Snow Day

In my younger years, I always enjoyed snow days. Waking up, turning on the television, and finding out your school was closed for the day was always such a treat. The truth is, I still love them. It's snowed quite a bit here over the last week and after a debacle of a commute in last Thursday, I've opted for the snow day option to work from home.

On Saturday, things had cleared up a bit and my mom and I had plans to stay overnight in Seattle to get our hair done and finish some last minute Christmas shopping. Since the roads were good on Saturday, we decided to stick with our plan. Saturday afternoon, the snow started falling again! On Sunday, my dad, brothers, and Jeff rode the train in to see Mike Holmgren's last home game. Jeff and I decided to make the trek home after the game but the rest of the family decided to stay another night in Seattle. While I was happy to be home, the drive wasn't much fun and now that I'm home, I'll be enjoying 'snow days' until the weather clears up.

I'm into my third trimester now. Twenty-eight weeks to be exact! I have another doctor's appointment tomorrow and then I start going every two weeks so I'll have more baby news to report soon. Until then, Simon got a taste of the snow this morning. He kept curiously looking outside, so I bundled him up and took him out to play this morning. Above are some photos from our adventure.

The Walk

So I thought it would be a good idea to walk in the Seattle Half Marathon yesterday. Jen and I have been participating in it for the past three years and has become a post Thanksgiving tradition of sorts. Year 1, we ran in the snow and were so drenched that we ran across the finish line with our toes slishing and sloshing in soaking wet socks and shoes. Year 2, we signed up to walk since Jen was post-surgery and thanks to her stubbornness we ended up running nearly the entire damn race. Year 3, we signed up for the walk and walked the walk. Walking 13.1 didn’t sound that difficult and I figured it would be good exercise but I quickly gained a new appreciation for the walkers. Four hours of walking is tough and being 6 months pregnant didn’t make it any easier. I was sore in places I’ve never been sore in past races including my in my hips, lower back, and lower abdomen. On the positive, I had a lot of fun with Jen and Melissa and it definitely makes for a good story some day.

I had another doctor’s appointment on Wednesday and completed my glucose screening test. My doctor informed me that I gained 9lbs in the last four weeks which was pretty alarming because while I definitely feel bigger –I didn’t think I was 9 lbs bigger. To date, I’ve gained about 15 lbs and definitely don’t need any more 9 plus pound weigh-ins within a four week span. I guess it’s safe to say that I officially have my appetite back. I attribute my weight gain to the decaf eggnog latte runs that I drag Jen on and maybe the eggnog ice cream that I found at the QFC in U-Village that I transported all the way to Tacoma while crossing my fingers that it wouldn’t melt in the backseat of Jeff's car on the way home. And, it might be from the chocolate dipped granola bars w/peanut butter that I’ve craving. In any event, things are going well. I have more energy than I’ve had in awhile and I’m looking forward to meeting our baby in about 14 more weeks.

Stuff...

One of the girls on my team owns an online baby clothes and diaper bag company called Nest (www.nestchildren.com). Such cute stuff! She had a sample sale in her warehouse in Fremont so I drug Jen and Piche out to go peek. And, wow...2 diaper bags, 6 pairs of pants, 6 onsies, a blanket, and bib later we were out the door. I went home and hung everything up on hangers and feel like I'm starting to get quite the collection of clothes. I've also been scouring Websites to find the stroller, crib, bouncy seat, car seat, changing table, and many other items that we're going to need and I'm starting to feel overwhelmed. I'm having a hard time determining when the appropriate time to stop looking and start buying is and I'm starting to wonder where I'm going to put all this stuff (our condo isn't that big). And what's really frustrating is that there is so much stuff out there and I'm having a hard time determining what stuff I'll actually need and what stuff will be a huge waste of space, time and money. So for now, I'm making a ton of lists and when I find something I like, I write it down and if something comes along that is better, I scratch off the old and write down the new. I think we'll actually start buying stuff after Christmas and I just hope it starts to get a little more clear. 

