23 Weeks

On Saturday night, Erik and I met up with some friends, Alex and Alexis, and walked down to UNM to attend an Obama rally with 45,000 people, it was great! We didn't go with the plan of hearing a phenomenal speech from Obama, but more so to soak up the enthusiasm of the crowd. It was awesome seeing the diversity surrounding us, all ages, colors, backgrounds.... Very cool, and I loved how many kids there were! Even though Obama did his stump speech with a few modifications and zingers added in, all the other speakers, except for one guy, were all very pleasantly short and good. We were really far away, but we got glimses, and it was a good sound system so we heard everything pretty well.

After the event, we made our way up Central, to visit Gecko's. The crowds moving up the sidewalks and through the streets were amazing! I've been in crowds like that after pro-sporting events, but it was really cool to see it in Abq, in the heart of the city. There was a palpable buzz in the air that mingled beautifully with the crisp clear air of the night. I am really glad we went, and feel a bit of optimism for this important election.


As of Monday, I am at 23 weeks. According to a couple sites, "The average baby at this stage weighs 1.1 pound and is 11.38 inches long." Erik has felt the baby kickin around a few more times, and gets pretty excited when he catches it. I love that he can feel it now, it makes it more "real" for both of us. Friday we go to have another ultrasound. The plan is to find out the sex, so let's hope the baby cooperates!! Come on baby, turn and spread em!

Here is a link to a baby site where I track the progress with pictures and stats:
http://www.pregnancy.org/pregnancy/fetaldevelopment2.php

a little website...

Oops, I forgot to do a site link on my post last night, so here it is.
Great site that updates daily with political electoral college votes from current poll numbers. This site was up all day on our computer during the last big mama election and I'm sure it will be again this year.
http://www.electoral-vote.com/

As if you could forget... Don't Forget to Get Out and VOTE!

Beautifying the nursery

Yay, I gots me a little nursery color scheme figured out! Being the design dork that I am, it makes me quite happy. Also, having something fun and creative and positive to focus on is definitely a good thing, especially right now. Granted, we just spent more money to make this come together, but I know I got good deals on everything. Also, as you will see, it will all work for a girl or boy. I am planning on having an ultrasound next week to find out the sex, but with slight modifications I can make it more girly, and then if we have a boy later, or visa-versa, it'll still work. See how practical I am?!

OK, here's what's in the pictures (two of the same because the lighting was different):
The rug, 6'x9' cozy cotton "chindi rag rug"
The thing on the rug is a crib bumper that is part of a big set I bought for $40 on Craigslist. There's a bumper, a bedskirt, a diaper bag that hangs off a post of something, a little panel hangy thing that has pouches, a comforter, and two window valances. One of the valances is what is hanging over what will be my curtain.
The cabinet in the background is my old kitchen desk which I am converting into a mini-closet/armoire type thing for the baby, since I have the closet full with my stuff.

Anyway, thank you for indulging me.... I will show more pics as I make progress.

22 Weeks

Sorry it's been a little while since I posted last, but I wanted to have some photos to post this time, and my experiment of taking photos of myself was... umm... less than flattering, to say the least. So, after harassing Erik for about a week, I finally got him to take some pics that weren't humiliating for posting online.

This past Sunday, Erik ran his 3rd half-marathon (13.1 miles). It was his first big run in Albuquerque and at high altitude, but he still beat his previous "best time" by about 10 minutes. It was also the first time I was there to cheer him on at the finish line, which made him a happy guy. He had a great time and the weather was gorgeous. Monday, he took the day off work to recover (OMG!) and we actually got a non-scheduled "holiday" 3 day weekend together! It was a total treat for both of us, and we did our best to make the most of it. He's done with his training for awhile, but I'm proud of my honey, even if I think he is a little nuts for being into self torture....


I'm 22 Weeks along! The time is flying by and yet I know it's just going to keep getting faster. Next thing you'll know, we'll be sending the kid off to college.... As you can see, I all of a sudden "popped-out" and now actually look pregnant. Things are going pretty well. Physically I'm feeling pretty good most of the time, and experiencing minimal side-effects. Not to say there aren't a number of quirks, but they are all things I can deal with. The sensation of having a big 'ol belly is pretty bizarre. Add to that the sensation of having a little alien moving around in there, and the whole thing is a serious mind-f*#k. Erik continues to be quite proud of himself in "what he's done to me," and I am so gonna use that against him while I'm in labor....

Erik was totally cute the other day, he got a silly little look on his face and said to me, "I think I'm falling in love with your belly." It was enough cuteness to make me sappy and giddy, and earn him a good pile of "screw up bonus points." I keep telling him that saying little things like that is enough to potentially keep him out of the dog house for weeks on end, but we'll see if he takes my little tip to heart.

