So, I had my first trip to Labor and Delivery today. I also learned a good lesson that wet feet + tile floors + 31 week pregnant lack of coordination can = a slip and fall. Duh.
We had a great weekend. Got lots of stuff done around the house, including finishing the mural!! Woot! And we were having an awesome day today hanging out in the pool with relatives, grilling some hot dogs, and enjoying the beautiful sunshine. Then I had to ruin it all with my clumsiness. I went into the house real quick to grab a hat and some goggles and took the corner from my carpeted bedroom into the tile hallway and just completely lost my footing. I fell on hard on my left hip and hands. I, thankfully, avoided landing on my belly. I was a little shaken up but felt like I was okay but called the nurse just to be safe. She said that even though everything was most likely fine, I needed to go to the hospital to get monitored anyway.
We got to the hospital and found out that baby was perfectly happy in there. My blood pressure was normal and the baby's heart rate was normal. I had to drink some water because the nurse said my uterus was "irritable", most likely because I was a little dehydrated. But, other than that, all is fine. My palms are a little sore and I'm sure I'll have a nice bruise on my hip tomorrow but, all things considered, I'm a lucky girl.
Now this three day weekend is almost over and its back to work tomorrow. Man, even the three day weekends go too fast! I'm only 60 days away from my due date now and time is just flying by. Before I left work on Friday I switched my calendars to June. I had a slight moment of deja vu because it felt like I just switched the calendar to May. July is going to be here before we know it. I feel like we've made a lot of progress but that there is still so much left to do before baby's arrival. Oh well, we'll get there. We'll have to!
Oh, we've been seriously slacking on the belly pictures and missed week 30's picture all together. We'll try to get our acts together and get a picture taken for week 32.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Semi-homemade mom
I made some funny little realizations about myself this week. It started on Saturday when my mom asked us to bring brownies to Sunday dinner. No problem I thought as I tossed a box of brownie mix in the shopping cart. A few aisles down I threw in a box of lasagna flavored Hamburger Helper. It never even occurred to me to open up a recipe book and make the brownies from scratch or to buy noodles and sauce and make a real lasagna. But the real kicker came as I attempted to make curtains for the nursery.
I was hell bent on finding red and white polka dot curtains for the nursery. I'd seen a picture of a nursery with curtains like this a couple of years ago as I was flipping through a nursery decor idea book. I'd purchased it with hopes that someday I'd have the opportunity to decorate a nursery. Also, the pirate bedding we picked out, which is STILL back ordered, has red and white polka dot trim on it. Happy coincidence! Only problem is that red and white polka dot curtains do not exist- ANYWHERE! I've searched every inch of Google and come up empty. So I decided to get fabric and make my own. I have a sewing machine and thought, hey no problem, just a couple of quick seams and I'm all set!
Wrong! You see, sewing seams on anything is impossible if you can't figure out how to set up the damn sewing machine! I have only used my sewing machine a handful of times and every time I do, it takes me about an hour to figure out how to wind the bobbin and thread the needle and how to get the top thread to catch the bottom thread. Usually by the time I actually get to the sewing part I'm so frustrated and tired that I just zoom through the sewing and end up with zig zagging stitches along all my edges. But these curtains are for the baby's room and I wanted them to be just right. I didn't want him to have crappy crooked seams on his curtains.
So I gave up on the sewing machine and switched to my favorite sewing technique- Stitch Witchery. Best.Invention.Ever. I seriously don't know what I'd do without it. Stitch Witchery "sews" everything in this house from hems on pants to pillows to, most recently, baby curtains. Its so easy. You just fold the seam over, press it with the iron and done! So baby's curtains are officially done!
It's funny though, as I was pressing the curtains I was thinking about all the times in the future that I may have to sew and was trying to figure out how I can use Stitch Witchery to make a Halloween costume for Evan. I laughed because it is most likely impossible. But isn't it my duty as a mom to make my child a Halloween costume? My mom made costumes for us! Granted, they were sometimes made out of spray painted trash bags and Styrofoam balls hot glued on florescent visors (we were aliens) but sometimes she broke out the sewing machine and actually sewed us costumes that fit and didn't have zig zag seams. I mean, I guess I could buy a ready made costume from the store, but isn't it more special to have a one of a kind, couture, if you will, costume?
Those thoughts brought me back to the brownie mix in a box and the Hamburger Helper. Does not making baked goods from scratch take away the specialness of the treats? Does using lasagna flavored Hamburger Helper instead of making a real lasagna make it less of a dinner? And does a store bought Halloween costume make Halloween any less fun?
