Monday, June 27, 2011
A bump in the night
My friend Lauren put together this photo collage of all my bumps (thank goodness this is a pregnancy blog). They weren't taken on any milestone dates, just a general progression of baby since I first noticed some "extra tummy fluff". Thank you so much, Lauren!
Baby shower! Pictures to come
Yesterday marked one of the most fabulous days of my pregnant life. After months of planning (on Mom and Mom #2's part), my baby shower finally arrived! As I was getting ready in the morning, I thought about everyone coming together to celebrate the upcoming arrival of my son. My Son. MY SON. Wow, it became REAL again. It felt akin to when I found out that the first out-of-town guest booked his plane ticket into Arizona for my and Josh's wedding. Other people's plans were a direct result of the reality that I was going to have a child. Catching my breath, I continued to get ready and headed to the venue - Grimaldi's at DC Ranch. I had known that the mommies had gotten together numerous times to go over the details, so although I didn't know exactly what to expect, I rest assured that it would be beautiful, and it WAS. They did an amazing job decorating; the colors were so fun and so me! Soon enough, the guests began to arrive.
Seeing my friends and family arrive warmed my heart. A few of my dear friends and family members were unable to make the shower, and they were very missed! But panning the room as everyone began to eat, drink, and socialize, it was not lost on me how sweet it all truly was, celebrating Baby K, Josh and I. The one thing that surpassed the joy of seeing all my loved ones was the realization that our baby boy has so many people in his life who are already loving on him.
Games, food, laughter, and a ton of incredible gifts later, Josh arrived bearing flowers for me and the mamas. He had gone golfing in the morning and stopped by for the last 30 minutes of the shower to see everyone (I know, aww!) After saying our goodbyes to everyone, Josh and I drove home with all of our little bundle's loot. I later sat in the middle of our family room, staring at all the gifts sprawled out everywhere around me, and choked up at the greatness of the day, and of the situation that brought that day to reality.
Thank you, friends and family, near and far, who sent their well wishes in person or in spirit. Josh and I hold those wishes in our hearts forever.
Seeing my friends and family arrive warmed my heart. A few of my dear friends and family members were unable to make the shower, and they were very missed! But panning the room as everyone began to eat, drink, and socialize, it was not lost on me how sweet it all truly was, celebrating Baby K, Josh and I. The one thing that surpassed the joy of seeing all my loved ones was the realization that our baby boy has so many people in his life who are already loving on him.
Games, food, laughter, and a ton of incredible gifts later, Josh arrived bearing flowers for me and the mamas. He had gone golfing in the morning and stopped by for the last 30 minutes of the shower to see everyone (I know, aww!) After saying our goodbyes to everyone, Josh and I drove home with all of our little bundle's loot. I later sat in the middle of our family room, staring at all the gifts sprawled out everywhere around me, and choked up at the greatness of the day, and of the situation that brought that day to reality.
Thank you, friends and family, near and far, who sent their well wishes in person or in spirit. Josh and I hold those wishes in our hearts forever.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Unemployment is a full time job. OKAY?!
(Talking to a friend):
"How was your day, what'd you do?"
"Oh, I worked, ran some errands, went to dinner and now I'm making tomorrow's lunch before I review a couple reports for my morning meeting. You?"
"I updated the font on my blog and found my doggie doppelgänger."
(Silence).
Ok, so I'm embellishing the conversation a bit. I didn't JUST find my doppelgänger - I uploaded it to facebook, too.
Kidding again. On the contrary, the life of the unemployed is indeed everything it's cracked up to be. I have the time to prepare things for the baby that I would have to rush through at the day's end to accomplish otherwise. My workouts are more consistent and energetic, and I have the flexibility to see friends and family more. Also, I now have the time to do the volunteer work I've long looked forward to . . . .
Hospice of Arizona is an organization near to my heart. I interned there during my masters program and fell in love with the work - counseling patients and their bereaved loved ones. My time with HOA filled a space in my heart set aside just for this type of work, and I'm excited to start providing volunteer services to them once again until it's time to have our little bundle. My hope is to spend 2-3 days per week at their Scottsdale "butterfly" inpatient unit and possibly be on their vent release team - a group of professionals and volunteers trained to provide support and service to HOA families during the moments before, during, and after a patient's vent is released.
In baby news (you knew it wouldn't take long to get to the BABY NEWS), Josh and I have now completed three baby prep classes: breastfeeding, infant CPR, and now the first of a three-session "birthing basics" course. We've been provided with boatloads of information on do's and don'ts, rights and wrongs, the latest findings on infant safety, the very latestEST findings on infant safety that supersede the last batch of info, episiotomies, and SIDS. Each impending mother in attendance got a reassuring pat on the back by the instructor as she left the seminar, snuggly holding on to her husband (or, in my case, digging my nails into his flesh for "doing this to me").
