thermos

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    Blah, Blah, Boom!

    ByHeather Bailey

    Is it seriously my birthday today? The day might come and go without this sinking in – at – all. There is so much going on around here. Not only are we adjusting to the back-to-school schedule (yesterday, between us, Isaac and I made 6 trips total to and from the kids’ schools — 30-45 mins each trip!), but Elijah chipped a major chunk off his front tooth Wednesday night (emergency dental appointment), all of my licensing partners are asking for new artwork by the end of the month, and I still haven’t figured out where we are going to put this baby — who could come at any time — but will be here by the end of the month no matter what.

    HeatherBaileyCupcake

    We have two kids’ rooms, one office, one open office, a loft, a turret-like play room… a closet. Do you bunk a newborn boy up with his 14-year-old brother who sleeps like a log, or with his 6-year old sister who doesn’t? Neither is the obvious choice. Or do you turn the teensy turret into an adorable nursery — that may only fit a crib and a nightstand. Nevermind the room is right over the front door (doorbell, barking dogs), it’s insanely bright in there, and there’s no sound barrier (such as a door). Or do you move the teenager into the office and the baby into the teenager’s room? Isaac is convinced no teenage boy should have a downstairs room by himself — much more a reflection of Isaac’s teenage years than a concern over Elijah as a mischief-maker. Besides, we kind of need the office. 

    PocketPosh_PeoniesI don’t know. I’ve been telling myself that we’ll just set up a bunk for the baby in our room for a while till we know what he’s like and see how he does with sleeping & such. This is still ‘the plan.’ But, what I realize now is that his STUFF still needs a place. So, where do we put the clothes, the diapers, the blankets, the toys? My room, C’s room, E’s room, the loft, the office — same contenders.

    These are things a mother should probably address in the 2nd trimester before her energy is thoroughly drained. Alas, I spent all of my nesting energy on meeting deadlines and getting my business obligations squared away so I could focus on the baby when he gets here. Not a bad plan, really. But his baby stuff? I have to wash things and put them away — well, somewhere.

    So, here I am. Tick, tick, tick, tick… the timer is about to chime. He’s coming out of the oven.

    I should probably forget all of this for one more day and just go do something fun, huh? Antique-shopping would fit the bill.

    Before I do, I have a birthday obligation to meet — my annual birthday giveaway! I have four new Pocket Posh books out with Andrews McMeel Publishing that – are – stinking – fabulous. I’ve got two prizes for the guy or gal who can cheer me up / calm me down / get me jazzed / sooth my swollen legs with a funny birth or baby story, a great joke, amazing advice, etc.** Your call.

    HeatherBailey_TravelMugsHeatherBailey_PocketPosh

    Each winner can have his or her pick of one of my new travel mugs and one of our new Pocket Posh books. (Which I have learned are the PERFECT things to keep in the car for school-pick-up-line boredom. PERFECT.) They don’t just have clinical definitions and such — they have history, and interesting facts, and smart stuff. They’re really cool.

    • 120 Words To Make You Sound Intelligent
    • 120 Words You Should Know
    • 120 Words That are Fun to Say
    • 120 Job Interview Words You Should Know

    ** I reserve the right to be completely befuddled by all of your fabulous comments and to resort to the Random Number Generator for help if picking a winner is too stressful for my rotund self.

    And, before I forget, can I say it is FAR easier to shave swollen ankles!? This fascinates me.


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    Maybe.

    ByHeather Bailey

    HeatherBailey_TravelMugs
     
    Charlotte started 1st grade today. Elijah starts high school on Wednesday. With their schedules & activities, my own work obligations, and a newborn to juggle, we will be ping-ponging all over town this year. I’m counting on the crock pot for help. And I’ll be baking grab-n-go goodies on the weekends. Yesterday, I made Sour Cherry Muffins. I thought 2 dozen would get us somewhere — but they are no more — devoured in a day.

    That’s a teenage boy.

    … and a pregnant woman.

    … and a sugar-obsessed child.

    … and a man.

    — and two dogs sweeping up crumbs.

    I was planning to snap a photo & post my recipe, but it looks like I’ll have to bake 4 dozen in order to pull that off. Maybe next week. 

    Everything is “maybe” right now. “Maybe I’ll be there.” “Maybe I can do that for you.” “Maybe I’ll make muffins this Sunday.” I sound so wishy-washy. The fact is, I’m 36 weeks pregnant tomorrow. Elijah was born at 36 weeks on the nose and Charlotte was born at 37.5 weeks. I can’t commit to anything much for a while.

    Any day now! Or, then again, maybe in a few weeks.

    All of my cuteness efforts are going into accessories at this point. Flashy, distracting bags & purses. Headbands, earrings, necklaces — all at the same time. Colorful shoes. (Ignore the billowing pudge of my swollen left foot escaping the confines of my unsensible shoe. Strangely, it’s just my left leg that swells.)

    My belly precedes me. Not only does my colorful new thermos make me feel better about the gallons of water I have to drink in order to keep up with this baby AND the 113-degree weather — it is yet another loud-and-lovely accessory to wave in front of my stomach when I’m out and about — a colorful diversion for the well-intending stares that follow a pregnant woman everywhere.

    So that’s the pregnancy update — and the business news — all mushed together. Check out my new travel mugs! Just in from my licensing partner, Inviting Company. Five designs. Stainless steel. Awesome.