New Year's Eve

Busy day today. It started at the dentist this morning for a cleaning. I hate the dentist. Not in a oh-yuck-it's-the-dentist sort of way, but in a if-I-could-get-away-with-it-I-would-never-go sort of way. Like never. But I know my twice-a-year cleanings are important so I went. As I was getting ready to go I told JA that if I couldn't face my dentist fears then I might as well give it up now in attempting a natural delivery. I actually practiced my meditation and deep breathing techniques throughout my cleaning, and maybe it's psychosomatic, but it worked. Even though there was a lot of bleeding, I didn't feel the pain like I usually do. Hooray! Let's hope the delivery goes just as well. :)

In fairness, both my hygienist and dentist are the nicest people ever. It's not like Little Shop of Horrors at all. ;)

No one at the dentist's office believed I was almost 35 weeks along. The last time I was there was the end of May and I was hoping I might be pregnant, but it wasn't confirmed yet. I had declined x-rays that day just in case, and I saw the note in my file which read "might be pregnant." It's confirmed for sure now! :)

After the dentist I came home to clean the house with JA. We are expecting Lauren and Carl tonight before we head off to Gianni and Roxanne's to ring in 2011 with our friends. My plan for the rest of the afternoon is to take a nap, stop at the grocery store, get a massage, and get ready to go out. Have a safe and happy NYE everyone!

Breakfast - Kashi Go Lean Crunch with skim milk
Snack - Fiber One toaster pastry; organic chocolate soy milk
Lunch - soy "chicken" patty on whole wheat bread with light mayo; baked fries with organic ketchup
Snack - brie, cheddar and gouda wih water crackers
Dinner - tortilla chips with guacamole and salsa; organic romaine with sliced apples, wonton chips, and Craisins with a ginger sesame dressing; baked ziti with peas
Dessert - a couple of cookies; glass of non-alcoholic apple cider champagne

The Chair - Take Two

Some people say, "Everything happens for a reason." Perhaps the infamous "chair tear of 2010" was a blessing in disguise. The chair was returned today to Walmart, and I ordered a new one when we got home. But instead of the beige microfiber, I ordered the chocolate brown. The furniture in the room is all dark brown, and while I liked the beige color, I'm not sure it was as practical in a baby's room. So this new, and hopefully improved, version will be here between January 13-20:

Say a little prayer that it arrives undamaged, because unless there's a family of rabid squirrels living inside, I don't think John will return a second one. ;)

Breakfast - baked hash browns with organic katchup; organic chocolate soy milk

Snack - half a falafel burger with mashed sweet potato

Lunch - Fork and Screen Dining - John's potato chips; fruit salad; white iced tea; some popcorn

Dinner - Shanghai Jazz - assorted vegetarian dim sum (sushi roll, vegan dumplings, citrus salad); steamed veggies with a chili sauce

Dessert - decaf cappuccino; two bites of apple crisp and ice cream

The Chair!

Not sure in how many posts I've mentioned the glider for the nursery, but I feel like it's been a lot. Today my dad and JA picked it up... and it has a tear in the upholstery!!!! Total bummer. So it goes back tomorrow and we try again. Hopefully it gets here before Charles does. :)

Breakfast - egg and cheese on an asiago bagel
Snack - Greek strawberry yogurt
Lunch - half a veggie wrap; half a baked potato; garden salad with organic romaine, cucumbers, and grape tomatoes with chipotle ranch dressing
Snack - handful of M&Ms; one chocolate covered cherry; Lindt truffle
Dinner - dinner roll; potato soup; half a falafel burger; mashed sweet potatoes
Dessert - decaf tea with honey

34 Week Appointment

JA and I attended our 34-week appointment today. We got to hear baby's heartbeat again - love that sound! My blood pressure is great, still no swelling, and here's the best - I didn't gain any weight in the last two weeks!! After watching my belly grow so much lately, and indulging in a holiday treat or two, this was comforting. :)

As a reward I treated myself to some new bras today. Not very exciting, but necessary nonetheless. I used to work at Victoria's Secret, so I know the importance of wearing the correct size. I went to a boutique in Denville and got fitted by the owner. 36D/36DD.... yeah, that made me chuckle. I don't really care about the size, I'm just happy they fit and don't make me look that size! I am now all stocked up on nursing and post partum supplies (oh, the un-glamourous side of pregnancy). I did get one somewhat cute nursing outfit to wear around the house. I don't dare bring it to the hospital, since everyone warns you not to bring anything "nice" in case it gets ruined. It will be nice and comfy to wear afterward though.

