raining, pouring

My first of four baby showers was held this weekend at Carrabba's (a YUMMY Italian restaurant). Before you judge, here's the breakdown of FOUR showers:
1. This weekend - thrown by my mom, sister & sister-in-law for my Lansing-area friends
2. Early December - thrown by Kelsey & Dana for the YoungLife college-age leaders in our community
3. Mid-December - at work, a co-shower for Shannon (due late January) and I
4. January sometime - thrown by Mark's family, for Mark's family
Since our families and friends are so spread out, it's hard to just have *one* shower for everyone. And we know a lot of people. It would have been a BIG shower - and a huge headache and burden for the planners. This way - we have showers broken into small, bite-size pieces.
ANYWAY - it was GREAT - I got to see some people I don't see often enough, and some people that I see regularly - all of whom I love dearly. I was overwhelmed by the generosity and support of everyone, and need to shout out a huge thanks to Mom, Meg and Melissa - who traveled far and did a LOT to make this weekend fun.
I'll post pictures as soon as I get some from my family (my camera did not come along for the trip).
Also - I am a mechanical genius. I put our crib together this weekend. By myself. Without directions. (I asked Mark 1 question).
And it's still standing.
The nursery is starting to take shape!

one car, two car, red car, blue car

I know many one-car families. I salute them. It's not easy to balance multiple lives & schedules with one car - but they make it work.
Mark and I have always had two cars - and this week has been an example of why our lives just wouldn't work so well with only one car.
Mark's Highlander has been in the shop since Monday (minor body work) - and may be there until Friday. All week, we have been operating as a 1-car household. In some ways, it's nice - because one of my biggest pet peeves is when we wind up driving two cars to the same place, just to wind up following the other person home. And we get these nice, *early* morning chats as Mark drives me to work in the morning.
HOWEVER - today (the day I usually work until noon) - Mark has a work commitment over 2.5 hours away. And he won't finish there until after 1:00pm. So I'm stuck - not a big deal, by any means, and it's a lovely day, so I'll probably take a walk to the bookstore on campus and hang out there for awhile. But it's inconvenient, to be sure. And on Wednesday nights, we'd normally go our separate ways and hang out with friends... but there's only one car. And poor (cough) Mark has had to wake up at a Set Time all week long (because my work schedule actually IS a schedule). I know he'll be happy to have his car back.
I'm sure we don't NEED two cars, and would certainly find a way to live with just one. But this week has made me grateful for the ways the Lord has provided for us - what a blessing it is that
we have two quality vehicles to drive around! It frees us up a lot more to spend our time working for Him.

all in the shake

I shake a lot of hands throughout the day. Pretty much every student that comes into my office is greeted with a handshake. And one of my biggest pet peeves is the Wet Noodle Handshake.
Really - why bother offering your hand at all if you're just planning on laying it limply in my hand?
Today - I had a couple of disappointing Noodle Shakes... but the student who *just* left my office shook my hand so hard that I heard a sound similar to knuckles cracking. Except that it was my hand.
Maybe there is a happy medium.
In other news - my weekend of Nesting was fabulously productive - I hope this energy level keeps up! My house will be cleaner and more organized than any other time in the almost 4 years we've been there!

mama bird

We are finely wired. Humans, I mean. God really knew what He was doing when He strung us together. Being pregnant is one of those HUGE, life-altering, clearly-God's-design-is-amazing kinds of experiences. I mean - my body is knitting together another whole person right now - that's incredible!
Sometimes, though - I'm reminded of God's fine wiring through little things. Like the crazy-uncontrollable nesting instinct that took over my mind last night.
I left work, went to the gym, came home and had dinner (a salad) and a snack (1 or 2 or 4 of those little Halloween leftovers... ahem). Then I caught a little catnap on the couch. Probably no more than 10 or 15 minutes. But when I woke up, I was filled with energy. I hand-washed the new dishes I ordered (glass and ceramic - no more poisonous plastic in the microwave for us - I don't know if it's really true or not, but it doesn't hurt to be careful).
By the time I went to bed, my mind was buzzing with the list of "things" I wanted to get done before Baby comes. From the very minute to the grandiose and virtually impossible - it was all I could do to keep myself from getting out of bed to get started. I knew once I left our flannel cocoon, I would be unstoppable until the wee hours of the morning. And then I'd be a very sad camper at work today.
But all day - my nesting energy is near-to-bursting through my skin. I'm gonna go bonkers this weekend, folks. I can just feel it. And I'm actually excited to scrub my baseboards, wipe down my kitchen cabinets, and sort through the untouched pile on the floor of the hall closet.
Look out! This kind of energy only comes from the Lord, I think.

a good day for friends

Well - if you want to be picky, it's always a Good Day for Friends. But yesterday, I personally did very well.
I got to have lunch with my friend Dana. I would link to her blog here, but she hasn't posted in almost a year. I totally forgive her, but what a slacker! Instead, I've included a picture from our trip to Atlanta. She is behaving herself, whereas I cannot. I think I was making up for the fact that all weekend, I had to pose in pictures with lovely, young, NOT-pregnant women... so I just made funny faces.
Anyway - Dana and I ate at Lucky's Pub in Fowlerville. For all of you who've never heard of Fowlerville - well, there's a reason for that. BUT - my burgers (yes, there were two "small" burgers) were great and we both agreed that they serve excellent french fries. If you're ever driving the stretch between Lansing and Detroit and just need some small-town atmosphere with a side of fries - Lucky's is the place to be.
And last night I joined a group of gals from our church - there's a group of men that get together to play poker every Wednesday night, and the gals gather to watch America's Next Top Model. I can't say I'm overly concerned with the show - but the company is fantastic. Plus, 4 of the 5 women there last night are pregnant. I think I'll try to make attendance a weekly thing (I always have good intentions, but sometimes my couch overrules my ability to get in my car and drive 6 miles).
AND - I have fun FUN lunch dates both today and tomorrow - with wonderful women I love.
Bless God for good friends. (And food!)

shouldn't there be a warning label?

