1. My husband
2. Our healthy baby
3. Supportive family
4. Wonderful friends
5. A roof over my head
6. Sweet baby Dave
7. Love
8. Chocolate
9. My growing belly
10. Sunshine
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Week 23 already?
Fun fact of the day: Eleanor Grace now has nipples. Ha!
According to The Bump, her little face is fully formed sans fat and she's sprouting "two teeny-tiny nipples." That made me chuckle.
Well, week 23 is here and I'm feeling pretty pregnant, though everyone keeps telling me how tiny I still am. It's flattering, I suppose, but on the other hand I wonder what exactly they're looking at because clearly it's not my obvious baby bump.
Perhaps everyone's just thinking I've let myself go a bit. Too many ice cream cones and not enough exercise. I mean, c-mon, I have quite a belly now. You don't see it? Geesh.
Along those lines, I'll post a couple tummy photos in the coming days so keep checking back with the blog.
I'm happy to report that progress is being made on both the front bathroom and nursery thanks to my superman husband! All it took was a panic attack late last week on my part to get his butt in gear. Note to self: Express severe anxiety earlier in the process next time I want something done in a timely fashion.
In other news: Our neighbor Kelsey delivered a healthy 7 pound 4 ounce little girl into the the world this weekend. She's just beautiful. Morgan and I are so happy for the new parents and can't wait to pick both Kelsey's and Josh's brains about the labor and delivery.
Happy Monday everyone.
According to The Bump, her little face is fully formed sans fat and she's sprouting "two teeny-tiny nipples." That made me chuckle.
Well, week 23 is here and I'm feeling pretty pregnant, though everyone keeps telling me how tiny I still am. It's flattering, I suppose, but on the other hand I wonder what exactly they're looking at because clearly it's not my obvious baby bump.
Perhaps everyone's just thinking I've let myself go a bit. Too many ice cream cones and not enough exercise. I mean, c-mon, I have quite a belly now. You don't see it? Geesh.
Along those lines, I'll post a couple tummy photos in the coming days so keep checking back with the blog.
I'm happy to report that progress is being made on both the front bathroom and nursery thanks to my superman husband! All it took was a panic attack late last week on my part to get his butt in gear. Note to self: Express severe anxiety earlier in the process next time I want something done in a timely fashion.
In other news: Our neighbor Kelsey delivered a healthy 7 pound 4 ounce little girl into the the world this weekend. She's just beautiful. Morgan and I are so happy for the new parents and can't wait to pick both Kelsey's and Josh's brains about the labor and delivery.
Happy Monday everyone.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Birthing class tonight
Morgan and I are taking a natural child birth class tonight at Martin Army Community Hospital on Fort Benning.
Before you say, "But Lily, I thought you were getting an epidural," I want to add that this class is free (unlike Bradley Method courses which run $200 for 12 sessions) and I am still planning on getting an epidural if the pain is just too intense to bear, which I expect it will be.
Primarily I want to learn some relaxation and non-medicated pain management methods that I can begin to practice in anticipation of the big day.
Any advice from moms out there? Dads can weigh in too! Morgan's gonna need all the help he can get I'm sure.
Before you say, "But Lily, I thought you were getting an epidural," I want to add that this class is free (unlike Bradley Method courses which run $200 for 12 sessions) and I am still planning on getting an epidural if the pain is just too intense to bear, which I expect it will be.
Primarily I want to learn some relaxation and non-medicated pain management methods that I can begin to practice in anticipation of the big day.
Any advice from moms out there? Dads can weigh in too! Morgan's gonna need all the help he can get I'm sure.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Learning to leave the past behind me
Last week was incredibly exhausting both emotionally and physically, but I am determined to leave it behind me and focus some positive energy on the future.
Today I am 22 weeks and one day. One more week and I'll post some more belly pictures for everyone to chuckle at. Ellie's been kicking up a storm in there lately, especially when I strap on my Lullabelly. She either really likes Bach or despises him. Morgan and I finally got to see her kick, although we couldn't figure out what body part she was using to cause such a commotion. It was very exciting (and a little weird) for both of us.
The nursery is coming along. Yesterday M and I spent a couple of hours cleaning it out in preparation to paint it a pale pink. It's really a sweet room that gets plenty of natural light. Even though we made some progress on it over the weekend, I still can't help but to feel overwhelmed by everything we have yet to accomplish house-wide before Ellie arrives. I just don't know how to tackle it all and I get the feeling that M's overwhelmed too though he won't admit it.