Breakfast - two scrambled eggs on half a roll; decaf tea with honey
Snack - clementine
Lunch - half a veggie wrap; half a baked potato; some most of John's fries ;)
Snack - Lindt truffle
Dinner - baked ziti; garden salad with organic Romaine, grape tomatoes, and cucumbers with chipotle ranch dressing
Dessert - cup of hot chocolate; banana

Snowed In!

What started out as an expectation for a few inches turned into over a foot of snow! Good thing we didn't have to go anywhere... JA shoveled the walk and the driveway is plowed and sanded. He'll sand it again tomorrow and we should be good to go. I honestly didn't like feeling useless stuck in the house, but ultimately I'm not much use outside at 8 1/2 months pregnant. I did some house cleaning instead. It was a very exciting day. :)

I've started considering some birth announcements for Charles Henry. Since we didn't send out Christmas cards this year, I'm excited to send these announcements in February. John has requested a "classic" design, which I also like, so here are a few contenders:

Our friend will come over a couple of weeks after Charlie arrives to snap some newborn photos and we'll choose from that collection. A nice feature is that we can order envelopes ahead of time so I can have them addressed and stamped before we have a baby living in the house. :)

Breakfast - reduced fat cinnamon roll; English muffin with natural peanut butter; decaf tea with honey
Snack - organic apple
Lunch - avocado, cucumber, organic romaine, and organic cheddar on whole wheat bread
Dinner - two slices of cheese pizza; garden salad with organic romaine, cucumber, and grape tomatoes with light honey dijon dressing
Dessert - glass of organic chocolate soy milk; two oatmeal raisin cookies

34 Weeks - 6 weeks to go!

Somehow my entire first post got deleted. Grrr! Here's hoping it works this time...

Well, Christmas is over and we are on vacation! JA and I get to enjoy this week together. This morning we went to Macy's to get some new ties for him (he's obsessed!). We then stopped at Babies R Us to return a few items and purchase the Angelcare Movement Monitor. I've heard some pretty great reviews about this so I'm excited to use it with Charles. First time mom = paranoid, so anything that helps with that is a good thing! After BRU, we stopped at the grocery store to stock up before the blizzard hits. It's already snowing here and we're due to get about a foot by tomorrow night. Yippee!


Today I hit the 34 week mark... and I celebrated by sleeping until nine o'clock! Even Molly and Maggie burrowed in with us. Someone on Christmas Eve asked how I was sleeping and when I said, "Great!" she was shocked. Apparently it's not supposed to be that way at this point, but I feel like I'm always going to be the sleeping exception. If Charles has the same problem we're going to have to set the alarm so we wake up for feedings! Here's what's new with him this week:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. His fat layers – which he'll need to regulate his body temperature once he's born – are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

Good to know... though I'd still like to keep Charlie cooking until 40 weeks. :)

• How far along? 34 weeks
• Total weight gain: +21 pounds
• Sleep: Pretty great! I switch sides a few times a night because my hips get sore, but there are still nights I don't have to get up for the bathroom.
• Movement: Every day, throughout the day. He's getting stronger too. While his don't don't hurt, they don't exactly tickle either. :)
• Best moment this week: Christmas Eve with JA's family and being on vacation!
• Food cravings: carbs (bread and pasta!)
• Gender: It's a boy!
• Maternity Clothes: Still making do with everything I have... and looking forward to living in yoga pants this week.
• Belly Button in or out? Still in - I don't think it will pop.
• What I miss: The holidays are making me miss the booze a bit, but I know it's worth it. :)
• What I am looking forward to: A visit from Mom and Dad!!
• Nursery Progress: I'll take you on a tour around the room.

I installed a full length mirror behind the nursery door. Here's the 34-week belly. It's just too cold to put on the pink tank, and it's just too cruel to make it stretch over this belly. :)

left side of the closet

right side of the closet
 

where the glider will go

twin bed - plan to get some under-bed bins for extra storage

dresser and changing area - think I'll hang the mobile above this area

messy corner isn't finished yet :)

crib and monogram wall decal

Breakfast - egg and cheese on a croissant; hash browns

Lunch - organic tortilla chips with vegetarian beans, cheese, salsa, guacamole, and low fat sour cream

Snack - clementine

Dinner - baked ziti; garden salad with organic romaine, cucumbers, and grape tomatoes with croutons and light honey dijon dressing

The Hospital Bag

According to my ticker today, I've been pregnant for 238 days with 42 days to go. How crazy is that? I'm not sure if this qualifies as the "home stretch" yet, but I definitely feel like it's getting closer. I'm still feeling great and sleeping pretty well, so I know I'll be fine in these last six weeks or so. Charlie is officially the best baby ever. :)

Santa's not the only one carrying around a large sack of goodies. I've started thinking about what to bring to the hospital when we deliver. We have to consider what to pack for me, for Charles, and for JA. Here is the list I'm compiling - don't want to bring too much, but don't want to be uncomfortable either.

