25 Weeks!

According to the trusted Wikipedia, nesting is found in a variety of animals (both mammals and birds) including humans. Domestic cats often make nests by bringing straw, cloth scraps, and other soft materials to a selected nook. Apparently, for women, the nesting instinct often occurs around the fifth month of pregnancy, but can occur as late as the eighth. It may be strongest just before the onset of labor.

As I mentioned before, I am not a real fan of the "nesting" term because it feels like a socially construed concept  (like Valentine’s Day) to encourage women to feel pressure to decorate the nursery, clean the house, and buy as much baby stuff as possible. However, I have to admit, my mood and interests do appear to have a pattern.

There must be stages of nesting and I have shifted from the nursery stage to the knowledge/research phase. After last week’s blog, I was so grateful and motivated by all of the mothers that reached out to me with Doula references, yoga recommendations, books, classes and even placenta encapsulation resources! I no longer feel like Googling  baby crib sheets but rather can't stop reading about all the things happening each week for little baby g and what is about to happen these next few months for the two of us.

In line with the knowledge phase, I signed us up for our first birthing class at Blooma Yoga which was recommended by both my doctor and friends. I started reading Great Expectations of Pregnancy and Childbirth and especially appreciated how they described the stages of labor by comparing my cervix dilating from the size of cheerio, oreo, soda pop and then bagel- now that’s something Dan and I can relate to and remember!

I also can't help but see every mother as a huge almanac of knowledge! I have discussed natural childbirth with my friend Kate, the pros of a doula with my co-worker Leah and the strategies for coping with labor pains with my sister in-law Lisa. Maria, Dan's sister, has helped reassure me that its okay to have some frustrations with my ever-changing hormones and she echoed that pregnancy can be scary when you think about another human dependent on you for nutrition and a nest! I love feeling like I have added another community of people into my life. Now in addition to my running, Peace Corps, grad school, college, family, work circles...I have a new mother-to-be circle. And, in this circle happens to be my college roommate and amazing friend, Jen. She is due in January and I SO enjoyed spending some time visiting with Jen this weekend and sharing our pregnancy aches, excitements and lessons learned.

Best friends and future friends! 

After visiting with Jen and Kate at the Talafous home, Dan and I made a trip to Babies 'R Us and Buy Buy Baby. It wasn't our first time at these stores but this time I was determined to get a least a few things decided like which car seat or stroller to select. However, I can't help but get overwhelmed at baby stores and feel like a huge target for their pushy advertisements.

All the crazy advertisements and samples I received when registering

I mean really...why are there 4 types of baby diaper pails? Is the genie really that magical!?!? Seeing all the baby stuff definitely makes me reflect back on my time in Honduras working in the nutrition center. They didn't heat the baby wipes, have a million rockers, bouncers, swings and baby bumbos (yes, that's a real thing!) and yet, the babies were doing okay. Now, in Honduras, many were lacking basic nutrition and a hygienic home, so I am not downplaying the importance of infant care, but I do know that many of the things I feel like I need to buy, are not really necessary. My goal is to have enough baby stuff that I can soothe the baby but not so much that we feel suffocated in our own home.

Sometimes the best toy is a box!

Nutrition Center in Honduras

The documentary "Babies" is also a good comparison for this dichotomy. The film shows that the babies from Namibia, Mongolia, Tokyo and United States all pretty much develop around the same time despite having very different environments, toys, resources etc. I definitely recommend it if the topic of nature vs. nurture interest you.

http://www.focusfeatures.com/babies

So...before closing tonight’s post, I have to report that little baby g is either an eggplant or a rutabaga depending on which chart I follow. He is probably around 2 lbs and almost a foot long. Dan stopped at the store on the way home and I asked him to pick up one of the veggies so he just got both. I am pretty sure this was his first time purchasing an eggplant and rutabaga but I guess I can't say I have ever cooked or eaten a rutabaga either. Suggestions!?!?!

Eggplant or Rutageba! 

25 Weeks!! (outtake photo) 

Another amazing benchmark!

Today marks week 24 for little baby g! I have a few iphone apps that I use to track fetal development (Babycenter and What to Expect) and found it interesting to know that not only is the baby the size of a cantaloupe or the length of an ear of corn but also that my placenta is the size of a soccer ball! Feels like the jump from a grapefruit to cantaloupe is pretty significant (and maybe not entirely accurate) but I do think we are in the middle of a growth spurt!

24 weeks and the size of a cantaloupe! 

