Anything Bloggable

It's been a while.

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:43:00 +0000

Brushes the cobwebs away...

I'm still here & will post something soon.

A Huge Favor From Local Friends

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:37:00 +0000

Ok. Moving sucks. Helping friends move sucks donkey balls. BUT!!!! If several people would be willing to show up here on March 1st, which is a Sunday, at say, 1 pm, and help us get moved to our new place, then it would go quickly, and relatively painlessly.
And we will buy pizza and beer and celebrate our new move afterwards in the new place.
We'll rent a U-Haul to load up, and should only have to make one trip. If we have a lot of people to help out, ime, this entire move shouldn't take more than 2 hours total.
We're currently at I-10 & Chimney Rock (close to IKEA) and we're moving to Bellaire & Cook Rd (Chinatown, a mile from Hong Kong City Mall, outside the beltway a couple of miles, right past Kirkwood)

The pros, to entice you! (ha!)
We're not moving our couch or chair from the living room, so that's 2 huge pieces of furniture not to have to move.
We're not moving our ginormous entertainment center, either.
Heavy pieces of furniture will be at a minimum. There's some bulky stuff, but there's not a lot of super heavy stuff.
We have pared down our books extensively.
I am purging at least half of what we own before we move, so there won't be miles of crap.

The Cons, just to be honest:
The new apartment is upstairs. :/
Did I mention it's upstairs?

Sooooo... If you can help us out, I would be VERY VERY grateful. I really hate to ask, as I know helping people move really does suck.

Please let me know if you can help us out.
THANK YOU!!!!

It's a New Year: 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 08:53:00 +0000

It's already 2009, if you can believe it. I hardly can.

2008 had it's ups and downs, but overall it was good.
The most amazing thing, of course, was the birth of my daughter in July.

I now have a 9 year old, and a 7 year old. It's so cliche, but the time goes so fast.

Max, my oldest, is such a great kid. He is smart and funny, he's really at one of my favorite ages. He's not a little kid any more, but he's not quite into the pre-teen age. He's still a kid, but his understanding of the world is so much wider and has more depth. He's a lot like me, his interests bounce around. He gets really interested in one subject and that becomes his intense focus for a few months, then it moves on to something else. I'm 31 and I still do that.
This year his main interests have been Zelda, pirates, and Pokemon. He is, of course, interested in other things at the same time, and builds on his interests out of those things.

Miles is now 7, just turned in December. I have to say I am glad 6 is over, from what I hear it's a universally difficult age. He's wonderful, such a sweet, kind child, and he is SO much like his father. He is fascinated with electricity, taking things apart to see how they work, he loves physics and Rube Goldberg devices. He also loves geology.

They are incredible kids, and I love them so much. They amaze me, and inspire me. They are so loving, and caring, and just perfect.

Maddie is 5 months old now, and holy crap! She is just the best baby ever! I am in awe of her every day. She is just the absolute picture of happy baby-ness. She is bouncy, smiles at everyone. She is sitting assisted, still no teeth, has very grabby little hands, LOVES to chew on paper, drools everywhere. She is such a lovely little person.

Chris and I are celebrating 6 years of our relationship this year in February. I am still incredibly happy to have this wonderful man in my life. We have our issues, sometimes more than other times, but overall things are good, solid, and strong. He is the best partner. Just tonight we went out to dinner, and as always, he insisted on holding Maddie and letting me eat with my hands free, telling me he knows I am here all day with her and how he just wants to make sure I have the chance to enjoy my meal without juggling her.
He is also just madly in love with his little girl. He is an incredible father, he loves to show his daughter off, it's adorable. Most of the time when we're out, he just carries her around. I ask if we want to take the stroller. Usually it's a no, I'll just hold her from him.

He is also a wonderful step-parent to the boys, and he is there for them, to tuck them in at night, to put together their fiddly toys (Chaos Tower, criminy!), to play Legos with them for hours, to show them new things, to make them laugh, to take them out to play. They've had their moments in feeling out their relationships with each other this year, and I know step-parent relationships will have their own unique hurdles. I try to let him figure that out as much as possible, and I know they'll grow their relationship stronger and closer in the coming year.
When we got married 3.5 years ago, Chris made vows to the boys as well, and he took those just as seriously as his vows to me. I love him all the more for it.

