- You ask your husband if he wants pancakes as an 'appetizer' when you have already ordered a full meal for brunch
- You cry because you can't stop crying
- Drive 45 minutes to go to Benihana because nothing else sounds good
- You rediscover the joy of Oreo cookies
- You have memorized all the bathroom locations within a 1 mile radius
- You can smell someones morning breath on the bus commute
- Your husband tells you (for the first time in your life) the house is freezing when you think it's still unbearably hot at 66 degrees
- You consider Babies R Us & Target runs as 'weekend activities'
- You ask your husband to run upstairs to make sure the hair straightener is off because you can't remember if you used it 2 minutes ago
- Lettuce tastes like dirt
- You bitterly stare at the fat people that don't offer you their seat on the bus/train
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
You Know You Are Pregnant When....
Monday, August 22, 2011
40 Days
It's like Lent.... 40 long days. Except 40 days until my due date.
Now for those of you that know me well, please note I said 'due date' not 'my birthday' :) Proof that yes, people can change. Although I am obsessed with my birthday, this year and maybe every year of my life, October 1st is not about me, but about my son. We have no plans to celebrate my birthday this year... we will make some eventually, especially if I am still pregnant (which I believe is more likely than not). All I want is a baby in my arms, sushi dinner (with lots raw fish) and a glass of white wine, so we will wait until I can have all 3.
I have a regular doctor's appointment today to check on things, but I don't expect any big news. I feel like the baby is dropping. Over the last couple of days, I have noticed I have more space at the top of my tummy. Although, I don't really feel like I have a baby between my legs yet. And as most of you have noted... peeing a million times a night is no big thing and all in preparation for what I will soon be getting up for! But, from what I have read online, I believe these are all good things as my body prepares for the nakedness of labor & delivery.
We have our final baby class tonight: Newborn Basics. I think we learn how to swaddle, diapering basics (this is mostly for Nick as I don't think he has ever put a diaper on a child), recognizing illness, bathing and things of the like. CPR and Choking was last week, so we are on our way to becoming responsible parents.
All these websites/blogs I am reading on 'things to do before you bring baby home' have made me feel like we are getting organized - LOVE checking things off a list. That is likely my OCD in organization and Type A personality coming thru. Each list recommends enjoying date nights, quiet, reading books & watching movies without interruption, pampering myself, sleep and time with my husband. While I feel like I am enjoying all of the above, I have no concept of what my sleep-deprived state will be like in a few weeks to probably truly enjoy it. The excitement and anticipation of meeting our baby boy is so much more overwhelming and consuming - and great to think about!
That said, we had 2 great date nights this weekend on both Saturday and Sunday. We were invited to a birthday dinner for a friend I met thru MillerCoors (my client) and her husband for 'the best crab legs in the Midwest' at the Half Shell restaurant. They were awesome! It was hands down our most successful couples first date! We had a blast. Elina and Alex are also expecting a baby... a baby girl due 7 days earlier. Although it's taken time to meet some friends in Chicago, it has been well worth the wait - this is definitely a solid couple I see us continuing to spend time with. Sunday night we went to a burger joint called Kumas. It's been on the Food Network, written up all over the city and is the talk of all the locals. It's a dive-y restaurant/bar that plays very loud hard rock music, most of the staff is tattooed up but the burger list is impressive. It was really fun to finally go and give it a shot after it being on our list of 'restaurants to try' for the past year. Look at the size of this meal...
40 days... 40 days... 40 days! So excited, I can hardly stand waiting any longer to meet our son!
Now for those of you that know me well, please note I said 'due date' not 'my birthday' :) Proof that yes, people can change. Although I am obsessed with my birthday, this year and maybe every year of my life, October 1st is not about me, but about my son. We have no plans to celebrate my birthday this year... we will make some eventually, especially if I am still pregnant (which I believe is more likely than not). All I want is a baby in my arms, sushi dinner (with lots raw fish) and a glass of white wine, so we will wait until I can have all 3.
