happy joys.

dear life,

thank you for bringing these tiny, yet HUGE joys into my life these last few weeks. i always seem indebted to you.

xoxo,

marci

1. school's out for summer! as much as i'll miss my kindy's, i feel so blessed to have made it to the end.
2. my refrigerator is clean! (thanks M!)
3. i got a job for next year (hugest sigh of relief EVER). Manila Elementary, here i come!
4. i have an appointment for monday morning at 9:00 am to get my toes re-done in this fabulous hot pink glitter fashion. i'm in love with glitter toes. a woman HAS to have sexy toes going into labor (just my opinion).
5. only four more days of having this watermelon attached to me (bittersweet?). eek!
6. my carpets are CLEAN!
7. costco STILL has my cherries! my tastebuds have been satisfied for almost two weeks (yesss).
8. aside from hanging things on the walls, the nursery is pretty much DONE- and i love it. i hope you will love it, too. pictures to be posted very soon.
9. i got new contacts. trees have leaves again! the mountains and the sky really are two separate things. i can see all 10 toes (well, sort of...the whole "swelling thing" kind of blurs them together too).

so today, i am happy and joyful.

m & m's

"when you're an m&m, remember there might be a large peanut inside you."

m and i laughed when we saw this commercial a couple of weeks ago.

i'm pretty sure that i do have a large peanut inside me.

i'm a time bomb.

14 days to go.

i'm like a bomb.
people look at me like i'm a bomb and keep saying:
"whoa, you look like you're going to pop any day."
i feel like i am going to pop...or more like explode... any day.
watch out.

cravings satisfied...finally.

text message to me from courtney: marci, costco has your cherries.

not more than 5 seconds later:

phone rings, the following conversation takes place:

me: costco has my cherries.

Mike: do you want me to buy you some?

me: yes, i NEED you to buy me some.

Mike: ok, i'll go buy you some right now.

me: (grinning from ear to ear) yesss. I LOVE YOU!

text message from me to courtney: you are my favorite person on earth right now.

Yes, it's true; my beloved cherries have made their grand return to costco....and let me tell you what, they are FAR better than i remembered. baby chappy is SO completely satisfied...and i'm addicted. M told me this funny story of when he went to get them:

a couple of old ladies saw him carrying those cherries and said "oooo, LOOK at those cherries!" M told them, "yeah, my wife is pregnant and has been craving them for months." then they asked him how much they were. M replied, "14 bucks." the little old ladies said "wow, that's expensive...but if you're wife's pregnant, you have to buy 'em."

i completely agree. and wished i could have given those old ladies a hug.

to barf or not to barf?

yes, i've headed back into the "nausea" stage. it bites. i thought throwing up in the first trimester was bad...but doing it with a huge watermelon on your front gives it a whole new meaning. i decided to document my top five most memorable barfing moments (one of which was 5 minutes ago).

5. (5 minutes ago) Carpooling with my teaching friend, Charlotte...i had to pull over..mid-sentence... i threw open the door (on Main Street in Lehi, mind you...yeah, i was basically a museum piece that people were able observe on their morning commute) to puke...and puke...and puke some more.. it was disgusting. while puking, i accidentally kicked my foot out to the gas pedal, thus revving the engine (it's all about intimidation while puking). Charlotte, not many people know me as well as you now know me. i'm not sure if that is a good thing...
4. last week: Monday morning...feeling the nausea coming on in my classroom (before students were around- LUCKILY)... i grabbed the nearest bowl, and, whoops, peed my pants WHILE puking. just my luck, i had an interview after school that day...and was wearing a dress. yeah.
3. first trimester: mike made me a delicious dinner...one of my favorite spicy chicken sandwiches. half way into eating it, i sprinted for the bathroom....but only made it half-way in the sink, half-way in the toilet...and all over the floor. i've never seen so much come out of me in my entire life. sorry, Mike. it wasn't your cooking, i promise.
2. last week: on my way to my friend's baby shower...just driving along...all of a sudden the nausea hit me like a pound of bricks, i pulled over really fast, and just started going at it...and going at it...and going at it...by the time everything was out of me, i looked up and realized there was an entire family out on their front lawn watching me puke on their pavement. when i noticed the dog running over to investigate, i jumped out of the car and yelled, "you don't know me but i just puked all over your pavement." the dude of the group was kind enough to tell me not to sweat it...but definitely called his dog over and locked him up so he wouldn't eat my puke. seriously.
(drumroll) 1. first trimester: well, none still can beat my first trimester bonding moment with Mike....i've already blogged about it- so if you don't know what i'm talking about, you may read here. basically, side by side, mike and i puked together....nothing shows love like united barfing.

