Since we're adding to our family, we decided that we need a new place to live. We currently live in a nice, large 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment in a quiet, small complex.
Occasionally there's some noise we don't like (we've had upstairs neighbors that we kindly called "The Elephants" because of their heavy footed walking, or the college boys who lived across the hall who would have parties and I would call noise complaints on them (yes, I did that!) or the people who moved in after "The Elephants" moved out and one night turned their television up so loudly that it was rumbling our house (yes, I called noise complaint on them too...and they moved out shortly thereafter!)
But we decided that we needed another bedroom or den space to have enough space for the baby and all of the houseguests who will be visiting and staying with us.
So for the past three weekends, we have spent our Saturdays touring apartments, condos and houses for rent in the area. We've found out that we're lucky in the fact that we have so much space in our current place. That some apartments and what they view as "large living space" is teeny tiny (when you squish three bedrooms, livingroom, dining room, kitchen and two bathrooms into 1100 sq. feet it's going to mean either tiny bedrooms or tiny livingroom.)
We've found one complex that we really like. Tons of storage, tons of space, a garage that is included with the apartment (most don't include it and you have to pay separate rent on it.) The downside is that it's on the 3rd floor of a building. Which means stairs. Tito is afraid of me taking stairs when I'm later on in the pregnancy. I'm ok with it since I climb three flights each day at work (building with no elevator.) I love the space of the place, it's townhome style, tons of places for storage, closet space, washer/dryer, etc. We can also paint it whatever we want (as long as we paint it back), put up shelves, etc. But we're still touring places to see if there's one better out there.
I've made up a list for this weekend, and it looks like we've got 9 places to see this weekend. So we're starting early and hoping that we'll get them all in and hopefully we'll find something. It's frustrating because we have the cats too, and we're not parting with them. But some houses for rent don't allow cats. Some places require pet rent of $35 a month per cat (ridiculous!) I don't mind paying a deposit, some of which is non-refundable, but I draw the line at rent for a pet that makes no noise, is inside all day and does no damage.
The upside is that wherever we land, I can't physically move anything. I'll be able to pack but that's it. Not too bad in my opinion! Tito is out of town next weekend for a friend's wedding so I'm going to get boxes and pack up a bunch of our stuff that we're not using right now. Just so it's done...
August 28, 2009
August 26, 2009
Weekly Update - 10 weeks along
How Far Along: 10 weeks
What "They" Say About Our Baby's Development: "Though it's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of its development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in its body rapidly grow and mature. It's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy. If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin. In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. Its hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over its heart, and its feet may be long enough to meet in front of its body. The outline of its spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from its spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with its developing brain and sits very high on its head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, it's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.
Weekly Food Comparison: A kumquat! I've never had a kumquat before or really seen on in real life so this is a hard comparison for me. Getting bigger though!
The Bad: I think I am in the thick of things when it comes to the nausea now. Definitely having to constantly eat, so I've got saltines at my desk at work. Also cucumber seems to be helping. While I'm never really hungry - probably because I'm eating all the time!
The Weird: Mood swings are here. I'll go from snapping for no reason to crying in an instant. And crying at the oddest things. Last night I was crying at a great performance on America's Got Talent (am I embarrassed that I cried at this show or that I was watching it? Neither!) :)
Currently Craving/Avoiding:
Avoiding: Orange juice, soda (even ginger ale which used to settle my stomach), most sweets, chocolate, ice cream. Doesn't even seem appealing to me.
Craving: Milk, bread, and this week's new craving was Skittles. First "sweet" craving although I could only have a few and then had to stop because the sugar was hurting my stomach. Also craving meat - hamburger, steak and fish. Mostly red meat.
The Weekly Belly Bump: Tito is noticing it more. I am noticing it more too. It's definitely larger at night as compared to the morning due to what I eat and drink. I have to give myself two shots a day and usually the morning one is easier to "see" my belly than in the evening (it's still possible, just takes a bit more finagling!) Tito is sweet and rubs my belly goodbye in the mornings too. :)
August 20, 2009
Weekly Update - Week 9
How Far Along: 9 weeks
What "They" Say About Our Baby's Development: "You can’t feel it yet, but those newly formed arms and legs might just very well start your baby moving during this week. Almost a full inch long and about 1/8 an ounce, your baby is looking every day more and more like a little person. This is helped by the shrinking of the embryonic tail we all start with at the base of the spinal cord. The growth of your baby's head, now almost half the size of his or her body, has been impressive in this time, though babies keep them tucked down close to the chest. This week also sees the beginning of nipples and hair follicles. Internally, reproductive organs, either testes or ovaries, are forming as do other internal organs including the pancreas, bile ducts, gallbladder and anus."
What "They" Say About Our Baby's Development: "You can’t feel it yet, but those newly formed arms and legs might just very well start your baby moving during this week. Almost a full inch long and about 1/8 an ounce, your baby is looking every day more and more like a little person. This is helped by the shrinking of the embryonic tail we all start with at the base of the spinal cord. The growth of your baby's head, now almost half the size of his or her body, has been impressive in this time, though babies keep them tucked down close to the chest. This week also sees the beginning of nipples and hair follicles. Internally, reproductive organs, either testes or ovaries, are forming as do other internal organs including the pancreas, bile ducts, gallbladder and anus."
