I swear y’all, this baby is going to be here before I know it and I haven’t done jack to get ready. Well, not completely true. I do have a Boppy and a tub. See! Gah. I just hate,hate,hate NOT knowing the gender of this child. I have all sorts of ideas for the nursery and nothing…

However, I have decided to rectify that. Starting next weekend. I am going baby shopping. I am gonna by some gowns and onesies if it is the last thing I do. And diapers. Let’s not forget the diapers. That is gonna be a little strange. I haven’t had to buy diapers in well over a year. I was trying to talk Jimmy into cloth diapers but he ain’t havin’ it. Selfish…

I know I promised an explanation and I’m working on one. Truly. It’s still a little too fresh in my mind to be rehashing it all. Especially since I am still living with it on a daily basis. That is not a complaint. I am grateful. More than you can know. I need more time. You can understand that right?

Oh y’all, it has been pure craziness around here for the last month. 

I am just droppin’ in to say Hello! I’m still  here! And knocked up! The baby is fine, although we  STILL don’t know if we are having a boy or a girl. Gah. BUT! Yet another ultrasound is in our future. Probably several more in fact. Advanced maternal age and all that…

Life is good. Finally. And infinitely more precious than even I realized. Love each other. Every day.

I’m sorry I am missing out on NaBloPoMo this year. And I pinky swear promise I will go into all the horrible details of why. Just not today.

I heard the baby’s heartbeat today! HOORAY!HOORAY!HOORAY!

All is well. I do have to go see the perinatologist because of advanced maternal age. Dude, I’m thirty-five. Meh. At least I will get to have a really bitchin’ ultrasound though.

But the heartbeat! I heard it! Today!

Well, the title may be a bit misleading. It was more like a brief foray,but anyhoo I shall commence with the telling…

On Friday, Nub’s school let out early. For conferences(which is a whole ‘nother post.Trust me.) and teacher workday’s. Normally he rides the bus. However,I decided to pick him up from school. Dub thought that was cool and he came with. We waited our turn in line,chatted with some mom’s, and sang along to some Veggie Tales. Nub got in the van and we headed home.

His school is really not that far from our house. The road outside our subdivision has recently undergone some construction and reconfiguring. Which truly baffles me because how they did it makes no sense ,and not much safer than it was. But what do I know? I don’t work for the DOT. As we prepare to turn down our new street I notice a turtle bravely making its way across the road. Nub catches sight of it out his window as I carefully flip a u-turn and turn my hazards on. I park the car and get out to pick the turtle up and put it on the other side of the road. This other car has stopped too and the guy tells me I need to “pick it up and put it in the grass”,because” that turtle can’t climb the curb”. Thank you, Einstein. I attempt to pick up said turtle and the dang thing just takes off! That sucker is really booking it. I finally pick it up,after his/her little head and legs go in the shell, and I am holding it out in front of me when it lets loose with a little defensive urine! Dude, here I am trying to save your turtle hide and you are trying TO PEE ON ME? Not cool. I get to the grass,waaaay on the  other side of the curb, and put the beast down. In the meantime, two or three cars have all stopped to watch the Great Rescue. I cross the street and get back into my van. My children are properly impressed with their mama. Although they did want to bring that turtle home. But I said no.

You gotta draw the line somewhere. I will rescue them, but I am not bringing them home. Especially not one that tried to hose me down with urine!

1- For some weird reason it seems to help with the unending nausea that I am currently experiencing about a bajillion times a day.

2- I actually find the smell quite delightful. Unlike just about every other single food on the planet. With the exception of grilled cheese.

3- Unlike other BFF’s I could name, Watermelon won’t abandon me as a date in favor of an on again/off again boyfriend. What? It totally happened.

4- It is helping with my fruit quotient. Not that I really need any help because fruits and veggies are about all I can stomach,except for the aforementioned grilled cheese.

5- It is also fun for AFTER you are done being pregnant because I have heard that you can pour a bottle of likker in it and, get this , eat the fruit! I have never actually done so, well I am pretty sure I haven’t, but hey you could is all I’m saying. Watermelon is an equal opportunity fruit.

6- You can have it year round. Which in my case will come in pretty darn handy.

7- Fortunately, you can also have the flavor of watermelon anytime. Watermelon Jolly Rancher, anyone? That makes driving and eating watermelon not such a hazard.

8- I’m pretty sure it is low cal. Are you seeing all these benefits?

