5 years

Dave surprised me and took me to The Sanderling in Duck, NC for our 5 year wedding anniversary. I love this place. The trip advisor ratings are terrible which is hilarious because Dave and I have been there twice and each time was 150% perfect. Some travelers had awful experiences. Anyways Dave went all out for our trip with a pregnancy spa package for me and a ocean view suite. The management knew it was our 5 year and gave us all sorts of extra perks and such- It was amazing. Our balcony and view was great, as was the food. Dave and I really enjoyed each other which is the great thing about a solid marriage. Dave is such a solid guy with good character and kindness. I could not have imagined God pairing me with someone else as a life partner….

Even more fulfilling is I completed my childhood dream as a little girl of wanting to marry a “tan man”after years of ridicule for being so pale I was called “casper”.

Lupe

We did the 4-d ultrasound yesterday. My daughter is beautiful but quite puffy.

I’m not an addict

I make lists and I think I may have a tiny bit of a reliance on them. When I was growing up Mom would have daily lists of stuff to do- from preparing dinner to lists of things to buy. I have succumb to this curse. The list is good at times- you do get a lot done but your happiness can at times become heavily correlated with the amount of things crossed off on the list – this is NOT a well balanced life in fact it’s a little disturbed.

The list I have for work is categorized in quadrants- like a Covey method. It helps me to stay on task. My personal list is just a crutch. Lupe will never see my lists so she can make up her own mind as to how and if to stay so organized. I will hide this dark secret from her. So here is my pre-Lupe personal list, like a confessional…go ahead and make fun, Dave does every single day.

Shop:

diaper bag jenn
new vaccuum
garage storage shelves, bench and hooks
buy Yoga stuff for labor
base for Lucy- car seat, give Lucy mattress
pick glass tile out for back-splash
glass for table on the deck

Chores:
finish mulch- 2 bags of the good stuff, 10 bags of the crappy stuff
Fix back door
Spray for ants
Clean pantry
Red Umbrella and set up patio with citronella and stuff for grilling

To do:

find Sammy and Ella homes
Move rugs
volunteer
re do Garage: big shelving, create a mud room type area, use kitchen rug
shutterfly- order backlogged pictures, start my house album for before and after
install stereo speakers outside
Plant flowers on deck DONE, YES!
car inspection
paint or fabric accent wall in the den
iinstall tile back-splash and under cabinet lights in kitchen- Brad?
scan ultrasounds
Andy the blinds guy- measure and install 6 upstairs windows with the wood blinds
redecorate dining room color scheme after getting new drapes
office/ play room- buy and iinstall washed linen simple panels with grommets, loops, chrome- west elm
find a new church

Baby set up:
buy rocking chair from Craig’s list lady $125 - Nice!
Pack labor and diapers bags
finish nursery Love it!
pick pediatrician
install car seats
Interview Doulas – meet with Kathy

I have issues…..

Lupe the cat

My mother in law went to Peru recently and brought back some amazing baby clothes and such. The coolest thing she got us was a Spanish baby book (we plan on raising Lupe bi-lingual) called Lupe the cat. Segway- no we’re not naming her Guadalupe- it is a Mexican name and Dave’s family is Colombian. Lupe was a joke our friend Brad made up as soon as we got pregnant and when we found out it was a girl, every time we saw him he’d ask me “how is Guadalupe?” So we joked with Dave’s dads side of the family that we were naming her Guadalupe. The funny thing is they said nothing negative to our faces- just smiled politely and said “Oh, nice, nice” but behind the scenes they were so concerned about Guadalupe, wondering if we knew it was such a strong Mexican name! When we broke the joke they were incredibly relieved and laughed it out. They were extatic her name would not be Guadalupe (if your name is Guadalupe and you come across this- nothing against the name). So here’s a pic of the book cover. I can’t wait to rock her and read her her first Spanish book “Lupe the Cat”. All of us will always nickname her Lupe behind the scenes which is fine with me- it will be a funny memory that brings me back to the wonderful time of expecting her arrival!

John Wesley

In Savannah, GA at the new year 2007 I saw this etching in John Wesley’sstatue. John was the founder of the Methodists and believed Christians could achieve perfection through daily discipline of having the love of God in ones heart. This etching was cool because I would like to think I try to live a real life, filled with words and deeds that are truthful and authentic. “I felt my heart strangely warmed, while we live let us live in earnest…” -SO COOL.  I hope I can teach Lupe to be honest and to care and think about others before herself. This is one of life’s most difficult DAILY battles. I’ll go for it when she can talk but we’ll focus on breastfeeding, baby food and potty training first type skills first. I think I am ahead of myself.

10k

A few of us MaxPitcher’sgot together before the Ukrops 10k a few weeks ago. One colleague in particular suited up with some 212, the extra degree gear.  212 is a message that really does simply communicate try harder. Running is a key time when people need a little inspiration to keep putting one foot in front of the other. If I were running behind him I’d be curious, plus the swimmies and inner tube made a bit of sense given the downpours that day. So funny.

I didn’t get to run it this year but attempted to walk it. With my early arrival at 8, the weather and my attire (I discovered the difference between a windbreaker and a rain jacket that morning), I didn’t quite make it to the start line. It still was a fun day.

butt soreness

Life’s little ailments can be a pain but man is it nice to know you have arms and legs and the ability to work and use them (that’s my pre-complaining disclaimer)….

I love home improvement and with the pregnancy brain stirring I have about 20 things that MUST FINISH before Lupe. On Saturday we moved some shrubs, laid mulch and I planted a lovely flower bed. Even with being nearly 8 months pregnant I felt as if I could keep up. I even used the shovel for part of the day to make the border between the mulch and the grass. The next day I could not believe how tired I was. Every tendon and muscle seemed to ache from my neck down to my thighs but my butt was the worst. Oh my gosh! I could not believe a relatively young person could be that sore from yard work…

Before baby I used to do heavy lifting in the gym so picking up weeds and kneeling wouldn’t phase me but I’ve been only lifting lightly at the gym so wow was I sore. luckily I had a massage scheduled on Monday with my massage therapist Sara. She really helped me feel much better by Tuesday morning. She does on site massage for companies which is where Dave met her when she was on site at Baskerville.

Your water broke on my shoe

We all wonder when we’re expecting where our water will break. Will it be in the middle of the night in the privacy of our own home (bathroom preferable) or on a suede couch in front of all your colleagues at a staff meeting? I’m about 10 weeks from finding out and the worry is invading my dreams a bit. I dreamed I was at one of my favorites restaurants in Richmond, VA- Kitchen 64 and as I walked back from the ladies room my water broke and some splashed on this old guy’s nice shoe. He looked miffed and I apologized but then his sneer really irked me and I said “Look mister (yes I said mister in my dream) I’m again really sorry but at least you’ll have something new and different to say to your wife when you get home…”

Hi Bob, how was your day?- Martha
It was great. Some pregnant lady’s water broke on my shoe- Bob

So Lupe when you want to come out, make sure it’s in a funny place, it makes it more interesting.