Nesting

Haven't had a lot of nesting instincts yet, which I think makes D a bit disappointed (was probably hoping I'd start to pull more weight around the house with the cleaning and purging of stuff).  I have lists going of things I want to do, but can't seem to muster up the energy most of the time.  Last Sunday, I was up early, don't think it was even 7 AM yet.  Let the dog out, got myself some water, then noticed the kitchen windows were dirty.  Pulled out the windex and cleaned the windows above the kitchen sink.  I even had to pull out a stool to clean the top pane.  If only the rest of my day had been as productive as those first few early morning minutes.

Baby brain

I've heard women can become forgetful during pregnancy (afterwards as well?).  Not sure if I can blame it on the baby, but the other day at the end of brunch it was time to pay the bill.  I look through my purse and can't find my wallet, check my jacket pocket, check my purse again.  Mention to D, that he may have to pay for us, when I notice that my wallet is open right in front of me on the table--I had already pulled it out of my purse and just needed to grab my credit card.  A few days later, we're heading out to the car, I'm looking for my keys in my purse, then in my pocket, ummmm yeah, my keys are in my hand.  Maybe I'll just blame these instances on a full belly and lack of sleep, respectively.

Release

I tried a new prenatal yoga video this morning.  A bit out of date--some of the women were wearing these funky full bodied leotards (sexy!).  A bit new agey--the instructor was wearing a turban (side note, I'm pretty sure we camped next to her at a music festival a number of years ago--they had parked their euro van over some ground nesting bees who didn't bother them the whole weekend).  It was a bit more active than other prenatal yoga videos I've tried or the class I attend now and then which isn't too bad except I was doing this in the morning before work and before breakfast.  In one part of the video while standing, you start moving your hips from side to side and then basically just let go and dance, swinging your arms or whatever feels good.  Not sure what was going on, but it was a huge release and I started crying.  Though I felt super weird just crying in my living room, it felt really good to let it all out.  A reminder to keep it loose and let go more often!

Sacred Vessel

A friend was telling D the other day how I'm a sacred vessel.  He was a bit confused at first.  :)  It's really weird when I think about my body being used to create another human, part D, part me.  I remember a friend of a friend telling me she did not enjoy being pregnant, that it just felt way too alien to have this being inside of her.  But I think it's quite amazing that such a complex individual will be the outcome of what started as a ball of cells!  All I can really picture right now is the silhouette version of Baby Buddha from ultrasound pics.  Likely will have dark hair and brown eyes (dominant traits though there is blond hair/blue eyes in my extended fam).  I picture gangly arms and legs and super skinny now though according to the weekly update I receive, he's starting to gain more weight.

Getting a lot more comments at work of how I've suddenly popped.  It's true, I am much bigger these days and I'm feeling it.  And I still have 3-4 months to go!

My biggest complain is regarding sleep, or lack thereof.  I've been having bouts of insomnia, usually around 4 AM.  Most of the time I'm able to get back to sleep, but some nights I toss and turn until my alarm goes off.  Could I be overheated?  Is 5 hrs all my body needs right now?  Is this preparation of learning to get by on less sleep?  Could be my body has just had enough of sleeping on my left side.  Sleeping on your back or right side with a growing uterus can lead to compression of the inferior vena cava.  And just shifting positions with a huge belly is uncomfortable and will wake me up.

I know I'm bound to become more uncomfortable as I get bigger and the weather warms up.  I really try to keep my complaining to a minimum but lack of sleep and caffeine makes me a grumpy girl at times.  Next time I'm awake at 4 in the morning, I'll just have to get up and do something productive.  Anyone have any easy baby knitting projects?

Appreciating...

...being able to sleep in.  I enjoy my sleep and being able to laze about the house on weekend (or holiday) mornings.  Not getting as much sleep as I'd like is one of those selfish reasons I didn't want to have kids.

...my health.  Recovered from a nasty cold a month ago.  I don't remember a cold hitting me quite so hard.  Exhausted, sinus pressure, lots of congestion, bad cough, not able to sleep.  Being preggers meant I couldn't take my usual Alka Seltzer cold medicine which would have taken care of some of my symptoms and helped me sleep.  I got by on a dose of tylenol and sudafed here and there.  Thankful I didn't get Darren sick!

