Life in the Pitts

I need better comebacks.

2012-05-31T09:17:00.000-04:00

"Wow! Any day now, huh?"

"...Um, 4 more weeks."

"NO WAY. Your baby must be HUGE. I certainly never got that big. Are you sure it's not twins?"

...Thanks lady. That really helps.

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If you have a second, take a look at my post about Peggy, and the fundraiser to help her fight cancer. It took a lot of tears to write, and anything- even just some kind thoughts or words- would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys.

Tears running down my face

2012-05-30T15:33:00.000-04:00

I was going to organize the baby's room. Really.

But Facebook is such an easy distraction.

As I was scrolling down the main feed, I saw something that stopped my heart.

I have a friend on there who I haven't seen in years. We went to the same highschool, and we were in choir together.

Last year she got married. And then she got pregnant- at the same time I did! Our due dates were days apart. I hadn't announced on Facebook yet, so I just kind of creeped around her page, feeling close to her as we went through the same things.

But then she miscarried.

It was a dark time for her. I felt awkward saying anything, because I didn't know what she was going through. And because I didn't want my happy news to feel like a slap in her face.

But when I did make my official announcement, she was one of the first to say congratulations. Every time I post a picture or an update, she reads, likes, and comments on it. She seems genuinely happy and excited for me, and I'm honestly not sure that I would feel the same if our roles were reversed.

I've thought a lot about her, and about all of this over the past few months.

So today, when I was avoiding the baby's room, I saw an update from her that struck me through the heart.

Her mom has stage 4 cancer.

Colon cancer.

That's what my mom died from.

I was 19 when it happened, and the thought of my friend going through that, especially after the year she has had... It broke my heart.

Her mom, Peggy, has had multiple surgeries, and the treatments are getting very expensive. But she could still win this fight.

My friend and her sisters have put together a fundraiser to help pay for their mother's treatments. Peggy has been strong, but needs help with medical costs that are not covered by her insurance company.

Kurt walked into the room a few minutes later, and I burst into tears. He has seen me cry for my friend before, and today he just held me as I tried to explain how I was feeling.

Once I had calmed down a little, we decided to take the money that I was going to spend on a haircut today, and give it to them instead. It's not a lot, but it's something.

I just want this mom to see her daughter have a baby.

I want her to see all the little and big moments in her children's lives.

I want her to have what my mom can't.

I want her to survive.

If you're able and interested in donating too, just click on the link below. Even just a little bit would help. And if you can't help financially, you can still leave an encouraging message. It's nice to know that people care.

Thanks guys.

Medical Fundaising Made Simple

This is kind of awkward. But then, pregnancy is kind of awkward. So I went with it.

2012-05-30T13:34:00.000-04:00

Linking up to Wordless Wednesday

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Emphasis on the sexy.

2012-05-26T03:48:00.001-04:00

We went on a sexy date night hike. It's sexy, because I was waddling and sweating.

You can't touch this.

My life could be a 80's sitcom.

2012-04-30T16:19:00.001-04:00

I handed my watercup to the cashier behind the Quiznos counter.

"Can I get a refill?"

She smiled at my belly, and started filling the cup.

I kept glancing behind me at my suitcases, sitting alone at the table. As long as they weren't out of my sight for more than a few seconds, it should be ok. Right?

"Here you go sweetie."

I smiled my thanks, and headed back through the afternoon crowd towards my table. I was staring so intently at my suitcases as I took my first sip, that I didn't even glance down.

Until I felt half a cup of ice cold water pour down my shirt.

"Sh*t!"
Imagine a 7 month pregnant girl dancing in circles, in the middle of an airport, flinging ice cubes out of her bra. While cussing. And staring at a suitcase.

(I hadn't put the lid back on.)

So now I'm sitting here, with a shirt that is not soaked with sweat THANKYOUVERYMUCH.

I feel like this is a good omen.

4 hours of sleep + 3 hours of church = STOP IT OR DIE.

2012-04-15T17:04:00.000-04:00

My little buddy

2012-04-12T01:07:00.001-04:00

I was sitting on the couch, and the baby was kicking my bladder.

(as usual)

When I looked down, I saw a tiny hand pushing up right by my ribs.

I gave her a high-five and went back to reading.

I think we're gonna be friends.

You make me happy when skies are gray

2012-03-12T20:59:00.001-04:00

Lockdown.