Last night was the first of six childbirth classes for Mark and I. Although (more than a little) intrigued, I'm not quite ready to go ahead and have the baby there - but we are taking a natural childbirth class offered by the birth center.
Our class is small - only four couples total - although last night, two of the women were husband-less for the evening. It's an interesting group of people - one gal already has 2 kids, we're in different life stages, and some different personalities. It should be good - all differences aside, you can tell there's a common goal in the group. Last night was kind of introductory, but I'm looking forward to soaking up as much information as I can in the next month or so.
Childbirth class is a very female-type of experience - Mark was a trooper. I think it will help a little when the other husbands show up and even out the ratio a little bit.
To quote (more or less) my husband in his review of the evening (which included 2 fairly graphic videos, a flipchart with real-life pictures, and a demonstration that involved a baby doll and stuffed pelvis & placenta):
"It's childbirth class, so I know you're going to be seeing that stuff. I just didn't think that by the end of the first week of class I wouldn't even notice that we were looking at another woman's (parts)."
I did feel a little bad for him - but I'm loving the fact that he's right there with me. I've got a good one.

because I'm a sucker for free shipping

These are the new shoes that were waiting for me when I returned from my weekend travels. (Well, there were 2 of each - not one oddly mismatched pair of shoes). I found them at Land's End - and I may never buy shoes from anywhere else again.
Okay, that's a lie. But I do *love* them just a bit. My logic for purchasing 2 (two!) new pairs of shoes at once:
1. There was a free shipping coupon for Land's End in my email inbox. I detest paying shipping costs - but when cute shoes are combined with free shipping, what's a girl to do?
2. I haven't bought new shoes in a long time. I figured these are versatile enough to last me a lo-o-ong time.
3. It's been getting increasingly more difficult to wear my other black & brown shoes, for varying reasons, all related in some way to pregnancy. Not enough cushioning, heels are too high, one pair laces up (and that's just way too much time to spend trying to reach your feet around a 6-month pregnant belly).
4. I had some birthday money burning a hole in my pocket.
I could go on with my list, but you all get the point. The shoes are extremely comfy, very cute, and versatile.
I know you're all happy that I'm happy with my shoe purchase. And I appreciate that.
In other, much more real-life and important news, my bloggie friend Ashleigh had her second baby boy last week! Congrats to their whole family as they welcome their precious new member! He's absolutely beautiful - go check it out!

costumes and candy

Since most all Halloween costume stores only sell slightly (or dramatically) risqué costumes for women - none of which I would wear under NORMAL circumstances, let alone being 25 weeks pregnant... I had to improvise last night. Baby B helped me with my Pumpkin Bump costume. It turned out pretty cute - people seemed to like the general idea, and I still felt festive. I've GOT to dress up for Halloween - it's just not an option!
We handed out candy to over 180 kids last night (yup, I'm weird, I keep track) - which was actually a slow Halloween for us. Felt almost lazy. AND I have candy left over (not a good thing for my willpower).
All in all - it was a good day. Lots of birthday wishes from family and friends - phone calls, emails, e-cards and Facebook messages - very fun. I made chili and cornbread for dinner (which was a great pre-game meal for handing out candy in chilly, drizzly weather), spent 2 hours enjoying trick-or-treat time, and went to bed early.
I think I can deal with being 27. It's not bad so far!

an epidemic... at least it'll be a cute one!

From October to April - here are the people currently in my life, expecting babies. I think we're in for a busy few months!!
Katie (friend)
Desi (cousin)
Nicole (friend)
Heather (cousin)
Jessica (cousin)
Heidi (friend)
Kelly (friend)
Shannon (co-worker & friend)
Me
Suzanne (friend)
Kaycee (friend)
Shannon (colleague)
Niki (colleague)

swap-a-roo

I decided this weekend that I want to reverse Saturday and Sunday in the Weekend Lineup. Sunday should come first. Here's my two fabulous, flaw-proof reasons why:
1. I'll start off the weekend with church - which is always a good thing.
2. Sunday is inevitably busier than Saturday. This would allow me to END the weekend with a relaxing day. (And don't even try to rationalize with me that whichever day is the last day of the weekend will be the busiest. I'm not a procrastinator. At all. There's just something about the VERY character of Sunday that makes it busy. Has nothing to do with me and my ability to plan or get things done).
ANYWAY.
Had a great weekend - got a bit of progress made on The Kid's Room - which is now home to an unassembled (but free!) crib and crib mattress. Looks like this:
I don't think that's exactly like ours - but it's real close. Thanks to extended - extended family for their incredible generosity!!
And I got a back-up wedding band... my real rings (lovely as they are) are starting to be tight on my pregnant hands by the end of the day. Since I don't want to have them cut off - I just opted for an oh-so-glamorous 10K 2mm plain band - a whopping $35. We definitely underwhelmed the nice lady at the jewelry store with our style. Oh well. At least I don't look like an unmarried pregnant teenager. I look like a pregnant (and married because of her daddy's shotgun) teenager. Sometimes I just want to wear a sign that says: I've Been Married For Over Five Years. Really. It's OK That I'm Pregnant.
I wonder if that would help.

cheap entertainment

Last night I talked to my mom, dad and sister on the phone (we're all big fans of The Speakerphone. Don't have to tell the same story to multiple people). I had st-r-e-t-c-hed out in the recliner in our living room (a lovely place to sit).
As a multi-tasker, I often like to have something else to "do" while on the phone - usually just something for my eyes to watch (sometimes it's a muted TV show, other times it's watching the neighbor's funny little fluffy white dog run and yap around their backyard). Last night, I found a new "hobby."
Who knew that placing a nearly empty Aquafina water bottle on my belly and watching it bounce as my baby wiggles and kicks would be so entertaining? I was tickled by the fact that it would just rest solidly on my belly anyway (that's one of those things that you always see pregnant women doing on TV or in the movies or something). But when my (VERY ACTIVE) baby would shift, wiggle, kick or poke - I watched the water splash and the bottle teeter back and forth on its "shelf."
Of course, the second I took the bottle off my belly and told Mark to "get over here and feel your kid move!" Baby B settled down. Then, Mark goes to sit back down on the couch, Baby B kicks again. Stubborn kid. :)

some things are inevitable

I've been slowly realizing over the past few weeks that my pregnancy weight gain is not (despite what others try to tell me) limited to my belly. It's actually quietly leaking all over my body.
I can handle this - my baby is healthy and growing, and I'm trying really hard to not be vain or self-conscious.
But I really don't like the chubby-faced look.
When I look at pictures, I see this puffy face - and it doesn't look like me. (Actually, it looks a little like me about 3 or 4 years ago when I was 15 pounds heavier than my pre-pregnancy weight). But that girl has been gone for awhile now.
*sigh* I know these things are unavoidable, and I know they'll go back to normal (ish) post-pregnancy. But man, some days it IS tough to feel in any way attractive.
Good thing my husband promised to love me no matter what. :)

