a moment's monument

Today I started a new project. I was inspired by an article in Real Simple, about different things in life that are worth doing. One of the suggestions was to create a scrapbook that illustrates one week of your life. I haven't been great about documenting my pregnancy or even keeping a journal in general, something I was fastidious about in my younger days.

The point of the project is to take photos and write down snippets of whatever throughout the day- your mundane routines, your clothes, the food you eat, your thoughts, things you overhear, conversations you had. Collecting all of these little things creates a fantastic opportunity to capture your life. It's like a mini-time capsule. And more importantly it's a creative process that's pretty low-maintenance. Meaning, I can still do it while 8 months pregnant without getting physically or mentally exhausted. Shit, it might even be easier than tying my shoes these days.

I've been taking random photos today. I'm not sure how I'll catalog all of it yet, although I do know that at the end I'll compile my words and photos and scraps that I've saved in some sort of album. I hope I stick with it! I know it'll be totally cool if I do.

Quick, before I forget.

This weekend was family fantastic. Ashley and Jeff arrived late Friday night, and we wanted to go to bed but were too distracted catching up. I set the alarm for me and Ashley to wake up early for the shower that my mom threw me from CT. My aunts had sent me boxes chock full of baby goods over the last few weeks, and it was my mom's brilliant idea to open them over Skype while she served up a French Toast casserole and filled their mimosas. We quickly put on dresses and our glasses, but no makeup and our hair was all mussed up.

It was essential that Ashley was here for my virtual shower- made it much less lonely. When we signed off, we sat on my bed and dished about pregnancy. Then we both went back to sleep. These days I'm up early right on through the weekends. I'm a great sleeper but I always wake up when it gets light out and feel that I should seize the day. Being an early bird isn't so bad, but sleeping in seems so enticing and indulgent. Sometimes I wish I could just sleep all morning.

When we finally got up, we helped Jeff get on his way to Sasquatch (with borrowed camping gear and ever-useful garbage bags), and went to get Saturday morning scones and Americanos. Since we were on a schedule to get out of dodge, we got ours to go. Then we parked in the driveway, eating in silence.

Ashley thinks my belly is "so cool" and can't believe how hard it is; she kept feeling it, and she is one of the few people with license to do that all day. At first when she tried to feel some fetal action, she said it was like waiting at the zoo for the bears to wake up and do something worthwhile. She definitely got to feel some baby hiccups and acrobatics over the last few days.

Our weekend in central WA was great, except Dave's allergies hit hard and basically put him out of commission. Ashley led a mini-boot camp for me and Julie on Sunday, then we went on a hike through rolling hills with some of the others. We hung around with the ladies while the guys played Frisbee golf, monkey balls, and cribbage. For dinner we ate chicken falling off the bone, from the homemade cinder block smoker. We all brought side dishes- fruit salad, potato salad, quinoa salad, and cole slaw. We ate s'mores and my homemade brownies for dessert around the campfire. Ashley later asked if I they were really from scratch, because she didn't know I baked (I do, sometimes).

Although Dave and Jeff were sort of out of the picture, it gave me and Ashley a lot of time together. I feel like I have money in the bank, or a full tank of gas, after spending the long weekend with her. Jeff returned from Sasquatch late on Monday, sunburnt and satisfied. They left this morning as we bid them a fond farewell.

honk honk, rattle rattle

Dave sold his beloved 1979 Mercedes Benz about a year ago. I strongly encouraged him to do it, because we live in the city, I don't drive to work (so my Outback was parked at home all day), and whenever he started the ignition, the fine white mobile coughed out a black cloud of exhaust like an old bingo player. It was a cute car with a chrome bumper and 250,00 miles on it, and was paid for, but at the time it seemed unnecessary to sustain two sets of wheels. Plus I thought we could be more 'green' and economical.

