The clueless get clued in

I sort of took a break from posting. Mostly we were traveling, going to the annual ACU Lectureship where I got to see my good friends Sarah and Ruthie. The visiting time was not near as long as I would have liked it to be -- they are not just former co-workers but great gals too!

This won't be a long post, but I just wanted to say that if there's anything that can make new parents-to-be feel a lot more clueless about taking care of a baby -- it's registering for gifts. I even had a checklist, people, a checklist! And still, we wandered around the infant section of Wal-Mart -- me with the clipboard and Casey with the registry gun -- our eyes glazing over and saying, "Where is this? And what is this?" Okay, it was mostly me. Casey doesn't seem to be too worried about it all, just mentioned how much easier all of this probably was for his dad. At one point I turned to him and said, "Wouldn't our parents just love to see this and laugh?" because we really did look like we had no clue. Finally we left, with our items checked off the list (mostly) and ready to get home.

But this morning...I was reminded again of the amazing simplicity of babies when I sat in Ladies' Bible Class and held a newborn sleeping baby girl in my arms for more than an hour. It gave me a calm and a renewed feeling of, "Okay, maybe I can do this" and that -- rather than the 'beep!' of the registry gun -- is what I will try and hold on to for the next eleven plus weeks.

Going for the gold isn't what it's always about

It's probably just the hormones, but I was almost moved to tears at the pairs' figure skating performance of Zhang and Zhang on Monday evening. I had recorded it and only watched it yesterday afternoon, but I had to show Casey what had happened as well. That kind of heart and determination has to be shared!

In case you didn't see the competition, I'll sum up what happened. I myself have not ever really followed a Winter Olympics -- maybe just glanced at some of the figure skating -- until now. I figured I would have the time to watch some of the events and to really take it all in, and I thought this would be the time, because in four years I'll have a small boy (and maybe another baby by then?) taking up my Olympic-watching time!

The Russians had a very good lead, and two of the three Chinese teams had taken second and third. Zhang and Zhang were the third Chinese team and final pair of the night to compete. Because there is a new scoring system in figure skating this time around, figure skaters now must add a lot more crazy technical stuff in to get the points they need to win. Zhang and Zhang were leading their routine off with something never performed in a competition: a throw quad salchow...don't ask me to explain it, because I can't. The most I know is that there should be four rotations. Otherwise, go to Google!

They are an amazing pair, but when Zhang Hao threw Zhang Dan through the air, she landed with her skate buckling beneath her and immediately crashed onto her knees and slid into the wall. It was a horrible moment, so painful -- and you could see the excruciating pain on her face as she stood up and tried to move. Zhang Hao came up beside her and supported her until they reached their trainer. The music had stopped and everyone waited to see what would happen next.

I was aghast -- surely along with others -- when the pair made the decision within just a couple of minutes to continue their routine! And this was when the hormones must have kicked in, because I became pretty emotional, almost to tears, just watching them perform and how amazingly she skated through that pain. It was just wonderful. The best part came when the points were tallied, and Zhang and Zhang were awarded the silver medal. That is the kind of Olympic story I like to see.

Apparently, my blog should be PURPLE

Your Blog Should Be Purple

You're an expressive, offbeat blogger who tends to write about anything and everything. You tend to set blogging trends, and you're the most likely to write your own meme or survey. You are a bit distant though. Your blog is all about you - not what anyone else has to say.

What Color Should Your Blog or Journal Be?

RTM, a night out, and fun new projects

Just so you know, I have been taking more time for rest...not lots, but at least more. I have to say that I am truly addicted to Remember The Milk. I think that in just the past two or three days I have made and re-made my lists, and printed out the new weekly planner several times. I figured out that I could save lots more room and paper if I copied the weekly planner to a Word document. That way, I can also type in any little extra notes I might need! Thanks again for an awesome find, Sarah!

Not only have I felt spoiled in being given this great gift of time before the baby is born, I will also be quite spoiled this evening when Casey takes me out to dinner and then to pick up some of our favorite ice cream -- Udderly Cream -- at Maggie Moo's (chocolate sprinkles in a separate cup for me). Yum! Tonight is a three-part celebration: 1) early Valentine's Day, as we'll be too busy next week, 2) engagement anniversary (February 16), and 3) my official transition from a working-full-time-wife to a full-time-homemaker-and-soon-to-be-mom. Part of the evening includes a movie as well, but as there don't seem to be any great movies out near us that fit just the genre we'd prefer, we have decided on bringing home the ice cream (in a quart-size, of course!) and watching a rented movie.

I'm also very excited that Casey and I have begun work on a third photomosaic puzzle (we finished the second one a couple of years ago), and all three will go in the nursery. And last night I was able to get almost all of my materials to begin a cross stitch piece that will also go in Miles' room. Whew, lots of stuff to do, but so much fun! And yes...I included all of this on my RTM list.

Mini-makeover

I am finally showing you the mini-makeover we did on our second bedroom. The first three pictures are the 'before' view. I tried to give the best views I could.

Here are the 'after' views. The photos don't quite do it justice, but you get the basic idea here. The first photo there shows what I consider the 'eyesore' of the room, but I managed to cover it up to a degree and place the "Ocean" candles on top (got them at Wal-Mart and they smell sooooo good!). Above the bed is a mirror surrounded by seashells and sand dollars I collected when I was about eight or nine. The lamp is kind of tough to see, but it is in the second photo. The base is glass and is filled with seashells. We bought it at a yard sale and then replaced the shade. The bookcase has some more of the candles on top, and we've since added a big conch shell to the top of the bookcase -- something Casey's parents so nicely let us have!

Here is a close-up of the "Ocean" candles. Like I said, they smell just incredible, and it never gets old to me. I work on the computer in this room, so it's always a very tranquil and calm place to be...which was the whole point!

Slob no more

When I finished up my final day of work a week ago today, I honestly thought I would come home and be the biggest slob known to man (in particular, a man named Casey). I was almost afraid of seeing my slobbery jump to a height I had never known.

But no. My first day off, I found myself spending hours at the computer (hey, when that's what you've been used to for over six years...it's hard to stop!) working on photo-type things. By the end of my first day of 'rest' I was already on the heating pad, my poor aching back crying out for compassion. Sigh. Maybe tomorrow, I thought...I will rest.

Thursday included my doctor's appointment, which took longer than usual, and that afternoon we had to visit a clinic so I could have some more tests done. Friday morning involved a trip to help a friend celebrate a last round of chemotherapy, then a stop was made at the grocery store (even though we'd be buying groceries the next night, go figure!).

We did make Friday evening a stay-at-home movie night, lots of fun there, but Saturday found me going through all of our files -- reorganizing, refiling, and preparing to shred so much paper I think that will be a day all its own. Saturday evening was the aforementioned grocery shopping, but that wasn't so bad...

Yesterday afternoon was spent helping to sing at a funeral, and I really should have rested more afterward but I wanted to surprise Casey with a nice cake for dessert. Today began a new Ladies' Bible Class, first time I've really had the chance to participate so I thought I'd better get in while I can, right?

Casey and I have found ourselves laughing more than once at how much 'rest' I've been getting, considering how adamant I was about doing nothing those first three days off. I do intend to make time for rest, I promise...just as soon as I go through all those magazines that have been piling up since last May.