I am now 31 weeks pregnant. Steve and I can't wait to meet our baby.

In the meantime - I cannot believe the wildabeast-like creature I now am. I am so emotional it makes me want to cry just thinking about it. I am a pretty empathetic person to begin with, but now I find myself empathizing with inanimate objects. I cry when the cereal is gone. I love cereal more than words can say. I am humungous. I make the state puff marshmallow man from Ghostbusters look like a little tiny baby. This is going to be an interesting two months!

We went to a birthing class Saturday. It was at the hospital, and it was all day long. We saw videos that were eye-opening, and videos that were eye-shutting.

We had to sit a very long time, and normally I am great with that - except that when I'm the size of an orangutang I prefer to do as they do - walk around a little, lay down, and maybe eat a banana ( or put a banana on top of my cereal ). So--sitting and watching the miracle of birth in various different manners - it just made me feel achy and wanting to get up and move around and just be like an orangutang for a while and live in denial that I will ever have to encounter whatever those ladies in those videos were encountering.

We did get to walk around for a little bit - during the hospital tour. It was a very nice tour, but I'm glad it was at the end of the class, because the way some people asked questions, it was beginning to feel like we were in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and all the crazies were showing their faces. One couple only asked about how much the t.v. would cost and if it was possible to have a fridge in the room. Seriously? You're going to have a baby and all you care about is t.v. and food? Now - I do admit I love food, but when we are talking about the day you give birth and the only thing you care about is what's on cable and whether or not you can eat your sixteen bagel bites while you watch - that just makes me mad. Anyway - they eventually were quiet with no more questions, and it was time to leave. This also reminded me of Willy Wonka, because of that crazy elevator scene at the end. 12 women who are 7, 8 and 9 months pregnant along with their husbands/significant others fitting into an elevator really made me wonder about the cable buckling under that kind of pressure and it made me hope that this elevator was the kind of super elevator that Willy Wonka had.

Luckily we made it out alive. All in all it was an informative day, but I was exhausted afterward and slept pretty much the rest of the weekend, and ate bananas, and walked around a little bit. It's not so bad being an orangutan sometimes.


Even though I haven't posted in about a week, I have been busy, and there are some fun events coming up:

--The goal date of the baby room being ready is September 18.

--The baby showers are September 10 and 15

--The baby is due October 28

:)

Despite being an emotional hugeasaurus, I still like being pregnant - but only because of babe. I love babe and can't wait for the day we get to meet!

Don't these deep-fried oreos look delicious? Oh man.

I don't have to talk about those, though.

I'm very glad we started the baby's room in June. If we had waited until now to start it, I know we would not be finished by the time the baby is here.

We have made some progress, yet it is still taking a long time.

I want to talk about those oreos again.

We did take a small trip to the fair early in the week- which was very fun but I ate most of the food they had available. If the weight gain I've accomplished during pregnancy scares on-lookers, I am blaming the fair. Even if that's not fair.

The oreos were great. So was the caramel apple. And the french fries. And the burger. And the cupcake that looked like an ice cream sandwich. And I should stop.

We had a minor setback this week when our pets were itching like crazy. At this first sign of fleas, we deep-cleaned the house a few times, got special flea meds for both the dog and cat, and waited. Hopefully there will be no more itching! Ugh that wasn't fun.

We went from delicousness at the fair to sad, sad cleaning and bugs at home. Fair is way better. Fair wins.

Anyway- some updates on the baby's room:
Thursday, Steve's brother was able to come over and show Steve how to do the "mudding" of the drywall.

Friday, we bought the laminate flooring that will replace the bright pink rug floor from the '80s. My parents were dropping off my brother Andrew at college, and stopped in on the way back to help us pick it out. We also had enough time to visit the new addition to the family, Missie and Ali's brand new baby boy!(9 pounds 9 ounces and still no name yet: ) )


Today, there was no time to do any "mudding" because Steve worked for his uncle all day pressure washing a barn. He just got back home and we're making dinner with our veggies from the farm (Pasta with spicy red sauce with the veggies mixed in, and I'm going to make some zuchinni bread with chocolate chips.

