By the way, the baby is whatever pronoun I feel like using at the time. I switch randomly between he and she, because my child is not an "it". The baby has a sex, just because we don't know it, doesn't mean we should brand her with the term "it". So, if I use one or the other, I'm not giving you a cryptic view into my womb, just being my random self! Thought that was worth clearing up :)

Also-I finished Harry. I know Emilie hasn't started yet, so don't talk about it here, but I'm willing and excited to talk about it with anyone at anytime!

Back from our weekend getaway to Maine. Nothing like 16 hours in a car in three days that says vacation! Still, we had a nice visit with my parents. It was cool and rainy most of the weekend, but we did get a chance to go walk on the beach, which is always nice. Sadly, it was so foggy there (but sunny at my house just 5 miles away) that we couldn't really see the ocean, but we knew it was there so all was well. Ask Taylor if the water was cold...

Not too much else to report. I feel in love with a house that we didn't get. It was somewhat traumatic for me, but I'm over it now. We're still looking and hoping. If you know anyone in our area, ask them to put their house up for sale so we can buy it please!

We have a wedding this weekend-Ross's big sister is getting married. It should be a fun time as the whole family is going. Alex and Emilie will be up, and I haven't seen them in forever, so that will be a nice visit. I'm off Friday, so I'll be doing some dress shopping and hoping for the best. I'm huge now-and just this week, my butt has decided it should try to grow to the size of my belly. Yeah-pregnancy is gobs of fun.

Work has been no fun lately. I've been working pretty late in an effort to get more done. August is the scariest month of the year in higher ed. It doesn't make sense, because it isn't really the busiest (though it is pretty busy), but it represents the end. It is the end of summer, the end of the rest, the end of the quiet and signals that in a few short weeks, the students will be back. Yes, we all do our jobs for the betterment of the lives of the students, but we like it when they aren't here. I enjoy not fighting for a parking spot, waiting in line in the cafeteria, the peace and quiet, and not inventing jobs for work study students. I'm just spouting off-I actually think that the students give the campus the energy it needs to come to life and be productive. Things get done in the summer, but not like when the kids are here to keep us motivated. And, hopefully our graphic design intern will be back to make my life happy and easy once more. Still, August is a scary month...ask the poor people in student affairs-to them it is the absolute worst!

Must work...three day week for Heather!

Things I miss in my current life...(in no particular order)

• muffin tins
• automatic ice maker
• a basement
• the cord to the printer
• surround sound
• lunch with the cool kids
• cookbooks
• a garbage disposal (and if they were in order-this would likely be number one)
• Tupperware in a variety of sizes
• bread pans
• pictures on the wall
• a backyard
• tomato plants
• red wine
• hardwood floors
• central vac
• blue cheese
• saucers
• a land line
• Sunday's not designed around open house times
• a kitchen table
• hot dogs
• a sunroof
• Dr. Mario
• organized chaos
• shopping at Ann Taylor
• stationary
• a football jersey that fits
• Taylor mowing the yard on a Sunday morning
• the ability to make waffles
• sleeping on my stomach
• a mailbox
• Rick's Summer Drive-In and their free Wi-Fi
• Playing the game at big y

The baby loved seeing the Harry Potter movie last night. He was dancing in there, trying to distract me with all of his movements. Me, I was just excited that the theatre had power.

There are very few things in life that annoy me as much as the automatic hand dryer. Not cool people, just not cool.

I just had a great peach for breakfast. Peaches are the greatest!

I'm working from home this morning and then heading out to a clam bake in a world far far away. I love event days, but I'm not really all that jazzed about driving three hours to get there. Oh well, a day in the car and at the beach is better than any day behind a desk!

I had a great time with Krissy this past weekend. We went sailing a few days, got pedicures, ate ice cream and just enjoyed being girls! We usually get about three days a year together, so we like to make the most of them. I came home nice and relaxed and with a great tan! Now I've just got to get some girl time scheduled with JJ and life will be good!

I'm off to find something that makes me look both casual and professional, while keeping in mind that I own about a dozen things...