The Ultrasound

Jeff and I returned home last Thursday (10/30) from 2 weeks in Mexico. The first week we spent in Cabo and the second week we spent in Puerta Vallarta. While we were in Cabo, I began to feel the baby moving around which was such a weird feeling. The baby was very active while we were on vacation so I was getting really excited to get home and find out what it was.

Friday morning at 830 am we arrived at the ultrasound. After waiting in the lobby for a few minutes, it was finally our turn to go in. The ultrasound technician was very nice and extremely chatty. She informed me that she did all 19 of my doctor's grandkids and has worked with him for years. After much small talk, I finally hopped up on the table and the ultrasound was on the way. We saw the baby sucking its thumb, moving its arm back and forth in a punching motion, then we saw the feet, measured the heart, looked at the face, and answered many questions from the technician. After exuding much patience to find out whether it was a boy or a girl, Jeff bluntly asks, "so when are you going to tell me that there's a penis?" The technician, pretty much speechless, politely informed him that we were getting to that part.

A couple minutes later, and dying to get to the point, she told us it was a GIRL!

I was pretty excited, and really wanted a girl. Jeff sat with a blank stare not quite sure what to think. I think the thought of a mini me running the round the house scares him a bit! And, I'm sure once she's here he won't be able to imagine life any differently.

Our due date is now March 20 and as I start to grow and stretch, I can not imagine another 4 months. Thankfully, I'm feeling much better. I have an appetite again and while I'm still tired, I'm not as worn out as I was during the first 4 months.

Now the fun begins --I'm ready to start shopping!

The fun continues....

Well, I'm officially 4 months and I'm a little shocked at how fast this is flying by. However, I'm very eager for it to all be over because I'm not really having a good time. While I'm not plagued by nausea anymore, I just don't feel very good. I'm very tired and my appetite is far from anything I would have ever expected.

Pre-pregnancy and on a multiple occasions, Jeff has labeled me as a food snob and accused me of ruining him from being able to enjoy a meal out. Post-pregnancy, my appetite is completely derailed and all of my normal favorites are out of the question. We went to Asado last weekend and it was all I could do to hang on. The smells and site of steak makes me queezy. The thought of eating a normal meal makes me cringe. And, I haven’t had any desire to go to a nice restaurant since I was 6 weeks pregnant. Jeff asked if I’m going to want Olive Garden anytime soon. And quite frankly…it’s not that far off.

I would describe my pregnancy appetite as a little white trash. I’ve eaten 3 boxes of Froot Loops, a box of Golden Grahams, a few bags of animal crackers, and about 4 boxes of banana popsicles. I refuse to buy another box of popsicles until someone comes over and eats the lime and rootbeer ones that are overflowing in our freezer. I’m convinced that my appetite is gone for the next 5 months and I’m really looking forward to craving big people food again.

I saw the doctor last week and I have gained the weight back that I originally lost during my first 8 weeks back so that’s a good sign. We go back on 10/31 (the day after we get back from Mexico) to find out whether we are having a little boy or a little girl.

Week 14

Wow, the time is flying by. I can't believe it's been 6 weeks since I last blogged. I hope that is not a sign of how good I'll be at posting new updates.

Lots has been going on over the past weeks. I broke the news at work and I'm really starting to show. Telling work was very difficult for me but it also felt good to not have to hide it anymore. We went down to LA for our National Sales Conference and it would have been very difficult to do without telling anyone on my team. They were all very supportive and even helped masked the fact that I wasn't drinking.

I still don't feel 100%. I'm not as nauseous as I was but I still don't have much of an appetite and I feel very, very tired. I'm hoping that in the next couple weeks that I will be feeling much better.

Yesterday we celebrated Brett's first birthday. I can't believe he's already 1. He's such a good baby and he's a lot of fun to watch. He loves to stick his 2 fingers into his mouth which I think is absolutely adorable.

Jeff and I spent yesterday morning looking at houses on the lake. Needless to say, it doesn't look like we'll be moving anytime soon. There was one home that we liked and 4 that we've crossed off the list. It seemed a little depressing after all was said and done and I kind of want the whole process just to be over with.

