My Car

I should start at the beginning because stories usually make more sense that way. I've wanted a son for many, many years. Not just a baby--babies grow up. And not another girl--girls are hard to figure out. And not with just anyone--it had to be with Gary. You may not think I'm very patient, but when I have an idea in my head of something I want, I can wait as long as it takes until the stars align to make getting what I want perfect. Because I don't want second-best. I'd rather forgo something I wanted to than settle for less than perfect. This time, though, after so many years of trying, I had given up ever getting a son.

So I bought a brand new 2011 Camaro, cherry red, with white racing stripes:

And I LOVE it! It's so much fun to drive. I zip through traffic like a race car driver. (Gary says that the way I drive, I'd be safer in a tank.) And 2 weeks after I bought it, I found out I was pregnant.

I found the smallest infant car seat made (a European-type model) and bought it in black and cherry red to match my car. It fits in the backseat of the Camaro, but barely--no one can ride in the passenger seat if the car seat is buckled in. I always think, "this is so inconvenient!" And then I start driving...*sigh* The Camaro is just made for me!

What I'm Doing with My Maternity Leave

I have decided that if I have 12 weeks off work I can get a lot accomplished while recovering from childbirth. My OB disagrees, but he knows me too well to think that I'll stick to that advice for too long. Starting this blog is high on the list of things-I-never-have-time-to-do-but-I-really-need-to-do-it-anyway. That list also includes (in no particular order) framing my growing stack of degrees and awards to display on my (very bare) walls at work, visiting as many friends and family as possible, getting my baby to sleep through the night, and catching up all of my scrapbooking through Thor's birth. So far, this is the only goal I've finished.

I have to give Katie credit for this blog's name. She thought to name her blog "6th of 9" and Bekkie then named hers "2nd of 9." Of course, this refers to our birth order. Since I was the firstborn, I got to claim the title "1st of 9." Kind of cool.