Mothers and daughters - WTF??

My mother needs me. Really, much more than she should. Her first marriage to my dad was over before I was 4. Before my 6th birthday, she married my stepfather thinking (I presume) that the opposite end of the testosterone-spectrum was where happiness would lie.

She was wrong.

So she is now one of those women who has nothing to talk about except the doings of her family. Phone calls are a laundry list of why she's annoyed with my brothers, the latest hurtful episode with my stepfather, blah, blah, blah. I've told her I want to hear about her - what is SHE doing. Has she gone out for coffee? Been to a movie? Read a good book?

I live in another province, so I am only available by phone. The pattern goes like this: She calls. Sometimes she leaves a message. I've told her that we have call display, and that if she calls 4 times it'll show up so she may as well talk to the machine. Okay, so if she actually does leave a message it's something like "Hi, it's me. Give a call when you get a chance." And then invariably, she calls me back. It's incredibly fucking annoying.

I'm not a phone person, and she seems to be taken aback the times she calls and I say I just don't feel like talking....to anyone. If I was someone you knew, wouldn't you rather I call you back? Would indicate that I was ready to chat wouldn't it???

Project: BabyRoom

Today is the day we start trying to pull it together. We've been buying stuff for the baby's room for months now, and it is time to make it look like somewhere you could stash a brand new person.

It got fresh paint in July, and we also steam-cleaned the carpets. There's a crib, a change table, a glider-rocker and stool, pictures for the walls....

My friends are plotting....er....planning a shower for me mid-November, so here is where we determine the gap between "got it" and "need it".

Wish me luck!

Blood guilt

So, I'm deathly afraid of needles. Like phobic. Sweaty palms, crying, the whole nine yards. Doesn't necessarily go along with the rest of my rugby-playing, contact-sport, no-bullshit persona, but what's a girl to do?

Now in the recent past, when asked if I donate blood, I explain that I am petrified and "I made it, I'm keeping it."

However, what with the bloodwork and crap I've had to do as we prep for BabyHammy I have found that a) I've not gotten any better with practice, and b) I have a blood type that is found in only 7% of the North American population and is especially useful for accident victims and premature babies (O-ve; universal donor).

It's not an issue right now, because you don't donate blood when you're pregnant (apparently, BabyHammy has "dibs" :grin: ), nor for six months after. But then.....should I try???

Shamed into updating

Yes, Darth made me do it.

It's Thanksgiving weekend and I am so unbearably thankful that I am heading to my in-law's tomorrow for the traditional combination of turkey and torture.

To add to the hour-and-a-half drive to get there, my mother-in-law has invited my husband's Uncle, Wife and 2 kids. Sounds simple? Ha! The lovely bonus to this addition to the festivities is that Uncle and Wife separated less than two months ago. So this isn't a comfortable "we've been separated for a while and can be trusted to make like adults" situation, this is "we're not quite sure how to act, but let's try this on for size". And I can't even drink. Save me.

Baby-person is growing well, and at 30+ weeks I am ready to get off this flying umbrella. Which I know will only get worse as I expand into full term. At this point, I would donate organs for the ability to sleep on my stomach. Soon...soon.

My latest adventure in pregnancy had to do with having an Rh- blood type. I knew I was unique, but I didn't know that I was 15% of the population. So, despite what your biology books told you, even in a first pregnancy this means that I run the risk of having a baby with an Rh+ blood type, which could lead to my building antibodies against said baby. Which, as they say, is bad. So another blood test and a shot later, me and the small are protected for 12 weeks. After baby makes their appearance, I may need another if the baby is acutally Rh+.

Did I mention that I was terrified of needles in general? Yep. I've played contact sports my whole life and the thought of needles reduces me to tears. Every time.

Rare and confused - that's me. :)