How Low Can You Go?

I am a compulsive list-maker. I don't think I have always been one, but the practice has grown out of my realization that I am extremely absent-minded. Seriously, thoughts fly through my head at such a rate that if I do not write something down immediately, it's gone. It doesn't matter what it is - an item for the grocery list, a task I have been meaning to do, a question for David, a thought for the blog, a decision about what's clean enough to wear that day - it comes and goes in seconds. So I have lists. Everywhere. And it helps.

I'm not one of those types that wants a big, expensive planner either. If I had one, I'd just have to remember to buy the expensive refills, and who wants to do that? Disposable stuff works better for me. If I were to receive in my Christmas stocking a pile of Post-it notes, markers, and gel pens, it would make my day. Right now my "planner" is an 80-cent yellow spiral notebook I bought at Target.

My list making is compulsive, and if I analyze it, it probably feeds my legalistic, type A personality. I write everything down - even sometimes a reminder to brush my teeth (which, come to think of it, I forgot this morning). If I make a list, and then I decide to do one or two things not on the list, I write them down later, just so I can cross them off. Sick, I know. But if I put a positive spin on my compulsion, I could say that writing lists helps me to prioritize my day, look at what is really important and what needs to get done. It helps me focus.Confession: I usually write "devotional time" down at the top of my list each day. (And you know what? When we are criticized at church occasionally for "having a devotional time so we can cross it off our lists" I, for one, do not find that to be such a terrible sin. I feel like I have practiced discipline.)

All that to say - I have had to drastically lower my expectations for today. It's almost one PM and I have accomplished very little. (To those who may raise an eyebrow at the fact that I am blogging, writing was on my to-do list today, so I am not wasting time. So there.) I do not like lowering my expectations. I hate to say it, but it's true. I want to do what I want to do, when I want to do it. But I find myself, over and over again now that Abigail is in our lives, changing my idea of how a day should go, and what I should manage to accomplish.

Case in point: today I have managed to get up, get dressed, feed her, do some dishes, write three emails, and blog. Still to do? Laundry, make the bed, exercise, type up notes for a church meeting, find the location for the H1N1 vaccinations, write notes to two friends, go grocery shopping at Aldi and Target, and start cleaning for the Thanksgiving weekend, and call two long-distance friends. Oh, and brush my teeth.

I am fully aware that (if I'm lucky) this list will take me several days to accomplish. But don't worry, readers. Brushing my teeth has moved to task #1. I'll start now.

Reasons Why

We had a lovely, albeit somewhat expensive, weekend. (I guess that's allowed sometimes.)

On Friday:
1. D and I went to the fire station to learn how to install the car seat. It takes up most of the back seat of the car. No kidding. We almost drove to a dealership to look at bigger cars... But we refrained. I'm glad it's done.
2. Dinner at Tapatio's - our favorite authentic greasy burrito joint. (Chipotle is probably our favorite, or at least it's D's favorite - but it's not as legit.)
3. A hawk sighting. We have two small hawks (either Coopers or Sharpshinned - we're not sure which) nesting in a nearby tree. It's fun to see them fly around. We caught them building their nest a few days ago. (And no, Ma, we don't think they are a threat to anything except the songbirds on the street.)

On Saturday:
4. Our friends Scott and Andrea donated a day of service to us. Scott helped David build new shelves for the storage room in the basement (which means that we can actually clean it up and organize all our junk!), and Andrea helped me do some serious spring cleaning, getting to all the places I can no longer reach (or bend) due to Baby belly. What a blessing!
5. An hour or so of "us time" (and were very aware that it would be one of our last) before we went out for the evening.
6. Dinner at Stir Crazy with the crowd, and then the new Pixar movie, UP, in 3-D. It was, of course, lovely. (Does Pixar ever fail?) The first ten minutes made me cry - and made me love my Vid more. Go see it.

On Sunday:
7. Both the sermon and the worship were good at church. The sermon was challenging and the worship was refreshing, and I stayed focused on both (a miracle, with how often my brain is thinking of Baby and/or house problems...).
8. A lazy, restful afternoon, complete with nap.
9. Some more good work done in the basement and in the nursery. (I received my new cloth diapers in the mail the other day - so cute!)
10. A delicious dinner - roasted chicken, corn on the cob, fresh bread, and a super yummy, easy salad. (Recipe below.)

Now I'm blogging and he's guitaring. It was warm enough out that we only now just closed the windows. And I am about ready for bed. It really has been a wonderful weekend.