BabyK's activity level may have reached an all-time high during class. Rocking and rolling from head to toe, I nudged Josh to get a load of our kid. We watched in continued amazement. My OB is having me count his kicks daily, and so far, he's surpassed all expectations in his "need to boogie". Which brings me to an interesting first for me on this Kaplan Journey. . .
For the past three months or so, I have only been sleeping on my sides, as tummy and back sleeping positions are no-no's for baby's safety. With the help of my pregnancy pillow-monster-thing, I tuck myself in on my left side and fall asleep, until an hour later I am awoken to the shooting pain running from my tailbone down to my calf. Gravity wins this showdown as the pain gets bad enough for me to flip over pillow-monster-thing and then do the same with myself (a 3 minute adventure in its own right), ending up on my other side to attempt another hour or so of slumber. Rinse and repeat. God help me when I also then need to get up to potty.
This has been a fairly consistent routine for me, and it's come to be expected. Except last night, when like clockwork I woke up from the pain and attempted to flip to my other side . . . and I couldn't. The baby WOULDN'T LET ME. However he was positioned, cozy and wrapped up in there, was too bulky and stiff, and completely interfered with my ability to roll the other way. So I'm lying on my back, not physically able to assume the desired position, and having no momentum to hoist myself back onto my left side. Oh I'm rocking, and I'm trying, but I'm stuck like beached marine life. Helplessly staring at the ceiling fan, it hit me: this is the first moment in my life where my baby is calling the shots. Right then, my world conformed ever so slightly to his dictation. "There's so much more where this came from" I thought to myself, sighing and smiling sleepily.
Then I remembered that too much time on your back can constrict baby's circulation, and flung myself back onto my left side with superhero strength.
"How was your day, what'd you do?"
"Oh, I worked, ran some errands, went to dinner and now I'm making tomorrow's lunch before I review a couple reports for my morning meeting. You?"
"I updated the font on my blog and found my doggie doppelgänger."
(Silence).
Ok, so I'm embellishing the conversation a bit. I didn't JUST find my doppelgänger - I uploaded it to facebook, too.
Kidding again. On the contrary, the life of the unemployed is indeed everything it's cracked up to be. I have the time to prepare things for the baby that I would have to rush through at the day's end to accomplish otherwise. My workouts are more consistent and energetic, and I have the flexibility to see friends and family more. Also, I now have the time to do the volunteer work I've long looked forward to . . . .
Hospice of Arizona is an organization near to my heart. I interned there during my masters program and fell in love with the work - counseling patients and their bereaved loved ones. My time with HOA filled a space in my heart set aside just for this type of work, and I'm excited to start providing volunteer services to them once again until it's time to have our little bundle. My hope is to spend 2-3 days per week at their Scottsdale "butterfly" inpatient unit and possibly be on their vent release team - a group of professionals and volunteers trained to provide support and service to HOA families during the moments before, during, and after a patient's vent is released.
In baby news (you knew it wouldn't take long to get to the BABY NEWS), Josh and I have now completed three baby prep classes: breastfeeding, infant CPR, and now the first of a three-session "birthing basics" course. We've been provided with boatloads of information on do's and don'ts, rights and wrongs, the latest findings on infant safety, the very latestEST findings on infant safety that supersede the last batch of info, episiotomies, and SIDS. Each impending mother in attendance got a reassuring pat on the back by the instructor as she left the seminar, snuggly holding on to her husband (or, in my case, digging my nails into his flesh for "doing this to me").
BabyK's activity level may have reached an all-time high during class. Rocking and rolling from head to toe, I nudged Josh to get a load of our kid. We watched in continued amazement. My OB is having me count his kicks daily, and so far, he's surpassed all expectations in his "need to boogie". Which brings me to an interesting first for me on this Kaplan Journey. . .
For the past three months or so, I have only been sleeping on my sides, as tummy and back sleeping positions are no-no's for baby's safety. With the help of my pregnancy pillow-monster-thing, I tuck myself in on my left side and fall asleep, until an hour later I am awoken to the shooting pain running from my tailbone down to my calf. Gravity wins this showdown as the pain gets bad enough for me to flip over pillow-monster-thing and then do the same with myself (a 3 minute adventure in its own right), ending up on my other side to attempt another hour or so of slumber. Rinse and repeat. God help me when I also then need to get up to potty.
