So in the last 2 or 3 months the Hubz and I have noticed a significant spike in Oscar's bad ass demeanor. We attribute this to the fact that he now has a 140-pound beast for a big brother to back him up. His barks have become much more frequent and louder.
We're very much accustomed to his barking at the television to the extent that we have to change the channel when a commercial with any kind of animal comes on. These days he barks at EVERYTHING. Shadows on the wall, trees waving in the wind, neighbors walking by some 50 yards away, etc. It's gotten very loud at our home.
I mentioned the television barking earlier and he's simply taken it to an entire new level. He doesn't need to see any animals now. He's learned to memorize the opening music to commercials. His favorite is the NFL Home commercial. Now, I understand that there is a bulldog in this commercial, but a. the dog does not show up until 7 seconds in and b. the bulldog only lasts 1.5 seconds. I suppose in Oscar's defense the dog DOES show up again later in the 30 second long commercial for an entire millisecond.
Oscar has memorized the song and pops his pug head up every time that whistling begins without fail. That's all it takes is to hear the first whistle. Then he goes nuts running all over the living room looking for whomever it is whistling or the damn bulldog. It's a riot and I love every second of it.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
May Day 2011 Has a Nice Ring to it
That's our official due date. :-)
I took the test on 8/30 knowing full well that I would get two lines on the test. Even though I had been keeping track of my cycles and was very sure the outcome, the technical writer in me just HAD to follow the step by step instructions to get the most accurate of results.
What? Someone slaved away writing those instructions: sending out for edits, placing the images just right. Oh, yeah back to the story...
Oscar was sitting patiently outside the bathroom door as he always does when I visit the ladies' room. Shawn was in the office organizing his many piles and Winston was roaming around the house happily chewing up his baby.
I didn't even have a chance to hold my breath before the second pink line came up. In an instant I was laughing, crying and jumping. Oscar's nails clippity clopped on the bathroom tile in unison. "C'mon Oscar let's go tell the Hubz!" On the way through the house Winston joined in the parade prancing and swinging his "baby" with his mouth feeling the excitement in the air.
I stopped short at the Office door and waited for the Hubz to look up. He looked up and I didn't say a word just held up the positive test.
A look of confusion filled his face as he looked up from his project. He looked at me, the test, then me. He had a look on his face to say "what is that?". His faced changed as he realized that it was a pregnancy test. A POSITIVE pregnancy test.
"No WAY.
No WAY BABE!
Seriously?!
No WAY!"
I nodded and cried as we hugged and stared at each other. The dogs had mellowed out at this point and just watched us. It was an amazing moment. I felt as if I was floating and still couldn't believe how quickly that second line showed up. I was talking about a mile a minute.
IknewIwassuperlatethismonthbutyouneverknow,right?ImeanIdon'tfeelanydifferentbutWHOA!
His smile never left his face the rest of the night. Even when he had to get practical for a second. C'mon now. It really wouldn't be MY hubz if he didn't have at least ONE practical comment.
I took another test to be sure but we were already convinced. Well sort of convinced.
We didn't say very much besides the expected "Wow everything's going to change and we really have to start saving now" from the Hubz and the dutiful eye roll from me.
I called my Doctor the next day to see if I could get a confirmation. I mean how reliable ARE these tests anyway?
Apparently very reliable. The receptionist wouldn't book me for another 3 weeks and said I didn't need to come in for a blood test to confirm.
The next 3 weeks were strange. The Hubz and I didn't really discuss being pregnant mostly because neither one of us really felt it had been completely confirmed and I think we were both nervous that if we talked about it, it would somehow alter the reality of the situation. Well for whatever reason we both stayed very mum.
Mum. Hee hee.
I did tell my mom the very next day. How could I not? I made her promise NOT to freak out and that I hadn't even been to the doctor yet. She did very well for a Mom who's main character trait is "excited".
3 weeks later we had our first ultrasound that confirmed I was 8 weeks along with a May 1 due date.
Isn't it amazing? I mean what an image our tech got!
So we saw the baby, saw the heartbeat (going SO fast!), and were still in a state of quiet. While it hit us a little harder we were still nervous to talk about it even to each other! By now both Moms, Dad and Bubba all knew and were very excited for us.
Next up was the 12 week appointment that would confirm it all and put us in a "safe" place to announce it and even start making plans.
We heard the heartbeat and asked if it was indeed the right time to make our announcement.
"Well," the technician started "Sure, I mean it really doesn't matter WHEN you begin telling folks because really ANYTHING can happen at ANY time."
Blink
Blink
Blink
Huh? Um OKAY. I guess that's true but then why do all these articles and websites say to wait? Jeesh lady.
So does this mean we should wait? I've already received one hate text from a BFF who has felt very neglected by my trying to keep a secret. I don't think I could have held out much longer.
