Maranda Lamping

Winter Storm 2012

2012-01-25T09:49:00.000-08:00

A week and a half ago, on the 15th, big wet snowflakes started to fall around the South Sound. Nothing too exciting; just some small flurries. The next day, the snow started to pile up, and by Wednesday morning, everything was coated in white.

I spent last week at home, not going into work due to the amount of snow in our area. It was so nice to have extra time home with Josh and Lane! We played board games and card games, read, napped, went for walks in the snow.

And then Thursday morning, our power went out.

We still don't have it back.

The South Sound was hit with snow, and then ice, and then wind. This resulted in trees falling/branches breaking for two straight days. Over 300,000 people were without power for some length of time.The power company has been working like crazy to get power restored, including bringing hundreds of workers in from other states. They have done a great job of keeping people informed, working around the clock, and still being friendly no matter how many times people call to complain.

Here are photos from around our house on that Wednesday morning, when we had the most snow.

Josh and Lane, all bundled up.

Molly LOVES the snow.

My favorite monkey and me.

Here's the proof- 12 inches of snow!

I think he likes it!

The power company has promised us our power WILL be back on today at some point, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this is true. All I want to do is take a shower in my own bathroom and do laundry!!

Sleeping Schedule: Interrupted

2012-01-10T09:03:00.000-08:00

Up until about 2 weeks ago, we had a great sleeping routine. I even blogged about how well it was going in Lane's 2 Month letter. But then he got his first cold, and our entire routine went down the drain.

Because he was so congested, Lane and I spent much of the night sitting up, in the bathroom, with the hot shower running. The steam/humidity helped up both breathe easier, and we often times fell asleep in there. Or, we'd sleep together in our bed, both of us propped up more upright than usual. This means Lane got very used to being held, snuggled, and upright rather than swaddled, horizontal, and in his bassinet.

Now that we're both over our illness, we're trying to transition back to our old ways. And man oh man, is it tough. Lane wants to be held, rocked, in our bed. He wants to snuggle, and feel a warm body against him. And while I LOVE snuggling him, I know he needs to learn to sleep on his own.

Last night was ROUGH. Lane went down okay the first time, but then was awake again at 1 AM. I fed him, changed his diaper, reswaddled him, and put him back in his bassinet. Cue the SCREAMING. So I got him out, rocked him, and tried to put him down when he was almost asleep. Nope, not having it. To make a long story short, we ended up being awake for 2 hours in the middle of the night, and Lane ended up in our bed.

Its really tough for me to stick it out in the middle of the night, especially when I have to work the next day. It just always seems easier to put him in bed with me, and tell myself, "I'll work on it tomorrow night".

We've used Dr. Harvery Karp's book "The Happiest Baby on the Block" since Lane was born, and its amazing how well the techniques work. Even Josh, who was hesitant to buy into the hype, now uses the 5 S's on a routine basis. (I'm totally recommending this book to ALL new parents- SO worth reading!) Lane is pretty dependent on 4 of the 5 S's, those being sucking, swinging/swaying, shushing (or white noise), and swaddling. Sometimes when he's just upset and not really sleeping, the stomach/side positioning really helps. I'm hoping that since Lane is now considered out of the "4th Trimester" (read the book to find out what that is!), we can slowly transition some of these S's out. I would love for him to be able to sleep without being rocked/swayed to sleep, and I'm fine with him keeping the swaddling (he stays safely warm without blankets, sucking (self-soothing), and shushing (because we have a white noise machine).

Josh wants to transition Lane into his own room soon, but I'm just not ready. Its so much more convenient to feed him in our room, and to be able to just reach over into his bassinet to replace his pacifier or to check or eyeballs that may be awake.

So, as with all other challenges, this shall pass soon. I know in a few weeks or months when I'm looking back at this post, it'll be hard to remember Lane not being a good sleeper, and this phase won't seem all that bad.

Lane: 3 Months

2012-01-05T11:51:00.000-08:00

Dear Lane,

This has been a big month for you! Your personality now shines so much, and its neat to see you becoming your own person.

The weekend after your 2 month checkup, you decided to roll over from your tummy to your back. It was so exciting to watch you accomplish this milestone, and now you hardly stay on your tummy at all.

You are still sleeping well in your bassinett, with the exception of some late-night snuggling that Mom likes to sneak in.

You also LOVE the TV- anything that's on catches your attention.

We celebrated your first Christmas this month, and you were spoiled with lots of new toys and clothes. One of your favorite toys in your new activty mat from Great Grandma Caroline. It has toys that hang down that you can reach, and a "piano/keyboard" at the bottom for you to kick with your feet. You'll spend up to an hour there if we let you, kicking your legs and grabbing at the toys. It brings all of us lots of entertainment!

You are now mostly in 3-6 month clothes, due to your long legs. We believe you're around 13-14 lbs, although we haven't weighed you recently. We're getting better at staying happy when clothes are put over your head, and when its bathtime and time to get dressed. You've taken a few showers now with Mom, and are slowly becoming used to the spray of the shower on your little body.

Dad is still staying home with you Monday-Friday, and he's really enjoying getting to spend one-on-one time with you. He takes great care of you, acts goofy to make you smile, and loves to cuddle with you at naptime as much as Mom.

As you transition out of your newborn phase and into a more mature infant, its hard to believe you were once so small. Packing away too-small clothes makes us miss that tiny, sleepy new baby, but we also love how fun you're becoming, and how much you interact now.

We love you, Baby Lane!

Love,

Mom and Dad

Christmas Prepping

2011-12-20T14:37:00.000-08:00

I can't believe Christmas is only a few days away... I feel so behind!

Josh and I agreed to no go overboard with gifts for Lane this year, as a) he won't remember it, b) there's nothing he really NEEDS, and c) all of our family is flooding him with gifts already. But, we did want to get him a few small things. So, I bought him a book, a CD, and some adorable camouflage boots, plus things like new pacifiers, Level Two bottle nipples, etc. for his stocking. Josh bought him a CAT hoodie (grey, not blue) and Carhartt overalls.

We have yet to get a Christmas tree, and if it weren't for Lane, I probably wouldn't. But I feel guilty if we don't have one this year since its his first Christmas.

I (of course) waited until this week to start Christmas shopping, so I'm now rushing to get everything done in time.

I'll post Christmas photos of all of Lane's new loot after this weekend!

Maternity Photos

2011-12-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

I'm just now getting around to posting them, but here are a few of our maternity photos! These were taken by my amazing cousin Amanda, from Amanda Kay Photography. We took them at the Saint Martin's Campus, a place near and dear to my heart.

Lane: Two Months

2011-12-13T09:46:00.000-08:00

So I wrote this post on Lane's two month birthday, and thought I hit "publish". But evidently, I just saved it as a draft. Which is why its so late!!

Dear Lane,

Today, you are two months old. Time is FLYING! This past month has brought so much change for you.

You are now an awesome sleeper at night, most of the time. You typically go down between 8-9 PM, and will sleep to between 2-4 AM, when its time to eat. You then go back to bed for another stretch, anywhere from 2-4 hours more. We swaddle you tightly, give you your pacifier for a few minutes, and put you in your bassinett half-asleep. In this past month, you've decided sleeping on your back isn't all that bad. You still end up in our bed sometimes, but that's just because Mama wants to snuggle you. :)

Being on your changing table brings out the biggest grins. We still don't know quite why you like it so much, but we love changing your diaper because of those big goofy smiles. And speaking of smiles, you gave us your first REAL smile this month, and its now easy to get you to grin in reaction to us.

You are so much more active now, and much more alert. You love flinging your arms around, and are much better at getting your hands to your mouth.

You also love having us quickly lift you up into the air, as it tickles your tummy. When you're upset, that is one of the easiest ways to get you to calm down. You also love it when Dad "flies" you around the house; he puts you on your tummy in his arms, and then races around the house, taking you on an aerial "tour" of the couch, your bouncy chair, the bed, Molly, and whatever else crosses your path. This is something special that you two do, and its so fun listening to Dad narrate for you.

You are almost over the getting grumpy when you wake up phase, and instead just slowly wake up, stretch, and then look around to see where your food is. You are still an impatient eater, though.

We had your two month checkup today, and you weighed 12 lbs. 1 ounce, and are 24 1/4 inches long. You are in the 90% percentile for weight, 75% for length, and 25% for head circumference. You also got all of your required shots, which you were not a fan of. However after just a few minutes, you stopped crying, and were sleepy for the rest of today. You are a champ!

You are quickly outgrowing clothes, and your newborn clothes are already packed up. I can tell you won't be in 0-3 month clothes very long either, as your long legs just won't fit.

You love being in the Beco baby carrier, and almost instantly go to sleep in it. Its so nice to be able to take you places in in, and this month we ventured out to watch your cousin Jack wrestle, to do some shopping at the mall, and to go to a Christmas bazaar.

You hold your head up so well now, even while on your tummy. You can get your top half rolled onto your side, but your butt and legs are still stuck. It won't be long now until you're rolling over!

Dad and I are loving all of your changes, and seeing you grow and develop is so neat for us. I'm sure this next month will be even more exciting, as we get to experience your first Christmas. We love you, baby Lane!

Love,

Mom and Dad

On A Roll!

2011-12-05T08:44:00.001-08:00

My little man can now roll with the best of 'em.

Sleep, Oh Glorious Sleep

2011-12-02T08:50:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago, I had a long conversation with my wonderful cousin Mandy, regarding babies and sleep. She has two children of her own, and was (is) a valuable source of information on all things parenting. Our situation was that Lane refused to sleep lying down, unless it was in bed with me, or lying on my. He would sometimes sleep in his bouncy chair, and would nap in his swing, but bedtime was awful. I found myself dreading going to bed. I spent many nights ~~sleeping~~ napping on the couch, just praying for daylight to hurry up and arrive. Lane refused to have anything to do with his bassinet, even when swaddled.

I was afraid of Lane become dependent on my for sleep; I was afraid I was "spoiling" him.

Mandy assured me that I was not spoiling my son, and that things would get better in time. After all, how many 18-year-olds do you see still sleeping in their bouncy chairs or lying on their mothers' chests?

So, we just waited it out. And I kept putting Lane in his bassinet during the day, sometimes while awake, and sometimes after he had fallen asleep. We had discovered Lane loves white noise, so we bought a white machine. And kept swaddling.

And wouldn't you know it- he started sleeping in there! Nightime was still rough, and I kept perpetuating the problem by putting him in bed with me. But finally, after a particularly rough night, Josh and I agreed something had to change. So back in the bassinet he went.

And I'm proud to say, Lane now sleeps perfectly in his bassinet. He'll sleep for 4-6 hours at night, wake up to eat, and then go back to sleep for another 2-4 hours. He still sometimes needs some "help" getting to sleep, such as being rocked, but we always try to put him down before he's actually asleep.

Its amazing what just a difference a few shorts weeks can make. We are all so much more happy during the day, and feel much more rested. Plus, this will all help once we transition Lane into his own room. And although I sometimes still sneak Lane into our bed for some snuggle time, I feel confident knowing he is on his way to becoming an independent sleeper.

Lane's First Halloween

2011-11-14T09:41:00.000-08:00

Lane: One Month

2011-11-13T09:16:00.000-08:00

Although I'm just getting around to posting it today, this was written to Lane on October 28, 2011, his one month birthday.

Dear Lane:

Today, you are one month old. This still amazes me- how is it possible you have been outside of me for a whole month already?

Although time is flying by, Dad and I are trying to soak up every second of time with you we can. We don't want to miss one goofy face, one sleepy smile, or one snuggly naptime. Your personality is really coming out, and we are truly getting to "know" you.

For instance, the 5-10 minutes after you start waking up, you are a big grump. You fuss, moan, groan, and act like you're about to cry. And then, as soon as it starts, its over, and you're a happy baby. When you're awake, you love to look out the windows. The bright light catches your attention, and you turn your head as far as you can to get a good look.

You also recognize our voices now, and turn your head towards us when we talk to you. You can follow things with your eyes, and have started becoming more coordinated when it comes to getting your fingers into your mouth.

You hate to sleep on your back (unless its in our bed), and so we still use your bouncy chair at nighttime. You wake up every 2-3 hours to eat, and then often times want to stay awake and hang out with Mom instead of going back to sleep.

You used to hate having your diaper changed, but have since decided its not too terrible. Your first bath was a horrible experience, as you screamed the entire time. But every bath since then has been much better, with no more crying. You just hate getting out of the bath now. You also don't like shirts being put over your head.

We took our first drive out to the ocean this month, so Dad could look at a few hunting spots. Although you and I stayed in the car the entire time, it was fun to get out of the house.

You are breastfeeding like a champ, and I'm so happy we decided to stick with it. You make the funniest faces and noises when its time to eat, and you tend to be very impatient. We've given you a few bottles, and your Dad absolutely loves feeding you; its a real bonding time for you two.

As we head into your second month of life, I look forward to seeing you develop into more of a "baby" and less of a "newborn", although I will certainly miss this newborn phase. We are still holding out for that real smile, and hopefully it comes in the next few weeks.

We love you Lane.

Love,

Mom and Dad

Lane's Nursery

2011-11-12T08:51:00.001-08:00

When we first discovered we were pregnant, I couldn't wait to start on the nursery.

The room that would become Lane's room was our guest room/office/storage area/big room full of junk. We first had to empty that room before we could really start on getting it baby-ready. Once empty, we finished the trim in the room, installed new closet doors, and also installed shelves in the closet to help with organizing. (I say "we", but really Josh did all the work. He just let me pick stuff out and come up with the ideas.)

We knew that if we had a boy, we wanted to do a sports theme. Josh is a sports N-U-T, and I knew that if we went with sports, he would want to be actively involved in picking out decor for the room, which I wanted.

Now that Lane's room is complete, I am so happy with how it turned out. I didn't want his room to be too "babyish"; I wanted it to grow with him, and be a room he would be happy with as an older child as well (minus the crib and changing table!).

Now for the pictures:

Ikea Hemnes Dresser (which ROCKS)
The canvas print is of Safeco Field, and Ichiro is up to bat. We love it because it continues the sports theme, but also relates it to where we live.

Bookshelf filled with books from our baby shower. The baseball print hanging above it was my brother's when we was little.

Changing table (I have a cloth diapers post coming up soon!)

Ignore the bright light from the window.

His closet- filed to maximum capacity.

His bedding is "Junior Varsity" from Pottery Barn Kids (GREAT quality!)

My friend Kristina gave us this frame at our shower- it has a special place for Lane's bracelet from the hospital! Wonderful keepsake.

Lane- Birth to One Month

2011-11-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

Lane- 2 weeks

2011-11-07T19:43:00.000-08:00

Birth Story, Part 3

2011-11-05T13:41:00.000-07:00

Now that the doctor was in position, I was able to push freely with each contraction. I would feel one coming, and Josh would start to count to ten while I held onto the backs of my legs. Stephanie and Josh each help one leg, and as soon as Josh got to ten, I would stop pushing, take another deep breath, hold it, and push for another count of ten. We did this three times for each contraction.

I couldn't feel a difference between contractions, as in Lane moving down or not. But all of a sudden, it burned. The doctor had me stop pushing, which was HARD, so he wouldn't come out too quickly. And then with one more big push, and one more small push, Lane Marshall Davis was born.

It was 3:06 AM, and I had only pushed for 13 minutes.

It also happened to be my Dad's birthday. We had always jokey that maybe Lane would be born on his birthday, but never did he actually expect it to happen.

Lane was immediately placed on my belly, and Josh cut his umbilical cord. He was then moved up to my chest for skin-to-skin contact, and the nurses helped me wipe him off a little. I always wondered if I would be grossed out by my baby being covered in all that "goo", but I saw right past it to my beautiful new son. I kissed his little head, and held his tiny hand. I am so thankful we had our camera handy, as Josh was able to capture photos of Lane's first moments of life; pictures I will cherish forever.

Although Lane was crying after he was born, the nurses called it "singing", as it wasn't the deep, strong, clear cry they wanted him to have. We kept rubbing him with blankets, tickling his feet, etc., but he just didn't want to cry very strongly. So, although I had plans to breastfeed him right away, the baby nurse took him to his isolette to check him out. His color was great, but they just weren't quite satisfied with his crying, even after suctioning his nose and mouth out more. So, they called in a nurse from the Special Care Nursery.

I was terrified something was wrong, but I was stuck in my hospital bed, unable to go be by Lane's side. The new nurse came in with a cart of machines, and hooked him up to an oxygen meter. His oxygen levels were great, which was a relief. After spending several minutes with him, the nurse decided to take him down to the Special Care Nursery for further evaluation. She wrapped him in a blanket, and handed him to Josh for the first time. Josh brought Lane over to me, so I could hold him one more time before they took him away. Luckily, Josh was allowed to go with the nurse, so he took the camera and off they went.

I was left in my room, with just my nurse, wondering if my new baby would be okay. Amazingly, I didn't cry though. I think my emotions were so all over the place, I was too in shock to cry.

Stephanie asked if I wanted to invite any family in with me so I wouldn't be alone. I told her my mom and Josh's mom could come back. They came in, all smiles, looking around the room. And then I had to explain that my new sweet baby was not okay. I could tell they both tried to act like it wasn't a big deal, so that I wouldn't worry even more.

