Buffalo and other things

So I had a quick trip to Buffalo this week to work with a chapter there. They were in a bit of trouble with the school - well ok - more than a bit of trouble. I had a good meeting with the chapter and gave them a lot to think about - how they fit into AEPhi and what their "brand" as a chapter is. How they want to be known and what they need to change or start doing to get there. The greek advisor is a piece of work and part of the issue - but the chapter isn't entirely perfect either but I think we can work with them. Today I got a delivery of flowers from the chapter with a note saying thanks for all of my help! Never in my career has a chapter or student sent me flowers saying thanks! This is a first. Unfortunately my first thought was, you owe the national sorority so much money you just wasted it on me! But it was nice and I thought the visit went well and obviously they did as well.

What else - I'm wearing materity clothes this week - today is my first day in jeans. Old Navy short are almost perfect - a little bit long still be way better than the others I've tried on. I've got prenatal pilates tonight and this weekend should also be busy - with a DZ craft fair on Saturday and a brunch on Sunday honoring a woman from the Volutneer Center. I'm going to that with my neighbor who is coordinating it. next week is bubble down week at the tennis club - so Steven will be working a lot.

Monday update

So this weekend we did a lot around the yard. Steven redid the lawn in the back with renting a Thatcher and reseeding the entire lawn. It already looks better and I am sure it will pop up nicely with the warm weather we are having this week. Nothing like going straight into summer from winter. It was 80 degrees yesterday and today they say we might get up over 85 which is the record. I had my appointment at the doctor's today. I heard the heartbeat again- and this time the little stinker was moving around so the doctor couldn't get a good read on it - but we heard it. Next month at my 20 week appointment we will have the ultrasound and get a picture of the baby. That is when we will find out what we are having. Both of us want to know - for different reasons - I just want to know if the baby's room needs to be painted - its pink with green trim right now - Steven just wants to know boy or girl. We will tell if its a boy or girl - but I won't share names - I don't want anyone saying to me ahead of time - "Oh - that's a 'nice' name" and me know that they really don't like it. So - no one will know names that we are thinking of but Steven and I (and that way Colleen can't call dibs on it... Gertie...). And if we pick a name (don't worry KP - we won't be going with Benjamin!) that any friends or family were thinking of for their own kids - tough luck - we got to it first! So - no trying to get names out of us. But feel free to stock up on pink or blue items as appropriate (mom - this means stop buying yellow and green outfits!)

Finally - spring!

Well its nice out today... I had a great morning - Steven slept in because he had to go pick someone up at 9 so instead of going to work at 8 he stayed around home. I made a stew in the crock pot and then played tennis at 9:30- interesting game. The two people we played against were typical Ridgefield soccer moms- they played well but I had nothing in common with them at all! Where I was in a big t-shirt and whatever pants fit this morning - they were color coordinated in their tennis gear... oh well... We have big plans for the yard this weekend. Steven has two days off in a row again. I might get used to this.

Its Thursday

And its not sunny - but the weatherman promised us a good weekend. Its been a long week - of course all that is on the news is the Virgina Tech shooting. I can't even imagine what would possess someone to do that. Right now I don't know anyone who works there -but I have known people in the past. Its horrible. Then the video and pictures released last night are enough to turn your stomach. Its sort of hard to change the channel and not watch... but on a lighter note... I did relish the fact that Sanjaya was voted out last night! Finally! I don't have to hear him screeching anymore and the real competition can begin. Oh - and tonight is a new Grey's Atanomy. Can't wait. Yes - my life revolves around TV but I won't break down and get a TiVo or anything like that - if I miss a show I miss a show.

