Peru!

My dear co-worker friend just returned from a two week trip to her homeland Peru. (Not to be confused with the Motherland - Russia.) She brought back this cute bib for el niño. Revel in its awesomeness.

And yes, those are thin mints tucked away in my desk corner. They are stacked upon my favorite, the Tagalongs. I am patiently waiting until after lunch to bust them open. I am hoping to be able to stretch them out so that they last until the baby gets here. We'll see if I can hold out. Wish me luck.

Spoiled

Not only have we been blessed with a baby shower in UT, a baby shower in TX, and one in PA this Saturday, my co-workers totally surprised us with an awesome baby gift and now we are even more spoiled! Behold the bounty from the firm (one of Stas's two jobs):


I came home from work to find all of the goodies arranged very cutely in the basket with tissue paper and cards and such. SO CUTE. Not only were we blessed with all these goodies, but also two very generous gift cards!!

Since then I've repeatedly told Stas how grateful I am that he has made such a favorable impression upon his co-workers!

thoughts

Noteworthy events from the last hour:

• buying a yellow coat because you want to "branch out" of your normal color palate is a nice idea. however, it is always a good idea to test it out in natural daylight to verify if it is the soft pale yellow you thought or really something that should be worn by a crossing guard or road construction crew. also, the brightness can make your already light-sensitive eyes need to wear sunglasses when it is only slightly light outside. on the bright side, when I walk Buster wearing it we will be extra safe!
  
• the employees at Subway still do not understand what "a little bit" of ranch means. no matter how much I emphasis or rephrase the small portion I desire, they always, always saturate the poor sandwich.
• the lid on my water bottle has a hole in it and spilled half of its contents in my purse. the result is a completely soaked pocket pack of Kleenex, five ruined (already stamped) thank you notes I obviously should have sent out yesterday, and a slightly damp paper calendar. luckily my phone, keys, and book were spared.
  
• the CFO just saw my belly and congratulated me. I felt special. I was also glad that I looked presentable. not that I care because he's the CFO, but generally I like to look nice when I only see someone every six months or so. it's the regulars who have to suffer through my lazy days. poor stas gets this more than anyone else.
  

totally creepy

This showed up on an email from Overstock.

-The Hug Me pillow provides comfort as well as peace of mind
-Pillow features a unique shape that provides firm sleeping support
-Bedding includes an incredibly soft microfiber shirt that is conveniently machine washable

More Snow

For those of you who questioned why I had off of work both Wednesday and Thursday due to weather, here you go!

Here is the main entrance:

Can you see the "Lobby" sign?


And here is the side entrance that I normally use:

Vancouver 2010

Who's getting excited???


Opening ceremonies start this evening at 6 pm PST, and I can't wait! I've been really pumped about the 2010 Olympics for a little while. Here is why:
1. I am using it as a good way to mark the passing of time and distract myself, so I don't get so caught up in how long this third trimester seems.
2. It is a fun time when the world seems to get a little bit smaller.
3. They always make me think of Stas.

What? Why #3? Was Stas an Olympic athlete in a previous life? Not quite.

Stas and I met for the very first time over President's Day Weekend 2006. Our first meeting involved some card playing while figure skating was on in the background. Stas was rooting on his comrades, and I remember thinking to myself "what a guy, he can even get into figure skating!"

The following Olympics, Beijing 2008, also holds many exciting memories. Stas and I were vacationing with his parents in Italy, so we watched with the opening ceremonies in a hotel room with awesome commentary in German. It was pretty cool. I felt very international to be an American with a bunch of Russians in Italy listening to a German commentator while we watched all the athletes from the varying countries enter the Bird's Nest.

So, we'll be watching tonight! Which may mean that I'll need a nap after work to be able to stay up that late, but it'll totally be worth it! I hope you take the time to enjoy the Olympic experience!

Snow-mageddon

So if you don't live on the Eastern seaboard, you may be unaware of the crazy snow-blizzard-thing that's been going down for the last twenty-four hours. Oh yeah, and the weekend before that. So here are some fun facts from today:
-Snowiest month on record ever (Feb 2010) so far with 31" (and that's in only ten days)
-We were actually issued an alert from the emergency broadcast system. Ya know those ones that you always hear tested on TV and over the radio with the loud obnoxious beeping sound.
-Even though you live in an apartment complex, a shovel is still a wise investment.

Enjoy some photos & videos all from today except for the first:

View from our balcony this weekend (Feb 6):

Stas braves the elements


Stas using a bucket to clean off the cars because we don't have a shovel.


Buster watching Stas.