This has been a fairly consistent routine for me, and it's come to be expected. Except last night, when like clockwork I woke up from the pain and attempted to flip to my other side . . . and I couldn't. The baby WOULDN'T LET ME. However he was positioned, cozy and wrapped up in there, was too bulky and stiff, and completely interfered with my ability to roll the other way. So I'm lying on my back, not physically able to assume the desired position, and having no momentum to hoist myself back onto my left side. Oh I'm rocking, and I'm trying, but I'm stuck like beached marine life. Helplessly staring at the ceiling fan, it hit me: this is the first moment in my life where my baby is calling the shots. Right then, my world conformed ever so slightly to his dictation. "There's so much more where this came from" I thought to myself, sighing and smiling sleepily.
Then I remembered that too much time on your back can constrict baby's circulation, and flung myself back onto my left side with superhero strength.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Mrs. "Goo goo, Who's-A-Boo-Boo?!" Kaplan. Charmed, I'm sure.
Our Kaplan journey continues, full speed ahead. Big news this week: The Nursery is Finished! I'm elated to report that it turned out just as I'd imagined in my mind's eye. I posted some pictures below.
It's become a familiar scene in our house: passing the nursery every time I walk down the hallway... (wait a beat), then light-footing it in there like a kid scheming to sneak that last cookie. Or Carrie Bradshaw taking one extra glance at her shoe collection. I end up sitting in the glider, soaking in the room's energy; its promise for a future of tummy tickles, lullabyes, booger-dripping-scream-cries (you know the ones I'm talking about), tushie wiping, and burps. I hold my tummy as I smile and rock.
Nursery aside, we are now starting to receive baby gifts in the mail. I'll admit it - my pupils dilate every time I hear the doorbell ring nowadays. If I were a puppy, my leg might kick out and shake. Upon opening each gift and reading the sweet, well-wishing messages, Josh gets right to it with the assembly process. Watching Josh put together all of baby's things has brought me so much joy. Our conversations ebb and flow from baby-related stuff to what's for dinner (which is not so much a conversation as a one-way request).
Depending on what books you read or who you talk to, you will hear different opinions on the concept of "baby talk" to your infant. Some would claim that using non-existent words or slapping an "ie" on the end of real ones to cutsie-fy them are stunting to baby's linguistic development. Whatever your case for or against baby talk (or if you're just reading this post to pass time 'til The Bachelorette starts), my point is that the Manufacturing World of Baby Things does not make it easy for parents to stay out of the baby talk trap:
(Doorbell rings)
"Hunny! I think our bumbo and boppy just arrived! I'll put them next to the mamaroo after I wash the snoogle cover.
"Wait, did you say the snugglebunny or the moby?"
"Nooo, the bumbo-boppy-snoogle-oozie-goozie-woozie-mcTravel thing!"
(Delivery guy hands over packages and slowly backs away).
I'm actually quite tickled to notice our vocabulary expand with each other, how fast we tend to acclamate, and the complete domination of primary colors taking over our home decor. More than that, I am starting to visualize all our baby gifts covered in the inevitable slobber that is to adorn them. Yeah, I'm ready.
Gestation-wise, I will be 31 weeks tomorrow. I have my next OB appointment on Monday, and I will continue to have visits every two weeks until I reach 36 weeks, at which point they're going to want to see me weekly until our little booger arrives. He continues to punch and flail with the best of them; a few nights ago, he pushed his rump up so high that my stomach looked like a black diamond run at Whistler. The livelihood and vitality I get to experience multiple times each day are the greatest gifts he is already giving me.
Ok, time to head outsie woutsie.
XO
It's become a familiar scene in our house: passing the nursery every time I walk down the hallway... (wait a beat), then light-footing it in there like a kid scheming to sneak that last cookie. Or Carrie Bradshaw taking one extra glance at her shoe collection. I end up sitting in the glider, soaking in the room's energy; its promise for a future of tummy tickles, lullabyes, booger-dripping-scream-cries (you know the ones I'm talking about), tushie wiping, and burps. I hold my tummy as I smile and rock.
Nursery aside, we are now starting to receive baby gifts in the mail. I'll admit it - my pupils dilate every time I hear the doorbell ring nowadays. If I were a puppy, my leg might kick out and shake. Upon opening each gift and reading the sweet, well-wishing messages, Josh gets right to it with the assembly process. Watching Josh put together all of baby's things has brought me so much joy. Our conversations ebb and flow from baby-related stuff to what's for dinner (which is not so much a conversation as a one-way request).
