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

Crappy Cramps. Grumble.

This week is hell. It's that time of the month. I don't know why we give it any power by saying "its that time of the month." It's like calling Voldemort (YEAH! I SAID IT, VOLDEMORT) "He Who Must Not Be Named." Let's face it, right in the face, without shame or fear or powerlessness. I am on my period this week. Oh and it sucks. And it makes it more sucky when you hear horrendously cheesy references to it as "Aunt Flow is visiting" or whatever other nonsense people like to use to sugarcoat it with.  My apologies if this is a harsh over reaction, it's the hormones, it's that damn aunt flow -- or the fact that my insides are twisting and turning and all I want is to down a bottle of nyquill and knock myself out until the world is happy and cheery and sunny again.

Okay, so it's not hell. It's just, in this very moment, painful and uncomfortable. But that's passing, everything is otherwise, fantastic. The Mr. and I played tennis yesterday, so much fun. We arent really any good, but it's a good work out. And I'm getting a nice even tan with this weather. And it's hilarious to play with my husband. He's a big kid, so he makes up rules as he goes along, and hes not overly competitive, which makes it just awesome. Somehow in real tennis I feel good, but in Wii tennis I always end up pulling some strange side muscle while playing. 

We see alot of movies. Captain America was our recent one. Awesome. It's probably now second on my list of super hero movies (after the Iron Man movies of course). Never been a fan of spiderman, superman, or even batman. Not sure why. But Captain America proved itself to be awesome. Which is good, because after Green Lantern, I was questioning the world. 

I balance out my current misfortune of menstrual womanhood by looking ahead to the awesome things soon to come. Move into new place in 3 weeks - yay! Ann Arbor trip in 5 weeks - yes! London Trip in 7 weeks - whoop! Period done in 4 days - thank goodness! 

a first: craigslist

So this whole selling the house process went into hyperspeed and happened quicker than we imagined. Well we imagined it, but that was the "hah, you know what would be an ideal situation?" Yeah well, that came true. So we're in first gear -- or is it second gear? I drive an automatic so I dont know exactly which one is the gear that helps you climb a hill faster. But we're there, climbing this sell/move/pack hill and it's awesome. The Mr.'s constant, "I'm not worried, we'll get it done and everything will work out how it's meant to" attitude sure does balance out my "okay, we need to get more boxes, packing paper and cushiony stuff for all the kitchen things, we need to find a storage unit, we need to get a temporary apartment until we find our dream home, oh and there's three open houses we should look at tomorrow" attitude. We're perfect together. 

With the move, we are trying to get rid of bulk. Extra furniture that we dont want/need/like. I figured we could yard sale some of this stuff but we likely wouldnt get more than $10 for some of the furniture, so I tried Craigslist-- which I had never done before. I am now hooked. I put up an ad and pictures of this dresser/armoire thing I had moved into my office after we got a new dresser for the bedroom.  So there I sat, putting up my listing.  

And low and behold I got atleast 6 people who were really interested in it. I confirmed with one person, but asked for their number so I could call to give them our address. I'm really hesitant to give away that info to a stranger, especially on craigslist. You never know who it is, and if I were a bad guy, I would probably say I wanted to come look at the dresser also and then come in and be a bad guy. So anyway, I called and it was a very nice lady, and just in case she was like a tag team of robbers or something, I made sure to mention "oh and my husband will be here also...to help us move the dresser." Just so they knew I wouldnt be some lonely woman at home. 

Anyway, they drove from Santa Monica, came to the house and looked at the dresser. It's kind of an awkward situation. Her and her husband, me and mine, all standing in my office silently staring at the dresser. She asked a couple of questions, asked her husband what he thought and like many men, didnt seem to care either way. She said, after rubbing a small scratch on the side of it, "would you take $75?" of course I said yes! I mean, they had driven all the way from the other side of town to pick it up. She then said "I have to run to the ATM at the store on the corner, we'll be back." And so they went.

We waited a few minutes and jokingly said, "what if they arent coming back?" Then over 20 minutes had passed, (the store is literally 2 blocks down the street) and James said "they arent coming back." We laughed about how we got stood up, and how I probably would have used that same excuse instead of telling someone "no thanks." I had hope, insisting "Maybe they went to dinner." It was after 9pm. And then we saw it, a car returning and backing up to the house. They came back! With money! After the adventure of the men carrying it down the front steps and putting it into the back of their hatchback, it was success. My first craigslist sale. 

