The Hobbit

25 weeks and counting...

Today I noticed my ankles are slightly swollen.  Uh.Oh.  Was the first thought that crossed my mind.  I drink a TON of water throughout the day, however, I have also been "blessed" with retaining it.  My nick name among certain circles, at certain moments of my youth twenties, was Bilbo Baggins.  Enough. Said.

I've also noticed some serious swelling in my nether regions.  Nether is north, no?  If not, north is what I meant. Good lord.  I thought I would like resembling Heidi Montag, but no thank you.  I had to purchase giant size braziers and they are anything but flattering.  Its quite odd to see your body morph so drastically.  However, I cant complain.  If these are the least of my worries at this point (based on hear-say and many-a-book) I am doing quite well. And every moment, good and/or bad, is going to be so worth it.

I am also feeling the baby move a ton, mostly in the late morning and at night time when I finally get to be still and really focus on it.  Hopefully, this isn't reflective of its future sleeping patterns.

This is all certainly becoming more and more real, every day.  I am also realizing how much I have to do before he, or she arrives.  The nursery is a sorry scene... Hoping the new year will bring some continued energy and some free time before I start to slow down.  I cant wait to see how it turns out and  if a little baby boy or girl will be inhabiting it.

Here's me at work putting my feets up to try to alleviate the kankles.  Awesome.

PS Maternity pants were the hand down greatest invention...maybe ever.

Photo Dump

I kinda love using that term now... Annual tradition captured by the iPhone.

Loved seeing my dear uncle and taking yet another one of his fabulous trees from his beautiful farm.  We were finally able to get a real tree, i.e. more than 2.5 ft tall - a whopping 10 ft tall tree now resides in our living room.  Love.

Merry Merry!

Hell Hath Frozen Over

I used to be like this...

One, somewhat-uninteresting-story short... Today, I officially joined the rest of the general population on Earth, and am now a confused, and scared owner of an iPhone. Lord help me, and my large man hands. So, if you get a text or email from me that makes zero sense, you'll know why.

I am, however, really excited about having voice activation, navigation that works, mobile Internet that works, Instagram, and photo and video capabilities to capture my pending child(ren)!

Wish me luck.

Babies R officially Us

In the spirit of Thanksgiving weekend, I would like to state (for my 3.5 readers) that I am grateful for my dear friend Rauh.  She gave up this Sunday with her hubs and sweet Jack, to assist me in registering... at a pace I'd like to never go back to (thank GOD for online shopping).

Registering is scary for someone like me.  Why?  Because I have NO idea about babies...Though I was also scared to register for my wedding, and also required assistance from my gracious mother, who happens to work for Williams Sonoma, which makes her an expert.  Anywho, Rauh helped get through the entire store in less than 1.5 hours, injury and annoyance free.  I'd say that's a pretty good time. I was shocked it wasn't totally packed; the universe must have been on my side today.

I didn't find everything I need, but damn near, which is why I am also grateful for Amazon.  They are going to take over the world some day...and soon.

Here's me at the starting line (I have no idea what I am registering for... I was told I needed it).  Please excuse the lazy hair.  Its Sunday.

THANK YOU RAUH!  I heart you.

Half Baked

I am officially past the halfway point...Woot!

I had my "big" ultra sound appointment today and all signs pointing towards a healthy, happy and potentially large baby!  But that's no shocker...the hubs and I have rather large noggins and we certainly don't come from a line of short, small people.  Ive heard large babies sleep better, so Ill happily take one.  I figure, its going to hurt like a son-of-a-bitch regardless, so bring on the big.

My 21 week stats are:

• Weight Gain: ten pounds (as said in the voice of the girl Samantha brings over to Carrie at the Women Who Lunch episode referring to Natasha during her college years at Tulane... )
• Baby Size: 14 ounces
• Baby Position at approx. 9:35am=head in my left rib, feets towards my right lower abdomen
• Baby Percentile: 55th 
• Sleep: mildly uncomfortable...thank GOD for the snoogle 
• Boobs: HUGE (relatively speaking of course)
• Appetite: normal (note to self: must eat smaller and more meals so you don't feel so fricken full!!! Thanksgiving will be a good day to start this trend...)
• Sex: UNKNOWN

So excited to be feeling this little being in my belly and boy does it like to move.  Specific times= morning, late afternoon and mid-evening.  

