I love this town. Tomorrow we’re supposed to have a light icing on the road in the morning…. Nobody has to report to work until 10am, or later.
In Ohio, Derek had to drive for two hours to get to his deployment plane in the middle of a blizzard. (Remember our car accident?) But here, they tell people not to come in when the temperature drops below 25 degrees. I hate cold. I love this town.

 I got the coolest round of “Attaboy’s” during my meeting today with the patrol supervisors, for simply being observant and noticing a crime pattern they hadn’t yet seen. Tomorrow I have an appointment with the detectives division.  I kinda feel like a pregnant Batman. If I could describe more of what I do daily without giving out too much information, I would, so forgive me for being vague. I get to do all the intelligence side of crime fighting without getting to go out and get my hands dirty. Although if I were a sworn personnel member, I might be able to attend some of my analysis work.

Derek’s applied for several of the local colleges and is looking forward to having his education degree within the next two years. It seems like things are really coming together, so why do I feel like something bad could creep up and ruin everything at any minute?
I guess the state of the economy has got me a little spooked since we only have my income right now.

Does the economy or new administration spark hope or fear in your future?

Baby Update 34 Weeks
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which she’ll need to regulate her body temperature once she’s born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you’ve been nervous about preterm labor, you’ll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

Did you notice? Only 49 days left  until this thing comes out of me. Back to da clubs in just 7 weeks and I’ll be looking goooooooooood.

 That’s right. You looked at my sexy post-baby body.

 Derek swears he’s not even going to breathe in the same room around me once the baby is born. Can’t take the risk that I’ll get pregnant again. I’m guessing it’s airborne because I can’t figure out how  these cute little parasites keep ending up inside of me.

 In all seriousness I want to know what she’ll look like. I realize when she first comes out, she’ll look more like a wrinkled tiny Winston Churchill, but after all the “Holy crap, I’m BORN!”-face wears off, I wonder whom she’ll resemble? I keep having odd cravings. Last night it was soy sauce. I called my husband and “ordered” chinese for dinner and played it off by saying “The baby wants it.” You’d be suprised how many things I can get my way with that simple statement.

Today was inauguration day. If you didn’t know this, you live in a small, tiny bubble where the unicorns frolic. Or you’re just dumb. On a positive note, I was really impressed with how sincerely hopeful  people seem. It’s no secret that I’m a skeptic on “Lord Obama’s” abilities.  I really think people  are putting waaaaay too much emphasis on the ability of this man. (besides the fact that congress holds the power and the president is just a political Barbie doll.) However, for the first time in years, people are actually feeling positive- though naive they might be.  Any life coach or psych teacher will tell you that thinking positively is the first step to improving your current position in life. If these people think good things will happen due to Obama’s presidency, then anything that happens in their life that is “good” will be attributed to him and his “change”.  If they believe in the positive possibilities, maybe a positive pandemonium will spread. Anything is better than this past year or two of depressing recession and  sad-sac pathetic news we’ve had. Modern media is DEAD. The baby said so.

 I won’t go as far as Mr. Rush Limbaugh and say “I hope Obama fails” because I think the American people need something to look forward too. We’ve had such destitute times that it’s about time they found something to get excited about. Too bad it’s socialism and abortion-loving Obama, but I hope for the sake of our country that things turn out well. All I can do is pray. On the other side of things, why the hell were people singing the “Nananana, Hey Hey Hey, Good bye!” song to President Bush? I know the rest of the world thinks Americans are @$$holes, but now even *I* am starting to believe it. How friggin rude. I think Bill Clinton is a blue-dress -loving pervert but I’d still respect the man enough to be polite to him should he ever offer me a cigar.

Roe Vs. Wade’s anniversary is on Thursday. Please remember to pray for all the women in the world who are scared and have a choice to make. Pray they choose life.  (the baby wants them to.)

33 Weeks 

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He’s rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren’t fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. These bones don’t entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

*On an unrelated note* I’m staying in Dallas again for a few days this week for another training session and I’m starting to wonder if this hotel room is haunted. I keep hearing footsteps right here next to my bed and a few minutes ago, my bag just jumped off the table and onto the floor. The baby doesn’t like that. Maybe Obama will make it better?