2012-03-08T16:47:00.001-05:00

"Hey, sorry I'm late. The school is on lockdown, because there was a shooting next door. I think they are still looking for a second shooter."

"Seriously? Kurt, be safe, ok?"

And 2 weeks ago, there was a bomb threat on campus.

Does this remind anyone else of highschool?

A day in the life

2012-03-05T12:13:00.001-05:00

What I want to do today: lay in bed and eat Nutella.

What I'm actually going to do today: Um, lay in bed and eat Nutella.

What?

I just peed my pants.

2012-02-29T17:02:00.000-05:00

Hi guys. I just peed my pants. At work.

And the best part?

(I know, how could it get better than that??)

I didn't even feel it happen!

I've heard that this happens to women sometimes AFTER they give birth. Or maybe to a pregnant girl if she has a violent sneeze. But I'm only half way through! This is a bad, bad sign.

I had a doctors appointment right afterwards, and she assured me that it's normal. My baby is just really low, and chilling on my bladder. Little butthead.

You guys, I didn't even know I had to pee! Which kind of freaks me out. How can I stop something I don't know is coming?

Pregnancy is so sexy.

So if you have any hot leads on adult diaper coupons, I'm in the market...

My sister in law hates me. Probably.

2012-02-28T17:10:00.000-05:00

This afternoon, I called my sister in law. And yelled "Asshole!" into her answering machine. Then I hung up.

BY ACCIDENT.

And now? We are enemies. Probably. Here, let me know what you think:

I was coming back from my doctor's appointment a few hours ago (which was actually scheduled for yesterday. Awesome.), and I decided to call Annie.

She didn't answer, so I thought I'd leave a little "Hey! I miss you! Let's talk soon!" message.

BUT THEN, I got cut off. Cut.Off. And we're not talking a little he-pulled-out-and-didn't-speed-up-enough cutting off. Oh no, this van sped up, merged 2 feet in front of me, AND HIT HIS BREAKS. Then, after almost causing an effing 4 car pile up, this genius made me back up SO HE COULD PARALLEL PARK.

Since my horn doesn't work right now, I yelled "ASSHOLE!" At the top of my lungs.

...right into my sister in-laws answering machine.

I gasped, and hung up in horror.

Looking back, there are so many ways I could have handled this.

I could have followed with "...not you. The guy who just tried to kill me."

Or I could have stayed on the line, and deleted the message.

But nope. I hung up. Guaranteeing that she will hear it.

She will also hear my next message; an apology between bursts of hysterical laughter. But she will get the "asshole" message first, and if she stops there... this could get awkward. Especially at the baby shower.

What would you do if you checked your messages, and heard that from me?

This one time, I peed on a stick...

2012-02-21T18:11:00.000-05:00

One night in October, I woke up from a dead sleep and thought, "Oh my gosh, what day is it??!" Heart pounding, I ran around opening boxes until I found my pregnancy tests.

I was in shock.

But not too in shock to write on my hand and take pictures.

I might have cried.

He had no idea.

He slept right through the flash.

My new tattoo. (kidding)

This is how I told Kurt the next day.

He came home, and our polar bear had a new baby.

I hid this card under the new baby bear

And a digital (read: expensive) pregnancy test under the momma bear

He was beyond surprised.

But also happy :)

♥

And then I stepped on the scale...

2012-02-15T12:18:00.000-05:00

I gained like 1 lb on this trip! Sooo need to hit the gym!

Made of love and magic.

2012-02-14T13:20:00.005-05:00

"Hey Kurt, I left you a muffin!"

"Wait, weren't there 9 of them this morning?"

"...I don't want to talk about it."

Happy Valentines Day everybody. Especially Kurt. I love you more than muffins.

(almost)

Just a little midnight snack...

2012-02-13T08:44:00.000-05:00

You have a weird Kidney. But wow, your Pancreas is beautiful!

2012-02-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

Remember that creepy kidney? The one is my abdomen? It's fully functional! And not in my pelvis!

I never thought it was, but in an effort to reassure me, the renal ultrasound technician started telling me about all the weird kidneys she has seen over the years.

And a lot of them are in people's pelvises.

I feel like things would get a little cramped down there...

Also? She said this:

"You have a weird Kidney. But wow, your Pancreas is beautiful!"

I wasn't sure how to feel. Flattered? Worried? Both?

