They say this happiness is just the beginning...

Oh my goodness.  That was breath-taking. 

There's a heartbeat!  and little legs and little arms and a funny-looking head and a heart that beats and beats and beats!  One hundred and sixty-seven times a minute, that little heart was beating!  Baby Trogdor (that's what we're calling him for now, Trogdor the Burninator - don't ask why because i don't know the answer, it's just what we've claimed for four years that we're naming our first born) is measuring exactly on target, at 9 weeks and 1 day, with a due date of February 20, 2013.  

I'm so overwhelmed.  I'm so full of love and happy that I feel like I'm going to explode.  I can't stop tearing up.  I'm so relieved.

I took the day off work, but Bossman changed the game plan last night and asked me to come in for 2 hours, because he and our Ops manager were going to be offsite - he gets nervous about leaving the place "unattended".  So I worked for two hours this morning, which was probably a blessing in disguise, because I was an absolute nervous wreck, and can't imagine the shape I would've worked myself into had I not had other things to focus on.  (I didn't sleep well at all last night, and was so nervous this morning that my stomach and chest were both hurting.)  Ten o'clock finally came, and off to the doctor I headed.  I had just enough time to get to the office and be maybe 10 minutes early for my appointment - so of course I drove past my exit.  And of course, because I was panicked about missing my exit, I chose to take the next one, which was another highway, which meant I had to drive an extra 2 miles before I came to the first exit where I could turn around - and of course that exit was one of the busiest in the city, so of course it took all of my wiggle-room time to get turned around and back on target.  But I got to the hospital, and I got into the parking garage, and the little old lady in front of me, of course, came to a complete stop at every turn in the garage.  And of course, she also took the last available spot in the entire garage.  So I made my own parking place, on the roof, in front of two other people who'd had the same desperate idea.  I was pissed off and fuming and frankly didn't give a flying fuck if they towed my car - I had to get into that office for my appointment!

I was right on time.  Well, if on time means walking into the lobby at the time my appointment was scheduled.  Close enough, right?

Jimi was already there, and we didn't have to wait long before they called us back.  Thank goodness, they did the ultrasound first - she explained, "I'm going to take some measurements and then I'll turn the screen so you can see, but first I'll tell you what you're waiting to know - there's only one baby in there and it has a strong heartbeat."  Whooosh! - There went all my pent up fears and worry and nervousness I've been harboring for the last 5 weeks.  Those few words took the scared away.  And then she turned the screen, and I saw my baby wiggle.  She hit a button, and suddenly the room was filled with the sound of my baby's heartbeat, and then came the tears.  I gasped - I'd been imagining this moment for weeks, when I'd let my mind go down that path - but it was really happening.  I'm growing a whole another person, and he has a heartbeat! 

The rest of the almost-3-hour visit is a blur of questions and congratulations and tests and blood draws.  My doctor has prescribed progesterone suppositories and a daily baby aspirin for the next four weeks to further reduce any risk of miscarriage.  I would've submitted to anything, I already had all the information I came to get.  I was walking on air, and they could've forgotten me in the lobby between call-backs and I wouldn't have cared because I'm growing a baby and he has a heartbeat. 

They gave us three ultrasound photos to take home - I texted one to family and a few friends and my phone proceeded to blow up.  My Daddy - I think maybe he's more excited than Jimi and I are.  When Momma learned she was pregnant with Brother, I remember listening to Daddy call everyone in our phone book to share the news.  He did a repeat of that today, I think.  He loves babies, and he's so excited for his first grandbaby to finally be on the way. 

I guess I can start to think of this all as being really real, huh?  I guess now I can start to get excited? 

This is one of the happiest days of my life.  It feels surreal.  I'm so fucking happy, I could just pee. 

Wanna see a picture?  Baby Trogdor's first close-up:

Ain't that just the cutest little baby-to-be you ever did see?

Gosh, my heart is just so full. 

Kentucky Derby 2012

As I've said a few times, I went to the Kentucky Derby this year.

It was the second time I've been - bossman gave me tickets 2 or 3 years ago - 

but this was my first Derby with my Daddy.

And it was my first trip to the infamous Infield.

This town gets down during Derby time.

We have a huge fireworks show to kick off two weeks of partying, 

and by the time Derby day itself, the first Saturday in May, rolls around,

the locals are filling up my Facebook feed with things like,

"One more day and this town can get back to normal."

 I like the partying, though.

Even if I rarely participate in any of it,

I love the atmosphere of excitement and fun, 

and I love that people from all over come to our city

and see all the awesome we have to offer.

Daddy says his favorite thing about the Derby 

is all the beautiful women in pretty dresses.

The men dress pretty well, too.

The neighborhood near Churchill Downs isn't high dollar real estate;

in fact, it's maybe a little on the rough side.

But that neighborhood rocks out Derby week.

Every house has someone standing in front with a sign that says 

"PARK HERE! $10"

Or $20, or $40, depending on how close you are to the track.

The 'hood becomes a block party -

everyone is grilling out 

(and entrepreneurs are selling hot dogs and burgers and bottled water),

music is blaring,

rednecks and hoodrats in chinos and polos driving golf carts and offering rides to the pretty rich folk who'd never intentionally come into this neighborhood after dark or during off-season.

I should've taken pictures of that.  THAT was the real Derby.

Oh well, these mostly-what-you'd-expect shots will have to do.  

Daddy met us at the house early Saturday morning, 

just as I pulled a hashbrown casserole from the oven.

I made smoothies, too.

