Nicknames...

are fun. Well, when they're given by people who are kind and they mean it in an endearing way. Here are a few that I have been called over the years that make me smile...

Disaster Sister (Ellie)
Nora-girl (a college friend who still sometimes calles me that)
No/ NoNo (Sarah)
Dr. Strong (a co-worker in STL, I think because I am a know-it-all)
Dr. Barr (a maintenance worker at school who always raids my Ibuprofin collection)
The trollope (Pete)
Barbie (guess who's Ken? also from Pete and my mom)
Shoog (You know sugar cut in half? That's Joel...)

I think my students have worse names for me...but I won't print them here.

What are yours?

Insomnia

It has set in again. I have been awake since 2:30. At 3:30 I gave up and got out of bed for fear that my tossing and turning would wake Joel. Little Thelonius is wide awake with me and keeping me company while I do laundry and tidy up the house...'cause what else are you going to do in the middle of the night? Certainly not watch television.

Which reminds me...I haven't yet talked about the new TV season, and anyone who knows me knows how important "my programs" are. I have been a little disappointed with former fave, Veronica Mars, this season. I still love the show, but not in that "can't wait until Tuesday" way that I loved it last year. I think they are dumbing the show down a bit so that it will appeal to more viewers, but instead they aren't staying true to the characters.

My new favorite, because I am so fickle, is Studio 60. Have you been watching? The dialogue is very clever and the show is funny one minute and then heart felt the next. It will probably be cancelled because I like it so much.

Tonight I have yet another parenting class. This one is Baby First Aid. Now, while I'm all for First Aid for babies, I wish I had been more realistic about all these classes at Northwestern. I signed up for everything this summer, while in trimester two and feeling great, and while I wasn't working a full day. Now I am dreading the commute, and beginning to loathe all the labor videos. I know labor is not like High Tea at the Drake, but there is no turning back now, so stop trying to scare me with your gore fest videos NMH!

Sunday Bloody Sunday...

I hate Sundays. Isn't that ridiculous? Once there was a quote on My So Called Life about how the clock on Sixty Minutes is so horrific it sounds like a warning bell reminding you about work or school tomorrow. To me it is like The Tell Tale Heart. Maybe it is because I am a teacher and have never had to grow up to the cruel world of a real schedule. Since I get to experience utter elation in late May and early June I have to deal with the down side of the Sunday Night Blues.

I am lucky though because Joel is making my favorite dinner and it smells so good I don't want to be anywhere else right now.

We had our first birthing class on Friday night. Just when I had adjusted to the fact that I would have to experience labor I went and watched several on video. I almost changed my mind. But they know us crazy, hormonal pregnant ladies at Northwestern because they ended with footage of adorable babies being cute. Brainwashing? Perhaps, but I am getting so excited. We are still having a hard time agreeing on a boys name. I may just open the Bible and point randomly to words and see what we come up with. Jesus Wept Barr? Deuteronomy Barr? Gomorrah Barr? Yay! I found a fun new game!

Eastern Senior Day...

Mary's second to last game is Saturday, October 28th at 2:00pm. It's also Senior Day. Party to follow. Come cheer her on...

I raaatherr feel like expressing MYSELF.

I hate this commercial with a burning passion. I love Audrey Hepburn, but even find her annoying this way. And really Gap, the skinny black pant? Ya sure? Like five women in American can pull that look off. If you have any sort of hips at all, the skinny black pants make you look hugely pear shaped. Warning.

An excellent weekend...

One year ago we were living in my dad's condo waiting for the family of ten to move out of our house. You all probably know our nightmare story of the fight to move into this place, but I like to try and remember how powerless and frustrated we felt at the time. It makes this feeling of loving the house that much sweeter now. As a one week delay turned into two months many people told us that we might have to prepare to let this house go, and we almost did. We didn't want to make a stupid decision. I am so glad we fought for the house though. It is shaping up to be such a beautiful place. Although it is a money pit, it is also, definitely a home.

Wasn't this a great weekend? I love a three day weekend, and one where you have almost nothing to do is even better. Joel and I did projects around the house, watched some movies and TV, and enjoyed each other's company on three very sunny days. And we finally got around to stenciling what will be the nursery. Not the most professional job, but I think the dragonflies turned out pretty well. You can't tell from the pictures, but their wings are iridescenct.

Seven months...

and I am huge! I can't believe how puffy I look and still have two months to go. Honestly, the photos are harsh because I don't feel this big when I look in the mirror. I barely recognize myself...

Still, none of this matters. I couldn't be happier. We had one of those perfect days yesterday. Joel's mom and stepdad were visiting and a friend, Suzanne. We (meaning, they, mostly) worked on the house taking care of dreaded projects such as hanging art work and photos on our walls. The house looks so much cozier now that our "stuff has been strutted". (Suzanne's decorating business where she works with the things you have is called Strut your Stuff.) Then last night Thelonius was kicking so forcefully that you could see it make my stomach move through my shirt. Joel started talking to the belly, and the baby was kicking even more to the sound of his voice. Sorry to get a bit emotional on you, but the sound of Joel's laughing and the feel of the baby fluttering in my stomach is a memory that I am tucking away to remember on an unforgiving day.

Though right now I am hiding out because I am having heart attacks while Joel is perched precariously on a ladder in our stairwell as he tries to move our stained glass up to the atrium window. Yikes. I am kind of afraid of heights so even watching it makes me nervous.