One month

I've managed to keep most of the baby stuff on the baby blog, to keep this one free of ALL BABY ALL THE TIME kind of feel.

However, as you can see from my little widget on the side... I have one month left. I vaguely remember 12 weeks, 25 weeks, even 30 weeks, when it felt like this would NEVER come. Ever since week 32 or 33, it started to seem like it was coming way too fast. I don't feel like it's coming too fast anymore (I'm very much looking forward to NOT being pregnant at this point), but I'm not quite sure I'm ready to have a baby.

Sometimes I start thinking about what a life-changing event this is... and then I get overwhelmed and so I try to think about specific things I need to get done (finish washing baby stuff, pack my bags, the LONG list of to-do's at work) and then I get overwhelmed with that, so I sit down and watch tv.

At any rate, it's coming whether we're ready or not.

Early bird get's the...

Justin hates it when I post 'over' one of his. But, I guess there's no harm in doing it to myself.

I decided to try this early voting thing. It was kind of nice. I heard someone in line saying that they could stop watching TV now, since they can't be swayed anymore, what's done is done.

I would suggest doing the same. You just never know what might come on Nov 4th -we could get an actual snow storm (or I could go into labor early, which is why I thought I'd do it this way).

However you decide to cast you vote, just get out there and vote.

And, if you're easily persuaded, or still undecided, might I suggest...

Dark Night

No... this isn't an extremely late post about the last batman movie.

It finally happened. In previous years, it hasn't happened until much later in the year, but with the new work schedule, it happened a bit earlier.

I went to work (a bit before 7am) in the dark, and got home (7:30pm) in the dark.

I hate that.

On the brighter side...

Yes... the Red Sox didn't quite make it last night. Although... I had such high hopes with bases loaded when JD Drew stepped up in the 8th, I guess it just wasn't meant to be this year.

On the brighter side, since I'm really just a Boston fan, and don't watch many other teams, I have very little desire to watch the World Series, so that should open up a lot of my evenings for the next 2 weeks. Anybody know anything good on TV I should start watching?

NOT a movie review

Last night Justin and I went out with a couple of friends and saw a movie. The movie was pretty good, but unfortunately all I can remember about the evening was the man or women a few rows behind us coughing up at least one of his/her internal organs.

I'm not joking. It was disgusting. Coughing up something... and then that gross nose thing after -it went on throughout the ENTIRE movie.

I think that's why they invented DVD's and home theatres.

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In other news... Here's some photo's from the zoo on Thursday. Oracle had a volunteer day with the Boys and Girls Club at the Hogle Zoo. It had been a while since I'd been there.

This little guy couldn't seem to find a comfotable spot for a nap.

Typical

This week, for some unexplained reason, I have been really, REALLY tired. Usually it starts Wednesday night, but this week it started Tuesday. We had a full evening on Wednesday, so when I got home from the zoo (see post later) yesterday, I wanted to eat and go to bed.

I missed the debate, so I watched that while I made and ate dinner while switching back to the Red Sox game every 10 minutes or so. It was sad. We were down by 7 and weren't even on the board so I thought I'd watch for 10 minutes or so and then go to bed early.

Not so.

For those of you who watched (or heard about it after YOU got sick of the game and turned it off early)

These guys hit a couple of home runs:

And with a couple of more hits (and one AWESOME error that should have ended the inning by Tampa)

I went to bed a little later, but a lot happier!

Book review

I don't often comment on the books I read. But, can I just tell you how GLAD I am to be done with the one I've been reading. I just can't NOT finish a book, but Love in the Time of Cholera was SO BORING! Maybe I'm not a literary giant and missed the epic-ness (no idea if it's a word) of this great work of art... but I was bored to death.

So... now I'm finished with that and I'm not starting another novel. I need to start reading my stack of 'baby books'. I'm starting to feel as ready as one can be for labor (I'll wait for all of you mothers to finish laughing) and am now starting to feel like... and then what? Breastfeeding, naps, schedules, crying -you know, all the stuff that happens the day AFTER you give birth.

My plan is to read a few (2-3 or maybe 4 or 5) books and try to just keep them in mind as I (we) try to figure out how this baby thing works. I'm well aware that there isn't ONE philosophy and plan that works for every mom and baby. But... I'm open to suggestions on what TO read and maybe a few of what NOT to read.

I'm starting with The Baby Whisperer and Baby Wise.

House guests

We've had a couple of house guests for the weekend. I think Sam and Casey might be starting to think we're they're weekend parents because they've been here for 2 weekends now. Luckily, they're well behaved and they don't seem to mind being here (even though I think they're hoping everytime they hear the garage door they're hoping it's Dave or Lisa). Casey has even been brave enough to jump up on the bed. Unfortunately... our King bed isn't quit big enough for Justin, Melanie AND Casey.

Casey and one of his 'babies'

Sam, hoping he's going to get some of my breakfast.

Casey and Sam... patiently waiting for a morning treat.

Home Run Derby in October?

I didn't want anyone to think I wasn't following the Red Sox at the moment. Last night's game looked more like the home run derby than a regular game. 7 home runs and 3 in one half inning -Amazing. Well... until we lost in the 11th.

If I had it MY way

I just loved my sisters post... and thought I'd attempt my own list. In fact... I would never suggest anyone be tagged, or make this an official meme... but, if you'd like, go for it.
*I'll apologize beforehand if a high percentage of the following are pregnancy related -you'll just have to deal with it.

-Girls (in general) could get ready for the day in the same amount of time as boys (in general).

-Caseworkers would have the same respect and lobbying power as teachers. We're working with kids too, ya know!

-Utah would show more Red Sox games on their network schedules... who cares about the Rockies?

