Saturday, December 31, 2011

Goodbye 2011!

It's been a decent year but I've never looked more forward to the next year ever in my life.

Cheers to an amazing 2012!

Friday, December 23, 2011

A Little Surprise

This morning as I opened the door to leave the house, I stumbled upon this:


Hmm, what could it be?


WHOOPIE PIES!!!

And they are some perfectly baked whoopie pies at that. Our tenants RULE.  They really know how to warm the heart (and tummy) of a pregnant lady.

The bubs seems to really like them.  I just ate one and now he's punching and kicking my belly from all different directions.  An earthquake in utero!

On a side note, is this becoming a food blog? 

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Verdict is in

My glucose is fine.  Woohoo!  Cinnamon rolls, here I come!

But...I am mildly anemic.  So....porterhouse steak, here I come!

It's a win/win either way you look at it.  Gosh, I love being pregnant.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Hungry? 28 week update

I've heard so many women complain that the Glucose Tolerance Test is the worst because you have to chug this nasty sugary drink.  But let me tell you:  it's really not that bad!  In fact, I kind of enjoyed it.  It's like orange Fanta - without the fizz.  What's so bad about that?  I chugged it in 2 seconds in the car while filling up my tank, had my blood drawn exactly an hour later.  Done and done.

Now I'm just waiting for test results.

I'm not worried, but I wonder if I should be...?  No one in my family has had a gestational diabetes issue, so I think I'm in the clear.  BUT, I have been eating a lot of sweets lately.

It's so weird.  First trimester I couldn't even LOOK at a dessert without feeling ill.  Then around week 20, I developed a Mrs. Fields white chocolate macadamia nut/sugar cookie addiction.  Had to have one a day for a couple weeks.

Then around week 24, I suddenly had the taste memory of eating belgian waffles with whipped cream and strawberry compote at Big Boy with my mom, which we'd do often when I was little, and that craving kicked in hard core.  That night after a film networking event, around 11pm, V and I went to our local diner and I had strawberry pancakes.  A few days later in Miami, I had a strawberry belgian waffle at brunch, and since then I've had strawberry belgian waffles a handful more times.  This one is sticking!


In fact, if I could, I would have a strawberry belgian waffle right now!   Side note: I have a feeling my baby is going to LOVE strawberries.

But I just ate a piece of homemade banana bread (baked last night for the first time), so...um...I probably shouldn't. 

A few days ago, I was walking by a bagel shop and the smell of cinnamon bagels wafted through the air.  I immediately thought of cinnamon rolls.  And that day after lunch I just had to have one.  Warmed up in the microwave with the icing all melted and gooey, it totally hit.the.spot.

The thing about cravings when you're pregnant, or at least for me during this pregnancy, is that I have been soooo susceptible to the power of suggestion.  During first trimester, I would crave little kid '80s food, and it would almost always be because I'd read it somewhere or someone would mention it on a blog or forum.  But then I'd have a few bites and be done and it'd be gross again.  Some examples:  Kraft Mac n' Cheese - from the box, with ham chunks added, Jiff peanut butter (had to be Jiff creamy), Doritos, Fruity Pebbles, Pizza flavored Combos, Munchos, Chicken Pot Pie from the freezer aisle.

A thought, how do people survive on packaged food like this?  At least our bouts of bad food were interspersed with really healthy, home-cooked Korean food when I was young.  It's scary to think this is the quality of shitfood a lot of people subsist on on a daily basis.

So anyway, as of Saturday's midwife appointment, I've gained 18 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight.  That's pretty much textbook on the weight charts, but all of mine happened from around 16 weeks onward.  It went something like this:

0-12 weeks:  -3 lbs
13-15 weeks: +3 lbs
________________
16-19 weeks: +5 lbs
20-24 weeks: +6 lbs
25-28 weeks: +7 lbs

OMG, I just realized, if I continue this exponential growth, I'm going to be SO HUGE by the time I'm done!  I have 12 weeks left.  Holy cannoli.

Is it time to put down the pastries?  Damn, I hope not.  I was having so much fun!

Steel Tree Trimming Party, 12/17/11

Friday, December 16, 2011

Lullaby

Wonder if this will work as well on the kid?