...Netflix.  I went through about a season and a half of Dexter while sick.  Probably a good thing there aren't any more seasons available on instant view.

2nd Trimester

• I've been able to borrow maternity clothing from my sis-in-law who is the same size as me and has great sense of style.  Maternity style has come a long way.  I swear I'm dressing more stylish while pregnant than I normally do.  Maybe this just means I need to work on my regular wardrobe once I can fit back into it.
• We're starting to accumulate baby stuff from friends who have had boys and aren't planning on future kiddos.  This has been awesome.  Also nice to be able to find out which things are necessary vs. what stuff we can hold off acquiring until we know we have more space and/or money.  We receive a used carseat (and yes, I do know there are now expiration dates on these things--I wonder if this is really for the infant's sake or the company's profits).
• We find out we’re having a boy!  Really cool to see him so active during ultrasounds.  Pretty weird that I can’t feel any of that movement yet.
• Around week 18, I realize I can feel him move around.  Felt like gas bubbles in the beginning, but eventually I realize, that’s my son in there!  Love this peculiar feeling.  He gets particularly active after I eat (especially something sweet) or when I 1^st lay down in bed.
• I drop in on some prenatal yoga classes.
• Haven't been having specific cravings except for caffeine which I've done a pretty good job of avoiding.  I used to be a big tea drinker and have found that non-caffeinated tea just doesn't cut it.  I do seem to be craving sweets after lunch & dinner.  Chocolate or ice cream seem to hit the spot when I do indulge.
• My belly button is slowly turning into an outie.  It's true what they say about the inside of a belly button feeling very soft.
• Have been working on turning our 2nd bedroom which was an office/storage space (crafty stuff, music equipment, old letter, photo albums, random junk...) into an office/nursery.  This means going through everything to decide what we really need to keep and what can be given away.  A desk and an empty dresser will stay.  Eventually add some wall shelving for office storage.  A bookshelf will stay for kids books & toys.  A TV armoire will move into the basement for storage.  A crib (currently in pieces) will be moving in.  Eventually will also have to tackle the closet which also was a collection space of shtuff.

1st Trimester

• Found out I was preggers at 6 weeks.  Initial reaction was a bit of freaking out and feeling overwhelmed.  I’ve always wanted kids, but never felt ready—but I tend to overanalyze decisions worrying about all the negative outcomes instead of focusing on the big picture.  Also, I’ve spent 35 years not being pregnant, and now all of a sudden, + sign.
• When I went in to the doctor’s office to confirm I was pregnant, I peed in a cup.  The lab tech called my number, proceeds to tell me the results were negative (ahh, that’s rather disappoin…)... I mean positive (umm, is it negative or positive???)... yes, positive.  Hands me the ‘you’re pregnant’ piece of paper that I’m supposed to give to my nurse.  Feeling super confident about this lab (I switch clinics).
• Morning sickness seemed to start as soon as I found out I was preggers.  Actually, I wouldn’t call what I had morning sickness, but general malaise and nausea.  Had a queasy stomach in the morning or late afternoon when feeling tired.  I didn’t have much of an appetite and lots of food or drink just didn’t sound or taste very good.  I didn’t want to be in the kitchen so D did a lot of the cooking and cleaning.
• I feel like I’m showing, but I’m not yet, that’s just belly fat.  :)
• I find out I have a large ovarian cyst.  Cysts are normal during regular ovulation and menstruation, but this cyst is large (~3 x 4.5 inches)) so we’ll have to keep an eye on it.
• We tell family and a few close friends about the news, but hold off telling most people because miscarriages are somewhat common in the 1st trimester.

Mrs

I got married about a week ago.  Strange that something it seems like I've been thinking about forever (not since I was a little girl forever, but longer than 2.5 years since Darren and I have been together for 10+ years) has finally happened.  Darren and I got engaged 2.5 years ago but the planning kept getting stalled.  I think I kept using Darren's lack of wanting to be super involved as a reason for me to keep holding off.  Or what we were each expecting just didn't mesh.  Or I wanted to make other people happy.  Ideas were thrown out there and there were certain ideas which stuck, but an actual date eluded us.

Then, I got pregnant.  I don't feel one must be married to have a kiddo, but I did want to be married, and wow, the pressure from my parentals increased big time.  At first, I was still resisting.  It would happen when it would happen.  The way we had been going, um, that hadn't really worked for us.  So yes, we were going to get married, now it was a matter of before or after.  Well, D's parents would be out of state for a couple months so it's either January or April.

