New Year's Eve

Dear Friends and Family,

The past couple of days have melded into an amalgamation of sorting, shuffling, boxing, moving, and reassessing. Mr. mouse and I have been working on the basement/garage to try and sort through our dumping pile of stuff. Sadly, most of what I've gone through so far is junk that can be sorted into three piles: sell, donate, and toss. About 15% of it has made it through to the save pile.

Guess it wasn't an issue before since we never needed the space. Sigh.


Cheers!
mouse

12.30.08: Home for the Holidays

Dear Friends and Family,

We went home for the long weekend.

Thursday, we flew out to see Mr. mouse's folks. They picked us up at the airport and we spent the day at home catching up, watching TV, and preparing Christmas dinner. They made turkey and gravy, sweet rice with sausage, crab cakes, egg rolls, lobster bisque, cranberry jelly, asparagus and pumpkin pie. Can you say stuffed?

Friday, we did some shopping, went to Mr. mouse's mom's site (she passed away, I never had a chance to meet her), had dinner and then did some quick shopping. While we were at Whole Foods, Mr. mouse bought a stuffed monkey for Pioneer. It made it that much more real for me. It's the first thing we've purchased for them since finding out we were expecting. It made me cry.

Saturday, we drove over to my parents' store. We spent some time with my mom and then headed downtown for some shopping and to take in the holiday vibe. If you're wondering what's with all the shopping, it's mostly gift exchanges to get other sizes, colors, etc. We met up with my sister and brother-in-law and my brother for dinner. I think my mom really enjoyed seeing all of us together.

Sunday, we met up with my uncle and aunt for lunch. Then, we headed over to see my grandmother. I had my expectations set low since she has good days and bad days. But, Sunday turned out to be a good day and she recognized us all. I didn't tell her about Pioneer, but it was so good to spend time with her. We swung by my other uncle's place, but he wasn't in. Dinner was a simple affair at home with my brother and parents. Then, we watched Iron Man, which I have to admit, I enjoyed.

Monday, we woke early and headed back home. We toyed with going on one last trip. But, ultimately, with the Gaza Strip headlines and just feeling like doing stuff around the house, we decided to take this week to begin preparing the house for Pioneer.


Cheers!
mouse

12.26.08 (Week 20, Day 7): Week 21

Dear Friends and Family,

We're officially at the halfway point. Wow.

Lately, Pioneer been developing their own inertia. Sometimes, I'm going left and Pioneer's still going straight. Or, I'm getting up, and they're still sitting down. I've been aware of it for a couple of days. But, yesterday was the first day it caused me pain. I was in the process of getting up from the couch after sitting there for awhile. And, Pioneer decided not to get up. And, there was a sharp pain everywhere that dulled into a dull pain everywhere that didn't fully go away until I slept it off. Guess we'll have to coordinate better going forward.

Baby
Your baby measures about 7.2 inches from crown to rump and weighs about 10.5 ounces. The fetus is steadily gaining fat to keep warm. Growth rate is slowing down but organ systems, like digestion, are continuing to mature. A waxy film, called the vernix caseosa, is being produced by your baby's oil glands and covers the skin to keep it supple in the amniotic fluid. Buds for permanent teeth are beginning to form.

Mom-to-Be
Friends, relatives, even strangers can probably tell you're pregnant by now. Your uterus is starting to extend above your navel. You've probably gained between 10 and 14 pounds by now.

Tip for the Week
Start looking into childbirth classes if you haven't already.


Cheers!
mouse

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Dear Friends and Family,

We're headed home for the holidays, first to Mr. mouse's dad's for a couple of days and then to my parents' for a couple of days. It'll be good to see everyone and, hopefully, to relax.

Merry Christmas, everyone!


Cheers!
mouse

Bully at Work II

Dear Friends and Family,

I called my bully on their behavior yesterday at work. And, they said it was a way of showing affection. I told them to be careful, I may stuff them in a locker the next time they try to bully me.

I couldn't resist a little bullying of my own later in the day. My bully's chair creaked in an "uh-oh-did-I-break-it" kind of way. And, under my breath, so only my bully could hear, I said, "no more chocolate for you."

We're even now.


Cheers!
mouse

Bully at Work

Dear Friends and Family,

Yesterday, I encountered a bully at work. It's been building up. But, yesterday was the day I felt like my lunch money had been taken. Today, I'm going to confront my bully. I'm not going to stoop to playing their game. I'm going to call them on their game and see if I can't stop the bad behavior. We'll see where all of this leads.


Cheers!
mouse

12.22.08: Winter Solstice, Whoppee!

Dear Friends and Family,

The winter solstice usually gets forgotten in a whirlwind of holiday prep and because I'm too depressed to deal with the dark. Well, happy winter solstice, everyone. Sunday was freezing out, but, it also meant it was bright and sunny. I'll take stupid cold and sunny or overcast and simply cold any day of the week. And, now, the days are getting longer. Yeah!

Friday afternoon, we went in for our ultrasound. Seems like Pioneer continues to thrive and grow. They measured a lot of different bone lengths like the femur and the other two leg bones and the three major arm bones. And, they checked the spinal cord area over to see if there's any openings or irregularities there. And, they look for organs like the kidneys and stuff to see if they look normal. And, if you want, they check for gender. The only cause for concern is that part of the placenta is somewhere over the cervix. Hopefully it'll move sometime in the next 20 weeks. If not, we're looking at c-section.

We spent the rest of Friday catching a bite to eat downtown then walking through an outdoor market looking at Christmas ornaments.

Saturday we drove out to the burbs for our next doctor's appointment. Then, we stopped at the mall to finish off our Christmas shopping. I spent a little more than I intended to on my mom, but a little less on my grandma, so I guess it all ends up even in the end. We picked up some bagels and roast beef at a little Jewish deli and headed home for the afternoon.

Most of Saturday disappeared into Christmas card productions with a lot of the time dedicated to updating addresses and stuff. But, by the end of the evening we had a stack of cards ready for the post office which is always a great feeling.

Sunday morning, we drove out to the mailbox and picked up the mail. Our neighbors mailed us a box of treats - yummy! We stopped by the post office to pick up stamps and mail off the cards. And then we hit Chinatown for lunch and some groceries.

We napped in the sun and woke in time for dinner and some football and the glorious feeling of not having too much to do before the holidays.

Two more crazy days in the office and then an amazingly long break.


Cheers!
mouse

12.19.08 (Week 19, Day 7): Week 20

Dear Friends and Family,

Next Saturday marks the half way point. Wow!

Still having the burps every so often and coping with a new and very frustrating symptom - unintentional 2pm naps. ARGH! Not what the career counselor ordered. I fell asleep twice this week. One time with my bosses' boss sitting next to me. If option 1 is sleeping on the job, literally, and option 2 is caffeine, well, Pioneer is just going to have to learn to live with caffeine.

We go in for our ultrasound today and I am so excited. I can't wait to see how much Pioneer's grown since last time. Tomorrow we have our next doctor's appointment. Fun times.

Baby
The fetus measures about 5.6 to 6.4 inches from crown to rump and weighs about 9 ounces. Your baby can hear sounds by now -- your voice, heart and your stomach growling, as well as sounds outside your body. It will cover its ears with its hands if a loud sound is made near you, and it may even become startled and "jump." The baby is moving often, too -- twisting, turning, wiggling, punching and kicking.

Mom-to-Be
Congratulations! You're at about the midpoint of your pregnancy. Your uterus is just about even with your navel. Your waistline has pretty much disappeared, but only temporarily! The risk of bladder infections increases because the smooth muscles in the urinary tract relax. Your breathing will become deeper and you may perspire more than usual from a more active thyroid gland.

Tip for the Week
To alleviate backaches, maintain good posture. Sit with a footstool or use an ergonomic chair at the office, avoid standing for too long, sleep with a small pillow under your side at the waist, and lift things with your legs instead of your back.

What's Happening Inside You?
Hair is beginning to grow on your baby's head and lanugo, a soft fine hair, covers his or her shoulders, back, and temples. This hair protects your baby and is usually shed at the end of the baby's first week of life.

Your baby's skin is covered with a whitish coating called vernix caseosa. This "cheesy" substance, thought to protect baby's skin from long exposure to the amniotic fluid, is shed just before birth.

You may begin to feel your baby move, since he or she is developing muscles and exercising them. This first movement is called quickening.

By the end of the fifth month, your baby is about 10 inches long and weighs from 1/2 to 1 pound.


Cheers!
mouse

Top Three Update

Dear Friends and Family,

With under 30 minutes of coffee time left this morning, I'm going to tackle a Top Three update. I must be losing my sanity.

Number 1 is easy. Pioneer. We're about halfway through a journey that takes us to just the start of a lifelong adventure. On a practical note, though, we've got a couple of months to figure out what we need to stock, what we need to get smart on, and what we need to do to prepare space. It's overwhelming.