I don't really know any lullabies.  Please send recommendations!

Chasing sleep

I'm a zombie today.

V got home yesterday at 4 am after a 16-hour gig, and although he wasn't terribly loud, I ended up waking up and pretty much staying up.

I used to be a champion sleeper.  I've slept through natural disasters - tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms - you name it!  When I was little, my mom wasn't one of those moms that kept me on a real schedule so when I got tired, I'd just take random naps wherever I was.  Sometimes, she'd find me under the dining room table.

But I think last night might be a foreshadowing of how my nights are going to be for the rest of this pregnancy.  (And I'm sure after the baby's born I'll be pining for nights like that!)  Anyway, I'm getting a little bit achy, and yesterday I think I had my first Braxton Hicks contraction, so that kind of freaked me out.  But most of all, the bubs would NOT stop tumbling around in there! It's like he's rehearsing for his "So You Think You Can Dance" audition.

Which brings me to two of my favorite routines from that show.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Do our pets know...

That they're about to be displaced?

That sounds awful.  And I feel awful about it, but the reality is that when the baby comes, he's gonna take Monty's place on my lap.  Priority #1.

Truth be told, right now, Monty is our baby.  Part tyrant, part munchkin.  And my lap is his little throne.  He loves to curl up and doze or sit there with his tiny paws on my belly, and if I'm not touching him, he smooshes his little face under my hand to make sure I've got a hand on him -- with no regard to what I'm busy doing.  I could be playing Words With Friends on my phone, typing on the laptop, eating...doesn't matter.  If he wants my hand on his head, he'll get it there.  He insists!  And he usually gets what he wants.
Taking a little snooze


 I'm not the only one at fault here.  Exhibit A:
So I have to wonder, does Monty know he has a little brother on the way?  I think big dogs know, and when the baby comes, they are usually very protective of them.  They don't get jealous the way small dogs do from what I hear.

Monty's kind of a peabrain though.  It's not his fault.  His head is literally tiny, so his brain was never able to grow very large! 
With covered ears, he looks like a meerkat!
How have your pets handled the addition of baby? 

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Christmas came early!

Our UPS guy (Santa) just brought me a package at work.  Wonder what this could be? 


Ok, I confess:  I ordered it.  But I ordered it WEEKS ago, so I've basically forgotten what it is.  That's the thing about these sale sites.  A lot of them take forever to ship so by the time you receive it - sometimes up to 6 weeks later - it really is like receiving a gift!


I got this on The Minisocial, from the Egg Baby sale.  I'm in love with this horse tee!
Guess I have more stuff to stash in my underwear drawer!  I wonder if 7 months is far enough along that V won't get mad at me for buying stuff.  I just don't understand why this rational, science-based hubby of mine feels so strongly about jinxes.  He's such a weirdo!

But in all honesty, I have been REALLY restrained and conservative with the shopping so far, and y'all know I love me some shopping!  All I've gotten so far are:  2 onesies, the stuff that arrived today, and this set of muslin swaddle cloths from Aden + Anais.  I have been GOOD this year, Santa, I swear.


Anyway, this week, I received the first couple items from my registry, sent to us from my awesome MIL.  And if my MIL can start buying stuff, then dammit, so can I!  She got us a crib mattress and this crib set, which I'm SO excited about since I built much of the nursery around this bumper, by Olio.
UPDATE:  My boss just handed me my X-mas bonus check, so this blog post truly is aptly titled!  Merry Christmas, y'all!

Third Trimester!

It's here...it's already here!  I can't believe it.  The true countdown has officially begun.

And so have the renovations.  FINALLY.  This is the current state of our basement where V is building a room that will become his office.


Currently, his office is our 2nd bedroom and it all needs to go to make room for the baby.  Hubby finally started this upon realizing that I'm 7 months pregnant.  Remember how he thought I was 5 months?  HAH.  Right.

So that's the basement.  And this is the belly.

And I am finally caught up and can start posting in real time!  Wahoo!!

