Because its my Birthday....

Leap years, leap days and leaplings owe their existence to the peculiar way we keep time and lay out our calendars. While we conventionally count a year as lasting 365 days, it actually takes our planet 365 days, six hours, nine minutes and 9.7 seconds to complete a single revolution in its orbit around the sun. Astronomers call that a sidereal year, and it's close enough to count as 365 and one quarter days.

So in order to get rid of that pesky quarter-day (and make the scientific facts reconcile with our regular calendar), we add a single day back onto the calendar every four years. So 2008 will last 366 days, not 365--and anyone born Feb. 29, 2008, will have to wait until 2012 for their next true birthday.

The Romans were the first to think up this clever little time trick. Before the founding of the Republic, ancient Romans based their calendar on both the phases of the moon and the solar year. That meant that most years lasted 12 months, and measured 355 days. In order to make up the difference, they'd occasionally have a 13-month, 377-day year. But when Julius Caesar introduced a new calendar--dubbed the Julian calendar--in 46 B.C., he cleaned things up and moved to a 365-day calendar with one extra day every four years.

Usually, people born on a leap day simply choose to celebrate their birthdays on Feb. 28 or March 1. But sometimes the missing day can lead to tragedy. In the famous Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera The Pirates of Penzance, a main character is locked into a life-long apprenticeship with a pirate crew when he realizes his contract releases him on his twenty-first birthday--and because he's a leapling, that won't come around until his eighties.

Famous leaplings throughout history include Pope Paul III, born in 1468; Italian composer Gioachino Rossini (1792); band leader Jimmy Dorsey (1904); French-Polish painter Balthus (1908); and songstress Dinah Shore (1916).

More recent leaplings include actor Dennis Farina, best known for playing the role of Detective Joe Fontana on "Law & Order" and for appearing in movies like Midnight Run and Saving Private Ryan. Born in 1944, he's sixty-four years old this year--but has only seen 16 birthdays.
Actor Alex Rocco is best known for playing Vegas mob boss Moe Green in The Godfather. He was born on Feb. 29, 1936, making him either 72 or 18, depending on how you look at it.
National Hockey League goalie Cam Ward made history when he helped the Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup in 2006. He's now in the record books as the first rookie goalie to win the championship in over 20 years.

But wouldn't it be more impressive for this leapling to boast that he'd won the cup at the age of 5?

A Look Back in Time....

Davis High School 1994

Viper Room 2007

Udder-ly Ridiculous!

Please hang in there with me on this one... If you are offended by the word "breast" then don't bother to read any further!

In my efforts to research and plan ahead on everything that I could possibly need to know about being a new Mom, comes the topic of breast feeding. Seeing as I will be going back to work a few months after the birth, I needed to figure out what my options are. One option is to not breast feed at all. The other is try it out and see how far you get with it. I know my girlfriends have all done it and made it look easy enough, plus all the research in regards to the health of the baby, etc. etc. I'm sure I can pull it off! Not to mention the money you save in formula if you can do it. I came to the conclusion that I would definately need a "Breast Pump"...

Now my research starts with the breast pump. So I'm not "Super" High-Maintenance, I do consider myself needing "Maintenance" of some degree, but I am not about to use a hand pump! It reminds me of a farmers duty at 5am, like I could wake my husband up and say "Hey babe, its time for my milking!" Sorry......Not for me.

I decided, I must have an electric pump. Now here it gets even better, you actually have a choice between one pump or a machine with dual pumps! I cant even imagine a baby on one side, but now to imagine both boobs working side-by-side like teammmates... just to feed one little baby? Nows thats efficiency! Whoever created this thing must have had a business degree from somewhere, at a minimum, then he had to have a minor in Female Psychology because you know he had to convince a woman to actually try the damn thing out. I couldnt even imagine!

Upon initial research I found the "Medela"model to cost around $250-$300. Thats crazy! now who's saving on buying formula? Not me.... $250 to be "Milked" Yikes... So one of my friends gave me her Medela breast pump. But its only the machine, no parts included. It looks like a large black leather purse and you unzip the side to reveal an on/off switch, some gauges, a place to stick a small hose and an outlet for an AC Adapter to plug into the wall. Now at this point I must have looked like a deer in the headlights (No pun intended) because I have no idea what parts I need, are missing or where the hell to get them.

Long story short, I managed to get on a thread on babycenter.com, was directed to a website that dealt primarily with missing parts for the "Medela". So 1 week and $41.00 later, I had to tear the box out of my husbands hands, as he thought it was yet another garage part he ordered. I was finally in posession of what would allow me to psuedo-feed my son while I'm away at work in about 6 months.