Emilie and I like pop culture. We read people and visit eonline. Right now, I'm thinking if we had a third (you know, like another sister-in-law who was cool, for example), we could have our team in the world series of pop culture. I've always said I think everyone has a sport they could be award winning in, I guess I always thought my sport would be curling or badmintion, but now I've found my place in the world. Who knew all the reruns of Full House would come to be useful!

I'm going to see Krissy tomorrow. Her family is up, so I'm going to spend a few days with them at their summer house. I think tomorrow we're going sailing, so that should be lots of fun. Of course, that means I'm going to be wearing a maternity bathing suit, which is anything but cool, but I think I'll live! Still no more blogging this week.

There isn't really much to report from this week. Taylor and I didn't get the house we made an offer on. We're bummed, but both doing okay. We've been playing the Wii a lot. Taylor is obsessed with Zelda and I'm a fan of Animal Crossing. Yeah-we have no life.

Bring It On was just the answer to a question on the world series. I'm a very happy woman right now!

One of my coworkers quit today. I'm really proud of her, I know it wasn't an easy decision, but I do think it was the right choice for her. I'm sad to see her go, but I look at it like just another email buddy.

Oh-Shoop so has to go on the baby mix! Yeah, that came to me when they were just doing the "ass song" category. I love VH1

Happy 5th of July! Okay, so I missed the 4th, but I'm sure back in the day, the party continued to the 5th, so have a beer and play with a sparkler and call it a day! We did have a nice 4th. We watched the competitive eating hot dog contest at Conney Island. Kobi had it until he had the unfortunate "reversal" problem. Now, I'm all for American pride, especially in terms of sports, but Kobi is someone I'll always root for over the rest and so I was sad to see him lose to that darn Joey Chestnut.

After watching the eating, we went out with friends to a late lunch and to watch a parade. Well, we were able to watch the parade from lunch, otherwise we probably wouldn't have bothered. Seriously, 8 fire engines and some old, fat, line dancers does not a parade make! We had some ice cream and came home. Then we got a very random call from a friend we hadn't seen in years (Dudek) that he was going to be driving through town and did we want to get an ice cream, because he had a coupon! It was fun and we got to meet his not really new anymore, but new to us because we're crummy friends and never see him, girlfriend. She was a peach! It was a good day, and ice cream twice in one day is really my dream, so I was extra happy!

This morning we went to our big doctor's appointment. Okay folks, we've decided not to find out the sex of the baby. We like the surprise! We want the surprise! I'm sure the kiddo won't mind coming home from the hospital in something green. Actually, depending on the day, we'll probably just bring him/her home in babies first Patriots jersey and call it a gender neutral day! It was awesome to do the ultrasound. Last time we had one, it was because there was a problem and the baby was only 8 weeks old, and quite literally looked like a rice krispy. Now we've got a real, human, half pound baby! The kiddo was good and wiggled for the camera and let us get some good photos. Unfortunately for you, the cord from the printer got separated from the printer in the move, so we can't scan in the photos right away.

The rest of the doctors visit was uneventful. I finally added some weight, up two pounds, which puts me back exactly where I started. I'm almost halfway there, and more than happy to not be carrying the 10 to 13 pounds they say I should have gained by now. The excuse to eat double ice cream is helpful too! So, I'm really looking forward to a good night's sleep tonight-no worries that something is wrong and hopefully no more dreams that Drew Lachey is Taylor's brother! Yeah, I had some seriously weird dreams last night!

HSM soundtrack is a great idea! I'm going to steal a copy from you, Emilie, next time we see each other! Also added to the mix will be a song from the Lizzy McGuire soundtrack, Rascal Flats and Vanilla Ice.

I want to make a mix for my iPod for giving birth. I don't have lots of good ideas yet, but I'm a music girl and really think it will help me focus. Right now, I've got the Spice Girls (yeah-it's spice girl day), Aerosmith and Eminem. Your suggestions are welcomed. Oh, and I plan to listen to this with headphones so the doctors don't think I'm a nut, and so the baby doesn't have to hear any explicit lyrics.

