Resolving to be happy

So here we are again, a week into the new year. This time though, the calendar on our iphones reads 2013 instead of 2012. Every year we have all of these goals and plans and resolutions, but every year LIFE gets in the way. Which isn't always a bad thing, but it just goes to show, you can't plan everything. You can't expect to have any idea of what is going to happen in the next 12 months. You can't predict what opportunities will come up, how your goals will change, or if you'll still want to do 100 jumping jacks a day come February. Lest I find myself still wanting to use this New Year as a way to focus on things to live by, rather than things to DO. It's easier to live a certain way than to do certain things. For me at least.

Here are some of the things I want to be more a part of my (and our) life this year. Why? Well, because I think I will be happiest while living this way. And if I am happy I can be an awesome wife and a kick ass mom. And ultimately, that's what's most important to me.

1. Explore/Adventure: 

Essentially, try new things, take risks, push my comfort zone and say YES to opportunities. 

2. Give/Care: 

We encountered many warm amazing people in 2012 who are just naturally GOOD people.  I am inspired by there innate kindness. 

3. Grow/Strive: 

To keep learning, to become even more myself, without worry about outside judgements.

4. Positive People: 

Surround ourselves with people that we enjoy. Keep the drama out and stay connected to the down to earth, real people. Our people.

So yeah. I figure keeping these present in my mind will allow me to make decisions that align with these ideas.

Now that I feel I've taken myself far too seriously, I'll end this post with a joke I saw someone post on Facebook.

Q: What is the worst kind of vegetable to take on a boat?

A: A leek. 

BAHAHAHA

You're welcome. Now go away. 

Oh yeah..forgot to mention..there's a baby in my belly.

'Tis so. 

The Coops are procreating, and a powerful and super creation we expect it to be. Now, at nearly 17 weeks along, the guilt and empty hole of bloglessness has set in. I'll give you the short of the long, or at least I'll attempt to do so as I encapsulate the new, crazy, challenging, and amazing bits of the adventure thus far.

We found out in late November, well I found out and absolutely melted with excitement when sharing with the Mr., that we would be welcoming a baby into our lives this summer. And so it began, the endless thoughts, dreams, lists, ideas, wonders of what was to come...for the rest of our lives. 

At week 5 my personal living hell began. But, with the most amazing husband and family to support me in positive thoughts, I was constantly reminded, through the puking and misery, that this meant it was a strong pregnancy. Extra hormones helping baby to grow. 

DiRuscio's on Christmas

Christmas with Mr Coop

Eatin' Candy Hike

Sugar Bowl at Super Dome NOLA

I got a brief and unexpected ten day relief from the sickness from Christmas Eve through the New Year, allowing me to enjoy a hike with friends, the holidays with the family, our first doctor appointment hearing the strong heartbeat of our little monkey, and our trip to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl.

 And suddenly it returned, though all my hopes were that it had forever passed. Another 5 weeks of throwing up, exhaustion, and overall ickyness. Waiting for that day everyone talked about, where everything was suddenly better, while also fearing it would NEVER go away. And then it happened...the day before I was 14 weeks along. I no longer wanted to stay in bed all day. I no longer dreaded eating. I no longer threw up. What?! It had passed, it was fantastic. 

And well, that pretty much brings us to now. I am about 17 weeks along, I haven't thrown up in three weeks, I have a little bit more energy, and I have just gotten back to my pre-pregnancy weight (lost a bit in the first trimester with all the sickness). Oh yeah, and at our last appointment we found out that we are having a boy! Pretty sweet deal, we are over the moon excited and already love our little dude so much. 

I have a slight baby bump, but it's the at the awkward cant-tell-if-it's-a-pouch-or-baby-bump phase, so I try to do that pregnant lady thing where I rest my hand on it every once in a while to signify that it's my baby in there, not my lunch. Because I'm neurotic. Or ridiculous for even caring that I look slightly bloated. Even though I know that I am growing a freaking human being in my body! It's absolutely mind blowing, and strange, and amazing. 

Way too many stories to share, or things I've experienced. Here's just a few new realities I am faced with. 

1. "Oops I just peed a little" is no longer a joke to express how hard you just laughed. No, it's life. Real life. A sneeze, cough, or laugh does it. That along with having to pee every 30 minutes leaves me with a new awareness of where the nearest bathroom is at all times.

2. I would not be alive if it weren't for my awesome husband. My first trimester left me in bed ALL day, except when my head was in the toilet. I was weak, tired, sick, and generally an absolute mess. He would bring me food, he would go to work, he would wash dishes, he wouldn't judge me for not showering for days on end, he didnt get grossed out when I threw up into plastic bags while we were in the car - every time, he listened when I had emotional breakdowns. I am forever grateful for his patience, strength, and power to make me laugh through the tears and smile through the struggle. Couldn't have a better partner in life, seriously amazed by this man.

3. There is no longer any space in my mind for thoughts other than the baby's clothes, the baby's nursery, the baby's health, the baby's arrival, all the fun things we have planned to do with our baby, etc, etc. We talk to my stomach to the baby. He seriously is already the center of our world. It's crazy the instincts that kick in and the mushy love stuff that inevitably just appears when you have a baby on the way. 

8.1.12

Lost & Found

So where did we leave off?

Aww...the allergic reaction. Starting on my bum. That's right. Well, as you can assume, I survived and we are now in the UK. But the adventures didn't stop there. I may have used 'adventures' as a euphemism.

