About: pnlop22
- Website
- http://pnlop22.googlepages.com
- Bio
- Laura Marte Araujo-Bilbao is beginning her career in freelance writing and she specializes in culture, careers, eco-friendly ideas, entertainment, pets, travel, women, family & social relationships issues. She also writes fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. She has published a poem and a short story online. She has a degree in Business Administration from her home country and she is working towards a second Bachelor's in Creative Writing. She is originally from the Dominican Republic and her native language is Spanish. Laura lives in Lubbock, Texas with her husband, who is the main inspiration and fuel for her blog and the many stories she writes.
Author's Posts
Write! - 2nd and 3rd Month Blues…
November 24, 2008 | 1 Comment
I have been so sick and depressed I barely have had time to keep up with school, work, doctor’s appointments, and home care.
This weekend my husband saw me for the sixth or seventh time sleeping from 6:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. on a Friday, when he woke me up to hand me some food and talk. He might not be a dancer or a very social person, but he does like to talk.
“I was researching something for you” he said.
I thought he was looking for baby or pregnancy stuff.
“It’s about an ISBN”, he explained while he rubbed my almost non existing belly, “you can get one on your own with a little investment and you can get published without actually going to an editor”.
“Really?” , I tried to sound excited, while coping with the grogginess of the Zofran and the messed up feeling of my stomach. “Why were you looking for that, honey?”
“Because I see you sleeping all the time and it’s been a while since the last time you wrote anything and I don’t want you to give up on your dream of becoming a writer…”
…
Then the hormone tide rose.
“%$#^%&^%*^(&(*! &(*&&! K^%&*! ”
I’m kidding. I could never yell at him like that.
But I was upset, because it made me think he thinks I’m a lazy woman who sleeps and eats ice cream whenever she can!
Well, I have things to tell you, mister, I work from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, I am taking two college classes and Acing them, I am going through my second and third months, I have no family here, and I have to take care of the house!
(Not that I am a Stepford wife; yesterday I bought Chinese food enough for 3 days so I won’t have to cook for a while).
Maybe when you get to feel what is like to be pregnant, working, and studying at the same time you will tell me if you want to get home with a sunshine smile and actually produce and create something new!!
Nah, I didn’t actually say it like that.
But one look of my disgruntled face was enough to tell him that and more. He decided to shush and hold me quietly.
Five minutes and half a cup of ice cream later my mind started to think more clearly. What was he trying to tell me? That he wanted me to have success. What did I reply to that? I rather not remember. What kind of a wife I’m I? Are all pregnant women transfigurations of their dark sides? Here I am being rubbed by a loving guy whose only desire is seeing me happy and I bring all the bad stuff inside of me to him in a moment when he’s just trying to make me feel loved.
Ladies, I know- first hand- that it’s not easy. I’ve seen it happen with friends and relatives. If you are pregnant, don’t let your hormones hurt anyone who doesn’t really deserve it. If you have to say something unfriendly, have a snack, lie down for five minutes and think it over.
If after that little filter you still think you were really offended, then go ahead and let it roll!
Till next time!
P.d. Here’s the first ultrasound at 8 weeks. Today I’m getting the second one. Enjoy!
OMG! I’m Pregnant! - 1st Month September 2008
October 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment
To keep up with the “Newly-wed Diary” part, I will tell you that my husband is still assimilating the idea that he will get a present for next Father’s Day. He rubs my belly every once in a while, absentmindedly, tries to be funny, saying things like “I can’t believe I inseminated you”, or “hey, isn’t your period due yet?”. On the other hand, he is focused more than ever on finishing school as fast as he can. With a little bit of luck he will be finished by the time of our baby 2nd birthday. I love him so much, and I am so happy that I will produce new life with him.
I called everyone I could think of to tell them about my pregnancy. Everybody wants to come to Texas to see me! I keep joking and saying that if they come they’ll get the chance to make a wish and rub my belly!
