Needles

I was feeling a little like a human pin cushion. On Saturday I had three vials of blood drawn for the glucose test. Today I had another vial drawn, plus I got a shot in my upper arm of RhoGam. I'm looking a little like a junkie with all these needle marks. But then I started thinking about the women who undergo fertility treatments and the drastic measures they have to undertake. My three needle sticks are nothing compared to what they have endured. So I'm keeping my mouth shut and thanking God that JA and I were able to conceive our son so easily. It always helps to put yourself in someone else's shoes whenever you think about complaining. :)

We had dinner tonight with a friend we haven't seen in a few months and it was great to catch up. As we were leaving the house I was all buttoned up in my coat and asked John if I looked pregnant. "Not really from that angle." Yeah, I still got it! Of course, as I step out of the car, Amanda takes one look at me and says, "I can tell it's been so long since I've seen you. Look at you!" as she gestures to my belly. Maybe not... ;)  She did later comment that I haven't gained anywhere else - just the belly. I'll definitely take that compliment. I always feared my butt would grow just as much, and while I admire the J.Los/Kim Kardashians of the world, it's just not for me.

Breakfast - egg and cheese on a whole grain English muffin; OJ
Snack - five crackers and cheddar cheese
Lunch - cavatelli and broccoli; mixed greens with fruit and raspberry vinaigrette
Snack - homemade brownie
Dinner - hummus with whole grain flat bread; basmati rice with orange and pistachio nuts

29 Weeks

The nursery is a total disaster right now but I have to show you the crib, dresser, and room darkening shades I installed this morning. Yay for progress! Also, here's how Charlie is progressing:

Your baby is growing rapidly now. This week he weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is getting bigger to accommodate his growing brain – which is busy developing billions of neurons. Every day, about 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited in your baby's skeleton, which is now hardening. With this rapid growth, it's no surprise that your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during this trimester.

• How far along? 29 weeks
• Total weight gain: +16 pounds
• Sleep: I bought a body pillow on Wednesday and that's been helping me sleep better. I usually wake once or twice through the night to turn over. My hips just get a little sore from sleeping on them.
• Movement: He's definitely getting stronger. I feel him move more and more each day. :)
• Best moment this week: Seeing our little guy at my 28 week appointment - even if my placenta was in the way.
• Food cravings: Pretty much just all food in general. :)
• Gender: It's a boy!
• Maternity Clothes: Absolutely for pants, regular tops are OK sometimes; I feel a growth spurt coming on though.
• Belly Button in or out? In, but it's getting more shallow
• What I miss: Being able to get up out of a deep chair with having to use my arms. :)
• What I am looking forward to: Thanksgiving in MA and my first shower!
• Nursery Progress: The dresser and crib are assembled and the room darkening shades are installed.

Here's the belly... oh, boy is it growing!!

And here's Charlie's room... eek! The dresser is definitely darker than the crib, but it's not as bad as it looks in these photos. I think it's someone's way of helping me be less OCD.

The shades do a nice job of darkening the room. They'll be hidden behind the valance until we pull them down for naps.

Breakfast - bowl of Kashi Go Lean Crunch with soy milk
Lunch - half a veggie wrap (romaine, tomato, cucumber, banana peppers, cheese, and oil & vinegar); small fruit salad
Snack - Go Naked strawberry banana drink
Dinner - sweet potato tempura roll; mixed vegetables in a red curry sauce (broccoli, okra, green beans, asparagus, snap peas) over rice
Dessert - homemade brownie with a glass of organic milk

Busy Day at Work

Just kidding! We've had two clients come in today and I've been here for four hours. This is why I'm posting again... lucky you!

I just wanted to give a shout out to my talented friends who have/are creating adorable gifts for Charles. Kate made this adorable knit hat (love the pom poms) and Meghan is making this very cool fish mobile (perfect for his nautical nursery). Between these fun gifts and the custom bedding and window treatments, Charlie is going to have one fun and original room!

The Six-Day Work Week

Not really a fan of this. I told my mom that I was "too pregnant" to work six days a week. In reality, though, today isn't too bad. I work part-time once every couple of months at a bridal accessories boutique. I do actually like it, though I joked with mom this morning that I'll be tempted to say, "Who cares what earrings you wear on your wedding day? Let's talk about me - I'm having a BABY!" :)

Charles and I took the one-hour glucose test this morning. We were up bright and early at 6:30 for a 7:30 test. The experience wasn't bad at all. I had read all of these horror stories about people puking from the drink, passing out after the blood draw, etc... The drink tasted like a chilled, sugary, somewhat flat, orange soda. I actually really like orange soda, but never drink soda anymore so I viewed it as a little treat (weird, I know). After the drink, the lab set me up in "the glucose room" where I sat for an hour on a leather recliner and read Mockingjay (which I know I'm three months late on). When my hour was up I got to "cut the line" since it was a timed test and they drew three vials of blood. After getting my Garfield bandaid, I was outta there. Of course, I had a little snack of cheese and crackers waiting in the car, along with my trusty water bottle. I also stopped at Starbucks for a post-test treat. Here's hoping the results come back soon and I passed!

Officialy the best water bottles ever created. I have three, but often contemplate puchasing a few more to store away.

In other exciting news, today we get the crib and dresser assembled by my very talented father-in-law! I am quite excited to go home and see how everything looks. Here's a reminder of what we're getting:

Bonavita Metro in Chocolate

Ikea Hemnes 8-drawer dresser in black-brown

At this point, we still need to purchase the mattress, but I've done my research and know which one we want. Then Baby A will have a place to sleep, a place to have his diapers changed, and a place to store his adorable little outfits. Once I order the glider on Black Friday, we'll be good to go!