 
Drivers on the road at 6:45am are few and far between. However, the few that are out there are CRAZY. He was in a red and grey primered pickup and he cut across several lanes, completely ignoring the stop sign and the blaring of my horn as I nearly collided with his tailgate. Here’s the kicker: He was dressed as a COW.  I kid you not, I almost got into a car accident with a COW. The Cow didn’t even look at me, but his black and white spots and bell necklace were very clear in the beams of my headlights in the early morning  darkness.  My coffee cup flew all over my shift stick and I sat there for a minute bewildered with just one thought on my mind:
“What an asshole Cow!”
 
I’m heading to Dallas today. Pray for my safe arrival and fewer incidences with Cows.

Baby Update: 32 Weeks (55 days till this thing comes out of me.)
 
 
By now, your baby weighs 4 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You’re gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she’ll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb.
*Side note*- What the HELL is a jicama????

*EDIT UPDATE*

I’m in Dallas. If you are an engineer in the metroplex area, let me offend you for a second. WTF were you THINKING when you designed these roadways?

I ran a toll road because I couldn’t get through the traffic  to  the cash side of it all.  There are six lanes. The cash lane is on the far right. I was on the far left. NO ONE would let me through. Being in a police fleet vehicle, I’m hoping I wasn’t susceptible to pay the toll.  If so, I’m probably fired. The power of driving the fleet vehicle goes to my head. I wanted to turn on the lights and sirens. But again, I’d probably be fired.  

I just discovered I’ve been noted on Spidey’s Xanga. Do you realize that when you ‘re featured  on Spidey’s blog, you’re in?
 I mean, it was pretty well the shiznit to be the first Xangan idol on AvenuetotheReal’s blog. But this is the hugest.  Now in order to achieve total Xanga domination,  I simply have to convince Dan at Theologian’s Cafe to  marry me.  Oh wait… I’m already married. Um.  Maybe he’ll adopt me?

In other world affecting news, this parasite will be out from inside of me in simply 58 more days. Lately she’s been waking me up at night. She get’s the hiccups, get’s pissed and kicks me. As if I could do anything about it. What a punk. She’s also craving onions, then kicks me in the gallbladder and gives me the kind of indigestion that makes fire come out of my throat. It’s an impressive trick at parties, but does not help   with minty fresh breath. 
So I’ve decided the child inside of me is Stewie.

Aside from the all evil activities she performs inside my unknowing belly, she’s wreaking havoc on my pocket book. Do you know how much they charge you to squeeze these little parasites out?!!?  Even after my insurance covers their little portion, I still owe almost $3000.
Chump change, right?
 
So our already super-tight budget just screamed out it’s last dollar.  Go figure, when you’re broke is when you crave fast food EVERY DAMN DAY.  I miss you, chili cheese dogs. Onion rings, I’ll never forget you. To my dearest .99$ cheeseburgers, you were always my love. And last but not least, five count chicken nuggets, you will always be with me. You’re remembered in my heart. When I win the lottery, I’ll return for you.
 
Aside from the baby stuff, I’ll be heading to Dallas this week and most of next week so I’m not sure what my xanga-posting schedule will be like. My new kick-ass job is sending me for training  to several of the larger Police Departments to view their crime analyst procedures. It’s a huge opportunity for me, however- I’ll be away from the babies and husband… Suck.  I kinda like them. The don’t make me crave taco bell bean and cheese burritos with extra onions.
 On the upside, I might get to watch grown-up TV for once while I’m at the hotel. I’m so sick and tired of singing Handy Manny’s theme song.  Mickey Mouse is in my dreams… 

31 Weeks  

Baby update:
This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.5 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He’s probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby’s kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

PS, Thanks to my dear Uncle Tim, I have discovered the fantastic talents of Amy Winehouse. She’s apparently more than just a screwed up cocaine addict. Some of the songs I’ve heard from her resemble everything I wanted to be when I grew up: Ella Fitzgerald. I don’t know how I ever imagined some skinny little white girl could become  a world famous black first lady of jazz.  Ms. Winehouse discovered the secret o my dreams and does it well.   I’ve only heard a few of her songs, but so far, everything has been great. As soon as I can afford Taco Bell again, I’ll be purchasing her CD.