I started reading The Portrait of Dorian Gray yesterday. Pretty interesting book. I, like others thought the men in the book to possibly be gay as well, but I guess times were a little different back then and saying that you were intimate doesn't mean that you really were "intimate" the way we think of it today. It just means that they were close friends. Reading this book, I thought to myself that I am not like this man. I am not the type to be enlightened or changed by one man's words and become a different person. Does that mean I am scared? Probably...or probably more careful than I need to be. But I guess I am still young enough to live life to the fullest and hopefully not have a list of regrets when I am old and wrinkly. Yes...I have to say it's because I'm scared. I'm scared of the unknown, of the unfamiliar, of being alone. But at the same time, I've seen myself through a few changes in my life that I was sitting on because I was scared. So I know that I can do it if I just do it...it's that just doing part that takes a lot of courage. I also realize that I come out the other end, realizing that it wasn't that scary...whatever it was. I also think that change doesn't happen as drastically as I fear it will. People do change, but they are still the same. Reading about other people's lives on facebook makes me depressed for my own life not being as fun. But then again...I also think that these fun lives could be a fabrication as well. Who knows. I need to not be on facebook so often and just live my life and enjoy it for what it is...my life. My life right now is my pregnancy. Feeling the baby kicking everyday brings so much joy to my often dull days laying in bed, and not being as active as I want to be because my feet are swollen and hurt when I walk long distances. My bladder is also hurting these days and I would have to say getting in and out and moving from one side to another in bed is the most tortuous for me physically. Getting down on the floor to hang out with the doggies at eye level and having to get back up on my feet is quite the task these days. I have to get on all fours before I can get back up. I've developed some sort of pregnancy arthritis in the last month. If I don't move my hands for a bit of time, it starts to stiffen up and I have to warm it back up again. Sometiems I sleep with my hands curled up and I find it stuck in that position in the morning. I have gained about 24 lbs and I am only 26.5 weeks pregnant! My mom always told us about how she gained so much weight when she was pregnant with me because she gave no regard to her diet. She said she would eat whole baby chickens at Bob's Big Boy at least once a week (bones included). But in the end, when I asked her how much weight she gained, she only gained 38 lbs. I imagine that I will be right up there in another 3 months. What's worse is that I'm not even indulging...well at least not like my mom was. I just need to walk more...but oh my feet...and oh my bladder...sigh. All I wish for is for this swelling to subside a bit. I don't even try to put my wedding ring on because it doesn't fit anymore. I remember when I first got the ring, I was worried that I would lose it because it felt so loose on my finger. I could make it go round and round back then. Someone told me that when I got older and hand children that the ring would fit better. Nay! I am determined to make it loose again once the baby is born. That will be my goal...not lose __ lbs but rather, make my ring fit nice and loosely on my finger again.

Saturday on Monday

This was my first official working weekend. It felt a little weird because although I knew it was Saturday and Sunday, it sure didn't feel like a weekend to me. I weirded myself out a few times when I was on break watching the news. They would talk about the #1 weekend box office movie and I'm like...why would they be reporting on the weekend box office movie when the weekend isn't even here yet? Then I'd come to my senses and realize that it was Sunday. Sunday also happened to be my 31st birthday. Brian, Steven, Stephanie and I went to Manna BBQ to get some good meat grub going. It was the best dinner! I had initially requested we go to URGE so I could get myself a nice Milk Burger, but unfortunately their kitchen closed at 8:30 pm on Sunday. In any case, I got a nice meal and a yummy cake. I also bought myself a b-day gift. Went to DSW to buy a pair of cute sandals for the summer and I ended up buying a nice bag instead. It is quite utilitarian with lots of pockets. Brian was pleasantly surprised by my choice and remarked that he was rubbing off on me. I think that may be true.

I also FINALLY found a place where they sell blueberry ice cream!! Last winter, we went to Reno and I found a wonderful new flavor of ice cream called Huckleberry. Apparently they sell this type of ice cream in other places like Montana, but not really in California. I searched and searched for even a blueberry ice cream which is the closest thing, but no grocery store carried such a flavor. I read somewhere that since blueberries are not cheap, people don't make ice cream out of it commercially much...whatever! Anyways, Brian and I were buying Banh Mi one Sunday and while we were waiting for our order, we decided to roam around the Fresh N Easy store that was nearby. We looked around...overall not too impressed, but when we turned the corner to go back to pick up our bananas I noticed the Blueberry ice cream being sold for a mere $2.99!!! What a steal!! I wish there were more blueberry chunks, but overall I love the taste and I will go back and get some more when I run out.