Weekly Food Comparison: A Grape (which is strange because I ate grapes for lunch today. Weird that my baby is this size! And amazing how much it's grown in a few short weeks!)
The Bad: Nausea. Still here. All day. And the past week it seems to be worse at night. I barely made it through dinner without getting sick. I'm also exhausted, preferring to come home most nights, eat, then crawl into bed. Last night was the first time in two weeks we watched television in the livingroom, since I'm usually watching it in bed and falling asleep at about 8pm or so.
The Weird: I feel extremely hungry before meals. As if I could eat three meals. I definitely have a case of "my eyes are bigger than my stomach", and will order a big meal and then can barely get 1/4 of it down. Case and point, last weekend, Tito and I went to dinner at a new restaurant who'd sent us a coupon for $15 off our meal (i.e. a free meal!) so we decided to go. I was SO hungry we ordered an appetizer of breadsticks. I ate a couple, then decided to wait until our meals got there so I could eat that. Meals came, and I had ordered a 1/2 lb burger (well done, mind you!) and fries. I cut the burger in half (for ease of eating, because in my mind, I was going to eat the whole thing!) and could only finish about 3/4 of the 1/2 and about 6 fries. And then I was done. So full, I couldn't eat another bite.
Currently Craving/Avoiding: Avoiding: string cheese sticks. The thought of them makes me nauseous. When a week ago I could have eaten three in a row, now I can't even stand the sight of them in my fridge. I had to put them in a drawer so I wouldn't see them when I opened the fridge. Also still avoiding sweets, except I did have a chocolate milkshake last week.
Craving: Milk (still), water, most liquids without a lot of sugar in them (the sugar makes my stomach upset which is weird to this normally 1-Diet-Coke-A-Day lady. I can't really stomach soda at all.) Grocery shopping is hard because I never know what I'll actually eat.
The Weekly Belly Bump: Definitely getting more prominent. My younger brother Sean was over for dinner last night and I turned to him and said "I'm getting a belly" and his reply was "I wasn't going to say anything but..." It's definitely noticeable to Tito and I though since we see it every day. I've been wearing larger shirts though which cause people in my office to ask if I'm showing. :) I'm thankful that my doctor gave me some new techniques last week on how to give myself my twice a day injections and now my bruises are fading and I just have some tiny red dots around my abdomen. Most are on one side (not the side I photographed!)
9 weeks pregnant
August 13, 2009
Weekly update
Here is a weekly baby update for everyone who is interested in following along. I'm one day off but doing this in the future...I'll officially be 8 weeks tomorrow on Friday (but since it's only 9 hours away I think I'm safe.)
3 Weeks (just after finding out I was pregnant)
4 weeks pregnant
6 Weeks Pregnant
7 Weeks Pregnant
How Far Along: 8 weeks
Weekly Food Comparison: A Kidney Bean
The Good: We saw our little jalapeno's heartbeat and blob-like figure for the first time on Tuesday! It was an amazing experience and we can't wait to see it again in 3.5 weeks!
The Bad: All day nausea is still here. I've been eating every two hours (small meals) but my stomach always feels full.
The Weird: I've been having a few heart palpitations at night, but have learned that this was normal. With my heart history though I couldn't help but feel a little scared about it, but it turns out to be due to the increased blood flow due to the baby.
Currently Craving/Avoiding: Still craving green peppers and cheese. Also still craving hamburgers which is hard for this gal who hasn't been eating red meat in almost two years (but I have indulged in two hamburgers, but haven't been able to finish either.) I'm also drinking more milk than I've ever had in my life. We've gone through two gallons in a week. Avoiding? Chocolate (which is painful), sweets in general. I just don't have a taste for them right now.
The Weekly Belly Bump: Sometimes I feel like it's there, mostly at the end of the day. Most of the time it just feels like bloating. I can feel parts of my stomach already getting hard though which is interesting. Here's from the beginning to now...
3 Weeks (just after finding out I was pregnant)
4 weeks pregnant
6 Weeks Pregnant
7 Weeks Pregnant
August 12, 2009
And I'm back with some actual news!
Yes, I'm pregnant! I'm 7 weeks and 5 days along, and we saw our baby's heartbeat for the first time yesterday morning. Nothing compares to the feeling that I felt as I lay on the table, in the world's smallest room, with an ultrasound machine next to me, and surrounded by Tito, a nurse, my doctor and a student doctor. At one point all of them were literally leaning over me to see that sweet heartbeat! I know I'll remember that moment for years to come, both for the way I felt and for the comicality of it all.
I of course freaked out a little when I first looked at the screen and saw nothing. What I didn't know until a little bit later was that my doc was looking at my ovaries and bladder not my uterus! As soon as he started looking at the uterus, there it was...our little baby blob with a nice strong, fast, flickering heartbeat. It was amazing. I started crying, couldn't stop (happy tears, happy tears!) and held onto Tito's hand who was also emotional, although he kept leaning towards the screen (and subsequently OVER me!) :)
This whole pregnancy was a surprise, or as much as one can be for someone TTC. We totally thought our timing was off this month. I've known since I got a positive HPT on July 15th...which was only 8 days past ovulation for me. So early, but I was at the gym working out and just felt dizzy and not right. Bought a test on the way home, took it, and instantly there was a faint line. We've been TTC for 7 months so I've taken plenty of these tests now, and know what an evaporation line looks like. This was not one! I decided to leave it for the recommended 3 minutes and went to put away groceries. In the meantime Tito came home, and I bypassed him to the bathroom because I wanted to make sure the test was positive before I told him! He thought I was playing some sort of game and "hiding" on him and followed me into the bathroom. I couldn't shut the door in time and he came in and saw me holding the stick. I just put it down and said "Babe, I think I might be pregnant." He, being the analytical engineer that he is said "that line isn't the same color as the other one. I don't know if you are." I explained to him all about HCG levels and that there really is no "false positive" no matter how light. So what did we do? We Googled. Yes, we Googled other people's 8dpo positive pregnancy tests. And I took another one a few hours later with the same results. And another one the next morning - still positive and getting darker.
