What're you looking at?

So today I had my first completely irrational emotional outburst that I'm going to chalk up to pregnancy hormones.  I wish I had a video of this breakdown to share with you, as I'm sure it was completely hilarious for those around me to watch.  In fact, I'm pretty sure I will be the topic of many dinner time stories tonight.

B and I moved to Chicago about a year and a half ago now.  Somehow in that time, I haven't been able to find the time to go downtown (approximately 3 blocks from my work - so out of the way, huh?) and pick up my Illinois drivers license.  There were two reasons that I have been putting this off.  #1 being that I knew I had to take the written test which I was extremely scared of, and #2 being that I knew I had to give up my Texas drivers license.  I'll admit that #2 was a big deal because I got my Texas drivers license a few days after B and I returned from our honeymoon, and I was looking skinny and tan in my picture.  I knew I would never recreate that perfect picture.  Anyways, because I recently found out that I had passed the acceptable time threshold that "sorry officer, I don't have an Illinois license because I just moved here" would continue to work, I bit the bullet and made my way to the Chicago DMV this afternoon.  What follows is a pretty accurate transcript of what went down.  I'm going to call the representative that helped me #10.  Poor #10, it was only her second day of work.

#10:  How can I help you, miss?
AK:  I recently moved to Illinois from Texas and need to get my drivers license switched.
#10:  No problem, miss, first I'll need to see the appropriate paperwork (which luckily I had and handed over).  Looks like you already have a record here in Illinois, have you lived here before?
AK:  Yes, about 5 1/2 years ago. 
#10:  Your last name is different though.  I have no idea how to fix this.
AK:  Um, ok.  (tapping toe a little impatiently - I need to pee, and #9 and #8 have both already been through 3 people by this time).
#10:  We'll figure it out sweetie, let's start by having you surrender your Texas license.
AK:  Surrender?  Ha.  That's a pretty harsh word.  There's no way I can keep it?  (tears are forming in my eyes)
#10:  I'm sorry, honey, there isn't.  You will need to hand it over.
AK:  Ok, um, what if I didn't have it anymore.  Yeah, I lost it.  (more tears forming - now threatening to spill out - I have no control over what is happening)
#10:  Well then I think I'd have to call my supervisor over here because I just saw it in your wallet and you'd also need to fill out form #432342342348Dedaiofsndflasf.  (The supervisor's name was Gasper by the way - really?  Is that for serious?)
AK:  Ok.  (tears now spilling out of my eyes down my cheeks)  I'll give it up.....

And then, I did something so weird and strange I just can't believe myself.  I pulled the license out and KISSED IT before handing it over to #10.  Oh, and I did this while basically sobbing into my jacket sleeve.  #10 took the license and then immediately used HAND SANITIZER!  At this point, other people in lines near me are starting at me with their mouths hanging open.  At this point I realized that I was out of control and blurted out "I"M PREGNANT - JEEZ!"

After blubbering through my written test and managing an awful new picture (thanks for the frizzy hair never ending rainstorm in Chicago this week!), I treated myself to Taco Bell where I wolfed down a Nachos Belgrande and two tacos all while STILL SNIFFLING!  Oh boy....

xoxo
AK

p.s.  Baby, being a cryer runs in our family.  It starts out as being a huge pouter (when you're old enough I'll share the Annie Pouts 2010 Calendar with you that my friends created), and moves on to full on crying for any reason or no reason at all when the pregnancy hormones start flowing.  This condition is unavoidable, and is one of the reasons I can't wait for you to meet Granny H.  She has taken this to a whole other level - an art form really.

Thank you

Thank you to whoever wrote "You're Forgiven" in nail polish inside the third stall in the ladies room in Schmitt Academic Center.  I was seriously feeling guilty about that third pack of cheese crackers with peanut butter I had eaten just minutes earlier.

xoxo
ak

p.s.  Baby, I am currently looking for a pediatrician for you when you make the big debut.  Does it bother you when doctors have bad hair like it bothers me?  So far, the five women at the leading office all look like they had fabulous blowouts before taking their head shots, so I think we're in luck.

Things I Love

I thought I owed everyone a positive post since lately I've just been listing things that have been making me cry.  So, since I am typically not a negative person, here is a list of things I currently am loving:

1.  Orange Gatorade - I want to drink it out of fancy wine glasses that's how much I love it.  Also, Orange Hi-C from McDonalds is also really awesome.  A Subway I was in the other day had Orange Gatorade in their fountain drinks!  I stood there and gulped down three full glasses and ignored the five people in line behind me.

2.  Cheese crackers with peanut butter filling - At my job in Austin, I regularly ate these out of the vending machine until a co-worker asked me if I wanted some of her "healthy" snacks.  I was so embarrassed I stopped eating them.  Nothing is going to stop me from their deliciousness now!

3.  My belly band - I seriously need to post a picture of the wonder that is my belly band.  I know someday I'm going to have to suck it up and buy some maternity pants, but for now, it's making the transition much gentler.

4.  B - I can't even put into words how amazing he has been.  I've never felt more beautiful or more loved.

5.  My body pillow - Um, so maybe number 4 up there was a little sucking up since I have found something new to snuggle with at night.  I've been having some major hip pains as my body rearranges it, but sleeping with a body pillow has really helped me out.  I need to name him.  I'm thinking either Jose or Miguel.

Like with any big life change, there are daily ups and downs.  Don't stop believing, right??

xoxo
ak

p.s.  Baby, you are growing so fast!  I may complain about my clothes not fitting, but that only means that you are growing and healthy, and that is ALL that matters.  I can't remember a time when I didn't complain about my clothes not fitting, so really, Momma just needs to suck it up.

Fifteen Weeks - Good evening, Orange!