I have a regular doctor's appointment today to check on things, but I don't expect any big news. I feel like the baby is dropping. Over the last couple of days, I have noticed I have more space at the top of my tummy. Although, I don't really feel like I have a baby between my legs yet. And as most of you have noted... peeing a million times a night is no big thing and all in preparation for what I will soon be getting up for! But, from what I have read online, I believe these are all good things as my body prepares for the nakedness of labor & delivery.
We have our final baby class tonight: Newborn Basics. I think we learn how to swaddle, diapering basics (this is mostly for Nick as I don't think he has ever put a diaper on a child), recognizing illness, bathing and things of the like. CPR and Choking was last week, so we are on our way to becoming responsible parents.
All these websites/blogs I am reading on 'things to do before you bring baby home' have made me feel like we are getting organized - LOVE checking things off a list. That is likely my OCD in organization and Type A personality coming thru. Each list recommends enjoying date nights, quiet, reading books & watching movies without interruption, pampering myself, sleep and time with my husband. While I feel like I am enjoying all of the above, I have no concept of what my sleep-deprived state will be like in a few weeks to probably truly enjoy it. The excitement and anticipation of meeting our baby boy is so much more overwhelming and consuming - and great to think about!
That said, we had 2 great date nights this weekend on both Saturday and Sunday. We were invited to a birthday dinner for a friend I met thru MillerCoors (my client) and her husband for 'the best crab legs in the Midwest' at the Half Shell restaurant. They were awesome! It was hands down our most successful couples first date! We had a blast. Elina and Alex are also expecting a baby... a baby girl due 7 days earlier. Although it's taken time to meet some friends in Chicago, it has been well worth the wait - this is definitely a solid couple I see us continuing to spend time with. Sunday night we went to a burger joint called Kumas. It's been on the Food Network, written up all over the city and is the talk of all the locals. It's a dive-y restaurant/bar that plays very loud hard rock music, most of the staff is tattooed up but the burger list is impressive. It was really fun to finally go and give it a shot after it being on our list of 'restaurants to try' for the past year. Look at the size of this meal...
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
A Crash Course in Labor & Delivery
Let's just say that I have never seen Nick so uncomfortable and squirmy from hearing the word 'cervix'! He was sitting there, shifting awkwardly in his chair and nervously smiling and laughing at me every time the nurse leading the class used the term. Hilarious. However, when she got into the nitty gritty about what to expect in labor & delivery he was cool as a cucumber. No issues whatsoever.
Me on the other hand... WOW! That was a ton of information. Terrifying and exciting all at the same time. Some highlights from the class summarized below:
We started discussing what we are going to look for in a nanny today. I don't think we are ready to start navigating that path until after he is born. Too much to think about right now. So much to determine once he is born, but trying to do as much of our clear-headed thinking while we still can.
Me on the other hand... WOW! That was a ton of information. Terrifying and exciting all at the same time. Some highlights from the class summarized below:
- Lots of nakedness in delivery
- Likely to have a bowel movement or some sort and throw up
- It's not about Nick
- Ice chips
- Nick to bring a swimsuit if I plan to use the shower during labor (nurses aren't comfortable with penises) LOL
- Nick is going to see everything (whether or not he wants to), no curtain like the movies
- Anything forgotten in the hospital bag, Michigan Ave is 1 block away - no big deal
We started discussing what we are going to look for in a nanny today. I don't think we are ready to start navigating that path until after he is born. Too much to think about right now. So much to determine once he is born, but trying to do as much of our clear-headed thinking while we still can.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Nesting Time
With a little over 6 weeks left until my due date, I gone into complete nesting mode. I don't think our house has ever looked better! Finally hung up wedding photos (almost 2 years later), carpets cleaned, garage boxes emptied, rooms set up, etc. It feels like home now. I don't think we even fully moved into our Portland house like this.
