Art and I exchanged our Christmas gifts last night. And it was the most anti-climactic thing you have ever seen. :)
1.Art's gift to me arrived late, which he was pretty upset about. He paid extra to make sure it would get here before Christmas, but it only arrived yesterday.
2. While we were opening gifts with his family on Christmas Day, his mom spilled the beans when she asked him where my gift was. He was really hoping to surprise me. So that didn't go the way he had hoped either.
3. We exchanged gifts sitting on the bathroom floor, because I was a sick little girl all evening and all night, so I set up camp there, and basically didn't move until about 4:00am this morning.
He was such a sweetheart about all of it. He brought both gifts in, and helped me open mine (because I was too shaky to open the box). I gave him the most pathetic smile, whispered "thank you", and then basically sent him away, because when I'm sick like that, I just want to be left alone.
And what was this amazing gift that deserved much more enthusiasm than I was able to give in that moment? An iPod. I have been wanting one for so long, and I honestly didn't think I was going to get one. He is the world's greatest husband, and I was too ill to properly appreciate his gift to me. I feel so bad about the whole thing, even though the circumstances were beyond our control.
Plus, this is two years in a row where our gift exchange has been somewhat disappointing. Last year, he bought me a coat, and I bought him some shoes, and neither fit. We both had to exchange them for different sizes.
Oh well. The point of Christmas is not to have a magical gift exchanging experience. But it would be nice if next year, everything would work out the way it's supposed to.
Other than last night, Christmas was really nice. I enjoyed having his whole family here, even if it was a little squished. Everyone slept pretty comfortably on our living room floor on Christmas Eve, and we spent all of Christmas Day in our pajamas, playing games and watching movies.
So that was Christmas 2010.
December 28, 2010
December 24, 2010
So This is Christmas
It's Christmas Eve, and Art and I are waiting for his family to come up to our place after "Midnight" Mass (it begins at 9:00 and ends at 11:00, or something like that). We already attended the Christmas Eve service at our church, then came home and wrapped the last of the presents.
Mary and Joe flew in yesterday from their respective locations across the country, and they stopped by earlier today to say hi. All of them (Mary, Joe, and Art's parents) will be spending the night at our apartment and we'll do Christmas Day together. Just in case anyone forgot, we have one bedroom. Somehow they're all supposed to fit on our living room floor. Should be interesting. :)
I just finished the puzzle that my coworker lent me. It was perfect. I judge the puzzling experience by how long it takes me to put it all together (working on it at least a few hours a day). If I can finish the puzzle in two days or less, it's too easy, and therefore, not fun. If it takes a week or more, it's too hard, and really not fun. This puzzle took me almost four days (three days if you don't count the day that I wasn't home at all). So this one was definitely fun. Plus it was a hilarious picture. I hope she enjoyed the one I lent her.
I took a belly pic today, mostly because I actually look nice right now (pretty shirt, makeup, no ponytail) and that just doesn't happen very often. Also, it's our first 3-person Christmas, so I have to have a pic of exactly how big we are today.
I'm nearly at 27 weeks, and although I ate supper just before I took this picture, I don't think it makes that much of a difference right now.
And now for the most exciting thing ever: I got my first cloth diapers in the mail yesterday!!!!! My friend Sozan (who is the most amazing friend in the whole world), bought me three diapers, partly to see how long they would take to ship (so we can supply that info for my diaper shower), and partly so that I could show people a real, tangible cloth diaper (again, for the diaper shower).
I'm so afraid that the shower will be a flop, just because I'm the only person I know who is going to use cloth diapers. I think a lot of moms are so unfamiliar with the world of cloth diapers, so they might not feel comfortable buying one for a shower gift, even though I have a registry, and even though we're going to specify on the invitation that I don't want disposable diapers, or any other baby stuff. I have had two baby showers already, so I have basically everything I need. Except cloth diapers. So my friend is planning a cloth diaper shower, and I'm crossing every finger and toe that I have.
Anyway, here is a picture of the three diapers she bought me:
The one on the left is pale yellow, the one in the middle is light gray, not black, and the one on the right is light green with polka dots.
These particular diapers are Kawaii Minky Organic Bamboo One-Size Pocket diapers. Say what?!
-Kawaii is the brand.
-Minky is what the outside of the diaper is made of (and it's so soft!!)
-Organic Bamboo is was the inside of the diaper is made of, as well as the two inserts it comes with. SUPER absorbent.
-One-Size means it has a gazillion snaps, so it can be adjusted to fit any baby, from 8lbs to 40lbs.
-Pocket means that the diaper has a sleeve, and inserts are stuffed inside the diaper (see the diaper on the left), instead of the inserts sitting on top.
Kawaii diapers aren't sold on very many cloth diapering websites, which is too bad, because not only are a they a top quality diaper, but they are a top quality diaper at an amazingly low price. I read a review on the diaper, and the mom decided to leave it on her son for 15 hours, just to see how long it would hold up. 15 hours later? No leaks. That is what cloth diapering moms call "Bulletproof." Nothing is escaping that diaper.
Anyway, I love these diapers with all of my heart, and I can see how moms become obsessed with cloth diapers. They're more work, but they're so much cooler than disposables!
So those are all my thoughts tonight. Kind of a random post for Christmas Eve, but that's what happens when you have non-traditional Christmas plans. And now it is almost midnight, so I must bring this to a close. Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a Good Night!