9- Watermelon now comes in seedless varieties. If you feel you are now of an age where it would be considered undignified to be seen spitting out your seeds. I do not have such a problem.

10- Show me someone who doesn’t love the melon! It is un-american, I say. Give me watermelon or give me death. Okay, that may be pushing it a bit. I just heart it so.

Thank you, thank you very much. Try the veal, I’ll be here all week.

Father,Husband,Son,Friend,Co-worker, Hero.

Tyrone May,age 44, was an auditor with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. He lost his life eight years ago today when the tower fell. It doesn’t specify which tower,only the location. Ground,WTC.

He lived in Rahway,New Jersey with his wife and young son,Tyrone Jr. He loved music and had quite the record collection.His wife ,and several friends, mentioned how much he loved to throw parties. He had begun the planning for his annual holiday party,to which over two hundred invitations were sent out each year. Tyrone May was a man who loved life.

9/11 changed that,for everyone. Including myself. I never met Tyrone May. To be truthful, I had never even heard of him until I signed up to do this project and was assigned his name. There really wasn’t much to find,in the way of research. I find that terribly sad. A man lost his life when a madman crashed an airplane into the World Trade Center and all I could find about his life was a tiny little article in the paper. It should be worth more than that.

Today you touched my life, Tyrone May. I won’t forget you. I hope and pray that your family has found some measure of peace. I hope and pray that as a nation WE WILL NEVER FORGET.

Come on second trimester!

I still feel like ass. I am tired and uber-bitchay. My poor husband doesn’t know if he is coming or going anymore. But he has been a trooper. He has taken over most of the household duties. I must say it has given him quite the appreciation for what it is I do all day. Or used to do all day.

It will get better. I know that. I am not bitching,or at least not much anyway. I wanted this with my whole heart,still do. Even when I am praying to not barf up whatever it was I just ate. Or waking up to go to the bathroom for what seems like the bajillionth time. This is what I wanted.

Now, if I can just have a GIRL it will all have been worth it…

Dear Nub,

Today is the end of your first week of kindergarten. You are loving your school and your teacher so much right now. I am happy you are enjoying yourself,but just a little bit sad too. I’m not used to sharing your affections.

And share them I must. You have already brought your teacher a flower that you picked just for her. On the second day of school,no less! You have always been a fast worker. I may come to regret that in your teenage years. But for now, let us just deal with kindergarten!

You have already made friends with several of the boys in your class and have seen quite a few of the kids you went to preK with. You were very excited about that! I was less that thrilled with one particular wild child, but as long as she is not in your class it is all good!

Every day this week you have brought home a “Good Day” note. I am so very proud of you. You are such a good boy,Nub. A sweet boy. A kind boy. I could not have asked for a better son.Truly. Your father and I thank God every day for bringing you into our lives.

So now it begins. This process of growing up and letting go of the fact that I have been the center of your world for so long. Sharing you with other people. Hoping and praying that they,these faceless people of your future,will love you and be kind to you. That they will “get” you and encourage your love of learning.

It is almost too much to ask. But I will have to walk on faith and trust in love. You will be okay. We have raised you to be strong and brave and true. You will be just fine.

Me on the other hand? I will be a mess. But only for a little while. Remember I love you,more than anyone in the whole ,wide world. My sweet boy.

Love,Mama

Seriously…and it’s not just hitting me in the mornings if you catch my drift. And I think you do…

I feel like death most of the time.This did not happen with either of my first two pregnancies. I was,ahem,a wee bit younger with both of those. It is really kicking my ass. And I don’t want to seem like I am whiny,or god forbid,ungrateful. I’m not. Really. I’m just uncomfortable,blechy,hungry,tired,bitchy,and the owner of the sorest breasts known to man. And this is just the first trimester. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

What? Let’s not forget about my memory. Or the complete lack thereof. That is another thing that is so much worse than before. I can’t remember my last name half the time. Sad.

But! On the bright side, there can be many,many baby name discussions. That will make up for my sporadic postings.

Right?

I felt it was past time for an update on Operation Knocked-Up. I am so sorry to have been such a slacker in reporting the deets. Well, for the longest time there really weren’t any deets.

That is no longer the case……. I AM PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My estimated due date is March 27,2010. I am beyond excited,beyond thrilled, beyond just about any feeling you can name. I go to the doctor in two weeks for my first visit. I am looking forward to it.

Now you know. I am so very blessed.