Today also happened to be our 6 month appointment so I got some real baby measurements too. The appointment started with me having to chug the sugary drink to test for gestational diabetes. Dan sat with me and I think this is the first time he would have actually traded places with me. I guess normally getting blood drawn, exams and ultrasounds don't look very fun but he thought the "juice" smelled good. It wasn't as bad as I thought and I definitely recommend fruit punch over orange. I wasn't too worried about the results but sugar is the one thing I love. I hardly eat meat and if I do, its usually lean and I don't over salt or butter my foods but I rarely pass up a good piece of chocolate, a scone or homemade cookie.

During the hour waiting period I had an ultrasound. I do ultrasounds every 4 weeks because they are monitoring the baby's head size due to our family history. My sister had microcephaly and although they don't feel our baby is at any higher of a risk than the average, my doctor still recommends monitoring growth. I am okay with that and enjoy getting extra opportunities to hear his little heartbeat and see him wiggle around in my uterus. There was a moment however today when the technician paused and said she wanted a second opinion about the length of my cervix. I panicked and tried to read deeper into her body language to see if this was serious or not. She said the baby's head was right on top of my cervix and blocking the view so she wanted to do a vaginal ultrasound to see if the length was okay. I had no idea the length fluctuated (well at least not until delivery) and Dan and I were tempted to quick google it when she left the room for me to change. However, we refrained and had faith things would be okay- and all turned out to be fine. However, that little scare was enough for me to say some extra prayers tonight and be thankful all is well so far.

So, good news is that my cervix is the right length, I don't have gestational diabetes and little g is in the 55% weighing in at 1 lbs. 8 oz. We talked a little bit about my birth plans today and I asked for some recommendations about birthing classes and suggestions of what I can do now to prepare for a natural birth. She told me to keep exercising and she supports my running and yoga as long as I feel good. She said that will help so much during the birthing process. She also recommended we interview some dulas but she didn't push it and reminded me there will be a full team there to support me. She said her goal is to follow my birth plan and that we will make changes as needed but only if needed. I know a birth plan is simply that... a plan. My hope is to go without pain medications but I am also fully aware that the process is out of my control and 4 hours of labor feels a lot different than 24 hours!

After work today, I went to yoga and even though I was still annoyed the substitute teacher was emphasising twists and stomach poses, I just made a few changes, closed my eyes and imagined I was the only one in the studio. I also kept hearing the doctors reminder that yoga will help me prepare for birth. That new intention- getting stronger and staying fit for the delivery was a refreshing focus. Looks like baby g isn't the only one "growing" in this humble journey.

Pumpkin "patch" visit this weekend

23 Weeks!

Today marks 23 weeks pregnant! Hard to believe we are going to be parents in a few months. Yikes!

Every day I am thankful for this little baby growing in my belly. I feel blessed and so amazed with the human body. Little baby g is 8 inches long and 1.2 pounds according the averages. However, it feels like he is a lot bigger than a grapefruit.

Overall I feel good and haven't had too many reasons to complain other than just feeling big and uncomfortable. Sleeping is already awkward and I can't believe how many trips I make to the bathroom. It feels like there is constant pressure on my bladder and a pinch in my lower back. I've tried stretching, heat, rest, body pillow etc. but still uncomfortable.

In addition to Tuesdays being the day I like to document the baby bump, it is also the day I try to fit in Yoga after work. I enjoy Lifetime's slow burn vinyasa class because it isn't super hot and most of the poses are manageable for me. However, today I was definitely getting frustrated with my lack of flexibility and inability to do some of the poses. I left feeling not very zen and sorta annoyed that I was frustrated with my own body.

Pregnancy IS beautiful and I want to fully embrace each stage with grace, acceptance and positivity. I have always worked hard to define external beauty in terms of strength, health and fitness. All through college I was surrounded with amazing women that modeled holistic healthy living. Afterall, Rosie the Riveter was hanging in our college house at Madison and I worked for Planned Parenthood where I promoted women's health to my peers.

Good excuse to post a throwback to college

However, today after feeling awkward at yoga and unattractive in my too-small yoga pants...I just didn't want to take a baby bump picture. I know gaining weight is a good thing and that my body is doing exactly what it is supposed to be doing...growing, but I just didn't feel like photographing it. I asked Dan to take a picture of me and the grapefruit and then had a bit of tantrum and deleted it.

Dan looked at me and offered to take this weeks photo with the grapefruit, knowing of course that it would probably end up on social media. He is not a huge fan of selfies and doesn't even like grapefruit so he must love me because he even smiled for the picture.

