O Christmas Tree

We got our Christmas tree last night. We always get a real one, even though they are expensive and a pain in the butt. I love them! No matter how nice your fake tree is, it doesn't smell the same and it doesn't look the same. Although fake trees don't leave needles everywhere and pack up nice in a box when you are done with them. But I'm a real tree kind of girl!

At 6 months old I thought maybe Mitzie would have calmed down a bit. Well, not so much. I knew she was going to have a hay day with the tree. As long as she doesn't knock it over and break too many ornaments I'm ok.

So far we have 1 broken ornament and a disgruntled tree skirt (she keeps trying to borough under it for some reason...). And we finished with the tree last night at like 10pm. So it has been less than 12 hours before damage was done.

I tried wrapping presents the other night, and she was pretty good. Except for when I started tying bows on stuff. As soon as she saw the ribbon she got crazed kitten eyes and started pouncing on everything. I think I'll have to wait to put my presents under the tree until the last minute this year or they won't stay wrapped for very long.

Ah the joys of being a cat mom around the Holidays! I can't wait to see her on Christmas morning when we are actually unwrapping stuff. All those bows and boxes and balls of paper everywhere.

She will be in kitty heaven for sure. I was going to get her a present, but the left over present scraps might be all she needs!

It's Been a Long Time!

Wow over 1 month with no posts! I used to blog everyday, and now... not so much.

Anyhow things are chugging along here. I'm about 17 weeks along or so. Most of my pants do not fit (well comfortably anyhow) it's been a struggle everyday to find something to wear. I dread it. I used to get excited to pick out my clothes, now not so much.

Unfortunately my sickness has not disappeared completely. It still rears it's ugly head 3 times a week or so, but it's sooooo much better than it was. I thank my lucky stars everyday I make it without driving the porcelain bus. We should be able to find out the sex next week, if the baby is cooperative. However it's not been the most cooperative so far, so I'm not holding my breath for that one!

I am way way behind on my Christmas shopping. So much so that I wake up stressing about it in the middle of the night sometimes. No, I'm not kidding about that. Then I start stressing about other things. I haven't had good nights sleep in a long time. I guess maybe my body is preparing for having to wake up to a screaming baby all the time.

After many years, tons of money and a lot of really hard work Jimmy graduated from CSUN! I'm so proud of him, I know how hard he worked for this.

We had our company Christmas Party last weekend. I drug my poor husband with me, he was a good sport and had a decent time I think. My Christmas party is not just dinner with some dancing, it's dinner, 3 hours of speeches, awards and other stuff. And then if you aren't worn out from all that there is dancing. So he was not thrilled to go, but came along with a smile anyhow.

This year I won an award! I made President's Club which means I made the company lots of money I got a little trophy, and went up on stage in front of everyone! It was so exciting. I never won anything in school, so I'm super super proud of my 1 and only trophy, I show everyone who comes into my house. I'm sure most people look at it and think “big deal!". But to someone who never wins at anything, it is! :)

It's Real

So, we had our first ultrasound Monday. Whenever I've heard of an ultrasound, they rub some stuff on your stomach and use their little machine to look for things.

Well, they did the other kind of ultrasound (ladies, you know what I'm talking about).

Why am I constantly being surprised with these types of exams? Guess this one was really my fault, they said ultrasound and I just assumed...

Sure enough the little leg stirrups popped out of this table too...like magic! Anyhow I guess I better get used to stuff like that. Doesn't make it any more pleasant though!

At least Jimmy was with me this time so I didn't feel quite so violated. But I couldn't believe what we saw! Little legs, little arms, big head (well big compared to the other parts!). It was like a real little person in there!

Ok so it really looked like a 1 inch peanut with limbs but still. I had no idea we'd be able to see all that stuff. It really hit me when I saw a little heart beat...it's crazy! The Dr. said I should be feeling much better around week 11. I really hope this is one of those times when the Dr is right! At week 11 and 1 day if things are not good I’m calling him!

I can now add Rite Aid parking lot, Rite Aid flower bed and Rite Aid bathroom to my list of conquests…

On another topic the other night I had to stay late at work to help out this head honcho VIP person.

I left my office at 7:15 to start my trek home. I started to back my car out of the parking lot and it felt really strange. I pulled back into the spot and yep, there it was. A flat tire. Great!

I could only laugh at this point as I explored my options. Call AAA and have them put on my little 50/50 spare tire (which is basically a glorified bike tire).

