Another Birthday....

Today is the birthday of my wonderful husband, Michael.

Unlike my sister, I have not known him since the second he entered this world but I am very, very grateful to his parents for bringing him into the world and raising him to be such an amazing person.

I have been lucky enough to know him for about 4 and a half years...I had already been working at the credit union and he was brand new...I remember the day that he walked by my desk on his "new employee" tour. He was dressed really nice, I did think he was a good looking guy and seemed very friendly (in the few seconds of just saying hello). I remember then that I just thought of him as "off limits" since he was a co-worker. :-) Once we finally had the chance to hang out (after work on a Friday with a group of other co-workers) I also liked his personality and knew that we would be friends at the very least.

After a year and a half of friendship and getting to know each other (and finding out that he was a really genuinely nice and caring person) I finally ditched the notion of us just being friends and it was probably the best decision I ever made (well, we made it together). I am so happy we ended up together, married, and now have a little girl on the way. I wouldn't have wanted to end up with anyone else, he makes me happier than I have ever been in my whole life. He is an incredible husband, takes care of me and loves me so much and I feel like I love him more every single day of our lives together. I can't wait to see him with our daughter, I know he is going to be the best dad.

I'm not sure if in my life I have always been a believer in 'soul mates'.....but the moment I realized that Michael was the one for me, I realized that there can be no other way to explain it. I definitely could not make it without him and I am so glad that I don't have to.

Happy Birthday to my wonderful, amazing, caring, loving husband! I hope that your day is wonderful and I look forward to a hundred more birthdays with you!

Twenty-seven years ago today....

This blog post is a little shout out to my sister, Sara Lynn Mercer Watkins....today is her 27th birthday!!
I was only 4 years and 11 months old when she was born but there are a lot of things I remember about the day of her birth...actually even a thing or two about my Mom being pregnant with her. Once I remember sitting on my parents bed with my Dad as my Mom threw up over and over in the bathrooom....haha...apparently she was sick the whole time she was pregnant with my sister!!
On the actual day of July 10, 1983 I remember that my Dad got me out of bed pretty early in the morning, wrapped me up in a blanket and carried me a few houses down to some neighbors where I was going to stay while they went to the hospital. I sort of woke up and he told me I would be a big sister soon....guess it wasn't quite interesting enough for me to stay awake because I think I just went right back to sleep. Before I was able to go up the hospital to visit, my Dad called the neighbors to say that my sister was born...and to get my opinion on her name. His choices?? Sara or Jerri (with an "I" specifically). I am sure that my sister is quite thankful that I went with Sara. :-)
When I finally got to go in to see her I was interested for a minute....until I realized that my Mom had a tv with cartoons on it in her room! Even some of the pictures of me holding my new sister show me looking up and into the distance...surely watching something on the tv, haha. What can you expect from an almost 5 year old??!!
Over the last 27 years I would say I have had much more interest in my sister....in that she has become my best friend. Now, there were some rough years when we did more fighting that getting along....but the second I went to college I missed her being around and I think that really made us closer....we'd talk more, she wrote me hilarious letters (which I still have in a box in my closet), and when I was home the fighting was less and less. I wish she lived closer now, I know we wouldn't make it a week without seeing each other a few times....I am very happy she at least lives close enough to visit often and we have the phone, texting, chatting online, email, our webcams, facebook and various other ways to stay in touch every day of the week.
I was thinking that wow, if she is 27 (which sounds old for my "little"sister) then I am really getting old!! But we are still just 4 years and 11 months apart and the age difference really doesn't seem like that much anymore.
So, Happy Birthday, Sara! I love you, little sister!! :-)

On a side note: my Mom's birthday is tomorrow so Happy Birthday to you too, Mom! (Not that you will get on a computer to read this...I'll just call ya!)

30 down, 10 to go...

Weeks of my pregnancy, that is.

I can't believe that there is only about 2 and a half months left before we get to finally meet this little girl. Clearly she is ready to get out as well....she practically never stops moving around! Even as I type this she is doing some weirdo gymnastics or something in my stomach. I would say I have gotten used to it by now....but sometimes it just feels so strange or the movement is really big or I can see my stomach moving all around.

