Hooray for Hollywood!

I've always had a thing for the movies. For my 6th birthday party, my family went to see a re-showing of "Return of the Jedi" at the old Artcraft Theatre in Franklin, Indiana (Hoosiers will know what I'm talking about!). I remember being quite little and watching Christopher Reeve in "Superman" and, quite simply, falling in love, as did my sister Katie (remember humming the theme songs in bed at night?). My parents used to take us to drive-in movies on Saturday nights in the summer, and we'd play on the swingset, in pajamas and with pink rollers in our hair(!), beneath the big screen until it got dark and the little animated hot dogs and soft drinks started dancing. One time, we saw Disney's "Swiss Family Robinson" and I was scared of the giant snake, but it didn't dampen the thrill of watching the movie. My love of the movies continued into adulthood, when I seized the opportunity to take a film class in college. I did an essay/presentation on "the new role of women as warriors" in film, using "Aliens" and "Terminator 2" as my main sources. I had the greatest time doing that project and gleefully got an A+ on it, too. So you can imagine how much I love, and have always loved (since my mom let me watch it) the Academy Awards. I was just explaining to my hubby last night that my love of film segues very easily into my fascination for actors and actresses. "Hi, my name is Becky and I follow celebrities." It's true. I read People and Us Weekly. I watch E! sometimes. And I've even had Oscar parties. You see, the Oscars are my version of the SuperBowl. I used to tape up golden yellow streamers and make tons of party food for a buffet. I handed out ballots and gave out prizes. I even had a red carpet event (consisting of taking each person's picture as they came in the door). Oh I miss those days! Indeed, my love for the Oscars runs deep.

And in years past, so has my disappointment. I used to cringe at the bawdy jokes during the opener and sexual innuendo laced throughout (nobody wants to watch that kind of thing with her dad in the room!). But not last night! Please, Academy, can we always have Hugh Jackman as host? How fabulous was he??? Charming and handsome, his every line was funny (and non-offensive!!!) and his singing ("...I'm Wolverine!") and dancing impeccable. As Marty said, what a classy gentleman, and what a classy show, with the big-band orchestra and the 1920's/30's decorative overtones. Oooh, I never enjoyed an Oscars show quite like the one we had last night! I'm on such a high from it that I couldn't resist a few shout-outs to some of the best and worst:

1. Anne Hathaway, we are long-lost BFFs. (Did anyone else watch the Barbara Walter's pre-show special?) When you got teary-eyed during Shirley McLaine's tribute to your nominated performance, I got teary-eyed with you. Haven't seen "Rachel Getting Married" yet but I did catch your other bride movie with Kate Hudson -- so cute! Let's go shopping. Smooches!
2. Angelina Jolie, how flippin' gorgeous are you, and how utterly typical of you to eschew the normal diamond ropes and go for big, fat emeralds? Loved "Changeling" by the way. Deeply disturbing but oh-so-good.
3. Steve Martin and Tina Fey: please work together. You cracked me up.
4. Ben Stiller, I want you to know that I laughed until I cried and almost spewed my diet Coke.
5. Tim Gunn, can we hang out? We thought you did the best job of all the red carpet interviewers, because you didn't act all fake-chummy. And who doesn't respect your opinions on fashion? I remember when I was tempted to stalk you...
6. "Slumdog Millionaire," please go away. I hate when movies sweep, it's so boring! I mean, the little Indian kids were adorable and I'm sure it's a great movie and all, but it was just...overload.
7. For your information, Sean Penn, I won't be ashamed if the sanctity of the marital relationship continues to be preserved according to its definition, even up to the time when my grandchildren are around. I respect your right to have an opinion, but don't tell me I should be ashamed of myself for having my opinion. Just exactly who are YOU???
8. Bill Mahr, please know that you offended 75% of the world's population, who worship a God in some form. Just because you're a raging atheist doesn't mean other people care.
9. Kid who plays Edward in the "Twilight" movie that I've yet to see...um, you had me at hello.
10. Meryl Streep, you are a Hollywood goddess, as Kate Winslet says. Just enjoy it!
11. Kate Winslet, you might be Meryl's successor at the rate you're going. You're so delightfully British and wonderfully talented. I heart you!
12. Mickey Rourke and for that matter, Robert Downey, Jr.: thank you both for realizing you were worth redemption and a career in the movies. Thank God for second chances.
13. Ryan Seacrest, please go away. Just...go away. Your face is everywhere and you haven't an ounce of sincerity to your name.
14. The Academy: thank you for doing what you did for Heath Ledger's family. There wasn't a dry eye in the audience, nor in my living room. I hope they were given a measure of comfort from knowing their son was and is so appreciated.
15. Finally, Hugh Jackman, please come back next year!

