29 Weeks

Can you believe I'm already 29 weeks?? I sure as hell can't! I feel like I keep saying it, but it's true: time has flown by! Things continue to go very well, I still have very little to complain about and most of the complaining is about my future soccer star and her perfected rib kicks. Or when she beats on my bladder and hips. She is super strong, and while I find it very cool, a lot of the time her kicking/hitting/rolling sort of hurts. I'm also finding that there must be no room for my stomach anymore, I can get about two meals a day in now. Anymore than that and I walk around with that uncomfortable I-ate-way-too-damn-much feeling.

I had my 28 week appointment with my doctor today. I start my bi-weekly doctors appointments now and I'm sort of in shock at that. Every two weeks. Only women who are close to their due date see their doctor every two weeks. I am now one of those women. Holy crap!! Since I'm pretty damn proud of how well my pregnancy is progressing I'll post my stats from my appointment:

29 Weeks 2 Days
Blood Pressure: 122/77
Weight Gain: 16lbs
Fundal Height (belly measurement): 28-29 CM
Madeline's Heartbeat: 150 BPM
Over All: GREAT! :)

The fundal height is right on track. I've managed to keep my weight gain down, and since I'm aiming for 25-30lbs total I'm right on track. Madeline's heart rate is right where it needs to be. My BP last appointment was a little high at first (when they took it again it was normal though), so over all I'm as healthy as a horse. I get to do the glucose test sometime before my next appointment. As someone who loved orange soda as a kid I hope that the rumors that the glucose drink tastes like Orange Crush is true. I go back to see my doctor August 5th.

TJ and I have started work on the nursery! We painted last weekend, and are waiting to buy and stain the chair rail and molding before setting up the room. Her crib and changer arrived a few weeks ago and they are still in their respective boxes. He doesn't want to take the plastic off the floor in the nursery, so we're waiting to get it all set up until after we get the chair rail up (next weekend).

I didn't think to take pictures of our progress (what little there is) until we'd already moved everything out of the room and painted two coats of primer. Originally the bedroom was painted 4 different (ugly and obnoxious!) colors - dark red, dark blue, green, and yellow. It took two coats of primer before we started painting. Below are pictures of day two, when the pink went on the walls.

Please excuse the mess, this was my craft closet before and we left my scrapbooking crap in there.

Finally here are the 29 week pictures I took on Saturday. I went back to blonde last week so I also put a new hair picture up.

The Story of Us

Three years ago today it was a beautiful day.



It was a day of what fairy tales are made of. A day that a little girls dream of while running around with a pillow case veil on their head. It was the best day of my life.

Three years ago today I married my best friend. I became somebody’s wife. And it was a damn good day.









It really doesn’t feel like 3 years has gone by since TJ and I got married. I am thankful for him every day, just like we said in our vows: even when he drives me crazy. I feel so lucky to have him as my husband, especially when I am driving him crazy. While sometimes we lose our patience with each other or fight over silly things we are truly a great partnership. We both have realized that a happy marriage takes work, it takes effort, and if you just let it coast along it’s just going to fizzle out. He tries every day to make me laugh, and make me happy (and 9 times out of 10 he’s successful). I wish there was a way for me to tell him in words just how happy he makes me, but nothing comes close to what I’d want to say.

The “story of us” started well before our marriage though. It was just over 6 years ago now that I met a handsome young man, with deep brown eyes, ruddy cheeks, dimples and a great smile. At the time we met I was seeing someone, but I remember thinking there was something “more” there. You know that “spark” people talk about? It was there. We finally went on our first date sometime around July 19th. At that point I was recently out of a very serious long term relationship and was not looking to jump right into another. We were both pretty shy at first, we met for dinner at Chevy’s and then rented a movie to watch at his place (The Butterfly Effect). I thought he was very sweet, and he probably thought I was fabulous/amazing/wonderful. . .or maybe not. ;) We continued seeing each other, and after a month finally made it exclusive.