It's like 1997, when I really liked the Spice Girls...well, it isn't like 1997, but I did really like the Spice Girls. God I miss Jim!

Campbell Brown is having a baby! I've seen her in person and wonder how she can even stand up she is so tiny. I'm so excited I have hips--my baby is going to shoot out compared to hers!
Still, I love Campbell and wish her all the best!

Welcome new reader Cassie! For anyone who hasn't heard me gush about Cassie, she is my work BFF. Despite the fact that she is incredibly young (there was an 8 in the wrong part of her birth year) and doesn't know Silver Spoons or Growing Pains, she is simply the greatest.

So, Cassie and I should be in Italy this week. I like to imagine I would be having breakfast with the Pope today, touring Rome with a cute boy on the back of a scooter, then performing in an International Music Awards show...wait, that's the Lizzy McGuire movie. I like to imagine I would be sleeping late, visiting some sites, eating incredible pasta, afternoon ice cream, and partaking in some seriously good red wine late into the night (in my dream of Italy, I'm not knocked up). Oh well, probably better not to be there-it is terribly hot and they are having some kind of bizarre weather pattern, all the people going are old, and the travel guide was pretty annoying. See, no reason for a passport...

Life is pretty quiet. I'm off tomorrow and have no real plans. I should go dress shopping for the weekend's fancy pants wedding, but I'm going to try to squeeze myself into a little black dress I already own. I might go get my nails done, but I might not bother. It isn't my hands that people are going to be looking at anyway! I might as well save the $10.

Taylor and I are looking at a house tonight, so that should be intersecting. I'm tired of looking at houses, so if he likes it, I'm just in. It is too exhausting to think about the number of bedrooms and the size of the yard. Besides, this house has a separate first floor laundry room, so my life would be good. We'll see.

I'm in denial that next week is the 4th of July. It is such a sad day. Not only is it kind of a stupid holiday (especially when it falls in the middle of the week), but it marks the midpoint of summer, and to be honest, we haven't done a darn thing that is either summery or fun yet this summer. There will be no floating down the river in an inner tube this year, not silly cocktail nights at book club. I am desperately looking forward to my annual fake vacation with Krissy at the Cape in two weeks. Though it is only two hours away, and in general I hate the Cape, I find Krissy's house to be the most relaxing place on the planet. It is the color scheme and the type of furniture, and the yes ma'am and no sirs. It is such an incredible time. Rumor has it Jenny might join us, so I'm super excited. PEER PRESSURE!!! PEER PRESSURE!!!! PEER PRESSURE!!!!

Okay-back to work...yahoo (from the girl with the three day work week, I know, Shut Up Heather!).

Happiness is Dawson's Creek on a Monday morning! And, I suddenly like the taste of coffee again, so I've got a warm beverage by my side and life is good.

The girls are happily staring out the screen door at a chipmunk playing on the patio. I can practically see the thought bubble over Liz's head thinking about why she doesn't have thumbs and can't open the door herself.

Sadly, on Dawson's Creek, Bessie is delivering a baby at home and is having some random complications. This is why I won't be more than 40 miles from a hospital for the last three months (so, clearly I won't be visiting my parents for Thanksgiving). I've seen later seasons, I know it goes well and we get our TBS happy ending.

I think I'm going to go do a little shopping this afternoon. Yesterday I sat home alone all day and wallowed in self-pity. Actually, I took a two hour nap, then woke up and wallowed in self-pity. Today, I'm going to be productive and have some fun. I need some clothes, and the baby must need a present or two. I'm on the lookout for a local friend to have lunch with, so if you are reading this and in a 100 mile radius, give me a call, and you can help in the fattening of Heather plan!

