Baby Sleeps Here

In one week I will be six months pregnant. This fact hit me last night and I thought... I should probably order a crib soon. So when I woke up this morning to a beautiful fall day I knew it would be a good day for crib shopping. Although I had already picked one out, I wanted to double check the store once more for the color choices. And it's a good thing I did! It turns out the color I thought I liked (espresso) was actually more cherry that dark brown. Also, the crib was a bit more flimsy in real life than I expected. Luckily, the store had a good selection and I was able to find another crib by the same designer that I loved. Clean, simple lines, dark, chocolate color, solid feel, good reputation - we have a winner. May I present where Baby A will sleep (soundly, I hope!)...

As a reminder, we'll be pairing it with this dresser from Ikea.

The woman at the store gave me an estimated delivery date in mid-December, so I'm glad I went in today. Hard to believe by the time this comes in Baby A's arrival will be shortly forthcoming!

Friday
Breakfast - cheese and crackers; OJ
Snack - Terra chips
Lunch - egg white and cheese on whole wheat toast; home fries
Snack - five strawberries; Kashi granola bar
Dinner - vegetable sushi roll; garden salad with ginger dressing; vegetable fried rice with grilled vegetables (broccoli, carrots, zucchini, squash); small piece of ice cream cake

Saturday
Breakfast - bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch with low fat milk
Lunch - bowl of vegetable soup; small square of cheese pizza
Snack - cheese and crackers
Dinner - penne vodka; Caesar salad

Dessert - two brownie bites and a glass of low fat milk

"Are you in the family way?"

This was an actual question that one of the women asked me tonight. I almost started laughing until I realized she wasn't joking. I may have failed to mention that I am the youngest woman in my DKG group by about 20 years. I was told that I am the first member ever to be pregnant. Most of them are becoming grandmothers now. :)

I am so glad that this meeting is over, and I'm pleased to say it was a total success! There is a fair amount of food left over which Baby A and I will be happy to snack on throughout the weekend. :) JA and I are hosting one more she-bang in October and then I am committed to starting to work on the nursery. As I was preparing for this meeting/dinner party, I realized how much more tired I get doing the things I used to be able to do without a problem. Standing up and prepping food for a few hours used to be easy... but now I need to sit and rest every so often. Therefore, I'd rather start sooner on setting up our little guy's room.

Also, on a totally unrelated note, I have a bit of a crush on this boy. I'm catching up on Vampire Diaries right now and I think he's just dreamy...

IMDB tells me Paul is from NJ... we obviously make some cute boys here!

Breakfast - bowl of Total cereal with low fat milk
Lunch - my ghetto tapas ;) - four multigrain crackers with cheddar cheese; unsweetened apple sauce; pita chips and hummus; fruit snacks; popcorn; Hershey's miniature dark chocolate
Snack - organic pear
Dinner - veggie wrap; pasta salad with tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and asparagus; mixed greens with Craisins and walnuts with raspberry viniagrette
Dessert - one brownie bite and a few bites of peach crisp

Procrastinating

So I got most of my to-do list done, but now I have to clean. Which is why, of course, I am blogging instead. I'll make it short and sweet since I really do have to get back to work but since I was taking a brownie break anyway, I figured I'd post.

Breakfast - egg white and cheese on an English muffin; baked home fries
Lunch - organic broccoli and corn; "chicken" patty; pita chips and hummus; fruit snacks
Snack - Kashi granola bar
Dinner - Annie's organic cheese ravioli; four multigrain crackers and a slice of cheddar cheese
Dessert - small homemade brownie and glass of soy milk

Prepping for a Party

In two days I am hosting a meeting/dinner for my chapter of DKG. Today my to-do list included:

• cleaning out the front hall closet
• setting up the dining room table
• cleaning the kitchen
• make brownies for John

OK, so that last one wasn't an official item for the party, but he had a big interview today so I'm treating him. :)

Tomorrow's list includes the following. I might not update tomorrow because I also have prenatal yoga so we'll see what happens. The following must get done however:

• slice the cheeses and prep the fruit for the appetizer trays
• prepare the vegetable soup
• wash the veggies for the salad
• candy the walnuts for the salad
• make the brownie bites
• peel and slice the peaches for the peach crumb dessert

Here's the before and after of the closet. Don't tell anyone all of our coats are on a bed upstairs until after the meeting on Thursday.

Breakfast - two slices of toast with natural peanut butter; OJ
Snack - cup of french vanilla decaf coffee (my classroom was freezing!)
Lunch - two slices of American on a whole wheat pita; unsweetened apple sauce; organic celery with natural peanut butter; Hershey's miniature dark chocolate
Snack - pita chips and hummus; Kashi granola bar; Hershey's kiss
Dinner - two slices of cheese pizza
Dessert - small brownie and glass of soy milk

Hmmm... needed more veggie today. I'll have to fix that tomorrow.

22 Weeks

I'm a day late with this update, but our weekend was pretty busy. On Friday I met up with the girls for registering, Saturday was the first birthday party, and yesterday JA and I went into the city for an engagement party. What a debacle! We drove to Hoboken, parked a few blocks away, walked to the PATH, took the train to 33rd, got on the N, got off at the wrong stop, turned back around on the N, got off at the right stop, transferred to the 6, rode to 86th, and walked to the apartment. The good news is I can proudly report two incidences of "pregnant woman preferential treatment" on the subway. That was fun! I think I was a trooper trekking around the city at 5 1/2 months pregnant. :)

Here's what's new with our baby boy:

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

Sounds like everything is progressing nicely in there. Keep it up little guy!

• How far along? 22 weeks, 1 day
• Total weight gain: +10 pounds total
• Sleep: The past couple of nights have been so-so. I think it's the changing of the seasons...
• Movement: Every day now - and it's awesome!
• Best moment this week: Getting recognized as a "pregnant lady" on the subway. I believe the exact quote was, "Hey everyone, move in. There's a pregnant lady trying to get on the train!" The train was PACKED, but everyone moved in just a bit more so John and I could squeeze on.
• Food cravings: still loving salty things
• Gender: It's a boy!
• Maternity Clothes: Pants are a must now, but I can still wear regular tops. I am wearing a pair of button down jammies right now that will probably only last another week or so. :)
• Belly Button in or out? In
• What I miss: It would have been nice to have a glass of wine at the party on Sunday.
• What I am looking forward to: I'm hosting my Delta Kappa Gamma meeting on Thursday and I can't wait!
• Weekly Wisdom: "Every ache and pain you may feel between now and delivery is totally worth it!" -from a mother of two I met at the party :)

I will update with a pic tomorrow.