We found close parking for $10, 

then caught a golf cart to the Infield gate.

(I almost left our admission tickets in the car.  

Having to go back for them would've been the ultimate walk of shame.)

In our own golf cart chariot.  An excellent shot of the back of my Daddy's head.

Approaching the Infield entrance gate.  At this point, everything's still fine.  No indication that anything is amiss.

Wait a second.

Wait just a minute.  Is that the line?

Dude in the middle there?  Preachin' 'bout Jesus.

At this point, Daddy's about to lose his shit.

He's doing that helpless hands-in-the-air shrug he does when he's frustrated,

and gesturing toward the crowd with a look of shocked disbelief.

"It'll take HOURS to get through this."

The line wasn't moving.  

At all.

See, this is the only entrance through which you can take chairs and coolers and the like.

Everything - EVERYTHING - has to be searched 

to make sure you're not trying to blow the place up

or drink without paying the track tax.

So I said, "Fuck this.  We don't have chairs or a cooler.  Let's walk around to the main entrance."

So we did.

No lines here!  Just walk right up, walk right in.

Security "checked" my purse - 

I held it open and he stuck a wooden skewer into it for one swipe and waved me on.

I really should've packed a flask.

These guys were my first favorites of the day.
I don't know it for a fact,
but I'd bet $100 that they had those suits tailor made.
They fit them like gloves.
One day, I too will be awesome enough to wear something outrageous in public.

Jefferson County's Smoking Ban applies to all bars and restaurants and public venues in the county...
Except Churchill Downs.  Smoke it up, Ladies and Gents!

You get to the infield through a giant tunnel that runs under the racetrack.
I asked Daddy,
"This isn't going to be like that tunnel scene in The Stand, is it?"

Notice how they're all facing the same direction? 
They're not facing the racetrack.

These people too.  They've positioned themselves where they are very purposefully.

So they can see the board, of course.

That's the track, through those fences and girls there.

Hey look!  I saw a horse! 
Lots of locals go to Derby and never see a horse, so I felt I was doing pretty good.

Derby is like camping, but with less fire and booze. 
There's still booze,
but at $9 for a beer or mint julep, there's not booze like you'd see around a campfire.

Daddy's friends brought their transistor radio to listen to the commentary.
Blast from the past!

Place your bets, folks!

It was hot and humid and expensive out there, so we only planned to stay for a few hours, beat the rush getting out, and be home in time to watch the big race on TV.

This was the crowd 4 hours before the main race, 

when I was trying to place my Derby bets before we headed home.

There are no chairs at the Derby unless you bring your own. 
Plan to pull up a piece of pavement.

We got lost in the college party section on our way out.
I smelled dope out there!

This was 4 hours after we'd by-passed the Infield entrance gate.
These people are just coming in from that line. 

And we all lived happily ever after.  

(And I won $52.60 when 2 of the 7 horses I bet placed first and second in the actual Kentucky Derby.

First time I've ever cashed a winning ticket.  YAY!)

NashVegas!

So, I went to Nashville last weekend.

Let me set the stage for you:

Jimi and I have spent (until this past weekend) exactly TWO nights apart since we moved into our former home on Camp Street in June of 2007.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Every night, except TWO, for the last 4.5 years, we've slept in bed next to each other,

woken up next to each other,

kissed good morning each day.

So I was a bit nervous setting out on this journey.

I was homesick before I left. 
I had butterflies and everything.

But I'd committed, and so I was going.  To Nashville.  For two nights.  With women who weren't Jimi.

IT WAS FUCKING AWESOME.

 

First, we met Dolly in the Welcome Center on the Tennessee/Kentucky state line.

(it's not really the state line - it's like 4 miles south)

OMG and then WE WERE IN NASHVILLE!!!

And then we were at our hotel.  

Kimmie's dad put us up in the Hilton on Broadway between 4th and 5th Avenues.

 We had Diamond status, bitches.

(we said that over and over all weekend.

as in, "Bring me whatever I want. I'm Diamond, Bitches."

[Diamond Status does not equal free valet parking, for the record.])

We parked Valet anyhow.

I've never done that before.

Now, to make you understand how funny THAT is, I have to show you this:

That dented car there on the left?  that's mine.  

What's even better? 

At the fuel stop before this one, 5 minutes from my home, just at the start of our trip

the gas door wouldn't open.  The cable broke.  Apparently it's common on this year Civic.

A Good Samaritan tow truck driver happened by and popped the door open for us.

So my gas door hangs open now.

Like I forgot to shut it.

It's super classy, 

especially when every valet driver at the Hilton tries to close it for you.

Anyhow, views from our suite:

So we got all dressed up (put on makeup and peed) and hit the town.

 This was man made the first music I heard in Nashville.  I tipped him $2.

The patio was open on a Friday night in February.

 There was a cigarette machine!  Holy crap, I haven't seen one of these in forever!

 And then we met Elvis. 


Sorta.

Mario & Luigi was their name.

When we got back to the room, there was cake:

It didn't last long.

 And so then we went to the hotel bar...

 But we got there at last call, and so we drank one and took one for the road...

 ...err...lobby.

The view the next morning.

 

These are the tables in the lobby of the Hilton.

WTF is that thing there in the middle?

No, really.

I can't figure it out, and no one else knows.

Please help.

We had a surreal brunch, 

and then headed out to buy Kimmie new shoes, 

and then stopped by the Antique Archeology store.

I made Kimmie take this pictures so you could see how cute I was.

And then our night got started...