The Proud Parents-to-be

The Proud Parents-to-be

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

22 Weeks and counting

The peace and tranquility continues...
Drea at prenatal yoga class...thank goodness for this 90 min
My daughter is doing all kinds of flips and kicks in my tummy this week!  I am feeling very 'connected' with her to say the least.  Is this a sign of things to come?  Fingers crossed, we should close on our new house this week so she can have plenty of room to run around this time next year.

This past Sunday, Tor and I went to Emma's baby shower...she is due in less than a week.  I cant believe it!!  I am so excited we are moving nearby and that our little ones will get to grow up together.  It has been nice to have someone to talk with about this whole mommy-to-be ordeal.
Big Mama and Lil' Mama 
Ready for the 2011 Babies!!!

Emma, Drea, and Yuki 
Everything was beautiful, and the food was amazing.  Tor and I are officially 'meal buddies' and we love to eat :)  I was wondering when my appetite would officially pick up...apparently I just needed to wait until I was halfway through the pregnancy.  For the first time, I NEVER bring home a doggie-bag from the restaurants anymore.  I am still gaining according to my 1 lb./week rule and getting pretty regular exercise so I indulge a little bit.  The biggest change though is that I crave relatively healthy food which is good (cheese & crackers, fruit, yogurt, granola, and fruity popsicles for dessert) and so I think it is offsetting the larger meals I consume.
Tor and Drea caught checking out the food table :)






Monday, May 30, 2011

20 Weeks...halfway there!

IT'S A GIRL...

20 week sonogram appointment


So exciting!!!  This week marks the halfway point of my pregnancy and I couldn't be happier.  Tor and I had a detailed sonogram appointment, and the doctor was very pleased with the progress of the baby.  She is about 12 oz. and 7 in. long from head to rump, and moving around a bit throughout the day just as a little reminder "I'm in here mommy!".  I must admit, I am a little more nervous about raising a little girl than a boy.  I just keep imagining raising myself...which is somewhat of a scary thought!


At the Point Lobos Reserve in Carmel




This past weekend was also our 1 year wedding anniversary.  How time flies!!  Tor and I ran away to the coast, staying at the Hotel Abrego in Monterey.  We took a beautiful 'hike' in the Point Lobos Reserve, checking out the sea lions and breathtaking views of the water.  It was very romantic, and the perfect  getaway that was much appreciated and well-deserved.  We also went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, below are some of my favorite photos:
A sea dragon (sea horse family)

A school of fish 

Jellies!




These days, you will find me attacking a meal with real determination!  Here is my most recent victim, a vanilla-bean-snicker-doodle Ice Cream Sandwich:




A  Peaceful Journey



I am very thankful that I have had such a peaceful journey through my pregnancy so far.  It helps to have such a great, supportive partner that loves me and takes such good care of us. I can't imagine going through this without Tor by my side, and appreciate him soooo much.  I also really appreciate our great family and friends that have been blessing us with their love, prayers, and wonderful thoughts.  I know we all already love _____ very much, and can't wait to meet her in only a few more months.  


Thursday, May 19, 2011

19 Weeks and counting...

 PREGNANT IN HEELS

Oh yes, mama's still gotta make that MONEY!!!

My coworkers (90% men) have been really great I must admit.  Luckily I work with really sweet guys, but now it is like have 5 or 6 big brothers on some days.  I think they are taking bets on just how long I will last in my 3 in. heels...let me tell you it will be awhile.  I love my shoes!

One more week before the big ultrasound and we cant wait!  For some reason finding out the gender of the baby has become a really big deal.  We have names picked out either way, and I am soooo ready to stop saying "the baby".  I am starting to FEEL pregnant for sure.  I can tell when I have been on my feet too long, and I started feeling the baby move around earlier this week.  Today we had another doctor's appointment, and the heartbeat was so strong we could hear it before the doppler device was fully on my tummy!  That sound was music to my ears, as I still get worried like any other mom-to-be.

The sun is finally out in Oakland, and we have been taking advantage -walks by the lake and playing on the swings!  Here are my other two kids:

Momoe was carefree on the swings!