Sunday
Breakfast - two scrambled organic eggs on half a whole wheat pita
Lunch - Five Guys: cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, and mustard on a sesame seed bun; fries; lemonade
Dinner - carrots, broccoli, and cucumbers with hummus
Dessert - small piece of cake with strawberries and cream

Monday
Breakfast - egg white and cheese on an English muffin; baked home fries
Lunch - "chicken" patty; organic broccoli, peas and corn; two pieces of zucchini fritte; Hershey's miniature dark chocolate
Snack - pita chips
Dinner - broccoli, carrots, peas and corn in an Asian orange sauce with jasmine rice
Snack - handful of bbq POP chips

Children's Birthday Parties

Our friends' son turned one recently and we celebrated at their home today. It was fun to catch up with people we hadn't seen in a while. However, I have to confess I'm not a huge fan of the first birthday party. As we gazed down at the dozen or so children lined up to smack a Mickey Mouse pinata I leaned over and asked John if we had to do this. He responded with an emphatic yes! Grumble... maybe I'll feel differently next February. I think I just feel out of place because we don't have a child (out of the womb, anyway) and I never know what to do at these things... besides eat of course, which I was trying really hard not to do much of after last night's dinner!

This scene makes me cringe almost as much as bride/groom cake smashing.

Breakfast - bowl of Total blueberry pomegranate cereal with skim milk
Snack - leftover gnocchi in a tomato vodka sauce
Lunch/Snack - assorted chips; roasted asparagus, zucchini, and artichokes; two pieces of rigatoni stuffed with cheese; three olives; handful of M&Ms; two bites of ice cream cake (Thanks JA!) - Can you tell we went to a party this afternoon? ;)
Dinner - leftover zucchini fritte (two pieces); garden salad with organic balsamic dressing

The Registry

Whoa Nelly, did I underestimate the stuff one little person needs! Katie, Kristi, Abby, and I spent over two hours going through aisle after aisle of gear at Babies R Us tonight. And we still didn't get through everything! To any new moms-to-be, my best advice is to take experienced women with you. They were AMAZING! I've been reading up on baby gear for months, but nothing beats the knowledge of women that have been through it recently. I can't thank them enough!! :)  The best part of the night was spent just talking and catching up at dinner afterward. As Kylie knows, sometimes you just need a girls' night out.

Who knew they let a little white boy named Elton join this fun club?

Breakfast - whole wheat everything bagel with light veggie cream cheese
Lunch - veggie spring roll; broccoli, carrots, and celery in a spicy sauce with brown rice; Vitamin Water; Hershey's miniature dark chocolate
Snack - reduced fat Cheeze-Its; Rice Krispie treat
Dinner - two slices of bread; three strips of crispy zucchini fritte; two pieces of bruschetta; Caesar salad; gnocchi in tomato vodka sauce; one lemon cookie (I was starving, and even though I had smaller portions of salad and pasta, I ate WAY too much tonight!)

It's all coming together... sort of

Lots of bumpies have been posting about their crib purchases and nursery progress. Ummm, yeah - I'm going to get right on that. ;)  Seriously though, I did order fabric samples from Javis Davis and they came in today. The anchor fabric that I loved is totally awesome in real life! Here's the nursery plan as it stands now.

The pillows are just to show you examples of the fabric. A super talented Portuguese woman is going to make the crib skirt, curtains, and accent pillows. JA and I are hosting our last hurrah at the end of October, so after that party it's all systems go on the nursery!

Breakfast - egg white and cheese on an everything bagel; baked home fries
Lunch - "chicken" patty with organic broccoli, peas, and corn
Snack - reduced fat Cheeze-Its; Kashi granola bar

Dinner - Amy's veggie burrito; garden salad; one mozzarella stick

Dessert - blueberry frozen fruit juice bar

What's in a name?

Now that we know that Baby A is a boy, we can officially continue discussing names. This is so hard! It took me about seven months to find a wedding dress, and this is following the same pattern. Thank goodness JA and I didn't have to agree on the dress because I think I'd still be looking. Here are names I like, and I haven't even thought of middle names yet:

• Benjamin
• Carter
• Liam
• Daniel
• Brendan
• Caleb

Here are the names John likes:

• James Thomas
• Charles Alexander
• Henry John
• John Joseph

So.... we are currently at a standstill.

Breakfast - two organic eggs and a slice of cheese on half a whole wheat pita; blueberry pomegranate juice
Lunch - garden salad (organic lettuce and tomato with light honey mustard dressing); twice slices of American with organic lettuce on half a whole wheat pita; pita chips and spinach dip; Hershey's miniature dark chocolate
Snack - unsweetened apple sauce; handful of caramel popcorn
Dinner - "chicken" patty on a bun with organic lettuce and spicy low fat mayo; assorted organic veggies (broccoli, corn, and peas); baked fries
Dessert - small piece of homemade cake (made by yours truly!); glass of skim milk

Nothing Much to Say...

Plus, I'm watching glee and I'm distracted. :)  It's Britney's episode!

Breakfast - Cap'n Crunch with organic low fat milk; egg white veggie and cheese sandwich (I was starving this morning!)
Lunch - garden salad (organic lettuce and tomato with light honey mustard dressing); penne vodka; unsweetened applesauce; Hershey's miniature (dark chocolate)
Snack - pita chips
Dinner - veggie burger on a bun
Dessert - small piece of homemade cake (yum!); glass of skim milk

I'm Seeing Red

Nope - I'm not angry. My front door is finished! It's going to rain all week, so I will post pictures once the sun comes back out. I think I like it though. :)

Tonight was my last yoga class at the studio far, far away. I called a place right down town that has a prenatal class. Hopefully I like it and Baby and I can be yen a lot closer to home. I'm also starting the prenatal water aerobics class in late October. Should be interesting...

Today was a pretty typical day - not much to report. I did feel our little guy a few times throughout the day, and broke out into a huge smile each time. People are going to start thinking something is wrong with me. I like to think Baby is smiling right along with me.

