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...