Oh, here are the curtain rods I got for the nursery (in espresso). My plan is to install these room-darkening shades on the windows, then white floor-length curtains (from Ikea), then the valance with the anchor fabric. Slightly ridiculous that our son will have three types of window treatments, but I'm sure that deep down he'll appreciate it. ;)

Pre-test breakfast - one hard-boiled egg white

Snack - four crackers with cheddar cheese

Breakfast - Starbucks spinach and egg white wrap; decaf peppermint mocha soy latte
Lunch - half a whole wheat wrap with romaine, tomato, cheese, pickles, banana peppers, and oil & vinegar; small side of organic mac and cheese; fruit (grapes, melon, pineapple, watermelon)

Dinner - baked ziti; dinner roll

Busy little bee!

Yesterday M&M went to the groomer, which is a six-hour process door-to-door. After school I rushed home to get them, feed them, take them to Bridgewater, and drop them off. Then I ate dinner, went to Babies R Us to update the registry, went to Michael's to buy a baby book, and went to BB&B to get curtain rods for the nursery. After getting their vitamins at Petsmart, I picked the girls up and we all headed home where I promptly fell into bed. FYI, my new body pillow is great! I slept much better last night - either because I was exhausted or because it's just that good. :)

Tonight I'm meeting up with friends and family to watch HP7!! So excited! I told JA last night that I already have the collection of books set aside in hardcover for Charles. I hope he enjoys them someday as much as I did.



Thursday
Breakfast - two eggs on a whole grain English muffin with hot sauce; OJ
Lunch - slice of cheese pizza; garden salad with lettuce, tomato, and cucumber with light Italian dressing; Sun Chips
Snack - fruit snacks
Dinner - veggie burger with cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and pickles on a bun; fries

Friday
Breakfast - egg white and cheese on a croissant; baked hash browns; decaf iced latte
Lunch - tofu, green beans and carrots with brown rice in a spicy sauce; handful of wonton chips; all natural apple sauce
Snack - Sun Chips
Dinner - slice of cheese pizza; bowl of Count Chocula with light soy milk (I think this officially qualifies as a weird pregnancy thing)

Ikea!

Well, the 3D ultrasound didn't work out yesterday, but my trip to Ikea was a success! Here's what I picked up today for Charlie's room: the Hemnes dresser and drawer organizers, a bed skirt for the twin bed, white panels for the windows, baby hangers (so cute!), storage cubes for the closet, and accent pillows. Yay! The crib and dresser are getting assembled on Saturday and it will soon start to look like a room. :) I can't wait to post some photos... because this is what we've got right now:

Breakfast - baked hash browns; organic, light, chocolate soy milk
Snack - cheddar cheese and crackers
Lunch - natural PB&J; spinach and artichoke dip on crackers; natural apple sauce
Snack - Kashi granola bar; fruit snacks
Dinner - two slices of cheese pizza; garden salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and red onion with light Italian dressing)

3D Ultrasound - FAIL!

Well, Charlie did his best to cooperate and was in a good position today, but my placenta was in the way. :(  We'll try again in two weeks at my next appointment to see if we can get better shots of his face. We did get to see his spine, heart, ribs, head, arms, and legs, so that was good. He's weighing in at 2 pounds, 15 ounces. Way to go buddy! I did gain my recommended four pounds this past month, which the nurse was happy about - though seeing those numbers go up on the scale each month is kind of scary!

We also met the new doctor at my OB's office. Not. a. fan.  First off, she was super late. I didn't care for her bedside manner at all. And at the end of the appointment she mentioned something like, "I assume you're fine with an epidural, right?" I responded with, "Actually, I'd prefer not to have any medication because of the potential side effects." "Like what?" she asks in a somewhat snotty/defensive tone. Oh no.... I'm not having this woman deliver my baby. We'll just assume that Dr. G. will be available and he will deliver Charles Henry. I told my mom I'd rather a doctor I hadn't met yet deliver him rather than this woman. Grrr! ;)

Breakfast - two eggs on a whole grain English muffin with ketchup
Lunch - pasta with tomato sauce and cheese; spinach and artichoke dip wih pita chips; natural apple sauce
Snack - Kashi granola bar
Dinner - edamame; two vegetable spring rolls; vegetable tempura roll (broccoli, avocado, and asparagus)
Dessert - two homemade snickerdoodles; glass of light vanilla soy milk

Financial Planning, Take 2

About six months ago, JA and I met with our financial planner to discuss our investments, retirement, and planning for the baby. We were very newly pregnant then, and my primary concern was making sure that we had enough money for me to stay home with Charlie until school started again in September. Well, we've definitely worked that all out, and thanks to JA's new promotion (way to go!) and our amazing moms, we are in good shape. I still feel like we spend more than we should on certain things, but I'm hoping that we'll continue our savings goals and be in a comfortable position come February.

On another fun note, JA and I found out that two of his coworkers are also expecting!! Charlie gets two more friends with which to grow up and play - yay! The couples live in neighboring towns so in addition to my two neighbors currently expecting, Charlie has four friends within a few months of his age. Fantastic!

Breakfast - baked hash browns; organic, light, chocolate soy milk
Snack - chipotle cheddar snack mix
Lunch - natural PB&J on whole grain bread; banana; natural apple sauce; fruit snacks
Snack - chipotle cheddar snack mix (thank goodness I'm not getting heartburn!)
Dinner - Gardenburger on a whole grain bun with lettuce, tomato, guacamole, and pickles; handful of fries and two onion rings
Dessert - glass of vanilla soy milk

28 Weeks - Third trimester!!

I remember when I was 12 weeks pregnant and thinking it was such a milestone. Now I only have 12 weeks left! What?!?!?! ;)  Charlie is growing and moving like a champ. Here's what's new this week:

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. He can blink his eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

I wasn't sure what Chinese cabbage looks like, but here's what Google images has to say...