Eventually the rest of our family came in, and Josh came back with an update. Lane was doing okay, but they still wanted to monitor him for a little longer. He was breathing on his own, his oxygen levels were fine, and he was awake and alert, but still sounded kind of congested in his lungs. We (or I) still didn't know how much Lane weighed or how long he was, and thats when Josh told me he was 8 lbs. 5.7 oz, and 21 1/4 inches long. He also brought my camera back with him, so I could see pictures.

Our family went back out to stand outside the nursery door so they could look through the window, and were lucky enough to be able to go in and visit him. It broke my heart that I couldn't go down there yet, and that everyone was getting to know my new baby before me.

Luckily, Josh was able to be present to watch them weigh him, bathe him, and see him alert and looking around. Around 5:30 AM, the nurse took me to the nursery to try to nurse Lane. While still in my wheelchair, they handed my precious boy to me, still hooked up to the monitors. The nurses were great about helping me get Lane latched on, and also explaining what each machine was. They assured me he was doing great, and it wouldn't be long before he would be back in my room.

After only ten minutes or so, I started to feel light-headed. Not wanting to risk dropping Lane, I had Josh call for the nurse, and I was taken back to my room to lie down. I hated leaving Lane after such a short time, but I knew I was putting him at risk by trying to fight it.

The pediatrician from the office we had chosen that was doing rounds at the hospital that day was coming in at 8 AM, and so we knew we had to wait for her to evaluate Lane before there was a possibility of him coming to our room. I watched the clock, and finally at 8:30 AM, the nurse and doctor came in, pushing a bassinet with my swaddled son inside. The doctor explained that because Lane came so quickly, he didn't have enough time to be "squeezed" by my body, which helps expel all the congestion in his respiratory system. So, he needed extra time to get all that out. Dr. O'Leary gave us things to watch for, and it was reassuring knowing our new nurse, Erin, was experienced in working in the Special Care Nursery.

So, we settled into a rhythm of nursing, changing diapers, being poked/prodded by nurses, and hosting visitors. I don't think either of really slept more than an hour or two, as we were running on adrenaline.

There were a few times we called the nurse to come check on Lane, as his breathing sounded abnormal. Each time, he checked out just fine. I think because of the earlier scare, we were extra paranoid. But each time, we were reassured that it was better to have him checked than to ignore it.

Overall, our birth experience was extraordinary. It still seems surreal to me, and each time I think about it, I remember a different detail I missed the previous time. It still amazes me that I have a son, and that I am now a mom. Thinking about my pregnancy, labor and delivery, and now having Lane home with us still brings me to tears- he is changing so quickly, and now at almost six weeks old, he is a completely different baby than just a few short weeks ago. Although this birth story has been loooooong, I'm so glad I took the time to document it, if only for my own sake down the road.

Birth Story, Part 2

2011-10-31T18:10:00.000-07:00

LE04 was a Labor and Delivery Evaluation room – basicallytriage. We had been in these roomsbefore; once after my car accident at 25 weeks, and once the night before whenI went in for fetal movement monitoring. Our nurse’s name was Stephanie, and we LOVED her. She honestly was a huge factor in what madeour labor experience so wonderful. Ipeed in a cup, put a gown on, and climbed into the bed. Stephanie hooked me up to a fetal monitor, acontraction monitor, a blood pressure cuff, and a pulse oximeter. Lane was doing fine, but my blood pressurewas again high. She checked my cervix,and I was still only 4 cm dilated. Shethen told me I would probably be asked to walk around the hospital for an hour,to see if any progress could be made. However, after consulting with the on-call doctor, she told me I would not have to walk, as my blood pressureneeded to be monitored. So, I stayed inbed for the next hour, having near-constant contractions.

After a little while, Stephanie came back in and had me trylying on my side, as Lane kept moving away from the monitor. I couldn’t get comfortable in any position;having to stay where I was and not be able to move around during contractions killed me. I kept telling Josh, “What if they send mehome? I can’t get back in the car andride 30+ minutes. I don’t want to gohome.” It basically continued like this for another 45 min. or so. I would have a horrible contraction, Josh would dig his fists into my low back as hard as he could, the contraction would end, and I would panic over whether or not I was going home. Then, we would do it all over again.

Finally, about an hour after getting into our room, Stephanie and Dr. Gage came in to assess my progress. When Dr. Gage checked me, I just kept silently praying that there would be progress.

And there was! I was 5 cm dilated, and Lane had moved down even more. Dr. Gage said she would get the paperwork going to have me admitted, and Stephanie told me she already had a room ready for me because she could tell when we arrived that we would probably be staying. They both knew I wanted an epidural, so the request was already in for the anesthesiologist to down.

Stephanie said I could be unhooked from the monitors for the time being, which meant I was able to get up and move around. This was a HUGE relief, as I could get into whatever position felt most comfortable during a contraction.

Josh and I kept smiling and giggling, still not really believing we were going to be having our baby soon. We took this time of waiting for our room to start calling our families. We used the hospital room phone, knowing it would show up on people's caller ID's as "Providence St. Peter's". We called Josh's mom, Josh's dad, my parents, and my boss (I had to let her know I wouldn't be coming to work the next day!). Everyone was so excited, and we knew the waiting room would soon be filling up with our families.

Shortly after, Stephanie came back in to our room, and we made the move to our labor suite. I was hooked back up to all the monitors, and my IV was started. Being 39 weeks pregnant, I constantly had to pee, and having an IV of fluids didn't help matters. I was still having horrible contractions, but Stephanie reassured me the anesthesiologist would be arriving soon.

Not long after moving, our families arrived! My mom and dad, Josh's mom and step-dad, Josh's dad, my aunt Pam, and my cousin Jessica all showed up to await the arrival of baby Lane. It was slightly awkward having everyone in the room, because everyone was standing around talking while I was having contractions, and I was trying to not moan/groan/scream too much. At one point, Jessica asked how many kids I wanted, as I've always said two or three. I simply held up my arm straight in the arm, with my pointer finger sticking up, and proclaimed, "ONE!". I also told Josh that next time I said I wanted a baby, just to get me a puppy instead. Obviously, the pain from labor was hindering my thoughts on wanting more children. No one stayed long, as it was about time for the anesthesiologist.

But then, Stephanie came to deliver the bad news- the doctor had been called into emergency heart surgery, so they had to call another anesthesiologist from home to come in. So obviously, it would be a little longer before I got my epidural. Stephanie offered me a shot in my IV to help with the pain in the meantime, but I told her I thought I could handle waiting. I so badly wanted to be strong, and push myself through the pain. I continued with the contractions, but soon I was telling Josh I didn't think I could handle it anymore. I was almost in tears, and literally felt like I could not make it through another contraction. He told me I was doing great, and that if I needed that shot, it was just fine. I intended to tell Stephanie when she came back in that I wanted the pain shot. As soon as she walked through the door, however, she announced that the anesthesiologist was here! In he came, with all of his tools, and he got to work.

The epidural itself wasn't painful; it was having contractions while in a scrunched-up position without being able to move that was rough. Josh had to sit in a chair away from me, and I know it killed him to watch me be in pain without being able to help.

I want to say here how amazing of a job Josh did while I was in labor. He stayed calm, which helped keep me calm. He also knew that I needed kind, supportive encouragement, rather than harsher support (like he would need in a similar situation). He helped me remember to breath long, slow, deep breaths, rather than short and shallow ones that I tended towards. I was so thankful to have him there with me, and cannot wait to experience it all over again when we have child #2.

My mom giving me a pep talk!

So, after I received my epidural, I could immediately feel its effects. My left side was affected more than the right, so I laid on my right side to try to let gravity move the medication towards that side. I could still slightly feel my contractions, but they were barely noticeable. I did, however, get sick right after having the epidural, which wasn't pleasant. So much for that pizza... At this time, Stephanie inserted my catheter, as I didn't think I could wait any longer to use the bathroom, and obviously I couldn't feel my legs. What an amazing feeling it was to finally not have that feeling- all pregnant women should have a catheter for the entire 40 weeks!

Everyone got a kick out of watching the contractions on the monitor, since I couldn't feel them.

Now that I was feeling good again, we invited our family back in for a short while. I told everyone how amazing of an invention the epidural was, and that I could NOT see how anyone would labor without one! Right after receiving the epidural, I got the shakes really badly. I didn't feel cold, but I couldn't make my teeth quit chattering or the rest of my body quit shaking. This really freaked Josh out, and everyone kept asking if I was cold and needed more blankets. I kept saying no, but finally accepted a warmed blanket to make everyone feel better.

Dr. Gage came in soon after, and announced she was going to break my water. Our family retreated to the waiting room, with the promise that we would update them with progress as it came. Dr. Gage broke my water with her little tool, and it was a weird and slightly gross feeling to have the warm liquid running down my legs without being able to stop it. I was also given Pitocin, to help progress my contractions. Stephanie explained that the contractions were "coupling", meaning I was having 2-3 contractions in a row without much of a break in between. The Pitocin would hopefully make that stop. Since now we just had to sit and wait, we decided to rest. We had the lights dimmed, and turned on the TV to try to lull ourself to sleep. I think I slept more than Josh, but I still didn't sleep much. We had planned on telling our family when we got to 8-9 cm, so they would know pushing would be happening soon.

I started feeling a lot of pain in my pelvic bones around 1:30 AM, and mentioned it to the nurse. Stephanie said she wasn't surprised, as she had noticed slight decelerations in Lane's heartrate, which often happens as the baby's head is moving through the pubic bones. She said pushing wouldn't be far off!

I was afraid I wouldn't be able to tell when I had to push, and I kept telling Josh how nervous I was about pushing. I was afraid of the pain, of it taking hours and hours, of not knowing if I was doing it right. Well, about 2:15 AM, I could DEFINITELY tell I was nearing pushing! The pressure I felt was very distinct, and there was no mistaking it. I paged Stephanie to tell her, and she came to check for progress. I was between 9 and 10 cm dilated! She said it would be very soon, and she started making preparations for the actual delivery. Around 2:50, she had Josh grab one of my legs, and she grabbed the other, and she had me practice pushing. Well after one contraction (three pushes), they could see Lane's head! It felt so amazing to push, as it relieved the pressure I was feeling. Josh was amazed at being able to see Lane's head, and announced he wanted to watch the whole delivery (he originally said he wanted to stay up by my head). Stephanie continued to prepare things, and paged Dr. Gage to let her know she would be needed soon. Whenever I felt a contraction coming, I told Stephanie, and she let me push. In between, Josh texted his mom to let everyone know I was pushing and NOT to come into our room.

Lane's bed waiting for him.

Dr. Gage and a baby nurse arrived in our room, and took their positions at the foot of the bed. Lane's birth was just around the corner...

Birth Story, Part 1

2011-10-13T14:16:00.000-07:00

I have so many details I want to remember from the labor and delivery of Lane, so be warned- this is long!

Monday, September 26, I was 39 weeks, 2 days pregnant. And miserable. I worked that day as usual, but I noticed I couldn't feel the baby move like usual. I spent the better part of the afternoon poking him, trying to get him to respond. By 4:30, when I was about to leave work, I decided to call my OB's office. They suggested I go to Labor & Delivery, just to be checked out. So, I headed over, and Josh came into town to meet me there.
As soon as I was hooked up to the monitors, we heard his strong heartbeat. The doctor could tell he was moving but I still couldn't feel him. The doctor also noticed that my blood pressure was high, and recommended I take the next day off work. So that's what I did. That night, I had another night of strong, painful contractions, but after getting down to 5 minutes apart, they slowed down again, and we were again disappointed.

That next day, Tuesday, I had my weekly appt. at 2 pm. My mom went with me, as she wanted to hear Lane's heartbeat. The doctor came in, and said my blood pressure was still slightly high, and that discontinuing work might be a good idea. She offered to strip my membranes, to hopefully get things moving, and I jumped at the offer! When she checked for progress, I was a "good" 3 cm, and after a "vigorous" sweeping, I was 4 cm. Lane had also moved down quite a bit, which was a big relief. The doctor told me if the sweeping was going to start labor, it would probably happen within 48 hours. So, off I went, hoping for something to happen!

Josh and I had plans to go grocery shopping that evening, as our cupboards and refrigerator were EMPTY. Around 3 pm, however, (one hour after my appt.), I texted Josh that I didn't think I'd be able to walk through the store that evening, as I was getting pretty uncomfortable. I stopped at the gas station on my way home, and filled up my gas tank. I made it home, and just wanted to crawl into bed because I was getting REALLY uncomfortable. Josh got home around 4:30 PM, and we decided to do things around the house to keep me upright and moving, to hopefully keep the contractions coming and help move Lane down. We went outside and I threw clay pigeons for Josh while he shot, I vacuumed, did laundry, and Josh went to the store to get a frozen pizza. We started timing the contractions, and noticed they were getting more and more regular, and while neither of us wanted to admit it for fear of jinxing us, we thought maybe this was it.

Around 6:30 PM, I asked Josh if he was going to take a shower that evening. He asked me if he should, and I told him that it might be a good idea, just in case. So, while Josh was in the shower, I cooked the frozen pizza. Josh scarfed his part down, while I had a hard time eating mine due to the contractions. I should mention that these contractions were all in my back, like every other time. I could feel my belly get tight, but that part wasn't painful; just my back.

Finally, at 7 PM, we both decided maybe we should head to the hospital. At that point, my contractions were 5 min. apart. Josh had been trying to convince me to go for about an hour, but my biggest fear was getting sent home due to not being in labor. Josh's biggest fear was having to deliver our baby on the side of the highway! Josh went to feed Molly and lock her up, and I grabbed my pillow, our phone chargers, and fed the cat. We got in the car, and headed towards town. In between contractions, we were joking that I couldn't really be in labor, because there was no middle-of-the-night, water-breaking, panicky drive to the hospital.

We arrived around 7:45 PM, after getting stuck behind several slow drivers. The whole drive in, I was texting my mom and cousin Jessica in between contractions. Both wanted to know if anything was happening after that afternoon's appointment, but Josh and I had decided to not tell anybody we were at the hospital until we knew we were staying. By the time we arrived, the contractions were 3 min. apart.

Once we parked, we headed for the Labor and Delivery entrance, having to stop once on the way for a contraction. The waiting room was packed. There was one couple ahead of us checking in, and a bunch of people waiting (I'm assuming) for babies to be born. Finally it was our turn, and the admissions person told me to have a seat. I calmly informed her that I could not sit down, due to the pain. So, she quickly checked us in, and off we went to room LE04...

To be continued...

He's Here!

2011-09-28T07:37:00.001-07:00

Will update more later, but Lane is here! He arrived this morning at 3:06 am, weighing 8 lbs 5.7 oz and 21 1/4 inches.

38 Week Survey

2011-09-23T08:35:00.000-07:00

Yikes... I've been slacking on these surveys!!

How far along? 38 weeks and 6 days
How big is baby? According to The Bump, 18.9 - 20.9 in. and 6.2-9.2 lbs; roughly the size of a watermelon.
Total weight gain/loss: Up 29 lbs.
Sleep: My Restless Leg Syndrome has basically gone, which is such a relief. Although that has been replaced with major contractions nearly every night! Poor Josh is awaken each time I try to get out of bed, as I'm grunting and groaning while trying to heave myself up. And he applies counterpressure to my low back during my contractions. He's a trooper.
Best moment this week: Having the doctor tell me that as soon as the little man moves down into my pelvis more, labor should progress rather quickly, as my cervix is already very soft and I'm dilated to approximately 3 cm.
Movement: Gradually slowing down. Its very easy for me to find his body, because its so large and he doesn't have much room in my belly. Often times, I start getting worried when I haven't felt him for a little while, so I go searching for his feet. Once I find them and push on them, he immediately pulls them away from my hand. And then proceeds to move around like crazy. Neither Josh nor I enjoy having our feet touched (we both hate it, actually), so we say he's taking after us already. :)
Symptoms: Not even worth answering... I'm 9 months pregnant- I have almost EVERY symptom!!
Symptoms I DON'T have: Carpal tunnel syndrome (or any of the symptoms) and heartburn.
Food cravings: Nothing really. I'm constantly thirsty, but so.tired.of.water.
Food aversions: Nothing that I've found.
Gender: Boy!
Labor Signs: Lots more contractions, including very strong ones that originate in my low back.
Belly Button in or out? Still flush with the rest of my belly, with the exception of one small area right above the "pucker" of skin that is the belly button. That part sticks out. Its like the protrusion and the skin don't match up!
What I miss: Shopping for clothes that don't have an elastic waist, and not feeling like my skin is about to rip apart on my belly.
What I am looking forward to: Meeting our son!
Milestones: Feeling like we can finally relax and enjoy these last few days (weeks) of pregnancy.

38 Week Appointment

2011-09-20T11:44:00.000-07:00

Today I had my 38 week appointment, and I went in with very high expectations.

I was 2.5 cm dilated last week, and I thought surely I would have made some progress past that. Especially because throughout the night last night, but mostly from 3:00 AM until 6:30 AM, I was having pretty strong contractions again, with the main focus being in my back. We timed these contractions, and they ranged anywhere from 6 to 14 minutes apart. We kind of knew these probably weren't the "real deal", but still kept an eye on them at least. At the very least, we were hoping they would either help the little man descend further, or dilate my cervix more.

Neither of those happened.

