Still here

Howdy, all.

I'm not working again today, and I'm in contact with my doctor's office about some ongoing "action." Still nothing urgent enough to send me to the hospital yet, but I will definitely keep you posted.

In the meantime, I'm getting the phone list in order for C., so in addition to texting a new post to my blog, I've got the backup plan of Dad doing the "He's here!" trumpeting.

In the meantime, I think I'll reacquaint myself with Mr. Dyson and perhaps save time to get my swim on later. Boy I hope something happens soon! At least the doc has a plan in place in case the little bugger decides to miss his deadline of tomorrow. A friend of mine said maybe the journalist in him won't allow him to miss deadline. We're on the clock, and he's got one day to make it!

Woot! There goes a contraction now . . .

Just another day

Since I've spent so much time here, it's almost like I've never left.

Yup, it is just another day in "false labor" paradise.

For the second time in a week, I thought for sure the time was now. Today's the day! Contractions are close together, intense and moving right along.

Then they fizzle out. Get farther apart. More mild. Go away altogether. But wait...there's another one. They're picking up again. Stronger. Closer. Nope . . . they're farther apart. Not as strong.

What gives?!

So now, I'm going to walk. I hear this is supposed to work, but so far, it hasn't for me. Maybe today is the day.

Then again, maybe not.

And don't fret. You'll know when the little one arrives because I'll announce it right here in this space.

It's just a little snow, people

The remnants were on the road last week on my midnight drive home from work. Black chunks of ice and snow peppered the interstate heading east, a sign that trucks traveling across the Rocky Mountains had accumulated enough of the fluffy stuff. When they reach the bumpy stretch of the highway, the ice is jarred loose, leaving a little maze for all of us "dry" motorists.

Then when I awoke Sunday, I saw it here. Our grass, our patio, our flowers were dusted lightly with snow. The city's first snowfall had arrived! It continued to lunchtime, the snow so fluffy and light that even a slight breeze pushed it along sideways. It was pretty. I thought of the mountains, the aspen we had just gone to see two weeks ago, the trail we climbed probably hidden by inches of snow.

When I drove to work later that day, the roads were clear. Wet, but clear. They were still warm from the day before, when the temperature rose to almost 80. Today, I see only faint traces of snow in the long, northern shadows.

And to hear Al Michaels describe it on the Sunday Night Football broadcast from Invesco Field at Mile High, we were in full-on blizzard mode all day. More than once, he said the snow was blowing in sideways. True, but we weren't in panic mode. This certainly wasn't what hit us last Christmas. Seriously, it's just a little snow, people!

Ah, Harry

I just saw this commercial for the first time tonight during work. Any time I get to see Harry on TV is a good time, so I figured since most of my posts have been grouchy-downer-type entries, I'd share a little HCJR sunshine.

My new best friend

One word: NESTING.

Is it weird that I want "perfect vacuum cleaner lines" on my carpet? I could go over it 10 times with my trusty and awesome Dyson and it still doesn't look right. Guess this is part of the process.

I'm just laughing at myself because I usually vacuum about once a week (if I'm lucky).

Multimedia message

I'm sending a random photo and text from my phone to test. Maybe this is how I'll post baby's arrival!

False labor

Yup, I've been in false labor since Friday.

First my contractions are light and bearable. Then they get really uncomfortable. Then they're about 15-20 minutes apart for a couple of hours. When I think I'm establishing a pattern, they go away completely.

This waiting game is torturous, but I really don't have another choice. So instead, I'm waiting for a UPS delivery, then I'm going to the mall to go walking. I hear the gravity helps get things going. Either that or my feet will swell up like balloons and I'll have a backache from hell.

Cross your fingers!

Don't ask

Also, and I just realized this, but if you see me in the next couple of weeks, don't ask how I am feeling.

I know you probably mean well, but I'm so tired of answering that question. Quickly, I'll sum it up for you.

I'm tired. I'm achy. I'm swollen. I can't breathe. I can't walk. I can't sit. I can't stand. I can't lie down. I have a headache. I have a backache. I have heartburn. I have an appetite but no room in my stomach. I'm dizzy. I'm queasy. I am soooooo ready.

On any day, about 14 out of the 15 listed replies are true. So there you have it! I have become grumpy pregnant lady. And how we went hiking last weekend is beyond me.

Jury duty

Yup. We got a summons in the mail. Except it was for C.

I've been a registered voter since I was 18, and I've been summoned once. Luckily for me, I was moving out of the county -- way out -- from Jefferson to Pueblo.

I'm not sure how long C.'s been registered, but he sort of got this defeated look on his face when he saw it. And he has to report four days after my due date. Luckily, I'll probably already have had the baby by then! (Here's crossing my fingers!)

Business time

Thanks H. There are no words.

Compliments rule

To the nice person in the elevator this afternoon who said I "look cute."

Thank you!

Only the shadow knows

Here's a different take on the belly photo.



C. and I drove up to the high country yesterday to take in the sights of autumn. We saw snow on our hike near Echo Lake. This next shot is from the west side of the Eisenhower Tunnel. We drove up into Silverthorne to hit the factory shops, but the altitude might have been a bit much for me.



We also saw a few aspen along the way, this photo taken from our moving car. Sadly, I think we might have missed the beautiful reds and oranges on the leaves that sometimes flutter in the breeze. Maybe next year.



The crisp air in Idaho Springs was perfect for me. A woman at the Sinclair station in town told me it was gray and blowing snow around 8 a.m. that day. But as you can tell, the sky was a deep blue by the time we arrived in the afternoon.

C. was wishing for a heavier jacket. But since I'm my own personal heater, 50 degrees was no sweat!