I went to get the veggies today and walked with the dog in the park. tried taking a nap but couldn't get comfortable. This is happening more and more. It is also VERY hot and our room air conditioner was not up to snuff today. I just can't wait until August is over. Then MAYBE the hot weather will be gone (I can't believe I'm saying this, I've never wanted August to be over) and also, hopefully, the room will be done by then. I would be so happy. I would post pictures but I'd rather do that when it's starting to look nice. Posting them now would just be depressing.

So, let's just say hopefully by September it will be done. Or almost done. We are thankful for everyone who have helped us, because we definitely wanted to do this is well as we could, and also without breaking the bank, and their help is very much appreciated!!

Speaking of making progress, or trying to, I'm making progress on my novel. Does anyone want a little sneak peak at the first page or two? If even one person says yes, I will think about posting it next! See, this is my new thing, trying to be more "interactive" with my blog. We shall see how it goes.

Also, if anyone has any ideas about the baby room, please let us know! Any little decorative ideas that have to do with a forest theme would be great! So far we have a decal we'll put on the wall, the walls will be tan, the floor will be laminate (that looks just like hard wood), and the wood on the furniture will be dark. A lot of it will be hand-me-down but we will stain it to match. The trim on the windows will be dark as well, to match. We will add accents of either girl colors or boy colors when the baby is born!

Anyway, hope all is well with everyone. I've been writing but I haven't been posting that I've been writing. Feel free to check out this blog when I don't "share" it on a social networking website, because I'll add to it here and there...and might not post it. I guess I will try to be more diligent though, if it means there are more readers!

Hope all is well with everyone!

How we are trying to be ecologically friendly:

1. We joined a CSA where we get vegetables weekly, organic, no pesticides, which we use for our dinners. We eat healthier this way, too, and save money!

2. We got some materials together to make recycle and make paper/cards out of old paper/cards.

3. We recycle.

4. We grow a garden.

5. We are making a small compost.

6. We use one car.

If anyone has any other suggestions, please let us know! In the meantime...I'll be making paper...or not using up paper and writing on the computer...or...trying to do something useful and ecologically safe. Or just hanging out, in general.

I chose this picture because it reminds me of my garden. There are a lot of orange flowers in it. I was just doing dishes and there's a window above my sink and I can see it from there...so I just wanted to include it in the post.

I got up early today. I didn't sleep much. I kept getting up to head to the ladies room and it was impossible to get back to sleep again. I'm not complaining, though, I wasn't the only one moving. Babe was kicking for most of the night, it was great. Of course, they say the baby has developed sleep patterns by now....so...maybe this means the baby will just kick a lot when he or she sleeps ;)

The cat thinks he's an alleycat now that it's summertime and he goes outside. He meows underneath our windows at 1 a.m. if we let him out before bed. He has a loud meow, too. I don't mind him thinking he's an alleycat, but I do mind him meowing as loudly as possible in the middle of the night. Not cool.

Steve put up pictures of the baby's ultrasounds this week. I might post on here as well, but I am not sure if that would be redundant. Babe is camera-shy after all. When the sonogram woman tried to get a picture of the baby's face, the baby turned away. Each time. So we got some profile pictures instead :)

I know that it could be a boy or a girl, but lately I think it's a girl. I might change my mind, though. Steve thinks it's a girl, too. Babe has a high heartbeat, and I did this thing I saw on Ellen where you dangle your wedding ring on a string and see what direction it turns in and that should tell you if it's a boy or a girl. We also heard someone shout "It's a girl!" from a few aisles away in Target when we first found out I was pregnant and we were walking through the baby aisle talking about the possibilities. But, it could certainly be a boy of course. Either way, Steve and I can't wait to meet babe in person (although we have met in kicks a lot so far).

I think Babe loves the sound of Steve's voice. When he talks to my belly, babe kicks and kicks, just like when I eat chocolate or something sweet. Steve's voice is as sweet as chocolate to the baby :) I love that.

