Unbelievable!

So yesterday, MCM and I were headed out to our last class. Scrounging around the room for something to wear, I spotted a pair of pre-preggers jeans I was *sure* would still be wearable. Of course I'd have to use my little tummy band to keep them up and closed, but I could do that. The reality? I couldn't pull them up past my butt. Did you hear that!? My hips are growing?! EEKK!

Thankfully, I found a pair of preggers jeans right in front of my face, so I wore those. And guess what. THEY. STILL. SAG. I give up, I cannot win here. I'll just have to live in my PJ's and MCM's shirts.

And speaking of his shirts, that was the other half of the ensemble I wore out. MCM's long sleeve T-shirt he never wears. And if I kept the sleeves pulled up, it didn't look too big. With the sleeves hanging past my knuckles, it was hard to pretend it was my shirt.

Sad isn't it?

In other news, we got our stroller and carseat (Thanks, Mom and Dad!) put together. We do have to get it installed and checked, but I'm really not in a big rush to be driving around with an empty carseat in the back.

Thing One took this picture at BabiesRUs while we were getting the stroller. I'm not sure what's up with my face....but you can see my ever-expanding belly.

I'm 34 weeks in that picture. Now, I'm 35 weeks, 1 day. I've got a Doc visit coming up on Monday, and I think after that I go every week.

I've got my FMLA paperwork filled out, and today is the day I can submit it. For some reason I can't submit it earlier than 30 days. Whatever.

I finished Bobbie Jo's quilt, the star one. It looks pretty cool. I only made it half the size that the pattern was, and it's bigger than his quilt, but not so small that it won't work on a twin bed when he moves out of the crib.

There you have it, an update. And at the rate I'm going at, it'll be the last one until: "Going to the hospital!"

Baby Update

I finished up the last, the truly last bit of painting in the baby's room. And I even cleaned up the mess that was left. Then I was tired, so I sat in the glider for a while. Man, that thing is comfortable! I really don't have anything specific to write about, but I know it's time to update.

I'm having a hard time putting my socks and shoes on, the bean bag is in the way :D I did manage to paint my toenails about a week or so ago. I don't know if I'll be able to change it myself though...wanna come have a pedi-party??

Brendon is really learning his moves in there. I think his favorite spot to poke some appendage out is right around my belly button. I can almost always find him there. My co-workers are really excited about my pregnancy. They rub the belly for luck, for a good shift, for any reason really. And he kicked Renea. He also likes kicking my badge. I have a beaded necklace that I wear it on. It ends up sitting right on top of my belly. It is kinda heavy from the stuff I have on it, so when he kicks, it bounces back. I think he can feel it, because he'll do it once...then do it again....then again, just right there. Kinda funny, no?

I'm starting to get excited, like really, really, really, really excited. But the more I get excited about having him in my arms...I also get more and more apprehensive about the birthing part. Like, what if I forget everything I've learned and I freak out?!


I just saw this scroll across the bottom of Discovery Health. "Drinking three or more alcohol drinks daily may result in involuntary muscular movements, says Spanish researchers." Maybe they're on to something???

My little project/Wordless Wednesday with a post

My mom and sister came down for my ultrasound and stayed to help paint Brendon's room. This first wall is done, except I just threw those stickers up there. I'm going to move them to the top, like a border. That way, it'll keep the busyness away from hitting you in the face.


This is the wall opposite the other stripey one. We ran out of tape...twice...and time. But Mom and Blondie really helped to get it going. I just have to pick up one more roll of tape, finish the stripes, and paint the other two walls. They're going to be solid. I'll show you the finished thing when it's done.


Oh, these are the letters I'm painting for his name. They're going to go above the window on a solid wall.

Random information

So, gasoline is quickly becoming the cheapest staple of an American family these days. I have a picture of it's price taken from a gas station that is right out side of our apartment complex. MCM and I have been monitoring it, watching the number change almost daily. Today, it read $2.09 for the regular unleaded. I know someone mentioned on their blog that it's under two dollars somewhere. Who was it that predicting gas to be 5 bucks a pop soon...?

