Can you hear me Spring?

(I don't usually put strange blankets over the back of my couch but Chad insists upon doing so... please don't judge.)

This week was long. I think mostly because the sun came out for the first time in 3 months and stayed out. All day. The unfortunate part was that I was stuck inside at work watching everyone else outside enjoying the day. What about my wellness darnit?

Anyways, Monday we went to the doctors. Chad's first appointment. Baby White was uncooperative and curled in a little ball. He or she was resistant to showing their face and remained quite content on staying in the above mentioned position. Fine, be that way, baby. We did get a lovely picture with a small glimpse of baby face... and intestines. It's not clear enough to post so you'll have to take my word for it. Heard the heart beat as well.

Also, I wore maternity pants almost every day this week. No buttons or zippers save a lot of time in the bathroom. Especially when you go there about 30+ times a day. It's awesome. They're still too big so I use a bella band and all is well.

We also bought our plane tickets to Venice... it's official. We're going on our cruise. Hello Turkey, Croatia, and Greece. Can't wait to meet you.

Our landlord also made a surprise visit and opened our overstuffed mail box. I told him I had pregnancy brain and forget to check it. He believed me. I do remember to check it... I just don't.

He invited us to his wife's birthday party on Monday evening. Chad wants to get her onion flowers. I told him no (they smell like rotten onions after awhile, no lie.)

Today, the sun is being much like Baby White and hiding behind gray clouds. Darn. Looks like we'll be inside cleaning what looks like a bomb went off.

At least there is the promise of Spring...

common' Spring...

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow. ~Proverb

Oh and this is what you look like after doing 12 fitness tests in 4 hours while pregnant. Lord have mercy. It was a crazy day at work.

15 weeks.

hmph

I haven't been blogging because I have nothing exciting to report. It's been a slow news week.

For instance, yesterday, I came home from work and I sat on the couch. Chad came home and warmed me up some leftover soup. Then I went to bed. At 6 pm. I eventually migrated from the couch to the bedroom where I slept until 545 this morning. I could have kept sleeping too.

I guess some good news would include the fact that the snow has melted (again) and Spring may be here to stay. The emphasis on may. One can never be too sure here in Stuttgart.

And today, I somehow managed to pull off an 8 hour work day in yoga pants... because they're the only ones that fit.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I think this may be my last blog about poop... maybe

Bushy overgrown trees remain...

My Friday morning started with a lot of poop. Dog poop that is. On Thursday evening, our landlord called and told me the tree trimmer was coming on Friday. To most people this wouldn't be a big deal but to someone who has conveniently avoided picking up dog poop since Christmas this caused quite the problem. Friday morning was spent picking up rock hard dog poop with a large stick since it had been frozen for like 2 months. It was really great. A really great workout that is. Anyways, it was a lovely way to start my day.

Friday afternoon when I returned home the trees looked exactly the same as the day before. The tree trimmer didn't show. Of course.

And today we woke up to 3 inches of new snow.

I should have just left the shit for another day.... or Chad.

Today, will be a good day...

I woke up this morning and my first thoughts didn't include poop (well, they did, but in a good way), throw up, or more sleep.

I knew it was going to be a GREAT day. I guess I have successfully survived my first trimester (alone, might I add) and now I can go back to feeling myself. I plan on enjoying every minute since I know it will be short lived.

Anyways, after getting up I looked around my house and decided today would be a productive day. Actually, it has to be productive because I haven't thoroughly cleaned my house in 7 weeks. I mean sure I've vacuumed and thrown some cleanser around but that really hasn't put a dent in this disaster. BUT TODAY, I feel like I can clean 100 houses (all with non-toxic ingredients).

I also had visions of putting up spring decorations, sewing, airing out the house, and washing my car (although I doubt I'll get that crazy). I may even take these poor housebound dogs for a walk.

I figure even if this sudden burst of energy fades in the next couple hours I still know it will be a good day because...

I realize now that throughout it all I was never really alone...

the sun is up in Stuttgart...

and Spring is in the air.