Dan with the little grapefruit! 

Happy 23 weeks little grapefruit!

Nesting!

It has been SOOOO long since I last blogged. In the meantime, we moved, got married and are now expecting!! There are so many emotions and updates I could share but since I feel a little rusty blogging, I am just going to start with my weekend project- a mobile for little baby g. I wanted to have a way to document some of the nursery projects and I know not everyone on facebook wants to read about the progress so I figured returning to the blog would be a good idea. I am not committing to ongoing blogs but figure I will give it a go.

I really wanted to make my own mobile and was inspired by some daycare tours we recently went on (that could be a whole blog entry!). Two of the centers are designed around the Reggio approach which I later learned means they incorporate a lot of nature into the space, use neutral colors, natural wood and natural lighting. I have also been on pinterest with my hidden board for too long to admit (pre-baby!) and had some ideas I tried to pull together this weekend.

First, I collected some branches from this amazing tree! Yes, I was literally nesting. I never really liked that term since it sounds like some form of hibernation but when I found myself collecting sticks, I had to face the facts- I was nesting!

Then I whittled the sticks!

And then I went to Michael's Crafts with a coupon and spent under $20 for paint, paint pens, washi tape, brushes, wood squares and string. I painted the sticks first and then the little squares. Next I glued the two squares together with the string in between.This took way longer than I had imagined but I didn't mind since I wasn't feeling great and preferred a relaxing day crafting while Dan was at the football game.

After painting, Dan helped me tie all the strings and try and make the branches balanced. Good metaphor for life right now- Dan is definitely the one keeping everything balanced. He has been so incredibly supportive both pre-pregnancy and throughout this hormonal/emotional journey.

We still have to hang it and not sure how that will go but looks good when Dan is holding it! Other than the mobile...the room needs a little work. We got it painted, have a crib from Dan's sister Maria (love that her little ones used it- feels full of love!) and a dresser we need to set up.

Good thing I still have 17 weeks to go. We have time to nest! 

Pistachio and Cranberry Holiday Cookies

Part two of Holiday cookie baking. Tonight I made shortbread cookies with a lemon glaze, pistachios and cranberries. I used the recipe below as pinterest inspiration.

Step 1: Bake your favorite shortbread or sugar cookies (I made shortbread)
Step 2: Mix powdered sugar, milk, lemon juice and lemon zest for a glaze (top the cookies once cooled)
Step 3: Sprinkle chopped pistachios and cranberries on top

That is it!

Now let cool and package for a great gift. I did put them on a cardboard square and then wrapped them up since they are delicate and need to be on a sturdy base.

http://www.marthastewart.com/354123/lemon-pistachio-wreaths

Christmas Turtles

For the Holidays I usually make peppermint bark, peanut butter blossoms, and sugar cookies but most of those are just because of tradition. This year I am adding a few new ones that I can't wait to taste. I found a recipe for Turtles and then adapted it to my own taste buds.

Ingredients:
20 Camels- I bought the ones from trader joe's
Bag of pecan halves
1/2 bag dark chocolate chips- I used Ghirardelli
1/4 cup butterscotch chips
Sea salt

Cut the camels in half and mold the half carmel on top of  two pecan halves. Put them in the oven at 325  until carmel melts around the pecans. Melt the chocolate chips and butterscotch in the microwave. Place a spoonful of chocolate over the camels (don't worry about making them perfect- turtles should look traditionally rustic). Sprinkle with sea salt.

Let sit for at least and hour then package them up for a beautiful Holiday gift.

Making Christmas a little greener

This weekend we went shopping for new furniture and strolled the isles of Room and Board, Home Furniture and Schneiderman's. HOME was Dan's favorite because they had a cookie cafe but I was most excited about my recycled fabric find. Schneiderman's had a big bin of fabric samples with a sign that said "Free samples great for quilters".

No, I did not attempt to pick up quilting since I do NOT sew but I did grab a stack knowing I would find some random holiday project idea. I think Dan was a tad embarrassed walking out with me and my handful of fabrics but I had no shame!

http://www.wholeliving.com/133668/read-wrap-recycle-make-bows-magazines?czone=holiday/workshop-christmas/quick-and-easy-ideas&center=307034&gallery=856466&slide=276003

I was planning on using it for wrapping paper but instead decided to make bows. I found a blog on how to make bows and just used the fabric instead of paper. Now I will have a unique way to decorate my grocery bag wrapped gifts. And yes, I do buy real gifts- not recycled re-gifts!