Ramblings

Ok, so I have been majorly neglecting my blog lately. I even managed to let February go by completely without a single post. Brilliant. I guess so much has been going on around here that I've not managed to finish one of the 50 million posts I have sitting in my drafts box. Well, it is a quiet day at the office (shhhhh, don't tell!) and I have enjoyed reading everyone else's posts so much...so here goes nothing.

Yesterday my office building opened a gym in our building and it is only $10/mo! and you only pay for the months you use! HOLLAR!! They were supposed to open back in Jan., and I've been stalking them since because this momma needs to move. I used to be a total gym rat back in my single girl days in DC and I miss it like whoa. Obviously, there are more important things going on in my life, but that bit of self-indulgence and me time at the gym... anyway...enough whining. I hit it up yesterday and I felt AMAZING.  I can't push myself too hard or I start having contractions and/or pee my pants (TMI, youre welcome), but the boost in mood alone was worth it. I even slept better than I have in months.

Speaking of sleep and contractions, I'm getting very little of the first and very much of the latter. This happened with Aidan as well, including a 2hr episode of braxton hicks contractions every 10 min when I was 33 weeks along. Yesterday I hit the 32 week mark (and could theoretically deliver in 5 weeks!!!) and this bambino has taken to squirming and jumping and hiccuping right under my ribs. Although, this time my heartburn is much less and my swelling is significantly lower. I am actually still wearing my wedding rings, which is nothing short of a miracle. For any future children, I will demand that I'm only pregnant in the winter! I'm sure having my thyroid levels carefully monitored and regulated by meds isnt hurting either :)

2 weeks ago I also broke down and bought a boy and girl "coming home" outfits. I couldn't contain myself any more and I've started packing my hospital bag. I know I know, I still have some time, but not knowing if this baby is a boy or girl (I've secretly started calling him/her "stranger baby"), I haven't prepared the way I did with Aidan. So I'm doing all of the gender non-specific things I can think of to satisfy my inner planner. I also had to force myself not to buy any extra girl clothes, but they are all so damn cute! And I did make myself buy some yellow and green clothes, but it was not fun. I will never be surprised again, this is miserable despite the fact that Dr. F is loving the surprise. Enjoy it this time, buddy.

This is the back of the girl onesie. Ahhh so cute!

Of course, I also snagged a big brother shirt for the proudest big brother. 

In other pregnancy news, the honeymoon trimester is soooo over. I am trying my best not to waddle and I think keeping up with Aidan has been very instrumental in keeping me mobile. But let me tell you what, I am ready to get some mobility back. I'm thrilled with how my body has handled this pregnancy as far as weight gain  goes (I've also not indulged in quite the number of bagel breakfast sandwiches this time...) and I'm all belly. However, I'm pretty over the massive effort it takes to simply get myself out of bed in the morning. I also really miss being able to really hug Dr. F. I felt this way with Aidan too and it was one of the things I craved the most when I was expecting him...full body contact with my hubby! It sounds silly, but try hugging your man with a beach ball in between you...its like middle school dances at Catholic school where you have to "leave room for the Holy Spirit." 

My cravings have also been pretty mundane. I had the usual insatiable appetite for cheese in my second trimester (namely queso and brie), the need to consume mass quantities of cold milk and felt like pbj sandwiches were delicacies (usually I like them, but this was more like liking them). Lately I've been trying to control myself where chocolate is concerned. I have only a modicum of self-control in the chocolate department and that is being generous.

If you made it this far, I'm impressed :) The flood gates have opened and I'll have to post more soon about Downtown Abbey (Amazing!!), couch dates (Moneyball was so good!) and even a belly shot or two... Happy Friday!

Going Granola

Recently I've been doing a lot of reflection on my birth experience with the Little Man and how much it just wasn't what I wanted or hoped for. Of course the ultimate objective of bringing home a healthy baby was accomplished, but the actual process of delivering him was in a word a clusterfuck and a experience I have no desire to repeat in anyway shape or form. 