MCM and I went to an "American Heritage Band Concert and Dinner" put on by the school associated with out church. It was overall ok. One of the songs they played was the Armed Forces thingy. And usually, the band director says if you've been in once of these services (and so forth). Tonight, I think the director got a little excited about it. He went on, after saying please stand if you've been in one of these services, to say if you have a spouse, if you have parents, if you have siblings, if you even have grandparents (and so forth). What was I to do?? I have a grandfather who was in the Navy, a brother who's in the Marines, and a brother-in-law who's in the Army. I guess I was going to be playing popcorn during the song. So I stood for the Marines, and I sat back down. I thought about standing for ArmyBoy, but then decided that MCM could. Well, he didn't. And it was halfway through. I certainly wasn't going to stand late, because they were going to look at me and think, what did she start day dreaming already? But I popped back up for the Navy. I think my legs got a work out tonight. I can skip the gym right??

I'm headed to work this weekend and I wish I had a podometer to show you how many steps I take all day long. And I wouldn't even use it on the trek to and from my car. See, background info, the hospital is building a new tower dedicated soley towards orthopedics. Therefore, they've doomed the whole visitors' parking area on that side of the hospital, pushing the visitors' spots to meld with employees' spots. There is one row that no one knows for sure if it's visitor parking or employee parking (I avoid it, just in case). But that all means that we employees have to park in East Bulgaria. We even have to have stickers to ensure cooperation. Needless to say, we pretty much start our shift winded from the trek over.

After almost a year of talking about it, we've finally bought a bed frame :D I was feeling particulary blue one evening and MCM decided not to surprise me with it later, but throw it at me that night. He's like "I bought a bed" and my thoughts were just a mess of "we already have a bed" and "did we have money for that" and "you what!?" He was just planning on picking it up when I was at my class (which I forgot to go to *oops* ) and all. It's dark wood...and...nice.

That is what's been going on over here.

Of Squirrels and Dressers

Squirrels. I used to think that Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina had the most squirrels habitatting (think about it) there. Until today. I've seen more squirrels in my little 'neighborhood' than in almost all my life. One discrepancy. The squirrels I've seen today have all been dead. Oh, except for one. I saw this little one, let's call it J. J saw something in the middle of Risky Territory. Something that looked odd. J looked around and ventured check it out...it was...his playmate, T! I saw J and T frolicking almost every day as I drove in and out of my neighborhood. I watched as J nudged his body, as if saying "you can stop pretending now, I found you." But, sadness, T wasn't alive any more. J ran back to Safety Zone as a car whizzed by at more than the 15 mph speed limit. As J ran away, I could amost tell that he was sad his friend, his playmate was...squished. I was sad for almost about 2 minutes as I drove by.

Dressers. Here's my latest home improvement project. Does it look familiar?

I even repainted the handles. :) MCM helped out a bit, he took two drawers' handles off, and painted the drawers. Even though I painted over it a different color, he was helpful :) I girl needs breaks from hard work, right?






That brown one was what it looked like before. We got it from my parents, both of them actually, although that purple and white one used to belong to me a long time ago. It's match is now blue and white with yellow starts in one of my sisters' bedrooms. Good luck trying to get it out of her grubby paws, right? Anyways, it's my project for my next weekend off. But it's going to be a while since I'm working the next few ones.

Long time no talk

I'm awful aren't I? I have all these things to write about, but I know that if I sit down and actually type them out, I'll end up rambling and drive even the spiders away. So here's a few things that have been going on since my last post.

Don't let Mac's apparent attitude fool you. This was her second tractor ride of the day. After the first one, she was outside playing with one of my sisters, and we heard, being inside, what we thought was her whining.

Nope, she was making the tractor sounds "mmmmmmmm." Tell me, who could resist giving her a ride.
For some reason, Mac thinks this face is her "smiling pretty" for the camera. She squinches up her nose and eyes and bares her teeth. Cute, no?

