Crazy Lumpy & The Animals

I was just telling my friend Liz last night how easy it has been to sleep and how I've never really been uncomfortable at night. Well, I spoke too soon. Last night, for the first time during this pregnancy, I was kept awake by Lumpy. Lumpy started engaging in some kind of acrobatics/full contact football/monster fighting around 9:30 last night and did not let up until around 2:00 AM. I actually got out of bed and paced around the house - that was the only thing that would make Lumpy calm down. BUT, as soon as I would lay on the couch - PUNCH- PUNCH-KICK-ROLL-DIVE-PUNCH-STAB. It was the first time I would ever classify Lumpy's movements as uncomfortable, but maybe he/she was having a good time playing.

In other, slightly unrelated to Lumpy news - here are some pictures of the day.

We cannot seem to keep Scratch away from Lumpy's stuff. We put a blanket (that's actually Lumpy's first homemade blanket - from Barbie's mommy) over Lumpy's blanket box, but Scratch still squeezed himself into the box.


When Scratch isn't trying to squeeze himself into small space that belong to Lumpy - he's trying to squeeze himself onto a window ledge to sun himself. I love this picture, do you see his back leg? He has to prop it up behind his butt to stay on the ledge.


This picture is my favorite one of the last week . . .you can see how the animals gather as soon as we open the fridge. I don't think I've ever seen cats beg like our cats do.

Lumpy Birthday Party Planning

**Rated PG 13** Not appropriate for all readers

Lots of mommies call these "eviction notices", but I prefer to think of these things more like party planning events for Lumpy's birthday. (I think Lumpy wants cookie cake for his/her birthday . . hint, hint.)

There are numerous natural induction methods listed on the interweb ranging from the mundane (walking) to the quite horrific (castor oil - diarrhea anyone?). Some I plan to try this week and others I won't try unless I get really desperate (like April 15th kind of desperate).

• Walking/Galloping/Stair Climbing - Apparently motion stimulates the uterus to contract. I'm going to walk more, although I don't know how much it'll help. I think Lumpy is so used to me running, waddling and walking that I can't imagine it really making Lumpy want to come out now. Maybe walking at different times of the day will help.
  
• Sex - Sperm has protaglandins and this softens the cervix. Also, the same hormone that is released during birthing waves (oxytocin) is released during female orgasms. Poor Buttin will be a piece of meat (kind of like he was 9 months ago). I don't think this one is too terrible for either of us.
• Nipple stimulation - The same theory as sex, it releases oxytocin into the body.
• Spicy Foods - According to some, the irritation of the digestive system can stimulate birthing waves. Barbie swears that this spicy shrimp dish induced her, so I'm going to try it on Thursday (April 1st). She says it'll only take ONE SHRIMP.
  
• Evening Primrose Oil - this is a supplement and it's supposed to to boost protaglandin levels (same thing as sperm). The capsules have to be inserted into the who-ha in order to be completely effective (although some people take the pills orally). This one takes going to the store and buying something - I'm lazy so I'm not sure if I'll do this one anytime soon.
• Acupressure or Acupuncture. I'm all for getting another massage (maybe I'll schedule one), but I'm gonna have to say no to needles.
• Eliminate stress from life - HA! HA! This is impossible (probably for anyone), but I'm going to continue to do my Hypnobabies relaxation scripts on a daily basis - in fact, I have a new one called "Come Out, Baby!". I'll probably start listening to this one later on in the week.
  
• Swinging on a swing - (Same theory as walking/galloping) Sounds like fun, but I don't have a swing set.
  
• Bumpy car ride - (Same theory as walking/galloping) Kind of sounds like fun, but where are there bumpy roads?
  
• Bouncing on a birth ball (Melman) - (Same theory as walking/galloping) I guess I can do some of this while watching TV.
  
• Eat pineapple - Supposedly there are enzymes in pineapple that ripen the cervix. I don't like pineapple. Seriously, why can't yummy things induce labor - like cookie dough or Cadbury Eggs or Mac N Cheese? It'll be just my luck, but I'm sure I'll read something tomorrow about how beans make for a faster birthing time.
• Castor Oil - This is what you take when you hate your body and want to have severe cramps and diarrhea. The theory goes that by cleansing out your digestive system, your body will want to cleans out other stuff too - like a baby, for example. I've read too many horror stories about women going into labor with diarrhea and that sounds bad for everyone involved.

So, here goes! Some of these I'll start trying this week - others, I'll never try.

New Misfit & Walking

We have a new sales misfit starting today. We have (and had) a lot going on, so we don't quite have a robust training program - but I have confidence in our new misfit. Come to think of it, the only job where I really had "training" was at Taco Bell and I've turned out OK.

Today also starts the beginning of me trying some natural induction methods to get Lumpy moving. I'll write more about the methods I will (and won't) be trying later, but the big one for today is walking. I've continued to jog waddle (which has become a lot more like walking in recent weeks) about two miles a day, but starting today I'm going to try and walk some during the day while at work.

Thirty Second Movie Review - How To Train Your Dragon

How To Train Your Dragon

Awesome movie! There was adventure, humor, drama and it was all extremely well-done (I didn't even mind it in 3D). The perfect kids movie that's also wonderful for adults.

Thirty Second Movie Review - Mother

Mother

I really wanted to love this movie, but sadly I was quite bored. It was a little too all over the place and not in a fun way. What should have been an exciting murder mystery ended up being a little too melodramatic.

Phase 3: Profit

OK - so last Saturday I posted about the gDiapers that I found (for really cheap) and my online auction.

Here are the results of my first auction:

Final Auction Bid - $48.00
Product Cost - $8.66 (diapers plus sales tax)
Paypal Fees - $1.69
Shipping - $4.85
PROFIT - $32.80
ROI - 216%

I have another auction end on Monday. If I can make another $32, this will pay for the three sets of gDiapers I bought and kept for Lumpy ($12.99 - diapers plus tax) plus about four of the Kissaluvs diapers that I purchased ($12.95 each). This still leaves about 14 new and 8 used diapers I still need to find a way to pay for . . .I'll keep searching.

Thirty Second Movie Review - Hot Tub Time Machine

Hot Tub Time Machine

Started out hilarious, ended cute, loved all the 80s music, but there were a few slow parts in the middle. I do want to see this movie again, I feel like I missed some parts because I was laughing so hard - oh that and because I was in the bathroom.