On Wednesday, November 30, 2011 - Art Basel Miami

My co-worker ADB and I headed down to Miami for Art Basel.  I'd never been before, so this was quite the experience!  Although, ADB's prego too, and the main reason for going down was to network, so you can imagine two pregnant PR ladies working our shit was actually kind of shameful.  I kept picturing the bouncer in Knocked Up reprimanding us for being out in our "condition."

I'd definitely like to go back again when alcohol is involved.  I'm sure it would be a whole different kind of experience, and I'd probably be a much better networker.  ADB and I basically just ended up staring at each other for long periods of time, joking that we were on a very long date.  Minus the nookie of course!

We did get a lot done though and checked off almost everything on our itinerary.  We hit Art Basel, Scope, Pulse, and NADA fairs, went to the Graff Gone Global party, Trey Speegel at the Breakwater, stopped by Design Miami to see the David Adjaye pavilion, had brunch with some friends at the Soho Beach House, and ate at the two places that were musts on our list:  El Palacio de Los Jugos for authentic Cuban food and Garcia's Seafood.

 ADB in the Adjaye Pavilion

 Huge portions at El Palacio!  I had picadillo, rice and beans, plantains and guanabana juice

 At Garcia's.  We shared stone crab claws - 'tis the season!

At Soho Beach House
At Graff Gone Global party

V-DAY! Thanksgiving - 24 weeks

There's one big thing I'm thankful for this year.  I've made it to my "V-day!"  If you don't know, that's "viability day" meaning that a baby at 24 weeks can survive outside the womb.  I would never wish this to happen of course, but knowing that the little bubs would most likely make it feels like a big weight lifted. 

We've made it this far, baby, hang in there!!

I spent Sunday afternoon reuniting and catching up with my BFF who'd been away for the past three months.  It was one of those perfect New York fall days.  We had lunch outside in World Financial Plaza, walked up and down the waterfront in Battery Park City with Monty, and even my sis, niece and nephew came out to meet us for a few minutes. 

If I ever leave New York, it'll be days like this I miss the most.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

On Saturday, November 12, 2011 - 23 weeks

Babymoon time!

We took a glorious cruise (my first!) to Belize and Cozumel on the Liberty of the Seas, a massive ship by Royal Caribbean.  There was a rock wall (which we didn't use), and a surfing pool called the Florider, a casino, lots of shopping, lots of entertainment - a full length musical, game shows, comedy, an ice show...the cheesiest and most relaxing vacation I've ever taken.  In other words, the perfect babymoon!

The unlimited food is amazing when pregnant, but be sure to bring lots of tums with you!  At our sit down dinners, when we couldn't decide which dish to get we'd just say screw it and order them both.  Or all three.  There were times where we'd have 3 appetizers and 3 dinners in front of us...yes, we were THOSE people.  But apparently, all cruise people are THOSE people, so suck it!


Oh the hair

Oh yessiree.  I'm going there.

Let me just say that during pregnancy, hair growth is WONKY!  My leg hairs have virtually stopped growing, which is great.  But in return, I have growth on my belly - it's really soft and downy but still gross.  And the hair downstairs is a lot coarser than usual.

So in preparation for the Caribbean babymoon, I decided it was high time for a wax.  Holy shitolas, was that painful!  I usually have no problem with brazilians.  I do them for fun.  I take joy in ripping that business off.  And I can usually do them myself!  But since I can't see that far down below my big ol' prego belly, I had to go to the salon. 

Lemme just tell you girlfriends, it's true what they say:  your skin is more sensitive down there during pregnancy, so ladies be forewarned!

On Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween!

(I am sooo mean, I know)....puahahhahahahaahaha.

Halfway there!

A milestone to celebrate.  And how do we celebrate properly in my family?  We shop! 

Bubby's first onesie, by Feather Baby.

But shhhhh!  I had to keep this on the DL max because DH is very superstitious.  It's currently hiding in my underwear drawer.  Hee hee.

On Tuesday, October 25, 2011 - 20 weeks

We had our 2nd anatomy scan where they got a closer look at the heart and saw that everything was normal!  Woo hoo!  He's measuring right on schedule.  :-)

And we got another extended opportunity to see the lil' bubs in action in 3D!
Picking his nose, just like his daddy.
This week I also met up with an old friend from high school, whom I actually hadn't seen SINCE high school.  She just had a baby boy, and I told her when we met up that I was also expecting.  I guess you can't really tell in this outfit though, huh?