Then drive home 45 miles on the freeway. Hmm... my only other option was to call Jimmy. So I chose option 2 and called my poor husband who drove all the way out to good old Montrose to get me. What a day!

So while I waited for Jimmy I decided to head to the Mexican restaurant next door and have a Margarita! Ok no I didn't. The whole Mormon pregnant thing kind of goes against Margaritas, but I did go to the Mexican restaurant to eat some dinner. It was yummy and all stayed down, so that in itself is a victory.

Luckily it was just a nail in my tire so we got it patched and now it's good as new. But I sure am glad to have a handy husband who came to my rescue and changed my tire like a pro!

Times, they are a Changing

It's been a while and we have some updates in the house.

First, Jimmy got a new car! Well new to him car. Bless his heart he has always always driven a crap car. And his good old Thunderbird from the early 1900's (ok it's not that old, but pretty old) was a ticking time bomb.

Every time we got in the car we never knew what we were going to get! Maybe it would start, maybe it wouldn't. Maybe it would run, maybe it wouldn't. I guess it kept things exciting! But anyhow it has long been since time to put that thing out to pasture, so on Monday Jimmy got a 2007 Mazda 6.

It's black with tan interior and it looks pretty sweet. I have to say. He looks pretty sweet in it. It only has 8k miles on it and so far is a dream. I can't think of anyone who deserves to actually drive a decent looking/working car more than my poor husband.

Second, my cat is huge! Or she seems huge to me. We've had her over 1 month now and it's been an experience. She doesn't sleep through the night quite as nicely as she once did. No howling or anything, but I'll wake up at 2am to hear her playing with the blinds or something.

This does not please me and she and her cat box get the boot out of our room it times like that. She seems to have endless amounts of energy, who knows where it comes from. Her Meow Mix must be doing her good or something.

Third, I'm pregnant. Yep, I like how I just tossed that one in there! No, I'm not kidding. After almost 4 years of marriage we decided it was time to start a family.

We didn't have to try for too long, but I should have figured that one. It's not like there is a shortage of Cuillards or anything. Still I thought it might take a while. Nope, guess not.

So you can just lump me in with the 100 other people pregnant right now ( I really think it must be in the water) I'm just about 10 weeks along and good gosh has it been a battle. I'm not sure my body was made to be pregnant because it has been anything but pleasant.

When I took the pregnancy test I was home alone with my cat ( FYI we did not know we were pregnant when we got her!) and I just started sobbing. I was excited but I won't lie my first thought was "what are we going to do" and I was scared to death. I'm still scared to death, but am too busy focusing on not puking to think about that now.

Sure enough week 6 hit and things got ugly real quick. Morning sickness would be nice, how about all day sickness? I had/have my head in the toilet, 3, 4 I think even 5 times a day. I've had every symptom that there is so far. You know what they are, I don't need to get into the details but they are not fun. Every time I find myself in the bathroom I pray pray pray that this goes away at 12 weeks. I don't think I'll make it if it doesn't. So far this olive sized baby is looking like it’s going to be an only child at this point!.

I've thrown up in a Burger King bathroom, my office bathroom, a Wal-Mart bathroom my car (luckily had a barf bag on hand) and my bathroom (about 40 times or so I'd say). I'm thinking maybe I should make a game out of it, how many places can I throw up in?

We go in for our first ultrasound on Monday, and they should be able to find the heartbeat and everything. I'm excited for that and hopefully some words of wisdom from the doctor on how to manage this lovely time I'm having.

I'm more than open to ideas and suggestions from anyone out there. I'll just about try anything at this point (and probably have tried everything but we'll see). If you are one of those who threw up 1 time and otherwise breezed right through pregnancy with no trouble what so ever feel free to keep that to yourself because I don't want to hear about it!

Fight On!

Being that I'm a sports fan you'd think that I've been to many sporting events right? Well I've been to a baseball game, and well yep that's it. No basketball, no hockey no soccer. Just baseball. Granted baseball is my favorite sport, but I'm always looking to expand my horizons.

Well I got the opportunity on Saturday night to go to a USC football game. For free. Yes those really are the best kind. Robbie got 3 free tickets so Robbie Jimmy and I headed down to the Coliseum.

Now, I'm not going to pretend to be the biggest USC fan. I liked them in the early 2000's but in more recent years it just seems like the kick the crap out of everyone and I'm one who roots for the underdog. But jeez going to a USC game can make you change your mind if that's the case.

