I'm now in my third trimester. I cannot believe how quickly the time has gone!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
28 week check-up
Friday we went in for our 28 week check-up with our OB. Everything looks great! Our OB says I'm doing a "great job" with my weight gain. Hopefully I do a "great job" with my weight loss too! :)
My glucose test came back negative, which rules out the possibility that we (Tray and I) could have gestational diabetes. This was one of the possible explanations for why I was measuring big the last couple of visits. I'm actually still measuring big (2 weeks ahead of where I should be) but our OB says she isn't worried about it at all. This is hugely reassuring!
I asked her why/how I could possibly be measuring big. I don't feel big. I don't think I look big. I've gained exactly the right amount of weight (averaging 1 pound per week since a couple of months ago). She thinks I'm hiding my pregnancy well, probably as a result of being in good shape with strong stomach muscles. This may also explain why many people think I'm carrying high: lower stomach muscles hold up the pregnant belly. So, the reality is that I'm bigger than I look. I guess that's better than being smaller than I look...
The other good news we learned at Friday's visit is that I am not anemic! Evidently, it is very common for pregnant women to be anemic by this stage in their pregnancy. My iron levels are perfect! Everyone should thank Matt for this. He makes sure I eat leafy greens every single day, sometimes multiple times a day, and it's paying off!
My glucose test came back negative, which rules out the possibility that we (Tray and I) could have gestational diabetes. This was one of the possible explanations for why I was measuring big the last couple of visits. I'm actually still measuring big (2 weeks ahead of where I should be) but our OB says she isn't worried about it at all. This is hugely reassuring!
I asked her why/how I could possibly be measuring big. I don't feel big. I don't think I look big. I've gained exactly the right amount of weight (averaging 1 pound per week since a couple of months ago). She thinks I'm hiding my pregnancy well, probably as a result of being in good shape with strong stomach muscles. This may also explain why many people think I'm carrying high: lower stomach muscles hold up the pregnant belly. So, the reality is that I'm bigger than I look. I guess that's better than being smaller than I look...
The other good news we learned at Friday's visit is that I am not anemic! Evidently, it is very common for pregnant women to be anemic by this stage in their pregnancy. My iron levels are perfect! Everyone should thank Matt for this. He makes sure I eat leafy greens every single day, sometimes multiple times a day, and it's paying off!
28 weeks
Our California Trip
Last weekend we made the trip to California to spend time with my family and be honored at a baby shower hosted by Liz & Brian (sister-in-law and brother), Grandma, and my parents. I was really looking forward to our time in CA and it did not disappoint!
We made out like bandits at the shower! We received the most adorable, thoughtfully chosen gifts! From onesies and receiving blankets, to washcloths and books, to a hand knit baby blanket with booties and a hat, Tray is now well equipped for the first weeks and months of life! And with all of the gift cards that were so generously bestowed on us, we cannot wait to go shopping for the rest of our baby necessities!
The theme of the shower was "nesting" and Liz went all out with little edible birds nests, edible eggs, matching stationery, etc. The entire event took place outside thanks to the lovely weather (80 degrees, sunny, and absolutely no wind). We felt so loved!
Returning to WA was a little melancholy. The weather did not measure up (does it ever?) and the reality that we live so far away from all of our family who love us so dearly was painfully apparent. I spent all day Monday washing and folding all of Tray's new clothes, etc. I haven't been really emotional in my pregnancy thus far but Monday was tough for me. Organizing and putting away all of the little onesies and sleep sacks made me realize just how tiny Tray is going to be and what a huge responsibility we are taking on. My parents gave us the book When You Were Very Small and I now can't read it without crying!
I have so much love for this kid in my belly!
Ending on a more light-hearted note: a close family friend performed an old gender-predicting test for the amusement of our shower guests. The test was a variation on the popular ring-on-a-string-over-your-belly. This test was a #2 pencil hung by the eraser from a needle and thread. The pencil swings over the wrist. The direction it swings determines the gender. The verdict? BOY! :)
We made out like bandits at the shower! We received the most adorable, thoughtfully chosen gifts! From onesies and receiving blankets, to washcloths and books, to a hand knit baby blanket with booties and a hat, Tray is now well equipped for the first weeks and months of life! And with all of the gift cards that were so generously bestowed on us, we cannot wait to go shopping for the rest of our baby necessities!