I called my doc and was able to get in to see the attending the next day to confirm. I expected a blood test. They said since I'd peed on three HPT's that I was pregnant. It still didn't feel "real". But I started taking all of the precautions (funny thing was that I'd bought a bottle of wine when I'd bought the HPT figuring if it was negative I'd have a drink. So I called Tito and said "I can't have that drink now...I'm really pregnant.")
I, being skeptical, took another 6 tests over the course of the following week, watching the line get darker each time. In my defense, I didn't buy them all. They were all ones I'd bought before when we were TTC and hadn't used. I figured they'd probably expire before I'd get a chance to use them again, and I felt wasteful throwing them out, so I took them!
We of course were super excited and in awe. Happy and unable to put into words how we felt. We knew it was still early (I was just shy of 4 weeks at this point) but we told my parents and his parents, and then his whole family (being a Latino family, you can't just tell one person or two, you need to share with everyone!) So we were assured that many prayers were coming our way and the baby's way for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby and mom at the end of it all.
Since finding out I've felt every spectrum of the pregnancy symptoms. My doc said it was normal although most books said you don't feel them until 6 or 7 weeks. I had the dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, food aversion, smell aversion, back pain, sleeplessness, headaches, etc., etc., etc. Poor Tito has to deal with me not being able to stand the smell of his cologne or some foods he makes. It seems like the things I notice the most are the bad smells...so the catbox (of which I'm relieved of cleaning duty!), trash, garbage disposal, food in the fridge, etc.
Since I hit 6 weeks, it seems like the hormones have cranked up and the feelings I "shouldn't have gotten" according to books and everyone else, were intensified. Nausea lasts all day with no relief in site. I've tried a few things that seem to work - watermelon, ginger ale, ginger chews (these work but are gross, so I will not be eating them!), lemon candies, and my doctor recommended to me taking vitamin B6. He said if that didn't work on its own I could take B6 with Unisom. Took a B6 last night and it seemed to work. I also keep snacks by my bed, and when I get up to go to the bathroom at night I eat a cracker or two before falling back asleep. Helps to keep food in my stomach.
I'm looking foward to sharing this journey with you all over the next 7 months or so.
July 30, 2009
C-c-c-c-hanges....
So once again, MIA.
Here's some updates:
1. Went to doctor, tested negative for Celiac, which I thought I would. Was told by my doc I might have a wheat intolerance and it was recommended I remove some things from my diet to see if that helps. Have been doing this in moderation since then and things are ok. Getting better, but not 100%.
2. Work is busy, have a project going to print in about a week and another one to the designer at the same time. Then another right around the corner.
3. Am busy looking for a new place to live with my husband. Not buying, still renting because we don't want to buy as we may be moving in another year or so. Just need something bigger.
4. Working on (finally) paying off the last of my debt aside from my student loan. But working on getting that one whittled down too. I'm very happy about this and that most of my money will be saved since I'll only have minimal monthly bills (cable, rent, electric, car payment, student loan payment, food.)
5. It's HOT in Seattle. As in 104 yesterday, 100 today. High 90's through next Wednesday. Thank goodness we have a pool. No AC though and stagnant air which isn't helpful, but frozen washcloths with a fan blowing on you make it a little better.
6. Some other things in the works I'll be sharing in the weeks to come. New and exciting and I'm a little timid about what is to come but excited all the same.
Be back soon!
Here's some updates:
1. Went to doctor, tested negative for Celiac, which I thought I would. Was told by my doc I might have a wheat intolerance and it was recommended I remove some things from my diet to see if that helps. Have been doing this in moderation since then and things are ok. Getting better, but not 100%.
2. Work is busy, have a project going to print in about a week and another one to the designer at the same time. Then another right around the corner.
3. Am busy looking for a new place to live with my husband. Not buying, still renting because we don't want to buy as we may be moving in another year or so. Just need something bigger.
4. Working on (finally) paying off the last of my debt aside from my student loan. But working on getting that one whittled down too. I'm very happy about this and that most of my money will be saved since I'll only have minimal monthly bills (cable, rent, electric, car payment, student loan payment, food.)
5. It's HOT in Seattle. As in 104 yesterday, 100 today. High 90's through next Wednesday. Thank goodness we have a pool. No AC though and stagnant air which isn't helpful, but frozen washcloths with a fan blowing on you make it a little better.
6. Some other things in the works I'll be sharing in the weeks to come. New and exciting and I'm a little timid about what is to come but excited all the same.
Be back soon!
