T-minus 10 weeks and counting!

I'm not sure I can provide a completely accurate description of all this weekend's activities - it really went by in a blur. Plus, I've slept since then, so some things are kind of fuzzy, but I promise to give it my best. It started at about 9am on Saturday morning when we (Thomas, Deb and I) headed to Temple for the baby shower weekend. Deb was brave enough to tag along for the adventure, but only after she was promised Starbucks and an entertaining time (I think we made good on both promises). We made it to Green's Sausage House in Zabcikville (only 1 bathroom break, I might add!!) and had lunch. Then it was time to drop Thomas off at the parentals and head for the hotel. Frank, however, had other plans since according to her, the hotel would not let you check in before 3pm (more on that later). She wanted Deb and I to run errands with her - Deb and I wanted to nap. Somehow, Frank won and it was off to pick up baby shower super fern and take Deb on a second tour of Temple (I'm pretty sure she saw it all the first time we drove through it).

We got Frank to take us back to the hotel and check us in. I would like to take the time to point out that we were in the room at 2:55pm, meaning we had to have gotten to check in prior to 3pm thus meaning Frank delayed my nap an hour (never a good idea). After a good snooze, I woke up hungry (big surprise), and $1.25, two trips down the hall and a fight with the vending machine over a KitKat, Deb and I opted to head to Wendy's for a Frosty and french fries (I dip the fries in the Frosty - this is not a pregnancy-related occurrence, this pre-dates pregnancy). Good thing we ate a little something because the 6:30 arrival time at Thomas' brother's house did not correspond to dinner time. By 9pm, I was pretty sure I was going to pass out from starvation (I'm not dramatic at all), but Thomas' friend Jason was making pies and had enough sense to pass the preggo the spoon to lick. That held me off a little longer and since the boys were in a storytelling mood, Debs and I were well entertained.

Back to the hotel for some SNL and sleep. I will say the weather man was nice enough to only come on during the commercial break to tell us about the tornado warning and hail in the neighboring county, but he came on EVERY commercial break. Do you know how often SNL breaks for commercials? About every 3 minutes - it was ridiculous.

The night was relatively uneventful except for the cockroach I discovered in the bathroom during one of my nightly runs. Fortunately, I know how to handle myself in these situations and managed to throw a towel over it and exit the bathroom without having my feet touch the floor in case it managed to scurry out. Let me say that the escape from the bathroom was quite a feat with the belly. I'm not quite as mobile/agile as I like to think I am. Good thing I remembered to let Debs know not to move the towel that I had wadded up behind the door. Morning also brought an additional surprise when I discovered my change of underwear was torn on the side and was useless. Imagine how much fun Deb had watching me hang my washed-in-the-sink other pair of underwear from the bathroom door and blow dry it. You can laugh, but you can't say I'm not resourceful. Besides, there was no way I was going to my baby shower sans undies.

We got to the baby shower and it was amazing. The cake was absolutely adorable, there was a ton of food and cute decorations, and best of all, tons of people from my hometown were there to see me! It was SO wonderful to see all the teachers I used to work with and catch-up with all the friends I don't see nearly often enough. It's a good thing Frank herded me to the present-opening circle to get started, otherwise I could have talked with everyone for HOURS. I spent an hour and then some in the present-opening circle absolutely amazed at the generosity of everyone that came (and also probably equally amazed at the amount of stuff babies apparently require). Not to offend anyone, because EVERYTHING was perfect, amazing, and just what we needed, but the Aggie onesie that says "I Also Yell At Midnight" gets my vote for the most awesome baby thing of the day (thanks, Beth!). Tiffany (and whomever she commandeered to help her) also gets bonus points because she managed to get about 40 bags worth of stuff down to about 8 bags. And of course, a HUGE, HUGE thanks goes out to all the wonderful ladies (Tiff, Beth, Kayla, Erin, Frank, Judy, Erin, Genie, Carol, Tammy, Jean, and Margie) for pulling off a spectacular baby shower! I had a great time, and, thanks to Thomas, Liam's stuff is (mostly) put up in his room.

One of my favorite parts of the pregnancy has been watching Thomas' reactions to things. I had more fun watching him at the ultrasound than I did watching the actual ultrasound (of course, I'd already seen Liam in black-and-white a few times by then). I think he may enjoy the baby toys more than Liam will. When he unpacked everything yesterday and helped me sort it on the dining room table (which was completely covered - seriously, thanks to everyone for everything - I don't know what we'd do without you!), I think I heard more oohing and aahing out of him than I did the ladies at the baby shower.

