Amused with myself

I'm 36 weeks along. Next week is the run-through with the midwives. And what does it only occur to me today to do?

Order the birth kit.

Sigh.

Priorities. You'd think I'd have figured that one out, instead of stressing out over rewriting my sermon and my upcoming history midterm. But no....

Edited to add: Nicole's absolutely right, I didn't explain what a birth kit is! Each midwife has her own requirements for what she wants. I ordered my midwife's kit online: it has non-medication medical things like the one-time use lancets to prick the baby's heel for a blood sample (which they do in hospitals), sterile gloves, guaze, plus other natural things that midwives use like arnica oil. I also have my own list of things to collect before the run-through (when the midwife team comes over to go over everything, see the house, plan for what-ifs, and show us how to set up the tub). That stuff is an assortment of old towels and sheets, different oils and herbs, digital thermometer, and a huge list of other things. Basically the midwives want everything ready when the mom's 37 weeks along, so that she'll be ready no matter what!

A few pics here and there

Xander and Simcha looking out at the rain

Joyous at being able to read books and snuggle inside the fort

And this would be why my Talmud professor came into class today, looked at me quizzically, and asked, "When are you due? Like, tomorrow?!"

For my dad

Abba, Jonathan and I nearly woke you up at 3am your time just so you could see your grandson's engineering spirit. Our hand mixer broke the other day and we got a new one. Xander could not finish his breakfast because it was just too fascinating sitting there on the counter.

"See how work!"

"Please see motor."

"Please plug in."

Jonathan ended up taking the beaters out and putting them back in, explaining all about how electricity comes out from the wall and makes the motor turn, etc. Xander was concentrating so hard, I actually had to remind him to put his cereal spoon in his mouth before all the milk dripped off.

In other news, our PS3 died. It's sad. I can deal with no games or streaming Netflix, but it's our DVD player too. Thankfully Jonathan's already ordered a new one. I love Costco - in the end, after returning the old one, we'll only be out the cost of shipping.

Friday was nice, we had people over for Shabbat. Saturday was celebrating someone else's 40th birthday with homemade chocolate fondue. And yesterday I worked nine hours doing editing for my client in Norway. (He needed a quick turnaround because his dissertation advisors rescheduled a meeting at the last minute.) During my breaks I wrote cover letters for job applications for fall. Oh, to possibly be a temple intern, or a Jewish day school teacher, or a researcher... the possibilities abound.

You know, if you'd told me ten years ago that I'd enjoy being this domesticated, I would have laughed and laughed...

My lovely attire

Today when I got up I put on this dress:

Then I put on these stockings, to keep my legs warm:

Jonathan asked, "You're not going to wear that outside, are you?" I looked at him like he was crazy - of course I was! To which he sighed and said, "Well, no one will be surprised."

I have since gotten four comments on how awesome my socks are. Two other people said they loved my outfit.

The best by far though was the email and picture I got at lunchtime, from a classmate.

"I've been trying to think of who your outfit reminds me of all day...I figured it out!!!"

Hahaha a nine months-pregnant Rainbow Brite!

Heh

So I have six weeks left of this pregnancy, but I'm measuring 37 weeks (full-term). No wonder I feel huge! Of course, this doesn't mean anything in the long run - I could still deliver past my due date. It's just funny.

And Xander? He LOVES chocolate-covered strawberries. He's so my kid. :)

A busy, fun day

Tot Shabbat in the morning, a party to celebrate Elbie's citizenship in the afternoon, and pizza for dinner. We're definitely feeling better!

Now my goal is to be 100% for Monday. I know my husband, and I will most likely be receiving lots of premium chocolate on Valentine's. I will eat it! I will eat it!

Getting over the plague

Yep, I got the flu too. We're now all feeling better... but what a long week.

My highlight: Xander and I were making shapes in clay ( a very easy, sitting-down activity). And after pointing to our latest batch and saying, "one, two, three," he came up with his best sentence yet.

"Xander counting how many circles have Play-Doh."

Language skills increase every day, even while sick!

Flu and fastidiousness

I'm the only one in my family who has not succumbed to the flu. Even the cats look pathetic. Jonathan's a grown man, so while I do feel sorry for him, my true sympathy is reserved for Xander, who spent all day in his pajamas lying on the couch or in my or Jonathan's arms. At least today he was able to keep toast down. I hate it when he get sick.

But while he came home from school early yesterday, his end-of-day report on Thursday cracked me up. He's very fastidious, always asking for a napkin at mealtimes and hating to get muddy. The teachers seem surprised:

"We played in the classroom in the morning, then got dirty (except for Xander) with fingerpaints."

I can just picture him... wanting to paint but then looking at his fingers and saying, "Wash hands! Wash hands!" One of the books we have, about opposites, has pictures of Maisy the mouse in various situations. When she's holding a mop and standing in front of a spic-and-span kitchen he describes her as "Clean." But on the next page, when she's covered in grime, he doesn't say, "dirty." Instead he states, very seriously, "Needs shower!"

Do NOT go to this restaurant

Anyone who reads this and lives in Cincinnati, do NOT go to the Ruby Tuesday's in Kenwood. We were there tonight with a party of about 20 people, and the manager assigned ONE waitress to all of us. We waited almost an hour for our food, my order showed up wrong, the waitress couldn't remember who had what so started just yelling out the orders so people would raise their hands, the water glasses never got refilled, and the checks were a downright fiasco. The manager came by at the end of dinner to apologize for the service and give everyone a discount, and promised us comp'd dessert. But then no one ever came by to take dessert orders.

By the end, an hour after dinner when we finally got free cupcakes, the waitress who had originally given us someone's else's check still couldn't find ours. We had our coats on, Xander was near asleep on Jonathan's shoulder, and the waitress started to ask what we had ordered in order to re-bill us. Halfway through her sentence the manager (who obviously saw my face and didn't want to mess with a furious hormonal pregnant woman) cut her off and told us that our meal was complimentary and we were free to go.

All in all, the food was good. It was even better considering we didn't pay for it. But OY... usually I'm tolerant, understanding even. Not this time.

It's February 1st

I can officially say, "I'm due next month!"

Wow.