Well, fast forward to today. We both have our extra-curricular interests (me: Crossfit, yoga, shopping; Dave: softball in Bellevue, softball in Seattle, cribbage matches, and the occasional gym excursion). Last week our schedules came to a head when I realized I couldn't have the car because Dave needed it in Renton. The conversation concluded, as it sometimes does, as a regretful acknowledgment that "We shouldn't have sold the Benz".

I concede. Maybe we shouldn't have sold it, but what to do now? We don't want to buy a car, or to sustain another ongoing expense. Our Subaru has been having engine problems and was diagnosed with a faulty head gasket, which basically means it'll die a slow death. At least that's what I gleaned from our Asian mechanic with a heavy accent. He might've said it just needs wiper fluid...

After stewing in contempt for lack of my own car, I considered our options. Lease a Kia for dirt cheap? Sign up for Zipcar for those days when we really both need to get somewhere? Sell the Subaru while we can still get some money for it? Dave and I decided that getting another car right now isn't in the cards. But we did decide on a much better solution- a calendar!

How does a calendar solve the need for a car? Our issue can be solved by improved schedule coordination and flexibility. We both know what's on our own agendas, but we don't consistently inform each other of the week's events. A little foresight+ a dash of flexibility =a lot less annoyance at the 11th hour. So this weekend we bought a calendar (tough in the middle of the year), haung it on the kitchen wall, and wrote down our upcoming events. Let's hope we stick with it.

And ask me what having one car is like once Little Kitzman arrives.

Pre-baby livin'

Our new pad is slowly coming together. Our weekends have been intense, and it seems that we have plans or to-do lists seeping into every available time slot. And yes I still have boxes to unpack. But the good news is we scored two sweet pieces of furniture this weekend and made some headway on home projects. One piece of furniture- a dresser for the nursery- was free, thanks to my keen eye while cruising around the neighborhood. The other, a solid wood wardrobe, was seriously underpriced by a nice rich man over in Medina (you know, where Bill Gates lives). Now we can kiss those packed boxes good-bye....when I have the energy and inclination to do it.

I'm almost 8 months pregnant and I gotta say, I'm feeling it. Some noticeable side effects include disinterest in making dinner, increased interest in the couch, and eager willingness to take a bus seat when offered (which is surprisingly rare; is it a West Coast thing? Or just a modern lack of chivalry? I'm surprised).

We started our birth and parenting classes this week. They take place in our hospital basement all Saturday morning for four weeks. Topics include: how to not be a hormonal wench, how to breathe deeply, how your partner can help (in labor and in general), things to avoid while pregnant and/or breastfeeding (pot brownies, gymnastics, etc), and how to bathe, feed, and swaddle your baby. I think the class will be useful. Maybe we'll even meet some new parent-friends.

In addition to home projects and weekend classes, Dave and I are trying to squeeze in some pre-baby summer plans, including a trip with friends to the Methow Valley and a weekend getaway to the Kitzman cabin (if I'm still in good spirits and not a miserable blimp). Every month that passes and I'm still on good terms with pregnancy feels like a victory. Two more to go.

Life's Essentials

Whew, it's been a crazy few weeks. Dave and I were consumed with the move, and before that my mom was in town. When she arrived she looked around our condo, two weeks before moving day, and wondered where our boxes were and why all the books were still on shelves. We shrugged and chalked it up to being in denial. Neither of us wanted to move. So while Dave and I were at work, my mom packed up our home. She cleaned, she cooked homemade sauce, she took me shopping for curtains. She didn't ask much of us. She rules.

The move went better than expected. We got lots of help from friends and family, lifting antique 200-lb dressers, unpacking our kitchen, and cleaning out our former place. I really had to bow out of this one, and so many people stepped up to the plate. Now we are happily settling into our new digs.

