My Newest Work in Progress

Cute little parasitic blob, isn't it?

Sorry I haven't been posting much, but growing a human is exhausting.  I have this weird thing about telling people I'm pregnant before I see the heartbeat (and kind of after that to...) But I had an ultrasound last week and there it is. Critter #2 is due October 20. Which basically means I feel like I've had the worst hangover ever for the last two months. I am not even kidding. My diet has been reduced to Rice-A-Roni and ice cream. I dropped caffeine and went from sleeping 6 hours a day to needing 13 hours. My doctor has assured me that the hormones have peaked now that I'm past 10 weeks, so I should start feeling better. At this point, however, I'm convinced I'm going to feel like this forever. Literally forever.

Not that I want to complain. I have been blessed with not one, but two healthy (at least thus far) pregnancies. I know so many women who have struggled with infertility, suffered through miscarriages and had pregnancies end with serious complications for momma and baby. It's not nearly as easy to get pregnant, carry a baby to term and have a healthy delivery as those MTV shows make it out to be. The fact that the human race continues at all astounds me. (Anyone seen the movie Idiocracy? No? Go watch it. Hilarious.)

Motherhood in general is a long exercise in putting yourself aside for the sake of another and pregnancy is a no exception. It is physically, mentally and emotionally draining. But the reward is worth it. I've had to give myself permission to sleep instead of write, to spend more time zoned out in front of the TV than critiquing. I'm learning to manage my expectations and still keep up with my obligations. So the blog will probably be spotty, I'll write in bursts and I'll read through my friends manuscripts at lightning speed only to pass out on my laptop before typing a single note. And in about 7 months, I'll disappear into a void of tiny diapers and marathon feeding sessions, only to emerge again ready to take on the world. Or at least a few more queries.

Lucky Seven Meme

I've now been tagged so many times I can't even remember who all to thank. So a big, general thanks so everyone should do it, right? I was hoping to have something from The Lightning Prince to post, but I've been wholly absorbed in Alterae revisions for the last two weeks. I've had some devestating fedback from agents, but I think it's been a good devestation. Anyway, since LP is kind of all over the place and page 77 skips way ahead, I'll save that for another time and go with TA. Maybe I'll post from LP later since I'm pretty sure I owe a few posts by now. (With good reason. I'll have some fun, non-writing news to share on Monday.)

The rules for the Lucky Seven Meme are:

1. Go to the 77th page of your current manuscript.
2. Go to line 7.
3. Copy the next 7 lines, sentences or paragraph, and post them as they are written.
4. Tag 7 others and let them know.

Now, I think everyone has been tagged by now & I don't want to double up, so I'm just going to say if you haven't been tagged, consider this your tagging. Leave a link in the comments and I'll come check it out!

--

From The Alterae:

“I’m so sorry.” He leaned his head against hers, his lips agonizingly close.

She placed her hand against his chest. The heat from his body radiated through every inch of hers. The world faded until there was nothing but the two of them, wrapped up together in an insulated, isolated moment and she felt a dizzying need for more.

She pulled away.

“I don’t think I can do this.” She choked on the words and they came out as a whisper. “I can’t pretend this is normal and we’re just friends.”

Some Blog Awards!

I take a break from my blog for a week or two (I swear I have a great excuse for that) and come back to see blog awards everywhere!
First, thanks to Megan at Paws, Fangs & Smiles for the Sunshine Award

Favorite color: Blue
Favorite animal: Cheetah
Favorite number: 4 (because it takes the same number of letters to spell it as it takes numbers to count it)
Favorite non-alcoholic drink: Mineral water (lame, right?) or lemonade
Facebook or Twitter? Twitter
My passion: I have too many to list!
Getting or giving presents: Giving. I actually don't like getting stuff. Baby & wedding showers were torture. But finding the perfect gift for someone is one of my favorite things.
Favorite pattern: Umm... Circles?
Favorite day of the week: Tuesday. Why not.
Favorite flower: Hydrangea

And because she's that awesome, Megan also nominated me for the Kreative Blogger Award!

I have a post on that one HERE

Thanks so much, Megan! And be sure to check out her blog. It's a lot of fun!

Then Bethany Myers nominated me for the Liebster Award

The rules for accepting the award are as follows:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them.
2. Nominate up to 5 others for the Liebster Award.
3. Let said bloggers know via comment on their blog.
4. Post the award on your blog.
5. Consider signing up for the A - Z Challenge. It's a great way to find new and interesting blogs.

So thanks to Bethany! She has a great blog with lots of great writing info and fun recaps of Once Upon  a Time.

Now, I nomiate:

Linda Jackson at Writers Do Laundry, Too (great blog title, right?)

Jessica Silva

Ladonna Watkins 

Tristina Wright

Jani at Life Debatable (another title I love!)

There you go, Ladies. Thanks for all you contribute to the community!