Anyone else notice the spelling errors on the "create a blog" page?  I guess it's easy to recognize the mistakes of others.  Not quite as easy to recognize our own.

It's getting closer to baby time.  I have about a week until I'm full term, but I don't expect (or particularly WANT) her to come for another 3 to 4 weeks. 

I had my first real OB appt yesterday (I've been seeing my PCP up until this point), and that was both nice and completely sucked.  The parking at the hospital is just plain stupid.  I had to park in a parking garage a fair distance from the hospital entrance, and of course it rained. 

I now have a "stork" parking pass so I will only have to compete with other pregnant women for parking. 

I get to see the same care provider for my next 2-3 appts, which is good news to me.  She's a nurse practitioner and I like her just fine.  I don't guess she'll deliver me.  I don't know if NPs can do deliveries.  I should probably ask.

I told the nurse not to tell me my weight, but I guess she thought I was joking, and she told me anyway.  I haven't gained too much, only 8 lbs, but the number on the scale is so darn high.  I just weigh myself at home on my brave days.  The rest of the time I try not to think about it. 

The male nurse I saw back at the clinic on base was much better.  He always told me how beautiful I looked, and he never told me my weight, he just said that I was doing great.  This new nurse is kind of disinterested and surly.

And skinny.

I worried my NP would bitch at me about my weight, and then I'd have to tell her to RTFC because my fatness predates my pregnancy, and my pregnancy weight gain has been just fine.  But she didn't say anything. 

I am very tired now, and forgetful.  Other than that, I'm doing great. 

I had a baby shower last weekend.  The first one I've ever had.  All the Med section wives but one came, and it was so nice to get to chat and be around them for a happy occasion.  They are so sweet, and I got so many wonderful gifts.  It amazes me that they would do this for me when most of them barely know me.  It was such a treat. 

I got a new (to me) vehicle last week.  Hawaii passed a new law that's going to require Orian to ride in a booster seat.  Between that and Isabella's car seat, I figured we probably needed more room.  Adrian suggested I look for something bigger, and I took that and ran with it.

I was proud of myself.  I researched the vehicles and figured out what we could afford that would fit our needs. I wrote down the info and the VIN numbers.  When I went into the dealership, I didn't let them show me what they wanted me to have...I looked at the specific vehicles I had researched.

I even pre-arranged my financing and auto insurance so I wasn't at the dealership's mercy and was able to easily finalize everything.

The sales manager tried to treat me like a dolt about negative equity, but owning my own set of breasts does not render me completely stupid.  I had already set up my financing and knew exactly how much I could offer, including the negative equity that would be rolling over.

He tried to get me to sign the dealership's "back up" financing, but I refused, which I'm sure he didn't appreciate.

Anyway, I got my vehicle for $7K under the listed price, I had researched the value of my trade-in and got what I wanted for that, my financing went through flawlessly, and my apr dropped from 9% (with the sedan) to 6.49%.  My insurance even went down a tad.

I now drive a 2006 Ford Explorer XLT with third row seating.  The boys love it.

Yesterday I took the boys to a Halloween Costume Contest and Haunted House at the library.  Orian was Superman with great big muscles.  He looked so cute.  Xavier designed his own costume.  He was Jack 'O Lantern from his Billy and Mandy video game.  I suck at making costumes, but we put all the pieces together and made it work. 

He won "Most Creative Costume".  A little girl won "cutest" and a kid in a bloody Scream mask won "scariest".  Xavier complained a bit because he had asked for a Scream costume and I told him no since I don't think kids should wear costumes from movies they're not mature enough to watch.  He grumbled because he said he knew the Scream kid would win.

I think "Most Creative" is a more special title than "scariest", but I'm just a mom, so what do I know?

The judges loved his costume, though, and really gushed about it.  It was nice for him to be in the proverbial spotlight and get some praise and attention.  Orian, the most emotionally secure child on the planet, wasn't the slightest bit jealous.  I am thankful for that.

Tonight at Cub Scouts the boys are both receiving some awards.  Photo op for sure.  They are also participating in the Raingutter Regatta.  We've put together and decorated model boats that they'll get to race tonight.  Hopefully the lacquer I sprayed on the boats will keep the marker and paint from bleeding.

Tomorrow night is Sunset in the Quad, and we're going to watch some Halloween-themed movies outdoors with some other families.  We did it last month and had a great time.  This time I'm bringing chairs, though.  Last time Orian decided to lay on my hip/side for most of the movie, and that was fairly painful.

Saturday is Make a Difference Day, and we'll be painting and scrubbing.  We have to choose between helping at school and helping with Scouts.  I think we'll go with Scouts since it starts at 9 am instead of 8.  Then Sunday is the CS trip to the Maritime Museum.  I really hate driving in Honolulu, and I'm looking forward to a single day where there is absolutely nothing I have to do.  I don't see that day on my calendar anytime soon.

I'm looking forward to Isabella's birth for many reasons...one of which is that I will HAVE to sit down and relax throughout the day so I can nurse her.  It's a built-in excuse to be lazy, and I love it.