Saturday, May 15, 2010

How cute is this?


It's a hanging ship lamp from Peter Pan! I love it! Too bad we've already installed a ceiling fan (which will be much needed here in Phoenix) and this lamp is made in the UK. I know that there wouldn't be a problem with the outlets because it hangs and it's just a wiring thing, but I'm not sure if it would fully work anyway. Perhaps it's better that I don't find out!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Cutting things out

Ok, so both in preparation for the chance that Prop 100 does not pass next week and just places on where we can save money, we're looking at our budget, what we spend where, and where we can cut back.

Yesterday, it was our cell phones. It was needed. We have AT&T (we were on it before the iPhone was even announced) and have the iPhone. I had AT&T first and had a high minute plan as Jason was still on Verizon. He eventually moved over to AT&T but we never lowered the minutes. The only people that Jason talks to on a regular basis that are not on AT&T are his parents, I don't talk to anyone that is not on AT&T on a regular basis. Needless to say, we had a TON of Roll Over minutes every month. We had like 1000 expiring every month! So, we dropped our minute plan. We're keeping our texting plan and our data plan. But, by dropping our minute plan we're going to save about $30 a month. Great.

Now, we're looking at Cable TV. Jaye - you may be able to help me out here. We have a Cox bundle with internet, phone, and our basic cable HD TV and recorder. During the day before I get home, Jason does watch random stuff on TV like Food Network thanks to his love of cooking, and Holmes on Homes or Income Property on HGTV. He would lose those things. We're considering cutting the cable tv part out. But, not eliminating it entirely. We would move to an HD antenna to pick up the local network channels as we do watch a lot of network tv at night, and also pick up a TiVo to still record shows or movies that may come on. Then perhaps as we want to watch something on TV and we see nothing on, we go to our recorded shows and movies. This, would save us after is all and said and done, about $900 a year.

Doing this, we would still have to pull about $300 out of our savings to help pay for day care for Hunter IF Prop 100 does not pass. If Prop 100 does pass, we don't have to pull anything from our savings to cover day care. It would be a change, but I think it can be a very good change.

Thoughts or tips?

14 Weeks to Go!


Where Does All This Weight Gain Go?

Here is a breakdown of where you can expect the extra pounds to go:

Baby7-8 pounds
Placenta1-2 pounds
Amniotic fluid2 pounds
Uterus2 pounds
Maternal breast tissue2 pounds
Maternal blood4 pounds
Fluids in maternal tissue4 pounds
Maternal fat and nutrient stores7 pounds

This will come in handy in just a minute, keep on reading.

How far along? 26 weeks

Total weight gain/loss? Down 1 from last week, up 3 overall. I think it was due to the swelling I had in my feet and ankles. At my appointment on Monday, my doctor told me that ideally, she wants me to gain about 15 pounds (originally it was between 15 and 20). I look at this list from above showing the breakdown of everything, and if I gained only 15 pounds, I'd be walking out of the hospital weighing less than when this whole thing started! I'm eating, really. I just haven't taken on the mantra of eating for 2. Jason actually thinks that our boy is growing and gaining weight but I'm loosing weight. It's very odd seeing as I know people that have put on 60 pounds while pregnant! But, then again, I still have 14 weeks to go and it could all come on at once.

Maternity clothes? Pretty much everything full time now. I bought my swim suit last week so I'm all set!

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep? I wake up about once a night now. Though, I don't always have to get up. I have to sleep more upright due to heartburn. And, even though it's uncomfortable and not the best thing to do, I have to start out on my back. I have this thing where if I lay down on my side right away, I feel sick to my stomach, and have gotten sick once before from it. So, I have to start on my back first, then right as I'm ready to fall asleep, I can turn to my side. Plus, my hands get numb pretty quickly now too if I sleep on my side, kinda weird, but I heard can be normal.

Best moment this week? Watching my Phoenix Suns sweep their nemesis, the San Antonio Spurs! Ok, so it's not baby related, but it was by far the best moment this week. :)

Movement? Yup, I'm feeling him in different places now cause of how big he's getting.

Food cravings? I want sweet tea. I finally had my white rice and butter. So, it's just sweet tea.

Gender? It's a BOY!

Labor signs? Nope. But, enter Braxton Hicks - or at least I think it's Braxton Hicks.

What I miss? Sweet Tea. I really want some.

What I'm looking forward to? Hopefully passing my 1 hour glucose test on Friday!

Weekly Wisdom: None

Milestones: I'm in the double digits!

Emotions: I was balling at Glee last night when Kurt was talking to his dad.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

The hunt

So, I've had to give up on my size 36DD bras. There is underwire in all of them, and it's really starting to hurt now. That put me on the hunt for a new wireless bra in that size. As most bras only come with wires at that point, that led me to the maternity stores.

Well, I bought one Thursday night, wore it Friday, and by the end of the day I was in pain. Actually, I was in pain throughout the whole day. It didn't have the traditional underwire, it had wire on the side of my boobs and the bottom of the wire, though covered and padded, dug into my skin. Saturday, I put band-aids in those places to keep it from digging in so much while it was back to the store to find a truly wireless bra.

So, I find a truly wireless bra, but it's a nursing bra. One where the top/front layer can be lifted up (or in some cases folded down) and it reveals the breast through a hole so that the baby can feed. Whatever, I get it, even though I'm not planning on directly breast feeding. I get home, put it on, and now the holes in the second layer to the bra leave marks/indents in my breasts. It doesn't hurt, though it looks like it does.

Any other places where I can find a bra that does not have wire on it that won't hurt or misshape me?