I already had a dress.  I still fit into the dress at 3+ months preggo, but if we waited until D's parents returned, um, I would no longer be fitting into the dress.  This wasn't necessarily the perfect dress (I bought it on-line during one of J Crew's sales, thanks T!), but the dress wasn't a really big issue to me (remember, I did not have a dream wedding in mind).  It was a really beautiful classic style, it fit well enough, well at least it had ~2 years ago.  :)  I didn't want to have to buy another dress.

Okay then, lets have the wedding in January, there are a couple weekends we know all our family will be available.  Narrow that down to 1.  Oh, and let's invite some of our close friends.

Now, the ceremony.  It's cold and wet outside in January, should probably be done indoors for everyone's sake.  We have two friends who can officiate ceremonies.  If neither of them work out, we've got a back-up option.

Location.  Indoors, can accommodate a ceremony and dinner, or we have the ceremony at Darren's parent's house and find a place for dinner.  Right now it's about a week and a half from our chosen wedding date.  No pressure.  Ray's Boathouse was mentioned, but kinda shelved because they charge a big fee if you have the ceremony on-site.  I contacted a random Italian restaurant on the east side which would work if we end up having the ceremony at D's parents place.  I contact Snoqulimie Lodge because it would be a cool location and memorable.  One of their smaller rooms is available and they're willing to work with us.  We end up contacting Ray's as it's one of our favorite restaurants and much more us.  The location is available and they're willing to lower the ceremony fee since we're going super simple (I don't need an hour long rehearsal, aisle runner, bottle of champagne, etc).  Contract is signed 1 week before our wedding!

Now it's a matter of officially inviting our friends and family, officially asking our friend to officiate, and taking care of some other small details.

My lovely girl friends arranged mani/pedi's (HOA on Roosevelt has a group room) a couple nights before the wedding and for all of us to get our hair done (Gary Manuel Aveda Institute rocks!) the morning of the wedding.  If anyone needs their hair done for a special occasion the students do an awesome job for an amazing price!

The evening ended up being about as perfect as I could have hoped (will be a separate entry).  Now that we're officially Mr. and Mrs, all we need to worry about it planning a kick-ass party!  Can't wait.

Paying it forward

Going through my blog roll recently, I came across an entry that got me all teary.

Here's how The Bloggess decided to pay it forward.

The past few days have been a whirlwind and I’m exhausted  and have given myself hives so please forgive the typos.

A few days ago I put up a post offering $30 gift cards to the first twenty people who didn’t know how they were going to give their kids Christmas gifts this year.  They went frighteningly quickly.  When I got to the twentieth person I saw that there were still a few more people who needed help and my heart sunk.  Then a few comments in one person said “I’ll take care of the 21st person”.  Then another person offered a card for the 22nd.  Then another.  Then it avalanched...

Amazing.  The Washington Post wrote up an article.

I don't feel like I go too big at Christmas, I usually just buy gifts for immediate family and occasionally close friends.  Though I try and come up with a list of gift ideas throughout the year so it's not just a mad dash to find something that will work for the recipient, about half-way through the shopping, that's exactly what it becomes.  Then I tell myself that next year will be different.  Maybe we'll have an agreement that all gifts must be hand-made or set limits on how much we're going to spend or pull 1 name out of a hat.  Bottom line, I think my loved ones enjoy the time spent together over the gifts received.  Need to remind myself of that so that I don't get distracted next year once the Christmas music starts getting played 24/7.

I'll write another entry after the holidays to let you know how the gifts given this year went over.  A couple of them are paying it forward in a way.

Thanks Bloggess for spreading holiday cheer and some major inspiration.

Survival of the Squirrel

Driving to work yesterday morning, along Pacific Avenue in front of Health Sciences, I saw a squirrel running across the road and thought it was doomed.  It had just crossed 2 busy lanes of traffic of oncoming traffic and was at the middle (at the curb barrier) about 2 car lengths in front of me.  Instead of running in front/underneath the vehicle, it jumped up and INTO the side of the passing car.  It bounced off, shook itself off and then continued it's run before the next car came along.  I doubt my explanation sounds as cool as the little clip I can still see in my head.  Was so happy my day started off with quick reflexes (lucky) squirrel instead of squished squirrel.

