Took me long enough.

I would say that I hate doing these types of things, and I am totally annoyed that I have been -tagged- into doing one... but here I sit, actually doing it. To be honest, it's been a while since I've done anything like this, in email or any other type of format, so I gave in quite easily.

The rules are simple. Tell seven random things about yourself, then attempt to convince others to do the same. I will say right now that I will not be following through with the second part, mostly because anyone I would have tagged has already been tagged... so here I sit. No more friends to tag.

1) While I was in labor with Alex, I was a moaner. Now, some women get really quiet. Some women get really loud. And some women moan. When I watched those birthing shows, I would always feel embarrassed for those women who sit there and moan and moan and moan. I suppose that is exactly the reason that I found it so funny that I turned out to be one of them. But I can assure you that I did not feel silly in the least while in the moment. I could care less how stupid I sounded. I only yelled out one thing, actually (aside from the order to GET ME THE EPIDURAL NOW!!!! Oh, and GET ME A BUCKET!). Right around that time, those Burger King commercials were airing on tv, the ones where they took the whopper away and filmed the response. There was one guy that they always showed. He was irate that his sandwich had been taken off the menu, and the only thing he said was "Get me a whopper!" Paul and I thought that was really funny for some reason. Well, that is exactly what I screamed during one of my contractions. Not sure why. It's just what happened to pop in my head, and out it came.

2) Although I don't really enjoy reading it (because, let's be honest, most of the time I have NO idea what it's talking about), I used to write poetry a lot. In highschool mostly. Most of it was about God and life/death. Not morbid though, I promise. In fact, one was a lullaby, which I now sing to my daughter at night (with the help of a friend who put a tune to it... because I am a true VanHollebeke in that matter- no music talent).

3) I've been to both an N'sync concert and a Britney Spears concert. Be jealous.

4) The first (and only I believe) black eye I've ever gotten was given to me by... me. My next-door neighbor convinced me that we should throw rocks at a birds nest (he was twisted, and I was a young impressionable child, cut me some slack). The tree was huge, and there was no way that either of us could ever throw a rock high enough to even reach the branch let alone the nest, but I tried anyway. I threw the rock straight up, and watched it come straight down. Right on my face. Not a proud moment in my life.

5) I used to have a huge crush on Steve Irwin. I actually sent him a letter inviting him to my highschool graduation party. I tried to convince him that the party would be on Harsen's Island, and there's lots of wildlife that he could play with. ...He didn't come. (And yes, I was heartbroken when he died. Ask Paul. He had to cheer me up. So he took me to Stonehenge. Ahh, the perks of living in England.)

6) I am notorious for making spontaneous decisions that I regret later. Nothing huge and life changing. Things like, getting rid of that pair of pants, and then really regreting it because, dang, that was the pair I wore every other day for four years. Or tossing the rest of the pasta then really regreting it that night when I have nothing to eat for dinner.

7) I feel silly when I tell people that I have a degree in Theology and Classics. Mostly because I hardly remember anything that I studied. Every once in a while I get inspired and sit down with my Greek Bible or my history textbook. But that goes away pretty quickly. One day I hope to continue my studies, but I have no idea if that would be realistic or not. I really enjoy staying home with Alex and soon to be son, and I don't know if I would want to give that up and get a fulltime job with a Master's degree anytime soon, given, of course, that Paul and I can afford to live on one salary.

There. Seven things. A real post will come soon, maybe. :)

News.

Well, we gave in. At the last minute (quite literally), Paul and I decided to find out what we are having. I wanted to be able to use just one pronoun when referring to the child, and I wanted to be able to have all of the clothes separated before he/she came (see how annoying that is?).

I tried to take a picture of the ultrasound, but it came out too blurry every time. Then I tried to use the paint application to draw a picture for you (I even used the spray paint thing to make it look blurry), but everything I could draw came out looking completely wrong and much too dirty to be baby's first picture. Sorry about that. I'll show you in person next time I see you. I can't post them because then I would have to change the rating on the website, 18 and up, adult content. Seriously.