July 8, 2009
I think I might have a wheat allergy. I was looking online this morning for wheat allergy symptoms because I ate pasta yesterday and woke up with severe stomach cramping and (sorry!) constipation. It continues today although just the cramping as the constipation has subsided in the "natural" way if you catch my drift. I found a list of supposed wheat allergy symptoms and was surprised at how many of these I experience on a daily level:
Symptoms of a wheat allergy or wheat intolerance (not exhaustive by any means):
* Arthritis (don't have.)
* Bloated stomach (I have this constantly)
* Chest pains (have occasionally, not like heart attack ones but different, more sharp)
* Depression or mood swings (I would say I have mood swings and not just centered around my cycle)
* Diarrhea (have a lot - sorry if TMI!)
* Eczema (don't have)
* Feeling dizzy or faint (don't have)
* Joint and muscle aches and pains (my knees have been bothering me a lot more than usual. When I was younger I thought it was cheerleading stress on my joints. Now my knees will hurt when sitting on the airplane, or like last night when I was leaving work, got up from my desk and my knees ached and then had to take the three flights of stairs slowly because my knees felt like they were going to "pop" if I went too fast)
* Nausea or vomiting (Nausea a lot - pretty much every other day)
* Palpitations (have these a lot as well - went to the electrocardiologist and they said it's nothing to be concerned about. But now I'm wondering if they're not heart related at all)
* Psoriasis (don't have)
* Skin rashes (I have a weird one on my shins right now but it came about with my sun exposure in Houston so I don't think it's related.)
* Sneezing (occasionally)
* Suspected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)/similar effects (I occasionally feel like this is what I have but then I'll be fine)
* Swollen throat or tongue (not really, although the roof of my mouth or gums will randomly swell up)
* Tiredness and lethargy (tired a lot - and not just from all of the traveling I've been doing)
* Unexplained cough (nope)
* Unexplained runny nose (my nose runs when I eat - pretty much everything I eat. But not spicy foods (not that I eat a whole lot of spicy foods)
* Watery or itchy eyes (nope)
So I made an appt. with my doc for next Saturday (first available appt. with my doc since I don't want to see another practice doc because I always have to spend a good 15 - 20 minutes explaining my history to them and my heart condition). In the meantime, I've got a list of things you shouldn't eat with a wheat allergy and I'm going to try and keep away from those to see how they make me feel... even if I don't have a wheat allergy I think I'm going to try and give up wheat products to see how they make me feel. Hardest thing will be giving up beer!! But I'm so sick of feeling nauseous or not knowing if foods I eat will make me sick or not something has to give, you know?
Symptoms of a wheat allergy or wheat intolerance (not exhaustive by any means):
* Arthritis (don't have.)
* Bloated stomach (I have this constantly)
* Chest pains (have occasionally, not like heart attack ones but different, more sharp)
* Depression or mood swings (I would say I have mood swings and not just centered around my cycle)
* Diarrhea (have a lot - sorry if TMI!)
* Eczema (don't have)
* Feeling dizzy or faint (don't have)
* Joint and muscle aches and pains (my knees have been bothering me a lot more than usual. When I was younger I thought it was cheerleading stress on my joints. Now my knees will hurt when sitting on the airplane, or like last night when I was leaving work, got up from my desk and my knees ached and then had to take the three flights of stairs slowly because my knees felt like they were going to "pop" if I went too fast)
* Nausea or vomiting (Nausea a lot - pretty much every other day)
* Palpitations (have these a lot as well - went to the electrocardiologist and they said it's nothing to be concerned about. But now I'm wondering if they're not heart related at all)
* Psoriasis (don't have)
* Skin rashes (I have a weird one on my shins right now but it came about with my sun exposure in Houston so I don't think it's related.)
* Sneezing (occasionally)
* Suspected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)/similar effects (I occasionally feel like this is what I have but then I'll be fine)
* Swollen throat or tongue (not really, although the roof of my mouth or gums will randomly swell up)
* Tiredness and lethargy (tired a lot - and not just from all of the traveling I've been doing)
* Unexplained cough (nope)
* Unexplained runny nose (my nose runs when I eat - pretty much everything I eat. But not spicy foods (not that I eat a whole lot of spicy foods)
* Watery or itchy eyes (nope)
So I made an appt. with my doc for next Saturday (first available appt. with my doc since I don't want to see another practice doc because I always have to spend a good 15 - 20 minutes explaining my history to them and my heart condition). In the meantime, I've got a list of things you shouldn't eat with a wheat allergy and I'm going to try and keep away from those to see how they make me feel... even if I don't have a wheat allergy I think I'm going to try and give up wheat products to see how they make me feel. Hardest thing will be giving up beer!! But I'm so sick of feeling nauseous or not knowing if foods I eat will make me sick or not something has to give, you know?
June 26, 2009
So we headed out last Thursday night for an overnight flight home. First stop La Guardia, then on to Boston, then drive to Maine. We made it to NY with time to spare and enjoyed some Dunkin' Donuts...Tito's favorite. As much as we've been told there are DD's here in Seattle, it's not true (according to their website at least there aren't any on the West Coast at all!) So Tito happily scarfed down an iced latte and donut.
