38 weeks pregnant... with both a baby and two boxes of girl scout samoa cookies. perfect timing, girl scouts of america!

Things I Did Not Do Tonight

1.) Watch Lost.
2.) Refrain from eating a bowl of ice cream, despite 4 lb. weight gain since my last Dr. appt. 2 weeks ago
3.) Walk my dog. (POOR GUY)
4.) Have an anxiety attack about the creeper who exposed himself to the neighbor kids. (That was last night (the anxiety attack)) (And OMG. Am beyond distraught over this news. Those poor kids. I'd like to personally castrate the man. And I truly won't be able to sleep soundly for a good few weeks, I'm guessing.) (P.S. I do not live in a shady area whatsoever, so this really took the wind out of me... esp. being prego.)
5.) Fart. That was the dog. I swear!

So, it turns out... the best way for me to get some "decorate my house" motivation is to have a crap-ton of people over! Since I live in the middle of the state, and my family is on the east side, Nick's on the east, it was decided that my house would be as good a place as any to have a bebe shower.

Once that was decided... well, let's just say that my white walls are no longer white. We FINALLY got rid of hideous gold/brass light fixtures that just tortured my soul endlessly for almost 2 years, and hung up some stuff/scored some cheap duds at Home Goods. Nothing fancy, but better than nothing! Last weekend was one of those weekends where we were non-stop working on the house. Once it was all said and done with, I finally "got it" - why people work on their house. Quite rewarding, I must say!

Kinda side-bar story: my co-worker's house was ruined in a fire. He just bolted from work early last week, popped his head in our Manager's office and said "gotta run, my house is on fire!" He's a fairly young guy, early-to-mid-30s, maybe? He has 2 young boys, about 3 and 7. The older boy was devastated that his bike was ruined. We all pitched in a bought them a shiny new Schwinn. When my co-worker brought in his boys on Friday so we could "surprise" them with the bikes (the 7 yr old totes spotted the bike in one of those offices that has half-glass door) - it was the most heartwarming thing I've witnessed in a long time. The 7 yr old kept talking about how his new bike "has a kickstand!!!!!!" It truly is the little things, right?
(How was that a side-bar story? you might ask. Well, I heard that my co-worker has spent a lot of time on his house, had put in a lot of elbow grease, blood-sweat-and-tears sort of thing. And after this weekend, I couldn't help to think of how devastating it would be to not only lose your house, but to lose all of that time/effort/etc. you had put into it. Okay, I've digressed far enough...)

Where to next?

Uh, taxes. Taxes. Oh taxes. Nick and I typically claim zero exemptions. Not for any particular reason, but mostly because we're not super stellar at saving money, so if we claimed the amount of exemptions that would make us break-even at the end of the year, then that extra money (extra meaning the difference from claiming zero) would just go towards an extra dinner out per week, or a new x-box game, or a trip to Target. While some people are OK with this, and prefer this ("I get my money, what is mine, each paycheck, instead of giving an interest-free loan to the government!") - I like getting this extra money in the spring. It kind of feels like bonus money. Like, "Here, get a new fridge!" Or, "buy yourself some new windows so you don't spend $410 to heat your house in the winter!") (BTW: "HEAT" used very liberally... as I don't consider spending $410 to "heat" my house to 65 degrees quite worth it...)

Anyhow... so when I got all of our W2's gathered in a nice, neat stack, I went to town with TurboTax.

Except, um, TurboTax? Please tell me that decimal place should be one place to the right. Because $250????? EFF ME. I was expecting no less than $2500. Holy hell, we spent $11k on mortgage interest alone last year!

After taking a closer look at our W2's, I think that maybe Nick's work wasn't taking out as much tax as they should have. He claimed 0 exemptions the whole year, but they took about 50% less taxes in 2009 than in 2008. I don't claim to understand who/what/where/when/why of taxes. But it turns out that Nick got "what he was supposed to get" in his paycheck all year long.

At least we don't have to pay! But - ugh. In a few weeks here, I'm going to be out of work for 12 weeks. That $250 refund won't go so far... and I was planning on using our tax return to soften the blow of me not working for 12 weeks. (Getting partial pay for 6 weeks, granted, but zero pay for six weeks.)