Mary and Joe flew in yesterday from their respective locations across the country, and they stopped by earlier today to say hi. All of them (Mary, Joe, and Art's parents) will be spending the night at our apartment and we'll do Christmas Day together. Just in case anyone forgot, we have one bedroom. Somehow they're all supposed to fit on our living room floor. Should be interesting. :)
I just finished the puzzle that my coworker lent me. It was perfect. I judge the puzzling experience by how long it takes me to put it all together (working on it at least a few hours a day). If I can finish the puzzle in two days or less, it's too easy, and therefore, not fun. If it takes a week or more, it's too hard, and really not fun. This puzzle took me almost four days (three days if you don't count the day that I wasn't home at all). So this one was definitely fun. Plus it was a hilarious picture. I hope she enjoyed the one I lent her.
I took a belly pic today, mostly because I actually look nice right now (pretty shirt, makeup, no ponytail) and that just doesn't happen very often. Also, it's our first 3-person Christmas, so I have to have a pic of exactly how big we are today.
I'm nearly at 27 weeks, and although I ate supper just before I took this picture, I don't think it makes that much of a difference right now.
And now for the most exciting thing ever: I got my first cloth diapers in the mail yesterday!!!!! My friend Sozan (who is the most amazing friend in the whole world), bought me three diapers, partly to see how long they would take to ship (so we can supply that info for my diaper shower), and partly so that I could show people a real, tangible cloth diaper (again, for the diaper shower).
I'm so afraid that the shower will be a flop, just because I'm the only person I know who is going to use cloth diapers. I think a lot of moms are so unfamiliar with the world of cloth diapers, so they might not feel comfortable buying one for a shower gift, even though I have a registry, and even though we're going to specify on the invitation that I don't want disposable diapers, or any other baby stuff. I have had two baby showers already, so I have basically everything I need. Except cloth diapers. So my friend is planning a cloth diaper shower, and I'm crossing every finger and toe that I have.
Anyway, here is a picture of the three diapers she bought me:
The one on the left is pale yellow, the one in the middle is light gray, not black, and the one on the right is light green with polka dots.
These particular diapers are Kawaii Minky Organic Bamboo One-Size Pocket diapers. Say what?!
-Kawaii is the brand.
-Minky is what the outside of the diaper is made of (and it's so soft!!)
-Organic Bamboo is was the inside of the diaper is made of, as well as the two inserts it comes with. SUPER absorbent.
-One-Size means it has a gazillion snaps, so it can be adjusted to fit any baby, from 8lbs to 40lbs.
-Pocket means that the diaper has a sleeve, and inserts are stuffed inside the diaper (see the diaper on the left), instead of the inserts sitting on top.
Kawaii diapers aren't sold on very many cloth diapering websites, which is too bad, because not only are a they a top quality diaper, but they are a top quality diaper at an amazingly low price. I read a review on the diaper, and the mom decided to leave it on her son for 15 hours, just to see how long it would hold up. 15 hours later? No leaks. That is what cloth diapering moms call "Bulletproof." Nothing is escaping that diaper.
Anyway, I love these diapers with all of my heart, and I can see how moms become obsessed with cloth diapers. They're more work, but they're so much cooler than disposables!
So those are all my thoughts tonight. Kind of a random post for Christmas Eve, but that's what happens when you have non-traditional Christmas plans. And now it is almost midnight, so I must bring this to a close. Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a Good Night!
December 21, 2010
Sleepless in Seattle. Except For the Part Where I Don't Live in Seattle
**Update: Though I was wide awake last night, I was clearly not very sharp. I made the mistake of putting up two blog posts in quick succession. So once you're done reading this one, please continue scrolling and read the [much shorter] post below. I think you'll find it quite amusing!**
It is the middle of the night, and I cannot sleep, so I decided I'm going to blog instead. In no particular order, here are all the things that are on my mind, or that I've been meaning to blog about:
1. Pregnancy/Baby - I posted on Dec.5 that I haven't had any heartburn, and that the ligament pain hadn't returned. Wouldn't you know it, the very next day I got heartburn, and it's been here ever since. Thankfully, it's not been that bad, although it is one of the things that is preventing me from sleeping right now. In my determination not to pop any antacids, I have found that avoiding spicy foods, eating smaller portions, not eating too late in the evening, and chewing gum after meals all seem to help. I've also been propping my head up at night, which usually keeps it at bay.
So why is it bothering me tonight? Because I ate spicy food. I made the most delicious Paleo lasagna (this particular version contains a bit of cayenne pepper), and we had leftovers, and I couldn't resist. Plus, I paired it with tomato soup. Talk about a recipe for disaster. Next time, I'll make the lasagna without the pepper, and maybe I'll pair it with a glass of milk instead.
Oh, and the ligament pain is here again. Last week I realized that I no longer feel large at all. In fact, I feel rather small for being 6 months pregnant. Then I wondered if that meant I was going to have a growth spurt soon. Sure enough, last Thursday I felt that familiar ache. This time it's much higher on my tummy, but thankfully, not as bad. (Last time I could barely move because I was in so much pain.) I expect it to stick around for a couple more days. Which means that by Christmas, I'll be more comfortable again.
One more thing of note: the kicks and movements are getting stronger, and I can feel them all over. I am now convinced that I'm pregnant with an octopus. There is no way there are only 4 limbs in there. On second thought, maybe an octopus crossed with a kangaroo.
2. Work - Our office closes for two weeks over the Christmas break, and those two weeks began yesterday. It's going to be really nice to have a lot of free time on my hands. A coworker and I found out that we share a mutual love of puzzling, so we exchanged puzzles last week Friday. Now we each have a new puzzle to do during our long, wonderful workless days.
One of the upsides about this break is that it doesn't matter that I'm awake right now. It's not like I have to go anywhere tomorrow morning. So if I can't sleep, it's not a big deal. Very thankful for that.