Sunrise on the way to NY
Landed in Boston and got our rental car. I succeeded in pissing off the rental car agent because he was trying to upsell me into a larger car, sell us the insurance, etc. and I eventually had to tell him that I had worked for Enterprise and didn't need his sales pitches and that we would take an economy car and if they didn't have one then they would put us into the next size available for free. He didn't like that. He also didn't like it when I told him their policy (Alamo) of having to pay for all second drivers was "stupid." At Enterprise if a couple is married they count as one and can both drive and anyone after them is an additional fee. Apparently this guy was telling me you had to pay for all additiional drivers, married or not which I thought (and still think) is dumb. Especially since Enterprise owns Alamo and National now. Whatever. We got out of there with a compact car since they had no economy cars and were on our way.
Boston bridge
At this point, I've slept about 3 hours because our seat partner brought her Chihauhau with her who apparently has attachment issues and was whiny, yippy, etc. throughout the whole flight with the most high pitched bark I've ever heard. I would occasionally fall asleep to be woken by a bark, or when she let her dog out onto her lap it would jump out and would be on the floor licking my legs. Also, the owner didn't seem to know the rules of space on a plane and she kept taking up our shared arm rest, and then leaning over into my seat space. It was fine for a bit as I could lie on Tito's shoulder, but when she attempted to "snuggle" up to me in her sleep I sort of elbowed her awake. :) Tito hadn't slept at all. So he was super tired, and I drove (totally breaking our rental agreement) so he could sleep.
Entering Maine!
We stopped at LL Bean on the way up so I could return an indoor/outdoor thermometer my parents had given us a few years ago that stopped working. I exchanged it for a gift card and managed to get a cute rain/spring coat with a hood. Tito also managed to charge his phone since both of ours had died so we could call my parents. We drove home and I found my second wind to go to the bride to be's mom's house to put together napkins for the wedding we were going to on Sunday. Tito crashed and went to bed. I got home at about 9pm and crashed as well.
Woke up early on Saturday and spent all day (9:30am - 4pm) cleaning with little breaks and didn't eat (I was so focused on getting done I didn't want to stop to eat fearing I'd lose my motivation.) We had plans to meet friends at their place 30 minutes away to go to dinner so we headed over there after showering and changing. It was so great to see them (the girls were two of my bridesmaids in my wedding and the last time we'd been home was for Beth's wedding two years ago.)
Went to the Sea Dog, which is Beth's favorite restaurant (they actually had their reception at the Bangor, ME one two years ago.) We attempted to go and see The Hangover, but missed it by 10 minutes, so we went and got drinks and back to Beth and Pete's house to play Trivial Pursuit and Asshole and catch up...
We left at 2am and slept in the next morning until 9am. Wedding was that day, and after the wedding, we headed up to Orono/Bangor area to see our old college haunts. Got into Bangor around 6pm and changed and headed to Orono for dinner at our favorite pizza place - Pat's. So deliscious!
Tito excited for his pizza
Digging in (notice my super curly hair brought on by the humidity!)
After dinner we headed next door to a favorite college bar, the Bear Brew Pub. There were 4 other people there - being a Sunday night and out of classes, the town pretty much dies down and the population decreases by 12,000. We didn't care and enjoyed a drink!
Headed back to the hotel to sleep and slept in until about 9am. Woke up and started coordinating meeting many people throughout the day and then headed up to campus!
Hancock Hall - Tito's old dorm and where we first met and had our first kiss. Awww...
Tutor Program - one of the places Tito worked while an undergrad.
We stopped into my old work and saw my old boss, who is one of our closest friends. We were able to catch up and made plans to stop by her house later to see her daughter and their old AFS student who I also know who was randomly visiting the same weekend.
Headed to lunch to meet my friend Natasha and her son Ryder. I haven't seen her in about 7 years so it was nice to get a chance to catch up. We wanted to go to a different restaurant but everything else was closed for lunch so we ended up back at Pat's. :)
After lunch we headed back to campus, driving by one of my old houses I lived in with my friends Adrienne and Kate.
60 Park Street...first house with A and K. My room is the second floor with the three windows.
Once on campus, we went to the bookstore, got some souveniers (a UMaine cheering shirt for me and little baby beanie with black bears on it for future babies), and then walked around the Union.
At the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences building - thanks for my degree!
After awhile we headed out to see some of Tito's old buildings and his old professors. We ran into a lot of them actually (engineers never take summer breaks!)
On our way off to visit more friends, we stopped at the new (well a couple of years old now) Alumni House to tour it.
The guy working the desk was an alum and also a very enthusiastic one. He belonged to the same honor organization as Tito had (Senior Skulls) and was also current president of "Friends of Maine Cheering". When he heard I was a former UMaine cheerleader he was super excited. :)
In the music room with Rudy Vallee memorbilia....Rudy Vallee wrote our alma mater's song..."Fill the Steins to Dear Old Maine, shout till the rafters roar..." Yes, I know all the words, including the section where we shout "Drink, Drink, Drink!" at hockey games. Tito HAD to know it to be in the Senior Skulls as they would be randomly asked to sing it if they ran into other Skull brothers throughout the first part of joining the group (similar to fraternity gags)...and at our wedding, we had 8 Skull members there and they sang the Stein Song to me...
Reliving old UMaine cheering days...ok, I didn't cheer THAT long ago, but it feels like it!
The ceiling of the rotunda in the Alumni House. The "stars" actually twinkle!
Floor of the rotunda...12 columns representing the first 12 UMaine graduates
After leaving the Alumni House we made the short trip to Page Place, the street where three of my four former flowergirls live...they're neighbors and my old boss lives here too.
