The Nursing Bra Adventure

This experience has to be up there with some of my most embarrassing moments... for all you male readers, you may want to stop right here... As there are only 10 days left... WOW... I am trying to get all the things on my little list done. One was to buy a nursing bra. Here in NYC, it is not as easy as running to your nearest maternity store or Target. The closest place with nursing bras is a place called "The Upper Breastside". I laugh every time I say it. I thought that I could go in there and just pick out a few bras and leave. But no. They put you in this very open and communal dressing room. They gave me some water and some chocolate and then said "OK - take off your shirt!" This was a problem for me for 2 reasons : 1. The garment issue 2. I am one of the most modest people ever! So, they lady and I went back and forth about whether or not I could just leave my undershirt on for a few minutes. Everyone was staring at us, or so I felt. I finally explained to her why I would like to keep my shirt on and she said - "Oh, that's OK". She just didn't get it. Finally after much deliberation, I gave in and it all came off... I was standing there - in the nude. Those were the longest few minutes of my life as the lady measured and gave me things to try on. Finally they were over and I left with 3 bras and some nursing accessories... I think that imposing on people's modesty must be one of their sales tactics because I just wanted to get out of there and would have probably bought whatever they had put in my hands...

The countdown...

I cannot believe that I am going to have a baby any day now... technically 19 days from today, but he is considered "full term" now. I went to the doctor last Tuesday and she sat Brett and I down and reiterated the fact that I am a first time mom and most first time moms deliever on their due dates or even a week later. But all the women in the ward who have just had babies have all delivered about 10 days early - so who knows! I guess the best thing to do is to just assume he will come late and be suprised and excited if he comes early.

I wonder if any studies have been done about fathers "nesting". This whole week, Brett has been moving our furniture around and trying to organzie everything before the baby comes. It is very cute.

"It Doesn't Matter if You're Black or White"

Yesterday, I went and taught at a private school here in the city. Which, by the way, starts at $30,000 per year in kindergarden and goes all the way through 12th grade... so even before college, parents have shelled out at least $390,000 for their child's education! Anyway, all the kids kept asking if I was pregnant... and then one kid said, " Are you going to have a brown baby, or a white baby?" Um... how to answer and be politically correct... so I started singing the Michael Jackson song... not really! But, who asks that? I guess the answer is - 5 year old!

Lack of Talent Awareness Week

The Lack of Acting Skills

After my doctor appointment last Thursday, I was coming out of the Time Warner Center and there was a t.v. show being filmed. I stood around for a minute and realized that it was the TLC show, "10 years younger". I started text messaging my sister because she loves the show and then someone asked me if I wanted to be IN the show! Of course I said yes! After my city search.com commercial, I felt like it was time for me move on to bigger and better things. So, I just had to go look at a lady in a box and tell the host how old I thought she was and why - it was a stunning performance! Then they pulled me aside and had me repeat what I said by myself to the camera - I worked it... I think that I may win an emmy for it :). Actually, I probably look like a BIG dork! Especially since I came home and my hair was a mess! They probably will call me up and tell me that I need my own makeover! So, if anyone is a regular watcher of the show - keep and eye out for me in January!

The Lack of Crafy Skills

I have absolutely NO creative/crafty talent! Some of my projects for the next few weeks include making a baby scrapbook and baby announcements. I got all of the stuff, and I get it out and then I just sit there... I can't come up with any ideas and when I do, I can' make them look cute! So all you crafty people out there - let me know if you have any tips or good websites! I need major help! Tonight, while I was trying to work on the announcements and getting really frustrated and grumpy, Brett suggested that I pay someone else to do it for me... it was a sweet thought(in a husband sort of way) and would certainly make life easier for me and him - but I really want to be crafty!! I am going to give it a few more tries, so any advice would be welcome! If I fail again, I may just have to accept that I don't have what it takes. While discussing this issue with my grandma, she said that she has accepted that her talent is just to appreciate those who are crafty since she is not... good one, grams - I probably should accept that too!

Shower Time!

1. Last week I got to fly home to California for my baby shower! I also got to go to my friend, Katie Hatch's bridal shower, which was fun. Neither of us were looking forward to to present opening part because it is so awkward - I told Katie that I would fake going into labor during her present opening to take the pressure off, but I didn't follow through - sorry Katie. But, my baby shower were so nice and I was so overwhelmed at the generosity of the people who were there. My little sister was the photographer, so I don't have that many pictures, but here are a few...