At the end of the day, though, what really matter? I have a BOMB ASS husband, a perfect dog, and I will soon have a daughter! A real, live daughter! WHOA WTF. I am pretty sure I will read back on this post and say "who gives a shit" about taxes and such nonsense.

After seeing that cute kid get geeked about a kickstand... really helped me put things in perspective.

what did i do to deserve being locked up in here all day? it's not like i would have brushed up against the wet paint and totally screwed it up and made my mama go insane or anything! gosh, my life is ruff.

seriously, people: does it get much cuter than this guy?!?!

Right Vs. Wrong

Okay, people, I am 7 months pregnant. I have never been pregnant before in my life, so I never knew what it felt like to be a pregnant lady. Therefore, I may not have known the proper and improper things to say to a pregnant lady.  Makes sense, right?

 

Let this blog post be a lesson to you all, in case you are in that same boat (have never been a pregnant lady before...)...

 

Things That Are RIGHT To Say To A Pregnant Lady:

You look so beautiful! *

You are glowing! **

Oh my gosh, I can hardly tell you're pregnant! ***

Wow, you are just starting to show! ****

 

Things That Are WRONG To Say To A Pregnant Lady:

Wow, you are getting so big! *****

 

* Someone said to me today, at work.  She just found out I am pregnant.  Bless her heart, I have seen her at least every other day during my whole pregnancy, just in the halls, but she has never noticed before, and today I was wearing a shirt that definitely, no-doubt-about-it, shows the whole world I am pregnant. 

 

** Also said by the aforementioned lady today.  Lovely to hear, even if not true!

 

*** No one has ever said this to me before... but I said this to a friend a few years ago.  Backstory:  this was my first friend to have a baby. And so it was my first experience with a pregnant lady, really, in my adult life. And I only see this friend about once a year.  So I met her and her husband for dinner with my (then) boyfriend (now husband) when I was in her area.  She was around 5 months pregnant, I think.   Now, remember, I've only been pregnant once, so this is with limited experience I am speaking, but being 5 months pregnant is a tricky time.  You don't quite have a basketball bump yet, you're just... slightly thicker in the gut.  Ya know?  It could either be that you're packing on the lbs due to stress, or due to a fetus!  You never know.   So when she stood up to greet me, I exclaimed "Oh my gosh!   I can barely even tell you're pregnant!"   IMMEDIATELY after I said that, I regretted it.  Was this a faux pas?  Did I just insult her?  I had no idea!   And honestly, I still cringed when I thought about that comment (and I had thought about it!) until I became pregnant myself.  Then, remembering back on that comment, I have since decided that it's not such a bad comment. It's essentially saying "You look thin and wonderful.  You are a madonna." (SEE FOOTNOTE)

 

**** This was also said to be by a different co-worker today, a co-worker who previously knew I was pregnant.  Must be the shirt I am wearing today, man!  Getting the comments on mah belleh.   Anyway, he made the comment as I sat down in a meeting, and it made me chuckle, because, um yeah!  I better be showing at 7 months!  Otherwise, I will give birth to a rat, and no one wants to give birth to a rat, except, perhaps, a rat.

 

***** The Big Kahuna. This is the BAD comment.  This was said to me on Monday (first day back to work after the 1.5 week holiday break).  "Wow, you're getting so big!"   It was a manager at work, a lady manager at work, a lady manager at work who has kids.  I can't quite grasp it, how exactly she thought that was an "OK" thing to say.  I mean, I don't care if it's the truth... if it's the truth, then holy shit!  PLEASE LIE TO MY FACE!   TELL ME I AM BEAUTIFUL, BUT GOOD LORD, DO NOT TELL ME I AM BIG!   I am ALL FOR people lying to my face, in the sake of being nice or fake. When I am pregnant, that is. 

 

Well, that pretty much wraps up my rant.  I bid you adieu... until the next comment comes rolling of the next person's tongue...

 

FOOTNOTE:  Now, don't get me wrong.  I have no desire to be thin and pregnant.  I only desire for a healthy baby and a safe pregnancy.  Please don't let my blithe comment fool you.  I am merely trying to be witty and funny, ok?