• copy of registration info, health insurance card, and birth preferences (still undecided on this, but I'm leaning toward it - I'll save that for another post)
• hospital gowns (I promise I'm not a diva, but these are just too cute!)
• my assortment of non-skid slipper socks
• bathrobe
• two nursing bras and/or nursing tanks (still need to purchase)
• nursing pads
• Chap Stick
• toiletry bag (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, hair brush, toothpaste, toothbrush, razor, deodorant, face lotion, body lotion, contact solution and case)
• pads and underwear (in case I hate the hospital ones)
• flip flops
• baby's grooming kit (I've heard his fingernails can be really long and the hospital doesn't trim them)
• glasses
• hair elastics and headband
• hard candy
• pen and paper
• baby book (for hand and foot prints on the day he's born)
• snacks and money for vending machines
• cell phone and charger
• digital camera
• flip video camera
• iPod and speakers
• my ergonomic pillow in a cute case (it will be in a lot of pictures!) :)
• Boppy
• wooden back massager
• water bottle (you know how obsessed I am with my Thermos intak)
• bath towels
• nursing pajamas
• yoga pants and hoodie
• coming home outift for baby (one newborn and one 0-3 month), including hat/mittens/socks and outerwear/blanket
• car seat (will be installed in the car)
• basket of treats for the nurses' station

The list seems looooong, so I'll have to lay everything out to see what it looks like. I am notorious for overpacking (I like to have options) but I don't think there's anything here that I won't use. Can you think of anything I'm missing?

Friday

Breakfast - two pancakes with syrup; decaf tea with one sugar

Snack - fruit and veggie smoothie

Lunch - deli flat with two slices of low fat American, lettuce, and spicy mustard; clementine

Snack - cheddar cheese and crackers; slice of brie with fruit and nuts; two zeppolis

Dinner - spaghetti with garlic and oil; baked zucchini quiche; garden salad (romaine, tomato, and croutons with a balsamic dressing)

Dessert - 1/4 of a chocolate cupcake with peppermint icing; one bite of apple pie; one thumbprint cookie; decaf cookie with low fat milk and one sugar

Saturday

Breakfast - decaf peach tea with one sugar; two eggs with one slice of American cheese; one pancake; clementine

Lunch - organic veggie burger with ketchup and mustard (no bun); baked ziti; garden salad (romaine, tomato, and croutons with a balsamic dressing)

Dinner - spaghetti with garlic and oil; baked zucchini quiche

Dessert - cup of chocolate soy milk; two chocolate covered pretzels

Christmas Eve Eve

JA and I are down the shore for Christmas. It will be nice to spend some time with his family and relax for a bit. Hopefully the snow cooperates and my mom and dad can come down next week for a few days as well.

On a totally unrelated note, as I was changing into my jammies tonight I got a glimpse of my belly in the mirror. O.M.G. When did it get that big?!?! I can't believe we are still six weeks away from a due date and my belly is already this big... yikes! And I'm guessing the fries I had at dinner didn't help...

Breakfast - egg white and cheese on a croissant
Lunch - penne with tomatoes and spinach; four pieces of organic cheddar cheese with Ritz crackers; red delicious apple slices; handful of chocolate covered pretzels
Snack - Greek blueberry yogurt
Dinner - garden salad with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red onion, and croutons with honey dijon dressing; four fried ravioli; waffle fries with ketchup
Dessert - decaf tea with one sugar

Gracias!

