A real “Winter Wonderland”

Early Saturday morning we started getting snow. The news had predicted we would get a snow blast, but none of us in Hampton Roads believe it until we see it. When we woke up Saturday morning Eric looked outside and couldn’t believe it. We had actually gotten snow. It snowed all day Saturday and Saturday night. Quila wasn’t real fond of the snow because it was up past her belly. Eric had to shovel a path through the backyard just to get her to go to the bathroom. I took a measurement of the snow late in the afternoon and it was at around 6 inches but it did start snowing again later and through the night so we probably got even more than that. We have not had this much snow since Eric and I have owned our house. It sure was pretty around our neighborhood. On Saturday night DJ, Penny, and Tristan walked over and we had Chinese food and watched 2 movies. It was a relaxing day and night…staying warm and cozy!

On Sunday the snow was still around. Eric and I slept in, didn’t venture out to church, and stayed inside for the most part. Eric did go and visit his parents for a little while and we went up to our favorite Mexican restaurant and got dinner.

Week 29 (1/23/10 – 1/29/10)

Sign of the Week, “all done.”

On Sunday we cleaned up from the party, ALL DAY!

On Monday I was quite tired at school. Our grade level chairperson, Peggy, had made my assistant, Mrs. White, and I a cake for our birthdays. That was a nice surprise. After that cake I told myself that I would not eat anymore sweets that day because I was going for my glucose test at the doctor the next day.

On Tuesday I had a doctor’s appointment. I had to drink the Glucose drink before I went but it really wasn’t that bad. I had been afraid because so many people said that the drink was horrible but I just thought that it tasted like a mix between Orange Triaminic and Sunkist. I didn’t get my results when I was at the doctor but I did hear the baby’s heartbeat. I had lost 2 pounds when I went but it was okay because I had gained 5 the last time. I got to talk to Dr. Morgan about some recommended pediatricians and about how I was born (breach and 2 weeks early.) He actually knew all of the doctors in the practice, including Dr. Miller, who had delivered me. I also found out that I would now be going to the doctor every two weeks. I can’t believe that time has come.

I feel Baby Thames kick so much these days. It has begun to hurt a couple times when he/she kicks me. I also have A LOT of activity under my ribs. When I am sitting down I especially feel kicking and moving under my ribs. I have also gotten to the point where I can press on my stomach and feel harder areas than others. I certainly don’t know if I’m feeling a foot, head, back or what but it feels funny when I push on certain parts of my stomach. My sciatic nerve is still bothering me some but not all the time. Eric has been suffering for a while now from back pain as well with his sciatic nerve. He went to the chiropractor and has a bulging disk. He tells me when his back hurts that he is having “sympathy pains.”

On Wednesday I had a personal escort walk me around Babies R’ Us. I signed up to have a registry consultant walk around the store with me to give me advice on what to register for and to make sure that we hadn’t forgotten anything. The lady was very helpful because she was able to tell me things about the various items that I didn’t know. I was glad that I had taken the time to do this and even ended up with a $10 gift card to spend at the store!

On Thursday it was an Early Release Day from school and Eric was off. I called the doctor’s office to get the results back from my sugar test done on Tuesday. The nurse let me know that I had a good report for the glucose test, score was 119. She said anything under 139 was good. I was grateful that my body does what it is supposed to in regulating sugar because I am a “sweets girl” and would be devastated if I had to stop eating sweets. She did tell me however that I was slightly anemic and that I had to start taking an Iron supplement. She said that my hemoglobin level should be around 12 and mine was only at 10.5. So, I have to take an Iron pill everyday now.

That night Eric and I attended a great class at CHKD called, “Parenting Challenges and Practical Solutions” given by “The Parent Doctor” Dr. Ann Corwin. It was an informative class because we learned both scientific research about brain development and ways to deal with real-life childhood situations. Some of the things I already knew from my masters classes in child development but it was certainly nice to get a refresher. It was also nice for Eric to hear some of those things again that I had taught him when we were in college about being positive to children and using positive/best practices. Before we had left to go to the class a nurse had called me from my insurance company’s, “Future Moms” program to make sure I was doing okay. She asked me if I had been having any contractions. I asked her to explain in more detail what Braxton Hicks contractions felt like because I wasn’t sure and my stomach feels tight all of the time. I told her that when I had gone to the doctor last time he had asked me the same thing and I told him that I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be feeling. She explained the symptoms to me. So during the class, at about 8:37, I “think” I felt the tightening she was talking about. I felt it at least 4 different times within a half hour. It didn’t hurt at all it just felt a little uncomfortable and I had to breathe heavy to get a full breath. Again, I am not certain that I was actually having a Braxton Hicks contraction but it sure felt tight there for awhile. Oh well, I tried not to worry about it and focus on the class. Soon enough it went away.