busy little bee

My lazy Thursday was followed up by a rather non-lazy weekend. I've given myself an award for being a Very Productive Pregnant Woman. I think my nesting instincts are kicking in!!
Friday night we went to Mason's home football game (a rather chilly, drizzly evening it was - but we WON, which almost never happens). I don't watch much of the games when I'm there, but there are many students there who I've grown to love dearly in the past few years with YoungLife, and it's always fun to be with them.
Saturday - Mark and I went to breakfast, then he set about packing and departing for PA for the weekend. After he left, I set out for Lowe's (because where else would expect a pregnant woman to go by herself on the weekend?) Got a few funny looks while I was there, and more than one "Can I help you find something, ma'am?" But I managed, all by myself, to pick up all the supplies I needed to turn an old (free) dresser into this (please ignore the icky garage and trash bins in the background):
That's chalkboard paint on the drawers, so this little piece of furniture will be:
(a) a place to store clothes
(b) the changing table for our little one
(c) a work of art
I'm proud of myself, folks. I'll come right out and admit that.
When I wasn't painting or cleaning the paint off myself - I went grocery shopping (the shopping trip delayed by my lazy Thursday), made pumpkin bread, did 7 or 8 loads of laundry, cleaned the kitchen... and still had a bit of time to relax with a book and/or my DVDs of Friends!
Working on projects at home all weekend made me feel like I had just the teeniest bit of a glimpse of what it might be like in just over 3 months when I Stay At Home Full Time. Of course, there was no child to look after (and I'm betting that will make JUST a bit of a difference *wink*) - but I do really enjoy being at home and taking care of my home. And I find it's much easier to do (and enjoy) when I'm around more often, so that things don't pile up to intimidating levels.
Because it's hard to get excited about the pile of laundry that's as tall as you are. Or the mound of dishes waiting in the sink (because you haven't emptied the dishwasher yet). Or putting away the pile of clean, non-maternity clothes that you just don't care about because right now, that shirt would barely fit over your head, let alone the rest of your body.
Not that any of those things would ever present itself in my house.
So I raise my glass (of ice cold skim milk!) to a weekend of productivity.

none of the above

Or below, I guess.
By the time the workday ended yesterday, I was wiped. Barely awake, and nursing the headache that often plagues me on days when the weather does funny things (and we had quite the strange batch of storms roll through MI yesterday, to be sure).
So I went straight home (sorry, gym) and laid on the couch for an hour. It was the kind of nap where you're not really asleep, but get to lay very still with your eyes shut and it's glorious.
Got up, declared myself hungry - so Mark and I went about making ourselves a delicious dinner of blue-box macaroni and cheese, crescent rolls, and leftover pizza. Oh, the gourmet of it all.
Then it was back to the couch with a magazine, and eventually watched a movie with my hubby. All this before 9:00pm.
I am nothing if not efficient.
I DID fold some clothes, and this morning I loaded up the dishwasher (so I'm not a total slacker) - but there was no workout, no grocery shopping, and no Baby Room Progress.
That's what this weekend is for - Mark will be out of town, and I'm planning on cracking down a bit on The Kid's room - the next big step is to paint the old scratchy dresser to make it look lovely.
Maybe I'll workout too. Or at least drink another full glass or two of V8 Fusion (a full serving of veggies AND a full serving of fruit - which is healthy enough to be equivalent to a workout, right??)
At any rate - I am happy to have Friday and the weekend to look forward to - and am grateful God gave me the good sense to rest last night.
The Kid and I needed that.

hide and seek?

Oh, Bloggie friends - I know you've been so worried about my extended absence. Breathe easy - I'm back. I'll pretend it was a game of hide and seek... although I wasn't really hiding, and no one was seeking...
Actually, I was back on Sunday - I just had NOTHING. interesting. to say. on the blog... and didn't feel like regaling you with the boring tales of my mundane musings. (I might not have great stories to tell, but boy - can I use some alliteration!)
Any way - our trip to Atlanta was FUN FUN FUN - it's a long time in the car, but we had great company and lots of laughing. Pictures are forthcoming - unfortunately, my camera battery died almost instantaneously, so I am at the mercy of Dana & Emily to supply me with fantastic photographic memorabilia from the weekend. It all-around just plain lovely.
Since then...
Monday - I worked. From 7:00am (my normal start time) until 7:15pm (NOT my normal end time).
Tuesday - I worked. Then Mark and I went to a dinner meeting to help plan/organize our fall fundraiser for YoungLife. I ate four pieces of pizza. It was good.
Wednesday - I worked, but only until 11:00am when I found my husband in my office. His keys had been in my car that morning when I left at 6:30am - so he hitched a ride onto campus with our neighbor (who works VERY nearby) and needed me to take him home. So I left an hour early (Wednesday I usually work until 12:00) to take Hubs home. He left immediately, since he had been unable to work that morning. I ate lunch, took a short nap, and then set about conquering the monumental task of Getting Baby's Room Ready. Conquering is the wrong word. Perhaps I should say that I Put a Teeny Dent in the Paint Job of the monumental task of Getting Baby's Room Ready. But there's only so much furniture moving and bookcase rearranging a gal in her 6th month of pregnancy can do at a time. THEN, I headed back to work for a meeting. I just *love* evening commitments. And sarcasm.
But now it's Thursday - and I have big plans to hit the gym after work, and then somehow go to the grocery store, get laundry done, eat dinner, make the Teeny Dent into a Decent Sized Crater, and rest. Hmmm. It's possible I may have to change my expectations for the evening.

hiatus

We're taking a road-trip to Atlanta tomorrow - driving Thursday, visiting with our friends Friday and Saturday, and driving back Sunday.
We're crazy. I know it.
But I'm excited!
See you on the other side!

our creations

Here's the valence I made - I was really pleased with how it came out.

This is the diaper stacker - totally made by my mom - and it's gorgeous. Fun, bright colors (cute bumblebee buttons on it, too!) I can't wait to fill it up!
This is the crib skirt and bumper pad - obviously, I have no crib to decorate yet, so they are artfully laid out on the floor of the baby's room. I made the bumper pad, and my mom made the crib skirt (and stitched most of the hems BY HAND - it looks amazing!!)
In case you can't tell - the blue material has an adorable bug pattern on it, and all the others are just bright, coordinating colors. The walls in the room are light blue (and will stay that way) - but I think I'll paint a grass-like border (complete with little cartoon bugs!) around the baseboards, just to add a fun little touch.
It's fun to watch things take shape!!

pictures to come

My mom and I were ridiculously productive this weekend - we completed the diaper stacker, valence for the window, crib skirt and crib bumper (and my diaper bag is almost done too). And we made an apple pie. Just to fully round out our domestic weekend.
It was really fun. I'm so pleased with how everything has turned out - the baby's room is going to look great, I think!! I'm gonna go home and take some pictures of our creations to share with the blog-world.
Just try to contain yourself!

