The Olympic games start Friday, folks, and man am I excited.  I’ve always loved watching the Summer Olympic games!  I love the gymnastics, swimming, and diving.  This year, I may have to check out synchronized swimming, trampoline, table tennis, and badminton because…well…just because!

via

Since I’m still pregnant and it’s still hot outside, I plan on catching LOTS of the Olympic games this year.  I wish this girl was going to compete!

 Shawn Johnson –  gymnast – retired at age 20!

But seriously, let’s talk about my ideas for the Pregnancy Olympics.  It would be hysterically embarassing…and get amazing ratings on TV.  (Think Wipe Out or Bachelor Pad.)  Check it out…

Events where I’d would lose.  badly.

- potato sack racing

- remembering what day it is

- keeping my emotions in check (hello inappropriately loud and hysterical laughter!)

- chinese fire drills [I realize this is probably no longer a PC term, but I don't know what else to call it - I apologize!]

- sleeping

- walking

An olympiad, I’d be…Events where I’d KILL IT.

- turning on a gas stove…handsfree…with.ma.belly

- giving a urine sample without incident (this IS a sport – you CANNOT see a thang)

- leg shaving – again, without being able to see squat

- worrying

- toenail painting (there would have to be some serious censoring on this one as it is best executed naked!)

- Oreo-eating (duh)

- list-making

- not sleeping

What Olympic game would be your jam?  Which real summer sport?  Which made-up sport (these are just more fun to think about!)?  

Pregnancy alone IS a 40-week long Olympic trial, if you ask me…but, as usual, no one did.

xoxo

p.s. They replay Olympic events in the middle of the night, right?

p.s.s. All this London talk makes me reminisce about our royal wedding shenanigans!

Beach Count: 77  

Pool Count: 32 

High Temperature: 96° 

Thank you, Fox News, for your quick and dirty write up on Charleston a few days ago.  The article is titled – “Charleston, the darling of the South.”

Finally we agree on something!

Click here to check it out!

It’s only the tip of the iceberg, but lovely nonetheless.

The infamous Rainbow Row

Happy Monday (and Bachelor 3-HOUR finale)!  Wine is [sadly] not in my future, but special popcorn just may be.

Lots of blogs to come this week!!!

p.s. Countdown to our workless summer is less than 60 days!!!

Beach Count: 67   

High Temperature: 69°  

No seriously…KICK ME BABY [with no nickname]!  

Yes, I awkwardly took this picture of my own belly.

Babycenter says I should feel the first movement between 16 and 22 weeks, but I WANT IT NOW, DADDY!  (Veruca Salt: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, anyone?).

We have seen the baby move on ultrasound at our last two appointments (he or she is a BIG waver), so all is good under the hood.  (Ew?)  BUT – I just can’t feel it yet.

I’d like to feel it.  Like yesterday.  Baby can you hear me?  Websites  tell me that you should start hearing me (albeit muffled) by now.  Those little ear bones are almost fully hardened and your ears are almost in place…so don’t lie to your mother!

Just do it.

KICK ME!

Please and thank you.

When did you start feeling your baby move about?!

Is this something I shouldn’t be rushing?

MAKE ME FEEL BETTER, PLEASE!!!

p.s. Anyone watching American Idol?  I think this may be the best season e.v.er. Who likes Elise Testone from CHARLESTON?!  I’m a fan!

Beach Count: 67   

High Temperature: 79°  

Does anyone even say “what’s up” anymore?  Well, whatever…I do!

Here’s what’s up – in list form…

1. American Idol season 11 starts tonight!  I’m excited for the talent, but not for the commitment.

2. It’s official – Emily Maynard from Brad’s second Bachelor run will be the next Bachelorette.  YAY!  I know I need to focus on the current season of The Bachelor (and all the corresponding crazies), but I like knowing what’s next on tap.  ALSO, it’s comforting to know that Scooter will be watching the the next Bachelorette season with me mos.def.  Why?  Cause he’s hot on Emily!!!  (Yup – she and I look NOTHING alike.  Opposites even.  Nice.)

3. We have some VERY exciting visitors coming this weekend.  Repeat offenders (in a you-only-offend-me-if-you-love-me kinda way) – Christina and Mike!

‘Member them from the 4th of July?!

But, extra special bonus?  The arrival of a yummy first offender…ETHAN, their handsome little man!!!

Cannot wait to kiss this face! ♥

4. You know I have to brag about the weekend weather for our company, right?  So sorry!  (40+ degrees warmer than our hometown in NY.  SCORE!)

Relax, Sunday’s far away and a 30% chance ain’t no thang.

5. I am openly obsessed with the people and the humor behind Young House Love, Sherry and John (and Clara and Burger).  If you’ve never checked out their blog, where have you been? DO.IT.NOW!  Their blog success and adorkableness encouraged me to get a kick-start in the blogging world.  Well Sherry recently wrote a very candid and honest post about how her life isn’t perfect.  I mean, whose is?  Well, I for the first time, put on my Twitter big girl pants and TWEETED SOMEONE FAMOUS.  I dorkily said…

[Enter the crazy part.]