It's just a good shirt (thanks uhnni!)

Bump Watch - Mid-2nd Trimester

Getting bigger...I felt sooo big, but now I know I was a damn fool!

On Saturday, October 22, 2011 - 19 weeks

We took a tour of the hospital where I'd like to give birth:  Morristown Memorial in New Jersey.

Deciding on a hospital was a serious task.  Although most hospitals in the Manhattan are closer to us, I have been so wary of their interventionist attitudes and medicalized approach to the birthing process.  The more I read, studied, and watched, the more I realized I want to give birth free of medication or pain relief.  My reasons are many, but here are just a few:

First, one intervention often leads to a cascade of more.  For example, say your labor isn't progressing at the speed that your OB would prefer (to get home at a decent hour).  After 12 hours, they'll usually start you on pitocin to induce labor contractions.  The problem is that this synthetic form of the hormone oxytocin can often kick in so strong that contractions are WAY more intense than they would be if you'd been allowed to progress naturally.  And because the pain is so much worse, and epidural is almost inevitable.  So once you have an epidural, you can't feel your legs.  Which also means that you can't get up and walk around, or squat, or bounce on a birthing ball -- all things that help the progression of labor.  You're stuck laying down in a reclined position that puts your pelvis in a very narrow position -- not ideal for shooting out a watermelon -- don'tcha think?

One of the best positions that opens up the pelvis is to be on your hands and knees, but you can't really do that if  you can't feel your legs and you're hooked up to a bunch of tubes and IVs.

Second, the natural hormones that rush through a woman's body seconds after giving birth immediately connect both mom and baby.  I've heard it said that it's like a "love cocktail."  And the mom is higher than she's ever felt.  I'm not saying that women who have pain medication don't feel connected to their child, but I don't want to prevent the natural process.  Also, once you give birth, the oxytocin gets flowing and stimulates milk flow, which is another process I don't want to even possibly interrupt.

Ok, and let's really be honest, I'd like to experience the high.  I don't want to screw myself out of that!

Third, when you have an epidural, the baby does experience it and I don't want my kid starting out drugged up in his first minutes of life if I can prevent it.  I know there aren't long term effects, but I want him to be alert and with it so he'll latch properly.  I just want to provide my baby with the best possible start in life.  I think it'll be easier on all of us (after he's out, of course).

So, back to Morristown.  I found a lovely group of midwives that practices out of Morristown, and the hospital is wonderful.  The staff has dealt with many natural births, unlike staffs at hospitals in the city, and they have birthing tubs in 3 rooms, birthing balls, and are open to a lot of the more natural, holistic ideas around birth.  Most importantly, they have a level III NICU in case anything goes wrong - God forbid!

After our hospital tour, we interviewed a doula that I had been emailing with.  She was wonderful.  We talked to Kim for around 2 hours and afterward V and I were in absolute agreement that we wanted her to be our doula.  I was shocked that I didn't have to make a case for her -- I usually need to with V -- but he just kind of got it.  We both got good vibes and knew she was incredibly experienced and would be able to help me through labor in the way that I want.

Babyroom Idea Board!

It was around this time I started working on my registry.  I figured I should start thinking about what we'd do in the baby's room, and this is what I came up with.  I can't wait to get the little bubby's room in order!

I ended up finding that George Nelson wall clock AND the alphabet wall stickers on discount.  Thank God flash sale sites like Fab.com and The Foundry!

On Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - 16 weeks

We had our first anatomy scan and found out....

We're having a BOY!





Look at his little bits!  Or rather, very large bits!

This ultrasound was so fun.  We could see all sorts of stuff.  The bubs was moving a ton and they checked out his limbs and fingers and toes, made sure his facial bones had fused properly, checked for all his organs.  The only thing was that because of the position he was in, they couldn't see his heart very well, so we were told to come back in a month, at 20 weeks.

We even got to see the little guy on the 3D ultrasound machine.