The thank you notes are done! Yay! Again, I am so appreciative of everyone's generosity to us and Baby Charlie. The boy is set for a good long while. :) The only thing we really have left to purchase are the monitors (video and breathing), baby food maker, and a few little other items. Babies R Us sends a 15% off coupon to complete your registry, plus I plan to save a few 20% off ones from BB&B (which BRU will let you use if they aren't expired). Of course, we still have the neighborhood and school showers to go. More thank you notes to write... ;)

Since my notes are done, I'm spending tonight doing some more baby laundry. Charlie's drawers and closet are just about stocked and ready to go. Tonight I finished washing the other gifts we've gotten, along with the clothes from my neighbor. I also remade the twin bed and sorted the bathroom baskets to make space for Charlie's hooded towels and washcloths. I sorted some books into the newly-painted side table and stocked the rest of the baskets in the closet with extra items we won't need on hand or right away. Getting there...

Breakfast - egg white and cheese on a croissant; organic, chocolate soy milk
Lunch - penne with tomatoes and spinach; four pieces of organic cheddar on Ritz crackers; four strawberries
Snack - small homemade brownie
Dinner - vegetable pad thai; garden salad with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and red onion
Dessert - cup of hot chocolate; half a mint chocolate chip cookie

Obrigado!

No time to blog tonight... I'm writing thank you notes! :)

Breakfast - Fiber One toaster pastry; organic, chocolate soy milk
Snack - organic apple
Lunch - vegetable pad thai; four slices of organic cheddar cheese on Ritz crackers; five strawberries; one Ghirardelli square (dark chocolate)
Snack - pita chips and roasted red pepper hummus; Greek strawberry yogurt
Dinner - slice of cheese pizza; penne with tomatoes and spinach
Dessert - piece of chocolate cake; glass of organic, low fat milk

More Nursery Progress

Perhaps it's because I'm procrastinating writing thank you notes (though I vow to have them done by Christmas!), but I decided to work on the nursery a bit last night. I stripped the sheets on the twin bed, painted the side table, and installed a wall shelf. I also made tags for the storage baskets we have in the closet so I don't have to look inside each one to remember what's there. I'm feeling good about the progress of the room, especially since my coworker at the other elementary school just had her first baby boy - two weeks early! What's this about most first time moms going late? Not in my district... of my three colleagues who have recently had their first babies, all three went at least a week early. I still don't feel like that will happen to me, but a girl's got to be prepared! My goal is to stay up-to-date on all laundry and housework as much as possible from now until delivery so we have one less thing about which to worry.

On the list to do tonight - baby laundry! My neighbor Jen (due a week before me with her second - a girl!) invited me and another neighbor (due 8 weeks after me with her second - a boy!) to look through her boy clothes. I came home with three bags of adorable little items for Charlie, which is just what he needed, right? ;)

Monday
Breakfast - peaches and cream instant oatmeal; natural PB&J on whole grain bread; decaf tea with honey
Snack - four pieces of organic cheddar cheese on Rtiz crackers
Lunch - vegetable pad thai; five strawberries; pita chips and roasted red pepper hummus; one cake ball
Snack - Greek blueberry yogurt (somehow managed to say no thank you to the delicious cake that was being served at the retirement party for our custodian - way to go me!)
Dinner - organic tortilla chips with vegetarian beans, cheese, and low fat cour cream; Spanish rice
Dessert - one cake ball

33 Weeks - Calm Birth

Today John and I were able to fill our inner vases with healing energy. ;)  Actually, I really enjoyed the class we took this morning. I feel more confident that I can breathe through the "discomfort" of labor (don't think of it as pain or contractions). I also feel good about John being a supportive birthing partner. I know he's nervous about the whole process, but there's no one else I'd rather have there with me.

 Charles is now just seven weeks away from his due date (though I'm expecting to go past that). Here's what's new with him these days:

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

I can't believe how long he is already! 17 inches?! I know my belly is growing more and more each day, but that just seems like a lot. Also, I can't imagine him looking like an alien. In the one 3D image we have, I think he looks just perfect!

• How far along? 33 weeks
• Total weight gain: +20 pounds
• Sleep: I'm only getting up to pee once per night, but I definitely switch sides a few times.
• Movement: Getting more and more active all the time, and I feel hiccups once or twice a day too!
• Best moment this week: I really enjoyed the hospital tour and the calm birth class.
• Food cravings: cereal
• Gender: It's a boy!
• Maternity Clothes: Still making do with everything I have... though I do need to find some comfy nursing tanks. Everyone raves about the Target ones, but I wasn't a fan. I told my mom it was because of my ginormous ribcage. :)
• Belly Button in or out? Still in!
• What I miss: nothing really... it's all been totally worth it!
• What I am looking forward to: Christmas!!
• Nursery Progress: Today I installed the monogram wall decal. I love it!

