24 Weeks and Corn (ON the cob!) November 19, 2009

It’s 24 weeks time!  Baby Bean is about as long as an ear of corn.  Bean’s more than a pound and hopefully starting to plump up a little.  His/her brain is developing, particularly the taste buds/tasting function, and the respiratory system is developing branches.  And Bean’s skin is still translucent, but it will begin to change soon.

Mama’s doing fine.  Believe it or not, the hardest parts are putting on, tying my shoes and rolling over in my sleep.  When I’m bending down or getting up off the floor, I can’t help but grunt a little, and Andy always yells, “You ok?”  I laugh because I’m just moving around but I bet it sounds like I’m really hurting myself!

Here are the 24 weeks pics.  Enjoy and pay no attention to the pudge, please.  Thank you!  Are we sure this bean’s only a pound?  Where the heck are all those other TWENTY???

This is me...

get used to it.

 

trying to…

Our First Letter to the Lima November 17, 2009

Dear Sweet Little Baby Lima Bean,

It’s about 5:00am Mountain Time, and your mama couldn’t sleep.  I keep thinking about you, who you are, what your name will be, what you’ll look like, and how much we already love you.  Your daddy finally felt you kick for the first time yesterday, and oh boy, you gave him three or four good ones right in a row!  It’s been a snowy couple of days here in Telluride, and I’m glad to have you with me because you help keep me nice and warm.  I’m not nearly as cold as I was last winter, so thank you sweet bean!

GC's visit

I want you to know you’ve had a pretty eventful life already!  The week you were conceived your mama and daddy took six middle school kids to a Young Life camp in California (we didn’t even know about you yet!)  And the day we discovered you were on the way, we all went white water rafting!  The next week you got to meet your GC (Grandma Claire), the next week you met your Grandaddy Billy and Claudia, and just after that you met PaKo (Granpa Konigsmark) and Nancy Dell.  They’re already crazy about you.  At the end of the month, mama took her first trip back to California for the Sturgeon’s wedding.  You met mama’s very best Pasadena girlfriends: Rachael, Annie, Jennifer “JK”, Virginia, Charissa… even Corrie came all the way from Honduras and got to meet you!  You and I danced, played in the pool, pretended to sip wine, and had an absolute blast!

Crazy Daddy and Disney Fireworks

Shortly after that, we took you to Florida and you met your Nana Margaret.  We played in the ocean for hours.  You, Nana, and Mama loved it.  We even took you to Disneyworld- where Mickey Mouse lives!  We saw fireworks, your daddy officiated a wedding, rode the ferry and the monorail, even joined a hula-hoop contest!  A couple weeks later, your daddy was in a wedding and we got to go back to California where all of our good friends could actually SEE you making mommy’s tummy get big!

Elk herd in the snow

And now we’re back home, I’m sitting by the fire, thinking about what it will be like when you arrive.  We’re so excited to meet you face to face.  We wonder all about you… we wonder if you can hear your mommy and daddy’s voices?  Do you like it when we read to you and when we giggle?  Could you tell we were walking in the snow today?  Did you know we stopped to take pictures of 50 elk who were gathered in the snow?  Can you tell how much we already love you?  Do you know that you can do anything, be anything, go anywhere in the world that you want to go?  Do you know that you are a child of God and that Jesus loves you too?

Mommy, Daddy, our friends and family can’t wait for you to arrive, our sweet little lima bean.  We already love you so much.  We are anxiously awaiting your arrival, precious one.  Until then, I’ll go back to bed, hug your daddy tight, and revel in the dreams about the one who floats in my belly preparing to enter the world.

Sweet dreams to you little lima bean- enjoy the hot cocoa!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Mommy and Daddy on the porch in the SNOW

All Is Well, Just UNCOMFORTABLE November 15, 2009

Silly Dodi… And I thought this whole process was gonna be soooo easy!  Even as I sit here typing this blog post, I feel my left ribs stretching.  It’s not that it really hurts all that much, it’s just that it’s really annoying.   So I have to wiggle and squirm around until I can find a more comfortable position.  (Notice I didn’t say comfortable.)  And the gas is really stepping it up a notch.  I have heartburn after EVERY MEAL, yes, that’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner, even snacks, no matter what I eat.  And don’t even get me started about the toots.  I’m like a human locomotive.

Interesting dream I had last night.  I dreamed that Andy and I had a little BOY- yes, different than all of my “motherly instincts” up to this point telling me I’m having a little girl.  We put this little boy in one of those ‘made just for baby bathtubs’ for a bath.  The weirdest part, his face looked just like my nephew Asher.  I was just blown away that my baby was identical to his little cousin.  And I was really confused.  Despite my confusion, I washed my dirty child.  Then I woke up, ate a Tums, complained about being uncomfortable, and grabbed Andy’s hair for good measure.