Here's me...with my dog, that still seems confused at what is transpiring under her nose.  Thank you H & M for making maternity skinny jeans, thank you GAP for long, soft tanks, and thank you Sta for your mistaken identity green and gray sweater.  Loving stripes these days...

Tremors

I had to note today: Thursday, November 8th, 19 weeks and a day...

I felt my first "flutter" of life, as they say.  I had been feeling this odd sensation for the last 24 hours or so, and attributed it to gas, just like everyone else in the history of pregnancy, ever.  And then it continued with lack of flatulence to follow, so I knew it was the baby and not a fart coming on (I know that feeling well).  

I literally giggled at my desk while I sat so still to try to figure out what this little being was doing.  Almost like I had secret or something.  It was so strange. Surely, it was making some sort of hip hop moves, maybe doing a little yoga, or perhaps running in place... to practice running away from it's crazy parents!  I felt it frequently throughout the day and every time just made me smile so big.  Jeremy asked when he would get to feel something, like it wasn't fair that I got to, so, hopefully he will have that special moment too (though it will be shared w me regardlesss :)).

I cant wait to feel more baby moves.  It just makes it that much more real for me.  Wait, I am having a BABY?!  WTF.

I. CANT. WAIT.

Cold Mountain

I survived my first pregnancy cold... and it was something fierce.  At one point, I actually accepted that I may have an untimely death by sinus infection... it was that horrific.

I am thankful to be back to the land of the living to tell about it, and I am also super thankful for amoxacilian (SP).  Not being able to take any sort of anything that would bring me relief, was very traumatic. My head and face felt as though they would spontaneously combust.  I also entertained the idea that I might have an alien on the brain that invaded Sunday night and was rapidly taking over my head.  Awful.  In the process I may have malnourished my child by consuming solely red Gatorade and multi-grain saltines.  I am making up for it today by consuming extra ;)

Moral of this Complaining Connie story? Just a little memory in my pregnancy journey and note to self that I feel REALLY bad for people who get sinus infections all the time... my first, and hopefully, my last!

The Town

Just returned from my annual trip to Boston!  And it certainly did not disappoint! Even though we had to forgo the routine Marge Special, my trip was just as special, because I got to spend lots of time with my girl Sta and the sweetest baby boys!

Some highlights:

• Apple Picking at Honey Pot Orchards + Cider donuts, hot (burn the tongue) cider, apples fresh off the tree, hay rides...
• Maternity Clothing Success at H&M
• Connor & Keegan's 1st Birthday Party!
• Baking "Monster" cakes and trying to create fur from frosting
• Dunkin Donuts muffins and coffee
• Skin Swords
• Fall foliage like no other place
• The Mullins' accents
• Dunkin Donuts muffins and coffee

I also learned a great deal about babies and parenting.  Here are some of my key takeaways:

• Car seats go in BACKWARDS
• Baby Powder is banned from hospitals
• Slamming doors wakes up babies
• Binkies should be strategically placed in all possible places a baby will be/go
• Moms have lots of baskets for things like toys and diapers
• Dapple is a kid friendly cleaner/soap
• Babies don't always sleep when you want them to
• You have to watch a baby ALL THE TIME
• Babies don't need shoes 
• Babies are REALLY, REALLY messy and dirty
• I will need to obtain some serious patience before April, 1st, 2013

Kuddos to Sta and Kev for being amazing parents, and successfully managing TWO one year olds.  I was in awe.  Twins are given to parents who can handle them, I truly believe that.  That's why I was blessed with just one... 

Water for Elepants



Week 16

 

I have started month 4! 

 

Feelin' pretty awesome, aside from the occasional headache and some discomfort in my hips after walking or running (am I an old lady?).  And I cant wait for my next ultra sound in a few days to see how the little nugget is doing...I am dying to feel something to let me know its there!  Hopefully soon.