When I was expecting LM, Dr. F was in the throws of the worst part of his 3rd yr of med school and I was mid semester of grad school. I was more cavalier about giving birth than I usually am about anything. I figured that women have been giving birth for thousands of years and I can do it too. What I didn't count on was being left feeling like giving birth happened to me instead of being an active participant. This time I'm determined things will be different. I've started doing a lot of reading on natural birth, breathing exercises and exercises to ease labor and delivery. I came across this great DVD set

Generally I consider myself pretty well educated, but I learned so much from the first dvd and I'm becoming more and more convinced I want to go as naturally as possible with this delivery. My list of NO's was pretty long before I started researching (ie. no induction, no episiotomy etc), but now I'm becoming more and more convinced I want as few interventions as possible. Now, I'm not about to have a home water birth, but I'm seriously considering a birthing center attached to a hospital just in case. 

Finally, tonight I watched The Business of Being Born. 

I totally get that it has an agenda, but I'm feeling more and more strongly. Now I'm just not sure I can actually make it through labor and delivery without the drugs. I want to, but I'm scared. Have any of you given birth without drugs or had a particularly good experience with a particular book or dvd series? 

Dear Target, your customer service needs an attitude adjustment

LM is still under the weather so I'm home with him again and you know, I can't wait till I get to be home full time with my kiddos in a few months. I really miss being a SAHM, even when its tough I know I'm doing something that really matters. Call me crazy, but scheduling meetings and answering phones just isnt my idea of fulfilling work. It pays the bills, but it sure isn't what I'd call my life's work.

Of course, I'm also remembering how much I need to have some structure to the day otherwise things drag on and that is no good for me me or the little man! This morning he was doing well enough to head to Target to pick up some new big boy underwear. You've never seen excitement on a kid's face until you've seen a 3 yr old pick out Mr. Incredible underwear. It was pretty stinking cute. While we were there I also snagged a new bottle of nail polish and we were both set to head home happy. That is until we were going to have a special treat of a soft pretzel from the Target cafe....

I had a feeling this wasn't going to end well when the girl behind the counter was more interested in talking to one of her coworkers and wouldn't make eye contact with me, the ONLY customer in line. Then she must have sorta microwaved a soft pretzel. I was skeptical but LM and I headed to the tables. I took one tiny bite and realized this chick didn't heat it up, it was totally raw and covered in oil in salt. I told LM he couldnt eat it because it was raw....commence crying and I had to find the employee to complain. She was chatting again and not even at the cafe counter. I walked up to her and said "This isn't cooked at all" So what did she do? Took it from me, threw it out but didnt bother to help me pick up the pieces that had fallen on the floor and said she'd refund my money. OH YA THINK? I'm 7 months pregnant with a crying sick child and you are a lazy piece of crap. You know the best part...she actually gave me change with a Canadian penny and I just didn't have the energy to deal with her.

Tonight we're having homemade pizza, one of my specialties and making it is a fun activity to do with the Little Man. I even broke out my new Kitchenaid mixer (aka the best surprise Christmas present ever) and made some rocking whole wheat dough with enough left over to try my had at homemade soft pretzels. Of course, I had to try one right out of the oven and it was soooo good!

Take that Target.

bullet point post

So it has come to this...I have to be home with a sick Little Man to get the time to write a blog entry. Wow. I'm also going to ease myself back into the blogosphere with a bullet post cause I need to make the most of his nap time. Here goes:

1. I'm 27 weeks. That means we could have a full term baby in 10 weeks. 10 WEEKS. OH Sh*t! I would also like the people in my office who keep asking me when I'm due and how I'm feeling with that annoying concerned look on their faces would go away. Let the verbal preggo diarrhea start.

2. We painted our dining room 2 weekends ago and LOVE the new color. It was quite red and is now a beautiful battleship grey. Ah-mazing! I really had to fight tooth and nail for the darker color, not with Dr. F, who was pretty agreeable with trusting my vision...but with my parents who actually said to me "You are not painting the room that color. It is too dark." Ha, my house guys, I'll paint it what I want. Guess what... they loved the final product so much, my mom now wants a grey room in her house.