I was pregnant for over half of the year, and pretty much miserable. I had never imagined such a taxing pregnancy! I am glad I won't ever have to do that again. The end result was worth it a million times over, of course, but yeah, DONE with that noise.
I am now out of shape, by far the biggest I've ever been, and feeling crappy about it. I am having a hard time getting motivated, but I am getting there.

I am home with Maddie for the time being, and I am enjoying it. I am looking forward to getting some things figured out with regards to my future at this point, some plans in place for when the time comes.
I have been trying to teach Maddie how to drink out of a bottle or sippy cup and so far that has been full of fail. She will chew on them, and finds them novel, but honestly has not a clue what to actually DO with them... I'll keep trying, and we'll hopefully get it sooner rather than later. I would like to be able to leave her so Chris and I can have a date, and so that I will have a little more in the way of options for my time.

Ok, enough with the hurf durfing, and on to some pictures!
(ARGH! CLICK ON THEM TO SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE!!!!! They got cut off! Too hard to go back, would have to redo the whole thing and I don't wanna!)

Yikes

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:50:00 +0000

It's been a while.

Just a quick update, since it's ass crack of dawn:30

Maddie is now 3 months old and just the most amazing thing. I am so in love with my smiley, wonderful, happy baby.

Miles is taking ice skating lessons. His favorite color is pink, so he has some spiffy pink ice skates. He's going to be 7 in December. He's in LOVE with electronics and figuring out how things work. He adores the game Spore & the game Crazy Machines, where you put together Rube Goldberg type machines.

Max is still 9, and just got his white stripe on his green belt in TaeKwonDo, which he is really proud of. He's also currently obsessed with Pokemon. His Pokemon obsession comes and goes, but it's been on for the last few months. I don't know that he is currently capable of having an entire conversation without getting distracted and bringing pokemon into it.

Both of the boys voted in the Kids Vote thing on Nick. Obama, of course. They also dig talking politics. They are both in chess club at the library. They both love being homeschooled. Their eyeballs obviously have extra sparkles.

Maddie is smiling, drooling, loves to be held so that she can stand, learning what hands are for, contemplating her legs, considering her body's ability to roll over.

I am happy, no PPD, which is good.
I think my meds could be working better, though, cause I am having some issues with mood swings and general bitchiness. I am also over the top with anxiety lately, but I think that's just kind of in the air. The election, the economy, etc.

I cannot wait until the election is over.

My husband is, as always, awesome. I love him with all of my heart and I am so happy to be married to him. He is also an amazing daddy, parent to the boys, and just an all around great guy. Not to mention Teh Sexxy.

My BFF had a hysterectomy today, her husband called to tell me she was out of surgery and doing well. So Yay! I will go see her next weekend, once she's out of the hospital and chillaxin' at the 'rents house.

Halloween is Friday! w00t! It's my favorite holiday! Some friends are having their 10th wedding anniversary party, so we are going to go to their place, the kids will do TorTing, and much fun will be had by all. Can't figure out a costume for me or Chris but whatever, I'm sure I'll come up with something. Maybe.

Anyway, it is 4 in the morning, and I have no business being awake.
This is the most boring post ever, but I am too tired to try to be entertaining.

I've been neglecting you

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:06:00 +0000

My poor blog, it's been woefully neglected of late.

I am going to do a fun food related dohicky for my own enjoyment! Comment if you put it in your blog and let me know so I can be sure to read your responses.

Copy this list into your blog, including these instructions.
Bold all items you've eaten.
Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.