I looked online and my baby is now a bunch of cells that are reproducing really fast and implantating on my uterus walls. To do that the cells need to suck all the energy and nutrients they can from me. To help with the process and to avoid passing out, I have to take these nasty prenatal vitamins loaded with iron, B vitamins, and as much folic acid as possible. I decided to grind the pills and swallow them mixed with a tablespoon of honey to ease the taste. They do help, as I don’t feel as tired or nauseated as I should. When I laugh too hard, or sneeze, or cough, I feel something small being pulled below my belly. My breasts are definitely bigger and tender. And hellooo nausea!
Some advice I have received to fight the Morning Sickness:
1 - Eat crackers ALL THE TIME to avoid having an empty stomach. It appears that the causes of nausea are related to the same hormones that are loosening my uterus to hold the baby. Those hormones are so concentrated that they are also loosening the connecting passage of my stomach-intestines-esophagus. The result is more acid than usual.
2 - Sleep well and take the vitamins. The strongest my immunological system is, the better it will be ready to fight nausea.
3 - Drink ginger in any preparation (tea, soda, etc.). Ginger is a natural remedy for nausea.
4 - Eat in small amounts several times a day instead of having three or two big meals.
Do you know any other remedies? Do share them with me!
OMG! I’m Pregnant! : D
September 25, 2008 | 1 Comment
photo credit: chimothy27
YES!
This is not just an article about pregnant women.
This is a blog entry about my newfound pregnancy.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Baby! Baby! Baby!
I found out two days ago and after hours of shock, finding the best way of popping it to my husband, and telling it at work and to my friends and family, I get to write it here.
I guess this blog is not just “Diary of a Newly-wed” anymore, but something more like “Diary of a Newly-wed-Newly-pregnant woman”!
I swear I did not have a plan for this; it is completely unnexpected. And yet, I have never felt happier with what is happening right now to me with the man I love. We are both producing new life and we are going to be the best mommy and daddy. I suppose I was just living the life away as best as I could and this only exponientialy magnifies the level of happiness I feel. We’re going to have a baby. My baby. And I’m gonna love him or her with all my heart.
I feel bunnies and rainbows and butterflies and birds and little elves and candy and flowers all over inside and around me.
Watch Out Mommies Magazine, You have another Mommy on her way!
Yay!
I survived my first month of classes (Fall 2008)
September 22, 2008 | 1 Comment
I apologize that it has taken me so long to write. I came back from New York and got caught up on a frenzy of home cleaning and cooking, grocery shopping, laundry, back-to-work duties, missed husband cuddles, family up-to-dates…I could go on and on, but I finally managed today to steal some time to let you know how things are. Read more
Girls Just Want to Have Fun-3
August 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Whew! I can’t remember when was the last time I had a REAL vacation like this!!
Wait, no, it was in 2006, when I went to Denver.
Pardon me, I did went to the Dominican Republic in December, but it was plainly more a business trip concocted with running all over, never resting, never actually having fun for more than a couple of hours at a time, jet lag, family crusading, and always worrying about the future.
I admit that I have been worried for the first 48 hours of my trip, worried if I’ll make it back alive and be with my beloved husband (who was in Austin, by the way, with the people at work too, hows that for an irony!), how will my family take it, if I’ll get my passport back on time, if I’ll have enough money to spend, if my plants will die before I get back…
Going to Washington, D.C. and seeing stuff one only sees in the movies, books or news — Like the White House, the Washington monument, the Lincoln monument, the Arlington Cemetery, JFK & Jackie O tombs, old, old buildings, and a million other things I will post here in pictures soon, makes me realize once again… There is only one life… and you have to live it at it’s maximun exempt as much as you can.
My great friend, Jenny, is one of the most realistic people I’ve met. Meaning she always gives her honest opinion to me about everything.
Then she says I’m a control freak, and I think she’s right.
I also think it is Ok being paranoid and a bit of a control freak… when that helps organize your trip, find the right train or bus, keep documents and money with you, have a good water supply near you to avoid dehydration, and a mini first aid kit near you in case of emergencies. However, it is also good to let go and have your eyes, your mind and your soul fill up with the things that you don’t see every day.