So we didn't.
We planned a big dinner with friends to make the official announcement. Of course we HAD to plan it the last game of the Giants Playoff but we were able to let all our friends know nonetheless. Lots of hugs, cheers and even teary eyes greeted us as I jumped up on our fireplace to continue the celebration of the Giants' win with a hearty "GUESS WHAT!!! I'm PREGNANT!!!"
It was fantastic.
Then came the questions.
"Where will the baby sleep?"
"Will you keep working"
"What about the commute?"
"What names?"
"Boy or Girl?"
"Are you going to find out if it's a boy or a girl?"
"When is the shower?"
I mean honestly. I felt overwhelmed because the Hubz and I had barely found out what my medical plan covers! We hadn't really discussed anything beyond that.
Guess it's time to get to planning!
We're so entirely thrilled and cannot wait for May. There are quite a few details to iron out before then, so we better get started.
xxoo
I took the test on 8/30 knowing full well that I would get two lines on the test. Even though I had been keeping track of my cycles and was very sure the outcome, the technical writer in me just HAD to follow the step by step instructions to get the most accurate of results.
What? Someone slaved away writing those instructions: sending out for edits, placing the images just right. Oh, yeah back to the story...
Oscar was sitting patiently outside the bathroom door as he always does when I visit the ladies' room. Shawn was in the office organizing his many piles and Winston was roaming around the house happily chewing up his baby.
I didn't even have a chance to hold my breath before the second pink line came up. In an instant I was laughing, crying and jumping. Oscar's nails clippity clopped on the bathroom tile in unison. "C'mon Oscar let's go tell the Hubz!" On the way through the house Winston joined in the parade prancing and swinging his "baby" with his mouth feeling the excitement in the air.
I stopped short at the Office door and waited for the Hubz to look up. He looked up and I didn't say a word just held up the positive test.
A look of confusion filled his face as he looked up from his project. He looked at me, the test, then me. He had a look on his face to say "what is that?". His faced changed as he realized that it was a pregnancy test. A POSITIVE pregnancy test.
"No WAY.
No WAY BABE!
Seriously?!
No WAY!"
I nodded and cried as we hugged and stared at each other. The dogs had mellowed out at this point and just watched us. It was an amazing moment. I felt as if I was floating and still couldn't believe how quickly that second line showed up. I was talking about a mile a minute.
IknewIwassuperlatethismonthbutyouneverknow,right?ImeanIdon'tfeelanydifferentbutWHOA!
His smile never left his face the rest of the night. Even when he had to get practical for a second. C'mon now. It really wouldn't be MY hubz if he didn't have at least ONE practical comment.
I took another test to be sure but we were already convinced. Well sort of convinced.
We didn't say very much besides the expected "Wow everything's going to change and we really have to start saving now" from the Hubz and the dutiful eye roll from me.
I called my Doctor the next day to see if I could get a confirmation. I mean how reliable ARE these tests anyway?
Apparently very reliable. The receptionist wouldn't book me for another 3 weeks and said I didn't need to come in for a blood test to confirm.
The next 3 weeks were strange. The Hubz and I didn't really discuss being pregnant mostly because neither one of us really felt it had been completely confirmed and I think we were both nervous that if we talked about it, it would somehow alter the reality of the situation. Well for whatever reason we both stayed very mum.
Mum. Hee hee.
I did tell my mom the very next day. How could I not? I made her promise NOT to freak out and that I hadn't even been to the doctor yet. She did very well for a Mom who's main character trait is "excited".
3 weeks later we had our first ultrasound that confirmed I was 8 weeks along with a May 1 due date.
Isn't it amazing? I mean what an image our tech got!
So we saw the baby, saw the heartbeat (going SO fast!), and were still in a state of quiet. While it hit us a little harder we were still nervous to talk about it even to each other! By now both Moms, Dad and Bubba all knew and were very excited for us.
Next up was the 12 week appointment that would confirm it all and put us in a "safe" place to announce it and even start making plans.
We heard the heartbeat and asked if it was indeed the right time to make our announcement.
"Well," the technician started "Sure, I mean it really doesn't matter WHEN you begin telling folks because really ANYTHING can happen at ANY time."
Blink
Blink
Blink
Huh? Um OKAY. I guess that's true but then why do all these articles and websites say to wait? Jeesh lady.
So does this mean we should wait? I've already received one hate text from a BFF who has felt very neglected by my trying to keep a secret. I don't think I could have held out much longer.
So we didn't.
We planned a big dinner with friends to make the official announcement. Of course we HAD to plan it the last game of the Giants Playoff but we were able to let all our friends know nonetheless. Lots of hugs, cheers and even teary eyes greeted us as I jumped up on our fireplace to continue the celebration of the Giants' win with a hearty "GUESS WHAT!!! I'm PREGNANT!!!"
