I can see it now...

At 19 weeks, I can tell already that this baby is going to be one of those toddlers that you always see parents running after CONSTANTLY.*Whew* All day the baby is moving, kicking, just being squirrely in general. We can actually feel the baby kicking now. One of the cats put its paw on my belly, and the kid actually kicked back. Talk about attitude!I'm almost done reading Ina May Gaskin's "Spiritual Midwifery" and the last few chapters of the book are pretty amazing. It is very informative and comforting in describing a natural labor and everything associated with it.Happy belated birthday, Echo. Enjoy your gift!

Belly @ 17 weeks...

We just got back from seeing David Sedaris at the Steppenwolf -- he was wonderful as usual. He read his story "Let It Snow" which recently appeared in The New Yorker as well as three new stories from his upcoming book called "Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim" which is due in June. I also purchased David Sedaris: Live at Carnegie Hall because it featured one of my top three favorite Sedaris stories "Six to Eight Black Men" (the other two being "Jesus Shaves" and "Dinah the Christmas Whore"). He also suggested a name for the baby, "Don't you think Dusty has a nice ring to it? Come on, DUSTY!"Uh yeah, no. Anyway, here is the belly at 17 weeks.

A lovely matinee

Hoorah! Finally, tomorrow I'll get to see David Sedaris again at the Steppenwolf. Last time I saw him, I got to meet him. He was so polite and funny and was passing out candy from his "Fuck-It Bucket".It is sure to be a kick-ass show.

A rath...

A rather long and lengthy survey -- proceed with caution...Taken from the lovely and talented kore who in turn took it from someone else. 1) Using band names, spell out your first name:ABCLove & RocketsEthel WatersJeff BuckleyAshtray BoyNitzer EbbDiesel BoyR.E.M.Avengers2) Have you ever had a song written about you? Yes.3) What song makes you cry? "Suffer Little Children" by The Smiths4) What song makes you happy?"The Look of Love" by ABC5) What do you like to listen to before bed?Silence! (Or Milo the cat snoring on the bed)6) Name a song by Coal ChamberI'm afraid I can't.7) Who was/were your idol/s when you were younger?Prince and the Revolution8) First album you ever bought?"Disco Mickey Mouse" (Yup, it was actually vinyl)9) Name a song that reminds you of someone and why:"Francesca" by Roy Harper, that is my niece's name. A p p e a r a n c eHEIGHT: 5'6"HAIR COLOR: BrownSKIN COLOR: FairEYE COLOR: GreenPIERCINGS: Just my earsTATTOOS: TwoR i g h t N o wWHAT COLOR PANTS ARE YOU WEARING?: I'm wearing a grey wool skirt that is just below the knee.WHAT SONG ARE YOU LISTENING TO?: "Make a Circuit with Me" video by The Pole Cats on VH1's "We are the 80s" show.WHAT TASTE IS IN YOUR MOUTH?:Wheat toast -- I just had two slices with butter.WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE?: It's 26 degrees today, and the snow is melting into grey slush.HOW ARE YOU?:I'm tired, a slight pain in my side and getting hungry for a big-ass dinner.D o Y o uGET MOTION SICKNESS?: Ever since I've become pregnant, I do. Prior to that, never.HAVE A BAD HABIT?: I swear a lot. Before I was pregnant, I drank too much coffee, smoked and had my fair share of adult beverages. Now, just swearing a lot.GET ALONG WITH YOUR PARENTS?:Ha! I did with my dad, but my mother is E-V-I-L.LIKE TO DRIVE?: Yes. But at the moment, my license is revoked. I have to go to court to get it back. *sigh*F a v o r i t e sTV SHOW:Well my all-time favorite TV show is the 80s great "Moonlighting" CONDITIONER:Physique Straightening Conditioner -- very hard to find, though.BOOK:A toss up between "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" by Milan Kundera and "Are you there God? It's Me, Margaret." by Judy BlumeMAGAZINE:Bust MagazineNON-ALCOHOLIC DRINK:Volvic water and Earl Grey tea (but not at the same time)ALCOHOLIC DRINK:A good glass of Merlot or a Margarita straight-up with extra salt.THING TO DO ON THE WEEKEND:Brunch, relax, read, repeat.BAND OR GROUP or SINGER or RAPPER:Too many -- The Pixies, Interpol, Modest Mouse, Depeche ModeH a v e Y o uBROKEN THE LAW:Yes.RAN AWAY FROM HOME:Nope. SNUCK OUT OF THE HOUSE:All of the time when I was a kid.EVER GONE SKINNY DIPPING:Yes.MADE A PRANK PHONE CALL:When I was a kid -- before *69EVER TIPPED OVER A PORTA POTTY:Ick! No.USED YOUR PARENTS' CREDIT CARD BEFORE:Nope, I had my own.SKIPPED SCHOOL BEFORE:Only once in high school and I felt guilty about it all day.FELL ASLEEP IN THE SHOWER/BATH:Nope.BEEN IN A SCHOOL PLAY:Nope.LET A FRIEND CRY ON YOUR SHOULDER:Certainly!L o v eBOYFRIEND:I married my boyfriend.GIRLFRIEND:Nope, just your average girl crushes.SEXUALITY:I am a fan of the penis.CHILDREN:One on the way -- and that's it.CURRENT CRUSH:Orlando Bloom.BEEN IN LOVE?:Yes. Three times.HAD A HARD TIME GETTING OVER SOMEONE:Yes.BEEN HURT?:Yes, I am human.YOUR GREATEST REGRET:I have one.GONE OUT WITH A SOMEONE YOU ONLY KNEW FOR THREE DAYS:Nope.R a n d o mDO YOU HAVE A JOB: Yes, I have a job -- but my "career" is being a painter.YOUR CD PLAYER HAS IN IT RIGHT NOW: Nothing. I listen to my iPod.IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?:Red.WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?:Sushi, buying books, music videos from the 80s, David Sedaris books, chocolate eclairs, people who can tell a good joke, shoes, art by Jackson Pollock.WHO MAKES YOU THE HAPPIEST?:My baby -- but the husband is pretty CLOSE -- but since it's the baby, he doesn't mind. ;)WHAT'S THE NEXT CD YOU'RE GONNA GET?:"Getting Away With It" by ElectronicWHO DO YOU CONSIDER GOOD FRIENDS?: I only have three good friends.WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO?:Paint, write, take photos, draw comic books, read journals, listen to music, create things!W h e n / w h a t W a s T h e L a s tTIME YOU CRIED?: About two weeks ago, when I was still VERY sick from all-day morning sickness.YOU GOT A REAL LETTER?:About a week ago.YOU GOT E-MAIL:A few moments ago.THING YOU PURCHASED: Some sushi, organic chips,an issue of Mothering magazine, guacamole, raspberry-lime SmartWater and cream of mushroom spinach soup from Whole Foods.TV PROGRAM YOU WATCHED:Degrassi: The Next GenerationMOVIE YOU SAW AT THE THEATER: "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King"Y o u r T h o u g h t s O nABORTION:It is always a woman's choice and no one's business.TEENAGE SMOKING:Teens who smoke always look idioticSPICE GIRLS:So tell me what you want, what you really really want...DREAMS:They give us glimpses into our unconscious