I have so many things I want to blog about that I've been afraid to take the time to write. A brief overview of possible topics

• The AFI Top 100 Movie list
• The "Girls Maternity" section at Old Navy
• The best Father's Day gift in the planet
• 5 hours in the back of a station wagon with no air conditioning

Taylor got the Nintendo Wii for Father's Day because the kid and I are the greatest. I have to say, it is a ton of fun! For those who might not know (Julie), the controller measures your movements and mimics them on screen. For example, you swing the controller like a bat when playing baseball. It is the coolest. My right arm was actually tired after the first day we got it because we played so much. Taylor got me my own controller, so now we battle it out in bowling, golf, and baseball. I'm the better bowler, which is awesome because I stink in real life.

Jenny (who is now happily in DC and just a few hundred miles down the road, and more importantly, in my time zone) and I watched part of the AFI top 100 movies last night. I have some serious issues with this list. West Side Story and The Sound of Music were both below 40. Forrest Gump was in the low 80's. I mean, a girl is to believe that Bridge over the River Kwai is better than West Side Story? It is a classic love story and it is so beautifully done. It is a timeless movie and nothing blows up! When you're a Jet you're a Jet all the way is all I've got to say. I wish I had live blogged-Jen can tell you that I was fired up and kept interrupting our first real conversation in weeks to complain about the list. Not cool.

Krissy is in Bermuda. I'm so jealous! Her dad finished the race, coming in 6Th in his class. This is very respectable, especially for their first time doing the race. 6 months ago I thought our family might be there too-but how times change quickly. Now that I'm hoarding my vacation time for the kiddo's arrival, I'm glad I didn't book a weekend trip to go with her. I hope she has a ball! She'll be here in two weeks and we'll be relaxing with a good book and our feet up. I love Krissy vacation week!

I had to use a Netflix as my proof of residency last night to get a new library card. It was pretty sad, but I haven't changed my address on anything really at this point. Luckily, my work ID also has the capability to be a library card, so it didn't end up being a huge deal, but I did have to go home and find something with my new town address. Thank god we're movie whores or I never would have been able to find my book (which was numbered wrong in the card catalog).

I've got a ton of work to do. I'm working tomorrow and taking Monday off instead. I'm looking forward to the peace and quiet of the office. It should be a relaxing day and I hope to get a ton done.

My car is at the mechanic getting new brakes right now. I can't go see my mom until I get it fixed, so it seemed like it was now or never. I'm so tired of putting money into our cars, and Taylor needs his AC fixed. oh well.

If you haven't heard from me, my work email has been up and down (and is way down right now) at work. It is very frustrating! It takes email 24 hours to get down the hall some times. Not cool!

I just got back from lunch where a woman, who I know to say hello to in passing, but who's name I'm not sure of, just said "you're blossoming nicely!". Well, what do you say to that? I'm blossoming nicely? I knew that this dress really showed that I'm knocked up, but even still, I really just look kind of chubby. It cracked me up!

Had she looked down, she would have seen the world's largest lunch. I had my leftover steak from lunch yesterday, along with Pam's veggies, Alexander's mac and cheese, and some rolls. It was awesome! I'm taking this challenge to eat for two to a whole new level! Bring it on!

CABLE ROCKS! My little 15 year old cable boy just hooked me up and I'm able to watch Bob Barker's last Price is Right. This is for some reason quite important to me. I love this guy. I guess when I was a kid I used to call him Hobby Barker-so my whole family does now. It is nice to know that on this quiet Friday that my mom is watching this in the hospital, all of my aunts in NJ are sitting around, and likely my brother and any of my cousins who are randomly home from work are all watching this show. My grandmother instilled the love to the Price is Right in all of us-so this is like our living tribute to her!

I have the apartment torn apart right now. I was working in the box room, trying to put the futon together, when the cable boy came, so I have to get back up there and straighten up because it is driving me nuts. I just want all of the boxes out of the living room, and right now there isn't really room in the box room for boxes!

Dude waited in line for five days to get in the audience for the PIR and he lost. Sucks to be him! And to think he was Bob's last guy. What a shame.

I love my Friday's off! What a great way to spend a day. I didn't put my contacts in today in an effort to try to knock out this tension headache I've been sporting on and off all week. So far so good!

Oohh...the food network! I've missed you so! Tlyler's Ultimate kitchen is an exact replica of the kitchen in his house. I learned that on Unwrapped. See-television is educational!