Tasha is now officially at 39 weeks, aka pop-at-any-moment time. Her bun has already started dropping, and she keeps telling everyone, in a very calm manner, "It's getting close." I again, I'm feeling glad, and somewhat tickled at the notion, that she has to go through the milestone of labor first. Seriously, I spent many years breaking my folks in for her and Mira, and being a first at so many things that were challenging. Now, I'm liking that I get to watch her and take notes for my own experience. You never know, but these pictures may be the last pictures we ever get of Tash and I being preggers together.... (P.S. I didn't mean to stick my belly out in the 2nd pic, I was just trying to get my big ol head and mop of hair out of the way so we could see Tasha's face.)


Website of the Day: Great local community blog, where I have found all kinds of useful info, everything from yummy eats to Doctors to what's happening around town.
http://www.dukecityfix.com/

a future Rastafarian leader

Today is Tasha's 25th birthday, and I will soon be heading up to my folks house to help set up for her baby shower tomorrow. I have been tasked with helping implement her baby craft extravaganza, that will take place after some of the other shower-y festivities. All of you (in-laws!) have experienced forced crafting by me before, so I'm sure it either brings you shutters to recall, or slightly pleasant memories of your fingers being coated in glue stick and sparkles. Anyway, I hope she gets a good showing of people, that they come with beautiful blessings for the birth and baby, and that they are ready to put their creative hats to work.

Yesterday was the first day I felt the baby moving without my hands firmly pressed on my belly. I was just waking up, and I all of a sudden felt the baby doing what felt like a series of somersaults, but then again it could have been attacking the top of my uterus to see if maybe it had found the secret way out, hard to tell. Later in the day, on my way back home, I was in the car and turned on a local reggae show, and the baby started going crazy. That was the first time I felt it move while I was sitting, not in bed and not at home, so I was a bit surprised. So, I reverted back to my theory that maybe the baby wants out, but now I wonder if we've actually bred a future Rastafarian leader.... I'll let you know how my future music tests and theories go.

I have totally popped out in the last week, and Erik and I are theoretically taking some more pictures this weekend. I promise to post more as soon as I have them. Belts are now an item I'll pine over until I'm done with pregnancy and bending over now illicits involuntary grunts. I have a strong elastic-y tube (think tube top belt) that will theoretically hold up my unbuttoned pants, but without any butt or hips, I'm not seeing much advantage other than it covers up my exposed crack when I sit down. The further along I get, the more I fantasize about suspenders.... My poor husband.

Website of the day: very funny blogger, who babbles about everything from the joys and frustrations of being a mom, to pithy, smart-ass observations about life. She also posts funny daily pictures.
http://dooce.com/

Getting fat just isn't as satisfying

I've started feeling the baby move more. Not just little "pops" but rolls, which is pretty cool. I can't feel anything when I'm standing, still only when I'm reclining and resting my hands on my belly. Even if it's not very often, I feel better having more evidence of the baby actually being in there and alive! Getting fat just isn't as satisfying as feeling a being moving inside you! I can't wait until I feel it more, and when Erik will be able to feel it too.

Erik and I are heading up to the cabin again for a couple days. My dad's birthday is Sunday, so he wanted everyone to join him up there for a bit. It will be the first time we'll have been up there with my folks and Tasha and Eli, so should be fun. Tasha is so big now, and is only a couple weeks away, but could really pop anytime now. I can't believe she's so close to having the first grandbaby of the clan....

I met with my web designer this morning. It's been months since we'd gotten together, and I was starting to wonder if I needed to find someone else, because he wasn't getting back to me, but he finally did, and we're rolling now.... If things go as planned, I'll have a working website in a few weeks! My god, having a working website will be such a weight off my shoulders!

Last night I woke up in the middle of the night with major anxiety and irritation, and had a hell of a time falling back asleep. After that, it felt like I woke up every couple minutes with a jump. My heartbeat was absolutely racing, and I was trying to breathe slowly to calm down, but wasn't having much luck. I feel bad for the baby, I'm sure all my tension, anxiety and crazy heartbeat are not healthy. Nothing like waking up in the morning to a heart rate of 120 beats per minute.... My midwife says it's a lack of electrolytes, so I bought some stuff last night, and drank it this morning. It helped, so that's good, cuz having a heart attack just isn't in my plans.

I've decided to start posting some of my fave websites, pictures, products or articles with my posts. I hope you find some things you enjoy!
One of my fave websites:
http://www.etsy.com/index.php