I'm very excited to find out if we're having a boy or a girl. I go to the doctor this Friday and then we'll get to set the date where we go in for the BIG ultrasound. I'm hoping it's before we go to Mexico on the 17th but that date isn't too promising. I'll be about 18 weeks then and the doc said we have to be between 18-20 so it may still be a week or two too soon.

8 weeks on 08/08/08

Not that I typically pay to much attention to these sort of things but I did think it was kinda cool that on 08/08/08 we turned 8 weeks.

There is nothing really new to report other than the fact that I am still sick all day long. Not throwing up sick, but I can't stomach the thought of most foods (fruits are really the only thing that actually sound good). Cooking dinner repulses me which is something I typically enjoy doing and cleaning the house is one of the toughest things for me to do. I'm extremely tired and the thought of working out is completely out of the question. The only vitamins that I've been taking are B-6 and gummy children's ones because the prenatal vitamins take me to a whole other level of nausea. 

I feel like a bit of a whimp and I'm sure those around me are sick of listening to me complain. I just really hope that this phase ends quickly and I can start being normal again. 

Friday we have another doctor's appointments. I think we'll get to listen for a heart beat and have an initial ultrasound. I'm looking forward to it! 

Almost 8 Weeks and Still Sick

On Friday it will be 8 weeks and I'm still feeling very sick. I'm not throwing up, I'm just not hungry, I feel very tired, and I'm experiencing nausea all day long. Today I skipped my vitamins in hopes that that might help...and it didn't.

I'm hoping that this phase passess very quickly.

I finally uploaded the photos of the little outfits we bought this weekend. The swimsuit if it's a girl and the onsie is pretty much unisex. I definitely think shopping will be my weakness --everything is just too cute. I even roped Simon into trying on the suite but he wasn't too thrilled with the idea.

Simon trying on the baby swimsuit...he was not amused.

Morning Sickness!? How About Morning, Noon, and Night Sickness!

I haven't experienced much morning sickness...but I have been experiencing morning, noon, and night sickness. The worse part about it is that I can't even throw up to make it pass. The thought of most foods makes me cringe and after a couple bites I feel really nauseous and want the food to go away. A few things sound really good to me like fruit (cherries, nectarines, and watermelon) and sherbert ice cream. Things that sound really unappealing include steak, fish, blue cheese, and yogurt which happen to be my normal favorites.

I went to the doctor on Friday morning and it was an episode. I arrived 15 minutes early to fill out my paperwork as requested and then was stuck in the waiting room for another half an hour after that while the girls at the front desk argued over who was going to call DSHS for one of the girls in the waiting room who didn’t have their monthly ‘coupon’.

The place was quite dirty, very unorganized and didn’t really feel like a doctor’s office. The nurse who tried to take my blood for some tests stuck a needle in my arm about a half a dozen times before giving up and telling me she’ll try again next time. Apparently my veins weren’t cooperating.

I decided that I should probably look for a new doctor and so I called my friend Stephanie who is a pharmaceutical rep and she gave me the name of a doctor who is just a few blocks from our house that I’m going to start seeing at the end of the month. I’m feeling a little more comfortable with a referral which I should have requested in the first place.

My mom, Melissa and I went to Sumner days yesterday and had a lot of fun. I bought the cutest little swim suit in case it’s a girl (fingers crossed) and a little onsie that for the most part is gender neutral. After about an hour, I started feeling nauseous and had to go home and nap.

I took a picture and will try and upload once I get my photos uploaded to the computer.

Weekend in Phoenix

Jeff and I headed down to Phoenix last weekend to spend some time with my dad, mom, and grandma in their new house. Their new house is deep into the Phoenix countryside in a town called Queen Creek. It's a retirement community on a golf course and it was a sweltering 110 degrees.

Friday night we had dinner at Mastro's City Grill. Pretty great food. Not so great prices. Later that evening we broke the news to my grandma. It went something like this, "So you're going to be a great grandma again." She replied, "what? who?" Once she found out it was me she seemed pretty happy. She's sure we're going to be great parents and said she's not worried one bit about us.

