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Friday, June 29, 2007

Pictures, Where's the Damn Pictures?

Sorry kids. I've been way too tired and lazy to post pictures of the shower. Honestly, you'd probably be bored by them all anyway - it's just a bunch of me holding cute little things (the best, which deserves mention, was from my Mom. It made me roll my eyes, but was oh so adorable - a pair of pink suede cowboy boots for the Nashville baby. OMG!).

Pink suede cowboy boots from my Mom. Cletus will be a Nashville baby afterall! ;)

Also, she bought the cutest little dress EVER.

Sweet!

And the cakes were incredibly beautiful (here's my favorite one).

DSC04190

I think I was definitely showing (I was worried I wouldn't because I went out there
so early).

Showing for my Shower

Posted by Bird On A Line @ 2:43 PM
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Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Seeing Stars

So we're back from our whirlwind trip to Colorado and man, oh, man am I tired. Do you know how tiring it is having a party one day and then visiting FIVE households the next day (plus going to 2 stores to return stuff)? Very tiring - at least for this preggo girl. But, it was a great time. I haven't had a chance to upload pictures from the shower yet, but will. Then I'll share some of the highlights and best gifts with you.

Until then, I leave you with an incident from last night.

Huz and I fell into bed exhausted from our trip and after settling in and getting comfortable it happened. What happened, you ask? IT. The seeing stars and laughing so hard I almost needed my inhaler happened. See, lately I've been sleeping on my side because sleeping on the back is a no-no, but last night I tried my stomach (because I still can, sort of). So I settled in and got comfy when all of a sudden Huz's hand landed on my ass. Normally this wouldn't be a problem but I knew we were both way too tired for any non-sleep-related activity. So, I inquired.

Me: "Um? What are you doing?"

Him: Innocently - "I'm saying goodnight to Cletus."

Oh my God the laughter. I almost died. He seriously thought my ASS was my GUT! Now THAT tells you something folks. My gut is as bulbous as my ass. It's official. I'm pregnant.

Posted by Bird On A Line @ 1:33 PM
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Thursday, June 21, 2007

This and That

I want:

This! (the third one) It's a bird on a line: perfect.

These because I loathe having a billion plastic bags and am not entirely convinced they recycle them when you drop them off at the grocery store.

To make this. How nice would several of them be on the back porch!?

To eat my lunch now (Butternut Squash Ravioli with Gorgonzola Sauce and Pecans).

Bye, bye.

Posted by Bird On A Line @ 10:00 AM
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Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Nothing Much

I don't have much to blog about at the moment, but I'm too bored not to. See, that's why I don't like my job. It's under challenging (especially in the summer) and I could do/earn so much more. I've been a very busy little pregnant woman, however, and found myself in three job interviews last week, two of which were call-back interviews. I sure wore myself out tyring to impress so many people (one interview was in front of FIVE people!), but hope that they prove productive. I'm fairly certain I'll get an offer from one of them because my co-worker friend works in the office that's hiring, so I have an "inside" voice on that one. I'm glad and hopeful that I'll get this offer because it's the better of the two positions I put in for, would be more challenging and afford me lots of creative freedom, would pay more money (never something to complain about), and would be with people I already know and am friends with. So go find some wood and knock on it for me. Thanks!

On to this weekend's plans. We're flying home! To Colorado! For a baby shower! (Can you tell how excited I am about this? Just count those exclamation points and you'll get an idea.) We leave Friday evening and return Monday evening. Again, I have to say that I've never registered for gifts and I'm totally into it. I admit that I checked once and only briefly online this week to see if people were indeed getting stuff for us at Baby's "R" Us (only because there's not one in close proximity to our Denver-based family and friends and I was concerned that they were all going to Target where we registered for much less). I scrolled down the screen quickly to the "fulfilled" section just to see that it had become nicely populated in the last week. Yippeee!

A co-worker asked me this week if I had bought a new outfit for the occasion (do people really do that?), so I picked a nice one out that I already have - one that is both comfortable and stylish. I don't want to give the impression that I've let myself go* or anything, now do I? I'll be sure to post pictures and tell you all about it next week, so stay tuned!