dear mom,

how do i tell someone like you thank you? and where do i begin? you are my role model, my rock, my best friend. someone asked me recently what kind of mom i want to be...and your face immediately came into my mind. everyone who knows you loves you and admires you and is inspired by your passion. your sincerity is contagious, your smiles and laughter are infectious, and your love nourishes any heart. i love you to the highest mountain, where the sun shines year round, flowers grow unrestrained, and desserts don't have any calories. my life is what it is because of you!

happy mother's day.

love,

marci

excellent cuisine.

went to chef's table last night with my in-laws (p.s. thank you a million).

i'm still dreaming about my savory salmon and coconut crusted shrimp. mmmm.

M&M give it 5 stars.

i wonder...

i keep having this song pop into my head today...as i wonder about so many things... as baby's d-day is exactly one month away (heart skips a beat).

"what will this day be like? i wonder...
what will my future be? i wonder...
it coud be so exciting to be out in the world, to be free
my heart should be wildly rejoicing
oh, what's the matter with me?

i've always longed for adventure
to do the things i've never dared
and here i'm facing adventure
then why am i so scared?

Julie Andrews as Maria in
The Sound of Music

there are so many things i want to add to Maria's wondering. for example:
1. i wonder what this sweet baby chappy is going to be like...
2. i wonder if i'm going to be a good mommy
3. i wonder what it will be like to realize that i am in labor
4. i wonder what it will feel like to not be pregnant anymore
5. i wonder if i was nice before i was pregnant...
6. i wonder what it will be like to see my parents and M's parents as grandparents
7. i wonder if i am going to deliver early...or (eek) late...
8. i wonder if i am going to know what to do with a newborn
9. i wonder how M will look as a daddy...i can't wait to see that
10. i wonder what it will be like to sleep on my tummy again
11. i wonder what she looks like... me? M? neither of us?
12. i wonder what her cry will sound like
13. i wonder if i'll ever be able to fit into my old clothes again... (fingers crossed)
14. i wonder what it will be like to see my siblings as aunts and uncles
15. i wonder how family gatherings will change with an infant around
16. i wonder if pregnancy will ever end...
17. i wonder if i want pregnancy to end...
18. i wonder if anyone will notice how much i really don't know what i'm doing
19. i wonder if i'll miss these baby kicks and hiccups and jabs to my ribs...
20. i wonder: am i ready for this?

lucky for me, there's another part of the song that gives me POWER! i imagine i'm Maria with that huge hat, guitar, and horrible dress...dancing along the sidewalks of Austria while singing:

"oh, i must stop these doubts, all these worries

if i don't i just know i'll turn back
i must dream of the things i am seeking
i am seeking the courage i lack

the courage to serve her with reliance
face my mistakes without defiance
show her i'm worthy
and while i show her
i'll show me

so, let her bring on all her problems
i'll do better than my best
i have confidence she'll put me to the test
but i'll make her see i have confidence in me"

so, for these crazy next four weeks, i have confidence everything will work out...and that my baby will love me...even if i am a little anxious with the whole experience...and will be a complete rookie. sigh.

for your watching/listening pleasure... just in case you've never heard the song (i'd be very disappointed in you if you haven't...)