Maternity grant

Today I applied for the maternity grant. Here in Finland the mothers get a package containing child care items, see photo. Today's the first day I could apply and I didn't waste time just thinking about it :) I'm glad our SII has made it possible to apply for subsidies on the internet. Actually, it hasn't been possible for long, I just read about it a couple of months ago.

Blasphemy - A ticket to Hell has never been funnier

If, and only if, there is Heaven and Hell...It's because I'm atheist I have hard time believing in this Christian mumbojumbo. Okay, so...If there would be Heaven and Hell, I would be going to Hell, only for being atheist, of course. As I am not god-fearing citizen, I can laugh at this:
The Galloping Beaver: I would probably never do this

Also I found Muhammed cartoons amusing :) I can't help to wonder what was so bad about them.

Wild ride for the wee one

Dear Peanut,

I know you were wondering about the extra rumble yesterday. What was the fuss about? Well, there was a slow driver ahead of us and daddy decided to pass him. Since the road was snowy our car went slightly out of control, we found ourselves heading off to the left side ditch. Unfortunately, there was no trees, poles, rocks or anything and it was smooth sailing until we stopped after 50 meter slide next to the field. So, were left unharmed and tried to get out of the car. Daddy's door wouldn't open so we had to get out from the passenger side, though the car was quit tilted. We managed to get out and after tens of passing cars one couple stopped and asked if we needed assistance. I asked whether they had rope and and they did, trouble was it wasn't long enough. Our car was quite far from the road and to be honest, their four-wheeler wouldn't have been enough anyway. They stayed with us until the farm owner from the other side of the road came to see what we were about. He had heavy duty vehicles and he knew what to do. The couple waited until the farm owner had picked up his lorry and left for shops. Mr Höglund said we could leave the rope at his local, they would know him there.
So, the farm owner came and pulled our car from the ditch, bumper had to be taken off but the car was intact. While he pulled the car, daddy went to sit inside and mommy was scared to death the car would roll around with daddy still there. Unfortunaly, it didn't and mommy was so relieved after car and daddy were safe on the road side again. Mommy cried a little but that was just the excitement and relief. You were safe, thank goodness. Mommy was a little afraid what the excitement might cause but you are still there and I felt you move many times during the evening and night. Whew.

Another reason to mock the Great American Government

How on Earth do they not know where it'll land? Oh wait...CRASH.
I wonder how it's possible they can send stuff up there but not be sure whether they can control it?
Given the fact it's more likely the spy satellite ends up in the ocean than on my house or me for that matter, I still don't like the odds one bit. They should have a backup plan like self-destroy button, don't you think?!?
Or automated self-destruct plan if it didn't receive signal from Earth?

Oh why do I even bother...

Read more @ BBC NEWS

Maternity Leave is getting closer, I suppose

My boss came to me today asking what I do :) I was wondering about the substitute-me and I thought I would ask him when I received the "diploma" from my caretaker.
I told roughly what I do and as he was leaving I said we're alright and it's a she. I think he smiled a little, perhaps. They're actually going to find me a substitute for my maternity leave!!! It's all going to happen, really. Gosh.

The IKEA naming system

Ever wondered how they name their products?
Read more @ Away With Words

First The Office and then Extras, who doesn't love Ricky Gervais?

Did you see Ricky in Princess Diana's tribute concert? Here's a clip.
My goodness he is funny. Also the introduction by Ben Stiller, geez...some people sure know the meaning of the word funny. Ricky and fellow actor Mackenzie Crook also performed music and Ricky ended up dancing the BrentDance, singing the Pug-Nose song. Clip here.
You have to be stupid not to laugh at him :)

Twilight Zone? No...The Outer Limits.

There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. We can roll the image, make it flutter. We can change the focus to a soft blur or sharpen it to crystal clarity. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear. We repeat, there is nothing wrong with your television set. You are about to participate in a great adventure. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to... The Outer Limits.

Remember? The calm voice of Vic Perrin telling you you have no control over your life for the next hour. I was impressed.

Unfortunately, if you saw The Outer Limits now, it would have the same effect as MacGyver. You loved and adored him and his talents then but since the reruns began, you've had awkward moments thinking how on earth you did love this?

Anyhow, the prologue is unique (okay, there was once this Star Trek and the place where no man had ever gone before).

Money grows on trees?

I spoke to hubby's mom on Saturday. She was a little tipsy but I'm sure she meant what she said. They had talked about how they would regard the baaabeee. They had decided to open up an account for her and if possible, put down 1000 EUR every year until she turns 18. I was gobsmacked and somewhat afraid. That's a lot of money for a teenager. Hope she knows how to use it then. That's awfully nice of them but oh dear, that's a whole lot of money.

We also talked about furniture and stuff. It seems we don't have to buy a crib, they've got one in the storage so we're happy with it.

THUMP THUMP

It's Mommy's Little Thumper!