I'm going to say poop a lot today

Now that just about everyone knows we're going to have a baby... let me tell you a little bit about the last 7 weeks that doesn't have to do with snow.

While trying to avoid the topic of what was really going on over in Deutschland, the only topic I could successfully blog about was the weather. It was getting old. I also didn't want to blog for fear that I would barf on my keyboard. It's been rough.

Anyways, what's been going on over here in my neck of the woods has included:

extreme nausea- Mostly in the morning, afternoons, and evenings. And sometimes in between too.

breast tenderness- You must know that my breast pain has taken me back to the 5th grade... you know, that awkward/painful phase of preadolescence.

fatigue- the kind that allows you to fall asleep in the massage chair at work... and it wasn't even lunch.

peeing- lots and lots of peeing.

and the ultimate...

constipation- seriously... you're not supposed to beg God even before you've gotten out of the bed to allow you to have a bowel movement... it's not natural...

Well, I'm not really sure if this blog is anymore entertaining than snow but it's a brief synopsis of the goings on here on Wiesentalstrasse.

On a high note, my husband comes home in about one week. I can't wait. He's so upset that he had to leave me in such a state that he's ready to answer to my every beck and call (right, honey?)

His first job will be picking up old dog poop that has been covered with snow for 2 months. And some a little fresher (at least someone was able to go #2 around here...)

BUT, seeing that little bean on the screen makes not pooping for 3 days a little more bearable.

It took me 40 minutes to upload this picture and now my words are underlined and I don't know why. I'm thoroughly frustrated and I think that means it's time for bed. I must be rusty.

Anyways, here's the picture of Baby White taken on Monday by my German doctor who isn't much for photography. I saw hands and arms but you wouldn't know by this picture.

Enjoy.

A short story and an announcement...

The story:

Three months ago, my boss, who is interested in astrology, was informing me about being a pisces. He read that pisces are fertile.

The announcement:

On December 28, we found that to be true.

(my brother will be horrified that I put a picture of something I peed on in this blog but he can get over it.)

snow days...

My car is pictured in the photo in the right hand bottom corner. Can you see it? Me neither.

It started snowing early last week and continued until early this morning. It's a little out of the norm for the Stuttgart area and I think everyone has thrown in the towel. Germany is out of salt and Friday they shut down the military installations. I've avoided pushing snow around for the last 2 days and no one seems to care. I did manage to shovel my car out of the snow yesterday for a hot meal of chinese spring rolls and fried rice. I think at this point in my long weekend it's safe to say I'm experiencing cabin fever. One can only vacuum and nap for so long before boredom takes over.

On Season 4 of Sex and City...

Happy Monday!

FEBRUARY 14, 2010

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Mine will be spent indoors seeing that there's 7 inches of snow outside. I may or may not be able to get my car out of the driveway to go to dinner with friends... we'll have to wait and see about that. I'm also amusing myself with a Sex and the City marathon and missing my husband.

xoxo

snow melt[down]

I almost just had a meltdown while shoveling/pushing snow around in the front yard. I put off clearing our sidewalk until 430 pm. All day I kept telling myself to go out there and clear the sidewalk. I'm not feeling good and my nose hurts so that was my excuse. Unfortunately, if a German slips and falls on my unclear sidewalk they probably won't give a shit. And so... I started with the shovel. All it did was make this horrendous noise without doing much to remove the snow. Then I got the push broom. It helped move the fluffy new stuff but the hard icy under layer wasn't budging. I tried switching off. I tried breaking it up with my boot. I tried jabbing it with the shovel. After about 10 minutes of this (and thinking my neighbors are probably watching me and thinking this is hilarious) I felt tears well up in my eyes and threw my shovel (oh yes I did).

I then dumped about 10 cups of salt on the sidewalk and went back inside.

Now, not only is my sidewalk not clear but I'm also breaking German law by putting salt on the public sidewalk.

But like I said, my nose hurts so that's as good as it gets. I think the Germans are getting a little picky around here...