2009 in Review: February

The month of February began the season of baby showers. Andrew's lovely Aunt Wendy hosted the first of my four showers, a shower for my "work friends". This was the debut of my maternity dress. (When you're pregnant, you're entitled to purchase one dress. This dress is an important part of your pregnancy arsenal. You wear it to every shower, every 'formal' event you are invited to, and any time you feel fat. So, it's important to find a good one. I tried on twelve before settling on this little number. But, I digress...) This shower was also my introduction to a fantastic year-long tradition that I have been enjoying since May 10th. My friends brought me twelve books, one for each month of the year. I was to open them on the day of the month that our baby was born (which happened to be the 10th). Just today, January 10th, I got to enjoy a fantastic read from Linda: Walter the Farting Dog. I have been enjoying these books (admittedly more than Rose for the time being), and am already sad for the end of their streak. The good news is, I have a few more months left.

The other cool thing from February was that Andrew and I went to a Valentine's weekend marriage retreat. Our friends Steve and Jean introduced us to this retreat a few years back, and it has been a blast every time. There are always fantastic (and challenging) talks, as well as lots of time for fun and games. Andrew was a force on the broomball court (until we realized that his slip-on traction thingies were illegal), and we had a respectable human ice bowling score. Sadly, I could only pin-set for our team, as pregnancy and dangerous games on ice don't mix. There's actually a picture of our team (and information about the retreat) here.

Next up, March.

2009 in Review: January

I've heard that the winter is a time to reflect. To examine your past for future improvements. Well, I look back at 2009 and see a serious lack of blog posts. Sorry about that. Perhaps you will forgive me if I summarize my past year in a month-by-month 12-post-retrospective series. You will? Oh, how gracious of you. Thank you. I begin with January.

January was the month of eating! It's strange to think back to life BB (Before Baby), but there was a time when I had free time. And when that free time would be spent wasting time on the couch watching movies and reading books. And eating. It's true that I was/am a picky eater (many of you know that my body reacts strongly to foods I dislike, which I blame for my picky-eating-tendencies), but the food I did like, I ate often.

Well, pregnancy magnified my picky tendencies. You know what, that's an understatement. It was a total protonic reversal. I couldn't eat anything! The blandest food imaginable would still push the eject button in my stomach. I survived off of crackers, toast, and ... uh, yeah, I think that was it. Oh, I discovered clementines in December. Those helped get me through Christmas.

But then, January happened. Oh, sweet, blessed January. In January, my appetite returned and my stomach's protest ceased. That's when the fun started. Have you heard of these magical inventions called onion rings? I had not discovered them until January. They are bliss, plain and simple. They also have a close relative called the onion straw. These miniature versions can be placed on cheeseburgers. Fantastic, delicious cheeseburgers. Needless to say, Red Robin became my second home in January. I could go on, but I think you get the point. Therefore, I dub January the month of eating.