I'm willing to bet that Charlie is a little bit cuter. :)

• How far along? 28 weeks
• Total weight gain: + 15 pounds
• Sleep: Still making it through the night, but I do think I'm switching sides a couple of times. I barely wake up if I do, and we've been at my parents' house since Thursday, so it's hard to judge since it wasn't my own bed.
• Movement: Every day throughout the day. Some of his movements are so big now I feel like I'm on a roller coaster!
• Best moment this week: Spending time with Mom and Dad
• Food cravings: None that I can really think of right now...
• Gender: It's a boy!
• Maternity Clothes: Absolutely for pants, regular tops are still OK, and if I never had wear a bra again I would be happy. :)
• Belly Button in or out? In, but it's getting more shallow
• What I miss: Being in control of my emotions... the hormone craziness of the third trimester is not fun! I had a mini-breakdown when some maniac almost ran us off the road on Saturday and we got a flat tire. I'm also experiencing pregnancy brain a bit more. Today I left to go grocery shopping without my purse so I had to turn around and drive back home. I'm pretty sure my good looks were not going to cut it.
• What I am looking forward to: At our 28 week appointment on Tuesday we're also doing a 3D ultrasound. Sooo excited to see our little guy's face!
• Nursery Progress: I cleaned out the closet and washed the walls and floor. My goal this week is to get to Ikea and purchase the dresser.

Friday
Breakfast - natural peanut butter on a wheat deli flat; half a granola bar; orange
Snack - handful of Special K crackers
Lunch - salad pocket (pita filled with lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, pickles, banana peppers, cheese, oil and vinegar); Baked Lays; Vitamin Water
Snack - handful of Swedish Fish
Dinner - piece of spanikopita; brown rice, mixed veggies (broccoli, carrots, snap peas); lettuce with balsamic vinaigrette
Dessert - brownie; handful of trail mix (mixed nuts, raisins, M&Ms); Vitamin Water

Saturday
Breakfast - egg and cheese on a deli flat with ketchup; hash browns
Snack - apple turnover; decaf tea with one sugar
Lunch - handful of trail mix (mixed nuts, raisins, M&Ms); apple
Dinner - three slices of Papa Gino's cheese pizza (delicious MA treat!)

Sunday
Breakfast #1 - egg and cheese on a deli flat with ketchup; decaf tea with one sugar
Breakfast #2 - half a chocolate chip pancake; mixed fruit (pineapple, melon, canteloupe, red grapes)
Lunch - veggie wrap (Romaine, tomato, cheddar, and croutons with honey mustard); handful of snack mix (pretzels, rye chips, nuts); Vitamin Water
Dinner - "meatballs" in an all natural sauce; two pieces of garlic toast; mixed veggies (broccoli, zucchini, and peas)

Heading Home

JA, the pups, Charlie and I are heading up to MA this weekend. My mom and I get to spend the whole day together tomorrow. So excited! On another fun note, the fabric I ordered for the nursery arrived today. I love it, and can't wait to see what Mrs. M. creates. :)

Breakfast - egg white and cheese on a croissant
Snack - half a bagel with veggie cream cheese
Lunch - "meatball" and cheese on half a whole wheat pita; apple; Kashi granola bar
Snack - fruit snacks
Dinner - handful of tortilla chips with salsa; organic mac and cheese
Dessert - bowl of Count Chocula with organic, low fat milk

The Curse of the Short Torso

Lately I've been feeling like Charlie is living in my rib cage instead of my uterus. Holy cow! JA will attest to the fact that I hate wearing bras because they are so uncomfortable! Tonight I finally gave up and bought two bras in the maternity section of Macy's. Goodbye cute little Victoria's Secret bras... hello comfort! I can't wait to be able to breathe in the afternoon again. :)

In other news, I'm going to start those prenatal aqua aerobics classes at the end of November. It should be interesting to see a bunch of rotund ladies bopping around in the pool. I'm sure it will be quite the experience. My neighborhood yoga class is fun, but it's not exactly consistent. It's been canceled a few times because of illness or child care issues with the other women. At least the aerobics class will be sure to meet each week and Baby and I will get our exercise. If all else fails, I'm just going start this woman's workout.



Breakfast - small slice of crumb cake; half a plain bagel with veggie cream cheese; handful of red grapes; strawberry banana juice
Snack - small slice of crumb cake (it was good!)
Lunch - half a burrito with rice, black beans, and cheese with salsa; fruit snacks
Snack - bowl of Count Chocula with organic low fat milk
Dinner - two slices of cheese pizza with "meatballs"
Dessert - glass of organic, low fat, chocolate soy milk

Holiday Craziness!

Today on the way home I started thinking about how crazy our schedules get around this time of year. Between getting together with friends and family, work functions, and shopping it seems like there's always something to do. Every weekend between now and Christmas is booked (sometimes on Friday, Saturday, AND Sunday). In addition to that, we have mid-week dinners, birthing classes, and have to find time to pick up the crib and other nursery furniture. I booked a few more get-togethers this afternoon and then thought - let's keep January free from obligations! While I love seeing our friends and family, I think I'm getting into that infamous pregnancy "nesting" mode where I want to stay in and get ready for Charlie. I'm continuing to feel great, but don't want to jeopardize that by running around too much during the holiday season. I am noticing when my body gets tired and my primary concern has to be as a Mommy... our little guy deserves it!

Breakfast - baked hash browns; organic, light, chocolate soy milk
Snack - Kashi granola bar; organic, light lemonade
Lunch - half a veggie wrap; half a baked potato; fruit snacks
Snack - three water crackers with hummus; organic apple
Dinner - mixed veggies (broccoli, zucchini, and peas); half a burrito with black beans, rice, and cheese

Stroller Love!

So you already know about this little gem I bought over the summer. But now I have NEW stroller love. Actually, it's my original stroller love, mentioned here. May I present, the Baby Jogger City Elite... I have but one word - sa-woon!

More details to follow... right now I just walk past it and smile!

27 Weeks!

One more week until the third trimester - dun, dun, duuunnnnnn! ;)

Here's what's new with our little guy this week:

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended. He's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and perhaps even sucking his fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if he were born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother him, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

Haven't felt those hiccups yet, but I'm curious to see what they feel like.