Number 2 is easy. Money. Money. Money. It pays the bills. It makes it easier to sleep at night. It's part of being an adult. This one is about keeping the budget where it needs to be. And, about finding a good interest bearing account for our rainy day fund. And, about continuing to pay down the house. We're not jumping on the refinancing bandwagon. We have a 15 year fixed loan with a low enough rate and a low enough balance that it's just not a priority for us.

Number 3 is a stumper. What to focus on? It seems like work is consuming a lot of time and energy. Is that the right thing to focus on? Perhaps it is. I'm really enjoying it. I'm still new on the team. And, it's something that feels a little like an inflection point right now.


Cheers!
mouse

New Winter Robe

Dear Friends and Family,

At home, I usually wear a t-shirt and shorts or a long sleeved shirt and yoga pants or a sweat shirt and sweat pants, depending upon the weather. But, with Pioneer, I've become a robe person. It just feels better to not have something pressing against my belly.

I have two robes, one an unused gift from six years ago and the other a yukata from a trip to Japan ten years ago, that have been getting heavy usage the last two months.

Where's this all leading? Mr. mouse and I were Christmas shopping Monday night. And, on our way out to the car, Mr. mouse noticed a beautiful, soft, long sweater that looked like it could be a perfect new "robe" for me with the colder weather. Price? $210. Um, thanks, but no thanks. But...

• original price: $210
• marked down to $147
• less 50% ($73.50)
• less an additional 20% ($58.80)
• less an unexplained $16.80 ($42)

$42 for a winter robe? Well, that seems more in the ballpark of what I'm willing to pay.

Last night was our first real snow of the year. And, the commute home was a nightmare. But, coming home, and slipping into my new robe. Well, it made it all better. I'm so glad we bought it.


Cheers!
mouse

Seychelles: Fri, Sat - Our Trip Back

Dear Friends and Family,

As always, west bound travel makes for a long day. It was thirty hours on the return, including a ten hour layover in Kuwait City. Fortunately, when the travel times get that long, it tends to all blur into one timeless, sleepless haze.

What We Did


Return itinerary: Mahe -> Doha -> Kuwait -> Washington DC -> Chicago. Let's see... watched the last third of Sex and the City on the first flight and slept on the second flight.

We didn't have enough planning laid out to venture into Kuwait City when we landed. Instead, we ate lunch and then hung out in the airport lounge for the day. Internet access and comfy lounge chairs made the stay pleasant. But, more importantly, it was quiet and smoke free. Second hand smoke is never fun, but I'm inhaling for two now, and it's even less fun when you've got a bad case of the burps.

I can't recall much of flight number three. Tried to sleep the whole flight since that's what we should have been doing if we were back on Central Standard Time. I woke for parts, but managed to get pretty rested on the flight. And, the last leg was uneventful. Dozed and read and started to look forward to getting home.

What We Ate


I wish it were more exciting than this, but the day was mostly filled with airplane food. Omelet breakfast followed by cheese sandwich snack.

Kuwait airport is a tiny airport with two food options: McDonald's and Pizza Hut. Mr. mouse and I love Middle Eastern food, but there was none to be had. Sigh.


The airport lounge serves food, so before boarding our flight for DC, we took advantage of some Middle Eastern while in the Middle East. Finally. We had some hummus with pitas, some stuffed grape leaves and some rice with curry.

What I Learned

I can't say the last day was very insightful. If I had to come up with something I guess I could make a food comment. Fast food (e.g. McDonald's), I just don't care for it anymore, which is probably a good thing.


Cheers!
mouse

12.15.08: Winding Down 2008

Dear Friends and Family,

Two more weekend updates in 2008. About now is when I wonder, where did the year go?

Friday night, B and Chef M came over for dinner. Mr. mouse made chicken tortilla soup, steak, sauteed potatoes, baked squash and green beans. Chef M made a lovely reduction sauce of shallots, balsamic vinegar and port wine for the steak. I skipped on the sauce, more because I wasn't in the mood than because I was concerned about the minuscule about of port in it. We broke out the Scrabble board for team Scrabble - B and Mr. mouse vs. Chef M and me. We won, yeah! Eggnog, cookies, and chestnuts filled what little space was left in our stomachs, and I felt like the holiday season had finally begun.

Saturday, we slept in until noon. It was heavenly to sleep in. Mr. mouse went to pick up the mail while I worked on Christmas card content. What did we do with the rest of the afternoon? I can't seem to recall. Crossed a couple of errands off of the list, but mainly I stayed inside and futzed about.

Saturday night, we drove out to the hinterlands to attend my department holiday party. I wasn't sure what to expect walking in since I'm new to the group. In the end, I had a ton of fun, meeting everyone's spouses and just talking outside of the work context. I'm glad we went.

Sunday, I spent the morning fighting the burps. Mr. mouse made some French toast to try to settle my stomach. It worked for a little bit and I finished off the invite to our annual January party. Then, the burps hit with a vengeance. I spent most of the day just trying to catch my breath. Mr. mouse used the opportunity to clean the house and spend time organizing.

A couple of my work friends arrived at four with their young daughter, Elanor. And, we headed out to an early dinner, as in 5 pm dinner. Elanor was a champ. She sat in the high chair and played the whole time. It was perfect, if a little early. We were home by 6:30 and decided to get the tree trimmed before turning in for the night.

This week, we must get out cards and begin Christmas shopping. Ack!


Cheers!
mouse

12.12.08 (Week 18, Day 7): Week 19

Dear Friends and Family,

After no additional anything yesterday, I'm forced to conclude Wednesday night was more muscle changes and not Pioneer. Sigh. That's okay, I get the feeling there will be plenty of weeks to enjoy feeling them. I should enjoy whatever additional time I get in this current phase.

Baby
Your baby measures about 5.2 to 6 inches from crown to rump and weighs about 7 ounces. Skin is developing and transparent, appearing red because blood vessels are visible through it. Creamy white protective coating, called vernix, begins to develop.

Mom-to-Be
As your baby continues to grow, you may be feeling some mid-pregnancy aches and pains by now -- lower abdominal achiness, dizziness, heartburn, constipation, leg cramps, mild swelling of ankles and feet, and a backache. Dilated blood vessels might cause tiny, temporary red marks (called spider nevi) on your face, shoulders and arms.

Tip for the Week
Take care not to get overtired since rapid growth of the baby can compound the burden on your heart, lungs and kidneys.


Cheers!
mouse

12.11.08 (Week 18, Day 6): Pioneer?

Dear Friends and Family,

I felt a couple of twinges last night. And, I could help but wonder. Was that Pioneer's first discernible movement? The first one I really noted was at 6:42, in the car, on my way home from work, with my friend B.


Cheers!
mouse

Seychelles: Thursday - Grand Anse

Dear Friends and Family,

Our last day on the Seychelles. I was mentally and emotionally drained after the tortoises and Anse Source D'Argent, so we planned a low key day for our last day.

What We Did


I'll admit it. I wasn't sure if anything could live up to Anse Source D'Argent. And, I was daunted by the description of the bike ride. But, the owner of the bungalow we stayed in told us it would be fine so I was convinced enough to give it a try.

We ate breakfast in our bungalow. Then, we showered and packed. We checked out and dropped off our bags at the main building. And, we hopped on our bikes for the ride down to Grand Anse. I packed my swimsuit... just in case.

I made it about third way on the bike. Then, Mr. mouse pulled my bike ahead while I walked up the hill. And, we rode the last third down to the beach. The beach was huge, as you'd expect by the name. The waves looked vigorous. And, not a spot of shade was to be seen. Still, I wanted to get my feet wet on my last day here.

We walked over to see if we could find a somewhat shaded spot by the rocks but it looked like the couple of good candidates were taken. We dropped our stuff on the beach. I got out my swimsuit to find a secluded spot to change. And, I found...


The MOST perfect cove!

Completely covered on three sides with an opening to the beach and water. Perfect spot to change. And, a perfect shelter from the midday sun. It also had a large flat rock in front of it that was perfect for our towel and for laying in the sun. And, to top it all off, the water was perfect at the end of the beach. We had waves, but they were manageable. To top it all off, because we were so far off to the side, no one bothered to walk down to our end of the beach.

It couldn't have been more serendipitous. And, it couldn't have been a better spot to spend the day. When we got hot, we went into our cove. When we wanted sun, we had our rock. And, when we wanted water, there it was. A perfect ending to a perfect trip.

We made a quick stop at an art gallery on our way back to the ferry to pick up some prints. Then, we took the ferry back to Praslin and the catamaran back to Mahe. Checked into our hotel room, showered, repacked and slept.

What We Ate


For breakfast, we had more of the breads from Mahe. And, we picked up more pies and fritters for a snack at the beach.


For dinner, we picked up food in Victoria on our way to the hotel. Mr. mouse got fish and chips at a take away joint. And, we picked up two pizzas from the restaurant upstairs. Sorry the picture's blurry. It's the only one we took.

What I Learned

We were waiting for our catamaran back to Mahe. There was a waiting area with benches. And, while we were sitting, we were people watching. And, we started to guess where everyone was from.