My nephew, Asher, getting a "sink bath"

The latest visit… November 12, 2009

I went to the doctor today, it was my first visit solo.  All by my lonesome.  Uno.  Needless to say, I didn’t like it, but I made it through ok.  Other than tearing up when they weighed me, I did alright.  I met the third and final doctor in the practice, and I thought he was some weird sort of mix between the first two; he was about as nice as the first doctor, but he moved as fast as the second.  So now we have (in order of how much I like them) Doctor 1 (LOVE HIM!), Doctor 2 (this guy) and 3 (Dr. Farah- blaech! and Pffffft!).  Anyway, the point of this post is the conversation between me and “Number 2.”

#2: Well, how are ya?

Me: I’m feeling better than I have in a long time.  Even my pubic bone, which has given me a lot of trouble over the past month isn’t hurting as much.

#2:  That’s odd.  It usually gets progressively worse.

Me: I know! Which is why I am so RELIEVED!

(We talk a little about travel, particularly flying, and how far into my pregnancy I can fly, exercise,what heart rate is safe, my weight, etc.)

#2: So let’s lay you down on the table and check things out.

Me:  Where exactly are you putting that tape measure?

#2: From the pubic bone to the fundis.

Me: I didn’t know I had a FunDip.  FunDip?  Where’s my lickem’ aid?

#2:  Wow, you’re 23 weeks right?

Me: Yes, why?

#2: You’re measuring 25.  (yes, that’s right, TWENTY FIIIIIIVE peeps.)

Me: ?!  (hopeful voice) Could we be wrong on my conception and due dates???

#2: No.  You’re just big.  Some women are just born to birth babies and they do it quite easily.  Some smaller women have really easy pregnancies, some don’t.  There’s really no rhyme or reason to it, but it looks like you may have a big baby.  Were YOU a big baby?

Me: (stall…) er… heh heh… uh… I was ten pounds…

#2: TEN POUNDS?!  Wow!

Me: Yes.  But I live in Telluride, won’t my baby be smaller????  PLEASE????

#2: Well, generally high altitude babies are smaller, but we’ve had some ten pounders out of Telluride.

Me:  Oh $%^&.  Ten pounders… jeez I’ll just settle for a quarter pounder with some cheese and maybe fries.

23 weeks- A Large Mango and No Big Woop November 9, 2009

The little lima bean is now 23 weeks, about the size of a large mango (what the heck mango is bigger than a spaghetti squash?!) and mama’s feeling better than I have in a long, long time.  Our little website suggests turning up the music and dancing because the bean can sense movement and feel me dancing.  The blood vessels in the lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and it’s hearing is better than ever.  They also suggest me writing beanie a letter, saying how I’m feeling about the impending arrival and my hopes for lima’s life.  Only, right now I’m not feeling all sentimental… but hopefully those gushy feelings will return soon so I can write a lil something out.  They’ll probably be back in about 30 minutes or so, knowing my see-saw emotions these days.  I had a sad day the other day that was just… blue as blue can be!  Thank goodness that passed.  Today just about every fart had me in tears.  Man, farts are funny!

Anyway, I say no big woop because I’m at the point where nothing seems really new- it’s more just about the waiting.  I’ve done just about all I can do as far as reading, prepping, getting things in place, and we’re ‘trying not to’ shop.  We would like to wait for gifts and showers to be complete before we buy anything.  Times are tight and all that noise.  So, we’re just pluggin’ along.  Me, with my big belly, Andy with his listening to me saying how big my belly is and “Gimme your hand! Can you feel this kick?”  He never gets quite as excited as I think he should.  I guess he’s been through it with his sisters, or maybe he just can’t feel it yet.  We are hoping and praying nightly that beanie stays put, stays healthy, and keeps on developing until really close to our mothers’ flights out to meet our new addition!  Then we’ll be ready!

No picture of me because I think I look the same as last week, but here is a funny little photo my tennis buddy Georgianne sent me of a watermelon with multiple uses for our beanie; Teething ring, high chair, and lunch!  What a cute lil chunker!