Saturday morning I took my grandma out for a ride in the convertable that Jeff had to rent. My grandma made some comment to the effect of, "one pregnant women and an old lady...I don't know how many heads we'll turn in this car." When we got back to my house, my parent's friend Butch was in the garage helping put together furniture when my grandma shared the story of her comment. Butch (who had no clue that we were pregnant) didn't seem to react to the news so all of us though maybe he didn't catch on. However, he did. He went home and asked his wife Judy if I was pregnant and she didn't know either. Later we broke the news and were chuckling about my grandmas slip.

Princess Ashley called later that night and was insisting that she has a girl cousin and we name her Serafina. She says boys aren't allowed and she'd really like a girl cousin to name Serafina. I'm on board with the girl part...just not to keen on the Serafina thing.

Jeff golfed We-Ko-Pa golf course on Sunday with Butch and my dad and was attacked by a Cholla cactus on the course. Enough said...

I've been feeling pretty good. For the most part it's been pretty easy thus far. I pee a lot. I'm always tired. And, I have a very interesting appetite lately. I'm not throwing up but feel pretty nauseious and can't stomach the thought of certain foods. I find it really strange.

Five Weeks

Friday marked five weeks. Jeff and I had tickets to the Diamond Club at the Mariner's Game and I got a little taste of what pregnancy life is all about. Everyone around you drinks. Meanwhile you have the distinct pleasure of watching everyone around you drink. I can officially say that it is the first time I've ever been sober at a Mariner's game. Fun times!

This morning, I picked up my mom and we headed for Seattle to get our nails and hair done. I couldn't imagine spending the entire day with her and not breaking the news so when we got in the car, I broke it. She claims, "she knew it!" because I didn't drink my wine on Wednesday when I was there for dinner and because I showed up in a dress today. First words, "Are you happy?" and "Was it intentional?"

It felt much better once I broke the news...now for the rest of the family.

After we retuned from a day of beauty, shopping, and dinner we told my Dad. Very anti-climatic and he was a little speechless. First words, "When are you getting married?" followed by "What are you going to do about work?" and "What last name are you going to give it?" All very important fatherly questions that I'm sure will be ironed out at some point; he'd just like to know now.

El Doctor

So, I went to see the doctor yesterday morning before work and it's now all official. My doctor was out on vacation and so I saw another doctor in her office who was more nervous about the test than I was. After it was confirmed, he started listing off the things I need to stay away from.

Here is what he rattled off:

1. drugs
2. alcohol (I asked if this included wine)
3. tobacco
4. sushi
5. tuna fish
6. lunch meat (unless it's microwaved)
7. excessive excercising

As I walked out the door --he asked, "so, do you have any questions for me?" I replied, "no thanks, you've already ruined my day enough." I was talking about the wine, sushi, and tuna fish. I think he thought I was referring to the pregnancy.

Mt. Si Is Very High

Natalie asked if I wanted to go for a hike on Sunday and I decided I was up for getting out and enjoying the sunny weather. I met her around 9am and we headed towards North Bend for what I thought was going to be an enjoyable afternoon with Nat.

One thing Natalie forgot to mention is that we were going to climb a dinosaur! Mt. Si is 4 miles of straight climbing! After 2.5 hours, we finally made it to the top, which I will admit was beautiful. But then, it came time to come back down...at first it seemed much easier then the climb up but after about 20 minutes, I was just really ready to be all done. My legs felt like Jell-o and I was beat. About half way down, I took a little (ok, a big) tumble and scraped up my knee.

After 2 hours, we finally made it to the bottom. Me--bloody, filthy, and tired. Natalie --cute, clean and ready for her tri this weekend.

I have to admit it was a fun time...I just think I need to take a break from the 4.5 hour workouts in my new state of being.

Big News

Saturday, July 12

Feeling a bit nauseous, tired, and had very little energy for the past couple of days so I picked up a test and it was confirmed --Simon is on his way to being a big brother.

My stomach is definitely feeling a little achy and according to the calculator I'm only 4 weeks. As such, I can't wait to see how I'm feeling in a couple more. According to the calculator he/she won't be here until mid-March.

Met up with Jeff for dinner after he was done playing golf and his respone, "is it mine?" (funny, huh)

Now were just sorting out the details of how to break the news...it's neverwrecking to say the least.