Love can build a bridge, part deux

So, in an effort to bridge the gap between the behavioral health and the medical side, my employer is hosting yet another "fun" activity today, called "Pop Into Action", it is a meet-and-greet where both sides can come together and bond over the following treats: soda "pop", "pop" corn and....yes, Pop Rocks. Did anyone think this through? Clearly this is not very safe. I mean, EVERYONE knows that if you drink soda and eat Pop Rocks together you will die, right? I told Mike to go ahead and try it to see if the theory proved correct.....stay tuned for the results.....

Happy Week 30!

Wow, I can't believe my sister is already 30 weeks along! Time flies (easy for me to say, huh?). :)
Here's what's going on with my little baby niece this week according to pregnancy.org:



-Her head is getting larger to accommodate a period of rapid brain growth. Don't forget to continue to "teach" your baby in the womb by exposing to music, literature, and simply talking to her.
-A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her. As she grows and fills your uterus, the amount of amniotic fluid will decrease. Funny, you certainly won't feel any lighter!
-She spends more and more time practicing opening and closing eyelids. Her eyes can move from side to side, following a light source. She may even reach out to touch the light.
-Early lanugo is beginning to disappear that served to protect your baby's skin from the water in the womb. Your little one's own hair may begin to appear.
-Toenails are entering their final growth stage.
-Bone marrow is now in charge of red blood cell production. These red blood cells will continue to service your child's body by transporting oxygen and removing the wastes (carbon monoxide and other gases).
-Your baby has the capability now to produce tears -- yes, within the womb.
-By the end of this week, your baby is now 15.7 inches (39.9cm) long and weighs 2.91 pounds (1319gm).

Walkin in a winter wonderland....

This weather blows. I just want to go on record as having noted that. Now, don't get me wrong, the snow is pretty and all, but it's a giant pain in the ass. As evidenced by my attempt to go to work this morning. I walked outside at 6:00am and stepped into well over six inches of snow that had fallen overnight. Fun. I then realized I couldn't open my car door because of the snow drifts. Fun. Once I finally burrowed my way in, I proceeded to try to clean off my poor car, doing this while it's still dark outside and there is over six inches of snow on my car. My neighbor came out at the same time (the new guy that I haven't bothered to meet before now) with a shovel and between the two of us, we undug our cars (is undug a word???) and I basically made a run for it over the snow drift and managed to get my car out. It was awesome. Then began the actual drive to work. Thanks to the Nazis I work for, I knew closing the office was not an option, so off I went. The roads had not been touched by a plow, so it was basically every man (or woman) for him(her) self. There was no driving in actual lanes, you just pretty much picked a spot on the road and went with it. The good news is, I made to work safely....only to find that half the staff had called in. Fun. So, we are a skeleton crew today, we are leaderless and we are basically making up the rules as we go along today.

Y'all be safe out there! The good news is, it's supposed to be in the 40's near weeks end, meaning, hopefully, things will be clear in time for Red and Jon's baby shower this weekend!

Happy Saturday!

I realize I don't really post a lot anymore. I've lost the desire to write.....it's sad really. I feel like I don't really have much to say....But let me see if I can catch you up on the latest happenings of my life....

...Very excited for my sister's baby shower next week. Her friends and I have been planning and working hard for the last couple of months...can't believe it's only a week away! I can't wait to see her in all her 30 week pregnant glory! It's gonna be so much fun, just having all our family and Red and Jon's friends together.....can't wait! I keep seeing cute baby stuff and just want to buy it all! That little baby girl is gonna be so loved and so spoiled.... :)

...Making birthday plans. I initially really really just wanted to sit at home by myself and lament about how damn old I'm getting, but alas, my wonderful friends will not allow that to happen. And I guess I'm glad. I've decided on PF Chang's for dinner (YUM!) and then we'll see where the night takes us. You can't do much about getting old, so you may as well make the most of it, right? I'm sure I'll be having some feel sorry for myself moments in the next couple of weeks, just bear with me.