The major downside about this break is that while it's mandatory, it's also unpaid. Permanent employees will be paid for one of the two weeks. But I'm not permanent, so I don't get paid at all. However, they did inform us that we may apply for unemployment for the two weeks. So that's what I did yesterday, and that's what I'll do next Monday as well. It won't be much, but at least it's something.
If you're wondering why on earth they would not pay their employees for a two week mandatory furlough, it's because they kind of have to. The company has been struggling for a few years now, and will continue to struggle for another year or two. They have plans to get themselves out of this rut they're in, but right now it's just bad news.
I could go on about all the ways in which their employees are being kind of screwed over (forgive my language), but there's no point. It's not like anyone is being forced to stick around. We're all free to leave and seek better employment. I was preparing myself to do just that this past July, but then I peed on a stick, and my plans changed. I decided I would stay put, and you know what? I don't regret that at all. There was no point in trying to find a new job knowing I would be quitting in 7 months. And aside from the companies' financial difficulties that I have to put up with, I really like my job!
3. Nesting - I know that nesting is only supposed to happen in the few weeks right before I give birth, but why can't it happen sooner? I had time, energy, and opportunity a couple of Saturdays ago. Art was away at an all-day bachelor party (don't worry, it was with a bunch of Christian guys), so I had the apartment all to myself, and I took full advantage of that. I cleaned and cleaned, and organized and reorganized, and filled boxes, and emptied boxes, and moved boxes, and I may have moved some furniture as well please don't kill me!
It felt really good to put a little more order into our closets and bedroom, and to have fewer drawers designated to random items. I still plan on reorganizing the cupboards at some point. But I'm quite proud of all that I accomplished on that Saturday. I was also pretty sore by the time evening came around. Unfortunately, once I get going, it's hard to stop, and I may have kept going, but thankfully some friends decided to stop by. I rested, and also got to show off my sparkling clean home.
4. I finally put up our Christmas tree!
I would have put it up sooner, but "The Big Clean" had to happen first. This table is the only place we could put the tree, but it was full of stuff that used to be in a desk, and then we got rid of that desk, so the table was the only place those items could go. I ended up buying a basket to put all those items in, and that basket is right beside and below the table. I'll be sad when I put the tree away and the table once again fills with clutter, but I try not to think about that. Right now I'm just enjoying how pretty it is.
We keep the lights on during the night, which makes getting up in the morning so much easier. It's nice to wake up to this soft glow. 5:30 am doesn't seem so bad when I'm greeted by this.
There are no presents beneath it yet, but that's just because I haven't wrapped them. I think I will do that later today (hopefully after I've had some sleep!).
5. I did some Christmas baking for the first time. One of my favorite holiday traditions is making Christmas cookies with my mom. To me, there is only one Christmas cookie: molasses cookies, topped with various colors and flavors of icing, and decorated with sprinkles. Now that I live so far away from my mom, I must carry on the tradition myself. However, I made sure to involve my very good friend Sozan. What could be more fun than decorating Christmas cookies with a friend?
We set up a cookies decorating station and had ourselves a hay day.
Kudos to Sozan for really embracing her inner child. These cookies are so full of sprinkles that the sprinkles won't stay on! Every time you pick up a cookie, you end up dropping sprinkles everywhere. Which is exactly how it should be. :)
I was planning on doing more Christmas baking this week, but my husband asked me to refrain. He's trying to eat healthy for a few weeks, because he has to drop a few pounds by the middle of January. He's going on a very important trip to Crossfit competition that will hopefully gain him a ton of business, and he wants to look (and feel) his best. So I will defer the baking for a little while.
Well, it is now 3:30 am, I have been blogging for an hour and a half, and my poor husband who also can't sleep would really like me to come back to bed. I may not have to work in the morning, but he still does. So goodnight!
It is the middle of the night, and I cannot sleep, so I decided I'm going to blog instead. In no particular order, here are all the things that are on my mind, or that I've been meaning to blog about:
1. Pregnancy/Baby - I posted on Dec.5 that I haven't had any heartburn, and that the ligament pain hadn't returned. Wouldn't you know it, the very next day I got heartburn, and it's been here ever since. Thankfully, it's not been that bad, although it is one of the things that is preventing me from sleeping right now. In my determination not to pop any antacids, I have found that avoiding spicy foods, eating smaller portions, not eating too late in the evening, and chewing gum after meals all seem to help. I've also been propping my head up at night, which usually keeps it at bay.
So why is it bothering me tonight? Because I ate spicy food. I made the most delicious Paleo lasagna (this particular version contains a bit of cayenne pepper), and we had leftovers, and I couldn't resist. Plus, I paired it with tomato soup. Talk about a recipe for disaster. Next time, I'll make the lasagna without the pepper, and maybe I'll pair it with a glass of milk instead.
Oh, and the ligament pain is here again. Last week I realized that I no longer feel large at all. In fact, I feel rather small for being 6 months pregnant. Then I wondered if that meant I was going to have a growth spurt soon. Sure enough, last Thursday I felt that familiar ache. This time it's much higher on my tummy, but thankfully, not as bad. (Last time I could barely move because I was in so much pain.) I expect it to stick around for a couple more days. Which means that by Christmas, I'll be more comfortable again.
One more thing of note: the kicks and movements are getting stronger, and I can feel them all over. I am now convinced that I'm pregnant with an octopus. There is no way there are only 4 limbs in there. On second thought, maybe an octopus crossed with a kangaroo.