Happy Valentime!

I'm a fan of 30 Rock and loved the Valentine's Day episode where Jack ends up with drunk 'lady' at the end of the time who wishes folks Happy Valentime's.

Making small talk with a nurse the other day and she mentions she was born on St. Patty's Day, her son was also born on a holiday, Valentime's Day.  Thought I misheard, but she says it again later, her son was born on Valentime's Day.

Ah, it's the little things that keep me entertained.  :)

Key Lime

The house smells so yummy.  Graham cracker crust is cooling.  Limes have been juiced.  Trying out an Icebox Key Lime Pie, recipe from Cook's Country.  Won't be able to try it out until tomorrow, hope it's worth the wait.  :)

Crafty Weekend To Do

Doubt the sun will last through the weekend, so I need to come up with some fun indoor activities to occupy most of tomorrow while D is off to a Husky game.  In no special order (following the format of a blog I follow--can't find the link right now aha):

hit the antique mall for holiday gifts/ideas

take the birdie print to the frame shop

appt for hair cut (short notice for day of?)

copy and send recipes to sis-in-law Paige

gift for baby Ruddel

figure out turkey day plans

update my 35 while 35 list

research wedding venues-is somewhat local, outdoorsy & cheap too much to ask?

make key lime pie!

Question Consumerism

Made a trip to the mall today.  I really loathe the mall.  The traffic, crowds of people, strong smells, cranky kids, and cheaply made clothing most of which have been transported half way across the world.  Usually feel pretty gross after spending much time in a mall, but it was a necessary evil as I've had jeans and bras on my 'need' list for a while now.  Can't help but feel guilty, but I accept that I can't find everything I need at the thrift store.


To top it off, grabbed some fast food on the way home.  Boo.  I think I've just been a negative nellie most of the day since I had to go to work this AM (skipping out on yoga).  Not a fan of working on the weekends.  :(  Hmm, what sort of job is out there which would actually energize me, be something to look forward to?  My job isn't all bad, but I must admit I'm not feeling great about it.  It's become just a job.  I've passed the 2 year mark (honeymoon phase?).  I worry about funding.  Half of my salary now comes from the department as my boss couldn't afford to keep me full time.  But again, it's a job, which helps when I need to go the mall to shop (oh yeah and helps out with mortgage payments, groceries, benefits).

Ok, off for some yoga before bed.

A plan

Guess I should have come up with more of a plan if I want to blog daily.  My life just isn't that interesting.  So, 2 big projects on my plate right now:  wedding & kitchen redo.

Wedding basics.  D & I have been together for over 10 years and engaged for more than 2.  We both want to be married, but neither of us are very good at planning and I am way too indecisive (I'm a libra, I like to make other people happy).  Could just elope and get married by a justice of the peace.  Sounds appealing as neither one of us like to be the center of attention, but I'd really like our family and friends to be a part of this celebration.  A few things to keep in mind:  small budget, large extended family, and most folks are local.

Kitchen basics.  The kitchen needed work before we moved in and it's only gotten worse.  Biggest problem is the counters which were in bad shape when we bought the place and now it's 4 years later, they've only gotten worse (peeling, can't tell if it's clean or dirty, cheap-o laminate).  An option we came up with in the past was a huge redo, tearing out cabinets + moving the oven + other misc = expensive!  We had other ideas along the way, but were never quite satisfied with either the end product or the cost or both.  It wasn't until the latest Ikea catalog showed up when a huge light bulb went off.  We just needed the right unit in our kitchen to make it work!

Time to get organized and get planning!

Unknown

2nd day in a row of waking up early.  3rd day in a row of yoga.  3rd day in a row of blogging.  And I've been yawning all day.  And I'm sad because one of my best friends is going through a really shitty time.  A time where chatting online isn't enough and I need to go visit and give her a big ol' hug.

How do you out there in the blogsphere take care of yourself when life dumps on you?  How do you take care of someone who's hurting?

Day 2...

of yoga and blogging.  Alarm went off at 6, rolled out of bed at 6:15, and proceeded to roll out the yoga mats.  Darren suggested we get up early for some yoga before work.  Yeah!  We rock.  I admit, that this likely isn't going to be the norm.  Or who knows, maybe I will surprise even myself.