There was a couple. And, the woman had bug bites on her back. And, the man was putting on some cream. And, Mr. mouse said clearly they're from the States. No where else in the world do the men "administer" as much as men from the States. We spoke on it some more, and funny enough, he's right.

Much as we complain about equal rights and social injustices, if you find the "right" guy, there's really no one else who has it as good as we do, in the States. Sometimes. And, I realized/learned that I've got one of those special men. Mr. mouse does so much for me, to take care of me, to keep me happy, to... well, everything, really. And, maybe that's the most important lesson of them all, to remember to be thankful for all that he does for me.


Cheers!
mouse

Seychelles: Wednesday - La Digue, Heaven on Earth

Dear Friends and Family,

You cannot go to the Seychelles and not go to La Digue, even if it's for a day trip. You get there from Mahe by taking the local catamaran to Praslin and then the ferry to La Digue. The main mode of transportation on La Digue is bicycles. The island's just got a completely (well, not completely, but on a relative scale, completely) undeveloped feel about it.

What We Did


We got up at the crack of dawn and drove out to the dock. It takes a little under two hours to get to La Digue from Mahe - 45 minutes on the catamaran, 15 minutes transfer, and 30 minutes on the ferry. I napped on the first leg since it was still early.

We stayed overnight on La Digue. So, when we got off the ferry, we walked to our place to "check in." The bungalow wasn't available yet so we dropped off our bags, changed, and picked up our bicycles.


Mr. mouse read that there are giant tortoises on La Digue. Originally native to most of the islands of the Seychelles, they were hunted to extinction by the early settlers. One island maintained a tortoise population because the owner forbade the exploitation of the tortoises. Now, they're slowly being reintroduced to all of the islands. The Seychelles are the only place you can see them in their native environment (technically, not native, but certainly closer than the San Diego Zoo would be, per se) outside of the Galapagos Islands.

Okay, it goes without saying, SO much better than exotic coconuts.

I could have stayed all day watching them. The smaller, "baby" tortoises are close to 40 years old. And, the full sized, "adult" tortoises are closer to 100 years old. Seeing them was one of the highlights of the trip.


Mr. mouse finally dragged me away from the tortoises. We went back to check on our room/bungalow. It was ready. I was still a little tired, so I opted to stay in and take a quick nap while Mr. mouse explored the north side of the island.


We headed out for Anse Patates. Mr. mouse rode up there while I was napping. It was probably somewhere between one and two when we got there. The beach was tiny but beautiful and the waves were strong. Still, it was beautiful. And, we found a couple of manageable spots in the water before laying out in the shade to nap again.


We biked back down the island to Anse Source D'Argent for the afternoon.

Quintessential Seychelles.

I was almost afraid. After we parked our bikes, before we headed to the beach, I stopped Mr. mouse and told him how amazing the trip had been so far. And, that I was completely fine if the beach turned out to be a bust. I couldn't have been more wrong.

It blew my mind away.

And, it got even better. As it got later into the day, most of the day trippers started packing up to catch the last ferry back to Praslin. And, we quickly had the beach to ourselves. Technically, there were a half dozen of us, but believe me, it doesn't get much better than this.

And, as the sun set, the rocks came alive in shades of rose and pink that is so different from the midday white and black. We spent a couple of hours in the water taking pictures with Mr. mouse's monopod. It could not have been more beautiful.

What We Ate



Well, we couldn't make the hotel brunch because our boat left too early in the morning. But, we read that there was an early continental breakfast - my guess is for people checking out for early flights and for scuba trips. But, when we went down to the lobby, we didn't see it. I asked a waiter, and instead, he gave me a huge takeout container and told me to help myself from the buffet as it was being set up.

Well, beans and sausages don't travel well. But, the croissants and muffins and rolls do. I grabbed two of everything and then Mr. mouse stuck in a couple of slices of ham and a couple of sausages. It was enough for breakfast both days on La Digue and for snacking on throughout the day both days.

We supplemented our carb fest with food we picked up at the grocery store on the way back from seeing the tortoises. They had more fritters and baked pies and we grabbed an assortment not knowing what we'd find inside. It was a blend of meat and spices. Delicious.


After sunset at Anse Source D'Argent, we rode back in the dark to our bungalow. I took a quick shower while Mr. mouse went back to the supermarket for drinks and the ATM. Then, he took a quick shower and we headed out by foot to scrounge up dinner. We walked by a couple of restaurants and ended up by the ferry drop off point at a place that did take away. We picked up a plate of pork and lentils with rice and one of noodles. I wasn't very hungry, but figured eating was a good idea. The food turned out to the better than I thought it would be and we polished both plates back at bungalow. We went out for one more night of star gazing and then turned in for the night.

What I Learned

Two very important lessons.

The first was when we were with the tortoises and some of the tourists were doing very uncool things like feeding them bananas from their packs. I realized how important conservation is for me. Maybe realized is not the right word, since it's not a new discovery. Maybe it's I realized how much more important it is for me than it is for most people. I felt sorry for Pioneer. They'll grow up with an appreciation for beauty and nature, but I'm going to be pretty strict about it all. They're not going to be able to pet the tortoises nor feed them food. They'll be able to sit and watch. This is not a petting zoo, people!

The second was when we were at the beach at sunset. I thought about how fortunate we are in what we get to see and do. And, I thought about how important it is to stay real and to stay normal and to stay humble. Who wants to hang out with arrogant braggarts besides other arrogant braggarts? No one. And, that's when I was reminded how important it is to stay grounded and to keep it real.


Cheers!
mouse

Seychelles: Tuesday - Bonus Day on Mahe

Dear Friends and Family,

The original plan called for us to wake up at the crack of dawn and take a ferry over to Praslin, one of the other islands, for the day. But between the early wake up, the ferry cost (almost $100 round trip each), the extra rental car, and the fact that there was still tons to do on Mahe, we just weren't that motivated. From what we could tell, the primary tourist draw to Praslin is a national park that grows the Coco de Mer coconut. Sleeping in... exotic coconut... sleeping in... exotic coconut... our laziness won on without much of a struggle.

What We Did


We spent the morning exploring the one town on the island - Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles. It was lunch time by the time we got down there and found parking. The streets were alive with people walking the streets. There were lines at take away counters, people going for a stroll, people doing some quick lunch time shopping, and some running errands like going to the post office. One oddity we noticed was the long ATM lines. Turns out inflation was a problem for awhile and people just got into the habit of taking out what they needed each day.

We picked up some sodas and fish fritters and vegetable pies at the supermarket and took them back for the afternoon. We made a mini lunch plate at our hotel room with them, some freshly brewed espresso and some fresh fruit.


We headed back out to the hotel beach. There were several people out with snorkels. Always curious, Mr. mouse went back to our rooms and grabbed our snorkels. Turns out there's plenty of coral and fish to see if you swim out a little bit from the shore. Mr. mouse seemed to enjoy the water as much as I did this trip, which made it that much more fun.

Much better than exotic coconuts.

What We Ate



Breakfast? Hotel brunch! I decided to mix it up and started with a cold plate of salmon and toast and butter. Then, moved on to a hot plate of, you guessed it, beans and sausages. And, ended with a plate of fruit. More juice. More coffee. Ready to hit the day running.


How did we end up at the Pirate's Arms for dinner? The original intent was to go to a Creole buffet at the first beach we went to in Beau Vallon. Ah, I remember. Our logistical planning called for us to check out of our hotel Wednesday morning, board a ferry for La Digue, spend two days on La Digue, take the ferry back late Thursday afternoon, check into another hotel on Mahe for the night and leave Friday morning for home. With me so far? We thought it would be easier to drop off the bulk of our luggage at the second Mahe hotel so we wouldn't have to schlep it to La Digue (two ferry rides, walk to hotel, etc.) Sounds simple so far.

We packed a quick, simple bag for our two days in La Digue. And, we packed our two larger bags for the hotel. We showered and changed for dinner. We loaded the car and looked at the map. Remember when I mentioned a couple of days ago that the roads on the west side don't connect? Right. We needed to cross back over to Victoria, go south a bit, cross back over to the west to get to the second hotel. And, then do the same thing in reverse to get back. Excellent. By the time we finished three of four crossings, we were both pretty tired and hungry and the Creole buffet was sounding good, but not as good as dinner in Victoria. Plus, we rationalized that we had tried the creole food at Marie Antoinette the night before.

Pirate's Arms is one of several dinner options in Victoria. The music is loud, the menu is a range of food from sandwiches to entrees, the TVs are blaring, and the tables are filled with locals - both families and friends joining together for a communal meal. My kind of place. I had beef pies with rice and Mr. mouse got the fish crepes. The food was simple and good. The music was fun. The crowd watching was the highlight of the evening.

What I Learned

I didn't have a specific one I noted on my scribble page. But, looking back on it, it's the value of being flexible enough to adapt your plans to your day. We could have drug ourselves to Praslin or to the original intended dinner option, but the day ended up perfectly fine the way it played out. There's something to be said about just letting it happen.


