So tired, sore, and lucky.

We had a very exciting weekend. Everyone is dying to meet you. Your grandmas, your grandpas, your great-grandmas, your great-grandpas, and lots of aunties. Lots. What a lucky baby you are. I also wanted to tell you that I'm so happy you have such an amazing daddy. I have an amazing daddy, too. :)
Good night little moon!

Mini egg biscuits and my tiny coffee cup. I'm not a huge fan of eggs but I've been eating them lately because they have so much protein. Happy Saturday everyone!

About 19 weeks.

Only in San Francisco: Homeless, toothless, and totally loopy 90-pound woman interrupts a conversation with herself to point at my belly and say, 'Do you have a friend in there?'

Kick. Kick. Roll. Kick. That's what you do during this time of day since Tuesday.

I have never felt more human and vulnerable than I do now. Let me explain. I'm still me, but at the same time I feel vulnerable in the sense that I know how much is in my control for the next four months and how much actually isn't. I eat well and take my vitamin every single day. I have read so much about babies and pregnancy that I can answer my own OB/GYN questions sometimes. I'm even reading a very interesting book called "Birth" which is a sort of anthropological look at how we humans give birth compared to other mammals and how that has evolved. Yesterday I even forced a can of sardines (!!!) down my throat because they have more omega-3 than pretty much any other food. But, after all this it becomes even more clear that I can guess and hope and pray for the best, but my baby and all the mysteries about what goes on in my stomach are beyond me.

Todd, Jon, and I had a lunch date and then got ice cream. The creamery near Dolores Park has a flavor called Ricanela. Cinnamon ice cream with snickerdoodle pieces! Delicious! P.s. Check out those boobs.

The internet can be evil sometimes. Google can be evil sometimes. I hate worrying and being paranoid. I want to enjoy being pregnant without thinking of worst case scenarios and looking up scary statistics online. No more. From now on if I have a question I call my nurses and doctors at Kaiser. Ahhhh.

Good morning! Sorry for the lack of posts, my phone and laptop were both not working and posting from the Blackberry I was using was nearly impossible. Everything is well, we are just growing and I am getting more strict about eating really good foods and not just eating what I crave. Now that I know we are having a little girl I am having so much fun looking at clothes, gadgets, and nursery stuff. Todd still says he is building her a wooden stroller, haha. She moves around quite a bit and has a really strong heartbeat every time. My due date was pushed back three days to October 23rd, turns out she is a bit smaller (younger) than they thought. That is fine with me. I have gained about 10 pounds so far, almost half of the way into my pregnancy. My doctor told me this is right on track, if anything low, because a woman my size and height should gain about 25 to 40 pounds!!! That second number is way too high. I will not be gaining anywhere near that much. Fit preggo wins! :)

Little Princess

It's a girl!!!!!!!!! :D told you I was dreaming of a baby girl!

So who's in there?

ANXIOUS! ANXIOUS! ANXIOUS!

Self-diagnosis

I think I may be farther along than what I've been told. I promise there are reasons I think this. My baby and placenta haven't been measured in a couple of months so we will see what they say on Thursday when I present my theory to the doctor. I am so anxious to hear and see the baby on the ultrasound again! And to know if it is a boy or a girl!

Vote!
_GIRL
_BOY

whoever wins gets a cupcake.

This morning

Today my favorite cashier at the grocery store across the street noticed my tummy and was confident enough to say, "Oh, you guys are having a baby!" That means I look totally pregnant, right? Yikes. I didn't think people noticed yet unless they already knew... Oh yeah, and two people total have given me their seats on the bus.

Changes this week

Hi everyone. I miss you.

There are quite a few changes going as my pregnancy progresses. In the beginning, I was very sick. No energy, many food aversions, and just an overall weighed down feeling. Now, I have a normal amount of energy and if it weren't for my big boobs and blossoming belly I would forget I am pregnant sometimes. Somehow I'm still stuffing myself in my normal clothes. Well, most of them. Here are a few changes:

*my appetite is very, very good lately
*my skin feels dry and like it is stretching. I have been using many oils and lotions to protect it.
*I wake up in an abnormally good mood... right, Todd? :P
*very strange dreams... I always dream of a little girl?
*it's kind of gross but you can see my veins through my skin because of increased circulation to make enough oxygen for me to share with the baby... or well, for the baby to share with me.
*did I already mention my hearty appetite?

