This post is mostly for my mom...

...because she was getting sick of the guidos fist pumping every time she checked my blog.  Now you get to see a post addressed to you! And now everyone knows you're not amused by The Situation. I'll post your phone number for disagreeing fans later.

Not much is going on in the land of Abby and her unshowered mother. Routine is setting in, and so when I do things like wash dishes twice a day, do laundry and pick up the house while watching Bonnie Hunt and What Not to Wear...there really isn't much worth blogging about.

It DOES sadden me that routine is finally settling in, and I'm going back to work in less than three weeks. I'm going to try to make the best of the rest of my time and make Abby learn as many tricks as possible so I don't miss anything. She did give me a BIG smile yesterday morning when I went to her crib to get her up for the day. We're still working on smiles. I think she's just a little shy. Other than that, she's lifting her legs up in the air all the time now, so we're getting some assistance during diaper changes.

Hmmm...what else? I think that's about it for now. I apologize for my lack of anything. I'm spending most of my time manning the Save Conan fanpage on Facebook.  (I'm so crabby with NBC that I could spit.) Wanna become a fan? Click here.

Let me pause for a moment to say...

I LOVE JERSEY SHORE.

That is all.

Your gift to Abby...

...if you would please...

They restarted the vote count...AGAIN! (If you're confused, see this post from a couple days ago)...so if you could again do me all a favor and click the hell outta the link on the right that says "We're Listed! @TopBabyBlogs.com" (or for you RSS readers, the banner at the bottom of each update) - that would be swell!

(We were doing so well - this blog was ranked 19th! And now...pffftt. So, if you could help out with a bunch of clicks on those, that'd be the greatest virtual gift to give to Abby!)

Thanks everyone!

Oh well, I tried!

The finalists were revealed for the Best Pregnancy Blog award, and alas, I was not included.

But I encourage you to vote for your favs - Blair and The 818 are both good e-friends, so I encourage you to vote for one of them!


Vote for Mommy Blog Awards here.

I'm not the first to say it.

Lady Gaga - you're trying too hard. Seriously. We know you're "different."

Birthdays - pre-pregnancy and pregnancy.

This is a photo of me yesterday on my 29th birthday, enjoying a virgin Bloody Mary on the St. Croix river in Stillwater. After an afternoon spent in antique stores and window shopping, this was the perfect next step - Virgin Mary's and dinner. We followed this up with cake from Woullet's and a couple scoops of ice cream at home.

Below is a photo of me on my 28th birthday. I am the one behind the shirtless Taylor Hicks look-a-like getting my freak on. (That's my friend Mandy in the front.) This all took place at a lovely establishment known as The Gay 90's - a gay friendly club in Minneapolis with the BEST DRAG SHOW EVER (don't let anyone tell you otherwise). I was drunk off my skull and had the time of my life.

Both of these birthday goings-on were my choice, and exactly what I wanted to do on that given day. The difference a year can make. Oh, and gestating a human being making my 29th the most sober birthday I've had in nearly a decade.

(Make no mistake - 30 will be an earth shattering event. We WILL be getting a babysitter.) :)

I'm a blogging machine.

Okay - seriously, I know I don't usually post this much. You'll have to deal with not being able to catch up just for now. I'm sure this won't stick for too long. :)

Anyway, I have to be an attention whore for about 3 more minutes and announce two things. One, HOLY CRAP I'M IN THE THIRD TRIMESTER. Do you know what that means? I'm almost done with being pregnant. As in, in 3 months (or less) we'll have an outside baby. I started to think about that last night as I was laying in bed and started to panic. But then, the 5 hours of sleep I had gotten the night before got the best of me and I fell asleep.

And two - it's our second anniversary today! (Everyone breathe a collective "AWWWWWWWW!") That's right, I've been married to my wonderful hubs for 2 years now. I know it's cliché, but it really feels like it was only a few weeks ago that we got married. It's funny too, the weather this week is mimicking the weather when we were married - 90s and hot, sunny and humid. It's a good thing I love this kind of weather. I can't say the same for our wedding guests.

Anyway - what a different two years can make.

August 2007


August 2009

Unexpected benefits of losing a kitty.

Ladies (and gentlemen? There's gotta be at least one male reader, right?) - I actually slept through the night last night.

Holy crap.

Granted, I did wake up a couple times, but fell right back asleep. The most important part is that I did not get up ONCE - not even to pee. It's a miracle.

Sadly, I think it can be attributed to the fact that Miles is now in kitty heaven, and not knocking shit down every 2 hours because he's hungry or bored or just wants to be an ass.

And thus, the story. If you cry easily or just lost a pet or just don't feel like being depressed, I wouldn't bother reading the rest of this post. But it feels good to get it out there, so...here it is.

I'll start by saying the hubs is like, my effing hero. He was so strong for me when I couldn't be.