Guess what I'm doing this afternoon? Taking pictures and posting ads! Cha-ching.

cleaning ladies...grumble

I love those restaurants that are just a certain guarantee that you'll leave feeling full and happy. Benihana is one of those places. We had dinner at Benihana and it was just fantastic. The many courses starting with onion soup, salad and then the food being cooked right there at your table calling for "Ooohs" and "Aaaahs." It's awesome, and for the neurotic paranoid individuals like myself, there's a comfort in seeing how your food is handled and cooked before you eat it. I frequently watch Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, which should explain that paranoia about the cleanliness of the food I'm putting into my body. Really what it comes down to is the fact that I should learn to cook..anyway..

our chef was about 40 years older than this guy

I watched The Terminal this morning, that Spielberg pic with Tom Hanks..um, I sort of love it. Tom Hanks is so..delightful, that's the word, delightful. What a nice way to start a lazy Saturday, with a russian guy stuck at JFK making friends with the janitor and food cart driver while a crazy Stanley Tucci (sp?) wants the worst for him. Aw the feeling of having hope in the world.  

My latest grumble revolves around our cleaning ladies. Which I am so aware makes me sound like I'm oozing with snobbery, but let me make it clear, I'm really not being snobby. We have cleaning ladies who come once every other week and they do laundry, and detail cleaning like vacuuming and dusting. From the start I've insisted that we don't need them, but the Mr. said I might as well just accept the help to make my life easier. 

But the fact is, they have been making my life more difficult. I will defend my point with two specific incidences that happened this Wednesday. First, I like to wait until the dishwasher is full to run it, you know -- to save water and conserve energy and all that other happy planet stuff -- well, the dishwasher was nearly full when they arrived Wednesday morning, but what I later realized was that they unloaded it instead of starting it to wash. I found glasses in the cupboard with lip marks and plates with crumbs on them..it was horrible.  I had to scour the cupboards to find all of the dishes that were dirty and then rewash them. I dont know how they didnt notice the crumbs on the plates when they proceeded to put them away as if they were clean. Ugh. 

Secondly, this Sunday was our open house, and I decided to start a couple of loads of laundry so that dirty clothes werent sitting in the bedroom. We had to leave the house before I got a chance to switch the last washer load to the dryer. And then I forgot that they were in there [my bad]...you know how wet clothes sitting in a washer for three days smells? Not good, not good at all. I forgot I had left them in there until I went into the dryer to get something and realized it smelled like puke. Considering we arent anything like Charlie Sheen's hedonistic [drunk, puking] character on Two and a Half Men, I realized they had just taken those clothes that were sitting in the washer and put them in the dryer. Could they not smell them?? I mean really, how is this possible. So I asked them to rewash the clothes that were in the dryer, and I come home to find clothes in our dresser and closet that still smell like puke!! Apparently they put them back in the wash with no detergent and then dried them. Again, I have no idea how they didnt smell the situation that was going on. Which brings me to today, again scouring our closets and dressers for all the unclean clothing and doing it again myself. 

So to straighten out the loose ends of my rant, I have no problem doing my own dishes and laundry, I actually prefer it. But having the amazing husband that I do, he wants to make things easier on me by having hired help twice a month. But they make life more difficult and frustrating. Thats it, I'm done bitching, but tell me I'm not crazy and this is ridiculousness?!  Thank you and again I apologize for the uncharacteristic snobbery. 

I feel so responsible to brighten things up a bit, here's a video that we watch daily, it's that fantastic. You're welcome :) 

sunday is today. fact.

Gardening, Wii Sports, Movies, Mustaches.

Just a typical sunday, right? 

Today was the witching hour of phase one of "house for sale, move & nest, future excitement" project. We completed our week long marathon of house prep with gardening, swiffering, febreezing, organizing. A few days had passed since the Mr. shaved, since he was being all rugged (which i thought was spelled rugid until google told me otherwise) and manual-labor-esque. So let me preface by saying I'm not a huge fan of the stache, but for shits and giggles, I asked him to shave everything but his mustache so I could see what he looked like with it. Apparently he thought that meant to leave it that way for our date night. It's very --- dated. It seriously has the affect of age & redneckedness -- I felt the need to ransack ashton kutcher's closet for a trucker hat to pair with the new mustache. It brings a grin to my face when I see him. 