...I miss my Canadian boy and really wish I could see him....

...I have some great nights out with friends planned in the coming weeks. I really, really love my friends. I have NO idea what I'd do without them! There are a couple of girls nights out planned as well as Mardi Gras at the end of February. Fun times, fun times!

...the Cubs FINALLY have a new owner, the richer-than-God Rickett's family. Buy us a late Christmas present in the form of one Jake Peavy please! Thanks Mr. Ricketts! :)

I think that's about it for now. I need to get back to doing nothing now. Y'all have a good weekend!

Happy week 29!

What's going on with my baby niece this week?


-The baby's head is in proportion with body now. She appears more like a newborn each and every day!
-Fat continues to accumulate under the skin -- only now preparing for entering the *real world*. -The baby's brain can control primitive breathing and body temperatures.
-Her eyes can move in their sockets. Soon she will be able to follow a blinking light.
-The baby is increasingly sensitive to changes in light, sound, taste, and smell! Various studies show that the baby may indicate preferences (or disdain) for particular tastes or odors at this stage
-She is also moving from side to side, but probably still is head up. In the next few weeks, she will move to the head down birthing position. At times you may feel as if she is performing somersaults for a circus act!
-Her length is now approximately 15.2 inches (38.6cm) and weight is 2.54 pounds (1153gm)

Happy Birthday Mike!

Today is my cousin Mike's birthday.....happy, happy birthday cousin! Hope you have a great day down there in the low country..... ;)

New Grandpa quote....

"Reggie Jackson couldn't carry Terry Moore's jock strap as far as I'm concerned"....by Robert Baumgartner, January 18, 2009.

I can't make this stuff up folks.

Um.....why?

Why are the Cubs signing all these former Cardinals? So Taguchi? Really? Is he necessary? I think Cubs management has been smoking crack or something. I won't be happy until Jake Peavy is wearing blue. Not that I really care about him but after all the crappy deals the Cubs have made in this off season it only seems fair that we should at least be able to score a big name pitcher. I'm bored. Is it April yet?

Happy Birthday Jeff!

Happy Birthday today to my baby cousin Jeff! Hope you have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Week 28!

It's time for my weekly report on what my niece is doing in her fetal development! 28 weeks already! My sister is officially in her third trimester! I can't hardly believe it!!!!! Here's what's going on with Baby Baum this week:


-Eyebrows and eyelashes are now very noticeable!
-Hair on baby's head is growing longer. Some babies are born with almost none at all, while others appear to be ready for their first haircut!
-Eyes are completely formed now. Quite a view from inside!
-Your baby's body is getting plump and rounded. Most of that increase is muscle tissue and bone. Fat will be added during the third trimester.
-Muscle tone is improving. Preparation for the Olympics feels like it is taking place in your womb!
-Lungs are capable of breathing now (but baby would still struggle and require medical attention if born now)
-Talk to your baby often, reading stories, singing songs and more. She can recognize your voice now and will often calm to it later on!
-Your baby weighs in now at 2.2 pounds (1005gm) and is 14.8 inches (37.6cm).

Baby, it's cold outside!

Two degrees this morning. Two. That's not very many. That's frickin frackin COLD. And apparently when it's cold, people forget how to use the gas pedal in their cars. WHY was everyone driving so slow this morning????? I mean, seriously. Apparently the wind chill is in the -12 degree range. Ick. These desperate times have made me do desperate things....like sleep with socks on. I know, crazy. I HATE sleeping with socks on, don't ask me why, I just do. But last night, the Santa socks made an appearance (the ones I got from my sis for Christmas, they're all nice and warm and fuzzy). I still say that with all this icky coldness we should at LEAST get some snow out of the deal.....

American Idol. It's back. And I love it. Of course, it's the tryouts right now. They are not focusing as much on the bad people, which I suppose is good, but it does take down the entertainment factor a bit (perhaps why they are down 10% in viewers????). Ok, dude whose wife just died? Made me cry. And he was really good and may just possibly be my early favorite. Who knew that Jason Castro's brother could sing? I think he's better than his brother.....Oh, and I'm kinda likin the new judge-she's sassy, and you all know I like sassy. ;)

Captain Idiot and other insults I like to hurl at people......

