Shimp Bake: Eight Months

Weight: 146 lbs
Measurements: 36-40-38 (Yes, I finally found a tape measure.)
Skin: Pregnancy mask (feckles) on forehead. No stretch marks yet - it's a complete miracle (or, this lotion). In desperate need of a tan.
Body: Just yesterday, I started to feel like my hip and thigh joints were going to pop out of their sockets. I'm like a chicken that's been sitting in the crock pot too long.
Bathroom mirror: In serious need of cleaning.





By the way, I was actually in a bikini for a reason. Today is the first weekday The Pool was open (it actually opened this past Saturday but, as you know, we were at The Lake). So, as soon as Xan was up from his nap, we threw on his suit and headed over. Unfortunately, the lame pool staff had decided to close early (the pool was supposed to be open until 8pm, and we got there at 6:30) because... um, they felt like it. So, this was as close as Xan got to the pool today:



Poor thing. That face made me want to cry.

In other (happier) news, one of my purchased photos was used on the main page of The NC Museum of Life and Science. Needless to say, I'm pretty excited about it. It also happens to be a photo of Xan doing one if his favorite things at the museum... driving the boats, baby!

The Final Days of Xansmas

I don't want to bore you with the mundane details of our weekend (long story short: we had a wonderful time with one of my oldest friends, Kathy, and her family, celebrated Xan's birthday with my parents and had a generally lovely time at The Lake), so I'll just share some of my favorite pictures.


Blowing out candles on Grammy's homemade train cake.


The first two cars, personalized for the X-Man.


Hotdogs over the campfire - YUM.


Xan and Kam ham it up in the bath.


A bathtub big enough to swim in!


Gleeful over his new trains from Kathy, Matt & the boys.


Our bubble imp on the loose.

Oh, the humanity.

Hey Folks! I'm feeling a touch bitter today. Yes, that happens sometimes when you're pregnant... or human.

So, I thought I'd take this opportunity to mention the fact that I want to give a big fat cyberhug to my fellow blogger, Perez Hilton, if for no other reason than that we share a deep loathing for Miss Mrs. Ms.? "Don't Call Me Latina" Alba. It seems the brilliant Ms. Alba has stepped in it again. To Allure magazine she said, and I quote:

"I don't think sex is a big deal."
Thanks for those words of wisdom, Ms. Alba. Way to be a role model for our young ladies. Is that the kind of crap you spouted off when you were handing out maternity clothes to pregnant high school girls?

Mind you, I feel that I'm very sexually liberated and am open to talk about it. But, I'm also fully aware that sex is a big deal, especially when you're a woman. Why? Because if you get knocked up, especially in a non-committed relationship, that is all on your shoulders to deal with. I know that pregnancy is all the rage these days (especially in Hollywoodland), so I think it would be nice if there was a bit more, "Pregnancy is a BIG DEAL and, if you choose to have sex, make sure to protect yourself 100% unless you are financially and emotionally capable of raising and supporting a child". And, that's not even getting into the tragic realtiy that 1 in 4 teenage girls has an STD.

So please, Hollywood, can we get just a little more brains (and talent, God forbid) with our beauty? I don't think it's necessary for anyone to pretend sainthood, or even preach something they don't practice. But, it would be so nice if there were more young female celebrities that our little girls could actually look up to.

On the 15th of May...

... in the jungle of Nool, there were three brand new beabs splashing 'round in the pool!

This wonderful week of May has been a veritable baby explosion. As I sit here, feeling like a stuffed turkey (well, a stuffed turkey with live stuffing), I comfort myself by basking in the long-distance glow of my friends and their perfectly gorgeous newborns. So, this post is as much for me as it is a birth announcement for my friends Piper, Jenn* and Meg. I just can't see their sweet faces enough!







* "Beeb" is not Jenn & Jim's beeby boy's name, simply filler until they announce it!

12 of 12: Two Years

Crib - 10am

Morning always comes too early for this party boy.

Living Room - 10:30am

Trains, trains, trains...

Living Room - 11am

Hugs for Daddy

Living Room - 11:30am

Big boys still like Cheerios.

Deck - 1pm

Two hands is for sissy boys.

Dining Room - 2pm

"Are you sure these are 100% beef?"

Deck - 2:30pm

It's so hard to choose just one jelly bean...

~ NAPTIME ~

Harris Teeter - 5:30pm

Checking out the college girls in the parking lot.

Front Yard - 6:30pm

"I stole the balloon!"

Side Yard - 7pm

My brother was spot-on with the Stomp Rocket.

Dining Room - 8:30pm

The big 0-2

Bathroom - 9:30pm

"Hope to see ya'll next year!"

Bonus - Birthday Boy

"Welcome to the world, Tyler James!"

Tomatoes & Calla Lilies

This Mother's Day, my parent's came down to celebrate with us... and brought us tomato and pepper plants! I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to having home grown tomatoes from our very own garden. And, thanks to my father (who actually planted and fenced the little buggers), we'll be harvesting them later this summer.

Xan, of course, loved every second of the gardening. He "helped" my dad weed, dig and plant.



He also liked bringing fresh picked herbs (of which we have a plethora) to my mom.





Rick and Xan also got me a wonderful green gift for Mother's Day... beautiful potted white Calla Lilies.



I hope all of you had a wonderful Mother's Day, too.

The Twelve Days of Xansmas

Okay, maybe not quite twelve... but we started celebrating Xan's 2nd birthday (officially May 12th) today, and plan to continue through next weekend. Today was something of an accident, as the present we'd ordered Xan arrived a bit early. After the UPS man delivered it, I propped it up against the wall to be wrapped (thank you pregnant brain)... and then promptly forgot it was there.

When Xan woke up from his nap, somehow he sensed its presence and made a b-line for it! Once he saw the box there was no turning back. He all but gnawed at it with his teeth to try to get it open. So, Rick and I gave in and let him have at it.







Those pictures do not even begin to capture Xan's excitement over his new toy. He has been obsessed with trains since before he could walk. "Choo-choo" was one of his first spoken words. The only thing we could do to tear him away from his new toy was bribe him with a ride in the car and good eats at Red Robin.



When we got back from dinner, Xan played with his trains until he nearly passed out. I don't think we can top this gift, unless it involves more tracks and bigger trains. Over which, I'm sure, Rick, Rick's dad and my dad would all be terribly broken up. See, all the boys in our family love to play with choo-choos.

Edited to add:
Another reason for the extended celebration is that I have two friends who are due (or overdue!) to give birth this week. Piper is going to be induced on Monday (woohoo!), at which time she'll hopefully have a SHORT labor and deliver her little boy, Tyler... and Meg is still waiting au natural for her little girl, Karlie, to make her entrance. So, please send lots of love and labor vibes to my girls!