 

In the mean time, I get to visit one of my BFF's in Beantown this weekend, one of my most favorite annual traditions. And this time, I get to hang with two mini-Mullins and celebrate their first year of life with their parents, family and friends. I also get to to partake in a swimming lesson, which inspired me...

 

I had read somewhere, or heard, that swimming was really great during pregnancy to help with breathing, flexibility and also agility.  Since hot yogs is outskies for another 5 months, I figured, why not!  So, I bought myself cap and some goggles (Fred Meyer really DOES have it all) and found a pool less than a mile away from my house.  I did not however, realize that Juanita Aquatics really meant Juanita High School pool...grasth.

 

I promptly arrived for lap swim, paid my $4 and waited for the teeny bopper boys in their skivies to get out of the pool.  I was accompanied by many older ladies, like we are talkin' 70's at least, who I thought I would have to fight a lane for, but turns our they were there for water aerobics.  Awesome.

 

I hopped in the pool, which was luke warm and likely 50/50 water/chlorine.  Probably wasn't good that I swallowed a ton of "water", due to the fact that don't actually know how to swim properly... so I discovered. 

 

I have never actually swam aerobically before and let me tell you, its HARD.  I kicked my own ass... I totally don't know how to breath properly, so had to stop after each lap to catch my breath.  Is pregnancy asthma possible?  My cap failed me after about 5 laps, and my hair ended up sopping!!  My goggles fogged up, probably because I kept taking them off to see if anyone noticed how ridiculous I looked.  And to top it off, I thought I would be cute and wear my JCrew one piece... BIG mistake.  Every time I pushed off the wall, my hole front flapped open for the dude with the tats in the lane next to me to see my my boobs.  Awesome. 

 

I need a Speedo.

 

 



I did laps varying from my version of a breast stroke, back stroke and free style. My arms were dying after 30 minutes, but my legs not so much.  Turns out I also don't know how to swim using my legs properly!  I must have been a site for sore eyes, but I did get a nice work our and slept like a baby.

I figured I would go once or twice a week, and at the very least, better my swimming skills and keep my arms in good shape. 

I may very well look like an elephant in the water if I can keep up my energy the next 5 months!

Noseworthy

Week 15

I literally read about this symptom and then it happened it me the next day...dry, bloody nose*. 

All last week I thought I might be getting a cold, but I felt like a $100 bucks?!  I then realized that my dry, itchy, bloody shnauz, is one of the joys of being pregnant.  I'm certainly not complaining. Ill take a few bloody boogs over barfing-on-command any day!

At least its self contained, and I don't look like this guy...

*A dry nose during pregnancy can be caused by the pressure applied by increased blood flow on surrounding vessels.

Charlotte, NC

 

I don't have an IPhone, so I cant call this an IPhone dump... more like a BB + Photoshop dump. 

I was assigned a last minute hosting duty to take some very special clients to our game in Charlotte this weekend.  I have never been to NC before, and have always wanted to go.  Though we were only there for a brief 36 hours, I got to explore downtown Charlotte, enjoy some local night life (5 Church), eats some local eats (Harvest Moon Grille), lounge by a pool in 84 degrees of pure humidity, and... add a W to my road game portfolio.

Great weekend, in a lovely city.  I cant wait to go back and explore, so I can marvel at the Outer Banks and the wild horses that supposedly inhabit the beaches. 

Have I read too many Nic Sparks books?! 

Bump and Grind

Its officially official, I am "with child"!!!

I'm still having a hard time saying the words "I'M. PREGNANT."

Its surreal... I am the following:

...Excited, thrilled, overjoyed, anxious, happy, nervous, hopeful, scared *$#@less, and almost ready, to start this journey called parenthood.  I never thought I would actually be a mom.  I feel very blessed.

Here's to a healthy pregnancy and a healthy little nugget (who will remain a surprise) due to arrive this coming Spring!

I started documenting my journey a few weeks back and thought it would be fun to use this blog as a journal, so to speak, of all my crazy thoughts. I posted my early ramblings below...

And here is my bump pic... when in Rome!

*It looks a lot more beer gutt-ish in person...