Anyway, I drove to Atlanta with my friend Lauren Saturday to the Dogwood Festival where I bought a cute piece of art and a rustic, old picture frame for Ellie's room. The frame will hold a family picture once she's born. That's what I envisioned it for at least. I'll post pictures of both these purchases in the next day so be sure to check back with the blog.
Meanwhile, plans are being made for M and I to travel to Oregon for a baby shower at my mother and father-in-law's house in June. My mom will also be flying in from Boston, which makes me so happy.
After spending a few days on the West Coast, we're going to fly to Boston to attend my friend Diana's wedding on the Cape. My mom and sister plan to throw us another shower there as well so June should be a good month!
Well, happy Monday! I hope everyone has a good week.
xoxoL
Today I am 22 weeks and one day. One more week and I'll post some more belly pictures for everyone to chuckle at. Ellie's been kicking up a storm in there lately, especially when I strap on my Lullabelly. She either really likes Bach or despises him. Morgan and I finally got to see her kick, although we couldn't figure out what body part she was using to cause such a commotion. It was very exciting (and a little weird) for both of us.
The nursery is coming along. Yesterday M and I spent a couple of hours cleaning it out in preparation to paint it a pale pink. It's really a sweet room that gets plenty of natural light. Even though we made some progress on it over the weekend, I still can't help but to feel overwhelmed by everything we have yet to accomplish house-wide before Ellie arrives. I just don't know how to tackle it all and I get the feeling that M's overwhelmed too though he won't admit it.
Anyway, I drove to Atlanta with my friend Lauren Saturday to the Dogwood Festival where I bought a cute piece of art and a rustic, old picture frame for Ellie's room. The frame will hold a family picture once she's born. That's what I envisioned it for at least. I'll post pictures of both these purchases in the next day so be sure to check back with the blog.
Meanwhile, plans are being made for M and I to travel to Oregon for a baby shower at my mother and father-in-law's house in June. My mom will also be flying in from Boston, which makes me so happy.
After spending a few days on the West Coast, we're going to fly to Boston to attend my friend Diana's wedding on the Cape. My mom and sister plan to throw us another shower there as well so June should be a good month!
Well, happy Monday! I hope everyone has a good week.
xoxoL
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
A terrible accident
Yesterday morning my sister, Emily, texted me to ask if mom had called to tell me about what happened to our brother, Ben. When I said she hadn't contacted me, Em called and here's what she had to say:
Ben was riding his bicycle to school like he does every day and his front tire fell off. This caused him to face plant into the pavement. He was on the UMass Boston campus at the time so campus security called an ambulance which took him to Boston City Hospital. There he was treated for several gashes to his face and it was determined that he had broken his two front teeth, his right cheek bone and his nose.
I'm sick over this news. My mom said his face looks even more swollen and bruised today than it did yesterday. I closed my eyes tight so as not to start crying and told her that with some dental and plastic surgery he could be put back together again. It's his spirit we're all worried about. He's just had a tough go at it lately and this was the absolute last thing he needed.
Everyone please keep Benny in your hearts, minds and prayers.
xoxoL
Ben was riding his bicycle to school like he does every day and his front tire fell off. This caused him to face plant into the pavement. He was on the UMass Boston campus at the time so campus security called an ambulance which took him to Boston City Hospital. There he was treated for several gashes to his face and it was determined that he had broken his two front teeth, his right cheek bone and his nose.
I'm sick over this news. My mom said his face looks even more swollen and bruised today than it did yesterday. I closed my eyes tight so as not to start crying and told her that with some dental and plastic surgery he could be put back together again. It's his spirit we're all worried about. He's just had a tough go at it lately and this was the absolute last thing he needed.
Everyone please keep Benny in your hearts, minds and prayers.
xoxoL
Monday, April 12, 2010
How a nice visit with neighbors left me feeling stressed
Morgan and I were invited to check out our neighbors' nursery yesterday afternoon and I couldn't believe how similar it is to the one that I've designed in my head, right down to the pink walls and white furniture. They've done such an incredible job with it and the rest of their home. Little Jocelyn is going to love living there!
To be honest, seeing the progress they've made on their house, especially in the nursery, makes me really nervous about the lack of progress we've made on ours. True, Kelsey is due any day now and I still have 20 plus weeks to go, but I would love to not leave the task of setting up Ellie's room to the last minute.