We are making progress on the baby's room. We are making progress on everything, and that makes me very happy. There is sort of a lull for the rest of August, but September should be pretty busy. Baby showers and baby classes and finishing up the room, oh my!

SPEAKING of baby showers, my Mom in law showed me this website the other day. My goodness!
http://www.ivillage.com/deliciously-awkward-baby-shower-cakes/6-b-368385?nlcid=in|08-11-2011| She sent it to us saying "Which cake does Katie want?" I think there should have been a rated R warning. It should be an INTERESTING day in a couple of months....

I did have another doctor's appointment this week. So far, all is well!! :) The baby is 3 pounds. I can't believe 3 pounds of my body is a little baby, with me wherever I go. It makes me so happy I could cry.

My horoscope said I'll probably cry at the drop of a hat today. I wonder if it knows I'm pregnant? ;)

Anyway - the topic is probably to change, because I got up and then came back down again to sit. I woke up early today (I actually like to do that on the weekends, I'm strange, I know)...and I've been baking chocolate chip cookies. It has been a cooler morning and I wanted to bake more cookies because it relaxes me. I figure this batch can go to whoever I see today. The batch I made a few weeks ago went to some friends and work, the one I made last week went to my side of the family, and I think this week I'll give it to Steve's side of the family (who I see, anyway) and whatever friends I might bump into.

Anyway, now I'm thinking about work. I kept getting distracted yesterday and thinking about the most random things. Of course, I think I have a serious case of "Baby Brain"...though I probably shouldn't blame it on the baby. I'm flighty to begin with! I put syran wrap in the fridge yesterday. Apparently everything I touch must go in the fridge. Unless it actually goes in the fridge, then it should go in the cupboards. Because that is how I have been putting things away lately. More often than I would like to admit!

So, I was drinking some Aquafina, and the label said the company had something to do with "Clinton's Ditch"....does this mean the water came from a ditch? Maybe I should have just drank from the tap! Anyway....I was just wondering about that. Of course, there is an entire internet I can scan through to see if that even means anything, but I'd rather be ignorant about it for now, because I just drank it yesterday, and I don't want to know at this time.

I just trusted it. I trust things from vending machines but I don't trust the weatherman. Is that weird? I trust things without brains and the ones with brains I'm leary of. Eh...I guess I'm leary of lions and they have brains. OK I'm running off on tangents.

But while I am running off on tangents, I finally found a website where it shows volunteering opportunities locally! I love that if you ask for something, somehow it has a way of showing up in one way or another. I once had no pencils left while I was teaching in the city, and I looked up and said out loud that I really needed pencils, and I had 50 by the end of the day. 50. It was amazing.

Then, the other day, I said, I really want to volunteer but don't know how to find opportunities. I then really had the urge to buy an Oprah magazine (because I love Oprah very much) and she had a website posted! It's amazing! It's called allforgood.org and I think you should check it out. I've already found about 5 things I want to get involved with.

If I become a famous writer I definitely want to involve myself with charities. I want to involve myself with volunteering as much as I can before that as well. I think charity begins at home, though, so even just hanging out with my family and friends I think is a good way to spend time. But, I do want to give more, just because I really want to, and it's important.

I should go. My cookies are almost done. And I'm going to walk the dog soon in the park. I hope whoever is reading this has a really good day. It is Saturday, and hopefully it's a good one for you guys.

The goal for this week is to get paint for the baby's room. We had a few other goals, but we scratched them off the list. We fixed the registry, we got the drywall up, we got going with baby shower preparations, we picked out a crib, we signed up for childbirth classes, and chose a pediatrician, and I had some more doctor appointments. Once we get the paint, I'm really looking forward to getting the room painted. Then it will be just a matter of time before we fix the floor and add the furniture. So: paint. Thursday. Looking forward to it.

ON another note, I think I'm going to post some of my writing for the novel soon. I've just got to get the guts!