• How far along? 27 weeks, 1 day
• Total weight gain: +14 pounds
• Sleep: I'm still making it through the night most nights; occasionally I'll visit the bathroom if I've had something to drink too late.
• Movement: Big milestone this past week - I saw the baby move from the outside! I thought it might be weird, but it was really cool instead.
• Best moment this week: Relaxing and swimming in Florida
• Food cravings: French Fries!! (I'm off the fries for at least a week after my trip to Florida - I think I ate them three times!)
• Gender: It's a boy!
• Maternity Clothes: Still pants only, though in the pic below I think I'm testing the limits of my little pink tank top!
• Belly Button in or out? In, but it's getting more shallow
• What I miss: Brie cheese
• What I am looking forward to: Seeing my family this weekend!!
• Nursery Progress: I spackled and sanded any rough spots and used a Magic Eraser on any wall marks. My goal this week is to wash the walls and floor, and to clean out the closet.

And here is what Charlie looks like from the outside. Quite a difference from June. :)

Sunday
Breakfast - two organic eggs with cheese on whole grain toast with ketchup; OJ; decaf tea with one sugar
Snack - Greek strawberry yogurt
Lunch - cheddar cheese; apple slices with caramel dip; fries
Snack - fruit snacks
Dinner - natural peanut butter on whole grain bread

Monday
Breakfast - whole wheat everything bagel with light veggie cream cheese; Vitamin Water
Lunch - slice of cheese pizza; Kashi granola bar; four water crackers with hummus; organic apple
Snack - fun size Skittles; fruit snacks
Dinner - two mac 'n' cheese bites; half a grilled veggie wrap (broccoli, carrots, peppers, green beans, zucchini); half a baked potato

Lazy Saturday

Sue and I did the Polar Bear Plunge into the pool today. It's heated, so I'm totally exaggerating, but it was chilly when we got out. We had a totally fun day relaxing today. At the moment we are watching Eclipse and wondering how the books we loved became such ridiculously awesome awful movies. Oh well...

Oh, I wanted to show you the lobster I bought for Charlie. That's right, we have a name!!!!!! Charles Henry will be making his debut in February 2011. I've been testing it out for a week or so now and I'm really liking it. John and I talked about keeping it a secret so we wouldn't have to listen to everyone's opinions, but ultimately decided to share our choice.

As my mom said, this is a great way to welcome Charlie to New England. :)

Breakfast - Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal with organic light vanilla soy milk; OJ
Lunch - Romaine, Craisins, pecans and pears with raspberry vinaigrette; penne vodka
Snack/Dinner - Triscuits, Wheat Thins and Tostitos with hummus, spinach and artichoke dip, and homemade guacamole
Dessert - homemade brownie with organic light vanilla soy milk

Vacation

Today was a great example of a perfect vacation day! We woke up, ate breakfast, went for a walk, went to lunch, did a little shopping, laid by the pool, watched a movie, and went to dinner. Our plan for the rest of the evening is to watch another movie and maybe play some cards. The only thing missing is JA... Vacation is not complete without him. I am enjoying this girls' weekend but miss my guy.

I did buy a fun stuffed lobster for our little guy's nursery today. So cute! I also received a call from Crib World that the crib is in... Earlier than expected, but I'm excited! The nursery isn't ready for furniture yet but it will be soon. The store will hold the crib for as long as we need until we can get it. My father-in-law has graciously offered to use his truck to pick it up and help us assemble it. We'll have the dresser as well to put together. I'm not sure about the glider, but I feel like we'll be assembly experts in no time. :)

Breakfast - two organic eggs scrambled with cheese on whole grain toast with ketchup; OJ
Snack - Greek pomegranate yogurt
Lunch - burrito salad (lettuce, black beans, salsa and cheese); handful of fries
Snack - organic apple; natural peanut butter on whole grain toast
Dinner - mozzarella, tomato, and pesto on a grilled pita; fries

It's raining :(

Well, we arrived safely in Florida, but the weather is not cooperating for my "lay by the pool plan" - but that's ok!! We are just happy to relax and chill out. Baby A seems to be enjoying himself so far and he did very well on the plane. It was a bumpy ride, but he was a trooper and we even managed to comfort Aunt Dana who was not enjoying the ride at all! I wore those oh-so-sexy compression socks and drank a liter of water on the plane so I could avoid any swelling. It seems to have done the trick... Thanks Mrs. Z. for the socks!

The plan for the rest of the day includes watching movies, making dinner, and watching Vampire Diaries! Vacations are not complete without Stefan and Damon.

Wednesday
Breakfast - baked hash browns with ketchup; decaf caramel latte
Snack - Kashi granola bar
Lunch - egg white and cheese on an English muffin; fruit snacks; organic apple
Snack - fruit snacks; Kashi granola bar
Dinner - Amy's organic veggie burrito; pasta with tomato sauce; two slices of Portuguese bread with Smart Balance

Thursday
Breakfast - everything bagel with cream cheese; Odwalla strawberry banana smoothies
Lunch - garden salad with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onion, and pepper with honey mustard dressing; nachos with cheese
Snack - Wheat Thins with spinach dip; piece of organic dark chocolate
Dinner - penne vodka; Romaine with Craisins, candied pecans, pears, and raspberry vinaigrette
Dessert - Hershey's nugget and fun size Butterfinger

Packing!