-Monthly massages would be covered by my healthcare plan.

-Ice water would be just as refreshing as an occasional Diet Coke.

-Not sleeping through the night would start AFTER the baby was born... not 5 weeks into your pregnancy.

-It would be LESS expensive to eat healthy and organic, not more.

-Acne and other skin ailments would end at age 20. I'm not a teenager anymore, I've had enough.

-You could buy REAL New York pizza in Utah. When I first got back from New York, I tried all of the places that claimed to have New York style pizza... and was disappointed every time.

-Stores would be forced to carry ALL styles of pants in Long. Not just their boring, regular jeans.
-People (I'm thinking of my 'work kids') would care as much about themselves as other people care about them.

-Flip-flops would be appropriate to wear all year long and in all settings.

-All weight gained during pregnancy (because I'm trying to eat healthy and get all of the nutrients the baby and I need) would come off immediately upon giving birth.

Why can't I have it all?

It could be pregnancy hormones, fear of change, a feeling of time running out, or maybe the sense of hopelessness that sometimes accompanies the current economic and political scene... but I'm feeling quite introspective today.

I've been feeling quite anxious over the last few weeks with getting everything 'done' at work before I leave. The thing is, nothing is ever 'done' here... as soon as we do something, we have to turn around a month, 3 months or 6 months later and do it again.

I don't normally talk about work (other than office related stuff). I work with kids in foster care, so a lot of things that we do and deal with don't really transfer to funny and interesting blog posts.

I have worked with some of 'my kids' for 4 years, and it's been a little weird to think about someone else being their caseworker, and me not being apart of their life anymore. I went to a school meeting yesterday for one of my kids and we started talking about what his life will be like after he is 22 (still 8 years away, but a significant age for people with disabilities). It's usually not a great picture... what some of these kids lives will really be like when they are no longer in states custody. There is unfortunately too big of a gap between need and services available to fill that need for many people -kids and adults alike.

I am very much looking forward to the time where I won't be working (at least in this capacity) anymore. There can be quite a bit of stress, frustration, and even boredom with this job. I'm sure that I will continue working with the welfare system, or people with disabilities in some form for most of my life, I guess it's just part of who I am now. Although, I know that I will also find fulfillment in working with my own children and family, and welcome the change.

Many times I think some of our kids are too jaded to care about their caseworkers, and they have had so many, it won't mean much when I leave. But, today I got an email from a professional who works with one of my clients who I have already had to transfer to a coworker.

For whatever reason, I've always had a soft spot for this particular kid, and I guess he was getting down on himself today and said the only person he can think of in his life that cares about him was me. He wanted to say that he would miss me and hopes I will have fun with my new baby. And that he was going to work hard and invite me to his graduation. It actually brought a tear to my eye.

I think that as social workers, we can get wrapped up into our own little world, and worry about attending meetings, completing assessments, checking items off on our to-do list list and talking about policy, programs, and paperwork. But, at the end of the day, we're working with people, and the decisions that we make affect them in ways that they will never affect me -as the professional.

I suppose it's nice to be taken out of the 'daily grind' every now and then to be reminded of that.

If your heart did not break now and then... how would you know it was there?
~Bette Bao Lord

Be Careful What You Wish For!

So Melanie's parents delivered her old journals (of which there are many), and she has this rule where I can only really read entries that were made before she met me. We sat down and I began looking for one entry I knew every young latter-day saint girl writes...and after a few minutes of searching....ta daaaaa!

June 1, 1998 - 18 years old

"60 things I want in a man"

[heart] "Things I want in my future husband" [heart]

[Note: all the bullets on this entry are hearts, proof that my wife can be very girlie and corny despite all her efforts to hide it!]

- Love God and put him first in his life and in our Family
- Loves me unconditionally
- Loves children
- Take me to the temple and honor covenants and priesthood
- Use his priesthood often
- Compliments me; makes you feel beautiful and tries to impress you.
- spontaneous. (flowers, letters, phone-calls)
- Romantic
- Sense of humor
- Respects you - doesn't belittle you in public
- Makes others respect you.
- Small, descreet PDA (hold hands; kiss)
- Opens doors for you (even getting out of car)
- Appreciates me
- Helps around the house willingly
- Midnight feedings & kids fears; changes diapers
- Go on walks
- Likes outdoors
- Never goes to bed angry
- Kisses you hello and goodbye
- Supports my decisions (kids or anything)
- Thinks I'm beautiful
- We do to the temple often
- Active in church and callings
- Promotes Family and Scripture time
- Pray together
- Hard worker
- Doesn't put money/job before family
- Loves animals
- Pet names
- Served mission (if probable) and loved it
- Likes sports
- Likes my cooking & he cooks
- Likes my family
- Considerate of mine and others feelings
- Loves Christ
- Loves the Prophets
- Smells Good!
- Loves mom & sisters - treats her with respect
- Flirts with you in public when we're 60!
- Asks me out on dates
- Can handle money wisely
- Likes to give and get massages
- Lets me play with his hair - PLAYS with MY hair.
- Good kisser! [note: exclamation is dotted with a heart]
- Wants to raise our children the same way I do
- Can admit when they're wrong and apologize (once in a while - at least!)
- Compromises
- Educated
- Likes to play games
- Laughs. Happy person tells jokes
- Likes to hug!
- Be able to support our family
- Says I Love You!
- Can show their feelings - comfortable with the spirit
- Gives my family blessings "

In reading through each of these she laughed consistently and in conclusion said, "Be careful what you wish for!" And while I know that there are many areas in which I work on improvement, I'm grateful for being so fortunate in finding someone who I love completely and who tollerates me. :)