Don't forget about me!!

I always make excuses as to why I don't blog. Many of my excuses are probably familiar to dedicated readers so I won't even list them off today.

My reason for writing is mostly because I'm procrastinating. I'm hitting the end of my semester and papers are starting to be due, outlines should be written, and exams should be prepared for... ouch. It is also the crispy fall weather that deserves time outside in leaves with dogs and savored as the last moment before winter arrives. It's a good thing that Craig is enjoying it while I'm sitting in the library; "only two more years of this" keeps repeating in my mind.

The hard work is really not that bad, it's enjoyable stuff. I just hope that my little A doesn't blame me when she's 3.5 that I wasn't around during her first couple of years. I know, I know, fat chance...

This was pretty pointless. But I do feel the need to say that I will be available for fun starting the 2nd week of December until the 2nd week of January. If anyone wants to visit, chat, hang out, have dinner, watch tennis (hallelujah the Australia Open in January!), or just be boring together - please please please find me!

I miss my friends.

Here an adorable pic of the A last weekend playing in the leaves (I took a 5 minute break to take pictures of her per Craig's request). Nice, huh?!

The scoop

Well, some of you know that little Bwie is now little Luca. I don't have a picture yet but some details: he was almost 9lbs and 23 inches long! He was 9 days overdue and had a head full of fuzzy hair. If you go here you'll see his debut pics. What a sweetie.

Now, a couple updates re: Amélie. She now smiles, giggles, makes eye contact with everything in the room, and she loves hearing stories from the exciting tales of Civil Procedure.

She even enjoys kissy's from her mama. I think?!

Merry Christmas!

We've been MIA lately, I'm sorry. I take my two finals next week, so after Friday - I will be back in commission. I will probably even drink a beer to celebrate; I'm so pumped! I just hope they allow me to come back next semester...

Just so you know, everything is going well at the H-dub household. Amélie is still adorable and she is learning quickly. Last night she slept for about 6 hours without needing to chow, so that was a great night of sleep. Not only have I been studying and cramming for Contracts, I've learned that breastfeeding is difficult and never take as many laxatives as the doctor prescribes. Seriously, why do people need laxatives? I'm guessing my addiction to granola and oatmeal probably works to my benefit, eh?

I am a bit sad that Craig goes back to work tomorrow. I guess we'll have some bonding time, just the girls. That is, in between the studies.

I have to admit that I'm very proud of the Boo lover, she is a nice doggy to her new sister. Plus, she is a poopy diaper radar; if Amélie has anything going on down below - Indie is all about sniffing it out. It's a nice alert before Amélie starts crying out of discomfort. The picture below is proof of the careful eye that Indie keeps on the new baby. I couldn't have a cuter family.

Let the countdown begin!

You all probably thought I meant the countdown to Bho, huh? Well, I'm actually talking about a few very important countdowns:

1. the baby shower, 5 days & counting (t-th-thr-thrilling)
2. the final birthing class, next Monday evening (we're delivering the placenta tonight folks)
3. end of classes, four weeks (law school)
4. End of Quarter (last week of November) at work, usually high stress, late nights
5. DUE DATE = BHO! (December 1st - 3rd; but I say November 27th)
6. final exams, 1st week of December (ha!!)

First, the baby shower: I hate the thought of family and close friends staring at me while opening gifts, eating food (I plan to save that tiny bit of room for cake actually), and playing a rousing baby-themed game during my "fatty stage." Don't get me wrong, I'm plenty thankful to have a great family & group of friends... and to get together and appreciate their thrill & kindness re: the plan that Craig & I are having a Bho. However, the timing is just not my preference.

Second, birthing classes. Okay, we learned that my pelvic bone moves, that I will try to squat during delivery, and I am keeping an open mind re: epidural/drugs (I'm against drugs - I learned that from my parents and DARE). You know, a handknit uterus and birthing canal is cool... but did we really have to spend five weeks together for three hours a pop?

Third, my law classes end on November 18th. Although, I do have a make-up class on December 2nd. Hmmm, being that they moved the due date from December 3rd to December 1st - I'm not sure I'll make that class. Hope the prof. doesn't mind my missing class in order to avoid going into labor during a discussion of the Erie Doctrine.

Fourth, end of quarter/last day of November is just plain old poor timing in the scheme of Jho's life. Being that I cannot convince my company or the B.O.D to delay their earnings/GAAP reporting, it seems I might be missing out on the busiest week of the quarter. I just hope that if I do come in to lend a hand - my coworkers are ready to follow my orders of "drive fast, drive fast, drive fast to St. John's hospital."

Five, Bho. Yes, that's inevitable.

Lastly, finals. I'm not sure when I'll get them done or how... but knowing me, I WILL DO IT! At least that is what I've been telling myself over & over again.

So, these are my major event countdowns for the coming month & a half (maybe longer, depending upon those finals & Bho's imposition). Ohhh, and poor Craig is just counting down to the first snow so he can make a few snowboarding trips. As you can tell, that just isn't on my list of priorities. Go figure.

Paint the house, register for Bho, OH! and go to law school...

This is the new drama in life.

Bho's dad & I trying to pick out colors to paint our house - so far, this is going to be the new color combo (on a fake, simulated home from Sherwin Williams):

Hopefully, these will be the colors. Although, it is missing the entrance of burnt orange as an accent/trim piece and the green is a bit too green - please picture more of an olive instead. I will also post a picture of our REAL house when it is done and pretty and looking glamourous. I'm very excited to get rid of the yellow/blue vomit colors.

Also, I've been asked to get moving on registering for Bho. I'd like to know how do you register for a Bho?! Seriously, it isn't like registering when getting married. I mean, how do I know what kind of bottles she will like? What kind of storage system will work best to keep the BooBoo from eating poop-filled diapers? Or at the least will keep the Boo from dragging them around the house?! How many swaddling or receiving blankets does a Bho need? Geez, I don't even know the difference between a swaddling and a receiving blanket. Bho is doomed. She will be swaddled in a bathrobe and have diapers wrapped around her head. I blame Bho's dad.

My departing thought, I feel it's fairly tacky to assume that what I pick out is what my Bho would enjoy most... I mean, those with their own B-experience probably knows best and I hope to trust their judgment for the most part. Although, this is daring to admit since Craig & I are the pickiest parents (haters of pink, purple, sparkly princess things) trying to design a modern, simple, and "happy monster-filled" baby room.

Any suggestions on registering?

P.S. If anyone wants to provide me helpful hints on mutuality of obligation, consideration, long-arm statutes and jurisdiction, feel free. I'll get on this chore of baby registry much more quickly once I get a hold of someone's first-year law school outlines. *Hint-hint to those of you silly enough to put yourself through law school.*

I learn, she learns...

If you know me, you know that I'm addicted to learning... or at least schooling. So much so that I'm beginning law school on August 3rd (yikes, we're down to 11 days and counting) part-time, law school, keep in mind. However, as I was reading a case study this afternoon while eating lunch - I felt more kicks and flips in the belly region than normal. That got me thinking, with all this legal learning I'll be experiencing in the next three months while Bho is at her most rapid development stages... will she be picking up legal terms and phrases from the womb? If I'm reading case studies and law books aloud to her during this final trimester, will she be the genius that I'm hoping for? Will her first word be certiorari?

Maybe it's not too far-fetched for me to start purchasing these?


Or maybe it is just the case that I should lay-off the fruit? I've already devoured one whole pineapple, a pint of blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries within two days. Perhaps, this is the cause for the extra kicks? Bho says, "mom, give me something that will stick to my skinny ribs already!" Damn Cub for having two-for-one coupons on fruit... I cannot resist!