Breakfast - one organic egg and cheese on half a whole wheat pita; glass of chocolate soy milk
Snack - Kashi granola bar
Lunch - garden salad with organic lettuce and tomato with light honey mustard dressing; penne vodka; unsweetened apple sauce; pita chips
Snack - reduced fat Cheeze-Its; Hershey's miniature (dark chocolate)
Dinner - half a baked potato; slice of cheese pizza; garden salad with organic lettuce and tomato with light honey mustard dressing

21 Weeks

Baby is 21 weeks - the legal drinking age in the womb! ;)  I did read that he's busy drinking amniotic fluid and we even got to see him practicing his swallowing on the ultrasound. Here's what else is new...

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like he's practicing martial arts as his initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to his activity as you get to know him better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now.

You're probably feeling pretty comfortable these days. You're not too big yet, and the usual discomforts associated with early pregnancy are, for the most part, gone. If you're feeling good, relax and enjoy it while you can — the third trimester may bring with it a new crop of complaints.

Honestly, I can't imagine complaining, but I know everyone gets uncomfortable at the end. I'm going to enjoy this perfect pregnancy as long as I can! :)

• How far along? 21 weeks
• Total weight gain: +9 pounds total
• Sleep: This weekend I slept until 10 on Saturday and 9 on Sunday... so yeah - I'm still sleeping very well. :)
• Movement (adding this new category!): I feel our little guy move at least once a day. It's nothing too crazy yet, but just little nudges here and there to let me know he's doing all right.
• Best moment this week: Our 20-week appointment of course! JA, mom, and I got to see baby's limbs, organs, and adorable little face.
• Food cravings: Reading over my journal I found that fries were definitely prevalent this week, but I don't think that's a pregnancy thing.
• Gender: It's a boy!
• Maternity Clothes: Pants are a must now, but I can still wear regular tops.
• Belly Button in or out? In
• What I miss: Running... man, I never thought I'd ever say that, but I do miss my few mile jogs. I'm looking forward to getting back on that horse treadmill in the spring.
• What I am looking forward to: Fall! Bring on the cool days, mums, pumpkins, and Halloween!
• Weekly Wisdom: Dr. G. told us he went to birthing classes with his wife, so I guess we're signing up. The hospital does offer a few that aren't too intense and will help us prepare for our little guy.

I'm looking a little like Adam Richman after he completes a food challenge on MvF. :)

Breakfast - two organic eggs with a piece of Italian bread

Snack - organic apple

Lunch - slice of cheese pizza; small bowl of penne vodka

Snack - glass of chocolate soy milk

Dinner - spaghetti and meatless meatballs

Dessert - unsweetened apple sauce

Blue doors never die

Remember when I painted all of the interior doors a while back? Yeah, I'm not finished yet! The front door is the last blue door in the house. Both sides are painted blue. Dark blue. Yesterday I stopped at my trusty Home Depot to pick up some of Freshaire's No-VOC primer/sealer. Two coats later, here's what we have:

Tomorrow it's back to Home Depot to select the official front door color (I'm thinking red!) and pick up another can of their bright white for the back of the door and trim. Baby A greatly appreciates not having to inhale any fumes. He's too busy bopping around in there, which I am feeling with increasing frequency. :)

Breakfast - bowl of Cap'n Crunch with organic low fat milk
Snack - whole grain pretzels
Lunch - organic romaine lettuce and tomato with croutons and organic balsamic dressing; slice of French bread pizza
Snack - organic apple
Dinner - small bit of penne vodka; garden salad; slice of cheese pizza
Dessert - blueberry frozen fruit juice bar

There must be something in the water...

Tonight was another neighborhood Bunco game. We now have women expecting in November, January, February, March and April! Isn't that cool?? We need someone due in December to make the sequence complete. :)  There was obviously a lot  of baby talk going around tonight which was totally fun. I could talk babies for a good long while these days.

After school today I stopped at Babies R Us to officially start our registry. Kristi, Katie, and Abby will accompany me next Friday to complete it, but I think I got a decent start. My favorite item on there so far is this peacock. My Portuguese family knows why... :)

I'm not sure I had a pavão toy when I was little, but Baby A gets to have one!

Breakfast - DD veggie egg white on an English muffin; baked hash browns; OJ
Lunch - Subway veggie delight on 9-grain bread (lettuce, spinach, tomato, cucumber, pickles, banana peppers, and honey mustard); Baked Lays
Snack - low fat blueberry muffin
Dinner - kale and mango salad; tortelli salad; veggies wrapped in rice paper; celery and dip
Dessert - brownie bite; fruit kabob; chocolate chip cookie

Movement

Every so often, our baby boy makes himself known to me. These are my favorite moments of the day. I can feel him gently rolling around, or sometimes I get a fun little poke from the inside. It is at once the coolest and weirdest thing I've ever felt. Many people say I won't be liking those movements when he's jamming a foot in my ribs, but right now, I love it!

Baby and I went to yoga again tonight. The new studio is about a forty minute drive, which is way too long, but until I find something closer, it will have to do. I'm also going to explore the prenatal water aerobics class offered by the hospital. I have visions of old people when I think of water aerobics but we'll see...

I am pretty confident this man will not be in my prenatal class.

Breakfast - whole wheat everything bagel with light veggie cream cheese
Lunch - two slices of American on half a whole wheat pita with organic lettuce and tomato; whole grain pretzels; Greek pomegranate yogurt; unsweetened apple sauce
Snack - Kashi granola bar; apple; handful of almonds
Dinner - two mini baked egg rolls; veggie cheeseburger on a bun with ketchup, mustard, and pickles; baked fries

Back to School Night

So tonight was supposed to be the night I "came out" to parents. And wouldn't you know... not one of them said a word to me! I did wear a loose top, but I thought it was pretty obvious. Apparently I'm still in that stage where people aren't sure and unless I'm displaying signs of labor, no one is going to say anything. :) Anywho, I'm done worrying about it. When it happens, it happens. Until then, let's say hello to our little man.

Cute little profile

Arching his back

Mouth open - we actually saw him practicing swallowing!

Baby feet!! I'm obsessed. :)

The shot I can embarass our boy with for years to come. :) Can you spot it?