I'm a dork!

I sat at the kitchen table, eating my Special K Red Berries cereal in the pre-dawn light (that sounds really dramatic, but it was actually about 6:15am) - and I was reading my Real Simple catalog.
It's silly - but I *love* that catalog. It's huge and thick and full of wonderful, practical ideas that I never get around to implementing. But I like to read about them. In the interest of saving money, I'll be letting my subscription run out (sob) but I have my back issues saved up, so I can always go back and re-read the fabulous tips from two years ago. I'll never lack for useful household hints.
I really love being organized - but I also seem to be really great at collecting clutter. And currently, I use all of my organizing energy at work - my office is lovely. I wish my home looked so good. Maybe when I'm a stay-at-home mom, my organizing energy will be refocused. (I'm sure it will - but onto things like "showering" and "getting dressed" - not "having a place for everything and everything in its place.") For now, I daydream that someday, I'll have the time/inclination/money to beautifully organize my home just like the pictures in the magazine.
Or at least I could send in a picture and get them to "makeover" my house as an example of how to save someone from the brink of organizational disaster.
*Sigh*
Someday. A girl gets to dream, right? :)

crafty gals

No, this is not my craft area. Mine looks more like a heaping pile of fabric, scrapbook paper, scissors, patterns, yarn, needles and other notions.
My parents are coming to visit this weekend - my mom and I will bake and sew and probably shop a little, and my dad will golf and make us laugh. It should be good.
I'm planning (meaning I have the fabric and the patterns for this) to make a diaper bag for me, a diaper backpack for Mark (he even picked out his own fabric!!) and the crib skirt, valence, and crib bumper for the baby's room. We'll have 2 sewing machines set up on card tables in our living room. Hopefully we get a lot done!
I've been trying to work up my energy to tackle the "baby's room" - there are still a few things that need to be moved out of there, and a bunch of stuff that I have to decide what I want to do with. We have a dresser that will be doubling as a changing table - and I'm thinking of painting it with chalkboard paint and putting fun knobs on it. That way I can have fun drawing on it over and over again, until our little one is big enough to enjoy it him/herself.
I also want to paint grass along the baseboards (our "theme" is bugs - I found adorable fabric with bright, primary colors) to make the room feel a little more "decorated." We're not going to go all out on anything - I want to be able to reuse things for future children, and not feel tied to any particular style. So it boils down to putting simple, easy touches into the room to make it feel cozy.
All this thinking about it makes me want to leave the office and get started! I know I'd get so restless waiting around for February- but it would be fun to start my stay-at-home mom career a little early! :)

brain drain

I knew it was supposed to happen.
I was under no illusion that I could avoid it.
But it's still disconcerting.
I have officially slid into the world of "I'm pregnant, therefore, I'm losing my mind."
Not in a totally obvious way. I haven't forgotten anything major, I still know my name, and I don't get lost driving home. Nope, my brain is more subtle. I'll be in the middle of a fabulously profound and insightful sentence... and then there's just darkness. No words, no idea where I was headed. Or I'll flip words around, switch the beginning sounds of things (I haven't said anything mortifying or inappropriate yet *knocks on wood*).
My brain has always been fairly reliable. Like a Honda. I'm a bit bewildered by this change - I feel like pregnancy is one of those clauses that renders your Money-Back Guarantee null and void. Teeny, tiny print at the bottom of the page.
I just hope it comes back. Some day.

purse party

I love these bags - they're so cute!! I'm "hosting" a purse party for 2 weeks, starting on Thursday, October 4th - go ahead and check it out!

coming home

Mark got home last night a little before midnight. This may sound weird, but I love to wake up to the sound of him coming home - I can follow footsteps up the stairs, down the hall, and listen sleepily as he crawls into bed next to me. He does his best to be silent, but was lucky enough to marry a woman with super-human night-time hearing. I'll wake up to almost anything. There's just such comfort in waking up to familiar sounds, made by one you know and love so well. There are limited places and people in our lives that give us that feeling - and I think God sets it up that way on purpose. There is value in intimacy and comfort in the closeness that true community brings. The combination of truly knowing someone and truly loving them - it kinda knocks me off my feet.
It made me think. Most of my life, this is the way healthy relationships have progressed (by way of a WAY over-simplified and candy-coated explanation):
1. I meet someone.
2. I spend time with them, getting to know them (this can be fast or slow)
3. I grow to love them - who they are, what they bring to my life, and who God has made them to be.
However - God knows and loves us all the time. He doesn't wait until we spend "enough" time with Him for Him to realize that we "get along well" together. He doesn't like us better when we make Him laugh, or let Him know we're thinking of Him. He just knows us and loves us.
Cut to today. We had our almost-21-week ultrasound this morning.
It. Was. Awesome.
As I watched tiny hands and feet wiggling back and forth, a little mouth opening and closing, and heard a tiny heart pumping... I realized that I have NO IDEA what this child will be like. Forget hair color, eye color, or whose nose s/he has... I know nothing.
And yet I am overflowing with love. A tear slid out of my eye as I watched the child God has graced us with. A baby He made - partly Mark, partly me - and wholly His precious child.
And a tiny part of me understood how God can possibly love us the way He does.
I have a feeling motherhood is going to knock me off my feet regularly. Sometimes in ways I appreciate, and sometimes in ways I'll tolerate. But I do so love it when I can feel God molding my heart and opening my eyes.
(If you're up for another long-ish post, check out Heart and Home today. Ashleigh spent some great QT with the Lord today, and was generous enough to share it. Thanks!!)

preparations

I chatted with my mom last night - we're trying to figure out a way to have a baby shower (hosted by her) but held here. And it's not always easy to plan events from 4 hours away. We'll give it a go.
It made me think about all the little (and big!) things on my "Baby" list that need to be done. There are registries, decorations, furniture, etc... It's funny how easy it is to focus on these things. They seem so big, yet when I am able to breathe and focus - I re-realize how very small they really are in comparison to the rest of my "To-Do" items. I've decided to make a new list - of the things that are infinitely more important, and much more likely to be overlooked in the day-to-day busy-ness of life.
Katie's Revised Baby To-Do List
1. Remember that this child is a precious son or daughter of the King. In no way does it, or will it ever belong to me or to Mark.
2. Pray diligently. For health, wisdom, patience, insight, trust, faith... and for the unknown future of this little one. May God be glorified every step of the way.
3. Enjoy all the little moments alone with my husband. We will soon be a family of three, and "our" time is precious.
4. Be in the moment. I have a tendency to look forward and make plans. I find myself looking at February as "the beginning." But I've been sharing life with this little one for almost five months. It is now. And these days are not to be undervalued.
5. Look to the Lord. Not just in motherhood, or as someone who tries every day to become a more godly wife... but as His daughter. I can find rest in the shadow of His wings. When I remember that my life is not my own - He gives peace and joy that cannot be explained. I love that.

halfway??