Buster was very concerned the whole time Stas was outside. But of course got over it as soon as he got to go out and play in the snow with Stas.

"Neither snow nor rain nor sleet. . ."

Crazy postman.

Co-sleeper!

An email to my co-workers:

Thank you so much! I was so surprised and shocked on Saturday when the doorbell rang and the FedEx guy had a delivery for us!



The events followed like this:


Stas dragged a big box into our apartment and I started checking it out. I asked Stas where it came from, and his response was "why are you buying stuff?" After further investigation, I found the gift note saying "From the entire Consolidations Group & Diane. Welcome, Stu!" WOW!! So then I spent the next twenty minutes staring at the note in disbelief. You guys absolutely surprised me!!! The Arm's Reach co-sleeper is exactly what we wanted for our little guy, and now he has a place to sleep!



Once the initial shock wore off, I had to try everything out. Buster helped as stand in for the baby.


Here's it as a playard/pack-n-play:
Here’s the co-sleeper that will attach to the bedside:And the stand alone bassinet:
Thanks again guys! I am totally overwhelmed, and Stu is seriously lucky!

Yeah,it was a good weekend.

stink-o-la

Women who choose to apply perfume or excessive amounts of hairspray in the restroom should seriously reconsider their choice of using a potently odorous product in a small, unventilated, already stinky shared space.

It’s just work people; not a night out on the town.

I know, I know. I'm being no fun again. Ba-humbug.

Miracles do happen!

Last night while I was cleaning up in the kitchen, from completely out of no where, Stas poses this questions: "what are we going to name our baby?" Seriously, Stas, seriously!?!?

For those of you who are unaware, my dear husband has been quite mum on the whole issue of baby names. He has explained to me that he didn't see the need to discuss it until the baby arrived. As a very decisive person, this makes sense for him. He's even blown away by all the people who keep asking if we have a name picked out already: "Is that what most people do?" Yes Stas, this is what most people do.

In much earlier conversations on the topic of baby names he did say that I could name the baby whatever I want as long as he gets veto power. Seems fair enough. So I had just been planning to come up with a list of a few options I liked, meet the little guy, and then run it by Stas.

Well it looks like we'll be taking a slightly more typical route on this one.

Two things still remain the same: We won't make the final decision until after the baby arrives, and I'm not sharing any of our potential names. Yes Plip and Dad, I know, I know; I am no fun.


Non-related random tidbits:
-my co-worker friend just gave me one of her pieces of toast with jam on it. Bless her. That was very kind. Go figure I'd be extra hungry this morning. PB&J waffles for dinner don't really cut it.
-sometimes it is hard to focus at work when the baby is moving around. I get distracted and am more interested in what he's up to and when he'll move again. Sorry work; I'll try to be productive while he's sleeping.
-in a work email I read this statement "one of the key resources is going to be on maternity leave in the not-too-distant future." Yep, that's me! I'm just glad that "the not-too-distant future" is a relative term, because to me the end of March still seems like forever away!

30 weeks

Honestly, in my pre-pregnancy days I thought "when I'm pregnant I am going to post weekly photos and be SO on top of up-dates." This is probably based on the idea that I loved seeing my friends' "progress" and liked to daydream about it for myself.

The truth is that I just never seem to get around to it. I guess I haven't really "made the time" is more accurate.

Anyway, it's been a whopping five weeks since I've posted a photo, and I think it is definitely overdue. The photo-posting that is, not the baby. Here is a shot from our weekend trip out to Pittsburgh and Punxsutawney.
I'm definitely getting bigger!

Dreams & car seats

Dear MLK Jr,

Thank you for having a dream. Thank you for all the progress and change. I am grateful that I live in a (for the most part) now tolerant society.

But on a more personally applicable and shallow note, thank you for the Federal Holiday. As a result I got a nice three day weekend with some pretty decent weather. And also, thank you for inspiring retailers to have big-time sales so I could get 20% off of our new car seat!

Regards,
J

things of note

Today is Friday, and 5 pm can't get here fast enough.

But here are a few things of note;

• I have recently become quite obsessed with car seats and terrified of strollers. I am mostly comfortable with car seats and know what I want (at least what I think I want anyway). But strollers are just a whole other monster I am not yet ready to conquer.
• Today at lunch Co-worker Friend and I ventured to Burlington Coat Factory's Baby Depot. I was overwhelmed. This is the first time I've walked around a baby store/section of a store since I've been pregnant. This is the first time I was in a store and not just perusing stuff online. I actually pushed a stroller and picked up a car seat. This is huge for me. It was very exciting.
• I had my first stranger run-in! A co-worker, who I don't know and have never talked to before, stopped me on my way back from the water cooler with an "OH you are expecting!" She was really nice and asked when I was due, how I was feeling, and if we knew if we were having a boy or a girl. She has a son and shared a few laughs about how the grow up fast (he's 17) and say funny stuff. She was nice and didn't try to touch my belly or anything, so I'd rank it as a pleasant experience.