It's hard to believe sometimes that we all exist. But, we do...well, at least you do, who are reading this, and me, who is writing this, and the people we see around us...we're here. We exist.

SO, while we are here. I've decided I want to use my time in more meaningful ways. I want to volunteer more, and so does Steve. We started going to church more. If anyone knows of any local volunteering opportunities, please let us know.

I saw on the news that the most stressed person in America is the woman in her 30s and 40s and 50s with a family and a husband and who is trying to keep in shape and keep up with a job and keep the family together and keep the house from falling apart and....you know. The experts say this woman will not outlast her husband, like women of the past did.

I thought about it and I wonder if these women changed their perspective, if things would get better for them. Perhaps if they relied more on their friends and their family and the people who surround and love them, and viewed themselves as one special part of a great work of people, and not the one part that makes everyone else function, maybe the stress will be lifted? Maybe the stress comes from the compartmentalization, it comes from the mindset that that one person is who everyone else relies on....Not everyone relies on both themselves and everybody else. I don't know if I'm making sense but...it seems to me that if you view yourself as part of one big family and you care for others and let them care for you....you don't have to worry about the particulars so much. Because, life just....happens. We are here. And we can have a good time while we're here.

Just a thought.

So, anyway - I put a picture of one of my favorite pieces of artwork up on the blog today because I think it's important to create things and appreciate what is created....just like it's important to love and be loved, and work and accept what is given to you...and so on and so on and so on.


And, to get into some personal specifics - I might have gestational diabetes. I find out tomorrow. I'm just saying it because I'm finding out it's pretty common and I should be brave about it so I'm just saying it. I had some more bloodwork on Saturday. They poked me four times. So far in the pregnancy they've taken 13 viles of my blood. I really like being pregnant, but if you'd ask me what is one thing you didn't like about it I would say the bloodwork. But, I guess, some people get nausea, some people get heavy duty aches and pains, some people crave to eat dirt, and some people have more bloodwork than others. I'll deal.

I find out either tomorrow or Tuesday if I have it. I ate a lot today, just in case I'm going to have to rapidly change my diet, which was probably a horrible idea, but, I did it. Steve is very great. He stayed with me the entire 3 1/2 hours I was getting my bloodwork done on Saturday, and he even said he would help me with all the pricking if I wanted. And when I feel nauseaus thinking about it, he thinks it is justified and he says it's going to be ok. And it really, really helps.

Which brings me back to the whole relying on both yourself and others thing. I know I had to physically give up my arm a bunch of times...but it helped to have somebody there to hold my hand. Even if he couldn't make it, I would have been comforted knowing he would say "Everything will be ok."

And, I really would like to volunteer so that I can be one to tell others "Everything will be ok."

Because I think more and more that we're all a big family, and we all like feeling that we're being taken care of somehow. And I think kindness shows strength, because it shows that you are not afraid to give up some of yourself for the sake of others. Even though that sounds really really really a lot like something you would hear on Full House, and it sounds like something someone would make fun of me for saying, but I don't care...positivity shouldn't be downplayed.

I also have to give a huge shout out to Steve's brother Vinnie who has been helping us with the baby's room. The drywall is now up!! We will hopefully paint later this week!!
Thanks to my mother and my mother in law, invitations are going out soon for the baby showering, and we've got a few more things for the baby!!
Thanks to a person we work with, we now have a changing table!!
Thanks to everyone who is listening! I hope to write a post soon that says we're all done with the baby room set up. We are getting things done little by little.
Thanks to my family for having a Thanksgiving in August for David who lives in Reno and won't be back for the "real" Thanksgiving - it was nice to eat that food especially because I'm not sure what I might be able to eat the next few months
Thanks in advance to anyone who can tell me of a volunteering opportunity
And...thanks to God for the existence of everything. Because...that's important. That we exist...you...and me...and everybody around us. We're like a big family. And...that's pretty cool.

A miracle is looking up at a night full of stars and feeling at peace after a long, long day.

A miracle is the sun coming in through the windows when you first wake up in the morning, no matter how grumpy you are.