**The Super Yummy Salad**

Ingredients:
1 bag of cherry tomatoes, chopped in half
1 cucumber, cubed (You can peel or not. I peeled it in stripes, because I don't like the skin much but I do like the dark green color and a bit of texture.)
1 8 oz. package fresh mozzarella
2-3 leaves of fresh basil
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp Kosher salt
few grinds black pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp balsamic vinaigrette

Prep:
In a medium bowl, put tomatoes and cucumber. Cube fresh mozzarella. (I used 5-6 oz.) Add to bowl. Chop basil leaves. Add. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning, salt, pepper. Drizzle the oil and the balsamic vinaigrette over the vegetables. Stir to coat. Let sit for five minutes before serving. Yum! And yes, super simple. If you want to add other veggies, my guess is that fresh corn cut from the cob, and maybe carrots or bell peppers would be good.

PS I learned how to spell vinaigrette while writing this post. Who knew there was that i hanging out in the middle?

Oh Blah Di...

There's nothing like starting a blog to make you realize how mundane your life really is. Stuff happens to us, but is it really worth publishing and making you read it?

Here's an updated photo of Baby Yeager in utero. I'll be 31 weeks on Saturday. She's moving around a lot, and making me feel rather sluggish and out of shape. We have some nice weather the next few days, and I am going to find every excuse possible to be outside, getting some sunshine on my arms, and some exercise.

Here are some recent headlines from the Chicago Branch of the Yeager Family:

1. David and I are waiting with baited breath for Mat's return from Japan so that he can okay the final mixes of the album. David's been working this week on creating a design outline for DiscMakers. All that means that we might actually have a finished CD by mid-May? (Yeah, we were shooting for the end of March, but... life happens.)

2. It costs too much money to hire our friend to paint neat murals on our nursery wall, so I may have to go hunt down some stencils. I'm looking for a Frog Prince type theme. Suggestions on where to find such things would be helpful... I'm not exactly crafty.

3. Yesterday we had a mallard and hen napping in our grass, while a little brown bunny munched the renegade daffodils that have leaked from our garden and started growing in the middle of our lawn. I love spring.

4. It's funny how much better life seems in general once the weather turns warm in Chicago. I'm back in West Chicago once a week, teaching our abstinence curriculum to a group of junior high and high school girls in an after-school program. (The program is located literally across the street from my old elementary school.) It's been good so far - good for my Spanish, and a good break from the office for me. There are only about 7-10 girls participating, some of whom were former students. I figure it's got to be awkward for them to have their 3rd grade teacher sitting across the room from them, talking about sex and abstinence. But they seem to be handling it well, and seem happy to see me. All the students at the center (big and little) are very interested in my pregnancy and always have their hands all over my belly. Anyway, as I left that group last night and headed home, my windows were down, the breeze was balmy, the sun was still bright in the sky... and I marveled at how great everything was. I tell you, winter in Chicago depresses me more than anything. I'm so glad it's warming up. After baby is born, I've decided I'm celebrating summer with a margarita.

Being Preggers

I noticed something on Sunday at church: My belly gets me lots of attention.

Case in point: I decided to wear a maternity dress to church the other day because we are finally having some spring weather here. Over 10 people commented on how I looked (I just did a count in my head.) - and those were people I knew. But what was fascinating to me yesterday was that three women I did not know walked up to me, introduced themselves, and chatted with me about being preggers. Go figure.

Here are some of my favorite comments from Sunday. To my gentler readers - please don't be offended. And please remember I was at church...

"Oh, now you look cute. I imagine those dresses are more comfortable than pants?" (Now? Now? Just what does that mean?)
"Well, look at you! You don't look too uncomfortable or sore or anything." (No, not right now, but you should see me try to get out of bed in the morning.)
"You can't even tell you're pregnant from behind!" (Hmm... people contemplating my behind...)
"Oh, you just wait. You'll gain weight, especially in your chest! When I was pregnant, my boobs started at my collarbone! My husband loved it! (Your collarbone? Really??)
"You know, you don't look like you're getting it too bad!" (Like a bad case of the chicken pox, or what?)
"You don't know me. But I just have to tell you, I've loved watching your belly grow." (Uh... gee... thanks.)
Rub rub, pat pat. "Oh my GOSH! I had no idea you were pregnant!" (Yes, but I've talked with you at least five times since I found out I was pregnant. Just what did I look like before?)
"Be careful how much pink you let your daughter wear - my daughter is a pink-hater now!" (?)

It's the weirdest thing. I mean, I'm teasing, I know, but I think I appreciate it. Still, it sort of makes me marvel at how little attention I was paid before the belly appeared. I mean, everyone knows David. And so, if anyone met me, the first comment of comprehension/connection usually was, "Oh, your husband David is up front! I love his voice (violin playing, worship...etc.)." When I finally got involved in the Children's Ministry at church I established a bit of a face for myself. But the belly by far takes the cake. Suddenly it feels like everyone has their eyes on me.

And the ironic thing is, I'll probably miss all the attention after she's born.

PS 25 weeks and counting.