The doctor said I'm still 2.5 cm, MAYBE 3 at the most. And still haven't effaced anymore over the last 3 weeks. I was pretty disappointed at hearing that. He also said that his head is still pretty high up, which I kind of knew already.

He did, however, say that all we need for me to go into real labor is for the kiddo to drop down. My cervix is apparently very soft (umm... thanks?), and the doctor said that once the baby's head drops down further into my pelvis, labor should progress rather quickly. He said the reason I'm not dilating anymore is because there's no pressure yet on my cervix; that's what we need to get things going.

He also told me that as soon as my contractions get to a steady 5 minutes apart, to head straight in to the hospital. He assured me that will mean his head has dropped down, and that we will most likely not be sent home. (Or obviously if my water breaks, we'll go right in.) It was nice to hear that labor is just a short step away, but frustrating because he said there's basically nothing I can do to get him to move down until he's ready to.

And of course, he was measuring just perfectly, with a heartrate of 135. I've now gone 3 or 4 weeks without any weight gain, which the doctor reassured me is just fine. And all of my bloodwork from last week came back normal, which is nice also.

So, here we sit. Me, big and pregnant and uncomfortable. Josh, impatient and jumpy and anxious. And Lane, who apparently is rather content to enjoy his freeride for a while longer.

Let's hope for some major baby dropping in the next few days!!

37 Week Appointment

2011-09-13T15:14:00.000-07:00

Today was my 37 week doctor appointment, and after Sunday night's contractions, I was really hoping for some progress.

The last two weeks, I've been 1 cm dilated. When she checked today, I was 2.5 cm! Woohoo for progress!! She said the baby is now at a -2 station, and that that is a drop from last week (although she didn't mention what his station was last week). He is measuring at 39 weeks, and had a perfect heartrate. She also said she doesn't see us making it to our due date!

The bummer came when we were talking about my health, however. She said I'm now anemic, which isn't a big deal really. I was anemic all through high school, and just have to take an iron supplement. The doctor did, however, notice that my legs and feet are swollen, and that I've had a headache for the last few days, coupled with protein in my urine. All of these are red flags for pre-eclampsia. The one symptom I'm missing, however, is high blood pressure! Mine is still normal. So, they sent me for a blood draw to look into it further, and I should find out tomorrow what's going on.

Josh and I are getting extremely impatient, and are so ready to meet our son. We're going for a long walk tonight, and I'm hoping to start things moving!!

Practice Labor!

2011-09-13T15:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday was going along like normal, with hardly any Braxton Hicks contractions. Josh and I went and watched the Seahawks game with our friends DJ and Kristina, and then came home to hang out for the evening. Around 7:30 - 8 PM, I started getting some pretty strong achiness in my lower back, which then radiated around to cramping in my pelvis. These were by far the strongest contractions I had ever felt. I just figured my body was practicing for the real thing, and that I would have a few and they would go away.

Around 9 PM, we decided to try timing the contractions, to see if where they stood regarding frequency and duration. I could tell one was coming by the pain in my back, and then my belly would get rock-hard. It was sometimes tough to tell when one ended though, as the back pain never went away.

They started out around 10 minutes apart, and lasted about 30-45 seconds. They then progressed to 6-7 minutes apart, and lasted for 1 min - 1 min 30 sec. I could still walk and talk through them, but I couldn't hold still when I had one. I would be lying in bed, one would start, and Josh would start applying counter-pressure to my low back. The counter-pressure felt great, but I just couldn't lie still. So, I would jump out of bed and start pacing the house, yelling at Josh when to stop the timer. Around 10 PM, I decided to finish up the laundry I had going in the washer, and just generally clean up our bedroom and bathroom, in case this was really it. I also threw a few things into my half-packed hospital bag, and Josh fished out the paperwork we had gotten from the hospital regarding when to come in, which entrance to use, etc.

We decided around 11 PM to call the hospital, and ask what they recommended we do. The nurse was wonderfully helpful, and didn't make me feel dumb for thinking I was in labor when I probably wasn't. She told me to drink as much water as I could tolerate in the next hour, and to wait until either I couldn't walk/talk through the contractions, or they were 2-4 min. apart. So, that's what I did. We went to lie down, and both tried to fall asleep. And wouldn't you know it- the contractions slowed down. By the time I fell asleep, they were 14+ min. apart and slowing down further.

Needless to say, that was our first "practice" labor experience!

Full Term

2011-09-11T08:30:00.001-07:00

Full term.

This is a term I've been waiting to be able to use, and a milestone I've been waiting to hit.

Just like waiting for that 13-week mark, to be "safely" in the second trimester.

Just like hitting 20-weeks, and finding out our anonymous baby is a sweet, strong boy; as well as being halfway through this pregnancy.

Just like the arrival of 24-weeks, and knowing our baby wad considered viable, if he chose to arrive then.

Just like 27-weeks, and making it into the third and final trimester.

And now, at 37-weeks, we are considered full term.

My pregnancy book says labor is "normal and expected" from this point on.

It is so strange, and reassuring, knowing my son won't be premature, and more than likely won't have to stay in the hospital more than the standard 24-48 hours. It's comforting to know I've contained him safely in my body for the past nine months, and that we will soon be meeting him.

So, sweet son of mine, feel free to arrive now, or continue baking a little longer. The choice is yours now!

Testing, Testing

2011-09-10T15:58:00.001-07:00

I just upgraded my phone, and I now have a Blogger mobile app!

So, this post is serving as a test of this app :)

A Letter to My Unborn Son

2011-09-07T14:46:00.000-07:00

Dear sweet, unborn child of mine,

You have spent the last 9 months growing inside of me, developing from a mere speck to a 6+ pound kicking, hiccuping, squirming little boy. You and I have this bond that you cannot have with anyone else; I have nourished you with my body, and you have slept right next to my heart. Now that your due date is approaching, I know our days of being together constantly are numbered.

In the beginning, I anxiously waited for each appointment with the doctor, wanting to make sure you were okay. I wanted to hear your heartbeat, see you wiggling around on the ultrasound screen. Since I couldn't yet feel your movements, I needed that reassurance.

Now, I can feel the slightest movements you make, from stretching out your strong legs, to curling your body into a ball and sticking your little round butt out. I can even see you move, stretching my belly with each contortion to make. I can feel you hiccup, and can tell when you're sleeping and when you're wide awake and ready to move.

Sometimes we "play" a little game, and you poke a body part out against my belly. I push back on that part of my belly, and you pull away. As soon as I stop pushing, you poke it back out, and we repeat this again and again. To me, its another way we get to bond before you're actually born, and just another way you let me know everything is okay in there.

Each morning, when I've just woken up and start feeling your first movements of the day, I rub my belly, and tell you, "Good morning buddy!". Throughout the day, I repeat this rubbing, saying, "Hi buddy!". And each night, when I'm about to fall asleep and you're still rolling away like you always do at bedtime, I rub you a little more gently and slowly, and whisper, "Good night, buddy. I love you.".

Your dad loves your movements too. Since he doesn't get to feel you constantly like I do, its always a special treat when you "perform" for him. You'll sometimes kick his hands, or push your little rear end out against him. You've showed off your hiccups for him, and Dad is always amazed at whatever you do.

I've had such a fun time decorating your room, and picking things out for you. Your dad has enjoyed it too, and has contributed many, many ideas. He wants everything to be perfect for you, and above all, for you to be safe. We have everything ready for you, from your car seat installed, to your diaper bag packed, to your coming home outfit decided on. Dad can't wait to see you in camo :)

So, little man, we are ready for you. We want you to stay inside as long as you need, but we cannot wait to meet you. We want to kiss your sweet cheeks, count all of your fingers and toes, smell that one-of-a-kind baby smell, and embrace being your parents. You are 50% of me, and 50% of your dad, and 100% perfect already.

We love you, Lane.

36 Week Appointment

2011-09-07T10:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my 36 week, 3 day checkup. It still seems so weird to be going every week- feels like I'm ALWAYS there!!

Little man was measuring right where he should be, and I didn't gain any weight this past week. I will say I've gained a little more than I would have liked to this pregnancy, but I'm still within the normal range. I used to always stress and whine about gaining weight, and then Josh gave me a little "talking to" and I've since changed my ways. He made me realize that as long as I was being healthy and not going to extremes, I should be enjoying this opportunity to not stress about what I'm eating, how many calories I'm consuming, etc. It is my job to make sure this baby is healthy and growing appropriately, and my vanity falls to the wayside. So now, even though I hate the weigh-in at each appointment, I no longer stress or worry. I just chalk it up to the whole pregnancy experience.

The kiddo's heartrate was a steady 140 bpm, and he's still very much head down. I'm still only 1cm dilated, but now closer to 75% effaced. She did say his head is lower this week though, which makes him closer to coming OUT!

I also had a blood draw to test for Rh antibodies, and received my RhoGAM shot again (I received it the first time at 25 weeks due to my car accident, its only good for 12-13 weeks).

This Saturday will put us at 37 weeks, which is considered full-term. I still can't believe we're about to hit this huge milestone!!!

Back to the doctor next week for another checkup. I only scheduled through September 20th, which will put me at 38 weeks, 3 days. I neglected to schedule one for past that due to my wishful thinking that he'll be here by then. :) Let's keep our fingers crossed!

35 Week Doctor Appointment

2011-09-02T12:55:00.000-07:00

I had my weekly checkup on Wednesday (so weird to be going weekly now!), and everything looked just great! Little man was measuring right at 36 weeks, and had a heartrate of 140 bpm. He was squirming all over the place! I gained a little more than I had wanted to do this 2-week period, but oh well. My doctor said my weight gain is still right on track, so if she's not worried, why should I be?

I knew I was going to be getting my Group B strep test that day, and when the nurse asked if I wanted my cervix checked for the first time this week or next week, I opted for this week. I figured if I had to undress anyways, why not kill two birds with one stone?

The good news is, WE HAVE PROGRESS! Not much (which I'm thankful for, because I don't want a too-early baby!), but I am (was) 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. She said its "a great start". No indication on whether he'll come before or after his due date, but that bit of news made me feel like at least we're headed in the right direction.

I go back in on Tuesday (which seems so soon!) for another check and some blood work. I have to have my RHOgam shot again between 36 and 37 weeks (I had it at 25 weeks due to my car accident), so that will probably be given next week as well.

My cousin (and BFF) Jessica and her husband leave for their honeymoon September 8th, and don't return until late on the 13th. Josh's aunt and uncle leave for a vacation on September 10th and return on the 13th also. So the kiddo has strict instructions to NOT arrive during that window! Also, Josh's mom leaves for a business trip on the 20th until the 23rd, so that time frame is out too.

So baby, if you're listening, let's shoot for the 14th - 19th, or the 24th or later, okay? Thanks!

35 Week Survey

2011-08-31T12:51:00.000-07:00

How far along? 35 weeks and 4 days
How big is baby? According to The Bump, 17.2 - 18.7 in. and 4.2-5.8 lbs; roughly the size of a honeydew melon.
Total weight gain/loss: Up 27 lbs.
Sleep: Same as last week: "Still having the RLS, but its hitting me more during the day now. I get so stiff in the middle of the night, that it causes serious pain and takes major effort to change positions. We camped this past weekend, and slept on an air mattress that kept losing air. I had the HARDEST time rolling around on it! I've given up on sleeping in, as I get tired of lying in bed being uncomfortable."
Best moment this week: Having a HUGE baby shower with so many friends and family. Also, Josh spent some time "hanging out" with the belly a few nights ago, and little man was being very active for him. He talked to the kiddo, and gave him good night kisses. Totally melted my heart.
Movement: He's constantly moving. Sometimes when he pushes out against me, I push back with me hand, and he moves away. As soon as I move my hand, he does it again. Its our little bonding time.
Symptoms: Oh you know, just all the regular stuff. With the addition of major cankles, swollen feet, and headaches.
Symptoms I DON'T have: Carpal tunnel syndrome (or any of the symptoms) and heartburn.
Food cravings: Just food
Food aversions: Nothing that I've found.
Gender: Boy!
Labor Signs: None, except for increasing Braxton Hicks contractions.
Belly Button in or out? Still flush with the rest of my belly, with the exception of one small area right above the "pucker" of skin that is the belly button. That part sticks out. Its like the protrusion and the skin don't match up!
What I miss: Being able to move like a normal person, and my regular clothes.
What I am looking forward to: Being one week closer to delivery!
Milestones: Installing the carseat and putting his diaper bag and the Boppy pillow in the car.

Pediatrician Meet & Greet

2011-08-26T19:30:00.000-07:00

Today was our pediatrician meet & greet appointment. Josh saw Dr. S at this clinic from the time he was born until he was 22 years old. So when we discovered we were expecting, there was no question that Dr. S would be this little babe's pediatrician.

Until Dr. S decided to retire this month.

Which meant we had to find a new pediatrician. Luckily, there are multiple doctors in this clinic. Dr. S helped pick his replacement, Dr. H, and spoke very highly of her, as did his nurse. This nurse has been with Dr. S forever and is very familiar with Josh and his whole family.

So, we set up our appointment, and went in not knowing what to expect.

We instantly liked her. She is young and perky, and very friendly. She is not pushy of her opinions in the slightest. She told us we would find a multitude of opinions between doctors, books, hospitals, etc., and that there really isn't any right answer on many topics. We need to take all of the information we encounter, and use that to make the decisions that are right for our family. This really struck a cord with me, and I appreciated the lack of a "my way or the highway" attitude.

We talked about our plans thus far, such as breastfeeding, vaccinations, circumcision, etc., and she explained the schedule for her coming to see him in the hospital and our subsequent checkups in their office.

She answered all of our questions, and made us consider some things we hadn't previously.

Overall, it was a great visit, and I really look forward to working with Dr. H in the coming years. Now we just have to wait for little man to decide he's ready to arrive!

Breasteeding Class

2011-08-26T09:11:00.000-07:00

As a part of our childbirth class, a "Breastfeeding Your Baby" class was offered. Since I do, in fact, plan on breastfeeding, I decided to sign up for this class in hopes of gathering some useful information.

The class was last night, and it was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. The teacher is a Labor & Delivery nurse, and has breastfed all three of her children for a year plus. She was funny, open, patient, and generally put everyone at ease, even the dads that came to the class! She even gave us her cell phone number, and encouraged us to call any time of day or night to ask questions or run any concerns we have by her. She said she routinely gets calls in the middle of the night from new moms, with a wide variety of questions. How's THAT for service?! I seriously want this woman to come live with me for a few weeks after the kiddo is born.

We went over the benefits of breastfeeding and myths regarding breastfeeding. We also talked about feeding breastmilk from a bottle, the use of pacifiers, breastmilk storage, and pumping.

Then came the hands-on part of the class. Everyone was given a balloon, which we blew up to resemble breasts. We then got a baby doll, and practiced latch techniques and different positions to hold the baby in. It was nice to actually be able to physically practice this, rather than just watching. Obviously it will be different with a real baby and a real breast, but some practice is better than none!!

I left the class feeling much more confident in my ability to breastfeed, and with all of my questions answered. I'm so glad the hospital offered this class, and now I just have to wait for little man to arrive!

34 Week Survey

2011-08-22T11:29:00.000-07:00

How far along? 34 weeks and 2 days
How big is baby? According to The Bump, 17.2 - 18.7 in. and 4.2-5.8 lbs; roughly the size of a honeydew melon.
Total weight gain/loss: Up 25 lbs.
Sleep: Still having the RLS, but its hitting me more during the day now. I get so stiff in the middle of the night, that it causes serious pain and takes major effort to change positions. We camped this past weekend, and slept on an air mattress that kept losing air. I had the HARDEST time rolling around on it! I've given up on sleeping in, as I get tired of lying in bed being uncomfortable.
Best moment this week: Realizing in just under 3 weeks, this little boy will be considered full-term!
Movement: I can feel him making total-body movements now instead of just kicks/punches. He will occasionally stick a foot out, but mostly its him balling himself up, pushing his back or butt out.
Symptoms: Just about everything imaginable.
Symptoms I DON'T have: Carpal tunnel syndrome (or any of the symptoms) and heartburn.
Food cravings: Just food in general :)
Food aversions: Nothing that I've found.
Gender: Boy!
Labor Signs: None, except for increasing Braxton Hicks contractions.
Belly Button in or out? Now totally flush with the rest of my belly.
What I miss: Being able to move like a normal person, and my regular clothes.
What I am looking forward to: Our second baby shower this coming weekend, and then going shopping for last minute items!
Milestones: Knowing our little guy would most likely do just fine if he were born today!

32 Week Survey

2011-08-11T09:48:00.000-07:00

How far along? 32 weeks and 5 days
How big is baby? According to The Bump, 15.2-16.7 in. and 2.5-3.8 lbs; roughly the size of a squash. We are now getting to the point where his length growth is slowing down, but he's gaining approximately a half a pound a week!
Total weight gain/loss: Up 22 lbs.
Sleep: Always sleepy, but having some mild insomnia in the middle of the night. This is due in large part I'm sure to my Restless Leg Syndrome.
Best moment this week: Our childbirth class. It was a neat experience to have with Josh, and really put us in "baby mode"!
Movement: Still as strong as ever, but slowing down some. I can tell he's getting cramped for space!
Symptoms: Not even worth answering...
Symptoms I DON'T have: One of the only ones I can think of is heartburn. I've always suffered from heartburn, and I'm actually really surprised I haven't had it with this pregnancy. I do, however, have acid reflux, but I think I'd rather have that anyday!
Food cravings: Anything. Although my appetite has slowed down, due to lack of room.
Food aversions: Nada!
Gender: Boy!
Labor Signs: None, and let's keep it that way for 4+ more weeks!
Belly Button in or out? Mostly flush with the rest of my stomach, although there is one area that is starting to poke out.
What I miss: My ribs not hurting, being able to get comfortable, not wincing every time I get up to walk.What I am looking forward to: Our first baby shower this coming weekend, followed by our last vacation without the kiddo starting next Wednesday.
Milestones: Realizing our baby will be here so SOON!