1.Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare Well, Kitfo, but that counts, right?
5. Crocodile We’ll say yes, but actually only alligator, but close enough

6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn or head cheese
26. ~~Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper~~
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a big fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. ~~Whole insects~~
43. Phaal

44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. ~~Fugu~~
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV, I hate beer but I have tried several w/ high ABV’s
59. Poutine Oh, but how I want to
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. ~~Sweetbreads~~ No way could I do it. Nope. Never.
63. Kaolin Like Kaopectade? How is this mineral a food? I think I’ve taken it before, though, so technically yes, I have ingested it.
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. ~~Horse~~ I’ve heard it’s not good & I just wouldn’t be able to bring myself to eat it
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa Once, on accident. Anything rose flavored is GROSS
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

An Update!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:46:00 +0000

Wow, I haven't updated in a while!

I have just been enjoying my new baby girl immensely. She is such a sweet little thing, and each day Chris and I are in awe of this beautiful little creature.

The boys both admit she's pretty cool, too :)

My Baby Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:51:00 +0000

I am so in love with this little girl, it's unreal.

I'll make a real post sometime soon, but I just had to say how in love I am. :D

Madeleine Anaise

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:20:00 +0000

I'm just cutting and pasting the post I made on the Mothering boards:

Pictures!

Early Saturday morning, July 19th, 8 days before my edd, around 4am, when I was finally going into bed for the night, I went to pee first and because of all the talk of obsessive toilet paper checking, checked my paper, which I had just started doing, and it looked pink tinged. So I wiped again to make sure and yup, it was a bit of light pink.

I told dh as we crawled into bed.
I fell asleep fairly easily but didn't sleep well. I think I was a little excited. I woke up a few times through the night, but was able to go right back to sleep, though not deeply.

At just before 10 I woke up and it felt a little weird down there, and I was wondering if I had mucus plug trying to come out or what. After a few minutes of trying to decide if I wanted to get up to go pee and check there was a little pop and warm fluid. Not a whole lot, but enough that I was pretty sure my water broke (this is the first time it's broken before way late into labor).
I told dh and we got up to put in a load of baby clothes and the new sheets in the laundry. (That day was supposed to be laundry day so it hadn't been done yet!) I had a few mild contractions going to the laundry room and knew that this would be picking up pretty quickly.

When we got back to the apt I lost my plug in a big way. I called my best friend because I suddenly thought I might like to have her there cause we had a bit of stuff to get done. I also called one of my closest friends who lives in my apts who is a professional photographer, and she wanted to at least get some early labor shots if I felt like letting her. So she came over at about 10:45 and my contractions were picking up. My best friend got here around 11:15 and things were already starting to get very intense. My friend A needed to make a battery run, so she left to do that, and my best friend K came into the room with me while Chris went to switch over laundry. She had filled up my birth ball for me, but I wanted to lay down cause I was starting to feel nauseated.

When Chris came back I was starting to feel kind of panicky, cause things were getting very hard very fast and I just didn't feel like she was positioned well. I could tell she had gone completely head down, but wasn't moving down in a good way. I wasn't worried about her, I was worried about me, to be honest.

Contractions were still spaced a ways apart, so I knew it wasn't transition yet, so I knew when I was SURE I wanted to go to the hospital it wasn't just me freaking out, it was more than that.

At this point they were coming about 3-4 minutes apart and lasting a minute or so, and I couldn't keep my focus through them at all. That wasn't a good feeling, and I told Chris to grab a few things (my robe, and the camera, I think) and shove them in a bag and that I wanted to go NOW.

The hospital we decided to go to is only about 4? miles away, and I had about 4 contractions on the way there. That was BAD. I was leaning over into the bad seat just dry heaving and screaming, and COULD NOT GET IT TOGETHER. I think that was the worst part. I was able to keep it together in my previous births. I may have been quite vocal but I KNOW screaming tightens, etc. But I could not manage.

We got to the hospital, and I had a few contractions getting into the room and changed. At this point I think it was about 12:30. When whoever it was checked me I was only at 6cm. It wasn't a surprise at all, I knew I wouldn't be farther than that. I had a really hard time getting through things for the next while, and I had just a bit of a lip and was fully dilated close to 2. At this point I was nominally better at vocalizing in good ways except during peaks, but it was still impossible to stay focused through. I was a mess.