Today is Monday, but it is my Saturday!! A little lonely for a weekend, but I'll manage.



A Quick Visit Home

Picture of Carol's Bridesmaid Bouquet hanging over the living room calendar

Decided to go see my parents on Sunday since I have Monday off. It was quite the drive up to LA but it was worth it. I got to eat a nice dinner with my mom and dad. I also used my time on the road listening to Fifty Shades of Grey. I think I've gotten through about 6 chapters of the book so far. It's pretty interesting, but the lady who does the narration for the audiobook also does the male voice as well. It's really hard to visualize a hot man when his voice sounds like a woman's voice trying to sound like a man's voice. Anywhoo...I am looking forward to my drive home to find out what happens to Anna Steele and Christian Grey. I'm going to go get some lunch with Dad today and then head home. Dad is really happy that I am pregnant and he told me that while I am pregnant, he is going to treat me to all the yummy food that I want. How cute. I also am planning on buying some protein powder at the Korean market. I've been drinking the protein powder that Carol had left me with (Thanks Carol!) and I really like how it keeps me full longer in the mornings when things at work can be quite hectic.
Stompie is doing well. Stompie is kicking and punching and rolling around like a happy baby. Ooo! Just felt a kick!

So I've been watching Maury and Jerry Springer this morning and the theme of both episodes were paternity tests. A teen mom comes on stage to say that she doesn't know who the father of her child is. She has slept with three men and they are also on stage, waiting to hear if they are the father of the child. All the men are refusing to accept that this child could be theirs, saying "It's not mine! It's not mine!!" One man is the father and once revealed, all hell breaks loose. The woman wants her current boyfriend to be the father, but that is not always the case. Watching shows like this makes me so happy that I am not in any situation like this. It's entertaining to watch to say the least, but the reality of their situations makes me a bit sad. Poor kid...what a horrible thing to know that your dad doesn't want to be your dad. sigh...enough of this!!

My attempt at French Toast

Made some french toast this morning! I saw that my sister made some french toast that looks a lot more delicious than these and I figured I would make some since I had some leftover sourdough bread. Not the best lighting but whatever,....I was hungry! I didn't have time to sit there and get better lighting so I could take a pretty picture of my food. It was quite yummy but I think two slices was a bit much for me. I ate my breakfast in the living room watching "That Thing You Do". I think for one year, sometime during my teen years, that movie played on HBO or Cinemax just about every week. Thanks to that, I probably have watched that movie at least 10 times. Anyways, I love the end when the guy who had always loved the girl finally confesses to her that he loves her with a kiss as she is waiting for a cab to go back to her hometown. After the kiss, they walk arm in arm back into the hotel, staring lovingly into each other's eyes. <3

I will savor this weekend the best I can. This first week at work for me has been exciting, nerve-wracking, tiring, and sometimes frustrating. But now I am going to spend the next three days doing nothing but relaxing and resting. For me too, but mostly for the baby. Poor thing has been going around the hospital as mommy runs from here to there, helping people. I feel Stompie kicking a lot these days and to be honest, it is actually quite comforting knowing that I have someone with me even through all the chaos at work. I have Stompie to remind me of what is important in life...to sit down and take a break and remember to eat and take care of myself instead of trying to please everyone else.

I am hoping to go get some dim sum today...maybe tomorow since I already ate my breakfast. We'll see.

Weekday morning

The morning started off quite busy for me. I went to the doctor's office for my Glucose Tolerance Test that took 2 hours. I fasted the night before and went into the office to get my blood drawn. Then, the lab tech gave me a bottle of an orange colored juice for me to drink. It tasted like super sweet fruit punch. I made a face when I realized how sweet it was and the lab tech acknowledged that it was indeed quite a sweet drink. It took me about a minute to drink it all, but I did and then I went back to the waiting room to wait for an hour. Around 9 am, they called me for my second blood draw. Then it was back again to the waiting room for another hour. But instead of waiting in the waiting room, I decided to get a car wash. It took me only 5 minutes to drive to the car wash in PQ so I figured that the actual car wash wouldn't take more than 30 minutes. Well, they must have put a lot of extra attention to my car because it took just about an hour for them to be done. I rushed into my car and raced back to the doctor's office and as I opened the door, the receptionist recognized me and told me that the lab tech had been waiting for me. I was about 10 minutes late. The lab tech told me that he was yelling for me in the waiting room like I was a celebrity! He continued to describe a scene from A Streetcar Name Desire and yelled, "Ciiiiiindy!!!!" haha. He said he was just about to give me a call to see if I was okay. I was glad that those guys have a good sense of humor. I apologized, but they said it wasn't a big deal.