A miracle is a little girl being adopted to a loving family who will love her and love her and love her.

A miracle is a baby kicking his or her mama, at any little time.

A miracle is a person who was really sad whistling one day, singing the next, and cooking and tapping his toes the next.

A miracle is a moment you didn't think you could have - so I count facing my fears and getting bloodwork done a miracle.

A family getting together in the middle of the summer for Thanksgiving is a miracle to me.

A brother helping out his family to rebuild their homes is a miracle.

A mother getting better after a painful surgery is a miracle.

A baby whose upset tummy is soothed is a miracle.

Having a job and a house with a fixed up roof and some kooky pets is a miracle.

A garden that makes a big fat zucchini appear is a miracle.

A person taking a small moment to say a prayer for someone else, is a miracle.

People who listen to each other to understand each other count as two or three miracles at once.

A song is a miracle.

A lonely loved one who isn't lonely for a little while, is a miracle.

Maybe the more we recognize something for what it is, it will happen more? Maybe there will be more peace and happiness if more of us say something about how great peace and happiness are?

Just wondering.

There are less than 3 months left until baby G's due date!!!

There are still many things Steve and I must do to prepare.

We've been held back by a few minor challenges, like a leaky roof and water damage and such, but we are (hopefully) ready to plow through to get important preparations done and ready.

On our "To-Do" list, we have:

Finish the dry wall of the baby's room
Paint the baby's room
Install laminate in the baby's room
Bring baby furniture into the baby's room
Take Childbirth Classes
Sign up for a Pediatrician
Add two or three things to the baby's Registry
And one or two other things...

I am feeling a little overwhelmed but focused. I have been wanting to get these things done for a while, but hopefully now we'll be able to get them done, and soon.

I just want everything ready. If I were Samantha from Bewitched, it would be ready so fast, all I would do would be wiggle my nose or touch my ear or whatever it is she does to make things happen.

I had my blood test for gestational diabetes done on Friday. I almost fainted, I saw black dots and they were populating my eyesight so fast I thought the world would go totally black for a few minutes, but after I took a little mid-day nap in the Doctor's office, I was all set to go.

I just don't like the idea of anything sucking blood out of my veins. That's why I think I'm the only girl on the planet who hasn't read Twilight. I've said it. I haven't read it. And it's because I don't like anything sucking anything out of a person's veins. It just makes my stomach turn upside down...even if they throw in men with no shirts on and tosseled hair. No difference. I would not date a vampire. There is just no way. If I had the choice to either date a hot vampire or live in my living room with three cats and a dog and eat ice cream and slowly grow a rather large butt, I would just choose that one. I would be safe from any blood sucking moments, and I could really do a lot on my couch with the internet around and these pets. I would probably train them to do a little circus act or something, I'd have plenty of time to train them to do something like that in that case.

Anyway I'm glad I don't have to make that choice, because I'm with Steve, and he is not a vampire, and that is a very, very good characteristic that he has that I rather enjoy.

So...back to my point...I think this week is "The Week" to make more progress in baby preparations. I'm in Rochester with my side of the family for the rest of the day, but as soon as Monday rolls around it's time to crack open that list and make some checkmarks appear, with a little flick of my hand. Maybe I am more like Samantha from Bewitched than I thought. I am determined, anyway.

Tomorrow I'm surprising the librarians at work with baked from scratch, homemade chocolate chip cookies.

I made them myself.

I love love love love love times one million baking cookies. The whole process is so relaxing. Lining up all of the ingredients, holding your breath that you didn't run out of something seemingly insignificant on non-cookie baking days, like vanilla or baking soda, and then mixing everything together and the whole kitchen smelling so sweet and so warm and so good and then before you know it you have a plate full of 100 cookies falling all over each other and it is so delicious and great.

I really think it's important to do something good in a day. I think baking cookies is good, because it brings happiness into the world.