It was fantastic.
Then came the questions.
"Where will the baby sleep?"
"Will you keep working"
"What about the commute?"
"What names?"
"Boy or Girl?"
"Are you going to find out if it's a boy or a girl?"
"When is the shower?"
I mean honestly. I felt overwhelmed because the Hubz and I had barely found out what my medical plan covers! We hadn't really discussed anything beyond that.
Guess it's time to get to planning!
We're so entirely thrilled and cannot wait for May. There are quite a few details to iron out before then, so we better get started.
xxoo
Friday, October 22, 2010
Slowing Down
So as quickly as that the Mean Reds are gone.
It's amazing what my hubz is capable of scaring away. Any crazy thoughts I ever have typically swirl round and round in my head making too much noise and drowning out any sense of logic or good reason. When I finally find a coherent way to express these thoughts it usually takes the hubz about 5 seconds to come up with a reasonable observation as to why these thoughts are indeed crazy. Instead of dwelling on it, I hear him out, laugh at myself and forget all about why I was making myself so nuts in the first place.
We all need people like that in our lives. I am blessed to have a few but none can disseminate a crazy thought like my hubz. There's isn't any judgment or lengthy detailed conversation and it rarely, if ever, comes up again in later conversations yet holds me accountable. In yesterday's case it was as simple as "Babe, you need to SLOW. DOWN. and you'll be just fine. Just slow down, okay?"
Blink
Blink
Blink
Well, yeah, duh.
In an effort to slow down my thoughts I'm hoping it will cause me to slow EVERYTHING down. I don't know if you know this but there's some sort of law that limits folks to drive UNDER the speed limit up and down Hwy 1. I just know this stretch of road will be the ultimate test of how well I can really slow myself down to a reasonable pace of life. Should be fun.
Luckily enough I have the Ocean so close which always calms and slows me down. I have a feeling we're going to become very good friends in the near future.
It's amazing what my hubz is capable of scaring away. Any crazy thoughts I ever have typically swirl round and round in my head making too much noise and drowning out any sense of logic or good reason. When I finally find a coherent way to express these thoughts it usually takes the hubz about 5 seconds to come up with a reasonable observation as to why these thoughts are indeed crazy. Instead of dwelling on it, I hear him out, laugh at myself and forget all about why I was making myself so nuts in the first place.
We all need people like that in our lives. I am blessed to have a few but none can disseminate a crazy thought like my hubz. There's isn't any judgment or lengthy detailed conversation and it rarely, if ever, comes up again in later conversations yet holds me accountable. In yesterday's case it was as simple as "Babe, you need to SLOW. DOWN. and you'll be just fine. Just slow down, okay?"
Blink
Blink
Blink
Well, yeah, duh.
In an effort to slow down my thoughts I'm hoping it will cause me to slow EVERYTHING down. I don't know if you know this but there's some sort of law that limits folks to drive UNDER the speed limit up and down Hwy 1. I just know this stretch of road will be the ultimate test of how well I can really slow myself down to a reasonable pace of life. Should be fun.
Luckily enough I have the Ocean so close which always calms and slows me down. I have a feeling we're going to become very good friends in the near future.
 |
| Slow Motion |
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Mean Reds
This morning I woke up with a case of the mean reds.
Holly Golightly: You know those days when you get the mean reds?
Paul Varjak: The mean reds, you mean like the blues?
Holly Golightly: No. The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?
Paul Varjak: Sure.
The hubs kissed me goodbye while I was still dreaming and I mumbled something about not sleeping on my stomach to which I got another kiss on the forehead and a whispered "good job babe". Not long after that I stretched out and in the process woke up a sleeping Oscar who acknowledged the rising sun with his own morning movements and moved out from under the sheets and to a new spot under the pillows. He sighed as he got comfortable and looked at me with groggy pug eyes. I patted his pug head and told him it was a day I should simply be in bed and not even attempt human interaction. Before I could finish the sentence we both rolled our eyes as Winston the Hun began whining to be let out for his morning stroll terrorizing all the birds feeding out back.
Out of bed, the three of us made our way to the back door, yawning and stretching the entire way. Out went Winston and I got myself ready for the day.
Now when you start the day with the mean reds, you honestly have no business trying to be anything to anyone. It's much better to save your friends and colleagues the detriment of your bad attitude and pouty demeanor. Besides you never garner much sympathy, not that it would make a difference.
Well I don't live on a movie set nor is there a script so I don't have a choice but to power through the mean reds and just make it through the day.
5 outfits later I was making my way out to let the drooling-just-had-a-big-lop-of-water-beast out one last time when he decides it would be absolutely lovely to lay a big wet lick on my suede wedges. Sigh went the girl who woke up with the mean reds.
With no time to change for a 6th time I put Winston away for the day and said goodbye to Oscar. Out the door I go.