I'm leaving for a girls' long-weekend to Florida on Thursday and I'm soooo excited! It will be nice to get away after this week of parent conferences. Everything is going very well, but I'm ready for a break. I'm trying to figure out what clothes to pack that A - are appropriate for Florida weather, and B - fit. Should be interesting... :)

Breakfast - bowl of Life cereal with organic low fat milk; toast with all natural peanut butter; half cranberry juice/half water
Snack - Kashi granola bar
Lunch - ziti with two "meatballs"; five water crackers with hummus; organic, low sugar pink lemonade
Snack - fruit snacks
Dinner - mashed potatoes; vegetarian stuffing
Dessert - Count Chocula with low fat organic milk

I promise to eat my veggies tomorrow... just wasn't feeling it today. :(

Conference Marathon

I'm still at school!! It's our late-night conference day with parents, so I'll be here until 9:00 PM. Just thought I'd update the food journal... pay no attention to the Halloween candy still being eaten. ;)

Breakfast - baked hash browns; decaf caramel latte with skim milk
Lunch - egg white and cheese on an English muffin; broccoli, peas, and zucchini; five water crackers and hummus; fruit snacks
Snack - organic apple; half an apple muffin
Dinner - veggie sandwich from Quiznos (cheese, onions, peppers, tomotoes, lettuce, and guacamole) on a wheat bun with red wine dressing; Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips; raspberry lemonade
Dessert - fun size Kit Kat; fun size Hershey's bar

26 Weeks

Baby A is getting bigger and bigger each and every day! Here's what's new with him this week:

 The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take two to three days.

Seems like everything is moving right along...

• How far along? 26 weeks
• Total weight gain: According to my scale I've gained 0.8 pound in the past two weeks - for a total of almost 13 pounds. I have 14 weeks left, which include Thanksgiving and Christmas, so we have plenty of opportunity to eat!
• Sleep: This week I kept drifting onto my back and waking up, but I think the warmer temperatures might have been to blame too. Once it cooled down at the end of the week, I slept much better.
• Movement: Every day now, and he's getting stronger!
• Best moment this week: Celebrating Halloween at school and Mr. Z.'s birthday
• Food cravings: Have you tried Count Chocula cereal lately?? OMG... so good!
• Gender: It's a boy!
• Maternity Clothes: Still only need pants - I even have some that are still too big! :)
• Belly Button in or out? In
• What I miss: Wearing sweaters... they just look funny now. 
• What I am looking forward to: Heading to Florida with the girls on Thursday! Fun in the sun!!
• Weekly Wisdom: My MIL said we have a beautiful baby! She dreamed about our son and said he looked just like me, but with John's nose. I'm convinced we saw John's nose in one profile shot at our last ultrasound. Plus, her dreams are pretty accurate. ;)
• Nursery Progress (I'm finally able to add this category): This past weekend I cleared out all the furniture and moved in the twin bed. I also taped out where the other pieces of furniture will go (crib, dresser, and glider). This afternoon I also patched a few nail holes and plan to touch up the paint this week.

Here's a tour around the room:

Can you see the faint outline on the floor to the left of the table? This is where the glider will go. I'll also paint that table to match the room, but I'm not sure which color just yet.

This rug will stay. It's made from all natural fibers (no off-gassing!) and I think it will match the glider nicely.

The dresser will sit to the right of the bed and we'll put the changing pad on top to the left. I'll also have a table fan and some cute accessories on the right.

The location of the crib - where as I've mentioned before, Baby A will sleep peacefully through the night. :)  I also like that I can peek right in from the door to see him.

Saturday
Breakfast - organic egg and cheese on an English muffin with organic ketchup; half cranberry/half water
Snack - fruit snacks
Lunch - organic mac and cheese; five water crackers and hummus
Snack - four pieces of cheddar cheese and crackers; four multigrain chips with salsa
Dinner - mashed potatoes; corn, asparagus; vegetarian stuffing; dinner roll; garden salad
Dessert - piece of chocolate birthday cake; decaf tea with one sugar


Sunday
Breakfast #1 (before church) - dinner roll; decaf tea with one sugar
Breakfast #2 (after church) - dinner roll; organic eggs and cheese with ketchup; Trop 50 OJ
Snack - fun size Reese's peanut butter cup; fun size Kit Kat (Thank God Halloween is over today!)
Lunch - organic mac and cheese
Snack - fun size Skittles
Dinner - pasta with all natural tomato sauce and two "meatballs"; mixed veggies (broccoli, peas, and zucchini)
Dessert - bowl of Count Chocula (see above)

Double digits!!

Guess which one of us is 6 1/2 months pregnant? ;)  Mmmm... now I want peanut M&Ms.

Today Baby and I hit double digits - 99 days to go until my due date! Of course, I'm anticipating an extra week or so, but you never know what might happen. I am proud to admit that I did not have one party treat at school today. I passed up cookies, cake, cupcakes, potato chips, and candy. Now if I can just make it through the weekend (and Thanksgiving and Christmas) we should be in good shape.... literally!

Last night I got a burst of energy before bed and started dismantling the guest room/nursery. Here's a not-so-great phone pic of what I ended up doing, which was apparently just make a mess.

My mom will be the first to attest to the fact that I will never be allowed to yell at Baby A for having a messy room. I think they finally gave up on me after ten or twelve years.

Breakfast - egg white and cheese on an English muffin; baked hash browns; OJ

Lunch - vegetable spring roll; broccoli, carrots, and celery with brown rice

Snack - fruit snacks; handful of almonds

Dinner - veggie soy patty on half a roll with light spicy mayo; half a baked potato

Dessert - four Starbursts (OK, so I caved to the candy again)

To Do List

As you know, I've been thinking a lot about the nursery this week. It's been a bit since I updated my to-do list, so here goes:

• crib - ordered!
• ceiling and walls - painted!
• order fabric from javis davis (love this company!) - check!

Still to-do:

• order glider and ottoman (I like the idea of waiting until Black Friday - never know if Walmart might have a fun sale)
• purchase dresser and organizers (Ikea)
• exchange furniture between guest rooms (twin bed coming into nursery)
• paint side table(s)
• order ceiling compass decal and wall decor (this is the fun stuff!)