Breakfast - egg white and cheese on an everything bagel
Lunch - two slices of American on half a whole wheat pita with organic lettuce and tomato; pita chips and hummus, Greek blueberry yogurt; whole grain pretzels
Snack - unsweetened apple sauce
Dinner - garden salad (lettuce, tomato, red onion, croutons) with honey mustard dressing; a few waffle fries
Dessert - kiddie cup of peanut butter ice cream

The 100th Post - It's a BOY!!

We are on Team Blue - wahoo! We had an amazing anatomy scan today. Baby A has two arms, two legs, one beautiful face, and a body full of functioning organs.  He looked perfect on the screen and my mom and JA got to witness the entire thing as well. So amazing! I will scan some pictures tomorrow or Thursday... I have Back-to-School night tomorrow so I won't be home until later.

Breakfast - one organic egg on sandwich thin with ketchup; OJ
Snack - Kashi granola bar; handful of almonds
Lunch - two slices of American on a sandwich thin with tomato and mustard; Greek raspberry yogurt; POP chips
Snack - honey wheat pretzels; unsweetened apple sauce
Dinner - tomato basil soup; dinner roll; half a veggie burger on a bun with lettuce, tomato, and onion; a few fries

Coming Home

I haven't started the nursery, signed up for birthing classes, or pre-registered at the hospital... but I do know what Baby A will wear home! :)

Of course I ordered the onesie with long sleeves... and I'll probably get some pants.

"Hey, somebody put some pants on that kid!" - extra points if you can name that movie!

Breakfast - Kashi Go Lean Crunch with organic low fat milk

Snack - Greek strawberry yogurt; honey wheat pretzels

Lunch - American cheese on a sandwich thin with organic lettuce and tomato; POP chips; Kashi granola bar

Snack - apple; Amy's organic veggie burrito

Dinner - grilled cheese and a few fries (at least the rest of the day was good!)

On a sad note, many of you know that I visit the bump's message boards. Sadly, two women on the February 2011 board lost their babies this week. One had a miscarriage and the other discovered her baby had anacephaly at the 20-week ultrasound. Every day that I am pregnant is a blessing and one which I do not take for granted. My heart goes out to these women and their families. Tomorrow is our 20-week appointment and I am equally eager and nervous. I trust in God's plan and hope that we'll have fabulous news to report tomorrow. Say a little prayer for us please!



20 Weeks - Half Baked!

We are officially half way through this pregnancy! I continue to pray the last 20 weeks go as well as the first 20. This truly is "the golden child" as I've affectionately come to name him/her. My baby is so good to me! JA and I met up with some friends yesterday to celebrate some of the wonderful things happening in our lives. Michael is cancer-free, Katie and Kevin bought a new home, and Baby A is on the way. What a fun celebration! Many of the women there were moms and they were sharing some of their stories with me. As I listened to tales of swollen ankles and heartburn, I silently thanked this baby for being such a superstar. Here's hoping he/she is as cooperative outside the womb. :)

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.) He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

That meconium stuff sounds fun! ;)

This week my third graders were exploring the math tools we'll use this year. When I think of our baby being almost as long as their rulers I'm amazed! If the baby takes after JA, he'll definitely be sporting some long legs too. Speaking of my baby daddy, as I was getting ready for the party yesterday, JA got a good look at my belly. I think he was shocked to see how round it's getting. Twice he made comments and I think he said hello to it too. Very cute! I actually missed taking my 19-week belly pic last week, so I'm going to take the 20-week one right now!

Say hello to the belly baby!

To compare, here's the photo from May 28.

• How far along? 20 weeks
• Total weight gain/loss: +8 pounds
• Sleep: Still sleeping like a champ!
• Best moment this week: Seeing all of our friends yesterday
• Food cravings: Nothing in particular I noticed this week
• Gender: We have our educated guess, but we'll wait until the anatomy scan on Tuesday! to be more certain.
• Maternity Clothes: Pants are a must now, but I can still wear regular tops
• Belly Button in or out? In
• What I miss: My regular clothes; as the weather gets cooler I miss my fall clothing, but I think I've done a pretty good job with accumulating maternity clothing in styles I like.
• What I am looking forward to: My mom is coming down on Tuesday to accompany us to the anatomy scan. I cannot wait to see her and how much the baby has grown!
• Weekly Wisdom: Our friends who have gone through them said birthing classes were unnecessary. I'll ask the doctor on Tuesday, but if we can skip them, I'm all for it!

Saturday
Breakfast - egg and cheese on ciabatta bread; decaf latte
Snack - half a chocolate chip cookie
Lunch - half a pasta bread bowl with spinach and tomato
Snack - tortilla chips with veggie chili and cheese dip
Dinner - garden salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and pepper) with grilled "chicken;" pasta salad; baked potato with sour cream; fruit salad
Dessert - chocolate chip cookie

Sunday
Breakfast - plain bagel with light cream cheese; decaf latte
Snack - half a chocolate chip cookie
Lunch - cheese and corn lasagna; roasted sweet potatoes
Snack - tortilla chips and salsa
Dinner - tomato and basil soup; Asian Caesar salad (romaine, cheese, cashews, and wonton chips); asparagus

TGIF

So, Baby A and I officially made it through the first full week of school. Today my secretary looked up at me and said, "Wow! It's like all of a sudden you popped!" Yep... just in time to meet all the parents at Back to School night on Wednesday. ;)

Tonight my plans include baking banana bread, catching up on the DVR (yeah Vampire Diaries!), and getting to bed early. Ahhh... I am quite the social butterfly.

Breakfast - two eggs on a sandwich thin; OJ
Snack - handful of almonds
Lunch - veggie spring roll; mixed veggies (broccoli, celery, carrots) with brown rice; Vitamin Water
Snack - rice krispie treat
Dinner - garden salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onion) and a slice of cheese pizza

Word Travels Quickly!