Daddy's on his way to being grandpa

I told daddy today that he'll be having a granddaughter. He laughed and asked if he should now go and buy pink things. I said no and that's about the conversation we had as I was driving home without a handsfree.

Who's that girl?

We went to see the second ultrasound today. Everything seemed to be in order, Peanut was kicking and waving one hand. Peanut was lying horizontally and facing my back. I bet that's how Peanut will be after the birth as well, close to mommy, but outside. I asked the doctor if he could see which one Peanut was. He took a moment and asked if we were sure about this. He also said it would take a little work to see between the legs which I thought would be so crossed we wouldn't be able to see the gender. He rolled the ultrasound joystick around my stomach and said that there's a joke of this....a doctor saying to the parents-to-be that either this was a girl or a shy boy. I laughed and was a little anxious...did he mean we were to have girl or was it just a joke? I didn't ask, I just waited. He then moved the joystick and probably seized the frame, pointing the cursor on a little spot and said you know it's a girl by this tiny spot. I laughed and said that's why you need the professional. Hubby and I both laughed...there's no way you could have told it's a girl. I was...over the moon. I'm still over the moon. I've always wanted to have a daughter. I would like to have a son too, but I've had special relationship with my mother and I would like to have that with a daughter of my own. Now there's a chance. My goodness...a daughter. I love her so much already.

Hubby and I really wanted to know the gender, there was no question about it. As I left for work, hubby said "you girls go and have fun now" and grinned :) I told my mother on my way to work. She was happy but that's nothing to do with the gender. I also told my closest workmate. Hubby rang his mom also. She sent her love "to the girls" :)

Hubby's going to be pretty lonesome now since there's the two bitches and the dogs ;-)

We're having a girl!!!

I didn't think she'd hug me

Told the biggest gossiper about Peanut today. She went on and on about her mommy-leave (they're planning to acquire a puppy) and I just blurted I'm also off to mommy-leave in April. She was gobsmacked for a second or two and then she thought I was possibly talking about a puppy as well but after pondering she asked if we were having a baby. I told her that it was a real baby, not a hairy four-legged one (I hope!) and she took few fast steps towards me and before I knew it, she was hugging me and congratulating and smiling and all. We met a while later in another room and she was still smiling and congratulating and all. She had noticed my co-worker being pregnant but since little ol' me has some extra baggage around the waist, I'm not the most beautiful pregnant woman.

I'm happy though I got a hug :)

Google Fridge

I love competitions! Hardly ever winning anything, though.
I read this post today about Dan Perry who has decided to give away his Google Fridge.

Being a fan of most Google-labeled things, I want to enter Dan's Fridge Lottery as well :)
My excuse of wanting your GFridge is my unborn baby, Peanut. Peanut is due June 4th and the nursery is just aching for its own fridge. I'm sure my husband will lack of sleep the first year or two so I know you all want him to get coffee in the morning before heading off to work, right? I'd be more comfortable if the bottled breast milk was safe in its own fridge, not where it might get used by this latte-dependant hubby of mine.

Thump Thump Thump

After being little worried of Peanut, I got three kicks today :) Again on my right side. Wonderful. Love you, Peanut.

On Saturday, I was looking for a present for a three-year-old girl how had birthday party on Sunday. We went to a huge department store and we had to walk through baby clothing shelf rows and I had no desire to go touch them or buy any. Strange. When I was only dreaming of having a baby, I wanted to touch and I even bought some baby stuff. Also, I feared labour before I was even remotely close to being pregnant. Now that I am, there's no fear what so ever. Others have gone through with it so why the hell I couldn't do it?

Cowboy Peanut

Seems Peanut has gotten big enough to kick his mommy around. On Saturday 5th, Jan we were driving to a mall nearby and sitting in the passenger seat, I felt -thump- pause -thump- pause -thump- pause -thump- and that's it. Peanut must've found legs to kick with.

I thought for a while that Peanut either hates or loves car rides but yesterday I wasn't in the car the same time I had been the other days. It's his/her daily rhythm to start rolling around that hour :) I thought it was funny realizing it.

Yesterday I told my oldest friend about Peanut and we discussed the future of being a mother with friends who have no children. I was and still am afraid I will turn out to be a mom who never talks of anything else but Peanut. Yeah, he/she will be a huge factor in my life but I don't wanna make my friends feel we have nothing in common. I have felt that way in the past when friends have had children.

Sleep-replacement

Scientists are working for our employers, I think. They saw me sleeping light last night, going to work yawning this morning. Some drink caffeine to stay awake, in the future some will probably take orexin A.

Read more, Wired.com:
Snorting a Brain Chemical Could Replace Sleep

We don't have polar bears in Finland

National Geographic tells the news a bit differently... after you've seen the video you think there are polar bears in Finland. WE DON'T HAVE ANY HERE, go hunt somewhere else like Alaska or wherever they live nowadays.

Video: Warming Hurts Finnish Animals