I thought about it and I think no. Because even though those things aren't made "from scratch", you're still putting your love and time into them and that's what makes it all special. I am going to call it Semi-Homemade, like the cooking show. And I think that's the kind of mom I'll most likely be. And I'm perfectly fine with that. I don't think it takes homemade brownies or sewing on a sewing machine to make a moment special, its the actual thought that goes into it and the time spent doing something with your child that makes it an experience he'll remember.
Now I don't expect Evan to remember that his mom made his very first red and white polka dot curtains but I will always remember it as something special I did for him. Even if the seams are ironed and not sewn, I still put my time and love into making something unique just for him. And, they turned out so super cute, if I do say so myself. Take a look:
I was hell bent on finding red and white polka dot curtains for the nursery. I'd seen a picture of a nursery with curtains like this a couple of years ago as I was flipping through a nursery decor idea book. I'd purchased it with hopes that someday I'd have the opportunity to decorate a nursery. Also, the pirate bedding we picked out, which is STILL back ordered, has red and white polka dot trim on it. Happy coincidence! Only problem is that red and white polka dot curtains do not exist- ANYWHERE! I've searched every inch of Google and come up empty. So I decided to get fabric and make my own. I have a sewing machine and thought, hey no problem, just a couple of quick seams and I'm all set!
Wrong! You see, sewing seams on anything is impossible if you can't figure out how to set up the damn sewing machine! I have only used my sewing machine a handful of times and every time I do, it takes me about an hour to figure out how to wind the bobbin and thread the needle and how to get the top thread to catch the bottom thread. Usually by the time I actually get to the sewing part I'm so frustrated and tired that I just zoom through the sewing and end up with zig zagging stitches along all my edges. But these curtains are for the baby's room and I wanted them to be just right. I didn't want him to have crappy crooked seams on his curtains.
So I gave up on the sewing machine and switched to my favorite sewing technique- Stitch Witchery. Best.Invention.Ever. I seriously don't know what I'd do without it. Stitch Witchery "sews" everything in this house from hems on pants to pillows to, most recently, baby curtains. Its so easy. You just fold the seam over, press it with the iron and done! So baby's curtains are officially done!
It's funny though, as I was pressing the curtains I was thinking about all the times in the future that I may have to sew and was trying to figure out how I can use Stitch Witchery to make a Halloween costume for Evan. I laughed because it is most likely impossible. But isn't it my duty as a mom to make my child a Halloween costume? My mom made costumes for us! Granted, they were sometimes made out of spray painted trash bags and Styrofoam balls hot glued on florescent visors (we were aliens) but sometimes she broke out the sewing machine and actually sewed us costumes that fit and didn't have zig zag seams. I mean, I guess I could buy a ready made costume from the store, but isn't it more special to have a one of a kind, couture, if you will, costume?
Those thoughts brought me back to the brownie mix in a box and the Hamburger Helper. Does not making baked goods from scratch take away the specialness of the treats? Does using lasagna flavored Hamburger Helper instead of making a real lasagna make it less of a dinner? And does a store bought Halloween costume make Halloween any less fun?
I thought about it and I think no. Because even though those things aren't made "from scratch", you're still putting your love and time into them and that's what makes it all special. I am going to call it Semi-Homemade, like the cooking show. And I think that's the kind of mom I'll most likely be. And I'm perfectly fine with that. I don't think it takes homemade brownies or sewing on a sewing machine to make a moment special, its the actual thought that goes into it and the time spent doing something with your child that makes it an experience he'll remember.
Now I don't expect Evan to remember that his mom made his very first red and white polka dot curtains but I will always remember it as something special I did for him. Even if the seams are ironed and not sewn, I still put my time and love into making something unique just for him. And, they turned out so super cute, if I do say so myself. Take a look:
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Quick update
I had another doctor appointment today and things are still going well. I got my glucose test results back and I passed! Whew! They did tell me my iron was a little low so I have to start taking an iron supplement. Other than that, everything is normal. I gained 4 pounds over the last 5 weeks which was much better than the 8 pounds I gained in the 4 weeks prior! My blood pressure is still good and the baby's heartbeat is in the 150's. When the doctor was trying to listen to the heartbeat the baby kept moving around so she had to chase him with the Doppler. It was pretty funny. For some reason he does not like that thing. At my last appointment he kept kicking it when they tried to listen.