2. Work - Our office closes for two weeks over the Christmas break, and those two weeks began yesterday. It's going to be really nice to have a lot of free time on my hands. A coworker and I found out that we share a mutual love of puzzling, so we exchanged puzzles last week Friday. Now we each have a new puzzle to do during our long, wonderful workless days.
One of the upsides about this break is that it doesn't matter that I'm awake right now. It's not like I have to go anywhere tomorrow morning. So if I can't sleep, it's not a big deal. Very thankful for that.
The major downside about this break is that while it's mandatory, it's also unpaid. Permanent employees will be paid for one of the two weeks. But I'm not permanent, so I don't get paid at all. However, they did inform us that we may apply for unemployment for the two weeks. So that's what I did yesterday, and that's what I'll do next Monday as well. It won't be much, but at least it's something.
If you're wondering why on earth they would not pay their employees for a two week mandatory furlough, it's because they kind of have to. The company has been struggling for a few years now, and will continue to struggle for another year or two. They have plans to get themselves out of this rut they're in, but right now it's just bad news.
I could go on about all the ways in which their employees are being kind of screwed over (forgive my language), but there's no point. It's not like anyone is being forced to stick around. We're all free to leave and seek better employment. I was preparing myself to do just that this past July, but then I peed on a stick, and my plans changed. I decided I would stay put, and you know what? I don't regret that at all. There was no point in trying to find a new job knowing I would be quitting in 7 months. And aside from the companies' financial difficulties that I have to put up with, I really like my job!
3. Nesting - I know that nesting is only supposed to happen in the few weeks right before I give birth, but why can't it happen sooner? I had time, energy, and opportunity a couple of Saturdays ago. Art was away at an all-day bachelor party (don't worry, it was with a bunch of Christian guys), so I had the apartment all to myself, and I took full advantage of that. I cleaned and cleaned, and organized and reorganized, and filled boxes, and emptied boxes, and moved boxes, and I may have moved some furniture as well please don't kill me!
It felt really good to put a little more order into our closets and bedroom, and to have fewer drawers designated to random items. I still plan on reorganizing the cupboards at some point. But I'm quite proud of all that I accomplished on that Saturday. I was also pretty sore by the time evening came around. Unfortunately, once I get going, it's hard to stop, and I may have kept going, but thankfully some friends decided to stop by. I rested, and also got to show off my sparkling clean home.
4. I finally put up our Christmas tree!
I would have put it up sooner, but "The Big Clean" had to happen first. This table is the only place we could put the tree, but it was full of stuff that used to be in a desk, and then we got rid of that desk, so the table was the only place those items could go. I ended up buying a basket to put all those items in, and that basket is right beside and below the table. I'll be sad when I put the tree away and the table once again fills with clutter, but I try not to think about that. Right now I'm just enjoying how pretty it is.
We keep the lights on during the night, which makes getting up in the morning so much easier. It's nice to wake up to this soft glow. 5:30 am doesn't seem so bad when I'm greeted by this.
There are no presents beneath it yet, but that's just because I haven't wrapped them. I think I will do that later today (hopefully after I've had some sleep!).
5. I did some Christmas baking for the first time. One of my favorite holiday traditions is making Christmas cookies with my mom. To me, there is only one Christmas cookie: molasses cookies, topped with various colors and flavors of icing, and decorated with sprinkles. Now that I live so far away from my mom, I must carry on the tradition myself. However, I made sure to involve my very good friend Sozan. What could be more fun than decorating Christmas cookies with a friend?
We set up a cookies decorating station and had ourselves a hay day.
Kudos to Sozan for really embracing her inner child. These cookies are so full of sprinkles that the sprinkles won't stay on! Every time you pick up a cookie, you end up dropping sprinkles everywhere. Which is exactly how it should be. :)
I was planning on doing more Christmas baking this week, but my husband asked me to refrain. He's trying to eat healthy for a few weeks, because he has to drop a few pounds by the middle of January. He's going on a very important trip to Crossfit competition that will hopefully gain him a ton of business, and he wants to look (and feel) his best. So I will defer the baking for a little while.
Well, it is now 3:30 am, I have been blogging for an hour and a half, and my poor husband who also can't sleep would really like me to come back to bed. I may not have to work in the morning, but he still does. So goodnight!
December 20, 2010
My Husband: A Week of Faces
Many of you may have heard of the male tradition of growing facial hair for the entire month of November. It goes by many names: No Shave November, Novemburly, Movember ("mo" is Australian slang for mustache).
My husband took part in this tradition. And you know what? I kind of liked him with a full beard. Of course, he didn't let it get wild. He trimmed it as it grew, to keep it looking decent.
Then he decided to have fun with it. November is now over, but the facial hair did not go away. Oh no. He couldn't part with it that easily. He decided to shave it off slowly, in stages. Hilarious, ugly, stages. He promised me that each new beard style was only for one day, so I said okay, on one condition: that I get to photograph each new style, and post it here on my blog. What's the point of having a husband if you can't use him as blog fodder to garner a few laughs? ;)
Here are a few "Before" pictures. I don't know how well you can see his whole face, but trust me: he's got a full beard going on.
I had to use the flash on my camera, since it was too dim without it. So I went with "washed out" instead. It was the lesser of two evils.
Here he is with a couple of friends/coworkers. As you can see, they also took part in No Shave November.
The guy on the left shaved his face clean the next day. The guy in the middle is still sporting his beard. The goof handsome man on the right is my hubby dearest.
(Btw, the above pictures were all taken at Art's work Christmas banquet.)
And now, for your comedic pleasure:
Monday, Dec.6
First he went with the chin strap. Which he said made him feel like one of the Backsteet Boys. Hence the pose.
Tuesday, Dec.7
Then he went with the pointy sideburns.