According to doctors and textbooks and all things scientific - I'm officially "halfway" through pregnancy. Now, this doesn't really mean much, as (a) no one knows when Baby B will actually grace our lives with his/her presence and (b) pregnancy "starts" about 2 weeks or so before conception. Which I still think is a tiny bit bizarre, but that's okay. I'm no doctor/scientist, so I'll just believe what they tell me.
My mom took this picture this weekend (that's her lovely dining room). Check out the BELLY on that girl who's supposedly only "halfway" there! Our family has a history of big babies (usually about 9-pounders) - sp I'm well aware that I'm probably growing a "healthy" sized Li'l B, but sheesh! :)
People are already surprised to hear that I'm not further along. I was thinking that wouldn't happen to me until I was more like 6 months pregnant. Oh well. We have our midterm ultrasound on Friday morning - we'll see if Baby B is really kinda big, or if it's just me. (eek!)

wiggles, hair & travel

1. Baby B is getting wigglier by the day - still settles down as soon as I try for Mark to be able to feel it (li'l stinker), but it's really fun. "They" say that the baby is about 10 inches long right now, and is closing in on one pound. It seems so tiny and SO BIG at the same time.
2. I had a hair appointment yesterday - just a trim, since I want it to get a little longer. But I DID go for bangs. I've had them before (recently) and I tend to keep 'em for awhile, then grow them out again. For now, I like them. They help frame my face better. (And as it's getting bigger as pregnancy progresses - that's a good thing).
3. I'm traveling to IL to visit with the fam this weekend, and coming back Monday morning (took a vacation day to help with the solo traveling exhaustion). Mark will be gone until Late Thursday Night (in Washington DC for work), so I thought a little traveling would help keep me busy. It's been about a month since I've been home - it will be good to see them.
4. Enjoy your weekend!!

missing in action

It's been awhile since I've blogged (six days - SUCH a slacker!), and it's also been awhile since I've posted something substantial (i.e. more than catching up on sleep and freezer mishaps). So here goes.
This Sunday at 11:00am (give or take) found me standing in the third row at church with tears pouring down my face (I'm normally a front-row-lover, but we sacrificed the fave position to sit with some friends). We were singing Amazing Grace, and had just sat through one of those sermons that leaves you feeling overwhelmed by God's grace, completely unworthy, and ashamed of the small, selfish life it's so easy to get wrapped up inside. As if the stress and frustrations of my life (finding maternity clothes that fit, trying to get all the laundry done, fighting off a cold) are anything compared to some of the hurt and pain that is experienced around the globe every single day.

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

I'm not quite sure what to do about this yet... but the impact of knowing that ultimately, God has saved us by sending Jesus, but on a smaller level, He is saving people by sending US... that's not something I can not respond to.

what a difference!

Yesterday I walked through my day in a fog. After the busiest weeks of the year work-wise, and weekends of traveling and late nights - my poor body was running into the ground. I could feel it in my bones.
Last night I did virtually nothing (except have a few more snacks than I probably should have). I laid on the couch, read a little bit, and fell asleep watching reruns of Friends (it never gets old to me!)
I feel so. much. BETTER. today!! One good night's sleep can definitely make a world of difference.
On another note - I'm having a blast doing all kinds of baby-related research (like any crazy new-mama-to-be). I've surprised myself with unanticipated interest in things like natural childbirth, cloth diapers (including cloth wipes) and making my own baby food. I'm soaking up everything I can get my hands on. If anyone out there (I honestly have NO idea how many "lurkers" I have) has any experience or insight with these things - I'll take it!! I've already pestered a few people I've "met" online, and am SO PLEASED with the wealth of information - from real people (not just websites that are trying to get me to buy their fabulous product!) Leave me a note - or if you have a LOT to say, just click the "Email me!" link over on the righthand side!

kicked around

I'm definitely starting to feel some movements, courtesy of Baby B. It's wild, incredible and a little weird all at once. I'm sure no one else will be able to feel anything for a few more weeks - but I'm enjoying this Mama-Baby connection!
As soon as I'm done with work today, we're headed out for the weekend - our annual trip with the Lansing area YoungLife leaders to do some planning and enjoy our lovely camp. It should be really fun, although my new sleeping schedule (10:00pm-5:30am) is not exactly compatible with college students (98% of the people who'll be there with me). We'll see how it goes!

I guess it needed to be cleaned...

We had a lovely weekend.
Lots of down time, and lots of deciding what we wanted to do on the spur of the moment.
Walking to downtown Mason for breakfast on Saturday morning, renting movies, eating ribs with the neighbors, visiting with family, running errands... oh - and cleaning out the freezer. (We discovered the door of the freezer was open after church on Sunday morning, which resulted in a mass-exodus of all the lovely frozen foods we'd been collecting. *sigh*)
Throwing away recently-perfectly-good-food hurts me a little. And after the purple-pen-in-the-dryer incident a few weeks ago, I feel like we've been throwing away a lot of formerly-perfectly-good things.
Maybe God thinks we need to de-clutter a little.
I can't really argue with Him.
At any rate - our weekend was incredibly refreshing - what did you do?