Because I'm not really supposed to be painting or handling toxic chemicals I feel really helpless in all this. It would be great if I could start patching the walls in her room and then get it painted. I'd feel so much better if the room were even partially completed, but right now it's being used for storage (like almost every other room in our house) and it's driving me nuts!
Morgan was at work all weekend, literally, so he had no time to do anything with our spare bathroom, which has been under renovation since about January. If we don't get that bathroom done we can't have the contractor begin the back bathroom so those two projects are linked and they're pretty much out of my hands. In the meantime, our nursery is a disaster and really so is the rest of the house. I need my mother to fly down here and help me pull this together. Do you hear that mom? Help!
Happy Monday everyone.
xoxoL
P.S. I'm 21 weeks and 1 day today.
To be honest, seeing the progress they've made on their house, especially in the nursery, makes me really nervous about the lack of progress we've made on ours. True, Kelsey is due any day now and I still have 20 plus weeks to go, but I would love to not leave the task of setting up Ellie's room to the last minute.
Because I'm not really supposed to be painting or handling toxic chemicals I feel really helpless in all this. It would be great if I could start patching the walls in her room and then get it painted. I'd feel so much better if the room were even partially completed, but right now it's being used for storage (like almost every other room in our house) and it's driving me nuts!
Morgan was at work all weekend, literally, so he had no time to do anything with our spare bathroom, which has been under renovation since about January. If we don't get that bathroom done we can't have the contractor begin the back bathroom so those two projects are linked and they're pretty much out of my hands. In the meantime, our nursery is a disaster and really so is the rest of the house. I need my mother to fly down here and help me pull this together. Do you hear that mom? Help!
Happy Monday everyone.
xoxoL
P.S. I'm 21 weeks and 1 day today.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Loving my Lullabelly
Yesterday was just plain rotten. Everything from the rain to my mood to the fact that I temporarily misplaced my W2 tax form stunk. The only thing that made up for the crappiness that was Thursday was this.
It's a Lullabelly. Morgan ordered it for me online as a belated Easter gift. The band, which wraps around your stomach, has a pouch in it that contains a small speaker and MP3 hookup. You just plug your iPod or MP3 player in the hookup and voila! Your baby can listen to music. I guess the speaker never gets too loud for baby so you can rest assured that while she jams out to Jack Johnson she's not damaging her little ear drums. The band also allows me to hook in a pair of head phones and listen to what she's listening to so it can be a shared experience between mommy and baby (or I guess daddy and baby if he wants to plug in as well).
Last night she listened to some classical music before bed while I read a book.
Anyway, today has been better mostly due to the fact that it's Friday. So, happy Friday everyone!
xoxoL
It's a Lullabelly. Morgan ordered it for me online as a belated Easter gift. The band, which wraps around your stomach, has a pouch in it that contains a small speaker and MP3 hookup. You just plug your iPod or MP3 player in the hookup and voila! Your baby can listen to music. I guess the speaker never gets too loud for baby so you can rest assured that while she jams out to Jack Johnson she's not damaging her little ear drums. The band also allows me to hook in a pair of head phones and listen to what she's listening to so it can be a shared experience between mommy and baby (or I guess daddy and baby if he wants to plug in as well).
Last night she listened to some classical music before bed while I read a book.
Anyway, today has been better mostly due to the fact that it's Friday. So, happy Friday everyone!
xoxoL
Thursday, April 8, 2010
So much to do before baby comes
I'm sitting at my desk at work and thinking about all the things that have to get done before the baby comes. Now that I've hit the 20-week mark in my pregnancy, there are a few things I need to do within the next week such as sign Morgan and me up for a labor/delivery/parenting class.
Because I'm stressing about it, I'm going to post my "To Do" list here. Maybe that'll hold me more accountable for actually getting everything done in a timely fashion.
The good news is I still have 20 weeks to complete these tasks.
1. Visit Martin Army Community Hospital on post to check out their free labor/delivery/parenting classes
2. Sign up for labor/delivery/parenting class
3. Call pediatricians, set up meetings, go to meetings and pick pediatrician
4. Register at Doctors Hospital
5. Tour labor/delivery unit of Doctors Hospital
6. Register
7. Purchase crib, stroller, car seat, bases, glider (the big stuff that won't go on the registry).
8. Prepare nursery (fill and sand holes in wall, paint, clean, decorate)
Because I'm stressing about it, I'm going to post my "To Do" list here. Maybe that'll hold me more accountable for actually getting everything done in a timely fashion.
