Sisters

I didn't really get to know my sister until we were older. Yes, we lived in the same house and have the same biology but circumstances prevented us from being friends.

That said, she is part of a few of my favorite memories as an adult. She went with me on my first "not really a date" with Dearest Husband (ok, to be fair, she threw rocks at him and lost his fishing equipment but still.....she was 11 years old). She stood by me at my wedding. She's been a good aunt to my Lil'Bug. She's stood by me many other times as well. She's a neat person and I wish I had known her better growing up.

What I hope for my daughters is a little bit more. I hope that they know each other early and love each other dearly. I want them to enjoy each other and play together.

So, here's to you Aunt Bee. We've had to work at the whole sister thing but it has been well worth it! The picture is from 10 years ago. She was in a Midsummer's Night Dream and I somehow got caught in a photo backstage with her! Aunt Bee is on the left.

What I did on Saturday with My Family.....

Sorry, it is a disappointment.

We got up. I started having contractions. This was unusual to happen in the morning. Dare I hope? Went to music class. Lil'Bug did not get along with the substitute teacher and long story short, we left early.

And.....headed to the farmer's market! Whoo Hoo! Fresh strawberries and apples and almost the balance of our tomato plant needs. More contractions? Hmmmm.

Noon. Lil'Bug and I head to Nana's house. Nana takes me to have my toes and nails done. Chair massage too. Fumes make me woozy, but more contractions!

We head back to Nana's house and take Great Grandma swimming. Fun stuff. Lil'Bug is a fish in water. We splash and play for 30 minutes or so. More contractions. Dare I start to time them?

After we stay the afternoon at Nana's watching movies and I lay down. Contractions get so bad I call Dearest home from band practice early. They are 3 minutes apart at that point.

We get excited. Dearest packs the car. Lil'Bug stays at Nana and Pawpaw's house for a sleepover., while we go home to "labor". There is no way I am going in early to the hospital.

2-3 minutes apart. All night long. I sleep a little. Around 2 AM I ask Dearest to get up with me and watch Pirates of the Caribbean. He states that if I don't produce a baby soon I will own him big time for getting up in the middle of the night to watch a Johnny Depp pirate zombie movie. Whatever. I get excited. I bounce around on the labor ball for a while, lay on the couch, send some emails, eat, watch Johnny Depp exchange clever dialogue with Orlando Bloom.

Around 4 AM I fall asleep again. Contractions still 2-3 minutes apart. Stronger still.

Wake up around 7. Contractions only when I change position? We eat and putter around and go for a walk at the park. They pick up again, very strong. Lots of pressure. We head to the hospital! Did we wait long enough? Will I be at an eight cm, or deliver in the lobby?

Yeah. No.

Zero. I am dilated at zero. ????

We head to Nana's to get Lil'Bug and then home. I sleep for 5 hours. Contractions just about gone, when they do sneak up, not so strong.

No baby yet. I cry a little. I was right. Fake Out Labor kicked up a notch, and weeks left to endure.

Ok, here is a fair warning....

I may be absent for a bit. Dearest Husband has author access to the blog for updates. I may or may not be in labor. We will see. I think it is still Braxton Hicks, but kicked up a notch Cajun style.

Passive Agressive Proximity

This is a funny story: Last week I was in the front yard with Lil'Bug and our neighbor pulls in her driveway....

She says, "I just wanted to let you know, I'm having people over at 3."

Silence. Blank stare on my part. I could not figure out what she was getting at? I don't care if she has company over. Did she think I am too hideously pregnant and/or slovenly to be seen in the front yard? I mean, I've gained weight and I had jelly stains on my shirt from lunch, but I still think I am fairly presentable most days, that day included. OR maybe she was trying to invite us? Ug. Wait, maybe she's just excited to share the news of her gathering?

"There will be a church bus."

Ok, I am married and pregnant and still cannot figure out why I should care if a church bus is coming to her house. So I say, "How nice for you."

Dearest emerges from the back yard and she repeats her vague statements. HE GETS IT (though how, I have no idea, telepathy?). His truck is parked on the street. She wants it moved. Off the public street. We are the only family without off street parking so of course we park on the street, but she thinks we should only park in front of our own house. That's fine, but wouldn't it be easier to say, "Hey, would you mind moving your truck so my guests don't have to walk as far?" Instead we have to guess at what she wants: very, and ineffectively, passive aggressive.

Oh, and I heard from OTHER neighbors that she is really upset about us parking "near" her house. She can't understand why we are doing it and she's been complaining loudly to all who will listen. Not us, of course. That would be too effective......gah. Also, we have lived here almost 10 years and have always parked in the same places. Did I mention there is free parking on the public street and we don't have off street parking? Gah.

That bugs me.

This is the same lady who complained that my little girl and her friend were laughing and squealing too loud in our backyard in the middle of the day. I mean, we live in a very urban neighborhood where cars thump bass at all hours, sirens accentuate the birds chirping, train whistles blow, street people yell at each other, people honk instead of using door bells, etc.....all that and she has a problem with little girls playing enthusiastically outside in the afternoon?

Years ago I'd have plenty more to say to her. Now I think it is amusing and also a little bit sad. I am not going to ask my child to contain her glee though and we will continue to park our cars on the street (where else? Ooooh, maybe in our yard, on blocks! *evil grin*).

But still, the point of this reflection is that I really am too easily bugged by things. I think in the last year that I have really relaxed quite a bit and let go, but I have many roads to walk on before I really learn. It's not just that things bug me, but that I lay awake at night letting the anxiety attack me. It's just not good.

However, I am finding words to effectively communicate what bugs me and fix it.