I Love it when my husband does this:

Almost there baby cakes! You'll get it next time for sure :)

Election Day

Seriously people!?! You complain and complain about our economic situation and then you vote in Boxer...AGAIN and Brown? Good luck California. At least prop 19 didn't pass, we might have just packed up and moved to Montana!

Thouroughly disappointed!

An Old Fashioned Post

Since the baby was born I noticed all of my posts have been about the baby. Then I thought my poor readers have been without melissa randomness (i like to italicize for dramatic effect, is it working?) for so long, I must give them a dose!

Once you have a baby you have to be careful or everything can become about baby, hence my blog. This morning I woke up and told Kiel we needed to go on a day trip because I had been cooped up in the house all week.

He said we needed to relax because he had been cooped up outside all week.

That's not even a thing. You can't be cooped up outside.

He said he just made it a thing and then proceeded to the living room to play his video game, aka erase this conversation from his memory.

So I sat in bed and wondered what to do. Should I nag? Whine? or play my "you owe me card."

I collected that card last night when Kiel was laughing hysterically at something on his computer. He was practically in stitches. I asked what he was laughing at and he said "a whale." I went over to see and it was our 1st anniversary pictures at Catalina Island. It was ME 9 months pregnant. I slugged him in the arm and he laughed harder.

I got out of bed and said you owe me and he said, fine. But we are not going to San Diego to stalk your favorite reality stars. Dang! That man is on to me, so on to me.

Instead we walked 9 blocks toward the beach and stopped at Subway for breakfast and then walked back.

It was just what I needed.

And here is the real reason why you're here:

And to prove that Kiels earphones for his video game are mind erasers I will post this blog and he will say "I never said that."

It's all good fun ;)

Insomnia

I was wide awake at 3am, this morning. After my usual tinkle I couldn't go back to sleep.

I was hungry, but for what?

I tossed and turned for an hour and then gave up. I made couscous and turned on the tube.

Kiel came out to see what the heck I was doing, plus he had to get ready for work.

"I can't sleep." I explained

"So you're cooking and watching T.V.?" He shook his head, and then started watching the tube with me amongst getting ready for work.

He left and it was only 5:15am, I was still wide awake.

I didn't know what to do. I would be dead if I went to work at 9am. I'm dead by 4pm with normal sleep.

It took me till 7 to write an email to my boss.

So now I have the day off, to sleep and catch up on housework, but first...

I'm hungry.

I've Been Reorganized

Let me start off by saying..."I'm thankful I have a job, I'm thankful I have a job, I'm thankful I have a job."

Last month at my company there were all types of rumors going around and everyone was scared.

"Did you hear? They are laying off everyone on Tuesday."
"NO, they're not, but they are dividing us all up."
"They are selling us to Guthy - Renker."

And then came Tuesday...and lot's of people got laid off. Some of my close work friends ;(
Then came Wednesday and we had a company meeting where they announced we would be splitting up into three companies. After the meeting we were to meet with our bosses to discuss how these changes would effect us personally. I had recently been moved to a different team so I thought I was safe...

Turns out I was reorganized and then reorganized again. I'm thankful they didn't reorganize me out the door.

Melissa, you will now be in charge of Customer Retention Management and you have a new boss.

This is my fourth boss since I started...but I have a job ;)

CRM is boring, and not that fun. I have to look at data, analyze LTV and help improve the customer experience. I should have failed the test when they gave it to me a couple weeks earlier.

I am happy to add more skills to my resume tho... Yay, HTML and Dream weaver!

I finally told my work, well actually just my new boss that I'm pregnant.

He asked, "Well what does that mean?"

"Ummm, well I think it means I'm having a baby. But for you it means I have a Dr. appointment once a month."

He said, "Great, well congratulations!"

and then I checked out maternity leave...I get a whopping 5 months! Woo Hoo! Thank you family leave act.

And now I'm deciding when to tell my co-workers. I think after Turkey Day, I will show up and make everyone think I ate a lot of turkey that weekend. And then I will have my close friend here start a rumor that I'm having Michael Jackson's baby...hmmm good times to come!

Alas, the purpose of why I still have a job!

Letters

Dear Nausea,

Must you consume every part of my day? Seriously, nausea I need a break. Can you go hang out with someone else now?

Thanks. P.s. I hate you.

Melissa

Dear Toilet Bowl,

Thanks for always being there and putting up with my crap.

(I practice these jokes ahead of time.)

You're a true soldier.

See you tonight, when I need to hurl.

Melissa

Dear Baby,

I know vegetables and tofu are really good for you, but would it hurt to crave mashed potatoes or a sugary snack every once in awhile? Also baby, when you see a commercial that shows steak you don't have to make my stomach turn. We can't eat things from the t.v. I know. You still have a lot to learn. And seriously baby, a jar of peppercinis every night? That's weird baby. Fine. You win.

