searching for happy

Jaws Jones: 2004-2008

nobody@vox.com(melissa) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:55:31 -0400

This is Jaws, my sister and brother-in-law's dog.

He was hit by a car and killed on Saturday. Kyla and Chris are devastated, and so is the rest of the family, especially their other dog, Cujo.

He was four years old and very loved. This is one of my favourite pictures of him. I took it a couple of years ago while the two dogs were running around my mom's yard.

We will all miss him.

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Not the best baby shower idea...

nobody@vox.com(melissa) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:58:45 -0400

I hope no one gets a cake like this for me when the time comes. Who would want to eat any of the icing?

(Found via Metafilter.)

Cake Wrecks: The First Censored Cake Wreck

http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2008/0...

Egads, people, what is going on at today's baby showers?!? First the boobie cake, then the edible baby, and now this!Obviously, this is wrong on a level so VERY wrong that it doesn't really need elaboration. However, I feel compelled to point out that the, er, "mom" here has the face of a blow-up doll, is completely nekkid (is that a new trend in delivery rooms?), and is anatomically correct where you wouldn't expect her to be (ergo the censor bars - sorry, fellas!).I'm picturing the games they played at this baby shower: "Pin the Epidural", "Catch the After-birth", and of course the ever popular "Guess Whose Hoo-Haw?". Yeesh - just what do you suppose the party favors were? No, wait, let's not go there...(Liz P., thanks for sharing - I think.)

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30 Weeks, 2 days

nobody@vox.com(melissa) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:36:12 -0400

30 Weeks 2 days
Originally uploaded by MPriceMitchell

In anywhere from eight to 12 weeks, I will be a mother to someone who is outside of my body. Time is starting to go fast now.

I got a surprise shower with my family at our annual girl's weekend. We better pray that Skeletor is definitely a girl because she got a lot of beautiful pink clothes. At worst Skeletor will be a cross-dresser for a few months. Men wear pink too, right? My cousin who had a baby girl a few years ago also gave me boxes of her old baby clothes, along with other baby things. It was really generous and Sean and I are very thankful for it.

I had to go for a non-stress test yesterday. It lived up to its name and was non-stressful. Just a belt with some sensors attached to my stomach to track the baby's heartbeat and movements. I need to get this test done once a week until the end of the pregnancy due to having elevated AFP levels (that's what made Skeletor's risk for spina bifida so high). It's more precautionary at this point I think, but better safe than sorry, especially when it is not an invasive or scary test.

So, we're still kicking, squirming and incubating around here.

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Vacation to-do list

nobody@vox.com(melissa) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:12:47 -0400

I'm on vacation this week. Since Sean couldn't take this week with me, I am trying to get lots of stuff done around here. Since posting the list publicly seems to help me get stuff done, here is the week's list. Sean does get Canada Day off tomorrow, so hopefully he can help with some of these things. Hopefully I can squeeze some fun stuff in too. And naps. Naps are nice when you are nearly seven months pregnant.

~~Sean's laundry~~ (done, folded AND put away! Woohoo!)
~~My laundry~~ (done, folded and put away! Woohoo!)
~~Wash sheets and towels~~
~~Wash new baby clothes, put them away~~ (this took all day!)
Put away other baby stuff we currently have
~~Write thank you notes~~ (waiting on some addresses and need to buy stamps)
~~Clean bathroom~~
Weed garden
Call daycare centres, get put on waiting lists (have made progress on this, but not on any actual waiting lists yet)
~~Find doctor for baby~~
~~OB appointment~~
~~Hospital pre-registration appointment~~
~~Non-stress test~~
~~Fill out insurance forms, mail back~~
~~Clean up living room~~
~~Vacuum/mop main floor~~
Straighten up the deck
~~Take measurements for coffee table~~, buy tiles

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28 weeks, 1 day

nobody@vox.com(melissa) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:47:09 -0400

28 weeks, 1 day

Went to the doctor today. Everything is still ticking along as expected. I got my pre-registration package today, so I need to fill that out. I also need to sign up for our prenatal classes.

I was hoping Skeletor would do some big kicks when the doctor was checking her out, but it didn't happen.

We've done so much, but there is still so much left to do.

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It's been a bit rainy here today

nobody@vox.com(melissa) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 16:51:34 -0400

Back of the house (from our office window)

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Personality Type: The Individualistic Doer

nobody@vox.com(melissa) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 15:03:38 -0400

Individualistic Doers are self-assured and very independent persons. They are quiet and realistic, very rational, extremely matter of fact persons. They strongly cultivate their individualism and enjoy applying their abilities to new tasks. But they are also very spontaneous and impulsive persons who like to follow their sudden inspirations. Individualistic Doers are good and precise observers who register everything which goes on around them. However, they are not so sensitive as regards interpersonal relations and are surprised when they occasionally rub someone up the wrong way with their direct and blunt manner. They are not particularly fond of obligations; but if you give them space, they are uncomplicated, sociable and cheerful individuals.

Individualistic Doers enjoy challenges - action and the odd kick are simply part of their life. They love tempting fate and many people of this type have risky hobbies such as skydiving or bungee jumping. This also applies to their workaday life. Individualistic Doers are in top form in critical situations; they can grasp situations, make decisions and take the necessary steps extremely quickly. Hierarchies and authorities impress them very little; if a superior is not competent, they will have little respect for him. Individualistic Doers like to take on responsibility. They have a marked sense of reality and always find the most suitable and expedient solution for a problem. They resolve conflicts openly and directly; here, they sometimes lack tact but are also very good at taking criticism themselves.