I, in return, received THIS…

***STARSTRUCK***

just ***STARSTRUCK***

6. The NY Giants are 1 game away from the Super Bowl.  They play the 49ers on Sunday.  GO G-MEN!!!!!!!!

Taking it back to the old school – Giants training camp 2006

7. Charleston made ANOTHER list.  A-duh.  This time it’s Fodor’s “Go List: 21 Places to go in 2012.”  Check out the list here.  Charleston and Oahu, Hawaii happen to be the only destinations of the 21 that are located in America.  Yeah. Book.the.trip e-quaintenances!

That’s all for now.  Glad to be over the hump, how ’bout you?  

Time for some Idol!!!  xoxo

p.s. Follow me on Twitter if you don’t already @chucktowncharm.  I’m still learning, so bear with me!

Beach Count: 64  

High Temperature: 68°  

I had great intentions regarding reading material this summer.  Overall, my addiction-to-the-reality-world personality prevailed.  Oh well – summer is about doing what I want.  =)

Here were my summer books of choice, in order…

I was hoping I would hear Bethenny’s voice more than I actually did.  This book’s message was painfully repetitive at times, but I powered through (cuz I love her!).

Then came a story by one of my favorite authors, Jodi Picoult.  Yup, still one of my favorite authors!

Then came Little Bee.  Such a beautifully written story.  Loved it.

Tina Fey is a genius.  Bossypants was hilarious and clever!

I was hoping for some serious American Idol dirt, but no such luck.  If you enjoy hearing someone pat themselves on the back over and over (and over) again, I suggest reading this book.

I’ve read all of Chelsea Handler’s books.  This wasn’t one of ‘em!  Girl got lazy and had her friends write it.  Ahhh to be rich!  (I still laughed like a idiot throughout!)

And my last summer book…

This book is beautifully written, really.  It’s also incredibly depressing!  I am reading it in spurts.  Still about halfway to go.

And there you have it!  Soonish, I’d like to read South of Broad written by Pat Conroy.  Here is the description from Pat’s website…

Other reality nonsense I’d like to consume?

What has been your favorite summer read?  What book do you think will get me out of the ridiculous reality clouds?  Help me to expand my reading choices.  Seriously…I need me some HELP!

p.s. Gram – what are you reading right now?  I need to teach you how to comment!  Miss you – xo!

p.s.s. A SC man had to get 120 stitches from a shark bite in NC.  Holy Shark Week!!!

Beach Count: 57

Pool Count: 18

High Temperature: 90º

This year was the first time that I actually paid any attention to the buzz that surrounds Shark Week.  It never really caught my eye or sounded of any interest to me in the past.  But since we now live by the ocean and frequent floating in it, I figured I’d better educate myself.

Bad. idea.

I watched bits and pieces of a few shows.  Frightening!  My favorite was the episode narrated by Craig Ferguson, the self-proclaimed 3rd best late night TV show host.  Haha.  He lightened up the shark-y mood!  Otherwise, the rest of the programming scared me speechless (yes, this is hard to do!).

After getting a little worked up due to some unnecessary learning, we went to Sullivan’s Island.  Long story short(ish) → A father was yelling at his son not to go too deep into the water because of sharks.  Yes, he was yelling “sharks” at the beach (which is kinda like yelling “bomb” on a plane to me, but who am I?).  The father continues to explain to his son that a bartender from NY at Taco Mamacita said that Sullivan’s Island has had the most shark sightings of all of the local beaches.  (We know that bartender – Hi Jackie!)  I went to lay on my towel at this point while my fish of a husband stayed in the water much longer.  When Scott finally joined me back on the beach, he tells me that the guy fishing right near the young boy (note: right where we were swimming) just caught a 2 foot shark.  Really?  REALLY?  I don’t care if he was only 2 feet…it was 2 feet too long.  Yeah, I was done with swimming that day.

Do you think that sharks have some sort of meeting prior to Shark Week to make sure their teeth are all on the same page?  If so, I think it goes a little somethin’ like this…

Oy – I have an active imagination, huh.

Moving on!

The best part of Shark Week was going to the South Carolina Aquarium in downtown Charleston for a viewing of Jaws on the lawn.  First of all, this event was free (minus a few dollars for parking).  All were encouraged to bring chairs/blankets, but no coolers.  Luckily, food and drink were for sale.  $3 beers, $2 sodas, $1 waters; $2 hot dogs, $1 popcorn, and cheap nachos, too.  Seriously – the prices were generous!  They were giving away sunglasses, I ♥ Shark pins (I couldn’t get my hands on one!), providing shark facts, and walking around with shark teeth.  It was very cute.  Oh, and we got free Shark Week koozies.  Score!

Truth be told, I had never seen all of Jaws before.  I’m glad I finally have!

We had a great time!  Especially when the blow-up screen slowly collapsed a few times.  It made the movie that much more dramatic…the lightening going on in the far distance added to the drama!

Ahh, Shark Week.  It was fun while it lasted, no?  Anyone get really sucked in?!

p.s. I must face the facts – I’m back to work this week.  Hmph.  One last beach hurrah of the “summer” tomorrow, if the weather cooperates.

p.s.s. Did you know that each year there are only 3 reported shark injuries in the U.S. versus the startling and just-plain-weird 60,000 reported toilet injuries?  Yeah – chew on that!

Beach Count: 56

Pool Count: 18

High Temperature: 95°