Kat's Playbook

So when I got the BFP and spread the word to work, I began to have an irrational fear of my water breaking at any moment. In my fearful hormonal mind, it would happen when I would be sitting in a Board Meeting, would have to excuse myself, while saying, "Sorry about the chair, I will buy you a new one."

Or I would be sitting on the LightRail, and would experience giving birth on public transportation. That really happened in my city...she was on the news and everything. So let me tell you, I would much rather have my 15 minutes be for something WAY better than bringing my little one into the world while singing the Wheels On The Bus Go Round and Round.

And so, my irrational fear carried over to my Unnecessary Emergency Kit, in which I carried around in my purse for weeks (probably the entire 3rd Trimester). My kit, was a small little make up bag:

Posted in: 3rd Trimester, baby, Hormones, pregnancy on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 3 comments    

34 weeks
And yes, there's that bed rest "fat" face
38 weeks
WHOA BELLY - And to think that I still went 2 more weeks after this!!
So who knows just how big I got on the final day...
either way, I can tell you the cameras were put away!
Talk about defying gravity!

Posted in: 1st trimester, 2nd Trimester, 3rd Trimester, baby, Belly, Motherhood, Only a Mother Would Say, pregnancy on Monday, November 16, 2009 at 3 comments    

So even before we found out that Mr. T was going to be a boy, I'm pretty sure that my hormones were trying to tell me something. How is that you ask? Well, I seemed to be crying at everything sports related.

I of course cried while watching Rudy (but come on...that's a freebie, because who doesn't?!?).
But then you throw in Cool Runnings. When that team picks up their bobsled at the very end and everyone starts to clap....Water works for Kat!And let's count how many times I cried at the Bronco Game:
1. For the national anthem.
2. For the Fly By
3. When the team ran out
4. For Each and EVERY time the Broncos scored. Which I think was only 3, but still. I was a sobbing mess. Luckily I had sunglasses on and my dear husband (Gator Guy) just kept his laughter to himself.
5. And then when we lost....to Miami

But the most memorial was the first time in my life that I cried while watching ESPN's College Game Day (Here is the second)

Here I was, sitting next to Gator Guy, reading the paper...or really just looking at the ads, and drinking my coffee (yes, coffee), when College Game Day begins their heart felt story of the day. I have seen these stories before, and I know that they can be touching just like Extreme Make Over Home Edition.

But the second I look up and see Joe Paterno, I begin to tear up. First of all, we are Bronco Fans, Gator Fans, and Ram Fans. I have never had an attachment to Penn State...until this day. Once ESPN queued in the music (The Story by Brandi Carlile), the waterworks began and I was a sobbing-snotty-mess that we have seen before. The hormones had taken over.

And so, join me in a moment to honor Joe Paterno. JoePa. Papa Joe.

"Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things." - Joe Paterno

"Besides pride, loyalty, discipline, heart, and mind,
confidence is the key to all the locks." - Joe Paterno

"Its the name on the front of the jersey that matters most,
not the one on the back." - Joe Paterno

"Losing a game is heartbreaking.
Losing your sense of excellence or worth is a tragedy." - Joe Paterno

"Success without honor is an unseasoned dish;
it will satisfy your hunger, but it won't taste good." - Joe Paterno

"The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital. " - Joe Paterno

"When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence,
excellence becomes a reality." - Joe Paterno

Posted in: 2nd Trimester, Football, Hormones, pregnancy, sports on Friday, November 13, 2009 at 0 comments    

There comes a few times in your life when you are at 4th Down & Inches and need just a little bit more. When you lay down on the bed to get those pants zipped up, do a few squats in hopes that your jeans will stretch, or need breathing room after that big Thanksgiving dinner. But the time when I really needed a few more inches to make it to the next play...was of course my pregnancy. I honestly had no clue what maternity pants were all about. And after the first shopping experience with my mom I quickly decided that I would make my current clothes work for as long as I could.
First of all they throw in the belly pillow in the dressing rooms like that is suppose to make you feel better. I don't know about you, but my first thought was, "How many bare tummies has this thing touched". And then I thought..."Surely I won't be this big for quite some time" WRONG. So since the elastic-leotard-make-me-feel-like-Steve-Urkel maternity pants were not in the front of my wardrobe right away, I needed some time. A Time Out. A Delay of the Game.

Posted in: 1st trimester, 2nd Trimester, baby, Belly, pregnancy on Sunday, November 8, 2009 at 0 comments    

I LOVE the PBR. Professional Bull Riders. Professional Bull Awesomeness. I mean really...there just isn't anything better that those cowboys ridin' bulls in their chaps, buckles, and tight pants. (Mmmm, I Heart You Justin McBride) It is the most exciting 8 seconds as they hang on for their dear life.
And even though I am a cowgirl at heart but really a suburbanite, I have never sat my little tush on a massive beast (bull that is...goodness...get your head out of the gutter). Instead, I am a PMBRTA (Professional Mechanical Bull Rider That's Awesome). Obviously you can take out the "Professional" part, but if there was such a thing, I probably would have qualified. (Key word: WOULD).

Being a PMBRTA is a part of my past. Each Wednesday, me and my other cowgirlfriends, would head on over to the popular country bar in town, The Stampede. Now, for those that are familiar with this bar you know all of this already, but for those that don't: it is by far the most random assortment of people you will ever see in one building. It is a country bar, so you of course get your swing-dancin-cowboy-hat-wearin-yee-hawin folks. But it is also ladies drink free, they play rap in between two-steppin jams, AND it is in good ol A-Town. So you get just about every other social clique around. Seriously, the Best place for People Watching.