LM and my dad painting. LM couldn't have been happier to have a "little boy brush"

The finished product

3. One of the things I love about Dr. F is that he's so not a cave-man guy. I mean, there is nothing un-manly about him, but he encourages our son to do traditionally boy jobs and girl jobs. It was even his idea to get LM a little kitchen for his new kitchen gadgets. We scored the perfect kitchen at Bed Bath and Beyond for 1/2 price and then my two guys whipped out the power tools while watching football to put it together. Power tools, football, and a kitchen set all in 2 hours? Love it!

In a word: perfect

4. We are big Giants fans in our house and the last time the Giants played the Patriots in the Superbowl, Dr. F and I were dating and he and his childhood friend won the annual Groundhog's day beer pong tournament. This year we'll be watching with our 3 yr old and baby. Life has changed so much in the last few years, but one thing we're hoping won't change is the Giants beating the Pats again. Dr. F even suggested we name the baby Eli if the G-men win and its a boy... he was kidding...I think...
     *side note: I just tried my hand at homemade queso dip. sooooo good. all you need is a can of rotelle, 16 oz of velvetta (which comes in 2% so its not soooo bad for you) and a crock pot. hot damn its good!*

5. I'm feeling really good so far with this pregnancy, with the exception of the unreal tailbone pain. Sure I had the typical pubic bone pain that is also starting to make an appearance this time around too, but holy tailbone batman! I couldnt even snuggle on the couch with Dr. F this weekend it hurt so badly. I actually had to lay on a separate couch...so much for a netflix couch date! :( This is also making it pretty tough to be at work where I sit all day. Has anyone else experienced this, and if you have, any suggestions for relief? I'm allll ears!

6. and now for a gratuitous cute picture: 

Pinterest

So, um...After resisting for a while, I've decided that I'd like to join Pinterest...does anyone have an invitation they'd like to share with me?

k, thanks :)

Happy New Year!

Whew, this holiday season has passed by in a blink and we've made some great memories and we're looking forward to all that 2012 has in store for us, especially meeting the little acrobat who is performing jumps and flips nonstop in my uterus. I seriously spent my lunch hour watching my belly dance. I sure dont remember Little Man being so active so early (23 weeks)! 

We spent a lot of time in our hometown in VA and even got to go on a Mommy and Daddy date to see Sherlock Holmes. It was fab! I've been working my way through the complete works of SH on my Nook and I love it!(if you have an ereader and commute on a train/bus, it is a collection of short stories that are perfect commuting length!) The movie exceeded my expectations and I usually HATE when movies are made from books I love. However, this version just picked various elements of different stories and wove them together into something new while keeping the characters true to themselves. And who doesn't enjoy Robert Downey Jr.? Additionally, Dr. F and I each made it to the gym! Now that was a serious treat! I had to take it easy, but was still able to get in a great workout and am looking forward to hitting it hard in May when I can see my feet again!

Anyway, here are a few of our snapshots from this wonderful Christmas.

Thank you Vicki T for coming to visit us!!

We coordinated our Christmas Eve outfits without even trying :)

 I can also say this was the best NYE I've ever had. After a great dinner of my special homemade pizza (not to brag, lol)... the three (4!) of us snuggled on the couch reading books before bedtime. I put LM down to bed and he made sure to tell me "Happy New Year Mommy!" without any prompting. It was adorable and we fall more in love with our BIG boy every day. Then Dr. F and I parked ourselves on the couch while UVA played a terrible game at the Chick-fil-a bowl game. When midnight rolled around we toasted with Izze pomegranate juice (thank you so much Vicki T!) and then hit the hay.

This year was so perfect because it was low key to the extreme (I was wearing some sweet maternity sweatpants), Dr. F didn't get called into the hospital!!, and I got to kiss the man of my dreams at midnight. I feel so lucky and so so blessed. When I think about all of those NYE's wishing to have the perfect midnight kiss, I had no idea just how awesome it would be. My nights of glitter eyeshadow and dancing and drinking at bars are over (at least until the kids are grown and out of the house...ha:), and I couldn't be happier. I am continually reminded and amazed that it is the simple things in life that create the most indescribable joy: my happy family, my wonderful marriage, and our home that is full of love.

