The Baby Section

I was caught offguard when it happened tonight. I was truly just trying to use some soon-to-expire coupons and load up on some recipe ingredients at the local supercenter. Yet a temptation I couldn't resist occurred after I grabbed my (couponed) Oxiclean. You see, the laundry detergent aisle is just across from...the baby section.

Oh, I've been to the baby section many, many times. It's often been in haste--hurrying with 4 pages of registry items in hand, trying to pick out just the right gift before I am late to the afternoon baby shower. I suppose for that purpose I've been visiting the baby section for the past 16 years (I became an aunt at 16, so I started young with the baby gifts!). And, yes, there were times when I wasn't in such a hurry and I'd linger & coo over those cute little bibs with just the right quip. And, tell me, does anyone have too cold a heart to not smile when you see those little shoes, even if you're merely passing by? Yeah, I've found joy in the baby section before, sometimes with a little bit of dreaming/fantasizing to boot.

Yet tonight was different. Really different.

I started out just wanting to get a better comprehension of what the giant boxes of Pampers were gonna be costing us. Then I started looking at all the expensive gear I'd need: strollers, playpens, carriers.

But that didn't overwhelm me just yet. Before I could get too caught up in number-crunching...a sea of blue caught my eye from the next row. Blue onsies, blue socks, blue bonnets, blue shorts. My eyes filled with tears almost instantly.

My little guy is gonna wear those.

I'm gonna be the mother of a precious little boy.

From there I was a blubbering baby myself. I waltzed on over to those little boy jeans & button-up oxford shirts and was at that point hoping no one was noticing me. If anyone would've strolled by it is quite possible I would've asked them for a hug. I had to call my friend, a mother of a 1-yr-old boy, and just lament about how exciting (and emotional) this was. "Is it normal that I'm getting like this, Laura?"

And of course she told me she was just as nutty once they found out their baby's gender.

I just needed a reality check. After all, I am aware that there are all kinds of crazy hormones racing through my system.

Hormones or not--I'm okay with getting a bit sentimental. I've waited a long time to be in the right 'place' to be a momma. Hand over the mom jeans & the cornball jokes...I want to join this club now.

I just can't wait to meet my little guy. I think I'm in love already. :)

cleaning

Yes, today I had the 'luxury' of having a free day to clean. I didn't get really far, but the kitchen was spotless, some (a little) laundry was folded, baby shower gifts ready & wrapped, and had dinner planned. Just call me Lisa Cleaver! Speaking of little wifeys, I did most of my 'cleaning' on the computer (lots of old documents wiped off) & came across some vows I had written. I totally forgot about these! I was probably in the midst of wedding planning & needed some comic relief. It is semi-mature content, and while I run the risk of a few young ones reading it, I am pretty sure Gena & Jenn are my only readers. And, even though I am a firm believer in trying to keep web content clean--thus my FB page & blog are always written with the kids in my life in mind--I will preface this excerpt with a newsflash: I've had sex. And if that shocks you, better ask mom or dad where babies come from. ;) Ok, the 'original' vows I wrote last spring:

I DO, AT LEAST 97% OF THE TIME:

VOWS OF A REALIST BRIDE

~I pledge to start the coffee in the morning, at least if I'm the first one out of bed in the morning. And I'm not running late for work. (It'll happen about twice a month, ok hon? Coffee's in the freezer, filter's on top left shelf).

~I pledge to shave my legs prior to sex at least once a month. But can we do a trade off here? I mean, come on, a scruffy face is so hard to work with during make-out sessions. You can seriously avoid my legs if you get creative....

~And while we're on sex, I vow to wear pretty lingerie every now and then. Guess I might as well get some use after the dirty shower my otherwise innocent friends threw me. But, babe, sometimes I'm gonna be in cut off sweat pants, my Young Life '97 sweatshirt, and mismatched socks. Just think of it the same way you do your beloved books: For the best ones, the cover is often way, way off base as to the content.

