What am I doing to celebrate my very last post of NaBloPoMo? Watching my very first episode of The Sopranos.

Ya, ya, I know, where in God’s green flippin earth have I been since 1999? Watching something else. A lot of something else. No matter how many awards, how many Sunday night watch parties there were, I just couldn’t get into it. Death by mob just isn’t my thing.

Until I make my way back this way in a day or two, please tell me this, are the son and daughter in the pilot the same actors as the people who ended the series? If so, they have gone through some serious transformations. Woah.

e

It’s true. When duty calls, LVGurl is your wingman, or woman, that is.

I got inspired to write this post, by reading her latest entry. Actually, it’s a visual read rather, but enjoyable none-the-less. You see, LVGurl’s posts are few and farther between these days. Maybe it’s the inspiration, the two kids, the need to spend all of her free time gambling her 401K away (nah, just kidding). Anywho, she just posted a new one about her rad new hairdo and wrote all about it. Check it!

I met Miss M the first year I moved to California. She happened to be dating hubs best friend. (whom she eventually married, moved to Vegas and had two chicks.) Our introduction was over dinner at some place in Palo Alto. I think she wasn’t feeling well, as I recall, but like true LVGurl fashion, she rose to the occasion. We don’t go as far back as my girl posse from OK, BUT she was my first true friend once I crossed the CA state line. Oh, how important she was….

The photo above hangs in my hallway amongst 3 others that define certain moments from our wedding. This particular picture captures the last quarter of the event. As you can see, we weren’t shy to get our groove on and Miss M was right there, literally right behind me. And what do I think the best part about this photo is? She found the lens with her eyes. She is “one with the camera”. It’s so LVGurl and I have it on film. hehe

I promised her I wouldn’t post any bachelorette party photos, but if we looked this groovy at my wedding, can you imagine how fabulous we were at the nightclubs in Vegas? Hot Damn.

e

This is my mother. Isn’t she lovely?

This portrait was made in the 60’s. What an amazing era frozen in time! This, alongside two other photos of my aunts, hang in the stairwell of my grandmother’s house. Now that she is gone, what happens to the portraits? I doubt my mother wants a photo of herself and I really don’t have a place in my house to hang a 16 x 20 portrait of my mother. Hubs might think it would be a little much. Maybe one on a smaller scale? Something to look into, for sure.

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Hi. Welcome to the life of me. While your here, you’ll learn of my recent discovery. I’m an itty bitty human punching bag. no lie.

You see, I can feel the little one moving. already. I have been, since around 13 weeks. Of course, as the weeks go by, the movement becomes more evident and more constant, but he has made himself a tad apparent for awhile now.

But, here is the kicker, ha ha. When hubs and I were at my ultrasound, we saw on screen the little guy was actually kicking me with his foot. He was sitting down, like he was on a sit-down bicycle and lifting one foot and kicking the roof. The roof happened to be my placenta. Can you imagine if my placenta was not in the way, what a packed punch that would be? yowsers. Along with the kick, his forearms were in front of his face, like he was defending himself from a left hook. It was wild.

Here’s to a relaxing next several months and hope that my placenta gives me some much needed padding. Otherwise, I am in for a long 12 rounds.

e

well, not straight out of a box, and not exactly what one would call “fresh”.

I am talking about my maternity jeans. Today was the day I thought I should bust them out and wear them to my weekly mom’s group, MOPS.  They are my favorite item from back when I was pregnant with Rt. I wore them early and all the way to the end, or close to it. (I truly can’t remember, pg brain)

Since my last round with my favorite pair, my sister-in-law was the proud owner of said pants. Once she had my niece two years ago, she sent them back along with an entire bag full of the rest of my “crappy” maternity clothes. Sure, they were fine… back then…. 3 years ago…. but something about pulling out item after item of clothing you wore to their death makes for not-so-pleasant memories.

Luckily, these days, I have a close friend who used to work for Old Navy online. She was pregnant with her first while still working for the company and was given an entire wardrobe of Old Navy’s finest in maternity wear to “try-out”. She has let me borrow a few items to get me through the first several months. It has been a welcomed and lovely treat, for sure.

So, back to my pants. I was still excited to wear them and was even more thrilled when I put them on. Comfort and style. Woo hoo! I even paired them with my black tall boots, my grandmother’s hip jewelry and a darling black t-shirt, scooped-necked. I felt good.

…………….

Too bad by the time I came home a few hours later, I noticed the jeans were starting to make their way down my bum. They are just a tad too big still. Been stretched to the brim and back again from past use. Maybe if I can give them another wash, they’ll stay put. I sure hope so. Otherwise, my rubber-band pants are going to need an extension cord.

e

Enough about me. I am tired of talking about me. Talking in general, everyday for the month of November, is wearing on me. I have no news left to share……that I can think of. Well, give me a day, I’ll think of something. Until then, here is Rt from this past weekend.

No, no, my future son did not show “the bird”, but it sure looks like it, doesn’t it? Until I can scan a cleaner copy of the ultrasound, (who knew the scanner was THAT dirty? Yikes!) I’ll guide you through the photo. Luckily, the technician did most of the work for me and added the arrow for your (my) convenience. If you look just below the arrow, you’ll see “the goods” or the top of them, rather. If she hadn’t, I’d have to start having you imagine the the shape of a V and his package was at the base of said V and his legs were on either side, etc. Confusing, I know.

And here we are at 20 weeks along! We are making progress. Feeling more movement and have already started rolling myself out of bed. Such a sight to see. please. The Discovery Channel is going to start calling and asking if they can start filming “the day in the life of….”

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or should I say wiener…..

Yep, you got it right sistahs and brotha. This little pup I am carrying is a B-O-Y, BOY!

So, to the 30% of you (all 9 of you) were RIGHT!

And to the 70% of you, yes, I too, thought it was a girl. Hubs did as well.

While we are still in shock, we are thrilled to add another little “boy tot” to the fam and are really happy for Rt to have a younger brother.

As many of our family members said after we told them our news, “looks like there’s going to be a third!”

We’ll see, one bambino at a time!!

We have proof of his masculinity via ultrasound and will add it to tomorrow’s post along with a 20 week belly shot.

Stay tuned…

e

I know a few of you may be anxiously awaiting my gender news, or maybe you have no idea what I am taking about. Either way, you’re gonna have to wait till tomorrow. Sorry Charlie…..

First off, we still haven’t gotten in touch with hubs sister and secondly, I am way too full to even think past this sentence. Or maybe this next one. I do know that dinner tonight was one for the record books. I even made my grandmother’s famous dressing/stuffing. She would have been so proud. Plus, my nephew ate 4 helpings of my sweet potato casserole. That so rocks.

e

This photo was taken last year in Tulsa over Thanksgiving. Times were sure different back then for my family. We’ve lost two loved ones since and watched another one recover from true adversity.

I sit here tonight and reflect on a year gone by. What will this next year bring? Nothing is for certain, but I do know family makes the world go round. Especially mine.

e