13 Going on 30

I am officially 13 weeks today!  I seem to have acquired some of my energy back AND, my digestive system. 

However, stairs have suddenly become more of a challenge.  I'd like to consider myself a pretty active person and pre-pregnancy, I was doing hot yoga* 3-4 times a week and running!  That being said, I find it hard to catch my breath going up and down stairs (which I have at home and at work). Isn't this not supposed to ensue until at least 30 weeks or so?!  WTF. 

*In lieu of my lack of hot yogs, which I do miss dearly, but don't want the extreme heat to cause any issues with the little nugget, so can live without for 9 months.... I have been doing just yoga...and acupuncture.  I actually find just plain old yoga, super relaxing and more meditative, which I really need this time of year.  Acupuncture has been a huge benefit for me as well.  I try to go once a week and usually find myself so relaxed, that I fall right asleep and let the needles do their work. It has helped with sleeplessness, aches and pains, frequency of peeing and "digestive issues".  Love. It.

12

This number has a lot of meaning for me... not only representative of my job, but now, of my current state... 12 weeks. 

I feel like it has taken light years to get here, but I am so relieved, and full of joy to be at this juncture.  I have a healthy nugget thus far, and I can now openly talk about how thrilled and blessed I feel to become a mother.

I promise to withhold cheesy cliches and sappy comments moving forward, but in this moment, I am overwhelmed with happiness and love and look forward to the rest of my journey these next six months. 

Me and Kate?!

As I hit the 11 week mark, just a week away from havign to reveal my special news... in all of places, PULLMAN, WA... I sit and ponder the possibility that my favorite lady Kate Middleton, could also be preggers, and preparing to share her big news.

I'm only mildly obsessed with Kate M. (as if I'm the only one...) but seriously, she is RAD.  Love, love, love her classic/traditional style, her natural brown hair (which I have myself!) and how normal she seems, in the life she lives.  It would be pretty cool to bare children at the same time... though she will likely look a lot cuter than me.

Here's to it Duchess!

Ladies in Lavender

I've heard that pregnant women can identify that one treat that they just cannot live without throughout their pregnancy... I have now found that treat.

Lavender ice cream.

I have long enjoyed the scent of lavender.  Its very mild, but still finds a way to generate a peaceful and calm essence in a room.  I recently had a fabulous dinner with my girlfriend at the Coterie Room in Belltown, and we had Lavender ice cream for desert, so thats really when it started.  I remember hearing about the possibility of Lavender ice cream in the movie It's Complicated, which I absolutely love and often either get hungry watching this movie, and the urge to remodel my kitchen (DREAM kitchen and house in this movie...I think I am a French Countryside girl at heart...).  Anyhow, I had taste, and then, as any hungry, pregnant woman would do... I tracked it down.  I happened to be in Seattle for work that day, so I took spin over to Molly Moon's in Wallingford to pick up their Lavender Honey blend.  My car smelled so good the entire way home!  And OMG.  So yummy. I seriously felt relaxed after having a scoop.

I bought two pints. We will see how long they last.

BTW, no one probably knows the movie in my post title, but it worked for my theme!

9 1/2 Weeks

This week's title is NOT reflective of the movie ;)

I am one tired lady.  Just spent 3 days moving a small household into a larger household, which required a lot of shopping, moving, assembling, moving again, and my least AND most favorite thing, decorating.  I went up and down about 10,000 stairs, pulled a few leg muscles, but avoided all the heavy lifting due to my "condition".  Thanks to my family and friends for moving big stuff, disinfecting the house from the previous gnarly folks who lived there, and Jeremy for dealing with my "moving OCD"... i.e unpacking and finding an immediate home/place for all things.

Of course, I know it doesn't all have to be done at once, but really, it does. I cannot function in disarray.  After 3 days, our house is nearly set up and functional!  I cannot wait to finally get to play hostess!

All the rooms are set except our pending nursery.  We will not be finding out the sex of the baby, so looks like I will be decorating in neutral!  Is it too soon to start?!