Three Years of Love!

Three years (and two days)ago, I made the greatest decision I ever made. I love being married to Brett and am so excited for our little family to begin! When I got back from being out of town, Brett had this little message set out for me... the U is a little smaller because I ate part of it :)!

Bank of America... Bank of Oppurtunity!

I am so proud of my husband! He has been working so hard and doing such a great job in school and it has paid off! He has a job! About a month ago, Bank of America called to offer him a full time position as a learning consultant... this is the best part... and he can work where ever he wants!! So, this was a dream come true for me because I have been hoping that this stint on the east coast would bring us back home, but it seems that so many people get stuck out here and I was stressed about that. He accepted about a week ago, so it is official now. So, we are so exited to be able to come back west.. we don't know exactly where we will be yet, but that is in the works. I am just so proud of Brett for all of his hard work to make a good life for us and to make me happy :)! I am a lucky girl!

This is just how it is...

That is what I have to say to myself when I look at these pictures... this is just how you look when you are pregnant. I am now 31 weeks and there is no denying the belly. It has been strange having to get used to people offer me their seats on the subway, doubting my abilities to carry things and giving me skeptical glares and I try to run a little in Central Park. The other day, I was doing laundry and this woman who had just moved here from Africa asked when I was expecting. I told her in 2 months and she siad ", Oh, it's going to be a BIG baby." Thanks, lady... I should have said, " Do you have any kids... well, then, they must be HUGE!" :) Just joking! Again, I go back to my first statement - this is just how it is!

Baltimore, Boston and Back

What a crazy week we had last week! Last Friday, Brett and I got on a bus and went down to Baltimore to visit our great friends Rachel and Danny Devine. They had a baby 2 months ago, so it was fun to meet him and see their 2 year old daughter. We also got to see Millie while we were out there, which was great, too! We got back from Baltimore on Monday and then on Tuesday, Misty and Dave Quinn picked us up and we drove out to Boston. We planned the trip the Friday before, so I was proud of myself for being spontaneous! Since Dave flies so much, he had a lot of hotel points, so we were able to stay in a great hotel - thanks Misty and Dave! We spent the whole day Wednesday touring around Boston! I loved that city! I am definitely a west coast girl, but if we had to move back east again, I wouldn't mind Boston. We went on a "Duck Tour", which was tons of fun and we saw a lot of the city that way without walking forever. Then, we drove over to Harvard where we found this great burger place. Check out some of the names of the burgers, they are hilarious: http://www.mrbartley.com/mrbartleys-menu.html. Brett got the Viagra burger... it is a little embarrassing to order that one, but he really like it! We then drove to north Boston where we went in search of the Old North Church. Along the way we stumbled upon the "little Italy" of Boston. It is such a cute little place. We pretty much stopped in every pastry and gelato shop to try things out. Gotta love local food :). I loved seeing the Old North Church - I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Paul Revere and his "midnight ride". I still remember the beginning of the famous poem that I memorized in third grade " 'Twas the eighteenth of April in '75, hardly a man is still alive, that remembers that famous day and year of the midnight ride of Paul Revere..." I could go on, but I won't. The things I remember! If only I could remember where I put my keys! On the way back from Boston, we stopped at an orchard in Hartford and picked some raspberries. It was a great trip! So now, after 3 weeks, we can finally settle in and get our life going again! Oh, and about the pictures, I think that I am venturing out of the cute stage of pregnancy and into the fat stage... I'd like to blame it on the pants I was wearing, but... OK, I will do that!

Start Spreading the News...

We are back in NYC! After a crazy and exahusting week of moving to our new apartment (student housing) we can take a deep breath and enjoy being back in the city for our last few months! Well, after we get back from Baltimore on Monday - we have to get these trips in while we can. Just two picture to post - the first one is really gross, I know, but I could not believe the size of this cockroach that we found in our bathroom in our old apartment. This must have been the mother of all the little cockroaches we had in out kitchen. Gotta love NYC.

Brett and I went to see Spamalot as a welcome back date. It was a lot of fun! It is really cool to be able to live so close to all of this! It is amazing how the light at the end of the tunnel can really help me to appreciate all the cool things in the city.