Halfway Day and the February list

Tomorrow is my official Halfway Day. It should be a recognized holiday in the life of every pregnant woman! I'm so excited to be officially 20 weeks, but I can't help but feel overwhelmed by the remaining 50% of this pregnancy. It seems like AGES ago that we found out we are pregnant -- it was November 6th and we were still trying to grasp that Obama was the new president. Needless to say, the baby news took the edge off that particular disappointment! (No offense to my Democrat friends; you know I love you! But doesn't the stimulus package worry you just a wee bit...?) Anyway, I would love advice on how to stay focused on the finish line and not get bogged down by the ticking of the clock. Mamas out there...how did you do it? Does getting busy planning the nursery and going to baby showers help? Or did you find distraction in other things? Or does the time just finally and eventually pass, like waiting for Christmas? I find that it's almost too difficult to imagine William's birth, or those first precious days as Marty and I and Will become a family, or the moment when my mom gets to hold him, or the looks in my sister's eyes (who are so geeked-excited for me), or when I introduce Will to my niece Abby (who asked her mama, "what's a cousin?")...all of these images make me so antsy I practically dance mentally, and not in a good way!

So, on to bloggy business, my monthly "List":

• What I'm reading: Eclipse, the third in the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. I've simply consumed these books, and will need to pick up the fourth this weekend, since I only have a few pages left. Someone tell me what to read after I'm finished!
• What we're spending on: Nada. We're in full-tilt savings mode. Not only do we have a big move coming up with all the associated expenses, we also have some new furniture we're planning on purchasing, plus all the untold numbers of baby items we'll need to buy.
• What we're saving for: See above.
• What I need to do: Pray heartily for a good job opportunity/offer for Marty in Indiana. Walk more and work those muscles I'll need in July! Get my bill-paying system set up more efficiently (I'm basically trying to achieve a "click-and-go" system through our banks so I can still take care of finances when in new baby overload).
• What I'm thinking about: Understanding my parents more. I guess you could say I was somewhat overprotected as a child, but now that I have little William inside me, holy cow, do I ever understand their decisions better. We're already talking about a private Christian academy in Greenwood where we'd like to send Will, at least for kindergarten and elementary school. There's just so much politically correct societal propaganda in public school education, and we want to raise our child our own way and teach him about certain things in life when we think he's mature enough for it.
• What I'm working on: This weekend is it. It's time. I'm going to tackle, once and for all, the EVIL STORAGE ROOM*.
• What I'm happy about: My life. Even though I'm antsy for the future, I've never been so content in my present. God has truly, deeply, and abundantly blessed me.

*once upon a time, this girl got married and started a life with her new husband accompanied only by a few clothes and personal belongings. After a couple months, the newlyweds rented a truck and loaded up a garage-full of this girl's 30 years of accumulated possessions and drove it to their home in Tennessee. They unloaded about 3 million boxes and about half of them were stowed in the couple's basement storage room. This girl wanted to take a break from all the shuffling about of things, so she waited a few weeks to get started on this massive project. And she waited too long. This girl got pregnant and immediately entered a period of illness and fatigue that prevented even the most basic tasks from getting accomplished. Then the holidays came and went...and suddenly it's been a few months and there those darn boxes sit, taunting her. And she's tired of being taunted. So she's going in. Her husband is going to attach a rope to her (burgeoning) belly so she is not lost in the madness. You might want to say prayers.