We boarded our flight at almost 11pm, and I was asleep by the time we took off. I suppose it was half benadryl and half exhaustion. I woke up 2 hours later to a meal on my tray. I ate it, while half asleep, almost upset that I was expected to eat while so tired. I fell asleep and woke up 6 hours later. Amazing. Slept for 8 of 10 hours on the flight. It was dark and silent. Felt a connectedness. Like we just had this airborn sleepover with 250 people. All was fantastic until we began the descent. My cramps became ridiculously hell-like. Maybe it had something to do with the pressure or altitude or something but if I didn't know better I would have thought I was having baby birthing contractions. 

We de-plane and rush to customs, at which point we are halted to a stop. There had to be a thousand people in line, snaking back and forth towards the officers up front. Oh and did I mention it was record high temperature here yesterday. Well, we had no control over it so we didn't let it bother us. Believe it or not, I was in pretty good spirits all things considered. We played hand games like evens & odds, we people watched, we laughed at the comically upset man. So angry about the length of the line, his true behaviors were like a bad actor. Every 2 minutes he would pull up his sleeve, look at his watch, look at the crowd and shake his head. His misery was hilarious. 

Our last adventure 2 wks ago

An hour later we get through customs, pick up our bags and I rush to the restroom. We then exit and find our driver, lug our bags 10 minutes to his car in the parking lot and I realize "oh shit! I left my iphone in the bathroom at the baggage claim area." We tell the driver we have to go back in, he quickly says to meet him out front and we run back. Realizing there is no re-entry, we speak to the information booth who sends us to an officer who sends us to security who finally tells us to use a phone on the wall to call our airline who will then have to send someone over to escort me back to check the bathroom after confirming we were on the flight and checking my passport. I knew my phone was a goner. My beautiful iphone, in a busy bathroom at Heathrow. No chance. So we call Virgin Atlantic, it rings and rings and rings, when finally someone picks up and my husband goes on, "My wife left her phone in the baggage claim bathroom, they said we needed to call you..." when out of nowhere an airport employee walks by and says, "did you say you lost your phone?" YES! "an iphone?" YES! "in the bathroom?" YES! She says, "we just had one turned in, I will go and get it." I cried. It was like I had won some silly game show and tons of money. I felt relieved. I had already admitted defeat. Which made it that much more exciting. We waited, 10 minutes later she arrives with my phone. I cried again, don't judge. We sat there in awe of our luck. Had we been any earlier or any later she wouldn't have overheard our phone call. And who knows if we would have ever found out if it was turned in and to whom and to where. 

So we run out of the airport and begin scanning the packed area full of cars and drivers, realizing we didn't even remember what kind of car our driver had. I spotted him and we ran over. James says, "I feel like we're on the amazing race!" My dream. Our adventure. We've had our own kind of magic in the past 24 hours. Been thrown some curveballs, and here we are. A 5 hour LAX stay, an 11 hour flight, a 2 hour car ride, an allergic reaction and lost (& found) phone later, sitting in Kent, UK at 5am capturing our experience. Day 1. 

Things I learned while on the honeymoon

The Mr. and I had an incredible honeymoon! We went to New York and Italy. Two weeks of bliss, of adventure, of discovery, of absolute peace. I also compiled a list of things I learned while on our honeymoon.

1. The NY (and even Italian) public transit system puts LA's to shame. 

2. A beday makes a great foot bath.

3. If you walk miles upon miles each day, you are allowed to eat pizza, pasta and gelato. All in one day.

4. Gyros in Rome are delicious.

5. There are a lot of crazy people in LA, relative to NY & Italy

6. English really is a global language.

7. Italian 4 star hotels are more like US 3 star hotels. 

8. A life with no urgency, distraction, time crunch is so much more enjoyable.

9. There are gypsy ladies in Pisa. Those exist? What?

10. Fanta is so refreshingly delicious. Oh and its a different color in Italy than it is in the US. 

11. All zoos are prettier than the LA zoo. Reference points: Bronx Zoo & Rome Zoo (not on this trip, but Detroit Zoo also supports that fact)

12. Skyping midnight Venice time to 3pm San Diego time is pretty bad ass -- technology blows my mind. Time zones blow my mind. 

13. I cannot sleep on red-eye flights --- unless I've already been traveling for 20hours. 

14. Meat is in everything, even if you ask and they say there isnt meat in it. Dont trust them. Maybe to them bacon/ham isnt meat? Damn my vegetarianism being naively invaded.

15. As a naive, white, obvious tourist (in pink shades and a straw hat)- I became a paranoid, judgemental, subway/bus rider. Internal Dialogue "Is someone going to pickpocket me? Am I being judged? OMG is he pulling out a gun...oohh just his cell phone.What is that smell, is it an invisible gas that will knock us all out? Why am I being groped it's not that crowded in here! I've fooled them, the only thing in my purse are mints, tissues and snacks. Take that -- bad guys! and gypsy ladies!" 

16. No bed is as good as your own bed. 

I suppose exploring for two weeks will inevitably leave you with thoughts, ponderances - yes I just invented that word- questions, answers, desires, dreads, etc. That's life. Bottom line is this. I loved every last second of our honeymoon, absolute perfection. And I come away knowing that I could live in Manhattan or Florence. I could totally pitch a tent and never leave. Metaphorically speaking-- I hate tents and camping, and dirt and bugs. 

LA will do for now, it's home.