The Belly Progression

2011-08-10T15:22:00.000-07:00

Back to School

2011-08-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

Waaaaay back in March, I started looking into childbirth classes. I knew that one organization associated with the hospital offered them, and decided to go ahead and register for the class. That class happened this past Saturday.

Josh moaned and groaned about having to give up an entire Saturday to sit in a class learning about all the beautiful (and gory/disgusting/gross) things that go along with labor and the birth process and subsequent recovery. But, he knew there was no fighting me on it.

So, Saturday morning, we showed up at the hospital with our two pillows we were instructed to bring, unsure of what to expect.

The instructor of the class was a very sweet, soft-spoken woman, who had previously been a labor and delivery nurse. You could tell right away she loves her job and all things related to birth and babies. There were 8 other couples in the class, and it was a very relaxed atmosphere. We started off the class with all of the dads introducing themselves and their partner, telling the group the due date and sex (if known), and what the highlights have been of the pregnancy so far. Then, the moms were to state what the highlights have been for them, and what one of the not-so-great parts has been.

We then moved into hormones, the labor process, how the baby moves into birth position, how he/she rotates through the pelvis to fit out, and what to expect to happen right after the baby is born. She had models of everything, including a placenta, amniotic sac, uterus, umbilical cord, and pelvis. Although I'm fairly familiar with how everything happens, it was neat to see how it happens "in person" (although it was much less gooey and gross than a real birth!). It was also good for Josh to see, and to help him understand it better. After all, you can only get so much from a book.

We talked about contractions (both true and Braxton Hicks), how to time them, and when to head to the hospital. Next came breathing techniques to help with the pain, and massage techniques. We did the "He, He, Ho" and "He, He, He, Ho" you commonly see/hear about it. The instructor then brought out cups of ice chips, and we were told we were going to do a little experiment. We each grabbed a handful of ice, and held it for 50 seconds. Oh.My.Gosh. It hurt. Fifty seconds is a LONG time to hold ice in your hand. We then switched hands, and practiced the two breathing techniques while holding the ice. Holy Moly! It helped! The ice was definitely still cold, but those 50 seconds weren't nearly as uncomfortable as the first. One neat thing was the labor coaches were put on the spot to actually coach. The moms were told to have a mini-freakout about halfway through the "contraction", and the dads had to help us get focused again and continue our breathing. At first, most of us were laughing. But then, we really started to get into it! Josh was great at knowing what I needed, and brought me back down to a calm level where I could get back into my breathing rhythm. [And no, I'm not stupid enough to think that holding those ice chips equates to the pain of a contraction. Obviously everything in labor will be intensified by about a million, but this was a nice little practice step.] The massage techniques were by far my favorite part- the instructor dimmed the lights, had us moms get comfortable, and gave the dads racquet balls, "nukkles', and other tools to try out. So basically, we got a ten minute massage in the middle of class :) After the massages we tried out different positions to try while laboring, including kneeling over something, the "slow dance" position, being on all fours, etc.

Next came pushing. We were propped up against our "labor partners", and told to bend our knees and put our hands on our knees. The instructor would time a 60-second "contraction", and we would practice breathing in, holding it, and "pushing", while our partners counted to ten. We would do three "pushes" per contraction. [Obviously, we weren't actually pushing; just practicing the positioning and timing.] I could hear Josh counting to ten behind me, and at first, I could tell he was just kind of halfway going along with it. But then, he leaned in close, and started counting in my ear, tapping my leg or arm in time with the counting, and really put in maximal effort. I think this was the exact moment we both had our "Holy Crap" feelings. We had a bathroom break right after this part, and while walking the halls, we both were kind of freaked out- but in a good way. It hit us- we're actually going to be going through this in just a few weeks. All of this practicing is because IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. A BABY is going to be coming OUT and SOON!

The rest of the class time was spent talking about what happens after the baby is born- the suctioning of his nose/mouth, cleaning him up, bonding time, etc. We also discussed pain options during labor, and she demonstrated how an epidural is done. Next came postpartum care (all of the guys' FAVORITE part, I'm sure). Then, we headed down to the Labor and Delivery unit of the hospital for our tour. We were able to see the delivery rooms (which are HUGE), how the beds break down, the birthing tubs, and then the postpartum rooms. Josh and I have both seen the postpartum rooms several times lately, due to all of the babies born to friends and family in the last few months.

We were supposed to watch a video, but the equipment wasn't working, so we're all getting a copy sent to us in the mail.

After the class was done, Josh decided the class was a good idea, and that it wasn't nearly as bad as he expected. We were given handouts on the material from class, including a hospital packing list. Which Josh has decided we need to do NOW. Just in case.

Doing all of this practicing makes me feel more relaxed for the actual impending birth, and also made me fall in love all over again with Josh. He is going to be a fantastic labor coach/birth partner, and an even more incredible dad. He has always been my strength and my rock, and proves this again and again.

Next up is my breastfeeding class at the end of August, and then we hurry up and wait for the little man to arrive. We are 32w2d, and (hopefully) have less than 8 weeks to go!

A Big To-Do

2011-08-01T10:29:00.000-07:00

List, that is.

I figure if I post my master to-do list here, I can't misplace it! Here is the list:

Baby Room:

Hang ceiling fan
Fix closet doors
Wash bedding
Buy/install blind for window
Install heater
Hang/make/buy decor

Shopping:

Major grocery shopping trip in mid-September
Major Costco shopping trip
Buy anything left on registry after baby showers
Buy mini toiletries for hospital bag
Buy snacks for hospital bag
Buy nursing bras and nursing tanks
Get breast pump and supplies

To Plan/Organize:

Figure out where/with whom Molly will be going while we are in the hospital
Find insurance papers to add the kiddo to Josh's insurance
Update phone address book with numbers and groups so mass texts can be sent out
Plan/make freezer meals for after kiddo comes home

This is all my puny brain can think of currently, but I'm sure I'll be adding to it over the next few weeks. Can't believe that in 6-9 weeks our little man will finally be here!

Sweet Tooth

2011-07-29T11:07:00.001-07:00

Maybe THIS will finally satisfy my craving...

Field Trial Dog

2011-07-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

If you haven't noticed by some of my previous blog posts, we're a little obsessed with our dog, Molly. She is just over 1 year old, and is a Labrador Retriever/Golden Retriever mix. We got her because we wanted a bird hunting dog, as well as a "family" dog. And she fits the bill perfectly.

I originally wanted to take her to a dog trainer, to teach her the basics: sit, stay, come, heel, how to walk on a leash, etc. Josh, however, was committed to training her himself. I have to admit- I was worried he would get bored with it, and wouldn't commit the necessary time to her. But we decided to give it a go.

The results have been amazing. Josh STILL spends time with her almost every day, working on training. Molly can do all of the basics: sit, stay, lay down, heel, walk on a leash. But her retrieving skills are what really set her apart. We can sit her down, go 100+ yards away, blow a duck call, fire a shotgun, throw a fake/real bird, say every "m" word possible, and even walk away and leave her, and that dog will not move from her spot. She won't go after it until we say her name. Its incredible to watch, really. She is so darn focused!! We can even throw two or three bumpers (training dummies) at a time in different directions, and she'll go after one, bring it back to your left side, sit next to you, and hold it in her mouth until you tell her "leave" and take it from her. Then she'll go get the second one, and repeat.

Josh also taught her not to shake after retrieving from the water, which comes in very handy! Instead, we'll throw something in the water, and she'll go get it, bring it your left side, etc., and then after you take the object from her, you can back away far enough to avoid getting soaked, and then tell her to shake off. Its nice to be able to stay dry!

All of this training is geared towards duck hunting, and the skills she has learned are directly translated into hunting situations. However, duck hunting is only a few short months out of the year. What is there to do the rest of the year, you ask?

Field trials.

These competitions simulate hunting situations, and test each dog against a set of regulated retrieves/tests. The problem we have found is most competitions require the dog to be purebred, which Molly is not. However, we have found one organization that Molly can test in, and she will hopefully be competing this September (if Baby Davis hasn't arrived!). It will be her first competition, and will more so just be a way to gauge her and our interest, and to see how she compares.

We (meaning mostly Josh) have stepped up her training, and I'm constantly impressed by how she performs. If all goes as planned, I'll be able to videotape her test, and I'll be sure to post it on here!

I love that this is a hobby we can all do together, and that the kiddo can someday get into (with a pup of his own), if he's interested. Love family hobbies!

30+ Week Survey

2011-07-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

How far along? 30 weeks and 4 days
How big is baby? According to The Bump, 15.2-16.7 in. and 2.5-3.8 lbs; roughly the size of a squash.
Total weight gain/loss: Up 20 lbs. This number has now remained the same for 3+ weeks. FINALLY the weight gain has slowed down!
Sleep: Constantly sleepy. I think that comes from the fact that its hard for me to get comfortable for any length of time. Rolling over in bed takes tremendous effort, and is extremely painful. Plus, I am always too warm.
Best moment this week: Realizing how quickly August is going to fly by, and feeling stronger and stronger movements.
Movement: Very strong, and clearly noticeable from the outside. Its so strange to see my belly changing shape as he moves around!
Symptoms: What symptoms DON'T I have??
Symptoms I DON'T have: None that I can think of.
Food cravings: Lately its desserts of all kinds, which only adds to my growing shape.
Food aversions: Unfortunately, nothing.
Gender: Definitely a boy. Two ultrasounds have confirmed it!
Labor Signs: None, and I'd like to keep it that way for at least 6.5 more weeks!
Belly Button in or out? Still technically in. Its basically flush with the rest of my stomach. I thought for sure it would poke out, but now I'm thinking it may just stay this way for the remainder of this pregnancy,
What I miss: My ribs not hurting, being able to get comfortable, not wincing every time I get up to walk.
What I am looking forward to: Our childbirth class next weekend, followed by our first baby shower the weekend after. Then its off to Lake Chelan for 4 days, and then home for a baby shower the following weekend. And THEN, its September!!
Milestones: Getting closer and closer to being full-term, and checking little things off our to-do list.

Freezer Meals

2011-07-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking recently about making some freezer meals for us to eat after the kiddo arrives. I have a hard enough time now coming home after work and cooking, and I can only imagine what it will be like after he is born. I know a lot of our family/friends want to bring us meals, and we greatly appreciate it!! But I don't want to find ourselves depending on that graciousness.

I've been scouring my cookbooks and various websites, looking for recipes. One of my favorite sites is What's Cookin, Chicago? I love that Joelen has a huge collection of recipes, how to freeze them, and various tips for storage of freezer meals. None of the recipes are too complex, and I get hungry just searching through them.

I'm going to try making a few of the recipes this weekend, since Josh will be working overtime and I'll be home by my lonesome (with the exception of the cat and dog). This will give us a chance to see what we like, how well things freeze, and how big the portions are. Plus, it means I won't have to do much cooking over the next week or so :)

Doing things in preparation for his birth/after we're home really make me realize how close we're getting to delivery day!!

I'm Scared of August

2011-07-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

As July is winding down, it means August is right around the corner. This scares the living daylights out of me.

With the kiddo being due October 1st, there is a good possibility he could make his appearance in September. He's measured large all along, and has made progress already towards the "exit".

This means August may very well be out last month sans child.

I knew this summer was going to be packed full (as most summers are) with BBQ's, parties, camping, projects, etc. And I knew that having those things constantly scheduled makes time seem to fly by faster. But now that we're actually experiencing that phenomenon, it's scary!!

I still feel like we have so much to accomplish before this little man makes his big debut. I know that if he did decide to come early, we do already have the necessities at home. Crib, clothes, diapers, feeding supplies, blankets, car seat. But it's all of the not-necessary-but-nice-to-have items that we don't have yet. I know that this child won't mind if his closet door knobs aren't yet painted to match his room, or that there aren't cute baskets on his changing table to hold all those supplies. But that doesn't make me want them accomplished any less.

Here is our schedule through the beginning of September:

July 23-24: Josh works overtime, and I try to finish the quilt, cloth wipes, burp cloths, and swaddlers I'm sewing. Plus a BBQ.

July 30-31: Going to Belfair to watch a field trial practice (dog event), and install ceiling fan and closet doors in nursery.

August 6-7: Childbirth class

August 13-14: Baby Shower #1, back to Belfair for more dog training.

August 18-21: Lake Chelan for family camping trip (still up for debate).

August 27-28: Baby Shower #2, last minute shopping.

September 3-4: Field Trial competition in Bremerton.

My goal has always been to have everything ready for baby by September 1st, and its going to be a real struggle to meet that goal. Obviously, all of this scheduling could change depending on how baby's doing/progressing, but I'm hoping he decides to cook at least long enough for us to accomplish our major goals.

Needless to say, I've been eagerly awaiting August since finding out I was pregnant, and now that its merely days away, I'm scared to death.

Its the Little Stuff

2011-07-20T09:58:00.000-07:00

We started working on the kiddo's room a few months ago, by slowly clearing out the bedroom of the futon, desk, and other miscellaneous crap that had accumulated there in just one year. Once the room was empty, we bought and assembled his dresser, and worked on putting shelves in the closet, as well as installing new closet doors. (Note: I say "we" did all of this, when mostly it was Josh doing all the work, while I researched, supervised, pointed, and watched.)

Then, we received our crib and changing table (courtesy of our moms), and got those put together. I had already received (and bought) some clothes, so I washed all of those, and started sorting/organizing based on size.

Throughout all of this, it still didn't quite seem real. Obviously, I KNEW a baby was coming this fall, and KNEW he would be using all of this eventually, but it still didn't sink in.

Recently, however, I've started getting things- little things- that all of a sudden make me realize, Holy cow! I'm having a BABY! That will grow into a TODDLER! And then a KID!!

Like I said, it's all little stuff. Sippy cups. Diapers. Pacifiers. Diaper cream. Baby wash and lotion.

I'm not sure why it took these little items for me finally grasp what was happening, but it has. And I'm excited! We have approximately 10 weeks left until our due date, and everyone seems convinced he'll be arriving sometime in September. 52 days until he's considered full-term.

And I'm counting down by the hour.

28 Week Appoinment

2011-07-13T14:07:00.000-07:00

I went in today for my regularly-scheduled 28 week appointment, and I wanted to talk to the doctor about the major discomfort I've been having. What I love about that office is that they never make me feel like anything I'm asking is a "dumb" question. They are patient, take time to explain everything, and I never feel rushed.

We started with the normal weight check (0 lbs. gained since two weeks ago- think my weight gain has FINALLY slowed down!), blood pressure (116/79), listened to his heart rate (136 bpm), and measured my belly. He was measuring a little ahead again, but is still within normal ranges. We then discussed my discomfort in my pelvis, and how I feel like he's sitting very low already. I also told her I'd been having some Braxton-Hicks, so she decided it was a good idea to check me out and make sure the kiddo wasn't making progress that he shouldn't be yet.

He is most definitely head-down (he was head-up two weeks ago), and has dropped significantly. However, he still isn't "too" low, and she isn't worried about his position. No dilation, no effacement. The doctor just wants me to monitor my Braxton-Hicks more closely, and said we'll probably keep checking at every appointment now, just to make sure he isn't trying to make an appearance too soon.

I'll continue going every two weeks until the end of August, and then I'll switch to weekly appointments. I'm sure once we start going every week it will really seem like his birth is getting closer!

A 28 Week Update

2011-07-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

I am currently 28w3d pregnant, with (approximately) 81 days left to go until our due date. I'm now being seen every two weeks by my OB, and the end is in sight.

At my last appointment two weeks ago, the kiddo was measuring 2 weeks ahead, and was still head-up. He is kicking up a storm, and now gets both his hands AND feet (or knees and elbows) going at the same time, so I can feel movement in two different places at once. Its so fun to watch my belly pop around like popcorn, and feel him respond when I push back.

The day after my last appointment, I woke up that morning feeling like a huge change had taken place. I always felt like he was way up high, near my ribs. That Friday, however, he was no longer in my ribs, and instead felt like he had moved down into my pelvis. I could no longer cross my legs, and just walking in general became uncomfortable. And unfortunately, that's the way things have stayed. Everything has become significantly harder and more uncomfortable, from reaching towards the ground for things, to standing up after sitting, to moving around in bed. I swear last night, it took me 2-3 minutes to get flipped over from my right to left side!

I have another appointment tomorrow morning, and am anxious to see if the doctor can feel that his position has changed. I honestly can't imagine him staying this low for the next 12 weeks or so - I feel like I need to do handstands to try to move him back up north!

Predictions: An Update

2011-07-06T11:11:00.000-07:00

I've always had certain feelings/hunches regarding this kiddo, and Josh has too. So I've decided to document a few of them now, and then we can look back and compare after he is born.