William's nursery

I know it probably seems a bit premature to be planning these things, especially considering that I have 5 months to go (I can barely tolerate that thought), but now that I know who my little William is (the love grows exponentially when the baby finally has an identity!!!), I can't wait to get started on collecting all the things he'll need in his babyhood!

We couldn't resist. We registered at Target the other night. We searched the Internet for a couple hours on Monday, figuring out what our mutual taste would be for our son's room decor (we are both opinionated people, so it took us a couple hours!). We finally decided on this jungle animals theme. Note: I'm not the most theme-y girl in the world decor-wise, but I loved the smiling faces on these animals and could just imagine making a little lion roar playfully at Will and getting him to giggle...needless to say, after that image, I was sold! We're still debating whether to paint the walls a sunny yellow or a leafy jungle green color...although I think we're leaning toward sunny yellow. Marty loves the khaki and chocolate brown colors especially, while I love the fun oranges and yellows and the accents of blue and green. It's masculine without being in-your-face BLUE!

So anyway, we registered for this set called Tiddliwinks Jungle Friends. It's so cute and affordable, and as I'm told by knowing friends, it better be affordable because it would make me ill to subject expensive bedding to the repeated washings I'm told I'll have to do, especially with a wee boy! It was incredible fun to watch my husband coo (forgive me, honey) over baby socks. He even stole the scanner for a bit to zap some items of his choosing, including a pair of high-top infant tennishoes with lions embroidered on them.

I do need help on something, though...aforementioned knowing friends have told me not to use the quilt that comes with the set for actually bedding down the baby in his crib, but to use it for tummy time or decoration purposes. I'm thinking I'd like to do the latter, but I need to find one of those quilt hangers, and more specifically, one that's designed for the size of a baby quilt. Does anyone know where I can find such a thing? I would also welcome any other suggestions on how to accent William's nursery without buying every little item in the crib set (for example, I don't need the hamper in the set, nor the wall hangings necessarily). I'd like to do something decorative with William's name or monogram, and maybe also something literary (Jungle Book?). Like I said, I'd love suggestions!

Announcing...

Hello everyone!

My mommy and daddy are ecstatic to announce that I'm a BOY!!!

Yes, I sure fooled my mommy. She was so shocked to hear the news and see the visual proof that she told Daddy, "the universe just shifted!" She was really expecting me to be a girl, but Mommy has already told me a dozen times today that she's so proud of her little man and couldn't be happier about my coming arrival into the world. (By the way, Mommy has a picture of the proof but can't seem to bring herself to post pictures of my privates on the Internet, so y'all will just have to believe us!)

Just wanted to let you all know what keeps me busy during the day. Yes, I've begun kicking my mommy in earnest now and sometimes she even feels me do my barrel-rolls!

I also like to suck my thumb...

...and ponder on the meaning of life...

...when I'm not practicing my football kick!

Oh, silly me! I forgot to introduce myself! My name is...

~William Champion Conway~

Mommy and Daddy are going to call me "Will" when Daddy is not calling me "Champ." William is one of mommy's favorite names of all time -- very British, she says -- and Champion is my great-grandma's maiden name. My daddy dearly loved his Grandma Lucic and wants to honor her in this way.

One other thing; my daddy took this picture of my mommy this morning before they went to the doctor's office and I rocked their world! See how big I'm getting in there?

As soon as Mommy is off work today, she and Daddy are going to go shopping for me. They've waited this long and Mommy says she just can't wait anymore!

p.s. My Mommy profusely apologizes for referring to me as "she" before now. She'll amend this.

