hello, little poppy seed

We had a laundry list of plans for 2008. I was never too specific as far as exact dates or appointments… but now we definitely have something surprising to add to our calendar. On or around October 1, 2008, Steve and I will be welcoming a tiny sweet-smelling miniature version of ourselves. In other words, we’re having a baby.

Like I said… SURPRISE!!!

Literally. I stared at that test and nearly passed out. The plus sign came up so fast I was certain it was wrong… but four tests later it has become pretty clear. We are having a freaking baby. It’s strange how fast we accepted this major change in our lives… we went from complete and utter astonishment Sunday afternoon to Steve calling this morning to ask how “our poppy seed” is doing (explanation below). All the favorite baby names that we’ve talked about in the past are part of this new reality. From not really “feeling” pregnant prior to the tests, I am putting so many things together now that I know I’m pregnant. It’s absolutely unreal. So, I had a difficult time focusing at work for so many obvious reasons… but I’m trying to keep my mind off of:

• Shoot, I need to call my doctor ASAP.
• Crap, can I not take my Excedrin anymore???
• Damn, I better still be able to take Prevacid.
• Oh hell, what’s that about no deli meats?
• %$#@&! How much longer will my pants fit???!

This is serious stuff now... Because I cannot imagine myself wearing maternity clothes. The thought alone is enough to make me re-examine those tests to be double (triple) sure that they’re right. Luckily I caved to the whole empire-waisted/tunic trend last year so I have a good collection of tops already. As far as my medications and prenatal vitamins and dietary measures are concerned, I’m bugging my doctor about it this week. Our parents are way beyond thrilled, of course. Steve's mom screamed, my dad's jaw dropped and my mom jumped up and down and whipped out a list of possible names.

About the poppy seed… we found a website with a great visual description of the baby at each week. This week, it’s a poppy seed. I think that’s cute! This is what we know this week: "In week 4, now safe in your womb, the ball of cells (blastocyst) splits in two, becoming the embryo and the placenta. The amniotic sac and fluid are forming around baby, and will act as a cushion for the next eight months." How incredibly weird is that? I think I'll keep updating the blog with the fruit or veggie of the week - I'm already looking forward to the week of the blueberry. Now that is cute.

chronic- what!? -cles of narnia!

I love lazy Sundays (even better when they're reenacted by Chris Parnell and Andy Samberg - see below). We slept in, ate at Manhattan Bagel and read the paper, ran some errands in the frigid Siberian tundra outside (seriously, wtf is with the weather!?) and now we're just relaxing. I've found that the less you do on a Sunday, the more it prolongs the inevitable hell of Monday morning.

We were supposed to be going to New York next weekend but, unfortunately, I think we're going to have to cancel the trip. It was only two days, so it's not too heartbreaking, but I'm in serious need of a vacation. My mom decided to attend the Dulles Bridal Expo for our up-and-coming wedding consultant business... and I should be there with her. There's also a super important Blaze game next weekend that I felt awful missing. Thankfully, we have California to look forward to. For some reason, Steve is unbelievably excited for this Cali trip, even though we've been twice in the past two years. So, basketball season ends sometime in March - I'd like to be on the West Coast shortly after that. Oh, interesting news: the Sunday Source's road trip for this week was to Carytown! Of all places. Good old Richmond... next Friday - we'll be down there!

We saw Cloverfield on Friday night (27 Dresses had horrible reviews) and all I have to say is that it was one of the most amazing movies I've ever seen. Go see it, case closed. Make sure you stay until the very end - long after the credits roll - and listen very carefully. It's been a long time since we've seen a movie that good in theaters (although I did like I Am Legend) and Steve loved it so much he wanted to go again last night with Morgan and Peter.

A little while ago, we stepped out to walk the dogs and ran smack into our "ex"-neighbor. He was gone all week long and then we hear him... yes, hear him... this morning and see him outside. What gives?! He's gone now, but the fact that he was even here was not a good sign. I knew it was too good to be true. I'm so sleepy. Nap time.


Chris Parnell & Andy Samberg - "Lazy Sunday"


Hilarious.

hooray! pour vendredi

When I woke up this morning, I was disappointed to learn that our building was open for business. I had the pleasure of leaving work around noon yesterday and working from home, which is always relaxing. I got paid, yet I was cuddling with Luke and watching the Real World reunion while I worked. I think I was considerably more productive from my couch than I was earlier in the day on the ninth floor (snow is always distracting). Since I already had my laptop at home, I was crossing my fingers that I'd hear a snow closure bulletin when I called in this morning. How disappointing. Totally open. When I peeked outside I knew I was perfectly capable of making it to work on time as the roads were completely clear. Bummer.

Regardless of the initial disappointment at 6 o'clock this morning, my day has gotten progressively better. Since it's Friday, I leave work at noon (so how much complaining can I really get away with?). Also, all four of my bosses are out of the office today. When does that ever happen (answer: never)?? I just listened to a voicemail from the City of Richmond retracting their claim that we still owe them 2006 property taxes - in fact, they owe us $250! Awesome. Steve just texted me saying that he'll be home around 5 o'clock and, would I like to go see 27 Dresses tonight? Of course I would (best husband ever)!

The only downside to my relaxing afternoon working from home? There's ketchup underneath my down key (troublesome) and a bit of dog slobber on my screen (disgusting).

untitled?