Non baby-related things of note:

• I had lunch at our newly finished local Sonic. Finally after two and a half years here, we have one that is less than an hour's drive away! It was delicious. I had a PB and hot fudge milkshake. It took me back to my sixteenth birthday extravaganza. [Insert awesome memories here.]
• I bit my tongue when I sneezed, and it hurt really bad. I hope it doesn't happen again.
• Buster went to the vet on Wednesday for his annual check-up and to get a booster shot. He weighed in at 19.6 pounds. Geez. Remember when we were told he'd max out at 10? Haha, that's funny. I'm okay with it though; he makes an even better snuggler this size!

That's all for now! I hope you all have a smashing Friday and the five comes soon!

This and that

We made it back to PA after a fabulous trip to Texas for Christmas. We pulled in around midnight-thirty this morning after a long, long drive. Stas and I both acquired an array of flu like symptoms and are hoping to sleep them off over the long weekend.

We were welcomed back this morning with several inches of snow that kept accumulating until about mid-morning. The roads were awful, but luckily empty.

We went to the doctor this morning. Everything looks/sounds/measures as it should. I passed my glucose test for gestational diabetes, but am a little low on iron. Go figure, since I don't eat meat and eating well has been pretty low on the priority list as we try to manage the craziness of the holidays and travel. [Note: I absolutely believe that you can get sufficient iron in your diet without meat, but a diet consisting mainly of PB&J won't really get you there!] I gained 9 pounds since my last visit, but I was wearing my galoshes, which weigh about 4 pounds. So really, I only packed on 5 pounds in the last four weeks. This brings the overall pregnancy total to 14 pounds. I'm sure in the coming 13-ish weeks I will be quickly adding to that!

The general consensus at work has been that my belly has gotten huge over the last week since I've been out. Maybe it's those extra five pounds.

Today my loving husband cleaned the snow off my car, came with me to the doctor appt (despite having to wear a mask b/c of the flu-like symptoms), and drove me to work, to ensure that I got there safely and so I could rest on way there. Since then he's even gone to the bank and braved Wal-Mart for our much needed groceries.

Tonight we will be ringing in the new year with enough delicious food to feed about ten people and by watching The Irony of Fate, as is our tradition and the tradition of many in the Russian-speaking countries of the world!

Happy new year!

25 weeks

Last week we took some photos. I wanted documentation for belly growth. Stas wanted to show off the new fish tank. This was our compromise:

I feel like we've definitely taken a turn in the pregnancy. I can now easily sleep 10-12 hours at night (unfortunately this is only doable over weekends) and am prone to falling asleep on the couch if it's after dark, which is really the only time that I'm actually home so this happens a lot. I also get sort of wiped out easily. I guess that's what happens when you do next to no cardiovascular activity for four months straight. Thank you sedentary job, freezing weather, no daylight, and insufficient motivation. I better pick it up if I'm going to make it through labor.

I am also feeling the little guy move around a lot, which is always a thrill. I can now feel him infringing on my space when I bend over and move in certain ways. Oh boy, I still have a while to go! I know this will just get worse, so I'm trying to take it all in stride and be amazed by it instead of uncomfortable. I'm starting to get a little bit of lower back pain, too. And occasionally when I catch a reflection of myself in the TV or microwave or even a mirror I'm usually shocked to see myself so obviously pregnant. I guess the reality of it all is still sinking in. But don't you worry, I still have the heartburn as a near constant reminder. I can't go anywhere without my Tums! I keep them in my purse, at my bedside, in the kitchen, and at my desk at work. I've also added Zantac to the mix, which is the only way I can not be woken up by heartburn during the night. Yea for modern medicine!

Thanks to winter, I still haven't had any weird stranger run-ins. I guess as long as my coats still zip/button, while I'm out and about, no one really can tell that I'm pregnant, which is fine with me. I would probably freak if a stranger tried to touch my belly. The only times that I've had the random pregnancy chit-chat was while returning maternity clothes. And so far no horror birth stories. I guess I'm either just really lucky or will get blasted with it as D-day gets closer.