Cheers!
mouse

12.08.08: Weekend with Friends

Dear Friends and Family,

We flew back to see some friends from the Mouse Winter Cabin days. We had a potluck at our friends' house. It was a wonderful chance to catch up with everyone and to show off the bump. Well, either everyone is being extremely kind (and I'm being totally gullible) or the bump is a figment of my imagination. Sigh.

Pioneer also got their first gift! Ms. Jordan brought them a little rattle. How sweet is she?

Sunday, we had a slow morning - coffee, bread and fruit with the neighbors before heading out for some crack pizza. We ended the day at the mall looking for tops (for me) and jeans (for Mr. mouse) before flying home and crawling into bed.

What a fun way to spend the weekend.


Cheers!
mouse

12.06.08 (Week 18, Day 1): Mr. Mouse's First Kiss

Dear Friends and Family,

Yesterday morning, right before I went in for my shower, Mr. mouse kissed his finger and touched my belly.

That's it.


Cheers!
mouse

12.05.08 (Week 17, Day 7): Week 18

Dear Friends and Family,

The week flew by and I've almost forgotten at times that we're expecting. A couple of bouts of minor coughing and burping is all I've had to cope with. My "digestion" even seems to be returning to normal now that my eating has become more normal.

I told my boss this week. And, he couldn't have been more supportive. I've also told a couple of close friends and work. It feels good to be able to be me and not feel like I'm walking around with a secret. And, I've learned that much as I think I'm a walking baby bump, it must be mostly in my imagination.

I made the switch this week to maternity clothes just because. My size six pants were still working, but I felt like making the change so I did. I guess sometime this month I'll need them. As far as tops go, I'm still wearing my old mediums.

Baby
Your baby measures 5 to 5.6 inches from crown to rump and weighs about 5.25 ounces. The rapid growth spurt is tapering off, but reflexes are kicking in. It can yawn, stretch and make facial expressions, even frown. Taste buds are beginning to develop and can distinguish sweet from bitter tastes. The baby will suck if its lips are stroked and it can swallow, and even get the hiccups. The retinas have become sensitive to light, so if a bright light is shined on your abdomen, baby will probably move to shield its eyes.

Mom-to-Be
Your uterus, about the size of a cantaloupe, can probably be felt just below your navel. You're most likely feeling the baby move by now. A mid-pregnancy ultrasound may be performed between now and 22 weeks to assess fetal growth and development and to verify the due date. If the baby is in the right position, the ultrasound may even be able to determine whether it's a boy or a girl. Your heart has to work 40 percent to 50 percent harder now to support your pregnancy.

Tip for the Week
Suggest that your partner go with you for the ultrasound. It's a chance to catch the first glimpse of your baby together, as well as provide a snapshot to show friends and family later. Sonograms still don't guarantee a healthy baby, but they can provide reassurance and spot some problems.


Cheers!
mouse

Seychelles: Monday - Exploring Mahe

Dear Friends and Family,

Our first full day on the island. We fell into our "usual" routine of splitting our day amongst a couple of beaches with a light lunch along the way. Then, we ended the day with a sit down dinner and a chance to try some new flavors.

What We Did


We looked up recommended beaches on Mahe and the books agreed for seclusion, head to the south and west. Petite Anse looked like a good candidate and we headed out in that direction. Although we're on the west side of the island by Beau Vallon, the road doesn't connect, so we needed to go east, south a bit and then west and south more.

We found the road we thought led to Petite Anse, but instead of finding a quiet, secluded beach, we found construction going on for the Four Seasons. Not fazed by the guards and trucks, we continued driving around looking for a road to the beach. Not to be found. Finally, we gave up and headed back to the main road. I think, until the Four Seasons is completed, Petite Anse isn't "reachable" and once the Four Seasons is completed, it certainly won't be a quiet, secluded beach.

Instead, we stopped at Anse Gouvernement, which is right next door, but not really written about. We found it completely deserted with the exception of three or four fishing boats tied close to shore. The sand was beautiful. The water was calm. And, we had the entire beach to ourselves. What's not to like?

We spent a better half of the day climbing the rocks, lallygagging in the water and marveling in the fact that it was like our own private paradise. A couple of locals came by and picked up some seaweed that had been washed in. Mr. mouse went to speak with them to find out what they use it for - compost for agriculture. Gotcha.

We finally decided to say good bye to our little piece of paradise since there were other beaches to explore. And headed out for the afternoon further down the southwest coast.


We drove to Anse Takamaka next. The sun was high in the sky and there wasn't a spot of shade to be found on the beach. The surf looked a little rough and tumble to jump with Pioneer. So, we found a spot in the sun for a quick nap. We woke an hour later and decided to head on to the next beach.

Next on the list was Anse Intendance. We frolicked on the water's edge like a bad 80's music video and ended up with swimsuits full of sand. Still, it was fun to just not care and roll around in the sand and water.

Then, I found a nice warm rock to dry off on while enjoying the beautiful sunset that followed. The beach had cleared out by then, so we had a nice moment to ourselves.

What We Ate



We started the day off with the hotel brunch again. It's included in the room rate and it's got more than enough choice to keep us amused for our trip. I had more beans and English sausage with toast. And fruit. And fruit juice. And a nice pot of coffee. What a wonderful way to start the day.


For lunch, we made a quick snack of leftover Indian food. Nothing like a little naan with chicken and dal to keep you going.

After our nap at Anse Takamaka, I woke a little disoriented and a little overheated and a little dehydrated. So, Mr. mouse decided a break was a good idea. We stopped at the Banyan Tree Hotel pool for a cold drink and some shade. We stayed for sorbet and by the time we left, I felt a lot better.


After sunset at Anse Intendance, we drove back towards civilization to forage for dinner. Back up the coast, cross the island to the east side, and before crossing back to the west side to get to our hotel, we decided to stop in Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles, for dinner.

Marie Antoinette is THE restaurant to go to to try Creole food. Creole food is the local fare which is a blend of spices and flavors from Africa and India. We had a smorgasbord of dishes brought out. (That's the way the restaurant is set up, it's prix fixe for dinner.) Lots of fish and fruits and by the time we were done, we didn't think we had any space left for dessert. But, we did. And, after dessert, we had the lemongrass tea. What a perfect end to the day.

What I Learned

Lemongrass tea. We had it iced when we first checked into our hotel and hot after dinner at Marie Antoinette. It was delicious. And, I asked at the restaurant how to make it. You boil water. And then take some lemongrass, both the white part and the green part, and steep it in the hot water. Sweeten to taste and voila. I'll have to try it this summer. It was so refreshing and light.


Cheers!
mouse

Seychelles: Fri, Sat, Sun - Our Trip Out and First Day

Dear Friends and Family,

Our flights out went without mishap. And, we enjoyed our first day in the Seychelles just settling in and checking out a nearby beach. Lots of time for napping, jumping the waves, soaking in the scenery and just relaxing.

What We Did


Fortunately, the flights went without a hitch. Chicago -> Washington DC -> Kuwait -> Dubai -> Mahe. The longest layover was in Dubai. We found a nice quiet corner, bought some delicious mint tea, and, discovered free internet access which makes the time fly. Total travel time? Approximately 20 hours.


We rented a car and drove across the island of Mahe to our hotel. Our room wasn't ready so we hung out in the lobby for around half an hour enjoying the view and some delicious lemongrass tea. Then, we spent about an hour indulging in a slow assault of the breakfast buffet. And, we spent some time on the beach finishing up a game of Scrabble.

Our room was (finally) ready. We unpacked, showered, changed and headed out to the beach for the afternoon.


Our first beach in the Seychelles! I have to say, I love the feeling of soft sand on my toes, and the sound of the surf, and the smell and taste of salt in the air, and the sight of the bright sun in the sky. The beach. It's one of my favorite places to be. And, this one was a beauty.

There were a bunch of local kids running in the sand and jumping the waves. We went for a swim. And, then, decided to explore the rocks on the edges of the beach. It was fun climbing and taking photos. And, when we found the perfect rock, we spread our towels and napped together in the late afternoon sun. Got up just in time for sunset photos. And, then headed over to a restaurant for dinner.

What We Ate


Plane food. Warm nuts. Tomato lentil soup. Salad with grilled scallops. Lamb curry with spicy chickpeas and spinach and rice. And, for dessert, fruit with cheese and cheesecake. Can't complain.


More plane food. This time, a quick box lunch of pasta salad with chicken, roll and the ever present and anonymous chocolate mousse cake.


Pioneer wanted dinner before we boarded our last flight. And, all of the food options in Dubai were American fast food joints. Burger King, Italian chicken sandwich and Spicy vegetarian burger.


We had time and I was hungry, so we took our time with brunch. I had a fruit plate, followed by a smoked fish plate, followed by a cured meat plate, followed by an English plate (beans, sausage, tomatoes, bread), followed by several cups of tea and fruit juice. It was just nice to sit and enjoy the breeze and the ocean view and let it sink in - we were in the Seychelles!