Eek! That's a lot of stuff to do. Sitting on the couch watching Vampire Diaries and The Office probably doesn't help get any of it done either, though, right? ;)

Breakfast - bowl of Frosted Flakes; cranberry juice/water mix
Snack - Kashi granola bar
Lunch - natural peanut butter on an English muffin; reduced fat Cheez-Its; four Starbursts
Snack/Lunch #2 (baby wasn't really feeling like that lunch was enough) - 9-grain wheat bread with spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, pickles, banana peppers, red onions, and honey mustard; apple slices
Dinner - veggie soy patty on half a whole wheat pita; half a baked potato

Not Much to Say Today...

I took a nice little power nap after school today, ate dinner, ran an errand and went to yoga. Now I'm beat, and going to bed! :)

Breakfast - egg white and cheese on an English muffin
Lunch - black bean vegetable soup; half an English muffin with natural peanut butter; handful of pumpkin seeds
Snack - five water crackers and hummus; organic red grapes
Dinner - veggie soy patty in half a whole wheat pita with light spicy mayo; half a baked potato
Snack - glass of light chocolate soy milk

There's always some time for a little nursery planning...

I know I said that this week would be too busy with report cards for anything else. But I made more progress than expected yesterday and started to think about the nursery. The party on Saturday is over, and while it was such a blast, I'm glad we can focus on getting ready for the little guy. I've been agonizing over thinking about the upholstered glider and came across this potential candidate:

paired with this ottoman, to better match our dark furniture

Obviously this is a little girl's nursery (and very bright!!) but I think this combo could work for us. The best part - both pieces come in around $400, which is a better fit for my budget than the $600-800 chair/recliner/ottoman combinations I had previously seen. I've sent an email to the blogger who uses this chair to get her opinion, so hopefully she'll have some favorable feedback.

I also think we've finalized the fabric choices for the bedding and window treatments. JA and I looked everything over, and while I'm sure selecting fabric isn't his main priority in life, he did pitch in and offer his opinion. :)  Here's the current plan:

Pleated crib skirt - green and white polka dot

Window valences - anchors with ecru floor-length panels and black out cordless shades (hidden behind the valences) 

Accent pillow on glider - minkee navy

Accent pillows on twin bed - wide stripe and minkee navy

Crib sheets - ecru and sage solids

Changing pad cover - ecru, sage, and navy solids

What do you think??

Breakfast - one organic egg and cheese on an English muffin with organic katchup; OJ

Snack - Kashi granola bar

Lunch - penne vodka; five water crackers with hummus; Greek blueberry yogurt; slice of homemade Irish soda bread

Snack - handful of pumpkin seeds; homemade brownie

Dinner - soy veggie patty on half a whole wheat pita; half a baked potato

Dessert - bowl of Count Chocula cereal with organic low fat milk

Report Card Week

Report cards are due on Thursday, which means I am "in the zone." We have a new electronic system this year, which I am loving! This means, however, that my posts will be strictly limited to the food journal. All candy references are to cope with report cards. :)

Breakfast - plain bagel with light cream cheese; OJ
Lunch - baked ziti; five water crackers with hummus; Greek strawberry yogurt; handful of pumpkin seeds
Snack - sliced apple; organic grapes; fun size Milk Duds and Sweet Tarts
Dinner - half a veggie burrito (onions, peppers, zucchini, beans, and cheese); handful of tortilla chips and salsa
Dessert - fun size peanut butter cup and Hershey's chocolate bar

This Halloween candy is going to be the DEATH of me! I can't wait to get rid of it on Sunday!

25 Weeks

We are 5/8 of the way there! (I told you I liked math, remember?) ;)  Here's what's new with the little man this week:

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. He's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

My guess is that Baby A has straight, dark hair... how could it be anything else??

• How far along? 25 weeks
• Total weight gain: + 12 pounds total
• Sleep: Still fantastic... I am so thankful!
• Movement: Every day now. :)
• Best moment this week: Seeing our friends and family yesterday at our party - which was a total success!
• Food cravings: Halloween candy!
• Gender: It's a boy!
• Maternity Clothes: Definitely pants, but regular tops are still fine. My goal is to not have to buy any more the rest of this pregnancy, but who knows what will happen...
• Belly Button in or out? In
• What I miss: Being able to bend over at the waist - it's weird to have this belly in the way!
• What I am looking forward to: Reports cards are due on Thursday - I'm looking forward to having them done!
• Weekly Wisdom: My friend Alice wrote me a beautiful email this morning telling me that I looked pretty darn good for being six months pregnant. That felt so nice to hear!!

This is the reason I can't bend over anymore! All in all though, I feel pretty great. :)

Breakfast - egg white and cheese on an English muffin
Snack - three pieces of cheddar cheese with crackers; assorted chips; organic red grapes
Lunch/Dinner - cavatelli and broccoli; penne vodka; baked ziti
Dessert - two chocolate chips cookies; piece of apple crumb cake

I felt like I was eating all day yesterday so I stepped on the scale this morning - no weight gain! Phew!

Breakfast - one organic egg with cheese on half an everything bagel; slice of Irish soda bread with butter
Snack - organic red grapes; small piece of pumpkin bread
Lunch - half a grilled veggie burrito (peppers, onions, zucchini, black beans and cheese); a few tortilla chips
Snack - fun size Skittles
Dinner - bowl of cereal with organic low fat milk
Dessert - Hershey's fun size chocolate bar and fun size Milk Duds

Last Hurrah

This weekend is our last big party before getting the house officially ready for the baby. I'm so excited to see our friends and family and to have a full house of sleepovers! I blame it on only child syndrome, but I really love sleepovers. I love preparing the rooms, making sure we have breakfast items, and leaving notes for our guests. It's like our home becomes a B&B. :)  After this weekend though, I'm really excited to get ready for our little boy. It is getting a bit more difficult to maneuver with this growing belly, so I'd like to get started on his room. It is my favorite guest room right now, so I'll be sad to see it go, but I have a feeling that the nursery will become my new favorite room soon enough.

