20 weeks down... 20 weeks to go!

Here are some pictures from the party this weekend. Sorry to those of you who couldn't make it! You missed out! I couldn't just TELL everyone what I'm having- that would be too easy- so I made a puzzle for everyone to put together that said boy or girl on the back. They had to put it together and flip it over for the answer.

It's a girl! We were shocked because nearly everyone thought it was going to be a boy. I guess it's true that all the first born on Art's side are girls! My mom (Grandma) was so excited. She picked out the cake and got me presents for the baby. Afterward Mom, Brent, Vivian, and I went to see Indiana Jones and Art went to work. It was a late showing for me, but the movie was good enough that I didn't fall asleep.

Now on to the fun stuff like naming, registering, and making room for all the baby stuff! Wish us luck.

Lost and Found

I lost my debit card this weekend and it's driving me nuts because I remember the last place I had it, no one has stolen it and charged up my account, so I know I have it somewhere. I only own one car, two purses, and live in a one bedroom apartment so there aren't too many places it could hide. It's a wonder how I manage to lose anything at all!

A couple months ago I lost my cell phone case. Not my cell phone, just the case. I looked everywhere for it and never did find it. I gave in and bought a new case, fully expecting the old one to turn up the moment I did, but it never did turn up. So after nearly a week of looking for my debit card, I gave in and reported it lost. Wherever they ran off to, I hope my cell phone case and debit card are happy together.

As for the "found" portion of my blog, I found out on Monday if I am having a boy or a girl! However, I am not revealing the answer until during and after my half way party tomorrow. It's amazing how much more real this little one has become just knowing if IT is a HE or a SHE. Art got to watch the baby swimming around on the ultrasound for the first time since our very first ultrasound at 6 weeks. All it was back then was a tiny bean with a blinking heart and this time it looked like an actual baby with appendages. Art was absolutely amazed. He said, "It actually moves in there!?" Even though I had explained to him many times that the baby moves and floats, it wasn't until that moment that it became real to him.

Our naming conversations have been able to progress with surprisingly few arguments, which has been nice. I think since Art has witnessed the baby "doing a jig", waving, and kicking around, he has a better understanding of exactly what preoccupies my thoughts and changes everything about me, and that understanding is changing him.

People say, "Nothing will ever be the same after you have a baby."

I say, "Bring it on."

Come Celebrate!

Come celebrate this once in a lifetime event!

Please pay for your own family when you arrive.

Finance and Thrift

People often ask me if I have been having any cravings and, for the most part, I really haven't craved much of anything. In the first couple months of my pregnancy Mexican food tasted especially good, but I wasn't craving it. Then I went through a week or so where things with syrup on them tasted good (i.e. pancakes, waffles, peanut butter and syrup sandwiches), but nothing out of the ordinary and definitely not any undeniable urges to eat any particular food. Then I realized that I have been craving something all along... I just failed to notice it because it's not edible. I have been CRAVING SIX FLAGS! I want to go there SO BAD even knowing that I wouldn't be able to ride the roller coasters. Too bad my season pass expired cuz I would SO be walking my pregnant ass around that park!

Speaking of walking, I broke down and bought myself some new shoes this weekend. My friend Lisa commanded me to buy new shoes because I confessed to her how old and torn up all my shoes are and Payless just happened to be having their buy one get one half off sale. I have a very hard time spending money on myself so I took my mom and sister with me to talk me through it. I bought 4 pairs and had anxiety attacks at the cash register as usual but convinced myself that a) I bought them at PAYLESS for heaven's sake b) I got a dang good deal and c) I will probably wear the crap out of these shoes and get more than my money's worth out of them. Overall, I think it was a pretty good purchase. Then when we were shopping for Brent's birthday present I came across some nice black board shorts for Art at Anchor Blue that were originally $34.95 and were marked down to $9.99! That's cheaper than you can get them at Walmart! I was so proud of myself for finding such good deals. I'm so thrifty.

Speaking of thrifty, I have become a promotion code fiend! If you haven't used them before, you need to start now! For those of you who have no idea what a promotion code is, it is a discount code you can find online that you use for online purchases. Just type in a Google search "Promotion code for (name of the store)" and look through the results for a code or check out Coupon Cabin. You just copy the code and paste it in the proper box when you are checking out. You can get codes for free shipping and all kinds of crazy discounts! I have saved so much money already and only wish I knew about it sooner.