I took it as a compliment.

Now, I just need to find some pancreas-flattering clothes. Because if you've got it, flaunt it. Right?

I'm cooking you a lobster in that shack right now.

2012-02-08T19:14:00.000-05:00

That surprise cruise Kurt took me on? Was awesome.

We decided to just go to the beach in Cozumel. But we were intercepted by a very determined Mayan tour leader. "I am not Mexican. I am Mayan. So you can trust me."

(...apparently there are some political/social issues going on here that I wasn't aware of.)

He convinced us that snorkling would be a much better choice. And for half of the price that it was offered through the cruise ship. We tried to say no, but in the end, he was a very good salesman.

We also bought a tiny little mexican dress, in case we ever have a daughter :) Kurt was a hard sell on this one. "what if we only have boys, Helena? What then??"

"Then they will wear cute dresses. A little boy in a dress is better than no dress at all."

But when I talked them down from $12 to $10, even he had to agree that it was a good deal.

Plus I let him pick it out.

We never did make it to the beach.

In Grand Cayman, we booked a local tour to Stingray City.

Kurt was a little bit terrified "What about Steve Irwin??" but in the end they won him over.

They were so friendly and soft and we did not die.

Then we snorkeled

(even more beautiful than in Cozumel)

By the way, Grand Cayman? Was originally named Tortuga. Yeah, that Tortuga. As in, Pirates of the Caribbean.

(I almost left Kurt for this sexy, smelly man)

And in Jamaica, I was determined to hit up a beach. Last time we were there, we docked in Ocho Rios, and there was a beach you could walk to from the pier.

But this time we stopped in Falmouth, and the nearest beach was 10 minutes, and $40 per person away.

"No way. I'm not spending that much to go to the beach."

"But we haven't gone to any beaches!"

"We almost did in Cozumel."

"ALMOST. But then you gave in to the Mayan sales guy."

"It was your idea! Anyway, I'm just not doing it."

"Fine, Kurt. Then what will we do all day? Sit on the ship?"

"Well, I like the ship."

"We are in Jamaica."

"You can go to the beach without me. I don't care."

And then I cried.

Kurt decided to go down to the promenade, and see if he could find anyone who had been here before.

I sat up in my room, plotting ways to change his mind.

"I'll stop spending half my paycheck at Panera for 1 month. No- 3 months. AND I'll do the dishes every day."

He walked down to the cafe, where he saw a young couple sitting. The guy was eating pizza. The girl was in tears.

"Hi. Um, have you guys been to the beach here?"

They looked at him in amazement.

"No, I wanted to. But he says it's too expensive."

NO WAY. They were in the exact same situation! Except they had ventured off the pier, and found a taxi willing to give them a better price, if they could find more people to go.

We walked off the pier, and into the city. Jamaica is a rough place. Lots of poverty, and they really depend on tourists.

Women kept coming up and touching my hair. "I braid for you. $3 a braid."

"No, we only have enough money for our taxi."

"I ride with you, and braid on the way. We figure it out there."

"Please stop touching me."

10 minutes later, we were on the most beautiful beach.

And the welcoming committee stopped by to say hi.

"You want aloe, mon? I have a nice one, you give the ladies a sexy backrub."

"It's alright, mon. You safe here. Have a joint. The real Bob Marley experience. Pass it around."

"I make this anklet that I already put on your foot. Now you pay me $5."

"I'm cooking you a lobster in that shack right now."

It was pretty fantastic.

The whole cruise was awesome. Especially the food. Which I ate way too much of.

And Kurt? Totally wins the surprise category. Thank goodness I'm so darn sexy. It kind of evens it all out.

A New Addition!

2012-01-29T16:54:00.000-05:00

Remember our baby turtle named Higgins? That we released back into the wild, because it was the right thing to do?

(well, mostly because he wouldn't eat. but also because it was the right thing to do.)

Well,we missed him. A lot. So after a few weeks, I went online and found a reputable breeder. Which is how we got:

Finnegan!!!

This little guy stole our hearts.

When we ordered him from the breeder in Arizona, he arrived overnight through Fed Ex's Reptile Shipping Service. They have a whole department devoted entirely to live reptile delivery.

Who knew this was such a big market?

We had the option of shipping him overnight for $48.00 BUT for an additional $2.50, they would gaurantee a live delivery.

Um, yeah. We splurged on the extra $2.50.