Last Wednesday I told my principal about Baby A. Last Friday I told two fourth grade teachers. Every day since then random people have come up to me at school to say congratulations! It's kind of fun, and I laugh every time wondering who told them. Good news travels quickly, I guess. :)

I'm starting to think more and more about the nursery. On Sunday, we'll officially be halfway through this pregnancy. How did that happen?? The BIG ultrasound is on Tuesday and if baby cooperates then we'll know if we're team pink or team blue. After that, I'd like to start really planning the baby's room. I know I have some time, but I also know I'll need it! I love decorating and renovating, but I'm slooowww. Here's what I need to do in the room:

• move out the existing furniture into another guest room
• store extra furniture in the attic
• remove existing window treatments
• paint the ceiling (white? blue? something else??)
• paint the trim
• deep clean the floors and walls with an eco-friendly cleaner
• install crib, dresser, glider, bookshelf, side tables, twin bed, and area rug
• consider wall decor (right now, I'm liking something with a monogram and/or alphabet cards)
• install dimmer switch

As a reminder, here's what the nursery looks like right now:

The only thing staying are those pretty, pale green walls.

That crazy long list doesn't overwhelm me... it just makes me more excited about the project! School has also kept me insanely busy, so I haven't even had time to become overwhelmed with it all... :)

Breakfast - two organic eggs and cheese on a sandwich thin; OJ
Snack - half a low fat blueberry muffin
Lunch - one slice of Sicilian cheese pizza; garden salad with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and onion with honey mustard dressing; pita chips and hummus
Snack - handful of almonds; rice krispie treat
Dinner - half a Domino's pasta primavera bread bowl (after calculating my caloric intake for the day, I knew I was OK to eat this) :)

College Roommates

My college roommate Meaghan is visiting tonight with her adorable daughter Grace. I don't want to be rude and spend the night typing, so tonight is a super quick post. Here's the beautiful Meaghan back in the day when I became Mrs. JA. :)

Breakfast - two organic eggs and cheese on a sandwich thin
Snack - granola bar
Lunch - veggie chili with organic tortilla chips; Spanish rice; handful of almonds
Snack - organic celery with natural peanut butter
Dinner - one and half slices of Sicilian pizza; garden salad with lettuce, tomato, carrots, and onions with honey mustard dressing
Dessert - chocolate peanut butter and jelly cookie (homemade by Meaghan and Grace) :)

Peugas

What's that word?  It's one of JA's favorite Portuguese words and it means socks... as in the cutest puppy socks ever! These were purchased here before the baby shopping embargo, just so you know. :)

These may or may not have made it into my order too...

I've always had a thing for baby feet.

Breakfast - egg white and cheese on an English muffin
Snack - organic granola bar
Lunch - two slices of American cheese on a sandwich thin with organic lettuce and tomato; pita chips and hummus; handful of almonds
Snack - half a low fat blueberry muffin
Dinner - vegetarian chili in a wheat tortilla with enchilada sauce and low fat cheese; Spanish rice

Snack - cup of chocolate soy milk

MNF

Another late night... this football season is killing me, but it was worth staying up a little late to watch the Jets lose. ;)

Sorry Sexy Rexy... all that hype over nothin'!

Breakfast - Kashi Go Lean Crunch with half a banana and organic low fat milk
Snack - handful of almonds
Lunch - American cheese on a sandwich thin with organic lettuce and tomato; pita chips and hummus; Greek vanilla yogurt with blueberries, blackberries and raspberries
Snack - organic celery with natural peanut butter
Dinner - apple; bowtie pasta with asparagus, spinach and sun-dried tomatoes; half a soft pretzel

19 Weeks

We are home again! After a fun-filled trip to MA (including a Pats win!) we are all settled in back home. Today I'm at 19 weeks... almost halfway there!

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you. Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

• How far along? 19 weeks
• Total weight gain/loss: +7 pounds (up one from last week)
• Sleep: Still sleeping like a champ!
• Best moment this week: Spending time with family in MA/Meeting my new class
• Food cravings: Nothing in particular I noticed this week
• Gender: We have our educated guess, but we'll wait until the anatomy scan on September 21 to be more certain.
• Maternity Clothes: I wore my first maternity dress on Saturday.
• Belly Button in or out? In
• What I miss: the margaritas at the game today looked mighty delicious
• What I am looking forward to: Meaghan and Grace are visiting this week! (My college roommate and her three-year-old)
• Weekly Wisdom: My aunt told me this weekend that JA and I are going to be great parents... sounds good to me!

I am exhausted, so I'm off to bed. I'll try to take a 19-week pic before yoga tomorrow.

Saturday
Breakfast - organic honey nut cereal with organic milk; hashbrown; OJ
Lunch - garden salad; two slices margarita pizza
Dinner - favas; potatoes; chocolate chip cheesecake square; two peanut butter balls (family party - the good is too good to resist!)

Sunday
Breakfast - egg white and cheese on an everything bagel; OJ
Snack - raisin toast
Lunch - cheese sandwich with lettuce, tomato, onions, and peppers; salt and vinegar chips
Snack - fries (JA bought them... grrrr!)
Dinner - same as lunch - the rest of my sandwich and a few chips; Vitamin Water

Road Trip Part II

We are off to MA again this weekend. The Patriots home-opener is on Sunday and we're going to the game! I'm so excited to see crazy Bill Belichick again. Most importantly, Baby A needs to get some Pats gear. :)

Update on Miss Maggie: The old broad is hanging in there! Her heart does not seem to be failing, unlike what they previously thought. She might have a little fluid in her lungs so she's on some meds for that and an antibiotic to prevent pneumonia. She's such a trooper! And how can you resist that face??

Maggie says, "That Tom Brady is dreamy..."

Breakfast - plain bagel with light veggie cream cheese; OJ
Snack - Greek pomegranate yogurt
Lunch - veggie spring roll; mixed veggies (carrots, celery, broccoli, bok choi) with brown rice
Snack - garlic hummus and pita chips; organic apple
Dinner - half a veggie burrito

Day Off

Happy New Year to my Jewish friends! We are off from school today for Rosh Hashanah and I was a busy little bee. Here's what I accomplished:

• cleaned the first level of our house
• removed all non-maternity pants from my closet and packed them away
• did three loads of laundry
• ironed a few items
• ran a few errands

Go me! I also managed to do a little more baby gear research. I spent some time looking at baby carriers. I think I'm settled on the Ergo for when the baby is older:

I'm currently contemplating the differences between the Moby Wrap and the Baby K'Tan for when Baby A is still itty bitty. I have to confess that they both intimidate me. I think I'm going to feel like a mummy! But I've read such great things about them and how nice of a bonding experience it is. Good thing I have some time to decide...