Wednesday, Dec.8:
Wednesday was the best day: just a goatee. He had one of these when I first met him. And longer hair. And I actually thought he was cute!
Thursday, Dec.9
He called this one "The Nascar." He's also making a typical Art face.
Friday, Dec.10 - I didn't actually get a picture of this one. But it's the same as the beard above, only the middle strip is shaved off. I think it's known as a handlebar mustache? But I could be wrong. Basically, he looked like he should be riding a motorcycle at all times. And he kept the look through the weekend.
Monday, Dec.13
I came home from work and was greeted by this. Believe it or not, this one creeped me out the most. He tried to kiss me, but I wouldn't let him until he shaved it off. So I broke my rule about letting him have each style for one day. I will never let him have a mustache. *Shudder*
The facial hair was fun while it lasted, but I'm glad his face is back to normal. FYI, "normal" for him is actually not clean-shaven, but rather a day or two of scruff. And you know what? I really like the way he looks with a day or two of scruff. Clean shaven feels nice, but a 5 o'clock shadow suits him much better. Call me crazy....
My husband took part in this tradition. And you know what? I kind of liked him with a full beard. Of course, he didn't let it get wild. He trimmed it as it grew, to keep it looking decent.
Then he decided to have fun with it. November is now over, but the facial hair did not go away. Oh no. He couldn't part with it that easily. He decided to shave it off slowly, in stages. Hilarious, ugly, stages. He promised me that each new beard style was only for one day, so I said okay, on one condition: that I get to photograph each new style, and post it here on my blog. What's the point of having a husband if you can't use him as blog fodder to garner a few laughs? ;)
Here are a few "Before" pictures. I don't know how well you can see his whole face, but trust me: he's got a full beard going on.
I had to use the flash on my camera, since it was too dim without it. So I went with "washed out" instead. It was the lesser of two evils.
Here he is with a couple of friends/coworkers. As you can see, they also took part in No Shave November.
The guy on the left shaved his face clean the next day. The guy in the middle is still sporting his beard. The
(Btw, the above pictures were all taken at Art's work Christmas banquet.)
And now, for your comedic pleasure:
Monday, Dec.6
First he went with the chin strap. Which he said made him feel like one of the Backsteet Boys. Hence the pose.
Tuesday, Dec.7
Then he went with the pointy sideburns.
Wednesday, Dec.8:
Wednesday was the best day: just a goatee. He had one of these when I first met him. And longer hair. And I actually thought he was cute!
Thursday, Dec.9
He called this one "The Nascar." He's also making a typical Art face.
Friday, Dec.10 - I didn't actually get a picture of this one. But it's the same as the beard above, only the middle strip is shaved off. I think it's known as a handlebar mustache? But I could be wrong. Basically, he looked like he should be riding a motorcycle at all times. And he kept the look through the weekend.
Monday, Dec.13
I came home from work and was greeted by this. Believe it or not, this one creeped me out the most. He tried to kiss me, but I wouldn't let him until he shaved it off. So I broke my rule about letting him have each style for one day. I will never let him have a mustache. *Shudder*
The facial hair was fun while it lasted, but I'm glad his face is back to normal. FYI, "normal" for him is actually not clean-shaven, but rather a day or two of scruff. And you know what? I really like the way he looks with a day or two of scruff. Clean shaven feels nice, but a 5 o'clock shadow suits him much better. Call me crazy....
December 5, 2010
24 Weeks
I just scrolled through my blog, and I realized that the last baby post was when we had our 20 week ultrasound. And the last belly pic? Was at 18 weeks. Yikes! Yeah, it's very much time for an update.
Like the subject line says, I'm at 24 weeks now. Baby weighs 1.5 pounds, is 8 inches in length (from crown to rump). What to Expect When You're Expecting informs me that Baby can now taste everything I eat. In fact, Baby has more taste buds now than at birth!
His or her skin is still hanging pretty loosely, but now is when the fat starts to develop. She or he will gain 6 ounces a week! (And what is that going to do for my weight gain? I'll probably be fine, but I've already gained 17 pounds at this point, which is five pounds ahead of what they recommend. So I'm a tiny bit nervous. If I'm not careful, I could gain too much weight. It's possible! Not likely, but possible.)
Also, our little one now has eyebrows, eyelashes, and a head of hair. Apparently, there is no pigment in the hair, so right now, it's snow white. I have no doubt that by the time Baby is born, he or she will have an abundance of dark hair.
This next week, capillaries will form under the skin and fill with blood. And air sacs will begin to develop in the lungs. I think this is the point where the baby actually has a chance to survive outside the womb. A small chance, but it can happen. [Side note: I used to follow a blog written by a man whose wife has cystic fibrosis, and their daughter was delivered by c-section at 24 weeks. The little girl is now almost three years old, and is happy and healthy. Here's a link to his blog.]
Also this next week, Baby's nostrils will open up, so s/he can begin taking practice breaths. The vocal cords are working too, and the baby practices using those by have hiccups! So I guess I'll be feeling that sometime soon.
And how am I doing? Very well. I'm experiencing small symptoms, like dry skin, strange dreams, swollen ankles, nasal congestion at night, but none of these things interfere with my daily life, so I barely notice them. I notice that my grip is not as strong as it used to be. I feel like I'm dropping things all the time! (Mostly pens, keys, socks...nothing breakable).
I remember reading that my body is producing the hormone Relaxin, and the whole point of that hormone is to loosen the ligaments and joints around my pelvis. However, my body doesn't know not to apply the hormone to EVERY joint and ligament. So my grip will suffer, and also? My feet will probably expand and go up a half or whole shoe size, and will likely not return to their original size. And I'm SO EXCITED about that!!! I'm crossing my fingers that by the time I have this baby, I will be a shoe size 6, and my shoe shopping woes will be over forever!!!!!!!!