Here's those pictures of the door process I mentioned eons ago.
Put yourself in my shoes. I watched as they pried the moulding from around the door, which they broke. I watched the baffle themselves as to how the door was bent and no longer fit. I just had to leave. Staying out of the view wasn't an option unless I holed myself up in the kitchen, and who really wants to do that? So I drove over to Mark's work to bring him his lunch. I was happy to leave, but I was nervous. I mean, what if I came back to no door at all, just a hole in the wall. Oh wait, I did. Heh. They broke the door jam trying to 'fix' it.
I had to leave again, a few hours earlier. This time when I got back, the guys had disappeared and as I walked around the corner, I had to perfect my super evading ninja skills. This dangerous piece of wood was just waiting for me, I know it. But look, there's a new door jam and door.
Then, I noticed the pile of stuff they dropped right outside the door...and in my flowers, too! All in all, it's better than it was. There's still a little crack under the door, like the bottom of the whatever got bent as they were installing it.
Let's see, is there anything else that you've missed out on? Nope. My laundry grabs my ankles as I walk by, and my dishes chase me around the kitchen, but I just have to snap my fingers and watch the work get done. Heh.

Nope, I did forget something. We bought a new-to-us truck the other week. It's a 2004 Chevy Silverado. Somewhat champagne colored, very nice interior, but smells of smoke. It's not too noticeable, except when its been sitting in the sun all day. I keep saying that I'm going to Fabreeze the smell out, but I'm just lazy. Plus, MCM takes it to work, so I don't have it at my every beck and call.

Every up as a down. We sold the Heep. To a guy who lives in VA Beach. The guy came, looked over the inside, started the ignition, revved the engine up, and bought it. He didn't even drive it! I guess he was really, really attracted to it. Now, I'm done.

I can't stand my hands being dirty

I just have to say, that I think my daddy would be proud to hear I took the initiative to make my yard purdy. He's always digging around in the dirt, or at least, would be if he could. He likes plants and flower and the such. I do too, just I really don't like getting dirty. And usually, I end up killing the things right after they get over the shock of it all. Nice, huh? Well, today's day 2 and they've all perked up and are still green. I'm going to ask Dad to send some clippings of some hearty plants with my sisters when they come down next month.

I went to Lowe's (the do-it-yourself mega store, right?), spent about 56 hours looking for some plants that I thought would survive even me. But I also had to get some digging tools, some plant fodder, and...I bought something else...whatever, I forget. I was going to get some cool fence/stone thingy for the parameter (like the big word?) but I didn't measure and I'm an awful estimator, so I passed it up.

Before I started, the whole section place looked like this...seriously.

But I was able to overcome the overgrown weeds. I have to tell of my battle wounds though, I have a water blister on my right index finger, next to a blood blister, both really quite small, but big enough to be known. My right knee has a tender scratch on it, right on top of a red raw knee cap. My left knee is no better off, but minus the scratch. My feet came out the best with just the toenail polish chipped. It only took about 2 1/2 to 3 hours to weed, do-the-little-thing-with-the-fork, mix in some miracle grow, plant the plants, water, and put away the mess. Impressive, no? I had thought to take pictures of before and after, but I couldn't find my camera and didn't re-think about it until I was almost done. So no before pictures. But, instead of a nice line between the dirt and the grass, imagine a blurry no-man's land with grass, unknown weeds and dandelions. I think there's a picture of the pile of refuse I plucked from the now beautiful dirt.
To your left of the picture are what I call rock rose, but the real name is something like porticula or something. We used to have them growing at our house in Grenada. No, not THIS plant, but the same TYPE of plant...But we only had the purple flower variety. The full blooming blosson resembles a rose of sorts. To your right of the picture are two petunia plants. I have no clue how resilient they are, but the tags said "full sun." I think the only time they'll NOT have sun is dawn...yup, dawn.
What? Just because I have mad gardening skills doesn't mean that my watering skills match!

Here's the finished effect. The dirt is still that same mottled colored. It's not wet any more, I promise, but it still looks wet.