Love your Mommy

Dear Husband,

Can you come home now? I know your friends are really cool and all but I miss you. Selfishly I want you to have a horrible time so you will never go away again. So, are you having fun?

Love your wife

I'm in there somewhere

(This picture has nothing to do with my post, I just want them really, really bad)

This weekend I got a glimpse of me. I felt so good I baked cookies and laundered Kiel's 100% wool pants and dried them (thank you very much). I also made dinner for us both, so what if it was only a salad (baby steps, baby steps) it was good (so good I made it again the next day) and Kiel was appreciative.

Speaking of my hot (that's H - O - T, hot - but say it more like hawt) husband he's been amazing. For a month now, my routine was simply: go to work, go home, crash on the couch, eat food Kiel brought me, go to bed. He cleaned the kitchen and whatever else, made me anything I wanted and put in my favorite new show (24) so I could relax, mind you he's been working 12 hour shifts. Oh and yesterday he organized the pantry, but that's not unusual. He always organizes the fridge and pantry for me. I make it disorganized because I know he loves to organize it so much (and if you believe that, I got some ocean front property in Arizona).

So I think it sufficeth me to say, Kiel was really happy when he came home and I was no longer in the depressed, pathetic and irritable mood that had recently consumed my days. But not so happy to find his wool pants went through the washing machine.

On another note, we found a place to live! It's right down the street from where we live now but much bigger and a two bedroom. This means Montana will be able to move in with us, we have cheaper rent and we stay in the same ward.

Kiel works on weekends now, boo hoo! I have been to more steak restaurants in the last 3 weeks than I have in a year. It probably would have been amazing if I didn't have a vegetarian living in my belly. One of the dinners will be a separate blog, I was surrounded by amazing people that have accomplished amazing things and are not done yet.

That's all for now, but if anyone wants to send me cinnabears I promise I will eat them.

Sounds Like 1st Trimester

"Have you called your mom yet?"

"No"

"Have you written Frannie's blog?"

"No"

"Have you talked to any of your sisters?"

"No"

"You are in a funk with your family"

"No Beth, I'm just in a funk"

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Last weekend I talked to my sister about motherhood.

"When you are sick and pregnant nothing is quite right." She noted.

Yes! That is it! Nothing feels quite right. Like my blog. Like me. Like my family. Things should be different.

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I didn't have anything to wear to church on Sunday. I looked at my closet and nothing mentally fit. I could've tried some dresses on, but my mind had already decided. I didn't want to wear anything I could see. So I put on my black stand-by dress and tried to revive it with some pink accessories. I used to be cute, I swear I used to be cute.

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After church Kiel and I went home to break the fast. We ate our leftovers from the Olive Garden. Lately food and I cannot agree on ANYTHING. I thought the Zuppa Toscana soup would satisfy my appetite but after two bites I gave it to Kiel. I usually cook on Sundays. But I can't make food right now, because my love seems restricted.

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Back at the apartment Saturday morning.

"I'll make breakfast if you do the laundry." Kiel bartered.

"Sure" I shrugged.

I had a small portion of breakfast and then couldn't get up to do the laundry. The day I have a laundry room in my home will probably feel much like winning the Lotto.

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My mother's house is adorable. Every pillow, vase and sculpture sings a happy song. It's the coziest home you'll ever visit and everything is homemade. Nothing is chirping at my house. I haven't vacuumed or swept in weeks. I don't feel like doing anything while I am gestating. I get to pick these things, right?

"Were you concerned about having a cute house when your children were little?" I asked my mother.

"No, but I always tried to have a clean house." She replied.

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Kiel and I went apartment/house hunting. We walked into a home we could never afford. I will use these words to describe the home: Spacious, Georgeous, Breathtaking, I want it.

"We should talk to a lender." I say.

"You want to buy a home right now?"

I think about it, "well, we should talk to one anyway."

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We are in the bare living room tonight.

I want a snack.

I get up and get spinach dip with croustini.

No good.

Instead I grab a jar of spicy pickles take a few bites and still feel unsatisfied. I get up and slice a bell pepper.

I think, what am I doing?

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I got a promotion.

Have I told my blog that yet?

It's great, last week I had meetings till midnight. This week I have meetings in the early AM.

All day I decide which background and what CTA (Call To Action) buttons are going to attract the most customers and therefore improve conversion.

Well actually, I'm responsible for way more than that.

But basically I could care less.

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I am not right. And that is the point. I am not right because I am not listening to what is right. Right for me, my body, my season of life.

My season is not about Job promotions.

It is not about the perfect snack.

I need a permanent house so I can nest and create a safe home.

Good organization and lots of cues from nature.

A clean house.

My season is not about fashion.

It is about picking a few items, showing off the best part of my body.

Easy laundered shirts.

Look nice, but not encumbered.

Clean clothes.

My season is not about cooking elegant meals.

I do not have the heart to treat food the way it should be treated.

It is okay to eat watermelon, oatmeal and toast.