She was posterior, kinda badly positioned, but started at some point to have a major issue with decels, and I was fully dilated. They wanted me to push since she WAS starting to have those decels and my water was broken, and so I did, but not well at all. That was really bad. Her heart rate evened out, though, and I pushed for close to half an hour, and she kept going right back up each time. And I could FEEL her head hitting my pubic bones. It just didn't feel right. I told them this and told them I HAD to stop pushing, cause also at that point I literally thought my back and tailbone were on the verge of breaking. So the ob said ok, we'll wait, cause I obviously was NOT going to keep pushing

I told them I really wanted an epidural (again, actually), (I felt ok with this since I would NOT have pit and I was already fully dilated). The nurse I had who was wonderful, got the anesthesiologist in there for me, and somehow I managed to love through getting the epidural put in without moving during a contraction. He didn't hook me up to the drip since they figured I would have the baby any time. One contraction, same awful. Next one, ok. The next? I was just fine. I could still feel them and was completely aware of what my body was doing, but there was no pain. It was amazing. I NEVER thought I would be in a hospital again, with an epidural! and happy about it, but I was. Oh boy, I was. I guess circumstances make all the difference. A posterior baby stuck on pelvic bones with broken water? Yeah... That made the difference to me!

The ob (some random guy I'd never seen before, but he was ok. The obs are really quite superfluous really, ime, as long as they're not jerks) saw that now that I was comfortable and the baby was just fine we could take however long we needed and try to let the baby turn. So I would lay on my right side, then my left, for about half an hour each, then my nurse would ask me to turn again. Which was amusing seeing as how I had an epidural and had a heck of a time maneuvering my legs!! But I managed.

The epidural was done perfectly, too. I really could feel what my body was doing every moment, I could tell when she had finally turned, and just felt her descend really well, in the perfect position this time. They were really hands off, and trusted me to just tell them what I was feeling. My nurse just told me they would check again when the pressure starting feeling almost constant. The epidural was starting to wear off so she called the guy back to just put me on the drip. He was surprised to see me again
During this time dh & I sat listening to a podcast sharing my ipod headphones just holding hands and waiting to meet our new baby girl. That is a wonderful memory. I let my bff come in for a bit, too, then she ran to get her and my dh some food.

And the pressure just got stronger, and my body was pushing. I was still able to breathe through it, though for a little bit longer, and when I was just pushing and I felt like I could poop out the baby any time, I told her I thought the doctor should probably come and check me, she was thinking the same thing.

So he came back in and asked me just to give a little push, and yup, sure enough he told me she had hair and to try to breathe through so as not to push so hard for just a minute so he could change the bed bottom

I didn't even care about being in the stupid laying down position then, she was so far down and perfectly ready to come out it didn't make a bit of difference. I pushed once, knew her head was starting to crown, pushed again, out came her head, then they reminded me to go slow and let her come out , which I was able to do, and there she was! 3 pushes! The cord was wrapped around her neck, (explains a lot of things) and so they cut it soon, which I was totally ok with at that point. Then they handed me my baby girl. (No tearing, barely any swelling, a little bit of a skid mark, but it's nothing really. I can't believe how fine I feel!)

She was so covered in vernix, it was amazing! And she was so small! She was very mucusy, so I actually wanted her suctioned well. She came out pretty fast overall once she actually got down there, so I don't think it all got squeezed out.
(She also choked a few times and puked the first night, too. I had a bulb syringe and actually used it a few times.)

She was born at 5:45pm, 7-19-08. 7lb1oz. 19.5" long. So little!

Wow, I just realized how long this is getting.

Anyway, things went exceptionally well. I had planned a UC, and never thought I would go to a hospital ever again. And while under most any other circumstance I wouldn't have I am very very happy with my decision to go. I listened to myself and made the informed choice when the time came.
I was there on my terms, and I was also there knowing that making the decision to go would make it necessary for me to pick my battles. I think that made all of the difference.

I was open and vocal on my feelings, had a fantastic nurse, even if we didn't agree about hospital/homebirth on some issues, we had a great dialogue and I just enjoyed talking to her.

