From the Peanut Gallery- Week 17: The Turnip

Again with the weird produce...anyone out there ever eaten a turnip?

This is the week I have been waiting for.

I think I'm finally at that stage people have been telling me about.

I've reached The Promised Land.

I feel great 98% of the time, I have energy (although I still totally rock a nap everyday...because...well, because I can), I have a true baby bump, AND...I can eat!!

I've actually been hungry.  A LOT of hungry.  Every two hours hungry.  But instead of forcing my self to eat two bites of something to avoid barfing every two hours, I actually WANT food every two hours.  I'm definitely not over-eating.  I still don't really clean a plate, well, ever.  But it's oh-so-exciting to enjoy my favorite meals again.

I am also back in the kitchen!  The smells there are no longer my enemy.  I can handle cooking a meal.  J and I even made a trip to the grocery store to stock up on some refrigerator and pantry essentials (and three cake mixes, two different types of cookies, and the makings of an apple pie...apparently baby wanted dessert).  This was a truly monumental feat.  You see, for many, many weeks now, the grocery store has also been my enemy.  I actually could not step foot in the door, lest the sight and aroma of food, food, everywhere food send me running for the little trash can in the meat aisle.  It was nice to browse up and down each aisle, throwing unnecessary treats into the cart at every turn.

My other favorite part of the week is the bump.  Ah, the bump.  The outward sign of pregnancy that I've been waiting for.  It's here.  It's really, really here.  I've had lots of fun shopping for maternity clothes, and I think I've done an okay job of picking out things that are actually pretty cute.  It's so fun to be wearing things that showcase our little man, growing and growing.  J, being the ultimate supportive hubby, worried that I may be feeling less attractive with my growing figure.  (Yes, ladies, you read that correctly.  He wanted to talk with me about my feelings.)  In all actuality, I am feeling more attractive.  I have lost a lot of the self-consciousness that I had, and I feel good about rocking the bump.  In my cute new clothes.  With great accessories.  And 3-inch heels.  Yep.  I feel good.

Maybe I finally love being pregnant?  Yes, friends, I have been waiting for this week.  Yes I have.

Things I Heart: Shoes

I refuse to give these up, just because I'm pregnant. I'm just sayin'.

Vacation, Vacation!

Sorry this post is so delayed!  Getting back into the swing of things is tough.  Ever feel like you need a vacation from your vacation? 

In any case, vacation was WONDERFUL!  J and I had a great time on our west coast adventure.

I've mentioned before how I'm not the greatest at remembering to take pictures.  Of course, this vacation was no exception.  I started off strong, but by the time we got to the latter half of the week, my photographic instincts petered out.

Our trip started in San Diego.  I LOVE this city!  There was so much to do and see there!  Another trip there is a necessity.  The weather was definitely not the sunny California I was expecting, but it turned out to suit our purposes really well.  The gray, overcast mornings were perfect for venturing out and about in the city, and the sunny afternoons were perfect for lounging by the pool.

Our hotel was SUH-WEET!

Our living room.

Office- you know, for all of the business needs we had in San Diego.

The bedroom.

View from our balcony.

I neglected to take a picture of the bathroom, but it was nothing terribly special.  Although, the water pressure in our shower was ah-mazing.  Like standing underneath Niagra Falls, I tell you.

Although we really enjoyed our whole San Diego experience, we had two favorite parts.  First was the world-famous San Diego Zoo.  The animals were SO active and fun to watch!  It was really the most memorable zoo experience I've ever had- and I love me some zoo!  I can see why this zoo is so famous.  We were lucky to be there on a good day!

This gorilla was awesome.  At one point she came up and pounded on the glass several times, King Kong style.

Not sure if she was playing, or telling us to back away from her cutie baby!

This monkey didn't want anyone to take any of his leaves and grass, that he oh-so-carefully wrapped around himself.

The baby didn't care.  He's moving in for the steal.  We spent a good half-hour watching the interactions of these guys.  They were great!

Hello, Mr. Hippo!

Sleepy bear.

I couldn't resist this cheesy pic.  If you look at the title on the lab coat, it says "Extraterrestrial Impact Theorist."  Sounds just like J, no?

I believe this is the only picture of the two of us from the entire trip.  I am definitely carrying a baby around with me these days!

Our other favorite part of San Diego was the food.  Yes, I took pictures of several of our meals- they were that pretty!  We used tripavisor.com to choose restaurants, and it didn't let us down.  We had some truly incredible meals!

It was a little dark in here, but check out the size of this kobe burger!  Yum.

Seared ahi tuna, mango salsa, black rice.  J loved.

Is that the prettiest eggs benedict you've ever seen?

Guess what was inside my omelet?  Mashed potatoes.  That's right. 

J's "everything beer" burger.  Tons of crap on top of this thing, all cooked, basted, or broiled in some different flavor of beer.  I could still smell it on his breath the next day.  This thing was no joke.

One more thing completely amazed me!  And that was the sea lions.  We could hear them in the bay each morning, and I was so excited to see them in the wild!  Unfortunately, we couldn't get terribly close.  But look out into the distance, and you can see tons of big lumps chilling on that dock!

A few other pics from the grounds of our resort:

Marina- big boats!  I was hoping one of them was my anniversary gift, but alas, no.

Water slides at the pool!  Loved all the lush foliage.

