December 15. Predicted due date. I’m not a believer in due dates, they’re only a random prediction but, I did wake up this morning feeling a little like - what is Santa going to bring me? A little beige package of love? I’ve been very patient these 40 weeks but I’m beginning to wonder what Mark and I made and what he’s going to look like. I think I’m a little afraid of all the emotion I’m going to feel. For once in my life. I just know I’m going to lose it. I made a person with a wonderful man, who is my heart.

I thought I’d keep up this blog a little better, the goings on of a prego woman. I’m lazy, or didn’t want to bore anyone with ANOTHER tale of a pregnant woman’s experience. Who cares? Millions of people do this everyday. Curious family members and friends have kept up with me as they please and it’s been pretty boring (thankfully). I’ve felt pretty normal this whole time. I never got sick, I didn’t gain the predicted Dr weight, I haven’t collected a stretch mark, kept my bitching to a minimum and nothings even swollen. Well, besides the basketball in my shirt. That’s the only place I’ve really gained weight. Maybe that’s why I didn’t blog. If there’s nothing to bitch about does anyone want to read it nowadays? I’m not a bragger. So here it is - I’ve had a perfectly sane pregnancy and I’m proud. I could do it for another couple months… I told Mark it keeps me honest. Ha. I should rent out my uterus for some extra cash.

We finally got our shit together about a month ago. So finally the house looks like someone’s about to bear child, not like we robbed a babies r us and have random loot lying around. Ikea furniture built. Closets cleaned out. Baby gifts organized, washed, put away. We filled in the holes of things we needed with a Target gift card extravaganza and discovered the world of used baby stores. GENIUS. There’s still a few things to finish but when I realized that baby would be living in our bedroom for the first few months, I gave up. Or got lazy, again.

I think I’ve avoided the giggly excitement because I know the real work lies ahead. I’m a realist, to a fault. I’m no good without sleep and I’m afraid of the head I’m going to chop off in the process of learning and living. Well, I know, and I don’t want it to happen. There’s also the evil cloud of money issues always looming overhead. We still haven’t completely decided or figured out what we’re going to do for childcare when I have to go back to work. I just have to believe everything will work out, and it will. I’m going to appreciate all we have. Things always work out. For now, the curiosity will build until our little man shows up. I’m allowing myself to finally be excited while still remaining patient. I’m going to go home tonight and love on my man and give those little black animals a lot of attention. Tito and Martin are going to have a little brother soon… and we’re going to be parents. Who would’ve guessed, the wild whiskey rocker and the ladies man on the Vespa would get together and start a family? I did…

Well, since post numero uno there has been some significant change. Well, I should say there are things in the process of change. At the time of my first blog I thought I was alone. Not in the sense of being a hermit, but alone in my body. In fact, I was not. A March family trip up north to Flagstaff, the good old Monte Vista Hotel to be exact, resulted in complete relaxation. We had the best curry dinner, shot fab tequila, listened to a great juke box and played round after round of video bar games while laughing at Flag patrons. Apparently this exact formula results in making a baby, for us. I wouldn't have had it any other way. In fact, the above photo was taken right before baby makin'.

I didn't test until end of April (all 3 tests lit up positively within seconds). Which frightened me a bit. Since the March 18th adventure there was celebration after celebration. But really, when isn't there? I have quite a crew of social drinkers in my life. And I don't mean wine and cheese parties. Whiskey please. Dirty martini? Yup. Open a 4th bottle of champagne with the ladies? Duh. But, after seeing my Dr., May 6th, she said things would be fine. Unless, I was waking up in the gutter not remembering the night or even week before... binging she called it. I love her. I haven't woken up in the gutter in years! I'm safe. Or more importantly, the baby in the alcohol infused cooker was safe. Phase 2, being sober for the first time in FOURTEEN years. It’s actually been a lot easier than I thought. We don’t go out much anymore anyway. Especially in this heat, lack of funds helps too (when we do go out to dinner now and it’s $20. WHA?? ). The Phoenix life is quite a snore anyway. Thankfully, I lived it up while we had a “scene” in the 90s and new millennium. Enough about that, someone will read this and turn me in to CPS before the child is even out.

I am 17 weeks. I feel great. Haven't been sick at all. Haven't gained any weight either, even lost some. I'm sure it’s because I'm not consuming the above empty calories OR eating giant burritos before bed. According to the other prego ladies and mom friends in my life, I’m really lucky. More importantly Mark and I are really excited and truly thankful this has happened. It had been a year in the making and I had “given up”. :)

We’re pretty sure it’s a boy and get that confirmation July 29th. I can’t believe I’ll already be ½ way done at the end of the month. Time is already flying by. I feel like I should be preparing more for this arrival but at the moment my biggest concern is not paying retail for a pair of Mama J Brand pencil leg jeans (which I plan on not fitting into till at LEAST Sept). I better enjoy this carefree train of thought while I can.

Prefers film… very true in many cases. Without it, I feel no one would ever really learn how to take a photo. Digital has taken over. Everyone is a photographer. Everyone can snap a hundred photos, edit down to 10 photos from the batch, Photoshop to perfection and SHAZAAM! Photographer. I do mostly use digital these days but I learned the honest to goodness old-fashioned way. F-stops + shutter speeds + composition + lighting consideration = mathematical photography genius. When I use the “real” (SLR, not point & shoot) digital camera I still choose to shoot everything manually. Why? Because I know how to do the math. Why make mac and cheese from the box when you know a really kick ass recipe?


P.S. I really could have gone on and on and given many points in pros and cons of both digital versus film in the now age. In fact, I did at first and edited. That post would've been long and boring to most. Being that this is my first post I really just wanted to semi explain my reason for the address. Well, the ultimate truth is I wanted a more "rock and roll" address but the ones I could think of were already taken. Meh. I do say (and stand behind) "prefers film" at least once a week when people ask my profession. Most don't listen though.