6.29.2006
Countdown - T-minus 13 days
I'm SO grateful for the upcoming long weekend. I can't wait to sleep in and lounge around and not think about work or real estate anymore. The condo closing is this afternoon, FINALLY. The exact time is still up in the air, which is disconcerting to my brain because I am so organized and process-oriented about things like this. Once we receive word that it's done and that our check is on the way, I'm going to sign the contract for the central air, which will be installed starting July 10. Leave it to us to bring in a contractor the week of my due date. After everything, it doesn't even seem weird. And how awesome would it be if it was done by the time we left the hospital?

Pregnancy complaint #116: I have hardly any clothes. I wear the same black pants week in and out because they match the one pair of black shoes that I can still wear. A couple of months ago I had a decent mix of long- and short-sleeve maternity tops, but now it's too warm for long sleeves. I have a dress and a skirt, but neither go with the aforementioned shoes. I have a couple of weekend options, which I keep repeating. Since I'm not about to buy any more maternity clothes, I'm stuck for the time being. And I'm thinking that nursing will present some fashion challenges too, even if they are as trivial as nursing bra straps + tank top = ugh. I can't wait until I can wear flip-flops every day... and jeans! God, jeans, I miss you.


6.23.2006
Where the hell have I been?
Well, busy mostly, and also dying hot. Everything is different now. We moved to the sticks. The first weekend we were there we discovered that the downstairs bedroom rug was wet from all the freaking rain we've had this year. A old giant box fan and some Febreze took care of it. We bought a lawn mower and a weed-whacker. Sadly, we have no AC because our windows are uncooperatively sized and open left to right instead of up and down. I love the house but we melt in it even when we surround ourselves with fans. The idea of being home in the summer heat with a new baby prompted me to call a guy to come give us a quote on central air, which is certain to be expensive because a) it's high season and b) we don't have any existing duct work.

Work has become insane lately. We have a huge project for the Board of Directors and there isn't enough time to get everything done. I haven't even begun transitioning my stuff to the poor sucker who has to cover me while I'm out. My new commute is a lot longer and more congested, so I have to leave a lot earlier to try and beat it. I've been getting up at 5:30 a.m. No, really. I leave the house at 6:45, get to work at 7:30, and still end up staying until 5:30 some nights.

There are fewer than 3 weeks until my due date. We never did a childbirth class or even toured the hospital. My belly is gigantic. I can't pick stuff up that I drop on the floor. I wear my rings on my necklace because my fingers are puffy. I only have one pair of work shoes that fit. The baby is LARGE... 76th percentile, estimated at 7lb 11oz already. Three weeks ago she was only 53rd percentile, 5lb 3oz. What the hell, how did that happen? I've gained about 28 pounds. When I sit upright she pushes my ribs with her feet. I can feel her knees and elbows slide by. I can tell she can't wait to get out and start messing with us. We still have no nursery. We can't paint the room this weekend because it's going to be rainy and humid for the next 4304959493 days. The furniture still isn't in. We haven't gone to the police station to have them install the car seat bases yet. My hospital bag is about 1/3 packed, and all that's in there is a nursing bra and a pack of Uno cards.

The condo closing is scheduled for sometime next week; like everything else in this process, the date is not yet solid. But we have their mortgage commitment and this will all be over in 2-3 business days. I can't wait to have that not lingering over our heads anymore. I can't wait to have our money back in our account where it belongs and to be able to pay back the kind family members who loaned us the cash to cover our down payment.

I know how fortunate we are. I shouldn't complain. But however big your biggest problem is, it's still your biggest problem. My biggest problems are the humidity, not having any time to see my friends, and being hugely pregnant. This is about as uncreative as entries get, but that's where we're at.


6.01.2006
One track mind
Joe is a lucky whore. He's off today and tomorrow. He was off Monday and two days last week for Pearl Jam. I'm jealous. He's in the city, wandering around and maybe planning to meet up with my cousin for a drink, and here I am in my cube, hammering away at a ginornous Excel chart. Although today hasn't been bad. I love when my boss is in a flippant mood. Like when he comes over and says: "I'll tell you, [Coworker guy] is in love with this chart. He practically had an orgasm over it. I gave him tons of shit."

I can't wait to have 3 months off. I want to be in my new house, on my new couch (or loveseat or chair, because yay, we're finally going to have a living room arrangement where people can sit facing each other), with my new baby. There is still so much to do in these last few weeks, but there is a definite sense of eventuality now. The movers are scheduled and the house is full of boxes. There are lawyers and home inspectors lurking about. We are taking care of change-of-address forms, utility switch-ons and switch-offs, adding and cancelling insurance coverages. We have delivery dates for our new furniture and appliances. Moving sucks. But trying to buy and sell property sucks worse, so we'll take it.

As for an update on the baby: she's in there. I had an ultrasound yesterday to estimate her position and size. She's vertex, meaning head down, and the placenta is anterior and high (good and good). She weighs approximately 5lb 3 oz, just over 50th percentile for her age. She has hair and an adorable little face, both of which I was able to see clearly on the scan. Although she has six weeks left, she will be at term in three. Unbelievable, seriously. I really can't wait to meet her.


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