The good news is I still have 20 weeks to complete these tasks.
1. Visit Martin Army Community Hospital on post to check out their free labor/delivery/parenting classes
2. Sign up for labor/delivery/parenting class
3. Call pediatricians, set up meetings, go to meetings and pick pediatrician
4. Register at Doctors Hospital
5. Tour labor/delivery unit of Doctors Hospital
6. Register
7. Purchase crib, stroller, car seat, bases, glider (the big stuff that won't go on the registry).
8. Prepare nursery (fill and sand holes in wall, paint, clean, decorate)
20-week video of Ellie
Here's the video from my 20-week check up. Sorry I didn't post this last night, Carole, but Morgan and I fell asleep really early.
In the first couple of seconds of the first video you'll notice a mouse circling a dark spot on Ellie's body. That spot is her stomach and it's full of the amniotic fluid she's been drinking. I've mentioned this before, but babies drink amniotic fluid in the womb and then pee it out. It sounds totally gross, I know, but I was happy to see her little tummy full of fluid (and a little later in the video, her bladder) because that means all her digestive systems are working properly.
The mouse also circles what looks like bubbles above Ellie's tiny, cute little nose. That's a part of the umbilical cord.
The next few videos are just Ellie being Ellie. You can see her heart beating and we get some fuzzy shots of her arms and feet. The ultrasonographer than reconfirms that it's a girl!
We can see her open and close her mouth and push her head back. At one point she jerks a little (it looks like a hiccup) and I could actually feel it when she did it so that was cool.
Towards the end of the video she puts her hand to her mouth in an attempt to suck her thumb. I think it's amazing that all babies feel they need to do that. What a comfort.
She's 11 ounces, by the way, and from head to rump she's about as big as a can of coke. Still tiny, but she's getting there.
Oh, I hit the 130 pound mark! It was a bit of a bummer because I've never in my life been 130 pounds, but remember I said when I got there I'd buy myself an ice cream cake? Well, that's my plan this weekend. Morgan has to sleep at work Saturday so I'll probably buy it then and visit him that evening for a delicious treat.
So, in conclusion, baby is happy and I'm doing fine as well. Morgan is tired (from a crazy work schedule) but so looking forward to being a dad.
Enjoy the videos!
xoxoL
In the first couple of seconds of the first video you'll notice a mouse circling a dark spot on Ellie's body. That spot is her stomach and it's full of the amniotic fluid she's been drinking. I've mentioned this before, but babies drink amniotic fluid in the womb and then pee it out. It sounds totally gross, I know, but I was happy to see her little tummy full of fluid (and a little later in the video, her bladder) because that means all her digestive systems are working properly.
The mouse also circles what looks like bubbles above Ellie's tiny, cute little nose. That's a part of the umbilical cord.
The next few videos are just Ellie being Ellie. You can see her heart beating and we get some fuzzy shots of her arms and feet. The ultrasonographer than reconfirms that it's a girl!
We can see her open and close her mouth and push her head back. At one point she jerks a little (it looks like a hiccup) and I could actually feel it when she did it so that was cool.
Towards the end of the video she puts her hand to her mouth in an attempt to suck her thumb. I think it's amazing that all babies feel they need to do that. What a comfort.
She's 11 ounces, by the way, and from head to rump she's about as big as a can of coke. Still tiny, but she's getting there.
Oh, I hit the 130 pound mark! It was a bit of a bummer because I've never in my life been 130 pounds, but remember I said when I got there I'd buy myself an ice cream cake? Well, that's my plan this weekend. Morgan has to sleep at work Saturday so I'll probably buy it then and visit him that evening for a delicious treat.
So, in conclusion, baby is happy and I'm doing fine as well. Morgan is tired (from a crazy work schedule) but so looking forward to being a dad.
Enjoy the videos!
xoxoL
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
20-week checkup
Today I'm scheduled for an ultrasound and visit with midwife Julie at 3 p.m. I can't wait to see how Ellie looks. Supposedly she'll be a lot plumper then she was at week 15 when we last saw her on ultrasound at Babywaves.
Among the questions I plan to ask Julie is if it's OK to take allergy medicine. The pollen levels down here are incredible. Literally everything is coated with a fine layer of yellow dust. It's really taking its toll on me.