We arrived at the Coliseum around 6:00 or so, with just enough time to take in the sites. And boy were their sights! So much food, so many people, so much maroon and gold. We got into the stadium and I could not believe where our seats were!



It was like we were on the field! We ate and cheered and yelled o plenty. I think I heard the USC fight song about 100 times. Or more. I went in being so so about USC and came out a fan! In that kind of atmosphere you can't help but get swept up in it. Of course they won (no surprise there) so the whole place was having a great time. I'm not sure I'll ever make it back to a USC Football game, but I hope I do because I had a great time!







Ok so I thought I was going to go a whole blog without talking about my cat. But I can't, I just love her! Everyone else talks about their kids and well I don't have one of those right now so here is the latest with Mitzie:

Looking at the picture below you'd think she was desperately trying to escape the clutches of my friend Tessa! But she's loving this. If you put her on her back and start rubbing her chin and neck she does this. She stretches out until she looks like super kitty trying to fly away. She is such a nut!

Come!

We've had Mitzie for a week now. It has been mostly fun, but jeez it's like having a furry child sometimes! She is feeling more comfortable at home and has started doing some strange things. She gets under her cat bed and pushes it around the house for example.

I kept seeing her bed in strange places and couldn't figure out how she was doing it. Well now I know.

Her toys kept disappearing too. She has this mouse that makes noise when she bats at it and one day I heard it under our bed. I looked under the bed and it was like a mountain of toys! So that is where they all went...

She has figured out how to open doors if they aren't closed all the way. I guess it was only a matter of time until that one happened. She has learned to fear the squirt bottle and knows that means she is in trouble. I just show it to her and she runs off and hides.

She follows you around all over the house. She likes to be around people. If there is no one in a room with her, she will find the room you are and come join you. I do like this quality. The last thing I wanted was a cat that hid under the bed all day. The kind where the only way you know they are even still alive is if you see food missing from the dish and poops in the litter box. What’s the point of even having a pet then?

On Saturday I started on the long yet rewarding road of attempting to train her. Yes you can train cats, just like you train a dog. We are working on the command "come", so she will come on cue. Next is to "sit".

It's the same basic principal, you use food to get them to do what you want. Then you reward them. Well she comes just fine when she knows I have treats. She comes before I even have to say come. Yesterday she did actually come when I told her to without treats.

But then a few hours later I told her to come and she looked at me and ran off. Hmmmm... Guess she may not be the kitty phenom I hoped she would be. I am bound and determined though so eventually she will come when I say!

She has decided that we should wake up at 7am everyday. As you can imagine, this pleases Jimmy immensely. She doesn't meow or anything ( she still doesn't make a peep) but she starts rubbing her little kitten body against my head until I pet her. If I pet her she will lay down and be fine. If I don't pet her she will go between me and Jimmy until one of us gives in and pays attention to her.

All and all she is still a hoot and completely entertaining to watch. I love her to death, but if she thinks I'm never sleeping past 7am again she has got another thing coming!

Exciting News!

It's been a while, and I have some exciting news! No, I'm not pregnant. I've noticed whenever I tell someone I have news, or ask them to "Guess what?" they think I'm pregnant. Nope, not today.

We did however get an addition to the Cuillard family. It's a girl! She is 3 months old, 2.5 lbs and completely litter box trained. Yep, I got a kitten!



Welcome Mitzie Leanne Cuillard (yes I give my pets middle names)!!

After 8 months of convincing, my fellow housemates finally agreed to let me bring in a pet. Jimmy and I went to Petsmart on Saturday and there she was ready for adoption. I fell in love immediately. We brought her home and she didn't make a peep, which is the opposite of what every other cat I've had has done in the car.

We've had her for about 3 days and so far so good. Ok so when she is in the litter box she flings litter everywhere. And she thinks everything that moves is a toy. And she goes to the bathroom more often than I thought physically possible for such a tiny body. But she is so funny I could watch her for hours. She sleeps through the night without any howling and instead of coming home to an empty dark house after work I come home to a dark house with an oh so excited to see me kitty.

Robbie pretended not to like her at first, but I think she is growing on him. I hear him playing with her and laughing at her when she does crazy kitten things. Whenever he comes downstairs she follows him around like a lost puppy.

In a couple of weeks I'm going to put her in a harness and take her outside (she won't be outside without supervision, too many coyotes and such around here) so that should be interesting. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures!

Ah the joys of being a cat mom again.