Flattering and Inappropriate... But Isn't That How It Always Is?

Tycho and I spend a lot of our days at the pool. Fortunately, during the day, the pool is usually a hang-out place for kids under ten. Wednesday was the exception.

Yesterday we went to the pool in mid-afternoon. Instead of the usual crowd of kids, there were 7 or 8 adults (I'm using this term loosely... what I really mean is they were all at least 20 years old) messing around. I thought we'd be okay; it's not really necessary to have other kids around for Tycho to be entertained (he can entertain himself--the luxury of being an only child). However we only stayed for about half an hour. I decided it was time to go when one of the women almost lost her bikini top--a joke, I assume, and a false alarm, but I didn't want to stick around and wait for it to actually happen.

Long story short, we left, but there was a guy hanging out by the exit who was trying to flirt with me (I say trying because I think it takes two to flirt, and I was just trying to ignore him). Anyway, he ended up asking me if I was still with Tycho's father and being disappointed with my answer (YOU BET I AM!!). I'm not sure which I think is more trashy, that he was hitting on me when I had my child in tow, or that he actually asked that question. When I was walking away, I heard one of the girls from his group tell him that, obviously, the girl he was just hitting on is pregnant. He said he didn't care, that I looked good anyway.

So, I was disgusted, and yet... Is it bad to say that I was a little flattered? Sure, it was absolutely inappropriate, and why would I care what a guy like that thinks? I shouldn't enjoy affections like that, but... I AM a girl, and sometimes it seems my self-esteem depends on it. From a purely logical standpoint, I should be completely fulfilled knowing that my husband loves me and finds me attractive, but for some reason when other people say so, it gives an extra boost to my self-esteem.

But, for the record, I was completely disgusted.

Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Immune System Gone?

First, I got a cold. Not too bad... except that it took me a week and a half to get over it! Then, I got an ear infection, which I have never experienced before (except when I was a baby, which I do not count because I have no memory of it) and, boy, did that hurt! And NOW, I have these teeny tiny white bumps on my hands/fingers that itch like crazy!! This last one the doctor says is caused by stress and all three of them are due to a compromised immune system.

Yes, compromised. Suppressed. Weak. Because I'm pregnant. Because my body is changing to accommodate the baby. And, besides getting fat and cranky, apparently this means that my immune system is not up to par (so it does not reject this foreign object). Who knew? Not me, because nothing like this happened last time. Ugh. I've never had so many things go wrong with my body in the span of one month. Props to those who deal with this, and worse, all the time, because I would not be able to handle that.

On to a lighter subject, I am so glad my husband is on board with me not carrying Tycho for the remainder of this pregnancy. Sure, I'll still pick him up once in awhile as needed, but I'm not gonna carry him around the store if he doesn't want to walk, or give him a piggy-back ride around the neighborhood, you get the picture. These things are now reserved for Daddy. Technically, I'm not supposed to be lifting more than 15 pounds, and Tycho is almost 30 pounds, so there you have it.

This brings up an interesting topic, though. Here's the thing: Obviously, I want to be a good mom to Tycho. This means I probably shouldn't lounge around all day in my sweat pants while Tycho watches one barney video after another (although sometimes I feel like doing just that). BUT, I also want to be a good mom to my unborn little girl, so I can't overexert myself, which is exactly why I can't give Tycho piggy-back rides around the neighborhood. I have a feeling this is just the beginning of a million different situations in which the needs of little Mara (just seein how the name reads on paper) will clash with Tycho's needs.



And this, I address to my blog: Please bare with me through this job, because I spend all my free time on the computer doing at-home work, which I'm very thankful for, BUT it kinda makes me sick of typing and the computer in general, so there is little to no motivation to update you. Sorry, Charlie.

I Wish I Could Go Into Hibernation. Like Bears... Or Computers

Tycho was born on May 21. The first time he slept 8 hours straight through the night was July 4. I remember this because we had a family get-together and everybody wanted a piece of Tycho... he was alert and entertained for a big portion of the day. This is when I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Okay, so let's do the math. Six weeks and two days.

