A busy Thursday

I don't know why - I just felt like blogging tonight. It's not because of boredom, since I have plenty to do, but this provides a nice way for me to think things through and empty my sometimes overfull mind.

It's been a busy couple of months since I've last blogged, and much of it hasn't been good. Luckily, the thing that affected me most - morning sickness - is gone, to be replaced instead by heartburn and fatigue. Gosh, I love being pregnant. I know some women really do, and there are parts that I enjoy, like feeling him kick (constantly!), but it will be nice to be "master" of my own body again. At least a little - since I'll be nursing it will be probably another year past that. It's amazing to consider that we're having a boy, and wonder what that will be like, and what will his name be?

I feel like we're getting more settled into our house now. The kindness of some friends (our old neighbors) brought us an additional couch (in good shape but needing a new slipcover) and some carpet that was in perfectly good condition which brightened our basement considerably. Dan also tiled the area around the laundry space and is working on finishing out the basement bathroom. There are enough projects around here to keep him busy for years!

Tonight we had the missionaries over for dinner. They're nice fellows, but we didn't "bond" right off. That's okay. They're doing their job, and they seem to be good men. We talked about ourselves, and them and their families, etc. Having company over spurred me to vacuum downstairs (I threw in the basement as a bonus) and make a big dinner. This is good, as we now have leftovers, which will keep us from throwing our hands in the air at dinnertime and ending up at Taco Bell. They also asked us to commit to praying about a family we can share the gospel with. Dan immediately considered a particular family in our ward who is less-active, and after the elders left, he drove over there...the thing is, in many (most) ways, he's so much better than me, but because we're busy I don't think we focus enough on the spiritual things. It's worse maybe for Dan than for me, as I have a little time during the day while Helena's napping or playing to think and read, whereas he never has a spare moment at work and is often doing extra work after she goes to sleep at night. It comes in waves, and he's on the downward trend now (wrapping up several different jobs) and maybe we can comfortably slip into Christmastime soon.

I am really upset about a particular extended family problem that's been bothering me for a couple of months now. I guess I shouldn't go into much detail (not that this person ever reads my blog!), but suffice it to say, it bogs me down.

The other thing that's been on my mind lately (ad nauseum) is Walt Disney World. I found this radio station online that plays music from the parks, and a few other websites of worth that give reviews, advice, news, etc. Anyway, when I have an extra moment online I find myself checking them out...we definitely won't be going until well after the baby comes - he'll probably be a year old? - before we go again, which I know is likely amazing to some people, but if you think that's bad, consider that there do exist folks who bring their 3 month old, 6 week old, whatever age babies with them and seem to have fun. For me, it's too big an expense to justify bringing such a small baby. Yes, I'm desperate to go, but not THAT desperate. In the meantime, I have websites and radio stations and plenty of good memories. I could take all of the pictures I have from various trips and start scrapbooking...

I guess that's it. There's a new E.R. on tonight, which I guess I'll watch, and of course I just finished The Office. This is TV night at our house. The thing about The Office that seems to be unique, for me, is that I've identified with the characters in a way that would never happen with, say, E.R. - I mean, those people are clearly unreal. No one acts like that. But Dwight? He's real, man. Think that over.