Our little Finnegan is the exact same variety of Diamondback Terrapin as Higgins. He is supposed to be semi-aquatic, but he thinks he is fully aquatic. He never wants to leave his water.

He even sleeps underwater. Freaked me the hell out the first time I saw him floating at the bottom with his eyes closed. Every 10-15 minutes, he slowly floats to the surface to breathe, and then sinks again in his sleep. Little weirdo.

Most turtles I've seen are lethargic, and don't really do much. This guy? Is like a puppy. He gets SUPER excited to see us walk by, and swims up to say hi (and beg for food).

He is like our child. Kurt and I talk to our friends about him, like doting parents to a slightly-disinterested audience.

"And then, he walked away from me! It was so funny!!"
*polite smiles from friends who don't really care*
"Isn't that just so cute??"

And he is, you guys. He really is so cute.

A big surprise!

2012-01-19T18:10:00.000-05:00

Kurt walked casually into the room.

"Oh, hey. look what I did."

He handed me a paper. And on the top of that paper it said:

Cruise Itinerary

"Wait..."

"Yeah, I booked us a cruise."

"WHAT???!"

"For a week and a half from now."

"ARE YOU SERIOUS???!"

"Surprise."

Who does that, you guys? No one. No one but the guy I married.

So all those weird, annoying,and creepy things he does, just to drive me crazy...? This makes them all worth it :)

(Yes, my affection is for sale.)

We leave tomorrow :)

Surprise!

A classy moment at the gym.

2012-01-14T23:44:00.000-05:00

Kurt and I made very original resolutions this year. Involving getting in shape. And the gym.

We flock to Planet Fitness a few days per week, where Kurt starts grunting and sweating like a madman, while I half-heartedly try out all the fun machines. And I love it.

This week has been a little more rough, because I have what I fondly call "THE COLD OF DEATH."

It's the kind of head cold where you call your boss to see if they need you to come in for your on-call shift at the baby clothes store, and she says "NO. You sound awful. Don't you dare come near this store with those germs."

In between 18-hour bouts of sleep, I headed out the door with Kurt, because raising your temperature on a treadmill can actually help kill off some of those germs.

Plus I needed a reason to shower. It had been a while.

That's where we were tonight.

I climbed off my treadmill and walked towards the cleaning station. I just wanted to wipe down my machine. Then I felt it- my stuffy nose was about to leak.

I was reaching down to grab my tissue when a big, fat drip of snot splashed onto the floor.

I stared at it for a second in surprise. Then I looked up- into the grossed-out faces in the line of treadmills behind me.

Did they see that it was snot? Or did they think I was drooling? Either way, they were not amused.

Thank goodness half of them won't be here past February.

And Planet Fitness? Just got a little bit classier.

A tiny baby turtle named Higgins.

2012-01-10T09:32:00.000-05:00

In August, we went to Outer Banks. Where we found a baby turtle.

But wait, let me back up. One of the Wives had planned this trip a year ago. I've never planned that far ahead for anything. Not my wedding, not college, certainly not a vacation. So marking something on the calendar that far in advance...It was just too responsible of me, you know? I'm more of a last-minute kind of a girl.

BUT THEN. Hurricane Irene struck. And Hatteras Island, where we had rented that beach house a year in advance, was inaccessible.

No, really. Look.

(Photo from a Chain Email sent by My Father)

Thank goodness Jamie made us pay for renter's insurance. So Kurt and I, and the other 7 families, were able to get a reimbursement, and find another house that same week, in Duck- 57 miles away, but also on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Always get the insurance.

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One morning, Kurt came running back from the beach. It was incredibly early, and I was still sleeping (we're talking 9, maybe 10am). In his hand was a large shell. And in that shell was a baby turtle.

"Do you think he is ok? I thought he might be a sea turtle. How can we tell? What should we do?"

He had been searching for shells in some seaweed along the shore, and he saw a really pretty one. But when he picked it up, he realized it was a tiny, tiny baby turtle. Not even 2 inches big. He filled a shell with salt water, stuck the little guy inside, and ran back up to the house.

"Google," I said. "Google will know what to do."

And I found this: Hurricane Irene Brought Me a Visitor. What kind of turtle is it? What do I do with it?

Perfect.

Turns out this little one is a Diamondback Terrapin hatchling. Not a sea turtle, but a semi-aquatic little guy who is found on Cape Hatteras (they are found all over the coast, but this particular kind is found there). Irene had taken him for a ride.