(Pre-pregnancy, I was wearing size 5 shoes, and there pretty much isn't a shoe manufacturer on this continent that makes size 5 shoes for women. They always start at size 6. Buying shoes is so frustrating. At this very moment I'm at a 5.5, and depending the on the brand/type of shoe, it feels kinda snug. So I'm wishing and hoping and thinking and praying......)
Other symptoms I'm experiencing, besides an ever-growing belly.........I don't always sleep very well. Most of this week I managed to get in a full night, but it's not consistent. Again, apparently that's normal. When I can't sleep, it's not like I'm worried about anything. And it's not like Baby is waking me up or keeping me up with kicking. The kicks are getting stronger (I think I felt something on my ribs today!), but they don't interfere with sleep.
I still don't have heartburn, but I've discovered that if I eat a large dinner, I'm very likely going to be nauseated that night. I'm really good at eating small, frequent portions throughout the day, but for some reason, I always try to cram in a big supper. I have to get used to the fact that I simply can't fit a big meal in my stomach anymore. So I'm going to try my hardest to either stretch out the consumption of my dinner, or maybe just eat two small dinners. I had a particularly bad night last Monday night, and I actually took a sick day on Tuesday because I felt so icky. I need to do better.
I haven't had any ligament pain since the beginning of November, and I'm trying to be grateful for that every day, because my midwife told me that I would probably experience it again at some point.
And, before I get to everybody's favorite part (the picture), I wanted to inform you all that I finally have honest-to-goodness baby fever! Up until a few days ago, I felt like this pregnancy was going to fast, and though I've been excited, I've also been nervous, and kind of wishing time would slow down a little bit. Before I knew I was pregnant, I informed Art that I was definitely not ready for a baby. Since seeing that positive pregnancy test, I've been doing by best to be ready, but I still didn't really feel ready. (Also, I wasn't really enjoying pregnancy until a few weeks ago, when I could finally feel the baby move.)
Then two women from my office gave birth, within a few days of each other. They brought in their newborn boys on the same day last week, and just seeing those tiny, cuddly babies made my arms ache to hold my own. I remember looking down at my belly and saying, "okay, you can come out now." Now, there is no more nervousness or unreadiness. Just pure excitement, to the point of almost being impatient.
I hope this revelation isn't shocking to anyone. I don't know if other women out there felt this way when they were pregnant. And if anyone has, but was afraid to say something, because they thought it made them a bad mom, just know that you aren't abnormal, and you are NOT a bad mom. :)
Okay, picture time!
This picture was taken today. Right after my nap. I seem to be in the habit of taking belly pics right after I wake up from a nap.
Also? Those are maternity jeans. I got four free pairs of maternity jeans from a woman at church! God bless her, they are so comfy. And they are all a bit on the big side, which is good, because that means I'll be able to wear them for a while. I'm crossing my fingers that at least two pairs will last me right until I give birth.
So there's a nice lengthy update for you. If you made it this far, go ahead and treat yourself to a spoonful of ice cream. Because that's what I'm going to do.
Like the subject line says, I'm at 24 weeks now. Baby weighs 1.5 pounds, is 8 inches in length (from crown to rump). What to Expect When You're Expecting informs me that Baby can now taste everything I eat. In fact, Baby has more taste buds now than at birth!
His or her skin is still hanging pretty loosely, but now is when the fat starts to develop. She or he will gain 6 ounces a week! (And what is that going to do for my weight gain? I'll probably be fine, but I've already gained 17 pounds at this point, which is five pounds ahead of what they recommend. So I'm a tiny bit nervous. If I'm not careful, I could gain too much weight. It's possible! Not likely, but possible.)
Also, our little one now has eyebrows, eyelashes, and a head of hair. Apparently, there is no pigment in the hair, so right now, it's snow white. I have no doubt that by the time Baby is born, he or she will have an abundance of dark hair.
This next week, capillaries will form under the skin and fill with blood. And air sacs will begin to develop in the lungs. I think this is the point where the baby actually has a chance to survive outside the womb. A small chance, but it can happen. [Side note: I used to follow a blog written by a man whose wife has cystic fibrosis, and their daughter was delivered by c-section at 24 weeks. The little girl is now almost three years old, and is happy and healthy. Here's a link to his blog.]
Also this next week, Baby's nostrils will open up, so s/he can begin taking practice breaths. The vocal cords are working too, and the baby practices using those by have hiccups! So I guess I'll be feeling that sometime soon.
And how am I doing? Very well. I'm experiencing small symptoms, like dry skin, strange dreams, swollen ankles, nasal congestion at night, but none of these things interfere with my daily life, so I barely notice them. I notice that my grip is not as strong as it used to be. I feel like I'm dropping things all the time! (Mostly pens, keys, socks...nothing breakable).
I remember reading that my body is producing the hormone Relaxin, and the whole point of that hormone is to loosen the ligaments and joints around my pelvis. However, my body doesn't know not to apply the hormone to EVERY joint and ligament. So my grip will suffer, and also? My feet will probably expand and go up a half or whole shoe size, and will likely not return to their original size. And I'm SO EXCITED about that!!! I'm crossing my fingers that by the time I have this baby, I will be a shoe size 6, and my shoe shopping woes will be over forever!!!!!!!!
