So we had another ultrasound and the baby is for sure a girl!  Hooray!  Our number one name right now is Olivia June.

So there are moments when I feel ready for this baby and there are moments where I'm so in over my head.  Like when we decided to register at Target (you can always check out our registry and buy something if you want...).  And I was standing with the gun and the list of what I should buy and my husband by my side, I stared at the bottles and realized I know NOTHING about what to buy a child!  I was staring at all of my options (drop-in, big, little, etc.) and as we stood there together for 20 minutes look blankly, we realized how unprepared we are.  Interestingly, my husband worked at a daycare for 5 1/2 years, BUT did not really work with infants (he worked with two-year-olds and up), so although I thought he'd know what to buy, he was lost too!

So we got our registry started.  I'm sure there is stuff missing, and really, is the bathtub we registered for THAT much better than the others?  Who knows, but it humbles me to think that maybe I still have several months of learning to do...

A girl?  Its not 100%.  The ultrasound tech asked if I wanted to know the sex and I said..."no, I'll wait for my husband."  But then I thought I saw *ahem* boy parts.  So I asked her to write it down and put it in an envelope so me and my husband could find out together!  Since she wasn't directly looking for anything, she said its not 100% and she'll check for sure at my next ultrasound on July 3 (two weeks away!).  But she was pretty sure its a girl!

Its wonderful!  I want a girl.  My relationship with my own mom is one of the most important in my life, and I want to have a relationship like that with my daughter one day as well!  So I'm pretty excited!

Ooh, I'm watching a preview for Wall-E.  I'm SO going to see that!

One of the searches that brought up my page was the phrase "i hate being a social worker."  Not exactly sure what the person was searching for, but I thought I'd briefly talk about it!  The entry that it brought up was one I wrote right before starting graduate school (August 2006) where I questioned our decision to go into this field.  So I'll pull it together since I'm done!

Two years later, I am happy that I picked social work.  Its a beautiful profession that combines advocacy both politically and for the individual with counseling and compassion.  At church, we were studying "40 days of purpose."  I had such a difficult time with it because I already have a purpose!  I am so blessed that I get to combine my career with my purpose in life (to serve others).  That meaning is what gets you through horrific painful stories and bad days!

It is very stressful.  Especially with adolescents...the stories I hear, the emotional meltdowns I see, and sometimes the parents I meet make this a tough job.  There is a lot of evil in the world.  Whether its a conscious thing or not on the part of parents, humans do terrible things to each other.  However, the kids I work with give me such hope.  They are so resilient, caring and compassionate towards each other.  And getting the chance to listen to them and having them open up to you is an incredible feeling.  A teacher told me that when working with drug addicts, never forget that we as social workers should be honored that the addict is including us in their journey to sobriety.  People do not always have to open up to us, but they do, and we have to respect that and be humbled by that.  On days when we have awesome group therapy or I get a brief chance to encourage a struggling teenager, I am honored that they allow me into their life, even if it is only briefly.

I may be focusing more on motherhood these days, but being a social worker is truly a part of who I am.  It will influence not only my career, but my faith and how I raise my own children.  I definitely love being a social worker, even on the bad days, meaning I'm extremely happy with my choice to go into this field.

I'm back!  Actually, I had not gone anywhere except buried in books and final projects!  I'm ALMOST done (two weeks of school left), and my internship offered me a job starting at the end of May!  I'm extremely sick with a cold/cough.  I have some other things, but I had to post this.  My sister-in-law sent this to me.  It makes me a little ill.

How to Be the Perfect Grandma: Rules of the Game (Paperback)
Book Description
“You speak for all of us who are tearing our hair out about the generation that separates us from our beloved grandchildren.” —Grandma Sally, Moorestown, New Jersey Being a grandmother, writes Bryna Nelson Paston, is not one of life’s free choices. “You can pick your pet, your alma mater, and your spouse. You can decide when to have kids and how many, if you’re careful. You can be a doctor, lawyer, mountain climber, or plumber. But when and where you become a grandma is your kids’ decision.”

Becoming a grandma is like getting a subpoena. You don’t expect it. You don’t know how to respond. You know you must be mature and accept it. Being a grandma, though, is as close as many of us ever get to perfection. There is only one little problem—the generation in the middle. “Dealing with your child and his or her spouse while you become the most relevant person in your grandchild’s life is tricky at best and downright impossible at worst.”

From that unique point of view, Paston has written a delightful book that explains the rules for grandmothers to assure they will be an important part of their grandchildren’s lives. “We have a window of opportunity as grandparents,” she writes, “usually five years, or maybe more if you’re lucky. So you have to make your move fast and decisively. Your kids and their spouses will intrude, interrupt, and interfere. But persevere. Circumvent them, do exactly what you want, and lie—with dignity, I might add. Whatever it takes. Promise anything, but get the kid.” How to Be the Perfect Grandma is a humorous, anecdotal gift book for grandmothers, grandmothers-to-be, grandmother wannabes, anyone who has a grandmother—and, of course, grandfathers.