Breakfast - egg white and cheese on an everything bagel; OJ
Lunch - wonton chips; broccoli, carrots, celery, and green beans with brown rice; Vitamin Water
Snack - four pieces of cheddar cheese and four Triscuits; Kashi granola bar
Dinner - cheese pizza; fun size Nerds and Skittles

Pumpkin Massacre

Each year John and I host a party in October called Pumpkin Massacre. We gather our friends together, head over to a local farm stand, buy pumpkins, carve them, and then eat and drink ourselves silly for the rest of the night. The carving competition is getting fierce and I'm trying to find some good ideas for my pumpkin. Since I'll likely be one of the few sober ones wielding a knife, I feel good about my chances. :)

Breakfast - bowl of Life cereal with organic low fat milk

Snack - three pieces of cheddar with four Triscuits and two bagel chips
Lunch - natural peanut butter on an English muffin; pita chips and hummus; POP chips; Greek raspberry yogurt
Snack - handful of almonds
Dinner - Chipotle veggie burrito - Yummm!
Dessert - fun size Sweet Tarts and one mango melon Starburst

Presents!!

Maybe it's the only child in me, but I love getting presents! I'm 32 years old and the UPS driver is like Santa Claus in a brown suit instead of a red one. ;)  Today he brought us this:

Santa UPS man was even kind enough to move it into the foyer for me. I think he spotted the bump!

This is our Graco car seat and pack 'n' play in the very stylish Laguna Bay pattern. I love them! The PnP is too heavy for me to unpack so I'll have to wait for JA but I was so excited! Our family is too generous!

Breakfast - egg white and cheese on an English muffin; baked hash browns with ketchup; OJ
Lunch - veggie burger (no bun); pita chips and hummus; POP chips; Greek peach yogurt
Snack - Kashi granola bar; Rice Krispie treat
Dinner - organic, low sodium vegetable soup; small baked potato
Dessert - bowl of Count Chocula cereal with low fat organic milk

Tired

For optimal functioning, my body has determined that I need ten hours of sleep a night. Seriously, this is how I feel my best. TEN HOURS! How often does this happen? Almost never. Eight is sufficient, but really ten is the magic number. So lately I've been staying up late trying to get things ready for our pumpkin party on Saturday. My ten hours has decreased to six or seven - unacceptable! Tonight I am vowing to be in bed by 10 PM at the latest. The magic housecleaning fairy will take care of the rest, right?

Breakfast - natural peanut butter on whole grain toast
Snack - pita chips and hummus
Lunch - slice of cheese pizza; mixed greens with Craisins and light balsamic dressing; POP chips; Greek blueberry yogurt
Snack - Kashi granola bar; handful of almonds
Dinner - organic mac and cheese; cheddar cheese and five triscuits
Dessert - apple turnover; cup of decaf tea with honey

Heartbeat!

Somehow hearing that sound never grows old. :)  I had my 24-week appointment today and all is progressing well with our little boy. I've gained 12 pounds total, which according to my reading (and my doctor) is right on track. My goal is still to keep my total gain under 30 pounds, which I should be able to easily do if I stay on my current path. Keeping this food journal each day is definitely helping, and even though I ate pizza for dinner tonight, I think I'm going to make this work!

At my appointment today we learned that I have quite a few tests coming up. I scheduled my one-hour glucose screening and HIV test (mandated in the state of NJ). I also have to call the hospital to schedule my RhoGam shot (which I think I get in my bottom - ouch!) JA and I also scheduled a 3-D/4-D ultrasound in mid-November. We'll get one more chance to see our son before he makes his grand entrance in February. I read that he'll be growing about half a pound each week from now on - isn't that crazy?! I guess that means I can only gain half a pound too, if my total gain each week should be around a pound. :)

Breakfast - bowl of Cinnamon Life cereal with organic low fat milk; apple juice
Lunch - veggie burger (no bun) with light honey mustard dressing; pita chips and hummus; POP chips; Greek raspberry yogurt
Snack - Kashi granola bar; Hershey's miniature dark chocolate
Dinner - one slice of cheese pizza; black bean soup

24 Weeks - V-Day!!

Happy V-Day Baby! 24 weeks is officially known as viability day. If our baby was born today he'd have a 50% chance of survival. Of course, we're going to keep him in there for at least another 16 weeks! :)

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Our little guy is getting bigger and bigger each day... and so is this belly! :)  I can still tie my own shoes and pick things up off the floor by my myself though, so I feel pretty good about that.

• How far along? 24 weeks
• Total weight gain: +12 pounds total
• Sleep: Still fantastic... I am so thankful!
• Movement: Every day now. :)
• Best moment this week: Telling my class about the baby
• Food cravings: I did enjoy a few desserts this week.
• Gender: It's a boy!
• Maternity Clothes: Definitely pants, but regular tops are still fine.
• Belly Button in or out? In
• What I miss: We have a few parties coming up... I miss having a few drinks with friends.
• What I am looking forward to: Tomorrow's doctor's appointment - we should get to hear the heartbeat on the Doppler again.
• Weekly Wisdom: "You should name the baby Dude!" - from one of my students

Saturday
Breakfast - egg white and cheese on an English muffin
Lunch - black bean soup; handful of salt and vinegar chips; organic pear; handful of sour gummy candies
Snack - pita chips and chipotle hummus
Dinner - veggie burger (no bun); corn; mashed potatoes; broccolini; garden salad
Dessert - half an apple turnover with decaf tea

Sunday
Breakfast - scrambled eggs and cheese on a sandwich thin with ketchup; half an apple turnover; cup of decaf tea
Snack - a few sour gummy candies
Lunch - garden salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumbers and croutons) with honey mustard dressing; sweet potato fries
Dinner - veggie burger (no bun); mashed potatoes; mixed greens with raspberry vinaigrette and candied walnuts; cup of decaf tea with honey

Friday Night Naps

Today I came home from school, took the dogs out, and promptly fell asleep on the couch. I slept through text messages, phone calls, and the ringing of the door bell. I seriously hope what they say is true about mothers being able to hear their babies because I can sleep through everything! Maybe he'll just inherit his mom's sleeping habits and I won't have to worry about it.