I've been so tired lately. I just have absolutely no energy for anything. I come home from work and camp out on the couch for most of the evening. Even the smallest task seems to just knock me out. If I'm feeling this way now, I can't imagine how I'll feel in two more months! I've had a few instances of swelling in my legs and feet but it usually only happens if I'm standing or walking too much during the day. I've also pretty much given up on pants. They are just so uncomfortable. Dresses are my go-to wardrobe item at this point. And I've been spending much more time in the bathroom than I had been before. I'm up at least several times a night and can't walk for too far a distance without having to find a bathroom. Luckily the gym where I walk the track has a bathroom available for non-members. I am still trying to get in as much exercise as I can but I have really been slacking off. I'm lucky if I can get in two walks a week and I haven't been to yoga in over a month! I feel so much better when I exercise and I really, really want to try to get more in.
I guess that's all for now. We're still working on the baby's room. The mural is SO close to being done. I keep saying that I hope to have it done by... but we never get there so I'm going to stop putting an end date on it and just work on it as we can. My new focus is finding red polka dot fabric to make curtains. I'm heading out to the fabric store this weekend and really hope I can find something. And I'm still on the look out for that bedding! According to various sources on the Internet I should be able to get it next week. We shall see...
I've been so tired lately. I just have absolutely no energy for anything. I come home from work and camp out on the couch for most of the evening. Even the smallest task seems to just knock me out. If I'm feeling this way now, I can't imagine how I'll feel in two more months! I've had a few instances of swelling in my legs and feet but it usually only happens if I'm standing or walking too much during the day. I've also pretty much given up on pants. They are just so uncomfortable. Dresses are my go-to wardrobe item at this point. And I've been spending much more time in the bathroom than I had been before. I'm up at least several times a night and can't walk for too far a distance without having to find a bathroom. Luckily the gym where I walk the track has a bathroom available for non-members. I am still trying to get in as much exercise as I can but I have really been slacking off. I'm lucky if I can get in two walks a week and I haven't been to yoga in over a month! I feel so much better when I exercise and I really, really want to try to get more in.
I guess that's all for now. We're still working on the baby's room. The mural is SO close to being done. I keep saying that I hope to have it done by... but we never get there so I'm going to stop putting an end date on it and just work on it as we can. My new focus is finding red polka dot fabric to make curtains. I'm heading out to the fabric store this weekend and really hope I can find something. And I'm still on the look out for that bedding! According to various sources on the Internet I should be able to get it next week. We shall see...
Saturday, May 15, 2010
The week in pictures
Yeah, I know. It's been a while. So much has happened in the last couple of weeks, I don't even know where to begin on the blog. I figured it would be easier to show you what's been happening so here is the last couple of weeks in pictures...
I'll start with my baby shower. It was amazing!! It was beautiful and thoughtful and loving and such a surreal experience for me. Even thinking about it now I still can't believe that it was MY shower. I had a great time and was so happy to be surrounded by my friends and family who have supported me through all the tough times. It was nice to finally be able to celebrate something wonderful with them.
Since the shower we've been pretty focused on the nursery. Once we got all our gifts home we quickly realized we were already out of places to put it all. We have been working really hard on the mural and are VERY close to being done. There are just a few areas left that need to be painted and then we will just have to work on the touch ups. We also got the crib, the dresser and the glider assembled and in the room and today Joe finished the closet. Remember the lesson I learned about expectations? Well, it came in handy today. The nursery isn't even close to how I pictured it. The furniture is all in different locations and I'll most likely have to rethink how I planned to organize things but I'm sure I'll figure it all out. As far as furniture goes, I think the only piece left I want to add to the room is a bookcase. I also need to get a hamper and a floor lamp and, hopefully, I'll be set.
That's basically what we've been up to over the last couple of weeks. It's gotten to the point where I can see how everything is starting to come together and I can't wait to see the finished product. It is so exciting to see it all and even though it isn't quite how I pictured it in the beginning, it is still super cute. I was sitting in the glider this afternoon looking at baby clothes hanging in the closet and I had a little Twilight Zone moment. It is just the strangest thing for me to see. Joe's mom was visiting this week and as she was leaving today she reminded me that the next time she sees us we're going to have a baby... cue jaw drop moment!!! I know we're preparing for the baby but I still can't believe that I'm actually going to have a child in about three months.
I did have a little fun at work this week too. The shuttle Atlantis launched on Friday for it's very last flight into space. If you haven't heard, the shuttle program is coming to an end and there are now only two space shuttle launches left ever. I've been trying to take advantage of every cool little perk that I have access to with my job so yesterday I walked over to see the astronauts board the bus to the launch pad and then drove over closer to the launch pads to watch the actual launch. It was great. The environment on launch day is so exciting, especially right now since we're getting close to the end of an era. I had to have my co-worker take a belly shot right after the launch so I can show Evan that he was there for a shuttle launch.