So, drum roll...


It's a BOY!


Holy cow. What am I going to do with a boy??

Don't get me wrong, I am way excited that we get a son. Paul's been walking around with an extra bounce in his step since we found out. But all I know is girls right now. I suppose I will learn just like I did with this one. And I suppose that they will be pretty much be the same for quite a while. Sleep, eat, cry. I can handle that.

In other news, we have been having quite the homeowners adventure in this house. We have been on the market for a new TV stand since Alex even thought about being mobile. Because the movers broke our old one during the move from England, we have been using just a glass table that's completely open and completely full of baby hazards. Glass, sharp edges, exposed wires perfect for chewing. Anyway, we have been on the hunt for one that has doors but doesn't cost us a college tuition. After much looking, we found one at Walmart that was a decent price and seemed like it would blend in with our existing decor (how posh do I sound?) nicely. We got it home, and Paul spent about 2 hours building it. The next morning, we broke everything down and set all the TV stuff up on the new table, only to have it bow in the middle as soon as we put the TV on it, as well as rock violently if you happened to brush against it. So do I want exposed wires to chew on? Or the potential for the whole system to fall on baby? We took everything down, threw the table in the van, and drove it back to the store. Many stores later, we found one that would work, so we brought it home, set it up, and it seems sturdy enough.

Surprisingly enough, I was going to continue typing about that story, but then it occurred to me that could possibly be the most boring and mundane story I could tell you. Rather than erase it, thus erasing all effort that's been put into this entry, I am going to leave it there. Now you know that I really do take into consideration what you have to read on this site. I CARE.

Still to come: I finally found the picture that I am going to send with Alex every time she needs to bring a baby picture into school with her. Be excited. Well, not too excited. I don't want you to get your hopes up. But I think it's great, and once I find my camera cord, it will be on.

My family.

I love my daughter (among other reasons, of course) because she holds the ability to scream through an entire dinner at Olive Garden, reaching notes I think only dogs could hear. And she wasn't screaming because she was upset. She was screaming because SITTING IN A HIGHCHAIR IS SO MUCH FUN! AND LOOK! THERE ARE PEOPLE EATING! THAT'S HILARIOUS! AND OH MY GOSH! IS THIS A COASTER? BEST. TOY. EVEEEERRRRR.

I love my husband (among other reasons, of course) not because after a long days work and taking care of both his women, he would let me convince him (in less than 5 minutes) that it would be really funny if he stood still and let me throw a full glass of water at him, not because he would stand there willingly AGAIN because somehow I missed the first time even though I was standing not two feet from him, dousing the fridge, wall, calender, floor, dog, and whatever else was in that corner, but because he would help me clean the mess up after, laughing just as hard, if not harder, than I was.

Our house is a nuthouse. And it's so so perfect.

Try, try again.

Attempt Numero Uno

At least I am trying... but apparently all fun things go down the drain when the camera comes out. Typical. I'll keep trying.





...

I am feeling number two kick around in there alot now. Still little flutters, but it's nice to be to that point. I had a nice moment the other night. Alex's bedtime routine includes a video that we watch just so she knows what's coming. Normally she lies on my chest and watches it, sometimes drifting off right before the end. The other night, however, she was restless and kept moving around. She finally ended up with her body on the couch and her head on my stomach. She began to lay quite still, and I was wondering why until I realized that number 2 was kicking me (Alex) like crazy. Alex ended up falling asleep right on top, and I may or may not have teared up at the sweetness of the moment (later, it occured to me that number 2 was just trying to get that big fatty off of his or her living space... but whatever).

It's nice to have those moments in between the nausea, exhaustion, and incredibly stupid and sometimes terrifying dreams (who knew fishing could be so scary?! Dad! Why wouldn't you help me back in the boat?!?!).

and the angels started singing...

Today we heard the most beautiful sound in the world. A tiny, but strong, little heartbeat. It was so great hearing that, I can't even begin to explain. After our appointment, we scheduled an appointment for next Friday for an ultrasound.

