Next Generation Blogging

I don't know what it is lately, but I can't think of anything really solid to blog about. My thought processes are rarely very focused, except when working. Or even then, it mostly flits between -

ouch, leg fell asleep! - Hungry, must eat. - Strange smell, wonder where that is coming from. - What's new on Facebook? - Ahhh new email. Must deal with it. - Ahhh phone call, must answer. - How can I get rid of the extra furniture we have? - Can we build new closets? What would the ideal closet look like? What about the ideal linen closet? - I really really really would like some ice cream right now. - Yuck, I think that would make me sick. - HTH am I really going to finish this before I go home? - MUST FINISH! MUST FOCUS.

And then my leg falls alseep again. Hazard of being short legged and pregnant.

They say the recession hasn't yet hit us, and that we have about 6 months until D-Day. Great, just in time for me. Can a socialist govt bail on maternity leave?

I'll leave it at that for now. Maybe I'll wake up next month.

Announcement

I've decided that I like one-word titles. If I can summarize everything that I want to say into one word as a title, I am a happy woman.

So.

Many have guessed, and not said anything. Some don't know at all. Some have guessed, and have said something, as in the woman who asked me, "So, is there something there or does it just look like it?" Yes, there's something there.

I'm 12 weeks pregnant.

Whoo hoo!

Just came back from my 2nd drs appointment, where we got a great view of our baby on ultrasound. Everything looks good, thank Gd.

So if you don't already get it, the dearth of postings has been because I've been feeling like crap. It's started to taper off, but still I'm often in bed right after Eden. 4 PM and onward are not my best hours. You'll excuse me, I'm working on a baby here.

Be forewarned that this blog may start to contain more and more details about, ahem, some details that I feel the need to share. I'm aware that I may lose my male readership, especially those with larger families who hear enough about this stuff from their own wives, but I'm prepared to face that. I will attempt to keep it pretty clean, with not too much TMI. But forewarned is forearmed. I don't think I ever had much of a male readership to begin with. I mean, this blog never pretended to be about sports or cars. Just mommy and guilt.

Really, I'm just going to go on and on about how excited I am. And how cute my baby is, even if it is under 4 inches long. It has a really big head. And two arms! Isn't that a miracle! We saw one leg on the ultrasound, I'm assuming that it also has another one. Isn't that COOL??!?!

And the fun renovations we are planning in the baby's room. And Eden's reaction to the baby. Or baby to be. (We haven't told her yet.)

Pretty much, all baby centric. What fun! For people who like hearing about babies that is. With no end in sight.

Oh - another cool tidbit. There are 3 other women in my dept who are also pregnant. One is due in June, one in July, my boss is due mid August, and I am due Aug 31, which really means for me a Sept birth. I think. And THAT is really nuts.

Edit: Eden knows. Ben's mom picked her up today, and I know that she didn't say anything, but we were talking about the ultrasound, and the appointment and all, when Eden comes up to me, and says, "Mommy! You having a baby! Because your tummy is very very big!" And I said, "You know what? You're right!" And she just went nuts. She's so excited. She kind of did this thing that I probably felt like doing when we found out, but didn't because I'm all adult-like and concerned about risks, etc. She just started jumping and screaming and hugging and being so happy. So are we all.

Volunteerism

http://www.slate.com/id/2211412/

I'm going to rant a bit again. The world needs more do-gooders, that's for sure. We all need to be a little kinder, a little more giving, more caring about others.

On the other hand - is Slate kidding with this title? If the only time that you have to volunteer is between 4 and 6 AM, then you should not be volunteering. You should be spending that time on yourself.

Too many people don't take care of themselves enough. Pirkei Avot had it right (paraphrase): give first to your family, then to your community, then to your home town, then to other cities. I'll add, give to yourself first. Everyone else will be better off for it.

I think actually that too many people think about other people too much. Not enough people are thinking about themselves. No, really. Sometimes people give to other people because they don't really want to focus on themselves. They feel they aren't good enough, or don't want to spend too much time alone with themselves. Don't want to focus on their own issues, would rather help others. That's selfish also. Others will be better off if you spend time with yourself first.

That includes your spouse and children, and any one in your life directly. And then any one in their lives directly. And it spreads. The world can only benefit from some more happy marriages, some more healthy parent/child relationships. If you do wonderful volunteer work, but can't keep your marriage together (or your bankbook balanced!), you've got your priorities wrong.

I'll step down from said soap-box now.

Pizza and Ice Cream are Magic

Stay tuned, I'm still alive. Just a bit busy. Have been feeling under the weather, pressured at work with some new and frustrating projects, and best news of all a new niece!!! Not that I'm used to getting nieces in general, this is my first, and very exciting.

Her name is Hila Zehava after Bens (and her mom's) grandmother, who've I've learned a lot more about since Ben's parents have moved to the area. She's a little bundle of love who makes my heart melt to look at her. I didn't know I could love a child so much who isn't actually my own....I can't wait to watch her grow up along with our kids, who are so close in age. Really though I just can't wait to hold her again, and really really can't wait to see her smile. I think that my heart will just burst then.

Just for the record, I still love Eden best. In case it almost sounded otherwise. I am partial to newborns though.

With all the ups and downs of the past few weeks, we've discovered frozen convenience foods and dishwashers. I really feel middle class and bourgiouse now. Yes, we finally bit the bullet and bought a dishwasher. Don't ask whether we use it for dairy or meat, its a sensitive topic. We use it for dairy, if you are really wondering. Its really made a difference in our lives. Still no cleaning lady, having a hard time with that one.

That and the frozen pizza and chocolate ice cream. The chocolate ice cream especially has been a life saver. Did you know that Ben and Jerry's is cheaper than Haagen Dasz? And Eden eats the pizza!!! That enough is something to celebrate.