Prenatal Yoga and the Lima Bean November 6, 2009

Good news, the lil lima bean sure is active!  I finally got to go to Prenatal Yoga class this week.  One of my tennis friends said she met her BESTEST GIRLFRIENDS in prenatal yoga.  I have been wanting to go for such a long time, but this summer yoga outside is FREE, so duh, I went to that class.  Many times I had to walk away, throw up in the alley, and come back, but believe it or not, I still enjoyed it.  After outdoor yoga ended, Andy and I began our ‘weddings tour’ so we decided it would be a good idea to wait to start the prenatal yoga class in the studio.  On Tuesday I’m practically skipping up the steps to meet all my new BFF’s- oh, and do some yoga.  I give the teacher my money for my “ten hole punch pass” so I’ve got ten classes- PAID.  I notice the time is past 11:00.  We wait.  I put out a mat.  I get some water.  I look around at the windows.  Check myself in the mirror.  Tick tock.  Finally she says, “Ok, so let’s get started.”  I think to myself slightly panicked, “Now?  But where are all my new best friends???”  Yes, that’s right, I was THE ONLY STUDENT IN THE CLASS.  She explained later that they just had a fairly big group all have their babies, but still, here I am, pregnant, friendless, and limber.  Well, sort of.  Honestly, I was surprised at how much more difficult yoga is with the large obstruction at your middle.  Anyway, the good news is, our last position- called “Shavasana” (might be my favorite) is where you just lie there on your back for a few minutes.  In prenatal yoga, lying on your back is not too comfy, so you lie on your side with this cylinder-shaped bolster pillow between your legs and a blanket under your head.  Ahhhhh.  My favorite pose.  Suddenly, the lima bean kicks.  And kicks. And kicks.  And kicks some more!  I think Mr/s. Bean might be doing flips in my belly or something!  This is the most active I have felt the baby yet!!  It was so cool- I kind of wanted to cry, but don’t worry, I hung tough.  “You gotta stuff that down deep,” Andy and I love to say when one of us is getting teary.  Just a joke, people.  I always let him cry it out.  Anyway, I think beanie weenie liked yoga is my point, and one day, another mom is BOUND to show up and I just have a feeling we might be great friends for life.  Or until we leave Telluride.

What a nice season for a spaghetti squash- 22 weeks November 3, 2009

Our lil SOYbean’s (kiss kiss) the size of a spaghetti squash.  You know the kind, it looks sort of like all those plastic gourds you put in your cornucopia-shaped basket fall display on the dining room table.  Its a must to put all those fall-colored leaves and make it look like the wind just blew them in from outside, right?  Well, your spaghetti squash goes front and center, and that is the size of our soybean.  Bean’s almost a pound and starting to look like a miniature newborn.  The lips, eyelids and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and the eyes are formed but lack pigment.  There is tiny hair all over the bean’s wrinkly body (Benjamin Button)- which will stay wrinkled until bean puts on some baby fat!  TAKE MINE!!!  Preferably from m

Why the big grin? I just tooted.

y butt!  And just about now, bean’s pancreas is steadily developing.

Other fun (and not so fun) changes mama’s experiencing?  Thicker hair (because you loose less), more body hair (hormones- ick), fast growing fingernails, increased acne (or better skin- for those lucky bleeps), stretch marks (booooo!), skin discolorations, larger and darker nips (eek!), breasts resembling road maps, and LARGER FEET!  Oh the joys.

Grandma Claire, aka “GC” sent us a cute little, somewhat gender-neutral bunny suit.  Of course Andy said if it was a boy, he’s not wearing the girlie bunny outfit.  I say he’ll wear it and LIKE IT!  It was the first item of clothing we have received for our little soy, and it’s just the softest thing ever.  Getting this in the mail really made it feel REAL that a little baby is on the way!  We also received some fun toys and books from Auntie Callie (including “Goodnight Moon”, a personal favorite).  And a hand-knit blanket from my tennis buddy Georgianne.  So sweet and FUN to get all these goodies!  Uncle Russ said it really doesn’t matter if it’s a boy or a girl, but either way it’s getting a Pirate uniform from him!  WE CAN’T WAIT!!!

22 weeks belly!

Finally, it was moving week.  We packed up and moved up the road to temporary living space number three (since we have been in Telluride.)  The place is BEAUTIFUL and has lots of windows and levels.  I think it will be a wonderful space for a pregnant mom and dad, complete with a super comfy KING sized bed!

The living room/view outside our new pad

How many things can you do while pregnant… IN STYLE??? October 30, 2009

One of the things you DON’T feel while pregnant is stylish. I mean, you may look cute in whatever you have on, but the feelings of tight underwear, a bra cutting off your circulation, and having a belly with skin is so tight because it just keeps on swelling, all keep you from feeling stylish.  You may look cute, but honestly, and maybe it’s  just me, I rarely feel cute.