For dinner, we went out for Indian food. We ordered dal, chicken tikka masala, and sag aloo with lots of bread. The food was excellent. I hadn't had Indian in so long.

What I Learned

Some very simple things, really. After a long hot bath and some serious sand scrubbing, I rediscovered ten really cute toes underneath all of the dull winter build up. I need to take better care of my feet.

And, after dinner, we were walking back to our bungalow. Mr. mouse looked up and remarked, "stars." I was transported back, instantly, to Moorea, the sky is just filled with stars when you're not by any man-made light sources. It looks creamy. It's beautiful.


Cheers!
mouse

12.01.08: Back Home

Dear Friends and Family,

We got home early Saturday morning from a vacation that really couldn't have been more perfect. (Note: will be writing about it throughout the week this week.) And, spent the weekend catching up on random errands and readjusting our body clocks to Central Standard Time.

We landed to a brisk but decently warm day filled with sunshine and made the most of the weather and the empty roads by:

1. picking up shoes from the cobbler
2. picking up pants from the tailor
3. picking up mail
4. buying a Christmas tree

We came home and unloaded the tree and put it into a stand which we filled with water. We'll have to decorate it one night this week since we're off to see friends this upcoming weekend.

We fell asleep early Saturday night. And, forced ourselves to sleep through until about seven on Sunday morning. Sunday, we:

1. tried on the pants (welcome to maternity wear)
2. tried on a bunch of maternity clothes a friend gave us
3. changed the car tires to snow tires
4. got a car wash
5. went to the gym (whoopee!)
6. roasted a chicken for dinner

We fell asleep early Sunday night too. And, made it until 3:47 this morning which is only 13 minutes ahead of the alarm clock.

And, it's back to work and day-to-day life and holiday preparation. It snowed last night so we woke to whiteness and that quiet that snow brings.


Cheers!
mouse

11.30.08 (Week 17, Day 2): Week 17

Dear Friends and Family,

The second trimester really is the best time. Well, so far, it has been. Almost all of the symptoms of the first trimester have passed. And, I've only had to cope with coughing/burping. Plus, I'm definitely developing a "baby bump" instead of the standard pot belly I've been sporting.

Baby
Your baby, now about in its 15th week of development, measures about 4.4 to 4.8 inches from crown to rump and has doubled in weight in the last two weeks to about 3.5 ounces. Fat begins to form, helping your baby's heat production and metabolism. The lungs are beginning to exhale amniotic fluid, and the circulatory and urinary systems are working. Hair on head, eyebrows and eyelashes is filling in.

Mom-to-Be
You're showing more now, with an obvious swelling in your lower abdomen. A five- to 10-pound weight gain is typical by now. You also may be noticing an increase in appetite.

Tip for the Week
Change positions slowly, especially when you move from a lying down position to sitting or from a sitting position to standing to avoid feeling dizzy or faint. If you feel lightheaded, sit down and lower your head, or lie down for a moment.


Cheers!
mouse

11.21.08 (Week 15, Day 7): Week 16

Dear Friends and Family,

The weeks are beginning to blur together and I'm having trouble keeping track of which week I'm in. By the time we get back from vacation, We'll be beginning month five. Wow.

Symptoms continue to improve. A couple of cases of the burps. And, last night, I came home and crawled into bed when I should have been helping Mr. mouse prepare for vacation.

Next steps? Dec 6th, blood draw for the next round of screening tests. Then, the week after, the next doctor's appointment. And, the following week, our next ultrasound. Fortunately, the first two are on Saturday. And, the last is on a Friday afternoon during the holidays.

Baby
Your baby now measures about 4.3 to 4.6 inches from crown to rump and weighs about 2.8 ounces. Fingernails are well-formed and the fine hair, lanugo, may be growing on the head. Arms and legs are moving. The nervous system is functioning and muscles are responding to stimulation from your baby's brain. You may be able to hear the baby's heartbeat in the doctor's office.

Mom-to-Be
Your uterus has grown significantly by now and weighs about 8.75 ounces. Within the next few weeks you may start to feel your baby move, called "quickening." It's often like a gas bubble or subtle fluttering movement. As it happens more regularly, you'll know it's your baby. There are other physiological changes happening in your body. Increased blood volume to support your growing fetus may produce nosebleeds, and leg veins may become more apparent. Your uterus is shifting so you may not have to urinate so much.

Tip for the Week
If veins in your legs are beginning to bulge, you may want to use support stockings, elevate your feet when you can and exercise to improve blood flow.

What's Happening Inside You?
Your baby's fingers and toes are well-defined; eyelids, eyebrows, eyelashes, nails and hair are formed. Teeth and bones become denser. Your baby can even suck his or her thumb, yawn, stretch and make faces.

The nervous system is starting to function. The reproductive organs and genitalia are now fully developed, and your health care provider can see on ultrasound if you are having a boy or a girl. Your baby's heartbeat may now be audible through an instrument called a Doppler.

By the end of the fourth month, your baby is about 6 inches long and weighs about 4 ounces.


Cheers!
mouse

PS: No updates until we're back from vacation. Enjoy thanksgiving!

Enjoying it All

Dear Friends and Family,

I've been awake for over an hour and waiting for inspiration to strike. And, well, sorry to disappoint, but it hasn't yet.

So, you're getting a work update. I'm surprisingly happy at the new job. I feel like a valued member of the team. I like the people I work with. I'm included in the "right conversations." And, yesterday, I met my new direct report, and although brand new to the work world, she seems like a gem.

I'm a little scared. Life seems to being too smoothly right now. Pioneer is doing well. I'm feeling good. The screening lifted a huge anxious cloud from over me. And, work is going well. I'm really glad I took the role. The promotion and raise lifted my spirits in this down market. We're putting away chunks of cash each month - both towards our rainy day fund and towards our house balance. And, with any luck, Mr. mouse and I will be boarding the plane tomorrow for the beach.

I'm ready for the piano/safe/shoe to drop. It's been a good month.


Cheers!
mouse

Three More Days

Dear Friends and Family,

I've been counting down the days until I get to my week of vacation. Today, tomorrow and Friday. Three more days.

Work's been flying by. The unfortunate thing is so have the evenings. I still tire pretty early (say by 10PM-ish) and since I work until 6:30ish and get home around 7:30ish, and bring an hour to an hour and half of work home, it's not a pretty picture.

I've got to head in early this morning so no real time for a post. Happy Hump Day.


Cheers!
mouse

The Value of Respect and of Values, and of Faith

Dear Small,

Last winter, I wrote you a letter, and I want to revisit it. A lot has changed in this past year.

A year ago, you were a thought and a wish. Now, well, you're still a thought and a wish. But, you're also a three and a half month old fetus who is growing at an amazing rate. We'll get to meet you before this time next year if everything goes according to plan.

In the past year, we elected our first Black president. And, in doing so, took an unimaginable leap forward as a nation. What seemed impossible before doesn't seem so impossible now.

And, that brings me to faith. Ultimately, if you have faith, you have confidence. If you have confidence, you have faith. They build upon themselves. And, when you lose one, you quickly lose the other. But, when you have faith and confidence then all things, even the impossible, are possible. It's what gives me enough hope to try to bring you into this crazy world we live in.

Faith in what? Some people find faith in religion. Others look inward for faith. I don't know if there's one right answer. I look to life for faith. Ultimately, you'll have to find what works for you. I have faith you will.


Love,
your mom

11.17.08: Weekend, What Weekend?

Dear Friends and Family,

If everything goes to plan, we're off to vacation on Friday for a week. Between that, tying out odds and ends on the old job, getting off on the right foot on the new job, and catching up from two weekends worth of friends, we had a crazy weekend this weekend.

We had our follow-up doctor's appointment on Friday. And, Pioneer seems to be doing fine. Heartbeat's in the 150s - sounds like PacMan according to Mr. mouse. I spent a very frustrated 30 minutes trying to get our appointment schedule sorted out. Honestly, I thought Mr. mouse had it under control, but I think he's too much of a softie. They had us coming in a billion and one times for our appointments. Seriously, need to combine visits so I'm not MIA at work, people.

Saturday, we drew up our list of errands. And, it was daunting. We:

1. returned our library books
2. dropped off dry cleaning
3. spent some serious lotion time to try to avoid stretch marks
4. took our weekly picture
5. dropped of pants at the tailor
6. picked up a prescription
7. picked up book for work
8. called our friends with the news
9. picked up the mail
10. picked up a couple of "maternity" tops and bras
11. and... food shopping

Sunday morning, I finished off the "quick hitter" list with an evite for a Christmas get together. Then, bless Mr. mouse's heart, we made Thanksgiving dinner together early. Mr. mouse knew I wanted to, but wasn't feeling up to it energy-wise, so he went and picked up all of the stuff Saturday night while I was napping. We didn't do the whole shebang (e.g. pies) but we did make the turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potato, sweet potato, green bean casserole, corn, and cranberry relish. And, afterwards, Mr. mouse made turkey stock with the carcass. I got through my work emails and "finishing up" a deck for my old department. And, we went out for dessert to celebrate Pioneer.