*This is an updated version of what I posted when we had 88 days until his due date (we now have 40 days!).

Gender:
Maranda: Boy
Joshua: Girl
*Obviously, we now know he's a boy, but Josh originally thought he was a girl before our big ultrasound)

Birth Date:
Maranda: September 12th or 16th
Joshua: October 10
*Josh used to think he'd be early, but now thinks he'll go past his due date!

Weight:
Maranda: 7-8 lbs.
Joshua: 8+ lbs.

Hair:
Maranda: Definitely lots
Joshua: Definitely lots

Induced or Not:

Maranda: No- will go into labor naturally
Joshua: Will have to be induced

Feeling Outside Kicks

2011-06-24T16:52:00.000-07:00

This past Monday, at 25w2d, Josh was able to feel Baby Davis kick for the first time! I knew he would be able to soon, as I could tell the kicks were getting stronger and stronger, and I could also see my belly move when he kicked.

So, while Josh was in the shower, I relaxed in bed, watching my belly. He was being particularly active that night, so when Josh climbed into bed, I told him to try watching my belly to see if he could see it move. He instead placed his hand on my stomach, and relaxed with his eyes closed. I don't think he had much hope for feeling the baby, and was more so doing it to please me. About 15 seconds later, though, the little man gave a great big kick, right where Josh's hand was. Josh's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Was that him?!". I told him yes, it was him kicking, and he was amazed! The baby continued to give him some solid kicks for 15-20 minutes, and Josh couldn't get enough. He refused to let me go to sleep because he wanted to keep feeling him.

Other people have been asking if they can try to feel him kick, and I've held off on letting anyone until Josh had the chance to. I really wanted him to experience it before anyone else. Next up is trying to have my mom and dad feel him; I know my mom can't wait to!

Our First Trip to Labor and Delivery

2011-06-22T09:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday started off as a great day. It was sunny and warm, I had the day off, and I was looking forward to a relaxing evening with my brother and Josh.

What happened was rather different, however.

I did get to enjoy most of my day though. I slept in. Went into work for a few hours to catch up on some stuff. And did a little shopping. I was then headed home to meet Josh, when I was rear-ended.

I was sitting in a line of traffic, waiting in a construction slowdown. Our lane was stopped, while they diverted traffic coming the other way. All of a sudden, my car was jarred forward. I originally thought someone at the end of the line of cars hadn't stopped and it had caused a domino effect. Luckily, however, it was just our two cars. The woman driving the other car stated she accidently shifted into/out of gear and her car lurched forward.

She was extremely apologetic, especially when she saw I am pregnant. One of the construction flaggers came over and diverted traffic around us, and I called 911. I told the dispatcher about our accident, and that I am 25 weeks pregnant. She then said she was sending the fire department as a precaution, and dispatched Washington State Patrol to the scene. Everyone showed up on scene with lights and sirens going (which slightly embarrassed me!). They did a head-to-toe check, and since my blood pressure and pulse we both high, they called my OB's office to ask what they wanted me to do. The doctor's office instructed them to transfer me to our hospital to be monitored as a precaution. Although I felt fine and could feel the baby kicking, I was still relieved that I was going to be checked out further.

I called Josh right away to tell him what happened, as I knew he would be heading home from work soon and the accident occurred on his route home. I didn't want him to drive by, see my wrecked car, and have me not be there! The State Patrol officer called a tow truck to tow my car from the scene, and the ambulance arrived. I was loaded up, given oxygen, asked a bunch more questions, and off we went to the hospital. It was my first ambulance ride! There were no lights and sirens, however.

I was texting Josh the entire time, telling him to meet me at the ER. When I arrived at the ER, they told the EMT's to take me to Labor and Delivery. I texted this to Josh, which sent him into a panic. He thought I meant that the baby might be coming THAT NIGHT! He arrived just after I did, and I've never seen him so pale. He was so concerned about both of us, and I could tell he was on edge. The nurse came in and hooked us up to a fetal heart monitor and contraction monitor, and we heard the baby's heartbeat right away. It was chugging along just perfectly, and he was giving us some good kicks too.

Josh started to calm down once he saw that I was calm, and we proceeded to spend the next 5 hours at the hospital. I had blood drawn, received my RhoGAM shot (since I'm Rh-), had an ultrasound* to check the placenta and a biophysical profile of the baby, and generally just rested. They then discharged us, saying everything checked out perfectly. I was told warning signs to look out for, and that my doctor would followup with me at my regularly scheduled appointment next week.

It was a scary experience to say the least, but I am so very thankful that everything is fine with the baby and myself. Although I can't wait to meet this little guy, he needs at LEAST another 13 weeks to cook!

*When doing the biophysical profile of the little man, the ultrasound tech had certain things she needed to check for. These included gross body movements, leg kicks, and looking at/measuring his heartrate. While trying to get him to move around, she zoomed in on his abdomen. We were able to see his diaphragm moving in a regular, consistent pattern. The tech said he was practicing breathing, and that they don't normally see babies doing that until much closer to delivery. She said he was very advanced in that department! That, of course, made me proud. :) Plus, I felt more relieved that if this little guy did in fact need to come early, he would stand a better chance of survival with fewer problems. Kiddo isn't even born yet and he's already making me one proud mama!

Halfway Point!

2011-05-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

Baby Boy Davis is now halfway done, and we couldn't be happier to be reaching this milestone. I've sucked lately at posting photos and updates, so here's a (horrible quality) bare-belly photo. Please excuse the mis-matched Christmas pajamas and dirty mirror!

It's A.....

2011-05-10T11:39:00.000-07:00

BOY!

That's right! Our little man will be arriving this fall. He was measuring one day ahead, had a heartbeat of 148, and was wiggling all over the place.

The ultrasound tech told us that the gender would be the last thing she showed us. She went through all of the required measurements, and everything looked great. It was so neat to see him stretching his little arms out, reaching around, and kicking his legs. I had to roll from side to side to get to him to move so she could measure his heart, and then he decided to lie on his stomach. As soon as he did that, I was 100% convinced he was, in fact, a boy. Josh is a total stomach sleeper, and I instantly said, "Josh, that's you!".

When she got to the point of showing us the gender, she didn't say anything. Josh and I both thought we knew what we were looking at, but neither of us wanted to say anything. Then she started typing, "I'm a boy!!!". We both started laughing and smiling, and Josh reached over to grab my hand. I've never seen Josh so incredibly happy! We then went in to see the doctor, and she said everything is great! My weight gain is on track, baby's heartbeat is fine, my blood pressure was normal, and we come back in one month. After that appointment, we start going every two weeks! Can't believe we're getting to that point already!

Here is our little guy's profile:

Now, we just have to decide on a name, and start shopping!

Time Flies!

2011-05-09T13:36:00.000-07:00

(I apoligize in advance for this post being random and all over the place!)

I can't believe our big ultrasound is TOMORROW!! It seemed like a lifetime away, and then all of a sudden, its here! We are beyond excited!

Yesterday morning (Mother's Day), when I woke up, the first words out of Josh's mouth were, "Happy first Mother's Day!". Totally melted my heart. Then, later in the day, he asked me to come help him lift something out of his truck (which I thought was weird, since he won't let me lift ANYTHING), and in the back of his truck was a hanging flower basket! I teared up, and was just amazed. I didn't expect us to acknowledge Mother's Day at all, since obviously the little one isn't here yet. I was on such a high for the rest of the day from it!

We also got to see both of our mom's, which was great. Mother's Day is one of my favorite holidays!

Here are our final baby gender predictions:
Maranda: Boy
Josh: Girl

I'll be posting tomorrow with the results!!

Baby Bedding

2011-05-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

With our gender ultrasound less than a week away, I've gotten serious about looking for bedding for the kiddo's room. I'll post our current options below, and you folks can help me narrow it down!

Girl:

Harlington, from Pottery Barn Kids

Harper, from Pottery Barn Kids

Love Birds, from Bananafish

Penelope, from Pottery Barn Kids

Boy: We will undoubtedly do a sports theme if we have a boy, as Josh is the biggest sports fan that ever lived. I love Junior Varsity from Pottery Barn Kids, and get very excited about all of the sports decor I could put in his room, including some of Josh's old stuff.

As soon as we have confirmation on the gender, I plan on ordering a piece (curtain, sheet, etc) from whichever bedding set we choose so I can get painting! This summer has something major going on each month, and I want to have time to get everything accomplished before September. We just this past weekend got all the trim done in the nursery, and now just need a blind on the window and new closet doors before I get to start decorating.

Cant' wait to post the before and after photos!

16 Week Survery

2011-04-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

How far along? 16 weeks and 4 days
How big is baby? According to The Bump, 4.6 in. and 3.5 oz; roughly the size of an avocado.
Total weight gain/loss: Up 2-4 lbs., depending on the day and which scale I'm using.
Sleep: Lately, I can't get enough sleep! I fall asleep watching a movie in the evening, and go back to bed after Josh leaves in the morning.
Best moment this week: Being able to feel our kiddo moving around more and more.
Movement: Still barely noticeable/faint, but I'm really starting to feel it more!
Symptoms: Constantly peeing, a growing belly, and constant hunger.
Symptoms I DON'T have: None that I can think of.
Food cravings: Still Papa Murphy's Pizza, fruit (mainly pineapple), juices, and WATER!
Food aversions: A lot of meats (mostly ground beef), a lot of sweets
Gender: Still don't know! Every dream I had up until about 2 weeks ago had been of a baby boy, and now I've had TWO girl dreams! I honestly think my mother's intuition on this subject has gone out the window.
Labor Signs: Thankfully, none yet!
Belly Button in or out? Still in
What I miss: Sleeping on my back and stomach, and not having round ligament pains.
What I am looking forward to: Feeling more solid movements, finding out the gender, and starting on the nursery.
Milestones: Feeling more baby movements, and picking out nursery items!

15 Week Doctor Visit

2011-04-12T09:20:00.000-07:00

Just got back from the doctor for our monthly checkup, and everything went great! Pee in a cup, blood pressure, feeling uterus, hear heartbeat. Hearing our kiddo's heartbeat is definitely the highlight! Last time (at 11 weeks), she had to search around for awhile before she found it. Today, she squirted some gel on there, placed the soundhead on my belly, and BAM! There it was instantly, pounding away at 155bpm.

She said I'm right on track with my weight gain (2 lbs) and that even a little more would have been fine. We scheduled my next appointment for Tuesday, May 10th, which is exactly 4 weeks from today. And also on that day...

OUR BIG ULTRASOUND!!!

That's right! At 8 AM that day, we (hopefully) get to find out if we have a Baby C. or Baby M. Four weeks seems like a lifetime away, but then I think back at how quickly this past month has flown by, and I realize it will be here before we know it. To say we're excited is a major understatement!

15 Week Survey

2011-04-11T11:40:00.000-07:00

I have seen similar surveys on other blogs, so I thought I might as well try one out!

How far along? 15 weeks and 2 days
Total weight gain/loss: I am currently 2 lbs. over my pre-pregnancy weight.
Sleep: Hit and miss. Sometimes I have a hard time getting comfortable, and other times I konk out. Although having to get up to pee is starting to get old already.
Best moment this week: Hasn't happened yet, but I'm sure it will be hearing our kiddo's heartbeat at the appointment tomorrow.
Movement: I've felt a few movements so far, but nothing too distinct. I can't wait for it though!
Symptoms: Constantly peeing, a growing belly, hormonal rages (although honestly, not too bad!), and cravings/aversions. And heartburn/bloating on occasion.
Symptoms I DON'T have: None that I can think of.
Food cravings: Papa Murphy's Pizza, fruit (mainly pineapple), juices
Food aversions: A lot of meats (mostly ground beef), a lot of sweets
Gender: Still don't know!
Labor Signs: Thankfully, none yet!
Belly Button in or out? Still in
What I miss: Wearing some of my old t-shirts that just now won't fit over my belly! And not feeling out of breath constantly.
What I am looking forward to: Feeling more solid movements, finding out the gender, and starting on the nursery.
Milestones: Feeling more baby movements, and scheduling our gender ultrasound!

(Photo to come later this week!)

14 Weeks

2011-04-08T10:35:00.000-07:00

Here we are, at 14 weeks! (Well, actually closer to 15 weeks now.) Time has really flown by, and I can't believe its been since JANUARY when we found out we're expecting!

I really need to try to take photos earlier in the week, but with our schedules lately and the crappy weather we've had, it hasn't happened. So here is a photo from yesterday. I apologize (again) for the crappy quality; I uploaded it to Facebook directly from my phone, and then stole it from Facebook to put on here.

So far, I've been feeling pretty good! Those first 12 weeks were ROUGH, but now that the morning (all day) sickness is gone, I'm really enjoying my growing belly. I am constantly hungry, but have only gained about 3 lbs. total.

We've slowly started to prepare more for the kiddo, and plan to do the trim/closet doors in the soon-to-be-nursery sometime this month. Our "big" ultrasound will be in the beginning of May, and once we find out if we have a Baby C. or Baby M., we'll be painting that room.

I felt our first baby movement on Monday afternoon, and immediately called Josh to tell him about it. He was so excited, and we made sure to mark the day on our calendar. He's more than ready to feel kicks from the outside, and I'm so ready for him to be able to experience it!

I go back in to the doctor on Tuesday for our monthly check-up, and that's when I'll schedule our gender ultrasound. We can't wait!

Surreal

2011-04-07T09:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I had another one of those moments when I realized, In just a few more months, I'm going to be a mom. I am going to have a CHILD. Of my OWN. To take care of.

I had ordered our carseat and stroller, even though its still early, because I had a coupon and there was a promotion going on that ended in a GREAT deal on the combo. So we jumped.

They were delivered yesterday while we were at work, and since Josh was working overtime last night, I packed them up and took them to Mom's for dinner and so we could tinker with them. I had to take the carseat and base out of the box, because there was no way those two huge boxes were fitting in my little Honda with Molly. I carried the stroller box in first, and then walked in carrying the infant seat. I saw my reflection in the mirror, and that's when it hit me. It was such a weird image- seeing myself carrying this seat that will soon be used by my own baby.

We put the stroller together, and Mom and I took turns pushing it around the house. I then loaded it up, and took it home so Josh could see it when he gets home. He loved the stroller and carseat as soon as he saw them, and was equally glad we jumped on the opportunity.

Then again, this morning, I got up and stumbled to the kitchen to make Josh's lunch and coffee. And there they were again. Still sitting in the same place as last night, but I had forgotten they were there. A constant reminder of what is to come. Those same thoughts running through my head as when I saw myself carrying the carseat.

Starting to have baby gear, clothes, diapers in our house is really getting me more and more excited for this fall!

Stroller Decision!

2011-04-04T12:27:00.000-07:00

So I posted last night about researching strollers and carseats, and then after I hit "post", I did some more researching.

I have long loved the Britax B-Ready stroller and its variety of configurations. It has great reviews on a multitude of websites, and really just seems to fit what we want out of a stroller. The only problem was the price.

Britax currently has a promotion going on where you can get the Britax Chaperone infant carseat for free when you purchase the B-Ready stroller, which is a $239.99 value. Amazon is also selling the B-Ready for a reduced price (Britax is making way for new spring colors), and I have a 10% off coupon also. This makes the B-Ready entirely affordable for us, since previously mentioned family member is contributing to the cost (in place of purchasing the carseat separately). Here is the cost breakdown:

Original Cost:
Britax B-Ready Stroller $499.99
+ Britax Chaperone Infant Car Seat $239.99
= $739.98

Current Cost:
Britax B-Ready Stroller $399.99 (on sale through Amazon)
+ Britax Chaperone Infant Car Seat $183.99 (on sale through Amazon)
- 10% off Amazon Coupon
- $183.99 (Free Carseat promotion)
= $341.59

That's almost $400 in savings!!

We of course had to pay sales tax, but since I have an Amazon Prime account, we get free 2 day shipping, so it should be here Wednesday! So glad we found this promotion and sale- we now can get what we really wanted!

Strollers and Car Seats

2011-04-03T17:48:00.000-07:00

Josh finally agreed to go to Babies R Us with me today to browse and start narrowing down our choices on some big-ticket items. The crib, changing table, and dresser are all decided, which is a huge relief.

Our main concerns right now are carseat and stroller. I have heard time and time again to avoid the big, bulky, heavy travel systems, and I think that advice is pretty sound. I started looking at lightweight, umbrella-type strollers, and also a Snap'n'Go to use with the infant carseat for the first few months.

Then, I found a few lightweight strollers at BRU today that you can use an infant carseat with! Makes needing a Snap'n'Go pointless! Here are our (current) options:

(I'm going to use the Chicco KeyFit 30 in all of these options, because it works with every option we have. Also, the colors in the photos may not be the actual colors we choose.)

Option #1: Chicco KeyFit 30 infant carseat + Snap'n'Go stroller + Chicco Liteway = $394.97

Pros: The Snap'n'Go stroller is very light and folds down small, which is nice for my little Honda and for Josh's truck. The Chicco Liteway has great reviews, and also folds down small and is light.
Cons: Having to store the Snap'n'Go once the kiddo is old enough to sit in the Liteway. That the Liteway can't be used with an infant carseat. Cheap wheels.