On another subject, I wanted to share with everyone a link to a store called The Land of Nod. It's a childrens' off-shoot of Crate and Barrel. Lately I've been looking around for some cute bedding, paint color ideas and art work for the nursery and I think I found what I've been looking for on that site.
After speaking with my mom about the various goodies I found there she reminded me of the poem, "The Land of Nod," by Robert Louis Stevenson. Undoubtedly that's where the store got its name. I wonder if that's legal.
Anyway, it was one of her favorite poems growing up and she said she used to read it to Emily, Ben and me when we were little. I certainly remember the story of "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod," by Eugene Field:
And in honor of my mom, here's "The Land of Nod":
The Land of Nod
By Robert Louis Stevenson
From Breakfast on through all the day
Among the questions I plan to ask Julie is if it's OK to take allergy medicine. The pollen levels down here are incredible. Literally everything is coated with a fine layer of yellow dust. It's really taking its toll on me.
On another subject, I wanted to share with everyone a link to a store called The Land of Nod. It's a childrens' off-shoot of Crate and Barrel. Lately I've been looking around for some cute bedding, paint color ideas and art work for the nursery and I think I found what I've been looking for on that site.
After speaking with my mom about the various goodies I found there she reminded me of the poem, "The Land of Nod," by Robert Louis Stevenson. Undoubtedly that's where the store got its name. I wonder if that's legal.
Anyway, it was one of her favorite poems growing up and she said she used to read it to Emily, Ben and me when we were little. I certainly remember the story of "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod," by Eugene Field:
And in honor of my mom, here's "The Land of Nod":
The Land of Nod
By Robert Louis Stevenson
From Breakfast on through all the day
At home among my friends I stay,
But every night I go abroad
Afar into the land of Nod.
All by myself I have to go,
With none to tell me what to do--
All alone beside the streams
And up the mountain-sides of dreams.
The strangest things are there for me,
Both things to eat and things to see,
And many frightening sights abroad
Till morning in the land of Nod.
Try as I like to find the way,
I never can get back by day,
Nor can remember plain and clear
The curious music that I hear.
Happy Wednesday.
xoxoL
Monday, April 5, 2010
Halfway there
I'm now 20 weeks (and one day) so that means I'm halfway to my due date, which is amazing and scary and exciting all in one!
Anyway, my cousin, Leah, had a good list of things I will need for the baby. I thought I'd share it here. The night light is especially helpful because I never would have thought of that!
ok
you need a car seat w stroller attachment
breast pump- medela
shirts/onsies/dressing gowns with mitts
baby towel set
night lights so the room doesn't get too bright when you change her/fed her at night
a swing or bouncer chair where you can put her down safely when you need the batroom
all kinda essential
Thanks Leah! That does help a lot.
xoxoL
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Happy Easter Sunday
Morgan and I aren't religious so today was really just another Sunday for us, but it was a nice one anyway.
I got up about 10 a.m. and hid Morgan's bunny basket (like an Easter basket, but non-denominational) then wrote up a couple of clues (literally just two) to help him find it. Dave was involved in this process too. It was very elementary and very funny. I can't wait to do that for Ellie in a few years.
The rest of the day for me was spent going on walks (two of them) and reading in the front yard (I just started "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"). Morgan worked on our front bathroom. This renovation has been a three-month process, but I am happy to report the end is in sight.
Ellie has been a very busy fetus lately, kicking around and having a grand 'ol time in there. Last night we went to a concert venue/bar called The Loft to watch The Modern Skirts play. It was very loud and very fun, but Morgan was a bit concerned that it was too loud for our little girl. I think she's fine.
Earlier in the day M and I went to Babies R Us to check out the merchandise. We wrote down pretty much everything we want so we can register online. It was so much fun. Way less stressful than registering for our wedding. That kind of sucked actually. I felt like such a mindless consumer. Shopping for Ellie just feels different. Like every product is essential to her survival as a new person on this earth. Yes, Morgan, those tiny, pink Converse sneaker slipper high tops ARE absolutely necessary!
A couple of questions for the mothers and mothers-to-be out there: Can you offer me a list of the top five things I can't do without for the baby? How about the top five things I don't need to worry about purchasing?
Well, that was pretty much our weekend. No belly picture today. I'll have three of them in a row for you two Sunday's from now so get excited. My tummy really feels like it's growing daily.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
