Exam and Busy Season

It's already at the end of January! I can't believe how fast time passes. My busy season at work has started, yet it has not been too busy yet. It may partially be because of me being more of a "reviewer" position instead of preparing returns. But I think main reason is that we haven't gotten information in yet for many of our clients... which means we'll be running around like a chicken with its head cut off around March 15 and April 15. I hope I don't have to work as many hours as I did last year. But it could be my last busy season as a full time worker, so I do want to put everything to it.

I had my third part of the CPA exam. I didn't pass my second part, Audit, which was not a surprise. And with work beginning to pick up, I didn't put as much time as I should into this exam either. The exam has three sections of multiple choices and two sections of simulations. And after each section of multiple choices, you get to either take a break or keep going. After my third section, I clicked a button to pass on taking a break. And suddenly a window pops up saying "your network connection is terminated. Please leave this window and talk to the test location assistant". I'd had heard of people having to re-take exams because the internet connection got bad or system lost the exam while they were taking it, but I just couldn't believe that it happened to ME! Long story short, I had to wait outside for half an hour for them to call the special number and locate my exam, bring it back up and have me sign on again. Luckily nothing was lost, so I was able to continue from where I left off. But I sure couldn't focus on the exam after that. I don't know how I did on the exam, but if I get low 70's (you need 75 to pass), I may petition to see if they would give me some grace or if I can re-take the exam for free... we'll see.

My belly continue to grow and his kicks are getting stronger. It's fun feeling him kick except when I want to focus at work. I ordered more maternity clothes online because I'm finally growing out of my normal clothes. It's so convenient that I can shop at Old Navy and Gap, and return the clothes for free! (Because there aren't too many maternity stores around, they come with returning labels.) It's been fun talking to him, but it is really hard to not mention his name while I'm around others! We are used to talking to him at home using the name we picked already, so I have actually spilled the beans once... luckily no one heard, but I'm not too confident that I can keep it secret for 3.5 more months.

Buy one get one free

Last weekend we went recliner shopping and actually bought two recliners. It was buy one get one free, and was just a little more expensive than a recliner we were loooking at. We are also getting one from Mel and Lorna, so we can put one in the living room, one in the nursery, and one in the basement when it's done.

We thought of being adventurous and get something that's not baige, but we could not... so now in the living room we have a baige sectional, baige couch, and two baige recliners... (and they are all in different shades of baige.) I know it's boring, but the green ones we thought about seemed to outdate quickly. I'll try to jazz them up with some pillows or blankets.

These recliners are soooo comfortable though. They swivel (it was important for Jeff) and recline pretty far. Hopefully the basement will be done soon so we can move some of the furniture downstairs!

Green or Yellow?

On Saturday we bought two sample size paints; green and yellow. We have picked out green crib bedding, so we took the bedding to Lowe's to pick a shade of green that'd go with the bedding... but we bought yellow just in case if it'd be "too green".

So, what do you think? We are leaning towards yellow more now, but any opinions will be appreciated! (I know the picture didn't show the colors too good.)

Am I showing yet?

A few weeks ago when I asked Jeff if I looked like I was pregnant, he said "eh, border line. You could pass as being fat"... what a wonderfully supportive husband I have.

In the past few weeks I THINK it started to pop out even more (I decided that I would not ask Jeff anymore about it). I made a same comment to my doctor when I was in her office last week, and she said that now that baby's at the belly button, it was natural to show more. I was a little worried if it's too early to start growing this much, but apparently I am measuring normal too. Yey for healthy, normal pregnancy!

Last night Jeff and I had Kate, Will, Jen and Allison over. It is always nice for me to have a fix of a girls' time. We ate lasagna, salad, garlic bread and fruit pizza, and played rock band, scattergories and some wii. Jeff and Will were sad to be out numbered at neumerous occasions through out the night; voting for answers during scattergories and to decide if we play a game of "acquire"... if anyone is interested in playing "acquire", you should let Jeff know.

Brrrr

According to the TV it's minus 12 degrees outside right now! How cold can it get?! I like white snow covering everything and making it look so bright and beautiful, but I don't like sliding on the road tailed by people just because you are going 30 miles an hour. Luckly I get to park under the building at work when it's snowy and icy out instead of walking across the main street and go down the slipperly stairs with everyone else.

My work has picked up this week. I will start working on saturdays this week. Hopefully it'll just be a half day. It is kind of good that I start working longer hours so Jeff will have lots of time to work on the basement... maybe we'll get to move the guest room down stairs and we get to start decorating the nursery!

New Year, New Hair Cut, New News

Hi everyone.

Thanks to Gretchen who kept pushing me to start a blog as soon as she found out that I was pregnant, I am finally convinced to start a blog. It's new year, I got a haircut (11 inches! Of course I donated my hair :-) ) and we have a new news (as "Mariko's pregnant!" being the old news), I thought it's a good time to start.

So, we had an ultrasound on Thursday. The baby is healthy and is right on track. And... we are having a boy! And apparently the baby's foot is almost two inches big! No wonder why I can feel the movement more clearly now.

It's been fun being pregnant so far. Now that we know we are having a son, it's been more real to us that we will be parents in four months. We can not wait to meet our little one!

Love,

Mariko