Option #2: Chicco KeyFit 30 infant carseat + Britax B-Nimble Stroller = $379.98

Pros: The Britax B-Nimble is also very lightweight and folds small. It has the option of using an infant carseat with it, with a variety of brands accepted.
Cons: The Britax Chaperone infant carseat snaps into the stroller, but other brands use a weird strap system that I don't know if I'm comfortable with. The Britax Chaperone is $20 more than the Chicco KeyFit 30 carseat. Cheap wheels.

Option #3: Chicco KeyFit 30 infant carseat + Baby Jogger City Mini Stroller = $489.93

Pros: This stroller has big, solid, rubber wheels that can really hold up on uneven ground. It accepts infant carseats with the purchase of an adapter. Still folds up relatively small.
Cons: Most expensive option. Not as lightweight as other strollers. Have to purchase adapter for carseat.

I should mention that a family member has graciously offered to purchase the infant carseat of our choice, so that cost really won't be factored into the total cost of our "travel system".

So mommas, what's your opinion?

13 Weeks and a Few Odd Days

2011-03-31T20:34:00.000-07:00

Here are two belly bump photos.... one from this past Tuesday, and one from tonight at the park. The second one Josh took, so its slightly out of focus and rather grainy (he has no patience for photos or my camera). I think the first photo looks bigger because I was wearing a tight t-shirt, and in the second its a looser shirt plus a sweater.

The 13 Week POP!

2011-03-30T13:48:00.000-07:00

There I was, putting along, thinking I would start to get a "baby bump" closer to 20 weeks. I hadn't gained any weight (and still haven't), and there was no sign that a belly was imminent.

Last Thursday, at 12w5d, I was at work and looked in the mirror and noticed that my previously flat-appearing (in clothes) abdomen now had a sort of roundness to it. Noticeable to me, but not necessarily anyone else. So I snapped a cell-phone photo in the bathroom at work.

Fast forward to Saturday morning, and I awoke to a new development: full-on belly. Even Josh noticed. Especially after I put on a side-ruched maternity t-shirt. I had a birthday party to go that afternoon, and wondered if anyone else would notice. And notice they did!

It still feels very odd to have something protruding from my body. And it surprised me at how quickly it appeared! My doctor did mention though that this is kind of to be expected, seeing as how this is my third pregnancy, and that I have a very short torso, so baby has nowhere to go but out.

Here are two comparison photos - please excuse the poor quality, as they are both from my cell-phone.

Week 11: Meeting Our Doctor and We Have a Heartbeat!

2011-03-22T17:32:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, March 15th we had an appointment to meet our OB for the first time. I had only previously met a nurse and an ultrasound tech, so we were looking forward to putting a face with a name.

Dr. S came in and introduced herself, and the first thing I noticed was how much she included Josh in the conversation. She made eye contact with him constantly, asked him questions directly, and really made me feel like I'm not in this alone. Maybe every OB is like this, but I was really happy to see how she treated him. She asked some basic questions, asked if we had any questions, and then told me that I'm Rh negative, meaning its possible my blood won't be compatible with the baby's blood. This means I'll be getting a Rhogam shot at 28 weeks, and then again at delivery. Also, if I were to be in a car accident, or have a fall, or get hit in the stomach, they would give me another shot then. It really doesn't seem to be that big of a deal nowadays, and if we find out if Josh is Rh negative as well, we can avoid the shots altogether.

Then. Dr. S pulled out the doppler, and I pulled out my BlackBerry, and we were able to hear our little kiddo's heartbeat for the first time! I asked if I could record it on my phone, and she said of course. It was beating away at 167 bpm, and was such a neat experience. Josh and I both lit up and couldn't stop smiling. So nice to know that between our ultrasound and this appointment the baby didn't fall our or get lost!

We go back in on April 12th, which will put us right around 15 weeks. She said at that appointment we'll get to schedule our "big" ultrasound and find out if we are Team Blue or Team Pink! I think it goes without saying that we are counting down the days until that point!

PS- This "belly" is getting harder and harder to hide from my patients! My boss knows, but I haven't told any patients. This secret will be out before I know it at the rate its been going!

Week 9: Our First Ultrasound

2011-03-17T10:07:00.000-07:00

When I met with the nurse from my OB's office for the first time, she mentioned that they wouldn't be doing an ultrasound until the "big one" around 20 weeks, to determine the sex and check all of the anatomy. I think she could tell from the look on my face that this freaked me out a little. There I was, only 7 weeks pregnant, and being told I had to wait another 13 weeks to even make sure there was a baby in there. So, she agreed to do a "dating" ultrasound at 9.5 weeks to measure the baby according to how big it should be at that point. We were scheduled to do that on Thursday, March 3rd at 8:40 AM.

So, that day rolls around, and my boss was on vacation for the week. Meaning I was in charge of our two fill-in therapists and the clinic. I showed up at 7:30 AM that morning, ready to unlock the clinic, switch the phones over, start a load of laundry, and generally get the clinic ready for the therapist and patients to arrive. When I opened the door that morning, however, I discovered the clinic was freezing cold, and our heat pump wasn't working. Terrific. So I'm calling my electrician-dad, my boss, and the company that installed the unit, trying to get it working so all of my patients don't freeze. I managed to get out the door on time for my appointment, and raced across town while trying to chug the 1 quart of water required before my ultrasound, all the while attempting to not pee my pants.

Josh met me at the office, and we walked in, both nervous and excited. The tech called us back, had me lie down, dimmed the lights, and squirted warm ultrasound gel on my stomach. She put the wand on my stomach, and we immediately saw our kiddo. It was the most amazing sight I could ever imagine seeing. We could distinguish the head and eyes, and its little arm stubs, and the torso. It was wiggling around, and we could see the heart flickering on the screen. The tech measured the heartrate, at 167 bpm. She printed off a couple of pictures for us, and we were done. Josh and I couldn't stop smiling and giggling, and we both walked out of there on a complete high. We each took a copy of the picture, and he showed everybody at work that day. He's such a proud daddy!

We still have to wait until closer to 20 weeks to find out if I'm carrying a little boy or girl, and right now that seems like a loooooonnnnggggg ways away. We're very much looking forward to that day!

Weeks 4-9: A Summary

2011-03-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

Weeks 4-9 were much of the same, day in and day out. Lots of nausea, lots of throwing up, lots of cravings, and lots of hormones. I lost a few pounds, and have since gained them all back. I saw the nurse at my OB's office, and went back to my cardiologist for my ongoing heart issues.

We didn't take any photos of me during this time period, mostly because I felt too crummy, and there was either no change or I was so bloated that I looked 7 months pregnant.

I would like to start posting more frequently (maybe 1-2 times a week?) with photos of the growing belly. I'm starting to get more energy, so hopefully this will pan out!

Friday, January 28th, 2011: Telling My Parents

2011-03-16T13:41:00.000-07:00

*I forgot to post this before I posted the Jan. 30th post, hence the out-of-orderness. Oops.

Tonight, we had plans to go over to my parents' house for pizza. We normally get together with them each week, at some point or another. We eat dinner, watch TV, and just catch up. So, this Friday seemed like nothing out of the ordinary.

We had decided we wanted to tell my parents tonight about the newest addition we are adding this fall, so I had picked up "The Idiot's Guide to Grandparenting" book as a joke. Also, a few weeks prior, Mom and I had been at Ikea and I mentioned wanting to use some of our tax refund to redecorate our spare bedroom (this was prior to me knowing I was pregnant). I printed out a picture of a nursery from online, and left it in the envelope from the photo-printing place, and put the book in a paper bag.

We got to their house, and we were all lounging in the living room. I handed Dad the bag and said, "I saw this at the store and thought of you." And then I gave Mom the envelope and casually mentioned I decided how I wanted to decorate the spare room. They opened them at the same time, and Dad just giggled and said, "No way!". Mom said, "You're having a baby?! Are you serious?! I'm going to be a grandma!!". She then declared right away that they wanted to buy the crib, and she wants to babysit.

We spent the rest of the evening talking about it, and Mom whipped her laptop out so we could look at baby stuff online. Needless to say, they were (and still very much are!) excited!

Sunday, January 30th, 2011: Telling Josh's Parents

2011-03-07T11:46:00.001-08:00

*NOTE: These next few posts (with dates as titles) were written on the day of the title's date, but I didn't want to publish them until after we had told all our friends/family. So, I'm playing catch-up for a little while!

Today is the day we told Josh's parents. We had to go to his dad's house to pick up his trailer, and while we were there Dan asked if I was going to be walking in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure this year. I just said "Maybe..." and then Josh said, "You're going to be a grandpa!". He was shocked, but still so excited. He wrapped me in a huge hug multiple times, and his love for us really showed. He said it would take a few days for it to sink in, and he later called Josh and told him he went inside and laid down to absorb it all.

Then, it was time to tell Josh's mom, Stacie. I was meeting his mom, two aunts, and grandma for lunch and a movie to celebrate some birthdays, and Josh drove me to the restaurant. We watched for Stacie, and as soon as she arrived we took off for the door to try to head her off. She made it inside before we caught her, and was already at the table with the girls. So, Josh told her to come outside for a minute, and I followed. We stood outside the entrance to the restaurant, and told her she was going to be a grandma. She teared up, and hugged us both, and seemed genuinely excited. From the table inside, the girls could see what was going on, so when we went back inside, we were ambushed. "Are you having a baby?!" was what we were met with. We answered yes, and everyone cheered and hugged. The rest of the time at the restaurant was spent discussing details, such as how far along we are, when the due date is, if we plan on finding out the sex, etc.
Josh left the restaurant, and went and told his grandpa and sister, Amy. Both were equally excited!

It is such a relief to have our families know, and to have their support.

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011: Beta

2011-03-07T11:46:00.000-08:00

*NOTE: These next few posts (with dates as titles) were written on the day of the title's date, but I didn't want to publish them until after we had told all our friends/family. So, I'm playing catch-up for a little while!

I called the doctor's office yesterday morning to request to be sent to the lab for a blood draw to check my hCG levels. The last time Josh and I were pregnant (nearly two years ago!), and at the same point (4 weeks 3 days), my beta was barely 100. Two days later than number had dropped nearly in half.

We waited around all day and into the evening for a phone call with the results. I even called the office to see if they were ready yet. We were told it would probably be morning before they had anything for us.

Around 9:30AM today (Wednesday), TFPC called while I was on the phone with Josh. I quickly answered their call, and was told we are "definitely pregnant", with a beta of 337. That's three times as high as last time! We are still going back in tomorrow (Thursday) for another draw, and then have an appointment tomorrow evening with my PCP, Doug, to go over the results. Doug used to be the Team Doctor for Tumwater High School (Josh's alma mater), and Josh and Doug know each other very well.

We are keeping our fingers crossed for numbers of over 600 tomorrow night!

Monday, January 24th, 2011

2011-03-07T11:45:00.000-08:00

*NOTE: These next few posts (with dates as titles) were written on the day of the title's date, but I didn't want to publish them until after we had told all our friends/family. So, I'm playing catch-up for a little while!

This has been a whirlwind of a weekend. I had a sneaking suspicion I was pregnant, but also felt like I didn't have any "symptoms". So, I figured I just wait it out until Aunt Flow made her appearance.

My period was due Saturday, and never came. Sunday, I decided to test, and was expecting a negative result. Low and behold, however, I got an immediate positive! There was no waiting for the recommended 3 minutes to read the results; it showed up instantly! In addition, the "pregnant" line was dark - much darker than even the control line!

I decided I needed to tell Josh in a semi-creative way. I had bought a yellow onesie that says "Mommy + Daddy = ME!" to give to our friends who are pregnant, and also a guidebook for expectant fathers. I decided maybe we needed it more than they did right then. So, I interrupted Josh's movie watching and told him I had a gift for him. He sat on the couch, and I came out with the book and onesie behind my back, and sat on the floor in front of him. I told him this was a custom-made gift, and it was non-returnable. He asked if it was something I made, and I replied, "Sort of.". I then asked him to close his eyes, and I placed the gifts in his hands. I took a deep breath, and told him to open his eyes. Its worth mentioning that I was squeezing a pillow in my arms, covering up my mouth, nervous of his reaction. He opened his eyes, looked down, and then looked up at me and said, "Are we... pregnant?". And I just nodded my head, while he kept asking, "For real?", and, "You're not playing a trick on me, are you?". He then asked if I still had the test, which I went and grabbed to show him. His response? "Yep, there are definitely two lines there!". He hugged me, kissed me, and told me how excited he was.

Over the next two days, Josh continually (and jokingly) asked, "Are we still pregnant?" and kept saying to himself, "Wow, we're having a baby. I still can't believe it!".

He has been attentive, protective, caring, funny, loving, and everything else I could ask for. We both have so many questions, and have been reading the baby books we bought non-stop. We lay in bed at night reading, and every few minutes he'll giggle and read something to me he finds funny. Mostly gross bodily things that I find embarrassing, and he finds hilarious.

So, our first doctor's appointment is scheduled for Thursday the 27th at 6 PM, but that is with my primary family doctor. We are trying to get a blood draw done before then to check out the hCG levels, but are unsure if that will happen. We go in for a nurse's appointment on Valentine's Day at the OB/GYN clinic we chose (my normal OB/GYN doesn't deliver at the hospital we want), and then for an actual doctor's appointment on February 23rd. That appointment will be right at about 8.5 weeks.

We are estimating that the day we found out (Sunday, January 23rd), I am/was 4 weeks 1 day pregnant. Our estimated due date is October 1st, and we honestly could not be more excited.

I'm looking forward to documenting everything along the way here, so keep checking back for updates!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-12-22T16:23:00.000-08:00

Molly's First Christmas

2010-12-16T20:25:00.000-08:00

Seeing as how this is Molly's first Christmas, I've gone all out with buying her things, personalizing her stocking, and taking photos of her in Christmas-related situations. She doesn't always like it.

Case in point:

This is Molly's "Mom are you done taking silly photos of me wrapped in Christmas lights yet?" face.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-12-15T13:50:00.000-08:00

(I couldn't choose just one!!)

Duck Hunting

2010-12-07T15:23:00.000-08:00

We recently took Josh's sister Amy duck hunting for the first time, and it was such a neat experience for us all! Also in attendance was Jack, Josh's cousin, and Jason, Jack's dad and Josh's uncle. We were out at the duck blind before sunrise, setting decoys. Here are Jack, Amy, and Jason sitting in the blind. Notice Amy all bundled up?

This photo came out very grainy, oddly colored, and out of focus, but oddly, I love it!

Josh was fixing a jerk-line that broke. This is also when a flock of ducks decide to fly over.

The kids stayed the night with us the previous night, hence the yawns from Jack.

Josh shooting at a mallard drake (which he got!)

Amy and the rest of the party had a great time, and she's already looking forward to coming out again during winter break! When I get time, I have some hilarious video from the hunt as well!

The Month Without a Dryer

2010-12-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

As most of you know, Josh and I just started out this year living on our own. We both lived with our parents previously, and so this has all been a very next and eye-opening experience.

We each are responsible for certain bills related to the house, and each have our own bills too, such as his Sea-Doo payment and my student loans. The way it works out, I normally pay the electric bill. It comes every two other month, and normally hovers around the same amount, varying by $30-$40.

To save on electricity, we are attempting to not use our heat pump at all this winter. We keep it set to 45 degrees during the warmer months, and have it set to 50 currently (to prevent the house from getting so cold pipes start freezing/breaking). We have a wood stove, and burn a fire every single day. We start one after work in the evening, and it goes out during the night. The days one of us is home, we start one in the morning and keep it going all day. Its nothing for our house to get over 80 degrees, and its normally comfortable in there. There are times in the morning when it gets chilly, but I'm used to just throwing a sweatshirt on and moving around or grabbing a blanket. Josh is almost never cold, so he doesn't mind it. I'm not sure how much money we are saving by doing this, as we haven't yet had a winter where we did use the heat pump all season. But, I'm imaging its quite a bit of money!

We both also try to ensure lights are turned off when we're not in the room. We frequently only use one lamp in the living room in the evening, along with the ceiling fan to circulate the warm air into the rest of the house. We try to not leave cell phone chargers plugged in, and since Josh spends much of his time outside on his days off (which are opposite of my days off), not much electricity is used when he's home.

To add to the savings, I'm attempting to not use our clothes dryer during the month of December. I'll still need to use it occasionally, mostly during last-minute situations. ("Hey babe - my jacket's wet and I'm leaving for duck hunting in half an hour! Can you dry it?") But for the most part, I'm simply air-drying everything. I have one drying rack already, but want to buy one more for when I do large loads or multiple loads in one evening. Since the living room is the warmest room in the house and our living room is quite large, I'm placing the racks in there (when company is coming over, I'll move the racks to another room). I did this often during the summer, and loved the savings.

I'll post a comparison in January, when the next electricity bill arrives. I'm extremely interested to see the difference in kilowatts and cost! Have you ever tried this? What were your savings like?

Seasons Greetings!

2010-12-02T09:09:00.000-08:00

Seeing as how this is Josh and I's first Christmas living together, and our first Christmas with Molly, I wanted to go all out and do a family Christmas card this year. Josh was less than thrilled.

I planned a date for us to shoot our photos (with me taking them using a tripod and remote), and Josh grudgingly came along.

We came away with three card-quality photos, and I am extremely happy to have photos of us from our first Christmas!

