The BIG news

About a month or so ago, Steve (my boss, Pres & CEO) announced that we are aquiring another company. Great news, right? We are on the "right" side of things anyway... or so we (the employees) thought. Well, about 2 weeks ago, Steve and Jerry, the consultant, (think back to the movie "office space" and you got 'em!) held an employee meeting to discuss or, announce rather, the "operations plan" for the merging of the 2 companies.

The meeting was brief and to the point. Point being - everyone at our company is being laid off and the office shut down. Great. Reeeeeal great.

Bad news - job going away.
Good news - not until Feb. 15th.

It's been interesting around here and being Steve's assistant, I'm privvy to all of the confidential stuff going on. All I can say is WOW. There is some sh!t going on. Kinda fun actually.

You would think that with the impending arrival that this would have us a little worried. eh - not so much. You see, it's really a blessing in disguise! Now, I get to start my maternity leave about 4-5 weeks before I would have. So, no waddling around the office and more time to get ready for baby and relaxing! AND, I will not be restricted to 12 weeks of leave!

But, I will have to start fresh again and find something suitable and hopefully long-term when we decide it's time for me to go back. As of now - we're thinking I'll go back to work sometime between August & September.

Here comes another countdown - about 100 days left until my maternity leave begins! YAY!!

Can I call a "do over"?

Today must be Monday & I must be pregnant. Just a little rant for today...

My lower back hurts, my left hip aches, my upper back & neck are stiff. What the *&$! is up with that?! All of a sudden my whole body hurts and feels it's going to fall off. Last night was no help either.

1:30am: I woke up right on schedule, and headed downstairs to the loo.
1:32am: Realized I was also hungry. So, back down I go for some yummy rice milk.
1:38am: Tired body, laying in bed, brain very much awake. Listening to the rain and wind... wondering if our big tree is ever going to fall.
2:00am: Frustrated, can't sleep, pet Coleman for a while.
2:13am: Look at clock. My inside ear itches.
2:27am: Look at clock. Ear still itching.
3:30am: Look at clock. Thinking about an ER when a woman had a moth in her ear. Totally grossed out.
3:31am: Back downstairs to Q-tip my ear - gotta make sure there aren't any moths in there.
4:00am: Third trip to the loo. (why didn't I go when I was down there?!)
4:04am: Hungry. Go back down and get a bowl of frosted mini-wheats. Got freaked out when the security lights came on in the back. Strong rains or Boogey Man? hhhmmm
4:05am: RAN upstairs as to not let the Boogey Man get me and my cereal.
4:10am: Chris wakes up and asks me if I like Tang. Tang. Then effortlessly falls back to sleep. jerk. (just kidding!) :)
4:45am: Look at clock. Listen to Chris, Coleman & Kyle snore in unison.

7:15am: Chris is shouting from downstairs that I should probably get up now. Need to be at work at 8am. Oops.

Got up with a pounding headache. No sleep + backache + stiff neck = BIG headache. The only thing keeping me awake is the sugar buzz from the cupcakes & candy all over my office. I am the epitomy of health today.

Can I call a "do over"?

oh yeah - what about the piano?

it's been pretty slow today... so I'm just blogging along!

I was just thinking to myself - How on earth are Chris (who has a bad back) and I (preggo-girl) gonna lift and move a 100 million pound piano off of the carpet and onto the wood floors so that we can finish that area? Without damaging our new floor, preferably.

We thought that putting casters on the bottom would be a bright idea so that we could effortlesly roll it around. But, how do you get them on? How do you know what size? Is it even possible? We considered tipping it over and leveraging it against the wall with a 4x4. ha. yep. that'll work.

Last time this thing was moved was from our townhouse. Let me tell you - it was scary enough for me to watch 3 VERY LARGE men turn red in the face and come within 2 inches of their lives (and the piano's) trying to get this massive thing down 20 stairs. Seriously. I left the room, in complete fear and certainty, that I would be calling 911 to resuscitate the guy who would inevitably be crushed to pieces by my piano. In case you're wondering, this kind of excitement runs you about $250 (if you can pay them under the table in cash). $300 if you want to charge it. So, how the heck are WE going to do this? One of the many obstacles of home improvement I recon.

Maybe they'll come out with all their cool equipment and furniture dollys and help us move it for 10 minutes. I wonder what that costs?

Our house is a MESS!

oh. my. god. If ya'll could see our house right now... you know, the never-ending construction zone disguised as a real live house?