Yes, I did call one of my reviewers "Captain Idiot" today. No, not to his face, but in a totally more passive-aggressive way (that's way more my style.....). It's not my fault people. I call 'em like I see 'em. If you had to talk to this guy every day, you'd call him that too, especially when he says he'll "talk at ya later". What? I know it's Tennessee, but learn English dude. Thanks.

I've had waaaaaaaaay too much caffeine today. And I'm sure that chunk of chocolate cake didn't help (don't judge me! I worked out a lot this week!)........yea, I'm heading for a crash real soon. But in the meantime, I have all of a sudden become super productive, typing like a mad woman. This is a good thing because for the first 2/3 of my day, I was unable to focus or string together any sort of meaningful thoughts......I'm a hot mess.

TGIF is all I have to say. It's been a long week. A long few weeks. I need a vacation. I am having dinner with Mikey, Ashley, Jasmine and Tab tonight (yay!), we're eating noodles. Jealous? :) Tomorrow is our annual Book Club Slumber Party (yay!). I'm making a buffalo chicken cheese dip for it. No, I've never made it before, and I realize I'm culinarily challenged, but the directions look simple enough. I got this one. I think. I hope.

Thanks to my scattered thoughts, I can't come up with anything else to blog about at this present moment in time, so I'll bid you adieu.

Have a GREAT weekend y'all!

Thinking out loud

I realize I haven't really blogged much about what's going on in my life lately. That's probably because there isn't a whole lot to report. I'm just trudging along, working, sleeping, working, sleeping....and that's about it. Yesterday, my employer announced that, for the first time ever, there would be no raises this year. A total let down for sure, but as I've now had some time to process it, I realize that, in our current economy, I really should just be grateful that I have a job. I have two, in fact. I kinda giggled this morning as I heard the doctors talking about the lack of a raise...I mean, I'm SO sorry you won't be making over half a million dollars this year. Sucks to be you (said in a very, VERY sarcastic manner). Yea, I may be in a kinda blah mood, but my sarcasm remains strong. ;) (did you have any doubt?).

I do have some things to look forward to-Book Club slumber party is this weekend, I'm having date night with Mikey on Friday and my sister's baby shower is only three weeks away! I'm gonna do some shopping for my precious baby niece this weekend, perhaps that'll cheer me up! I don't know why I'm so blah, perhaps it's the weather, perhaps it's other things, who knows. I know I'll eventually snap out of it, so I'm not too concerned. So, if you're around me and I'm crankier than usual, just ignore me, I mean no harm. ;) Except if it's directed toward Mike Tinnin. In that case, I mean it. ;) Love you Mikey!

Happy Week 27!

Whoa, my sister's pregnancy is just a truckin along! Baby Girl Baum is now 27 weeks along and by all accounts is growing more and more every day! She even kicked her "sister" Chloe in the head the other day-isn't that cute? ;)

Here's what's going on with her this week:



-Your little one's brain continues its rapid growth. Don't forget to share music, conversation, and even books with your baby!
-Response to sound grows more consistent toward the end of the seventh month, when the network of nerves to the ear is complete. Your baby's hearing continues to develop, she may start to recognize your voice as well as your partner's.
-Lungs continue to grow and prepare for functioning outside of the womb. Each day in the womb greatly increases survival rates!
-She also continues to take small breaths and although she's only breathing in water and not air, it's still good practice for when she's born.
-Eyelids are now open more. Your baby can distinguish between light and dark.
-Retinas have formed.
-Your baby will grow over an inch this week alone! You may suspect this phenomenal growth rate repeats in the preteen years!
-Average size is now 14.4 inches (36.6cm) and 1.9 pound (875gm).

and there was much rejoicing.....