With Brynn, Mason and Elise. Elise is almost as tall as I am at 9 years old.
Had a great visit, then headed down the street to my old boss' house.
Me, Molly, Amy, John and Dom (their Swiss former AFS student who was coincidentally visiting.)
Tito, Molly and I...she's such a peanut even at 6! She takes horseback riding lessons and her mom has to buy her clothes on a specialty website. She said that the size that she buys her isn't even modeled by a kid, but by a doll they're so tiny! :)
After visiting and not wanting to leave, we had to because we had dinner plans with some other friends in Bangor. So we rushed over and saw them all which was great. The women are both Spanish teachers at UMaine, and one of the husbands is an anthropology professor there as well. One couple is from Columbia and the other wife is from Peru (her husband is from Maine). So we have known them throughout all of college, they've worked with us in several of our Latino Heritage events we put on throughout college and their son was a ring bearer in our wedding as well. It was a fun filled evening, filled with conversation, mention of babies (as always in Latin culture!) and just good times. It was funny for outsiders listening in I'm sure because we were loud and laughing switching back and forth between English and Spanish the whole time!
We headed back to the hotel and to bed early because we had to leave at 7am the next morning in order to make it down to Boston for our last visit and then to the airport.
We made it and met up with one of Tito's best friends Kamal (best man in our wedding), his wife Ashley and their baby Malik. They'd taught Malik how to say Tito, which came out as "Itooooo!!" so it was cute!
Not the best photo of me but still cute!
We made it to return the rental car, and then to the airport in record time. Had time to sit, relax and have a beer and then take off to our first layover which was in Phoenix. We were asked to voluntarily give up our seats in exchange for $300 vouchers, hotel stay and dinner and we did...but they ended up not needing our seats. Oh well!
Sky blue pink (as my Grandma would call it) in Phoenix
Sunset over the clouds in AZ
Made it home and waited to get our bags for about 45 minutes (4 flights coming in at the same time + all unloading at the same baggage claim + a million and one high schoolers returning from a trip to Mexico complete with facial and tongue piercings, braided hair and fake tattoos = an unhappy Kate.) But we finally got our bags and caught a shuttle bus back to where our car was and got home at about 12:30pm. Cats were SO happy to see us. I had taken Wednesday off and took the day to unpack (but left the suitcases out since I'll be using them again in 8 days!) and do laundry. It was so nice and relaxing.
Now back to reality for another week or so and then off to Houston for the 4th!
Sunrise on the way to NY
Landed in Boston and got our rental car. I succeeded in pissing off the rental car agent because he was trying to upsell me into a larger car, sell us the insurance, etc. and I eventually had to tell him that I had worked for Enterprise and didn't need his sales pitches and that we would take an economy car and if they didn't have one then they would put us into the next size available for free. He didn't like that. He also didn't like it when I told him their policy (Alamo) of having to pay for all second drivers was "stupid." At Enterprise if a couple is married they count as one and can both drive and anyone after them is an additional fee. Apparently this guy was telling me you had to pay for all additiional drivers, married or not which I thought (and still think) is dumb. Especially since Enterprise owns Alamo and National now. Whatever. We got out of there with a compact car since they had no economy cars and were on our way.
Boston bridge
At this point, I've slept about 3 hours because our seat partner brought her Chihauhau with her who apparently has attachment issues and was whiny, yippy, etc. throughout the whole flight with the most high pitched bark I've ever heard. I would occasionally fall asleep to be woken by a bark, or when she let her dog out onto her lap it would jump out and would be on the floor licking my legs. Also, the owner didn't seem to know the rules of space on a plane and she kept taking up our shared arm rest, and then leaning over into my seat space. It was fine for a bit as I could lie on Tito's shoulder, but when she attempted to "snuggle" up to me in her sleep I sort of elbowed her awake. :) Tito hadn't slept at all. So he was super tired, and I drove (totally breaking our rental agreement) so he could sleep.
Entering Maine!
We stopped at LL Bean on the way up so I could return an indoor/outdoor thermometer my parents had given us a few years ago that stopped working. I exchanged it for a gift card and managed to get a cute rain/spring coat with a hood. Tito also managed to charge his phone since both of ours had died so we could call my parents. We drove home and I found my second wind to go to the bride to be's mom's house to put together napkins for the wedding we were going to on Sunday. Tito crashed and went to bed. I got home at about 9pm and crashed as well.
Woke up early on Saturday and spent all day (9:30am - 4pm) cleaning with little breaks and didn't eat (I was so focused on getting done I didn't want to stop to eat fearing I'd lose my motivation.) We had plans to meet friends at their place 30 minutes away to go to dinner so we headed over there after showering and changing. It was so great to see them (the girls were two of my bridesmaids in my wedding and the last time we'd been home was for Beth's wedding two years ago.)
Went to the Sea Dog, which is Beth's favorite restaurant (they actually had their reception at the Bangor, ME one two years ago.) We attempted to go and see The Hangover, but missed it by 10 minutes, so we went and got drinks and back to Beth and Pete's house to play Trivial Pursuit and Asshole and catch up...
We left at 2am and slept in the next morning until 9am. Wedding was that day, and after the wedding, we headed up to Orono/Bangor area to see our old college haunts. Got into Bangor around 6pm and changed and headed to Orono for dinner at our favorite pizza place - Pat's. So deliscious!