So there you have it, my last couple of weeks in picture. I could promise to try to write more blogs but I honestly don't think I can make the promise. Until that mural is done and until the nursery gets closer to being finished that's where I spend the majority of my free time. So, the best I can do is to keep you posted as we go. Hopefully it'll be sooner rather than later.
I'll start with my baby shower. It was amazing!! It was beautiful and thoughtful and loving and such a surreal experience for me. Even thinking about it now I still can't believe that it was MY shower. I had a great time and was so happy to be surrounded by my friends and family who have supported me through all the tough times. It was nice to finally be able to celebrate something wonderful with them.
Since the shower we've been pretty focused on the nursery. Once we got all our gifts home we quickly realized we were already out of places to put it all. We have been working really hard on the mural and are VERY close to being done. There are just a few areas left that need to be painted and then we will just have to work on the touch ups. We also got the crib, the dresser and the glider assembled and in the room and today Joe finished the closet. Remember the lesson I learned about expectations? Well, it came in handy today. The nursery isn't even close to how I pictured it. The furniture is all in different locations and I'll most likely have to rethink how I planned to organize things but I'm sure I'll figure it all out. As far as furniture goes, I think the only piece left I want to add to the room is a bookcase. I also need to get a hamper and a floor lamp and, hopefully, I'll be set.
That's basically what we've been up to over the last couple of weeks. It's gotten to the point where I can see how everything is starting to come together and I can't wait to see the finished product. It is so exciting to see it all and even though it isn't quite how I pictured it in the beginning, it is still super cute. I was sitting in the glider this afternoon looking at baby clothes hanging in the closet and I had a little Twilight Zone moment. It is just the strangest thing for me to see. Joe's mom was visiting this week and as she was leaving today she reminded me that the next time she sees us we're going to have a baby... cue jaw drop moment!!! I know we're preparing for the baby but I still can't believe that I'm actually going to have a child in about three months.
I did have a little fun at work this week too. The shuttle Atlantis launched on Friday for it's very last flight into space. If you haven't heard, the shuttle program is coming to an end and there are now only two space shuttle launches left ever. I've been trying to take advantage of every cool little perk that I have access to with my job so yesterday I walked over to see the astronauts board the bus to the launch pad and then drove over closer to the launch pads to watch the actual launch. It was great. The environment on launch day is so exciting, especially right now since we're getting close to the end of an era. I had to have my co-worker take a belly shot right after the launch so I can show Evan that he was there for a shuttle launch.
So there you have it, my last couple of weeks in picture. I could promise to try to write more blogs but I honestly don't think I can make the promise. Until that mural is done and until the nursery gets closer to being finished that's where I spend the majority of my free time. So, the best I can do is to keep you posted as we go. Hopefully it'll be sooner rather than later.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Picking up the pace
This weekend was a whirlwind! Joe and I worked and worked and worked! Our niece's 1st birthday party is being held in our backyard next weekend and we had a ton of chores on our list to get it ready for company. We had plans to do all these chores last fall but put them on hold when I got pregnant. Now with a pool party fast approaching, we had to pick up the pace. I don't have any pictures in the renovation album yet but will work on getting some in there this week.
Early Saturday morning we started our day at Lowe's in the garden department. We bought some new bushes to plant in front of our shed and some hibiscus trees to plant in two big planters on the pool deck, paint for our shed, and lots and lots of red mulch. Joe did most of the work since he'll hardly let me lift a finger but I tried to help as much as possible. And it turned out really well. It's amazing what some red mulch and a few new plants (and lots of sweat) can do for a yard. We still have work to do on our pool but, for now, the yard looks pretty darn good.
We're also still painting the mural but are trying really hard to get it done this week. I think that's an ambitious plan but we are so ready to be done with it! We made a lot of progress this weekend, although I don't have any pictures to share yet. My baby shower is next Sunday (can you freaking believe it?!) and our goal is to have the mural done, the furniture set up and the closet installed by then. I literally just laughed out loud when I read that back to myself. I'm not getting my hopes up that all that will really get done but we'll see what we can do. It would be nice to have a place to put all the stuff we get at the baby shower but feel like this week is going to fly by.
Despite all the hard work we put in this weekend, we did actually have some time for fun too! Friday afternoon I got off work early and treated myself to a prenatal massage. It was so nice! I'd been talking about getting one for quite a while but kept putting it off. It had been a year since I'd had a massage (since my birthday trip to Vegas) and I felt like it was definitely time for another one. The masseuse had a pillow that my belly fit into so I was able to lay face down for the first time in a while so even that was a treat. The massage was great and was a really nice way to kick off the weekend.