Jason Marquis is no longer a Cub. Yahoo. I don't even care who they got in exchange for him, that freakishly expensive, freakishly crappy 5th starter is G-O-N-E gone. (cue the angels singing from the heavens....).

In other Cubs news, they signed Milton Bradley. This guy makes Crazy Carlos Zambrano look like a saint. Beating up fans, umpires and, apparently, the ladies in his life. Yea, this guy's a real winner. I'm sure he'll fit right in.

I haven't been overly impressed with the Cubs off season dealings thus far (other than the whole Jason Marquis no longer being a Cub thing), I can only hope that Jim Hendry actually knows what he's doing and has some magically fabulous deal planned before the start of the 2009 season. If not, I'm afraid my team may be duking it out with the Pirates for the basement. Ok, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, because let's face it, they'll probably still win the NL Central, but still.

Pitcher and catchers report next month! YAY!

Happy 36th Anniversary Mom and Dad!

My mom is perplexed as to how she can be married longer than she's been alive (seeing as she's been 29 for a couple of years now...). I didn't have a good answer for her.

Anywho.......Happy Anniversary mom and dad! Wow-36 years of wedded bliss. Amazing in this day and age, really. I'm guessing your date night on NYE counts as your anniversary date night? Seeing as you can only get dad out of the house once every two, three years. ;)

Happy New Year!

Wow, my first post of 2009. Time sure does fly when you're getting old......anywho, Happy New Year everyone! Hope everyone made it safely home from the madness that was New Year's Eve last night. Yours truly had a very low key NYE. As you all know, I worked 14.5 hours, the crisis line wasn't so bad, as the night went on, it was mostly frequent callers calling to wish us a happy new year (awwww). Tanya had helped organize a food night, so we had way yummy stuff to eat all night (thanks again T, that pepper jelly that Laura is now using inappropriately was awesome!). Tanya and I had big grandiose plans of going out after we got off work at 10:30pm, and I really thought it was gonna happen. Amy Henson had given me her extra Diet Dr Pepper, so for awhile I was riding high on caffeine, I'd been refueled by all the food, so I really thought that this year I'd be geared up and ready to go out. Then 9pm hit, and I crashed (maybe it was all the mandatory trainings I was forced to do...hey, at least I got some of my CEU's done for my license that I have to get renewed this year!). I had discussed with Tanya maybe both of us making a cameo at Carrie's for Losers Night In but at that point, even that much activity seemed a bit much for us, so we made the decision to go home after work, and I broke the news to Boogie via Facebook that I was probably not coming over (those drunk bitches were texting, posting Facebook messages and just generally having a good time while I was forced to work....I love you all!). As I drove home, however, I thought, an hour won't kill me. I knew the kids were there and the thought of ringing in the new year with them sounded appealing, so I decided to go ahead and make a (quick) cameo at the Nenonen's. As suspected, the party was hoppin when I got there, Big Bastard was singin the HELL out of some American Idol for wii (and Ashley and Val sang that Fergie song about 34 times I think). :) The best part was doing the countdown to midnight with the kids. Sparkling grape juice for them, champagne for the rest of us. Once it was officially 2009, the party seemed to wind down. In fact, Miss Carrie disappeared and it was discovered that she had gone to bed (passed out???? :) ). So, all in all it was a good NYE. I was home (and in bed) in a timely manner, I slept in today and now I'm starting the new year by not changing out of my jammies and just generally doing a bunch of nothing today. Me likey.

Happy 2009 to everyone. I sincerely hope this is the best year yet. My family has a LOT to look forward to as we prepare to welcome Baby Baum into the world in early April. I am beyond excited to meet my new baby niece and already know I will probably love her more than anything on this Earth. :) Speaking of, my sister is officially 26 weeks along today. Getting there! I can't wait for the baby shower at the end of this month, a fun time shall be had by all!

I'm thinking 2009, for me, is gonna be all about the people I love. Friends, family, I want to make sure I spend lots of time with those I love. THAT is my new years resolution. Poor bastards. You're not gonna be able to get rid of me. Good luck with that. ;)