When I got home from work, the hubs had Miles outside in the front and I walked up from the train and just lost it. He felt so bad...but it wasn't even just seeing Miles, I'd been holding it in all day. To make matters worse, Miles was seemingly fine when I got home. I mean, I knew he'd get cruddy again at some point, but he was having a good moment of no snot or sneezing or anything. Then I started having second thoughts and was feeling so guilty for even considering putting him down, but the hubs kept reminding me that he WAS really sick.

We got there and they put us in this "Grieving room" that was like, a nicer, private waiting room. Our vet came in to put a catheter in his arm and reassured me that I was making the right decision. Hearing a medical professional say it made me feel better too. So, she came back with him and discussed what they were going to do, and we decided to have him cremated. Then she said she was just going to do it in that room, and I was like - "I can't. I can't be here and watch it. I feel guilty and horrible enough as it is to have just agreed to let you put him down." The hubs said he would stay because he didn't want him to die without at least one of us. So, I started saying goodbye to him and was about to leave the room but started bawling so I had to stick around for a few more seconds while I got my shit together. Suddenly Miles had this HUGE fit of sneezing and the worst snot I've ever seen come out of his little skull. It made me laugh for some reason, because even though it was horrible, it was EXACTLY what I needed to see in order to be okay with what was about to happen. I tried to wipe his nose, but our vet said she'd take care of it so I could get myself back in line so I could leave and walk through the regular waiting room. Like it mattered, I had myself together when I left the room and as soon as my foot entered the normal waiting area I just lost it. (I had to carry his effing empty carrier out to the car with a bunch of strangers and their pets looking at me - THE WORST.) So I went to the car and hyperventilate-cried for about 8 minutes until the hubs came out and it was over. He was SO upset, but it made me feel better that I wasn't a freak for being so heartbroken. The hubs said that Miles was pretty chill, they gave him the sedative so he just kind of laid down and went to sleep, and the hubs was telling him we loved him, and then the vet said "he's gone" and the hubs didn't even notice that he'd stopped breathing. So...pretty peaceful.

**big sigh**

It's weird being in a one cat household. Boo is certainly soaking up the attention we're giving him. We both feel guilty at the same time, like Miles is somehow seeing the attention we're showering on Boo and getting jealous or something (we were always VERY equal in our attention and love we showed to the boys when they were in the same room).

Each day will get better, but I expect it to suck for a few weeks. I started crying again in the shower this morning...but shower cries are better than the "at my desk" cries I was having on Monday and Tuesday.

I'm really REALLY looking forward to heading to my parents house this weekend. Getting away will help, I think.

25 weeks

How far along? 25 weeks.
Total weight gain/loss: About +/-17 lbs.
Maternity clothes? Indeed.
Stretch marks? My worst news to report. Leftie (that would be my left boob) has been stretchie stricken. Is there no mercy?!
Sleep: A little better, but I wake up a lot and struggle to get comfortable. I'm also a portable heater when I sleep. :)
Best moment this week: Passing the 1hr Glucose!
Movement: Yep. Had a few decent flips too! Mother- & Sister-in-laws got to feel a few kicks this weekend.
Food cravings: Still sweets. Think a gallon of chewy sprees. Mmm...
Gender: Thinking girl.
Labor Signs: Still with the Braxton Hicks, but cervix checked and NO movement on the active labor front, thank GOD.
Belly Button in or out? Barely innie.
What I miss: I already miss my kittie Miles. (More on that below.)
What I am looking forward to: Seeing my mom & dad and dad's family this weekend! And getting the nursery painted. :)
Weekly Wisdom: I'm hard pressed to come up with anything this week.
Milestones: Passing the glucose, and nearly onto the 6th month!

Onto the sad news. We've decided that the time has come to put our kitteh Miles to sleep. He's been ill for a number of years with both pre-cancerous inflammatory bowel disease and inflammatory rhinitis, and after this past weekend, he's grown ill enough where we can't justify prolonging his life anymore. He's such a sweet boy and does not deserve this, but we don't see an alternative. We love him so much, and he is more than part of the family. He has been my best buddy for the past 8 years, and he will be sorely missed. We'll more than likely be making his final appointment at the vet tomorrow or the next.

We'll miss you, my sweet sweet boy.

Patriotic recap.

This weekend flew by more quickly than I would have liked, and it's amplified by the fact that the hubs has the day off today, where I am firmly planted in my seat at work. Boo. (AND it's a gorgeous day to boot.)