After we left San Diego, we met up with Frank and Linda, J's dad and step-mom.  We headed to Palm Springs for a night to visit with J's brother Josiah, his wife Rosa, and their baby Linda!

Our niece Linda.  Adorable!

Baby Linda with Frank and Linda.  These grandparents sure love their grandbaby!

Baby Linda with her mom and dad.  (Sorry for the crappy cellphone pic.  This is the point where I started sucking with the picture taking.)

After we left Palm Springs, we headed to Tecate, Mexico (yes, Tecate like the beer- this is where it's made), to stay with the in-laws for the last two nights of our trip.  Again, very few pictures here...but here's what I got!

Tecate town square.  Lots of booths to buy Mexican goods!

These old men were serious about their dominoes. 

A Mexican "garden." 

So that was the trip, in a picture-heavy nutshell!  We really had a great time.  It was hard to come home!  (And even harder to adjust from east coast time to west coast time back to east coast time!)

Already looking forward to our next vacation!

From the Peanut Gallery- Week 16: The Avocado

I just returned from my monthly OB visit, and heard the avocado's heartbeat again.  I'm quite certain that there is no sound more beautiful in this wide world.

Q: How are you feeling these days?  How did you do on vacation?
A: I actually felt great on vaca!  I only needed a nap once.  I had energy, and wanted to be out and about, seeing the sights and doing all of the vacationy stuff.  I walked the San Diego zoo, did some swimming, wandered downtown, ate at some spectacular restaurants...all without ever throwing up!  I am starting to experience some minor aches and pains - sore back and feet, and lots of pulling and stretching in my abdomen - but I can totally deal. 


Q: How was vacationing with a baby on board?
A: Good times were had by all!  J, aka Pregnancy Police, even let up on his strict rule-following regimen.  I enjoyed a few soft cheeses (they were probably pasteurized, but I didn't ask, lest my vacation dream meals be ruined), and even had one glass of champagne on our anniversary.  And lemme tell you...it tasted oh. so. good.  I drank it over the span of two hours, taking teeny tiny sips to make it last as long as I could.  Back to the real world now, and I can look forward to my next champagne in February.  




Q:  Have you felt the baby move yet?
A: NO.  (Insert sad face here.)  At least I don't think so.  I have been much more observant of every tummy rumble, and there were two or three times when I thought it just might have been the baby.  But when I held incredibly still and waited for the movement to continue, it didn't.  So for now, still waiting.

Q: Speaking of tummy rumbles, how's the appetite?  And are you starting to gain weight yet?
A: Still not able to eat much.  I just get full so quickly!  And no, not so much with the weight gain.  Still at -8 pounds at today's appointment.  Not gonna lie.  I'm pretty excited about the lack of weight gain.  If the doctors aren't concerned, I'm not concerned.  Who knew getting pregnant would be the best weight loss plan ever?! 


Q: What's the baby up to this week?
A: Growing body hair.  Not body hair like his daddy (dear God, I hope not at this point!), but soft, fine hair called lanugo.  Another one of those protective things that fetuses have going on.  He's also busy gearing up for a growth spurt.  In the next few weeks, he'll double in size!

From the Peanut Gallery- Week 15: The Apple

An apple...he's really getting up there!



This week was shopping week! J and I were busy planning our anniversary trip to San Diego/Palm Springs/Mexico- yes, quite the whirlwind!- when I realized that I really needed to do a little shopping before I could pack. Shopping for clothes that my growing belly could fit into comfortably! I got another pair of jeans, a denim skirt, and several tops. Ahhh. Feels much better.

This was also the week that people started to touch the belly. Rubbing it to say hello to baby. Luckily I am not freaked out by this! I am a touchy-feely person myself, so I don't mind. It's reassuring to know that I am actually looking pregnant!

And, since J pointed out that the blog IS supposed to be filled with 'confessions'...this week, I peed a little when I sneezed. Anyone who has ever had a baby can sympathize, I'm sure. Everyone who has never had a baby, feel free to laugh at me. I couldn't help it though! Sadly, I fear that this problem is only going to get worse over the next 25 weeks.

Okay, short update this week! I'm on vacation!

The Happiest Day of my Life...

...was one year ago today.

September 6, 2009, was the day I married the love of my life.

It was a day filled with so much love and laughter, friendship, good times.  I never wanted it to end, and yet it went by in the blink of an eye.

I was so excited to become J's wife.  I couldn't wait to get into my dress and walk down that aisle.  Surrounded by my sister and some of my very best friends, we spent the day together in anticipation.

Then the big moment came.  We exchanged vows and rings, and we were man and wife.

This was followed by the best party!  Amazing food, amazing cake, amazing music, amazing times.

Then J and I embarked on our honeymoon to Maui, and our first year as marrieds.  And lemme tell you, it's only gotten better since that day. 

I love you, J, for so many reasons.  Just too many to list.  If year one was as wonderful as this, I just can't wait to see how our love grows over year two (and three, and four, and five...until forever).

J- you are my favorite person.

Like Mommy, Like Puppy

Doesn't she look sad?

That's because she's had a rough couple of days.  It has occurred to me that she is having issues similar to her mommy.

She is having trouble keeping food down.  She is tired all the time.  Eating just isn't appealing.

Turns out, we both have a parasite.