December Happenings....

My friend Agatha and her family (husband + cutest little girl in the world) came to visit last weekend. After speaking about blogs with her...how awkward/weird/crazy it feels to share anything too personal...I am not sure how much I want to share about the weekend:) BUT, I can say, it was so fun to have them here with us. It went by fast, and we didn't do a ton of stuff, but not doing a lot and just spending quality time together is probably what made it so nice. Lots of laughter, in part thanks to the cute little girl referenced above:) Lots of eating. Lots of talking. I want to live next door to her:(

Today I got my hair cut and highlighted. For the price, I could have flown Derek and I to California to visit. You decide if I am joking or exaggerating or not....I do live in New York. Some things are super cheap, some things not so much. But, it was a better highlight job than the last. In September, I couldn't get in to my regular place before my friend Mieke's wedding, so I went somewhere new. The cut was great, but the highlights came back a little bit orange in certain streaks. It wasn't bad, just not how I like it. But my hair looks all back to normal now and it was soooo relaxing. Then I went and bought a dresser/changing unit combo for the baby's room. I really like it and I should be able to fit lots of stuff into it. When I went to buy it, I walked through the farmer's market at Union Square -- which during the holidays is also a craft market. Literally, they have about 200 booths of stuff set up. Some of it is really nice, other stuff you can definitely pass on. But I realized that I SHOULD have taken Agatha & her family there. Ag -- you would have liked it. Well, as long as we could have gone when it wasn't so crowded. But they have so much stuff that I think you would have liked. And I thought your sister could sell her purses there -- that was my first thought:)

Tonight a close friend of ours is having a Christmas party. We've had one the past two years, but didn't put one together this year. And, it would have paled in comparison to this one. He (our friend) rented out the "Milk and Cookies" bakery in the West Village from 9-12 so we have the whole place to ourselves....cocktails, christmas cookies, and caroling is what he is offering. Hopefully, the caroling he just threw in there b/c it sounded good. I don't mind holiday music in the background, but I don't think I am up for live carols in a small space. But it should be fun. And, I bought new corduroys that actually FIT (they are on me now) that I am actually excited to wear. This is monumental. The past month I have been wearing clothes that cover me, but that I don't particularly love. Hand me down maternity clothes (which I APPRECIATE, given how expensive everything is!) or regular clothes that still fit, but just not quite the same.

My Gestational Diabetes test came back with a reading of 121. The doctor is not going to have me take the follow up 3-hour test, as she says it just as easily could have been 120 or 119 (120 being the cut off). I'll just take the 1-hour test again in a couple weeks to make sure it doesn't change. I explained that between the time I took the test and when I saw her for the results, I think I went on a sugar binge b/c I was afraid I wouldn't be able to have dessert the rest of the pregnancy (or, if my husband has his way, because he would get worried if I had gestational diabetes, the rest of my life). She laughed at me. Hard. She also called me "quite the pisser" -- as during the 24-hour urine test I took produced more urine than any reading she has ever seen. Funny. But this is one reason why I like her. She has a great, encouraging, calming bedside manner, but at the same time she could be a truck-driver if not a doctor. She is a crackup. Anyway, I have 11 weeks to go. This frightens me. We have no car seat, no crib, no BABYSITTER, and basically no clue. But, I do have some really adorable, soft blankets and a burp cloth that is too pretty to use:) Not to mention lots and lots and lots of hand-me-down baby socks.

Deuce played like crazy this morning at the dog park. There were only 2 other dogs there, which is so rare, but one of the dogs he loves. A 2 1/2 year old german shepherd who plays JUST like him. They wrestled and ran like crazy, and talked to each other the whole time. (Laurie, if you are reading this, it was sort of like seeing Bear & Deuce play in California). Deuce is a quiet dog, but he likes to be a little vocal when he plays. This works well when the other dog has the same style. He was so happy. Then, on the short ride home, he fell asleep with his head out the window. It was too cute.

I go to Colorado for the holiday next Wednesday. Derek and I are betting whether my grandmother is going to tell me I look great or that I have "gotten too big" (this was a big concern of hers when I got pregnant). Really, either statement could come out of her mouth but guaranteed it will be the second sentence after she says hi.

Is It Really December?

November flew by. Which is both a bad and a good thing. I am still grieving from the loss of my old puppy, but the moments of uncontrollable tears are fewer. But the ache in the heart of missing someone you love so much is still there. I suppose that doesn't go away, or at least I am not expecting it too.

November was filled with a visit from my mom, our third baby gift from her and my dad (a Micralite Toro stroller -- the first was a baby bather, the second a Baby Bjorn, both from close friends), a trip down to DC to introduce Deuce to our friends' newly adopted dog, Blue (they had a great time on this playdate we traveled 250 miles for!), my husband becoming vegetarian after successfully eating a 20-ounce hamburger in DC (getting his picture on the wall, embarrassing), lots of work, a really really really bad cold, my gestational diabetes test and a 24-hour urine test (please tell me, who said pee-ing into the jug for 24 hours was easy????), birthday parties for a couple friends, hanging out with neighbors watching college football, finding out some close friends' home is on the market as they prep for their move to Canada (they warned me, but I am still selfishly devastated), and finding out where my sister and friends Mike & Lauren are planning the "baby shower" (aka, party) for Derek and I. We knew it was in the works because I knew the date and was helping some family get reservations at the B&B close to our home. But they wouldn't tell me where it was at. But know I know, Union Hall (check out www.unionhallny.com), which I had suspected. And I really appreciate all they have done since I know I am in a pain in the ass with these things. I really didn't want a baby shower ("I am not the kind of girl to sit around opening gifts with other girls"), and really resisted ("Besides, I have more male friends than female friends"), and was adament that they didn't have to do anything ("Honestly, I'll be too hard to please."). But they know me well and seemed to have planned the perfect get together. Both Derek and I are really excited for it. With cocktails and mocktails and appetizers and bocci ball and the first guest to RSVP was my friend who has a major gambling addiction and bypassed Vegas for the party:) What a gift. Something to look forward to after Christmas.

Meanwhile, we get a visit from my dearest friend Agatha this weekend:) YEAH! And her husband and baby girl. And I am hoping the cold gets a little less cold so they can enjoy the trip from sunny SoCal. I can't wait to see them:)

I thought had some pictures to upload....but now none seem too appropriate or good. I did get my favorite picture of Butter (or one of them) on a CD and enlarged, so because I still miss him terribly, here is a picture of my Butter. Oh, and another, of him and my nephew. And one of Baby Boy -- who at 26 weeks is measuring about 2 weeks ahead of schedule. Which is consistent with how large my stomach feels.