I was pleased that I didn't have to fight with them not to do anything I wouldn't have wanted to do. They were all overall great.

And I am still fully supportive of UC. homebirth, natural birth, all of it in a big bad way, but I am more appreciative of other circumstances in which a well informed decision can make me in wonder and awe of the magic of a well done epidural.

I feel wonderful, the baby is a marathon nurser and I certainly hope my milk comes in sooner rather than later because she's nursing for HOURS and my nipples are sore I got a fantastic night's sleep last night, though. I am so glad to have been able to go straight into nursing while laying down and sleeping!

Anyway, it wasn't the way I planned to birth, but I am SO HAPPY with the way it went.

July 16, 1999

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:32:00 +0000

9 years ago today, I became a mother for the first time.

Happy birthday to my beautiful, brilliant, amazing Maxwell.

Due in 17 Days.

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:09:00 +0000

Holy Crap.

That is all.

Lazy Summer Days

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:08:00 +0000

The boys have been remarkably good about the fact that we're not doing much of anything every day. We're going to go down to the pool later, but that's about it.

I made a chiro appointment for Thursday. Here's hoping this baby girl will turn and all will be well. Keep those turn baby turn thoughts coming my way. I know she can turn as late as me going into labor and all, so I can wait till then. But I also have to think of the very real possibility that she may not turn. Which I will just assume means that there is a very good reason (placenta issue, short cord, etc) and she knows just what she needs to be doing.
If that's the case then I will march myself into the hospital and get a necessary c-section with the best of them. I just really hope to avoid it.

Oh! Another thing I am excited about is the Essure procedure. I am going to start looking into OBs that do this procedure AS SOON AS this baby is out. We KNOW this is our last baby, and Essure seems almost magical for it's effectiveness and much lower side effects than a tubal or even a vasectomy.

I also made an appointment with WIC, which we should qualify for. I have NO issue with getting that type of assistance when it's needed. I don't understand the mentality of refusing assistance.
You know what? I have been working pretty steadily for the last 15 years of my life, paying into these government funds the entire time. That's why they're there, yk?

Anyway, WIC will help with some staples, and any help with the price of everything having gone up so much.

I'm also planning to give the coupon thing another go. I know I can do it, I'm just so darned disorganized sometimes and get overwhelmed. Which is funny, cause I'm awesome at helping other people organize their stuff. :p

I'm also going to start planning my DONA PP doula training for the fall. I'm looking forward to it.

3 weeks and a day to edd.

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 07:19:00 +0000

It's completely nuts to think that tomorrow I will be term. I can have this baby at any moment, of course any time in the next 5 weeks or so.

This is exciting, starting to feel just a little nervous about going through labor again.

June 24, 2005

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:00:00 +0000

3 years ago today I married the most wonderful person I could ever imagine spending my life with.

Happy Anniversary to my dear husband!

RIP George Carlin

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:25:00 +0000

One of my favorites of his pieces:

Pro-Life is Anti-Woman. (By posting the title I'm giving you the content, don't watch if it's going to offend you)
"You know why? Cause chickens are decent people!"

Damn straight, George. I'm glad you had the BALLS to speak it like it is, and in such a way, too!

Wordle

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:34:00 +0000

This is a Wordle that I did from the Father's Day post, I really like it.

Still Alive

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:52:00 +0000

I realized I hadn't actually posted anything after my whiny post. Sorry! I meant to post something much more pleasant soon after.

The kids are playing with the Spore Creature Creator. They are having fun with it. I am looking forward to the game itself! It doesn't come out until September, though.

But it is on my Wishlist, so you know, just in case... Haha. Kidding. It's a low priority on my wishlist. ;)

We rented The Golden Compass, which I am undecided on whether to let the kids watch later this evening. I'm going to read a little more about the "fantasy violence" that caused the PG-13 rating.
I think that if Max wanted to read the His Dark Materials trilogy at this point I would encourage him, so it doesn't make any sense really to deny the movie, though I still need to find out a little more. Of course I would prefer he read the first book instead. Just cause the books are EXCELLENT, and I know that the movie will pale in comparison.