On Friday it was a Teacher Workday. I was busy getting report cards and other things done at school. When I left school I went to Wal-Mart to get some food and other things in preparation for our “Winter Snow.” When I got home I just relaxed for the rest of the evening. I “think” I felt the tightening again tonight, around the same time as last night.

A “Winter Wonderland” 30th Birthday Party!

On Saturday, January 23rd we celebrated my 30th birthday! The theme was “Winter Wonderland” and everyone was required to dress in something white. I thought maybe if enough people wore white it might snow, but that didn’t work. We had 65 people who came for the party! Everyone looked so nice in their white clothes. I decided to wear a silver shirt, white sweater, and white pants since the colors of the decorations were white and silver. Eric, aka “Pauly D,” had a white and silver shirt too! Many of you probably know the show, Jersey Shore, on MTV. Well ever since that show came out Eric’s friends and my cousins always joke him saying that his hair, and the time he spends on it, is like the character “Pauly D.” Eric decided that he would REALLY do his hair this way for the party. Our friend DJ loves the character “The Situation” from the show so that’s how he dressed and Penny did her hair like "Snooki." They did their “fist pumps” and goofed off like the real people from the show and had a great time.

We had some wonderful food at the party too! My aunts, cousin, and mother-in-law all chipped in to help me make the food. We had crab dip, spinach & artichoke dip, 7 layer dip, baked brie, fruit, veggies, cheese & crackers, lumpia, wings, ham and swiss biscuits, chicken nuggets, meatballs, wraps, and white sauce. My Aunt Linda had made some most delicious desserts. She had snowman cupcakes, snowball lollipops, homemade truffles, and snowflake cookies. A close friend of the family, Sallie, made me a snowflake cake too. Putting all 30 candles on the cake sure lit up the room!

I was grateful to get some very nice gifts. I told my family members that I wanted baby things for my birthday but they insisted they were not buying me anything baby. Since this would be my last birthday without a child for the rest of my life they all told me that the gifts needed to be for me. I got some beautiful engraved items: a bracelet, photo album, and family tree. I also got a great Coach purse from my friend Penny (I was so shocked), a beautiful Willow Tree (mother & baby) from my friend Amanda, a manicure/pedicure for Changes City Spa from my friend Michelle, pieces of my Lenox Christmas china from Aunt Loretta, and 2 adorable Chihuahua figurines! I got lots of nice candles and lotion as well. I did manage to get 1 baby item, a pack of onesies from one of Eric’s friends. Some of the money that I got from my dad, Mom-Mom and Dad-Dad, and Baba I will use to buy Baby Thames’ cradle…but don’t tell anyone!!!

Eric and I received a nice blessing on my birthday night as well. Our friends Michelle and Russ asked us to be Godparents to their son, Ian. We felt very honored to be asked. During the party Ian ran a “crash” course on Baby Thames’ nursery and took a little nap. I guess the nursery is pretty comfortable so far because Ian napped well! We will now have a Goddaughter, Christa, and a Godson, Ian! I am also Jordon’s Godmother as well! What a great way to end the night!

Taylor took my "Baby Bump" shot of the month too!

Week 28 (1/16/10 – 1/22/10)

Third Trimester!!!

Sign of the Week, “drink.”

On Saturday Eric and I attend our first official baby/parenting class called, “Happiest Baby on the Block” at CHKD. There were about 10 couples there and the instructors were a husband and wife team. We learned the 5 Step Technique for “Calming Baby.” The information was based on research from a well known doctor whose technique has been featured on Dr. Phil, The View, and Jeopardy! We really enjoyed the class and even got a CD and DVD to bring home. Eric was an EXPERT at the 1st step – Swaddling. He had our pretend baby swaddled in that yellow (gender neutral, obviously) blanket in no time! Even the instructor told him he was doing great! I told him that he must have been good at wrapping that blanket because he gets so much practice dealing with “wrapped packages” everyday at work! Eric was also great at the 2nd step – Side position. Because of his long arm and big hand he could hold that baby on its side with no problem! Way to go, Eric for acing the first class!

Later that night we celebrated our friend, Jessica’s, 31st birthday. We went to Shogun for dinner and then to a bar/restaurant, Kelly’s Tavern, for drinks. I got Eric to get me a “Shirley Temple” so that I could “blend in” with the drinking crowd! One of Jessica’s friends, Tiffany, is also expecting so Eric took a picture of the 2 pregnant girls. We had fun! The best part about the restaurant/bar scene now is that Virginia has passed a law for No Smoking!

