Tuesday, June 28, 2011
21 weeks - three quarter pounder w/ heartburn
It amazes me that something that is only 3/4s of a lb can make my stomach so big. The proof is in the pudding, see the boob to belly ratio below:
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Oh and that is a sneak peak of my cube at work. Yes, this is a self portrait at work. You missed seeing the cupcake I was eating by about 5 minutes, yum. Think vanilla from society bakery.
Monday, June 27, 2011
On a serious note...
I am SERIOUSLY ready for our girls trip! We're going to Fredericksburg (ish) in a week and half, whew. I can't wait until the only things I have to do are sunscreen up and eat with my best friends on this planet. I love these girls so very much. This trip is so important to me, and I hope all of them can overcome the challenges of daily life and make it happen each year.
I had dinner with some good friends on Friday night! Thanks Erika for the delicious fondue! I loved seeing them and love that our lives have brought us to motherhood at similar times. I'm thankful for their support. On a more frightening note, I got bags full of goodies that have left me moderately speechless. I know it's coming, but I can't picture a time where I'd choose to wear depends. Although, having seen the tiny underwear (think mesh, one size fits all, boy shorts) the hospital gives you - I will undoubtedly choose the adult diaper method. I guess, I just didn't realize there would be quite THAT much post delivery leakage. At any rate, while I appreciate this bag (and the subsequent stories that came along with it), it will remain in the closet until the time that doesn't terrify the bejesus out of me.
It is amazing to me that a woman's self confidence can rebound from pregnancy and all that goes along with it. It's no wonder that postpartum depression is so commonplace. Who wouldn't be depressed? You have just spent 9 months growing a human, where your boobs get ginormous and hurt, your body stretches to its breaking point, you get dark spots (line down stomach, boobs, etc), heartburn, weight gain - you get the picture. Then, you squeeze that human out of a 10 cm opening that has racked your body with pain to get to that point. Last, you bleed and ooze for weeks while trying to figure out what to do with your bundle, how not to kill it, all while sleep depraved and trying to figure out how to breastfeed the wee one from boobs that have suddenly started leaking too. If that isn't enough to induce depression, then crap - I don't know what is. And yet, ask any mother and the response will always be the same. It is worth it. Each and every time.
A miracle, every one. I personally think women rock. Mothers are my hero.
I had dinner with some good friends on Friday night! Thanks Erika for the delicious fondue! I loved seeing them and love that our lives have brought us to motherhood at similar times. I'm thankful for their support. On a more frightening note, I got bags full of goodies that have left me moderately speechless. I know it's coming, but I can't picture a time where I'd choose to wear depends. Although, having seen the tiny underwear (think mesh, one size fits all, boy shorts) the hospital gives you - I will undoubtedly choose the adult diaper method. I guess, I just didn't realize there would be quite THAT much post delivery leakage. At any rate, while I appreciate this bag (and the subsequent stories that came along with it), it will remain in the closet until the time that doesn't terrify the bejesus out of me.
It is amazing to me that a woman's self confidence can rebound from pregnancy and all that goes along with it. It's no wonder that postpartum depression is so commonplace. Who wouldn't be depressed? You have just spent 9 months growing a human, where your boobs get ginormous and hurt, your body stretches to its breaking point, you get dark spots (line down stomach, boobs, etc), heartburn, weight gain - you get the picture. Then, you squeeze that human out of a 10 cm opening that has racked your body with pain to get to that point. Last, you bleed and ooze for weeks while trying to figure out what to do with your bundle, how not to kill it, all while sleep depraved and trying to figure out how to breastfeed the wee one from boobs that have suddenly started leaking too. If that isn't enough to induce depression, then crap - I don't know what is. And yet, ask any mother and the response will always be the same. It is worth it. Each and every time.
A miracle, every one. I personally think women rock. Mothers are my hero.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
20 weeks and 1 day
I cannot believe this baby is half baked. I also can't believe I tried to wear non-maternity tights today, I can barely breathe. Ouch. Poor baby is probably squished in there. I am definitely all squished out here.
As always, I'll start with this - pregnancy is a gift. :) Babies are a miracle.
Now that that's been said:
1. I have heartburn so bad I sort of dread eating.
2. I used to love food, now I can't get riled up about anything. Not even hostess cupcakes, who am i?!
3. At the end of each day, I have cankles. It is not sexy, funny or practical. It actually kind of hurts.
4. The baby and are on not on the same schedule, it seems to want to play when I'm ready for bed. I don't think this bodes well for the future...
5. I received a lecture today about how pregnancy is a gift from God (which is true) and how babies are a miracle (also true)....the weirdness started when the words fruitful and fertile started being thrown around - uh thanks maintenance guy?!
6. Someone told me today that she can't even tell I'm pregnant? Is this a compliment? I wouldn't leave the house if I looked like this and wasn't growing a human in my belly. Mostly because my clothes wouldn't fit and I'd be too busy eating hostess cupcakes which I'd suddenly love again in my non-pregnant state.