I've let the kids watch PG-13 stuff on occasion, because all "fantasy violence" and other themes are not created equally.

Take Stardust for example. It's got a PG-13 rating, but overall? I had no real issues with it, and let the kids watch it after I initially screened it. But Princess Mononoke will be another few years before I even let my oldest watch it. The themes in that movie are what are too intense for them, more than the violent scenes. I could block out the only really graphic part towards the beginning, but I still think there are a lot of things that would be disturbing to them at their age and maturity levels.

I hate that bird. SOOOOO much. My friend should be here later to take it away. Thank goodness. I'm done with it. (Scream, scream, scream, scream = my sudden and horrible background "music").

I hate to suck so much for my kids, but I really think it's time for me to take a nap for a while. Ugh. 5 hours of mediocre sleep doesn't work for me. I wish I could sleep like a normal person again.

Whining & Bitching

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 02:52:00 +0000

I have been trying to stay positive, but right now I am going to just let it all out.

I am freaking miserable. I have been able to do nothing but sleep, lay down, try not to puke, try to keep from crying, etc, for days.
I haven't even managed to go visit my friend who had surgery. Hell, I haven't even spoken to her in days, other than a "yes, I'm alive" text.
I don't want to talk to anyone, I don't want to do anything or go anywhere.

I just want to stop feeling like utter crap all the livelong day.

I sleep so much. It's not even right. I am nauseated most of the time. Like now, and forever.

I want to stay in my hermit hole till this baby is here. I HAD to leave the house today (for literally the first time since what? Saturday?) for having dinner with the kids. I had to fight off tears all the way there and back. Nausea, so freaking hot. Tried to walk around Target for half an hour while waiting to pick them up, and spent the whole time worried about puking, sweating horribly, with extremely uncomfortable Braxton-Hicks contractions, trying not to cry.
People were looking at me funny.

And I just don't care. I resent anything that requires me to put on clothes or be in a non horizontal position for more than a few minutes. The couch is my best friend.

Grocery shopping on Saturday was the most horrible buying spree ever. It was all processed crap cause I cannot manage to cook real food now. Canned ravioli, canned soup, ramen, sandwich stuff, ice cream. I didn't even buy fresh produce except for a couple of mangoes and some peaches.

I also hate whining all the damn time. That's all I feel like I do.
Chris is SO awesome, he is the most supportive, attentive, and patient person, and I am so very grateful for him. He has made this all bearable for me. But I feel so bad for him having to listen to me. Even turning over or sitting up means horrible groans and ouches from me. I feel like such a wimp.

I mean, I know I am growing a whole human being in there, but still, seriously. People do this all the flipping time.

Sigh.... My life online is pain free, which is why I have chosen to primarily only communicate through the internet recently. I can focus on other things, rather than my misery.

Anyway, that is all. I felt like getting it out there. Maybe I'll feel better soon. I doubt it, though.

Baby Toys

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:03:00 +0000

There are tons of icky plastic toys out there, but I don't like that sort of thing for babies. They chew on them like you wouldn't believe and I don't think phthalates and such are great for chewing. And how many toys do babies actually need? Not many! Just a few interesting things to look at and drool on. They are as happy with a washrag with frozen water on a corner to chew on as anything else when they are teething.

And so, in that vein, I'm going to post what I think are some of the best baby toys out there!

This is the Bonita by Haba. It's colorful and full of chewy fun! And it's awfully girly and cute, which totally gets me every time.

This is probably my favorite, cause it's a whole set for a really great price. Sassy has a really great line of wooden infant toys that I really like, and they are all very reasonably priced. I plan to get a few of these if nothing else.

I love this thing, too! It's another one by the German company Haba. Look at its bright simplicity, and how wonderful must that be to chew on while teething for a baby?

To be honest, I love nearly all of the toys put out by Haba, though they are kind of expensive.