Here we are at 5 months today:

Oh yeah, forgot about this.

About a month or so ago, maybe more like two months ago... (Click on it)

Read. Discuss.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/27/fashion/27love.html

Thoughts?

Questions I get asked by those I love

1. Are you scared?
-No, not at all. I'm excited. And it helps a lot to read and be well-informed. But, who knows. We still have half of the way to go. I might get scared, but I doubt it. I do sometimes feel anxious and I worry about things, though.

2. Do you love your baby already?
-Yes, I love my baby. I think the maternal instinct kicks in pretty early on so that you protect your baby while it is in the womb.

3. Do you have names picked out?
-For a girl, yes. No, I won't tell you yet.

I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THURSDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Getting Creative

I love Ugly Dolls. I'm convinced my baby will love Ugly Dolls. He or she already has two.

Average Baby Mobile


I was going to buy one, remove the dumb little toys hanging off of it, and replace them with little uglies:



But Todd said he will make the mobile part. This is getting fun!

High-tech Baby Gear

The boutique where I work is in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, which is also the most expensive area to own a home in the city. Most of my clients are young, thin, and pretty moms with perfect cherub babies with golden curls. I have always noticed that this group of women NEVER sports your average stroller. Some of them are so streamlined, I feel they are almost unsafe. Others look like space ships. This one is my favorite. It's pricey, it's stylist, and it's great for a tall mom. Also, it keeps babies away from over-eager dog licks. Grandma? ;-) I suppose the price isn't SO bad if it would last for a couple years, but this one seems to be strictly for the infant months.

Stokke Xplory Stroller
~$1,200.00
(of course it comes in all sorts of colors.)

Yesterday I went on the grand adventure that is going to the mall downtown. My intention was to check out the new maternity section at H&M and I am sad to say it was a bit disappointing. It looks sort of cheap and depressing... not to mention everything is shaped like a tent. For now I will stick to empire waist dresses and the straight leg yoga pants from American Apparel. BUT! I did stop by Oilily and they are having a pretty big *SALE*! The cutest, most well-made baby and children's clothes. They are different and funky and I can't wait to go back after Thursday!

Whaaat?

My hand and your little body had a very nice encounter this morning. Ladies, one of the most amazing things you will feel as a woman is your baby moving around inside of you. I promise.

I have felt sort of tired and pregnant this week. In one week Gabbie and Pal arrive and then Leann! I need to be in full form. Maybe some power shakes and walks up the big hills here in the city.

How do you describe a craving?

I don't think I've had as many craving as some other women do. I usually just want to eat well and don't really crave anything weird or any one thing in particular. Once in a while I will get one, like right now for example. Right now I would sell my soul for In & Out. I would beg. The intensity of the cravings is not normal. It's not like a period craving or anything like that. It's not just mental, it's physical. Even though I am hungry I only want to eat that. I know that if I eat this, I will be SO happy. It's appalling. I don't blame people if they don't understand. Yes, I brought a lunch to work. No, I do not want it.


*update: todd came through heroically like always. my knight atop a vintage vespa :)

Naughty Cravings

I eat healthy. Fruit, lots of spinach, Todd cooks some yummy salmon for us... so don't judge :P

but, right now... I WANT





There is one In & Out in the city... it's in Fisherman's Wharf... I work near Fisherman's Wharf... sort of.

Baby Bump Etiquette

Of course between friends anything goes, but recently I've been compiling a mental list of things that one just shouldn't ask a pregnant woman that is not your close friend... or even worse, one that you do not know. I'm not a touchy person by any means but sometimes it's annoying to be asked certain things by mere acquaintances or strangers.