Tito excited for his pizza
Digging in (notice my super curly hair brought on by the humidity!)
After dinner we headed next door to a favorite college bar, the Bear Brew Pub. There were 4 other people there - being a Sunday night and out of classes, the town pretty much dies down and the population decreases by 12,000. We didn't care and enjoyed a drink!
Headed back to the hotel to sleep and slept in until about 9am. Woke up and started coordinating meeting many people throughout the day and then headed up to campus!
Hancock Hall - Tito's old dorm and where we first met and had our first kiss. Awww...
Tutor Program - one of the places Tito worked while an undergrad.
We stopped into my old work and saw my old boss, who is one of our closest friends. We were able to catch up and made plans to stop by her house later to see her daughter and their old AFS student who I also know who was randomly visiting the same weekend.
Headed to lunch to meet my friend Natasha and her son Ryder. I haven't seen her in about 7 years so it was nice to get a chance to catch up. We wanted to go to a different restaurant but everything else was closed for lunch so we ended up back at Pat's. :)
After lunch we headed back to campus, driving by one of my old houses I lived in with my friends Adrienne and Kate.
60 Park Street...first house with A and K. My room is the second floor with the three windows.
Once on campus, we went to the bookstore, got some souveniers (a UMaine cheering shirt for me and little baby beanie with black bears on it for future babies), and then walked around the Union.
At the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences building - thanks for my degree!
After awhile we headed out to see some of Tito's old buildings and his old professors. We ran into a lot of them actually (engineers never take summer breaks!)
On our way off to visit more friends, we stopped at the new (well a couple of years old now) Alumni House to tour it.
The guy working the desk was an alum and also a very enthusiastic one. He belonged to the same honor organization as Tito had (Senior Skulls) and was also current president of "Friends of Maine Cheering". When he heard I was a former UMaine cheerleader he was super excited. :)
In the music room with Rudy Vallee memorbilia....Rudy Vallee wrote our alma mater's song..."Fill the Steins to Dear Old Maine, shout till the rafters roar..." Yes, I know all the words, including the section where we shout "Drink, Drink, Drink!" at hockey games. Tito HAD to know it to be in the Senior Skulls as they would be randomly asked to sing it if they ran into other Skull brothers throughout the first part of joining the group (similar to fraternity gags)...and at our wedding, we had 8 Skull members there and they sang the Stein Song to me...
Reliving old UMaine cheering days...ok, I didn't cheer THAT long ago, but it feels like it!
The ceiling of the rotunda in the Alumni House. The "stars" actually twinkle!
Floor of the rotunda...12 columns representing the first 12 UMaine graduates
After leaving the Alumni House we made the short trip to Page Place, the street where three of my four former flowergirls live...they're neighbors and my old boss lives here too.
With Brynn, Mason and Elise. Elise is almost as tall as I am at 9 years old.
Had a great visit, then headed down the street to my old boss' house.
Me, Molly, Amy, John and Dom (their Swiss former AFS student who was coincidentally visiting.)
Tito, Molly and I...she's such a peanut even at 6! She takes horseback riding lessons and her mom has to buy her clothes on a specialty website. She said that the size that she buys her isn't even modeled by a kid, but by a doll they're so tiny! :)
After visiting and not wanting to leave, we had to because we had dinner plans with some other friends in Bangor. So we rushed over and saw them all which was great. The women are both Spanish teachers at UMaine, and one of the husbands is an anthropology professor there as well. One couple is from Columbia and the other wife is from Peru (her husband is from Maine). So we have known them throughout all of college, they've worked with us in several of our Latino Heritage events we put on throughout college and their son was a ring bearer in our wedding as well. It was a fun filled evening, filled with conversation, mention of babies (as always in Latin culture!) and just good times. It was funny for outsiders listening in I'm sure because we were loud and laughing switching back and forth between English and Spanish the whole time!
We headed back to the hotel and to bed early because we had to leave at 7am the next morning in order to make it down to Boston for our last visit and then to the airport.
We made it and met up with one of Tito's best friends Kamal (best man in our wedding), his wife Ashley and their baby Malik. They'd taught Malik how to say Tito, which came out as "Itooooo!!" so it was cute!
Not the best photo of me but still cute!
We made it to return the rental car, and then to the airport in record time. Had time to sit, relax and have a beer and then take off to our first layover which was in Phoenix. We were asked to voluntarily give up our seats in exchange for $300 vouchers, hotel stay and dinner and we did...but they ended up not needing our seats. Oh well!
Sky blue pink (as my Grandma would call it) in Phoenix
Sunset over the clouds in AZ
Made it home and waited to get our bags for about 45 minutes (4 flights coming in at the same time + all unloading at the same baggage claim + a million and one high schoolers returning from a trip to Mexico complete with facial and tongue piercings, braided hair and fake tattoos = an unhappy Kate.) But we finally got our bags and caught a shuttle bus back to where our car was and got home at about 12:30pm. Cats were SO happy to see us. I had taken Wednesday off and took the day to unpack (but left the suitcases out since I'll be using them again in 8 days!) and do laundry. It was so nice and relaxing.
Now back to reality for another week or so and then off to Houston for the 4th!
May 29, 2009
Busy bee...
