While watching Criminal Minds:

Jemar: Look! Shemar Moore is bald and he looks good. I'd look good bald.

Janee': It's Shemar Moore! He always looks good.

Jemar: I didn't know you thought Shemar Moore was attractive.

Janee': It's Shemar Moore!

Jemar: I have big eyebrows like he does. Do we look alike?

Janee': Silence

The Desk

SO, sometimes I forget I'm pregnant and like to do the things I've always done. When I'm at home, it's not a big deal, but when I'm with other people, it gets noticed.

For instance, anytime I meet with one of my corps members in their classroom, I always sit in a students desk. Well, its never been a problem before, but its starting to become one. I actually can still fit in student desks, I just look ridiculous doing it. While my corps members have never said anything, I generally get this telling look as they rush over and ask if I want another chair. For some reason, I just can't say yes.

One day, I'm gonna get stuck. When that happens, I have no doubt my CM will laugh hysterically and feel the need to share with everyone else. As for me, that will be the day my self-imposed exile from the rest of the world will begin.

Pregnancy and Privacy

After nearly eight months of pregnancy, I've learned a lot. The above diagram really illustrates how I feel in general, particularly the pink circle: "To kill you". If that seems drastic to you, allow me to elaborate.

We American's have very strong sense of privacy and appropriateness. There are certain things we would never ask and certain things we would never say unless we were talking to a spouse or a someone we were amazingly close to. However, all of that changes when you're pregnant. All of a sudden, people feel its perfectly ok to invade your privacy. They'll tell you what to eat, what to wear and ask you all manner of private things. Overnight, you seem to go from being a woman to being a walking pregnant belly.

Well friends, as an independent woman (that happens to be pregnant), I've found that there are a number of things that just aren't ok. Here are some of them and the things I WISH I could say in response:

1. Were you trying? You mean did I engage in intercourse with my spouse continuously and repeatedly during times of ovulation so as to conceive? (When put that way you realize what you're really asking, huh?)

2. Can I touch your belly? Unless you are the person who put this baby in here or the one who is taking him out, hands off!

3. You're not allowed to (drink that/work that/eat that, etc., etc.). Gee, thanks for the advice. I had no idea you were an obstetrician!

4. How are you feeling? Well actually, my back feels like I'm being stabbed repeatedly, leaning over causes serious pain and I can't get up or down without grimacing. Do you want to hear more or is that enough?

5. Don't you just love being pregnant? Am I thankful to be pregnant, yes. Am I looking forward to this child, yes. Do I enjoy constant pain, discomfort and exhaustion, no.

6. Will you have another one? I'd actually like to enjoy this one before I start looking into the future, but thanks for asking.

7. You're huge! No really, pregnant women love it when you tell them how big they look.

8. Do you know what you're going to call him/her? Yes, we've thought of a name. No, I don't want your opinion.

9. When I was pregnant ______ happened, it'll happen to you too. Actually, no it didn't. Every pregnancy is different. But thanks for the tip!

10. Oh! Are you pregnant? Get lost! Can't you see I'm trying to shoplift this basketball.

Operation Water Extraction (part 2)

One week later, the four feet of water is out of the basement. The water heater has been replaced, and now we're simply waiting for the electrician to replace the fuse box and for a new boiler to be installed. Fun, right?

To commemorate the occasion, here are some pictures from the Great Water War of 2010:

So, when Jemar took this picture, his head was on the ceiling. That's how deep the water was. You can almost see all the way down to the floor from this angle.







This picture was taken after a portion of the water was drained out. From the water mark, you can see how much of the fuse box was covered. FYI - It has to be replaced.







And finally, the water heater. You can't tell, but its actually floating on top of the water. On Friday it was removed and another installed in its place. Now, its on to replacing the boiler!






P.S. - As a result of the boiler being out, we don't have air conditioning on the main level.
P.P.S. - It's 96 degrees in the Delta today.
P.P.P.S. - As a result of the above, I've decided any and every type of food is fair game. I'll count calories tomorrow instead.

Graduation Day in Helena

Tonight, 23 students will graduate from KIPP Delta Collegiate High School. KIPP Delta's first graduating class. How amazing!

http://www.rexnelsonsouthernfried.com/?p=971


PS - College acceptance rates in this class....100%!