family ties

This picture was taken almost three years ago - Christmas 2004, I think. But aside from some shorter hair on my sister and I - we pretty much look the same.
These are my siblings. Both my big brother and little sister had birthdays this month - the 18th and 20th, to be exact. I just wanted to take a minute or two to tell you (who will, in all likelihood, never meet these people if you haven't already) why they're so cool.
My big brother has thankfully outgrown all of his treacherous-teenage-big-brother ways. He does great voices, accents and impressions (usually quoting some sort of Simpsons or Monty Python type of reference). He teaches middle school art classes and is working on a Master's Degree in K-12 administration. His hobbies of painting and cooking/grilling result in much pleasure for me - lots of good food to eat, and fun original artwork in my house. It's fun to like your big brother so much as an adult.
My little sister makes me laugh pretty much every time I talk to her. She has a great, quirky sense of humor, and is also incredibly talented at funny voices. She loves to read, and majored in English and Psychology in college - so she likes to use fun, big words in everyday situations. And while I'm not quite the English-nerd that she is (her words, don't worry) - I do appreciate fun vocab words. I like to call her after work and hear how her day is going. She's one of the people about whom I can say "I *know* she loves me." And I know she loves me a lot. It's actually really humbling. But I love her back fiercely, and wish she would move to MI so we could watch silly TV and eat junky food together. But wherever she is - I still think she's one of the coolest people I've ever met.
So there they are - happy birthday to two incredibly unique and precious people to me. MANY happy returns! :)

tiny bit jealous

My mom, dad and sister are currently in New York for the U.S. Open. (Tennis, for those of you who aren't ardent fans). And I have a confession to make.
I'm jealous.
I played tennis (with average ability) in high school, and loved it. And I still really enjoy watching tennis on TV (I know - it sounds like death to a lot of people).
My sister sent a picture to my phone this morning - up close on one of the courts. And I found myself wishing I was sitting on the sidelines, watching a fuzzy green ball zoom over the net - as opposed to being at work. Go figure. I'm really excited to hear their stories when they get back.
Meanwhile - we had a check-up on Baby B this morning - listened to the heartbeat, and all seems well. Next time we go back, it's time for the ultrasound! Even though we don't want to know what we're having, I'm still awfully excited to watch our little one wiggle around on the screen. Hopefully we'll get some good snapshots to post!!

this calls for a purple heart... or something.

I stapled my thumb this afternoon.
Inadvertently. I was actually trying to remove said staple from a stack of papers because I'm a wee-bit anal and the sorry-excuse-for-a-stapler that I used did a poor job. And I simply cannot settle for a half-stapled document.
So my thumb bravely, gallantly... sacrificed itself.
It still hurts a little.
I had a great, wonderful and VERY busy weekend. We traveled, we ate a LOT of really yummy food, and traveled some more. We celebrated birthdays of my two dear siblings (and I swear, I will soon write a post dedicated their awesome-ness) and played hours of Apples to Apples.
Another really busy week at work - but again, very productive. I like getting things done. And today has been a day for doing. Once 5:00 rolls around, I'll hit the gym, then go lay on my couch and DO NOTHING. I like that too.
Happy Monday!!

shake it off?

Normally, I'm a pretty stationary sleeper. If I wake up in the middle of the night (which happens a lot, as I sleep pretty lightly), I will probably stretch a little, roll over to my other side, and get right back to snoozing.
In the past week or so, every time I wake up (which is even more frequently now that Baby B demands a bathroom break once or twice a night), I stretch my legs, and realize that the muscles in my calf have mutinied.
They clench right up and leave me in need of a professional leg massage at 4:30 in the morning. A wee bit inconvenient.
However, my lovely husband graciously rubbed my legs for me last night before bed. It didn't keep me from cramping up, but it was delightful. There's a sweet sort of intimacy in laying on the couch after a long day, sharing our stories - with a massage being given and received. Mark is getting the short end of the stick lately, so I'll happily scratch his back whenever he asks.
In the meantime - if anyone has any great keep-me-from-getting-nasty-leg-cramps-in-the-wee-small-hours-of-the-morning tricks... I'm listening!

"boy, you're popping right out!"

People are just plain funny around pregnant women.
I don't mind, because I really actually adore being pregnant (yes, even though being sick for a few weeks wasn't much fun, it was totally survive-able, and I know will be worth it).
But people say things like:
"I thought you might be pregnant, but I didn't want to say anything, just in case you'd been eating too much lately."
and
"Wow, I didn't show AT ALL until I was at least four months!!"
They stare at my stomach as I approach.
Maybe someday I'll do a sociological study and write some sort of hilariously clever and witty book about this whole phenomenon. In the meantime - I'll just pretend that I have a widely read blog.
I just started my 16th week... I feel great - energy is up (well, it usually is - as long as my work day doesn't suck it all out before 5:00pm!), and I really like the belly popping out. Right now, I'm most anxious to start feeling Baby B moving around.
We have another doctor's appointment on Tuesday - I think Mark will be able to join me for this one. It should be quick - but I'm excited to hear the heartbeat again. I *love* that sound.

I'm busier than a mattababy!

What's a mattababy, you ask?
Nothing, Baby - what's a matta with you?
(slaps knees as she laughs at her own *bad* joke!)
Whew! I know it's only Tuesday - but work this week has been a whirlwind!! Lots of students, lots of emails, lots of projects and "To-Do's..." It's great to be back in the swing of things, meeting with students, helping answer questions and solve problems. And it's a *little* stressful/exhausting at the same time.
I went home last night and fell asleep on the couch at 7:00pm. Tonight may be a repeat-performance.
Anyway - if I don't post much in the next few days, it's just because I've fallen asleep standing up somewhere. I'll find my way back. :)

just what you never knew you wanted to know

And because I know you've all been waiting for just this very thing... here are five completely random questions my sister asked me via email. And my very random answers.

1) It's the zombie apocalypse. What's the first safety measure you take?
Well, I think most zombies eat flesh and/or brains. So I'd probably smear something really smelly and bad-tasting on myself and my loved ones. Then I'd lock the door (because that always keeps the bad guys out).
2) What are the odds you'll name Blasty (Blasty is a nickname for the baby) after me?
That all depends on what you consider "naming after you." I mean, I could call the baby "Silly" or "Goober" or "Shmugg" or "Pooeypooeybuttfacehead" (I'd be Mother of The Year if I did that, I surely would) sometimes, and that would sort of be like naming it after you. Odds are fairly slim that the baby would have your ACTUAL name. Especially if it turns out to be a boy.
3) Would you rather be bald for the rest of your life or have a permanent, thick layer of hair on your chest?
Yeah, um bald. That's not even a contest. Although I'd need a lot more SPF45 sunblock to cover my noggin in the summertime. And I do think there is a funny flat-ish spot on the top-back part of my head. It would be weird to see that out in the open.
4) If I move into your basement, can I paint it fun colors down there?
But of course! As long as it's not wallpapered - you can paint it to your heart's desire.
5) What's your favorite place in the whole world?
Well, I really loved Prague and Paris and Montpelier and Ireland and London and North Carolina and California and some parts of Florida and Chicago always feels like home and I like oceans and mountains and big fields and rolling hills and I really love our little house in Michigan. I don't really like deserts. But probably my most favorite place is wherever I can be with people I love who love me back.
Or my bed - because featherbed + flannel sheets = sooo good.