So I've been MIA again. But this time with good reason. Busy bee with work. My husband's grandmother passed away last week so we've been mourning her and remembering (and for me learning new things about her through his stories of this wonderful woman!)
In the next two months, I am going to be gone a lot. Some for work, some for pleasure. Here's the schedule:
June 8 - June 15: Corning, NY for conference for work
June 18 - 23: Maine for my older brother's wedding, and visiting my alma mater (college) and friends
July 3 - 6: Houston for my friend's wedding
I have three days of downtime between the first and second trip and 9 days between the second and the third. Lots of organization will have to happen. Hopefully the weather warms up in Maine and the rain goes away so it'll make packing easier. Houston is going to be hot. Actually I think the word is HAWT. Humidity, heat...ahhh....I actually do miss that from my time living in Florida. Sometimes you just need a few hot days to make you appreciate the ones where it's 75 and sunny with a little breeze. I can promise my hair will be a crazy curly mess. I will do my best to tame it. But it will not be straight. Might have to actually get my hair styled for the wedding so it doesn't look like Grace from Will and Grace's crazy 80's hair in her flashback episodes.
I've now lived in Seattle for 3 years and 4 months. Sometimes I really like it. Like today, when it's 80, sunny, and just perfect. Like last weekend when it was similar, and like this weekend when it's going to be awesome. Sometimes I don't like it, like when it rains. Or actually when it's grey. I hate the grey. But for now I'm loving the sunshine and warm weather. I'll take it for now. :)
My garden is growing like crazy. Well the window box garden that it is. We have crazy amounts of parsley, cilantro, oregano, lettuce and spinach. I've had two salads with the lettuce and spinach and it grows back so quickly, it's great! Tomato plants that were positively pathetic when I bought them, all dried out and almost dead and only about 2 inches tall are now 6 inches high with nice strong roots. No tomatoes yet, but hopefully soon! Also still waiting on our poblano peppers and jalepeno peppers to come in. Again, hopefully soon on those. I'm feeling an urge to make some salsa and pico de gallo!
I'm running a road race this weekend with my husband and a friend of ours. Just a 5k but it's the first race I've run since I was about 5. Yes, I used to run road races with my dad back then. Didn't run the whole time, but still finished each one. And I have a trophy at home that is for a first place finish in one of them..first place in my age division. Which was 18 and under and I was the only one! Winner by default is still a winner. I will not be winning this race this weekend, but it's nice that I've gotten back into running. Something fun, free and easy and somehting to do with my husband which is nice too.
So hopefully I won't be MIA for too much longer...and will be back with at least some photos of my upcoming travels/experiences.
In the next two months, I am going to be gone a lot. Some for work, some for pleasure. Here's the schedule:
June 8 - June 15: Corning, NY for conference for work
June 18 - 23: Maine for my older brother's wedding, and visiting my alma mater (college) and friends
July 3 - 6: Houston for my friend's wedding
I have three days of downtime between the first and second trip and 9 days between the second and the third. Lots of organization will have to happen. Hopefully the weather warms up in Maine and the rain goes away so it'll make packing easier. Houston is going to be hot. Actually I think the word is HAWT. Humidity, heat...ahhh....I actually do miss that from my time living in Florida. Sometimes you just need a few hot days to make you appreciate the ones where it's 75 and sunny with a little breeze. I can promise my hair will be a crazy curly mess. I will do my best to tame it. But it will not be straight. Might have to actually get my hair styled for the wedding so it doesn't look like Grace from Will and Grace's crazy 80's hair in her flashback episodes.
I've now lived in Seattle for 3 years and 4 months. Sometimes I really like it. Like today, when it's 80, sunny, and just perfect. Like last weekend when it was similar, and like this weekend when it's going to be awesome. Sometimes I don't like it, like when it rains. Or actually when it's grey. I hate the grey. But for now I'm loving the sunshine and warm weather. I'll take it for now. :)
My garden is growing like crazy. Well the window box garden that it is. We have crazy amounts of parsley, cilantro, oregano, lettuce and spinach. I've had two salads with the lettuce and spinach and it grows back so quickly, it's great! Tomato plants that were positively pathetic when I bought them, all dried out and almost dead and only about 2 inches tall are now 6 inches high with nice strong roots. No tomatoes yet, but hopefully soon! Also still waiting on our poblano peppers and jalepeno peppers to come in. Again, hopefully soon on those. I'm feeling an urge to make some salsa and pico de gallo!
I'm running a road race this weekend with my husband and a friend of ours. Just a 5k but it's the first race I've run since I was about 5. Yes, I used to run road races with my dad back then. Didn't run the whole time, but still finished each one. And I have a trophy at home that is for a first place finish in one of them..first place in my age division. Which was 18 and under and I was the only one! Winner by default is still a winner. I will not be winning this race this weekend, but it's nice that I've gotten back into running. Something fun, free and easy and somehting to do with my husband which is nice too.
So hopefully I won't be MIA for too much longer...and will be back with at least some photos of my upcoming travels/experiences.
May 11, 2009
Disturbingly funny
I love Justin Timberlake, just like many out there in the world. I love his singing, stage presence, etc. I also think he has great comedic timing when he's on SNL. I had DVR'd this week's episode and watched it last night and I haven't laughed so hard in awhile.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKqDlIhRsPY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKqDlIhRsPY
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)