I've had a hard time choosing which card I like best from Shutterfly. Here are my requirements:

Fits a vertical photo
Holds only one photo
Doesn't have anything blocking the bottom part of the photo, as that's where Molly is in the photo.

As far as style goes, its a tough decision. Josh likes more traditional styles, while I prefer more modern. Here are our top four:

Holly Jolly Christmas Card

Warm Wishes Christmas Card

Stylish Snowflakes Black Christmas Card

Holly Jolly Story Christmas Card

I won't say which card we chose, because I want it to be a surprise to our family and friends when it arrives!

All of Shutterfly's Christmas Photo cards can be found here!

In addition to a Christmas card, I also want to create a calendar featuring photos of Josh, Molly, and I throughout the year. Since January is quickly approaching, I need to get on this! I have already started designing one, and am just waiting for Christmas to arrive and be over with so I can include photos from our holiday celebrations in the calendar. What I love most about these calendars is that you can add birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions while you're creating the calendar! Check out Shutterfly's Photo Calendars here!

I'm full of new traditions this year, and one I definitely want to continue is creating customized birthday cards for family and friends. With Shutterfly, you can choose a design, add photos, create your own message, and send it of! What would be neater than receiving a birthday card in the mail, knowing someone put thought, effort, time, and attention into creating a special card just for you?! I have already started creating some for birthdays (and birth days!) I know are coming up soon, and plan on making many, many more. Here is the huge selection of birthday cards!

There you have it! Lots of neat ideas for Christmas cards, photo calendars, and birthday cards. But that's not all! Shutterfly has photo books, photo gifts, prints, and lots more available on their website. Check them out!

Why I Love Winter

2010-12-02T07:00:00.001-08:00

Molly's First Snow

2010-12-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

Last week's snowfall was a first for Molly. The first time I let her out into it, she stood on the porch and gaveme this look:

... like, "Mom, what IS this stuff?! It's cold on my little princess paws!!".

She then ventured out into it some more...

... and decided it wasn't all that horrible.

I then took her over to my parents' house, and she played for three days with Callee and Roxee in it, and is now a HUGE fan of the snow!

And the last photo is of Callee, who for some unknown reason, loves to bury her face in the snow.

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-30T10:54:00.000-08:00

We traveled to my aunt and uncle's house for Thanksgiving this year, and most of the family was in attendance. It was cozy, relaxing, and a great time. I didn't take many photos of the people that were there; I was more focused on the animals! Here are a few quick photos:

These deer come right up to their porch! Probably because they get fed apples every day!

Otis showing off his ability to sit like a person.

Grandma Alice!

And Otis the Reindeer.

Hope you all had a wonderfully festive, filling, and fun Thanksgiving!

My Personal Bodyguard

2010-11-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

Miss Molly, our wonderful 8 month old Golden Retriever/Labrador Retriever mix, has stepped up to be my own personal bodyguard while Josh is away.

It always amazes me just how perceptive and aware animals are to us humans. When I'm happy, Molly knows it. When I'm sad, she can tell. And when I'm scared, she protects me.

I have a hatred for being home alone at night, and so when Josh is away, I let Molly sleep on our bed instead of in her crate. It makes me feel safer having her warm little body next to me. Molly, however, has a hatred for snuggling. She likes to lay on my feet, or on the floor next to the bed. But she isn't one to spoon. That all changes when Josh is gone, though. She sleeps right up against my side or stomach, depending on which position I'm in. And she won't leave her place until I get out of bed. Even after I get up, she's glued to my side. Like my little furry shadow. If I go outside, she goes outside. But instead of running off to play, she walks patiently alongside me to wherever I'm going, and then goes back in when I do. She doesn't even go to the door to go play outside for very long when I'm inside. She'll go out to go to the bathroom, and then wants right back in. It's like she can tell I don't like being alone, and so she wants me to feel safe.

Now, this could all be a major coincidence that she acts this way while Josh is away. But you know what? I don't care! It makes me feel better, and we get some major bonding time. Plus, see this face?

How could this sleepy, droopy face not make you feel better?

Appreciation

2010-11-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

In case you didn't know, Josh is currently in Idaho on a hunting trip. He left early Thursday morning, and will be home sometime Wednesday. This is a yearly trip for him, his uncle, and his cousin, and they wait all year for it.

This is the first time Josh has been gone for more than one night since we started living together. We live out in the sticks, and don't really know any of our neighbors. And I hate being home alone.

The first night he was gone, my 16 year old brother stayed with me. And the following night, we had Girls Night at our house, so I wasn't alone again.

Having Josh away really makes me appreciate how much I love having him home. Its not just the practical stuff I like having him around for; its the emotional aspect as well. I honestly can't imagine having to be the guy in a relationship; they are responsible for so much!

First and foremost, he is my protector. He is very chivalrous, and (almost) always a gentleman. He sleeps closest to the door, always checks outside for me if I hear a strange noise, kills the spiders, and does whatever he can to take care of me. He makes me feel safe, and I sleep peacefully with him around. When he's gone, I hardly sleep. I take naps during the daytime, and then stay away for most of the night. I get scared easily, and have a hard time in the dark alone.

He also does most of the physical stuff around the house. Bringing in firewood, cutting kindling, cleaning Molly's outdoor dog kennel, etc. Since he's been gone, I've had to do all of that. Its not that I'm not capable, or that I feel as if its his "job"; he just does that stuff.

And, its nice to have a helping hand. Whether its taking care of Molly, doing the dishes, or running errands, having someone to help you accomplish things is nice.

Most of all, however, I miss my best friend. The one who makes me laugh, the one who melts my heart, and the one I rush home to see. I miss the love of my life, and waking up next to his sleepy face each morning (even if it is at 5 AM!).

So Wednesday, when Josh rolls back into town (which also happens to be the day of our anniversary!), you can know with certainty than I will be wrapping my arms around his strong neck, giving him a big kiss, and telling him thank you. For coming home safely, for coming to my rescue, and for just being Josh.

Dear God

2010-11-22T22:16:00.000-08:00

Dear God,

I know its been a while since we've really spoken. I haven't even been to Your "house" in a very long time. My Bible still sits next to my bed, along with my Bible study book for the book of Esther. But neither have been opened in months. My rosary sits tucked in its silk bag. But I haven't held its cold, round beads in my fingers in I don't know how long.

Ever since the end of last year, it has been very hard for me to completely trust in you again. My heart broke when I lost the baby I conceived, when I so badly wanted it. I had suffered through one miscarriage already. I felt entitled to this baby. And those dreams were crushed, despite my never-ending prayers to You to keep my baby safe.

After all this time, I still don't feel 100% trusting. I feel so guilty saying that though, or even thinking it. When I was baptised and confirmed, I vowed to trust in you, God. To believe Your have a plan for me. But that is easier said than done in some cases.

Why is it, God, that we must go through so much hurt in order to realize Your plan? Isn't there a simpler way? A way with less heartache, less sorrow? I think of the pain I have continued to go through, and I still don't understand it. And I think of my friend Leah, and her sorrow over her failed IVF cycles. Of all the other infertile women I know; Keely, Allison, Megan. You see us struggling, Lord. You see us trying to realize dreams of ours, and praying to You for Your help. Why must we be burden with this load? Why us? Why can't we be granted this one prayer?

I feel angry, God. Let down. Broken, and disappointed. By You. My heart hurts when I think of placing the blame on You, but that is exactly how I feel. Intellectually, I know You didn't take my babies away from me to hurt me. I know that in my head. But my emotions and heart tell me differently. Those feelings outweigh the logical parts.

And that is where I am struggling right now. To overcome those feelings, and to reunite myself with You and Your word. To let your Spirit overtake me once more, and clear from my heart those feelings of blame and anger. I am in turmoil right now in so many ways, and I need Your Light to shine through to me.

Whenever I set foot inside the Abbey, I am overwhelmed with a sense of quiet. Not just in that the building is silent; lacking noise. Of course, there is a lot of that going on too, but its more than that. Like all of the thoughts in my head are quieted. My fears, anger, negativity. All of it goes away. The Abbey is a calming place for me, even when Mass is not in session. Simply being there completely changes my mood. But getting myself there has been the struggle. I know once I am there, it will feel right. I will know that's where I need to be, where I belong. But I can't bring myself to drive into that parking lot, let alone walk through those carved, wooden doors.

I need that quiet right now. I need my anxiety to be swept away, for this burden of anger to be lifted from my shoulders. I need calmness. I need to see a light at the end of this tunnel I seem to be stuck in. I need You, Lord.

Josh & I

2010-11-15T17:55:00.000-08:00

Just a quick few shots of Josh and I....

PS- Isn't he handsome?!

Girlfriends

2010-11-15T10:23:00.000-08:00

I've never been someone who has a lot of girlfriends. I usually hang out with the guys, and always tended to find girls annoying, catty, competitive, and just downright mean. I had a few select girls that I counted on, but that was a very small list.

Over the last year, that has all changed! I don't know if its because I've opened myself up more to the girls in my life, or if these incredibly amazing women have just come at the right time!

From the women of my walking group for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure (Hi Rebekah, Jessica, and Maqui!), to the girlfriend of a friend of ours (Howdy Laura!), to the lovely ladies I met last Friday (more on that below), I'm loving having a long list of girls I can call friends!!

This past Friday evening, I had the chance to spend a few hours with 5 wonderful ladies, all battling different levels of infertility. We met because S.I.F. had 2 frozen embryos transferred in Seattle (she's from Alaska), and had some free time to kill. We talked about everything from how her transfer went, to our own personal stories and struggles, to Facebook stalking, and more. It was so relaxing to just chat about whatever came up, and to feel free to say whatever. These women all have a story, and if you would, check them out and give them some support! Keely is "ranch-wife in the making" and former radio DJ, plus she loves photography too!. Alissa is also into photography and her and her husband are busy trying to make a wee one! Megan calls herself "Infertile Myrtle", and her and her husband have been battling infertility for over 9 years. Thank you ladies, for the amazing girl time!!

I'm thoroughly looking forward to some more girl time coming up, including a Girls Night In this Friday night with Josh's family, to a Christmas bazaar Saturday with Josh's family and some of mine, and Rebekah's birthday party Saturday night. As much as I love being "one of the guys", its a great feeling to know I have girls that have my back!

Quick 3 Day Update

2010-09-25T19:04:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update to let everyone know how much I'm loving my 3 Day experience!! 44.2 miles down, 15.8 to go. Can't wait to see my family at Closing Ceremonies tomorrow!!

A Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure Walker in SERIOUS NEED!!!!

2010-09-14T09:58:00.001-07:00

Hello,

I have taken on an incredible challenge. On September 24th - 26th, I will be walking 60 miles over the course of three days, camping out at night with thousands of other women and men taking this journey with me.

It's for an event called the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. Net proceeds from the Komen 3-Day for the Cure are invested in community-based breast health programs and breast cancer research. The research funded focuses on decreasing breast cancer incidence and mortality in the next decade. Susan G. Komen for the Cure works hard to build a future without breast cancer, and I need to raise $2,300 to help bring us closer to that goal. I am also an official Training Walk Leader, so I can help other women prepare for this journey. We walk together several times a week, logging countless miles.

I've been spending the past few weeks preparing for the event and have really made a lot of progress. So far I've raised $1400 - only $900 to go! My training is also going well. I've walked over 100 miles in the last 24 weeks. I can hardly wait to hit the road with the thousands of other women and men who are joining together for this common cause.

Please consider making a donation. If you can't give all at once, you can spread it out over four months, using the payment plan option, if you donate online at The3Day.org. Please also ask your employer if they will double your donation with a matching gift.

Here is my link to my personal page to donate: http://www.the3day.org/site/TRC/2010/SeattleEvent2010?pg=peditor&fr_id=1471&px=4587524

Unfortunately, breast cancer has become an all too common occurrence among women and men throughout the world. Now is the time to take action to help end this disease. Without a cure, one person will die of breast cancer every 13 minutes in the United States. I hope that you'll share this incredible adventure with me - by supporting me in my fundraising efforts. Donate for your mother, your wife, your sisters, your daughters. Donate so that none of these women have to fight the uphill battle a diagnosis of breast cancer brings. One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. That's why I'm walking in the 3-Day for the Cure. To do something bold about breast cancer - because everyone deserves a lifetime.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Sincerely,

Molly Gets Stuck

2010-09-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

After our ER trip the other day, we went to my parents' house for dinner. When we're there, we let Molly run around outside with their dogs. In case you didn't know, my parents also have cows.

At our house, we have a shallow watering trough that we keep filled with water in the backyard. Molly plays in it, and sinks her toys in it, and drinks out of it. It's only about 2 feet tall.

At my parents', they have the same trough, but its a lot deeper, for t heir cows to drink out of.

Can you see where this story is going?

While sitting around in the kitchen chatting, I decide to peek outside and check on Molly. I don't see her, so I start calling her name. She was nowhere in site. Then, I could faintly hear her crying. But I had no idea where she could be stuck. I happened to glance into the cow pasture, and see her little blonde head poking up out of the watering trough. I ran as fast as I could out there, not knowing just how much water was in there/if she could touch the bottom. Luckily, there was only about a foot of water in the trough, so her legs were covered and her belly was wet, but she wasn't drowning. She just didn't know how to get out! She obviously thought this trough was just like hers. I had to lift her wet ~~little~~ ~~petite~~ rather heavy body out while she squirmed around. Behind me, back at the house, I could hear everyone else dying of laughter.

Looking back, it was quite hilarious seeing her in there. At the time though, it scared me half to death!

This, people, is why I do not have kids!!!!

Just What My Anxiety Needed... Not

2010-09-13T08:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Josh went off to work like usual. I got ready for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure team BBQ. I brought my Cake Balls I had made, as well as a green bean casserole. I arrived, and had a ball. It was so much fun talking to teammates more, meeting their families, eating all kinds of delicious foods, and really bonding. And of course taking silly pictures.

I was in the middle of entering someone's phone number into my Blackberry's address book when Josh called. I simply hit "Ignore", planning to call him right back as soon as I was done typing. Then he called right back. And then texted me. I figured I should check the text from him since it must be important. And what I saw in that text instantly caused a lump in my throat the size of a watermelon.

"I need to go to the E.R. Can you come give me a ride?"

Ummm.... EXCUSE ME?! I instantly thought the worst. Josh must be dying. He's been in a horrible accident. He's having a heart attack. OMG..... HE'S GOING TO DIE. You'd think I would have been slightly more logical, and thought to myself, "It can't be that serious. He's texting and calling me. He's asking me to come get him from work and drive him there in my car. Instead of calling an ambulance. So obviously its probably a minor injury." But no, I couldn't think like that.

So I called him. And he said he had a cut on his hand, and probably needed stitches. He was going to drive himself, but the guys at work wouldn't let him since he was looking kind of pale. Him and a coworker were hooking an implement up to a tractor, and somehow Josh's hand got trapped in the hitch and cut/squished. But no broken bones. So I left my BBQ in a hurry, racing to get to Josh's work. His cut was/is approximately 2-3 inches long, and was about 1 inch wide before the stitches. Pretty deep too, but not through any tendons or to the done. It just looked worse than it was. So off to the ER we went. The whole visit surprisingly didn't take as long as we had thought it would. They cleaned the laceration out really well (there was dirt and grease stuck in it) and then stitched him up (5 stitches in all). Then we got the discharge papers, and off we went.

But, as I wrote about here, I just didn't need this experience. My anxiety has been increased, as now we have to deal with his work's Worker's Compensation insurance program since it was an on-the-job injury. And I feel the need to constantly take care of Josh and his wound. And its just one more thing added to my list. Like the straw the broke the camel's back....

Impending Doom

2010-09-09T09:40:00.000-07:00

I tend to be a very "live in the moment" type of person. Sure, I plan for down the road, but its all in my head. I hardly ever act on anything until its actually here in front of me, and I have no choice. I also tend to feel/think that if I ignore something, it will go away. My mom used to get so irritated with me over that. Not a very successful way of living, but its me.

Lately, however, I've had this sense of impending doom. Constant fear. I feel as though something terrible is just around the corner, waiting to happen. Everytime I or Josh gets in the car to drive somewhere, I'm sure there's going to be an accident. When Josh was hunting by himself, my gut told me he was going to cut himself with his skinning knife and bleed to death. Or someone is going to break into our house. Or my house is going to break down. Or I'm going to get cancer. Every. Single. Thing. Scares. Me.

This is a totally new feeling for me. And I can't stand it! I'm constantly double checking electrical outlets to make sure I unplugged things. Calling Josh 50 times a day, and feeling a lump in my throat if he doesn't answer. Thinking every single sore throat or headache is a major medical trauma waiting to happen.

I have no clue what sparked this new-found fearfulness. Nothing traumatic has happened, nothing has changed, no one is sick. I just feel as though I have this massive black cloud right behind me, waiting to downpour.

Can someone bring me an umbrella?

