It's been forever since I've written anything here on the blog, but for good reason. Ever since my maternity leave, my carpal tunnel has been so horrible that I've tried to stay away from the computer as much as possible. My thumb, pointer, and middle fingers on each hand are somewhat numb and tingly, they burn all the time, I can barely make a fist and even typing this blog post is proving to be difficult. I'm ALMOST there though, almost at the end of this "wonderful" pregnancy and finally get to meet my little baby boy.
I thought for sure that by now he'd be here. I went to the doctor last Wed. and they said I was 2cm dilated and that the baby's head was way far down so they didn't think I'd make it past a week. Surprise surprise.....I'm still preggers a week later! Today I will be back at the doctor at 9am and hopefully they'll check me again and tell me I've made progress. I am feeling so uncomfortable now so needless to say I'm just anxious for this birth to happen. My pelvic bone is completely sore from all of the pressure, my mucus plug has come out (gross I know), I can barely get off the couch, and I'm now getting up to pee sometimes 3 times a night! The good thing is that the lack of salt in my diet lately is helping to keep my feet from looking like HUGE water balloons. They are still big, but nothing like they were in the past.
So now I wait. Because of my lack of typing and computer time, I have been sequestered to my couch to watch old episodes of Sex and the City and really horrible romantic comedies. I keep telling myself that this will be the last chance until I retire later in life to just sit around and do nothing so I'm trying to take advantage of it instead of feeling lazy. I know I only have a few more days to try and enjoy my quiet time and although I'll miss is, I am SO INCREDIBLY excited to meet/see my little bun!
Our apartment is pretty much ready for the bun, The co-sleeper is set up next to our bed, his room is virtually ready as well except for buying a little rug and hanging pictures. We had the place deep cleaned yesterday, my wonderful friend Julie cleaned all of the vertical blinds for me AND brought us food for our freezer. My hospital bags (I know, I have more than one) are packed and in the car already, the car seat is installed, and I am all registered at the hospital. Only thing I have left to do is wash the dogs so they smell nice for the new babe!
Hopefully we will be texting, blogging, and emailing in the next few days with the news of our arrival. Does anyone know if this water weight goes away immediately when giving birth. GOD, I hope so!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Updates!
Today is Tuesday April 7th (my wonderful dad's birthday) and less than 4 weeks from my due date! I'm now seeing the doctor every week on Wednesdays and all updates have been just great. Last week, I submitted my birth plan to the doctor and she thought it looked good and was thorough. I created the birth plan from the website www.birthplan.com which provides a template where you can choose components of the plan and also add your own instructions.
I now own two pairs of compression "socks", the second pair being much heavier than the first at 20-30 mm. Last Wednesday my feet were so swollen that the doctor said I need to wear them every single day to keep the swelling down. Lee & I searched a bunch of pharmacies to find the right pair which we finally did at $80 a pop! I have to say though, it's the best $80 I've spent so far on this pregnancy. The socks really help keep the swelling down and my ankles from throbbing. I just have to wash them every single night, but it's worth it. The brand I bought are called Jobst and I've heard they're the best. You can't find them at a regular CVS type of pharmacy, you need to find a specialty/medical supply store.
Our apartment is coming together finally after much hard work and our little boy's room is starting to look like a comfortable place to be/sleep. He will be with us in our room in a co-sleeper for the first 3 months, but I'd like to get his room together before his arrival regardless. I will be rocking him in my little black leather rocking chair quite often I'm sure.
Lee has started to compile the items I need in my hospital bag, however some of the things, like my favorite hair brush can't be packed until last minute. We are also trying to figure out what we're going to bring to the nurses when we are admitted because we've been told by MANY people (one of them being a doctor) that this is a must so that you are "in" from the get-go. We happened upon a store this weekend that makes all different kinds of creme puffs and thought an assorted box of them might be something unique to bring as an offering. Any thoughts?
I now own two pairs of compression "socks", the second pair being much heavier than the first at 20-30 mm. Last Wednesday my feet were so swollen that the doctor said I need to wear them every single day to keep the swelling down. Lee & I searched a bunch of pharmacies to find the right pair which we finally did at $80 a pop! I have to say though, it's the best $80 I've spent so far on this pregnancy. The socks really help keep the swelling down and my ankles from throbbing. I just have to wash them every single night, but it's worth it. The brand I bought are called Jobst and I've heard they're the best. You can't find them at a regular CVS type of pharmacy, you need to find a specialty/medical supply store.
Our apartment is coming together finally after much hard work and our little boy's room is starting to look like a comfortable place to be/sleep. He will be with us in our room in a co-sleeper for the first 3 months, but I'd like to get his room together before his arrival regardless. I will be rocking him in my little black leather rocking chair quite often I'm sure.
Lee has started to compile the items I need in my hospital bag, however some of the things, like my favorite hair brush can't be packed until last minute. We are also trying to figure out what we're going to bring to the nurses when we are admitted because we've been told by MANY people (one of them being a doctor) that this is a must so that you are "in" from the get-go. We happened upon a store this weekend that makes all different kinds of creme puffs and thought an assorted box of them might be something unique to bring as an offering. Any thoughts?
Friday, April 3, 2009
ONE month from today...
Our little boy bun is due to come into the world. I have again been so absent from my blog, but all is well with me, I've just been super busy still. I'm planning to catch up and write more once I'm on maternity leave which starts in 1 week - wow!
A few weekends ago, I had the pleasure of getting together with Sweet Monday Photography (the women who shot my wedding) to do a maternity shoot and we had such a fun time. They just blogged a few pictures from the day, so check them out. They are the most fantastic photographers and I've learned so much from them! They always manage to make me look great even now when I'm feeling as big as a house!
http://sweetmondayphotography.squarespace.com/journal/2009/4/1/ellen-and-lee-are-having-a-baby.html
Today the people at work threw me a little party and gave me so very sweet gifts. I feel very blessed and know that my little son is coming into a world and family filled with a ton of love. Can't wait for him to get here!!
A few weekends ago, I had the pleasure of getting together with Sweet Monday Photography (the women who shot my wedding) to do a maternity shoot and we had such a fun time. They just blogged a few pictures from the day, so check them out. They are the most fantastic photographers and I've learned so much from them! They always manage to make me look great even now when I'm feeling as big as a house!
http://sweetmondayphotography.squarespace.com/journal/2009/4/1/ellen-and-lee-are-having-a-baby.html
Today the people at work threw me a little party and gave me so very sweet gifts. I feel very blessed and know that my little son is coming into a world and family filled with a ton of love. Can't wait for him to get here!!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Build it and they (he) will come.....
Lee built our crib a few weekends ago and now we're almost completely ready for our little man to come. After the shower on Saturday and receiving so many gifts, we're starting to organize the room and get things in shape. He also built the dresser/changer (which wasn't easy), but I don't have a picture to prove it :)
Monday, March 23, 2009
I'm back with better hips and new shoes!
It's been over a week since I've written, much to my dismay, but my life has been a bit chaotic these days. I am now in the countdown to maternity leave (2.5 weeks to go!) which means I've been SWAMPED at work trying to tie up all loose ends. Additionally and best of all, last Saturday was my baby shower and all of my beautiful sisters were here visiting me, including my 2 thirteen year old nieces!! Needless to say, we had such a fun weekend of bonding and being together. Don't think any of us wanted it to end :) The baby shower was everything I hoped it would be - a wonderful afternoon of great conversation and even better company. The atmosphere couldn't have been more beautiful, the food was delicious, and the gifts were so incredibly special. Here are a few pics of the day:
Not a great picture of me talking, but you can see the big belly!
In other news...I am the luckiest girl in the world to be married to a personal trainer! My hip/butt pain is almost gone thanks to Lee and the workout/stretching regimen that he designed for me. Every night I do about 4 exercises and 5 stretches and OMG, it's helped so so much. If any of you prego ladies out there get the same kind of pain, please contact me so I can have Lee walk you through the workout. It gives me instant relief every night.