I don't really have too much to complain about, health wise, for this pregnancy. I never threw up, haven't been put on any kind of bed rest, the doctor always says things look great when I have an appointment. I do feel like I have been tired every day of it though. I have had some periodic killer heartburn (like all last night...I guess a volcano erupted in my chest cause it felt like lava in my throat for hours) and times when I feel more swollen than others (not wearing any of my rings right now, even took off the toe ring...but most days are fine) and I feel pretty giant all around but I know that some expectant mothers have it way worse than I have these last 30 weeks. I haven't even really had any major cravings (maybe I have been a little pickier with food than usual) and the most that Michael has had to get for me in the middle of the night is Tums (and from the closet, not the store). I hope there isn't some saying that if you had a great pregnancy you'll have a horrible labor, haha.

Michael and I go to our "birthing essentials" class this Saturday. Should be interesting....hopefully Michael won't spend the next 10 weeks in terror of the event of labor, haha. I am sure it won't be a picnic but at this point I am ready to just get on with it, so she can be here with us.

A couple of weeks ago we had some 3D shots of our girl taken....here are just a few:

Sleepy Girl
Little smile for Mommy and Daddy

And then she was done!

She didn't want to move around much the whole time, even when I changed into different (uncomfortable) positions. But we did get some cute shots of her face...the technology is so amazing, that we can see her so clearly well before she gets here. She already has chubby cheeks and I think she has her Daddy's mouth. :-)

The next 10 weeks will be full of getting the baby's room ready and preparing for this little one to get here....should be exciting and I bet will go by far faster than I think it will!

Monday Movie Review

Not that every Monday will have a movie review....but on this particular weekend we had my brother, Dillon, spend the night with us and we rented 5 movies to be watched in a little over 24 hours. And it was only $4 for all 5 movies (we rented from Blockbuster Express and had a rent 2, get 1 free coupon)!! It was a lot of fun and we accomplished our goal (watch 3 on Saturday night and 2 on Sunday), with a lot of salty and sugary snacks to keep us going.

The first movie we watched was 2012. Dillon recommended it since he had already seen it and said it was good and action packed...and he was right. The premise is that on a particular date in 2012 the earth as we know it will cease to exist due to extreme core temperatures rising, shifting of the crust and plates, etc. You get some background info on how they find out a few years before that this will happen and pretty quickly you fast forward to when things start to go bad. It was a very action packed movie, with pretty great visual effects....although a tad unrealistic that this one particular family would be able to avoid every single catastrophic event throughout the movie....which I guess makes it a movie. Not sure if my sister should see this movie since she seems to have some sort of tsunami phobia....and I don't think her plan of what to do in the event of a tsunami would work out all that well in this instance. I really liked this movie and if you haven't seen it, it is definitely worth renting.

Next we watched Shutter Island. I am all about some Leo Dicaprio. I could watch him in a movie if all he did was stare at the wall. Not sure how to sum up this movie, it was crazy. For a while, we weren't quite totally sure what was going on....there are a lot of flashback type scenes so it is definitely a movie that you will need to pay close attention to. The music is well worth noting...not sure who did the score, but they should get some type of award...it kept the entire movie full of suspense. I wouldn't really classify this as a horror movie at all...but there were some scenes that made you jump...including one that even had my brother practically jump off the couch!! Without revealing the end...it was....well, something I didn't see coming. I didn't dislike this movie, it wasn't bad, but it is not one that I will run out and purchase (which is what I do with most Leo movies). Still, I would say it is worth seeing (if you are a Leo fanatic, such as myself).