I don’t remember exactly how it happened, but I remember his words very clearly. One night in October he told me he was going to say something and I didn’t need to say anything back. When he told me he loved me I froze, and did the absolute worst thing ever: nothing. I stood there, and he said, “Well, say something.” Ever the smart ass I pointed out that he’d told me I didn’t have to, and then explained to him that while I really liked him and thought I might be heading toward love it just wasn’t a word I liked to throw around until I was sure. I really don’t know why he didn’t dump my crazy butt right there, but he understood and waited until I was ready to say it back. I honestly felt ready to say it much sooner than I did, but I held off until December.

Things moved along really well, we moved in together (officially, since I was staying the night pretty much every night anyway) January 2005. I decided to start looking to buy a house a few months later and signed papers in May. We moved in just before I turned 21 and celebrated our first anniversary there, where I bought him a new TV and he bought me a nice little right hand ring. That November we had both my mom’s family and his mom’s family over to our house for Thanksgiving and our house was crazy with so many people in it. It also was a nice chance for our families to meet. After everyone left we went out to the bar at La Hacienda with a few of his cousins and he told his cousin Robert that day that he had decided to ask me to marry him. I think he went ring shopping/browsing the next day with his mom while I was at work, and I was none the wiser.

We took a vacation to Whistler, Canada the end of January 2006, with Robert and Bridie. On January 23rd he mentioned he wanted to go out that night, so I went into our bathroom to get ready before we went out. When I was ready to go I went out into the living room and Robert and Bridie conveniently decided they wanted to stay in that night (and watch the OC). TJ and I walked around the town for a while and I’d point out pubs that we could go to. He had a death grip on my hand and shot down every bar I suggested. While I thought the death grip was rather strange I was more annoyed that he didn’t like any of my suggestions. I finally gave up and told him, in an exasperated tone, to just pick somewhere to go himself.

He finally pulled me toward the center of the village toward a trail. My mom and dad had owned a time share in Whistler since I was 9 and I knew there wasn’t anywhere to go back there. I protested and finally gave in and walked with him, pointed out that I was right (of course!) and turned around to try and find somewhere else to go. He pulled on my hand to turn me back toward him and there he was down on one knee. Again with the doing the worst thing ever: I asked him, “What are you doing??? Are you sure???” After I shut the hell up he asked me to marry him, I put my hand over my mouth and shook my head yes. As soon as he got the ring on my finger the water works started, and all the mascara and eyeliner I’d work so hard (OK not really) at putting on ran down my face. We went back to the condo and Robert and Bridie were waiting anxiously for us. It was a perfect evening.





The wedding was perfect. The years that followed were amazing, and most of the time we still acted like two love sick kids who just met. We decided to start trying to expand our family on a whim at the end of October 2008. 14 months later on January 23rd I took a test and found out I was pregnant. It has been a wild and eventful six years, I can’t wait to see what the next year brings to us. I also can’t wait to see what forever with my best friend is like, someday we’ll get there, but for now we are just enjoying the ride!

Our first anniversary.

Our second anniversary.

I love you TJ, with my whole heart. Happy Anniversary to the best husband in the world!!!

*Wedding photos were taken by John Nolte (http://www.johnnolte.com/)

26 Weeks - It's Your Birthday!

Well, actually, it's my Birthday. But, you are more than welcome to celebrate if you'd like!! As I told TJ at lunch today, when he ordered a beer (or 3), someone should drink on my Birthday if I can't! ;)

I was 26 weeks as of Saturday, and have had quite the wonderful Birthday weekend. My mom, dad and sister went in together and bought me the glider I wanted (YAY!). I can't wait for it to be delivered! We all went out for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory on Saturday night and I had the most amazing piece of cheesecake e.v.e.r. Red velvet cake, layered with cheesecake, layered with more red velvet cake, layered with MORE cheesecake and a cream topper. Like I said, it was the most amazing piece of cheesecake ever. YUM!