Tor was scared to go to high...go figure

Lake Chabot last Saturday afternoon






So Tor has decided to take EARLY action in getting the baby prepared for his post-graduate degree through auditory exercises.  Not only will the baby apparently play professional basketball, he will also be a rocket scientist in his/her spare time.  I/We are using this contraption called BabyPlus, like Baby Einstein but while still in the womb.  From the website:

The BabyPlus curriculum is a series of 16 naturally derived sounds that resemble a mother's heartbeat. The rhythm of the sounds increases incrementally as the pregnancy progresses. The BabyPlus sonic pattern introduces your child to a sequential learning process, built upon the natural rhythms of their own environment.

This "auditory exercise" strengthens learning ability during the developmental period when the advantages will be most significant and enduring for a child. BabyPlus is the first educational tool designed for prenatal use that has been proven effective. BabyPlus children have an intellectual, developmental, creative, and emotional advantage from the time they are born.


So now, I sit with a drumming fanny pack on my belly twice a day while the baby "learns stuff".  Next week the baby will be learning French and Spanish while working on their thesis.


BabyPlus 'learning tool' on mama's belly



Saturday, May 7, 2011

Week 17

My vest wont zip anymore :(
May 1...a new day and a new month, as we are now well into month #5 of the pregnancy.  It seems like I went from beer-belly to full on pregnant mama overnight.  I am now 157.5 lbs. and right on target for my 1 pound/week allowance.  Tor and I are having so much fun trying yummy, healthy recipes and getting as much exercise as I can tolerate :)
Taking a walk in the sun (finally!) at Pt. Isabel



Speaking of which, Prenatal Yoga class is my favorite time of the week!  It is amazing finding a moment at the end of a busy day to sit and breathe and experience what is happening in my life.  I sit with one hand on my heart and one on the baby to tell him/her that I love them and that there is nothing more important than our growing bond.  Okay...enough with the mushy stuff :)

My besties Kerrisha and Danielle have sent us our very first baby gifts...TOO ADORABLE!
This morning Tor and I went to pick up a really nice crib someone was literally giving away because they got 2 cribs as gifts.  So now, our back room is filled with a new dining table and chairs, a buffet, and a crib!  If you look carefully you can find Boston back there in his bed :)  Hopefully we will be moving into a new house soon...maybe one in Berkeley?!


Dad's Note:

I'm feeling really happy and contended as we look forward to meeting the baby.  We're probably three weeks from finding out whether the baby will be a boy or a girl.  We've got names picked out either way, but we're keeping 'em under wraps until delivery.  Drea and I have been taking it easy, walking the dog on Saturdays, watching TV, eating fairly healthy, taking naps.  So, even though we're both super excited to meet our child, we're taking advantage of this time to relax and get lots of quality time.  We're also excited about the possibility of getting a particular house in Berkeley, but we're trying to bide our time there as well, taking nothing for granted until we know for sure.  Anyways, baby, if sometime down the line you're reading this baby blog, I'm so excited to get to know you.  I'm gonna shower you with love, try to teach you the best I can, and help you develop a wicked jumpshot.  Love, Dad.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Welcome to the Second Trimester - Week 14

So it's really official...We have made the phone calls and posted on Facebook (which really makes it official these days).  Tor and Drea are having a baby!  It is the start of week 14 and I have made it through the somewhat uncomfortable and often lonely first trimester.  Tor and I had a great doctor's visit this Thursday, where we saw the baby literally bouncing all around and turning flips in my belly.  Tor is determined that the baby was practicing basketball skills (see edited sonogram photo below)


 
I was just beginning to really celebrate the lack of morning sickness and extreme exhaustion, when I came down with both a cold and a UTI.  So now I am on the couch taking antibiotics and Sudafed, and constantly having to pee :)

The one real side effect that is getting the best of me at times would be all the hormones.  One minute I want to be hugged and cuddled, the next I want everyone to leave me alone.  I've cried over everything from forgotten hamburgers to unreturned phone calls...Good grief!  I am trying my best not to be a monster, but my Dr. Jekyll/Ms. Hyde personalities seem out of my control at times. 

Ha!  It hasn't been all bad...there is the maternity pants story:
Drea to store clerk:  "I don't feel like these pants are fitting right"
Store clerk: "Hmm....yeah, we're going to need to grab you some more of the pants with a lot of stretch in them.  You have what we call 'Bubble Butt'"
(Drea has a very curious look on her face)
Store clerk:  "Oh, don't worry, its not a bad thing"

I am determined that this was a compliment...who wouldn't want to have Bubble Butt?!?

The infamous maternity jeans...only in 2011 can a mom-to-be rock comfortable skinny jeans :)