He totally has his father's body here.  Tiny little twigs for legs and a substantial mid-section.  Hee hee.

Toward the end of this week, I also felt the bubs move for the first time.  I couldn't believe it!  They say that usually you won't feel anything until around 18 weeks, but I definitely felt the little flutters at the end of the 16th week, which watching TV in the evening.  He hasn't stopped moving since!

Bump Watch - 2nd Trimester

A little bump progression...

On Friday, September 2, 2011 - 13 weeks


FINALLY finished with the first trimester and starting to tell more people!  I had been eagerly awaiting this milestone for what felt like forever!  It's amazing how slow first trimester went even though I stayed so busy.  But finally, it's here!

We decided to go away for the long Labor Day weekend to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary!  I had never stayed at a bed & breakfast so we found a charming little place around Narragansett/Watch Hill, Rhode Island.

Happy 1 year anniversary pookie!

 I was really convinced I had a bump during this trip.  I'm serious.  But now that I look at the pictures, I realize I just looked a teensy bit rounder, sorta.




On Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 12 weeks

I had my NT (nuchal translucency) scan.  The fancy kind!  Where they check for measurements that may indicate downs syndrome, and take your blood and give you your first ultrasound picture where the bean actually looks like a baby!  Here's our sweet little bean at 12 weeks:


And thank God, the nuchal measurement was 1.1, which is low, which is GOOD.  Happy!

On August 17, 2011 - 11 weeks

V and I drove to Ithaca for my work.  We'd taken a subcontract project to help get media coverage for the re-opening of the Johnson Museum at Cornell, and neither V nor I had ever been to Ithaca so we made a little mini vacay of it.

At this point, I was feeling good.  Most of the tiredness and nausea had subsided, and I was just SURE a bump was forming, so I started wearing looser dresses.  I can see now that I was still delusional, but whatevs.

On Saturday, August 6, 2011 - almost 9 weeks

My adorable little niece Eva celebrated her 1st birthday.


We had another ultrasound earlier this week and everything was looking good with the bean, so we decided to tell our parents.  We told them that V FINALLY finished our wedding video and that we wanted them to check it out after the party.  So even though everyone was really exhausted, they were also really excited to see this video that was a year in the making (supposedly), so both sets of parents came up to my sister's place and we sat them down and played them a video of our OB appointment.  V's hoarding the video, so I can't share.  :-(  Sorry.

But, needless to say, all were overjoyed!  Everyone hugged each other and V's mom cried - in a good way!  It was an awesome, happy day!

On Monday, July 18, 2011

I finally had my first OB appointment.  By this point I was 6 weeks and terrified that we wouldn't see a heartbeat.  I prayed and prayed that this would be a viable pregnancy, and my prayers were answered.

We saw our little bean for the first time!


This week I also threw up for the first time.  Lovely, I know!  I'm pretty sure it was because of my new prescription prenatals though.  I took a vitamin before starting lunch and 5 minutes into eating udon at my desk, that overwhelming wave came over me and of to the bathroom I went.  Blargh!

Over the next couple weeks I got sick maybe 4 or 5 times, all around taking my prenatal vitamin.  I tried taking it first thing in the morning, before a meal.  Bad idea!  While walking Monty I had to duck beside a fire hydrant and wretch.  I tried taking it with meals.  Even worse!  So finally I discovered that if I took it at night right before I went to bed, I could survive without booting.  

I spent these weeks pretty much horizontal.  Not even sitting on the couch like I normally do, watching TV.  I had to be horizontal!  As soon as I came home from work, I'd get into my pjs and crawl into bed and just lay there or read one of my many books:  Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way, Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth, Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method.

One night I felt too nauseous to cook dinner so V decided he'd cook (rare occasion).  He made steak and onions and some other stuff but I was DYING.  It smelled so horrible and I just wanted to cry.  I shut the bedroom door, stuck my nose into a lemon wedge, and prayed for the feeling to go away.  My poor husband.  He just wanted to do something nice and I couldn't even smell (let alone stomach!) his food.  I think that night, like many nights during this time, I ate a piece of fruit and some yogurt.

Ah, the joys of morning sickness!