The events that proceeded in the following hours simply confirmed my case of the mean reds. A road-raged Dodge Stratus who wouldn't let me merge onto the freeway, a curt email informing me my Direct Deposit account number was invalid, and a hubs who forgot I needed the big car today.
None of these things give reason to the mean reds but they sure don't help when you've already diagnosed yourself first.
There simply aren't enough sick days.
Holly Golightly: You know those days when you get the mean reds?
Paul Varjak: The mean reds, you mean like the blues?
Holly Golightly: No. The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?
Paul Varjak: Sure.
 | ||||
| The Mean Reds |
The hubs kissed me goodbye while I was still dreaming and I mumbled something about not sleeping on my stomach to which I got another kiss on the forehead and a whispered "good job babe". Not long after that I stretched out and in the process woke up a sleeping Oscar who acknowledged the rising sun with his own morning movements and moved out from under the sheets and to a new spot under the pillows. He sighed as he got comfortable and looked at me with groggy pug eyes. I patted his pug head and told him it was a day I should simply be in bed and not even attempt human interaction. Before I could finish the sentence we both rolled our eyes as Winston the Hun began whining to be let out for his morning stroll terrorizing all the birds feeding out back.
Out of bed, the three of us made our way to the back door, yawning and stretching the entire way. Out went Winston and I got myself ready for the day.
Now when you start the day with the mean reds, you honestly have no business trying to be anything to anyone. It's much better to save your friends and colleagues the detriment of your bad attitude and pouty demeanor. Besides you never garner much sympathy, not that it would make a difference.
Well I don't live on a movie set nor is there a script so I don't have a choice but to power through the mean reds and just make it through the day.
5 outfits later I was making my way out to let the drooling-just-had-a-big-lop-of-water-beast out one last time when he decides it would be absolutely lovely to lay a big wet lick on my suede wedges. Sigh went the girl who woke up with the mean reds.
With no time to change for a 6th time I put Winston away for the day and said goodbye to Oscar. Out the door I go.
The events that proceeded in the following hours simply confirmed my case of the mean reds. A road-raged Dodge Stratus who wouldn't let me merge onto the freeway, a curt email informing me my Direct Deposit account number was invalid, and a hubs who forgot I needed the big car today.
None of these things give reason to the mean reds but they sure don't help when you've already diagnosed yourself first.
There simply aren't enough sick days.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Where Ya Been?
I know, it's been a VERY long time...
Things I've been up to:
1. Girls Football Pool trip in Sandy Eggo. We sunned, laughed, squealed and had an all out great time together.
2. Working on the house. The hubz and I have moved our entire loft area downstairs. Now instead of an empty great room I have an empty loft. :-( I'd LOVE to turn it into a lovely area for guest quarters that could double as a reading room. Sigh. Such a dreamer am I.
3. Collecting music. One of my favorite things to do is make mix cds for my friends. I'm working on my next installment.
4. Relaxing. Spending the weekends at home, tooling around the house has been much needed.
5. Sporting. Miraculously the hubz was given two tickets to the Giants Playoff Game 3 against Atlanta. 14 rows up from home plate. Uh-Mazing. Even if we did lose. Keeping tabs on my Sunday football games is as exciting as ever. I found my way up out of second-to-last place and am now resting not-so-comfortably towards the middle of the pack. If you have ANY insider information please pass it on. I've tried all kinds of strategies: underdogs, home field advantage, all of which have yet to give me a perfect record.
I'll have more soon, I promise!
P.S. Happy, HAPPY to one of my very dear friends who turns 30 today! Happy Birthday Professor! Here's to many happy returns! xxoo
Things I've been up to:
1. Girls Football Pool trip in Sandy Eggo. We sunned, laughed, squealed and had an all out great time together.
2. Working on the house. The hubz and I have moved our entire loft area downstairs. Now instead of an empty great room I have an empty loft. :-( I'd LOVE to turn it into a lovely area for guest quarters that could double as a reading room. Sigh. Such a dreamer am I.
3. Collecting music. One of my favorite things to do is make mix cds for my friends. I'm working on my next installment.
4. Relaxing. Spending the weekends at home, tooling around the house has been much needed.
5. Sporting. Miraculously the hubz was given two tickets to the Giants Playoff Game 3 against Atlanta. 14 rows up from home plate. Uh-Mazing. Even if we did lose. Keeping tabs on my Sunday football games is as exciting as ever. I found my way up out of second-to-last place and am now resting not-so-comfortably towards the middle of the pack. If you have ANY insider information please pass it on. I've tried all kinds of strategies: underdogs, home field advantage, all of which have yet to give me a perfect record.
I'll have more soon, I promise!
P.S. Happy, HAPPY to one of my very dear friends who turns 30 today! Happy Birthday Professor! Here's to many happy returns! xxoo
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