Speaking of stepping up to the plate, we are temporarily without internet service. It's good in a way. I've never watched so much baseball in my life ('cause you know we got our cable service with MLB channel hooked up STAT). What do you want to know about Franklin Gutierrez' batting average? I'll tell you. On the other hand, I straight up miss internet and feel like I've been marooned. While we patiently wait for service, Dave's been parking the car in front of our neighborhood coffee shop before work to "borrow" their WiFi. But I ain't one to gossip so ain't heard that from me!

I've been methodically unpacking one box a night. Pregnancy makes unpacking clothes easy. I basically only wear three shirts, two pants and a few other essential items. You could make an SAT permutation question about my outfit possibilities. Anyway, we don't have a closet in our room, so anything that requires hangers are packed up until we purchase some type of clothing rod. We really need a closet.

It's become clear that we also cannot live without a microwave. I have some friends who can do without. We, however, have agreed that we're microwave people. Yeah, we're not above Trader Joe's microwaveable burritos. I laughed out loud when I read the oven-directions: 40 minutes at 350. I might as well make dinner.

I've also been strategically keeping non-essentials boxed up. My goal is to keep them stored through the year. It's pretty cool to see how much you can live without. And it'll make our next move that much easier.

In conclusion, things we can't live without: Moms, internet, microwaves, and closets. All in due time.

The Fox Den

Babies is scary.

That's how I'm feeling these days. There a so many unknowns and questions. There are many elements not figured out, and we won't figure them out until we have a little person in our arms to look after. I'm really hoping my motherly instincts kick in, because my last extended encounter with babies was back in the mid 90s when I babysat my cousins. My mom is coming to visit next week and I'm pretty pumped. Sometimes I look at a map of the U.S. and am amazed at how far I am from my family.

This weekend we had some friends over for homemade pizzas and board games. I never think I like board games until I play them, at which point I think we should definitely play more often. Something occured to me that night- our idea of a good time is evolving rapidly. We are turning into homebodies, watching Friday Night Lights on a Friday Night, while I eat Ben and Jerry's and Dave drinks a Spaten Pils. The highlight of my Saturdays are Crossfit, yoga, and taking a nap. Once in a while, we'll go to a show, get a bite to eat late night, and feel like we're really painting the town.

Amidst all the unknowns, a few things have come to light. I decided on a theme for a baby's room: foxes. I was inspired by The Fantastic Mr. Fox, and also a painting that my sister had made for me. I found a couple of foxy art-things, and my friend told me that a baby fox is called a kit. Kit, Kitzman. Get it? From now on, the baby's room will be referred to as the Fox Den.

We also found a place to live, which will be ready at the end of the month. I'm glad we have a new home but the truth is, moving still does not fit into my idea of a good time.

Actually, don't.

We found out this week that our landlord decided to sell the condo. We actually heard the news on April Fool's Day but it wasn't, in fact, a joke. It's not the end of the world, it is just kinda funny timing since we had just decided to stay put, and we were feeling good about it. And we have two sets of guests coming to visit in the next two months! Good thing they are adaptable guests who know how to unpack/pack a box. Wink, wink Mom, Ashley and Jeff.

I'd like to make a disclaimer now: I plan on doing minimal physical moving. I'll happily point the movers in the right direction, and give them a cash tip or pizza and beer. Their choice.

So I guess we are looking for a place to live. A bigger and cheaper place, with good bus line, park, and burrito access. Within arm's reach of a decent coffee shop, library, and grocery store would be great too.

Actually I'm off the burritos for a while. Every time I get one, I feel heavenly while eating it, then pay the price for the next 4-5 hours. It's just not worth it. Why can't I eat half a burrito and avoid hating myself? I don't know, but the other warm half always beckons me.

Imagine my delight/confusion when I came home the other day and saw this giant confection on our dining room table. It's the Grand Bunny, and one of Dave's students gave it to him (I hear she has a teacher crush- cute!). The Grand Bunny ate dinner with us, and I asked Dave to take his picture, but he insisted on wearing his finest mustache for our special guest. Anyone interested in a 2' tall hollow milk chocolate bunny, let me know. He will not be making the move.