My last doctor's appointment I found out that we get another ultrasound on 9/7 to check to see his growth. We are super excited we get to see him again on screen before we finally meet him in person. As suspected, my doctor prepared me to not deliver before or on my due date. Rather, she has let me know that I will likely go into labor between my 40th & 41st week. She won't induce until Sunday morning, October 8th....feels like eternity! My bet is October 5th and Nick thinks he will be born October 2nd. We should start a pool, but I am pretty sure that I will be late.
We also have our first baby class tonight. I think we get the hospital tour and the rundown of what to expect from the doctor's office. We are also doing an infant CPR class this week and a Newborn Basics class next Monday. Then I guess we are officially ready to be parents!
Other than washing all of his clothes, sheets & blankets (which by the way, this kid already has TONS of clothes) and installing the car seat, we are ready, or as ready as we will ever be. We set up his nursery this weekend with all our new goods and the most AMAZING quilt that my aunt Jeanne made for him (the inspiration for the theme of his room). We are adding a few more things to the walls, but you get the idea....gray, white, turquoise & beige.
33 weeks and other updates to note:
My last doctor's appointment I found out that we get another ultrasound on 9/7 to check to see his growth. We are super excited we get to see him again on screen before we finally meet him in person. As suspected, my doctor prepared me to not deliver before or on my due date. Rather, she has let me know that I will likely go into labor between my 40th & 41st week. She won't induce until Sunday morning, October 8th....feels like eternity! My bet is October 5th and Nick thinks he will be born October 2nd. We should start a pool, but I am pretty sure that I will be late.
We also have our first baby class tonight. I think we get the hospital tour and the rundown of what to expect from the doctor's office. We are also doing an infant CPR class this week and a Newborn Basics class next Monday. Then I guess we are officially ready to be parents!
Other than washing all of his clothes, sheets & blankets (which by the way, this kid already has TONS of clothes) and installing the car seat, we are ready, or as ready as we will ever be. We set up his nursery this weekend with all our new goods and the most AMAZING quilt that my aunt Jeanne made for him (the inspiration for the theme of his room). We are adding a few more things to the walls, but you get the idea....gray, white, turquoise & beige.
In the daylight (above) and the evening (below). Still need to paint that little table white, put some wall decorations above his bed, and get the mattress & bumpers up.
33 weeks and other updates to note:
- Things I love to eat/drink: lemonade, apple juice, pizza, fruit smoothies, peanut butter (it has never tasted this good), and donuts (but I got my fill when Christa flew across the country with Voodoo Donuts for me!)
- Warm most of the time, I didn't realize how hot I was until everyone told me our house was an icebox last week (I still thought it was toasty)
- Working out 3 - 4 times a week, although much, much slower
- Braxton Hicks contractions are pretty infrequent but usually occur a couple times a day and at least once at night (these have been ongoing since 22 weeks)
- Memory - non existent
- I huff and puff after walking up and down the stairs. I think I scare Nick because he always asks if I am OK when I get to the top.
- Baby Monty loves to rub his feet just like his daddy! He is still head down, feet up near my ribs.
- He gets the hiccups most evenings and is a wild child after I eat and when its time to go to bed. Makes me laugh.
- Up 23lbs to date
- Last but not least, I have serious short-timers syndrome. It's very hard to concentrate.
Shower for Baby Monty
What a whirlwind of family fun!
We are so excited that our family could come out to visit us for the beautiful baby shower that Christa & Maggie threw for Baby Monty. No small feat from afar! We are still overwhelmed with how spoiled we are. We are have everything we need to bring our son home. Incredible. Thank you so much.
The ladies of the Peressini, Colnon & Montgomery families travelled from Portland, San Fran, Boston, Florida and all over the state of Illinois to be there. I can't tell you how much that means to us. Thank you again.
Here are a couple of photos from the shower....
