And sow a seed was planted

Its amazing sometimes how things get started. I can directly credit the beginning of this blog to my friend Christie.

It was 2009 and I was pregnant. Five or six months pregnant in fact. We had just adopted Cooper. Actually, we adopted Cooper several months earlier, in fact, we adopted Coop 2 days after we found out I was pregnant (although it had been in the works for weeks.)

As new dog owners, we were still adjusting to the responsibilities. And so it was that we had run out of dog food and jonathan called to ask me if I could stop on the way home. Of course, that afternoon, we had one Florida's famous summer storms and, of course, it started while I was in the pet store.

I came out of PetSmart and it was pouring rain and lightening and thundering. So, what's a pregnant girl who really needs to get home to pee do but throw the 20lb pound bag over the shoulder, take off the shoes and run for it. By the time I got to the car and fished out the keys, I was pretty wet, the dog food bag was soaked and I was in a pretty bad mood.

I finally get home and open the door to this...

When I told Christie the story, she said "You really need to start a blog. I have a feeling between the dog and a baby, you are going to have a lot of good stories going forward."

Well, it took a while but I finally did it. Thanks, Christie!

Wordless Wednesday (belated)

A Parental Unit Classic

Finding out I was pregnant was a bit of a shock. After having so much difficulty the first time, I just did not really believe that I would get pregnant again and certainly, if I were to get pregnant again, it would be the result of lots of trying and acupuncture and perhaps some return visits to the Reproductive Endocrinologist.

None of this was the case.

It took me some time to wrap my head around it. It just seemed so unbelievable. Telling my parents was going to be even more unbelievable.

I decided that since I could not tell them in person, I would send them a text of two positive pregnancy tests. So I called them bright and early Christmas morning and woke them up. I told them they needed to get Dad's phone because I sent them an important text.

This, is not quite enough info to get them moving. And so, the ordeal ensued. The Parental Unit responded that they were sleeping, then they did not know where the phone was, maybe it was in the car????
Looking in the car, well, that would involve getting dressed to go out and look for it. Oh, and by the way, they doubted that it was charged. But before they could go get the phone, they needed to go to the bathroom, and on, and on, and on.

Finally, my Dad gets the phone and opens the text. The conversation went something like the following...

Dad: "Honey, I don't know what this is. Did you get skis for Christmas?"

Me: "No Dad, look carefully. You don't know what that is?"

Dad: "No, it looks like skis. Did Jonathan get a boat?"

Me: "Dad, it says EPT."

Dad: "Do they make skis?"

Me: "No, show Mom. She'll know what it is."

Mom: "I don't know. It looks a lot like skis. What is it?"

Me: "Give the phone back to Dad."

Me: "Look, Dad, there are two with plus signs. Dad, I'm pregnant."

Dad: "Gina, Gina, come look at this! Do you know what this is? Look! Look carefully. Its two positive pregnancy tests."

Mom: "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE, What?"

Skis, pregnancy tests, tomato, toe mot to....

For those that aren't detail oriented

Do you remember that test everyone had to take in high school? It was the one where the teacher made sure to tell you to read all the directions before you started. The directions said something like, "Only answer the last question." But most of the class skipped right on over that and spent the rest of the period working on the test.

This post, its a little like that. Sort of. I sent the following slide show out to some family and friends the other day. There's a message toward the end. I assumed everyone would get it, but... it turns out some people didn't pay close attention (although they get points for watching it.) Others never watched the whole thing. Some did not even open it.

Well, all I have to say is don't blame me when you realize that the world wide web has this info before you!

Wordless Wednesday

Can't you throw a dog a bone?

I have a friend, Julie, she is a total dog person and helped us adopt Cooper. I used to get some good Cooper footage on here but lately Cooper has not done much that could be considered blog-worthy.

Truth be told, Cooper has a lot of fans, Julie included. And, I have felt a little guilty not posting much about  him. 

But alas, video is here. For all Cooper's fans...

"I love the kid, but miss the freedom" Lemon Gloria

As far as I am concerned, she nailed it.

Here is an example. Last weekend, Jonathan took off back to Chapel Hill for a weekend with his old college roommates and some UNC basketball. He had not been back for a game in more than several years. I know how much he has missed it. So I gave him the plane and game tickets for Christmas. I thought it was a great surprise and he had a fantastic time.

He went back to the campus and walked around. He got onto the football field. He drank beer. His other friend met up with them. He went to the bookstore and bought us all UNC gifts. There was more beer and his favorite pizza joint. You get the idea.

Used to be that on these types of weekends, I would have a quiet weekend at home. Watch some movies, maybe read some gossip-y magazines, perhaps a mani-pedi was in the mix or a trip to the spa for a massage. On several occasions, Jonathan sent me to the spa or sent me flowers. Not too shabby, right?

Well, having a one year old precludes ANY of the above from happening. There was no quiet, there was no reading, there was no movies or spa treatments. MRA did pull some leaves off the house plant but that was as close to flowers as I got.

Like Lemon Gloria said, "I love the kid, but I miss the freedom."

Wordless Wednesday

Why You Should NOT Dive Head First Off a Tricycle

Lesson (hopefully) learned: face-planting on the concrete sidewalk really hurts.

Jonathan and I did what any other guilt ridden parents would do at the end of January. We packed our kid up and took him to the beach followed by a trip to the local Italian bistro for some gelato.

PS - Apparently when you smash your nose in, it can cause things not to drain correctly which can lead to a sinus infection. Oh, the joy! Perhaps some more gelato is in order.

Wordless Wednesday