Depending on what books you read or who you talk to, you will hear different opinions on the concept of "baby talk" to your infant. Some would claim that using non-existent words or slapping an "ie" on the end of real ones to cutsie-fy them are stunting to baby's linguistic development. Whatever your case for or against baby talk (or if you're just reading this post to pass time 'til The Bachelorette starts), my point is that the Manufacturing World of Baby Things does not make it easy for parents to stay out of the baby talk trap:
(Doorbell rings)
"Hunny! I think our bumbo and boppy just arrived! I'll put them next to the mamaroo after I wash the snoogle cover.
"Wait, did you say the snugglebunny or the moby?"
"Nooo, the bumbo-boppy-snoogle-oozie-goozie-woozie-mcTravel thing!"
(Delivery guy hands over packages and slowly backs away).
I'm actually quite tickled to notice our vocabulary expand with each other, how fast we tend to acclamate, and the complete domination of primary colors taking over our home decor. More than that, I am starting to visualize all our baby gifts covered in the inevitable slobber that is to adorn them. Yeah, I'm ready.
Gestation-wise, I will be 31 weeks tomorrow. I have my next OB appointment on Monday, and I will continue to have visits every two weeks until I reach 36 weeks, at which point they're going to want to see me weekly until our little booger arrives. He continues to punch and flail with the best of them; a few nights ago, he pushed his rump up so high that my stomach looked like a black diamond run at Whistler. The livelihood and vitality I get to experience multiple times each day are the greatest gifts he is already giving me.
Ok, time to head outsie woutsie.
XO
 |
| I reckon this room's gonna look a LOT different someday soon... |
 |
| Shadow Boxes to be filled |
Friday, June 3, 2011
A change in the air...
I am sitting in the living room in my work clothes as I write this. I could hop into something yummy and comfy, but I'm not quite ready to change just yet...
Today was my last day of work.
It was a decision Josh and I had made some time ago, knowing that I would like time to mentally and physically prepare for baby's arrival. I tend to work best in a linear fashion, and although I can multi-task when necessary, getting ready for the little bundle was not something I was interested in juggling with anything else. This next step will allow for me to get more rest, become physically stronger, spend more quality time with Josh and my family, and tie all the loose ends I can in preparation to become our own family.
My last day would have been fairly unremarkable had it not been for the lunch I went to with my three closest co-workers: Jenna, Jaime, and Susan. The four of us share the same position within the company and have bonded over our similarities and even differences. These girls kept me afloat on the days I felt like I was sinking, and I will miss working by their sides more than I'll miss anything else! As a parting gift, they got me a beautiful mug ( I LOVE mugs!) with the words "love, rest, dream, nest" inscribed on the inside, because that's exactly what I plan to do. They also got me a heart-warming, vintage Winnie-the-Pooh plaque, which is proudly displayed in the nursery. The message on it will always be meant to represent our friendships with each other.
Even though I had only worked for JFCS for a little over a year, it is a piece of my life I will forever carry with me. It is where I worked when I experienced so much personal development; it is where I bonded with so many who truly cared about me as a person, not just a co-worker. I have made lifelong friends from my time there, and that, to me, is priceless.
Today was my last day of work.
It was a decision Josh and I had made some time ago, knowing that I would like time to mentally and physically prepare for baby's arrival. I tend to work best in a linear fashion, and although I can multi-task when necessary, getting ready for the little bundle was not something I was interested in juggling with anything else. This next step will allow for me to get more rest, become physically stronger, spend more quality time with Josh and my family, and tie all the loose ends I can in preparation to become our own family.
My last day would have been fairly unremarkable had it not been for the lunch I went to with my three closest co-workers: Jenna, Jaime, and Susan. The four of us share the same position within the company and have bonded over our similarities and even differences. These girls kept me afloat on the days I felt like I was sinking, and I will miss working by their sides more than I'll miss anything else! As a parting gift, they got me a beautiful mug ( I LOVE mugs!) with the words "love, rest, dream, nest" inscribed on the inside, because that's exactly what I plan to do. They also got me a heart-warming, vintage Winnie-the-Pooh plaque, which is proudly displayed in the nursery. The message on it will always be meant to represent our friendships with each other.
Even though I had only worked for JFCS for a little over a year, it is a piece of my life I will forever carry with me. It is where I worked when I experienced so much personal development; it is where I bonded with so many who truly cared about me as a person, not just a co-worker. I have made lifelong friends from my time there, and that, to me, is priceless.
 |
| Pooh Plaque for the nursery |
 |
| "Love, rest, dream, nest". |
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