All in all I've been really lucky with this pregnancy and am grateful to experience this miracle. I go in on Tuesday for my glucose screening and another Rhogam shot (typical 28 week blood work). Then when we get back from Christmas in Texas I'll be going to the doc every two weeks! I can't believe the third trimester is right around the corner!

Airplane training

In anticipation for our upcoming trip, we've been working on Buster's airplane training. His first time on an airplane in August he was pretty good, but we are still hoping for an improvement. This training involves sitting in his travel bag (with it zipped up) and being quiet for a few hours. Sounds slightly like torture, but he mostly just sleeps/observes. He's been doing really well with it and this morning he even ventured in there on his own! Hallelujah! While he only stayed for about five minutes, I'm just glad that he voluntarily went inside. He even stayed still long enough for photo documentation of the event!

Here's our proof:

Disclaimer: I never in my life thought I would be the type of person to travel with their pets. But, well, here we are. I can't stand the idea of boarding him, and for longer trips over holidays I just feel like it's too big of a favor to leave him with out trusty Buster-sitter. So far we've only spent $17 on his carrying bag that we got on clearance at the pet store, and escaped any sort of pet fee from the airlines (knock on wood). So that doesn't make us too crazy, does it?

Have you checked Wikipedia today?

Guess what today's featured article is.....?

It's the PA State Capitol! I just wanted to give it a little shout out, because I drive by it every day to and from work.

Back before the economy went down the drain, they would light it up when it was dark with really pretty lights. It always made the commute a little more bearable.

But even in daylight, it's still a really pretty building.

Snow Day

So unless you live under a rock or an equally remote place, then you've probably heard about the crazy snow we've been receiving our here in the Mid-Atlantic reason. They (the weather powers that be) were making doomsday-like predictions. My response was to be simultaneously skeptic and horrified as a winter wonderland is not really in my comfort zone.

All Friday night, I kept checking the snow status (this is easy to do with a pregnant bladder; it makes for frequent updates). And slowly, but surely this was a steady accumulation gathering, until we reached this:

Stas and I donned our winter weather gear to take Buster out and get the blood flowing.

Buster loves the snow. He probably doesn't remember much from his first go around with snow last winter, as he was so young, but he so excited whenever anything new and different comes around. He bounds around in it like a fawn and loves to sniff, dig, and burrow his way to exploration of what lies beneath.

When he's not outside, he spends most of this time watching from the window or the balcony, which has conveniently accumulated a nice pile of snow for him to borrow in.

All in all, the snow wasn't so bad. We had enough food to sustain us, we never lost power, and church was cancelled so more blogging for your enjoyment! I'm just glad that it will be all clear by when we are flying to Texas or else I might very easily become a Scrooge.

To see all the fun photos, go here.

Merry Swiftmas

I heard this song on the way home from work today followed by an interview with the singer/writer. He said something about "if you can't get famous on your own, just write a song about a famous person." I like chill people who write funny songs that simultaneously celebrate good girls (aka Taylor Swift) and mock crazy celebs (aka L. Lohan & B. Spears). Especially funny since he use to be in Avril's band. Anyway, it's just fun and catchy, so enjoy!

Grace is not my middle name

Today we had our first major snow. By the time I was leaving for work it had been raining for a little bit, but the snow what still in tact. So as I ventured out to my car I fell.

What!?!?

Yes, I fell onto my knees in the wet slush in my nice work clothes. May I also add that I was carrying my purse, laptop bag, umbrella, book, and two letters that I needed to put in the mailbox. Oh yeah, and my unborn child! So maybe my balance was a little off. So what do I do in such a sorry state? Burst out crying, because why the heck not!?!? Stas comes down from our apartment appropriately concern, but very confused about how I managed to fall forward onto my knees, and not on my butt. Let me provide a better visual (maybe it's from Bambi, but I think it's a pretty common image):

Imagine a young, hoofed animal that walks out onto a recently frozen lake
to experience walking on ice for the first time. No matter how slow and
cautious he is, he just can't get any traction; then there is some slipping
and sliding and eventually he ends up sprawled on his belly spinning in
circles.

While I don't have hooves and I wasn't flat on my belly, I feel like this is a pretty good account of how it all went down.

Stas helped me up, asked me if I was alright, took all the stuff I was carrying, and escorted me safely to my car. He then dropped off the letters in the mailbox and proceeded to clean all of the snow off of my car while I sat inside of it and waited for the heater get going. My hero! Did I mention that he also had a final to get to this morning. I guess he must really love me or something!

All the while Buster is running around like a crazy loon enjoying the first major snow of the season!