Still on the docket for this week (which is a crazy week at work and chock a block with vacation prep) is scheduling our next ultrasound and alumni council work - I'm beginning to regret signing up for it. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have it hanging over my head this week. Sigh.

So, what am I thankful for? In no particular order, I'm thankful for (and I'm sure I'm going to miss some of the stuff from my list yesterday and think of new ones, but such is life): the health and happiness of our friends and family, of my grandparents, and Mr. mouse's grandmother, and our parents, and my sister and new brother-in-law, and my brother, and Mr. mouse, and Pioneer, and all of our friends, for making it through the first trimester, for the first trimester screening results, for the stuff being bearable, for the bleeding stopping, for both being gainfully employed, for the promotion, for the raise, for having (almost) built up our cash reserves for a rainy day and taxes (plan is to have them in place by end of Dec), for paying down the house, for enjoying work, for a shorter commute, for nice weather so far, for all the places we got to go this year, for all the friends who came to see us, for our wellness, for good food, for balance and perspective, for laughter, for tears, for humility, for the elections, for the future and for hope. Wow, there's a lot to be thankful for.


Cheers!
mouse

11.14.08 (Week 14, Day 7): Week 15

Dear Friends and Family,

I must admit the weeks are ticking by now. Being busier at work definitely makes a difference - the days just go faster. And, I'm beginning to enjoy the second trimester. Let's see... Still burping. And, still getting bouts of bad coughing. Now that I'm feeling better, I need to get the eating under control. I can be more disciplined about what I eat instead of eating whatever I can to keep food down.

We go in today for a scheduled doctor's appointment just to make sure everything's progressing as it should be. The other thing I've noticed is I'm spending less time reading the baby books. There's less going on now, Pioneer's in a growth spurt, but it's not like the first trimester where every week there's something new being formed. I feel sorry for Pioneer sometimes, they get jostled and woken every time I cough or sneeze or move suddenly. It must feel like an earthquake zone in there sometimes.

Baby
Your 13-week-old fetus now measures about 4.1 to 4.5 inches from crown to rump and weighs about 1.75 ounces. Its body is covered by an ultrafine hair, called lanugo, which is usually shed by birth. Eyebrows and hair on the top of the head are beginning to grow. He may even be sucking his thumb by now. Bones are getting harder.

Mom-to-Be
Your uterus can probably be felt about 3 to 4 inches below your navel. Sometime in the next five weeks you'll be offered a quadruple marker screening test, which measures four chemicals in your blood -- alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), inhibin A, and estrogen produced by the placenta. The test is a more accurate predictor of Down syndrome than AFP testing alone. Amniocentesis, which tests a small sample of amniotic fluid withdrawn by an ultrasound-guided needle, is usually performed between now and 18 weeks. It may be recommended if you're 35 or older or if your AFP or quadruple marker screen test results were suspicious.

Tip for the Week
Start learning to sleep on your left side because circulation is best that way. Lying on your back or stomach after about the fourth or fifth month can put extra pressure on your growing uterus and decrease circulation to your baby. You can try tucking pillows behind you and between your legs. Some manufacturers make a pregnancy pillow that supports your entire body.


Cheers!
mouse

Bare Trees

Dear Friends and Family,

As I was waiting for the bus yesterday, I noticed that there were a lot of leaves on the ground after two days of rain and wind. Then, when I looked up into the trees, I noticed that they were all bare.

Winter is here, well, technically not here until Dec 21st, but here as far as I'm concerned.


Cheers!
mouse

Sources and Uses of Money

Dear Friends and Family,

Money. Too much is not a good thing. Not enough is not a good thing. Ideally, like Goldilocks, just right is what I'm after.

I like to think about money in two frames: sources of money and uses of money. Fortunately for us, we have two primary sources of money: Mr. mouse's paycheck and my paycheck. We have a couple of other sources of money (e.g. interest on our checking account) that we essentially ignore because it's rounding error, frankly. And, we have a couple of sources of money (e.g. appreciation on the home, appreciation on our investment account, credit card accounts) that we essentially ignore because we don't utilize any of them as a source of money. That's money that's "not available" to us. Simple, but it works for me.

Onto uses of money. Well, there's the stuff that comes out before we even see the paycheck like taxes, 401k savings, health benefits, etc. Then, there's fixed expenses. Fixed expenses used to be a large slice of our expense pie at one point with student loans and car loans and credit card balances and stuff. Now, it's a smaller slice of a, thankfully, larger pie. We've got the mortgage, real estate taxes, home owner's assessment, home insurance, car insurance and the broadband bill. All of these bills are the exact same amount each month and constitute our "bare necessities."

Then, there's voluntary fixed expenses. What's that?!?! It's how I think of money that we spend each month on our future. Currently, we're fortunate enough (or maybe it's frugal enough) to live off of one income. The other income (my paycheck) is the voluntary fixed expense. Each month it goes towards savings. Early 2008, it was stocks and bonds and retirement funds and stuff. Now, we're focused on paying down the house. Hey, as far as I'm concerned, it's a guaranteed positive return on my dollar which is far better than our portfolio is performing.

Next come variable expenses. Well there's the obvious eating in, eating out, electricity, gas, phone, shopping, and other miscellanea that constitute out consumer-oriented society. This is the stuff that gets spent last. It's what's left after the rest of the money is spent.

It takes awhile to get all of your ducks in a row. And, it takes discipline. But, I'm glad it's something we prioritize. We could have "more" "fun" now, but life is good now with the money we have for variable expenses and I'm not sure life would be "better" if we had more.


Cheers!
mouse

A Feast to Remember

Dear Friends and Family,

We met up with B and Chef M last night to celebrate - Chef M's birthday, Mr. mouse's birthday, my promotion, and our "news." We had reservations at Boka, a place Chef M knew well; he had worked there for the summer. And, the amount of food that came out was stunning.

We had cocktails at the bar before heading to our table. We ordered three appetizers and four entrees. What did we get?

We started with an amuse bouche that was a sampling of four different cold appetizers, for each of us: hamachi, two oysters, and tuna. Then, our appetizers came out. But, funny enough, there were four of them, not three (squash soup, risotto, baby octopus, and duck terrine). And, just when we thought we could tackle it, two more came out for us to try (the sweetbreads and the sea scallops). We were struggling to save room for dinner (mahi mahi, tenderloin and trout) and when the entrees came out, so did a generous helping of each of the six sides (cucumber salad, curried carrots, creamed spinach, black rice risotto, brussels sprouts, and mac and cheese). And, just when we thought we couldn't eat another bite, out came the parade of desserts. Why bring out one or two when you can bring out five? We had beignets, waffles, banana bread, panettone, and seven kinds of ice cream and sorbet.

Suffice it to say, it was an amazing dinner. And, I'm still full this morning. More than the stomach, my head is full. I can't keep it all straight. And, each bite was a feast unto itself. A true once in a lifetime dinner to remember.


Cheers!
mouse

11.10.08: Birthday Weekend

Dear Friends and Family,

What a week. What a weekend. It started with the election. And, was followed by the screening results and sharing our news. And, was capped off by a fabulous weekend birthday visit from Mr. mouse's college roommate and family.

I had my last "work from home Friday" on Friday. Mr. mouse came home around 4pm and we headed out to the airport to get the minivan and the guests. It still blows me away what a year can do to kids. T-Rex is four now. And, she's totally in love with dinosaurs. Her brother, fan-boy, is two. And, totally in love with fans. While two years apart in age, only 3.5 pounds separate them in size. It's a sad, sad day when your younger sibling grows bigger than you. Fortunately for me, I had the size advantage until sometime after college, but alas no more.

We picked up deep dish on the way home because we figured a 45 minute wait at the restaurant wasn't on the high priority list for either the parents or the kids. Afterward, the kids discovered our basement which can be a treasure trove of random toys just waiting to be discovered. Fan-boy's pick of the night? A model Cathay Pacific plane. T-Rex found some Mardi Gras beads and a JAL plane, but she was more interested in all of the dinosaur books Mr. mouse borrowed from the library.

Saturday, we ate in - bread from Zingerman's, muffins from Red Hen, eggs with basil from our box. Then, we loaded everyone into the minivan and drove down to the Field to visit Sue, our resident T-Rex along with her friends in the Evolving Planet exhibit. I petered out after lunch and took a nap on one of the sofas in the museum lobby while everyone else went to see another exhibit on animals. T-Rex was fascinated by all of the videos in the exhibits. I wonder how much of it she absorbed. Her brother? I think he was just along for the ride.