You should have seen this! I was like a little kid putting together a science project, with twisty parts and rubbler flappy things... I had the computer on the kitchen counter looking up the operating manual and plastic parts that would one day attach to my chest in my hand. But I managed... I was ready to plug it in and then I thought to myself "How am I going to know if it's actually making suction?" I was not about to stick it on my chest...I am really not ready to go there yet. So I held the suction end to my belly and turned it on... I had to play with the knobs and I figured out they adjust the intensity. Not to mention, at this point,not only does it sound like I have a battery operated toy in my hands, but its starting to suck my stomach inward!!! Okay, so now Im afraid its going to give me a hickey or even worse my Husband is going to walk in and think I have gone mad.

After I realized it was working, I quickly un-sucked it from my gut and shoved all the parts into the bag. I closed up the machine to make it look like a purse again and threw it deep into the babys closet, never to be touched again for atleast 3 months. I was somewhat repulsed by the technology that is meant to replace what it supposed to be a bonding moment between mother and baby. I told my Husband about the encounter later on and told him I wasnt ready to feel like a farm animal just yet.... He agreed the whole idea is strange. And to think this is a for a baby that I wanted so badly... Now I am beginning to understand when my friends would tell me of the sacrifices and humiliating things you go through to become a mother. Boy oh boy, I just cant wait for child birth.... I promise to relay my innermost thoughts on that whole process, once it has occurred. But until then, I will continue to have these momentary revelations of the not-so-cute "having a baby" discoveries as we count down the last trimester of my pregnancy.

My Husband and the Buggy Update...

Many of you may not know this but my Husband is in love with the dirt, second only to speed, is the things that he can make go fast in the dirt. This is why we have a buggy, a dirt bike, a quad, a Traxxas Revo and a Fifth Wheel to stuff it all into. With this being said you will understand the intensity of what I am about to explain....

He built his first buggy a few years ago with borrowed tools in a garage in Carlsbad where he lived his days in bachelorhood. He aquired a large following in the desert of guys who were so impressed with his abilities, that at times he has paled in comparision to a rock star. During those years he established a logo to accompany his new name of what he said he did and that was DirtBuilt Industries (http://www.dirtbuilt.com/). This buggy was pretty pimpin....though I cant comment on the components of the engine, suspension or axles. I do know it had custom crushed velvet and leather interior, along with disco lights that would flash in rhythm with the bumpin sound system. Needless to say it was always the crowd pleaser!

Now it wasnt really a sand buggy, it was built for rock crawling. Which if you google, you'll see is an up and coming sport. A spin-off to Jeepin. Anyways, he sold his last buggy in February 2007 and here we are in February 2008. He started building the new “hybrid” buggy (which can crawl like a spider and race like a trophy truck at Baja 1000) last June right before we got married.

Recently, he was invited to be a competitor in a race called King of the Hammers in Johnson Valley. (http://www.kingofthehammers.com/) A day long race, including 70 miles of desert racing and rock crawling, with check-points. This race requires a co-pilot, window nets, helmet, racing suit and a green sticker. As you can imagine, as he finishes up the building of his second buggy, this is all that we have going on in our house right now. We leave Wednesday Feb 20th. Media day and Pre-running take place on the 21st and the race is at 9am on the 22nd.

I haven’t seen much of my husband in the last 2 months. He comes in to sleep, eat, shower and shave. Then he works all day and is gone in the garage until about 10:30 every night. I have never seen such a determined and more committed man in my life. I knew when we met that he was everything I wanted a man to be in my life. Someone that makes you feel safe, like no matter what happens he will take care of it and make it all better. He does all of this for me.... Then somewhere in his long days he still finds time to tell me how beautiful I am, pick me up and swing me around, chase the dog around the yard and make sure all of our bills are paid on time. He is truley the icon of a what a Husband and Father should be and I cant wait for us to have our son. I have never been more proud of a man in my life.

So, in conclusion, I will have my husband back in about 2 more weeks. I have never complained nor “bitched” about his dedication and love for the sport. Instead, I enjoy watching the smile on his face and seeing the rush he gets from his accomplishments achieved through determination and hard work. A trait I hope our son will also aquire. Until I do become a mother, I will continue to try my hardest to, "Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome" - as my Husbands says it - a motto he has carried with him since he went to war in Iraq.

Check out the beginnings of what is soon to be our newest member of the family... http://www.dirtbuilt.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=23

Public Recognition...