I didn't get to watch him poke through the baby stuff for too long because I headed up to work for a big downlink event with Arizona. I love being in the production room when my events happen because I like knowing what's going on and there are some great folks that work over there. I was only planning to be gone about an hour and half, but I didn't come strolling back through my door until almost midnight. There were a few technical glitches that had to be worked out, but all in all, it turned out to be an awesome night. Of course, it was a LONG day for the preggo - starting with breakfast at 7:15am. Did I mention that during breakfast at the hotel Fox News mentioned my downlink and I started jumping up and down yelling "That's my downlink they are talking about!!" The couple next to me was just staring. Fortunately, they were the only ones in there besides me.

I've got good stories from today as well, but I'll save them for another post. For now, it's bed time!

One Crazy Weekend Down...

This weekend was a bit much for the preggo. It was Aggie graduation on Saturday, and after grabbing my body pillow (no sane preggo would leave home without it), I quickly discovered that I was not feeling 100%. After a stop at Buc-ee's for Sprite, Pepto, and Beaver Nuggets (for Thomas and Dad, not me) it was off to College Station. We stopped for lunch at Koppe Bridge (can some Aggie please, please open one in our area?!?) where I managed to get down about 4 french fries and 3 bites of burger - but man was it good.

I've been through an Aggie graduation before, so I know the process, but being 7 months pregnant, I was completely unprepared for how much it was going to wear on me. Before you walk out to the floor of Reed Arena, you go to a holding room where they line you up in order. I (stupidly) had on heels (little ones, but still) and had nowhere to sit...for over an hour. I was about at my breaking point, especially since it was so hot and I still was feeling icky, when we finally got to walk out to the floor. Of course, there is still standing that happens for awhile at that point too, but at least there was a chair if I needed one. Plus, I was busy trying to find the Frank, Dad, Judy and Thomas, who voluntarily sat through yet another Aggie graduation.

It took from 2pm - 5:10pm to commission officers into the military, hood doctoral students, hand Becky her tube, and then get the 1000+ undergrads across the stage. Bless Judy for providing the preggo with M&Ms - which I dug into at about 4pm for some much needed sustenance. Once upon a time, students used to get their diplomas and many would walk out of the ceremony. That's not really an option any longer in Aggieland - now they take your diploma if you leave the ceremony and won't give it back until you show up in person to claim it. Of course, about 1.5 hours into the ceremony, and 20 Liam kicks to the bladder later, I had to hit the bathroom (I was also secretly hoping that taking the diploma was just an idle threat and nobody would follow through and I could escape - no such luck). I somehow managed to make it through the remaining graduation. I just absolutely was not prepared to be that worn out by graduation. Of course, it was a little emotionally draining, too. I got to sing The Spirit, and The War Hymn, and "Saw 'em Off" with my fellow Ags, which all brought back really good memories. Liam didn't really care for the swaying, or the loud music, but if I was going to have to stay for all of graduation, I was at least going to enjoy the good stuff. Damn you pregnancy hormones - it took all I had to keep (happy) tears from falling.

Once we finally arrived back home (11 hours after we left and me finally feeling better) I packed my bag and headed off to the Cejka residence for a night of girl fun and twins! Liam's "girlfriends" are getting so big and are absolutely beautiful. Jess, Lori and I made it through the night and we are actually fairly chipper at 2:30am when it is time for feedings. I headed home around 8am this morning and somehow managed to make it to HEB, Target, Sam's, Pappa's BBQ, and Babies-R-Us. Needless to say, the 2.5 hour nap that came this afternoon, was absolutely necessary, and I know it will be incredibly difficult to get out of bed in the morning, but I'll do it somehow, someway. In preggo world, I do good to get 4 or so useful hours each day where I'm truly alert, functioning, and "normal". Although I still have to function for more than 4 hours each day, and I somehow power through (some days more successfully than others). I'm guessing this is nature's way for preparing me for what's ahead? For now, I'm throwing in the towel and getting in bed. I'm definitely at my max for this weekend, and next weekend stands to be just as action-packed.

The 150 Rule

I've decided I have a new rule. I'm calling it the "150" rule. Essentially, anytime the temperature + humidity = 150 or higher, I'm not getting out of my PJs...or my house. Now all I have to do is convince others to let me abide by this rule :) Actually, going to work in the morning isn't so bad. I usually get there between 7:45 and 8am, so the sun really isn't out in full force. When I leave in the afternoon though, the temps and the humidity are just flat out awful. I know, I know, my fellow Houstonians are thinking this isn't even close to awful, yet. I agree...but thanks to the space heater I'm carrying around, I'm already miserable. All I want to do is get a noodle and float like a hippopotamus in the pool - only my eyes and nose above the water. That will help me cool down and being buoyant sounds amazing.

