WEDDING CAKE

Love the simplicity of this wedding cake seen on 100 Layer Cake.  Plus it looks like it is carrot - my favorite!

CALLING IT QUITS

Thursday afternoon I met with my boss and my maternity leave replacement for one final review of my project list.  We reviewed everything I anticipated completing by my last day (which is this coming Friday) and what I planned to transition over to my replacement.  As we left the meeting my boss commented that we seem to be in a great place and that she appreciates all the training I have done to bring her up to speed.  For the last three weeks I have had my replacement shadow me and have spent countless hours with her giving her the in's and out's of my job. 

I had a couple of extra vacation days to use up before the 31st, so I opted for a four day weekend.  When I returned back to work this morning, there was an email from my boss, saying "come see me in my office as soon as you get in."  Yikes.  I immediately made my way to her office.  As soon as the door was safely shut behind me, she divulged the news that my replacement had QUIT on Monday!  Today was her last day!  Frustration set in - not only was she leaving the team in a lurch, but I could not help but think what an utter waste of time all the training I had done with her was.  Now with just 2 1/2 days of work left, we not only don't have trained replacement, we don't have a replacement at all!  I am sad for my team and the position they will be left in.  The only saving grace is my coordinator rocks and I know she will step up to the plate.  I owe her big!  I guess even when you have the most solid plan, the unexpected can so easily throw you off your rocker.  

38 WEEKS AND COUNTING

I am officially full term with my due date just two weeks away.  The count down is on.  It is strange to think I can have our little bell pepper any day now.   I went to the doctor today and so far there has been no labor progress, however the head is down and in position and the heart beat looks strong.  I am still feeling good though there is certainly no denying that I am a very pregnant woman.  Almost daily strangers tell me congratulations in the subway and last night I had a man yell across the street "you're having a boy!"  Wrong, but I do find it quite interesting to see what people feel inclined to tell you when you are extremely preggers.   Anyway, it is supposed to be a beautiful weekend in the city.   I hoping to spend a lot of time outside enjoying the sunshine.  Have a great one!

CONEY ISLAND

On Saturday we took a morning trip to Coney Island to check the scene and try out our new camera.  It is was definitely still off season, but looks like the carnies are gearing up for summer!

BABYSITTERS CLUB REVISITED

Yesterday I arrived home from work to find a surprise package waiting for me from an old family friend, Alison Ledterman (now Maitlen).  I tore open the package to find a hard cover copy of The Summer Before (the Babysitters Club) by Ann Martin.  Ann managed to pump out a prequel to her beloved Babysitter's Club series almost 25 years after she published her first Babysitter's Club book!  I was instantly brought back those pre-teen years, where Alison and I would eagerly await for the next book to come out.  We would both bring our copies of the latest on our family trips to Mammoth and would spend hours reading, brainstorming scenarios of what could possibly happen next, and chatting about our favorite characters.  Eventually we grew out of the Babysitter's Club, but the series holds a special place in our hearts.

Not to miss out on what happened the summer before the BSC, I eagerly opened my new copy of the prequel and was shocked to see how big the type was.  Was it always like that?  Quite possibly considering the series is targeted at 10-12 year olds.  I still have my collection of pastel colored paperbacks in my closet at my parent's house.  I will have to check it out next time I am home.  That said I would love to recommend to Ann that she come out with an additional book of life AFTER the Babysitter's Club.  Considering her original readers are now 30+ it would be interesting to see what became of Kristy, Mary Ann, Claudia, Stacey and Dawn.  Did Kristy ever grow out of her tomboy ways or did she become a lesbian?  Did Mary Ann eventually marry Logan?  Did Claudia become a famous artist?  Is Stacey still boy crazy?  Ann, your readers want to know!

MPP

At my prenatal yoga class last night I was the M.P.P. – Most Pregnant Person. At a little over 36 weeks I was struggling to transition from my downward dogs and back to standing with my big belly in the way. I remember being in my class at just 14 weeks and thinking that the girls that were in week 30 were almost there – ready to pop – about to have a major life change. Some of these “yoga friends” suddenly just stop coming to class, a sheer sign that they had delivered and are now new moms. Some of those “yoga friends” I wish I had exchanged phone numbers with before their last class. Funny how the “we should hang out after we have our babies” never quite makes it into the conversation. Or, I just thought there will be one more class where I would still have the opportunity to ask the question. It is sort of like new mom dating – Do I ask for her number? What if she doesn’t want to hang out? Will she call? Such anxiety. Now that I am in the final stretch (literally) I wonder how many more weeks of yoga class I have left depending on if our girl comes early or late? 2 classes? 5? Rather than sit back and hope that these “yoga friends” come to mommy and me yoga after their births, I vow at my next class to make the first move to make tentative future plans with these future mommies. It is tough making the first move in mommy dating, but someone’s got to do it!

In the mean time Nathan and I are starting to cross some of the final elements off our Baby Ellis To-Do List:

• Pack my hospital bag – ½ done
• Interview Pediatricians – scheduled for next Tuesday
• Develop my birth plan – done, do I have to write it down?
• Pick out a coming home outfit for the baby – done (I think)
• Wash all the baby clothes – maybe next week?
• Clean out the fridge – done
• Cook meals to freeze – ½ done
• Tackle my thank you notes – they are trickling out slowly
• Read, read, read

It is all seeming so real now, yet surreal at the same time. At this point I can’t imagine not coming to work. I continue to go to the office everyday and plunge full throttle into my projects and crisis of the day. I continue to plan 2011 as if I will be here to execute it all, and can’t imagine the Styling team moving on without me – though I am sure they will have no problem! At night I attempt to elevate my cankles and then build a pillow fort around my body at bedtime to support my legs, belly and head. So soon life will be so different.

That said, our now weekly doctor’s appointments have been going well. The baby (and me!) continue to gain weight. The doctor predicts she is now over 6 lbs and is about size of a crenshaw melon which is bigger than a honeydew.  Here is the latest pic of my progress…

MOTHERS

Yesterday was Mother's Day.  Happy belated Mother's Day to all of the beautiful mamas out there who have inspired, loved and helped mold who we are.  Sending extra hugs and kisses to my own beautiful mom - can't wait to see you in few weeks!