Our final movie of Saturday night was Youth in Revolt starring Michael Cera. We thought we would end the night with something to counteract all the suspense and this comedy did the trick. I went into this movie not really having a clue what it was about, couldn't remember seeing any previews for it, but that was ok. Basically the main character is kind of a loser who falls in love with this girl and creates this cool, sly, rebellious alter-ego for himself so he can win her heart. He ends up in all kinds of hilarious trouble just to win this girl. You feel bad for him, but you really can't help but laugh at him all along the way. I thought this was a good, funny movie. We all liked it and would recommend watching it if you were looking for a laugh. (But it is not a kids movie, too many adult type situations....really all the movies we watched weren't for kids, since I haven't mentioned that so far)

On Sunday we continued our movie marathon with The Hurt Locker. I am not always big into war movies, but we were again going on Dillon's recommendation that this was a great movie...and he was right. Essentially you follow a small group of specialized soldiers whose job it is to disarm and dispose of bombs that are set up all over Iraq. They gain a new leader and quickly find out that he just might be crazy....and definitely not scared to die, or put them in dangerous situations. This movie had suspense and made you think, also had some sad parts too. I ended up really liking it, and very thankful that we have so many brave men that will become soldiers and put their lives on the line to protect our country. I could never do that job, or do it as well as these guys did.

Our final movie of the weekend was The Shooter with Marky Mark Walhberg. Boy, do I love some Marky Mark. Another actor that I could watch doing nothing. And if he was shirtless I could watch for even longer. Thankfully, he had a few shirtless scenes in this movie. But even if he hadn't, the movie still would've been great. He plays a former sniper who was living all alone in the mountains, but gets talked back into helping the government figure out a possible assassination attempt on the president.....but things go wrong pretty quickly and he himself is the main suspect, totally double-crossed by the guys in DC. This movie has action, that is for sure. And you are drawn into the story from the moment the movie begins, rooting for the main character as he tries to clear his name and bring to justice against the real bad guys. We all liked this movie a lot, I could easily watch it again, and might even buy it. It turned out to be a great finish to our movie marathon weekend.

So, I probably won't be contacted by any publications to write up movie reviews any time soon....which is just fine with me. But we had such a fun weekend of movie watching and junk food eating (Dillon made rice krispy treats, I made cupcakes, Michael made chocolate chip cookies....plus we had popcorn, some chips and lots of raspberry ginger ale) I couldn't resist blogging about it. We were all happily surprised that all 5 movies turned out to be pretty decent, you'd expect at least one dud in the bunch and this weekend that was not the case. I really like having relaxing weekends like these after feeling like the past few weeks we have been just going and going....plus we really enjoy when my brother spends the night at our house. I definitely hope to be having many more of these weekends in my near future...especially before the baby gets here and then I probably won't see 5 movies in 5 months!! :-)

Some people are so strange.....

I have read a lot of different things that pregnant ladies have posted in various places about random people touching their stomach and saying inappropriate things to them....up until this week I have not had the personal experience of this.

My first encounter happened earlier in the week....a lady came into the jewelry store to pick up a repair we had done for her. She doesn't come in too often, but I like seeing her, she is a nice lady and I always like to see what purse she is carrying, what sunglasses she has (I happen to own a pair of Chanel sunglasses that she owns as well), how she is dressed, etc. The last time she came in I told her I was pregnant and we chatted about it a little....I didn't know we were having a girl at the time and probably wasn't showing near as much as I am now. On this visit, she asked if we knew yet and I said, yup, we are having a little girl. And then she proceeded to ask how much I had gained so far. Um, what? I can count on one hand the number of people who know this (and one is the doctor, so that sort of doesn't count) and can't really count any number of people that I would really like to share that little fact with. I told her I wasn't totally sure, had been trying to ignore the number at my doc appointments, and guessed an approximate number, something like that to kind of just blow it off.

A much more traumatic event occurred yesterday. Another customer who comes in from time to time came in to pick something up....now she had actually just been here earlier in the week and didn't notice me much, but yesterday she immediately said, oh, you're pregnant. Yup (just like I was the other day). And then she said, and it's a boy! Um, no, lady, it's a girl. Definitely need to get a new prescription on those x-ray glasses I guess. She goes on to guess how far along I am (she said 7 months, I am about 6 and a half, so not bad) and then on and on about how the way I am carrying almost 99% of the time says boy. But it actually got worse. She told me to turn around (for a back view, I guess) and then was groping my stomach and even my hips. She finally decided that since I did have some thickness in my hips (she used the words 'love handles' at one point) that maybe I was in fact having a girl. Well, thanks, Doc. Actually, she is doctor of some sort...but I know she now mostly does research and stuff (and gets Botox for migraines in an unrelated topic, haha) so I am not totally sure how that qualifies her as an OB. It got a little worse from there but I am trying to block it out so I don't need therapy for years (for this issue anyway). I felt like I had been totally molested, to say the least.