Breakfast - two organic eggs and one slice of cheese on a sandwich thin; OJ

Lunch - "chicken" patty on a plain bagel with organic lettuce and tomato; baked fries
Snack - cup of Amy's organic veggie soup; handful of sour watermelon slices
Dinner - half a veggie burrito; hard veggie taco
Dessert - small piece of ice cream cake (so good!)

The Cat's Out of the Bag

So I finally told my principal today... and she was SOOO nice about it! I'm glad I stopped worrying yesterday because she really was sweet and genuinely happy for me. I still have to submit my official letter to the Board so we'll have to figure out my dates for leaving and returning. I'm just so relieved to have it out in the open. Now I just have to deal with the parents... ;) My mom's advice was to just start wearing "the most maternity-looking clothes" I can so they can just figure it out for themselves. I think this growing bump is going to spill the beans no matter what I'm wearing. Amy, Nicole, and I met up for drinks after school and I caught a glimpse of myself in the entry way mirror. I don't see how anyone wouldn't be able to tell, but maybe I'm more sensitive to it. Maybe I should just wear this to work on Friday?

Breakfast - plain bagel with light veggie cream cheese
Snack - organic celery with natural peanut butter
Lunch - a little baked ziti; garden salad with organic romaine and tomato with light honey mustard dressing; organic tortilla chips with guacamole
Snack - organic apple
Dinner - a few nachos and a cheese empanada

First Day of School

Ha ha... just kidding. I was actually very excited for today. So excited, in fact, that I had an awful night's sleep last night. My hands and feet were super itchy, I was hot, and I was awake until after midnight. Here's hoping tonight is better.

My class is too adorable... what a sweet bunch of children. I'm so excited to get to know them more as the weeks go on.

On a sadder note, we took Maggie to the vet today because she'd been having some breathing issues. Her heart murmur has been a concern for a bit and her enlarged heart is pushing on her trachea, making it difficult to breathe. The vet took x-rays and bloodwork and she's going in for an EKG tomorrow. If all goes well she'll be put on 2-3 different medications and should feel better. Maggie is 13, so I know her time is limited. The vet said that dogs similar to her will live an additional six months to four years with the medication. I really hope she makes it meet Baby A. She's such a sweet dog!

Tomorrow's the day I tell my principal, which is good because I think I got the side-eye from some colleagues in the lunch room today. They might suspect something...

Breakfast - plain bagel with light veggie cream cheese; Trop 50 OJ
Lunch - two slices of cheese, organic lettuce, and tomato on a sandwich thin with mustard; pita chips with hummus; Greek pomegranate yogurt
Snack - organic celery with natural peanut butter; apple
Dinner - baked ziti

18 Weeks

Welcome to Week 18! Here's what's new with Baby A this week:

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

JA and I go for the anatomy scan on September 21... let's hope our little one cooperates and isn't crossing his legs!

• How far along? 18 weeks, 1 day
• Total weight gain/loss: +5 pounds (up one pound from last week)
• Sleep: I've been having the craziest dreams lately... some are pretty scary and some are just WEIRD!
• Best moment this week: Watching JA buy his first little gift for our child.
• Food cravings: I've always loved french fries and I'm going to start really trying to abstain unless I'm baking them at home.
• Gender: We have our educated guess, but we'll wait until the anatomy scan on September 21 to be more certain.
• Maternity Clothes: A few pairs of pants here and there... regular dresses and tops are still fine.
• Belly Button in or out? In
• What I miss: iced tea... it's such a summer staple for me
• What I am looking forward to: Meeting my new class tomorrow!
• Weekly Wisdom: My mom offered some sage advice on maternity clothing... don't worry mom - I won't let you down!

I can't blame that bump on food... that's all baby. :)

Breakfast - two organic eggs with American cheese; blueberry pomegranate juice

Snack - nectarine

Lunch - "chicken" patty on a sandwich thin with tomatoes and dijon mustard; baked fries

Snack - organic celery and natural peanut butter

Dinner - baked ziti with organic sauce and low fat cheese; slice of garlic bread

Snack - lemon Italian ice

Labor Day

No, no... not that kind of labor. I still have 22 weeks before that. ;)  Happy Labor Day everyone! As a teacher, I actually look forward to this unofficial end of summer. It means I'm back to work and tomorrow I get to meet a new crop of eight-year-old cuties eager to learn in third grade. So many people have told me that this class is so sweet and I can't wait to meet them. I also have an aide in my classroom this year working with a little girl with some health issues. Cory (my aide) is so nice and she's a fellow vegetarian - it's a perfect match!

JA and I had a great weekend in Massachusetts. I got to see family and spend time with friends... Baby A also went to her first pool party. I did have to chuckle at myself wearing a one-piece bathing suit I hadn't worn since I was a camp counselor in 1998. Awesome. ;) We also did a tiny bit of baby shopping and Daddy bought his first official gift for Baby. Do these guys look familiar to you?

The food journal from the weekend has some good moments (fruits and veggies) and bad moments (pizza and fries). Another good thing about going back to school is getting into a healthier eating routine!

Saturday
Breakfast - Total cereal with skim milk; nectarine
Snack - pear; fries; Vitamin Water
Lunch - an assortment of crackers and cheese, bakery pizza, tortilla chips and salsa
Snack - salt and vinegar chips
Dinner - lima bean salad; mixed vegetables (peppers, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers) with fresh-baked croutons in a balsamic dressing
Dessert - slice of red velvet birthday cake

Sunday
Breakfast - whole wheat sandwich thin with natural peanut butter; malassada; apple juice
Lunch - garden salad; sweet potato fries
Snack - fresh fruit salad
Dinner - two slices cheese pizza; Snapple fruit punch

Earl

No, we're not considering this as a potential name for Baby A. It's actually the name of the latest hurricane to threaten the East Coast. JA and I drove up to MA this morning and only hit a bit of rain here and there... but it's coming. Flashlights, bottles of water, and snuggle puppies are ready to go. ;) Molly and Maggie don't really like the rain, but they do appreciate cuddling up on a cold, rainy day.

Maggie likes to be the big spoon. Molly doesn't seem to mind.