 

POST-SCRIPT:  Just because I said that I want people to lie to my face and tell me I am glowing and beautiful even if they don't think I am, please don't interpret that to mean that if I have said such things to you in prior history, that I was lying to your face.   Obviously, I, of gracious and honorable intentions, would never lie to a woman, let alone a pregnant woman.  I am, like, way, way above that. ;)

sometimes you just have to lay in bed on a saturday morning until 11:30 with a towel around your head and your legs all akimbo...

gosh i'm so tired. my moms and pops have had people over non-stop the past couple of days and i can't keep up! my mom can't keep up either, but at least she can sneak in naps, i can't do that with all these new people to smell and play ball with and give puppy eyes to and maybe just for a second try to hump. my mom said that i can't hump people because no means no. oh boy i am so tuckered out. i kind of just hope i can sleep all day but i think ny grandma and grandpa are coming over, and i really don't want to disappoint my grandpa by being asleep, because he loves to play with me and scratch my belly and talks to me in a funny special voice. i can't miss that. i think i know how my monday will pan out... me, the couch, and a whole lot of shut eye, that's what. no standing by the window waiting for my mom to get home, no standing on the stair landing looking for the yappy dogs next door
. just me and my zzz's. signing off and out, yours truly, mister moof.

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11-05-09 Documented

Bake sale at work today... with proceeds going to a local food shelter. Ironic, but hey, you want to raise money? Hit people in the face with the smell of a gigantic array of baked goods at 8:00 a.m. I purchased a mini loaf of cheese-bread, which I intended on taking home and enjoying with dinner with Nick. Haha. It's about 80% gone, and no point in stopping now. Also purchased: caramel fudge topped brownie. Soooo rich, it wasn't even funny. But that sure didn't stop me from devouring the whole thing in one sitting. Also, a dark chocolate covered coconut ball. Luckily (for me) this one didn't strike my fancy as much, so about 75% of it ended up in the trash. My midsection clapped and then had an encore. It was thrilled.

Also at work today, I got to work on my persuasive talking. I'm really only good at persuasive talking when I am 100% confident that what I'm saying it true, honest, thoughtful, etc. For instance, today I walked into a conversation that was already underway. They were discussing a work issue regarding one of our systems. Everyone huddled in the circle was saying "but we've got to do xyz" and immediately I saw the issue. "But in doing so, you're missing 123..." I tried explaining. My first attempt was not successful. "But xyz..." they countered. It took a couple of more patient and thorough walk-throughs of my thought process, but they eventually saw the light. "Ahhhhh, Lindsay is right. 123 is the way to go." Honestly, I can't tell you how satisfying that was. Not that I care that they were on the wrong path and I was right... but just that I was persistent, patient, and not rude about my discourse and mode of communication, and was therefore effective. I guess I earned my cheese bread today!

In this conversation, however, I encountered one of the more unpleasant things about being pregnant: the stomach starers. The people who, not so subtley, avert their eyes down to my stomach and stare at it for a good 2-3 seconds. I HATE THIS. I have really grown to enjoy pregnancy in the past 1-2 weeks (ever since the ultrasound) but this is one of the things I still HATE about being pregnant. I hate people checking me out.

Now, some people can do it nicely. For instance, yesterday, I was standing in front of a file cabinet, and a woman I work with came up and exclaimed "oh my gosh! I hadn't seen your profile yet!" and that was fine. She was looking me in the eye while she said it. But that's much different than the feeling I get when I walk into a meeting or up to someone, and I look at them and their eyes are on my mid-section. I just can't get over how uncomfortable that is. I'm not talking about a quick glance here... I mean the full on stares. It's quite disconcerting, but hey, if that's the least of my worries... then I say "bring on the cheese bread!"

So, today marks the 10th straight day of going on my daily 1.5 mile walk. We started this 9 days ago (obviously) and tried to make a goal of going for a walk once a day to keep our legs moving and our dog happy. Well, our legs have moved, and our dog has been happy (and will continue to be happy). Once again - CHEESE BREAD - EARNED!

Asanine Story of the Day

http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/03/news/companies/johnson_johnson_job_cuts/index.htm?postversion=2009110309

 

Okay... so layoff 8000 people.  Then say ""Health care is a great place to be," he said. "We feel very excited about the future.""

 

And then: "However, he acknowledged that the economic outlook remains cloudy, adding that a recovery will not take hold until the job market improves and consumers become more willing to spend."

 

Hmmm... the two go hand-in-hand, no?