Which brings me to my point....why do people feel like they can just do or say whatever to a pregnant lady? Hello, surely you know that are our hormones are in complete overdrive now, right? Why chance getting your head knocked right off your body if the comment or action is not received well?! Or it is because, like me, pregnant ladies everywhere are like deer caught in the headlights when something like this happens and don't call the person out on their inappropriate/rude behavior? Do women who are not pregnant (but maybe have been in the past) just want to compare their personal stats with someone else, even if it is not someone that they personally know? But it sure isn't like I am asking the same rude questions right back. Maybe I should. That might shut them up. Not sure what to do in response to the groping though, haha.

I really like talking with my family and close friends about pregnancy and babies and I appreciate that they are able to be open and honest with me every step of the way. I don't feel weirded out when they ask me something personal because surely they have either told me or would tell me the answer if I were to ask the same question. But someone I hardly know, someone I barely see a handful of times in a whole year??? Just weird and nosey and uncomfortable!

All I can say is that I am glad I will only be pregnant for approximately 11 more weeks (a little less if I am lucky) and won't have to worry about this issue anymore. Of course then I am sure I will get all sorts of strange, unsolicited advice from the same kind of people about everything from losing pregnancy weight to how I should raise my kid....can't wait!!!

Long Weekend

Today is the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. I am very excited about this particular holiday because I have 3 whole days off work and lots of fun things planned for those days.

Tonight, when the work day is finally done, I am getting together with my sister and a 3 other friends for dinner and a movie....Sex and the City 2!! When the first Sex and the City movie came out we had a similar girls night....my sister wasn't able to make it though so I am very glad she can this time. Sure, I can't have anything exciting to drink (cosmo, martini, etc) with my dinner but that won't stop me from having fun. I think my last Girls Night Out was my bachelorette party....and that was over a year and 3 months ago! So it won't be as wild tonight as it was that night (an entire other post in itself, haha) but I think we are all looking forward to the evening.

Tomorrow, if the weather cooperates, we plan on spending time at my parents' house, lounging by the pool, just relaxing with everyone and hanging out. Tomorrow evening Michael and I are attending the wedding of the youngest daughter of my former boss. It will be nice to see a lot of my former coworkers and I know that the bride will be beautiful. I love going to weddings with Michael because it always reminds me of our own wedding and how wonderful it was.

Sunday we are having a traditional family pool party at the Mercer house. Which means lots of people (family and friends), lots of food and drinks (minus the drinks for me this time), and cutthroat Trivial Pursuit. We do this kind of party several times a year (with or without the pool being involved, just depending on the weather) and it is always a great time.

Monday could be a nice relaxing pool day or maybe a movie with the family or Michael and I have talked about going to register for this baby...I know we have to get on that soon! Whatever we end up doing will be nice and then the next work week will be good and short.

I hope everyone is able to just relax and enjoy the long holiday weekend with family and friends. I am so thankful that I have such close friends and family and am looking forward to getting this fun weekend started!! :-)