Go. Read. Laugh.

There are a bunch of blogs that I check almost daily. Some are listed under "Blogs I Read" and some aren't (because I've found them since setting up my "settings" and I'm too lazy to change them).
Here's a link to a hilarious place I visit every day: Confessions of a Pioneer Woman. I just love it. Go forth and enjoy, my friends.

crazy crave

As if the ever-growing expanse of my belly, actual ultrasound pictures, listening to the baby's heartbeat, surviving morning sickness, and experiencing here-to-fore unknown levels of exhaustion in the past 2 and a half months weren't enough... I have more proof that I am, in fact, pregnant.
In the past 3 days, I believe I have consumed over a gallon of skim milk. On my own. In cereal (Cinnamon Toast Crunch, thanks very much) or in a tall glass - always very cold (because even minorly lukewarm milk makes my stomach turn).
I know - most women crave normal things like pickles or Chinese food, or delicious things like chocolate malts and peanut butter cookies. And while I enjoy eating all of those items- it is the bountiful wonder of skim milk that I cannot stay away from.
Weird.
(On an aside - I'm a little perturbed that the picture of skim milk is from Kroger - because our milk either comes from Meijer or Quality Dairy. Always. But the only other milk pictures I could find weren't clearly labeled "skim." And heaven forbid anyone click on that picture and think I've been enjoying Vitamin D Milk all weekend long. Ick. Welcome to my world of Things I Care Too Much About That NO ONE Else Would Ever Notice.)

glowing

My drive to work usually consists of smallish back roads - some residential stretches and some farmland expanses sprinkled together until I reach the booming metropolis that is our campus.
The first part of the drive is through the farms that lie just west of our little neighborhood - there are corn, wheat and bean fields nearby. Today, the corn fields boasted stalks that rose above the hood of my car... but the wheat fields nearly took my breath away.
Normally, one of my absolute favorite summer landscapes is a blue sky, green trees along the horizon, and far-reaching rolling fields of golden wheat. We hit that stage of summer about a month ago, and I loved it. The fields have turned auburn now, and have been harvested, leaving very few stalks that are tall enough to wave in the wind.
However, this morning's summer sun fell on those fields in a way that made them look to be glowing - it was as if they were being lit from underneath. Genesis 1 talks about the "spirit of God hovering over the waters." There wasn't any water today, but it sure looked like the spirit of God was hovering over the wheat fields of mid-Michigan.
I wished for a moment for my camera, but I knew just as quickly that I'd never be able to capture that glow.
Maybe some things are too beautiful to be captured on film.

favorite things

I am easily pleased.
Today I was simply tickled by the fact that I was served a full-on turkey dinner. For lunch. And it was free. (Or at least, paid for by someone else).
Mashed potatoes, stuffing, turkey, green beans, salad, rolls...
The road to my heart is paved with these things.

parties and plaques

Every year, The Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University (where I work) hosts its annual Faculty, Staff & Families "Barbecue." Now, you know it's not really a "barbecue" when it's spelled "barbecue" instead of BBQ. Also, when it's held indoors at our fancy "Training Center for Executive Development". But that's okay. It's the College of Business. I guess we don't really do smoky grills and watermelon slices. Pity.
Last year, I was new to my position here at the C of B, and decided it would be good networking to show up with my handsome hubby and mingle with my new co-workers. And, oh my, it was dull, dull, dull. The food was good, although I don't recall anything actually being "barbecued." It's one of those work functions where nobody really really wants to be there, and we're all just waiting for the night to end. Or at least, for dessert to be served.
So I was really looking forward to staying home and, oh, I don't know - staring at the dust bunnies along my baseboards - instead. But alas, today I found out that the program I'm partially responsible for coordinating has won an award. The Lewis Quality Award, to be exact. (Definition: Lewis Quality Awards are given annually to individuals, organizations, work teams, or cross-functional teams within the Broad School that engage in innovative activities to further the mission of the Broad School. Nominations are solicited from faculty and staff. Current and former members of the Broad School's Alumni Association Board of Directors then select the four winners.)
And while I'm happy to be part of a team and a program that is receiving accolades and has done exceptionally well - I'm a little bummed that I have to ignore the dust bunnies and mingle, eat "barbecue" and wait for dessert again this year. But bless my husband, he's willing to come back one more time and keep me company.
I would say, "Pictures to come!" but I just don't think that would do anything to drum up readership. It might scare away the four or five regulars that actually visit here once in a blue moon.
I may not be able to save myself - but I'll spare you.

fantasy...?

I was strolling across our office earlier today(about 5 minutes ago), when I witnessed one of my co-workers bringing a magazine to another co-worker. The magazine contains detailed information on NFL players, as well as cheat sheets - so that when you draft your very own Fantasy Football team, you have all the best information at your fingertips.
They huddled together for a few minutes, discussing strategies and who is considered a "sleeper" and who is a high-injury risk.
I've never played Fantasy Football (mostly because my husband doesn't even watch sports on TV) - but I'm sure it's addicting and can be really fun. I don't judge. I just found it really funny that the two co-workers who were so avidly discussing their draft strategies were Shannon and Jayne. They're talking about what their husbands do, how competitive it can get around the house...
We all have funny little things that we do to use up our free time - and I love when I come across something a little unexpected.

how i spent my free time

Mark and I were home this weekend. For the first time in 6 weeks. We've had a busy summer - visiting the lake, going away for our anniversary, traveling to Chicago, weddings, camp... but I'm a homebody. It felt so good to be at home this weekend.
I cleaned my laundry room; washed dishes; washed, dried and folded much laundry; put away veritable mountains of said clean laundry (which means you can now see our bedroom floor again); slept in; made breakfast; went to the movies; recycled 3 years' worth of laundry detergent bottles (no, I'm not joking - it may have taken us awhile, but at least we haven't been throwing them in the trash all this time...) It was so productive, relaxing and regenerating all at the same time.
It seems a little silly that a weekend of chores and mild laziness would be so refreshing. I remember when I was a kid, and I thought that it would be absolutely terrible to spend your weekend cleaning the house or pulling weeds instead of running around outside or playing games. But I do really love taking care of our home - when I'm on top of things and the place is (reasonably) clean, I feel so much more peaceful. It makes me hopeful that in 6 months when I'm at home with our baby, I'll be able to find joy and satisfaction in keeping our home.
And still find some time to run around outside and play some games.

cheer, cheer for bolingbrook high...