Breakfast - natural peanut butter on whole grain toast; organic chocolate soy milk
Snack - half an organic apple - I dropped the other half :(
Lunch - organic tortilla chips with vegetarian beans, cheese, low fat sour cream, and salsa
Snack - one cake ball (homemade by me!)
Dinner - edamame;  Cap'n Crunch cereal with organic, low fat milk

Swanky Hospital Tour

JA and I toured the maternity center today and I must say... I'm in love! I was really looking forward to the tour and seeing the rooms. I even wondered if we'd get to see the nursery (we did!) and there were a couple of adorable little babies inside. On the tour we learned about where to park, the waiting room, the delivery rooms (more on that in a bit), recovery rooms, visiting hours, food ordering, phone/internet access, and other need-to-know information. I think my favorite part was learning about the pain management/laboring options that included showers, a hot tub, birthing ball, aromatherapy, and massage. I thought it was very progressive of a hospital to have these options available. It makes me look forward to our Calm Birth Class even more. JA wasn't too sure about the couch he gets to sleep on, but the tour guide mentioned that they were a vast improvement over the cots and chairs of days past. I've slept in a chair two nights with his hospital stays (nut allergies and desserts at weddings don't mix!) so I figure maybe he owes me. :)

My cold is better, though I'm still bonding with my couch and PJ pants. My greatest task today, aside from the tour, was baking some cake balls. They are currently chilling in the freezer and I'll finish them tomorrow. Hope they are worth it!

Breakfast - peaches and cream instant oatmeal
Snack - vegetable sushi
Lunch - two slices of cheese pizza; garden salad with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red onions, and Italian dressing
Snack - Cap'n Crunch cereal with organic, low fat milk
Dinner - vegetarian beans in a wheat tortilla with enchillada sauce and cheese; Spanish rice
Dessert - Fiber One toaster pastry (the healthy Pop Tart?); glass of organic chocolate soy milk

I'm sick :(

Yuck! I thought I had this cold beat down (ala Pauly D and the beat from The Jersey Shore) but it's back again with a vengeance. I've had students out sick all week, including one diagnosed with strep throat today. My plan is to go home and rest, rest, rest. We are supposed to tour the maternity center tomorrow and take our one and only birth class on Sunday, so I want to rest up for those events. Wish me luck, and send some get well vibes my way please!

Breakfast - baked egg and cheese souffle; slice of French toast; fruit salad (strawberries, melon, pineapple, blueberries); OJ
Lunch - Quizno's veggie sandwich on wheat bread (lettuce, tomato, guacamole, onions, banana peppers, oil and vinegar); Baked Lays
Snack - natural apple sauce; handful of blueberries; small piece of cinnamon cake
Dinner - miso soup; four pieces vegetable sushi; handful of edamame; vegetable spring rolls

Nursing Class

Last night I attended a nursing class at the hospital where we'll deliver. I loved it! The nurse was so sweet, and I seriously hope she's working when we go in for Charlie's birthday. She has over 30 years experience, but is not old and crotchety. :)  She works on a committee that was instrumental in ensuring skin-to-skin contact for one to two hours before any bathing of baby (read about the benefits here, here, and here). She was so positive and nurturing and I left feeling like breastfeeding was such a wonderful way to be a great mom for Charles. She also mentioned that babies who are born to mothers who do not receive pain meds latch better and are more alert for nursing than those whose moms receive epidurals. I knew I had read this before, even though the doctors assured me this was untrue. I think it's like how you can read 10 studies on how eggs/coffee/alcohol/insert-any-other-controversial-food-here are good for you and 10 more on how they'll kill you. Ultimately, I'm still set on trying for a natural delivery, and remain open-minded for whatever medical interventions we may need.

I made a tiny bit of nursery progress after school yesterday too. I hung the alphabet prints on the wall above the bed. They look a little bare, but I think once the window treatments and colored pillows are on the bed it will make a big difference. Here's a low quality phone camera pic:

BTW, I love, love, love my laser level! :)

Wednesday
Breakfast - egg white and cheese on a croissant; decaf latte with skim milk
Lunch - basmati rice with broccoli and peas; natural apple sauce; pita chips with roasted red pepper hummus
Snack - one cake ball; organic apple
Dinner - veggie burger on a whole grain English muffin with organic ketchup and mustard; two veggie burrito bites
Snack - organic peach tea; handful of cashews and almonds
Dessert - cup of warm chocolate milk

Thursday
Breakfast - egg white and cheese on an English muffin; hot chocolate
Lunch - pita chips with roasted red pepper hummus; Cinnamon Life cereal with soy milk; natural apple sauce; gingerbread cookie
Dinner - dinner roll with butter; pomme frittes with cheese fondue; vegetables in a puff pastry; mashed potatoes (carb overload!!)