I am looking forward to doing some other good things. Like tomorrow Steve and I are going out to eat with my cousin John. John has been living with us the past few months, and we keep talking about going somewhere, and now we are finally actually doing it.

Friday after work I'm going to weed the garden and walk the dog while Steve and his brother and Dad work on the baby's room again. Every time we try to do something with that project, we take a back-step. But...I guess you have to back up a little bit before you start something big.

Then, this weekend, we are going to Rochester. We are going to hopefully see lots of family, and hopefully visit my Grandmother too. Then church on Sunday and the weekend will be over. But those are the plans. And they make me happy.

I really believe that life is what you make it. I want to show our baby what a positive life is like. I want to really show what goodness is, so that he or she can grow up happy, and can spread some happiness too.

Or at least it's just nice to be with people, and just kind of be content with all of the free things in life, like family, and cookies, and walks with dogs, and sitting with the cat, and getting up at 3 am to go to the ladies room and playing some moves on words with friends when I can't get back to sleep right away, and...I don't know, stuff like that.

I could be ranting and saying all kinds of horrible things, but I don't want to. I'd rather write things like this. I think it's better and more awesome this way.

So...I'll just leave it at that. Right now, I just feel very hopeful, and pretty happy, and I just want other people to feel this way too. And, that's about it.

Isn't this a peaceful photo?

What I am about to write about isn't exactly full of peace.

We started off yesterday about to run many, many errands in a short amount of time. If we had our own t.v. show it would probably play some rinky dink music in the background as we ran around like chickens all over town.

Or something like that...oh no, I'm building this up too much. But basically what happened was a series of unfortunate events.

We had some "To-do"s, on a list. Written on a list, and crossing them off....like, picking up vegetables from a farm, something we do once a month, and going to the drycleaners, and blahblahblah items on a list that you just end up doing on a Saturday because you don't really have the time to bother with during the week.

Well, we as we pulled into the drycleaners parking lot, Steve hits the brakes, and it sounds like an elderly seagull's dying song unto the world just basically saying it's time to end things, he's through. That is not a sound I look to hear when someone is braking their car, nor do I like it when it is my car, nor do I like it on a 1,000 degree day with the clock ticking and the errands that just keep coming and coming and suddenly your car is making a sound like that.

That kind of thing makes a small reflex of my own force me to utter unspeakable things, or at least to just say "Ughhhh really? Really? Really." Which doesn't HELP anything but it makes me feel like I did something...other than just making a gutteral sound that doesn't do anything.


(I just did that very same reflex because someone - who may or may not have been the driver of that car yesterday - just accidentily cancelled out of this website I was in the middle of writing on. He wanted to check our bank statement, I said, ok, just don't "x" out of this, I didn't save it yet, and he said, "ok", and when I came back, he had "x"d out of it. SO I had to write this whole thing over. The first time it sounded a little bit different, but I guess it's still ok. Anyway - back to my main story)

We called up Steve's dad, aka the amazing mechanic who saved us yesterday, and he said we can just leave our car at his house and we can take his minivan on the rest of our errands.

So this was amazing news - except that the minivan's AC went the way of the dying seagull and our brakes and the do do bird and so there was no AC and the heat was at least 1,000 degrees not even including heat index or whatever that's called and I'm not even counting the fact it felt like your pulse itself had a fat person sitting on it so it would slow down into near death heartbeat rates it was so heavy out there.

But we thought we would be fine. We said, "We will just put the windows down! We will be great."

We were so silly then.

We were on our way to a wedding about a half an hour away and the hot wind was blowing in our faces and we realized a few things.

"Steve?"

"What?"

"Steve?"

"What? I can't hear you."

"STEVE! We need to get wrapping paper. The present!"

"The present! It's in the red car."

The red car. That would not help us one bit.

So, as the sweatmarks gathered faithfully upon our very nice outfits, painting patterns on our backs, arms, underarms and butts, we devised a plan to get to the church, drive back to town to get the gift, wrap it, and then drive back to where the reception would be. Some of this was communicated with hand movements, as it was difficult to hear each other with the wind whipping through that little van that could.

