View from the top! & Bedding

My view from the top! (Not my favorite Maternity  shirt, but what can I say, none of them really are anymore!) 

So, a few quick picture additions... I had the afternoon off and realized I wanted to play with a lens that I can't wait to use with BabyO. We got our bedding as a gift yesterday and couldn't wait to get it on the crib! 

2 Ups and Many Downs

Be forewarned: this is going to get whiney. (I wish it were "wine-y" but that's another story entirely)

Let's start with the ups:
1) My baby shower is this weekend! I'm so excited to get my close friends together one more time before baby o makes her appearance! Also, I'm having maternity shots taken this weekend and we get to see our little monster in action via a 3D ultrasound. I'm really excited for this weekend.

2) (this one's small but meaningful!) I love Peet's Coffee. If you don't have them in your area, I'm sorry. I used to love Starbucks, until I realized how bland their coffee was, and how they just add sugar to everything to make it taste better. I still go to Starbucks in a pinch (aka, while visiting my parents in AZ, as they don't have peets there) but I almost always set my compass to Peets whenever possible. Anyway, I walked into Peets this morning for my fake coffee (aka decaf caramel latte) and whaddya-know?!?! They started carrying my ABSOLUTE favorite chocolate. As I noted in a previous post (too lazy to go back and look for it) I love going to the SF Ferry Building and farmer's market for many, many reasons, but my never fail stop is at Recchiuti Chocolates. I *love* their fleur de sel caramels and now that Peets is carrying their chocolate bars, I won't have to jump on BART to get my absolute favorite chocolate. My morning improved.

This leads me to the whining part of the post:
My work just moved offices. Every thing's been chaotic, as expected, and I didn't schedule any time off for it (I worked all weekend) knowing if something goes wrong, I'm in charge of fixing it (well, most things... or all things "business" related). So, Monday morning at 7am after working through the weekend and the previous week I received a phone call: a vendor was here, needed access to a room only I had a key to. Fine. I came in. Then Tuesday, I came into work to find out our phones stopped working (and, the alarm was going off at the other location and, and, and...) So today, Wednesday, I figured all the kinks were worked out. Of course, at 7am, AGAIN, I got a call. Our keys don't work on the door leading to our facility, so I had to come in. After working 10 days in a row, with something going wrong every day... I lost it.

My feet are now swollen as was kindly brought up to me by my NP at kaiser. I haven't taken the time to really rest. AND, when I have, I've had 2 sleepless nights. So, with the swollen feet, I can't fit in my shoes (I'm really trying to deny this) and I don't have time to go shopping for new shoes. Also, I need to upgrade my bra, but I'm sick of spending money on clothing that doesn't last more than a few weeks. Oh, and they don't make my bra size in cheap bras... which sucks. A lot. My hips hurt, my tailbone hurts, I'm exhausted and I really am looking forward to the pregnancy being over. I'm trying to enjoy our last few weeks as a couple before becoming a family, but I'm so 'married to work' right now, it's not really making it possible because I'm not getting any errands run and I don't see as much of Nick as I'd like to.

OK, that's enough whining. It feels better to get it out.

32w, 2d

New Pic, New Office

I think I'm at the stage where even maternity clothing sits funny on me. I didn't realize how 'crooked' this skirt looks until I saw it on film. Ask me what I did about it? Nothing. Skirts and dresses are the most comfortable things I can wear at this point, and I continue to out grow items in my closet, so this skirt's staying in the wardrobe for quite a bit longer. 

This weekend was crazy with work. We moved our office, I've officially worked 7 days in a row and my next day off doesn't look like it will be until Friday. Oh, the joys of being a salaried employee. On a good note, I now have my very own (tiny) office. I had to give up my big executive cherry desk for a part of a modular desk, but at least this way after the baby comes, I'll be able to pump from the comfort of my own desk, in private, without anyone bothering me. I'm actually excited about it. 

32 weeks, even!

So, apparently she's gotta come out.

Last night was our first 'Child birth' class. It was good. Poor Nick is so scared of the delivery and him passing out during the entire process. He's fearful of hospitals in general, well, hospitals, sterile environments with people running around in scrubs, needles, etc. I thought the prenatal visits were good for him because it was "breaking him in" for what's to come. Up until last visit. He got warm and wasn't feeling well while waiting for the last visit.

Anyway, last night was good. We went. He felt like a dork toting around a pillow and towel to the hospital. Luckily, we sighted a fellow future Dad carrying the same goods into the facility with his pregnant wife.

I actually learned a few new things last night, which was good. I couldn't imagine taking the abbreviated course (Friday night and all day Saturday) as 2 hours last night was plenty of information for my brain to take in. The class went by pretty quickly. I like this instructor much better than the other course instructor (we were stuck with her twice!).

The best part about this whole thing? We were encouraged to practice relaxation techniques in which I get as comfortable as I can and Nick is to do whatever it takes to help me relax. Last night, during the "exercise" in class, I got to close my eyes, do some deep breathing while Nick rubbed my shoulders.

Now, if only I can stay that relaxed as the contractions come on!

31 weeks, 1 day

Good things

I wanted to do a postive post, since it's been a bit since I've done one. Positive things: baby's moving around a lot! So much so that I don't even really remember her not moving around...or, I should say, I don't know how I'll cope without her wiggling around and reminding me of her :)
Then again, I guess that's what pictures are for, once she's here!

My back has been pretty good. It wasn't so happy for awhile, and now I can tell when I'm in a bad position, I can just take over the big couch and lay on my side and it's much better. I'm tolerating sitting for long periods without pain and although I'm slower to walk, I can still get up and around relatively easy. However, I have to keep in mind with parking that I can't park too close because the door opening is no longer the problem with fitting in a parking spot, it's now my belly to butt width that makes the difference.