To help me on my yoga 'journey', I purchased a new yoga mat yesterday after class (30% off at my local studio, I think it was meant to be).  My old one was more for show, it was technically a mat, but wafer thin.  Yay, to a big girl mat.

Really enjoyed yesterday morning's class.  Sheri, the instructor of the all levels class, is very welcoming.  One of my favorite parts of Sheri's class is how she has us congratulate ourselves for coming to class.  There's just something about a structured class, a knowledgeable instructor, and getting out of the house early on a Sunday morning which makes the effort worth it.

Can't say I was as enamored with the yoga lesson we practiced along with this AM:  Basics & Headaches via Netflix On Demand.  Was a bit choppy, I prefer a bit more flow.  I didn't always understand the instructor and I didn't feel comfortable during the inversion poses.  I, ahem, have lost a bit of core strength over time and I can sure feel it.  But, still got a lot of stretching and basic poses in and I was feeling much more awake for the first half of the day.

30 Days of Yoga

One of the items on my life list is practicing yoga for 30 days in a row.  I go to a yoga class now and then and I have everything I 'need' to practice at home, but I still don't make time for it on a regular basis.  I've heard that it can take 30 days to break or start a habit, so why not try this with yoga?

I might have found just the thing to help me out with this one!  30 Days of Yoga.  This is a really great idea, love that I have someone to help me on this journey to get me back to my seattleyogi self.  Ha, maybe I can combine this along with 30 days of blogging.  :)

Now, off to walk the dog in the rain, then a yoga class (in a studio where I have already paid money for classes yet it's been a couple of months since I have attended!), a possible stop by Gather, a lovely little consignment store in Columbia City, then back home to sign up for my month long yoga class!

Good feeling about this one.

35 before (end of) 35

I came across a blog post of 30 things to do before turning 30.  I love lists though I'm not always so good about following through.  Since I turn 35 in 39 days, I won't be able to be quite as ambitious, but  I've come up with 35 big things I want to accomplish while 35 (I have until October 15th 2011).  I'll cross items off the list as I finish them.

1. Make a decent pie crust from scratch
2. Repaint the office
3. New blinds and/or curtains for bedroom
4. Finish curtains for office (or move from bedroom)
5. Research our possible rewire
6. Insulate the attic (get the insulation out of our garage)
7. Park a car in our garage (see #6)
8. Build a work bench for garage
9. Hem my big stack of pants
10. Take a road-trip with Darren
11. Yoga everyday for 30 days
12. Wake up early to work out
13. Go to bed earlier on a regular basis
14. Golf lessons
15. Buy a bike
16. Print out pictures to put in albums (and/or create photo books)
17. Take pictures everyday for 30 days
18. Blog everyday for 30 days
19. Plan a trip with Tina
20. Have people over to our house more often
21. Map the yard
22. Build a raised garden bed
23. Plant sunflowers
24. Update rock garden on side of house
25. Plan a Bisset & Flint gathering (before the wedding)
26. Window box outside kitchen window
27. Plan date nights with Darren
28. Gather family stories and history
29. Sign up for an art class
30. Sign up for a dance class
31. Sign up for a cooking class
32. Work on deck (reinforce, replace boards, repaint
33. Update kitchen
34. Stone steps in yard
35. Create another list for 36!

Playing around

I haven't read the manual for my camera (Canon S5) yet.  I should probably do that, as it can do a lot more than what I use it for on a regular basis.  For example, I played around with the Manual mode the other day.  Found the built in light meter.  Figured out how to change the f stop and shutter speed.  Found the super macro function (vs macro).

Playing around with the f stop is cool because the smaller number you choose, the shallower depth of field you will have for your picture.  Meaning, the subject you're focusing on is the only thing is focus, the background and possibly the foreground is out of focus which gives a much different feel/look to your picture.  Something which I see a lot in professional shots.  Just need to remember to turn back to Auto mode when I'm just out and about taking quick pics.  Had a few fun shots come out too dark or light--woops.

Haven't done any side by side comparisons (or as I mentioned, read the manual!)  of macro vs super macro but in general I love macro shots for taking pics around my garden.  Super macro shots will be even more awesome right?

Eye of Otto

Michaelmas Daisy

Artichoke bloom