Last week it became official that the only shoes I can fit my feet into are my sneakers and flip flops. My (again) wonderful husband decided to buy me new shoes for my birthday (so sweet) and picked out the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned. They are called PG Lite and are actually orthopedic shoes meant to give the utmost support possible, also contributing to my healing hip. Not sure what PG stands for, but we've been calling them Preggers Lite and I think every pregnant woman needs to have a pair! You can buy them anywhere, including AMAZON and they come in many colors. We picked out black patent leather for me and did I mention that they're a WHOLE size larger than I normally wear?:
My hands are still bothering me and I've found out that I actually have carpal tunnel now in both of them. From my research, I've learned that this is a common occurrence among pregnant women from the swelling and pressure on the nerves in the hands. I have been wearing hand braces at work and especially to bed which is when most of the pain occurs. This is an extremely annoying problem, but something I'm much more happy to deal with than hip/back/butt pain. Here is an article about pregnancy carpal tunnel:
Carpal Tunnel during pregnancy
Not a great picture of me talking, but you can see the big belly!
In other news...I am the luckiest girl in the world to be married to a personal trainer! My hip/butt pain is almost gone thanks to Lee and the workout/stretching regimen that he designed for me. Every night I do about 4 exercises and 5 stretches and OMG, it's helped so so much. If any of you prego ladies out there get the same kind of pain, please contact me so I can have Lee walk you through the workout. It gives me instant relief every night.
Last week it became official that the only shoes I can fit my feet into are my sneakers and flip flops. My (again) wonderful husband decided to buy me new shoes for my birthday (so sweet) and picked out the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned. They are called PG Lite and are actually orthopedic shoes meant to give the utmost support possible, also contributing to my healing hip. Not sure what PG stands for, but we've been calling them Preggers Lite and I think every pregnant woman needs to have a pair! You can buy them anywhere, including AMAZON and they come in many colors. We picked out black patent leather for me and did I mention that they're a WHOLE size larger than I normally wear?:
My hands are still bothering me and I've found out that I actually have carpal tunnel now in both of them. From my research, I've learned that this is a common occurrence among pregnant women from the swelling and pressure on the nerves in the hands. I have been wearing hand braces at work and especially to bed which is when most of the pain occurs. This is an extremely annoying problem, but something I'm much more happy to deal with than hip/back/butt pain. Here is an article about pregnancy carpal tunnel:
Carpal Tunnel during pregnancy
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Update and the cutest shoes ever!!
Today was my 2 week appointment and my little bun is growing just perfectly. His heart beat was at 156 which is on the high side, but only because he was VERY active this morning before our appointment. I am gaining just enough weight and the doc said that if I continue to grow at the rate in which I have been, we should have a 7 lb. baby. Lee didn't come to the appointment and when I called to tell him this, he told me to eat more protein, haha!! I guess he wants a big baby, but I need to remind him that I'm a small person and need to actually birth the baby :) I am not opposed to a C-section for medical reasons or if our boy is too big, but 7 lbs is just fine by me!
Unfortunately there is nothing that my doctor can do about the pain in my backside, but I pretty much knew that going in. She suggested a pregnancy chiropractor or massage therapist which I may try. For my hand problem, she suggested wrapping them in ace bandages before bed. For some reason I did not ask why I should do this, but I trust the doc so I'll try it out. Probably the same idea as the compression hose. I will continue with my 2 week appointments until April when I start going in once a week so they can check on me! Whew....time is flying by!!
On to my find of the day....the cutest baby shoes ever! Not only are these the cutest shoes, but they are fair trade which means that they are ecologically friendly and they provide decent wages and living conditions to their workers - no child labor either. A pair of baby shoes will run close to 35 bucks, but it's a 35 that we can feel good about spending to support fair trade. The website for the company is www.veja.fr. I think they even have adult shoes!
Here is a pic of the grey baby shoes (my favorite)!
Unfortunately there is nothing that my doctor can do about the pain in my backside, but I pretty much knew that going in. She suggested a pregnancy chiropractor or massage therapist which I may try. For my hand problem, she suggested wrapping them in ace bandages before bed. For some reason I did not ask why I should do this, but I trust the doc so I'll try it out. Probably the same idea as the compression hose. I will continue with my 2 week appointments until April when I start going in once a week so they can check on me! Whew....time is flying by!!
On to my find of the day....the cutest baby shoes ever! Not only are these the cutest shoes, but they are fair trade which means that they are ecologically friendly and they provide decent wages and living conditions to their workers - no child labor either. A pair of baby shoes will run close to 35 bucks, but it's a 35 that we can feel good about spending to support fair trade. The website for the company is www.veja.fr. I think they even have adult shoes!
Here is a pic of the grey baby shoes (my favorite)!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Pain in my a**....literally
So it's week 33 now and all of a sudden I am plagued with serious lower back/upper butt pain and it's BAD. I am not sure if it's sciatica, but it feels exactly like the description of what sciatica is. My feet and ankles are still swelling alot through the day and now I have this horrible pain that is making it hard to even walk! The only thing so far that seems to ease the pain is ice for 20 min and heat for 20 min a few times throughout the day. Not to be a complainer, but how am I going to get through 7 more weeks of not being able to walk without pain? YIKES! I have our normal 2 week appointment with the doc tomorrow and will see if there's anything I can do to feel better. Someone today suggested a back brace to me and another person suggested compression hose. Check out a pic of the hose...pretty funny, but I'd gladly wear them EVERY day if it helped me feel better.
Besides the back pain, I'm feeling good otherwise. My energy level is great, my spirits are high (I'm super excited for the impending birth) and I am not feeling too nervous about anything. Sleeping IS a bit difficult lately because my right hand keeps falling asleep while I'm asleep, but that is a small obstacle compared to the a** pain :)
For something fun, I learned a few new things about my little bun today from my favorite online pregnancy source (whattoexpect.com). Here is a quote from an email that I received this morning.
"If your uterine walls had eyes, here's what you'd see: your fetus acting more and more like a baby, with his or her eyes closing during sleep and opening while awake. And because those uterine walls are becoming thinner, more light penetrates the womb, helping your baby differentiate between day and night (now if only baby can remember that difference on the outside!).
And good news! Your baby has reached an important milestone about now: The development of his or her own immune system that (along with antibodies from you) will be able to provide protection from mild infections."
Oh how I wish my uterine walls had eyes, or a camera. Now that he's getting bigger, my little bun is moving around so much that I can see his little limbs making waves through my belly. Last night I was laying on the couch with ice on my back wishing that my video camera wasn't so far away (on the other side of the room) so that I could record all of the crazy moves my belly was making. Maybe I'll catch it tonight when he's doing his exercises!
Besides the back pain, I'm feeling good otherwise. My energy level is great, my spirits are high (I'm super excited for the impending birth) and I am not feeling too nervous about anything. Sleeping IS a bit difficult lately because my right hand keeps falling asleep while I'm asleep, but that is a small obstacle compared to the a** pain :)
For something fun, I learned a few new things about my little bun today from my favorite online pregnancy source (whattoexpect.com). Here is a quote from an email that I received this morning.
"If your uterine walls had eyes, here's what you'd see: your fetus acting more and more like a baby, with his or her eyes closing during sleep and opening while awake. And because those uterine walls are becoming thinner, more light penetrates the womb, helping your baby differentiate between day and night (now if only baby can remember that difference on the outside!).
And good news! Your baby has reached an important milestone about now: The development of his or her own immune system that (along with antibodies from you) will be able to provide protection from mild infections."
Oh how I wish my uterine walls had eyes, or a camera. Now that he's getting bigger, my little bun is moving around so much that I can see his little limbs making waves through my belly. Last night I was laying on the couch with ice on my back wishing that my video camera wasn't so far away (on the other side of the room) so that I could record all of the crazy moves my belly was making. Maybe I'll catch it tonight when he's doing his exercises!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
I love Leggings!!
Now that my belly is growing larger and I'm feeling more uncomfortable in clothes, I have been living in LEGGINGS. Up until yesterday most of my leggings were from Express and they're not maternity which made getting them on a bit challenging. Lee's cousin Joanna was sweet enough to let me borrow some maternity clothes from her this week, complete with three pairs of maternity leggings!! They are so incredibly comfortable and I'm completely in love with them so I felt the need to share. The brand is called See you Monday , but I've had a hard time finding a real internet presence for them. If you're interested, here is a link to purchase some, but they're not maternity. http://www.barefeetshoes.com/list.htm?cid=54 I will have to ask Joanna where she got them. Honestly, they're the most comfortable leggings I've ever worn!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Two months to go!!