This morning I got a 15 Week Newsletter from some pregnancy website.  It made me cry.  First, it said something along the lines of "you're probably feeling awesome and full of energy - enjoy, this is the best you'll feel."  Um, great, still nauseous and taking so many meds for that I barely keep my eyes open.  Second, to add insult to injury, this website recommends raiding your husband's closet for clothes before going out and buying maternity wear.  Like I could fit into B's small waisted clothes even when I was wedding day perfect skinny - ugh - good advice for someone who feels like a beached Shamu!  Whew - ok, I got that out of my system.

In better news, I'm slathering myself in cocoa butter to try and keep away the dreaded stretchmarks, and I smell like a delicious cake.  Yum!

xoxo
ak

p.s.  Baby, I'm not sure, but I think I felt you move today.  It could've been those wings I ate, but it felt distinctly different.  Keep dancing in there!

Boom Puddy

When I was little, my mom used to read a book to me where a little boy (some sort of animal?) had to go to the doctor, and the doctor listened to his heart.  In the book, his heart sounded like "boom puddy, boom puddy, boom boom boom."  Through the years, we've used that phrase so many times, and I even have caught myself saying it to B.  Sitting in the doctor's office yesterday waiting for her to find the baby's heartbeat, it went through my head over and over.  "Boom puddy, boom puddy, boom boom boom."

I was so focused on the booms and the puddies that all the sudden when the real heartbeat filled the room I suddenly burst into tears.  It was such an amazing sound, and more than anything, I wished that B could've been there to hear it with me.  It sounded more like "whoosha whoosha whoosa" than "boom puddy", but it was still the most beautiful sound I've heard in my entire life.

"Whoosha whoosha whoosha" sounded a whole lot like "I love you, and I can't wait to meet you."

xoxo
ak

p.s.  Baby, I may have started crying this morning when my favorite pair of jeans didn't button all the way.  So, I bought a belly band which allows me to unbutton my pants and use the band to hold them up.  I'm pretty sure it's the most amazing invention ever.  I think you will get used to seeing Mommy wear it out for large sushi dinners and on holidays. 

Week 14 - Hello, Lemon

xoxo
ak

Knocked Up

Thanks to the channel E!, I have watched the movie "Knocked Up" three times in the past three days.  I have been especially fixated on the delivery scene when she screams "I FEEL EVERYTHING!!!!!!"

Suddenly, throwing up my breakfast doesn't seem so bad.  I think I'll just stay pregnant for as long as possible.

xoxo
AK

p.s.  Baby, at the end of the movie, a song plays in the credits that makes me cry every single time.  It's called "Daughter" by Loudon Wainwright III.  It doesn't matter that you may not be a girl, just thinking about providing everything for you and your little life and knowing already that I am hopelessly wrapped around your tiny finger makes me so happy/weepy.  "Everytime she blinks - she strikes somebody blind.  Everytime she thinks - it blows her tiny mind."  I love you.

Happy Birthday, B!

Happy Birthday to the most amazing man I know, my husband, B!  Thank you so much for the Gatorade runs, nights of cooking, days of sweeping up Daisy's hair, your patience, and for knowing when I'm having an awful fat/nasty day and telling me I'm beautiful.  I thank God for you every single day of my life.  You're the best....around!



xoxo
AK

p.s.  Baby, your Daddy says good morning to you every day and always points out good songs to you when they come on the radio.  I think you're going to be lucky to have him around.

I almost forgot...

For those of you asking for a belly pic, here you go! Haha - while my belly betton is stretched out all weird, and you won't catch me wearing any lycra bodysuits, I don't think it's really visible to anyone else yet.  In fact, I look pretty darn good in this picture - what setting did you use, B?  Fun house mirror skinny setting?

xoxo
AK

p.s.  Baby, don't worry, you're in there - you're just petite right now :-)

Madden F.

What a crazy week!  Last Wednesday, B and I left to spend a long weekend at Family F's lake cottage up in Michigan.  The weather was beautiful, AB gave a repeat VIP performance allowing me to eat everything in sight, and Daisy got her fill of rolling in the sand for hours on end.  So much cuter when it's someone else's house she's tracking that sand into....

We finally got some sun on our pale city folk faces and totally relaxed for the first time since our honeymoon over two years ago.  Seeing B not able to connect to the internet was amazing.  I'm not sure he would agree, but I think his fingers were happy to not be scrolling through email on his phone the entire time.  All in all, it was a fabulous time spent with fabulous people, and I can't wait to visit again as a family of three...er four (sorry, Daisy)...next summer!

In baby news, we've got a peach this week!  AB is the size of a peach and is developing vocal cords.  The little things like that just amaze me.  I got out of taking Sex Ed in high school by taking two cooking classes instead, so maybe I missed out on this lesson, but I didn't realize how all of these body parts and systems developed.  I always thought of babies as being these tiny complete humans (that look like the prize in the King Cake) that just have to grow bigger inside the womb until they can survive.  Thanks a lot McCutcheon High School for failing to make me memorize things like at which week does a baby begin to create their own waste, and where do it go?

B's 33rd birthday is on Monday, and for his present, he decided he wanted the new Madden football game for his Playstation II.  Having the past few days off from work, he's been playing this new game a lot, and gets into quite a trance while doing so.  Tonight while watching him slip glaze eyed into video game heaven, I casually suggested that we name the baby Madden F.  Without missing a tackle, he said, "Uh-huh, sure, honey."  That was too easy.  Next time I see that face Mama is asking for a new pair of Seven jeans!

xoxo
AK

p.s.  Baby, I will never understand why Daddy decided he would rather play fake football when there is real college and pro football on tv right now.  I think it just shows that Mama is a better fan, and that you would be smart to cheer for the Hoosiers and Da Bears!