I also have been debating whether or not to make a resolution this year, but Dr. F and I decided we'd make a joint resolution to declutter our lives: our house, my desk at work, his office etc. We're not going to try to be perfect, just better. I also secretly (not so secretly) want to be back to my pre-baby weight by this time next year because my sister-in-law is planning a NYE destination wedding in Jamaica and I want to wear a bikini. That is vain and I don't care :) Happy New Year Everyone!

A new New Year's tradition, black eyed peas, kale and corn bread. YUM!! 

half way

Today I am officially at the half way point (20 week!) of this pregnancy and can't believe how quickly it is flying by!  It has been so different from my first pregnancy, easier and harder in different ways, but so so joyful. I have gotten much bigger much faster, although my weight gain is right on target. I think after the Little Man (who wasn't actually such a little baby), my abs just said a big "F-you" and they have not attempted to hold back. I haven't started swelling yet (I hope and pray I don't swell like I did the first time!), and I'm overall more relaxed. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually forget I'm pregnant sometimes...there is just too much other stuff to get done! LM is also super excited about this baby and keeps asking when his baby will get here. He even transitioned out of the nursery last weekend and into his big boy room with a big boy bed. It has been the easiest transition and he told me that our new baby would sleep in his old crib. I love that he made that connection by himself and he wasn't the least jealous or upset by it. In fact, he loooooves this baby so much already and hugs my belly every chance he gets!

This pregnancy is also different in that Dr. F and I decided not to find out if we're having a boy or girl. It is pretty ridiculous that I, in all my planner-ific glory, agreed to such a crazy idea, but I did. Although I begged him to change his mind when we were at our ultrasound last week. I am secretly glad he stuck to it because now we can have that "its a.... " moment in the hospital and since we're not sharing our names either, it will just be one big surprise. However, every.single.person. has said I'm having a girl. LM cannot be swayed and even the guy who works in the coffee shop at my office said I'm definitely having a girl. I think it might be a girl too because I was so sick in the first trimester this time and I wasn't last time. But, in all reality, I don't care at all either way. Sure, pink bows and dresses would be ah-mazing, but so would being the F boy's mom. If they take after their father and uncle, well I can only imagine the trouble they could get in to together. (pray for me) So, I'll just bring a boy outfit and a girl outfit to the hospital and leave the tags on.  

This last week has also been a really big growth week...and I have the belly to prove it (see below)! The baby has been moving like crazy and I think this is my favorite part of being pregnant. I love feeling all of the little kicks and rolling around, at least until he/she gets some strength behind those movements. I'm even able to feel lots of kicks from the outside too, which means Dr. F and LM can feel the baby! So fun! However, I've also entered the "I have to pee every 15 min" stage. This is very not fun as I can barely make it all the way home on my 45 min commute without peeing my pants. TMI? You're welcome. 

20 weeks.... 

Now I would be remiss if focuses solely on me and my belly.... because in addition to Thanksgiving, which was stressful and I'm happy it is over... we also celebrated both Dr. F and LM's birthdays *on the same day.* Some might say I'm crazy, I just think of it as condensing the pain. We had about 10 3 yr olds and their parents and assorted siblings in the morning and 10 30 somethings and their significant others in the evening. LM had a Phillies themed party, naturally, and Dr. F had the Dirty Thirty Beer Pong Tourney in our basement. Both F men had a blast and I was ready for a nap the next day.  Let's just say I'm thrilled this next kiddo will be a spring baby so we can rent a picnic shelter and let the kids run around outside aka not in my house.

Thank you Oriental Trading Co for your Phillies decor! 

And the winners of the tourney are....

I'm 3!!!!

Finally, there is so much sad news out there and I am already enjoying the heightened preggo emotions...so for today, I'm just going to focus on the happy things like my wonderful family and friends and what promises to be a great Christmas with a little boy who has lots of questions about Santa.