I Declare Maternity Leave!

Today is the day I declare maternity leave at work. Oh yeah - it's gonna feel good. It kind of reminds me of my favorite Office episode. I wish I could declare it Michael Scott style ! Instead I filled out paperwork....social workers are no fun. So when you watch this, think of me - declaring maternity leave!



So now what am I going to do now that I don't have to drive 80 miles to and from work? Sleep in, take naps and eat a lot of things that will probably give me killer heart burn but taste oh-so-good. Oh and prepare for little Bicho to join our family soon!

P.S. Did I tell you we saw Bicho at my "luverly" Dr. appointment yesterday? She's going to have A LOT of hair. (Add making bows to my list above...)

"Big Bicho Belly" or "Why I Stink at Blogging on a Regular Basis"

Here is my personal portrait...

And here is Terrence's picture...

Personally, I like the "far away" approach.

("I'd like her to look a little more attractive. How far can you pull pack?" "How do you feel about Cleveland?" - name that movie!)

I can't really complain about how I feel right now. I think Heavenly Father is really helping me get through my last few work weeks and miles upon miles of traveling that is required. And He has saved me (on more than one occasion) from seriously injuring people who make those "well-meaning" pregnancy comments like "Wow, you are getting really big". Usually I would respond with a "Great observation, Sherlock. Can't sneak anything past you, huh?!" But I try to refrain. One sweet Latino man at work told me I was "engordandose" which means getting fat. I told him (in a semi-joking manner) if he ever said that to me again, I was going to fill his mouth with my knuckles (it sounds much more suave in Spanish). I think I scared him off since he hasn't said a word to me since. As you can tell, my biggest trial right now is controlling my tongue and swallowing the sarcasm that just flies out of my mouth on an involuntary basis.

::Sigh:: I think I should have registered for a muzzle.

But in better news, I had my first "internal exam" ::grimace:: and it went as well as an "internal exam" could go. I guess I am about 50% effaced - whatever that means and I've apparently started to "thin out". He apparently missed that round thing between my extremely enlarged chest and pubic bone (ha ha - my lame attempt for a joke)! So anyhoo, I'll just plan for Bicho to come on time. And if she comes any earlier...heaven help us!

Totally True Thursday

The Big Google Mistake

No, I didn't disappear off the face of the earth! And you definitely can't miss me or my pregnant belly now. Terrence took the camera fishing (a better companion than a 8 month pregnant wife no doubt) so I can't show you any belly updates. But no worries, I won't leave you photoless. I've been contemplating having my sister take some nice belly photos soon before I'm so awkwardly uncomfortable and cranky...oh wait, I might already be there. Anyhoo, I thought I would use Google images for some pregnancy pose ideas. Little did I know what I was getting into....

Which one is truly pregnant?

The right to bear fruit, arms and...children?

No, the belly does not unscrew like a lid to get the baby out.

James Bond gone wrong...

Want more where these came from? Check out this website for all the awkward family photos you could ever want (and more). Terbear and I spent a hour the other morning laughing so hard it hurt! Thank heavens for awkward photos!

The Hots for Heartburn

Oh yeah...I've got it bad.

Welcome back heartburn!

Oh Baby!

Oh baby! Bicho is coming in 90 days...well according the ticker on the sidebar. How the heck will I get everything done that I need to? I have a new appreciation for women who work full-time and are pregnant or work and have any children at all. How do they get it all done?? After driving to and from Phoenix (which is 90 miles round trip) daily - and not including trips to visit my foster families who live as far as Buckeye - by the end of the day I am so exhausted. Sometimes I wonder how I will get even the basics done for little Bicho. With one day a week (Saturdays) to do it all, there's no wonder I'm stressing. But isn't this part of the joy of being pregnant?! (As a side note - I do recognize pioneer women crossed the plains on foot while pregnant, so what do I have to complain about !?)

This Saturday we put together Bicho's little crib. We didn't buy a bundled set of bedding because hello- who wants to spend $180 on bedding?! (Ok - so I really wanted to but I couldn't justify it in the Bicho budget). So here's what we put together...

I actually love it. It's so much better than what I was thinking about buying in a bag. Plus it was hand picked with love :) ::So sappy, I know:: At least I have the crib down, which is one of the millions of things on my list. And here is a recent belly picture from Saturday...

And a picture of how I ended my busy Saturday...

..with an awesome kidney stone. I thought I was dying. Bicho was fine - just happy and kicking away. Meanwhile, I was puking my guts up for about 3 hours and in horrible pain. The nurses at the hospital were really great, though. Even the ultrasound tech said passing a kidney stone is much more painful than actually giving birth. Equally, I think I will pass on my natural birth plans and go for an epidural. I mean really - what good will I be I'm "tossing cookies" the whole time I'm trying to deliver. But - you never know what crazy decision I may make last minute!

What To Do With A Sweet Tooth...

Confess your undying love to your hubby, via sugar cookies and frosting.

Highest Place of Honor

"I wonder if you sisters fully understand the greatness of your gifts and talents and how all of you can achieve the 'highest place of honor' in the Church and in the world. One of your unique, precious,and sublime gifts is your femininity, with its natural grace, goodness, and divinity. Femininity is not just lipstick, stylish hairdos, and trendy clothes. It is the divine adornment of humanity. It finds expression in your qualities of your capacity to love, your spirituality, delicacy,radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness,dignity, and quiet strength. It is manifest differently in each girl or woman, but each of you possesses it. Femininity is part of your inner beauty. "

"One of your particular gifts is your feminine intuition. Do not limit yourselves. As you seek to know the will of our Heavenly Father in your life and become more spiritual, you will be far more attractive, even irresistible. You can use your smiling loveliness to bless those you love and all you meet, and spread great joy. Femininity is part of the God-given divinity within each of you. It is your incomparable power and influence to do good. You can, through your supernal gifts, bless the lives of children, women, and men. Be proud of your womanhood. Enhance it. Use it to serve others."

James E. Faust
"Womanhood: The Highest Place of Honor,"
Ensign, May 2000

We Like'em Round

A few months ago we used our free Redbox code to rent Madagascar 2. We laughed so hard! (Little side note: This movie was definitely made for adults!) Our favorite character was a hippo named Moto Moto who had the hots for Gloria.



Anyhoo, so now that my belly is starting to get really round, Terbear likes to quote Moto Moto in a deep voice. I guess Terbear likes'em round and chunky too! We just laugh and laugh about how big my belly is getting (which is so much better than crying about it - which I have done!)So here is my preggo picture I took without make-up on and wearing glasses at 22 weeks. :)

So here's to being round and chunky!

Sweet Thoughts Saturday

"Like the polar star in the heavens, regardless of what the future holds, there stands the Redeemer of the world, the Son of God, certain and sure as the anchor of our immortal lives. He is the rock of our salvation, our strength, our comfort, the very focus of our faith. In sunshine and in shadow we look to Him, and He is there to assure and smile upon us."

Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley

General Conference (April 2002)