~So while we're visiting the status quo vow rhetoric, let's talk about “for richer or for poorer.” First, tell me what woman doesn't get a leeetle excited when she imagines loving her husband “for richer?” (Hey lady, you are lying if you just said you “honestly didn't care”). Yeah, I'm gonna love you either way, truly. But, honey, I have a feeling my love will be just a teensy bit sweeter if you are stashing away dough to help pay off my Masters Degree (that I probably won't ever get around to using) and to get Jimmy Jr. into an Ivy League. And for that vacation to Bermuda. Heck, for that cottage home in Bermuda. I love you.

~I pledge to support you as your life partner, your confidant, your friend. However, NOT as your cohort to that awful sci-fi/action flick that a studio just shelled out $80 million to produce. $80 million!! You know how many clean water projects could be generated in Africa? Ok, I know that is not your fault, you'd totally give $80 million to Africa if you had access. (**um, see previous vow before you do that...) I just would rather see that mindless chick flick at the auditorium next door. Call your brother, he misses you already.

~I vow to love your dog like she's my own. I guess she's mine now, too. I do not, however, vow to sweep up her hair after every indoor visit she gets to have. Vaccum's in the closet, to the right.

I love Monday this time 'round

Yeah, a lot of my obligations cancelled on me today....but I really enjoyed that because I got to have guilt-free 'me' time. I got to go to the park with Laura & Connor. I got lay in bed when my tummy hurt instead of "pressing on" through daily tasks. I can't lie, since preggo status I have way more guilt-free downtime. I remind myself that the baby WANTS me to rest. ;)

Discovered a great channel--34.2--for us non-cable people. I am determined to be a non-cable for as long as I can. Not just because it's silly expensive when I've found most people watch the major networks anyway. But it's true--TV rots your brain, and I try to contain the rotting to just a few prime choices. :) I digress. CoolTV is an HD channel on regular TV. Tons of 80s video. At this moment, I'm watching "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." Before that, saw the following: George Michael, Scorpion, Brandi Carlile (ok, not all 80s...but cool current stuff, too), and Warrant. Fun nostalgia! Crazy outfits! Untamed hair!

Tanner & I had a lovely 36 hours in Prague. We caught zero fish but it didn't matter. This week I look forward to-

-chipping a little more away at the Great Organization (aka prepare to start a nursery) project of Winter '10/'11.

-NOT going to class Wednesday. I love this so much more than I can explain.

-playing music for the kiddos of Children's Hospital on Thursday.

-baby shower Friday morn where I'll see some gals that I don't spend near enough time with.

-getting our rental car & leaving for St. Louis on Friday! I have not traveled far (not counting Rhome, Texas) since becoming preggo...so this is a big deal. This is coming from a gal who used to get restless if there was not a flight booked at least every 3 months to do something random. So, life's pace has changed a tad & I'll get excited just for a 7 hr drive to Missouri.

And that sums up the week. I'll watch my cousin get married and then come home to start a new week....and NEXT week is super super exciting for me. Can't WAIT!!!!

17 weeks!

Yes, today marks 17 weeks of being impregnated. Not a particularly significant portion of it I suppose....however, it is worthy to note that my energy level & overall 'feeling good' level increased dramatically about 1 week ago. Guess those silly little pregnant people books hold some worthwhile info.

I actually felt spot-on GOOD while playing a fun gig at Full Circle last night. Fun crowd, too! And since I feel a teeny bit like my old self, I'm more prone to adventure...

We are about to head to Prague....our little retreat when we just want to get away for a day/night. My aunt & uncle so generously gave me a key to the 'river house' they have on one of their fishing/cattle properties. It is in the middle of nowhere. The house is cute & clean & always stocked with fresh linens, toiletries, and coffee. And has a 50+ year old double oven that I can't even describe correctly, but it's the coolest thing I've ever cooked on. Oh, and the cows are always greeting us by the back porch in the morning. Forget the TV (because it don't work, yo)...coffee is best sipped while staring out at a large grassy field with lots of cows and birdies.

Sometimes we actually get around to fishing while we are there. ;)