Belly Bumps and Four Eyes

24 Weeks or 6 Months

On a side note, about ten days ago I got new glasses. It was about time since my old ones are the originals I got when I was 13. They're so bad I can't see out of them. Every year Ryan has told me he wants to be buy me glasses, but we were never able to until now. I really like my new ones.

New phone number

So a lot of people have been asking why did I change my phone number and why didn't I get a Hawaii number. I got my first cell phone six years ago right after HS graduation. But it wasn't really "my" phone since it was originally shared with Hillary and Cody. That changed when I went away to college.
Funny side story: Since that time I have only had two phones. My original Samsung crashed in June 2007 and it was replaced by the Samsung I had up until this week when Ryan decided my phone had taken too great a beating and bought me a new one. When we went to the Verizon store the guy at the counter asked "Now Miss Lowry, what would you like your phone to do?" Ryan busted up laughing when I replied in all seriousness, "Call people." I'm not a bells and whistles kind of girl. Although the Verizon guy really wanted me to buy a smart phone, I was adamant about another Samsung flip phone so he went and dug one out of the back. Apparently they don't even display them anymore.
So why get a new phone number now? Because I was getting a lot of junk calls. Back in early 2009 I got the first marketing call on my cell phone. At first they were infrequent, only one every few months but since then they've been steadily getting more regular. It's to the point now when I easily get 10 or 12 in a day. I began turning my phone off at night back in March because the calls would begin around 3:00 AM. Everything from "buy my product" to "get this bank loan" to "visit my website". I didn't know you could get those kinds of calls on your cell but apparently you can.
So why not get a Hawaii number? I wanted to, but since I originally got my phone in Idaho Verizon said I could either get a new Idaho number for free or get a Hawaii number for $15. I wanted to save $15.

My new Samsung phone.

I'm old school.

Accepted. Again.

I like the fact that I have been accepted to every college I have ever applied to. Now I just need to quit getting bored and graduate. So far here is how the line-up has gone:
Southern Virginia University: Jan 2006 - April 2007 History Major
Augusta State University: May 15th(?) 2008 Anthropology Major (I only attended one day and was promptly asked to leave when problems arose with my financial aid.)
Brigham Young University-Idaho: Jan 2009 - Dec 2009 Political Science Major
Brigham Young University-Hawaii: Jan 2010 - April 2010 Hawaiian Studies Major, Marine Biology Minor
And now I have just been accepted to Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. I chose this school for several reasons: 1) Their online program is rated #2 in the country. With baby coming, I've decided to try online classes. 2) They're very involved in the political climate of the country. The professors have been seen contributing to major news outlets and every year they host "Clash of the Titans", an awesome debate event that features political heavyweights from both sides of the spectrum. I'm talking household names from news anchors to politicians to celebrities. 3) Turtle Bay is managed by a group called Benchmark Hospitality which conveniently runs a resort adjacent to the Regent campus. Ryan could potentially transfer if we chose to move. 4) If we move from Hawaii, my list of locations had to meet Ryan's standards which are as follows - East of the Mississippi, South of the Mason Dixon, near the ocean, and close enough to his parents to visit, but far enough away to have our own life. 5) Both Ryan and I love Virginia. The history, the geography, the people. And we've never been called f-ing haoles in Virginia.
So my current plan is to be a Government Major with a Criminal Justice Minor, but I'm still undecided. I kind of want to minor in Economics too. Oh well, we'll see how soon I get bored.

Oblivion

Now that I'm not hugging the toilet bowl every couple of hours, I've been able to work up at the ranch more than just one or two days a week. Of course my doctor doesn't know this. She thinks I quit working there months ago. She seems convinced that every horse on the ranch now has one main goal: to kick me in the abdomen and dislodge my placenta. Yes, she actually voiced that concern.
Anyway, today I heard something interesting. A guest, who happens to be pregnant with her second child, was asking about my job and my pregnancy. Somewhere in the conversation I brought up that I like to scuba dive. I patted my belly and said, "Yeah, but my diving days are over for the next few months." At which point she interjected, "I hate to break it to you, but your diving days are over for good. You don't realize it yet, but life as you know it is pretty much over."
Wow. I heard once that being a mom means not sleeping when you're tired, not eating when you're hungry, basically not resting when you're weary. Perhaps this dreary view of parenthood is why I have abhorred the idea of being a mother for so long. I've watched friends and acquaintances get married, have kids, and disappear. Where do they go? Who knows, it's like their house eats them and the only time they are "seen" is through Facebook or other social media sites. I know so many haole families here in Hawaii who are white as ghosts because taking the kids to the beach or the park or even letting them play outside is "just too hard". Obviously Cami didn't get that memo. I've been told I should just throw away all of my size 4 clothes because after being pregnant and putting on weight I'll never be able to fit into them again. Don't tell Shiloh that after seven kids she's supposed to be an XXL. I've also been told that I'll never race again because when you have small children, you will always be "too tired" to exercise or run. I guess Cali will have to find a new hobby.
I don't mind being told that my life is about to change (and if I had a quarter for every time someone told me that I'd be very wealthy),but I do take issue with being told that my life is over. Why does it have to end? Why can't I have it all? Why can't I hire a sitter and go diving with Ryan one afternoon? I am opposed to the idea of children being raised by nannies or sitters, I believe that children should be raised by their parents. But what if I don't want to be a stay-at-home mom? Is there something wrong with working on Ryan's days off? Or before Ryan's shift? Is there something inherently selfish about being a working woman and enjoying it?
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I refuse to live it. I will not lose my identity just because I become a mother. I will not give up my dreams, ambitions, and desires just because there are children to look after. I will continue my education and I will build a strong successful career. I will not stop hiking or running or diving or going to the beach just because there are kids in tow. I will not sink into oblivion.