Two months from today is our due date - woo hoo! As much as I love being pregnant, it's already starting to get a bit difficult for me at 7 months so I'm ready for these last 2 months to fly by. Maybe it's the simple fact that I'm short and so the extra weight is really hard on my body, who knows...maybe I'm just a little weakling ;) I have a constant ache in my hip area, my sides are sore all the time, and my feet get swollen and throb on a daily basis! My wedding rings officially don't fit my fingers anymore, unless I wear them on my pinkie, but I tried that and it doesn't look so good.
We had a doctor's appointment last Wednesday and the doc told me to lay on my left side as often as possible to promote better circulation. She said that the weight of the baby is pushing on major arteries which make circulation a bit more difficult. Laying on the left side (side of the heart) alleviates the pressure and lets blood flow more easily. She suggested walking around after about 20 minutes of laying down so that the water will absorb back into the body. This has proven more difficult for me than the laying down part of this exercise :)
If you're preggers and you are experiencing swelling, definitely call your doctor and just make sure that your blood pressure is checked. Major swelling (like gaining 12 lbs in a week) and aches all over your body can be a sign of pre-eclampsia which is hypertension in pregnant women and can be a danger. Not that it's common, but we should all be cautious and safe.
Here are pics at 7 months!
We had a doctor's appointment last Wednesday and the doc told me to lay on my left side as often as possible to promote better circulation. She said that the weight of the baby is pushing on major arteries which make circulation a bit more difficult. Laying on the left side (side of the heart) alleviates the pressure and lets blood flow more easily. She suggested walking around after about 20 minutes of laying down so that the water will absorb back into the body. This has proven more difficult for me than the laying down part of this exercise :)
If you're preggers and you are experiencing swelling, definitely call your doctor and just make sure that your blood pressure is checked. Major swelling (like gaining 12 lbs in a week) and aches all over your body can be a sign of pre-eclampsia which is hypertension in pregnant women and can be a danger. Not that it's common, but we should all be cautious and safe.
Here are pics at 7 months!
Monday, March 2, 2009
First baby picture!
We've gotten many ultrasound pictures during the past few weeks and finally figured out how to scan one so that a little something can be seen. SO....here is our son at 31 weeks! The picture is a side profile of his head and to help navigate, the dark oval in the middle of the image is his eye socket. If you move to the left a bit, you can see a tiny outline of his nose, but it's not easy to pick up from the scanned pic. Everything below his head is just fluid and other stuff which I won't be specific about :) I know he looks like a little alien in there, but we think he's pretty adorable already!
P.S. I now know why women in their third trimester walk so funny. It's not just because they're carrying the extra weight of baby, it's because they have to pee EVERY minute of the day!!!
P.S. I now know why women in their third trimester walk so funny. It's not just because they're carrying the extra weight of baby, it's because they have to pee EVERY minute of the day!!!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Yummi Bears and Pose Prints
Taking vitamins has not come incredibly easy to me during these last few months. The first three were the hardest because I felt SO sick all the time and could barely stomach taking a pill, but managed to shove enough of them down that I think I did ok. Now that I'm in the third trimester, I take my prenatal every night, but have still had a hard time with one kind of vitamin/supplement in particular - Omegas! I've always know the importance of taking Omegas/Fatty Acids and felt that it was really important to take some while preggers to help with my little bun's brain development. The problem with most of the Omegas is that they come from fish oil and no matter what a company does to them, they taste like FISH. Lee doesn't seem to have a problem with the Omegas coming back to haunt him throughout the day, but I always have. This of course proved to be a HUGE problem during my 1st trimester, but I found a solution.....YUMMI BEARS! They are gummy bears made specifically for children in order to help them better take their vitamins, but I've found them to be super tasty for me too and a way to get in good Omegas without tasting any kind of fish. The YUMMI BEARS Omega 3,6,9 are derived from vegetarian omega sources...interesting. I buy them at Whole Foods, but I think Trader Joes now has a gummy Omega supplement as well, so check them out. When browsing the site online today for YUMMI BEARS, I noticed that they do have a gummy product for adults but I haven't seen them sold anywhere yet. Check out the link:
http://www.heronutritionals.com/
With my shower coming up in March, I've been searching online for cute shower thank you notes, came across the site Pose Prints , and fell in love. I haven't indulged too much in this pregnancy...well, at least not on buying things for myself or the bun. Food indulgence is a whole other subject ;) Since I've been a good girl and not gone overboard on my spending thus far, I'm considering going overboard on these thank you notes because they are too cute. Pose Prints offers invitations, baby announcements, etc. that you can personalize with a virtual person that you create to look just like you (or close) which is printed on the card. Check out the card that I designed below. Does it look like me? The cards aren't cheap, but something so different and clever that I pretty much can't resist!
http://www.heronutritionals.com/
With my shower coming up in March, I've been searching online for cute shower thank you notes, came across the site Pose Prints , and fell in love. I haven't indulged too much in this pregnancy...well, at least not on buying things for myself or the bun. Food indulgence is a whole other subject ;) Since I've been a good girl and not gone overboard on my spending thus far, I'm considering going overboard on these thank you notes because they are too cute. Pose Prints offers invitations, baby announcements, etc. that you can personalize with a virtual person that you create to look just like you (or close) which is printed on the card. Check out the card that I designed below. Does it look like me? The cards aren't cheap, but something so different and clever that I pretty much can't resist!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Happy Birthday to a very special lady
Today I want to wish a very happy birthday to my Mom, Barbara!! I have always had a deep appreciation for my mom, but now that I'm becoming a mommy myself, my respect and admiration for her has grown even deeper. As I move into this journey of motherhood, I am pretty convinced that the phone calls to my mom will increase, her advice will become invaluable, and her reassurance and guidance, comforting. I am looking forward to the extended bond that we create because of the simple fact that we will both be moms (in just 9 weeks!!). Mom, I can't wait until we are both together holding my little man....it's going to be an amazing experience for both of us. He is lucky to have such a wonderful grandma and family to be born in to!
Below is something I read this morning that I felt was very appropriate for today:
IMAGES OF A MOTHER:
4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.
14 YEARS OF AGE - Mom doesn't know that, either.
16 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother? She's clueless.
18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman?!
25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!
35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom thinks about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,
the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes,
because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!
Happy Birthday Mom! I love you.
Below is something I read this morning that I felt was very appropriate for today:
IMAGES OF A MOTHER:
4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.
14 YEARS OF AGE - Mom doesn't know that, either.
16 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother? She's clueless.
18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman?!
25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!
35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom thinks about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,
the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes,
because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!
Happy Birthday Mom! I love you.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
belly button
I forgot to mention in the last post....my belly button popped out last week so now I have an outie!!
Sick and Pregnant!
Being sick and pregnant is the pits and I've been experiencing 2 long weeks of trying to get over being ill which is why I've been MIA from this blog for so long. It all started with a little cough about 2 weeks ago that turned into a fever, body aches, and a HORRIBLE cough that I still can't get rid of! The worst of it took about a week to completely go away, and then I pulled a muscle or maybe even ripped a muscle on my side from coughing so much. Talk about painful! Last Friday evening I couldn't even move from the couch and could barely walk without serious pain. It took all of this past weekend to get myself really feeling better AND I had 3 photo shoots to do. I managed to ice and heat my side enough that it really helped the muscle to get better. Today I'm feeling SO much better even though there is still a lingering cough that I'm battling.
Not that much has happened in the last 2 weeks since I've spent most of it in bed or on the couch. I did go to the doctor for my bi-weekly appointment when I first got sick and I go again tomorrow. I checked out very well at our last appointment, except for the fact that I'm gaining water weight like CRAZY! I gained 7 lbs in 2 weeks which made the doctor advise me to stay away from salt....NO! So since 2 Wednesdays ago, I have stayed away from my beloved pickles and olives and really tried to watch my sodium intake. The funny thing is, even with being so careful, I have NEVER been so bloated! My face is puffy and my feet are busting out of my shoes. In fact, some of my shoes don't even fit anymore. How can this be? I guess I'm just one of those people who holds the water and doesn't want to let it go. Consequently, I will be spending much of my time on the couch with my feet up for the next few weeks :) It's the only thing that makes them feel better.