Gift Exchanging

This post title works well on two levels. First, my school had their holiday party today and we did our annual gift exchange. Last year, I got these. Epic fail.

This year, I got a cute snowman figurine. I originally got a really nice striped, ceramic bowl, but someone stole it from me! The nerve! At least I didn't get a power strip, which someone else did. I'm convinced it was the same person who brought the stick n click lights last year. :)

Second, I've also been busy exchanging gifts from our showers. Charles will be born in February and I plan to keep him in the house for at least a month, especially since it's cold and flu season. As the weather warms up we'll start taking some walks and trips to local places that aren't too crowded. However, I think people think "February baby" and immediately want to purchase snow suits. We must have gotten at least a dozen, and some were size six months - which he'll be in August. :)  So off to the stores I've gone to try to exchange some. I've had some good success and have gotten store credit to use later or picked up a few things we need now (like batteries, eco-friendly disinfecting wipes, baby hats, etc.) I am so grateful for everyone's generosity, but I do have to chuckle and wonder what we'll do with a snow suit in August...

Tuesday
Breakfast - natural peanut butter on a whole grain English muffin; decaf tea with honey
Snack - four Triscuits with roasted red pepper hummus
Lunch - basmati rice with broccoli and peas; Greek vanilla yogurt with mixed berries
Snack - piece of Godiva chocolate with almonds
Dinner - antipasto salad (meatless); two mozzarella sticks; two slices of cheese pizza
Dessert - two cake balls; one oatmeal Craisin cookie (Holiday party yumminess!)

32 Week Appointment

John and I met with my OB this evening... still can't believe we are down to eight weeks! I had a few questions to review with him.

• Who performs the circumcision at the hospital? (he does, the day after birth)
• Do you know the pediatrician we are thinking of using? Do you have other recommendations? (yes, she's a personal friend - score!)
• What do you recommend for a birth plan? (whatever it takes for you to have a healthy baby)

This was what I had in mind for a birth plan:

• Our ultimate goal is to deliver a healthy baby using whatever means recommended by the medical professionals.
• If possible, I would prefer to forgo any medication during delivery, though I understand that special circumstances may arise that may change this plan.

Does it seem like these two points contradict each other? The more I think I might deliver a nine-pound baby, the more I wonder about this natural child birth thing. Or, as my OB put it this evening, "I personally wouldn't want to push a watermelon out of my vagina... if I had one." Thanks doc. ;) We also learned that over 50% of first-time moms go past their due date, which I'm expecting to do anyway. Guess that gives me even more time to think about my options.

Breakfast - egg white and cheese on a croissant
Snack - cup of hot cocoa
Lunch - basmati rice with broccoli and peas; organic tortilla chips and natural salsa; Greek vanilla yogurt with mixed berries
Snack - orange
Dinner - piece of vegetable lasagna

32 Weeks - 8 to go!

Best. weekend. ever! My mom and Wendy were so amazing in helping me unpack, wash, and put away all of Charlie's adorable gifts. I am convinced that he now has more clothes than I do... scary! The nursery is still a total work-in-progress, but everything at least has a place now. We must have done at least 10 loads of laundry this weekend - diapers, bibs, blankets, pajamas, outfits, socks, sheets... love all those itty bitty items!


Charles was very appreciative of his Avo and Madrinha this weekend and even said hello to each of them. :) He is moving so much these days and I love feeling him. I think I'll miss it in February! Here's what's new this week:

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb.

• How far along? 32 weeks
• Total weight gain: +18 pounds
• Sleep: Still pretty fantastic - the body pillow rocks!
• Movement: Pretty consistent throughout the day - love it!
• Best moment this week: NJ baby shower and spending the weekend with Mom and Wendy
• Food cravings: water - can't get enough!
• Gender: It's a boy!
• Maternity Clothes: Some of my pants are getting a bit snug around the belly, but I have plenty that still fit just fine.
• Belly Button in or out? Still in!
• What I miss: nothing really... it's all been totally worth it!
• What I am looking forward to: Seeing Dr. G. at our 32 week appointment this week - I have lots of questions about the "birth plan" I'm supposed to write. :)
• Nursery Progress: We got lots of laundry done and put away! The prints and monogram wall decal from etsy are in and I plan to install them this week. I'm also going to exchange/return some items we got duplicates of and finish putting clothes away.

