MILP #170

Proto atty had it. Here next week.

Names

I am thinking of naming our daughter Emosewa.  Em or Emmy for short.

Why not?  Nevaeh has been in the top 50 for the past three years. 




(Clearly I'm joking, but Clownfish is *not* amused.)

Pregnant lawyer clothes

So, here I am, five months pregnant or so.  I suppose its as good a time as any to discuss my work wardrobe.  I bought a bunch of cute/professional maternity tops on sale at the end of the summer. I prefer shorter sleeves because I nearly always wear a jacket even walking around the office.  (It is a cube farm. You never know who is gonna walk in.)  But I haven't worn the maternity tops yet.  I continue to wear my pre-preg pants/skirts with a combination of button extenders and a belly band.  (Links go to the products I bought on Amazon.)  The belly band is awesome -- its gives me a smooth enough line that I can still wear my pre-preg camis and blouses, even though they are getting a little tighter across the belly.  Sure, pretty soon I'll probably have to start wearing the cute pregnancy tops.  But that's the wardrobe update for now.

In other news, the hormone levels seem to be evening out because my skin looks much less like I am a teenager who works in fast food. (Oh man, the pregnancy acne was so bad for a while there, I considered wearing a veil.)

Oh, I got a haircut a few weeks ago -- my bangs are awesome.

MILP #169

Ptlawmom had it.  Here in two weeks.

Random thoughts

I am too scattered right now to put together a coherent post. Here's what's going on:

• My spell checker keeps changing the name of the parties in a divorce case to Lovelorn. 

• Clownfish started scouting. Bullshark is the den leader. Their uniforms are so cute I could die. Clownfish also just started playing soccer, but I miss all the practices due to work. Its ok, cuz Bullshark is the assistant coach. How lucky am I to have such an involved father for my son? 

• I am officially "out" at work, at least to the people who needed to know. They took it as well as could be expected. My anxiety level has decreased considerably now that its out there. I've proposed a schedule for my return that should work (almost full time with an earlier start and earlier departure).  We'll see how it goes. Too far away to worry about it now.  

• We went for a drive in a quasi-country suburb today and I saw a cow grazing on what was basically someone's front lawn.  I looked twice to make sure it was real. I pointed it out to Bullshark and wondered how they kept it from wandering off.  Maybe they stake it down? I opined.  No pun intended, he replied.  Yep.... that's why I married him.

• My belly has really popped the last few days. Twenty three weeks, and I finally look adorable and pregnant and not just overweight. My weight is still holding steady at -16 from when I started. Awesome.

• Baked an apple pie tonight. 

• In-laws coming for brunch tomorrow. 

• Nursery is about 75% ready.

• Phineas & Ferb is about the best kid show on television.

Meow

Clownfish has a small stuffed black and white tiger named Meow.  He's had her for a while, actually.  We all act as if Meow is a member of the family.  Meow has her own back story that we've all developed over time.  Her main character trait is that she's mischievous. She likes climbing up on my head and "hiding," flying through the air yelling "meee-ow!," and when she's naughty, she does a little "hee hee hee" laugh that sounds a bit like Ernie from Sesame Street.  

Meow hides out in his back pack every day when he goes to school. It makes him feel better knowing that Meow is close by ... she's kind of a proxy for me and Bullshark.  Now, apparently she's in pre-K. She goes by a nickname (Mow Mow) and has friends (Hee Hee).  She usually gets to do the things Clownfish wishes he could do -- like play on the playground all day long instead of doing boring spelling words. She also has "arguments" with her friends and resolves them, which sometimes gives me insight into what really goes on when Clownfish is on the playground.

It will be a sad day indeed when he doesn't need her anymore. But, until then, meee-ow!

MILP #168: The Songs for Girls... Mostly Edition

The Weekly MILP (Moms In the Legal Profession) Roundup is hosted on a rotating basis between PT-LawMom, Butterflyfish, and Attorney Work Product blogs. We originally rounded up just the moms in law school, but then discovered that those women eventually graduate. Who knew? So now all the moms in the legal field (heh) are represented. We aim for Sunday posts.

This week's theme:  I've been putting together a playlist of songs for baby girls because both my friend and I are pregnant with girls and due in January.  I decided to use the songs I'm considering as the basis for this week's theme.  Let's see how it goes.