Along with 5 bars and a ring dance floor, the "Pede" has a mechanical bull. MY mechanical bull. And I made it a point to ride each week and beat my previous record. And so, on a particular Wednesday night I got on that bull, tightened my grip, threw up my right hand and gave the nod to begin.

Side Note: On a mechanical bull there is a dial from 0-100 for the speed.

On this infamous night...I not only beat THE record for girls (which was of course mine), but I got to 92. Yee Haw! However, I later came to my self in a chair on the side with the manager of the bar, manager of the bull, my closest cowgirlfriend, and not a clue how the heck I got there and off My mechanical bull. So Yes you guessed right.... I was knocked off the bull and knocked out unconscious.
I can of course laugh about it now since no permanent damage was done (as I signed my life away in that waiver). But it was shocking at first to look into the mirror and see that only half of my face would smile.

My best cowgirlfriend yelled, "get the girl away from the mirror"
as I teared up and whined, "My smile is Broken!" Luckily it was just a few days that I couldn't even open my mouth for a spoon.

So why do I share all of this? Well one, it is probably a part of my life that will never fully come back now that I am a Mother. I will never become a PMBRTA, just a Mechanical Bull Rider That Was Awesome And Got Knocked Out (and knocked up).


And two, my very first dream during my pregnancy where I was actually pregnant in the dream....I was riding a mechanical bull....Naturally. And so:

Dear Mechanical Bull,

You and I have had some great times. You kept me coming to your place each week and challenged me all the time. But unfortunately, you have hurt me and I don't know if I can ever get over that. I tried once to come back and rekindled our relationship, but it just wasn't the same. I was afraid of getting hurt again. When I think of you, my heart begins to race and I just don't know if I can ever get over it. Like I said, we have had some good times. But I don't even think we can be friends after this. I think it is time for both of us to move on. I wish you the best.

xoxo,
Kat

Posted in: Prebaby Madness, sports on Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 0 comments    

I remember it so clearly. The first absolute stranger that touched my pregnant belly. Here I was at 16 weeks and showing very early. I was feeling the burst of 2nd tri energy and in Vail for a conference. I even remembering at one of the cocktail hours, (sipping my water) just absolutely loving the smell of whiskey....seriously, apparently the hormones turn me into Toby Keith's little Whiskey Girl.

Back to the belly touching...

I have never quite understood why a complete stranger would ask to touch someone's belly. Would I ever ask to touch your tattoo, scar, love handles, or double chin?? I don't think so!! And so here I was, talking to one of my favorite IT vendors, when her co worker, asks..."Can I Touch your Belly?"

Of course in my mind he had a James Earl Jones kind of voice that echoed as if he was announcing to be my Father or Mufasa high in the clouds. His leaned across the table with his Ginormous hands that could palm a basketball like it was a child's toy...actually moved my name badge out of the way... and rubbed my belly. Rubbed it. Hello, does my name badge that you just moved out of the way say Buddha? Negative Ghost Rider. I very quickly excused myself...and called it a night.

Posted in: 2nd Trimester, baby, Belly, Hormones, pregnancy on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 0 comments    

Ok, so this is not baby, mom, or marriage related...but I just heard from my good friend S, that Jake is going to be the next Bachelor. You might ask, why is this important? Well, its because I have watched every single season of the Bachelor/Bachelorette, even back to the first season of Trista's rejection. And yes, I know that each season gets more and more ridiculous, but I just can't stop. It is like when I watched the first two seasons of Rock of Love. It just ain't Nothin But A Good Time.

Oh yeah....and how great was Jes?!? Loved her.

But back to Jake....Nice guy. Yes, NICE. But goodness he drives me crazy. He definitely caught my eye the first couple of episodes (yay for the pilots), but time after time he kept talking about how prefect he was with his huge crooked smile. Not to mention, I feel like he should have been casted in Leave it to Beaver or Pleasentville. Instead of coming back to throw Wes under the bus, his script should have said:

"Golly Gee, Jillian...I think you are really swell." And then he would give her his class ring and varsity jacket.

Posted in: Reality TV on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 0 comments    

Each night we take Mr. T for a walk, I look over at all the tiny little football players out at practice. It is just about the cutest little thing ever. And even though I am loving every minute of Ty right now...I just can't wait to see him in huge pads, a nover-sized helmet, and running with a ball that is the size of his head. I just can't wait.

But as I watch the pros and even college players, I wonder why type of athletes will Mr. T will look up to and admire. With the players like Michael Vick, Plaxico Burress, PacMan Jones, and Michael Irving...it is hard to get excited about his future role models.

But then recently...for the second time in my life (Here is the First) ...I cried while watching ESPN College Game Day. Below is a video of the USC Trojans bonding. Truly bonding.

*Its a little long, so skip ahead to minute 2:30*



I of course will never understand what it feels like to be down on the field in the huddle. But as I watch this video I think how it is such a great character builder that I really want Ty to be a part of. And even though I am frustrated with some of the athletes like Plaxico & Vick, I know that there are others like Tim Tebow, Peyton Manning, Colt McCoy, Brian Urlacher, and Champ Bailey that are not only great football players, but are great in the community. I hope that if T does wish to play some day...he will experience all the great things about being a part of the team!!

Posted in: baby, Football, Hormones, pregnancy, sports on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 4 comments