Saturday night we celebrated my birthday with dinner at the Melting Pot. We hadn't been to the Melting Pot in years so it was definitely a treat. We went with Becky and Lindsey and their husbands and it was fun hanging out with them and actually being able to talk instead of our usual routine of taking turns to chase a baby. We had a really good time talking and laughing and stuffing our faces. I say it every time we leave the Melting Pot, that we should only go for cheese and chocolate, but it never fails that we always end up going for the full meal and walk out of there like stuffed pigs. I've gotten to the point in my pregnancy where I've got less room in my abdomen for my stomach and get so miserably full when I eat too much. I couldn't even sit up straight last night when I got home. I had to lay down on the couch. Lesson learned though, less is definitely more right now.
Tonight we had the whole family over for dinner. Joe made his famous ziti which was, of course, delicious. My sister-in-law and niece came over too which made for a house full of babies but it was fun. They all actually got along pretty well. After cake and ice cream and the dishes were done Joe and I took some time to sit out in the backyard and admire all the hard work we'd gotten done. House work is never done but when you get a project accomplished it's always such a great feeling.
I will work on getting back yard and mural pictures posted this week and even though I'm a week behind I wanted to post my 26 week belly picture for you. Confused? You may be. I realized the other day that in my 24 week belly pictures I wrote "26 weeks" on the paper. I have no idea what I was thinking and can't believe that I never caught it. Maybe it was wishful thinking that I was further along than I really was. Either way, here is the real 26 weeks belly. (Please excuse the pajamas)
Early Saturday morning we started our day at Lowe's in the garden department. We bought some new bushes to plant in front of our shed and some hibiscus trees to plant in two big planters on the pool deck, paint for our shed, and lots and lots of red mulch. Joe did most of the work since he'll hardly let me lift a finger but I tried to help as much as possible. And it turned out really well. It's amazing what some red mulch and a few new plants (and lots of sweat) can do for a yard. We still have work to do on our pool but, for now, the yard looks pretty darn good.
We're also still painting the mural but are trying really hard to get it done this week. I think that's an ambitious plan but we are so ready to be done with it! We made a lot of progress this weekend, although I don't have any pictures to share yet. My baby shower is next Sunday (can you freaking believe it?!) and our goal is to have the mural done, the furniture set up and the closet installed by then. I literally just laughed out loud when I read that back to myself. I'm not getting my hopes up that all that will really get done but we'll see what we can do. It would be nice to have a place to put all the stuff we get at the baby shower but feel like this week is going to fly by.
Despite all the hard work we put in this weekend, we did actually have some time for fun too! Friday afternoon I got off work early and treated myself to a prenatal massage. It was so nice! I'd been talking about getting one for quite a while but kept putting it off. It had been a year since I'd had a massage (since my birthday trip to Vegas) and I felt like it was definitely time for another one. The masseuse had a pillow that my belly fit into so I was able to lay face down for the first time in a while so even that was a treat. The massage was great and was a really nice way to kick off the weekend.
Saturday night we celebrated my birthday with dinner at the Melting Pot. We hadn't been to the Melting Pot in years so it was definitely a treat. We went with Becky and Lindsey and their husbands and it was fun hanging out with them and actually being able to talk instead of our usual routine of taking turns to chase a baby. We had a really good time talking and laughing and stuffing our faces. I say it every time we leave the Melting Pot, that we should only go for cheese and chocolate, but it never fails that we always end up going for the full meal and walk out of there like stuffed pigs. I've gotten to the point in my pregnancy where I've got less room in my abdomen for my stomach and get so miserably full when I eat too much. I couldn't even sit up straight last night when I got home. I had to lay down on the couch. Lesson learned though, less is definitely more right now.
Tonight we had the whole family over for dinner. Joe made his famous ziti which was, of course, delicious. My sister-in-law and niece came over too which made for a house full of babies but it was fun. They all actually got along pretty well. After cake and ice cream and the dishes were done Joe and I took some time to sit out in the backyard and admire all the hard work we'd gotten done. House work is never done but when you get a project accomplished it's always such a great feeling.
I will work on getting back yard and mural pictures posted this week and even though I'm a week behind I wanted to post my 26 week belly picture for you. Confused? You may be. I realized the other day that in my 24 week belly pictures I wrote "26 weeks" on the paper. I have no idea what I was thinking and can't believe that I never caught it. Maybe it was wishful thinking that I was further along than I really was. Either way, here is the real 26 weeks belly. (Please excuse the pajamas)
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