I got the biggest laugh today when a friend of mine, “the Monkey” as we lovingly referred to her around the Sigma house back in the day, sent me a message today saying she had no use for her breast pump and asked if I was interested in it.  Sweet thing even sent me a link so I could see the product for myself.  Honestly I didn’t need to see it!  I was just excited to be offered a breast pump because they can be PRICEY!  I clicked on the link to find this: “Pump in Style with the Medela Advanced Breast Pump and Backpack.”  Really?  This will make me the stylish mom?  Do you think when people see me pumping my breasts (in public, obviously) women will look at me with envy because I’m just so dang stylish thanks to my breast pump and backpack?  Well sign me up!  I want to be the stylish mom with the fancy breast pump!  My baby will feel so proud of Hot Mama (me).  Maybe I can get it monogrammed?  I wonder…does it come in purple paisley?  I’m considering the purchase of a be-dazzler to jewel it up and really take it to the next level.

There’s not a lot to look forward to, so THANK GOODNESS I have the stylish breast pump coming so I can be my best while expressing my milk.  IN PUBLIC.

You too can be an in-style mom if only you purchase this pack and breast pump!

WHAT THE HECK??? October 28, 2009

Little bit of back-story on this post:  Andy “the planner” asked me to marry him at 2 am two days before Christmas.  The next morning, the repercussions of his actions had not set in.  We went from dating long distance to figuring out a wedding date in less than 24 hours.  Then Dad comes and picks him up at 9am so they can pick out a tux.  He has this look in his eyes, “What happened?  We were so happy.”  Then he went off the deep end when we went to everyone’s favorite store in Little Washington: Tassels.  We were directed by everyone to pick out our china, flatware, and numerous other wedding essentials.  Let me point this out: Andy is never quiet. And I mean NEVER.  He hates dead air.  However on this day, he said nothing.  His eyes were glazed over and he was praying to go to sleep early.  Poor little guy… I had to peel him off the floor that night.  At the end of the day the look on Andy’s face?  It was a combination somewhere in between a ghost, a deer in headlights, and someone who just accidentally drove a nail through their thumb.  Did I mention Andy is always talking? ALWAYS???  For once the world stood still for him.

I was revisited by this version of Andy when we went into Target to register for baby stuff.  You would not believe the number of aisles and items and baby stuff out there.  Do we need all this stuff?  Heck no!!!  I’m pretty sure we could get away with 1/24th of the ITEMS they offer, but they want to send you into outer space by offering a minimum of 12 of each item.  Andy got all pale and pasty and… you guessed it… silent.  Not a whisper.  The next thing I hear is his voice on the phone to his sweet sister Maggie, “Um, Maggie?  Can you please help us?”  I wasn’t about to admit it, but I was as clueless as he was, and to be honest I had no idea what was necessary and what was frivolous.  I’ve been around some babies, but you don’t really take note of their inventory.  I just know that all my friends who have kids no longer have kitchens and living rooms, they have rooms for kids toys and stuff and maybe a few tables or other furniture just happens to be in the room somewhere under all the toys.

All I want to know is, is it even possible to live in America and not be completely overloaded with unnecessary stuff for their babies???

I hope we can keep some of the house from becoming this!

Baby Carrot- 21 weeks October 26, 2009

Here we are!  21 weeks!  And our little bean has grown into a long carrot.  The bean is now about 10 1/2 inches long, and 3/4 of a pound.  Babycenter goes on to explain how the baby is now kicking and we can learn the bean’s daily routine by noticing the times bean’s in motion.  I imagine bean showers in the morning, has a turkey sandwich for lunch, and maybe plays some tennis in the afternoon.  Maybe he/she saves the nighttime for blogging.  Who knows?

I had to chuckle to myself when I read this: “You’re probably feeling pretty comfortable these days. You’re not too big yet, and the usual discomforts associated with early pregnancy are, for the most part, gone. You’re feeling good, relax and enjoy it while you can — the third trimester may bring with it a new crop of complaints.”  We all know this is just nonsense.  In fact, just today I was on the couch about 11:30am watching a little Saturday college football and searching online for a gift.  I start to feel a little queasy, but noticing it’s been a few hours since I had eaten, I figured I was just hungry.  As I’m wandering through our fridge and cabinets in my mind, I realize, I better jump up or I’m gonna get the carpet dirty.  I run toward the kitchen sink (sorry, no bathroom this level and the deck I like to puke off of has been torn out for reconstruction) but I DON’T MAKE IT.  Yup, projectile vomit all over the kitchen cabinets.  My Cracklin Oat Bran cereal had come back with a vengeance- and let me tell you, that stuff smelled just like cat food.  I told the hubs about it later, but I never got the amount of sympathy I felt I truly deserved.  I don’t know which was worse; throwing up, or cleaning it up!?

Why do I get the strange feeling that it’s going to get worse?  Can it really?  Can’t Andy carry it for a while and then give it back near the end?  Gee whiz.

21 weeks

21 weeks belly