We had the NJ baby shower yesterday and here are a few photos from the day, taken by our dear friend Zakiyyah.

 

Friday
Breakfast - natural peanut butter on a whole grain English muffin; chocolate soy milk
Snack - Greek strawberry yogurt
Lunch - Panera (half a tomato and mozzarella panini; garden vegetable soup; lemonade)
Dinner - edamame; cucumber avocado sushi; vegetable pad thai; brown rice with steamed vegetables in a red curry sauce
Dessert - bite of peanut butter pie; decaf cupcake latte with soy milk


Saturday
Breakfast - veggie egg white flat bread; decaf tea with honey
Lunch - Baby Shower! - wheat dinner roll with butter; garden salad; grilled vegetables in tomato sauce; roasted potatoes; two cheese ravioli
Snack - one chocolate covered pretzel rod; POM love fruit smoothie
Dinner - Persian food (not sure what everything was to be honest) - wheat flat bread with salad and some sort of bean mixture; two stuffed grape leaves; basmati rice with saffron, pistachio nuts, and oranges


Sunday
Breakfast - natural peanut butter on a whole grain English muffin; chocolate soy milk
Lunch - soy "chicken" patty on whole grain bread with light mayo; half a baked potato; Persian salad (cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, olive oil, and lemon juice)
Dinner - small bowl of pasta with marinara sauce
Dessert - piece of vanilla cake

Long Weekend

Charlie and I get to spend a long weekend with his Avo and Madrinha starting tonight! I'm just finishing up some cleaning and laundry, and then it's a fun-filled family weekend ahead. Tomorrow we head to the spa for some facials and massages and Saturday is the NJ shower down the shore, hosted by my gracious MIL. More lovely gifts for Charles Henry... he's already so spoiled!

I did finished my thank you notes and mailed them out this morning. Hooray!

As I took a break from tidying up, I read this article about babies watching TV. Interesting...

Breakfast - egg white and cheese on an English muffin; baked hash browns; decaf caramel latte with skim milk
Snack - Rice Krispie treat
Lunch - cheese tortellini; organic romaine and tomato with light honey mustard dressing; Terra chips
Snack - organic pomegranate juice; York Peppermint Patty (not such a good idea for the heartburn!)
Dinner - bowl of Cinnamon Life with soy milk

Tomorrow's Friday!

For me at least... :)  I'm taking a personal day on Friday, John is off on Friday, and my mom and Wendy are heading down tomorrow so we can spend the day together on Friday. So excited! I know they both read this so I also need to let them know that the cleaning fairy has yet to show up here. :(  I can promise you clean sheets and bathrooms, but the rest is quite cluttered with all sorts of baby gear. Guess I need to get used to this...

Breakfast - egg white and cheese on a croissant; organic pear
Snack - Rice Krispie treat
Lunch - a few bites of organc romaine and tomato and a few bites of cheese tortellini (wasn't too hungry)
Snack - half a low fat blueberry muffin
Lunch #2 - baked ziti; garden salad with tomato and cucumber
Dinner - two veggie bites; half a baked potato
Dessert - glass of Ovaltine made with organic, low fat milk

Sending Christmas Cards!

I mean, Thank You Notes! Tonight my goal is to get through at least half my list. The ultimate goal is to have them in the mail before Saturday, when I get a whole new batch for the NJ shower. JA put it eloquently when he was moving all of the gifts upstairs. "Man, I am cursing how generous these people are!!" :)

Only two more days of work before the three-day weekend! Charlie continues to be an excellent resident and I can't believe we are approaching only 8 weeks to go... He's moving so much each day! I've heard that movement decreases as time goes on and baby runs out of room, so I'm trying to enjoy every little roll, pop, and hiccup while I can. I still can't believe that in just two months we'll have a baby in the house! I know that the first several weeks will be rough, but I also know that it's totally worth it. We can do this!! Now... off to write more thank you notes...