Oh, yes, I forgot to mention my most serious battle wound. That bush next to the apartment is a holly bush. Nice for pretty berries, but yucky for trying to gather leaves from dirt. I blubbed quite a bit when it poked me. :(
Much to my dismay, my finger nails were caked with dirt. EW! I tried to clean them, but I had no success...until I had an epiphany! Whilst I showered to clean the sweat and dirt off the other parts of me, I cleaned my finger nails. You know, how they always get softer and stuff when wet, I finally came out victor over the dirt. You only thought I was weak!! I guess the picture of the weeds must be on my phone. I took them with my phone when I thought I'd never find my camera, but I did, so we're all good.

Things I've Learned From TV

My increasing exposure to the medical field has awoken my sarcastic attitude toward TV shows with medical stuff in them. Like, House, MD and ER. It makes me laugh, watching these shows. Let's start with ER.

1. Every single patient is seen by at least one, usually more than one, doctor within seconds of walking through the door (or riding on a stretcher through the door).
2. The doctors take a personal interest in each person's little problems.
3. The various doctors communicate with each other, at the patient's bedside.

In reality...

1. Every patient has to wait at least 30 minutes before the registration people come in to see them.
2. They don't.
3. Their communication between each other exists of a written order stating, "Change patient to Dr. So-in-So's care at 7am, and inform him of the change."

As for House, MD, I guess the title should be enough to let you know that it basically only portrays "MD's" not nurses. If there are nurses, they're the ones that come running a doc yells, "I need a nurse in here!"

1. Doctors hang IV meds, give patients pills, run lab tests, etc.
2. The doctors personally give pain medications to make them comfortable.
3. CPR/Code Blue is started by a doctor.

In reality...

1. The closest they come to giving any medications is thinking about it and writing it down.
2. We nurses have to squeeze anything stronger than Tylenol out of them like they were Ebeneezer Scrooge and we were Bob Cratchet.
   
3. They attend the Code Blue, but leave the sweaty work to nurses.

I'm not complaining about how they are, I'm just laughing at how good TV likes to make it appear. Of course, it doesn't stop me from watching House on Mondays at 9pm :) If I remember, that is.

I had plans to show the great change in our apartment. After working Thursday and Friday (twelve hours shifts), then driving after work Friday to my parents' house for the weekend, coming back Sunday in time for church, and then working again Monday and Tuesday (twelve hour shifts again), the apartment was a disaster zone. But I really didn't want to be embarrassed by physical pictures. But now, it's like...clean!

Did I mention that Mark's family is coming down? They are, the second week in July. I think they're coming from like Saturday through Sunday of the next following week. Mark's mom, dad, sister with her daughter, other sister, and brother are all coming. The only one not coming is Josh, Mark's bother-in-law, who just started a new job. Have you seen the space we have here? Granted, we'll be in the town house by then, but it's not THAT much bigger. But it'll be fun, I've taken that week off, but Mark still will be working. I guess that means I'll have to make real meals. Got any ideas for some easy yummy lunch or dinner foods?

Dumb Trucks and Smart Apartments

Guess what?!

I rode in a dumb dump truck today, for the first time! I thought we were going to run in to a few things, miss a few turns, or take out a few cars as we were going down the roads. And it was noisy as all get out. We had to yell to hear each other. But it was an experience that everyone should have, given the opportunity!

It was my day off, and Mark invited me to go along with him as he returned a mower to another apartment complex. This apartment complex, and another one across town are owned by Mark's boss and his sister-in-law, and probably various other family members. Anyways, over the way, they have townhouses as well as apartments. A townhouse over there just became available. Mark talked to his boss about us moving in to one of the town houses.

Well, today, as Mark was returning their mower that had been broken for weeks, so I came along to look at the townhouse with him. Speaking of the mower, Mark just found out later today that it broke down again! Of all the--!! Mark's not too happy about that, and Tiny and Rob (his son), but especially Tiny, don't like spending money.

In addition the the pictures of townhouse, I took a picture of one of their old trucks, the auger truck. All of their big equipment trucks are at least, at least 20-30 years old, if not more. I'm not exaggerating, I promise. They'd rather keep fixing up the old trucks than buy one with new fangled equipment.

By the way, why are they all called aPARTments if they're all stuck together? Shouldn't they be called notapartments, or something? How about astucktogetherments? Whatever. Let me upload the pictures and make some witty comments on them before Mark comes back home to whisk me away to church.