*Can you believe someone at work actually said this to me this week? He was only kidding and was of the age to do so (think grandpa), so I punched him on the shoulder, made a joke about drinking one too many beers, and went about my day.

Posted by Bird On A Line @ 11:24 AM
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Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Design on a Dime

Thanks to Schmutzie for leading me in the right direction for a template change. I was tired of the old 2-column look and wanted to embrace 3. What say you?

Posted by Bird On A Line @ 2:23 PM
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Monday, June 18, 2007

First Father's Day

Because Huz spoiled me rotten for my first Mother's Day, I decided to return the favor. Here's the menu from last night's dinner.

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Guava Glaze and Orange Habenero Mojo (I had to substitute apricot for guava and a jalepeno for the habenero because Nashville grocery stores suck.)

Grilled Corn on the Cob with Garlic Butter, Fresh Lime and Queso Fresco

Red Mexican Rice

Pear and Bourbon Cobbler

Do I know my man's tastes well, or what? I do. He said it was the top 3 meals I've ever made. :) I also bought him a stereotypical present, which I never thought I'd do. I got him a toolbox (he actually uses tools now, though!) filled with beer and his favorite chips.

Posted by Bird On A Line @ 1:19 PM
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Saturday, June 16, 2007

Now That's a Gleeful Green!

Nursery before:

Nursery (New Crib to Be Assembled)

Nursery during:

Gleeful!

Nursery as of now:

Gleeful!

We still have to repaint all the white trim, the ceiling (the previous owner was messy with that purple/gray color), change the light fixture, put the crib together, get a changing table and a dresser...good thing we still have four and a half months!

[Added after Huz fulfilled his Father's Day duty (self-imposed; I didn't ask him to do a thing today) and put together the crib we won. Check out how cute it looks with the green! I'm going to paint some yellow squares and hang giant white and red clothes pins that I got from Pottery Barn on them....I'll post when it's done.]

Crib and Bedding with Gleeful Green

Posted by Bird On A Line @ 4:42 PM
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Friday, June 15, 2007

Love and Hate

Love:

1. My husband. It sounds cheesy, but he's really been great lately. He's extremely supportive, loving, and kind; I know he's going to be a great father with these traits. This Sunday is Father's Day and I plan on making him a dinner that I chose especially for him (I wouldn't say anything about it beforehand, but he saw the recipes I had accidentally left out, so the surprise factor is gone.)

2. The color we chose to paint the nursery this weekend. I'm going to pick it up after work from Sherwin-Williams. Check it out here and search for "Gleeful." The name says it all!

3. Friends who invite us to do things with them. We had a fun pool party last weekend (previous post) and are going to a Nashville Sounds game tomorrow night with others. I love you guys!

Hate:

In the office

1. When I go into the office bathroom and suffocate on all the Lysol spray fumes. I'd rather smell shit than shit and fake roses any day!

2. When I have to wipe the seat before using it because the person before me tinkled on it. Hygiene, ladies! Hygiene!

3. When some guy in the men's bathroom flushes and immediately opens the door, filling the entire suite with the oh so professional sound of water rushing down the pipes. Lovely.

On the road

1. Whenever a good ol' boy in a beat up Chevy, Dodge, or Ford pickup gets in front of me and drives 10 miles below the speed limit. It ain't Sunday, buddy! I gotta get to work!

2. When I have to pee really badly (which seems like every day) and I'm stuck in traffic.

3. Pretty much everyone because they drive like idiots. (Huz says that Cletus is going to be born with an automatic frustration at 7:30a.m. and 5:00p.m. because of my road rage.)

Posted by Bird On A Line @ 9:37 AM
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Thursday, June 14, 2007

Pool Party

Last weekend Huz and I went to a friend's pool party. It was lovely to be in the cool water on such a hot and humid day (remind me again why I live in the South?).

Cletus and I sunbathed for the first time.

Cletus and Me Sunbathing

Huz and I chilled.

Me and Huz at the Swim Party

Here's me last weekend at 19 weeks.

With Neville (who says Huz isn't artistic!?).