On the way home, we all passed out while Mr. mouse and friend picked up cupcakes and sausages. We snacked on the sausages at home and then the kids played while Mr. mouse and friend went out for groceries. T-Rex played with a magnet calendar while fan-boy found a singing frog White Elephant gift that he ended up taking home with him. Dinner was stir fried bison with onion, curried bison with potatoes, sauteed sea bass with butter sauce, and stir fried napa with garlic. Afterward, we busted out the cupcakes and first fan-boy and then T-Rex sang Happy Birthday. Mr. mouse and his roommate share the same birthday so they had number candles. Fan-boy had candles on his cupcake. And, T-Rex didn't want candles on her cupcake because she didn't want to deal with the smoke.

Sunday, the kids got to eat cupcakes and pizza for breakfast. Then, we headed out into the cold to see the bean at Millenium Park. (Side note: I had a serious case of the burpies on Sunday that got pretty bad on the car ride out. They just wouldn't stop. ) We took some pictures by the bean and then by the fountain with the faces and then hightailed it to the car. We drove down to Chinatown for dim sum and then to Wicker Park to walk through the shops. I was tired and burpy so I sat in the car and read the paper while everyone went for a walk.

It was off to the airport for the return trip. Then, Mr. mouse and I headed out to work for 30 minutes to pack my desk for my move to my new desk. My new desk is sad. I may want to talk to the admin about moving out some of the furniture. It's way too cramped for me.

We came home and I was exhausted from all of the burping. I cried when I realized how quickly the time was going. I wish I could slow it down so I can savor our life together. Instead, the years go faster and faster. And, I guess I'm greedy. I want them to last forever. Even more exhausted, we napped together until almost midnight.

We got up in time for birthday dinner - fried rice - and a couple more birthday hugs. Mr. mouse spent some time organizing photos while I read in bed. We ended the night with a bout of burp-induced queasiness and about three hours of light sleep.

Off to the new job today. This week's priorities? Starting the new job off with a bang, finishing out a couple of loose ends with the old job, and picking up my neglected Alumni Council work. Next week, it'll be vacation prep. And, before we know it, the holidays will be upon us.


Cheers!
mouse

PS: Fred and Gen called Sunday morning. And, we were able to celebrate on all four counts (election, job, Pioneer and birthday) together.

11.07.08 (Week 13, Day 7): Week 14

Dear Friends and Family,

Definitely feeling better this week. Still have some belching/burping going on, but it's not as bad as before. And, cross your fingers, seems like the bleeding and queasiness may be behind us.

Besides that, beginning to feel like I may make it through the next 27 weeks. Pioneer seems to be behind the growth curve since they were 2.7 inches on Wednesday. Guess that's what happens when your parents are short.

Baby
Your baby measures about 3.2 to 4.1 inches from crown to rump now and weighs almost an ounce. The ears are shifting from the neck to the sides of the head, and the neck is getting longer and chin more prominent. Facial features and unique fingerprints are all there. Your baby is beginning to respond to outside stimuli. If your abdomen is poked, the fetus will try to wriggle away.

Mom-to-Be
You're probably wearing maternity clothes now. Your skin and muscles are starting to stretch to accommodate your growing baby. You may notice some constipation because pregnancy hormones relax the bowel.

Tip for the Week
Try to alleviate constipation with moderate exercise, and by drinking plenty of fluids and eating lots of fruit and vegetables, preferably raw.


Cheers!
mouse

11.06.08 (Week 13, Day 6): Sharing Our News

Dear Friends and Family,

We went in for our first trimester screening yesterday and got the good news. Based upon four independent tests, they were able to assess our risk for Down's Syndrome and Trisomy 18/13. There's still the risk of a false negative and the risk of other "stuff" going wrong, but for now, it doesn't look like we're at increased risk.

We have a second screening to be done between weeks 15 and 16. But, for now, the risk of a diagnostic test that would tell us "for sure" if something was there is higher than the risk of the likelihood of something being there. So, the prevailing wisdom is to enjoy the good news and the continuing pregnancy.

For us, we feel like we can begin to share the news with everyone. We've code named our baby Pioneer for the developmental phase of their life. We'll come up with an official name for launch, but for now, it's Pioneer.

Pioneer is 6.88 cm (2.70 inches) from crown to rump (CRL) which is the common measurement for fetuses. Pioneer has a heart beat of 157 beats per minute. You can see Pioneer in the ultrasound below with a tiny foot off the the right and an even tinier nose.

I'll be publishing a little over three months worth of posts under baby... maybe. And, going forward, we can do this real time instead of holding posts.


Cheers!
mouse

Day after Election Day

Dear Friends and Family,

It's the day after election day and I couldn't be happier. To think, less than 50 years after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, we as a nation are able to realize that day when we "live in a nation where [people] will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

I think this nation is ready for change. Myself, in trying to follow the teachings of Buddhism, believe that the "middle way" of moderation is the right way to live. The last eight years, I saw lives of excess, lives of greed, lives of over-consumption. And, while it's sobering, I think it's good to take some time now to step back and reassess ourselves as a nation. To scale back on the present and invest in the future.

W. never asked me to do anything for our nation. Well, he did. In a moment of crisis, he told me to go shopping. I think our nation is hungry for nation building and receptive to a president who'll ask something of us in exchange for a better future.

I'm filled with hope and optimism and joy. And, in a strange way, I'm glad the day is behind us. I've had a lot of balls in the air recently with changing jobs, taking on new responsibilities with my alumni association, Mr. mouse's birthday and stuff. It's nice to have one more piece of life "settled" so life can begin to approach a sense of normalcy and I can focus on fewer priorities.


Cheers!
mouse

11.05.08 (Week 13, Day 5): First Trimester Screen Part II: Genetic Counseling

Dear Friends and Family,

We go in this afternoon for the second half of our first trimester screen where they check if Pioneer is at risk for chromosomal abnormalities. I think Mr. mouse and I are both approaching it with an attitude that it is what it is. We can't control it at this point, so there's no point stressing over it.

This week has seen some improvement in how I'm feeling overall. I'm less fatigued and not as nauseous. The bleeding seems to be tapering off. And, the trips to the bathroom are not as frequent.

I'm still pretty burpy. And, something happened between 4 and 6 pm on Monday because I went from not showing to showing in the space of two hours. I ordered maternity pants online yesterday. They're scheduled to arrive next Friday. Until then, I'll continue to wear my 4s and maybe my 6s.


Cheers!
mouse

Grant Park!!!

Dear Friends and Family,

I still can't believe our luck...

We've got tickets to Grant Park for Obama's Election Night Rally!

I'm speechless.


Cheers!
mouse

11.03.08: Birthday Surprise

Dear Friends and Family,

We spent the weekend in the Motor City with our friends and our dentist.

Saturday morning, Mr. mouse and I went in for our regular teeth cleaning. Then, we drove out to Zingerman's in Ann Arbor for lunch. Instead of buying one of their pre-made sandwiches, we bought bagels, roast beef, and butter and made our own sandwiches. They were so good! We also loaded up on olive oil, balsamic vinegar, strawberry jam, and sardine oil while we were in the store.

We checked into our hotel. And, then we picked up groceries. Then, we drove over to our friends' house where a group of friends were waiting for us - we had planned a surprise birthday party for Mr. mouse. And, he was totally surprised! Yeah, us. Lot of food, lots of cake, lots of catching up, and a sad, sad game of Clue Jr. made up the evening.

Sunday, we met up with Joey for lunch. Then, we all went over to a friends' house to watch the F1 race. Joey and I fell asleep on the couch. Mr. mouse had a good chance to catch up while we slept.

I'm glad our dentist is in Detroit. It provides the perfect excuse to go back twice a year and see all of our friends.


Cheers!
mouse

11.01.08 (Week 13, Day 1): Another Chapter

Dear Friends and Family,

Day one of a new trimester. We're a third way through this adventure. It hasn't been a cake walk, but in all honesty, it hasn't been an absolute nightmare either.

We're off to Michigan for the weekend. And, although our friend, the ob/gyn, counseled for waiting until we had our first trimester screening completed before telling friends, Mr. mouse is eager to share the news with our friends. So, we'll be bringing the non-alcoholic bubbly and ultrasound pictures.


Cheers!
mouse

Early Voting is a Good Thing

Dear Friends and Family,

I had a couple of meeting cancellations yesterday afternoon and decided to take the opportunity to go and vote early. I picked up Mr. mouse and we drove to one of the local parks that was set up for early voting.

Guess who we saw? None other than Ms. Winfrey. She works in the neighborhood, and decided to do her civic duty and cast her ballot. It was kinda cool. Not sure I'll ever get within two feet of her again with only a handful of people in the vicinity. It felt serendipitous.

It took us just under two hours. Fortunately, they had chairs set up so we sat for 90% of the wait. In fact, Mr. mouse and I both napped for ~30 minutes, so the time went quickly.

Now, I don't have to worry about the craziness next Tuesday.


Cheers!
mouse

10.31.08 (Week 12, Day 7): Week 13, Second Trimester!

