How to wait to give birth sucessfully without losing your mind in 6 short weeks!

Friday October 19 10:57am


TGIF!!


So I have an idea...



Since I only have 6 more weeks and have to keep my mind busy and in tact before I get to see my new little man, I have devised a little plan for you guys too. Here are 6 different things for you to either think about or act on. I will expect some feedback (including pics too) to let me know how you did. Come on people, when was the last time someone gave you something this fun to do?! Let me know your thoughts, let me know how you did. If only I was Oprah and I could fly you for an overnight to Chicago to report on how you did, but alas, remember its just me...





Sun 10/21-Sat 10/27


Week 1


Rethink


I want you to dig out an old picture of yourself from at least 10 years ago and tape it up on your bathroom mirror. I want you to look at it every morning and rethink about what real beauty is. Remember what you thought back then about what you looked like, where you were at with your relationships, if you had kids, etc... then I want you to, for an entire week, "look at" where you are at now. A little "check up" with yourself. Embrace the fact that you may have a few more wrinkles, a few more gray hairs that you would like to cover up. Think about how far you have come in whatever you were trying to conquer, get over, accomplish, beat. Really take the time to look at yourself every morning and rethink what your real beauty is. Instead of hustling around like a mad person. Give yourself a few extra minutes to give thanks for the body that God has given you. And for all that hard work you do to be a real beauty.





Sun 10/28- Sat 11/03


Week 2


"Jon Madden, I love you!"


Ok, so its just about half way through the football season and as a dear friend so kindly puts it, "Either you are with me, or your not." Either you boycott football in its entirety or you are the 1st one to the couch with your chips and salsa. You have 3 games to sit through this week. Sunday is a gimmee. You have the entire day to stop and watch (in awe of those cheerleaders and how they manage to keep their boobs in their outfits) no... 1 full hour of a football game. I highly recommend The Patriots if they will be playing. Tom Brady, hubba hubba. John Gruden, the head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, major hubba hubba. You may even want to try, if it permits, doing the occasional "nod-off" and then right back in there, game on, focus.
Monday night games are always entertaining. You can do it.
Then Saturday, college. These are my favorites, who wouldn't want to feed off of the college crowds energy? I mean, come on! If anything you will find a new found "like-ness" (lets not go overboard with the word love, that's why we have Grey's Anatomy) for the game and its 1 million rules and regulations. If anything you can always appreciate the fact that these fine men have devoted themselves to keeping the old pig skin tossed around for a long time now. If you play your cards right, your husband may find a new found respect for you, and he being able to be the teacher and let you in on when each member of the team was drafted, where he went to college, and what his rookie career stats were. Good luck!





Sun 11/04- Sat 11/10


Week 3


"Its how many days away till Thanksgiving?"


This week I want you to relax. You have made it through another Halloween. The over commercialized celebration that we love to hate. You are headed right into Thanksgiving and then gulp, Christmas. Every night this week I want you to give yourself at least 1 half hour and do what you please. Here are some suggestions:

• Bath. When was the last time that you took a bath? Bust out the bubbles, even if they are Spiderman or Barbie, and park yourself in the tub and relax. Light some candles. Grab that magazine issue of whatever that has been taunting you since August to read. Note: you may want to make sure you have tucked everyone in bed in order to get this one done.


• TV. Allow yourself some sort of guilt free TV watching. You pick. Tape the remote to your chest if need be to ensure complete control. No folding laundry. No nothing. Just mindless brain neutral coasting.


• Seasonal favorites. The lovely folks at International Delights should have their seasonal creamers out by this time. I highly recommend Peppermint Mocha. Buy one, get yourself some new coffee and make yourself a cup. Nothing finer than enjoying on a cool fall day (anytime) or better yet with some friends. This friend will be available.

Anything above and beyond these suggestions, your only requirement is that it has to be at least 1 half hour of the activity of your choice. What happens in that half hour stays with that half hour. Enjoy.

Sun 11/11- Sat 11/17

Week 4

Get your rear in gear!

I want you to walk or run at least 4 times this week. You can either do Sun, Tues, Thurs, Sat or whatever you can do to meet your goal of 4 different times in one week. Get out those hat and mittens and get moving. The holiday season is now here and since my big butt won't be able to participate in a whole lotta moving around you can do it for me. Plus, you will feel better about fitting into that cute holiday outfit you bought for all those parties. And you will be able to justify that second glass of red wine without any guilt at all. Tis the season.

Sun 11/18- Sat 11/24

Week 5

Make some plans

Ok, so you know that you will get through the end of the year in one piece so why not look to 2008? Plan a get together for no later than the end of February. Circe the date on your calendar and start your invites. Do it!Winter will be in its final downfall and you will be finding yourself longing for some good friend get together time. Nothing fancy, nothing expensive just a get together with some friends. Celebrate the New Year, celebrate Valentines Day, celebrate that you don't have to necessarily shave your legs or paint your toes for another 3 good months. I highly recommend a little place on Cass Street. Good food, great drinks, http://www.tcfood.com/MENU310/menus/spec_drink.pdf. Or just keep it very simple make some fondue, open a few bottles of wine and call it a party. Light some candles, stoke up the fireplace and invite the people that you love into your home. Bonus, there will be a certain nursing mommy that you know and love that would love to come and sit in your living room, not to mention she is turning 30 too! Hint hint...

Sun 11/25- Sat 12/01

Week 6

We made it!

That was painless. We made it through 6 whole weeks and here we are. Now if I have already had my little bambino hopefully you have heard from me by this time. Otherwise, please call and make sure that I am still alive, please. Here is your assignment for this week. Help me to be thankful. For those of you that know "Cassy's Story", you are well aware of the fact that way back when, I decided to take the other path and forge on to the Wonderful World of Childbearing much to the shagrin of the medical communitee. The long and sometimes painful journey towards wanting to be a mommy. Ups and Downs and disappointment that turned out to be the greatest time/experience of my life. And now that I am safely on my way to the final installment of The Stone Baby Trilogy I may need a high five. A high five and an "Atta girl!". A reminder that sometimes when life gives you an obsticle that may seem way far out of reach to tackle, you take a deep breath, get through every contraction and at the light at the end of the tunnel, sit back and revel in what life really did give you. A chance to multiply your love, an accomplishment of ginormous magnitude, to multiply and give back to the earth another little human to ponder life's unanswered questions.

Thanks for your help.

Sincerely,

Cassy L. Stone

Family Operations Management Specialist

10/19/07 4:24pm