The only other point of interest from my last visit is that my iron is a bit low. The doctor is encouraging me to get iron from broccoli, spinach, and red meat instead of taking a pill which is fine with me, except that she wants me to eat red meat every other day, wow! I have obliged thus far, but this is coming from a girl who's only red meat intake before pregnancy was 2 hamburgers a year. For the last 2 weeks, I've eaten more red meat than I have the last 5 years :) All for the sake of the bun!!
Speaking of the bun, he is growing so much which is obviously making my belly grow very LARGE. I need to post a new picture which I will do sometime this week. He is moving around all the time and sometimes his movements hurt a bit. Often, I can feel what I think is an arm or leg move across my belly which is amazing. Also, parts of my belly stick out at times and are harder than other parts which I assume is his head, butt or foot sticking out. Guess it could be a shoulder too! It's all very incredible and so far my most favorite thing about being pregnant. The more he jabs me and I can see my belly move around, the easier it is to deal with swollen feet, back aches, and sickness :)
More tomorrow....
Not that much has happened in the last 2 weeks since I've spent most of it in bed or on the couch. I did go to the doctor for my bi-weekly appointment when I first got sick and I go again tomorrow. I checked out very well at our last appointment, except for the fact that I'm gaining water weight like CRAZY! I gained 7 lbs in 2 weeks which made the doctor advise me to stay away from salt....NO! So since 2 Wednesdays ago, I have stayed away from my beloved pickles and olives and really tried to watch my sodium intake. The funny thing is, even with being so careful, I have NEVER been so bloated! My face is puffy and my feet are busting out of my shoes. In fact, some of my shoes don't even fit anymore. How can this be? I guess I'm just one of those people who holds the water and doesn't want to let it go. Consequently, I will be spending much of my time on the couch with my feet up for the next few weeks :) It's the only thing that makes them feel better.
The only other point of interest from my last visit is that my iron is a bit low. The doctor is encouraging me to get iron from broccoli, spinach, and red meat instead of taking a pill which is fine with me, except that she wants me to eat red meat every other day, wow! I have obliged thus far, but this is coming from a girl who's only red meat intake before pregnancy was 2 hamburgers a year. For the last 2 weeks, I've eaten more red meat than I have the last 5 years :) All for the sake of the bun!!
Speaking of the bun, he is growing so much which is obviously making my belly grow very LARGE. I need to post a new picture which I will do sometime this week. He is moving around all the time and sometimes his movements hurt a bit. Often, I can feel what I think is an arm or leg move across my belly which is amazing. Also, parts of my belly stick out at times and are harder than other parts which I assume is his head, butt or foot sticking out. Guess it could be a shoulder too! It's all very incredible and so far my most favorite thing about being pregnant. The more he jabs me and I can see my belly move around, the easier it is to deal with swollen feet, back aches, and sickness :)
More tomorrow....
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Mercury in High Fructose Corn Syrup
This post is intended to make everyone read and think before they eat, but especially my pregnant girlfriends. I was recently alerted to an article from www.healthday.com about levels of mercury found in high fructose corn syrup and foods that contain it. For anyone who has done or is doing research on vaccinations will know that claims of mercury being the cause of the high rate of Autism/ADD in our country is highly accepted as fact and also very plausible. So as we think about our future and make decisions about raising our children, I think it's important to consider simple things like what you're going to feed your kids. More immediately though, we should be thinking about our nutrition while we're growing our little ones inside of us. Our doctors tell us to stay away from certain types of fish because of mercury levels, but now we have something else to consider. We don't want to pass anything unhealthy to those little buns. So my advice ladies is to READ READ READ the labels of everything that you eat and drink while you're preggers, while you're breastfeeding, and when you start to feed your little bun big people food. There are already too many obstacles in life to overcome. We can reduce the risk of learning disabilities. Here is a link to the article:
http://healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=623456
http://healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=623456
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
3 months from today.....
My little boy is due to be born...today I'm officially 6 months pregnant, wow! I wanted to have a picture to post to go along with today's blog, but Lee has been so busy and we've barely been together long enough the last few days for him to take my picture. Maybe tonight.
All of my reading says that our baby boy bun is about 2 1/2 pounds now and could be up to 11 inches long. Well, I'll tell you that I've definitely started to feel a difference in the way that he moves. Instead of feeling little kicks and flickers of something in my belly, the movements are much bigger (stronger) and more intense. At times, parts of my belly actually feel harder than others and I can only imagine it's because our boy's head or butt is right up against me - wild! I can't wait until I start seeing the outline of feet and hands. Does that really happen?
In other news, I am running to the bathroom SO much these days and told Lee last night that I think if I wanted to, I could literally go every 1/2 hour.
Sleeping is getting a little more uncomfortable because I'm getting SO hot in the middle of the night that I can't stand it. Also, according to Lee, I now snore - ah! I have never snored before in my life (that I know of) and I KNOW that since living with him I haven't been a snorer. I've heard that this is a normal occurrence with pregnancy and find it very funny. I do admit that I have woken myself up a few times lately because of the snoring :)
Walking is going quite well - I've been following the Doctor's orders and walking at least 20 minutes a day except for Sunday when I did yoga and figured it replaced my walking for the day. It's actually felt really good to be active again and I highly recommend it to all preggo women.
So that's it for the first day of my 6th month of pregnancy. Wow, how time flies! Imagining holding our little boy in 3 months is so exciting and overwhelming all at the same time...I can't WAIT!
All of my reading says that our baby boy bun is about 2 1/2 pounds now and could be up to 11 inches long. Well, I'll tell you that I've definitely started to feel a difference in the way that he moves. Instead of feeling little kicks and flickers of something in my belly, the movements are much bigger (stronger) and more intense. At times, parts of my belly actually feel harder than others and I can only imagine it's because our boy's head or butt is right up against me - wild! I can't wait until I start seeing the outline of feet and hands. Does that really happen?
In other news, I am running to the bathroom SO much these days and told Lee last night that I think if I wanted to, I could literally go every 1/2 hour.
Sleeping is getting a little more uncomfortable because I'm getting SO hot in the middle of the night that I can't stand it. Also, according to Lee, I now snore - ah! I have never snored before in my life (that I know of) and I KNOW that since living with him I haven't been a snorer. I've heard that this is a normal occurrence with pregnancy and find it very funny. I do admit that I have woken myself up a few times lately because of the snoring :)
Walking is going quite well - I've been following the Doctor's orders and walking at least 20 minutes a day except for Sunday when I did yoga and figured it replaced my walking for the day. It's actually felt really good to be active again and I highly recommend it to all preggo women.
So that's it for the first day of my 6th month of pregnancy. Wow, how time flies! Imagining holding our little boy in 3 months is so exciting and overwhelming all at the same time...I can't WAIT!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
A MUST read for moms
I was just forwarded and email with this attached from my friend Julie and think it's so cute!
***Mommy Lessons***
By Elizabeth Davies
Chatting with an elderly woman in the supermarket check-out, I joked that I just might drive around for an hour on the way home in order to keep my snoozing newborn asleep. She laughed, adding, “Not with the price of gas, you won’t!” What that woman didn’t realize was that, to the exhausted mother of a newborn, a sleeping baby is priceless. $4 a gallon for gas? Fill me up. Heck, go ahead and triple the price. It’s worth it to hear that glorious sound of snoring in the back seat. Three months into this roller-coaster ride of motherhood, I’ve learned more than I ever did in four years at college. I feel as if I’ve earned a bachelor’s degree in parenting, and yet something tells me that, years from now, there still will be more to learn.
I’ve read entire books, scoured magazine articles and searched the web for answers. Some weeks, it’s about feeding. Other weeks, it’s sleep training. And yet, with all that information, there were some things I simply had to learn on my own.
Here are some of the lessons parenthood has to offer:
* The human bladder can hold out much longer than you ever imagined.
* Daily showers are overrated.
* Playing endless rounds of Pat-A-Cake can be more fun than a raging
party on a Saturday night, so long as you have the right little
person to play it with.
* A jumbo pack of Pampers has 88 diapers. That only sounds like a lot.
* People say dumb things. They ask when the baby is due, long after you’ve
given birth. They say, “What a sweet little girl” to a child decked out in navy
blue race cars and footballs.
* You can survive without steady amounts of food and sleep for
lengthy periods of time. You aren’t pleasant to be around, but
it’s do-able.