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

15 Weeks to go!

Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.

How far along? 25 weeks

Total weight gain/loss? Up 1 from last week, up 4 overall.

Maternity clothes? Pretty much everything full time now. I need to buy a swim suit still. Perhaps this weekend. I've been delaying it to see how my belly would sit.

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep? I wake up about once a night now. Though, I don't always have to get up. I have to sleep more upright due to heartburn. And, even though it's uncomfortable and not the best thing to do, I have to start out on my back. I have this thing where if I lay down on my side right away, I feel sick to my stomach, and have gotten sick once before from it. So, I have to start on my back first, then right as I'm ready to fall asleep, I can turn to my side. Plus, my hands get numb pretty quickly now too if I sleep on my side, kinda weird, but I heard can be normal.

Best moment this week? A good friend's baby shower, the shower invites in the mail, registering for the birthing class...

Movement? Yup, I'm feeling him in different places now cause of how big he's getting.

Food cravings? I want sweet tea. And white rice with butter. Still all stuff that I would eat normally. Nothing that I either have never had or don't like.

Gender? It's a BOY!

Labor signs? Nope.

What I miss? Sweet Tea. I really want some.

What I'm looking forward to? My next appointment on Monday (though that means I'll be scheduling the glucose test too)

Weekly Wisdom: None

Milestones: Registering for childbirth preparation class!

Emotions: Jason didn't want to consider moving his uniform fittings for a Saturday birth class. I was more than pissed. Long story, but he called up after his band meeting last night and has said he can do the class. Before that though, I was mixed between pissed and upset and crying.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

I have been slacking!

Wow... So, I haven't posted much of anything recently. And, that 101 in 1001... I'm still working on it, but some things (like my posting every other week on the Suns) have gone by the wayside.

Let's do a post on my job.

So, I interviewed for a "team lead" position that would put me on the management team for a department that I worked closely with already in November. There was the same position open in a different department that I did not know too much about. As they were all under the same umbrella and the same director, they combined the interviews and candidates. So, if you didn't apply for one, you could still be interviewing for it.

That was me. I did not apply for the position that I was offered. So, on December 11, I was offered this position. That's great news. On top of it, the position I applied for, was not being filled at the moment, they didn't see the need for it, so I got the only one available. Good for me. I was given the weekend to think it over and as the manager of that department was not in on Monday, I really had till Tuesday to give my answer. That afternoon I talked with my current manager, my current supervisor, my former team lead who was now working in this other department... I spoke with so many about this because of the challenge it presented. They went through 3 people in this position in 1.5 years, most of which were fired though I believe one lasted like 6 months then went to find another position in the company. Most told me that was because of the direct supervisor to this position. She has a reputation of being a little stressed out during the month end close process the first week of the month. I wanted to be sure I was prepared for whatever I was going to be walking into. Well, the next day, Saturday, December 12, I did that POAS thing and got the BFP. That certainly changes things.

After much deliberation, I accepted the position and I started January 4. I've been in this position now for 4 months. During that time, I've been a little stressed, but mostly about how much I have to learn, not because of the people above me. When I know stress is coming, I handle it much better than when it jumps out at me. It was also recently announced that the department was going to be split into two groups, two managers managing 2 teams all under the same department title. It was also recently announced, that my direct supervisor, the one that people hear is stressed out all the time, is retiring at the end of this month. That's a lot of change.

So, the department split will be to two groups, one to do all the misc tasks and month end closing duties, and one to do the regular audit. Where do I fit? Well, I don't know yet. It seems like I will be on the audit side, but nothing has officially been decided yet. So, for the rest of my training and what I have to learn, that leaves a lot of wholes and unanswered questions. Since it's not complete yet (for many other reasons), I still have to learn everything, just as if I was doing both the audit stuff and the month end closing stuff. And, don't forget that I'll be going on leave in August.

Wow! I have to take some deep breathes so I don't get overwhelmed thinking about it!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

16 weeks to go!


How far along? 24 weeks! V day baby!

Total weight gain/loss? We have weight gain! Up 4 (Yikes!) pounds from last week to bring me to plus 3.

Maternity clothes? Pretty much everything full time now. I need to buy a swim suit still. Perhaps this weekend. I've been delaying it to see how my belly would sit.

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep? I wake up about once a night now. Though, I don't always have to get up. However, I'm also now waking up to him kicking me. And, I have to sleep more upright due to heartburn. And, even though it's uncomfortable and not the best thing to do, I have to start out on my back. I have this thing where if I lay down on my side right away, I feel sick to my stomach, and have gotten sick once before from it. So, I have to start on my back first, then right as I'm ready to fall asleep, I can turn to my side. Plus, my hands get numb pretty quickly now too if I sleep on my side, kinda weird, but I heard can be normal.

Best moment this week? Well, there's going to San Francisco and...

Movement? Jason felt him on Sunday! Yay!

Food cravings? I want sweet tea. And white rice with butter. Still all stuff that I would eat normally. Nothing that I either have never had or don't like.

Gender? It's a BOY!

Labor signs? Nope.

What I miss? Sweet Tea. I really want some.

What I'm looking forward to? Going to yet another friend's baby shower on Sunday (she is exactly 5 weeks ahead of me).

Weekly Wisdom: No matter how much you love them, and how much distance there is between visits, your parents will still get on your nerves.

Milestones: Jason got to feel his boy kick!

Emotions: I was really annoyed with my mom almost the whole weekend. I felt really bad about it though, I don't like being in that mood when I visit. I feel like my self centered sister.