When I first saw my mom and dad they automatically wanted to see my baby belly. It's hard to miss now, but I have to manage to hide it for a few more days at work. I've decided that I'll tell my principal on Wednesday and my colleagues on Friday (if I get the OK from her first). It will be good to finally be "out". :)

Breakfast - homemade egg salad on a sandwich thin; blueberry pomegranate juice
Snack - handful of almonds; organic strawberries
Lunch - Caesar wrap (Romaine, croutons, cheese, dressing); salt and vinegar chips
Snack - slice of cheese pizza
Dinner - garden salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red onion, green pepper, croutons) with light balsamic dressing and a slice of garlic bread
Dessert - frozen fruit juice bar

Mobile blogging?

Not sure if this will work... It's my first attempt at blogging from my phone. We are sitting in Giants Stadium at Baby A's first NFL game. I hope she loves football as much as we do because she'll be at the Pats game next weekend too! Dad, I hope you're ready to buy something at Gillette because Baby A now owns a Giants T-shirt. Let's make sure we even that out next Sunday!

Baby A's shirt is like this one, but in Giants blue, of course. ;)

Breakfast - organic honey nut cereal with organic low fat milk
Snack - homemade egg salad on a sandwich thin
Lunch - wheat bun; wheat pasta salad; slice of watermelon
Snack - Greek vanilla yogurt with organic raspberries
Dinner - organic tortilla chips with beans, salsa, and low fat cheese
Snack - fries (at the stadium); SoBe Life Water; bite of M&M cookie

Last Hurrah

Tomorrow I go back to work for the abbreviated 2010-2011 school year. No kiddos yet... just a faculty and district-wide meeting, accompanied by a lovely picnic lunch provided by our PTA. (I'll be bringing extra snacks in case it's not veggie-friendly and in case Baby A gets hungry.) :)  So today my friend and fellow teacher Nicole and I spent the day at the beach. We laid out in the sun, we swam in the pool, we read our books (her - Eclipse, me - City of Ashes)... it was bliss. I'll have a bit of summer sun to carry me through the first few weeks of school and I'm as relaxed as can be tonight. It doesn't hurt that spending all day in the sun with help me sleep like a baby tonight. Don't you love that expression? I'm hoping Baby A inherits my sleep habits.

I also got to see my mother-in-law today. She's always been extremely kind and we've always gotten along well, but I think we are growing even closer since JA and I found out we're expecting. She's going to be such a great grandma, and between her and my mom, this baby could not be more loved by his grandmas! I spoke with my mom today too, and JA and I will be spending Labor Day weekend up with my parents in MA. It always feels so good to go "back home" again. :)

Breakfast - half an everything bagel with light veggie cream cheese
Snack - handful of almonds
Lunch - PB&J on a sandwich thin; half an apple (it was huge!)
Snack - Asian snack mix; Vitamin Water
Dinner - egg white and cheese on a multi-grain bagel; SoBe pina colada juice
Dessert - handful of organic raspberries

Cloth Diapering Class/Fear Mongering

So, JA and I attended a cloth diapering class tonight. As you know, we were already committed to using cloth over disposables. Bottom line - less chemicals on baby's skin, less expensive, and better for the environment. The class we attended tonight spent the first 45 minutes detailing all the ways that disposable diapers would eventually harm our baby. They spent 45 minutes listing all the carcinogens and chemicals that would ultimately cause cancer, lower sperm counts, and affect hormone levels. OK... I get it. That's why we went - we knew that disposables weren't great. I could have done without the conspiracy theories. ;)  After, I did get the information for which we went, namely, what different types were available, how many of each to get, and what accessories we would need. We've already purchased our newborn set and when the time comes for the next size, we have a few options to consider. Alice also lent me Ella's cloth diapers so we could try them out to see if they work for us. Either way, I am confident that Baby A's bottom will be covered... literally. :)

Next on the to-do list... hang a clothesline. :)

Breakfast - organic honey nut cereal with organic low fat milk
Snack - organic tortilla chips and salsa
Lunch - homemade egg salad on a sandwich thin
Snack - all natural raspberry lemonade; Asian snack mix
Dinner - slice of cheese pizza; organic broccoli, peas, and corn
Dessert - decaf latte and a peanut butter cookie (we needed a treat after almost two hours in that class!)

Motivation

After experiencing some fall weather last week, we are back in the 90s here in NJ. I managed not to break too much of a sweat in my classroom today or at yoga tonight. I am about 90% done with set-up at school. To motivate myself to finish tomorrow, I'm treating myself to a mani/pedi and a beach/pool day on Wednesday if I get everything done. (In fairness, the mani/pedi was an end-of-year gift from a student so it's free!) Nothing like a little positive reinforcement to make me hustle. :)  Mrs. Z... are you up for a visit on Wednesday??

This is the actual bathing pavilion down the shore... don't worry Mom - I won't be jumping into the pool!

Breakfast - everything bagel with light veggie cream cheese
Snack - organic celery with natural peanut butter
Lunch - organic Romaine, cucumbers, and tomatoes with light honey mustard dressing; organic strawberries
Snack - Greek strawberry yogurt; Asian snack mix
Dinner - black beans and rice; a few pieces of plantain
Dessert - small piece of apple caramel cheesecake and chocolate cake

17 Weeks!

I swear it was just yesterday that I was writing the 16 week post... time is flying! Here's what's new this week for Baby A.

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, her sweat glands are starting to develop, and those little fingers and toes now feature one-of-a-kind prints.

Baby better not be thinking of committing any crimes... she's got fingerprints now. ;)

• How far along? 17 weeks
• Total weight gain/loss: +4 pounds (no change from last week)
• Sleep: I'm still sleeping very well - thank you baby! :)  I'm also getting used to sleeping on my left side (rather than my back).
• Best moment this week: Celebrating the unofficial end of summer with family and friends.
• Food cravings: I'm still loving sweets much more than usual and will indulge maybe once a week or so.
• Gender: We have our educated guess, but we'll wait until the anatomy scan on September 21 to be more certain.
• Maternity Clothes: This week I started wearing a couple pairs of maternity jeans. They are still quite big, but they feel so much better than having my belly squished in my regular pants.
• Belly Button in or out? In
• What I miss: my regular pants (see above comment) :)
• What I am looking forward to: Figuring out what to wear to work this week... I'm not telling my principal until next week, but we have our big district meeting on Thursday. What do I have that can hide this little bump for a few more days?
• Weekly Wisdom: Commit yourself completely to what you want to do with the baby (whether it be nursing, cloth diapers, etc.) - great advice from Alice (who also gave me a bunch of great baby gear from Ella). Also, my friend Heather recommended I do the same, but not to beat myself up if what I had planned doesn't ultimately work for me or the baby. Thanks girls!