The Season Begins

2010-09-08T10:44:00.000-07:00

Josh and I are both avid hunters, and September marks the beginning of us really getting down to business. This past Monday, Labor Day, Josh, Molly, and I headed up into the woods. It was a lazy hunting day, and I of course brought my camera along. Josh hates when I do this, as he says whenever a camera is brought on a hunting trip, you will be unsuccessful. But I do it anyway. :)

I snapped a bunch of photos without him really knowing (or at least he acted like he didn't know; he could have just been ignoring me). Here are a few of my favorites:

And in other news, Molly got her first bird yesterday! We've been training her to be a duck hunting dog, and so far she had never had any experience with live birds. Yesterday, Josh and her were in the woods, and Molly sniffed out a grouse. It flew up, Josh shot it, and Molly retrieved it! They were both beaming when I got home; I don't think Josh has even been more proud of her! Here's a picture of the two of them. Its out of focus slightly because I had to act quickly, and I couldn't get Molly to look at me. She was too focused on getting that grouse!

Bump, Set, Spike

2010-09-06T19:02:00.000-07:00

While camping in Lake Chelan a few weeks ago, we played a volleyball game on the sand court they had at the campground. Well, everyone else played, and I took photos. What else would you expect?!

I can't even remember which side won, but it was fun regardless! And you'll notice Molly is in a lot of these photos; the volleyball we were playing with is "her" ball from home, so she just had to chase it back and forth across the court.

Memories like these are exactly why I love our family camping trips.

Getting Down to Business

2010-09-03T17:38:00.000-07:00

When Josh and I met, I was fairly happy with my body/weight/size. Sure, I could have been more toned and had a little excess weight, but I was content. Now, almost two years later, I feel like a cow. I have gained so much weight that I can't even wrap my head around it. At my smallest in high school, I weighed 115 and could fit into a size 4. Not no more. I won't even tell you what size I am now, because it makes me cringe.

So, I once again decided to try to change that. I started looking into the Atkins Diet, and it intrigued me. It also scared me. I am a total carb lover. Give me bread, give me pasta, give me doughnuts. Anything involving dough. So giving all that up was a daunting task. Now, obviously you have to have some carbs in your diet; its just about limiting those, and getting healthier varieties of carbs. Bye bye doughnuts.

I'm not completely adhering to the Atkins rules, but am using their guidelines. I've started paying more attention to the carb/fiber numbers on packages, and paying less attention to the calories. It has been a real learning experience to see the ridiculous amount of carbs I was taking in. I've learned more about what kinds of foods to choose (veggies, things high in fiber, some fruits), and what kinds of foods to not choose (Cheddar bagels, muffins and doughnuts, pasta). It has taken some getting used to, to say the least.

This is my first week of trying this out, and I am still desperately craving carbs. But that's to be expected! I've been making healthier choices, and being more conscious of just what I'm putting in my mouth. And the best part? I'm already down 3 pounds!

Here's hoping another 20 or so pounds just falls off this weekend! (A girl can hope, right?)

Whole Food Diet: Revisited

2010-09-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

Back in early July, I wrote about feeding our dog Molly whole food. I figured two months have gone by since we started it, and I should probably revisit the topic and how its been going.

In one word: awesome.

I love doing this. I can't imagine not feeding her whole food now. It is as much a part of our routine as doing laundry and washing the dishes.

I have stuck with the "Crock Pot Dinner" recipe that I originally started with, altering it here and there as need be. I vary the meat she gets, ranging from whole cooked chicken, to beef liver, to beef heart, to whatever else I find. Sometimes I cut the cooked meat up into bite-sized portions, other times I run it through the food processor so its more of a ground texture. I still use brown rice. And I still use a variety of veggies; sometimes frozen, sometimes fresh. The other thing I've started doing is adding eggs, for additional protein. I scramble a few, and then put them in the food processor. By using the food processor on the meat and eggs, I can better ensure she is getting equal amounts of meat and eggs from serving to serving. Also, once a day (usually in the morning), we put 1 tablespoon of fish oil (for the omega-3 fatty acids) on top of Molly's food.

Now let's talk cost. Since we bought quarter of a beef this year from my parents, we were able to use the liver and heart and some other meat from that. Which meant we weren't buying meat from the store or butcher. So, the only cost is one 2 lb. bag of brown rice (~$2) and one 1 lb. bag of frozen veggies (~$1-$2), along with 5 or 6 eggs, which breaks down to about $.75. If I do buy, say a package of beef liver, it runs about $2.50. So for around $7, I can make a batch of Molly food, which lasts about a week. To me, that isn't a bad price at all! Next year, we plan on buying a half of a beef, and having a garden full of our own veggies, which will further cut down on the cost.

Seeing how exited Molly gets when its time to feed her is what really gets me though. If you take something out of the refrigerator or freezer, or microwave something, or heck, even if you're just in the kitchen, she goes nuts. She sits down right away, but does this little "I'm so excited I can't sit still" thing where she shuffles around the whole kitchen while still trying to sit. And if you take her food bowl (full of food) outside to her kennel, she runs ahead of you the whole way, spinning around in the air, never taking her eyes off that bowl. She doesn't get this excited over anything else; just her food.

Also, her coat is shiny and silky, she isn't shedding nearly as much, her teeth are cleaner and her breath isn't as stinky. She is staying lean and muscular, and isn't at all fat like a lot of Labradors get. She's a lean, mean, duck-hunting machine!!

From now on, any pets we have, we will most certainly be sticking to our whole food diet. Give it a try!

Lake Chelan

2010-08-23T10:26:00.001-07:00

Hi guys! I'm still here. Just trying to get our house in order. I've been in major nesting mode lately.

I have a bunch of awesome photos from our Lake Chelan camping trip to post; still editing them!

I'll also be posting photos of the tile in the bathroom soon!!

Adios,

Great Garage Sale

2010-08-02T11:58:00.000-07:00

I have never had much luck with garage sales. It always seems like you sit around forever waiting for people to show up, spend days collecting/organizing/pricing things, and then hours cleaning up afterwards.

I am happy to announce I made a whopping $422 this past weekend from my charity garage sale!! People were very generous with their donations, and I am that much closer to my $2,300 needed to walk. Woohoo!!

We Walk Because We Must...

2010-07-29T15:12:00.000-07:00

We walk because we must. We are strong because the journey demands it. Together in body and united in spirit, we lay down our footsteps for this generation and the next. This is our promise: a world without breast cancer.

This is a mantra, of sorts, amongst the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure walkers. Screen-printed on t-shirts, printed on posters, recited in promotional videos. These 40 words hit the nail on the head for me. They so accurately describe this journey we walkers are on. I've been wanting to write a post about my experience thus far for a while now, but the words just never came. Until now.

When I first signed up for this walk, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. It was February, and September seemed so far away. And $2,300 seemed easy to raise. This year has flown by, and in 8 short weeks, I will be packing my bags to head to Seattle.

For those of you who don't know, the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure is just that; fifteen 3 day walks, each 60 miles. Participants are required to raise $2,300 in order to participate. Walkers train all year, logging hundreds of miles to prepare themselves to walk 20 miles a day. A complete tent city is constructed in each location, filled with hundreds to thousands of pink tents, food stations, medical care, portable showers, and entertainment. Cheering stations are set up along the path, with people showing up to cheer walkers on. The walk concludes with all the walkers marching into a stadium filled with family, friends, supporters. From what I'm told, its a very emotional and life-changing experience.

I decided that if I was going to participate, I wanted to go all-in. So, I signed up to be a Training Walk Leader. I didn't know anybody else who was walking this year; I was going solo. When I first started leading training walks in April, I got to know a few people here and there. I was kind of on my own team, hoping to recruit some people to join me. What happened instead was I was recruited for a different team.

Now, there are about 15-25 of us who get together every Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine (or scorching heat!) to "lay down our footsteps." We dress in pink, encourage each other, and explain our mission to anyone who asks. We take pictures, make up cheers and songs and dances, and bond. I think that is what I have come to love most about this. The continual bonding between us walkers. We have men, women, husbands and wives. At the beginning of each walk, we stretch, go over the route, apply sunscreen, Abolene, and Body Glide. And w go around the circle, telling our name, how many years we've done the 3 Day, and why we walk. People get as personal or impersonal as they want. And often times, tears are shed. We get to know our fellow walkers, and keep up with the progress of the people they are walking for. We offer shoulders to cry on, hands to hold, and smiles to help heal broken hearts.

Sometimes, the walking gets tough. It can be hot out, or pouring down rain. We give up sleeping in on the weekends. We also give up large chunks of time on our weekends. Our feet hurt. We get blisters. Our legs get tired. Our backs and hips hurt. We get mosquito bites (maybe that's just me...). And every time I find myself even starting to think, "This sucks.", I remind myself this: This is so easy compared to having breast cancer. I only have to walk 60 miles. I'm healthy; I can do it. I'm doing this for those who can't. Raise $2,300 and walk 60 miles in 3 days? No big deal. I'll walk 60 miles each day of my life if it means no one has to face a diagnosis of breast cancer again. This doesn't suck. This ROCKS!!!

Our team name is "Hello Cupcake", and we are #7 on the list of Top Ten Fundraising Teams. So far, our team of 21 has raised $38,716.75. Our goal for the year is $50,000 and I have absolute faith we will exceed that goal. Here are some photos from our training walks:

This is myself and sweet Tori. She is such an amazing women! Dedicated, strong, caring, H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S, and a truly great friend. She is also a fellow TWL (Training Walk Leader).

This is our poster that comes to every walk. Each new walker signs his or her name, and who they are walking for. This poster even took a dip in Capital Lake (on accident, of course).

Just yesterday, I received an email letting me know that registration is already open for the 2011 Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure. I haven't even completed my first walk yet, but you can be certain that I already signed up for next year.

Whole Food Diet

2010-07-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

Back when I adopted my cat, Hallee, the vet I saw mentioned trying some whole, raw foods for her, either as a supplement to her dry cat food, or instead of it. This was a completely new concept to me. I tried a few raw things for her, but she had no interest in them. So that was the end of that.

When we took Molly, our 4 month old Labrador/Golden Retriever mix puppy to her first vet appointment, he really started telling more about the whole food diet. And it made sense. Think about it - take Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy kibble. Its made with chicken, eggs, fish oil, grains, and some vitamins. And its also processes, and preserved. And dried. Why not just feed our puppy fresh chicken, pure fish oil, and a supplement? Isn't non-processed food without preservatives better for her? Just like it is for you and me? Josh and I debated long and hard on whether or not to fully enter into this diet. After all, its a lifestyle change for all of us. I talked to some people who have their dogs on a whole food diet, and I heard rave reviews.

So, we are making the switch. Just last night, I made the first batch of what our vet calls "Crock Pot Dinner". Here's what I did:

The recipe called for a 2.5 - 3 lb. whole chicken, but I could only find a 5+ lb. chicken. So I doubled the recipe. I started by boiling the chicken in a pot of water for about 10 minutes, and then simmering it for about an hour.

I bought some cheap plastic containers that I could dedicate solely to Molly's food, since sometimes we will be feeding her raw food, and I didn't want to have to worry about the plastic being contaminated and then storing cookies or something in it (I'm OCD about that stuff). I washed and labeled them with her name while the chicken was cooking.

Still cooking...

This is what it looked like after 1 hour.

After cooking the chicken, I removed it from the pot and placed it on a plate to cool.

I then added 2 lbs. of brown rice to the water in the pot, and allowed it to cook on a low heat for about an hour. The vegetables in the picture will be used later in the recipe.

I got bored waiting for the rice to cook, so I decided to label the lids to the containers as well, to make them easier to find.

(I'm missing four pictures here, as I accidentally forgot to transfer them onto my flash drive from my laptop, and I'm posting this from work! I will update this later tonight.)

I removed all of the chicken from the bones, and shredded it into small pieces. Right before the rice was done cooking (about 15 min.), I added all the chicken back into the pot, along with a bag and a half of the frozen vegetables. I then let that simmer for the remaining 12 min. or so.

I then scooped 1 cup portions into each container.

I let the containers cool for a few minutes, and then popped the lids on and stuck them in the freezer. The recipe made a lot more than would fit into the containers I had, so I put the rest of it into a large bowl and into the refrigerator. We'll feed her portions of that this week and weekend, and then start pulling containers out of the freezer one or two at a time.

I couldn't believe how many meals I got out of the recipe for $10! And the best part was watching Molly eat it. She loved it!! She was licking the bowl afterward, and kept giving me this look like, "Mom, can I have more?!" We go back to the vet next week for her last set of shots, and we'll talk more with the doctor then about portion sizes for her as she gets older. It may seem like a lot of work initially, but it really wasn't difficult, and seeing how much more she enjoyed it than her normal dog food sealed the deal for me.

Play Time

2010-06-30T10:27:00.000-07:00

The Great Remodel: Hall Bathroom

2010-06-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in the previous post, the hall bathroom was DISGUSTING. It had horrible, peachy-pink walls with butterfly and dragonfly decals all over. The paint was chipping, revealing the ugly wallpaper underneath. It was very dark in there, as the owner had installed a wooden cabinet over the toilet, covering the only window in the bathroom. The vinyl floor tiles were peeling up. The tub and shower walls were stained from the iron deposits in the water, prior to the filtration system being installed (imagine 20+ years of orange stains building up). I was scared of this bathroom, to say the least.

However, much progress has been made! The bathroom is almost unrecognizable now. We found water damage in the walls and subfloor, so all of that was removed. Basically, the entire room was gutted down to the studs, and even some of those had to be replaced. New subfloor was laid, a new tub/shower combo is in, new sheetrock has been hung and taped and mudded, and a new vanity/sink is going in next week. The bathroom is painted, and tile will be installed next. Then, we will have some trim work to do. Here's the progression:

The bathroom as it was, minus the toilet.

Josh removed the cabinet, and we finally had LIGHT!

Josh and his uncle had to tear up the subfloor chunk by disgusting, rotten, soggy chunk.

And we put in some new insulation while we were at it.

We took out the old tub, and found all the damage in the sheetrock in the corners.

Self-portrait in the mirror! (First of many you're bound to see.)

Nick came out and helped Josh, and they used the old bathtub as a sawhorse of sorts.

Looking into the bathroom from the door, void of any flooring or sheetrock. Even THIS is an improvement from the original bathroom!

Josh and Nick were in the dining room, working on adding some more floor joyces for stability. (Yes, we had to gut that dining room too. But that's a whole 'nother post.)

Even though the remodeling wasn't fun at times, Josh kept an upbeat attitude!

Josh and Nick admiring their work.

Josh's uncle was a HUGE help throughout the process. Here they are installing sheetrock.

The new tub is in!

And the shower walls!

Here I am, installing adhesive on the walls.

I still have more photos to post, but they're on a different computer. That's all for now, folks!

The Great Remodel

2010-06-29T14:05:00.000-07:00

I've been a serious slacker when it comes to posting about our remodel project. Its just that actually doing the remodeling gets in the way of blogging about the remodel. But fear not - I have taken photos of every step of the way!

I'm going to be breaking down the project into several smaller parts, probably room by room. Otherwise, it'd take the page 10 years to load all the photos, and your eyes would be bleeding from reading/viewing it all. And you'd be bored to death, I'm sure.

Here are some before photos. Most of these were taken the day we got the keys to the house. Some of the stuff the previous owner left was still in there at the time of the photos. I'm warning you - this house was is rough shape when we first bought it!!

This is the laundry room.

And the living room.

The spare bedroom.

The hall bathroom (just looking at this picture makes me want to hurl... the bathroom was SO BAD!)

The master bedroom.

The very messy kitchen (and of course, the piano).

The spare-bedroom-with-the-hole-in-the-wall-turned-future-dining-room.

Up next: the hall bathroom project!

Molly's First Camping Trip

2010-06-29T11:39:00.000-07:00

While I was on vacation from work, we took Molly on her very first camping trip. It was a blast! Here is a photo recap:

The little princess had to be tied onto her orange rope while in the campsite, so she couldn't go exploring. It was, however, long enough for her to wander around our entire campsite. And, of course, long enough for her to get tangled in everything every 5 minutes.

Here she is, striking a pose.

You have to be careful around Molly, because is you leave your chair, she steals it!

Josh did some fishing, and Molly and I went to watch.

Dad caught a stick fish!

And then a real fish.

And I of course made Josh take a picture with me.

Molly is starting to venture into the water more, but she is still very cautious.

Her and Dad are the best of friends.

And this is how they sleep. Notice who is on the pillow and who is off? Yes, she is spoiled.

Our last day there, we took Molly to the day park to try to coax her into the water. Josh went in with her, and lured her out with treats. She finally swam! (It was only long enough for her to make it back to the shallow part where she could touch.)

And then she was one wet little girl!

So her and Dad decided to nap on a rock in the sun, to dry off a little before the drive home.

And yes, we do plan on taking this face camping many, many more times.

The Smoothie Chronicles: Citrus Carrot Cocktail

2010-06-08T10:19:00.000-07:00

I'm on a major smoothie kick. Maybe it has to do with my working out, but I could honestly have a smoothie for every single meal.

I found a bunch of great recipes on www.vitamix.com (they sell the fancy, commercial-grade blenders that could probably grind a cement block). I'm going to be trying out about twenty of them over the next few weeks, and posting the recipes here along with my review of it. Here is the first one, from last night!

Citrus Carrot Cocktail

1 cup pineapple chunks
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/8-inch thick slice of lemon (with peel)
1 cup ice cubes

Put everything in the blender, and blend until smooth!

Review:
Pretty tasty! Definitely citrus-y tasting, although a little too much carrot flavor. I think I might like it better if I substituted the pineapple for an orange. This did turn out a fun, orange color that made me think of summer. I'd give it a 7/10.