7. I'm so thirsty!!! But I hate water, houston we have a problem.
8. I drank a real chai latte and almost cried it tasted so good. Oh caffeine, I miss you so.
9. I drank 4 sips of wine (I was just warming you up with the chai comment) and nearly sobbed it tasted so good. Alcohol, I miss you more. It's been so long I've even forgotten how to spell you...alcohol - is that right?
10. I am pretty sure I saw the beginning of a stretch mark, but have convinced myself it's just the lighting. I'll be avoiding looking at that particular location on my body for at least 2 years.
11. Someone, other than Chris, told me I was cute today and I had to resist hugging/making out with him. Thank you stranger for those words. Why does it mean so much when it comes from someone you don't care about?! And no, it wasn't the maintenance guy mentioned in #5. Whew.
11. Chris and I have decided if it's a boy and a ginger, we'll have to send it back.
Much love! Jess
As always, I'll start with this - pregnancy is a gift. :) Babies are a miracle.
Now that that's been said:
1. I have heartburn so bad I sort of dread eating.
2. I used to love food, now I can't get riled up about anything. Not even hostess cupcakes, who am i?!
3. At the end of each day, I have cankles. It is not sexy, funny or practical. It actually kind of hurts.
4. The baby and are on not on the same schedule, it seems to want to play when I'm ready for bed. I don't think this bodes well for the future...
5. I received a lecture today about how pregnancy is a gift from God (which is true) and how babies are a miracle (also true)....the weirdness started when the words fruitful and fertile started being thrown around - uh thanks maintenance guy?!
6. Someone told me today that she can't even tell I'm pregnant? Is this a compliment? I wouldn't leave the house if I looked like this and wasn't growing a human in my belly. Mostly because my clothes wouldn't fit and I'd be too busy eating hostess cupcakes which I'd suddenly love again in my non-pregnant state.
7. I'm so thirsty!!! But I hate water, houston we have a problem.
8. I drank a real chai latte and almost cried it tasted so good. Oh caffeine, I miss you so.
9. I drank 4 sips of wine (I was just warming you up with the chai comment) and nearly sobbed it tasted so good. Alcohol, I miss you more. It's been so long I've even forgotten how to spell you...alcohol - is that right?
10. I am pretty sure I saw the beginning of a stretch mark, but have convinced myself it's just the lighting. I'll be avoiding looking at that particular location on my body for at least 2 years.
11. Someone, other than Chris, told me I was cute today and I had to resist hugging/making out with him. Thank you stranger for those words. Why does it mean so much when it comes from someone you don't care about?! And no, it wasn't the maintenance guy mentioned in #5. Whew.
11. Chris and I have decided if it's a boy and a ginger, we'll have to send it back.
Much love! Jess
Alaska, Sarah Palin and 20 weeks!
I knew that Sarah Palin reference would get your attention. More about her later...
Chris and I just got back from our trip to Alaska. That part of the country (really it should be part of Canada) is just so beautiful. I've been to AK before, but not to the lower part. It is all pretty, but I have to say - the more North you go, the better. We visited Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Prince Rupert, BC. We also spent a few days in Seattle (which would be my dream city if the sun came out more). Here is a 5 point summary of our trip:
1. I probably won't cruise again. I like to experience local places, people and restaurants. This is very hard to accomplish when traveling with 5,000 other people.
2. I had the best meal of my life, or at least since the last time I had Alaskan King Crab. I hope that each of you get to experience this delicious, delicious meal. I want to shed a tear just thinking about it. Yum-o.
3. Alaska is cold. Seattle is cloudy.
4. It was so fun to spend time with my family. We are so grateful for this opportunity. So, so grateful.
5. Next time half my family is upgraded to a penthouse, I will fight harder to get one too.
Now, some pictures:
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Random giant mountain coming out of the sky through the clouds. Taken from the plane. There were a ton of mountains, but this is the only one that made it through the clouds.
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Ketchikan, AK
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Mountains and pieces of glacier.
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Sawyer Glacier
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That's right - a Sarah Palin store. Skagway, AK I went in and gawked at the tourists. People actually like her here. I nearly died from shock and disgust.
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Good lord.
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The shipment of 35 lbs of Salmon that's in our freezer now. Chris caught it off the coast of Ketchikan.
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I stole this one from the cruise ship. It's a picture of a picture. The small asian man working the desk reprimanded us, but we can't be stopped.
Oh and when we got back (Saturday) - I felt the baby kick! I've been feeling it a ton lately, which is awesome and totally freaky. Each time I feel it, I experience such a sense of joy (and bafflement - is that word?). Sometimes I poke back, just to let him/her know who runs the show. :)
Chris and I just got back from our trip to Alaska. That part of the country (really it should be part of Canada) is just so beautiful. I've been to AK before, but not to the lower part. It is all pretty, but I have to say - the more North you go, the better. We visited Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Prince Rupert, BC. We also spent a few days in Seattle (which would be my dream city if the sun came out more). Here is a 5 point summary of our trip:
1. I probably won't cruise again. I like to experience local places, people and restaurants. This is very hard to accomplish when traveling with 5,000 other people.