Six weeks. And two days.

Can't handle it. If I had a say, this baby would not come out. Ever.

Better yet, I wish I could store up sleep so that it won't matter when I'm only getting a couple hours of sleep at night. At least with Tycho I had the option to sleep during the day when he slept (still not enough sleep, but I'm sure I would take it and be grateful come November)... and now, it's because of Tycho that I do not have that option. Thanks, son, I love you too.

This revelation brought to you by the little poking and prodding from the inside that I started feeling today.

I Make Pregnancy Look Easy

I don't intend to, but I think I make pregnancy look easy. It's not. I think it's annoying when others complain (c'mon, suck it up, people!), so I try not to do it myself. Not complaining meshes well with my easygoing nature. There are those days, though, when I have to let it all out and ranting/complaining is the easiest way to do that. But the last couple sentences apply only in normal circumstances. Right NOW (and for the next several months), I feel like I'm more grouchy, complainy, burdensome, demanding, and all-around NOT easygoing.

Aside: Although I believe I have a right to blame my general bad attitude on hormones (because I'm not like this sans baby-in-my-uterus), I don't actually think it's hormones. Yes, hormones may cause horrible mood swings. BUT, if I were this fatigued, nauseated, fat, constipated, stressed, with tender and sometimes painful mammary glands, headaches, cramping, heartburn, itchiness (yes, itchiness), frequent trips to the bathroom, AND an aching back...? Why, yes, I think I would be most difficult to live with on a daily basis. Even without a parasite fetus growing inside me.

I FEEL like I'm more burdensome, but apparently I don't come across that way because Jacob brags to all other husbands-with-pregnant-wives about my pregnancies (first and second) being so easy. EASY? Of course there are several possible explanations for this. Maybe it's pride--he doesn't want people feeling sorry for him/me. Maybe it's a macho boasting thing--my wife's tougher than your wife. Or MAYBE he actually thinks it's EASY. I hope, for his sake, that it's not the latter.

What Happened?

What? Tycho turned two? How did we go from this:



To this??


(I used these pictures in honor of Tycho recognizing my dad in a picture and saying, "Papi!")

On account of birthday number dos, how 'bout I do a favorites list?

Tycho's Two Most Favorite...
T.V. Shows: Barney and Go, Diego, Go!
Books: Ten Little Monkeys and The Nose Book
Songs: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and I'm Yours (Jason Mraz... what can I say, it's catchy)
Appendages: his feet!
Drinks: Milk and Apple Juice
Foods: French Fries and Cucumbers (actually, I should say ranch with a little bit of cucumbers on the side)
Sports: Soccer (duh) and Basketball (a new thing, since our apartment complex has a basketball court)
Stores: Books-A-Million (really just the play area in the bookstore) and Toys 'R' Us (given)
Toys: Cars and Balls
People: Mommy and Daddy of course! (off the record, we'd probably cross off Daddy and write in Tycho's favorite friend from church, April)

I have it on good authority (Ruth) that at age two Tycho should know 50 words, so here are 50 words that he says:
bite
more
bottle
cookie
hair
nose
mouth
car
outside
water
feet
toe
hands
head
arm
dog
mommy (my personal favorite)
bubble
eyes
bear
fishy
barney
daddy
color
paper
pants
shirt
teeth
potty
juice
milk
candy
spoon
snack
bunny
monster
green (can say other colors, but green is the only one he consistently recognizes correctly)
book
monkey
bath
push
go
yummy
cereal
jump
ball
trash
shoes
two (he knows that's how old he is and he knows it comes after one)
hat

Wow. That was surprisingly easy and fast to think of off the top of my head.

This past weekend we had almost everyone over. All grandparents, aunts, and uncles came and celebrated Tycho's birthday except Zach (in UT), Rachel (in MD), and Andy (bum). Just kidding about Andy; actually, he had to work. We played soccer, went to the splash pad/park, ate cupcakes, and opened presents (Tycho made out like a bandit). Pictures to come (I hope)--Sarah took all the pictures with her fancy camera.