You're kidding me

Can Nicole Kidman REALLY look like this 2 WEEKS after giving birth? I know she was teeeny weeny and outta control with her exercising throughout the whole pregnancy, but c'mon now... give us NORMAL preggo women a break!

We are outta here!

KK, myself, Matty, and Jack are headin up to the cabin this weekend for our last mini-vacation before Baby Ali is born! I'm really looking forward to relaxing and getting out of town. Lately I have been feeling too uncomfortable and useless around the house; it will be very nice to not have to do anything and just enjoy being with our little family... before adding our little angel girl.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Annoyed with dirt

Anyone that knows me knows that I am a bit of a clean freak, especially when it comes to my home. I can clean and clean this place, and I'm never satisfied, it never looks clean enough, there is always something that can be scrubbed. What drives me the most crazy in my house in the hardwood floors. Seriously, they NEVER look clean, even after I have just scrubbed the crap outta them! Our dogs are the real problem- they have scratched the floors to sh*t, and about 6 minutes after I get them visibly clean there are 3 bazillion paw prints everywhere.

I also absolutely HATE the couch and chair/ottoman that is in our living room. We bought them about 3 years ago with the promise that microfiber was great to have for pets. Well it's not. There are stains all over the damn things, not to mention that Jack the dog like to lick the fabric off the couch- yeah, it looks real nice. I have tried everything- cleaning them with various cleaners, covering them with slipcovers, etc. Now I am just giving up. I wish wish wish we could afford new couches, but with this baby coming we just can't justify a big purchase at the moment, especially after spending a butt load on our landscaping.

And speaking of how much I hate a dirty house, I am on my way to clean it yet again. I will have 3 minutes of bliss upon completion of this project- and I look forward to my little window of sunshiney happiness!

I'm (almost) ready

My mom had a lovely brunch/baby shower at her house on the river over the weekend in honor of our soon-to-be sweet baby girl. I will post pics later- I forgot my camera and my friend Lynne is sending me the shots she took. I had such a great time seeing all my friends and family: it is great to have all the different people I care about together in one spot. I also received a bunch of great, useful gifts to help me prepare for our baby Ali! It's hard to believe that in a month or less she will be here- amazing. I hope the time goes quickly and she comes sooner than later!

Now that I have had the baby shower, I feel more prepared for her to be born. I still have a few simple things to buy to prepare- just what I think I need to be ready for her immediately after I get her home. I'm hoping to go to Target sometime either this week or next and finish up my shopping... and I think it is kinda funny that by having all the material objects I need I somehow can justify to myself that I am ready to be a first time mommy. Deep down I feel so nervous to think of a tiny little human that will be dependant upon Kris and I to keep her existence happy and safe- eek! I guess life is a learn-as-you-go deal: and at least I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I will do my best with all the love that I have! (And my mom only lives 7 minutes away, thank GOD )

I got a boo-boo

So, yesterday morning I was out walking my two doggies, Matty and Jack. We have an open field across from our house that is supposed to be developed with houses, but due to the economic crisis we are currently in, has been left unfinished. KK and I like to take the boys out there to run around and go potty- kind of a release because they don't have a fenced in yard yet.

Well yesterday KK was out of town fishing with his dad, so I took the dogs by myself. One of our neighbors happened to be out walking her dog too, so I proceeded to head across the street to say hi. Apparently the dogs forgot that their mom was a little front-heavy, and totally tugged on their leashes to get over and see the other dog.

I completely tipped right over, landing on my right elbow and tummy! Evelyn (our neighbor) starting freaking out, she was ready to jump right in the car and drive me to the emergency room, and I for some reason remained eerily calm. I told her I felt fine, that I wasn't cramping or anything like that, and I would take the dogs home and promptly call the doctor's office, which I did.

It took the nurse about 45 minutes to call me back, and while I was waiting I laid on the couch and tried to relax my body, which I could feel was tensed up from the fall. When she did call me back, she asked if the baby was moving (YES!) if I was cramping at all (NO) or if there was any bleeding at all (not from that area!). She told me to take it easy for the rest of the day and go straight to labor and delivery if anything changed.

Needless to say, I'm feeling stiff in my upper arms and my hips, and I have a huge road burn on my right elbow- which made it really fun trying to sleep last night.What is amazing to me is that I didn't freak out- during or after the accident! I mean, I scrapped right across the top of my belly- I have little cuts to prove it... but I just knew in my gut that everything was OK. Plus, Ali has been movin and groovin like normal since the fall. (well -ok- I did cry a little and apologize to her for shakin her up like that)

What I learned from this incident: this baby girl for sure needs to come out now- I think I can keep her safer outside my body then in! I also think that I need to make a conscious effort to take it easy for these last 5 weeks and prepare my body for the ultimate job of actually giving birth....today I am going to get my hair trimmed and colored and get some last minute stuff done for my mom: it's my baby shower on Saturday!

Family Visit

We had KK's dad and his wife come into town to visit us last night on their way to some camping up the river. His dad lives in Olympia, WA, which is about 7 hours away from us. Kris and his dad have not always had the best father-son relationship, but they are cultivating it now, and it was nice to see them and visit and have Kris feel loved by his dad.

It's hard for me to watch his family dynamics because I am so blessed with my own. I have two great parents who love my brother and I and who love each other - they've been married for 30 years! We had such a good childhood and growing up- my memories are filled with more good times then bad. I feel so grateful for my support system and blessed to have such a wonderful family to share with my husband: I hope we help to give him some stability in his uncertain family experiences.
KK's parents divorced when he was 8, his mom remarried when he was about 10 or 12, who she later divorced when Kris was 16...but I think the guy pretty much raised himself. His mother is not maternal at all- she never read to him or helped him with homework... she never told him she loved him or gave him any hugs. His dad moved to Olympia right after the divorce and was not a big factor in his life until adulthood.
I think his saving grace to normalcy was being so involved with basketball and having great coaches and teammates to support and "raise" him. Of course I am not going to judge his rearing or blast his family on my blog, but I will say it makes me that much more appreciative of the awesome mom, dad, and brother, and extended family that I have.
The good news is that Kris now has a chance to create a relationship and family with his own daughter- any way he wants it to be. He is already an amazing partner and friend, and he cares so much for our baby girl -wishing every day for her arrival- so he can be a daddy. I'm amazed at how "normal" he turned out considering how he grew up, and I can't wait for Alison to be born and get to meet this awesome man that helped me create her. We are so lucky to have him for everything he is- I hope he finally feels loved and knows how special he is!

Phew, she made it

I was so happy to wake up this morning and see an email from my bestest-estest friend, Rose. Rosie is a captain in the U.S. Air Force, and was recently serving a 6 month stay in Iraq. Her husband (who is also in the AF) is stationed in Turkey. Needless to say, Rosie made it safely outta Iraq and back to her loving husband's arms 2 nights ago. Now, I can breath again. It makes me tear up with relief- PRAISE GOD!!!

You never really know how much someone means to you until you are faced with the thought of losing them. I am so thankful for this girl- she is the sister that God did not give me. Even in the face of a brutal battle, living a million miles from home.. and from her husband(!) she was always upbeat and laughing- we could find anything to make fun of- even being stationed in hot, dusty, sticky Iraq! I love you Rose, you hold my heart. Thank you for being my forever friend.