Once our realtors showed up the Coops were able to head out on our only date this week! Sharkys for lunch -- of course, we frequent there far too often. And then we saw the Woody Allen pic, Midnight in Paris which was absolutely fantastic. I now have a new desire to trek to the romance, beauty and culture of Paris.  Maybe we should sell the house and just become nomads -- no permanent home, rather a couple dozen travel destinations. How sweet that would be. 

Naturally we capped off the evening with some Wii Sports, that which is responsible for the pair of injuries I now have. Note to self, do not back into husband while he is batting during Wii baseball. I feel like I was hit with a bat to the back of my arm...you know, that flabby part of your arm that has no muscle for self defense in situations like this. The only rewarding part was that it threw off his swing and I struck him out. And the second I've found is a pulled muscle while Wii bowling. I feel like I'm throwing my arm out every time its my turn, but even more so when I "drop" the ball before the line and have to start over. I really think working out is a good idea for me...

Yoga. I think that will help my body and my soul. Maybe tomorrow will be THE day. The day I jump in and try it -- I've got to admit I'm a bit hesitant as I'm extremely unflexible, the thought of touching my toes makes me want to go and eat a donut. It is so unfortunate to think about that I need to immediately put a donut into my system to balance out the stress that touching my toes causes. I've never been very flexible..I guess yoga will help...

I don't even like cats..

I will shamefully admit that somehow, between all of the excitement going on, I've managed to catch up on the Bachelorette on ABC over the past day. I have never watched any of these Bachelor/Bachelorette shows -- but I got hooked, catching myself shouting wise advice too this overly attached confused woman, rooting for a select few men for her to choose (JP & Ben F.) and wondering why anyone would want to be on this show. Yet it is I, with a neck ache from watching six episodes on my ipad, waiting for tomorrow's episode. The shame. 

Oh yeah and last thing, I saw something new when I logged into blogger today. It said "1 Follower" What? Awesome. I have a follower, and she's so cool! I totally forgot that people could "follow" your blog so the fact that after like 500 views in the last two weeks and no followers didnt bother me, but now I suddenly feel the warmth of..acceptance. Yep, that's all it takes and I'm feelin' fly. 

the things we find..

As mentioned a few days ago, the Mr. has sprouted a green thumb. He's been fixing up the backyard and the front, and yesterday I hear "Babe! Come look at what I found!" Expecting to see a chest full of gold medallions or a buried treasure map, I was quite surprised and totally geeked out about this natural history museum status discovery...

...okay maybe not museum status, we're guessing it's a squirrel. But I'm used to catching them like this...

Packing [slash] organizing inside the house -- which is my realm of duty these days -- has had it's own discoveries. I found a $100 Bloomingdales gift card in a purse I havent used in months, that I had suspected the cleaning ladies of taking. I'm horrible. I have also found myself becoming more and more sarcastic. But that's who I am -- a bit rough, a bit inapropriate, I guess much like a pirate, and all is escalated when we play Halo & Gears of War-- but anyway, I found these questions I think are really valuable to get you in a positive place and have really helped me, but amidst the task I think otherwise. 

"What am I most proud of in my life right now?" 

[The fact that I finished all those cheese and crackers from last nights meeting.]

"How has today added to the quality of my life?" 

[I am now that much more sore and ready to ditch everything just so I don't have to pack it -- well except for those mini Buddha statues that I love, oh and that sweater, and those vases...okay shit, I can't let go.] 

The weather is beautiful,  I want to be running through a field...naked...taking pictures of butterflies...chewing on grass...wearing a straw hat. Or..not, but apparently thats my stereotypical view of a hippy/free spirited/person nakedly taking pictures of butterflies while running through a field.

In reality -- which I am more and more often losing track of-- I want to be in a sun dress on a hammock with my husband and a glass of peach raspberry crystal light while snacking on Crumbs black bottom cheesecake brownie cupcakes. That is bliss.

Oh bliss I yearn for you.

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.