Before dinner on Saturday TJ took me for a Birthday date to the Woodland Park Zoo. We walked around the zoo for nearly 4 hours before I became too tired. By the time we headed out I was pooped, but it was great exercise! We got a front row view at the elephant house (up next to the open window), of an elephant. The trainers were taking her blood to see if she had ovulated as they are trying to get her pregnant. I sent her all sorts of good pregnant thoughts. Interesting fact we learned from the trainers, elephants are pregnant for 22 months. 22 months. Could you imagine carrying a baby ELEPHANT around for 22 months?? Yikes!

Sunday was spent with my mom and sister, laughing. A lot. We went to Babies R Us and La-z-boy to try out their rockers/gliders. I ended up liking a chair a BRU the best and it should be here in 10-12 weeks. I cannot wait!!

Today, after waiting around at the DOL to renew my license, TJ took me to Alligator Soul in Everett for lunch. Again, YUM! I discovered a new found love for hush puppies, fried corn bread. Heaven! The present he ordered for me was on back order, but he did tell me in my card what it is. I should be receiving my I-Pad in the next few days!! I really can't wait. After we got home we ordered Madeline's crib and changing table. Everything should be here within the next few weeks.

It's safe to say my 26th year has started off with quite the bang. I'm a spoiled girl. I cannot wait to see what the rest of this year brings, I have a feeling this will be one of the best years of my life!!

Below are 26 week belly pics from today. I did another comparison picture at the end, the same outfit (well, different jeans) 8 weeks apart. And, I was brave and did a bare belly shot. Actually, I wasn't brave, you are brave for looking! ;)

14 weeks to go!

If It Walks like a Walrus. . .

Sometimes I reallllllly wonder about people. I wonder, didn’t your mother ever teach you any manners? What is it about pregnancy that gives strangers (and sometimes those who know you) a free pass to comment about your weight/size? Would you make a comment to a woman on the street about her weight if she was obviously not pregnant? No, of course not, that would be rude. Right? So, what gives people the idea that it’s OK to make comments just because a woman is pregnant?

The comments are starting to wear on me. Yes, even I realize that the size of my belly is rather surprising given the fact that I’m “only” 6 months. But, my doctor has given me nothing but the thumbs up in regards to my progress. She even used the word “textbook” when measuring my belly and taking my weight (measuring spot on, and up 11 pounds total at 25 weeks). So, rude checker lady at Safeway, while you may think I look like a walrus I am in fact not part elephant. You do not have to hide your young in fear that I might swallow them whole in mistake of an afternoon snack.

I’m at the point where you can certainly tell I’m pregnant, so I get the “How far along are you?” question a lot. A lot of people guess I’m having a girl, I’ve only had one guess that she’s a boy. To be honest, most people are generally very nice, but those aren’t the comments that stick with you unfortunately. It’s the condescending comments about how “BIG” I am already, or the comments about how “HUGE” I’m going to be. Well you know what? I’m growing a human. You need to gain weight to grow a human. I know I’m going to gain more weight in the next 15 weeks without your snotty observations. So shove it.

Take a page out of Thumper’s book, if you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all. A-hole.

25 Week Update - Perspective

25 weeks down, 15 more to go. The further along I get the faster it seems time goes. I know a lot of women say that once they find out the sex of their baby time slows down, but I would swear to you it has changed to warp speed. I suppose we’ll see if I’m singing a different tune come October, when I’m fully cooked, uncomfortable, and really ready to get this baby out of me. But, for now, I’m enjoying being pregnant.

Not a lot to report change wise on the pregnancy front. I feel wonderful most of the time, and like I said I have really enjoyed being pregnant so far. Sure my back aches some nights when I get home from work, and my sense of smell has recently been heightened so that smells are more offensive, but really, if that’s all I have to complain about I’m a lucky woman!