1. "Were you trying?"
-There are several reasons why this question is obnoxious.

2. After seeing the lack of bling on my left hand: "So, are you going to get married?"

3. "Can I touch your stomach?" Happened while riding the bus to work today. No, you cannot touch my stomach. I do not know you. Just because I am pregnant does not mean you can touch me. At least she asked instead of just going for it.

4. "Wow, you're going to have a big baby! I didn't show until I was 9 months pregnant!" My extra five pounds and I sighed.

5. "Are you supposed to be eating that?" I assure you that you are not any more informed and/or concerned about my baby's health than I am. But, thanks.

Haha.

On another note, look at Bugsby's new kicks!

17 down, 23 to go!

17 weeks today

Just for fun

I've sort of had a tired and grumpy day so I decided to look around online for some fun things I want to buy you.

A sock monkey.



Your own Vespa so you can be like your dad.



The Baby Einstein DVD collection because it comes highly recommended to stimulate your brain early on.



Baby Uggs. Way cuter on babies than on adults.



A Yellow Submarine onesie. No explanation needed.



Important literature for a child.



:)

My jeans fit today... under my tummy. :D

Happy Mother's Day! If you are a mom, let yourself be spoiled! If you have a mom, spoil her! My little one celebrated today by waking me up around 7am with growing pains in my lower stomach and legs. It's not the funnest feeling but if it means he or she is growing and healthy I can handle it. Have a great day all! <3

Does Mother's Day count for me yet?

After having read a lot of literature on different kinds of births, my very good friend Grace sent me a brilliant paper she wrote comparing natural births to births involving hospitals and drugs. In this piece she cited a documentary called "The Business of Being Born". We just watched it and I think I've made up my mind. More on this at a later date.

First of all, I want you all to know how happy and lucky it makes me feel that quite a few of my friends read this, way more people than I thought would. It is a nice outlet for me to have this blog and I am also thrilled to share this adventure with you. Thank you so much for reading. So, today at the doctor we did not have an ultrasound though I thought we would. On Thursday the 21st (two weeks) we finalllyyy get to know the sex. They are doing an anatomical sonogram where they will use a more high-tech machine and see the baby more clearly and also take measurements. We got to hear the heartbeat today, super fast and strong. It is like music to my ears. Last night the baby and I relaxed at home and listened to Chopin and Rachmaninoff. Todd made an amazing dinner like always and then went out with Jon for a bit. I stayed home to read and just chill, but I've been feeling really well. I have gained about 5.6 pounds, which is very healthy and today we walked the 30+ blocks home from Kaiser. I'm so anxious for my next appointment. I miss and love you all.

I always feel a sort of nervous anticipation before going to the doctor. I of course worry too much sometimes and want to make sure you are as healthy as can be. For all two of you that are reading this, keep us in your thoughts and well-wishes. Tomorrow at 11am we go and see Dr. Terry (who is very pregnant herself) and get to see you on the ultrasound machine again. Oh, and sorry for eating so much hot sauce last night.

Cinco de Mayo

Margaritas, tequila, Mexican beers...

Have a drink for me everyone :)

4 months

This is a 3D ultrasound of a baby at 16 weeks, like you:

YES.

I'm of course buying this. They make it in pink, too. I love the interwebs.

Bigger than usual today...

Someone grew? Stretched out for the day? Hmm...

4 months:

Pick your battles. Learn how to measure the worth of people, and of certain situations. A lot of things are worth very little, some are worth nothing, and very few are worth everything. Took me 23 years to fully understand that concept.

Look what I saw window shopping at the H&M downtown yesterday. If you are a boy I'm going to go back and buy them. The cutest swim trunks ever. Do you want the matching blue sunglasses with the lions on the sides?

Today I was just tired all day because I didn't sleep very well last night. My stomach isn't very big at all yet but it is getting hard to stay comfortable while I sleep. Also, no matter what I have to wake up to use the restroom. I am going to start prenatal yoga next week. I will let you know how it goes. Who reads this anyway? Good night blog.