Oh, and my love for Vulli natural rubber toys from France is pretty deep, too. I NEEEED this little thing:

This is one of the Chan Pie Gnon teethers from Vulli. Hehe! Chan Pie Gnon! Get it? This is Pink Pie. And I would really like one of these for Madeleine.
Sophie the Giraffe is Vulli's most famous toy apparently, but screw the giraffe, I want this one!

As I said before, babies don't need many toys. And I would rather put more money into something made with certified sustainable products, safe paints, are positively lead free and plastic free, so my own baby can chew and drool to her heart's delight and I can keep my peice of mind.

This made me cry :)

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 03:14:00 +0000

In a very happy way.
These women have been in love with each other for 55 years. They are now 87 and 84, and they were just married legally in the state of California.
This is simply the sweetest picture.

And now, as fair warning, I am going to rant, and probably piss you off if you're religious, so stop now, or don't say I didn't warn you.

How can any government tell someone who they are allowed to be with and who they can't? Based on religious ideals?

The government that thinks it can do that is a government that has far too much control over my life. And our government does. I applaud any state for standing up and doing the right thing.

And how DARE those people go out there with their self righteousness and their bullshit signs and tell someone that it is "morally" wrong to have the same legal status for their relationship. Screw you. I don't have "morals", but I do have ethics, I didn't have morals shoved down my throat to make me act a certain way.

I do the right thing because I am a good person, not for the sake of your ridiculous imaginary friend, thank you very much, you self righteous twats.

To look at these women and to think that there is something wrong with their love for one another and their right to their commitment getting the same legal status as hetero couples is something that is unethical.

Where does the time go?

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:08:00 +0000

34 weeks & 2 days. Only 40 days to go, my counter says. Wow. All of a sudden this last bit is flying by!

Things to do:

Clean the house - It's a never-ending thing! It's never perfect, which is what I want. And I achieved perfect while nesting with #2, seriously. I went all Fly Lady on that shit and I shined my sink 3x's a day the last week or so cause there wasn't anything else left I could possibly do. I had even painted the rooms in the house! Hurting and miserable this time doesn't allow for that.
Make food for the freezer - lasagna, whatever else? Casseroles of various types. I REALLY WISH we could afford a small chest freezer. ARGH!
Laundry- been pretty good about keeping up, but never have enough quarters on hand! Have many loads to do right now, all sorted already, but no quarters. Frustrating!
The Back Bathroom of DOOM - We've pretty much abandoned it to the cats. We haven't even used the shower in there for months, we use the front bathroom. The litter box is HUGE, and takes up so much space. I hate walking around it to the bathtub/toilet part of the bathroom, so only the front part gets used at all. I will definitely want the shower and all available for labor and afterwards. Don't know where else we could put the litter box, though, and with only one box for 2 cats we can't really go smaller. Here is the monstrosity we have for them.
Clean the hall closets? Haha. The front one is FILLED with crap that I want to get rid of but have not had the energy to deal with posting on Craigslist to sell or Freecycle to just make it go. So back into the closet it went. The front closet is quite bothersome. Then I opened the back hall closet and realized it's in about the same shape. Argh!
Our closet - It' s becoming as filled with crap as before. Argh! Again!
The kids' room - Oy. That's a project for them this weekend. They do ok cleaning it and it's really not that bad. I wish the rest of the house were as easy to clean. Everything has a place in their room. Makes me jealous. That's my goal with the rest of the house.
Living room - bookshelves, books, there is still the giant pile of books next to the couch that needs to GO, etc.

Ok, I realize I should be cleaning instead of blogging, ha!

Hatred of the clutter! It doesn't matter if I can't see it, it's still there and I know it. Just as bothersome.

I will be doing some cleaning shortly, then try to go swim for a bit.

Things left to obtain:

Birthing Ball - Need this! My bestest buddy during labor.
Fish Scale - Wish I knew someone who fished often and had one I could just borrow

I know there's more, but mostly I have everything or it's being shipped to me today.