(Pre-pregnancy, I was wearing size 5 shoes, and there pretty much isn't a shoe manufacturer on this continent that makes size 5 shoes for women. They always start at size 6. Buying shoes is so frustrating. At this very moment I'm at a 5.5, and depending the on the brand/type of shoe, it feels kinda snug. So I'm wishing and hoping and thinking and praying......)
Other symptoms I'm experiencing, besides an ever-growing belly.........I don't always sleep very well. Most of this week I managed to get in a full night, but it's not consistent. Again, apparently that's normal. When I can't sleep, it's not like I'm worried about anything. And it's not like Baby is waking me up or keeping me up with kicking. The kicks are getting stronger (I think I felt something on my ribs today!), but they don't interfere with sleep.
I still don't have heartburn, but I've discovered that if I eat a large dinner, I'm very likely going to be nauseated that night. I'm really good at eating small, frequent portions throughout the day, but for some reason, I always try to cram in a big supper. I have to get used to the fact that I simply can't fit a big meal in my stomach anymore. So I'm going to try my hardest to either stretch out the consumption of my dinner, or maybe just eat two small dinners. I had a particularly bad night last Monday night, and I actually took a sick day on Tuesday because I felt so icky. I need to do better.
I haven't had any ligament pain since the beginning of November, and I'm trying to be grateful for that every day, because my midwife told me that I would probably experience it again at some point.
And, before I get to everybody's favorite part (the picture), I wanted to inform you all that I finally have honest-to-goodness baby fever! Up until a few days ago, I felt like this pregnancy was going to fast, and though I've been excited, I've also been nervous, and kind of wishing time would slow down a little bit. Before I knew I was pregnant, I informed Art that I was definitely not ready for a baby. Since seeing that positive pregnancy test, I've been doing by best to be ready, but I still didn't really feel ready. (Also, I wasn't really enjoying pregnancy until a few weeks ago, when I could finally feel the baby move.)
Then two women from my office gave birth, within a few days of each other. They brought in their newborn boys on the same day last week, and just seeing those tiny, cuddly babies made my arms ache to hold my own. I remember looking down at my belly and saying, "okay, you can come out now." Now, there is no more nervousness or unreadiness. Just pure excitement, to the point of almost being impatient.
I hope this revelation isn't shocking to anyone. I don't know if other women out there felt this way when they were pregnant. And if anyone has, but was afraid to say something, because they thought it made them a bad mom, just know that you aren't abnormal, and you are NOT a bad mom. :)
Okay, picture time!
This picture was taken today. Right after my nap. I seem to be in the habit of taking belly pics right after I wake up from a nap.
Also? Those are maternity jeans. I got four free pairs of maternity jeans from a woman at church! God bless her, they are so comfy. And they are all a bit on the big side, which is good, because that means I'll be able to wear them for a while. I'm crossing my fingers that at least two pairs will last me right until I give birth.
So there's a nice lengthy update for you. If you made it this far, go ahead and treat yourself to a spoonful of ice cream. Because that's what I'm going to do.
December 1, 2010
My Birth Plan
I know this can be a very touchy and controversial subject, but if you've read my blog for a while, you know that I'm not one to always avoid controversy. This is important to me, and it's something I have been wanting to talk about on my blog for some time.
First, here are a couple of facts about my birth plan:
1. I have a midwife who is Washington State certified. She is also a naturopathic family doctor. She will see me through my entire pregnancy, the birth, and eight weeks of postpartum care. After that, we can continue to see her as our family doctor. I'm really happy about how that worked out.
2. I am planning on giving birth at a birth center, not at home, and not at the hospital.
I feel it is important that my midwife is certified. I know that she has had proper medical training, and has assisted many, many births. I can feel comfortable and safe with her, because she has the experience to know when to speak up, when to stand back, and when to make the call about my needing medical intervention. I wouldn't have the same assurance with a non-certified midwife (and there are many available in our area).
I am choosing the birth center mostly because I don't feel comfortable giving birth in our one-bedroom apartment. I think our complex is well-built, and seems pretty sound-proof, but I know there are limits to what noise can and cannot be heard. I don't want to force my neighbors to go through the hardest stages of labor with me (if I find myself yelling at times). And I don't want to have to worry about those things while I'm in transition and pushing. I want to have as few distractions as possible. However, if we lived in a house, I would probably choose a home birth.
I have been to the birth center, and I love it there. It's almost like a spa! Big comfy beds, jacuzzi tubs, soft lighting and soothing colors. It is truly a calm and relaxing place. It is also conveniently located a few blocks from the hospital, should I change my mind about pain medications, or if a medical emergency arises.
Anther thing to note: having a midwife and being at a birth center is much cheaper than having an OB-GYN and being at a hospital. At a hospital, the cost can be in the tens of thousands of dollars, even if the delivery is vaginal, drug-free, and not even attended by the doctor! Of course, if you have insurance, then the difference in cost won't affect you. And I know many insurance companies won't cover midwives. But for those who don't have insurance, the final amount on the bill matters.
Though the final cost certainly is a factor, it is not the main reason why I am choosing a natural birth. The main reason is because I feel like a natural, birth center delivery will be more relaxing than a hospital birth.
In my mind, I equate hospitals with being sick. I know that the labor and delivery wards in many hospitals don't have the same look and feel as the rest of the hospitals. But I still feel like I would be very uncomfortable in that kind of a setting. Machines all around me, bright lights, nurses coming in and out, and not being able to move around if I want to? Being continually hooked up to a monitor and/or an IV.... all these things will make me more tense and nervous.
With a natural delivery, I can labor at home for most of the time. I can light candles, put on soothing music, and I can concentrate on breathing and relaxing. I can move around if I want to, eat if I want to, and the only people with me will be those I love and trust: My husband, and a close girlfriend of mine (all three of us will be taking some sort of natural childbirth class, so they will know how to assist me during my labor).
