You Asked For It!

Last Friday was the first Friday Freeforall on Marriage Confessions, with a chance for a little Q&A action.  Thanks for all those who submitted questions in the comments section and via email.  I had a great time answering them.  Some of the questions were so good that they will require their own posting to answer in complete detail, but I’ve filed those away and will post on them in the coming weeks. So if you don’t see your question answered today, keep checking.  You may end up with your own post!

So, here we go…  

1.  What are the ups and downs of picking out baby paraphernalia?  

The up of picking out baby paraphernalia is definitely the registry.  I’m sure that it has something to do with the fact that I can’t shop for myself right now because of this new BFH (Budget From Hell – which is actually going incredibly well), but the registry is worlds of fun.  Its like shopping without having to pay any money.  I log in to just look at my registry at least twice a day.  I like seeing everything displayed together.  Makes me happy.  And I use my registry as a shopping list for me.  Whenever I have a little extra cash flow, I log into my registry and pick something out.  Its a great way to keep track of what I’m spending and buying.  

The downside of the baby paraphernalia is that we are the first of our friends to have a baby, so sometimes its hard to find second opinions about things.  Picking things like strollers and high chairs and diaper bags is something that Chris and I really want to do together.  Its all part of the fun of preparing, and those are some of the only things that we actually have control over right now.  But there are certain things that we just HAVE to ask for some help with.  And learning to do that has been very…well…humbling.  Its such a stark reminder that we don’t know what the crap we’re doing!  We can’t even find the right kind of bottle sterilizer, for crying out loud!  How are we going to raise a baby?!?!  But we’re also learning that most people don’t know that kind of thing until their baby arrives.  Apparently parenting is a work in progress, which is a lovely thing to know!

2.  What did Chris do for you for Valentine’s Day and was it the whole Shebang?

 For Valentine’s Day, I did NOT get diamonds…(sigh)…BUT my Valentine’s Day was absolutely the whole shebang.  I was sleeping my way through New York  that day and afterwards, I met Chris when he was done working (he works in the city).  We went to dinner at the restaurant that we went to the night we got engaged.  Its our favorite little restaurant in New York, Joe Allen.  Its not fancy or famous, but it has good food in a great atmosphere.  And more important than any of that, its OUR spot.  And they have hot, fresh, Tollhouse cookies for dessert with a scoop of ice cream.  To die for.  We had a great time and talked about the baby coming and how exciting that was.  We talked about how good we were doing with our money.  We talked about our past Valentine’s Days and how far we’d come.  Short of making out at the table, it was a great love fest.  

After dinner we went to see In the Heights on Broadway.  It was good, but not as great as we were hoping it would be.  But the music was awesome, and that’s really what we went for so in that sense it was perfect.  Diamonds or not, it was a really great Valentine’s Day.  

3.  Someone asked me the questions that James Lipton always asks at the end of Inside the Actors Studio.  I love that show!!

A.  What is your favorite word?  Twinkle
B.  What is your least favorite word?  Dialated
C.  What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?  Seeing passion or drive in someone
D.  What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?  Laziness
E.  What sound or noise do you love?  Walking on gravel or Chris’ car pulling in the driveway
F.  What sound or noise do you hate?  My cell phone ringing
G.  What is your favorite curse word?  PISS ANT!  (I don’t know if that’s a curse word or not…)
H.  What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?  Author
I.  What profession would you not like to do?  Accountant (my palms get sweaty just thinking about numbers)
J.  If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?  I’m proud of you.

4.  What staples you always have in your fridge?

 Salsa, Tabasco hot sauce, bacon, eggs, cucumbers, Clausen’s pickles, iceberg lettuce, and – since I’ve been pregnant – lots of strawberries.

5.  How are you doing avoiding Target and how are you doing it?  

I am doing awesome with my Target addiction, thankyouverymuch.  I have bought no new shoes, no new make up, no new stationary or notecards.  Nothing.  I’m clean and Target-free.  I’m doing so well because of one little rule I made for myself.  I do NOT go to Target unsupervised anymore.  Never.  Ever.  Otherwise, I walk in for dish detergent and I find myself walking the purses and accessories aisle with my hands full of scarves and sunglasses.  Suddenly a $3.50 trip to Target would become a $150.00 trip.  Now, if I have to go at all for things like shampoo and toothpaste and instant brownie mix (IT WAS JUST ONE TIME, PEOPLE!  DON’T JUDGE!) I take a sponsor with me.  A partner.  A body guard.  Someone to keep me focused and on track.  Someone to forcefully escort me away from the new spring cardigans.  Someone named Chris.  Somehow, walking those bright red aisles with Chris at my side whispering quietly into my ear, “Do you really need that?” just takes all the fun out of my Target game.  

A lot of people asked about the baby nursery and the reason I haven’t ever written anything about it and am not doing it now either is because it isn’t finished yet!  I want to do a big unveiling of the nursery once I deem it “finished.”  I am waiting for one more little thing – the most adorable lamp in the world – to complete my ensemble and then you’ll get pictures…Oh, man, will you get pictures.  So, those are coming.  

Thanks again for your shout outs!  Happy Monday!