We're (and by that I mean Chris) installing oak floors in the entire first floor - minus the kitchen and bathroom. They are turning out to be "just beautiful". Really, Chris is doing a great job. I don't think a professional could do them any better!

However, with a ripped up floor, where is one to put the furniture? hhhmmm Currently, we have couches stacked on top on one another, along with anything that will fit into the small gaps between them. The dining table is in the foyer next to the piano, blocking the only way upstairs. I guess we DO have a 6 inch gap between the table to get up there... but, it seems to be shrinking everyday. I swear mute midgets keep breaking in at night and moving the damn thing over!

Oh, and the tools. Don't. forget. the. TOOLS. they are everywhere. on the table, on the floor, in the hallway (my big toe found that one the other night as I tripped over it and almost killed myself during a very routine trip to the loo at 2 am). Thank god for safety covers on power saws!!!! sheesh. Crap is on the kitchen counters, along with paint cans and knee pads. AHHHH, and all of this is not to be missed with the near pallet of oak flooring yet to be installed, which is stacked ever so neatly 2 feet in front of the front door! It's a bit of a balancing act getting in and out of the construction zone.

Did I mention that I thought it would be brilliant to re-paint the dining room and entire living room/foyer a wonderful 2 toned-scheme, AND install a chair rail WHILE the floor is being installed? Oh yes. I thunk it. I even started it. I finished painting the dining room but that's it. I've got a way to go! But it will look pretty. The chair rail will be about 32" from the floor. The paint from the ceiling to the rail (top half) is a light praline, almondy color. It's nice and light and contrasts the dark cranberry red that is below the rail. I think the actual color is "cinnamon cherry". I love red. Coupled with the primer, it only took 3 coats to complete it!

Our plan is to have this all completed before Xmas. Maybe by Thanksgiving. we'll see.

If we don't invite you over for a while - you now know why. I think Laura can attest to that!

Almost half-way there

Time is flying! In two weeks, the Belly Monster will be exactly half way to his/her expected birthday! Here's a little timeline of stuff:

Today: I am 18 weeks along
2 weeks from now: I'll be 20 weeks along and half way to EDD
Hoping to see if baby has girls parts or boy parts: November 14th, 2005
Baby's due date: April 2, 2006 (40 weeks)
Baby will be full-term on: March 12, 2006 (37 weeks) Any bets on the actual arrival date?

Whom ever said pregnancy was 9 months has a real funny way of doing math... 40 weeks translates to 10 months! That's a mean trick...

What the hell was that?

Today, I had an exciting thing happen. Well, not really exciting, but kind of since everything up until now has been pretty textbook and un-eventful. Anyway, I felt my first Braxton Hicks contractions! 3 of them actually... not all together, but about an hour apart.

For those who don't know what I'm talking about - braxton hicks are "practice contrations" that occur pretty much throught pregnancy that aren't usually felt until about 20 weeks. They basically just prime everything and get your body ready for the big marathon.

I guess sometimes they can hurt but, mine were painless. I noticed each of them right before I had to use the loo. It just felt like my uterus got tight and like a hard ball. Not uncomfortable, but definately noticeable.

Kinda cool to actually see and feel stuff happening now! Other than visiting the loo every five freaking minutes!!!

Welcome to my blog!

Welcome to my blog! I thought I would start blogging as a way to keep track of this crazy life I have. And by I, I mean, myself, Chris, Belly Monster, Kyle, Coleman & Issabelle. :)

so stop by every once in a while and see what's going on...

Hello, Baby? what is going on in there?

I've yet to feel this little bugger moving around but it's becoming obvious that space is now a hot commodity. This last weekend, I had to go out and buy a bunch of maternity clothes as normal people clothes are beginning to look pretty silly on me. (unbuttoned/unzipped pants and midrift shirts, which are really my regualr shirts that don't fit over my belly anymore, aren't exactly in fashion this fall - DARNIT)

One question - why can't I have clothes this comfortable all the time?! I mean, cute jeans with adjustable waist bands that don't look adjustable, and comfy cotton waisted pants that feel like stretch pants but look normal to the unknowing. Can you say "Buffet"? If Chris only knew how comfy these pants were, I'd probably have to wrestle him for my clothes everyday! lol

It's nice to actually begin to look pregnant, rather than fluffy too... I hadn't told my co-workers or boss about the impending arrival until about 2 weeks ago. They probably thought I was just turning into an oinker with all the snacks at my desk and my waistline thickening out.

It was nice to be able to say "I'm not fat, I'm pregnant!"