Pastrami Mommy

So I go to the same place every day. I stay there all day and do my work, and it's really not a bad gig. Granted I pay them for the right to be there, but you know... Nothings perfect.

So, being pregnant and all, I am on a rigorous diet. Meaning I MUST eat and often. It is really a lot of work for me. I end up eating at the little joint that happens to be closest to the building I while away the days in, and well, it's nothing special. I go because it's fast. It's not even cheap. But, I have discovered my new passion there.

It's called the "Pastrami Homily" and it goes a little something like this:

It is a re-DONK-ulous amount of pastrami stuffed onto two slices of mediocre rye bread with a ton of spicy mustard. That's what you get for $6 these days. You want a drink with that? $7.85

I love it.

So, I hope you are having a good day. I'm off to have a sandwich, finish up my work, and then go play with my little ballerina princess frog (at least that's what she wanted me to call her this morning).

Really it's a 3 in 1

Morning Glory
So, I'm afraid we've created a monster. Ella has the worst of both Josh and I in her first thing in the morning. It's really kind of scary. She hates to wake up, which she gets from me. So getting her out of her bed in itself is a challenge. We started this thing where once she gets out of her bed, she can lay in our bed and have a milk, watch "Monkey George," and wait until we are ready to dress/feed her. But now, she has also taken on Josh's tendency to be a little "sassy" in the morning (sorry, babe it's true- I'm Grumpy, you're Sassy).

Like this morning, I got her out of her bed, carried all 40 pounds of her on top of my giant belly into my bed, and laid her down all snuggled up with the whole bed to herself, giant down comforter nested around her, sounds nice, huh? Well, she just sanps "I need some milk now mommy." and then rolls right into "I NEED to watch my cartoons now mommy, can you turn them on?" Ugh. As if I want to hear her little smart mouth first thing in the morning telling me what she "needs?"

I guess I don't altogether dislike our routine, she's really cute sometimes, and always good for a nice cuddle in the morning. But wow. And really, doesn't it only get worse? I know I did...

Growing up Girly
On a more positive note, we did up her "big girl room" right after Christmas, and I know she'd be proud to show it off to all of y'all who have yet to come over and see it:

Whale Patrol
Other than that- I have been trying to find ways to keep the blubber level down this pregnancy, I even went so far as to buy a YogaMommy DVD at Half Price Books. And yes, it is still in the bag somewhere in our office, but I plan to start tomorrow. hahah But, I have been walking aerobically around campus, and trying not to lay around like a giant slug this time. So far, I dont really think it's working, but hopefully the lenten season will not only prove to be a good thing for my soul, but my body as well. I decided instead of giving up candy bars or some trite thing like I usually do for about 17 of the 40 days, I'll try to focus on actually taking care of myself, and of course The Baby Brother. So, we'll see how it goes. But- that said, you can bet your little bunz I'll be at Frank's Country Store gettin' some fried fish every Friday :)
And for good measure, because I really like when people post pics with their ramblings, my favorite picture to date from Frank's...

And if you haven't ever been, you need to go. The food is great, ESPECIALLY the chicken plate, in fact Ella thinks the place is called "Chicken Frank's." And every Friday at dinner they serve fried catfish and shrimp, and during lent they have it at lunch, too. ( I know, I called and checked last Thursday). So here, to give you a head start:

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The Big Squeeze

So, I am really starting to balloon. I'll just say it. I have been smaller this go round than I was with Ella- and he must be up high, because even at 27 weeks I sit in chairs with my legs crossed like I always have. I remember a lot more squatty knees-out sitting the first time around.

Anyhow, back to the point. All of a sudden I feel like I am getting BIG. I finally got a Bella Band- a hosiery contraption designed to hide that lovely crescent of skin that peeps out from below the ever-shrinking shirts I wear- and it is really great. Now, Ella no longer walks past and then stops to reach up and snatch my shirt down to cover "The Baby Brother."

Here's a goofy looking picture I took of myself last week sometime. I was about 26 weeks at the time, I think:

Other than that, a little back pain, and general exhaustion, I have to say this pregnancy has become rather pleasant. Josh and I are both really excited, not nearly as scared as we were Round 1, and Ella has been really fun about it. We keep forgetting to talk about "the name," but we've pretty much decided, I think. Probably. Maybe. But it's a secret.

Josh has been gone all weekend :( so I have been all alone with Ella-Bean, although I farmed her out to Gigi & Gus yesterday, so I could get some studying done. She had a fabulous time, of course, and was sad to come back home with boring old mommy.

This morning we braved early mass together, and thankfully, Popi was there, too. Ella was not loving Deacon Ted's lengthy homily, and let out an audible "Aaaahhh" in the middle, as in "Come on, already!" I had to turn the other way I was laughing a bit. The innocence of a child and their brutal honesty is something I'll never lose appreciation for! So in the tradition of her honesty- I'll show you what gets us through each week: a crayon roll I made her (along with a curious george color book and selected recycled printouts)

And, because I thought the little felt dog applique' was too too cute, here's one I made for Ella's little BFF:

Well, I guess I'll get back on task, technically, I am "studying;" read: eating a Ritter Sport, drinking a ginger ale, and blogging - so, while I still have time to get some real work done, I will :)

It's Official! I joined the Club!

So, all my "mommy friends," as I call them have blogs- so I figured if all the cool kids are doing it, I definitely need to be in on the action. Plus, I realize that I have so little opportunity to just spill my guts about whatever I'm thinking about - be it Ella's latest funny, something that happened a week ago last Friday, or whatever. Add to that my funky schedule which gives me 20 minute snippets here and there between classes etc, when I stare at my Yahoo home page clicking "refresh" just waiting for someone to email me and open the door for a huge reply, I can just put my mental drippings here. So to all of you poor souls that have happened to call me or bump into me in town and got an earful, maybe this will help, and it *may* just be safe to call me again, or NOT to duck behind the underwear rack at WalMart when you see me coming. So, read at you own risk, you've been warned. :)

The star of the show (for a few months more, at least), in her daily wear:

So, first off... "Is it Thursday yet?"

That is straight from Ella. If you are to ask her any number of questions, she has a set of "stock" answers she'll give you.
"Hey, Ella, how many XXX are there?" or "What's your heart rate?" She'll answer "28 pounds."
"Hey Ella, What color is this?" "Blue"
"Hey Ella, When is XXX going to be?" "Thursday."

Her birthday is going to be on Thursday, the baby is going to be born on Thursday, she goes to school on Thursday... anything and everything happens on a Thursday. :) So, in lieu of anything really catchy or funny or descriptive, I figured I'd honor Ella's favorite day, and let it be the title of my newest endeavor.