your chance to tell us what you think. But be warned; I’m almost 9 months pregnant. I cannot be held responsible for my reaction to negative comments. Probably it would involve crying, and no one wants that. So lie if you have to*, but leave us a note!
*Yes, I realize I just asked you to tell us what you think and then suggested you lie about it, which would seem to defeat the purpose. I’m almost 9 months pregnant. Have I mentioned that? Rational thought has mostly escaped my brain at this point. Does that frighten anyone else? There’s still a month left of this.
WTF?
Jan 13th
I just read this article on Huffington Post about what Pat Robertson said in regards to the terrible tragedy in Haiti. Another article from US News & World Report has a more complete quote (and it doesn’t make it better; in fact I think it is worse with the whole thing).
The whole thing has me so upset I don’t even know where to begin. People like Pat Robertson give Christians everywhere a bad name. What kind of an asshole bigot says that half a million possible dead is God punishing them? And really, you are comparing one side of the island to the other and coming to some sort of conclusion about God’s favor? I suppose that since Mexico is less prosperous than the US or Canada it’s because we are children of God and they are heathens? Puh-leaze. It’s crap. And the sad thing is, it’s crap that some people will believe because Pat Robertson said it.
I don’t know anyone personally that listens to his show (or at least not anyone that has mentioned it in front of me), but obviously those people must be out there because the man is still on the air. And it makes me sick, knowing the hatred he spreads. This isn’t the first time he’s made completely offensive remarks in the wake of a tragedy. How many times will it take until people realize what a crack-pot he is?
Arg. People like him make me so frustrated. I need to do something else to take my mind of his assholishness. Like donate to the cause.
It’s about time!
Jan 6th
I finally updated the blog roll to be more reflective of the stuff in my Google Reader. There were quite a few links that had been missing, so I feel better now.
I also had Ryan add my twitter account to the sidebar. I feel all fancy. Woo. Unfortunately, I’m not very witty, so my Twitter account isn’t very exciting. Oh well. One step at a time.
Ack. It’s after 10. Definitely time for bed. Here’s hoping I can sleep most of the way through the night. My back has been bothering me more lately, and that’s made it hard to get a good night’s sleep. I also managed to twist my ankle while disassembling the Christmas tree yesterday (because I am that smooth-I wasn’t doing anything crazy, I promise!). Hopefully I can make it the rest of the way through pregnancy without further injuring myself.