Why do I do this to myself?

I sit all clenched up and barely breathing watching this show on Discovery Health channel. I clutch my belly, curl in my toes and squint my eyes with every scream of pain every single one of these women give.Ay...Then I think, the reason I watch is because the end result is always the same: the birth of a baby, the tears of a mother, a father and as her body relaxes so does mine and I begin to tear up watching this crap on TV counting the days happily till my day comes.*sniff*

Happy Day...

Today I secured my spot (well, actually the kid's spot) at Maria Elena's daycare. She is a wonderful woman who is a Montessori trained and certified teacher for 0-3 year olds. The waitlist for her daycare, which is in her home, (she is, as I mentioned, Montessori-trained and certified, but also DCFS certified) is pretty long, but today I stopped by to say "Hello" (we used to work together) and she was so excited to see me and find out I was pregnant she instantly saved a space for me in August when the kid will be 8 weeks old. *Whew* That was a long sentence.Maria Elena's daycare is 10 minutes from where I work, she speaks Spanish -- which is great because I want the baby exposed to as much Spanish as possible (I am fluent, whereas my husband can only get by ordering at a Mexican restaurant!) and it is just such a great feeling to know that the baby will have a safe, nurturing place where she can grow and develop intellectually, emotionally and spirtually while I am work. I will be able to sleep soundly tonight knowing one more thing is off my list.

Bleh...Snow.

Tonight was supposed to be the first night I was going to a "social" event and now the non-stop out-of-the-blue snow won't let up and it is so blah that I am just going to stay home.Oh well...so much for The Art of the Book opening at Myopic Books.