This had better be satire, because I think its disgraceful to lie to your children about how you are treating your grandchildren.  How disgusting.

I'm finally catching up on some movies (instead of homework) and I've seen like several great ones in a row!  I thought I'd share my opinions since some of these movies did not get good reivews, and you might write them off.  But they are worth checking out!

Here's the breakdown:
30 Days of Night - GREAT!  The plot was sound, I didn't feel like it had major holes.  They set up the characters well and there was great tension.  Scary, but not too scary.  
August Rush - WOW!!!!!  This movie was incredible.  Go rent it immediately if you haven't already it.  It was incredible - well directed, good plot, good acting, and awesome music.  WOW AGAIN!!!!
Definitely, Maybe - Again, GREAT!  I just saw that tonight and it was awesome.  Cute movie, good acting, good plot!  I saw it at the dollar theater, which helped somewhat, if I had spent $8 on it, I don't think I'd be as thrilled.  Price has a lot to do with my movie reviews.... :)

Any other good suggestions?  Three great movies in a row makes me happy. :)

Its been like two weeks since my last post, so I thought I'd say hi and tell you I have not disappeared off of the face of the Earth!  School has been okay.  It was crunch time for a few weeks, but its slowed down finally, so I was able to go out a few times this week.  Its been nice to go out with friends and see movies, or go to a hockey game, or "bar-hop" (does two bars, one of which is actually a restaurant count as bar-hopping?).

My internship has been incredible.  I am so blessed, I love the kids, I love my co-workers, my agency, my supervisor.  I am now leading group therapy one to two times a day (always interesting/nerve-racking).  I only have 2 months left and I am crushed, I am going to cry my last day there.  I look forward to going each day, and would love to just do my internship 40 hours a week (even if it was still no-pay!).  I am going to compose a letter in the next few weeks to my director telling her how much I want to work there and what my qualifications are.  

Any suggestions for this letter of interest????

Also, my mom's family is having a family reunion, the first one since 1979!!!  So when my mom said this is a once in a lifetime event, she was not kidding!  Its in Los Angeles which is awesome.  My husband has only been there once when he was 5.  So we're stoked.  I get to see the beach, and I'm kind of hoping that we can do one of those star homes tours!  Is that lame???

So I have graduation (May 16), putting our house on the market (May 1), buying a house (as soon as the house sells), Los Angeles in June and the stress of finding jobs!  Wow!  What a crazy summer!!!

We're still back and forth on the baby thing.  Apparently, this is not one of those times God is going to give me a clear sense of what I should do.  :)

According to MSN's TV Filter blog (which I LOVE!), the "season finale" of Las Vegas was the last show.  NBC canceled it and won't bring it back.  I'm crushed because:
I love Josh Duhamel...
When you don't have cable, there is nothing on Friday nights...
And they ended it with a pregnant Molly Sims bleeding!  Oh no, the suspense will never be resolved!

Have you ever had a show that was canceled abruptly?  I lost Girlfriends and Related this way as well.

No, I was not tagged, I just thought I'd do a survey (since I can't write about much else!)

Two Names You Go By: Hils and Bug

Things You Are Wearing Right Now: Comfy gray Old Navy pants and a pink Old Navy fleece (no the coordination of brands was not on purpose and it sounds much more stylish than it really is!)

Two things you want (or have) in a relationship: Respect and Affection

Two of Your Favorite Things to do: Applebee's appetizers with friends and cuddling with my husband.

Two things you did last night: Went out to Thai food with parents and walked my dogs.

Two people you Last Talked To: Mom and husband!

Two Things You're doing tomorrow: Homework and homework...

Two Longest Car Rides: 2300-mile road trip to Grand Canyon and back (there were lots of stops!) as an adult, 2700-mile road trip 'round the West with family

Two Favorite Drinks: Non-Alcoholic: Dr. Pepper, milk with ice in it   Alcoholic: Whisky sour, caramel appletini

Two Things About Me you may not have known: I have very low self-esteem and I talk to myself CONSTANTLY.

Two jobs I have had in my life: McDonalds (yum!) and administering satisfaction surveys to Hispanic people on the city bus (and no, I don't speak a word of Spanish beyond Hola!)

Two Movies I would watch over and over: Notting Hill and Center Stage

Two of my favorite foods: Sushi and buffalo wings!

Two places I'd rather be right now: Tropics in an all-inclusive resort with unlimited drinks or the beach in Northern Cal.

Sinus infection + new glasses that are a MUCH stronger prescription + Amoxicillin + coffee + not enough food = really nauseous and vomity today.

I left my internship early which I HATE to do since I love it so much!  Ugh, I just need to be well!