Friday
Breakfast - egg white and cheese on an English muffin
Lunch - Panera Bread with Alice! - half a Caesar salad and half a tomato and mozzarella panini; apple
Dinner - assorted Cuban appetizers (plantains, yucca, black beans); garden salad with light honey mustard dressing
Dessert - two oatmeal, Craisin, white chocolate chip cookies

Saturday
Breakfast - egg white and cheese on whole wheat toast; one chocolate chip pancake
Lunch - "chicken" patty on a sandwich thin with leftover Five Guys cajun fries
Snack - bbq POP chips; veggies and spinach dip; organic tortilla chips with guacamole
Dinner - veggie burger on a sandwich thin with pasta salad and potato salad
Dessert - small pieces of apple caramel cheesecake and chocolate fudge cake (soooo good!)

Sunday
Breakfast - everything bagel with light veggie cream cheese; OJ
Lunch - organic lettuce, tomato and cucumber with light honey mustard dressing; slice of cheese pizza
Dinner - veggie cheeseburger on a sandwich thin; baked onion rings
Snack - a few salt and vinegar chips and animal crackers; lemon Italian ice (I think I ate dinner too early because I was hungry!)

Prenatal Yoga

Tonight was my first prenatal yoga class. We all know yoga is supposed to be a time to relax and find your center. And that's how it usually is for me... except for tonight. First, when I came home, I discovered that our dog Maggie had the biggest accident ever. Seriously, I have no idea how such a little dog can pee that much! So I had to clean up that mess. Then I had to clean the house a bit since friends were coming over tonight to watch Jersey Shore. Finally, I realized that my class was starting very soon so I had to scramble to get changed... and this is where my problems really started. Apparently all of my yoga pants were in the laundry basket and the last pair was too long. But they would have to do... especially since I discovered all my sports bars were either too small or dirty. Grrrr! Now I'm late, but manage to get myself out the door. Halfway down the street, I realize my cell phone is at home, and it holds the address for the studio. So now it's back home where I proceed to run up and down the stairs searching for the phone. I finally find it behind the couch (?!?!?) and head out again. I eventually get to my destination according to GPS, but I cannot find the building. I finally arrive, 20 MINUTES LATE, and just join the class. At this point, I needed all the zen I could get. All in all, the studio is good, the class was good, and I got at least 40 minutes of practice. And I know where this place is for next time. And I going to buy some new bras. :) Phew...

So I just googled "prenatal yoga" and decided no one really wants to see those pictures! Instead, here's what I looked like trying to get ready today. Imagine when there's a baby in the mix!

At least this woman has her cell phone. :)

Breakfast - organic honey nut Os with organic low fat milk
Snack - Greek peach yogurt
Lunch - cheese ravioli in a red pepper alfredo sauce; red delicious apple
Snack - Five Guys cajun fries and lemonade (Ugh! This is what happens when you're STARVING and drive by Five Guys.)
Dinner - garden salad; slice of cheese pizza; Ghirardelli dark mint chocolate square

Houston, we have a heartbeat!

Today was our 16-week appointment and we heard the baby's heartbeat on the doppler. Amazing!! It really does sound like galloping horses. The appointment was very quick... everything is progressing well, my uterus is growing nicely ;), and I continue to remain relatively symptom-free. I do consider myself blessed that I'm not getting sick, am sleeping well, don't have heartburn, and can eat whichever foods I want. Thank God for all that! Oh, and I'm up one pound from my 12-week appointment - so far, so good!

Our next appointment is scheduled for September 21 and it's the BIG ultrasound. They do a comprehensive anatomy scan and we'll get to see the baby's adorable little arms and legs, his precious little face, and maybe even his boy or girl parts if he's not too shy. :)

Breakfast - egg white and cheese on an English muffin
Snack - organic strawberries
Lunch - "chicken" patty on a sandwich thin; baked sweet potato fries
Snack - smoothie (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, banana, yogurt, and POM juice)
Dinner - edamame; sweet potato roll; vegetable Pad Thai (dinner with Amy and Nicole - our last hurrah before school)

It looks worse before it gets better

Today was Day 2 in my classroom and I'm convinced I always make a mess before I set up. Here's how I left the room this afternoon...

Looottttts of work still to do... but I enjoy it. Tonight I also took Baby Allen to her first jewelry party. She bought me these earrings. Isn't she sweet?! ;) They will be fun to wear on a night out. And since I can't wear rings because of that silly rash on my hands, I figured fun earrings were important.

Breakfast - Cinnamon life with organic low fat milk
Snack - banana bread
Lunch - half an avocado, lettuce, and tomato sandwich on seven-grain bread; 1/4 baked potato; Ghirardelli dark mint chocolate square
Snack - Greek peach yogurt
Dinner - cheese ravioli and garlic bread
Snack - cheese and crackers; grapes

Back to School

Today was my first day back setting up my classroom. The kids don't come in for two weeks, but it's always good to get a jump start on getting things together. I felt good today and made sure to take breaks as needed. I alternated between moving things around the room and sitting down to work at a table to rest. Baby A was a trooper. He will be spending a lot of time in that room so I hope he makes himself comfortable.

I also told the union rep at work about my pregnancy. She gave me the contact info for our district's rep so I could get all the official information on how to tell my principal. This is my tenure year, so her advice was to wait until after the first day of school (when I actually achieve tenure). I'm going to have to do some strategic dressing to avoid outing myself ahead of time... or like Kristi suggested, just let people think I ate a lot of boardwalk pizza this summer. ;)

Even famous people love Jersey Shore pizza... and by famous, I of course mean J-Woww, not Michael Cera. ;)

Breakfast - bowl of organic honey nut Os with organic skim milk

Snack - Greek strawberry yogurt

Lunch - "chicken" patty on a sandwich thin; taboule salad; Ghirardelli mint chocolate square

Snack - trail mix; Vitamin Water; terra chips

Dinner - Shirley Temple; a few nachos and two jalenpeno poppers; half an avocado, tomato, and lettuce sandwich on seven-grain brain; half a baked potato; two bites of JA's chocolate cake