The auger truck, notice the drill? That lovely color is officially known
as "Mallory Green." They paint most of their vehicles that color

This the dump truck. I guess they haven't gotten around to painting it yet.

Mark feels at home behind the big trucks

The best pictures of the bunch!

I don't know if you can read it, but on the door it says 163. No longer will we be Apt S-6, but we'll be 163 Dame Court, like a real address! Imagine that!

Right, see, 163

The kitchen is about the same size as the one here. They're still
working on getting things cleaned up and ready for live-in.

This our 'back porch.' We have a spot for a grill! Mark is the most excited
about this, I think. He's like, now we can have friends over and grill out!

Dining room with Mark scurrying to open a door to
hide behind so he doesn't get caught on...computer

Down stairs half bath with light reading material
in case the workers need to use the facilities.

One upstairs bedroom, this one has one closet.

The upstairs bathroom is practically identical to the one here

I think I have this picture twice. But that's ok, I like this view of Mark :)

This upstairs bedroom has TWO closets! I think that makes
this one the master bedroom. I need the room for clothes!!

The linen closet upstairs. Seriously, I think when they drew the plans for these places, they filled in any blank spots with closets. "Oh this room can't quite meet this room, let's make another closet! Oh there's stairs right here, let's make another closet!" I tell you what, but I'm not complaining, I like closet space. Makes it seem like you have less junk than you actually do!

These stairs have some cheap vinyl something on them. Anyone know where I can get some stair carpet runner or something? It'd help cut down on the noise too, so there's not a loud elephant going up and down the stairs at the same time one of us does.

Mark again, running...I think he does this on purpose, what'd you think?

Finally, my favorite picture. The view from our front door. Aren't the petals beautiful? Anyways, the leasing office over there said that they can have it ready to move in June 20th. Anyone want to come help us move? I bet we could use both for sleeping arraingements

Not Cut Out For This

I could *not* be a stay at home wife. I've cleaned all that could be cleaned, all the laundry is done (mostly, it's in the drier), and Mark is making dinner tonight (waffles :D). I guess if I had kids to take care of. At least I'd be getting snacks, cleaning up messes, changing diapers, something besides taking care of myself.

Even if I had a hobby, like scrapbooking. I do have a wedding scrapbook, and a christmas scrapbook to do (eventually), *but* I have NO pictures. They're all digital. I potentially could go to Wal-Mart or Target (tar-zhay') to print them out.
I would, if Mark hadn't taken my car to work. His jeep is out of gas, and I'm scared to drive it. Honestly! Like, I feel so small in it. Besides, I'd go nuts with all the trash in it. I confess, I have cleaned it out several times *sheepish smile* but it's cold outside right now.
Another thing, I have only 4 dollars to my name, thanks to a little oops in paying loans and bills. But that's ok because I'm starting my job Monday.

I thought about making cookies, the peanut butter ones with Hershey's kisses on them, but I have nothing to store them in. I have a ton of round canisters (like three people gave me different sets), but those kinds of cookies require a big rectangular thingy, or else, the kisses smash against the cookies. Ask me, go ahead, ask me how I know this.

I even (please, help me!) thought about playing Mark's GameCube. *shudders* I'd do it if he had some games I'd play. He's only got a few boy games, like a WWII soldier game, a Star Wars game, Super Mario Smash Brothers' game, and a few other sporty ones (soccer, basketball).
I even conquered the bathroom. Let me tell you something, that was a feat in itself! I think it's been cleaned maybe, possibly once since Mark moved in. I used a ton of bleach *muahahahaha* that'll get rid of anything trying to grow anywhere. I also found out something. Toilet bowl cleaner, the kind that get rids of lime scale in toilets, also worked on the tub. Like, all that soap scum all over the tub, gone! I even emptied the trash. But, unfortunately, I didn't make it to the floor. It's such a small floor, that I debated for a long time whether or not using a Swiffer mop pad was necessary. I didn't have anything else to mop, so I let it go, for now. But don't worry, I'll tackle it one of these days.