As friends, Individualistic Doers are loyal and devoted; they only have a few friendships but many of them last a lifetime. People enjoy talking to them because of their optimistic attitude to life and their ability to listen. However, they prefer to talk about mutual interests and hobbies rather than about theoretical or philosophical issues - they are not tangible enough for them. They need a lot of freedom and time to themselves in love relationships but, at the same time, they are also very tolerant towards their partners. It happens very seldom that Individualistic Doers fall head over heels in love. They are far too rational. They prefer to pick their partner on the basis of mutual interests and preferences which they want to share with that partner. Individualistic Doers are not particularly fond of effusive outbursts of emotion. They prefer to prove their love by their actions and expect the same of their partner. Whoever wishes to tie an Individualistic Doer to himself needs a lot of patience. It takes some time before this personality type is willing to get involved with another person.

Adjectives which describe your type

introverted, practical, logical, spontaneous, adventurous, resolved, independent, fearless, loyal, analytical, realistic, optimistic, interested, quiet, curious, circumspect, individualistic, action-loving, venturesome, cool, dispassionate, reserved, skilful, confident, independent, communicative, down-to-earth

These subjects could interest you

travel, nature, hiking, cars, model making, gardening, drawing/painting, astrology, spiritual matters, music, literature, writing, strategy games, politics

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Skeletor is growing...

nobody@vox.com(melissa) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 23:36:34 -0400

27 weeks, 3 days
Originally uploaded by MPriceMitchell

This is not the most attractive pregnant lady picture ever but it tells the story. Skeletor is getting bigger and thumping around lots. I'm 27 weeks, 3 days in this picture, so I will continue to get bigger. Hopefully I'll document the growth a little more regularly.

I went and bought some maternity pants today. They have fake baby bellies in the dressing room that you can strap to yourself to see how the clothes will fit with a bigger belly. A saleswoman told me that they add about five months worth of baby belly.

So now I know what I will look like when I am 11 months pregnant - like I have an oddly-shaped throw pillow stuffed down my pants. Fortunately, I forgot my camera and didn't document that sight.

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26 weeks, 4 days

nobody@vox.com(melissa) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:40:41 -0400

The severe thunderstorms that are supposed to be coming our way are taking their sweet time getting here. We have clouds but they aren't really storm clouds yet. It rained for a few minutes about an hour ago, but nothing else yet. We have a tornado watch too, which is unusual for this area, but the extreme heat and humidity have really thrown the weather for a loop this weekend.

I'm just relieved that we put in the air conditioning in the house after we moved in. I didn't want to spend the money, but Sean insisted, and I'm glad that we did, especially this year. I find I've been more sensitive to the heat thanks to Skeletor. I went out to get my lunch on Friday, and by the time I got back to the office, my feet were all swollen up. I ended up putting the Yellow Pages under my desk and my feet shrunk down again after resting on that for awhile. We shall see if that continues to work.

In other Skeletor-related news, she now has a nursery mostly set up. Both of the grandmas (Sean's mum and my mum) came up and painted the room and put up the border that Sean picked. Sean and I got the crib put together (which took longer than one would think), and things are starting to look pretty spiffy in there. No pictures yet because we don't have a mattress or bedding and I'd like to do the documenting after things are done. I did try to take a picture of the grandmas in the room showing off their hard work, but my mom told us to wait until she could hold the baby and sit in the rocking chair with it. Fair enough.

I'm finally starting to look pregnant and not just fat, which is a relief. I'm starting to wear more maternity clothes, including some that Sean's mum made for me - again, no pictures yet. I really need to start documenting this. Last week, I wore an empire-waisted top that I bought last summer (read: it's not a maternity shirt), and a guy ended up giving me his seat on the subway! That was the first time that's happened, and I really appreciated it. I don't expect it to happen too much, but as long as I'm not falling over or fainting, I'm not bothered by it. I know I'm not an invalid and I shouldn't get any more special treatment than anyone else, but gestures like that are awfully nice.

Skeletor is kicking and squirming regularly now. Sean finally felt her kick last week, which was such a nice moment. He kept asking her to kick for him and she wouldn't. One day at work, I had been busy and hadn't eaten lunch yet. I stopped for a minute and felt a few big kicks or punches (I really can't tell them apart yet), and I looked down and said "All right, we'll go and eat! Now what do you want?" I haven't worked out a "one kick means yes, two kicks mean no" system yet, but we'll see what happens.

So to make a long story short, Skeletor is behaving and incubating properly, and preparations are well under way. I can't believe how quickly the second trimester has went. I imagine the third one won't go as fast, but since it's summer, it might - summer always seems to go by so quickly. Or maybe summer will go quickly, and it will just be me who is slow, and waddling and swollen and awkward. We shall see.

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Hooray! The flowers are planted!

nobody@vox.com(melissa) — Sat, 24 May 2008 22:12:39 -0400

Sean and I finally got the flowers planted today. The flowers look good, but they're not quite picture-worthy when they are just wee little plants in the ground. Let's hope for the best. Here are some close-ups of some of the prettier blooms.

Gerber Daisies, Begonia

And just for fun, here is a picture I took of the cat a couple of weeks ago.

bucKley

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