Dear Friends and Family,

A lot of symptoms definitely tapering off this week. But, it does continue to wear on you. I'm tired of feeling tired. And, tired of the slow digestion. And, tired of the constant burps. And, tired of the continual spotting. And, tired of the potbelly forming. And, tired of waiting. Wednesday is the second half of our first trimester screen. It'll be nice to get that behind us.

Baby
Your fully formed fetus, now in about its 11th week of development, measures 2.6 to 3.1 inches from crown to rump and weighs between half an ounce and seven-tenths of an ounce -- about the size of a peach. The head is still disproportionately bigger than the body, but the rest of the body is starting to catch up. In fact, your baby is growing rapidly these days. The face is starting to look more human, with eyes moving closer together. Toes and fingers are clearly separate, and ankles and wrists have formed. External genitalia are becoming visible. Intestines are shifting into their proper place, too.

Mom-to-Be
Your uterus has grown a lot. It's filling your pelvis now and starting to grow upward into your abdomen. It probably feels like a soft, smooth ball. If you haven't put on any weight yet because of morning sickness, you'll begin to now as you start to feel better.

Tip for the Week
It's easy for your partner to feel left out of the pregnancy since he isn't feeling the same physical changes that you are. Both of you should share your excitement about having a child, your dreams, worries and your partner's level of involvement. Suggest that your partner goes to a check-up with you to hear the baby's heartbeat.


Cheers!
mouse

Counting Down until Election Day

Dear Friends and Family,

Five more days until Election Day. It's taken on a fever pitch here with people planning parties and celebrations as if it were New Year's Eve and the Super Bowl all rolled into one. We've got a couple of options we're considering.

• Mr. mouse submitted an application for Grant Park, which would be absolutely amazing
• House of Blues, a friend of ours is playing there
• bars in the neighborhood are sponsoring parties and have the added benefit of being within walking distance
• friends are having parties at home
• we can just watch, the two of us, at home

My first choice is Grant Park. If that comes through, there's NO way I'm missing it. Otherwise, I think we may end up at a bar in our neighborhood enjoying the local vibe.

Five more days...


Cheers!
mouse

Mouse Gets a Promotion

Dear Friends and Family,

After many, many years of faithfully plugging away as a corporate cog, I got promoted. My interview for the business unit position was last Thursday afternoon. It went well. And, Friday they called to confirm the offer.

It's a promotion, which is important since it shows, well, mobility, I guess. And, it's a raise, which is always nice. And, it's got a larger bonus potential, which I never bank on anyway. And, it gets me closer to the business, which is an area of strength for me.

I'm excited, to say the least. But, I'm also a little anxious. It's new. And, the last two years have been good to me. I've got my first meeting this afternoon. Wish me luck.


Cheers!
mouse

Expectation Management

Dear Friends and Family,

I finally got my interview schedule last night. And, it has on it... drum roll, please... one interview slot filled. Hey, I'm all for boondoggle to Beantown, but, this one takes the cake. Guess I can always standy by for an earlier flight back today.


Cheers!
mouse

10.28.08 (Week 12, Day 4): First Trimester Screen Part I

Dear Friends and Family,

Yesterday, Mr. mouse and I went in for a blood draw. Next week, we go back for an ultrasound and consultation. They're both part of the first trimester screen to assess various risks of which Downs Syndrome is one of them. My college roommate who's an ob/gyn told us to hold off on any mass announcements until after we get the results from the first trimester screen.

Four more days and we're into the second trimester...


Cheers!
mouse

10.27.08: Mini College Reunion

Dear Friends and Family,

The weekend went by in a flash.

We flew out on Saturday to New York to see both friends and family. We landed early Saturday morning and took a cab over to the store. My parent, Mr. mouse and I stopped by a diner for some breakfast and to catch up on the latest news. My parents store lease got extended! Whoopee! I'm so happy for them.

Then, we took the train downtown to see my college roommate for lunch. It turned into an impromptu reunion because, amazingly enough, our three close guy friends were all free. It was so good seeing all of them! We need to go back more often.

Saturday night, Mr. mouse and I went out to dinner with my mom; my dad had a prior commitment he couldn't get out of. Then, we took a cab home and spent the evening catching up. I was pretty tired from the flight and from dinner, so by 10PM, we were all in bed for the evening.

Sunday, they dropped us off, bright and early at the airport. Got back home, took a nap, spent some time cleaning the basement, napped some more, watched Game 4 of the World Series, and turned in for the night.

I need to pack for my work trip this morning. I may or may not write tomorrow depending on whether I pack my computer for the trip. If not, see you Wednesday.


Cheers!
mouse

10.25.08 (Week 12, Day 1): Telling People

Dear Friends and Family,

We're headed home for the weekend to begin "telling" our friends and family the good news. I know Mr. mouse wants to share with his best friend when he visits in two weeks. And, theoretically, there's no reason not to at that point. And, we're out next weekend for our dentist appointment. So, by default, we've got this weekend to share the news with family first.

I don't have the words formed in my head yet so I'll be winging it. But, it'll be nice to be able to have other people to talk to about it.


Cheers!
mouse

Alumni Work Today

Dear Friends and Family,

Because I don't have enough going on in my life (if you missed the sarcasm, reread the start of the paragraph with a heavy dose of sarcasm), I agreed to get involved in the alumni council at school. Then, because I got involved, I was asked to join the steering committee. And, because I joined the steering committee, I was elected president.

What started out as a two year commitment (two years ago) has now turned into "if you give a mouse a cookie"...

We have our annual on-site meeting today so I'm headed off soon to get ready. To be honest, I would have loved a day at home catching up. But, it is what it is. I have a feeling Fridays at home are going to become a LOT more rare once I move departments.


Cheers!
mouse

10.24.08 (Week 11, Day 7): Week 12

Dear Friends and Family,

This week has been much better than last. I still get burpy sometimes, but definitely less so than last week. I'm hoping I'm turning the corner on this. If this week goes smoothly, next week marks the start of the second trimester. Wow!

Baby
The fetus now measures about 2.5 inches from crown to rump and weighs between three-tenths of an ounce and half an ounce. It is fully formed, from tooth buds to toenails, and your baby's job now is to continue getting larger and stronger for the rest of your pregnancy. With the most critical development behind the fetus, the chance of miscarriage drops considerably after this week.

Mom-to-Be
Nausea and energy start to improve. You may be experiencing occasional headaches, dizziness and fatigue from hormonal changes. If it's your first baby, you still could be wearing loose-fitting clothes, but if you've had other pregnancies, you'll probably start to show earlier and may be in maternity clothes. The typical weight gain by now is about three to five pounds. Fathers-to-be might also experience pregnancy symptoms, called couvade or "hatching," during the third month and at delivery, including nausea, abdominal pain, appetite changes and weight gain.

Tip for the Week
Most women develop stretch marks on their abdomen, breasts, hips or buttocks sometime during their pregnancy. They won't go away, but they'll usually fade after pregnancy. Despite claims from manufacturers, creams and oils don't minimize them. It depends on your skin's natural elasticity. Gradual rather than rapid weight gain may help, as well as avoiding excessive weight gain during pregnancy.

What's Happening Inside You?
By the end of the third month, your baby is fully formed. Your baby has arms, hands, fingers, feet and toes and can open and close its fists and mouth. Fingernails and toenails are beginning to develop and the external ears are formed. The beginnings of teeth are forming. Your baby's reproductive organs also develop, but the baby's gender is difficult to distinguish on ultrasound. The circulatory and urinary systems are working and the liver produces bile.

At the end of the third month, your baby is about 4 inches long and weighs about 1 ounce.

Since your baby's most critical development has taken place, your chance of miscarriage drops considerably after three months.


Cheers!
mouse

Work Opportunities II

Dear Friends and Family,

I had a couple of weeks to look potential next roles at work and here's what I learned.

Online: ixnay on this one. Not crazy about the hiring manager and he wants to bring me in at a lateral and evaluate me for six months before promoting me. Thanks, but no thanks.

Analytics: hiring freeze currently as the team decides whether it wants to continue being a centralized function or decentralize into the operating units. I could wait and see, but I think it's going to be awhile in the solving.

Strategic Implementation: I loved the SVP when I met him last week. By far the most attractive of the three options, currently. I meet with the VP of the team today. I've got my fingers crossed. Wish me luck!


Cheers!
mouse

August Baby Posts

Dear Friends and Family,

I think I totally blanked this morning on my daily post.

Another month, another spate of baby... maybe posts. August, overall, was a peaceful and uneventful month. We decided to "take a break" from it all and just enjoy a month of the good old days.

To be honest, August seems like a world and another life ago. I was working around the clock on a meeting we had scheduled for early September. It was summer and I was happily harvesting my tomatoes and peppers. And, the days were long and bright.

It's fall now. Work is manageable and I'm in the midst of working through exploring new roles. The harvest is in. And, yesterday, I needed to break out the winter coat. The holidays are coming up on us. This is my favorite time of the year.


Cheers!
mouse