• First of all, it snowed today (what up, Taryn!!!!!).
• Steve's still gone and the dogs and I are still sad.
• My SOP revision project at work is finished, for now.
• Our United pilot friend is giving us passes for California!
• I'm learning to be supportive of Hillary Clinton (learning = trying = grin and bear it). While I fully support Obama, I can support her as well if need be. While I have yet to hear more defined economic plans from her (I feel she's been pretty general in regards to the budget, strengthening the middle class, etc...), I can attempt to like her and I will damn well back her if she wins the democratic nomination. Just clearing the air - I'm not a one man (or woman) kind of girl when it comes to defeating conservatives.
• Scroll down to see my favorite recent find...

...a scrolling Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey box. It includes my favorite Jack Handey quote, "If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason."

I just logged onto MSNBC.com and I see the headline "Actor Brad Renfro dead at 25". I am in shock - I seriously stopped breathing and am trying to catch up. Anyone that knows me knows how much I loved him... he was an amazing actor and I've loved him for years. I saw him in the Client in sixth grade and have followed his career and seen everything since, even the weirdest ones like Bully. He even has a movie coming out next year... wow. It's unbelievable what drugs can do to you. Unbelievable. I say that without word of official autopsy results but I'd be surprised if it were anything else - he had a major heroin problem for a long time. It's like he never had a chance. Isn't it weird how things like this affect you? I had a funny title for this blog when I started writing but now I'm bummed. Wow.

zZZzZzzzzz...

This weekend exhausted me. I almost fell asleep at Sweetwater on Friday night and for some reason we stayed out until 3:30 on Saturday night (damn you, Rock Band)… and still came home and watched a couple episodes of Weeds, season two. I’m still sleepy (although, despite the sleepiness, Weeds is highly recommended). I've been put on a project at work to revise our SOPs (standard operating procedures - yuck) and it does not help that I'm about to pass out.

Bad news for me: Steve’s out of town for work all week! The dogs and I are so lonely without him. We haven’t spent a day apart since I was in Florence for the summer of 2004… but at least we can talk on the phone. My Italian cell phone bill was outrageous – sorry, mom and dad! Snail mail took forever and even when I could make it to an internet café, Steve was often in class or asleep. Boo. On the plus side, I don’t have to hear the whir of the Xbox for the next five days – even if I wanted to. Yes, Steve took it with him. On a business trip. He is too much – love love love him.

Good news for me: Yesterday was the first successful game for the Blaze! We’re now 1-3 which looks considerably better than having a zero in the wins column. The girls were amazing and listened to the directions they were given – they were on fire. In fact, we managed to stifle the other team for two entire scoreless quarters. Congrats, Blaze! We took them for celebratory Dairy Queen... I swear it wasn't a bribe.

I also got the chance to catch up with Mr. Ryan Lee over the weekend. We have a serious California trip to plan. We’re shooting for April and, in a matter of one week, we’ll be able to see Ryan, Brie, Jong-Rak, Kayt, Miah and Leah (in various cities in and around Los Angeles). Some of my favorite people, ever. Although Steve and I are currently stuck in the northern Virginia hole, we can live vicariously through all of our adventurous friends. If only someone would move to Japan... or Australia…


Honorable mention: Boy, did Dallas suck it up last night!

my opinions are just that... mine

My mother-in-law definitely forwarded a chain letter to me yesterday that "claimed" to out Barack Obama and his connection to the Muslim world - specifically, that Obama has ties to extreme terror organizations and is fooling American while he infiltrates the presidency.

1. It's unfortunate that people believe this b.s.
B. While Americans in general aren't intelligent enough to see through GW Bush's facade two elections in a row... I think it's safe to say that Obama hasn't pulled the wool over our eyes.

The article I received also included a link to snopes.com (somewhat of an urban-legend fact-checking site) to validate the argument. Funny, snopes.com declares this urban legend/rumor/nonsense false.

While Obama did attend a small number of Muslim schools (as well as Catholic schools) while living in Indonesia as a child, he has been associated with the United Church of Christ since the mid-1980's - over two decades. Furthermore, the Obama campaign clarified that Obama has never been a Muslim, was not raised a Muslim and is a committed Christian who attends church in Chicago.

Not that it even matters what religion he is, right? Because we're Americans and we offer the freedom to practice whatever religion you believe in, right? Right?

----------------------
Update: Apparently, I was ahead of the game... just found this.

it's up to you, new york new york

If you told Steve “go to New York City and have some fun”, he would probably wander around aimlessly for a few days before winding up at Penn Station and catching an Amtrak back to D.C. For that reason, it’s a good thing he married me. I am freakishly organized (to the point where I would label it neurotic) and plan things, sometimes things that aren’t even necessarily happening for sure, to the minute.

That being said, our NYC agenda unveiled:

• Brunch at Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill
• Two Boots for the ubiquitous Mr. Pink
• Ice skating at Wollman Rink in Central Park
• Sushi dinner at Sasabune
• Annual voyage to the Empire State Building
• A visit to the MOMA (hard to believe we've never been)
• Midnight snack at the Roxy in Times Square

Hmm… why does it always revolve around food? That’s always the pattern. Food and gorillas. Unfortunately, the Bronx zoo is a bit out of our way on this trip so we can’t manage to squeeze a primate visit into our itinerary. Besides, after seeing the San Diego zoo last summer, they all pale in comparison.

On a completely separate note, it’s hard enough living far away from a good friend. Conversely, it can be hard to stay in touch when all you have is technology and can’t go out for martinis together anymore. But at least put in some damn effort once in awhile.

Psssssst. Hey Sara, it goes without saying that this isn't about the bffffffffffff. I love you, as always.