Pirate Booty and Corn Pops.

Just eat something.

My season is for babies.

For sleeping when I can.

For belly and breast expansion and retraction.

A season for schedules and predictability.

A quiet time, a time to be at home (except I'm at work), a time to focus on growing and gathering.

Love this season. (I don't want to ask my energy to do more than this, though some women can.)

Then, then, then! I will start to dream again. I will dream of the season of home cooked meals and vacuum lines in my carpet. The time to cultivate a more sophisticated wardrobe and mornings to stay in bed until noon. I will earn my way to a kitchen full of spices and surprises. Parties, gatherings, social outings. First this. Then the gold living room. (Did I mention I want a gold living room?)

A Blog Over

A conversation I had with my company's PR firm.

"Kim, I want my blog to be famous!"

"You do?" she chuckles to let me know she doesn't take me seriously.

But I stand there, then I laugh. "Yes" I say, not knowing why. But I do. Oh, who am I fooling, I just want to be famous and if it's my blog that will get me there then so be it. I love Famous.

Then Kim gives me Hope. "Let me look at it" she says, I will let you know if you have potential.

She gets back to me quickly, "Your blog is really cute and sweet, but it's not you!"

I laugh, taking it as an insult but also knowing she was right.

"You need to tell stories, and put in your sense of humor"

That's how The dog story evolved. A story about my relationship on my "relationship blog" seemed appropriate even if it ran a little long. But now I'm stuck. Most of my visitors, although I don't know who some of them are:

(Who are you Oakland California and Mesa Arizona? Whoever you are, thanks for coming.)

Are interested in pictures and mini updates, am I right? Or am I wrong?

So please bare with me as I try to make this transformation and struggle to make the post that will be The post. That will be the day that Kiel will no longer tease "Did you make your million dollar post yet?" and he will then apologize for not taking my goal seriously and proceed to ask me to buy him a ferrari.

Goals

I'm not necessarily a "goal" oriented person per say, but I do have checklists of things I want to accomplish. Every week and the beginning of each month I will make mini goals for Kiel and I to accomplish. Like, let's read our scriptures together every night this week and say family prayer every evening. Let's go to the temple once a month. Sounds simple? Not with his schedule but the majority of the time the goals are accomplished.

For this month I decided I was going to write a post everyday for the month of September. I already cheated by writing 5 posts in one day (by the way, is it called a post or a blog?) so I had extra inventory and didn't need to write a blog until today. Thus the reason for this meaningless babble. I have a goal and I plan on having 30 blogs by the time October 1st comes around.

It should be easy, I have my high school reunion, Kiel's Birthday tomorrow (you know what that means long followers, a birthday list of 26 amazing things about Kiel, I'll try and make it better than last year but last year was pretty amazing.) Kiel's Birthday celebration at our place, and last but not least camping. Oh it's a busy month! I haven't had time to make him take me to a chick flick and I've been wanting to see Julie & Julia since I've seen previews for it when we saw My Sister's Keeper.

And one more thing before I "publish post" I secretly want my blog to become famous. Isn't that funny? I am so outdated when it comes to the "blogger world," a world that has existed for 10 years and I just realized it existed in 2008. The Julie/Julia Project started in 2002, 2002 and now 6 years later it's a book and a movie. What would I be famous for? How ordinarily ordinary I am? I need a blog that inspires people, blogs that inspire get noticed. But for now I take pride in being a hard working individual, a wife to my husband and a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Yes, it is a wonderful life :D

Text Messaging

Melissa: What are you doing?
Melissa: Hello?
Melissa: Meow
Melissa: Ruff ruff
Melissa: Quack quack
Melissa: Lets play, lets play, lets play, lets play, lets play

Kiel: Wow babe haha

Melissa: What r u doing?

Kiel: Changin out and will be home soon :)
Kiel: Ruff
Kiel: Woof

Melissa: Meow

Kiel: Bow wow

Melissa: Crack, that's what my back just did

Kiel: Rawr

Melissa: Come get in my belly
Melissa: Meow
Melissa: Hiss hiss

Kiel: Bark bark

Oh Love Plant ;(

When Kiel and I first got engaged, I got a seed and planted it in a tiny pot. It was to symbolize our love as a couple and I nicknamed it "Love Plant." Love plant out grew its house so I planted it in a shiny silver bucket. I was determined to keep it alive until Kiel and I died. I even fantasized about our children planting it on our graves. Well, after being in the bay area for a whole week preparing for the wedding, Kiel and I came back to a messy apartment and a parched plant. I quickly nurtured it with water, but once again we had to leave for our honeymoon. I would take a picture of it dead, but I think it would want people to remember its alive days rather than the dead ones. I'll miss you plant.

Ps, I know I might seem a little too attached to the thing, but it was the first time (after many attempts) I was able to make a thing grow with just dirt and water. My green thumb is cursed I tell ya, or just nonexistent. Boo!