People, people, people! Black, White, chinese, hindi, dominican, salvadorian, spanish, mexican, women, men, old, young, punks, emos, hippies, drag queens, cristians, jews, musulmans, buddists, non believers, poor, rich, middle class… it is a little bit of everything in this cluster of streets, trains, buildings, cars and more cars that is New York.
My sight is not wide enough to absorb all the grandeur of my surroundings.
I stop for a second and I fix my eyes in the Empire State Building, which tonight has red, blue, and white lights adorning it. The Moon is in the background.
I exhale and think no more of money, war, diseases, hate, sadness, school, tests, work, sleep, Olympics, food…
I just stare into the lights of the night and realize that… it’s all worth it.
To Be Continued..
Girls Just Want to Have Fun: Part 2
August 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Well, after months of trying not to think about it; weeks when I just couldn’t procrastinate anymore; nights of non sleep; and anxious about the alarm not beeping on the 13th; I arrived to the Airport. My husband drove me there and we parted with a kiss… He will be OK. He did all his laundry and I made him a big chili pot. I also put notes all over the house to remember him to eat, water the plants, go to his drs. appointment, and pick me up on the 20th. (Seriously!)
Plane # 1 was on time; I met a lady from Dublin who talked me into how she came to the USA to work for a year and ended up marrying her husband who was from Austin. Now they live 6 months of the year in each country and their daughters are going to college in Dallas and Lubbock.
This has been going for more than twenty years now and it actually gave me some good prospects : ).
Plane # 2 was delayed and I noticed how the war for the top benches to put the carry-on baggage is never ending. I was lucky to jump out of the plane anyway as soon as we landed and run to get plane # 3. Those seats were making my but literally square by the time they finally announced we were preparing to land in New Jersey!
The New York - Manhattan line was really a sight I’ve never seen before and suddenly all the anxiety and preparing for this journey was worth it, if not gone completely. All I can say is I am happy I get to do this now… because for what I hear around, unless one is carelessly rich and duty-free one doesn’t really get the chance to hop on a plane for a week of fun… and since Fall is almost here, I better squeeze the fun as much as I can!
My friend Jenny, Master of Relaxing under the most stressful situations and whom I haven’t seen in years, picked me up and we drove for a million tangled streets filled with the cutest scrunched houses and… scrunched cars. Apparently it is a miracle if you find a free parking spot on the wee hours here.
But not only did we; she took me to a Dominican little restaurant and I had the best meal in months: dominican-style fried chicken, tostones, white rice, mofongo, and a beautiful piece of arepa that I am saving for today’s breakfast.
I forgot, I also had a country club merengue soda, bottled in New Jersey. It was delightful.
Then we took some pictures with the Manhattan skyline as a background. I can’t wait to develop them!
We arrived to her house, I unpacked and tried to sleep…
Today: Dominican Embassy to Renew Passport, New York, NY.
Tomorrow and Saturday: Washington, D.C.
To Be Continued…
Changes
July 23, 2008 | 2 Comments
photo credit: hypertypos
My husband and I dated for less than three months before we decided to get married.
Two weeks later I was Mrs. Bilbao.
No, I was not pregnant. Yes, I was and still am desperately in love with him.
My engagement period was almost nonexistent; I never got to live together with my prospect of husband; I never even spent more than two months of my life away from my parents. Read more
Shop-Drunk
July 9, 2008 | 1 Comment
photo credit: daryl_mitchell
Ah, the joy of going shopping.
Somewhere I read that women see the shopping activity as a way of relaxing and awarding themselves while men reluctantly wait until it is absolutely necessary and unavoidable to grab the keys and go buy anything. Read more
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
June 25, 2008 | 2 Comments
photo credit: bruce_bruce948
When we were young little girls, we had to ask advice/permission from our parents for every little decision in our lives.
When we finally got our first steady job and didn’t depend on them for everything, we experienced the bliss of being economically -if not emotionally- independent.