Hard Knocks

I wont go too in to detail on this post, but Im sure you can guess what the title of this post insinuates.  I am mid-week 7, and feel like I am about 5 months along... Bloated Betty is an understatement.  Add to diet: Prunes, Grape Juice, more fiber, more fiber, more fiber.  This too shall pass (I hope!!!).

A River Runs Through It

My current state at week 8...  I am making FREQUENT trips to the ladies room, and I mean frequent. Probably 2-3 times a nite, 6-8 times during the work day (and my cube is a good 2.5 minute walk to the restroom through a maze of other cubes) and then probably 3-4 times in between. Im just glad Im not chaffing. Im told this will get better, and then worse again... goodie.

And... after waiting nearly 4 weeks to actually confirm I was pregnant officially, i.e. my 8 week appointment, I finally made it in to se my doc and I was so stinkin' excited!  I asked about a million questions and got a million answers, followed by an opportunity to see AND hear my little nugget for the very first time. 

Hands down most amazing thing I have ever seen and heard.  This child has a super fast beat, we are talkin' 152, which at first freaked me out, but doc says fast beats are normal for babies at this stage and anything under 130 would have been a concern.  Whew! 

I am anxious to share this very special news with all of our friends and family.  A few more weeks to go, to be sure we are all good.  Saying lots of prayers for this little one.

The Hunger Games

I am still mystified that I am even writing about being pregnant, let alone actually experiencing it first hand. I don't think it will feel really real until I feel this nugget make a move.

I'm not much of a journal person, so thought I would document my trials and tribulations through my pregnancy via cyberspace. 

I wrote this mid-week 6...

The best way to describe my current state (and, if I could movie or song title every event in my life...) would be "The Hunger Games".  I am STARVING... ALL. THE. TIME.  Its like I haven't eaten in days.  I have always been a healthy eater both in content and in proportion, but this is ridiculous.  I literally salivate when I haven't eaten in a few hours.  I was never much of a snacker, so my Dr recommended I try eating smaller and more frequent meals, which seems to have helped a little bit, though now I cant wait until snack time.

I am also missing a few staples... Craft Beer Wishes and Cured Meat Dreams... man, I miss salami and a really good, cold, summer ale (and soon to be fall, pumpkin ale).  But, that's the way the cookie crumbles, and I know there are lots of other yummy things I can still enjoy i.e. thank the lord for the pasteurization process.  No cheese for 9 months would have been REALLY rough...

10 Years...

I cannot believe it has been TEN hole years since I left this place... Where has the time gone? 

Some of my fondest memories occurred in this little town... in the "arm pit of America" some might say, with some of my dearest friends, and...where I would encounter my future husband (aka Sally's favorite house boy).

This weekend we will head back, Alumni style, in seven, that's right, SEVEN (I think?!) RV's.  No kids, no rules, just a lot of laughing and reminiscing about our crazy time at this very special place. 

And hopefully... a W.

GO COUGS.

The Coterie Room

My good girlfriend and I had the most fabulous catch-up/friend dinner at the Coterie Room in Belltown.  This charming little French nook has a traditional and tasty menu, simple yet elegant decor, and really great service!

We started off with some freshly baked rolls with salted butter, along with some Pellegrino (of course, right?).  Next, we ordered the Poutine, which is on the "small plates" menu list, but I certainly wouldn't consider this a "small plate".  I was really excited to try this, because I have heard of it and seen versions of it on the Food Network.  Along side of the Poutine, we enjoyed a beet with freshly made cottage cheese salad, and an endive, Gouda salad with a mustard vinaigrette.

The Poutine arrived and we both looked at each other like little kids in a candy store.  It smelled amazing and tasted even better.  Thick cut french fries, atop a pork shoulder gravy, fried Beecher's cheese curds and lightly tossed greens on top.  Holy cow, seriously one of the best things I have ever eaten.  I'm not a gravy person, but it was so light and flavorful and the fries never got soggy.  The lightly tossed greens and fried cheese curd added bursts of flavor to the already salty and rich gravy, all perfect compliments to one another.  And the fries were the perfect conduit.