* A seven-pound person without the ability to speak, walk or form
complete thoughts is somehow able to undo even the best-laid plans.
* A numb arm and cramped neck are a small price to pay for a baby
who isn’t crying.
* Your spouse is a far more extraordinary person than you realized
on your wedding day.
* If ever you said, “I would never do that,” you will be forced to
eat your words. Thought you wouldn’t let your child cry in the grocery store? Once
you’ve spent 30 minutes changing, dressing and loading your child
into the car, then driving 15 minutes to the store and
simultaneously spending 40 minutes shaking a rattle with one hand
while picking out produce with the other, you’re not about to go
home empty-handed.
* Time speeds up once you have a child. Somehow, 24 hours passes in
a flash – even if you’ve spent most of it awake.
* The external stuff just doesn’t matter, so long as you’re making
memories with the people you love.
It’s entirely likely that, long after I’m gone, my son will remember me as a woman who had spit-up on her shoulder, wrinkles in her clothes and a layer of dust on her furniture. I’m okay with that.
***Mommy Lessons***
By Elizabeth Davies
Chatting with an elderly woman in the supermarket check-out, I joked that I just might drive around for an hour on the way home in order to keep my snoozing newborn asleep. She laughed, adding, “Not with the price of gas, you won’t!” What that woman didn’t realize was that, to the exhausted mother of a newborn, a sleeping baby is priceless. $4 a gallon for gas? Fill me up. Heck, go ahead and triple the price. It’s worth it to hear that glorious sound of snoring in the back seat. Three months into this roller-coaster ride of motherhood, I’ve learned more than I ever did in four years at college. I feel as if I’ve earned a bachelor’s degree in parenting, and yet something tells me that, years from now, there still will be more to learn.
I’ve read entire books, scoured magazine articles and searched the web for answers. Some weeks, it’s about feeding. Other weeks, it’s sleep training. And yet, with all that information, there were some things I simply had to learn on my own.
Here are some of the lessons parenthood has to offer:
* The human bladder can hold out much longer than you ever imagined.
* Daily showers are overrated.
* Playing endless rounds of Pat-A-Cake can be more fun than a raging
party on a Saturday night, so long as you have the right little
person to play it with.
* A jumbo pack of Pampers has 88 diapers. That only sounds like a lot.
* People say dumb things. They ask when the baby is due, long after you’ve
given birth. They say, “What a sweet little girl” to a child decked out in navy
blue race cars and footballs.
* You can survive without steady amounts of food and sleep for
lengthy periods of time. You aren’t pleasant to be around, but
it’s do-able.
* A seven-pound person without the ability to speak, walk or form
complete thoughts is somehow able to undo even the best-laid plans.
* A numb arm and cramped neck are a small price to pay for a baby
who isn’t crying.
* Your spouse is a far more extraordinary person than you realized
on your wedding day.
* If ever you said, “I would never do that,” you will be forced to
eat your words. Thought you wouldn’t let your child cry in the grocery store? Once
you’ve spent 30 minutes changing, dressing and loading your child
into the car, then driving 15 minutes to the store and
simultaneously spending 40 minutes shaking a rattle with one hand
while picking out produce with the other, you’re not about to go
home empty-handed.
* Time speeds up once you have a child. Somehow, 24 hours passes in
a flash – even if you’ve spent most of it awake.
* The external stuff just doesn’t matter, so long as you’re making
memories with the people you love.
It’s entirely likely that, long after I’m gone, my son will remember me as a woman who had spit-up on her shoulder, wrinkles in her clothes and a layer of dust on her furniture. I’m okay with that.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
I must walk!
That's what I was told by my doctor today at our monthly appointment. She said that I need to start walking 20 minutes every day in order to increase my stamina for birth - AH! In order to get me moving, she referenced a delivery that she had last week where the woman was so out of shape that she couldn't push and they had to use a vacuum to get the baby out! Of course that did it for me, so I will be lacing up my running shoes tonight and taking Rocky on a very long 20 minute walk, even if I have to carry him most of the way :) She told me that prenatal yoga is great, but that I must get in the cardio in order to have a successful birth. Not that I'm opposed to exercise at all (my husband IS a trainer), but it's been a while since I've really hit the pavement and it's been cold in LA these days. Never thought I'd have to buy maternity work-out clothes, but I guess that's my next purchase.
Other info from the doctor today:
I've gained 20 lbs so far which feels about right. Not sure where the other weight is going to go that I know I'll gain in the next 3 months. Hopefully it will all be in my belly!
Our little boy looks great and healthy. When we saw him today, he was all curled up with his hands hugging his chest and his knees folded in. It's getting tighter in there for him!
An hour before the appointment this morning I had to drink this orange liquid called glucola for my glucose tolerance test - it tasted like REALLY sweet gatorade. Once I arrived at the office, the nurse took blood and I'll receive the results in a few days. I'm pretty certain that everything is ok on that front...no gestational diabetes for me!
The only unfortunate occurrence today is that we learned that we missed the boat on having our structural ultrasound done. A structural ultrasound is an in depth ultrasound to look at all of the organs of the baby, make sure they're developed, sound, and seem to be working properly. After 24 weeks of pregnancy, the baby is almost too big for the doctor to see enough in the ultrasound, and we're at 27. I didn't realize there was a cut-off and took my time making the appointment. We're bummed that we won't get a better look at what's going on with our boy, but we're also confident that he's healthy and very well put together :) For any of you pregnant ladies, if your doctor doesn't bring up the structural ultrasound around week 18, make sure you ask about it.
Other info from the doctor today:
I've gained 20 lbs so far which feels about right. Not sure where the other weight is going to go that I know I'll gain in the next 3 months. Hopefully it will all be in my belly!
Our little boy looks great and healthy. When we saw him today, he was all curled up with his hands hugging his chest and his knees folded in. It's getting tighter in there for him!
An hour before the appointment this morning I had to drink this orange liquid called glucola for my glucose tolerance test - it tasted like REALLY sweet gatorade. Once I arrived at the office, the nurse took blood and I'll receive the results in a few days. I'm pretty certain that everything is ok on that front...no gestational diabetes for me!
The only unfortunate occurrence today is that we learned that we missed the boat on having our structural ultrasound done. A structural ultrasound is an in depth ultrasound to look at all of the organs of the baby, make sure they're developed, sound, and seem to be working properly. After 24 weeks of pregnancy, the baby is almost too big for the doctor to see enough in the ultrasound, and we're at 27. I didn't realize there was a cut-off and took my time making the appointment. We're bummed that we won't get a better look at what's going on with our boy, but we're also confident that he's healthy and very well put together :) For any of you pregnant ladies, if your doctor doesn't bring up the structural ultrasound around week 18, make sure you ask about it.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
How to make your baby wiggle!
As I'm sure most first time pregnant women and moms are, I'm extremely paranoid. Maybe I'm more paranoid than others, but since this is all so new to me, sometimes I get a little freaked out and panicked. Today is a good example. Ever since my little boy bun started to move and kick, he's been extremely active, even having a bit of a schedule to his activity. Last night and this morning (two normally active times), I couldn't really feel him move. I have read in some of my pregnancy books that when you start your third trimester, you should be more aware of the baby's movement and if they don't move for a few hours, call your doctor. WELL - After being at work for two hours sitting at my desk and not feeling anything, I got scared and called. They told me to drink something cold like ice water or very cold juice and to sit (preferably lay) down and wait for an hour. If I didn't feel any movement, I was to call back and go to the office immediately. Well, I got a big glass of ice water, drank it and sort of laid back on the chair in my office w/ my feet up on another one and in no more than 5 minutes, my little boy was moving around and kicking me again....Phew! Ever since then, he's been back to his normal antics -moving, punching, and kicking. Maybe I'm getting more used to feeling him move that I'm not noticing it as much, who knows. The morals of this story are that you should ALWAYS call your doctor if you're the least bit concerned about anything AND if you ever want to make your baby move around, down a big glass of ice water!! Guess babies in utero get cold too ;)
My friend Melissa just told me about these great bars for pregnant women and new moms called Belly Bars. She said that she ordered them online by the case and loved to eat them. I plan to order some too! It looks like they are also sold at some Whole Foods and Targets, among a few other stores. Wish I would have known about these when I was so sick that all I could eat was pasta, crackers, and had the hardest time taking my prenatal vitamin. Check them out!!
My friend Melissa just told me about these great bars for pregnant women and new moms called Belly Bars. She said that she ordered them online by the case and loved to eat them. I plan to order some too! It looks like they are also sold at some Whole Foods and Targets, among a few other stores. Wish I would have known about these when I was so sick that all I could eat was pasta, crackers, and had the hardest time taking my prenatal vitamin. Check them out!!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
27 weeks - 2/3 down, only 1/3 to go!
Today marks my 27th week and I'm pretty sure that means the start of the third trimester - woo hoo! In honor of the being 2/3 of the way done with my pregnancy, here are 2 pictures of me this weekend!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Toy of the Year
This toy was featured on www.coolmompicks.com this week and I decided that it was too good to not share here as well. Not only is it a cute toy, but a commemorative keepsake as well. My son, being born in the same year as Obama's inauguration as our 44th president, will have one of these wooden planes on the shelf in his room. Maybe one day he'll even get to play with it, or not - I haven't decided yet. You can purchase Obama's Air Force One at http://www.craftsburykids.com/.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Fun Facts!
-The bigger your belly gets, the SMALLER your boobs look....just saying.
-The word "pregnant" comes from the Latin pre- meaning before + (g)natus meaning birth = before (giving) birth. The word "prenatal" has exactly the same origin.
-My belly button has almost popped out all the way. Does that mean I'm almost done??? :)
-There was just an earthquake here in LA about 3 hours ago and I didn't feel a thing, can you believe that?
-The word "pregnant" comes from the Latin pre- meaning before + (g)natus meaning birth = before (giving) birth. The word "prenatal" has exactly the same origin.
-My belly button has almost popped out all the way. Does that mean I'm almost done??? :)
-There was just an earthquake here in LA about 3 hours ago and I didn't feel a thing, can you believe that?
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
What to expect?
There are so many strange things that "happen" during pregnancy like weird physical changes, odd feelings that arise, raging hormones, and a host of other unknowns that can cause anxiety and stress. We try hard as women to just accept them, but just because we are pregnant doesn't mean that coping with these changes comes naturally or isn't scary. I get an email every single day from www.whattoexpect.com and they've been lifesavers for me. I will go through something bothersome or questionable(like my nightmares) and sure enough within a few days, I'll get an email addressing the exact issue I'm having. Everything from what happens to your body, to how your baby is growing, and how to deal with change. It is the one single information tool that has been the most helpful to me in the last 5 1/2 months so I highly recommend that all of my pregnant friends sign up! You just put in your due date and they send you emails that correspond to the week you're in. There is even an email every week for dad that you can forward to him. The site isn't very user friendly and I'm not sure what other info they have posted on it, but the emails are amazing! Check it out! www.whattoexpect.com
Today I'm wearing one of those maternity shirts that has no form to it WHAT SO EVER and it makes me look ginormous from the side. I keep looking at myself in the mirror with disbelief, but I know that it's me and my belly under this shirt - AH! I wonder how it would look if I tried to belt the bottom so you could actually see some sort of separation between my legs and belly...probably awful. This is what I need to get used to :)
Today I'm wearing one of those maternity shirts that has no form to it WHAT SO EVER and it makes me look ginormous from the side. I keep looking at myself in the mirror with disbelief, but I know that it's me and my belly under this shirt - AH! I wonder how it would look if I tried to belt the bottom so you could actually see some sort of separation between my legs and belly...probably awful. This is what I need to get used to :)
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
26th week update!
Today is a sweet moment in American history and I can't start this blog post without commenting on the fact that we have a new President who couldn't be more inspiring to our country as a collective and as individuals. I watched Barack Obama's inagural speech this morning and couldn't help but be consumed with the prospect of a greater time for this country in the next few years to come. My baby will be born in the same year that President Obama was sworn into office and I can't wait to tell him the story of "where I was" when it happened and how it made me feel. GOBAMA!!
So this is week 26 of pregnancy for me and I feel HUGE! I know I have 3 more months(at least) of growing which makes me wonder if at some point I'm going to just topple over! Imaging my belly twice the size it is now is virtually impossible, but I know that eventually it will come to be. I am just waiting.
Here are a few updates of what's been going on in the last week:
-Baby boy is kicking and moving SOOO much which is fun and sometimes shocking especially last night when my belly was vibrating!
-I tried to put on a shirt over the weekend that was not maternity and I snapped a button off of the chest area. That's when I decided that now is the time to retire my non maternity clothes until after the birth. Lee is afraid I'll need a whole new wardrobe from stretching out and ruining my old clothes :)
-We decided NOT to do private cord blood banking after doing some investigative reading and getting more facts. We will donate our cord blood to a public bank and hopefully help to save a child in need. If anyone out there wants to know exactly why we chose not to private bank, please email me to discuss.
-I have finally made an oh so important decision about the bedding for the baby's room. I am getting a crib skirt made in the colors black, white, and red at the store La Bella Cosa that I posted about last week and just registering for various sheets that I like. We will not be using a bumper in his crib until the day when he is able to stick his limbs through the slats and then we will buy a mesh bumper like this one http://www.breathablebaby.com/. It has taken me alot of researching and thinking to come to this conclusion so this is a GOOD thing to check off my list!
-On Saturday morning Lee & I toured St. John's hospital in Santa Monica where we plan to deliver our little bun. The tour was very informative and made me a tiny bit nervous, especially when we were in a birthing room and the tour guide was talking about squatting bars - yikes!! Speaking of the rooms though, they are INCREDIBLE...hard wood floors, huge, built in dad bed, and a big plasma TV on the wall. Maybe I should have a C-section just so I can stay in those digs for 4 nights instead of 2!! If my belly gets too much bigger, I might be heading down that road anyway. All in all though, the tour was great and it was pretty neat to be in a room with so many pregnant women.
-Went to my second pre-natal yoga class on Sunday and again it was awesome. Any of my pregnant friends on the westside of LA should join me - Sunday mornings at 11:15 AM, Santa Monica yoga. I also plan to do more exercising during the week now that I'm getting bigger.
-My books tell me that this week the little bun is opening his eyes, that he weighs about 2 pounds, and is roughly 9 inches long. I am just 1 week shy of starting my third trimester and cannot wait to enjoy it. Sleeping comfortably is getting more and more difficult, but I now use 5 pillows all over my body for support and it's going quite well.
More tomorrow of "what to expect".....
So this is week 26 of pregnancy for me and I feel HUGE! I know I have 3 more months(at least) of growing which makes me wonder if at some point I'm going to just topple over! Imaging my belly twice the size it is now is virtually impossible, but I know that eventually it will come to be. I am just waiting.
Here are a few updates of what's been going on in the last week:
-Baby boy is kicking and moving SOOO much which is fun and sometimes shocking especially last night when my belly was vibrating!
-I tried to put on a shirt over the weekend that was not maternity and I snapped a button off of the chest area. That's when I decided that now is the time to retire my non maternity clothes until after the birth. Lee is afraid I'll need a whole new wardrobe from stretching out and ruining my old clothes :)
-We decided NOT to do private cord blood banking after doing some investigative reading and getting more facts. We will donate our cord blood to a public bank and hopefully help to save a child in need. If anyone out there wants to know exactly why we chose not to private bank, please email me to discuss.
-I have finally made an oh so important decision about the bedding for the baby's room. I am getting a crib skirt made in the colors black, white, and red at the store La Bella Cosa that I posted about last week and just registering for various sheets that I like. We will not be using a bumper in his crib until the day when he is able to stick his limbs through the slats and then we will buy a mesh bumper like this one http://www.breathablebaby.com/. It has taken me alot of researching and thinking to come to this conclusion so this is a GOOD thing to check off my list!
-On Saturday morning Lee & I toured St. John's hospital in Santa Monica where we plan to deliver our little bun. The tour was very informative and made me a tiny bit nervous, especially when we were in a birthing room and the tour guide was talking about squatting bars - yikes!! Speaking of the rooms though, they are INCREDIBLE...hard wood floors, huge, built in dad bed, and a big plasma TV on the wall. Maybe I should have a C-section just so I can stay in those digs for 4 nights instead of 2!! If my belly gets too much bigger, I might be heading down that road anyway. All in all though, the tour was great and it was pretty neat to be in a room with so many pregnant women.
-Went to my second pre-natal yoga class on Sunday and again it was awesome. Any of my pregnant friends on the westside of LA should join me - Sunday mornings at 11:15 AM, Santa Monica yoga. I also plan to do more exercising during the week now that I'm getting bigger.
-My books tell me that this week the little bun is opening his eyes, that he weighs about 2 pounds, and is roughly 9 inches long. I am just 1 week shy of starting my third trimester and cannot wait to enjoy it. Sleeping comfortably is getting more and more difficult, but I now use 5 pillows all over my body for support and it's going quite well.
More tomorrow of "what to expect".....
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Maybe I'll be pregnant forever!!
Besides the morning sickness, feeling HUGE all the time, not being able to get off the couch once I'm sitting (already), and a collection of other issues, pregnancy is great!! Not sure if any of my friends who have been preggers can attest to this, but I find that people are much nicer to me now that I'm pregnant. I especially notice this at the grocery store. Last night someone let me cut in front of them in line because I was carrying my purchases in hand and the cashier asked if I needed help to the car because I had 2 TINY bags of groceries....it was great, however I did not take him up on the offer. More people smile at me, say "bless you" when I sneeze, and hold the door open for me when I need it. People are much less likely to be rude, push me around, or act like they don't notice me when waiting in line at Subway to buy lunch :) This is a very refreshing experience, especially living in LA. If only people in traffic could know that there's a pregnant lady behind the wheel, then I'd choose to be pregnant ALL the time!
Here is a picture for this week...week 25! Not the best pic, but you get the idea.
Here is a picture for this week...week 25! Not the best pic, but you get the idea.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Feeling HUGE and tired
Today I am so unbearably tired that I walked into a wall in the ladies room at work :) Not sure exactly why, but I can assume that my little boy is growing so much and so fast that he's taking up all my energy. I guess this is my first selfless act as a parent - giving up myself and energy so that he can grow. When I look at it that way, it doesn't feel so bad. However, I know that tonight I will probably be asleep on the couch by 8:30pm and leave Lee cleaning up from dinner! I would like to thank him in advance for taking care of the dishes..haha...
So since I can barely keep my eyes open, this will be a short post. My first pre-natal yoga class was this past Sunday and I LOVED it. I felt stretched and relaxed right after the class and then sore all day yesterday, but I liked it. For any of you local moms-to-be, I HIGHLY recommend the class I took at Santa Monica Yoga. Sundays from 11:15 - 12:30.
After class I went to this adorable shop in Culver City called La Bella Cosa(another resource for local moms) and had such a great educational shopping experience with a woman there named Janet Palmer. She was so incredible knowledgeable and helped me out with a ton of questions that I had. I picked out our crib and got some fun ideas for what I might do in the baby's room. Not only are the products that they carry top of the line, but they custom make baby bedding (specifically crib bumper and skirt) from hundreds of different fabrics. The price is not cheap, but so incredibly worth it to have custom bedding. I could go CRAZY in there!! They also do custom furniture and have the most comfortable rocker/swivel chair I've ever sat in. This is not only a great place for moms-to-be, but for anyone buying a shower gift. They carry Under the Nile clothes and sheets which are unbelievably soft organic cotton. Happy Shopping!!
http://www.labellacosa.com/
I'm off to take a nap....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
So since I can barely keep my eyes open, this will be a short post. My first pre-natal yoga class was this past Sunday and I LOVED it. I felt stretched and relaxed right after the class and then sore all day yesterday, but I liked it. For any of you local moms-to-be, I HIGHLY recommend the class I took at Santa Monica Yoga. Sundays from 11:15 - 12:30.
After class I went to this adorable shop in Culver City called La Bella Cosa(another resource for local moms) and had such a great educational shopping experience with a woman there named Janet Palmer. She was so incredible knowledgeable and helped me out with a ton of questions that I had. I picked out our crib and got some fun ideas for what I might do in the baby's room. Not only are the products that they carry top of the line, but they custom make baby bedding (specifically crib bumper and skirt) from hundreds of different fabrics. The price is not cheap, but so incredibly worth it to have custom bedding. I could go CRAZY in there!! They also do custom furniture and have the most comfortable rocker/swivel chair I've ever sat in. This is not only a great place for moms-to-be, but for anyone buying a shower gift. They carry Under the Nile clothes and sheets which are unbelievably soft organic cotton. Happy Shopping!!
http://www.labellacosa.com/
I'm off to take a nap....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Monday, January 12, 2009
Baby Bjorn Babysitter?
This weekend while out shopping I came across a new product called the Baby Bjorn Babysitter and just fell in love! I was completely set on the quilted Oeuf as my bouncer of choice which I wrote about last week, but now I can't help but lust over this new one from Bjorn. The main reasons that I love it so much are that it folds down for easy travel and the color choices are great. With the Oeuf there isn't any color choice that's gender neutral. So now I'm converted and will be adding this little babysitter to me registry. If only it could feed and change the baby too :)
After I wrote the post about the oil I use for stretch marks, I got a message from a friend of mine about a product that she has used through her whole pregnancy (she's due at the end of this month) and has not gotten ONE stretch mark. Not ONE stretch mark in 9 months is pretty amazing, so I figured that I must pass this info along. The product is called Tummy Honey Butter which you can buy at Due Maternity on-line.
http://www.duematernity.com/tuhostprbu.html
I was at the Farmer's Market in Santa Monica on Saturday shopping for fruits and veggies when my friend Julie told me about some amazing olives being sold at one of the stands. I moseyed over to the stand in need of a taste before I bought the very expensive small container of 20 olives, and wow, that taste made me a spender! The man who gave me the taste asked "are you with child" to which I replied "yes". He then said "you know olives are the new pickles"!!!! I couldn't stop laughing, it was like he knew me already!!! I think I made olives the new pickles :) Along with the olives I bought some amazing, very sharp garlic cheddar cheese. I ate both all through the weekend and although Lee wouldn't kiss me, I enjoyed every mouthful of my purchases....
After I wrote the post about the oil I use for stretch marks, I got a message from a friend of mine about a product that she has used through her whole pregnancy (she's due at the end of this month) and has not gotten ONE stretch mark. Not ONE stretch mark in 9 months is pretty amazing, so I figured that I must pass this info along. The product is called Tummy Honey Butter which you can buy at Due Maternity on-line.
http://www.duematernity.com/tuhostprbu.html
I was at the Farmer's Market in Santa Monica on Saturday shopping for fruits and veggies when my friend Julie told me about some amazing olives being sold at one of the stands. I moseyed over to the stand in need of a taste before I bought the very expensive small container of 20 olives, and wow, that taste made me a spender! The man who gave me the taste asked "are you with child" to which I replied "yes". He then said "you know olives are the new pickles"!!!! I couldn't stop laughing, it was like he knew me already!!! I think I made olives the new pickles :) Along with the olives I bought some amazing, very sharp garlic cheddar cheese. I ate both all through the weekend and although Lee wouldn't kiss me, I enjoyed every mouthful of my purchases....
Friday, January 9, 2009
Weirdest thing about being pregnant
Last week my cousin asked me what the weirdest thing about being pregnant is or what has surprised me the most. I didn't actually think of my answer until the next day so thought I would share it here. For me, it would have to be all of the blood that my body is producing. Reading through books and articles, it specifically says that women produce more blood during pregnancy (for the baby) and that hormones stimulate the blood to flow more. The place where it's most evident is in the respiratory area and the mouth. I have fallen victim to this. I constantly have a slight bloody nose and can't even brush my teeth without a mouth full of blood. I know it sounds gross, but it's pretty fascinating. So as a result I have gone through many tissues and brush/floss my teeth often to keep my gums healthy. This is one symptom of pregnancy that no one told me about!
Yesterday I forgot to post one of my favorite things that I use EVERY morning/night after the shower. Mother's Special Blend Oil:
www.mothersspecialblend.com
The container I have now was given to me as a gift, but I've been told that you can purchase it at Whole Foods. I rub it all over the belly and other places where I'm afraid stretch marks will occur. It smells great and feels good too!
This weekend I'm starting pre-natal yoga on Sunday at Santa Monica Yoga and am really excited! I will give a full report of the class on Monday.
Yesterday I forgot to post one of my favorite things that I use EVERY morning/night after the shower. Mother's Special Blend Oil:
www.mothersspecialblend.com
The container I have now was given to me as a gift, but I've been told that you can purchase it at Whole Foods. I rub it all over the belly and other places where I'm afraid stretch marks will occur. It smells great and feels good too!
This weekend I'm starting pre-natal yoga on Sunday at Santa Monica Yoga and am really excited! I will give a full report of the class on Monday.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
A few of my favorite things....
As I continue doing all of my baby research regarding the best products to register for, buy, and to use long term, I've come across some great websites that have provided me access to certain products and ideas that I wouldn't have found on my own. These are some of my favorites...
Cool Mom Picks:
This wesbite is a list compiled from a few different moms of their favorite products (for baby and mama), websites, resources, and ideas. I have already spent hours on this site and have gotten some great ideas.
www.coolmompicks.com
The Zrecs Guide:
This is a guide that is sometimes referred to as the "Z" guide where products are rated by safety factor particularly, how many toxic ingredients are found in each product. You can search by category or by brand. This site has really helped me figure out which products to register for, especially the ones that will go into my little boy's mouth or touch his food.
www.zrecsguide.com
Safe Mama:
This site also rates products that are considered safe and environmentally friendly, but the format is more article based than list based. I love this site because they typically do extensive research to find the best products.
http://safemama.com/
My Registry:
My friend Jennie used this site to register for all of her baby items and I will do the same. It's brilliant because you can compile a registry from a handful of different stores instead of being limited to the products at one.
www.myregistry.com
Although I can't say that these few products are my favorites yet since I haven't used them; they come highly recommended and are my products of choice so far for my little bun!
Crib:
We are purchasing (thanks to my Mom & Dad), the Sparrow crib from Oeuf (pronounced UH-F which means egg in French) in white. In all of the research that I've done, it's the safest and most environmentally/baby friendly crib I have found besides getting one hand made w/ recycled wood that I purchase myself.
http://oeufnyc.com/new/product.php?productid=16193
Bouncer/Lounger:
This lounger has come highly recommended to us and it's also from Oeuf so I'm pretty excited to get it!
Babycook:
I blogged about this item once before on my photography blog because I was so impressed with it. My friend Sophie who is from France had one of these gadgets before they even came to the US and she used it with her little girl ALL the time. Finally Williams Sonoma got smart and started carrying the babycook, however I believe they're the only retailer in the US.
It's called the Beaba Babycook
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/e203/index.cfm?pkey=xsrd0m1%7C16%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7Cbaby&cm%5Fsrc=SCH
As far as others major purchases go such as the changing table, bedding set, and a stroller...we're still deciding, but should come to our conclusion pretty soon!
Cool Mom Picks:
This wesbite is a list compiled from a few different moms of their favorite products (for baby and mama), websites, resources, and ideas. I have already spent hours on this site and have gotten some great ideas.
www.coolmompicks.com
The Zrecs Guide:
This is a guide that is sometimes referred to as the "Z" guide where products are rated by safety factor particularly, how many toxic ingredients are found in each product. You can search by category or by brand. This site has really helped me figure out which products to register for, especially the ones that will go into my little boy's mouth or touch his food.
www.zrecsguide.com
Safe Mama:
This site also rates products that are considered safe and environmentally friendly, but the format is more article based than list based. I love this site because they typically do extensive research to find the best products.
http://safemama.com/
My Registry:
My friend Jennie used this site to register for all of her baby items and I will do the same. It's brilliant because you can compile a registry from a handful of different stores instead of being limited to the products at one.
www.myregistry.com
Although I can't say that these few products are my favorites yet since I haven't used them; they come highly recommended and are my products of choice so far for my little bun!
Crib:
We are purchasing (thanks to my Mom & Dad), the Sparrow crib from Oeuf (pronounced UH-F which means egg in French) in white. In all of the research that I've done, it's the safest and most environmentally/baby friendly crib I have found besides getting one hand made w/ recycled wood that I purchase myself.
http://oeufnyc.com/new/product.php?productid=16193
Bouncer/Lounger:
This lounger has come highly recommended to us and it's also from Oeuf so I'm pretty excited to get it!
Babycook:
I blogged about this item once before on my photography blog because I was so impressed with it. My friend Sophie who is from France had one of these gadgets before they even came to the US and she used it with her little girl ALL the time. Finally Williams Sonoma got smart and started carrying the babycook, however I believe they're the only retailer in the US.
It's called the Beaba Babycook
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/e203/index.cfm?pkey=xsrd0m1%7C16%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7Cbaby&cm%5Fsrc=SCH
As far as others major purchases go such as the changing table, bedding set, and a stroller...we're still deciding, but should come to our conclusion pretty soon!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
My resolutions....
Happy 2009 to all of my friends and family!! This year is going to be a pretty AMAZING year for Lee & I, one we will never forget for the obvious reason that our little baby boy will be born. The closer we get to the due date (16 more weeks!), the bigger I get, and the more he kicks me, the idea that we're going to meet him soon becomes more of a reality. Now that I got all of the fear out a few weeks ago, I'm very anxious and beside myself with the idea of him - what he'll look like, if he'll cry, how big he'll be, who's eyes he will have, and if he'll be good at baseball or swimming (just kidding Lee!) We all know that he'll be a baseball star! ;)
With this new year and a new light in our life, I thought that I should make just a few resolutions, but none too overwhelming. I have a ton already for my business, but felt that I at least needed 1 or 2 personal resolutions to embark on this wonderful year we're going to have. Here are the few I came up with:
1. Go through cookbooks on the weekend and pick out recipes for the week instead of just throwing things together. (I'm happy to report I'm on week 2 of this resolution and it's going very well. Last night was minestrone soup w/ mini meatballs)
2. Get up 1/2 hour earlier while I'm still working so that I'm not rushed in the morning.
3. Every time I buy a piece of clothing or pair of shoes, I have to give something away to Goodwill (not including maternity clothes)
4. Confronting parking tickets and not letting them inflate.
5. No ridiculous spending on the baby - he ALREADY has gifts and clothes. I don't need to go overboard!!
So there you have it - my resolutions. Feel free to check in with me in a few months and see how I'm doing. I set myself up for success with these and actually the hardest one is going to be and already is getting up earlier in the morning!
Speaking of not spending too much on the baby, we got the most adorable baby clothes from my sister when we were in San Fran for the holidays. Not only did she and her family buy us the most adorable organic clothes from baby Gap, but also gave us some of the cutest clothes that they had saved all of these years since my almost 11 year old nephew was a baby. She even had clothes that she bought from Gymboree YEARS ago w/ the tags still on. I totally scored!!
Here is a picture of one of the baby Gap outfits. I am not looking to hot in this picture, forgive me. It was christmas morning and I had the pregnancy bloating thing going on. Thank you to my niece Lia for taking this picture.
With this new year and a new light in our life, I thought that I should make just a few resolutions, but none too overwhelming. I have a ton already for my business, but felt that I at least needed 1 or 2 personal resolutions to embark on this wonderful year we're going to have. Here are the few I came up with:
1. Go through cookbooks on the weekend and pick out recipes for the week instead of just throwing things together. (I'm happy to report I'm on week 2 of this resolution and it's going very well. Last night was minestrone soup w/ mini meatballs)
2. Get up 1/2 hour earlier while I'm still working so that I'm not rushed in the morning.
3. Every time I buy a piece of clothing or pair of shoes, I have to give something away to Goodwill (not including maternity clothes)
4. Confronting parking tickets and not letting them inflate.
5. No ridiculous spending on the baby - he ALREADY has gifts and clothes. I don't need to go overboard!!
So there you have it - my resolutions. Feel free to check in with me in a few months and see how I'm doing. I set myself up for success with these and actually the hardest one is going to be and already is getting up earlier in the morning!
Speaking of not spending too much on the baby, we got the most adorable baby clothes from my sister when we were in San Fran for the holidays. Not only did she and her family buy us the most adorable organic clothes from baby Gap, but also gave us some of the cutest clothes that they had saved all of these years since my almost 11 year old nephew was a baby. She even had clothes that she bought from Gymboree YEARS ago w/ the tags still on. I totally scored!!
Here is a picture of one of the baby Gap outfits. I am not looking to hot in this picture, forgive me. It was christmas morning and I had the pregnancy bloating thing going on. Thank you to my niece Lia for taking this picture.
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