Breakfast - Kashi Go Lean Crunch (Honey Almond Flax) with organic, low fat milk; organic chocolate soy milk
Snack - slice of pumpkin bread
Lunch - veggie burger on whole wheat bread; natural tortilla chips and salsa; organic apple; organic celery with natural peanut butter
Dinner - cheese tortellini; slice of garlic toast
Dessert - glass of Ovaltine with organic, low fat milk

Nursery To-Do List

This is what I need to accomplish this week:

• iron the bedskirt for the twin and make the bed done!
• install the curtain rods (though I might wait until I have the curtains back to make they will work
• clean out the tools and packing materials that have accumulated in there done!
• decide where I'm hanging the three etsy prints and choose frames
• buy a quart of paint for the side table (changing the black to navy)
• hand the mirror behind the door done!
• write thank you notes (OK, that's not for the nursery, but I really need to get crackin')

On a bad note, yoga was canceled (again). On the bright side, I was able to check some things off my list! Not too much remaining I guess... until I get the fabric back I think that's all I can do. I'm also waiting for Wendy and my mom to come down this weekend to determine what clothing I'm going to wash for Charlie and what we can wait on until later. I do have a laundry bag full already with changing pad covers, Boppy covers, socks, bibs, and crib sheets. Very exciting! I can't wait to start putting away all of those aorable little things!

Breakfast - whole wheat toast with natural peanut butter; organic chocolate soy milk
Snack - Kashi granola bar; organic pear
Lunch - brown rice with peas and carrots; organic garden salad with romaine, tomatoes, and cucumbers with raspberry vinaigrette; organic celery with natural peanut butter; two slices of cheddar cheese
Snack - hot chocolate; homemade Oreo truffle
Dinner - handful of all-natural nachos with cheese and salsa; baked potato; two baked veggie bites with sour cream
Dessert - bowl of Cinnamon Life with organic, low fat milk

31 Weeks - 9 to go!

Baby Charles and I had a busy, fun-filled weekend! After the Santa party, we stayed over at the shore house. On Saturday, my father-in-law gifted us this custom Santa. Apparently St. Nick is looking for our little guy. Thankfully, he's been very good to his mom so far, so he's definitely on the nice list.

On Saturday night, JA and I went to our friends' house for their annual holiday party. I made it until midnight! Of course, that's probably because I slept from 5-7 before we left, but hey... I made it until midnight!

Today John headed to the Giants game while I went into the city to meet my mom and aunt for lunch and shopping. I was quite proud of myself again for being able to trek around New York through the NJ Transit system, Penn Station, the subways, Canal Street and Times Square. The only thing we missed was the tree in Rockafeller Center, but we hope to see it when Mom and Dad come down after Christmas. Yay Charlie! You love the city as much as Mommy does. :)

OK, so here's what's new this week...

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

3.3 pounds?? Not this man... he's estimated at four pounds now. Oh yeah, bring on the nine pound baby!

• How far along? 31 weeks
• Total weight gain: +18 pounds
• Sleep: Back to excellent - though I am up around 3 AM for a bathroom trip
• Movement: His feet like to bop around on my right ribs. It doesn't hurt at all though. :)
• Best moment this week: Spending the day in NYC with Mom and Auntie Pauline
• Food cravings: vegetables!
• Gender: It's a boy!
• Maternity Clothes: The new tops I found in my closet are working great! They are gap's long-sleeve t-shirts in long sizes... perfect for sitting over the belly and they fall at my hips.
• Belly Button in or out? Still in!
• What I miss: nothing really... it's all been totally worth it!
• What I am looking forward to: Mom and Wendy coming to visit; NJ shower on Saturday... though I have no idea where all this stuff will go!
• Nursery Progress: I confess that I didn't make much progress in there this week. I did unpack the rest of the gifts from the MA shower and have them sorted in the guest room. I will be tidying up the nursery this week though because Charlie's Madrinha will be sleeping in there!

I will take a 31 week pic later tonight, but for now, I leave you with my favorites from the shower!!

Saturday

Breakfast - deli flat with peanut butter; decaf tea with one sugar; fruit and vegetable smoothie; oatmeal raisin cookie

Lunch - celery, carrots, and dip; Amy's vegetarian burrito

Dinner - brown rice with peas and carrots; ziti in a tomato sauce; garden salad with romaine, tomato, and croutons with balsamic vinaigrette

Dessert - piece of apple pie

Sunday
Breakfast - two organic eggs on whole grain bread with organic ketchup
Snack - croissant; Vitamin Water
Lunch - two pieces of bread with oil and crushed red pepper; garden salad with romaine, tomato, and cucumber with balsamic vinaigrette; thin crust pizza with tomato, mozzarella, and basil
Dinner - California wrap (lettuce, tomato, avocado, and peppers); Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips; organic white tea
Dessert - glass of chocolate soy milk