Since that was technically an appetizer, we also ordered the Ratatouille.  Ive also never had this dish, so was super excited to try it.  Summer squash, tomato, eggplant, sweet onion, topped with a roasted pepper puree and a fried squash blossom stuffed with fresh herbed chevre inside.... OMG, yum.  The proportion was small, so perfect for one person if you hadn't had the Poutine to start, and super light and tasty.

For desert we had the peach gallette, which is light and flaky pastry stuffed with warm fruit, topped with Lavender ice cream.  Warm, crispy, buttery, peachy pastry, with the cool, calming, aromatic Lavender ice cream = perfect ending to this meal.

One of the best meals I have had in quite some time.  I can't wait to go back and try some of their other classic French dishes.  The atmosphere was lovely, service was stellar and pricing very reasonably.  All of the above, plus wine, was under $100 for two people.  I'd say that was pretty good for a French joint in Belltown.

Bon Appetit!

Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives

Does anyone else enjoy this show as much as I do?!?  It might be my most favorite late night show to fall asleep to, which usually leads to ridiculous dreams about food.  There are some serious gems of food places out there... Check it out on the Food Network; its on various times throughout the day and Guy Fieri is actually pretty entertaining.  WARNING: This show will make you hungry, even if you really aren't...

My Life Lately...

...confined to my fabulous cubicle...Working, working, working... Cant believe I let it get THIS full of crap (there is also stuff on the floor you cant actually see from this perspective)...Thank the lord I love my job... and that I have a window.

Forever Young

Best. Day. Ever.

I am pretty sure I had the most beautiful bridesmaids there ever were...  Thank you my lovely, and truly beautiful friends. 

I couldn't imagine this day without you...

Photos courtesy of the very talented Alicia Jerome & Jocelyn Brown.

In the Words of Pat Benatar, I am the Warrior!

Last Saturday, I ran a 3.0 mile Warrior Dash!  It was one of the funnest and funnIEST things I have ever done.  I have to admit, I was frightened as much as I was excited! 

Jeremy and I arrived to a big ole' empty sand and gravel lot way up in Snoqualmie, to then line up with a bunch of heathens (we did not opt for the dress up competition), to get on a school bus, and then to arrive at a scene of THOUSANDS of people just waiting to get real dirty....

We collected our race bibs, complementary viking hats of which we had to set aside because we had no where to put them and were completely unprepared... along with a Warrior Dash tee, which we both wore, and then had to discard later (there goes $73).

We lined up with all the crazies and waited.... they set off some "fire bursts" and we were off.  I LOL'd the first .5 mile on the sheer absurdness that I was actually, willingly about to be the dirtiest I have ever been.   And if anyone knows me, I HATE being dirty.  It was a true feat for me. Quite a few people toppled, and I laughed at them of course... Surprisingly, I stayed up right the entire race, which is unusual for me.

We arrived at our first obstacle, which was a series of walls followed interchangeably with army crawls under barbed wire.  I did pretty good actually and only snagged my shirt once.  We then completed a series of other random tests including scaling a few walls (I did way better than I thought on these and smoked a lot of the other ladies...) and climbing over old cars!?  I was REAL glad I wore pants and long sleeves... there were a lot of sticker bushes and random debris.

I reached the finish line mostly clean and excited to jump over some fire, collect my medal and free beer, and call it a day, only to be faced with my worst fear... a mud pit.  I literally stood there staring at it, eating up my time, thinking, OH NO.  And then I just went right in and mercifully made my way to the end. Seemed like forever, and the people in front of me kept stopping and I nearly lost my sneakers. 

Finally, VICTORY.  You can see the relief on my face.  This was followed by the realization of how filthy I was.  They had hoses available to wash off, but they really didn't really do much. 

We collected our free beer, did some people watching (including people gnawing on giant turkey legs...) and then got the H outta there.  It would have been super fun to stay and check out the scene a little more, which we hope to do NEXT year when we convince all of our friends to do this with us, but being wet and muddy with your change of clothes back at your car 5.0 miles down the road, isnt exactly ideal.

All in all it was really fun and challenging, and I look forward to trying it again next year.  May I add... REALLY good people watching....