Posted by: conchette | Thursday, July 31, 2008

Cupcake Flipping

Gotta love the government. I’m now at 2.5 weeks and I have yet to touch a computer. Yes, I know, my new job is all computer based, and I can’t do my job without it, but it’s a government job. I’ve been told I should have my access soon… maybe next week. Even then, it’s pretty slow right now so I’ll still probably be reading and reading and reading some more. Good news is that I’m already 5 weeks in for my reading for my class in the Fall. So if you ask me, I love my new job. I don’t do anything yet, but I love my new job. I’ll love it even more once I get paid for doing nothing too ; )

I’m sitting here SO tired – it just took me 3 hours, YES… 3 HOURS, to mow my lawn and my neighbors lawn. I had trees growing out back. Oh yes, trust me, it really looked NICE. Between the weather, my new job, aches and pains and other things, I just haven’t had the time or energy or ability to do it. Arthritis stinks sometimes.

So now I’m sitting here typing while watching the Baby Borrowers. If you haven’t heard of the concept, it’s “a social experiment where five teenage couples are on a fast-track to parenthood.” They are placed in 5 houses in Idaho and every 3 days or so are given a new life to be responsible for. From being honeymooners, pregnancy bellies, infant, toddlers, pre-teens, teens and elderly they saw the entire range of life in fast forward. In the end, none of the teens were able to make it through the experiment and stay together as a couple. I mention this because if you didn’t catch it on TV, I highly recommend you try to see it somehow. I’d LOVE to see it implemented in every high school across the country. What a difference it would make in the teen pregnancy rates! Tonight’s was the final episode, but you can go here to watch them online: http://www.nbc.com/The_Baby_Borrowers/ I have to say out of all the “reality” TV out there, this is the most realistic and honest and worthwhile I’ve ever seen. Well done NBC. Really, a GREAT concept. If I can buy the set, I’m going to do so for my Doula Library. It should be required watching

Operation Flip The Cupcake!

Speaking of Doula, my next client (aka, SuperSeester!) is 36 weeks ; ) Only 4 or 6 more weeks to go! She found out the baby is breech so if everyone reading this can please say a little “Cupcake flipping prayer”, I’d be ever grateful. Here she is (in coral) at her Idaho baby shower this past Saturday:

 

Yes, 4 pregnant people one shower. All I have to say is that there really mustn’t be all that much to do in Idaho. Except,… well… you know…

I have to say being a doula for your sister is both an honor and a challenge. I’m torn between providing her with the information she needs to make good choices, supporting her emotionally and (fingers crossed that I get there in time) physically and the extreme terror that must be just what it’s like to be a husband or a partner when you love someone who is pregnant. I believe in and trust birth. I know in my head and heart that birth is safe and that women are born knowing what to do. Yet I am almost completely overcome with worry, concern, fear, hope, excitement, love, panic, terror and awe. I can not believe that my little sister, the one with pigtails, the one who should be riding her pony, out with her friends, skiing down a mountain and traveling the world, will soon have a little person to be responsible for, to love and care for, just like I am lucky enough to have. Seriously, it’s enough to freak a person the hell out. Part of me does NOT believe this is all actually happening and I swear to you its all a hoax. I am just so excited to become a real honest to goodness “Aunt Lu”. And yet theres another part of me as her sister, that wants to protect her and prepare her. I remember and know all about the late nights, lack of sleep, endless concern and worry, hard days and never ending diapers that await her and yet there is NOTHING that I can say that she will hear and understand… at least, not just yet. It’s amazing to me what happens in a course of 48 hours. The person you know and love is pregnant and 48 hours later the become a mother. In a matter of 48 hours or less they turn into a different person. COMPLETELY. The person they used to be will never be again and the person they are becoming are better than they’ve ever thought they’ll be. Supporting this, holding someone’s hand through this fragile new begining, being there to understand and comfort someone on BOTH sides of the brick wall… THIS is why I am a doula and practicing or not, always will be one in my heart. I love that transformation, as scary as it is, I say BRING IT ON.

Flip IT, Cupcake.

Anyhow…

Other than all that, Evan has been sick. He was running a temperature of 103.2 last night and the fever broke once last night at 11:00pm but came back again this morning. I have to say one of the scariest things is to have a child shivering on the hottest night of the year under blankets while simultaneously being ON FIRE. He was burning up. I thought the thermometer was broken and so I took my own temperature… normal. He’s not ever been that sick, so I was completely freaked out. God love his StepMommy – the first thing out of her mouth when I called was, “I know you just started your new job. I’m home tomorrow. Please let me watch him.” She is a saint. Seriously, if I’d been married to her AND the Ex, I may still have been married. She’s wonderful. I’m very lucky. Anyhow Dr. says it’s a virus and that it could take up to 3 days to go away. His temp tonight was 103.4, I’m still worried.

So much to do, so little time… This weekend I’ve got a friend playing at The Bistro on Thursday, Dinner with CRA’s friends AltonBrown and his wife, Saturday is The BSO does Zepplin, Sunday StaciesMommy is throwing a Venzuellan Baby Shower so I’m going with CRA’s mom. The beach is 15 days away and I leave for Idaho in 26 days. Crazy busy until then though… Just trying to get geared up for September – 3 weddings, grad school, First grade starts, lots of good stuff.