Sometimes it's more fun (code: easier) to answer someone else's questions than to come up with anything original to write on my own. Today is one of those days. Here are my edge-of-your-seat thrilling answers to 23 questions about my life during the 4 years I spent at Bolingbrook High School.
1. Who was your best friend?
It changed pretty much every semester, depending on my class schedule. Whoever I saw the most, I guess. But Stephanie, Cory, Susan, and Jackie are high up on the list. Great gals.
2. Did you play any sports?
I played tennis for three years. My friend Anne and I played #3 doubles, and I think we usually won about as much as we lost (maybe a little more). I was propelled by fun more than talent, I think.
3. What kind of car did you drive?
A 1985 baby-blue Chevrolet Celebrity. The A/C was broken, the tape player didn't work, the felt-covered ceiling sagged enough to touch your head, the doors had rust-holes in them, and you had to open the driver's door by rolling down the window and unlatching it from the outside. Oh, and the right blinker was broken too. I loved that car.
4. It's Friday night. Where were you?
Out somewhere with friends - movies, bowling, stalking the mall, playing pool in someone's basement.
5. Were you a party animal?
Nope. We kept ourselves busy without alcohol, and I actually thought my friends that partied were kinda stupid - they ALWAYS got caught and ALWAYS got into major trouble. Isn't it actually more fun to do stuff that won't get you busted? Ah, the superior wisdom of the teenager.
6. Were you considered a flirt?
I don't think so. I have hideous flirting abilities. My husband will vouch for that. I tend to be oblivious to oh-so-subtle male advances. That, and I was way too self-conscious to risk the whole punching a guy on the arm, bat your eyelashes and wiggle your butt thing. Luckily, I married a great guy - and he really appreciates my complete inability to flirt, even when I try.
7. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir?
I was in the musicals and sang with the church choir. Didn't feel like singing for a GRADE though.
8. Were you a nerd?
Yeah, I think so. Not out-and-out, pocket-protector nerdy, but definitely sort of a nice-girl, school is important, stay out of trouble kind of nerdy. And I'm WAY nerdy when I'm comfortable with the people I'm with. (Face it - everyone is a nerd on the inside. It's just a matter of whether you're cool enough to admit it.)
9. Were you ever suspended or expelled?
Nope. See previous stay-out-of-trouble comments.
10. Can you still sing the fight song?
Actually, yes. Don't know why though - I was never a school-spirity kind of gal.
11. Who was your favorite teacher?
Shoot. I kind of loved Mr. Buss (he taught Chemistry) - but mostly because he just laughed at the havoc Jackie and I wreaked in his classroom. Constant giggling, creating our own experiments with hydrochloric acid and jellybeans, and drawing him pictures with scented markers. But he left up one of the pictures we made for him for years after. I didn't love Chemistry, but I enjoyed Mr. Buss.
12. What was your mascot?
We were the Raiders - a big ugly pirate guy with a knife in his teeth. Pretty darn tough.
13. Did you go to the prom?
Yes - junior and senior prom. Senior prom was significantly more fun, as I recall.
14. If you could go back, would you?
To prom? No. To high school in general? No. Even if I wanted to pass on pearls of wisdom to my younger self - I'm sure I would have been much too smart and mature to actually need the help. I did have it all figured out, after all.
15. What do you remember most about graduation?
I remember that my hair was fabulous that day - I had a fun, chin-length bob, and it was a good-hair-day. I remember that it felt kind of surreal - are we really OLD enough to be graduating??
16. Where were you on Senior Skip Day?
I think we hiked at Starved Rock. Or at the Brookfield Zoo. Or we may have been at Six Flags. I know I did all of those things at the end of senior year. And it was fun.
17. Did you have a job senior year?
Yup - I worked as a cashier/guest service desk gal at Target.
18. Where did you go most often for lunch?
We weren't allowed to leave. But my all-time favorite was chicken nugget day. Every Wednesday, baby.
19. Have you gained weight since then?
That's not really fair, seeing how I was about 115 pounds back then. But yes, I have. Gained, then lost. Now it's going back up - but now I can blame it on the baby and pretend I'll be back to my "old self" in no time. Ha.
20. What did you do after graduation?
I spent the summer working and hanging out with my friends, and then came to Michigan State University to become a Spartan. And I've never left. It's a good place to be, all in all.
21. What year did you graduate?
1998.
22. Who was your senior prom date?
Brett. He was my boyfriend for about half of senior year and the first year of college. A really good guy who I treated pretty crummy at the end - but I was 18 and I had just met my future husband. There was no sense of decency in my poor little head at that point.
23. Are you going/did you go to your 10-year reunion?
Yeah probably not. There are lots of people I'd love to see again, and reconnect with. It's just that reunions seem like such an awkward way to do that. Plus, there's NO WAY Mark would come with me, and I just don't feel like doing that solo.
That's all folks - I'll try to dig up some lovely high school pictures for you to add visuals to these riveting details of my life.
Just wait.
In the meantime - look back on high school and answer these questions yourself!

in good company

I'm a social person. Not always in the way most people would think of "social" - surrounded by lots of people, always in the thick of things, constantly "on the go." But I am social in the sense that I absolutely feed off relating to others - hearing and telling stories, comparing notes on life events, realizing that emotions and experiences are shared (but not the same - so there's a lot of wisdom to be gained in listening)... I soak that right up.
There's a gal in my office right now who is about 3.5 weeks ahead of me in her pregnancy. We both had doctor appointments this Monday. We both were fighting morning sickness together for a few weeks. Neither of can wear pants like a normal person. It's fun to share, and commiserate - and even more fun since this is her fourth baby. She empathizes, is going through the same things, and has the value of perspective and experience. I love chatting with her about clothes, labor/delivery (it's still far enough away that I'm not too stressed about it yet), and all manner of pregnancy-related issues.
I'm sure the conversation (much like this post) is absolutely uninteresting to the general population of the world.
But mostly, I'm reminded that God created me to share my life. It is good for us to sit with one another, share about ourselves and listen intently as others share about themselves. It is good to laugh, good to know you're not the only one going through life. God did a really cool thing when He made us that way.