So, here's the question:

Find out the sex? Or no? I am torn right now. I want to wait, but I am also so curious. And it would be nice to know what to expect this time so I could have everything separated before #2 makes his or her appearance.

We'll see. I am really feeling 'boy' on this one. Thoughts?

No excuse... well, ok. I'm pregnant.

So sorry for the lack of posts lately. Truth be told, I've just been unmotivated to get on here and actually type. Not to say that I don't continually come and blog-stalk others, because that I have the energy for. It's just clicking and scrolling. But to actually TYPE an entry? Which, I have been told, must include pictures and videos and other fun things? Which must first be acquired by a camera that I would have to hold and operate? I am out of breath just thinking about it. So I compromised. I decided to finally click that little 'new post' button, but I promised myself it would be ok if I did not include any photo or video representation of my life at this point. Not to say that you don't deserve it, because you do. Alex has hit a stage in her life where it's unfair for me NOT to share her. But I am just. so. tired. So words will have to do for now.

I'm home. That's the big thing. I jumped in the car with my husband 2 days after Christmas and braved the 10 hour (well, with our stops, 12 hour) drive. It was tiring, filled with baby-related things and not-so-clean public restrooms (which, by the way, ladies- do you know why public toilets are so disgusting?? Because you use them thinking they are the most disgusting things on the planet. Because you think they are nasty, they become nasty. You think your BUTT is too clean for a toilet seat, so you hover. But, ladies, we aren't built to have perfect little streams like our male friends. If we were, then we wouldn't have to worry about sitting in the first place. We don't stream, we spray. So, by hovering, you spray the seat. Then, ew, obviously if your ars is too clean for the seat, certainly your toilet paper covered hand will be, so you leave it there. And, oh my word, don't touch the handle too hard. Otherwise the germs will leap right off of it and eat half your arm before you can dig your foaming sanitary spray out of your purse. Just lightly press it with your toe, so it only half flushes, leaving half of your gift for the next lady. See? Thinking nasty makes it nasty. It's a vicious cycle. So, sit your butt down on the seat, flush the toilet like a big girl, then if it makes you feel better, spray some foam on your butt. Thanks for listening.). Where was I?

Right. I'm home. I was so excited to get home that it didn't hit me until the first day Paul went to work that this is going to be really hard! I was so focused on the nausea, which is finally starting to subside, that I forgot about the exhaustion that comes along with growing new life. I am so tired all the time. Carrying Alex up the stairs has me sitting down panting for five minutes afterwards. It's frustrating, because I just want to take care of my baby girl. But I get through it. As soon as she goes down for a nap or bed, I go straight across the hall to my own bed (tonight being the exception... see how I sacrafice for you???). Housework has been put on hold indefinitely. I don't have the energy to cook. Paul is helping as much as he can, but that still leaves me alone 12 hours a day. But... I am glad I am home. I appreciate the help my parents gave us SO MUCH, but, and i know they would understand this completely, it's nice to be in my own home, with my husband, in my own bed, vomiting in my own toilet.

Alex is so funny right now. She is 10 months old (already!). She jokes with us, which is so freaking adorable. Peek-a-boo is a big one, and she mimics pretty much anything you do with your mouth, including really obnoxious sounds (which is way fun while you are doing your grocery shopping). We have a check-up for her tomorrow, technically her 9 month check-up. We go to my doctor right after that (for the first time since I was 7 weeks along... and now I am 18 weeks... I am anxious for it to say the least. Should be hearing the heart as well as schedualing an ultrasound.). I am excited to see how much she weighs now, because if the constant kink in my back is any indication, she's gained quite a bit in the past few months (due to the addition of formula me thinks). She is doing great with her solids. Loves her bananas. And she is on the move constantly. She is so fast when she crawls, and she is starting to be just as fast skimming along furniture. She's taken one or two steps here or there, but I feel like walking is still a few weeks away at least. We'll see though.

Well, I feel like there is lots more to update on, but I am going to take a break for now. Sorry again for the delay. Blame the belly. I certainly do.