unrealistic ambition

I woke up this morning to an alarm going off slightly before 7:00 am. Odd, since Al isn't working today, but is helping his parents by installing more insulation in their attic. And unwelcome, since I wake up every hour or so anyway and had just fallen back to sleep.

"Are your parents expecting you this early?" I asked.

"I'm meeting Todd for breakfast at 8:00," he replied.

"You could have asked me. Or told me," I grumbled. Put out a little. One, because why in the world does he need the alarm to go off again and again and again for about forty-five minutes before he gets out of bed? Two, because our morning routine on days off usually goes something like this:

Al: "Can we go out for breakfast?" Me: "If you want to," or, "I was planning on making it because you said we need to save money."

So, a little put out. Deprived of my morning routine and definitely, positively stuck at home for breakfast, even though I was planning on making it this morning anyway. And blindsided about it since my ever-so-thoughtful husband had neglected to tell me his plans. (He really is a great guy, a great husband. He just doesn't think like me [a problem since I keep expecting him to] and has the worst memory in the world except for 70s and 80s television trivia.)

After my breakfast (the last of the biscuits and gravy leftovers from the other day) I set out to accomplish my ambitious plans for the day: fill my newly-created pantry and rearrange the kitchen cupboards, go grocery shopping, go to the Kirby store for carpet shampoo, go to Costco for Cheez-Its for Mya (cheaper than dog treats for training), and come home and make dinner for Al and my sister. Forgetting, of course, that I'm on the last day of my thirty-ninth week of pregnancy and not able to accomplish nearly as much as normal. I filled one shelf in my pantry with small appliances that are not everyday appliances (waffle iron, crock pot, blender, etc.) and another, much smaller shelf with seasonal tablecloths and then collapsed in the recliner. Did I mention that my newly built pantry is at the bottom of the stairs in the basement? The stairs are right off the kitchen (where there isn't any room for a pantry), but several trips up and down the stairs wore me out completely. So what did I do? I napped/watched television until Days was over and then forced myself out of the house to accomplish the shopping.

First stop: Trader Joe's. Turns out another woman due in two days had just gone through my cashiers line. Apparently her feat was more impressive since she was dragging two other kids behind her. Second stop: Target. Right next door, thankfully. Next planned stop was Costco (also right next door), but I just didn't have the energy for it. I both love and hate Costco; love the store itself, hate the crowds, and always seem to get exhausted going there. Since I was already near that state, I decided to skip it and the Kirby store and head home. Where I only had about fifteen minutes to rest before needing to start dinner and somewhat clear away the stuff I have pulled out of the kitchen cupboards and have yet to rearrange. Dinner was a new recipe, a yummy Mexican Corn Bread Pie (meat, onions, corn, peppers, tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, and salt with corn bread baked on top) and Beth came over to share it with us and get a sneak preview of the baby's room. Then Al went to hockey, Beth and I watched a bit of American Idol (I never watch, but she's a fan), she went home, and I'm about to go to bed. Which has been much more restful the past two nights, by the way. And hopefully will be tonight.

Here's to a baby tomorrow...