19 Weeks (with Neville)19 weeks

Posted by Bird On A Line @ 12:11 PM
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Wednesday, June 13, 2007

html advice

Can anyone point me in the direction of the html code to add a left sidebar?

Thanks!

Posted by Bird On A Line @ 10:52 AM
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Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Thar She Blows

Finally, I felt her move! Huz was reading us (it's weird to talk like I have multiple personalities, but you get my drift) a book last night* and I felt all sorts of popcorn being made in my belly. It lasted about 10-15 minutes and I'm sure it wasn't my intestines. Huz put his hand on me and swore he felt something too, but then quickly second guessed himself and said maybe he imagined it, but he felt it at the same time I felt it so I'm sure it was real.

A.W.E.S.O.M.E.


*Harry Potter, natch.

Posted by Bird On A Line @ 9:07 AM
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Monday, June 11, 2007

Half Baked Pictures

Here's our little girl!

My favorite - her cute little profile.

thumbsucker

Another profile - check out the beginnings of a cute button nose!

profile

Now I lay me down to sleep...

now i lay me down to sleep

Little face and hand.

little hand

The parts. Three lines the labia do make!

girl parts

A 3D shot - kinda strange looking because it picks up all the tissue surrounding her, but still awesome.

sleepy

Posted by Bird On A Line @ 8:55 AM
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Saturday, June 9, 2007

It's A..........

Before I tell you the gender, I must say that 1) I was wrong about what I thought I was having and 2) how incredibly cool the ultrasound was yesterday. The tech took about 45 minutes exploring every little limb (all accounted for), both little hands that moved about feverishly - opening and closing - being pushed and pulled from mouth to ears (already our little one is saying, "I can't hear you!"), the little curled up legs (so modest), the tiny feet kicking around (which I'm amazed I still can't feel), the heart (all four chambers there and working great - heartbeat 151), the stomach, the kidneys, the skull...everything. We got a bunch of photos from it (I'll scan and post later) and a video of the whole thing. We saw all of our little baby (6 inches crown to rump and 11 oz.), including the crotch area which revealed that we're having a....

...For fun, I tried various old wives' tale methods to try and discover the gender over the last few weeks. You know, the wedding ring on a string over the belly (circle = girl, straight line = boy); a friend from work did the pencil on a string over my wrist (circle = girl, straight line = boy); I noted where hair was newly sprouting and with what frequency (faster growing leg hair is supposed to be a boy); I noted my chest and neck breaking out in acne (the jury is out on what this is supposed to produce); and I noted my morning sickness in the first trimester (feeling sick but not tossing your cookies I've heard is primarily an indicator of a boy), etc. I was even asked by colleagues which direction I sleep in my bed (head to the north is apparently supposed to be a boy and south a girl - what about east and west!?), to show them my hands (if I offered them palm up it's a girl, palm down a boy), if my hands were itching or not, etc. etc. It was all fun and games, but because of the rather consistent results and the feeling I got upon finding out we conceived, I was convinced I knew what it was...

(I'll be nice and let you know now. You've been patient.)

I thought all along that it was a boy. But it's a girl! And I have to admit that I am so excited because I secretly wanted a girl. I practically helped raise my two little sisters so all I know are girls; not that having a boy would be any less awesome, but I'm really excited that we're having a baby girl. Now on to the name list! (It'll be a secret until she's born, by the way.)

Girls Rule!

p.s. I just found out that one of my photos taken at the women's shelter got put on their website header (the one on the far right). Awesome!

Posted by Bird On A Line @ 10:16 AM
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Thursday, June 7, 2007

Wanna Bet?

Anyone care to voice their opinion on the gender of Baby Cletus Winters??? We find out TOMORROW at 1:30p.m. and I'm SO excited!!!! :) :)

[Tally at work so far: 15 for boy, 4 for girl]

Posted by Bird On A Line @ 10:30 AM
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Wednesday, June 6, 2007

It's True

I have the coolest Mom ever.

Look at the menu she wrote up for my upcoming baby shower. I'm so excited (and hungry)!