Brian came home for a little bit and I watched him care for his lawn. He loves his lawn so much. I just wish the dogs wouldn't dig. Many of our plums are also fully grown! The only bad part is that they get regularly pecked by the birds in the neighborhood. I have found several with holes on the sides of them...bummer. Today marks the last day of my weekday-weekend. I go back to work for two more days and then....3 day weekend!! w00t!!! Too bad I have the sniffles. It feels like my head if full of snot. I wanna blow it out, but I think my brain will come out with it...so I will just wait.

....and one more wedding!

Brian and I went to a friend's wedding today. This wedding marks #3 this month! But this one was different since I wasn't part of the wedding party. It was just a little more relaxing not being part of the wedding spotlight. The wedding ceremony was at the Palisades Presbyterian Church and the reception was at the Seaside Room over in Marina Village by the Sea World area. During cocktail hour, the boys and I found a good spot by the door so we could catch the servers as they brought out the hors d'oeuvres. The second a server came out the door, Brian would say, "Hey! Whatcha got there?!!" and that was our que to grab whatever was on the plate.

The dinner was a buffet-style which was alright...besides the waiting we had to do before we could get in line to grab the food. We anticipated leaving the wedding around 10 or 11 pm, but the crowd at the wedding was more family than friends so we decided to leave early...around 8pm. We didn't even stay for the cake!! But I have some red velvet cake from Sorrento European Bakery that I bought this morning along with 6 Banh Mi!! I looooove Banh Mi!! I love it especially with red and yellow baby bell peppers. We had some for lunch along with a cup of strawberry and banana smoothie. Stompie was probably very happy with my selection for lunch....quite healthy. Well, I felt bad because yesterday night, my dinner consisted of mini corn dogs and popcorn with soda. We watched Prometheus at 9 pm so decided to enjoy some junk food. Halfway through enjoying the corndogs, I realized that hotdog sausages were one of the foods that I put on my "Foods to Avoid" list. It was good though. Sorry Stompie...mommy will try harder to eat healthier for you.

Back to the wedding...I usually don't have many complaints when I go to weddings...but at this wedding, I actually had several. Well first of all, the reception did not have assigned seating. I did not like this because we had to search for a table that had 6 empty spots. We eventually found a spot, but I did not like having to look for a seat. Second, the roof at the reception started to leak! Brian told me that the water was from the condensation from the AC system...which by the way, wasn't working because it was a bit warm in there. Third, was one that I mentioned already...the buffet line. We were told when we could go up to get our food and this would be okay, but we ended up waiting a good 45 minutes before we were allowed to get some food. I know this would NOT fly well if it was a group of older Korean folks. Finally, when Brian went to the bar to ask for some wine glasses, the guy gave him a stack of USED plastic cups with wine stains on the rims of the cups from when other people drank from it!!! That was it. What kind of place WASHES their disposable pastic cups and gives it to their guests!?!?! Ridiculous. What's worse is that when Brian brought the cups back to the guy behind the bar, the guy's reply was, "It's just wine." Ugh!! Who hired these people?!

Anyways, that's enough venting for one day. Now for some good quality time staring at my belly.... hehehe.

Twitch twitch

I am currently watching the left side of my belly twitching. It looks like I am having a muscle spasm in my abdomen. It almost feels like it a muscle twitch too. But I'm going to think it's the baby kicking or punching. It feels weird to think that I have something inside of me that is making those twitches in my belly. I've been feeling the little critter move around and kick for a couple weeks now, but this was the first time I actually saw it. It was only about a month ago that I wasn't sure if the baby was or wasn't kicking and here I am...only a few short weeks later, able to see them! It's quite amazing how fast they are growing. The baby tracker app on my phone says that my baby is as big as an ear of corn. I can't believe that soon enough, this little one is going to be something that I have to take care of! AHHH!!

Work is going to officially start for me on Monday. I'm excited and nervous to see how I will do under various types of pressure. We've all been trained well so I think it should go okay. I just have to remember to stay calm. We got these purple jackets that will allow people to recognize us when we are on the floor. Sizes run way too big. I should have gotten a small...but our choices are final. I am stuck swimming in a medium for now. Luckily I know that I will be getting bigger, so I will eventually fit it...haha.

Julian and Pepper are both doing pretty well being left out in the backyard during the day. Having them out there makes my life a little easier when I get home because they are so beat from being outside that when they do settle down, they are very much inclined to take a nap if it is quite enough.

Here is a picture of my belly: