It's All About the BABY

I have approximately 4 weeks of pregnancy left.  Here's what I've been doing:

1) Sitting at the supper table for an exorbitant amount of time.  For some reason, I can barely choke down that last meal of the day.  Joel usually has put all the left-overs away, checked facebook and read the newspaper by the time I'm finally done.  I feel like a kid again...banished to the table until all my peas are gone (I used to sit at the table for hours trying to choke those nasty boogers down)

2)  Buying, buying, buying stuff.  Why does such a wee little being cost so much money?

3)  Thanking the heavens that it is FINALLY cooler outside.  It's really amazing how much my inner thermostat has changed.  Joel is usually cold at night and I'm HOT even with a fan blowing directly on me.

4)  Deciding what to pack in my hospital bag.  Any suggestions?

5)  Convincing Joel not to be nervous about the birth of our child....although, I'm quite frightened of the  pain I will soon be enduring.

6)  Measuring my girth.  Holy Moly.  The circumference of my waist has grown 14 inches.  Is it really possible to get my pre-baby body back?

7)  Imagining what our baby girl will look like.  She resembles  Joel's side of the family in one of her ultrasound pic's.

8)  Wondering how I will function while severely lacking sleep.

9)  Picturing that glorious day when I can order a Diet Coke at a restaurant and ask for refills.

10) Sleeping with four pillows.  One in front, one in behind, one at my head and the last one between my knees.  It takes a lot to support this watermelon I'm growing.  I had such a hard time getting into bed last night that Joel woke up and asked "what's wrong?" (We have a rather high bed....and turning is no easy feat either). I stated "I'm just trying to get into bed."  He replied, "Well, don't push yourself so hard!"  Who knew that a simple task like getting into bed would be so difficult??

Things I Love/Hate About Pregnancy

Things I Love: (this is not in any specific order)

1)  People are so chivalrous when around pregnant ladies.  I feel like a movie star when I ride on the train/subway.  So many people offer me their seats.  People hold doors open.  They offer to carry heavy items.  I fully enjoy this.

2)  It seems that my large belly makes me seem very approachable.  Many strangers have talked to me due to my pregnancy.

3)  People constantly exclaim, "You look amazing!"  Even strangers compliment my appearance.  It's nice to hear these affirming words when you feel like a hippo.

4)  Cravings.  I'm really fortunate because I do not crave chocolate, burgers, pizza and most other junk foods.  I do like an occasional ice cream cone, but right now I'm REALLY in love with oranges.

5).  Joel.  Obviously I love him when I'm not pregnant, but he seems extra sweet now that I'm carrying our child....He helps me down the stairs when I'm wearing heals, makes sure I don't trip when hiking (on a very EASY path).  He also makes me fruit smoothies all the time.  He even read "What to Expect When You Are Expecting" to me.  Isn't he the best??


Things I Don't Like About Pregnancy:

1)  My hair is thicker.  I had extremely thick hair before I was pregnant.  Now, it's just insane.  My hair dresser told me I have enough hair for five people right now.  Imagine drying all of that in the heat of summer.  Bleck.  I know most women like this aspect of pregnancy, but I'm not one of them!

2)  Some people like to point out that my face looks fuller.  Maybe it's true.  Okay, so I know it is true.  What's a pregnant girl to do?  I regularly eat oatmeal for breakfast, eggs for lunch and salad for supper.  I snack on fruit.   I exercise.   Oh well...

3)  I really miss drinking Diet Coke.  Throw in a glass of red wine with that...

4)  Food options are more limited then I thought, too...No blue cheese (sniff sniff) or deli sandwiches.

5)  A lot of people are VERY opinionated about child rearing, schooling (I hear a lot about this since my husband is a principal) pregnancy, delivery, foods you should and should not eat...you name it.  I have to admit that I am, too.  People just don't know my opinions (unless you happen to be my sister or husband:)   I've decided to listen to people's advice, but to take it all with a grain of salt.

Nesting....

What have I been doing lately?  Well, I've been reading and nesting, nesting, nesting!  I decorated the walls of our nursery today.  Now,  I'm desperately waiting for the rug we ordered to arrive.    While our nursery is almost put together...it still has a ways to go.

I have a question for the experienced parents out there.  How necessary is a rocking chair?   Joel and I are considering buying a comfy chair that will look good in our living room someday, but doesn't necessarily rock.  I've thought about buying a cheap rocking chair (I don't like the look of regular rocking chairs in living rooms....call me snooty) but I'm not sure it's worth it.  We also looked at rocking recliners (it must recline in dear hubbies opinion).  Those are EXPENSIVE, but we'd probably use it a lot longer.  So, all you parents rockin' babies to sleep...how much do I really need a rocking chair????

Trip To MN

Isn't MN pretty?

I didn't realize how much I missed hearing MN catchphrases like "Well, I spose and yeah, yeah sure"  until I visited this summer.  Can you believe how big my nieces and nephews are?

Can you believe how big I am?? :)  Joel and Luke became very good buddies this trip.  They even sat VERY close to one another at the breakfast table:)  (Luke saved Joel a seat at a table even though there was no one else there.  It was funny to see them sitting RIGHT next to each other when all the other seats were empty)

Grace showed us her mad skills while putting...she beat me!

Luke and Renee had fun, too!

We were ready for some good eats....

Especially, Graham, who wowed the server with his appetite :)

Isn't my sister pretty?

Here we are taking a hike

Drink that water, Renee!

We look a little lost, don't we?  We eventually found our way out:)

Here we are on our last day

It was good to see everyone!  

Foot Woes

Look what I have to wear.  Lovely, isn't it?  It wouldn't be so bad, but I am supposed to don my tennis shoes with it.  Pregnancy made me feel very uncute before..It's so much worse now that I have to wear sneakers!  Hopefully, my foot will be better in a week.  The doctor and I have no idea what is wrong with my foot as I can not have X-rays and I didn't injure it.  It sure is painful, though!!

MN Baby Shower!

My mom and sister threw me a baby shower when Joel and I flew to MN.  Here's a few pics!  

Paige slaved away at this cake!  Isn't it beautiful?!?

My corsage made out of a diaper, sock and baby wash cloth.

Joel got one too!

Renee...deciding  how much toilet paper she needs to fit around my belly

Paige, measuring my pregnant girth!

Jessica came up for the event!

The inside of the cake was as fun as the outside!

Jessica made me this blanket!  Talented girl!

Brinna-Annika's little one!  We didn't really get any pictures of Annika...her little girl stole the show!

Grace, my niece made this dress for us!  Wow!  She's talented too!

We all had fun!  Thanks everyone!

Baby Moon

Joel and I decided to celebrate our 4th anniversary and pre-baby stage with a trip to the Adirondack Mountains

Here's Joel posing in front of the Hudson...it looks much different here than it does in NYC!

Our cozy lake cabin

Buttermilk Falls

Joel is the subject of a lot more pictures now that I'm pregnant....hmm....does this say something about me?

Checking out our view from our cabin

After seeing how terrible I look when trying to hide from the camera, I decided to embrace the fact that Joel will take a picture no matter what I look like (no make-up, frizzy hair and all).  Here I am at 29 weeks.

We had a lovely time on a boat tour (I can't remember the name of the lake it was on...)

I thought MN had a lot of lakes until I visited the Adirondacks....

Bye, bye Long Lake!  Maybe we will visit again when our little one is ready!