The Truth Hurts

Yesterday Art and I were sharing a barefooted embrace in the kitchen when a surprised look came across his face and he told me I look really tall. I am 5'7 and 1/2" and he has believed himself to be 5'8". He ran and got the tape measure and had me hold it against the wall. He stood as tall as he could and reached 5'7" on the dot. In disbelief, he had me measure 2 more times to no avail. He then measured me and was crushed to discover that I am a half inch taller than him. I thought it was hilarious and felt bad that I couldn't stop laughing. Art swears up and down that he shrank an inch since high school and that by the time he is 30 he will be 5'6" and that I won't want to be married to him because he will be too short. Poor guy. He has never been able to face the reality that he is not a tall man and was sad when I told him, "Baby, you just gotta understand that you are a short Mexican and I am a tall white girl. That's just the truth of it." He replied, "Well, the truth hurts, you know?" Unfortunately for him, that didn't detract from the humor I derived from the situation. I sure love my husband... even if he is vertically challenged.

Last but not least, I was tagged by Ashley Burton to describe myself with words starting with the letters from my middle name and then tag 3 friends. I think I am supposed to elaborate on each quality, but I don't think much explanation is needed in my case.

R- Responsible

A- Accomplished

C- Classy

H- Headstrong

E- Expressive

L- Logical

L- Lanky

E- Exercise Deficient

I tag Allyson, Shalee, and Kari (because I know how much you love things like this).

First Trimester Recapitulation

I am now out of the woods commonly referred to as "the first trimester". Unfortunately, no one ever warned me about the inevitable substandard home cleanliness that materializes in the first trimester, and it definitely wreaked havoc in my house these past three months. This weekend I noticed my energy coming back and my mood improving ever so slightly so I decided to dispose of my energy by cleaning the kitchen. Then last night a single tiny roach manifested itself on my kitchen floor as if to tell me that I still had a lot more cleaning to do. Not that I didn’t appreciate the reminder, but I allowed Art to squish and dispose of the tiny roach.

Upon my entry into my second trimester, I started having a lot of bladder pain and discomfort. It constantly felt like my bladder was at full capacity and I thought for sure that I had a bladder infection. After a few days I gave in and went to the doctor only to discover that I had no infection, just a bad case of Baby Squishing My Bladder Syndrome. Apparently, this is a common discomfort that no one ever warned me about. I wish it was an infection because then I could take antibiotics and feel better rather than having to wait until the baby removes itself from its campsite on my bladder.

I think it’s pretty safe to say that “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” needs some real life revisions in PLAIN ENGLISH. Perhaps a chapter entitled “How to Deal With Advice and Criticism” with special tactics for nosey co-workers. It would also be nice if they told you your baby is capable of squishing your bladder far before it is large enough to feasibly squish anything. Lastly, I would suggest an additional first trimester chapter to warn about substandard home cleanliness and the possible appearance of a roach.

Here is my last ultrasound from when I went to the doctor for the suspected bladder infection. You could see both arms and hands and both little feet, but not whether it was a boy or girl! Art was really excited when he saw these pictures. He was saying "I can't wait to find out if it's a boy or a girl! I wonder what color it's eyes are going to be!" It was cute to finally see him excited about the baby. I think since my tummy is poking out just a smidgen it is becoming a bit more real for both of us.

Tax Pickle

With one fell swoop, the government defeated all my financial plans for the entire year. It turns out that since Baby Cakes and I got married we adjusted our deductions too low and drastically underpaid our taxes- drastically as in $2,500 for our federal taxes and $700 on our state taxes. I cried… a lot. Then when I got done crying, I cried some more. Then when I got done crying the second time, I pulled myself together and started looking for a solution. Perhaps it was luck, perhaps it was carefully orchestrated fate, but my mom happened to have two thousand dollars left over from a car accident settlement that she graciously (and nervously) lent me to help pay for the debt.

Even with our tax rebate money coming, we still took an unexpected hit of two thousand dollars which changes everything. With the use of my fortune cookie’s wisdom to “modify your thinking to handle new situations,” we determined that the best thing for us to do would be to forfeit moving into a 2 bedroom apartment and stick it out where we are, but I have yet to devise a plan for installing air conditioning in my car and saving money for my leave and baby expenses. I’m telling you- money might not buy happiness, but it sure as heck would help!

Despite my obstacles of late, I have been trying to stay positive. I realize that I am blessed in many ways- especially that my mom was able to help me out of this tax pickle and that I have a husband who loves me and tells me everything will be ok. Bunny has also been much more uppity lately. His hop is back in his step, and he is back to his typical rambunctious self. I’m trying to learn that everything will work out one way or another, even if it wasn’t how I planned it.