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