Then we were trapped with no hot wind. Road work everywhere. Road work, and car accidents, and stop lights. It was enough for me to remember lyrics to Alanis Morrissette from the mid-90s when she said something about being already late, and a no smoking sign on her cigarette break. And then millions of spoons when she wants a knife, even though I guess you could hack at something for a while with a spoon if you really can't find any knife, although I don't know what would have happened to all of your knives, but anyway I'm straying from my story again.

And I almsot lost this story! My battery died on the computer. Great. That's my fault for calling Steve out on "x"ing out on my story earlier. Karma. At least It's here this time though. Anyway.

We got to the church EXACTLY on time. I mean so on time we walked past the entire wedding party that was waiting to walk down the aisle! I've never cut it that close before. My hair, of course, looked spiky at this point with a hint of beehive. The hot air had done wonders and I fully expect this new hairdo to make waves and Jennifer Anniston to be wearing it by next Sunday.

Anyway - the point is, we finally made it. And then our plan we had concocted worked, because all went well for the rest of the day. I even got to fix my hair and the brakes on our car got fixed, too.

But, I guess the whole point of this blog is, sometimes, when you just want a peaceful day, what you get is a piece ful day, when everything feels like it's just falling to pieces. I heard once if you say outloud what you want, the universe tries to give it to you. Maybe we should all be spelling out our requests, just to stay safe.

There is a hosta growing through a crack in our driveway, on the edge, right next to the house, and it is blooming a very vibrant purple flower.

Every time we take a walk with the dog and the cat is outside he follows us the whole way.

Although the heat is very heavy, when it breaks a little bit and you feel a breeze and the sun is going down behind the clouds, or trees, or orange-red sky, it just feels good.

I love catching little pieces of something unexpected or happy or good.

I like how peaceful our neighborhood is, and I like the things I get to see every day, and I think it will be good for our baby to see all of these things, too.

Speaking of babe, there are lots of kicks lately. Only about three months left! I can't believe it.

I've been reading "What to Expect While You're Expecting"...and other books too. It's kind of interesting to be reading "What to Expect" at the same time you're reading "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"....but I guess in the end, either way, there's going to be a life-altering experience filled with drugs and a story to tell when it's all over.

Anyway - going back to love and miracles and happiness - I love how there are so many people getting married. We are going to a wedding today in Niagara Falls, and are so happy for them. I think it's a really great thing to just celebrate love like that and just to dance and wear beautiful clothes and be surrounded by all kinds of people that you have met or have been connected to somehow in your life. I just think it's a really special and great thing. I am so happy to be with Steve. I can't believe it's almost two years since we got married.

I guess that's all for today. Miracles and happiness and love and drugs. And how the simple and miraculous event of a purple flower growing through pavement can really get you thinking.

I did not take this picture. Wouldn't it be so cool if I did?

I just thought it was a picture you can be reflective about, like thinking about how the lighthouse watches over the ships at sea, but only if someone is watching over the lighthouse.

I have been thinking a lot lately about ourselves helping ourselves, but only if we try.

And it is nice to have a support system.

I've been thinking about how people have pets and how they help them to be happier and healthier, going on more walks and improving their memories and helping them to make happy memories, but only if they take care of their pets.

And there are so many people who work endlessly in selfless professions like social workers, teachers, firemen and nurses, who are only as strong and powerful as their support systems allow them to be. They have the backs of their fellow man if only there is one person who has their backs....so to speak.

Whether you are in a romantic relationship with someone or not, it is very important to have a support system.

Do we live better if we have someone to support, or if someone is supportive to us? Or is it both?

Ultimately, what gets the cop to the donut shop before his shift every morning to start the day? Is it the job that will pay the bills to help his family, or the people he tries to help each day? Either way, he's working to help support a system, because the system has helped him, at least so much as to help him get his jelly donut every day.

Anyway- I know this is a random post, but it's about something that is important to me. Support. Love.

I think no matter what is going on, it's important to try and see what it is you're supportive of, and who it is out there who supports you...because....

it just is.

