The cat vs. The kid

I'm officially off the road and working from home now - WOO HOO!!

Trouble has become very cuddly to me in the last few days and it all started with a kick from the kid. The first time it happened Trouble was cuddled on my lap with his paws stretched across my tummy. When he got kicked, he gave me a look of "what the heck is going on in there?"

Yesterday, when he again was all cuddled in he again got kicked, this time much more fiercely - like the kid was saying "get off of me". Trouble retaliated and punched my stomach back - not once but numerous times. This went on for many rounds - cat unhappy about being kicked and kid annoyed with cat laying on him and punching back.

I was cracking up and trying to keep my composure as I was on business calls but it was absolutely hilarious.

This kid kicks all the time now - 24/7. Alex came home from work the other day and said he had heard that the kid's personality is already developed before birth. We're in so much trouble if this statement is actually true.

I was told by my mom to stop using the word kid because we're having a human baby not a goat.

Less than 8 weeks to go...

48 hours more on the road...

Since I'm being grounded by the doctors at 32 weeks prego, I only have 48 hours left of being on the road. I've been gone for 8 days already since we had our girls weekend and I'm really ready to be home.

It's going to be a very strange transition for me and one I'm very much looking forward to.

What's scary is that our due date is only 9 weeks and 2 days away - I'm shocked at how fast time is flying by. We're going to be parents before we know it.

I'm even starting to finally look a little prego.

I hate Des Moines Chrysler

I would never publicly complain about a company but Des Moines Chrysler has not only treated me extraordinarily poorly as a customer but my minivan is awaiting to be towed for it's fift visit to the dealership in less than 4 weeks.

On Des Moines Chrysler's website I was able to submit a letter to them with a 256 character restriction. Below is my full letter:

I'm extraordinarily disappointed in my service at Des Moines Chrysler. Not only I have had my vehicle at the dealership 4 times in 4 weeks for various incompetencies - I awoke this morning to my van again not working.

The service department is condescending in what little communication they provide, they are incompetent in the fact I've had my vehicle at the dealership now 4 times in 4 weeks and it is again broken in my driveway and the last straw today was the fact that they wouldn't tow my car in for service.

I'm beyond an unsatisfied customer. When contacted by Chrysler for a feedback survey on my service satisfaction I clearly gave you a ranking of 0, on a scale of 1-10. Clearly now, my ranking holds true.

My vehicle, for only being 2.5 years old and having 24K miles has had more issues than any other vehicle my family has owned.

What annoys me the most and what will prevent me from ever driving another Chrsyler besides the poor product is the poor service and poor staff employed at this dealership.

I only wish I could lemon law this vehicle. I plan on also writing a letter to the better business bureau about the service, communication and incompetency this dealership has given me.

I spoke with the Service Manager, Doug, on Thursday 8/14, and he was of no assistance. This dealership is pathetic in meeting the needs of customers and continues to provide incompetency at levels I've never seen with any other dealership.

I would like to be contacted upon receipt of this message.

A Room With a View

I just landed in Ft. Lauderdale for company meetings. Great hotel with an ocean front room. I'm going to crank through some work and take a walk on the beach...

Best Husband

After a very bad day of work and many unhappy clients, Alex made my day.

He told me he's the happiest he's ever been in life and is so excited to be "daddy".

Puts everything in perspective very quickly.

Not much news

So there's cat pictures...

Moby, a.k.a. "Click-Click"



and Trouble



So I'm missing a picture of Jack because when I took these pictures last April he wouldn't sit still for a picture (high strung cat). Projac, whose happily living on Prozac will soon have his picture posted.

Nothing new on the baby front - I'll be 27 weeks prego on Friday with the large gestational diabetes test / blood work which I'm just dreading.

So for now, it's just work work work. Luckily, I'm downtown Chicago enjoying a great atmosphere.

Converting the Yarn Room into the Baby's Room...The Before Pictures

When Karen came from Houston in May, she was a savior; we managed over the course of a few days to pack up the entire chaotic yarn room into bags and containers.

She was a great sport in motivating, strength in moving containers as well as strength in decision making of "do you really need to keep the yarn you've had for 6 years and have forgotten about?"

Karen went home with three suitcases full of yarn and started projects from the yarn room. It felt great to destash, organize and pack up. The pending baby room hasn't been touched since Karen left and most likely won't until the end of September but it's a great feeling to know that at least the hard part has been done.

Before pictures (and this was 4+ hours into the process of organizing):