When I finally go to the birth center, I will have the addition of the midwife, and also the jacuzzi tub. She will only check me intermittently, and if no complications arise, she will sit back and let me be me.
I want to be in the environment that makes me feel the most comfortable; one that will be peaceful and relaxing. I want to be in a place where I feel calm and safe. The birth center is that place.
I want to be in the environment that makes me feel the most comfortable; one that will be peaceful and relaxing. I want to be in a place where I feel calm and safe. The birth center is that place.
I'm not saying that I expect to have a pain-free labor. And I know that complications could arise, and I might end up at the hospital anyway. But I have a much better chance of sticking to my plan if I can relax and let my body do what it needs to do.
I trust my body's ability to give birth to this baby. And I'm preparing myself as much as possible. Arming myself with facts and knowledge, and researching (and practicing) techniques to help me manage each contraction. I am not afraid of labor, and that is huge. The more I research, the more confident I become that I can and want to do this.
Please know that this is not a judgment on anyone who has not had this type of delivery, or anyone who is not planning on this type of delivery. I know that many women would feel much more comfortable in a hospital setting. I know that for many women, a natural, out-of-hospital delivery is not an option.
Many women feel that the most relaxing, enjoyable way to give birth is with medication. And I know that many women have had positive, natural deliveries in hospitals. There are also plenty of hospitals out there that have all the comforts of a birth center, or have birth centers that are a part of the hospital.
I'm not saying that my plan is the one that every woman should go with. I'm simply telling you why I am going with this plan; why it's so important to me.
For anyone who might be interested, here are a few of the resources that I have turned to (or am planning on using):
Giving Birth Naturally is an online childbirth class that I will be taking with my friend. Since our schedules don't line up very well, she won't be able to attend the "live" childbirth class that Art and I will be attending. The online class will allow us the flexibility of setting our own schedule.
The Nurturing Touch at Birth - this book is on my wishlist. Christmas gift? *wink wink* Or I'll just buy it myself. :) Looking at the reviews, it seems like a one-stop shop for all the different techniques I can employ to get me through labor and delivery. This includes pressure points, massage, breathing, laboring positions, and so on.
The Business of Being Born - I have watched this movie several times, but I share the link with hesitation. I have mixed feelings about the film. On the one hand, I think it portrays natural birth as a positive experience, rather than being scary, horrible, or traumatic. On the other hand, I think it goes a little far in bashing hospitals and doctors. It also contains a bit of unnecessary foul language, and a fair amount of graphic nudity (as it pertains to women giving birth).
It should also be noted that the statistics aren't going to be completely accurate (as it was filmed more than two years ago). And some facts are quite specific to the city it was filmed in (New York). So if you choose to watch it, do so with all this in mind. (You can buy the DVD on the website provided, on Amazon, or rent it through Netflix.)
So there you have it. I apologize if I have offended anyone, or have somehow portrayed my plan as superior to other birth plans. This was not at all my intention. I just wanted to share the "whys" behind my personal decisions regarding childbirth.
Whatever plan a woman chooses to go with, I think it's important that she be as informed and prepared as possible, to be firm in the reasons for her choices, and to surround herself with people who will support her. With those things in place, anyone can have a truly positive and enjoyable childbirth experience.
Please know that this is not a judgment on anyone who has not had this type of delivery, or anyone who is not planning on this type of delivery. I know that many women would feel much more comfortable in a hospital setting. I know that for many women, a natural, out-of-hospital delivery is not an option.
Many women feel that the most relaxing, enjoyable way to give birth is with medication. And I know that many women have had positive, natural deliveries in hospitals. There are also plenty of hospitals out there that have all the comforts of a birth center, or have birth centers that are a part of the hospital.
I'm not saying that my plan is the one that every woman should go with. I'm simply telling you why I am going with this plan; why it's so important to me.
For anyone who might be interested, here are a few of the resources that I have turned to (or am planning on using):
Giving Birth Naturally is an online childbirth class that I will be taking with my friend. Since our schedules don't line up very well, she won't be able to attend the "live" childbirth class that Art and I will be attending. The online class will allow us the flexibility of setting our own schedule.
The Nurturing Touch at Birth - this book is on my wishlist. Christmas gift? *wink wink* Or I'll just buy it myself. :) Looking at the reviews, it seems like a one-stop shop for all the different techniques I can employ to get me through labor and delivery. This includes pressure points, massage, breathing, laboring positions, and so on.
The Business of Being Born - I have watched this movie several times, but I share the link with hesitation. I have mixed feelings about the film. On the one hand, I think it portrays natural birth as a positive experience, rather than being scary, horrible, or traumatic. On the other hand, I think it goes a little far in bashing hospitals and doctors. It also contains a bit of unnecessary foul language, and a fair amount of graphic nudity (as it pertains to women giving birth).
It should also be noted that the statistics aren't going to be completely accurate (as it was filmed more than two years ago). And some facts are quite specific to the city it was filmed in (New York). So if you choose to watch it, do so with all this in mind. (You can buy the DVD on the website provided, on Amazon, or rent it through Netflix.)
So there you have it. I apologize if I have offended anyone, or have somehow portrayed my plan as superior to other birth plans. This was not at all my intention. I just wanted to share the "whys" behind my personal decisions regarding childbirth.
Whatever plan a woman chooses to go with, I think it's important that she be as informed and prepared as possible, to be firm in the reasons for her choices, and to surround herself with people who will support her. With those things in place, anyone can have a truly positive and enjoyable childbirth experience.
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