Desserts
~CAKE!
~Bittersweet chocolate-orange fondue w/ pound cake, strawberries, dried apricots, pear
~Mini scones w/ devonshire cream and lemon curd
~Almond macaroons

Nibbles
~Caramelized & spiced mixed nuts

Salad type stuff
~Tomato, basil & mozzarella plate
~Cherry tomatoes stuffed with crab

Tea sandwiches
~Little cream puffs filled with creamy chicken-cucumber
~Little cream puffs filled with smoked turkey w/ cranberries
~Crescent roll pinwheels with ham & swiss cheese
~Pumpernickel with smoked salmon-wasabi
~Brown bread triangles with Grandma’s cucumber
~White bread circles with Buckingham Palace garden party cucumber
~Raisin bread triangles with walnut cream
~Nut bread triangles with black olive and sprouts
~Tomato herb bread triangles with olive-ricotta spread w/ capacolla, bresaola, salami, & soppresata

Beverages
~Mint iced tea
~Lemonade made with sparkling water
~Coffee

Don't you want to come to the shower!? I do!!

Posted by Bird On A Line @ 1:44 PM
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Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Hair Cut

So this is the latest cut. It's so much better than last week's, don't you think? Now my bangs don't look ridiculously short at all! I wanted something short and sassy - as far away from maternal looking as possible - just to show the world that I'm still my fun, young self and not some barefoot-in-the-kitchen-wench!

Latest Hair Style

Posted by Bird On A Line @ 7:31 PM
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Sunday, June 3, 2007

Okay, Mom, I've Definitely Popped

I see it now. The last week and a half has produced major changes in the ol' bod. The sisters are, um, quite different now and so is the belly. I can't believe I have to get bigger than this. I'm afraid.

16-18 Weeks
18 Weeks

(See the hair I'm hating? I cut my own damn bangs too short and went to get the rest of it cut, but hate it. I'm going back tomorrow to get something shorter and sassier.)

But apparently I'm not afraid enough. I made this last week for a Memorial Day BBQ we had at our place.

DSC_0005

The recipe is here if you'd like to taste it.

Posted by Bird On A Line @ 2:12 PM
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Friday, June 1, 2007

Stream of Consciounsness Post

I've been itching to be creative lately.

I want to do photography and the darkroom again (I dropped that lame community college class last semester because I was there for a month and hadn't developed one stinking print yet - boring!).

I want to make handmade soap again (but is using sodium hydroxide safe during pregnancy? I would mix it outside so the fumes wouldn't be too bad and I always wear elbow-high gloves and safety goggles. I've emailed my midwife to see if she can tell me.).

I want to create art (I recently saw a painting from afar that reminded me of the womb, which made me want to get out the glue and tissue paper to form a texturized, pink womb with some kind or representation of life inside. This is not a medium I'm used to - multi-media painting - but it was very exciting to me at the time I was envisioning it.).

I want to make jewelry again - beaded earrings and necklaces, silver rings, etc. I just need a lab to make rings because I need a hammer, a ring sizer, a metal cutter, and a soldering iron! Drat.

I have been itching to create my own bumper stickers ever since I got pregnant. The first would be: "Baby in Utero" instead of "Baby on Board." Another would be: "Get outta my way - pregnant and hungry!" or "Move it! I'm pregnant and gotta GOOOOO!"

I want to learn how to silk screen my own t-shirts and bags. I've seen the "Coming This Spring" maternity t-shirts but no "Coming This Fall" ones, so I want to make my own. [Found this which will help me out.]

I want to make my own (or find one) rubber stamp with a bird on a line because a bird on a line makes me smile. I'd make my own stationary and greeting cards with a bird on a line. Isn't that happy? It is to me. Ideally it would be a sparrow or a morning dove (the latter being my favorite bird because I love their song).

I found this article yesterday and I'm totally going to do this from now on.

Posted by Bird On A Line @ 10:27 AM
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My Food Blog

Quesadillas and Drinks

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Am


Was

Julie and Julia
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What To Expect When You're Expecting
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Baby Wise
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Cute, Quaint, Hungry and Romantic: The Aesthetics of Consumerism
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All The Names
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Taking Charge of Your Fertility
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Black Dogs
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Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
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Postcards

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