On behalf of Cupid...

In the 21st century, Cupid has decided to rely on more efficient means of matching lovers...

I don't know if I have any readers who are single, but I couldn't resist a plug for eHarmony. The site is hosting a free weekend in honor of Valentine's Day, and this special is going to run from Friday (today) to Monday. If you're looking for Mr. (or Miss) Right and you've never tried it, just make a quick visit and look around -- read some of the stories!

Not only did it work for me and my Marty, but also Marty's best friend Preston and his new wife, Misty. eHarmony matched them in the fall, and they eloped on New Year's Eve -- how romantic!

I love you Marty, my forever Valentine!

Quickening

You know how they say a watched pot never boils? Apparently the key to finally getting to feel your baby kick is to become totally engrossed in something else and forget all about even being pregnant for awhile! Which is just what happened a little while ago. My work today is quite mentally taxing, so I was layers and layers deep into it when all of a sudden, I felt an unmistakeable kick. I've felt little flutterings before, but nothing I could say with certainty was the baby moving or kicking. But this...this was without a doubt the baby kicking me, because just about a minute later, he kicked me again! I think he got uncomfortable and was just rearranging, but his moment of discomfort was my moment of pure joy!!!

Thank you, my sweet baby, for kicking your mama after repeated pleadings to do so. Mommy will remember this act of obedience, that's one free get-out-of-jail card for you!

Happiness

Happiness is, in no particular order,

1. Getting to hear our baby's heartbeat for the first time yesterday. We've seen the heart beating on ultrasound 3 times now, but no audio. During our visit yesterday, the doctor whipped out the regular ole doppler and found Baby's heart beating right away. She tried to stimulate the baby to move a bit but my child refused to budge. I couldn't help but laugh -- this little person is so much like his mother. When we're napping, please leave us alone! But what a reassuring, sweet musical sound: whoosh-whoosh-whoosh. It almost sounded to me like the steady beat of a dog panting! I'm just weird, probably. Biggest news of all: we're tentatively scheduled for the big gender-discovery ultrasound on President's Day, February 16th! We specifically asked for that day because Marty, as a government employee, gets that day off (don't get me started on all the government holidays, so jealous!). Therefore, I'm going to post a poll -- please vote on whether you think it's a boy or a girl!
2. The fact that this little girl went home from the hospital yesterday. Just about 3 weeks ago, I asked everyone to join me in praying for Harper and her family. At that point it was unclear if she would survive. Today this darling little girl is at home, sleeping in her own crib, healed from pneumonia. God is good. He is so very good. I feel privileged to have joined with hundreds of others praying for this very outcome!
3. Getting to sleep here last night:Yes, our mattresses finally came (after a snow delay, curses on you snow!) and we finally moved into the bedroom where our bed frame has been sitting, quite lonely, for several months. Excuse the wrinkly appearance of the duvet, I should have steamed it but oh that's right, I'm fresh out of steamers (and there's no way I'm ironing a king-size duvet). I used to work in an upscale department store and I got addicted to those upright, hand-held steamers. It's now going on the "to buy" list!
4. Reading this book:Yes, you heard me right. Judge me all you want, this book was ridiculously good. I enjoyed nearly everything about it. I jumped on the Twilight wagon quite late (nope, didn't see the movie), but I'm now a huge fan. I would never have thought I'd be interested in a vampire love story, but that's how engaging this book really is. I'm jealous of the author, her writing is so seemingly effortless! Marty and I have a Barnes and Noble date tonight to pick up the sequel, and maybe the next one, too! Did I mention I just bought this book on Monday? Couldn't put it down!
5. The fact that it's Friday. I love weekends with my hubby. We're going to see our dear friends Mike and Jen and their babies on Saturday night, and I love hanging out with them. Other than that, it will be a quiet weekend of bliss inside our marital bubble! Have a fabulous weekend everyone (and stop by your local bookstore to pick up Twilight!).