Funny, right? Without the hurricane, we might have found him anyway, only in his original home.

We called the number, and asked what we should do. When they determined he wasn't a sea turtle, they said "Oh. Then it really doesn't matter."

Harsh, huh?

We loved our little guy. And he loved digging in the pillows, riding around in our hands, swimming in a pyrex bowl, and jumping off big cliffs- like the edge of the bed (we became very good at base-jumping-interventions).

The only thing he wouldn't do was eat.

In the end, we had to let him go. Because if we got all the way back to Pittsburgh, and he still wouldn't eat, it's not like we could say "Oh well, let's just take him back." (it was an 8-hour car ride)

It was really hard, though. We loved him a lot.

We did more research, and found out his ideal habitat- marshy, brackish water, with plenty of snails, worms, crabs, etc (he's a vicious little carnivore). He likes mud. And sunshine.

On the last day, we drove him back to where he had come from. We stopped and checked out lots of places, but none of them felt right.

And then we found it. A perfect, marshy embankment. With an adult terrapin swimming by.

We knew this was it.

So we knelt down, and stick him in the water. He swam back, and started digging happily in the mud.

He loved being all dirty.

We picked him back up before he could disappear, and said goodbye.

Then we set him down, and he started digging a little cave. In minutes, we couldn't see him anymore.

We sat there for a long time.

"I miss him."

"me, too."

"We did the right thing."

"I know."

And then we cried.

His name was Higgins.

.

Our house is the one that gave up on Christmas.

2011-12-25T18:49:00.000-05:00

It was 30 minutes later, and I was still staring at the giant wall of lights.

Nothing.

What the heck, Wal Mart? It was still weeks before Christmas. You couldn't have sold out already.

Sighing, I gave in, and approached the register.

The girl working in the Christmas department was around 20 years old. She seemed pretty normal- you know, not drooling or anything. And when I walked up, she smiled in a friendly way.

"How can I help you today?"

"I'm looking for some outdoor Christmas lights. Just the single-strand kind."

She frowned. "I've never heard of those."

"...Um, just a strand of lights? You know, the white ones?"

"Huh. Let's look at our wall."

We walked back over.

"Do you mean icicle lights?"

"No, um, just a single strand. In a straight line."

She stared at me for a second. "Yeah, I've never seen those before."

"Really? Just outdoor ones. That you can use to outline stuff."

"Oh, like rope lights! In that plastic tube stuff!"

"Um, well, similar. Only not in a tube."

"Uhm...."

"People sometimes put them on their houses? Or on a wreath?"

Nothing.

"Here. See these icicle lights? Imagine that they don't have little icicles coming off them."

"...."

"No? Ok, uh, there! Mini lights. On a 50 strand. Imagine lights just like this, only bigger."

"Ohhh! Big lights. Like these giant bulb ones."

"No. Not giant ones."

I looked around helplessly. By now, there was a crowd of people around us, all looking for the same kind of lights. I assume.

One lady jumped in. "You know, like on a Christmas tree? I just need indoor ones for mine."

The girl frowned in confusion. "No, Christmas tree lights are always green."

And then I gave up on humanity.

So if you stop by tonight, look for the house that is all kinds of festive. Lights on the house, the bushes, the trees, the porch. Lighted wreaths in every window. Three lighted deer on the front yard.

And then look next door. Because our house is the one that gave up on Christmas.

If only I had a secret credit card...OH, WAIT.

2011-12-21T22:07:00.001-05:00

American Express sent me a letter saying they've updated my address. You know, for my credit card. Which is awesome, except I DON'T HAVE AN AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT CARD.

It looked pretty official. But I knew it had to be a scam. Like that time when I sent you all "free" movie tickets.

I mentioned this whole tricky, spammy scheme to Kurt, and his reaction was...unexpected.

"Oh yeah, I might have signed you up for one a year ago. For skymiles. I didn't tell you though. Then I shredded it, so you couldn't use it."

AND HE WAS SERIOUS.

...I just don't know what to fight about first.

Sleeping-Version-of-Kurt is a jerk.

2011-12-03T18:12:00.001-05:00

What were you doing yesterday, at 1 in the morning? Because I was sleeping. Until THIS happened:

Sleeping-version-of-me is plotting revenge...