On Sunday Eric and I went and picked out the paint for the nursery. We decided on a neutral color, tan, so that it would go with our other nursery colors. We looked and looked and finally found the perfect color and guess what it was called, “Lamb’s Ear.” I thought that it was a fitting name for a nursery!

On Monday I was off of work and Eric was on vacation for the week so we worked on things around the house. Eric and his dad painted the nursery while I made phone calls and caught up on housework. I also got on the website for Restoration Hardware; Baby and Child and completed my registry. It felt good to have that done. Aunt Erlinda came by later to drop off some chaffing dishes that we are going to use for the party and also decorated the tables. Later that night Eric and I were going to register at Babies R’ Us but we ran out of time. Instead we just ran an errand and got a bite to eat at Applebees because one of my students had given me a gift card for Christmas.

On Tuesday after school I went and picked up a hand-me-down crib that a friend wanted to give me. Both of her children had used it and she no longer needed it. I got it from her because I am planning to put it up at my grandparents’ house for when the baby and I go to visit. I plan on taking weekly trips to Sandbridge on Fridays to visit my grandparents when the baby comes. Thanks, Tatyana for the crib!

On Wednesday Eric put some of the nursery furniture together. One of the pieces was damaged so we had to return it to the store to get another one. I think the furniture looks beautiful. I also took a picture of the swatches to give you an idea of the colors. I think it’s all going to blend together nicely. I began putting things in Baby Thames’ nursery when I got home from school. I got an iHome for Christmas so I put that in the nursery to play lullabies, classical music, and white noise to Baby Thames when he/she is in there!

For a pregnancy update…My stomach officially feels heavy when I stand up for long periods of time at school. My lower back will also ache a little if I’m standing up for too long. I have also been having some problems with my sciatic nerve and the pain will run down my right leg. It doesn’t happen all the time but when it does it sure is a nagging pain. I am really trying not to arch my back so I have tried to remember all my years of good posture from dance when I begin to feel myself tiring.

For a name update…Eric and I still have not decided on names. We have decided though that we will be taking 1 boy name and 1 girl name to the hospital with us when we deliver. The job between now and then is deciding which 2 names to take! There are lots of names that we know that we like but I guess I’m just not willing to settle yet. As many of you know, I like to weigh out ALL options of everything before I make a decision. I guess I’m afraid that if I settle on a name too early I will find one that is more suitable later on and then want to change it. So instead of telling everyone names now I think I’ll wait until a little closer. Since we are now in the Third Trimester and the baby can more clearly hear sounds we began reading to him/her. The first book that Eric read was called, You Were Loved Before You Were Born, by Eve Bunting. I know that the baby has been able to hear sounds before now but I figured that he/she gets lots of story time in while I’m at school. I read at least 1 to 2 stories per day to the 1st graders so I know that Baby Thames is listening!

On Thursday I stayed after school to work on sub plans for Friday. Then I went shopping to get the other part of my outfit for the party. Once I got home Eric and I cleaned the house. My wonderful husband had already cleaned the majority of the house that day so we just had a little left when I got home. I also got a most wonderful phone call tonight. My cousin Linda called and told me that she would like for me to have my great Granny’s goose neck rocking chair. She said that she knows Granny would have wanted a baby to be rocked in it. Baby Thames would have been Granny’s great, great grandbaby. My great Granny was a special lady in my life when I was younger. She lived to be 100 years old before she died. I’m so excited to be able to add that piece of history to the nursery. I told Linda that the chair would definitely be the most significant gift I would receive throughout this whole process!

On Friday it was my birthday and I had taken the day off from school. Eric and I slept in the first part of the morning. Then we went and had the salad bar at Ruby Tuesdays. It was so nice to go to lunch with Eric and be relaxed on my birthday. Eric surprised me with my birthday present at lunch, diamond earrings!!! They are very beautiful and I was shocked.

After lunch Eric and I went to Babies R’ Us to register. We were in the store for over 2 hours and still didn’t get through the whole thing. We had a good time going around and picking things out. It was kind of hard to do though because we weren’t sure which things were best to register for. I had taken my Consumer Reports Best Baby Products book with us to help guide us through safety precautions and such, but it was still hard. Eric tested out the stroller & car seat/travel system that we chose to make sure he would look good pushing it too! You see, with him being so tall and me being so short we had to pick a stroller that had an adjustable handle. Eric also picked out a “guy friendly” diaper bookbag that he liked. I also caught him scanning a few other things, a rubber duck that tells when the water temperature is too hot and stuffed animal lamb that he liked! We had to leave to come home and meet the exterminator for our annual inspection so when he left we went back to Babies R’ Us. We were able to finish up the rest of our registering pretty quickly. We went back home and finished getting things ready for the party. DJ, Penny, and Tristan came over to help us get ready too!