Work has been a bit crazy lately, but good crazy. It helps keep my mind off the countdown (82 days to go, officially) and I love what I do and the people I work with. I'm fortunate to work in an office full of mommies (and one daddy) so they help keep me sane...and they haven't started laughing at the waddle yet. They've been there - they know.

Life is busy, even outside of work. This past Saturday was the first baby shower with the NASA crew...this coming Saturday is graduation...and the following weekend is the Rogers baby shower. I'm pretty sure I'm not going anywhere Memorial Day weekend. For three days, I will be in my PJs, in my bed, watching as many movies as my DVR can handle.

The NASA shower was awesome - I'm lucky to work and be friends with such an amazing group. Thomas was so excited when I brought all the stuff home. He immediately set to work putting things together, starting with the adorable play mat that Kelly and Katey got me. I was teasing him about how much more stuff he will have to put together over the years and he was saying how his dad used to curse and moan as he assembled Thomas' toys growing up. Thomas also mentioned how he (Thomas) was more "tech savvy" and wouldn't have as many problems putting toys together. Imagine my amusement when all of two minutes later he was cussing the plastic ring that wouldn't fit through the fabric loop...keep in mind this assembly required no tools and only a picture for instructions. More fun times to come - he still has to assemble a stroller, playpen and all sorts of other good stuff that we still need. I know these things are come with the "some assembly required" tag and I plan on being there to supervise the process so I can bear witness to the fun.

A big thanks go out to Deborah for putting the shower together - she is the balloon arch queen! Check out the cake - it's decorated just like the whale theme from Liam's room. And it was absolutely delicious...earning MMM Cupcakes a giant shout out. Her cakes are spectacular. It was great to hang out with everyone and I really appreciate all the presents for Liam. His nursery is really coming together.

It's the 28 week checkup tomorrow. The final checkup before they start happening every two weeks instead of every four, meaning we are getting ever closer to the big event. Maybe that's why I can't sleep lately...or maybe it's the 4 trips to the bathroom I make between 11pm and 5am.

Like a Duck

Perhaps I've been inspired by the countless baby ducklings wandering around JSC, but I myself have begun to waddle. It's not super pronounced yet (and bless my coworker for calling it "cute"), but I feel it. I can see that my toes are pointed outwards instead of straight and I can feel my butt sticking out, desperately trying to compensate for the shift in my center of gravity. It's only going to get more interesting for me and more amusing for the rest of the world. At least now there is no mistaking I'm a preggo so at least no one is wondering why I'm moving at the speed of snail.

Speaking of the baby ducks, let's just say it is probably in their best interest that I am moving slow these days and probably can't bend over and catch one. They are about the cutest things ever, and it makes me think back to the days when Bucky the Magic Ducky graced our bathtub for a few months since he was a lone duck, born on "the farm" in Rogers in winter. That's right, we had a pet duck, and my whole family shared one bathroom so he could have a place in the tub. Did I mention we also taught him how to fly? (Just remember - my memoir title is "More Normal than I Have Any Right to Be")

According to the websites, I'm officially in my third trimester. It seems like only yesterday I was directing Thomas to make phone calls letting the world know while I desperately tried to keep Gatorade and crackers down. There was no hiding it - the mommies in my office would have been on my case in about 2 seconds. Being in the final phase reminds me of just how much I still have to get done. I know that baby showers will help take care of a lot of the stuff we need (and thanks in advance to all my friends...you are amazing!), but I still feel like we are far behind in the preparedness department. Other than a blue whale room upstairs and a pile of baby clothes on the washer that need to be cleaned before being put up, I'm not really sure it has fully hit the Kamas family that the house of two people, two dogs and two cats will very soon have a new member (and it won't have claws or fur).

It's a little surreal. I can't wait to meet Liam, but at the same time I can't even begin to imagine what our lives will become. It's always been just me and Thomas since August 2001, and by now, we've pretty much gotten things figured out. I know what drives him crazy, he knows what drives me crazy, he works the grill, I make the sides, I pick flowers out, he plants them...you get the drift. We've comfortably settled into our roles and it just works for us. I guess it's time we learn how to do something new together. At least I've already assigned Thomas the vomit-detail role...