Blessed

In the midst of uncertainty surrounding our air conditioner, water heater, washer and dryer and still leaky basement, I feel incredibly blessed today:

I have the BEST church family and I am so grateful for them. Whether its impromptu weekday lunches, witty text messages or surprising phone calls - They rock my world.

Operation Water Extraction (part 1)

Remember that 15 hour work day? Well tomorrow is here. Now its off to Lowe's in Southaven to purchase a sump pump and drive back to Helena all before church starts at 10:30. Which is why I set the alarm for 6:45am.

On a Sunday. 6:45am. This too shall pass. At least I hope so!

This too shall pass

After working a 15 hour day (Saturday, no less) I received the following text message from Jemar just as I was about to make the 1.5 hour drive home:

"We have a disaster in the basement. 3 1/2 to 4 feet of standing water. The central heat/AC is shot"

I'm sure I'll be upset tomorrow. I'm sure I'll be overwhelmed in the coming days. But for now, I'm just going to sit and enjoy my 4 oz of wine. For now I'm going to sleep without worrying.

"After all, tomorrow is another day"

Mini-freakout.......averted

So, I'm officially in my third trimester. Two-thirds of the way finished. Seven months pregnant. However you want to say it, monkey could be here in as little as 10 weeks. This number has been freaking me out.

Neither Jemar or I are ready. The nursery isn't ready. The baby still doesn't have clothes and I haven't decided on a diaper system yet. And there's only 10 weeks to go!! Eeek!

I was driving home after lunch on Friday and 10 weeks kept popping through my head. By the time I drove up into our driveway, I was in full blown freak-out mode. And then I saw the most beautiful thing waiting for me at our back door.

Seeing this box helped me to realize that everything is and will continue to fall into place. Of course that didn't stop me from tearing it open as soon as I walked in the door.......
















Yes, we bought our child an argyle car seat. You aren't really surprised are you? Isn't it fabulous?!?!

8 Reasons I LOVED my baby shower.....

1. Baby Shower Cake - How amazing looking is this cake?!? (It tasted even better)












2. Stephens Reunion - All my Stephens College favorites in one place! What could be more perfect?











3. Taco Bar - Food wise, we had a taco bar. Lots of different salsa options, ground beef, shredded chicken and various taco shells and chips. Yum, yum, and yum!

4. Surprise visitors! - My Delta roommate Julie's mom, Bridget and her boyfriend, Kevin drove up from Topeka and surprised me. I haven't seen her since Julie's wedding and having her there meant so much.

(Slightly random story - During our first year of teaching, Bridget and Kevin were living in New Orleans so Julie and I drove up to visit them for the weekend. On our last night there, Kevin grilled some massive steaks that took up an entire dinner plate. He intended for Julie and I to share one steak since they were so large. But, he didn't realize what we were capable of. We ate one whole steak each and even saved room for dessert! Two years later, he's still mystified as to how two, tiny girls could eat all that food)


5. My very own, Edible Arrangement - Have you seen these commercials on TV? I've been wanting one for months. Laura surprised me with this beauty. It was just as tasty as I imagined.















6. The BEST onesie - Christine bought this adorable onesie for Monkey. SO perfect.

















7. Baby books - My Stephens friend Hannah is also in education, so she knows the value of reading. These are the first books in Monkey's collection!










8. Nursery Wall Art - Laura found this fabulous clock in Columbia. Isn't it great?! Love, love, love.

Baby Shower Re-Cap

If you didn't know before, I'm not really the "typical" pregnant woman. I don't like being touched. I don't like swapping pregnancy stories and I generally steer far, far away from typical maternity clothes. (More than once, okay more than five times, someone has congratulated me, and I got a stupid look on my face and asked them why) .I tell you this so you can draw your own conclusions about how I was feeling about my baby shower. NERVOUS would be the answer.

However, I shouldn't have worried. My mother, sister and dear friend Laura threw a modern, un-sappy baby shower that I really enjoyed. No silly games (measure MY stomach? I think not), no babyish decorations, just friends, tacos, cake and fun.

Thanks to all that came out. But a special thanks to the fantastic organizers.

I'll share my favorite things with you later.

Forget Me Not

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal."

Today should have been your day, and I can't help wishing you were here. You are always in my thoughts and forever in my heart.