Pizza Hut just came out with a "new" crust/pizza. Pizza Mia. In Trinidad, that was the kind of crust we ordered from Pizza Hut. Remember, Hannah, and my family??

Anyways, sorry for the rabbit trail. I've been watching the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader training camp on TV. You'd think they'd be all about superficial things, like hair, make-up, weight, stuff like that. And, they are, but they also make them be graceful off the field. Like, they brought in the professionals to teach them social graces, like which side the sweet tea spoon goes on. I don't even know that. They made them set the tables, the ones with four forks, three spoons, two plates, and three cups, and stuff like that. I just thought I'd share.

I took down the Christmas tree today. I discovered we have more than 24 ornaments. I didn't think we had that many. Our little tree was really bare. After I got it taken apart, I spent a good 15 minutes trying to figure out how to fit in the box. The biggest piece seemed to long, until I put it on the bottom, that is. See, I can be smart when necessary.

So, the curtains Mark and I hung, the other day, are too long. They sit right in front of our baseboard heaters. We didn't hold them up, or even thing about it. So, I had this great idea to hang them up higher. Think it solved the problem? Nope. They're still too long, and they can't really go up any higher, else they'll be sitting on the ceiling. So next time we go visit my parents, I'm going to be using their sewing machine. If they'll let me, that is. :)

So yeah, I'm not cut out to be a stay at home person. At least, not at this time in my life. Ask me after we get our little family growing a bit, I might have changed my mind :)

De-bachelorizing the apartment

Since I don't have any pictures of how the apartment looked before I cleaned it up, you'll just have to trust me when I say that it was a MESS! I'm not going to blame Mark, cause it was mostly my stuff. Like boxes of my stuff. The week before the wedding, my dad and I brought down a car load, and a truck load of my stuff and my wedding shower presents. The floor was covered, literally covered, with stuff. We had to dig paths through the boxes and bags to from room to room. I cleaned it Monday while Mark was at work. I was worried that he might come in from work and decide that he had went into the wrong apartment. But he didn't. Although, he did come in and say "Whoa! You've been a busy wife!" But I enjoyed it, mainly because it was my stuff in my apartment. And I didn't have to worry about anyone coming in and saying, "Where's my stuff?" In addition to cleaning, last night we hung pictures and curtains, and our clock, too! But I don't have pictures of that yet. But here's what I do have. Enjoy!

Our bedroom went through quite a change. Instead of the bed being in the middle of the room, the dresser being surrounded by clothes and suitcases. My parents gave us that dresser and night stand. Too bad it's the only dresser we have... :)

Oh, this is my favorite part of the apartment. Those boxes are all empty of useful stuff. There's only trash in them now. It used to be a very unstable pile, but I condensed and made it all fit nicely.

Our beautiful furniture. The top one is the clock Mark's cousin Marilyn and Karl got us for our wedding. It's hung up now, right above that love seat.

Our Christmas tree sparsely decorated. Isn't Mark just the greatest husband to go buy it and set it up for us. 

There, isn't that much better? I think we got like 6 Christmas ornaments that say something like "our first Christmas." Oh, this one, I looked closely at, and the date on it....2006 :) but it's small and unnoticeable. And I like the ornament, so I'm keeping it anyways :)

These are our new dishes, fresh from Target (tar-zhay'). We got like a million bucks in gift cards to Target and Bed, Bath, and Beyond. We went out and got some dishes so that we didn't have to keep on using 1) Christmas dishes, 2) a handful of plastic dishes I "borrowed" from my parents' house, or 3) a few glass dishes from Mark's parents' house. I mean, all together we had plenty of dishes, but only if we washed them right after we eat. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing with washing dishes 3 times a day, but why wash 2 cups and 2 plates 3 times a day when you can put 6 cups and 6 plates in the dishwasher once a day?

Do you like our dining room? How about that lazy susan? My sister-in-law, Susan (who, by the way, was our first official guest since moving in. They stopped in on their way back from Charleston to Annapolis from visiting her mom) gave it to us as a wedding present. 

And that's that.