That's what I think, anyway.

Just a picture of some friends. They play together all the time, running in the park.

Friends are the greatest. A friend of mine who is very amazing is getting married this weekend to a very amazing guy. I can't wait for them!

I hope they have the greatest weekend.

That's all I wanted to say! :)

"Each day you wake up and there isn't a tag wrapped around your foot is a good one, and another chance to just...LIVE. Start the races! Do what you will."
I heard the priest say that at church on Sunday, and it stuck in my head, like a song.

I had a rough start to the day today, but I tried to keep this in mind all day. That's why I like going to church. It gives me something to think about. At least that church does.

So, even though the morning wasn't so great, I still thought about it. I moved around, I experienced the day anyway. I walked with the dog during lunch. I went to the store, and picked up blueberries and cookies (with good ingredients, I promise), and one of those cheesy bagels that you just want to last forever...or at least I do. When I bite into those I just want the part I bit off to magically appear again so I can keep eating it, because it is just that delicious.

What else did I do? I sat in an air conditioned gym on the bike for a little while reading the Oprah magazine. It was so lovely, and I'll tell you why with my three reasons why I love the Oprah magazine:
1. The cover is so predictable. It's like knowing that a loaf of bread is a loaf of bread because of how it looks like.
2. There is ALWAYS a reading list or a list of some kind, and I love lists (look at this 1, 2, 3 list I have going here as proof)
3. It is not too bad when it comes to advertisement pages clogging up the whole magazine. There are a lot of articles. I think Oprah can afford to have a great magazine, because she is just great. I love Oprah. I would tell you why but this is not a list of reasons why I love Oprah, it is a list of reasons why I love Oprah's magazine.

Anyway, today I was able to spend almost my whole entire day in air conditioning. When I walked my dog at night it was nice, because there was a cool breeze and the sun was setting and it was just...nice. I think I said that but it is well deserved to be said twice.

My point is, (you probably can already tell, of course)....even though the morning was a little difficult, the rest of the day was still there to just...LIVE and be happy. There are so many chances to be happy and spread happiness. I like that. A lot.

I didn't even say the best part of my day. The best part of my day was when Stevie's Dad and brother fixed up a guitar for him to play! I wanted to surprise him, so I went to the music store and picked up strings. His Dad and brother put them on his Dad's old fender acoustic guitar, and now he can play! He already knows some chords, but he's going to practice....the baby was kicking when Stevie was playing a little bit at his parent's house. It was really great.

I love him and just want him to be happy all the time. I think that's what I pretty much want for people in general. I think that's what that priest meant - for people to just let themselves and others try to find happiness, wherever they might go looking. At least for people to not be afraid to look for happiness. That's how I took it, anyway.

Each day can be anything.

Two weeks ago I saw an ever-burning flame underneath a waterfall on a walk.

Tonight we drove through at least a whole village of fireflies, sparkling in the dark. There were lights everywhere, and it was like the stars wanted to come down to earth for a little while just to take a look around and see what we see for a little while, when it's dark and no one would notice...it was just like that.

Anyway, no, my day didn't start off great, but I love how it ended up. Just because things aren't so great sometimes doesn't mean it's not great all times. That's how I feel.

I guess before I go (I wonder if anyone is actually still reading, this ended up being very long) - before I go I wanted to add to what I heard in church. There's always room for happiness. At least, that's how I feel right now...that's how I've felt today. Although, I guess it is now tomorrow, and time for me to go to sleep. Goodnight to whoever is reading this, or Good Day, if the sun is up. I hope you have at least a few good moments crammed into your day, no matter what in the world your day will hold.

Our garden may be small, but it is pretty. It makes us very happy.

I'm finding the things I like to do the most are free - be outside, go on walks with the dog, go to the gym (ok, not free, but I've got about a year and a few months left on the contract, so it's pretty much in our budget already)....

We even cut cable out and it doesn't matter! You can do so much and have a lot of fun without money. I love it.