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how simple and easy my pregnancy has been, and how lucky I am. I’ve come to the conclusion that part of the reason this has been so simple and easy for me has to do with perspective. I really believe in the power of positive thinking, and while I’m not delusional enough to think that the only reason my pregnancy has been easy is due to positive thought, I do believe that it has something to do with it. You see, I could find plenty to complain about if I wanted to. The continued spotting I had in the first trimester (and into the first half of the second trimester) really scared the bejesus out of me (and TJ), but I tried to keep thinking positively every time it happened. I have nights where I can barely move due to back aches, but I know a good night of sleeping in the right position will help and have faith the in the morning I’ll feel better (not usually 100%, but still better). And yes mom, I know, if I stopped wearing heels it might help. Beauty before pain! ;)

As someone who is somewhat of a complainer (shush peanut gallery who think 'somewhat' is an understatement, lol), I feel like I’ve turned over a new leaf with this pregnancy. I know TJ was worried about how I would handle pregnancy, and that I’d be a complete pain in the ass to be around (my words, not his). While I have my moments, and most of them are due to my hormonal temper, I haven’t found much to complain about this pregnancy. I’m just grateful to be here and to have carried my healthy baby girl this far. I will openly admit that if possible I would gladly go back and change time so that it didn’t take us so long and two miscarriages to get pregnant. But I also have to acknowledge that that wait and heartache has made me really appreciate every single second. That’s perspective baby, it makes you appreciate what you have, even through the trials it took you to get there.

I’m grateful every day to be pregnant. To feel her (sometimes constant) movements. To watch as you can now see the hard kicks on the outside of my belly. I’m grateful that even though it took over a year of trying to get here, we are finally here. We are just about 3 short months away from becoming parents and meeting our little girl. I cannot wait to lay eyes on her for the first time and welcome her into the world. I can’t wait to find out who she is, and watch her grow into whatever person she is destined to become. I hope she looks a lot like her daddy, with his pink cheeks, big brown eyes and long dark eyelashes. I hope she has his common sense and my book smarts. I hope that someday she will know how much we love her, and have loved her all along.

It’s all about perspective.

Here is an updated belly shot from this morning, and then a repost of the first picture I took at 4 weeks. It’s hard to believe that was 21 weeks ago. Look at how I’ve grown! (Also, I wore this dress over the weekend also and proclaimed that I didn't look pregnant in it. You know, black being slimming and all??? TJ gave me the side eye and said, "Uhm, yeah, you do." But, I would like to point out that in the first picture from straight on I just look chubby. It isn't until I turn to the side and lay the full force of The Belly on you that you notice I'm pregnant. Or maybe I'm just delusional, lol.)







Today I am 25 weeks and 3 days. 14 weeks and 4 days until we meet Madeline Rey!!

23 Week Update

I figured that I was due for an update, and to deliver some more pictures of my ever growing belly. I have finally entered the "definitely pregnant" stage, and have been starting to get comments from strangers about when I'm due, or what we're having. I even had my first stranger belly rub today, and even though I thought I'd hate it I was so tickled that the lady knew I was pregnant and not just a little chubby.

Things have been going swimmingly on the pregnancy front. I have some back pain from time to time, most of the time it's minor and if it gets really bad it usually goes away when she moves. And boy does she move. I am growing a future soccer star, acrobat or the next karate kid I tell you. She is quite the little wiggle worm. I keep telling TJ she is nocturnal though, as I've been woken up in the middle of the night quite a few times with a good swift kick in the bladder.

I first started feeling movement at about 18 weeks. It was pretty infrequent, and it sort of felt like I was driving down a steep hill very, very fast. Now I feel it every day, all the time, and it feels like someone is kicking me from the inside. TJ and I were sitting on the couch Thursday night and I saw a kick from the outside for the first time. I felt a pretty hard kick so I looked down and a few second later my belly moved just a little bit when she kicked again. So stinking cool. Of course, when I told TJ to look she stopped moving. Which is pretty much what happens every time. I'm certain I can feel the kicks on the outside now, but by the time I put his hand on my belly she stops moving. I have a feeling she is going to be stuborn, lol.