Rain rain go away

So it took me about 35 minutes to get to work this morning. There were tons of roads closed due to the flooding here. It rained all day yesterday - hard. We've only got a little seepage in the basement around the washer and the pump is working fine. The backyard looks like a small pond right in the middle. I guess at the tennis club the pond next to the bubble is up to the parking lot and rising. Route 7 is closed north of the club and exite 3 and 4 are closed off 84. The mall is flooded - the parking lots look like a lake. I actually came by it with my one last ditch effort to get to this side of Danbury today (came up by Chucks for those who know the area) and the police were out there with boats - the Newstimes says that the Danbury Police Divers are on site in case anyone needs rescuing. They said we got over 7 inches of rain yesterday. Its stopped for the time being but will start up again in waves as the day goes on. The UPS guy who came into the office this morning said that Mill Plain Road is closed down further from my office - about near Stop and Shop it starts. Makes sense because the mall is on the other side of the highway from about near there. West Street into downtown Danbury was blocked as were a few of the smaller side streets that I tried when I turned off of it. And its not supposed to get sunny until Thursday... great...

Things I've realized aren't good for a pregnant woman...

OK - so I didn't have any morning sickness at all in the first trimester - it was more like evening sickness. If I didn't eat immediately after getting home from work, or if I waited too long to eat, I'd start to feel sick and couldn't do anything. Only a few nights were really bad - not sick - but sick feeling. So - I have to have a snack when I get home before dinner - doesn't make any sense does it? Other things that I can't stand - really fishy smelling or tasting fish. That made it difficult during Lent. But like my mom said, I had an excuse. The other thing that is strange is every now and then I don't like milk - I never really liked milk but I get turned off by it. Then last night was the worst - I had wanted Indian food since last week. Monday we tried to go get Indian but the restraunt was closed. We went last night and on top of waiting forever (not a good thing for me) and the strong smells I just couldn't do it. My stomach didn't like the Indian food. Steven had gotten a fish dish that I've liked before but I should have known... And the worst part is that I usually like Indian food. Guess I've found another thing to stay away from.

Oh - tonight I start prenatal pilates. I girl I know from my Delta Zeta group here goes and gave me the info. Should be good - but its 7:30 to 8:30 - almost too late for me!

Easter Greetings

Easter came yesterday to CT very cold! My parents came down again this year for Easter Dinner. Steven started cooking on Saturday night by making his mother's au gratin potatoes. Easier to make them ahead and have them ready to heat up. We went to 8:30 Mass - boy was it crowded! It took about a half an hour just to get out of the parking lot. By the time we were leaving the 10 AM people were arriving - the cars were backed up forever. The folks arrived about noon and we visited with them and then our friend Dave came over for dinner as well. Steven's ham turned out good and I made birthday cakes for him and mom. My cake decorating needs some work though!

Maternity Clothes

So I think this week I will have to go get some maternity clothes. I have one pair of jeans that buttons but leaving them buttoned all day hurts my stomach. My workout pants are fine - but I can't wear those all the time. Any suggestions on where to go are appreciated! I'm going to check out Old Navy and Khols, I already looked at Target here in Danbury and they didn't have much. I don't need tops yet - I have things that are bigger and so its just bottoms right now. I guess I'll get jeans and pants for now and then get shorts and capris as I get bigger. A woman at tennis this morning said I was showing - I think I just look chubbier - I haven't gained weight but its all moving to the middle and with my short torso you can see everything. Oh well - thought I could at least get through the middle of April before I had to shop for clothes - but that doesn't seem possible.

Busy weekend

So Thursday night I drove to Hartford to do interviews for work on Thursday and Friday. When we finished on Friday I drove to Methuen and got there about 5 or so. We went up to Manchester to see Colleen's new apartment and then out for dinner - of course we went to the most popular restraunt in Manchester NH and waited about a hour and twenty minutes to be seated. Not anyone's fault - just a busy Friday night. Saturday I was up at 6:30 and out of the house by 7:30 to go to Delta Zeta's Region Weekend where I had to do the keynote speech first thing in the morning. It went really well. Then, done at five, I headed back to CT and got in about 7:30. The MS WALK was Sunday morning and after walking five miles (Steven raised over $1000 while I only raised $270.... and I'm the pregnant one not him!) we went for BBQ for lunch before heading home to repot our seedlings that we are growing. we only did the tomato plants and the herbs. Busy weekend - no wonder why I fell asleep at 8 PM!