How did we get to this point so quickly?

Well, that's it folks, I am now officially in my third trimester. Can you believe it? I can't. Sometimes I look down at my ever growing belly and think, wow she IS going to come out. And that coming out thing is supposedly going to happen within the next 3 months. Coupled with these blunt and often obvious thoughts, I have had some very weird dreams. Needless to say some of them are not terribly realistic, but altogether quite interesting.

Well, here's to 12 weeks left.....

And a shout out to Gretchen! Today is her birthday.

newborn dress what?!

Today I used an actual pattern to make a newborn dress. I still feel like it is too big, but I suppose too big is better than too small. She can always grow into it.

I am growing...and so is Mini Coop

Here is the latest of my growth, or shall we say Mini Coop's growth. 27 weeks tomorrow. Next week I start the third trimester!

Becoming romantic

My relationship journey has not left me as a truly romantic person. I try to do things that are nice for my husband, but I don't always feel like I am being romantic. Jimmy on the otherhand really likes to be romantic. He is usually the one who thinks of breakfest in bed, or buying me chocolate, taking me out to nice resturants, you know the nice stuff like that.

This year I have realized more and more that me being romantic does not necessarily mean being spontaneous or over the top, but rather subtle and helpful. Case in point. Today I made Jimmy breakfast, I didn't make anything really too difficult, and I didn't bring it to him in bed. I made him something that he liked. Fried egg in toast with the middle taken out. He said it was wonderful!

Then I went and had lunch with him at the law school. While I waited for him, I organized his carrell a little bit. Then we ate a fairly simple lunch of leftovers and I gave him a chocolate. It was nice, it was simple, and dare I say it was romantic.

Tonight I am teaching a night class, so we won't be able to do anything super special. However, I am sure I am going to give Jimmy some extra hugs for being a great husband. I guess that is what life is all about. Taking time all the time to cherish simple moments whether they be wildly romantic or not.

By the way, it has been over two years since Jimmy proposed to me on the top of Y mountain. Just thinking about that day makes me feel more romantic!

Saturday bills...

I really don't enjoy getting bills on Saturdays. Especially insurance/medical bills. And this is why: In my mind I have a running balance on what is going in and out of our bank account. I am very aware of the amount of money we are spending. When I get a bill on a Saturday, and it doesn't seem right (which is how most of our medical bills have been lately) I realize that I can't do anything about it until Monday between 9am and 5pm.

So in my compulsively obsessed mind I am trying to figure out what I need to do in order make this bill correct. It is awful. My mind cycles the same thoughts over and over again and usually it ends in me getting all anxious and sometimes overly emotional. I want so badly to talk to some customer service rep about how I think this bill is wrong, but I can't.

Does anyone else have this problem? This has really only been more of an issue since we've had more medical bills and we have had to deal with our new insurance company. Did I mention how ridiculous it is that insurance companies and medical providers don't seem to communicate in a timely manner? I always feel like I am getting bills for things that haven't gone through claims quite yet. When you are budgeting kind of person, you can't help but get a little anxious when you get a giant bill for something that your insurance should be paying at least part of.

Someday, just someday I don't think I will be such a frugal financial beast, but for now all I can do is wait for Monday and my next chance to talk to a customer service rep. Lucky them! Did I mention I am not exactly the best phone conversationalist? That is a topic for another day, and perhaps another rant that you may not feel up to reading right now.

Things that I love

There are several things that I love quite dearly. On the top of my list is my husband and my beliefs, but today I would like to mention some of my more casual loves.

Today as I went on my daily walk I decided to make a stop at the Healthy Foods Coop in town. Inside was one of my loves, dried fruit. They have dried cherries, pineapple, mango, vegetables, etc... Plus it is in bulk. I can get as much as I want. It is blissful!

Later today, Jimmy came home and I commenced on another sewing projects. I have determined, after make a few aprons, a bag and today's sewing adventure that another one of my loves is accomplishment. I love finishing projects, and sewing has proved a good way to accomplish tasks without feeling terribly overwhelmed. I can finish my projects in a day or two.

Today was the "baby" dress. The baby is in quotes because I really didn't have a pattern with sizes, so I am positive it is too big for Mini Coop upon arrival. But I do think between ages 1 and 2 (maybe even 3) she may be of adequate weight and size to fit in it. It was a good start for my adventure of sewing baby clothes.


By the way, this is supposed to be a summer dress. I figure a shirt underneath, or sweater over the top would make quite a nice ensemble.