I’ll check in when I can… Hang tight. The lack of a computer can’t be forever ; )
Lauren

Posted by: conchette | Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Secret getaway revealed and a leaf of carbon

New job is great. I have a feeling I’m about to be busier than ever at work, in a good way. No computer yet, so blogging will be sporatic and even then, I don’t think I can do it from the new job. I’ll be way too busy to blog… I think I’m gonna like it here!! FINALLY getting to do what I want!!!

2 Concerts this week – Thusday is Rush in Hershey, Friday is Carbon Leaf in Baltimore. If you are free and in Baltimore, I highly suggest getting yourself to Power Plant Live by 9:30pm on Friday Night. I’ll be there with bells on, and maybe shorts. We saw them last Friday night on our “Surprise Weekend Getaway” (we had a wonderful time, it was very romantic and that’s all I’m going to say! And yes CRA was SUPER Suprised and didn’t even believe me when I said we were going to see Carbon Leaf on Friday!) and I have to say, I’m ranking Friday’s CL Concert at the Bottle and Cork at least #1 on my list, #2 being Toad the Wet Sprocket. One of these days I’ll get around to blog reviewing all of them, but for now, this will have to do.

 

I was standing next to the videographer. Not my favorite song (although I love the line, “Nothing rhymes with Wo-maaaaahhn!!”) We stood at the edge of the stage, right in front of the guitarist, Carter (who appears at 3:40) and I can’t say enough about how nice this guy was to us. He stopped after a song and thanked *us* for coming to see them play, and then stayed after all the other band members left the stage to talk to CRA and I. Amazing. Another real live, down to earth rock star ; ) Love them. And then the lead singer Barry helped us out with the Merchandise, but that’s another story… and yes, he is as hot as he looks on stage  ; )

It’s late, I have a long day of reading books and getting paid for it tomorrow. Gotta love the first 2 months on a government job!! Nighters.

Posted by: conchette | Thursday, July 10, 2008

Mystery Trip

So tomorrow we are off. CRA and I are off on our mystery trip. Ok, so I know where we are going and so do our respective mothers and sisters, but CRA has no clue. Or at least he is playing along with me to pretend not to know where we are going. I’m quite excited ; )  The Prius pulls out at 0900 hours to destinations unknown (or at least to CRA!).

He knows NOTHIN. ; )

I’ll post pics on Monday night. Have a nice weekend… I will ; )

Posted by: conchette | Thursday, July 10, 2008

Christmas in July

Christmas, children, is not a date.  It is a state of mind.  ~Mary Ellen Chase

Ho. Ho. Ho. Today my family celebrated Christmas in July. Here are some pictures ; )

 

 

 

Keep your Christmas-heart open all the year round.  ~Jessica Archmint 
   

 

 

 

It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.  ~W.T. Ellis

 

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.  ~Charles Dickens

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree.  In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.  ~Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas

Good Times. Good Times.

Posted by: conchette | Friday, July 4, 2008

Happy 4th!

New updates over at http://beautyseverywhere.blogspot.com/, Evan’s Artwork blog. Enjoy!

-Lauren

Posted by: conchette | Friday, June 27, 2008

I am so glad I’m not the only one…

… who thinks like this.

http://www.amalah.com/amalah/2008/06/the-battle-for.html

Yes, battling deodorants. Inanimate objects with feelings and emotions and the ability to kick each others butts. Seriously, funny stuff. God love Amalah and her silly little pregnant mind.

Posted by: conchette | Friday, June 20, 2008

Gorgeous Night in Hampstead…

Night or Day?

Beautiful night out, so I took my tripod out with my 300mm and shot these. The moon was very big and bright with wonderful clouds. Perfect temperature, great summer noises, quiet. I could have stayed outside all night…

Luckily, I have my evil attack cat to protect me. Trained Assasin Cat, my butt. With one look my cat could demolish you. Evil. Pure Evil ; )

Posted by: conchette | Thursday, June 19, 2008

I’m so on the Barack Boat.

I’m not one to turn this blog political, but I do believe in things that make sense and are just and right.

I just watched a video of Barack Obama making an important campaign announcement. Check it out here:

https://donate.barackobama.com/announcement

He is rejecting 80 million from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs and running the rest of his campaign on grass roots initiatives and donations from US citizens who think it’s time to change something that is VERY broken. Hooray for him!
Go take a look and if this all makes sense to you, donate like I did. Enough is enough. It’s time for a change.

Posted by: conchette | Tuesday, June 17, 2008

SuperSeester, Cupcake and I

SuperSeester and I before the REM Concert
SuperSeester, Cupcake and I

SuperSeester and I (again) before the REM Concert
Me and SuperSeester

I’m taking Cupcake to her first Concert!
Cupcake

Thanks Jess!

Posted by: conchette | Wednesday, June 11, 2008

3 Concerts, 1 Baby and a Sister.

3 Concerts in 1 week:
Tonight – REM @ Meriweather.
Friday – Toad and SK69rs @ Rams Head.
Saturday – Buffett @ Philly. My 15th Buffett Show. I deserve an award.

1 Baby arrived yesterday! See private post for info ; )

Sister is adorable. Love the round belly.

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