Breakfast - baked hash browns
Snack - one Hershey's kiss
Lunch - vegetable spring roll; mixed vegetables (broccoli, carrots, celery, and snap peas) in a spicy sauce with brown rice; two chocolate chip cookies (homemade by me!)
Snack - cheddar cheese and five Triscuits
Dinner - garden salad (lettuce, tomato, red onions) with honey mustard dressing; Star Tavern pizza (seriously, if you're ever in NJ and you like thin crust pizza, this is the place to go)

Mrs. A is going to have a baby!

I played "hangman" with my class today. The first phrase I gave them was "Mrs. A. has the best class." Note to any teachers out there... if your students guess A and S before they guess C and L, you will write a naughty word on the board. This may or may not have happened to me. ;)  After that phrase I wrote "Mrs. A. is going to have a baby." It took them a little longer to get it, but they did eventually. Their questions ranged from "Is it a boy or a girl?" to "What will you name him?" (My favorite suggestion was Dude.) They also had a ton of questions about when I was leaving and when I was coming back. I assured them that the person coming in would be wonderful and they wouldn't even miss me. I'm going to miss them terribly, but I'm sure I'll be quite busy at home.

I know it's politically incorrect to play this game. I don't really care. ;)

Breakfast - egg white and cheese on a multigrain bagel with ketchup
Snack - top of a bran muffin
Lunch - oraganic apple; cheddar cheese and Triscuits; handful of popcorn
Snack - rest of my bran muffin
Dinner - grilled cheese and half a sweet potato

Private Yoga Class

Aren't I fancy? ;)  Actually, I'm fortunate enough to have a neighborhood friend that is a certified yoga instructor. She is giving me and two other pregnant neighbors semi-private classes once a week. Yay! This means I don't have to drive forty minutes to class anymore. Baby A and I get all the benefits of yoga without the hassle of the drive.

Here's some other great news: John and I will be able to keep our free benefits through the summer. I will have to go back to school for fourteen days in June, but Baby A won't have to go to day care thanks to our amazing moms who have agreed to watch him while I go back to work for those days. THANK YOU!! This is a huge weight off our shoulders and a total testament to how great our families are. We are truly blessed!

Breakfast - bowl of Life cereal with low fat milk
Snack - cheddar cheese and four Triscuits
Lunch - pasta salad with artichoke hearts and tomatoes; mixed greens with Craisins and candied walnuts with light honey mustard dressing; organic pear; Hershey's minature dark chocolate
Snack - bowl of Cinnamon Toast crunch with low fat milk
Dinner - cheese ravioli with "meatballs"; slice of garlic bread

Spinning!

That's how my head feels after trying to figure out this maternity leave stuff. It's a good thing I like math. :)

I'm hoping to have this all worked out by the end of the week so I can submit my official letter to school. Maybe then my principal will let me tell my class. I'm seriously questioning their observation skills at this point. ;)

Breakfast - cheddar cheese and five multigrain crackers
Snack - one Hershey's kiss
Lunch - vegetable soup; Triscuits and hummus; Hershey's minature dark chocolate
Snack - grapes and almonds
Dinner - handful of salt and vinegar chips; veggie burger on a whole wheat pita; baked sweet potato fries
Dessert - frozen fruit juice bar

23 Weeks

Moving right along! Here's what's new with our little guy this week:

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With his sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that he's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see him squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing him for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze him when he hears them outside the womb.

Hear that M&M... the baby can hear you barking. I'm also impressed that he's being weighed in pounds now. I didn't gain any weight this week, but I'm glad our little guy did! :)

• How far along? 23 weeks, 1 day
• Total weight gain: +10 pounds total (no change from last week)
• Sleep: Excellent! I've started sleeping on my left side with a small pillow tucked between my knees and I wake up feeling great.
• Movement: Every day now. I even felt him from the outside. :)
• Best moment this week: See above - coolest thing ever!
• Food cravings: I seemed to really like cheese this week, though that's nothing really new to pregnancy.
• Gender: It's a boy!
• Maternity Clothes: Definitely pants, but regular tops are still fine. I just ironed a bunch of clothes and I think I'll be in good shape for the rest of the pregnancy.
• Belly Button in or out? In
• What I miss: As the weather cools, I miss lattes and cappuccinos. Decaf ones are an option, but still not the greatest thing for baby. I will indulge every now and then.
• What I am looking forward to: We'll see JA's parents tomorrow night. They were in Italy for a few weeks so it will be nice to catch up.
• Weekly Wisdom: "Don't worry about the delivery. With my first child I had the baby in about two minutes with almost no pain." -Told to me by a friend's mom at a housewarming party yesterday... not sure I believe it, but it sounded nice!

Here's the belly at 23 weeks. It is obvious to strangers that I am pregnant, but not one of my third graders has said anything to me yet. Too funny!

Sunday
Breakfast - two scrambled eggs on half a whole wheat pita with organic ketchup; grapes and strawberries
Snack - fruit and veggie smoothie (mixed greens, carrots, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, OJ and blueberry pomegranate juice)
Lunch - cheese and veggies on a whole wheat wrap (broccoli, carrots, green beans, and cauliflower)
Snack - two pieces of crostini with grilled veggies and beans
Dinner - asparagus cous cous, roasted veggies and potatoes

Monday
Breakfast - cheddar cheese and five multigrain crackers
Snack - fruit and veggie smoothie (mixed greens, carrots, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, OJ and blueberry pomegranate juice)
Lunch - grilled veggies with rice (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and sprouts); pasta salad with artichoke hearts and Italian dressing; Triscuits and hummus; strawberries and grapes; Hershey's miniature Krackel
Snack - organic apple; Kashi granola bar
Dinner - two small dinner rolls; vegetable soup; pear and walnut salad
Dessert - apple crustada with vanilla ice cream

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!)