At any rate, we spent most of the weekend preparing for our 4th of July party - cleaning, grocery shopping, tending to the yard. Thursday night was The Roots at First Avenue, totally awesome. I went home afterwards, and the hubs stayed out. I was fine with that - he even got home around midnight. :)

Friday was cleaning and prep day. Saturday I woke up a little later than I would have liked and started making WAY too much food. We had everything ready to go, and by the time most of our guests arrived, it started to pour. So, a couple hours of the BBQ were spent indoors, watching the Twins game...which was fine. It eventually cleared and we all headed back outside with towels and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon. In the evening, we drove to St. Paul to see Elvis Costello and some excellent fireworks. I learned that I cannot walk long distances because my back and knees are now those of an 80 year old. We got home, and I pretty much fell asleep while the hubs and a few of his buddies stayed up until the sun came up. Yesterday was clean up and lounge day, which was desparately needed.

Overall, it was quite a fun weekend. I got nothing accomplished in the baby area, but the hubs and I have decided to move the guest bed upstairs some day this week to get the ball rolling. I expect the crib and combo will be here sometime in the next two weeks, and the glider to be here in the next month...I just cannot wait to get it set up! But first...painting...hmmm....

And this concludes the most rambling blog entry to date. Thank you.

SO happy I could cry.

Almost 3 months ago, my Grandmother passed away. She always spoiled me rotten, always - and even in her passing, she continued to do the same.

I was lucky enough to inherit her car, which was such a blessing since the hubs and I have been a one car household for almost 2.5 years. With the lil' ninja on it's way, and the hubs working 10 hour days (not getting home until almost 7 or 7:30 every night), functioning with only one car was becoming nearly impossible. So, for the car alone, I am eternally grateful.

However, she also left me a chunk of an IRA. A decent sized chunk which the hubs and I had planned on just hanging on to, but had wanted to pay off some debt. Last weekend, I talked to my mom and dad, and they convinced me that I should just cash it out and pay off our biggest credit card (leaving the rest of our credit card debt manageable and probably will be paid off by October).

Today, I did just that. I paid off our big credit card. Our honeymoon, the Mexico trip from earlier this year, numerous kitty emergencies, and God knows what else, all FINALLY paid for.

That, my friends, was the greatest feeling in the world. Knowing when our babe enters this world, we'll essentially be debt free (you know, aside from our car payment and mortgage) is the best feeling in the entire world.

Thanks again Gabs...you continue to be my guardian angel. Love you much, and miss you more.

Not much to report...

This weekend was long, and sad. We attended the memorial service for our friend on Sunday, and I'm happy and sad to have it over. We also did some more yardwork, and replaced a little carpeting in our basement (ahhh, cat pee...you bastard, bastard kitties).

Other than that, not much news to report on the baby front. Still a little movement, still feeling okay. Bought some maternity shorts yesterday, which was an excellent move. It felt SO GOOD to have shorts on yesterday.

16 weeks.

How far along? 16 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Still about + 1 overall.
Maternity clothes? Still massively enjoying my recent purchases. Although, I have to say, maternity shorts selection leave much to be desired.
Stretch marks? One more has joined the small cluster on my thighs. But I'm quite sure those were there before the spawn.
Sleep: Continually lame. I can assume it's only going to get lamer. I never sleep through the night, and wake up just about every other hour.
Best moment this week: FEELING MOVEMENT! Woo-hoo!
Movement: Uh, see above.
Food cravings: Chocolate Cake. With vanilla ice cream.
Gender: After my dream? Girl.
Labor Signs: Nooo.
Belly Button in or out? Still innie. Still wider.
What I miss: My shorts. All of them.
What I am looking forward to: My doc's appt this afternoon so I can hear the heartbeat again, hopefully!
Weekly Wisdom: Sigh. Again, hug your loved ones and cherish every moment.
Milestones: M to the O to the V to the E to the M - E - N - T!

This week ended up being a lot more tragic than we ever could have imagined. A good friend of the hubs and I suffered a brain injury on Tuesday evening, and after days of surgeries, prayers and hope, he was eventually taken off life support and passed away around noon on Sunday. He had many MANY friends, and all of us were very sad this weekend, trying to take the whole situation in. I've teared up a few times, but when a coworker sat down, gave her condolences and asked what happened this morning, I just started to cry.

His funeral will more than likely be later this week. I just hope that this is the last of the funerals before this baby is born. I know it's not possible, but I just get worried with all the tragedy and sadness I've been through since being pregnant that it'll somehow affect the baby. Just a worried momma, I guess - I know there's no real possibility...but it's just scary and sad that all this has happened in such a short period of time.

We'll miss you Kelley, but we know our baby will have yet another angel to watch over him/her.

A non-baby post....

If you're a reader of Martini's (which some of you may be) - you may notice her blog is offline again. That is because someone using the email address shannonjkramer@hotmail.com and with the name "Shannon Kramer" has been sending a link to her blog to people that may not necessarily need to be reading it. This person is obviously trying to out her in some form or another, and this is the second (or third?) time in Martini's blogging career that such an event has taken place.

Martini's requesting your help. Recognize that name or email address? Leave me a comment - together we'll get to the bottom of this travesty.

(PS - please feel free to send hate mail to this "Shannon." I give you my full permission.)