And how is it that the NBA finals completely happened and I didn't see a single moment or highlight. Now, I'm not saying that I really care about basketball, because I don't, but this sensory deprivation has been too much!

Have your pets spayed or neutered! Goodbye Everybody!

The baby name of the day on babynames.com is Cruella. It means evil, or cruel. Yeah, that is the perfect name for my kid...thanks for nothing! Stupid website!

Mom's out of surgery and doing fine. She's actually a little drugged up, so she's kind of funny.
Jen called and she was sitting inside of a McDonald's in Mobile, so she must have found Krissy.
And, I just had the best talk with my brother that we've had in years. He bought a Harley today-just because he decided he wanted one. He doesn't have a license and doesn't know how to drive it, but he is happy and for someone who works 100+ hours a week, that is pretty rare. Go team!

Today is a tough day for me. My mommy is having
knee surgery in a land far far away, and I'm stuck behind my desk. Also, Krissy and Jen are together for the next 24 hours or so, and again, I'm stuck behind my desk. I would rather be in either location. I'm a sad girl!

Emilie is my hero! Yesterday she taught me that Ann
Taylor Loft (ATL for those of us on a first name basis) now has a maternity line. It is super expensive, but I'm hoping they come out with a few good basic work pieces. All I want is a simple maternity suit, but I'm not sure when that will happen. Yes, I haven't gained any actual weight with the baby, but believe me when I tell you that what I've got has shifted and I've got a nice little bump going on. It literally all
happened last week. My clothes fit and then they didn't-I justdidn't understand what happened! Amy gave me some stuff this weekend, so I have to weed through it and find what I still need to get. I'm going through the in between weeks, where my stuff is too snug (for the most part)
and maternity stuff is falling down. Thank goodness for the fat clothes I saved a few years ago for just this
reason. Plus, I'm only working four day weeks, so I really can get by with a limited clothes rotation right now. I did say goodbye to my jeans this weekendthough. It was a sad day :(

What else is new...we still don't have cable. It is
tough, but watching Taylor scream at the cable company on Saturday morning was really more entertaining than a week of prime time summer television. It was the greatest!

Work is annoying right now. I'm not in the mood and everything and most everyone bugs me right now. Oh well. Part of my job this week has been researching the "beertruck". You can't really
complain about your job when it is tracking down the adult version of an ice cream truck :) I wish it was the Del's truck instead.

I finally started loading my music onto my iPod last night. I had moved a bunch of Taylor's things, and our community property music over, but now I've got NKOTB and some good, old school country, so I feel a little like me. Unfortunately my work computer is so old it doesn't have a flash drive, so I have to listen through headphones. Hey-if they can't give me what I consider basic technology, they can come to the door if they want me instead of yelling down the hall! Anything for a little Joey and Hanging Tough in the middle of the afternoon!

well, we did it! we found a place to go and we moved. I wouldn't go as far as to say life is good, but life is at least all back under one roof and is slowly finding its way out of boxes. No harassment about not blogging-we don't have real Internet at the apartment yet (just "borrowed" from a neighbor), but I'll try to write at work when there is a chance.

Things are fine with us. I start my summer schedule tomorrow, which means Friday's off! I'm super excited and I'm looking forward to sleeping late tomorrow. We don't have cable yet, so no Dawson's Creek, but I have found out where the library is, so I think I'm going to wander off and find a book to enjoy. Yes, I have serious unpacking to do, but I feel like surviving the last two weeks has earned me a bit of a break, don't you?

Just got back from the doctor's office. Turns out pregnancy is the best diet I've ever been on. Somehow, and believe me, it wasn't intentional, I've lost another pound. I'm in month four and have lost weight total! The doctor told me I'm not eating enough or often enough. You don't have to tell the fat girl that twice! I'm counting down the minutes to lunch as we speak! Otherwise, the kiddo is doing well, except her mom is under too much stress and needs to relax for every one's sake. Ever notice how when someone tells you that you are under too much stress and tells you to relax it stresses you more? I hate people sometimes!