The theme of the shower was "nesting" and Liz went all out with little edible birds nests, edible eggs, matching stationery, etc. The entire event took place outside thanks to the lovely weather (80 degrees, sunny, and absolutely no wind). We felt so loved!
Returning to WA was a little melancholy. The weather did not measure up (does it ever?) and the reality that we live so far away from all of our family who love us so dearly was painfully apparent. I spent all day Monday washing and folding all of Tray's new clothes, etc. I haven't been really emotional in my pregnancy thus far but Monday was tough for me. Organizing and putting away all of the little onesies and sleep sacks made me realize just how tiny Tray is going to be and what a huge responsibility we are taking on. My parents gave us the book When You Were Very Small and I now can't read it without crying!
I have so much love for this kid in my belly!
Tray's new born and 3 month clothes
Tray's 6-9 month clothes
Tray's receiving blankets and washcloths
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
27 weeks!
27 weeks today! Time is flying by!
Big congratulations going out to my friend Kristen in Alabama who gave birth to a nearly 8 pound baby boy yesterday! Hank is adorable and Kristen is amazing! I'm so proud of the whole family!!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Onesies!
I picked up these onesies from a local company. Each is designed by a local Seattle artist. The best part? These were on sale for $5 each! They're so cute and the packaging was so thoughtful, I feel bad I paid so little!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Beautiful weekend, less back pain! Oh, and the ridiculous daycare situation in this city.
Ever since yoga ended, my back pain has lessened significantly. I hate to think yoga was the cause because I'm pretty sure it's supposed to work the opposite way. I ran on the treadmill 4 times this week and once outside and no back pain! Hmmmm.
Several months ago I joined two different listservs for mothers in the Seattle area. One of the listservs is extremely active with dozens of new messages everyday. The messages range from items for sale to parenting advice to compiles of commonly used services (babysitters, nannies, cleaners, etc.). Already the community has proven invaluable. I learned of a new home daycare center a few block from our house on the listserv. I'd never seen it advertised or mentioned anywhere else. We plan to take a tour tomorrow and get on their waitlist. (We ran by today to check-out the neighborhood and the house.)
We're currently on about 7 daycare waitlists with no guarantee that there will be any availability for us in January 2011 (one year out from when we got on these lists!). Daycare in this city costs anywhere from $1500/mo on the low end to $2000/mo on the high end. At this point, we've invested about $200+ getting on these waitlists and it's really frustrating that no one will commit to us. A couple of months ago, we started considering the possibility of a nanny share. Earlier this week, I posted a message to one of the listservs asking if there are other families in the area interested in a nanny share. I've received a few responses, which is a great sign. It means that even if we don't have the situation figured out by the time Tray arrives, there are definitely other families in our situation! And now I have them on my radar and I'm on theirs!
Another recent benefit of the listserv: I scored a bag of around 8 parenting/newborn care books for free! Most of them had never even been cracked open and several were already on our to-buy list! I love free stuff. We've given away enough free stuff in the last several years that it felt good when the karma came back around.
We had a lovely sunny weekend. It wasn't all that warm, but boy that sun felt good. Now it's chocolate chip cookie time. And tacos for dinner. A perfect ending to a really nice weekend!
Several months ago I joined two different listservs for mothers in the Seattle area. One of the listservs is extremely active with dozens of new messages everyday. The messages range from items for sale to parenting advice to compiles of commonly used services (babysitters, nannies, cleaners, etc.). Already the community has proven invaluable. I learned of a new home daycare center a few block from our house on the listserv. I'd never seen it advertised or mentioned anywhere else. We plan to take a tour tomorrow and get on their waitlist. (We ran by today to check-out the neighborhood and the house.)