• And you know what else... "Her face is a map of the world, map of the world..."  Suddenly I See ~ KT Tunstall. 
• My Sammie B "Laughed as she came to my cradle / 'know this child will be able' / laughed as my body she lifted / 'know this child will be gifted' / with love with patience and with faith / she'll make her way..."  Wonder ~ Natalie Merchant. 
• Jenny. "Now [its] gone in the blink of an eye / she [flushed a fish down the toilet]..." Suds in the Bucket ~ Sara Evans.  
• Legally Certifiable "When the working day is done oh..." (or not quite started) Girls Just Wanna Have Fun ~ Cyndi Lauper.
• Only 3 Years  "What can make me feel this way..?" My Girl (or boy) ~ The Temptations. 
• Lag Liv "I feel the love, I feel the love, I feel the love, its really real..." Walking on Sunshine ~ Katrina & the Waves.
• LEO "One day soon you'll drop her off / And [he] won’t even know you're gone / This phase is gonna fly by..."  It Won't Be Like This For Long ~ Darius Rucker.  
• Dinei  "And you should always know / Wherever you may go / No matter where you are / I never will be far away..." Goodnight My Angel ~ Billy Joel. .
• Dakota "Schoolbag in hand, [they leave] home in the early morning / Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile..." Slipping Through My Fingers ~ ABBA.
• Shan. "I'm just a girl, living in captivity / Your rule of thumb / Makes me worry some..." Just a Girl ~ No Doubt
• Magic Cookie. "I'm gonna watch you shine / Gonna watch you grow / Gonna paint a sign /So you'll always know..." Father & Daughter (or Mother & Son) ~ Paul Simon

GRR -- I had attempted this post earlier and spent quite a while on it, when blogger ate it. The whole thing. I've tried to reconstruct it, but I feel like I missed some. There may be updates later. Sorry.  Anyway, hope you enjoyed.


__________________________________
If you’d like to have your blog added to the MILP blogroll for weekly review or would like us to consider a specific post, drop the hostess(es) an email or leave a comment at our sites. Expecting Moms in law school are welcome! Hat tip as always to the “original” Roundup — Beyond the Underground and the co-rounder-upper, Nobody! 

Today

I received a reply email from a friend from law school from whom I hadn't heard in a while. Like all law graduates, he's worried about taking the bar and the job hunt.  But right now, he is serving in Afghanistan. I had been worried because it had been a while since anyone heard anything from him.  He may be home for the holidays, which would be great. 

Bullshark is serving this weekend. He won't be with his current unit for much longer and I am anxious to find out what's going to happen next.  I am thankful for him and for all those who serve.

I remember a guy named Michael who lived around the corner from me growing up. He was the first cousin of a girl who we consider to be family, who also lived around the corner from us and across the street from him.  He was a bit older, but I don't think it mischaracterizes it to say we grew up together.  Nine years ago, he was just a guy going to work in the WTC.  He never made it home.

While answering an email question from a friend, I spent a little time reflecting on my own life.  I then spent some time virtually visiting with the MILPs -- I am so blessed to be part of this community of women, women who kick-ass.
So I guess spent some time this morning thinking and reflecting.  I am thankful.  I am sad.  I am hopeful.  I pray for those we lost, those left behind, those who fight and those who work for peace.

And I remember.

I am the world's meanest mommy

Bullshark was at a meeting, so even though I almost always put him to bed, Clownfish suddenly needed Papa to put him to bed and I just wouldn't do.  This involved minor stomping while getting dressed for bed and general expressions of dissatisfaction with his lot in life.  It could be because I am the world's meanest mommy.

How did I acquire this title?

I made Clownfish turn off the TV to do his homework AND I wouldn't let him have a cupcake this close to bedtime. 

Seriously, someone should call the department for the protection of children or something...

Ok, I worked one whole day this week. Can I have a day off now? No? How about a cookie?

I work in a small cube farm.  Yesterday, I overheard two coworkers geeking out about a particular legal issue, debating back and forth and eventually coming to a conclusion about how to handle it in the situation presented.  It made me happy. 

In my last job, all of us did that every day.  We were all more or less on the same plane of experience, so nearly everyone's opinion was equally valuable and added something to the analysis.  I found people I liked bouncing stuff with, and people sought me out to bounce stuff.  It was good. 

Its kind of a different vibe in the new place.  I'm a low-person on the totem pole ... lower even than some of the others who started with me because of this weird internal hierarchy.

But overhearing the conversation gave me hope.  I look forward to having one of those soon.

MILP #167

At Atty Work Product. Here next week. Woo!

Quick update

Head still above water. For various reasons with HR I am not "out" at work yet. I told key people the first day, but not the people I immediately work with. Can't wait to tell them -- it will explain certain behavior.  Like why I jumped for no apparent reason today while in a quiet room.  Several people noticed. I mumbled something about a bug.  Truth?  Baby kicked hard and suddenly for the first time -- it scared the bejesus out of me. 

In other news, Clownfish is doing ok at school so far and Bullshark is fine. 

More later . . . .