A friend of mine gave birth this past weekend. Seeing her baby's pictures made my heart swoon for her and her family. I still can't quite comprehend that I'll be in the same situation in a few short weeks. And, I can't wait.

This weekend I'm going to a baby shower for another friend (Friend due in April, May and then there's me). I'm excited to see her and her progress along with getting togeher with a bunch of other girls. Also this weekend, I'll be meeting up with a couple of other friends I haven't seen for quite some time. One moved to Oregon and the other is just rounding out her first trimester. I'm really looking forward to it.

Oh, I got a raise this week. I'm super excited and proud. Nick and I are going out to dinner to celebrate (as to where? I don't know yet... I haven't decided).

We got a lot of yard work done last weekend. It was good to get out in the sun and trim up bushes and generally 'polish' the back yard. It's one of my favorite parts of the house we're renting, so it will be good to take advantage in the upcoming weekends of a pretty yard.

I'm pleased that I'm feeling better and better and I can read my body enough to understand when I need to lay down, when I need a snack, etc.

I got a pedicure yesterday, my toes look pretty in pink :)

I get to go shopping for all the fun May events coming up. I have 2 showers, 2 weddings and Mother's Day to dress up for (I *think* both Nick and I's Mom's will be in the area for M-day)!

OK, that's all I have for now. I'll make sure to add more later.

"I really don't think your belly can get all that much bigger"

That's what Nick said last night. I told him "It can and it will"

30w, 1d

New Belly Pic

Well, here's my current picture. I really should invest in a tripod that will take vertical pictures. My current tripod was made for a video camera (it's a hand me down) and I'm really a vertical picture kind of girl... Hmm, I guess I could lay down on the ground and take a picture of myself, that would fix this whole problem, but instead, I use the only vertical tripod I "own": Nick. It's easy to get him to take the pictures... all I have to do is say "Honey, it's time for a belly picture, can you please snap one of me?" But it's hard to get him to understand the finer details of the SLR camera.

This morning, while taking this picture, I noticed that with the morning sun (not enough light), the shutter speed was a little slower than normal (I could hear it). I told him that. He looks at the tiny picture on the screen and says "Looks good to me!" And, I'll give him that... with the tiny image, it didn't look blurry. Well, when I upload it, lo and behold... it's blurry. I had him take a few additional shots with the flash (as to eliminate the slow shutter speed and eliminate the issues with the moving tripod). I don't like the coloring and, my I don't like my expression ... it's really hard to take pictures of yourself... suddenly laying on the floor might be my next option. As I only really have 10 weeks left to take pictures of myself... then, the REAL fun begins! (Pictures of our little monkey!)

Here's a picture with the flash (offset).

I love photography. I'm not great at it, but it's a fun hobby.

OK, I'm at 30 weeks. 10 weeks to go... holy cow, this has come along pretty quickly. I continue to get "Any day now!" remarks wherever I go. I know people want to be nice, but I still have 10 weeks people! I actually enjoy telling people I still have over 2 months. Their eyes bug out of their head as they try to wrap their brain around how much bigger my belly can get. People! I started out on the smaller side, there's no way to go but out! I really did start out with not much space in my abdomen. My co-worker would work on my psoas muscle (muscle that goes from the front of your spine, around the front of your pelvis and inserts on your inner thigh, it's a hip flexor and can contribute to back problems... there. I'm a nerd, now you see it. Anyway, he'd go to work on this muscle at where it inserts on the front of the spine... he'd only push in my belly for an inch and a half or so, and he'd be pressing on my spine. It's really incredible how much changes in such a short period of time with pregnancy.

Anyway, I'm done blabbering for today. Plenty more for posts later in the week :)

30 weeks, even!

I *love* the kicks!

I really, really love feeling her wiggle and squirm and roll and kick around in my belly. I've got a few 'hot spots' that I can watch and see my entire stomach change form. I don't know if I like feeling it better or watching it.

It makes me smile to imagine a ~2.75 lb. baby wiggling around in there, trying to get my attention, working on her little muscles and gaining all kinds of baby fat. I know that I'll certainly miss the work distractions once she's here. I can often be caught staring down at my tummy with my hand right over where she's kicking. It's just so amazing.

29 w, 2d

"You must be due any day now, huh?!?!"

That's what the lady at Baby Gap said to me as we waited for this super cute onesie to arrive at the counter in our size. I said, in a very reassuring manner "Nope! I'm due in June" (I didn't even tell her late June). She looked at me with quite a puzzled look. "Um, are you sure there aren't two in there?" No, honey, I've gotten that response from a number of people. "Nope, just one. We're sure".

We went shopping for baby clothes. Nick apparently hasn't been to Broadway Plaza in a long, long time as he just noticed J.Crew in the shopping center (um, honey, it's been opened at least a year now). As we were walking along the shopping center, he laughed. He said "It's awesome to watch people as they walk by you. They look at you, then all eyes are on the belly". Apparently I'm quite an attraction :)

We also picked up a couple things at gymboree. This little jumper thingy (um, I don't know the "real" lingo yet) is super cute. I like that it's very 'summery' for our little summer girl. We also got this little matching hat.

I'll have to take a picture of our closet as it fills up! I've had to make a couple trips to the store for hangers as the ones we've previously purchased continue to be 'taken'! We've recieved many generous gifts from friends and family and I'm so excited to not know which cute outfit to dress our little girl in!

29 weeks