We're currently on about 7 daycare waitlists with no guarantee that there will be any availability for us in January 2011 (one year out from when we got on these lists!). Daycare in this city costs anywhere from $1500/mo on the low end to $2000/mo on the high end. At this point, we've invested about $200+ getting on these waitlists and it's really frustrating that no one will commit to us. A couple of months ago, we started considering the possibility of a nanny share. Earlier this week, I posted a message to one of the listservs asking if there are other families in the area interested in a nanny share. I've received a few responses, which is a great sign. It means that even if we don't have the situation figured out by the time Tray arrives, there are definitely other families in our situation! And now I have them on my radar and I'm on theirs!
Another recent benefit of the listserv: I scored a bag of around 8 parenting/newborn care books for free! Most of them had never even been cracked open and several were already on our to-buy list! I love free stuff. We've given away enough free stuff in the last several years that it felt good when the karma came back around.
We had a lovely sunny weekend. It wasn't all that warm, but boy that sun felt good. Now it's chocolate chip cookie time. And tacos for dinner. A perfect ending to a really nice weekend!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Nursery Details
Even though we still don't have a crib mattress, a changing pad, or a carseat, hardly any baby clothes and no diapers, I continue to add little details to the nursery! Not to say we haven't made progress in those other areas, we just haven't actually pulled the trigger to buy anything yet! In due time!
I finally figured out a solution for the window in Tray's room. Once again, I can thank Ikea for offering an affordable solution! Last Monday I bought and installed a new curtain rod, solar blinds and white curtains, all for less than $60. We may need to line the curtains in a blackout fabric this summer but we're going to wait and see how it goes. Here's a shot of the after (sorry it's so dark):
A couple of weeks ago, Tray received his/her first books courtesy of my friend Kristen. Kristen is also pregnant (about 39 weeks right now, actually). Kristen and Andrew live in Alabama with their dog, Wilbur. K&A were recently given several cat-themed books at a shower and rather than risk ending up in the doghouse by bringing these books home, they regifted to us! Yay! We're trying to figure out the best way to put Tray's books on display in the nursery. I've been contemplating making rain gutter bookshelves but have yet to work up the energy to buy the supplies and try it out. For now the books are acting as a prop for our new peace lily, which, by the way, is a natural air cleaner:
The latest addition to the nursery is a series of postcards from an amazingly talented illustrator of childhood themes and scenes that I mounted on book binding paper and framed. Here's a close-up of two of the postcards:
I finally figured out a solution for the window in Tray's room. Once again, I can thank Ikea for offering an affordable solution! Last Monday I bought and installed a new curtain rod, solar blinds and white curtains, all for less than $60. We may need to line the curtains in a blackout fabric this summer but we're going to wait and see how it goes. Here's a shot of the after (sorry it's so dark):
A couple of weeks ago, Tray received his/her first books courtesy of my friend Kristen. Kristen is also pregnant (about 39 weeks right now, actually). Kristen and Andrew live in Alabama with their dog, Wilbur. K&A were recently given several cat-themed books at a shower and rather than risk ending up in the doghouse by bringing these books home, they regifted to us! Yay! We're trying to figure out the best way to put Tray's books on display in the nursery. I've been contemplating making rain gutter bookshelves but have yet to work up the energy to buy the supplies and try it out. For now the books are acting as a prop for our new peace lily, which, by the way, is a natural air cleaner:
(The Pikes Place Market book was a gift from our neighbor, Ter, who knows the author.)
The latest addition to the nursery is a series of postcards from an amazingly talented illustrator of childhood themes and scenes that I mounted on book binding paper and framed. Here's a close-up of two of the postcards:
The script beneath the elephants says "I love my Mom" in French. The script beneath the giraffes says "I love my Dad" in French. She has so many illustrations that we love but we're going to wait until we find out if Tray is a boy or a girl before we buy anymore!
On a different note, last week was the last class in our yoga series. We both really enjoyed learning the basics of ashtanga yoga and hope to begin attending a drop-in class at least once a week. Matt was the star of the class! It pays to have upper body strength in yoga! There were a lot of positions I wasn't able to get into due to my growing belly, and my balance is nearly non-existent at times. Still, learning the 8 limbs of yoga and the proper breathing technique was really cool. During one of our last classes, we decided to buy a little something to remember our introduction to yoga and this time:
Hopefully Tray isn't a big one! We really want this to fit! :)
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