On Saturday I was in the back of the house finishing up some painting, my husband was out in the garage desperatly trying to finish his sand/rock buggy in time for the big race on Feb 23rd, when I heard our Golden, Lexie, bark! She doesnt bark very often and I thought something must be wrong? The front door was shut so I thought maybe Shane was hurt out in the garage calling for me.... I opened the front door and Shanes welding away...I let Lexie out and she ran to the grass and stopped, ears upward. I walked over and it was the Mail Lady....apparently she had just brought the mail over. She was atleast 2 doors down by now and on foot. When she saw us both standing there watching her, she proceeded to walk all the way back to our house. She got down on her knees and greeted my dog and I thought to myself "This is strange?". As I began to apologize for my over-friendly dog, she said "Oh, its okay, we're friends" and handed my dog a treat from her pocket. I introduced myself, thinking how does she know my dog already? Then I began to introduce my husband and he interupts me saying "We've meet also" Hmmm, now Im feeling like I work to much (scratching my head)... She was a very nice lady. Thankfully she was tired looking and aged way beyond me needing to ever worry about her daily visits to my home.

As she continued to play with Lexie she said "It looks like your gonne have a little one to play with soon, huh?" and I thought...OH, She's referring to my huge watermelon of a gut! I was so excited I said "Yes! Oh Thank you...we're having a boy!". She asked me when I was due and then I realized why women rub their bellies.... Its our way of connecting to that little guy we're referring to at that moment.

So as I stood on the lawn with my dog, rubbing my belly and the mail lady walking away from us. I realized that for the first time I was "Assumed" to be pregnant, not asked, or avoided because I might just be a "big girl" but I was publicly recognized as being pregnant by a stranger. I was so excited, especially because my husband was able to witness it. Even he said that he perked up from his work bench when he heard her say that to me. It was a nice moment to share with him and Lexie. I think the excitement was more from the fact that I had wondered when, and where, I would be when it would finally happen and it happened when I was at home, dress in duds, no make-up, hair all tied up in a funky ponytail on top of my head AND I was barefoot.... in my driveway with my husband and my dog by my side.

It turned out to be a moment that I will always remember. If not only because my dog has a way of making friends on her own or that my husbands winning personality continues to shine even through the most expensive of welding helmets, but because it happened when I least expected it to and Thats what life is all about ~ Right!

At the 1/2 Way Mark...

Today I am officially halfway through my pregnancy...it seems easy so far. But as most things in life go...its always easy to start a project but to complete it is where it gets a little tough. So as I prepare myself for the second half of the best thing to ever happen in my life, I reminisce about how easy this has been thus far. I feel him kicking me every night as I watch TV and enjoy his little movements. Knowing that with each week, that foot will grow and grow and eventually not be so cute anymore! Its amazing how you can fall in love with someone who hasnt even made their presence in this world yet....and to know he will already know the sound of my voice and the pitch of my laughter when he finally enters this world!

I Felt Him KICK!

Finally! I'm 19 weeks, one week away from the halfway point, and I finally felt him kick. It was the strangest thing I have ever felt. It felt like a heart palpitation but obviously much lower. And because I always get so scared of having a panic attack, and because it felt so similar, my heart started to race.... Then I realized what it was I had just felt.

It was my first day back to work after a nine day vacation through the New Years Holiday. Shane and I had packed up the Trailer and the dog and headed to Glamis for me to spend my first sober New Years thinking about the sacrifices my body has been experiencing for this unborn child of mine. I did fine, though the fireworks made Lexie pant so loud we had to lock her out of the bedroom in the trailer on New Years Eve, you would think SHE was the one suffering from PTSD in our family after all those KABOOMS! Though Shane did try to hit the deck during an initial game of Yatzee earlier in the evening when the first firework hit. It was a great little vacation for us. I cant wait until we get to bring our son out there to play with Dad in the dirt.

Once we got back from the desert my Dad took over our house, remodeling the guest bath and baby's room. He said that I am nesting and he knew he needed to get this done for me. Apparently Contractors are afraid of Pregnant Women customers, as they tend to nit pick and nag the entire time their home is being redone. Though I did a fantastic job of scraping the ceilings and demo-ing the bath room, I found it quite therapeutic. I am very happy to have the baby's room done. I know I will only get more uncomfortable as time progresses.

Yesterday was my first day back to work after the desert, home construction and 9 days of sleeping in with my Husband and dog every morning. So last night after a bowl of soup I laid down on the couch for about an hour. I was thinking to myself that it was about time for me to feel him kick. I want to know hes okay in there and that the Quad rides were okay to do just like the doctor said they were and within that instant I felt the flutter. Then another one! Ahhh, hes in there!!! Inside me.... Crazy!!! I wasn't alone on the couch after all.

So as I continue down my path of ever growing experiences as a new Mom-to-Be, I look forward to seeing him with my own eyes in about 4 1/2 months. I am enjoying every moment and trying not to remember what my body used to look like, just hopeful it might come back to me one day.