Allison and Jenni had come over Thursday night for our girls night to make cookies for a cookie exchange Austin Stone was hosting for South Austin ladies. I loaded up in the car Friday evening with my cookies to meet Allison for some fried chicken (my main pregnancy craving, as Nelson would say, but I've always loved fried chicken). It was dark, rainy, wet, and cold. I was thinking to myself, "This is the best weather to stay at home in pajamas on the couch for a movie. I should've just stayed home. These cookies probably aren't even good. Why am I going to this?" Next time I have those feelings, I'm turning around and going home.
Instead, I kept going, following a car who decided to be a good samaritan and stop in the middle of Slaughter to let an oncoming car turn left. The lane beside us was completely backed up and they had left a gap for cars going in and out of a parking lot, but our lane was clear, so him stopping was kind of sudden. I think I said, "Seriously? Are you kidding me?" as we came to a stop, and then I felt my car kind of go forward a bit. I looked in my rearview mirror to see lights too close. "Did he just hit me," I thought? It really wasn't hard, but yup, he did. Turns out the guy behind me was pulling a trailer with no tail lights, so he couldn't stop as suddenly without being rear-ended himself, so he chose to lightly tap me instead. Cool, guy; thanks. We pulled into a gas station and luckily he was very nice and apologetic, and asked me about five times if I was sure I was ok. It's just a small dent on my bumper, but more annoying that now I have to deal with it.
I called Nelson as soon as I got back in my car, and of course I started to cry as soon as I told him I'd been in an accident. Not because I was hurt, I really wasn't, but I think just shook up and that word is just scary in itself. He said he knew I was serious (not sure why I would kid about that?) because I had just told him that morning that if I was ever in an accident, I'd tell him when he first picked up the phone. I wouldn't tell him "the story" first, and then get into, "Oh yeah, and then I was hit." This was spurred because, and I think this is karma getting me back, I had called to tell him about this guy who was driving recklessly on my way to work. I ended up seeing his car parked, so I pulled off and left a note on his windshield that said, "If you drive like an asshole, you're going to kill someone. Be careful and happy holidays. - a very pregnant lady" (I exaggerated the pregnancy bit for effect). I was kind of proud of myself, but I'd scared Nelson into thinking something bad had happened.
So, after four years of marriage, I guess we're still learning stuff about each other!
The cookie exchange was fun. I met Allison's friend, Abby, who recently moved to Austin from Indiana. We ate some good cookies, drank hot chocolate, and then I packed up my favorites to take home with me.
And since I don't have a picture of the cookies (oops!), here's one of my bumper? ;) Again, minor, but the first one for this car in its two years of age.
Saturday morning was our childbirth class!!! It was LOOOOOOONG. 9am - 4pm. But pretty informative, and not gross at all. One of the nurses from Dr. Cowan's office was the teacher, so I knew her. We didn't have to watch any videos, but she showed pictures of how the baby prepares for birth, explained what happens to your body, talked about when to call or come in, and the whole labor and delivery process at the hospital. We ended with a tour of the labor and delivery area and then the post-partum area, which I remember pretty well from Lindsay with Jackson and Dean.
We hurried home home to change because my mom and John were picking us up to eat, and then we all went to see The Nutcracker. RetailMeNot was the underwriter, so Nelson had free tickets. It was his first ballet, which was evidenced by his question, "So they don't talk at all?" shortly after it started :)
Nelson didn't know the trick to this is that you have to put your face IN the hole....
Sunday afternoon I went to a baby shower for my boss / friend Emily. It was basically all girls from the office, so was fun to chat with them outside of a work setting. The hosts, Britta and Emily (another one), had some fun games planned. We submitted baby pictures, and Emily had to match who was who. And then of course we had to eat baby food. Luckily I didn't make it to the tie-breaker round because that one consisted of meat. Blech!
The Marketing team! Britta, Emily, me, and Amber.
And the whole gang, four of which are pregnant :) L to R - Stephanie, Emily, Emily, Melissa, Allyson, Amber, Me, Courtney (front), Britta, Kristin, and Jillian
Emily is due with a little boy six weeks before me, Jillian is due with a surprise the day before me, and Stephanie is due with a boy about four weeks after me. So many babies!!!
So it's safe to say that Sunday night was a Netflix and chill night :)