An Early Father's Day Post

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 04:26:00 +0000

I am married to the most wonderful person, and I am so happy to be having a baby with him. Our 3 year wedding anniversary is coming up and we've been together for well over 5 years now. I can't believe how happy I still am every day.

He's been a fantastic, wonderful parent to my kids for the last several years, so already a reason to celebrate him as a father, but this year is special and different, since we are only a short way away from the birth of our first child together. I am so happy that he will get to experience the birth of his daughter, and feel what it's like to have all of those firsts in her life that he didn't get to see in my boys' lives.

I didn't want any more children for a long time, something he knew came with the territory of our relationship and marriage. When I worked through all of my feelings on it and realized I did want another child, and that I did want another child with him, he was more than happy about it. A little freaked when within a month later we had an oops that was handed to him on a peed on stick, but still happy even through his stark terror.

He has been a wonderful, loving, caring partner to me.

We have had our moments, of course, and no relationship is perfect all of the time, but I can say that I know that we can work through anything. I want to be with him to grow old together, I am so glad he is my husband.

And I am so happy to be able to tell him not just Happy Father's Day, but to be able to tell him that in a different way this year, as we prepare ourselves and our family for a new baby, one that we have created together.

Fantastic! An Update.

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:08:00 +0000

So, my friend had her surgery today. Her boyfriend just called to update me. All went well. Doctor is sure it's not cancer of any sort, just endometriosis-y stuff.

She's awake from anesthesia, though probably wishing she weren't per her boyfriend, very groggy still.

So, glad all is well. She should be out of the hospital Friday barring anything unforeseen, and will be staying at her parents' till she's more mobile. (Her only bathroom at her own house is upstairs, so she needs to be able to get up and down stairs before going home!) She was a little apprehensive about staying at her mom's cause her mom is VERY excited to be able to take care of her after surgery, heh. She and her mom are super close and her mom is great, but she's worried that it will be too much attention after a couple of days :)

But anyway, all is well, so that's great!

Oh, thank heavens, they got there just in time.

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:35:00 +0000

Woman gives birth in SUV story

Whatever would have happened to that mother and child if the paramedics would not have arrived?! I hate news stories like this. This particular blog is also not very fond of them, which is why I read it. They cover everything that is considered an "emergency" childbirth.

On to my rant.

I don't understand why the paramedics would need to "assist".
If the baby was half way out don't you think the mother could have managed on her own at that point? What, exactly, did the paramedics do when got there to "assist"? Was the mother suddenly unable to push on her own? Did they have to come in to hover around cause that's the only way anyone ever seems to give birth on television or in a standard hospital birth, with a million people standing around telling her to stop trusting her own body and listen to them? It's like asking the audience at the Price is Right. They'll confuse you and make you doubt yourself.

I mean, I really hope that the paramedics would know enough and respect childbirth enough to stand back, tell her she is doing fine, and encourage her to keep doing such a great job. Perhaps help catch the baby if she didn't have someone there with her to do that.
Fortunately I think paramedics often have a better sense of that than your standard doctor or nurse in a hospital setting.

I have read the tales of several planned homebirth or hospital births turnedunassisted birth at home in which they offered to help if they could, then left the family well at home if that was what the family wished. No one panicked or got transferred unless they wanted to be.

Anyway, the way it's framed in new stories annoys me. That is all.

It's 6:39 and I still have not come close to sleep yet.

The end.

Hoo boy!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:53:00 +0000

I've been on my bb, and someone in the food forum posted a thread called
"Boning Fresh Salmon"
Every time I see it I start giggling.

My friend sent out a Twitter last week with a company wide email he got. Someone had apparently "dislocated" their cell phone.

Oh, I find it all amusing! Of course, it is 6 am, and there's been no sleep yet for me. Of course I find it all amusing!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 06:27:00 +0000

I have a lot of pictures I need to upload, and that I want to post, like me all dressed up in my vinyl maternity pants for a party I went to Saturday. Heh.
And I cut my hair short again. I prefer it short, I really do. It's so much easier to deal with.

And right now I am so HAPPY! http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91126460

YAY YAY YAY YAY! Obama!