I really can't believe I'm already 5 months along, the time has flown by and I feel like it's never going to slow down. We went out to dinner with TJ's brother last weekend and he asked how much longer I had to go. When I told him 18 weeks (and it's 17 weeks now, eekk!!) TJ looked at me with deer in the headlight eyes and said, "Thats it???? We have so much to do!" Haha, yes dear. Yes we do.

We go on our hospital tour on Tuesday and I'm pretty excited about that. They wanted us to take the tour before we go through all of the birthing/newborn classes at the hospital so we know where the classrooms are, so it's a little earlier than I assumed we'd take the tour. We start classes at the end of July, but their July tour fell on our anniversary and that isn't exactly how I imagined spending our anniversary. I'm having a hard time believing that the first week of June has already come and gone. Where has this year gone?

So, all in all things are great. Here are a few pictures I just snapped of myself.

Today, at 23 weeks. Getting bigger. :)

Front shot.

Momma View. . . well, sorta, I held the camera out a bit - it doesn't look that huge from where I see, lol.

A Letter To My Daughter

Dear Maddy,

You'll find out some day that I'm a fairly sappy person. I cry at movies that make me sad, or happy. I find myself so wrapped up in the love stories I read that I believe they have to be real. It is because of this trait that I decided to make a play list on my iPod of songs just for you. I hope it is just the start of the soundtrack to your life. Most of them so far are songs about daughters, or children, but the rest are about living life to it's fullest, and love. I was listening to your soundtrack on the way home from work and was inspired to write this by "I Hope You Dance". So I bring to you a little wisdom to live your life by.

*Never pass up the opportunity to help someone less fortunate than yourself out. Do not do it to make yourself look better though, no, do it out of the kindness in your heart. Volunteer. Donate money to a worthy charity. Do something to give back for all that you have been given in life.

*Someday you will have your heart broken, it is an inevitable fact of life. Someday you may also break hearts too. I cannot tell you which hurts more, watching someone who you love deeply leave you, or leaving someone who loves you more than life itself. Just know that life always goes on, eventually your heart will heal, and you will find an even deeper love out there waiting for you.

*Don't take for granted the beauty of the place where we live. On a sunny day admire the mountains, their grand majesty and snow covered peaks, the fact that no matter where you turn there they are. Notice how the sun breaks through the clouds on a rainy day and the whole world glitters in its light. Take it all in, and enjoy its peacefulness.

*Every day is a new day. You can accomplish anything you set your mind to, and just because you didn't do it the day before doesn't mean you have to give up. Try again. The only thing that can hold you back is you.

*Never regret anything. Everything you have done in life has made you who you are. You may do things that you are ashamed of, but learn from it. Grow from it. Remember, never forget it, and move on.

*What you do defines who you are. Your actions will speak louder than the words that come from your lips.

*Don't say anything about someone when they are not around that you wouldn't say to their face.

*Beauty is only skin deep. You may be beautiful on the outside, but what really matters is the beauty hidden in your heart.

*Do not stay with a person who doesn't treat you right. You deserve respect. You deserve to be loved. You deserve to be happy. But remember little one, whoever you love deserves those things just as much. A relationship is a partnership, each of you should be just as important to one another.

*Love openly and freely, but do not fall in love too fast. Know the difference between love and lust.

*I'm going to tell you something a wise woman once told me; you are my daughter and I have to love you, but I don't always have to like you. You are going to do things someday that I probably won't like that much, but just because I don't like what you've done doesn't mean I don't love you. I will always love you.

*Treat every animal on this earth with the love and kindness you would a fellow human. Love your pets like they are a part of your family, because they are.

*Don't underestimate the power of the following words: Please, Thank You, Excuse Me Please. It is important to be polite and remember your manners.

*Another important word: No. I've learned the hard way that you can't let people take advantage of you. If you never say no they are going to walk all over you. Learn what your limits are, and when to politely decline.

*Shoes can make or break an outfit. No matter what your dad says, a girl can't have too many shoes.

So my little one, I hope that you'll use this advice in your life. I hope that as the years go by I'll be able to help you turn into the best person you can be.

When you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.

Love,

Your Mom