Ramblings After Wine and Apple Cider Martini

It is so good to hang out with other parents. Rather, it's good to hang out, and when you have a kid to tote along, it's nice when the other people have kids too. No, that's not what I mean.

I mean, it was so good tonight to see the moms and babies, and the husband/dads, who I know from our local hospital's moms group. We connected through our weekly meetings, and thanks to one of the more proactive women, have a group that meets every Saturday.

I can't say enough good things about these women. They are smart, funny, ambitious, generous. Warm, kind, energetic. Relaxed. Happy.

And to get to watch our babies grow up together is so much fun. I was enjoying myself too much tonight to take any photos. My baby was crawling around, the other babies were crawling on me, and I was busy making goo-goo eyes at other babies.

It's also really really fun to see the dads. In a way, this is men at their best. Their wives are happy, they have gorgeous children, and we're drinking together on a Saturday night. Seeeeeeriously. I'm a lucky person.


It's also helpful to me that all of these moms are back to work like I will be in a month. When I feel bad for myself, I can think, well, all of these girls are doing it, and rocking it. So can I.

OK, off to hang with the husband and baby!

If this were my journal, I'd write: we had some great conversations tonight despite the distraction of our crawling babies. Discussions of IVF, work.... that doesn't sound great, but I can tell ya, it felt good to talk. And I feel like we are all very open with each other, and maybe that's what feels good. In this life of being busy with work, and busy with taking care of home life, it's good to get out with other men and women and relax. Click here to read full entry.

41 Weeks- No Hurry! Seriously! I'm Patient! I'm Soooo Patient About This!

I feel like everything I'd say today would be a cliche.
Like, if I say, "It's such an odd time, waiting for a baby with nothing to do," that's, like, DUH!!!!!!!!
Or if I say, "I'm irritable from the backache I've had since Sunday," that's like, DUH, too!!!!

Instead I'll just say, I'm lucky to have coworkers who are also my friends. Not only is it easy to find them when I need them... they are all in one place! So if I can't find someone, I can ask another person if they've seen the person. It's so convenient. Or, I can give money to one of them, and they'll go pay for my Girl Scout cookies that I bought from another coworker... and poof, my Girl Scout cookies get brought to my house when my coworker/friend comes over to watch TV. Is that the life, or what?

Today I was about to freak out because I'm grumpy and restless. So, I called 3 coworkers. They all called back after they got out of the staff meeting. Turns out two of them were going to the gym- just what I needed to distract myself and soothe my back. I walked for 30 min on the treadmill beside my coworker/friend who ran 7 miles. I talked her ear off as she jogged, then we stretched and went our separate ways. I felt like a new person when I left the gym- in such a better mood, and think of how many Girl Scout cookies I DIDN'T eat when I was out of the house for that hour!

Then, on the way home from the gym, I made plans with the 3rd coworker to come over tomorrow night, to join me and the 2 gym rats to (re)watch Biggest Loser, our fave show. Girl power!

I also called 2 other coworkers today to catch up on gossip and tell them how I'm doing. I work with the best people. I don't mean to brag. I'm just trying to talk about something other than being pregnant. Click here to read full entry.

Baby Countdown: 4 1/2 Months to Go

My husband and I have been unusually social in the past couple months. Every Monday, his coworkers come over for poker. Every Tuesday, my coworker/friend comes over, we watch Biggest Loser (usually while eating ice cream and cookies), and she stays over in our guest room. She lives in the city, so not having a 2 hour commute 5 days in a row is nice for her. Plus, it's just nice to have girl time. You know, catch up on work gossip and husband/boyfriend analysis.

From what I've seen, most people with young children (under age 1 or 2) don't do this kind of regular weekly hosting. I definitely feel like we're trying to work this whole childless thing while we can. (Oh, if I could drink.) I can't drink, so instead, I'm visiting friends a lot, and, rather than sitting on my couch, I'm getting out a little more.

I don't mind that this cuts into my TV time. From what I can tell, people with kids watch a lot of TV because they're stuck at home in the evening, at least if they want to be with their spouse. I'll have time in the future to watch TV. Click here to read full entry.

My Friend's Husband: Not a Scottish Folk Singer

I'm not sure if you have to know my friend's husband to find this funny, but I smiled when I saw on her facebook page that she was "now laughing that the local paper thinks Pete is 'Scottish'. It's the persistantly red beard. Well, and he did perform Scottish songs this weekend." Her husband is British.

Do you find that funny? I do. I think if you know any Brits, you know how they might react to being called Scottish. Are you laughing now?

The line in the local paper says, "Music was provided by Scottish folk singer (and Ashland University professor) Peter Slade and the Mansfield Dulcimer Players." I actually covered my mouth and laughed when I read that. Scottish folk singer!

I love thinking of people having a hard time with Pete's accent. Pete is not exactly what I'd call easy going, so I giggle when I imagine how irritating it must be to have no one be able to properly identify him.

Another case of misidentification: At church, Pete said, "Hi, I'm Peter." (Phonetically: Pitah.) A woman shook his hand and kindly said in a Southern accent, "Nice to meet you, Pizza."

Hahahaahhaa!

I swear, an English accent wreaks havoc in non-cosmopolitan areas. Click here to read full entry.

Why Do People Need Friends Other Than Me?

I'm in Mississippi, and right now my sister is talking on the phone to her friend Jenn and I'm feeling really annoyed that she has other people she's friends with other than me. I think it's because I live far away, so the thought that anyone else gets to be with her when I can't bothers me.
It's the same thing when my friend in Portland OR sends me her pics on flickr, and I see pictures of her friends over at her house. I think, I hate those people. I say to myself, KOR, that's not rational, I'm sure they're very nice, and she needs to have friends in her town.

Still.

My friend in Ohio (yet another friend living far away!) agreed, in college, that we should all move to the same town. The friends I have from college are so great, and it stinks that they are far away. I don't think it's too late to implement that plan. Click here to read full entry.