 

How are the 8000 laid-off people supposed to spend their money (that they aren't earning thanks to the layoff) on Johnson & Johnson products?

 

I mean, I am no economist, never claimed to be, never want to be, never will truly understand how it all works.  But I read CNN, and to me, this story is asinine and stupid. Don't write a story about layoffs but then explain how once people stop getting laid off, they'll spend more money on your products.

 

A:LSKDJFS:LDJASDFLKJ!JOSDIFPEOUR.

 

End Vent.

Insanely Bored, and Talking About Money (and Cookies, briefly)

I am crazy bored lately.  Especially at work.  I probably shouldn't write that down on the Internet, should I?  My mind is constantly wandering, though, and the minutes drag by.  Of course, once I am cognizant of this, they drag by even more slowly.  I am always checking the clock to see how long I have until lunch, and then the time from lunch until 5:00 p.m.?  B-R-U-T-A-L.  First off, I want a mid-afternoon nap.  Second of all, I want to be in bed, under the covers, not napping, but hibernating.  Is this nesting?  I don't know.  But sitting at a desk in constricting pants is not jiving with my heart's desires.  Ya know?  I mean, does it ever?  Are things that different now?  No.  My pants have always been restricted, and I have always been sitting at a desk.  But these weird months between finding out I am pregnant (oh yeah, blog, I'm pregnant!) to actually realizing the results of the pregnancy (i.e. having a child - I don't mean 'realize' as in 'it suddenly dawned on me', i mean 'realize' like 'to make real, give reality to') I find it impossible to focus 100% on work.  Or even 75% on work.  I still do a good job, I think I'm still going above and beyond (just a tad) so I'm not worried about it, just more annoyed that I have to be here.

 

For instance, today, after going home for lunch, I stopped and got a hot carmel apple cider from the local coffee shop.  Instead of devouring it on the ride back to work (about 10 minutes or so), I only allowed myself a few sips before getting back to my desk.  My thought was that if I had a hot drink to distract myself with at work, then time would go by more quickly.  Or, if I have something to enjoy at work, then I'll be marginally more happy this afternoon.  I did afford myself the luxury of taking the top off of the drink and savoring the fresh whipped cream with carmel drizzled atop.  Is that not the best part of getting ANY drink at a coffee shop?  Enjoying the accouterments of a warm beverage, straight off the lid.  Ahhh.

 

What else to mention in this disjointed post?  So now that we are finally credit card debt free (wahoo!) and have some money in savings (gasp!) and aren't paycheck-to-paycheck, well, now it's time to return to our old ways of acting as if we're paycheck-to-paycheck.  I know it's crass to talk about money in public, but whatever.  In truth, we've never BEEN paycheck-to-paycheck, but we've had the mentality of this: spend every penny we can on paying off the debts.  Makes sense, right?  There are tons of personal finance programs/books/website/radio shows that tout the same thing.  So we took that approach that we should be really frugal with our money (create and stick to a budget, i.e. $50/week for eating out, $75/week for grocery) and all leftover money went towards paying off the wedding debt.  Which was stupid to accrue in the first place but ah, you only get married once for the first time, right? ;)

 

So I took to my trusty spreadsheet (you know it!) and plotted out how much money I WOULDN'T be making while on maternity leave.  Holy hell.  So between now and then, I have to save four-digits per month, minimum, to cover my lack of pay for those few months.  This is depressing for a few reasons: just when we're starting to get some savings, and can afford the luxury of buying a new book or a new pair of shoes (haha these are luxuries to me after 10-months of paying off the credit card!), you're back to the mentality of paycheck-to-paycheck.  Except this time, all of our extra money is going towards savings, instead of debt.  So at least that part feels good. We're also approaching things way differently now that we ever have... more of a cash-only perspective. Buy a crib?  Pay with cash. Need a years worth of contacts?  Pay with cash.  Don't do it until we can pay with cash.  Now, I don't mean we walk into stores with wads of 20s... we do pay with a credit card, but immediately transfer the money from checking to savings.  It's really refreshing, and a huge load off of my shoulders that we aren't accruing more debt.  Okay, I'll stop being tacky and I'll stop talking about money now...

 

Last point of the day... I prefer my cookie dough... cooked into a cookie.  That is all.