2. I had the best meal of my life, or at least since the last time I had Alaskan King Crab. I hope that each of you get to experience this delicious, delicious meal. I want to shed a tear just thinking about it. Yum-o.
3. Alaska is cold. Seattle is cloudy.
4. It was so fun to spend time with my family. We are so grateful for this opportunity. So, so grateful.
5. Next time half my family is upgraded to a penthouse, I will fight harder to get one too.
Now, some pictures:
Oh and when we got back (Saturday) - I felt the baby kick! I've been feeling it a ton lately, which is awesome and totally freaky. Each time I feel it, I experience such a sense of joy (and bafflement - is that word?). Sometimes I poke back, just to let him/her know who runs the show. :)
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
18 weeks!
We made a playlist for the baby last night. People always find it strange that I don't listen to music or really enjoy it unless it is a very specific occasion. However, this isn't something that I want to pass along to my offspring, so I've made a concerted effort to introduce new music to it. The problem is: I don't know music. This is where Chris comes in. Here is a sampling of the baby's playlist:
1. And It Spread - Avett Brothers
2. Helicopter - Bloc Party
3. Jacksonville - Sufjan Stevens
4. Gentle Moon - Sun Kil Moon
5. That's Not My Name - The Ting Tings
6. North Texas Fight Song (Chris is trying to squeeze in some subliminal messaging)
7. I Hope - Dixie Chicks (one of my only additions)
8. Can't You See - The Marshall Tucker Band
9. All My Days - Away We Go Soundtrack
Honestly, I have only heard of a handful of these bands. But, I think the music is working. I'm about 70% sure I felt the baby move last night during its first jam session. I'm happy to report that the movement first occured during the Dixie Chicks. That's a good baby.
We got some new pictures, so here you go. No I still can't decipher head or hind of 80% of these so I'll only include the most obvious one. Here s/he is waving!
He couldn't be bothered with a shirt...
1. And It Spread - Avett Brothers
2. Helicopter - Bloc Party
3. Jacksonville - Sufjan Stevens
4. Gentle Moon - Sun Kil Moon
5. That's Not My Name - The Ting Tings
6. North Texas Fight Song (Chris is trying to squeeze in some subliminal messaging)
7. I Hope - Dixie Chicks (one of my only additions)
8. Can't You See - The Marshall Tucker Band
9. All My Days - Away We Go Soundtrack
Honestly, I have only heard of a handful of these bands. But, I think the music is working. I'm about 70% sure I felt the baby move last night during its first jam session. I'm happy to report that the movement first occured during the Dixie Chicks. That's a good baby.
We got some new pictures, so here you go. No I still can't decipher head or hind of 80% of these so I'll only include the most obvious one. Here s/he is waving!
On another note, we had a beautiful flagstone put in over the weekend. It is AWESOME!
I have never haggled more with a company than Home Depot in the past few weeks. I was there on one of my weekly negotiations when I spotted this - LOVE.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Maternity Pictures?
I have an ongoing conflict in my head. I feel pressured to do some form of maternity pictures, but I really don't want to. And no, it's not bc I feel gigantic. It's because they all (no offense) look awkward to me. Maybe people do naturally lean against a tree, in full make up, and look adoringly into their spouse's eyes while he rubs the baby belly. But, I do not. Sure I rub my bump kind of a lot, but for some reason my hands never form a heart shape with my fingers over it. I know you've seen this picture a least a hundred times. Not me. I love this bump, but I don't want to frolic through a field of bluebonnets with it.
So, the question is - what do I do? When did maternity pictures come about? And why? I get the curiousity that people feel about my growing belly and the subsequent pictures they desire to go along with it. I can't remember how many times I longed to see a friend's pregnant belly when I found out she was expecting. I get that. But maternity pictures, I do not get. Will the urge to take them come about later? I just don't know.
And please do not get me started on semi nude maternity pictures. Dear god, I do NOT want to bear it all for a camera while my husband holds my boobs. How is that natural?!! Do not get me wrong, if you want to do this - you go girl, do it big. But that is not for me. I will not be doning lingerie and rolling around a bed with my protruding belly. Someone made a mistake of just sending a belly bearing picture to my sweet grandmother, I thought she'd hit the roof with embarassment. On this issue, I agree Gram - no thank you. No thank you indeed.
So, the question is - what do I do? When did maternity pictures come about? And why? I get the curiousity that people feel about my growing belly and the subsequent pictures they desire to go along with it. I can't remember how many times I longed to see a friend's pregnant belly when I found out she was expecting. I get that. But maternity pictures, I do not get. Will the urge to take them come about later? I just don't know.
And please do not get me started on semi nude maternity pictures. Dear god, I do NOT want to bear it all for a camera while my husband holds my boobs. How is that natural?!! Do not get me wrong, if you want to do this - you go girl, do it big. But that is not for me. I will not be doning lingerie and rolling around a bed with my protruding belly. Someone made a mistake of just sending a belly bearing picture to my sweet grandmother, I thought she'd hit the roof with embarassment. On this issue, I agree Gram - no thank you. No thank you indeed.
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