Dogs

I really do like dogs. My sister and I had a dog when we were much younger (we miss you Muffy!) and if Michael and I didn't live in a condo we'd probably have a dog ourselves right now. And once we do get a dog we'll probably end up with a couple since I think I would like a cute small dog and he would want a larger, more protective dog. Either way it would be nice to have a good sized yard so any dog could run and play and get some exercise and we don't have that right now.
Michael and I getting a dog is definitely not the topic of my blog today. No, instead I have decided to vent all my frustrations concerning our neighbors, who have two small dogs...and who let said dogs bark outside our bedroom windows. Every. Single. Day.
This has been going on for literally a couple years, probably since they got the first dog. Our condo is on the bottom floor and they live in a town home that attaches to the end of the building and backs up directly to our unit. They have a back door that opens to a small patch of community grass that runs the entire length of the building. This patch of grass runs right by our entire condo, including all our windows. These "lovely" neighbors like to tie up their two dogs just outside their back door to let the dogs go to the bathroom....and every single time they run right under our bedroom windows.....and bark. And bark. And bark. At literally nothing. Conveniently for our neighbors they can't hear the dogs (or they are deaf) and the barking goes on and on until I am ready to scream (and often do...at the dogs, the neighbors, just whoever). As I mentioned, we have been dealing with this for well over a year....even my former roommate (before I was even married) can recall trying to study while the dog would bark away outside. We have tried all kinds of things to get this to stop...Michael has repeatedly gone over to merely ask them to bring in the dogs, we both have apps on our iphones for dog whistles that are supposed to hurt the dogs' ears, we will bang on the connecting wall and yell for them to bring in the stupid dogs....and most recently Michael has been talking a lot about digging a big trench or building a big wall of some sort blocking the dogs from getting near our windows (neither of which we can do, but the idea isn't terrible). In the past we have discussed planting poisonous plants (not really sure what plants would be poisonous to dogs), spraying them with our hose every time we hear them, buying a bird house that has an anti-bark alarm to hang out by our window...even buying muzzles and leaving them at our neighbors doorstep. In desperate times we have even discussed getting a bigger, meaner, louder dog that could possibly scare their dogs into shutting up and at our most frustrated we have considered inviting my brother over with his handy-dandy bb gun to do some damage.
Here is what is the most awful and irritating about this whole thing. It almost always happens when we are already sleeping or trying to get to sleep. Don't get me wrong, it happens all day long, almost every single day of the week. Some of you may have even been on the phone with me, trying to have a normal conversation, and heard the obnoxious barking in the background. But it is without a doubt the most annoying thing in the world when I am startled out of a deep sleep or even worse when I am trying to get to sleep in the first place. I am not getting a whole lot of sleep these days...between getting up to go to the bathroom and trying to get and stay comfortable. Not to mention Michael's occasional snoring, haha. The very last thing I want to hear is a dog (not even mine) barking right outside my bedroom window.
So anyway, this morning was the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak. I get up each morning at 8:15am. On a typical morning Michael leaves for work at about quarter till 8 and I get about half an hour of totally quiet, uninterrupted sleep. No offense to him but usually that is the most sound sleep I end up getting each night. Today he was leaving for work early, at 7, and I was really excited to get a good long hour of blissful sleep. Not so much. About ten minutes till 7 (yes, 6:50am) the dogs began barking outside the window. I heard Michael leave and squeezed my eyes shut and tried to ignore the noise. But getting woken up with a loud bark definitely makes the heart beat faster and as the barking continued I began to get upset....you can imagine how upset I was HALF AN HOUR LATER when the dogs were still barking. Since there was no going back to sleep I finally got up and as I got ready for work I plotted a very strongly worded email to the President of our Home Owners Association. Which I did send as soon as I got to work and typed it up, thank you very much. To my surprise, she responded immediately. She said she understood how we felt and would be annoyed too (and that she imagined it is probably 10 times worse since I am pregnant). She assured me that she would have the HOA Management company issue the neighbors a written violation and would also call them and talk to them herself....since they are breaking a rule of just tying up dogs and leaving them unattended. I was very happy with how she has handled it thus far and can't wait for the peace and quiet to settle over my home.
Do I realize that these neighbors will know right away that we must've complained and had something to do with the violation notice?? Yup. Do I care at all? Nope. I am so happy right now just looking forward to the possibility of not hearing those dogs every single day. Clearly it has taken me way longer than necessary to take action on this matter but now that I have, I already feel better.
We can't move, we can't dig a big trench and we can't have my brother shooting up the place to stop the annoying barking......but if all it takes is a phone call or email, we sure can do that. And I am happy that we finally did. :-)