We are so excited that our family could come out to visit us for the beautiful baby shower that Christa & Maggie threw for Baby Monty. No small feat from afar! We are still overwhelmed with how spoiled we are. We are have everything we need to bring our son home. Incredible. Thank you so much.
The ladies of the Peressini, Colnon & Montgomery families travelled from Portland, San Fran, Boston, Florida and all over the state of Illinois to be there. I can't tell you how much that means to us. Thank you again.
Here are a couple of photos from the shower....
32 week belly shot. Aunt Maggie & my baby's daddy holding him in.
The generous hosts Mags & Christa
The super cute grandmas
The Peressini Girls (most of them)
The umbrella stroller!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
The 5 S's & Some Other Thoughts
I forgot to mention in my last post that Nick and I completed reading our first baby book - The Happiest Baby on the Block. Pretty informative (for those of you parents - the 5 S's). We have 1 other book our doctor recommended we read on sleep training, while we are rested, since we won't remember anything from the book when we are sleep deprived. So that's on the list to accomplish in the next 8 weeks.. along with completing the nursery, installing the car seat, packing our hospital bags, attending our baby classes and getting a tour of the hospital.
Lately, it seems there have been a series of health scares among my friends and friends of friends involving themselves and/or their child. Thankfully, all are OK and recovering well, but it just makes us say an extra prayer for our baby boy's health and a safe delivery in a few weeks. Puts things in perspective really quickly as we zoom thru life each day.
Here are a couple other photos of our completed guest room on the 4th floor, the main floor and our patio of our rental (still can't believe I haven't killed the plants yet). The nursery we are saving for last and hope to have it finished and set up by the end of the month. This week, we have a couple blow up beds in there for roomies - Maggie & Christa and the guest room is ready for Terri who arrives later tonight. Nick has a client dinner tonight, but I am really looking forward to coming home to my family at the house for dinner! Again, excuse the before photos....
Guest Room After (no before since it was empty)
Patio After
Main Floor Before
Main Floor After
and belly shot at 31 weeks
Monday, August 1, 2011
One Year Already?!
This week marks our 1 year anniversary living in Chicago. We still can't believe it!
We really miss our family and friends, but really this move has been incredible for us and our marriage. There is nothing like moving to a new city with just your spouse. We are so lucky to not only be husband and wife, but best friends. While it's been a very eventful last 12 months, this journey together has been so much fun and has made me fall deeper and deeper in love with Nick.
This week, my sister, sister in law, mom and Nick's mom all make their way into town along with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins for the baby shower my sister and Christa are throwing for their nephew on Saturday. I am super excited to see everyone! The fun starts tomorrow night when Maggie arrives....
8 1/2 weeks left to go until we meet our son. I am feeling pretty good. The heat is incredible here and it's only getting hotter. I pretty much stay in AC 99% of the time to avoid puffing up like crazy. I also look forward to the day that I don't have to get up 6 times a night to pee. Did I mention only 8 1/2 more weeks?!
(Em this is for you.... ) a belly shot at 29 1/2 weeks on our Babymoon
We really miss our family and friends, but really this move has been incredible for us and our marriage. There is nothing like moving to a new city with just your spouse. We are so lucky to not only be husband and wife, but best friends. While it's been a very eventful last 12 months, this journey together has been so much fun and has made me fall deeper and deeper in love with Nick.
This week, my sister, sister in law, mom and Nick's mom all make their way into town along with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins for the baby shower my sister and Christa are throwing for their nephew on Saturday. I am super excited to see everyone! The fun starts tomorrow night when Maggie arrives....
8 1/2 weeks left to go until we meet our son. I am feeling pretty good. The heat is incredible here and it's only getting hotter. I pretty much stay in AC 99% of the time to avoid puffing up like crazy. I also look forward to the day that I don't have to get up 6 times a night to pee. Did I mention only 8 1/2 more weeks?!
(Em this is for you.... ) a belly shot at 29 1/2 weeks on our Babymoon
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